USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a tale of its evolution, settlement, and progress for nearly a century, Volume II > Part 15
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JOHN O. CASS.
Among the successful farmers of Danville township, Vermilion county, who was born here and is now living upon the family homestead, is John O. Cass, whose eyes first opened to the light of day in 1846. He is a son of Will- iam and Rachel (Villars) Cass, both of whom were born in Ohio and came west in 1843, locating upon one hundred acres of land in Danville township, which the father has previously purchased. This land was entirely in its prim- itive condition and consisted of timber and prairie, so that it required years of labor in clearing away the trees, breaking the sod, and tiling the ground be- fore it was brought to a reasonable state of productiveness. Mr. Cass, who is still living upon the farm, at the age of ninety years, proved a very success- ful farmer and increased the original one hundred acres by various purchases until he acquired a valuable property of three hundred and twenty acres. In
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his family are three children: James W., John O., and Mary E., now Mrs. Brown.
The subject of our review was educated in the country schools and also in the schools at State Line. He assisted his father upon the farm and for some years engaged in teaching school during the winter. After the close of the Civil war he went to Arkansas, where he lived at three different times, but ten years ago he returned to the home farm, where he has since engaged prosperously in general farming and stock raising. He has made many im- provements and is known as one of the wide-awake and efficient agriculturists of the community.
In 1871 Mr. Cass was united in marriage to Miss Mary B. Thayer of High- land county, Ohio. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cass: George T., who graduated from the Valparaiso Medical School and is now engaged in practice at Dodge, Nebraska; and Carrie H., now Mrs. Samson.
Mr. Cass is independent in politics and votes for those measures and men that he considers most important in advancing the permanent welfare of the state or nation. His wife is identified with the Episcopal church and is an active worker in behalf of all movements that tend to relieve the ills of hu- manity. She is also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, her ancestors having come to this country in colonial days and located in Vir- ginia, where they were living during the Revolutionary war, in which members of the family took part under General Washington. Mr. Cass is a man of broad views who has learned many valuable lessons of practical use as he has passed along. As a farmer he is alert to the great improvements which have been made in the industry and he does not regret that he devoted his life to the farm which is the foundation of the republic and the main source of wealth all over the world. The home farm under his management has been brought to a high degree of cultivation and is known as one of the most productive farms in the region.
GEORGE WALZ.
George Walz, who comes of sturdy Teutonic ancestry and is recognized as one of the successful farmers of Danville township, Vermilion county, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, September II, 1847. He is a son of John Walz, who was owner of a sawmill in the old country and who died when the subject of this review was five years of age. He was reared under the care of a kind mother, but a strange fate also deprived him of her counsel and pro- tection, for when he was fourteen years of age death called her away and the son was left upon his own resources. He continued in the fatherland, working at such employment as presented itself, until 1867.
This was after the close of the Civil war and the clouds which had over- hung the republic had disappeared and many ambitious young men of German parentage were looking toward American with the desire to establish here a
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permanent home. Among this number was George Walz and at twenty years of age he came to America, landing at New York, where he remained for several months, when he traveled westward as far as Lafayette, Indiana. In the region of that city he found employment upon a farm and continued in the state until 1874, when he came to Danville and for eight years worked for Joseph English, who was the owner of a farm south of this city. Feeling that the time had arrived to begin operations for himself, he purchased seventy- two acres of wild land on the prairie east of the city and proceeded to im- prove it with an industry that in the course of years produced most gratify- ing returns. He was one of the first to pin his faith to the land in this region and many laughed at his endeavors, declaring that it could never be made productive. However, he paid no attention to these early critics and he now owns a valuable farm of two hundred and twenty acres, which he has built up through his own efforts and also maintains a herd of cows, which yields a gratifying recompense for his investment.
In 1872, in Indiana, Mr. Walz, was united in marriage to Miss Christina Theurer, who was born in Germany, and twelve children have blessed the union : Eli, deceased; Josephine, also deceased; Emma, now Mrs. John Zieder; Kate, now Mrs. Henry Linne; Ernest; Rosie, who became Mrs. Fred Andre and is now deceased; Josephine; Christina; Louisa; Carrie; Ida ; and Olivia.
Mr. Walz has always been a stanch republican and cast his first vote for General U. S. Grant for president of the United States. He has served as school director of the district and is at the present time acting as road com- missioner. He is recognized by those who know him as an earnest, intelligent and public-spirited citizen and his life presents a striking illustration of the effect of grit, perseverance and well directed industry in determining the des- tiny of any individual. From his boyhood he has been self-supporting and the principle of self-reliance which he adopted even as a youth has been one of his prominent characteristics and has carried him through many difficulties. He has many friends in the county where he has made his home for thirty-six years and where he has attained the success which results from industry when it is directed by good judgment.
JOHN L. TINCHER.
Deeply engraven on the pages of the history of Danville is the name of John L. Tincher, and his memory is yet cherished by those who knew him al- though many years have passed since he was called to his final rest. He was born in Kentcuky in 1821 and was a little lad of eight years when he accom- panied his parents on their removal to Vermilion county, Indiana. At the age of seventeen years, his parents having died in the meantime, he concluded that he would advance his education by further study, his course up to that time being such as could be obtained in the district schools. Realizing the need of further education, he therefore devoted three years to study in Coles
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county, Illinois, and thus laid the foundation for his advancement along busi- ness lines.
Mr. Tincher, then went to work in the store of Jones & Culbertson in New- port, Indiana, and in 1843 came with J. M. Culbertson to Danville and again engaged in clerking until 1853. Desirous that his labors should more directly benefit himself, he resigned his position to become the senior partner of the newly organized firm of Tincher & English. The partnership was formed for the conduct of a mercantile enterprise which was carried on successfully for some time, after which the firm withdrew from that field and turned their attention to banking. Mr. Tincher was thus instrumental in organizing the First National Bank of the city and established it upon a substantial basis. All branches of the banking business were conducted and each won substantial success. The safe, conservative policy instituted at the beginning was always maintained and the bank met a long felt need in this city. As he prospered in his undertakings Mr. Tincher invested in property from time to time until he became the owner of considerable valuable real estate that enabled him to leave his family in very comfortable financial circumstances.
Not only through his success in business but also by reason of his ability and prominence in public life did Mr. Tincher become well known. In 1864 he was elected a member of the lower house of the general assembly and that his course in that office commended him to the public confidence is indicated by the fact that in 1867 he was elected to the senate. In 1870 he was once more elected to the upper house and in the same year was chosen a member of the convention that revised the constitution. He was actuated in all that he did by a marked public spirit and by unfaltering devotion to the general good. Honest and faithful, he sought the best interests of the community, of the commonwealth and of the nation, and while a member of the legislature he gave most careful consideration to the questions that came up for settlement .. He never weighed any legislative act in his life in the scale of public policy but studied closely every feature of the situation and voted as his conscience and his judgment dictated.
In 1845 Mr. Tincher joined the Methodist Episcopal church and soon after- ward was chosen to occupy a subordinate clerical relation to the church which he held until his death. He frequently preached in the absence of a regu- lar minister and his efforts in behalf of the church were far-reaching and effective. In fact, his obligations in business, social, church and political re- lations were so many and so onerous that his life was undoubtedly shortened thereby. He was attending a session of the senate when, on the 17th of De- cember, 1871, he passed away at the Revere House in Springfield. He was a man of superior mental activity, broad-minded and of keen discernment. He. was, moreover, charitable and kindly in his nature and such was his ready sympathy and his helpful spirit that he was loved by all who knew him. Though many years have passed since he was called to his final rest, his name and memory are still cherished throughout the city.
On April 18, 1850, Mr. Tincher was married to Miss Caroline R. Hicks,. a daughter of George W. Hicks, a well known citizen of Perrysville, Indiana,. and also well known in Danville. They became the parents of eight children,
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four still living: Joseph E., a resident of Oklahoma; Lulu T., the wife of R. D. Harvey, of New York city; John L., assistant cashier of the First Na- tional Bank of Danville; Thomas L., a resident of Joliet and a manufacturer of automobiles; Charles C. and George Frances, both deceased; Julia C., the deceased wife of Hon. E. R. E. Kimbrough; and Tilman Tincher.
HARRY YAEZELLE MERCER.
Harry Yaezelle Mercer, well known throughout the United States as a tenor soloist of marked ability, opened a studio of music in Danville in 1907 and has since met with excellent success in his chosen profession, specializing in voice culture. He was born in De Witt county, Illinois, his birth occurring in Farmer City, February 26, 1875, and he comes of a family noted for its musical talent, being of Scotch and Welsh extraction.
His father, Colonel David L. Mercer, was born in Ohio and throughout his business life was engaged in mechanical pursuits. During the Civil war he served as colonel of an Ohio regiment and took part in many notable engage- ments. After the close of hostilities he came to Illinois and was a resident of Farmer City at the time of his death, which occurred on the Ist of January, 1894. In early manhood he married Miss Malinda Cook, also a native of the Buckeye state, who died on the 23d of August, 1888. She possessed a good soprano voice and sang in the choir of a church at Bladensburg, Ohio, of which her husband was choir leader for seventeen years. From his parents Harry Y. Mercer undoubtedly inherited his musical talent. In the family were twelve children, of whom ten are still living. Three of the sons followed in the foot- steps of their father and are now master mechanics and three are engineers. Besides these our subject has two sisters.
During his boyhood Harry Y. Mercer attended the public schools of Farmer City and later went to Sedalia, Missouri, where he took up voice culture with Madam Helen B. Gallie, a noted contralto, and continued with her for four years, one year of which time he was employed as assistant teacher. In 1895 he re- moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he studied for four years under Pro- fessor John Geiger and the following three years under Herr Karl Schneider. He also continued his studies with Christian Frederick Martene, a noted Nor- wegian, for three years, after which he took up circuit work and traveled throughout the east, west and south for a period of two and one-half years. Being ambitious to reach the highest goal possible, he decided to continue in his studies and with this end in view, removed to New York city, where for two years he studied under five of the most noted instructors in voice culture. At the end of that time he joined the Kilties Band as tenor soloist and traveled all over the United States, Canada, Mexico and Cuba, continuing with them for two full seasons, after which he returned to Indianapolis and for the follow- ing year devoted his time to Evangelistic work.
In 1907, Professor Mercer became a resident of Danville and opened a studio at No. 34 North Vermilion street, where he has since engaged in teach-
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ing music, his specialty being voice culture, and he now has among his pupils many from Danville's most prominent families. For a year and a half he has also been choir leader and soloist in the Kimber Methodist Episcopal church and at the close of the season of 1909, with the assistance of his pupils gave the Messiah, the leading parts being taken by Zola, Harry and Lola Ridge, sopranos; May Griffith and Vera Esslinger, contraltos; John Payne and Mr. Mercer, tenors; John Marsh, Horace Benjamin and George Telling, bassos. It was regarded by all who heard it as one of the greatest performances ever held in the city of Danville. Mr. Mercer is an earnest member of the Kimber church and in his political views is a republican, though at local elections he often votes independent of party ties. He has become widely known through- out the country on account of his musical ability and has a wide circle of friends and acquantances who hold him in high esteem.
WILLIAM P. TRIMMELL.
William P. Trimmell, a respected farmer of Oakwood township, Vermilion county, was born in this county, January 25, 1854. He is the son of William and Rosella (Gillen) Trimmell, a review of whom appears elsewhere in this work. The family is of French ancestry, the founder in this country settling originally in Kentucky, where he remained until 1823, when he located in Vermilion counay, Illinois. Mr. Trimmell of this review, represents the third generation of a family whose name is most favorably known and whose repre- sentation is not confined within the limits of this county. He is one of three children born to William and Rosella Trimmell, the other two being George, a farmer now living in Blount township, and Laura, the wife of Eli Fox, also of Vermilion county.
Mr. Trimmell received his education in the common schools and while he grew up became thoroughly familiar with farming operations. He is now living on the farm which he received from his father and has managed in such a way that he is recognized as one of the substantial men of the com- munity. He occupies with his family a handsome residence supplied with all modern conveniences and the entire farm conveys the impression of an up-to-date establishment and reflects credit upon its owner and upon the en- tire community.
In May, 1893, Mr. Trimmell was united in marriage to Miss Mattie Smith, a daughter of John and Nancy (Wright) Smith, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Missouri. They were married in Illinois and re- sided on a farm in this county until 1890, since which time they have lived retired at Oakwood. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, three of whom are still living: Ida E., the wife of Adelbert Meade, of Oakwood ; Lulu, the wife of Ira Peters, also of Oakwood; and Mattie, the wife of the subject of this sketch. Mr. and Mrs. Trimmell have been blessed by the ar- rival of three children in their home: Ross, born January 27, 1896; Mont,
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who was born July 1, 1901, and departed this life at the age of six years; and Ray, born March 31, 1909.
Mr. and Mrs. Trimmell are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church and the sincerity of their faith is indicated by their thought for others and the assistance extended by them to all worthy causes. Mr. Trimmell is an ad- vocate of the principles of the republican party, but he has never aspired to political honors. He is recognized as a worthy representative of the farming interests and in the community where he has been known all his life he has many friends and well wishers.
HON. LAWRENCE T. ALLEN.
One of the most successful among the younger representatives of the legal fraternity in Danville, is Lawrence T. Allen, who is now so efficiently serving as judge of the county court of Vermilion county. He was born in Hoopeston on the 24th of October, 1882, and is a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family of this county, his parents being Charles A. and Mary (Thomp- son) Allen, both natives of Rossville. His grandfather, William I. Allen, came to Danville in 1841, and in this county was united in marriage to Miss Emily Newell on the 17th of October, 1848. Her father was Esquire Newell, for whom Newell township, this county, was named. For a time the grandfather served as justice of the peace and was subsequently appointed by the county commissioners as county treasurer, in which capacity he served for several years. On coming to this region he entered about three section of government land near Hoopeston, which he later sold to Thomas Hoopes, in whose honor the town was named. During the Civil war he entered the Union service as captain of a company, but did not serve throughout the entire struggle. The deaths of both himself and wife occurred in Hoopeston. They were among the early settlers of Vermilion county and were very prominent in its pioneer history.
Charles A. Allen, the father of the judge, is a graduate of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and was successfully engaged in the practice of law in this county for a number of years. A man of marked ability, he early be- came a recognized leader in political affairs and was called upon to serve in the state legislature, being a member of the general assembly for the long period of twenty-four years. He has filled that position continuously with the exception of one term, and is today the oldest legislator in point of service in the state. In early manhood he married Miss Mary Thompson, a daughter of Lewis M. and Judith (Burrough) Thompson, who were married August 7, 1848, in Dan- ville, and were also early settlers of this region. Her father entered a tract of government land at Danville, where he still continues to make his home and is now living retired.
Judge Allen obtained his early education in the schools of Hoopeston, and after leaving high school, entered the University of Illinois at Urbana, where he pursued a law course and was graduated in 1905. He also pursued a literary course in that institution and at the University of Chicago, and was well equipped
LAWRENCE T. ALLEN
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to engage in his chosen profession on his admission to the bar in 1905. He be- gan practice in connection with his father in Danville, and is regarded as an able advocate and safe counselor. On the 8th of June, 1909, he was elected judge of the county court to fill a vacancy, reelected November 8, 1910, without opposition, and is now most acceptably discharging the duties of that office. Recognizing the fact that close study must be the basis of legal knowledge and a liberal foundation upon which is built the pedestal of success, he has carried his investigations far and wide into the realm of jurisprudence, and is well versed in principle and precedent.
Socially he affiliates with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America, and in military circles has become widely known, holding the rank of lieutenant in Battery A, , Artillery Battalion, Illinois National Guards. But it is in professional circles that he is best known, and today he is the youngest man to occupy the position of county judge in this county, and is said to be the youngest in the state.
JOSEPH S. DAVIS.
Joseph S. Davis is identified with both farming and merchandising in the township and village of Oakwood. Vermilion county numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred here on the 18th of April, 1852. His parents were Joseph V. and Cynthia (McCorkle) Davis, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Virginia. The Davis and McCorkle families both came to Illinois at an early day and settled on farms near Catlin. The Davis family entered and purchased land and at one time owned sixty-four hundred acres in Illinois and Wisconsin. It was in 1851 that Joseph V. Davis wedded Cynthia McCorkle but his death occurred the following year, leaving a widow with an infant son-our subject. Mrs. Davis afterward lived with her mother for six years and on the 4th of July, 1858, she gave her hand in marriage to J. M. Doran, a native of this county. They are still living upon a farm near Oakwood, Mr. Doran at the age of eighty-eight years and his wife at the age of eighty-one. There were three children of this marriage, who are still living: Sarah, the wife of Charles Davis; Grant, with his mother; and Charles E., who makes his home in this county.
Mr. Doran has been to Joseph S. Davis always as an own father. The latter remained upon the home farm until he had attained his majority, although previous to that time he began farming on his own account, continuing to board at home for some years, or until 1908. He now owns one hundred and twenty acres of finely improved land a half mile from Oakwood and in con- nection with its further development and improvement he is also engaged in the conduct of a general mercantile store in the town. He occupies a fine residence in the town and owns another dwelling there. He has made his suc- cess largely through handling and feeding stock while upon the farm. How- ever, his sound business judgment and keen discrimination enable him to carry
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forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes and in addition to his other business he is the owner of a mill which he operated for eight years.
On the first of March, 1910, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Elsie Oakwood, a native of Vermilion county and a daughter of M. L. and Julia (Trimble) Oakwood. Her father was born in the township which bears his name, October 8, 1855, his parents being J. H. and Priscilla (Saylor) Oakwood, in whose family were eight children, of whom five are yet living. M. L. Oakwood re- mained at home until his marriage on the Ist of February, 1883, to Miss Julia E. Trimble, who was born in this county and is a daughter of Preston and Rebecca J. (Britingham) Trimble, the former a native of Indiana and the lat- ter of Oakwood township. Mrs. Trimble died in 1858 but Mr. Trimble is still living in Oakwood. Mrs. Julia Oakwood was their only child. Following his marriage Mr. Oakwood located upon a farm and there lived for nine years, after which he removed to a farm which his father gave him, making his home thereon until his death, which occurred December 20, 1901. He was a repub- lican in politics and a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His widow belongs to the same church and has many warm friends in this locality. She still manages the home farm and attends to all the business connected there- with. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Oakwood were born two daughters: Elsie O., the wife of J. S. Davis, of Oakwood township; and Ida Glee, the wife of Charles Anderson, of Sesser, Franklin county, Illinois.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Davis also belong to the Methodist Episcopal church and are loyal to its teachings and generous in its support. His views upon the temperance question led him to give earnest support to the prohibition party. He has never been an office seeker although he is now serving as police magis- trate of Oakwood. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and to the Modern Woodmen camp and has filled most of the chairs in the latter. Both he and his wife are well known in Oakwood and this section of the county where they have long resided, being numbered among the representatives of some of the oldest and most honored pioneer families.
LOUIS CLEMENTS.
Although one of the younger representatives of the legal profession, Louis Clements has already made for himself an enviable position as one of the lead- ing attorneys of Danville. A native of Illinois, he was born in Carbondale, on the 12th of September, 1877, and on the paternal side is of Scotch and English descent, his ancestors having settled in Virginia and Maryland at a very early day. In fact, the first to come to the new world crossed the ocean with Lord Baltimore and later fought for the independence of the nation.
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