History of Effingham county, Illinois, Part 40

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin & co.
Number of Pages: 650

USA > Illinois > Effingham County > History of Effingham county, Illinois > Part 40

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).

BIOGRAPHICAL:

5, 1838; Livonia, March 25, 1841, and Amanda, August 7, 1843. His wife died November 1, 1844, leaving him a household of young children, the youngest being only a little past one year old. On the 30th day of September, 1846, he married his present wife, a Mrs. Ann Jackson, née Evans, of Macoupin County, Ill. He was elected Jus- tice of the Peace in 1836, and afterward was twice re-elected to the same office. Was elected a member of the County Commission- ers' Court in 1842, and was re-elected to the same office in 1850. In 1858, he was elected Associate Judge of the County Court, and continued to hold this office until, by the adoption of township organization, the office ceased to exist. In 1862, he was elected City Treasurer of the city of Effingham, and, at the expiration of the term, was re-elected. At the expiration of his term of office as City Treasurer, there was $532 cash of the city money in his hands, which was turned over to bis successor, Sam Moffitt and his receipt in full given for the same. Was twice elect- ed Supervisor for the city of Effingham, from which office he retired in the spring of 1882. He had been elected a Lieutenant of a militia company in Tennessee when a very young man, and his commission bore the sign man- ual of Gov. Carroll, of Tennessee. Here was a long life of honor and trust, and we need attempt no higher eulogy of his official life than to state the simple truth, that in all his life there was never the shadow of a shade of stain upon his official integrity and unflinch- ing honesty. He held these trusts most sa- cred, and turned them over to his successors in better condition than when he took them. He never was an office-seeker, and more than once when his friends had made up a ticket with his name for some leading county office, he has ordered his name taken off and some other name substituted. He would convince

his friends that this was for the best, and they would acquiesce and follow his instruc- tions. Judge Gillenwaters has been a con sistent Democrat all his life. He was born in the " State of Andrew Jackson," and his nature partook largely of the cast of the old hero. Any one familiar with the portrait of " Old Hickory " will be reminded of them the moment he looks at the portrait of the Judge in this work. There is a semblance in per- son as marked as is the character of the two men. In 1845, he built a saw-mill, water- power, on Salt Creek. After operating this a little more than a year, he went soldiering to Mexico, and during his absence John F. Waschefort purchased it. In 1850, he built a horse-power mill, and brought the first circu- lar saw to the county. This also was near Ewington. After running this about three years, it was sold to W. J. Hankins, and then he erected a steam mill just west of Ewington. In April, 1859, he moved to the town of Effingham and opened a hotel in the

house now occupied by himself and family as a residence. In this, as in most of his under- takings, he prospered, and, in 1864, he built the large brick hotel on the public square, and the brick business house adjoining the same. Here he kept a public house until

the spring of the year 1882, when he leased the establishment to its present pro- prietors, and thus at one and the same time he retired from business and public and official life, and has rested at last in cheery old age from his long, laborious and active labors. The history of Effingham County and the biography of Judge Gillenwaters are very much one and the same thing. His coming here and the existence of the county were coeval events. To much of its growth and prosperity it is indebted to him. He has been one of its humblest laborers and wisest counselors. He has been a Western

EFFINGHAM CITY AND DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP.

man in the broad sense of that term; he has realized the wants of the people and with strong brain and hand he has supplied that demand most generously and unsparingly. And now, when the race is nearly run, and the afternoon of life wanes, to see this ven- erable, white-haired couple, as hand in hand they pass along toward the twilight and the journey's end, receiving the love, reverence and respect of all, is a picture indeed that many loving hearts will wish may never fade.

SYLVESTER F. GILMORE, attorney and County Judge, Effingham, was born in Putman County, Ind., August 17, 1837; he was educated at Hanover College, Indiana, and began the study of law in 1858, at Green Castle, Ind., with Col. John A. Matson, and, after reading with him about two years, en- tered the Law Department of the Indiana As- bury University, from which he graduated in March, 1860, and began the practice of law in Carmi, Ill., continuing there until 1862, when he returned to his old home in Indiana and enlisted. in 1863, in the Seventy- eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and joined a portion of the Army of the Tennessee, and was stationed at Uniontown, Ky .. and took part in engagements near Morganfield, Ky., and at Uniontown, at which latter place the whole command was captured, late in 1863, and was paroled and sent home, subject re- turning to Green Castle, Ind., remaining un- til 1867. In September of that year he came to Effingham and has been in active practice here since. In 1873, he formed a partner- ship with Mr. White and the firm has for nine years been Gilmore & White. He was elected, in 1869, County Superintendent of Schools, and served four years. He was nominated for County Judge by the Dem- ocratic convention in April, 1882. Mr. Gil- more was married, in April, 1860, at Green Castle, to Miss Julia A. Matkin; they have

four children-Clarence, Mary, Willie and Thomas. Mrs. Gilmore died June 12, 1881.

WILLIAM L. GOODELL, M. D., Effing- ham, is the eldest son of Dr. William S. and Catharine (Herrick) Goodell, and was born in Richland County, Ohio, September 28, 1844; he was taught by his parents at home with the exception of two terms in the public schools, and afterward entered college. When about nine years old, he came with his parents to Illinois and they located at Kan- sas, Edgar Co., Ill., where his father was a merchant and a physician. Our subject en- tered Marshall College in 1858, his parents having removed to Marshall, Clark Co., Ill., in that year, to educate their children. Our subject remained in college until October, 1850. In September, 1861, he began the study of medicine with his father, and stud ied and practiced with him until the latter's death. He entered the Medical Department of Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, in October, 1861, and attended two full courses there, and, in 1865, he entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, from which he graduated in 1866 and located and practiced over a year in Coles County, Ill. In 1868, he came to Effingham and has practiced here ever since. He was associated with his father al- most to the time of his father's death. He has been a member of the Illinois State Med- ical Society since 1875, and is a member of the Esculapian Society of the Wabash Valley. He was a delegate to the International Med- ical Congress, held in Philadelphia, Penn., in 1876. Ho was also a delegate to the American Medical Association, held in At- lanta, Ga., in 1877. He joined the Centen- nial Medical Society of Southern Illinois in ISSO. His father, William Sherman Good- ell, M. D., was born at Weathersfield, Wind. sor Co., Vt., A. D. 1815. He studied medi- cine with Dr. Stone, of Lyndon, Vt., at-

BIOGRAPHICAL:

tended medical leetures at Cleveland, two full courses at the University of Michigan, and one course at Rush Medical College, Chicago. Practiced his profession more than forty years, and was master of it in all its various departments. The Doctor stood very high in his profession, having a large prac- tice and was very successful. He was a mem- ber of Esculapian Medical Society of the Wabash Valley. The Doctor's scientific at- tainments, literary lore and classical refine- ment, coupled with his wondrous conversa- tional power, rendered him a favorite among original thinkers and investigators. The Doc- tor was a perfect grammarian, and in the olden time has had teachers come thirty miles to have him analyze and parse complex sen- tences and decide disputes amongst gram- marians. Could solve any mathematical problem and wrote an arithmetic, but it was never published. He was known to his friends and his enemies as an unshaken, hon- est Democrat of the " Jackson " type, and. although eminent as a politician, he could never be induced to accept an office. During the hot campaign of 1860, he discussed the political issues of the day with Mr. Lincoln. Was the personal friend of Hon. J. C. Rob- inson, Judge John Scholfield, Hon. C. L. Vallandigham, Judge Stephen A. Douglas and was a correspondent of Gov. H. A. Wise. The Doctor married Catharine Herrick (daughter of Judge Herrick), of De Kalb County, Ind., in A. D. 1840; they had three children, viz., William L. Goodell, M. D., Catharine J. Goodell and F. Wise Goodell, M. D. In April, 1867, the Doctor saw the | certain development of Effingham City and County, so moved with his family (who are yet residents of the city). He built two large and substantial brick dwellings in the north- ern part of the city. He was a Master Ma- son. After a long and useful life the Doctor

passed quietly to that undiscovered country from " whose bourn no traveler returns," No- vember 20, 1877, of pneumonia, caused by ex- posure while engaged in his profession.

FRANK WISE GOODELL, M. D., Effingham, was born in Marshall, Clark Co., Ill., March 1, 1858; at the age of sixteen, he began the study of medicine with his father, and studied in his office and practiced with him, and afterward, with his older brother, Dr. William L. Goodell, in Effingham, as student, and afterward as partner. He was a student in the Louisville Medical College and the Indiana Medical College, at Indian- apolis, and was considered the most popular student in his respective classes, being per- sonally acquainted with every student and professor. He was the youngest student in the Louisville school and Vice President of the Sydenham Medical Society. He was nominated for the office of Coroner at the Democratic Primary Convention, held April 4, 1882, by over 1,200 majority.

H. GORRELL, carpenter, Effingham, was born in Knox County, Ohio, January 7, 1829, son of Joseph and Mary (Van Cleaf) Gorrell, he, a farmer, born in Maryland, and died in 1873, near Columbus, Ohio; she, born in New Jersey and died in Knox County, Ohio, in 1852. They were the parents of eleven chil- dren, three of whom are living. Our subject received his education in his native State, and was engaged in farming until he became twenty-one years of age. He was married, November 1, 1849, in Knox County, Ohio, to Miss Sarah Kirkpatrick, born in Harrison County, same State, February 22, 1829, daughter of John M. and Nancy (Guthrie) Kirkpatrick. Mr. and Mrs. Gorrell have had six children, two of whom are living-Elca- neh and Clementine. Those deceased are Ransom, Arvilla, Clara and Alva. Our sub- ject has worked at his trade of carpentering

EFFINGHAM CITY AND DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP.

since coming to this county. He has been in the employ of the Vandalia Railroad Com- pany for nine years, where he has Superin- tended a force of workmen. Our subject's son, Elcaneh, lives in Newton, Jasper Coun- ty, this State, and is editor of the Jasper County Times, a Republican paper. He is also Lieutenant of the "Newton Guards," State Militia, Company B. He married El- la Brown, the daughter of Attorney D. B. Brown, of Newton. Our subject's daughter, Clementine, is the wife of Mr. W. H. Bea- ver, a salesman in J. V. Farwell & Co.'s wholesale dry goods house, Chicago; they have one boy-Frank Earl, born January 15, 1882. Our subject and wife are members of the Methodist Church. He is an I. O. O. F., Dallas Lodge, No. 85. In politics, he is a Democrat.

A. A. GRAVENHORST, editor of the Effingham Volksblatt, son of Theodore and Sophia (Oehker) Gravenhorst, was born in the village of Neuhaus, in the Kingdom of Hanover, now Prussia, March S, 1839. He was educated at the Gymnasium, at Lunen- burg, Hanover, and nearly completed a course in modern languages, preparatory to enter- ing the university. He left school at seven- teen and spent two years at agricultural pur- suits. In 1858, being nineteen years of age, he came to the United States and located near Chicago, Ill., and for two years worked on a farm in Cook County. In 1860, he came to Teutopolis, this county, with little in the way of surplus capital. He entered the employ of Mr. Waschefort, remaining about six months. He enlisted, in 1864, in the Forty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was at Franklin, Tenn .. Nashville and other minor engagements. He returned in July, 1865, and, in 1867, went into business here for himself and has continued prosperously ever

since. In June, 1878, he started the first German paper ever published in the county, and enlarged and improved it to a six-column quarto, in October, 1882, and called it the Effingham Volksblatt. He married Miss Barbara Blattner. January 4, 1871; they have four children living.

J. N. GROVES, physician and surgeon, Effingham City, was born in Perry County, Ohio, February 21, 1841. He came to Illi- nois at the age of fourteen, and his parents first settled in Crawford County. At the age of fifteen years, he entered the Ohio Wesley- an University, at Delaware, where he spent about three years. He returned to Illinois and began the study of medicine, in 1858, with Dr. S. M. Meeker, of Hardinsville, Ill., and, in the fall of 1860, he entered the Chi- cago Medical College, in which he spent a winter and summer term. In July, 1861, he settled in Watson, this county, where he be- gan to practice, which he continued until 1862, when he enlisted in the Ninety-eighth Illinois Mounted Infantry, as private in Com- pany F, Capt. Le Crone, and was made Hos- pital Steward at once, and, in 1863. he was made First Assistant Surgeon of the Ninety- eighth Regiment. Dr. Groves was detailed to accompany, as Surgeon, the Fourth Michigan Cavalry, in quest of Jeff Davis, and was present at his capture. He remained until the close of the war, in July, 1865, when he re- turned to Effingham and formed a partner- ship with Dr. John Le Crone, of this city, and practiced here until October, 1865, when he entered the Rush Medical College at Chi- cago, from which he graduated January 24, 1866, and returned to Effingham for a year, when he moved to Freemanton, just before the Vandalia road was built, and when the station was located at Altamont, ho located and remained there until 1880, when he moved to Effingham. In September, 1880

BIOGRAPHICAL:

he established the Effingham Surgical Insti- tute and Eye and Ear Infirmary, in con- nection with Dr. L. J. Schifferstein, an oc- ulist and aurist. Dr. Groves and his asso- ciate are in charge of the Mercy Hospital at Effingham. He is Surgeon-in-chief of the Springfield, Effingham & Southeast- ern Railway, and local surgeon of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad. He has built up a very large practice and eatablished an envi- able reputation as a surgeon.

J. N. GWIN, lawyer, Effingham, whose portrait appears in this work, first breathed the vital air in Crawford County, Ill., near where Robinson, the county capital, was shortly af- terward located. His parents, John W. and Lucindes Gwin, obeyed the admonition "to get married and go West." They moved from Virginia to said county in 1830, when that re- gion was almost a wilderness, the wolves and deer being almost the sole occupants of the prairie. Here the subject of this biog- raphy was reared, being the fourth child of his parents, but the oldest now living. He was brought up on a farm and accustomed to a life of toil. Having received a liberal edu- cation by going to the country schools, some three miles distant, for three or four months of each winter, during the time he worked on the farm. At the solicitation of some friends, his father sent him to an acad- emy at Marshall, Ill., in 1857, then in suc- cessful operation under the control of the M. E. Church, where he remained one year. The year spent at the academy created such a desire for knowledge in the young man that his father sent him to McKendree College, in 185S, where he entered the classical course and remained two years. from which institu- tion, in 1860, he went to the Indiana Asbury University, at Green Castle, Ind., for the pur. pose of studying German and French, where he remained one year, returning to McKen-

dree College; he remained one year, graduat- ing in the classical course, in the ever mem- orable class of June 19, 1862, with the de- gree of Bachelor of Arts. His father died a few days after the completion of his colle- giate course, and he was left to commence life on his own resources; he taught school successfully for one year, then read law for a year with Judge Kitchell, at Olney, Ill .; served one year in the army, in the Fifth In- diana Cavalry; was on detached duty as Clerk of the General Court Martial, at Pu- laski, Tenn., during the summer of 1865. Was mustered out of the service with his regiment after the expiration of the war, and immediately entered the Cincinnati Law School, in October, 1865, at which institu- tion he graduated in 1866, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In June, 1865, the de- gree of Master of Arts was conferred on him by McKendree College. Was admitted to the bar at Mt. Vernon, in June, 1866, and com- menced the practice of the law at Effingham August 1 of the same year, where he has ever since resided and practiced his chosen profession. Was the candidate for Presi. dential elector on the Liberal Republican ticket for the Fifteenth Congressional Dis- trict in 1872. Elected Mayor of the city of Effingham in 1877, overcoming a Democratic majority of over one hundred, being the only . one on the ticket that had any opposition that was elected, which position he held for two years, acquitting himself with the almost universal declaration that he made the best Mayor Effingham ever had. He is a gentle- man of excellent exemplary habits for one of his profession; he neither chews, smokes nor uses intoxicating drinks of any kind except for medicinal purposes. During his colle- giate course of five years, so staid and rigid were his conscientious convictions of right that he never received a demerit mark, un-

EFFINGHAM CITY AND DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP.

excused absence from recitation or private reproof, being the only one in his class that had a porfeet record. Knowing the advan- tages of a religious and educational training, he has ever since manifested a great interest in the Sabbath and week day schools, and, as Secretary of the Board of Education, he has been untiring in his efforts to secure none but first-class teachers in the public schools of the city of Effingham. Sixteen years ago, he arrived at Effingham without a dollar that he could call his own, and among entire stran- gers, but by leading a life of sobriety, econ- omy and industry, he has accumulated some property, and now, with his aged mother, Je- cupies the most beautiful home in the city of Effingham. In politics, he was a Republican from boyhood, making an active canvass for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, with which party he continued to act until 1876, when he joined the National party, and was sent as a delegate from Illinois to the National Convention at Indianapolis, that nominated Peter Cooper for President; in 1880, was a delegate to tho National Convention at Chicago that nomi- nated Gen. Weaver as a candidate for Presi- dent. He is one of the oldest members, in point of membership, of Dallas Lodge, No. 85, I. O. O. F. He has also taken all the degrees in White Hall Lodge, No. 134, and Encampment at Effingham. Is a mem ber of Gates Post, No. 88, of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was one of its charter members.

HENRY G. HABING, agent Adams Ex- press Company, insurance and real estate, Effingham, was born near the town of Essen, Oldenburg, Germany, January 13, 1837. His parents died in Germany, and, in 1844, subject, then seven years old, came to the United States with his grandfather, Casper Waschefort, who settled in Teutopolis, this county, and subject lived in the village until

1854, when he went to Evansville, Ind., where he was clerk in a general store for three years, and, in 1857, returned to Teu- topolis and clerked for his uncle, John F. Waschefort, three years, and, in 1860, came to Effingham, and the same year Mr. Wasche- fort opened a store here, which Mr. Habing ran for three years, and in 1863 opened a general store of his own, which he ran nntil 1866, when he sold it and engaged with Thomas D. Craddock in the banking business. the firm of Craddock & Habing conducting a private bank until 1873, when the partner- ship was dissolved and subject continued by himself until 1876. In 1876, Mr. Habing engaged in the insurance business, which ho has continued with good success. In ad- dition, he became the first agent of the Wa- bash Railroad, in 1879, and is still its agent. Also became agent of the Adams and Pacific Express Companies in 1881. He was agent of the American Express Company at Effing- ham from 1860 to 1866. He was elected on the Independent ticket, in 1867, and served two years as County Treasurer, and again elocted in 1873, on the Democratic ticket as County Treasurer for one term. He was Mayor of Effingham in 1875, and the same year Chairman of the Board of Supervisors; served severalterms in other offices of trust, as Alderman, Trustee and School Treasurer.

RUFUS C. HARRAH, State's Attorney, Effingham City, was born in Putnam County, Ind., October 10, 1846. He came with his father to Jasper County, Ill., in 1858, and lived on a farm. He was educated at West- field College, Illinois, which he left in 1870 and taught school two years. in Putnam County, Ind. March 10, 1872, he came to Effingham and studied law with J. N. Gwin, and was admitted to the bar June 18, 1874, and has been practicing here since. He was Police Magistrate of Effingham from 1873 to

BIOGRAPHIICAL:

1881. He was elected State's Attorney for this county in 1880, for four years, by the Democrat- ic party. His parents still live in Jasper Coun- ty, Ill., where his father has followed the life-long occupation of farming. His father, Daniel F. Harrah, was born in Montgomery County, Ky., and came to Indiana about 1835. He was the son of Daniel Harrah, a soldier of the war of 1812. Our subject was married, in 1873, to Mrs. Ellen Warren, of Jasper County, Ill. They have two children living.

GEORGE HARVEY, farmer, P. O. Effing- ham, was born in Schuylkill County, Penn., January 18, 1832, son of Isaac and Sarah (Wunder) Harvey, he, born in Berks County, Penn., in 1800, was a blacksmith and died in Schuylkill County, same State, in 1874; she was also a native of Berks County, Penn., born in 1802, and died in Schuylkill County, same State, in July, 1853. They were the parents of fifteen children, ten of whom are living. Our subject received his education in his native county, and was engaged in farming till 1866, when he went to work in the coal mines of his State, in which occupa- tion he was engaged until 1879, at which time he came to Illinois and purchased a farm of 500 acres in this county, paying $18 per acre. His place is adjoining to the city limits of Effingham, and includes 120 acres . of timber land. Hecarries on general farm- ing. Our subject was married, in his native county, August 12, 1853, to Miss Mary N. Dentler, born in the same county, daughter of Jacob Dentler, born in Lewisburg, Union Co., Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey have nine children living-Theodore H., Isaac A., Charles, Anna Maria, Esther, George, Sam- uel, Richard and Bessie. Mrs. Harvey is a member of the Church of the United Breth- ren. He is an I. O. O. F., Pine Grove Lodge, No. 148, and is also a member of the En- campment. In politics, he is a Republican.

ALPHEUS J. HASBROUCK, Effingham, watchman, was born in Kingston, Ulster Co., N. Y., March 1, 1826, son of Jacob and Ari- etta (Schoonmaker) Hasbrouck, he, born in Kingston, N. Y., April 2, 1800, was a stu- dent under Dr. Mott, and afterward a phy- sician, died in Seneca County, N. Y .; she was of Holland descent, born in 1802, and died in New York State in August, 1882. The history of the Hasbrouck family is in- teresting as well as somewhat peculiar. Our subject's ancestors (as far back as the history can be traced) were two Frenchmen, who, in Coligny's time, during the early persecution of Protestants in France, fled to Holland, where they took refuge among the Huguenots, and afterward emigrated to America, sailing from England for Boston, in April, 1675, thence to New York and from there to Eso- pus (now Kingston, N. Y.), arriving in the latter place in July of the same year. One of the brothers, Joseph, remained in Esopus, while the other, Jacob, settled in Poughkeep- sie, N. Y., and both intermarried with the French and Hollanders. Our subject's great- grandfather and Mrs. Hasbrouck's great great- grandfather were first cousins, so the two families, though at intervals, would be quite distant from each other, time would bring them together again. Our subject's grand- father was a Captain in the Revolutionary war and a Colonel in the war of 1812. In the great civil war, there were eighteen repre- sentatives of the family in the army, ranking from a private to a General. Our subject is the descendant of the oldest child in each generation, with one exception. The first child in each generation happened to be a boy. In early life our subject was a farmer. He was married, in Seneca County, N. Y., October 8, 1851, to Miss Mary Ann Has- brouck, born in Kingston, N. Y., May 5, 1829, daughter of Louis and Margaret (Van

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.

History of Effingham county, Illinois, Part 40

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin & co. Number of Pages: 650

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin & co.
Number of Pages: 650