USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II > Part 99
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O'BANNON, Samuel Edward, a justice of the peace at Litchfield, Ill., and a very prominent man of Montgomery County whose earlier years were devoted to farming, is held in the highest respect and esteem by his fellow citizens. He was born at Locust Grove, Ill., April 7, 1843, a son of Richard W. and Matilda (Dorsey) O'Bannon, the former born near Fairfax Court- house. Va., and the latter in Jefferson County, Ky. The date of the father's birth was 1808, and that of the mother's 1816. The O'Bannon family came to Kentucky in 1816, and Richard O'Bannon was married there, and entered into a dry goods business, moving subsequently to Saline County. Mo., where he conducted a dry goods business until the fall of 1842, when he came to Illinois, joining a brother-in-law, Nim- rod Dorsey, at Alton, who was then warden of the penitentiary.
In the spring of 1843 Mr. O'Bannon began improving a farm of eighty acres he had pur- chased six miles south of Bunker Hill. Ill., at a point where the Springfield and St. Louis wagon road crosses the' Alton & Staunton wagon road. There he farmed and conducted a hotel. a country store and the post office. until 1854. when he moved to the present site of Litchfield. the family following soon after. The household goods were shipped over the Big Four Railroad, and he built the first house in the original town
of Litchfield and was the first merchant there. Others who came with him were W. T. Elliott, who was taken by Mr. O'Bannon when he was seven years of age and reared by him, James W. Jeffery, Henry Appleton and W. S. Palmer. His store-room stood on the present site of the building occupied by the Litchfield Banking & Trust Company. His dwelling was the house where Dr. Baker now resides. He conducted his store with the help of the boys he had reared, until his death, November 14, 1885. The mother survived him. Their children were Samuel E., and Johnsie D., who is deceased.
Samuel E. O'Bannon attended the common schools of his neighborhood, and when thirteen years old began clerking for his father. In 1868 he moved to a tarm of 320 acres in Zanesville Township, and improved the place upon which he lived until 1874, which his father gave to him in 1871. In that year he returned to Litch- field and became interested with his father in business, but when his father died, he returned to his farm, and lived on it until in January, 1896, he sold it and bought 10614 acres in North Litchfield Township. This he continued to farm until December 5, 1905, when he rented liis ťarm and moved to Litchfield. In March, 1906, he was elected a justice of the peace, and still holds this office. During his occupancy, lie has done more work in the justice court than any other justice in the county, his record being 3,200 state, city and civil cases. His judgments are sound and practical, and seldom are reversed by the higher courts.
On February 15, 1866, Judge O'Bannon was married to Helen Quisenberry, born at Columbia, Boone County, Mo., a daughter of William and Joan (Henderson) Quisenberry, natives of Kentucky. Judge and Mrs. O'Bannon have had the following children born to them : Dr. R. W. who is living at Hollister, Cal .; Edward K., who lives at San Francisco, Cal .; Mary B., who is Mrs. Dr. C. M. Ament of Oklahoma; and Nellie Q., who is Mrs. W. F. Judd, of Litchfield. Judge O'Bannon belongs to the Christian Church. A Democrat, he served for two years in succession as township collector of North Litchfield Township. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America.
OPPENHEIM, Rev. Charles W .- The Catholic priests the world over are men of scholarly attainments and self sacrificing nature, and their work not only in behalf of their parishes, but also for humanity, has always been a very forceful factor in the development of any com- inunity. Rev. Charles W. Oppenheim, pastor of the Roman Catholic Church at Raymond, Ill., is one of the devoted clergymen of his faith. He was born at Schenectady, N. Y., coming of an old family of that state, his ancestors having come to the United States over one hundred years ago, from Germany. The father of Reverend Oppenheim was Prof. William G. Oppenheim connected with Columbia University for some years, with the degrees of LL. D. and Ph. D., and he is still living, making his home in New York state.
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After attending schools in Albany, N. Y., Syracuse, N. Y., and Trenton, N. J., Reverend Oppenheim studied for the priesthood, and was ordained at Albany, N. Y., January 19, 1896, following which he was an instructor at the Seminary at Trenton, N. J. for seven years. For the next year, he was stationed in Indiana, and was then transferred to Springfield, Ill., where he spent two years. On July 1, 1907, he came to the church at Raymond where he has since remained, and under his pastorate the parish has erected a new church. Having been with his people for some years he is fully acquainted with them and their needs and is , accepted as a friend as well as their spiritual guide and instructor.
ORPIN, William, now living retired at Litch- field, has been at various times connected with several important business ventures in Mont- gomery County, and there are many interesting incidents connected with his long life here. He was born at St. Leonards, Kent County, England, April 11, 1836, where his parents died. Mr. Orpin was married in his native place, April 11, 1861, to Esther Cooper, born on the island of South Hayling, Hampshire, England, October 7. 1838.
When he was twenty-one years old. Mr. Orpin entered the English constabulary, and continued a member of this force for five years and 133 days. After that he was coachman for one of the titled English families until 1864 when he came to the United States, landing in New York City with fifteen English shillings in his pocket. He and his wife had had their fare paid to Grass Lake, Mich., and after they reached there, he began working for a butcher, so continuing from March until September, when he was em- ployed to butcher cattle by the United States government, and in this work was sent to Pulaski, Ga., and later to Nashville, Tenn., being in the employ of the government until the following April when he returned to Michigan. There he worked at various jobs until the sum- mer of 1865. when he came to Litchfield, Ill.
Among other things Mr. Orpin was engaged in after coming to Litchfield, was early work in Elmwood Cemetery, and he saw its first grave excavated. For the subsequent thirty-four years he was connected with the cemetery in various capacities. During this period he rented land near the cemetery and raised vegetables which he marketed for three years. He then bought. two cows and sold milk, carrying it about in buckets to his patrons. As soon as he could afford the outlay, he added more cows to his herd, invested in a horse and wagon, increasing luis business until he had twenty cows. At the expiration of seven years he sold his dairy and bought five acres of land near the cemetery, grubbing out the stumps on it, and here he carried on gardening, and set out all kinds of fruit trees. He kept on improving his property on which he lived for thirty years, and then sold it. For the next four years he was engaged in hotel-keeping, and then he retired. In April, 1911, Mr. Orpin was elected a justice of the
peace, and was elected to the same office in 1913 and 1917, for South Litchfield Township on the Democratic ticket. He and his wife early con- nected themselves with the Episcopal Church.
A heavy bereavement fell upon Mr. Orpin in the death of his beloved wife, which occurred March 26, 1906. She left no living issue, but she and Mr. Orpin had adopted a child, Wilson H. Orpin, who now lives at Griggsville, Pike County, Ill. He is married and has one daughter, Esther. Mrs. Orpin was much esteemed and was one of the most charitable women this county has ever known. Her mem- ory is tenderly cherished, and no one ever speaks of her except with praise. A local paper in commenting upon her demise says, in part : "Few people in the city have the reputation for doing good that belongs to Mrs. Orpin. She has been a foster mother to a number of way- ward boys, some of whom' have grown up to be a credit to the lady and Litchfield." At the time of her death Mrs. Orpin was aged sixty- eight years five months and nineteen days. The funeral services were conducted from the First Methodist Church by Rev. Dean Wright, of Greenville. and her remains were interred in Elmwood Cemetery, with which Mr. Orpin had been connected for so many years. While she was publicly acknowledged to be a most benevo- lent and charitable lady, many of her kindly acts were never made public, for hers was the Christianity that did not seek to be exploited, but love and gratitude remain hidden in the hearts of many of those she quietly benefited. Hers was a beautiful and helpful life.
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OWENS, Patrick, now deceased. was for many years an honored resident of North Litchfield Township. He was born at Louisville, Ky., August 9, 1834, and had the misfortune to lose his parents when he was an infant. He and John Dougherty were brought to Montgomery County, Ill. by Reuben Ross. In 1854 Reuben Ross went to Texas, and Patrick Owens remained at Litchfield, and he worked on farms in different parts of this neighborhood.
On March 12, 1857 Mr. Owens was married to Rebecca Griffith. born in what is now North Litchfield Township, June 9, 1837, a daughter of William and Mary (Briggs) Griffith, he born in Tennessee and she at Edwardsville, Ill. They were among the earliest settlers of Mont- gomery County. Mr. Griffith served as a soldier during the Black Hawk War, and in return for his services was given two land warrants for eighty acres of land. forty acres of which is the present site of the Western part of Litch- field. The other forty acres, after his death, were sold to Jacob Blackwelder. After his marriage. Patrick Owens bought a farm in North Litchfield Township, just south of the Zanes- ville Township line. and it comprised eighty acres of prairie and ten acres of timber land. On this farm he died September 26, 1879.
Following the death of her husband Mrs. Owens with the help of the children conducted the farm, remaining on it until 1887, when she rented it and bought two lots and moved to
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Litchifield where she lives in a modern residence on her lots. She and her husband had the following children: John, who died November 3. 1914; Elizabeth, who is deceased; Harriet, who is Mrs. Henry Long of Madison, Ill .; George, who is deceased; Sarah, who lives with lier mother; William D .; Robert, who is de- ceased ; Charles, who lives at Decatur, Ill .; and Edward, who is deceased. Patrick Owens attended the Baptist Church, of which Mrs. Owens is a member. In polities he was a Demo- crat. Mrs. Owens remembers very well when Montgomery County was still undeveloped and wild animals ran at large. Many of the fields that are now very fertile and covered with grain or are rich pastures, when she was a child were worthless because of the water on them, and at that day it was never thought they could be drained and made to yield banner crops. Some of her recollections are exceedingly interesting and would be given at length did space permit.
OWENS, W. D., a thoroughly responsible and efficient contractor of Litchfield, has been con- nected with some of the best work in this line not only in the city, but the surrounding country as well. He was born in North Litchfield Town- ship. March 23, 1870, a son of Patrick and Rebecca (Griffith) Owens, he born in Kentucky and she at Litchfield. Patrick Owens and John Dougherty were brought to Litchfield when they wore five years old, and here the former was reared and became a farmer. In young man- hood he bought a farm in North Litchfield Township, on which he died in 1879, aged forty- five years. For the subsequent twenty-eight years the mother lived on the farm and then moved to Litchfield.
I'ntil his marriage, which ocenrred in June, 1893, W. D. Owens resided with his mother. On that date he was married to Mollie Z. Edding- ton. born in Montgomery County, a danghter of Robert and Merey (Graves) Eddington. After his marriage lie lived at Litchfield and became a carpenter, working at his trade until 1906 when he began contracting and continued alone until 1910, when he took Joseph E. Tite into partnership. The firm does a general contract- ing business at Litehfield and in the vicinity. and also all kinds of mill work, and they have a well equipped shop. Some of the finest work in the city has been done by them, and they are accepted as thoroughly reliable in every respect.
The. children born to Mr. and Mrs. Owens are as follows : Charlie Ernest, who lives at Alton. Ill., where he is foreman of the Cartridge works, was married to May Gallery, of Jacksonville, III. : and William Kenneth and Lillian Lucile, both of whom are at home. The family are Bap- tists. Mr. Owens is a Republican and a Mason. He belongs to the Lincoln Federal League and the Carpenters Union, being a trustee of the lat- ter. An excellent business man and good citizen, Mr. Owens is recognized as a valued adjunct to his community.
PADEN, Albert Milton, a farmer of Hillsboro Township, living on Section 16, belongs to sev-
eral of the old and honored families of Mont- gomery County. He was born on the old Paden homestead on Section 17, Hillsboro Township, April 27, 1864. a son of James M. and Mary Ann (McLean) Paden, natives of Kentucky and Indiana, respectively. The Paden family originated in Kentucky, and the McLean family in North Carolina, and both were established in Montgomery County during pioneer days. A history of these two families is found elsewhere in this work.
Albert M. Paden was reared on the homestead and was sent to the neighborhood schools, remaining at home until he reached his ma- jority. After completing the course in the country schools, he went to the Hillsboro High school, and Brown's Business College at Jack- sonville, Ill., but he has always been a farmer. In order to assist him in buying his first eighty acres of land, his mother 'gave him a portion of the purchase price, and he borrowed the remain- dler. This land he has improved until he has inereased its value very materially. Ile has on his farm the old barn that was the first big barn Imilt in the county. It has walnut sills that are 16 inches square, and one of its posts has catches in it, which indicates that the building was used originally as a sawmill. Great gather- ings nsed to be held in this barn, some congrega- ting to dance, and others to hold reliigons ser- vices. In either case, people came to it from miles about to attend the meetings.
On May 14, 1884. Mr. Paden was married to Miss Dora Emery, a daughter of Robert and Ruth (Wilson) Emery. Mr. and Mrs. Paden have three children, namely : James Carl. Albert R. and Bertha. James Carl is a traveling sales- man, but calls the farm his home; Albert R. lives at home; and Bertha was married July 19. 1917, to Elmer E. Rainey. Mrs. Paden is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Paden is a Republican in politics. He filled the office of school director for twenty-seven years, and during all of that time had trouble with but one teacher. Hillsboro Township is one of the finest farming communities to be fonnd anywhere, and its residents compare favorably with those of any similar locality in the eonntry, Mrs. Paden was born in East Fork Township. this county, March 12. 1865. Her father was born at Fillmore, III., and her mother in Missouri. The father died in 1868, but the mother survives. They had two children. namely : Dora, and Seborn Emery. The mother, after the death of the father, was again married. her husband being J. H. Ilammack, and they had two children, namely : Waiter D., and Allie. Prior to her marriage with the father of Mrs. Paden. the mother had been married, her first husband being a Mr. Williams, 'and they had one child, Jennie, who was married to a Mr. Dillworth.
PADEN, Samuel R., one of the progressive farmers of Hillsboro Township, living on Sec- tion 17. in enterprise and thoroughness is typical of the best class of Montgomery County agrieulturists. He was born on his present farm
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March 2, 1860, a son of James M. and Mary Ann (McLean) Paden, natives of Kentucky and In- diana, respectively, a sketch of whom is found elsewhere in this work.
Samuel R. Paden attended the neighboring schools, and remained at home until he at- tained his majority, at which time he rented land for a number of years. When his father died and the estate was divided, he received forty acres of the old homestead as his sbare, to which he has added 120 acres, and he also owns forty acres in another tract. In order to secure the additional 120 acres in the home- stead that belonged to his grandfather, he bought out the interests of the other heirs.
On February 3, 1885, Mr. Paden was united in marriage with Miss Nellie C. Chamberlain, the only child of Woodbury and Kate (Cokeley) Chamberlain. Mrs. Paden was born near Boston, Mass., March 3, 1864. Her father died in 1878, and her mother is also deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Paden have had five children, namely: Wood- bury, who died at the age of three months; Maude Ethel; Rice Milton; Mabel Grace, and one who died in infancy. Maude Ethel was married to Rev. J. D. Scott, and they have two children, Maude Marie and Catherine Chloe, and live in La Grange, Mo. Mrs. Paden belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Paden is a Republican and has served for about twenty-four years as a school director.
PADEN, Robert Newton, was once one of the most important men of Litchfield, which he served in many capacities, both official and private, and his name is recorded among those men who have made Montgomery County what it is today. He was born in Todd County, Ky., August 5, 1830, and in young manhood came to Illinois, spending some time at Vandalia, where he was married (first) to Illinois Blackwell, born March 5, 1831. She died May 16, 1881, having borne him one son, Joseph T., who died in infancy. Mr. Paden later went to Rochester, Minn .. where he was engaged in a drug business for twelve years, and then came to Litchfield, where he was in a loan and real estate business. and was superintendent of the Litchfield oil wells. A stalwart Republican, he was the suc- cessful nominee of his party for mayor of Litchfield. and supervisor of his township, and during life held other important elective offices. His importance in his community was recog- nized by his appointment to the board of trus- tees of the University of Illinois at Urbana, and he held that important office for many years. On May S. 1883, Mr. Paden was married (second) to Anna S. Grinsted, born in Madison County. Ind., September 6, 1838, a daughter of Dr. John and Mary (Randall) Grinsted. Doc- tor Grinsted was born at Horsum, England, and his wife at Oxford, England. In 1834 they came to the United States, landing at Philadelphia, Pa., from whence they came west to Madison County, Ind., and went thence to Louisville, Ky. They lived in Indiana. in Missouri and in Illi- nois prior to 1856, when they located at Litch- field, where Doctor Grinsted established the
first drug store of the city, and conducted it for many years. After his death, in 1878, F. R. Milnor bought the store. Mrs. Grinsted died in 1875. Doctor and Mrs. Grinsted had the follow- ing children : Mary, who was Mrs. B. M. Munn, is deceased ; Mrs. Paden; Jennie, who was Mrs. Charles Snow, is deceased; Henry, who died in infancy ; Fannie, who is Mrs. E. J. Brent of Seattle, Wash .; R. H., who lives at Roseburg, Ore. ; and Emma, who is Mrs. R. J. Elwood of Long Beach, Cal. Mr. and Mrs. Paden had no children. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church, and one of its charter members. Mrs. Paden has continued to make her home at Litch- field, her residence being one of the oldest ones in the city yet standing, and it was one of the first of any consequence to be erected here.
PADEN, Rufus C., who lives on Section 21, Hillsboro Township, is numbered among the successful agriculturists of Montgomery County. He was born within a mile and a half of his present farm, February 4, 1856, a son of James and Mary Ann (McLean) Paden. The father was born in Kentucky and came to Mont- gomery County, Ill., when thirteen years old, in company with his parents. The mother was born in Indiana while her parents were on their way to Illinois. James Paden and his wife had five children, namely: Rufus C .; Thomas A., who lives in Greeley, Col; Samuel R., who lives in Hillsboro Township; Albert M., who lives in Hillsboro Township ; and a daughter who died when four years old.
James Paden located on Section 17 in Hills- boro Township, having inherited this land from his father who had entered it from the govern- ment. In addition to this 120 acres he inherited, he owned two additional tracts of forty acres each. His death occurred in 1870 when he was forty-four years old. The mother survived him and died March 13, 1916, aged eighty-one years. Botlı were consistent members of the Presbyter- ian Church, of which he was a deacon. The paternal grandfather, James Paden, was mar- ried to Sallie Gooden, and they were born in Kentucky. They died in Montgomery County when well advanced in years, having had a large family, namely : Andrew, Milton, William, Samuel, Robert, James. Sylvestor, Margaret and one who died young. The maternal grandfather was Addison McLean and he was married to Catherine Lewey. They were natives of North Carolina, and early settlers of Montgomery County, Ill., where they died well advanced in years. Their children were as follows: Mary Ann, Isobel, Sarah, William, Nancy, Amanda, Newton and Dora, and two who died in infancy.
Rufus C. Paden was reared on his father's farm and has always lived in Hillsboro Town- ship. He attended the district schools and the old Hillsboro Academy, remaining at home until he attained his majority. At that time he went to work in a lumber yard at Hillsboro, where he remained for two years, and then was in an agricultural implement business for three years, doing a large amount of business for that time.
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After his marriage he moved on his present farm where he owns, in partnership with his wife, 216 acres of land that is well improved. In his farming he raises diversified crops, and as the result of modern methods and careful management he has won desirable results.
On November 4, 1885, Mr. Paden was married to Miss Martha Lewey, a daughter of Oliver and Jane (Stephenson) Lewey, and they have one son, Lester, who is at home. Mrs. Paden is a Presbyterian. She was born in Hillsboro Township, two miles south of her present home. Iler parents were natives of North Carolina, and they had eight children, as follows: William, Albert, Mary, Christopher, and Martha. There were three who died in infancy.
Rufns C. Paden has won his station in life by his industry and good judgment. A native son of Montgomery County, for over sixty years he has been identified with its growth and develop- ment. He acquired a common school education, and while not occupied with the duties of the schoolroom he assisted his father on the farm. In politics he is a staunch Republican, and keeps well posted on the questions and issues of the day. While he has served three terms as high way commissioner, otherwise he has not sought nor held office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his home and friends, his farm and business affairs. For some forty years he has been a Mason. His wife, who also belongs to one of the old families of the county, shares equally with him the high esteem in which he is held by his neighbors and many friends.
PAISLEY, George William, now living retired at Litchfield, is one of the men who has been intimately associated with the development of the coal interests in this section, as well as a public official of considerable note. He was born in Montgomery County, March 1. 1838, a son of Joseph and Martha Ann (Allan) Paisley, natives of North Carolina and Kentucky, respec- tively. The mother of George William Paisley was his father's second wife, he having been married first to Polly Paisley, in North Caro- lina. In 1822 the father moved to Montgomery County. Ill., where he was married in 1837 to his second wife, Martha Ann Allan. Entering land one-half a mile north of Donnellson, he improved it and lived upon it until his death, at which time he had 400 acres of land.
George William Paisley attended the district schools, and for three terms during the winter seasons, went to the old Hillsboro Academy. He remained at home until his enlistment for ser- vice during the Civil War, leaving in August, 1862, to become a member of Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry. This regiment was assigned to the Sixteenth Army Corps, under Gen. A. J. Smith, and participated in a number of engagements prior to the real battles of Nashville, Tupelo, Park's Crossroads, Town Creek, siege and cap- ture of the works at Blakeley, Ala., which last battle was fought on the day of General Lee's surrender. The regiment was mustered out at Mobile, Ala., the last of July, and was dis-
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