USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II > Part 112
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WELSH, James G., one of the substantial busi- ness men of Litchfield, is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens. He was born at Litchfield, January 2. 1863, a son of Jeremiah and Ann (McCann) Welsh, both of whom were born in Ireland and brought to the United States in childhood. After being reared in New York
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state, they came to Litchfield where they met and . were married. He was a blacksmith by trade. He died in 1872, she surviving him until 1915.
James G. Welsh attended the public and paro- chial schools of Litchfield, and began to be self- supporting through working in the old car shops, beginning at the tender age of nine years, his hours being after school and during vacations. When he was eleven years old he left school and for the subsequent twelve years was engaged in making cores, and was then promoted to the position of general utility man, doing work on the St. Louis and Chicago Railroad, now the Illinois Central Railroad. He was also on the Big Four Railroad for a number of years. About 1896 he embarked in a retail coal business and seven years later added the handling of all kinds of junk and now has a large and paying busi- Iless. St. Mary's Catholic Church holds his membership. In politics he is a Democrat and he served as alderman of the Second Ward for one term, and for one term as a member of the school board. Mr. Welsh has never married.
WESTCOTT, Nathan Hartt, one of the pro- gressive general farmers and stockraisers of Butler Grove Township, is a well known man in Montgomery County. He was born in Butler Grove Township, November 14, 1892, a son of Thomas and Amelia C. (Dale) Westcott. he born in North Scituate, R. I., and she at Hills- boro. Ill. Their living children are as follows : Nathan Hartt : Faith Iola, who is at home; Charles M., who is in the United States Navy ; and Mary Joyce and Lucy Gertrude, who are at home.
Nathan Hartt Wescott attended the Ware's Grove district school, and Hillsboro High school. and when he was eighteen years old, on account of the ill health of his father he had to leave school and devote himself to conducting two farms comprising 295 acres, both of which were in Butler Grove Township. Until his marriage. he and his mother lived on the homestead, at which time she moved to Hillsboro, where she still resides.
On November 22, 1916, Nathan H. Westcott was married to Grace Lestina Osborn, born in Butler Grove Township, a daughter of Jesse W. and Emma (Ware) Osborn, natives of Butler Grove Township. Mrs. Westcott attended the Hillsboro High school. She is a member of the Ladies' Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. to which she and Mr. Westcott belong, and of which he is a trustee as well as superin- tendent of the Sunday school, both being very active in church work. Mr. Westcott is a Repub- lican and is a township school trustee. In his farming Mr. Westcott devotes his attention to general crops and the raising of horses, cattle and hogs, and is very successful.
WESTCOTT, Thomas Knowlton, now deceased, but formerly one of the substantial agricultur- alists of Montgomery County, was born near Providence. R. I., September 20. 1862. a son of Charles Maurice and Betsy (Ware) Westcott,
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natives of Rhode Island and of Butler Town- ship, Montgomery County, Ill. The maternal grandfather, Obediah Ware was a very early settler of Butler Grove Township, this county, where he entered land from the government, having come here from Massachusetts. Charles Maurice Westcott came to Butler Grove Town- ship where he was married. later returning to Rhode Island where some of his children were born. There he worked at his trade of a car- penter. After his return to Butler Grove Town- ship he worked at his trade to some extent and also farmed owning a large tract of land. After his death his widow married (second) Rev. Caleb P. Baldwin, and is again widowed and lives in Butler Grove Township.
Thomas Knowlton Westcott attended the dis- trict schools of Butler Grove Township. Mont- gomery County and a Friend's school, at Provi- dence, R. I., from which he graduated in 1882. On November 3. 1891, he was married to Amelia Cram Dale, born at Pana. Ill., a daughter of Oliver S. and Mary E. (Cram) Dale, natives of Otisfield, Me., and Montgomery County. The grandfather, Archilus Dale, came at an early day to Montgomery County. The maternal grand- parents were Latinus and Ann (Hartt) Cram, natives of New England. After his marriage, Thomas K. Westcott took up his residence on the home farm of his father's estate. compris- ing 300 acres, and operated it, becoming a large stock raiser. He continued on this place until his death, which occurred September 7. 1912.
After his death Mrs. Westcott conducted the farm with the help of her sons until the fall of 1916 when she moved to Hillsboro. Mrs. West- cott lost her mother January 26, 1914 and her father died November 10. 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Westcott had the following children : Nathan Hartt, who is conducting the home farm ; Faith Iola, who is at home; Charles Maurice who is serving his country in the United States Navy ; Warten Dale, who died in infancy ; and Mary Joyce and Lucy Gertrude. both of whom are at home. Mrs. Westcott attended the Hillsboro public schools and academy, graduating from the high school in 1SS6. She is a member of the Butler Grove Science Club, serving it as secre- tary for many years, and as president for one year. She has also served as president of the Ladies Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which the Wescotts belonged, and of which Mr. Westcott was trustee and treasurer, as well as superintendent of the Sunday school. In politics he was a Republican. The possessor of many sterling and admirable qualities, he is remembered as a good man and desirable citizen.
WHITE, Albert, a prosperous farmer of Pitman Township, 'residing on Section 9. is one of the representative agriculturists of Montgomery County. He was born in Harvel Township. January 13, 1863, a son of J. W. and Susan (Cromwell) White. J. W. White was born in Pike County, Ill., and his wife was born in Ohio, and came to Macoupin County, Ill. with her parents in childhood and was there reared, and
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there she was married January 14, 1858. Mr. and Mrs. White in 1858 settled on a farm in the northwestern part of Harvel Township, now owned by Henry C. Wellar, and lived there for a number of years, removal later being made to Section 9, Pitman Township, in 1865, where they spent the rest of their lives. In religion he was a Free Thinker, and in politics an independent voter. Mr. White died December 20, 1904, and Mrs. White, October 2, 1905. Eight children were born to them, three of whom survive: Lydia, who is the wife of R. V. Carroll ; Albert ; and John C., who married Alice Wilson, and resides at Litchfield, Ill.
Albert White was reared on the homestead in Pitman Township, and attended the district schools, remaining at home until he attained his majority, when he began working for hin- self. Mr. White was married to Lydia Sharp who died June 9, 1893 and they had three chil- dren : Susie E., who is the wife of Harmon Grisham of North Dakota; James W .; and Roy A. On February 20, 1895, Mr. White was mar- ried to Mary E. Grisham who is connected with one of the oldest families in Montgomery County. She was born in this county, August 13, 1874, and attended the common schools. Mr. and Mrs. White became the parents of five chil- dren, namely : Zetta L., Pauline, Elizabeth. Har- vey and Clarence, all at home. Mrs. White is a member of the Christian Church of Walshville, Ill. Mr. White belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is an independent voter. He owns 160 acres of land, and follows diversified farming.
WHITE, Bliss C., was reared at Effingham. Ill., and was graduated from its high school, follow- ing which he entered Austin College at Effingham and also took a year's course in the Normal school at Carbondale, Ill. Leaving school Mr. White became a stenographer for the Democratic State Central Committee in Chicago in 1900, and in 1901 he came to Hillsboro and went into the real estate business with James E. Colvin, this connection continuing until the death of Mr. Colvin in 1907. Mr. White then was elected secretary of the Hillsboro Building and Im- provement Association, which position he still holds. For a short time he was associated with George T. Seward in the real estate business. In 190S Mr. Seward sold his interest in the firmn to John B. White, a brother of Bliss C. White, who have since continued in the real estate and insurance business under the firm name of White & White.
On November 15, 1905, Mr. White was married to Miss Lela Fisher, a daughter of John O. and Marie (Seward) Fisher. They have three chil- dren, namely : John V., Robert C. and Bruce F. Mr. and Mrs. White are members of Presbyterian Church at Hillsboro, and he belongs to Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 51 A. F. & A. M. In politics he is a Democrat, and was supervisor of Hills- boro Township for two terms, and chairman of the county board for one year. During the cam- paigns of 1910 and 1912 he was a member of the Democratic County Central Committee.
Mr. White's father. John C. White, and his mother, Ellen (Bliss) White, were natives of North Carolina and Montgomery County respec- tively. They had five children as follows : Mary, who died in infancy; Bliss C .; Nellie K., who died when nine years old; Anne, who is the wite of Arthur B. Meservey of Hanover, N. H., an instructor at Dartmouth College; and John B., who lives at Hillsboro.
The paternal grandfather was Jolin B. White. a college professor, who in 1855 founded Almira College, at Greenville, Ill., and continued in charge until 1878, excepting two years he served as chaplain of the One Hundred and Seventeenth Illinois Volunteers during the Civil War. The maternal grandfather was Alfred Bliss, a native of New England, who came to Montgomery County, Ill., and settled on a farm east of where Fillmore now stands in the year 1838. He was a successful farmer and for many years a Methodist preacher during which time he was pastor at many places in southern Illinois.
James White. the founder of this branch of the White family. is supposed to have been a native of Scotland, who came to this country in the first half of the eighteenth century, locat- ing at Lancaster, Mass., and afterwards moved to Pembroke, N. H., where he died.
WHITE, Chalmer, a successful horse breeder of Montgomery County, is living at No. 442 Roun- tree Street, Hillsboro, and is regarded as one of the city's most respected citizens. He was born in East Fork Township, this county, seven miles southeast of Hillsboro, and three miles north of Coffeen, April 18, 1867, a son of James and Susan A. (IIoffman) (Neff) White, natives of Ken- tucky and Ohio. They had seven children : William J., who lives at Litchfield, Ill .; Chal- mer ; Quitman, who died at the age of twenty- three years ; and four who died in childhood. The father was a farmer who came to Illinois in 1854, and located on a farm where his son Chal- mer was born and on which he reared his chil- dren. The mother died at the age of sixty-four years, and after her deatlı he moved to Nebraska where he spent the remainder of his life, dying when about seventy-four years old. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Prior to her marriage with Mr. White, she had been married to William Neff, and they had five children, and those still living are: Warren M., who lives at Hillsboro, where he is a black- smith ; Margaret, who is the widow of Stanford Dunkerly; and Servilla, who is the wife of R. W. Mason of Hillsboro. During the Civil War James White enlisted in Company B, One Hun- dred and Eighteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. and served for three and one-half years, or until the close of the war, as a private.
Chalmer White was reared on his father's farm in East Fork Township, and attended its district schools. Until he was a man grown he remained at home. and then went to Coffeen. and thence to Hillsboro, where he remained for a little over a year. After marrying. he located on the old homestead and spent five years, when he returned to Hillsboro, and went into the
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horse-breeding business, in which he has since continued. On November 14, 1895, Mr. White was married to Miss Magdalena R. Ernst, a daughter of George and Mary (Kiefer) Ernst. Mr. and Mrs. White had six children, namely : Arthur and Walter (twins), who died in infancy ; John, who is deceased; and Anna, Ruth and Elmer. Mrs. White was early confirmed in the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. White is a Repub- lican and was township collector of East Fork Township for one term. Mrs. White was born on a farm near Belleville, Ill., February 26, 1871. Her parents were natives of Germany and both are now deceased. They had six children, as follows : George, Anna, Wendell, Henry, August and Magdalena.
WHITE, Ira W., manufacturer of cigars, is one of the responsible business men of Litchfield, and well known in Montgomery County. He was born in Macoupin County, Ill., July 19, 1892, a son of William A. and Eva (Dooley) White, both of whom were born near Gillespie, Macoupin County, Ill. The grandparents, James and Martha White, and Elihu and Susan Dooley, were all born in Illinois. The father was a farmer in his early days, but in 1899 he came to Litchfield, and established the draying busi- ness he is still operating.
Ira W. White attended the grade and high schools, completing his studies in 1907, in which year he commenced working for Christ Zuber, a cigar manufacturer, with whom he learned his trade. In October, 1912, Mr. White began manufacturing cigars, specializing on the fam- ous "Jim White" cigar. In 1915 he put out another specialty, known as the "Magnolia" cigar, which has met with equal favor, both brands being five-cent cigars. Mr. White, with the assistance of one expert cigarmaker and one helper, does every part of the work, so that the quality and standard are kept up. Un- married, Mr. White resides with his parents in their comfortable home at Litchfield. He is a member of the Baptist Church. A Republican, he served as tax collector of North Litchfield Township, being elected in the spring of 1916. Fraternally he is a Mason, and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the order of Moose. A live, energetic, enterprising young man, he deserves the success which has attended his efforts.
WHITE, John C., one of the prosperous men of Litchfield, has made his name a well known one through his real estate operations, and his policy of honorable dealing. He was born in Pitman Township, Montgomery County, Septem- ber 13, 1867, a son of James W. and Susan (Cromwell) White, the former of whom was born at Maysville, Ky., August 11, 1835, and the latter, at Xenia, Ohio. The parents settled on a farm in Pitman Township when it was prin- cipally swamp land, and drained it and placed it under cultivation, becoming the owners of 480 acres of land on which they resided until they died. On the maternal side of the house, John
C. White is descended from the great Lord Pro- tector of England, Oliver Cromwell.
John C. White attended the White school of Pitman Township, and was reared on his father's farm, and early became interested in raising livestock and successful in dealing in it, and followed agricultural pursuits until 1900, when he went to East St. Louis, Ill., and worked as a stock broker in the National Stock Yards for a year, when he left on account of ill health, going then to Waggoner. There he was engaged in handling horses and cattle for a time. He then moved to Farmersville and continued in the same line of business there until 1911, when he came to Litchfield and opened his present real estate office, and since then has built up a very desir- able and profitable connection. A strong Repub- lican he was at one time the successful candi- date of his party for alderman from the Third Ward of Litchfield. For some years he has belonged to the Litchfield Lodge No. 654, B. P. O. E.
On June 8, 1888, Mr. White was married to Miss Alice Wilson, a daughter of Goshen and Mary Jane (McIntyre) Wilson. Mrs. White was one of thirteen children, and one of her sisters is Mrs. S. D. Canaday, of Hillsboro, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. White have one daughter, Blanch Olive. who was born March 17, 1889. She was married on August 16, 1913, to J. Carl Dodds of Litch- field. Mr. White owns a farm in Pitman Town- ship, and another farm in North Litchfield Town- ship, and his residence at No. 715 North State Street, Litchfield. A man of sound business principles, he has always conducted his under- takings upon them, and has met with a pros- perity that is gratifying as well as deserved. His family is an old one in the county, and his connections are wide-spread. Having so many interests here, his efforts are naturally directed toward securing more improvements for his com- munity and county, and in order to accomplish this, he is willing to exert himself to the utmost.
WHITE, Joseph A., now deceased, was for many years a prosperous business man of Litchfield, and is remembered with respect by his former associates. He was born in Nova Scotia. in October, 1843. His parents were of French birth, who came to America in 1857, and to the United States, locating in Illinois.
During the Civil War, Joseph A. White gave the North loyal support, enlisting in an Illinois regiment, and seeing some hard service. After the close of the war he was honorably dis- charged, Returning to Illinois, he was first employed in a planing mill, but had the mis- fortune to lose his right foot in an accident in a flour mill, in 1893. Upon his recovery he established himself in a cigar store and con- ducted it until 1913, when he sold his business and lived in retirement until his death which occurred November 27. 1916.
In his young manhood Joseph White was mar- ried but lost his first wife in 1896, they never having had any children.' On October 20, 1903. he was married (second) to Margaret Horn Brandt, born in Bavaria, Germany, who came
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to the United States in 1860, first living at Louisville, Ky., where she was married to George Lex. They had two sons, namely : George who died in March, 1909, leaving a wife and five children, and Joseph, who died in infancy. After the death of Mr. Lex, Mrs. Lex was mar- ried to Hugo Brandt, who also died. Mr. White was a Catholic and his widow is of the same religious faith. In politics he was a Republican. In spite of his affliction. he was successful in business, and he won and held the confidence of all with whom he came into contact.
WHITE, J. W., superintendent of the Witt schools for the past two years, and one of the scholarly and highly trained men of Montgomery Connty who takes pride in his work and the standard he is able to maintain, was born at New Boston, south of Coffeen, in East Fork Township, Montgomery County, Ill., March 25, 1875, a son of Ivy J. and Helen (Clifford) White. Ivy J. White was born in Montgomery County, Ill., March 22, 1840. while his wife was born in Bond County, 1853, and they were there married. settling on a farm where she died in 1SS1. The father continued to live on this farm until 18SS, when he went to Donellson, this county, and was postmaster there for several years. Returning to East Fork Township, he continued to live on a farm, and during the winter months he taught school, and he also served as assessor of East Fork Township for a time. and was a school trustee. Until his health failed he so continued, but he is now retired from active life. At one time he was active in the Masonic fraternity at Donellson, Ill. In politics he is a Democrat,
J. W. White remained with his father until he was thirteen years old and then began working for other farmers, receiving his early educa- tional training in the schools of East Fork Town- ship, and later going to the Donellson High school, from which he was graduated in 1896. He then entered the Normal school at Danville and completed the teacher's course. Following this he taught in the country schools for seven years, and was then made principal of schools at Coffeeu, and after two years more assumed the duties of superintendent at Reno, Ill. A year later he went to Donellson where he re- mained a year, going thence to Sorento. At the latter place he remained for eight years, and then he came to Witt, where for two years he has been in charge of the excellent publie schools.
On June 24. 1911, Mr. White was married to Mae Bacon. a daughter of R. A. Bacon of Ray- mond. 111. She was educated in the Raymond schools, and also at the E. I. N. at Charleston. Ill. For the subsequent two years she taught school in Montgomery County. Mrs. White is a member of the Royal Neighbors and of the Eastern Star at Sorento, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. White belong to the Presbyterian Church of Witt in which he is an elder. In politics he is a Democrat. Both Mr. and Mrs. White are highly educated and have gathered about them an intellectual circle, the members of which are
deeply interested in the moral uplift and de- velopment of Witt.
WHITEHOUSE, Elmer M., Oph. D., a leading young Ophthalmologist and Optician of Litch- field, and a man who stands very high in his profession, was born in South Litchfield Town- ship. in March, 1886, a son of John A. and Anna (Garrell) Whitehouse. His father was born in Macoupin County, Ill., in 1860. in a house erected in 1856 that is still standing and his mother was also born in 1SCO. The paternal grandparents were William A. and Justina (Noble) Whitehouse, he born in Prussia, in 1829, and she in Bavaria, Germany, in 1834.
In 1856 William A. Whitehouse came to the I'nited States, and located on the line between Macoupin and Montgomery counties, where he became a heavy landowner, and his widow at the time of her death, was able to walk eight miles in one direction without leaving her own land, the greater portion of which was in Montgomery County, and South Litchfield Township. He died in 1878, and the grandmother died in 1897. The maternal grandparents. Folkert and Mar- garet Garrell, were also born in Germany, and became early settlers of Macoupin County, where they located about 1858. After their marriage John A. Whitehouse aud his wife located on 200 acres of land three miles south of Litchfield and owned besides forty acres located in Macoupin County. The Whitehouses were very progressive. William A. Whitehouse conducting the first threshing machine in this section, and also the first one operated by steam. He was a capable and trustworthy man and on one occasion went to Chicago with $15,000 tied up in a red handkerchief, to buy lumber for his own use and that of several of his neighbors, and lost none of it. Although he landed in this country with but $800. he became one of the richest men of this part of the state. and his thrift and ability have been inherited by his descendants. The parents of Dr. Whitehouse remained on their farm until 1893 when they went to Springfield, and the father, renting the farm, worked in the mines at that point until 1898, when he returned to the farm, there living until he was accidentally killed by a Wabash railroad train December 30. 1904. After his death, the mother , with the help of her children, continued to operate the farm until 1912 when she moved to Litchfield, bought property on East Ryder Street. on which she now lives. The father was a Republican in politics. He and the mother had the following children : Edward H .. who is on the home farm: Dr. George F., who lives in Chicago; Dr. Elmer M., residing in Litchfield and Amanda I., who lives with her mother.
Elmer M. Whitehouse attended the public schools of Springfield, and Rowley's College of Ophthalmology at St. Louis, where his brother was a teacher. The two subsequently formed a partnership, and were together at Bloomington until the fall of 1912. when they dissolved their association, and Dr. Elmer M. Whitehouse prac- ticed at Springfield until July. 1916, when he
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came to Litchfield. He specializes on correcting crossed eyes, and is very successful. For two days of the week he travels through ten towns, and the balance of the time is at his Litchfield office.
Dr. Whitehouse was married December 25, 1911, to Jennie Binney, born at Staunton, Ill., a daughter of Thomas and Ona (Bowles) Binney, natives of Staunton and Worden, Ill. Dr. and Mrs. Whitehouse have three children : Elma Anna, Bonney Bowles and John Alexander. They belong to the English Lutheran Church. Dr. Whitehouse is a member of the Illinois Ophthalmological Society, and the American Optical Association.
WHITLOCK, John M., one of the representative retired farmers of Fillmore Township, who owns and operates a fine property on Section 4, known as the Grove Farm, on which he planted the magnificent trees, is one of the best known men of this locality. He was born in North Carolina, December 10, 1831, a son of Samnel and Berthena (Bowles) Whitlock, both natives of North Carolina. Samuel Whitlock was a son of James and Nancy Whitlock, the former coming to this country from Scotland, and becoming the father of children as follows: William, John, Samuel. Thomas, Sylvia, and Polly. Locating in North Carolina, James Whitlock became first a merchant, and later a farmer, and he and his wife both died in North Carolina. Samuel Whit- lock was reared in his native state, where he married, leaving North Carolina for Ohio in 1845. Ile remained in Preble County, Ohio, until 1851, when he moved to Illinois. and lived in South Litchfield Township nntil 185S. when he died. His wife died in 1854. Both were mem- bers of the Free Will Baptist Church, with which they were connected from childhood. He was a Democrat. Of his seven children, two survive, namely: James Lee, who is a retired farmer of California ; and John M.
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