USA > Illinois > Logan County > History of Logan County, Illinois > Part 54
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Francis M. Harley, farmer and stock-raiser of Atlanta Town- ship, was born July 8, 1855, in Logan County, Illinois, a son of Lewis and Elizabeth Harley, the father now deceased. His par- ents settled on the place where our subject now resides in 1855, where his father died in January, 1873. Francis M. was reared to manhood on a farm and received a common-school education. February 22, 1877, he was married to Delia Tuttle, a daughter of Guy H. and Martha A. Tuttle, of McLean County, Illinois. One child, Edna, has been born to this union. Mr. Harley has been successful in his farming operations and now has a well-improved farm in this township, and an equally fine residence. He also has property in McLean County. In politics he is a Republican.
Elias Harness was born February 5, 1826, in Greene County, Ohio, a son of Peter and Susannah Harness, who were natives of Virginia and of German descent. He was reared to manhood in his native county and obtained his education in the early subscrip- tion schools. He was married in De Witt County, Illinois, March 2, 1848, to Martha J. Strong, born in Greene County, Ohio, No- vember 26, 1828, a daughter of John V. and Sallie Strong, who settled in Logan County, Illinois, as early as 1847. After their marriage they returned to Greene County, and in the fall of 1850 they settled in Atlanta Township, Logan County, Illinois, even before Atlanta was a village, his land now being part of its site.
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Elias Harness
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Martha & Harness,
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Mr. Harness for many years carried on farming on a rather exten- sive scale, but of late years on account of ill-health he has lived more retired. He is the owner of sixty acres of land in this town- ship and 160 acres in McLean County, Illinois, but the greater part of his means is invested in Government bank stock. He has held the position of alderman several times and is president of the Board of Education and is at present serving his fifth year as director of the Atlanta public schools. Mr. Harness has served for ten years as a director of the Atlanta Agricultural Society and as director of the City Library Association. He has been identified with the growth and prosperity of the city of Atlanta from its infancy, and is always willing to assist in the advancement of its interest. In politics he is a member of the Republican party. He is a member of the Odd Fellows order and was trustee of his lodge four years. Mrs. Harness is a member of the Christian church.
John H. Hawes, grain and coal merchant of Atlanta, is a native of Logan County, born April 1, 1847. His parents, James M. and Mary A. (Bruner) Hawes, were natives of Kentucky and early set- tlers of this county, the father coming here in 1835 and the mother in 1836. The father is now deceased. To the parents were born eight children of whom six survive-Caroline C., John H., William J., James C., Mary E. and Minnie S. Our subject was reared and educated in the public schools of his native county, and has always lived here with the exception of three years spent in Champaign County, Illinois. February 18, 1875, he was married to Clara A. Rider, a daughter of Ephraim and Sarah Rider, of Champaign County. They have two children-James E., born December 6, 1875, and Bertie H., born January 12, 1881. In August, 1881, Mr. Hawes formed a partnership with Jeremiah Miller and en- gaged in the grain business, and in the following winter they also began dealing in coal. In the spring of 1885 this partnership was dissolved, since which Mr. Hawes has carried on the business alone. Mr. Hawes has served as school director of District No. 5, Eminence Township, and was also assessor of the same township. In politics he votes the Republican ticket. He and his wife are earnest members of the Christian church.
James L. Hoblit, one of the old settlers of Atlanta Township, was born in Greene County, Ohio, April 3, 1813. In 1829 he came with his parents, John and Mellicent Hoblit, to Logan County, Illinois. He was reared to the life of a farmer and has always followed that pursuit. His educational advantages were limited,
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he being obliged at an early age to assist with the farm work. He has been twice married, his first marriage taking place Janu- ary 2, 1833, to Catherine Lanson, and of the six children born to this union only one is living-a daughter, Mary. Those deceased are-Francis M., Christopher C., Eliza, William, and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Hoblit died in September, 1865, and June 22, 1868, Mr. Hoblit was again married, to Mrs. Lucinda (Staples) Sutherland. She was born October 28, 1819, a daughter of Abra- ham and Catherine Staples. She was first married to Silas Suther- land, of Cook County, Illinois, and to this union were born nine children-Charlotte A., Ellen A., Mary J., Mark M., Silas A., Elice C., Laura E., Oran and Orville. Oran and Orville are de- ceased. Mr. Hoblit is a self-made man, and by his own efforts has acquired a fine farm of 120 acres located in Atlanta Township. In former years he was quite a sportsman, devoting not a little time in hunting wild turkey and other game which abounded here in those times. In politics he casts his suffrage with the Demo- cratic party. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church and respected citizens of Atlanta Township.
John A. Hoblit, President of the Atlanta Bank, is a native of Logan County, Illinois, born March 5, 1833, and is a son of Sam- nel and Abigail Hoblit, the father now deceased, who came from Ohio to what is now Logan County and settled in Atlanta Town- ship in 1829. Here our subject was reared to manhood, and received a good common-school education. January 17, 1856, he was united in marriage to Nancy Willmurth, daughter of Joseph and Nancy Willmurth, who came from Ohio to Logan County, where they died. Mr. and Mrs. Hoblit have had seven children, five of whom are yet living-Joseph W., A. Lincoln, Frank, Nellie and John A. Frank and Lincoln are graduates of Shurtleff Col- lege, of Alton, Illinois, and the latter is now filling a position in the Atlanta Bank. Mr. Hoblit has held the position of president of the bank since its organization as a national and as a private institution. He is the owner of a large amount of real estate, and is extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising. He has served his township as supervisor, and is at present one of the township trustees. He has been universally successful in all his undertakings, and gives liberally of his means both to the church and State. He is a member of the regular Baptist church, and for many years has held the position of deacon. Mr. Hoblit is of German descent, his ancestors having emigrated from that country
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JOHN E. HOBLIT.
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to America about the time of the Revolutionary war, and settled in Pennsylvania. As a race the Hoblit family are thrifty and in- dustrious, with a determination to succeed in any enterprise when once undertaken. This family is one of the oldest in Logan County.
John E. Hoblit was born December 31, 1817, in Greene County, Ohio, his parents, John and Mellicent Hoblit, being among the early settlers of that county. Mr. Hoblit is of German descent, and has inherited many of the sturdy qualities of that sturdy race. Of eleven brothers and sisters but five survive, viz .- James L., John E., Nancy, Catharine and Mellicent. The subject of this sketch was married September 12, 1838, to Rachel Larison, then of Mc- Lean County, Illinois, and by her had eight children, viz .- James T., Mary, Sarah, Rachel C., Caton, David L., Greene B. and John D. The two last named are deceased. Mrs. Hoblit died March 7, 1876, and in February, 1881, Mr. Hoblit was again married to Mrs. Presha Bush, widow of the late John, Esq., of Logan County. Mr. Hoblit's first wife, for many years prior to her death, was an invalid, and the constant and tender care given to her by Mr. Hob- lit during her long and painful illness is yet a theme of praise by all his neighbors. Indeed, few men have better performed the sacred duties of husband and father than has Mr. Hoblit. For more than fifty years he has resided on the farm he now owns and lives upon, and in all his dealings with his neighbors, and likewise in the discharge of his duties as a citizen, Mr. Hoblit has merited and received the esteem of his neighbors. In politics he was reared and has remained a Democrat of the old school. Hospital- ity has always found an abiding place in his home. In a word, his life and example have been such as to be safely followed by the younger and rising generation in his county.
Lewis M. Hoblit, of Atlanta, is a native of Logan County, Illi- nois, born April 11, 1830, a son of Samuel and Abigail Hoblit, the father now deceased. His parents were among the earliest set- tlers of Atlanta Township. He was reared and educated in the district schools of this county. He has made farming his principal avocation through life, in which he has been very successful, and by his industrious habits and good management he has acquired a large farm of 340 acres. He has been twice married, taking for his first wife Eveline Houghey, formerly of Ohio, but at the time of her marriage living in McLean County, Illinois. To this union were born five children-Laban, Sylvanus, Josephine, Belle and
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Abigail. For his second wife he married Mrs. Mary Newman Patchim. Mr. Hoblit is a stockholder in the Atlanta Bank. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. He has held the office of city alderman of Atlanta.
Sylvester Hoblit, general manager of the Atlanta Bank, Atlanta, Illinois, was born May 5, 1849, in Logan County, Illinois. He is a son of Samuel (deceased) and Abigail Hoblit, and was reared on a farm in Logan County, receiving a common-school education. He was engaged in farming until 1873, when he became actively engaged in the interests of the bank. On the retirement of his brother, Frank Hoblit, whose larger business interests at Lincoln demanded his more immediate attention there, he became general manager of the bank. On February 11, 1874, he married Adelaide Timmons, and has an interesting family of three children-Charles T., Samuel G. and Mark. He is the owner of a fine farm of 120 acres. He has served as city alderman one term, and was elected to the office of mayor, March, 1886, on the temperance ticket. He has also been a director of the Union Fair Grounds at Atlanta for several years. He is a member of both the Odd Fellows and Ma- sonic orders. In politics he casts his vote for the Republican party. John H. Hoose, of the firm of J. H. Hoose & Son, carriage and wagon manufacturers, Atlanta, was born November 23, 1832. He received a fair education in his native country, Germany, and at the age of fifteen years he was apprenticed to learn the black- smith's trade, becoming a journeyman when twenty years of age. In 1852 he immigrated to America, and for about two years was employed at his trade in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He went to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1854, where he was married May 27, 1855, to Elizabeth Treusch, and to this union were born five children- George J., Henry, Oscar, Louisa and Amelia. In 1855 he came to Pekin, Illinois, where he worked at carriage blacksmithing for T. H. Smith & Co., and in the fall of 1859 he came to Atlanta, Logan County, and was employed by John Merc about three years. He engaged in business for himself in 1862, since which time he has had various partners, and in January, 1885, his son, George G., became associated with him, thus forming the present firm. The business is well established and in a prosperous condition. The firm also does an extensive trade in the agricultural imple- ment line. Mr. Hoose is a member of Logan Lodge, No. 176, I. O. O. F., of Atlanta. In politics he affiliates with the Repub- lican party.
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David Houser was born of German parentage, in Washington County, Maryland, September 22, 1789. When about six years of age he, with his father's family, emigrated to the then wild West, and settled in Jessamine County, Kentucky, the home of the Boons and the Kentons, where he spent his boyhood days, and obtained such education as was afforded by the limited school facilities of the times. In the year 1820 he removed to Corydon, Indiana, where he engaged in farming and milling. A two-years residence at this . place convinced him that, although strong in body and resolute in spirit, it would be useless to longer maintain the unequal con- . test against the poisonous malaria that reigned supreme over all Southern Indiana at that time, and having shaken for two years concluded to shake the soil of Indiana from off his feet, and with his family returned to his former home in old Kentucky. Here he again resided {for a few years. But being, as he was, a radical anti-slavery man, and being constantly annoyed by the pernicious workings of this accursed institution, human slavery, he deter- mined to again and forever quit the State of his adoption, and to cast his lot with the free people of a free State. The result of this movement was a settlement in Clermont County, Ohio, where he bought land, cleared and improved a farm, and lived a cheerful, happy and prosperous life for twenty-five years. In the year 1852, and after a number of his children had gone West, he again deter- mined to follow the setting sun, and with the remainder of his family settled in Waynesville, De Witt County, Illinois, where for three years he was engaged in the mercantile business, after which time he removed to the then new town of Atlanta, Illinois, and was a resident of Logan County up to the time of his death, which occurred at Atlanta, May 9, 1878, at which time he had attained the ripe old age of eighty-eight years, having lived during the ad- ministrations of all the Presidents, from Washington to Hayes. He was married November 14, 1813, to Elizabeth Dillman, of Bracken County, Kentucky, who shared the trials and triumphs of life with him, and was his constant companion until the time of her death, which occurred at Atlanta, Illinois, August, 1867, which event closed a most happy married life of fifty-four years. Theirs was a good old-fashioned family of fourteen children, eight of whom still survive, names and residences being as follows- Elizanna Stubblefield, Shirley, Illinois; David G. Houser, Lincoln, Illinois ; Elizabeth J. Evans, Waynesville, Illinois; Susan R. Rankin, Pullman, Illinois; John M. Houser, Minneapolis, Kansas;
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Jonas P. Houser, Lincoln, Illinois ; Dr. William W. Houser, Lin- coln, Illinois ; Mary Gardner, Atlanta, Illinois. He was con- verted to God in the year 1820, and lived an humble, consistent Christian life up to the time of his death. In the year 1811 he made one of those famous trips "down the river" to New Orleans with a boat-load of produce, and after disposing of the same made the return trip to Kentucky through what was then known as the Indian territory in company with others, traveling the entire dis- tance on foot, there being no steamers on Western waters at that date. He was an earnest and zealous advocate of all true reform, and although an ardent Whig, refused to support Henry Clay for President for the reason that he was a pro-slavery man and from a slave State. He was equally as earnestly opposed to intoxicants, and was among the very first to discard and oppose the same under any and all circumstances. In many respects David Houser was a model man, and although his life-path did not lead through the most exalted circles, yet his earnest devotion to sound morals, and his constant adherence to a simple yet pure honesty, and a firm yet childlike faith in his Savior, has left impressions for good on those by whom he was surrounded that will widen and continue to widen through all eternity.
Robert James was born April 25, 1836, in Muskingum County, Ohio, a son of Caleb and Elizabeth James, natives of Pennsylvania. He received a common-school education, spending his early youth in Ohio. When fifteen years of age he went with his parents to Lucas County, Iowa, remaining there until his father's death in 1858. His mother survived her husband several years. They were members of the Friend's society. In the spring of 1858 Robert James came to Atlanta, Logan County, and in partnership with his brother, Lorenzo James, he engaged in a general grocery trade, this firm doing business under the name of L. & R. James till the spring of 1861 when he became sole proprietor of the business, and with the exception of eighteen months engaged in the grain trade he has since carried on the grocery business. Mr. James, although he has met with reverses, having lost at different times both his grocery and grain warehouse, is now meeting with good success. He has been twice married, first in January, 1861, to Esther Good- ell, of Atlanta, by whom he had seven children, of whom five sur- vive-Albert, Walter F., Winifred B., Minnie B. and George N. His second marriage occurred in April, 1880, to Alice Kesler, of Racine, Wisconsin. To this union have been born two children-
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Roy L. and Ethel. Mr. James is a member of the Congregational church.
Jacob Judy, son of Jacob and Nancy (Hatfield) Judy, was born January 9, 1804, in Greene County, Ohio. He was reared to man- hood in his native State and received a rudimentary education in the subscription schools of those early days. After reaching ma- turity he came to Illinois and located in Tazewell County where he made his home for about thirty-nine years. He came to Logan County in 1864, since which time he has been a resident of Atlanta. He was married April 30, 1828, to Mary A. Musick, of Logan County, formerly of Kentucky, she having come here about the year 1819. Of eleven children born to this union eight survive- Nancy J., Robert, Eliza, Lucinda, Henry, Annie, Martha and Mary. Henry served as a soldier in the Union army during the late war. Mrs. Judy died December 9, 1884. She was a consist- ent member of the Christian church for over fifty years, joining the church the year she was married. Mr. Judy has forty-one grandchildren and thirty-six great-grandchildren. On the organ- ization of the Old Settlers' Association Mr. Judy was chosen its vice-president and still holds that position, and has always been actively devoted to its interests. He is a consistent member of the Christian church. His children and most of his grandchildren are members of the same church. In politics he is a Republican.
John H. Judy is a native of Logan County, born November 7, 1846, and is a son of Daniel H. and Elizabeth Judy, his mother now deceased. John H. obtained his primary education in a dis- trict school in Eminence Township, Logan County, and later at- tended the Atlanta public schools. In April, 1864, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Illinois Infantry, under the command of General Schofield. He was first sent with his regiment to Benton Barracks, Missouri, thence to Rolla, Missouri, where he was on guard duty. He was afterward engaged at Joliet, Illinois, guarding prisoners. He received his discharge from the army in October, 1864, when he returned to Logan County. In 1865 he took a course of study at Bryant & Stratton's Business College, of Chicago, and for eight years he followed school teaching in the public schools of Logan and Tazewell coun- ties, Illinois, and Livingston County, Missouri, and for some time was principal of the graded schools at Utica, Missouri. He began the study of law in 1869 with Brearley & Henry, of Pekin, Illinois, and was admitted to the bar in 1871. He spent one year in legal
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practice in Delavan and one year in Lincoln, Illinois, after which he practiced his profession at Kingston, Missouri, for several years. In 1880 he returned to Atlanta where he is engaged in stock-rais- ing and farming. He was married March 16, 1870, to Jennie Wil- cox, of Delavan, Illinois. This union has been blessed with three children -- Walter H., Leslie E. and Raymond W. Mr. Judy served four years as justice of the peace of Eminence Town- ship, and was township clerk for the same length of time. In politics he is a Republican, and is a member of the executive com- mittee of the Republican Central Committee of Logan County. He is identified with the Christian church of Atlanta of which he has officiated as elder for several years.
James A. Ladew, baker and confectioner, of Atlanta, was born June 22, 1835, in New York. When he was three years old his parents, Augustus P. and Catherine P. Ladew, removed to St. Louis where ne was reared to manhood. His father had large land interests in McLean County, Illinois, which James A. in 1857 came to superintend. His mother died in St. Louis, and in 1859 his father came with his second wife to McLean County and took charge of the real estate. In 1858 and 1859 James A. Ladew was engaged in the lumber and grain trade at McLean, Illinois, and subsequently conducted a restaurant. November 29, 1859, he was married to Catherine M. Stryker, of Iowa. To this union have been born five children, four still living-Stella L., Nellie A., James E. and Feinie L. Mr. Ladew served as a soldier in the late war, enlisting in January, 1863, in Company D, One Hundred and Fifty-second Illinois Infantry. He served thirteen months, principally in corps detachments, located at various points in Ten- nessee. After his discharge in February, 1864, he returned to Mc- Lean County, and in 1873 he came to Atlanta, Logan County, where he has since established a good business reputation, and is meeting with fair success. In politics Mr. Ladew is a Republican. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is Adjutant of the post at Atlanta.
John B. Lambert, the present efficient postmaster at Atlanta, Illinois, was born March 27, 1842, in Logan County, a son of Cor- nelius and Abigail (Tuttle) Lambert, who were early settlers of this county. John B. was reared on a farm, and on the breaking out of the late war he enlisted, August 16, 1861, in Company F, Thirty-eighth Illinois Infantry. He participated in numerous bat- tles and skirmishes, among which were Stone River and Chicka-
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mauga. At the battle of Chickamauga ¡he was captured by the Southern troops, and for more than seventeen months he was con- fined in Southern prisons, among the most noted being: Smith Building, at Richmond; Belle Isle; Andersonville, Georgia; Flor- ence and Charleston, South Carolina; and in these prisons he en- dured terrible hardships. He was subsequently paroled at Golds- boro, and was sent to Wilmington, North Carolina, and again joined the Union army. From Wilmington he was sent to Annap- olis, Maryland, thence to St. Louis where he was furloughed for thirty days. He was discharged in the spring of 1865 when he returned to Logan County, and in partnership with his father, Cornelius Lambert, he engaged in the grocery trade at Atlanta under the firm name of J. B. Lambert & Co., and later he had an interest in a general news and notion store. In December, 1882, he was appointed to his present position of postmaster. For two years he served as deputy sheriff of Logan County, and was city marshal of Atlanta one year. He married Lida Yazell, of At- lanta, and to them has been born one son-Elbert. In politics Mr. Lambert affiliates with the Republican party.
Abel Larison was born April 15, 1822, in Morgan County, Ohio, a son of Abel and Rachel (Caton) Larison, who were natives of Maryland. In 1830 his parents came with a large family of chil- dren to what is now De Witt County, Illinois, and after living several years in Wayne Township they removed to Stanton Town- ship, McLean County. The father died April 2, 1845, at Galena, Illinois, the mother's death taking place the following year. Of their family of ten children five survive-James M., Thomas J., Abel, Mary and Eliza. Those deceased are-Greenbury, Theophi- ns C., Catherine, Rachel and Melinda. Abel Larison was in his ninth year when he accompanied his parents to Illinois. He has always followed farming pursuits in which he has met with suc- cess. In the early days of Logan County he had frequently to go sixty miles to mill over rough corduroy roads and Indian trails and often was obliged to wait several days before he could return home. October 20, 1842, he was married to Julia A. Stevens, a daughter of Adam and Mary Stevens, who are both deceased. They have had born to them eleven children -- Mary J., Aroline, Annie, James A., John E., Francis M., Thomas J., Abel, Adam S., Leander (deceased) and one who died in infancy. Mr. Larison has held the office of deputy sheriff of Logan County. He also served as constable for twelve years, and was commissioner of
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