USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois : biographical and pictorial, Volume II > Part 69
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On the 2d of November, 1892, Mr. Behme was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Taylor, daughter of William E. and Martha (Keltner) Taylor, both natives of this county, the father having been born in Gillespie township on the 27th of July, 1837, while the mother's birth occurred in Brushy Mound township. William E. Taylor engaged in agricultural pursuits in Macoupin county, where he spent his entire life with the exception of the years from 1860 to 1863 when he was pros- pecting in Nevada and California. He passed away on his farm on section 22, Brushy Mound township, on the 15th of June, 1906. Mrs. Taylor is living and continues to reside on the farm where she and her husband removed to in 1880. To Mr. and Mrs. Behme there have been born three daughters: Nellie May, Flossie Ellen and Grace Lillian, all of whom are attending school in district No. IIO.
Mrs. Behme and her three daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Mount Pleasant, and fraternally he is affiliated with the Modern Wood- men of America, Carlinville Camp. In politics he is a republican and has been a school trustee in Brushy Mound township for seventeen years, while for the past two years he has been a director in school district No. 110. Mr. Behme is one of
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the progressive and enterprising citizens of the township whose energy and en- thusiasm is not all consumed in the development of his personal interests but is also expended in advancing the public affairs of the community.
WILLIAM P. KALEHER.
William P. Kaleher, who engages in farming in Brushy Mound township, was born in Greene county, Illinois, on the 18th of May, 1862. His parents, Patrick and Margaret (Dolan) Kaleher, were born, reared and married in County Clare, Ireland. In the paternal line, however, the family is of German extraction, Great- great-grandfather Kaleher having emigrated from that country to Ireland, where his children were born. Patrick Kaleher emigrated to the United States in 1840, being followed five years later by his wife. He located in Greene county, Illinois, upon his arrival in this country, renting what was known as the Judge Woodson farm, three miles west of Carrollton. This farm contained two hundred acres of land in the cultivation of which he engaged for ten years. At the expiration of that period he removed to the Bowman farm, where the son William P. was born, and there he resided for seventeen years. He removed to Carrollton for two years, after which he came to Macoupin county. Here he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in Polk township that he was cultivating when he passed away in 1891. His wife left the farm and went to Kansas City, Missouri, to live with her daughter, Mrs. Mary McNerney, and there she passed away in 1905. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Kaleher numbered ten : Bridgett, the wife of John Conole, a farmer of Douglas county, Kansas ; Michael, who is engaged in the hotel busi- ness in Chicago; Patrick, who is farming in Shaws Point township, this county ; Mary, the widow of the late Thomas McNerney, a real estate dealer of Kansas City, Missouri ; Margaret, the wife of M. Vaughn, a retired real estate man of Kansas City, Missouri ; James, a farmer of Shaws Point township; Daniel, who is also engaged in farming in Shaws Point township ; William P., our subject ; Annie, the widow of P. J. Carmody, a farmer of Carrollton, Illinois ; and Emma, the wife of George Cunningham, also a farmer of Carrollton, Illinois.
William P. Kaleher was reared in Greene county, whose public and district schools equipped him educationally for the responsibilities of life. He remained on the farm with his parents until he was twenty-five years of age, the supervision and cultivation of the land entirely devolving upon him after the retirement of his father. After his marriage in 1888 he went to Kansas, where he farmed for four years. Returning to Illinois he rented a farm three miles east of Plainview that he cultivated until 1894 when he came to Brushy Mound township and rented the J. C. Anderson farm, where he lived for ten years. In March, 1905, he came to the Frank McClure place, containing one hundred and sixty acres, and here he has ever since resided.
Mr. Kaleher's plans for a home of his own had their culmination in his mar- riage on the 18th of August, 1888, to Miss Etta Ambrose, a daughter of W. E. and Parmelia (Pruitt) Ambrose, the father a native of Macoupin county and the mother of Jersey county, this state. Mr. Ambrose is of Dutch and Irish descent
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but his wife was an American. They resided on a farm in this county until her death in December, 1910, since which time he has been living retired in Plainview. To Mr. and Mrs. Kaleher have been born five children: William Edward, who is- living at home ; Lillian B., the wife of M. Neylor, clerk of the Board of Review of Sawyersville, Illinois and the mother of one son, John M., Jr .; and May, Edna and John J., all of whom are still at home.
The family are all communicants of the Roman Catholic church of Carlinville, and politically Mr. Kaleher is a democrat. He has always taken an active interest in all township affairs and acted as assessor in Brushy Mound for two terms and is now serving his second term as township supervisor ; who living in Polk town- ship he held the office of collector for one term. Mr. Kaleher is a pleasant man, his genial manner and cordiality winning him many friends, whose loyalty he has the faculty of retaining.
WILSON H. KIRKLAND.
The success which has rewarded the efforts of Wilson H. Kirkland, of Shaws Point township, as a farmer and live-stock raiser, is the result of his good judgment in following the business which he understands and to which he has devoted his best thought and energy. Born in Montgomery county, Illinois, June 26, 1856, he is now fifty-five years of age and is the owner of a highly productive farm in Macoupin county and also of a section of good land in Kansas, both of which he acquired through his own efforts. He is a son of John B. and Sarah (Sanders) Kirkland, the former of whom was born in Mis- souri and the latter in Virginia. The father came to Illinois with his parents in pioneer days and was reared and educated in Jersey county. After arriving at maturity he engaged in farming and purchased eighty acres of land in Mont- gomery county, which he cultivated for six years. He then came to Macoupin county and bought eighty acres in Shaws Point township, upon which he made many improvements. He succeeded and became the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of land in this section. In 1887 he retired and has since made his home at Litchfield, being now seventy-nine years of age. The mother is still living and has reached the age of seventy-seven.
Wilson H. Kirkland was brought to Macoupin county by his parents when he was eight years old. In the public schools of Montgomery and Macoupin counties he secured his preliminary education and carried his studies further at Blackburn University, in Carlinville, during the winter of 1877-78. He taught school in the country for one year but the life of a schoolmaster did not prove very attractive to a man of his energetic temperament. After his marriage he rented land of his father, which he cultivated to good advantage for five years and then purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Shaws Point township, which was partly improved. He erected good buildings, set out fruit and shade trees and made many other improvements which greatly added to the appear- ance and value of the place. He cultivates the grains and also raises good grades of stock for which he has no difficulty in finding a ready market. He
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usually keeps fifteen head of horses, forty head of sheep and eighty to one hun- dred head of hogs. He is unusually successful as a hog raiser and is a strong advocate of the Poland China breed which is found to be thoroughly adapted to the conditions prevailing in Macoupin county. Five years ago he sold eighty acres of his farm and bought six hundred and forty acres in Kansas, which is steadily advancing in value.
In March, 1880, Mr. Kirkland was married to Miss Sarah C. Fuller, a daughter of R. A. and Dena (Smith) Fuller. The father was born in Ken- tucky and the mother in Germany. He emigrated to Jersey county, Illinois, but came to Macoupin county in 1859 and purchased land in Shaws Point town- ship upon which he established his homestead. He died in October, 1907, but his widow is still living and has arrived at the age of seventy-five years. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kirkland, namely: Ethel May, who married Rev. Melles Madden and resides at Fairmont, Illinois; Grace B., the wife of J. S. Padfield, of the state of Washington; and Arthur Roy, now twenty-five years of age, who is living at home.
Ever since he cast his first ballot Mr. Kirkland has adhered to the republican party. He is recognized as a man of sound judgment as is indicated by his elec- tion to the office of township assessor, a position he is now holding. He has also served as township collector, supervisor, and for twenty years as a member of the school board. He is a sincere believer in the authority of the Bible, of which he has been a lifelong student, and he and his family are earnest members of the Methodist church. In his business life he has ever aimed to be just and fair and by his straightforward course extending over several decades he has reflected credit upon the honorable calling he represents and upon the state and county of which he is a worthy citizen. Fraternally Mr. Kirkland is iden- tified with the Modern Woodmen of America.
SAMUEL MARTIN WELTON.
Samuel Martin Welton, of South Otter township, comes of good Revolu- tionary stock and also can claim descent from worthy pioneer ancestry. He was born in Bird township, October 31, 1845, and has spent his entire life amidst the scenes with which he was familiar in his boyhood. His parents were Samuel and Emmeline (Stoddard) Welton and were both born in Connecticut, where the Welton family has long been known, some of the earlier members having participated in behalf of the colonies in the Revolutionary war. The parents came to Illinois and settled in Macoupin county in the '30s. The father en- gaged in farming in Bird township until 1848 and then moved to Carlinville township. He died on the old homestead, in 1898, having worthily performed his duty as one of the upbuilders of the county.
The public schools of Carlinville afforded opportunity for the early educa- tional training of Samuel M. Welton and, being a youth of energy and ambi- tion, he made good use of the advantages there offered. He assisted his father on the home place from the time of leaving school until the spring of 1863,
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when he enlisted in Company, F, One Hundred and Thirty-third Illinois Vol- unteers, as a private. His regiment was assigned to guard duty so that he was never called upon to participate in any of the battles or movements of the war. After receiving his discharge he resumed work upon the home farm. In 1867 he came, to South Otter township and purchased ninety acres which he cul- tivated to good advantage and he is now the owner of three hundred and thirty acres in one of the most fertile sections of the county. He is engaged in gen- eral farming and stock-raising and the orderly appearance of the place is proof of careful attention to details and the interest he takes in life's work. His labors are rewarded by abundant harvests and he is numbered among the enter- prising and intelligent agriculturists of the community. He takes a great interest in promoting the permanent welfare of the community and is a stockholder and director of the Nilwood State Bank.
On March 31, 1870, Mr. Welton was married in Shaws Point township to Miss Helen Z. Robley, who was born in Greene county, this state. She is a daughter of Henry and Caroline (Griswold) Robley, both of whom were born in Vermont, and a granddaughter of Richard Robley, of the Green Mountain state. Descendants of the Robley family participated in the Revolutionary war and the name is inseparably identified with the history of Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Welton are the parents of five children, namely: Neva, now Mrs. William Johnson, of Oregon, and the mother of three children; Charles, of South Otter township, who married Mary Ford and has one child; Carrie, who is the wife of John Sells, of Missouri, and the mother of six children; and Fred and Samuel, both of whom are at home.
Mr. Welton is a patriotic citizen and his study of politics led him many years ago to adopt the principles of the republican party as a safe guide in cast- ing his ballot. He served for many years as school director and also has filled the office of road supervisor of his township. In religious faith he adheres to the Baptist church and is now a trustee of the church at Hickory Point, prov- ing by his influence and example that he is a worthy follower of the Master. He has through life practiced industry and temperance, and, being a man of sound business judgment, he has managed his affairs to excellent advantage. He was fortunate in the selection of a wife and to her aid and encouragement he owes much of his success.
H. H. HOPPER.
H. H. Hopper, a well known plumber and machinist of Staunton, comes rightly by his trade, as his father was in the same line of business for a number of years and the talents of the parent were inherited in a goodly measure by the son. He is a native of Illinois, born in Montgomery county, June 29, 1871, his parents being Jerry R. and Rebecca (Royland) Hopper. The father was a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, and the mother of Virginia. Mr. Hopper learned the plumbing trade, in which he was engaged at the outbreak of the Civil war. Having been born in the south, he was in hearty sympathy with the Confederate
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cause and enlisted in the army, serving throughout the entire war. He engaged in many of the principal battles and movements and was present at the first bat- tle of Bull Run and at Gettysburg. Being a skilled marksman, he was selected as a sharpshooter and served under General Wade Hampton, and was in Lee's army at the time of the surrender at Appomattox. In 1868, like thousands of young men of the south, he came west and located in Montgomery county, Illi- nois, where he engaged in farming. He died upon the home farm in 1889, his wife having passed away three years earlier. The grandfather of our subject at the outbreak of the Civil war was the owner of thirty-six slaves. There were thirteen children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Hopper, the youngest of whom died in infancy. The others were: Agnes, who is now deceased; Anna, who is the wife of Fred Huber, of Granite City, Illinois; Addie, the wife of F. N. Pacely of Montgomery county, Illinois ; H. H., of this review; Beulah, who married Ed- ward Osborn, of Redmond, Iowa; William, who is deceased; Jerry, of Granite City ; Eugene, a machinist of Coffeen; Hattie, who is the wife of J. Savage, of Coffeen ; Ruby, who married Charles Nimmons, of Litchfield, Illinois ; Bertha, the wife of Edward Adkins, of St. Louis, Missouri; and Catherine, who married Will- iam Hoffman, of Seattle, Washington.
Mr. Hopper, whose name introduces this sketch, attended the common schools and continued at home until sixteen years of age. He learned the plumber's trade and traveled extensively in various parts of the country, working as plumber, en- gineer, electrician and machinist and becoming thoroughly acquainted with the vari- ous branches named. In 1895 he located at Staunton, where he opened a plumbing establishment, and does all kinds of work connected with plumbing, heating, auto- mobile repairing, etc. He carries a complete line of supplies and his shop is one of the best equipped of the kind in this part of the state. He has prospered in his business and each year witnesses a gratifying increase in patronage.
In 1898 Mr. Hopper was married to Augusta Fritz, a daughter of Edmond Fritz, a pioneer of Staunton. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic order, holding membership in the blue lodge, chapter and commandery. He and his wife are also members of the Order of the Eastern Star. A man of good business judgment, prompt, energetic and efficient, he has made a success of his calling and his patrons are numbered among the best citizens of the city and surrounding country. His wife has proved a worthy helpmeet and companion and their home is a favorite gathering place of friends and acquaintances, who are always assured of a cordial greeting.
WILLIAM T. CLOWER.
Among the substantial farmers of Macoupin county who are performing their share in the devolopment of the agricultural resources of this section may be named William T. Clower. He was born near Springfield, Sangamon county, Illinois, December 25, 1857, a son of Lucien C. M. and Anne (Tompkins) Clower, the former of whom was born in New Jersey about 1830. The Clower family settled in New Jersey in Colonial times and William Clower, the grandfather of
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our subject, was born in that state about 1800, being a member of a family of thirteen children. He grew to manhood in his native state and about 1845 started west with his family, stopping for three years on the Miami river settlement in Ohio. Resuming his journey, in 1848, he arrived in Illinois and spent a year in Jersey county, near Jerseyville. He then removed to Christian county and en- tered government land near the site of the present town of Zenobia. He became one of the large landowners of the county and passed the remainder of his life upon the home place. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Clower, namely : Abraham, of Morrisonville, Illinois, who is now deceased; Lucien C. M., the father of our subject; Anne, who is the widow of David Compton, of Morrisonville ; Thomas, who made his home in Morrisonville and is now deceased ; Leah, the wife of Neal Christopher, of Auburn; John, a resident of Chanute, Kansas; and Rachel, who married Charles H. Hill, of Morrisonville, and is now deceased. Thomas and John were both soldiers in the Union army at the time of the Civil war. The former participated in the Atlanta campaign and the lat- ter was for four years in the army. He was wounded at the battle of Chicka- mauga but resumed his place in the ranks after recovery and continued with his regiment until the close of the Rebellion.
Lucien C. M. Clower received a preliminary education in the district schools of Christian county and continued under the parental roof until after reaching maturity. He began farming on his own account in Sangamon county but about 1860 sold his place and purchased eighty acres on section 33, Shipman township, Macoupin county, later acquiring more land on sections 27 and 34. He became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres in this county and forty acres in Christian county. He was well acquainted with Abraham Lincoln for whom he had a profound regard and employed Mr. Lincoln as his attorney. He married Miss Anne Tompkins, a daughter of William Tompkins, a native of New Jer- sey and one of the early settlers of Jersey county, Illinois. To this union seven children were born: George, a resident of Piasa, Illinois; William T., the subject of this review ; Eva, the wife of C. Hill, of Morrisonville; John, who resides at Bunker Hill, Illinois; Anna, who married Frank Keas, of Chanute, Kansas; Ed- ward F., of Fairmont, Nebraska; and Edna, who is the wife of G. G. Green, of Shipman, Illinois.
William T. Clower possessed advantages of education in the public schools and as he grew to manhood assisted in the various operations upon the home farm, continuing there until twenty-eight years of age. He then went to Hugo- ton, Stevens county, Kansas, and proved up on a tree and homestead claim. He returned to Illinois about 1890 and purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 27 of Shipman township, on which he has since made his home. He also owns fourteen acres of woodland near Shipman and still retains three hundred and twenty acres in Kansas. He has greatly improved his home farm and he and his family occupy a comfortable residence which is surrounded by one of the most attractive groves in this part of the county.
Mr. Clower married Miss Ella Deahl, a daughter of Adam Deahl, record of whom is presented elsewhere in this work in the sketch of Henry C. Deahl. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Clower, one of whom died in infancy. The others are: William, who is thirteen years of age; Gladys, aged seven years ;
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and Annetta, who is three years of age. Mr. Clower was early made acquainted with labor and ever since his boyhood has been an active and efficient worker. As he uses good judgment in whatever he undertakes his efforts have yielded gratifying returns and he is now blessed with a competency. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order and politically he adheres to the republican party. An earnest believer in education, he has served faithfully for thirty years as school director. He takes a deep interest in the welfare of the community and is now filling the office of president of the Mutual Telephone Company, a farm- ers organization, which is one of the most useful and popular enterprises the re- gion has known. It is entirely within the bounds of truth to say that no man in the township stands higher in the estimation of the people than the one whose name introduces this review.
R. K. ALDERSON.
R. K. Alderson, now living retired but for many years identified with the agri- cultural activities of North Palmyra township, was born in North Otter township, Macoupin county, on the 20th of February, 1849. His parents were Robert and Elizabeth (Clarke) Alderson, who were natives of Tennessee but were married in Kentucky. They were among the first settlers of the county, locating on govern- ment ground which Mr. Alderson cleared and cultivated until 1890, when he and his wife removed to Kansas. There Mrs. Alderson passed away in 1894, but he survived for three years thereafter, his demise occurring at the age of seventy- four years. He always took a deep interest in all public questions and political issues and voted for the democratic party.
The family in common with other pioneers shared in the hardships and priva- tions incident to life on the frontier, and at the age of eight years R. K. Alderson began to assist with the work on the fields and the care of the stock. Such educa- tion as he acquired was obtained during the brief and somewhat irregular period of the district school, which he attended during the winter sessions at such times as his services were not required at home. In 1869 he came to North Palmyra township and settled on two hundred and forty acres of land owned by his wife. The cultivation proved lucrative and he was able to add to his tract from time to time until he had acquired five hundred acres, all of which he improved and brought to a high state of cultivation. In connection with the tilling of his fields Mr. Alderson made a specialty of the feeding of stock for the market, netting him a very gratifying income. Although he and his wife still continue to reside upon their homestead, he has withdrawn from active farm work, having rented his land, and is now living practically retired. He has been most successful in his undertakings and in addition to his own extensive holdings he has presented each of his children with a one hundred and twenty acre tract of land.
In North Otter township on the 20th of February, 1868, was celebrated the marriage of R. K. Alderson and Miss Lucy Nevins, a daughter of James and Eliza- beth (Sims) Nevins. The father was a native of Kentucky and the mother of Tennessee but they were long residents of Macoupin county and here they both passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Alderson were born the following children :
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Minnie, who married Edward Walkington, a farmer of North Palmyra township, and has one child; Mrs. Robert Chapman, whose husband is a farmer of North Palmyra township, and who has five children; Maude, deceased ; Mettie, who be- came the wife of Owen Nevins, a farmer of North Palmyra township, and has one daughter ; Mattie, who married a Mr. Trumbell, also a farmer of this township; Millie, who married Steve Chandley, who is cultivating a farm adjacent to that of her parents, and has two children; Melvin, who is married and living on a farm in North Otter township; and Myrtle, the wife of Howard Plowman, a farmer.
In political belief Mr. Alderson is a stanch democrat, considering the policy of that party best adapted to subserve the interests of the majority, while in matters of faith both he and his wife affiliate with the Christian church, the principles of which have ever served to guide their daily lives.
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