Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 99

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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Mr. Crum and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church. He belongs to Hancock Lodge No. 20, A. F. & A. M., and he and Mrs. Crum both belong to the Eastern Star, of which he is worthy patron. In politics he is a Re- publican. Mr. Crum is on the board of directors of the Carthage Commercial Club, and a mem- ber of the Carthage Board of Education, and in every way is a representative man, and good citizen.

CUMMINGS, George Morris, who owns the fa- mous Hickory Grove Farm, the products of which are so well known for their excellence, now is living retired at Dallas City. He was born. in Lycoming County, Pa., September S, 1853, a son of George and Elizabeth (Keyport) Cummings, he born in Cooperstown, N. Y., and She near Bern, Switzerland. In 1879, George Cummings came to Hancock County with a daughter, but did not long survive the trip.

In the spring of 1878, George M. Cummings came to Hancock County, and for the first year was engaged in farm work, before he began farming for himself in Sonora Township. A year later he moved on eighty acres of land in Dallas Township owned by his wife and later he bought the eighty acres adjoining. He im- proved the buildings, erected a new house, and made many other changes, naming his farm Hickory Grove. In 1907 he retired and moved to Dallas City, his son, Homer D., taking charge of the farm.

On February 10, 1880, Mr. Cummings was married to Ellen Margaret Detrich, born in White Deer Valley, Pa., a daughter of Joseplı F. and Sarah (Benner) Detrich, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Hancock County ill 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Cummings became the parents of the following children: Elsie K., who died at the age of six years; Homer D., who is on the homestead ; Morris J., who lives at Davenport, Iowa ; Mark T., who died at the age of twenty-one years; Laura, who is Mrs. L. A. Dickson, of Durham Township; Clara, who is Mrs. Lee Roy Dorch, of Courtney, N. D. : Catherine, who is a public school teacher of St. Paul. Miun .; Charles, who served in the United States navy during the Great War; and one who died in infancy.

While Mr. Cummings had limited educational opportunities, only attending the common schools of Pennsylvania for three months dur- ing the winter of each year until he was eighteen, he is a well informed man. The Christian Church holds his membership, and he is an elder in it and has been superintendent of the Sunday School. A Republican, he lias been supervisor for two years of Dallas Town- ship, and was a member of the city council of Dallas City for two years. A Mason in good standing. he belongs to Dallas City Lodge No. 235, A. F. & A. M., Dallas City Chapter, R. A. M., and the Council.

CURREY, William P. One of the well known and respected pioneer names of Hancock County is that of Currey and a worthy representative of this old family is found in William P. Currey, who owns the old Currey homestead in Monte- bello Township. Mr. Currey was born in this township, October 30, 1858. His parents were John Smith and Eleanor E. (Reaugh) Currey, natives of Kentucky. They were married at Columbus, in Adams County, Ill., and in 1852 came to Hancock County. John Smith Currey bought 220 acres of land, part prairie and part timber, and for many years engaged there in general farming and raising stock. In 1870 he moved into Warsaw in order to give his children educational advantages, but never parted with his valuable farm and died there October 30, 1895, when aged seventy-seven years. He was a man of upright character and respected wher- ever known. He survived his wife many years, her death occurring in April, 1884, at the age of fifty-seven years. They liad five children born to them as follows: Adine, who died September 10, 1869, at the age of sixteen years; Roselle, who died September 4, 1915, was the wife of James Rhea, wlio is also deceased; T. E., who lives at Pawhuska, Okla .; William P .; and Anna, who died December 26, 1904, aged thirty-nine years.

William P. Currey has always lived on the old home place with the exception of one year at Warsaw, when attending Carthage College. After his father's deatlı he bought the old home- stead, which his father had finely improved, and further improvement has been made by Mr. Currey. He is a general farmer and raises standard stock, his agricultural operations be- ing carried on according to methods he has found most satisfactory in this section of tile state. He is always interested in agricultural improvement and keeps well informed through good literature.

Mr. Currey was married October 4, 1905, to Miss Mabel E. Curry, who was born near Han- ford. Cal. Her father, George Curry, was born at Columbus, Ill., and her mother, Mary (Bax- ter) Curry, was born in Hancock County, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Currey have one daughter, Wyla Roselle, who was born October 31, 1906. In politics Mr. Currey is a Democrat. He has served as supervisor of Montebello Township

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for four years and during one year has been chairman of the board.

CURRY, J. Frank, one of the progressive farm- ers and stockraisers of Hancock County, was born July 15, 1873, and belongs to one of the respected pioneer families of the county, and at present, through diligent application to business, owns and operates a good grain and stock farm of . 535 acres.

His parents, Adam and Louisa (Riley) Curry, were natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland, re- spectively, coming to Illinois with their parents in the early years of their lives. On reaching manhood Adam Curry enlisted in the service of his country, where he served four years, returning with a bullet in his body which he carried to his grave. Soon after his return they were married and to this union were born four children, James E., Mary B., J. Frank, and Elma L., who departed this life June 18, 1914. Adam Curry died March 21, 1911, and the mother October S, 1912.

Following the death of their parents the chil- dren lived for a time on the home farm of 140 acres to which by purchase they added enough to make 300 acres. James went to Wyoming in 1916 and was soon followed by his sister Mary, each one securing a section of land not far from the city of Douglas, which they own in one body.

The subject of this sketch, J. Frank, has always lived on the home place to which he has recently added 235 acres, and takes a great deal of pride and interest in things pertaining to the farm, more especially the buying, selling and raising of good stock. Politically he is a Re- publican, and a member of the Webster Lodge No. 1000. I. O. O. F. and the Rebekahs and has passed the chairs in the former. He is also a member of the Hancock County Mutual and takes an active part in all business and social affairs of the different orders.

DACHROTH, Edward J., who is profitably en- gaged in fruit and grape culture and the manu- facture of wine, is one of the substantial young business men of Nauvoo. He was born at Nauvoo, November 14, 1883, a son of George W. business course in the Gem City Commercial and Anna (Tanner) Dachroth, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.

After attending the common and the high school of Nauvoo, Edward J. Dachroth took a College at Quincy, Ill., and after a year there, returned to Nauvoo, and entered into partner- ship with his father in growing fruit and grapes and making wine. In 1910, he assumed full charge of the business, and lives on the old Dachroth homestead.

On November 30, 1907, Edward Dachroth was married to Bertha Christian, born at St. Louis, Mo., a daughter of Theodore and Margaret (Bennett) Christian, natives of Germany. A Democrat, Mr. Dachroth has been called upon to serve as township collector for three years, and as township assessor for two years. He

belongs to Nauvoo Lodge No. 222, I. O. O. F. A live, energetic man of affairs, he is success- fully carrying on a large business and winning and holding the confidence and respect of his associates.

DACHROTH, George W., president of the First National Bank of Nauvoo, and one of the gen- eral contractors of Hancock County, was born at Nauvoo, December 24, 1856, a son of John and Barbara Dachroth, natives of Germany. John Dachroth left his family, and took passage on a sailing vessel bound for New Orleans, where the party was landed after twelve weeks on the ocean. From that city they went by water to Louisville, Ky., and in 1854 came to Nauvoo, where the parents died. The father was a cabinetmaker and carpenter. Their children were as follows: Henry C .; William J., who lives at Nauvoo; George W .; and Elnora, who is Mrs. John T. Hudson of Nauvoo.

George W. Dachroth attended the public schools of Nauvoo, and learned the carpenter trade with his father, which he worked at in Nauvoo, and finally became a general contractor. Among other important contracts of his may be mentioned the Oxner and the First Trust & Savings Bank Buildings. . When the First Trust & Savings Bank of Nauvoo was established, Mr. Dachroth was one of its founders, and he is now its executive head.

In 1882 Mr. Dachroth was married to Anna Tanner, born at Nauvoo, a daughter of John and Barbara Tanner, natives of Switzerland. Mr. and Mrs. Dachroth have two children, namely ; Edward and George F., both of whom live at Nauvoo. A Democrat, he served for seventeen years as alderman from the First and Second wards. Fraternally he belongs to Nauvoo Lodge No. 222, I. O. O. F. A thoroughly competent man, he has the reputation of living up to the letter of his contracts, and his services are in great demand.

DACHROTH, William J., a leading contractor of Nauvoo, and one of the thoroughly represen- tative men of Hancock County, was born at Louisville, Ky., April 22, 1853, a son of John and Angelica Dachroth, natives of Germany, who came to the United States on a sailing vessel and after a voyage of twelve weeks, landed at New Orleans, from whence they went up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Louis- ville, Ky. In the fall of 1854 they came to Nauvoo.

William J. Dachroth attended the local schools and learned the carpenter trade. After working at it for a few years as a journeyman, he with two brothers formed a partnership and did a contracting business, and when this association was dissolved, he continued alone. Mr. Dach- roth owns 180 acres of valuable farm land in Senora Township, at the edge of Nauvoo, but has never operated it, renting the land to a tenant.

· In April, 1874, Mr. Dachroth was married to Elizabeth Walters, born at Nauvoo, a

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

daughter of Christian and Margaret (Misser) Walters, natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Dachroth became the parents of the following children : Lula, who is Mrs. Dr. L. Hobbs, of Nauvoo; Maggie, who is Mrs. Joseph Falkner, of Hancock County ; Carrie, who is Mrs. Edward Kimler, of Nauvoo; Nora, who is Mrs. Rudolph Leppart, of Nauvoo; Florence, who is Mrs. Lawrence Ryner, of Keokuk, Iowa; May, who is Mrs. Elmer Fischer of New York City; and Allen, who lives in Nauvoo, Ill. In politics Mr. Dachroth is a Democrat, and he served as alderman from the First Ward of Nauvoo for three years and was city marshal for three years during the eighties. Fraternally he be- longs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Court of Honor. A man widely known and universally respected, he stands well in his community.

DADANT, Camille, editor and proprietor of the American Bee Journal, head of the bee supply house of Dadant & Sons, and producer of honey upon an extensive scale, is one of the leaders in his special branch of industry in the United States. He was born in Langres, France, April 6, 1851, a son of Charles and Gabrielle (Parisot) Dadant, also natives of France. In his youth Camille P. Dadant attended the ex- cellent college of Langres, France, and after the arrival of the family at Hamilton, Ill., com- pleted his studies here.

In 1875 Camille P. Dadant was taken into partnership with his father in the bee business and the production of honey, the firm becoming Dadant & Son. When the father died Camille P. Dadant took in the oldest of his sons, and later his other sons and daughters, in the con- tinuation of the work. They manufacture bee supplies and comb foundation. He belongs to the National Bee Keepers' Association, which he has served at different times as president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. Mr. Dadant, in addition to his editorial connection with the American Bee Journal, which he has published since 1912, has edited and revised various editions of the "Hive and Honey Bee," which was published originally in 1851 by L. L. Langstroth; and is the author of "First Les- sons in Beekeeping," and of a "Bee Primer," issued in 1915. In addition, Mr. Dadant is vice- president of the First National Bank of Ham- ilton, and an extensive landowner in Hancock County. His firm gives employment to thirty- five people in the bee supply and honey busi- ness.

Mr. Dadant was married to Miss Mary Mari- nelli, of Belleville, Ill., a daughter of Luigi Ma- rinelli. Mr. and Mrs. Dadant have the follow- ing children: Louisa G., who is the wife of Leon Saugier of Hamilton; Valentine M., who is at home; Louis C., who was married to Eva Miller, has a son. James C., and a daughter, Dorothy ; Henry C., who was married to Ber- tha Rayburn, has two children, Marjorie L. and Adelaide; Morris G., who was married to Helen Hassett, has two children, Mary Eliza-

beth and Robert H .; Clemence, S., who is at home; and Harriet G., who is the wife of Lieut. F. A. Bush, of the National Army. Mr. Dadant belongs to the Odd Fellows. Politically he is an independent.

DADANT, Charles, was born May 22, 1817, at Vaux-Sous-Aubigny, in the golden hills of Burgundy, France. After his education in the College of Langres he went into the mercan- tile business in that city, but ill-success in- duced him to remove to America. He settled in Hamilton, Ill., in 1863, and found a profit- able occupation in bee-culture, which in his hands yielded marvelous results. He soon be- came known as one of the leading apiarists of the world. After a few years of trial he made a trip to Italy, in 1872, to import the bees of that country to America. Though at first un- successful, he persisted in his efforts and finally achieved great success. He was the first to lay down rules for the safe transportation of queen bees across the sea, which is now a mat- ter of daily occurrence.

Later on, in partnership with his son, C. P. Dadant, he undertook the manufacture of comb foundation, which has been continued by the firm, together with the management of several large apiaries, run almost exclusively for the production of extracted honey. Although well versed in the English language, which he mas- tered at the age of forty-six, with the help of a pocket dictionary, Mr. Dadant was never able to speak it fluently and many readers of his numerous writings were astonished when meet- ing him to find that he could converse with difficulty. His writings were not confined to American publications, for in 1870 he began writing for European bee-journals, and con- tinued to do so until his methods were adopt- ed, especially in Switzerland, France, Italy and Russia where the hive which he recommended is now known under his name. For twenty years he was a regular contributor to the Revue Internationale D'Apiculture, and, as a result, there is probably not another bee-writer whose name is so thoroughly known the world over.

Mr. Dadant was made an honorary member of more than twenty bee-keepers' associations throughout the world, and his death, which oc- curred July 16, 1902, was lamented by every bee publication on both continents. Mr. Dadant was a congenial man and a philosopher. He retained his cheerfulness of spirit to his last day. In addition to his supervision-of the re- vision of this book, he was the author of a small treatise on bees, "Petit Cours d'Apicul- ture Pratique." He also published, in connec- tion with his son, a pamphlet on "Extracted Honey," in 1881, now out of print.

DALE, Squire R., who owns and operates a valuable farm of ninety acres on sections 13, and 24, Carthage Township, is one of the native born sons of Hancock County. He was born in this county, August 10, 1863, a son of Andrew

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J. and Nancy (Davis) Dale. Five of the seven children born to these parents, are surviving, and live in Hancock County, they being as fol- lows : William, who is a farmer of Carthage Township, is married, has four living children, and is a Republican and a Presbyterian; Mary, who is the widow of Leonard Battle, lives at Carthage, and is a member of the Christian Church ; Lillie, who is the wife of James Jacoby, lives at Carthage, has six living children, and is a member of the Christian Church; Retta, who is the wife of R. O. Andrews, a farmer of Lacrosse, Ill., has two children, and she and her husband are members of the Christian Church ; and Squire R.

Andrew J. Dale, the father of these children, was born in Kentucky, but left his native state in young manhood, and came to Illinois, and after spending some time in Morgan County, located in Hancock County. This was prior to the expulsion of the Mormons, and he and his wife knew many of that faith. When the Mor- mon prophet, Joseph Smith, was confined in the jail at Carthage, Andrew J. Dale was one of the men appointed by the United States gov- ernment to act as a guard. His first purchase of land was a 40-acre tract, and he burned off the timber to make a place for his log cabin. In time his father, James B. Dale, added to his holdings until he had 300 acres of land, but this forty acres is now owned by his son, Squire R. Dale. During those pioneer days wild game of all kinds, were plentiful, and ani- mals more dangerous were also to be found, among them being the panthers, who at night" made the air hideous with their howls. When the courthouse was built at Carthage, Andrew J. Dale was employed in the finishing work, as he was a skilled mechanic, and he was always a useful man and good citizen. In politics lie was a Whig. He was a friend of the public school system. His wife was born in Tennessee. but came to Illinois in young womanhood, and was here married. Both died in Carthage Township, and were laid to rest in Webster Cemetery.

Squire R. Dale attended the local schools, and learned to be a practical farmer from his excellent father. On September 2, 1894, he was married to Miss Anna B. Murphy, born in Han- cock County, March 9, 1868, a daughter of Wil- liam D. and Madaline (McMeekin) Murphy. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy became the parents of four sons and three daughters, of whom three survive, namely : Mary E., who is the wife of Lemuel L. Seaton, was educated in the common schools of Hancock County. She is a member of the Christian Church. and is now very much interested in Red Cross work. Her husband has been for the past thirty-three years a teacher in the Hancock County schools. They have two sons and one daughter, namely : Lulu I .; Clay, who is serving in the United States army ; and Thomas. Franklin W. Murphy is an agriculturalist of Hancock County. He was married to Miss Clyde Doughty, and they have two sons and three daughters, all of whom are

attending school. He is a Democrat, an Odd Fellow and a member of the Christian Church. The third child still surviving in the Murphy family, is Mrs. Dale. Mrs. Dale attended the common schools and the Augusta and Bowen High schools, and for seven years prior to her marriage, was a public school teacher of Han- cock County. Both she and her husband have been active advocates of temperance work, and Mrs. Dale has been treasurer of the local W. C. T. U. since it was organized. Mr. Dale is a Mason, and Odd Felow and both he and Mrs. Dale belong to the Rebekahs. He is a Demo- crat, and a great admirer of President Wilson, to whom he gives his hearty support, and he and his wife have done all they could to aid the government in war work. It would be dif- ficult to find better citizens than these two, whose prosperity is well merited for they have earned all they now possess through their own labor and thrift.

One of Mrs. Dale's relations was a witness to the treaty that William Penn made with the Indians.

DAMRON, George Henry, born in Highland County, Va., January 6, 1842, is a son of George H. and Jane (Syron) Damron, he born near Richmond, Va., and she in Highland County, Va., where they were married in September, 1829. In 1844 they moved to Upshur County, Va., and were there engaged in farming until 1855, when removal was made to Bear Creek Township, Hancock County, Ill., the trip being

made overland to Charleston. W. Va., thence down the Ohio River to the Mississippi River, and up that stream to St. Louis, from whence the remainder of the trip was made overland. They bought a tract of land, half timber and half prairie. There was an old Mormon log cabin on the place, and the land was being cul- tivated when the father died, July 16, 1859. A sister, Hannah J., died August 7 of that year ; and the mother died on September 20 of the same year, leaving eleven children, namely : Elizabeth and William P., who are deceased ; Zeuriah, who was Mrs. David Browning, died in February, 1869; Amanda, who married Thomas Moore, is deceased ; Hester Ann, who is deceased : George Henry ; Joseph S., who is de- ceased ; Lucy T., who is the widow of George Curry, of Milton, Iowa; Zephelinda Paulina, who is Mrs. George Harrison, of Basco, Ill .; Jerusha B., who married Dr. Columbus Cook, is deceased ; and Washington Webster, who lives in Alberta, Canada.

After the death of the parents, these children remained together for about ten years, George Ilenry and his brother William P. taking care of the others, and all of them married with the exception of the youngest brother, who moved to Nebraska in 1871. George Henry Damron was married April 13, 1869, to Anna Mitchler, born in Van Buren County, Ia., August 18, 1857, a daughter of John D. and Mary (Bringham) Mitchler of Ohio. After his marriage Mr. Dam- ron bought the other heirs' interest in the

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homestead, and now owns 330 acres of land in Bear Creek Township, and 181 acres in Wythe Township. He has always bought and sold stock, and raises cattle, hogs and sheep, and carries on general farming.

Mr. and Mrs. Damron have the following children : Elizabeth L., who is the widow of Arthur Steffen, of Davenport, Iowa; Florence May, who died at the age of seventeen years ; and Jesse C., who is at home. Mr. Damron is - a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Democrat and has served as a school director.

DATIN, John Francis, one of the prosperous farmers of Sonora Township, who belongs to old Hancock County families on both sides of his house, was born in Sonora Township, July 27, 1858, a son of John and Mary (Middleton) Datin, he born at Louisville, Ky., and she at St. Louis, Mo. The grandparents were William and Nancy Datin, natives of France and Vir- ginia, respectively, and Stinson and Alice Mid- dleton. William Datin came to Hancock County in the early thirties, settling at Nauvoo, where he kept a general store. Stinson Mid- dleton while on a ferry crossing from St. Louis to the Illinois shore, about 1816, traded a horse for 160 acres of land along the Mississippi River in Hancock County, and a few years later he came and settled on this farm, which was nearly all located on the bluffs. Here he and his wife both died. The parents of John Francis Datin settled on a farm in Sonora Township after their marriage, and they lived there until 1913 when he retired and moved to Nauvoo where they still reside. Their chil- dren were as follows: Robert, who lives in Sonora Township; John F .; Joseph, who lives at Fort Madison, Iowa; Alice, who is Mrs. Louis Schoell of Nauvoo; Mary, who is Mrs. John Hull of Ft. Madison, Iowa; Louis, who lives at Nauvoo; and Gertrude, who is Mrs. Edward Ebert of Fort Madison, Iowa.

John Francis Datin attended the district schools and was reared on the home farm, re- maining there until he was of age. He then went to Dakota and homesteaded 160 acres of land, remaining there for four years, when he began working as a carpenter for the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad. For about seven years he lived in Dakota, and then sold his land and returned to Sonora Township, where he bought forty acres of land along the Mississippi River, and has since lived on it, being engaged in farming.

In 1885, Mr. Datin was married to Fannie Kregmer born at Nauvoo, a daughter of Con- stantine Kregmer, a native of Germany, but Mrs. Datin's mother was born in Indiana. In 1832, Mr. Kregmer came to Nauvoo, and was a farmer and a prominent and honored citizen of Hancock County. Mr. and Mrs. Datin have had the following children born to them : John, who lives in Iowa ; Oliver, who lives at Peoria, Ill .; Francis, who is Mrs. John Mayall of Mc- Donough County, Ill .; Lora, who is married and

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 99

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