Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 101

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 101

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POCOCK, Eddy B., supervisor of Audubon Township, owns and operates 287 acres of val- uable land and is one of the leading men of his locality. He was born in Wayne County, Ohio, April 19, 1863, a son of I. B. and Hester (Dull) Pocock, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, re- spectively. The mother came from Pennsyl- vania to Ohio, and the parents met and were married. coming to Illinois in 1869. They located in Audubon Township, where she passed away in February, 1904, and he in April 1906. They were the parents of three sons and one daugh- ter, namely : John A., who lives on a farm in Audubon Township; Cornelius, who is a farmer of Nokomis Township; Eddy B .; and Almina, who is the wife of John Geaden of Audubon Township.

Eddy B. Pocock was reared on the farm where he now lives, and was sent to the neighbor- hood schools, remaining at home with his par- ents until his father died, when he bought the interests of the other heirs. In addition to his farming interests he is president of the Nokomis Farmers Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Company, and has served as one of the directors for eleven years. He is also agent for the Audubon Township Fire Insurance Com- pany. Mr. Pocock is a director of the Nokomis National Bank at Nokomis, and is in every way worthy of the confidence reposed in him and his ability.

On December 3, 1890, Mr. Pocock was married to Myrta Kellogg, a daughter of Willard Kel- logg, and she was born in Audubon Township, June 3, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Pocock have one son, Chester J., born September 14, 1895, who was educated in the district schools and the No- komis High School. Mrs. Pocock is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Pocock belongs to Nokomis Lodge No. 456, A. F. &. A. M. In politics he is a Republican and for twenty years has been a member of the school board.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

In 1915 he was elected supervisor of Audubon Township and is still holding that office and some idea of his personal popularity can be gained from the fact that in a township strongly Democratic, he received a majority of fifty-tour votes.

POGGENPOHL, Tony F., one of the successful farmers of Harvel Township, owns and operates a fine farm of 240 acres on Section 9. He was born in Harvel Township, September 9, 1863, a son of Herman and Dena (Brockamp) Poggen- pohl. Herman Poggenpohl was born in Ger- many where he remained until he was eighteen years old, at which time he lett his native land and borrowing passage money, came to the United States and by way of New Orleans, La., to Alton, Ill. After a short stay in the latter city, he made his way to Greene County, Ill., where he worked long enough to earn sufficient money to repay the amount he owed for his passage across the Atlantic ocean. He was married there and then he and his wife entered a piece of government land, and on that place his wife died. They had had six children, five of whom reached maturity, namely : Mary, who is the wife of Lynus Young of Decatur, Ill .; John, who lives in Harvel Township; Tony F., Maggie, who is the wife of Edward Kelmel. lives at Mor- risonville, Ill .; Lizzie, who was the wife of Herman Weitekamp of Morrisonville, Ill., is deceased; and Henry, who died at the age of eighteen years. Herman Poggenpohl died November 6, 1896, and at that time he owned S00 acres of land. After the death of his first wife, he was married (second) to Regina Mushaffen, and they had nine children, all of whom survive, namely : Frank, Christina, Caro- line. Annie, Katie, Charles, Emma, Bertha and Willie.

Tony F. Poggenpoll was reared in his native township, and attended its schools, remaining at home until his marriage which occurred April 17, 1SSS. when he was united with Emma R. Tonsor, a daughter of John M. and Christina (Lessman) Tonsor of Raymond Township. After his marriage Mr. Poggenpohl settled on the farm where he now lives, renting it until the spring of 1897. when he bought it, and since then has very materially increased its value hy making important improvements. Mr. and Mrs. Poggen- pohl have had four children, as follows: Her- man, who died when he was five months old ; Frances E., who is at home, was educated in the Ursuline convent at St. Louis, Mo. ; Dena C., who attended the same convent school as her sister ; and Fred Maurice, who attended the local schools. The family belong to the St. Maurice Catholic Church. In politics Mr. Poggenpohl is a Democrat, and he served about nine years as a highway commissioner, and is the present incum- bent of that office. He is a member of the Order of Moose. For some years he has been engaged in breeding a good grade of Shorthorn cattle, and he also breeds a good grade of hogs, being very successful in all his agricultural activi- ties.

POHLMANN, Bernhardt B., the only florist of Hillsboro, owns and conducts one of the best equipped greenhouses in the county, known as the Hillsboro Greenhouse and Nursery. 'He was born in West Prussia, Germany, April 20, 1866, and was there taught the florist business. In 1SS2 he went to Nova Scotia, and from thence came to Chicago, Ill., where he engaged in this line of business. Two years later he went to St. Paul, Minn .. and continued in the same busi- ness for eight years, when he went to Minneapo- lis, Minn., and was in the florist business there for three years. Returning to Chicago, he spent two years in that metropolis, and then went to Grand Rapids, Mich., where he was foreman of a large greenhouse for five years. For the sub- sequent seven years he was foreman of a similar establishment at Springfield, Ill., and then moved to Rockford. Ill., where he went into a florist business and conducted it until 1915, when he located at Hillsboro, buying the business owned by J. A. Wibe. He has 16,000 feet of glass, and four acres of ground, and his establishment is a fine. modern one with excellent appliances of all kinds for growing and handling cut flowers and potted plants.

On August 3. 1895, Mr. Pohlmann was mar- ried to Maria Jolinson, who was born in Sweden, and came to Minneapolis, Minn., in 1893. They have two children, namely : Helen and Marian. both of whom are at home. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, a Republican in politics. and fraternally is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America. Order of Owls and the Order of Moose. A thoroughly competent man. he understands his business, and carries on a large and profitable trade with Hillsboro and its vicinity.

POLAND, Charles H., who owns 280 acres of land on Sections 34 and 35, Witt Township, and 100 acres of land in Fillmore Township, on Sections 2 and 11, is one of the substantial men and is a representative of one of the old fami- lies of Montgomery County. He was born on his present homestead, April 13, 1861, a son of Jacob and Minerva (Stokes) Poland.

Jacob Poland was born in eastern Tennessee, and was a son of Moses Poland, who brought his family to Fayette County, Ill., in 1829. locat- ing on a farm where he rounded out the remainder of his life. There Jacob Poland and family lived, occupying the present site of Ram- sey, until the Illinois Central Railroad came through that locality, when they bonded their land, sold it and came to Montgomery County. In 1856 or 1858 they bought the farm now occupied by their son, Charles H. Poland. Jacob Poland was an upright living and honorable man, a consistent member of the Methodist Church. About 1894 he moved to Fillmore, Ill., where he died. August 29, 189S. He and his wife had ten children, four of whom died in infancy, and but two now survive, Charles H. and a sister. Almeda Mary, who is the wife of H. W. Ferguson, of Witt Township. William and George both were soldiers in the Civil

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

War and gave their country a gallant service, although William died within six weeks, but George served for three years.

Charles HI. Poland was reared on his present farm and attended the local schools until he was nineteen years old, thien attended the North- ern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, Ind., for two terms. On returning home he resumed farming. On January 10, 1886, he was married to Amanda E. Craig, and they became the parents of two children, namely : Carroll P., who was graduated from the villmore High school and the Quiney Business College; and Roxie A., who is a graduate of the Fillmore High school, and is now at home. The mother of these children died August 16, 1897, and Mr. Poland was married (second) March 27, 1901, to Maude Knowles, who was born near Fillmore, Ill., May 28, 1870, and attended the Fillmore schools and Dixon College, from which she was graduated in music. The family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Fillmore. Mr. Poland is a Republican and served as township collector for one year. On his farms Mr. Poland raises good grades of stock, and in addition to his landed interests is one of the directors in the Witt National Bank, and a director, of the Fillmore State & Savings Bank. He has made nearly all he owns through his own efforts. He stands very high in public confidence, and is a representative man in this section of the county.

POPE, Daniel, one of the successful farmers of Raymond Township, is living on his farm of 160 acres on Section 4. which is one of the valnable pieces of property in this county. He was born in Devonshire. England, April 2, 1849, a son of George and Mary (Crocumbe) Pope.

When he was only twelve years old, Daniel Pope went to work in the iron ore mines at Tondu, Wales, and passed seven years in that line of industry. In 1867 he came to the United States and spent some time near the village of Fidelity, Jersey County, Ill .. working for a man by the name of Samuel Rich. In Angust, 1869, he and his brother Richard. came to Raymond Township, Montgomery County, and began im- proving a farm owned by Mrs. Flagg of Alton, Ill., consisting of 160 acres of land. The brothers remained together until March. 1870, when Daniel Pope was married and rented land in Raymond Township which he operated for four years. Moving to another farm he rented it for twelve years, and then bought eighty acres of his present farm, to which he later added another eighty acres. Later he bought 109 acres of land in Jersey County, Ill., and still owns it all.

On March 25. 1870. Mr. Pope was united in marriage with Josephine Corn. a daughter of William D. Corn, of Raymond Township, and they became the parents of nine children, as follows: Olive L., who is the wife of John C. Hitchens. of Raymond Township; William George, who lives in Raymond Township; Etta Ora Thompson, who lives in Jersey County ; Nellie, who was married to William Vasel of Mt.

Vernon, Ill .; Bertha, who married Albert Sims, of Nevada, Mo .; Joe E., who lives on the home farm; Rollie, who lives in Raymond Township ; Geneva, who was married to Benjamin Bethard of Raymond Township; and Maude, who is at home. Mr. Pope and family belong to the Blue Monnd Baptist Church and he has served it in an official capacity for many years. Fraternally he belongs to Harvel Lodge. I. O. O. F. of which he is past noble grand, and he has represented the lodge at the state encampment. He also belongs to the Rebekahs, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Court of Honor, and has been chancellor of the last named. In politics he is a Republican and served as road commissioner for six years. and on the school board for fifteen years. A man of publie spirit he has done his full duty as he has seen it, and is well worthy the consideration shown him.

POPE, Richard, a retired farmer of Raymond, and a man widely and favorably known in Montgomery County, was born in Devonshire, England, June 10, 1842, a son of George and Mary (Crocumbe) Pope, both natives of Devon- shire, England, where they spent their lives. The father was a general laborer by occupation. Ile was active in the Church of England and in his own parish served it as clerk. His children were as follows: Richard; Hannah. who is still living in England: George, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Daniel, who is a farmer of Raymond Township and Anna, who lives in England.

Richard Pope was seventeen years old when he came to the United States, prior to that hav- ing attended the schools of his native place. He and his brother George made the trip together, arriving in 1861 in New York City, from whence they came direct to Illinois. Until his enlist- ment for service during the Civil War, in 1863, he worked for farmers in Jersey County. Ill .. but in that year became a member of Company I, Ninety-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was assigned to the Army of the Gulf, re- maining in the service until the close of the war, having participated in several important battles. Following his honorable discharge, Mr. Pope returned to Illinois and spent some time in Jersey County, and in 1869 came to Raymond Township and rented land and began farming and from then until 1914 operated the saine tract of 100 acres. In addition to four lots in Raymond, he owns 100 acres of land in Oklahoma, and has made his money all himself for he had nothing when he came to this county.

In 1866 Mr. Pope was married to Jane Hill. who was born in England and came to the United States in March, 1866. They became the parents of the following children: Fred G., who is a farmer in Oklahoma, was a soldier in the Spanish-American War: C. J., who is an engi- neer of Omaha, Neb. : W. E., who is a farmer of Oklahoma; Flora, who is the wife of L. S. Merica of Omaha. Neb. ; Ella, who is unmarried, lives in Oklahoma; Clara, who is the wife of John Hancock. of Raymond Township; Mary,

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

who is the wife of M. P. Weller, of Montgomery county ; Sarah, who is the wite of Harry Sharp ot Raymuoud ; Addie, who is living at home; Henry R. who is an engineer of Omaha, Neb .; and Emma, who is the wife of Roy Chambers ot Raymond Township. There are seventeeu graud-children in this fine vigorous old family. The Popes all belong to the Baptist Church, in which Mr. Pope is a deacon. He belongs to the G. A. R. aud is commander of the local post, and he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Iu politics he is a Republican. His sons, who live in Oklahoma, are very prosperous, owning between them 560 acres of land.

POPE, Willis G., who is living on his 120-acre farm on Section 10, Raymond, is a native son of this township. having been born February 19, 1877. He is a son of Daniel and Josephine (Corn) Pope. Daniel Pope was born in England aud came in young manhood to the United States, he having earned his own living from the age of thirteen years. He first settled iu Jersey County, Ill .. where he and his brother Richard Pope, engaged in farming, and they continued together for, a number of years. They finally came to Raymond Township, and con- tinued farming. Daniel Pope aud his wife had nine children as follows: Olive, who is the wife of John Hitchings ; Etta, who is the wife of Ora Thouipson; Nellie, who is the wife of William Vasel ; Bertha, who is the wite of Albert Sims; Neva, who is the wife of Benjamin Bethard ; Maude, who is at home; W. G .; Joe. who is on the old hone place : and Rollie. of Raymoud Township. A more extended history of the Pope family is found elsewhere in this work.

Willis G. Pope attended the schools of his native towuship and remained at home until his marriage, which occurred October 31. 1899. when he was united with Ella Jane Hitchings, a daughter of H. H. Hitchings. Mr. and Mrs. Pope have two children. namely: Roy Daniel. and Ray Lemar. After marriage they lived for a time in Jersey County, Ill., but in 1902 came to their present farm, since which time they have been engaged in improving and developing their property. Mr. Pope raises a good grade of Shorthorn cattle and other stock. Politically he is a Republican. while fraternally he belongs to Harvel Lodge No. 706. I. O. O. F., of which he is past uoble grand. He is a member of the Blue Mound Baptist Church. A progressive, live farmer and excellent business man he has made his name known among agriculturalists and is accepted as an authority in his line, while personally he has made and retains many friends because of his excellent traits of char- acter.

POTTER, Capt. George Washington, now living retired at Hillsboro, was at one time a leading brick and stone contractor. and is one of the honored veterans of the Civil War. He was born in New York City. June 12, 1834, a son of Reubeu and Sarah (McCammou) Potter. The former was born in New Jersey, January 14,

1803, and was married July 11, 1826, to Sarah McCammon, who died iu 1846. His father, Isaac Potter, was born January 3, 1763, in Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County, N. J., and his mother bore the maiden name of Susan Eddy. The American founder of the family was Marmaduke Potter who came to the American colonies in 1664, acquiring a large grant of land in New Jersey, several miles square, from the King of England. Reuben Potter, father of Isaac Potter, was a major and lieutenant-colonel in the American Revolution, and conducted the American retreat on Staten Islaud which saved his torces from total destruction.

Reuben Potter. grandson of Major Reuben Potter, and father of Capt. George W. Potter, was a bricklayer in New York state and Captain Potter was taught the brick laying trade by his father. When he was twenty-one years old lie went to New York City, and remained there until April 28, 1856, when he proceeded to Au- rora, Ill., passing through Chicago, and remained at Aurora until April 28, 1858, when he came to Hillsboro. Here he worked at his trade until he enlisted for service in the Civil War. August 14, 1862. as a private. in Company B. One Hun- dred and Seventeenth Illinois Volunteer Infan- try. He was at Camp Butler when he was assigned to Memphis, Tenu., and was there for a year, stationed at Fort Pickering. In Febru- ary, 1864, he weut to Vicksburg. Miss .. to parti- cipate in the Meridian raid and after returning to Vicksburg was in the Red River expedition, fighting every day. The regiment was then sent to Lake Village, Ark. He was in the engage- ments at Hurricane Creek, aud later in the pur- suit of General Price through Missouri. The two days fightiug at Nashville, Tenn., followed when he was on the skirmish line on the first day and on the firing line on the second. He had won promotion and at one time, with sixty men. he captured sixty-three men and three pieces of artillery. On February 1. 1865, he arrived at New Orleans, from which city he was sent to Dauphin Island, in the Gulf of Mexico. from there to Spanish Fort, Ala .. and thence to Fort Blakesley, where he and his comrades were engaged for five days. The regimeut then went to Mobile, Ala., and thence to Vicksburg, and from there to Camp Butler. Captain Potter was taken ill at Montgomery, Ala., in July, 1865, and was sent home, and honorably dis- charged August 5, 1865, at which time he re- turned to Hillsboro. He was commissioned sec- ond lieutenant October 28, 1862: was appointed first lieutenant April 13. 1864. After his return home he resumed his work as a bricklayer and stonemason, and became a contractor in these lines, constructing many of the leading build- ings of Hillsboro and its vicinity. In April, 1909, he retired.

On February 17, 1862, Captain Potter was married to Martha A. Harkey, born at Hillsboro, August 4, 1840, a daughter of George and Martha Swan (Masters) Harkey, natives of North Carolina and early settlers of Hillsboro. Mr. Harkey was a carpeuter. Mr. aud Mrs. Potter

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became the parents of the following children : Anna, who is Mrs. Thomas Paden of Carr, Col. ; Walter R., who lives at Cortland, N. Y .; George Gilbert, who was in the I'nited States service, died in Cuba, October 16, 1899; and John E .. who lives at Sapulpa, Okla. Captain Potter only attended a subscription school two terms. His wife, however, went to the Hillsboro Academy and private schools. The family be- long to the Congregational Church which Cap- tain Potter has served as trustee, and he has been superintendent of the Sunday school for eighteen years. A Republican he served as alderman of the Second Ward for two terms, and as school trustee for twelve years. Ile belongs to the Odd Fellows which order he joined in Angust, 1865, and the Encampment which he joined in 1868, and he joined the Rebekahs in 1868. Captain Potter is a member of F. D. Hubbell Post, No. 403. G. A. R., and enjoys meeting his comrades. Fow men stand any higher in public esteem than he, and he has won and retained the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens by his uprightness and tine character.

POTTS, Lemuel L., editor of the Raymond In- dependent, which journal has been in the Potts family for the past thirty-tive years, is one of the men who has taken an important part in the shaping of public opinion in his part of the county. He was born at Raymond, III .. April 25, 1866, a son of Joseph Washington Potts, and grandson of William Beatty and Rhoda Ann ( Richards ) Potts.

Joseph Washington Potts was born near Waverly, Macoupin County, IN .. September 19. 1841, but his parents were natives of Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively. When he was still a child the family moved to the vicinity of Car- linville, Ill., and for five years lived in that neighborhood, and then bought a large tract of land in Zanesville Township. three and one-half miles southwest of Raymond, and here Joseph Washington Potts was reared. On March 12. 1862. Joseph Washington Potts was married to Mary Jane Miller, a daughter of Lemuel Greene and Lucinda Mahala Miller, and they had the following children : Annette Angeline, who was born October 11. 1863; George Wellington, who was born December 5. 1864; Lemuel Lee, who was born April 25, 1866; Roy Arthur, who was born September 3. 1881. resides at Indianapolis, Ind. The two first born are deceased. Another member, of the family was Harry Lee Potts, a grandson, who was reared by his grandparents.

For some nine years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Potts resided on the family homestead, and then moved to Raymond, where Mr. Potts conducted a grocery business for seven years, then worked for the United States Express Company, after which he began study- ing law, and continued until fully able to pass the examination, but he never took it as in the meanwhile he had become interested in the handling of real estate and the selling of insur- ance. His activities were not confined to these lines, however, for on June 9, 1SS1, he published superintendent and then after, two years was

the first issue of the Raymond Independent, and although he suffered some severe losses from fire, his journal flourished and is still in existence. His stand with reference to the local option question was sonnd and conscientious, and he never failed to stand up to his convic- tions no matter what the personal cost might be. For a number of years he was a consistent and earnest member of the Christian Church, but his later years were spent in the fold of the Methodist Episcopal Church and he was very active in the work of the Sunday school, and Sunday School Association. Ile was seere- tary of the board of trustees of his church, and recording steward of the same body. For many years he was a justice of the peace and deputy state's attorney, his many activities and their high character making him widely and favorably known and universally respected. His death occurred Angust 29. 1912.

Lemuel Lee Potts attended the common and high schools of Raymond, and after his gradua- tion from the latter. he took charge of the Ray- mond Independent, and is its editor and business manager. Mr. Potts has five sons, all of whom are living, namely : Harry L., who is a practical printer. was graduated from the Raymond High school, and is now with his father ; Joseph LaRue, who is associated with the Pennington Marble Works at Mattoon, Ill. ; Byrle, who is an export electrician, is at Flint, Mich. ; Don, who is assistant in the marble works at Mattoon, Ill. : and Richard, who is employed in St. Lonis. I fraternal matters Mr. Potts belongs to Raymond Lodge No. 476. I. O. O. F., and he also belongs to the order of Rebekah. While he is a Demo- crat in his political views, he condnets his paper as an independent organ. The Presbyterian Church holds his membership, and he is very active in its good work. A man of more than ordinary ability, he wields a facile pen and is fearless in his handling of public questions.

POTTS, Thomas, general superintendent of the Litchfield plant of the American Radiator Com- pany, is one of the most reliable and dependable men of this city, and is well known throughout Montgomery County as a mechanie of unusual skill. He was born at Birmingham, England. February 16, 1880, a son of William and Elenor (Seal) Potts. The mother still resides at Birmingham, but the father died March 4, 1917.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 101

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