Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 100

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 810

USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II > Part 100

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

charged at Springfield, Ill., in Angust. 1865. After the battle at Blakeley, the troops were marched to Montgomery, Ala., and up the prin- cipal street of the capital city, and saw the Statehouse in which Jefferson Davis had de- livered his inaugural address upon assuming the presidency of the Confederacy.

After his discharge from military service, Mr. Paisley went to Hillsboro and studied law with Judge E. Y. Rice. In 1865, he was elected county surveyor for two years, and then con- tinued his legal studies, and in the meanwhile sold real estate, nutil he was admitted to the bar in 1868. In 1881 he was elected to the lower house of the state assembly and served for two years. In 1885 he was appointed inspec- tor of Surveyors-General and District Land Offices for the Central Division U. S., and his duties took him to Michigan, Wisconsin, Minne- sota. Iowa, Nebraska. Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana. Mississippi. Alabama and Florida. concerning the public lands of these states and territories. In pursuance of his duties he was also sent into the states of Minnesota, the two Dakotas, California, and to New Mexico and Arizona. During the land rush to Okla- homa in 1889, Mr. Paisley had supervision of a land office in that state. In this very . respon- sible position Mr. Paisley made a number of investigations of land and timber frands for the General Land Office. He resigned during 1889. and returned to Ilillsboro and resumed his prac- tice of law and the handling of real estate. although his public services were not yet over for during the period between 1894 and 1898. he was called upon to hold a seat in the senate of the state. Mr. Paisley opened a coal mine at Witt, this county, and made a great success of his mining venture, selling it in 1906. and moved to Litchfield in that year, where he has since lived in honorable retirement.

On June 5, 1872, Mr. Paisley was married to Margaret Middleton, born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., a daughter of Rev. John and Sibella ( Galbraith) Middleton, natives of New York and Ireland, respectively. The father was a Presbyterian preacher. Mr. and Mrs. Paisley had the following children born to them: Anne. who is deceased : Ethel, who is the widow of Joseph McDavid, lives with her father : Georgia. who died at the age of eleven years: Margaret. who is Mrs. Dr. O. H. Brown of Phoenix. Ari- zona : and Susan, who lives at home. In religi- ous faith Mr. Paisley is a Presbyterian. His political convictions make him a Democrat and he has done veoman service for his party both as a public official and private citizen.

PALMER. Albert B., one of the highly respected residents of Litchfield, was born at Litchfield. Ill., December 29, 1863, a son of W. and Sarah C. (Burnet) Palmer, he born November 19, 1819. in Todd County. Ky .. and she born Angust 16. 1836, at Newark. N. J. The grandparents. Lewis D. and Ann Hunsford (Tutt) Palmer. were born in Northumberland County, Va., June 2. 1781, and Culpepper County. Va., Oct. 27. 175G. respectively. Lewis D. Palmer was a son of

1133

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Isaac and Ann (MacAnley) Palmer, natives of Northumberland County, Va., the former of whom was born November 1, 1747, and died in Christian County, Ky., and the latter was born in June, 1747. The maternal grandparents of Albert B. Palmer, Albert and Sarah Ann (Cook) Burnet, were born May 17, 1812, and May 1, 1815, respectively. . The father of Albert B. Palmer died on the farm where he had resided all his mature years. He held all of the offices within the gift of the people, from justice of the peace to mayor of Litchfield, His death oc- curred in April, 1904, and since then the mother of Mr. Palmer has resided at Hill Top Farm.

Albert B. Palmer attended the public schools of Litchfield, and worked as a clerk in a store conducted by his father, but later moved on the homestead and began general farming, having continned in that line ever since.

On June 12, 1897, Mr. Palmer was married to Olivia L. Tnttle, who was born at Litchfield, Ill .. November 11, 1872, a daughter of Henry G. and Ann Virginia (Keller) Tuttle, natives of Pennsylvania and Maconpin County, Ill., re- spectively. Henry G. Tuttle was a son of Nathan and Sarah Ann (Gardner) Tuttle, na- tives of New York state. The maternal grand- parents of Mrs. Palmer were Marcus Lindsay and Polly Ann (Chapman) Keller, natives of Kentucky and Macoupin County, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have one daughter, Mary Virginia, who was born March 23, 1898, at Hill Top Farm, and she has attended the grade and high schools of Litchfield. Mrs. Palmer was educated in the grade and high schools of both Alton, Ill., and Litchfield, Ill. She is a Universalist in religious belief. In politics Mr. Palmer is a Republican, and he belongs to the Modern Wood- men of America. A capable and successful farmer and excellent business man, Mr. Palmer is a forceful factor in the affairs of his com- munity. and he. his wife and daughter hold an enviable position in the social circles of Litch- field.

PANNWITT, F. J., senior member of the firm of Pannwitt & Son, dealers in hardware and furniture at Nokomis, Ill., is one of the sound business men of Montgomery County. He was born in Germany, Angnst 31, 1860, a son of Fred J. and Mary (Hoeppner) Pannwitt, both born, reared and married in Germany, the father being a farm laborer and worker at small jobs of all kinds. In September, 1865, the family came. to the United States, and spent their first year in Chicago, leaving that city for Effingham County, Ill., where the father was engaged in farming.

Until he was eighteen years of age, F. J. Pannwitt remained in Effingham County. In 1878 he went to Bland, Mo., and began learn- ing the blacksmith trade, serving an apprentice- ship of three years. In March, 1882, he came to Nokomis, and worked for J. L. Frazier until 1884, at which time he bought Mr. Frazier's busi- ness, and continned it until 1904. In that year he bought the agricultural implement bnsi- ness of Challacombe Bros. and has conducted

it ever since, branching out so as to handle hardware and furniture. In 1908 he took his son, Edward F., into partnership with him under the present name.

On February 24, 1885, Mr. Pannwitt was married to Miss Margaret Essmann, born at Bland. Mo., althoughi her parents were both Germans by birth. Mr. and Mrs. Pannwitt have two children, namely : Edwin F., who was born in 1887, was gradnated from the Nokomis High school, took a short course at the Washington College at Washington, Mo., and then a year's course at the Gem City College at Quincy, Ill., following which he was made manager of the business house owned by him and his father. and he married Effie Battles, of Nokomis, and they have two children, Alice May and Fred J., Jr .; and Florence L., who was born in 1896, is attending school at Warrington, Mo. The family belongs to the German Methodist Church at Nokomis. Mr. Pannwitt is a Republican in politics. Fraternally he belongs to the Mod- ern Woodmen of America, which he joined in 1886, at Nokomis, and he has served as ven- erable conncil of his lodge. Mr. Pannwitt is in very comfortable circumstances, as in addition to his flourishing business he owns two busi- ness blocks.

PAUL, Lee M., assistant cashier of the John Ball Company Bank of Farmersville, is rightly numbered among the substantial men of Mont- gomery County, and one in whom the most im- plicit reliance may be placed. He was born in Shipman Township, Macoupin Connty, Ill., Sep- tember 16, 1861, a son of Jacob and Ellen (Mc- Clain) Paul. the former of whom was born at Wheeling, W. Va., in 1815, and the latter near Lexington, Ky., in 1820. They were married in Kentucky, and then went to Marion County, Ind., where they remained until 1839, in that year moving to Alton, Ind., where the father car- ried on a livery and undertaking business nntil about 1859, when another removal was made, this time to Macoupin County, Ill., where the father bought a farm and conducted it until 1868, when he came to Montgomery County and was a farmer of Bois D'Arc Township until 1873. For the succeeding three years he lived in St. Louis, but in 1876 returned to the farm and spent the remainder of his life upon it, dying there in 1893, the mother passing away in 1892. They were the parents of six children, four of whom survive, namely : Alice, who is the widow of W. N. Darr, lives at Jacksonville, Ill. ; Kizzie, who is the wife of M. J. Taylor of Johnson County, Ind. ; Douglas, who is a farmer near Charleston, Okla .; and Lee M.

Lee M. Panl was reared to a rural life, and went to the neighborhood schools, and to one at Indianapolis. Ind. Until 1894 he remained on the farm, but in that year came to Farmersville and entered the bank of John Paul Company and has remained with this institution ever since. However, he has been interested in other enterprises, owning and editing the Farm- ersville Advance, founded in 1895, which ceased

1134

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

publication in 1901. Mr. Paul also owns a fine farm of 121 acres of land northeast of Farmers- ville near White Oak, in Bois D'Arc Township.

Mr. Paul was married in 1898 to Hattie Car- roll, who died in 1905. He belongs to Girard Lodge No. 171, A. F. & A. M., Girard Chapter No. 132, R. A. M., Sangamon Lodge of Perfection to the Fourteenth Degree at Springfield, and com- pleted his degrees in the Consistory at Chicago, being now a Thirty-second Degree Mason. He also belongs to the Litchfield Lodge of Elks. In politics he is a Democrat and has served as tax collector of the township. A man of sound prin- ciples and excellent business judgment, he has taken a prominent part in the affairs of his community and stands deservedly high with all who know him.

PETERSON, Charles Sidney, one of the leading public men of Litchfield, and a sound business man of Montgomery Conty, was born in Edwardsville Township, Madison County, 11., January 18, 1866, a son of Dredmond and Mary (('lark) Peterson, natives of St. Clair County, Ill. The father was a farmer who died in 1872, and the mother died in 1870.

Owing to his parents' early death. Charles Sidney Peterson was taken by an aunt, Mrs. John Flack, and from then until the present. has been continuously active in some useful line of endeavor. When ten years old he was put to work on the Flack farm, and also worked for neighbors, for twenty-five cents per day. In the following summer he received $6 per month. and in the next season his wages were doubled. In the winter months he cut cord wood and fence posts. Finally he was engaged by J. H. Kendall and worked for him for seven years. and was also employed as a laborer on the con- struction of the Merchants bridge, across the Mississippi River, for several months.

Seeking a change. Mr. Peterson then went to Johnson. Tem .. and after several months in that place. went to Fayetteville, Ten., for a few months and subsequently traveled about a good deal. engaging in railroad construction work. It was during this time that he had a disagreement with his employers, being unable to collect $135 owing to him. He met another workman who had experienced the same ditli- culty. and they made common cause and resolved to travel together and as bost they could. reach St. Louis, Mo., but the new acquaintance proved a better friend of liquor than of Mr. Peterson, and the latter continued alone as far as East St. Louis. Ill. There he secured employment with the Merchants Ter- minal Railroad, as a bridge carpenter, and in 1891 engaged with the Cable-Grip Car Com- pany, of St. Louis, remaining with that concern until 1900, when he went with the Laclede Gas Company for a few months. In October of that year he came to Litchfield as the representative of the A. Tea Company, and is still holding this important position. Owing to early privations. Mr. Peterson had to educate himself and few men are better informed. or more capable of

adapting themselves to new and responsible positions. In 1905 he was elected, on the Demo- cratie ticket, alderman of Litchfield, and was re-elected in 1905, 1909 and 1911. In 1915 he was elected mayor of North Litchfield, and in 1914 was elected supervisor of North Litchfield Township, and in all of these offices proved himself a capable and conscientions official. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Wood- men of America, the Elks and the Knights of Pythias.

On October 7, 1591. Mr. Peterson was married to Minie Smith, born in Madison County, III., October 23. 1868, her father being a veteran of the Civil War who had received four gunshot wounds during his period of service in the Union Army.

Mr. and Mrs. Peterson became the parents of the following children: Earl Hogan, who lives at Sterling. Colo. ; Charles W. ; and Cordelia. The family are members of the Christian Church.

PEW, Preston V., is the leading builder and contractor of Litchfield, and his operations are very important. he being responsible for some of the finest buildings in the city and vicinity. IIe was born at Cairo. Va., August 28, 1861, a son of James and Namie (Young) Pew, natives of Mercer County. Pa., and of Glasgow, Scotland. The grandparents were Samnel and Ellen ( Cous- ins) Pew, natives of Pennsylvania, and Andrew and Nannie (Burns) Young. The Burns fam- ily came to Cairo, Va .. in 1823, and there James Pow and Nannie Young were married, and there she died in 1889, following which he came to Litchfield. Ill., where he died about 1896, hav- ing been a farmer all his life.

Preston V. Pew attended the schools of West Virginia until he was nineteen years old. when he began learning the carpenter trade, and in 1561 he came to Litchfield, Ill., where he worked by the day for a couple of years, and then was employed by the Litchfield Car & Machine Con- pany works for abont twelve years. He then became a car construction bnilder employing as many as forty men, and later developed into a general building contractor for Litchfield and its vicinity, and has since continued in this line with very gratifying results.

On September 6. 1887, Mr. Pew was married to Margaret Olive Bickett. born at Sparta. 111., a daughter of Hugh and Rachel (Ilobbs) Bic- kett. he born in Ayrshire. Scotland. and she at Chester. 111. Mr. and Mrs. Pew have two daughters: Mabel L., who lives at home. is a member of the Woman's Club ; and Blanche 1 .. who is principal of the Lincoln public schools. Mrs. Pew attended the public schools of Sparta. Ill .. and she belongs to the Woman's Club. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and all are very fine people and stand exceedingly high in public esteem. In the spring of 1915 Mr. Pow was elected alderman from the Fourth Ward. on the Republican ticket. Fra- ternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Odd Fellows.

1135

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

PHILLIPS, Allen David, one of the progressive farmers of Butler Grove Township, belongs to old and honored families of this county, and is connected with well known and substantial people. He was born in this township, Novem- ber 22, 1871, a son, of Francis and Sarah J. (Scherer) Phillips, being their youngest child.

Growing up in Butler Grove Township, Allen David Phillips first attended the country schools, and then Bunker Hill Academy from the fall of 1886 to June, 1887, and in the fall of that year went to Valparaiso, Ind. and remained until February, 1SSS, in the university at that point, when he was compelled to return home on account of illness. His natural inclinations and training have made him a farmer, and he bought his father's homestead of eighty acres which he is now engaged in cultivating, being an ex- perienced and scientific farmer. This property is partly on Section S, with ten acres on Section 7. Mr. Phillips also owns forty acres of pasture and timber land in North Litchfield Township, on Section 23. that was entered from the gov- ernment by Capt. Thomas Phillips February 10, 1836. Mr. Phillips has always lived on his present farm. where he was born, and is much" attached to it. He has never married. In poli- tics he is a Democrat, but has not cared to enter the public arena. His fraternal affiliations are with the M. P. L., the order of Moose at Hills- boro, of which he was a charter, member and the Odd Fellows. A man of unusual capabilities, he has wisely used his opportunities and is recog- nized as one of the sterling men of the county.

PHILLIPS, Francis, now deceased, but formerly one of the oldest farmers of Butler Grove Town- ship, was one of the fine old gentlemen of this region, to whose industry and thrift the section owes so much. He was born in Randolph County, Ill., February 14, 1828, a son of Burrel and Harriet (Brown) Phillips, the former of whom was born near Bowling Green. Ky., and the latter near St. Genevieve, Mo. The parents were married in Kentucky, but later came from Mills Point that state to Randolph County, Ill., in 1817, and entered land on the present site of Kaskaskia, President James Monroe's name being signed to the land warrant. The father died in 1832, but the mother died when Francis Phillips was two weeks old, and he was taken to rear by Dr. Sargeant of St. Genevieve, Mo. Later he was brought to Montgomery County, Ill., by an uncle, Capt. Thomas Phillips, who located on a farm in Hillsboro Township.

In 1850 Francis Phillips, in company with others, crossed the plains to California, being on the way from February to August. They remained in the Sacramento Valley until October when Mr. Phillips started back by way of the Isthmus of Panama, shipping for New Orleans, but the ship was wrecked in the Carribean Sea and a relief ship took the passengers to Old Providence Island where for a month Mr. Phillips was seriously ill with a fever. He was then transferred by a relief ship to Baltimore. arriving in April, 1851. From there he traveled by stage to Montgomery County, passing through

Cincinnati, Ohio, and St. Louis, Mo .. After a stay with his uncle, Captain Phillips, he went to Cassville, Wis., and spent the summer of 1852, going thence to a place about 200 miles above St. Anthony Falls, Minn., where he was engaged 'in hauling provisions from St. Anthony Falls 10 miles or more north over the solid ice. After about a year he returned to Butler Grove Town- ship, and was engaged in farming for a time, and then sold and bought a farm in Raymond Township. In 1858 he sold that farm and bought 171 acres of land in Butler Grove Town- ship, which was only partly improved. He developed it, and made it a very valuable prop- erty, and sold seventy-one acres of it in 1SS4. Until 1902 he continued to operate the farm, but in that year sold to his son Allen David.

On February 21, 1856, he was married to Sarah J. Scherer, born in Guilford County, N. C., April 17, 1832, a daughter of David and Mary (Wag- ner) Scherer. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips became the parents of the following children : Thomas B., who was born March 15, 1857, died January 7, 1861; Harriet V., who was born December 11, 1858. died February 2, 1914, having been married to J. H. Rainey ; George F., who was born November 1, 1862, died August 4, 1864 ; Caroline, who was born January 12. 1864, died November 14, 1876; Nettie J., who was born November 4, 1867, died January 10, 1869; and Allen David, who was born November 22, 1871. On March 9, 1911, Mrs. Phillips passed away, and after that Mr. Phillips lived with his son, Allen David. In religious faith he was a Lutheran, and he was independent in politics. His fraternal affilia- tion was with the Odd Fellows. Having lived for so many years in Montgomery County he witnessed the many changes which have taken place, and his accounts of them and of the numerous adventures of his early life were very entertaining. Always a man of high character and upright principles, he commanded the confi- dence and respect of all with whom he came into contact, and his fellow citizens were attached to him and proud of his record.

PLATT, Joseph, dealer in harness and vehicles, at Irving, Ill., is one of the reliable and enter- prising business men of Montgomery County, who has earned the honorable position he holds in his community. He was born at Philadelphia, Pa., June 26, 1848. a son of Edwin and Elizabeth (Smith ) Platt. Edwin Platt was born in Eng- land, and came to the United States when twen- ty-one years old, in 1842, and worked in the fishing industry along the New Jersey coast until he was able to establish himself at Cam- den, N. J., as a manufacturer. While he was engaged in fishing along the New Jersey coast, he sent back to England for Elizabeth Smith, to whom he was pledged and after she joined him they were married. After a short business experience at Camden, N. J., Mr. Platt returned to Philadelphia, where he continued to manu- facture various cloths, and it is claimed that he was the first to manufacture silk or checked bedspreads in the United States. Later he stored his machinery at Camden, N. J., and

1136

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Went to New Brighton, Pa., where his wife died, Joseph Platt being then about four or five years old. Subsequently Edwin Platt was married (second) to Hannah Smith, a sister of his first wife, and in 1856 they went to Iowa. On February 17, 1866, they located in Irving Township. Montgomery County, Ill., on a farm they continued to occupy until 1901 or 1902, when he retired and they moved to Irving, where he died November 19, 1905. She died June 11, 1916, aged eighty-eight years eleven monthis and fifteen days. A well-read man, Edwin Platt was held in high esteem for his knowledge, and his advice was often sought and acted upon. For many years he was a believer in the Swedenborgian faith, and lived up to its teachings. Earlier in life he belonged to the Know Nothing party, later espousing the prin- ciples of the Republican party, but in 1872 he voted for General Weaver, of Iowa, for presi- dent, on the Greenback ticket, and after that he was a Democrat.

Joseph Platt was reared in Iowa, where lie attended the local schools, and he was a close student and an intelligent lad. On April 6, 1872, lie was married to Laura Louisa Morain, a (laughter of James M. Morain of Montgomery County. Joseph Platt then 'located on his father's homestead, where he remained until the winter of 1876, when he bought a farm in Irving Township, and conducted it until 1893. At that time he moved to Irving and entered into his present business, of dealing in harness and vehicles, his being the oldest established concern in this line at Irving.

Mr. and Mrs. Platt have had the following children : Myrtle C., who was married to Hum- bert Ludwick of Irving, Ill., was graduated from the Irving High school ; Ula Belle, who was graduated from the Irving High school is the wife of Frederick H. Kesiling, and they have a daughter. Oliva S .: Clara S., who graduated from the Irving High school, is the wife of Walter E. Sturgon. They live on the old Joseph Price farm in East Fork Township, and they have two children, Gerald E. and Clayton J. Mr. Platt belongs to Irving Lodge No. 455, A. F. & A. M., of which he is past master and present secretary. In politics he is a Republi- can, and has served as assessor, police magis- trate, and a justice of the peace and as presi- dent of the village board. The family belong to the Lutheran Church, and he has been on its official board for thirty-five years.

PLEAK, John J., D. O., who is successfully en- gaged in osteopathic practice at Hillsboro, is one of the most advanced men of his profession. and enjoys a valuable patronage throughout Montgomery County. He was born in Shelby County. Ill., a son of Marcus F. and Frances W. (Beard) Pleak. After attending the public schools of Shelby County, Dr. Pleak took the scientific course at the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, receiving at its completion the degree of B. S. He then entered the American School of Osteopathy and after taking the full course was graduated in the class of 1908, with

the degree of D. O. Following his graduation, Dr. Pleak located first at Pana, Ill., and in June, 1903, came to Hillsboro where he has since remained. He belongs to the Illinois Osteopathic Society and the American Medical Society. While his headquarters are at Hills- boro, Dr. Pleak can be found once a week at an office at Nokomis. Ill.

On November 28, 1907, Dr. Pleak was married to Friela Lines, who is a graduate of the North- western University with the degree of B. S., and prior to her marriage she was a public school- teacher. Dr. and Mrs. Pleak have three chil- dren : Jenette, Ruth and Virginia. Dr. Pleak is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He belongs to the Christian Church. In politics he is a Republican. In addition to his practice. Dr. Pleak derives an income from land in Shelby County, Ill., and in Texas, and is in comfortable circumstances, while his professional skill . is such as to bring him a steady and healthy increase in practice. Personally he is held in high regard by the community.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 100

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed Publication date: 1918 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 810

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 810