USA > Illinois > Stark County > History of Stark County, Illinois, and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 19
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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
Rochester, Illinois, where he engaged in farm work. Mr. Janes was married in this county to Miss Christine Bergland, who was born in Sweden but came to the Bishop Hill Colony when a child of nine years with her mother and brother. In the course of years he became one of the well-known and most prosperous farmers of his part of the county, having added to his holdings until he was the owner of four hundred acres of rich and productive land. He spent his active life upon the farm in Stark county, there passing away in 1905, while his wife survived him for a decade, dying in February, 1915.
Alva M. Janes was reared upon the old home farm in Goshen township and acquired his primary education in the La Fayette schools. Later he spent three years in Illinois Wesleyan University at Bloomington. After teaching one year in Stark county he con- timed his studies in Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, where he spent three years, being graduated with the class of 1893, at which time the degree of Ph. B. was conferred upon him. He then returned to La Fayette.
On the 22d of June, 1893, Mr. Janes was married to Amy I. E. Reed, a daughter of Ira C. and Maria Reed, prominent pioneers of Goshen township and founders of the I. C. Reed public library of . La Fayette. Mrs. Janes was born in La Fayette. She is a graduate of Knox College and spent five years as a high school teacher.
Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Janes established their home in Knox county on Maple Grove Farm, which lies in both coun- ties and is adjacent to La Fayette. He is engaged extensively in general farming and in breeding and raising registered pure-blooded shorthorn cattle and Clydesdale horses. His business interests have been wisely conducted and have brought him a substantial measure of success.
Ile stands as one of the foremost agriculturists and stock raisers of the locality and is also a well-known figure in banking circles, being the prime mover in the establishment of the La Fayette State Bank. He organized the private bank of Janes & Company in 1903 and erected a good bank building. This company in 1915 was reorganized and became the La Fayette State Bank.
ITis interests and activities have made him a most important factor in the improvement, upbuilding and progress of the section in which he lives. While he has conducted extensive and important business interests and has won suceess in that connection, he has at the same time found opportunity to cooperate in movements which have been of great general benefit. He was one of the organizers and promoters of the La Fayette Fair Association, furnishing the grounds on which
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the association erected good buildings to accommodate the large crowds attending the fair and the exhibits sent thereto. The associa- tion has the use of fifty acres, on which is a splendid grove of large sugar maples and other fine forest trees. Mr. Janes also helped to organize a stock company that erected a hotel at a cost of eight thousand dollars. This is a good brick building, furnishing hotel accommodation for the traveling public. There are few features of the town's progress that are not more or less indebted to him for his cooperation and aid. Perhaps his most beneficial work to the town was the establishment of the second mail route, which was accomplished after much planning and labor. It necessitated the changing of five different routes without lessening their mileage and was such a her- culean task that the most optimistic predicted failure. He succeeded and won great praise from the government official for his skilful work.
Mr. and Mrs. Janes have two sons, while two daughters died in infancy. Leonard Reed is a student in Northwestern University as a member of the junior class. William Charles is a freshman at Knox College at Galesburg. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of La Fayette and Mr. Janes is serving on the offi- cial board. He was largely instrumental in having the pastor's salary raised. for he believed that the men who devote their life to the gospel should have adequate recompense that they may support their fami- lies. Mrs. Janes is also an active church worker, and their influence in the community is always on the side of right, progress. justice and improvement. Mr. Janes is a member of the Masonie fraternity. Those who know him, and he has an extensive acquaintance in this part of the state, entertain for him the warmest regard because of his well spent life and the fidelity which he manifests to all those princi- ples which are of greatest worth to the individual and to the com- munity.
SAMUEL B. GINGRICH.
Samuel B. Gingrich is now living retired in Toulon but for years was one of the active and progressive farmers and stock raisers of Stark county, making his home in Essex township, where he sys- tematically and successfully carried on general agricultural pursuits. Stark county numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Essex township, April 17, 1852. His father, Christian
MR. AND MRS. SAMUEL B. GINGRICH
L'BRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA
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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
Gingrich, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, November 8, 1812, and was a son of Christian Gingrich, Sr., who removed with his family to Ohio, casting in his lot among the pioneer settlers of Ashland county, where he resided for a number of years. He afterward came to Illinois and joined his children, who had preceded him to this state, becoming a resident of Stark county. His son, Christian Gingrich, Jr., was reared in Ashland county, Ohio, and was married there in 1837 to Miss Mary Coleman, a native of Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania. The same year they removed westward to Illinois, making permanent location in Essex township, Stark county, where the father purchased a tract of raw land. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made upon the place, but with characteristic energy he broke the sod, fenced the land and converted it into a productive farm. His first purchase comprised eighty acres, to which he added from time to time until he was the owner of five hundred acres of very valuable farm property. He erected thereon a good residence, barn and outbuildings and he became one of the prosperous farmers, stock raisers and feeders of his district, his business ability and indefatigable industry bringing to him a creditable measure of success. Upon that farm he reared his family and spent his last years, his death occurring July 30, 1876. His wife survived him for two decades and spent her declining years in the home of her son, S. B. Gingrich, there passing away May 11, 1897.
Samuel B. Gingrich was reared on the old homestead and enjoyed the usual public school advantages. He was early trained to the work of the farm and continued to assist his father until the latter's death, after which he succeeded to the ownership of the old home property. He was active in the further development and improvement of the place, his farm work being conducted along progressive lines. He rebuilt and remodeled the house, which is now one of the best farm residences in Essex township, and he also built good barns and out- buildings. The farm consists of five hundred acres of Stark county's rich land and from the property Mr. Gingrich derives a most grati- fying annual income. While living upon the place he made a busi- ness of raising good stock, handling Durham cattle and Poland China hogs, and he also fed stock for the market.
On the 24th of December, 1874, in West Jersey township, Mr. Gingrich married Miss Clara Whitten, who was born in Ohio but was reared in Stark county, a daughter of Theodore Whitten, who became a prominent farmer of West Jersey township. To this marriage have been born three children: Elva C., who is married and owns and operates a farm in Essex township, where he is engaged in raising
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and feeding stock as well as tilling the soil; Mabel, who became the wife of Charles Addis, a farmer in Knox county, Illinois, and died October 26, 1908; and Fern, a young lady at home.
In 1912 Mr. Gingrich purchased a pleasant residence in Toulon and removed to the city but still gives supervision to the work of the farm and it returns to him a very gratifying sum each year. Politieally he is a republican but has never been ambitious to hold office. In fact he has always found that his business affairs make full demand upon his time and energies, and his success is attributable to the fact that he has ever been persistent in purpose and straightforward and hon- orable in all his dealings.
G. W. BROWN.
G. W. Brown, a resident farmer of Penn township, his home being on section 14, was born two miles south of Wyoming on the 20th of May, 1862, his parents being C. W. and Elizabeth ( Henderson) Brown. the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Peoria. It was in the year 1854 that the father came with his parents to Stark county and through the intervening period, covering more than sixty years. the family has been actively identified with the agricultural development and progress of this seetion of the state.
G. W. Brown has spent his entire life in Stark county and after mastering the elementary branches of learning taught in the public schools he attended school in Castleton and also at Normal, Illinois. IIe then returned to the farm to take up the occupation to which he had been reared and since then has put all of the fine modern improve- ments upon the place. He has here a palatial residence-one of Stark county's most beautiful homes. It is elevated some feet and the lawn in front of the house is terraced. His farm comprises two hundred and forty aeres of land, the value and productiveness of which are constantly enhanced by the methods which he employs in its cultiva- tion. In addition to raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he began breeding Hereford white faced cattle ten years ago and at the head of his herd is a fine full, Twyford Protector, imported from England. In addition Mr. Brown has engaged in the breed- ing of horses and hogs but does not do so at the present time. He has also engaged quite extensively in feeding stock and is regarded as one of the foremost representatives of live stock interests in this part of the state. He has two sets of improvements upon his place
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and in all of his farm work has manifested a most progressive spirit. Three years ago he brought into the locality the first tractor here used and enterprise has dominated his work at all points in his career.
In June, 1886, Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Lucy E. Swayne, of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, by whom he has four children, as follows: Jessie LeRoy, who is engaged in farming south- east of Wyoming; Ilazel L., the wife of Ross R. Raker, of Buffalo, New York; and Myra and Chester, both at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown attend the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Brown holds membership in the Modern Woodmen camp at Castleton. His political allegiance is given to the republican party but the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him, as he prefers to concentrate his efforts upon his business affairs and through wise management, close application and determined purpose he has won the snecess which is now his and which has gained for hin a place among the most substantial and representative farmers of his native county.
DAVID CARSTAIRS.
David Carstairs, living on section 17, Goshen township, is now serving as the representative of that township on the board of county supervisors and is actively engaged in farming, being the owner of a place of sixty aeres that is neat and well improved. He came to Stark county in 1876, in which year he crossed the Atlantic from Scotland, his birth having occurred in Perthshire, that country, on the 18th of May, 1855. There he was reared to manhood upon a farm, dividing his time between the work of the fields and the acquirement of a public school education. He made the trip to the new world in company with Davis Lowman, bringing with them a bunch of shorthorn eattle from Scotland. Landing at New York, they made their way direct to Toulon and for a short time Mr. Carstairs was employed by Mr. Lowman upon his farm near Toulon. In 1879 he went to Texas, where he joined a construction outfit working on the Santa Fe Rail- road. He continued with that company for fifteen years, working in New Mexico, California and Arizona, spending about three years in the vicinity of Los Angeles. In 1898 he returned to Illinois and in 1904 purchased the land whereon he now resides. In the intervening period he has spent considerable time in the further cultivation and development of this property.
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In Goshen township, in 1894, Mr. Carstairs was married to Miss Margaret Frail, a daughter of Barnabas Frail, who was one of the first settlers of the county, arriving in 1835. Mrs. Carstairs was born and reared in Goshen township and was here married.
Subsequent to this Mr. Carstairs again went to Arizona in con- neetion with railroad construction, spending the succeeding four years in such work in that state and in California, thus completing the fifteen-year period previously mentioned. He resided in La Fayette while putting up the buildings upon his farm and making the necessary improvements. Ile has erected a pleasant residence supplied with running water, furnace heat, electrie lights and telephone connection. In faet this is one of the thoroughly modern and up-to-date homes of the township, providing them with many of the modern comforts of life. He has also erected good barns and other necessary out- buildings for the shelter of grain and stock. Since December, 1915. he has resided upon this place, which is today one of the neatest and best improved farms in Goshen township, and in addition to this place he cultivates an eighty-aere traet adjoining his own land.
Mr. and Mrs. Carstairs have a daughter, Katherine, who was graduated from the State Normal School at Normal, Illinois, in 1915 and now holds the position of registrar at that institution. They also lost a son, David, who passed away in 1913 at the age of fifteen years.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Carstairs are widely and favorably known in the county where they make their home. His has been an active and useful life and unremitting industry has constituted the basis upon which he has builded his snecess-success that now ranks him among the substantial agrieulturists of his community.
W. C. WILLIAMS.
W. C. Williams is successfully engaged in business in Wady l'etra, Stark county and also has ten aeres of land there planted to fruit. IIe was born in Chicago on the 9th of April. 1872, and is a son of William and Elizabeth ( Roberts) Williams, both natives of Wales, although their marriage occurred in Chicago. The father was a pattern maker and carpenter and passed away in 1899. The mother died in 1907.
After completing his publie school course in Chicago W. C. Wil- liams attended the Kansas Normal University at Salina for some time. On beginning his independent career he engaged in farming
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and stoek raising in Osage county, Kansas, where he remained until 1910, when he located in Wady Petra, Stark county, Illinois. He bought the grain and lumber business here formerly conducted by Virginius Chase and at the present time also deals in heavy hard- ware and farm implements. He owns the elevator and warehouse and has built up a large and profitable trade. He also owns ten acres of land which was devoted to pasture when it came into his possession seven years ago but is now set out in fruit, including grapes, straw- berries, raspberries, apples and pears. All of his business interests are capably managed and he has gained a gratifying measure of financial suecess.
In 1903 Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Booth, and they have three children, namely, Ruth, Walter and Helen. Mr. Williams easts his ballot in support of the candidates and measures of the democratie party. In religious faith Mrs. Wil- liams is a Methodist and he is identified with the Masonic blue lodge and chapter at Wyoming. He has gained a high place in the estima- tion of his fellow citizens since coming to Stark county and is recog- nized as a man of much business ability.
QUINCY I. GRAVES.
Quiney I. Graves, who is sueeessfully conducting a livery and feed barn at Wyoming, was formerly engaged in farming and still owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land. He was born in Essex township, Stark county, on the 28th of September, 1873, of the mar- riage of B. F. and Mary E. (Weber) Graves, a sketeb of whom appears elsewhere in this work. He was reared upon the home farm and divided his time between assisting his father and attending the distriet schools. When twenty-one years of age he commenced farm- ing on his own account and some time later purebased eighty acres of land, to which he has since added a similar tract, so that he holds title to one hundred and sixty aeres, all of which is under cultivation. He followed agricultural pursuits for a number of years, and his praetieal and progressive methods and his good business management enabled him to secure a good income from his land. In the spring of 1915, however, he removed to Wyoming and built a large livery barn and sinee that time has concentrated his energies upon the development of a livery and feed business. His experience with horses and grain while
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HISTORY OF. STARK COUNTY
upon the farm has been of value to him in this new undertaking and he has found it profitable.
Mr. Graves was married in 1894 to Miss Ada J. Simmerman, a daughter of A. J. Simmerman. Three children have been born to this union: Ruth M .. the wife of Reuben Shaw. who is operating our sub- ject's farm in Essex township: and Verna and Earl, both at home.
Mr. Graves indorses the principles of the democratic party and supports its candidates at national elections but where only local issnes are at stake votes independently. He holds membership in the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellow's at Wyoming and is popular within and without that organization. He has depended upon his own enter- prise and good judgment for success, and the prosperity which he has gained is well deserved.
B. W. CRUM.
B. W. Crum is engaged in general agricultural pursuits on section 17. Penn township, and aside from this has been actively identified with the work of improvement and development in the locality. both as an office holder and through his support of those agencies which . work for the moral uplift of the community. He was born in Hunt- ingdon county. Pennsylvania. on the 13th of October. 1850. and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Hess) Crum, who were born, reared and married in the Keystone state and in 1859 brought their family to Illinois, settling in Penn township, Stark county, upon the farm now owned by J. A. Bunnell. For a time the father rented the land and then purchased the farm on which his son is now living. He had improved two good farms in this county ere he passed away, his death occurring upon what was then his home place. a half mile south of the present residence of B. W. Crum. In early life he had learned the miller's trade but after coming to Stark county con- tinuously engaged in general agricultural pursuits until his death, which oeeurred in 1896. The family was of German extraction.
B. W. Crum was educated in the common schools. which he attended for a brief period in Pennsylvania, while later he continued as a student in the district schools near the home farm in Stark county and for one term was a student in Buda. He took up the profession of teaching. which he followed for six years in his home locality, impart- ing elearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired. so that he proved one of the capable educators of the neighborhood.
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At the time of his marriage, however, he took up the occupation of farming and he is now the owner of one hundred and sixty aeres of arable land on sections 17 and 20 Penn township, to which he has added excellent improvements in keeping with the spirit of modern progress along agricultural lines. Ile also owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Miner county, South Dakota, and his prosperity is attributable entirely to his own efforts.
In 1881 Mr. Crum was united in marriage to Miss Laura Swayne, by whom he had five children, as follows: one who died in infancy : Atalie, who is the wife of Claud Sterling and resides three miles east of her father's farm: Dean D., who passed away in 1916; and Gains and Scott S., both at home.
Mr. Crum has ever been deeply interested in the welfare of his community and especially in its moral progress. Although not a member of the Methodist Protestant church. he was a generous con- tributor to the erection of its first house of worship, which was burned down in 1915, after which he was one of the first to start the move- ment for the erection of the present church. His wife is a member of the Brethren church. In politics he is a republican-progressive and he is now filling the office of assessor. For a number of years he served as justice of the peace and is again in the office. He has also been school treasurer in his township for thirty-five consecutive years and he is statistical crop reporter for the county. He has been president of the Memorial Association of the township since its organization and he is a charter member of the Modern Woodmen camp at Castleton. His has been an active and well spent life, in which he recognizes every duty and meets every obligation. At the same time he has carefully managed and directed his business affairs and the wise use he has made of his time, talents and opportunities has gained him substantial and well deserved success.
SAMUEL MALONE.
Samuel Malone, who is engaged in general farming on a tract of land of one hundred and thirty-seven aeres on section 6, Penn town- ship, which he owns, was born on the 19th of October, 1867. in Mar- shall county, Illinois, upon a farm north of Campgrove, then oecupicd by his parents. Samuel and Margaret (McConnell) Malone, both of whom were natives of County Down, Ireland. On leaving the country they crossed the Atlantic to the United States and were married
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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
here. For a time they resided in Marshall county but on the 8th of March, 1875, took up their abode upon a farm on section 6, Penn township, Stark county, there spending their remaining days. The father died June 13, 1898, and the mother survived until July 2, 1902, when she also passed away. In early life Mr. Malone had devoted his attention to mining but after coming to Illinois took up the occupation of farming, which he ever afterward followed.
Samuel Malone is indebted to the public school system of the state for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. He has always lived upon the home farm, taking care of his father and mother and assuming the active management of the business. He now owns one hundred and thirty-seven acres of land, giving his attention to general farming, his labors being attended with a substantial measure of suc- cess as he carries on the work of tilling the soil and developing the crops. His judgment in matters relative to the farm and its develop- ment is sound and his labors are bringing good return.
In 1903 Mr. Malone was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Mill- slagle. by whom he has five children, namely : Edna Margaret, Charles II., Mary Elizabeth, Lloyd Eugene and Bernice. Mr. Malone votes with the democratic party and keeps in touch with the vital questions and problems of the day but does not seek nor desire political office, preferring to concentrate his energies rather upon his home problems that arise in connection with the further development and improve- ment of his farm.
WALTER N. CHAMPION.
Walter N. Champion, who is engaged in general farming on sec- tion 34, Osceola township, owns and cultivates one hundred and sixty acres of rich and arable land and also is farming another tract of eighty acres. He was born on the 15th of May, 1876, on the farm which is still his home, his parents being Edward HI. and Hannah E. (Drawyer) Champion, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York. They were married, however, in this county and for a number of years they resided on a farm northwest of Bradford but eventually purchased the place upon which Walter N. Champion now resides. The father added many improvements to the property and there remained until his death. His wife has also passed away. They had a family of eight children but only two of
LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA
MIR. AND MRS. WALTER N CHAMPION
NOLAN ARNOLD AND VERNA MARIE CHAMPION
LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA
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