Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 144

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 144

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SMITH, William A., who is profitably engaged in conducting an extensive grain and elevator business at Plymouth, is the senior member of the firm of Smith & Cox. He was born in Schuyler County, Ill., December 22, 1862, one of the seven children of his parents, George W. and Mary E. (Hill) Smith. George W. Smith was one of the representative farmers of Schuyler County, prior to moving to Han- cock County, and he was equally successful here, where he died August 9, 1911.

William A. Smith attended the district schools of his native county, and assisted his father in conducting the farm. When he was nineteen years old he branched out for him- self, establishing himself in a grain and stock business, and also dealt in buying and ship- ping horses, cattle and hogs. continuing his stock operations until November, 1915, when he formed his present partnership. The ele- vator of the firm has a capacity of 10,000 bushels, and a fine business is carried on.

November 17, in 1880 Mr. Smith was mar- ried to Miss Rosie B. Royer, a daughter of John W. Royer of Schuyler County. Mr. Smith belongs to the Masons, the Odd Fel- lows, the Eagles and the Modern Woodmen of America. His politics are shaped by the prin- ciples of the Democratic party. He and his family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. His long connection with the grain business gives him prestige in this line, and his firm is a sound and reliable one, and is largely patronized.

SPANGLER, Joseph Trego, who is still residing on the homestead of his family in Hancock Township, has retired from active participa- tion in the work of conducting it, but is still interested in agricultural matters. He was born on the farm where he still makes his home, October 18, 1861, a son of Joseph Trego and Anna Mary (Sample) Spangler, natives of Cumberland County and Lancaster County, Pa., respectively. The paternal grandparents were Samuel and Rebecca (Trego) Spangler, natives of Pennsylvania, while those on the maternal side were Robert and Jane (Haw- thorne) Sample, natives of Pennsylvania and Ireland, respectively.

In 1838 the Spanglers settled in Hancock

Township, having driven to Hancock County with wagons and horses, and entered a large tract of land. The Samples came to Hancock Township by way of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, in 1849. They all died in Hancock Township. After marriage, the parents of Mr. Spangler settled on the Spangler homestead, and there the father died in 1889, the mother surviving him for ten years. Their children were as follows: Jane Rebecca, who is Mrs. James Latherow, ot Fountain Green Town- ship; Sarah Verdelia, who is Mrs. Samuel Huston, of Carthage; Mary Emily, who is Mrs. Wesly Huston, of Carthage; Joseph Tre- go; and Samuel Edwin, who lives in Hancock Township.

Joseph Trego Spangler has always lived on the farm his grandfather entered from the government, and at his father's death he in- herited 140 acres of the homestead, on which he did general farming and raised stock until 1909, when he retired, and his sons continue the work. On November 6, 1SS4, Mr. Spangler was married to Ida Murtland, born in Fulton County, Ill., a daughter of Alexander and Fannie (Freer) Murtland, natives of Pennsyl- vania, and early settlers of Hancock Town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Spangler have had the following children born to them: Charles Tre- go, Joseph Alexander and Arthur M., all of whom live in Hancock Township; the latter having served in the army in France during the Great War but now at home; and Adda June and John, both of whom are at home. Mr. Spangler is a Republican and served as township school treasurer for thirty years. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church of which he is an elder. Although his educa- tional training was limited to that afforded by the district schools, he is well posted, and personally stands very high in public esteem.

SPARKS, Hugh Irving, who is now profitably engaged in farming, has had a successful ca- reer as an educator and is a well known man of St. Albans Township. He was born near Co- lumbus, Adams County, Ill., in July, 1SS2, a son of John Thomas and Mary (Powell) Sparks, natives of Baltimore, Md., and Fulton County, Ill. After their marriage, they moved to Adams County, Ill., and in 1884 came to St. Albans Township, there buying 160 acres of land. In 1913 the father retired, moved to Carthage, and there died January 31, 1919, the mother surviving him and living with her son, Hugh I. Their children were as follows: Inez, who is Mrs. James L. Martin, of Hutchinson. Kans .; Charles Elmer, who lives in Ohio; Curtis, who lives in California; Hugh Irving; Harry Lee, twin brother of Hugh Irving, who lives at Freeman, Minn .; Cecil, who died in 1905, aged twenty years; and Ethel, twin sister of Cecil, who died at the age of three years.

Hugh Irving Sparks attended the public schools and Carthage College, and at the age of nineteen years began teaching, continuing in the educational field for thirteen years, teach-

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

ing during the winters and farming in the summers. For five years he was principal of the public schools at West Point, and was ad- mittedly one of the leading men in his profes- sion in the county, but in the spring of 1916 he took charge of the homestead, and has since been engaged in general farming.

In August, 1904, Mr. Sparks was married to Mary Ellen Cunningham, born in Chili Town- ship, a daughter of Charles W. and Elizabeth (Nevins) Cunningham, natives of Hancock County. Mr. and Mrs. Sparks have a son, Har- old Eugene, who was born in March, 1906. Mr. Sparks belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church and is a member of the official board, and teaches the Bible class. Fraternally he is a Mason and Odd Fellow, belonging to the lodges of both orders at West Point. A very intelligent young man, he brings to bear upon his farming the results of his experience and knowledge in other vocations, and is making a decided success of his undertaking.

SPENCE, James K., superintendent of the Plymouth schools, and one of the scholarly men of Hancock County, whose reputation as an educator is unquestioned, was born at West Point, Ill., February 28, 1877, one of the two children born to his parents, Miller K. and Martha E. (McClean) Spence. Miller K. Spence a farmer, who responded to the call to arms during the Civil War, enlisted from his native state in Company H, One Hundred and Sixth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served with courage and valor until he was honor- ably discharged in the spring of 1865. He was wounded at both Gettysburg and Antietam. After the war he went to Philadelphia, Pa., and in 1869, came west to Hancock County, where he has since resided. The mother of Professor Spence died in 1907.

James K. Spence attended the common schools and a high school in Hancock County, and the Macomb Normal school, and began teaching, his first school being at Webster. The following year he began teaching in the rural districts, and so continued for five years. He was then called to take charge of the schools of West Point, and remained there for three years, when he went to Burnside and remained, a year. The following year he taught at Bowen, and then after a year at Elvaston, he came to Plymouth and took charge of his present school in 1916. This school is the third larg- est in Hancock County, and there are 100 pupils enrolled in the high school, and 200 pupils in the graded school. He has nine teachers under his supervision, and his ability and attainments are shown forth in the stand- ing of his school and individual pupils.

In 1906 Mr. Spence was married to Miss Craige C. Barnes. a daughter of Benjamin Franklin Barnes, who was born at La Harpe, Ill .. where he followed the trade of a harness- maker. Mr. and Mrs. Spence have two children. namely : Grant M .. who was born at West Point. Ill., August 14, 1907; and Marjorie C.,

who was born February 15, 1910. Politically a Republican, Mr. Spence has been a justice of the peace for four years, and was the unsuc- cessful candidate of his party for county super- Fraternally he belongs to the Masons and Odd intendent of schools, although he ran ahead of his party because of personal popularity. Presbyterian Church.

SPERRY, J. V., postmaster of LaHarpe, and one of the leading men of this part of the county, has long been a forceful figure in Demo- cratic circles. He was born at LaHarpe, Janu ary 3, 1883, one of three children born to his parents, Max and Dora (Landiss) Sperry. Max Sperry was one of the best known and most skillful carpenters of the county, where he re- sided until his death in 1889.

J. V. Sperry attended the grammar and high schools of LaHarpe, and after going through the latter, he learned the trade of a cigarmaker. When he had finished his trade, he began manufacturing cigars and so continued until his appointment as postmaster in August, 1913. Mr. Sperry has seven people under him and exacts from them a careful and exact car- rying out of their duties so that under his su- pervision the postoffice is in an excellent condi- tion, and his administration is entirely satis- factory to the business men of this locality.

Mr. Sperry was married to Miss Dollie Butch- er, an adopted daughter of Steven A. Butcher. Mr. and Mrs. Sperry have four children, name- ly : Fred A., Dorothy, Mary A. and Virginia. The Christian Church holds the membership of Mr. Sperry and his family, and all of them take an interest in church work. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and Woodmen of the World. A live, energetic young man, Mr. Sperry has advanced far and the future holds further promise for him.

SPIKER, William, now deceased, spent the last years of his life at La Harpe, but was for a long time one of the enterprising and successful farmers of McDonough County, where he owned 400 acres of fine farm land. He was born in Ohio, March 25, 1837, a son of Henry and Rachel (Hukle) Spiker, natives of Ohio. In the early forties they traveled overland to Han- cock County, coming here when it was a wilder- ness, and they entered land in the timber, which they later cleared and improved.

William Spiker was one of the eldest of the children, and after his father's death, when he was still a lad, he was his mother's main sup- port, remaining with her until his marriage, which occurred April 11. 1869, when he was . united with Diana E. Carnes, born in Pike County. Ill., July 10. 1849, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (McCartney) Carnes. natives of Ohio. In 1857 they came to Hancock County. After his marriage, Mr. Spiker settled in Mc- Donough County, Ill., where he owned 400 acres of fine land, but in 1903. he returned to Han- cock County. He rented his farm. and lived at La Harpe in retirement until his death which

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

occurred February 6, 1912. Since then his widow has made her home at La Harpe. Their children were as follows: Leighton, who lives at La Harpe; Prudence, who is Mrs. Edward Dodge of La Harpe, Ill .; Malissa, who is Mrs. William Connor. of McDonough County, Ill .; Susan, who is Mrs. Robert Breiner, lives on the home farm; William, who died at the age of nineteen years; Franklin, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Alletta, who died at the age of nine years; Mrs. Rachel Shugart of Labell, Mo., and Eldon, who is serving his country in the National army, being in the infantry branch of the service. Mrs. Spiker is a member of the Christian Church. In poli- tics Mr. Spiker wa's a Democrat. He was a man who was well and favorably known in both McDonough and Hancock counties, and his loss was felt by a wide circle of friends.

STAHL, Hiram E., now deceased, was a veteran of the Civil War, and for some time prior to his death, lived retired at Fountain Green, al- though during the active part of his life he was engaged in farming. He was born in Somerset County, Pa., March 1, 1826, and came to Madi- son County, Ill., with his parents during the forties. There he was engaged in farming until his enlistment, on August 11, 1862, at Moro, Ill., for service during the Civil War, in Com- pany D, One Hundred and Seventeenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered out April 5, 1865, and returned to Madison County, where he engaged for a time in merchandising and was postmaster.

While living in Madison County, Mr. Stahl was married to Sarah Boucher, born in Pennsyl- vania, and they had six children, namely : Martha, who is the widow of James Charles, of Kansas; Lavina, who is a widow living in Somerset County, Pa .; Mary, who is Mrs. Russell of Madison County, Ill .; Ellen, who is Mrs. Frank, of Fountain Green ; Edward, who lives at Upper Alton, Ill .; and Daniel, who lives in Madison, County, Ill. Mrs. Stahl died in Madi- son County, and Mr. Stahl moved to Fountain Green, Ill. There he was married to Martha Yetter, who died in 1904. They had no children. For four years following his second marriage, Mr. Stahl was engaged iu farming his wife's farm. After her death he returned to Madison County, where he lived a few years, and then came back to Hancock County, where on March 26, 1908, he was married (third) to Martha L. Walker, born in Franklin County, Pa., a daughter of John McGinley and Jane Lynn (Coyle) Walker, natives of Pennsylvania. who in March, 1847, moved to Fountain Green Town- ship this county, and located on a farm. The mother of Mrs. Stahl died March 5, 1843. Mr. Walker died February 19, 1894. His second wife, was Anna Cree prior to her marriage to him, died January 9, 1884. Mr. Stahl settled at Fountain Green, where he lived iu retire- ment until his deah, which occurred June 3, 1912. He was an elder of the Presbyterian Church, of which Mrs. Stahl is also a member.

In politics he was a Republican. As a soldier he was a defender of his country and what he believed to be right; as a man he was upright and honest, and when he died he left behind him a reputation for fair dealing and kindly action that was well deserved.

STAMBAUGH, Jacob P., who owns and operates the Stambaugh family homestead iu Pilot Grove Township, comes of an old and hon- ored family of Hancock County, and is fully living up to the high standards of his family name. He was born in Pilot Grove Township, in August, 1868, a son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Klepper) Stambaugh, natives of Pennsylva- nia and Tennessee, respectively. After their marriage the parents settled in Schuyler County, Ill., but a few years later came to Hancock County, and bought a farm in Pilot Grove Township, where they lived until death claimed them, he dying iu 1901, she having passed away in 1SSS. Their children were as follows: Alice, who is Mrs. William Harned, of California; Luella, who lives with her brother ; Jacob P .; William, who lives at Rich- field, Neb .; Joseph, who lives in the vicinity of Portland, Ore.

Jacob P. Stambaugh attended the local schools, aud lived at home, learning farming from his father. After his father's death, he bought out the interests of the other heirs to the homestead, and now owns seventy-two acres of finely improved land in Pilot Grove Town- ship, where he is engaged in general farming and stockraising. Mr. Stambaugh is independ- ent in his political ideas. His reputation as a farmer is excellent. and he is recognized as one of the practical men in his calling.

STARR, George H., extensive farmer and stock- raiser, is one of Souora Township's substantial citizens. He has been a resident of Hancock County since 1891 and recognized as an example of the county's good citizenship. Mr. Starr was born in July, 1872, in Floyd County, Va. His parents were Jonathan and Zilpha (Hyton) Starr, the former of whom was born at Salem, N. C., and the latter in Virginia. They mar- ried in Floyd County and there spent the rest of their lives, the father of George H. Starr being a millwright by trade.

George H. Starr obtained his education in the public schools of Floyd County. He had an oppoortuity to learn his father's trade but pre- ferred to be a farmer and when he came to Hancock County, Ill., in the spring of 1891, he sought farm work and continued on different farms over the county, working by the month and thoroughly learning the business, until 1905. In that year he began to farm on his own re- sponsibility, first in Harmony Township, then in Carthage Township, where he conducted a farm for three years, removing then to St. Mary's Township where he was engaged for four years. In 1913 he came to his present farm, in Sonora Township, where he rents 300 acres which he devotes to grain growing, and 100 acres of

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

pasture which he needs for stock. He profitably raises Percheron horses, Shorthorn cattle, Duroc- Jersey hogs, all standard varieties, and also makes a feature of poultry of all kinds, supply- ing the market with chickens, turkeys and ducks. He has met with success because his under- takings are all well directed and his opera- tions carefully carried on.

Mr. Starr was married in January, 1894, to Miss Lona M. Mabry, who was born in Carroll County, Va., a daughter of Charles B. and Mary (Nester) Mabry, natives of Virgina. Mr. and Mrs. Starr have five children, namely : Cleophas, Enoch, Forrest, Stella and Barney. Hr. Starr has shown good judgment in the matter of in- surance and carries a policy in the Hancock Mutual Company. In his political views he is a Democrat.

STEFFEY, Hon. Charles L., one of the most forceful and able men of the county, was born in Hancock County, August 31, 1866, one of the six children born to his parents, Benjamin O. and Mary (Johnson) Steffey. Benjamin O. Steffey was born in Maryland, but came to Hancock County, Ill., in 1848, locating first near West Point, from whence he moved to Basco, and there he died in 1909. The mother died in 1905.

Charles L. Steffey attended the common schools and a high school in Hancock County, and then took a commercial course in the Gem City Business College, at Quincy, Ill., from which he received the degree Master of Ac- counts in 1897. Mr. Steffey began teaching in the public schools in 1885 in a country school and taught for thirty years in Hancock County, twenty-five of which he served as principal or superintendent of high schools. He was elected mayor of Dallas City in 1910. So capable has he proven, that he has ever since been con- tinued in this high office, his present term ex- piring in 1919. A strong Democrat, he has al- ways been prominent in his party, and served as supervisor of Bear Creek Township for three terms.

Mr. Steffey was married to Miss Clara M. Doty, and they are the parents of six children. Mr. Steffey and his family belong to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Fraternally he be- longs to the Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America, and also belongs to the Hancock County Mutual Association. A true patriot, he has always taken a deep and intelligent inter- est in civic matters, and under his supervising care the little municipality of Dallas City has progressed in a remarkable degree, and further improvements are planned for the future.

STEINER, Julius Jacob, who is an enterprising and successful farmer and stockraiser of Han- cock County, has made a place for himself among the solid and reliable citizens of, Sonora Township. Mr. Steiner was born in Switzerland, October 24, 1863. He attended school in his na- tive land and worked as a farm boy until he was nineteen years of age, when he decided

to emigrate to the United States where in- dustrial opportunities were more numerous

Mr. Steiner landed in the port of New York City on December 1, 1882, and sought and found work in and near the city that kept him em- ployed for the succeeding ten mouths. On Octo- ber 6, 1883, he came to Nauvoo, Ill., and for the next four years worked for farmers in this neighborhood by the month, and as he was in- dustrious and capable, he soon made friends of his employers and was paid fair wages. He was provident also as his ambition was to own one of the beautiful farms in this favored sec- tion. In the meantime, however, lie had never forgotten Marie Steiner, who still remained in Switzerland, and in 1887 he returned to his native land and was married to this young lady in September of that year. They remained in Switzerland until 1889 and then came to the section which had previously pleased Mr. Steiner so well, reaching Nauvoo on June 15, 1889. Mr. Steiner immediately rented land in Sonora Township and engaged in farming and stock- raising. In the fall of 1904 he bought his present farm consisting of 123 acres which is situated on section 17, Sonora Township. He immediately started to improve his property and now has substantial barns, sheds and other buildings suitable for the work of carrying on his farm industries. He remodeled the residence also and has an exceedingly comfortable, modern house as his home. Mr. Steiner devotes con- siderable attention to grain growing and also raises horses, cattle, hogs and poultry and car- ries on his operations wtih so much care and good judgment that they are quite profitable.

Mr. and Mrs. Steiner have four sons, namely : Jacob, who is a resident of Philadelphia, Ill .; Otto, whose home is Crookston, Minn .; Albert, who assists his father; and William Tell, who. lives in Appanoose Township, Hancock County. In polites Mr. Steiner is a Democrat. He has given public service in the office of road com- missioner. He belongs to the fraternal order of Eagles and carries insurance policies with the Hancock County Mutual and the Woodmen Ac- cident companies.

STEVENS, John Dee, now deceased, was one of the distinguished men of Hancock County, and an honored resident of Carthage, where his widow still lives. He was born at Carroll- ton, Ill., February 8, 1826, a son of Joseph and Elmira (Dee) Stevens. The maternal grandfather, John Dee, brought his family front Virginia to Cincinnati. Ohio, and there luis daughter and Joseph Stevens were mar- ried in 1818. In 1820 the Dee family went to St. Charles, Mo., and the Stevens family to Carrollton, Ill. In 1828 Joseph Stevens took his family to Green Bay, Wis., and for awhile was identified with the lead interests, but left there, and going to Missouri by way of the Mississippi River, opened a hat manufactur- ing shop at Louisiana, Mo. He began trading with the Indians, and in that connection trav- eled through northern Illinois, Iowa and Wis

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

consin, but his operations were seriously dis- turbed by the Black Hawk War. Therefore, in 1833, he came to Hancock County, entering government land in Chili Township, twelve miles south of Carthage. Later he established a stage house at Chili, secured control of the stage line from Macomb to Quincy, and con- ducted it for some years. He died on his homestead in 1846, at the age of forty-six years. His wife survived him until 1863. During the trouble with the Mormons, Joseph Stevens took an active part against them.

John Dee Stevens was the oldest of a fam- ily of four sons and one daughter, and he, too, assisted in driving out the Mormons, and was with the men who served the papers on the Mormon leaders at Nauvoo, in October, 1846. In 1850, John Dee Stevens and three other young men, started overland to California with a six-horse outfit. After their arrival at Placerville, they worked in the gold mines for a time, but on account of rheumatism, Mr. Stevens had to seek a warmer climate, and went to Santa Barbara, and later to Los An- geles, and was employed by some Mormons in a lumber business, and then with a Mr. Pea- body of Ohio, and an old soldier named Mor- mon Bill, he started on horseback and rode to the border between the United States and Mexico, where he joined two of his country- men, who, with sixty Mexican laborers. were building a substantial fort. Here he entered upon the culture of tobacco, selling it for $10 per pound to the Mexicans, and doing a good business for a time but, being warned of an intended attack by hostile Indians, all left and the unmatured crop was lost.

Mr. Stevens then went to San Antonio, Tex., from whence he journeyed to Fort Clark, and after a five years' absence, re- turned to the scenes of his boyhood, poor in pocket, but rich in experience. The following year he went to Fort Riley, Kans., and from there to the Mexican border, but after a few months, returned once more to Hancock County. On February 8. 1857. he was married to Julia Ann Towler, born in Clark County, Ind., April 24, 1839. daughter of William and Abigail (Sample) Towler, he born at Rich- mond. Va .. and she in Kentucky. Until 1876 Mr. Stevens was engaged in operating the old homestead, and then he went to California, but returned home, was elected sheriff of Han- cock County. and re-elected, and took up his residence at Carthage during the time he held that office, and remained there, although for about ten years he was also engaged in farm- ing. In 1882 he was elected to the state leg- islature. and served for one term, and for many years he was chairman of the Democra- tic county « central committee. He was the author of the "Aledo Letter." which resulted in a union of the Democratic and Greenback interests in his district for the election to Con- gress of William H. Neese. Mr. Stevens was postmaster of Carthage under the Cleveland administrations, and was president for two

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 144

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