History of Macoupin County, Illinois, Part 36

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 440

USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois > Part 36

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112

HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

10 9 Branly

HMSNYDER

WAS born in Huron county, Ohio, June 10th, 1836. Dr. Hugh T. Prouty, his father, was a native of New York. He emigrated to Ohio about the year 1826. He was drowned while on an excursion in 1847. The Prouty family are of Irish descent. The grandfather of the present sketch was one of the Irish patriots who, with O'Connell, attempted to free Ireland from the tyrannical rule of Great Britain. Hugh T. Prouty married Margaret Tice, who was a native of Huron county, Ohio. She died in 1840. Four chil- dren, two boys and two girls, were born to them, three of whom have sur- vived the parents. Cyrus T. Prouty received a fair education in the schools of his native state, where he remained until 1858, when he came to Carlin- ville, and taught school two winters and worked on a farm in the summer. In 1861, when the war broke out, he enlisted as a private in Company "A," 32d Regiment Illinois Volunteers, Col. John Logan commanding. The regiment rendezvoused at Camp Butler until February, 1862, when it was ordered to Bird's Point, and from there went to Fort Henry. At the latter place Company " A" was detached and sent to Fort Donaldson, and partici- pated in the fight and capture of that place. The company rejoined the regiment, and engaged in the battles of Shiloh and Pittsburg Landing. In the battle at the latter place Mr. Prouty was badly wounded, receiving no less than nine wounds in different parts of his body. He was brought to St. Louis and from there home, where he remained some time. He was not entirely convalescent at this time, but went to St. Louis, where he was ordered to the hospital, but he escaped his guards and paid his way down the river to Memphis, where he rejoined his regiment. After his arrival in Memphis he was sent to Overton hospital, where he remained about four

weeks, when he was honorably discharged from the service on account of general disability occasioned by his wounds.

After his return home he re-engaged in school teaching, and taught a term of six months, after which he tried farming for one year. He was then appointed United States deputy collector, which position he held one year, when he resigned, and engaged in trading and shipping live stock, at which he continued until 1873. In 1871 he also added insurance to his business, and in 1873 was appointed post-master of Carlinville, which office he still holds.

On the 12th of February, 1863, he was united in marriage with Miss Julia Van Osdale. She is a native of Macoupin county. Four children, two boys and two girls, have been born to them.

In politics Mr. Prouty is a republican. He, at an early age, became identified with its principles, and gave his first vote for Salmon P. Chase for Governor of Ohio, and John Sherman for Congress. His cast his first pre- sidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, and since that time he has been an active and staunch supporter of the principles of the republican party.

As a man Mr. Prouty stands deservedly high in the community where he has long resided. As an officer, holding the onerous and trying position of postmaster, he is patient, obliging, and courteous to all. As a soldier, he bears upon his person honorable scars received while in the front ranks bravely fighting for his country and the preservation of the Union. It is with pleasure that we here record these few words, and add our mite of praise for a worthy man, an efficient officer, and gallant soldier.

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JOHN MAYO PALMER

WAS born in Carlinville, Illinois, March 10th, 1848, and is the eldest son of ex-Governor John M. Palmer. He was educated in the common schools of Carlinville, and was one of the first students at Blackburn University. In 1861, being then but thirteen years of age, he went with his father, who was then colonel of the 14th Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, to Jacksonville, and from that time, during the whole war, was with Gen. Palmer. In the spring months and during the hot weather he would return home and remain until cooler weather set in. He was with Fremont in the campaign at Springfield, Missouri, and at the series of actions about New Madrid and Island No. 10, and on the march to Atlanta, leaving his father the day before the charge on Kenesaw Mount.

In 1866 and '67 he attended Shurtleff College, at Upper Alton. He returned home and studied law in the office with his father, and a portion of the time with Gen. John I. Rinaker, and was admitted to the practice soon after. He afterwards entered the law department of Harvard University, at Cambridge, Mass., and graduated there- from in 1868 with the degree of L.L. B. Immediately after his graduation at Harvard he returned to Carlin-

ville, and commenced the practice of the law, first in connection with John A. Harris, who had been reared with him, and next with Samuel Pitman, who had been a former partner of his father's.

He was married July 7th, 1869, to Miss Ellen Robert- son, daughter of Dr. W. A. Robertson, of Carlinville.

In the spring of 1870 he was elected city attorney of Carlinville on the Republican ticket, defeating J. G. Koester, the Democratic candidate, by a considerable majority. He remained at Carlinville until September, 1872, when he removed to Springfield, and commenced the practice of law in connection with his father. In 1875 he was elected a member of the City Council of Springfield, from the sixth ward, without opposition. In 1876 he was elected a member of the General Assembly, from Sangamon county, by a majority largely in excess of any other candidate.

He has three children. Their names are: John McAu- ley Palmer, born at Carlinville, April 23d, 1870; Robert- son Palmer, born at Carlinville, July 5th, 1872; and George Thomas Palmer, born at Springfield, March 7th, 1875.

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Lamul Rud

Editor and publisher of the Macoupin Enquirer, was born in Clark county, Ohio, September 15th, 1826. Isaac Reed, his father, was a native of Connecticut, and emigrated to Ohio in 1818. He was a tanner by trade, and carried on the business. He married Lodema White, who was a native of Massachusetts, and was a direct descendant of the pilgrims who came over in the Mayflower. She was a resi- dent of Cattaraugus county, New York, at the time of her marriage. She died in Indiana in 1872. Seven children were born to Isaac and Lodema Reed, two of whom are still living, a daughter and the subject of our sketch. The father removed his family to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, in 1828. He died in 1830. When the subject of our sketch reached his twelfth year he went to school at Spring- field, Ohio, where he remained the greater portion of the time until he was nineteen years of age. He commenced teaching school when he was but sixteen years of age, and taught during the time that he was not in attendance at the academy, at the place above named. He continued teaching in Indiana and afterwards made a tour of the southern states, teaching at different points. He remained in the south until 1850, when he returned north and settled in Morgan county, Illinois, where he followed his profession until 1854, when he went to Des Moines, Iowa,

and engaged in stock dealing, in which he continued until 1862, when he removed to Logan county, Illinois, and engaged in farming and stock raising. His time was so occupied until 1874, when he quit farming. He then purchased the Central Illinois Weekly Statesman, and in December of the same year purchased the Logan County Journal, and combined the two offices and named it the Lincoln Times. He remained editor and publisher of the Times for one year, when he sold out and came to Carlin- ville, where he leased the Enquirer office of the stock- holders, and continues the publication of the paper up to the present time. In politics he was originally what was known as a "Henry Clay" whig, and cast his first vote for Zachary Taylor, in 1848, for president. He remained a whig until Stephen A. Douglas wrote some letters and articles upon the tariff, published in the Illinois State Reg- ister in 1852, and from that time forward he has acted with the democratic party. On the 11th of April, 1852, he was united in marriage with Miss Deborah Cassel. The fruits of this marriage are four children living.

On the 9th of October, 1879, Mr. Reed was married to Mrs. Clara A. Weer of Carlinville. She is an accomplished lady, and a member of one of the old and respected families of this county.

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

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Con David

WAS born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on the 25th of March, 1832. Jesse David, his father, was also a native of the same state. His ancestors were from Wales. In April, 1839, he removed west and settled in Jersey county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming. He remained there until the fall of 1850, when he sold out and came to Macoupin county, and set- tled in Bunker Hill township, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1852. He married Miss Barbara Pentzer, who was of German ancestry, but was a native of Pennsylvania and a resident of that state at the time of her marriage. She was born in what is known as the " Little Cove," in Bedford county. She is still living, and at present is a resident of Lincoln, Logan county, Illinois. Eight children were born to Jesse and Barbara David, five of whom are still living. The subject of our sketch is the eldest in the family. He received a fair education in the common schools of Illinois, and taught school some time prior to 1850, at which time he went to Gillespie and entered a store as a clerk, in which capacity he remained until 1857. He then entered the grain business and grocery trade, in which he continued until March, 1862, when he sold out his in- terests in Gillespie, and removed to Bunker Hill. This was during the first years of the war. During the year last above-mentioned, he spent several months at Camp Butler, Springfield, Illinois, as post sutler for the 97th regiment, Illinois volunteers. He returned to Bunker Hill, where he re- mained until 1863, when he went down the Mississippi river as sutler on the boat " John B. Raine."

In July of the same year he returned to the county and located at Brighton, where he formed a partnership with L. P. and E. B. Stratton in the grain business. He continued in the grain business until 1866, when he was compelled to abandon it on account of his wife's failing health, and returned to Bun- ker Hill, and remained until after the death of his wife, which oc- curred July 3d, 1866. He afterwards engaged in the milling business in Bunker Hill and continued in it until the spring of the following year, then went to St. Louis and entered the produce commission business in connec- tion with J. H. Hamilton & Co. He closed out in April, 1868, and in the summer of the same year purchased grain in Leavenworth, Kansas. In the fall of 1868 he and his brother purchased a stock of goods in Lincoln,

Illinois, and in the spring of 1869, removed them to Hamilton, Missouri, where he closed them out. He afterwards went to work on the Caldwell County Sentinel as traveling agent and correspondent. He remained there until November, 1870, when he came to Carlinville and engaged with the Democrat in the same capacity.

It was while traveling through this county as correspondent that Mr. David made his reputation as a pleasant, ready, descriptive writer, and his articles and historical sketches of the first settlements of the different parts of the county, together with his description of the pioneer era of this section of the state, are remembered yet by many of the citizens and readers of the Democrat. They were widely read and copied by other local journals. In August of 1871 he came into the office as local editor and book-keeper, and has ever since remained in that capacity. Mr. David is an industrious worker, and as a gatherer up of " unconsidered trifles," he is excelled by few. He has a pleasant, easy style of writing, and the local columns of the Democrat always show a freshness and vigor for which he is responsible. In 1878 he formed a partnership with C. T. Prouty in the insurance business, and at present in addition to his duties as local editor, is industriously engaged in looking after the interests of his patrons in the latter business. In October, 1855, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Carter, who was a native of Lexington, Ky. One child, a boy, was the fruit of this union. The boy has grown to manhood, and is now a reporter on one of the St. Louis daily newspapers. Elizabeth David died July 3d, 1866. On the 16th of April, 1871, he married Mrs. Eliza A. Stagg, of Mason city, Illi- nois. She is a native of New York. One child, a boy, has been born to them. Mr. David is a member of the Presbyterian church, and takes an active part in that Christian organization.

In politics he is a republican, and voted for John C. Fremont, in 1856, and has remained true to that political party ever since. As a man, Mr. David is regarded by all as an upright and exemplary citizen, and as such, enjoys the confidence and esteem of the entire community. In August, 1879, he bought one-half of the stock of the Macoupin printing company from W. W. Edwards, and now with H. M. Kimball is joint owner of the Democrat.

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

Chestermientos

WAS born in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, July 22d, 1846. His father, Casper Westermeier, is a native of Prussia. He emigrated to America about the year 1843, and settled in St. Louis, and soon after was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Dekemeyer, a native of Hanover, Germany. Here he followed his trade of carpenter and builder. He remained there until June, 1861, when he removed with his family, consisting of his wife and three boys, Casper, John and Joseph, to Bunker Hill, in Macoupin county, where they-the parents-still reside, their three sons now residing at Carlinville. The subject of our sketch is the eldest in a family of five boys, only three of whom are now living. He attended the Parochial schools of St. Peter and Paul, and St. Vincent's, conducted by the Christian Brothers at St. Louis, and the public school at Bunker Hill, and received a good German and English education. When he was sixteen years of age he commenced clerking in a general store in Gillespie, Macoupin county, where he remained about one year and a half, and then returned to Bunker Hill, and engaged with J. T. Pennington, who was in the general merchan- dizing business, where he was a salesman and book-keeper. He remained there near four years. On the 15th day of October, 1867, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Carlisle, a native of Scotland, who came to this country at a tender age, and was a resident of Litchfield at the time of her marriage. Her father, William Carlisle, was government baker at Dumfries, Scotland, and came to America with some friends, on a pleasure trip, and at Galveston, Texas, contracted disease that was epidemic, and died. His wife and two daughters came over in 1848, and settled in Ohio, and then in St. Louis, Mo., and afterwards came to Bunker Hill. The

mother married Wm. Manley, Esq., and now lives at Litchfield. After his marriage he went to Litchfield, and engaged in general merchandising, at which he continued until November, 1868, when he sold out and came to Carlinville, the last day of November, 1868, having accepted a deputy clerkship under Henry W. Burton, Esq., circuit clerk. He remained in that office with Mr. Burton eight years, and with his successor, George R. Hughes, Esq., circuit clerk, until the first of December, 1877. In August, of the latter year, he had received the nomination for county clerk on the Democratic ticket, and at the ensuing election in November he was elected, and now fills the office to the entire satisfaction of his numerous friends, who honored him with their suffrages. He has also held minor local offices, and was city treasurer of Carlinville-in 1872-73-for one term. He is a staunch democrat, and one that is always found in the ranks.

In early life it was his intention of following the carpenter trade, but he had not the physical strength to stand the hard labor, and was therefore compelled to adopt a clerical profession as a means of obtaining a liveli- hood.

Both he and his estimable wife are members of the Catholic Church of Carlinville. He is the happy father of six children, four girls and two boys. In his manners Mr. Westermeier is a genial and courteous gentle- man, kind and considerate for the wants and opinions of others. In his official capacity he is obliging and industrious, while his books and papers are models of neatness and accuracy. It is with pleasure that we here intro- duce him anew to his friends and neighbors.

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2:2%. Crouch.

THE present Superintendent of Schools of Macoupin county, was born in Washington county, Tennessee, Jan- uary 1st, 1846. The family of Crouch's were originally from Tennessee. John Crouch, the father of the present sketch, married Caroline A. J. Pritchard, who was also a native of the same county and state. Two children were born to them, both boys. The mother died July 6th, 1847. Mr. Crouch again married in 1848. He remained in Tennessee, and engaged in farming until 1857, when he removed to Illinois, and settled in Greene county. On the 1st of October, 1858, he came to Macoupin county, and settled near Barr's store, where he still resides. Francis W. attended the schools in the winter season and worked upon the farm in summer, until 1866 when he entered a select school at Scottville under Professor J. H. Woodel, where he remained for three terms during the summer seasons, and in the winter of the same years

taught school. After this time he adopted teaching as his profession, and followed it, teaching in various parts of the county until 1877, when he was elected superintendent of schools, and at present is engaged in looking after the educational interests of the county. Under Mr. Crouch's vigorous and efficient administration, the schools of Ma- coupin county are fast taking a leading and prominent position with others in the state. As an educator he belongs to the progressive school. He has carefully and prudently eliminated all old and crude customs, and inau- gurated a new system that is more in conformity to the times and theories of advanced thinkers upon school subjects. He has been an active member of the county Normal since 1872. In politics Mr. Crouch is a pro- nounced democrat. In manners he is a pleasant and agreeable gentleman, and of rather a retiring disposition. The circle of his friends increases as he becomes known.

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

S. T. CORN,

THE present states attorney of Macoupin county, was born in Jessamine county, Kentucky, October 8th, 1840. Ellis Corn, his father, was a native of the same state. The family originally were from Virginia, and are of Welsh ancestry. Ellis Corn married Emily Thompson. Her parents emi- grated from Virginia to Kentucky at an early date in the history of the latter state. There were nine children born to them, five of whom are yet living. The father died December 25th. 1854, and the mother in March, 1863. The subject of our sketch is the fourth in the family. He received a good education in the common schools of his native state. He also re- ceived an academic education, and in 1858 he entered Princeton college, at Princeton, New Jersey, and took a thorough classical course and graduated from that institution with the degree of B. A. He then entered the law office of W. R. Welsh, in Nicholasville, Kentucky, and read law. After mak- ing suitable progress he was in 1863 admitted to the practice of the profes- sion in all the courts of Kentucky. In October, 1861, he enlisted in com- pany "K" 20th regiment, Kentucky volunteers, under command of Col. S. D. Bruce, now editor of the Turf, Field and Farm, New York. He partici- pated with the regiment in the battle of Shiloh, after which he was on the staff of Col. Bruce, commander of the 22d brigade, in the department of the Ohio. He soon after resigned his appointment on account of ill health, and returned home and commenced the practice of law in Lancaster, Ky., where he remained about one year and a half. In April, 1866, he removed to Carlinville, Macoupin county. He taught school and was principal of the Carlinville school for one term. He afterwards went into the practice with Judge Welch, and in 1872 he was elected states attorney of Macoupin county on the democratic ticket. In 1876 he was re-elected by an increased majority, and at present ably conducts all prosecutions on the part of the state.

He was married August 10th, 1876, to Miss Emma Blackburn, grand- daughter of Dr. Blackburn, founder of Blackburn university, Carlinville, Illinois. One child, a boy, has been born to them. In politics he is a demo- crat. He cast his first vote for Gen. Geo. B. MeClellan, in 1864, and since that time has been a firm and consistent member of that political organiza- tion. In 1878 he formed a law partnership with Robert B. Shirley, which still continues.

Mr. Corn possesses a fine legal mind, and as a public prosecutor ranks high. Socially he is genial, and is much liked and respected wherever known.

JAMES K. FURBER.

THE subject of the following sketch was born in New Hampshire on the 31st of January, 1835. The Furber family, on the paternal side, is of Eng- lish ancestry, and on the maternal, Scotch. John H. Furber, his father, married Tryphenia Dowling, who was also a native of New Hampshire. He was a carpenter by trade, and subsequently became a farmer. In No- vember, 1848, he moved to Illinois, and settled in Bunker Hill, where he bought land, and engaged in farming. He remained there until 1875, when he sold out, and removed to Carlinville, where he still resides. His wife, and mother of the present sketch, died in May, 1868.

James K., spent his boyhood days in the schools of the "Old Granite" state, and there received the rudiments of a good education. He also attended for two years the Pembroke Academy, and after his arrival in this state, spent one winter at school. The balance of the time until 1860 was spent in hard work upon the farm, and in teaching one or two terms of country- school in the winter season. In 1860 he went to Gillespie in this county, where he opened up a general country store, and continued in business for two years, when he accepted the position of deputy sheriff under sheriff Tap- pan. He remained in that capacity for two years. At the end of that time he entered the county clerk's office as deputy clerk under George H. Holli- day, and remained with him until he went out of office in 1869, when he engaged with the Henderson Loan and Real Estate Association as cashier, and continued in that capacity until the change occurred, since which time he has been cashier in the banking house of C. H. C. Anderson. On the 15th of June, 1864, he was married to Miss Mary E. Allard, who is a native of Illinois, and was a resident of Carlinville at the time of her marriage. Eight children have been born to them, five girls and four boys, five of whom are living. Mr. Furber is a member of the democratic party, and has been since he cast his first vote for James Buchanan in 1856. He is

also a member of the ancient and honorable order of Freemasonry. He is an old resident of the county, and is well and favorably known, and is much respected by all. In 1874 he was elected Mayor of the city of Carlinville, and in 1869 and 1870 was city collector. In both he discharged the duties of his office with ability. Both he and his estimable wife are members of the M. E. Church.

CHARLES H. KLAUENBERG

WAS born in Carlinville, December 31st, 1856. Christian Klauenberg, his father, was a native of Brunswick, Germany. He emigrated to America and settled in Carlinville in 1853. He was an enterprising German, and was the first man to build a house on west Main street, Carlinville. He married Catharine Zingele. She is also a native of Germany. Four children were born to them, two of whom are yet living. The father died in 1871. The mother afterwards married W. H. Stienmeyer, of Carlinville. Charles H. received a good education in the common schools and at Blackburn col- lege, which he entered when he was thirteen years of age. He remained there until he was sixteen, when he entered the St. Louis college of pharma- cy and took a course at that institution, after which he entered a drug store in St. Louis, where he remained one year, then returned to Carlinville, and clerked a short time for W. H. Stienmeyer. He then formed a partner-

ship with T. H. Stienmeyer in the drug business. In 1876 the firm was dis- solved, and since that time he has been alone in the business. On the 10th of January, 1878, a fire consumed his building and stock, entailing upon him a loss of over four thousand dollars. Nothing daunted, he went to work. and by four o'clock, P. M., the next day, he was in business again. He was married on the 30th of June, 1876, to Miss Maggie Winter, who is a native of Keysport, New Jersey. He made Miss Winter's acquaintance while she was on a visit to her friends here. The marriage took place in New Jersey.

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History of Macoupin County, Illinois, Part 36

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co. Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Number of Pages: 440

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 440