Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 110

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 110

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Daniel Ebeley of Hillsboro, and they have two daughters : Angeline and Mary.

In religious faith Mr. Uhlenhop is a Catholic, and he belongs to the Catholic Knights of Illi- nois. A Democrat in politics he served on the school board for nine years and as highway com- missioner for six years. An earnest, hardwork- ing man, he has known how to save his money and to invest it wisely, and is rightly numbered among the substantial men of Montgomery County.

VARNER, Samuel A., now deceased, but for many years one of the substantial men of South Litchfield Township, deserves a lasting place in the history of Montgomery County. He was born in Clarion County, Pa .. June 9, 1844, a son of Thomas and Arabella Varner, natives of Pennsylvania.

On July 4, 1861. Samuel A. Varner enlisted in the Union army, during the Civil War, in Com- pany E, Thirty-second Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was assigned to the Second Bri- gade, Third Division and Fifth Army Corps. On July 2. 1863. he was wounded in the left leg by a gunshot, and was in the hospital for eight months thereafter, and was finally discharged on account of disability. Returning to Pennsyl- vania, he went to college, and then became a contractor for drilling oil wells in the Bradford (Pa.) district, remaining there until 1883, when he came to South Litchfield Township when oil was discovered in this vicinity. and drilled wells for six years. He then bought a farm of 104 acres, later selling some of his farm to the rail- road which ran through it. although there still remains ninety acres. On this farm Mr. Varner carried on farming and made many improve- inents, including the erection of entirely new buildings. Here he died October 4, 1912. His widow continues to conduct the farm with the assistance of her son.

In June, 1868, Mr. Varner was married to Jennetta Proper, who was born in Forest County, Pa .. a daughter of John and Sarah (Grove) Proper, whose ancestors on the Grove side of the family, came from Holland to Pennsylvania in 1710 and bought land from William Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Varner became the parents of the following children : Emma, who is Mrs. James Robinson of Hillsboro: John P., who was born October 27. 1872, died July 3, 1914 ; and De For- rest, who is with his mother. Mrs. Varner attended the public schools of Tionesta. Pa. While Mr. Varner was not a member of any religious organization, he attended the Metho- dist Church and was very active in Sunday school work. In politics he was a Republican, and he was a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the G. A. R. A man of high prin- ciples, he lived up to what he believed to be his duty, and stood very high in his community as a good man and public-spirited citizen.

VAWTER, William, now deceased, but for many years one of the leading business men of Hills- boro, is remembered with kindly regret and appreciation for his many excellent qualities.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

He was born in Monroe County, Ky .. November 27, 1842. a son of Thomas S. and Nancy (Chap- man) Vawter, both natives of Virginia, where he was born in 1815. In 1851 the family came to Montgomery County, making the trip with an ox-team and bringing the household effects in a covered wagon. Thomas S. Vawter located on a farm four miles southwest of Hillsboro, and there he died in young manhood. His widow moved with the children to Hillsboro, in 1857.

In 1862 William Vawter began working in the Watson Mill. where he remained for seven years, and then after buying a team, was in the employ of the American Express Company delivering goods for thirteen years. In 1872 he bought an omnibus from W. T. Whiteside, and conducted a transportation business until 1905, when he sold his line. During that time he had carried the United States mail. Being thrifty, he invested his money wisely and acquired con- siderable property including both business blocks and residences at Hillsboro. He was a charter member of the Oil City Building and Loan Association of Litchfield, and of the Hillsboro Building and Loan Association, and served as president and vice president of both. He was a stockholder in the Hillsboro Hotel Company. and was president of its board of directors, and was also identified with many other business concerns of Hillsboro.

On January 10. 1864, he was married to Nancy Jane Burke, born in Montgomery County, Ill., a dangliter of Riley and Margaret (McPhail) Burke. natives of Kentucky. Mr. Burke was among the pioneers of Montgomery County, but died when still a young man. His widow was later married to L. D. Smith, and then went to Bad Axe City. Wis., but almost immediately afterward they went to another place in Wis- consin. There Mr. Smith decided to embark in business. He had excellent business ideas. He put up a very high pole, for which Mrs. Smith made a United States flag, and the town which sprung up about them at that point, was called Liberty Pole. from the pole reared by Mr. Smith. Here he kept a store, tavern and post office, and farmed land he had entered from the govern- ment. Later he and Mrs. Smith went to Minne- sota, locating in the Sheldon Valley. and from there went to Wild Cat Bluff on the Mississippi River, where he built a residence. store and tavern and had the post office. This was after- wards known as Brownsville. Mrs. Vawter, who was the first white child in Houston County, Minn., remained at Brownsville until 1862. being there at the time of the historic massacre by the Indians at that point, but in that year she came to the vicinity of Walshville, Ill., and there she was married. Mr. and Mrs. Vawter became the parents of the following children : Ida, who was married to Eugene Smith. of Hillsboro, has one daughter, Jennivieve; Emma. who was married to Charles Baxter of Hillsboro, has one son, Dow Vawter Baxter; John, who lives at Hills- boro, was married to Claudine Fowler, and has one son, Monroe Fowler Vawter; Bertie and Earl, who died in infancy ; and Maud, who died at the age of three years. After Mr. Vawter's

death on October 25, 1914. Mrs. Vawter coll- . tinued to reside on the home place, now having with her her daughter and granddaughter, and her two great-grandchildren. George and Almeda Jane. Mr. Vawter was a Mason and belonged to the Eastern Star, and Mrs. Vawter belongs to the latter order, and also to the Woman's Re- lief Corps, the Woman's Club. Ninian Edwards Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revo- lution, and is a life member of the Montgomery County Historical Association. Both Mr. and Mrs. Vawter early joined the Methodist Episco- pal Church. Mrs. Vawter is very charitable in every way, and is a lady of considerable promi- nence. In politics Mr. Vawter was a Republican, but he did not unduly seek office, although he was an alderman of Hillsboro for a long period. and supervisor of Hillsboro Township for one term.

VIRDEN, Martin I., superintendent of the James F. Umpleby Grain and Hay Market, at Ohlman, has held this responsible position for the past eleven years. and is one of the leading business men of this section. He was born in Audubon Township, January 21, 1881, a son of James F. and Nancy (Davis) Virden.

James F. Virden was born in Shelby County, Ill .. November 28. 1846, a son of Isaac Virden who came from Kentucky to Shelby County. Ill., in 1824, with his parents. and there the family remained until James F. Virden left it for Audubon Township. Nancy Davis, mother of Martin I. Virden, was born in Audubon Town- ship, February 25. 1857. a daughter of M. Davis. one of the early settlers of this township, and for a long time a storekeeper and postmaster at the village of Audubon. His wife was Eliza- beth (Hill) Davis, and she was born in Illinois, December 1. 1827, her parents being pioneers of Shelby County. Mrs. Davis is living at the age of ninety years, and she makes her home in Audubon Township, near the old Audubon vil- lage. She comes of long-lived stock. and has two brothers and a sister living. although she is the eldest now living. James F. Virden and his wife were married in July. 1872. and located on a rented farm in Audubon Township, but later bought a farm near the old site of Audu- bon, on which he remained until his death in March. 1916. The widow survives and makes her home on this farm. He was a Democrat. as were his people before him, and he always took an active part in local affairs, being commis- sioner of highways about nine years. but never sought public honors. He was a member of the Shiloh Baptist Church in which he took an active part. and was one of those who helped in organizing it. The five children born to him and his wife were as follows: Katie, who is the wife of Reuben Corwin, of Fairmount. Ind .; Orville, who is at St. Louis, Mo. : Martin I .: Ira. who lives at Pana, Ill .; and Bessie. who is the wife of Egbert Stivers of Ohlman. Ill.

Martin I. Virden was reared in Audubon Township, and attended its schools, and taught school for three terms prior to his marriage and for two terms afterwards, during one of these

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

terms being stationed in Witt Township, and four in Audubon Township. On February 22, 1903 he was married to Maud Collins, a daughter of W. S. Collins and Carrie (Lachenmyer) Col- lins, the former coming originally, many gen- erations back, of Scotch ancestry, and the latter of German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Virden have one son, James W. In August, 1906, Mr. Virden left his farm in Audubon Township, and.moved to Ohlman where he has since remained. He and his wife belong to Shiloh Baptist Church. In politics he is a Democrat, and was supervisor of Audubon Township from 1908 to 1910.

WAGGONER, John M., a prosperous farmer and banker of Waggoner, has long been associated with important events in Pitman Township. He was born in Pitman Township, this connty, March 8, 1864, a son of George W. and Elizabeth (Mccullough) Waggoner. the former of whom was born in Hardin County, Ky .. and the latter in Virginia, each coming to Montgomery County, Ill. in their youth. After their marriage, they located in Pitman Township, where George W. Waggoner entered land from the government. He accumulated 860 acres of land, and after his death his wife continued to invest in farm land until she owned over 2.300 acres, and her successful ventures proved that she was a very good business woman. He was a member of the Baptist Church. and she belonged to the Methodist faith. She died January 29, 1911. She and her husband had four children : George B., who lives at Baxter Springs, Kas .; Horace G., who died in 1901; Henry Q., who died in 1912; and John M.

John M. Waggoner was reared on the home- stead where he was born, and attended the local schools, remaining at home until he was twenty-one years old, when he started out for himself. On November 7, 1887, he was married to Miss Ella Wall who was born in Pitman Township, and attended its schools, and died in February, 1906. Two children were born of this marriage, namely : Maude, who is a graduate of the Springfield High School. was married to L. P. Brubaker, and died in August, 1913; and Mark, who is a student of Brown's Business College at Springfield. Ill. On February 23, 1916. Mr. Waggoner was married (second) to Miss Margaret G. Williamson, who was born in Pit- man Township, and attended the local schools. She belongs to the Christian Church in which she is a leader. In politics Mr. Waggoner is a Republican, but has not cared for public honors. In addition to his 900 acres of valuable land, Mr. Waggoner is president of the Bank of Waggoner. which was organized in 1895, with Horace G. Waggoner as its first president. The present officers of the bank are: John M. Waggoner, president ; H. C. Burnett, C. E. Fite and Martin Brubaker are other stock holders and L. P. Brubaker, cashier; and they are the board of directors. The bank is a sound financial institu- tion and controls a very desirable business at Waggoner and throughout a wide territory con- tiguous to the village.

WALLIS, John Daniel, now deceased, but for many years one of the leading agriculturalists of North Litchfield Township, spent his declin- ing years at Litchfield. He was born in Greene County, Ill., December 6, 1830, a son of William P. and Nancy (Stone) Wallis, natives of eastern Tennessee, and very early settlers of Greene County, Il]. He was a farmer and also operated a sawmill. Mrs. Nancy Stone Wallis died in Greene County, in 1832, and he was married (second) to Elizabeth MeCauley, and moved to Madison County. Ill., where he entered differ- ent tracts of lands for speculation, and there he died.

John Daniel Wallis was not given many educational advantages, but being intelligent and ambitious, became a well informed man. Until he attained his majority, he assisted his father in the sawmill and on the farm, and then began working for himself near Edwards- ville, with Joseph Shaffer, his father-in-law Later he moved to Macoupin County, Ill., but three years later returned to Madison County, and in 1867 came to North Litchfield Town- ship, buying 145 acres of land which he con- (lucted for thirty-five years. He then moved to Litchfield where he bought a residence, and rented his farm, which his widow still owns. His death occurred April 19, 1897. Mr. Wallis was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as is his widow. In politics he was a Republican, and he served as a justice of the peace, and a school director. Fraternally he was a Mason and he also belonged to the Grange.

On August 10, 1854, Mr. Wallis was married to Mary Elizabeth Shaffer, born near Edwards- ville, Ill., September 6, 1836, a daughter of Joseph and Lucy (Randall) Shaffer, natives of Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Mr. Shaffer was reared in Ohio, and when he was twenty- one years old he came to Madison County, Ill., arriving there in 1826. For many years he was engaged in building wagons and plows and making coffins and other articles. The mater- nal grandparents, Parham and Lucy Randall, were among the very carliest settlers of Ed- wardsville where he was a Methodist preacher, a school teacher and county recorder ..

Mrs. Wallis' maternal great-grand-father Richard Randall, was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary War. Mr. and Mrs. Wallis became the parents of the following children: William H. who lives in Zanesville Township: John A., who lives in Butler Grove Township; Flora, who is Mrs. Edward Denton ; Lucy A., who is the widow of Jolin Saxby, lives at Centralia, Ill., George W., who is on the home farm ; Lillie, who is Mrs. Josiah Armour, of Maconpin County ; Mary, who is Mrs. Franklin McWilliams; Albert A., who lived to be thirteen years old, but his twin died in infancy; and Ida, who is Mrs, Charles O. McMillen of Monrovia, Cal. After Mr. Wallis' death. Mrs. Wallis lived in the residence he had bought when he came to Litchfield, and then sold it and moved to the northern part of Litchfield, buying a residence at No. 622 N. Madison Street. Later she had the misfortune to lose this home by fire, but she replaced it with

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a fine modern residence, where she is now living.

WALLIS, William H., one of the successful farmers of Montgomery Connty, and ex-super- visor of Zanesville Township, owns and ocenpies a fine farm on Section 34 of that township. He was born in Madison County, Ill., one and one-half miles south of Edwardsville, April 30, 1855, a son of John and Mary E. (Shaffer) Wallis.

Jolin Wallis was born in Greene County. Ill .. and his wife was born in Madison County, the same state, and after he came to Madison County they were married. They settled on a farm there but later moved into Macoupin County, Ill., but after several years, returned to Madison County. In the spring of 1867 they located in North Litchfield Township, Mont- gomery County, near Honey Bend, which con- tinued their home until his retirement, when removal was made to Litchfield, and there he died. his widow surviving him and making her home in that city. They were church members. and he was prominent both in public affairs and in the Masonic lodge. In politics he was a Republican. They had children, as follows : William H. : Lucy, who married John Saxby, Jr. : John, who is a farmer of Butler Grove Township: George W., who is a farmer of North Litchfield Township; Mary, who is the wife of Frank McWilliams ; and Ida, who is the widow of Charles O. McMullen.

William H. Wallis was reared on his father's farm, and attended the district schools, remaining at home until he was twenty-one years of age. On November S, 1877. he was married to Nancy B. Crawford, a daughter of James M. and Susan A. (Thompson) Crawford. James M. Crawford was born in Tennessee a son of James Crawford who moved to Mont- gomery County, Ill. in the winter of 1830-1. locating on what is now W. B. Potts' farm. and lived there until his death. James M. Crawford was a young man when he came to Montgomery County, and lived here where he was married, locating afterwards in Zanesville Township. He and his wife had six children, four of whom survive, namely : Nancy B. ; P. J .. who is a maiden lady ; James E., who lives in Zanesville Township; and H. R. Mrs. Wallis reared in Zanesville Township, and attended the Honey Bend school. Mr. and Mrs. Wallis have had children, as follows: James A., who is a graduate of the Hillsboro High school. and the Hillsboro lyceum; Charles H., who lives on his farm in Zanesville Township is a missionary and organizes Sunday schools ; Grace, who is the wife of Harry Aikman; Minnie, who is the wife of Stanley Gates ; Lillie. who is at home; Russell W., who is in the United States Navy and Rosa, who died at the age of two and one-half years. The family are church members. Mr. Wallis is a Democrat, and has served as highway commissioner, school director and supervisor for four years, being one of the best officials the township lias had. His farm comprises 100 acres of land on

Sections 33 and 34, and it is in fine condition, with some very valuable improvements. Mr. and Mrs. Wallis stand very high in their com- munity, and are most excellent citizens in every respect.

WARE, Arthur, owner of one of the finest farms in Butler Grove Township, is one of the successful farmers of Montgomery County. He a son of David S. and Lestina (Brigham) Ware, he born at Gilsum, N. H., and she at Alstead, N. H., he born October 25, 182S, and a son of David and Mary (Smith) Ware, natives of New Hampshire and Vermont, respectively. The mother of Arthur Ware died February 22, 1872, having been born in 1831, a daughter of Aaron and Snsan (Proctor) Brigham. The father of Arthını Ware died in 1904. An educated man, he taught school and in 1855 moved to Mont- gomery County settling in what was later given the name of Ware's Grove in honor of him, in Butler Grove Township. After coming to this locality he engaged in farming and became the owner of a large tract of land, but spent his last years at Hillsboro, where he died.

Arthur Ware attended the local schools and grew up on his father's farm. In 1SS1 he moved on his present fine property of 240 acres on Sec- tion 10, and has been engaged in general farm- ing ever since, and has raised Holstein cattle and carried on dairying, and he is a breeder of hogs to a considerable extent. His is one of the finest farms in this part of the state, and his improvements are modern in every particular.

In 1SS1 Mr. Ware was married to Addie Aten. born in Butler Grove Township, a daughter of T. C. Aten who came to Montgomery County in 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Ware became the parents of the following children : Frank who lives at Butler, Ill .; Roy who lives at Hillsboro, Ill .; and Mabel who was Mrs. Howard Turner, who died July 11, 1910, aged twenty-four years; and Wilma who is Mrs. William Turner of Butler Grove Township. Mrs. Ware died November 20, 1906. On June 24. 190S, Mr. Ware was married to Addie De Sart who was born at Hillsboro, a daughter of Mason and Catherine (Smith) De Sart. he born in Edgar County, and she in Williamson County, Ill. Mr. Ware is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of which he has been an elder and Sunday school superintendent for many years. In 1880 he was census enumerator, and he served for fifteen years as a school director. In April, 1916, he was elected supervisor of Butler Grove Township and is still holding that position. Butler Camp, M. W. A .. holds his membership and receives his support.

WARE, Frank S., one of the prosperous busi- ness men of Montgomery County, owns and operates a grain business at Butler, where he makes liis home. He was born in Butler Grove Township. August 15, 1882, a son of Arthur and Addie (Aten) Ware.

During his boyhood, Frank S. Ware attended the Ware's Grove district school, and the Butler High school, from which he was graduated in

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

1902. and during the winter of 1903-4 he attended college at Carthage, Ill. Mr. Ware taught school in the Montgomery County districts, and also was engaged in farming until 1914 on rented land to the extent of 300 acres when, with his brother Roy., he moved to Hillsboro, and em- barked in a feed business, and in 1915 opened a grain elevator at Butler, the two conducting their business ventures under the firm style of Ware Brothers.

On October 19, 1906, Frank S. Ware was mar- ried to Nina Grassel, who was born in Butler Grove Township, a daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Remensnider) Grassel. natives of Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Ware have three children, namely : Mary Elizabeth, Jessie Catherine and Arnold Grassel. Mr. Ware is a Lutheran. A Repub- lican. in politics, in 1916 he was a candidate of his party for school director, and elected to that office which he still holds. The Butler Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America holds his membership. A man of energy and excellent business judgment, Mr. Ware has forged ahead and deserves the success which has come to him.

WARD, James H., a retired farmer of Butler, is one of the substantial citizens and heavy land- owners of Butler Grove Township. He was born in Greene County, Ill., August 10 .. 1851, and lost his father when he was an infant and his mother died when he was nine years old. Following the death of his mother, he lived on the farm owned by David Dodgson for two years, and then joined an uncle, J. M. Rhoades, and worked for him and others, attending the district schools when- ever he had the opportunity.

On July 3. 1873, James H. Ward was married to Margaret Emily Jones, who was born in Maconpin County, Ill .. May 11, 1856, a daughter of David and Martha Jones. James H. Ward had the following children by his first marriage : Florence Etna, who died when fifteen years old ; Matta Eva, who died when two years old : Lency A. and Clarence O, both of whom live in Butler Grove Township. The first Mrs. Ward died in 1882. On December 26, 1883 Mr. Ward was married (second) to Margaret J. Lipsey, born in Montgomery County, a daughter of John and Sarah (Armour) Lipsey, born in Kentucky, who in 1864 came to Montgomery County, where the father engaged in farming until 1909, when he retired to Raymond, the mother having died September S, 190S. Mr. and Mrs. Ward have the following children: Dent E., who lives in Butler Grove Township: Moray E. who is on the homestead; Viola E., who is Mrs. Frank Robertson, of Butler Grove Township: and Lillian Amy, who is Mrs. Sumner Wilson, of Butler Grove Township.

For a few years Mr. Ward rented land in Macoupin County, and then bought forty acres of partly improved land which two years later he traded for 100 acres in Honey Point Town- ship. This he sold two years later and bought a farm of 160 acres in Harvel Township. where he lived making many improvements. Later he moved to Harvel, but after his

second marriage, returned to the farm In the spring of 1889 he sold that farm and bought 200 acres of partly improved land in Butler Grove Township, upon which he carried on general farming until in October, 1906, when lie moved to Butler, and has lived retired since the spring of 1909. He built a fine modern residence, and owns other property at Butler and at Hillsboro, and $10 acres of farm land all in Butler Grove Township. He belongs to the English Lutheran Church. A Democrat, he has served as assessor of Harvel Township, and for eight years was supervisor of Butler Grove Township. He has been a Modern Woodman of America for some years. Mr. Ward is a director and is vice president of the Montgomery Tele- graph and Telephone Company, and is a man of large affairs and corresponding influence.

WASHBURN, Seth Emory, a retired farmer of Hillsboro, and now serving as one of the con- stables of his township, was born at Syracuse, N. Y., April 18, 1847, a son of Dr. Thomas D. and Roxanna Matilda (Joslin) Washburn, the former of whom was born at Greenfield, Mass .. April 25, 1819, and the latter at Eaton, N. Y., April 25, 1819. They were married at Oswego, N. Y., May 25, 1846, and in 1849 they moved to Grayville, Ill., where they lived until in 1851 when they went to Lawrenceville. Ill. He was a physician. and from April 1856 when he came to Hillsboro, he was engaged in practice until he enlisted for service in the Civil War as assistant surgeon, of the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. For the last eighteen months of the war he was post surgeon at Little Rock, Ark. After the close of

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 110

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