USA > Illinois > Christian County > History of Christian County, Illinois > Part 33
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TAYLORVILLE GUARDS.
This command was organized June 17th, 1876. It numbered fifty men, and included among its members the best and most active citizens of the town. The first officers were, Wm. T. Vandeveer, Captain ; S. McKnight, 1st Lieutenant ; James S. Culver, 2d Lieu- tenant, were commissioned June 21 to rank from June 19th, 1876. These officers assisted in the organization of the 5th Regt I N. G., on the 20thi day of June ; at that time it drew its letter and has since ranked as Company " B," 5th Regt. I. N. G. On the 12th day of July, 1877, the company was organized under the new military code-which became a law July 1st, 1877-under the same commissioned officers, its strength being forty men. During the riots of 1877 this company did effectual service in aiding the State and county authorities, at various points, in protecting private and public property, and both officers and men deserve much eredit for the part they took in assisting to preserve and maintain order. At the time of the riots the company unmbered 54 nicn, including offi- cers, and every man was in his place. Peace being restored, the company left East St. Louis and returned home, where they were greeted by a large concourse of citizens, in the court-house yard, where Miss Lulu Rockwell, in behalf of the citizens, welcomed the boys to their homes and presented them with an elegant stand of colors. Capt. Vandeveer received them in behalf of the company, and returned its thanks for the ovation, for the colors, and for the kindly words of welcome. August 4th, 1877, Capt. Vandevcer was commissioned Major, and aid on the Governor's staff. On the 8th of August he was relicved from command, and his connection with the company ceased. At an election held Aug 6th, 1877, to fill the vacancy caused by the promotion of Capt. Vandeveer, Ser- geant McKnight was elected Captain, James S. Culver 1st Lieu- tenant and Wm. H. Haup 2d Licutenant On the 13th of Aug. following, the company received forty stand of improved Spring- field rifles. On the 23d of May, 1878, the company, under com- mand of Capt. McKnight, took part in the removal of the old bat- tle flags and trophies from the old Arsenal, in Springfield, to Me- morial Hall, in the new capital building. Decoration day was ob- served by this company May 30th, 1878. July 1st, 1879, Capt. S. McKnight was appointed inspector of rifle practice for the 5th Regt., which position he now holds. At an election held to fill vacancy, James S Culver was elected Captain, Wm. H. Kaup 1st Lieut., F. L. Parkison 2d Lieut., subsequently Lieutenant Kaup resigned and Sergt. G N. Burleigh was elected to fill the vacancy. The present officers are James S. Culver, Capt. ; G. N. Burleigh, 1st Lieut. ; F. L. Parkison, 2d Lieut., an old soldier and officer in the war of the rebellion. The company is in good condition, and deserves well of the citizens of Taylorville.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
H.M.SNYDER
H. M. O anderen
THE subject of this sketch is a native of Indiana, born in Wash- ington county, March 12th, 1816. The Vandeveer family were originally from North Carolina ; moved to Kentucky, then to Ju- diana ; and in the fall of 1829 his father, Rev. Aaron Vandeveer, came with his family to Illinois, and settled on a farm on Clenr creek in Snugamon county. The country was sparsely settled, and the means for obtaining an education limited. Here and there over the country was a subscription-school; the teacher, "boarding around," taught on the principle of the three " R's." It was in one of these log-cabin schools that he entered, and after a three-months' course graduated. His parents were poor, and of necessity required their sons to labor constantly on the farm to aid in supporting their large family. He thus toiled most of the time till he was twenty- one years of age. He is emphatically a self-made man, and the most of his education was obtained by studiously devoting to his books all the spare time at his disposal. He acquired a taste for reading curly in life, and by close and assiduous study attracted the attention of Hon. John T. Stuart, of Springfield, Hlinois, who ten- dered him the use of his valuable library, by which means he was 11×
able to gaiu considerable legal knowledge. He remembers the kindness of Mr. Stuart with the most grateful thanks, and always speaks of this gentleman as his friend and benefactor.
As is the custom of most indigent young men, he, too, played the part of the "school-master" for a time. In the year 1836 he taught in a log school-house on Audy Finley's farm, some twelve miles west of Taylorville, then in the county of Sangamon. The building was made in regular pioneer log-cabin style, without the use of a mail, with a large fire-place, and a log some ten or fifteen feet long cut out of the side for a window, using oiled paper for window- panes. His was a subscription-school of three months in the year, terms $2 per quarter for each scholar and bonrd around. The latter arrangement did not suit his genius or taste, as it frittered away too much time, which he wished to devote to the study of his chosen profession of law. To obviate this difficulty, he put up a log-cabin 10x12 feet in size on his farm adjacent, and " kept bach." Thus he passed one or two years, farming in the suummer, teaching in the winter, and reading during his leisure hours. The Judge had a great aversion, then as now, to seeing idlers around him consuming day-
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
light to no profit. In all such cases he would press them into ser- vice, and with astonishing success.
He remembers his milling experience in earlier ycars. Corn was shelled by scraping it on the back-edge of a knife driven into the end of a board, and in the absence of any contrivance of this sort, the fire-shovel was used over the wash-tub. Wash-tubs were impro- vised by sawing a barrel in two. The older boys generally went to mill on horseback, mounted on a two-bushel bag of grain-and occasionally it would not be very well adjusted, when it caused the boys a great deal of trouble. They usually kept one grist at the mill, thus having a load each way. They often had to go a long distance to mill.
In time he was admitted to the practice of law. His first case was in the Circuit Court of Sangamon county, in Springfield. He was employed by the widow of Samuel Miller, deceased, to institute suit against Jesse Hanon, Sr., to compel a more faithful ad- ministration of his trust. This caused the young barrister to appear before the able and intelligent bar at the capital of the state, then composed of such men as Lincoln, Logan, Baker, Lambourn, and others, where he distinguished himself in managing the case to a successful issue. This triumph was as gratifying to his old neigh- bors as it was stimulating to his own future success. He partici- pated in the organization of the county, and at the first election held on the 1st of April, 1839, was elected "County Recorder," and a few days thereafter appointed by the County Court school com- missioner, which caused his removal to the county seat. On the 1st of June of the same year he was appointed by Judge Treat clerk of the Circuit Court, which office he held for many years. He was elected a member of the House of Representatives in 1842 over Martin White, the former representative, and Henry T. Luckett- both popular men. On his return home, at the close of the session in 1843, he was reappointed clerk of the Circuit Court; being a member of the legislature, he was ineligible, for the time being, to hold the office. In the same ycar he was elected justice of the peace. He was subsequently appointed post-master of Taylorville, which office he held for many years. The older inhabitants remem- ber its being kept in the clerk's office up-stairs, in the old Court House, then the most public place of resort in the town.
In 1846 he answered to the first oall of his country, and raised a company for the Mexican war, and was elected its captain. When beating up for recruits several public meetings were held in the Court House, and some amusing as well as patriotic speeches were made. The company was rejected by the Government, as the quota of the state under the call of the government was full. He was shortly afterward appointed by President Polk as assistant quarter- master in the United States Army, with the rank of captain, He had the command of his department under Col. W. B. Warren, of Jacksonville, in his forced march from Monclova to Saltillo, and so discharged his duties as to receive high commendation from Col. Warren. He was in the battle of Buena-Vista, and was acting as aid on the staff of General Taylor, Capt. Vandeveer does not claim to have been able to distinguish himself in the army, where there were so many cminent soldiers, but he feels that he discharged the
duties of his office to the satisfaction of each of his commanding officers, and had their confidence and respect, and particularly that of Col. Warren and Gov. Bissell.
On his return home, at the close of the war, his name was pro- minently mentioned as a candidate for Congress. And at the democratic convention held shortly afterward at Shelbyville, after numerous ballotings for the various aspirants, he would have been nominated on the next ballot had he not stepped within the bar and peremptorily requested the withdrawal of his name from the contest, greatly to the disappointment of his friends. He was chosen one of the democratic electors in 1848; was elected, and cast his vote for General Lewis Cass. It was a sore trial as against his old commander, General Taylor, of Mexican war fame.
In 1849 he was elected judge of the County Court of this county under the newly-adopted constitution, and was elected to the same office in 1853. He held the office for a term of eight years, and during that time displayed for his county some of the powers he is supposed to use with success in his private business. Although the county was comparatively new, and in a monetary point of view poor, he and his associates erected the present fine Court House, at a cost of about $16,000, and paid for it as the work was done, while many other counties in the state, more favorably situated, are in debt for their public buildings. In the other duties devolving upon him, not only in current county affairs, but in the probate depart- ment, he displayed equal skill and good judgment in his various de- cisions.
After his return from Mexico in 1847 he resumed the practice of his profession, and has stood at the head of the bar as a successful practitioner for over a quarter of a century.
In November, 1860, he was elected, for the second time, a miem- ber of the House of Representatives from Christian and Mont- gomery counties. It was during this time that the civil war commenced, demanding legislative skill and judgment, which he possessed in an eminent degree, commanding the confidence and respect of the members of that body. He was severe in his remarks on the rotten, broken banks, and on all occasions voted for a sound, reliable, constitutional medium of exchange. Perhaps a better idea of the character and standing of Mr. Vandeveer, as a member, may be gathered from an article written by a correspondent of the St. Louis Republican, under the title of "Sketches by a Lobbyist," who thus speaks : "Judge Vandeveer, of Christian, is one of the active, thinking, and working members of the House of Representatives. He is not much given to speech-making, but when he does he com- inands the individual attention of the whole house. He is a lawyer by profession, and generally participates in the debates when legal questions are before the house ; is posted upon all matters of gene- ral interest, understands the wants of his constituents, and is an able and efficient representative. He is a man of fine appearance, unquestionable integrity, and acknowledged ability ; is a stanchi democrat, and always votes the straight ticket. He occupies a high position in the affections of his people, and has several times been solicited to run for Congress, but as often refuscd. His social qualities are of the most agreeable order : he is a warm-
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
hearted friend, but is independent and decided enough to determine what is right."
In 1862 he was elected to the State Senate from the district com- posed of the counties of Macoupin, Montgomery, Christian and Shelby. A long experience in business, and a general knowledge of men and things, acquired by contact with the realities of life, enabled him to be a useful member of the Senate. He participated in many of the discussions before this body, and commanded its at- tention and respect. Many of his speeches have been highly spoken of, and have occasionally been illuminated with flashes of genius that would do honor to any man. The leading trait of his charac- ter is his strong and unswerving will. He never abandons a posi- tion once taken. This quality has the effect in his ease, as it has had in all others, to make him warin friends and bitter enemies. He is an ardent democrat of the old school, and has an abiding faith in democratic principles.
In June, 1870, he was elected judge of the Tenth Judicial Cir- cuit, embracing the counties of Christian, Montgomery, Fayette and Shelby, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge Rice. Was again elected without opposition in 1873 for a term of six years. As a presiding judicial officer he has rendered general satis- faction, and won golden opinions from the members of the bar and others interested.
Judge Vandeveer came to the bench directly from a large prac- tice. He is a good lawyer, and possesses by nature a strong, clear,
and vigorous intellect. He is a close thinker, stands well as a judge, and has rendered many important decisions. His manner is plain, with no attempt at a flourish of language or oratorical skill.
Judge H. M. Vandeveer was happily married in the spring of 1841 to Miss Mary Jane Rucker. She is a native of Kentucky, but was a resident of Christian county, Illinois, at the time of lier mar- riage. Five children are the fruits of this union, three of whom are living, viz., William T. and Eugene A., who are jointly engaged in the banking business in Taylorville, under the firm name of H. M. Vandeveer & Co .; and Lizzie J., who is yet bencath the parental roof.
Judge H. M. Vandeveer is a representative Western man, and one who, by the sheer force of indomitable will, industry, and perseverance, has risen from the depths of comparative obscurity, and made for himself a name and honorable position among men. His has been the most familiar and prominent name in Christian county for nearly a half century. The history of one can almost be traced in the other. From the organization of the county town to a recent date, he has been in one way or another identified and con- nected with its civil history. In its political history he has been a central figure, wielding more influence and directing more suceesses than any other citizen of the county. He was always a trusted leader and safe counsellor.
The world's measure of success, is success. Measured by this standard, Judge Vandevcer is one of the successful men of Illinois.
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
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H.M. SNYDER
A Melaskill
WAS born in Sangamon county, Illinois, January 23d, 1832. His father, Daniel McCaskill, was of Scotch parentage. They came to America about the close of the Revolutionary war, and settled in North Carolina. Daniel MeCaskill became a resident of Illinois. He subsequently removed to Brown county in this state, where he died in 1851. He was a Methodist minister, and also a physician, and practiced his profession, more or less, for the greater part of his life. He married Esther Turner, a native of Virginia. She died in 1864. There were nine children, eight of whom sur- vived the parents. Alexander is the fourth in the family. He spent his youth upon the farm and attending the schools during the winter months. When he arrived at his twentieth year he left home and attended schools at Mt. Sterling, Ill., and prepared himself for the profession of law. He spent the following six years in attend- ing and teaching school, and in reading law. A portion of that time was spent in the law office of Judge Bailey, Van Vleck and Wells, of McComb, Illinois. He was admitted to the bar in 1857, and commenced the practice of his profession immediately there- after in Prairie city, McDonough county, Illinois. In the year of his admission he came to Taylorville, where he continued the practice until the spring of 1859, when, in company with his brother and three others, he determined to go to Pike's Peak, in quest of gold. They provided an outfit, and the trip was pleasantly and safely made. After their arrival at the Peak the subject of this sketch commenced mining for gold, in which he was tolerably suc- 16
cessful. He remained there until the fall of the same year, when he returned to Brown county, Illinois, and, in the spring of 1860, again went to the Peak and remained there until 1861, when he came back to Taylorville and resumed the practice of law, in which he has continued, with but slight interruption, up to the pre- sent time. In 1865 he was appointed, by the county court, to fill out the unexpired term of the County Superintendent of schools. In the fall of the same year he was elected to a full term of the office, and continued Superintendent until 1869. He then resumed the practice. In the summer of 1872 he was appointed State's Attor- ney for the county, and at the general election, in the fall of the same year, was elected to fill that position for four years. In 1877 he was nominated by the democratic party, in convention assembled, for the office of County Judge, and was elected, and is now dis- charging the duties of that office in a manner that justifies the wis- dom of those who honored him with their suffrages. In politics he has always been an uncompromising democrat, and has, on all oc- casions, given his adhesion to that political organization. He has been twice married In 1856 he was united in marriage to Miss Elvina Metcalf, a native of McDonough county, Illinois. She died in 1862. In 1864 he married Mrs. Elizabeth Hedd nee Maxwell. By the first marriage there were two children, both boys, named William H., and Davy Mccaskill. By the second he had two children named Thomas Eddie and Carrie, only daughter. The latter died November 21st, 1879, in the fifth year of her age.
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
James Joycevs
A NATIVE of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, was born Dec. 2, 1839. His father's name was Samuel Taylor. He married Isabella Lawrence, both of whom died while James M. was yet young. He attended the village schools during the winter seasons and herded sheep in the summer months. In the spring of 1854, while yet in his fifteenth year, he left his native land and came to America, land- ing in Quebee in June, and from there went direct to Waukegan, Lake county, Illinois. There he worked upon a farm, and in the winter months attended school.
In the fall of 1856 he went to La Crosse, Wis., where he worked in a mill, and remained there till about September 1st, 1857. In the winters of 1858, '59, '60 and '61 he taught, and in the summer of those years attended Kenosha High School or Waukegan Aca- demy, and by that means perfected his education. On the 1st of August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company C, 96th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Col. Thomas E. Chapman, commanding. He served with the regiment, and participated in most of its engage- ments until wounded. He had been promoted to second sergeant, and was in line of promotion, when, unfortunately for him, he was struck in the right elbow with a rifle ball while in line of battle at Buzzard's Roost or Rocky Face Ridge. He was wounded on the 9th of May, 1864, and suffered amputation of the arm on the 27th of the same month. He was discharged from the service March 20th, 1865. A younger brother, John Y. Taylor, also a member of the same company, was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga, and lost his right arm. He afterwards died from his wounds. After Mr. Taylor was discharged from the service he returned to Lake county and attended school during the summer and winter of 1865.
In January, 1866, he entered the law office of Messrs. Blodget, Upton and Williams, of Waukegan, and commenced the study of law. He was admitted to practice in 1868 at the spring term of the Supreme Court at Ottawa. In the fall of the same year he came to Taylorville, and commenced the practice here in connec- tion with Andrew Simpson, with whom he formed a law partner- ship, which continued for two years till January 1st, 1870. He then resumed the practice of his profession alone, and has so con- tinued to the present. In 1872 he purchased a set of title abstracts of H. P. and D. D. Shumway, and has pursued that business in connection with his law practice.
He was married on the 26th of November, 1868, to Miss Adelia A. Stewart, of Waukegan, Illinois. Her father, Philander Stewart, is an old resident and prominent man of the northern part of the state. He is of Scotch ancestry, and was a native of Western New York. Five children have been born to James M. and Adelia A. Taylor-three boys and two girls. Their names are Samuel Stewart, May F., Mabel G., Leslie James, and John W. Taylor.
In politics Mr. Taylor is an ardent and active republican. He was for six years chairman of the republican county central com- mittee. He cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and since then has stood by the party of his first choice.
During his residence in Waukegan he was Deputy Collector of Customs under Judge Scates, and such was his superior's confidence in his honesty that he was not required to give a bond.
As a lawyer, Mr. Taylor takes front rank at the bar of Christian county. In his manners he is a social and agrecable gentleman, and is regarded as an upright and honorable citizen.
RESIDENCE OF JAMES M. TAYLOR, TAYLORVILLE, ILL.
RESIDENCE OF M.C. LONG, TAYLORVILLE, ILL.
The Library of the niversity of Illinois.
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
123
M.M. SNYDER
Inmy . Mintwood.
BOOK-MAKERS, and the compilers of local history, like the manu- facturers of other articles, are guided, in a measure, by the taste of the public, and are often compelled to accede to its demands. Never before, however, have the writers of county history been re- quired, by publie sentiment, to make a record of one who eame into the county a stranger, and almost a boy, with no introduction but his face and manners, and no capital but his health, his honor and his intellect, and left it before he reached the meridian of his man- hood.
And yet, in compliance with such a sentiment-such a publie wish-we insert in this volume a brief biography of William H. Kirkwood. He was born on the 31st day of May, 1844, in Ross county, Ohio ; the third son of Charles and Hannah Kirkwood. His two elder brothers died in infancy. Shortly after William's birth his father moved to Chillicothe and beeame a merchant, but by endorsing heavily for a friend, was soon involved in debt, and with the loss of his property, lost his ambition and energy. The family then moved to Circleville, where, after five years of extreme poverty, his father died.
At the tender age of eight years he was left with his brave- hearted mother to begin the battle of life, and, as best he could, to keep from their door the hungry wolf of poverty, which so long had stood glancing and impatient in the yard. He was employed for four months by a wealthy lady to drive cows to pasture, at seventy-five cents a mouth. He was then engaged for two years as a message boy in the telegraph office at five dollars a month, and was instructed by the kind operator in writing and arithme- tic. A railroad was built into Circleville, and he became a news- boy and fruit dealer. He was encouraged and patronized by every body, and had some opportunity for culture.
The sun of prosperity began at last to shine on his pathway.
When the war broke out his business so increased that he could employ an assistant, and his profits were often $150 per month.
When about twelve years old, while bathing in the Scioto river, he saved the life of George Crouse, and this incident, when related in Kirkwood's picturesque language and animated style, is one of the most interesting and romantic in his history. It proved him to be a brave and manly boy, won him the favor and support of a wealthy and cultivated family, opening to him the avenues of refined society.
At the age of seventeen he enlisted in the three months' service under Capt. " Don " Piatt, in Co. C, 13th Regt. O. V. I., as drum- mer boy, and remained at Camp Dennison until discharged. He re-cnlisted as a private in Co. C, 61st Regt. O. V. I., and served under Fremont in Shenandoah Valley, in 1862, and after the bat- tle of Cross Keys, crossed the Blue Ridge and served under Pope through the memorable campaign which ended with the second bat- tle of Bull Run. He was first made Corporal, then Sergeant, 1st Lieutenant and Captain of his company.
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