USA > Illinois > Stark County > History of Stark County, Illinois, and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 6
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On the 26th of November, 1890, Mr. Walker was married in Tonlon to Miss Mary L. Morrison, a native of this city, her birth having occurred on the property adjacent to the Walker home. Her father, John W. Morrison, was one of the early settlers of the county and for some years served as superintendent of the county farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Walker have been born five children who are yet living:
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Harry Leroy and John M., who are clerking in their father's store: Mary; Donovan G .; and Dorothy.
The family are all members of the Congregational church, and for many years Mr. Walker has been connected with the choir. while in other departments of church work he takes an active and helpful interest. He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge, in which he has filled all of the offices and is now past grand. He is likewise identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Court of Honor. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he has served in various positions of honor and trust in the city and has also been a delegate to county and state conventions. His life has been well spent. Industry, close application and honesty have brought him success in business and many sterling traits have gained bim the high regard of those among whom his entire life has been passed. Almost every one in Toulon knows George S. Walker and all speak of him in terms of warm regard.
HARRY W. WALKER.
Harry W. Walker, a son of D. J. Walker, the junior partner of the general mercantile firm of Walker Brothers in Toulon, was born June 12, 1871, in the city in which he still makes his home, and in the acquirement of his education he passed through consecutive grades in the public schools and supplemented his high school training by further study in an academy. His initial step in business was made as a clerk in the employ of C. M. Swank, with whom he remained for fifteen years. In the meantime his brother had become a partner in the business and at length H. W. Walker purchased Mr. Swank's interest and the present firm of Walker Brothers was thus established in 1907. They carry a large line of dry goods. clothing, men's furnishings, groceries, boots and shoes and have built up a trade of very gratifying proportions, their business exceeding in volume and importance that bf any other store in the county. Their establishment is neat and taste- fully arranged and the business is conducted with the strictest regard to a high standard of commercial ethics.
On the 24th of July, 1901, in Toulon, Mr. Walker wedded Miss Lora Fuller, a daughter of W. W. Fuller, of Toulon. She was born and reared in Elmira, this eounty, and received her education in the Toulon Academy, graduating in the class of 1897. This marriage has been blessed with two sons, Philip F. and Paul H.
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Mr. Walker served as school treasurer for a number of years and the cause of education has always found in him a stalwart champion. Ile has likewise been alderman of his ward and he stands for all those things which are a matter of civic virtue and of civic pride. In politics he is a staneh republican. He is prominently known in the Odd Fel- lows lodge, in which he has three times passed all of the chairs, being the present treasurer, and he is also a member of the Modern Wood- men of America. He has been a delegate to the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows, and his wife is connected with the Rebekahs. Both are members of the Congregational church, in which he and his brother have been choir members for years. Both are deeply interested in all those forces which work for the uplift of the individual and the betterment of the community, and their lives have conformed to high standards of manhood and citizenship, winning for them the confi- dence and goodwill of all with whom they have been brought in contact.
ROBERT M. KING, M. D.
Dr. Robert M. King, who has engaged in the practice of medi- eine in Wyoming for eighteen years and who ranks high in his pro- fession, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on the 15th of April. 1864. Ilis father, John King, was also a native of that country and held the position of pit boss there when in 1864 he resigned to come to the United States. At the time that the family sailed for America our subject was but six weeks old, so that practically his entire life has been spent in this country. After landing at New York on the 14th of June, 1864. the family continued their way westward to Sparland, Marshall county, Illinois, and subsequently they removed to Camp Grove, Saratoga township, where the father purchased land. Ile was successful in agricultural pursuits and became the owner of two hundred and fifty acres of excellent land, all of which was under cul- tivation. Both he and his wife were Presbyterians, and their religious faith was the motive force of their daily lives. She died in 1878 and he passed away many years later. his demise occurring in 1911. Eight of their eleven children are still living.
Robert M. King passed his boyhood and youth upon the home farm and gave much of his time to assisting his father. However, his education was not neglected and after attending the district schools he became a student in the old Northwestern Normal School at Gene- seo, Illinois, and later entered Highland Park College at Des Moines.
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Iowa. He did his professional work at the Louisville Medical Col- lege in Louisville, Kentneky, from which he was graduated in 1898 with the degree of M. D. He located for practice in Wyoming, Illi- nois. and has met with such a gratifying measure of success that he has since remained here. He is careful in making a diagnosis to take into consideration all possible factors in the case, and in his method of treatment utilizes the latest discoveries of medical science. He not only has the confidence of the people as is evideneed by his large and representative practice, but he is also held in high esteem by his professional colleagues. He is in comfortable cireunistances and owns a good two hundred and forty aere farm in Minnesota and eighty acres in Stark county.
Dr. King was married December 6, 1905. to Miss Nellie Wrigley, a native of this county and a daughter of Samuel Wrigley, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Dr. and Mrs. King have a daughter, Margaret Joan, who is named for her two grandmothers.
Dr. King is a demoerat in politics but has been too busy with his professional duties to take an active part in public affairs. He be- longs to the Masonie lodge at Wyoming and the beneficent spirit of that organization finds expression in his daily life. He is recognized as one of the leading citizens of Wyoming, and his genuine worth has gained him the warm regard of those who have been closely associated with him.
CHARLES N. GOOD.
Charles N. Good, who carries on general farming on seetion 8, Elmira township, was born in Weathersfield township, Henry county, Illinois, February 22, 1859, a son of Sanmel W. and Mary Ann (Northrop) Good. The father was a native of Zanesville, Ohio, and the mother of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but in early life they re- moved to Illinois and were married in Henry county. The Good fam- ily established their home in that county in 1856, the grandfather of our subject becoming one of the pioneer settlers of the distriet. Fol- lowing their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel W. Good lived in Henry county until ealled to their final rest, the former passing away on the Ist of September, 1885, and the latter February 27. 1897.
Charles N. Good had the advantage of a good school education. His father was a school director and believed in the employment of competent teachers. During the summer vacations he worked in
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the fields and continued at home until he attained his majority, after which he was employed as a farm hand for two years. He then began farming on his own account and in 1884 removed to Stark county, settling on a farm on sections 8 and.9, Elmira township. Here he owns two hundred and forty acres of land, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation, and to the farm has added many improve- ments so that it is now a well equipped farm property, lacking in none of the accessories and conveniences found upon the model farms of Illinois in the twentieth century. In addition to this property he has eighty acres in Weathersfield township, Henry county. In 1888 he established a herd of shorthorn cattle upon his farm and is now ex- tensively and successfully engaged in breeding and raising polled shorthorns and also breeds Poland China hogs. His stock raising interests constitute an important feature of his business and have brought to him well deserved success.
On the 11th of January, 1883, Mr. Good was united in marriage to Miss Clara E. Hatch, a sister of Oran L. Hatch, mentioned else- where in this work. They now have two children: Charles Maxwell, who is a graduate of the high school of Kewanee and is now with the Central Savings & Trust Bank at Denver, Colorado; and Martha Alice, who is a graduate of Knox College of Galesburg and is now extension secretary of the Young Women's Christian Association work at Quincy, Illinois.
The family are all members of the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Good is serving as one of its elders. In politics he is a republican and has served as road commissioner. The cause of education has ever found in him a stalwart champion and for twenty years he has been school director, while at the present time he is school trustee. He holds membership in the American Protective Association, and his interests and activities number him among the leading and valued citizens of his part of the county.
JOSEPH CHASE.
Joseph Chase, who for a number of years has figured promi- nently in connection with the public affairs of Stark county, having served both as county clerk and circuit clerk, was born near Toulon on the 28th of October, 1854, and is therefore a representative of one of the pioneer families of this district. He, too. has long been a
MR. AND MRS. JOSEPH CHASE
LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS UAB-
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witness of the changes which have occurred here and has borne an active and helpful part in the work of general progress and improve- ment. llis father, Peleg Chase, was a native of Saratoga county. New York, and a son of John Chase, who was numbered among the early settlers of Saratoga county and was of English descent. Peleg Chase was reared in his native county and there married Fanny M. Taber, who was born in that county. In 1853 they removed west- ward to Illinois and established their home in Toulon township, Stark county, where Mr. Chase purchased land on which only slight im- provements had been made. He immediately began the active work of the farm and carried ou agricultural pursuits there with good sue- cess until 1865, when he disposed of his property and removed to Toulon, where he spent his last years, his death here occurring in 1871. His wife long survived him, passing away abont 1910. Their family numbered but two children, one of whom, John Chase, is now a contractor and builder of Toulon.
Joseph Chase was reared in Stark county and in the pursuit of his education attended Westfield College and also Hedding College at Abingdon, Illinois. He taught for seven winter terms in the home schools and also for one fall term but later concentrated his attention upon agricultural pursuits, owning and cultivating a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres in Toulon township. He lived upon that place for a few years, after which he sold the prop- erty and bought a farm in the southern part of the county, continu- ing to devote his time and energies there to the tilling of the soil for seven years. He then removed to Toulon and sold his farm in 1903. In 1890 he was nominated and elected to the office of county clerk, entering upon the duties of the position in 1890 for a four years' term. IIe then retired from office but after two years, or in 1896, was elected by the republican party to the office of circuit clerk, in which position he served for four years and was then re- elected for another term. Ile has been a member of the town board, has acted as its president and is still a member of the city council of Toulon. His public duties have been discharged in a notably prompt, efficient and creditable manner, his services proving of value to the community. He has at different times bought and owned farms and he and his wife are now owners of four hundred acres of land all in one body and all well improved, constituting a valuable and productive property.
On the 23d of February, 1876, near Toulon, Mr. Chase was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Rist, who was born and reared in this county and is a daughter of Martin Rist, one of its early set-
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tlers. Mr. and Mrs. Chase have become the parents of eleven chil- dren, of whom nine are yet living, namely: Fanny A., the wife of James M. Stickney; Jennie E., the wife of S. Clyde White, a farmer of Tonlon; Nettie M., the wife of Ray D. Nicholson, who follows farming in Goshen township; Martin R., who is engaged in medical practice in Chicago; Helen M., at home; Pauline, who is a student in the Jacksonville College at Jacksonville, Illinois; Joseph II., who is a freshman in the State University at Urbana, Illinois; Sarab; and Carolyn. They lost their eldest child, Bertha L., who became the wife of John Dewey and died in January, 1903. A son, Wilbur P., was a junior in Northwestern University when death claimed him in August, 1912.
Mr. Chase is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge and both he and his wife are connected with the Rebekah degree. He has served through the chairs of the lodge, is a past grand and has been lodge treasurer for years. Ile and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and in the ladies' societies of the church his wife takes an active part. The family occupy an attractive home which Mr. Chase erected thirteen years ago. They are well known in the city, occupying an enviable position in social circles, and high regard is entertained for them because of their sterling worth and many admirable traits of character.
CHANCY R. MINER.
Nature seems to have intended that in the evening of life man should enjoy a period of rest. In youth he is energetic and ambitions. The future looks bright and he puts forth earnest effort to achieve success. Later this effort is guided by mature judgment and directed by experience and if he is honest and earnest in his purpose, his labors win for him substantial prosperity, so that the evening of his days may be spent in the enjoyment of well earned rest. Such is the record of Mr. Miner, who for a long period was an active and prosperous farmer of Goshen township, but he now lives retired in La Fayette. HIe is, moreover, entitled to mention in this volume as one of the few surviving veterans of the Civil war now living in Stark county.
It was in this county that he was born, March 11, 1843, being a representative of one of its honored pioneer families. His father, Peter F. Miner, was born in New York and when a young man came
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west, establishing his home among the first settlers of Goshen town- ship, Stark county. where he preempted eighty acres of land. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made upon his place and he performed the arduous task of breaking the sod and splitting rails with which to fence his land. His first home was a primitive log cabin, in which he lived for several years while improving his farm. While he met hardships and privations these in turn were replaced by an advanced civilization and he took a helpful part in promoting the development and upbuilding of the district in which he lived. He was married here to Miss Matilda F. Smith, who was born in New Eng- land and came to Illinois with her parents, who were among the earliest settlers of the state. After farming for a time Mr. Miner purchased another eighty acre tract, making his farm one of a hun- dred and sixty acres. As the years passed on he was numbered among the prosperous farmers of his part of the county. He erected a good residence, also built substantial barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock and developed a valuable place, the further im- provement of which claimed his time and energies until he was called to his final rest about 1852. His wife survived him for several years, dying in 1856.
Chaney R. Miner was thus left an orphan when but a little lad of thirteen years. He later spent a summer with an umnele on Spoon river in Illinois and he acquired his education in the district schools and in La Fayette. He was a youth of eighteen years when the coun- try became involved in civil war and in August, 1861, aroused by a spirit of patriotism, he enlisted and joined Company B of the Thirty- seventh Illinois Infantry. This company was raised in Stark county and was mustered in at Chicago. After some drilling and preparation the regiment went south through Missouri and into Arkansas, where they participated in the battles of Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove and later crossed the river, taking part in the siege and capture of Vicks- burg. Mr. Miner was subsequently placed on detached duty and drove a team of three span of mules through Missouri and Arkansas in connection with the commissary department. Afterward he was on the sick list for a time and later was sent to New Orleans, where he did guard duty. There he remained until he was detailed for service on a gunboat as a sharpshooter. While thus engaged he was taken prisoner by the Confederates and was sent to Hempstead, Texas, where he was held in a stockade for seven months and fourteen days, suffering many hardships of southern prison life. He was afterward paroled and taken to Galveston and thence sent within the Union lines. At New Orleans he was mustered out and honorably discharged in
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February, 1865, after serving for three years and six months in defense of the nation's starry banner.
With the close of the war Mr. Miner returned home. He had inherited eighty aeres of and which he afterward sold and then pur- chased an improved farm of sixty-five acres at the head of Indian creek. He located thereon and concentrated his efforts upon the work of tilling the soil and produeing good crops. He further com- pleted his arrangements for having a home of his own by his marriage in Goshen township, on the 19th of October, 1865, to Miss Chloe R. Parish, who was born and reared in Stark county and is a daughter of Ruloff Parish, one of the early settlers of this district. Some time after his marriage Mr. Miner sold his farm and purchased a traet of one hundred and forty aeres on seetion 22, Goshen township. This was an old farm on which were dilapidated buildings, while the soil was in poor condition. However, he at once began the work of re- pairing buildings and fenees, and he improved the condition of the soil by fertilizers and by the rotation of erops, thus bringing it again into a state of rich fertility. He afterward erected a modern resi- dence, commodious and attractive in its style of architecture. He also built a good barn and there he carried on farming for twenty years. Hle likewise extended the boundaries of his place by a further pur- chase of eighty acres, so that his farm ineluded two hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land. After two decades he sold this property to his daughter and about 1884 removed to La Fayette, where he purchased a hotel property and engaged in the hotel busi- ness for eighteen years. He then retired from that field of activity and about 1900 became owner of the residence in La Fayette which he now occupies. This is a neat and attractive home and he is pleas- antly situated in life, his former toil having brought him a sufficient sum to enable him to enjoy many of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life.
While living upon the farm Mr. Miner lost his first wife, who left two daughters: Effie May, now the wife of P. Frank Royee, of La Fayette, by whom she has three sons and two daughters; and Neva E., the wife of W. O. Church, a farmer of Stark county, by whom she has one son and two daughters. Mr. Miner was again married December 11, 1896, in Lafayette, Miss Anna Frail becoming his wife. She was born and reared in this eounty and is a daughter of John Frail, also a native of Stark county, where the Frail family was estab- lished at a very early day upon a farm near Wyoming.
Politically Mr. Miner has been an earnest republican since he cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1864 and since
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that time he has voted for every presidential nominee on the ticket. He has served as a delegate to county conventions and as a member of the town board. He belongs to W. W. Wright Post, G. A. R., of Toulon, and has ever manifested the same spirit of loyalty in citizen- ship that he displayed when he followed the stars and stripes upon the battlefields of the south. He did not hesitate to respond to his country's call when the tocsin of war sounded and he has never hesi- tated to do his best for the interests of the community in which he lives, regarding this as the expression of true and loyal citizenship.
R. M. SCOTT.
While engaged in general farming R. M. Seott also raises a good grade of stock. specializing in milch cows. His place embraces two hundred and fifteen aeres of land on section 19, Osceola township, in addition to which he cultivates a rented traet of land. He is one of the worthy citizens that Scotland has furnished to Illinois, his birth having occurred in Roxburghshire on the 9th of September, 1849, his parents being Thomas and Jane Mitchell ( Hill) Scott, who spent their entire lives in the land of hills and heather. R. M. Scott crossed the Atlantic to Canada with his grandparents in 1857 and there re- mained for two years, after which he returned to Scotland, contin- uing with his parents until 1868, in which year he seeured work as a farm hand in that country.
Onee more Mr. Seott left his native land in 1873, at which time he made the voyage to the United States and, continuing his journey into the interior of the country, settled in Stark county, Illinois. After working as a farm hand for about four months, he went to Toronto, Canada, where he spent nine months, and then returned to this country. Renting land he lived thereon for a year, after which he settled on seetion 19, Osecola township, and purchased eighty acres of land. He has since added all of the improvements to the place and now has a well kept farm, the boundaries of which he has extended from time to time until he now has two hundred and fifteen acres, all of which he carefully cultivates in the raising of grain, wheat and other cereals. He also operates eighty aeres of land which he rents, and in addition to general farming, he is engaged in the raising of a good grade of stock.
On the 2d of March, 1877, Mr. Scott was married to Miss Mary M. Turnbull, and they have seven children: Maggie Mitehell, who is
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teaching school in the home district; Anna Jane, the wife of Earl Liggett, residing in Osceola township: J. W., living near the old home farm: Agnes, the wife of Fred Ferris, also in the same locality; Thomas, whose home is near Bradford: Julia Isabel, the wife of Floyd Dunn of Elmira township and John Henry, at home.
Mr. Scott votes with the republican party upon national questions and issues, but at local elections considers the capability of a candidate without regard to his party affiliations. He has served as road com- missioner and school direetor but has had little ambition along the line of office holding. He and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian church of Ehnira. and their influence is always on the side of right, progress and improvement. Three times since coming to the United States Mr. Seott has returned on a visit to his native country, renewing the acquaintances of his boyhood. He returns willingly, however, to Ameriea, for in this land he has found the op- portunities which he sought and in their utilization has steadily ad- vanced. He brought with him no false ideas concerning chances here offered but realized the fact that industry and perseverance are here unhampered by easte or class. Upon the foundation of diligence and determination. therefore, he built his success, and he is now justly accounted one of the representative and prosperous farmers of his community.
JAMES L. GERARD.
James L. Gerard, operating a farm of eighty aeres on section 36. Elmira township, whereon he is engaged in the raising of full blooded Duroc Jersey hogs, has been a lifelong resident of Stark county. He was born December 19, 1873, on the farm on which he now resides. his parents being Charles L. and Henriette (Lesan) Gerard. the former a native of New York and the latter of New Hampshire. They were married, however. in Wisconsin. having gone to that state in early life, the father having lived for a time in Ohio before his re- moval to Wisconsin. They removed later to Illinois. becoming early residents of Stark county, and Mr. Gerard was among those who sought wealth in the gold fields at Pike's Peak, being absent on that trip for a year. He afterward lived in Stark county and it was about sixty years ago that he purchased the farm upon which he continued to reside until his death January 13, 1914. For a decade and a half he had survived his wife, who passed away September 19. 1899.
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