USA > Illinois > McLean County > History of McLean County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 35
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Frank H. Funk was born in Bloomington in April, 1869, being the son of Benjamin F. and Sarah (Hamilton) Funk. He was educated in the schools of his home city, and then attended and was graduated from Yale in the class of 1891. As soon as he became personally interested in politics he took an active part in the Republican party, which had previously honored his father by election to Congress. He served on the State Cen- tral Committee 1906-08, and in the latter year was elected to the State Senate, succeeding George W. Stubblefield. He served in the Senate until 1912, and that year became associated with the Progressive party and was nominated for Governor of Illinois. In the election he received 303,000 votes. In 1912 and 1916 he was chairman of the Illinois delegation in the national conventions of the Progressive party. In 1913 he was nominated for U. S. senator by that party. He returned to the Republican party when the Progressives lost their concrete organization. In 1913 he was appointed a member of the Illinois Railroad and Warehouse Commission, and later a member of the Illinois Public Utilities Commission, which he held until 1921. He was a delegate to the Republican national convention
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of 1920 from the Seventeenth district. In 1920 he was elected to Con- gress, and was re-elected in 1922. The district which he represents con- sists of the counties of McLean, Livingston, Woodford, Logan and Ford, and has a population of 174,000.
Mr. Funk was married to Miss Florence Risser of Chicago, and three children were born to them, Benjamin, Mary and Florence. Mrs. Funk died in 1923 at her home in Bloomington. Mr. Funk during his terms in Congress has performed his most signal service in connection with the Committee on Agriculture, of which he is a member. In 1923 he made a trip to Europe at the request of the secretary of agriculture to make investigations of conditions there. The organizations to which Mr. Funk belongs include the Commandery, Consistory and Shrine of the Masonic orders, the Elks, the T. P. A., the Rotary Club, Modern Woodmen, Chi- cago Yale Club, and the University Club of Chicago.
Albert Harwood Hoopes, deceased, was for many years a prominent and successful business man of Bloomington. He was born at Springfield, Ill., Dec. 14, 1864, and was a son of Benjamin Franklin and Freedom Augusta (Harwood) Hoopes.
Benjamin Franklin Hoopes was a native of Chester County, Pa., and his wife was born in Orleans County, N. Y. In 1856 he came to Bloom- ington from Springfield, Ill., and embarked in the grocery business, in which he was successfully engaged during the remainder of his life. For several years after his arrival in Bloomington he was associated in busi- ness with Peter Whitmer, president of The Peoples Bank, and George W. Parke. Mr. Hoopes died Dec. 8, 1904, and his wife died Feb. 27, 1905, and they are buried at Bloomington.
Albert Harwood Hoopes was an only child and was reared and edu- cated in Bloomington. He entered the grocery business with his father after finishing school and remained in that business until his death. Mr. Hoopes was a leading wholesale grocer and commission merchant of Bloomington and was one of the well known and dependable business men of this section.
On Sept. 23, 1903, Mr. Hoopes was married to Miss Julia Roden- hauser, a native of Germany, and the daughter of William J. and Chris- tiana (Leiderman) Rodenhauser, natives of Germany, and early settlers
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of Bloomington. Mr. Rodenhauser died Aug. 29, 1919, and his wife died Sept. 18, 1915. To Mr. and Mrs. Hoopes three children were born, as follows : Margaret Augusta, Benjamin Franklin, and Albert Harwood Hoopes.
In politics Mr. Hoopes was identified with the Republican party and he was a member of the Grace Methodist Church. His family reside at 707 North East Street, Bloomington.
Christian F. Koch, a former mayor of Bloomington, who for many years was actively identified with Bloomington and McLean County, was born in Eslingen, Wurtemberg, Germany, March 17, 1849. He is the son of John F. and Caroline T. (Deininger) Koch.
Christian F. Koch's maternal grandfather, Johan Fredric Deininger, was of old French Huguenot stock, his ancestors having been driven from France by the edict of Nantes, taking refuge in Wurtemburg. The Dein- inger family can be traced back to 1600. John Koch, the father of Christ- ian F., was a millwright by trade, being one of the first in Bloomington. When he and his family came to this country they settled first in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and five years later came to Bloomington. For a number of years John F. Koch was foreman of Marbles Furniture Factory in Bloomington. He died in 1876. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Christian F. Koch was educated in the public schools and attended Illinois Wesleyan University for two years. He learned the millwright's trade and worked with his father four or five years and then engaged in the grocery business on West Front Street, where he met with much success. Mr. Koch is a Republican and served as alderman from the third ward from 1883 until 1887 and in the spring of 1890 he was nominated for mayor of Bloomington, and was elected, which office he held one term, when the necessity of giving more time to his own business com- pelled him to withdraw from politics. However, in the spring of 1897 a reorganization of the city under the general law was strongly agitated by business men and citizens in general, as there had been some dissatis- faction with a special charter and the preceding administration. This re- sulted in Mr. Koch being again strongly urged to enter the field as the
CHRISTIAN F. KOCH.
جمة
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Republican nominee for mayor. He was triumphantly elected and many im- provements were made in the city during this administration. The city hall was enlarged and remodeled and a good many streets were paved. The city was never in more capable hands than those of Mr. Koch.
Mr. Koch was married to Miss Katie L. Feisel, a daughter of Reverend Jacob and Louise Feisel. Reverend Feisel was a pioneer minister and district superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal church for many years. To Mr. and Mrs. Koch two children were born: Lulu C., the widow of F. H. W. Peters, lives in St. Louis, Mo. and Emma K., who died in June, 1896.
Mr. Koch is a member of the Methodist church and was trustee and treasurer and also served as Sunday school superintendent. He is a mem- ber of the Mozart lodge, A. F. & .A M., and was past chancellor of Blucher Lodge Knights of Pythias and was a member of the mother lodge, Damon No. 10. He was a member of the Bloomington Coliseum Association. Mr. Koch now lives retired in St. Louis with his daughter, Mrs. C. Lulu Peters. They travel extensively, but maintain a residence there.
Mrs. Caroline T. Koch, mother of Christian F. Koch, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Dec. 22, 1819. Her family name was Deininger and she was a direct descendant of one of the oldest families of southern Germany. According to a family history published some years ago in Stuttgart, Germany, the Deininger geneology dates back to the days of Em- peror Karl the Great. Count Christopher von Deininger, the Powerful, as tradition terms him, was the original progenitor of the long line of the Deininger descendants. Many of them distinguished themselves as knightly warriors and counselors of Germany's varied list of kings and rulers, until with the advent of the reformation the Deiningers became Huguenots and as such finally lost their standing among the German nob- ility. The name thus became obliterated for a time in the annals of German history. The Deininger name next became again prominent in southern Germany among the clergy and educators, it seemingly running in their blood to devote themselves to those professions. All the descend- ants down to the grandfather, father, uncles and brothers of Mrs. Koch had the record of being either preachers or teachers of some kind or creed, some of them migrating to this country many years ago where they gained
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prominence in their professions and made the name of Deininger well known throughout the state of Pennsylvania and other parts of the east, where they located.
Caroline T. Koch migrated to this country with her husband in 1855, and settled in Bloomington, where they helped in the organization of the First German Methodist church. Several years before her death, at the age of 65 years Mrs. Koch took a trip to Germany, visiting the scenes of her childhood. On the return trip the vessel, the Mosel, was stranded on the English coast and all the passengers had to be rescused by means of small fishing boats, the great steamer becoming a total wreck and loss a few hours afterward. Despite this most trying experience, Mrs. Koch arrived home hale and hearty, none the worse from the trip, but rather demon- strating anew her sturdy, heroic nature.
Dr. Lester B. Cavins, who is among the successful physicians and surgeons of Bloomington, was born at Mattoon, Ill., July 22, 1877, and is the son of Joseph and Melissa (Ferguson) Cavins.
Joseph Cavins was born in Ohio and was a farmer during his active career. He died in 1918, and his wife, a native of Mattoon, Ill., died in 1893. They were the parents of the following children: Elmer W., lives at Normal, Ill .; Elza C., Charleston, Ill .; William F., lives at Mattoon, Ill .; Stanley T., lives at Stanford, Ill .; Lorimer V., lives in Chicago; Olive, lives in Bloomington; Grace, lives in Chicago; and Dr. Lester B., the subject of this sketch.
Dr. Lester B. Cavins spent his boyhood at Mattoon, Ill., and his early education was also received there. He is a graduate of Illinois State Normal University, and his medical education was received in Baltimore, where he studied from 1900 until 1904. The following two years were spent in hospital work in that city and New York, and in 1907 Dr. Cavins located at Stanford, Ill., where he practiced general medicine until 1910. The next year was spent in special work in London, England, and Heidel- berg, Germany. Since 1912 he has practiced in Bloomington, where he has established an excellent clientele. Dr. Cavins' offices are located at 704 Peoples Bank Building.
On March 6, 1907, Dr. Cavins was united in marriage with Miss Ida Alstrom, a native of Baltimore, Md., and the daughter of Andrew and
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Ida (Leach) Alstrom, the former a native of Stockholm, Sweden, and the latter of Louisville, Ky. Mr. Alstrom died in 1913, and his widow resides in Baltimore. To Dr. and Mrs. Cavins has been born one daughter, Ida Miriom, who was born June 28, 1917.
In politics Dr. Cavins is identified with the Republican party and he and his family are affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. He is a sub- stantial citizen of McLean County and a progressive man in his profession.
Austin Y. Barnard, a retired farmer, now living in Bloomington, is a veteran of the Civil War and a member of a prominent pioneer family of McLean County. He was born in Money Creek Township, McLean County, Feb. 19, 1841, a son of Melman N. and Sina (Philpot) Barnard.
Melman N. Barnard was a native of North Carolina, and his wife was born in Virginia. After their marriage they moved to Tennessee, and later came to McLean County, Ill., in 1848. Mr. Barnard became a suc- cessful farmer of Money Creek Township, where he owned 240 acres of land. He died in 1873, and his wife died in 1868. They were the parents of 11 children, of whom Austin Y., the subject of this sketch, was the ninth in order of birth.
Austin Y. Barnard spent his boyhood on his father's farm and attended the district school of Money Creek Township. On July 12, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, 94th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served under General Orm, who was later promoted to brigadier general of the regiment, which was composed of men from Bloomington. On Aug. 25, 1862, the regiment went to the Clinton Barracks, at St. Louis, where they received their uniforms and equipment. From there they went to Rolla, Mo., and then marched to Springfield, Mo. On Dec. 7th they engaged in their first battle, Prairie Grove. From there they went to VanBuren, Ark., and later took part in the siege of Vicksburg. They then went to New Orleans, La., and later to Texas. The regiment was mustered out of service at Galveston, Texas, and Mr. Barnard then returned to Money Creek Township and engaged in farming. In 1881 he moved to Normal, where he worked at the carpenter trade until the time of his retirement. Mr. Barnard now lives at Bloomington.
On Jan. 11, 1866, Mr. Barnard was married to Tabathia Trimmer, and to this union five children were born, two of whom are now living: Ida C., married Joseph L. Greenfield, lives at Golden City, Mo .; and Ada
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R., married F. D. Carnahan, lives in South Dakota. A son, Myron D. Barnard, died in 1920. Mrs. Barnard died Feb. 21, 1912, and Mr. Barnard was later married to Mrs. Sadie Bramble, widow of Eliah H. Bramble. Mrs. Barnard has one daughter by her first marriage, Mrs. Sarah Wasson, who lives at Peoria, Ill.
Mr. Barnard is a member of the Christian Church and has belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for 51 years. He is one of McLean County's substantial citizens and stands high in the esteem of his community.
C. H. Russum, a prominent business man of Heyworth, is a native of DeWitt County, Ill., born Sept. 28, 1873, the son of W. B. and Rachael (Beezley) Russum.
W. B. Russum was born in Delaware, Oct. 26, 1835, the son of Peter Russum. They moved to Ohio when W. B. Russum was about nine years old, and remained there until 1859, at which time W. B. Russum moved to Logan County, Ill., and in 1861 moved to DeWitt County. His father died in Ohio. Mr. Russum taught school and also followed general farm- ing. He died March 1, 1904 and his wife, a native of Ohio, died April 17, 1924. She was born April 15, 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Russum were the par- ents of four children, as follows: Laura, the wife of Isaac Baker, lives in Golden City, Mo .; Jennie M., the wife of John H. Quinton, lives on a farm near Heyworth; Adda, the widow of William Quinton, lives at Heyworth and C. H., the subject of this sketch.
C. H. Russum received his education in the public schools of DeWitt County, Ill., and attended business college at Dixon, Ill. He farmed until 1909 when he came to Heyworth and engaged in the insurance business. Mr. Russum has had various business interests and is also now president of The Farmers State Bank at Heyworth, and he is secretary and treasurer of the Farmers Co-operative Grain Company. In connection with the insurance business, Mr. Russum handles automobile accessories.
On March 18, 1896, Mr. Russum was married to Miss Lillie Kel- sheimer, a native of Paris, Ill., and the daughter of Edward and Rebecca (Smith) Kelsheimer, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Kelsheimer had 12 children, as follows. George N., lives at Paris, Ill. ; Emma, lives in Waynesville; Charles, lives at Paris, Ill. ;
C. H. RUSSUM.
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Martha, wife of L. Mann lives in Texas; Mary Givens, deceased; Ida M. Peabody, lives at Decatur, Ill .; Frank lives in Shelby County, Ill .; Mrs. Russum; Hugh, lives in Paris, Ill. and two children died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Russum had three children, all of whom are deceased.
In politics Mr. Russum is identified with the Republican party and he is a member of the Methodist church. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Russum is a progressive man who can always be relied upon to aid in anything for the public welfare or the community improve- ment. He is now central committeeman for precinct No. 1 of Randolph Township.
Judge Alfred Sample, deceased, was born in Butler County, Ohio, Nov. 27, 1846, the son of James and Jane (Baird) Sample, natives of Ken- tucky and Virginia, respectively. In 1857 the Sample family removed from Ohio to Illinois and located in Livingston County, and at a later date in McLean County. James Sample died in 1883, and his wife died in 1892. Alfred Sample attended the common schools and assisted his father on the farm. He was three days less than 17 years old when he enlisted his services during the Civil War, Nov. 24, 1863. He served in Company G, 129th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. On May 15, 1864, he was severely wounded at the battle of Resaca. He was discharged Dec. 6, 1864, and returned home. Mr. Sample attended Eureka College for three years and later was a student at Monmouth College. He then read law in the office of Col. Robert G. Ingersoll, at Peoria, and was admitted to the bar in 1871, and immediately thereafter began the practice of his profession at Paxton, Ill. He was associated with Judge Milton H. Cloud and later with Judge John Pollock. In 1872 Mr. Sample was elected state's attorney for Ford County, and held that office for eight years. He also served as city attorney for four years. In 1885 he was elected judge of the Circuit Court for the Eleventh Judicial District of Illinois, includ- ing the counties of Ford, McLean, Kankakee, Livingston and Iroquois. Judge Sample was re-elected to this position in 1891, his service covering 12 years, and in 1891 he was appointed judge of the Appellate Court of the Fourth District and served six years in that capacity. Retiring from the bench in June, 1897, he changed his residence to Bloomington, there
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forming a law partnership with John J. Morrissey. Judge Sample retired in 1899 and passed away on June 11, 1902, leaving a name crowned with honor as a lawyer, jurist, citizen and patriot.
On Sept. 9, 1875, Judge Alfred Sample was united in marriage with Miss Florence Adele Cook, a daughter of Col. Harry D. Cook, of Normal, Ill. To this union four children were born, two of whom died in infancy. The remaining daughters are: Florence (Mrs. Harry L. Fleming) and Lois (Mrs. William Meharry Glenn). Mr. and Mrs. Fleming and their family live with Mrs. Sample at 1401 North Main Street, Bloomington. Mr. and Mrs. Glenn and their little daughter, Rosemary, reside in Orlando, Fla., where Mr. Glenn is half owner and editor of the Orlando Sentinel.
Judge Sample was a Republican until late in life, but in 1896 was outspoken in announcing his support for the national Democratic ticket as a free silver Republican. He was connected with the Paxton Post No. 387, Grand Army of the Republic, and belonged to the Bloomington Lodge No. 46, A. F. & A. M .; Chapter No. 113, R. A. M .; Mt. Olive Commandery No. 38, K. T., and he was the grand orator of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Illinois in 1878.
Florence Sample Fleming was born at Paxton, Ill., May 14, 1880. She graduated from the Paxton High School in 1897, attended Illinois Wes- leyan University in Bloomington during the year 1897-98, and graduated from Illinois State Normal University in Normal in the class of 1900. In 1900-01 she was assistant principal of the high school at Auburn, Ill. She attended I. S. N. U. again in 1921-22.
On April 8, 1903, Miss Sample was united in marriage with Harry L. Fleming, and to this union three children have been born, as follows: Joan, a senior at Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass .; Helen, a freshman at Washington University in St. Louis; and William Rudd, a student at University High School, Illinois State Normal University, Normal.
Mrs. Fleming is actively connected with various community interests in Bloomington and McLean County. Her chief work is in behalf of the extension of the Parent-Teacher Association movement. She was presi- dent of the Illinois Council of Parent-Teacher Associations from 1918 to 1920, and has been a member of the state board of that organization in various capacities for more than ten years. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the Alumni Association of Illinois State Normal University, being at present the editor of the Alumni Quarterly. She is a Democrat as far as national politics are concerned and is a member of
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the Unitarian Church of Bloomington. Her other activities include mem- bership and service in the Woman's Club of Bloomington, the Blooming- ton Art Association, the Community Players, Illinois League of Women Voters, Illinois Art Extension Committee, and National Education Asso- ciation.
E. M. Evans, a well-known business man of Bloomington, who is identified with various interests, is a native of Bloomington and a member of a prominent pioneer family. He was born June 1, 1882, and is the son of R. F. and Nellie (Collins) Evans.
R. F. Evans was a native of Circleville, Ohio, and came to McLean County when an infant with his parents. He was a son of Robert Wilson Evans, who settled in Bloomington at an early date. R. F. Evans grew to young manhood here, and upon his father's death, while still in his teens, became his successor in business. To the mercantile business which was located at the corner of Main and Jefferson Streets, where the Corn Belt Bank now stands, he added the grocery department. Later he erected the building at the corner of Main and Monroe, for 50 years occupied by "Evans Bros .- Leading Grocers." Mr. Evans was a partner in the whole- sale grocery business of Humphreys, Evans & Company, the first estab- lishment of this kind in Bloomington. He was one of the founders of the Bloomington Canning Company and of the State National Bank. For sev- eral years he served as a member of the State Board of Education.
In 1871 Mr. Evans married Miss Nellie Collins of Hampton, Wash- ington County, N. Y. Three children were born, Robert Herman, Florence B. and Edwin Mark. Sorrow came to the home in the death in 1897 of Herman, the eldest son, a young man of 24, a graduate of the University of Illinois in the architectural course. The two living children are Flor- ence B., at home, and E. M. Evans, the subject of this sketch.
E. M. Evans was reared in Bloomington and educated in the public schools. He attended the Illinois State Normal Univeristy. Mr. Evans' first business connection was with the B. & N. Railway Company. He was one of the incorporators of Campbell Holton & Company, wholesale gro- cers, and is at present treasurer and director of that company. He is vice-president of the Bloomington Canning Company, and also has real estate interests in Bloomington.
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On Feb. 28, 1912, Mr. Evans was united in marriage with Miss Nan L. Morgan, a native of Bloomington, and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward R. Morgan. They have four children: Nancy Morgan, Richard Morgan, Lucia Bernardine and Joseph Orme.
During the World War Mr. Evans was vice-president of the Red Cross and conducted many of the Red Cross drives. He was a member of the war committee of the Y. M. C. A. and of the Food Administration for the state of Indiana. Mr. Evans is a member of the Association of Com- merce and was its president for two terms. The Meadows Manufacturing Company was brought to Bloomington largely through his personal efforts. Mr. Evans is now vice-president of the Board of Trustees of Illinois Wes- leyan University and served as chairman of the building committee of the new Wesleyan Memorial Gymnasium. He also served as chairman of the new building fund campaign for the Y. W. C. A. He is a member of the Young Men's Club, the Bloomington Country Club, the Rotary Club, the Maplewood Country Club and Bloomington Consistory. Mr. Evans and his family are members of the Second Presbyterian Church.
Frank E. Sweeting, a prominent business man and vice-president of the Paul Beich Company, of Bloomington, was born at Normal, Feb. 18, 1874, and is a son of James and Martha A. (Bennett) Sweeting.
James Sweeting was a native of Philadelphia and came to Normal in the fifties and at that time Normal was much larger than Bloomington. He was a contractor at Normal for many years, but several years before his death he retired from business. He died about fifteen years ago. Mrs. Sweeting was born in Virginia and her parents were pioneer settlers of Clark County, Ill. She now resides at Cleveland, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. James Sweeting three sons were born, as follows: Edwin, lives at Cleve- land, Ohio; Frank E., the subject of this sketch and James L., lives at Bloomington.
Frank E. Sweeting has always lived in Normal and Bloomington. He received his education in the schools of Normal and attended the Normal University of Normal. His first business venture was in the confectionery line and after being employed in a retail store of that kind for thirteen months, he became a member of the firm of Paul Beich Company at the time of its organization. This was in 1892. At the time of the incorpora-
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FRANK E. SWEETING
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