USA > Illinois > McLean County > History of McLean County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 17
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Samuel James Reeder, who is successfully engaged in the transfer busi- ness at Normal, Ill., was born at Normal, Aug, 9, 1864, the son of Samuel J. and Sallie Mary (McWhorter) Reeder.
Samuel J. Reeder and his wife were natives of Miami County, Ohio, and came to Illinois many years ago and settled at Normal. Mr. Reeder taught school throughout the county for a number of years and later operated a farm. He died in 1881 and his wife is also deceased. They were the parents of six children, as follows: Cora, married Hampton M. Roach; Jessie, married D. W. Gamble; Jane, married Fred W. Loehr, lives in Illinois; Edna, deceased; Grace, married Harry W. Ator, lives at Wau- kegan, Ill .; and Samuel James, Jr., the subject of this sketch.
Samuel James Reeder was educated in the public schools at Normal and after finishing his school work he was employed by the Chicago and Alton Railroad. He later was employed as bookkeeper for the Rodehouse Stockyard Company and then entered the employ of the Canadian Pacific Railroad in British Columbia, where he remained for one year. Mr. Reeder followed farming for several years and then came to Normal, where he held a city position for 20 years. He served as sheriff of McLean County from 1910 until 1914 and after his term expired entered the transfer business at Normal.
On Feb. 8, 1888, Mr. Reeder married Miss Cornelia Gibbs, and to this union two children were born, as follows: Sallie, the wife of Harry S.
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Cogdall, lives at South Haven, Mich .; and Samuel J., born in 1894, lives at home.
Mr. Reeder is identified with the Republican party in politics and he is a member of the Masonic lodge. Mrs. Reeder is a member of the Episco- pal Church.
E. L. Flesher, retired, has been a prominent farmer and stockman of McLean County. He was born in Money Creek Township, McLean County, Sept. 7, 1862, the son of William and Rebecca Ann (Pirtle) Flesher.
William Flesher was born in Monterey, Va., in 1827 and came to Illi- nois with his parents when he was eight years of age. They located at Jeffersonville and three years later moved to Lexington, Ill. Mr. Flesher improved 120 acres of land and was among the successful pioneer farmers of the county. In about 1857 he went to Iola, Kan., where he improved 160 acres of land. While living there a daughter was born to them, Mary Elizabeth Curry, who was the first white child born in Iola. Later the family returned to McLean County and Mr. Flesher died Dec. 9, 1909, and his wife died in November, 1921. They were the parents of eight children, as follows: Andrew McCoy, lives in Wata, Okla .; John H., a retired farmer, lives at Lexington, Ill .; James Alonzo, died May 30, 1921; Mary E., married William H. Curry, a retired farmer, lives at Lexing- ton, Ill .; E. L., the subject of this sketch; Charles S., a carpenter, lives at Gridley ; George E., former sheriff of McLean County, now deceased; and Benjamin Franklin, lives in Chicago.
E. L. Flesher was reared on his father's farm and was educated in the district school. He has always followed farming and stockraising and has met with marked success, specializing in the breeding of pure bred Poland China hogs and Shropshire sheep. At one time Mr. Flesher owned 350 acres of land in partnership with his brother-in-law, J. L. Diggle, and he now owns 40 acres of the old Punke homestead, his wife's birthplace. He now lives retired at Gridley, where he owns a modern bungalow on First Street, and other town property. Mr. E. L. Flesher and wife moved to Warren County, Iowa, in 1900, where Mr. Flesher was a farmer and stockman in that county until December, 1908, when he returned to McLean County. He has bought and sold a good deal of land along the Mackinaw River.
E. L. FLESHER.
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On Dec. 25, 1883, Mr. Flesher was married to Miss Minnie A. Punke, a native of LaSalle County, born Aug. 8, 1865, and the daughter of Henry and Anna Pauline (Mangner) Punke. The Punke family originally came from Germany and were among the earliest settlers of Illinois. Mr. Punke was a miller by trade in Germany, but after coming to Illinois engaged in general farming. He died Feb. 22, 1920, and his wife died April 30, 1920. They were the parents of 10 children, as follows: Reinhold, a farmer, lives at Flanagan, Ill .; Pauline, deceased; Gustave A., a farmer Gridley Township; Otto, deceased; Mrs. Flesher; Betty, died July 31, 1903, was the wife of John L. Diggle; Henry, Jr., a farmer, lives at Verona, Ill .; Anna Pauline, married Henry Blissman, a retired coal dealer, lives at Gridley; Caroline, married Albert Lee, lives in Woodford County, Ill .; and a twin of Anna, died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Flesher have no chil- dren.
In politics . Mr. Flesher is a Republican and he has served as road commissioner and township collector. He is a member of the Christian Church and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In his early manhood Mr. Flesher was a baseball player of note and during one game made two home runs in one inning. Mr. Flesher is a reliable citizen and was able to build up a successful farming business by his integrity and progressive methods.
H. H. Argo, cashier of the First National Bank at Danvers, is a reliable and successful business man of McLean County. He was born at St. Joseph, Ill., April 8, 1878, the son of Harrison and Mary (Worl) Argo.
Harrison Argo was a native of Illinois, as also is his wife. He engaged in general farming and stock raising during his life and was successful. Mr. Argo died in 1881 and his widow now resides at St. Joseph, Ill. They had three children, as follows: Bertha, married William Woody, retired farmer, lives at St. Joseph, Ill .; John T., married Essie Gordon, engaged in the transfer business at LaGrange, Ill .; and H. H., the subject of this sketch.
H. H. Argo was educated in the public schools at St. Joseph and after attending high school there went to the Dixon Business College at Dixon, Ill. After finishing his school work Mr. Argo entered the employ of the Big Four Railroad as telegraph operator and remained with that company (53)
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for 20 years. He was stationed at LeRoy, Ill., for one year, at Mackinaw, Ill., for one year, at Muncie, Ill., for two years, and spent the remaining years at Danvers. In 1920 Mr. Argo left the employ of the railroad and was appointed cashier of the First National Bank, which is the largest bank at Danvers. It is among the dependable and leading banking insti- tutions of the county.
In 1907 Mr. Argo married Miss Emma Trickel, a native of Danvers and the daughter of A. and Margaret (Ehling) Trickel, natives of Ger- many, now deceased. Mr. Trickel came to this country several years after his wife, who came in 1865, and they were married in McLean County. Mr. Trickel was a prominent merchant at Danvers for many years, being engaged in the harness business. To H. H. and Emma (Trickel) Argo one child has been born, Donald H., who attends school.
Mr. Argo is identified with the Republican party in politics and he is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Danvers and the Knight Templars at Bloomington and the Shriners at Peoria. He is school treasurer of Dan- vers. Mr. Argo is a progressive, enterprising and substantial citizen.
E. A. Kinzinger, now living retired on his farm in Danvers Town- ship, is among McLean County's leading farmers and stockmen. He was born on the farm where he now resides, Jan. 18, 1872, the son of Christian and Magdaline (Strubhar) Kinzinger.
Christian Kinzinger was a native of Woodford County, Ill., born in 1846, and the son of Michael Kinzinger. Michael Kinzinger came to this country from Germany in 1836 and settled in Ohio, where he lived for one year before moving to Illinois. He settled on a farm in Woodford County, where he spent the remainder of his life. His son, Christian Kinzinger, moved to McLean County in the fall of 1871 and settled on the present Kinzinger farm in Danvers Township. Christian Kinzinger died in 1914 and his widow resides at Danvers. They were the parents of three chil- dren, as follows: E. A., the subject of this sketch ; Ophelia, married Albert Nafziger, and died in 1901; and Ervinia, married John W. Yoder, who died in 1923.
E. A. Kinzinger spent his boyhood on the home place and was edu- cated in the district schools. He operated a thrashing machine for 10 years and has always been a farmer. Mr. Kinzinger raises Percheron
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horses and Shorthorn cattle and has won many premiums on his stock at various exhibitions. He now lives practically retired and the farm is rented out. The Kinzinger farm contains 240 acres of well improved land and Mr. Kinzinger also owns 98 acres of good timber land. There are fine farm buildings on the place and the residence was built in 1917.
In 1895 Mr. Kinzinger married Miss Emma Kohler, a daughter of Philip and Eliza (Ummel) Kohler, both natives of Switzerland and early settlers of Woodford County, Ill., where Mrs. Kinzinger was born. To E. A. and Emma (Kohler) Kinzinger two children were born: Myrtle May, died at the age of one year; and Edith Hazel, married Harvey P. Miller, and they live on one of his father's places. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey P. Miller have one son, Leo Dean Miller.
Mr. Kinzinger is a Republican and a member of the Mennonite Church. He is a director of the First National Bank at Danvers and treasurer of the Mutual Insurance Company of Danvers. Mr. Kinzinger is well known in McLean County and is one of the leading representative men of his community.
John W. Barclay, a well known farmer and stockman of Danvers township, now living retired, was born near Centralia, Mo., May 30, 1861, the son of William and Mary Jane (Roberts) Barclay.
William Barclay and his wife were natives of Madison County, Ky., and early settlers of Boone County, Mo. They settled on a farm near Centralia and Mr. Barclay became a successful and well known farmer. He died in 1898 and his wife died in Seattle, Wash. They were the par- ents of the following children: Elihu, deceased; Samuel, married Fannie Hill, lives near Covell; Woodson, died Feb. 2, 1923; J. W., the subject of this sketch; Flora, married Charles Shively, lives in Seattle, Wash .; and Mary, married Henry Morrison, and now deceased.
J. W. Barclay came to McLean County in 1865 with his parents and received his education in the district schools of Covell and also attended Wesleyan University. He purchased his first farm of 40 acres in Dale Township and later owned 157 acres in the same township. Mr. Barclay has lived on his present farm in Danvers Township since 1913, and owns 200 acres of good farm land, which he rents. He was widely known for many years as a breeder of Percheron horses and other good stock.
In 1885 Mr. Barclay married Miss Emma Piper, a native of McLean County and the daughter of Mark and Catherine (Harvey) Piper. Mr.
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and Mrs. Piper were natives of Pennsylvania and came to Illinois in the early fifties. They had seven children, as follows: Addie, deceased; Jen- nie, deceased; George, married Alice Baumgarten, lives in Bloomington ; Grant, married Dora Barclay, lives near Covell; Cora, married Josiah Bo- zart, lives in Allin Township, McLean County, and one child died in in- fancy. To J. W. and Emma (Piper) Barclay three children were born, as follows: Homer, married Frances Springer, lives at Carlock, Ill., and have had two children, John, Jr., deceased, and Evelyn Dale ; Fern, married Edwin Miller, lives at Normal, Ill .; and Aurelle, lives at home.
Mr. Barclay is identified with the Republican party in politics and he has been school director, town clerk, and road commissioner. He has served as an elder of the Christian Church for 12 years and as deacon for six years. Mr. Barclay is well known throughout McLean County, where he has always been esteemed as a man of progress, industry, and initiative.
James A. Hougham, a well known farmer of Funks Grove Township and the owner of 600 acres of good land, is a native of McLean County, where his family has been favorably known for many years. He was born in Funks Grove Township, Feb. 10, 1855, and is the son of Lamon and Elizabeth (Pemberton) Hougham.
The Hougham family originally came from England, where Runyon Hougham, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born. He came to this state in 1832, locating in McLean County, where he became a suc- cessful farmer. His wife, Sarah Lamon, was born in Germany. Mr. Hougham had lived in Ohio for many years before coming to Illinois. His son, Lamon Hougham, was born in Highland County, Ohio, and came to McLean County with his parents in 1832. He built the present home- stead in Funks Grove Township in 1854 and the sugar trees which stand around the home were set out 65 years ago by Mr. Hougham. He was an extensive cattle feeder and drove hogs to Chicago to market in the early days. Mr. Hougham died March 19, 1885, and his wife died May 21, 1901. She was the daughter of James and Susan (Beaver) Pember- ton, who came to McLean County in 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Runyon Hougham were the parents of the following children: William; John; Lamon; Wesley; Carrie; Matilda; Malinda; Anne; and Betty. To Lamon and Elizabeth (Pemberton) Hougham three children were born, as follows:
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James A., the subject of this sketch; Sarah, married Harvey Cochran; and Emery L., married Mary Belle Nicol.
James A. Hougham received his education in the district schools of Funks Grove Township and has always lived on a farm. The land he now owns was entered from the government by his father at $1.25 per acre, and is one of the finest stock farms in McLean County. Mr. Hougham has improved the place extensively and is a successful breeder of pure bred stock.
In 1876 Mr. Hougham was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Dozier, a native of Estill County, Ky., and the daughter of Ephriam and Hulda (Benton) Dozier. Mr. Dozier died in 1877 and his wife died in 1865. They were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Hougham; James B., married Anna Ridel, lives in Iowa ; John, married Mildred Cov- ington, lives in Gibson City, Ill .; Greenup, married Elizabeth Ridel, lives at Gibson City, Ill .; and Curtis, married Alice Stivers. To Mr. and Mrs. James A. Hougham four children have been born, as follows: Leota, married Thaddeus Stubblefield; James, unmarried, lives at home; Sue, married Lawrence Stubblefield; and Hulda, died in infancy.
In politics Mr. Hougham is a Democrat and he belongs to the Chris- tian Church. He has served as township trustee and school director. He belongs to the Masonic Lodge No. 582, Shirley, and his father was a char- ter member of the Masonic Lodge. Mr. Hougham is one of the highly esteemed citizens of his community.
A. B. Miller, a prosperous farmer and stockman of Danvers town- ship and the owner of 450 acres of well improved land, is a native of Wood- ford County, Ill. He was born April 15, 1865, the son of Jacob and Mary Miller.
Jacob Miller was born in Germany and came to America with his parents when he was a small child. His wife was born in Butler County, Ohio, and came to Illinois with her parents during the early days and settled in Woodford County. They made the trip by horse and wagon and while coming through Indiana encountered much swamp land. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Miller had five children, as follows: Phoebe, married John Risser, lives in Idaho; Michael, married Effie Stephen, lives at Car- lock, Ill .; Ella, married Dave Risser, lives at Congerville; Joseph, married Edna Detwiler; and A. B., the subject of this sketch.
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
A. B. Miller spent his boyhood on his father's farm and attended the district schools. He has always been a farmer and purchased his first farm at the age of 21 years. In 1891 he came to McLean County, where he has since been located. Mr. Miller has been very successful as a farmer and stockman and owns and operates one of the finest stock farms in the township. He specializes in the breeding of Aberdeen cattle and is also a feeder of stock.
In 1889 Mr. Miller married Miss Lydia Maurer, a native of Illinois and the daughter of Nicholas and Mary (Kohler) Maurer. The Maurers were natives of Switzerland and early settlers of Woodford County, Ill. They later moved to McLean County, where they died. Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Miller had five children, as follows: Erwin; John; Bert; Etta; and Leta. Mrs. Miller died in 1916 and is buried in the North Danvers cemetery.
Mr. Miller is a director of The Farmers Bank of Danvers and also director of the Farmers Elevator. He is an independent voter and a member of the North Danvers Mennonite Church. Mr. Miller is a sub- stantial citizen of McLean County and has many friends.
Robert W. Lander is an enterprising farmer and stockman of Danvers Township. He was born one and one-half miles from where he now lives in Danvers Township, Oct. 20, 1866, the son of George B. and Mary Ann (Stuffings) Lander.
George B. Lander was a native of England, as also was his wife. After coming to the United States they settled in New York and later went to Peoria, Ill. Mr. Lander served throughout the Civil War with the Union army and served with Company K, 108th Brigade, 77th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He served for three years and escaped injury. On Jan. 1, 1866, the Lander family moved to McLean County and settled on a farm in Danvers Township. Mr. Lander died Jan. 1, 1896, just 30 years after coming to McLean County, and his wife died in August, 1898. They were the parents of the following children: George H., died in April, 1920, and his wife died May 25, 1918; Robert W., the subject of this sketch; Frank E., married Effie Fogle, lives in South Dakota; James A., married Eva Martin, lives in South Dakota; and three children died in infancy.
Robert W. Lander was educated in the district schools of Danvers Township and worked on the home place for a number of years. His
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father owned and operated a saw mill on the farm. It was operated by water power first and later by steam. Mr. Lander left his father's farm 20 years ago and purchased his present farm of 220 acres near the home place. He is a successful and widely known breeder of Durham cattle and Percheron horses.
In 1894 Mr. Lander married Miss Matilda Miller, a native of Germany. She came to America with her parents when she was about three years of age and they settled in McLean County, where her father died in 1909. Her mother died in 1914. To Robert W. and Matilda (Miller) Lander five children were born, as follows: Fern, married Clinton Kaufman, lives in Danvers Township; Milo R., married Tressie Gardner, lives on the home place and has one child, Eugene; Ermel, unmarried, lives at home; Gladys, married Earl Killian ; and Carrie, at home.
Mr. Lander is a Republican and a member of the Farm Bureau. He is a substantial and well known citizen and the Lander family is among the highly respected citizens of the township.
J. N. Habecker, well known in Danvers Township as a successful lum- ber dealer and the owner of 160 acres of well improved land, is a native of McLean County. He was born in Danvers Township, June 7, 1881, the son of Joseph and Katie (Burkey) Habecker.
Joseph Habecker was a native of Danvers Township and his wife was born in Woodford County, Ill. They were the parents of five chil- dren, as follows: J. N., the subject of this sketch; Edward E., married Nellie Enoult, and lives at Washington, Ill., where he is engaged in the undertaking business; Ida, married Luther Ayres, lives in Danvers Town- ship; Bessie, married George Kime, who was a lumber dealer in partner- ship with J. N. Habecker, the subject of this sketch; and Clark, married Edna Miller, lives in Wisconsin. Joseph Habecker followed farming dur- ing his life and died in 1919, and his wife now lives at Danvers.
J. N. Habecker spent his boyhood on the home place and received his education in the public schools at Danvers. He remained on the home place for some time and later purchased a farm of his own. Mr. Habecker purchased his present farm in 1915, which was the original L. R. Stephen- . son farm. He is widely known as a successful breeder of Poland China hogs and Angus cattle. Mrs. Habecker owns the old farm place of her
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parents of 470 acres and other farm land. Mr. Habecker entered the lum- ber business at Danvers in 1921 and the firm is known as the Habecker and Kime Lumber Company.
In 1906 Mr. Habecker married Miss Laura B. Stephenson, who was born on the farm where she now lives, the daughter of L. R. and Martha E. (Murdock) Stephenson, both natives of Knox County, Ohio, and prom- inent pioneer settlers of McLean County. Mr. Stephenson died in 1915 and his wife died in 1922. They had three children, as follows: Leroy, married Alma Kaufman, lives at Danvers; Mamie, married Clarence Grav- itt, lives in Dry Grove Township; and Mrs. Habecker. Mr. and Mrs. Ha- becker have no children.
J. N. Habecker is a Republican and belongs to the Elks lodge of Bloom- ington. He is a director of The First National Bank of Danvers and is esteemed throughout his community as a substantial and reliable man.
John C. Harris, deceased, had a successful career as a farmer and stockman of McLean County. He was born in Devonshire, England, Sept. 1, 1856, and was the son of John and Mary (Cooper) Harris.
The Harris family came from England to the United States in 1857 and settled near Bloomington, Ill., where Mr. Harris engaged in farming. He became an extensive farmer and during the early days drove his stock to the Lexington and Fairbury markets, having later moved to Livingston County, Ill. Mr. Harris owned 320 acres of land in Livingston and Mc- Lean counties, which he improved from raw prairie. He died in July, 1903, at Colfax, Ill. His wife died in May, 1908, and they are buried in the Colfax Cemetery. They were the parents of eight children, as follows: John C., the subject of this sketch; Frank, died in 1922; Walter, died in 1922; William M., a retired farmer, lives at Colfax; Manuel, a retired farmer, also lives at Colfax; James, a farmer, lives south of Colfax; Mary, lives at Colfax; and Lydia, married Colbert Ward, lives at Colfax.
John C. Harris was reared and educated in McLean County and after finishing his school work engaged in the hardware business at Colfax, for a number of years. He later purchased a farm of 200 acres and con- ducted the farm in connection with his hardware store. He was a suc- cessful stockman, as well as a feeder and shipper. Mr. Harris died March 19, 1903, and is buried in Wiley Cemetery at Colfax. Mrs. Harris still
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JOHN C. HARRIS
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
owns the home place and a nice residence on Main Street in Colfax, where she resides.
On Nov. 9, 1881, Mr. Harris was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Weeks, a native of Colfax, born Sept. 23, 1863, and the daughter of Samuel and Mary Weeks, natives of England and the parents of the fol- lowing children: George, lives in South Dakota; L. A., married Jacob Anthers, lives in Everett, Wash .; William, a farmer, lives in Livingston County ; Mrs. Harris; Minnie, married Robert Abby, a farmer, lives at Cropsey, Ill .; and Maria Hamilton, deceased, was the wife of Charles Hamilton, lives in Everett, Wash. Mrs. Harris, Minnie Abby, and Maria Hamilton were triplets. Mrs. Harris' father owned 1,280 acres of good farm land in McLean County at the time of his death, June 27, 1917. His wife died in October, 1920. To John C. and Mary A. (Weeks) Harris four children were born, as follows: Blanche, born July 25, 1883, married Miles Mitchell, manager of the Sumner Iron Works at Everett, Wash .; Mable, born Dec. 6, 1891, died March 27, 1916; Fern, born July 3, 1890, married C. L. Harris, the Illinois Central Railway agent of Anchor, Ill .; and Ina, born Dec. 31, 1893, lives with her mother at Colfax. Mrs. Har- ris has four grandchildren: Mary Elizabeth and John C. Harris; Mabel Louise, and Marion Elizabeth Mitchell.
Mr. Harris was a Republican, a member of the Methodist Church, and belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Harris served on the Colfax High School for a number of years. He was one of the inter- esting men of his community and held the esteem of all who knew him.
Chester R. Ewins, president of the First National Bank at Danvers, is one of McLean County's most prominent business men and a highly respected citizen. He was born on a farm five miles north of Danvers, April 2, 1866, the son of John A. and Malinda (Frank) Ewins.
John A. Ewins was born in Salem, N. H., and his wife was born in Kentucky. Mr. Ewins came to Danvers Township, McLean County, in 1835 with his parents and they settled on the present Ewins farm. He was engaged in the implement business at Danvers for a number of years and was a leading citizen of the county. Mr. Ewins died in 1895 and his wife is now 88 years old. They had five children, as follows: Jennie E., married B. F. Harber, Harber Implement Company at Bloomington; Frank
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