Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 105

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

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elsewhere in this work. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Seward took charge of the homestead. He is a well known breeder of registered Hol- stein cattle, which he sells at Raymond, carrying a herd of about thirty-five head.

Mr. and Mrs. Seward have two children, namely : John, who was born April 6, 1901, who is a graduate of the eighth grade, and is now attending the Raymond High school; and May, who was born June 30, 1903, is a student in the public schools. Mrs. Seward is. a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Raymond. Mr. Seward belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and in politics he is a Republican. He has served as highway commissioner of Raymond Township. A good citizen, a success- ful farmer, and a fine man in every respect. Mr. Seward stands well with his neighbors and associates.

SEYMOUR, Charles Wesley .- In naming the representative men of Montgomery County, the late Charles Wesley Seymour immediately comes to mind, first because he belonged here by reason of birth, and second because in his long, busy and useful life he illustrated those sterling qualities which make a strong and in- dependent people and a robust citizenship which ever commands respect. Through his own ef- forts he built up a large fortune which he administered wisely through life and it solaced his old age to know that he could leave his devoted family a goodly inheritance. Charles Wesley Seymour was born on his father's farm situated on Section 14, Hillsboro Township, Montgomery County, Ill., July 28, 1829. He was the third in a family of nine sons born to Wesley and Frances (Vaughn) Seymour, the others being: William D., John H., Claibourne V .. James Washington, Warren Carlisle, Thomas Fletcher. Spencer Owen and Edwin Chastine.

Wesley Seymour was born September 15. 1799, in South Carolina. He was a son of Wil- liam and Lettuis Ellen (Dixon) Seymour, both of whom were born in Ireland, the former within fifty iniles of the sea. They came to the United States and lived in the Carolinas and were among the earliest pioneers in Montgomery County, Ill. Their children were: Jane and William. both born in Ireland, and Wesley, John F. and Sarah, born in the United States. Wes- ley Seymour came with his bride to Montgomery County, journeying with an ox-team and cover- ing almost the same route that his father had previously traveled years before. Wesley took up government land on Section 14, Hillsboro Township, and cleared and improved it. In 1877 he removed to Columbus, Kan., and there his death occurred August 1, 1890, lacking a few days of being ninety-two years old. He mar- ried Frances Vaughn, who was born at Laurens Courthouse. South Car., and died on the pioneer farm in Montgomery County, August 27, 1854. Little is known of the Vaughn family, but an old record mentions Frances and Dorothy Vaughn, the former of whom became the wife

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

of Wesley Seymour, and the latter of whom died unmarried. December 24. 1876.

Charles Wesley Seymour remained on the old homestead until he was twenty-one years of age. In 1849 he went to work for James B. Black- burn. the father of Mrs. Jennie B. Truitt, of Hillsboro, his intention being to serve an ap- prenticeship to the wagon-making trade. For his first year of work he received $45 and for his second year. $55 was his wage. About that time his health failed and he returned home and worked for his father on the farm for one year and in a brickyard and then operated a wagon shop on the farm and carried on wagon- making and repairing until 1854, in which year, in company with his brothers James and Warren. he went to California. They traveled slowly with an ox-team and consinned five months in the journey. During the first three years in Cali- fornia Mr. Seymour met many discouragments and endured hardships but he persevered and finally his efforts were rewarded. For a time he followed his trade of wagon-making, his wages being $4 a day. exceedingly high for that time. lle was prudent and careful and before long had enough capital to enable him to loan money. for the use of which he sometimes received as high as 21 per cent. He remained in California for six years and then returned by way of the Isthmus of Panama. The subsequent business activities of Mr. Seymour included farming and brick manufacturing. in the latter becoming one of the large producers of this section. He manufactured the most of the brick that entered into the construction of the larger number of Hillsboro's business houses and residences. He owned a large amount of fine farming land, at one time had 700 acres in one body. At the time of his death. February 28, 1905. at the age of seventy-five years and seven months. Mr. Seymour still owned 407 acres of finely im- proved land which is situated just outside the city limits of Hillsboro. This land is owned by lis widow and children.

Mr. Seymour's first schooling was secured in a little schoolhouse which formerly occupied the site of the residence of W. A. White. on S. Main street, and his teacher was a Miss Spell- man. Later he attended the old Hillsboro Academy. He lived at the time when St. Louis was the principal trading place for the carly settlers and frequently told of hauling dressed pork to that city and selling it for $1.37 per hundred weight and receiving fifteen cents a bushel for oats. Mr. Seymour was an honest. upright. self-respecting man all his life. He was simple in his habits and very unassuming even after he became thoroughly successful. He was very highly respected by those he employed and. having no false pride, he was accustomed to labor side by side with them and share the same conditions.

Mr. Seymour was married September 26. 1861. to Miss Sarah J. Killpatrick, who was born in Hillsboro Township. Montgomery County. Ill .. February 16. 1840, a daughter of James and Helen (Forehand) Killpatrick. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Seymour : Mary Ellen,

who married J. W. Hook, and their home is at Shelbyville, Ill .. and they have two children, Beatrice Irene and Helen Alberta ; Charles Francis and Frederick Harland, both of whom died in infancy ; George S .. who is a resident of St. Louis, married Amy Beck, and they have three children : Ione Alice, wife of Thomas Hall, has two children. Albert Francis and Mary Louise; Camilla Isabel, wife of Dr. Ross Gris- wold of Litchfield, and Harland Francis. Ca- milla A .. second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sey- mour, is the widow of Burt Lantz, formerly of Shelbyville. The youngest member of the fam- ily, Ethel. resides with her mother and is a tal- ented musician and teacher of music.

The parents of Mrs. Seymour were very early settlers in Montgomery County and both died here. The father was a native of Kentucky and the mother of Missouri. Of their family of ten children three died in infancy, those who grew to maturity being : Sarah J .. John. David, James, Mary, William and Francis. The pa- ternal grandfather of Mrs. Seymour was David Killpatrick, who was born in Ireland, while his wife Agnes, was a native of Scotland. They came very early to Montgomery County and, as was the rule in those days, they had many children. Of their thirteen sons and daughters the following survived infancy : Mary, Margaret, Ephraim, John. Martha Jane. Rachel, James, Melinda, Andrew and Ann. Of the above fam- ily, Mary, familiarly called Polly. married a Shurtleff and theirs was the first marriage li- cense issued in Montgomery County. The ma- ternal grandmother of Mrs. Seymour, Mrs. Mary Forehand, had two daughters. Helen and Clem- entina, and the name of her mother was Sarah. It would be very interesting to the family to have a complete record but in old times families often lacked present opportunity for the preservation of histories.

In politics Charles W. Seymour was a Repub- lican and at one time he served in the office of school trustee but was never anxious for polit- ical honors. He was a member of Mount Moriah Lodge No. 51, F. & A. M .. and both he and wife were charter members of the Eastern Star at Hillsboro. He was one of the liberal supporters of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which both he and wife belonged.

In 1905. at the time of Mr. Seymour's death. the family built a private vault as his resting place, making use of bricks of his own manu- facture. Later, however, his body was removed in Oak Grove cemetery. to a crypt in the new Hillsboro Mausoleum. Mrs. Seymour having purchased three crypts here. Perhaps no more highly esteemed lady resides at Hillsboro than Mrs. Seymour. She belongs to one of the fine old families of the county and has been identi- fied with so many things of importance, having a wide social acquaintance and keeping herself interested in the changes that daily come about in these momentous days. Although the record of her years shows that many have passed, the record of her appearance almost belies it. She resides in her comfortable and attractive resi- dence at No. 409 E. Tremont street. happy in

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

the companionship of her daughters, Mrs. Lantz and Miss Ethel Seymour.

SEYMOUR, Homer A., M. D., one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Hillsboro, is a recog- nized authority in his profession. He was born one mile west of Hillsboro, Ill., October 2, 1872, a son of William D. and Elizabeth (Christian) Seymour, natives of South Carolina and Ken- tucky, respectively. They had eight children, as follows: Martha Frances, who is deceased, was the wife of George Collins; Mary, who is the wife of Theodore Collins, of North Judson, Ind .; Laura, who is the widow of Cyrus Brook- ins, of St. Louis, Mo .; Thomas W., who is de- ceased ; James R., a physician, who is deceased ; Caroline Elizabeth, who is the wife of J. S. Killpatrick, of Hillsboro; William L., who lives at Raymond, Ill .; and Homer A.

William D. Seymour, the father of Dr. Sey- mour, was born in 1823, and came to Montgomery County, Ill., about 1828, with his parents, who located southwest of Hillsboro, but two years later moved to within a half a mile of Hills- boro. Here he grew to manhood, and was afterwards eugaged in farming. He died at Hillsboro, iu 1SS6, aged sixty-three years, and his wife died in 1892, aged sixty-four years. Both were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. During the Mexican War, William Seymour served his country as a sol -. dier. He was interested iu educational matters, and granted certificates to the teachers during the early days. The paternal grandfather was Wesley Seymour, and he was married to Frances Vaughn. and they were uatives of South Caro- lina.' The grandfather was an extensive farmer in Montgomery County, and he died at Colum- bus. Kas .. 1890. The graudmother died in 1855. Their children were as follows: William D., John Henry, Claibourne V., Charles W., Warren, Thomas. James. Spencer who died in infancy, and Edward. The materual grandfather was Thomas Christian and his wife bore the maiden name of Lydia Grantham, both of them being natives of North Carolina. They came to Mout- gomery County from Kentucky, and were pi- oneers of Irving Township, where they died in middle life. Their children were: Elizabeth, Lydia. Jane. Evaliue. James and another son.

Homer A. Seymour was reared on his father's farm. and attended the district schools and the Hillsboro High school, from which he was grad- uated în 1891. Entering the Ohio Eclectic Medical College at Ciucinnati, he was graduated therefrom in 1894. and for a year was engaged in practice at Ardmore, I. T., now Oklahoma. For the succeeding six years he was practicing at Bondville, Champaign County. Ill., and then came to Hillsboro, where he has since remained.

On April 4. 1900. Dr. Seymour was married to Miss Noi Bliss, a daughter of Charles W. and Elizabeth (Phillips) Bliss, and they have two children, namely : Bliss. a daughter, and Ber- nays, a son. Mrs. Seymour was born at Hills- boro, and here reared. She is a graduate of the Hillsboro High school. The history of the Bliss family is giveu at length elsewhere iu this work,

it being one of the most promiueut of Montgom- ery County. Dr. Seymour belongs to the county, state and national medical associations. In poli- tics he is a Republican and he is very active in the councils of his party, at present being a member of the Republican County Central Com- mittee, and was its chairman for four years. In 1912 he was alternate delegate to the Re- publican National Convention at Chicago, and in 1916 was the candidate of his party for presidential elector in the Twenty-first Illinois District.

SEYMOUR, William L., postmaster at Raymond, where he is a leading business mau, profitably engaged in conducting a first class drug store, was born in Hillsboro Township, Montgomery County, near Hillsboro, Ill., November 16, 1865. His parents were William D. and Elizabeth (Christian) Seymour. William D. Seymour was born October 26, 1823, in South Carolina, and was brought by his parents to Montgomery County, Ill., when he was a boy, settlement be- ing made ou the homestead near Hillsboro, when the county was still but little developed. He was reared on this farm, and when he married, located near his father. He married Elizabeth Christian, who was born in Kentucky, March 22, 182S. and was brought in her childhood by her pareuts to Montgomery County. The Chris- tian family located near Irving, and were among the early settlers of the township by that name. Her mother bore the maiden name of Grant- ham. William D. Seymour died on his farm November 12, 1SS6, and his wife lived for a few years longer, dying at Hillsboro, March 11. 1892. They were the parents of eight children, all of whom attained to maturity, five of whom sur- vive, namely : Mary J., who is the widow of William T. Collins of No. Judson. Ind .: Laura A., who is the widow of Cyrus Brookins, lives at St. Louis, Mo .: Carrie, who is the wife of J. S. Killpatrick, lives near Hillsboro; William L .; and H. A., who is a physician and surgeon of Hillsboro.

William L. Seymour attended the country and Hillsboro schools, and lived on the farm until he was a man. He taught school for three years, and then spent two years on the farm, when he came to Raymond, and went into the drug busi- ness with a brother, Dr. J. R. Seymour. which association continued until 1893. wheu William L. Seymour became the sole proprietor, and has continued to couduct this business ever siuce, with the exception of four years. from 1894 to 1898. In June. 1901. Mr. Seymour was appointed postmaster of Raymond and still holds that office. He is one of the sound meu of this lo- cality. and exerts a strong influence in his com- munity.

On January 29. 1890. Mr. Seymour was mar- ried to Cornelia A. Parrott, who died September 19, 1910. She was a daughter of D. J. and Mar- garet Parrott, and they had four children. as follows: Robert A., who is a druggist of Hills- boro: William B., who is serving in the United States Army; Keuneth L., who is a soldier in the Uuited States Army ; and Harold R., who is

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

attending high school. In July, 1914, Mr. Sey- mour was married (second) to Miss Luella Scherer, a daughter of William J. and Harriet Scherer of Raymond, Ill. Mr. Scherer died on his farm in Butler Grove Township, this county. Mr. Seymour belongs to Raymond Lodge No. 692. 1. F. & A. M .; and Raymond Lodge No. 476. 1. O. O. F., of which he is past noble grand. Ilo is a member of the Christian Church in which he is an elder. In politics a Republican, he served as tax collector for two years of Ray- mond Township, and has been president of the school board for two terms, and president of the village board for two terms. In 1894 he was nominated and elected county clerk, and held that office for four years, or until 189S. In addition to his other interests, he is a stock- holler, director and president of the Raymond State Bank, and has held these omces since its organization.

SHARP, James L., one of the prosperous farm- ers of Pitman Township, owns and operates a fine farm of 130 aeres on Section 29, one and one-half miles southwest of Waggoner. He was born on a farm west of Atwater, Macoupin County. Ill., December 28. 1864, a son of Mar- shall and Sarah (Yowell) Sharp. Marshall Sharp was born in Tennessee. October 10, 1834, and died near Atwater, March 9, 1867. He was a son of Levi Sharp, who brought his family to Maconpin County, Ill., when Marshall Sharp was a lad. Growing up in Maconpin County, Mar- shall Sharp was there married, his wife being a daughter of James W. Yowell, and she was born in Macoupin County, July 19, 1842.

Soon after their marriage, Marshall Sharp and his wife came to Pitman Township. Mont- gomery County, and contracted to buy the farm now owned by their son James L. Sharp, but he died before the sale was consummated. After his death, his father-in-law took up the obliga- tion. and Mrs. Marshall Sharp moved on the tarm and there reared her three children, namely : Melissa J., who died in 1897. was the wife of Henry Thomason ; Ellen E., who is the wife of B. F. Hughes of Drummond, Okla. ; and James L. The mother was married (second) to Benjamin Garst, and they had one son, Al- bert. After the death of Mr. Garst, the mother was married (third) to Moses B. Carpenter, but there were no children by this marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter lived on her farm for a few years, and then retired to Waggoner, where he died, but she survives him and still lives at Waggoner.

James L. Sharp was reared on his present farm, and attended the local schools, and those of Girard, Ill., following which he took a course in the Southern Illinois Normal school at Carbondale. Ill. For one term he taught sehool in Pitman Township, and then went to Kansas, and while in that state lie taught sehool for one term. Returning to Illinois on November 1, 1893. he was married to Janette T. Wood, a daughter of Thomas V. and Katherine (Nesbit) Wood. Janette Wood was born in Pitman Township, March 28, 1875. Her father was born

in Madison County, Ill., south of Bunker Hill, November 21, 1848, and her mother was born at Nashville, Tenn., March 16, 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Wood were married in Madison County, Ill., but soon thereafter located in Pitman Town- ship, he buying a farm from his father who had invested in land in that locality, and they lived there until 1899, when they bought a farm in Arkansas, later selling it and buying a farm in Maeoupin County, Ill., upon which they lived for three years. They then left their farm, moved to Waggoner, and have sinee made that their home. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Wood, five survive :

Benjamin P., who is of Pitman Township; Laura M., who is the wife of P. M. Brown of St. Vincent, Minn. ; Janette T .. who is Mrs. Sharp; Minnie K., who is deceased, was the wife of William Sedentop of Farmersville, Ill .; Margaret, who is the wife of William Whitaker of Belmont, lowa; LeRoy N., who died in infancy ; and Harry C., who lives at Waggoner. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are members of the Christian Church at Waggoner. Mr. Wood belongs to Waggoner Lodge No. 404, I. O. (). F., and Waggoner Camp. M. W. A. A Demo- crat, he has always been active in his party.

In 1893 Mr. and Mrs. Sharp returned to Kan- sas and remained on a farm there from Febru- ary. 1894. until December, 1896, when they came back to Montgomery County, and Mr, Sharp and his stepfather, Moses B. Carpenter, operated a feed and grist mill, from 1896 nntil February 26, 1903, when Mr. Sharp moved to his present farm, where he has sinee resided. Mr. and Mrs. Sharp became the parents of three children, namely : Mabel Irene, who was born December 27. 1894. in Sheridan County, Kas., is very proficient in innsic, and has large classes, and is living at home, and is a member of the Eastern Star, Chapter No. 733; Vesta Leaon, who was born in Sheridan County. Kas .. August 18, 1896, died October 5. 1903 : and Opal Marie, who was born at Waggoner, Ill., June 4, 189S, is at home, and she also belongs to the Eastern Star. Mr. Sharp belongs to Raymond Lodge No. 692, A. F. & A. M .: Waggoner Camp No. 677. M. W. A., and Waggoner Lodge No. 404, I. O. O. F., while both le and Mrs. Sharp belong to Raymond Chapter No. 733. O. E. S. They are members of the Waggoner Christian Church, of which he is an older. In politics he is a Republican, and while living in Kansas he served as county clerk of Sheridan County, Kas., to fill out an unexpired term.

SHEPHERD, Preston, now deceased, but for a number of years a prosperous and highly re- spected farmer of North Litchfield Township, is well remembered by the older generation of Montgomery County. He was born in Adair Connty. Ky .. October 7. 1833. a son of Pleasant and Anna (Brown) Shepherd, who were among the earliest settlers in the vicinity of Coffeen. Ill. They went to Kentucky. and remained in that state a short time and it was while resid- ing there that Preston Shepherd was born, but they soon returned to Montgomery County. and bought land in North Litehfield Township, where

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

the father died when his son was an infant. The mother later was married to Henry Hill.

As Preston Shepherd and his step-father did not agree, the boy left his home, but on being stricken with lung fever, he returned to the care of his mother and step-father, and remained for a few years. His first work for himself netted him enough homespun wool in payment to have a hunting suit made for him from it. In the course of time he was able to buy his father's homestead from the other heirs, and added to the original eighty acres until he had 400 acres of prairie land and ten acres of tim- berland, all in North Litchfield Township. Un- til his death which occurred September 5, 1886, he lived on this farm and raised stock. After his death his widow continued to conduct the farm until 1893, when she rented the property and bought a residence at Litchfield, where she is still living. In 1912 she sold the farm.

On June 4, 1857, Mr. Shepherd was married to Sarah Ann Thompson, born in Greene County, Ill .. February 10, 1841, a daughter of Peter and Cornelia Ann (Bandy) Thompson, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee, who, when children, were brought to Greene County, Ill. In 1850 they moved to North Litchfield Township, where they bought 160 acres of land, paying $3 an acre for the raw prairie. The country was often largely under water on account of lack of drain- age and there were many snakes, deer, prairie chickens and other wild things, so that Mrs. Shepherd has witnessed many wonderful im- provements. Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd had the following children : John Preston, who died at the age of thirteen years; James Douglas, who lives at Enid. Okla .; Peter Eli, who is deceased ; Florence E., who is Mrs. A. Harwood, of Litch- field ; Anna M., who died at the age of four years; Franklin O., who died at the age of eleven years; Hiram J., who lives with his mother ; and Bennie E .. who is deceased. Mrs. Shepherd's grandparents were Jamison and Eliz- abeth (Taylor) Bandy, of Tennessee, early set- tlers of Greene County, Ill., and Montgomery County ; and William and Tampa (Bricky) Thompson, natives of Tennessee who also be-' came early settlers of Greene County. Ill. Mr. Shepherd had little book education, but was a man of strong mentality, who gained a fair amount of information tlirough contact with men and affairs. Mrs. Shepherd attended the subscription schools. She belongs to the Primi- tive Baptist Church. In politics Mr. Shepherd was a Democrat. A hard worker, and good man- ager. Mr. Shepherd was very successful, and also stood high in the regard of his community.

SHORT, Ralph M., assistant cashier of the Oland National Bank, and clerk of Witt Town- ship, is one of the substantial and representative men of this section. He was born on a farm four miles southeast of Hillsboro, August 15, 1881, a son of John C. and Louisa J. (Turner) Short. John C. Short was born near Jackson, Mo., August 2, 1844, a son of Abner and Jane Short, who were natives of Missouri. John C. Short came to Illinois prior to the Civil War,

and was reared on a farm east of Hillsboro, and then settled on another farm southeast of Hills- boro, which he occupied until March, 1915, when he moved to Witt, and there he died October 9, 1915. His widow survives, and lives at Witt. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he was an elder for many years. Politi- cally he was a Democrat, but did not care for office. He and his wife had the following chil- dren : Mabel, who is the wife of E. Ferrio, of Chicago; Myrtle, who is the wife of Andrew P. Hughes, who lives near Hillsboro; Blanche, who is the wife of Charles H. Lockhart, of Witt; Ralph M .; and one who died in infancy.

Ralph M. Short was reared on the homestead, and attended the district schools, and the Hills- boro High school from which he was graduated in 1900. For the following year he was at the University of Illinois, and taught in the public schools for three terms. In June, 1909, he came into the Oland National Bank as assistant cashier and bookkeeper and still holds these positions.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 105

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