USA > Illinois > Christian County > History of Christian County, Illinois > Part 35
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
On the 24th of Dceember, 1851, he married Miss Docia B. Haines, a native of Kentucky, but a resident of Sangamon county at the time of her marriage. Five children have been born to them, all of whom are living.
In politics he is a democrat, and always took an active part in local and state elections. He is a member of the Masonic frater- nity, and a Knight Templar. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F.
His eldest son, James B Rieks, is a native of Christian county. Born December 23d, 1852. He received a good education in the common schools of Christian county, and at the age of seventeen he entered the Wesleyan University at Bloomington, Illinois, where he remained until 18-, when he returned and entered the law office of Capt. Andrew Simpson, of Taylorville, and read law. He was admitted to the bar in June, 1874. As a lawyer he is methodical, and gives evidence of future usefulness iu the profession. He was elected Police Magistrate in 1876, and re-elected in 1880. He is democratic in politics. He is an active member of the Knights of Pythias.
On the 22d of December, 1872, he was united in marriage to Miss Pammnie Geltmacher, of Bloomington, Illinois. Five children
have been born to them, three of whom are living. Their names are Agnes, Carroll and Jesse Jay.
W. W. ANDERSON.
AMONG the old and prominent business men of Taylorville stands the name of the subject of this sketch. The Anderson family, on the paternal side, are of Welsh ancestry, and on the maternal Scotch-Irish. The ancestors on both sides came to America prior to the revolutionary war. George H. Anderson, the father of W. W., was a native of Virginia. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and was with the forces under command of General Jackson. After the war he settled in Tennessee, and subsequently removed to Kentucky, where he remained until 1829, when he came to Illinois, and settled in Montgomery county, where he died in 1852. He was a carpenter and millwright by trade. After he came to Illinois he engaged in farming.
He married Nancy Mann, who was born and raised in North Carolina. The marriage took place while he was yet a resident of Tennessee. There were twelve children by this marriage, five of whom have survived the parents. William W. is the sixth in the family. He was born in Henderson county, Kentucky, October 25th, 1825, and was in his fourth year when his parents came to Illinois
His education was obtained in the subscription-schools and in the rude log school-houses of the pioneer age of Illinois. His advan- tages, therefore, for receiving an education were few, as compared with the present. At the age of seventeen years he entered the store of Hon. Hiram Rountree, of Hillsboro, and there commenced and laid the foundation of his business life. Ile remained in the service of Mr. Rountree for seven years.
In March, 1851, he came to Christian county and engaged in farming, at which he continued for three years; but that occupa- tion proving uncongenial to his tastes at the close of the third year he resumed clerking. He engaged with D. D. Shumway, who was in the general merchandizing business, and remained as a clerk until 1856, when he purchased a half-interest in the store, and be- came an equal partner in the house and profits. Two years later he purchased Mr. Shumway's entire interest, and continued the business with great success until 1871, when he sold the stock and retired from the business. When he first commenced the dry goods and general trade in Taylorville, he, to accommodate the public and facilitate business, furnished exchange, received deposits, and did a private banking business. This continued to grow until it assumed such importance as to demand more time and almost his exclusive attention. After he closed out his stock of goods he con- tinued private banking, under the style and name of W. W. An- derson & Co., D. D. Shumway being his partner. The banking- house of this firm may be regarded as the oldest in the county, and also one of the most substantial.
On the 16th of August, 1850, while yet a resident of Hillsboro, he was united in marriage to Miss Nancy B , daughter of Judge Hiram Rountree, of the same place. By this union there was one child, which died in infaney. Nancy B. Anderson died in January, 1854. In April, 1859, Mr. Anderson married Mrs, Martha L. Wright, nee Randle, daughter of Rev. R. Randle. She is a native of Madison county, Illinois, but was brought up near Bellville, in St. Clair county. By this latter marriage there have been five chil- dren, four of whom are living. Both Mr. Anderson and his esti- mable wife are members of the M. E. Church. He is an active men- ber, and one who contributes liberally of his means to the cause of Christianity.
17
130
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
In politics he gives his support to the democratic party. His first vote was cast for Lewis Cass in 1842, and since that time to the present he has been an unswerving member of that poli- tical organization. While an ardent and enthusiastic democrat yet he is not a politician. His life has been too busy to give it any other attention further than to express his opinion when required, and cast his ballot for his choice. He is a respected member of many years standing of the ancient and honorable order of Free- masonry.
Thus, in short, we have given a biographical sketch of one of Chris- tian county's oldest business men. To a great extent he started in life unaided, and whatever success he has achieved, he attributes to his unceasing labor, careful supervision and oversight of his own business, never intrusting the general run or details to any one, always keeping his business well in hand, and meeting his obliga- tions promptly. He is of a liberal and enterprising spirit. All enterprises having for their object the good of the town or county receive his aid and substantial recognition. In the education of youth he is particularly active, and fully abreast with the spirit of the age upon that question. In his manners he is a plain, quiet gentleman of pleasant address, possessing good conversational powers and a fund of good, practical information.
. DR. CALVIN GOUDY-(DECEASED).
DR. CALVIN GOUDY, a native of Ohio, was born during the war of 1812, when the State was comparatively a wilderness, on the 2d of June, 1814. He was of scotch-Irish descent-the son of Robert and Jane Goudy. In 1826 he emigrated to Indiana with his parents. They settled in Indianapolis-then a small village sur- rounded by forests and swamps, containing one church, which was Presbyterian, of which Rev. Geo. Bush was pastor. In 1832 his father emigrated to Vandalia, Ills. He accompanied his parents and found employment in the State printing-office and book-binde- ry for two years. This was during the celebrated Black-Hawk war. The whole north part of Illinois was then uninhabited- Chicago was but a name, and the citizens of the "Prairie State " were often the victims of savage cruelty at the hands of the Indians. Here, at Vandalia, he put in type Gov. Reynolds' first message to the legislature. The Governor had a peculiarity of using the small "i" invariably where the capital "I" was proper. Being twitted about it in the presence of young Calvin, he replic 1 by saying, " The fact is, my predecessor was such a great egotist that he had used up all the capital 'I's,' and I found none left when I came into the office." In the fall of 1833 the Doctor's father removed his family to Jacksonville, Ils. The family consisted of the parents, six boys and three girls. In January, 1834, he entered Illinois College and graduated in 1839. Among his college mates were the late Gov. Richard Yates, Gov. Edwards and Rev. R. W. Patterson, D. D., of Chicago. In 1835 he taught school near Jacksonville, at the same time keeping up his class recitations in Greck and Latin in Illinois College. During his college career he worked part of the time in the printing-office. He printed Rev. J. M. Peck's " Gazeteer of Illinois," in 1834, also " Wakefield's Ilis- tory of the Black-Hawk War," and "Goudy's Almanac," for several years. During the year 1837, in connection with his brother, he issued " The Common School Advocate," which was the first journal devoted exclusively to the cause of education in the great North-west. During his residence in Jacksonville he was on the 8th of Nov., 1838, one of the party in the first car behind the first iron horse harnessed in the valley of the Mississippi, making an excursion of eight miles, from Mercdosia to Morgan
City, Ill. He passed over the same road again, now a link in the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific, on the 6th of July, 1876, for the first time after a lapse of thirty-eight years. On that first ex- cursion were Gen. Joseph Duncan, then Governor of Illinois, Mur- ray McConnell of the Board of Public Works, Col. James Dunlap and Thomas Jannary, contractors and builders of the road, and others.
After graduation, he spent three years as a student of medicine, in the office of Drs. Hewry and Merriman, in Springfield, Ills. He attended his full course of lectures, and graduated at the St. Louis Medical College in the spring of 1844. In May, 1844, he located as a physician in Taylorville, Christian county, Ills., where he re- sided for over a third of a century, and at which place he died on March 6th, 1877.
This place he found an excellent field for a young physician-the county new and the people sickly. He would often stand on the ยท court-house steps and see herds of twenty and fifty deer bounding over the prairie, within less than a mile of town. Bears and wolves also were not an unusual sight. On one occasion the Doctor had a narrow escape from a pack of hungry wolves that pursued him at night across the prairie. He practiced his profession here successfully for several years, and being popular, was in- duced to enter the arena of politics, however against his better judgment. In August, 1847, he was elected Probate Judge for a term of four years. In 1856 he was elected to the legislature from Christian and Montgomery counties, of which he was a very active and efficient member. To Dr. Calvin Goudy is duc the high honor of having obtained the passage of the bill creating the Normal University, which has justly been termed the "head and front" of our great common school system. The Chicago Times of July, 1860, in speaking of the history of the Normal University said, " The bill creating the institution met with a vigorous opposition in the House of Representatives of the Legislature of 1857, many being desirous of establishing a different educational system. But by the energetic aid of such men as Dr. Goudy, of Christian county (whose efforts in this case should endear him to the heart of every lover of education) the bill finally passed by a majority of one !" And to him more than any other member do the agricultural so- cieties of the State, owe a debt of gratitude for the successful pas- sage of the act granting a bonus of $100 annually from the State to each society for their encouragement and support. He projected and introduced a bill incorporating the Pana and Springfield Rail- road. Dr. Edwards, President of the Normal University, in his decennial address of June 29th, 1872, alluding to the members of the State Board of Education said; " Next among the present in- eumbents comes Dr. Calvin Goudy, of Taylorville, Ills, who has been a member of the Board for many years. He was a member of the legislature when the law, establishing the institution, was passed, and the success of the measure was largely due to his persistent fidelity. He has been a faithful and pains-taking member, patient in the inspection of details, necessary to be known, and from which most men shrink. In his support of the institution he has been generous, hearty and unselfish." In Sept., 1848, he was appointed Professor of Chemistry in the Rock Island Medical College, and delivered a course of lectures on chemistry before a class of some eighty students, in the winter of 1848-9. Prof. M. L. Knapp, in his introductory lecture, delivered Nov. 7, 1848, at the opening of the winter course, said: " Prof. Goudy, who fills the chair of che- mistry, resides at Taylorville, Ills., and has long been a resident of Sangamon and Morgan counties, where he enjoyed a high reputa- tion as a ripe scholar and an accomplished physician. His precep- tor, Dr. Merryman says of him, 'He is an apt scholar, and con-
131
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
tinues, since a practitioner, to be a elose and hard student, possesses elear and quick perceptions, is a young man of a very philosophi- eal turn of mind, a gentleman in private life, greatly beloved for his exceedingly many virtues, and chemistry is his hobby.'" In the spring of 1852, on account of failing health, he relinquished his profession and engaged in a general merchandizing business for some nineteen years. Dr. Goudy crected the first steam mill in Taylorville, in 1850, which was a great public benefit, and added largely to the improvement of the town. His publie spirit led him to move in the matter of establishing a great air line State road from St. Louis to Chicago and eventually plaeing thereon a daily line of mail coaches. He proeured the enactment of a law establishing the south end of the road from Deeatur to St. Louis, via. Edwardsville. He and four others were appointed commis- sioners to have the same located and surveyed. They mct in De- eatur in May, 1847, and proceeded in the discharge of their duty. The publie were much interested in the proposed road. But the opening of railroads, soon after, fortunately superseded this noble enterprise, and it was, of course, abandoned. On the 6th of Sept., 1863, he was appointed Deputy Provost Marshall for Christian county, by Capt. Wm. M. Fry, Provost Marshall of Tenth Ilinois District, which appointment he deelined. In Jan., 1863, he was appointed by the Governor, and confirmed by the Senate as " Mem- ber of the State Board of Education," which position he filled honorably for nearly twenty years. He has held many minor but important offices within the gift of his fellow-citizens, and was at the time of his decease the oldest resident of Taylorville, a city of over 3,000 inhabitants.
-
He aided in the organization of the first Sabbath-school of Tay- lorville, in 1848, and is the author of several works, and was a frequent contributor to periodieals; was a member of the Pres- byterian Church for nearly fifty years, a ruling elder in the same, an active contributor to benevolent movements and charitable enterprises. He was a commissioner to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church at Brooklyn, N. Y., in May, 1876, and was, for more than fifty years, an active Sabbath school worker. Was married in Decatur, Ills., on the 10th of May, 1848, to Miss Martha A. Mahood, of Cadiz, Ohio. Of this union there were eight children, six of whom still survive.
The record of his life is complete, and is that of a noble, true and good man. It is that of one who, amidst the toils and hardships of our carly history, held fast his integrity and manhood, and moulded upon his associates the virtues of his character. This is the reward of the righteous, and many arise to " call him blessed."
HON. JOHN B JONES.
THE subject of the following sketch is the oldest son of Samuel and Sarah Jones, and was born in Uhricksville, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, June 28th, 1843. IIe grew to manhood upon the farm. Ifis father being in moderate circumstances was only able to afford him the rudiments of an education-such as are obtained in the common schools. In 1864 his father moved with his family to Christian county, Illinois, and remained here a few years, when he removed to Montgomery county. After the family came west John B. followed the profession of school-teaching for several years, and taught. several terms in the public schools of Taylorville. During this time he read the standard text-books upon law. Hc made application and was admitted to the bar in May, 1868. Began the practice in Nokomis, Montgomery county, where he remained six months then returned to Taylorville, and for one year was Deputy Circuit Clerk. At the end of that time he
again took up the practice of his profession, in which he has con- tinued with great success to the present. As a lawyer Mr. Jones takes front rank at the bar of Christian county. He is very indus- trious, and a pains-taking attorney. Hc is a elear, logical thinker and a good practitioner, and from his studious and industrious habits has acquired a good knowledge of law. It may here be added that his law library is the largest and most complete in the county.
In politics he has been a democrat from boyhood to the present time. He is a sincere believer in the idea that the conservative principles of the political organization to which he lias given his constant adherenec are best calculated to serve the purposes of frec government and perpetuate our institutions on the basis proposed by the founders of the republic. He is not a politician, although he is recognized as one of the safe counsellors of his party, and is to a certain extent a leader. In 1878, at the urgent request of his friends, he became the candidate for the Legislature, and was elected representative to the 31st General Assembly with but little opposi- tion. While in that body he was a member of several important committees. During the term he sustained the reputation of a careful and prudent member, bringing to the practical work of the house a large share of valuable business experience and much com- mon sense. All his actions were dictated by a just view of the in- terests of his constituents and an honest and honorable desire to please those who had honored him with their suffrages. On the 27th day of May, 1873, he was united in marriage to Miss Emma A. Price, who was formerly of Madison county, Ohio. By this union there is one child, a girl, named Alice.
WILLIAM B. HUNDLEY
THE subject of this brief biographical sketeh is a native of Trigg county, Kentucky. The family were originally from Virginia, but moved to Kentucky at a period while that State was yet under a territorial form of government. J. B. Hundley, the father of W. B., was born in Kentucky, August 14, 1795. He married Urath O. Dorsey, who was born October 5th. 1804. In 1824 he removed from Trigg to Jefferson county, Kentucky, and remained there until 1836, when he came to Madison county, Illinois, and settled in Alton, where he remained until his death, which oc- curred June 12th, 1847. His wife, and mother of William B., sur- vived him twenty years. She died March 17th, 1867. He was by profession a civil engineer, and followed surveying during the greater portion of his life. Hc was also for a long time Deputy U. S. Marshal, under Harry Wilton, for the Southern District of Illinois. During the war of 1812 he was a soldier in Cap- tain Lancaster's company. Our subject is the eldest of two children, both boys, born to J. B. and Urath O. Hundley. He was born May 19, 1823, and was thirteen years of age when he came with his father's family to Illinois; attended the comnion schools of his native State, receiving such instruction in the rudi- ments of an education as they could give. In 1837, after he camc to Illinois, he entered Shurtleff college, at Upper Alton, where he remained several years and perfected his educational training. While there he was a room and classmate of General John Pope, of second battle of Bull Run notoriety. In his class were other men who have since become prominent in the history of the State and nation. After his retirement from college he engaged in farming in Madison county, at 'which he continued until 1867, when he came to Taylorville and, in connection with J. M. Nimerick, pur- chased a flouring mill, operated it and continued in the business until the spring of 1870, when he sold out. During the summer of
132
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
the same year he was nominated by the democratic party, in con- vention assembled, for the offiec of Legislator for this district, and was elected. He served in the Legislature of 1870-71 and also in the extra session in the winter of 1871-72. In 1872 he was elected to represent the Thirty first Senatorial District in the State Senate. He served as a member of that body until 1875, when he resigned. While a member of both legislative bodies he held the chairmanship of several important committees. During his residence in Madison county he was elected Associate Justice, and served one term. It is from that office that he receives his title, and is familiarly addressed as " Judge " by his many friends in Christian county. In the summer of 1875 he removed west, and settled in Helena, Montana Territory, where he at present resides. On the 27th of December, 1847, he was united in marriage to Miss America L. Luekett. She is a native of Virginia, but was a resi- dent of Mechanicsburg, Sangamon county, at the time of her mar- riage. Two children have been born to them, both girls. The eldest, Willie, is the wife of W. G. Prewitt, a resident of Helena, Montana. Jennie, the youngest, is the wife of W. L. Miner, also a resident of the same place.
In politics Mr. Hundley is a sound democrat. Ilis first presi- dential vote was cast for James K. Polk, in 1844, and at every sub- sequent national or State clection he has uniformly voted that ticket. He has been a member of Piasa Lodge No. 27 A. F. and A. M. since March 18th, 1852. Few men ever came to Christian county who made more warm friends and fewer enemies than Judge Hundley. His independence of thought and action, together with his straightforward, plain methods and views upon all subjects of private or public policy, soon won him hosts of friends, who showed their appreciation and esteem for him and for his character as a man and citizen by electing him to honorable and responsible offices. And it may here be added that in all positions to which he was elected he faithfully earried out the wishes of the people who had honored him with their suffrages.
ALBERT G. BARNES,
AMONG the successful business men of Christian county stands the name of Albert G. Barnes The Barnes family on the paternal side were of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Daniel Barnes, the father of the fiunily, was a native of Pennsylvania, and a bookbinder by trade. He was largely interested in the business, and was, for a number of years, state binder. Also at the same time he kept a book store in Harrisburg, the capital of the state. In 1839, he came west to view the country. He returned in 1840, brought his family with him, and located in Springfield, Illinois, and remained there until 1850, when he removed to Decatur and remained there until 1857 ; he then came to Taylorville, Christian county, where he continued until his death, which occurred June 13, 1868. During his residence in Springfield, he engaged in general merchandizing.
After he came to Taylorville, he was principally in the hardware trade, in which he continued until his death. He married Margaret A. Richardson, who was a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylva- nia. She died in December, 1879. By this marriage there were seven children born to them, four of whom have survived the parents. Our subject is the second in the family. He was born in Harrisburg, Pa., September 4, 1835. His education was obtained in the common schools of Springfield, Illinois, and ended in his twelfth year, at which time he was taken into his father's store, and kept there until his fifteenth year; at that age he determined to become a printer, and with this object in view he entered the office of the Decatur Gazette, owned and edited by
James Shoaff; now deceased. In that office he helped to set up the first newspaper ever printed in Macon county. The printing business proving too laborious and confining, young Barnes re- mained in the office but one year, then clerked in a dry goods and clothing store, in which he remained for four years longer. In 1855 he came to Taylorville and opened the first regular clothing house here. His stock was small and considerably mixed, and his first venture in merchandizing would probably have been a total failure, if it had not been for a friend in Decatur, who assisted him and gave him a financial standing until he could get a start. Hc attended strictly to his business, was saving and economical, and soon sueceeded. In 1865 he began the first regular grocery and pro- vision store in the town. One year later he formed a partnership with Mr. Calloway in the business, which continued for several years. In 1861 he closed up the clothing business, and engaged in the general dry goods trade, in which he remained alone until 1873, when he associated with him in the business William Chamberlain. The firm of Chamberlain & Barnes, dry goods merchants, still con- tinues. In 1867, in connection with Col. John Williams, president of the First National Bank of Springfield, Illinois, he established the Christian county bank. One year later he purchased Mr. Williams' interest, and from that time to the present, the banking-house of A. G. Barnes is recognized as one of the substantial banks of Chris- tian county, as it is also the oldest in the county.
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.