USA > Illinois > Clark County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 72
USA > Illinois > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 72
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Mrs. Stephens, having rented her farm, is now engaged in the hotel business, and is proprietress of the National House, and is doing a thriving business.
DE WITT C. STURDEVANT, Postmas- ter and store. The present efficient Post- master of Casey and ex-soldier, was born in Portage County, Ohio, October 31, 1839, the youngest son of Silas Sturde- vant, a native of Pennsylvania. His mother's maiden name was Betsey, born in Connecti- cut, daughter of Mr. Wright. De Witt C. came to this State with his parents in May, 1862, locating in this township; here father died October 30, 1865; was seventy-six years of age; was a tanner by trade, which he carried on in Ohio; after, he came West and engaged in farming; mother yet living, now residing in Westfield Township, and is now eighty-six years of age; born about 1796. To them were born six children, three sons and three daughters; now scattered over different parts of the country. D. C. came West with parents at the age of eight- een. He began business for himself; he learned the silversmith trade at Delaware, Ohio. After his trade was learned, he worked with his brother, and stayed in this place until he came West. Soon after he came West, he volunteered his services in Company G, Fifty-fourth, and served on non-commis- sioned staff as Principal Musician. He en- listed September 19, 1862, and served until September, 1865, when he was discharged and returned to this place and set up in business at his trade, and has since continued; was elected Postmaster November 10, 1878; since served, Member of Presbyterian Church and Masonic fraternity, and of the Grand Army of the Republic. Married, November 10, 1867, to Catharine, born in Madison County, Ind., daughter of William Gutherie; he a native of Ohio, she of West Virginia. Mr.
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Sturdevant has six children-Grace. Charles, Jessie, Bruce B., Daisy and Harry C.
WILLIAM P. WALKER, pianos and or- gans, Casey. William Preston Walker is a resident of Casey, and for several years has been the resident and traveling dealer in pianos and organs. He was born in 1844, March 30, in Coles County, this State, the eldest son and third child of his parents, who were Jackson Walker and Julian Cartwright. Jackson Walker was born in Hardin County, Ky, son of John Walker, a native of North Carolina, and removed to Kentucky at an early day. Jackson removed from Kentucky to Vermilion County, Ind., "and finally re- moved to Coles County about 1835, and there married and raised a family of seven children-two sons and five daughters. Mother died April, 1857; father yet living. Wm. P. was raised on the farm and remained at home until June, 1861, when he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-fifth Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, and continued on until Sep- tember 7, 1864. During this time, he par- ticipated in all the battles in which his regi- ment was engaged, being about thirty in all He was wounded in three different battles. First, at Stone River, Tenn. ; second, at Chicka- manga, and third at Mission Ridge. Marched every foot of the ground that his regiment did. After his discharge, he returned home to Coles County and immediately began busi- ness for himself, and for a few years was en- gaged in farming. Married October 2, 1865, to Mary A. Haddock, who was born in Coles County, daughter of Ransom and Elizabeth Mills. Has four children-Della, Ora A., Elva C. and Katie F. He moved in this place December, 1876, and engaged in the butchering business for a time, afterward was with Sanford & Son in grain business. Since 1877, he has been in the music trade for the firm of W. W. Kimball & Co., and
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CASEY TOWNSHIP.
since been in their employ and does a success. ful business. Member of the Presbyterian Church. Member of A., F. & A. M., also of the Grand Army of the Republic. Republican.
GARRETT WALL, saloon, Casey, is grand- son of William Wall, and a grand-nephew of Garrett Wall, for whom he was named, who served as an officer under Washington in the Colonial war. His father, William Wall, served in the war of 1812; he was a kentuckian by birth; was born 1793, in Licking County, and married Mary E., a daughter of John Stipp, a Virginian, and removed to Ohio, where he lived until the ! year 1831, when he removed to Morgan County, Ind., where he died May, 1SS0. His wife preceded him 1866. They raised a only one of the family living in the State. He was born September 24. 1839, in Morgan County, Ind., the youngest son of his parents. He was raised to farming pursuits, where he employed his time until his enlistment in the army, where he spent about four years. He first enlisted in July, 1861, in Company K, Twenty-first Indiana Regiment; in Novem- ber, the following year, he was transferred - into the heavy artillery. He enlisted as a private and served in the ranks until Novem- ber, 1863, when he was commissioned as First Lieutenant, and served in this capacity until January, 1865, when he resigned on account of disability, caused by a wound in the hip by a rebel bullet he received at the battle Camp Bizland, on Bayon Teche, being in command of his company and at this battle where they fought Dick Taylor, and was Adjutant of his regiment at the reduc- tion of Ft. Morgan. He served in all the battles in which his command was engaged. Upon his return home to Morgan County, Ind., he engaged in farming and stock-trad- ing-continuing here until June. 1872,
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when he came to Cumberland County, this State, where he engaged in farming, which he abandoned on account of his lameness in hip; and in 1877 he engaged in the saloon business at Casey. October 9, 1866, he mar- ried Sarah. a daughter of Ezra Cox and Maria Matthews, of Morgan County, Ind. He has four children-Charley, Daniel, William and Dick. A stanch Republican and a member of the Grand Army.
HENRY WECK, merchant and dealer in produce, Casey, came here in Janu- ary, 1879, and started in business. At the time of his coming, there was no person engaged in this line of business. Ile has since been engaged in same, and has thribbled in the time. One year he family of eleven children. Garrett is now the | paid out $75,000 for produce, 1881. He pays the highest market price for everything in the line of produce; has paid out as high as $2,300 in one week alone. Ships mostly to the New York and Indianapolis markets: ships mostly in car lots. He was born in Washington County. Md., 1831, April 6, son of Michael Weck, of same county. where he married Charlotte Edwards. He died in 1833, and Henry was raised up by his mother, with whom he remained until twenty-one years of age; 1S51, he left Mary- land and came to Ohio, Licking County; lived there from October, 1851, until Febru- ary, 1853, when he came to the State, locat- ing in Crawford County, where he engaged in farming, and remained there until Janu- ary, 1879, when he came here to this place. He began in life poor, and has made what he has by hard labor and industry. Married, September 22, 1852, in Ohio, to Sarah Alli- son, born in Ohio, daughter of Andrew Alli- son and Sarah Blackburn. Has three chil- dren-Sarah E., Charlotte A., John F. Char- lotte, wife of Levi M. Biggs, of Crawford County. Democratic.
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BIOGRAPHICAL:
CHARLES WEKENMAN, general store, Casey, dealer in groceries, queensware, flour, etc. He ranks among the old business men of this town. He was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, 1842, October 21, the eldest son of Regulait Wekenman and Elizabeth Hoch. Charles came to this country in the year 1865, arriving here in this county with noth- ing. Arrived in New York July 12, 1865; re mained there until October, same year, when he came to this State and staid four years in Charleston; during this time he worked on a farm and in a nursery Left there about 186S, December, when he went to Coles County, and in June, 1869, he came to this county, and has since been a resident. When le came here he bought out John Balsey, and engaged in running a restaurant. which he carried on, at about which time he added some groceries, and continued there about three years; then moved to this place and has since remained. Came here in the fall of 1574: keeps groceries and provision store, and is doing an excellent business. He was married June 23, 1873, to March Birch, born in same place as himself, daughter of Jonas Birch and Magdalena Fager. Subject has four children-Henry, Freddie, Lizzie, Emma. Mr. Wekenman is a self-made man; has made all his money solely by his own in- clustry and perseverance, and has been and is now among the successful business men of the town. Member of Catholic Church, and one of the leading members in the same. Is also a member of the Masonic order, Casey Lodge, 1., F. & A. M.
DR. R. F. WILLIAMS, physician, Casey, is one of the oldest physicians in this part of the county. He came to Illinois in 1827. He was born November 3, 1820, in Casey County, Ky., son of Samuel Williams, of Virginian stock. He (Samuel Williams) was born December, 1798, and died March, 1871.
His wife, Letta Mason, was born 1800, and died 1870. They raised a family of eight children-six sous and two daughters. Those living are Joel, William, George, Lafayette and Ann. Joel resides in Jasper County, this State, is a farmer and phy- sician. William resides in Auburn, this county; George in this township; Lafayette resides at Grand Island, Neb. Ann is the relict of Dr. George Husband. The subject of these lines was reared upon a farm and emigrated to this State in 1827, to Edgar County, where they remained until 1837, when they settled in what is now Auburn Township, and from this date the Williams family have been identified with Clark County. The Doctor remained at home until twenty-six years of age. He commence.l business for himself, working on the national road, where he spent three years. Subsequent to this he was engaged in run- ning on the river to New Orleans on flat-boat, where he employed his time for nearly ten years. During the last few years he acted as pilot, receiving $100 for making the trip. During this time he was giving his attention to the study of medicine and began his prac- tice in Auburn, 1846, July 5, his first patient was Bettie Kidwell. He remained here till 1853, when he removed to Westfield, and in spring of 1858, he went to Marshall. where he remained until that fall, when he went to Chicago and completed his course in medi- cine and returned to Westfield in 1859, where he remained until November, 1862, when he returned to Marshall and continued here until July 1, 1868, when he came to Cumberland and located, and has since been in the practice of his profession, having a large and extended practice. March 7, 1852, he married Cordelia, born Jannary 5, 1834, . in Clark County, daughter of Thomas White, one of the early pioneers of this county,
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CASEY TOWNSHIP.
came in 1819, now being eighty-two years of age. The Doctor has the following chil- dren: Thomas, Mary B., Letta, Helen, John and Josie. Thomas is following in the foot- steps of his father, having taken up the same profession. Dr. Williams has wide and exten- sive practice, and has done more for the community as a practitioner of materia med- ica than any other physician in this or adjoin- ing counties, and received less money for his services. He has always responded to calls that have been made upon him, administer- ing medicine and attention to the poor as well as the rich. He has been now in active practice for nearly forty years, and although a man of iron constitution, yet his continued exposure, supplemented with his advanced years, has had its effect upon him and from the force of circumstances he has been com- pelled to abandon nightly visitations, except in rare and extreme cases, or when called in counsel with others of the fraternity.
CAPT. OWEN WILEY, merchant, Casey. Among the leading business men of this town is Capt. Owen Wiley, who was born in this county February 25, 1828, in the Bidwell settlement, son of Reason Wiley, born May 2, 1802, in Kentucky, and died August 26, 1852. His mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Eli Hicks, of Kentucky, and was raised to agricultural pursuits, at which business he began for himself at the time he arrived at his majority. In the spring of 1850, he went the overland route to California, where he spent two years, engaged in mining and in running a saw mill. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois Volunteer Mounted Infantry, and subsequently elected Captain of the company and commanded the same · until his discharge, which was in July, 1865. During this time, he participated in some of the hotly contested battles of the war and
many skirmishes. His last engagement was at Selma, Ala. He was married, November 30, 1848, to Sarah Fuqua, by whom he has four children-Reason, Clabourn, Elzina and Zana. When he began farming for him- self, he located in Hutton Township, in Coles County, where he engaged in farming, and was elected Sheriff of the county in 1872, and served two years. In the spring of 1876, he came to Casey and engaged in business, and has since been a resident of the place. He has been engaged in mercantile pursuits. He first associated in business with John Brooks and H. B. Lee, in 1876. Soon after, he purchased Brooks' interest and continued on with H. B. Lee, under the firm name of Lee & Wiley, which association continued without intermission until January, 1883, when he sold out his interest to his partner, and purchased the stock of dry goods of Charles Fuqua & Sons, and has since been engaged in the dry goods trade. He is one of the solid Republicans of the county, and has served as Supervisor and filled other positions of trust in the township. He is a member of the Grand Army and of the A., F. & A. M.
JAMES P. WOOD, farmer, P. O. Martins- ville. Among the pioneers of Casey Town- ship is James P. Wood, who came in the spring of 1840, and has since been a resi- dent of the township. He was born October 20, 1816, in Fauquier County, Va., and removed with his parents to Muskingum County, Ohio, when about one year old. His father's name was William Wood, who married Mary, the daughter of Sam- uel Lampkin, a Virginian. Mr. Wood emigrated here with his parents and remained with them until his marriage, when he engaged in business on his own hook. He has been twice married; first, September 9, 1840, in Ohio, to Mary Meek, a native of
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Muskingum County, Ohio, daughter of Asa and Rachel Meek. Mrs. Wood died January 15, 1844, leaving no issue. His second marriage was April 9, 1845, to Mary Ann Webb, a native of Indiana, born Janu- ary 18, 1829, daughter of Martin Webb and Martha Leet. This marriage has been blessed with eight children, five of whom are living. viz .: William H., Joshua, Emily, Samuel and Nancy, all of whom are settled near the homestead. Mr. Wood has been a resident on Section 2 for many years; he has seen many changes and has been affiliated with the interests of the township as a re- spected citizen and worthy member of the community. He has been a member of the Christian Church for years, and is a stanch supporter of that order. In politics, he is disposed to be liberal; was first Democratic, yet later in life has been more in sympathy with the Republican party. He has now about 160 acres of land. Before dividing out among his children he had over 300 acres.
R. A. YOUNG, hardware, Casey. The leading hardware interest of the place is rep- resented by Richard Alexander Young, who came here in the spring of 1872 and engaged in the hardware business, buying out the
interest of H. A. Boyd, and has since contin- med the same. He was born in the town of Oxford, Butler Co., Ohio, 1850, May 1, the second son of Alexander Young, an Ohioan, native of Preble County, son of Will- iam Young, an early settler in Preble Coun- ty. Subject's mother's maiden name was Re- becca Scott, a native of Butler County, daughter of Richard Scott. an early settler in Butler County, Ohio. Subject's father was born March, 1820, and died May, 1SS0; wife died 1860, August. They raised a family of four children-Richard A., Abraham W., Laura E., Rebecca. But two living in the county-Rebecca and R. A. Richard A. was raised on the farm until twenty-one years of age, attended common school, supplemented the same by a course in Normal school at Lebanon, Ohio. He came here to this town in March, 1872, and engaged in business as above described, and has since continued. Married, 1871, November 23, to Ursulla, born in Butler County, daughter of Frederick A. Hansel. She died September 2, 1878; no issue. Second marriage, January 4. 18SI, to Kate, born in Indiana, daughter of Kile Merrel; member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Republican.
MARTINSVILLE TOWNSHIP.
THOMAS BLOODWORTH, farmer. P. O. Martinsville. The subject of this sketch was born in Pickworth, Rutlandshire, England, to Francis and Ann (Strickson) Blood worth. He was also born in Pickworth; she in Spalding, Lincolnshire, England. He was born in 1785. and died in March, 1858. At the time of her death she was eighty-seven years old. His occupation was that of farm laborer. Our subject attended the common
schools of his native county till he was about fourteen years of age, and then worked on the farm, beginning first by driv- ing a team. In March. 1855. he enlisted in the English Army, and served for two years, and then bought his discharge. He then went home, and for seven months worked on the farm, when he started for America, land- ing in New York City January 1, 185S. He came direct to Ohio, stopping in Stark Coun-
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MARTINSVILLE TOWNSHIP.
ty, where he resided for a number of years. When getting to Stark Connty, he did not have money to pay for a night's lodging; but he got a chance to work one month for $5, and from that time he had no diffi- culty in finding employment. He was will- ing to do any kind of work that would bring him money, so he cleared many fields of their stumps, and got the name of "the stump machine;" but he made money at it, and that was what he was after. He re- mained in Stark County most of the time till 1865, working on farm, pulling stumps, etc. In April of that year, he landed here, and then bought fifty acres of land, where he now lives; but he has since added to it, till his farm consists of 138 acres, about half of which is in cultivation. There were no im- provements of any consequence when he bought his place, but it is now well im- proved, with good farm buildings, etc. He has just completed a neat residence, also has good barn and other outbuildings; but his success has been obtained by hard work and careful attention to business. In 1863, in Ohio, he was married to Elizabeth Gallatin. She was born in Stark County, Ohio, 1834, to Jacob and Elizabeth (Butler) Gallatin. They were both born 'in Lancaster County, Penn., he, January 5, 1797, and she October 21, 1797. He died' July 2, 1878, age of eighty-one years five months twenty-seven days. She died February 5, 1879, age eighty-one years three months fourteen days. Both died in Stark County. Ohio. By trade he was a carpenter, but followed farm- ing most of his life. They were the parents of twelve children; seven of whom are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Bloodworth have two sons-Francis Marion and Elmer Herschel. Mr. Bloodworth is a Democrat in politics.
G. W. COOPER, miller, Martinsville. The subject of this sketch was born in Rush
County, Ind., February 23, 1826, to James and Rebecca (Updegraff) Cooper, both of whom were born in Lycoming County, Penn. They were married in Pennsylvania, and moved to Rusb County, Ind., 1820; but in 1831 moved to Shelby County, Ind., and he died there about three weeks after settling in the coun- ty, and left a family of eight children, five girls and three boys, for her to raise. She remained single till her death, in 1856, in Shelby County. Of the family, only our subject and his youngest brother, James, are living. Our subject's grandfather Cooper settled in Rush County, Ind., and his grand- father Updegraff in Shelby County. His op- portunities for an education were very limit- ed. Free schools were unknown in Shelby County then, and, besides, every one of the family had to help all they could toward the support of the family; so his early life was that of a poor boy in a new country. In starting for himself, he chose the same occu- pation as that of his father, and farmed in Shelby County, Ind .. till 1854, when he came to Clark County, Ill., and bought him a farm of 200 acres, two miles northeast of Mar- tinsville. Mr. Cooper continued to reside on the farm till the fall of 1863, when he moved into Martinsville, and has continued to reside here since; however, there has not been a year but what he has farmed to some extent. at least raised a crop of wheat. He sold his original farm here, but still owns about two hundred acres of land, most all in cultivation. When Mr. Cooper came in to Martinsville, it was to take a half-interest in his present mill, which he had bought of B. F. McKeen. They continued in partner- ship for one year, when Mr. Cooper bought out the other half from Mr. McKeen, and continued sole proprietor till 1879, when he took in as partner H. C. McKeen. They con- tinued in partnership for two years, and
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during the time rebuilt the mill, putting in all new machinery, and changed the mill from a custom mill to what it is now-a mill with the capacity of about two hundred barrels daily, and with a storage capacity of 1,500 bushels. In 1881, Mr. McKeen sold out his one-third interest to William Cooper, son of G. W., and now it is the firm of Cooper & Son. In connection with the mill they have a cooper shop, and manufacture the barrels for their own use. October 5, 1848, he was married, in Shelby County, Ind., to Lavinia Hartman. She was born in Bartholomew County, Ind., daughter of Samson Hartman. He died March, 1882, at the age of eighty- nine, but she died when her daughter was a few days old. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper have seven children living and four dead-Will- iam, Martin, George, Susan, Charles, Eliza- beth and Harry. He and wife are members of tho Methodist Episcopal Church. All of his relatives are Methodists; one uncle, Jo- siah Cooper, is a Methodist Episcopal minis- ter of note. Mr. Cooper is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is Republican in politics. Mr. Cooper's life has been one of activity, as he has been engaged in most all kinds of business, and has made a success of what- ever he undertook; but has been made by his own hard work and energy. For some time he bought and shipped stock from Martins- ville; also bought and shipped grain for some years. Mr. Cooper's brother James now owns the old homestead in Shelby County, Ind., having 500 acres there.
DR. W. H. DOAK, physician, Martinsville. The subject of this sketch was born in Coshoc- ton County, Ohio, January 22, 1843, to William and Evaline (Mason) Doak. Both were born in Washington County, Penn., 1802. Both are still living, in Coshocton County, Ohio, and are the parents of seven children, of whom five are still living, and our subject is Ohio State Medical Society.
the youngest. He was first educated in the- common schools, and then, in 1862, grad- uated at McNeely Normal School, at Hope Dale, Ohio. In 1857 and 1858, he attended Hiram College, while our lamented Garfield was President of that institution of learning. In 1862, he was appointed one of the Board of School Examiners of his native county, which position he held till he moved West in 1866. Dr. Doak's early life was spent on the farm, but after leaving college he taught school from 1862 till 1864, when he went into the merchandise business with his brother, in Chili, Ohio, but continued only for two years, when health failed, and he came West in 1866. For one year, he taught the public school of Martinsville, and then the school of Westfield for one year. For the year 1868-69, he was Superintendent of the graded schools of Marshall. In 1869, he returned to Ohio, and began the study of medicine; and, after taking a five-year course, he graduated in the Medical Depart- ment of Wooster University of Cleveland, Ohio. £ The last year of his course, he was also House Physician of the Charity Hospi- tal of Cleveland, a position which he had gained through a competitive examination in which there were fifty applicants. After leav- ing college, he practiced medicine for nearly five years at Avondale, Ohio. He then came to Martinsville, in the fall of 1878, and went into partnership with Dr. W. H. McNary, and has continued here ever since. In 1869, while teaching at Marshall, he was married to Sally E. McNary. She was born in Put- nam County, Ind., January 6, 1847, to Ebenezer and Elizabeth McNary, and is a neice of Dr. McNary. Dr. and Mrs. Doak have one child, Loring Weber. He is Re- publican in politics. Is a member of the Esculapian Medical Society of the Wabash Valley, and in 1878 became a member of the
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