Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County, Part 161

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Short, William F., 1829- 4n
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

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County, Va., July 23, 1751, the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Crawford) Robertson. Her father came to America from the North of Ireland about 1735, settled about one mile from Staunton, Va., where Rebecca, his sixth child, was born. William Dunlap and his wife after- ward settled near the present site of Lexing- ton, Ky., where the death of the latter occurred November 7, 1849. Of the children born to them, Major Alexander Dunlap served in the War of 1812 and in the Mexican War. During the former he was taken prisoner by Indians. He removed to Jacksonville, Ill., where his death occurred November 10, 1853; Col. John Dunlap served in the Black Hawk War, and died near Lexington, Ky .; Rev. James Dunlap, who was born in 1773, died February 28, 1866.

Rev. James Dunlap accompanied his father's family to Kentucky in childhood. On August 29, 1794, he married Emily Johnson, who was born in Virginia October 15, 1777, and died in Jacksonville, Ill., March 13, 1848. After his marriage he continued to reside in Kentucky for several years, when he emigrated to Cham- paign County, Ohio, where he remained until 1845. Several of his sons having removed to Illinois, in the latter year he also came to this State, locating in Jacksonville, where the re- mainder of his life was passed with most of the members of his family. For more than half a century he was a ministerin the Baptist Church. He was the father of thirteen children who at- tained maturity, namely: William, who was born in Fayette County, Ky., August 2, 1795. Rebecca, born in Mason County, Ky., February 26, 1797; John, born in Fleming County, Ky., November 26, 1798; Mary, also born in that county, October 26, 1800; James, born in the same county, October 30, 1802; Elizabeth and Nancy (twins), also natives of Fleming Coun- ty, born July 2, 1804; Edward Johnson, born in the county named, May 14, 1806; Jeptha and Stephen, both natives of Fleming County, born respectively April 9, 1808, and February 10, 1811; George Alexander, who was born in Cham- paign County, Ohio, January 31, 1813; and Sam- uel and Minerva, both born in Champaign Coun- ty, February 13, 1815, and June 3, 1818, respect- ively. All these children excepting the last named, Mrs. Minerva Ross, of Chicago, are de- ceased. It is worthy of note in this connection to state that Rev. James Dunlap was blessed with numerous and highly-favored posterity,

GEO. PETEFISH

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consisting of 13 children, six of whom were liv- ing at the time of his death; 83 grandchildren, 49 of whom were living at the time of his death; 106 great-grandchildren, 83 of whom mourned his death; and 7 great-great-grandchildren-a total of 209 descendants in the four generations, of whom 144 survived him.

In the collateral branch of the family, Rev. James Dunlap had one sister, Patsy Dunlap, who was born June 13, 1796, married Archibald Hen- derson in. Kentucky, moved to Illinois in the early days of its settlement, reared a family, and died July 3, 1834, leaving several children. All were daughters except one-William Hen- derson, who died several years ago. All of his descendants are also deceased. Descendants of Rev. James Dunlap now reside in Champaign County, Ohio, Fayette and Bourbon Counties, Ky., and Morgan County, Ill. In other branches the family is also numerously represented in various States of the Union.

Stephen Dunlap, the tenth child and sixth son of Rev. James Dunlap, and the father of Ir- vin Dunlap, was married to Dicy Runkle in Champaign County, Ohio, by Rev. John Pier- son, May 29, 1834, and died near Jacksonville, Ill., February 9, 1877. His wife is still living on the old homestead, at the age of ninety-four years. He emigrated from Ohio to Morgan County in 1840, and here became a man of great influence. A stanch Democrat, in 1876 he cast his last presidential vote for Samuel J. Til- den, and for eight years served as Associate Judge of Morgan County. For many years he filled the office of Elder in the Old School Bap- tist Church. Over six feet tall, he was always a commanding figure, and was regarded as one of the handsomest men in Morgan County. He was a man of decided opinions and great de- termination, and never abandoned a policy, in public or private life, when he had once mapped it out in the belief that he was advocating a righteous principle. He was the father of five sons and one daughter: Irvin, James M., Wil- liam R., Stephen, Samuel W. and Mrs. Mary Jane Farrell.

Irvin Dunlap, his eldest son, was born in Champaign County, Ohio, March 12, 1835, and in 1840 was brought by his parents to Morgan County, Ill. Reared on his father's farm, he attended the common schools of his neighbor- hood, after which he pursued a two years' course in Illinois College. Remaining upon the

farm and assisting his father in its manage- ment until 1857, he then entered into a partner- ship with the late Felix G. Farrell, who was then engaged in the dry-goods business in Jack- sonville. When Mr. Farrell organized the First National Bank of Jacksonville the mercantile firm was dissolved, and Mr. Dunlap returned to the farm, which he operated for several years. When the firm of N. & N. Milburn, grocers, of Jacksonville, was dissolved, Mr. Dunlap pur- chased its stock of goods and, removing again to the city, conducted that business for a few years. Subsequently entering into partnership with Thomas Turley, under the style of Turley & Dunlap, he again engaged in the dry-goods business. In 1870, owing to the failing health of Mr. Turley, the firm retired from business, and Mr. Dunlap once more removed to the coun- try, where he remained until he permanently lo- acted at Jacksonville, four years later, to as- sume the duties of Sheriff of Morgan County, to which he had been elected in the fall of 1874.

A stanch and consistent advocate of the prin- ciples of Democracy, he was actively identified with the operations of that party, taking a keen interest in public affairs. In 1869 he was chosen Alderman from the First Ward of Jack- sonville, and reelected the following year. His first term as Sheriff of Morgan County met the unequivocal approval of the citizens of the county, who reelected him in 1876 and 1878. During his incumbency in the office lie ap- pointed William H. Hinrichsen, afterward a member of Congress, as his Chief Deputy. When he retired from the office in 1880, Mr. Hinrich- sen was elected to succeed him, and he at once appointed Mr. Dunlap as his Chief Deputy, in which capacity he served for two years. In 1882 he was elected County Assessor and Treas- urer, serving four years, and at the expiration of his term of office he rendered valuable as- sistance to his successor. Fraternally, Mr. Dun- lap at the time of his death was the oldest mem- ber of Urania Lodge, No. 243, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, into which he was initi- ated in 1857. He was also a member of Ridgely Encampment, No. 9, Patriarchs Militant.

On December 18, 1856, he was united in mar- riage with Mary F. Layton, who was born in Morgan County, Ill., September 4, 1838, a daugh- ter of William K. and Elizabeth M. Layton. Mrs. Dunlap continues to make her home in Jack- sonville. They were the parents of one son-

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

Millard F. Dunlap, senior member of the bank- ing firm of Dunlap, Russel & Company, of Jack- sonville.

The death of Mr. Dunlap, which occurred at his home in Jacksonville, November 9, 1903, as the result of an attack of typhoid fever con- tracted at Eureka Springs, Ark., whither he had gone for the benefit of his health, was deeply deplored by thousands of residents of Morgan County, who regarded it is a distinct loss to the community. Though slightly advanced in years, he continued to exhibit a deep interest in the progress of municipal and county affairs, and his judgment was constantly sought by those who had been chosen to safe-guard the commu- nity's interests. Careful, sagacious and far- sighted, and, withal, a man of unimpeachable integrity, with the welfare of the people close to his heart, much of his time for more than a quarter of a century was devoted to official public affairs without a taint of dishonor at- taching to his fair name. Probably he was per- sonally known to more citizens of Morgan County than any of his contemporaries, and to all who knew him, regardless of their politi- cal faith, he was the same cheerful, optimistic and kind-hearted man of affairs. His strength as a public man and his eminent position as a public spirited and enterprising citizen, doubt- less were attributable more to these personal characteristics than to any others. By reason of these qualities and numerous other fine traits of character, he endeared himself to a multitude of people; and his name and the record of his life are entitled to a permanent and conspicu- ous position in the annals of Morgan County.

DUNLAP, Millard F., banker and Democratic politician, Jacksonville, Ill., was born in that city December 9, 1857, the only son of Irvin and Mary F. (Layton) Dunlap. (For detailed ances- tral record, see sketch of Irvin Dunlap, immed- iately preceding in this volume.) He was edu- cated in the public schools of Jacksonville, and having decided, early in life, to enter upon a business career, at the age of nineteen years se- cured a position as clerk in the First National Bank of Jacksonville. A few years later he was promoted to the post of Assistant Cashier in the same institution. His identification with this bank continued until the year 1890, when, in partnership with Andrew Russel and William Russel, he founded the banking house.

of Dunlap, Russel & Company, of which he has since been the head. Under his management this bank has taken rank among the leading financial institutions of the State.

Mr. Dunlap has exhibited a lively interest in the welfare and progress of his home commu- nity and its various institutions. In 1893 he was appointed Treasurer of the Illinois Cen- tral Hospital for the Insane, located at Jack- sonville, filling the office for four years. His interest in the advancement of purely local movements organized to promote the welfare of the city is illustrated by his intimate identi- fication with the Jacksonville Business Men's Association, of which he served as President from 1897 to 1901. It is worthy of note in this connection to state that his reelections to this office were made by acclamation, a fact which demonstrates in a measure the confidence and esteem accorded him by the commercial and industrial factors in Jacksonville's municipal life. A member of Jacksonville Lodge, No. 152, Knights of Pythias, he has always been de- voted to the advancement of that order. He has taken an active part in the workings of the Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois. At the annual meeting of that body in October, 1898, he was elected its Treasurer, and has since been continuously reelected to the office. He is also identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.

It is perhaps as an active and zealous expo- nent of the principles of the Democracy that Mr. Dunlap is best known outside of his native county. Since his first vote was cast for Demo- cratic men and measures, he has been recog- nized as one of the most devoted and active adherents of his party in Illinois. He has never sought local office, his best efforts having been expended in the operations of the Democracy in State and national affairs. In 1897 be was elected Treasurer of the Democratic State Cen- tral Committee, and was reelected in 1899.

As Treasurer of the State organization he be- came ex-officio a member of the Executive Com- mittee of the State Committee, and in this ca- pacity actively participated in the work of that body during the campaigns conducted by it. In 1898, his fidelity to the cause he had espoused so long and his eminent fitness for the high office, were recognized by his party in his nomi- nation for the post of State Treasurer. As an evidence of his strength among the voters of the

A. H, Petifish

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

State, it may be stated that, in the face of a ma- jority of 141,000 cast for Mckinley for President in 1896, he was defeated by the comparatively small plurality of 43,000, running about 26,000 ahead of the balance of his ticket. At the con- vention of 1900 he was again nominated for the office, running more than 20,000 votes ahead of his ticket. On each occasion he carried the city of Chicago by more than 5,000 majority. This record is one of the most gratifying ever made by a candidate of the Democracy in Illinois.

In April, 1900, he was appointed Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee, was duly elected to the office at the national convention at Kansas City, Mo., in July following, and filled the office for four years. In this capacity he took an important part in the work of the memorable campaign of that year, laboring as- siduously for the election of William J. Bryan, his personal friend, to the Presidency.

On May 21, 1879, Mr. Dunlap was united in marriage with Jennie R. Marsh, of Watseka, Ill., a daughter of L. C. Marsh, who removed from New York State to Illinois about 1865. They are the parents of two children-Ralph I. and Carrie.

In the line of political influence bearing upon the direction of public affairs in the State and the nation, and the assertion of principles of honesty and toleration, Mr. Dunlap is one of the foremost of the younger generation of men in the country. He possesses an intuitive per- ception of character, and is intolerant of those lacking in personal and political integrity. His career has been one of great activity and un- usual success, due to the exercise of good judg. ment and the exhibition of high and honorable motives in all his transactions.

DUNLAP, Stephen, farmer, residing about three miles east of Jacksonville, was born in Jacksonville, Ill., June 8, 1845, the fourth son of Stephen and Dicy (Runkle) Dunlap. (An extended ancestral record will be found in con- nection with the sketch of Irvin Dunlap, which appears elsewhere in this volume.) His father having removed from Jacksonville to his farm east of the city when Stephen Dunlap was a child, the latter was reared on the farm, re- ceiving his education in the district schools of the neighborhood. His life has been devoted to general agricultural pursuits and stock-rais- ing, in which he has been successful. During

the Civil War he was extensively engaged in dealing in stock and supplies for the Union Army, principally in Missouri.

Mr. Dunlap is a representative of a family which has been intimately identified with the progress and development of Morgan County from the early pioneer period, and, like his ancestors, has taken pride in the performance of those duties toward the public which have had for their aim the advancement of the gen- eral welfare. An unwavering Democrat throughout his entire life, he has strongly sup- ported all measures calculated to advance the interests of his chosen party. His interest in the public affairs of his township is exhibited in the fact that for nineteen years he served as School Director, and for fourteen years as Road Commissioner. Though he has freely given of his time and services to advance local inter- ests, he has never sought nor consented to fill political offices, excepting those minor positions which good citizens are usually called upon to occupy. For many years he has been an ac- tive member of the Illinois Anti-Horse Thief Association, of which he was one of the found- ers. He has been an Odd Fellow for twenty- eight years, and for some time has served as Noble Grand of Urania Lodge, No. 243, I. O. O. F.

Mr. Dunlap was united in marriage February 7, 1866, with Harriet Orear, daughter of George and Sarah (Heslep) Orear, members of an old and honored family of Morgan County. (See sketch of Orear family.) She was born on her father's farm near Jacksonville September 9, 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap have been the par- ents of six children, namely: Olivia G., born February 12, 1867; George Albert, born Febru- ary 18, 1871; Franklin Irvin, born March 13, 1869, and died February 16, 1873; Stephen Howard, born March 9, 1875; Arthur B., born December 6, 1877; and Ruth H., born March 29, 1888. The elder daughter, Olivia G., was graduated from the Illinois Woman's College in 1888, with the Bachelor's degree, and after a post-graduate scientific course was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Science. She has become actively interested in religious movements and in the work of the Epworth League, and is now (1904) a corresponding secretary of the Jack- sonville District Epworth League. She is also a member of James Caldwell Chapter, Dangh- ters of the American Revolution, of Jackson-

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ville. The eldest son, George Albert, is engaged in the real estate business at Los Angeles, Cal. The other sons are engaged in farming.

ELDER, J. Marshall, M. D., Franklin, Ill .- Human character is molded by a thousand sub- tle influences; nevertheless men must necessar- ily be the active agents of their own destiny. Character is infinitely superior to anything else. A good character is inherent, and 'tis fortunate to be well born; but, aside from the Ministry of the Gospel of Christ, it is a question if any profession can offer a greater field of useful- ness, or prove more conclusively the mettle of one's character, than that of an educated and conscientious physician.

Dr. Elder's place of nativity and nurture was Scottville, Macoupin County, Ill., and his day of birth January 26, 1869. He was the son of Doctor David and Nancy Jane Elder, the for- mer of whom practiced his profession in an able manner for a period of thirty-five years, and whose decease occurred on August 21, 1889. J. Marshall Elder received a common school edu- cation, and then attended the Western Normal College at Bushnell, Ill. Deciding to study med- icine, however, he went to Indianapolis, Ind., graduating from the Physio-Medical College in March, 1896, and a month later establishing a practice in Franklin, Morgan County-a prac- tice which has grown until now his services are in demand not only in the village but through- out the surrounding county.

On April 9, 1896, Dr. Elder was married to Mary, daughter of Alexander S. and Margaret Ann McLarty, of Hancock County, Ill., and of this union two children have been born-Ken- yon V. and Lillian.

Dr. Elder is President of the Board of Health in Franklin; is a member of the Amer- ican Association of Physio-Medical Physicians and Surgeons and ex-President of the Illinois State Physio-Medical Society. He belongs to the I. O. O. F., Modern Woodmen, Court of Honor, Maccabees and Mutual Protective League. He is also a member and Deacon of the Christian Church.

EPLER, (Hon.) Cyrus, jurist, Jacksonville, III., was born in Charleston, Ind., November 12, 1823, the son of John and Sarah (Beggs) Epler, the former of German and the latter of Scotch- Irish descent. In 1831 he accompanied his

father to Illinois, the latter settling in Jersey Prairie, Morgan County, at that time a por- tion of what was rather vaguely known as "the Sangamon country." Here, on land ac- quired partly by original entry and partly by purchase from individuals, he made his home, developing. the land to agriculture. On this pioneer farm young Epler was reared, and for about ten years after his arrival labored with his father toward the improvement of the prop- erty. During this period he enjoyed the limited advantages of attending school in the old "Linn school-house" standing in a grove near his home, but was permitted to continue his stud- ies but three or four winter terms. This was what was then known as a subscription school, the public school system of Illinois not being adopted until several years after Judge Epler had attained man's estate. In 1842 he entered the preparatory department of Illinois College, and was graduated from the latter institution in 1847. During the time he was in college those noted educators, Julian M. Sturtevant, Samuel Adams, Truman M. Post and Jonathan B. Turner constituted the college faculty. Dur- ing the most of this period the young man boarded himself and was his own housekeeper. Such was the case with a majority of the stu- dents in those days; but as to the neatness with which they performed their household duties, neither Judge Epler nor any of his classmates were prone to boast in later days. During the four vacations in his college course he taught four quarter terms in the old subscription schools, using the small amount of money thereby earned to help pay his expenses.

In 1847 and 1848 Judge Epler studied law for about one year in the office of Judge William Brown and Richard Yates, two of the most emi- nent and successful lawyers of Illinois. In 1849 he joined Captain Heslop's party and started over the old Santa Fe trail for the gold fields of California, being actuated to this step as much by a desire to regain his health as by a spirit of adventure. Upon his return to Jack- sonville he resumed his legal studies and was admitted to the bar. In 1852 he was elected State's Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit of the State, then composed of the counties of Morgan, Menard, Scott, Greene, Macoupin, Jer- sey and Calhoun, beginning the practice of the law in that office, and serving therein for four years. Entering upon the discharge of the du-

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

ties of the office without previous experience, his contact with the best legal talent in the cir- cuit was of great advantage to him, forcing him to some extent out of a native want of assur- ance which has always been more or less of a handicap to him; and the lessons he learned, by the rough knocks and routs he received, proved of great assistance to him in his future career. In 1856, in the district consisting of Morgan and Scott Counties, he was elected to the House of Representatives of the Illinois State Legislature for the term of two years and in 1858 was reelected to the office. Believ- ing that a lawyer could not succeed so well in his profession when participating actively in political undertakings, he concluded to give his entire attention thereafter to his legal work. Under appointment by Hon. Charles D. Hodges, Judge of the First Judicial Circuit, he served as Master in Chancery for the Circuit Court in Morgan County for six years, terminating in the year 1873. In the latter year, upon the solicita- tion and action of almost the entire bar of Mor- gan County, he became a candidate for the of- fice of Judge of the First Judicial Circuit of the State, for the term of six years. In June of that year lie was elected, his opponents being two distinguished jurists-D. M. Woodson, of Carrollton, and N. M. Knapp, of Winchester. In 1877, by act of the Legislature, the Appel- late Courts were established, and the State was redistricted into thirteen judicial circuits, Mor- gan County being placed in the Seventh Circuit, which consisted of the counties of Morgan, Cass, Mason, Menard, Logan, DeWitt, Scott, Greene, Jersey and Calhoun. It was provided that three judges should be elected in each cir- cuit. At the judicial election of 1879 Judge Ep- ler was elected for the term of six years in the Seventh Circuit, together with Hon. Ly- man Lacy, of Menard County, and Hon. Albert G. Burr, of Greene County. In 1885 and 1891 he was reelected to the same office, his last term cxpiring in 1897; and having been elected to the same office four times in succession and served continuously for twenty-four years, he declined to be a candidate for a fifth term.

During the entire time of Judge Epler's serv- ice on the bench, litigation in all the courts of the circuit was very extensive, but rapidly grew less during the last few years of his service. During the first twenty years of his incumbency he was constantly on the bench ten months of

every year, but for the last four years was not so continuously employed. He held and presid- ed over more than two hundred and fifty terms of court; he never failed to hold the term of court assigned to him, and with one exception, never failed to be present and convene said courts at the appointed time. During his terms of service it is estimated that he adjudicated or orderly disposed of about fifty thousand cases.

Since 1848 Judge Epler has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is now a Past Master in Jacksonville Lodge, No. 570, A. F. & A. M. In August, 1852, he was united in mar- riage with Cornelia A. Nettleton, a daughter of Dr. Clark Nettleton, of Racine, Wis. They are the parents of the following children: Helen F., instructor in French at Vassar College; Effie L., residing at home; Carl E., an attor- ney-at-law of Quincy, Ill .; Ernest G., a practic- ing physician and surgeon at Fort Smith, Ark .; Blanche N., a practicing physician at Kalama- zoo, Mich .; Maud A., wife of Carroll Cambron, of San Francisco, Cal .; and Percy H., a minis- ter in the Congregational Church, now located at Detroit, Mich.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County, Part 161

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Short, William F., 1829- 4n Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1286

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Short, William F., 1829- 4n
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1286