USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois : biographical and pictorial, Volume II > Part 22
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Mr. Rhoads, whose name introduces this sketch, attended the district schools of Shipman township and early showed an interest in farming which indicated agriculture and stock-raising to be his natural pursuits. As he grew to manhood he assisted his father upon the home place and twenty-eight years ago purchased the farm upon which he has since lived. Through his application and good man- agement he has made it highly productive. His life has been a busy and useful one and the success that has come to him is the reward of unremitting diligence.
On October 10, 1880, Mr. Rhoads was married to Miss Celia C. Chism, who was born near Medora, October 31, 1856. a daughter of John and Ellen (Skeen) Chism. The father was born in Grayson county, Kentucky, and the mother in
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Tennessee, the Rhoads and Chism families being neighbors. Mr. Chism came with his family to Macoupin county, Illinois, in 1831, and entered government land in Chesterfield township where he spent the remainder of his life. The mother still survives, having reached the age of eighty-six years, and is living on the home place one and one-half miles north of Medora. William Chism, the grand- father of Mrs. Rhoads, was a farmer and also an innkeeper. Of the twelve chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Chism ten are now living, namely : William and James, both residents of Medora : Adelaide, who is the wife of John Stotler, a farmer who lives east of Medora ; Celia C., now Mrs. George W. Rhoads ; Rachel E., who married Ira Ketchum and resides in Polk township; Susan, the wife of M. C. Beavers, of Bird township; Emma, who married Gardner Rhine and resides near Medora ; Catherine, the wife of Rolla Rhine, of Jerseyville; Clara, who married F. O. Brown, a resident of Bird township; and John, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Rhoads are the parents of three children : Pearl L., a resident of Portland, Ore- gon ; and Earl E. and Ethel, both of whom are at home.
Mr. Rhoads and his family are actively identified with the Charity Baptist church. He holds membership in Lodge No. 107, I. O. O. F., of Carlinville, and also in Lodge No. 125, M. W. A., of the same place, being, moreover, connected with the Protective League and the Court of Honor. He is a supporter of the republican party and has served as highway commissioner for two terms and as supervisor of the township for one term. He filled the office of school director for twelve years and is now treasurer of the township. In his business he has always aimed to meet obligations faithfully and in all his dealings he has been straightfor- ward and just. His success may be attributed to capable management and close application and he clearly belongs among the representative citizens of Macoupin county.
JAMES E. BYCROFT.
James E. Bycroft, junior member of the widely known milling firm of H. F. Bycroft & Son, was born in St. Louis, March 28, 1878. He is a son of Henry F. and Mary E. (Dillon) Bycroft, a record of whom appears elsewhere in this work. He grew to maturity under the parental roof and up to thirteen years of age possessed advantages of education in the public schools of Litchfield. In 1891 he came with his parents to Gillespie and attended school for one month in this city. He then became associated with the business of which his father is the head, beginning at the foot of the ladder as driver of a delivery wagon. After several years he entered the office of the firm and in 1900, having mas- tered the details of the business, was admitted to partnership under the title of H. F. Bycroft & Son. He has ever since had charge of the office, displaying a discrimination and ability that give bright promise as to his future.
On the 27th of April, 1909. Mr. Bycroft was married, at Gillespie, to Miss Alice M. Poivey, whose father, Modeste Poivey, was born in France. He was one of the early miners of this section and is now deceased. One child. James Fenwick, has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bycroft.
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Politically Mr. Bycroft has followed in the footsteps of his father and ad- heres to the republican party. He served two terms as city. treasurer, being elected in 1901 and reelected in 1905. He also filled the office of clerk of the school board from 1905 to 1908 and is at the present time chief of the volunteer fire department of Gillespie, a position which he has occupied most efficiently for the past ten years. He is a member of Black Gum Camp, No. 959, M. W. A., and has served as clerk of the camp for eight years past, being also identified " with Carlinville Council, No. 663, K. C. He and his estimable wife are valued members of the Catholic church. As is indicated by his many activities, Mr. Bycroft is an earnest and efficent worker in anything he undertakes, and he is recognized as a man of unimpeachable character and sterling worth, who is willing to make any reasonable sacrifice in order to promote the comfort or happiness of those with whom he is associated.
CHARLES HIBBERT METCALF.
Charles Hibbert Metcalf, one of the public-spirited citizens of Girard, was for many years actively identified with the commercial interests of the town, but is now living retired. A native of Illinois, he was born in Greene county on the 12th of October, 1855, and is a son of James D. and Brunette (Mason) Metcalf, both natives of Kentucky, as were also his grandfathers, William Metcalf and Dr. George B. Mason. In 1856 James D. Metcalf brought his wife and family to Macoupin county and located in Girard, where he first engaged in the drug business, but later conducted a grocery store. In the latter business he was in partnership with Mr. Savage for a time and subsequently with Mr. Bellamy. On disposing of his interest in the grocery store he turned his attention to the lumber business as a member of the firm of Andrews, MacKnett & Metcalf, but his last years were devoted to banking, conducting what was then known as the Girard Bank, but now the State Bank of Girard. His demise occurred in 1887.
Charles Hibbert Metcalf obtained his preliminary education in the public schools of Girard, after the completion of which he attended Eureka College. In 1874 he began his business career as an assistant in his father's store, in which he bought a third interest three years later. Dr. B. F. Clark was associated with his father at that time, but in 1886 Charles Hibbert Metcalf bought his interest also, becoming two-thirds owner. Subsequent to the death of his father, which occurred the following year, he withdrew from commercial enterprises, dispos- ing of his stock to George B. Hobson, since which time he has lived retired.
On the IIth of January, 1877, Mr. Metcalf was united in marriage to Miss Mary Bellamy, of Girard, a daughter of B. R. and Elizabeth (Bailey) Bellamy, the father a native of Kentucky and the mother of Pennsylvania. Three children have been born of this union, as follows: Edith B., who is now the wife of Dr. W. W. Van Wormer and has become the mother of two children, Charles Met- calf and Mary Elizabeth ; Laura B., who married S. P. Kramer, of Kansas City; and Essie B., the youngest member of the family.
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C. H. METCALF
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The family were reared in the faith of the Christian church, of which Mr. Metcalf has been a member for thirty years. He takes an active and helpful interest in the work of the organization and is now serving as deacon, in addition to which he is also acting as collector of the official board. Politically he is a republican and has always prominently participated in all municipal affairs. He was at one time a member of the township central committee and from 1902 to 1907 president of the school board. In 1907 he was elected mayor of Girard, which office he held for four years. During that time it was voted to close the saloons, for despite the fact that the town had had from six to eight saloons, for twenty-three years it was heavily in debt. Although this cut off quite a per- centage of the income, five miles of cement sidewalk were laid, the property owners paying for everything but the street and alley crossings. The city bought the electric light plant, which was not giving very efficient service, installed two new boilers and did considerable wiring, while many minor improvements were made. A fire engine costing twenty-five hundred dollars was also purchased and the fire department was greatly improved thereby. Notwithstanding the large expenditure of money and the reduced income when Mr. Metcalf retired from the office, the city had paid up all of the old indebtedness as well as for the im- provements and the interest on the electric light bond, and he turned over to his successor twenty-two hundred dollars. This fact clearly demonstrates what it is possible to do in any municipality when the funds are handled conscientiously and judiciously. Fraternally Mr. Metcalf is a member of Girard Lodge, No. 171, A. F. & A. M., and was one of the original members of Hiawatha Lodge, K. P., in which he filled all the chairs and was also a representative to the grand lodge of the state. He is held in high regard in Girard, where he has a host of warm friends, the majority of whom have known him from boyhood.
L. C. REILLY.
Macoupin county can claim a worthy representative in L. C. Reilly, a lead- ing insurance man of Mount Olive, who served for four years as justice of the peace and for twelve years past has filled the office of notary public. He is a native of Illinois, born at Alton, June 20, 1857, a son of John K. and Eleanor (Doran) Reilly. The parents were both born in County Wexford, Ireland, and were married in their native country, two of their children having been born there. They left Ireland late in 1850, having decided to cast their lot in the new world, and landed at New Orleans early in 1851. Coming up the Missis- sippi river in a boat, they landed at Alton, where the family resided for four- teen years, the father being engaged in various pursuits. He served as night market master of Alton when the market was located where the postoffice now stands. The office of market master was at that time of considerable import- ance, its holder being an authorized officer of the city and he also had charge of the jail while on duty. After giving up this position Mr. Reilly served as yardmaster for the Chicago & Alton Railway. He came to Macoupin county on the 5th of October, 1865, and located on a farm in Cahokia township, where he
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resided until his death which occurred February 17, 1890, the beloved wife and mother passing away April 29, 1877. They were both devout members of the Catholic church and were greatly esteemed by all who knew them. Mr. Reilly was a remarkably well informed man but on account of his modesty and retir- ing disposition never received the recognition that his merits deserved. He read law under a Mr. Flannagan, a noted barrister of Temple Moor, at Tippe- rary, Ireland, but never practiced the profession, his attention being attracted in other directions after his arrival in this country. He was a lifelong student and observer, and a brilliant conversationalist, being able to talk, even with those who were best informed, on all subjects pertaining to science, religion, politics or topics pertaining to the day. He was a radical democrat but was never a seeker for public office.
Mr. Reilly of this review was reared under highly favorable circumstances in a happy home. He was educated almost entirely under his father's tutelage and his attendance at the public schools was limited to three months. Under competent direction he acquired a love for books which has been an important element in shaping his life. He continued at home until twenty-four years of age and then began working in the coal mines at Mount Olive, where he was employed for about twelve years. In 1885 he removed to Litchfield and for about a year was identified with the Litchfield car shops. He then returned to Mount Olive and resumed work in the mines. In 1889 he was appointed car builder for the St. Louis & Peoria Railway and had charge of the rolling stock of the road for three years and seven months. He was then placed in charge of the construction of the dam at the Mount Olive reservoir, a responsibility which required his attention for about five months. About the time this work was completed he was tendered the position of weighmaster at No. 10 Mine by the district superintendent of the Consolidated Coal Company, a position which he accepted and filled to the complete satisfaction of his employers. In the spring of 1892 John Homer, a brother-in-law of Mr. Reilly and a prominent abstracter and insurance man, and justice of the peace, removed from Mount Olive to Car- linville, having been elected clerk of the circuit court. Mr. Reilly resigned his position with the coal company to take charge of the business left by Mr. Homer and has ever since devoted his attention largely to the insurance business, being also very prominent in public affairs. He is an active member of the Retail Dealers' Association of Mount Olive and is one of the foremost workers in be- half of all movements seeking to promote the interests of his adopted town.
On the 28th of January, 1885, at Mount Olive, Mr. Reilly was married to Miss Fannie Reagan, a daughter of Patrick Reagan, recently deceased. Eight children have been born to this union: Frank, who is an electrical engineer in the employ of the municipal plant at Mount Olive; Nellie, a teacher in the Mount Olive high school; Alice, who is engaged in teaching in the district schools; and Una, Bernice, Agnes, William and Thomas. All of the children reside at home.
Politically Mr. Reilly follows in the footsteps of his father and gives his un- divided support to the democratic party. In addition to serving as justice of the peace, he has filled the office of supervisor of the township and was for eight years deputy sheriff of Macoupin county. The confidence in which he is held by the community is indicated by the fact that he is now serving as assessor of
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Mount Olive. He is a member of the Catholic church in which he fills the office of trustee, being also identified with the Western Catholic Union and the Knights of Columbus. Always diligent in his business, attentive to his duties as head of a large and promising family and faithful in the discharge of public responsi- bilities, he is justly entitled to the high regard in which he is held by his neigh- bors and friends. He owes much of his success to the example and teachings of his father and the encouragement of a faithful wife who has been to him a constant inspiration.
HENRY C. DEAHL.
One of the finest improved farms of Macoupin county pays tribute to the energy and ability of Henry C. Deahl who, as a dairyman and stock-breeder, has gained a reputation which extends far beyond the lines . of the state of Illinois. He has shown remarkable activity and progressiveness, and is recog- nized by his friends and acquaintances as an ideal farmer and business man. He takes special pride in his dairy and his blooded cattle, and is building up one of the finest herds in Illinois. Born at Shipman, June 24, 1868, he is a son of Adam Deahl, an interesting record of whom is presented in another part of this work.
Henry C. Deahl received his early education in the public schools of Ship- man and subsequently attended Bushnell College at Bushnell, Illinois. He re- mained with his parents until twenty-one years old, and then rented eighty acres of land upon his own account and also engaged in buying and shipping live-stock. In 1893 he moved to Girard and opened a meat market, which he conducted for a year. Having disposed of this business, he took up his resi- dence on a farm north of Piasa but, after the close of a year, moved to another farm east of town, where he continued for ten years, also purchasing and ship- ping live-stock. In 1905 he started in the dairy business on his father's farm, in section 23, Shipman township, and later began breeding thoroughbred Hol- stein-Friesian cattle. He is thoroughly up-to-date in his methods, having taken advantage of the very latest advancements in the line to which he devotes his attention. He has expended nine thousand dollars upon silos for his dairy business, and the feed lots have all been concreted at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars. That his herd is of the highest grade is indicated by the fact that he paid one thousand dollars for a calf two months old, being satisfied with nothing short, of the best that the market affords. The mother of this calf is the champion butter producer of the world. He ships milk direct to St. Louis and is now the largest shipper in this section of the state. He is also selling blooded stock, reared under his supervision, to buyers throughout the United States, and is a prominent and successful exhibitor at the Illinois State Fair and other exhibitions, where stockmen are attracted in large numbers. Being actively interested in the promotion of the great work that engrosses his attention, his ability has been recognized by leading stock-breeders and he is second vice president of
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the Holstein-Friesian Association of Illinois and a valued member of the National Holstein-Friesian Association.
On the 18th of May, 1892, Mr. Deahl was married to Miss Sarah Davies, a daughter of Charles and Emily (Boswell) Davies, and to this union two children have been born, Irene E. and Mildred, both of whom are living at home. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Deahl was Thomas Davies, a native of Hamilton, Ohio, who married Isophena Crane. The Davies family has long been well known in western Ohio, members of the family having settled at an early day in that portion of the state. Thomas Davies came to Illinois and located in Hilyard township, Macoupin county, becoming one of the prominent men of this county and the owner of a beautiful farm of four hundred acres. He had six children: Charles; Thomas, deceased; John, of Alton, Illinois ; Margaret, the wife of Dr. Perlee, of Camden, Ohio; Daniel, a resident of Camden, Arkansas; and Edward, who died in infancy.
Charles Davies, the father of Mrs. Deahl, was born at Hamilton, Ohio, December 9, 1844, and was educated in the public schools of that city. He came west with his father and after renting land for several years purchased a farm in Hilyard township, which he now owns. He gives his attention to the dairy business. In 1868 he was married to Miss Emily Boswell, a daughter of John G. Boswell, of London, England, who settled in Hilyard township, Macou- pin county, Illinois, in 1851 and became known as one of the substantial men of the community. To the union of Charles Davies and Emma Boswell were born four children, namely: Sarah C., now Mrs. Henry C. Deahl; Margaret M., the wife of Frank Stevenson, a farmer of Woodburn, Illinois; William, who went to Alaska as a gold seeker and died at Dawson, at the age of twenty- six years; and Howard, who is living at home.
Mr. Deahl of this review is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church of Shipman and in politics is an earnest supporter of the democratic party. His principal interest is centered in his business and as he knows how to direct his efforts so as to produce tangible results, he has made rapid progress and is to be found near the head of the line in anything in which he is interested. In all matters pertaining to citizenship he is loyal and progressive, and it is the unanimous opinion of his friends that no man in Macoupin county is more worthy of the favors of fortune than Henry C. Deahl.
JUDGE JOHN B. VAUGHN.
Fifteen years ago John B. Vaughn began the practice of law at Carlinville and, although he has spent twelve years of the period indicated in public office, he is now well established in practice and can claim among his clients a num- ber of the leading citizens and business firms of Macoupin county. In addition to a thorough acquaintance with the principles of law he has a good knowledge of human nature and as he is an eloquent and convincing speaker, his success as an advocate was early assured.
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He is a native of Jerseyville, Illinois, born March 2, 1865, a son of Erastus and Nancy Catharine (Hill) Vaughn. The father was born in Illinois and the mother in Indiana. In their family were nine children five of whom survive, namely : John B .; William M., who lives in Colorado; Richard E., of Centralia, Illinois; Bessie, the wife of Isaac Bean, of Nilwood, Illinois; and Essie, who married George Jenkins, of Hillsboro, Illinois.
The father of our subject was reared in Jersey county, Illinois, and devoted a large part of his life to farming. He came to Macoupin county in 1875 and engaged in the butchering business for ten years at Nilwood. He died on a farm in South Otter township, near Nilwood, in 1907, having reached the age of sixty-two years. His wife is still living and makes her home at Nilwood. She is an ardent supporter of the Baptist church. The grandfather of our sub- ject on the paternal side was John Vaughn. He was a native of Kentucky and was of German descent. In the pioneer days he came to Jersey county, Illinois, and established a home although the Indians were numerous in the neighbor- hood. The maiden name of his wife was Hester Crane. Mr. Vaughn died after reaching his seventieth year and his widow came to Macoupin county and died at Shipman at the age of eighty-six. Of their fourteen children nine grew to maturity, William, Johnson, James, Shadrach, John, Erastus, Maria, Ann and Charlotte. The grandfather on the maternal side was Benjamin Hill. He was a native of Indiana and was of English descent. He and his family lived east of Girard, Illinois, on the edge of Montgomery county. He died at the age of seventy-one and his wife passed away in her sixty-sixth year. They had nine children, Alfred, John, Benjamin, Harriet, Martha, Nancy Catharine, Eliza- beth, Ella and Sarah R. Alfred was a soldier in the Civil war and served dur- ing the entire period of the Rebellion.
John B. Vaughn came to Macoupin county with his parents when he was about ten years of age and in his boyhood engaged in farm work by the month. He attended the district schools and the Scottville high school, later becoming a student in the county normal schools. After teaching school for eight years he entered the law department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, but finished his studies under Judge Yancy of Carlinville. In 1890 he was elected county clerk and served for four years. In the fall of 1895 he was ad- mitted to the bar upon examination and began practice at Carlinville, being elected states attorney in the fall of 1896. After serving very acceptably in this office for four years he was elected county judge and reelected in 1904, occupy- ing the position for eight years, to the general acceptance of the people of the county irrespective of party. Since his retirement from public office he has de- voted his entire attention to his profession.
On the 26th of November, 1890, Judge Vaughn was married to Miss Mary L. Drake, a daughter of William and Mary (Wheeler) Drake, of Scottville. Of the five children born to this union four died in infancy, Margaret Lucille being the only survivor. Mrs. Vaughn was born in Scottville township. Her par- ents were natives of Kentucky and were early settlers in Macoupin county. The father died at the age of seventy-two years and the mother passed away several years later. Five of their children are now living, Martha J., Marshall L., Sarah E., Nancy A. and Mary. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Vaughn
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was Hiram Drake, a native of Kentucky, and the grandfather on the maternal side was also a native of that state. He married a Miss Van Bebber who lived to the age of ninety-five years.
Mrs. Vaughn is a valued member of the Baptist church, and Mr. Vaughn is very prominent in the Masonic order, being identified with Mount Nebo Lodge No. 76, A. F. & A. M .; Macoupin Chapter. No. 187, R. A. M .; and also with Ascalon Commandery, K. T., and Moolah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., both of St. Louis. He is an active worker in the Knights of Pythias and is a member of Orient Lodge, No. 95, being at the present time grand chancellor of Knights of Pythias of the state of Illinois. He was a member of the committee that located the Aged and Orphans' Pythian Home and is now chairman of the board of directors. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star and also of the Coterie Literary Society of Carlinville. In politics he is an ardent supporter of the democratic party. Thoroughly in sympathy with all forward movements, his influence has been exerted in many channels and he is recognized as one of the most energetic and public-spirited men in the county. His success has been well deserved as it has been fairly won, and his friends confidently prophesy for him many new victories in years to come.
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