Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 85

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 85

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Mr. Helston was married April 1, 1869, to Miss Eugenia Killpatrick, who was born on a farm in Hillsboro Township. September 29, 1852. a daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth ( Simmons) Killpatrick. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Helston : Frank J., who is a resident of Hillsboro, married May Gilmore and they have one child. Maurice ; and Alice and Joseph Beckett, both of whom reside with their mother. Andrew Killpatrick. father of Mrs. Helston, was born on the old Killpatrick homestead which his father secured from the government and which is now Mrs. Helston's property. Andrew Killpatrick died in 1902. He was twice mar- ried. the mother of Mrs. Helston being a native of Brown County, Ohio, and died when the latter was twenty months old, an only child. The second mariage of Andrew Killpatrick was to Rachel Canaday, an annt of Senator Canaday. and the following children were born : Grace, who is the wife of Edward Williams: Mande ; and Nella, who is the wife of Dr. Fred Harris of Hillsboro. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Helston were David and Agnes (Mc- ('ullough) Killpatrick, the former of whom was a native of Ireland and the latter of Sonth Caro- lina. They were pioneers in Montgomery County and they died here and their ashes rest west of Hillsboro. The maternal grandparents were Wesley and Elizabeth (Nelson) Simmons. who came to Hillsboro from Ohio. For a time they lived on a farm but then came back to Hillsboro and died here aged respectively eighty and seventy-two years, Their children were : Lurinda, Willis, Elizabeth, Julia, Pilcher, Min- erva, Victoria and Marietta. Mrs. Helston was reared in the Methodist faith and belongs to the Hillsboro Methodist Episcopal Church. She is very highly esteemed by all who know her as was her husband.

HENDRICKS, Harry E., manager of the John Hendricks & Sons hardware and automobile busi- ness at Farmersville. is one of the leading men in his line in Montgomery County. He was born in Bois D'Are Township, this county. August 10, 1885. a son of John and Mary (Richard) Hendricks. The father was born in Germany but came to the United States when seven years old, and spent his earlier years in the farming regions in Jersey County, Ill. Later he came to Montgomery County, and here grew to manhood. The mother was born in Sangamon County, Ill .. her parents being natives of Germany who had located in Sangamon County at an early date. There she was reared and was married, and fol- lowing that event she and her husband located in Bois D'Arc Township where they lived until the fall of 1909 when they moved to Farmers- ville, where they are living retired, having made a success of their farming operations. Of the four children born to them, three survive. namely : Harry ; Clara Ellsworth Lyman, who lives on the old homestead in Bois D'Arc Town- ship; and Fred, who is in business with his brother at Farmersville. One child died in

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infancy. The father is a Democrat in politics, but aside from casting his vote has uever takeu an active part in public affairs.

Harry E. Hendricks attended the schools of his native towuship, aud the Divernon High school, and for two terms was a student at . Dixon College, Dixon, Ill., taking the high school course and teacher's work. Following this he taught school in Bois D'Arc Towuship for four years, and during that period served two terms as assessor of the township, being elected on the Democratic ticket. In 1909 he came to Farmers- ville aud became a partner in the firm estab- lished by his father, which has the agency for the Overland Reo cars. In the spring of 1915 he was elected president of the village board and was reelected in 1917.

On November 24, 1914, Mr. IFeudricks was united in marriage with Mabel Burke, a daughter of James Burke of Bois D'Arc Town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Heudricks have one sou, John Burke Hendricks. Mr. Hendricks belongs to the Bankers Life Company of Monmouth, Ill. He is a sound, reliable business mau and a hustler in his line and the record he has made in the automobile trade is remarkable.

HENLEY, John Alfred, secretary and general manager of the Henley & Alden Mercantile Com- pauy, owners of the largest dry goods establish- ment of Litchfield, is oue of the leading busi- ness men of this city. He was born in Bedford County, Tenn., near Shelbyville, July 2S, 1873, a son of Elmer E. and Mary Ann (Webster) Henley, natives of Tennessee. The father was a farmer who in 18S7 moved to Anua, Ill., where he and his wife still reside.

John Alfred Henley attended the grade and high schools of Auna. Ill., and was graduated from the latter, and then attended Union Acad- emy for two years, and for two years was at the Wesleyan University at Bloomington, Ill. For the subsequent two years he was at Lebanon, and then for one year he was engaged in teaching in the district schools at Makauda, Ill. He studied law uuder A. J. Nesbit, at Anna, for two years, in the meanwhile clerking for G. G. Metias of that place for about three years.

On February 12, 1912, he was married to Myrtle Ann Griffin, boru at Grassland, St. Clair County, Ill., a daughter of Charles A. and Martha Mildred (Park) Griffin, uatives of St. Clair County. Mr. and Mrs. Henley have had the following children : Martha Jean, John Griffin, deceased. and Mary Constance.

Mr. Henley formed a business organization at Anna, Ill., with Amos Sanford and T. P. Ander- son, known as the Heuley-Sanford Company, for handling of dry goods and general merchandise, and a year later Mr. Henley sold his interest. and came to Litchfield, and embarked in the same line of business, having as his associates E. S., J. B., R. H. and Oliver Alden, of Anna Ill., of which Oliver Alden is president, and Mr. Henley secretary and general manager. This concern does a very large business uot ouly in Litchfield but throughout a wide territory.

Mr. Henley is a Methodist, a Republican and Mason. A man of sound business principles his connection with this house insures fair treat- ment to customers aud the offering of excellent goods at as low a price as is consistent with their quality.

HERMANN, Emil H., M. D., a physician and surgeon of Taylor Springs, has the distinction of being the only representative of his profession in the village. He was born at Highland, Ill., March 17, 1884. a son of Emil H. and Pauline (Schiettinger) Hermann. The paternal grand- parents, Henry and Susan Hermanu, were boru in Switzerland, while the maternal grand- parents, George and Augusta Victoria Schiet- tinger, were born in Germany. Both families came to the United States and located at High- land, Ill. The Hermanns were flour millers, while on the other side of the house, the men were cabinetmakers. The father of Dr. Her- mann, who was also a miller, died August 15. 1906, but the mother survives and lives at High- land, Ill.

Doctor Hermann attended the Highland gram- mar and high schools, and then entered the St. Louis University, from which he was graduated in 1906, following which he engaged in practice at Van Burensburg. Ill .. and remained there until 1912 when he located at Taylor Springs, and has built up a large and profitable practice.

On October 31, 1909, Doctor Hermann was married to Bertha Herman, born at Van Burens- burg, Ill., a daughter of William and Anna (Huebner) Hermauu. natives of Germany. There are no children of this marriage. Doctor Her- mann is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Democrat. and in 1916 was elected mayor of Taylor Springs. He was made a Mason at Fillmore, Ill .. and belongs to the Hillsboro Chapter. R. A. M. Professionally he belongs to the Montgomery County Medical Society and the American Medical Association. Doctor Hermann is surgeon for the American Zinc Company of Illinois, and the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Coal properties. aud his time is fully occupied by his many professional and official duties.

HERMON, P. J., M. D., formerly one of the capable physicians and surgeons of Montgomery County, but now living retired on his farm of forty acres in the village of Raymond, was born near Chatham, Ill .. December 22. 1833. He is a son of David H. and Sarah (Mitts) Hermon.

David H. Hermon who was born January 12, 1805. in Wilkes County. North Carolina. left his native state with his parents about 1810. removal being then made to Grant County. Ken- tucky. Here he resided until 1827. when he was married to Sarah Mitts, and then came to Illi- nois, locating in Ball Township, Sangamon Conuty. one and one-half miles east of Chatham. and there he died in August, 1899. His wife died five or six years previously. Their children were as follows : Mary A., who was married iu 1846 to Green Ray ; John H., who was born in November, 1831, died in 1902: P. J .: David C.,

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who was born in April, 1838, died in 1907; George W .. who was born in May, 1840, died Jannary 12. 1918, in Chatham, Ill. ; William, who was born in 1842. died October 1917; James, who was born in 1844, died in November. 1864; Sarah ES., who was born in 1849, died Jannary 17, 1918, at Chatham, Ill., was the widow of John J. Mitts, and died at Chatham, Ill., and Josephine, who died in January 1860.

Dr. P. J. Hormon was reared on the farm and first attended the country schools. He remained at home until he was nineteen or twenty years old, and then began to teach school so continuing for a couple of years. On May 1. 1855. he entered the office of Dr. N. Wright of Chatham, and began the study of medieine, remaining there abont four years, and in the meanwhile took a medical conrse at Rush Medi- cal College, Chicago, although he was not able to complete his course and receive his degree until 1863. as he had to work his way through college. After being graduated he spent six years in practice at Seward's Point. Ill., fol- lowing which he was at Raymond until 1908. during which time he built up a large and profitable practice, but in that year retired from his profession, and is now living on his farm in the village, as above mentioned.

On April 15, 1863. Dr. Hermon was married to Eliza A. Neal. a daughter of Elijah and Mary Neal of Montgomery County, and they became the parents of five children. as follows: Franees Ellen, who was born in 1867, died in 1886; Julia A., who was born in 1869 is the wife of Frank Schaper of Nokomis. Ill .; Harriet L. who was born in 1870 died in May, 1915; Florence J., who was born in 1872, is the wife of James Stucker of Litchfield, Ill .; and Blanche M .. who is the wife of Stephen O. Seward, of Raymond Township. Dr. Hermon belongs to Raymond Lodge No. 692. A. F. & A. M., and has been master four times: Montgomery Chapter No. 63 R. A. M., of Hillsboro ; and Raymond Chapter. O. E. S. In politics he is a Democrat, and has always taken an active interest in local affairs. Mrs. Eliza A. Hormon died in Raymond, Il., October 31. 1917. She was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Raymond, Ill .. and one of the oldest members since the church was founded.

HILGER, George, now living retired, was for many years a leading business man of Liteh- field. and is a representative man of Mont- gomery County. He was born in Floyd County, Ind .. May 30. 1842. a son of John Nieholas and Mary Elizabeth ( Anerhasten) Hilger. The father was born in Bavaria Germany. in 1836. and came to the United States in young man- hood. landing at Baltimore, Md., from whence he came as far west as Louisville, Ky. Still later he went to Greenville, Ind. where he died in 1852 having been a baker all of his mature years. The mother died in 1845. The children in the family of the parents were as follows : John. Mary Ann and Mary Elizabeth, who are all deceased ; and Michael and George.

After the death of their father, Michael and George Ililger went to St. Louis and lived with an uncle who conducted a grocery. There George Hilger attended school until he was fourteen years old, when he went to another uncle who kept a boarding house, and made himself useful there and in a teaming business. In 1864 he with his brother-in-law, Joseph Minges, embarked in a grocery business, George Ililger having had some experience as a clerk. The partner dying two years later, Mr. Hilger continued alone until 1882, when he sold and came to Litchfield as agent for the Charakee Brewery, but two years later became agent for the Western Brewery of Belleville. Ill., with which he remained for twenty-two years. He then was with James Dorn, agent for the Sehlitz Brewery of Milwaukee. Wis., until his retire- ment in 1913. since which time he has occupied himself caring for his fine place of twenty acres in the southwestern part of the city of Litchfield, on which he has one of the nicest residences in this section, he having rebuilt after the disastrons fire of November 12, 1914, which destroyed his former house.

On October 15, 1878, Mr. Hilger was married to Frances Dora Kleine, born in Indiana and died September S. 1906. She was a danghter of Bernard Kleine, who was a native of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Hilger had the following chil- dren : George. Mary. John, Frances. Joseph, Edward and Catherine all of whom are at home. Mr. Ililger is a Catholic. In politics he is a Democrat and has been highway commissioner of Sonth Litchfield Township sinee 1898. In- dustrions and thrifty, dependable and faithful in his connection with large business concerns almost all his life, he has forged steadily ahead and well deserves the suecess which has at- tended him.

HILL, Henry C., who owns 115 acres of very valuable land on Section 22. Fillmore Township, is one of the representative agriculturalists of Montgomery County. He was born in this town- ship, October 29, 1873, a son of Squire and Mary I .. (Bost ) Hill. Squire Ilill was born in Fill- more Township, in 1845, a son of Henry Hill. one of the pioneers of the township, who entered land from the government. Mary L. (Bost) Hill was born in Fayette County, Ill., in 1849, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Bost, the for- mer of whom was born in North Carolina, and came in boyhood to Montgomery County with his parents. After his marriage Henry Bost settled on the edge of Fayette Connty. Eliza- beth Bost was born in Montgomery County, Ill .. her parents having come here from Indiana.

After their marriage Squire Hill and his wife rented land for a year, two and one-half miles southeast of Chapman. III., and then they bought a farm west of what became their homestead, coming to the latter a year later. It was their home until 1900. when they moved to Fillmore, and he engaged in the stock business. buying and shipping stock as long as his health per- mitted. His death occurred October 18, 1900.

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J. b. WEllar

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

He and his wife had five children, four of whom attained maturity : Ollie O., who is the wife of Alvah Traylor, of East Fork Township; H. C .; Anna E., who died when six months old; Mary E. who was the widow of Easton Williams of Fillmore Township when she became Mrs. J. B. Hicks: and Ruby B., who is the wife of Albert Livingston, of Fillmore Township. Squire Hill belonged to the Modern Woodmen of America, was a Republican, and served his township as supervisor.

H. C. Hill was reared on a farm in Fillmore Township and attended the local schools, and the Fillmore High school, belonging to the first class graduated from that institution. He lived at home until February 23, 1899, when he was married to Hattie M. Hendrix. a daughter of Dr. J. T. and Clotilda Belle (Coffeen ) Hendrix. . Dr. Hendrix came to Illinois when seventeen years old, but his parents never left Tennessee, their native state. At first he did carpenter work. later engaged in farming, and after his marriage. studied medicine, and took medical courses in St. Louis. Mo. and Keokuk, Iowa. Until the last five years of his life, he practiced medicine, but during those years lived in retire- ment at Coffeen, Ill., where he died February 20. 190S, his wife having died March 9, 1879. Dr. and Mrs. Hendrix had six children, three of whom survive, namely : Florence who is the wife of Thomas M. Edwards, of Coffeen, Ill .; Mrs. Hill ; and Frederick T., who lives at Hills- boro. Ill. Dr. Hendrix was married (second) to Dorcas Bost. and they had five children, namely : Gertrude, who is the wife of Homer Roberts of Coffeen, Ill .; Myrtle, who is deceased ; Prud- ence, who is the wife of Cleveland Harvey, of Coffeen, Ill .; Tony who lives at Coffeen, Ill .; and Edna, who is the wife of Isaac Price of Hillsboro Ill. He was a member of the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church, a Democrat and a veteran of the Civil War, as was Squire Hill.

After their marriage Henry C. Hill and his wife lived in Morrisonville and Montgomery County, until the fall of 1901, when they came to their present farm. He buys and ships stock and horses. and breeds stock, but does not handle registered grades. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have had three children, namely: Hal H., who was born May 10, 1900, died September 11, 1900: Vaughn C., who was born October 3, 1902, died October S. 1902; and Harold F., who was born October 1, 1914. A Republican, Mr. Hill was once the nominee of his party for sheriff, and made a very creditable showing, in a strong Democratic district. Mrs. Hill belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Fillmore. Mr. and Mrs. Hill took under their kindly charge three nieces of Mrs. Hill, the daughters of the late W. J. Hendrix, namely : Anna May, who was born February 26, 1901. died July 19, 1914: Evelyn who was born November 6, 1902; and Mary Ruth who was born May 17, 1907, the last two making their home with Mr. and Mrs. Hill.

HITCHINGS, Carl J., one of the enterprising farmers of Raymond Township, is living on 29

Section 14, where he has a fine property. He was born in Raymond Township, November 24, 1SS4, a son of H. H. Hitchings and M. J. (King) Hitchings, both of whom died in 1916. She was his second wife and they had six children, as follows : John M., who is a farmer of Kansas; Eliza A., who is the wife of William C. Rebhan ; William E., who conducts a barber shop at Har- vel. Ill .; Ella J., who is the wife of W. G. Pope ; Mary C., who is the wife of Ed. White; and Carl J.

Carl J. Hitchings was reared on the home- stead and attended the neighboring schools. On January 22, 1907, he was married to Lulu M. Reneke, who was born in Raymond Town- ship, April 14, 1SS5, a daughter of F. C. and Margaret E. Reneke, natives of Germany and of Madison County Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Hitchings have three children, namely : Hershel F., who was born in 190S; Howard G., who was born in 1910; and Lois, who was born in 1915. They belong to the Baptist Church. In politics he is a Democrat, but he has not tried to enter public life. In 1911 he moved on his present farm of 127 acres where he is engaged in general farming, and he is making a success of his work, for he understands farming and as such enjoys adequate returns.

HITCHINGS, Henry H., now living at Ray- mond, was formerly one of the leading agricul- turalists of Raymond Township, and is a sound and reliable citizen of Montgomery County. He was born in Celina, then a suburb of Syracuse, N. Y., December 27. 1837, a son of John P. and Eliza Ann (Houghton) Hitchings. The father was born in New York state, but the grand- father, John Hitchings, was born in Scotland but lived in New York state for many years. The mother was born at Reedsborough, Vt., and was married at that place. John P. Hitchings and wife settled in New York state, where they lived until 1845 and then came west to Jackson County, Mich., and bought a farm on which they resided until 1856, when they came to Illinois and located one and one-half miles south of Harvel, in Raymond Township, Montgomery County, Illinois. Their last days were spent in retirement at Harvel, Ill. They had twelve children, eleven of whom reached maturity, and seven of whom survive.

Soon after his arrival in Raymond Township, Henry H. Hitchings went to work for Orison Young with whom he remained for three years assisting in farming, and while living here he married November 18, 1860 to Martha E. Welker, a daughter of John Welker, who died in 1869. Her parents died when she was a child and she was reared by Mr. Young. By his first marriage, Mr. Hitchings had four children, namely : George H. who lives at Wellington, Kan. ; and Clara E. who is in business at Har- vel, Ill., and two died in infancy.

After his first marriage, Henry H. Hitchings bought forty acres of land, and soon thereafter added forty acres more, and again another forty

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

acres until he had 120 acres in one piece, on which he lived for nine or ten years and then sold it and bought 200 acres of other land to which he kept on adding until he had 911 acres. He then bought a tarm one and one-half miles southeast of Raymond, on which he lived until 1913. Mr. Hitchings' second marriage was to Margaret J. King, a daughter of John King of Raymond Township. In 1913 he and his wife came to Raymond, and are now making this pleasant village their home. They became the parents of the following children : John M., who is in Butler County, Kas .; Eliza A., who is Mrs. W. C. Rebhan; W. E., who lives at Harvel, Ill. ; Ella J., who is Mrs. W. G. Pope; Mary C., who is Mrs. Edward B. White; and Carl J., who lives in Raymond Township.

Mr. Hitchings belongs to Raymond Lodge No. 692, A. F. & A. M. He is a member of the Blue Mound Baptist Church, which he is serving as a trustee, and has always taken a deep interest in church work, and for many years has been superintendent of the Sunday school. In politics he is a Democrat and has served as supervisor of Raymond Township and held sev- eral other township offices. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Raymond. Mr. Hitchings still owns 250 acres of land in Ray- inand Township, and is one of the most success- ful business men of the county. As a neighbor and as a citizen Mr. Hitchings has lived up to ligh principles, and his word is taken as an- other man's deed.

HITCHINGS, William E., who conducts a bar- ber shop in the village of Harvel and also is agent for the Brink and Ford automobiles, is one of the enterprising business men of this locality. He was born in Raymond Township, on the old Hitchings homestead, now occupied by W. G. Pope. October 30, 1877, a son of Henry H. and Martha J. (King) Hitchings, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.

William E. Hitchings was reared and edu- cated in his native township, and attended the district schools and took a business course in Bushnell College at Bushnell, Ill. Until he was twenty-one years old, he was on the home farm, but then moved to Harvel, and bought a barber- ing establishment, which he has since been con- ducting with satisfying results. In 1912 he began representing the Ford cars, and in 1915 also took the agency for the Brink cars, in Raymond and Harvel township. For a time he also had the agency for the Overland, but has discontinued handling that make. In politics he is a Democrat, but his time and attention have been fully occupied by his own affairs so that he has not found time even if he had the ambi- tion, to go into public life. Ilowever he has the courage of his convictions and never fails to stand up for what he believes is right, and is a well informed man upon current issues.

HODGES, David F., ex-postmaster of Farmers- ville, and one of the worthy men of Montgomery County, whose name is a well known one in this section, was born in Kentucky, July 26,

1838, a son of Fred and Mary A. (Hawkins) Hodges, who were born in Virginia, coming of English and Irish ancestry, and they were married in 1814. Fred Hodges died in 1846, having been a soldier of the war of 1812, a good man, a member of the Baptist Church, and an excellent farmer. He and his wife had ten children. Mr. Hawkins, the maternal grand- father, was born in England and died in Ken- tucky in 1843.

David F. Hodges was reared on a farm in Kentucky and there he attended the local schools, for a short time. When he was twenty years old, he began working for himself. His operations were interrupted by his military ser- vice, as he enlisted early in the Civil War, on September 15, 1861, in Company A, Second Kentucky Cavalry. This was a skirmishing company for the regiment, especially equipped with long repeating rifles and saber and revolver in front. When he was discharged at the close of three years and one month, he was corporal and clerk of his company. Returning to Ken- tucky, he served as a home guard until April, 1865. While he was in active service he was in the battles of Perryville, Stone River and Chickamauga, and was in the raid after Wheeler. Following the close of hostilities, Mr. Hodges began clerking in a village store at Millerstown, Ky., but in 1867 began farming in Kentucky.

On December 4, 1866, Mr. Hodges was married to Hulda V. Durham, who was born February 2, 1852, and died October 6, 1906. They had twelve children, ten are now living, and two are deceased, namely : Martha, who is the wife of C. H. Matthews; Kenney, who is deceased ; Sarah, who is deceased ; and Will, Susie, Alice, James, Lula, Minnie, Nellie, Russell and Eva.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 85

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