USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois : biographical and pictorial, Volume II > Part 38
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WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON HORINE.
William Henry Harrison Horine, who for thirty-nine years has been engaged in the jewelry business in Carlinville, was born in Williamsport, Maryland, on the 20th of April, 1840, and is a son of Henry A. and Anna (Kriebs) Horine, also natives of Maryland.
The education of William Henry Harrison Horine was pursued in the public schools of his native state until it was considered he had sufficient knowledge to enable him to begin his real life work. After terminating his studies he worked for his father, but later turned his attention to the machinist's trade. In August, 1862, he responded to the call for troops and went to the front with
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Company A, Seventh Maryland Regiment. He enlisted as a private but was later promoted to Corporal and was discharged with the rank of second lieu- tenant. His period of service lasted from his enlistment August 8, 1862, to the time of Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House, at which event he was present. After returning home from the war Mr. Horine learned the art of a photographer, in which business he engaged in Chicago for about three years. In 1869 he came to Carlinville, continuing to work at photography until 1872, when he bought out C. L. Andrist, the jeweler, and has ever since been identified with this business.
Mr. Horine was united in marriage in 1874 to Mrs. Annie (Bell) Sprague, a native of Alabama, and they have become the parents of two children: Will- iam Henry, Jr., and Anna Mary, now Mrs. John F. Zimmerman.
They affiliate with the Baptist church and fraternally Mr. Horine is a mem- ber of the Masonic order, being identified with Mount Nebo Lodge, No. 76, A. F. & A. M., of which he was treasurer for nineteen years and Macoupin Chapter, No. 87, R. A. M., of which he was formerly Excellent High Priest and is now Chaplain. He also holds membership in Carlinville Camp, No. 125, M. W. A. and Orient Lodge, No. 95, K. of P. Mr. Horine maintains relations with his old comrades of the field through his connection with Dan Messick Post, No. 339, G. A. R., of which he is commander. His ballot is always cast in support of the men and measures of the republican party. He has never taken a very prominent part in municipal politics but served as mayor of the town for one term, and was also a member of the school board for several years. During the long period of his residence in Carlinville, Mr. Horine has won and held the re- gard of many and is one of the highly esteemed business men of the town.
OLLIN R. ROHRER.
One of the substantial and successful financiers of Macoupin county is Ollin R. Rohrer, cashier of the Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Virden. He was born near Waverly, Illinois, October 12, 1866, a son of John W. and Lillie A. (Allen) Rohrer. He was reared on a farm and early learned the value of labor. In whatever he has engaged he has brought to bear a persistency which is one of the essentials in the accomplishment of any important undertaking. The success he has attained is the result of initiative and natural ability combined with an unquestioned integrity that has won for him the confidence and respect of the community. His paternal grandfather, Jonathan Rohrer, was a native of Kentucky and grew to maturity in the Blue Grass state. He then joined the tide of emigration westward and became one of the pioneers of Morgan county, Illinois. He married Polly Traughber and they became the parents of seven children, one of whom was John W. Rohrer. In early manhood John W. Rohrer was united in marriage to Miss Lillie A. Allen, a daughter of Thomas B. and Martha (Hazelwood) Allen, both of whom were natives of Greene county, Illinois, the daughter Lillie being one of five children born to this worthy couple. Mr. and Mrs. Rohrer were the parents of four children, namely: Alvin F., who
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is secretary and treasurer of the F. S. Betts Company, of Chicago; Ollin R., of this review ; a daughter now deceased; and E. C., who is connected with the G. W. Walker Company, a bond house of St. Louis, Missouri. The parents are both now deceased, the father having died about twenty-five years ago, while the mother was called away about fourteen years ago. Their remains were interred in Waverly cemetery, Morgan county, Illinois, near their old home.
Ollin R. Rohrer was educated in the country schools of Morgan county and in the high school at Waverly. He also attended the Bryant & Stratton Bus- iness College at Chicago, where he pursued the commercial course. Upon re- turning home he engaged in farming and later became clerk in a bank at Waverly, thus gaining his first practical experience in the banking business. After spending about two years in learning the details of a vocation for which he has shown special adaptability, he came to Virden and organized the Farmers and Merchants Bank, which was conducted as a private banking institution until 1910, when it was incorporated as a state bank with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars. Mr. Rohrer has been active in its management from the time of its organization and is still serving as cashier and manager. The bank is firmly established and as its stockholders and officers are men of influence and responsibility, it is recognized as one of the strong factors in the upbuild- ing of the entire section of which Virden is the center.
On December 14, 1897, Mr. Rohrer was married to Miss Edith Shriver, a daughter of Dr. William A. and Carrie (Howland) Shriver. The father is a leading physician of Virden but the mother is deceased, having been called away about fifteen years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Rohrer have two children, Ethel- ene, who was born December 26, 1899; and Russell, born May 12, 1901. Mr. Rohrer and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Virden. Politically he is a democrat. He belongs to the Masonic lodge at Virden and has taken the higher degrees, being a Mystic Shriner and also a member of the Knights of Pythias. As he is a man of pleasing address he readily makes ac- quaintances and is one of the best known citizens of Virden. In his business affairs he has displayed an energy and discrimination which have produced highly satisfactory results and his spirit of enterprise gives bright promise of con- tinued success in years to come.
C. CLAVIN.
C. Clavin, a prominent representative of financial interests in Macoupin county, is the cashier and business manager of the First National Bank at Mount Olive. His birth occurred in Keytesville, Missouri, on the 5th of No- vember, 1880, his parents being William and Elizabeth (Hibler) Clavin, who were natives of Ireland and Kentucky respectively. The father crossed the Atlantic to the United States in early manhood, landing in New York city on the day of President Buchanan's election in 1857. Making his way westward, he was married in Brookfield, Missouri, where his wife's parents had settled after leaving the Blue Grass state. Following his arrival in Missouri, William
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Clavin was for some time engaged in construction work on the Hannibal & St. Joe Railroad, while subsequently he was employed on a large plantation in that state. At the time of the outbreak of the Civil war, having been associated with the southern people and being an employe of a heavy slaveholding planter, he enlisted for service with the Confederate troops and fought under General Price. He was captured at the battle of Wilson Creek and confined as a pris- oner in Alton, Illinois, until the cessation of hostilities, when he was discharged and returned to Missouri. In that state he followed farming throughout the re- mainder of his life, passing away in November, 1904, at the age of sixty-five years. His wife was called to her final rest in January, 1902, when fifty-eight years old.
C. Clavin was reared under the parental roof and supplemented his early education, obtained in the public schools, by a six years' course of study in St. Francis College at Quincy, Illinois, from which institution he was graduated in 1902 with the degree of A. B. Five days after his graduation he entered the Farmers Bank of Keytesville, Missouri, as bookkeeper, acting in that ca- pacity for about a year and a half. On the expiration of that period he went to Marine, Illinois, to accept the proffered position of cashier of the Bank of Marine. At the end of nine months, however, he severed his connection with that institution and came to Mount Olive, here organizing the First National Bank, of which he was made cashier and business manager. Under Mr. Clavin's able management the bank has built up an extensive banking business and has become one of the leading moneyed institutions of Macoupin county.
On the 5th of November, 1906, Mr. Clavin was united in marriage to Miss Clara Rumpf of Mount Olive, her father being Frederick W. Rumpf, now de- ceased, who for many years acted as agent of the Pacific Express Company. Unto our subject and his wife have been born two children: E. Marian and C. Grattan.
Mr. Clavin is a member of Litchfield Lodge of the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks and also belongs to the Knights of Columbus. Both he and his wife are faithful communicants of the Catholic church and are numbered among the leading and esteemed residents of Mount Olive.
ANDREW J. DUGGAN.
The present city attorney of Carlinville, Andrew J. Duggan, who is serving his fifth term in this capacity, was born in Jersey county, Illinois, on the 11th of December, 1869. He is a son of Michael and Ann (Long) Duggan, natives of Ireland, the father having located in Illinois in 1851.
In the acquirement of his education Andrew J. Duggan attended the public schools of his native county, being graduated from the high school at Jersey- ville in 1890. For a year thereafter he taught school, coming to Carlinville in 1891. Here he entered the office of Judge Robert B. Shirley where he read law until August, 1893, when he was admitted to the bar of Illinois. He im- mediately engaged in practicing in Carlinville where he has ever since resided.
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On the Ist of June, 1898, Mr. Duggan was united in marriage to Miss Blanche Baker, a native of this county and a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Powell) Baker, the father a native of Kentucky. Mrs. Duggan's paternal forefathers participated in the Revolutionary war. To Mr. and Mrs. Duggan have been born two children: Elizabeth Ann and Willard Baker.
Politically Mr. Duggan is a democrat, and has always taken an active and prominent part in all municipal affairs. His first official position was that of justice of the peace which he held from 1893 to 1897. Two years after the ex- piration of his term of office he was elected city attorney, being twice reelected. He resigned this position in 1905 having been appointed master in chancery by Judge Robert B. Shirley, which office he filled for two terms. In 1909 he was again elected city attorney and reelected in 1911, his long period in this office being a tribute to his efficiency, as is also the fact that he seldom has any opposi- tion. It was during Mr. Duggan's incumbency that the Chicago & Alton Rail- road was compelled to stop its limited train at Carlinville. Mr. Duggan started his proceedings against this company as violators of the speed ordinance, win- ning in the lower court. The case was appealed and carried through to the supreme court, the original verdict being sustained in every instance. The case was watched with a great deal of interest by legal men all over the country, for if the city won it meant the establishment of a precedent which would have con- siderable weight in future litigations. The case of the City of Carlinville versus Chicago & Alton Railroad Company is now cited as an example in some of the legal works on railroad decisions.
Fraternally Mr. Duggan is identified with the Masonic order, being a mem- ber of Sangamon Lodge of Perfection, Mount Nebo Lodge, No. 76, A. F. & A. M., in which he has held all of the chairs, being at the present time Junior Warden. He also belongs to Macoupin Chapter, No. 187, R. A. M .; Orient Lodge, No. 95, K. of P., in which he has held all of the chairs; and Carlinville Camp, No. 125, M. W. A., where he has also filled all of the chairs. He is a member of the Forum Club and is now acting as chairman of the thirty-eighth senatorial committee.
WILLIAM NEIL.
William Neil, head of the William Neil Coal Company, was born in Ruth- erglen, Scotland, on the 21st of January, 1847. He is a son of John and Margaret (Gillespie) Neil, both of whom were born in the vicinity of Glasgow. The maternal grandfather came to the United States as superintendent of bridge construction for the Chicago & Alton Railway. John Neil when a very young lad went to work in the coal mines of Scotland, where he continued to be em- ployed until in the early '50s, when he emigrated to the United States with his wife and family. He first located in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, remaining for four or five years, then came to Alton, this state, continuing to follow mining until 1865 when he went to Bethalto, Illinois, to take a position with the Mad- ison Coal Co. Six years thereafter he became a citizen of Bunker Hill, where
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he continued to reside until his demise which occurred in 1877. The mother passed away in 1872. Six children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Neil, the order of birth being as follows: William, our subject; Peter, who is deceased; John, who is a resident of Bunker Hill; Martha, the wife of James Monehan, of Gillespie, Illinois ; and Robert and James, both of whom reside in St. Louis.
The public school of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, provided William Neil with the greater portion of his education. At the age of fifteen years he went to work in the mines, but he was an ambitious youth and attended night school, after the completion of his day's labor until he had acquired a good common school education. He has always been engaged in mining in some capacity, and for more than thirty years has been superintending the operation of his own mine. He sunk his first shaft in 1880, the company at that time being known as Neil Bros. It subsequently became The William Neil Co., then the Bunker Hill Coal Co., and is now known as The William Neil Coal Co.
In 1868, Mr. Neil was married to Miss Sarah Birch and to them were born five children : Mary, the wife of L. E. Jasen, a resident of Bunker Hill; John H., who is in business with his father; Ethel, the wife of C. P. Jewett; Cath- erine, who married William McMillen, of Gillespie, Illinois; and Arthur, who is dead.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Neil hold membership in the Baptist church of which he is one of the deacons, while he has served continuously as Sunday School superintendent for twenty-six years. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Ma- sonic order, and both he and Mrs. Neil belong to the Order of the Eastern Star. He is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, having served for one hundred and forty days in Company D, One Hundred and Thirty-third Illi- nois Infantry. He enlisted at Alton, his period of service being occupied by guard duty at the prison at Rock Island. When first granted the right of fran- chise Mr. Neil cast his ballot for the candidate of the republican party, but he has been voting the prohibition ticket for the past twenty-five years. As a public citizen he does all within his power to promote the best interests of the community, and never withholds his support from any movement which he deems adapted to subserve the interests of the majority.
E. GEORGE RANDLE.
E. George Randle, who for thirty years was engaged in the general mer- chandise business in Shipman, but is now living retired, is one of the oldest settlers in Macoupin county. His birth occurred in Todd county, Kentucky, on the 2d of April, 1828, and he is a son of John H. and Sarah H. (Arnold) Randle, the father a native of North Carolina and the mother of Virginia. They migrated to Illinois in 1830, first locating in Edwardsville, which at that time was only a fort, the Indians still being hostile in this vicinity. Subsequently they settled in Macoupin county, the father entering two hundred acres of government land that he cultivated until his death. In the family of Mr. and
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Mrs. John H. Randle there were four sons and two daughters, the son E. George being the eldest. All of them are living with the exception of two.
As he was still a small lad when the' family settled in this county, E. George Randle acquired his education in a little log schoolhouse with slab benches and puncheon floor in Shipman township. While engaged in the mastery of the common branches he was becoming acquainted with the simpler principles of agriculture under the direction of his father. His early years were not par- ticularly different from those of other pioneer farmer lads of that period, much of his time being taken up in the work on the fields and care of the stock. The family as a whole shared in all of the hardships and privations that devolve upon those who form the advance guard of civilization in any new country. E. George Randle remained under the parental roof assisting in the cultivation of the home farm until 1856, when he came to Shipman and opened a general merchandise store. Commercial enterprises continued to engage his attention for thirty years, proving so lucrative that at the expiration of that period he disposed of his business and has since been living retired.
It was in Christian county, Illinois, in 1858, that Mr. Randle and Miss Roxie Ann Warren were united in marriage. Mrs. Randle, who passed away in 1873, was a native of the state of New York. She migrated from her native state to Illinois when a child with her parents, who settled in Macoupin county, where the father followed agricultural pursuits. To Mr. and Mrs. Randle were born two sons and two daughters, namely: Abigail, who is deceased; Charles, who is a resident of Pana, Illinois; Harriet, the wife of Prentice Cutler, now living in Oregon; and G. Warren, of Grove City, Illinois. In 1875 Mr. Randle was again married to Miss Frances McClaren, a native of Pennsylvania but a resident of Shipman. When still in her girlhood she came to Illinois with her parents, who. settled on a farm in this county where they spent their latter years. Two chil- dren, a son and a daughter, born of this marriage are living: John and Flor- ence, both of whom are at home.
The family affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal church, in which the parents have long held membership, and politically Mr. Randle is a republican. A man of clear judgment and business ability, he acquired in his early life the means to enable him to enjoy his latter years in well earned ease and comfort.
HERMAN JOHNSON.
Herman Johnson, a successful general merchant of Mount Olive and one of its most reliable and progressive citizens, is a native of Montgomery county, Illinois. He is of Teutonic descent on both sides of the family and was born May 19, 1883, a son of John B. and Trientje (Rossmiller) Johnson. The par- ents were both born in Germany and were reared in their native land, coming to America after they had reached years of maturity. The father engaged in farming. for a number of years in Montgomery county, Illinois, and in 1889 removed with his family to Mount Olive, where he has since resided. He was born January 1, 1829, and is now in his eighty-third year. In April, 1908, he
HERMAN JOHNSON
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suffered a stroke of paralysis, which has greatly weakened him physically. The mother is still living and has reached the age of seventy-five. They are both devout members of the Evangelical. Lutheran church. Mr. Johnson has given his support to the republican party but has never been an aspirant for public office, preferring to devote his attention to his business affairs in which he has met with a merited degree of success.
Herman Johnson attended the public schools and the Mount Olive high school, later being a student for one year at the Central Wesleyan College of Warrenton, Missouri. Returning from college, he became clerk in the store of Linsky Brothers, of Mount Olive, for four years and six months, and then resigned to engage in general mercantile business on his own account, opening a store as proprietor on November 18, 1908. He has shown excellent business ability and has attracted an extensive patronage, being today recognized as one of the leading business men of Mount Olive. He is also interested in the Wire Reinforced Harness & Manufacturing Company of Mount Olive and is a stock- holder of the Chanute Brick & Tile Company of Chanute, Kansas.
On the 17th of November, 1907, Mr. Johnson was married at Mount Olive to Miss Sophia Grossenheider, a daughter of Herman Grossenheider. Her father is a prosperous farmer residing in Cahokia township, five miles north of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of one child, Elmer, who was born April 3, 1909.
Politically Mr. Johnson gives his support to the republican party in national affairs but at local elections votes for the candidate he considers best adapted to fill the office. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church and can claim many friends in Mount Olive and vicinity. He is a mem- ber of the Retail Business Men's Association and, being an upright and loyal citizen, may always be depended upon to support the best interests of the community.
GEORGE URQUHART.
Success in life is not so much a matter of opportunity as the power to dom- inate conditions and through inherent force create opportunities commensurate with the ability and ambition of the one seeking to advance. Of such as these is George Urquhart, who through his own effort has risen from a farm hand to one of the largest property holders and affluent citizens of Brushy Mound township. He was born in Durham, England, on the 12th of November, 1843, a son of Thomas and Catharine (Middleton) Urquhart, the father of Scotch and English and the mother of English extraction. Thomas Urquhart, who was a farmer in his native land, emigrated to the United States with his wife and son in 1849, locating in Chicago, where he subsequently died. In later years the mother with her son came on to Morgan county, finally settling in Macoupin county, and there passed away at the home of her son, in 1883.
George Urquhart was twenty-eight years of age when he came to this county, locating on a farm northwest of Carlinville. He had previously worked out as
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a farm hand by the month until able to begin as a renter. Ambitious and in- dustrious by means of constant application and thrift he was able to buy one hundred and sixty acres of land on sections 32 and 33 in Brushy Mound town- ship. This he has brought into a high state of cultivation, improving it until it is one of the most attractive places in the county. Unceasing effort and in- telligent application brought the usual reward and thus he was able to add to his holdings from time to time. In addition to his fine home farm he now owns one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 32 and the same amount in an- other tract on sections 31 and 32 and twenty acres of timber land in Brushy Mound township, while in Gillespie township he has two hundred and fifty-three acres of tillable land in two pieces and forty acres of timber, and in Honey Point township one hundred and sixty acres of farm land. His entire holdings, there- fore, aggregate nine hundred and fifty-three acres, all of which is good land. He carries on general farming on three of his one hundred and sixty acre tracts and rents his other farms. He is recognized as one of the most prosperous farmers of the county, but his success does not exceed the effort.
On the 10th of December, 1872, Mr. Urquhart married Miss Sarah J. Smith- son, a daughter of William and Jane (Megginson) Smithson, natives of Eng- land, whence they emigrated with their parents to America when children. They were reared in the vicinity of Jacksonville, Morgan county, Illinois, where they were married. In 1852 Mr. Smithson went to California, not returning until his daughter, Mrs. Urquhart, was thirteen years of age. He remained in Illinois for a brief period then went back to California and was never heard from again. The mother passed away in Morgan county in 1854. Nine chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Urquhart: Jennie, who is living at home; Thomas Mayfield, who died at the age of sixteen months; Grace, the wife of Jacob Young, Jr., a farmer of Brushy Mound township; Annetta May, who married Andrew Ruyle, also a farmer of Gillespie township; Georgia, the wife of Albert Young, a farmer in Cahokia township; and Thomas, Ralph L., Dorcas and Bessie, all of whom are at home.
Ever since acquiring the full rights of citizenship Mr. Urquhart has given his political support to the candidates of the republican party. He has ever been loyal in his allegiance to the country of his adoption, and twice served as a ninety-day man from Morgan county during the Civil war. Such is the his- tory in brief of the life of George Urquhart, a study of which will show that what he has accomplished has often lain within the possibilities of others had their effort been equal to his.
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