Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 91

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 91

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Mr. and Mrs. Lewey are members of the Woodsboro Methodist Church, in which he is one of the stewards and is also a church trustee. Politically he is a Republican, but has never been willing to accept any public office, except in connection with public education. For nine years he was a school trustee and for fifteen years has been a school director. Mr. Lewey is a stockholder in the Hillsboro National Bank. Both he and wife have a wide circle of friends.

LEWEY, Prof. Everett A., county superintend- ent of schools for Montgomery County, with headquarters at Hillsboro. is one of the leading educators of this part of the state, and a man whose erudition and scholarly attainments mark him as one worthy of special distinction in his profession. He was born in Hillsboro Town- ship. March 19, 1881, a son of Albert and Sarah Lavina (Beeler) Lewey. natives of Montgomery County. They had seven children, as follows: Oliver, who is of Sunburst. Mont. ; Camilla, who is the wife of Dr. R. A. Hamilton. of Hillsboro ; Charles, who is of Coffeen, Ill .; Laura, who is

deceased ; Everett A .; Jesse, who is deceased ; and Daniel, who lives on the old homestead. Albert Lewey was born, reared and has always lived in Montgomery County, where he has spent his mature years as a farmer, now owning a homestead in Hillsboro Township, a portion of which he inherited from his father. The paternal grandfather of Professor Lewey, Oliver Lewey, was married to Martha Jane Stevenson. was a native of North Carolina. They became early settlers of Mont- gomery County, where he developed a fine farm, and here they died when quite old as residents of Hillsboro Township. They had five children, as follows: William, Albert, Christopher, Mary and Martha. The maternal grandparents were William and Margaret Burcaw Beeler, and they, too, were early settlers of Montgomery County, but later moved to Indiana, where they died. Their children residing in Montgomery County were as follows: Mrs. Sarah L. Lewey, Mrs. John Logsdon and Joseph Becler, deceased.

Everett A. Lewey was reared on his father's farm. After attending the schools of his dis- trict he attended the Hillsboro High school, and then was graduated from the Central Normal school at Danville, Ind., and later attended Valparaiso University. In the fall of the year that he was nineteen years old he began teach- ing school and taught for thirteen years. In the fall of 1914 he was elected county superintend- ent of schools, which office he is still filling.

On June 7, 1910, Professor Lewey was mar- ried to Miss Retta Ault, a daughter of William and Mary (Corlew) Ault, and they have one son, Everett Harold. Professor Lewey is a member of Witt Lodge No. 943, I. O. O. F., and Hillsboro Lodge. A. F. & A. M., and both he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Democrat and is active in the party. The family residence is at No. 944 S. Jefferson street.

Mrs. Lewey was born at Hillsboro. Her father came to Montgomery County from Grant County. W. Va., after the close of the Civil War, in which he served as corporal in the Army of the Potomac for three years. and during this time took part in some of the hard-fought bat- tles, such as the battle of Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain and Gettysburg. By his own efforts he accumulated several hundred acres of land in Hillsboro Township. He died in 1896. Her mother was born and reared in Montgomery County. She was a daughter of Rev. and Mrs. William Corlew, pioneer settlers, and she sur- vives. They had six children, as follows : Anna. Daisy, Margarett, Retta, Verna and Vena.

LEWEY, William A .- One of the most highly respected and thoroughly esteemed residents of Montgomery County. is William Addison Lewey, who. for a half century has resided on his farm of eighty acres situated on Section 17. Hillsboro Township. Ile made all the fine improvements on this place and has a well developed property. Ile devotes his attention to general farming and in his business activities displays excellent judg- ment, and in his neighborhood life sterling traits

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of character which make him valued as a citizen, a neighbor and a friend.

William A. Lewey was born in Guilford County, N. C., September 25, 1835. His parents were John and Pena (Clapp) Lewey, who were natives of Germany. The names of the paternal grandparents have not been preserved in the family, both having died long ago in Germany, They had three sons, John, Jacob and Frederick. The maternal grandfather of William A. Lewey bore the name of Barney Clapp. He came from Germany after marriage and settled in North Carolina, followed milling and also was a planter and owner of slaves. His children were : David, Emanuel. Pena, Nellie, wife of John Low, and Polly, who never married. John Lewey, father of William A., was reared in North Carolina and became a farmer in Guilford County, where he died in 1860, when about eighty years old. He was a Lutheran in religious faith. His first wife, who was a German Reformed Presby- terian, died in 1842. She had been the mother of the following children : Polly Wheeler, Oliver, Katie McLean, Isaac, Nellie Clotfelter, David, John Alfred, Sarah McLean, Reuben, Isabel McCaslin, William Addison, and two who died young. John Lewey married a second time and tour children were born to that union: Emily Jane; Dora, who married Rufus Hines; Josiah ; and a daughter who died in infancy.

William Addison Lewey was reared in Guil- ford County. In boyhood he attended a sub- scription school held in an old log cabin that was heated by fire in a huge fireplace, but later he had public school advantages. At the age of twenty-one he came to Montgomery County and secured farm work by the month and so contin- ued until the second year of the Civil War, when he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He served for three years lacking five days. He was in many serious battles and for his gal- lantry was promoted to the rank of corporal. Mr. Lewey was honorably discharged from mili- tary duty in August, 1865. Although he for- tunately escaped injury through wounds, he suf- fered from illness and passed some unhappy months in a hospital at La Grange, Tenn., and later at Jacksonville, being absent on this ac- count from his regiment for almost a year. It was at Jacksonville that he received his promo- tion, in 1863. A part of the time of service he had been employed in guarding railroads and supply posts. During the first year following the close of the war he operated his brother's farm, but in 1867 he bought eighty acres of his present farm and has lived here ever since. He planted all the trees which give fruit and shade here and has made more improvements than the majority of his neighbors.

Mr. Lewey was married first on April 26, 1867, to Miss Rachel Griffith, who died in 1878. Her parents were John and Harriet (Piatt) Griffith. In 1879 Mr. Lewey was united to Mrs. Rebecca Chamberlain, who died in 1SSS. On October 2S, 1890, Mr. Lewey was married to Miss Lurenna D. Thacker, who was born in East Fork Town-

ship, Montgomery County, Ill. Her parents were Allen and Sarah Rebecca (McCaslin) Thacker. Allen Thacker was born in Kentucky and died in Illinois in 1902, aged seventy-six years. He was a blacksmith by trade and also was a farmer. He married Sarah Rebecca McCaslin, who was born in Kentucky in 1832, and died in Illinois, April 12, 1912. They had ten children, as follows: Robert Thacker, now deceased, was a very prominent man; Timothy and Mrs. P. I. Warlick, who both live near Greenville, Ill .; Logan, who lives in Nebraska ; Finis F., who lives at Sorento; Edward and Mrs. William A. Lewey, both of whom live in Hillsboro Township; Preston, who is principal of the Nokomis public schools; Heston, twin brother of Preston, who is a dentist at Brazil, Ind. ; Fred, who lives near Donnellson, and Ber- tha, who lives in that village. The parents of Mrs. Lewey were members of the Presbyterian Church, the father having been an elder for many years. The paternal grandparents were Allen and Harriet (Vaughn) Thacker, natives of Virginia, residents of Kentucky and early settlers in Bond County, Ill. Both died in Bond County in extreme old age, the grandfather be- ing ninety-seven and the grandmother ninety- five years old, they being separated in death but five days. Their children were: Martin, Wil- liam, Elijah, Fielding, Hezekiah, John Allen, Mary Jett, Nancy Harkey and America Hittle. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Lewey were William Gray and Sarah (Robinson) McCaslin, natives of Kentucky, farming people and early and permanent settlers in Bond County, Ill. They had seven children, namely: Elizabeth Jane Barr, Mary Martha Laws, Cinderella Gwinn Smith, Serena Frame, Sarah Rebecca Thacker, William G. and Wilburn.

Mr. Lewey has always shown an interest in community affairs and has done everything in his power to promote the welfare of his town- ship and is especially active along the line of its moral development. He is and has been for many years an ardent temperance man and for some years was identified with the Prohibition party but is now affiliated with the Republican party. He is found an advocate of all move- ments which he believes will elevate mankind and prove of real benefit to his community. He is an active and valued member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church and for many years was a class leader and at present is a member of the board of stewards. . His life has been honorable and upright and is worthy of respect and emula- tion. He has lived in this county for sixty years and has witnessed its growth and development. He is affectionately known as "Uncle Billy," and his good wife as "Aunt Renna," who is equally admired and beloved.

LITTLE, Sam, editor of the Hillsboro Journal, was born in Hillsboro, Ill., September 10, 1881, a son of John H. and Hannah (Burnett) Little, natives of Illinois and New Jersey, respectively. The mother has lived at Hillsboro since she was eighteen months old. They had three children,

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namely : Oliver, who died at the age of twenty- one years; Sam, whose name heads this article ; and Cecelia, who died at the age of six years. The father was reared on a farm, but for the past twenty-five or thirty years has been en- gaged in sheet and metal work, and is now senior member of the firm of Little & Hendricks at Hillsboro. He and his wife are Presbyte- rians. The paternal grandfather was Arthur A. Little, who with his wife became an early set- tler in the vicinity of Staunton and Mt. Olive, Ill. They were farming people, and he died on his farm and she at Hillsboro. They had three children, namely : John H., Samuel and Wil- liam. The maternal grandfather was John O. Burnett, a native of New Jersey. He came to Hillsboro sixty years ago and died when past middle life. The grandmother lived to be eighty-five years old. Their children were as follows: Henrietta Young. Hannah J. Little, George M. and Emma Phillips.

Sam Little was reared at Hillsboro and was graduated from its high school in 1900. He then went into the newspaper business, and since 1907 has been publisher of the Hillsboro Journal, with which he has been connected since 1901. It is a semi-weekly Republican news- paper, and he also carries on a general job printing business.

On April 22, 1908, Mr. Little was married to Miss Florence R. Adams, a daughter of Clayton H. and Mary E. (Willis) Adams. Mr. and Mrs. Little are members of the Presbyterian Church. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and Moose fra- ternally, and in politics is a Republican. Mrs. Little was born at Ilarvel, Ill., April 5, 1881. Her father was born in Ohio, but lived prac- tically all his life in Illinois. Her mother was born at Carmi, Ill., and died in 1903, but the father survives and lives at Riverton, Wyo. They had three children, namely: Charley Willis, who died in infancy ; Florence Rosanna, and Willis. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Little was John Adams, and he was married to Sarah Kelsey. The maternal grandfather was James E. Willis, and he was married to J. Rosanna Short. He was born in New Hamp- shire and she in North Carolina, and they be- came early settlers of Macoupin County, Ill. They had a family of six children.

LIVINGSTON, John T., now living retired at Litchfield, was at one time one of the leading agriculturalists of Montgomery County. He was born in Butler Grove Township, September 10, 1848, a son of Benjamin and Lucinda (Goodall) Livingston, born in New York state, who a short time after their marriage moved to Ohio, and in the early forties came to Butler Grove Township, this county. Still later they moved to Hillsboro Township, where both died. Their children were as follows: Lucinda and Annso- phira, who are both deceased; Mary, who is Mrs. Joshua Caulk of Terre Haute, Ind. ; Isaiah, who is deceased; Lorena, who is the widow of Robert Arkley, lives at Danville, Ill .; and John T., who was the youngest.

John T. Livingston attended the schools of his

district and resided with his parents until they died, the father on January 11, 1892, and the inother in 1894. He then bought a farm of 140 acres in Hillsboro Township, ten acres of which had been owned by his parents. On January 7, 1875, he was married to Martha Masters, born at Cincinnati, Ohio, November 11, 1857, a daughter of Stephen and Phoebe (Quick) Masters, natives of Kentucky, who in 1870 came to Butler Grove Township, where they lived until the death of Mr. Masters, July 7, 1907. The mother survives and lives at Litchfield.

Mr. Livingston added to his farm until he owned 140 acres of land, which he operated until 1913, doing general farming and stock raising, when he sold and bought a small place just east of Litchfield, where he has since lived in retirement. Mr. and Mrs. Livingston have had the following children : Carrie, who is Mrs. Frank Gilbert, of Macoupin County, has three children, Pearl Silby, Mary Beatrice, and Fran- cis LeRoy ; Nettie Otis, who is Mrs. William B. Lay, of South Litchfield Township, has one child, Edith Maude; Harry Oscar, who married Mary Berry, has two children, John B. and Margaret A., and lives in South Litchfield Township; and Mary, who died, aged four months. Mrs. Livingston belongs to the Chris- tian Church. In politics Mr. Livingston is a Democrat and has served on the school board. His fraternal affiliations are with the Litch- field Camp No. 352, M. W. A., and Mrs. Liv- ingston belongs to Litchfield Camp No. 197, Royal Neighbors. Mr. Livingston has always been industrious, and his success in life is but the result of his hard work and thrift. Having done his full duty in his younger years, he is entitled to the rest and comfort he is now en- joying.

LOUNSBURY, J. B., owner of eighty acres of valuable land in Witt Township, is a highly esteemed resident of Witt Village. He was born in Dearborn County, Ind., April 5, 1850, a son of Joseph and Palmira ( Herrick) Louns- bury, the former of whom was born at Baden. N. J., a son of Isaac Lounsbury, who lived and died in New Jersey. having been a Revolution- ary soldier. Joseph Lounsbury came as far west as Ohio when twenty years old, and later to Dearborn County, Ind., where he married as liis second wife Palmira Herrick. She was born and reared in New York state, which she left at the age of fifteen years, coming with her mother and step-father to Dearborn County, Ind. After their marriage Joseph Lounsbury and his wife lived in Dearborn County, Ind., until 1875, when they came to Illinois and located in the center of Witt Township, and there they both later passed away. Joseph Lounsbury had thir- teen children, the following surviving: Eliza- beth, who is the widow of Thomas McDowell, a soldier of the Civil War; Mary J., who is the wife of Josiah Cook of Dearborn County Ind. ; Rachel, who is the wife of M. V. Eubank of Florida ; John, who is a farmer of Dearborn County, Ind. ; and J. B.

J. B. Lounsbury was reared on a farm in

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Dearborn County, Ind., and attended its local schools. In 1871 he was married to Mary L. Smith, who was born and reared in Indiana. They located on a farm in Dearborn County, where they lived until 1877, and then came to Witt Township, settling on a farm that they . rented until they bought eighty acres. This continued the family home until 1912, when re- moval was made to Witt. Mr. and Mrs. Louns- bury have four children, namely: William T., who is a farmer of Witt Township; Mark, who is a farmer of Alberta, Canada; Ira R., who is a farmer in Witt Township; and John, who is assistant cashier in the Witt Bank. William and John were both graduated from the Dan- ville (Ind.) Normal school, and John took a further course in the Agricultural College at Urbana, Ill. The family belongs to the Metho- dist Church. Fraternally Mr. Lounsbury be- longs to the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is a Republican and served as super- visor of Witt Township for two terms and is very prominent in his party.

LYERLA, E. A., veterinary surgeon and farmer, owning a fine farm on Section 27, Irving Town- ship, is one of the leading men of his locality. He was born in Fayette County, Ill., January 1S, 1861, a son of Jacob and Millie (Allen) Lyerla. Jacob Lyerla was born in Union County, Ill., and Millie Allen was born in Virginia, coming to Illinois with her parents, who located in Fayette County, and there she was reared and married. In 1862 Jacob Lyerla and his wife came with their family to Irving Township, this county, and settled on a farm east of Irv- ing. where they lived until 1894. when he went to Texas, and died in Eastland County, that state, and his widow died one year later. He was a Democrat and was prominent in local and county politics. They had ten children, namely : Mattie, Maria, Jacob, Solomon, Millie, E. A., Wilson, Annie and two who are deceased.

E. A. Lyerla was reared on his father's home- stead and attended the common schools, remain- ing at home until he was married, December 30, 1879. to Nancy E. Stewart. She was born in Tennessee. February 7, 1859, and came to Irving Township with her parents, and there she was reared and attended the common schools. Doc- tor and Mis. Lyerla became the parents of these children, namely: Susie, who is the wife of Frank Stafford; Ruby, who was graduated from the Irving High school. is the wife of Carl Carriker, and they have the following living children : Virginia ; Berges, who was married to Viola Cress, and their children are : Wanda V .. Dorothy M. and Katherine R .; and Edna, who was married to Lon Mellmon and they have one child, born February 26, 1918, named Dona Norene.

For two years following his marriage. Doctor Lyerla rented land, and then worked for some years on railroad construction work, and dur- ing all this time he was studying veterinary surgery. and received his license to practice from the state board in February, 1892. and since then has built up a large practice. Doctor

Lyerla has invested in land to the extent of 400 acres in Irving Township, and fourteen acres in the city of Irving. In politics he is a Democrat, and was the candidate of his party for sheriff in 1914. He has been assessor of Irving Township for six years, and is a very capable man. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Yeoman of America. Both as a man and a veterinary practitioner, Doctor Lyerla stands very high, and he and his wife are very popular in their neighborhood, as they deserve to be, for they are estimable people.

LYLES, E. N., one of the successful agricul- turalists of East Fork Township, lives on his farm, which is situated south of Coffeen. He was born in East Fork Township, March 18, 1863, a son of A. T. and Mary F. (Young) Lyles. A. T. Lyles, the father, was born in Kentucky, where he was also reared, but he left his native state in the fifties and came to Montgomery County, Ill., where he bought a tract of land. He married Mary F. Young, who was also born in Kentucky, and was brought to Montgomery County by her parents, who located at Donnellson, and there they rounded out their worthy lives.

After their marriage, A. T. Lyles and his wife located on his farm, where they lived until 1865, when they moved to Macon County, Mo .. and bought a farm. on which he died May 23, 1916, his wife passing away in 1892. They had the following children : Margaret S., who is the wife of R. P. Aspley, of Britton, Okla. : Keturah, who is the wife of Y. A. Vestal, of Macon County. Mo .; Anna, who is the wife of J. W. Marshall, of Callao, Mo .; Wesley D., who also lives at Callao, Mo .; E. N .: Ella, who is the wife of J. L. Raynolds of Durant, Okla : Emma, who is the wife of Cole Landree of Bevier, Mo. ; Mary F., who is the wife of C. L. Pool, of Macon County, Mo. ; and one who died in infancy. During the Civil War A. T. Lyles was president of the Union League and took an active part in raising money for military ne- cessities in East Fork Township. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his father was an ordained minister who filled charges in Kentucky. A well read man and well informed, although entirely self taught, Mr. Lyles taught school at one time, and was an influence for good in the several communi- ties in which he lived. His advice was often sought and taken. His political views made lim a Republican, and he did not allow himself to be swerved from his allegiance to that party.

E. N. Lyles was reared in Missouri and attended the local schools, leaving that state when he was twenty-three years old and com- ing to Montgomery County, Ill. On January 10, 1SS6, he was married to Olive Nichols, who was born March 23. 1867, a daughter of Gordon and Jemima (Robinson) Nichols, natives of Kentucky, who came to Montgomery County in the early fifties, and spent the remainder of their lives in East Fork Township. They had

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six children, of whom five reached maturity and four are now living: Clarissa, who is the widow of S. S. White, of Coffeen, III .; W. C., who lives on the homestead in East Fork Town- ship; Cyrus, who died when six years old ; Catherine J., who is the wife of C. F. Edwards of Coffeen, Ill .; Sarah H., who was the wife of R. W. Young of Donnellson, Ill., is deceased ; and Mrs. Lyles.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Lyles moved on their present farm, which has cou- tinued to be their home. They now own 540 acres of valuable land which they have pur- chased with money earned through their own efforts. Their five children, all living, are as follows: Augusta, who is the wife of James Linville, of East Fork Township; Angie, who is the wife of Charles Ellington, of Hillsboro, Ill., has three children, Glen R., Mary Welina, and Dolores; Elsie, who is the wife of Lonnie Melton, of East Fork Township, has a son, Clyde L .; and Mary Esther and Olive Loretta, both of whom are attending school. The family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church of Coffeen. III. Mr. Lyles belongs to the Horse Thief Association of Illinois. In politics he is a Republican, but has never sought office, his time and attention being fully occupied with his farming.

LYONS, John, one of the substantial farmers of Harvel Township, whose methods of conducting his farm on Section 31, are such as to commend lim to the favorable attention of his neighbors, is one of the representative agriculturalists of Montgomery County. He was born in Ireland, in 1843, a son of John and Bridget (Quinlan) Lyons, both of whom were born, reared, and died in Ireland.

John Lyons spent his boyhood in his native land, where he was given but few educational opportunities, but having the keen wit and in- telligence of his people, he has acquired a gen- eral line of information which has stood him in good stead. A sister of Mr. Lyons had gone to flie United States, and she sent for him to join hier at Hillsboro. The lad started ont alone on the long trip, and immediately upon his arrival at Hillsboro, secured employment as a water- boy to the section hands working on the railroad. It was not long before he was able to pay back to his sister the money she had lent him to pay his fare to the land of promise. Later he went on a farm in the vicinity of Bunker Hill, and worked during the three succeeding years for $25 per annum. Following that he entered the railroad shops at Litchfield, and worked there until he had saved some money, and this he in- vested in 400 acres of land, all in Harvel Town- ship. He also owns stock in the Harvel Grain Company, and is now a man of independent means, having made everything he possesses himself.

In 1880 Mr. Lyons was married to Mary Bus- hel, who was born in Ireland, April 14, 184S, and was brought to the United States when fonr years old. Mr. and Mrs. Lyons have four chil-

dren, namely : James, who is married ; John, who is unmarried, lives at home ; Margaret I., who is at home; and Catherine, who is the wife of John T. Langen of Christian County, IN. The famlly belongs to St. Raymond's Catholic Church of Raymond, Ill. Mr. Lyons is a Dem- oerat in politics.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 91

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