USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II > Part 68
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bery was married to Miss Lulu Bailey, a daugh- ter of Leonard Perry and Cordelia A. (Black- wood) Bailey, and six children were born to them : Clara, Charles, Homer, Hazel, and Edgar and Willard who died young.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Attebery moved on a farm in the northeast corner of Sec- tion 28, where he purchased 108 acres of his father, and lived on it until 1901, when he moved on his present farm, comprising 468 acres of land, he owning all in all 587 acres. He does general farming and utilizes modern methods in his work. His place is equipped with all kinds of improved machinery, and in 1907 he built a very large and modern residence, and he has commodious barns and other buildings, the farm being one of the finest and best equipped in the county. In politics Mr. Attebery is a Demo- crat, and while he keeps well informed on the questions of the day, he has never wanted office, preferring to give his undivided time to his busi- ness. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mrs. Attebery was born at Walshville, Ill., March 17, 1866, her father being a native of Ohio, and her mother of Illinois. Her father died January 27. 1911. aged seventy-five years six months and two days, but her mother sur- vives. They had eight children: George Edgar, Minnie, Lula. Mrs. Eva Green, Mrs. Cora Bishop, Mrs. Alma Rundles. Frank, and a son who died young. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Atte- bery was George Bailey, and the grandmother Mary (Moore) Bailey. both being natives of Ohio. They had two children: Leonard Perry and George. The maternal grandfather was Johnson Blackwood and he married Sarah Craig. They came from North Carolina to Montgomery County in 1832. and settled near the Waveland Church. where they died. he when about sixty- one years old. and she when eighty-three years old. Their children were as follows: William ; Hampton : Mary, who married first a Mr. Scherer and second a Mr. McFarland : Mrs. Nancy Bost: Mrs. Sarah Cottingham: John : and Mrs. Cordelia A. Bailey, all old and honored names in Montgomery County.
AULT, William .- Among the highly respected and prominent men of Montgomery County was William Ault, now deceased, whose entire life was actuated by honorable principles as mani- fested by his fiedity in citizenship, his trust- worthiness in business relations. his faithful- ness in friendship. and his devotion to his family. He was born in Hardy County, W. Va., near Petersburg. July 26. 1840. and there spent the days of his boyhood and youth. He re- mained at home until after the inauguration of the Civil War, when in 1862. prompted by a spirit of loyalty to the Union, he enlisted as a member of Company B. First Maryland Cav- alry. with which he served for three years. lacking two montlis. He participated in the battle of Gettysburg, and carried dispatches to Williamsport, Pa., during that battle. At the
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battle of Chaneellorsville, he and a eomrade by the name of Martin were sent out as scouts to investigate the position and strength of Stonewall Jackson's forces. They were in citi- zen clothes, and while returning Mr. Ault was captured by the Union forces who believed him to be a spy of the enemy, and a rope was secured with which to hang him, when a com- manding Union offieer rode up just in time to save his life, for he recognized the brave and intrepid soldier, who was often found in the thickest of the fight in many hard fought battles, and at the elose of the war was hon- orably discharged with the rank of corporal.
Following the close of hostilities, Mr. Auit spent a year in Ohio and then came to Mont- gomery County, Ill., where he continued to re- side until called to his final rest. He was married in this county on September 30, 1875, to Miss Mary Corlew, a daughter of Rev. Wil- liam H. Corlew and Eliza (Black) Corlew, He was born in Illinois, and was brought to Montgomery County by his father, Philip Cor- lew, who was one of the earliest of the pioneers. He was the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Wil- liam Ault, and he was married to Anna Kin- caid. Ile was from Kentucky and she from West Virginia. They were among the very early settlers of Hillsboro Township, and kept a tavern or inn where they fed travelers. That was before the days of railroads. They lived to a good old age. Their children were as follows: Lindsay, John, David, William, Jane, Philip, Nancy and Angeline. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Alt was Pinkney Black, and his wife bore the maiden name of Mont- gomery, and she was born in Georgia. They had three children, namely : Eliza, James and John.
William H. Corlew became a minister of the Baptist Church, and was engaged in preaching the gospel for many years. He was also a prominent man in publie affairs, and for a long period served as a justice of the peace, his decisions being strietly fair and impartial. He was always true to every trust, and his high moral worth and his active interest in the welfare of his fellowmen made him valued and highly respected. He married Eliza A. Black, and they became the parents of seven children, namely : Henriette, now deceased, who was the wife of B. Kessinger of Kansas; Martha, who is deceased, was the wife of James Sims; Mrs. Ault; Eliza, now deceased ; Amanda, who died at the age of six years; Luey, who is now Mrs. A. Bissell in Colorado; and Lottie, who is the wife of Addison Apple- gate, is residing on the old home farm of the family. Reverend Corlew, who was born in 1819, died March 3, 1897, and his wife whose birth occurred in Illinois, January 12, 1824. passed away April 7, 1904. Like her husband she was a most consistent Christian. In early life she joined the Christian Church and her religious faith was manifest in her kind and generous spirit and many deeds of helpfulness and of merey. On February 5, 1846, she gave her hand in marriage to Reverend Corlew, and
was thereafter a most devoted companion and helpmate to him on the journey of lite. Martha (Mrs. Sims), their daughter, lett one son, Edgar Sims.
William Ault was a son of Daniel and Mary (Strader) Ault, natives of West Virginia, being born near a small town named Petersburg. They lived in the mountains, and there died, having been farming people, and they had six children, namely : Adonijah; Henry, who died in the Civil War while confined in Libby prison ; William, Daniel, Anna and Maggie. William Ault and wife had the following chil- dren : Anna, Daisy, Margaret, Retta, Verna and Vena. Anna died when over two years of age, and Daisy when fifteen months old. Margaret was married to Christopher Knag and they lived at Hillsboro, and have a son, Myron. Retta was married to E. A. Lewey, the present county superintendent of schools, and they have one son, Everett Harold. Miss Verna is a teacher in the Auburn district school. Vena was married to Oscar Lee Dolson, and they live at McLean, McLean County, Ill., where he is in a lumber business. They have a daugh- ter, Eleanor. All the daughters are intellectual and well educated. Mrs. Margaret Knag was educated in Dixon and taught school at Butler, Irving and other places. Mrs. Retta Lewey took courses of study in Valparaiso, Ind., and Dixon, Ill., and taught school in various places in this county. Miss Verna Ault took a normal course at Charleston, Ill., and has taught sehool five terms. In the Raymond publie schools she was instructor of higher mathematics, and taught the same braneh in the Nokomis High school. She is a member of the Woman's Re- lief Corps and Herman Chapter No. 91, O. E. S. at Hillsboro. She is also chairman of the Woman's Counsel of National Defense. She has traveled extensively in the east and south, visiting many of the principal cities. Mrs. Vena Dolson is a graduate from the University of Normal, where she took a four years' course.
Upon coming to Montgomery County in 1866, William Ault settled near Woodsboro in Hills- boro Township, and soon thereafter he- joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, was made a elass leader, and superintendent of the Sunday sehool. He also served as steward and trustee of the church. An intelligent, enterprising, public-spirited man, he was also a kind and loving husband and father, and good citizen. For eighteen years he kept his altar warm with family devotion, and on his last day, he uttered the prayer that if this day should be the last of his or his family's life, they might wake up in the arms of Jesus. At the time of his marriage Mr. Ault took his bride to his farm and continued to engage in agricultural pursuits until his death. He was very practical as well as progressive in his farm work, and as the years passed, accumulated a handsome competence, leaving when he died 320 acres of land, to which his wife has sinee added by purchase eighty aeres, so that she now has 400 acres, six miles south of Hillsboro, in Hillsboro Township. She superintends this place, and
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displays excellent ability thereby. Mrs. Ault was born in Hillsboro Township, April 15, 1851, and attended the district schools, and the old Hillsboro Academy, and then taught three terms of school. She settled her hus- band's estate and later her father's estate, and has always been a very busy woman. Always active in the church, she taught the bible class in the Sunday school for many years, holding to the same religious faith as did her husband.
On June 2, 1896, Mr. Ault was returning home from work in apparently the best of health, and driving a team of mules that were pulling two wagons when he was stricken un- doubtedly with heart failure, and died at once. His team continued on to the barnyard and stopped, when it was soon afterward discov- ered that he was dead in the front wagon. Ile had previously suffered from heart trouble, which led to the belief that that was the cause of his death. He had been a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics was a Re- publican, giving unfaltering support to his party.
BAKER, Joseph McLean, one of the leading ex- ponents of the legal profession of Montgomery County, is a highly esteemed resident of Hills- boro, and a man widely and favorably known in this part of the state. He was born in Grisham Township, October 5, 1866, a son of Rev. William P. and Margaret J. (McLean) Baker, natives of Illinois. Two children were born to these parents, namely : Joseph McLean, and Mary J., who resides at Hillsboro. Rev. William P. Baker was reared in Macon County, Ill., and was originally a Cumberland Presby- terian minister, and later a Presbyterian clergyman, after the two factions were reunited. His birth occurred February 25, 1835, and he died at Hillsboro, July 15, 1917. His wife was born December 14, 1835. At his death he and his wife owned a finely improved farm of 179 acres in Grisham Township, and a comfortable resi- dence at Hillsboro. During his occupancy of the ministry, he held some important charges, and for many years was statistic clerk of the Vandalia presbytery.
The paternal grandfather, William D. Baker, was married to Marilla Martin, they being na- tives of North Carolina, who moved first to Tennessee and then to Illinois, becoming pioneers of Macon County, where they both died, he at the age of eighty-three years, and she at the age of ninety-four years. They had five children who lived to maturity, namely : James D., who died in Kansas; Lavina Dennis ; Mary E. Smith, who died in August, 1916; Rev. William P .; and Rev. Nathan Martin, who now lives in Decatur, Ill. The paternal great- grandfather, Nathan Baker, moved from North Carolina to Tennessee, and died there. The great-great-grandfather was Michael Baker, The maternal grandfather of William P. Baker was Josiah Martin, who was a Revolutionary soldier. The maternal grandfather of Joseph M. Baker was Joseph McLean, and he was mar- ried to Abigail Paisley, they both being natives
of North Carolina and early settlers of Mont- gomery County. He died when about sixty-five years old, and she in middle life. They had three children, as follows: William A., who moved to Nebraska; Melissa, who was married to Walker F. Hickman; and Margaret Janc. . William P. Baker was twice married. His first wife was Mary Wilson, and they had two chil- dren, namely : William Calvin, who died leav- ing a son, William Elmer, now living at Girard, Kans. ; and Ora D., who was married to George H. Donnell, and they live at Snohomish, Wash.
Joseph M. Baker lived at different places according to his father's ministerial changes, but since 1879 has made Montgomery County his home. He was reared in a religious family atmosphere, and sent to the schools of the various places where the family was in resi- dence, and was graduated from the Hillsboro High school in 1885. For the succeeding three years he was engaged in teaching school, and then began the study of law under James M. Truitt, and was admitted to the bar in 1889, since which time he has been engaged in a gen- eral practice at Hillsboro. On July 25, 1906, he was married to Miss Lola E. Hammack, a daughter of James Franklin and Lily May (Jacques) Hammack. Mrs. Baker was born in Arkansas, September 21, 1885. Her father was a native of Illinois. After the death of her mother in 1SSS, her father was married (second) to Miss Louisa Armstrong, and they have three children, namely: Minnie, who is the wife of James Brown, Jr .; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Benjamin Owens; and Lucy Ham- mack, who is a teacher living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have one child, Margaret May. Both Mr. and Mrs. Baker belong to the Presby- terian Church in which he has been an elder for sixteen years, and he has been a member of the Church Extension Committee of the Alton Presbytery for ten years.
A man of high standing, Mr. Baker has been selected by the directors of the People's Na- tional Bank of Hillsboro as vice-president, and he has been president of the Hillsboro Improve- ment Association for thirteen or fourteen years, and is a stockholder of the Montgomery County Loan and Trust Company. For two terms he was president of the Hillsboro Board of Edu- cation. In politics he is a Republican, and served Hillsboro as city attorney for many years. He had the distinction of being a dele- gate to the convention that nominated Richard Yates, Jr., for governor of Illinois, and for a number of years he was a member of the Re- publican County Central Committee, and dur- ing the campaign of 1904 he served it as chair- man.
BALD, W. F., cashier and a director of the No- komis National Bank and connected with this institution since October 29, 1905, and since January, 1918, a director also of the Florida Bank of St. Petersburg, Fla., is one of the lead- ing financiers of Montgomery County. He was born on a farm in Greenwood Township. Octo- ber 14, 1884, a son of Frank and Mary. (Kettel-
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
kamp) Bald. Frank Bald was born in St. Clair County, Ill., his parents being of German extrae- tion. Until he was twenty-one years old, Frank Bald lived in his native county, but at that time eame to Greenwood Township. He married Mary Kettelkamp, who was born in Christian County, Ill., whose parents also came from Ger- many at an early day. After their, marriage Frank Bald and his wife located in St. Clair County, later, going to Christian County, where they now reside. They have had seven children : Lydia, who married Fred H. Stolte, of Edwards- ville, Ill .; E. O., who is at home; Bertha, who is the wife of W. K. Zeigler, of Stonington, Ill .; Emma, who is the wife of D. W. Ekhoff, of No- komis, Ill .; Ida C., who is the wife of Charles R. Hanft, of New Athens, Ill .; W. F .; and Edna, who is at home. The parents are very active in the German Methodist Church.
W. F. Bald was reared on his father's farm, and attended the local schools. Immediately after completing his school course, he entered the Nokomis National Bank as assistant book- keeper, and in his successive promotions his faithfulness and ability have received recogni- tion until he is now cashier of the institution and a member of its direeting body. From Janu- ary to May, 1914, he was assistant cashier, and in the latter month he received his present ap- pointment. Further recognition of his standing in the financial world was accorded him in Janu- ary, 1918, when he was made a member of the board of directors of the Florida Bank at St. Petersburg, Fla.
On April 8, 1909, Mr. Bald was married to Kate Cornelia Hubbard, born at Nokomis, Ill., a daughter of I. G. and Alice (Mobrey) Hubbard. Mr. Bald is a member of Nokomis Lodge No. 456, A. F. & A. M. In polities he is a Republican. St. Mark's English Lutheran Church holds his membership. In addition to his banking duties, Mr. Bald discharges those of treasurer of the Nokomis Building Association, and in every re- spect is one of the solid, alert and prosperous men ot this section.
BALL, Elbert W., cashier of the John Ball & Company Bank at Farmersville, is one of the men of affairs of Montgomery County, where he is held in the highest esteem. He was born near Girard, Macoupin County, Ill., August 28, 1872, a son of John and Jane E. (Witt) Ball. John Ball was born at Tallybone, Wales, Octo- ber 19, 1842, and came to the United States in December, 1855, locating in Virden, Ill., when he was still a boy. He was one of fourteen children. and his father dying in 1856, his mother managed to rear her large family, but they were very poor. In 1858 the boys rented a farm from Lewis H. Thomas, and they lived on it until 1866, and by working hard they prospered and were able to buy 320 acres of land west of Farmersville. In time John Ball was married and he then bought a farm across the road from the family place, and lived on it until he moved to Farmersville in November, 1907. In 1892 he founded the private bank of John Ball & Co. at Farmersville, Ill., of which
he was president. As his judgment was excel- lent he made money and his advice was sought by men from all over the county. A man of broad ideas, he contributed liberally to all things he believed would work out for the public good. Fraternally he was a Mason. He and his wife had five children, namely: Clar- ence H., who lives at Thomasville, Ill .; Eibert W .; Agnes, who is the wife of C. M. Simonson ; Allen J., who is a farmer of Macoupin County ; and Amy J., who is the wife of Dr. K. L. Hays of Farmersville, Ill.
Elbert W. Ball was reared on the farm of his father and sent to the local schools, remain- ing at home until he was twenty-three years old, when he entered the bank as casbier, which position he still retains. On December 26, 1901, Mr. Ball was married to Metta S. Simonson, who was born in this township. She attended the grade and high schools of Farmersville, and is a well informed lady. Mr. and Mrs. Ball have one daughter, Amy Elberta, who was born in 1902. Mrs. Ball is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. Fraternally Mr. Ball belongs to the Girard Lodge No. 132, A. F. & A. M. In politics a Republican, he takes an intelligent man's interest in seeing that good men are elected to office. Mr. Ball is inter- ested in his farm, on which he raises and feeds stock of all kinds upon an extensive scale. A man of many affairs, he occupies a very prolll- inent place in the county, anl like his father is called upon to exercise his judgment in im- portant financial matters.
BALL, Henry Samuel, one of the successful farmers of North Litchfield Township, and a man highly respected in Montgomery County, was born in Licking County, Ohio, October 5, 1858, a son of Samuel D. and Christina (Dieker- son) Ball, natives of New Jersey and Virginia. In the spring of 1860 the parents came to Illi- nois, and bought several farms in Dry Fork Township. Shelby County. Later on in life the father moved into Shelbyville, where he died in 1870. The mother died in Ohio, in 1872.
Henry Samuel Ball attended the common schools of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, the public schools of Shelbyville, and is a well informed man. He learned the butchering trade, and worked at it until 1876, when he came to Liteh- field and engaged in farming by the monthi. On December 22, 1880, he was married to Emma L. Sloman, born in Macoupin County. Ill., a daughter of John and Sarah (Lamb) Sloman, natives of Devonshire, England, and Mississippi, respectively. After his marriage Mr. Ball lived at Litchfield for a year, being employed as a painter in the shops of the Big Four Railroad Company, and then moved to Macounin County, Ill., where he rented land from his father-in-law. Later he rented other land, and remained in that county for thirteen years. For the subsequent six years he rented land in South Litchfield Township, when he re- turned to his father-in-law's farm for six years. Mr. Ball then moved to Litchfield and was in partnership with II. D. Buell in a meat market,
James R. Sharp and Family
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
but three years later sold his interest to Frank Snow, and became manager for two years of the Farmers Elevator Company at Litchfield. He then bought the Ideal Grocery and Meat Market, and conducted it for nine months, when he sold it and began buying and shipping live stock. In 1914 he erected fine buildings on his eighty-acre farm on Section 32, North Litch- field Township, where he carries on general farming, although he continues to deal in live stock and he also raises some stock of his own.
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The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ball have been as follows: Ethel Claire, who married William P. Gillespie, of Albany, Ore .; Ollie Udora, who married Thomas E. Combs, of Red- lands, Cal. ; and Mary Blanche, who is a teacher in the Litchfield High school; and Samuel Sloman, who is at home, is the only son. Mrs. Ball was educated in the district schools Both Mr. and Mrs. Ball are Methodists and he served on the official board of the church for years, and for several years he was a school director. In the spring of 1915 he was elected assistant supervisor of North Litchfield Township on the Republican ticket. For two and one-half years Mr. Ball was on the board of Holden Hospital. Mrs. Ball served for five years as president of the Foreign Missionary Society, and is still a member of it. Mr. and Mrs. Ball are very prominent people, charitably inclined and anxious to do all in their power to raise the moral tone of their neighborhood and to better general conditions.
BANDY, Charles W., one of the leading veter- inary surgeons of Montgomery County and now located at Litchfield, is a credit to his profes- sion and community. He was born in North Litchfield Township, July 7, 1872, a son of John F. and Ellen (Stivers) Bandy, natives of Tennessee and Ohio, respectively. They were married in North Litchfield Township, where the father engaged in farming until his death in April, 1873. The mother was married (sec- ond) to W. D. Martin, and continued to live in North Litchfield Township. Mr. Martin died in 1SSS, but Mrs. Martin survives, making her home among her children.
When he was sixteen years old Dr. Bandy began being self supporting, first by working on the railroad for a few months. following which he went to Decatur and served a three years' apprenticeship to a dyer and cleaner, and then conducted a shop of his own at that place for about four months, then came to Litchfield and conducted the same business for two years. On account of ill health, he had to abandon that line of work and in order. to get out into the open air, worked as a brake- man on the J. & S. L. Railroad, now the Chi- cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, for a year. For the following three years he was engaged in various occupations. always seeking some- thing that would keep him out of doors. Hav- ing a natural liking for animals. he finally de- cided to study to be a veterinary practitioner. and took one year's course in a veterinary col- lege at Kansas City, Mo., completing his studies
at Toronto, Canada, where he was graduated in 1903. Having passed the state examinations, he embarked in practice at Farmersville, Ill., but a year later moved to Raymond, where he remained until August 1, 1909, when he located at Litchfield, and in March, 1914, took the examination under the civil service commission for assistant state veterinarian, receiving his appointment as such in October of that same year.
On January 11, 1909, Dr. Bandy was married to Anna Brown, daughter of George W. and Minerva Isabelle Brown. Dr. and Mrs. Bandy have one daughter, Beulah Pauline. In politics Dr. Bandy is a Democrat. He is a live, ener- getic man and skillful practitioner, and the above appointment shows that his ability is appreciated.
BARCROFT, Victor B., M. D., proprietor of a private sanitarium at Litchfield, is one of the able men of his profession in Montgomery County. He was born in Armstrong County, Pa., October 29, 1855, a son of Dr. Ambrose and Charlotte D. (Woodworth) Barcroft, na- tives of New Jersey and ot Armstrong County, Pa. The father, also a physician, came to Mon- mouth, Ill., in 1865, and there practiced until he moved to Walshville, Ill., where he died in 1894, the mother surviving him until 1904.
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