USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II > Part 97
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114
On April 2, 1890, Mr. Morgan was married to Mattie A. Martin, born at Cochran, Ind., March 5, 1871, a daughter of Mark N. and Matilda (Orchard) Martin, both born in England. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have two children ; Harold, who was born in January. 1891, is with the Litchfield Foundry & Machine Company; and Mabel A., who was born in July, 1895. Mr. Morgan is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Republican. 1 Knight Templar Mason. he is now serving on the committee having charge of the control of buildings. The order of Elks also holds his membership and for ten years he served the local lodge as treasurer. In every capacity, he has proven his worth as a man and his ability as a financier.
MORRIS, William N .- Litchfield has many ex- amples of the self-made man in its worthy citi- zenship, but perhaps no better representative of this class of selt-reliant men can be found than William N. Morris, a justice of the peace in this city, and formerly a grocery merchant here for many years. He was boru in Raudolph Couuty, Ill., in May, 1846. a son of William and Cath- erine (Tolbert) Morris, natives of Kaskaskia, Ill. The father, who was a farmer, died when forty-six years old. After the death of his first wife, who was the mother of William N. Morris, he married (second) Catherine Coddele. widow of Harmon Coddele. She died in 1914. aged eighty-five years.
The educational advantages of William N.
32
1120
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Morris were very limited, probably not exceed- ing nine months in all, and only those afforded by the subscription schools of his period. He spent his boyhood on the farm of his father, leaving it to enlist in March, 1864, for service in the Civil War, in Company C, Thirtieth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, at Springfield, Ill. From there the regiment went to Cairo, Ill., and then on through Tennessee and Alabama, and he participated in the engagements at Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Rome (Ga.). Huntsville (Ala), and in many skirmishes and was always a brave soldier, and at the battle of Atlanta. July 22. 1864, he was wounded by a gunshot in the right leg and was captured by the enemy. He was confined in the infamous Andersonville prison for nine months, when he was paroled, and finally discharged at Camp Butler, in July, 1865.
Following his discharge, Mr. Morris returned home and remained on the farm until 1867, when he went to Sparta, Ill., and worked in the flour- ing mills there until 1880, in which year he came to Litchfield, and in October entered the Planet flouring mill. and worked there for three years. He then embarked in a grocery business that he conducted very successfully for twenty- eight years, which he sold in 1912 in order to devote all his time to the duties of justice of the peace, which office he still holds.
On November 29. 1866, Mr. Morris was mar- ried to Martha Eaker, born near Lutesville, Mo .. a daughter of Daniel and Eliza Eaker. Mr. and Mrs. Morris became the parents of three children : George, who died in 1889; Della, who is Mrs. Harry Van Dorn. of Litchfield. and Charel, who is employed in the postoffice at Litchfield. In politics Mr. Morris is a Repub- lican and served as an alderman from the Third Ward in 1894-5. The Christian Church holds his membership and he has been an elder in it since 1SSG. He is a Chapter Mason and an Odd Fel- low, and belongs to Phillips Post, G. A. R.
MORRISON, Michael, president of the Litchfield National Bank of Litchfield. and one of the lead- ing financiers of Montgomery County, was born in Ireland. November 2. 1850. His parents came to the United States, one year later. The family located in Minnesota where he attended an old fashioned country school held in a log school- house where rude slabs served as seats, and a tuition school at Rochester, Minn., that was also attended by the Mayo brothers. the present famous surgeons. In 1873 Michael Morrison came from New Ulm, Minn .. with Charles Ball- weg, who conducted a liquor business at Litch- field for several years. In the fall of 1877 he was appointed deputy county treasurer, under James Haynes. Six months after the books were closed, he resumed his connection with Charles Ballweg, going into business for himself in the same line in the spring of 1882. so continuing until July. 1904, when he sold his interests and retired. The First State and Savings Bank was organized in 1906 and he was elected president, J. W. Kidd, vice president, and Dr. M. W. Snell
was cashier. In 1911 the bank was reorganized as the Litchfield National Bank of Litchfield, with Mr. Morrison as president, Mr. Kidd as vice-president, Herbert B. Herrick as cashier. The capital stock is $50,000, and the deposits are $300,000. During 1906-7 Mr. Morrison erected a one-story modern bank building for this bank. which is one of the solid business structures of the city.
On June 1, 1898. Mr. Morrison was married to Helen Loescher, born in Wisconsin, a daughter of Theodore Loescher, who was born in Ger- many. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison have two chil- dren : Grace K. and Helen M. Mr. Morrison is a member of the Roman Catholic Church. A man ot genial bearing and pleasant manner. he makes and retains friends, and stands very high in public confidence.
MOYER, Martin Luther, M. D., physician and surgeon, at Hillsboro, is one of the leading men of his profession in Montgomery County. He was born at Stotesville, N. C., March 19, 1850. a son of John Mathias and Martha (Kimball) Moyer, natives of North Carolina. They had four children. The eldest were twins, Martin Luther and one who died at birth. The others were : Addison Monroe, who died in early child- hood ; and Mary Elizabeth, who is the widow of Robert Hogshead. The father was reared as a farmer in North Carolina. He came to Mont- gomery County, Ill., in 1866, locating near Cof- feen, where he continued farming until within a year or two of his death, which occurred in 1890, when he was seventy-one years old. He had become blind. The mother of Dr. Mover died in 1891, aged sixty-seven years. Both were members of the Lutheran Church. The paternal grandfather ot Dr. Mover was George Mover, and his wife bore the maiden name of Sassaman. They were natives of North Carolina, where both died. Their children were as follows : John Mathias, Evalina, Daniel, Charles, Caleb, Mary, Ann, Elizabeth. The maternal grand- parents were Joel and Dorcas (Kearns) Kimball, and both were natives of North Carolina, where they were farming people. Their children were four in number : Thomas. Mary (Polly), Martha and Eliza. By his second marriage Mr. Kim- ball had the following children: Henry I., Louisa, Calvin, Laura, Chrissie Ann, Wiley, William. Lafayette. and Monroe, who was killed in childhood.
Martin Luther Moyer was sixteen years old when he came to Montgomery County, and this section has continued his home ever since. He attended the district schools in North Carolina, and the old Hillsboro Academy, in Illinois, fol- lowing which he went to Keokuk, Iowa, and matriculated in the Physicians and Surgeons Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1880. Immediately thereafter he began prac- ticing at Butler, Ill., building up a large and valuable connection, during a residence of sev- enteen years, when he came to Hillsboro, where for twenty years he has been in active practice.
Dr. Mover was married first to Miss Emma Gray, who died without issue. In 1887 Dr.
1121
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Moyer was married to Miss Susie Gray, a sister at Mt. Pleasant, Texas; Eugene, who is deceas- ed; Andrew, who is of Litchfield; Mary, who is deceased ; Agnes, who is Mrs. J. A. Byron, of Fort Worth, Texas; Clement, who is deceased ; of his first wife and a daughter of Alexander and Amanda (Choate) Gray, of Kentucky. Dr. and Mrs. Moyer became the parents of two children, namely : Leland G., who died at the . Tressa, who is Mrs. J. F. Busher, of Litchfield ; age of four months; and Harold, who is a stu- dent in the St. Louis Dental College. Dr. and Mrs. Moyer are members of the Lutheran Church, in which he is an elder. In politics he is a Democrat. His public services have in- cluded four years as county coroner, and nine years as a director of the city schools at Hills- boro, and while living at Butler he served as a member of the city council for several years. Professionally he belongs to the county, state and national medical societies, and to the Cent- ral Illinois District Medical Society. Mrs. Moy- er was born on a farm near Butler. Her father was from Virginia, and her mother from Ken- tucky, and both are now deceased. Their child- ren were : William A., Emma, James, Susie, Henry and several who died in childhood.
MUNDAY, Charles B., Sr., a justice of the peace at Litchfield. Ill .. and one of the substantial men of Montgomery County, was born in New York City, February 10. 1832, a son of John and Mary Ann ( Whalen) Munday, natives of Ire- land and New York state. respectively. He came to New York when a boy, and in time became one of the city officials, holding the office of city weigher. He died there in 1839, and his wife died in 1836.
After the death of his parents, Charles B. Munday. went to live with his maternal grand- parents, with whom he remained until he was fifteen years old, and then was taken by Michael J. Whalen, an uncle living in New York City. When he was twenty-two years old. Charles B. Munday went on a whaling vessel which voyaged to the Arctic Ocean, and after four years of unusual adventure, returned and lived with his uncle for a short time. then went to Milledge- ville. Ga., and clerked in a clothing store for seven years, when occurred the breaking out of the Civil War. He learned telegraphy and served as a telegraph operator during the war, and following its close for seven more years at Port Royal. S. C. In 1884 he came to Litchfield, Ill .. and after being engaged in various callings, he bought some city property. Under Gov. Fifer he was made a justice of the peace, and through election has held this office ever since, with the exception of four years. He is a Democrat, and has served one term as a member of the Mont- gomery County Board of Equalization. The Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus hold his membership. Although his educational ad- vantages were confined to a few months atten- dance in private schools in New York City, Mr. Munday is a well informed man.
In May, 1858. Mr. Munday was married to Victoria Ann Bivins, boru near Savannah, Ga .. who died May 6. 1917. Their children were as follows : John Henry and James who are de- ceased ; Charles B., who lives at Chicago; Joseph, who is Superintendent of Middle Divi- sion of the Central Belt R. R. has headquarters
and an adopted daughter, Margaret, who is now ' Mrs. Gust Muthig of Cairo, Ill. Mr. Munday stands very high in public esteem and during his long incumbency of office he has proven him- self wise in judgment and sage in council, and few of his decisions have been reversed by the higher courts.
MURPHY, Sylvestor, now deceased, was for many years a highly respected agriculturalist of . North Litchfield Township, and during his latter years, a resident of Litchfield. where he was held in much esteem. He was born in Macoupin County, Ill., June 10, 1845, a son of Hiram and Sarah (Huff) Murphy, natives of Ohio, who be- came early settlers of Macoupin County.
Sylvestor Murphy attended the local schools of his native county, and Collinsville College, working his way through the latter institution by teaching school. Coming to Litchfield. he spent his summers on farms, and his winters working in the coal mines at this point. When luis parents died he inherited 1931% acres of land in North Litchfield Township. and one resi- dence and one business block at Litchfield. and he was kept busy looking after his property in- terests. Mr. Murphy was brutally murdered September 1, 1902. In politics he was a Dem- ocrat and served as town clerk. His religious connections were with the Christian Church. of which he was a member.
Mr. Murphy was married to Virginia Huddel- ston, born May 31, 1865, in Cooper County, Mo., a daughter of Thomas and Martha (Sims) Hud- delston. natives of Virginia. Mrs. Murphy was taken to Missouri by an aunt, Mrs. Homan and by her she was brought up. but she had but few educational privileges. Mrs. Murphy inherited her husband's estate as there was no issue by the marriage. and she erected a hand- some monument over his remains, that cost $5,100. In August, 1907, Mrs. Murphy was mar- ried (second) to Harry J. Hooper, who was born in North Litchfield Township. She has no children by her second marriage.
MURRAY, John Joseph, editor of the Daily I'nion, one of the leading journals of Montgom- ery County, is one of the representative young inen of Litchfield. He was born at Curran, San- gamon County. Ill., February 1. 1881, a son of Edward and Alice (O'Keefe) Murray, natives of Connty Tipperary. Ireland. In 1861 they came to Sangamon County, Ill .. where the father was a farmer and died there in 1884, the mother con- tinuing on her farm in Woodside Township, where she died in October. 1914.
John Joseph Murray was educated in the common and high schools. the Christian Broth- ers School. Springfield, Ill .. and the University of Valparaiso. Ind., from whicht lie was gradu- ated in 189S. He had worked his way through college, earning all the money for his courses,
1122
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
receiving no outside help. For the subsequent two years Mr. Murray taught school in Sanga- mon County. For several years he was a travel- ing representative for the Scranton School of Correspondence, but his inclination was toward · literary work, and upon coming to Litchfield, the sheriff of Montgomery County, who was in- terested in disposing of the daily newspaper then in the hands of a receiver, induced Mr. Murray to take charge of it. In 1903 the News- Monitor was established, with Mr. Murray as editor, and he continued in editorial charge of it until 1912 when it and the Herald combined under the name of the Daily I'nion, with him as editor and C. O. Richards, his partner. as superintendent. The paper has a circulation of over 1,100, and is one of the strong political organs of this section.
In November, 1906, Mr. Murray was married to Agnes Hawkins, born at Litchfield. a daugh- ter of Peter and Bridget (Jennings ) Hawkins. natives of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Murray have two children : Clement and Harold. Mrs. Mur- ray. an accomplished musician. is organist of St. Mary's Catholic Church. to which she and Mr. Murray both belong. In politics he is a Democrat. Fraternally he belongs to the Elks And Knights of Columbus. As a member of the Litchfield Fire Department. he has earned a merit badge. A forceful writer, fearless in his support of what he believes to be right. Mr. Murray exerts a strong influence in his com- munity. and always on the side of law and good citizenship.
MYERS, Charles E., chief of police of Litchfield. and one of the fearless men who realize their responsibility to society and live up to that reali- zation. was born in South Litchfield Township. April 5. 18GS, a son of Aaron and Melvina ( Hens- ley) Myers, natives of North Carolina and Illi- nois, respectively. When a young man, the father came to Illinois and was a farmer of Montgomery County until his death in 1870. In 1882 the mother was married (second) to the brother of her first husband. John W. Myers, a farmer of South Litchfield Township.
Charles E. Myers grew up in his native town- ship and attended the Sunnevside and Flatt dis- triet schools until he was sixteen years old. when he began farming for his step-father, and so con- tinned for about eight years, when he engaged with the Keller Milling Company, and was at their plants at Litchfield and St. Louis, Mo .. for six years. For the subsequent one year Mr. Myers was a fireman on the Big Four Rail- road. and for one year on the Wabash Railroad. then returned to his step-father on the home- stead. After four years, he moved to Litchfield and was employed in the radiator works in the moulding department. learning the trade of a moulder, and svent seven years with this con- eern. He was then a patrolman of the Litchfield police department for three years, and in 1905 was made chief of police, and served for three years, when a change of administration caused his retirement. and he returned to the radiator works. In 1910 he was re-appointed chief of
police, and has held that position ever since through successive re-appointments.
On Jannary 26, 1902, Chief Myers was mar- ried to Frances Harris, born at Greenville, III .. April 11. 1871. a daughter of Charles D. and Margaret Isadora ( Woolard) Harris. Charles 1). Ilarris was born February 4. 1834, in Ten- nessee but came to Bond County. III .. in 1850, and was an alderman of Greenville at the time of his death. A Mason in high standing. he was treasurer of his lodge at the time of his death. and he held a number of positions of trust and responsibility. Chief and Mrs. Myers have two children. namely : Margaret, who was born October 20. 1902: and Freda, who was born October 11. 1905. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a Repub- lican and a member of the order of Ben Hur.
The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Myers. Rov. James W. Woolard, was a very prominent character, and was one of fifty to volunteer for service during the Black Hawk War from Bond County, and was appointed a musician of his regiment. In payment for his service he ob- tained a land warrant, and entered the first forty acres of the property now known as the Mulberry Farm. Ile was one of the judges of the first election held In Bond County. He was first married in 1827 to a Miss Floyd and they had two children : Willlam, who lives at Omaha, Neb. : and John, who died at the age of three years. He was married twice thereafter. in 1844 and 1845. For a time he represented Bond County in the State Assembly, and was chaplain of the One Hundred and Eleventh Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry, having been licensed to preach in the Methodist faith by Rev. Peter Cartwright. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Myers was James Henry Harris, who, with his wife. came from Tennessee and became early settlers of Bond County, Ill.
NAIL, Richard H., a representative farmer of Pitman Township, whose fine farm is located on Section 22 and one-half mile east of Wag- goner. Ill., was born sonth of Hillsboro, Ill .. February 20. 1867. a son of Berry and Mary L. (Mills) Nail. The father was born in North Carolina and eame as far west as Indiana, when a boy, and the mother came to Illinois from her native state of North Carolina, in girlhood. Later Berry Nail settled near Hillsboro, and he was married (second) in Montgomery County to Mary L. Mills. They were Methodists in reli- gions faith, and he a Republican in politics. He had thirteen children. nine of whom are living. fonr being of his first marriage and five of his second : Joseph ; Mollie, who is the widow of A. H. Kessinger: Susan, who is the widow of Frank Kessinger: Amanda, who is the wife of W. B. Walcher : William F .. who is a teacher at Morrisville. Ill .; Richard H .: Elizabeth, who is the wife of Benjamin Cress of Christian County. Ill. ; Alfred B., who lives in Oklahoma ; and Thomas E., of Illinois.
Richard H. Nail was reared on the home- stead. attended the local schools and spent two years at the Hillsboro Academy. He then
1123
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
learned the carpenter trade and worked at it for seven years. At the expiration of this period, he began farming west of Litchfield, and later moved north of Butler, renting land, but later bought the old home farm and conducted it for eight years, when he sold it to the American Zinc Company, and bought a farm on July 1, 1911, of 160 acres, which he is still operating, making a specialty of breeding Shorthorn cattle.
On March 2, 1898, Mr. Nail was married to Lucy M. Hooper, who was born near Shipman, Ill., June 5, 1871, and educated in the public schools of that place. They have six children, namely : Clarence P., born May 22, 1899; Myron, born December 3, 1901; Mary I., born March 29, 1904; Henry T., born November 21, 1906; Edith V., born August 14, 1910; Kenneth E., born May 20, 1913. In politics he is a Republican. A man who understands his business in every detail, he is able to prosecute it successfully, and his prosperity has been earned through his own efforts, and is deserved.
NANTKES, Garrelt O., one of the prosperous young farmers of Rountree Township, Mont- gomery County, Ill., was born on his present farm, March 28, 1889, a son of Thomas and Minnie (Adden) Nantkes, natives of Illinois, who are now living in Nokomis Township. They became the parents of nine children, four dying in infancy. The living are: Emma, Josephine, Clarence, Hilda and Ganelt.
Garrelt O. Nantkes was reared on the family homestead. and attended the Greenwood and Americau schools in his native township, re- maining at home until 1912, when he began working for neighboring farmers, but in 1914 returned to the homestead and now has charge of all the work of operating the farm. Having spent his life in this line of work, he under- stands it thoroughly and is becoming an expert ou agricultural matters. He was married December 26, 1917. to Miss Huldah Brunken, of Garber. Okla., a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Brunken, formerly of Christian County, Ill. Mrs. Garrelt O. Nantkes was born in Chris- tian County April 2, 1890, living here uutil she was nearly twelve years of age when the family moved to Garber, Okla. For some years he has been a member of the German Lutheran Church. In political matters he is a Republican, but although he casts his vote for the candidates of his party, he does not enter into public life. Having lived in Rountree Township all his life. he is one of the best known of its residents, and is held in high esteem not only because of his family conuectious. but for himself as he possesses many sterling traits of character.
NANTKES, Thomas, one of the leading farmers of Nokomis Township, owns and operates a fine farm ou Sectiou 18. He was born in Madisou County, Ill., February 9, 1861, a son of Jelde and Tjode (Temmen) Nantkes, both natives of Germany, the former born about 1835. and the latter January 6. 1837. When a young man the father came to the United States, and worked for a packing house at Alton, Ill., during the
winters, and on farms during the summers, residing in Madison County, Ill., until 1868, when he moved to Nokomis, and bought eighty acres in this township, living on it until his death in 1872. The mother came to this country · in her girlhood, first living at St. Louis, Mo. She survives and makes her home at Nokomis. The parents had the following children : Thomas ; Henry A., who is a farmer of Nokomis Township; Minnie, who is the wife of John Woltman of Nokomis; Garrelt who is a farmer ; and Emma, who is the wife of Henry Whitmore of Nokomis.
Thomas Nantkes was seven years old when the family came to Nokomis Township, and he was here reared and sent to the district schools, and a German parochial school in the neigh- borhood, where he was confirmed. He remained at home until he attained his majority, when he began working for himself on a farm in Livings- ton County, Ill., and in Iowa, being away from Montgomery County for four years. Upon his return he was married March 18, 1888, to Minnie Adden, a daughter of Ogden and Hilda (Luken) Adden. Mrs. Nantkes was born in-Madison County, Ill., April 13, 1859, and attended the same schools as her husband. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Nantkes settled in Roun- tree Township, where they bought eighty acres of land and lived on it for fourteen years, but in 1902 bought their present farm from his mother. They have the following children : Garrelt O., who lives on a farm in Rountree Township ; Emma, who lives at home; Josephine who also lives at home and Clarence and Hilda. The family belong to the German Lutheran Church. In politics Mr. Nantkes is a Republi- can and he is now serving as highway com- missioner of Nokomis Township. In addition to his farm. he owns stock in the Oland National Bank at Witt, Ill. A quiet, unassuming man, Mr. Nantkes holds the confidence and respect of all who know him, and is a very desirable citizen.
NANTKES, Henry A., who is a member of an old and honored family of Montgomery County, is residing on his fine farm on Section 18, Nokomis Township. He was born in Madison County, Ill., November 16, 1864. a son of Jelde and Tjode (Temmen) Nantkes, natives of Ger- many, who after coming to this country located on a farm in Madison County, Ill., later moving to Nokomis Township, where they bought eighty acres of land on Section 18, and there the father died in 1872, but the mother survives. and makes her home at Nokomis. The father be- longed to St. Paul's German Lutheran Church, and was one of its charter members. Iu politics he was a Republican. He and his wife had six children, five of whom survive. namely : Thomas, who is a farmer of Nokomis Town- ship: Henry ; Minnie, who is the wife of J. W. Woltman of Nokomis, Ill .; Garrelt, who is a farmer in Minnesota ; and Emma, who is the wife of Henry Whitmore of Nokomis.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.