USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 56
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On December 26, 1900, Mr. Hunsley was mar- ried to Miss Louemma Cantrill, a daughter of James and Ann (Waters) Cantrill, who formerly lived near Rochester, Sangamon County, Ill., but later moved to Edinburg, Ill., where the father established himself in a dry goods business and operated it for a number of years. He then sold his business and retired.
Mr. and Mrs. Hunsley have had seven children. as follows: E. Neal, H. Noal. J. Llywellyn, Park B., Wilmer C., Leveta IS. and Elizabeth Ann. Wilmer C. took first prize for being the most perfect boy baby between the ages of twenty-four and thirty-six months at the Illinois State Fair held in 1915. there being ninety-seven babies contesting. He tested up ninety-seven and one- half perfect. He also received a bronze medal and first prize for being the most perfect rural hoy baby. The family are very proud of the fact that one of the children received such recog- mition, but all of them are fine specimens, and the older ones are doing well at school.
Ifraternally Mr. Hunsley belongs to the Ma- sons, Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America. The Methodist Church holds his membership.
HUNSLEY, Thomas, now engaged in profitable farming operations on Section 9. Buckhart Township, is one of the substantial men of Christian County. He was born in Lincolnshire. England, August 5, 1842, near Caister, a son oť William and Jane (Barker) Hunsley. The par- ents were natives of England, the father being in charge of the farming operations of Thomas Barker and Squire Fields in his native land. On June 1. 1850. he set sail for the United States and landed at New York City on July 4, from
the sailing vessel St. George, which had con- sumed one month and four days in the passage. From New York City he came to Springfield, Ohio, and remained there until April, 1854, then he bought 160 acres of land ten miles east of Springfield, Ill., which were covered with timber, this being state land, for which he paid twelve and a half cents per acre. From the time of his arrival at Springfield, Ill., he had been en- gaged in teaming. In order to secure ready money to make improvements on his land, he cut cord wood for the engines of the Great West- ern Railroad, accomplishing two purposes, clear- ing off his land and making something extra. On March 15, 1861, he traded his farm for 160 acres in Buckhart Township, and died on his new farm on August 15 of that year. The mother died May 19, 1886, having later married W. B. Franklin, of Buckhart Township, who died in 186S. The father voted for John C. Fremont for president in 1856, and in 1860 for Abraham Lincoln. The Methodist Church held his membership.
Thomas Hunsley's boyhood was spent on the farms owned by his father, and he attended school when opportunity offered, and then r'e- mained with his mother until 1866, when he moved on an eighty-acre farm on the county line between Sangamon and Christian counties, and remained there until 1876, when he built his present large brick house on Section 9, Buckhart Township. He has also built barns, and has added to his acreage until he has now 658 acres. 148 in South Fork Township, and the remainder in Buckhart and Cooper townships.
On December 25, 1865, Mr. Hunsley was mar- ried in Springfield, Ill., to Miss Anna S. Saun- ders, born August 27, 1845, in Wisconsin, a daughter of John and Catherine (Cagle) Saun- ders, of Buckhart Township. Mr. and Mrs. HIunsley have had the following children : John W., born October 7. 1866, married Liddie Wanick. and they have eight children. Forest, Glenn, Merl, Bernice, Basil, Laura, Elbert and Doris : Charles H., born May 12, 1868, married Amanda Smith, and they have three children, Anna M., Ray and Harlan ; Thomas B., born February 7, 1870. married Ella Hunt, and they have two chil- dren. Francis and Loren ; George, born January 9, 1872, married Florence Wade, and they have one child. Gale T .; Olive, born March 14, 1874, married W. T. Conneil; Ernest A., horn Septem- ber 9, 1876, married Loemma Cantrall. and they have seven children, Neal, Noel, Llewellyn, Park, Cantrall, Ernstine and Elizabeth ; Mabel R., born Marchi 4, 1878. died June 14, 1901; Annita, born July 2, 1880, married C. E. Aull, and they have six children, Vincent, Mabel, Olive. Cecil, Donald and Raymond ; Roy E., born August 20, 1882, married Alene DeFrates; Albert J., horn July 7. 1884, married Chelsa McArthur; and Ruby A., born April 20, 1887, married Marie Matthew, and they have one child, Alan. Mr. Hunsley is a Democrat in politics and belongs to the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America. IIe attends the Methodist Church.
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HUNSLEY, Thomas Barker, who is rightly num- bered among the leading farmers of Buckhart Township, is operating 335 acres of land. He was born in Cooper Township, Sangamon County, Ill., February 7, 1870, a son of Thomas and Anna (Saunders) Hunsley, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work, they hav- ing borne an important part in the development of Christian County.
Thomas Barker Hunsley attended the schools of his native township, and remained at home until he attained his majority. At that time he was married and renting land, began farming on his own account. This land was a portion of his father's farm, and he lived on it for a year, and then rented the Riley Richardson farm in South Fork Township for a year. The following two years were spent on the Reefy farm in South Fork Township, when he again rented from his father, and he now operates his land as a general farmer, and is very successful for he understands his business. Hle belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, Royal Neighbors and A. H. T. & A., and is a Democrat and a Methodist.
On September 23, 1891. Mr. Hunsley was married to Miss Ella Hunt of South Fork Town- ship, who was born August 3, 1871, a daughter of Frank M. and Helen (Staples) Hunt. Mr. Hunt was born in Tennessee and came overland in a wagon to Illinois when a small boy with his parents who located in South Fork Town- ship, there remaining for a number of years, his parents going to Kansas, where the grandfather died, the grandmother dying near Sharpsburg. Ill. During the Civil War Mr. Hunt enlisted in 1863, in the One Hundred and Sixth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, and was a faithful soldier, his enlistment taking place at Lincoln, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Hunsley have had three chil- dren, as follows: Errol B., born May 1, 1897, died in infancy ; Francis L., born October 3, 1898; and Loren E., born August 25, 1901.
HUNT, Isaac Newton, now deceased, was for many years one of the leading agriculturalists of Christian County, and a man widely known and universally respected. His farm was lo- cated in Greenwood Township, but for a time prior to his death he lived in retirement at Taylorville. He was born in Sangamon County, Ill .. October 14, 1860, a son of Gaychan and Maria (Peu) Hunt. The father was a farmer of Greenwood Township, this county, where he died at the age of sixty years. The mother sur- vived him, and made her home at the residence of her son, Isaac, until her demise when she was eighty-two years old. The father was a Democrat in politics, and a Baptist in religious faith.
Isaac Newton Hunt passed his boyhood in Greenwood Township, where he attended the public schools. For a number of years he rented land, and then moved to Bates County, Wis .. where he operated a farm for five years, then returning to Greenwood Township, where he
continued his farming for some years. His death occurred when he was forty-two years old.
In 1894 Mr. IIunt was married to Nancy Elizabeth Schafer, a daughter of Henry J. and Annora (Simpson) Schafer of Greenwood Town- ship. Henry J. Schafer was born in Wheeling, W. Va., and his wife in Illinois. He came to Illinois in young manhood, and after his mar- riage, located at Grove City, Ill., where he operated a farm, and remained until lris death. After the demise of his first wife, he again married. He lived to be ninety-one years old. His widow survives, and lives on the homestead. The children of the father by both marriages were as follows : Louisa, Casper, Lucinda. Nancy E., Joseph, Sarah L., Mary E., Amanda who died in infancy, and Charles W.
Mr. and Mrs. Hunt became the parents of the following children : James H., Sarah L., Wil- liam, Joseph, Samuel C., Nora E. and Clara E. After the death of Mr. Hunt, Mrs. Hunt lived on the farm in Greenwood Township. She carried the mail from Vandeveer to Taylorville for three years, and then moved to Taylorville where she bought a residence. Here she was married (second) to a Mr. Thompson, who died a short time after.
HUNTER, John Clarence, familiarly known as "Cal." Hunter, is one of the substantial and popular farmers of Rosamond Township, whose fine farm is located on section 5. He was born in Noble County, Ohio, March 28, 1854. a son of Thornton and Catherine (Priest) IIunter, who came to Christian County in the spring of 1856, first stopping in Locust Township, but a few years later going to Rosamond Township where they lived until they retired and moved to Taylorville. There the father died when he was about seventy-eight years old, and she passed away when sixty-six years old. They had eight children, of whom John C. Hunter is the eldest.
Being only two years old at the time of the family migration to Christian County, Mr. Hun- ter has spent practically all his life here, and is thoroughly identified with this locality. Since attaining to mature years he has been engaged in general farming and stock raising, and owns and operates 240 acres of fine land his industry and thrift have developed into a very valuable property.
On December 21, 1882. Mr. Hunter was mar- ried at Taylorville, to Miss Cora I. Large, born November 13, 1862, a daughter of Richard and Margaret (Magennis) Large. Mrs. Hunter was born and reared in Locust Township. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter became the parents of five children. as follows: Glen S., born May S, 1884, who is a farmer of Locust Township, married Bessie Coffin-issue, Kenneth M., Margaret I. and Kathryn; Blanche, born March 7, 1887 ; Verna, born September 26, 1890; Wayne, born June 11, 1894, and Merle, born May 4, 1902, died Novem- ber 23, 1902. The family belong to the Buckeye Methodist Church. Mr. Hunter is a very reliable
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and capable man and stands high in public esteem. He is a member of the Court of Honor.
HUNTER, Thornton, now deceased, lived for some years prior to his death, in honorable re- tirement at Taylorville, but was for many years a well known and successful agriculturalist. He was born in Ohio, March 5, 1835, a son of Wil- liam and Susan (Butler) Hunter. The father was born in Ohio, December 15, 1811, and the mother was born near Dover, Ohio. August 13, 1811. The father was a farmer, who in 1853 moved to Buckeye Prairie, Ill., and took up gov- ernment land, which he improved, and there died, having been a Methodist for many years. In politics he was a Republican. He and his wife were married December 25, 1831.
Thornton Hunter was reared in Ohio, and there educated. He was married (first) to Cath- erine Priest, a daughter of William and Mar- . garet (McGuire) Priest, and they lived for a number of years on the farm of Mr. Priest. Later Mr. Hunter bought his father's farm in Buckeye Prairie, where he lived until 1887, when he moved to Taylorville. and lived retired. Here he lost by death his first wife, and he married (second) in 1900. Miss Eva Churchman, a daughter of Jacob and Letitia (McGuire) Churchman. Mr. and Mrs. Churchman were na- tives of Pennsylvania where they married and engaged in farming. Later they moved to Dover, Ohio, but shortly returned to Pennsylvania and then came back to Dover. Mr. Churchman died in West Virginia, and Mrs. Churchman then came with her family to Buckeye Prairie. Slie later married (second) James Law, and both died in Illinois, she being ninety-two years old at the time of her death in March. 1912. This remarkable woman had thirteen children, nine by her first husband, and four by her second, they being as follows: Mary Jane, Catherine, Mary, Elizabeth Jane. Mary Ann, Caroline, Eva, Lavina, Sarah H., Martha and Eliza (twins) , John and Hannah. By his first marriage, Mr. Hunter had eight children as follows: John C .; Merriam, who died May 7, 1857; Laura; Mar- guerite; William P., who died May 17, 1864; Carrie, who died October 16, 1902; Edward T .; and Emma L., who died December 9, 1882. Mr. Hunter died in 1912. aged seventy-seven years. He was a Mason in high standing. The Metho- dist Church held his membership. In politics he was a Republican, and in every way he meas- ured up to high standards as a man and a citizen.
HUTCHINS, Moses, one of the wealthy farmers of Christian County, now residing at Pana, was born in Madison County, Ill., January 10, 1845. a son of William and Matilda (Dorsey) Hutch- ins. The father was born in Saint Marys County, Md., in 1802, and died in Madison County, Ill., in 1887. He was a farmer who came to Illinois in 1844, locating in Madison County. near Edwardsville, where he bought forty acres of land. During the earlier years of his settle- ment he and his family passed through all the
hardships incident to that locality and period, but in time he prospered and added 120 acres, increasing his farm to 160 acres. In politics he was Republican in sentiment and practice, and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church held his membership. The mother was born in Calvert County, Md., and died in Madison County, Ill., in 1868.
Moses Hutchins was educated in the district schools of Madison County, and there began operating as a farmer and stockraiser, so con- tinuing until 1868, when he came to Christian County, and bought 280 acres in Rosemond Town- ship, where he spent three years. Later he bought 280 acres on Section 22 the same town- ship, and made that farm his home until 1894, when he came to Pana, Ill., to live. In addition to that farm, he owns about 1,000 acres in Fay- ette County, Ill., 1,000 acres in Jackson County, Ark., 500 acres in Cross County, Ark., all of which he either cultivates or rents. He built his handsome residence in Pana at No. 408 Spruce Street in 1893, and has made it his home ever since 1894. His political ideas find expression in the principles of the Republican party. In the Presbyterian Church he finds his religious home.
On February 22, 1871, Mr. Hutchins was mar- ried in Madison County, Ill., to Sarah J. Esta- brook, a daughter of John and Nancy ( White) Estabrook. Mrs. Hutchins died at Pana, July 5, 1914, having been born in Madison County. Her father was born at Boston, Mass., and died in Madison County, Ill., in 1882, having been one of the pioneer settlers of Madison County, arriv- ing there in 1818. He homesteaded 160 acres. Her mother was born in North Carolina, and died in Madison County, in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchins had the following children: Clara May, who was born May 1. 1873, married John Eichelberger, a drug clerk of Pana; Emaline Matilda, who was born in Madison County, May 20, 1875, married Abram Burt, in the real estate and insurance business at Pana ; William, who was born in Christian County, in 1877, died in 1878; Sadie, named for her mother, who was born in Christian County in September, 1879, died in Madison County in 1880; and Bessie Estabrook, who was born in Christian County, April 29, 1886, is at home.
INMAN, Drew, now deceased, was one of the broad-minded, charitable men of his times, who was not content to simply make a success of his business but sought to extend his influence over others along philanthropical lines. He was horn at Drew's Landing, Ark., November 4, 1848, and named after the famous Arkansas gover- nor. Drew, and was a son of Martin and Mary (Lafferty) Inman. He died at Pana, Ill .. Jan- uary 26, 1916.
Drew Inman attended the public schools of Shawneetown. Ill., and then took a commercial course at Bryant & Stratton's Business College at Chicago. Having thus prepared himself, he went into business with his father in his native town. He was also in business in St. Louis, Mo .. and Clinton. Ill. In 1891, he moved his interests
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MAHALA K. SHELDON
MARY ISABELLA SHELDON
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
to Joliet, Ill., becoming quite prominent in a mercantile line in all these places. In 1903, he found a suitable opening at Pana and moved liis business to this city. Owing to his ill health his wife had charge of the business during the last three years of his life, and is now in control, being one of the competent business wonien modern times are developing.
Mr. and Mrs. Inman became the parents of the following children: Blanchida, who is Mrs. Ar- thur Kane of Pana ; Guydell, who is Mrs. Carl Little of McLean, Ill. ; and Joliwill, who is at St. Louis, Mo.
Mr. Inman was a Methodist and was deeply interested in the work of the Y. M. C. A. The Republican party held his membership and re- ceived his support. Fraternally he was an Elk, Odd Fellow and Knight of Pythias.
JEISY, John H., now a retired farmer of Kincaid, Ill., was formerly a prosperous agriculturalist of South Fork Township. He was born near Basel, Switzerland, November 6, 1836, a son of Christopher and Margaret (Wirth) Jeisy. The parents were both born in Switzerland, where they were married, and in 1854 they came to the United States, in a sailing vessel, landing at New Orleans. From that city they came up the Mississippi on a river boat to St. Louis, Mo., where they spent a short time, and then trav- eled on the Illinois River, as far as Columbia, Ill., where they landed and drove overland to Carrollton, Ill., and for a number of years there- after the father worked among the Greene County farmers. Finally he went to Shelby County, Ill., after the death of the mother, and lived until his death with his daughter, Mrs. George Winter.
John H. Jeisy spent his boyhood in Germany, where he attended school, and was seventeen years old when he came with his parents to the United States. In 1863 Mr. Jeisy came to South Fork Township and for four years rented land, when he bought forty acres, to which he added until he had 1071% acres, a part of which is now included in Jeisyville, which was named in honor of him. In 1906 Mr. Jeisy retired, moved to Tay- lorville and bought a residence, but several years later came to Kincaid where he built his present fine residence. In 1914 Mr. and Mrs. Jeisy cele- brated their golden wedding anniversary. They spend their winters in Pensacola, Fla.
In 1864 Mr. Jeisy was married to Miss Cath- erine Messerschmidt, a daughter of Gustus and Catherine (Hartner) Messerschmidt, natives of Germany who came to the United States after their marriage, and after a short stay at Balti- more, Md., came west to Greene County, Ill., where they were early settlers, and there Mrs. Jeisy was born. Mr. and Mrs. Jeisy became the parents of seven children, namely: Grant and William, twins, Justice, George, John, Mrs. Louisa Alstot, of Taylorville Township, and Wesley. In politics Mr. Jeisy has been a Repub- lican since he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and while on the farm he served his township as commissioner for nine years, and
was also on the school board, being a very effi- cient official, and capable man in every respect.
JENKINS, George Ross, Justice of the Peace and police magistrate, at Assumption, is one of the substantial men of Christian County. He was born in Rural Township, Shelby County, Ill., October 13, 1860, a son of Jackson L. and Harriet (Van Loon) Jenkins, natives of Ohio. When he was a small boy, Jackson L. Jenkins was brought to Illinois by his parents, the trip being made overland with ox-teams. Settlement was made in Ogle County, Ill., where the parents took up government land to the extent of eighty acres in 1848. On it they built a two-room frame house, and lived in it until 1856, when they sold their land for $20 an acre, and moved to Rural Township, Shelby County, and bought 126 acres of land. To this they added until they had 224 acres, and they remained on it until the death of the father, forty-four years later, in 1903, when he was seventy-eight years old. The mother died October 7, 1861. The father carried the first mail from Chicago to Oregon, Ill., on horseback. His brother Lamoile was the first white child born at Oregon, Ill., his playmates being Indian children and he learned to speak their language. His educational training was obtained in a log school house. For years he served as road com- missioner, being elected on the Democratic ticket. The Christian Church had in him an earnest member, and he was one of the founders of the church of this denomination at Hinton, Ill. By his first marriage, the father had the following children : John W., who died in 1915; Rebecca R. Siever ; William W. ; and George R. His sec- ond wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah E. Downs, was the widow of Alexander Travis, and a daughter of Daniel Downs, and was born in Shelby County. Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins had the following children : Alice E., Frank, Emma Moore, Chester C., Effie E., Edith McKee and Lloyd B.
Growing up in Rural Township, George Ross Jenkins attended its public schools, and worked for his father until he attained his majority. He then bought a farm in that township, and added later on eighty acres to his original pur- chase of forty acres, operating this farni for twenty years. In 1904 he moved to Assumption, bought five acres of land, and on it built a com- fortable residence. He represents the North- western National Life Assurance Company, and deals in chattel mortgages, makes collections, is secretary of the Merchants' Association, and is a man of high standing. A Democrat, he was elected a justice of the peace, and appointed police magistrate of Assumption in 1905.
In 1888 Mr. Jenkins was married to Miss Mary E. Huffer, a daughter of Josiah and Mary (Carr) Huffer, natives of Ohio and Shelby County, respectively. Mr. Huffer came to Shelby County at an early day, making the trip over- land, and operated land in Prairie Township, which he owned. Both he and the mother died in this township. Mrs. Jenkins was born in Prairie Township, Shelby County, and for some
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
years prior to her marriage, was a teacher in the public schools.
JOHNS, Robert, one of the leading business men of Pana, and a man of good executive abil- ity, has long been numbered among the repre- sentative men of Christian County. He was born near Greencastle, Ind., January 4, 1850, a son of Stephen M. and Sarah (Parks) Johns, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. After their marriage near Oxford. Ohio. the father operated a flour and saw-mill and later engaged in farming. leaving Indiana in 1862, and coming to Pana Township, Christian County, Ill., where he died a few years later. He and his wife had nine sons and two daugli- ters.
Robert Johns remained in Indiana until 1862, when he came to Illinois, and after a short time spent at Litchfield, located at Pana, where he resumed his studies in the public schools, going to the State University at Champaign, Ill., dur- ing 1870-1, and still later he took a course in a night school at Nokomis, Ill., and Springfield, I11. He and his brother operated as lumber mer- chants at Nokomis, Ill., for several years, selling their business in 1879 to the Paddock Lumber Company. In the meantime, they had sustained in 1876 a severe loss by fire, which left them in debt many thousands of dollars, but they wiped out this indebtedness, and when they sold their Nokomis lumber yard, they established a similar one at Pana, and operated it until 1881, when Robert Johns bought his brother's interest, and continued in active management of it until 1896, when he sold to the Phelps Lumber Company. In the meanwhile he had become interested in the electric light plant of Pana, and assumed charge of it, developing it into one of the best in this part of the state. His building activities have been many and varied, for he has always had faith in the future of Pana, although when he came here there were but few brick buildings in the place.
In 1880 Mr. Johns was married to Miss Nora Ekridge. a daughter of Mrs. Mary S. Ekridge of Pana. With the birth of a son, fifteen months after her marriage, Mrs. Johns died and her infant with her. In 1890 Mr. Johns was married (second) to Miss Augusta Flemming, a daughter of J. B. and Mary Flemming of Pana. Mr. and Mrs. Johns have two children, namely : Ruth and Helen. Mr. Johns is a Mason having at- tained to the Knight Templar degree, and be- longs to the Commandery at Mattoon, Ill. ; he is also a member of the Elks. In politics he is a Republican. A man of untiring energy he has not only been able to advance his own interests, but those of his community as well and he is a valued adjunct to the city and county.
JOHNSON, Elias James, now deceased, belonged to one of the pioneer families of Illinois, and during his lifetime was one of the honored resi- dents of Christian County. He was born near Mechanicsburg, Sangamon County, Ill., April 10, 1841, a son of Daniel Johnson. The parents
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