Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 107

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 107

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Myron Webster Snell was reared in the coun- try districts, where he attended the schools of the neighborhood, going later for three terms to the Western Normal school at Bushnell, Ill. Still later he attended the Washington Univer- sity at St. Louis, Mo., and Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. from which institution he was graduated in 1898 with the degree of M. D. For the following two years he was at pro-

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fessional work in various hospitals, gaining an invaluable experience, and then in 1900 began a general practice at Litchfield, in which he has since continued, becoming one of the leading men in his profession.

In June, 1907, Dr. Snell was married to Anna Miller, who was born at Nokomis, Montgomery County, Ill., a daughter of Eli and Alice (Rob- erts) Miller. Dr. and Mrs. Snell have one son, Guy Miller, who was born August 19, 1908. Dr. Snell is a Democrat and served as the represen- tative in the city council from his ward for one term. A member of Litchfield Lodge No. 654, B. P. O. Elks, he has held all the offices in that order, and he was one of the organizers of the Illinois Elks Association and served as its president in 1915. He also belongs to Charter Oak Lodge No. 517, A. F. & A. M. of Litchfield, and is very prominent in it as he is profession- ally and socially. When war was declared with Germany Dr. Snell offered his services to the government and has been appointed a lieutenant in the United States Medical Corps.

SOUTHWORTH, Elizur, one of the distinguished men that Montgomery County has developed, has served his country and community in public, and lived wisely and worked profitably as a private citizen. He was born in Orange County, Vt., September 22, 1826, a son of Joseph and Susan ( Jenkins) Southworth, natives of Ver- mont. Elizur Southworth attended the public schools, both grade and high, of Bradford, Vt., the academy of that place and Thedford Hill, Vt., Academy.

In the fall of 1846 Mr. Southworth came by stage from Bradford to Burlington, Vt., from whence, he traveled by boat to Troy, N. Y. and then took a canal boat to Buffalo. There he obtained passage on a lake boat for Cleveland, Ohio, and from there went on to Portsmouth, Ohio, by canal, and thence went down to St. Louis, Mo., on the Ohio River. His next stage of the, journey was by team to Fillmore, Montgomery County, Ill. After his arrival in this county he taught school for six months, and continued as an educator in Bond County. Ill. In 1849 and 1850 he taught at Vandalia, and his last school was in the old State House at Vandalia. Ill. Inspired by the stories of gold finds in California, with seven other men, he crossed the plains in a wagon drawn by an ox-team, going to Sacramento, Cal., from South Fork Township, in 111 days, Mr. Southworth walking the greater part of the way, driving the oxen. After his arrival at his des- tination, he did placer mining for fifteen months, and then went to Nicaragua, and finally reached the Caribbean Sea, where he took a steamboat to New York, from whence he returned to his old home in Vermont. After a short visit, he was married, November 1, 1852 to Laura M. Crandall, born in Vermont, a daughter of John and Sarah (Martin) Crandall of Ver- mont.

In the spring of 1854 Mr. Southworth returned to Montgomery County by way of Chicago, and

from there proceeded to Carlinville on the Chicago & Alton Railroad. From Carlinville he went by team to Fillmore, and there bought a farm and conducted it until 1859, when he moved to Litchfield, and practiced law, having during all of his teaching days, perfected him- self in legal studies, under the instruction oť Judge Gallaghar. For the succeeding thirty-five years he continued to practice his profession, and then selling his practice, devoted himself to looking after his various property interests and he retired about 1900. He and his first wife had a son who died in infancy, and Mrs. Southworth died January 11, 1892. On Febru- ary 2, 1893, Mr. Southworth was married (sec- ond) to Mary A. (Topping) Milnor, widow of George Milnor. She was born at Alton, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Southworth have no children.

At the beginning of the Civil War Mr. South- worth enlisted, April 25, 1861, in Company D, Seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and went to Alton. Ill., from whence he was sent to Cairo, and then on to Mound City to protect the citizens. He was discharged at the end of his enlistment of three months. Until 1872 Mr. Southworth was a Republican, and was elected on that ticket as alderman and mayor of Litch- field. In 1872 however, he became a Horace Greeley man, and in 1876 the Democrats elected him to the upper house of the State Assembly, and he served with distinction until 18SQ. when he went into retirement, but was recalled and re-elected in 1884. Since 189S he has been an independent voter. While in the senate, among other bills he introduced and had passed was one providing for the present Museum at Spring- field. He had the law of evidence changed in the state of Illinois, and was instrumental in having passed a bill to take from the board of aldermen power over the schools, and creating a school board. It was through his instrumen- tality that Litchfield secured its library. The G. A. R. in him has always had an earnest sup- porter. and he has countenanced and advocated all movements looking toward moral uplift and social betterment.

STANSIFER, Albert R., one of the prominent financiers and business men of Litchfield has accomplished much although he is still in the very prime of life. He was born in Montgomery County. January 15, 1872, a son of James T. and Abigail (Barnett) Stansifer, natives of Kentucky and Illinois. Until he was forty-eight years old, the father was a farmer. and then came to Litchfield where he became an insurance and real estate agent, and continued in this line of business until his death in 1897. The mother survives and makes her home at Litchfield.

Albert R. Stansifer attended the schools of his district until he was eighteen years old at which time he was taken into partnership with his father, and after the latter's death, he took charge of the business, and still continues in it. handling city property and local farm lands. and representing fourteen old line insurance companies in fire and tornado risks. He is secre-

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tary and manager of the Litchfield Abstract Company, and secretary of the Cooperative Sav- ings & Loan Company that has assets of $175.000.

On April 26, 1893, Mr. Stansifer was married to Della Holbrook, born in Montgomery County, a daughter of James L. and Glaphira Holbrook, natives of Kentucky. The father was a butcher of Litchfield. Mr. and Mrs. Stansifer have the following children : Merle, who recently married H. W. Butler : and Mary, who is at home. In politics Mr. Stansifer is a Republican and was a member of the board of education for one year. president for one year and secretary of it for five years. He is a Mason. a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the order of Ben Hur. Very prominent in the Christian Church, he is on its official board of which he is chairman. is an elder of the church and super- intendent of the Sunday school. A man of great energy, he generally suceeds in acomplish- ing whatever he undertakes, and his association with any project is of considerable value. as it is very likely to be brought to a satisfactory termination if he takes it in hand.

STARR, David Monroe, county surveyor of Montgomery County, and a venerable resident of Hillsboro, was born in Hillsboro Township. this county. eighty-five years ago, within a mile and a half of his present home. at Hillsboro. Novem- ber 3. 1833. He is a son of David Badgley and Jane (Street) Starr. The father was born near Eagle Cliffs. Monroe County. Ill .. in 1802. and the mother was born in Kentucky in 1805. They had eleven children: Abraham B .: Julia. the wife of William Keel : John: Marion; James Newton : David Monroe: Mary Elizabeth. the wife of M. W. 'Miller : Martha L. H .. the wife of C. W. Canaday. and four who died in infancy. The father was reared principally in Monroe County. coming to Montgomery County about 1817. locating in Hillsboro Township, where he entered land at $1.25 per acre and followed farming all his life. He died on his homestead at the age of seventy-seven years. The mother died about 1852. while comparatively young. He belonged to the old Hardshell Baptist Church. During the Black Hawk War. he served under Hiram Rountree, and his son Abraham was a soldier in the Mexican War. The paternal grand- father of David M. Starr was John Starr. bnt his history is not known. The maternal grand- father was James Street. and he married Mary (called Polly) Newton. They came from Ken- tucky to Illinois. Their children were as fol- lows: James, John. Eli. Anthony, Newton, Jane. Elizabeth, who married John Kirkpatrick. Mary and Martha. The maternal great-grandmother of Polly Newton was Elizabeth Newton.

David Monroe Starr was born on the old homestead. and he grew up there and attended the local schools. mainly the subscription schools of the period. A great student. many a night he has poured over his books by a tal- low-dip candle. and in boyhood when he went to school he had to walk a distance of four miles. Later on in life he moved to Litchfield, but for the past twenty years has lived at Hillsboro, and

for forty years he has been county surveyor. He has been engaged in farming in the mean- while to some extent, and also did carpenter work for many years.

On July 17, 1862, Mr. Starr was married to Miss Frances Scott Craig. Her great-grand- mother and Gen. Winfield Scott were first cou- sins. Mr. and Mrs. Starr had seven children, namely : Jane E., Zerrelda H., Winfield Scott, Larkin Owen. Naomi M., Frances Myrtle and Lois E., who died in infancy. Jane E. was mar- ried first to H. T. Larabee, who died eighteen months later. and left one daughter. Orrel. who was married to Rev. Gerald Bohannan. and they had three children. Frances Belle, Richard G. and Evangeline Starr Bohannan. Jane E. was married (second) to Charles Carpenter. and they live at St. Louis, Mo. There are no chil- dren by this marriage. Zerrelda H. Starr was married first to Charles Whitney. now deceased. They had one child. Anna Belle. who died young. She was married (second) to A. M. Freeman, and he died leaving no children and Mrs. Free- man lives at Granite City. Ill. Winfield Scott Starr is employed in the smelter works at Hills- boro. He was married to Anna Bell. and they have one son. Dana Bell Starr. Larkin O. Starr is a civil engineer and assists his father in the county surveyor's office. He married Etta Starr (no relative). who died fifteen months later. He was married (second) to Catherine Govaia, and they have one son. Marion Scott Starr, and one daughter. Harriet Lee Starr. They live at Nokomis. Ill. Naomi MI. Starr was married to John Humphries, and they live at Hillsboro. and bave two children. Paul Kenneth and Frances A. Frances Myrtle Starr lives at home. Mr. and Mrs. David Monroe Starr are members of the Presbyterian Church. but she was reared a Baptist. He is a Democrat in politics and has served as a school director.

Mrs. Starr was born in Hillsboro Township, January 29. 1842. but was reared principally in Macoupin County. Ill. She is the eldest of fif- teen children. only three of whom are now liv- ing. The father of Mrs. Starr. Larkin Craig. was a native of South Carolina. and was reared in North Carolina. Her mother was born in Kentucky. They were married in Illinois, and were pioneers of Macoupin County. where he died. He was state senator for six years. A member of the Baptist Church. he was a local minister for sixty-eight years, and is believed to have been 102 years old when he died. His widow died at Hillsboro at the age of seventy- two years. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Starr was Thomas Craig. and he was married to Frances Brown. Their children were as fol- lows : Mildred. Larkin. Sarah. Elizabeth. Thomas, Jesse. James, and Samuel. who died in young manhood. and a daughter, Frances. who died when ten years old. The maternal grandparents were Carter and Rachel (Flour- noy) Keel. natives of Kentucky. They had several children. as follows: Nancy. William, Jane. Jesse. Cassandra. Samuel and Francis Edward. and some who died young. Mrs. Starr's sister Martha's first husband. Esquire Tongate,

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was a man of local prominence. They had a daughter, Nancy Tongate. The second husband was Rev. Jones, and they had three children, who are now living, namely : Edward L., Mil- dred and Mary.

STAUDER, Frank, senior member of the firm of Stauder & Hoehn, of Witt, Ill., is one of the leading business men and merchants of Mont- gomery County. He was born on a farm in Witt Township, Montgomery County, Ill., April 17, 1871, a son of John and Magdalena (Hatken) Stauder.

John Stauder was born in St. Clair County, Ill., of German parentage and there grew to manhood, where he was married, his wife being born in Germany. She came to St. Clair County, Ill., with her parents when she was still a young girl. As soon as they were married, John Stau- der and his wife moved to Montgomery County, and bought eighty acres of land in Witt Town- ship, where they lived until 1908, when they moved to Witt, and are now living there in re- tirement from active life. They became the parents of six children namely : John, who lives in Nokomis Township; Frank; Louis, who is on the old home place; Henry, who is living at Witt ; Catherine, who is deceased, was married to Fred Hoehn, of Witt; and William, who is living at Oswego, N. Y. The family belongs to St. Barbara's Catholic Church.

Frank Stauder lived at home with his parents on the farm, and attended the district schools. In October, 1904, however, he left the farm and he and his brother Henry came to Witt and bought the store owned by Albert Spannagle. This association continued until July, 1906, when the firm of Stauder & Hoehn was formed, and the two partners continue to operate the busi- ness, having built up a fine trade.

In January, 1906, Mr. Stauder was married to Frances Most, a daughter of Charles and Cathe- ine Most of Montgomery County, natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Stauder have had three children, namely: Lawrence F .; Mary Genevieve and Regina Elizabeth. They are members of St. Barbara's Catholic Church of Witt, Ill. He is a Republican in politics, and has served as township collector for one term, and one term as township assessor, and for two terms he was a member of the village board. Mr. Stauder belongs to the Knights of Columbus at Pana. Ill. A man of energy and good business sagacity, he has forged ahead, and is one of the leading men in his line in this section.

STRANGE, Alexander Taylor .- Perhaps no resi- dent of Montgomery County is better known, and certainly none is more highly regarded, than Alexander Taylor Strange, of Hillsboro. He was born July 6. 1850, in Georgia, a son of John Anderson and Fidello (Gresham) Strange. The Strange ancestry is as follows. On the Island of Pomona, one of the Orkneys, on the coast of Scotland, there lived a quaint, bold, determined people, mostly seamen, although the gathering of kelp and the manufacture of liquors was no small portion of their activities. Here at Kirk-

wall, the capital, lived a family noted for their great physical strength, and called in apprecia- tion of this recognized strength, the "Strangs." Here, the records tell, lived Magnus, David and Robert Strang, later recognized as ancestors oť the Stranges by the coat of arms still in the family, which is a lion rampant, with tail ex- tended. When the wars of that day effected political changes and to avoid oppression the Strangs left Scotland for France and England, and meeting with the French and English high authorities in their private state assemblies, to whom they were strangers, they were designated as the Strange men, instead of the Strangs. Hence the origin of the name in England and her dependencies, although the old name, Strang, was retained in Scotland for many years, while in France it became De Strange, and in military circles in England it was La Strange. The coat of arms in each case was practically the same, and in each and every case stood for the great strength of the bearer.

A few decades later, near London, the La Stranges founded the Hunstanton estate, build- ing the IIunstanton castle, which stands today as intact as when built over 800 years ago, and is occupied by a descendant of the Strangs of Scotland, Hamon La Strange, with his accom- plished wife, who is American born. Sir Thomas, Sir John and Sir Robert Strange were promi- nent figures in London a little later, and they had practically the same coat of arms as the La Stranges. Sir Robert Strange, who was born in 1721, was recognized as the greatest portrait and fine etching artist of his day, and became the founder of the English school for historical engraving, and was equally prominent in affairs of state, being knighted by the Queen in 1787. Subsequently at least one of those who had a legal right to the name of Strange, and a title bestowed by royal favor, and other London Stranges, not titled, crossed the ocean to the New World, in quest of better prospects and con- ditions. Without any attempt to show the line of descent, suffice to briefly state that the direct ancestor of Alexander Taylor Strange settled in Virginia, probably in Kent County, at a very early day, coming to that colony in a ship sent out by the English government and commanded by a Strange. Members of the Strange family trom Virginia participated in the American Rev- olution, among whom was Amos Strange, his great-grandfather, giving Alexander Taylor Strange the right to belong to the Sons of the American Revolution, in which order he main- tains a membership. Mr. Strange's grandfather went to South Carolina, about the close of the Revolutionary War, and thence to Georgia, where, as a pioneer, he endured many privations and reared a large family. His wife's maiden name was Mary Fowler, and the sixth child of this family was John Anderson Strange, the father of Alexander Taylor Strange. John An- derson Strange, when but a boy in search of opportunity, crossing the line between Georgia and Alabama, engaged his services to a Mr. Wil- son to help in the management of a store. While he was there he met and married Fidello

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Gresham, and although they were penniless, yet actuated by the great principle of love, they were brave enough to face the future together. They had eleven children, the second of whom they named Alexander Taylor Strange. These beloved parents have long since passed to their anticipated reward.

The ancestral line of the Gresham family is equally important with that of the Strange fam- ily. The Gresham coat of arms is a grasshopper on a green sward. The De Gresses of England in the twelfth century, had gone there, by way of France, from Normandy, during the English conquest, and, after locating and securing an estate. dropped the prefix "de" and in recogni- tion of the fact that a home, or landed estate, had become theirs, by the consent of the crown, affixed the word "ham," meaning home. to the name, so that we have the name Gresham, mean- ing a "green home," or as the armorial records have it. "a green sward." The grasshopper is a type of agility and a "grasshopper on the green sward" became the coat of arms of the family by act of Queen Elizabeth. It so continued until it became obsolete after the descendants had become a part of the democracy of the New World, where such distinctions are neither rec- ognized by law, or sanctioned by social custom.

Edward Gresham. a descendant of the De Gresses. during the twelfth century founded the town of Gresham in the county of Norfolk, Eng- land. From this town, as evidenced by the coat of arms, we find John Gresham, county of Nor- folk. in England, and his son. James Gresham. and still later, John Gresham, a son of James, were all very prominent in trade and banking circles in London and also in the diplomatic service of both Queen Mary and Queen Eliza- beth, the latter knighting Sir Richard Gresham because of his eminent services. Sir John Gresham. a very wealthy merchant, had for his apprentice, when he was young. Sir Thomas Gresham. founder of the Royal Exchange. Rich- ard Gresham entered the diplomatic service and was highly distinguished. Other members of the Gresham family were chiefly instrumental in founding the bourse, or chamber of commerce. Gresham College, and several large almshouses. and other important enterprises. John Gresham. a descendant of the above named. left the Old World for the New. and at Annapolis. Md., at- tempted to found a college along the lines of the Gresham College of Science. in London, known as Fortuna, but failed to do so on ac- count of the opposition of the Roman Catholic governors of Maryland. the Greshams being de- vout Protestants. From Maryland, after drop- ping the title "Sir." members of the family moved to Tennessee, locating at Jonesboro, and became planters of simple manners and humble circumstances. although proud of their connec- tion with the aristocracy of the Old World. In this state. in 1826. was born a daughter to the Greshams and this daughter. Fidello Gresham. when in lier 'teens. a beautiful. industrious. healthy and sweet maiden. was sent to Alabama to live with a beloved aunt, Mrs. Wilson, men-

tioned above, and there she met and married John Anderson Strange.

Alexander Taylor Strange, descended from these two old and honored ancestral lines When twenty years old, without a cent in his pockets, and in debt for the clothes he wore, he separated himself from his numerous brothers and sisters and beloved parents. and started out to make his way in the world as best he could. On August 22, 1872. when he was twenty-two years old, Mr. Strange was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth M. Copeland, and from that date to the present they have endured and en- joyed the usual amount of trials, successes and felicities. and can truly and appreciatingly say that they have had more sunshine than shade, more friends than enemies, more joy than sor- row, more success than failure. and received more from the good people of the world than it is possible to return. Two sons, twins. Dr. A. F. Strange. of Bloomington, and Dr. E. B. Strange, of Hillsboro, have been reared to honorable names and positions, and are now married, have elegant homes and successful business. and have children of their own to bless their future.

After, teaching school and farming for many years, in both of which occupations Mrs. Strange participated. Mr. Strange organized two local mutual insurance companies and for over a quarter of a century has successfully managed them. Though without a collegiate education. Mr. Strange has heen, and is yet, a progressive student. a constant reader of high class litera- ture, and a frequent contributor to the public press.

Althoughi Mr. and Mrs. Strange are on the border line of old age, they feel that they can cease their labors without fear, and look for- ward with expectant hopes to a life beyond. full of spiritual pleasure. and backward upon long lives of good deeds and many kind actions. They feel confident that their descendants will continue the good name they were able to bestow upon them. and they desire this more than any worldly prosperity for them and theirs.

STUDEBAKER, H. A., a prosperous farmer of Zanesville Township, residing on Section 33. owns 120 acres. and operates 200 acres. He was born in Elkhart County. Ind .. November 15. 1855. a son of Jolin E. and Mary (Neff) Studebaker, and a grandson of Jacob Studebaker. a pioneer of Elkhart County, Ind. In 1866. John E. Stude- baker left Indiana and came to Macoupin County. Ill., where he remained for two years, and then moved to Montgomery County, where his deatlı occurred in 1SS7. He was the father of six children, three of whom survive, namely : D. B. who is a traveling salesman in southwest Arkansas: Catherine who is the widow of Henry Leer, lives in Guthrie. Okla. : and H. A.

H. A. Studebaker spent his boyhood on his father's farms in Macoupin and Montgomery counties. and attended what was known as the Studebaker school. which his father had helped to build. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years old. On November 23, 1876, he was married to Eliza Obenshain of Roanoke,

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Va., who came to Illinois to visit a sister. After their marriage they located on a rented farm and lived there for twenty-one years, when Mr. Studebaker bought his present tarm of 120 acres. He is conducting it and eighty additional acres, and is very successful in his operations, doing general farming. All he has he has earned through his industry and thrift.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 107

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