USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois : biographical and pictorial, Volume II > Part 52
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In religious belief he is a Congregationalist, being a member of the church at Chesterfield. He has served as township assessor, trustee and school direc- tor, but he never sought public office, although willing at all times to perform his duty in promoting the cause of good government. In the evening of a long and useful life he is accorded the honor which rightfully belongs to one who has sought to advance the welfare of his associates and to promote friendly feeling among men.
JOHN GORSUCH MAYER.
John Gorsuch Mayer, who is living retired in Girard township, has been iden- tified with the agricultural interests of Macoupin county most of the time since 1875 and is also connected with other lines of business. He is a native of Ohio, born in Miami county, December 5, 1855, a son of David and 'Anna (Huffer) Mayer, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania. He is a grandson of Christian Mayer and Samuel Huffer, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state. David Mayer came west with his family in 1865, the last year of the Civil war, when there was an extensive movement of settlers from the crowded communi- ties of the east, and located in South Otter township, Macoupin county, Illinois. He was a man of energy and good business ability and became the owner of a farm of two hundred acres, continuing upon his place until his death, which oc- curred in 1891. There were eight children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Mayer, three of whom survive: David M., of Peoria, Illinois, who married Amanda England and is the father of two sons, William and Fred; John G., of this re- view; and Mary, who is the wife of James W. Kable, residing in Toledo, Ohio, and they have one son, David M.
At the age of ten years, John G. Mayer arrived in Macoupin county with his parents. He received his preliminary education in the public schools of Ohio and Macoupin county and, in 1875, began to devote his entire time to agricul- ture and stock-raising. In 1880, he went to Nebraska and engaged in farming for seven months, when he returned to South Otter township and assumed charge of his father's farm, also cultivating ninety-six acres which he purchased on his own account. In 1901, after the death of his mother, he removed to To- ledo, Ohio, and became interested in a lunch room, continuing in that city for three years. He then removed to South Bend, Indiana, and operated a restau- rant for one year, after which he returned to Girard township, Macoupin county, Illinois, and retired from active labor. He has been successful financially and is the owner of lands in Illinois and Kansas and is also a stockholder of the Farm- ers' Coal Mining Company.
In politics, Mr. Mayer usually supports the republican party in national af- fairs but he has independent proclivities and is governed in a large measure in Vol. II-26
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
voting by the character of the candidates and the gravity of the issues involved. He is a man of good judgment and, by contact with the world, has gained a practical knowledge of human nature which is often of more value than much book learning. He has demonstrated his ability as a business man and, having acquired a competence, is now resting among the friends of his earlier days surrounded by scenes that recall many pleasant associations.
JOHN NELSON SCRIBNER.
John Nelson Scribner, who is living retired at Virden, having accumulated a competence through systematic application, is a native of Jersey county, Illinois. He was born January 22, 1864, a son of Jesse and Ellen (Hughes) Scribner, the father being a native of Tennessee and the mother of Illinois. Jesse Scribner came to Illinois at the age of eighteen and began farming, a vocation to which he devoted the principal years of his lite. After the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted at Jerseyville and served faithfully for three years in behalf of the Union. Having received his honorable discharge he resumed farming in Jersey county but later went with his family to California, where they spent two years, at the close of which time they returned as far east as Missouri. Two years later Mr. Scribner again took up his residence in Jersey county, Illinois, where he ran a flour mill for a year. The next two years he spent in Missouri and then rented land in Greene county, Illinois, subsequently purchasing forty acres. At the close of a year he sold out and went to Missouri and spent the next three years mainly in traveling. He again took up his residence in Jersey county, and rented a farm upon which he died at the age of forty-four years. There were two children in his family: Lloyd, who died at the age of two years ; and John N., the subject of this review. The mother was again married, her second hus- band being John Ennis, of Sangamon county, where he died in 1889. his wife passing away in May, 1906.
Mr. Scribner, whose name introduces this sketch, began working in the har- vest field before he reached manhood and after spending two years in Morgan county took up his residence in Sangamon county. Four years later he drove through with a covered wagon to Wichita, Kansas. The next year he continued his journey as far as the Indian Territory but did not remain long in that sec- tion, as he returned the same summer to Sangamon county, Illinois. The next fall he drove to Wellington, Kansas, and thence to Sedgwick county, Kansas. where he rented land. After selling out he returned to Sangamon county and three years later rented eighty acres, which he cultivated to good advantage for five years. He then took charge of his mother's place and subsequently he and his mother purchased the rest of the Ennis estate from the heirs and he now has a farm of one hundred and eighty-four acres, known as the Ennis farm. He also acquired town property near Lowder, which he later disposed of. At one time he moved to Oklahoma but returned after selling the property which he owned there and spent a year at Waverly, Illinois. He is now established at
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
Virden and he and his family occupy an attractive bungalow which he erected. He has also retained his farm in Sangamon county, from which he derives a handsome annual income.
On the 20th of December, 1888, Mr. Scribner was married to Miss Lottie Stewart, of Jacksonville, Illinois, a daughter of John and Louisa (Rutherford) Stewart, both of whom were born in this state. They have become the parents of two children: Luella May, who was born August 11, 1892; and Nola Louise, who was born January 4, 1906, and is now deceased. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were twelve children: Lottie, now Mrs. J. N. Scribner ; Charles W., deceased; Lura M., who married Roderick Pruett, of Chicago, and is also deceased ; Alice, deceased ; Estella, the wife of John M. Case, of Virden ; Myrtle, who became the wife of James Ryan, of Jacksonville, Illinois, and is now de- ceased; Earl, a resident of Chicago; Ernest, who makes his home in Denver, Colorado; Leroy, also of Chicago; Nola, deceased; Lela, who married C. E. Lowder, of Lowder, Illinois; and Nelson, who is deceased.
Politically Mr. Scribner has since he arrived at maturity supported the demo- cratic party. He has taken an active interest in political affairs and has held various township offices. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons and the Woodmen and religiously he affiliates with the Baptist church. He has traveled extensively in various states and from personal observation is remarkably well informed concerning the resources of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. He can claim a wide circle of acquaintances and is known as an enterprising and practical man of good business judgment. Having been straight-forward in all his dealings he richly merits the prosperity he and his family now enjoy.
HENRY COOPER.
A goodly capital of energy and perseverance, sustained by determination, when intelligently applied invariably wins recognition in the business world and results in success and substantial reward. This fact was most clearly demon- strated by the life of the late Henry Cooper, of Nilwood, who was born in Eng- land on Christmas day, 1825. His father was James Cooper, whose last years were spent in Australia.
Henry Cooper remained a citizen of the mother country until he was twenty- four years of age, acquiring his education in the common schools. An unusually ambitious youth, he became dissatisfied with conditions as he found them in his native land, so as soon as he could accumulate the necessary money he took pas- sage for the United States. Two years after arriving in this country he walked from Alton, Illinois, to Nilwood and took a sub-contract for grading and finishing a portion of the Chicago & Alton Railway, while later he was made foreman of construction on the road from Springfield to Alton. His keen foresight and busi- ness sagacity early revealed to him that a contract to supply wood to the rail- road must prove a very good source of revenue. There were extensive timber lands throughout this section of the state at that period, which could be acquired
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
for a very reasonable price. Being awarded the contract, in 1852 he purchased a forty-acre tract to begin with, constantly adding to his holdings until he had ob- tained possession of three thousand acres of timber land. Later he also bought land for agricultural purposes and at one time owned one thousand acres of farm land, all of which was improved and under cultivation. In addition to these properties he owned a large portion of the village of Nilwood, where he subse- quently erected two grain elevators and engaged in the grain and coal business with his two sons, Charles and Frank. In 1877 he bought four hundred acres of coal land that he leased to operators. All of his enterprises proved a success and his investments constantly increased in value until he became one of the affluent men not only of the county but of this section of the state.
In 1852 Mr. Cooper was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary (Murphy) Dea, a native of Ireland and the widow of Richard Dea. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, two of the sons, Charles and Frank, being among the leading business men of Nilwood.
Fraternally Mr. Cooper was identified with the Masonic order, while his po- litical allegiance was always given to the democratic party, though he never prominently participated in political affairs. He passed away in November, 1906, being survived by his widow, who continues to make her home in Nilwood. Mr. Cooper possessed the essential qualities for success in any vocation, having the ability to recognize opportunities that his keen discernment enabled him to utilize to the best possible advantage.
HENRY BALL.
From a farmer boy with limited advantages of education, Henry Ball, of Girard township, has become one of the successful men of Macoupin county and a beautiful homestead provided with all modern comforts and conveniences is evidence of his thrift and enterprise. Like many substantial citizens of Illi- nois, he is a native of South Wales, born September 25. 1844, a son of Richard McLothlin and Maria (Evans) Ball, both of whom were born in Wales. The father emigrated to America with his family about 1855 and located in Virden township where he engaged in the butcher business. He died in 1856, leaving a wife and thirteen children. Mrs. Ball, notwithstanding the discouraging outlook, in a strange country as the head of a large family whose main support had been taken away, bravely assumed the responsibility and right nobly did.she acquit herself.
Henry Ball received the rudiments of an education in his native land and came, with his parents, to Illinois when he was eleven years of age. He attended school at Virden for a short time and, in 1859, removed with his mother and other members of the family to a farm east of Virden, where he continued until 1867. He then-associated with his four brothers, Thomas, Richard, John and George-bought three hundred and twenty acres of prairie land in Girard town- ship. This land was entirely without improvements and required considerable labor to make it productive. Mr. Ball has continued here ever since and applied
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
himself with such diligence that he is now the owner of one of the most produc- tive farms in the township besides four hundred acres in the Red river valley of Minnesota. He very early learned the importance of labor and has made it a principle of his life to be energetic and thorough in everything he undertakes, thus produicng the highest possible returns.
On the 9th of August, 1893, he was married in Pitman township to Miss Re- becca Clark, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Walker B. and Sarah (Hud- son) Clark, both of whom were also born in Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Ball have two children, Francis Howard and Lewis Lloyd.
He is a member of Pioneer Grange, No. 435, and is actively identified with the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, being also a stockholder in the Grange store and the Farmers' Mutual Telephone Company. He is an earnest supporter of the republican party and a true friend of education, serving at present as a member of the school board and also a clerk of that body. Mr. Ball was bap- tized and christened in the Episcopal church. Mr. Ball is active and wide- awake to the welfare of the community, and is greatly interested in the continued development of the region where he has spent more than forty years of his life. His example cannot fail to prove an inspiration to deserving young men as he has won his present success and high standing through his own exertions, having as a youth been imbued with an unalterable determination to gain financial independence.
FERDINAND R. KAHL.
One of the highly esteemed residents of Shipman is Ferdinand R. Kahl, who for many years was successfully identified with the general farming in- terests of Macoupin county, but is now engaged in dairy farming. He was born in the village of Giekau in the province of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where for many generations his paternal ancestors have resided, on the 7th of Septem- ber, 1841. His father, Detlef F. A. Kahl, was born in the same village on the 12th of August, 1806, while the mother, who prior to her marriage was Mar- garet Fischer, was a native of the village of Luetzenburg, in Schleswig-Holstein, her natal day being the 31st of December, 1811 ; Luetzenburg has been the an- cestral home of the Fischer family for many generations past. Detlef F. A. Kahl, who was a cabinet maker by trade, accompanied by his wife and the younger members of the family, emigrated to the United States in 1864 to join his three sons, who were located in Macoupin county. They landed at New York, and immediately made their way inland locating in Shipman, where the parents spent the remainder of their lives. The father engaged in carpentry work and contracting until his demise on the 5th of August, 1873. To Mr. and Mrs. Kahl were born nine children: Fredericka, the deceased wife of Henry Mueller, of Shipman; Henry, also deceased, a resident of Bunker Hill, Illinois; Charles F., who is living in Shipman; Ferdinand R., our subject; Wilhelmina, the deceased wife of William Fahrenkrog, of Bunker Hill; Frederick, who is living in Ship- man; Nicholas, a resident of Shipman; Louisa, the wife of Charles Hintz, of Bunker Hill; and one, who died in infancy.
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
Ferdinand R. Kahl obtained his education in the common schools of his na- tive land, after which he learned the shoemaker's trade. He industriously fol- lowed this occupation until he was nineteen years of age, when he and his brother Henry decided to emigrate to the United States. They took passage on a sailing vessel for New Orleans and upon arrival in that city came up the river to St. Louis, whence they came to Macoupin county. They settled in Shipman and there Ferdinand R. Kahl followed his trade until 1862 when he went prospecting for gold, first in Colorado and later in New Mexico and Arizona. While in the latter states he freighted for the government for a time, but later he went to Idaho City, Idaho, where he worked in the gold mines for two years. In 1865 he returned to Shipman, remaining two years; he then removed to Minnesota, and worked as a farm hand in the vicinity of St. Charles until 1867. Again re- turning to Shipman he married and purchased two hundred acres of timber land on section II, Shipman township. Erecting upon this land the necessary build- ings he began clearing and putting it under cultivation. Here he continued to live until 1907, when he withdrew from active work and moved to Shipman, where he owns a very pleasant residence surrounded by two acres of beautiful grounds. Dairy farming now engages the attention of Mr. Kahl, who has led too active and busy a life to entirely withdraw from all business. He keeps a fine grade of Holstein cattle, having a herd of fifty milch cows, which are proving to be a very gratifying source of revenue.
On the 24th of December, 1868, Mr. Kahl established a home for himself by his marriage to Miss Sarah A. Deahl, whose natas udy was the uth of June, 1847, her parents being Andrew and Matilda (Schultz) Deahl, whose history is given in the sketch of Adam Deahl, which appears elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Kahl were born eleven children. Edwin A., who is an implement dealer in Shipman, married Miss Minnie Barnes, and they have three children : Leona, Florence and Lester Ferdinand. Charles H., the second member of the family, died in infancy. Mary E. married Arthur Mitchell of Shipman and they have two children, Sarah M. and Otis Arthur. George F., who is en- gaged in farming in Shipman township, married Anna Adams and they have one child, George. Margaret E. married Almon Scott, an engineer of St. Louis, Missouri, and they have one child, Walter H. Huldah L. married Auzza Owen, who is a cotton planter in Aberdeen, Mississippi, and they have four children, George, Earl, Harold and Arlene. Walter W., who is agent for the Chicago & Alton Railroad at Plainview, married Eva Burmaster and they have two chil- dren, Edith and Gladys. Clara M., married Henry Brueggeman and has one child, Ralph E. Henrietta, who is the next in order of birth, has never married and makes her home with her parents. Edna, married Joseph Travers and has one child Glenn R. Earl C., who is the youngest member of the family, is un- married and lives at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Kahl affiliate with the Evangelical Lutheran church of Ship- man of which he is one of the trustees, they, both, having taken an earnest and active interest in the work of its various organizations. Mr. Kahl has always given his political support to the democratic party, and for fifteen years served as commissioner of highways of Shipman township. He is one of the substantial
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
citizens of Shipman who has sought no political power for self-aggrandizement, but has ever exerted his influence to maintain the moral and intellectual status of the community on a high plain.
WILLIAM BLUEFORD DALTON, M. D.
The oldest physician of Macoupin county is Dr. William Blueford Dalton, who is now living practically retired but first engaged in the practice of his pro- fession in Scottsville forty years ago, and who has ever since continued to re- side there. He was born on a farm five miles southwest of Franklin, Morgan county, Illinois, on the 26th of December, 1839.
His parents were Clayborn and Permelia (Haynes) Dalton, natives of Ken- tucky, the father having been born in Glasgow, Barren county, that state, about 1808. Their marriage occurred in 1829 and very soon thereafter they came to Illinois, settling on the farm where ten years later our subject began his life record. There ten children were born and reared, and the father passed away in April. 1868. Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Dalton two died in infancy but the others all lived to attain maturity. The paternal grandfather, Jesse Dalton, was a distiller of North Carolina, who removed to Kentucky about 1780 or 1785. He had quite an extensive plant for that time and kept forty negroes to operate it.
Owing to the failing health of his father and the fact that there was a large family to be provided for, it became necessary for William Blueford Dalton to leave home at the age of fifteen years and become self-supporting. Prior to that he had attended the district school in the vicinity of his home, acquiring a very good common education. He took a position on a farm, continuing to follow this work for several years thereafter, receiving for his services from eight to thir- teen dollars per month in the summer and less in the winter. In 1863 he found an opportunity to go to California, being given his board for driving a four- mule team from Carlinville to Sacramento. He reached his destination on the 18th of August, 1863, being four months and five days en route. He spent the winter in the capital city and in the spring took a position as teamster on a freight wagon between Sacramento and the silver mines in Nevada. Subse- quently he filed on some government land in Nevada, in the vicinity of Austin, Lander county, upon which he resided until 1870. In that year he returned to Illinois and began the study of medicine under Dr. A. G. Kinkead of Scotts- ville, subsequently matriculating in the medical department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he attended the lectures for two years. At the expiration of that time he formed a partnership with his former preceptor, Dr. Kinkead, engaging in the practice of his profession in this county. In 1878 he went to Long Island College, Brooklyn, New York, from which institution he was awarded the degree of doctor of medicine with the class of 1878, being graduated in June. Resuming his practice in Scottsville very soon thereafter he has ever since been identified with the medical fraternity of Macoupin county. He was well adapted to the work being a man of strong sympathies and con-
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scientious in his administration to the suffering, and most naturally built up a very large practice not only in the village where he lives but in the surrounding county. He is now living practically retired, the arduous duties of a country practice being too severe for one of his years.
Jacksonville, Illinois, was the scene of the marriage on the 19th of March, 1873, of Dr. Dalton and Miss Malinda J. Haynes, a daughter of Louis and Kate (Norton) Haynes, who were farming people. To Dr. and Mrs. Dalton three daughters were born: Maude, Bona and Dora. The two younger died in in- fancy, but the eldest married Dr. H. W. Gobble, of Greenfield, Illinois, and has three children : Harry C., Eloise and William E. Mrs. Dalton died on the 19th of August, 1890, and on the 3d of April, 1891, Dr. Dalton married Miss Emma Johnson, a daughter of John R. and Matilda (Brown) Johnson. The father is living and engages in the cultivation of his farm south of Scottsville, but the mother is deceased.
Both Dr. and Mrs. Dalton affiliate with the Christian church, and he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Scottsville Lodge, No. 426, A. F. & A. M., and Scottsville Camp, No. 506, of the Modern Woodmen of America, while both, he and his wife, hold membership in the Order of the Eastern Star. Dr. Dalton is an ex-president of the Macoupin County Medical Society, and he is a member of the Illinois State Medical Society and the American Medical As- sociation. During the long period of his connection with the profession Dr. Dalton has witnessed great progress in the medical science, particularly in surgery, which branch was practically in its infancy when he began his practice. He is one of the highly esteemed citizens of the county and holds the regard of many of the best people.
HENRY GREER.
Agricultural pursuits have always engaged the attention of Henry Greer, who was born in Okawville, Washington county, Illinois, on the 3Ist of March, 1845. His parents were Henry and Malinda (Dodson) Greer, the father being a na- tive of Ireland. Having been left an orphan and entirely dependent upon his own resources in his early youth, Henry Greer, Sr., at the age of sixteen years, emigrated to the United States. He located in Illinois and when old enough en- tered one hundred and sixty acres of land in Washington county. After erecting a log cabin in which to live he immediately began to place his land under cultiva- tion. In 1865 he came to Macoupin county, settling in the village of Woodburn, where he spent the latter years of his life. After taking up his residence at Woodburn he bought two hundred and forty acres of land, forty of which at that time was timber but is now pasture land. He passed away in February, 1892, and was laid to rest in the cemetery at Woodburn. The mother had died two years previously. To Mr. and Mrs. Greer were born five children: Irene, the wife of Aaron Dodson, a retired pastor of the Baptist church, of Otterville, Illinois ; Henry, our subject ; Jennie, who is living in the old home at Woodburn;
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