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 116

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 116

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).

693

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

other kinds were built. Nearly all the bread used was made from Indian corn. Mr. Mason, Sr., raised cotton for many years after coming to this county, and there were two cotton gins built near him. The nearest carding machine was at Sangamo, and owned by a Mr. Broadwell. After the wool and cotton were carded, the different families manufactured their own cloth, and this constituted the wearing apparel of both males and females. Peaches were almost a sure crop, and Mr. Thomas Black had a copper still at- tached to his horse mill, and Noah M. assisted him in making pure whisky from corn, and pure brandy from peaches. He also cut hickory wood for Mr. Black at thirty-seven and one-half cents per cord; made rails the summer he was twenty- one years old, for thirty-seven and one-half cents per hundred, and cut corn in the fall, sixteen hills square, for five cents per shock, or fifty cents per day. In this way he clothed himself, and had sixteen and one-half dollars-all in sil- ver half dollars-when he started, with a num- ber of others, March 19, 1829, for the Galena lead mines; was there six summers and two winters, including the winter of the deep snow. Mr. Mason served in four different companies dur- ing the Black War. In 1834 he had five eighty- acre tracts of land, bought with money earned by himself in the lead mines. The prairie-flies were a great annoyance in the summer, and in order to avoid them plowing among the corn was frequently done at night. Whisky was thought to be indispensable in early times in the harvest field, but Mr. Mason proved to the con- trary. He threshed his wheat with horses and cleaned it with a fanning mill. With the help of a boy, one season, he prepared one load of wheat per week for four weeks, and sold it in Alton for forty cents per bushel. He has hauled wheat to St. Louis, selling it for thirty-eight cents per bushel. The merchants had their goods hauled on wagons from St. Louis and Chicago. Mr. Mason and nine others brought goods from the latter city for Mr. Bela Webster, of Springfield, at one dollar per hundred pounds, and were three weeks going and coming. Mr. Mason is one of the successful farmers of the county; he has retired from active business, and now, in 1881, resides in Springfield.

Gen. Thomas S. Mather, native of Connecti- cut, came to Illinois in 1850; was in the real estate business before the war; in 1858, was ap- pointed Adjutant General of the State, under the administration of Governor W. II. Bissell; re-appointed by Governor Richard Yates, and re- mained in the office until November, 1861, when

he resigned to take the field as Colonel of the Second Regiment of Illinois Light Artillery; served with the Army of the Tennessee, and during the campaign and siege of Vicksburg, was chief of artillery of the left wing of the army operating against that city; afterwards served in the Department of the Gulf, and after- wards, until the close of the war, with the army East. Was brevetted Brigadier General after the surrender of Vicksburg; served three years and eight months. Returned to Springfield at the close of the war, and has since been engaged in the real estate and pension business.

Noah W. Matheny, deceased, was born July 31, 1815, in St. Clair county, Illinois. IIe assisted his father in the county clerk's office, as soon as he could write. At his father's death, Noah was appointed clerk, pro tem, by the county court, and in November, 1839, was elected to fill the unexpired term of his father; he was afterwards elected eight successive terms, of four years each. He married Miss Elizabeth J. Stamper, August 22, 1843; a daughter of the Rev. Dr. Jonathan Stamper, of the M. E. Church. She was born April 18, 1825, in Bour- bon county, Kentucky; by this marriage there were four children, all born in Springfield; three sons and one daughter. Previous to 1876, he was elected President of the First National Bank of Springfield, Illinois. Mr. Matheny died April 30, 1877, leaving a family to mourn his loss; he was a consistent Christian, and one of the leading members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. Mr. Matheny was an honorable, upright business man, and had the confidence of all who became associated with him in business.

Frederick L. Matthews, M. D. is the son of John and Caroline Matthews, nee Cooper, and was born in the city of Hereford, England, June 10, 1841, was brought by his parents to the United States in 1844; passed his youthful years in Pennsylvania. At an early age he entered Allegheney College, Meadville, Pennsylvania, but before completing his studies, in 1861, en- listed in the Union army, following the fortunes of one of the celebrated "Buck Tail " regiments, of Pennsylvania, was rapidly promoted, until just before the "seven days' battle" before Richmond, was appointed on the staff of Major General Phil Kearney, and while serving in that capacity at the battle of Malvern Hill, was cap- tured by the Confederates, and for three months endured the horrors of Libby Prison. Soon after the battle of Gettysburg, the last engage- ment in which he participated, he resigned from the service, and, shortly after, engaged as a

694

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

teacher in the Iron City Commercial College at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

In 1864, Mr. Matthews entered the medical and scientific departments of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, with a view of com- pleting his education, and preparing for the medical profession, and was graduated with dis- tinguished honors with the degree of M, D., in 1867, having been a teacher of chemistry, and assistant demonstrator of anatomy in the insti- tntion, the latter part of his course. Dr. Mat- thews commenced his professional career in Carlinville, Illinois, enjoying a remunerative practice until 1869, when he attended Rush Medical College, at Chicago, from which he was awarded the "ad-eundem" degree of Doctor of Medicine. Resuming practice at Carlinville, he remained until 1877, when he moved to Spring- field. Following the natural bent of his inclina- tion, Dr. Matthews early made a special feature of surgery, in which, from innate adaptation, and thorough scientific acquirements, he has at- tained an eminence equalled by few physicans in the northwest.

Upon locating in the Capitol City, he imme- diately secured a large and lucrative practice, which has steadily increased. In 1872, upon the recommendation of Governor John M. Palmer, Doctor Matthews was commissioned by Presi- dent Grant to represent the State of Illinois in the United States Centennial Commission. En- tering upon its duties with his wonted zeal and energy, he soon became prominent in the coun- cils of that body, who instituted, carried forward and made successful the grandest exposition of this or any other century. As a recognition of his ability, Dr. Matthews was elected a member of the Executive Committee of the Commission, upon whom, directly, rested the burden of prepa- ration and conduct of the great International Exhibition. He was the youngest of the thir- teen members of the Executive Committee, and his record reflects honor upon the great State he represented. Dr. Matthewsis emphatically a self- made man, having combatted the stern realities of life at every step, and is a living instance of the truthfulness of the old adage that patience and persevering effort will overcome all obstacles.

William Mayhew, contractor and builder, residence 1021 South College street, settled in Springfield in 1857, and has been working at the carpenter business ever since. He began contracting in 1863, and from that time has em- ployed from five to twenty-five men. He con- structed the wood work in the roof of the new State House, under contract with the Building

Committee. He also did the work by contract on the large wing of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, at Jacksonville, in 18/1. Also did the wood work on the Morgan County Poor House; in 1873, finished a number of stores and a bank building, in Lincoln. During 1880, he erected twenty buildings, aggregating $20,000 worth of work ; and in 1881, about the same number, of equal value. Mr. Mayhew was born in Canada, where all his friends still reside, and is of English parentage ; learned his trade in Chatham, Canada, and came directly from home to Springfield. In 1867 and 1868 he ran the Ridgely planing mill. Mr. Mayhew has been twice married -- first in Springfield, in October, 1858, to Mary Powell, born in England. She died in December, 1874, leaving four daughters and a son. He married his present wife, Celina Ingmire, in 1876. She is a native of Quincy, Illinois, but was reared in Springfield. They have one son. Mr. M. owns several pieces of improved property in the city.

James R. Maxcy, dealer in watches, jewelry and silverware, and money broker, corner of Washington and Fifth streets, established this branch of business in Springfield in 1875, and moved to the above named location in 1879. His stock of goods embraces an extensive line of American and Swiss watches, jewelry and silver- ware of every grade manufactured, which are sold either at public auction or private sales. Auction sales are held every business day of the week. He also does a regular money brokerage business, loaning in any sums desired on all kinds of collateral security. Mr. Maxcy is the son of one of Sangamon county's early settlers, John C. Maxcy, who came to Springfield in 1834, from Kentucky, with his father's family, being then a young man. He married in this county, to Fernetta T. Lloyd, also a native of Kentucky. They were the parents of five surviving children, two sons and three daughters, and one daughter deceased. They are both alive, and reside in Springfield. James Maxcy's first experience in the auction business was in his father's store, in 1856. In 1866, he went to Chicago and spent a year, then returned to Springfield. In 1868, he became clerk in the money order department of the Chicago Post Office, remaining four years; spent two years in the city after retiring from that position, before settling in his present busi- ness in Springfield. He married in Chicago, in 1865, to Harriet A. Dickson, a native of Jack- sonville, Illinois. Their family consists of four daughters and two sons. In politics, Mr. Maxcy has always been a Democrat.

695

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Neise J. Mellin, merchant tailor, 216 South Fifth street, has carried on business in Spring- field since 1875. He removed to his present con- venient and handsome rooms in September, 1881. His stock of piece goods embraces a choice selection of the finest American, English and French suitings, which are made up into gen- tlemen's garments in the most fashionable styles. Mr. Mellin is doing a thriving business, employ- ing eight to ten skilled mechanics. He is a native of Sweden, born in 1851; emigrated to the United States in the spring of 1871. He learned the tailoring trade in Sweden, but never carried on business as proprietor until he located in Springfield, Illinois. In February, 1879, Mr. Mellin married Nannie Lyons; born in New York City; a citizen of Springfield. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 14.

Richard Michael, proprietor of the Five and Ten Cent Store, 227 South Fifth street, opened his store in Springfield in 1878. His stock con- sists of a large aggregation of miscellaneous goods, including dry goods, notions, queens- ware, glassware, and a great variety of novel- ties, which are bought at special bargains, and sold accordingly. The original plan was to con- fine the stock to only such articles as could be sold at five and ten cents, but the demands of the trade necessitated a departure from that rule, and it now embraces goods worth all prices. Mr. Michael employs seven competent clerks and besides his large retail trade does a considerable jobbing business. The annual sales amount to between $40,000 and $50,000. Mr. Michael was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and is thirty-two years old. He came to Illinois in 1870; stopped for a time in St. Louis; then went to Quincy, and was connected nearly six years with the large dry goods and notion house of A. Derr & Brother, the last part of that period as a partner. His first venture in carrying on busi- ness alone was in Springfield. His sales of 1880 were , nearly a hundred per cent. larger than those of 1879, demonstrating that he is master of the situation. This extensive business is the result solely of the proprietor's individual efforts in the past five years.

Colonel Chas. F. Mills, was born at Montrose, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, May 29, 1844, he attended school and worked on his father's farm there until eleven years of age, when he went with his parents to Alton, Illinois.

At the breaking out of the war he was a mem- ber of the junior class of Shurtleff College, where he enjoyed the reputation of being a good stu- dent, and was recognized as a promising scholar.

In 1862, he enlisted in Company C, One Hnn- dred and Twenty-fourth Illinois Infantry Volun- teers, remained in that company until August, 1863, when he was promoted to Hospital Steward in the regular army. He was honorably dis- charged at Nashville, Tennessee, after serving his country nearly five years in the volunteer and regular army.

He has been actively engaged in successful farming and fine stock breeding in Sangamon county for years.

In 1875, his services were secured by the Illi- nois State Board of Agriculture, since which time he has rendered the agricultural interests of the State valuable service in connection with the work of the Department of Agriculture, having been honored by the State Board by being unanimously elected Assistant Secretary.

The Sangamon County Fair during the term of years that Colonel Mills was Secretary, en- joyed an extended popularity and was largely patronized by exhibiters and visitors from a wide circuit.

The large and varied exhibit and the hand- some receipts of the Sangamon County Fair entitled it to the second position among the fairs of the State, and it was only exceeded by the Illinois State Fair.

He has for many years been prominently con- nected with Agricultural organizations both of the State and Nation. He is at this time, Presi- dent of the American Berkshire Association; President of the Illinois Swine Breeders' Asso- ciation, and Secretary of the American Clydes- dale Association, and a director of the American Cotswold Association. He is a member of Elwood Commandery of Knight Templars, Springfield Chapter, and Tyrian Lodge, No. 333, A. F. and A. M., Springfield, Illinois, he is also a member of Grand Army of the Republic, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Soon after the passage of the law organizing the Illinois National Guard he joined the State service, was commissioned First Lieutenant and Adjutant Fifth Infantry Regiment I. N. G., August 16, 1877; Captain and Quartermaster Second Brigade I. N. G., December 1, 1877; Lieutenant Colonel and Assistant Adjutant General Second Brigade I. N. G., December 11, 1877-the latter position he still holds.

He was married to Miss Mary E. Bennett, May 26, 1869, at Springfield, Illinois. She was born near this city, March 1, 1845, and was a daughter of William A. Bennett and Sarah A. Stevenson. He was from Virginia, and she of Kentucky. They were both members of the

81-

696

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

First Presbyterian Church, in Springfield, Illi- nois. He was the oldest elder in that church at the time of his death, May 10, 1881. He had been a resident of the county for nearly fifty years. She is still living with Mr. C. F. Mills, near Springfield. Mr. and Mrs. Mills have three children, viz: Minnie B., William II., and Carrie E. Mills.

Mr. and Mrs. Mills attend the First Presbyte- rian Church in Springfield, Illinois. They re- side on their farm, of one hundred and twenty acres, two in'les east of Springfield. The Elm- wood stock farm is one of the recognized head- quarters for fine horses, cattle, sheep and pigs. Colonel Mills breeds fine Clydesdale horses, Jersey cattle, Cotswold sheep and Berkshire swine. In politics, Mr. Mills is a Republican, and a strong supporter of that party. His father, B. H. Mills was born in Montrose, Pennsylvania. He was a merchant, editor and farmer and a member of the Baptist Church. He was promi- nently connectly in the temperance cause for some twenty-five years. Was Right Worthy Grand Secretary of the National Lodge of Good Templars. He died August, 1877. His wife Delia (Halsey) Mills, born in Genesee county, New York. She was the mother of four child- ren, three living, viz: Charles F., Henry E., an attorney residing in St. Louis, Missouri, and Ruth C, a teacher in the Elmira College, at Greenville, Illinois. Their grandfather, Josiah Mills, was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, October 7, 1763. In his fourteenth year he enlisted in the Revolutionary army as drummer. After serving one year, he exchanged his drum for a musket, which he carried until the close of the war, and received an honorable discharge. He was at the battle of White Plains; was with Gates at Still Water and Saratoga, assisting at the capture of Burgoyne; was with Washington at Trenton and Princeton, and endured the terri- ble sufferings of the march through the Jerseys and the fearful winter at Valley Forge. He was also permitted to share in the glorious triumph of the federal armies at Yorktown. In after years he received a pension for disabilities in- curred in the Revolutionary army. Soon after the war he emigrated with his young wife to the wilds of Maine, and was one of the first settlers of Joy, Oxford county, where he remained until his removal to Susquehanna county. Ile re- ceived a commission as captain from Governor Caleb Strong, of Massachusetts, and responded to all calls for service against the Indians, Maine then being a province of that State. In 1812, he married his second wife, Elizabeth,

daughter of Elder Samuel Sturdevant, of Brain- trim, Pennsylvania. In 1817, Captain Mills set- tled on a farm two and a half miles west of Mon- trose on which he lived until his death, March 23, 1833, in his seventieth year. His widow died in Montrose, September 1841.

Ed. A. Million, M. D., Springfield, Illinois, was born in Pleasant Plains, Sangamon county, November 25, 1856; son of Dr. J. L. Million a pioneer, and one of the oldest practicing physi- cians in the county, having practiced over thirty years. Ed. A. attended the higher schools of Springfield, where he graduated. In 1875, he attended the Jones Commercial College, at St. Louis, and received a diploma. He read med- icine with his father, afterward attending lec- tures at Rush Medical College; also attended lec- tures at Missouri Medical College, and he went before the State Board of Medical Examination and stood second best; attended lectures and graduated at Jefferson Medical College, Phila- delphia.

Charles Moody and James M. Crabb, dry goods merchants, corner of Sixth and Jefferson streets, opened their new store with an entirely new stock of dry goods and notions, on the first day of May, 1881. They keep in stock a general line of goods found in a retail dry goods store. They make a special feature of ladies cloaks and dolmans in their season, of which they carry all styles and qualities. Their building is new, their stock is fresh and attractive, and paying low rent, and doing a cash business, the firm gives their customers the benefit of small expenses and discounts. The proprietors are both practi- cal dry goods men, of long experience.

Mr. Moody is a native of Springfield, and son of S. B. Moody, deceased, who settled here about 1835, and served as City Assessor and Collector about ten years, and Assistant Postmaster twenty years. He was a native of Watertown, New York; came to Springfield a young man, and married Latatie Stipp, who emigrated from Ohio about the same time. Mr. Moody died in 1872. His widow resides in Springfield. Charles F. Moody started in the dry goods business as a clerk in Taylorville, Illinois. Ile moved from there to Carthage, Hancock county, and carried on business about six years before coming to Springfield. He has been selling dry goods about ten years. In September, 1873, he married Annie J. Gondy, a native of Christian county. They have two sons and a daughter.

Mr. Crabb was born in Harrison county, Ohio, in October, 1839; came to Illinois with parents, who settled in Mercer county in 1852. In 1855,

697

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

he went to Taylorville and commenced commer- cial life, remaining there in the dry goods busi- ness until he moved to Springfield to open their present store. During the twenty-seven years that he sold goods in Taylorville, he worked for but three firms. He married Miss Charlotte Miller, in that place, in 1868. She is also a native of Ohio. Their family consists of two daughters. Mr. Crabb is a member of the Ma- sonic Order and of the Knights of Pythias.

Henry J. Moore, grocer, of the firm of Moore & Clayton, No. 409 Monroe street, is a native of Fayette, county, Indiana ; born in June, 1840; is the son of Jesse and Mary E. (Conway) Moore, both now deceased ; the former died in 1840, the latter in 1873. At fourteen years of age Henry went to Des Moines, Iowa, and re- mained in that State twenty-three years. The first thirteen he engaged in farming, the four following in the coal business, and the last six years in the grocery trade. He came to Spring- field in July, 1877, clerked two years in a promi- nent grocery house ; in 1879 embarked in the produce business, near their present store, and January 1, 188], formed a partnership with Clayton Brothers, and established a general re- tail family grocery, carrying a varied stock of groceries, provisions, fruits and vegetables, in which they have a prosperous trade. Mr. Moore was married in Indiana in March, 1856, to Amanda Conway, a schoolmate, born in July, 1843. He is a charter member of the National American Association, and its Treasurer from its organization, of Lodge No. 13. Charles E. and Henry Clayton, his partners, are young men, born in Sangamon county, Illinois, on April 11, 1854, and August 22, 1857, respec- tively. They are the sons of Alexander Clay- ton and Mary Marshall, early settlers in Ball township, where their mother died, nearly twenty years ago. Mr. Clayton was born in Morgan county, Illinois, and Mrs. Clayton in New Jersey. The sons were reared farmers, in which they are still engaged, their mercantile experience being limited to their association with Mr. Moore. They were born on the home- stead, where they and their father now reside.

G. W. Morgan, M. D., Springfield, Illinois, was born in Scott county, Illinois, October 11, 1838, son of Thomas and Nancy B. (Smith) Mor- gan. His father was a native of Scotland, and was born in the Highlands, in 1801. When three years old his parents emigrated to the United States, locating near Ripley Court House, North Carolina. His father remained there un- til he was twenty-one years of age, when he came

to Illinois and located in Bond county, where he became acquainted with Miss Smith, daughter of John Smith, a prominent citizen and wealthy farmer of Bond county, whom he married. Pre- vious to coming to Scott county he read law with Judge Vendiver, an eminent jurist, of North Carolina, and after coming here com- menced practicing, which he followed but a short time after arriving in Bond county, Illinois. Hle then embarked in the real estate and nursery business, which he followed very extensively for a number of years, and to-day the fruits of his nursery can be seen all through the central por- tion of the State. In February, 1849, his wife died, leaving eight children, all of which lived to adults. He was again married to Miss Julia Schibe, daughter of one of the first settlers in Scott county. They had six children, three of whom are now living. He died in 1861, when the subject of this sketch was seventeen years of age. He commenced reading medicine under Dr. W. Wilson, an Alopathic physician, but re- mained with him only a short time, after which he began the studies of Homeopathy under Dr. J. Thorne. He attended lectures at Hahnemann Medical College, in Chicago, Illinois, and gradu- ated March 4, 1863, with honors. On the 13th of same month he came to Springfield, where he commenced the practice of his profession, in partnership with Dr. C. F. Kuechler for one and a half years. December 23, 1865 he married Miss Janetta M. Swaringen, the third daughter of C. T. Swaringen, one of the prominent and wealthy farmers of Pike county, Illinois. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, February 16, 1843. The fruits of this marriage were five children, four of whom are still living. The Dr. is a member of the Masonic Order of Knight Templars, Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Springfield. In 1861 he enlisted in the Fourteenth Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, Company I, under Colonel J. M. Palmer, and served one and a half years, when he was discharged for disability, caused by sun- stroke. He is a gentleman of firm and muscular build, and possessing a clear and vigorous mind, decided in his opinions, and emphatic in his statements. Strong, hearty and robust in body, he seems destined to live and enjoy life many years to come.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 116

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