USA > Illinois > McLean County > History of McLean County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 14
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Clarence Deetz grew up in Bloomington and attended the schools there. He has always followed railroading and has been connected with the Chicago & Alton Railroad since 1906. In 1910 he was promoted to engineer.
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On June 15, 1909, Mr. Deetz was united in marriage with Miss Orra Strayer, a native of Bloomington, born in the home where the Deetz fam- ily reside at 806 East Douglas Street. She is the daughter of Charles and Alice (Woodard) Strayer, now deceased. Charles Strayer was a soldier of the Civil War, having enlisted from Lexington, Ill. There were six chil- dren in the Strayer family, as follows: Alma, married Marshall Deetz; Frank, lives in Bloomington ; Charles, lives in Chicago; Mrs. Deetz; George, who died while in the service during the World War. To Mr. and Mrs. Deetz two children have been born: Ralph, born Oct. 6, 1911; and Vir- ginia, born Jan. 7, 1913.
Mr. Deetz and his family are members of the Christian Church and are favorably known in McLean County.
L. J. Schultz, a reliable and successful business man of Chenoa, is a native of McLean County. He was born on a farm three and three- quarters miles south of Chenoa, the son of August and Emma (Jacobs) Schultz.
August Schultz, a native of Germany, came to this country at the age of four years and settled in the vicinity of Bloomington, Ill., where his father, Frederick, became a leading and successful farmer. Frederick Schultz served throughout the Civil War and was a prominent pioneer citizen of McLean County. August Schultz followed general farming and stockraising during his life and met with marked success. He was among the largest land owners of the township and owned over 900 acres of land. He was a Republican and a member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Schultz died Dec. 28, 1921, and his widow lives at Chenoa. They were the parents of four children, as follows: L. J., the subject of this sketch; Dorothy, died in infancy; Frank C., farmer, lives on the old home place in Chenoa Township; and Lena, married Elmer Whals, farmer, Chenoa Township.
L. J. Schultz spent his boyhood on his father's farm and was edu- cated in the district schools of Chenoa Township. He started life farm- ing on rented land and later purchased a farm of 160 acres, which he improved. In 1908 Mr. Schultz entered the automobile business at Chenoa and opened the first garage in the town, which he operated successfully until 1920. He then sold his business and opened a machine
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RESIDENCE OF L. J. SCHULTZ.
OF THE
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shop at Chenoa, which is located on the corner of Green and Lincoln Streets. Mr. Schultz's shop is one of the finest machine shops in the county and he is also a road oiling contractor and makes all machinery used in that work. He owns several patents and the oil business is car- ried on throughout the country. Mr. Schultz has recently completed his new home at Chenoa and it is among the beautiful homes of McLean County.
On April 22, 1903, Mr. Schultz married Miss Martha Seaman, a native of Chenoa, born Jan. 24, 1883, and the daughter of Frederick H. and Elizabeth (Jacobs) Seaman, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Chenoa. Mr. Seaman, for a number of years lived retired, and died Nov. 28, 1922. His widow lives at Chenoa. They were the parents of four children: Louie, deceased; Dorothy, married D. F. Ehr- hardt, farmer, Yates Township; Martha Schultz; and Elmer, farmer, lives in Livingston County, Ill. To Mr. and Mrs. Schultz three children have been born, as follows: Elmo, born Dec. 2, 1904; Esther, born Jan. 28, 1906; and Dorothy, born June 7, 1908.
L. J. Schultz is widely known and is representative of the best citizenship of McLean County.
Noah A. Arnold is a reliable citizen of Bloomington and a member of one of McLean County's pioneer families. He was born at Colfax, Ill., July 17, 1876, and is the son of George Washington and Winifred I. (King) Arnold.
George Washington Arnold, now living retired, is a native of Ohio. At the age of 21 years he settled in McLean County and for many years was engaged in the lumber business at Colfax. His wife died in March, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold were the parents of the following children: Joseph P., engaged in the grain business at Coral Springs, Ill., near Hey- worth; Nellie V., deceased; Noah A., the subject of this sketch; Mildred Edna, married Samuel Wiley, lives in Bloomington; and Albert Lee, lives at Deer Creek, Ill.
Noah A. Arnold was reared and educated at Colfax and his first business occupation was as interurban conductor. He has been em- ployed as conductor on the Chicago & Alton Railroad since 1908, and since that time has made a splendid record for himself with the company. The Arnold home is at 305 South Lumber Street.
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On Nov. 1, 1913, Mr. Arnold was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Foley, a native of Bloomington, born Jan. 25, 1890, and the daughter of Jeremiah and Johanna (Phalen) Foley. Mr. Foley was born in Ireland and came to this country in early manhood, locating at Decatur, Ill. He died Dec. 29, 1919, and his wife died Aug. 7, 1911. They were members of the Catholic Church and the parents of nine children, as follows: Daniel J., lives in Nebraska; Emmett and Joseph, deceased; Clarence, lives in Los Angeles, Calif .; James and Eva, deceased; Mrs. Arnold; John, lives in Bloomington; and Margaret, married Russell Malan, lives at Peoria, Ill. To Noah A. and Mary A. (Foley) Arnold three children have been born: George W., born Dec. 21, 1914; Betty, born March 27, 1916; and Mary Winifred, born Aug. 6, 1919.
Mr. Arnold is a member of the Order of Railway Conductors and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. His wife is a member of the ladies' auxiliary of these two lodges. Mr. Arnold and his family are members of the Christian Church and are well and favorably known in Bloomington.
James A. Crowley is among the competent locomotive engineers on the Chicago & Alton Railroad. He was born at Grafton, W. Va., Dec. 1, 1873, and is the son of James and Margaret (Reagan) Crowley, the for- mer a native of Ireland and the latter of England. Mr. and Mrs. Crowley, both now deceased, were the parents of the following children: Michael, lives at Clarksburg, W. Va .; Bridget, deceased; Kate, deceased; James A., the subject of this sketch; Margaret, the widow of Henry Moore, lives in West Virginia; and Rose, deceased, was the wife of Arthur Wadsworth.
James A. Crowley attended the schools of Grafton, W. Va., and started life as a machinist on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He has been in the employ of the Chicago & Alton Railroad since 1899 and was promoted to engineer in 1906. Mr. Crowley has lived in Bloomington since 1900.
On Nov. 14, 1900, Mr. Crowley was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Bowmaster, also a native of Grafton, W. Va., and the daughter of Charles and Sophia Bowmaster, natives of Germany, and early settlers of West Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Bowmaster are deceased. They had six children, as follows: Minnie, the widow of James Leathers, lives in Mary- land; Charles, deceased; Lizzie, the widow of Ike Shingelton, lives at Par- kersburg, W. Va .; William, lives in Bloomington; Julia, married Thomas
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Starkey, both deceased; and Mrs. Crowley. To Mr. and Mrs. Crowley four children have been born, as follows: Margaret, married Paul Ruska, lives in Bloomington ; Pearl and Florence, twins, live at home; and Arthur, an employe of the Chicago & Alton Railroad in Bloomington.
Mr. Crowley belongs to the Loyal Order of Moose and he and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. There are two grandchildren in the Crowley family, Virginia and Paul Ruska.
James Gaddis, now living retired on his farm in Martin Township, was born on a farm in Hopedale Township, Tazewell County, Ill., Feb. 15, 1863, a son of Rees and Martha Ann (Bennett) Gaddis.
Rees Gaddis was born in Green County, Ohio, Nov. 26, 1807, and in 1849 came to Illinois, making the trip by horse and wagon. He settled in Tazewell County, where he remained until 1885, at which time he came to Martin Township, McLean County, and settled on the present Gaddis farm. Mr. Gaddis died March 26, 1891, and his wife died in June, 1916. They were the parents of five children, as follows: Sarah, married A. M. Hicks, a retired farmer, lives at Colfax, Ill .; John, died at the age of 10 years; William, died in October, 1917; James, the subject of this sketch ; and Alpheus, lives at Beaver City, Neb.
James Gaddis was educated in the public schools of Hopedale Town- ship, Tazewell County, and has always been a farmer. He settled in Mc- Lean County in 1885, and his farm in Martin Township is well improved.
On Jan. 22, 1890, Mr. Gaddis was united in marriage with Miss Mary Alice Huffman, a native of Martin Township, McLean County, born Oct. 23, 1868, and a daughter of Preston and Anna Mary (Gillan) Huffman. Preston Huffman was born in Virginia, April 2, 1846, the son of Daniel and Dinah (Ritchie) Huffman, natives of Virginia. Daniel Huffman brought his family to Illinois in 1854 and settled near Bloomington. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Huffman had five children, as follows: Mary, married Bernard Freeman, both deceased; Preston, father of Mrs. Gaddis; Jack- son, deceased ; Elizabeth, married Samuel McClure, both deceased ; and Ad- dison, deceased. In 1867, Preston Huffman was married to Miss Anna Mary Gillan, a native of Tazewell County, Ill., born Jan. 12, 1848, and a daughter of James and Sarah (McClure) Gillan, natives of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Gillan were the parents of 10 children, as follows: William, de-
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
ceased ; Anna Mary Gillan; David, deceased; Eliza, married Milton Morris, both deceased; Rev. David J., Methodist minister, lives in California ; Mar- garet, married Christian Ritchie, lives in North Dakota; Martha, mar- ried Addison Baker, lives in Nebraska; Ada, married J. Esty, lives in New Jersey ; Eva, married Dr. Samuels, both deceased; James, lives in Omaha, Neb .; and Jennie, married Elza Wood, lives in Oklahoma.
To Preston and Anna Mary (Gillan) Huffman five children were born, as follows: Mrs. Gaddis; Mattie, married Frank Stauffer, lives at Colfax; Lila, died at the age of 18 years; Royce, a farmer, lives in Martin Town- ship; and Flo, married Robert Ray, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Preston Huffman live retired at Colfax.
Mr. and Mrs. James Gaddis have four children, as follows: Anna L., born April 17, 1893, married Otto Batterton, lives at Colfax; Lila Ruth, born Nov. 19, 1895, lives at home; Jessie Mildred, born Aug. 10, 1898, married Willard Dysert, a farmer, lives in Martin Township, McLean County ; and Alpheus, born July 1, 1904, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Gaddis have six grandchildren.
James Gaddis is a Republican, a member of the Christian Church, and one of the reliable and substantial members of his community.
Oscar F. Ross, known as a dependable locomotive engineer on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, is a native of Bloomington. He was born March 18, 1884, and is the son of Claus and Anna (Anderson) Ross.
Claus Ross was born in Sweden, as also was his wife. They came to this country in 1878, and settled in Chicago, later removing to Blooming- ton, where Mr. Ross worked at the carpenter trade. He now lives retired with his daughter at 1118 W. Olive street, Bloomington. Mrs. Ross died in 1908. They were the parents of the following children: Ella, married Andrew G. Stone, lives in Bloomington; Anna, the widow of Ernest Gran- back, lives in Bloomington; Henning, deceased; Hilda, married Delbert Webb, lives at Perry, Ohio; Minnie, married Oscar Bettsburg, lives at Milwaukee, Wis .; Elizabeth, married Charles Oliver, lives at Blooming- ton, and Oscar F., the subject of this sketch.
Oscar F. Ross attended the public schools of Bloomington and has been in the employ of the Chicago & Alton Railroad since he was a young man, first being employed in the carpenter shops. In 1904 he became a
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fireman and in September, 1909, was promoted to engineer. Mr. Ross is thoroughly competent in his work and has a good record with the company.
On Nov. 9, 1909, Mr. Ross was united in marriage with Miss Delia Johnson, a native of Bloomington, born Dec. 17, 1883, and the daughter of Fred and Augusta Johnson, natives of Sweden and now deceased. Mr. Johnson died in May, 1914, and his wife died in May, 1917. They were the parents of three children: Mrs. Ross; Esther, married Gerald Odell, lives in Bloomington; and Lela, married Clem Proctor, lives in Pana, Ill. To Oscar F. and Delia (Johnson) Ross four children were born, as fol- lows: James, born March 2, 1911; Russell, born June 21, 1913; Allan, born April 4, 1916; and Edna, born Jan. 25, 1924.
In politics Mr. Ross is identified with the Republican party. He and his family are members of the Methodist Church and he belongs to the Masonic Lodge and Loyal Order of Moose. Mr. Ross is also a member of the Locomotive Engineers. The Ross home is located at 1107 West Jackson Street.
LeRoy R. Sams, a substantial citizen of Bloomington, was born at Asheville, N. C., Jan. 15, 1878, and is a son of Allison Burton and Abagail (Presley) Sams.
Allison Burton Sams and his wife were natives of Madison County, N. C., where they spent their entire lives. He was a Republican, a member of the Baptist Church, and belonged to the Masonic Lodge. He died April 28, 1904, and his wife died Aug. 6, 1920. They were the par- ents of four children, as follows: Bridget, married Marvin Nix, lives at Asheville, N. C.,; Rebecca, married Delphos Wardup, a druggist, lives in South Carolina; Vesta, married Bascom Hunter, lives in North Carolina; and LeRoy R., the subject of this sketch.
LeRoy R. Sams was educated in North Carolina and learned the plumber trade when he was a young man. He started railroading in 1898 on the Southern Railroad at Asheville, N. C., as a brakeman and was promoted in 1902 to conductor on that road and has been associated with the Chicago & Alton Railroad since 1908. He is now a freight conductor and has a run between Bloomington and St. Louis.
LeRoy R. Sams was married on April 10, 1904, to Miss Mabel Wells, a native of North Carolina and the daughter of Tull and Margaret (Law-
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
rence) Wells, natives of North Carolina and the parents of the following children: Lucy, the widow of S. J. Dover, lives at Asheville, N. C .; Ellen, married W. P. Robinson, lives at Lester, N. C .; Mrs. Sams; Rose, lives at Asheville, N. C .; Augusta, married L. B. Spivey, Asheville, N. C .; Ward, Asheville, N. C .; Frank, County Superintendent of Schools, Asheville, N. C .; and Roberta, teacher, Boone, N. C. Mr. Wells served throughout the Civil War and died in 1893. His wife died in 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Sams have three children, as follows: Louise, born Oct. 5, 1906; Edwin, born Oct. 28, 1908; and Wayne, born July 13, 1913.
Mr. Sams is a Republican, a member of the Baptist Church and be- longs to the Masonic lodge, and also the Order of Railway Conductors. He is a reliable citizen of his community and favorably known.
B. F. Woodard, known as a capable locomotive engineer on the Chi- cago & Alton Railroad, is a native of Bloomington. He was born June 18, 1861, the son of Oliver and Catherine (Baughn) Woodard.
Oliver Woodard was born in Kentucky, as also was his wife. They came to Bloomington in 1852 where Mr. Woodard became a prominent building contractor. He died in 1903 and his wife died seven years later. They were the parents of the following children: Robert Ellis, an engineer on the Union Pacific Railroad, lives in Ellis, Kan .; Millard, died in infancy ; B. F., the subject of this sketch; and Oliver, who died at the age of 19 years.
B. F. Woodard has always lived in Bloomington. He attended the public schools and after completing his school work, was employed as a farm hand on the F. M. Funk farm for four years. In 1881 he entered the employ of the Chicago & Alton Railroad as fireman and in 1893 was promoted to locomotive engineer. The Woodard family residence is lo -. cated at 1216 North Madison Street.
On June 28, 1888, Mr. Woodard was married to Miss Mary Wilson, a native of Paducah, Ky., born Feb. 19, 1867, and a daughter of Fletcher and Jeanetta (Dovanan) Wilson, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Kentucky. At the time of his death Mr. Wilson was living at Denver, Colo., where he was engaged in the insurance and real estate business. There were seven children in the Wilson family, four of whom are now living as follows: Robert, lives in Colorado; Kate, married J. E.
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Burke, lives in Bloomington; Mrs. Woodard; and Helen, deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Woodard four children have been born, as follows: Mar- garet, married Frank Schmidt, a conductor on the Big Four Railroad, lives at Urbana, Ill .; Grace, married Ray Schuler, lives at Bloomington ; Joseph, manager of the Atlantic & Pacific Tea Store in Bloomington; and Jeanetta, married Percy Homer, a musician, lives at 507 South Clayton Street, Bloomington. Mr. and Mrs. Woodard have three grandchildren: Beverly W. Schuler, born in 1915; Mary Catherine Schuler, born in 1919, and Jack T. Woodard, born in February, 1920.
Mr. Woodard is a Democrat, a member of the Christian Church and belongs to the Masonic Lodge. He has an excellent standing in Bloom- ington and is highly respected.
Roy Chaddon, an enterprising and well known citizen of Bloomington, was born at Chenoa, Aug. 21, 1887, and is a son of Charles M. and Anna K. (Price) Chaddon.
Charles M. Chaddon was born in Oswego, N. Y., in 1845 and came to Illinois before the time of the Civil War, locating at Chenoa where he engaged in the contracting business. He served throughout the Civil War in Company G, 25th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Mr. Chaddon was a member 'of the Grand Army of the Republic and belonged to the Chris- tian church. He died in Chicago, May 6, 1902, and his wife lives with her children. She was born in London, England, and is now 73 years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Chaddon seven children were born, as follows: Florence, the widow of Al Wilder, lives in Chicago; Maud, married Alvin Ballenger, lives at Chenoa, Ill .; George, lives at Grand Haven, Mich .; Irene, married Fred Eastman, lives in Bloomington; Cora, married Wil- liam Eastman, lives at Wheaton, Ill .; Otis, died in infancy; and Roy, the subject of this sketch.
Roy Chaddon received his education in the public schools of Chicago and started life railroading at the age of 17 years with the Northwestern Railroad. In 1907 Mr. Chaddon entered the employ of the Chicago & Alton Railroad as fireman and in 1918 was promoted to conductor.
On April 20, 1910, Mr. Chaddon was married to Miss Minnie Stein- kraus, a native of Bloomington, born June 3, 1890, and a daughter of Charles and Mary Steinkraus, natives of Germany, and early settlers of
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Bloomington. Mr. Steinkraus died March 26, 1891. His wife lives at 1615 West Locust Street, Bloomington. They were the parents of five children, as follows: Herman, lives in Bloomington; Carl, druggist, lives in Bloomington; Rev. William, Baptist minister, lives at Logansport, Ind .; Otto, a druggist in business with his brother; and Mrs. Chaddon. To Mr. and Mrs. Roy Chaddon three children have been born: Charles, born Jan. 16, 1911; and Lyle Richard and Lois June, twins, born April 21, 1921.
Mr. Chaddon is a member of the Christian Church and belongs to the Masonic lodge.
Rev. Frederick D. Hogben, pastor of St. Joseph's Catholic Church at Chenoa, is an influential and highly respected citizen of McLean County. He was born in New Haven, Conn., June 20, 1879, the son of Frederick and Mary (Agnew) Hogben.
Frederick Hogben was born in England and came to the United States in 1861, locating at New Haven, Conn., where he owned and conducted a retail grocery and meat market. He died Nov. 6, 1895, and is buried at New Haven, Conn. The mother of this young clergyman was a native of the North of Ireland, migrating to America with her parents in child- hood and residing in Seymour, Conn. Her name before marriage was Mary Agnew and she now resides at Rye, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Hogben were the parents of seven children, as follows: Thomas, deceased ; Charles, deceased; Edward, Doctor of Chiropractic, Newark, N. J .; Frank, a musi- cian, lives in Los Angeles, Cal .; Rev. Frederick D., the subject of this sketch ; Jane, married William Mayer, lives at Jersey City ; and Dr. George, a physician, lives at Rye, N. Y.
Rev. Frederick D. Hogben was educated at Holy Cross College, Wor- cester, Mass., and Grand Seminary in Montreal. He was ordained to the priesthood Dec. 23, 1905, and his first charge was at St. Patrick's Church, at Danville, Ill., where he remained a year and a half. He was then trans- ferred to St. Columba Church at Ottawa, Ill., remaining there four years, when he was transferred as assistant pastor at Lincoln, Ill., where he remained a year and a half. Rev. Hogben was then promoted to the pas- torate of St. Johns Church at Rapids City, Ill., to which was attached the chaplaincy of the Watertown State hospital. December 19, 1919, he was transferred to Chenoa where he is pastor of St. Joseph's Church.
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ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, CHENOA, ILLINOIS.
OF THIC
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The following is copied from the Chenoa Gazette dated Dec. 2, 1893 : "The ceremony of dedicating the new Catholic Church in this city was per- formed Sunday, at 10:30 a. m., by Rt. Rev. Bishop Ryan of Alton, assisted by Rev. Frs. O'Reilly, Vicar General of Peoria, and Smythe, of Evans- ton. The ceremony closed with a solemn high mass ; Rev. Burke of Bloom- ington, celebrant, assisted by Revs. O'Gorman, of Ivesdale, and Smyth, of Evanston, Bishop Ryan giving the benediction at the close of the mass. The sermon by Father Smythe of Evanston was an elegant dissertation on "Religion and its influence".
"Up to 1865 the members of the Catholic denomination at Chenoa were visited occasionally and ministered to in spiritual matters by clergy- men from Bloomingtton and elsewhere, and by Rev. Fathers Kennedy and Campbell in regular monthly services. In 1865 the members were attached to the church at El Paso, and Father Keenan visited them monthly. In 1868 Hugh Brady, James Welch and John Hayes, with Father Keenan as president, were appointed a committee to select ground and erect a church. Father Fanning, then missionary rector at Fairbury, succeed Father Keenan, and he engaged William O'Brien, of East Lynn, Ill., to build a frame church 33x60 on land secured from M. T. Scott. Serv- ice was first celebrated in the new church in February, 1869.
"In 1871 Bishop Foley visited the church and confirmed a class of 125 persons. The church was dedicated to the service of God November 3, 1876, in honor of St. Malachi and St. Columbkill. In 1881 Father Fan- ning was transferred to another charge in the west and on Aug. 6, 1881, Father Scheuren was appointed pastor, this being his first charge. He was very popular with his church and citizens generally. In 1882 the church purchased the land on which stood the old National hotel and Zerah Mun- sel's residence. The hotel was one of the landmarks of the city and was kept by Mr. Munsell several years. The hotel was moved away and the old Catholic church was moved onto the site of the old hotel. Repairs were made in Mr. Munsel's residence which was used as a home for the priests. During Father Scheuren's pastorate, the Catholic cemetery, three miles northeast of the city was purchased. Prior to this they had buried their deceased members in Bloomington, El Paso and Fairbury.
"Father Scheuren remained here until April, 1887. He was succeeded by Rev. C. Rimmels, who remained until November, 1888. Father H. W. Finch, of Pontiac, was transferred to this charge, November, 1888, and remained until 1892. He was succeeded by Father J. Kelley, a young
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priest from Ottawa, who remained but a few months. On Sept. 14, 1892, Rev. M. J. O'Callaghan, of Gilman, was transferred to Chenoa, being sent there to superintend the erection of a new church. He was very success- ful in raising funds and the new Catholic Church just completed is one of the beautiful buildings in our city, and Father O'Callaghan deserves great credit for it, as it will stand as a monument to his ability in pre- siding over the financial as well as spiritual welfare of his church. The cost of this beautiful church edifice is $16,000."
In 1910 Fr. W. P. Burk succeeded Fr. O'Callaghan and was here until 1918. In 1916 he erected the Lyceum, a hall built for recreation and amuse- ment which is not only used by the parish but by the entire community. The building cost $10,000.00. This is another ornament added not alone to the parish but also to the town.
Perry Chism, deceased, was a prominent citizen of McLean County. He was born near Hudson, Ill., April 4, 1866, the son of Jesse and Artinsey (Brown) Chism.
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