USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II > Part 90
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Jett : and Kenneth, who died at the age of nine- teen months. The family are Presbyterians. Mr. Krummel is a Republican, and he served as mayor of Donnellson for several years, was supervisor of Grisham Township, and is a mem- ber of the school board. and helped to build the handsome school of Donnellson. In 1868 Mr. Krummel was made a Mason in King Solomon Lodge No. 90 at St. Catherine, Mo., and he is now a member of Donnellson Lodge No. 255, A. F. & A. M.
LAGER, Leo B., one of the leading jewelers of Montgomery County, has been in this line of business at Litchfield for a number of years. He was born at St. Louis, Mo., in December, 1887, a son of Angust J. and Christina (May) Lager, natives of St. Louis. The paternal grand- parents. Leo and Anna Lager, were born in Ger- many, and the grandfather founded the Lager Bros.' Clothing. Tailoring and Furnishing Con- pany that was in business at St. Louis for over sixty years. The father died in 1900, but the mother survives and lives at St. Lonis.
Leo B. Lager attended parochial schools in St. Louis and the St. Louis University, and when sixteen Years old he began working for the Whelan-Achle-Hutchinson Jewelry Company of St. Louis, with which concern he learned his trade and continned for eight years. Ile then came to Litchfield and was employed by the C. W. Beardsley Jewelry Company for six months, when in November. 1911, he and his brother. John Lager, embarked in a jewelry business under the firm name of Lager Brothers. This association continued for three years, and then Leo B. Lager bought the interest of his brother, and since then has continued alone, his establishment being one of the leading ones in this section. He carries a full line of jewelry and does watch and clock repairing.
On June 23. 1914, Mr. Lager was married to Bernice Wiegreffe, born at Litchfield, a daughter of Fred and Delia (Lynch) Wiegraffe. natives of Montgomery County. Mr. and Mrs. Lager have one daughter. Eva Marie, who was born Noven- ber 4. 1915. Mr. Lager is a Catholic. In poli- tics he is a Republican, and fraternally he be- longs to the Elks and Knights of Columnbus, both of Litchfield.
LANE, Judge Edward, one of the distinguished figures in the legal history of Montgomery County, was for years engaged in an active prac- tice at Hillsboro. and that city was also the scene of his triumphs as a jurist. He was born at Cleveland. Ohio, March 27. 1842. one of five children born to John and Catherine (Barry) Lane. The father died during the infancy of his son Edward. and the mother during his boy- hood.
Only sixteen years old when he arrived at Hillsboro. Edward Lane from then on had the best interests of the county seat at heart. Forced to earn his own living, he was not too proud to accept any honest work, and being ambitions he studied at the Hillsboro Academy and spent five years in this admirable institu-
tion as a close student, at the same time earn- ing the money to pay his tuition and living expenses. Like many men before and after him, upon leaving the schoolroom as a pupil he re- entered it as an instructor, and taught school for a term, and then began the study of law in the office of Davis & Kingsbury of Hillsboro, and in 1864 he was admitted to the bar, and began the active practice of his profession in partner- ship with his former preceptor, Mr. Davis, this connection being maintained for two years, being severed by the death of Mr. Davis. Until 1882 Edward Lane continued alone, and then took into partnership with him George R. Cooper, and they remained together from 1SS2 to 1912. when Judge Lane died. In 1886 he was elected city attorney of Hillsboro, and in 1869, when but twenty-seven years old, he was elected connty judge, and in 1856 was elected to Con- gress, where he served for eight years, and dur- ing that period was on the judiciary committee and made his influence felt in that body. Judge Lano was a farmer upon quite an extended scale and took a deep interest in supervising his farm- ing properties. The Hillsboro National Bank had the advantage of his services as vice presi- dont and director, and he was one of its organizers and a heavy holder of its stock, and also owned stock in the Montgomery County Loan and Trust Company. His beautiful resi- dence at Hillsboro was always a source of pride to him, and he delighted in entertaining his many friends in it.
In 1870 Judge Lane was married to Miss Theie Miller, a daughter of Samuel K. Miller, of Lawrenceville, Ill., where she was born in 1850. Two children were born to Judge and Mrs. Lane, namely: Guy C .; and Bessie, who is the wife of Howard Boogher. an attorney of St. Louis. Judge and Mrs. Lane belonged to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hillsboro, of which he was an official for forty years or more. Fraternally he belonged to Mount Moriah Lodge No. 51. A. F. & A. M. Mrs. Lane came of Kentucky stock. her father having been born in that state, but her mother was born in Illinois, and they were very early settlers of Lawrenceville. They had a good-sized family.
Judge Lane was associated with all the sub- stantial development of his time and locality and could always be depended upon to support measures that had for their object civic im- provement and moral uplift. As lawyer, judge and citizen. Judge Lane measured up to the highest standards of manhood, and in his death Montgomery County lost one of its ablest representatives.
LANE, Guy C., senior member of the law firm of Lane, Dryer & Brown, of Hillsboro, is one of the able men and successful attorneys of Montgomery County. He was born at Hillsboro, Ill., August 6, 1874, son of Judge Edward and Tucie (Miller) Lane. Guy C. Lane has spent his life at Hillsboro and is very proud of his native city. Here he took the public school courses, and prepared for Yale, from which he was graduated in 1897. Studying law, he was
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
admitted to the bar in 1899, and for the past seventeen years he has been in an active prac- tice at Hillsboro. He is now. in partnership with Judge John L. Dryer and McLin J. Brown, under the caption of Lane, Dryer and Brown. Mr. Lane is vice president and a director of the Hillsboro National Bank, and a director of the Southern Illinois Light and Power Com- pany.
In politics Mr. Lane is a Democrat, but has never cared to hold office, his large law prac- tice taking all of his time. Fraternally he belongs to Mount Moriah Lodge No. 51, A. F. & A. M. He and his mother live together. There are few members of the legal profession who stand higher than Mr. Lane, and he is generally accepted as a credit to his calling and his community.
LANE, Timothy L., president of the Fillmore State Bank and proprietor of a general mer- chandise business at Fillmore, is one of the substantial men of Montgomery County. He was born on the present site of the village of Fillmore, in Fillmore Township, March 24, 1850, a son.of J. Bowers and Sarah (Harris) Lane. J. Bowers Lane was born at Keene, N. H., on the bank of the White River, Septem- ber 10, 1826. a son of Timothy L. Lane, a physician and surgeon. who prior to coming to Illinois in 1838 was engaged in a general prac- tice in New Hampshire. Upon coming to this state he remained at Galesburg until 1839, in that year moving to what is now the village of Fillmore, and entered 400 acres of land. He practiced medicine. and he lived in a little cabin which stood until 1914. and continued to follow his calling until his death. Dr. Lane and his wife had two children, namely: J. Bowers; and Mary J., who married A. J. Rich- mond. is deceased.
J. Bowers Lane was reared on his father's farm, and spent his entire life in Fillmore Township, developing into a successful man and large land owner. He was one of the first in his precinct to cast his vote for Millard Fillmore for president of the United States, and later he became a Republican. Fraternally he was a Mason. joining the Hillsboro lodge. later demitting to the Fillmore lodge. A man of religious sentiment. he was very closely iden- tified with the Lutheran Church in Fillmore, which he helped to establish. He held all of the local offices and was for years an associate judge of the county. Few men were better known in his day than he and he was univer- sally respected. Later he founded the store, in 1861, now owned by his son, Timothy L. Lane, and conducted it until his death. March 16, 1891. He and his wife had the following chil- dren: T. L .: R. M .. who married Rev. H. L. Gregory. of California : Florence A., who is Mrs. A. A. Cress. of Hillsboro; Ora, who is deceased : Carrie M .. who married Jesse Whit- ten, of Fillmore: Elsie V., who lives at Wood River, Ill .. married Asa Ludewick; and Ella, who married Sherman Downs of Fillmore. Ill.
Timothy L. Lane studied at the district
schools, the Hillsboro High School and the old Hillsboro Academy. He lived at home, assisting his father on the farm and in the store until he was practically grown, and after his father's death he bought out the other heirs and continued the business. On October 31, 1872, Mr. Lane was married to Minerva C. Barringer, of Fillmore Township, a daughter of Alfred and Mary Barringer. They have three chil- dren: Corby E., who is in business with his father; Lottie May, who is the widow of Homer Alexander of Fillmore; and Orville B., who is also in business with his father.
Mr.' Lane was one of the organizers of the Fillmore State Bank, and has been its presi- dent and one of its directors since its organiza- tion. In addition to the Fillmore store, Mr. Lane owns a farm north of Chapman, and for four years has also conducted a. store at Chapman, which he bought of V. L. Wright. He has been a notary public for twenty-four years and clerk of the school board for seven- teen years. For four years he served as president of the Montgomery County Sunday School Association, and takes an active part in Sunday school work. A man of unusual capabilities, he has made good use of his op- portunities and is justly numbered among the leading- men of his county.
LANDERS, Charles E., who is one of the lead- ing men of Montgomery County, now living at Fillmore, has served both as supervisor of his township and treasurer of the county. He was born in Fillmore Township, September 12, 1868, a son of John W. and Ruth (Hill) Landers. John W. Landers was born near Bowling Green, Ky., in 1836, and was brought to Mont- gomery County by his parents, who lived here two years and then moved to Boone County, Mo., where the grandfather died. John W.
Landers returned to Montgomery County about 1865, and became a merchant at Van Burensburg. the oldest town in the county. Later he sold his business and located on a farm, where he rounded out his life. He was a religious man and a Democrat in politics, and held various local offices, being active in his party. A man of considerable prominence, he became well known in this locality. He and his wife had six children, namely: Joseph S., who is a graduate of the teachers' and the scientific courses at Valparaiso, Ind .. and is engaged in educational work at Denver, Col .; Charles E .; Sarah A .. who was a student in the Valparaiso University, is now the wife of J. W. Wright of Fillmore Township; Jennie, who is deceased, was a teacher. and was the wife of J. H. Hickman of Barkada, Ark .; Alice M., who is the wife of G. E. Harvey of Fillmore Township; and John H., who is a farmer at Albany, Ore.
Charles E. Landers was reared on a farm and attended the schools of his district. Being ambitious to secure a collegiate education, he entered Valparaiso University, and took the teachers' and the business courses and a part of the scientific course. For the subse-
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· HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
qnent ten years he was engaged in teaching, and at the same time operated a 140-acre farm. A Democrat, he is very active in politics, and for twelve years he served Fillmore Township as supervisor. In 1910 he was elected county treasurer and served four years. Although he now lives at Fillmore, he continues to look after his farm.
On March 17, 1896, Mr. Landers was married to Etha G. Webb, who was born October 11, 1878. and reared in Montgomery County, and they became the parents of seven children. namely: Grace, who is a graduate of the Fillinore High School, and Ada, George, Ula, Ralph, Roy and Wayne, all of whom are at home, and Raymond, who is deceased. Mrs. Landers is a member of the Baptist Church. Fraternally Mr. Landers belongs to Fillmore Lodge No. 670, A. F. & A. M .. and Fillmore Lodge. I. O. O. F., of which he was noble grand.
LANGEN, John, who conducts his fine farm of 400 acres of land, located on Section 20, in Harvel Township, is one of the substantial men of Montgomery County. He was born in Ricks Township. Christian County, Ill., July 25. 186S. a son of Theodore and Elizabeth (Brockamp) Langen. Theodore Langen was born in Ger- many, where he grew to manhood, according to the law specified serving his time in the German army, following which he came to the United States, and spent some time in Greene County, Ill., where he met and was married to Elizabeth Brockamp. She was also a native of Germany, and came to this coun- try with her parents when a child, and was reared in Greene County. After their mar- riage Theodore Langen and his wife lived for some time in Greene County, and then moved to Christian County, where he died in August. 1876. They had the following children : Henry, who lives in Ricks Township, Christian County ; Catherine, who was married to Tony Lentz of Morrisonville, Ill .; Mary, who is the wife of HIerman Todt; William, who lives at Morrison- ville. Ill. : Eleanor. who is deceased. was the wife of F. A. Todt; John; Elizabeth, who is deceased ; and Helena, who is the wife of Henry Donnelly of Morrisonville, Ill. After the death of the father the mother and her family lived on the farm for some years, but she later moved to Morrisonville, which continnes to be her liome.
John Langen attended the local schools, and for one year was in school at Teutopolis, near Effingham, Ill. He was seventeen years old when his mother left the farm, and he and a brother managed it until John Langen was twenty-one years old, when he began farming on his own account. On September 30, 1891, Mr. Langen was married to Margaret A. Todt, a daughter of John H. and Marie Todt, a history of whom appears elsewhere in this work. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Langen lived with her parents for some years, and then bought 160 acres of land in Bois D'Arc Township, but after two years on that farm sold it and bonght
160 acres of their present farm. From 1895, when he made his first purchase, until today Mr. Langen has been adding to his holdings until he now has 320 acres on Section 20, forty acres on Section 18, and forty acres on Section 19, all in Harvel Township. Mr. and Mrs. Langen became the parents of eight children, namely: John L., who was educated in the schools of Quincy, Ill .; Ralph II., who was educated at Chaminade College at Clayton, Mo., and Marie F., who attended the Academy of the Sacred Heart at Springfield, Ill., are at home; Catherine G., who attended the Ursuline Convent at St. Louis, Mo., is now in school ; and Albert W., Irene E., Louise B. and Evelyn 11., who are at home. The family be- long to St. Raymond's Catholic Church at Ray- mond. In politics Mr. Langen is a Democrat, but does not participate actively in public matters. In addition to his farming interests, he has stock in the Farmers' Grain Company at Raymond, Ilarvel and Morrisonville, and is admittedly one of the leading men in his line in this section.
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LEAHAN, Thomas R., vice president of the First National Bank of Farmersville, is also one of the substantial agriculturalists of Montgom- ery County, and is living on his fine farm one- half mile east of Farmersville. on Section 34, Bois D'Arc Township. He was born near Girard, Macoupin County, Ill., August 14, 1863, and is a son of John and Margaret (Murphy) Leahan. John Leahan was born in County Waterford. Ireland, and in early manhood came to the I'mited States, remaining in the East for a year after landing, and then traveling on to Illinois. He married Margaret Murphy, who was born in Ireland, and came by herself to this country and to llinois. After their marriage John Leahan and his wife resided in Maconpin County for five years, and then moved to Bois D'Arc Town- ship, which continued to be their home until death. Both were consistent members of St. Mary's Catholic Church at Farmersville. Of their six children, four now survive, namely : Thomas R. ; John C., who lives in Chicago, is in the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad Company ; W. H., who lives in Bois D'Arc Town- ship; and Matthew, who is at Farmersville, Ill.
Thomas R. Leahan was reared on the farm, attended the local schools, and remained at home until his marriage, which took place April 27. 1897, when he was united with Margaret McGrath. a danghter of Morris McGratlı, of Bois D'Are Township. Both her parents were born in Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Leahan have three children: John; Nellie, who is attending the Ursuline Convent at Springfield ; and Mary. At the time of their marriage, Mr. Leahan and his wife settled on the 160 acres of land he now' owns and have lived here ever since. and he raises and feeds cattle and hogs, and is very successful in his undertakings. In addition to his agricultural interests, Mr. Leahan is a mem- ber of the board of directors and is vice presi- dent of the First National Bank of Farmers-
Chas. Simmer+wife
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
ville. In politics he is a Democrat. He belongs to St. Mary's Catholic Church of Farmersville. In addition to his land in Bois D'Arc Township, he and his son John own 265 acres of land in Walshville Township, this county. He is influen- tial not only because he is a man of ample means but also because of high personal standing in his community and county.
LEAHAN, William H., owner and operator of a fine 160-acre farm in Bois D'Arc Township, is one of the prosperous agriculturalists of Mont- gomery County. He was born on the old Leahan homestead, one and one-half miles east of Farm- ersville, in Bois D'Arc Township, July 1, 1871, a son of John and Margaret (Murphy) Leahan, A sketch of the Leahan family will be found else- where in this work.
William H. Leahan was reared in his present township and attended the local schools, remain- ing at home until June 6, 1900, when he was united in marriage with Katie Hoisington, a daughter of Charles and Margaret (Hunter) Hoisington. Mrs. Leahan was born in Walsh- ville Township, this county, October 5, 1871. Her people were of Scotch birth, who came to the United States and lived at St. Louis, Mo., for a time before coming to Walshville Town- ship, Montgomery County, Ill., where she was reared and educated. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Leahan moved to their present farm, where they have since resided. They have the follow- ing children : Margaret E., who is attending school at the Ursuline Convent at Springfield, Ill. ; and Thomas R., Catherine E., Mable E., Martha Marie, and William Matthew, all of whom are at home. The family belongs to St. Mary's Catholic Church, of Farmersville. Mr. Leahan is a Democrat politically, and was town- ship clerk for eight years, and in 1896 was elected circuit clerk of the county and held that office for four years, following which he repre- sented his township on the county board of supervisors for two years. At present he is school trustee of his school district. In his farm- ing he handles a good grade of stock, and has been very successful in his work. for he under- stands his business in every detail.
LEBECK, Otto W., postmaster of Harvel, and one of the leading men of his community, was born in King Township, Christian County, Ill., December 15. 1889, a son of August and Eliza- beth (Hanken) Lebeck. His father was born in Germany and came in young manhood to this country, being then about nineteen or twenty years old. He located in Christian County, Ill., where he was married, and he and his wife located in King Township, and there she died when Otto W. Lebeck was quite young. They had the following children: Anna, who married James H. Fraley of Harvel Township; John, who lives in Butler Township; Otto W .; and Ella, who married Grover Wilson and lives at Harvel, Ill. In 1896 August Lebeck moved to Harvel Township, where he still resides. He belongs to St. Jacob's Lutheran Church, as did his wife.
Otto W. Lebeck was reared and educated in Harvel Township and the high school of Har- vel, following which he attended the Charleston Normal, and then the Illinois State Normal at Normal, Ill. For the subsequent three years "he was an instructor in the Union school of Raymond Township, from which he went to Prosperity school, in Christian County, Ill., for one year more. His next engagement was in the King school in the same county, where he taught a year, and on July 3, 1915, he was ap- pointed postmaster of Harvel, which office he still holds. Mr. Lebeck is a member of the Christian Church of Harvel. In every respect he is a desirable citizen, and his scholarly tastes and training give him an advantage and make him an excellent adviser upon matters pertaining to the civic advancement of Harvel.
LEWEY, Christopher Columbus, one of the well known men of Montgomery County and a sub- stantial farmer in Hillsboro Township, was born in this township, one and a half miles distant from his present farm, December 10, 1855. His parents were Oliver and Jane (Stephenson) Lewey, the former of whom was born in North Carolina and the latter in Tennessee. They had a family of seven children, namely : William H., deceased ; Albert R., of Hillsboro ; Mary S., wife of John Grassel of Butler Grove Township; Christopher C .; Martha L., wife of R. C. Paden, and two who died young.
Oliver Lewey remained in his native state until he reached manhood and then came to Montgomery County, Ill., locating on Section 28, Hillsboro Township. He purchased a farm of ninety acres and mainly reared his family there and bought a second farm, situated in Section 21, containing 133 1-3 acres, and on this place he died in January 10, 1SS6, when aged seventy-two years. His wife died October 11, 1872, when about fifty years of age. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, Mr. Lewey being an elder. Oliver Lewey was reared on a farm in Guilford County, N. C. Although he never served an apprenticeship to either trade, he became proficient as a shoemaker and as a carpenter. He was numbered with the honored early settlers of the county. He and wife lived
on their first farm until 1860. His political sup- port was given to the Republican party. A man of many good qualities, he won and retained the respect of all who knew him. His parents died in North Carolina, his father being a farmer and distiller. He was the oldest of the follow- ing children: Oliver; Katy, wife of Addison McLain; Sarah McLain; Nellie Clotfelter; David, John, Reuben, Isaac and William A. Lewey, and Belle, wife of Wiley McCaslin. The Stephensons were also early settlers in Hills- boro Township, and the maternal grandparents of Christopher C. Lewey survived to be quite aged.
Christopher C. Lewey was mainly reared on the farm he now owns, which at present comprises 170 acres of finely improved land. He has spent his entire life in Montgomery County, continuously concerned with agricultural activi-
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IIISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
ties. and may justly be numbered with the very successful farmers here. After completing his public school education he applied himself intel- ligently to the work he had in hand, and because of his industry and good judgment has greatly prospered. With the exception of eleven months passed at Hillsboro, Mr. Lewey has lived on his present farm since he was five years old. He had, in addition to his home farm, eighty acres in the same township in Section 25, which he sold, and he devotes all his land to general farm- ing and stockraising. His place is situated on the Greenville and Jacksonville road. three miles south and one mile west of Hillsboro. Mr. Lewey takes a natural amount of pride in his well-managed farm, and an air of thrift and comfort is noticed everywhere, whether his fields, stock or substantial farm buildings are considered, or whether attention is centered on his handsome modern residence. Its appearance is attractive and it has been equipped with modern conveniences and is lighted by gas. It is one of the beautiful rural homes of the town- ship.
Mr. Lewey was married April 4, 1883, to Miss Mary Blackburn, daughter of Jabez and Mary (Smith) Blackburn, of Litchfield Township. The father of Mrs. Lewey was born in England, November 7, 1823, and was brought to America when eight years old by his parents, that being in 1831. After two years in New York they re- moved to St. Louis, Mo., where they remained until 1853, and then came to Montgomery County, Ill., settling in Litchfield. In 1866 re- moval was made to a farm in Hillsboro Town- ship, where they resided a number of years, when Mr. Blackburn retired and died at Hills- boro January 5, 1895. having passed his seventy- first birthday. The mother of Mrs. Lewey was born in St. Clair County, Ill., May 1, 1830, and died in 1910, when lacking two weeks of being eighty years old. They had seven children, as follows: Deborah A., William W., James R., J. Frank, Mary E., Nettie M. and Ida R.
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