USA > Illinois > Christian County > History of Christian County, Illinois > Part 36
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 27th of August, 1861, he was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Branson, a native of Mechanicsburg, Sangamon county, Illinois. Her parents were natives of Kentucky, and came to Illi- nois at an early period in the history of the state. There have been seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Barnes, five of whom are liv- ing-three boys and two girls. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. He is also an honored member of the order of A. F. & A. M. Mr. Barnes gives his adhesion to the re- publican party. His first vote was cast in 1856, for John C. Fre- mont, since which time he has acted and voted with that political organization. In the business of life, Mr. Barnes has been what the world calls a successful man, which suecess he attributes to careful, prudent management, economical and industrious habits. IIc never was a spendthrift, nor yet does he stint himself for any- thing that can add to the health, pleasure or convenience of himself or family. He contributes with open hand to all the calls of real charity, and responds with substantial aid to all enterprises of a public nature that have for their objeet the increase of the material wealth or good of his town or county.
In his manners he is a pleasing gentleman, with good address and easy conversational powers. His reputation as a business man and citizen, is that of a straightforward, honorable man. In his habits he is temperate, and on the subject of the traffic of alcoholic liquors, he is a prohibitionist. In his later years he has given his attention to farming and raising fine stock, in addition to his bank- ing and mereantile business.
R. W. ORR,
THE present County Superintendent of Schools, was born in St. Clairsville, Belmont county, Ohio, September 30th, 1834. When he was two years of age, his father removed to Jefferson county, in the same state. Ilere he received his early education, in the Union School, in Wayne township. At the age of seven - tecn, he entered the Jlarmony School, at Bloomfield, Ohio, under the instruction of Prof. John H. Forester, and here he spent most of the two following years In the autumn of 1854, he removed with his father's family to Christian county, Illinois, where
.
THE POWEL HOMESTEAD, FORMERLY THE RES. OF THE LATE RICHARD POWEL, TAYLORVILLE ILL.
RESIDENCE OF C. POWEL, TAYLORVILLE, ILL.
MASONIC HALL
FISCAL.
LAW OFFICE
MARBLESTORY
MARBLESTONE BROS. CLOTHING
G.A. DETER DING DRY GOODS
AM ERTOEN
CLO
HANGH USE
THERESIDENCE BUILT IN 1872, OF H. M. POWEL , TAYLORVILLE, ILL.
H. M.POWEL'S BUISINESSBLOCK ERECTED BY HIM IN 1876, TAYLORVILLE,I LL.
The Library of the University of Illkor
133
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
he has since resided. His father, Andrew Orr, died on Buckeye Prairie, on the 4th day of February, 1858, leaving a widow and nine children, of whom R. W. was the oldest. His mother, Mrs. Ann Orr, is still living, and in her seventieth year. His religious training was of the Presbyterian type, both his parents being clevout and consistent members of the United Presbyterian Church. His mother is still an honored member of that church at Pana, her present home.
Soon after his arrival in Christian county, he engaged in teaching, which profession he pursued most of the time until the breaking out of the late war, when he enlisted as a private in Company D., 130th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, on the 4th of August, 1862. At the organization of the Company, he was clected Orderly Sergeant. On the second day of February, 1864, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant, which position he filled until the 11th day of June, 1864, when he was commissioned Captain. He retired from the army in February, 1865, in consequence of the consolidation of the 77th and 130th Illinois Infantry Regi- ments, thereby causing a surplus of officers in both regiments who were mustercd out. Upon his return to private life, he again engaged in teaching, which he followed until his eleetion to the office of Superintendent of County Schools, in November, 1873.
On the 13th of July, 1871, he united in marriage with Hattie E. Shumway, daughter of the Rev. Paris Pray, and widow of Z. P. Shumway, who died May 3d, 1865. The fruit of this first marriage, Miss Lulu A. Shumway, still graces her mother's home. Since Mr. Orr's marriage, four children have been born to him, viz: Lillie, Daisy, Frank and Charlie.
As Superintendent of Schools, he has labored unceasingly for the good of the schools of his county. In his efforts to raise the standard of qualification for teachers, he has met with some opposi- tion, but, in the main, his labors have met with the hearty approval of the intelligent citizens of the county. In politics, he is a stanch member of the democratic party yet, in his eleetion to the office of Superintendent, he has always been largely supported by republicans, as well as democrats, thus showing that his fitness for the position weighed more with the people than party ties.
Financially, Mr. Orr has been singularly unfortunate. A peculiar train of circumstances running through most of his business life has conspired to keep him at the lowest round on the ladder leading to wealth. But with unswerving integrity, and a determination to do what good he can in the world, he yet looks forward to brighter days to come.
HARVEY C. CHAPMAN, M. D.,
Is a native of North Stonington, Connecticut. He was born March 13th, 1821. The Chapman family is an old one, and dates back to an English ancestry as far as the twelfth century. The name has been famous in the history of England in almost every department of learning, science and art. They were among the first settlers of New England, and the pioneers of this section of the State.
Thos. P. Chapman, (born September 12th, 1791) the father of the subject of this sketch, married Rachel B. Wylie. They were both natives of North Stonington. There were three children by this union, viz. : Erastus F., Harvey C., and Harriet N., wife of James L. Grant. In the year 1837, Thos. P. Chapman eame with a colony from his native town, and settled in Christian county, then a part of Sangamon county. The settlement was made, and the place named Stonington, in honor of their native village in Connecticut. Mr. Chapman entered a large body of land, and remained in that vicinity until his death, which occurred
January 16th, 1867. Harvey C. was in his sixteenth year when the family came to Illinois. He received a good common sehool education in his native State, which, even at that early day, was noted for its exeellent and thorough educational system. He attended the primitive sehools of Illinois one season, and recollect s well the puncheon floors and greased deer skin windows. Both he and his brother taught school for some time. They both deter- mined upon adopting the profession of medicine as the business of their life. They, therefore, obtained medical books, and II. C. Chapman studied under the direction of Drs. Merryman and Henry, of Springfield, and Erastus F. studied with Dr. Edwards, of Edwardsville, Illinois.
In 1844, Dr. Chapman went to Zanesville, in Montgomery county, Illinois. and was indueed to stay there and go into the praetiee. He remained there a short time, and then went to Audubon. The Mexican war was then in progress. He enlisted, and was appointed surgeon of his company. They offered their serviees to the government, but the quota of Illinois troops being full, the company was not accepted. He then settled in Van Burensburg. After remaining there a short time, he went to Greenville, and from there was induced to go to Nauvoo, where he remained in the practice for five years. The cholera then broke out in Chieago, and was raging with great violence. The doetor having, after great research and labor, discovered, as he believed, a specific and eertain cure for that dreaded disease, deter- mined to go to Chicago and fully test his remedies, relieve the distressed, and save the lives of the citizens. Finding his cholera cure all he had hoped for it, and a much wider field for the practice of his profession, he remained there, and continued in practice for nine years. At the end of that time he came back to Christian county, and in the year 1870 became a resident of Taylorville, and has remained here until the present time. In January, 1850, he married Rhoda Welch. She was a native of Erie county, N. Y. She died in 1853. Two children were born to them, viz: a son, Herbert, and a daughter, Elzora, wife of William Partrage, now a resident and farmer of Wilsonville, Farness county, Nebraska. On the 1st of March, 1857, he married Miss Emily C. Butler. She is a native of New York, but was a resident of Lockport, Will eounty, Ill., at the time of her marriage. Two children have been born to them, one living, named Franees M .; Gilbert E. died at the age of five years.
Dr. Chapman has given the best and larger part of his life to the study of his chosen profession. His industry, research and experience, have brought their reward ; not in the accumulation of great wealth, but in the discovery and admixture of compounds, that have brought relief to suffering humanity wherever they have been introduced. His medical discovery known as the "King of Oils"-the great specific for bronchitis, diphtheria, croup, and all affections of the throat, breast or kidneys, or for rheumatism-has no equal within the range of the materia medica. Its wonderful properties and healing powers cannot be properly appreciated until tried. It is with pleasure that we here add our mite of praise, and speak of it from experienee, and say that its curative properties are most wonderful indeed. His " Cholera Balm " is also a wonderful medical preparation, but not of such universal use as the "King of Oils." In cases of severe cramping, it cures almost instantaneously.
MAJOR THOMAS LONG .- (DECEASED).
IT is fitting that in a history of Christian county, proper mention should be made of him whose name heads this sketch. Major Long was the youngest son of a family of eleven children. In 1794, the
134
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
family removed to Nelson county, Kentucky, where both parents remained until their deaths. He was born in Nelson county, Kentucky, May 6, 1795. His father, James Long, was a native of Culpeper county, Virginia. He married Elizabeth Griffin. In his youth, he learned the tanner's trade, and followed that business for many years. He remained in Kentucky until 1829, then moved to Illinois and settled on Lick Creek, in Sangamon county, where he remained until 1835, when he removed to Rochester and resided there until the winter of 1850, when he came to Taylorville, Chris- tian county, and engaged in hotel business, in which he continued until his death, which occurred July 13, 1875. On the 4th of Feb- ruary, 1819, he was united in marriage to Annie Hurloutt. She is a native of Chittenden county, Vermont. She was born February 14, 1801. Her father, Joseph Hurlbutt, died before she was born. Her mother afterwards married George Hawley. By this marriage there were six daughters and three sons. The Hawley family left Vermont September 11, 1816, and came to Ohio, and remained over winter in Cincinnati. In March, 1817, they went into Kentucky, and settled in Caldwell county, where they remained until the death of Mr. and Mrs. Hawley. Mrs. Long was a resident of that county at the time of her marriage. There were born to Thomas and Annie Long nine children, six of whom are yet living. Their names are : Matthew (" .; John H. died in his twentieth year, James G. who is now a clerk in the Folding Department, Capitol building, Washington, D. C .; William C. who died in his fourth year, Thomas W., George W., Elizabeth Ann, wife of Charles Man- ners; Benjamin F. and Francis M. Long. The latter enlisted (Inring the late war, and was elected Captain of Co. "G." 41st Regt. Illinois Volunteers. He was afterward promoted Major of the regiment. He was wounded in a skirmish, after the battle of Jaek- son, Miss., and died three days later from the effect of his wounds. During the Black Hawk war in 1831-2, Major Long raised a com- pany of soldiers in Sangamon county for the service. He was clected captain. Afterwards, the company increased to a battalion, and he was cleeted major. This is where hc received the title of Major, a name by which he was ever afterwards familiarly addressed. In his life Major Long was an ardent democrat of the old Jeffersonian and Jackson school of politics. Although not a politician in the strict sense of the word, as he would not accept an office, yet he took a lively interest in all political contests, and exerted consider- able influence for the principles of the political organization of which he was a member. Early in life he attached himself to the southern wing of the M. E Church. From the older residents of Taylorville we gather the information that Major Long in his life and residence here was a warm-hearted man, full of generous im- pulses, but nuyielding in his dispositions and opinions when he thought and believed he was in the right. Of a strictly honest and honorable nature he expected of others a corresponding disposition. His wife still survives him. She has passed the scriptural time allotted to humanity to live, but now while in her eightieth year, she is still hale and hearty, and bids fair to live and cheer her friends for many years to come.
DR. JOSEPH H. KITZMILLER.
THE subject of this sketch was born in Eastern Tennessee, May 27, 1849. He is of German descent. M. V. Kitzmiller, his father, is a Baptist minister of many years standing. He moved with his family to Girard, Macoupin county, Ilinois, in 1856; where he organized the first Baptist church in that place and became the pastor, and from that time to the present has lived there and remained in charge of the Baptist organization. He married Mary
Crouch, also a native of Tennessee. The doctor is the second in a family of ten children, seven of whom are living. He carly deter- mined to adopt the profession of medicine as the business of his life, and therefore, while yet a young man, entered the office of Dr. Fountain Jones, of Girard, and read the standard text books upon Anatomy and Materia Medica. After attending Icctures in 1871-2, he began the practice as a physician in White Oaks, Montgomery county, Illinois. He remained there onc year, then removed to Pana, Christian county, practiced his profession for two years, and came to Taylorville, Illinois, where he has resided and continued the practice to the present. Since his residenec in Tay- lorville, he has attended lectures in Hahnemann Medical College, of Chicago, and graduated from that institution with the degree of M. D.
On the 27th of May, 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Emma M. Bray, a native of Ohio, but a resident of Pana at the time of her marriage. Two children have been born to them, a boy and a girl. Their names are Hardy W. and Amy M. Kitz- miller. He is an honored member of the order of Knights of Pythias, and is highly esteemed by his brethren, temperate in his habits, and a strong worker in the cause of temperance. Dr. Kitzmiller belongs to the school of Homeopathy, is a good practical physician, well learned in the science of medicine, and has a daily increasing practice. He is charitable at heart, being ever ready to lend the aid of his skilful hand to the needy when in distress.
WILLIAM M. PROVINE.
THE subject of the following biographical sketch is a native of Illinois. He was born in MeDonough county, August 22d, 1841. The ancestry of the family on the paternal side is Irish. The family removed at an carly day from Kentucky to the North- western territory, afterward the state of Indiana, where William Provinc, the paternal grandfather, was a surveyor, and where in 1816 his son, William Provine, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born. The father, William, came to Illinois in 1836, and settled in MeDonough county, where he remained until 1846, when he removed to Vermont, in Fulton county, where he still re- sides.
He married Paulina Scott, who was a native of Kentucky, and of Irish descent. Her ancestors settled in the Carolinas prior to the revolutionary war, and took part in the struggle for independence. William M. is the second in a family of cleven children. In his youth he received a good English education in the common schools.
In the year 1862, when in his twenty-first year, he enlisted as a private for three years in Company B, 84th Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and on the organization of the company was cleeted sergeant, and was promoted to the 1st sergeantey in November, 1862, and was mustered as 1st Lieutenant Nov. 18th, 1863. The 84th regiment was recruited and made up in what is known as the " Military Tract," and was under the command of Col. Waters, and served in the army of the Cumberland. The first severe engage- ment and general battle in which the regiment participated was at Stone river, where they lost over one-half of the number engaged. On the 20th of July, 1864, Lient. Provine was captured in front of Atlanta while on the picket line, and taken as a prisoner of war to Macon and thenee to ('harleston, and while there he was one of the officers who, in the fall of 1864 at the bombardment of that city, was, among others, placed under fire from the Union guns. From Charleston he was taken to Columbia, then to Goldsboro, and from there to Wihnington, when they were exchanged on the 1st of March, 1865. Ile then returned home on a thirty days' furlongh,
135
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
at the expiration of which he reported by orders at Benton bar- racks, at St. Louis, where he was detailed as adjutant of paroled prisoners until mustered out May, 1865.
After his discharge from the service he returned home and went to Albion, Michigan, where he attended Mayhew's Commercial Col- lege. After finishing the course he received a position as instructor, and continued thus employed for two years. He also in his leisure hours read the standard text-books upon law. In 1867 he returned to Illinois, and entered the law office of Palmer & Hay, at Spring- field, and continued his studies until 1868, when he was admitted to the practice. In the winter of the same year he came to Taylor- ville and began the practice of law, in which he remained one year, and then upon the organization of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Galesburg, Illinois, he was elected cashier, a position which he accepted and creditably filled until Nov., 1871, when he resigned, and soon after returned to Taylorville and began anew the profes- sion of law, and has continued in it to the present. As a lawyer Mr. Provine is methodical and logical, and bears the reputation of being a safe counsellor, and a careful, diligent, and capable attorney, giving his attention principally to commercial law and chancery cases.
In politics he is a republican. Ilis first vote was cast for Abra- hạm Lincoln for President, while a prisoner of war at Columbia, South Carolina. As a matter of course it was informal, but it was his political sentiments then, and the succeeding years have not changed his views.
On the 11th of May, 1869, he married Miss Mary Murray, a resi- dent of Vermont, Fulton county, Illinois. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
DR. LYMAN B. SLATER.
THE Slater family on both the maternal and paternal sides is of English ancestry. Jay Slater, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Massachusetts. He came west in 1824 and settled in Sangamon county, and was one of the pioneers of central Illinois. He died in July, 1860. While a resident of Sangamon county he married Lucretia Carman. She was born and raised in the state of New York. Her family came to Illinois about the same time that the Slater family did, and were also among the first settlers of Sangamon county. She died in September, 1853. There were six children in the family. James H Slater, present United States Senator from Oregon, is the eldest sou, and the subject of this sketch is the second son in the family.
Lyman B. Slater was born in Sangamon county August 7th, 1828. He obtained a fair common school education in the schools of Sangamon county and in the High School of Springfield. He worked upon his father's farm until his nineteenth year, when he taught school, and at the age of twenty-one lic commenced studying medicine under the direction of Dr. William Jayne, of Springfield, which he continued until the winter of 1851-2, when he attended lectures in the Missouri Medical University at St. Louis, and in the following spring commenced the practicc. In the winter of 1854 he again entered the above-named institution, and graduated there- from with the degree of M. D., February 27th, 1855. In the spring of 1852, as an undergraduate, he commenced the practice, locating in Mt. Auburn, and remaining there until after his graduation. He then went to Rochester, Sangamon county, and continued in the practice there until 1868, when he came to Grove city, and in 1870 caine to Taylorville, and has continued here up to the present.
In 1853 he married Angeline Bodkins, a resident of this eounty. She fell a victim to the cholera in 1854. On the 4th of October,
1855, he married Miss Sarah Stockwell, a native of Ohio, but a resident of St. Louis at the time of her marriage. Nine children are the fruits of this union, six of whom are living. Both he and his wife are members of the M. E. Church.
In politics he is a republican, but he takes no part in polities further than to express his preference in the right of suffrage. He is a member of the aneient and honorable order of Freemasonry. Dr. Slater belongs to the regular school of medicine, and in its practice has been very successful. He bears the reputation of a Christian gentleman and an honorable man.
HARRY CHENEY
WAS born in Coshoeton county, Olio, November 30th, 1842. His father, Abraham Cheney, was born and raised in Pennsylvania. He removed to Ohio in 1824, and remained there until 1843, when he came to Illinois and settled in Sangamon county and engaged in farming. There he remained until 1870, when he came to Christian county, and now lives with the subject of this sketeh. He married Jeannette Evans, who was also born and reared in Pennsylvania. She died September 26, 1875. By this marriage there were eight children, six of whom are now living-four girls and two sons. The two sons that died had reached maturity, married and left families. Harry Cheney is the youngest of the family. In his youth, he attended the common schools of Springfield, Illinois, and received a good edueation. From there he went to St. Louis and attended commercial school, and after that entered the post-office at St. Louis as clerk. He remained in that capa ity for four years, after which he received the appointment as deputy marshal for St. Louis county. He acceptably filled that position for two and a half years, when he returned to Springfield, Illinois, and engaged in the drug business, in which he continued for several years. In the spring of 1870 he came to Christian county and commenced farming, and to the present time he remains so engaged. In polities he has always been a democrat, or since he cast his first vote, which was for Gen. George B. McClellan for president, in 1864. He has, since then, voted and acted with the party of his first choice. He is an honored member of the Knights of Pythias, and belongs to Mystic Lodge, No. 64.
In the spring of 1880 he became the democratic candidate for the office of supervisor of Taylorville township, and was elected by a handsome majority. He is a young man, full of push, enterprise and sound sense, and will serve his constituents in a creditable man- ner. In his manners he is a genial aud sociable gentleman. and in his intercourse and business with men, he is honest, capable and reliable. Such is the verdict of those who have known him for many years.
ABNER BOND.
THE Bond family on the paternal side are of English ancestry. John Bond, the father of Abner Bond, was born iu Bedford eounty, Virginia He moved to Ohio in the year 1800, and remained there until 1838, when he removed to Wayne county, Indiana, where he died in April, 1876. He married Elizabeth Mc- Millan. She is a native of Pennsylvania. She is still living on the old homestead, in Wayne county. Nine children were born to John and Elizabeth Bond, all of whom are living. Abner is the fourth in the family. He was born in Belmont county, Ohio, Aug. 11, 1832. His youth was passed upon his father's farm, and in the common schools of Indiana he received a good education in the common branches, At the age of nineteen he entered a grocery store in Indiana as elerk. He remained there one year, when he
136
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
commenced the business of clock peddling. He sold clocks and attended to the collections for the same for fifteen years. He traveled in that line of business over the states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, and portions of Kansas and Iowa. In 1862 he came to Christian county, Illinois, and purchased land. Since that time this county has practically been his home.
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.