Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Edgar County, Part 149

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell
Number of Pages: 876

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JAMES H. SHIVELY, farmer, Kansas Town-

ship, Edgar County, Ill., was born in Musk- ingum County, Ohio, April 27, 1846, the son of Jacob and Martha Shively, who located in Edgar County in 1861. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood on the parental home- stead, and afterwards purchased eighty acres of land in Kansas Township, to which he has made subsequent additions until his estate now embraces about 600 acres. On December 1, 1867, he was married to Susannah Mock, daugh- ter of John D. and Hannah Mock, of Edgar County, Ill., and of this union there have been four children: Alcora (deceased), Herbert E., Luella and Hannah. In political sentiment Mr. Shively is a Republican.

CHARLES w. SIDENBENDER, farmer, Paris Township, Edgar County, Ill., was born in Hunter Township, Edgar County, Feb. 10, 1867, the son of Samuel and Mary E. Siden. bender; remained under the parental roof until twenty-one years of age, when he began farm- ing on his present farm of eighty acres, but at the present time cultivates 200 acres. On March 2, 1892, he was married to Miss Jennie McCollum, daughter of Nelson and Jane McCol- lum. In political views Mr. Sidenbender is a Republican, and has served as a member of the Board of Supervisors of Paris Township for six years.

CRAWFORD SIDENBENDER was born No- vember 22, 1868, and received his education in the public schools of Paris, Edgar County, Ill. His paternal grandparents were George and Ellen Sidenbender, the former of whom was born in Ohio and the latter in Baltimore, Md. The paternal great-grandparents were George and Grany Lewis, both of whom were natives of England. On the maternal side of the family the great-grandparents were Herd and Mary Crawford, natives of Ohio, while the grandpar- ents were Herd and Margaret (Arthur) Craw- ford, who also were born in the Buckeye State. Samuel Sidenbender, the father of Crawford was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, August 3, 1833, his mother, Mary Elizabeth, having been born in Springfield, Ohio, February 12, 1838. They were married April 17, 1866 and six children were born to them, all of whom are now living. They are: Charles, Crawford, Minnie, Frank, Joseph and Robert. Minnie married Frank Perisho and they have two girls, Etta, born October 6, 1895, and Mary Anna, born No-

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HISTORY OF EDGAR COUNTY.

vember 17, 1899. Charles married Miss Jennie McCollum March 3, 1892, and two children were born to them, both of whom died in in- fancy. Robert married Miss Stella Goldsby February 20, 1901, and they have one boy, who was born April 22, 1904. The father died May 11, 1902, the mother's death occurring October 22, 1904. Crawford Sidenbender has followed farming all his life, and is a progressive and successful citizen of Edgar County. In politics he is a Republican. Socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being affiliated with Harris Lodge No. 268, and Edgar Chapter No. 32 R. A. M.

JOHN N. SISEMORE (deceased) was born in Symmes Township, Edgar County, Ill., August 28, 1842, son of Martin and Margaret (Priest) Sizemore. He obtained his education

JOHN N. SISEMORE.

in the public schools, and remained on his father's farm until the latter's death, July 11, 1871, when he took possession of the estate, which he afterwards conducted. On June 5. 1865, he was married to Miss Sarah A. Rumsey, daughter of Daniel and Phoebe (DeFray) Rum- sey, of Detroit, Mich., and of this union four children were born: Martin A., Edwin E., Mary G. and Estelle In politics Mr. Sisemore was a Democrat, and in religious belief a mem-

ber of the Methodist Church. He died April 25, 1903, aged sixty-one years. Mr. Sisemore made farming his principal business, and at the time of his death owned 240 acres of well- improved land, aiso city property. He was always ready to give liberally to any enterprise that he deemed to be for the public good, and was a friend to the churches, the schools and the poor. He was known as one among the more prominent and better class of citizens of the county, and was respected for his honesty, integrity and true moral worth.

NORMAN PITT SMITH, physician and sur- geon, was born near Delaware, Delaware County, Ohio, Jan. 6, 1847, the son of John Jay and Deborah H. (Blue) Smith, the former a native of Massachusetts, the latter of Ohio. The early part of Dr. Smith's life was spent on a farm and in attendance on the public schools. After attending the high school, he entered Wesleyan College, at Delaware, Ohio, where he took a partial course; then began the study of medicine and, when twenty years old, came to Illinois, locating in Shelby County, where he engaged in teaching, continuing in that vocation four years. He next attended the Hahnemann Medical College, at Chicago, grad- uating from that institution in February, 1881, when he at once engaged in his profession at Oakland, Coles County, where in two and a half years he built up a successful practice, which has been continued since his removal to Paris, Ill., in 1883. Dr. Smith was appointed the Illi nois State Representative to the commemora- tive services at the Marietta (Ohio) Centennial in 1888, an honor he highly appreciated. In 1869 Dr. Smith was married to Miss Minerva Gollogher, whose parents moved to Illinois from Ohio at an early day. Four children were born to them, namely: Orrin LeRoy, who is a practicing physician in Lexington, Ky., and three daughters, Jennie H., Edith and Lucy B. Dr. Orrin LeRoy Smith is a graduate of Hahnemann College, Chicago, and won a prize of $50 in gold for the best final examination in all the branches taught in that institution; was awarded the position of interne after competitive examination, and at the close of his service, was elected Assistant Professor in the department of nervous diseases, which he retained until chosen to a senior professorship in the nose and throat department, holding the latter position six years. He also received a

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HISTORY OF EDGAR COUNTY.

diploma in London, England, where for a time he studied medicine. He married Miss Caroline Spellman of New Orleans, La. The daughters, after finishing their courses in the Paris High School, have continued their studies elsewhere. Jennie H., after graduating from Kenwood Institute, Chicago, entered the University of Chicago, while Lucy B. is a graduate of the Chicago Musical College. Dr. Smith is a mem- ber of the International Association of Railway Surgeons; the American Institute of Home- opathy, with which he has been associated for twenty years; the Illinois State Homeopathic Society; and the Edgar County Medical Asso- ciation. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic Order, the Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In religion he supports the Methodist Episcopal Church, being at one time Chairman of its Building Committee and President of the Board of Trustees. In poli- tics he is a Republican.

OLIVER SMITH, owner of a farm of 456 acres in Shiloh Township, and of town property in Hume, is one of the representative German- American landsmen of Edgar County, and was born in Bavaria, Germany, Feb. 25, 1845. His parents, Michael and Margaret (Yeager) Smith, were also natives of the Fatherland, their later life being spent on a farm south of Paris, Edgar County, to which they came in 1854. Oliver was nine years old when he reached Edgar County, and his education and agricultural training has been received within its borders. January 22, 1878, he was united in marriage with Mary C., daughter of David and Catherine Breen, immi- grants from Ireland of 1859, and the former of whom is still living. Of the eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, eight are living: Margaret C., Francis D., Helena E., Veronica I., Estella E., Oliver M., M. Ursula and Agnes. Mr. Smith is a Democrat in politics, and the family are communicants of the Roman Cath- olic Church. Margaret C., eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Smith was united in marriage with Francis E. Merkel, Jan. 22, 1903, and to them one child, Mathew A., was born, June 14, 1904.

ROBERT J. SMITH, retired farmer, Paris, Ill., was born in Clark County, Ill., April 22, 1848, son of Andrew J. and Caroline (Harris) Smith, natives respectively of Kentucky and

Illinois. The subject of this sketch came to Edgar County, Ill., in 1865, and for many years was engaged in the grain and general merchan- dise business, but at the present time is devot- ing his energies to attending to his farm of 215 acres in Symmes Township, Edgar County. On February 7, 1867, he was married to Mar- tha Elledge, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Barr) Elledge, natives of Kentucky and early settlers of Edgar County, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of eight children, one of whom is deceased. Those living are: Els- berry E., Andrew J., Eda E., Nancy E., Iva M., Mattie L. and Ethel F. Mr. Smith is a Dem- ocrat in political views, and has served his fellow-citizens one term as Deputy Sheriff, and three terms as Assessor. Socially he is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., and in religious faith is a Predestinarian Baptist.

J. WM. SNYDER, extensively engaged in the real estate and loan business, was born ir Grand View Township, Edgar County, Ill., May

J. WM. SNYDER.

16, 1842. His parents, William M. and Susan E. (Rudy) Snyder were natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky. His father was born in 1809 and came in the early thirties to Edgar County and engaged in farming in Grand View Township, in which industry he was very suc-

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HISTORY OF EDGAR COUNTY.

cessful. He was a stanch Democrat, serving his county as Sheriff one term, and also as Super- visor of Buck Township. His family consisted of six boys, J. W., being the third in order of birth. Mr. Snyder died Jan. 1896, aged eighty- seven years. He received his education in the district school, and later the high school of Paris. On attaining the age of twenty-one he left home and engaged in the lumber and saw- mill business, and also became a dealer in agri- cultural implements. He was in the state of Montana for a time, and in the lumber business at Arcola, Ill., but for nineteen years was actively engaged in Paris. In 1889 he turned his attention to real estate and loans. He was married in December,- 1879, to Martha E., a daughter of David Huston, who came to Edgar County in 1864, and is now ninety-three years old and resides with his daughter, Mrs. Sny- der. Mr. Snyder is vice-president of the Cit- izens National Bank and a director of the same institution. He is a Democrat, and fraternally a Mason and a member of the Commandery. Chapter and Blue Lodge.

JAMES M. STEELE, Mayor of Kansas, Edgar County, Ill., was born in Grand View Township, Edgar County, Ill., Feb. 12, 1862, the son of James M. and Margaret 1. Steele. He received his educational training in the public schools of Kansas, Ill., and Wabash, Ind., afterwards returning to the parental homestead in Grand View Township, where he was engaged in farm- ing until 1896, when he removed to Kansas. On October 4, 1882, Mr. Steele was married to Eda Juntgen, daughter of William and Louise B. Juntgen, of Kansas, and four children have been born to them: Louise M., Anna T., Earl L., and James W. Mr. Steele is a Republican in political sentiment, and is now serving his fellow-citizens as Mayor of Kansas. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and fra ternally belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.

JAMES H. STEPHENSON, prominent farmer and stock raiser of Embarras Township, Edgar County, is a native son of Indiana, and was born in Washington County, August 13, 1848. His Father, Nelson Stephenson, also born in the Hoosier State, married Jemima Mandlin, a neighbor, who survives him, and still occu- pies the old homestead. The elder Stephenson added to an otherwise meritorious life a credit-

able record as a soldier, having served four years during the Civil War in the Sixty-sixth Indiana Regiment. James H. was reared on the Indiana farm, educated in the public schools, and for three years taught school in his native locality. Coming to Edgar County about 1876, he purchased the farm to which he has since added, and now has 365 acres of land under a high state of cultivation. December 25, 1874, he married Catherine, daughter of Ralph Bogle, a native of Virginia, and four children have been born into his family: Ellis W., Louis A., Ives N., and Walter E. Mr. Stephenson takes a commendable interest in Republican politics, is a member of the Christian Church, and is valued for his uprightness, his public spirited- ness, and his devotion to the best interests of his locality.

NEWTON STEWART, retired farmer, Paris, Ill., was born in Ross County, Ohio, Nov. 11, 1833, the son of James and Mary A. (Hender- son) Stewart, natives respectively of Ohio and Pennsylvania, who located in Edgar County in 1838. On reaching manhood, Mr. Stewart chose the occupation of farmer, living in Buck Town- ship, Edgar County, where for many years he was one of its foremost stock-raisers and prominent citizens. At the present time he owns 636 acres of land in Edgar County, but of recent years has lived retired at Paris. On November 6, 1856, he was married to Armina Rhodes, and of this union there have been ten children, five of whom are deceased. Those living are: Florence, William, Edgar, Minnie and Walter. Mrs. Stewart died in November, 1894. Mr. Stewart is a Republican in political views, and belongs to the Presbyterian Church.

WILLIAM C. SUDDUTH, proprietor of wagon and feed yard, Paris, Ill., was born in Edgar County, Ill., June 5, 1844, the son of John Y. and Sarah Sudduth, natives respectively of Vir- ginia and Kentucky, who were among the early settlers of Edgar County. Originally Mr. Sud- duth was engaged in farming, but subsequently removed to Paris, where he purchased a wagon and feed yard which he personally conducts. He also owns 205 acres of land in Buck Township, Edgar County. On March 20, 1872, Mr. Sudduth was married to Roxy J. Ballard, who was the mother of five children: Willeffle, Hodge A., Burt Y. and Waldo B., the fifth child being deceased. Mrs. Sudduth died in

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HISTORY OF EDGAR COUNTY.

1899. In 1900 Mr. Sudduth married for his second wife Mary E. Tyner, and they have two sons, Marlowe T., living, and Garland W., deceased. In political views Mr. Sudduth is a Democrat; has served as School Director for six years, and has been Commissioner of High- ways for one term. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and the Tribe of Ben Hur. He and his family are members of the Christian Church.

JOHN SULLIVAN, Supervisor of Shiloh Township, Edgar County, Ill., a farmer and stock-raiser, was born March 28, 1865, in Edgar County, the son of Patrick and Bridget ( Haley) Sullivan. His father was, a native of Ireland, while his mother was born in Edgar County. Ill., and is still living. Mr. Sullivan is engaged in farming and stock-raising on his farm sit- uated in Shiloh Township. He married Eliza- beth, daughter of Edward Carroll, Feb. 21. 1900, the latter of whom is mentioned on another page of this work. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan, Joseph, born April 27, 1901; John Bernard, born August 24, 1902; and Leonidas, born Apri1 27, 1904. A Democrat in political affiliations, Mr. Sullivan has already served one term as Supervisor of Shiloh Township, and is the pres- ent incumbent of that office. He also served as Commissioner of Highways for one term. In religion he is a Catholic.

MICHAEL SULLIVAN, farmer, Paris Town- ship, Edgar County, Ill., was born in County Waterford, Ireland, in March, 1831; came to the United States in 1849, locating first in Connecti- cut, where he remained for a number of years. in March, 1861, he removed to Edgar County, Ill., where he has since been engaged in farm- ing and now owns 280 acres of land in Paris Township. He was married in March, 1862, to Margaret Welch, and to them six children have been born, two of whom-William E. and Charles M .- are now living. In political views Mr. Sullivan is a Democrat, and in religious faith a Catholic.

WAT A. SUMMERS, Sheriff of Edgar County, Paris, Ill., was born at Flemingsbury, Fleming County, Ky., May 16, 1857, son of George and Mary (Ficklin) Summers. He was reared on his father's farm, and is the only one of ten children who, at the present time (1904), is

not residing at the parental homestead; edu- cated in the public schools, and when twenty years of age began his business career as a farmer. On March 1, 1884, he came to Edgar County, Ill., where he was engaged in farming until 1898, when he was appointed Deputy Sheriff under George W. Myers, serving in that capacity until March 1, 1902. In November of the latter year he was elected Sheriff of Edgar County on the Democratic ticket, receiving a majority of 408 votes over his opponent, and is still an incumbent of that office. On May 5, 1886, he was married to Elizabeth N. Red- mon, daughter of Smallwood and Barbara (Pevisho) Redmon, born in Symmes Township, Edgar County, Ill. Fraternally Mr. Summers is a member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, and he and his wife are communicants of the Christian Church, in which Mr. Summers is a deacon. The father, George Summers, died in 1869, but the mother is still living (1904) at the age of eighty-five years, and resides on the old homestead in Kentucky.

RICHARD B. SUTHERLAND (deceased), one of the first settlers of Edgar County, Ill., was born in Syracuse, N. Y., in May, 1822, and was brought to Edgar County by his parents, who settled in Grand View Township, where he grew to manhood and at the age of twenty- one entered a store in Grand View as a clerk. He later engaged in business on his own account and was variously engaged until he sold his interests and moved to Paris. In 1856 he was a delegate to the first Republican National Convention held in Philadelphia. In 1865 he assisted in organizing the First National Bank of Paris, and served as its presi- dent several years. He later started a private bank under the name of R. G. Sutherland & Sons. In 1873 he sold the bank to the Edgar County National Bank and retired. In 1870 he was elected a delegate to the Constitutional Convention; also served as Mayor of Paris sev- eral years. He died January 3, 1877.

RICHARD GILMAN SUTHERLAND, cashier of the First National Bank of Paris, was born in Dudley, Ill., October 21, 1857, and was edu- cated in the public schools. After leaving school he became junior partner of the bank- ing firm of R. B. Sutherland & Sons at Paris. When the bank changed hands he spent a year in an abstract and loan office. On January 18.

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HISTORY OF EDGAR COUNTY.

1875, when but seventeen years old he secured employment with the First National Bank of Paris, and, with the exception of three years, from 1886 to 1889,

during which time

he was member of the dry goods firm of Millar Son & Sutherland, he has since been connected with that bank, at present holding the responsible position of cashier. In politics he is a Republican and has served a term as city treasurer. He is now treasurer of the Paris union school district, also the Edgar County Fair Association, and is a member of the library board. He is a Presby- terian in his religious belief, and socially is a member of the A. O. U. W., Modern Woodmen of America, Court of Honor, Ben Hur and the Elks. Mr. Sutherland was united in marriage to Miss Annie E. Miller February 15, 1882. She was born in Paris, Ill., and was educated in the public schools of that place and Hamilton College of Lexington, Ky. She died at Paris, June 19, 1898, leaving one child, Mary P. Mr. Sutherland was again married, his second wife being Mrs. Mollie L. Paxson of Springfield, Mo., the wedding taking place November 20, 1900. Mrs. Sutherland was formerly Miss Mollie Link, of Paris, Ill.

JESSE SWANGO, retired farmer, Symmes Township, Edgar County, Ill., was born in Morgan (now Wolf) County, Ky., Jan. 9, 1831, son of Abraham and Debby (Ogden) Swango, natives of Kentucky. The paternal grand- father, Samuel Swango, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, while the father served in the War of 1812. Jesse Swango remained at the parental homestead until he reached man- hood, when he removed to Edgar County, Ill., where, in 1852, he married Miss Nancy Jane Hanks of Symmes Township, a distant relative of the mother of Abraham Lincoln, and the daughter of William and Mary (O'Hair) Hanks who came from Morgan County, Ky., to Paris, Ill., in 1827. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Swango; Rosella (died aged five years), Lillie ( who died at the age of twenty years), Iva (died when twenty months of age), Harlan A. and Clarence W. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Swango lived on a farm in Coles County for eleven years, and in 1865 located on a 500-acre farm in Symmes Township, Edgar County, where they have since resided. In 1873 Mr. Swango was appointed Postmaster of the office and station (Swango) named in his

honor. He has been a member of the Christian church since 1851, and he and his estimable

JESSE SWANGO.

wife are enjoying in their declining years, peace and contentment as the result of a well- spent life.

HARLAN A. SWANGO, oldest son of Jesse and Nancy Jane (Hanks) Swango, and a promi- nent farmer and stockman of Symmes Town- ship, was born in Coles County, 111., July 3, 1859, but reared and educated in Edgar County, where he attended the common schools and Hurties' Academy (Paris). He remained under the parental roof until twenty-three years of age, and on Nov. 22, 1881, married Eva H. Perisho, and they have two children, Jesse H. and Mary E. After marriage Mr. Swango located on a farm in Symmes Township, but in 1886 bought a 320-acre farm in Embarras Township which he conducted for twelve years. and then purchased 360 acres of land in Sec- tion 34, Symmes Township, where he has since resided, but still owns his farm in Embarras Township. In partnership with his brother Clarence W. he is engaged in the breeding of pure Hereford cattle, and their herd comprises about 100 head. In politics Mr. Swango is a Democrat.

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HISTORY OF EDGAR COUNTY.

CLARENCE W. SWANGO, born in Symmes Township, Edgar County, Oct. 29, 1866, is a son of Jesse and Nancy Jane ( Hanks) Swango. He was educated in the Paris high school and the Central Normal School (Danville, Ind) ; married Nov. 6, 1889, Laura Lee Fleming, daughter of William B. and Mandy (Daurity) Fleming, early settlers of Edgar County; owns 285 acres of land, and is actively engaged in farming and breeding of pure stock. In politi- cal relations he is a Democrat, and is a mem- ber of the Christian Church.

RICHARD W. SWANK, for many years a farmer of Hunter Towuship, Edgar County, and whose death, on April 15, 1892, removed a man of singular uprightness and strength of character, was born Jan. 31, 1851, in Vermilion County, Ill., son of Robert and Rosanna Swank, Ross Township pioneers of 1852. Reared and educated in Ross Township, and in the schools of Westfield and Terra Haute, Ind., Mr. Swank farmed successfully in Hunter Township for several years, in 1890 removing to Chrisman, his last earthly home. In 1899 his family set- tled on their present farm of 200 acres in Ross Township, which they are improving and devoting to general produce and stock. The married life of Mr. Swank dated from Decem- ber 14, 1876, when he was united to Emma Blackman, daughter of Marshall N. aud Mar- garet (Moss) Blackman, and granddaughter of Remember Blackman, the well-known pioneer. To Mr. and Mrs. Swank were born five chil- dren: Harry C .; Florence M., wife of H. C. Robinson; Walter B .; J. Robert, and Olive B. Mr. Swank subscribed to the principles of the Democratic party, and fraternally was identi- fied with the Masons and Odd Fellows. He did much to establish a high standard of farming, and was known as a man of large heart, pro- gressive mind, and unquestioned public spirit- edness.

JAMES M. TATE .- The roll call of pioneers of Edgar County includes the name of James M. Tate, a land owner and resident of Grand View Township, who was born August 11, 1830, in Augusta County, Va., a son of John and Nancy Tate. With the courage and faith of the people of an earlier day, the family came overland to Edgar County in 1837, in a colony of fifty people, settling on the farm in Grand View Township now owned by James M. Tate.

Enduriug great hardships in the wilderness, the father reared his family and improved his land, sorrow settling down on him in 1845, upon the death of his wife, and again in 1866, when the second wife, whom he married in 1847, passed to her long home. After the death of John Tate, his son succeeded to the home- stead and 188 acres of land, where he has lived since his seventh year, and where he has spent his vigorous manhood in accumulating a competence. April 15, 1852, he married Eleanor, daughter of Read and Rebecca Alexan- der, of Rochester County, Va., and to them have been born five children: John, Joseph R., L. M., Rush and William. Mr. Tate is a practical, con- scientious man, a consistent Republican, and an active member of the Presbyterian Church.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Edgar County, Part 149

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Number of Pages: 876

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell
Number of Pages: 876