Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County, Part 187

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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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

a trip to Illinois, where, instead of adding to his supply of horses, he bought land .. For one tract, known as the Cobb farm, five miles southwest of Jacksonville, he paid $10 per acre for 160 acres, and on a portion of this the family resi- dence was afterward established. Returning to Ohlo he sold his interests there, completed his arrangements for moving, and on May 17, 1831, arrived in Morgan County, locating on his pur- chase of three years before. This investment was the initiatory step in that unparalleled career which made Jacob Strawn preeminent in the long line of Illinois stock-ralsers, de- veloped an enterprise of colossal proportions, and inaugurated the cattle business of the State.

For the following few years after he estab- lished himself on his Morgan County farm, Mr. Strawn occupied, with his family, a log house of the crude construction common to that primi- tive period. It included a second story which was reached by means of a ladder. In that rude but comfortable dwelling, Mrs. Strawn died De- cember 8, 1831. On July 8, 1832, Mr. Strawn again married, wedding Phebe Gates, a daugh- ter of Samuel Gates, a prominent pioneer set- tler of Greene County, Ill. Miss Gates was a lady of unusual beauty and intelligence, and possessed many other feminine graces. Her father was born forty miles from Portland, Me., and when a young man journeyed to Ohio, and settled on the banks of the Muskingum River. At an early age he married a Miss Emerson, who was born in Windsor, Vt., and was a rela- tive of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Miss Gates was four years old when her parents brought her to Illinois, which was then a Territory, and was not admitted to the Union as a State until several months after their arrival. They made the journey to Illinois In company with another family, traveling by keelboat from Marietta, Ohlo, to their destination. For a time they so- journed on the Mississippi Bottoms, in the western part of Calhoun County, Ill., and later located in Bluffdale, Greene County, cight miles west of Carrollton, Ill., a region settled mainly by Eastern people. The Bluffdale postoffice was established in 1828, in the house of John Rus- sell, and various members of the Russell family held the office from that period until 1905. Mrs. Strawn attended one of the earliest select schools in Illinois, conducted at Bluffdale by John Russell, who was a man of literary ability. His school was even patronized by the children

of some of the best families in St. Louis, for the reason that at that time (1828) St. Louis had no school equal to the Russell Institute, which was about seventy miles from that city. The well known selection contained in all the schoolreaders of fifty years ago, entitled the "Worm of the Still," was written by John Rus- sell, who was one of the best of the pioneer educators, and was for some time a Professor in Shurtleff College.

The union of Miss Gates with Mr. Strawn re- sulted in six children, one of whom died in early childhood. The members of this family were: Julius E. Strawn, a prominent farmer, banker and philanthropist; Daniel, the first born, killed in a mill; Jacob Strawn, Gates Strawn, D. G. Strawn and Martha Amelia Strawn. David was engaged in the dental profession in Boston, Mass., and now is a well known farmer and cit- izen of Jacksonville. The only daughter, Mar- tha Amelia, spent three years in Dr. Gannett's School in Boston, Mass, where unremitting application to study enfeebled, her to such an extent that she fell a victim to consumption and filled a premature grave at about twenty- two years of age. She possessed rare natural endowments, both physical and mental, and combined in her person many of the distinctive and excellent traits of both her parents. She died at her home five miles southwest of Jack- sonville, July 15, 1868. Jacob Strawn, Jr., the third son, received his intellectual culture in Jacksonville. At an early age he was afflicted by a pulmonary ailment, and by advice of his physician went abroad, making a six months' tour of Europe, and visiting Egypt and Pales- tine in company with Rev. L. M. Glover, D. D. He returned home in the fall of 1858, and on March 12, 1862, was united in marriage with Mary Jane Patterson. Their union resulted in three children, two of whom were sons. The father of this family died in Jacksonville, Ill., October 10, 1869, his death being widely and greatly lamented.

For a considerable period the subject of this sketch supplied the St. Louis market with a large proportion of the beef consumed in that city. He purchased and disposed of larger lots of cattle than any other dealer in this country. and among stockmen his name became famlllar as a household word from ocean to ocean. During the first years of hls residence In Mor- gan County, Mr. Strawn was engaged in butch-

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ering and milling, and furnished the meat and flour supply of Jacksonville. He was the owner of a flour mill, and raised large crops of wheat and corn. He was also one of the most exten- sive land-holders in Illinois, being the owner of 10,000 acres in Sangamon and Morgan Counties, besides his home farm of about 8,000 acres. About the year 1850 he made a complete inno- vation in the customary methods of conducting the stock business, and disposed of his cattle on the ground where he fitted them for market, thereafter confining his attention to the work of grazing and feeding. He was the initiator in Illinois of the system of stall-feeding with corn. In 1859 he began the erection of the superb Strawn's Opera House in Jacksonville, which was finished in 1861, and dedicated in March of that year, thereby adorning the city with its most ornate, commodious and imposing public structure, with which his name will be perpet- ually associated.

During the Civil War, Mr. Strawn was one of the pillars of the Union cause, and rendered most patriotic service in strengthening the arms of the Government. During the darkest period of the conflict he donated to the Christian Com- mission, when that noble body was in sore need of means to prosecute its work, the handsome sum of $10,000. On being informed by a hos- pital nurse from Vicksburg that the supply of milk for the disabled soldiers was scanty and in- ferior, he promptly raised the means to buy fifty cows, which he sent under the care of a special attendant to the hospital stewards at that point. Politically Mr. Strawn was a Whig in early life, and became a Republican on the organization of that party in 1856. The death of Mr. Strawn occurred August 23, 1865, at the country home where he first settled, and he was buried in Diamond Grove Cemetery, Jacksonville. Mrs. Strawn spent the last years of her life in the home erected by herself in Jacksonville, but died, deeply lamented by her family and a large circle of friends, February 6, 1906. By her will, besides leaving generous bequests to her children and their descendants, she made liberal donations to educational and benevolent institutions, including $20,000 to Illinois College, $10,000 to Jacksonville Female Academy and a like sum to the Passavant Me- morial Hospital.

The causes of the phenomenal success of Jacob Strawn are not difficult to determine,

when his pronounced characteristics are con- sidered. He possessed, in an extraordinary de- gree, those qualities that make the highest suc- cess certain. He was exempt from all in- dulgences which weaken the will power, and induce a purpose when formed, to waver. He had a comprehensive grasp of the details of every enterprise which he undertook, and intu- itively foresaw the outcome. He was resolute, tenacious, prompt in decision and action, and his perseverance knew no flagging. His mind penetrated the innermost possibilities of any business problem which confronted him, and his plans eventuated in precise accordance with the calculations on which they were based. Withal, he was scrupulously honest and absolutely re- liable. He was an indefatigable worker, and inspired his employes with a spirit of industry. Although his mental absorption in some im- portant venture made him occasionally terse in speech and brusque in manner, he treated every one fairly and equitably. He was a hospitable entertainer, and charitable to the deserving needy. Devoid of ostentation, his vast posses- sions never stimulated vanity or impaired his manhood. He was a disciple of the strenuous life, and was born to achieve success.

STRAWN, Gates, was born on a farm known as "Grass Plains," five miles southwest of Jack- sonville, Ill., the son of Jacob and Phebe (Gates) Strawn, the former a noted farmer and cattle dealer of Morgan County. (For genealogy of the family, see sketch of the father, Jacob Strawn, preceding in this volume.) Gates Strawn was educated in the local public schools, Illinois College, the Ohio Wesleyan University and Harvard Law School, graduating from the latter in 1865. For a time during the Civil War (in 1862) he served as a member of Company E, Eighty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under the veteran General Wood, who had previously been a soldier in both the War of 1812 and the Mexican War. Later he traveled overland to California, and thence took ship for South America, while there crossing the Andes three times. Then returning home, in 1869 he was married to Miss Almyra Trabue, a member of a prominent family of Jacksonville, later making a trip to Europe, where he spent about one year.

A zealous Republican in his political opin- ions, Mr. Strawn has not been a seeker for office, but by appointment of Gov. John R. Tan-

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ner served one term as President of the Board of Trustees of the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, at Jacksonville. Though not a church member, he is a regular attendant upon the services at the State Street Presbyterian Church, Jacksonville, and is a member and President of its Board of Trustees. Unselfish and public spirited, he takes a deep interest in enterprises affecting the welfare of his home city, and entertains a just pride in his descent from two such parents as Jacob and Phebe (Gates) Strawn, the first of whom died in 1865, and the latter on February 6, 1906.

STRAWN, Julius E., one of the most promi- nent educational characters, and well known as one of the most extensive land-owners in Mor- gan County, Ill., was born, December 2, 1835, at Grass Plains, that county, five miles south- west of Jacksonville. He is a son of Jacob and Phebe (Gates) Strawn. Jacob, who was a son of Isaiah Strawn, was one of a family of six children and a native of Pennsylvania. The fa- ther of Jacob Strawn married Rachael Reed, of Suffolk County, N. J. They moved to a farm in Turkey Foot township, Somerset County, Pa., where six children were born to them, four of whom were sons-Jacob being the youngest. At a later period the father located in Licking County, Ohio, and in 1837 Isaiah Strawn settled in Putnam County, Ill., where he died April 4, 1843, at the age of eighty-four years. His re- ligious faith was that of the Methodist Episco- pal Church.

In 1828 Jacob, the father of Julius, pur- chased the "Cobb Farm," on which he settled in 1831 and which continued to be his home until his death, August 23, 1865. For that farm he paid $10 per acre, at that time the highest price ever paid for farming land in Morgan County. On that tract was a log house which originally contained one room, but at the time of purchase had two, with a loft above. Mr. Strawn paid $1,600 for the property, and some time before his death he was the owner of 18,000 acres of land. In 1857 he sold 3,000 acres for $100,000.

Julius E. Strawn was a delicate child, weigh- ing but twelve pounds at the age of one year. As there was no school in the vicinity of his home, when only ten years old, he was sent to a private school conducted by the Rev. William Eddy, who afterward became a cele- brated missionary. Subsequently Mr. Strawn

was a pupil in the private school of Messrs. Talmage Collins and Wilder Fairbanks, riding on horseback to and from his home. Afterward he attended the district school taught by James Henderson, and recited his Latin lessons under the tutorship of Paul Selby. In the fall of 1856 he entered the preparatory school of Newton Bateman, where he spent one year and was prepared to begin his classical course in the Freshman year at Illinois College, which he entered in 1857. From this institution he was graduated in 1861. After spending several months as an agent for his father in New York City, in connection with cattle shipped to that point by the latter, he went to Philadelphia, where he remained a few months, and then returned home. He was next occupied, for two years, in cultivating a portion of his father's land in the eastern part of Morgan County. During the Civil War he received, unsolicited, an appointment on the staff of the War Gov- ernor, Richard Yates. In the autumn of 1865 he went abroad for a three years' European trip. He remained some time in London, where he was the recipient of courtesies from Charles Francis Adams, the United States Ambassador to Great Britain. He also visited Ireland, and attended the World's Fair, held in Dublin. After in- cluding, in his travels, many points of historic interest in Scotland, he returned to London, and thence journeyed to Paris where he made an extended stay. From Paris he went to Bel- gium, traveling over that kingdom, passing through the Rhine country, and stopping sev- several weeks at Aix-la-Chapelle. He then took a trip up the Rhine, and remained some weeks at the baths in Crenznach. While there he made an excursion to Russia. In that country he was well received by the United States Min- ister, Cassius M. Clay, who obtained for him an introduction to the Winter Palace, and the pic- ture galleries and private apartments of the Czar, where he viewed the crown diamonds and other royal treasures. Returning to Germany, he visited Frankfurt; made a tour of Baden; and spent several weeks at Heidelberg. · Thence he traveled to Munich, and over the Alps, via the Brenner Pass to Verona and Genoa, Italy, and then, with some German friends, made a trip by coach over the Riviera to Nice. He re- turned to Italy by sea and spent several weeks in Rome, again reaching Germany by way of Geneva, Switzerland. While traveling in Switz-

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erland he was advised of the serious illness of his sister, Mattie Strawn, and hastening to London, boarded the mail train to Queenstown, Ireland, where he caught the steamer which had left Liverpool the day before. He took passage on the steamer "City of London," Capt. Brooks in charge, who commanded the "City of Wash- ington," on which he had made the voyage to Europe. His sister died before he reached home. After his return he resumed the charge of his lands and farm, but made his home with his mother on the old homestead until 1882, when Mrs. Strawn and family located in Jacksonville, where she continued to reside until her death in February, 1906.

Mr. Strawn has always been a warm friend and supporter of Illinois College, and the Pres- byterian Academy. He was made a Trustee of the former institution in 1876, and also of the Presbyterian Academy. Since the death of L. M. Glover, D. D., in 1882, he has been President of the Board of Trustees of the Jacksonville Fe- male Academy. He has served as Trustee of Il- linois College under each President and each Acting President since the presidency of Dr. Edward Beecher. During the winter of 1904- 1905 he was Acting President of that institu- tion for three months. On the resignation of President Barnes he was elected Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Acting President until the regular election. Mr. Strawn has been a stockholder in the Jacksonville National Bank since 1871, and a member of the Board of Di- rectors since 1884. On the resignation of Presi- dent O. D. Fitzsimmons, he was elected to the vacancy, but declined to serve. In 1905 he was again elected President of the bank, and this time accepted.

Politically, Mr. Strawn lends his support to the Republican party. Religiously, he has wor- shiped with the congregation of the Presbyte- rian Church since his childhood. He is one of the most prominent representative citizens of Morgan County, and is regarded as a pillar of strength in the community of which is a con- spicuous member.

TANDY, O. E., a resident of Franklin, Ill., and by profession a teacher and traveling agent for Rand, McNally & Company, publishers, of Chicago, was born in the place of his residence June 23, 1865, the son of Dr. William N. and Jane E. (Martin) Tandy. Dr. Tandy was born

in Green County, Ky., June 4, 1814, his parents being Smith and Susan Tandy. O. E. Tandy was educated in the public schools and the State Normal School at Normal, Ill .; has been a teacher in Morgan County for fourteen years, and in 1900 was appointed by Rand, McNally & Company, their general agent for Southern Illinois.

Mr. Tandy was married January 17, 1892, to Myrtle Wright, daughter of George M. Wright, and they have one child, George W. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and one of the State In- structors of the latter order for Illinois; is also Worshipful Master of Wadley Lodge, No. 616, A. F. & A. M., and of the Mutual Protective League. He is a member of the Christian Church, and, politically, a Democrat. He takes an active interest in politics, attending State and County conventions, and has acted as their Chairman. Mrs. O. E. Tandy was born August 27. 1872, on a farm two miles south of Franklin. She is a member of the Rebekah and Eastern Star Lodges, is President of the Assembly of the former order for the twenty-second district, composed of Morgan, Sangamon and Scott Counties, and is Official Instructor and Exam- iner of the State organization of Rebekahs.

TAYLOR, C. Riggs, a prominent and much re- spected resident of Jacksonville, Ill., who in his active life was one of the most successful and substantial farmers of Morgan County, was born in that county December 2, 1839. He is a son of George and Polly E. (Tucker) Taylor, natives of Kentucky, whose parents in turn were Henry and Frances (Dale) Taylor. In boyhood Mr. Taylor received his mental training in the sub- scription schools of his neighborhood, and in early manhood became a soldier in the Civil War. In August, 1861, he enlisted at Jackson- ville, Ill., the commissioned officers of his com- pany being: Captain, Barbour Lewis; First Lieutenant, James Burnett, and Second Lieu- tenant, George W. Moore, all of Morgan County. The command, known as the "Duncan Rangers," was ordered to St. Louis, Mo., and was sworn into the service as Company G, First Missouri Cavalry, under Colonel Ellis. Mr. Taylor par- ticipated in numerous severe skirmishes, and in the one near New Madrid, Mo., on June 3, 1864, when his horse was shot in the breast and his hat perforated by a ball. In the afternoon of the same day, while holding his disabled horse

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in order that his wounded comrade, Thomas J. Marshall, might be provided with a mount, the command was ambushed by Confederate guer- rillas. Mr. Marshall fell mortally wounded, having received seventeen balls above the belt, and Mr. Taylor was shot in the side, two of his ribs being fractured. The latter has never com- pletely recovered from the effect of his wounds.

On February 27, 1868, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Mary Foster, daughter of Jonas and Anna Hoopes (Carlile) Scott, who was born in Chester County, Pa., March 20, 1821. Mr. Scott was a native of Essex County, N. J., born January 23, 1818, and came to Morgan County in 1845. The lady who became his wife located there in 1844, the marriage occurring the fol- lowing year. The couple located three miles west of Franklin, where Mary Foster Scott was born on September 5, 1846. Her family dates back to the early times of the United States, Mrs. Scott's father being of English stock, and her mother of English and Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. In religious faith they were Quakers.

TAYLOR, George, (deceased), at an early perlod one of the most prominent and success- ful farmers of Morgan County, Ill., was born near Fisherville, Ky., twenty miles from Louis- ville, on July 20, 1805. He was a son of Henry Taylor and Frances (Dale) Taylor, natives of Virginia. The mother was a member of an old Virginia family, and her marriage to George Taylor's father occurred in Kentucky.

In boyhood, Mr. Taylor received his mental training in the district schools in the vicinity of his birthplace, in the fall of 1833, journeying to Morgan County, Ill., where he entered Gov- ernment land twelve miles southeast of Jack- sonville. Hc afterward bought land adjoining this and also purchased another tract in San- gamnon County. About the year 1872 he located at Jacksonville, where he died September 23, 1886. He was a very industrious farmer, and liis diligence and thrift resulted in the accumu- lation of a handsome competence.

On July 18, 1827, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage with Polly E. Tucker, a native of Ken- tucky. This union resulted in ten children, namely: Maximilia, wife of John W. Swigert, of Edinburgh, Ill .; Edward A., of Jacksonville; Benjamin H., deceased; William P., of Sanga- mnon County, Ill .; C. Riggs, of Jacksonville; Plæbe J., widow of George Scott, of Norfolk,

Va .; Sarah F., wife of Edward T. Tellings, of Broadlands, Ill .; George Z., who occupies a por- tion of the home farm in Morgan County; John H., of Mattoon, Ill .; and Shelby D., of Cham- paign, Ill. The mother of this family died January 22, 1894.

The Taylor family was of sturdy stock, and George Taylor typified in his career the robust and sterling traits of his progenitors. He wasted no time but applied himself with diligent perseverance to every task which confronted him. He was instinctively honest, and all his actions were inspired by a spirit of rectitude and equity. As a farmer, he was intelligent, methodical and thorough, and as a citizen was deeply concerned in the moral, industrial and educational welfare of the community in which his lot was cast. A firm Republican in politics, in religion he adhered to the Christian Church. His life was eminently useful, and he enjoyed to a rare degree the confidence and respect of his neighbors and associates.

TENDICK, Gottfried, (deceased), formerly a well known business man of Jacksonville, Ill., and the owner of the Edgemore Brick Yards at Morton and Tendick Streets, of that city, was born in Germany, November 4, 1830, a son of John and Jennie Tendick, who came to America in 1853. The father lived but one month in his adopted country, when he died, leaving a widow with eight children, all of whom are now de- ceased. Godfried Tendick was educated in Ger- many and there became familiar with the spool and weaving industry, but at the age of seven- teen years commenced learning boot and shoe- making, which continued to be his business for a period of thirty-five years. In 1850 he emi- grated to America and was soon established in the boot and shoe trade, in which he employed from seven to ten men; but he discontinued this business, in 1878, and engaged in brickmaking as a member of the firm of Caspold, Reid & Tendick. This connection continued for two years, when the partnership became Reid & Tendick, and three years later Mr. Tendick pur- chased his partner's interest and conducted the business alone until his death, which occurred May 21, 1895. Mr. Tendick was very successful in tlils enterprise and was enabled to erect two stores and several residences in the city, be- sides owning a fine farın of 300 acres. He was a substantial, public spirited citizen and hls loss

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was sincerely felt by his family, his friends and the community in general. Not long before his death he built a handsome residence at the cor- ner of Fayette Street and College Avenue, where Mrs. Tendick still resides.

Mr. Tendick was married October 14, 1854, to Miss Tendick, a daughter of Peter and Jane (Schutten) Tendick, natives of Germany, and of this union five children were born, viz .: Jen- nie, wife of George Porter; John S .; Edward; Clara, wife of A. D. Hoover; and Peter, who died in 1884, at the age of twenty-four years. The family are members of the German M. E. Church.

THOMASON, Charles, who fills, with signal credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the official management, the position of Su- perintendent of Farms and Gardens of the Illi- nois Central Hospital for the Insane, at Jack- sonville, Ill., was born on a farm in Scott County, Ill., April 9, 1860, the son of William and Mary (Allinson) Thomason. The father was born in England, in 1830, and the mother in Morgan County, Ill., in February, 1833. Wil- liam Thomason came to the United States in the 'fifties and located in Scott County, Ill., where he was engaged in farming until his death in 1860. His widow died February 22, 1905, on her farm just west of Jacksonville.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County, Part 187

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