USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 53
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by electricity, and he has assisted in the devel- opment of the town of Kincaid, and extended the C. & I. M. Railroad into Taylorville, establishing permanent shops at this point, and developing the terminal facilities here. He has been personally connected with the entire development and con- struction work, and in this work has been a member of the advisory board of the company. In addition to these activities he has become a director of the Taylorville National Bank, the First National Bank of Taylorville, the Kincaid Trust & Savings Bank, the Farmers State Bank of Auburn, and the Kincaid Building & Loan Association, all of which institutions have gained added strength from his connection with them.
On January 1, 1890, Mr. Hallock was mar- ried to Laura C. C. Carey, of Baltimore, Md., a daughter of John C. and Jennie C. Carey. Mr. and Mrs. Hallock have one son, Neil C. The Episcopal Church holds the membership of Mr. Hallock and benefits from his generosity. He is a Mason in high standing, being a Knight Templar, belongs to the Consistory and is a Shriner. His other connections are with the American Society of Engineers, Illinois Athletic Club of Chicago, the Sangamon Club and the Illini Country Club of Springfield, and the Coun- try Club of Decatur, and wherever lie is known he is universally admired, and liked, for he pos- sesses those characteristics which make for warm and enduring friendships.
HAMEL, Christopher .- Although some years have passed since death claimed him while in his prime, the late Christopher Hamel of Tay- lorville is not forgotten, nor is the influence of lis kindly life lost to posterity, for the example he set is remembered and followed. He was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, February 6, 1842, a son of Aaron and Harriet (Kelso) Hamel. The parents came to Greenwood Township, this county at an early day, entering land from the government, on which the father died, the mother tlen going to live with her son, Christo- pher Hamel, where she passed away. The father was a Democrat in politics.
Christopher Hamel was sixteen years old when the family came to Christian County, and after he had completed his schooling in this sec- tion, he taught school until 1861. With the out- break of the Civil War, he gave his support to the Union, and enlisted in Company K, Eighteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and served for four years. After his honorable dis- charge, he returned home, but after a time spent in Greenwood Township, he went to Nokomis, Ill .. later going to Taylorville. He then became bookkeeper for the Baxter Elevator Company, with which concern he remained for a number of years. For the following six years he was book- keeper in the sheriff's office and then went with the Adam Ritcher Elevator Company as book- keeper and held that position until his death which occurred in 1896.
On February 22, 1884, Mr. Hamel was mar- ried to Mrs. Nancy Milligan, a daughter of Wil- liam and Mary Hoskins of Indiana. These
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parents never came to Illinois, but died in Indiana. Mrs. Hamel was the widow of Amos Milligan, whom she married in 1872. He was born in Cambridge, Ohio, but came to Illinois with his brother when a boy, and located at Taylorville, where he entered the meat business, first with his brother, but later continued it alone and was so engaged at the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Milligan had four children, namely : Mrs. Mary Murphy, Julia, Samuel and Rachel. Mr. Hamel was a Democrat in political faitlı. For many years he was a valued member of the Cumberland Christian Church and took his religion into his everyday life.
HARDESTY, Jesse, for some years living in honorable retirement at Taylorville, but now deceased. was at one time one of the successful farmers of De Witt County and a man widely and favorably known throughout this district. He was born at Flaxton, Yorkshire, England, April 16, 1848, a son of John and Sarah (Fall) Hardesty, both natives of England.
During 1880, Jesse Hardesty came to the United States, and was engaged in farming in De Witt County, Ill., until 1902, in which year he retired and moved to Taylorville, where he lived until his death that occurred June 29, 1911. For many years he was a consistent mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. A strong Republican in national matters, locally lie preferred to exercise his own judgment as to the fitness of the man.
On February 28, 1868, Mr. Hardesty was mar- ried to Jane Scairfe, a daughter of William and Ann (Clark) Scairfe, natives of England. Mrs. Hardesty survives her husband and makes hier home at Taylorville. A quiet, steadfast man, Mr. Hardesty had the courage of his convic- tions and lived up to them in every particular. Honest to a fault he was thoroughly trust- worthy and earned and held the confidence and respect of all who knew him.
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HARDIN, Lewis W., one of the substantial farmers of South Fork Township, is a well known man in Christian County. IIe was born in Nicholas County, Ky., near Carlisle. October 26, 1844, a son of William and Patsy (Fleming) Hardin. The father was born in Virginia and the mother in Kentucky, the former having been brought from Virginia to Kentucky in boyhood by his parents, who bought land and lived on it the remainder of their lives. William Hardin bought land in Nicholas County, Ky .. and con- ducted farming operations on it until 1856 when he came to Illinois and located in South Fork Township, where he purchased 240 acres of land, to which he later added 240 acres. Here he died in 1874, aged sixty-six years. The mother also passed away on this farm in 1867. In politics the father was a Democrat.
Until he was twelve years old Louis W. Hardin lived in Kentucky, but at that time was brought to Christian County by his parents, and here completed his educational training, remain- ing with his father until the latter's death. At
that time he took charge of the homestead, where he still resides.
On September 9, 1869, Mr. Hardin was married to Miss Amanda Call, a daughter of Daniel and Julia (Bramlet ) Call, natives of Kentucky. The father was a blacksmith by trade, having a shop at Flat Rock, Ky., where he died. In 1865 the widowed mother and her children came to South Fork Township, and bought land at Palmer. where the mother later died. Two brothers of Mrs. Hardin are prominent contractors and builders at Lincoln, Neb. Mr. and Mrs. Hardin have two living children, namely: Effie, who married F. W. Hanauer; and Iva A., who mar- ried J. F. Lawrence, and has two children, Pauline and Dwight. Their second child, Wil- liam H., died at the age of eight years. Few men are better known in this section than Mr. Hardin and he is a recognized authority upon matters relating to farming and kindred subjects.
HARDY, Oliver, a farmer of Mt. Auburn, is one of the worthy men of Christian County. He was born in Shelby County, Ind., September 30, 1858. a son of George and Elizabeth (Marslı) Hardy, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio. Until he had attained his majority, Oliver Hardy lived at home. When his parents moved to Blue Mound, Ill., he rented a farm, and later bought 120 acres of land, adding to it and paying vary- ing prices, and has with the eighty acres in- herited by Mrs. Ilardy from her father's estate, 308 acres, and with his sons operates it.
It is interesting to note that Mr. Hardy was the first farmer in this section public spirited enough to donate the right of way through his property, to the railroad. When the road was opened, his daughter, Miss Cora May Hardy, was selected from among the young ladies of Mt. Auburn for the honor of blowing the first whistle of the first locomotive ever run over the newly completed road.
On November 4, 1880, Oliver Hardy was mar- ried to Florence Alice Jones at Mt. Auburn. She was born March 24, 1862, a daughter of Richard and Martha (Milligan) Jones, natives of Ken- tucky and Christian County, Ill., respectively. Mr. Jones was a prominent Democrat and he served as constable, tax collector and supervisor. He always was an active member of the Chris- tian Church, and Mrs. Jones also belonged to that church as does their daughter, Mrs. Hardy. Mr. Hardy is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Hardy have had the following children born to them : George R., who was born September 16, 1881, was married to Myrtle Marshall, and they have two children. Mary A. and Martha P. ; Martha E., who was born March 23, 1883, died October 23, 1883: Cora M., who was born January 4, 1885, was married to Frank Mulberry and they have two children, Dorothy and Francis: John, who was born April 29, 1887, was married to Ritta Beard and they have two children, John O. and Mar- cella ; Laura D., who is at home. Mr. Hardy owns stock in the First National Bank of Mt. Auburn, and is a man of means and prominence.
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In. A. Sanders
Salina m Sanders. Verna M. Sanders.
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
HARRIS, Tippo, one of the highly respected pioneers of Christian County, now deceased, came to this county with his parents in 1840. Silas Harris, his father, entered about 1,000 acres of land in May Township, a portion of which Tippo Harris owned until his death, which occurred March 17, 1907, when he was nearly eighty-one years old. His widow and three surviving children still own the old farm of 360 acres. When Tippo Harris, his parents and brothers and sisters came here from Dixon County, Tenn., they made the trip in wagons and drove their milch cows, some oxen and an ox cart and carryall. With them, they brought among other things fourteen feather beds. On their way to Illinois, they stopped at a camp- meeting and remained several days, the parents of Tippo Harris being Cumberland Presby- terians in religious faith. On arriving in May Township, in November, 1840, they pitched their tents on section 21, where they soon had their log house built, and they also put up a horse mill so they could grind their own corn. Meat was no object to them in those days as there was plenty of deer and wild turkeys. There were also plenty of wolves which howled around the log house at night.
Tippo Harris built a log schoolhouse on his farm and hired Dan Sanders as a teacher. Mr. Sanders died about 1915. another of the pioneers of Christian County to pass away. When Tippo Harris first arrived in Christian County, he found pioneer conditions prevailing, and he had to go on foot to St. Louis, driving cattle and hogs to market. Until Taylorville was founded, all provisions had to be hauled from Springfield. A brother-in-law of Tippo Harris, David Rut- ledge, was quite a Nimrod, and he killed forty- eight deer in one winter in addition to quite a number of smaller game. Tippo Harris and his brother Edwin, when they were boys, agreed with John Nickelson to feed 100 head of cattle. They had to haul shock corn with oxen one mile, and drive the cattle one mile to Flat Branch and cut the ice to water them. They had no overcoats or overshoes then, just low shoes, and sometimes the snow was two feet deep. There was no agreement as to what price they were to receive for their lahor, and in the spring Mr. Nickelson wanted them to settle for $25. As this did not seem enough for their winter's work, they decided to bring suit against him, and hired H. M. Vandeveer for their attorney, and Mr. Nickelson had Abraham Lincoln for his attorney. The Harris boys won their case and received $50 for their winter's work.
Tippo Harris was married in 1850 to Mary J. Harker, and one son, Charles T. Harris, was born to them. He is married and lives in Ne- braska. When he was very small. Charles T. Harris' mother died. In 1858, Tippo Harris was married (second) to Mary J. Wellar, of Mercer County, Pa., and they had five children, namely : George H., Isabella, Susie M., J. E., and Nettie. The mother of these children is eighty-two years of age. For the last twenty- six years of Tippo Harris' life he was blind
and he was very patient and kind to his family during his sad affliction.
During the Civil War when considerable law- lessness prevailed, Tippo Harris was robbed by burglars who forced him to hand over $135, and George H. Harris lost fifty cents which he had been hoarding in the clock. It is interesting to note that the clock that proved so poor a safety deposit vault, is still in Mr. Harris' possession. After the formation of the Republican party, Tippo Harris supported its principles, and he was a man of considerable moment in the com- munity during his active years.
George H. Harris, with his brother John and sisters Susie. Isabella and Nettie, grew up onl the homestead and took care of their father during his helpless years. After his death, the two brothers and the only surviving sister, Miss Susie M., and the widowed mother conducted the farm. The other sisters are deceased, Isa- bella dying at the age of thirty-three years, and Nettie dying at the age of twenty-five years. Miss Susie is an artist in crayon work and a cultivated lady. John E. Harris is assessor of May Township, being a Republican. George H. Harris is a Democrat. They all belong to the Presbyterian Church.
The Bachelor Button Poultry and Game Farm, conducted by the Harris brothers, special- izes on Reeves pheasants which are all bred from the finest stock in America. All varieties listed are regularly carried in stock. In poultry the following breeds are carried : Buff rocks, barred rocks. S. S. Hamburgs, white wyandottes, white crested black Polish, Japanese pheanox fowl, buff cochin bantam and golden sebright bantam. The breeds of turkeys are the mammoth bronze and the white holland. They also carry wild turkeys, wild geese, wild mallard ducks, wild Egyptian geese, pin tail ducks, Chinese R. neck, golden pheasants, English pheasants, silver pheasants, Reeves pheasants, Lady Amhersts, muscovy ducks white brant or snow geese, tiger brant and Australian ducks.
HART, Bertrand D., proprietor of Hart's Recre- ation Park and the Riverside Water Mill, located one and one-half miles northeast of Roby, Ill., is one of the progressive young business men of Christian County, and one who is doing much to attract fresh capital to his section. He was born in Sangamon County, Ill., April 29, 1876. Reared in his native county, he attended the schools of his district, and engaged in farming until 1902 when he went to Wyoming and homesteaded a tract on which he lived until 1913, going into the Big Horn basin, ninety-two miles from a rail- road. Leaving Wyoming in 1913. he came to Christian County, Ill., and bought fifty-five acres of land in Mt. Auburn Township, fifteen acres of which are devoted to park purposes. This park is kept open during June, July, August and September, and is lighted by electricity. It is one of the finest parks of its kind in this part of the state, and when his plans are completed, will be the largest. Already he has installed many modern improvements and by care and
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close attention, he has kept his park free from many of the abuses common to such places, and it is patronized by family parties as well as those composed of young people.
In 1898 Mr. Hart was married to Rena L. Dill, and they have two children, namely : Fern and Floyd. In politics he is a Republican, and his fraternal associations are with the Modern Woodmen of America. His enterprise is very praiseworthy, and in his work of providing a pleasant, clean and convenient place for the people of his neighborhood to enjoy healthful outdoor pleasures, he is a public benefactor.
HART, Capt. Henry P., president of the Chris- tian County Sunday School Association, a vet- eran of the Civil War, and a man of the highest standing, is affectionately and gratefully re- membered by many of Christian County's lead- ing native sons and daughters, as the learned, patient and kindly educator who guided their youthful minds along the paths of learning. He was born at Rochester, N. Y., May 30, 1839, a son of William B. and Phoebe M. (Dewey) Hart, natives of Western New York. The father was a physician who came to Illinois, locating in McHenry County in 1849, becoming the leading physician of Woodstock and Greenwood, where he continued in active practice for many years. His death occurred at the extreme old age of ninety-nine years, on February 12, 1911. Retir- ing from active practice at the age of eighty years, he found his mentality so active that in order to provide himself with some engrossing interest. he began the study of astronomy, and followed that science for years.
Prof. Henry P. Hart, as he is affectionately termed by many of his old pupils, attended the village schools of Woodstock and Greenwood, and when only eighteen years old began teach- ing, and so continued for forty-one years, having schools in McHenry, Sangamon, Menard and Christian counties, and was principal of the school at Edinburg and that at Salisbury. When his country had need of him, he enlisted for serv- ice during the Civil War, August 9, 1862, in Com- pany H, Ninety-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and in the following March was transferred to the Forty-eighth United States Colored Infan- try, in which he rose to the rank of captain. He served over three years, and his last service was rendered at the capture of Mobile, Ala., in 1865. In 1877 he located in Christian County and taught school at various points until he was seventy years old, at which time he retired from the schoolroom. When he was fifty-three years old he was honored by appointment to the presi- dency of the County Association of Sun- day Schools of Christian County, and helped to bring this county to a foremost place among the Sunday schools of the state. In 1903 he was made president of the Illinois State Sunday School Association and in 1904 was sent as spe- cial delegate to the World's Fourth Sunday School Convention at Jerusalem at an expense of $700.00. When he was elected president of the County Sunday School Association for the
twenty-fifth time, the Sunday Schools of this county presented him with a new Ford car. The Methodist Church has held his membership for many years.
On August 20, 1862. Captain Hart was mar- ried to Mary A. Beach of near Springfield, a daughter of J. W. and Christiana Beach. Their children were as follows : Henry, William, May, . .Julia, Benjamin, Walter and Bertrand, of whom William and May are deceased.
HARTEL, Jacob L., one of Buckhart Town- ship's representative farmers, owns and operates 200 acres of fine land on section 3. He was born in Wayne County, Ohio, August 25, 1857, a son of Jacob and Barbara (Lefevre) Hartel. The father was born in Germany, and the mother in Lancaster, Pa. When he was three years old, the father was brought on a sailing vessel from Germany to New York City, by his parents, and they located at that point, remain- ing there for three years, leaving then for Wayne County, Ohio. In that new home, land was entered from the government. There the grandfather, George Hartel died, the grand- mother passing away at Apple Creek, in the same county. After the death of George Hartel, the old farm was sold, and Jacob and George Hartel operated the farm in partnership for some years. Jacob Hartel then sold to his brother, and bought land in Holmes County, Ohio, living on it for some time, when he sold the farm and moved to Macon County, Ill .. buy- ing another farm on the county line between Macon and Piatt counties. This farm was not far from Cerro Gordo, and the family lived there for seven years, when another change was made, the father again selling and moving to Buck- hart Township, where he bought a farm three- quarters of a mile west of the present farm of Jacob Hartel. Jr. There the father died at the age of sixty-three years, and the mother also passed away on this farm. The father was a Democrat, and belonged to the Reformed Church.
Jacob L. Hartel spent his boyhood on his father's farm in Buckhart Township, and at- tended the local schools and helped at home. When he was twenty-eight years old. he rented land in Mt. Auburn Township and operated it for six years, and then spent six years in Mos- quito Township. In 1894 he bought eighty acres of his present farm, adding to it until he has now 200 acres of fine land. On it is a very commodious house which he built, and his other buildings are substantial and convenient. His fraternal connections are with the Masons, Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America. The Methodist Church holds his membership.
In 1884 Mr. Hartel was married to Sarah Jane Deeren, a daughter of William and Maria (Scott) Deeren. The parents were both born in Guernsey County, Ohio, as was Mrs. Hartel, but left Ohio in 1864, coming to Buffalo, Ill. They bought a farm in Buckhart Township, which they later sold and bought eighty acres near the Buckhart Church, where the mother
RESIDENCE OF HENRY N. SCHUYLER, PANA Destroyed by fire January 24, 1915
HENRY N. SCHUYLER
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
died at the age of sixty-eight years. The father survives and makes his home near Sharpsburg, Ill., living with his son, James. Mr. and Mrs. Hartel have three children, namely : Melvin F., Carrie J., and William Earl. Mr. Hartel is a self-made man and deserves full credit for what he has accomplished, for he started out in life without any means, and now is the owner of a fine farm.
HAVERFIELD, Samuel N., clerk both of the city and township of Assumption, and one of the leaders of the Republican party in this locality, is held in the highest esteem by all who know him. He was born in Mercer County, Ill., Janu- ary 7, 1855, a son of W. S. and Ruhama (Nash) Haverfield, natives of Ohio, where the father was born in 1812. He was graduated from col- lege at Cadiz, Ohio, at which place he was mar- ried and lived for a number of years, following farming and sheep raising. Although in com- fortable circumstances, he decided to make a change and move to Illinois, and started to drive a large flock of sheep overland, but lost many on the trip. Locating in Mercer County, he contin- ued farming, and also did considerable building under contract, living in Mercer County until 1859, when he went to Randolph County, Ill., and continued in the contracting business until 1862. In the fall of that year he came to Christian County, and followed the same line of business until 1868. when he moved to Macon County, Ill., and still did contracting and building until 1875. At that time he went to Rush County, Kas., and took up a claim, and lived there until his death. The mother survived him for five years. The father was a Presbyterian, and a fine Christian man. In politics he was a Republican. Of their eight sons and four daughters, five are now liv- ing, namely : Hannah, who is the wife of George A. Pulham, of Santa Monica, Cal., a veteran of the Civil War ; T. Haverfield, who is a Methodist minister stationed at Osceola, Iowa; S. N .; Robert, who is a farmer of Greeley, Kas .; and Elmer E., who is a farmer of Ashville, Kas. John L. and Alvin Haverfield served during the Civil War, and the former was killed on a hat- tlefield, and the latter was killed at Macon, Ill., in 1877.
Samuel N. Haverfield remained with his father until he attained his majority, and at- tended the public schools of Illinois and took a year's course at Normal, Ill. For twenty-five years he taught school. and at the same time discharged the duties of city and township clerk. He then became interested in the insurance busi- ness and selling fire and commercial insurance and dealing in real estate, and was made a notary public. For the past twenty years he has held his present offices, and gives universal satis- faction.
On August 7, 1875, Mr. Haverfield was mar- ried to Nellie Snell, who was reared in Shelby County, and attended the public schools here. They have six living children, namely : Clara, who is the wife of George Devoe, of Blooming-
ton, Ill .; Ira S., who is a Methodist minister stationed at Paris, Ill. ; Orville, who was gradu- ated from the grade and high schools of Chris- tian County, and the medical department of the St. Louis (Mo.) University, is practicing medi- cine at Ilardin, Mont .; Maude, who is the wife of Emery Mecitrich, a farmer located near Bill- ings, Mont .; Lyle E., who is a student in the medical department of the St. Louis University : and Mabel A., who is a student in Millikin Uni- versity. The family belong to the Methodist Church. Mr. Haverfield is a member of Brown- ville Lodge, No. 451, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which he was secretary for seven years ; and of Tecumseh Lodge, No. 683, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past noble grand, and has been secretary for the past six years ; and of Blue Grass Lodge, Knights of Pythias, being very popular in these orders, as he is socially and in business circles, for his is a personality that makes and retains friends.
HAYWARD, John A., who, as colonel of the Fifth Illinois militia won state-wide attention, was for many years one of the substantial men of Pana, and one who was held in the highest respect by all who had the honor of his acquaint- ance. He was born October 12. 1848, a son of John S. and Harriet F. (Comstock) Hayward, of Hillsboro, Ill. The father was a very prominent man in this section of the state.
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