USA > Illinois > Cass County > History of Cass county, Illinois > Part 25
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CHARLES M. HUBBARD, physician, Vir- ginia City. Doctor Charles M. Hubbard, one of the most successful physicians of Cass Coun- ty, was born July 25, 1848, at Lempster, New Hampshire. His father, George N. Hubbard, a native of Vermont, and for more than thirty years a merchant of Providence, R. I., came West, located in Chicago, and engaged in the tin ware and stove business, until he retired in 1855. He died from the effects of a stroke of lightning, in Menard County, Ill., in March, 1871. He married Miss Sarah Vance, who became the mother of five sons and one daughter. 3
Mrs. Hubbard survives her husband and resides with one of her sons, Thomas, in Chicago, at the age of fifty-four years. The subject of this sketch is the old- est of the family. IIe received his rudiment-
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al education in the common schools of Chi- cago, and later, attended in Jacksonville, Ill., and Springfield, and graduated from the high school of the latter place. At Terre Haute, Ind., he gained a knowledge of dentistry, and in 1871 came to Virginia and opened a dental office. He had during 1869 and 1870 read medicine with Dr. J. B. Stevenson, of Spring- field, and during his practice of dentistry he prosecuted his medical studies. He attended medical lectures at both the Ohio Medical College, and the Eclectic Medical School of Cincinnati, and received diplomas from those institutions, in May, 1871. May 20, 1871, he married Miss Charlotte L. Stoll, daughter of H. B. and Susan (Hall) Stoll, both natives of New Jersey. Mrs. Hubbard was the oldest of a family of six children, and was born July 25, 1848. Her father died in March, 1865, and Mrs. Stoll resides at Terre Haute, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard have two sons, Henry C. and Frank L.
HENRY F. KORS, Deputy Circuit Clerk of Cass County, Virginia City ; was born at Beardstown, Cass Co., Dec. 2, 1846. H. Fred- erick Kors, his father, was born Sept. 25, 1804, and Maria (Heminghouse) Kors, his mother, were natives of the Kingdom of Hanover, which was formerly a portion of northwestern Ger- many. Mr. Kors was a plasterer by trade, which business he followed until his death, in 1865. Mrs. Kors died in 1846, leaving two children: Catharine, now Mrs. Boy, of Hickory, and our subject. He received his schooling in the public schools of Beardstown; learned the harness makers and carriage trim- mers trade, which he followed for a time, and in 1868 entered the business for himself. He sold out in 1869. After making a trip to Missouri, he followed merchandising, as salesman, until December, 1876, when he was appointed Deputy Circuit Clerk of Cass County, by Thomas V. Finney, and has since that time held that position. January 12, 1869, he married
Miss Laura Finney, daughter of Thomas V. Finney, Sr., an early resident of Cass County. They have three sons: Martin L., Tad S., and Preston V. Addie and Ida, two older daugh- ters, are deceased. Laura Davis has been a member of the family about six years. She is their niece, and a daughter of F. M. Davis, formerly of Beardstown, a farmer, now de- ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Kors are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Kors is a Democrat, and a member of the I. O. O. F., of Virginia.
JOSEPH S. LYNCHI, Virginia City, County Surveyor ; is a native of Lancaster County, Penn .; was born Aug. 12, 1838, at a town of the same name. His father, James Lynch, now de- ceased, was of Irish descent, born in the same town; he was a merchant by occupation, and married Miss Elizabeth Schmaling, of German extraction. Joseph S. received his schooling in the schools of Lancaster, and remained at home until about eighteen years of age. In 1861 he entered the Union Army, enlisting at Fred- port, Stevenson Co., Ill., in the 11th Ill. Vol. Infantry ; Feb. 16, 1862, he was taken pris- oner at Fort Donelson. He was held by the enemy about eight months, at Macon, Ga., and then exchanged. He immediately re- turned to his regiment, served in the forty days campaign before Vicksburg ; July 7, 1864, he received a severe musket ball wound, in both thighs, at the battle of Jackson Cross- roads, Miss., was left on the field as mortally wounded, picked up by the enemy, and was again imprisoned in a rebel hospital at Clinton, Miss., for about two months, whereupon he was again exchanged. He then reported to his regiment in Arkansas. His time having expired, he received his dis- charge, Sept. 12, 1864, and returned to Illi- nois. He soon entered farming in Stevenson County. Still suffering from the effects of his wound, he was after two years' trial obliged to abandon the farm, and in 1866 came to Cass
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County, and commenced teaching school, which he continued for about five years. He then took up the profession of surveying, and has from that time on made it his principal business. He was elected to the office of Sur- veyor of Cass County, in 1872, and served one term, with satisfaction to the citizens of the county, and was again elected in 1879, since which time he has held the office. May 30, 1872, he married Miss Matilda J. Martin, daughter of Joel and Eliza Martin, now living in Nebraska. Mr. Lynch is a life-long Re- publican, and a member of the A. O. U. W., of Virginia City.
JOHN MARTIN, (deceased); was born in Pennsylvania, in 1829, and was a son of Will- iam and Mary (Anderson) Martin, the former of Irish descent, and his wife of American ancestry, so far as known. John was the old- est of their family of five sons and one daughter, and the only one that ever came West. He was a gunsmith by trade, and made it the principal occupation of his life. He left his native State and came to Ohio in 1853, located at Gilmore, Tuscarawas Co., where he married Miss Rose Ann Turner, daughter of James and Julia (Romig) Tur- ner. James Turner is of English descent, and a native of Maryland, and Mrs. Turner is a daughter of Jacob Romig, of German de- scent, a native of the Keystone State, and by occupation a farmer, and a saddler by trade. Mr. and Mrs. Turner came to Illinois from Ohio in 1853, lived for a time at Deca- tur, in Macon County, and in 1856 came to Cass County, Hickory precinet (then Vir- ginia), located on a farm, where they still live, surrounded with a family of grown-up children, and the comforts of a well regulated country home. Mrs. Martin was the second child of the family, and was born Feb. 7, 1835. Mr. Martin pursued his calling, in Vir- ginia, coming directly from Ohio in 1853. In 1858 he went with his family to Paris, Edgar
County, and there followed his trade, until the breaking out of the Rebellion, in 1861, when he enlisted, in response to President Lincoln's first call for volunteers. He was enrolled from Edgar County, but the 14th Ill. Vol. Cav. being full, his entire Co. I was mustered into the first Mo. Vol. Cav. He was soon promoted from a private to first lieutenant, but died of sickness at Rolla, Mo., just before his commission reached him. The sad news of his death reached his bereaved widow, left with six fatherless little ones, all too young to fully understand the loss of their nearest and most valuable earthly friend. Mrs. Mar- tin's experiences, for the years that have now passed, were only a repetition of what many a brave and widowed mother was in those days called upon to withstand. Left upon her own resources, she kept her little family together, afforded them every advantage within her reach, to gain an education, and a clear understanding of what was right and wrong; and her faithfulness is duly rewarded by living to see her boys all settled in life, and each prospered in his adopted calling. She died May 23, 1878, in Virginia.
J. A. MARTIN, the well known merchant tailor, of Virginia, was born May 9, 1853, in Ohio, and is the oldest living son of the family. He attended the common schools of Cass and Edgar Counties, this State, and later the Illinois College at Fulton, Whiteside Co., Ill. He learned the tailor's trade with Mr. H. W. Leach, of Bloomington, at fourteen years of age, and has from that time followed it. He engaged permanently in business in Virginia in 1876, and most of the time at his present location, No. 10, West Beardstown St. Mr. Martin conducts a first class tailoring establishment, in every respect, and always has on hand a complete stock of goods in the latest patterns. He was married March 4, 1874, to Miss Ida C. Herr, daughter of H. S. and Rebecca (Myers) Herr, of
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Bloomington, Ill. They have three chil- dren : Nellie, Guy C., and Edna M. Nel- lie died, at two years of age, in 1877.
The second living son is JouN S., a marble cutter, born in Cass County, this State, June 25, 1854. He received his schooling in the pioneer schools of his native county, and came to Virginia in 1876. He attended the Illinois College at Fulton, and in 1870 entered a marble shop as an apprentice; served eight years in the business, with marked success. In 1876 he visited Philadelphia, and other castern cities, making his trip a valuable one, in observing much pertaining to his chosen profession. As a sculptor, Mr. Martin has dis- played talent, having produced several very creditably wrought pieces of statuary. As a monumental designer, his ability is shown by by some extensive plans of a monument to be submitted to the Garfield Monument As- sociation, of Cleveland, Ohio. His plans con- template an expenditure of $250,000. Mr. Martin married Miss Alice L., daughter of William L., and Andromache B. (Naylor), Black of Virginia. GEORGE W. was the next born, his birthday being January 4, 1856, in Virginia, and is the third of the family now living. He received his education at the State Normal School, of Normal, Ill., and graduated at the Wesleyan University, from the law de- partment, with the class of 1876, and was ad- mitted to the bar in June of that year. He practiced his profession, in Bloomington, in company with Messrs. Straight and Coy, and continued with them until he came to Virginia, in 1877. Since that time his practice has been steadily increasing, with bright prospects for the future. He married Oct. 5, 1881, Miss Quintella D., daughter of John Sallie (deceas- ed), formerly a farmer of Virginia. CHARLES Æsor, the fourth of the family, was born Nov. 4, 1857, in Virginia, Cass Co. His people, about this time moved to Edgar County, and he re- ceived his early schooling there. Later, he at-
tended the IIigh School at Bloomington. At sixteen years of age he learned the painter's trade, and developed a taste and talent as scenic painter. He followed his trade in Bloomington, St. Louis, and other large cities, with success. He entered the law office of W. S. Coy, of Bloomington, and continued with him as a student until 1877, when he came to Virginia, taught school, and pros- ecuted his law studies, and was admitted to the bar at Springfield, in 1880, and since that time has practiced in Virginia. Sept. 8, 1881, he married Miss Sallie R., daughter of James M Beadles, of Virginia. JENNIE R., is the sixth child of the family, and now Mrs. George W. Berris, of Sedalia, Mo. WILL- IAM R., the youngest, was born at Paris. E.1- gar County, Ill., May 5, 1861. He attended school about three months in Virginia, and later, at the Soldiers' and Orphans' home at Bloomington. He learned the tailor's trade of his brother James A., and is now associated with him in business. He married Feb. 22, 1882, Miss Harriet E., daughter of James Beadlos, before mentioned.
HENDERSON E. MASSEY, of Virginia Precinct, was born July 27, 1810, at Horse- shoe Bend, Culpepper Co., Old Virginia. Samuel Massey, his father, was a native of Halifax, Md., of German descent, and was a soldier in the war of 1812; served as a Cap- tain at the battle of New Orleans, 1813, and died soon after his return home, in 1815, of fever, contracted in the service. He was married to Miss Olive, daughter of Mordecai Choplain, who was of French de- scent. They had a family of eight children, all of whom lived to maturity, but our sub- ject is the only one now living, and was the sixth child. Henderson E. was raised a farmer, although his father was a school teacher, and a man of excellent education. Mr. Massey first came to Morgan County, in 1829, but remained only a short time, when
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he made a trip to Wisconsin, and from that State entered the Black Hawk war, in 1832, in which he served about six months, having been attached to the Mining Battalion, and served as keeper of the peace, after the hottest of the conflict was over. He permanently settled in Illinois in 1833, near Mount Ster- ling, Brown Co., where he remained about four years. He then came to North Prairie, his present home, in the southern part of Virginia Precinct, near Little Indian. His first purchase of land here, was 250 acres, to which he has added, until he now owns about 800 acres. He married Miss Martha, daughter of James Marshall, an early pioneer of North Prairie, and a native of Glasgow, Scotland. Ile was a merchant in Scotland, and emigrated to Kentucky, where he lived until he came to Cass County. He had a family of eight children, and Mrs. Massey was the fifth. Mrs. Massey died March 29, 1874, leaving the following children: James F., Elizabeth A., Mary J., Henry C., Samuel, Henderson R., John H., Esther M., Harriet M., Bell H., George, and Emma L. Four sons are married, two are located in Cass County, one in California, and one at Litch- field, Montgomery Co. Mary is now Mrs. George Laurie, of Morgan County; Elizabeth married Mr. William Nisbet, of Cass County, and the other daughters are still at home. Mr. Massey is not a partisan in politics, but votes for the best candidate.
T. L. MATHEWS. The subject of this brief sketch is a native of the Keystone State, and was born in the town of Florence, Wash- ington County, Penn., March 1, 1849. When quite young his parents moved to Kentucky, where the early years of his life were spent, with the exception of about three years spent in Rushville, Schuyler County, Ill. When the war broke out the family returned to the East, and there remained until the spring of 1865, when Mr. Mathews again
came West, stopping at Rushville a few months, and then located at Vermont, Fulton County, Ill. Here he started in as an ap- prentice and learned the trade of a carriage- builder, and became an expert workman. In the spring of 1869 he removed to Beards- town, where he pursued his trade two years, and was promoted to the position of collector and salesman for the firm that employed him. In the winter of 1872 he entered the New York Store, in that city, as a salesman. In the spring of 1873 Mr. Mathews was appoint- ed Deputy Sheriff of Cass County, by George Volkmar, then Sheriff and Collector, and was placed in charge of the revenue department of the office. He served through Mr. Volk- mar's term, and was re-appointed by Sheriff elect, William Epler. He served in this ca- pacity about four years, with satisfaction to the citizens of Cass County, and credit to himself. In 1876, Mr. Mathews was nominat- ed by his party as their candidate for Circuit Clerk of Cass Co .; and though receiving more than his party vote, was swept aside by the Tilden and Reform tidal wave, and failed of an election. In August, 1877, he, in com- pany with William H. Thacker, purchased the Virginia Gazette. The following Decem- ber Mr. Mathews bought Mr. Thacker's inter- est, and successfully continued the publica- tion alone about one year. Jan. 1, 1879, he sold out to Mr. Cad. Allard, and returned to the service of his county, receiving the ap- pointment of deputy, by James B. Black, County Clerk, and served four years in that office. In 1882, Mr. Mathews was elected member of the Board of Education of Vir- ginia City, and upon organization of the Board, became its Secretary. At the date of writing Mr. Mathews is the Republican can- didate of the Thirty-fourth Senatorial District for Representative in the State Legislature, and as a minority candidate his election is certain. Mr. Mathews was married at Beards-
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town, Sept. 26, 1872, to Miss Lou. E. Thorn- bury, daughter of J. A. Thornbury, an early resident of Cass County. They have two children: Earl and Ruse. Florence died Aug. 17, 1880.
WILLIAM MOORE, deceased, one of the respected pioneers of Cass County, was a na- tive of Maryland; was born March 8, 1799. He had four brothers: George, Robert, Thomas and John, and three sisters: Martha, Sarah and Nancy. In early manhood Mr. Moore was a boatman on the Ohio and the Mississippi rivers. Oct. 4, 1831, he married Miss Keziah Moore (not a relative), daughter of Isaac Moore, who was a farmer by occupa- tion. Mrs. Moore's mother, whose maiden name was Rachael Lewis, died when she was about four years of age, and she was left to the care of an uncle and aunt, who gave her school advantages, and made for her a com- fortable home. Mr. Moore first came to Cass County in 1834, and landed at Beardstown in April. He made purchase of the present Moore homestead, and moved on to it the fol- lowing August. The place formerly compris- ed 204 acres, but parcels have been sold from it, until it now contains about 44 acres. Mr. Moore was an honest, conscientious citizen, and a thrifty farmer. He died April 26, 1865, leaving his wife surrounded by a family of thirteen children, viz .: Manilious, now Mrs. Carle Pond, of Morgan County; James N., now at home, once married, and has one son; Nancy F., now Mrs. J. A. Bond, of Menard County; Robert B., at home; Thomas S., of Washington County, Kan .; Amanda M., now Mrs. Robert McNeal, of Cass County; William A., in Montgomery County, Iowa; John I., of Cass County; Charles B .; Ulysses S., a farmer of Cass County; Lorinda A., now Mrs. George Wubker, of Virginia, Cass County ; George C., died an infant, and Alma A., is at home. Mrs. Moore has now forty-three grandchildren.
R. H. MANN, photographer, Virginia City;
was born in Wilmington, Jan. 29, 1855. His father, H. T. Mann, was a carriage trim- mer, and a native of London, England. Em- igrated to America at about twenty-five years of age. His mother was, before mar- riage, Matilda Stevens, and married Mr. Mann, in London, and Robert Ht. was the old- est of their two sons. Our subject received his primary education in his native town, after- ward attended Lockport, Ill., High School, and later in Bloomington. Mr. Mann gained his first experience as a photographer in Fari- bault, Minn., where he continued work for about four years. He then went to St. Paul, same State, where he made the art of re-touch. ing a specialty for the best establishments of that city. He next came to Jacksonville, Ill., and there spent two years with A. W. Cad- man, and July 29, 1879, came to Virginia, bought out C. H. Cummings, and since that time has successfully conducted the business, making for himself the reputation of producing as good work as any artist in Central or South- ern Illinois. Aside from the fact that Mr. Mann is a thorough and practical artist, he has a commodious gallery, constructed especial- ly for his business, which is well stocked with all the latest modern appliances f r producing first-class work. He married Mrs. Maggie Hickox of Virginia, Feb. 28, 1882.
LACHLAN McNEILL, one of the early comers to Cass County, was born in Argyle, Scotland, Jan. 25, 1809. He received his ed- ucation in Scotland, and was a shepherd and a farmer previous to coming to America, as was also his father, Charles McNeill. He left his native home to seek his fortune in a strange land, May 6, 1837; brought with him his wife, whose maiden name was Flora Tay- tor, and his first born child. They terminated their long and tedious sea voyage at Montre- al, Canada, where they remained about six weeks, and there a second child was born to thein. They soon proceeded on their journey
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westward, and spent one year in Clark Coun- ty, Ill., one year in Champaign County, and in 1839 came to Cass County and located on a farm near his present home. His faithful and devoted wife died Sept. 3, 1859, having bless- ed him with seven children, four of whom are now living: Robert, a farmer of Cas ; County, Flora, Margaret (now Mrs. Daniel Carr, of Sangamon Bottoms), and Charles. Mary, Paschal and Elizabeth are deceased. Mr. Me- Niell has ever been an industrious and a fru- gal farmer, a good and enterprising citizen, is one of the oldest living members of the Shi- loh Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of Vir- ginia Precinct, and is truly one of Cass County's pioneers.
WILLIAM T. MELONE is a son of John and Elizabeth Ann (Morrow) Melone; the for- mer came to Virginia in 1837, and settled five miles southeast of Arenzville, then in Sanga- mon County, but now Cass, being in the three mile strip taken from Morgan County. John Melone was an early school teacher of Scotch descent, and came to Illinois about 1842-3. His wife was a native of Kentucky. They had eight children born to them, four of whom are still living: William T. (our subject), Jen- nie H., Oscar, and Lulu B. Mary C., Lucy A., Ida L., and George W., are deceased. Will- iam T., our subject, was born November 24, 1844, in Cass County, and educated in the schools of his neighborhood. Farming has been his business. He was married February 2, 1876, to Lucy A. Conover, a daughter of John and Nancy (Bennett) Conover. (See sketch.) She was the ninth child, and one of twins. Have three children: Edgar, born Feb. 7, 1877; Nettie, born March 22, 1879; and Mary L., born Nov. 21, 1880. Mr. Melone is a resident of Virginia since December, 1871; a member of the Methodist Church, and Mrs. Melone of the Christian Church.
RICHARD W. MILLS, attorney-at-law, Virginia; was born Ang. 3, 1815, in Morgan
County, Ill. His father, Chesley Mills, a native of North Carolina, was a mason and builder by trade, and came to Illinois in the year 1813, with his father, Charles Mills, who was a farmer by occupation, a native, and in early days, a slave holder of the above named State. He located at Hannibal, Mo., where he died. Chesley learned his trade in St. Louis, and followed it in Edwardsville, Jacksonville, Quincy, and finally located at Lynnville, Morgan Co. He married Miss Har- riet, daughter of Dr. George Cadwell, and granddaughter of General Mathew Lyon. Chesley Mills had three sons and two daugh- ters. All are living, and but two, beside our subject, are residents of Illinois. Thomas is a miner, of Wyoming Territory; George a stock broker, of San Francisco, Cal .; Emily, now Mrs. T. W. Jones, of Wilmington, Ill .; Maria is now widow Demorest, and lives with her mother, in Morgan County. Our subjeet, the youngest, attended the public schools of Jacksonville, and later, the Illi- nois College. He studied law with Judge Epler, of that city, and was admitted to the bar of the State, at Springfield, in 1870. He came to Virginia in January, 1871, having formed a partnership with Mr. Epler, his former law tutor. Their part- nership lasted until January, 1873, when Mr. Epler was elected to the bench of Morgan County. Mr. Mills married Feb. 4, 1873, to Miss Matilda, daughter of Dr. Harvey l'ate, one of the oldest and most respected physi- cians of Cass County. A sketch of Dr. Tate may be seen elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Mills served as Master in Chancery, during the years of 1874 to 1880, City Attorney of Virginia, 1872-'3, also in 1881 and ISS2. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and K. of H. Mr. Mills enlisted at fifteen years of age, in Company B, Tenth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, for three months; but was not ac- cepted, on account of age and size. He made
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a second trial in Chicago the following month of May, and passed muster for three years, in Company F. Nineteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Participated in battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and was mustered out July 11, 1864.
WILLIAM I. MITCHELL, one of the most energetic and enterprising farmers of Ashland Precinct, is a native of Cass County, and was born in the above Precinct, March 6, 1848. His father, Washington A. Mitchell, of whom a sketch appears in this volume, is a native of Kentucky, and married Miss Re- becca W. Crow, daughter of William Crow, an early pioneer of Cass County, and they had five sons and two daughters; of these our subject is the second oldest. He received his schooling in the common schools of his native precinct, and later, attended the Wesleyan University, at Bloomington. He taught school in southern Cass County, and some in Morgan, for about seven years, doing farming between school terms. He purchased a farm in Ashland Precinct, but sold it in 1878. He married, on Oct. 21, 1879, to Miss Reasie A. Skiles, daughter of Ignatius Skiles, deceased, of whom a sketch and full page portrait ap- pears in this volume. They have one daugh- ter, Mabel S., born Aug. 1, 1880. Mr. Mitchell is extensively engaged in farming and stock raising, on a portion of the Skiles estate, com- prising about 640 acres of valuable land, lying about two and one-half miles east of Virginia.
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