USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 65
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947
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
only did Mr. Milligan leave more than 500 acres of Christian County land, but also 438 acres of land in Mississippi, which his children have inherited. Mrs. Milligan survives him and is a member of the Christian Church.
MINNIS, Willie G., who is one of the well known farmers of Christian County, was born near Sharpsburg, Ill., December 22, 1874, a son of Ferdinand M. and Jane (George) Minnis. The father was, born on section 1, Taylorville Township, Christian County, Ill., November 3, 1832. The grandfather, James Minnis, was a native of Christian County, Ky., but the Minnis family was originally from Louisiana. They came from Kentucky to Christian County, Ill., in 1828, when land was purchased from Dr. Alexan- der Ralston, on section 1, Taylorville Township, and there the grandfather lived until his death in 1857. This land is now owned by Ernest L. Minnis, a great-grandson of James Minnis. The maiden name of the paternal grandmother was Hester Ann Outhouse, and she was also a native of Christian County, Ky. Her death occurred in 1873. The father and mother of Willie G. Min- nis were united in marriage December 3, 1857. The mother, whose maiden name was Jane George, was born March 28, 1841, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John George. Hle was a native of Virginia, and came with his father to Illinois. while yet a youth. Mrs. George's maiden name was Mary Ann Bohannon, and she was a resi- dent of Christian County, Ill .. at the time of her marriage. The mother of Willie G. Minnis died July 16, 1886, when about forty-five years old, and his father died September 19, 1911, aged abont eiglity years.
Willie G. Minnis is the eighth child born in a family of nine children. He was reared and educated in the Taylorville Township rural schools and at the Northern Indiana Normal school at Valparaiso, Ind. In 1894 he began teaching school, and continued as an educator until 1902, alternating his period of instruction with attendance at the Northern Indiana Normal school, so as to better fit himself for his work.
On June 4, 1902, Mr. Minnis was married to Miss Mary F. Callaway, born June 16. 1880, a daughter of James and Amelia (Council) Calla- way, retired farming people of Taylorville Township. Mr. and Mrs. Minnis have three children, namely: Vernon C., born April 23. 1903; Lyle G., born August 10, 1905: and Helen Juanita. born April 28, 1912.
Mr. Minnis owns 460 acres of land, the richest farm in Central Illinois, eighty acres of which were entered by his grandfather from the govern- ment. He sold it to his son, F. M. Minnis, for a consideration of $1.25 per acre, and the latter began its improvement in 1853, which was at that time a big undertaking. He cut the logs himself and built a one-room log cabin with a shed on one side. After his marriage in 1857, he moved into this cabin and continued to live in it until 1863 when he built a two-story seven- room frame house, and this practically contin- ned to be his residence until his death in 1911.
The framework of this second house was sawed from logs which were cut and hauled to the mill by him, and he also hauled all his finished lum- ber from Springfield, the nearest railroad point at that time. This finished lumber cost $80.00 per thousand and the haul was twenty-five miles. In 1898 he divided his land among his children and Willie G. Minnis received as his share forty-eight acres upon which the improve- ments are located. Mr. Minnis' operations are conducted upon an extensive scale. He is raising stock and grain for the market, and is recognized as one of the most successful men in his line of business in the county. Fraternally, he is a Thirty-second Degree Mason, and belongs to the Eastern Star and Modern Woodmen of America. The Democratic principles are those which com- mand his support and vote. For many years he has been a conscientious member of the Bap- tist Church and takes his religion into his every day life.
MONCONLIS, Gust, proprietor of the Royal Confectionery Store, at Taylorville, is one of the solid men of Grecian birth, who is proving his worth as a citizen of his adopted country, and as a reliable business man. He was born in the province of Corinth, Greece, January 17, 1890. a son of Vacilios and Vacilice ( Poulos) Monconlis. The father was born in Macedonia, and the mother in Greece. When eight years of age the father went to Athens, Greece, where he remained until 1884, and in that year learned the bricklaying trade and later went to southern Greece, being sent by the government to assist in the government work of rebuilding towns de- stroyed by the earthquake of 1888. While thus engaged he was married and both he and wife live in Greece.
Gust Monconlis spent his boyhood in Greece, and when seventeen years old came to the United States, landing in Boston, Mass., November 14, 1906. From there he went to Nashua, N. H., and three months later to St. Louis, Mo., and three months afterward he went into railroad con- struction work which took him to Omaha, Neb. From the latter city he returned to. St. Louis, and thence went to Decatur, Ill., and for the subsequent three years he was stationed at Ston- ington, Ill .. being in the employ of the Wabash Railroad, but during the winter of 1909 was in Texas. In 1910 he returned to Decatur, and was a clerk in a grocery store for two years. Finally, on August 14, 1914, he came to Taylorville and here he established his present business in part- nership with Tom Orfaoos, and they have the best store of its kind in Taylorville. Their candies, ice creams and soda mixtures are ex- ceptionally good and pure, and they enjoy a large and profitable trade. Fraternally Mr. Mon- conlis is an Odd Fellow. He is but one of the examples of what can be accomplished by people of his nationality who are hardworking. thrifty and reliable, many of whom having thus grad- ually come to control much of the fruit and con- fectionery business of the country.
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
MONTGOMERY, Thomas L., a prosperous mer- chant of Mt. Auburn, and one of the leading men of Christian County, was born in this county, November 11, 1882, a son of Hiram L. and Mary (Cole) Montgomery, natives of Christian County, farming people who now reside a little south of Mt. Auburn, where they are well and favorably known.
Thomas L. Montgomery attended the public schools of Christian County, and the Gem City Business College at Quincy, Ill. He began work- ing as a traveling man for the Savage Grocery Company, of Decatur, Ill., a wholesale grocery house, his territory covering the states of Iowa and Minnesota, and remained with them for about one year, when he returned home and worked on his father's farm for another year. In 1903 he bought an interest in the firm of McKee & Huff, which became known as McKee & Company, and after two years he and his uncle bought Mr. McKee's interest and the firm became T. L. Montgomery & Company, composed of T. L., H. L. and T. A. Montgomery, which association continues, the business being a large and flourishing one. Mr. Montgomery takes pride in keeping all of the records of the house's transac- tions so that from those of the early days he can draw a contrast and thus show how the business has increased. This company has one of the finest and best stocked stores in the county, and custom is attracted to it from a wide territory. The company has stock in the Northern Jobbing Company of Chicago, and this connection enables the house to offer exceptional opportunities to the careful buyer.
On October 25, 1905, Mr. Montgomery was married at Mt. Auburn to Grace Kimball, a daughter of Richard and Frances (Henderson). Kimball, natives of Vermont and Illinois, re- spectively. Mr. Kimball was one of the earliest merchants of Christian County, and is now a clerk in the Montgomery & Company store of Mt. Auburn. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery have one son, Howard K., who was born April 14, 1909. He belongs to Mt. Auburn Christian Church, and was treasurer of the Sunday school for five years, and has been treasurer of the church since 1909. Mrs. Montgomery also belongs to this church, and is very active in the work of the C. W. B. M. They are most estimable people and have many friends in this neighborhood.
MORONEY, Father John P., pastor of St. Pat- rick's Roman Catholic Church of Pana, and one of the most scholarly priests and forceful business men of his communion, was born at Jacksonville, Ill., August 9, 1868, a son of John and Catherine (Sullivan) Moroney, natives of Ireland. John Moroney was a grocer of Jack- sonville, and later was in a freight business with the Chicago & Alton Railroad.
Destined for the priesthood, Father John P. Moroney received the customary careful train- ing, attending the Jesuit College, St. Mary's College, and Kendrick Seminary at St. Louis, and after four years at the latter insti- tution was ordained June 8, 1895. Following
that he was sent to Greenville, Ill., and at that time was the only resident pastor of his church in the county. After three years of strenuous effort at Greenville, he was transferred to Van- dalia, Ill., and there spent ten years. On July 1, 1908, he came to Pana, and from that date until 1916, the congregation, aided by contribu- tions from the people of Pana, raised $175,000 for building the present parish house, repairing the church and building the Huber Memorial Hospital. The parish maintains an absolutely free school which was founded twenty-six years ago and accommodated forty pupils at the time of its organization, whereas now there are from 300 to 325 pupils in attendance. The school is carried on from voluntary contributions from St. Patrick's congregation. All the institutions connected with this parish are in the most flourishing condition financially, and Father Moroney has erected upon a large scale a mod- ern school building. "
MORRISON, Frank, of Christian County, was born on a farmi near Taylorville, Ill., a son of J. C. and Elizabeth (Young) Morrison, natives of Iredell County, N. C., and Christian County, Ill., respectively. At an early day the father came to Christian County, Ill., and found em- ployment for his abilities as a farmer and op- erated a large farm until his death in August, 1896. The mother died in February of the same year.
Frank Morrison attended the Wyman Insti- tute, now Western Military Academy, at Upper Alton, and the Wesleyan University at Bloom- ington, Ill. In 1887 he went into business with his brother Edgar, a dry goods merchant, and they founded the firm of Morrison Bros., con- tinuing this association until 1898, when Frank bought his brother's interest, and continued the business under his own name. Mr. Morrison is president of the Christian County Building & Loan Association, having held that office since the organization of the company in 1887. Since 1914 he has been president of the Chamber of Commerce. His political convictions make him a Democrat. Fraternally he is a Thirty-second degree Mason, a Shriner, an Elk and a Knight of Pythias.
MORSE, William L., now deceased, was for many years a forceful factor in the industrial life of Pana and at the time of his demise, he was president of the Enterprise Manufacturing Co., which he helped to organize. He was born at Hubbardstown, Mass., April 10, 1836, a son of William and Louise Morse, natives of England and Massachusetts, respectively.
Until he was twenty-one years old, William L. Morse remained at home and attended the schools of his district. When he had attained his majority, he went to Kentucky, spent four years there, and then coming to Illinois, he located at Pana, where he secured a position as a decorator. In 1862, Mr. Morse embarked in a hardware business, and conducted it until he moved on a farm known as Bell's Grove, which
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ANDREW J. WILLEY
MRS. ANDREW J. WILLEY
949
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
he owned, that was located just west of Pana. Subsequently he spent some years in travel, and then he became interested in a coal mine in southern Illinois. When the Enterprise Manu- facturing Company was organized, he was one of its promoters, and was actively identified with its management, as its president, until his death which occurred July 30, 1913. With his passing, Pana lost one of its most representative mell, and the community a good citizen and kindly friend.
On March 13, 1856, Mr. Morse was married to Mary Jane Meteer, of Sharpsburg, Ky. Mr. and Mrs. Morse became the parents of two children, namely : James William, who lives at Black- well, Okla .; and Carrie Arabelle, who is Mrs. G. W. Sanders, of Champaign, Ill. Mrs. Morse (lied April 3, 1917. She was a devoted wife and mother, and devout Christian woman. In poli- tics Mr. Morse was a Democrat as far as national matters were concerned, but in local affairs he supported the Prohibition ticket, and worked diligently to forward the uplift mnove- ment inaugurated by the latter party. Early in life he became a Mason. The Methodist Epis- copal Church held his membership and received his loyal support.
MOXLEY, H. H., one of the old established business men of Rosemond, for the past twelve years has been conducting a grain and feed business, and is recognized as a leader in his line. He was born at Groton, Conn., April 11, 1866, a son of Charles and Maria (Avery) Mox- ley, being one in a family of one daughter and three sons born to his parents. The family came to Christian County in 1860, and the father engaged in farming, but died at the age of forty-four years when H. H. Moxley was four years old. The mother survived him, pass- ing away at the age of fifty-five years.
H. H. Moxley received a common school edu- cation, and after several business experiences, in 1904 established his present undertaking, he conducting a general feed and grain business, owning the elevator, which has a large storage capacity. Mr. Moxley pays the same prices for grain and feed as do the Pana dealers, and farmers in this vicinity prefer to deal with him than to pay the cost of transportation to the further market.
On June 16, 1900, Mr. Moxley was married to Elizabetlı McKee of Pana. she being one of three children born to her parents, namely : Joseph and Edward in addition to herself. Her father was twice married. Mrs. Moxley was a widow and had two sons by her first husband. Mr. and Mrs. Moxley have three children, namely : Lorene, who was born in May, 1902; Clarence, who was born in February, 1906; and Ione, who was born March 12, 1910. The Metho- (list Church holds his membership. Fraternally lie belongs to Pana Lodge, A. F. & A. M. Politi- cally he is a Republican, and was a member of the school board for ten years, and for three years was tax collector. A man of high prin- ciples and business acumen, he has forged
ahead and earned through his own exertions all he possesses.
MULBERRY, Frank B., president of the First National Bank of Mt. Auburn and one of the sound, conservative financiers of Christian County, was born at Farmersville, Ill., May 4, 1882, a son of Francis J. and Sallie N. (Brown) Mulberry, natives of Kentucky and Connecticut, respectively. They were farming people who came to Montgomery County, Ill., about 1870. The father died in 1892 and the mother in 1893, at Taylorville, where the father had lived in retirement from 1889, having gone there on ac- count of the ill health of his wife, who survived him. They were the parents of the following children : Nancy D. Bond, of Oklahoma City, Okla .; Grace P. Mullikin, of Champaign, Ill .; and Frank B.
After the death of his parents Frank B. Mul- berry lived with an aunt, Mrs. Edward Forrester, until he completed his high school course in 1903, and that same year came to Mt. Auburn to work for an uncle, J. W. Brown, a banker, and member of the firm of J. W. Brown & Com- pany. When the bank was re-organized, Mr. Mulberry became its vice president, Edward L. Smith being the president, and Carl D. Miller cashier. This association continued until the spring of 1911 when another re-organization was effected, with R. S. Shepherd as president ; Oliver Harding, vice president; Edward L. Smith, assistant cashier; and Mr. Mulberry as cashier. In the spring of 1913 the bank was con- solidated with the First National Bank, founded in 1911 by a Christian County syndicate. D. G. Armstrong was made president, Clarence Bot- trell vice president, William Hight cashier, and Mr. Mulberry assistant cashier. In 1914 Mr. Bottrell was made president, with Mr. Mulberry as vice president, and in January, 1915, Mr. Mul- berry succeeded to the presidency, being now associated with Edward L. Smith as vice presi- dent, and William Hight as cashier. The bank has the following board of directors: S. R. Shepherd, Edward L. Smith, Oliver Hardy, J. A. Goodrich, Clarence Bottrell, William Hight and Frank B. Mulberry. Its capital stock and sur- plus amounts to $47,000.
On October 13, 1903, Mr. Mulberry was united in marriage with Cora May Hardy, born in Mt. Auburn Township, a daughter of Oliver and Alice (Jones) Hardy, natives of this county, where they are farming people. Mr. Mulberry has two children, namely: Dorothy, who was born in 1904; and Frances H., who was born in 1905. Mr. Mulberry belongs to the Masonic lodge. In addition to being one of the heaviest stockholders of this bank and of the Farmers Elevator Company of Mt. Auburn and Osbern- ville, Ill., he owns 240 acres of land in Mont- gomery County, 100 acres of land in Grady County, Okla., and one of the modern residences at Mt. Auburn.
MUNDHENKE, Edward, a successful farmer of Bear Creek Township, was born on his present
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IIISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
farm, September 25, 1872, a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Compton) Mundhenke. The father was born in Hanover, Germany, and the mother in Ohio. When he was twenty-two years old the father left Germany, came to the United States, and landed at New Orleans, La., later going up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, Mo., and thence to Madison County, Ill., where he arrived in 1852. For a number of years he worked for farmers, and later became a mail carrier of the government mails from Edwardsville, Ill., to Decatur, Ill., overland on old Star Route, so con- tinuing for a long period. Finally he came to Christian County and entered government land in Bear Creek Township, on which he lived. He died January 13, 1890, at the age of fifty-nine years, at Seattle, Wash. The mother survives. At the time of the father's death he had 640 acres of land, which was divided among his heirs. From the time he came to this county, he gave it his loyal support, and was always in- terested in its advancement. The mother came with her parents to Montgomery County. Ill., where her father operated land until he came to Christian County, and bought a farm on Section 34, Bear Creek Township. After some years spent on this farm he went to Greencastle, Ind., where he died, and the mother returned to Bear Creek Township, where she later passed away. HIe was a Democrat and Lutheran.
Edward Mundhenke attended the schools of Bear Creek Township, and remained with his father until his death, and then came into possession of seventy acres of the homestead which he still operates with a fair measure of success, subsequently adding to it and now owns 350 acres.
On December 1, 1909, Mr. Mundhenke was married, at Springfield, Ill., to Miss Muriel F. Teasley, born March 15, 1888, in Bear Creek Township, a daughter of William and Mary (Durnell) Teasley, farming people. Mr. and Mrs. Mundhenke have one child. Elizabeth, born December 23, 1910. He is a Democrat in politics. His fraternal relations are with the Masonic order, belonging to Lodge No. 681, Morrison- ville, Illinois.
MYERS, Thomas P., a stockholder in the As- snmption Coal and Mining Company, is one of the leading business men of Assumption, and prominent in mining affairs. He was born at Assumption, May 30. 1880, a son of Merideth Melancthon and Clara (Duncan) Myers. The father and mother were born in Lancaster, Ohio, the former on March 20, 1852, a son of Peter L. and Mary ( Kemmerer) Myers, who brought him to Illinois when he was two years old. They located in Tazewell County, where the grandfather bought a farm, remaining on it for a number of years, and then moving, in 1861, to Christian County, where he bought a farm in Assumption Township, but after im- proving it, sold it, and moved to section 35, on the north edge of the village of Assumption, where he lived until his death. the grandmother also passing away npon it. He was a Mason,
a charter member of the Presbyterian Church and a Republican. When he came to Illinois there was plenty of wild game, and plowing was done with oxen. All banking business was done at Peoria, the money being carried home in a tin pail. The grandparents had two children, the other child aside from the father of Thomas P. Myers being Tarsy S., who was married to Lloyd Farrell of Wichita, Kas. The grand- father helped to organize the Assumption Coal Mining Company and Metal Building Loan and Homestead Association, and was president of them until his death. He owned 120 acres of land in Assumption Township and Shelby County and had the first meat market at As- sumption, and in other ways was a man of im- portance and worth in his community.
Merideth M. Myers attended the public schools of his native place and Normal, Ill., fol- lowing which he took a course at Blackburn College, from which he was graduated in 1876. Later he engaged in a cattle business and did farming in conjunction with his father. He was also interested in the Assumption meat market established by his father and was in active business until he was killed by a train December 5, 1898. The mother survives him. They had two children, namely : Thomas P .; and Mary E. Wysong. In politics the father was a Republican, while in religious matters he was a Presbyterian.
Growing up at Assumption, Thomas P. Myers attended its public schools and Brown Business College at Decatur, Ill .. for two terms. Return- ing home he engaged with the Assumption Coal Mining Company, and has continued with this concern ever since, being bookkeeper and pay- master, and since 1910 he has been one of its di- rectors. He has an interest in the tile plant. is now vice-president of the Mutual Building Loan and Homestead Association, and is Alder- man of the First Ward. He and his sister own 627 acres of land in Christian County. He lives in the same house his grandparents lived in when they died. Mr. Myers is a member and elder of the Presbyterian Church. Politically he is a Republican, while fraternally he is a Master Mason and Royal Arch Mason.
On May 30, 1905, Mr. Myers was married to Miss Hattie Gertrude Long, born in Marion County, Ill., December 20, 1882. Her father was born at Pittsburgh, Pa., and was a United Presbyterian minister. Her mother was born at Grandville. Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Myers have two children, namely : Paul L., who was born April 10. 1908; and Clara Margaret, who was born June 24, 1915.
NASH, Orrin S., formerly engaged in an eleva- tor business, but now a dealer in live stock and. a progressive farmer, with residence at Sharps- burg, is entitled to more than passing mention in a work of this character. He was born near Greenfield. Mass., in a town by the name of Leyden, April 3, 1843, a son of Robert S. and Johanna (Packard) Nash, Robert S. Nash was born at Greenfield, Mass., October 27, 1814,
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
and the mother was born at Enfield, Mass., about the same year. After attending the pub- lic schools of Greenfield, Robert S. Nash engaged in farming in its vicinity, so continuing until 1856 when he moved to Fond du Lac, Wis., where he spent three years. In October, 1859, he came to Christian County, Ill., locating in Buckhart Township, operating land there until his retirement, when he moved to Sharpsburg, and there died, and the mother also passed away in that village. Their marriage took place at Enfield, Mass., March 23, 1836.
Orrin S. Nash was thirteen years old when the family left Massachusetts, and sixteen when they came to Christian County, so that he at- tended school in three states. Until he rented land, he assisted his father, and he was twenty- one years old when he secured land in Buck- hart Township on which to begin farming for himself. He also rented land in Taylorville "Township, and lived in the latter for forty years becoming the owner of 400 acres in that town- ship and 420 acres in Buckhart Township. In 1915 he bought 2960 acres of land in Oregon County, Mo .. for a stock ranch, and this he operates, and also conducts his two farms above mentioned in Christian County. In addition to these properties. he owns his handsome resi- dence at Sharpsburg, and is a man of ample means. In 1873 he embarked in a grain busi- ness with Messrs. Price and Wilkinson at Sharpsburg, and in 1875 bought out the latter, and added the handling of live stock, remaining in this line until June 20, 1916, when he sold to Messrs. Rink and Schieb of Edinburg, Ill., and now devotes himself to livestock growing and feeding, and his farming interests.
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