USA > Illinois > Warren County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Warren County, Volume II > Part 78
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
In addition to the district school, the town- ship also has a high school in the village. The school was established in 1900, and the build- ing was finished and dedicated February 22, 1902, at a cost of $12,000. It is of red brick, contains ten rooms, including an assembly hall, and is a fine building. The board in charge of the school is made up of J. B. Brown, D. A. Woodward, S. P. Stem, C. O. Pinney, and J. B. Russell; and the teachers for 1902-03 are: Roderick S. Munford, principal and teacher of mathematics and history; Miss Virginia Mc- Queen, English and Latin; Miss Fannie Hurff, Latin and science; and Eugene Jared, com- mercial department.
CHURCHES.
The Congregational church was organized November 15, 1851, at the school house in what was then District No. 2. Rev. J. Blanchard, of Knox College, Galesburg, presided, and Rev. L. E. Sikes was clerk. There were eleven charter members: William Dilley, Mary Dil- ley, Phoebe Dilley, David Tuttle, Elizabeth Tut- tle, Ruth Tuttle, Eunice Robinson, Elizabeth Axtell, Stephen Dilley, Clarinda Cole, and Car-
oline Axtell. William Dilley was elected the first clerk of the church. The church worship- ped in the school house' where organized, with the Rev. Asa Martin as the first pastor. He re- mained until December, 1852, and the church had no regular pastor, but occasional services by Rev. L. H. Parker and Rev. Homer Penfield, until 1854, when Rev. Mr. Luddin served as pastor for three months, then Revs. Parker and Penfield supplying again until March, 1856. The church building was commenced in 1855, and completed and dedicated March 4 and 5, 1856. The building cost $2,500. The first set- tled pastor was Rev. J. A. Rogers, who became pastor in March, 1856. Those who succeeded him were: A. R. Mitchell, L. S. Morgan, Al- fred Morse, Cyrus H. Eaton, during whose pas- torate a parsonage was purchased at a cost of $1,200, Arthur E. Arnold in 1867, A. J. Drake the same year, James D. Wycoff in 1869, R. A. Wood in 1877, S. B. Goodenow, R. B. Guild in 1881, F. C. Cochran, George Peebles in 1885, Rev. J. W. Johnson, D. D., in 1891, C. B. Riggs, O. M. VanSwearingen, W. W. Bolt in 1898, L. H. Ruge, and the present pas- tor, Rev. Franklin W. Keagey, called in April, 1902. During the latter part of 1901 the church building underwent a complete remodeling, and is practically a new structure of colonial design, with modern furnishings, furnace and electric lights. Two thousand dollars were spent in improvements, and the church was rededicated February 23, 1902. It seemed very appropriate that the dedicatory sermon should be preached by the president of Knox College, Dr. McClelland, as a little over a half century ago the president of the same institution pre- sided at the organization of the church. The church is now located on the corner of Pennsyl- vania avenue and Chamberlain street, having been moved from its former site in 1895.
The Roseville Christian church was organ- ized about 1845 at the Downey school house in Swan Township, with a membership of about thirty, of whom none are now known to be living. John E. Murphy and Milton Dodge were the preachers, and after them were John Reynolds, who yet lives in Macomb, and Smith Wallace. About 1867 the organization was moved to the Taylor school house, in Roseville Township, and in 1871 to Roseville, six or eight new members coming then from Ellison. Rev. C. E. Aids commenced the services at Roseville in the Methodist church, but in two
983
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
or three days it was locked against them. J. C. Reynolds then held meetings in the old school house, and the society was reorganized there in May, 1871, with twenty-eight members, of whom three yet remain in its connection, J. T. Lathrop, G. W. Nisely, and Susan Lieu- rance. A frame church building was erected in 1871 at a cost of $1,500, and before it was plastered J. F. Leck held a meeting with thir- ty or thirty-five additions. Mr. Leck served as pastor two years, and was succeeded by G. L. Brokaw, now editor of the Christian Index at Des Moines, Iowa. Following him have been the following pastors: Elders Royal, M. Jones, B. C. Stevens, Wm. Kellaway, A. J. Car- rick, T. A. Williams, C. G. Blakeslee, W. H. Coleman, and E. E. Violett. The church is just now without a pastor. One minister lias arisen from the membership of this society, S. M. Perkins, present pastor at Council Bluffs, Iowa. The church building has been enlarged, well furnished, and made to compare favora- bly with other church edifices throughout the country. The membership of the church is 173.
The First Baptist church of Roseville was organized as the Hat Grove Baptist church by a council called for that purpose February 18, 1852. Rev. George S. Minor presided at the council, and the society started with twenty- five members, and Eliphalet Mitchell and Birdsey W. Smith as deacons. Rev. Joseph El- liott was the first pastor, coming in 1853 and remaining eighteen months. He was succeeded by Rev. William T. Bly, through whose efforts a very successful revival was carried on, re- sulting in a large addition to the membership of the church. Pastors who followed him are: Revs. William Morse, Joseph Elliott ( second term), Daniel Delano, Henry B. Johnston, Dan- iel B. Gunn, William Storrs, A. Jones, Jr., Eli- jah Russ, George D. Kent, E. C. Cady, J. E. Todd, Isaac Fallis, J. M. Titterington, A. H. Rhodes, R. J. Church, E. D. Hoyt, and the pres- ent pastor, O. J. Terrell, who came to the church in 1897. The church met in school houses until 1863, when a building was erected opposite the cemetery, east of the railroad, 30x40 feet in size, without tower or vestibule, and costing $1,700. It was dedicated March 24, 1864. In 1893 the church building had become too small, besides being inconveniently located, and a new brick church costing $10,000 was erected near the center of the village. It was
dedicated October 29 of that year, by Rev. M. E. Broaddus, D. D., of Burlington. The present membership of the church is 190.
The Methodist Episcopal church is the out- growth of a class of some half dozen members organized in 1839. Among these were Solomon Sovereign and wife, John Jared, Sr., and wife. They held their first meeting in Jared's school house, about three miles southeast of Rose- ville, and later met at the home of Josiah Kirk- patrick, about two and one-half miles from Roseville. Meetings were also held in the house of Solomon Sovereign, then when the first school house in Roseville was built, it was used as a meeting place. The church building was erected in 1867, at a cost of $3,500, and it was dedicated by Dr. Munsell, president of Illinois Wesleyan University, at Bloomington. It was remodeled in 1881. The parsonage is on a lot adjoining the church.
The Evangelical Swedish Lutheran church was organized February 26, 1876, by Rev. Charles Anderson, and with twenty-six mem- bers. A church building was erected the same year on Chamberlain street, at a cost of $1,200, and dedicated October 29. The pastors have been Rev. George Wiberg, Rev. Charles J. Lun- dell, Rev. Charles Bargstrum, Rev. J. W. Carl- son, and Rev. N. A. Bloomstrand. The society has been disorganized for a number of years.
W. C. T. U.
The Roseville Woman's Christian Temper- ance Union was organized as the Wom- en's Temperance Society, December 13, 1877, with fifty-three members. The first officers were: Mrs. H. Ostrader, president; Mrs. J. D. Wycoff, Mrs. E. Mitchell, Mrs. Sophia R. Reed, Mrs. Rose, Mrs. Wiberg, vice presidents; Miss Lottie W. Gould, record- ing secretary; Mrs. James Worden, corres- ponding secretary; Mrs. I. E. Tuttle, treasurer. The present membership of the Union is twenty, and the officers are: Mrs. Maggie Worden, president; Mrs. Thomas Blue, vice president; Mrs. Flora Aylesworth, secretary; Mrs. C. K. Smith, treasurer.
SECRET ORDERS.
General A. C. Harding Post No. 127, G. A. R., was organized April 11, 1882, and mustered by C. A. Carmichael, of Gen. George A. Crook
984
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Post No. 81, of Kirkwood. There were twenty- six charter members, as follows: James D. Rubart, George R. White, Benj. Rusher, James M. Tucker, John J. McClem, W. H. Stephenson, I. R. Tinder, R. H. Ostrander, Geo. C. Murphy, John D. Peters, Josiah Everett, R. L. McRey- nolds, F. B. Davis, D. M. Fay, C. A. McLaugh- lin, J. W. Cotes, T. S. Fowler, J. E. Whitenack, C. C. Beckwith, B. A. Griffith, Elias Acton, John W. Stephenson, Edgar Bliss. The first officers of the post were: Commander, J. W. Coates; Senior Vice Commander, C. A. Mclaughlin; Junior Vice Commander, J. E. Whitenack; Ad- jutant, J. J. McClem; Quartermaster, R. L. Mc- Reynolds; Surgeon, B. A. Griffith; Chaplain, T. S. Fowler; Officer of the Day, J. M. Tucker; Of- ficer of the Guard, F. B. Davis; Quartermaster Sergeant, George C. Murphy. The present of- ficers are: Post Commander, Peter V. Quirk; Senior Vice Commander, R. H. Ostrander; Jun- ior Vice Commander, F. B. Davis; Surgeon, Harvey C. Garrett; Chaplain, J. L. Pauley; Of- ficer of the Day, Thomas S. Miller; Quarter- master, H. T. Lape; Adjutant, R. L. McRey- nolds. The membership is twenty-seven.
Roseville Lodge No. 537, I. O. O. F., was in- stituted January 21, 1874, at Youngstown, and was known and chartered as Youngstown Lodge No. 537. The. charter members were five: John W. Conley, Stewart Grier, Thomas F. Pennington, R. B. Predmore and H. V. Sim- mons. Mr. Conley was Noble Grand, Mr. Pen- nington Vice Grand, Mr. Simmons Secretary, and Mr. Predmore Treasurer. The petition asking the name and seal of the lodge to be changed to Roseville Lodge No. 537 was sent to the Grand Master September 21, 1876, and the transfer was made October 25 following. The present membership of the lodge is sixty- seven, and the officers are: S. H. Whitenack, Noble Grand; Robert Gray, Vice Grand; W. D. Johnston, Secretary; George W. Ragon, Treas- urer.
Roseville Lodge No. 519, A. F. & A. M., was chartered October 1, 1867, with eighteen mem- bers, who, including the first officers, were as follows: D. Adams, Worshipful Master; W. Clayton, Senior Warden; J. B. Wilsey, Junior Warden; B. Ragon, Secretary; D. M. Taliafer- ro, Treasurer; T. Bradley, Senior Deacon; Wil- liam Stanfield, Junior Deacon; Israel Jared, Tyler; P. Bingham, I. N. Jones, J. S. Ratekin, S. W. Lee, J. J. Cain, A. Stanfield, R. M. Jones, L. S. Hall, and R. L. McReynolds. The pres-
ent membership of the lodge is forty-four, and the officers are: C. T. Carr, W. M .; William Enfield, S. W .; H. W. McMillan, J. W .; W. H. Carr, Secretary; N. G. Taft, Treasurer.
Roseville Legion No. 31, Select Knights of the A. O. U. W., was organized Nov. 8, 1883, by Grand Master Workman Alexander McLean, of Macomb, with thirty charter members. The first officers were: W. T. Gossett, Commander; L. D. Patch, Vice Commander; R. L. McRey- nolds, Lieutenant Commander; C. F. Godfrey, Recorder; S. P. Stem, Treasurer; C. A. And- erson, recording treasurer; T. B. Bohon, Chap- lain; G. C. Murphy, Standard Bearer; S. M. Edwards, Senior Workman; F. H. Spencer, Junior Workman; R. C. Morford, Marshal; S. H. Brokaw, Medical Examiner. The present membership is seven, and the officers are: R. L. McReynolds, Past Commander; J. L. Daven- port, Commander; M. M. Anderson, Vice Com- mander; L. D. Patch, Recorder; R. L. McRey- nolds, Recording Treasurer; D. M. Taliaferro, Treasurer.
Roseville Lodge No. 112, A. O. U. W., was or- ganized May 14, 1878, with twenty-five charter members. The officers were C. F. McDonough, Past Master Workman; J. W. Cotes, Master Workman; E. B. Gibson, Foreman; W. H. Long, Overseer; R. B. Woodward, Receiver; W. T. Gossett, Financier; W. H. Holeman, Re- corder; D. W. Bockus, Inside Watchman; J. J. McClem, Outside Watchman; C. H. Hamilton, Guide. The present membership is twenty- five, and the officers are: S. P. Stem, Past Master Workman; J. L. Davenport, Master Workman; John Willard, Foreman; I. M. Capps, Overseer; L. D. Patch, Recorder; W. T. Gossett, Receiver; Sam Roseberry, Financier.
Omaha Tribe No. 144 of the Order of Red Men, was organized May 10, 1901, with a char- ter list of thirty-four names. The officers in-
stalled that evening were: Sachem, H. W. McMillan; Senior Sagamore, F. S. Rayburn; Junior Sagamore, E. N. Taft; Prophet, Will H. Taylor; Chief of Records, A. M. Horrell; Keeper of Wampum, W. L. Boyd. The tribe now has a membership of thirty-seven, and is officered as follows: Sachem, A. E. Meacham; Senior Sagamore, E. N. Taft; Junior Saga- more, N. E. Pinney; Prophet, H. W. McMillan; Chief of Records, W. J. Black; Keeper of Wampum, W. L. Boyd; Trustees, Ed Meacham, Robert Gray, E. O. Phillips.
Roseville Camp No. 637, Modern Woodmen
985
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
of America, was organized by Deputy Head Consul Westfall, of Galesburg, June 29, 1888, with fifteen members. The first officers elect- ed were: Daniel Ayrs, Venerable Consul; J. L. Pauley, Worthy Advisor; G. F. Foust, Banker; C. A. Hebbard, Clerk. The present member- ship is forty-seven, and the officers are: G. W. Ragan, Venerable Consul; H. W. McMillan, Worthy Advisor; R. L. McReynolds, Banker; A. M. Horrell, Clerk.
The Fraternal, Charity and Loyalty Associ- ation was organized at Roseville and incorpor- ated without capital stock about the first of December, 1891. The object of the association was to teach loyalty and patriotism; to pre- serve and strengthen those fraternal feelings which bind together all who united to suppress the Rebellion; and to perpetuate the memory and history of the dead, and assist and care for the deserving soldiers and their widows. Mrs. Pearl Krieg, Jennie Hartley, Dan Fay and Isaac Tinder made up the first board of di- rectors. The association has long since dis- banded.
Roseville Lodge No. 64, of the Mystic Work- ers of the World, was instituted October 16, 1896, with fifteen members and the following corps of officers: Joseph H. Richter, Master; J. A. Horrell, Vice Master; Andrew Parrish, Secretary; E. A. VanZandt, Banker; Dr. W. E. Pittman, Physician; W. A. Spicer, Conduc- tor; Mrs. J. H. Richter, Sentinel; Mrs. Clara VanZandt, Picket; Charles A. Anderson, J. A. Horrell, Dr. W. E. Pittman, Managers. The lodge became defunct and was reorganized by Deputy Supreme Master John McCrea August 5, 1899, with twenty-five members. The officers installed at that time were: J. T. Bird, Mas- ter; L. L. Lammerts, Vice Master; E. A. Van- Zandt, Secretary. The present membership is fifty-six and J. H. Richter is Master and E. A. VanZandt Secretary.
Roseville Lodge No. 97, Fraternal Army of America, was instituted in 1899. It now has fifteen members and is officered as follows: H. S. Calvin, Captain; J. H. Enfield, Secretary and Treasurer; J. P. Riggs and Henry Velmer, Guards; H. S. Calvin, Little Gilbert, Sam Whitenack, Council.
Roseville Lodge No. 643, Knights of Pythias, was instituted June 5, 1902, by District Deputy Simon Shoaf, of Kirkwood, with the as- sistance of degree teams from Monmonth and Kirkwood. Grand Chancellor C. H. Cushing,
of Chicago, also assisted. The charter mem- bers numbered thirty-six, and the officers in- stalled were: Ben C. Bond, Chancellor Com- mander; Ed C. Willard, Vice Chancellor; Rev. F. W. Keagy, Prelate; F. N. Thompson, Keeper of Records and Seal; E. C. Johnston, Master at Arms; R. B. Jordan, Master of Work; Geo. W. Rayburn, Master of Exchequer; F. N. Thomp- son, Master of Finance; L. A. Meacham, Inner Guard; S. W. Taliaferro, Outer Guard. The other members were: D. A. Woodward, E. N. Baird, Otis Malcolm, Norman E. Pinney, J. W. Prouty, W. O. Cozad, F. M. Lee, W. I. Hazlett, Eli Dixson, Robert Gray, R. A. Lathrop, A. M. Otwell, A. Lewis, Jr .. W. B. Ditch, J. E. Bailey, Dr. E. N. McKee, Dr. H. W. McMillan, Fred Bliss, Will H. Taylor, Dr. Ira Dilley, F. S. Rayburn, J. R. Rayburn, Ed Meacham, E. B. Cupp, W. A. Lee, Gus Sarius, Jr., A. A. Mea- cham.
Roseville Lodge No. 284, Independent Order of Good Templars, was in existence during the '70's, and had as high as eighty-five or ninety members. Records are not to be had now, but R. B. Ostrander was secretary for a while, and after him J. L. Woodmansee.
BANKS.
The State Bank of Roseville was organized in January, 1891, and began business early in the following month with a capital of $25,000. The officers were elected February 3, and were: Eliphalet Mitchell, president; Frank E. Chase, vice president; W. T. Gossett, cashier. In Jan- uary, 1901, the bank's charter being about to expire, and the State banking law not permit- ting a charter to be extended or renewed, the stockholders organized the State Bank of War- ren County, with a capital of $40,000, and elected as officers: E. Mitchell, president; Charles O. Pinney, vice president; and George W. Rayburn, cashier. The State Bank of Rose- ville was then consolidated with the new bank, and following that action the name of the new organization was changed to that of the old- the State Bank of Roseville. The bank was thus enabled to continue business under the old name, notwithstanding the legal difficulty which had presented itself. The bank still has the officers elected in 1901, with the addition of Frank S. Rayburn as assistant cashier. It has deposits of $150,000.
The First National Bank of Roseville is the
986
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
successor of the old Roseville Union Bank, a private banking institution which began busi- ness November 10, 1875, with Isaac L. Pratt as president and Seth F. Pratt as cashier. Later Cary J. Boyd was assistant cashier. The First National Bank began business July 1, 1901, with a capital of $35,000. The present officers are: Henry Staat, president; H. B. Smith, vice president; Cary J. Boyd, cashier. The bank carries deposits of about $100,000.
NEWSPAPERS.
George G. McCosh, then an employe of the Review office at Monmouth, started the first paper in Roseville, The Roseville Gazette, May 24, 1876. It was a seven-column folio, independ- ent in politics, and the printing was done at The Review office. In June, 1877, Mr. McCosh moved the paper to Monmouth and changed the name to The Monmouth Gazette. In Aug- ust, 1876, Bert O. Wilson & Bro. started an op- positon paper which they called Wilson's Weekly. The paper was sold after a while to C. Elliott, who gave it a new name, The Times. Mr. Elliott sold to C. A. Hebbard in the spring of 1885, who enlarged it to an eight column folio. Mr. Hebbard was teacher in the village schools and also the village postmaster,, and duties crowding upon him, he transferred the management of the paper to his daughter, Miss Leona Hebbard. She occupied the editorial chair until 1892, when C. W. Hendricks be- came the publisher. He continued in charge until January, 1894, when H. J. Herbertz took control. In June following Will H. Taylor be- came editor and publisher, and is still in charge. The Times was consolidated June 30, 1900, with the Roseville Citizen, which was es- tablished in 1892, by S. R. and John Byarly. They were the publishers until February 1, 1897, when they sold the plant to George W. VanTuyl, who owned it at the time of the con- solidation. The paper is now known as the Times-Citizen. It is a seven-column quarto, Republican in politics. The paper is owned by the Roseville Printing and Publishing Co., with Mr. Taylor as publisher. The company owns the building in which the paper has its home, and it is styled the Temple of Truth.
LIBRARY.
The Roseville Library Association was or- ganized April 6, 1874, under the following management: B. R. Ostrander, president; J.
D. Wycoff, vice president; W. T. Gossett, secre- tary; E. P. Emans, treasurer; G. D. Kent, J. L. Woodmansee, Geo. L. Bostwick, trustees; H. E. Aylsworth, librarian. The books were kept in H. E. Alysworth's drug store for a number of years, and then in a room over the Roseville Union Bank. The association was conducted under the above arrangement until August 15, 1896, when it was incorporated under the state laws. Then money was raised by subscription and the present brick library building was erected. Mrs. Flora A. Aylsworth donated the lot and also the pressed brick for the front of the building, which was completed at a cost of about $1,600, and opened for use September 10, 1898. The first officers after the incorpora- tion were: J. B. Brown, president; Mrs. E. P. Emans, vice president; Mrs. Eli Dixson, secre- tary; Cary J. Boyd, treasurer; W. N. Brown, Dr. E. L. Mitchell, trustees; Miss Grace Car- uthers, librarian. Mrs. J. B. Brown is now the president; Mrs. F. S. Rayburn, vice president; , secretary; Cary J. Boyd, treasurer; Eli Dixson, R. L. McReynolds, trus- tees; Miss Edna J. Anderson, librarian. Tru- man Eldridg, J. B. Brown and Mrs. Irene E. Smith have been liberal supporters of the asso- ciation, and much of its success is due to them. The room is kept open every afternoon, and also in the evening during the school terms, for the convenience of the students of the high schools. About 1,000 volumes are in the li- brary, and all the current periodicals are kept on the tables.
TELEPHONE EXCHANGE.
The Roseville Telephone exchange was in- augurated as a mutual affair in the summer of 1891. June 1, 1902, it was incorporated under the name of the Roseville Telephone Company, with a capital of $2,500. The officers are W. B. Ditch, president; R. L. McReynolds, vice presi- dent; F. W. Range, secretary; C. O. Pinney, treasurer; and these additional directors: Geo. Tucker, Benjamin Lee, Henry Kirkpatrick. The company now has about 175 phones in the village, while eighteen farmers' lines, with from ten to fifteen phones on each, have their terminals in this exchange.
BRICK WORKS.
The Roseville Brick and Tile works are lo- cated in the north part of the village. They were established by Daniel Bird in 1876, but
987
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
since 1892 J. B. Pratt has been a partner with Mr. Bird. Ten men are employed, and the output of the plant is from 500,000 to 600,000 brick per year. Considerable tile is also made in favorable seasons.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
DIXSON, ELI, ex-member of the Legislature, banker, farmer and fruit-grower, is one of the most active and influential citizens of Warren County, Ill., and is a leader in all public af- fairs at Roseville.
Mr. Dixson's great-grandfather, Solomon Dix- son, and his grandfather, Eli Dixson, were both natives of Virginia. His great-grand- mother was Sarah Pryor, of a distinguished family of the Old Dominion, and his grand- mother, Rebecca Hart, a native of Preble Coun- ty, Ohio. George Boyd, his great-grandfather in the maternal line, was born in Georgia, and his wife, Jemima Boyd, was a native of the same State. Their son, Drury B. Boyd, was born in Virginia, married Nancy Dean Hurd, a native of Georgia, and had a daughter named Jemima Boyd, born in Bath County, Ky., who became the wife of Eli Dixson, a native of Preble County, Ohio, and the mother of Eli Dixson, the immediate subject of this sketch. The Hon. Eli Dixson was born in Greene County, Ind., January 8, 1853, and was brought to Illinois in 1857 by his mother, his father having died. He was educated at Abingdon College, Abingdon, Ill., and, after finishing his studies there, was for a time a student at the Monmouth Commercial College. He has been a director and the vice president of the Union ' Bank of Roseville since it was incorporated in 1875. He is the owner of a fine farm of 560 acres in Point Pleasant Township, Warren County, and an extensive fruit farm near Santa Ana, in Orange County, Cal. He represented Warren County in the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, 1891-92, and when in 1900 he was again a candidate for nomination for that office, he had the solid endorsement of the eight townships in the south part of the county. Mr. Dixson married Mertie Taliaferro at Roseville, January 16, 1889. They have an adopted daughter named Mabel Elizabeth. Pol- itically Mr. Dixson is a Democrat. He is a communicant of the Methodist Episcopal church.
GRIFFIN, ALLEN M., barber, Roseville, War- ren County, is a son of William and Nancy (Wil- lard) Griffin, natives of Indiana. His life has been a busy one full of enterprise and useful- nes, and not devoid of lessons of the rising gen- erations. Mr. Griffin was born at Roseville, April 8, 1858, and as educated in the public schools at that place. He worked on a farm until he was twenty-two years old, and then acquired a practical knowledge of the barber trade, at which he has since been employed. As a Democrat, he exerts considerable influ- ence in local politics. He has served his fellow citizens two terms in the office of Village Trus- tee, and three years as Township Collector of taxes. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Modern Wood- men of America. He was married at Rose- ville, October 14, 1883, to Mattie A. Noakes, daughter of William Noakes, a native of Ten- nessee, and an early settler in Ellison Town- ship, where he became a farmer and where he died. Mrs. Griffin, who was born in Elli- son Township, April 26, 1857, has borne her husband four children: Glen G., Leslie L., Max M., and Mildred L. William Griffin, father of Allen M. Griffin, removed from Indi- ana to Iowa, and thence to Plymouth, Ill., from which point he traveled for some years, selling dry goods and Yankee notions from a wagon. Naturally of a speculative bent, he was en- gaged in different lines of business from time to time until he died in Point Pleasant Town- ship. His wife died in Missouri.
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.