History of Effingham county, Illinois, Part 48

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 48

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A. J. WORMAN, real estate, Effingham, was born May 23, 1857, son of John J. and Mary (Budeed) Worman, he born in Germany in 1827, and she in Holland. They had seven children. At the age of seventeen years, our subject went to St. Louis, Mo., where he worked at type-setting for one year in a stamp factory, and the following two years was engaged as collector for R. Booth, a picture dealer of that city. In 1877. he returned to Effingham and accepted a position as Assistant Circuit Clerk under W. C. Le Crone. He afterward formed a partnership with A. W. Le Crone, and the firm is now en- gaged in the real estate business. Our sub- ject's familiarity with the records of the county courts give him great fitness for the business in which he is at present engaged He was married, in St. Louis, Mo., March 8, 1875, to Miss Frances Kemph, born in Indi- ana December 18, 1854, daughter of George and Elizabeth Kemph. Mr. and Mrs. Wor- man have three children-Lorina Regina. Anna Frances and Clara Constance. Our subject is a member of the Catholic Church, and in politics is a Democrat.

BIOGRAPHICAL:

HENRY H. WRIGHT, farmer, P. O. Effingham, was born in Wayne County, Ill., in September, 1823; moved to St. Louis, Mo., in 1828, and lived there a year. His parents came to this county in the fall of 1834. They brought three ox-teams and seveu ox- carts. His father had made a visit previous to coming, and made arrangements to come here and board hands working on the Na- tional road. He therefore brought seven head of horses, three yoke of oxen and seven head of beef cattle and provisions. In the spring of 1835, our subject and his brother George went to Wayne County for the rest of the cattle and a drove of sheep. They had one horse, and night came on and they found no house till after dark, so subject be- came very much frightened by the howling of wolves. They finally reached a cabin in the woods, where a girl, about fourteen years of age, was alone, and they put the sheep in a pen around the house and the dogs kept the wolves away till morning. On their way home through Clark County, they saw ou a mound and counted sixty deer playing. They stopped work on the National road for a time, in the fall of 1835, and his father di- vided out the stock of provisions, and lost heavily from book accounts on account of people moving away. The Government au- thorities condemned the sandstone abutments at Ewington, and about 1835, and his father secured the stone in them and built the foun- datiou for his house. Our subject went to school in a log cabin in Ewington, to Thomas M. Loy, his brother-in-law. A school had been taught before by Mr. Gillespie, a rela- tive of Loy's. Subject next went to school one mile north of Ewington, to Dr. Newton Tarrant, and next in the old log court house at Ewington. At about the age of fourteen, subject was sworn in as mail-carrier from Vandalia to Palestine, Ill. He received $12

per month, and was found everything. It was 100 miles and he made a round trip per week, having about twelve offices on the route, and he traveled on horseback. An ex- press was run in addition to mail. Between New York and St. Louis, there was a " sys- tem," and the stations were about ten miles apart. Riders approaching would blow a horn, and the next one would be ready, mounted and would take the little bag, and they would ride swiftly enough to make ten miles an hour. After this, a telegraph line was put up and was in operation about two years. Our subject carried mail about four months to Palestine, and next he carried for six months from Ganowag's to Vandalia, and also had another trip to Woodbury. He was the first time employed by Mr. B. Whitfield, and went by Widow Cavanaugh's, who lived beyond Greenup. He next carried from Ew- ington to Greenville for most of the time for four years, under contract of his brother George, and while not on the road attended the horse-mill owned by his mother, and worked on the farm. He was married, June 9, 1844, to Miss Susan Selock, a sister of Mrs. John Funk and Mrs. William T. Myers and several others. After marriage, our snb- ject settled in Watson Township, on land owned by Mr. Hill, then called " Water Oak Grove." He bought a small improvement of John McCann, and lived there but one sea- son, when, at the request of his mother, he came back to Ewington, where his wife took sick and lost her arm. He took charge of a hotel and small farm about one season, when he bought an improvement near Shumway, and after having been there a time, he again went back to Ewington, and lived there as a hotel-keeper and merchant until the county seat was moved. He carried the chain with Mr. Lacy when his brother surveyed and laid out Effingham, and built a house here before

EFFINGHAM CITY AND DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP.

the war, where Debold Smith lives. He started for Pike's Peak in 1859, but met so many returning that he did not reach his destination. He returned to farm on Blue Point, and enlisted, in August, 1861, for three years, and his became one of the first veteran rogiments in 1863. He enlisted in the Twenty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and belonged to the Army of the Teunossee. He fought at New Madrid, Island No. 10, Corinth, Vicksburg, siege of Jackson, Miss., Mission Ridge (where a shell cut the oil cloth on his back and cut a man just back of him), and Atlanta, Ga. (lasting three weeks), Kenesaw Mountain, Jonesboro and on the march to the sea and last battle at Golds- boro, N. C. He was mustered out in Sep- 1 tember, 1865, at Springfield. He began making brick and has run saw-mill and store and farm. He was proprieter of the Flem- ing House, Effingham, and opened the first hotel in Altamont, where he remained abont two years and again to Fleming House, and afterward to Newton, and returned to Effing- ham and kept the City Hotel. In April, 1882, he bought /his present place, near Effingham, where he is now engaged in farm- ing. Mr. Wright had five children by his first marriage; two only are living-William H. and Samuel H .; others died in infancy. He married, the second time, Mary J. Bates. of this county. He had ton childron by his last marriage; five aro living-Hattie J., Henrietta V., Gussie, Evaline, Charles Beecher, Olola Maud; others died in in- fancy.

WILLIAM WRIGHT, real estate, Effing- ham, was born in Wayne County, Ill., June 14, 1831. He came with his parents to this county late in 1834. His father, Jonathan Wright, was a nativo of New Jersey, and was a bricklayer by trade. He came to St. Louis, Mo., as early as 1819, and while work.

ing there selected a site in Wayne County, Ill., and brought his family in 1821. Two of his brothers also came by flat-boat from Pittsburg, Penn., to Shawneetown, Ill., and settled three miles from Fairfield, Ill. The father lived there until 1834, except one or two years' residence in St. Louis. He died in 1835. He foll with a scaffold while erect- ing the old State House, at Vandalia, III. Ho left four sons and five daughters, of whom five are still living. George, the oldest son, diod in July, 1870. He had been County Surveyor of Effingham County for some years. Henry H. is a farmer in this county (see sketch); William C., subject; Mary A. Flem- ing, see sketch; Susan (deceased), was the wife of Thomas Loy; Sarah, wife of Mr. Burke, of Georgetown, Ill .; Helen A., wife of Col. Funkhouser; Hutchinson, died in New Jersey in his second year, and Emma A .. died at seven years of age. Our subject, the third son of the family, received his education in a log schoolhouse at Ewington, and worked on the farm in the meantime. He was mar. ried, in 1855, to Jemima Rinehart, and has five sons living of that marriage. He began farming in Summit Township, and became by purchase of other heirs owner of his fa- ther's homestead, which he farmed for ten years. He came to Effingham in the spring of 1865, and has since been engaged in the real estate business, selling both farm and town property on commission and for him- self. He received, on November 15. 1877, the appointment of Postmaster at Effingham, by President Hayes, and held the office four years and two months. His first wife died January 2, 1871, and he was married the sec- ond time, August 23, 1873, to Mrs. Maggie A. Blair, of Olney, III. He had two children by his last marriage-one son and one daugh- ter. Mr. Wright is President of the Effing- ham County Agricultural Fair.

BIOGRAPHICAL:

WILLIAM HARRISON WRIGHT, liv- eryman, Effingham, was born in Ewington, this county, January 5, 1847, eldest son of Henry H. Wright. Our subject lived in Ew- ington until 1857. He started out from home when twelve years old, and lived at the hotel here in Effingham, with his uncle, un- til the war broke out. In 1862, he went to Hannibal, Mo., and for a short time peddled goods among the soldiers. In the spring of 1863, he went to Scottsboro, Ala., where he fell in with the Fifteenth Army Corps of Sherman's Army, and sold notions and re- freshments to soldiers. He followed Sher- man's Army until after the battle of Resaca, Ga., where he was struck by a bursting shell and thrown fifteen feet, but received no per manent injury. He was sent back with the wounded, but went soon after to Stevenson, Ala .. where he found employment in a rail- road eating-house for two months, when he went to Nashville, Tenn., where he was mes- senger boy at the headquarters of Capt. Bru- mer. who was in charge of Corrals, and re- mained there for a few months. After a visit home, he returned to Nashville, Tenn., and drove a team there a short time for the Government until he was promoted to the po- sition of wagonmaster of a train of twenty- five wagons, running from Nashville to the cavalry post east of that city. He held that position until the close of the war, and during this period bought and sold horses, and at the close of the war bought Government horses and drove them North. On his arrival home, he engaged in the manufacture of brick with his father, and made the brick for the M. E. Church, of Effingham. He engaged in the livery business in the spring of 1866, in partnership with S. J. Fleming, and contin- ued with him. under the firm name of Flem- ing & Wright, about six years, when he dis- solved his partnership, and since 1872 has

built and owned three stables, and during the same period has bought from six to ten car- loads of horses and mules per year, princi- pally for the Southern markets. He was also interested in the handling and training of several trotters, and figured in every county trot since the establish ment of the Effingham County Agricultural Society. His horses have met with uniform success in these races. His present stable is located on Banker street, where he conducts a general livery, sale and trading business, dealing in all kinds of live stock. He was married, in July, 1868, to Miss Emma McPherson, who died in 1875, leaving four children-Mabel M., Albert L., Samuel H. and William W. He remarried, May 27, 1878, Miss Lizzie Mitchell.

WILLIAM B. WRIGHT, attorney at law, Effingham, was born in Ewington, III., June 7. 1860. In 1865, his parents moved to Effingham. where our subject was educated in the public schools. At the age of sixteen, he went to McLennan County, Texas, where he was engaged in farming and cattle-herd- ing for three years. He returned home in 1879, and spent one year in the high school here, aud, in June, 1880, he went to Valpa- raiso, Ind., where he began the study of law, entering the Law Department of the North- ern Indiana Normal School, from which he graduated in spring of 1882. In May of the same year was admitted to the bar, in the State of Indiana, and, in August, 1SS2, was admitted to practice in the courts of Illinois, forming a partnership with Mr. Loy in June, 1882. During the summer vacation of 1881, he studied law with Benson Wood of this place.

JOSEPH ZANDER, shoe-maker, Effing- ham, is a native of Germany, born Decem- ber 5, 1835, son of John and Mary (Copen- hagen) Zander, natives of the same country. They were farmers and the parents of five

MOUND TOWNSHIP.

children. Our subject received his schooling in his native country, where he also learned his trade. He came to the United States in 1866, landing in New York. He came to Kankakee, Ill., and after a residonce there of four years, he came to Effingham, and worked at his trade. He was married, November 7, 1871, to Miss Louisa Esh, born in Germany May 28, 1850, daughter of Joe and Dorothea (Garling) Esh, natives also of Germany. Mr.

and Mrs. Zander have had five children, four of whom are living-Emilia, born Oc- tober 12, 1872; Samuel, August 21, 1874; August, January 1, 1879, and Herman, May 9, 1882. Our subject opened a shop on Main street in 1878, where he turns out first class work, guaranteeing a good fit and satis- faction. He is a member of the Lutheran Church and in political affairs he votes for the best men.

MOUND TOWNSHIP.

WILLIAM BLAKELY, farmer, P. O. Altamont, was born in Knox County, Ohio, August 5, 1836, to William and Sarah (Grubb) Blakely. Father was born in Washington County, Penn., January 22, 1805, was taken to Knox County, Ohio, by his parents when quite young. Here he was educated and raised on a farm. Arriving at his majority, he married. on April 3, 1828, and engaged in agricultural pursuits, at which he continued until he died, which oc- curred August 28, 1878. He was a son of Francis Blakely, a native of Pennsylvania, and a soldier in the war of 1812. The mother of our subject was born in Rocking- ham County, Va., November 10, 1807, and is now residing with her children; is now in Knox County, Ohio, where most of hor chil- dren aro living; she, however, spends a por- tion of her time with our subject. She is a daughter of Daniel Grubb, a native of Rockingham County, Va., and a soldier in the war of 1812. The parents of our subject had twelve children, eight boys and four girls, of whom four boys and two girls are living-Mrs. Nancy J. Horn, born in 1831, October 28, of Knox County, Ohio; subject; Mrs. Christian Waddell, January 24, 1840, of Huron Connty, Ohio: George W., born

November 18, 1841, Knox County; Henry H .. January 18, 1844, is in Rice County. Kan .; Elcaneh F., born November 15, 1845, of Knox; John, born May 26, 1833, came to Effingham County in about 1860, and re- mained here until 1874, when he removed to Phillips County, Kan., and, in 1SS2, to Florida to improve his hoalth, but died at Pea Ridge, Ark., his death occurring June 21, 1882. William, our subject, spent his early life at home, receiving such an education as the common schools and acad- emy of Knox County, Ohio, afforded, and assisting in tilling the soil of his fath- er's farm. When he was about twenty-one years of age, he left home and embarked on his career in life as a farmer in his native county. In the spring of 1858, he re- moved to Clark County, where he remained until November, 1863, when he with his fam- ily drove across the country, threo teams and wagons, containing his family and earthly possessions, to the then far West. He, hear- ing of the opportunities a poor man had of obtaining a home in the West, was induced to try his luck. He remained with his brother that winter, and the following spring located on his present farm, where he has since remained actively engaged in farming.

BIOGRAPHICAL:

When he came his farm was unimproved, a body of open prairie. Upon his farm he now has a large and commodious house and barn, and its general surroundings speak of its owner being a practical farmer. He bought when he came 160 acres, and now owns 200 of prairie and 10 of timber. In October, 1857, in Knox County, he married Miss Su- san Wohlford, a native of Knox County, Ohio; she is the mother of six children, viz., Emma (Albert) Zimmerman; Celesta J., Sarah C., Charles F., Ada A. and John H. He has held the offices of Road Commission- er, Supervisor for one term, School Treasurer for five or six years, School Trustee, and is now School Director. Himself and family are members of the M. E. Church at Alta- mont, and a Trustee of the same. He held the leadership of the same for fifteen years, and has been a liberal contributer to school, church and charitable purposes. Politically, his sympathies are with the Republican par- ty. His two brothers, George and Henry, enlisted in the Eighty-second Ohio, Company F, and the former, serving six months, was discharged on account of his health, and Henry served four years; was with Sherman on his march through the South. Neither was wounded. Henry was once knocked down by a ball striking his buckle on the belt. Mr. Blakely commenced life a poor man, and, by his studied economy and busı- ness habits, he has succeeded in accumulating a good property which he is now surrounded with.

DANIEL BOYER, retired, P. O. Alta- mont, was born in Alleghany County. Md., near the Virginia line, November 10, 1814. He was raised on a farm until the age of eighteen. He went to driving a stage on the old National road, between Cumberland and Uniontown, Penn., and continued for ten years. He then drove wagon for four years,

principally between Cumberland and Wheel- ing, 131 miles, which took eighteen days for a round trip. He emigrated to Morgan County, Ohio, in 1853, where he bought a farm and lived on it until July, 1865, and his labors were attended with good success. He landed in Effingham July 24, 1865, where he kept a grocery until March, 1866. March 15, 1866, he came to old Freemanton, where he en- gaged in a general merchandise business, and became one of the largest dealers in that place, until 1872, when he came to Altamont. He brought the first 1,000 feet of lumber ever brought here, put up a platform on the Vandalia road and began buying and ship- ping grain, loading into cars as fast as it came in. He had his present grain house up by September, and at once put up a little plank house, where Reis now is, and sold goods in it until the spring of 1872, by which time he had storeroom completed ad- jacent to the present Boyer House. He closed his business in Freemanton in 1872, and the same year had warehouse, lumber yard and store at the same time. He also bought hogs largely in Altamont. He con- tinued merchandising until February, 1878. He built the first hotel here, in the winter of 1872, and afterward remodeled it, and it be- came the Boyer House in 1878. It has thir- ty-two bedrooms, double parlors, two sample- rooms on first floor, with office, etc., etc. He built and bought about eight houses in the town. He moved to his present farm August 1, ISSO, which he has improved and adorned with a substantial and beautiful residence. He is a Republican in politics, but has sought no office. He married, in Mercer County, Penn., in 1838, Rachel White, and has one daughter-Lydia Ann, wife of John C. Rus- sell. His wife died in Effingham September 18, 1865, and he was remarried, in 1866, to Mrs. Mary J. Rufty, of this county.

MOUND TOWNSHIP.

THEODORE G. BOYER, photographer, Altamont, son of Joseph K. and Anna (Ca sey) Boyer, was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, August 21, 1849. He was brought by his parents to Warren County, Ill., when seven years old. This was in 1856, and, in 1861, he moved to Bartholomew County, Ind., and, in 1862, ho ontered a photograph gal- lery in Columbus, Ind., to learn the business and remained there until 1863; he afterward worked as a general operator in different points in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, until 1865, when he returned to Illinois, and also worked in Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. In the fall of 1869, he located in Centralia, where he established a photograph gallery of his own, and run it for almost two years, when he removed to Vandalia, Ill., where he worked from 1871 to 1876, and during that time established branch galleries at Effingham, Carbondale, Grand Tower and Ramsey. In 1876, he sold galleries and went on the road, and executed crayon and ink work for two years, priuci- pally iu Illinois and Indiana. September 1, 1878, he came to Altamont, Ill., and estab- lished his present gallery, on Main street, where he has every facility for doing every kind of artistic work, and makes a specialty of ink work. He was married, in 1871, to Miss Susie Lewis, of Centralia, Ill. In poli- ties, he is a Democrat. He is serving as City Clerk of Altamont, and has held other offices.

WILLIAM ALLEN BROOM, deceased, was born in Smith County, Tonn., in August, 1829, and was four weeks old when he came to this county. Schools were few and poor, and he went from two to two and ono-half miles distant to a log subscription school. He gained what might be called a fair com- mon-school education, and taught one of the early schools with good success, and taught about three terms. He started out for him-

self on a farm, where he continued about three years. He then opened a storo at Free. manton. He continued there for a time, when he bought a farm in Jackson Township, where he remained for some ten years, and has had good success. About 1865, his health broke down, and he removed to Mason Township, where he farmed until 1871. For seven years he ran a threshing machine, and this tended to break down his health. In 1871, he came to Altamont aud opened the first drug store of the place with Samuel Gil- more as partner. He continued about nine months in that business, the last six months alone, when he sold out drugs and engaged in the dry goods trade, with Boyer & Russell, for two years. Late in 1873, he opened a furniture store here, in which he eoutinged until his death, May 29, 1882. In 1880, he bought the building where the business is continued by his son David E. It is 20x100 feet in dimensions, and contains a large and varied stock of furniture. He married, in 1853 or 1854, to Miss Nancy Bishop, of this county. Of this marriage there aro nine children living, three dead. Those living are John E., conductor on the Vandalia road, at Effingham; Mary, wife of William Harris, engineer at Effingham; David E .; Ellery M .; Effie M., wife of Franklin Logue; Westcott J., Warren S., Charles A., Lewis H. William A. Broom was a member of the M. E. Church. David E. Broom was born in Jackson Township, this county, February 8, 1859. He worked at various employments until 1880, when he became a fourth partner in the firm of William A. Broom & Son, and has since given his attention to the business.

HIRAM H. BROWN, merchant, Alta- mont, was born in Columbus, Ohio, October 6, 1836. He was educated at Central Col- lege, Franklin County, Ohio, and began teaching in that State. In 1857, he came to

BIOGRAPHICAL:

this county and located at old Freemanton, where he taught a village school for two terms and clerked in a store for J. C. Defe- baugh until the war broke out. He enlisted in the Fifth Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, in September, 1861, and was First Lieutenant of Company L, having raised a portion of that company from this county. He was in sev- eral cavalry engagements at Doniphan, Mo., and Cotton Plant, and was in various skir- mishes. Subject was thrown from his horse at Smithville, Ark., June 27, 1862, and in- jured his spine, and did duty, though suffer- ing, until his discharge, in 1863, having lost flesh until almost a skeleton. After his re- turn and recovery of health, he engaged in farming for several years, and shortly after- ward formed a partnership with Boyer & Russell, and conducted a store in Altamont, in 1871, and continued for about three months, when he sold out and opened a new stock of goods at Dexter, and conducted business there for about nine months, when he traded his stock of goods for a farm. He came to Altamont and erected his present store, on Third street, in 1872, where he has conducted a general store for ten years. At the same time is interested in farming. He married, in 1858, Miss Mary C. Defebaugh, of this county, daughter of John C. Defe- bangh, and has three children living. Mrs. Brown opened a millinery establishment here in 1872, and has now the oldest millinery house in town, enjoying a liberal patronage.

EVAN L. BROWN, proprietor Boyer House, Altamont, was born in Knox County, Ohio, April 26, 1842. When he was eight years old, he removed with his parents to Richland County, Ohio, where he lived on a farm un- til about fifteen, when he moved to Radnor Township and lived there for about twelve years, and farmed'on his father's estate. In the spring of-1863, he came to Illinois, and,

in 1865, located in Effingham County, where he has since resided. He farmed in West Township until 1875. He leased a hotel in Edgewood, Ill., called the Brown's Hotel, which his father had kept previously. He ran this house about four years. In Octo- ber, 1880, he leased the Boyer House, of Al- tamont, for three years, and has run it with good success. It is a three-story frame, near Union Depot of the Vandalia and O, & M. Railroads, and contains thirty-two rooms, with double parlors, sample room, etc. Our subject was married to Miss Martha King, of this county. She was born in Knox County, Ohio.

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History of Effingham county, Illinois, Part 48

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