USA > Illinois > Piatt County > History of Piatt County; together with a brief history of Illinois from the discovery of the upper Mississippi to the present time > Part 33
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Bement Library Association .- A preliminary meeting of those interested in procuring a library for public use was held November 16. 1866, in the school-house. George L. Spear was chairman and R. S. Hopkins, secretary. At this meeting a report was given in of a subscription list amounting to $134. Committees were appointed for getting further subscriptions and soliciting donations of books. The subscribers met in December, 1866, and a constitution was adopted. The first officers were George L. Spear, president ; R. S. Hopkins, vice-president ; Joseph Bodman, treasurer ; and H. A. Coffeen, librarian. It was originally called the Bement Library Association, but was char- tered October, 1878, under the name of The Library Association of Bement. The present officers are Dr. Vance, president; H. D. Newton, secretary and treasurer ; Mrs. Force, librarian, which position · she has held for six years. The directors are Mrs. Knapp, Mrs. Bacon, Mrs. Bodman, Dr. Vance, and Mr. Joseplı Bodman. At present the books in the library number 1,224, and somewhere near a hundred are added each year. The circulation is about 3,000 books a year. By paying $10 any one can become a life member and pay no dues. By paying $5 one can become an elector and pay fifty cents each year. Annual members pay $1. Two books each are allowed a week. The rest of the money is raised by subscription. It is open once a week, on Saturday afternoons, for two hours. The association is in a
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very flourishing condition, the number of members and amount of money received increases each year. Bement has reason to be very proud of the library, as it is by far the best in the county.
Lodges .- The items in regard to the Masonic lodge were kindly furnished by Mr. C. F. Tenney.
The Bement Masonic Association was chartered under the laws of the State of Illinois, October 4, 1875, "for the purpose of purchasing a site and erecting thereon a building for masonic purposes for the pro- motion of universal benevolence and charity." The first directors were Joseph Bodman, W. M. Camp, C. F. Tenney, S. A. Lodge, J. O. Sparks and Robert Fisher. They organized by electing Joseph Bod- man president ; F. E. Bryant, treasurer, and C. F. Tenney, secretary. The directors issued and sold stock, and with the proceeds purchased a lot on the southeast corner of Bodman and Piatt streets and erected thereon a two-story brick building with basement. The corner-stone was laid by the grand lodge, A. F. and A. M., with the usual formali- ties, on May 25, 1876. The hall was dedicated to Masonry by the same body in the autumn following. The present board of directors are J. O. Sparks, Horace Haldennan, Robert Fisher, D. D. Kimmel, W. M. Camp and C. F. Tenney. The present officers of the board are D. D. Kimmel, president ; F. E. Bryant, treasurer, and C. F. Tenney, secretary.
Bement Chapter, No. 65, Royal Arch Masons, received its charter October 7, 1864. The charter members were Joseph Bodman, F. E. Bryant, J. O. Sparks, A. G. Gregory, C. Fisher, Jr., J. M. Taylor, C. F. Tenney, George Milmine, T. T. Pettit, E. C. Bodman, E. B. Sprague, J. M. Camp, O. C. McConny, S. B. Hawkes, George S. Dus- tin,, James Wharton, Joshua Hill. The first officers were Joseph Bod- man, high priest; F. E. Bryant, king ; J. O. Sparks, scribe ; S. B. Hawkes, treasurer ; E. C. Bodman, secretary ; George Milmine, cap- · tain of the host; C. F. Tenney, principal sojourner ; J. M. Taylor, royal arch captain ; C. Fisher, Jr., grand master of the third veil ; A. G. Gregory, grand master of the second veil ; T. T. Pettit, grand mas- ter of the first veil ; Joshua Hill, tyler. The present officers are V. S. Ruby, high priest ; A. T. M. Wetherall, king; W. W. Vance, scribe ; W. M. Camp, treasurer ; E. B. Sprague, secretary ; G. A. Stadler, captain of the host; F. A. Jones, principal sojourner ; B. B. Bacon, royal arch captain ; Isaac Witherspoon, grand master of the third veil ; J. C. Klapp, grand master of the second veil; J. F. Knapp, grand master of the first veil ; T. T. Pettet, tyler. Present membership, fifty.
BEMENT TOWNSHIP. 351
Bement Lodge, No. 365, A. F. and A. M., received its charter October 1, 1861. The charter members were F. E. Bryant, H. A. Bodman, Charles Fisher, Jr., A. G. Gregory, G. M. Gregory, J. W. C. Gray, John A. Helman, T. T. Pettit, W. L. Ryder, J. O. Sparks, William Stilwell, E. B. Sprague, J. M. Taylor and Aaron Yost. The first officers were F. E. Bryant, worshipful master; J. O. Sparks, senior warden ; William Stilwell, junior warden ; T. T. Pettit, treas- urer; E. B. Sprague, secretary ; J. A. Hehnan, senior deacon ; C. Fisher, Jr., junior deacon ; Aaron Yost, tyler. The present officers are W. M. Vance, worshipful master; G. A. Stadler, senior warden ; V. S. Ruby, junior warden ; W. M. Camp, treasurer ; Thomas Lamb, Jr., secretary ; Charles McGaffey, senior deacon; John C. Klapp, junior deacon ; J. F. Knapp, senior steward ; William Parker, junior steward ; T. T. Pettit, tyler. Present membership, sixty-four.
Order of Odd-Fellows .- The Irwin Lodge, No. 344, Bement, was chartered October, 1867, with R. F. Jones, past grand ; Aaron Misen- helter, past grand ; D. C. Moffitt, past grand ; and E. O. Wallace, Peter Caughenbaugh and J. N. Bills as charter members. At the first meeting the following named persons were elected and installed in their respective offices : E. O. Wallace, noble grand ; J. N. Bills, vice grand; R. F. Jones, recording secretary; and Peter Caughenbaugh, treasurer. Grand Master Herr was the installing officer. At this first meeting the following persons were admitted to membership: C. Schoolcraft, Samuel Dearing, Joseph W. Fristoe, J. A. Force, C. Newton, Wm. L. Finley, John Hughes, H. A. Starks and Peter Shaffer. The total membership of the lodge since its institution is over one hundred, while the present membership in good standing is near fifty. The total amount of revenue during the existence as a lodge is near $2,000. Some help has been given to families of brethren, there is some cash on hand, some notes at interest, and the value of regalia and other belongings is over $500.
Chosen Friends .- This order was organized in Bement, April 18, 1881, and at present there are forty-three members. It is a mutual benefit society, in which the members receive one, two orthree thousand dollars, owing to the grade they take, one-half of which is paid upon total disability, either from disease or accident, and the whole amount to be paid at death or when the member lives to the age of seventy-five years. Either lady or gentleman can become a member any time between the ages of eighteen and sixty-one. The current expenses are kept up by quarterly dues, and the relief fund is raised on the
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assessment plan. The organization now numbers, ir. the United States, from twelve to fifteen thousand persons, and is but three years old. This is the only order in Piatt county, and the first officers who held the highest positions were E. B. Sprague, Past C. C., and T. J. Mitchell, C. C. Those holding the corresponding offices now are M. M. Sprague and G. W. Poole. Dr. Mitchell was the organizer in this county and is deputy supreme counselor.
Knights of Honor .- This lodge was organized April 11, 1879. There are forty members at present. The order is nine years old in . June, is conducted on the assessment plan, and is run mnuch like the order of Chosen Friends, except it does not receive lady members. The highest officers at present are Dr. Mitchell, past dictator ; Robert Fertig, dictator ; James A. Klapp, recorder ; H. Halderman, treasurer.
Temperance Union .- The Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized at Bement, November 27, 1879, by Frances E. Willard, with twenty-one charter members. At present there are about fifty- seven members. Miss P. A. Duncan is president; Mrs. J. V. Cooper, secretary ; Miss Irene Barnes, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. Wein- stein, treasurer, and Mrs. Peairs, Mrs. Swaney and Mrs. Martin, vice- presidents. Mrs. Pettit is local editress. A juvenile temperance society was organized in Bement about a year ago.
IVESDALE.
About the time the Great Western railroad was built, or soon after, a switch was made at the present Ivesdale and the station was named Norria for one of the owners of the road. But when Mr. Chapin, general superintendent of the railroad, and one of the men most inter- ested in the station, died, the town was nipped in the bud. After a time the name was changed to Ivesdale, in honor, it is supposed, to Mr. Ives, of Providence, Rhode Island, who owned land in the vicinity. The town was laid off about 1867 on land owned by Messrs. King, Harbinson and Chapin. After about two years an addition was made by S. K. Donovan.
The business part of the place lies in Champaign county, but some forty acres of land owned by W. H. Johnson in Piatt county was in- corporated in 1870 or 1871. The school district extends into Piatt . county. The first school was taught in 1863 by Miss L. White in a log house.
The post-office was established in 1864, and W. H. Johnson was made postmaster. He retained his position as such with little inter- ruption until 1881, when Mr. Charles Groves became postmaster.
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The town contains eight or ten business houses and three churches, Catholic, Methodist and Lutheran. There are about three hundred inhabitants. Mr. Patrick Gallavan is one of the oldest settlers in the vicinity, and W. H. Johnson has been identified with the town almost through its entire existence.
Ivesdale is a good shipping point, and has great need of a flour- mill and elevator.
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CHAPTER XIV.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
M R. JOSEPH F. ALVORD, Bement, is of English and German descent. His parents were natives of Massachusetts, and lived and died in their native state. His father died in 1825, but his mother's death did not occur until after Mr. Alvord went west. Mr. Alvord settled in Ohio in 1853, and in 1855 moved to Piatt county, and located on what is known now as the Kesner estate. He lived there in a log house, and boarded the men who built the first house in Bement. The lumber for this first house was hauled from Champaign, and Mr. Alvord helped to do the hauling. On the 6th of November, 1835, Mr. Alvord was united in marriage to Marietta Clapp. Of their chil- dren, Joseph C. was killed in 1862, in the late war. Harrison M. has been twice married, and is living in Ohio. Oscar L. died in the army in 1862. George B. married Eunice Upton, has four children, and lived for several years in Kansas. Wilbur C. married Emma Clark, and lives in Bement. Albert F. is now in New Mexico or Arizona. Louis H. was united in marriage to Ella Williams, and is living in Bement.
MR. JOSEPH BODMAN was born September 20, 1819, in Williams- . burg, Hampshire county, Massachusetts. His parents were born in the same state, and their ancestors were among the early settlers of that state. Their name first appeared in 1644 on the records of the old South church in Boston. After obtaining such education as he could in a country school, he served a regular apprenticeship in a country store. After he was twenty-one years old he began travel- ing, both in his own and in other states. He spent a good deal of time in Ohio, but still retained his residence in his native state, and such continued to be his home until he came to Piatt county, in the spring
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of 1855. He first visited the county, however, in 1853. He entered land for himself and brother, returned east, and then came back for the purpose of getting a station on or near the land, and succeeded in securing the location of what is now Bement. He owns a farm of some 1,400 acres adjoining Bement. It is all under cultivation, has fine farm houses on it, and is inclosed by ten or twelve miles of hedge and fence. Mr. Bodman was one of the charter members of the Bement Masonic lodge, and was the first high priest. We cannot give Mr. Bodman too much credit for the interest he has shown, throughout his residence here, in the town of Bement.
MR. LUTHER BODMAN entered his land in Bement township about 1856, and owns 1,240 acres, all in one tract. It was first entered in partnership with Louis Bodman, but afterward divided. He has put all the improvements on his farm, having put up nine dwelling-houses for laborers. He raises each year from four to five hundred acres of , broom-corn, and it is probably the best equipped broom-corn farm in the state, the brick mill alone costing $4,500 or $4,600. The water is pumped by engines into tanks and then into feed lots by pipes. Much money has been expended to place it in its present excellent condition. The broom-corn is cut and cured there, and sent east for manufacture. There, are five groves on the farm, from three to five acres in each, and twenty-five miles of osage orange hedge. A great amount of ditching, both open and tiling, has been done. All the land is under cultivation, and under the supervision of one person.
MR. FRANCIS E. BRYANT, banker, Bement, was born in Nelson, New Hampshire, February 3, 1818: His parents were natives of Massachusetts, but moved to New Hampshire in 1815. His grand- father Bryant was in the battle of Bunker Hill, and received a pension for his services there during the rest of his life. Mr. F. E. Bryant has the pocket-book his grandfather carried at the battle of Bunker Hill, also a continental bill which he received for services in this battle. Upon our questioning if he was related to Wm. C. Bryant, the poet, he replied that his father was a cousin to Wm. C. Bryant, and that another cousin, S. F. Smith, is the author of the poem "America." Mr. Bryant's parents moved to Ohio in 1833. His father was a farmer, and his mother, in an early day, taught school. Mr. Bryant was once prepared for college, but owing to a change in arrangements he studied surveying, and on June 15, 1837, he started to Schuyler county, Illinois, where he followed the compass for six years. He remained nineteen years in Schuyler county, and while there, on July 4, 1840, he was
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united in marriage to Sarah E. Briscoe, a daughter of Col. Geo. H. Briscoe, a soldier of the war of 1812, and formerly a resident of Mercer county, Kentucky. Thinking that he would have a better chance for advancement at Bement than where he was living, he moved to that place July 26, 1856, and began buying grain and selling lumber and salt. He opened the first merchandise store of the place May 18, 1857. From then until the present time he has been an energetic business man of the place; indeed he has been one of the principal business men of Bement, and has done a great deal for the advance- ment of the town. He has now been in the banking business for ten years. Mr. Bryant was elected county surveyor in Schuyler county in 1839, and served four years. In 1852 he represented that county in the eighteenth general assembly. He was also elected, in 1872, member of the twenty-eighth general assembly, from the counties of Piatt and Champaign. He took an active part in the organization of the Masonic lodge of Bement, and was appointed by the grand lodge its first master, serving as such for three years. Mr. Bryant has traveled somewhat, both in this country and in the old world. He spent the summer of 1878 in Europe. He owns six stores, the bank building, an elevator, several offices and twelve improved lots, in addition to other property. In 1882 he erected an elegant cottage, one of the finest in the county: No expense has been spared in making it one of the most complete homes in the west. Mr. and Mrs. Bryant have had six children, only one of whom, Mrs. Bruce Sprague, is living. Mollie died at the age of seventeen. Two grandchildren, Eddie and Frank, are here to bring joy and gladness to the old age of Mr. and Mrs. Bryant.
" From youth to age this wedded pair Have journeyed on together - Not always gentle was the wind, Nor always bland the weather ; Yet few and light have been their cares, And light and few their crosses, And God has shown his pitying face Amid their griefs and losses. Oli, sore the travel and the toil To reach the roseate present, Had no affection cheered the way And made the journey pleasant.
What if the cheek has lost its bloom, The eye its olden lustre ? · What if the locks are tliin and blanched Which on the temples cluster ?
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HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
Still hope is fresh and hearts are young, And love is unabated. · And men and angels hail to-day The married and the mated.
The loveliest thing on earth is love, The loveliest and the purest ; The dearest thing on earth is love, The dearest and the surest ; And not alone is heavenly sweet The honey of its kisses: The very tears of love are sweet, Its very pangs are blisses ;
And they who love with love the best, The fondest and the strongest - Love with the loveliest love of all - Are they who love the longest.
Ah ! love's dear veterans well deserve Our greetings and our praises, Since where we looked for Winter's snows They point to Spring's sweet daisies ; Since when the sea is smooth and fair, Or black the tide is flowing,
Through all the voyage of the years They keep their fond hearts glowing ;
Since, though the frame may show the trace Of many a blight and fever, The teeming vineyards of the soul Are fresh and green as ever ; Since, through the long, sweet married days Their faith and fervor proving, They make a noble thing of life, A Godlike thing of loving.
Oh, happy, true and honored pair ! Oh, ever leal and loyal ! We pay you willing court to-day, For love has made you royal ! All gentle thoughts and hopes are yours, All wishes, sweet and tender- What richer tributes can we bring, What worthier homage render ? God's cherubs still your steps attend, His peace your fond hearts strengthen,
As o'er the sky above your heads The evening shadows lengthen ; And when the night comes on, at last, And brings its welcome slumber,
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Sweet angels from the wondrous host Which none may name or number, Shall lead your still united souls Through shining arch and portal, To gardens fair and pastures green,
Where love shall be immortal !"
MR. S. K. BODMAN, druggist and postmaster, Bement, is a native of Massachusetts. His parents moved to Ohio in 1833, when he was but one year old. He came to Piatt county about 1855, and taught school for about five years. He returned to Ohio, where he remained a year or two. He then came back to Piatt county, and opened a drug store in Bement. His store was built in 1866. He was made postmaster during Lincoln's administration. He was removed while Johnson was in office, but he was reappointed. He has been. town clerk, treasurer and school director several terms. Mr. Bodman was married in Massachusetts in October, 1865, to Martha M. Lyman, whom he had mnet in Ohio. Their union has been blessed by six children, Clara S., Joseph L., Angie M., Mary E., Mattie C. and Edgar.
MR. THOMAS C. BODY (deceased) was a native of England, and came to America when a young man, locating on a farm in Piatt county about 1858. He moved into Decatur twice, and then for the third time located in Bement in 1867, in which town he lived until his death, with the exception of a short time spent on a farm. He was married in 1856, to Hannah D. Turnbolt, and they had seven children, six of whom are living. Fannie married Isaac Witherspoon, and had three children, two living, Grace and Edith; Charles L. is in the livery business with Albert Godwin ; Darlington is clerking in Mr. Webster's grocery store, and Edward, William and Harry are at home. Mr. Body died in 1876. Mrs. Body still owns a farm of 319 acres, which they have partially improved. She also owns her residence, livery stable, six lots and a storé room.
MR. T. GEORGE BELL (deceased) was a native of Pennsylvania, from which state he moved to Bement, Piatt county, during the war. He married Sarah Sample, who still survives him, and had two chil- dren. Mr. John D. Bell (see his sketchi) is living in Bement. Mary Bell became the wife of Mr. Jacob Mutherspaugh, but died, leaving five children. Mr. Bell died in 1880, and his wife owns a house and lot in Bement, in addition to a small farm.
MR. JOHN D. BELL, druggist, Bement, is a native of central Penn-
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HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
sylvania, moved from there to Illinois in March, 1864, and has been in this county ever since. Most of the time he followed farming, building the house and improving the farm lately bought by Mr. Moyer just north of town. He owns some town property, residence, several lots and sixty acres of land east of town. In 1853 he was married to Mrs. George Oliver, who had three children, all living. Mary, the wife of Dr. W. W. Houser, lives in Lincoln, is quite an artist, and has five children. John L. married Miss Herrington, and lives in Nebraska. George is in New Mexico. Since the last marriage he had five children, three of whom are living. Sadie is now in California. Anna is at home. Elmer graduated at Evanston Garrett Institute in 1882, and expects to become a minister. Mr. Bell belongs to the Knights of Honor, organized about three years ago, and which has a membership at present of thirty-six. He also belongs to a benevolent society and an insurance society, each member carrying an insurance of $2,000.
MR. B. B. BACON, cashier in Bryant's Bank, Bement, is a native of Schuyler county, Illinois, from which place he moved to Bement in 1872, when he went into the bank of Bryant & Bodman. He belongs to the Masonic lodge of Bement, and owns a residence and six lots in the town. He was married June 17, 1875, to Miss S. E. Burgess, a native of Marshall county, Illinois. Two children, Ethyl and Max, have come to bless their union.
MR. A. J. BOGGs, harness-maker, Bement, was born in Pennsyl- vania, and moved from there to Butler county, Ohio, thence to the state line, where he kept hotel for several years; thence to Wayne county, and kept hotel there eight years. From there he moved to Coles county, Illinois, in 1859, where he farmed and kept harness-shop for eight years, and then moved to Bement, and has since been in the harness business. He owns two residences, two business houses and several vacant lots ; in all he has put up seven buildings. He belongs to the organization of Odd-Fellows. Mr. Boggs was married in Butler county, Ohio, in 1844, to Elizabeth Russel, and has had eleven children, six of whom are living. The eldest child lived to be thirty- one, and died in Kansas. Russel married Susan Glower, and lived in Bement. She was playing with her baby, when her dress caught fire, and, running outdoors, she was so badly burned that she only lived from Thursday to Saturday, and died February 18, 1872, leaving one child, Emory. Russell was married the second time, to Melissa Burton in Nebraska, and moved back to Bement, where he died in
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
1876, leaving one child by his second marriage ; Maggie died Marchi 24, 1882, of cancer of the stomach; Louisa is the wife of George Warden, lives in Kansas, and has two children ; Viola married Ralph Evans, a farmer, lives at Hammond, and has two children, Cecil and Earl. The names of Mr. Boggs' other children are A. Vinton, Belle, Albert, who was a twin, and Cora, the youngest. Mrs. Russel makes her home with her sister, Mrs. Boggs, in Bement.
MRS. ALEXANDER BOGGS, Bement, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1783, moved from there to Wayne county, Indiana, in 1846, and came to Illinois with her son, A. J. Boggs. Her husband, Alexander Boggs, was born in 1777, and died in Wayne county, Indiana, in 1855, of cholera. `She has two other children in this state. Dr. P. S. Boggs is a dentist at Lovington, and has five children. Catharine is the wife of O. S. Crider, lives in Homer, and has one child. Mrs. Boggs has also a daughter in Wayne county, Indiana, and a son in Kansas. Her father was in the revolutionary war, and was ninety-nine years old when he died. Her brother was in the war of 1812, and her grandfather was killed by Indians in Pennsylvania. Her youngest aunt was taken prisoner by the Indians, kept for seven years, was married to one, and finally released. Mrs. Boggs does not seem very old, has her second sight, and is not very hard of hearing.
MR. JACOB H. BARNES, carpenter, Bement, is a native of old Virginia, from which state he moved to Ohio in 1827. In 1866 he located in Bement, where he now owns a residence and two lots. He lias held the office of school trustee and has been coroner for four years. In 1844 Mr. Barnes and Elizabeth Kimmel were united in marriage. They have four children living: Orre, who married Robert Haseltine, a civil engineer of Ohio; Marcelous, who married Mary Chapins, has three children, John, Louis and LeRoy; and Iren and Kimmel, who are both at home.
MR. HENRY B. BURGESS (deceased), farmer, Bement, lived in Illinois a number of years, and improved 360 acres of land in Bement township. His death occurred about 1876. Mr. Burgess was married in Indiana, to Mary Miller, who is still living. Four of their five children are living. Of these, Mrs. B. B. Bacon, of Bement, is the eldest. Clark M. Burgess, who now lives on the home farm, was married October 6, 1880, to Mary Robinson. They have one daughter, Ruth Angie. Hattie and Mr. James Webster were united
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