USA > Illinois > McLean County > History of McLean County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 37
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
(Betsberg) BroLee one daughter has been born, Gladys, who will be graduated from Bloomington High School in June, 1924.
Mr. BroLeen and his family are members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is identified with the Masonic Lodge and Con- sistory, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Rotary Club, and the McLean County Country Club.
Marion L. McClure, who resides at Bloomington, is a large landowner of McLean County and a successful farmer and stockman. He was born in McLean County, Dec. 6, 1854, and is the son of Samuel and Delilah (Orendorf) McClure.
Samuel McClure followed farming for a number of years and died February, 1858. His widow and five children then moved to Hopedale Township. The children were as follows: Aaron B., born Dec. 3, 1848, lives retired at Hopedale; Samuel A., lives retired in Kansas; William R., died in 1904; Marion L., the subject of this sketch; and Milton B., who died in 1921.
Marion L. McClure received his education in the district schools of Hopedale Township and when he was 16 years old his mother died. He then went to live with Frank Orendorf until he was 20 years old, at which time he rented a farm from his brother, Samuel. Later, however, he went to Chicago for a short time and upon his return again engaged in general farming and stock raising, and lived on a farm until 1892, at which time he moved to Bloomington to educate his children. Mr. Mc- Clure owns a fine home facing Franklin Park on Prairie Avenue.
On Sept. 20, 1877, Mr. McClure was married to Miss Arabelle S. Stephenson, a native of Ohio, born Aug. 9, 1857, and the daughter of David and Elizabeth (Jewell) Stephenson, natives of Ohio and early set- tlers of Illinois, having come here in 1859. Mr. and Mrs. McClure had the following children: Lee, cashier of the First National Bank of Dan- vers, Ill., married Elizabeth Powell, a native of Mexico, Mo., and they have two sons, Marion Lee and David Stephenson; Elizabeth D., married Hiram Bicket, lives in Chicago and they have four children, Marion Mc- Clure, Eleanor, James Hiram, and Jane. Mrs. McClure is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. McClure are mem-
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bers of the Presbyterian Church at Danvers and they are highly respected citizens of McLean County.
Mr. McClure has always been a heavy investor in farm land and now he and his wife own over 3,000 acres of land in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Mississippi, and have given each of their children large farms in Iowa and Mississippi.
Joseph E. Richmond, a prosperous farmer of McLean County, who resides at Normal, is the owner of well improved land in Tazewell and Logan counties, Ill. He was born on a farm in Tazewell County, Ill., Feb. 18, 1857, the son of Wilson and Emily (Fisher) Richmond.
The Richmond family originally came from Ohio, where Wilson Rich- mond was born, Dec. 8, 1815, in Zanesville. In 1830 he came to Illinois and engaged in farming and stock raising in Tazewell County, and be- came well-to-do. He died June 19, 1908. His wife, who was born in Dillon Township, Tazewell County, Jan. 20, 1829, lives in Tazewell County and is 95 years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Richmond were the parents of nine children, of whom, Joseph E., the subject of this sketch, was the second in order of birth.
Joseph E. Richmond grew up on his father's farm and received his education in the district schools of Tazewell County and also attended Brown Business College in Jacksonville, Ill., from which he was graduated in 1876. Two eminent men, William Jennings Bryan and Senator Richard Yates, former governor of Illinois, were debators in the Brown's Business College, while Mr. Richmond attended that college. After finishing his school work, Mr. Richmond engaged in farming and in 1881 purchased 80 acres of land at $40.00 per acre. Several years later he added 80 more acres at $50.00 per acre, and in 1892 he purchased 157 acres for $12,000. Mr. Richmond sold hogs for $2.25 per hundred pounds and corn for 16 cents per bushel. He has lived at Normal since 1901, but still owns his farms. .
Mr. Richmond was married on Feb. 3, 1881, to Miss Emma Britt, a native of Logan County, Ill., born Sept. 8, 1859, and the daughter of W. S. and Sallie (Burt) Britt, the former a native of Bowling Green, Ky., and the latter of Tazewell County, Ill. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs.
MRS. EMMA BRITT RICHMOND.
MISS OLLIE RICHMOND NANCE.
JOSEPH E. RICHMOND.
MRS. OLLIE RICHMOND NANCE.
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
Richmond, Ollie, born Jan. 1, 1886, and she died Dec. 27, 1918. She was a graduate of Normal High School and Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, and married Ross A. Nance, June 12, 1917. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Nance, Ollie Richmond Nance, born Dec. 24, 1918, and she lives with her father, a merchant, at Petersburg, Ill.
In politics Mr. Richmond is a Republican and he is a member of the Christian Church. He is a man of industry and ability who has made a success of his work.
Rev. Edward V. Young, pastor of the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church of Bloomington, is a leading and influential citizen of McLean County. He was born at Carlinville, Ill., May 31, 1883, and is the son of Peter and Augusta (Gunterburg) Young.
Peter Young was born and reared on a farm in Macoupin County, Ill., near Carlinville. After living on the same farm for 60 years, he retired and moved to Carlinville, where he and his wife now reside. They are the parents of the following children: William J. and Mrs. Elsie Sen- sel, live at Carlinville; Leo and Anita live at Carlinville; Mrs. Nellie Mer- raman, lives at Springfield, Ill .; and Rev. Edward V., the subject of this sketch.
Rev. Edward V. Young was reared on his father's farm and received his early education in the country grade schools. He is a graduate of Blackburn Academy, at Carlinville, Illinois Wesleyan University, and the Drew Theological Seminary at Madison, N. J. Reverend Young was only 20 years of age when he was received into the Illinois Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has served the following pastorates in the Illinois Conference: 1904, Shiloh; 1905-1909, Thayer; 1910, Spring- field First Church (assistant pastor) ; 1911 at school; 1912, Westfield; 1913-1914, Williamsville; 1915-1918, Moweaqua; 1919-1922, Shelbyville, First. In September, 1923, Reverend Young became pastor of the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church in Bloomington.
On Sept. 6, 1911, Reverend Young was united in marriage at Spring- field, Ill., with Miss Mary C. Galeener, a native of Warsaw, Ill., and the daughter of Rev. Chris and Talitha C. (Kilgore) Galeener, the former a native of Green County, Ohio, and the latter of Vermilion County, Ill ..
(28)
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
Reverend and Mrs. Galeener reside at Carrollton, Ill. To Reverend and Mrs. Young three children have been born, Margaret, Marita and Esther. They are eleven, nine and seven years of age, respectively.
Reverend Young is a Republican and is a member of the Masonic Lodge and Bloomington Consistory, the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his family are well and favorably known in Bloomington.
John P. Shields, a substantial citizen of Bloomington, was born in Bloomington, Ill., Jan. 19, 1881, and is the son of Patrick and Mary (Christy) Shields.
Patrick Shields and his wife were both born in Ireland and after their marriage in 1865 came to this country, settling in Bloomington. Mr. Shields was employed in the shops of the Chicago & Alton Railroad for many years and was crippled when he was struck by a train. His wife is deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Shields seven children were born, as follows: Catherine, married Robert Litford; Mary; John P., the subject of this sketch; Edward, a machinist in the Chicago & Alton Railroad shops; James, lives in Bloomington; Frank, also a resident of Bloomington; and Elizabeth, married Paul Coogan, lives in Bloomington.
John P. Shields was reared and educated in Bloomington, where he has always lived. On Oct. 20, 1915, he was married to Miss Agnes Kath- erine O'Neil, a daughter of Daniel O'Neil, a sketch of whom appears else- where in this history. To Mr. and Mrs. Shields two children have been born: Elizabeth Pyne, born June 4, 1918; and Joan Katherine, born April 6, 1920.
Mr. Shields is a member of the Knights of Columbus and he and his family belong to the Catholic Church.
Julius P. Klemm, secretary of the C. W. Klemm, Incorporated, of Bloomington, is an enterprising young business man and a veteran of the World War. He was born in Bloomington, Nov. 20, 1890, and is the son of C. W. and Emelia (Bender) Klemm. A biographical sketch of C. W. Klemm and his family appears elsewhere in this volume.
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
Julius P. Klemm was reared and educated in Bloomington and started life as an office boy for J. F. Humphreys & Company. He has been associated in business with his father for a number of years and has charge of the wholesale department.
On June 1, 1917, Mr. Klemm enlisted for service during the World War and received the commission of lieutenant. He received his training at Camp Logan, Houston, Texas, and Camp Hancock, Augusta, Ga. He was discharged on Nov. 28, 1918.
Mr. Klemm was married on May 14, 1919, to Miss Carita Wayne, a native of Delavan, Ill., and the daughter of Edwin M. and Harriet (Bai- ley) Wayne, natives of Illinois and residents of Delavan. Mr. and Mrs. Klemm have one daughter, Martha Bender, born June 18, 1922.
In politics Mr. Klemm is identified with the Republican party. He is a member of the Unitarian Church and his wife belongs to the Presby- terian Church. Mr. Klemm belongs to the Masonic Lodge, and the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity of the University of Illinois. He and his wife are favorably known in Bloomington and have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
C. W. Klemm, who ranks among the leading and successful business men of Illinois, is a pioneer merchant of Bloomington. He was born in Haynrode, Germany, and came to this country in 1868, locating at Springfield, Ill., where he entered the employ of the C. A. Gehrman Com- pany. Five years later he came to Bloomington and rented a store room two doors east of the intersection of Center and Jefferson Streets. The fiftieth anniversary of the business was celebrated on Nov. 7, 1923.
When Mr. Klemm first opened for business, he economized in expenses by sleeping in a room over the store and boarded at what was known as the St. Nicholas Hotel, afterwards the Butler. Some of his companions of those early days were Lyman Graham, E. H. Aldrich, Jacob Heldman and others, later prominent in Bloomington's business life. He bought a store building from A. Fitzwilliam and later the store adjacent to Mc- Conkey, and rebuilt as fast as possible. In the fire of 1900 the entire double store building was destroyed, but within seven months a new building was erected, modern in every respect. The wholesale depart- ment is located on North Center Street, between Jefferson and Monroe and
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
which also shelters the overall and shirt factory. There is a branch in operation at Leroy. In 1920 the building to the west of the present retail store was taken on a long time lease and is known as the Annex, and in 1920 the Evans building, adjacent to the east, was purchased and even- tually will be added to the store for housing additional departments.
The Klemm establishment, which compares favorably with the most extensive of any in a similar field in central Illinois, employs a force of 100 people in the retail department and an equal number in the whole- sale department.
Mr. C. W. Klemm was united in marriage with Augusta Seibel, in the fall of 1874; she died 12 years later; by this marriage three children were born, now living, Mrs. Helen Howard, Mrs. Charles Agle and Carl H. Klemm. His second marriage was to Miss Emilia Bender, a native of Peoria, Ill., who died June 7, 1921. To this union one child was born, Julius P., a sketch of whom appears in this volume.
Carl H. Klemm is at the head of the retail department of the fa- ther's business and Julius P. has charge of the wholesale. They have been thoroughly impregnated with the same high ideals of commercial in- tegrity and acumen and will doubtless worthily maintain the establish- ment founded by their parent, and of which he is yet actively a part.
C. W. Klemm's career is unique in that his whole life is centered in his business. He has never thought it necessary to seek relaxation. His establishment has been paramount and his whole soul has been cen- tered in its welfare. It has been his life work and now at the close of 50 years he has reason to feel proud of what he has accomplished. Satis- fied customers and confidence, due to fair dealing, have been important factors in the success of the enterprise.
Dr. Charles P. Hanson, well known and successful osteopathic phy- sician of Bloomington, is a native of McLean County. He was born at Gridley, July 31, 1877, and is the son of P. M. and Amanda (Coon) Hanson.
P. M. Hanson and his wife were born in Ohio. They removed to Illi- nois in early life, where Mr. Hanson farmed for a number of years. He later became a merchant at Fifer, Ill., and now resides at Normal, where he is engaged in the real estate and insurance business. His wife died
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
Aug. 29, 1923, and is buried at Kappa, Ill. To Mr. and Mrs. Hanson seven children were born, as follows: Frank Owen, lives in White Place, Bloomington; Dr. Charles P., the subject of this sketch; Herbert, lives on Linden Street, Normal; William Cassel, lives in Washington, D. C .; Archie M., lives at Lincoln, Ill .; Rachel Hodgkinson, lives at Normal; and Dorothy Lynch, lives at Normal.
Dr. Charles P. Hanson received his education in the public and high schools of Gridley and attended Illinois Wesleyan University, and the University of Illinois, graduated from the American School of Osteopathy at Kirksville, Mo. Before taking up the study of osteopathy, Dr. Hanson taught school for several years. He received his degree from the Amer- ican School of Osteopathy in June, 1910, and since that time has been located in Bloomington, where he has established a large practice.
On Sept. 28, 1910, Dr. Hanson was united in marriage to Miss Ber- nice Bright, a native of Normal, and the daughter of Reuben G. and Sarah (Dillon) Bright, natives of Illinois. Mr. Bright resides in Normal and his wife is deceased. Dr. and Mrs. Hanson have no children.
In politics Dr. Hanson is identified with the Republican party. He is trustee of the Illinois Osteopathic Association and a charter member and first president of the Bloomington Kiwanis Club. He belongs to the Ma- sonic Lodge, Bloomington Consistory and Ansar Shrine. Dr. and Mrs. Hanson are members of the First Christian Church and are favorably known in McLean County. The family residence is at 1011 Broadway, Normal.
John T. Lillard has practiced law in Bloomington since 1874. He was born in Boyle County, near Danville, Ky., April 1, 1852, a son of Thomas Madison and Mary (Bright) Lillard. His education began under private tutors in the home of his parents, then after two years in the col- lege preparatory, he entered Centre College, Danville, Ky., where he was graduated in 1872 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In June, 1906, he received from Illinois Wesleyan University the honorary degree of Master of Arts.
He settled in Bloomington in August, 1873. After some previous legal preparation he read law in the office of Williams and Burr, was ad- mitted to practice in September, 1874, and has ever since been a member
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
of the Bloomington Bar. His law offices are in the First National Bank Building. Since 1890 he has been the senior member of the law firm of Lillard and Williams.
Mr. Lillard was married in 1878 to Miss Sallie Elizabeth Williams, daughter of Robert E. Williams, a Bloomington lawyer. She died on May 8, 1907. In October, 1908, Mr. Lillard was married to his present wife, Sarah Davis Lillard, daughter of Judge David Davis, during his lifetime distinguished locally and nationally.
In 1889 Mr. Lillard with others organized the Union Gas and Elec- tric Company, was its vice-president for seven years, and is still its attor- ney. In 1891 he organized the Manufactured Ice and Cold Storage Com- pany, and was its president for 13 years. He with others organized the Kinloch-Bloomington Telephone Company and has ever since been its president. In addition to his profession he has other business interests.
He served as city attorney for two terms. He has been connected with the board of trustees of Illinois Wesleyan University, and the Board of Trustees of the Bloomington City Library. He and his wife are mem- bers of the First Christian Church of Bloomington.
N. B. Carson, County Recorder of Deeds in McLean County, was born near New Lexington, Ohio, May 2, 1856, and is a son of Hiram and Harriet (Bell) Carson.
The Carson family originally came from the North of Ireland and were among the early settlers of Virginia. James B. Carson, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Philadelphia, in 1869, and was six years old at the time the Declaration of Independence was signed; he remembered distinctly of hearing the ringing of the Independence bell. He was a woodworker by trade and during the War of 1812 was employed by the government in the arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Va. He later moved his family to Brownsville, Pa., and after a short residence there to Mus- kingum County, Ohio, in 1833, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives.
Hiram Carson was a glass blower by trade and later engaged in farm- ing. He came to Illinois with his family in 1872 and died in 1885. His wife died the same year and they are both buried at Bellflower, Ill. She was the daughter of Nemihah Bell (formerly spelled Beall), a native of
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
Maryland, who was also employed by the government in the arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Va., as a gunsmith. He came to Ohio in 1819, settling in Muskingum County.
N. B. Carson was one of two children born to his parents. A brother, J. W., died near Burlington, Iowa, several years ago. Mr. Carson was 16 years of age when his family came to Illinois and settled in McLean County. He was reared on a farm and received his education in the pub- lic school. He followed farming until he was 25 years of age, and then engaged in the mercantile business at Delana, in West Township, McLean County. He was later in business at Bellflower and remained there until 1892 when he came to Bloomington. After being employed as a clerk he was elected coroner in 1896 and served in this capacity eight years. In 1904 he was elected county recorder of deeds and since that time has been elected five successive terms.
Mr. Carson was married on July 4, 1877, to Miss Hattie Eva Brad- bury, a native of Indiana, and resident of Bellflower, Ill. She was the daughter of William T. Bradbury, at one time supervisor of Bellflower and prominent in politics. Mrs. Carson died in 1886 and was buried in Bellflower. To that marriage four children were born, as follows: Charles T., lives in San Diego, Cal .; Kate, deceased; Pearl, married Rob- ert Carson, lives in Portland, Ore .; and Bessie died in infancy. Mr. Car- son was later married to Miss Anna Gibson Hardy, a native of Bellflower, and to that union one child was born, Robert H., who lives in Birming- ham, Mich. Mrs. Carson died in 1906.
Mr. Carson is a Republican, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and belongs to the Masonic Lodge. Because of his efficiency in office and his interest in public affairs, Mr. Carson is ranked among the substantial citizens of McLean County, and he merits the approval in which he is held in this community.
Bertram Adolph Franklin, a well known and successful attorney who is engaged in the practice of his profession at Bloomington, is a native of McLean County. He was born in Money Creek Township, Sept. 6, 1876, the son of Noah and Sarah Catherine (Spawr) Franklin, a sketch of whom appears in this history.
Bertram Adolph Franklin was reared in Lexington and received his
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
education in the public and high schools there. He then attended Mor- gan Park Academy near Chicago and was graduated from Eureka Col- lege in 1896, after which he attended Harvard University, finishing there in 1899. Mr. Franklin was also graduated from Wesleyan Law School in 1902, after which he began the practice of law at Lexington. After remaining there for three years he came to Bloomington and since 1909 has been associated with the firm of Oglevee and Franklin. Mr. Franklin has been identified with many of the important cases of McLean County and is a capable lawyer.
On Sept. 16, 1909, Mr. Franklin married Miss Mildred Sountag, a native of Plainfield, Ill. She died Jan. 20, 1923, leaving one child, Mary Catherine, who was born Jan. 7, 1911.
On March 11, 1924, he was married to Elizabeth H. Hoblit, a native of Eureka, Ill., the widow of E. M. Hoblit and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Harber, of Bloomington, Ill., natives of Woodford County, Ill. Mrs. Franklin has a daughter by her first marriage, Helen Hoblit, born June 6, 1910.
Mr. Franklin is a member of the Christian Church and belongs to the Masonic Lodge and the Elks Lodge.
Rev. Edward Parrish Brand, D. D., a prominent Baptist minister of Normal, who has attained a marked degree of eminence as superintendent of the Illinois Baptist State Convention, is a native of West Virginia. He was born at Morgantown, Aug. 9, 1854, a son of Alexander W. and Sarah (Bussey) Brand, both natives of Virginia where they spent their lives.
Dr. Brand was educated in the public schools, and a private school in Pennsylvania, in the State Normal and State University of West Vir- ginia. He then spent two years at Newton Theological Seminary, Massa- chusetts. In 1878 he was licensed to preach, being ordained at Zoar, W. Va., Oct. 30, 1880. During the time he was attending the university he was engaged in preaching at some of the Baptist churches in Monongahela County, W. Va. Before he became superintendent of the Baptist State Convention he had been pastor of the following churches: Taylortown and Sugar Grove, Green County, Pa., 1885-1886; Madisonville (Cincinnati), Ohio, 1886-1890; Orion and Alpha, Ill., 1890-1891; Atchison, Kan., 1891- 1892, and Cambridge, Alpha and Orion, III., 1892-1898.
MRS. E. P. BRAND.
REV. E. P. BRAND.
1 4 สูท
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
In June, 1906, Ewing College, Illinois, conferred upon him the hon- orary degree of Doctor of Divinity and Shurtleff College also in 1915 con- ferred upon him the same degree.
In addition to his work as superintendent he was editor and pub- lisher of the Illinois Baptist Annual from 1898 to 1921 and published the Illinois Baptist Bulletin from 1909-1922. He has also found time to manage a farm near his home.
Since he began his career as a minister he has always made it a rule to preach a sermon every Sabbath day, wherever he may be. As a pulpit orator he has attained considerable distinction. He has done work in the line of his calling in seven different states of the Union and has traveled in 30 states and in foreign countries. Some time ago he let it be known that he desired to give up the work of superintendent on Jan. 1, 1922, and at the following state convention his request was granted but he was unanimously elected to another position for life which involves lighter duties, including the writing of a Baptist history to which he is now devoting about half of his time.
In 1885 Dr. Brand was married to Miss Vienna Moore, a daughter of Joseph and Sarah Moore of Point Marion, Pa., and to this union were born the following children: Sylvia Pearl, born Sept. 22, 1886, died Oct. 18, 1891; Sarah Hazel, born Nov. 26, 1888, married Oswald Carl Yeager, of Danville, Ill., and they have two children, Elizabeth Ann, born Aug. 8, 1914, and Philip Edward, born Oct. 2, 1916; Lila Marjorie, born Aug. 9, 1894, a teacher and Mildred Dorothy, born Feb. 21, 1896, married Lyndon Rutledge Wilson and they reside at Tuscon, Ariz. They have one child, Margaret Anna, born July 29, 1921.
Dr. Brand's work in the capacity of superintendent of the Illinois Baptist State Convention has been carefully reviewed by President George M. Potter of Shurtleff College, in an article which appeared in the Baptist Standard, Oct. 18, 1919, under the title of "A Kingdom Highway Builder," which in part is as follows :
"Twenty-one years ago the Illinois Baptist State Convention for the third time offered its superintendency of State Convention work to E. P. Brand, then pastor of the Alpha and Orion churches in Henry County. The work of the convention was in a discouraging situation. The super- intendent had resigned, there was no great amount of funds, the churches were not enthusiastic about the work and altogether it was a most unin- viting offer. Nevertheless it was accepted and for twenty-one years E. P.
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