Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 94

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 94


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Donald McLean attended the schools of his native township, and the Irving High school, from which he was graduated in 1898, and attended the Northern Illinois Normal school at Dixon, Ill., during a part of 1900 and also a part of 1902. Until he was about twenty-one years old he remained at home, and he taught school in Montgomery County for two winter terms. His first experience in railroad work was in northern Illinois with the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy and later with the C. M. & St. P. Railway and for ten years was in its employ as a telegraph operator. Returning to Montgomery County in October, 1912, he opened his present store at Farmersville, and has been enlarging it ever since. now having a fine trade from the people of Farmersville and the sur- rounding territory. On December 20, 1905, Mr. McLean was married to Clara E. Swartz, a daughter of Daniel and Rebecca Swartz, at Sterling, Ill. Politically Mr. McLean is a Republican. He belongs to Irving Lodge No. 455, A. F. & A. M .; and Springfield Consistory 32nd degree A. & A. S. R. and is one of the deservedly popular men of Montgomery County, and one who is making a success of his mer- cantile enterprise.


McLEAN, Frank, assistant cashier of the Peoples National Bank of Hillsboro, and a young man of unusual financial ability, is a native of Montgomery County. He was born in East Fork Township. April 24, 1882, a son of John and Mary (Coffeen) McLean, natives of Fayette County. Ill., and New York state. respectively. They had five children : Gustavus. who lives at Raymond, Ill .; Donald, who lives at Farmersville. Ill .; Frank, who lives at Hills- boro ; Della, who is the wife of Newell Henry. of Hillsboro; and Ray H., who died at the age of fifteen months.


John McLean was brought to this county by his parents when an infant. They settled in East Fork Township, where he grew to man- hood, and lived there until he was about sixty- five years old, being engaged in farming. He owns at present 380 acres of land, but for the past six years he and wife have been living at Hillsboro. Both are members of the Presby- terian Church. The paternal grandfather of Frank McLean was Donald McLean, and his wife bore the maiden name of McClelland. He was born in Scotland, and she in Kentucky. They became pioneers of Montgomery County. and lived in East Fork Township, where they developed a farm, and died there at an advanced age. Their children were as follows: John, Duncan, Neil, Thomas and Nancy. The


maternal grandparents were Gustavus and


Mary Adelia (Bell) Coffeen, both natives of New York State. He was of irish descent, and she of Dutch ancestry.


They became early settlers in Montgomery County, and he was the founder of the town of Coffeen, which was named in his honor, and he helped to lay out the Clover Leaf Railroad. He was a large landowner and prominent man and died at Coffeen when he was about seventy-six years old, his wife having passed away in that town when sixty-six years old. They had three child- ren, namely : Mary, Tillie and Frederick.


Frank McLean was reared on his father's farm, attended the district schools and was graduated from the Irving High school. For the two years following his graduation he taught school, and then came to Hillsboro to engage with the Peoples National Bank, rising to his present position through his own merit, his period of service with this institution extending over eleven years. On October 5, 1915, Mr. McLean was married to Miss Mary I. Beck, a daughter of George W. and Emily E. (Barry) Beck. They have one son, James Franklin. Mrs. McLean was born at Hillsboro, Ill., October 14, 1880. Her father, who was a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Illinois and is now deceased, but her mother survives. They had the following children: Carrie, Amy, Lizzie, Edith, Roscoe, Mary I., and several who died young.


Mr. and Mrs. McLean are members of the Presbyterian Church. He has reached the Thirty-second degree in Masonry and belongs to Mount Moriah Lodge No. 51, A. F. & A. M .; Hillsboro Chapter No. 197, R. A. M .; Sullivan Council No. 91, R. & S. M .; St. Omar Com- mandery No. 50, K. T .; Ainad Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and Springfield Con- sistory. He also belongs to the Modern Wood- men of America. In politics he is a Republican. and for four years held the office of city com- missioner.


McLEAN, G. C., proprietor of one of the leading mercantile establishments of this part of the county, is handling a full and complete line of dry goods, gents' furnishings, furniture, rugs and carpets, at Raymond, Ill., and giving the people here a service that is not often found out- side of large cities. He was born six miles east of Hillsboro, in East Fork Township. May 10, 1877, a son of John and Mary (Coffeen) Mc- Lean. John McLean was born in Marion County, Ill., and was the son of Donald McLean who came in young manhood with his peddler's pack on his back to Virginia, from Argyleshire, Scotland, and moved to Montgomery County when his son John was a year and a half old. Finding conditions favorable, he settled down on a prairie farm in Marion County, but spent much of his life in East Fork Township, where he be- came one of the large landowners, and a man of local importance. Mary Coffeen was born in New York City, but was brought to Montgomery Coun- ty when two years old, by her parents. Her fa-


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ther was Gustavus Coffeen, for whom the village of Coffeen is named for he founded it and secured for it the station of the Clover Leaf Railroad. for he was influential in railroad circles, and very prominent in the county. After their marriage, John McLean and his bride located on a farmi adjacent to the McLean liome- stead and lived there until 1909 when they re- tired and are now living at Hillsboro, he still retaining ownership of 500 acres of land, his farming operations having been suceesstul in marked degree. He and his wife had the follow- ing children born to them: G. C .; Donald, who is a dry goods merchant at Farmersville, Ill .; Frank, who is assistant cashier of the Peoples National Bank of Hillsboro; and Adelia, wife of Newell Henry, who are living at Hillsboro.


G. (. McLean received his early training in the district schools of his native township, and then took the high school course at Irving, Ill. His business career began with his clerkship for (. W. Miller at Witt. Ill .. but in 1904 he formed a partnership with C. W. Miller, under the firm name of Miller & MeLean, which continued until January 1, 1914, when Mr. MeLean assum- ed full control. He had a little experienee out- side the mereantile business for he was eom- pany weighman for the Clover Leaf and Coffeen mine for fourteen months, and then held the same position for the M. K. & T. Railroad Company for a year.


On December 24. 1908 Mr. MeLean was mar- ried to Miss Grace V. Parkhill, who was born August 19, 18SG. a daughter of Dr. W. V. and Anna (Lewey) Parkhill of Irving, the maternal ancestors being among the earliest settlers of Irving Township. Mr. and Mrs. McLean have two children, namely: Lois Elizabeth, born May 17. 1910; and Roy Gustavus, born April 19, 1912. Mr. McLean belongs to Raymond Lodge No. 692. A. F. & A. M. He belongs to the Presbyterian Chureh at Raymond, of which he is an older. A Republican in politics, he served for four years on the village board of Raymond and has in other ways proven his civie worth, while his business capability is unquestioned.


McLEAN, Thomas H., proprietor of the Coffeen Feed Store, at Coffeen. Ill., is one of the enter- prising business men of Montgomery County. He was born in East Fork Township. this county. July 1. 1859, a son of Donald and Millie ( Hamlin) McLean. Donald McLean was born in Scotland. where he lived until about thirty- five years old. and then came to the United States. his parents, however, never leaving Scotland. Landing at New York City, he went to Virginia where he and Millie Hamlin met and were married, she having been born and reared in that state. Immediately following their marriage they came to Illinois, and he entered eighty acres of land five miles east of Hillsboro, and lived on that farm until his death, in the meanwhile aequiring considerable more aereage. becoming a man of means and promin- ence. For some years he was on the road as a traveling salesman, but his main business in


life was increasing his holdings of farm lands. He and his wife had six children, namely : John, who lives at Hillsboro; Katherine, who is deceased ; Duncan, who is a farmer of East Fork Township ; Neil, who lives at Irving, Ill. ; Nancy, who is the widow of Charles Nessmerger, lives at Hillsboro, Ill. ; and Thomas H.


Thomas H. MeLean lived at home until Sep- tember 8. 1883, when he was married to Ida McFarland, a daughter of Richard McFarland, of Seotch descent. Mr. and Mrs. MeLean have had six children namely : Harry, who lives in East St. Louis, Mo .: Esther. who died at the age of three months; Roy, who died when six months old; Lili, who is the wife of Hugh Edwards of Coffeen, Ill .; Kenneth, who lives at Coffeen ; and June, who is attending school. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. McLean located on a farm of their own and lived on it until 1915 when they moved to Coffeen. Mr. McLean owns 266 acres of land. eighty aeres of it being in Fillmore Township; 166 acres in East Fork Township; and he also owns his dwelling and business property at Coffeen. The family belongs to the English Lutheran Church, being connected with the Bossie congregation of East Fork Township, and he is a deacon. In politics he is a Republican, but his time and attention have been so occupied with his farm- ing and business cares that he has not accepted any public office.


McLEAN, Walter R., general manager of the Peoples Mutual Telephone Company of Hills- boro, is one of the alert and successful young business men of Montgomery County. He was born in East Fork Township, this county, July 25, 1885, a son of Neil and Mary B. (Wolford) McLean, natives of Montgomery County, Ill. Walter R. McLean is their only child. The father was reared in Montgomery County, and was always engaged in farming and stoek- raising, owning farms in East Fork and Fill- more townships, which he improved until they were very valuable, but he lived principally in East Fork Township. At present he is living in the village of Irving, the mother having died April 26, 190S. aged sixty-one years. Both


were religious people, but never connected them- selves with any chureh.


The paternal grandfather was Donald McLean and he was married to Millie Hamlin, a native of Virginia. to which state he came from his native Argyleshire, Scotland. A farmer, he and his wife sought a new home in Montgomery County during pioneer days, and here they died at an advanced age. Their children were as follows : John, Duncan, Neil. Thomas, Nan and another daughter. The maternal grandfather was George Wolford, and he was married to Mary Scott, both being natives of Pennsylvania but early settlers of Montgomery County. The Seotts belonged to the same family as did Gen. Winfield Scott. The grandparents died in Mont- gomery County when well along in years. Their children were as follows: Henry M .. Samuel A. Lydia A., Sarah I. and Mary B. The paternal


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great-grandfather was Hector McLean who was a soldier in the English army, and lost an arm at the historic battle of Waterloo.


.


Walter R. McLean was reared on his father's farm and he attended the local schools, and the Hillsboro High school being graduated from the latter in 1906. Still later he entered the Univer- sity of Illinois and took a business course in the College of Literature and Arts. He then re- turned to the farm, but in 1911 came to Hills- boro, and soon afterwards became General Man- ager of the Peoples Mutual Telephone Company, which position he still holds .. In politics Mr. McLean is a Republican, and is now senatorial committeeman of Montgomery County. Very prominent in Masonic circles, Mr. McLean was recently made District Deputy Grand Master of the Masonic lodges, of the 36th District. com- prising the Counties of Bond and Montgomery and he is a Past Master of Mt. Moriah Lodge, of Hillsboro and the youngest Master his lodge has ever had. Mr. McLean is a Thirty-second Degree Mason. and a Knight Templar. belong- ing to St. Omer Commandery, of Litchfield and is a member of Ainad Temple, Mystic Shrine of East St. Louis, Ill.


McNAUGHTON, Clarence, assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Raymond, is one of the enterprising young men of Montgomery County. He was born in Montgomery County, Ill .. April 26, 1885, a son of Frank and Mary (Walters) McNaughton, natives of Pittsfield. Ill .. and Trenton, N. J., respectively. His par- ents were married in Montgomery County. Ill. For some years his father was engaged in farm- ing, owning eighty acres of land, but finally moved to Raymond where he conducted a mer- cantile establishment until his death January 1. 1912. He owned his farm. three residences and a stone building in which his business was located. and all of this property he had made himself without any assistance. Not only was he a member of the Presbyterian Church, but he was very active in the Sunday school and served as superintendent of it for ten years. In politics he was a Republican, while his fraternal connections were with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias. There were two children in his family: Clarence and Mabel. the latter being a graduate of the Ray- mond High school. and of the Illinois Woman's College, Jacksonville. She is now residing at home.


Clarence McNaughton was seven years old when the family settled in Raymond. and grew up in the village which gave him his education. he being a graduate of both the grammar and high schools. He then took a commercial course at Brown's Business College, Decatur, Ill. For a time lie conducted a lumber yard at Raymond, and was also associated with his father, leaving the store to assume the duties of his present position. Mr. McNaughton is one of the directors of the bank. Unmarried, he makes his home with his mother. In politics he is a Republican, and his religious connections are with the Presbyterian Church, and he is secre-


tary of the Sunday school of that body. Fra- ternally he belongs to Raymond Lodge No. 692, A. F. & A. M., and is the present master of the lodge. A man of sound principles and con- siderable business acumen, he has a bright future before him.


McWILLIAMS, Paul, one of the most prominent lawyers of Montgomery County, and a leading citizen of Litchfield, where he is engaged in a general practice, was born in this city, April 9, 1873. a son of Robert and Mary (Allen) Mc- Williams, natives of Dayton, Ohio, and Beaver Creek. Bond County, Ill. The paternal grand- parents were Robert and Elizabeth (Adams) McWilliams, born at Harrisburg, Pa., she being a cousin of John Quincy Adams. The maternal grandparents were Benjamin and Eliz- abeth (Burnside) Allen, he being born in South Carolina, although the Allen family originated in Ireland, as did the McWilliams family.


In 1854 Robert R. McWilliams came to Hills- boro. Ill., and began the practice of law, having completed his studies in Ohio. In 1860 the Allen family moved from Bond County to Hills- boro. and Mr. Allen lived there as a retired farmer. During the Civil War. Robert McWil- liams served as captain of Company B, One Hundred and Seventeenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry from 1862 to the close of the war. and organized three companies. When he was dis- charged in 1865, it was with the rank of major. With him in practice was Jesse J. Phillips who later became judge of the Supreme court of Illinois. Major McWilliams died at Litchfield December S. 1910, and his wife died October 10, 1913. Their children were three in number : Benjamin, who is an attorney of Chicago ; Grace, who died in 1897, and Paul.


Paul McWilliams was educated in the public schools of Litchfield, being graduated from the high school at the age of seventeen years. He then began working as agent and clerk for the Jacksonville & S. E. Railroad, with which he remained for three and one-half years, and then returned home and read law with his father until he was admitted to the bar in May, 1896, and since then has been engaged in a general practice. with the exception of the period be- tween 1902 and 1914. when he served as judge of the City court at Litchfield. In the latter year he refused re-election. and returned to his practice.


On December S, 1915. Judge McWilliams was married to Rena Jamieson, born at Sugar Grove, Pa. Judge McWilliams is a Presbyterian. A Democrat he served as city attorney of Litch- field from 1896 to 1900. and is a man of fine parts. Fraternally he belongs to Litchfield Lodge No. 236. A. F. & A. M., and Litchfield Lodge B. P. O. E. No. 653.


MEHL, Rev. T. J., pastor of the Lutheran Church of Farmersville. and one of the eloquent clergyman of this section whose work in behalf of Christianity places him in a prominent posi- tion in his profession. was born at Mt. Olive, Ill., January 24, 1887, a son of William and


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IIISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY


Louise (Fromme) Mehl. William Mebl was born at Nassan, Germany, June 29, 1845, and when he was seven years old his parents brought him to the United States, by the way of New Orleans, La., from whence the family went to St. Louis. Mo., and there he grew to manhood. His father was a farmer and operated land in St. Louis County. Mehlville, a suburb of St. Louis was named for an uncle of William Mehl. and the family is a well known one in that locality. The mother was born in Westphalia, Germany, and when she was seventeen years old she came alone to St. Louis by way of New York, arriving soon after the close of the Civil War, and there she met and married William Mehl. After their marriage the parents lived at St. Louis, the father following his trade of a plasterer, and he continued to work as such after his removal to Mt. Olive, Ill., where he and the mother still reside, having been residents of that place for the past thirty-five years. They were the parents of seven children, namely : F. A. Mehl, who is a graduate of Concordia Semin- ary, St. Lonis, class of 1897, is now in charge of the Lutheran Church at Sylvan Grove, Kas .; T. J .; three who died in infancy ; William, who died at the age of thirteen years; and Charles, who was a graduate of the Perkins & Herpel Business College of St. Louis, died at the age of twenty-four years.


Rev. T. J. Mehl was educated in the parochial schools of Mt. Olive. St. Paul's College at Con- cordia. Mo .. from which he was graduated in 190S. and then he took a course in Concordia Seminary of St. Louis. Mo., being graduated from the latter institution in 1912. Following his graduation he came at once to his present charge. where he has since remained, and under his able administration. his church has increased in importance. he now having 100 communicants, of whom thirty-nine are male voters. His church, known as Zion Church. is recognized as one of the leaders in the faith in Montgomery County. and many outside his flock attend services to hear his masterly expounding of the doctrines of his creed.


Mr. Mehl was married June 29, 1913, to Lydia Eichmann of Alma. Mo .. a daughter of Prof. A. E. J. and Katherine (Holtzen) Eichmann, the former of whom was born in Germany, but came to the United States as a small boy, the family locating at Chicago, where he was reared, although he attended school at Addison, DuPage County, Ill., and was there fitted for his pro- fession as an educator. For the past thirty-five years he has been principal of the schools of Alma. Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Mehl have one son, Carl E., who was born October 17, 1916.


MILLER, Judge Amos, ex-judge of the County Court and a lawyer of distinction at Hillsboro, is one of the best types of highly trained and capable members of the legal profession of this part of the state. He was born at Sherodsville, Carroll County, Ohio, January 25, 1845, a son of Joseph W. and Isabel (McClintock) Miller, natives of the vicinity of Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pa., and Harrison County, Ohio, re-


spectively. They had six children, namely : Martin, who was formerly a Methodist minister. is`now deceased ; George, who died when a small child; Charles, who also died in childhood ; Amos; Eli, who is president of the First Na- tional Bank of Litchfield; and John, who lives at Hobart. Okla.


Josephi W. Miller when sixteen years old came to eastern Ohio from Pennsylvania, locating in Carroll County with his father, and there he grew to manhood, becoming a farmer of that locality, where he lived for a number of years. In 1862 he came to Illinois and located east of Nokomis in Montgomery County, and coutined his farming operations until his death which occurred in 1873 when he was over sixty-two years old. Ilis widow lived until 1906. when she passed away aged ninety-one years. Both were members of the Lutheran Church. The paternal grandfather of Judge Miller was Abra- ham Miller, who married Hannah West, both being natives of Pennsylvania, of German de- scent. Ile was a farmer, and they became pioneers of Carroll County, Ohio, where they (lied at an old age. They had five children. namely: John. Joseph. Solomon, Abraham and a daughter. The founders of this family in America. came from Rotterdam. in 1730. on the ship "Joyce." comprising Christian Miller, who was born in 1670. and his wife Margaret Miller. who was born in 1650. They had three children who sailed with them. namely : Anlis, Andrew, and Anna Barbara. They landed at Philadel- phia, Pa., and Andrew Miller participated with the early settlers in many contests and treaties with the Indians and by patents from the l'enns received 323 acres of land in Lancaster County, Pa., during the French and Indian Wars. Joseph W. Miller. father of Judge Miller was a grand- son of Andrew Miller and a son of Abra- ham Miller. the former a soldier in the American Revolution. The maternal grand- father was Thomas MeClintock and he married a Miss Fisher, natives of Ireland and Harrisou County, Ohio. They became pioneers of Carroll County, Ohio, where they were farming people. the grandfather becoming a famous hunter and trapper. They had thirteen children. among whom were the following: James. Walter, Thomas who was a soldier in the Civil War, Isabel. Jane Canaga. Susan Henderson. Rebecca Gotshall. Eva Ann Timmerman, Cramblett, Mary Ann Fowler and others.


Judge Amos Miller spent his early days. or until he was sixteen years old. on the farm in Ohio, and attended the public schools of his dis- trict. passing an examination when only sixteen, that entitled him to teach school under the Ohio law. In 1862 he came with his parents to Mont- gomery County. and entered the Illinois State University at Springfield. where he spent two years. Until he attained to his majority, he re- mained at home. teaching school in the winters. and working at farming and carpentery in the summers. as well as doing other things calcu- lated to add to his income. Coming to Hillsboro in 1866, he served as deputy county clerk for eight years, during which period he studied


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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY


law and in 1869 he was admitted to the bar, having been a willing pupil of Judge Lane. Following this Judge Miller entered upon a general law practice in partnership with Judge Edward Y. Rice, this association being main- tained until the death of Judge Rice, after which Judge Miller and J. K. McDavid formed a part- nership, which continued until 1887, when he continued alone. In 1912, he became associated with J. R. McDavid in the general practice. A man of fearless character he was elected state's attorney in 1876, and re-elected in 1880, serving eight years in all. His record in that office made him the logical candidate for the office of County judge and he was elected to that office in 1886, and served for four years, when he re- sumed his private practice which is a very large and important one.


On September 23, 1871 Judge Miller was mar- ried to Miss Mary R. Rice, a daughter of Ed- ward Y. and Susan ( Allen) (Coudy) Rice. Judge and Mrs. Miller have two children : Isa, who was married to H. O. Pinkerton, and they live at Nokomis, Ill., having a son, Amos Miller Pinkerton ; and Rice, who is a graduate of the law school of Cornell University, is now general superintendent of the Hillsboro Coal Company, and vice president of the Illinois Operators As- sociation. He was married to Winifred Wool, and they have two children; Rice Wool and Mary Juliet. Judge and Mrs. Miller are valued members of the Lutheran Church. He belongs to Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 51, A. F. & A. M. In politics he is a Democrat, and very prominent in the work of his party. In addition to other offices, he served Hillsboro as city attorney, has been on the board of education of his church, and for eighteen years was a director of the public schools of Hillsboro. At present he is a director of and attorney for the First National Bank of Litchfield. and also of the Montgomery County Loan and Trust Company of Hillsboro, and is president of the Coffeen National Bank.




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