USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois : biographical and pictorial, Volume II > Part 2
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ALFRED SMITH MAYFIELD.
Although more than forty years have elapsed since Alfred Smith Mayfield passed away he made too deep an impress on the business and public life of Carlinville to be entirely forgotten. His birth occurred in Montgomery, Ala- bama, on the 2d of July, 1832, his parents being Manning and Martha (Smith) Mayfield. In their family were seven children, three of whom died in infancy, and those who attained maturity were: Alfred S., our subject; Manning, who died in California; Pulaski G., of St. Joseph, Missouri; and Luke, who was killed in the Civil war. The father, Manning Mayfield, was reared in the south, where, after the completion of his education, he followed the vocation of teach- ing. He was one of the pioneer merchants of Montgomery county, Illinois, having for some years successfully conducted a store in Zanesville, but re- moved to Metropolis, Illinois, about the time of the breaking out of the Civil war. His demise occurred in the vicinity of Carbondale, when he was out riding, having been killed, supposedly, for his money. He was about sixty at the time of his death. He was a son of Luke and a grandson of Stephen May- field. The family is of English descent and its members have always been well educated. The mother of our subject died when quite young.
Alfred Smith Mayfield was a very small lad when his parents removed from their southern home to Illinois, in whose schools he acquired his education.
Alfredo . S. mayfield
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At the age of sixteen he began teaching, his first school being in Morgan county, Illinois. When he had attained manhood he became associated with his father in the mercantile business in Zanesville, whence he removed to Girard in 1853. While a resident of the latter place he was elected to the office of circuit clerk of Macoupin county and was serving his second term at the time of his demise, which occurred in 1868 when he was in his thirty-seventh year.
On the 3d of August, 1854, Mr. Mayfield was united in marriage to Miss Louan Davis, a daughter of Elijah and Catherine (Miller) Davis. She survived her husband for many years, remaining faithful to his memory, and died in 1907, at the age of seventy-three years. There were six children born to them, namely : Albert Le Roy ; Webster Davis; Nellie Pocahontas, the wife of William Reid; Mattie Lou, the wife of W. R. Hulse; Luke, who died in infancy ; and Alfredo Lilly, the wife of Bertie M. Burke. All are residents of Carlinville.
Elijah Davis, the father of Mrs. Mayfield, was one of the pioneer settlers of Macoupin county and a native of Virginia, from which state he removed to Kentucky and later came to Illinois. Here he engaged in farming, making his home in Shaws Point township, and was regarded as one of the leading citi- zens and prosperous farmers of his community.
In 1852 Mr. Mayfield was initiated into the Masonic order, joining Mount Nebo Lodge, No. 76, from which he was subsequently demitted for the purpose of forming a lodge at Girard, of which he became a charter member. He also took the degrees of the Royal Arch chapter and was a member of the Odd Fel- lows for a number of years. Although still a young man at the time of his death, he had already become one of the prominent and influential citizens of the county. He made an excellent record both as a business man and public official, his reliability and integrity being above question, while personally he was held in the highest regard by a host of warm friends.
MICHAEL BOWMAN.
A life of wisely directed activity generally yields gratifying returns and the experience of Michael Bowman has been in accordance with the rule indicated. He has never been afraid to work and, as he was blessed with a good constitution and a laudable ambition to accomplish worthy aims, he is now the owner of one of the valuable farms of Macoupin county. He was born in Western Mound township, July 14, 1875, a son of Hardin and Anna (Quinn) Bowman. The father was also born in this county and is now living in Western Mound town- ship, where he has spent his entire life. The mother is a native of Ireland and is also living. Mr. and Mrs. Bowman were the parents of nine children: Edward, deceased ; Michael, of this review; William Lawrence, who resides in Western Mound township; John, of Greene county, Illinois; Ella, deceased; Rose, who married Leo Robinson, of Hagaman ; and Mamie, Philip and Eli, all of whom are at home.
After securing his preliminary education in the district schools of Western Mound township, Michael Bowman gave his attention to the cultivation of the
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
home farm, continuing under the parental roof until twenty-three years of age. He then began farming on his own account on his father's place and, after two years, having acquired the necessary capital, he purchased land in his own name in Western Mound township and is now the owner of two hundred and seventy acres. The land was partly improved when he assumed possession, but he has remodeled all the old buildings upon the farm and erected new ones, also making many other improvements which have added largely to its value. His attention has been concentrated upon farming ever since his early boyhood, and he has shown an interest and ability in his calling which have produced very satisfactory results. His methods are practical and his well directed labors are rewarded with abundant harvests.
On the 2d of November, 1898, Mr. Bowman was married to Miss Anna Shea, a native of Grafton, Illinois, and to this union six children have been born: Raymond, Florence, Marie, Henry and Vincent, all of whom are at home; and Mildred, deceased.
Mr. Bowman has never given much time to politics, but he votes the demo- cratic ticket and is a sincere believer in the principles of his party. A man of business rather than theory, he has applied himself to good purpose, and his neighbors recognize that his judgment is to be relied upon in all matters pertain- ing to agriculture or stock-raising. He is a stanch friend of education and is now serving as school director, a position he has occupied for six years. He is a policy holder of the Bankers Life Insurance Company. He and his wife are consistent members of the Catholic church, to which he is a liberal contributor. As a result of early self-denial and years of patient labor he now enjoys the bless- ings of home and the friendship of the people of the entire community.
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WILLIS D. P. WARREN.
Willis D. P. Warren, county surveyor of Macoupin county and prominently known in Illinois as a civil engineer of demonstrated ability, is a native of Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, born December 19, 1882. At the age of eight years he became a resident of Texas and after securing a common school education in the Denton high school, from which he was graduated in 1899, he became a student in the engineering department of the University of Texas. He was graduated from that institution in 1906 with the degree of C. E. He was made a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity while at the university and was one of the organizers of the famous "Hickey Club."
In 1902 and 1903 Mr. Warren assisted in the location and construction of railways in Texas, Indian Territory, Arkansas and Illinois, thus receiving an introduction to a line of work for which he has shown special talent. He was appointed resident engineer of the Illinois Traction System in 1905 and placed in charge of railroad construction work south of Bloomington. In July of the year following he took charge of the construction work of the system west of Bloomington and acted as resident engineer on eighteen miles of line, also having charge of the construction of two subways in Bloomington, under the Chicago
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
& Alton and Lake Erie & Western Railways respectively. In 1907 he was engi- neer on heavy construction work between Lincoln and Mackinaw and was in charge of the construction of two subways at Mackinaw and of the overhead crossing near Minier.
From April, 1908, to April, 1910, Mr. Warren was located at Gillespie, Macoupin county, as chief engineer of the Superior Coal Company, having the task assigned of organizing an engineering force to handle the large mines of the company and also of equipping an office in which could be gathered the engineering data so important in the development of a large coal field. In 1910 he settled at Carlinville and shortly afterwards in the same year was elected county surveyor of Macoupin county, a position which he has since filled. Upon coming to Carlinville he entered into partnership with S. T. Morse under the title of The Morse-Warren Engineering Company, of which he is an active member. During the winter of 1910-1911 he was engaged in compiling and publishing a new county atlas which was issued by The Morse-Warren Engi- neering Company and is pronounced the best atlas of the kind that has as yet been published. Since the spring of 1911 he has served very acceptably as city engineer of Carlinville, under appointment by the new mayor.
In May, 1908, Mr. Warren was married to Miss Anna Funk, of Blooming- ton, Illinois, who has proved indeed a sympathetic and helpful companion. As county surveyor he has faithfully performed his duty, evincing an interest in the work and an energy and effectiveness in meeting the wants of taxpayers, which have elicited the warmest approval. He has made a careful study of the resources of Macoupin county and is of the opinion that this county has greater possibilities of development in the immediate future than any other county of the state. On this account and also because of business and social ties he has selected Macoupin county as his permanent abode.
EDWARD EVERETT COOPER.
A life of intense and well, directed business activity has brought Edward Everett Cooper to a position where he can now lay aside the heavier duties and burdens of business life and rest in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. At the present writing, in 1911, he is living in Girard, giving his attention merely to the supervision and direction of his various interests and properties.
His birth occurred in Greene county, this state, on the 4th of December, 1863, his parents being Edmond Mills and Martha (Tunnell) Cooper, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Tennessee. Extended mention is made of them on another page of this work. The Cooper family is descended from English and Welsh ancestry and was founded in America in colonial days.
Judge Edmond Landrum Cooper, the grandfather of Edward E. Cooper, was born in Orange county, Virginia, on the 28th of September, 1799, and on the 20th of November, 1822, in Christian county, Kentucky, was married to Mary Mills Perry. They removed to Greene county, Illinois, in April, 1836, becoming pioneer residents of that district, and there Mrs. Edmond L. Cooper
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
passed away March 6, 1887. Judge Cooper lived to be more than a hundred years of age and had he lived for another year his life record would have ex- tended into three different centuries. He was prominent in the local affairs of the community in which he resided and was elected assessor and treasurer of Greene county, filling that position in 1853 and 1854. In politics he was a stanch republican, following the organization of that party and at all times was deeply interested in public projects that tended to promote the welfare of the community. He was a gentleman of the old school, always courteous and dignified, yet jovial and genial, and his friends delighted in his companionship.
His son, Edmond Mills Cooper, removed in 1864 to Girard, at which time Edward Everett Cooper was less than a year old. The latter was, therefore, reared in this district and is indebted to the public-school system of the village for the educational opportunities which were accorded him. He started out in · the business world as a clerk in the dry-goods store of S. McKnight in 1881 and remained with that business until 1890, when he withdrew from active commercial pursuits. He is recognized as a man of sound business judgment, whose investments have been well placed, and he now spends the winter seasons in Arkansas, where he has extensive real-estate interests. He is also one of the stockholders and a director of the Citizens Bank of Van Buren, Arkansas, and a stockholder and director in the Girard Building & Loan Association. His insight into business situations is keen and his sagacity enables him to readily determine the value of any business proposition in which he becomes interested.
Mr. Cooper resides with his mother at the family residence in Girard. His fraternal relations are with the Masons, his membership being in Girard Lodge, No. 171, A. F. & A. M., in which he has filled all of the chairs, being now a past master. In political affairs he gives his allegiance to the men and measures of the republican party but has never sought nor desired office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his private business affairs and such interests as are a source of pleasure and enjoyment.
WILLIAM P. DICKIE.
Among the well known citizens of Bunker Hill closely identified with the business and public interests of the community is numbered William P. Dickie, who was born in this city on the 19th of October, 1858. His father, Robert Dickie, was a native of Dalry, Scotland, whence he came to the United States in early manhood. He was a wood worker by occupation, and established a shop in Bunker Hill, Macoupin county, here engaging in his trade until his death. After his arrival in this country he was married to Miss Mary Patrick, who was born in Dalry, Scotland, and at the age of seventy-eight years is still living. Unto this union were born six children, as follows: James, now de- ceased; William P., of this review; Lizzie, the wife of J. M. Harlan; Mary, at home; Robert, a jeweler of Lebanon, Missouri; and John, engaging in farming in Bunker Hill township.
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William P. Dickie was reared to manhood under the parental roof, and was but twelve years of age when his father passed away. He attended the com- mon schools in the acquirement of an education, and after laying aside his text-books began an apprenticeship to the jeweler's trade under the direction of I. W. Camp. In 1883 he purchased the business of Mr. Camp and has since been most successfully engaged in this line of activity. He has a well appointed establishment, showing an artistic and carefully selected line of goods, and his business sagacity ranks him among the leading merchants of Bunker Hill.
About twenty-seven years ago Mr. Dickie was united in marriage to Miss Mary H. Tirrill, and unto them were born six children, namely: William H., now deceased ; Robert, who has also passed away; John Tirrill, who is engaged in the advertising business in St. Louis; Chester O., a resident of Seattle, Washington; Lawrence, in the jewelry business at Kennett, Missouri; and Mary Louise, attending the Illinois Woman's College.
Mr. and Mrs. Dickie hold membership in the Congregational church and the former also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. He owns a beautiful home in Bunker Hill and the family is prominent in social circles here. An active worker in the republican ranks, few citizens are better known in this locality than Mr. Dickie, whose public-spirited efforts have been potent factors in the welfare of the community. He served as a member of the town- ship board of education some time, also represented his ward as alderman in the town council and has been postmaster of Bunker Hill for the past thirteen years. In every relation of life he has been found true to high ideals of man- hood and is numbered among the representative and valued citizens of Macoupin county.
THOMAS MARSHALL ROBISON.
Thomas Marshall Robison, whose demise occurred at Wray, Colorado, on the Ist of February, 1897, was a worthy native son of Macoupin county and was for some time engaged in the drug business at Chesterfield. His birth occurred near Greenfield, in Barr township, this county, on the IIth of Decem- ber, 1855, his parents being Presley and Elizabeth (Redmond) Robison, who were natives of Kentucky and Indiana respectively. The father, an agriculturist by occupation, took up his abode among the pioneer settlers of Barr township, entering a tract of land from the government. His demise occurred thereon when he had attained the age of sixty-six years. His wife passed away in Hettick at the age of about seventy-three. Unto them were born seven children, as follows: William, who is a resident of Tacoma, Washington; George E., living in Barr township; "Doc," of Carlinville; James, who is deceased; Thomas Marshall, of this review; Lona, who gave her hand in marriage to Thomas Overby; and Belle, the wife of Charles Nelson.
Thomas M. Robison remained on the home farm in Macoupin county until he had attained the age of nineteen years and then followed the profession of teaching for several years. Subsequently he embarked in the drug business
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
at Chesterfield in association with A. A. Gary. Removing to Colorado, he there took up a homestead and later went into the grain business at Wray, that state. There he continued to reside until called to his final rest on the Ist of February, 1897.
On the 6th of October, 1886, Mr. Robinson was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary E. Deeds, who was born near old Zanesville, in Montgomery county, Illinois, on the 3d of October, 1865, her parents being David and Mary A. (Bird) Deeds. Her paternal grandparents were Philip and Anna (Metcalf) Deeds, while her maternal grandparents were William and Mary (Stuart) Bird. David Deeds, the father of Mrs. Robison, was born near Carrollton, Greene county, Illinois, on the 22d of April, 1832, but spent the greater part of his life in Macoupin county. For a few years he made his home in Montgomery county. His demise occurred in Bird township, Macoupin county, on the 27th of April, 1875, when he had attained the age of forty-three years. His wife, whose birth occurred near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on the 5th of May, 1833, still sur- vives him and makes her home in Carlinville. They were the parents of eleven children, as follows: Elra P., who is deceased; William A .; Horace D .; George, Edgar; Anna Belle; Mary E .; Joseph B .; Ernest L .; Charles F .; and two who died in early life. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Robison were born five children. E. Juanita is a graduate of the Carlinville high school and Blackburn University and also pursued a post-graduate course in the University of Illinois, winning the degree of Bachelor of Arts from the last named institution. She is now principal of the high school at White Hall, Illinois. Victor Blaine, who is like- wise a graduate of the Carlinville high school and Blackburn University and did post-graduate work at the University of Illinois, now acts as traveling salesman for Meyer Brothers' coffee house of St. Louis. Clarence E., is a painter by trade. Helen Robison died in infancy and Mary is a high school student.
Mr. Robison was a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the Greenfield and Chesterfield lodges. He took a deep and helpful interest in the work of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his widow also belongs. The latter makes her home at No. 520 North Seminary avenue in Carlinville.
W. C. ALDERSON.
W. C. Alderson, who has lived retired at Virden since 1892, devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career and won a gratifying measure of success in his undertakings. His birth occurred in Morgan county, Illinois, on the 12th of February, 1834, his parents being Robert and Elizabeth (Clack) Alderson, who are mentioned at greater length on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of J. D. Alderson, a brother of our subject.
W. C. Alderson remained at home with his father until twenty-four years of age and then purchased one hundred acres of land in North Otter township. As his financial resources increased, owing to his capable management and
A
W. C. ALDERSON
MRS. W. C. ALDERSON
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untiring industry, he augmented his holdings by additional purchase until they embraced thirteen hundred and sixty acres of land, one hundred and sixty acres thereof lying in Sangamon county. He has made a will deeding all this property to his family. Throughout his entire business career he devoted his time and energies to the pursuits of farming and stock-raising, both branches of his business returning to him a gratifying annual income. In 1892 he put aside the active work of the fields and took up his abode in Virden, where he is now spending the evening of life in well earned ease, there owning an attractive and substantial residence.
On the 25th of March, 1858, Mr. Alderson was united in marriage to Miss Lucretia A. Rafferty, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Wriston) Rafferty. Their children were ten in number, namely: William H., who is a resident of Greene county, Illinois; Lurindy, the deceased wife of James Fair, of Greene county, this state; Amanda, the deceased wife of Albert Courtney, of San Francisco, California; Mrs. Alderson; Messina E., who is the wife of Warner J. Alderson and resides near Joplin, Missouri; Sarah E., the wife of Mathew Cunningham, of Carrollton, Illinois; Mary M., the deceased wife of Francis Walton, of Greene county ; Emma, the deceased wife of E. B. Short, of Oxnard, California; Nancy M., who is the wife of James Hill and resides in Greene county ; and Thomas J., who has passed away. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Alderson were born ten children, as follows: One who died in infancy; John H., an extensive landowner residing near Houston, Texas; Warner J., also living in Texas; another who died in infancy; William E., residing at Virden, Illinois ; Etta, the deceased wife of William R. Riffey, of Macoupin county; Mary E., who is the wife of Charles Brennan and makes her home in Virden; Ella M., the wife of H. H. Chaffin, of Virden; Francis B., who is a resident of Macoupin county ; and Iva M., the wife of John G. Clemons, of Jacksonville, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Alderson have twelve grandchildren, all girls but one.
Mr. Alderson gives his political allegiance to the democracy and has held the office of school director. In religious faith he is a Methodist. He has now passed the seventy-seventh milestone on this earthly pilgrimage and has so lived that he can look back upon the past without regret and forward to the future without fear.
JAMES A. WALKER.
A representative of one of the best known families of Macoupin county, James A. Walker has scarcely as yet reached middle life but he has attained a reputation as a substantial and progressive agriculturist. He is now living in Scottville, having moved to the village from his farm October 10, 1910. Born on the home place October 11, 1875, he is a son of James and China M. (Owens) Walker, a complete biographical record of whom appears on another page of this volume.
James A. Walker attended the common schools and carried his studies fur- ther at the normal school at Bushnell, Illinois. He early showed special adapt- Vol. II-2
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
ability to farming pursuits and in 1895 began cultivating one hundred and forty to one hundred and sixty acres of land owned by his father. He now owns a farm of one hundred acres and a tract of thirteen acres in Scottville. Although living in the village he continues actively as a farmer, and the thrifty appear- ance of his place indicates the careful supervision that he gives to his work. The raising and feeding of stock has been an important part of his business and, as he raises only the best grades, he usually succeeds in securing a profitable price for the same.
On October 23. 1895, Mr. Walker was married to Miss Sarah E. Dugger, a daughter of W. H. and Polly Dugger. The father is one of the well known farmers of this county and lives at Barr. Mr. Walker is in thorough sympathy with the republican party whose candidates he heartily espouses. He is a member of the Christian church of Scottville and also of Lodge No. 426, A. F. & A. M., the Order of the Eastern Star, the Odd Fellows and the Mutual Protective League of Scottville. Through life he has been governed by prin- ciples of honor and has gained an enviable position among his fellow men by his intelligence and willingness to work-two elements which almost invariably lead to success.
LOUIS R. HOECKER.
Louis R. Hoecker, who through earnest application has won an honored name in Macoupin county, was born October 22, 1878, in Shaws Point town- ship, where he now lives. He is a son of Peter and Mary (Laubenthal) Hoecker, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in Illinois. The father came to America with his parents when six years of age, the family settling for a number of years in St. Clair county, Illinois. There he attended school and assisted his father in farm work until thirty years old. The farm was then disposed of and the family came to Macoupin county. The father purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Shaws Point township and later acquired more land, becoming the owner of three hundred acres. He continued upon this place until 1906, when he retired from active labor and purchased the Joseph Bird property at Carlinville, on which he took up his residence. He died in January, 1908, his wife having been called away five years previous, in August, 1903. He was a man of many admirable characteristics and through his persistency and well directed effort acquired a fortune, advancing from a humble position to one of prominence and affluence.
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