USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 71
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On September 4, 1884, Mr. Sanders was mar- ried to Miss Salina Yates, a daughter of Richard and Lydia ( Heddem) Yates, natives of Shelby County, Ky., where her parents were married. Until his death, Mr. Yates was engaged in farm- ing in Kentucky. After his demise, the mother of Mrs. Sanders and her daughter came to South Fork Township, Christian County, and here was married (second) fo H. M. Watts, a native of Kentucky, who bought a small farm in South Fork Township, later buying another one of eighty acres in Buckhart Township, which lie conducted, and improved it from wild prairie into a valuable property. There he died July 4, 1870, but Mrs. Watts is still living, with her daughter Mrs. Sanders. The paternal grand- father of Mrs. Sanders, Enoch Yates, was born in Virginia and his wife was born in Kentucky, to which state he moved in young manhood, and after his marriage engaged in farming there. becoming a large land and slave owner. After the close of the Civil War he moved to Vernon County, Mo., where he bought land and operated it until his death, at which time he owned over 1,000 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Sanders had one child. Verna M., born April 28, 1893, who lives with her mother. There is a very comfortable modern residence on the farm, which Mr. San- ders built a year prior to his death. The home-
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stead comprises 223 acres of land, devoted to general farming and stockraising. The family is an honored one in this county, and Mrs. Sanders and her daughter enjoy pleasant social connections.
SANDERS, Nicholas Denison, now deceased, was formerly a farmer of some importance in May Township, and is remembered as a man of high principles and strict probity. He was born in Connecticut, June 8, 1828, a son of Nicholas and Sarah (Douglas) Sanders, natives of
Rhode Island and Connecticut, respectively. In 1837 the father came to Illinois, locating in sec- tion 1, May Township, but in 1851 he embarked in a general merchandise business in that town- ship at old Stonington. There he built a brick store and conducted a flourishing business for the greater part of his remaining years. Ap-
pointed postmaster, he was a man of consider- able importance, and retained his ownership of farm lands. A charter member of the old Stou- ington Baptist Church, he retained his interest in it until his death in September, 1878, at the age of seventy-three years. In politics he was a Republican.
Until he was eight years old Nicholas Deni- son Sanders lived in his native state, and was then brought to May Township by his parents. As his mother was a woman of unusual educa- tion for those times, having been a school teacher, the lad was educated principally at home, and became a teacher in May Township for a few terms. Until he attained to middle age, he was actively engaged in farming, but then gave over to others the active labor of the farm, and managed his several farming proper- ties. From time to time he bought land in dif- ferent townships in the county, owning in all 1,000 acres of land, and carried on stock raising upon an extensive scale, and he was also inter- ested in manufacturing tile for many years. His death occurred March 23, 1915, when he was eighty-six years nine months and sixteen days old.
On June 13, 1852, Mr. Sanders was married to Sarah Abbie Larkham, born April 30, 1836, a daughter of Lancy L. and Mary (Reed) Lark- ham of Connecticut. The first Mrs. Larkham died. and Mr. Larkham was married (second) to Diadama Roush. They bought a farm in May Township, but later sold it and moved to Menominee. Wis., where they bought another farm. Mrs. Larkham died in Wisconsin, where she and Mr. Larkham were living, and he later returned to May Township, where he spent the remainder of his life with his daughter, Mrs. Sanders. Mr. Sanders had the following chil- dren : Mrs. Sarah A. Garwood; Mrs. Mary E. Duncan, who is a widow; and Carrie Luella, who died in infancy., One of the early settlers of the county, Mr. Sanders was always inter- ested in matters pertaining to his section. For years he was an active church worker, and he was one who always exerted an influence for good in his community.
SCHNEEBERGER, Francis, a prosperous and thrifty farmer on Section 30, May Township, is one of the representative men of Christian County. He was born in Switzerland, February 1, 1848, a son of Frantz and Rosetta (Nefeler) Schneeberger, natives of Switzerland. The par- ents came to the United States in 1854, locating in Ohio, where they bought and improved a farm, were industrious people, and there they both died. In addition to farming, the father carried on distilling. His political views made him a Democrat, and the Evangelical Church held his membership.
Francis Schneeberger accompanied his parents to the United States, and he assisted his father in the distilling business and farming in Ohio, until he was seventeen years old, and later was employed by Dr. McCoy and John Cowgill, at different times, on farms in Illinois. Whenche was seventeen he came to Illinois, and operated a blacksmith shop in Johnson Township until 1880, when he bought his present farm of 120 acres where he carries on general farming and stock- raising.
In 1869 Mr. Schneeberger was married to Miss Callie May Cowgill, who died in 1877, having had three children, namely: Rosa, who was born December 23, 1872: Luella, who was born January 4, 1875; and Austin O., who was born March 9, 1877, died August 8, 1877. On May 14. 1879, Mr. Schneeberger was married (second) to Nancy E. White, a daughter of James and Nancy (Funderburg) White, of May Township. Mr. White was born near Nashville, Tenn., and Mrs. White was born in Sangamon County, Ill., and they were married in Sangamon County. In politics Mr. White was a Democrat. By his second marriage, Mr. Schneeberger had four children, as follows: Alta, who was born Feb- ruary 12, 1880; John, who was born January 2. 1881, died July 16, 1882; Charles F., who was born December 7, 1882; and Edna, who was born January 6, 1885, Mr. Schneeberger is a Prohi- bitionist, and is very earnest in his support of the principles of his party.
SCHLOZ, Gotthilf E., one of the leading dairy- men and farmers of Pana Township, is making his farm a model one, and sending out prod- ucts that are so high grade as to be in demand in all markets where they are offered. He was born in Reutlingen, Wurttemberg, Germany, June 6. 1866, a son of William and Rosa (Bauhof) Schiloz. There were six sons and one daughter. of whom three of the sons never came to the United States. The mother is still living in Germany but the father passed away in 1900.
In 1880 Gotthilf E. Schloz came to this coun- try, and came direct to Rural Township after landing. He worked for farmers in this town- ship for four years, and then began to operate a forty acre farm, and has made such progress that he now owns a fine farm of 195 acres of land on sections 20 and 28. Pana Township, that. is well supplied with suitable buildings. He features a fine herd of Brown-Swiss cows that
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
equals any in this country, which includes one registered bull. During the state fair he bought a calf in 1916, and paid a big price for it, but believes that it will repay the expendi- ture in the future. On his mother's side his ancestors also tilled the soil, but his father's people were all tradesmen or mechanics.
While on a visit to Germany, Mr. Schloz had a pleasant trip, and on the way home became acquainted with Marie Aichele of Wurttemberg, Germany, and they were married August 4, 1890, in Pana, Ill. They became the parents of the following children : William Frederick, who was born May 24, 1892, conducts a butcher shop at Pana, and was married to Elsie Papenloehr of Indiana; Gustave who was born November 22, 1894, died in infancy; Henry G. who was born August 16, 1896, is with his father on the farm; Bernhard who was born May 17, 1898, is also on the farm; Elsie who was born October 21, 1900; Pauline who was born May 28, 1902; Rosa who was born October 13, 1903; and Frieda who was born December 2, 1904. Mr. Schloz belongs to the Evangelical Church. In politics he is a Democrat, and has served as a school director. Industrious and frugal, he has gradually risen and now is recognized as one of the men of importance in his line in Christian County.
SCHOLES, Frank V., one of the progressive farmers of section 23. Mt. Auburn Township, is farming eighty acres of land in a manner to entitle him to a place among the leading agri- culturists of Christian County. He was born in his present township. February 21, 1875. a son of John and Annie (Gideon) Scholes. Growing np in his native township. Frank V. Scholes attended its schools. He embarked in a poultry business at Mt. Auburn, which he con- ducted very successfully until 1916, when he moved on his present place. In addition to his farm, he owns city property at Mt. Auburn.
On May 2, 1900, Mr. Scholes was married to Edith Keown. Mr. and Mrs. Scholes have the following children : Gladys M., Herbert W., and Vivian M. In politics Mr. Scholes belongs to the Democratic party. Although he takes an intelligent interest in local affairs, his time and attention have been too fully occupied with his private affairs for him to seek public office. A man of enterprise, he has already proven his worth, and stands very high with all who know him.
SCHUESSLER, Rudolph F., who was senior member of the decorating firm of Schuessler an-1 Kerwin of Taylorville, is a man who combines artistic taste with business judgment. IIe was born at St. Louis, Mo .. September 14, 1878, a son of Henry and Mary ( Stutenberg) Schuess- ler, natives of St. Louis, where they were mar- ried. The father spent his life at St. Louis. where he was engaged as a brick mason until his death, October 2, 1915. The mother sull'- vives, and makes her home at St. Louis. In
politics the father was a Republican. The Lutheran Church held his membership.
Rudolph P. Schuessler spent his boyhood at St. Louis, where he was educated, and learned the painter's trade. For eight years he was with one of the leading decorating firms of St. Louis, and was connected with other important decorators until 1900 when lie came to Taylor- ville and worked at his trade for six years, and then entered into partnership with Mr. Kerwin.
In 1902 Mr. Schuessler was married to Miss Margaret Maurer, a daughter of Adam and Mar- garet (Stecher) Maurer of Wabash County, Ill., extensive farming people of that section, where the father died in 1885, aged forty-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Schuessler have the fol- lowing children : Edna, Catherine, Irene and Gertrude.
SCHUYLER, Henry N., one of the leading bank- ers of Pana, and many times its chief executive, is essentially one of the city's most representa- tive men, and one upon whose judgment and sagacity much reliance is placed. Mr. Schuyler was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., Febru- ary 4, 1844, a son of George S. and Clarissa (Van Schaick) Schuyler. The father, who spent his entire life in Montgomery County, N. Y., was a Republican from the time of the formation of that party, and was a member of the German Reformed Church. He and his wife had seven children, namely : Sarah, Jacob. Henry N., Net- tie, Frederick, Anna and Frank.
Henry N. Schuyler was reared on a farm in his native county, attended the public schools, and remained at home until he was twenty years old. In the fall of 1864 he went to Iowa, but came to Hillsboro. Ill., in March, 1865, and for two years thereafter was employed by the Amer- ican Express Company at Hillsboro, and for one year by the Merchants Union Express Com- pany. Then, in partnership with a friend, he conducted a lumber yard at Greenville, Ill., until March, 1868, when he located at Pana, where, with John A. Hayward he established a hard- ware business. Later they sold this and went into handling real estate, and loaning money. As was but natural as their business grew, they broadened out into banking, and in 1876 they organized under the title of Hayward & Schuy- ler, bankers, with a capital stock of $50,000. In 1878 Mr. Schuyler bought out his partner and changed the name to H. N. Schuyler, the capital stock being increased to $200.000. There the bank continued for fourteen years, when the name became H. N. Schuyler & Son.
On February 25, 1874, Mr. Schuyler was mar- ried to Miss Adelaide H. Hayward, a daughter of John S. Hayward. Mr. and Mrs. Schuyler had two children, namely: George Hayward, who died in 1904, just as,he was entering upon a promising career as a lawyer ; and Ruth, who became the wife of Dr. Albert M. Cole, of Indian- apolis, Ind. Mrs. Schuyler died in 1877. For many years Mr. Schuyler has been a Mason, and has risen in that order. He is a Republican,
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
and in 1876 was elected mayor of Pana, and held that office in all eleven terms, being last elected in 1915. Not only has he been a delegate to the majority of county and state conventions, but he was a presidential elector in 1896, having the honor of casting his electoral vote for Presi- dent McKinley. Few men are better known in this section of the state than Mr. Schuyler, and certainly none stand any higher in public esteem and confidence.
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SCHWAB, Adam, for many years one of the highly respected citizens of Christian County, was a valued resident of May Township for almost thirty-six years. He was a veteran of the Civil War, in which he suffered great hard- ships, and probably never entirely recovered from the effects of a long imprisonment at An- dersonville. Adam Schaub was born at Dum- bach, in Baden, Germany, November 1, 1835 and died at his home in May Township, Christian County, August 9, 1912. His parents were John and Theresa (Swing) Schwab and Adam was the last survivor of a family of six children.
In 1858 Adam Schwab came to the United States in the hope of finding better industrial chances than his own country afforded at that time, and after landing he found no difficulty in securing employment as a laborer at Schuyl- kill Haven, Pa., where he remained working by the month until the outbreak of the Civil War. He enlisted for a term of nine months, at Har- risburg, in Company A, One Hundred and Sev- enty-third Infantry and served out this first enlistment and was honorably discharged. He then re-enlisted in Company C. Fiftieth Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry and was again mus- tered into the service and served bravely and faithfully until he was again honorably dis- charged, his regiment being mustered out on July 30, 1865. He was captured by the Con- federates at the battle of the Wilderness, in which he was seriously wounded, and was taken to the military prison at Andersonville and dur- ing his confinement of five months there suffered great hardship.
When the war was over, Mr. Schwab came to Illinois and engaged in farming near Grove City and later moved from there to his farm in May Township, on which he passed the rest of a busy life, successfully carrying on large agri- cultural operations. In 1869, at Springfield, Ill., Adam Schwab was united in marriage with Miss Appolino Snyder, who was born in Germany in 1841, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mary Tex, in Taylorville, on December 12, 1916. Mrs. Schwab came to the United States with her parents when a child and lived in Illinois for forty years. She was much beloved not only by her family but by all who knew her. The surviving children of Mr. and Mrs. Schwab are: Mrs. Henry Tex. of Taylorville; John, of Tay- lorville : Mrs. Charles Dechert. of Rexford, Kans .; Mrs. John Jackson, of Assumption, Ill .; Mrs. Charles Stapleton, of Stonington ; and Mrs. Albert Dexheimer, of Taylorville. There
are ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild in the family.
The passing away of Mr. and Mrs. Schwab removed two faithful members of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. They were people of sterling worth, kind, helpful and charitable. Neighborhoods experience a great loss when such admirable characters are removed from their midst and it seems almost a public duty to preserve their memory in such works as the present history of Christian County.
SCKOWSKA, John J., one of the representative farmers of Stonington Township, is conducting his father's homestead on Section 13 of this township. He was born in Stonington Town- ship, May 14, 1876, a son of Julius and Alvina (Kreiger) Sckowska, the former born at Berlin, Germany, in 1853, and the latter in Prussia, Germany in 1856. The father came to Illinois in 1867, and lived at Springfield until 1873, when he was married and moved on a farm in Ston- ington Township.
John J. Sckowska attended the district schools of Stonington Township, and remained with his father until he was twenty-one years old. At that time he began farming for his father and has since continued to operate the homestead.
A Democrat in politics he was elected a school director on the Democratic ticket in April, 1916. The Presbyterian Church of Stonington, holds his membership. Mr. Sckowska is a stockholder in the State Bank of Stonington, and the Farmers Elevator Company of the same place. In May, 1903, Mr. Sckowska was married (first) to Clara Clements, a daughter of Philip and Ella ( Hamilton) Clements, and they had two children : Alvina, born April 16, 1904, and Paul, Jr., born August 14, 1905. On September 22, 1914, he was married (second) to Mrs. Myrtle (Brown) Moore of Blue Mound, Ill., a daughter of Richard B. and Emeline (Myers) Bowen, the former born on a farm at Blue Mound, Ill., in 1840, and the latter born at the same place in 1851. Mrs. Sckowska had three children by her first marriage, namely: Revia, now Mrs. Little; Arthur, and one who died in infancy.
SCOTT, William Samuel, mayor of Taylorville, merchant and farmer, who is a member of the firm of Scott Bros. & Company of Taylorville, retail dealers in shoes, is one of the prosperous business men of Taylorville. He was born at Battle Ground, Ind., December 30, 1865, a son of John W. and Lydia J. (Campbell) Scott, the former born at Wellsville, Ohio, February 10, 1840, and the latter at Gallipolis, Ohio, July 16, 1843. The father, after the close of the Civil War, engaged in the flour milling business at Battle Ground Ind., having been engaged in a similar line prior to his enlistment in the One Hundred and Forty-first Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. The family lived at Battle Ground, Ind., until 1884, when removal was made to
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
Greencastle, Ind., in order to give the children better educational advantages offered by DePauw University. The father is still engaged in busi- ness and is a member of Scott Bros. & Company, Both he and the mother came of Scotch-Irish ancestry.
William Samuel Scott was educated at De- Pauw University, having passed through the pub- lic schools and the collegiate institute at Battle Ground prior to entering the university. After completing his university course, he entered his father's store, and in time was taken into part- nership. In 1888 the business was moved to Anderson, Ind., and in 1891 to Taylorville, and for the past fifteen years the firm name has been Scott Bros. & Company, succeeding J. W. Scott & Son.
Always a Republican with reference to state and national affairs, Mr. Scott has voted for the best man in local affairs, regardless of party affiliations. He is now mayor of Taylorville, having been elected to that important office on the independent ticket in the spring of 1915, and again in 1917. At present he is treasurer of the Taylorville Chamber of Commerce, and a director of that body, a director of the local Merchants Association, of the Illinois State Re- tail Dealers Association, a director and second vice-president of the Taylorville National Bank, and since its organization, he has been president of the Taylorville Chautauqua Association. He is a member of Mystic Lodge No. 64, K. of P., and the Modern Woodmen of America and has belonged to the former organization since 1891. Ever since boyhood, he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
On November 27, 1SS8, Mr. Scott was married at Greencastle, Ind., to Mary Simpson, born at Taylorville, Ill., April 21. 1868, a daughter of Capt. Andrew Simpson, a prominent attorney and landowner of Taylorville, who died in 1883, leaving an estate of nearly 2,000 acres, located in Christian County, which is now in charge of Mr. Scott. Mr. and Mrs. Scott became the par- ents of the following children: Eleanore, who is now Mrs. Grover Hoover, was born September 3, 1889; and Mary Louise, who was born July 24, 1898. Mr. Scott owns a block of business buildings located on the north side of the Square at Taylorville,
SEATON, Gordon Ewing, one of the very pros- perous farmers of Buckhart Township, and a man who has devoted himself to agricultural pursuits with more than usual success, was born on his present farm, known as the old Seaton homestead. February 19, 1878. a son of William Ewing and Julia Ann (Pyatt) Seaton. Coming to Buckhart Township in 1865, the parents made an initial purchase of forty acres to which they added until they had 394 acres, all of which they improved. William E. Seaton died at Edin- burg in 1889. The mother was born May 7, 1843, in Fayette County, Ill., where she was married. August 31, 1862. Her father was a Baptist minister, and a man of some education. Like so many women of her time she did not live into
old age, but passed away at the age of forty- five years, nine months and sixteen days. At the time the Seaton family came to Illinois, all of the township surrounding the Seaton home- stead was wild prairie, and the changes that have taken place since then are many and im- portant.
Growing up on his present farm, Gordon Ewing Seaton attended the schools of his town- ship. Although he and his father were in part- nership in handling cattle, they did their farming separately, this arrangement continuing . until the father's death, when he inherited the old farm of 120 acres on which he is still living. He bought twenty acres and his wife owns thirty- four acres making a total of 173 acres that he operates. He is doing general farming and cattle feeding, and has large interests.
On November 24, 1897, Mr. Seaton was mar- ried to Miss Carrie Minnis, born October 28, 1878, a daughter of Ferdinand McHenry and Jane (George) Minnis, and they have two chil- dren, namely : Merle Edward, born October 3, 1899, and Vera Haldeen, born August 12, 1912. A sketch of the Minnis family will be found elsewhere in this work. In politics Mr. Seaton is a Democrat. Fraternally his associations are with the Masons at Edinburg, Ill., and Modern Woodmen of America. A man of industry, he has taken good advantage of his opportunities, and stands very well in his community.
SEATON, William Ewing, who during earlier life was a substantial farmer of Christian County, spent his last days at Edinburg, and was so worthy a citizen that in dying he left behind him a record for sterling honesty and upright- ness that must be gratifying to his family. He was born in Fayette County, Ill., November 5, 1840, a son of William and Ellen (Williams) Seaton. The father came from Tennessee in 1830, to Illinois, entering government land in Fayette County, for which he paid $1.25 per acre, and here he spent the remainder of his life, dying at the age of forty-two years. The mother was taken to Ohio from Pennsylvania by her parents, both families traveling overland with wagons. The mother died in Fayette County, Ill., at the home of a daughter, at the age of fifty-seven years.
William E. Seaton spent his boyhood in Fayette County, and there attended the public schools. His first work at self-support was done for farmers by monthly engagements. In 1865 Mr. Seaton came to Christian County and located on the farm that became his homestead. To the original purchase he added until he owned 400 acres of land, all in Buckhart Township. In politics he was a Democrat and in 1899 he was elected supervisor of Buckhart Township, and served for nine years. For twenty-one years he was a school director, and for four years he was county treasurer, so that he was a man of prominence in his day.
In 1862 Mr. Seaton was married to Julia Pyatt. born in Fayette County, Ill., and they had four
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
children, namely : Marinda, who died at the age of six years ; John W .; Jesse E., and Gordon E. On February 22, 18SS, Mrs. Seaton died. On October S. 1894, Mr. Seaton was married to Miss Ida E. Mason, a daughter of Seth and Syrene (Hanon) Mason. She was born in Taylorville Township, but her father was born near Coving- ton. Ky., in Boone County, which he left in boyhood to come to Taylorville Township, this county, where he bought land, and later married, his wife being a native of the township. The father died in this township at the age of eighty years. The mother died at the age of forty-two years. The maternal grandfather. Martin Hanon, was a native of Kentucky, who came to Illinois overland and became one of the first . settlers of Christian County. His father was a native of Ireland. Mr. Seaton was affiliated with the Universalist Church and Mrs. Seaton is also a member of the same church.
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