USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 66
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Mr. Nash has been twice married, his first marriage occurring in 1868 when he was united with Mrs. Rachel Miner. a daughter of Horatio and Sophia (Brown) (Shepardson) Miner, who were natives of Massachusetts. Mrs. Nash died in 1877 at the home of her parents at Colerain,
Mass. There were two children born of this marriage, namely : Horatio Edwin, who is living in Missouri, was married to Charlotte Adams: and May Lillian, who died in infancy. On Octo- ber 15. 1902, Mr. Nash was married (second) to Miss Winifred Cole, a daughter of John and Adelia (Drennan) Cole, of Buckhart Township. Mr. Cole was born in Greene County, III., and Mrs. Cole at Mt. Auburn, Ill., both the Cole and Drennan families being very early settlers of Christian County. Mr. and Mrs. Nash became the parents of one son. Orrin S .. born August 31, 1903. In politics Mr. Nash is a Republican, in fraternal matters he is a Thirty-second degree Mason and a Knights Templar. When he first came to Christian County, Taylorville was a small village, and the present site of Sharps- burg was wild prairie, so that he has seen many important changes.
NEELY. John Essick .- Standing as a monument to his skill and to his fidelity in carrying out his contracts, are a number of important build- ings and residences at Pana and in the surround-
ing territory, erected by the late John Essick Neely, who was the city's leading contractor of his time. He was born in Philadelphia, Pa., March 19, 1828, a son of William and Maria (Essick) Neely.
Growing up in his native state, John E. Neely attended the public schools of his neighborhood, and then was apprenticed to the carpenter trade. at which he worked before coming to Pana on April 10, 1858. Here he worked as a master car- penter but soon branched out into a building con- tractor, and his contracts covered the better part of the building operations for a number of years. In 1860 he added undertaking to his other lines, and for forty-nine years attended to the majority of the burials of the people of Pana. A man of sterling character and high principles, he commanded universal esteem and confidence, and was known to everyone in that section of the county.
On August 13, 1856, Mr. Neely was married to Mary A. Millard, of Chester County, Pa., and they became the parents of five children, namely : Ida M .; William M., who is now at Los Angeles, Cal. ; Howard, who is deceased ; Ella, who is also deceased ; and Anna. Mrs. Neely died Decem- ber 29, 1905, and Mr. Neely passed away Feb- ruary 16, 1907, both dying firm in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which they had long belonged. In politics Mr. Neely was a Republican. For years he stood high in Ma- sonic circles. In every respect he was a repre- sentative man of his times and locality, and he is recalled with respect and sentiments of es- teem.
NEER, James W., now deceased, was for a mu- ber of years one of the leading farmers of Mt. Auburn Township. He was born in Loudoun County. Va .. February 20, 1840, but was brought to Illinois by his parents when he was only eight years old so he practically lived in this state all his life. coming first to Sangamon County. They located in Christian County, and here he was reared, being sent to the local schools while he was taught farming in all its forms. so that he naturally adopted this as his life calling. His homestead on section 19, Mt. Auburn Township is still in the family.
On August 24, 1865. Mr. Neer was married in Christian County to Charlotte Ensminger, and they became the parents of the following chil- dren : Sarah E., married Jasper Stuart, and had the following children, two deceased, Emma, Jessie, Merrill and Fay : Mary A., married Ed- ward Hunsley, issue. Gladys, Leta, Emery, Grace, and Maggie, deceased ; James W .; George E. : Anna K .; Ida J., married Enos Stuart, issue, Elta, James, Ruth. Marcella and Mary ; Mabel P. : Pearl, married Grover Deweese and has one daughter, Lucille: and Edward, at home. His children are fully living up to the high standard raised by their father, and are regarded as be- ing among the most desirable people of the county. The family belong to the Methodist Church. In politics Mr. Neer was a Democrat. The men who came here in the early days had to
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
struggle against many difficulties and endure hardships too numerous to mention, but they had the character that made them able to rise above their surroundings, and to develop their community, and what Christian County is today, is largely the result of their efforts, intelligently directed along legitimate business channels.
NEW, Christian, for many years one of the highly esteemed residents of Christian County, and a man of more than ordinary character, was successfuly engaged in farming in South Fork Township. He was born on the historic Rhine, in Prussia, Germany, January 26, 1839, a son of Nicholas New, who brought his family to the United States from Prussia, where he and his wife had been born, and bought a small truck farm in Christian County, later moving to another in South Fork Township, where he died at the age of eighty years. The mother of Christian New died on the farm at the age of eighty-one years. In politics the father was a Republican, and in religious faith he belonged to the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
When he was only fifteen years old Christian New left home, and with a cousin located at Springfield, Ill., where he learned the wagon- making trade, and followed it for three years, receiving $50 the first year; $100 the second year, and $150 the third year, being employed by a Mr. Lewis of Springfield, Ill. Following this Mr. New went to St. Louis, Mo., where he continued working at his trade for two years, on leaving that city coming to Pana, Ill., where he established himself in a wagonmaking busi- ness. In 1869 he located in South Fork Town- ship, trading his Pana property for 160 acres of land, to which he added until he had 520 acres of land, which he continued to operate until his death in 1914, at the age of seventy-five years.
On October 2. 1860, Mr. New was united in marriage with Miss Katharine Heiter, a daughter of Fred and Ellen (Leining) Heiter, of St. Louis. When he was a boy Fred Heiter came from his native Germany to Cincinnati, Ohio, and worked at the hatter's trade for four years, and was married in that city. Later he went to St. Louis, Mo., where he was engaged in business, being the first manufacturer of hats in that city. There both he and his wife passed away. In fraternal matters he was an Odd Fellow, and Mr. New was also a member of that lodge, having been one of the founders of the order at Taylorville. Mr. and Mrs. New became the parents of the follow- ing children : Henry, who is at home; Robert, who is deceased; Fred, who is at Kinkaid; Helena, who is at home; Adeline, who lives in Bear Creek Township; Anna, who died in 1910 at the age of thirty-one years ; Mrs. Emma Peek, who lives in Morrisonville, Ill .; Mrs. Catherine Wertz, who lives at Taylorville; Mrs. Caroline Fesser; Elizabeth, who is in St. Louis, Mo .; John, who is deceased ; and Bertha, who lives at St. Louis, Mo. Mrs. New still lives on the homestead. In politics Mr. New was a Republi- can, and he belonged to the Evangelical Church.
NISEWANER, Jacob R., a retired farmer who formerly was active in agricultural matters in Christian County, is living on Section 34 Mos- quito Township. He owns 360 acres of fine land which he rents to the Hogan brothers. Mr. Nise- waner was born in Loudoun County, Va., Janu- ary 3, 1846. He lost his father when he was nine years old, and in 1855 his mother brought him to Christian County, Ill., with her other children who were as follows: James H., who is deceased, as is his wife; Samuel A., who with his wife is deceased, left the following children, John, Edward, Jacob, Emily and Edith, while another child, Niles, is deceased; Thomas, who witli his wife is deceased, left a daughter, Ida ; John, who with his wife is deceased, left three children, Lena, Elsie, who died in infancy, and Selma J .; Emily V., who married, lives in De- catur, the mother of Charles, Matilda, Emily, Annie, Andy, Lillie and Zachariah ; and Jacob R.
Jacob R. Nisewaner paid $100 per acre for 160 acres of his farm, and $203 per acre for an- other 100 acres, while the remaining portion was bought in smaller tracts at different prices. His success in farming was so marked that he was able to retire at an earlier age than some men, and is now enjoying the comfort his industry and thrift have provided. In addition to his land, he owns stock in the Mt. Auburn Farmers Elevator Company. In politics he is a Democrat, but has never cared to enter into public life. Mr. Nisewaner has never married. His grand- father, James Russell, was in the Revolutionary War and was the father of twenty-one children.
OKEY, Mervin,G., owner of a half section of land in Locust Township, and one of the sub- stantial men of Millersville, was born in Monroe County, Ohio, May 26, 1846, a son of Jeremiah and Hannah (Smith) Okey, natives of Ohio. The mother died in 1852, but the father lived until 189S. They had a family of seven children, of whom Mervin G. Okey is the fifth in order of birth.
Growing up in his native county. Mervin G. Okey attended the local schools and lived there until his enlistment for service in the Civil War, in 1862, in Company C, Ninety-second Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, three of his brothers also serv- ing as soldiers in, the Union army, one of whom died in the army, the others living to return home. After his honorable discharge, Mr. Okey returned home and after studying some time longer, engaged in schoolteaching in Monroe County for one winter. In August, 1867, he came to Christian County and taught in Millersville one winter, and in March, 1868, he had his fam- ily join him, they locating on the farm he now owns in Locust Township. He laid out the town of Millersville, and has done much toward build- ing up this community. His original purchase of land was 160 acres but he has added to it until he now owns a half section, a portion of which is included in Millersville. Ever since coming to the county lie has engaged in farming and stock- raising, and has been very successful.
While still living in Monroe County, Mr. Okey
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
was married, on February 4, 1867, to Miss Eliza- beth J. McVicker, who was born October 14, 1848, in Noble County, Ohio, a daughter of Harvey F. and Catherine (Ward) McVicker. Mr. and Mrs. Okey have had seven children, as follows : Maud, who is the wife of A. R. Denton, has one son, Mervin O; Mabel, who is the wife of Ira Honefenger, has one son, Okey ; Pearl, who is the wife of J. E. Pence, has one daughter, Gladys E. ; and four who died in childhood.
Mr. Okey has held the office of justice of the peace for several years, and that of a school director for many years. He has taken an active part in educational affairs, and is also very much interested in the progress of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which he and his wife helped to organize at Millersville about 1868, they being charter members of it, and he one of its official board since the beginning. A man of unusual force of character he lias laid his community un- der a heavy debt to him for his public-spirited attitude, and he stands very high with all who know him and they appreciate his many excellent characteristics.
OREY, George W., a retired farmer and mer- chant of Bolivia, is one of the successful business men of Christian County, and one who stands for progress and uplift. He was born in Jo Daviess County, Ill., February 22, 1849, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Smith) Orey, natives of Penn- sylvania. They came to Christian County at an early day, and here were engaged in farming un- til their removal to Kansas, where both lived until death claimed them.
Until he was twenty-two years old. George W. Orey remained at home, but then began farming on his own account, so continuing in Mt. Auburn and Buckhart townships until 1914. In that year he retired from the farm, and established himself in a mercantile business at Bolivia, where he has built up an excellent trade, and is numbered among the leading men of the village.
On February 25, 1869, Mr. Orey was united in marriage at Mechanicsburg, Ill., to Mary J. Douglas, a native of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Orey became the parents of the following chil- dren : Jacob H. was married to Nellie Constant, and they have three children, William. Grace and Nellie: John H. was married to Blanche Simmons, and has a daughter, Ida M .; George F. was married to Lucy Dexter, and has three chil- dren, Ruth, Mary and Annie; and Jessie was married to Oscar Short, and has a son. George. Mr. Orey is an Odd Fellow. A Republican, he has been elected to fill several minor offices of the townships in which he has resided, and proved to be a capable man. He owns his resi- dence and the store building which his mercan- tile business occupies, and he is accepted as a man of means and good financial rating.
ORR, John, a retired business man of Pana, has also been before the public as a public official, and in this capacity, as well as in private life, has proven himself worthy of the consideration he receives. He was born near Bloomfield, Jef-
ferson County, Ohio. November 9, 1846: a son of Andrew J. and Ann (MeNary) Orr, natives of Ohio. The father who had been a farmer in Ohio, came to Illinois in 1854, locating in Locust Township, this county, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits for a little over two years, when his death occurred. The mother died April 9, 1884.
John Orr attended the district schools of Buckhart Prairie, and worked on the farm un- til 1870, when he came to Pana and was em- ployed in a grocery for twelve years. Then he took over the old store of his father-in-law, M. J. Jones, and they were in partnership until Mr. Jones' death, November 3, 1894. From then on until February 1, 1911, Mr. Orr conducted the business alone, and on that date he retired, hav- ing spent forty-one years in the grocery busi- ness. For twelve years he was supervisor for Pana Township, being elected on the Democratic ticket, and during 1914 was chairman of the board of supervisors. He has also served as a member of the city council of Pana and on the school board of the city.
On December 25, 1872, Mr. Orr was married to Martha J. Jones, a daughter of M. J. and Sarah ( Freeman) Jones. Mr. and Mrs. Orr be- came the parents of the following children : Bessie, who was born October 26, 1873, is Mrs. J. J. Pierpont of Pana, and has one son, Orr ; Calla, who was born January 8, 1877, is Mrs. M. B. Atherton of Pana, and has a daughter. Martha, and a son, Everett; Bertha, who was born March 8, 1884, died February 24, 1890; and Ruth, who was born August 17, 1889, is Mrs. Frank Jones of Akron. Ohio, and has one daugh- ter, Dorothy. Mrs. Orr has lived in Pana for forty-nine years, and has seen some wonderful developments during that period.
OSTERMEIER, Thomas Augustus, a successful farmer of Buckhart Township, owns and oper- ates 160 acres of land on Section 20, and operates 140 acres adjoining his homestead. He was born near Cornland, Logan County, III., August 25, 1878, a son of Henry J. and Amelia (Kreiger) Ostermeier, the former of whom was born in Germany, January 10, 1836, and the latter in Germany, March 5, 1842. When he was sevenl- teen years old the father came to the United States with his parents, who located at Dayton, Ohio, and engaged in farming. Later the father came on to Springfield, III., and worked among Sangamon County farmers for a number of years, when he rented land and conducted it un- til he went to the vicinity of Cornland, Logan County. Once more he rented land and lived upon it for twenty-five years, when he bought liis present farm in Buckhart Township, Chris- tian County, comprising 280 acres which he has improved and continues to operate with the help of his sons. He was married near Greenville, Ohio, November 30, 1864, and although he and his wife are advanced in years, they are active. They belong to the Lutheran Church, of which he was one of the organizers. In politics he is a Democrat. The paternal grandparents died
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IIISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
in the vicinity of Springfield, Ill., having been farming people all their lives.
When he was thirteen years old, Thomas A. Ostermeier came to Buckhart Township, where he attended the public schools, and a business college at Springfield, Ill. He then began farm- ing with his father, and later was similarly en- gaged with his brothers David and Charles, they operating land in Buckhart Township for a number of years. In 1910 Mr. Ostermeier bought 160 acres of land which comprise his present farm, since which time he has made many im- provements, his buildings and equipment being now thoroughly modern. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising.
On April 6, 1910, Mr. Ostermeier was married. at Springfield, Ill., to Miss' Alma G. Lowe, a danghter of William and Mary ( Johnson) Lowe, who was born in Buckhart Township, near Edin- burg. December 29. 1878. Her father was born in New Jersey, and her mother came from the vicinity of Rochester, Ill., her father having come to Illinois in young manhood, and located near Springfield, Ill., where he was married. Locating in the vicinity of his bride's people, near Rochester, Ill., he engaged in farmnig for many years, later moving to Edinburg, where he and the mother are now living in retirement. During the Civil War, in July, 1861, Mr. Lowe enlisted for service in Company G. Seventh Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry, at Springfield, Ill., and served until he was honorably discharged at the close of the war in July, 1865, having been in the battles of Forts Henry and Johnson, Sherman's March to the Sea, Allatoona Pass, Shiloh, Cor- inth and in many skirmishes. Mr. Lowe is a Democrat, a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the G. A. R. Post of Edinburg, and belongs to the Lutheran Church, while his wife is a Methodist.
OWEN, J. Irving, cashier of the First National Bank of Stonington, and one of the best known men of Christian County, was born at Stoning- ton, February 12, 1870, a son of Oscar and Mary (Wickens) Owen, natives of Marietta, Ohio. The father came to Illinois from Ohio in 1866, locating in Buckhart Township, Christian County, where he was engaged in farming until liis removal to Stonington Township, when, in 1902, he left his farm in the latter township and retiring. spent the remainder of his life at Stonington, where he died March 19. 1910. The mother died August 2, 1902. The father was a Republican and a Baptist.
J. Irving Owen attended the district schools and Shurtleff College at Alton. Ill., from which he was graduated in 1893. with the degree of A. B. For the following twelve months, he was engaged in school teaching, and then entered in the banking business as a clerk in the Farm- ers & Merchants Bank of Assumption, Ill., in 1895. Later with B. F. Hight he was engaged in the banking business at the same place, and he continued this connection for two years. For the subsequent year he was in a life insurance business at Decatur, Ill., when he went on the
homestead and was engaged in farming in Stonington Township for another year. Finally, in June, 1900, he was associated in the organi- zation of the First National Bank of Stoning- ton, of which he has since been cashier. In ad- dition to his banking interests, Mr. Owen owns considerable farming property in the county.
On June 20, 1895, Mr. Owen was married to Winona Armstrong of Mt. Auburn, Ill., a daughter of William and Rebecca Ann ( Hous- ley) Armstrong, now of Decatur, Ill. Mr. Owen belongs to the Baptist Church. A Republican of considerable influence, he was called upon by his party to head the city ticket, and was elected mayor of Stonington in 1915, and is proving himself a very capable and public- spirited official, giving the people a business- like administration.
It is a source of pride to Mr. Owen that he is eligible to the Sons of Veterans through his father's war record, the latter having been a member of the Thirty-sixth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry during the Civil War, enlisting in 1861, and serving until 1864. He was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga.
In 1912 Mr. Owen was made a member of the Board of Trustees of Shurtleff College, and in 1914 was elected treasurer of the trust and en- dowment fund of that institution, and is still serving the college in that respect, at the time of this writing.
PADDOCK, Robert T., president of the O. H. Paddock Lumber Company, and one of the sub- stantial business men of Pana, was born at Pana, April 28, 1873, a son of Oscar Howland and Ann (Threadgold) Paddock. The father was born at Woodstock. Vt., June 21, 1830 and died at Springfield. Ill., March 27, 1911. The mother was a native of Yorkshire, England, born De- cember 12, 1836. She died at Pana November 19, 1895.
The Robert Paddock who settled at Plymouth, Mass. in 1628 was the founder of the Paddock family in America. and the Paddocks of Pana are his lineal descendants.
Oscar II. Paddock entered the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad at Mineral Point, Ill., in 1857 and was its agent there and at Warren, Ill., until 1863, when he was transferred to Pana as general passenger and freight agent. This position he filled until 1877. In that year he resigned to engage in the retail lumber busi- ness with S. P. and Robert Johns at Pana and Nokomis, Ill. Subsequently he organized the O. H. Paddock Lumber Company and served as its president up to the time of his death. A Re- publican, he was a power in his party and served as alderman, school trustee and police-magis- trate. He was always active in supporting those measures he believed would work out for the advancement of Pana, where he lived until two years before his death. Throughout his long residence here he exerted a strong influence for old fashioned morality and honesty in civic and private life. HIe belonged to the Presby- terian Church and for years was deacon, elder
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
and Sunday School superintendent. In frater- nal matters, he was a Mason.
Robert T. Paddock attended the public schools of Pana, and after graduating from the high school there entered Blackburn University at Carlinville, Illinois and studied there for three years. He then went to Nokomis and assumed the management of that branch of the O. H. Paddock Lumber Company. When his father died in 1911 he returned to Pana to take full charge of the company's affairs, and succeeded his father to the presidency of the business.
On October 19, 1898 Mr. Paddock was married at Hillsboro, Illinois, to Miss Helen Noterman, a daughter of Fred and Helen (Cross) Noterman, natives of Mainz, Germany and of New York respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Paddock have two children, namely : Helen Ann, who was born at Nokomis, September 7. 1899; and Mary, who was born at Nokomis, November 10, 1901. Both are attending the Pana High school.
PADGETT, Nathan H., whose business activi- ties are directed toward the management of an implement store, is one of the prosperous men and good citizens of Assumption. He was born in Marion County, Ind., September 2, 1861, a son of Moses G. and Rosanna (Moore) Padgett. Moses G. Padgett was born in Indiana, in November, 1830, and died in March, 1913; while his wife was born in Ohio in 1833, and died in 1910. They were married in Indiana, and came to Illinois in 1868, locating on a farmn in Shelby County four miles east of Assumption. There he owned 120 acres of land, on which he built a comfortable residence. Until Abraham Lincoln was the presidential candidate, Mr. Padgett was a Democrat, but then changed to the Republican party and supported its principles the remainder of his life. He was very active in the Methodist Church. Of the nine children born to him and his wife, the following are now living : Lewis M., who is a ranchman of Montana, was graduated from the commercial department at Valparaiso, Ind., and then taught school in O. M. Powers business college of Chicago for ten years. For three years he was with Bryant and Stratton's Business College, and then was with the Spring- field, Ill., Business College for three years more. Charles Padgett is a farmer of Shelby County, Ill. Frank is an engineer of the Santa Fe Rail- road. Tillie is the wife of Ira Lupton, and they live on the old Padgett homestead in Shelby County. Nathan H. Padgett is engaged in busi- ness under the firm name of Padgett & Stein. In addition to this business he is interested along other lines, and is a stockholder in the Mutual Telephone Company at Assumption. He owns a half section of land in North Dakota. A stal- wart Republican, he served as highway commis- sioner for six years, between 1901 and 1907, and in 1909 was elected supervisor of Assumption Township, and served as such until 1913, when he was again elected highway commissioner, which office he now holds. Like all of the mem- bers of his family, he belongs to the Methodist Church. He belongs to Tacsah Lodge No. 683.
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