USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 74
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SINGER, H. C., veterinary surgeon, and senior member of the firm of Singer & Head, with hos- pital and offices at No. 13 South Poplar street, Pana, is one of the leading men in his profes- sion in this section. He was born in Tower Hill Township, Shelby County, Ill., August 28, 1879, a son of Thomas and Catherine (Leyh) Singer. Thomas Singer was born in Bavaria, Germany, but came to the United States in 1848, and lo- cated in Los Angeles, Cal., where he engaged in the dairy business. In 1853 he came to Illi- nois and located in Tower Hill Township, Shelby County, where he bought 160 acres of land and engaged in farming. He is still living and making his home in Shelby County. In politics he is a Democrat. The mother was born at Columbus, Ohio, but died in Shelby County. Ill., October 4, 1915. Both she and the father early connected themselves with the German Evangelical Church.
Doctor Singer attended the public schools of Shelby County, and learned farming with his father. Later he attended a business college at Brookings, S. D., from which he was gradu- ated in eight months. He then matriculated at the Chicago Veterinary College. from which
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he was graduated April 5, 1905, with the degree of M. D. C. In 1917 he and Doctor Head formed their present partnership, and they have a thoroughly equipped hospital for the treatment of all diseases of horses and other animals, and have an immense practice all over this and ad- joining counties.
Doctor Singer was married on November 2, 1902, at Pana, to Mollie Dahler, a daughter of Fritz and Emilie (Weber) Dahler. Mrs. Singer was born at Pana, February 12, 1884. Her father was born in Berne, Switzerland, and her mother was born at La Salle, Ill., and both survive. Mr. Dahler is engaged in farm- ing and dairying in Pana Township. Doctor and Mrs. Singer have three children, as fol- lows : Ella, who was born at Chicago, August 28, 1903; Harold, who was born at Cowden, Ill., October 10, 1907; and Robert Henry, who was born October 31, 1917, at Pana, Ill. The family residence at the corner of First and Cedar streets, Pana, is a handsome one. Doctor Singer is an Odd Fellow, Knight of Pythias, Moose and Mason. The Democratic party has his support, and he belongs to the German Evangelical Church.
SLOMAN, John, a retired farmer who in for- mer years was well known for his agricultural activities, is now one of the respected residents of Morrisonville. He was born in Devonshire, England, July 10, 1846, a son of John and Eliza- beth (Arscott) Sloman, farming people who had seven children, five of whom survive. Until he was twenty-three years old, John Sloman re- mained in his native land, but at that time came to the United States, arriving here in 1869. For two years he was in Jersey County, Ill., and then came to Christian County, and worked on a farm in King Township until he was able to buy land. King Township remained his home for thirty years, during which period he served for five years as assessor of the township, and on the school board, and then for ten years he lived in Ricks Township in the vicinity of Morrisonville, where he was engaged in farming. In 1912 he retired, moved to Morrisonville which has since been his home.
While still living in England, Mr. Sloman was married to Mary G. Rich of Devonshire, a daughter of James Rich who had six children, three of whom survive. Mrs. Sloman died May 22, 1910, having borne her husband eleven chil- dren, as follows: William who was born March 11, 1870, died in childhood: James A. who was born December 24, 1871, died leaving two chil- dren ; Carrie who was born December 23, 1873, was married to Charles Clower a farmer of Kansas, has six children; Fred who was born in July, 1876, was married to Estella Deal, has one child, and is engaged in farming in King Township; Frank who was born September 6, 1878, was married to Della Minnis, has two chil- dren, and is engaged in farming in Ricks Town- ship : Rena, who was born October 17, 1884, was married to Ernest Bremer, has two children, and
they live on a farm in Kansas; Elizabeth, who was born September 1, 1886, keeps house for her father; Lula, who was born October 19, 18SS, was married to Theodore Becker, has a son, Howard Eugene, and they live in Morrisonville, Ill .; and Theresa, who died in infancy. Mr. Sloman is a member of the Baptist Church. In politics he is a Republican, and in addition to the offices already mentioned, he has held others under the county administration. His fine farm two and one-half miles out of Morrisonville is conducted by his son, Frank. Although some- what advanced in years, Mr. Sloman Las pre- served his faculties in a remarkable degree, and still takes a lively interest in current affairs.
SMITH, Augustus M., a retired farmer of South Fork Township, was formerly one of the suc- cessful agriculturalists of Christian County. He was born in Washington, D. C., January 11, 1835, a son of Augustus and Catherine (Hark- ner) Smith. The parents were born in Germany, and when he was twenty years old the father came to the United States, and for some time followed his trade of a baker at Baltimore, Md., where he was married. Later he moved to the vicinity of Carlton, Greene County, Ill .. and within five years came to South Fork Town- ship, Christian County, where he took up school land by paying interest on the debt, and to it added other land by purchase, becoming the owner of 320 acres of land. His original house was northwest of the house of Augustus M. Smith. Here he died in 1891, aged seventy-eight years, and the mother died in 1886, aged seventy years.
Augustus M. Smith spent his boyhood in South Fork Township, and attended its schools, re- maining with his father until he was twenty- four years old. At that time his father gave him forty acres of land, which he operated, and later he added to his farm until he had 860 acres. In 1874 he paid ten dollars per acre for the 240 acres on which stands his present house. He later paid fifty dollars per acre, which was then considered a very high figure, for the rest of his land. It is now worth four times that amount. and justifies his investment. He was always a large stock feeder and raiser, buying and ship- ing in immense numbers. The family is one of the oldest in the county, his father building the first log house in South Fork Township.
For ten years Mr. Smith bought and shipped cattle and hogs, and fed eighty bushels of corn per day to his stock. His shipments were made to Chicago, Buffalo, Albany, Philadelphia, St. Louis and other points, although Springfield was his nearest market. At present he owns 602 acres of land, having given away 160 acres of land. Although he owns a comfortable residence at Taylorville, he is back on the farm at times. Mr. Smith distinctly remembers the days when pioneer conditions prevailed. When trains were run over wooden rails, he owned and operated a small locomotive to draw his cars of stock to the main line. In politics he is a Republican and has served as a school director and a super-
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visor, and is one of the leading men in his line in the county. He has traveled all over the United States, including frequent trips to Florida.
In 1863 Mr. Smith was married to Miss Elmina Adams, a daughter of Francis and Rebecca (Hormon) Adams of South Fork Township. The father was a native of France and the mother of Pennsylvania. At an early day the Adams family located in South Fork Township, where they carried on general farming. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had two children, namely : Lizzie, who married W. L. Taylor of Taylorville, who had a daughter, Bessie, who is now deceased; and Betsy, who died at the age of three years.
SMITH, Edward O., proprietor of the Grand View Farm, comprising 424 acres of land on Sections 23 and 24, Prairieton Township, as well as of 240 acres in Mt. Zion Township, Macon County, Ill., is one of the leading men of Chris- tion County. He was born at Decatur, Ill., July 8, 1858, a son of E. O. and Harriet (Krone) Smith. E. O. Smith, Sr., was born in Baltimore, Md., and his father died when he was a lad. He came to Illinois when he was nineteen years old, and located at Decatur, Ill., where he worked at the carpenter trade, and later ac- quired land, buying and selling until he became a man of considerable means. He and his wife had ten children, of whom E. O. Smith, Jr., was the seventh in order of birth. In 1870 he went to California and died at San Jose, that state, of heart disease, March 8, 1892.
Edward O. Smith was reared in Decatur, Ill., until he was twelve years old when he and a brother went on a farm in Oakley Township, near Decatur, and worked there for a couple of years. He and his brother James D. then moved to his brother's farm, a half a mile north of E. O. Smith's present farm, and there they re- mained until his marriage. After completing the common school course, during this time. E. O. Smith entered the Taylorville High school, and was graduated in three years.
On November 1, 1882, E. O. Smithi was married (first) to Julia Rice, a daughter of George F. and Mary J. (Watson) Rice. She died Decem- ber 15, 1901, having borne her husband five chil- dren, as follows: Harriet E., who is at home, attended the schools of Prairieton Township and those of Colorado Springs, Col. ; Hester, who was graduated from the Moweaqua High school, is at home; Frank DeLoss, who married Mabel Cleary, lives on his father's Mt. Zion farm, hav- ing attended the Moweaqua High school, and Brown's Business College at Decatur, Ill .; Wal- ter R., who married Bernice Nethercutt, lives on his father's farm, and he attended the same high school and business college as his brother, Frank DeLoss; and E. Owen, who took the agricultural course at the University of Wis- consin at Madison, Wis., is also at home.
Mr. Smith was married (second) to Mrs. Sarah Minturn, on December 1, 1903. She was the widow of Dr. Minturn of Rantoul, Ill., and has one daughter, Winifred St. Clair Minturn,
who is secretary and treasurer of the Decatur Musical College, Decatur, Ill., but who has her home at Grand View Farm. Mr. and Mrs. Smith and family belong to the Christian Church at Moweaqua, Ill., in which he is a deacon, and of which he is a trustee. In politics he is a Republican, and has served as highway com- missioner and supervisor. Fraternally he be- longs to the Modern Woodmen of America, the Court of Honor and Knights of Pythias. Since the organization of the First National Bank of Moweaqua, he has been on its board of direc- tors, and for four years has been its president. He has been active in the Moweaqua Chamber of Commerce since its organization and is a forceful member. He is very prominent in many other ways in this section of the country.
SMITH, Edward 0., Sr., for many years was one of the sterling characters of Macon County, and still more prominent in California, where he went in later life. His record is worthy a place in the history of this county because of his many estimable characteristics. He was born in the vicinity of Baltimore, Md., and was a son of Rev. James Smith, a native of Mary- land, and a distinguished minister of the Metho- dist Church, who hield charges at Baltimore and Philadelphia. His death occurred in 1827. His wife bore the maiden name of Rachel Owen, and she was born in Westmoreland, Md. They had six children, and of them Edward Owen Smith was the fourth, being born April 15, 1817. Until he was fifteen years old, he remained at liome and then went to Washington, D. C., where he remained for two years. Hearing much of the great West, he determined to reach it, and as he had no money or horses, he walked as far as Springfield, Ohio. There he remained for a time, working at the carpenter trade, but his restless spirit demanded change and he went on to Montezuma, Ind. In a year he left for Terre Haute, Ind., and in May, 1837, he landed at Decatur, Ill., where he at once began work- ing at his trade. He built the first theatre at Decatur.
In 1843 Mr. Smith was married to Harriett Krone, who died January 16, 1867, having borne her husband ten children, as follows: Rachel R., who is the widow of Dr. Benjamin Brown, of Los Angeles, Cal .; James D., who lives at Napa, Cal .; Lydia A., who is the wife of George B. McKee, of San Jose, Cal .; M. Ella, who is the wife of Rev. S. S. Hebberd of La Crosse, Wis. ; Harriet, who is the widow of Frank Moore of San Jose, Cal .; Laura S., who is the wife of E. Lester Brown, of Elmwood, Ill .; E. O., who is a farmer of Prairieton Township, Chris- tian County, Ill .; Lowell A., who is a farmer near Dalton City, Ill .; Gertrude, who is the wife of E. C. Hurff of San Jose, Cal .; and Thomas C., who died at San Jose, Cal., when twenty-four years old. Mr. Smith was married (second) April 15, 1869, to Mrs. Catherine Hillman of Elmwood, Ill.
In 1847 Mr. Smith was elected a member of the Illinois Constitutional Convention from
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Piatt County and Macon County, and in 1848 he was elected on the Whig ticket, by a sub- stantial majority, state representative, and he secured some excellent legislation. In 1853 he made his first trip overland, with horses and cattle, and in 1858 made a second trip to Cali- fornia. On both these trips he had some very narrow escapes, for overland travel was then very dangerous, but the adventure of these trips appealed to men of his brave character. He was a director and one of the most prominent pro- moters of the St. Louis branch of the Wabash Railroad from Decatur to St. Louis, locating and naming Boody, Blue Mounds and Stoning- ton. Other honors awaited. In March, 1861. he was elected mayor of Decatur. Until the outbreak of the Civil War he was a Republican, and he supported Lincoln for re-election in 1864, and he always voted for Gen. R. J. Oglesby, a strong personal friend of his. The last twelve years of his life were spent in California, and he was elected from that state a member of the California State Constitutional Convention. His death occurred at San Jose, Cal., March 8. 1892, of heart disease, passing away very suddenly. He was a man who had hosts of friends all over the country, and nowhere were they more firmly attached to him than in Macon County.
SMITH, Jeremiah Franklin, one of the leading farmers of Edinburg, is a substantial man of Christian County, born in Indiana, February 23, 1852, a son of John M. and Ann T. (Moore) Smith. The parents were natives of Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively, the paternal grand- father. Noah Smith, having come from his na- tive state of North Carolina to Kentucky at an early day. The family later moved to Washing- ton County. Ind., in the vicinity of Salem, and there bought and operated land until 1864 when removal was made to Christian County, and set. tlement made near Sharpsburg. In the fall of that year John M. Smith bought land and con- ducted the farm. His father made his home with him until his death in 1875, at the age of eighty-four years. The grandmother died in In- diana, prior to the migration of the family over- land to Illinois in wagons, they bringing their stock with them as well as their household goods. On the way Jeremiah Franklin Smith rode on horseback to look after the cattle. John M. Smith conducted the homestead until 1882. when he moved to Missouri, and conducted a farm in Johnson County. near Warrensburg. Still later he retired and moving to Chelhoume. Mo ... lived there in retirement until his death in March, 1904, at the age of eighty-two years. The mother died on the farm near Warrensburg. in January, 1889, aged sixty-six years. In poli- tics the father was a Democrat.
After attending the schools of his native state and those in the vicinity of Sharpsburg, Jere- miah F. Smith began teaching school at the age of nineteen years, and was connected with dif- ferent Christian County schools in six districts, for twelve years. Then in 1875 he located on a farm northeast of Edinburg, but after two years
rented the farm he now owns for three years. In the meanwhile he continued to teach during the winter months. He bought a farm owned by Josiah G. Hill, but later sold it and bought his present farm of 223 acres, which at that time consisted of but sixty-five acres, he later in- creasing it to its present proportions. It is a very desirable property one and a quarter miles south of Edinburg. This continued his home un- til 1909 when he moved into the village into a residence he bought, but he continues to operate his farnı.
On March 12, 1875, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Mary\M. Woodward, a daughter of Jolin and Eliza (Mclaughlin) Woodward, natives of Georgia and Tennessee, respectively. Mr. Wood- ward left Georgia in boyhood and was brought to Illinois by his parents who located in Shelby County. The parents of Mrs. Woodward located in Illinois. Both Mr. and Mrs. Woodward died in Shelby County. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have five living children, namely : Edward M., who is in the treasury department at Washington, D. C .; Lula, who lives at Indianapolis, Ind., married H. H. Alexander and they have two children, Frank and Dorothy; Lelah, who was born May 20, 1880, died April 12, 1907; William D., who is on a farm near Sharpsburg, married Mabel Calloway and they have a daughter, Ele- nora ; and Bertha Maria. Mr. Smith belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is a Democrat, while in religious belief he is' a Universalist. For a number of years he has carried on general farming and stock raising and has been very successful in these lines.
SMITH, Joseph Sheppard, a prosperous farmer on Section 8. Buckhart Township, is one of the substantial men of Christian County. He was born at Pittsburgh, Pa., January 23, 1844, a son of Samuel B. and Mary Ellen (Sheppard) Smith. The father was born at Williamsport, Ohio, and the mother in Virginia. She spent her girlhood in her native place. Later the family came to St. Louis, Mo .. and thence to Springfield, Ill., where both her parents passed away. After attending school in his native state, Samuel B. Smith learned the trade of a tailor, and going to Pittsburgh, Pa., worked at it as a journeyman. In 1845 he moved to Springfield, Ill. and continued to work at his trade for a number of years. Subsequently he bought 100 acres of land southwest of Curran, Ill., from a Mr. Bridges, and conducted it until 1866, when he moved to Champaign County, Ill., and rented land for a year. Returning then to Sangamon County he bought 160 acres, and there passed away at the age of seventy years. His wife died on this farm at the age of seventy-five years. He was a Republican and a Methodist. During the War of 1812, the paternal grandfather of Joseph S. Smith, served as a soldier, and was killed during this conflict.
Joseph S. Smith spent his boyhood in Sanga- mon County, attending school and helping with the farm work, the school being held in a little log schoolhonse, and at times his father was the
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teacher. Mr. Smith's desk was a log which had been cut in two, pegs being driven in the under- side for legs. A plank served as a blackboard, and it was fastened to the wall by pegs. The little room was heated by an open fireplace. When he attained his majority, Mr. Smith left home and worked in the vicinity of Pawnee, 111. for various farmers until he went into Cham- paign County and spent two years. Returning to Sangamon County he spent a year, then rented land near Morrisonville for three years. Once more lie returned to Sangamon County and rented land for a year, when be bought a por- tion of his present farm, adding to it until he now has 273 acres of land. When he first came to Christian County, the land he now has in so fine a state of cultivation was mainly in- habited by wild game including deer, and there were many wild turkeys.
On February 15, 1872, Mr. Smith was mar- ried to Miss Mary Jane Craig, a daughter of William and Mary (McLaughlin) Craig, natives of Scotland, who came to the United States in a sailing vessel, seven weeks and five days being consumed in the voyage. After three years spent in New York state, the family came to Illinois. and located at Rochester, Sangamon County. where the father bought land. Both parents died on this farm. Mr. and Mrs. Smith became the parents of seven children, as follows : Amanda, who married Charles Hunsley of North Dakota; William, who was married to Miss Winnie Nash, lives in Crawford County, Kas. : Annie, who was married to Dwight Nash of Edinburg; Susie, who died November 3, 1911 : Ollie, Craig and Thomas, who are at home. Mrs. Smith died at her home after a short illness. October 8, 1915.
SMITH, Robert I., whose name is known throughout Christian County not only as a solid business man with a flourishing grocery and gen- eral supply store at Taylorville, but as a citizen who always did his duty as he saw it no matter what personal cost was involved. He was born in Washington County, Ill., near the present town of Centralia, December 28. 1843, a son of William R. and Margaret J. (Sanders) Smitir. natives of Christian County, Ky .. and Lyon County, Ky. The father came to Illinois when eighteen years of age, locating in Washington County where his father had entered land from the government in the thirties, and farmed it until the spring of 1866, when he moved to Mowequa, and with his son, Robert I .. went into a grocery and harness business. This he continued until his death February 22, 1911. at the age of ninety-two years, eleven months and twenty-two days. The mother is also deceased.
Robert I. Smith attended the district schools of Centralia, Ill., and at Old Stonington, until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he enlisted for service November 1, 1861, in Company E. Thirty-second Illinois Infantry. The regiment under Colonel Logan was recruited at Camp Butler, and sent to the west side of the Mis-
sissippi River, near Cairo. On April 6, 1862, it suffered such a severe loss as to be almost wiped out. Later, after its ranks were replenished, it was at the Siege of Corinth, went through Tennessee and Mississippi to Holly Springs, when it returned to Tennessee. For a time it was at LaGrange, from whence it was sent to Memphis, and thence to Bolivar, where it had several engagements. From there it went into an engagement at Hatchie River, and back to Vicksburg, being in the rifle pits against that city. Mr. Smith was wounded in the Seige of Vicksburg, but continued in service, being trans- ferred to the Veterans' Reserve, Corps at St. Louis. His honorable discharge is dated No- vember 19, 1865, at General Ord's headquarters. Mr. Smith's regiment was sent to escort Presi- dent Lincoln's body from Washington to Spring- field after his death.
Upon his return home, Mr. Smith was in busi- ness for a time at Mowequa, and then from the spring of 1866 to the fall of 1885 he was engaged in the grocery and harness business, going to Taylorville in the latter year. He also had a harness business at Taylorville for a time, but sold to his brother, J. R. Smith, in 1886, and founded his present store, handling groceries and general supplies, and doing an immense business with Taylorville and the surrounding country.
. On November 24, 1868, Mr. Smith was married to Mary A. Allsman, and they had four children : Harry W., Addie A., Eva A., and L. Wilda. Mrs. Smith died May 28, 1885. On May 24. 1886. Mr. Smith was married (second) to Mary A. Johnson, and they have two children, Thomas E. and Robert I., Jr. Mr. Smith's two sons. Thomas E. and Robert I., Jr., have grown up in the business with their father, and are live, progressive young business men. Since 1872 Mr. Smith has been a consistent member of the Bap- tist Church. He belongs to the F. M. Long Post. No. 392, G. A. R., and is very popular in it. as he is with all who know him, and no man stands any higher iu his community than does he.
SNOW, Thomas R., supervisor of Assumption Township, and one of the leading farmers of Christian County, lives on a farm one-half a mile south, and two miles west of the city of Assumption. He was born in Shelby County. Ill., July 28, 1861, a son of Charles and Martha ( Walker) Snow, natives of Virginia and Ken- tucky. In young manhood the father came to Illinois, where he was married. His first wife dying, he returned to Kentucky and was mar- ried (second) to Martha Walker, and they lived in Kentucky for three or four years, when they sold their farm and moved on another one in Shelby County, Ill., where they remained until 1871. he dying in October of that year. She sur- vived him until in Angust, 1882, when she too passed away. lle owned about 200 acres of land. The Christian Church held his member- ship, and he was active in politics. His four children were as follows: Charles, who is a
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railroad man of Pana, Ill .; Sarah, who is the wife of Alfred Childers, lives at Herrick, Ill .; Thomas R. ; and Joseph, who lives at Pana, Ill.
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