History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 109

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 109

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Roland Weaver Diller was born in Downing- town, Chester county, Pennsylvania, on the 5th of October, 1822. His father's name was Jona- than Diller, and his mother's maiden name, Ann Weaver. They were born near the Blue Ball, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and were mar- ried in January, 1813. They moved from Lan- caster to Chester county in the spring of 1822. They had six children, Weaver, Susanna R., Maria W., Isaac R., Roland W., and Annie E. His father died September 30, 1831, leaving his mother five children, in very moderate circum- stances. His mother moved to Lancaster City, in the fall of 1834, and in the spring of 1835, he was sent to learn the printing business and do

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

chores, with Mr. Caleb Kinnard, then in Down- ingtown, but he being rather self-willed, and not liking the constraint of a " boss," run off, and returned home; but his mother made him re- turn, the first opportunity. But, after a few weeks' apprenticeship, in which he learned to set type, cnt wood, make fires, and do "devil " work generally, about the house and office, he graduated, by again returning to Lancaster City, withont the "boss' leave." The Pennsylvania Railroad then run passenger cars from Lancaster to Philadelphia, horses tandum (one before the other), about like our street cars, which also carried the mail, and, boy-like, he was well ac- quainted with the drivers, and thereby stole a ride home. About this time, his mother married Morgan L. Reese, of Downingtown, a well-to-do old bachelor, whom the young Diller delighted to hate; but he in turn did everything in his power to make happy. There were two girls born to them, Sarah E. and Fannie Reese. Mr. Reese died in 1868, much loved by all.

A year after his mother's marriage, he was put into Hoopes & Sharpless' store, in West Ches- ter, where he remained until 1837, when he was again started to the printing trade in the Re- publican office, a Democratic paper, published by Price & Strickland, in West Chester. He was to serve them until he was twenty-one, for vietuals and clothes, and the last six months to go to school, which was a wise provision for the boy, as he had been to school but little since he was eleven years old. At the end of his ap- prenticeship, October, 1843, he borrowed $5, and started to Philadelphia. After about a month's " subbing" at the different offices, got a steady case in the Citizen Soldier's office, published by his brother, Isaac R. Diller, and Harry Diller, his cousin, until he started west, in the fall of 1344. Mr. D. says: "This was the year of the great political battle between Henry Clay, the Whig candidate, and James K. Polk, the Demo- cratic candidate. Mr. Clay was beaten by six thousand abolition votes being cast for Mr. Ber- ney, their candidate for President, and thereby giving that State to Mr. Polk and the victory to the Democrats. In July of that year, the Native American riots occurred in Philadelphia, costing the city millions of dollars for damages done churches, etc., all through fanaticism." Ile cast his first Presidential vote for Mr. Polk, and has ever continued steadfast to that party, as he regards it "a party of the people, for the people, and by the people."

His sister Maria married R. F. Ruth, August 11, 1841, and moved to Springfield, Illinois. On

the 8th of November, 1844, he left Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the West, via the Pennsyl- vania Railroad to Harrisburg, then by canal to Pittsburg, then by Ohio river to Cairo-up the Mississippi river to St. Louis, then by stage to this city, taking sixteen days to make the trip and nearly two days from St. Louis to Spring- field. On the 1st of December he commenced work in the State Register office, conducted by Messrs. Walters & Weber, and assisted in getting up the Statutes, revised by Mason Brayman, in 1845; Edward Conner, Morse Ballard, S. G. Nes- bitt, Mr. Brooks, Sr., and others as co-laborers; Mr. Farnsworth, proof reader, and Mr. Charles H. Lanphier, State Reporter, whose many kind- nesses to a stranger in a strange land will ever be prized.

In July, 1845, General W. L. D. Ewing, then Auditor of State, took him to Iowa, as a sur- veyor; he there sub-divided five townships into sections, and meandered about thirty miles of the DesMoines river, south of what is now Osce- ola. The Sac and Fox Indians received their last payment that fall, at Racoon Forks, now DesMoines City, just prior to their removal West. He finished the contract in December, 1845, being compelled by sickness to suspend operations for six weeks-in August and Sep- tember. When he returned from the work, he found General Ewing sick, and soon after he died, and Mr. D. lost all his work and the money advanced to carry it on. Mr. Thomas H. Camp- bell was appointed Auditor in Ewing's stead; he gave Mr. D. a place as land clerk, at $25.00 per month, increasing from time to time, as he be- came useful. August 9, 1849, he formed a part- nership with Mr. Charles S. Corneau, in the drug business, purchasing the stock and stand of Wallace & Diller, on the same ground his store now occupies. Mr. Campbell regretted his leav- ing his office, and promised to use his influence to get him the nomination for Auditor at the next election, if he would remain, but Mr. D. preferred a steady business to the uncertainty of political life.

On October 31, 1850, he married Miss Esther C. Ridgeway, daughter of Joseph Ridgeway, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-good Quaker stock -and to her benign influence and his mother's early teaching he attributes his success in life. Three children, Emma, Isaac R. and Essie, were born to them. Emma married David B. Ayres, of Morgan county ; Isaac married Addie, youngest danghter of W. T. Hughes, of Springfield, and Essie lives with her parents in the old home- stead. On the night of February 14, 1858, the

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

south half of the east side of the square was entirely consumed by fire, including Corneau & Diller's drug store. They then put up the pres- ent building. In June, 1860, Mr. Corneau died; since then Mr. D. has carried on the business. His store for years was the headquarters of both political parties-he was well acquainted with all the great men of early days, and with Mr. Douglas and Mr. Lincoln he was very inti- mate and a personal friend. During the great revival of 1866, conducted by the Rev. E. P. Hammond and city pastors, Mr. D. and his whole family embraced the religion of Jesus Christ, and connected themselves with the Third Pres- byterian Church; since he has been an enthus- iastic worker in the cause, and is an elder in the First Presbyterian Church.

In 1868, on the re-organization of the Old Set- tlers' Society, Mr. Diller became identified with its work, and has been actively engaged in for- warding its interest. In 1879 he was elected President and re-elected in 1880 and in 1881. He is an enthusiastic "old settler," and while he lives and is in active possession of his faculties, the society will have in him a friend, and one who will do all in his power to make the meet- ings a grand success.

In all moral and religious work Mr. Diller en- gages with his whole mind and strength. He shows his love to his God by his love to his fellow-men, and none will sink so low but he will take them by the hand and lift them up.

Anton Dirksen, senior partner of the firm of Dirksen & Son, manufacturers and dealers in up- holstered furniture and mattresses, 410 Washing- ton street, has been in the business in Springfield thirteen years. In 1879 he admitted his son Theodore H. Dirksen into partnership, when the firm took its present name. Until within the past two years Mr. Dirksen directed his atten- tion to mattress-making, which includes every grade from the cheap husk to the finest hair spring mattress. Since 1879 the feature of up- hostered goods has been added, and so elegant in design and finish, and substantial in workman ship are their parlor sets, that they have already built up a large demand for them, and have fur- nished a number of the most luxuriant homes in Sangamon county, with goods rarely equaled anywhere. The product of their factory is sold at both wholesale and retail. An average of eight skilled artisans are employed on this class of work.

Mr. Dirksen was born in Germany, in 1827, le rned the cabinet and upholstering trade in his native land, commencing at the age of fourteen;

served two years in the Prussian army; crossed the Atlantic in 1853, and settled directly in Springfield, Illinois. Worked nine years for the Wabash Railway Company at cabinet finish- ing and upholstering their passenger coaches, and two subsequent years for Jacob Hough, at cabinet work. In July, 1865, he married Mary Elshoff, in Springfield, a former neighbor in Germany. They have six sons and one daugh- ter, three of the former are with their father in the factory. The eldest, Theodore H., is twenty- five years of age; began learning the trade at thirteen, and is now a partner. Mr. Dirksen is one of the organizers and a charter member of the St. Vincent De Paul Benevolent Society, and the family are members of the Catholic Church.

Richard N. Dodds, druggist, corner of Mon- roe and Fifth streets, embarked in that branch of business, in Springfield, eight years ago, and in his present locality two years later. His store is one of the most elegant and completely fur- nished in the city, and stocked with a large as- sortment of drugs, medicines and fancy goods. His prescription business is very large. Richard is the son of James C. Dodds, deceased, and was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, in Novem- ber, 1851. His grandfather, Gilbert Dodds, moved with his family from Kentucky, and set- tled in Sangamon county, in an early day. James C. Dodds married Jane S. Boulware, a a native of Morgan county, Illinois. She is also deceased. Only three of their family of eight children survive, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest. He graduated from the Springfield High School in the class of 1871, and soon after entered the drug business.

Peter P. O' Donnell, confectioner, wholesale dealer in candies and ice cream, and general caterer, 529 Washington street, north side of the square, began the business in Springfield in 1866, and moved to his present location seven years ago. He manufactures candies and con- fectioneries, in which he has a large wholesale and retail trade, keeping a traveling salesman on the road in the jobbing interest. He uses three stories of the building, one hundred feet deep. The first floor is occupied for retail store and ice cream parlors, the finest in the city. The second floor is devoted to manufacturing, and the basement to ice cream and storage. Ife pays special attention to furnishing supplies for parties, receptions and sociables, and as a caterer is very popular. IFe is doing a prosperous, grow- ing business, employing in the busy season eight assistants. Mr. O'Donnell is a native of Ireland, and is thirty-three years old. He came to the

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HISTORY OF 'SANGAMON COUNTY.

United States in 1860, locating first in Brook- lyn, New York, then in Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania ; spent several years in each place, and settled in Springfield in 1866. He has given his attention chiefly to the branch of business in which he is now engaged, first starting on his own account in Springfield. Mr. O'Donnell is unmarried.

Harry F. Dorwin was born in Springfield, Illinois, August 4, 1855. He attended school here until 1868, when he began to work as clerk for the publishers of the "Masonic Trowel," a paper published here, and remained in this position two years. Then in 1871 he was employed as clerk in the State National Bank for five years. In January, 1877, was ap- pointed Assistant Private Secretary in the Gov- ernor's office, a position he still retains. His father, Phares A. Dorwin, was born in Jefferson County, N. Y .; he was a merchant, and in politics a Democrat. He was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Springfield, where he died April 18, 1870. His wife, Caroline Fisher, was born in Franklin County, Pennsyl- vania; she is a member of the First Presbyte- rian church in Springfield, Illinois was the" mother of six children, three living-H. F., the subject of this sketch, Chas. G., clerk in the General Division Freight office in Springfield, Illinois, and Shelby C. Dorwin, employed as book-keeper in the Joliet, Illinois, Penitentiary. Harry F. Dorwin in politics is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Hayes for President of the United States.

Adam Doenges, Springfield, Illinois, was born in Hesse Castle, Germany, June 10, 1830; son of Martin and Hallena (Sehuenky) Doenges; father was a soldier in the French war of 1812 and 1813. Adam attended the school of his native town, and when he became large enough to do manual labor, was employed in a hotel as waiter; afterward became head-waiter, and re- mained there until he was twenty-seven years of age, when he sailed for America to make his fortune; landed in New York City, remaining a short time, then came to Springfield in 1857, when he was engaged in various works; a por- tion of the time was watchman at the Treasur- er's office, which place he filled until 1881. In the meantime he started a grocery store. In 1871 he commenced the study of medicine, and since that time has practiced more or less. In 1872 he was ordained a preacher in the German Methodist Church. He married Miss Mary E. Mentemeyor, of Holland, in 1858. There were twelve children, eleven of whom are living:

Mary E., born January 10, 1860; Lydia, July 23, 1861; Emma R., April 16, 1863; Henry, Novem- ber 23, 1864; Charles, October 4, 1866; Albert, June 8, 1868; Katie, March 6, 1870; Julius, May 21, 1871; Minnie, February 21, 1873, died No- vember 14, 1875; Wesley, born February 11, 1875; Louis, May 28, 1877, and Mattie, Decem- ber 14, 1878.

Noah Divelbiss, citizen of Springfield, Illinois, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania, November 28, 1824; son of Jacob and Catharine (Adams) Divelbiss, who were married in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, Jannary 19, 1819, and had four children, three of whom are liv- ing: Cathen, Noah and Amanda. In April, 1838, Mr. D. left his home in Pennsylvania, coming by wagon to Pittsburg, thence by water to Beards- town, himself and son Noah walking, while the family came through by stage. After arriving in this city he rented for three years, then purchased a lot on the corner of Eighth and Mason streets, where he built him a brick cot- tage, and lived in it until his death, which oc- cured in 1876. He was a wagon-maker by trade, which business he followed for a number of years. He was elected alderman, and was also collector and assessor in 1853. Mrs. D. died in August, 1875; they lived together over fifty- seven years. Mrs. D. was one of the original members of the Lutheran Church, and Mr. D. was the first member admitted.

Noah Divelbiss came to Springfield when he was thirteen years of age, and was employed as clerk. In 1844 he was appointed deputy clerk of the Supreme Court, which position he held four years. In 1848 he went to Naples, where he clerked for the firm of Ridgely, Mathers & Dresser, remained eighteen months, then re- turned to the city and was clerk in the post office two years; in 1851, embarked in the cloth- ing business with Little, where he remained one year; was then engaged in the Mechanics' Bank as Cashier, two years, and in December, 1854, was in the Marine Fire Insurance Bank as book- keeper and teller, until 1865; when he went to Pike county and purchased Perry Springs, which was a financial failure. In the fall of 1869, he returned to Springfield, where he again engaged in the banking business, until the fall of 1878, since which time he has lived retired. He married Miss Cordelia Watson, a daughter of W. W. Watson; she was born in Nashville, Tennessee, March 16, 1825. There were five children, one of which is living-Nellie Chase. Mr. Divelbiss has been identified with the inter- ests of the county nearly all his life, and an

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

active business man. Mrs. Divelbiss died No- vember 9, 1880. She was a sincere christian, and was loved and respected by all who knew her.

Thos. W. Dresser, M. D., Springfield, Illinois, was born in Halifax county, Virginia, January 11, 1837; son of Rev. Charles Dresser, an Epis- copal minister, who emigrated to this county in May, 1838, where he supplied the pulpit for seventeen years, and did more for the elevation of the church than any man in Springfield. He died, after an active life, in March, 1865. His mother, Louisa (Withers) Dresser, was a native of Virginia. There were a family of six child- ren, Thomas W. being the second son; was educated principally at Jubelee College in Peoria county, Illinois, under the supervison of Bishop Chase, the founder of the school. When twenty-three years of age he attended two courses of lectures at Louisiana Medical College, and afterwards attended one course at the New York University, where he graduated with honors in March, 1864. He married Miss Mar- garet Dorenus, daughter of the Rev. Dr. John E. C. Dorenus, a graduate at Princeton College, and an intimate friend of Abraham Lincoln. They have one child, Katherine. After gradu- ating in New York, the Doctor came to Spring- field, established himself in his practice, and has remained ever since.

Abner Y. Ellis, mailing clerk in the Spring- field, Illinois, post office, was born in Springfield, Illinois, June 1, 1840, and is the son of Abner Y. and Virginia (Richmond) Ellis; the former born in Warsaw, Kentucky; the latter born in the State of Vermont, near Montpelier, and came to Springfield in an early day. The subject of this biography received his earlier education in the private schools, and then attended the Illi- nois State University, in Springfield, and at the age of fourteen ceased to pursue his studies, as his labors were required at home. After leaving school, was in a telegraph office a short time, and then clerked for B. F. Fox, hardware, etc., then clerked for his father in forwarding and commis- sion house, in connection with which he had a grocery store; then clerked for his father, who was with John Williams & Co., dry goods and groceries, and afterwards clerked for the firm of Hunt & Ellis, dry goods, groceries, etc., in which firm he clerked until 1857, when the firm ceased. On November 10, 1858, Mr. Ellis was employed in the post office in Springfield, Illinois, as paper dis tributor, and shortly after promoted to take charge of the letter mailing department, under Postmas- ter Lindsay, which position he has held since, a

period of twenty-three years, as letter mailing clerk, (with the exception of a short interval, in which time he was in the office of Governor Yates.) All of the various places of Mr. Ellis' employment were in Springfield, Illinois. His father, A. Y. Ellis, Sr, was in business with A. G. Herndon, groceries and provisions; Assessor under General Henry, Sheriff; was with General Henry in his store, and with Foley Vaughn, and next with Mr. Garland; was with Condell, Jones & Co .; was Postmaster in Springfield under Presidents Taylor and Fillmore; was with Z. A. Enos in the feed and commission business; then in partnership with H. A. Grannis in merchan- dising; next with John Williams & Co., then Hurst & Ellis, and afterwards merchandising by himself; afterward general delivery clerk in the post office in Springfield, under Postmaster Lind- say, then removed to his farm in Moro, Madison county, Illinois, in 1864, or thereabouts. The different firms mentioned with whom Mr. A. Y. Ellis was with, were all of Springfield, Illinois. He was born in Warsaw county, Kentucky, No- vember 30, 1807, and died March 10, 1878, aged seventy years. His wife, Virginia, was born September, 1813, and resides on their farm near Moro, Illinois. The subject of this sketch, Abner Y. Ellis, was married December 20, 1865, in Rey- nolds township, Ogle county, Illinois, to Carrie L. Flagg, daughter of Willard Flagg (farmer) and Mrs. Lucy Flagg, natives of the State of Vermont, came to Ogle county, Illinois, in an early day. Mr. and Mrs. E. have four children, Richard Y., Alfred F., William F., and Lucy V., all born in the city of Springfield, Illinois. Mrs, Ellis was educated in her native county, Ogle county, in which she taught school for one year. She has one brother, Alfred M., and one half- brother, Oscar M. Lake, and two sisters, Mrs. Julia Braiden and Mrs. Antoinette Young. Mr. Ellis has four brothers, namely: Volney R, Or- ville P., Henry, John C., and two sisters, namely: Jane F., Salom E., all living. Mr. Ellis is a member of the National American Association, Calhoun Lodge, No. 13. Mr. Ellis has shown his integrity to the people by retaining his posi- tion of trust for a number of years.

Temp Elliott was born in Frankfort, Franklin county, Kentucky, December 9, 1835, and when seven years of age came with his parents to Illi- nois, and settled on a farm in Cartwright town- ship, Sangamon county. Lived there on the farm until 1856, when hs came with his parents to Springfield. He attended the Lutheran Col- lege, which is known now as the Corcordia, until 1856. During that time Mr. Springer was Presi-

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dent. In 1856 Mr. Temp Elliott went to Cali- fornia, and remained in the mines until 1862, when he returned to Springfield, Illinois, and opened a wholesale and retail grocery business on the east side of the square. The firm was Keily & Elliott. He remained in the business five years, then traded in stock until 1871, when he was deputy sheriff two years. He then traded in cattle until 1876, when he was elected Sheriff of Sangamon county, by a large majority. He was Sheriff until 1878, when he engaged in the buying and driving of Texas cattle from Texas to Colorado and Wyoming Territories, his present occupation. Ile was married to Miss Mary Constant, October 8, 1862. She was born in Logan county, Illinois, and she was a dangh- ter of A. E. Constant, born in Xenia, Ohio, and came to Sangamon county in 1819. He and Mr. Lathrop built the first house north of the Sanga- mon river. He was a member of the Christian Church, and died February, 1874. His wife, Miss Mary (Latham) Elliott, was born in Ken- tncky; she was a member of the Christian Church, and died in 1872. She was the mother of three daughters, viz: Mrs. Margerie Thomp- son, one of the principal teachers in the Bettie Stuart Institute, at Springfield, Illinois; Mrs. Temp Elliott, and Miss Kate Constant, who has charge of the Primary Department in the Bettie Stuart Institute at Springfield. Mr. and Mrs. Temp Elliott have six children, viz: Miss IIatty Archie, Rita, Harry, Griffith, and Maude Elliott. Mrs. Elliott is a member of the Chris- tian Church.

The father of Temp was John Elliott, born in Virginia, and when small moved to Kentucky, and came to Illinois in 1834, and settled in Sangamon county. He was a member of the Baptist Church, and died June, 1856. His wife was Jane E. Taylor, born in Kentucky in 1795. She is living with her son, Temp El- liott, in Springfield, Illinois, in her 87th year. Her father, John G. Taylor, born in Virginia, was a Baptist minister for sixty years. He wrote the history of the "Twelve Baptist Churches." He died in Kentucky in 1836. Three of his children came to Sangamon county, viz: Judge W. Taylor, for many years Judge of Sangamon County Probate Court; Mrs. Joseph Smith, living in Bates, Illinois, the mother of Major Smith, of Bates; John T. Smith, of the Ridgely National Bank; Mrs. David Brown, of Bates, and the mother of Temp Elliott. Mr. Elliott, the subject of this sketch, ; has a nice residence at 835 South Sixth street, where he resides. In politics he is a Democrat, and

cast his first vote for Breckenridge for President of the United States.

Samuel S. Elder, dealer in stoves, tinware, grates, and mantles, 616 Washington street, has conducted that branch of merchandising in Springfield over a quarter of a century. Samuel Elder and Phebe Clinkinbeard married and set- tled in Bourbon county, Kentucky, where the subject of this biography was born, May 5, 1831, and is one of their family of twenty children, of whom fourteen lived to adult age. They moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, in November, 1834, and located two miles north of Rochester vil- lage, where they reared their large family. Mr. Elder died there in 18 -. His widow resides in the city, aged eighty-three years in December. Samuel came to Springfield, February 17, 1849; began learning the tinner's trade the following day, and has operated on his own account since 1854. He has a fine trade in stoves and grates and mantles, making a specialty of the latter, and does an extensive business in roofing, galva- mized iron cornice, and general job work, in which he employs an average of six men. He married Sarah Shives, in Springfield, Illinois; she was born in the State of Pennsylvania, but brought up in Sangamon county. They have but one living child, Gusta J., now the wife of L. A. Constant, of Springfield. Mr. Elder has been an Odd Fellow more than twenty years, and he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.

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History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 109

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company Number of Pages: 1084

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084