USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois : biographical and pictorial, Volume II > Part 12
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Politically Mr. Anderson for a number of years gave his support to the prin- ciples and candidates of the populist party, but he is governed in voting largely by the nature of the questions at issue and the character of the candidates. He served for twenty-five years as school director and has most acceptably dis- charged the duties of various township offices. At the time of the Grange move- ment he was prominent as one of its earnest advocates and occupied the chair as master of the local Grange. Religiously he is affiliated with the United Bap- tist church. A liberal contributor to worthy objects, he has also devoted much time and energy to promoting the interests of the community and is one of its most honored residents. He is today one of the leading citizens of Macoupin county and enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
C. E. KESSINGER.
C. E. Kessinger, who has for many years been successfully identified with the agricultural and live-stock interests of Macoupin county, was born in Bird township, January 16, 1852. He is a son of John and Eliza ( Adams) Kessinger, both of whom were born in Kentucky, the former in 1825, and the latter iu 1827. Mrs. Kessinger was a daughter of Horatio and Cynthia (Mure) Adams
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and came with her parents to Macoupin county when she was a child. John Kessinger grew to maturity in his native state and arrived in Morgan county, Illinois, in 1847. After working for a year at farm labor he came to Macoupin county and secured employment for three years with farmers of this county. He then purchased eighty acres of land on section 15, Bird township, but changed his place of residence several times until 1872, when he located permanently on section 13. He was very successful as a farmer and became a large land- owner, gaining recognition as one of the leaders of the community. Politically he was an earnest supporter of the democratic party and religiously he was actively identified with the Methodist church. He died in 1890 and his wife was called away in 1879.
The Kessinger family is of German descent. Ludwick Kessinger. the first of the family to arrive in America, was born on the River Rhine and his wife was Eve Greenwald. Solomon Kessinger, the great-grandfather of our sub- ject. was born in Pennsylvania and moved to Kentucky early in his life. His son, Lynn, was born in Kentucky and died there at the advanced age of ninety- three years. In the family of John and Eliza Kessinger were the following chil- dren : P. W., a resident of Carlinville ; C. E., of this sketch ; Harriet, the widow of Cicero Solomon; W. H., who lives in Bird township; Cynthia, who married James Sells, of Denver, Colorado; Lauretta B., the wife of Arthur Wells, of San Luis Valley, Colorado; J. P., who makes his home in Carlinville; and M. M., of Alton, Illinois. The mother of these children was twice married, her first husband being Bird Peebles. To this union one child. Horatio B .. was born. He is now a resident of Bird township.
Mr. Kessinger, whose name introduces this sketch, attended the common schools and enjoyed advantages of early training, which have been of great assistance to him in meeting the responsibilities of life. He remained with his parents until twenty-two years of age and then engaged in farming in Western Mound township. After a few years he located on section 13. Bird township, and can claim one of the most attractive properties on this section. everything about the place indicating thrift and progress. He engages in gen- eral farming and is meeting with highly gratifying success.
On the 28th of December, 1873, Mr. Kessinger was married to Miss Mary Love, who was born in Bird township in 1854, a daughter of Samuel and Minerva Love. The father is said to have been the first white child born in Macoupin county. He spent his entire life as an agriculturist in this county and died September 29. 1891. There were nine children in his family, namely : John J., who is now engaged in farming in Bird township; James Madison, deceased : Mary, now Mrs. C. E. Kessinger; Newton, also deceased; Ada, who married Frank M. Washburn, of Bird township; Nettie, deceased; Adela and George, both of whom are at home; and Walter, who is deceased. The parents of these children were both members of the Baptist church. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kessinger: Eva May, Harriet and William P .. all of whom are deceased; Gertrude, who is the wife of Walker Cundell, of Bird township; James N., of Carlinville ; and Fred, at home.
Religiously Mr. Kessinger is a member of the Methodist church while his wife is an adherent of the Baptist denomination. They are both active workers
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in advancing the welfare of the section with which they have been closely identified for many years. Politically he gives his support to the democratic party but not from any desire to hold office, as his time and attention are mainly devoted to his family and his farm. He represents a high type of American citizen and, being a man who has unfalteringly met the problems of life, he fully merits the respect in which he is held by his neighbors and friends.
ENGELBERT WEIS.
The soldiers of the Civil war, who valiantly upheld the cause of the Union, earned the undying gratitude of all friends of the republic, and are justly en- titled to the credit of fighting for the liberties of man. Many of the brave men who wore the blue are still living and bear witness to their personal courage, the scars received in battle being indisputable evidence of their faithfulness in the hour of danger. Among this number should be named Engelbert Weis, of Staunton, who lost a leg in defence of the stars and stripes and has for many years been a respected citizen of Macoupin county. He is a native of Baden, Germany, born November 5, 1840, a son of Peter and Mary (Nitz) Weis. The father was a farmer and he and his wife spent their entire lives in the old coun- try. They had five children, namely: Engelbert, of this review; Augustina, deceased; Mary and Carl, both of whom are now living in Germany ; and Mrs. Theresa Arndt, of Staunton.
Engelbert Weis possessed advantages of attendance at the public schools of his native land. He came to America in his boyhood with an uncle, who entered the mercantile business at St. Louis, Missouri. In his uncle's store the growing youth secured his introduction to business methods, and while thus employed he became acquainted with Captain Ulysses S. Grant, later General Grant, who lived'on a farm near St. Louis for several years in the '50s and hauled wood to the city. Mr. Weis has a distinct recollection of the man who was destined to become the most noted general of the Civil war, but who gave little evidence of his remarkable talents until after he had been tested in a post of large responsi- bility. Mr. Weis learned the upholsterer's trade, at which he worked until the outbreak of the great rebellion. On the 22d of April, 1861, he enlisted as a member of Company A, First Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and at the expiration of three months' service reenlisted for a period of three years. Soon afterward he was wounded at the battle of Wilson's Creek and the loss of a leg incapacitated him from further military duty. After recuperating for a year at St. Louis he engaged in farming in Madison county, Illinois. In 1865 he purchased a general store at Staunton and was actively identified with the mer- cantile business in this city until 1899, since which time he has lived retired. His two sons are now conducting the business under the title of E. Weis & Sons and are carrying it forward with marked success. Mr. Weis is the owner of the store building and also of four acres of land in the city and other valuable interests. He and his family occupy one of the beautiful residences of Staunton and he is known as one of the substantial men of the community.
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In 1866 Mr. Weis was married to Miss Anna Zimmerman, who was born in Hanover, Germany, a daughter of William and Dora (Meyers) Zimmerman. Mr. Zimmerman emigrated to America with his family in 1860 and took up his residence at Mount Olive, Macoupin county, Illinois, and later purchased a farm in Madison county, near the Macoupin county line. Here he and his wife spent the remainder of their days. They had four children: Dietrich and Albert, both of whom are deceased; Anna, now Mrs. Engelbert Weis; and Gretchen, who is also deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Weis have two sons, Carl and Engelbert, who are associated in business at Staunton.
In politics Mr. Weis has been a supporter of the republican party ever since he cast his first ballot and for twenty years he has served as justice of the peace at Staunton, discharging the duties of the office in such a way as to meet the hearty indorsement of the people. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church, in the faith of which they were both reared. He formerly held member- ship in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Re- public, but during recent years has taken no part in lodge affairs. He is now enjoying in comfort the results of earlier labors and is fully entitled to the esteem in which he is held by the people of Staunton and vicinity.
LAWRENCE C. KETCHUM.
The Ketchum family has been well known in Macoupin and adjacent counties for many years, and Lawrence C. Ketchum, a representative of the fourth gen- eration of the family in Illinois, can claim a line of ancestry of which any true American might well be proud. He was born in Chesterfield township February II, 1869, a son of Leonard and Jane (Hayward) Ketchum. On the paternal side the ancestry has been traced to Ira and Rebecca (Palmer) Ketchum, of Vermont, whose son, Ira Ketchum, was born about 1816. The son Ira came to Jersey county, Illinois, about 1832 with his mother and her brother William. He lived with his uncle, William Palmer, until 1837, when he settled on eighty acres of land preempted by the latter in Macoupin county. Later he purchased land and became the owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which is still in possession of the family. He married Phoebe Fitzgerald, who was born in New Jersey about 1816 and came with her parents to Illinois. He died on the old homestead May 5, 1853. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ketchum were eleven children, nine of whom grew to maturity, namely: Alfred, who is now living near Pasadena, California ; Daniel, who served in Company F, Thirty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and now makes his home near Pattonsburg, Daviess county, Missouri ; Leonard, the father of our subject ; David, who was a member of Com- pany F, Thirty-second Illinois Volunteers, and died from the effects of wounds received at the battle of Shiloh; Edmund H., who participated in the Civil war as a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry and is also deceased ; Franklin, who lives near Jerseyville, Illinois; Rebecca, the wife of James Chase, of Medora ; Charles, a resident of Alton; and Ira, of Ma- coupin county. After the death of her first husband Mrs. Ketchum was married
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to Henry Cooper, and they have one son, Eli, who is now living. at Pasadena, California.
Leonard Ketchum stayed at home with his parents until seventeen years of age and then began working for neighboring farmers by the month. In response to President Lincoln's second call for soldiers to put down the Rebellion, he enlisted in October, 1861, in Company F, Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, and was sent with his regiment to the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. He was present at the battle of Sharpsburg and was captured at the surrender of Harper's Ferry, being held under parole for about six months. After being exchanged he rejoined his regiment and participated in a number of battles, including that of Gettysburg. The period of his enlistment expired in October, 1863, and he reenlisted in the same company and regiment, being retained in service in the southwest until 1866. He received his honorable discharge at Springfield, Illinois, and returned to Macoupin county, where he has ever since engaged in agriculture and stock- raising. He owns the old family homestead upon which he has made many im- provements and has given it the name of the Corn Land Farm. He devotes spe- cial attention to raising Poland China hogs and fine horses.
On the 14th of December, 1863, Mr. Ketchum was married to Miss Jane Hay- ward, a daughter of Cyrus Tolman and Elizabeth Maria (Olmstead) Hayward. The first members of this family to arrive in America were Thomas and Susanna Hayward, who came from Kent county, England, in the ship Hercules, in 1635, and landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts. Cyrus Tolman Hayward, father of Mrs. Ketchum, was born in Massachusetts June 4, 1819. In 1838 he came with his parents to Macoupin county, Illinois, and was for many years identified with agricultural interests. On the 25th of December, 1840, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Maria Olmstead and they had eight children: Cyrus W., of Parsons, Kansas ; Caroline Matilda, who married Frank Silsby; Jane, who became the wife of Leonard Ketchum; William Oscar, of Parsons, Kansas; Lucinda Cornelia, who married Melvin Loper, of Chesterfield township, and is now deceased ; Eva Josephine, who married Emmons Loper, of Chesterfield township, and is also deceased ; Eldon O., who died at the age of three years ; and Eldon Augustus, who died in infancy. The mother of these children passed away July 8, 1856, and on th 2Ist of September, 1859, Mr. Hayward was married to Mrs. Mary Ann Johnson. To this union five children were born: Lillian O., of Medora ; Herbert M., of Chesterfield township ; Mary E., the wife of William Simpson, of Marion, Indiana ; Horace L., of Chicago, Illinois ; and Ida R., who died in infancy. Mrs. Hayward died on the 22d of August, 1898, and Mr. Hayward followed. her on the IIth of June, 1904. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ketchum were : Louis E., who is engaged in the real-estate business at Stuttgart, Arkansas, and has three children ; Lawrence C., of this review ; Eveline, the wife of A. L. Carter, of Medora, and the mother of one son; Nellie May, who married Edward Barnes, of Jersey county ; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Cary Haynes, of Chesterfield township, and has two daughters ; James Wastler, who lives upon the home place and is the father of one son; and Jane S., the wife of John Shields, of Jersey- ville.
Lawrence C. Ketchum possessed good advantages of education in the public schools, and under his father became thoroughly acquainted with the details of
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agriculture and stock-raising. At the age of twenty-six he rented one hundred acres of land on his own account and later cultivated two hundred and twenty acres in Shipman township. In 1902 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres on section 4 of Shipman township, where he established his homestead. He has greatly improved the place by remodeling the family residence and erecting other buildings, and has brought the land to a high state of cultivation. He has also set out an orchard and provided his farm with up-to-date appliances to facilitate work at all seasons of the year. He is a stock-raiser and feeder, and makes a specialty of breeding coach horses, thoroughbred Cotswold sheep and Poland China hogs.
On March 6, 1895, Mr. Ketchum was married to Miss Adelaide A. Duckels, a daughter of John H. Duckels, of Chesterfield township, record of whom appears elsewhere in this work. To this union four children have been born, Edna, Ruby, Hazel and Lucile, all of whom are at home. Politically, Mr. Ketchum is in thor- ough sympathy with the republican party. He has all his life been closely identi- fied with agricultural interests and possessed advantages of training which as- sisted him very materially in the attainment of the position he now occupies. He has made use of modern methods and is a type of the intelligent and progressive men who become the leaders in any community where they are to be found. The prosperity he enjoys is the direct result of his wisely applied energy. He is' a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and also holds membership in the Baptist church.
JAMES E. MCCLURE.
James E. McClure, editor and publisher of the Carlinville Democrat and president of the board of commissioners of the Southern Illinois Penitentiary, is a native of Carlinville township and has been a lifelong resident of Macoupin county. He was born on a farm three and one-half miles southeast of Carlin- ville, August 11, 1867, and is a son of James A. and Ellen (Collins) McClure. The father was a native of Bedford county, Tennessee, and the mother of Ohio, the former having been born April 12, 1820, and the latter November 28, 1833. They were the parents of five children : Charles, colonel of the Thirtieth United States Infantry of San Francisco, California : Frank, a twin brother of Charles, who is now living at Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Milton, of Beardstown, Illinois; James E., of this review : and Edmonia, who is the wife of Jesse Peebles, ex- mayor of Carlinville.
The father of our subject came to Illinois with his parents at the age of four- teen years. After living for one year at Carrollton, Greene county, the family ar- rived in Carlinville township, Macoupin county, where the son grew to maturity on his father's farm. He engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1883 and then re- tired at Carlinville, living in this place until his death, which occurred in March, 1901, he being then eighty-one years of age. His wife died in March, 1903, in her seventieth year. They were both active members of the Presbyterian church. The father recognized the value of education and willingly made sacrifices in
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order that his children might possess the best advantages available for mental training. He was a substantial, representative citizen, who set an example of industry and perseverance well worthy of imitation.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was James A. McClure. He was born in Virginia and was educated for the ministry, but did not pursue that call- ing, preferring the mercantile business, which he followed at Shelbyville, Ten- nessee. In 1834 he and his wife and their twelve children started for Illinois by boat down the Kentucky river to Louisville and thence by steamer to Columbiana, Greene county, and in 1835 he entered one hundred and twenty acres of govern- ment land in Macoupin county. He continued on his farm until 1844, when his wife died. He then took up his residence at Washington, D. C., having been ap- pointed clerk in the federal land office, which position he held until his death, in 1849. He was prominent in early affairs of Macoupin county and served as assessor of the county one term and as census taker in 1840. The maiden name of his wife was Frances Dickerson.
Mr. McClure of this sketch was reared upon his father's farm until he ar- rived at the age of sixteen. He attended the district schools and upon the re- movai of his parents to Carlinville in 1883 entered Blackburn University, from which he was graduated in 1887. He taught school for three years at Shipman and then began reading law in the office of his brother Milton at Beardstown, continuing assiduously at the study for two years. In 1893 he was admitted to the Illinois bar upon examination, but soon thereafter accepted the principalship of the schools at Brighton. In 1894 he was nominated on the republican ticket for county superintendent of schools and was elected the following November. He filled the office for four years with general acceptance to teachers and patrons of the schools and on the last day of his service became deputy collector of in- ternal revenue in the eighth Illinois district. He continued in that capacity until July 1, 1899, when he resigned to become a member of the law firm of Peebles, McClure & Peebles. In September, 1901, he retired from the firm to take charge of the Carlinville Democrat, a position which he has ever since held. This paper was established in 1856 and is one of the leading republican organs of this sec- tion, its influence having been largely increased under the able management of Mr. McClure. In April, 1901, Mr. McClure was appointed by Governor Richard Yates as commissioner of the Southern Illinois Penitentiary. This position he filled until July 1, 1903, when he resigned to accept appointment as a judge of the Illinois state court of claims. On July 1, 1904, he was again appointed a com- missioner of the Southern Illinois Penitentiary and he now occupies that office. For five years past he has been president of the board and in all his acts he has shown a discrimination and a judgment that reflect upon him and his associates the highest credit.
On the 30th of September, 1897. Mr. McClure was married to Miss E. Flor- ence Parker, a native of Kane, Greene county, Illinois, and a daughter of Henry L. and Hattie E. (King) Parker. To this union two children have been born : Harriet, aged eleven years ; and Dorothy, who is one year old. Mr. McCluire is not identified with any religious denomination, but his wife is a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He belongs to Mount Nebo Lodge, A. F. & A. M. : Orient Lodge, No. 95, K. P. : the Court of Honor, and Carlinville Lodge.
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No. 125, M. W. A. He has through life taken an active interest in the promotion of education and as a wide-awake and progressive citizen has contributed his share toward the development of the county and state. He is in hearty sym- pathy with all movements that aim to improve the character of the individual or to elevate the standard of society. An acknowledged leader in the community, his record has measured up to the highest standard of manhood and no man is more deeply respected by thinking people of Macoupin county than the gentleman whose record is here briefly presented.
JAMES W. HALL.
James W. Hall is now living retired in Chesterfield, Illinois, after many years of close application to farming and stock-raising in Macoupin county, his industry and enterprise having secured him such a competence as now enables him, in the very prime of his life, to put aside the active duties of business and enjoy all of the comforts and pleasures afforded by a successful career. A native of this county, he was born on his father's farm near Chesterfield, on the 16th of November, 1856, a son of David T. and Elizabeth (Payne) Hall. The grand- father of our subject, Jacob Hall, who was born in Kentucky, brought his family to Macoupin county, Illinois, at an early date, locating near Chesterfield upon a farm which he continued to operate until his death. His son, David T. Hall, was also a native of the Blue Grass state and in early life learned the mason's trade. He followed that occupation for a time in Macoupin county, engaging in contracting and building but later directed his attention to agricultural pursuits, purchasing a farm near Chesterfield, which was his home throughout his remain- ing days. He married Elizabeth Payne, a native of New Jersey, and unto them were born ten children, of whom two passed away in infancy, the others being : James W., of this review; Sarah, the wife of William Cundall, of Macoupin county ; Thomas H., a physician of Gillespie, Illinois; Mary, the deceased wife of Newton Kennedy, who is also deceased; Lucy, who married Frank Christo- pher, of Waverly, Sangamon county, and who has also passed away; Emma, who wedded H. M. Hayward, of this county; Augusta, the deceased wife of French Chism, of Macoupin county ; and David E., of East St. Louis, Illinois.
At the usual age James W. Hall was sent as a pupil to the public schools, wherein he acquired a good education, and on the home farm he also received thorough practical training. He remained with his parents until his marriage, when he began farming independently, renting a tract for some time. Later he purchased one hundred and twenty acres and a subsequent addition of forty acres adjoining made him the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres which is still in his possession. Upon this place he erected fine buildings, introduced the latest inventions in farm machinery and all of the accessories and conveniences of a model farm, and today this is one of the best improved proper- ties in the county, giving evidence in its well ordered appearance, of the spirit of progress which ever actuated his efforts. Close study also gave him accurate knowledge of the best methods of raising stock, and he ever made it a practice to
J. W. HALL
MRS. J. W. HALL
.
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handle only thoroughbreds, permitting himself at no time to be content with second best. It was but a natural sequence that his well directed efforts should be rewarded by success, and as the years passed prosperity in large measure came to him, permitting him in recent years to withdraw from business affairs, and he is now living retired in Chesterfield, enjoying, in the prime of life, well earned ease and comfort.
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