USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 61
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On February 10, 1910. Mr. Leinhart was mar- ried to Mrs. Cassie E. Bates of Lexington, Neb., an old schoolmate. They had no children. For many years a Mason, Mr. Leinhart had risen in the order, and was a Knight Templar and Shriner. The Masons had charge of his funeral ceremonies. While not a member of any reli- gious denomination, he attended the services of the Free Methodist Church, and contributed very generously towards its support. Death came quickly and painlessly to Mr. Leinhart on, Sep- tember 28, 1915, he dying of heart failure. When the news of his sudden demise was made public, the people of Taylorville were shocked, and when his remains were laid to rest, a huge concourse gathered to pay the last respects to a man who had won and held the confidence and affection of the community, as well as of a wide circle of intimate friends.
LEMASTER, Euphratus Smith, was for many years a leading agriculturist of Illinois, who spent his declining years in comfortable retire- ment at Taylorville. He was born at Clermont. Ohio, July 15, 1822, a son of Isaac and Eliza- beth (Rounds) Lemaster. The father was born in Kentucky, while the mother was born at Portland, Me., in 1800. Jacob Lemaster, the paternal grandfather, located in Clermont County, Ohio, bringing his son Isaac with him from Kentucky, and there he entered govern- inent land, and after developing and improv- ing it, lived in comfort upon it for a number of years. Finally he came to Illinois and entered government land in Morgan County, but later sold it, and went to Pike County, Ill. Jacob Lemaster later moved to Shelbyville, Ind., where he bought land and finally died there, as did his wife. Isaac Lemaster died in Pike County, Ill .. in 1842, aged forty-five years.
Euphratus Smith Lemaster grew to manhood in Ohio and Illinois, later going to Indiana, where he remained from 1849 to August, 1854, in which year he returned to Illinois, and bought land in Greene County. Here he laid out one section of Greenfield, and lived at this point for twenty-six years, at one time owning 350 acres of land. Selling his property, he came to John-
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son Township, Christian County, buying at first 160 acres, but adding to his farm until he owned an entire section or 640 acres. After ten years upon this property, in February, 1891, he moved to Taylorville, where he bought a residence and lived there until his death. He became interested in a tile factory, and conducted it for some time before his final retirement. A man of large means and generous impulses, he assisted in building the soldiers' monument at Taylorville, and was interested in other local matters. His death occurred in 1908 when he was eighty-six years old.
In 1849 Mr. Lemaster was married at Brazil, Ind., to Melissa Donham, a daughter of William and Sarah (Arthur) Donham, descendants along one line of the same ancestry as George Wash- ington. The father of Mrs. Lemaster was born in Ohio, and the mother in Virginia. After marriage Mr. Donham operated a sawmill at Terre Haute, Ind., where he died in 1849, the mother surviving until 1863, when she too passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Lemaster had the following family : Isabel Jane, who married John Coon- rod in 1887, and they had one child, Annis, who married Werner Beerli, of Swiss ancestry ; Charles Cephas, who is a resident of Johnson Township; Nathan, who lives in Missouri, has one son, George : Sadie, who married Ed Wins- low, lives at Taylorville, and is the mother of three sons, Smith, Victor and Leslie; Elizabeth, who married Bruce Range, died in 1890, having had five children, namely: Bert. Edith, and Wilbur, the last named a lieutenant of light ar- tillery in the U. S. army, having seen service in the Mexican campaign; Lucy, who lives in Greene County, Ill .; and Charles, who is a wire- less operator in the United States army.
Mr. Lemaster's name will always be associated with Taylorville as one of its important addi- tions is named after him, having been platted by him from some Bond County acreage he bought in the vicinity of Taylorville, and added to the city. In politics he was a Republican. The Christian Church held his membership and profited through his generosity. A Mason in high standing, he belonged to the lodge at Tay- lorville.
LITTLE, Joseph M., M. D., a skilled physician and surgeon of Rosemond Township, who has won and retains the respect and confidence of his neighborhood, is one of the leading men of Christian County. 1Ie was born at Ramsey. Ill., January 18, 1868, a son of Andrew L. and Mary Ellen (Gray) Little, who had six sons and one daughter, of whom all six sons became physi- cians. One son, Edgar H. Little, later became postmaster of East St. Louis, Ill., having been appointed under the Wilson administration. An- other son, Dr. Zay Little, died in 1902. The other four brothers are practicing physicians of East St. Louis, Ill. The father was a farmer all of his active life.
Joseph M. Little attended the Normal school at Valparaiso, Ind., and completed the follow- ing courses of study : Teacher. commercial, elocu-
tion, special penmanship and scientific which bestowed upon him the degree of B. S. He then matriculated at the University of St. Louis, Mo., where he took the regular medical course, being graduated therefrom in 1899. Immediately suc- ceeding his graduation, he drove to Rosemond Township, established himself here in an active practice which he has since continued, building up a large and valuable connection that shows a steady annual increase.
In 1902 Dr. Little was married to Maud Rich- ards of Rosemond, a daughter of C. G. Richards, and one of three children born to her parents. A brother was killed in an accident, but the parents survive, being now retired from the farm. Dr. and Mrs. Little have one child, Mar- ian E., who was born February 1, 190S. Dr. Little has always been very deeply interested in school work and education and his influence along this line has been felt and appreciated by many of the younger generation here. He has rendered valuable service as a school director. For many years he has been a member of the Methodist Church. Professionally he belongs to the various medical societies, and keeps posted by reading and study with reference to the prog- ress made in his profession.
LITTLE, Robert .- No history of Christian County would be complete without a record of the life of Robert Little whose actions and busi- ness activities bore so important a part in the development of this section of the state. He came of New England ancestry and brought with him from his native state of New Hamp- shire, where he was born on January 25. 1809, many of the sterling characteristics of the descendants of the Puritans. When he attained his' majority, he left his native village of Goffs- town for Brookline, Boston, Mass., and there became interested in Illinois. A movement was on foot to found the Audubon Colony in Mont- gomery County, Ill., and Mr. Little joined with John S. Hayward and William Pike in a trip to Hillsboro, Ill., in the fall of 1838, the trio traveling to Chicago by way of the lakes, and going thence by stage to Hillsboro. From there they went to the site of the proposed settlement. They bonght land, and erected a little cabin from logs they cut from their own timber. Hav- ing built a home. Mr. Little returned to New Hampshire, and was married on September 30, 1839 to Charlotte Pike, and for a quarter of a century they lived on their Montgomery County farm. Disappointed, however, in the hope that the projected railroad would make of Aubudon the county seat, Mr. Little bought land five miles northeast of his original farm, to which he moved in 1864, being located two miles south of Rosemond in Christian County. There Robert Little died June 13, 1887, and when his funeral was held, the attendance was so large as to make a record that has never been surpassed in this part of the state, for there were 116 car- riages and wagons in the funeral procession which reached from his residence to Rosemond Cemetery where his body was laid to rest.
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Hiram W. Stoker
Clifford S. Stakes
Lusura B. Stokes
Q. a. Aloke M.D.
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Mrs. Little survived him for fourteen years, and then she too passed away. She was born at Hebron, N. H., June 22, 1808, a daughter of William and Ruth Pike, and a granddaughter of Elijah Blood. Reared in the Quaker faith, she early imbibed many of the excellent char- acteristics of that frugal, honorable people, and was held in the highest veneration and affection by all who knew her. Her death occured June 19, 1901 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mary. F. Kitchell of Pana, her only surviving child, when she had reached the advanced age of nine- ty-two years, eleven months and twenty-eight days.
Many years have passed since Robert Little and his wife moved and had their being, and yet memory of their honorable, upright and dignified lives remains, and the influence of their good deeds and lofty example will never die. It is such people as these that have made our country what it is today in its best sense, a land where justice, honor and freedom prevail, and right- eousness is recognized and kindly sympathy is encouraged.
LORD, Charles Henry, who owns and operates 134 acres of productive land on Section 3, Buck- hart Township, was born in Cooper Township, Sangamon County, Ill., July 6, 1866, a son of William and Jane (Neer) Lord, the former of whom was born February 13, 1820, at Urbana, Ohio, and the latter at Catawba, Ohio, Septem- ber 15, 1833. William Lord passed his boyhood in Ohio where he attended the public schools, and at an early age came with his parents to Illinois, overland. They located in Cooper Township, Sangamon County, on the edge of Christian County. The country was wild and plenty of deer and wolves were to be found. The grandfather took up government land at $2.50 per acre. In addition to the original entry ot 120 acres, 120 acres were bought, and on it the grandparents lived out their lives, working hard. He broke the prairie land with ox teams and wooden plows. After the death of the grandparents. William Lord took charge of the estate and went to Rochester, Sangamon County, where he lived for six years. Follow- ing this he went to Edinburg, where he lived re- tired until his death, Angust 20, 1904. The mother died at Edinburg, June 4, 1905. Wil- liam Lord was married in 1850 by Rev. John Cooper, and he and his wife celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1900. During the early days, William Lord drove three yoke of oxen to Chicago with wool and traded it for lumber which he hauled back with him, the round trip taking six weeks. During the win- ter of the big snow. he came very near being lost. but followed the Branch from Buckhart to his home, in a blinding blizzard. At that time there were only two settlers in the neighbor- hood, one being Peter Trosell, and the other Josenh Ross. In addition to his other interests, William Lord manufactured brick which was used by the early settlers. During two years of his life he was blind.
Charles Henry Lord spent his boyhood in Cooper Township, and attended the public schools, remaining at home until he was twenty- two years old. He then rented Dr. Bell's farm, one quarter of a mile west of the old farm near Berry Station, but after a year on it, went on his father's farm, where he spent four years. He was then on the Lillie White farm at Paw- nee, Ill., for a year, when he rented the Cloyd farm west of Chatham, Ill., for two years. Mr. Lord then rented the George Pasfield farm in Mt. Auburn Township for twelve years, when he bought his present farm in 1895. His original purchase was forty acres, but he had added ,to it until he owns now 134 acres. Mr. Lord has a fine horse which took three prizes in open class, the first in American bred and champion over American bred. also champion this year, winning two cups. In politics Mr. Lord is a Republican. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
On April 3, 1890. Mr. Lord was married to Miss Viola Fry, a daughter of Peter and Rachel (Stevens) Fry. Mr. Fry was born at Newark, Ohio. September 4, 1829, and Mrs. Fry was born at Fairview. Ohio, April 29. 1830. He followed farming in Ohio which state he left March 21, 1882, and located near Mechanicsburg, Ill., where he bought land, which he rented after making some improvements, and then sold and lived in Sangamon County for ten years. Still later he bought another farm in Mt. Auburn Township, and there died at the age of seventy-seven years, two months and twenty-two days, on November 26. 1906. The mother survives. Mr. Fry was a Democrat and a Methodist. Mr. and Mrs. Lord have one son. Ralph Ray, born Sep- tember 9, 1893, in this county, who married Florence Brockelsby, and lives in Springfield, Ill.
LUZADER, Isaac M., veterinary surgeon, and one of the leading men in his profession in Christian County, is located at Owaneco. He was born at Grafton, Taylor County. W. Va .. November 28. 1860. a son of Edmund S. and Annie (Ramus) Luzader, natives of West Vir- ginia. In 1870 the family came to Christian Connty. locating in Greenwood Township. The father died at Nokomis. January 20. 1877. when forty-six years old. The mother is still living. They had eight children, Dr. Inzader being the third in order of birth.
Since he was ten years old Dr. Luzader has lived in Christian County, where he attended the public schools and secured his state certificate to practice December 4. 1899. This certificate was secured from the State Board of Live Stock Commissioners, and he then became a member of the Illinois Medical and Surgical Veterinary Association, January 12, 1899. Until March 1. 1915. Dr. Luzader remained in Greenwood Township, where he was engaged in an active practice, but on that date he came to Owaneco, where he has since remained. In addition to his professional interests. Dr. Luzader owns 250 acres of Christian County farm land, and valu- able property near Owaneco.
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On January 18, 18S2. Dr. Luzader was mar- ried to Ellen O. McCurdy, born in Pennsylvania, and they have had two children : one who died in infancy and Charles E., who died, aged nine years. Mrs. Luzader died August 18, 1904, in Greenwood Township, being then forty-six years old. Dr. Luzader is one of the public-spirited men of this section, and can be counted upon to advocate all measures looking toward secur- ing better conditions in his community.
MALHOIT, Charles, was one of the upright business men of Pana for a number of years. He was born at Kennedy, Ill., December 29, 1856, a son of Philip and Emma (Miller) Malhoit, na- tives of Kennedy, Ill. Growing up in Assumption Township, Christian County, to which the family had moved when he was still a boy, he was educated in its , schools, and taught farming under his father's efficient direction on the homestead. Until he was twenty years old, Charles Malhoit was engaged in farming, but at that time moved to Assumption where he was employed for a time and then came to Pana. Here he formed a partnership with Galvin and Coady, and subsequently he was associated with Stephen Millott. Still later he owned and con- ducted a first class buffet by himself, continuing in this line of business until within six years of his demise, when he retired, but he continued to supervise the operations of his farm near Dunkard Station, Ill., until his death, which occurred December 3, 1914.
On May 7, 1883, Mr. Malhoit was united in marriage with Caroline Wittich, and they be- came the parents of four children as follows : Leola, Nora Ogreta, Arthur Leon and Lou Anna. In religions faith he was a Catholic and belonged to St. Patrick's parish, His political views made him an independent voter. Of a kindly disposi- tion, charitable and broad minded, Mr. Malhoit had many warm, personal friends and his word was held to be as good as his bond.
MANNERS, Charles A., now deceased, in whose honor the beautiful little Manners Park of Tay- lorville is named, was one of the leading men of his times and locality and his life and achievements are a still more lasting monument to his memory than the recreation grounds above mentioned. He was born in the rural districts of New Jersey, August 2. 1827. a son of John and Penelope (Stout) Manners. The Stout family was an old one in New Jersey. The father of Charles A. Manners was in young manhood a farmer, but later went into a com- mission brokerage business, handling foodstuffs.
After attending the district schools in his na- tive place, Charles A. Manners learned farm- ing in every detail upon the homestead of his father. While attending school he had the privilege of having DeWitt Talmage for one of his teachers, and followed with affectionate in- terest the career of that great American. When he was seventeen years old, Mr. Manners began teaching in the same school building he had attended, which stood until 1913, when it was
torn down, and photographs of it are among the treasured mementoes of the family, Mr. Manners' daughter having paid a visit to it dur- ing the summer of 1913. For three terms the lad taught school, but his adventurous spirit was not content with the narrow confines of a schoolroom, and when he was twenty years old he set out with his uncle who was captain of a steamship plying along the Atlantic coast, and for eight years followed the sea. During this period he studied in his leisure moments, and became a civil engineer. In July, 1851, he left the sea and coming to Taylorville, found ample employment in his profession and was engaged in surveying during 1852, 1853 and 1854. He was then appointed government surveyor under President Buchanan, and surveyed the greater part of the Kansas and Nebraska government lands. This absorbed him during the years be- tween 1855 and 1860. As these states were then practically in the wilderness, he endured many hardships and carried on his work under diffi- cult conditions, but completed it satisfactorily. Returning to Taylorville, he settled down to sur- veying in Christian County. and was so engaged for a number of years. In the meanwhile the people had become convinced of his ability and reliability, and in 1862 he was elected sheriff. When he left this office he branched out into railroad construction, and was the engineer in chief in the construction work of the Baltimore Ohio Railroad from Pana to Springfield, also the Wabash Railroad, as well as on many other railroads.
In 1876 he went to Colorado and became inter- ested in mining enterprises, continuing his inter- ests there until his death, although ill healtli forced him to abandon personal supervision of his holdings. Returning once more to Taylor- ville, in 1882, he became an extensive cattle buyer. The death of this more than ordinarily successful man occurred January 31, 1SSS.
On October 2, 1861, Mr. Manners was married at Taylorville to Elizabeth A. Long, a native of Sangamon County, Ill., where she was born August 27. 1835, and she died at Taylorville April 3, 1914. She was a daughter of Thomas and Annis (Hurlbut) Long, natives of Nelson County, Ky., and Vermont. respectively. The father was a pioneer of Sangamon County, Ill., and one of that section's extensive farmers, com- ing to that region in 1824. Mr. Long died July 13, 1876 and Mrs. Long September 22, 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Manners became the parents of two children, namely : Frances C., and Tom. Frances C. was born at Taylorville, July 25, 1863, and on March 1, 1882 she was married to George T. Harner, who, with his father, long published the Democrat which has since been absorbed by the Courier. Mr. Harner is a printer by trade. Mr. and Mrs. Harner became the parents of three children, namely : Blanche, Ray and Hallie, all of whom are deceased. Tom was born at Taylorville, April 19, 1867, and was killed in an accident on the Wabash Railroad, September 24, 18SS.
A short time ago the city of Taylorville
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Frances & Stance
RyStone
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
bought from Mrs. Harner the old Manners' homestead on the south side of the Wabash Railroad. and transformed it into Manners Park, one of the most beautiful parks of its size in the state. In honor of her father, Mrs. Har- ner contributed the funds for the erection of the exquisitely artistic arched entrance to the park.
MARSLAND, George W., clerk of the city court, and one of the live men of Pana, was born at Whitby, Canada, February 14, 1848, a son of George and Angeline (Dunham) Marsland. The father was born near London, England, and there engaged in farming, but came to Illinois in 1859, locating in Marion County, where he bought 120 acres of land, and operated it until a few years prior to his death, which occurred in Dexter, Kas., about 1898. He was a Republican and a Methodist. The mother was born in New York City, and died at Pana, in March, 1910. She was also a Methodist.
George W. Marsland attended the schools of Kinmundy, Ill., and his first work in the business world was as a harnessmaker. Later he conducted a bakery business in Christian County, and also engaged in farming until about 1880, when he was elected constable and was deputy sheriff and chief of police of Pana for several years. For the subsequent fifteen years he was in a grocery business at Pana, when he was elected a justice of the peace, and eight years ago was elected clerk of the city court, which office he still holds, being elected to all these offices on the Republican ticket. He is a charter member of the local camp of the Mod- ern Woodmen of America, in which he has held all the offices, and a charter member of the local order of Moose.
On November 22, 1870, Mr. Marsland was mar- ried to Abbie E. French, a daughter of Asa French, a farmer. She and her parents were born in New Hampshire. Mr. and Mrs. Mars- land have the following children : Edward L., who was born at Council Grove, Kas., and is an employe of the Penwell Coal Company of Pana : Grace B., who was born at Pana, was married to Amol Moore, a telephone operator of Taylor- ville; Mamie S., who was born at Pana, was married to Amos E. Moore, collector and agent of the Springfield Register at Springfield, Ill. Mr. Marsland's brothers were as follows: Rob- ert, who is deceased, was a retired farmer of Dexter, Kas .; William H., who was a Civil War veteran. died at Winfield, Kas .; Hanson, who is a retired farmer of Dexter, Kas .; John, who was a baker, died at Nokomis, Ill. Mr. Marsland's residence is at No. 107 .S. Wells Street, and his office is at No. 411% S. Locust Street.
MARTIN, Alexander Sylph .- While no material memorial is needed by the people of Christian County to recall the beneficent life and worthy achievements of such a man as was the late Alexander Sylph Martin, of Taylorville, never- tlfeless the magnificent stone courthouse, which was dedicated in 1902, will long recall one who
justifiably was called "the Father of the New Courthouse." This distinction was given him because of his persevering efforts that resulted in the construction of one of the most imposing buildings of its kind in the state, as given in full in the chapter on Public Buildings. Perse- vering effort, however, was not unusual with Mr. Martin, who, for many years had been identified with earnest and hardworking bodies of men in their struggles toward better things. He learned well the value of perseverance through a boy- hood and youth wherein personal effort was a necessity. That it broadened his view, widened his horizon and strengthened liis will, his subse- quent life proved.
Alexander Sylph Martin was born at Prince- ton, Caldwell County, Ky., November 23, 1831, and died at seven o'clock on the evening of March 2, 1913, in his home at Taylorville, Chris- tian County, Ill., aged eighty-one years three months and seven days. His death was due to the infirmities of old age. His parents were Alexander and Polly (Price) Martin.
Alexander Martin, the father, was born in Rockbridge County, Va., in 1786, and died in Caldwell County, Ky., December 20, 1838. He was an early settler in Caldwell County and secured government land, some 300 acres, five miles northeast of Princeton, and followed an agricultural life there. In 1818, the historic year in which Illinois was admitted to the Union, he was married to Polly Price, who was born in Green County, Ky., in 1797, became the mother of twelve children, and died on the homestead in Caldwell County, August 28, 1841. She was a woman of strong character and of moral attributes that became her son's heritage. She was a member of an old and aristocratic family of the old regime, and among her wed- ding gifts were two slaves from her father's plantation. She declined this gift because of her abhorrence of human slavery.
Alexander S. Martin was the youngest born of his parents' children and possibly the least provided for. He was only seven years old when his father died, and three years later lost his mother, and through losses and misunder- standings never received any part of his father's estate. Thus, in boyhood, he had little chance to attend school or improve himself because work was necessary for self support, but he was not unmindful of the opportunities he was missing and later, through diligence and applica- tion supplied every defect and became a thoroughly well educated man. In the fall of 1850 Mr. Martin left Kentucky and made his way to Bond County, Ill., and remained there until the fall of 1851. in October of that year coming to Christian County. He located in John- son Township where, for many years he was successfully engaged in farming, and during his earlier years here he taught school during the winter seasons. On April 6, 1871, he retired from farming and moved to Taylorville. For a number of years he was manager here of the first telephone line in Christian County, which ran from Taylorville to Springfield and was in
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