USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois, Volume Two > Part 14
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In January, 1916, Judge Kimbrough went to Tensas Parish, Louisiana, where he remained until May, 1919. He has since lived retired at Danville.
12-Vol. 2
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On September 14, 1876, Judge Kimbrough was united in marriage with Miss Julia C. Tincher, the daughter of John L. and Caroline R. (Hicks) Tincher, natives of Ken- tucky and Indiana, respectively. Mr. Tincher was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Danville and served for many years as State Representative. He had organized the Tincher & English Bank, Danville, in 1857. Mr. Tincher died December 17, 1871, while serving as Senator from his District. He is buried in Danville. Julia C. (Tincher) Kimbrough died April 20, 1907, and is buried in Springhill Cemetery, Danville. A son born to Judge and Mrs. Kimbrough, Robert T., is deceased.
Judge Kimbrough is identified with the Vermilion County Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and American Bar Association. He is affiliated with Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 332. He is vice president of The First National Bank, Danville.
Judge Kimbrough is one of the interesting pioneers of Danville. Among the incidents of his early life which are of especial appeal to his listeners, who enjoy hearing of his personal experiences during the early days, is the story of his first trip to Danville from Georgetown, which was made in 1858 by ferry boat. He also tells of running away from home when 11 years of age to enlist for service in the Civil War. He attempted to enlist in the Seventy-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry but was rejected on account of his extreme youth.
John Brady Wallbridge .- Not only in Hoopeston, but throughout Vermilion County and the State of Illinois, John Brady Wallbridge, deceased, was known for many years as a leading member of the legal fraternity. He was born at Mayville, Chautauqua County, New York, June 24, 1851, the son of Wing Killey and Hannah Malvina (Brady) Wallbridge.
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Wing Killey Wallbridge was born in Canada, April 19, 1808, and his wife was born at Dover, New York, May 30, 1810. He died at Boone, Iowa, October 1, 1869, and his wife died October 31, 1869. Both are buried in Iowa. Mr. Wallbridge came to the United States from Canada early in life and for a number of years operated a hotel at May- ville, New York. He removed to Boone, Iowa, about 1859 and later lived at Fort Dodge, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Wing K. Wallbridge's surviving daughter, Edith, is the wife of Henry James Carr, and lives at Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Hannah Malvina (Brady) Wallbridge was the daughter of John P. and Lydia (Parks) Brady. He was born at Dover, New York, in 1780 and died February 22, 1858. His wife, also born at Dover, New York, in 1789, died No- vember 11, 1858. Their marriage took place in 1806. Lydia (Parks) Brady was the daughter of Jacob and Deborah (Stevens) Parks. He was born in New York, March 6, 1757, and died October 9, 1845. His wife was born Decem- ber 25, 1761, and died September 19, 1828. Both are buried at Wingdale, New York. In 1775 he enlisted as a sergeant for volunteer service in Capt. P. Woodard's company, and under Colonel Schenck and General Lee, being honorably discharged in 1776. The following year he enlisted in Capt. William Pearce's company and later served with James Martin at Valentine Heights. He re-enlisted again in 1878 as a second sergeant in Captain Pearce's company and served under General Putnam.
Wing Killey Wallbridge was the son of Elijah and Catherine (Killey) Wallbridge. He was born at Norwich, Connecticut, January 7, 1752, and died October 3, 1842. His wife, born January 3, 1766, died December 1, 1848. Both are buried at Quaker Hill, New York. Elijah Wall- bridge was the son of Zebulon and Sarah (Forbes) Wall- bridge. He was born at Norwich, Connecticut, July 17, 1718, and died April 27, 1809. His wife, born at Preston, Connecticut, September 3, 1717, died March 19, 1795. Both
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are buried at Stamford, New York. Zebulon Wallbridge was the son of William and Abigail (Lawrence) Wall- bridge. He was born at Preston, Connecticut, March 20, 1690. He was married on June 27, 1713. Both he and his wife are buried at Norwich, Connecticut. William Wall- bridge was the son of Henry and Anna (Amos) Wallbridge. He was born in England. He was married at Preston, Connecticut, December 25, 1688. He died July 25, 1729. His wife, born at Boston, Massachusetts, June 28, 1666, died in June, 1751.
John Brady Wallbridge, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the schools of Mayville, New York, and also attended school at Boone, Iowa. He was graduated from Hillsdale (Michigan) College. In 1873 he went to Bis- marck, where he studied telegraphy, and in 1880 he came to Hoopeston as agent for the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad. Later, he was transferred to Doland, South Da- kota, as agent for the same company, and from there went to Frankfort, South Dakota, where he served as post- master. In the meantime Mr. Wallbridge continued his studies and was admitted to the bar of South Dakota, and subsequently practiced his profession at Frankfort, South Dakota. During the administration of President Harrison he was appointed chief clerk of the Indian agency at Green- wood, South Dakota, and served in that capacity for four years. He returned to Hoopeston in 1894 and was admitted to the Illinois bar. He then engaged in practice with James H. Dyer, under the firm name of Dyer & Wallbridge. This partnership continued until 1906 and Mr. Wallbridge en- gaged in practice alone thereafter until his death, August 5, 1923.
Mr. Wallbridge was married April 18, 1883, to Miss Jennie Dyer. She died September 21, 1902. A child was born to this union, Edith L., also deceased. On September 7, 1908, Mr. Wallbridge was united in marriage with Miss Grace Eleanor Schwartz, the daughter of Rev. William
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Henry and Martha Eleanor (Bales) Schwartz, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this history. To this union no children were born.
Politically, Mr. Wallbridge was a Republican. He was identified with the Vermilion County Bar Association, Illi- nois Bar Association, and American Bar Association. Fra- ternally, he was affiliated with Star Lodge, No. 709, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Hoopeston Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, No. 181; Athlestan Commandery, Knights Templar, No. 35; Danville Consistory, thirty-second de- gree; Medinah Temple; and Hamilton Club of Chicago.
Rev. William H. Schwartz, deceased, was an outstand- ing member of the community in which he lived, and a member of one of the first families of Vermilion County. He died at Hoopeston, January 7, 1913. Reverend Schwartz was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, January 11, 1850, the son of John Henry and Catherine (Wyant) Schwartz.
John Henry Schwartz was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where his ancestors had settled many years before. The family is of German origin and the Wyant family is of English descent, being directly descended from the Oldenbergs, early settlers of Pennsylvania. John Henry Schwartz was born July 17, 1809, and died July 7, 1885. His wife, born October 13, 1806, died April 22, 1876. John Henry Schwartz was the son of Conrad (3rd) and Mary (Pinkerton) Schwartz. He was born December 6, 1784, and died October 9, 1818. His wife was born Feb- ruary 20, 1789, and died June 19, 1833. Conrad (3rd) Schwartz was the son of Conrad (2nd) and Anna Maria (Losser) Schwartz. He was born March 10, 1744, and died March 10, 1820. She was born November 1, 1748, and died April 7, 1807. They were married on January 18, 1769. He was the first president of the Farmers State
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Bank, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He also served as a private in Capt. Jasper Yeates' company, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, under Col. M. Slough. On October 25, 1777, he was commissioned quartermaster of the Fifth Battalion of Lancaster County Militia under Col. Jacob Clotz, and served with distinction throughout the war. Conrad (2nd) Schwartz was the son of Conrad Schwartz, who was born in Germany in 1707. He came to the United States Sep- tember 3, 1739, from Rotterdam on the ship "Friendship", and was among the first settlers of Lancaster, Pennsyl- vania. He died in 1790.
William H. Schwartz was educated in the district schools of Butler Township, Vermilion County. His fam- ily had come to this county in 1856. They became prosper- ous farmers of this section and William H. Schwartz early manifested an interest in farming. He rented his father's farm of two hundred acres and engaged in general farm- ing and stock raising for a period of thirty-three years. He then purchased the estate after his father's death. This is the present site of the town of Riley. He also devoted much time to the study of theology and in 1879 was licensed as a local preacher. He entered the ministry in 1883, and spent nine years as a preacher in Champaign County, Illinois. He subsequently located at Danville, Illi- nois, and spent one year in the Jacksonville district as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Due to ill health, Reverend Schwartz was obliged to retire from the ministry. He devoted his entire interests thereafter to farming until 1906, at which time he retired and moved to Hoopeston. He then purchased an interest in the Thorn- ton Buggy Company, later known as the Hoopeston Buggy Company, and he served as president of the company for three years. When the company was reorganized he be- came secretary.
Reverend Schwartz was married on June 30, 1872, to Miss Martha E. Bales, the daughter of Caleb T. Bales, a
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native of Tennessee and an early settler of Butler Town- ship, Vermilion County. She died February 10, 1929. To this union the following children were born: Esther Cath- erine, married Frank H.Sherfy, lives at Sheffield, Alabama; Grace E., the widow of John B. Wallbridge, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this history; Elizabeth E., mar- ried D. H. Shiveler, lives at Hoopeston; and Leora Zerita, school teacher, lives at Des Plaines, Illinois.
Reverend Schwartz was a member of Star Lodge, No. 709, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He was a Re- publican and served for three years as collector of Butler Township. He was also trustee of Lakeview Hospital, Danville, and was widely known for his philanthropic and humanitarian work. His death was a distinct loss to the community.
M. Ernest Nink is one of the most popular young men of Hoopeston, where he is city editor of the Chronicle- Herald. He was born at Ottawa, Illinois, April 27, 1905, the son of Martin Ernest and Nellie (Tully) Nink.
Martin Ernest Nink was born at LaSalle, Illinois, and was educated in the public schools there. Early in life he became associated with his father, Valentine Nink, in the wholesale cigar business. Later he was connected with the Milwaukee Railway Company and for many years was associated with E. V. Yockey in the laundry business at Ottawa, Illinois. The business was later sold to Charles E. Beck and was thereafter known as the Illinois Laundry Company. Mr. Nink continued as manager until 1917 at which time he entered the employ of the Chicago Retort and Fire Brick Company as timekeeper and paymaster. In 1922 he became identified with Bradford's Laundry and the following year purchased the business in partnership with Charles Marsh. Mr. Nink is still identified with this enterprise at Ottawa. He is a Democrat, a member of
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Saint Columbus Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Order of Forresters, Knights of Maccabees, and German Benevolent Society. Mr. and Mrs. Nink are the parents of the following children: M. Ernest, the subject of this sketch; Anna, Raymond, Catherine, Louise, and John Vincent, all at home.
M. Ernest Nink received his education in the parochial schools of Ottawa and in 1922 was graduated from Ottawa High School. He then entered the employ of the National Fireproofing Corporation at Ottawa as a timekeeper, and in August, 1922, went with the Free Trader-Journal Pub- lishing Company as a member of the editorial staff, and as sports editor. Later he became city editor. February 1, 1926, he came to Hoopeston as city editor of the Chronicle- Herald, in which capacity he now serves. He is also a director of the Aldrich Printing and Publishing Company, Hoopeston.
Mr. Nink is a Democrat, a member of Saint Anthony's Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Lions Club and Chamber of Commerce. He is vice president of the Booster Club of Hoopeston. Mr. Nink is unmarried.
Isaac Thomas Lukens, deceased, was one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Hoopeston, and his career in the business and civic life of the community won for him the confidence and trust of all who knew him. He was born at Springboro, Ohio, March 25, 1842, the son of Rich- ard Moore and Caroline S. (Thomas) Lukens.
Richard Moore Lukens was born near Philadelphia, August 23, 1812. He was a potter by trade and became well known as a manufacturer of pottery. The family re- moved to Hoopeston in 1873, where Mr. Lukens lived re- tired until his death, September 14, 1890. His wife was born near Philadelphia, March 18, 1820, and died Novem-
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ber 20, 1899. Both are buried in Floral Hill Cemetery, Hoopeston.
Richard Moore Lukens was the son of Perry and Mary (Moore) Lukens. He was born in 1782 and she was born July 11, 1784. Both were born near Philadelphia. Perry Lukens was the son of Renier and Mary Jane (Perry) Lukens. He was born in 1758 and was the son of William and M. (Pennington) Lukens. The geneology of the Lukens family may be found in the New York Public Library. William Lukens was the son of William and Elizabeth (Tyson) Luckens, the name originally having been spelled Luckens. William Luckens was the son of Jan Luckens. Mary (Moore) Lukens, wife of Perry Lukens, was the daughter of Henry and Priscilla (Jack- son) Moore. He was born May 29, 1753, in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and died in 1829. He served in Captain John Taylor's Company of the Seventh Battalion, Cumberland County (Pennsylvania) Militia, commanded by Col. James Purdy, and was honorably discharged on May 5, 1781. (See Page 729, Volume 23, Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series.)
Henry Moore was the son of Mordeci and Elizabeth (Coleman) Moore. He died in Montgomery County, Penn- sylvania, in 1800. He was a Quaker and spent most of his life as a merchant in Philadelphia. Mordeci Moore was the son of Dr. Richard and Margaret L. (Preston) Moore. He was a councilman in Philadelphia and a leading physi- cian and surgeon of the city. He died in September, 1734. Margaret Lloyd Preston was the daughter of Samuel and Rachael (Lloyd) Preston. In 1711 he was mayor of Phila- delphia. He was also provincial treasurer from 1714 until the time of his death in 1743. Rachael Lloyd was the daughter of Thomas and Mary (Jones) Lloyd. He was born in 1640 and she was born in 1665. He died in 1686 and she died in 1680. He was governor of Pennsylvania in 1684, being appointed by William Penn. His grandmother,
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Elizabeth Stanley, was the granddaughter of Edward I, of England, which name a line of ancestors to Charlemagne and back through the dark ages.
Isaac Thomas Lukens, the subject of this sketch, was reared and educated at Springboro, Ohio. After his grad- uation from Springboro Academy he clerked in the gen- eral store at Springboro for several years and later estab- lished a mercantile business at Pendleton, Indiana, in part- nership with his brother, Charles Lukens. This business was finally disposed of and Mr. Lukens removed to Hoopes- ton in 1872, where he established the first general mercan- tile business and which was successfully conducted by him for many years. He then became identified with an overall factory in Hoopeston, and was interested in that business until the time of his death, January 19, 1903. His wife died October 20, 1904. Both are buried in Floral Hill Cem- etery, Hoopeston.
On May 17, 1867, Mr. Lukens was united in marriage with Miss Edith Satterthwaite, the daughter of Joseph M. and Eliza S. (Allen) Satterthwaite, natives of Bucks Coun- ty, Pennsylvania. Both are deceased and buried in Floral Hill Cemetery, Hoopeston. They came west and settled at Rossville, Illinois, during the early days and Mr. Sat- terthwaite became the first postmaster of Rossville. He later lived at Hoopeston and was one of the founders of this city, being one of its leading and most influential citizens for many years.
To Isaac Thomas and Edith (Satterthwaite) Lukens were born three children: Eliza, mention of whom is made below; David, died in infancy; and Hannah, who died in 1907. She was the wife of Marion Alston, of Chicago, Illinois.
Eliza Lukens married James A. Williams, the son of Nathan and Susan (Norman) Williams. Mr. Williams is a government bank receiver and was a leading merchant of Hoopeston for many years. He was chief clerk of the
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First District Exemption Board and served for three years without remuneration. Mrs. Williams is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the Colonists, Colonial Dames of Ohio, and Betsy Ross Society. She takes an active part in the social life of the community and has an extensive acquaintance. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have a daughter, Eleanor Kent Williams, who was born August 5, 1912. She attends Hoopeston High School.
Mr. Lukens was a Republican throughout his life. He was a member of the Society of Friends Church.
C. A. Edmond Sheets is one of the dependable and well known citizens of Hoopeston, where he is serving as assist- ant postmaster. He was born at Kendallville, Indiana, June 1, 1884, the son of Charles J. and Julia C. (Aichele) Sheets.
Charles J. Sheets was born in Germany. He was a tailor by trade and after coming to this country settled at Fort Wayne, Indiana, with his parents. Later he came to Hoopeston in 1904. He established a tailoring business here and became one of the representative members of the community. Mr. Sheets was living in Seattle, Washing- ton, at the time of his death in 1926. His wife, born in Rome, Georgia, died in 1918. Both are buried at Hoopes- ton. Mr. Sheets was a Republican and held membership in the Loyal Order of Moose and Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
C. A. Edmond Sheets attended the public schools of Auburn, Indiana, and after completing his schooling he went to Logansport, Indiana, where he became identified with the grocery business. He later returned to Kendall- ville, Indiana, where he was employed in the store of his uncle, Albert Aichele. In 1906 Mr. Sheets came to Hoopes-
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ton and two years later became a clerk in the local post- office under Postmaster Charles W. Warner. He continued in that capacity until March 1, 1918, when he became assist- ant postmaster under William Finley.
In 1911 Mr. Sheets was united in marriage with Miss Virginia McCormick, the daughter of James and Sarah (Ogden) McCormick, natives of Missouri, now residents of Bismarck, Illinois. They have the following children: Ruth, Dale, Helen, and Mary, all students; and Winifred, deceased.
Politically, Mr. Sheets is a Republican. He holds mem- bership in the Church of Christ, and takes an active part in Sunday School work for young people. He is affiliated with Star Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Mod- ern Woodmen of America, Lions Club, and Chamber of Commerce. For ten years Mr. Sheets served as secretary of the Hoopeston Chautauqua Association.
William M. Beggs, who is superintendent of the Amer- ican Can Company of Hoopeston, is numbered among the progressive business men and substantial citizens of Ver- milion County. He was born near Mercer, Pennsylvania, July 10, 1886, the son of David T. and Alphina (Mounts) Beggs.
David T. Beggs was born in Mercer County, Pennsyl- vania, as was his wife. They were among the early set- tlers of Mercer, where Mr. Beggs established a retail shoe business. In October, 1866, the family removed to Lewis- town, Illinois, where Mr. Beggs conducted a shoe business until his death in 1884. His wife died in 1899 and they are buried at Lewistown, Illinois. Mr. Beggs was a Democrat and for many years served as treasurer of Mercer County, Pennsylvania. He and his family held membership in the Presbyterian Church. The following children were born
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to Mr. and Mrs. Beggs: Lewis A., a Civil War veteran, deceased; Roger W. and Della, both deceased; Ella M., married Eugene Munson, both deceased; Estella and Ada, both deceased; William M., the subject of this sketch; and Charles, deceased.
The education of William M. Beggs was obtained in the schools of Lewistown, Illinois, and following his gradua- tion from high school he entered the employ of the Union Can Company, being made foreman of the plant in 1894. The factory was subsequently removed to Hoopeston and Mr. Beggs came to this city as factory superintendent. In 1901 the American Can Company was organized and at that time the Union Can Company was merged with the new enterprise. Mr. Beggs was retained as manager of the American Can Company and is factory superintendent of the Hoopeston plant. Originally, the plant employed about two hundred people as compared with four hundred and fifty on the company payroll at the present time.
In 1896 Mr. Beggs married Miss Catherine Hunter, the daughter of William and Catherine Hunter, the former a native of England and the latter of Ireland. Both are deceased. Mr. Hunter was a well known brick mason and building contractor of Lewistown, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Beggs have no children.
Politically, Mr. Beggs is a Democrat. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce.
W. R. Lowery .- Numbered among the prominent edu- cators of Vermilion County is W. R. Lowery, who is super- intendent of schools at Hoopeston. He was born at Free- port, Ohio, in 1882, the son of John and Mary (Alexander) Lowery.
John Lowery was born in Ireland. He was a lumber- man and contractor and after coming to this country lived
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in Ohio. He served with the One Hundred Fifty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War under Lew Wallace. Mr. Lowery died May 8, 1908, and is buried at Londonderry, Ohio. His widow, born at Freeport, Ohio, is still a resident of that place. Their children were: T. J., lives at Freeport, Ohio; J. G., lives at New Concord, Ohio; G. C., lives at Akron, Ohio; Mrs. Margaret McElhattan, lives at Freeport, Ohio; and W. R., the subject of this sketch.
W. R. Lowery received his early education in the rural schools of Ohio. He was graduated from Muskingum College with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1909 and later took graduate work at the University of Chicago and Illinois University. He began his teaching career in the district schools of Ohio, with which he was identified from 1903 until 1905; he then was a member of the faculty of Muskingum Academy from 1907 until 1909; was a teacher in Hoopeston High School from 1909 until 1913; principal of Hoopeston High School from 1913 until 1916; and be- came superintendent of city schools in 1916.
In 1913 Mr. Lowery married Miss Minnie Westfall, of Hoopeston, the daughter of Calvin F. and Annie (Robin- son) Westfall. They have a daughter, Mary Ann, born May 1, 1918.
Mr. Lowery is a Republican, a member of the Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge and Consistory, Modern Woodmen of America, and Lions Club.
Chester S. Berry, who is superintendent of schools at Rankin, is one of the prominent figures in education in Vermilion County. He is a native of Pleasant Hill, Pike County, Illinois, born December 6, 1891, the son of James R. and Nancy Margaret (Butler) Berry.
James R. Berry was born near Pleasant Hill, Illinois, February 4, 1847, the son of Willis Franklin Berry, a
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native of Kentucky and one of the earliest settlers of Pike County, Illinois. James R. Berry was a farmer through- out his life. He served as justice of the peace and as a member of the school board. He was an active member of the Methodist Church and belonged to the Masonic Lodge and Modern Woodmen of America. Nancy Mar- garet (Butler) Berry was born near Pleasant Hill, Illinois, November 16, 1850, the daughter of Darius Butler. She died February 11, 1924. Both she and her husband are buried in Wells Cemetery, Pleasant Hill, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Berry were the parents of the following children: Willis Elma, born December 4, 1877, married Dr. John Harold Cromwell, lives at Gooding, Idaho; Clifford Earl, born February 6, 1881, lives at Gooding, Idaho; Lucy Mabel, born March 17, 1882, married Willis E. Rodeniser, lives at Lead, South Dakota; John Neil, born November 16, 1886, lives at Gooding, Idaho; James Halford, born March 4, 1889, a World War veteran, lives at San Jose, California; and Chester S., the subject of this sketch.
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