USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois : biographical and pictorial, Volume II > Part 70
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JOSEPH COY.
The state of Indiana has contributed many intelligent and enterprising sons to Illinois and among the number may be named Joseph Coy, the owner of a highly productive farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Nilwood township. As a soldier for the Union he valiantly discharged his duty at the time of the Civil war and as a private citizen he has displayed an ability and energy which have pro- duced gratifying returns. He was born on a farm in Elkhart county, Indiana, October 15, 1846, a son of John and Hannah Coy, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania.
At an early age Mr. Coy of this review was left an orphan and had very little opportunity of education, his principal training being received in the great school of the world. At the age of fourteen he began working as a farm hand and so continued until 1864, when he enlisted in Company F, Seventy-fourth Indiana Volunteers, as a private and was sent to the front, participating in a number of important engagements during the closing years of the war. He was honorably mustered out of service at Washington, D. C., in July, 1865, after gaining in the army many lessons that proved of great practical value to him in after life. He returned to Indiana and resumed farm work, continuing there until 1867, when he came to Girard township, Macoupin county, Illinois, and found employment at monthly wages upon a farm. In 1871, having accumulated sufficient capital, he purchased forty acres of productive land in Nilwood township and applied him- self with such good judgment that he became the owner of one hundred and twen- ty acres, which he has greatly improved, making his place one of the most pro- ductive of its size in this section. He has for many years been numbered among the active and progressive men of the community.
On the 29th of December, 1871, Mr. Coy was married to Miss Fannie Smith, of Girard township, a daughter of Elisha and Susan (Eaves) Smith, natives re- spectively of Tennessee and Illinois. To this union three children were born: Della, now 'Mrs. B. R. Burton, of Hoopeston, Illinois, and the mother of three
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children ; Lula, who married J. A. Clark and is now living on the home farm; and Nona, who is at home.
Politically Mr. Coy has from the time of reaching his majority given his ear- nest support to the republican party. He has served for twenty-one years as member of the school board and four years as justice of the peace. He is a consistent member of the Methodist church, in which he is now filling the office of steward. He is a man of highly social disposition and has gained many friends who admire him for his sterling qualities. He is a believer in a high moral standard in public as well as private life and by his integrity and adherence to worthy ideals has assisted materially in advancing the happiness of those with whom he is associated. Today he is known as one of the prosperous agriculturists of this section-a position he earned by many years of conscien- tious effort.
HERBERT ASHBEL DAVID.
One of Macoupin county's well known native sons is Herbert Ashbel David, who has recently become assistant agent for the Illinois Traction System. His natal day was the Ist of February, 1872, and he is the only child of Ashbel George and Eliza A. (Ingraham) David. The father was a native of Penn- sylvania and a son of Jesse and Barbara (Pentzer) David. The first ten or twelve years of his life were passed in the Keystone state whence he moved with his parents to Illinois. They located on a farm in the western part of Macoupin county, but later removed to a place in the vicinity of Bunker Hill. There they resided for many years, but Jesse David was living in Bunker Hill at the time of his demise which occurred at a ripe old age. Mrs. David was living in Lincoln, Illinois, when she passed away in the seventy-eighth year of her life. Their family consisted of the following: Ashbel George; Jacob P .; Lewis D .; Jane, the widow of Charles Winans, of Lincoln, Nebraska; George, who was lost during the Civil war; Samuel W., who is a resident of Carlinville ; and another daughter and son.
Ashbel George David taught school for a time in his early manhood, with- drawing from this profession to clerk in a store in Gillespie and later in Bunker Hill. He subsequently engaged in the commission business in St. Louis, and during the war he was a sutler's clerk on a gunboat in the Mississippi river. For a time he canvassed for the Caldwell County (Missouri) Sentinel, during which time he wrote a history of Mormonism. About 1869 he returned to Ma- coupin county, taking a position with Edwards & Kimball, editors of the Car- linville Free Democrat. Later he bought Mr. Edwards' interest in this publica- tion, which for some time thereafter was conducted by Kimball & David. The former subsequently disposed of his rights to Mr. David also, who edited the paper from then until September, 1900, when he sold it after a continuous editor-and-ownership of thirty-one years. Subsequently he engaged in the insur- ance business with his son, our subject for about two years, when they bought the Scott County Herald, at Winchester, Illinois, which they ran for four or
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five years, during which time the father bought The Girard Anchor owning this paper for two and a half years. Withdrawing from all newspaper work he then devoted himself entirely to the insurance and pension business in Carlin- ville until his demise on the 2d of December. I.
Mr. David was twice married, of his first union there was born one son, Frederick E., who is now living near Morgan Hill, in the vicinity of San Jose, California. His second wife, the mother of our subject, was the widow of Thomas E. Stagg, by whom she had a son and a daughter. The son, Charles, died when a lad of about nine years, and the daughter, Emma E., who is also deceased, became the wife of Frederick E. David. Frederick E. and Emma E. (Stagg) David were the parents of two children: Jean, who was killed in a railroad accident in Baird, Texas and Helen, who is living in Carlinville. Mrs. A. G. David still survives and continues to make her home in Carlinville. She is a member of the Presbyterian church with which her husband was also affil- iated. Mrs. David is a native of New York state and she came west to Ohio and from there to Illinois with her family during the pioneer days. Mr. and Mrs. Ingraham, Mrs. David's parents, had a large family, namely: Julia, the wife of John Brooks; Melissa, who is deceased; Celeste, who married a Mr. Dierkes ; Mattie, the widow of Rev. Kinsman, of Minneapolis, Minnesota ; Eliza A., a resident of Mason City, Illinois ; Norman, who is living in the same place ; and Mary, the wife of Eagan Dierkes. Both, Mr. and Mrs. Ingraham are de- ceased, she passing away at Mason City.
Herbert Ashbel David has always made his home in Carlinville, to whose public schools he is indebted for his preliminary education. He graduated from the high school in 1888 and later pursued a collegiate course in the Black- burn University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1895, being awarded the only diploma bearing the degree of bachelor of literature at that time granted. After the completion of his education he became associated with his father in newspaper work; having previously learned the printer's trade he was able to assist either in the composing or editorial department. He con- tinued in this vocation for several years, until he changed to the insurance busi- ness, with which he is still identified. In connection with his agency he is dis- charging the duties of a pension agent and assistant agent for the Illinois Trac- tion System.
On the 18th of June, 1909, Mr. David was united in marriage to Miss Nina A. Smith, a daughter of James M. and Frances (Landiss) Smith. Mrs. David was born at "The Maples" four miles east of Carrollton, in which vicinity her mother was also born, while the father is a native of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had the following children: Nina A .; Arthur, who is deceased; Harry W .; Grace, the wife of Charles R. Farrelly ; and Helen, Laura and Philip, all of whom are at home. The parents are both living and together with their three youngest children continue to make their home on the old farm. To Mr. and Mrs. David have been born three children: Herbert, Francis and Herbert James, the first two died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. David both hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, while fraternally he is identified with Oriental Lodge, No. 95, of the Knights of Pythias, of which he is past chancellor, and the Carlinville Camp of
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the Modern Woodmen of America. Politically he is a republican, and has sev- eral times been secretary of the county central committee, and is now acting as assistant secretary. He is a member of the Illinois Press Association and served as treasurer of that organization for four years. Mr. David is one of the enter- prising and popular business men of Carlinville, his estimable qualities having won him many loyal friends.
HENRY ROSS ETTER.
Age has seemed no bar to a successful career in the case of Henry Ross Etter, owner and publisher of the Weekly Transcript, who was born in South Palmyra, Macoupin county, on the 17th of July, 1882. He is of German ex- traction on the paternal side, his great-grandfather, Henry Etter, having been a native of the fatherland, where he engaged in farming for a time. He came to Virginia in 1783, and later located in Tennessee, where he married Miss Eliza Parks, a native of Anderson county, that state. In 1826 he came to Illi- nois, locating in Green county, near Carrollton, where he entered land at one dollar and a quarter per acre. Thereon he erected a log cabin, which remained his home for about a decade. The year 1836 witnessed his arrival in Macou- pin county. He settled in Western Mound township where he erected a good dwelling in which he resided until the time of his death in 1853. He was num- bered among the early settlers of this county. His son, Henry Etter, Jr., was born in Anderson county, Tennessee, May 14, 1820, and was but five years of age when brought to Illinois by his parents. He was reared amid pioneer con- ditions and remained with his parents until his marriage. He was a hatter by trade, but purchasing land from the government he located upon it and made his home in a log cabin for a number of years. This was prior to the introduc- tion of the railroad into this territory and he was compelled to drive to Alton to obtain provisions and market his produce. He continued his residence in Macoupin county until his death, covering a period of sixty years. Miss Este- reen Elizabeth Davidson, a daughter of Ellis Davidson, became his wife and both of them were natives of Kentucky. The father was a son of Rev. John Davidson, a Baptist minister of Greene county, Illinois, who also engaged in farming for a time. His son, Ellis Davidson, was reared in the state of his nativity but passed his last years in Christian county, Illinois. Mrs. Estereen Etter, the grandmother of Henry Ross Etter, was a very skilled spinner and wove all of the cloth for the family use. By her marriage to Henry Etter, Jr., she became the mother of four children, as follows: George, who married Miss Mary C. McCoy; James, the father of our subject; Smith, who wedded Miss Julia R. Range ; and Elijah, who married Miss Kate Hulse.
James Etter, father of Henry Ross Etter, was born in South Palmyra town- ship, Macoupin county, on the 21st of July, 1848, and in the district schools of this county acquired his education. He remained on the home farm until after his marriage, when he took up his abode on one of his father's farms. He was a well known figure in political circles of this county, giving stalwart
Vol. II-35
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support to the democratic party, and for a number of years served as constable, road commissioner, township clerk and collector and assessor of the township. He was married, on the 30th of October, 1873, to Miss Julia F. Richie, also a native of this county and a daughter of Eli W. Richie. Unto this union were born six children.
Henry Rose Etter, whose name introduces this sketch, was the fourth of his family in order of birth, and in the common schools of Palmyra acquired a preparatory training, passing through consecutive grades until graduation from the high school. He also had the advantage of study at Drake University, at Des Moines, and made the best possible use of his opportunities for mental training. His first step in the business world was as a teacher, being engaged in that profession for four years and then, at the expiration of that period, he turned his attention to the printing and newspaper business. In 1903 he be- came employed as editor and manager of the Weekly Transcript at Palmyra, and his time was thus occupied until the Ist of March, 1909, when he purchased that paper of which he has since been the owner and publisher. It is a well known fact that the progressive journal has much to do with shaping thought and action and the editor who closely studies the signs of the times may stand in a position of leadership in relation to many public affairs and projects. This Mr. Etter has fully realized, and in the publication of his paper has introduced such a policy as is making the Transcript a potent force in the community for improvement and advancement along various lines.
On the 18th of May, 1905, Mr. Etter was united in marriage to Miss Laura G. Thompson, a daughter of Samuel Thompson, deceased, who during his active lifetime followed the occupation of farming. Unto this union have been born two children, Florence Evelyn and Lorton Dale.
The religious belief of Mr. Etter is that of the Christian church, while fra- ternally he is identified with the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 348, of Palmyra, of which he is serving as district deputy. In his political views Mr. Etter has been a lifelong democrat and has taken an active and helpful interest in the party work, serving as clerk of South Palmyra township. He stands at all times for that which is progressive in citizenship, never permitting a feeling of partisanship to affect the just policy of his paper nor the loyal performance of public duties. In all relations of life he has been found reliable and trust- worthy, and although numbered among the younger business men of this locality, has already won an enviable place for himself among the influential and repre- sentative citizens of North Palmyra township.
E. C. MEYER.
E. C. Meyer, who is associated with his brother in conducting a moving picture theatre in Staunton, was born in this town on the 19th of February, 1880, a son of Ernest and Matilda (Underbrink) Meyer. His father was born in Germany on the 23d of February, 1845, emigrating to the United States in 1851 with his parents who located in Madison county, Illinois. There he was
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educated, remaining with his people until he had attained his majority, when he began his independent career as a farmer. In 1873 he removed with his wife and family to Dorchester township, Macoupin county, continuing to be identified with agricultural pursuits until four years ago, when he retired to Staunton, where he and his wife continue to reside. There were born eight children to them: William, who is a resident of Staunton; Henry, who is living in Dor- chester township; Lewis, who is deceased; E. C., our subject ; Charles, Mary and John, all of whom are deceased; and Joseph, who is residing at home.
Reared at home in the acquirement of his education E. C. Meyer attended the public schools of Staunton, remaining under the parental roof until he was twenty-one years of age. In 1901 he enlisted in the United States navy and after three months spent in training went on a four years' cruise. While at sea he visited practically every great port of the civilized world, and advanced himself from a private to a third-class petty officer. Having a great fondness for mechanics and electricity he devoted much of his spare time to study along these lines. At the expiration of his period of enlistment he returned to Staun- ton, taking a position in the undertaking establishment of Henry Hockman. Later he became a motorman, subsequently filling a position as operator in a moving picture theatre. Discovering how lucrative the business was, he became associated with his brother, William J., and they established a theatre here. They have met with most excellent success in this venture and have started excavating for a new theatre.
Mr. Meyer was married in 1907 to Miss Mary Paul and they have become the parents of three children : Paul, Elva and Tillie.
Mr. and Mrs. Meyer manifest their religious faith by their affiliation with the Lutheran church, in the faith of which they were reared.
JOHN CRITTENDEN ANDERSON.
The descendants of the early settlers take just pride in the noble work ac- complished by their parents and there are some families in Macoupin county that can claim several generations of residence in this section. In the number is the Anderson family, the early members of which arrived in this region in the opening years of the nineteenth century and during all the period that has elapsed men and women of this worthy pioneer stock have contributed their share to- ward the development of the county.
John Crittenden Anderson, who represents the third generation of the family in Macoupin county, was born in Shaws Point township July 1, 1867. He is a son of William C. and Mary A. (Anderson) Anderson, both of whom were born in Carlinville township. The grandfathers of our subject were William C. Anderson and James C. Anderson, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. The father was born in 1828 on a farm where Carlinville now stands and his father, who also bore the name of William C. Anderson, was the first black- smith of Macoupin county and also one of the first settlers. The father was left an orphan at the age of fourteen and was reared by an uncle, H. E. Ed-
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wards, with whom he continued until nineteen years of age. He was married to Mary A. Anderson in 1855 and they took up their home in Shaws Point town- ship where the father engaged in farming for forty-five years. He died in 1900, having attained a position as one of the substantial men of the township. In politics he was an adherent of the democratic party. He never aspired to public office but served very acceptably as school director in his district.
John C. Anderson attended the district schools of Shaws Point township and continued under the parental roof until after arriving at manhood. He as- sisted his father on the home farm from 1886 to 1888 and then associated with his brother, Henry M., in cultivating land in Nilwood township. In 1890 he returned to the home place but a year later moved to South Otter township and established his home on a farm of one hundred and eighty-one and one-half acres, which is now one of the well cultivated and highly productive properties of the township. He has made a specialty of feeding cattle for the market and sells a number each year, thus adding to his income. He is also interested in · the banking business and is vice president of the Nilwood State Bank, one of the well established institutions of this part of the county.
On December 3, 1891, Mr. Anderson was married in Nilwood township to Miss Melissa A. Fite, a native of Montgomery county, Illinois. She is a daugh- ter of William C. and Rebecca (Kountz) Fite, the former of whom was born in Tennessee and the latter in Virginia. Her grandfathers, Alius Fite and Elias Kountz, were both born in Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are the parents of three children, William Coy, Almyr Orin and Estelle Crittenden.
Mr. Anderson is identified with Nilwood Lodge, No. 3600, M. W. A., and has served as its advisor. He is also a member of the local branch, No. 223, of the United Horse Thief Association, and the confidence in which he is held by his neighbors and friends is indicated by the fact that he has served as secretary of this organization ever since it was established. Politically he adheres to the democratic party and has served as highway commissioner for six years, also for three years as a member of the school board. He is a man of high character and, starting in life with worthy ideals, has lived to witness their realization. He possesses the respect of a large circle of friends and acquaintances who admire him for his attractive personal qualities.
JAMES MONROE BOSTON.
The third generation of the Boston family in Macoupin county finds a wor- thy representative in James Monroe Boston, who was born in Nilwood township, November 19, 1850, and has been a resident of the county during his entire life. He is a son of Benjamin A. and Martha E. (Parker) Boston, the former of whom was born in Indiana in 1815 and the latter in Virginia. The grandfather . on the paternal side was Beverly B. Boston, a native of Virginia. The father of our subject was one of the pioneers of Macoupin county, arriving here with his parents in 1832. He engaged successfully in farming and continued in his adopted home until his death, which occurred in 1873.
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James Monroe Boston secured his preliminary education in the district schools of Nilwood township. He devoted his attention to the home farm from 1868 until 1871 and, having then arrived at maturity, began farming upon his own account. He has applied himself as a general farmer and stock-raiser and by skilful man- agement has made steady headway in his calling, being regarded as one of the most thorough farmers in this section. He takes a lively interest in the promo- tion of worthy enterprises and is a stockholder in the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company and a member of the board of directors of the Farmers Mutual In- surance Company.
On the 25th of January, 1871, Mr. Boston was married, in Barton county, Missouri, to Miss Phoebe J. Hinkle, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of Jacob B. and Mary Hinkle, both of whom were natives of the Buckeye state. Seven children have come to this union: James B., of Montgomery county, who mar- ried Fannie M. Brown and has four children, Roy Monroe, Clyde, Lola and Dessie; Lee B., of Nilwood township, who married Mary Gilbert and also has four children, Wilma, Wilbum, Mary Lee and Alice; Herbert E., of Nilwood township, who married Fanny Weller and has one son, Walter; Fred E., also of Nilwood township, who married Luetta Grimmet, by whom he has three children, Blanche, Ruth and Andrey; Oscar L., of Nilwood township, who married Maud Kelly and has one son, Edwin Hinkle; Leslie O., who wedded Estella Boston and resides in Nilwood township; and Julia M., who is at home.
Mr. Boston is an active worker in fraternal organizations and is venerable consul of McVey Camp, No. 3065, M. W. A., and is a member of Wagoner Coun- cil, No. 156, M. P. L., of which he served for several terms as president. He holds membership in the Christian church and is now filling the position of clerk. Politically he adheres to the democratic party and has· served as assessor, high- way commissioner and member of the school board. He is justly proud of his seven children and thirteen grandchildren. He has a wide acquaintance in Ma- coupin and adjoining counties and is held in high esteem on account of his ad- mirable traits of character and genuine personal worth.
JOHN WILSON WILLIAMS.
Among the well improved and highly cultivated farms of North Otter town- ship must be numbered that of John Wilson Williams. He was born in Morgan county, Illinois, on the 31st of July, 1836, and is a son of William and Delila (White) Williams, the father a native of Kentucky and the mother of Tennessee. They were married in the latter state and in the early years of their domestic life removed to Illinois ; the father making the journey on foot while the mother rode an old mare and carried her baby in her arms. All of the hardships and privations usually visited upon early settlers of a country devolved upon them, but they were young and possessed the courage, perseverance and tenacity of purpose that char- acterizes the pioneer, never losing faith in the ultimate success of their venture. They located in Morgan county in 1835 and there the father acquired a small tract of land which he set about cultivating with his one mare. The following
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year they came to Macoupin county, where they purchased forty acres of unculti- vated and unimproved land. Upon this Mr. Williams erected a small log cabin, replacing same a few years later by a log house that is still standing. His constant application and unremitting energy were rewarded by a fair degree of success and he was able to add to his holdings from time to time until at the time of his death his homestead embraced one hundred and eighty acres of land, all in a good state of cultivation. He became known as one of the successful agriculturists of the township and in 1868 erected a two-story framehouse, at that period one of the finest farm houses in the county. It seems somewhat quaint and old fashioned now, forty years having brought many changes in architecture in America, but it is an interesting place, pleasant and comfortable, the living room containing a large fireplace that in winter adds cheer and brightness to the whole interior. Mr. and Mrs. Williams were the parents of fifteen children: Malinda, who is deceased ; John W., our subject ; Joseph, who is deceased ; Christie Ann, also de- ceased; Elizabeth, who is living at home; Susanna, the wife of John Swift, of Macoupin county ; Janetta, who is at home; Amanda, also at home; Charles H., who is a resident of Carlinville ; William L., deceased ; Samantha E., the wife of W. Z. Wilson of Carlinville ; and Oliver C., who was born on the 19th of Septem- ber, 1855, at Modesto, Illinois. The three eldest members of the family died in infancy. The father passed away on the 9th of July, 1885, but the mother sur- vived until February, 1892.
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