USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois : biographical and pictorial, Volume II > Part 14
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WILLIAM R. ROBERTSON
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days and became one of the landowners of Macoupin county. William R. Rob- ertson was a lawyer, editor, business man and farmer, pursuing these vocations at various times in his life. He studied law in the Harvard Law School and practiced at Carlinville, gaining an enviable reputation as a competent and suc- cessful attorney. In young manhood he traveled across the country to Wichita, Kansas, and in partnership with another person acquired land where the city of Wichita now stands. He was not enthusiastic, however, over the develop- ment of a town which was then a gathering place for cattle men and disposed of his interest at a very moderate figure. He spent five years at Fargo, North Dakota, where he was connected with Major Edwards, formerly editor of a Carlinville paper, in the publication of the Fargo Daily Argus. Later he went to Clintwood, Virginia, and engaged in the sale of coal land. About the middle of the 'gos he took up his residence in Florida and for several years was iden- tified with the fruit business. In 1898 he returned to Macoupin county and settled on a farm in Shaws Point township, which he had inherited. Here he continued until his death, May 22, 1903. Mrs. Robertson is still living and is now fifty-eight years of age.
In the public schools of Florida and Macoupin county Tilden Robertson ac- quired his preliminary education, later becoming a student at Blackburn Col- lege, Carlinville. He has been in charge of the home farm ever since he was eighteen years of age. This place comprises one hundred and twenty-seven acres and is one of the highly improved properties of the county, being provided with all the accessories necessary in an up-to-date farming establishment. Mr. Robertson is a thorough agriculturist and is also well acquainted with stock- raising. He is an admirer of fine stock and keeps a herd of fifty head of fine sheep, several registered Jersey cows and six head of horses. He is also the owner of several residence lots in Carlinville. He is unmarried and his mother presides over the household.
Politically Mr. Robertson gives his support to the republican party, the prin- ciples of which he heartily espouses, and is now serving as clerk of Shaws Point township. He and his mother attend the Methodist church, to which they are liberal contributors. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Court of Honor, whose principles of brotherhood and help- fulness find in his heart a cordial response. An honorable representative of the type of energetic and progressive young men of America, he is rightly num- bered among the promising citizens of Macoupin county.
AUGUST PETERS.
By the application of energy and sound business judgment August Peters has gained recognition as one of the substantial farmers of Honey Point town- ship and is now the owner of a farm of two hundred and fifteen acres which yields a liberal annual revenue. He is a native of Franklin county, Missouri, born May 26, 1864, a son of Henry and Catharine (Rammart) Peters, both of
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whom were born in Germany. The father was reared as a farmer and came to America, taking up his residence on a farm in Missouri. Later he came to Mount Olive, Macoupin county, but moved back to Missouri, finally returning to Ma- coupin county and establishing his home upon eighty acres north of Mount Olive. Here he continued until his death, which occurred in 1880, his wife having passed away two years previous. In their family were the following children : Henry, who is now engaged as a coal miner at Mount Olive; Minnie, who married Fred Courting, a millwright and laborer of Mount Olive, and died twenty-five years ago ; August, of this review; Fred, who died on a farm in Iowa ten years ago; Amelia, who died in infancy; John, who is engaged in farming in Iowa; Louis, who is working on a farm in Iowa; and William, who died at the age of three months.
August Peters lost his mother when he was fourteen years of age and his father two years later, thus being thrown upon his own resources at the age of sixteen. He began working as a farm laborer after the death of his father and so continued for nine years, at the end of which time he was married. He then started to farm on his own account, renting eighty acres three and one-half miles north of Mount Olive, this property belonging to Louis Eichmaier. After five years' experience as a renter he had acquired the necessary capital and purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 13, Honey Point township, upon which he established his permanent home. This was in 1895. In May, 1909, he purchased fifty-five acres in Montgomery county and has since cultivated both places to good advantage. His farm is highly improved and he secures an ample revenue by raising and feeding a good grade of cattle and hogs for which he is usually able to receive the best quotations in the market.
On the 19th of February, 1890, Mr. Peters was married to Miss Amelia Grossenheider, a daughter of William and Minnie (Pullman) Grossenheider, both of whom were born in Germany. The parents came to America fifty years ago and located on a farm two and one-half miles north of Mount Olive, Illinois, where the daughter Amelia was born. The father died at his home in March, 1881, and the mother on Easter morning, 1901. They were the parents of five children, namely: Annie, who married Henry Nehouse, a farmer of Gillespie township ; Minnie, who became the wife of Henry Nehouse, a cousin of her sister Annie's husband, and died April 16, 1891, in Gillespie township; Henry, who died on the old homestead in 1905: Ida, of Mount Olive, who is the widow of Frank Weers : and Amelia. To Mr. and Mrs. Peters six children have been born : Henry, who is twenty years of age; Adella, aged seventeen; William, thirteen ; John, eleven ; Amanda, eight; and August, three years of age. All of the chil- dren are at home and William, John and Amanda are attending district school No. 100, of Honey Point township.
Politically Mr. Peters adheres to the republican party. He has filled the office of school director of district No. 100 for twelve years past and is now serving his second year as a member of the county drainage commission, which is in charge of important work in progress at the present time. He and his family are members of the German Lutheran church of Cahokia township. As is indi- cated by the record herewith presented, Mr. Peters is a self-made man and his success is the legitimate result of his rightly applied energies. His life is proof
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of what may be accomplished by one who is actuated by the right principles, provided he is willing to labor diligently and deny himself in earlier years in order to become assured of abundance later in life.
ISAAC N. WRIGHT.
Isaac N. Wright, an enterprising farmer of Bird township, has a comfortable home on section 31, which he acquired through his ability, energy and good judgment. He is a native of Morgan county, Illinois, born March 1I, 1836, a son of Noah and Sarah (Vance) Wright, the former of whom was born in Kentucky and the latter in Tennessee. The father migrated from his native state to Illinois in pioneer times and after spending a few years in this state removed to Jefferson county, Iowa, where he located upon government land. The parents both died in Iowa. In their family were nine children three of whom are now living besides the subject of this review, namely: Mrs. Mary Harber, of Nilwood; Samuel S., whose home is at Keota, Iowa; and Jasper, who lives in Jefferson county, Iowa.
The boyhood and youth of Isaac N. Wright were spent upon his father's farm and under the favoring influences of outdoor life he acquired a strength of muscle and mind that proved highly important factors in the accomplishment of his success. At the age of seventeen he came to Macoupin county, Illinois, and secured employment driving a team of oxen upon a farm. He applied himself with great energy and to such good purpose, that in 1866 he purchased the land on section 15, Bird township, upon which he now lives. Since his earliest recollection he has been identified with the farming industry for which he is adapted both by inclination and natural ability. He has always taken a deep interest in his business and his beautiful home and well improved farm are proofs of his good taste and skill. His fields are highly productive and yield bountiful harvests, so there is no danger but what he will be able to keep the wolf from the door.
In 1857 Mr. Wright was married to Miss Susan Wommack, a daughter of John W. and Nancy (Yowell) Wommack, who arrived in Macoupin county at an early day and were long identified with its agricultural interests. To this union three children were born, only one of whom, Robert, is now living. He is engaged in farming in Nebraska. The mother died January 1, 1872, and Mr. Wright was married August 4, 1872, to Susan E. Standley, who was born near Jacksonville, in Morgan county, Illinois, April 9, 1848. Her parents were William and Matilda (Ausmus) Standley, early settlers of Morgan county. They moved to the northern part of Missouri and there spent the remainder of their days. Mr. and Mrs. Wright are the parents of two children: Emma, the wife of Charles Gates, of Denver, Colorado; and Annie M., who is em- ployed as a stenographer at Girard. Mr. Wright has several grandchildren in whom he takes great pride.
As a public-spirited citizen he has from the time of reaching his majority been interested in good government and in the progress of the community of
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which he is a valued member. He has never sought the honors or emoluments of public office but has served as school director of the township. He cast his first presidential vote for Millard Fillmore and is now a stanch republican. He has made his home in Macoupin county for fifty-eight years and has been a witness of the many changes that marked the last half of the nineteenth and the opening of the marvelous twentieth century upon which we have now fairly entered. He has seen many of his early dreams realized and now enjoys a comfortable income as the result of years of persistence and well applied labor.
THOMAS F. CHAMBERLAIN.
Although a young man Thomas F. Chamberlain has won his way to a re- sponsible position in financial circles of Macoupin county, and as cashier of the First National Bank of Brighton is a growing factor in the development of the community. He is a native of Greenville, Bond county, Illinois, and was born October 3, 1878, a son of James W. and Martha R. (Lynch) Chamber- lain. The father was born in Greenville, March 29, 1857. The grandfather, Thomas Chamberlain, was a native of Ohio and the grandmother was born in Kentucky. They settled at Greenville in the '40s and were among the prominent pioneers of that section. The parents of our subject are still living and reside on the home farm, two miles north of Greenville. The father has been con- nected with farming for many years but has resided on the homestead for only six years past. He is a molder by trade and was formerly employed in the car shops at Litchfield and Mount Vernon.
Thomas F. Chamberlain received his early education in the public schools and possessed advantages of attendance for one year at the Greenville high school. At the age of fourteen he began working in the car shops at Mount Vernon and soon afterwards, while assisting his father in the foundry, he be- gan the study of shorthand which he carried forward in a night school. After gaining a good acquaintance with stenography he entered the employ of W. A. Northcott, who was then head consul for the Modern Woodmen of America and is now United States district attorney. Mr. Chamberlain continued in `the employ of Mr. Northcott for seven years, at the end of which time he ac- cepted a position as secretary to F. J. V. Skiff, director of exhibits at the St. Louis Exposition, and continued with Mr. Skiff until the close of the exposi- tion. He then became secretary to J. C. Van Blarcom, president of the National Bank of Commerce of St. Louis, one of the most important financial institu- tions in the west. He remained in the employ of Mr. Van Blarcom until the death of the latter, in August, 1908. In April, 1909, Mr. Chamberlain came to Brighton and associated with a number of the leading citizens in organizing the First National Bank of this city. A meeting was called to consider the organization of the bank on Saturday afternoon and on Monday morning fol- lowing, less than thirty-six hours after the movement started, thirty-five thou- sand dollars was subscribed. As only twenty-five thousand dollars was called for, it was necessary to refuse subscriptions to the amount of ten thousand
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dollars. Under able management the bank is now well established and is one of the flourishing concerns of Macoupin county. A large share of the credit for the success of this undertaking is due to the energy and ability of Mr. Chamberlain who has proved thoroughly qualified for the responsible position he has filled ever since the bank was opened.
In 1899 he was married to Miss Gertrude J. Thompson, of Greenville, and to this union three children have been born, two of whom survive, Thomas F., Jr., and Gertrude. Politically Mr. Chamberlain adheres to the republican party and has taken an active interest in its success, having served as a member of the county executive committee in 1910. He is a member of Hibbard Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Brighton Lodge No. 366, I. O. O. F .; Greenville Lodge, K. O. T. M .; and Brighton Camp No. 1688, M. W. A. He and his wife are identi- fied with the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is an active worker, being at the present time superintendent of the Sunday school. As is indicated above, he is an unusually busy man. He is prompt and efficient in everything to which he gives his attention and, as he possesses good judgment and clear discrimination, he decides questions arising in his business quickly and correctly. His early training under acknowledged leaders has proved to him of inestimable value and the progress he has made in the financial world is a bright prophecy of larger honors and rewards in years to come.
ISRAEL CHAPPELL.
At the age of eighty-six years Israel Chappell is living retired upon his farm in Honey Point township, and he and his wife in comfort and ease are enjoying the fruits of their labors. His eyes first rested on Illinois seventy- eight years ago and after arriving at manhood he joined the great army of gold hunters that crossed the plains to California in the pioneer days. It required six months to accomplish the journey from the Missouri river and the long trail was marked in many places with the graves of disappointed adventurers. Unlike thousands of others Mr. Chappell was at least moderately successful in his quest for the yellow metal and after returning from the Pacific coast was en- abled to procure a home. He was born in Devonshire, England, February 5, 1825, a son of Bartholomew and Grace (Geen) Chappell. The parents were both of good English stock and were born and reared in Devonshire. In 1833 the father came to America with his family and located in Greene county, Illinois, being one of the pioneer settlers of that county. He purchased a farm upon which he lived until his death, in 1872. The mother survived until 1877. making her home principally with her daughter, Mrs. Theresa Noble, of Jersey county, Illinois. Mr. Chappell was twice married. By his first union there were six children, John, Bartholomew, William, Ann, Elizabeth and Susan. Seven children were born to his second marriage, namely, Solomon, Israel. Richard, Ephraim, Lucinda, Thirza and Mahala.
The district schools of the neighborhood supplied Israel Chappell with an opportunity to become acquainted with the rudiments of an English education
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and as he grew to maturity he assisted his father upon the home farm. He began to work upon his own account at eight dollars per month, his employer being a farmer named Brown. The second year he received ten dollars per month and the third year engaged under a brother-in-law of Mr. Brown, near Jacksonville, Illinois, at thirteen dollars per month. After three years' experi- ence as an employe Mr. Chappell associated with his brother Ephraim in rent- ing their father's farm of three hundred and twenty acres which they cultivated for one year. In 1850 he yielded to the gold excitement which swept through the country after the discovery of gold at Sutter's Fort, in California, and started for the mining region with a mule team and a covered wagon. After a long and arduous journey in the course of which many dangers were encoun- tered, he arrived in California and applied himself to washing gold out of the sands for nine months, giving the woman who fitted him out and provided him with board one-half of all the gold he secured. At the end of the time named he started to prospect upon his own account. After acquiring what appeared to him in those days a handsome sum of money he returned to Illinois and purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 4, Honey Point township, for which he paid one hundred and forty dollars. This farm belonged to his father and was entered by him from the government in 1848. In 1853 Mr. Chappell took up his residence upon his newly purchased place and began its improvement by breaking twenty acres of raw prairie land. As the years passed this farm became one of the most productive of its size in the township. He also purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Shaws Point township and as he used good judgment in his work, he secured very satisfactory returns upon his labor. He has lived retired for twenty-five years past, the cultivation of the farm being carried forward by younger persons.
On the 30th of March, 1854, in Genesee county, New York, Mr. Chappell was married to Miss Sophia Hunt, a daughter of George and Sophia Hunt, both of whom were natives of England. They emigrated to America and estab- lished their home in New York state, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Chappell. Watson is now engaged in farming at Kearney, Nebraska. George married Lydia Whar- ton, of Jerseyville, and is now a farmer of Shaws Point township. Grace is the wife of Samuel Dugger, a retired farmer of Carlinville. Richard is en- gaged in farming near Belvidere, Illinois. Cora married Walter Groves, who is engaged in teaching school at Carlinville. Matilda and William are deceased, the former having died in infancy and the latter at the age of three years.
In politics Mr. Chappell usually votes the national republican ticket. He cast his first ballot for General Zachary Taylor as president of the United States. He is not an uncompromising adherent of the party of protection and in local affairs often supports candidates of acknowledged high character irrespective of their political views. He served as a member of the school board for twenty- five years, as highway commissioner for six years, and as school trustee of Honey Point township for three years, always discharging his duties in a way that met with a hearty response from the people. His religious belief is indi- cated by membership in the Methodist Episcopal church of Shaws Point town- ship, his wife, one daughter and son Richard, being also identified with the
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same church. He has for many years been connected with the lodge of Odd Fellows at Carlinville but has been unable to attend recently on account of the inconvenience of travel for a man who is advanced in age. Having conscien- tiously discharged his responsibilities he looks back upon many pleasant experi- ences and has no reason to regret selecting Macoupin county as his permanent place of abode. He was early animated with the firm purpose to win an hon- orable name and by the exercise of sound judgment he accomplished the object of his ambition. His name is inseparably interwoven with the history of Ma- coupin county and it is with pleasure that this record is herewith presented of one of its most worthy citizens.
CHARLES T. WOODWARD.
To Charles T. Woodward, of Carlinville, belongs the distinction of being at the head of a hardware business which was established fifty years ago and has been maintained without interruption during the entire period named. A native of Carlinville, he was born February 8, 1868, a son of Septimus and Elizabeth (Trumbull) Woodward, the former of whom was a native of Kentucky and the latter of Illinois. They were the parents of six children, namely: Annie, who is the wife of E. C. Barber, of Fort Madison, Iowa ; Katie, Laura and May, all of whom died in childhood; Nellie M., who married J. W. O'Brien and is now deceased; and Charles T.
The father of our subject was brought by his parents to Pike county, Illinois, when he was six months old. After receiving his preliminary education he learned the tinner's trade at Winchester. In 1856 he came to Carlinville and found employment at his trade with the firm of Keller & Fishback. In January, 1861, he opened a hardware store in his own name and continued in that line of business to the time of his death, which occurred in March, 1901, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. He was also engaged for two years in the lumber business. His wife died in 1906, at the age of seventy-three. They were both consistent members of the Methodist church. Mr. Woodward was for many years a leading citizen of Carlinville and contributed his full share toward its upbuilding. He was a man of fine business ability, exceptionable character and great public spirit. His name is inseparably connected with the history of Carlinville and his memory will ever be revered by all who had the honor of his acquaintance.
The grandfather of our subject on the paternal side was Henry Woodward. He was a native of Kentucky and was of German descent. He married a Miss Schull whose parents emigrated from Pennsylvania to Kentucky and passed the remainder of their lives in that state. She came to Illinois and took up her residence at Griggsville, in Brown county. Mr. and Mrs. Woodward had several sons who died when young and two daughters, Sophia and Kate. Sophia mar- ried William Farrell who was in partnership with Mr. Woodward at Carlinville for twenty-five or thirty years, the firm being known as Woodward & Farrell. Kate married William Shibley who engaged in wagon making at Carlinville. He
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was a soldier in the Civil war and is now living at the Soldiers' Home at Quincy. The grandfather on the maternal side was William Trumbull, a native of Massa- chusetts, whose father at one time owned Breed's Hill, the site of the battle of Bunker Hill. William Trumbull wa's a pioneer of Griggsville, Illinois, and was by trade a wagon maker. His wife was a Miss Beckford and they were the parents of fifteen children, Mrs. Woodward, the mother of our subject, being the youngest.
Charles T. Woodward was reared in Carlinville and secured his preliminary education in the public schools, later attending Blackburn University, and the Wyman Institute at Upper Alton. After leaving the institute he entered his father's store as clerk and upon the death of his father succeeded to the busi- ness, which he has managed with excellent judgment. He has taken a prominent part in advancing the interests of hardware dealers in the state and is now serving as president of the Illinois Retail Hardware Dealers' Association and is a member of the executive committee of the National Retail Hardware Dealers' Association.
On December 7, 1887, Mr. Woodward was married to Miss Jennie Converse, of Greene county, Illinois, a daughter of Uriah and Minerva (Standifer) Con- verse. One daughter, Geraldine, has been born to this union. The father of Mrs. Woodward is a native of Vermont and came to Illinois after arriving at maturity and purchased government land in Greene county at a dollar and a quarter an acre. He is still residing at.his old home and is now eighty-six years of age. Mrs. Converse is deceased. She was the mother of five children, Eugene, Dora, Harry, Jennie and Trueman. Politically Mr. Woodward is in active sympathy with the democratic party. He has never sought the emoluments of public office but served with general acceptability as alderman of the first ward. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He and his estimable wife possess genial social characteristics and have an extensive circle of friends throughout the com- munity. He belongs to that class of energetic and honest men who give dignity to their vocation and are respected by all with whom they come into contact.
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