USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 49
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On March 22, 1860, Mr. Downs was married to Miss Jane Oller, a daughter of William and Eliza (Johnson) Oller. Mr. Oller was born in Virginia. May 5, 1818, and Mrs. Oller was born in Chambersburg, Pa., September 22, 1821. In 1840 the father located in Shelby County, enter- ing a quarter section of land from the govern- ment at $1.25 per acre and this adjoined the farm of the Downs family. He plowed his land for his first crop with an ox, but despite this crude method of cultivation, the land was so rich it yielded from sixty to seventy bushels of grain per acre. His death occurred July 31, 1874, and his wife died April 6, 1899, at Shel- byville, Ill., having borne her husband eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Downs became the par- ents of three children, namely: Jennie, who was married to Dr. A. P. Rocky of Assumption. Ill. ; Dora Ann, who was married to John J. Smith of Ridge Township, Shelby County ; and Ora B., who became the wife of W. S. Ridgely of Taylorville. In 1911, Mrs. Downs died at the age of sixty-six years. In 1913 Mr. Downs was married (second) to Mrs. Nellie G. Oller of
Delaware County, Ohio. At that time he moved from Edinburg, to which village he had retired in 1901, to Assumption, where they had the finest home in the place. It is artistic in design, having been planned by Mr. Downs' daughter. Iler plans were put in practical shape by a De- catur. Ill., architect. This residence is sur- rounded by ample grounds filled with flowers, trees and supplied with concrete walks. The in- terior decorations are equally artistic, and in- clude many paintings of superior merit, the work of the same daughter.
DOYLE, Daniel Donald, one of the substantial men of Christian County, is extensively inter- ested in farm land in this locality. He was born in Stonington Township, November 27, 1874, a son of Daniel and Mary (Kerwin) Doyle, both born in Ireland, the father on June 17, 1832, and the mother in 1837. The parents came to the United States in 1847, and until 1869 the father engaged in farming in Sangamon County, Ill., but in the latter year moved to Stonington Township, Christian County, and there he died April 25, 1914, and the mother died January 17, 1914.
Daniel D. Doyle was educated in the schools of his native township, and he had the additional advantage of a term at the Taylorville High School. Until he was twenty years old, Mr. Doyle lived with his parents, and then went to reside with a sister, Mrs. Tony May, of Morrison- ville, with whom he remained until his marriage.
On February 24, 1897, Mr. Doyle was united in marriage with Elizabeth Dwyer, a daughter of Patrick and Mary (Stapleton) Dwyer. Mr. and Mrs. Doyle became the parents of the following children : Mary Eleanor, who was born March 18, 1898; Daniel Glenn, who was born February 10, 1902 ; Elizabeth Beatrice, who was born Octo- ber 2, 1906; and Ursula Veronica, who was born April 25, 1914. In politics Mr. Doyle is a Demo- crat. He is a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, while fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Columbus. A man of ample means, he belongs to the board of directors of the Far- mers State Bank of Stonington, and is also a heavy stockholder, and he is also a stockholder in the Taylorville Building and Loan Association, the Stonington Building and Loan Association, and the Taylorville First National Bank. He owns 130 acres of land on section 30, forty-nine acres on section 19, and eighty acres on section 25, Buckhart township, having 160 acres in Buckhart Township. Mrs. Doyle owns forty acres in section 14, and eighty acres in section 24 in Stonington Township.
DOYLE, Timothy, for many years was one of the successful farmers of Stonington Township, and a man widely known and universally re- spected. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, in De- cember, 1824, and was a son of Robert and Mary (Dixon) Doyle.
In 1849 Timothy Doyle left Ireland for the T'nited States, and landed in the port of New York, where he was later joined by his parents and family, and they all then went to Portage,
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Wis., where he was engaged in farming until 1860. With the outbreak of the Civil War, he found an opportunity to serve his adopted coun- try as a teamster, and was thus engaged until the close of the conflict. Returning home he then resumed his farming operations in Wiscon- sin, but later moved to Missouri, where he bought land and remained for a time and in 1867 came to Christian County where he bought 160 acres in Stonington Township and was engaged in farming at the time of his death, which occurred on his farm, November 16, 1900. In addition to general farming, he fed stock upon an extensive scale, and became a man of large means.
In January, 1877, Mr. Doyle was married to Mary A. O'Meara of County Tipperary, Ireland, a daughter of John and Sarah (Flannery) O'Meara. Mr. and Mrs. Doyle became the par- ents of two children, namely : Mary A. and Sarah E. Mr. Doyle was a Democrat and served as a school director. The Catholic Church held lis membership. During his long residence in (Christian County he gained the confidence and respect of his associates, and dying left an hon- orable record behind him.
DRAKE, Cornelius, a more than ordinarily pub- lic-spirited citizen and a man of substantial in- terests, is numbered among the responsible bankers of Stonington. He was born at Wads- worth, Ohio, October 23, 1854, a son of Hiram H. and Margaret E. Drake. Hiram H. Drake was born in Pennsylvania, where he learned the trade of blacksmithing, but in young manhood he moved to Ohio, and lived there until 1877, in that year coming to Illinois, where he en- gaged in farming near Grove City, owning eighty acres of land in Mt. Auburn Township. He retired from the farm and moved to Edinburg, Ill., in 1895. Here his death occurred in March, 1898.
Cornelius Drake attended the district schools and the Mennonite College at Wadsworth, Ohio. After completing his course, Mr. Drake taught school for four years, and then became a sales- man for Chamberlain and Barnes of Taylorville, with whom he remained for eighteen months. He then went into business with O. Z. Housley, and they carried on a general merchandise con- cern at Grove City. Later they branched out into a banking business at Grove City, which was the forerunner of the present Grove City Bank, in which Mr. Drake is still interested. In 1893, Mr. Drake came to Stonington, and here established a mercantile house and went into the banking business. The latter increased to such an extent that he sold the store and con- centrated his attention upon the banking busi- ness, which was operated under the firm style of Housley & Drake. It was organized in 1893, and so is the oldest banking institution at Ston- ington. In 1904 the private concern was merged into the First National Bank of Stonington, with the following officials : O. Z. Housley, president ; Cornelius Drake, cashier ; A. B. Chapman, vice president ; J. Irving Owen, assistant cashier.
In September, 1880, Mr. Drake was married to 17
Estella Sadler of Grove City, and they have had the following children : Adah, Ila, Elmo and Waldo, who are twins, and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Drake is a daughter of Samuel J. and Mary (Coover) Sadler, who were born near Bourneville, Ohio, but came to Illinois soon after their marriage and engaged in farming near Grove City. Mr. Sadler died in 1885, and Mrs. Sadler passed away in 1891. Mr. Sadler belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he was steward and trustee. He was a Republican, while fraternally he belonged to the Masons and Odd Fellows. Mr. Drake is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Republican and was postmaster at Grove City under Presidents Garfield and Arthur. He served Stonington as mayor for two terms, giving his city a clean and business- like administration. Prior to its being organized as a city, he served on the town board for four terms. He is now president of the First Na- tional Bank of Stonington. A man of progres- sive ideas, he has always given his support to those measures which in his judgment would work out for the best interests of the majority.
DUNFEE, Edward, was for many years one of the leading men of Morrisonville, where he is remembered as an ideal citizen, loyal friend, good neighbor and model father and husband. Such men are not easily replaced, and his memory is cherished, and his influence remains, although all that is mortal of him has passed away. He was born in New Egypt, N. J., October 13, 1835, and he died May 6, 1913. He was one of the following children born to Thomas and Lucy (Moore) Dunfee : John, Robert, Emma, Mary Ann, Caleb, Caroline, George, Edward, Elizabeth and Thomas, all of whom are now deceased.
By trade a carpenter and builder, Wm. Ed- ward Dunfee came west to Morgan County, Ill., when he was twenty years old, but soon began farming, and coming to Christian County, spent thirty-six years as a farmer in King Township. The family then moved to Morrisonville where the father died in the home he had bought there.
On October 1, 1857, Mr. Dunfee was married to Mary C. Talkington, of Waverly, Morgan County, Ill., a daughter of Joseph Talkington, a farmer. She was one of thirteen children born to her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Dunfee became the parents of ten children as follows: Lucy M. who was born October 13, 1858, married Nathan Ronk, and died September 27, 1880, leaving three chil- dren; Mary Jane, who was born May 11, 1860, married John W. Kline, a farmer of Virden, Ill., has five children; Emma E., who was born in December, 1861, died in infancy ; Dora Ellen, who was born October 16, 1863, lives at home with her mother ; Joseph D., who was born November 1, 1865, lives near Canyon City, Col., where he is farming, and he married Mabel Cobell; Thomas Edward, who was born June 13, 1867, is engaged in farming near Trenton, Mo., and he married Delia Hannon : Carrie M., who was born .July 4, 1870, lives at Griggs, Okla., and married John C. Wells and they have six sons and one daughter ;
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
two infants, born in 1872 and 1874, who are deceased ; and Charles M., who was born Septem- ber 19, 1878, died March 5, 1881. The Methodist Episcopal Church held Mr. Dunfee's membership. For some years he was a school director and he also served as an assessor, and was an excellent official and most worthy man in every respect, and in his death Morrisonville lost one of its most highly respected citizens.
EATON, Jordan S., president of the Eaton State Bank of Owaneco, is one of the sound and re- liable financiers and leading citizens of Locust Township. He was born in Prairieton Town- ship, this county, January 22, 1856, a son of William McKendrie and Elizabeth (Peter) Eaton, natives of Sullivan County, Ind., where the father was a school teacher and farmer. The parents were married in their native county, leaving it about 1849 for Sangamon County, Ill., but they subsequently came to Christian County and engaged in farming. While living in Christian County, the father taught school, and was the first teacher in the school at Mowequa, Ill., where he taught for two years. After locating in Prairieton Township, he taught school and did farming and died in that township. January 6, 1867, when forty- three years old. He was a man of unusual at- tainments, having been educated in the DePauw College in Indiana in which he took a two years' course. When he was eighteen years old he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church and continued a member of it the remainder of his life. All through life he took an active part in politics, first as a Democrat and later as a Re- publican. The mother was an excellent woman and very active in the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her death occurred in Prairieton Township, June 27, 1900. when she was seventy-two years old. She and her hus- band had six children as follows: Emily, who was married to M. R. Wetzel of Stonington Township: Eliza J., who is the wife of Prof. A. C. Butler of Abingdon, Ill .; Maggie, who is the wife of Warren A. Clawson of Assumption, Ill .; William L., who is vice-president of the Eaton State Bank; Jordan S., whose name heads this review ; and Dora, who was the wife of B. W. Kearns, died Feb. 22, 1916.
Jordan S. Eaton was reared on the family homestead, and was sent to the country schools, and instructed at home by his capable father. Until 1901 he remained on the home farm, but in that year in conjunction with his brother, William L., he came to Owaneco and established the bank that bears their name, and of which he is president and his brother vice-president, it being known until February 1, 1910, as The Eaton Brothers Bank. On that date the bank was re-organized as the Eaton State Bank, and is now one of the sound banking houses of the county.
On September 3, 1903, Mr. Eaton was married at Owaneco to Mrs. Maggie Large, born June S. 1867, widow of Sherman Large, who died in Locust Township. She had two children : Ara
W., born September 2, 1892, and Gilbert G., born April 20, 1897. Mrs. Eaton's father, An- drew Barrett, was one of the early settlers of Christian County. Mr. and Mrs. Eaton have two sons, namely : Lealdes M., who was born February 3. 1905, and Jordan Stewart, who was born June 27, 1908. Mr. Eaton takes an active and intelligent interest in public affairs, and has held a number of township offices in Lo- cust Township. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has been on its official board for many years. He and his brother own about 800 acres of land in Chris- tian and Macon counties. They have other in- terests, being the leading stockholders in the Christian County Telephone Company, of which Jordan S. Eaton is secretary and a director. Mr. Eaton is a member of Locust Lodge No. 623, A. F. & A. M., and he and Mrs. Eaton belong to Roseland Chapter, O. E. S.
Mr. Eaton is proud to trace his ancestry back on his mother's side to James and Jason Peter, who came from England as missionaries to America at a very early day, being ordained by John Wesley for work among the Indians. Mr. Eaton's mother was married in Kentucky, as was her mother before her, and having the mis- fortune to lose her parents in her infancy, she was reared in the family of her grandfather, a Kentucky planter who was a large slave owner.
EATON, William L., vice president of the Eaton State Bank of Owaneco. and one of the leading business men of this section, whose operations have always been conducted upon a large scale, was born in Sangamon County, Ill., August 10, 1853, a son of William McKendrie and Elizabeth (Peter) Eaton, a sketch of whom appears else- where in this work.
The eldest son, and fourth child in the family of six children born to his parents, William I .. Eaton was reared on the farm and received the benefit of his father's instruction in addition to that given in the local schools. As he was quite young when his parents moved from Sangamon to Christian County, he was practically reared in the latter county, and has since then made it his home, making farming his chief occupation. In 1901 he formed a partnership with his brother. Jordan S., and they founded the banking house of Eaton Bros., in 1910 reorganizing it into the Eaton State Bank, of which his brother is president and he vice president. In partner- ship with his brother, Mr. Eaton owns 1,000 acres of land in Christian County.
On March 1, 1896. Mr. Eaton was married at Assumption, Ill., to Miss Ida Shafer, who was born in Tazewell County, Ill., April 23, 1863, a daughter of George A. and Catherine (Myers) Shafer. Mr. and Mrs. Eaton have two surviving daughters: Fern, who was born Jamary 24. 1898; and Catherine Elizabeth, who was born November 4, 1900. The youngest in the family. Helen, who was born July 21. 1901. died Janu- ary 20. 1905, when four years old. Mr. and Mrs. Eaton are active and valued members of the Methodist Church, which Mr. Eaton joined when
MR. AND MRS. JOHN PORTER
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
twenty-two years old. A live, intelligent, re- sourcetul man, he takes an effective interest in public matters, and when he advocates a measure it is not only pretty certain to go through, but others are sure that if he is connected with it, they can safely join him in forwarding it, for lie never associates himself with any movement unless he knows that it is one that ought to be carried on.
EBERSPACHER, Frederick, J., M. D., one of the reliable and honored physicians of Christian County, is established in a general practice at Pana, where his skill and learning are appre- ciated. He was born in Shelby County, Ill., December 3, 1867, a son of Christian and Fred- ericka (Roessler) E. Eberspacher, natives of Germany. The father came to the United States in the fifties, and spent some time in Pennsyl- vania, but in 1853 made the trip overland to Illi- nois in what is known as the historic "prairie schooner." He located in Shelby County, where he was engaged in farming until his death No- vember 16, 1897, at the age of seventy years. The mother died December 24, 1901. There were eight children in their family, four sons and four daughters, and of them, Dr. Eberspacher was the sixth in order of birth. The father was a consistent member of the German Evangelical Church. His political convictions made him a Democrat.
After attending the district schools of Shelby County, Frederick J. Eberspacher in 1SS9 matriculated at the Northern Indiana Normal school at Valparaiso, Ind., from which he was graduated in 1894, having taken the scientific course. During the winter of 1904-5, he was at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Chicago, and in the fall of 1905, entered Bellevue Medical College of New York City, from which he was graduated in 1907. with the degree of M. D. In May of that same year. Dr. Eberspacher formed a partnership with Dr. J. Huber which continued until June, 1910, since which time Dr. Ebers- pacher has continued alone. In 1901 Dr. Ebers- pacher took a six weeks' conrse at the New York Polyclinic Medical school, and in 1912 entered the University of Vienna, Austria, and spent sixteen months in postgraduate work at Vienna, Berlin and Munich, specializing on internal med- icine. A modern physician, he believes in medi- cal societies and belongs to the Christian County Medical Society, the Illinois Medical Society and the American Medical Association. Politically he follows in his father's footsteps and is a Democrat, and belongs to the church in which he was reared, the German Evangelical. Frater- nally he is a Mason, Modern Woodman and Elk. Thoroughly abreast of the times, Dr. Ebers- pacher is one of the leading lights of his profes- sion and his prestige has been gained throughi sheer ability and the skill that comes of careful training and wide experience.
ENSMINGER, George W., now deceased, was for many years one of the solid farmers of Christian County, and one of the men who is
remembered for his integrity of character and high principles, owned and operated 160 acres of land in Mt. Auburn Township. He was born April 25, 1817, at Williamsport, Md., a son of George W. Ensminger, also born in Maryland.
Growing up at Williamsport, George W. Ens- minger the younger was there educated, and taught the trade of a cabinetmaker, which he followed in his native state until 1836, when he came to Christian County, and located on the farm in section 20, Mt. Auburn Township, that continued to be his home the remainder of his useful life.
Mr. Ensminger was married in Christian County to Catherine E. Firey, born May 16, 1825, at Williamsport, Md. She came in the same party as Mr. Ensminger, to Christian County in 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Ensminger be- came the parents of the following children : Charlotte M., Martha J., Mary A., William H., George A., John A., Lewis V., Sarah M. and one who died in infancy. At the time of his death, which occurred February 1, 1903, Mr. Ensminger owned 160 acres of land in Mt. Auburn Towil- ship, a portion of which is owned by his son, William H. Ensminger.
Born February 7, 1853, on the farm he owns. William H. Ensmninger was reared and educated in Mt. Auburn Township. and here he has spent his upright and useful life. He has never mar- ried. An excellent son while his parents lived, he cherishes their memory, and can look back with pride and pleasure to the years he had them with him. The family is one of the most highly respected in Mt. Auburn Township, and Christian County, and its present members are living up to the high standard set by the parents.
ENSMINGER, Lewis V., now deceased, was during life one of the practical farmers of Mt. Auburn Township and a man widely known and universally respected. He was born on section 29, Mt. Auburn Township, May 9, 1859, a son of George W. and Catherine (Firey) Ensminger, natives of Maryland. Growing up on the farm, Lewis V. Ensminger attended the local schools and worked for his father, and in time inherited the homestead. being the present farm.
On December 24, 1890, he was married near Bolivia, Ill., by Rev. Ira Emmerson, to Miss Annis J. Chick, a daughter of Willis and Rachel (Miller) Chick, natives of Illinois and Ohio. respectively, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Ensminger had one daughter, Verla H., who was born September 25, 1892. She was graduated from the district schools when fifteen years old, and then took a commercial course at the Springfield Business College, from which she was graduated when eighteen years old. She and her mother reside on the family farm, and are very companionable, being more like sisters than mother and daughter. Mr. Ensminger was a Democrat and held the office of school director. His' death occurred July 10, 1914, and in it his township lost a desirable citi- zen and his neighbors a kind and helpful friend.
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
ESTABROOK, J. W., now deceased, was for many years a successful farmer and stockraiser of Ricks Township, who was held in high re- spect by all who knew him. He was born at Madison City, Ill., in April, 1829, one of ten children born to John and Nancy ( White) Esta- brook. Only one of these five sons and five daughters survives. The parents died on the old homestead at Madison, Ill., which is still in the family.
In 1862 Mr. Estabrook came to Ricks Town- ship and bought a farm on which he lived until his death, after which his widow moved to Mor- risonville, where she still resides. Mr. Esta- brook was a good citizen. a man of more than ordinary intelligence, and when he died, Ricks Township lost one of its best residents. Mr. Estabrook passed away in 1911. He was a member of the Methodist Church, and in fra- ternal matters was a Mason.
In August, 1862, Mr. Estabrook was married to Susan Elizabeth Clark of Madison County, a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Clark, and one of eight children born to her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Estabrook had the following nine chil- dren : Clara Ann, who was married to Thomas Monnegan, a farmer, now of Salem, Mo., and they have seven children ; James J., who is de- ceased ; Mary Margaret; Ida May, who was married to Abraham Funderburk, a farmer of Christian County. has three children ; Nannie E., who is a newspaper correspondent, is now in Europe; Horace G., who is a farmer in the vicinity of Morrisonville, was married to Ida Loudermilk, and has five children; Harry C., who lives in Michigan, is married and has one son ; Lucy M., who was married to Charles Dye, owner of a large garage at Chicago, has one son ; and Susie G .. who was married to John Wahl of Chicago, inventor of the Wahl adding machine, has one son.
ESTES, Charles, a prosperous dairyman and farmer residing on Section 30. Taylorville Town- ship, is one of the representative men of Chris- tian County, and one who stands well with his associates. He was born in Virginia. March 19, 1882. a son of George and Sarah H. (Racer) Estes. In 1984 the parents came to Taylorville Township, Christian County, Ill., from their native state of Virginia. and for a number of years were on the farm owned by A. G. Barnes. In 1895 the father bought 185 acres of land in Thompson. Cal., and remained upon it until he retired from farming. when he returned to Tay- lorville, and there died in August. 1912. at the age of sixty-five years. The mother survives and lives at St. Louis, Mo. The father was a Demo- crat in political belief, while the Baptist Church held his membership.
Charles Estes spent his boyhood in Taylor- ville Township, and attended the schools of his neighborhood. For three years after attaining to man's estate he was associated with his father in farming. Then seeing an excellent opening for a livery business at Taylorville he went into it for a time, then sold and moved on
his present farm, where he is carrying on a prosperous dairy business. He also owns eighty acres of land in Taylorville Township. His farm is one of the best equipped in Christian County, and his methods meet with approval from authorities in dairying and farming. He retails milk from his Holstein herd.
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