Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 130

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1174

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In September, 1894. Mr. Ogilvie was mar- ried to Mary G. Wright, born in Hancock Town- ship, a danghter of Charles G. and Antoinette (Hobart) Wright, natives of Fountain Green Township. Mr. and Mrs. Ogilvie became the parents of the following children: Ralph W., who lives in Carthage Township; and Ethel D. and Charles A., both of whom are at home. In politics Mr. Ogilvie is a Democrat and he served as a school director for eight years, and as a highway commissioner for six years. His fraternal relations are with the Royal Neighbors, Modern Woodmen of America, both of Burnside, the local lodge of Carthage and the Encampment of the Odd Fellows, and the Carthage lodge of the Rebekahs. He is a substantial man, excellent farmer and good citizen and deserves the prosperity which has attended his efforts.

OGILVIE, William F., a retired farmer, owns twenty acres of land on the edge of Plymouth where he now resides, but formerly was more actively interested in St. Mary's Township farm lands. He was born in Ohio, September 26, 1840, a son of William and Hannah (Camp- bell) Ogilvie, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania. In 1851 he was brought to Illinois by his parents, who first located in Schuyler County, but in the spring of 1853 moved to Carthage, where they were engaged in farming for a year, when they retired, and there they died. The father was a life long Democrat, and served as assessor for four years. He was a Presbyterian of the old school. At the time of his death he owned eighty acres of land in Carthage Township.

William F. Ogilvie attended the common schools in Ohio and Illinois, and remained at home until he attained his majority, when he began working for neighboring farmers. Later he began farming for himself, and in December, 1873. moved on his present farm. On February 20, 1873, he was married to Mary A. Bell, a daughter of J. W. and Hannah E. (Crockett) Bell. who died April 14, 1905, leaving four children, namely : Jesse L., who was married to Anna Hubbard, and has the following chil- dren, Helen M., Leslie L. and Arthur ; Lida B., who died at the age of seventeen years; Guy C., who is at home; and Willie T., who died in Washington, D. C. Mr. Ogilvie is a Democrat in national matters, but in local affairs has voted the Prohibition ticket, and has always been active in his support of the temperance movement. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. During the campaign. of Lincoln and Douglas for the United States

Senate, he was a member of the patriotic organ- ization known as the "Wideawakes", and re- members many incidents of those stirring times in which they took part. He is held in the highest esteem by his fellow citizens, and de- serves the confidence he inspires.

O'HARRA, Apollos W., the senior member of the law firm of O'Harras, Wood & Walker, was born in Adams county, Illinois, February 22, 1857. He attended the country schools and Carthage College, following which he was en- gaged in teaching school for two years. He then read law and was admitted to practice in 1880 and since then has been engaged in active practice. On October 14, 1880, Mr. O'Harra was married to Eliza Jane Burner. They have four children, two sons and two daughters. The two sons, Clifton J. and Ros- well B., are associated with their father in the practice of law, as is also the husband of their married daughter, Edith M. Walker, with offices at Carthage, Illinois, and Keokuk, Iowa. The other daughter, Gladys J. is unmarried and at home.

The clients of this firm include the Mississippi River Power Company and its allied and asso- ciated companies and a number of other cor- porations. They have an extensive practice in western Illinois, eastern Iowa and northern Missouri.

Apollos W. O'Harra is a member of the Illi- nois Bar Association and the American Bar As- sociation, and in his practice has been connected with some quite important cases.

O'HARRA, Clifton J., was born in Carthage, Illinois, May 23, 1884. He attended the public schools in Carthage and graduated from the High School in 1902, and was graduated from Carthage College in 1906. He took his law course at Yale and obtained the degree of LL. B. cum laude, in 1908. Immediately there- after he became associated in the practice of law in Carthage, with his father, Apollos W. O'Harra, and is at present a member of the firm of O'Harras, Wood & Walker, of Carthage, Illinois. He was married October 21, 1911, to Erma Rand, of Carthage.

O'HARRA, Roswell B., was born in Carthage, Illinois, March 30, 1892. He attended the pub- lic schools and Carthage College at Carthage, and was graduated from the University of Mich- igan Law School in 1915. He is a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity and the order of the Coif. Immediately after finishing law school he entered the practice of law at Carthage, Illinois, as the junior member of the law firm of O'IIarras, Wood & Walker, of which firm he is still a member. He was married March 1, 1916, to Veda Elizabeth Alton of Keo- kuk, Iowa.

During the World War he was in the U. S. Naval Reserve Forces as Chief Quartermaster (Aviation).

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

OHAVER, John W., one of the prosperous farmers of Hancock County, owns and operates 120 acres of valuable land on sections 29 and 32 Harmony Township. He was born in Lee County, Iowa, September 12, 1863, a son of Elijah and Adelaide (Dan) Ohaver, natives of Ohio, both of whom are deceased.

John W. Ohaver, was reared and educated in Missouri, to which state his parents removed after his birth, and he remained at home until he was sixteen years old, at which time he began to be self-supporting, working at differ- ent employments until he commenced farming for himself in Hancock County, and for thirty- two years he has been so engaged.

Mr. Ohaver was married in Hancock County to Mary Russell, born in Hancock County in 1885, a daughter of Samuel Russell. Mr. and Mrs. Ohaver have two children, namely : Willie, who is married to Annie Utsey, has one child, Marianna; and Alice N., who is the wife of Dempster Fleming, at present serving in the United States army. Mr. Ohaver belongs to the Christian Church. He is a Democrat, and has held some of the lesser township offices. He is a man widely and favorably known and deserves the prosperity which has attended him as he has always been thrifty and a hard worker.

ORR, Warren H., County Judge and one of the leading members of the legal profession of Hancock County, was engaged in a general practice at Hamilton prior to his election as County Judge in November, 1918. He was born in Hannibal, Mo., November 5, 1886, one of four children born to his parents, James H. and Louisa E. (Watson) Orr, of whom three survive. James H. Orr and his wife were both native born Illinoisans, the former of Pike and the latter of Logan County, and after spending many years of their lives in Missouri, where James H. Orr was in early life a farmer, then a merchant, they moved back to their native state in 1911, and are now living in Hamilton on Lake View Heights, an addition laid out and owned by them in that city.

Warren H. Orr attended the grade and the high school of Hannibal, Mo .. and completed his education at the University of Missouri, at Columbia, and was graduated therefrom with the degree of A. B. in 1918, following which he took up the study of law, and was graduated in 1911 with the degree of LL. B. While at the university, he earned the larger portion of his expense money by newspaper work, and became editor of the college weekly and an instructor in the School of Journalism He also was honored by being chosen a mem- ber of the Mystical Seven, an honorary senior fraternity, and the Delta Tau Delta, a national college fraternity. In 1910, Mr. Orr successfully passed the Missouri State Bar examinations, then expecting to locate in Missouri, but was attracted to Hamilton, Ill., by the building of the big power dam across the Mississippi in the summer of 1911, and

at that time decided to cast his lot with the people of Hancock County. Locating at Hamil- ton in the fall of 1911, he was admitted to the bar of the State of Illinois in February, 1912, and since that time has been engaged with a large and constantly growing practice. During the past six years, he has served as city attorney for Hamilton and also as attorney for the Hamilton Loan and Building Association. He belongs to the Hancock County Bar Association and Illinois State Bar Association. He was also recently elected vice-President of the Illinois County and Probate Judges' Association, and is secretary of the Democratic State Central Committee for the Fourth Supreme Judicial District, consisting of fourteen counties. A scholarly man, Mr. Orr is author of Orr's Statu- tory Amendments of 1913 and 1915, and is an authority on legal matters. He is practical as well, as is evidenced by the fact that for several years he has been secretary and one of the directors of the Hamilton Business Men's Club, and was largely instrumental in locating the Marx and Haas Clothing Company factory in Hamilton, now employing about 100 persons, mostly women.

On September 10, 1914, Mr. Orr was mar- ried to Miss Dorothy Wallace, daughter of R. R. Wallace, cashier of the First National Bank of Hamilton, and a member of an old family of Hancock County. Mr. and Mrs. Orr have two children, namely: Wallace W. and Warren D. Mr. Orr belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. During the World War, he served as member of the Legal Advisory Board of Hancock County, and helped organize and became Quartermaster Sargeant of Company B, Sth Regiment Illinois State Militia, stationed at Hamilton. Fraternally he is a Mason and Odd Fellow, and socially he belongs to the Lake View Motor Club, of which he is secretary and treasurer. Judge Orr is also acting as county chairman of the War Savings Committee for 1919.

Since his election to the bench, Judge Orr and his family have moved from Hamilton to Carthage, where by his energy and close ap- plication to his official duties, he is making an able, dignified and efficient County Judge. A man of more than ordinary ability, he has achieved a great deal for a comparatively young man, and his genial disposition, sound legal training and abundant common sense will no doubt bring to him higher legal and judicial honors and success in the years to come.

ORT, Wilbert, who was a general farmer and stockraiser of Sonora Township, came of an old and honored family of Hancock County. He was born on his father's farm in Sonora Township, April 16, 1868, being a son of Just and Maria (Rahn) Ort, the former of whom was born in Germany. They were early set- tlers in Hancock County, coming to Nauvoo prior to their marriage, after which they located in Sonora Township, where both died. Their children were as follows: Anna, who is Mrs.

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William Kruse, of Sonora Township; Henry, who lives at Fort Madison, Iowa; Mary, who is Mrs. Benjamin Williams of Appanoose Town- ship; Wilbert Rosa, who is Mrs. Charles Kachle, of Nauvoo; Lucy, who is Mrs. George Datin, of Tampa, Fla .; and Archibald, of Sonora Town- ship.

Wilbert Ort grew up in Sonora Township and attended the district school. On September 27, 1892, he was married to Clara Williams, born in Sonora Township, a daughter of Fred- erick and Caroline (Mast) Williams, born in Prussia and Weurtemburg, Germany, respec- tively. They were married at East St. Louis, Ill., and some time later moved to Sonora Township, and bought a farm. He died in August, 1916, and she in October, 1917. He was ninety-two years old at the time of his death, and she ninety years old. Mr. and Mrs. Wil- liams had the following family : Elizabeth, who is Mrs. John Heisey, of Nauvoo; John, who is deceased ; Benjamin, who lives in Appanoose Township; Caroline, who is Mrs. Samuel Don- nellson, of Hamilton, Ill .; Sophia, who is Mrs. Adam Youngermeyer, of Wichita, Kas .; Mrs. Ort; Anna, who is Mrs. Harry Herbert of Quincy, Ill .; and Samuel, who lives at Derby, Kas. After marriage, Mr. Ort rented land in Sonora Township for four years, and then bought 114 acres in the same township, to which he added until he had 130 acres at the time of his death, which occurred February 2, 1906, since which time Mrs. Ort has rented the farm, although she continues to reside upon it. Mr. and Mrs. Ort had three children, namely : Rupert; Oriole, who died at the age of five years ; and Wanda. He was a Democrat, and served as a school director. His fraternal con- nections were with the Modern Woodmen of America. Mrs. Ort is a Lutheran. Mr. Ort always carried on general farming and stock- raising, and although he was cut off in the prime of life, had already achieved a gratiying success in his work.

OVERLANDER, Jacob H., one of the enterpris- ing farmers of Hancock County, owns 140 acres of valuable land on section 27, St. Mary's Town- ship, which he is devoting to general farming and stockraising. He was born in Germany, February 19, 1858, a son of Harmon and Hattie (Hisesinger) Overlander, natives of Germany. After the death of the father, the mother, in 1884. came to the United States to join her son Jacob H., who had come to this country, six monthis previously and settled in Woodford County, Ill. For seven years Jacob H. Over- lander worked as a carpenter in Woodford County, and then bought a farm in that county. Later he bought another farm in Missouri and lived on it two years, then came to Hancock County, and for nine years rented land. In 1914 he bought his present farm, and has made some important improvements upon it.

On February 10, 1891, Mr. Overlander was married at Freeport, Ill., to Georgia Dena Schrader, born in Germany, who came to the United States with her parents, who located

at Freeport, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Overlander have five children, namely : Christopher, who is mar- ried to Clara Kaufman; and Catherine, Jacob, Hattie and Herman, all of whom are at home. In politics, Mr. Overlander is a Republican. He is a man who has earned all he owns through his own efforts, and deserves the confidence he inspires.

OWINGS, Theodore Dorsey, proprietor of the elevator at Colusa, and a dealer in coal, grain, live stock and agricultural implements, is one of the substantial men of Hancock County. He was born in Andrew County, Mo., June 6, 1858, a son of Edwin and Ketwiah Ann (Baxter) Owings, natives of Zanesville, Ohio, who went on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Andrew County, Mo., where the father was engaged in farming until 1864, when he bought 160 acres of land in Dallas Township, Hancock County, Ill., for which he paid $18 per acre, it being partly improved. In 1882 he bought another farm near Dallas City, but died soon after. He had the following children : Eleanor, Elmira and Charles, all of whom are deceased; Sue, who is Mrs. Louis P. Cox, of Foster, Neb .; Samuel B., who lives in Kans; Theodore D .; Isabell, who is the wife of Dr. W. H. Scott, of Dallas City, Ill .; U. G., who lives at Syracuse, Kans. ; and Edward, who lives at Colusa, Ill.

Theodore Dorsey Owings attended the common schools and grew up on his father's farm. On December 27, 1887, he was married to Elmira Sophronia Shaw, born in Henderson County, Ill., a daughter of Lee W. and Euphemia (Bab- cock) Shaw, natives of Kentucky and Hancock County, respectively After his marriage Mr. Owings lived for six months on the farm near Dallas City, owned by his father, and then bought eighty acres of his father's original homestead, and still later, bought the remainder of the farm from the heirs of his father's estate, making 160 acres in all. Until March, 1907, he was engaged in farming, but then traded that farm for another of twenty acres at Colusa, and the elevator at that point, and in associa- tion with his son, conducts it together with a coal, grain, oil, livestock and agricultural im- plement business, and the firm is very success- ful.

Mr. and Mrs. Owings have had the following children born to them; Virginia Maud, who is Mrs. Leslie Newton, of Pontoosic Township; Victoria L., who is Mrs. Leo S. McBride, of Pontoosic Township; and Lloyd Rosco, who at- tended the Gem City Business College at Quincy, Ill., is married to Madge Ethel Newton, and is in business with his father. Mr. Owings is a member of the Christian Church. A Republican. he has served as road commissioner, and he has always been a loyal and public spirited citizen.

OWSLEY, D. S., one of the leading merchants of Carthage, and a man widely and favorably known throughout the county, is a very sub- stantial and highly respected citizen. He was born in Missouri, November 13, 1867, a son

Aug Hansony

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

of John E. and Elizabeth (Andrews) Owsley, natives of Kentucky. They attended the pub- lic schools of Kentucky and Missouri, and were married in the latter state where they resided for a time, but later made several changes.

D. S. Owsley was the only child of his pa- rents, and he was reared at Canton, Mo., where he lived until 1882, coming in that year to Carthage, Ill., having in the meanwhile at- tended the grammar and high schools. From 1882 to 1892 he was engaged along several lines of endeavor, but in the latter year he and E. E. Emerick opened a dry goods store at Aledo, Mercer County, Ill., under the firm name of Emerick & Owsley, which they still own, and which Mr. Owsley managed until 1894, when he came to Carthage and opened another store. The firm owns a third store at La Harpe and others at different points, the business con- trolled by it being immense. for buying in such large quantities they can offer prices and qual- ities which meet with popular approval and liberal patronage.

Mr. Owsley was married December 28, 1898, to Miss Caroline DeHait, born in Carthage, and graduated from the Monticello Seminary at Godfrey, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Owsley have one daughter, Marian E., who is attending Mrs. Wright's school, at Bryn Mawr, Pa. Mr. Owsley is a Baptist and his wife is an Episcopalian. Fraternally he belongs to Hancock Lodge No. 20, A. F. & A. M., Carthage Chapter and Com- mandery, and Mohomet Temple Mystic Shrine, at Peoria, Ill. Although a Republican in pol- itics, he has never been active in public mat- ters. In addition to his business interests. Mr. Owsley owns city realty and a valuable farm, and has made everything he possesses through his own, unaided efforts.

PAAR, Charles J., postmaster of Warsaw, and one of the leading men of Hancock County, who is well and favorably known throughout a wide territory, was born at Warsaw, Ill., April 6, 1883, a son of Peter C. and Catherine (Maurer) Paar, both of whom were born at Warsaw, Ill., the father October 22. 1857, and the mother, February 13, 1857. They spent their lives at Warsaw where the father was a blacksmith. The Paar family came to Illinois when the state was still young, and the grandfather made wagons by hand, and was a man of hon- est industry.

Charles J. Paar attended the Warsaw schools, and worked for his father at blacksmithing for about seventeen years. In the meanwhile he had taken considerable interest in politics, and was nominated by the Democratic party with- out opposition, for alderman from the Third Ward, the Republicans nominating no candidate. His political loyalty as well as personal pop- ularity received signal recognition when Presi- dent Wilson appointed him postmaster of War- saw, and the manner in which he is discharging the duties of this important office show that the confidence of the Chief Executive in him was not misplaced. At one time Mr. Paar served

as secretary of the Warsaw Poultry Associa- tion, and he belongs to the Commercial Club and is active in that organization.

On August 30, 1905, Mr. Paar was married at Warsaw, to Marie Thressa Weigard, born at Warsaw, June 27, 1SS1, a daughter of Louis and Elizabeth Weigard. Mr. and Mrs. Paar became the parents of the following children : Norman P. C. Paar, who was born January 16, 1907; Florence, who was born November 15, 1909; and Dorothy, who was born January 6, 1911; and Charles J. Jr., who was born No- vember 24, 1918. Mr. Paar belongs to the Lutheran Church. He owns his home at the corner of Eleventh and Marion streets, War- saw, where he and Mrs. Paar dispense delight- ful hospitality to their many friends.

PARKER, William C., a prosperous general farmer of Hancock County, owns and operates a valuable farm of 290 acres on section 2, Chili Township. He was born in Hancock County, April 25, 1880, a son of Henry M. and Martha (Arnold) Parker, natives of New York and Illi- nois, respectively, both of whom are now de- ceased.

Growing up in his native county, William C. Parker attended its schools, and assisted his father and worked in different lines of business until 1907, when he began farming for himself, and in March, 1909, he moved on his present farm, where he has since been engaged in gen- eral farming.

On March 20, 1900, Mr. Parker was married to Lizzie J. Shirkey, born in Hancock County, August 18, 1883, a daughter of Darius and Nancy E. (Rupe) Shirkey, both of whom are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Parker have three chil- dren, Ernest LeRoy, Forest Leona and Elma Bernice. The family belong to the Christian Church. Mr. Parker is a Republican, but aside from casting his vote for his party candidates, has not taken any active part in public affairs. He belongs to the Loyal Americans and the hancock County Mutual Association.

PARSONS, Horace B., a prosperous general farmer and dairyman of Montebello Township, was born in this township, June 4, 1869, a son of Henry B. and Martha A. (Waggoner) Parsons, natives of Canada and Montebello Township, respectively. The paternal grandfather, Lyman Parsons, died in Canada. Isaac Newton and Mary. A. (White) Waggoner, the maternal grandparents, with Mrs. Waggoner's father, Cap- tain White, came to Hancock County about 1824, and settled along the Mississippi River. Captain White was a river captain, and had charge of tow boats on the Mississippi River before steamboats operated. The Waggoner cabin was built of logs, and Indians were plentiful at that time. Isaac N. Waggoner was also a river man, and he had charge of the first steamboat that ran the dangerous Des Moines rapids. For many years he was engaged in steamboating, plying between St. Louis, Mo., and Dubuque, Iowa, and was the first pilot apprentice with Captain Throckmorton, and

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

later was with that officer on the celebrated vessel Warrior at the time of the capture of Black Hawk. Mr. Waggoner was a pilot on the river almost continuously, sometimes being part owner of his boat, and was credited withi know- ing more about the navigable portions of the upper Mississippi, than any other man of his day. Later on in life, he left the river and devoted himself to the operation of his farm in Montebello Township, and also had a grist mill and a shipping house at Riverside, as his home was known. Although very successful, he continued to be quiet, unonstentatious man. His death occurred January 27, 1877, when he was about sixty-eight years old.

Henry B. Parsons located on a farm on sec- tion 12, Montebello Township after his mar- riage. although he was a dredge-boat engineer, and was associated with this line of work all his active life. He spent a year at Louisville, Ky., just prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, but when that conflict was precipitated, he brought his wife back to the farm, and then enlisted as assistant engineer on government boats, and was assigned to duty on the lower Mississippi River. A short time prior to his death, which occurred July 12, 1889, he retired His widow survived him until March 10, 1910, when she died at the age of seventy-four years, as she was born in 1836. Their children were as follows : Mary S., who is deceased, was Mrs. Joseph Sangier ; Walter H., who lives in Monte- bello Township; Horace B .; Lester, who lives at Hamilton, Ill. ; Ruth S., who lives at Turner, Oregon ; and Philip A., who lives at Syracuse, N. Y.

Horace B. Parsons was married March 2, 1898, to Agnes J. Higby, born in Montebello Township, September 20, 1876, a daughter of Clement H. and Hannah (Nagel) Higby, natives of Hancock County, very early settlers of the county. Clement Higby was adopted when an infant, by Captain Steele, a justice of the peace, and after his death, he lived with Mrs. Steele on the farm in Montebello Township. After his marriage, Mr. Parsons lived on his parents' homestead for six years, and then moved to Hamilton and was employed in the Dadant Bee Comb factory for four years, and he was also engaged in carpenter work. In June, 1911, he moved to the Higby home of 123 acres on section 7, Montebello Township, Mr. Higby hav- ing died June 16, 1911. Mrs. Higby, now aged sixty-one years, resides with Mr. and Mrs. Par- sons. Mr. and Mrs. Parsons have one daughter, Kuby Vera, who was born September 1, 1904. Both Mr. and Mrs. Parsons attended the River- side district school. They are members of the Christian Church. A Democrat, Mr. Parsons has served as a road commissioner and school di- rector. An excellent farmer and dairyman, he has made considerable progress in his work, and is held in high esteem by all who know him.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 130

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1174

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1174