USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 79
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Henry C. White was reared and educated in May Township, and as he lost his father when he was a small boy, he assisted his mother in operating the farm. After the death of his mother, he bought the interests of the other heirs, and now owns the homestead which he operates. He is unmarried. In politics he is a Democrat. In his work he has been eminently successful and is in a position where now he can hire others to do the work he once per- formed himself, but he supervises the operations, and takes an active interest in affairs.
WHITE, Leander, now deceased, was for many years a successful farmer of South Fork Town- ship, and a highly esteemed resident of Christian County. He was born at the old White home- stead in South Park Township, April 4, 1869, a son of Hiram and Sarah E. (Crowder) White. The father was born January 1. 1837. north of Pawnee, in Cotton Hill Township, Sangamon County, Ill., while the mother was born in Pawnee Township, the same county. September 22, 1836. Growing up in Pawnee Township, the father there attended school, and became a farmer, first on the old homestead, and later on land he bought in South Fork Township, now owned by his son's widow, and there he lived until his retirement, at which time he moved to Pana, Ill., and there he died November 1, 1870, at the age of thirty-three years. The mother died on the old homestead, May 22, 1909, aged seventy-five years. The paternal grandfather. Craig White, entered land in Sangamon County from the government, and lived upon it until his deatlı. He was one of the early settlers of that region. Both he and the grandmother were born
in Tennessee where they were married, subse- quently driving overland to Illinois with a team of ponies. They lived in Sangamon County un- til 1865 when they moved to Pana, Ill., and there died.
Leander White grew up on his family home- stead, and attended the schools in his district. When he attained to manhood he began operat- ing the farm, and so continued until his un- timely death, January 4, 1909, at the age of thirty-nine years. The farm comprises 265 acres of very fine farm land, and on it he carried on general farming and stock raising. His fra- ternal affiliations were with the Masonic order.
On November 1, 1892, Mr. White was united in marriage with Miss Grace Milslagle, a daugh- ter of Jacob M. and Elizabeth Ann (Peek) Milslagle, the former of whom was born in Cot- ton Hill Township. Sangamon County, Ill., while the latter was born in Boone County, Ky. Dur- ing the Civil War Mr. Milslagle enlisted in Com- pany E, One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry at Springfield and served for three years. After the close of the war he re- turned to Sangamon County, and marrying, located on the farm of his father, Andrew Mil- slagle. The latter was born in Virginia, and drove overland to Illinois, entering land from the government in Cotton IIill Township, which he improved, and on which he died. Jacob M. Milslagle survives and makes his home with his widowed daughter, Mrs. White, in Southi Fork Township. Mr. and Mrs. White became the parents of the following children : Hazel L., born August 25, 1893; Russel, born April 18, 1895, married Hattie Abney and lives in South Fork Township; Homer, born April 20, 1897 ; Nero, born March 6, 1899; Stanley M., born No- vember 27, 1905 : and Bert L., born January 9. 1908. The family are members of the Christian Church and Mrs. White belongs to the Eastern Star.
WIGGINS, Thomas, one of the leading agricul- turalists of Christian County, owns and oper- ates a fine farm on Section 17, Taylorville Town- ship, and is recognized as a man of worth by his neighbors. He was born in North Hampshire, England, July 24, 1845, a son of Thomas and Eliza (Cox) Wiggins, natives of England, where they died. After he had reached his majority. Thomas Wiggins, who had spent an uneventful boyhood in his native land, mainly attending school, came to the United States and stopped in Delaware for a year after his arrival in this country. He then came to South Fork Township, Christian County, Ill., where he remained until 1874, at which time he rented a farm in Taylor- ville Township, so continuing until 1900, when he bought his present farm of eighty-three acres. upon which he has since resided, bringing the property into a high state of cultivation, and in- creasing its value very materially through various improvements.
In 1883 Mr. Wiggins married Miss Anna May, a daughter of Clinton and Serena ( Roberts) May of South Fork Township, natives of Ohio
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and Kentucky. The father left Ohio at the age of twenty-two years, locating in Christian County, Ill., where he later married, the mother having been brought after the death of her father in Kentucky, to Sangamon County, Ill., and later to Christian Connty. Mrs. May sur- vives and lives near Taylorville. now an aged lady. Mr. and Mrs. Wiggins have one living child, Thomas Elbert, who is attending the Chi- cago University, specializing in English, who, for a time, was an instructor in the Urbana (Ill.) High school; and one who died in infancy. In politics Mr. Wiggins is a Republican.
WILEY, William A., a retired farmer of Mt. Auburn Township, has lived on his present farm on section 14, for the past thirty years, and is one of the most representative men of his locality. He was born in Darke County, Ohio, April 3, 1839, but was brought to Illinois by his parents at an early day, they locating in Christian County. There the father died, but the mother passed away in Indiana.
Until he was twenty years old. William A. Wiley remained at home, attending the local schools. He then began farming on rented land, and was also associated with his father in agricultural operations, he in time becoming the owner of forty acres of land. This he later sold and purchased his present farm on which he lias since resided.
Mr. Wiley was married in Christian County to Phebe Walcott, who died November 9, 1908. They were the parents of the following chil- dren : Annie L., who was married to James Zinn, has a son Burley, who is married and has one son, Carroll; and Cleo, who was mar- ried to James Morgan, has an infant daugh- ter. Mr. Wiley belongs to the Methodist Church. He is a Democrat, and has served as highway commissioner, discharging the duties of that office efficiently and honorably. A man of high principles he has lived up to them and while increasing his material holdings has never lost sight of the fact that he owed his community a debt as a citizen, and this obliga- tion he has always discharged by giving his support to worthy measures.
WILLEY, Andrew J., now living in comfortable retirement at Taylorville, is a man whose kindly life and gentle spirit animate all with whom he is brought into contact. He was born in Hamilton County. Ohio, January 31. 1832, a son of Horace and Annie (Tate) Willey, natives of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father came from Massachu- setts to Ohio with his parents when ten years old, and developed into a prosperous farmer of Hamilton, where he died, March 6, 1880.
The educational training of Andrew J. Wil- ley was secured in the district schools of his native county. and the Select School at Paddy's Run. His first experience as a money earner was when he worked his father's farm oul shares. In March, 1858, he located in Chris- tian County, Ill., buying 200 acres of land in
Johnson Township, which he improved and farmed until 1871. At that time he rented his farm and moved to Taylorville, but continued his farming and stock-raising, and in 1888 he engaged in the lumber business under the firm name of A. J. Willey & Son, with head- quarters at Taylorville, which association con- tinued until April, 1900, at which time he sold and retired from active business life.
On December 31, 1858, Mr. Willey was mar- ried (first) to Miss Mary Miller of Hamilton County, Ohio. They had one son. Horace S. Willey, born September 11, 1866, who is now at Coleman, Texas, being engaged there in tlie lumber business. The first Mrs. Willey died May 5, 1875. On May 23, 1878, Mr. Willey was married (second) to Miss Cordelia Vollentine, a daughter of George W. and Martha (Clark) Vollentine, who were prominent in the develop- ment of Christian County, and are now de- ceased. Mrs. Willey was reared in Christian County and was the eldest of the children born to her parents. Mr. Willey is a Republi- can in politics, and has voted independently in local matters and cast his influence in favor of Prohibition as he is a strong temperance worker, and while on the farm he served as school director a number of years. Mrs. Wil- ley has always taken an intelligent interest in civic matters, and is proud to avail herself of the suffrage privilege extended to her sex. Mr. and Mrs. Willey are earnest Christian Scientists, strong in this faith, and are active and sincere workers for the cause. Both are members of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts. Mrs. Wil- ley was a personal student of Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science. Mrs. Willey organized the Christian Science Society of Taylorville, Ill.
WILLIAMS, George W., who belonged to one of the earliest settler families of Christian County, is now deceased, but in life he was one of the substantial and respected farmers of South Fork Township. He was born at Colum- bus, Ohio, October 27, 1824. a son of Robert and Mary ( Smith) Williams. The father and mother were born at Providence, R. I .. and they reared a family of five sons and two daughters, George W. Williams being the fifth in order of birth. His ancestors were of Welsh descent and Mr. Williams was a lineal descendant of the Puritan minister, Roger Williams.
Robert Williams was an undertaker, farmer and builder, and he encouraged his son to adopt the same lines of business. He left Rhode Island for Ohio in 1812, locating in Franklin County. near Columbus, where he engaged in building. and also operated a farm. When he was a lad. George W. Williams began learning the building trade under Mr. Boswell, and remained with him for three years, and then went to Iowa where he continued to work at his trade in Muscatine County. After four years, in the spring of 1844, he sailed down the Mississippi River to St. Louis, Mo., where he spent two
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years in a contracting business, an unfortunate venture as in it he lost the money that he had saved. A man who had been foreman of a shop in which he had worked in Ohio, induced him to form a partnership, and this continued as long as Mr. Williams' money held out, when he found himself a wiser and sadder man. In 1846 he left St. Louis for Sangamon County, Ill., and took a position with the American Hemp Company, and was by them employed in their construction work, and later he took charge of one of their mills. being in their employ for two years. In 1851 Mr. Williams came to Christian County. and embarked in a bridge building business and was engaged in other mechanical undertakings until 1860, when he located on 240 acres of land in South Fork Township. but eventually he retired and spent his declining years at Edin- burg, where he died July 1, 1899, aged seventy- six years, and his wife died in 1901, aged seventy-eight years.
On March 18, 1847. Mr. Williams was married to Miss Mary Humphreys, a native of Fleming County, Ky .. where she was born June 6, 1824. a daughter of Thomas L. and Sally Humphreys. also of Welsh descent. Thomas Humphreys was born in Wales, and his father came to Pana, Ill .. when Thomas Humphreys was a child. Subse- quently he moved to Kentucky and there married a widow. Mrs. Isobel Keith, whose maiden name was Lee, and they had seven children. Mrs. Isobel Humphreys died April 12. 1823, in Bath County, Ky., and Thomas Humphreys with his children returned to Illinois, and settled in the fall of 1828, three and one-halt miles southeast ot Springfield. Thomas L., the father of Mrs. Williams, followed in 1830 and settled on a home- stead, but his health failing him returned to the old home where he remained until 1851. That same year his wife died, and he came to South Fork Township, where he died August 14. 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Williams had a daughter, Mary T. Williams, who was married to Charles E. Payne, and several other children, who died in infancy, and one child, Llewellyn by name, dying at the age of eight years. Mr. Payne was born on Long Island, N. Y .. but came to Illinois in 1860. Later he enlisted for service during the Civil War in the One Hundred and Twenty- fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Company C. and after a service of three years, was dis- charged July 13, 1865. He then came to South Fork Township, and was married and followed farming the remainder of his life. dying June 26, 1904. aged sixty-seven years. Mrs. Payne died March 29, 1904. aged sixty-five years. Mr. Payne was a member of the G. A. R., and of the Methodist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Payne had four children, as follows: Mrs. Nellie Mckenzie. George, Edward and Jessie P. Jessie Payne was married to A. C. Merwin, formerly a drug- gist, but now operating the old Payne homestead in South Fork Township. Mr. Williams is re- membered by the older residents of this section. From the organization of the Republican party he was in sympathy with its principles, and
was proud of the fact that he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln.
WILSON, George M., a prosperous farmer of Rieks Township, is one of the veterans of the Civil War. He was born in South Bend, Ind., August 19, 1847. a son of Barton W. and Susan (Murphy) Wilson, being one of six children born to his parents. The parents were farming people who moved to Iowa when George MI. Wilson was five years old. The father died . a year later, and his widow returned to Indiana, and George M. Wilson was reared by a minister of the Christian Church named M. Mcllain.
When but sixteen years old, George M. Wil- son enlisted for service during the Civil War in the Seventh Indiana Cavalry, Company F', under Capt. John Skilton. The command was sent on scouting service against Gen. Price and Gen. Marmaduke. Although his regiment was not in any battle, their service was very dan- gerous and they were in numerous skirmishes. After serving two years and six months Mr. Wilson was mustered out at Anstin, Tex., hav- ing gone to that state with General Custer. Mr. Wilson returned home on horseback, and locat- ing in Macoupin County, III., began farming.
On February 4, 1876 Mr. Wilson was married to Hattie B. Morrell of Virden, Ill., a daughter of John L. and Elizabeth Morrell. Mr. Morrell was a farmer and civil engineer who was em- ployed in the survey of the greater part of Christian and Macoupin counties, and a portion of St. Louis, Mo. Mrs. Wilson is the youngest of the nine children born to her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have had three children. namely : Myrtle Edna, who was born February 28. 1878, was married to Charles Foster of Montgomery County, and died at the age of twenty-five years: Roy F., who was born July 17. 1889, was married to Edith Palmer, and lives at Morrisonville : and Helen Marie, who was born January 29, 1893, was married to Thomas A. Ryan, a merchant of Morrisonville, and has one son. Thomas Wilson Ryan, born April 23. 1912. The Presbyterian Church holds Mr. Wil- son's membership. He belongs to the Masonic order, the Modern Woodmen of America and G. A. R. Mr. Wilson has in his possessions three commissions from the Seventh Indiana Cavalry. In 1900 he was census enumerator. and for years he was township clerk, and served as supervisor from King Township. Mrs. Wil- son owns 160 acres of fine farm land, and valu- able town property at Morrisonville.
WIMPLE, Hale Mason, now deceased, was for many years a leading agriculturist of Chris- tian County, and especially interested in As- sumption Township land. He was born near Brighton, Greene County, Ill., February 18, 1836, a son of Joseph and Lucy (Mason) Wim- ple. The father spent his life near Utica, N. Y., where he was engaged in farming. and he there died prior to the birth of his son, Hale
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Mason Wimple. Following his demise, his widow came to Greene County, Ill., to join some relatives living at this point, and here her son was born and reared, attending school at Springfield. After attaining his majority, he bought 160 acres of land in Flat Branch Township, Shelby County, and lived on this farm for a quarter of a century. He then sold and moved to Assumption, built a comfortable residence and lived here in comfort until his death at the age of seventy-two years.
Ilale Mason Wimple was married (first) to Miss Mary Mitchell, a daughter of Samuel Mitchell, and they had two children, namely : George, who is on his father's homestead; and Josephine, who was married to Clyde Nordyke and is now living at Crown Point, Ind. In 1891 Mr. Wimple was married (second) to Miss Jennie Cushing, a daughter of Henry and Hulda (Clark) Cushing of Assumption Town- ship. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Wim- ple was born in New York state, but came west in an early day, bringing his family and house- hold possessions with him in a covered wagon, to Greene County. Ill .. where he took up gov- ernment land that was all wild prairie. This the grandfather developed with oxen. At that time Alton was the nearest market, but they prospered and spent the remainder of their days upon the farm. Henry Cushing was born, reared and educated in Greene County, Ill., and was there married, and after one child had been born to him and his wife, came to As- sumption Township where he took up govern- ment land, built a log house upon it, and later replaced it with a frame one. Here both. he and his wife rounded out their days. During the Civil War, Henry Cushing responded to President Lincoln's call for 100 day troops, and enlisted in Company C. Fourteenth Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry. The maternal grandfather, Cornelius Clark, came from Vermont to Illinois, and the mother of Mrs. Wimple, Hulda Clark, was born on the way. They located in Greene County, Ill., where they took up government land and there all died of the older generation. At the time of their location, things were in a very undeveloped state, and the prairie grass was six feet high, and had to be plowed under with oxen. There was plenty of wild game, and that which is now a luxury, was an everyday article of diet. Mrs. Wimple survives Mr. Wimple and makes her home in Assumption with her niece. Mrs. Dr. Walker. She owns her farm and town property and is a lady of ample means who stands very high in the community.
WINTERS, Benjamin F., who is one of the re- liable and successful business men of Christian County, is conducting a large automobile busi- ness at Stonington, and enjoys a substantial trade from this place and the surrounding dis- trict. He was born at Taylorville. April 14, 1860, a son of Benjamin Winters, who was born Jan- mary 8, 1822, in the state of Pennsylvania. Coming to Christian County, Ill., prior to the
Civil War, the father engaged in the newspaper business and it should be noted that he owned and issued the first journal published in Chris- tian County. His death occurred in 1871, and the mother, whose maiden name was Jane E. Winters, died in 1879.
Benjamin F. Winters was reared and educated at Taylorville. In 1881 he came to Stonington, and for two and one-half years was in the ele- vator business, leaving it to go into a drug store where he remained for eight years. For the subsequent three years he was on a farm. Mr. Winters then went into a grocery and hardware business, which he conducted until 1914, when he sold it and embarked in his present under- taking, in January, 1916, and is very successful.
In March, 1SS4, Mr. Winters was married, at Stonington, to Mary E. Emerson, and they have become the parents of three children, namely : Carl Emerson, Ethel Ruth, and Mary M., the last named born March 31, 1907. Mr. Winters is in very comfortable circumstances, owning his residence and having other securities and invest- ments. In political faith he is a Prohibitionist, and has wielded a strong influence in his con- munity, always working in favor of securing legislation that will close the saloons.
WOLTERS, Thomas .- To understand how pro- gressive are the successful agriculturists of Christian County a visit might be made to the fine estate of 180 acres, situated in Greenwood Township, which is owned by Thomas Wolters and his wife. None of the old-fashioned, clumsy methods of other days are in evidence, the greater part of the heavy work being ex- pediously done by the use of a Bull tractor, a perfected example of modern farm machinery.
Thomas Wolters was born at Carlinville, Ill., December 19, 1857. His parents were Lewis and Louisa (Heitmann) Wolters, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1843 and located at Cincinnati, Ohio, where the father followed the carpenter trade for some years and then came to Illinois and went into the
grocery business at Carlinville, which he con- tinued until 1867. He then decided to buy a farm and found a property that pleased him in Montgomery County, east of Hillsboro, and both father and mother of Thomas Wolters died in Hillsboro, Ill. They had four sons : Hugo, who is on the old home farm; Robert, who is a farmer in Round Tree Township : Thomas; and Edward, who is a resident of Nokomis, Ill. The parents were most worthy people in every way.
Thomas Wolters attended the district schools in boyhood and from the age of ten years was reared on a farm and he has never ceased to be interested in everything pertaining to farm life. In 1SSO, together with his older brother. Robert, he took charge of the farm east of Hillsboro, until his marriage, at which time he moved on a farm in Round Tree Town- ship, Montgomery County, on which he re- mained just nine months. In the meanwhile the parents of his wife, who lived on their
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farm of 180 acres situated in Greenwood Town- ship, Christian County, needed a careful and capable farmer and Mr. Wolters proved highly acceptable, taking charge and carrying on all the farm industries with great success for a period of twenty years. Her parents died and she inherited their tarm. At that time he se- cured a tenant and moved to Nokomis, where he embarked in an agricultural implement and repair business which he continued until March, 1916, when he sold and returned to the farm in Greenwood Township, where, with the assistance of his son Henry he carries on the usual farm industries and also raises horses, cattle and hogs. Mr. Wolters is one of the township's most enterprising farmers and in many ways is setting an excellent example. On March 11, 1884, Mr. Wolters was married to Miss Mary Meinzer, who was born at Car- linville, Ill .. April 10, 1863. Her parents were John and Barbara (Schafer) Meinzer, latter born October 30, 1825, died November 1, 1895; former born March 12, 1825, died March 21, 1897, natives of Germany, who became well known and highly respected residents of Chris- tian County. They were married March 6, 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Wolters have four chil- dren, three daughters and one son: Caroline L., born March 6. 1885, who lives at Lawrence, Kas .; Vena B., born October 17, 1890, who is Mrs. Edward Taylor having been married March 30. 1917, of Greenwood Township, Christian County ; Henry, born January 11, 1SS9, who assists his father in the manage- ment of the farm; and Matilda M., born August 19, 1897, who resides at Lawrence, Kas.
In politics Mr. Wolters has always been a staunch Republican and on that ticket has fre- quently been elected to important public offices. He served on the school board and as tax col- lector of Greenwood Township and for ten years was a member of the city council of No- komis. during that time advocating many pub- lic-spirited measures and proving an honest and watchful guardian of the public's rights. Mr. Wolters is a member of Nokomis Lodge No. 332, I. O. O. F.
WRIGHT, Edwin Randle, was formerly presi- dent of the First National Bank of Taylorville, and is one of the most reliable and sound finan- ciers of this part of the state, and his connection with the largest bank in Christian County re- fleets credit upon his policy and the community that gives it a strong support. Mr. Wright retired as active head of the bank on January 10. 1917, to assume charge of the estates of W. W. and F. W. Anderson, deceased. Mr. Wright was born at Alton, Ill., March 18. 1852, a son of Edwin and Martha L. (Randle) Wright. The father was a physician who was in con- tinuous practice, and died prior to his son's birth, in 1851. The maternal grandfather, Richard Randle, was a circuit rider of the Methodist Church, his route embracing the tér- ritory from St. Louis to Chicago.
Edwin Randle Wright attended the public schools of Taylorville, Ill., and the Illinois Wes- leyan College at Bloomington. For four or five years after completing his studies, he was in a mercantile business at Taylorville, and then he went to Gainesville, Ark., where he conducted a drug business, and remained there for five years. Returning to Taylorville, he conducted a retail grocery for four years, and then in 1886, he began his banking career with the firm of W. W. Anderson & Company, as bookkeeper. That same year the bank was re-organized as the, First National Bank of Taylorville, and in 1889 Mr. Wright was made assistant cashier. In January, 1894, he was advanced to the position of cashier, and on June 10, 1916, was honored by election to the presidency of the bank witli which he has been connected for so many years.
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