Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 142

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

USA > Illinois > Hancock County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II > Part 142

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SHOLL, Jacob, now deceased, was for many years a prominent figure in the financial life of Carthage, and widely and favorably known all over Hancock County. He was born at Waynesburg, Pa., November 30, 1805, a son of Peter and Susan Sholl. Peter Sholl was a sol- dier during the War of 1812, and died while serving in defense of his country, having been under the command of General Burns.

In 1835 Jacob Sholl moved to Middletown, Ohio, and there embarked in a dry goods busi- ness that he conducted for three years, and then went to Winchester, Ohio, where he was engaged in the same line of business, in part- nership with Alexander Mack. In March, 1853, Mr. Sholl came to Carthage, Ill., landing at Warsaw, from whence he drove across country to his destination with wagons. He took charge

of a general store at Carthage, which had been previously established by William Mack, a brother-in-law. but disposed of the business in 1863, and was otherwise actively engaged here. When the banking house, of Cherrill, Sholl & Co. was founded at Carthage in 1876, Jacob Sholl became the senior member of the firm, and so continued until his death, September 14, 18SS.

On October 21, 1841, Mr. Sholl was married to Maria Mack, a daughter of Alexander Mack, and they became the parents of six children, as follows: William and Charles, who died in infancy ; David, who fell fighting for his coun- try during the Civil War at Vicksburg, May $ 1, 1863; Capt. Alexander, who was one of the One Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois-Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War, died at Quincy, Ill., December 22, 1915; Jacob Mack, who died at Excelsior Springs, Mo., May 29, 1913; and Mrs. Sue A. Cherrill, of Carthage, who is the only surviving member of the family.

As a man Mr. Sholl possesed marked traits of character which under the favoring providence of God gave him that wordlly success which he achieved. These were integrity and upright- ness, united with a sound judgment, a rare dis- cretion, firmness and the courage of his con- victions, with wisdom to plan and skill and perseverance to carry to successful execution whatever he undertook. His relations with his fellow men were marked by honesty in his dealings, affability and kindliness in his neigh- borly intercourse, and charity in speech and conduct. He was thoughtful for the poor, and sought unobserved ways to aid them and to do them good. He was a devout follower of the Presbyterian faith, and was chiefly instrumen- tal in the erection of its first house of worship at Carthage. A pillar of strength in the church, he also possessed an undaunted faith which ex- pressed itself in an upright, symmetrical and well balanced Christian character and life.

SHOLL, Jacob Mack, now deceased, was for many years a leading hardware merchant of Carthage, and a man whose reputation for hon- orable dealing and public spirit was unques- tioned. He was born at Winchester, Ohio, Sep- tember 28,1851, a son of Jacob and Maria (Mack) Sholl. In 1853 the family came to Carthage, Ill .. where the parents died, and here Jacob Mack Sholl spent the remainder of his useful life.

Growing up at the county seat. Jacob Mack Sholl attended its excellent schools. and later Monmouth College, and he also took some courses at Carthage College, in this way be- coming so attached to the local institution that he thereafter always gave it a loyal and generous support. In 1874 Mr. Sholl embarked in a hard- ware business in partnership with his brother Alexander, and this association continued for two years. when Mr. Sholl assumed full charge. His standing in the community was recognized by his appointment on March 5, 1901, as state bank examiner, and he lield the position until

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he resigned it some years later. In 1912, he was elected mayor of Carthage but was never able to take the office on account of illness.

Mr. Sholl was married at Carthage, Ill., Sep- tember 3, 1879, to Elizabeth Wilson, born De- cember 28, 1857, a daughter of George T. and Mary (Heath) Wilson. Mr. and Mrs. Sholl be- came the parents of two children, namely : Rox- ana Laura and Agnes Heath. The latter died June 21, 1901. Mrs. Sholl died November 4, 1910, and Mr. Sholl never fully recovered from the loss of his two dear ones, suffering for eighteen months prior to his own death, in June, 1913. The elder daughter was married to Dabney Lewis of Carthage and they have a son, named for his grandfather, James Mack Sholl Lewis. Mr. Sholl is survived by his daughter and grandsou and a sister, Susan, who is Mrs. Edward Cherrill, of Carthage, his only surviv- ing brother, Alexander, having also passed away.

Mr. Sholl was a man of a very sensitive na- ture, able to understand the beautiful and po- etic, and his tastes made of him a great reader. The classics were his favorites, and many happy hours were spent by him in company with the immortal works of Charles Dickens. It is thought that he named his younger daugh- ter for Agnes, the heroine of David Copperfield. The home life of the Sholls was almost perfect, and the tie between Mr. and Mrs. Sholl was particularly strong, so that when she was taken from him, the better part of his life was gone, but he bore his loss and ill health uncom- plainingly and to the very last was anxiously planning for the happiness and welfare of those dear to him. Although he had been so prominent in civic matters, when he was laid to rest, there was no ostentatious funeral. for he had spe- cially requested that all undue ceremony be avoided. However, the services were largely attended by those eager to pay their last re- spects to one whom they so highly honored and loved, and they gathered not only from Hanoock County, but from other states.

SHORT, William F., now deceased, was for- merly one of the successful farmers of Han- cock County, and a man universally honored and respected. He was born in St. Albans Township, June 15. 1847, a son of James and Sarah (Harris) Short, the former born De- cember 25, 1818, and the latter, January 11, 1814, both being natives of West Virginia. They were among the very earliest settlers of St. Albans Township.

William F. Short grew up on the home place and April 1, 1869, was married to Mary E. Gabel, born in Adams County, Ill., August 1, 1849, a daughter of George and Isabell (Crays) Gabel. natives of Germany and Ohio. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Short set- tled on their farm of eighty acres of land in St. Albans Township, where he died Jannary 28, 1894. Mrs. Short continued to live on this farm, which was well improved. until 1911, when she rented it and moved to Stillwell, her present home. Mr. and Mrs. Short became the

parents of the following children : Charles E., who was born January 12, 1870, died in Feb- ruary, 1919; James I., who was born Septem- ber 5, 1873, lives at Pawnee, Okla .; George B., who was born March 11, 1876, lives with his mother; Guy H., who was born October S, 1878, lives at Chatcolet, Idaho; Lula May, who was born May 17, 1SS1, is Mrs. Austin DeLatt, of Crookston, Minn .; Maggie Ann, who was born August 16, 1883, is Mrs. James McCade, of Prosser, Wash .; and Willard, who was born December 5, 1885, is on the home farm. Mr. Short was a consistent member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Short be- longs to the Christian Church. In politics he was a Republican. A man of sterling integrity he lived up to his ideals and when he died his community lost a good citizen.

SHOUP, Solomon J., now deceased, was at one time one of the leading agriculturalists of Prairie Township, his descendants still resid- ing in Hancock County. He was born in Ful- ton County, Ill., in March, 1848, a son of Ab- ram and Sarah Ann (Curtiss) Shoup, natives of Pennsylvania. They were married in Ful- ton County, Ill., but moved from there to Harmony Township, Hancock County, where they died.

Solomon J. Shoup attended the common schools, and lived with his parents until he enlisted for service during the Civil War on February 14, 1865, in Company K, One Hun- dred and Fifty-first Illinois Volunteer Infan- try, and was honorably discharged January 24. 1866. Soon after his release from the army he went to Leavenworth, Kans., and worked for a time on a farm, but then re- turned to his parents' homestead in Harmony Township, and rented land until about 1883, when he bought sixty acres in Prairie Town-

ship, two miles west of Carthage. He thor- oughly improved the place, and farmed it un- til his death, which occurred April 11, 1911.

On June 24, 1873 Mr. Shoup was married to Isabelle Langford, born at New Hartford, N. Y., a daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Fossett) Langford, natives of Ireland, who, in 1857, moved to Harmony Township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Shoup had the follow- ing children: Adda Olive, who died in Janu- ary. 1917, was a nurse and was a graduate of St. France's Hospital at Macomb, Ill .; Stephen Archibald, who lives at Windham, Ohio; Thomas and Melvin, both of whom died in in- fancy ; Grace Bell, who is Mrs. Frank I. Fel- ger, of Bowen, Ill., has a daughter, Ada Olive; and Stephen Archibald, who married Edith Thorpe, has a son, Kenneth LeRoy. Mr. Shoup was a consistent member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, of which Mrs. Shoup is also a member. In politics a Democrat, he held some of the township offices and was a inan of prominence in his community. His fraternal connections were with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Odd Fellows, both of Carthage, and he also belonged to the

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Carthage Post, G. A. R., and served as com- mander of the post. When he died his com- munity felt his loss was almost a public ca- lamity for he could ill be spared from the ranks of good citizens.

SIEGEL, Simon, one of the leading business men of Bowen, is engaged in conducting a mer- chant tailoring establishment in that village. He was born in Germany, a son of Leopold and Duvena (Schmide) Siegel, who came to the United States when their son Simon was thir- teen years old, lived first in New York and later spent some time at Cincinnati, Ohio, go- ing from there to St. Louis, Mo., where both later died.

Simon Siegel attended school in Germany, and since then has learned much in his adopted country. In 1862 he moved to Macomb, Ill., and for three years worked for a merchant tailor there and has followed this trade ever since. In July, 1917, he established his pres- ent business at Bowen, where he has been very successful, is doing well and has many friends.

While living at Macomb, Mr. Siegel was mar- ried to Abigail J. Gunn, on June 7, 1864, she being a daughter of John Gunn. Mr. and Mrs. Siegel became the parents of the following chil- dren : Henry, who is deceased; Bertha, who is the wife of John McAdair; Elmer, who is married to Amanda Kates; Amelia, who is Mrs. Charles Nelson; Etta, who is deceased ; John M., who is married to Cora Wilhite; Ralph, who is married to Venice Libby ; and Lizzie, who is deceased. Mr. Siegel is a Re- publican. During the time Mr. Siegel has been in business at Bowen, he has won the confidence of his fellow townsmen, and he stands very well in the community. He owns a small farm in Adams County, Ill., six miles south of Bowen.

SIEGFRIED, Isaac, a highly respected resident of Ferris, and a retired farmer of Hancock County, is now enjoying well earned leisure. He was born in Northampton County. Pa., August 12, 1843, a son of Charles and Susanna (Laub) Siegfried, natives of the same county. In 1857 the family came west to Hancock County. and located on a farm in Carthage Township, where for some years the father was a renter. but he later bought a farm of seventy-four acres in Rock Creek Township, living on it until he died in 1884, the mother surviving him until 1902. They had eleven children, they being as follows: Samuel, who lives in Rock Creek Township; Henry, who died in the Union army; Isaac; Charles W .. Mary and Augustus, all of whom are deceased : James, who lives at Kansas City, Mo .; Jacob. who lives at Denver, Col .; Lewis, who lives at Ferris; Sarah Jane, who died in childhood; and Ellen, who is also deceased,

When he was fourteen years old. Isaac Sieg- fried began working for neighboring farmers, and consequently had but little opportunity to attend school. After about twelve years he

began farming for himself in Sonora Township, renting land for six years, and then buying eighty acres of improved land in Rock Creek Township, where he lived until 1889. At that time he bought another farm of 160 acres, to which he moved, continuing to operate the other one as well, and doing general farming. In the fall of 1914 he rented his land to his sons, moved to Ferris, where he had bought property, and here he still resides. Still later, he bought the old farm of his father, consist- ing of seventy-four acres, and also rents it.

In February, 1871, Mr. Siegfried was mar- ried to Mary H. Thornber, born in Rock Creek Township, a daughter of Henry Thornber, who came to Hancock County in 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Siegfried had the following children born to them: Henry, who is deceased; Lucy, who is Mrs. C. C. Neff. of Sonora Township; Eva, who is Mrs. E. H. Walker, of Sonora Town- ship; May, who died at the age of one year ; Lee, who lives in Rock Creek Township; Laura, who died in infancy; and Ernest, who lives in Rock Creek Township. In politics, Mr. Siegfried is an independent Democrat.

SIENS, Vinton, senior member of the well- known and reliable firm of Siens Bros., dealers in ice, coal and cement of Dallas City, is one of the substantial men of Hancock County. He was born in Hancock County, October 7, 1872, one of the six children born to his parents, . Thomas and Sarah (Enwirk) Siens. Thomas Siens for many years was profitably engaged in farming in Hancock County, but later in life he retired and he died in April, 1899. His widow survives.

Vinton Siens attended both the common and high schools, and has always been engaged in handling coal and ice, going into this line when he was eighteen years old. He was also engaged in a contracting business at one time, and some years ago he formed his present con- nection with his brother, Perry Siens, and then added the handling of cement and all articles manufactured of cement. Their business ag- gregates $20,000 annually, and employment is given twenty men.

Mr. Siens was married to Miss Vallie V. Kel- ley, a daughter of John L. Kelley, of Pontoosuc Township. Mr. and Mrs. Siens have two chil- dren, namely : Leah A. and Bernice E., both of whom are at home. Mrs. Siens belongs to the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Siens is a Democrat and he has served as township clerk of Pon- toosuc Township and also as supervisor of the same township, Fraternally he belongs to the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Woodmen of the World. A man of energy and foresight, he has forged ahead and has now a flourishing business and enjoys the confidence and respect of his associates.

SIMMONS, William Luther, agent and secre- tary of the Wythe Township Mutual Fire In- surance Company, owns considerable land in St. Albans Township, and was formerly a very

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prominent figure in agricultural circles. He was born on the line between Montgomery and Galaway counties, Mo., September 2, 1861, a son of Isaac and Matilda Catherine (Morrow) Simmons, he born in Scott County, Ill., and she in Montgomery County, Mo. The paternal grandparents, Hiram and Nancy (Calkins) Simmons were born in Kentucky and New York, and William Morrow, the maternal grandfather, was born in Virginia. At an early date the Morrow family came to Missouri and the Simmons family to Scott County, Ill. In 1848 the latter family moved to Hancock County, Ill., settling in Bear Creek Township. For a year after marriage, Isaac Simmons and his wife lived in Missouri and then, in 1862, came to Bear Creek Township. He enlisted in defense of his country, during the Civil war, in Company I, One Hundred and Eighteenth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, and died January 10, 1867. Later his widow was married to D. E. Biggs, who is also deceased, Mrs. Biggs now residing at Basco, Ill. She and her first hus- band had three children, namely: William Lu- ther; E. B., who lives at Basco; and Clinton, who died at the age of nine years.

William Luther Simmons attended the Basco common schools and when nineteen years old began teaching school, being engaged in that line for nineteen years in five adjoining dis- tricts. On April 11, 1888, he was married to Ruth Emma Clark, born on section 5, St. Al- bans Township, August 4, 1866, a daughter of Henry and Abbie (Stryker) Clark, natives of Jefferson County, N. Y. After his marriage, Mr. Simmons taught school for eleven years, but quit to confine his attention to operating the farm of his wife's parents. He bought out the other heirs to the 120-acre homestead, to which he added eighty acres, and improved it all. Since 1906, he has been devoting the greater portion of his time to the fire insurance busi- ness, maintaining his office at his residence. He is also on the auditing board of the Han- cock Mutual Life Association. A strong Meth- odist, he has served as superintendent of the Sunday school since 1910. Politically a Re- publican, he was township assessor in 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons have two children, namely : Jessie, wlio is Mrs. Arlet Hopson, has one daughter, Ruth L .; and William Ever- ett, all of whom are on the homestead. A man of more than usual ability Mr. Simmons has developed his natural talents, and is a well in- formed man on many subjects, and his advice is often sought by those less educated than he.

SIMPSON, Cassius A., a successful farmer and stockraiser of Hancock County, owns and OD- erates a fine farm of 160 acres on sections 4 and 5 Montebello Township. He was born in Montebello Township, February 17, 1866, a son of Sylvanus and Sarah E. (Read) Simpson, he born in Ohio, January 25, 1823, died January 19, 1904; and she born in Ohio in 1832, died in September 1886. They were married in 1861 and located in Montebello Township, coming

here in the fall of that year. Here Sylvanus Simpson engaged in farming and stockraising. In 1853, he had made a trip overland to Cal- ifornia, and thence to Mexico, and returned to this country in 1857, having in the meanwhile served in the Mexican War, during which con- flict he was taken prisoner, but was soon re- leased. He and wife had the following chil- dren : Ensign, who lives in Montebello Town- ship; Empire, who also lives in Montebello Township; and Cassius A.

Cassius A. Simpson attended the district schools and was reared on the homestead. On May 21, 1889, he was married to Jennie Little, who was born in Pontoosic Township, Hancock Coun- ty, September 25, 1868, a daughter of Daniel A. and Elizabeth (Tull) Little, he born May 28, 1824, near Manchester, Va .; and slie born, March 21, 1833 at Cincinnati Ohio. The grand- parents Martin and Sarah, (Rittimore) Little, came to Hancock County in 1847, while John R. and Nancy (Langford) Tull, natives of Mary- land and Delaware, respectively, came to Pon- toosic Township in 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Simpson became the parents of the following children : Ruby, who is Mrs. Barton Swartz, of Hancock County ; Kenneth, who lives at Hamilton, Ill .; Wilbur who lives at Nauvoo; Lila, who is Mrs. James Sherill, of Niota, Ill .; Neva and Harry, twins, who are at home; Emma and Erma, twins; and Ruth, who is deceased.

Until 1889 Mr. Simpson lived on his father's homestead, but in that year moved to his present farm, and here he has since carried on general farming and stockraising. He has erected all the buildings and has put in many improve- ments including the tiling on all of his land. His farm is now a very valuable one, and he is numbered among the leading agriculturists of the county. In politics he is a Democrat. The Christian Church holds his membership.

SIMPSON, Silvanus E., now deceased, was one of the early settlers of Hancock County, and a man thoroughly representative of the best ele- ments of his day and locality. He was born in Ohio, January 25, 1823, and died in Hancock County, January 19, 1904. His parents were Silvanus L. and Susanna A. ( Harrington) Simpson, and his grandfather was Alexander Simpson, a soldier during the American Revo- lution.

In 1853, Silvanus A. Simpson went by the overland route to California, and while there the war with Mexico was declared, and he was one of the brave Americans who enlisted for service against the enemy. While in the serv- ice he was taken prisoner, but fortunately was released shortly thereafter. After his exciting experiences, he returned to his old home in 1857.

In the spring of 1861, Silvanus Simpson was married to Sarah E. Read, born in Ohio, in 1832, and in the fall of that same year, they migrated to Hancock County, and bought land in Montebello Township. Here he was engaged in general farming and stock raising for many

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years. His faithful wife passed away upon this farm in September, 1886. They were the par- ents of three sons, namely : Ensign, Empire and Cassius A., all of whom are prosperous farmers on valuable land in Montebello Town- ship. Like so many of the older settlers, Sil- vanus Simpson has passed to his last reward, but the good influence of his blameless life re- mains, and his descendants are reaping the har- vest of his hard work and thrift, while his community is all the better for his having lived for so many years in its midst.

SINGLETON, Thomas, one of the leading men of Hancock County, is a resident of Dallas City, but owns a valuable farm in Rock Creek Township. He was born in Rock Creek Town- ship, January 13, 1858, a son of George and Rebecca (Wilson) Singleton, natives of Ireland, whose parents died in that country. They came when young to the United States and met and were married at Philadelphia, Pa. For the subsequent eight years, George Singleton had a position as coachman, and he also conducted a general store. When he left Philadelphia in 1851, he came to Rock Creek Township, Han- cock County, where he bought a farm and lived upon it for a few years, when he moved from it to another farm in the same township. At the time of his death he owned 800 acres of land in that vicinity. Both he and wife died in Rock Creek Township. Their children were as follows: Sarah A., who is Mrs. John R. Bailey, of Colusa, Ill .; Margaret, who lives at Adrian, Ill .; Rebecca J., who is Mrs. R. J. Netherly, a widow, of Quincy, Ill .; Thomas; Elmira, who is Mrs. P. A. Hubbard, of Pontoosic Township; George W., who lives in Rock Creek Township; and William J., who lives at Quincy, Ill.

Thomas Singleton attended the Mt. Vernon district school, and grew up in Rock Creek Township. On December 15, 1881, he was mar- ried to Louisa J. Harris, who was born in Adams County, Ill., a daughter of Jackson and Louisa (Hardy) Harris, also a native of Adams County, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Singleton had one daughter, namely : Nellie May, who is Mrs. Clyde Roath of Rock Creek Township. Mrs. Singleton died August 7. 1SSS. In October, 1891, Mr. Singleton was married (second) to Mary L. Hughes, born in Adams County, Ill., a daughter of Elijah and Martha Hughes, natives of Adams County, Ill. There were two sons born of this marriage, but they died in infancy. The second Mrs. Singleton died in July, 1897. On October 31, 1912, Mr. Singleton was married (third) to Mrs. Jennie (Rhea) Bartlett, born in Dallas Township, a daughter of Isaac and Abbie (Pot- ter) Bartlett, natives of Tennessee. Mrs. Single- ton was the widow of Thomas J. Rhea and had two sons by her first marriage, namely: Jesse L .; Rhea, of Durham Township; and William J., of Pilot Grove Township.

After his first marriage, Mr. Singleton lived for a year on a farm in Rock Creek Township owned by his father, and then moved to one

adjoining, but several years later this farm of eighty acres was given to him by his father. To this he added until he now owns three quarter sections on section 12, Rock Creek Town- ship, and eighty acres on section 17, all of which land is finely improved. In 1912 Mr. Singleton moved to Dallas City and bought a residence which he remodeled and made thoroughly modern. This is on the line of Hancock and Henderson counties, but he retains his residence in Rock Creek Township. Since 1914 he has rented his farms and devotes himself to looking after his interests. In polites he is a Repub- lican, and served as a school director for two terms. For some years he has been a member of Burnside Lodge No. 683, A. F. & A. M., and he also belongs to Adrian Camp, M. W. A., while Mrs. Singleton belongs to the Royal neigh- bors and the Eastern Star. A man of high standing in his community, he has earned it through unvarying good citizenship.

SKINNER, Charles Stanley, a general merchant at Burnside, has long been recognized as one of the representative men of Hancock County, and one who deserves the confidence and re- spect he commands. He was born in Tazewell County, Ill., June 25, 1862, a son of Charles William and Mary Louisa (Flemming) Skin- ner, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, who came to Illinois when young people, and after their marriage located in Tazewell County. He died in 1875, and her death followed a few weeks later. By a previous marriage, Charles William Skinner had a daughter, Margaret, who is now deceased. By his second marriage, the children were as follows: Julia, who is Mrs. Edward Gordon, of Tazewell County, Ill .; Charles Stanley ; and Frank, who lives at Pekin, Ill.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 142

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