Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 83

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 810

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James A. Greene was educated in the public schools of East Fork Township and remained at home until he was eighteen years old when he and the family moved to Coffeen, leaving the farm on which his father had died. In that year he started to work as a mine boy, aud was promoted until he was a full fledged miuer, having started at the very bottom, oiling cars. He was made company weighman and held that position for a number of years, when he was further advanced and made top boss. His next promotion made him assistant mine manager. and during a portion of that time he discharged the duties of mine manager. Had it not beeu for his efforts the Coffeen miue would have been closed long ago, and on October 20, 1916, his services were given recognition by his ap- pointment as superintendent of the company.

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On September 15, 1895, Mr. Greene was mar- ried to Nettie C. Brown, the youngest daughter of Cyrus D. and Hannah (McCann) Brown. Mr. Brown was born on the farm where he spent his life probably about 1827, and died on it about 1909. He was of Scotch descent. Mrs. Greene died September 29, 1896. On March 4, 1899, Mr. Greene was married (second) to Ida Reubart. a daughter of Jeremiah and Laura Reubart, who was born in Montgomery County, and here reared, attending the grade and high schools. She taught school prior to her marriage. They have five children, as fol- lows : Harry W., who is very bright and pro- mising, and has taken gold medals in the coun- ty and the senatorial district for oratory, and also won a scholarship in the Illinois State Fair school; and Inez, Helen J., William E. and Ralph C. Mr. Greene belongs to the Iowa Bankers, the Royal Neighbors and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee, and is very active in church work, and has been a class leader for nineteen years. Mr. Greene has been a member of the Coffeen Na- tional Bank since it was organized, and since 1914 has been its first vice president.

GREGORY, Irvin L., junior member of the firm of File and Gregory, dealers in coal, feed and hay, and proprietors of the elevator and saw- mill at Irving, was born in Irving Township, April 22, 1851, a son of David E. and Peggy (Cress) Gregory.

David E. Gregory was born in North Caro- lina, a son of Jacob Gregory, and he came prior to his marriage to Illinois, stopping for a time in the southern part of the state. With an- other young man he came north to Montgomery County with a one-horse wagon, and here took up a tract of land which lay in both Witt and Irving townships, to which he added until he had 656 acres, and became one of the wealthy men of his locality. His energies were directed toward the development and improvement of his land although he had learned the millwright trade in North Carolina under his father. With the exception of two years spent at Pana, Ill., and the last few years when he lived in retire- ment at Irving, his time was spent on his farm after he came to the county. As he was an ex- pert in his trade, he was occasionally called upon to erect mills in this section of the coun- try and acquitted himself with credit. He mar- ried Peggy Cress, who was born in North Caro- lina, and came to Hillsboro Township with her parents, they driving their livestock all the way. They located near the old Cress farm, and there she grew to young womanhood, and was there married. They had nine children, name- ly : Henry, who died when twenty years old; Hiram, who is living retired in California ; Helena, who is the widow of W. S. Berry, of Irving Township; Rachel who is the wife of Ephraim Ketch of De Soto, Ill .; Leana, who is the wife of Ambrose Kelly of Iola, Kans .; Irvin L .; Clara. who is the wife of D. C. Kelly,

of Kansas City, Mo .; and two who died in in- fancy. The father was an active man in poli- tics, being a Democrat until the organization of the Greenback party, when he adopted its principles. Not only was he a member of the Lutheran Church, but he took a deep interest in its good work.

Irwin L. Gregory was reared in Irving Town- ship and attended its schools, remaining at home until his marriage in September, 1876, to Ilelen Thumb, born in Witt Township, a daughter of Marvin Thumb. Mr. and Mrs. Gre- gory located on the home place where they . lived until 1900, and then moved to farm land in Oklahoma, where they lived until 1913, when Mrs. Gregory died, and Mr. Gregory returned to Irving, Ill., and formed his present partnership. By his first marriage Mr. Gregory had seven children, as follows: Ethel, who is the wife of Dr. Irvin, of Gage, Okla .; Marvin, who lives at Fort Smith, Ark .; Iva, who is the wife of Albert Kelly, lives at Irving, Ill .; Roland, who is at Quinlan, Okla,; Grace who is deceased, was the wife of Harvey Buchanan, of Gage, Okla .; Rosie, who died in infancy; and Roy, who lives at Forest City, Ark. Mr. Gregory was married (second) to Miss Lillian Huestis, a daughter of Hiram and Mary Huestis, of Ir- ving, Ill. Fraternally Mr. Gregory belongs to Irving Lodge No. 455 A. F. & A. M., and is past master of his lodge, and he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America at Gage, Okla., and Mrs. Gregory belongs to the Royal Neigh- bors, at Irving. They are members of the English Lutheran Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, respectively, he being a dea- con of his church. In politics Mr. Gregory is a Prohibitionist and is enthusiastic in his sup- port of his principles regarding the liqnor ques- ton. When he left Oklahoma Mr. Gregory did not sell his farm there, and still owns it.

GRONER, William H., was one of the most active citizens of Litchfield, in the matter of securing public improvements, and was favor- ably known throughout Montgomery County because of his many useful activities. He was a man whose Christian character and profes- sion and high sense of honor made him an ex- ample to his associates, and in numerous ways was a representative man of this section of the state. He was born in North Litchfield Town- ship, October 17. 1842, and died May 30, 1917. He was a son of Tobias and Mary ( Wood) Groner, natives of North Carolina and Tennes- see, respectively.

Tobias Groner came to Montgomery County about 1838, and soon thereafter was married and located in North Litchfield Township, on land which he purchased. His death occurred in 1893, and his wife is also deceased. Their children were as follows: Wilson, who died at the age of seven years; William H .; Rachel C., who is deceased ; Mary, who is Mrs. George Stear of Hunter Bend, Ill .; Martha J., who is the widow of Charles Bodkins of Kansas; Sa- rah E., who is Mrs, Eugene Boone of Decatur,

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Ill .; Eliza J., who is Mrs. Albert Martin of Litchfield ; Jesse M., who lived with William H .; Seagle, who lives in Texas; and John C., who is deceased.

William H. Groner gave his country honor -. able service during the Civil War. He enlisted August 11, 1862, in Company A, Ninety-first Il- linois Volunteer Infantry, and was in Ken- tucky, Texas, Alabama, and along the Missis- sippi River in several states, and ·participated in the siege of Spanish Fort, Fort Blakeley and Elizabethtown Ky. On September 27, 1862, he was taken prisoner by General Morgan's raid- ers, but being paroled, was at Benton Barracks until exchanged the following June, when he rejoined his regiment and was at Fort Hud- son and New Orleans and the campaign in that vicinity and also the engagement at Whistler, Ala .. in April, 1865. In July, 1865, he was honorably discharged and returned home. For a short period afterward he engaged in farm- ing, but then had an attack of rheumatism, and so he concluded to complete his education, which interfered with this kind of work. He attended a select school at Litchfield for three months, then went to Blackburn University. For some years afterwards he taught school, being an in- structor at Raymond, Harvel, Honey Bend, Litchfield, and in 1894 he was elected county superintendent of schools, holding that office until 1898, when he retired from the school- room, and embarked in a real estate and in- surance business with L. F. Wood. After two years, this partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Groner opened an office of his own, later taking a Mr. Taylor into partnership. Always a faith- ful member of the Christian Church, Mr. Groner was ordained a minister of that faith by Bishops Van Hooser and Simms, and preach- ed at different churches in this vicinity once a month, with one church tor thirty-eight years.

On November 24, 1868, Mr. Groner was mar- ried to Amanda C. Roberts, born in North Litch- field Township, a daughter of John S. and Eli- zabeth (Williams) Roberts natives of Ten- nessee and Kentucky, who came to this coun- ty in 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Groner had two chil- dren born to them: Minnie L., who is Mrs. H. G. Ferris, of Kansas City, Mo .; and Ernest A., who is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Ferris have one son, William Ray Ferris, who is attending Washington University, and he is the only grandson in the family. Mr. Groner was in- terested in securing public improvements for many years. When the paving was first done at Litchfield. Mr. Groner made all the estimates on it and on the large sewer, and always gave freely of his time and ability to advance his community. In politics he was a Republican. He belonged to the Knights of Pythias of Litch- field, and S. B. Phillips Post No. 379, G. A. R.

GRUBBS, Samuel Moody, one of the leading financiers and business men of Litchfield, has been associated with much of the growth of this city. and is responsible for a great deal of its present prosperity. He was born at Hillsboro,

Ill., August 12, 1835, a son of Moody and Cyn- thia Ann (Boone) Grubbs. His mother was a grand-niece of Daniel Boone. The family emi- grated from Kentucky to Hillsboro early in 1835, making the trip with wagons and teams, and while crossing the Ohio River, a mare was lost for a time, but later recovered. The father who died in 1847, was a bricklayer by trade.

Samuel Moody Grubbs was the youngest of ten children born to his parents. After the father's death, the mother married (second) John Tullis, a farmer, and Samuel M. Grubbs lived with his stepfather until the latter's death. He was seventeen years old when he began working for himself, going to Jersey County, Ill. for that purpose. There he hired out to a farmer for $S per month, with the ex- ception of harvest time, when he received $1.25 per day. When he was eighteen he became a clerk in a general store owned by William Brewer at Hillsboro, and continued as a clerk until 1856, when he bought a drug store and conducted it for two years and then selling, he bought Mr. Brewer's business and operated it until 1865 when he sold it to A. K. Sawyer, and inoved to Litchfield where he and R. H. Peall formed the firm of Peall & Grubbs and for three years conducted a general merchandise store. Mr. Grubbs then became a partner in the banking firm of Brewer, Seymour & Com- pany, and when Mr. Seymour retired, the firm became Brewer & Grubbs. In 1SS3 Mr. Brewer died, and the bank became known as S. M. Grubbs & Company, Mrs. Grubbs being the com- pany. In 1889 this bank was inerged into the . First National Bank of Litchfield, of which Mr. Grubbs was vice president until 1890, when he was made president, so continuing until 1913 when he retired. From 1SS3 to the present time lie has been secretary of the Oil City Building and Savings Association; he owns stock in the Drovers National Bank of East St. Louis, Ill., and is one of the most reliable men of these parts.

On November 18. 1857, he was married (first) to Mary Brewer, born at Palestine, Ill., a daughter of William and Delilah (Huff) Brewer, and their children were as follows : Ella B., who died in 1SS7, was Mrs. George W. Atterbury, and she had one daughter, Hazel, Mrs. J. R. Spraker now living in Buffalo, N. Y .; Mary Gertrude, who is Mrs. E. R. Davis, of Chicago Heights, Ill .; and her children are: E. Fern. now Mrs. W. B. Lewis, W. W., cashier of the First National Bank of Chicago Heights, Francis, Mrs. R. G. Talcott, Ralph O., in the United States Navy, Mary L. and Edward R. ;

and Lila G., who is the widow of E. R. Elliott, and resides with her father: and has one son Allen R., who is an instructor at the Culver, (Ind.) Military Academy. Mrs. Grubbs died March 18, 1SSS. On April 30, 1890, Mr. Grubbs was married (second) to Mrs. Elizabeth A. (Beach) White, born in New York, widow of Augustus White, who had two children that died in infancy born to her first marriage. The second Mrs. Grubbs died January S, 1916.

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Mr. Grubbs is mainly self-educated, never hav- ing had many opportunities of attending school, although he went for a short time to the dis- trict schools and the academy of Hillsboro. A member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he is now one of the board of trustees and has held all the other offices within the gift of the members. In politics a Republican, he has al- ways been active in local affairs and in 1874 was elected mayor of Litchfield, and served two terms as city treasurer, and for one year was president of the sehool board. A Mason in good standing, he is very much interested in that order. During his long residence at Litch- his name stands for the highest type of Ameri- field he has made good in every particular and can citizenship with his fellow citizens.

GUDDER, Alec, an exeellent example of the self-reliant, self-made man in Montgomery County, is one of the substantial business men of Litchfield. He was born in Russian Poland, February 25, 1889 and there he was educated in a publie school. In 1903 he came to the United States. loeating first at Centralia, Ill., where he was employed by others for six months but at the expiration of that period was able to start in business for himself in a small way, handling junk. After a year he went to Pana. Ill., and there continued the same line of business for two years. While located in Pana he attended night sehool for a short period, The subsequent year was spent at Effingham Ill., and he then established a business at Marion, Ill., in which he is still interested. By this time he was able to establish a wholesale branch of his business at Centralia, and spent four years there operating it, and then sold and came to Litchfield, where he founded his present whole- sale business and now deals in scrapiron, metals, hides and other artieles of a like nature, and he has branch houses at Hillsboro, Virden, Carlyle, Greenville and Gillespie.

On June 2, 1912, Mr. Gudder was married to Estelle Brown, who was born at St. Louis, Mo., May 3. 1894. They have one son, Robert, born August 23, 1913. In politics Mr. Gudder is a Republican. A man of untiring industry and thrifty habits. he has forged ahead and stands at the head of his line of business in this sec- tion.

HALL, Stephen A. D., who is profitably engaged as a general contractor at Nokomis, is one of the leading men in his line in Montgomery County. He was born in Bond County, Ill., February 22, 1876, a son of Valentine and Kate (Schornick) Hall, natives of Madison County, Ill., both of whom are now deceased. The father owned and operated a farm in Bond, County, Ill., later owning a large amount of land in Christian County. Subsequently he sold that and came to Montgomery County and spent his last days at Witt. Ill., where he died. He was the father of eight children, namely : Samuel, who is employed in the Nokomis mine; Laura and Clara, who are twins; Edward, who is a farmer of Will County, Ill .; Anna, who is the

wife of Charles Heffley ; Stephen A. D .; Julia, who is the wife of Oscar Monhink of Christian County, Ill .; and Bert, who lives at Morrison- ville, Ill.

Stephen A. D. Hall was reared on the home- stead of his father, and attended the district sehools, remaining at home until he was twenty- three years old. . He worked on a farm by the inonth in Christian County, and then was em- ployed in the Witt mines for two years. Be- coming interested in cement work, he went to Kansas and Oklahoma to do contract work in that line, and later became a cement contrac- tor and has since been so engaged. He owns ninety acres of land near Hillsboro, Ill., and business property at Nokomis, having earned all he possesses through his own efforts.

On July 30, 1907, Mr. Hall was married to Maude Barbee, who was born at Pana, Ill., and they have two sons, namely: Lewis D. and Charles L. The family belongs to the Lutheran Chureli. Mr. Hall is a member of Sherman Lodge No. 245, I. O. O. F. of Nokomis. In poli- tics he is a Republican, and served as tax col- lector while living in Will County. Mr. Hall helped to organize the Nokomis State Bank, of which he is now a director, and in which he takes a deep interest. A man of affairs, lie is an excellent citizen and would be a desirable addition to any community.

HALLER, Jacob E., one of the prosperous farmers of Nokomis Township, is living on Sec- tion 24, his property being one of the most valuable in the county. He was born in Audu- bon Township, September 16, 1868, a son of Jacob and Anna (Abrahamson) Haller, the former of whom died March 19, 1916. but the latter survives and lives at Nokomis, Ill. Jacob Haller was born in Ross County, Ohio, and calle to Illinois when a poor boy. In 1852 he went to California, driving an ox team all the way, and was on the road five months and three days. After reaching the Golden state, he first herded cattle, but later, with a. partner, made a fortunate investment. During the period he was interested in California affairs, he made the trip between that state and Montgomery County thirteen or fourteen times, and on one of them, he met and was married to Miss Anna Abrahamson. In 1867 he bought large tracts of land in Montgomery County, aggregating about 700 acres, 640 acres of which were lo- cated in Nokomis Township, and beeame very prominent, being one of the organizers of the Nokomis National Bank, and continued to hold an official position with it until his death. He was a member of Nokomis Lodge No. 456 A. F. & A. M., and for over twenty years served it as treasurer. Both he and his wife were ac- tive and generous members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They had ten children, six of whom survive namely: Catherine, who is the wife of Dr. Easterlay of Watsonville. Cal., Carrie, who is the wife of D. H. Best of No- komis Township; Nancy, who lives at Nokomis, 111. ; Jacob E .; Millie, who is the wife of M.

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L. McIntyre of Topeka. Kas .; and Milt B., who is a farmer of Nokomis Township.

Jacob E. Haller was reared on the farm and sent to the district schools, working for his father until his marriage which occurred Feb- - ruary 23, 1899, when he was united with Maude E. Harkey. She was born in Montgomery County. Ill. They have three children. name- ly : Jacob, who was born January S. 1901. is attending the Nokomis High school; and Doris and Merle. He belongs to Nokomis Lodge No. 456, A. F. & A. M., and Pana Chapter. R. A. M. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and Shenner Lodge I. O. O. F. In politics he is a Democrat, and has been highway commis- sioner of Nokomis Township for the past eigh- teen years. A man of industrious habits, and high principles, he stands well in his neighbor- lrood.

HAND, William, who is residing on his fine farm one mile southeast of Nokomis, Ill., is one of the representative men of Nokomis Township. He was born on the Flagg farm in Madison County, Ill., May 20. 1847, a son of Joseph and Mary (Wilson) Hand, who were born, reared and married in England, all their people being farmers, but Joseph learned the butchering trade and worked at it after he and his wife came to the United States and located at Alton, Ill., in 1845. After about three years they moved to the Flagg farm. in Madison County, and lived on it as tenants for six or seven years, when Mr. Hand entered land south- east of Bunker Hill, in Macoupin County, to the extent of 100 acres, and later added forty acres more and lived on it for fifteen or six- teen years. Then he bought eighty acres in Montgomery County, to which he added until he had 300 acres. His death occurred on the property now occupied by Mary Irene Hand, at Nokomis, Ill. There were ten children in the family of the parents, six daughters and four sons. of whom seven now survive.

William Hand attended the local schools and assisted his father. He drove an ox-team for his father, for three years breaking prairie land. At the age of twenty-one he bought eighty acres of land and was prosperous from the beginning. From time to time he has invested in land, and now owns about 1.000 acres of land in Witt and Nokomis townships, and is one of the most sub- stantial of the Montgomery County farmers.

On January 13, 1872, Mr. Hand was married to Lizzie A. Hastings, who was born in St. Clair, Ill., May 7, 1852, her parents also being natives of England. Mrs. Hand died Decem- her 9. 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Hand had six chil- dren, five of whom survive, namely : Emma ; Laura, who married Maro Ekey; Augusta ; John; and Charles, who married Margaret Stauder and they have a daughter, Winifred. The fourth child. George, born March 13. 1SS0, died in February, 1881. In politics Mr. Hand is a Republican. A man of high character, and fine business ability, he stands well with his

neighbors, and he and his family are well known in this section of the state.

HARRISON, Ira, a prosperous merchant of Don- nellson, who is conducting his business in such a manner as to entitle him to a foremost place among the worth-while men of his locality, was born in Fayette County, Ill., August 6, 1842, a son of Ludwick and Rachel (Holland) Harrison, both of whom were born in North Carolina, where they were reared and married, and seven years later they left North Carolina and came to Illinois, and settled on a farm in Fayette County where the father died. They were church members, and very estimable peo- ple. Of their nine children, two survive, Ira; and Elizabeth, who is the widow of Daniel Dunbar. There is a half-brother, Jasper, who is living on the old homestead.

Ira Harrison was reared on a farm in Fay- ette County, and attended a school held in a log cabin under the subscription plan. He re- mained at home until he was married, to Mary Carter, who died in Fayette County, having borne him eight children, six of whom survive, namely : Wm. R., Wesley, Ewing, Nancy, Car- roll, Serelda, Frances and Lula. Mr. Harrison was married (second) to Mrs. Sarah Harris, a widow, who died, and he was married (third) to Mrs. Partena Matthews, widow of William R. Matthews. She was born in Fayette Coun- ty, Ill., November 23, 1860. By her first mar- riage, she had ten children, of who one sur- vives, Jesse Matthews, who lives with Mr. and Mrs. Harrison.

In 1913 Mr. Harrison came to Donnellson where he established his present business. and he has been very successful in it. A Demo- crat. he has served as collector for two terms, supervisor for three terms, and is a man of local prominence and is held in high esteem by all who know him.

HARRINGTON, Thomas W., now deceased, was a veteran of the Civil War and for many years one of the representative men of Litchfield and is well remembered by many who had the honor of his acquaintance. He was born in Madison County, Ill .. August 15, 1837, a son of William Oliver and Eliza (Lloyd) Harrington, early set- tlers of Madison County. His mother died when Thomas W. Harrington was a child and he re- mained with his father until he attained the age of twelve years, at which time he went to live with Major Laffin and was there six years. then made his home with Major Laflin's son until 1861. Previous to this he had taught school. in 1859 and 1860. In September. 1861, he enlisted for service in the Civil War as a member of Company K. Seventh Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, but was discharged on account of sickness in 1862. Returning to his home, which at that time was in Macoupin County, he Work- ed on a farm until he had recovered his health and then re-enlisted, in October, 1864, in the Thirty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and

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served until he was discharged at the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Fort Donaldson, Pittsburg Landing and was with Sherman in the march to the sea, and in other engagements. On October 3, 1861, he was married to Mary E. Owen, who was born in Macoupin County, Ill., January 10, 1842, a daughter of Andrew and Jane (MacCracken) Owen, natives of Kentucky and Alabama. In November, 1865. with his family Mr. Harring- ton moved to Litchfield and began working as a carpenter, so continuing until 1890, when he was elected a justice of the peace, and lie con- tinued to serve in that office until his deatlı September 20. 1916. While living at Litchfield he built a fine residence, and here his widow still lives. Mr. and Mrs. Harringtou became the parents of the following children: Nettie, who is Mrs. John Peck, has children, Bert W., Abraham A., Juanita, married Jacob Graham, Mary M., Dewey and Edgar, of Protection. Kas .; Edward, who lives at Denver, Col., married Mary Maas; Anna, who is Mrs. Linn Brown of Medford, Okla., has children, Bernard and Rita W .; Viola, who is a milliner of Medford, Okla., and Virginia, who is at home with her mother. Mr. Harrington was a Methodist a Republican and a member of the local G. A. R. Post. Although his educational advantages were limited to those afforded by the district schools he made good use of his opportunities and was a well informed man, and possessed such good judgment and sound common sense that his advice was sought and acted upon by many who appreciated his worth.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 83

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