USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 68
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William Peck spent his boyhood in May Town- ship with his mother, until the death of the mother, after which his sister, Mary, kept house for the family. He was educated in this town- ship, and remained on the farm until in May, 1910, when he moved to Taylorville and pur- chased a comfortable residence. At that time he accepted the agency of the Standard Oil Com- pany and has held this important position ever since. April 16, 1888, Mr. Peck was married to Mary Luster, a daughter of Moses and Rose Ann (Dile) Luster, of May Township. The father was born in Fayette County, Ill., and the mother in Ohio. Mr. Luster was an extensive farmer of May Township, but later went to Okla- homa where he died. The mother died at Clarks- dale, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Peck have three children, namely : Goldie E., Anna and Bert. Mr. Peck operates two auto trucks delivering oil to adjoin- ing towns all over Christian County, and does a very large business. A man of enterprise and fidelity, his services are appreciated by his com- Dany, and his value as a citizen is recognized by all who know him.
PENWELL, George V. The name of Penwell is connected with some of the most important
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mining interests of Christian County it not of this part of Illinois, and it is but just that a somewhat extended biography be given of George V. Penwell, who had so much to do with de- veloping the mining properties belonging to the Penwell Coal Mining Company of Pana. He was born near La Porte, Ind., February 6, 1846, a son of Dr. Enos and Martha ( Holloway) Pell- well, natives of Richmond, Ind., and Deerfield, Ohio, respectively. The father was a practicing physician who moved to Shelbyville, Ill., making a trip overland before railroads were built, and he was engaged in an active practice at Shelby- ville until his death December 24, 1904. The mother died in 1857. Dr. Penwell was one of the substantial early settlers and pioneer physi- cians of Illinois, and in addition became a large landowner in Shelby County.
George V. Penwell went to the public schools of Shelbyville, the Shelbyville seminary and later to Bryant & Stratton's Business College at Chicago. Following his completion of his com- mercial course he was a clerk at Shelbyville, but in 1869 came to Pana and in January of that year formed a partnership with Benjamin Gold- stein in a clothing and dry goods business, under the name of Goldstein & Penwell. This associa- tion was maintained until 1876 when Mr. Pen- well bought out the interest of his partner. and continued alone until 1893 when he took his sons Orville E. and Max H., Claude T. and Warren, into the business, which became George V. Pen- well & Sons. In 1884 Mr. Penwell started a branch store at Hillsboro under the firm name of the Penwell-Klar Mercantile Company which still continues under the direct management of J. M. Klar until 1914, when Mr. Klar retired in favor of his son, Clyde Klar. Mr. Penwell and Capt. Kitchell formed the Penwell & Kitchell Coal Company in 1888, and in 1889 Mr. Penwell bought ont his partner, and continued the busi- ness as the Penwell Coal Mining Company. This corporation has a large mine of a capacity of 2,000 tons, and employment is given to over 300 men. It is the second largest industrial concern of Christian County. The sons. Orville E. and Max II., are in active control of the mercantile company of George V. Penwell & Sons, while Warren is the active head of the Penwell Coal Mining Company. In addition to his other inter- ests. Mr. Penwell has been interested in mining in Michigan and Mexico. Since 1893 when he retired. Mr. Penwell has made his home at Chicago, but has never lost his interest in Pana where he was so important a factor for many years. Among other things he helped to found the old Pana Fair Association. For nine years he rendered efficient service on the school board.
On May 21. 1867, Mr. Penwell was married (first) to Miss Isabel Warren of Shelbyville, a daughter of Samuel and Melinda ( Harris) War- ren. and she died March 31, 1873, leaving four sons, namely : Warren, Orville E., Max H., and George, who later died. In May, 1874, Mr. Penwell was married (second) to Myra Tutt, of Eugene, Ind., a daughter of James Tutt. They had one son, Claude Tutt Penwell, who
was accidentally killed at the mine February 14, 1906. In politics Mr. Penwell is a Repub- lican.
PENWELL, Warren, one of the leading men of Pana and the active head of the Penwell Coal Mining Company of this city, was born at Pana, February 6, 1869, a son of George V. and Isabel ( Warren) Penwell.
After attending the public schools of Pana, the Springfield Business College, and seven months at Blackburn University, Warren Penwell en- tered the office of the Penwell Coal Mining Com- pany, April, 1889, and has been its secretary since 1890 and treasurer since 1893. His activ- ities have not been confined to the company founded by his father, for he was one of the organizers of the Paddock Lumber Company in conjunction with Joseph Paddock in 1901. This company was later consolidated with the O. II. Paddock Lumber Company of Nokomis and a line of ten yards was established, all of them being in this section of the state. In 1903 Ben Beckenheimer and the two brothers, Claude T. and Warren Penwell, bonght the Pana Telephone Company, and in 1905 this company was con- solidated with other lines to form the Christian County Telephone Company, and since 1907. Warren Penwell has been its president. He is also a director in the Pana Building Association. and is secretary and treasurer of the Carbon Manufacturing Company of Pana, From 1893 to 1895 he was treasurer of the city of Pana, during the period that the city water works were built, and is one of the organizers of the Peoples Gas Company of Pana and is a director of the same. From 1897 to 1899, Mr. Penwell was mayor of Pana, and during his administration was laid the first street paving. For years he was a trustee of the library board, and was vice president of the board and conducted the correspondence with Andrew Carnegie which re- sulted in the gift of the present handsome library building towards which Mr. Carnegie gave $14.000, after the building site was contributed by H. N. Schuyler.
In 1907 Warren Penwell, together with six other public-spirited men of Pana, started the Pana Chautauqua Association of which he is now president. For seven years he served on the first board of the Pana Township High school, and was a member of the building com- mittee that had charge of the erection of the present school building. The Commercial Club of Pana had him for its president for five years. and he has never lost his interest in this organi- zation. Mr. Penwell was also instrumental in securing the subscriptions for the Huber Memorial Hospital. In fact it would be difficult to mention any enterprise of moment pertaining to Pana that has not either been fostered or organized by Mr. Penwell.
On June 14, 1898, Mr. Penwell was married to Lora Hayward of Pana, a daughter of John and Flora (Rood) Hayward, and granddaughter of John S. Hayward, one of the founders of Pana. and a director of the Big Four Railroad when it
Otto J. young & wife
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
was built through Christian County. Mr. and Mrs. Penwell have had four children, namely : Isabel, who was born November 26, 1900, is at home ; Ione Hayward, who was born October 23. 1902; George V., who was born September 4. 1910; and Rosamond Rood, who was born June 18, 1913. In politics Mr. Penwell is a Repub- lican, and his fraternal affiliations are with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America.
PERRY, John T., one of the substantial retired farmers of Edinburg, who is now enjoying the ease and comfort his years of effort have brought him, was born in Shelby County, Ill., September 18, 1841, a son of Benjamin and Lu- cinda (Halford) Perry, who came to Buckhart Township, Christian County. when he was seven years old, and bought ninety acres of land from the Denton heirs, and also entered seventy acres from the government. The father died on this property. After his death the mother married a second time and died in Shelby County.
John T. Perry, and his brothers, Frank, Wil- liam, Huston and Harvey took charge of the farm, and subsequently John T. Perry bought out the other heirs, and operated the farm him- self, adding to the original homestead until he had three hundred and eleven acres. Here he resided until 1906 when he retired, moving to his present residence at Edinburg.
On Nov. 11. 1869, Mr. Perry was united in marriage with Miss Martha Good, a daughter of John and Mary Jane (Pittman) Good, the former born in Lincoln County, Ky., near IIus- tonville, and the latter born in Buckhart Town- ship. When still a lad, the father lett Ken- tucky, for Buckhart Township, for the purpose of visiting a cousin. The trip was made on horseback, and he was so pleased with the coun- try, that he later located here, buying the Pat- terson farm of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he later added eighty acres, and operated his farm until 1857, when he was elected sheriff of Christian County, and died at Taylorville in February, 1858, aged thirty-six years. The mother died on the homestead in 1843. Mr. and Mrs. Perry became the parents of the following children : William Huston, Eugene Herbert, Nellie Edith, Emanuel Gordon, Maud Pearl, and one child, who died in infancy. In politics Mr. Perry is a Democrat. During the Civil War Mr. Perry proved his patriotism by enlisting in 1864 trom Montgomery County, Ill., as a member of Company C. Third Illinois Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. The Perry home is located nearly in the center of twelve lots, so that the grounds are ample and very attractive. Both the Perry and Good families are old and highly respected ones in Christian County, and their representatives have always stood high in the community.
PHERIGO, William G., whose life has been practically spent in developing the coal re- sources of Christian County, is one of the solid men of this vicinity. He was born in Bear
Creek Township, Christian County, September 13, 1862, a son of William and Savilla E. (Tay- lor) Pherigo, natives of Ohio and Kentucky. ro- spectively. The father came to Christian County, Ill., in 1854, and locating in Bear Creek Township, devoted his remaining years to agri- cultural pursuits, becoming the owner of 210 acres of valuable land in the prairies, and sixty acres of timber land. His death occurred in 1862, and the mother died afterward.
The educational advantages of William G. Pherigo were confined to those offered by the old Meter school in Bear Creek Township. Leaving school, he worked by the month on farms for a time, and then began digging coal in Nos. 5, 6 and 7 Stonington, and for the Springfield Coal Company of Taylorville, hav- ing worked in the Taylorville shaft since 1891. Not only hardworking, but thrifty, Mr. Pherigo has accumulated some property, owning two houses and six lots in the northeastern part of Taylorville.
On January 3, 1882, Mr. Pherigo was married to Lola Effy Gribber, born in Ohio, but long a resident of Christian County. They have four living children, namely : Burt Douglas, who lives near Bloomington, Ill. ; Mary Frances : Hazel, and Carrie. The Baptist Church holds his membership. In national affairs he votes the Democratic ticket, but in local matters he generally gives his support to the best man. Fra- ternally he belongs to the Knights and Ladies of Security, the United Mine Workers of Amer- ica and the Benevolent Association of Taylor- ville.
PIERPOINT, J. J., whose operations as a real estate dealer and agent for the old line insurance companies entitle him to a prominent place among the representative men of Pana, was horn at Morgantown, W. Va., November 3, 1865. a son of Sylvanus E. and S. A. Pierpoint. Dur- ing the Civil War, Sylvanus E. Pierpoint served as a U'nion scont, enlisting from his native city of Morgantown. In 1868 he moved to Shelby County. Ill., and located at Oconee, where he engaged in farming. The mother died in 1894. and the father in 190S.
After attending the public schools of Shelby County. Ill., J. J. Pierpoint took a commercial course in the Gem City Business College, at Quincy. Ill., earning the money to defray his expenses by working as a farm hand. Coming to Pana in August, 1889. he put to practical use the knowledge he had gained, becoming book- keeper for the Penwell Coal Company and held that position for eight years, when he became secretary for the Citizens' Savings, Lonn & Building Association. In 1897 he commenced operating in real estate, and now handles farm lands in the United States and Canada. coal lands and mineral rights. He also places loans and sells insurance, and does a large business.
On December 14, 1893, Mr. Pierpoint was mar- ried to Miss Bessie Orr, a daughter of Jolm Orr of Paua, and they have one son, John Orr
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
Pierpoint, who was born June 14, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Pierpoint are Methodists, and he is a Mason, belongs to the Eastern Star, the Frater- nal Army, the Fraternal Aid, the Royal Arcan- un, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Elks. In politics he is a Republican. A man of unusual ability, he has not confined his efforts to forwarding his own interests, but is ever found ready and anxious to advance his com- munity and county in any way that lies in his power.
PITZER, Cornelius D., now deceased, was for many years one of the prosperous farmers of Assumption. He was born in Marion County, Ind., November 27, 1839, a son of John and Elizabeth (Atherton) Pitzer. John Pitzer was born in Virginia, where he was educated, com- ing overland to Indianapolis, Ind., with his mother and sisters, his father having died in Virginia, and there the family bought land at $1.25 per acre, not far from the city itself. In fact they could have secured land now included in the city limits for the same price. They cleared off the land and engaged in farming and stock raising. The country was wild and there was plenty of game, including wild hogs. In time John Pitzer built a log house of his own, with a stick and mud chimney, and to it he brought his bride, born in Pennsylvania. They lived on this farm until 1871, when they came to Illinois, having sold their Indiana farm, and bought 300 acres of 'land east of Assump- tion on which they erected a comfortable resi- dence and lived in it until he died March 1, 1882. aged seventy-six years. The mother died De- cember 29, 1887, aged seventy-seven years. The father was a Republican and a Presbyterian.
Until 1866, Cornelius D. Pitzer lived in the vicinity of Indianapolis, where he was engaged in farming, after he had grown to manhood, in the meanwhile having attended the local schools during his boyhood. Coming to Assump- tion Township in 1866, he bought ninety acres east of the village of Assumption, at a time when the land was undeveloped, and covered with prairie grass which sometimes harbored the dangerous rattlesnake, as well as less dangerous wild animals. Here he built a frame house and operated his land for a number of years, but in 1881, sold this tarm and bought another one of eighty acres east of Assumption, and continued to live upon it making improvements and op- erating it until he retired, when he came to Assumption, and bought a comfortable residence from William Miller, and here he died April 5, 1911, aged seventy-two years. Mrs. Pitzer sur- vived him. In addition to his homestead, Mr. Pitzer owned 100 acres of land in Dollville, Shelby County, Ill. He was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he was a Republican, while his religious views made him a Presbyterian.
In 1867 Mr. Pitzer was married to Miss Mary II. Moore, born in Indianapolis. Ind., a daughter of James and Margaret (Rodman) Moore,
natives of Zanesville, Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father attended the schools oť his native place, and later developed into a farmer. He and the mother were married in Ohio, but later went to Indiana making the team overland with wagons, and continued to farm on heavily timbered land, that they bought. Still later they came to Assumption Township, Christian County, Ill., where they resided until Mr. Moore invested in 160 acres of Shelby County farm land, and lived upon his property until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Pitzer became the parents of the following chil- dren : Dora who was married to Horace Cusli- ing of Assumption, Ill .; Leslie who died at the age of seven years; John who lives at Tower IIill, Ill. ; Grace who is married to William Wal- lace ; and Claud who is married to Nora Elliott, and lives at Tower Hill.
PONTING, Tom Candy, was born at Hayden farm, parish of Kilsmeredo, near Bath, Somer- setshire, England, August 26, 1824, a son of John and Ruth (Sherron) Ponting, and grand- son of Theophilus Ponting, being fourth in a family of nine children born to his parents. He died October 11, 1916.
The Ponting family came into England with William the Conqueror, and located near the birthplace of Tom Candy Ponting, and the ma- jority were buried in the Fauset graveyard, where the oldest monument was placed above a Ponting.
In 1847 Tom Candy Ponting came to the United States with a brother, John, and from New York City where he landed after a six weeks' voyage in a sailing vessel, he went by boat to Albany, then by boat to Buffalo, and thence to Cleveland, where he sent his baggage on by wagon and he and his brother walked to Strongville, Ohio. From there they made their way to Medina. thence to Wooster, and to Fredricktown, Knox County, Ohio. The next stopping place was Etna, and thence to Co- lumbus, where Mr. Ponting began to deal in cattle. The following fall he went to Detroit, Mich., and thence to Kenosha, which was then called Southport. From there he went to Racine where he was joined by a friend, Mr. Vickery, and they traveled extensively through Wiscon- sin, visiting Madison, being there when the statehouse was being built. From Madison they walked to Milwaukee, and thence he went on to Chicago, and there he bought between thirty and forty cows with calves, and drove them into Wisconsin where he sold them at a profit. For some time thereafter he bought cattle at Chicago and took his purchases to different points where he sold his stock, making money on his various transactions for he was a born cattle dealer. In the fall of 1849 he bought sheep in Stevenson County, Ill., and drove them to Milwaukee where he sold them, being paid in Mexican dollars and five franc pieces. It was in 1850 that he first visited Christian County, and was at Mt. Auburn and on Mosquito
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Creek, and also stopped at a farm later owned by his daughter Jessie P. Adams. While there he met his future father-in-law. Going on to Taylorville to get his mail, he began buying cattle in that vicinity and as usual drove his stock into Wisconsin. In the spring of 1851 he returned to Christian County, and continued his cattle dealing in various parts of the coun- try, his transactions taking him to Texas and Missouri, on through Arkansas, dealing at times with the Indians, and always meeting with suc- cess. He was the first man to take Texas cattle to the New York market, selling his bunch on July 3, 1854. From New York he went back to Muncie, Ind., and thence to Illinois, but he returned to Indiana and was at Terre Haute for a time. Returning to Moweaqua, Ill., he bought a half interest in store with his for- mer partner, and conducted a general store for six or eight months, when he traded his inter- est for 410 acres of land. In 1855 he resumed his cattle trading and sold in the Chicago mar- ket for some years. In the spring of 1858 he began shipping to New York, and in 1859 moved on a portion of the farm in Stonington Town- ship that was later to become the property of his son. He continued his stock transactions remaining in Christian County until 1866 when he went to Abilene, Kas., to buy cattle to feed, and went back in 1867, and when he brought his cattle home that fall, he brought a buffalo with him, and in 1868 sold the buffalo to representa- tives of New York Central Park. He continued dealing with western cattle growers, and also bought in Texas, and shipped the most of his purchases to eastern markets. In 1872 he went to Minnesota to buy cattle, and in 1873 he bought heavily in Kansas City, Mo., and in the spring of 1875 began selling at Chicago, and did not deal with eastern markets after that date. During this period he had invested quite extensively in land in several states.
In 1856 Tom Candy Ponting was married to Margaret Snyder, a daughter of Michael and Margaret (Kautz) Snyder, who died in 1892 and 1896, respectively. They became the par- ents of seven children as follows: Mary, Chris- topher, Frederick. Jessie, Alice, Theopholis Wil- liam, Margaret Ruth, Everette Austin and Earl Wayne, of whom Mary. Christopher and Mar- garet Ruth died in infancy. Jessie was married in 1883 to J. Wheeler Adams, and has these chil- dren,-Alta, Thurman Theopholis, Zeha. Un- dine, Armour, Lois Navarra and Cecilia. Everette was married to Stella Rockey, and they have two sons. Tom Rockey, and Everette, Jr. Wayne was married to Mildred Lapham of Chicago, Ill .. in 1902.
In 1904 Mr. and Mrs. Ponting made a trip to his old home in England, and in 1905 they made another trip going to Miles City, Mont .. where they visited a couple of Englishmen. They went on to Tacoma, Wash., and Seattle, and thence to Portland, Ore. They also were at Albany, Ore., San Francisco and Los Angeles. Cal., from whence they started back home by
way of Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1896 they bilt a new residence, and on December 26, 1907, they celebrated in it their golden wedding an- niversary.
It is interesting to note that when Mr. Pont- ing came to Chicago in 1848 there was only one cattle market west of the Allegheny moun- tains, and that was at St. Louis, Mo. The prin- cipal markets then were New York City, Bos- ton, Mass., and Baltimore, Md., and Philadelphia. Pa. There were very few hogs slaughtered west of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the pork was all shipped south to feed the cotton growers. The last show at which he exhibited was the first International Live Stock Show, where he won second for the best car of cattle, Hereford Specials, and other prizes, but as he sold his herd soon thereafter he did not further ex- hibit.
POPE, C. E., whose work as a photographer proves him not only a skilled man in his calling, but a true artist as well, with a real apprecia- tion of valnes and the correct conception of what can be accomplished with the camera. He was born at Dann, N. C., a son of Henry and Eliza Pope, natives of North Carolina. This family is one of the oldest in North Carolina, the great-grandfather having been born in that state. The father was a cotton planter during his active life, but is now living retired at Dunn, N. C.
After attending school at Dunn. Mr. Pope . studied photography, and for several years had studios at Dunn and Henderson, N. C. Seeing an excellent opening at Taylorville, he came here in 1908 and opened a studio one half a block east of his present location, on the first of April ot that year. In November, 1911, he moved to his present studio, which is better adapted to his requirements, it being on the north side of the Square. From the start he has had a fine line of patronage that has in- creased with each year, as his work is absolutely of the highest class and his artistic ability is marked. His work includes all kinds of photo- graphic processes, and his studio is very taste- fully decorated and well equipped.
On March 15, 1905 Mr. Pope was married to Myrtle Richardson of Raleigh, N. C., who died September 6. 1908, leaving one son, C. E. Pope, Jr., now aged ten years. Mr. Pope was married (second) on October 31, 1916, to Mrs. Alta Lamb. In religious faith Mr. Pope is a Metho- dist. The Democratic party has his strong sup- port. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. Personally Mr. Pope is possessed of an easy, cordial manner, and he makes friends where . ever he goes, while his artistic ability and pro- fessional skill place him In the foremost rank in his calling.
POPE, Charles W., one of the substantial and progressive farmers of Ricks Township, whose 240 acres on Section 15 show that one who nn- derstands his business is in charge, was born
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in Macon County, Ill., May 22, 1852, a son of James M. and Louisa (Taylor) Pope. There were seven sons and one daughter in the fam- ily. The father was born in North Carolina, and died when C. W. Pope was eight years old. During the Civil War he served in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry and died in the service December 31, 1862.
Charles W. Pope has always been a farmer and stockman and has lived on his present farm for twenty-seven years. In addition to it he owns a farm of 135 acres in Montgomery County, Ill. Mr. Pope takes a pride in keep- ing his premises neat and orderly and caring for his farm implements. The Methodist Church holds his membership. For some years he has rendered valuable service as a school director.
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