USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 78
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George Wesley Vollintine died November 26, 1910, in his ninety-third year. Mary Martha Vollintine died at Taylorville, Ill., August 29, 1905, when aged eighty years. In recalling these highly esteemed residents of the county it is re- membered that they were energetic and ambi- tions and cheerfully bore with their neighbors and friends the hardships of pioneer days. They were hospitable and always had a kind word
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and helping hand for those in need. They were indulgent in their home and gave each child the best advantages of education. They were among the founders of Lincoln University, at Lincoln, Ill., and contributed liberally and substantially to its erection and support.
VOORHEES, Charles, now deceased, was for many years one of the honored practitioners of medicine in Christian County, and although it is many years since he passed away, his mem- ory is cherished by his family and the wide circle of friends he left behind him. He was born in Trenton, N. J., April 1, 1837, a son of Cornelius and Sarah Elizabeth Voorhees, being one of eight children born to his parents, who were equally divided as to sex. Two sisters, now widows, are the sole survivors of this large family. When Doctor Voorhees was a youth, the family moved to Deerfield, Ind., and there the father died.
For a time Doctor Voorhees worked for a cabinet-maker who afterwards married one of his sisters, and then began studying medicine in the office of Doctor Milligan, carrying on his studies far into the night so eager was he to acquire knowledge. He commenced the practice of medicine at Butler, Ind .. and continued his studies, being graduated from Ann Arbor, Mich. Later he took over the practice of Doctor May- berry of Christian County, and moved to Mor- risonville. Doctor Voorhees was very successful both as a medical man and a citizen. His death occurred December 22, 1875, when he was in the very prime of life, and was regretted by his community, who lost in him one of its most representative men.
On February 10, 1859. Doctor Voorhees was married to Margaret E. Lindsey of Columbus, Ohio, a daughter of MeCan and Jane (Wilson) Lindsey, of Virginia, who had nine children. The parents were farming people. Doctor and Mrs. Voorhees became the parents of six chil- dren, three of whom are deceased. The children living are: Lillie E., who was born July 10, 1864, was married to Frank Pattison of Macon. Ill., has two sons and two daughters --- Herbert, Margaret, Mason who married Ellen Winn, has one daughter, Mildred, and Etta, Daisy H., who was born March 14. 1867. was married to Dr. W. Hart now of Douglas, Wyo. : and Lottie H., who was born June 22, 1875, who was married to John Klickner, a merchant of Morrisonville, has a daughter living, Eulalie, who was born December 22, 1901, Elmer and Rosa having died. Doctor Voorhees was a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he held official positions, and he was on the school board. Fraternally he was a Mason and Odd Fellow, and also belonged to the Eastern Star.
WAGGONER, George, now living retired at Taylorville, has the distinction of being one of the few warm, personal friends of Abraham Lincoln yet surviving, whose memories of the great martyr are not only interesting. but his- torical. His birth occurred in Sangamon
County, Ill., January 12, 1838, and he is a son of Ozias and Rebecca Jane (Shepard) Wag- goner, natives of Ohio and New York state. The father came to Illinois in 1821, and lo- cated at Winnebago Fort, where he spent one winter. In the spring of 1822 he came on to the old Sangamon town in Sangamon County. and there continued until about 1890. when he moved to Kansas, and there died in 1894. The mother died many years before, in 1849.
George Waggoner went to the public schools of Petersburg; Menard County, Ill., and at Springfield, and also attended the schools of Cotton Hill Township in Sangamon County. Until 1861 he worked on the homestead, and then gave his support in a practical way to the policies of his friend Mr. Lincoln, by enlisting for service during the Civil War and was on arsenal duty at the armory at St. Louis, Mo .. and was there at the time of the capture of Fort Jackson, as a member of the Eleventh Missouri Volunteer Infantry. Among other en- gagements in which he participated were the following : Frederickstown. campaign in and around Island No. 10 with Gen Pope, Hamburg Landing, and following the battle of Corinth was placed under Gen Rosecranz and took part in the battles of Iuka, Corinth, and the Siege of Vicksburg. On Angust S, 1864, he received his honorable discharge. and returned to Springfield, but came to Christian County dur- ing the fall of that year and for a time was engaged in farming. In 1867 he bought a farm of 182 acres in Taylorville Township, and lived on it until 1874 when he moved to Taylorville for the winter, during which months his children attended the city schools. and then in the summers the family returned to the farm. Believing in the future of the county seat he invested in two valuable resi- dence properties at Taylorville. Subsequently, he bought a residence on the outskirts of Mor- risonville and there lived for six years, when he sold that property and bought a farm in Montgomery County. Ill. In 1902 he sold this last farm, and retired, returning to Taylorville, where he continues to reside.
On January 4, 1866. Mr. Waggoner was mar- ried to Rachel Honnold of Sangamon County, a daughter of John and Ann Honnold. Mr. and Mrs. Waggoner became the parents of six children as follows: Frederick Arthur; Anna R., who is Mrs. Jesse A. Landon of Burlington, Iowa ; Albert Edward ; Charles Edward; Frank, who resides at Topeka. Kas .; and Min- nie, who is at home. Having passed through the epoch making period of the Republican party, Mr. Waggoner is strong in his adherence to the straight ticket, and while not going into politics actively, gives his hearty and effective support to the candidates of his faith.
WALKER, Joshua Bowman, president of the Pana National Bank and one of the important figures in Christian County finances, has had a long and varied experience in banking circles which renders his connection with his present
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institution particularly valuable. He was born in Johnston Township, Christian County, Jan- uary 13, 1855, a son of James Parker and Nancy (Bowman) Walker, the former born at Almira, Tioga County, N. Y., and the latter near Colum- bus, Ohio. Early in life the father was a farmer but later embarked in and carried on a mercan- tile business. In 1835 he left New York for Champaign County, Ohio, and in 1839 located near Springfield, Ill. The parents were married March 14, 1854, and settled in Johnston Town- ship, leaving the farm in 1870, for Pana, Ill. In April. 1881, they went to Taylorville, where the father died January 24, 1911.
Joshua Bowman Walker attended the schools ot Pana, and at the same time worked in his father's store. After leaving school in 1875, he with George A. Vandeveer engaged in a bank- ing business at Morrisonville, Ill., but sold it in 1879 to Ham. Vandeveer & Son, and Mr. Walker went into a mercantile business with his brother at Morrisonville. In 1884 he moved to Taylor- ville and was in business at the county seat with his father, but in March, 1891, entered the First National Bank of Taylorville, remaining with that institution until 1901, when he left to accept the position of cashier of the Farmers National Bank of Taylorville, and in 1907 he took the same position with the Taylorville Na- tional Bank of Taylorville. In 1914 he moved to Pana, and with his brother-in-law, Ernest L. White, he bought the controlling interest in the Pana National Bank of which he has since been president. This is one of the leading financial institutions of the county, and Mr. Walker's sound, sane policies have strengthened it very materially.
On October 24, 1877, Mr. Walker was married at Pana, Ill., to Emma E. White, a daughter ot David M. and Frances J. White, natives of Har- risburg, Pa., and Crawfordsville, Ind. Mrs. Walker was also born at Crawfordsville, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Walker had two children, both of whom are deceased, namely : Augusta, who was born May 20, 1881; and Frederick Eugene, who was born December 25, 1885. In addition to real estate at Taylorville and Pana, Mr. and Mrs. Walker own S00 acres of fine land in the shallow water district near Plainview, Hale County, Tex. Mr. Walker has always been interested in and helped along any enterprise that he thought would be a help or a boost to the community in which he was living. He belongs to the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, Modern Wood- men of America, and he is a Thirty-second De- gree Mason. In 1875 Mr. Walker joined the Methodist Church of Pana, and is still a men- ber in good standing in that organization. Orig- inally a Democrat, the currency question in 1896 and the stand of his party, made him change his allegiance and since then he has been a Republi- can. A man of high standing, he has had a strong influence in his community, and is a de- pendable factor in all matters of improvement or moral uplift.
WALLER, William D., a farmer whose methods and success have made him a leading factor in the agricultural life of Taylorville Township, was born at Nashville, Tenn., April 8, 1849, a son of Tavner and Lucinda C. (Rutledge) Wal- ler. The parents were born in Maryland, from whence the father was brought as far west as Tennessee by his father and mother. Until 1861, the grandfather continued to reside in Tennessee, but in that year sold his farm and moved to the vicinity of San Antonio, Tex., where he bought land and lived on it until his death, at a very advanced age. In 1854 the father left Tennessee, and coming to Illinois, rented land in May Township, Christian County, and operated a saw-mill, in this township, and one in the vicinity of Decatur, Ill. His death occurred in Prairieton Township, in 1857, when he was thirty-seven years old. The mother later married Isaac Childers, and moved to Sangamon County, Ill., where she died. The father was a Democrat and Methodist.
After attending the schools of May and Tay- lorville townships, Mr. Waller took a term at Blackburn University, following which he taught school for twelve years in Christian County. Following this he established himself in a gen- eral merchandise business at Sharpsburg. but after five years, sold it and bought a farm at Valentine, in Taylorville Township, operating it for twelve years. Desiring to give his daugh- ter better educational advantages, he then moved to Taylorville. Subsequently he bought back his original farm in Taylorville Township, comprising 140 acres on which he is now resid- ing, and he has one of the best rural properties in this township.
In 1877, October 11th, Mr. Waller was mar- ried to Miss Xeminia Pruella Sharp, a daugh- ter of George R. and Susan (Hanon) Sharp of Christian County, natives of Tennessee and Christian County. The grandfather Hanon was the first white settler in Christian County. Mr. and Mrs. Waller have two children, namely : Lelia E., who married Charles Milford Wood, of Christian County ; they are the parents of the following children-William M., George M. and Susan V; and Susan F. A Mason in good standing, Mr. Waller has attained to the Knight Templar degree. Both he and Mrs. Waller be- long to the Eastern Star. In politics he is a Democrat, while he and his family belong to the Universalist Church.
WARREN, Silas, one of the substantial farmers of Christian County in former years, and now living retired at Pana, was born in Christian County, January 11, 1854, a son of Nelson and Lavanah (Brinker) Warren. Nelson Warren was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, April 23, 1826, and died in Christian County, April 27, 1904. He was a farmer who came to Illinois in 1852, and located in Christian County about one and one-half miles southeast of Pana, where he bought eighty acres of land on Section 22. At his death he owned 1,400 acres of land in dif-
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ferent tracts. Fraternally he was a Mason, and in politics was a Republican. His wife was born near Circleville, in Pickaway County, Ohio, on February 9, 1830, and died in Christian County, December 31, 1900. Their children were as fol- lows: Bennett, who was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, is a retired farmer of Pana; George, now deceased, who was born in Pick- away County, Ohio, was a farmer; John, who was born in Christian County, died in infancy ; Sarah, who was born in Christian County, died nnmarried ; Lawrence, who was born in Chris- tian County, is a retired farmer of Pana ; Mary Alice, who was born in Christian County, lives at Pana; Janette Bell, who was born in Chris- tian County, lives also at Pana ; and Silas.
Silas Warren and his brothers and sisters were educated in the district schools of Christian County. None of the sons married except Law- rence, who owns a handsome residence on South Kitchell Avenue, Pana. Bennett, Silas and Mary Alice live together in their beautiful home at No. 303 South Kitchell Avenue. These brothers and their sisters own 1,400 acres of land of their father's estate, 270 acres of which are in Shelby County and the remainder in Christian County. The brothers are all Republicans. No family stands higher in public estimation than the Warren family, and the useful part members of it have borne in the development of the agricul- tural supremacy of this section is unquestioned.
WARREN, William M., present supervisor of Pana Township and one of the leading men of the city of Pana, was born in Piatt County, Ill., December 17, 1847, a son of Bennett and Eliza (Dickson) Warren, the former born in Pickaway County, Ohio, April 4, 1817. Bennett Warren was a farmer who came to Illinois about 1836, settling in Piatt County, where he bought eighty acres of land and' lived until 1854. when he moved to Shelby County, Ill., near Tower Hill, and bought another eighty acres of land, which he later sold and then bought forty acres one mile south. There he died about 1882. He was a Mason, a Democrat, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife was born in Pickaway County, Ohio. October 15, 1808, and died in Shelby County, Ill., December 3, 1861. Like her husband, she was a Methodist. They had children as follows: Silas, who was born March 7, 1839, died in Piatt County, March 31, 1843 : Sarah A., who was born June 4, 1837. died in Shelby County, September 2, 1855; John, who was born May 4, 1841, died in Shelby County, February 26. 1857 ; Eliza J., who was born June 1, 1845, married Allen Brandon, and died Decem- ber 29, 1871. at Tower Hill. Ill., as did her hus- band; and William M. After the death of his first wife, the father married (second) Mrs. Sarah Clair, whose maiden name was Sarah A. Speidel. There was one child by this marriage, Oscar, who is a farmer of Shelby County, Ill.
William M. Warren attended the schools of Shelby County, and then engaged in farming in varions places until 1872. Then he moved to Greenwood Township, Christian County, and
from 1872 to 1888 remained in that township, but in 1SSS came to Pana, and for three years was engaged in a grocery business, for the next year handled grain, and for the following year was in the clothing business. Then he went into the insurance business and for the last six- teen years has been selling insurance. IIe served three terms as supervisor of Greenwood Township and served also as justice of the peace, and is now serving in his third term as super- visor of Pana Township. He has always been active in the ranks of the Republican party.
On November 25, 1863, Mr. Warren enlisted in Company M. (later being in Company C). Third Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, for Civil War service, and was mustered out at Fort Snelling, Minn., on October 10, 1865. He served in Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama and Mississippi, and from May to October, 1865, in Minnesota and Dakota Territory against the Indians. He belongs to Henry A. Pope Post, G. A. R., No. 411, of Pana, and Mrs. Warren belongs to Pope's W. R. C., No. 190. Mr. Warren is an Odd Fellow.
On December 24, 1872, Mr. Warren was mar- ried at Taylorville, to Mrs. Andrew S. Miller, formerly Anna M. Morrison. She was born in Adams County, Ohio. May 22. 1850, a daughter of James Morrison, a farmer, who was born in Ireland. He and his wife were Presbyterians, and both died at Derby, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Warren became the parents of the following chil- dren : James B., who was born October 23, 1873. is at home ; Rosa Florence, who was born April 9, 1875, died in Greenwood Township. July 8. 1876; Emma J., who was born July 31, 1878. married E. E. Dowell, an attorney at law of Pana : Mary J., who was born July 3. 1SS2, married Clyde E. Tolley, and they live at Noko- mis, Ill .; William Lawrence, who was born March 9, 1886. is at home ; and Anna Grace, who was born November 12, 188S. at Pana, is at home. All but the youngest were born in Green- wood Township, where Mrs. Warren owns 380 acres of land. The family residence is at No. 402 S. Locust Street, Pana, where they have lived for twenty-seven years.
WEAVER, Allison Earl, secretary and treas- urer of the A. E. Weaver Lumber Company of Mt. Auburn, and a man widely and favorably known throughout Christian County, was born at Nokomis, Ill., April 29, 1884, a son of A. F. and Martha (Dunn) Weaver. The mother is deceased, but the father survives and is now living retired at Nokomis, where at one time he conducted a large mercantile business.
After attending the grade schools of Nokomis, Allison Earl Weaver went to the high school of that city, and then when eighteen years old en- tered Brown's Commercial College of Decatur, Ill., from which he was graduated in 1903. He then entered the employ of the O. H. Paddock Lumber Company of Nokomis, being that con- cern's bookkeeper until 1905, when he took charge as manager of the yard of that concern at Ohlman, Ill., being transferred to Coffeen. Ill., as manager of the yard of the company at
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that point. In 1909 he resigned and engaged with the Crab Creek Lumber Company of Seat- tle, Wash., as general office accountant and remained with that company until 1910 when he returned to Illinois and went into the employ of the E. R. Darlington Lumber Company as traveling auditor until April, 1912. In June, 1912, he came to Mt. Auburn and opened a re- tail lumber and coal yard under the firm name of A. E. Weaver. On April 8, 1916, he bought out the entire holdings in Mt. Auburn and Os- bornville of J. A. Richards and organized and incorporated the A. I. Weaver Lumber Com- pany of which he is secretary and treasurer.
On June 28, 1911, Mr. Weaver was married at Chicago to Edna Pullen of Nokomis, a daughter of Frank and E. J. Pullen. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver have two children, namely : Martha G., who was born July 9, 1913; and Ralph E., who was born August 27, 1915. In politics Mr. Weaver is a Republican and was trustee of Mt. Auburn for one term. The Christian Church holds his men- bership. and fraternally he belongs to the Mt. Auburn Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
WEAVER, S. R., now retired, was one of the leading merehants of Rosemond, and he has taken more interest in developing this locality than any other of its business men. He was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, April 30, 1840, a son of Isaac and Sarah (Fetters) Weaver, and was one of five sons and four daughters. only two of the children surviving, namely : S. R. Weaver and W. I. Weaver.
In 1870 S. R. Weaver moved to Pana, Ill .. and in 1903 came to Rosemond where he opened a mercantile establishment, and began to de- vote himself to improving his new scene of operations. A Republican in politics, he has served as president of the Improvement So- ciety, and taken an active part in civie af- fairs. The Methodist Church has in him a faithful member, and ever since coming to Illinois, he has served on the official board of this denomination.
When the North and the South were divided, Mr. Weaver was one of the men who cast his lot with the Union, enlisting on August 16, 1862, for service during the Civil War, in Com- pany A. Twenty-seventh Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and served with honor, being discharged at Louisville, Ky., in July, 1865, his period of service lacking one month and eleven days of being three years. His regiment suffered greater loss than any regiment in the brigade. which was the first of the first division of the Seventeenth Army Corps. At Parkers Cross- roads after a charge at double quick. the regi- ment defeated Forest's Cavalry, capturing 200 prisoners and a battery of artillery. Later they took Decatur, Ala., and then joined Gen- eral Sherman's command and proceeded against Atlanta. At Nicker's Gap Creek, July 14, 1863, his regiment, with the Thirty-ninth Ohio, took a set of breastworks in one and one-half minutes, losing thirty-nine men, among whom was one of Mr. Weaver's brothers. On July
22, 1863, the regiment lost 139 men in front of Atlanta, ineluding General McPherson, the regiment being reduced from its normal strength of 700 men to 125 men. After At- lanta was captured, the regiment was found to be the smallest in the division, owing to its terrible losses. During his enlistment Mr. Weaver marched nearly 3,000 miles, and suf- fered untold privations.
Returning to Ohio, Mr. Weaver was married in Pickaway County to Mary E. Hick of Chili- eothe, Ohio, who died in 1901, leaving three children, as follows: Addie L., who was born in 1866, died in 1907; Franklin, who was born in 1877, is a farmer of Shelby County, and has a family of nine living children and one who is deceased; and Charles, who was born in 1884, is a farmer and a notary, who was married to Anna Ullon of Rosemond. On November 20, 1909, Mr. Weaver was married (second) to Cora M. Hickle, the widow of B. F. Hickle. Mrs. Hickle had three children, two of whom survive. A fine example of the prosperous business men of Christian County, Mr. Weaver has shown his public spirit in every possible way and can always be depended upon to give his support to any measure look- ing toward the betterment of existing condi- tions.
WEITEKAMP, John, now deceased, was for many years a very successful farmer of Christian County, and in dying left behind him a record for good citizenship and the faithful perform- ance of the duties pertaining thereto. He was born in Westphalia, Germany, March 12, 1832, and died June 10, 1907. He was a son of Ar- thur Weitekamp who was a breeder of sheep.
When he was twenty-five years old, John Weitekamp came to the United States and joined a brotlier who was living in Greene County, Ill. They both afterwards bought land which they operated, it being located in Christian County. The family of John Weitekamp still reside upon part of his first purchase. This farm comprises 160 acres of land, and is in prime condition, and the improvements are modern and numerous.
On November 17, 1867, Mr. Weitekamp was married to Frances Lange, born in Germany, May 29, 1846. When she was twenty-two years old she came to the United States, arriving here in 1867. Her father had come to Greene County, Ill .. in 1856 and died here. Mr. and Mrs. Weite- kamp became the parents of thirteen children, seven of whom survive, namely : Anthony, who is at home on the farm; John, who was married to Josephine Millberg, is a farmer of section 36, King Township and has five sons ; Frank, who is a merchant of Stonington, was married to Lucy Dwyer; Frances, who was married to August Beiermann. a farmer of Jersey County, Ill., has seven children ; Henry, who was married to Louise Deister, has five children and is a mer- chant of Stonington ; and Mary and Lizzie, who live at home. Mr. Weitekamp was a member of the Catholic Church at Morrisonville, Ill.
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WHITE, Henry C., one of the substantial farmers of May Township, is a man who has proven in his work that intelligent cultivation of the soil is profitable and worth while. He was born near his present home, on the old White farm, November 30, 1852, a son of James and Nancy (Funderburg) White. The father was born near Nashville, Tenn., in 1825, and the mother was born in Sangamon County, Ill. When he was still a lad the father was brought by his parents to Illinois, and they located in Sangamon County, buying land, having driven here overland from Tennessee. After a number of years spent in Sangamon County, the grand- father sold and moved to Pana, Ill., where he died in 1878, and there the grandmother also passed away. The grandfather was a Democrat. In religious faith both grandparents were Bap- tists. The father received his educational train- ing in Sangamon County, where his boyhood and young manhood were spent. After his marriage he moved to May Township, Christian County, where he bought land to the extent of 120 acres, later adding to the farm until he owned 450 acres, all of which he improved, and developed the property into a very valuable one. Here he died at the age of forty-two years, in 1867. The mother died in 1898. Like his father, he was a Democrat. The Methodist church held his membership.
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