USA > Illinois > Christian County > History of Christian County, Illinois > Part 50
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WILLIAM L. COHENOUR.
THE Cohenour family is of Welsh and German extraetion on the paternal side and Irish on the maternal. The ancestors came to America long before the revolutionary war and settled in Penn- sylvania, where John Cohenour, the paternal grandfather, was born in 1794. He was a native of Lancaster county. He came to Illi- nois in 1836 and settled in Pike county, where he remained until his death, in 1869. He married Dorotha Lawrenee ; she also died in Pike county, Ills. Jacob N. Cohenour, the father of Williamn L., was born in Lancaster county, Pa., Dec. 11, 1811. Hc married Jane Likely, of Huntingdon county, Pa. She was born April 8 1811. Mr. Cohenour came west in the fall of 1836, and landed in Pike county Nov. 4th of the same year. Ile was a earpenter and cabinet-maker by trade, and worked at the business for a number of years. Heremained in Pike county until his death, which occurred Nov. 15th, 1868. His wife died iu the same county April 9th, 1857. After the death of his first wife he married Mrs. Naney Jane West. She died June 13th, 1861. He afterwards mar- ried Sarah Layton. She died in 1869. By the first marriage there were nine children, four of whom are living. By the second one child, and by the third one boy, named Elmer Cohenour. Wil- liam L., the subject of this sketch, is the second child by the first marriage. He was born in Pike county Sept. 10th, 1837.
He attende l the common schools of Pike county and the acade-
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
my at Pittsfield, and received a fair education in the English branches, sufficient at least to fit him for the profession of teaching. At the age of cighteen he entered a general store in Pittsfield, where he remained a short time, then went to New Salem and spent sev- eral years in a general store. He then spent one year in Kansas, and on his return to Illinois stopped in St. Clair county, where he followed teaching for three years. On the 10th of December, 1863, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary S. Moore, who is a native of St. Clair county. The Moore family is an old one, and came to Illinois before the State was admitted into the Union. After his marriage Mr Cohenour removed to Bond county, and in the spring of 1865 came to Christian county and settled in Assumption town- ship, where he has continued to reside, engaged in farming. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cohenour. Their names are Charles Albert, Jacob Atlas, William Likely, Mirtie Jane, Henry Howard and Cora Josephine. All are yet beneath the parental roof. He is a demoerat in politics. His first vote was cast for Stephen A. Douglas in 1860, since which time he has been a member of that political organization. He at present repre- sents his township in the Board of Supervisors. His wife is a mem- ber of the M. E. Church. He is in habits a temperance man. He was in 1873 elected Justice of the Peace, and held the office for one term. His neighbors say of him that he is a good neighbor and an honorable, upright man, who has many friends wherever he is known.
S. M. COONROD.
THE Coonrod family, on the paternal side, are of German extrac tion. Stephen Coonrod, father of the present family, was a native of Harden county, Ky. He was born in 1797. He emigrated to Illinois in 1819, and settled in Wayne county, where he remained nine years, after which he moved to Greene county, and located near Greenfield, and remained there until his death, which event occurred in December, 1872. His occupation was that of a farmer. Ile was also a regularly ordained Baptist minister. He married Candice Lee ; she was born in 1800. She was also a native of Ken- tucky. The marriage was solemnized prior to Mr. Coonrod's com- ing to Illinois. She died in November, 1879. There were ten children born to them, cight of whom are living. The subject of this sketch is the seventh in the family. He was born in Greene county, Illinois, December 2d, 1836. Ile was reared on the farm and attended school during winter. His advantages for receiving an education in his youth were exceedingly limited. He remained at home until he was twenty-six years of age. He then went into Greenfield with his father, and in connection with his brother, en- gaged in general merchandizing, in which he continued until 1866, when, in January of that year, he went to Prairieton township in Christian county, where he had a farm, and for the next two years, engaged in the cultivation of the soil. He then went to Macon, in Macon county, Ils., where he remained one year, then one year in Stonington, and then came to Assumption and opened a dry- goods store. One year later he sold out the store, an I six months afterwards engaged in the grocery and provision business, in which he has continued to the present.
On the 21st of September, 1870, he was united in marriage to Miss Bettie B. Chilton, a native of Virginia, but a resident of Jer- sey county at the time of her marriage. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church. He is an active and earnest worker in the church, and contributes very liberally towards its maintenance In politics he is a democrat. His first vote was cast for Stephen A. Douglas for president in 1860. On the subject of temperance he is an advocate of the cause. He has been a member
of the board of trustees of his village. In his walk and conversa- tion, Mr. Coonrod is an npright Christian gentleman, and an hon- orable man. Such is the verdict of his friends and neighbors who have known him for a number of years. It is with pleasure that we present him to our many readers, as one of the stirring, active business men of Assumption.
DUDLEY J. WATSON.
THE Watson family on the paternal side are of English descent, and on the maternal, Irish. His grandfather, Nathaniel Watson, was a native of Virginia, and moved to Kentucky at an early day. His son, Dudley G., father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Anderson county, Ky., in 1812. He grew to manhood, married and remained in that state until the spring of 1857, when he came to Illinois and settled in Prairieton township, Christian county, where he has remained to the present time engaged in farming, which has been the principal business of his life. IIe is also a regularly ordained minister in the Baptist Church. He married Jane Rob- ison. She was also born and raised in Anderson county, Ky. Twelve children have been born to them, six boys and six girls. Ten of the children are still living. Dudley J. is the fourth in the family. He was born in Anderson county, Ky., June 11th, 1841. His schooling was obtained in his native state. and after he came with his father to Illinois. He remained and made his home at his father's house until he was twenty-eight years of age, but he prac- tically commenced life for himself after he was sixteen years of age.
On the 28th of October, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Mc Daniel. Her parents were natives of Kentucky. She, however, was born in Indiana, and came with her parents to Illinois while she was yet in her childhood. She was a resident of Mosquito township, Christian county, at the time of her marriage. On the 5th of March, 1873, Mr. Watson came to Assumption and engaged in the grocery, provision, boot and shoe trade, in which he continued for five years, when he sold out, and in the fall of 1877 commenced the business of baling, dealing in and shipping hay, in which he still continues.
Mr. W. and his wife are members of the Christian Church of Assumption. He takes an active interest in that Christian organi- zation, and is among its most liberal supporters. He is a member of Bromwell Lodge, A. F. & A. M. No. 451, Assumption, Ills. Upon the subject of temperance he is radical, and an active advo- cate of the same.
In politics he cast his first presidential vote in 1864 for Geu. Geo. B. Mcclellan, and from that time to the present has been a prom- inent member of that political organization.
Mr. Watson is an okl settler of the county. He came here in 1857, and since that time has been known as an honorable, upright citizen and honest man.
S. A. & J. C. SHAFER.
THE subjects of the following sketch were born in Fairfield county, Ohio, on the 7th of Nov , 1851, and 7th of July, 1852. The Shafer family is an old one in the history of that state. Their great uncle, Absalom Shafer, was the first white child born in Fairfield county. Geo. A. Shafer, the father of the present family, was born in that state, as was also his father before him. They were farm- ers and tillers of the soil. Some of them also engaged in the tan- ning business. Geo. A. Shafer came west in 1854 and settled in Shelby county, Illinois. He entered two hundred acres of land in Christian county. He sold out six months later at an advance of six dollars per acre, and then removed to Tazewell county, in this
FARM. AND RES. OF A. J. MC WILLIAMS. SEC. 28 , TP.,(12) R.I E. CHRISTIAN CO.,ILL.
FARM AND RES. OF WM. L. COHEN OUR , SEC. 21, TP. (12) R, I E. CHRISTIAN CO., ILL.
The Library of the Uutversity of Illinois
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
State, and settled two miles east of Washington, where he remained until 1873, when he removed to Christian county and settled in Assumption township, where he at present resides. He married Catharine A. Myers. She is a native of Fairfield county, Ohio. HIer father was a Pennsylvanian by birth ; they were also an old family and among the first settlers of Ohio. There were seven children born to them, four boys and three girls. all living except one son, who died in infancy. The edneation of the subjects of this sketch was obtained in the common schools of Tazewell county. They made rapid progress in their studies, and are now well quali- fied to carry on successfully the business of life. Both remained at home at work on the farm until 1872, when S. A. came to Assump- tion township, where he farmed during the summer months, and returned to Tazewell county and taught school through the winter. IIe thus farmed and taught school for three terms. In 1877 he came to the village of Assumption and engaged in the hardware, tinware and agricultural implement trade. At that time he was associated in the business with J. R. Edmunds. This partnership lasted for seven months, when Edmunds retired and Charles Kineaide took his place and remained four months, after which J. C. Shafer, one of the subjects of this sketch, came in, and from that time to the present the firm of S. A. Shafer & Co. has continued. Both are young, active and live business men, and it will be no fault of theirs if the community in which they live are not supplied with everything in their line of trade. Their stoek is large, and consequently they are in a condition to supply the publie with what they want. The additional fact that they sell goods at very small margins gives them a large trade through the surrounding country.
In politics they belong to the republican party. Both are mem- bers of the Independent Order of Forresters. S. A. is a member of the United Brethren Church, as are also his father and mother. J. C. and other members of the family are members of the M. E. Church. Both are members of the temperance organization and a'lvocates of the cause.
JOHN B. KEMERER
WAS born in Fairfield county, Ohio, near Lancaster, June 14, 1837. The family on the the paternal side is of German aneestry, and on the maternal Swiss. Philip Kemerer, the paternal grandfather, emigrated from Laneaster, Pennsylvania, to Ohio in 1801, while that state was yet under territorial form of government. During the first administration of General Jackson, Philip Kemerer re- ceived a grant of 1000 acres, in consideration of services rendered as one of the pioneers of the state. The grant was located in Ro-s county. It was then not considered valuable, but since that time the city of Chillicothe has been erected upon it. Philip Kemeier died in Ohio. His son Joseph, and father of the present sketeh, was born in Lancaster county, Pa. He died in Ohio, in September, 1847. His death occurred from milk-sickness, at the town of Finley, where he was on his way to Indiana to enter land. He married Salome Bowser. She was of Swiss parentage. Her parents eame to America about the close of the Revolutionary war. She was a resident of Ohio at the time of her marriage. She died in Assump- tion township, Christian county, Illinois, in September, 1868. There were ten children in the family-six sons and four daughters. The eldest and two youngest sons are dead, leaving seven children who have survived the parents. Mrs. Kemerer came west to Christian eounty, in April, 1856. John B. had preceded them two years. He came here in the spring of 1854, and put up a shanty on the prairie, on land that the family had entered prior to this time. They had entered some 1200 aeres. At the time he built his house, it was the only one on the prairie. After the family came, he made
his home with them until 1859, when, in the spring of that year, he, in company with six others, made the trip to Pike's Peak. They left in March and arrived in Denver in June, and in July reached the Peak. While there, he was engaged for the most part in mining. He remained there for eighteen months, and then re- turned home. On the 7th of August, 1862, he enlisted in company G, 116th Regt. Ills. Infty. The regiment was raised in Christian and Macon counties, and was organized and rendezvonsed at Camp Macon, in Decatur. From there they were ordered to Memphis, and were attached to the Army of the Tennessee. They partici- pated in the battles of Mission Ridge and Atlanta campaign, after which the regiment went with Sherman on his famous march to the sea. While in the service he was slightly wounded twice. He was mustered out June 7, 1865, at the elose of the war, near Wash- ington City. and discharged at Springfield, Illinois.
On the 7th of November, 1866, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabethi Chambers, a native of Lieking county, Ohio. She was born Sept. 27, 1841. Her father, James Chambers, was a mative of Pennsylvania, and her mother was Naney Lyons before marriage. She was born in County Antrim, in the north of Ire- land. The date of her birth was 1812. She came with her father's family to America in 1825. Mrs. Kemerer was a resident of Mont- gomery county, Ills., at the time of her marriage. She came to Illinois in 1864. By this marriage there are three children-two daughters and one son. Their names are Alma Adelia, Westela Alfretta, and John Martin Kemerer. Mr. K. and wife are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church.
In polities, he is a republican. He was formerly a Douglas democrat. He is a member of Bromwell Lodge, No. 451, A F. & A. M. His wife is also a member of the Eastern Star Masonry.
Mr. Kemerer is one of the old settlers of the township. When he came here the country was one broad expanse of unbroken prairie, over which roamed herds of deer, flocks of wild turkeys and wolves. Here he has spent the best years of his life. IIe has seen the country grow from a comparative wilderness to be one of the favored spots in central Illinois, the landscape dotted over with farm-houses and thrifty villages. In life he has been reasonably successful. Few men have more friends, and none are more kindly spoken of than John B. Kemerer and his excellent wife.
MILES B. TRAVIS.
THE subject of this sketch is a native of Indiana county, Pa. He was born January 23d, 1851. His father, Thomas M. Travis, is a na- tive of the same state. He came to Shelby county, Ills., in 1855, and remained there until 1869, when he settled in Assumption, Christian county, where he still resides. He married Jane G. Barrett. She is a native of Virginia. There were thirteen children born to them, five of whom are living ; the others all died in infaney, except o.ic daughter, Cora C., who died in her thirtieth year. Miles B. is the third in the family. He received a good education in the excellent schools of Assumption. In 1872, he engaged in the drug business, in which he has continued to the present time. On the 26th of Oet., 1875, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Adams, a native of Ohio. She was a resident, however, of Assumption at the time of her marriage. There has been one child, a boy, born to them, named Lange B. Travis. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is a radical temperanee man and a strong advocate of the cause. In polities he votes the republican ticket. He has, as stated above, been engaged in the drug trade since 1872. Mr. Travis is very ac- commodating, of a pleasing address, and understands his business
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
thoroughly. He is well adapted, and prepared to cater to the wants of the publie in his line. His brother, Byron Travis, is engaged in the hardware trade.
JAMES RUPLE MILLIGAN
WAS born in Champaign county, Ohio, July 30th, 1835. The Milligan family is of Irish ancestry. William, the paternal grand- father, in company with a brother, eamc from Ireland to America about the close of the revolutionary war. He settled in Pennsyl- vania where, in 1795, William, his son, and father of the subject of the present sketch, was born. He was a tauner by trade, and carried on that business through life. He removed to Ohio between the years 1825 and 1830, and remained in that state during the balance of his life. He died in 1849. He married Eliza Pollock. She was a native of Ohio county, Virginia. She survived her hus- band many years. Some years after his death she came west to Taylorville, Christian county, to join her children, and died there in November, 1870, at the home of Samuel Milligan, her eldest son. There were nine children by this union, five of whom have survived the parents. James R. is the fifth son in the family of eight boys and one girl. His education was obtained in the common schools of his native county. His father dying while he was yet young, he was deprived of the advantages of such an education as usually falls to the lot of most youths. He was compelled at an early age to provide for his own maintenance, and made his home with his mother until his marriage. He worked around the country in the meantime, at such work as he could find to do. Iu 1851, he commenced running a steam engine. He remained at that business until 1857, when he came west to Illinois, and stopped in Taylor- ville with his brother Samuel, who had preceded him there the year before. The first four years in Illinois were spent in farming. In 1861 he removed to Taylorville, and worked for W. W. Anderson. In the fall of 1862 he went into the Forrest City mills, and con- tinued there until April, 1866, when he removed to Assumption, Christian county, Illinois, and there, in connection with Charks Powel and Renben Wilkinson, purchased a stoek of lumber and engaged in the lumber, coal and grain trade. The partnership con- tinued until 1871, when Charles Percy purchased Powel's interest. In 1875 Wilkinson retired, and since that time the firm of Milligan « Percy has continued the business. In 1871 the company built the present elevator and mill combined, and since that time have also engaged in milling.
On the 29th of April, 1855, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret McCaffrey. She was born and raised in Covington, Ky. Seven children have been born to them-two sons and five daugh- ters. Their names are Mary Alice, Ida Bell, Jesse Anderson, now a resident of Diamond Springs, Morris county, Kansas, James Lawrence, May, Lauric and Lillie Milligan. All except Jessie A. are yet at home. Both he and his estimable wife and two eldest daughters are members of the Christian Church. He takes an active part in sustaining that Christian organization, and gives liberally of his means to that end. In politics he gives in his adherence to the republican party. He may be classed among the original re- publicans, as his first presidential vote was cast for John C. Fre- mont, in 1856, since which time he has been a member of that political party. He is an advocate of the temperance canse, and has been frequently elected as trustee of his village upon the Temper- ance Ticket. He has also been President of the Board for several torin4. He is a member of the ancient and honorable order of Freemasonry, and takes an active part in the work and deliberations of that body. He has faithfully served the craft in the " East " for
a number of years, where he has presided with dignity and accepta- bility, becoming the exceutive officer of a Lodge of Masons He is a bright Mason and a good worker in the order.
This is briefly a sketch of the life of one of Assumption's active business men and best citizens. His life has been a success, not so much, perhaps, in the accumulation of great riches, but in the gathering together of sufficient of this world's goods to make him comfortable, and in the possession of good health and a mind freed from the perplexing, arduous duties of life, which corrode and fre- quently make existence a burden. He started in life unaided. What he has, has been the result of a life of industry, economy and frugality. He is liberal minded and charitable, and gives freely of his means to every worthy object. In the community where he resides none stand higher, nor have more character for integrity and honesty than Mr. Milligan.
T. F. RASBACH.
THE subject of this sketch is of Duteh descent. His grand- parents were natives of Holland, and were among the carly settlers of New York. His father, John M., was born in Herkimer county, in that state. He was a contractor upon the public works of the state. He remained in New York until his death, which occurred in 1858. He married Rosanna DeLong, whe was of French ancestry. She died in 1852. There were fourteen children born to them, eight sons and six daughters. Seven of the sons are still living. Thaddeus F. is the seventh son and the twelfth child. He was born on the German Flatts, Herkimer county, New York, Sep- tember 15, 1842. His boyhood days were spent at home, and in the schools of his native county. His father being an invalid and dying while Thaddeus was quite young, he was compelled at an early age to provide for his own support. The first work he did was to elerk in a dry-goods store in Herkimer village, where he re- mained for two years. HIe then came west to Chicago, and from there to Sycamore, in DeKalb county, and elerked at the latter place onc winter, then came to Clinton, in De Witt county, and from there in 1857, went into the Illinois railroad as newsboy, then brakes- man, baggage master and up to conductor. He remained in the employment of the Illinois Central road until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted as a private iu Co. "C," 13th Illinois Volunteers, for three years, Col. J. B. Wyman commanding. He went out in April, 1861, under the three months calls, and was sworn in to the three years service on the 4th of May following. The regiment went to Caseyville, near St. Louis, laid there two weeks, and on the 5th of July, passed through St. Louis to Rolla, Missouri. The first regular battle in which the regiment engaged, was at the assault on Vicksburg, in December, 1861, in which they suffered severely. The command was better known as " Wyman's Brigade." They were more familiarly known as " Wyman's Grey Backs," from the fact that they had suits of rebel grey, one thousand of which had been captured and sent to them, and worn by them as uniforms. After the battle of Vicksburg, the command came to Arkansas Post, and was in the engagement and capture of that place, after which they went to Memphis, then to Pittsburg Landing, and from there followed Sherman in his famous march to the sea. After the battle of Vicksburg, Mr. Rasbach was taken sick and sent into hospital. He afterwards went with the regiment to Arkansas Post, and was in the battle, and also went to Pittsburg Landing. There he again was sent to hospital, and from there was sent home on a forty days furlough. His furlough expired before he recovered ; he had it renewed, and when it again expired, his time of enlistment was out, and he did not return to the regiment.
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THERESIDENCE AND STOCK FARM OF E J. FRI BLEY. SEC. 24, T. 12, R.I. E.(ASSUMPTION TP.) CHRISTIANCO. / L.
RES AND STOCK FARM OF ISOM ADAMS. SEC. 21, T.14, R.I.E. ( PRAIRIETON TP.) CHRISTIAN CO., ILL.
The Library of the University of Illinois.
RES, OF WILLIAM KNOTT, SEC. 30, ASSUMPTIONTP, (12) R.I, E. CHRISTIAN CO.,I LL.
OLD BILL 22 YRE. OLD RES OF MRS. ELECTA CLAWSON, SEC. 25, MAY Te, (13) I, W. CHRISTIAN Co., ILL.
RES AND STOCK FARM OF PHARES S. SCHEIB, SEC. II, T. 14, R. 2, W. (BUCKHART TP,) CHRISTIAN CO., ILL.
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He never fully recovered from the sickness while in the army, and it was two years after the date of his eulistment expired before he gained sufficient strength to help himself. ITis discharge bears date September 10, 1864. The first winter after his recovery he went back on the Illinois Central railroad, and stayed until spring. In May, 1867, he went to New Orleans, and sold wooden-ware, brooms and brushes for his brother who was in business in that place. He remained ten months, then went to Galveston and Houston, Texas, and went to work on the Washington branch of the Houston and Texas Central railroad as conductor, where he remained for two years there and on the main line. He then returned north and went to work on the North Division of the Illinois Central. In
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