USA > Illinois > Stark County > History of Stark County, Illinois, and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 24
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Mr. Graves was married in 1890 to Miss Miranda M. Moody, who was born in Peoria county, Illinois, and is a daughter of Talleyrand and Harriet Moody, the former deceased and the latter still living in Peoria county. Mr. and Mrs. Graves have eight children, namely: Walter C., a farmer of Essex township, who married Miss Sadie Fritz and has one child, Eugene: Lois A., who is teaching school and resides at home; Milo E., who is assisting his father in business; Stella I., who is also teaching and lives at home; and Homer M., Ernest V., Oliver W. and Archie R., all at home.
Mr. Graves is a republican in politics, believing that new conditions of life should be met by new policies of government. He formerly served for a number of years as school trustee and has never ceased to take a keen interest in the welfare of the public schools. He holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America at Duncan, and his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. His advancement in business has been continuous sinee he began his independent career and he is now one of the well-to-do residents of his town.
C. R. JACKSON.
C. R. Jackson, who is farming one hundred aeres of good land on section 30, Valley township, was born in the town of Stark, Stark county, on the 26th of July, 1883. His parents, Percy and Elizabeth (Dunn) Jackson, were both born in Illinois and are now living in Wyoming. this county.
C. R. Jackson is indebted for his education to the public schools and to his father for his early and thorough training in agricultural
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work. He is now operating the homestead, which comprises one hun- dred aeres, and his well directed labors are rewarded by good erops. He also raises high grade stock, for which he finds a ready sale on the market, and his resources are constantly increasing. He is both practical and progressive and ranks among the efficient young farmers of the county.
In 1910 Mr. Jackson was united in marriage to Miss Grace Thur- ston, a daughter of William Thurston, and to their union has been born a son, Wilbur Richard. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Jackson has supported the candidates and measures of the republican party but he has never been an aspirant for office. Both he and his wife attend the Congregational church of Wyoming and support all movements seeking the moral advance- ment of their community. He has gained a measure of success that would be ereditable to a man several years his senior and his knowledge of farming and his industry insure his continued prosperity. His entire life has been spent in Stark county and the fact that those who have known him intimately from boyhood are his sineerest friends is proof of his genuine worth.
ROBERT ALEXANDER ADAMS.
It is always with a feeling of regret that the publie learns of the passing of one of its old-time citizens, especially if such a one has manifested sterling traits of manhood and citizenship and has dis- played loyalty and progressiveness in connection with publie affairs. Such was the record of Robert Alexander Adams, who was a valued and worthy citizen of Penn township. He was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, on the 16th of July, 1845, and had passed the sixty-sixth milestone on life's journey when called to the home beyond. He was an only son and lost his mother when but eight years of age. His father afterward married again and by that marriage there were five children. three of whom are yet living: Mrs. Mary Markland. whose home is at Wakita, Oklahoma : William O., a resident of Ham- mond. Indiana: and Samuel B .. living at Wyoming. Illinois.
Robert A. Adams was reared in the usual manner of farm lads. acquiring a district school education through the winter months, while in the summer seasons he worked upon the home farm. He remained with his father until he reached the age of twenty-two years. when he started out in life on his own account. He was married on the 31st
HAR ALD MRS. ROBERTA ADAMAS
OF THE
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of December, 1868, to Miss Mary E. Earhart and they began their domestic life on a farm in Penn township, Stark county. With the passing years five children came to bless their union but three of the number died in early life. Those who still survive are Alva and Harry F., who yet remain upon the old home farm near Castleton.
Throughout his entire life Mr. Adams continued to engage in gen- eral agricultural pursuits and he brought his fields to a high state of cultivation, so that he annually harvested good erops. He also added to his farm modern improvements, including the best farm machinery. Every part of his farm indicated the practical and progressive methods of the owner, whose work resulted in bringing to him substantial success.
Business, however, constituted but one phase of his life, for he had time for his friends and for public service. He was respected by all who knew him because his life was ever upright and honorable and he was loved by many because of his kindliness and helpfulness. He was continually extending the hand of assistance to some one who needed aid and was ever ready to speak a word of encouragement. His integ- rity in all business affairs was above question, his word being ever as good as any bond solemized by signature or seal. Such a life record is proof of the statement that an honored name is rather to be chosen than great riches.
FRED H. FLEMING.
Fred HI. Fleming, who resides on section 12, West Jersey town- ship, is the efficient superintendent of the Stark county farm, a posi- tion which he has satisfactorily filled for the past fifteen years. He dates his residence in this county from 1854, having been brought to Illinois when but a year old. He was born in Clearfield county. Pennsylvania, May 25, 1853, and his father, Samuel Fleming, was a native of the same locality, there being reared to mature years, after which he wedded Miss Rebecca Bonsel, who was likewise a native of Clearfield county. Samuel Fleming followed the occupation of car- pentering, continuing active in that field of building operations for a number of years. On his removal to Illinois in 1854 he settled in Elmira, Stark county, and there took up contracting as well as earpen- ter work. in which he continued for several years. Hle afterward purchased a tract of eighty acres of new land and opened up a farm. performing all of the arduous labor incident to the initial cultivation
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of the fields. Subsequently he purchased another tract of twenty-six acres, thus becoming the owner of a farm of one hundred and six aeres, upon which he made fair improvements and thereon reared his family. As the years passed his success increased and he acquired a competenee that enabled him to live retired in his later years. Remov- ing to Toulon, he there resided until his death, which occurred when he had reached the ripe old age of ninety-five. For some years he had survived his wife.
Fred H. Fleming has known no other home than Stark county and his business activities have largely connected him with its farming interests. When a young lad he began work in the fields and his responsibilities broadened as his age and strength inereased. He attended the publie schools and when a young man served for a time as mail carrier between Elmira and Neponset. After a year, however. he resumed farming and for one year cultivated a traet of land which he rented in Toulon township. Ile afterward removed to Taylor county, Iowa, and for one season was employed as a farm hand near Lenox, but at the end of that brief period returned to Stark county, where he and his brother David purchased a traet of one hundred and sixty acres of partially improved land in Goshen township. They continued to engage in farming in partnership for a period. but later Fred II. Fleming sold out to his brother and established a rug and earpet shop just north of the city of Toulon. Ile operated that for two years, on the expiration of which period he was appointed to his present position of superintendent of the Stark county poor farm. which comprises one hundred and sixty aeres of good land, which he carefully and systematically eultivates. When he took charge of the place there was much work needed to be done in the way of repairs and improvements and he now has everything in first elass condition, carrying on the farm work with the aid of a hired man, while Mrs. Fleming manages the household affairs with the assistance of a maid. During the winter there are about fourteen people on an average who are inmates of the home, mostly aged people. unable to work. but through the summer there are less than half that number. The yearly expense amounts to about four thousand dollars, while the revenue from the farm amounts to two thousand dollars. Mr. Fleming keeps some eattle and hogs and also has good horses upon the place. The buildings and fences are kept in a good state of repair and everything indicates his careful management.
On the 12th of February. 1880, Mr. Fleming was married. in Elmira. to Miss Elizabeth Moffitt, who was born and reared in Elmira and there pursued a publie school education. Her father. William
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Moffitt, was a native of the north of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Fleming have two children: Jessie, a well educated young lady, now employed as a stenographer in Toulon; and Clyde, who is employed in a plumbing business in Toulon. He is married and has three children, Mr. and Mrs. Fleming also lost a daughter, Margaret, when three years of age, and a child who died in infancy.
Mr. Fleming belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp and his wife is a member of the Congregational church. Both are well known and enjoy the warm regard of all with whom social or business relations have brought them in contact.
JOHN AND SAMUEL DOWN.
John and Samuel Down, who are successfully engaged in farming and stock raising on one hundred and sixty acres of fine land on section 21, Valley township, are sons of William and Elizabeth (Cutler) Down, the former born in Devonshire, England, and the latter in Suffolkshire, England. The father came to the United States when seventeen years of age and the mother was brought here by her parents when four years old, Mr. and Mrs. Down were mar- ried in Peoria county, Illinois, and remained there for several years, but on the 11th of March, 1866, located on section 21, Valley town- ship, Stark county, where they lived until called by death. The father learned the shoemaker's trade during his youth but after his removal to the United States engaged in farming. He took an active interest in public affairs and served as assessor, collector and in various other local offices. Both he and his wife were Congregationalists in religious faith. He passed away about 1878 and she survived until the 8th of May, 1914. To them were born the following children: William, deceased: John: Mary, the wife of Lewis Warren, who resides near Red Oak, Iowa; Thomas, a farmer of Stark county; Samuel; Cora, who married J. S. McGraw, of Dunlap, Ilinois; and Bertha, the wife of Henry Klipfer, of Essex township.
John Down was born in Akron township, Peoria County, Illinois, on the 21st of April, 1863, and Samuel Down was born on May 28, 1871. in Valley township, Stark county. Both received their educa- tion in the public schools and were early trained by their father in agricultural work. They have never left the home farm, which they are now operating on their own account, and they rank among the most progressive and most practical stock raisers of the county. They
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have made many improvements upon the farm, which comprises one hundred and sixty aeres, and they derive a gratifying income from their well directed labors.
In 1909 Samuel Down was united in marriage to Miss Cora Duck- worth, by whom he has three children, Charles Prescott, Alice Eliza- beth and John Henry. Both brothers are democrats in politics and attend the Congregational church. They are connected fraternally with the Woodmen and the Maeeabees and are popular within and without those organizations. Their dominant characteristics are such as never fail to command respeet and warm regard.
JAMES JAY MAHANY.
James Jay Mahany, devoting his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits and to the raising and feeding of stoek for the market, is the owner of three hundred and twenty aeres of productive land on seetion 1, West Jersey township, this place being known as the old Mahany homestead. It was on this farm that he first opened his eyes to the light of day on the 13th of February, 1887. He is a representative of an old family of Stark county and his father, James Van Buren Mahany, was born in Toulon township, was reared upon a farm and was married in this eounty to Miss Belle Cairn, who was born in Indiana and there spent much of her girlhood. Mr. and Mrs. Mahany began their domestie life on the farm now owned by their son Jay, the father and his brother owning a half section of land. which they converted from a traet of raw prairie into well tilled fields. Not a furrow had been turned when the farm came into their posses- sion and they bent every energy toward the cultivation of the land. James Van Buren Mahany afterward purchased his brother's interest. thus becoming the owner of three hundred and twenty acres. For a long period he was a prominent and influential agriculturist of his eonimunity and the intelligent manner in which he directed his inter- ests and his unfaltering activity brought him a substantial measure of suecess, enabling him in his later years to live retired from business. During that period he resided in Toulon, where he passed away in 1909. His widow still survives, as do their three children: James Jay ; Clarenee L., who is married and resides in Toulon: and Verina, who is a student in the high school at Toulon.
When a little lad of about six years James Jay Mahany began to apply himself to the mastery of those branches of learning which are
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taught in the district schools and subsequently he had the benefit of instruction in the schools of Toulon. His time was divided between the school room and the fields, for through the summer months he assisted in the task of cultivating and developing his father's land. In January, 1909, in Galesburg, Illinois, he wedded Miss Neva M. Smith, who was born and reared in Stark county, a daughter of Oliver Smith. The young couple began their married life upon the farm which has since been their home and he has steadily carried on the work of improvement and development. IIe has erected a neat house for the tenant, also put up some of the ontbuildings and has kept the place in excellent condition, so that it forms one of the attractive features of the landscape. He makes a business of feeding a large number of hogs each year, specializing in the handling of Chester Whites.
Mr. and Mrs. Mahany have but one son, Ralph. Mr. Mahany is a member of the Federal Reserve Life Association. His activities have ever been concentrated upon his business affairs and that he is now one of the prosperous citizens of his community is due to his elose application, his diligenee and his unfaltering purpose. To him work is no hardship. It calls forth his energy and his best efforts and he finds delight in the correet solution of a business problem.
C. A. BOWES.
C. A. Bowes, who is operating eighty aeres of land in Valley town- ship, was born upon that farm on the 17th of March, 1882, of the marriage of George and Sarah ( Hempson) Bowes, natives respect- ively of Canada and of England. The father is of English and Irish ancestry. He lived for some time in New York eity but at length removed to Stark county and purchased land, on which he still makes his home although it is farmed by our suhjeet.
C. A. Bowes was reared upon the homestead and as a boy and youth gained valuable knowledge through assisting his father. ITis edueation, however, was not neglected as he completed a course in the public schools. He is now operating the home farm of eighty acres although he resides in the town of Stark. He is up-to-date and energetie in earrying on all of his work and his well direeted labors are rewarded by good crops. He also raises stoek to some extent and finds that branch of agriculture likewise profitable.
On the 4th of May, 1912, Mr. Bowes was united in marriage to
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Miss Myrtle O'Leary, by whom he has a son, Russell A. Mr. Bowes indorses the principles of the democratic party and loyally supports its candidates at the polls. For six years he has served as town clerk and for one year he held the office of tax collector. He takes a keen interest in public affairs and has made an excellent record as an official. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America at Stark and he attends the local church. He is a young man of ability and integrity and has gained the warm friendship of many.
FRANK V. ADDIS.
Frank V. Addis, who is serving for the third year as a member of the county board of supervisors as the representative of West Jersey township, ranks not only as a public-spirited citizen but also as a progressive business man and farmer, his home being on section 10, West Jersey township. It was upon this farm that he was born October 7, 1865, and he comes of English ancestry. His paternal grandfather, Simon Addis, was a native of Warren county, New Jersey, born in 1804, and there he remained until after the birth of D. O. Addis, father of Frank V. Addis, on the 6th of September, 1838. It was in 1851 that Simon Addis removed westward with his family to Illinois, establishing his home in Stark county. D. O. Addis was at that time a youth of thirteen years and his education was largely acquired in the public schools of Warren county. He became the active assistant of his father in farm work and remained upon the family homestead in Stark county until after he attained his majority. It was in this county on the 13th of September, 1864, that he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret N. Caskey, a daughter of Silas Caskey, who removed to Illinois from Stark county, Ohio, in 1863, becoming a resident of Stark county, Illinois. Mrs. Addis was born and reared in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Addis began their domestie life on the old homestead farm and he proved an industrious and enterpris- ing agriculturist. ITis business affairs were wisely and carefully managed and from time to time he made judicious investments in property, becoming the owner of seven hundred acres of land in West Jersey township. He erected a pleasant residence on section 10, also put up substantial and commodious barns and outbuildings and his time was unreservedly given to his farm work until 1902, when he removed to Toulon, where he purchased a residence, there living retired until his demise, which occurred November 29, 1909. His
LIBRARY OF THE PAVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
FRANK V. ADDIS
MRS. FRANK V. ADDIS
LIDIARY OF THE HALASITY OF ILLINOIS
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business enterprise, his ability and his public spirit made him well known not only in Stark but also in adjacent counties. He was a man of the strietest integrity and honor and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. He belonged to the West Jersey Methodist Episcopal church and served on its official board. Later he placed his membership with the Methodist church of Toulon and was likewise made a member of its official board, so continuing until his death. The influence of his life remains as a blessed benediction to those who knew him and his memory is revered and cherished by those with whom he came in contact.
To Mr. and Mrs. D. O. Addis were born seven children, four of whom are living: Frank V., of this review; Flora O., the wife of Clyde Boyd, of Toulon; Evelyn B., who married John Kayser, of Parkston, South Dakota; and Pearl H., the wife of Arthur Grange, of Toulon. Another son, Alvin W., reached adult age and passed away upon the home farm when a young man of twenty-five years. A daughter, Laura E., died at the age of six years, and another daugh- ter. Grace E., when three years of age. The mother, Mrs. Addis. resides at the old home in Toulon and she has been a loyal member of the Methodist Episcopal church since April 10. 1860.
Frank V. Addis was reared on the old home place and mastered the branches of learning taught in the distriet schools before entering the Toulon high school. He willingly performed the tasks assigned him by his father, whom he continued to assist in the work of the fields until he had attained his majority. He was a young man of twenty-six years, when, in West Jersey township, on the 9th of December, 1891, he was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Wiley, who was born in Stark county, Ilinois. They began their domestie life on one of his father's farms, known as the Hazen place, and there remained for a number of years. In 1901 his father removed to Toulon and Frank V. Addis then took up his abode on what is known as the old Addis homestead. Here he owns in one tract four hundred and eighty-six aeres, upon which are two good residenees with all the other buildings and improvements of a model farm of the twentieth century. His real estate holdings likewise inelude another quarter section. He has remodeled the residence, keeps all of the buildings and fences in a state of good repair and in addition to eultivating the fields in the production of large erops of eorn, wheat and other eereals he is engaged in raising and feeding stock. He is the administrator of the Addis estate and is a careful and competent business man. readily discriminating between the essential and the non-essential and qniekly recognizing and improving his opportunities. Vol. II-16
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To Mr. and Mrs. Addis have been born three sons, Earl R .. who married Miss Mand Chamberlain, is now located on his father's farm, where his father has just completed a modern residence, one of the best in West Jersey township. Orville V. is farming one hundred and sixty acres of the home place. Glenn D., the youngest. is a student in the Toulon high school.
Frank V. Addis devotes his time largely to the management of his farming properties and interests yet finds opportunity to aid in promoting the public welfare. He is a stanch advocate of republican principles and for a number of years served as highway commissioner, while in 1914 he was elected supervisor of West Jersey township and a member of the Stark county board. In 1916 he was re-elected and is now the incumbent in that office, giving earnest consideration to all of the questions which come up in connection with the care of the business of the county. He belongs to the West Jersey lodge of Odd Fellows. in which he has filled all of the chairs and is now a past grand, while for some years he has served as financial secretary. Both he and his wife are connected with the Rebekahs and they are men- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, Mr. Addis now serving on its official board. He was one of the promoters of the La Fayette Fair Association. His interests are broad and varied and in all of his business career the spirit of enterprise has enabled him to overcome all difficulties and obstacles in his path. He has advanced step by step, securing at every point in his career a broader outlook and wider opportunities and his ability and even paced energy have carried him into important relations.
W. M. GORMAN.
W. M. Gorman, who owns and operates both elevators at Stark. has built up a large trade in grain and tile and is one of the leading business men of the town. He was born in Peoria. Illinois. on the 4th of July, 1863, a son of Edward and Anne ( Morrissy) Gorman. both natives of County Kilkenny, Ireland. In 1847 the father emi- grated to America and for a time lived in the province of Quebec. Canada, and in Vermont, but at length took up his residence at Peoria, Illinois. In 1881 he located upon a farm in Valley township. Stark county, where he died the same year. His wife has also passed away.
W. M. Gorman received a common school education and remained at home assisting his father until he was about seventeen years old
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when he began working as a farm hand. Subsequently he followed agricultural pursuits on his own account, but in the fall of 1897 he removed to the town of Stark and secured a position in the Stark elevator. IIe has since been identified with that business and now owns the elevator and also the other elevator in Stark. He buys and sells grain and also deals in tile and his reliability and liberal business poliey have enabled him to build up a fine business.
Mr. Gorman is a stanch advocate of democratic principles and has served in local offices, being a member of the county board for two years and town clerk for eight years. He is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church at Princeville and fraternally is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America at Stark, in which he is now holding office. His success is well deserved as it is the direct result of his enterprise, initiative and sound judgment.
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