USA > Illinois > Clark County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 74
USA > Illinois > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 74
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of the Masonic fraternity, having been in- itiated in 1869; also a member of the Knights of Honor. Mr. Ishler has been connected with the Martinsville Express for ten years as its local editor and correspondent.
HENRY ISHLER, undertaker, Martins- ville, was born in West Lebanon, Wayne Co., Ohio, December, 1846. to George Ishler. (See sketch of Isaac Ishler). He received his education in this county, attending the school of Martinsville, and afterward the col- lege at Westfield, quitting school in 1868. For some years he did whatever kind of work came handy to do-working at car- penter's trade, at cabinet-making with his father, and also on railroad, as it was being built through here. In 1875, he began his present business of undertaker, and has con- tinned it to the present time, carrying such a stock of goods as will meet the demands of his trade; also having hearse, teams, etc. He was married 1868 in Martinsville to Rloda Snavely, daughter of John Snavely, one of the old settlers in Martinsville. She was born in Martinsville in 1852. They have one daughter-Ivah-born February, 1875. He is Republican in politics. He and wife belong to the Church of God. Mr. Ishler has lived in this county since he was six years old, first living about one mile north of town and then one mile east, till 1868, they moved to Martinsville.
S. L. LEFFLER, hardware, Martinsville, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, 1837, to Henry and Lydia (Weller) Leffler. He was a native of Pennsylvania and she of Ohio. He died April, 1865, in Terre Haute, Ind., at the age of fifty-six years. She died in this county about the same age, in 1871. They were the parents of eight children- three boys and five girls-of whom three are now living. Our subject was the fourth child. In 1846, the parents moved to Clark
County, Ill., settling about two and a half miles northwest of Martinsville. Remained there till 1861, then went to Terre Haute, and our subject remained there for three years, and then returned to the farm. Mr. Henry Leffler was a cooper by trade and was following his trade in Terre Haute at the time of his death. Our subject also learned the cooper's trade of his father and worked at it during the three years in Terre Haute. He and his brother run a stave mill in this county from 1864 to 1871, on the old farm. He then followed farming till 1881, when he moved to Martinsville and entered into the hardware business May, 1882, his brother still continning on the farm. In his business here, he carries a stock of about $1,500, with sales averaging about $400 per month since starting. He also retains his home farm. Mr. Leffler was married in Clark County, 1868, to Ma- tilda A. Altland. She was born in Ohio, Stark County, 1847, to Peter and Cath- erine Altland. He died about 1850. She is now Mrs. Hanley, and is living in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Leffler have six children, of whom five are still living-Cora F., Priscilla A., Levi Arthur, Lyman Edwin, Clarence Luther (deceased) and Myrtle Ari- zona. He and wife are members of the Lu- theran Church. He is Democratic in politics. Mr. Leffler has had to rely upon his own self since starting in life, and they had to go through all the hardships of an early settled country, going to horse mills, and laying ont night waiting for grinding; and other incidents necessary to early settlers.
WILLIAM LINDSEY, Martinsville, was born in Owen County, Ind., May 21, 1821. to Vincent and Martha (Warren) Lindsey. The father was born in Kentucky, 1789, and re- mained there till he was ten years old, when his father moved to Lawrenceburg, Ind. In
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1813, he returned to his native State and was there married to the mother of our subject be- tween Lexington and Frankfort, Ky. She was born and raised there. After they were married, he moved back to Indiana, and re- mained there till 1830; they moved to Edgar County, Ill., and in 1836, to this, Clark County, and made this his heme till the time of his death-1862. They were the parents of four children, of whom our sub- ject is the youngest. Our subjeet and his oldest, brother are the only ones now living of the family. Mr. Vincent Lindsey's desire was to come to the cheap lands where he could make a home and have his children around him; so he gave each about ninety acres of land for them to make a start. Our subject's opportunities for an education were very limited, there being only the three months winter schools which he could attend, and they were kept by subscription. But as many other pioneer boys, he made the most of it, and did not quit his study as soon as ont of the school-room, but by perseverance he completed a law course and was admitted to the bar in 1865. He has not followed the practice of law as an advocate to any ex- tent, but as an aid in his business career. He remained on the farm till he was thirty- three years old, and then moved to Martins- ville and entered the mercantile business, but continued in that only for a few years, and then went into the real estate and stock busi- ness, which he followed for about ten years. In 1874, he was employed by the Vandalia line as local attorney and adjusting agent. He continued in this till February, 1882. Since that time he has given his attention to the Toledo, Texas & Rio Grande Railroad, a company of which Mr. Lindsay is one of the incorporators, and is at present one of the directors and Assistant Superintendent. This road is one of the connecting links of
the narrow-gauge system between Toledo and the City of Mexico, and extends from Cairo, Ill., through Martinsville, to near Metcalf, Ill., to the point of intersection with the Toledo, Cincinnati & St. Louis R. R., and at present writing they are almost ready to begin work on the road. April 25, 1844, in Martinsville, our subject was mar- ried to Rebecca Jane McCrory. She was born in Jefferson County, Ind., near the old town of Paris, November 15, 1827. To them four children have been born, three sons and one daughter-Alexander, John Quincy, James M. and Laura Bell. She is now the wife of Mr. Elmer Williams, an attorney of Terre Haute, Ind. The three brothers are in the hardware business in Martinsville. Our subject was a charter member of the I. O. O. F., established here in 1853. Of the number, only four are now living-T. B. McClure, B. F. McClure, B. F. McKeen and William Lindsey; all the other charter members are dead. He has been a Repub- lican in polities, and has been since the party was organized, and when there were but four in the township who would acknowl- edge the party. Mr. Lindsey has not been without political honors-was a number of times a member of the county board of Su- pervisors, and in 1876 was elected a member of the State Legislature from his district. When first starting in life, his father gave him about ninety aeres of land, but he has not been idle since. He now has a farm of 320 acres, a handsome residence in town, be- sides a brick business building, 20x80, and other property. Mr. Lindsey was one of the main workers in bringing the Vandalia road to this place, and has always done his utmost for Martinsville's interests, and has been one of the leading citizens.
F. S. MAXWELL, jeweler, Martinsville, was born in Franklin County, Ind., January
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15, 1853, to William and Elizabeth A. (Max- well) Maxwell. He was born nine miles from Philadelphia, on the Lancaster Pike. He was married to Elizabeth A. Maxwell, June 19, 1836, at her home on the banks of the Ohio River, in Kentucky-opposite New Richmond. He then returned to Philadel- phia and worked at his trade of ship black- smith for three years, and in 1839, moved to a farm in Franklin County, Ind., where ho remained for twenty years. Then becoming dissatisfied he decided to come further west. After six months' search for a suitable place, they settled in Anderson Township, Clark Co., Ill .. in the fall of 1859. He resided there till the time of his death-August 31, 1881-being then sixty-nine years five months and seven days of age. Death to him was simply a change to a brighter world, where he would meet those dear to him in a short time. Mrs. Maxwell, the mother of our subject, is still living. They were the par- ents of five children, of whom our subject is the third. He was educated in the common schools of this and Franklin County, Ind., November, 1875, he began his present busi- ness of jeweler. and has continued in the same since, but has added other lines of trade also, and now, besides carrying a stock of jewelry, clocks, watches, etc., he also deals in sewing machines and musical instruments. Is agent for the New Home Sewing Machine. He makes a specialty of organs, also of op. tical goods. December 25, 1875, he was married in his own house in Martinsville, Ill., to Martha J. Ludington, the adopted daughter of David and Sarah Humphreys. Martha Ludington was born April 10, 1851. at Warsaw, Hancock Co., Ill., to Ananias and Ellen (Mannis) Ludington. He was born 1802. in Dutchess County, N. Y. She was born in Ohio. They were married in Frank- lin County, Ind., 1838. He died in Franklin
County, Ind., 1874. She died at Dallas, Ill., in spring of 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell have two children living and one dead. Their first child, Arilla G., was born September 30, 1876, and died January 20, 1877; Charles A., born January 27, 1878; Cinderella May, born December 20, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell are members of the Baptist Church of Martinsville. He is Democratic in politics. Through his own industry and energy, he lias made his own way in life.
DR. W. H. MeNARY, physician, Martins- ville, was born in Mason County, Ky., July 14. 1821, to John and Sallie (Tennis) Mc- Nary. He was born 1768 on the Potomac River, Virginia, and died in this county in 1861. She was born in Bucks County Penn., 1778, and died here October 14, 1844. By occupation he was a farmer, and remem- bered well the time of the Declaration of In- dependence and incidents of the Revolution- ary war. In spring of 1840, they came to Clark County, Ill., and settled on a farm seven miles from Martinsville. In 1826, they had moved from Kentucky to Green- castle, Ind., and from there came to this county. In Greencastle, our subject re- ceived his early education, and before com- ing to Illinois had attended one session of the Asbury University, when Dr. Matthew Simpson was President. He also attended a school after coming to this county, taught by S. C. Fox. Our subject was the youngest of twelve children, and the care of his par- ents in their old age fell on him, as the others were married and away from home. His medical education was obtained in this county. Dr. Samuel MeNary was an older brother and a practicing physician at Mel- rose, so Dr. W. H. studied under him, and in 1847 commenced practicing with him From 1847 till the present time, he has con- tinued in practice in this county, except
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three years spent in California. In 1850, he and his brother emigrated to California. While there his main business was mining, but also practiced to some extent. In 1853, he returned to Melrose and again went into practice there with his brother, who had also returned from California. He continued in practice there till 1856; he then came to Martinsville, but in 1858 his brother died, and he returned to Melrose to settle up the estate; so he practiced there for about one and a half years, and then came here, and has ever since been actively engaged in fol- lowing his profession. In February, 1857, he was married to Miss Lydia Milligan, who was born in Ohio, and daughter of Thomas Milligan. He was born in Ohio and moved to Marshall, Ill., in the winter of 1856, and in the spring of 1857 he moved onto his farm west of Martinsville, but remained there only for a short time, when he sold it and moved to Martinsville. By trade Mr. Milligan is a carpenter, aud has followed his trade to quite an extent in Martinsville, building and over- seeing the building of some of the best build- ings here; but on account of old age he has retired from active life and with the highest esteem of the citizens of Martinsville, gained by his unofficious ways, and by his being a great reader and thinker. November, 1882, he moved to Michigan to one of his daugh- ters there. In September, 1864. Dr. MeNary's first wife died. By her he had three sons; two are still living .- Byron and Herschel V., Clement L. (deceased). November 22, 1871, he was again married to Miss Mary V. Steel. She was born in Paris, Ill., daughter of Dr. Robert Steel, an old practicing physician of Edgar County. By her he had two children, one living-Robert P. (William H., de- ceased). The Doctor is a member of the Æsculapian Medical Society of the Wabash Valley, and of the Illinois State Medical
Society, also of the American Medical Society. He has been President of the Esculapian Society, and has represented it at Atlanta, Ga, and Richmond, Va .; was also elected to represent the same society at St. Paul, Minn., and New York City, but could not attend. He was sent by the State Medical Society to repre- sent it in the American Medical Society in Buffalo, N. Y. With one exception, Dr. McNary has practiced longer in this county than any other physician, Dr. Williams, of Casey, beginning in the spring, and Dr. McNary in the fall afterward. He has, perhaps, had a larger practice than any other physician in the county, for his has been a constitution that could bear up under more exposure than most others. The Doctor's first and only entrance into political life was No- vember 7, 1882, when he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the State Senate.
J. D. NICHOLS, farmer. P. O. Martins- ville. The subject of this sketch was born in Adams County. Ill., June 27, 1835, to Clark and Phœbe (Morrison) Nichols. He was born in Vermont in 1804, and died in Clark County, Ill., July, 1859, and is buried near the farm he settled in this county. She is still living and is in Kansas. In fall of 1835, he came to Clark County and settled in Darwin, where he was in the mercantile busi- ness for some time. In 1837, he settled the present farm of Mr. J. D. Nichols. When settling there first, the nearest neighbors were two and a half and three miles distant. After living on the farm for some years. they then went to Parker Township. where he was in a mill for about five years, and in 1848 returned to the farm, where he remained till the time of his death. Our subject is the oldest of a family of seven boys and two girls; and as his father was one of the early settlers, his boyhood days were the same as
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those of most frontiersmen -helping to im- prove the farm, running wolves, deer, etc., also having his share of danger, running from fires, etc. But he was a boy that took to the hardships as well as the pleasures of frontier life, doing his part all the time. He received his education in the schools of this county, but when they tirst removed to the farm there were no schools or churches near them, so his first term of school was in Dar. win, then in Parker Township, but after- ward in his home district. Their first house was a log cabin in the hazel brush of "Island Grove," and here the mother would stay for weeks at a time with her two small children and not see any one, while the father was away at work. Wolves would come around the cabin, but still the mother cared for the stock and her little family. Our subject worked on the farm till he was twenty-one years old, and then hired to John Briscoe and worked for him for three years, driving cattle to Chicago and other Northern markets. In 1858, he went to California, but on account of his father's sickness, soon returned, and was farming till 1862, when he and his four oldest brothers enlisted in the army-two in the One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois, and three in Madison's Battery. Our subject only served for about nine months, when he was discharged on account of injuries re- ceived as they were putting up breastworks at Louisville, Ky. He then came home and remained on the old farm most of the time, till 1864, when his mother sold out the farm to William Hoskins. He then came to Mar- tinsville and engaged in the mercantile busi- ness for about three years, and then sold out and bought a farm near Darwin, Clark County. He remained on the farm for six years, improving it, and sold it in 1873. He then again moved to Martinsville, where he engaged in trading in stock for two years.
He then bought the Nichols House, but re- mained in it for only a short time and traded it for land, which he again traded for the old homestead of his father. This was in spring of 1875. Since that time, he has lived on the farm part of the time, and part of the time rented it and lived in Martinsville. The farm consists of 400 acres, and is well improved. In the present year, he has rebuilt and remodeled his residence and built a good barn. Mr. Nichols' main business has always been trading in stock or anything that he might think would make any money. No- vember 26, 1859, he was married in this township to Miss E. J. Newman. She was born in Edgar County, Ill., February 14, 1842, to Samuel and Eliza (Dudley) Newman. They were natives of Kentucky, and came to Edgar County, Ill., about 1828, moving on horseback, bringing two children and all their household goods on two horses. In 1854, they came to Clark County, Ill., and died here-he, July, 1861, she, January, 1863. They were the parents of ten children, five of whom are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have four children living and one dead- Viola, Grace, Harry and Lillie. He is Republican in politics, and is a member of Masonic fraternity.
DR. P. A. PEARSON, physician, Martins- ville, is a native of Hamilton County, Ind., born December 25, 1850, to Herman and Nancy (McMurtry) Pearson. He was born in Vermont, 1804, and died in Hamilton Coun- ty, Ind., 1879, after living in the county for forty-seven years, and on the same farm. She was a native of Ohio. She died when the Doctor was an infant. When Herman Pearson settled in Hamilton County, he had to cut his own road for about four miles through the green forest to get to the land which he had entered from the Government, and in the township there were but four or
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five settlers earlier than he. His life was then spent in farming, leading a quiet life, but practiced medicine among the settlers till the county was settled, and then abandoned the practice of medicine and gave his time to his farm. In 1812, they were driven from their home in Vermont by the Indians, and moved to Ohio, where his father settled and followed farming. He read medicine at Georgetown with Dr. Buckner, and after- ward practiced there for some time. He had also learned the carpenter's trade, and while in Georgetown he did the finishing work on Jesse Grant's house, while U. S. Grant was a boy grinding tan bark at the time. He was married in Ohio, but his first wife died and he afterward married the mother of our sub- ject there. Our subject received most of his education in Hamilton County, attending the graded schools of Boxley and Sheridan. He had been reading his father's medical works from the time he was fifteen years old, and in 1869 he went to reading with Dr. Burrows, of Boxley. He read with him over two years, and then came to Piatt County, Ill., and commenced the practice of medicine, May 6, 1871, and practiced there for three years and then removed to Indiana, again to Sheri- dan, practiced there for three years and then to Clark County, 1879, and located six miles south of county seat, and remained there till October 1, 1882, when he located at Mar- tinsville. While living in Piatt County, Ill., he was married, February 2, 1875, to Malinda Rudy. She was born in York County, Penn., October 30, 1854, to Jacob and Susan (Ni- man) Rudy. Mrs. Pearson's grandfather Ni- man was the father of thirteen children, all of whom survived him. He died at the age of ninety-one, having seventy-nine grand- children and forty-eight great grand-children. At the time of his death, all of the children attended his funeral and many of the grand-
children and great-grandchildren also. One of his grandsons, Hon. Levi Maish, was rep- resenting his district in Congress at the time. Our subject has two children, William Hen - dricks and Gertie Estella. The Doctor is a member of the Christian Church. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and also of the Knights of Honor, and is Democratic in pol- itics. The Doctor has always been very snc- cessful in the practice of his profession, and has established for himself a good practice in this county.
W. H. RANDAL, groceries, Martinsville, Ill., was born near Westfield, Clark County, 1834, October 6, to Henry and Sarah (Ben- nett) Raudal. They came from Kentucky to this State about 1830. He was born in Ken- tucky and she in Virginia. In their family there were five children, of whom our subject is the youngest. He was reared on a farm and received his education in an old log schoolhouse, and remained on the farm with his father uutil he was twenty-one years old, and then commenced farming for himself in Parker Prairie near the Round Grove, buy- ing 40 acres at the start. He continued farm - ing in Parker Township from spring of 1856 till spring of 1870 he moved to Martinsville, and has been here since. In summer of 1872, he started in his present business of family groceries, and has continued in it since. In 1856, he was married to Nancy J. Kemper; she was born in Edgar County, Ill., March 20, 1836, to Joseph Kemper, who had set- tled in Edgar County, 1834, coming from Virginia, his native place being Culpepper County, Va. Mr. and Mrs. Randal have four children living and one dead -John T., Sallie L., Mary J., Zona, and Rosa, deceased. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is a Democrat in politics. Mr. Randal still retains his farm, which consists of 90 acres. He carries a stock of about $2,000,
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and his yearly sales amount to about $6,000 to $8,000. Mr. Randal has seen most of the changes that have taken place in this coun- ty, from the time that the prairies were cov- ered with tall grass, and run over by droves of deer till the present time.
J. L. ROBERTS, milling, Martinsville, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, 1833, to Hezekiah and Nancy (Place) Roberts. They were both natives of Luzerne County, Penn. He was born in 1797 on the Shawnee Flats, on the Susquehanna River. In 1809, his par- ents moved to Delaware County, Ohio. She was born in 1799, and her parents moved to Ohio, 1813. The parents of our subject lived in Ohio until 1871, when they came to Clark County, Ill. She died here February, 1873, and he in October of the same year. They were the parents of nine children, seven of whom are still living as far as known. Our subject was raised on a farm, but as his father also had a mill, he worked in that part of his time. He was educated in the common schools of his native county, attending for several terms a school taught in an old farm- house, used before there was a schoolhouse ever built in the district. His first occupa- tion was that of a farmer, but he also learned the carpenter's trade and followed that for some time. In 1871, he came to this county and bought a farm of 200 acres six miles sonth of Martinsville; he then followed farm- ing till the spring of 1877; he came to Mar- tinsville and went into his present flouring mill and has been running it since. Since buying this mill, he has given it a complete overhauling and has put in almost entirely new machinery, and now has three run of buhrs, and everything for a complete custom mill. In 1853, he was married in Ohio to Jane Cosner, who was born in Ohio to Jacob B. and Margaret (Leonard) Cosner. He was born in Virginia and she in Pennsylvania, |
and both are still living in Licking County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have seven children living-J. H., Leonard W., Rosa Dell, William S., Lawrence M., Ida A. and Lloyd M. He is Republican in politics. In 1864, he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Seventy fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Capt. William H. Robb, and served ten months till the war closed. The last active service that Mr. Roberts did was to help guard arms at Durham's Station after John - ston's surrender. He was in Gen. Schofield's command when they were closing in on John- ston, and helped to repulse Johnston as he tried to break through.
WESLEY ROBERTS, farmer, P. O. Mar- tinsville, was born in Shelby County, Ind., May 12, 1837, to William and Catherine (Billby) Roberts. He was born June 17, 1791, in Virginia, and died August 27, 1973, in Clark County, III. She was born in New York September 24, 1805, and died in Clark County October 3, 1873. The father moved to Indiana at an early date, when Indianap- olis contained but three houses, and they log cabins. He lived in Shelby County, Ind., till 1860, when he came to this county and here resided until the time of his death. They were the parents of two children, one son and one daughter, but our subject is the only one now living. He was raised on a farm and received his education in Shelby County, Ind. He remained at home till January 16, 1862, when he was married to Miss Ann Jones: she was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, August 22, 1840. to Abram Tegard and Sarah (Edmondson) Jones. They were both born in Virginia. He died when Mrs. Roberts was twelve years old, and she, July 3, 1881, at the age of seventy-four (see sketch of Edmond Jones, of Marshall). Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have two children living-Lilian Fayetty and Ceve Vernon. In 1863, Mr. and
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