USA > Illinois > Jersey County > History of Jersey County, Illinois > Part 63
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George R. Voorhees attended the public schools of his native township. On October 17, 1871, he was married to Jennie Clapp, born in Washington County, N. Y., November 9, 1849, a daughter of Leonidas and Jane (Chamberlin) Clapp, who came to Mississippi Township in 1861, and there carried on farming. After his marriage, George R. Voorhees lived on a farm in Jersey Township two and one- half miles east of Jerseyville, for six years, but later he sold his farm and bought 260 acres of land which belonged to the old homestead in Mississippi Township. On this farm the original family residence is still standing. It was built of as fine, large timbers as could then be obtained, and it is very different from many of the shell-like structures of the present day. After thirteen years Mr. Voorhees sold this farm and bought forty acres of land in the eastern part of Jerseyville, where he is now carrying on general farming.
Mr. and Mrs. Voorhees became the parents of the following chil- dren : Perry L., who lives at St. Louis, Mo .; Otis C., who lives at Jerseyville ; Gertrude M., who is Mrs. Irvin Crowell of St. Louis, Mo .; George R., who died December 24, 1912, aged thirty-three years ; Theodore, who lives at Palisades, Colo .; Elizabeth, who is Mrs. Harold Brainard of Grafton, Ill .; and Abbie L. and Stattira, who are at home. The Voorhees family are Presbyterians. In politics he is a Demo- crat, and fraternally he belongs to Jerseyville Camp No. 442, M. W. A. A man of more than ordinary ability, he had made his life work amount to something worth while, and he stands well as a citizen.
WALLACE, Clarence, city marshal of Grafton, Ill., and a man of great determination of character and personal integrity, was born at Grafton, March 23, 1873, a son of Elijah Wallace. Elijah Wallace, who was born in Jersey County, was married to Kate Hills, born in Illinois, and they had the following children: Orie, who lives in Texas ; Clarence, Alva and Henry, all of whom live at Grafton; Daisy, who is Mrs. John Myers, lives at St. Louis, Mo .; and two who died in infaney. Elijah Wallace is a Republican.
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Clarence Wallace attended the Grafton village schools until he was sixteen years old, and then began doing general laboring jobs. Later he became a fisherman, continuing in that line of business until he was appointed marshal under Mayor Newland, and in that office he has given Grafton a very effective administration ever since, and was elected constable in 1918.
On June 24, 1904, Clarence Wallace was married to Ethel Green, who was born at Grafton, July 16, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace have the following children: Opal, who was born March 22, 1905; Eugene, who was born September 9, 1907; Robert, who was born September 23, 1909; Lynn, who was born October 9, 1911; Grace, who was born February 26, 1914; and Clara, who was born March 7, 1915. In politics Clarence Wallace is a Republican, and he has been active in the councils of his party. A conscientious man, he endeav- ors to enforce the laws impartially and yet effectively, and keeps Grafton and its vicinity remarkably free from undesirables. Frater- nally Mr. Wallace belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and Mrs. Wallace is a member of the Royal Neighbors.
WARE, George W., one of Jerseyville's best known citizens, and a resident of Jersey County since 1856, was born at Westminster, Worcester County, Mass., June 30, 1836. His parents were Wonder and Abigail Parker (Hazen) Ware. Prof. Tracy Elliott Hazen, iden- tified with Barnard College, Columbia University, one of the Hazen family, in tracing back the history and genealogy of that family, shows that it reaches far back in English history. Wonder Ware was a man of much prominence in Worcester County, Mass., and for years held offices of public trust. He died there in 1838.
George W. Ware was reared by his widowed mother and remained with her until he was twenty years of age, obtaining his education in the public schools and a training school at Leicester, Mass. In 1856 he came to Jersey County, Ill., and began business life as a clerk in a general mercantile store owned by A. B. Morean and re- mained at Jerseyville until the fall of the year, when he returned to Massachusetts in order to secure some funds he had on deposit with his guardian. With this money, he returned to Jerseyville, and in partnership with Dr. John L. White, bought the Morean drug store, which was one of the oldest business houses of the place, having been established in 1846. Two years later Mr. Ware bought Dr. White's interest, continuing the business alone until 1876, when he sold to G. R. Smith, and with Stephen H. Bow- man, bought the private banking business of Shephard & Sons, the new banking firm of Bowman & Ware continuing in operation until 1890. At that time the bank was organized as a state insti- tution, and Mr. Ware sold his interest, and returned to the drug trade, conducting a prosperous business for several years, associating his son Frank Munson Ware, with him. He then retired, turning his half interest over to his son, who continues the business. Although
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no longer in active business life, Mr. Ware has many interests to look after as he is a large owner of real estate and has other investments. He owns one of the finest residences at Jerseyville.
On May 30, 1859, George W. Ware was married to Miss Theo- dosia M. Beardslee, who was born in Sussex County, N. J., October 19, 1838, and died September 24, 1875. She was a daughter of Edward and Susan Beardslee, natives of New Jersey, who came to Jersey County, Ill., in 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Ware had two daughters and one son, namely : Adella P., who is the wife of Charles W. Keith, of Denver, Col .; and Lulu H., who is the wife of Edward Cross of Jerseyville; and Frank Munson, who was married to Nellie Osborne. Mr. Ware's second marriage was solemnized October 3, 1877, to Miss Julia Fry, a daughter of Jacob Fry, a well known military man, and active in the early history of Illinois. He served in the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War, and the Civil War. Mrs. Ware died August 6, 1905, leaving one daughter, Emily Fry, who was born June 20, 1880, and is now the wife of Dr. Mathew W. Pickard, of Kansas City, Mo.
In politics Mr. Ware has always been a Republican and in earlier days was very active in party councils, frequently serving as a dele- gate to county and state conventions, and in 1876 he was a delegate to the national convention of his party at Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he has held numer- ous offices, and he has been superintendent of the Sunday school. He is one of the valued members of the Jerseyville Order of Elks.
WARNER, F. G., M. D., one of the substantial and representative physicians and surgeons of Grafton, was born at Buffalo, N. Y., March 4, 1876, a son of Charles M. and Elizabeth (Gaines) Warner. Charles M. Warner was born at Little Valley, N. Y., February 6, 1850, and his wife was born in Orangeport, N. J., of English parentage. The War- ner family attained military fame during the American Revolution. The paternal grandfather who was a cabinetmaker, came from Ver- mont to Buffalo, N. Y., at an early day. For fifteen years Charles M. Warner was special agent of the L. & N. Railroad, and also for five years was special agent for the T. R. R. Association, with head- quarters at St. Louis, Mo. Later in life he went back to Little Val- ley, N. Y., where he died, and there his wife also passed away, in 1916, dying of hepatic abscess. Politically Charles M. Warner was a Democrat and for many years he was a member of the Masonic order.
When he was nine years old, Dr. F. G. Warner was taken by his parents to Louisville, Ky., where he attended the public schools until he was cightcen years old. The family then moved to St. Louis, Mo., and in 1901 he matriculated at the University of St. Louis, and was graduated from its medical department in 1906 with the degree of M. D. Immediately thereafter, he came to Grafton, where he has since continued in active practice.
Dr. Warner was married September 9, 1896, to Cora K. Miller who
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was born in Kentucky. Both her parents, natives of Kentucky, were of Scotch parentage, and they are now deceased. Mrs. Warner was one in a family of ten children, three deceased, those living being: S. M., who lives in Kentucky; Mattie J., who lives at St. Louis, Mo .; Frank W., who lives in Oklahoma; Susan E. who lives at Peoria, Ill .; Irwin S., who lives at Pittsburgh, Pa .; Charles H., who lives at Louis- ville, Ky. ; and Mrs. Warner. Dr. and Mrs. Warner have the follow- ing children : Edwin M., who was born August 7, 1898; Robert G., who was born September 6, 1899; II. Lee, who was born February 8, 1903 ; and Charles M. who was born November 19, 1910. The elder sons are attending the St. Louis University at St. Louis, Mo. In politics Dr. Warner is a Democrat, and is serving as deputy coroner. Fraternally he is a Mason and Odd Fellow, and Mrs. Warner belongs to the East- ern Star, and she is a consistent member of the Baptist Church and interested in all religious work. Both . Dr. Warner and his wife are very popular socially, and their pleasant home is the scene of many delightful gatherings, while they are welcomed everywhere.
WARREN, Charles E., superintendent of highways at Jerseyville, owner of some very valuable Jersey County farm land and a citizen of more than ordinary importance, has had a wide and varied ex- perience along several lines. He was born at Jerseyville, January 24. 1881, a son of Charles D. W. and Caroline (Stanley) Warren, the former of whom, born in Jersey County, in April, 1848, died June 11, 1898, and the latter, also born in Jersey County, January 7, 1848, survives and makes her home at Jerseyville. The paternal grand- father came to Jersey County from Providence, R. I., in 1837. Charles D. W. Warren and his wife had the following children: Charles E., and Florence, who resides with her mother. The father was a Republican, and the Presbyterian Church held his membership.
Charles E. Warren attended the local schools and was graduated from the Jerseyville High school when eighteen years old. He then entered the State University, and was graduated from its engineering department in 1904, and for three years was in the employ of the Frisco Railroad as resident engineer on construction. Following that he was engaged in the construction of the New Orleans and Great Northern Railroad through Louisiana and Mississippi, completing his connection with it in 1910. Mr. Warren was then engaged by Baxter L. Brown of St. Louis, Mo., in locating hundreds of miles of railroad through the states of Kansas, Nebraska, Tennessee and Ala- bama, his services in this connection being very valuable. In spite of the fact that he attained more than ordinary success in his profession, Mr. Warren decided to return to the soil, and now farms 120 acres of land northeast of Jerseyville which he is operating with profit. His interest in local improvements led to his appointment as superin- tendent of highways, in December, 1913, and he still holds the office. In politics he is a Republican and is secretary of the County Re- publican Central Committee, and he has served on the school board.
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For two years he was president of the Farmers Institute. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
In 1913 Mr. Warren was married to Elizabeth Cockrell, who was born in Jersey County, Ill., December 24, 1880, a daughter of Elias Cockrell. In early days Mr. Cockrell was engaged in freighting with teams from Utah to Colorado and on to California. His experiences were many and exciting, and among them was the loss of a wagon containing a large amount of gold dust which was carried away by the current of a stream he was fording. After some years of this kind of work, he returned to Jerseyville and engaged in a grain business which he still carries on.
Mr. Warren's professional training and experiences admirably fit him for almost any line of endeavor, while his natural ability makes it possible for him to readily grasp the salient facts pertaining to a calling, and thus it is that he has been able to wrest success in more than one avenue of labor.
WATSON, Thomas Cook, now living retired at Jerseyville, was at one time a very prominent agriculturist of Jersey County, and he has always held the confidence of his neighbors. He was born at Pittston, Luzerne County, Pa., November 6, 1828, a son of Francis and Ann (Price) Watson, natives of England. Francis Watson was nine weeks in crossing the Atlantic Ocean, and after landing in the United States located on a farm in Pennsylvania. In 1851 he sold his farm in that state and went to Ontario County, N. Y., where he bought another farm, and on it he and his wife passed away, and were there buried. He was a man of unusual parts, being a fine Latin and Greek scholar, acquiring his educational training in his native land.
Thomas Cook Watson attended the primitive schools of his day, which were furnished with slab seats, few desks, and none of the modern equipment of a schoolroom. When he was seventeen years old he began working as a coal driver in mines, and later became an engineer for the Penn Coal Mines, continuing as such for seven years. He worked in the same capacity for other coal companies, and also in a flour mill as engineer. After coming west, he built a sawmill in Missouri, and conducted it for a year, then bought eighty acres of land in Fidelity Township, Jersey County, Ill., which he improved, and added to its dimensions until he had 400 acres of land, 160 acres being in Fidelity Township, Jersey County, Illi- nois; 160 acres in Jersey Township, and the remainder in Christian County, Ill. Until January, 1889, he was extensively engaged in farming, but then rented his land and moved to Jerseyville, where he bought his present comfortable residence, and he has since lived in retirement.
On December 2, 1852, Thomas Cook Watson was married to Cath- erine Cordelia Case, at Pittston, Pa. She was a daughter of Philetus Case, who was born in Connecticut. Mr. Case was a soldier in the
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War of 1812, and his father served in the Colonial army during the American Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Watson became the parents of the following children: Francis, who lives at Granite City, Ill., is married to Emma Haycraft, and they have two children: Elsie, who lives at Chicago, is married, and Harry A., who is a chemist in a Cin- cinnati dyeing establishment; Addie Cordelia, who married Preston Randolph in October, 1890, and died leaving two children; and George, who died in 1900. The two children of Addie Cordelia, are tenderly cherished by Mr. Watson, Watson Randolph, who is on one of his grandfather's farms, and Mary Cordelia Randolph, who lives with her grandfather. George Watson left two children, namely : Verne, who is now serving in the National army during the World War; and Cordelia, who lives at Ellsworth, Wis. Mr. Watson is a Republican, and fraternally he belongs to Jerseyville Lodge, No. 394, A. F. & A. M.
WEDDING, Clarence, not only is a farmer, but a barber and owns both his shop and farm, being one of the prosperous men of Rosedale Township. He was born in Rosedale Township, August 28, 1880, a son of James Wedding, also a farmer, who has lived on his present farm for forty years. James Wedding was married to Miss Ellen Queen, of Jersey County, and they had the following children : Ben- jamin, who resides at Alton, Ill .; Clarence ; Lula Simpson, who lives at Grafton, Ill .; Bessie (Mrs. Kaslick) who lives in Oregon; and Richard S., who is in the United States army. James Wedding belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically he is a Repub- lican, and held the office of supervisor for two terms, as well as other public positions in the township. The Wedding homestead com- prises 120 acres of fine land.
Clarence Wedding attended the district school until he was six- teen years old, when he left school to assist his parents. He was married to Alma Nugent, a sketch of whose family appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Wedding have one son, Clarence Nugent. who was born February 4, 1912. Mr. Wedding has built a beautiful residence at Grafton, in which city he conducts his barber shop on Main Street, in the Grafton Hotel building, having bought it in 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Wedding belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Republican and is proud of the fact that he cast his first presi- dential vote for Theodore Roosevelt. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias.
WHITE, Charles S., County judge of Jersey County from 1902 to 1904, president of the Jersey State Bank, secretary and treasurer of the George Washington Educational Fund, and secretary of the Farm- .ers Mutual Insurance Company, of Jerseyville, is admittedly one of the distinguished men of this part of the state, and one whose contin- ued activities in the county, have resulted beneficially to his locality. He was born on a farm northeast of Jerseyville, December 10, 1868,
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eldest son of John I. and Sarah J. (Smith) White, both natives of Illinois. John I. White was early in life a schoolteacher, later becom- ing a farmer of Illinois and Iowa, and owning land in both states. He is now living retired at the home of his son, Judge White, his wife having passed away.
Judge White attended the schools of Jerseyville, and was grad- uated from its high school in 1886, under Prof. Pike. He then began farming for his father, but in 1893 entered upon the study of law in the office of T. S. Chapman and Edward J. Vaughn, with whom he re- mained for three years. He was admitted to the bar May 23, 1895, but continued in the same office until February 1, 1896, when he opened an office in the Chapman building on West Pearl Street, Jerseyville, and has continued actively in practice ever since, with the exception of the four years when he was on the bench, from 1902 to 1906. He was one of the organizers of the Jersey State Bank, serving it as vice president from then until April 1, 1916, when he was elected its president. For six years he served as a member of the Jerseyville board of educa- tion. He has always been very active as a Republican and has served as a committeeman of his party many times.
On April 27, 1904, Judge White was married at Jerseyville to Sarah B. Fulkerson, a daughter of William H. and Cornelia T. (Rus- sell) Fulkerson, prominent people of Jersey County. Judge and Mrs. White had one daughter, Sarah Cornelia, who died in infancy. Judge White is a Mason and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. Both he and Mrs. White are members of the Presbyterian Church. He owns his residence at Jerseyville, and other city prop- erty, and his interests are centered here and in the county, where he has spent his useful life, as did his parents before him.
WHITLOW, Hugh L., one of the leading men of English Township, not only owns and operates farm land in Jersey County, but is inter- ested in rural property elsewhere. He was born in Greene County, Ill., in June, 1863, a son of Willis and Emeline (Moran) Whitlow, born in Greene County, Ill., who lived there until 1872 when they bought a 160-acre farm in English Township, on section 36. This land was only partially improved, and on it the father erected new buildings, and made other changes which greatly enhanced its value. Here he died in 1915, aged seventy-eight years, the mother having died at the age of thirty-six years. Their children were as follows : Hugh L .; Elizabeth, who lives at Alton, Ill. ; Mrs. Luella Cloan, who is a widow, of Jerseyville ; and Ida Alice, who is the widow of W. Morgan. Daniel Whitlow, the paternal grandfather of Hugh L. Whitlow, came from Kentucky to Greene County, Ill. He was in the earthquake in that state in 1812, which he remembered distinctly until the day of his death. He homesteaded 160 acres of land in Greene County, and also did rafting down the Mississippi River to New Orleans, walking back home on these trips. Although he had nothing when he reached
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Illinois, he worked hard and saved his money and became very pros- perous, and loaned money to his neighbors to a considerable extent.
Hugh L. Whitlow grew up in English Township and attended its schools. After working for his father, in 1889 he moved to Pasadena, Cal., and was employed in surveying for a year. Returning to Jersey County, he worked on Judge Powell's farm, a large portion of which lies in Jersey County, for twelve years. He then went into a grain business with Carl Schneider, but eighteen months later he sold it and bought and sold wheat along the Illinois and Mississippi rivers for two seasons, when he began farming on his father-in-law's farm in English Township and was so engaged for seven years. Moving then to Manitoba, Canada, he owned and operated land, but after several deals, obtained 120 acres of land in Pinal County, Ariz., which he still owns. This is improved prairie land and very valuable. Once more Mr. Whitlow returned to Jersey County, and conducted a coal and ice business at Jerseyville for two years, trading it for a farm. This he soon sold and bought another farm one mile south of Delhi, Ill. After improving the place, he sold it and moved on the homestead of his father, consisting of sixty acres, and on it he carries on general farming and stockraising.
On August 18, 1886, Mr. Whitlow was married to Miss Zella Cope, born in English Township, a daughter of Nathan and Elinor (Camp- bell) Cope, natives of Jersey County, Ill. Nathan Cope spent his sev- enty-five years in Jersey County, where he was very highly re- spected, his word being as good as another man's bond. A very conscientious man, he lived up to his ideals, and exerted an influ- ence for good on his community. A mighty hunter in the early days, he kept hounds and killed many deer and other wild animals, whose flesh and skins were utilized by the thrifty pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Whitlow became the parents of three children: Edwin, who lives in English Township; Earl, who is at home, and Leslie, who lives at Los Angeles, Cal. In politics Mr. Whitlow is a Republican, while fraternally he belongs to Hickory Grove Camp, M. W. A., of Jerseyville. A man of more than average ability, and wide experience, he has known how to profit by his changes in occupation and location, and is held in great respect by all who know him.
WIEGHARD, William, president and one of the organizers of the Fieldon Bank, and owner of 817 acres of fine Jersey County farm land, is one of the wealthy men of this locality. He was born at Fieldon, Ill., May 3, 1867, a son of Henry and Margaret (Fiesler) Wieghard, natives of Hanover and Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, who came to Jersey County when very young. They later were married and settled in Fieldon, where the father worked for others for a few years until he had accumulated sufficient money to buy an eighty-acre farm. The maternal grandparents were among the very early settlers of Jersey County, and entered forty acres of land from the government, which are now owned by their son, William Wieghard. In time the father
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of William Wieghard added to his original farm until he had 360 acres of land, all of which he cleared and improved before his death which occurred in 1910, when he was eighty-eight years old. The mother died in 1905, aged eighty years.
Growing up on the farmn, William Wieghard attended the schools of his district, and made himself useful under the practical direction of his father. In 1884 he rented land from his father, and in 1901 bought the interest of the other heirs to the homestead of 360 acres, on which he later built modern structures for farm purposes, and he has made other improvements. Since buying the original farmn, he has added to his acreage until he now owns 817 acres, of which he operates 400 acres, and rents the balance. When the bank at Fieldon was estab- lished, he was one of the organizers, and he is still serving it as pres- ident.
On April 17, 1884, Mr. Wieghard was married to Emma Meyers, born in Madison County, Ill., February 14, 1861, a daughter of Frcd and Wilhelmina (Baum) Meyers, early settlers of Madison County, where they were married and later died. Mr. and Mrs. Wieghard have one daughter, Wilhelmina, and she was born February 2, 1901, and is still at home; and had another, who died in infancy. In politics Mr. Wieghard is a Republican, and he served as supervisor for four years, and for six years he was a school trustee. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and Mrs. Wieghard is a member of the Royal Neighbors. She belongs to the Lutheran Church. A man of unusual ability, Mr. Wieghard has been able to turn it in a legiti- mate channel and make his life work count for much. At the same time he has not neglected his civic duties, but discharged them capably and honorably, and no man stands any higher in public esteem than he. Although he has had to work hard, and practice, during his earlier days, frugality, Mr. Wieghard has taken two trips abroad, going to Europe in 1905 and again in 1910, and while there traveled extensively.
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