USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a tale of its evolution, settlement, and progress for nearly a century, Volume II > Part 16
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His father, Colonel Isaac Clements, became well known as the governor of the Danville branch of the National Soldiers' Home. The father was born in Brookville, Indiana, March 31, 1837, and was a son of Isaac Clements, a native of Maryland, who removed to the Hoosier state at an early day and died in Laurel, Indiana, in 1873. After acquiring his education in the com-
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mon schools of his native state Colonel Clements engaged in teaching for a time and at the age of twenty entered Asbury University at Greencastle, where he was graduated in 1859. The same year he became a resident of Jackson county, Illinois, where for six months he engaged in teaching school, and, having in the meantime studied law, he was admitted to the bar and began practice in 1861. At the opening of the Civil war, however, he decided to enter the service and became second lieutenant in Company G, Ninth Illinois Infantry, and was pro- moted provost marshal at Athens, Alabama, serving in that capacity from 1863 until the spring of 1864, when he resigned in order to rejoin his company, which was then advancing on Atlanta. He participated in many important en- gagements and was twice severely wounded at Shiloh and again at Corinth. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged with the rank of captain. Returning north, he made his home in Carbondale for forty years and for some time was successfully engaged in the practice of law. He also took a very active and prominent part in public affairs and represented his district in congress.
In 1877 he was appointed penitentiary commissioner for the southern prison at Chester and acted in that capacity for eleven consecutive years. Later he was United States pension agent at Chicago for three years and for nearly a year was superintendent of the Soldiers Orphans Home at Normal, Illinois. It was in December, 1898, that he received the appointment as governor of the Soldiers' Home at Danville, being the first to fill that position. His public and private life were alike above reproach and at his death, which occurred May 31, 1909, the community realized that it had lost a valuable citizen. Colonel Clements was married November 16, 1864, to Miss Josephine Nutt, a daughter of Cyrus Nutt, D. D., LL. D., of Bloomington, Indiana. For some time her father was a professor in Allegheny College, Pennsylvania, and became the first president of Asbury University while subsequently he was a professor at the University in Bloomington, Indiana. His ancestors were from New England and were also represented in the Revolutionary war, Unto Colonel and Mrs. Clements were born four children, of whom three are still living, namely, Frank, Louis and Robert. The mother also survives and continues to make her home in Danville. For many years the Colonel was an honored member of the Masonic fraternity and was also connected with the Grand Army of the Republic.
Louis Clements acquired his early education in the schools of Carbondale and southern Illinois and later entered the state normal, from which he was graduated in 1897. He was subsequently a student at the Northwestern Univer- sity of Evanston and completed the course with the class of 1902, receiving the degree of B. A. on his graduation. He studied law and on his admission to the bar formed a partnership with H. M. Steely, of Danville, which con- nection continued for six years. In 1908, however, this partnership was dis- solved and Mr. Clements has since been alone in the general practice of law. He has a large clientele and has been employed on many of the most important cases tried in this section of the state during his active connection with the bar
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Mr. Clements is a republican in his political views and, although he takes a deep and commendable interest in public affairs, he has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office, preferring to devote his undivided attention to his professional work. In religious faith he is a Methodist and is today a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Mutual Protective League of Illinois. Socially he belongs to the One Hundred Thousand Club and also to the Danville Golf Club, of which he is secretary and treasurer. Fortunate in possessing ability and character that inspire confidence, he has gained for him- self a position of prominence in professional and social circles and his influence is always given in support of whatever he believes will promote the best in- terests of the community.
SAMUEL BLAIR.
Seventy-two years ago Samuel Blair, who is a well known farmer of Ver- milion county, first saw the light of day. He was born December 5, 1838 in a log house on the farm in Newell township where he has ever since lived, and is a son of William G. and Christiana (Bradin) Blair, his father being a native of Harrison county, Kentucky, and his mother of Logan county, Ohio. The parents were among the pioneers of Illinois, who came to Vermilion county in the early part of the nineteenth century, when the country was largely open to settlement and while Illinois was still a territory. After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. William G. Blair, January 11, 1818, they settled upon the land which became the family homestead. Here the pioneer couple set up housekeep- ing and the head of the house began clearing away the trees and preparing the land for cultivation. In his farming he proved to be more than ordinarily suc- cessful. In addition to a common-school education he had in his earlier years received instruction in civil engineering and for a quarter of a century he was of great assistance to settlers for many miles about in locating their lands and dividing up their fields. At the time of his death, which occurred May 4, 1882, he was the owner of a finely improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres, the result of his perseverance and well applied industry. His wife, the mother of our subject, departed this life October 2, 1877. They were typical represent- atives of the pioneers of Illinois, who made possible the comforts and conven- iences that are to be found upon every side at the present time.
Samuel Blair grew to manhood upon the farm and continued assisting his parents until he was twenty-one years of age. He was educated in the district schools and is the sole survivor in a family of seven children. Upon the death of his father he inherited one hundred and sixty acres of the homestead, which he has greatly improved and supplied with the conveniences of modern life. His mind often reverts to the scenes and experiences of earlier years and few men of the county are better acquainted with the trials and vicissitudes of the farm as they were experienced fifty or sixty years ago. He remembers that when he was from fifteen to twenty-one years of age, during the '50s, it was a part of
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his duty each year to gather the apples in his father's orchard and haul them by wagon to Chicago, returning loaded with freight of various kinds for the mer- chants of Danville.
On February 28, 1861, Mr. Blair was united in marriage to Miss Mary Cossiart, who was born in Missouri but came to Illinois with her parents in her girlhood. Here they spent the remaining years of their life. She was the fourth in order of birth in a family of seven children. To Mr. Blair and his wife six children have been born: Henry, who married Miss Katie Campbell and is living in Vermilion county ; Robert E. Lee, who married Miss Jennie Watson and lives at Salem, Illinois; Clara M., who became the wife of Irvin Cunning- ham, of Vermilion county ; and Flora A., Franklin and Arthur, all of whom are deceased.
Mr. Blair is identified with the democratic party, as he believes that its prin- ciples are best adapted for the perpetuity of republican institutions. While he has not been a candidate for political honors, he held the office of township clerk for two terms and commissioner of highways for three terms. For five years he acted as postmaster and for six years as member of the school board. In all of these responsible positions he discharged his duties in such a way as to meet the approval of the people of the township. For many years he has been a member of the United Brethren church and by his integrity and honesty in all business dealings he attained a standing which is to any man of inestimable value and in the long run is worth much more to him than all the honors that could be purchased by the use of money. He is recognized as a substantial and representative citizen by those with whom he has long been associated and one who from the beginning of his career has been deeply interested in the material, mental and moral welfare of the community.
JUDGE S. MURRAY CLARK.
Judge S. Murray Clark, who since 1906 has been assistant district attorney for the eastern district of Illinois, previous to which time he sat upon the bench of the county court for four years, has for a considerable period been numbered among the ablest representatives of the Danville bar. He has hardly reached the prime of life and yet for a number of years he has ranked with older men whose ability has gained them eminence in the legal profession in this part of the state.
Judge Clark is a native of Indiana, his birth having occurred in Crawfords- ville on the 15th of May, 1869. He comes of an old family of North Carolina in which state his grandfather, Samuel Clark, was born, reared and married, removing thence to Indiana when his son, John G. Clark, the father of Judge Clark, was but two years of age. The latter, therefore, was reared upon the frontier. After arriving at years of maturity he wedded Mary Holiday, a daughter of William Holiday, who was born in North Carolina and in the paternal line traced his ancestry back to the Penn colony. He became one of the pioneer settlers of Vermilion county, Illinois, establishing his home here
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when his daughter Mary was a young girl. It was in this county that Mary; Holiday gave her hand in marriage to Dr. John G. Clark, who in the mean- time had taken up the study of dentistry and following his marriage engaged in the practice of his profession at Covington, Indiana. Impaired health, how- ever, led him to seek the advantages of outdoor life and he therefore began farming near Crawfordsville, where he remained for some time. He after- ward located for the practice of dentistry in Thorntown, Indiana, but later again took up the occupation of farming. In the spring of 1870 he established his home upon a farm in Elwood township, Vermilion county, and made his home thereon for twenty years, after which he resided at Vermilion Grove for five years. Later he became the president of the First National Bank in George- town and has since been closely associated with the financial interests of that place. He was reared in the faith of the Society of Friends or Quakers and has ever been loyal to the teachings of that sect. His political allegiance is- unfalteringly given to the republican party and while the honors and emolu- ments of office have had no attraction for him, he has ever cooperated in measures for the public good. Unto Dr. and Mrs. Clark have been born three- children : O. P., who married Ada Elliott and is cashier of the First National Bank at Georgetown; S. Murray, of this review; and Emma, the wife of Pro- fessor C. E. Cosand, who is engaged in teaching in Wichita, Kansas.
Judge Clark accompanied his parents on the various removals which they made during the period of his youth. His early education was acquired in the- public schools and he afterward attended Vermilion Academy at Vermilion Grove, where he pursued his studies until 1887. He afterward spent two years in Earlham College, at Richmond, Indiana, and in preparation for the bar matriculated in the Bloomington law school, a department of the Wesleyan University. He was graduated on the completion of his course in 1893 and at Ridge Farm began practicing, but in 1894 removed to Danville and has since. been an honored and representative member of the bar of this city. For a time he was associated in practice with George G. Mabin, and the firm of Mabin & Clark was recognized as one of the strongest of the Vermilion county bar. Mr. Clark was chosen as one of the counsel for the plaintiff in the case of Carrie Corbitt versus John Gernand, in which the jury gave a verdict in favor of his client for fifty-four thousand, three hundred and thirty-three and a third dollars-the largest breach of promise verdict ever rendered in the United States .. Mr. Clark has conducted many personal injury cases and the firm won a ver- dict of ten thousand dollars for their client in the case of Sherber versus Lor- ton. In 1902 Mr. Clark was appointed county judge to succeed Judge Thomp- son, who had been elected to the circuit court. He served for three months- and was then elected to the office which he filled until 1906, when he resigned to become assistant district attorney of the eastern district of Illinois, which position he is now filling. His decisions while on the bench indicated strong mentality, careful analysis, a thorough knowledge of the law and an unbiased judgment. The successful lawyer and competent judge must be a man of well balanced intellect, thoroughly familiar with the law and practice, of comprehensive general information, possessed of an analytical mind and a self-control that will enable him to lose his individuality, his personal feelings,
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his prejudices and his peculiarities of disposition in the dignity, impartiality and equity of the office to which life, property, right and liberty must look for protection. Possessing these qualities, Judge Clark justly merited the good words spoken concerning his service on the bench and he is proving equally capable in the discharge of his duties as assistant district attorney.
Judge Clark was married on the 6th of August, 1895, to Miss Myra Men- denhall, the wedding being celebrated in Vermilion Grove, Illinois. Mrs. Clark was born in Catlin, this state, January 6, 1871, and is a daughter of Dr. M. C. and Cynthia (Kennedy) Mendenhall, natives of North Carolina and Indiana respectively. They were married at Center Point, Indiana, and Dr. Mendenhall afterward engaged in the practice of medicine in Catlin, Illinois, being one of the early as well as the more successful physicians of that place. Judge and Mrs. Clark have a wide acquaintance in Danville, and the hospitality of the best homes is freely accorded them. The Judge holds membership with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knight of Pythias, the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In his political views he has always been a republican and his political, social and professional prominence places him in a foremost position among Danville's honored and valued citizens.
GEORGE HUMRICHOUSE.
George Humrichouse needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for as president of the Danville Wholesale Grocery Company he is well known. During his residence here he has been active in cooperating in many movements for the public good and his business affairs have largely been of a character that have contributed to the general development and improvement.
A native of Illinois, he was born in Monmouth, on the 7th of September, 1868, and on the paternal side is of German descent, while his maternal ances- tors were of Scotch origin. His parents were James W. and Priscilla Grace Humrichouse, who are still living and are now residents of Frankfort, Indiana. For many years the father was actively engaged in farming and the real-estate business, but is now practically living retired.
George Humrichouse received a good practical education in the grammar and high schools of Homer, Illinois, and, being well fitted for teaching, he suc- cessfully followed that profession in Champaign and Vermilion counties for eight years, after which he embarked in the retail grocery business, being as- sociated with his father as part owner of the store from 1897 to 1902. Their location was at 112 East Main street and they built up a good business. In 1902, however, our subject was one of the incorporators of the Danville Whole- sale Grocery Company, of which he is now president, and it is mainly through his well directed efforts that the business has been built up. He is a wide- awake, energetic and progressive business man, who usually carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes, and he has made the firm with which he is now connected widely known throughout this section of the
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state. Carrying a first-class line of goods, their trade has steadily increased until it has now reached extensive proportions, this being largely due to the reliable and progressive business methods of the members.
At Ridgeway, Missouri, July 23, 1891, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Humrichouse and Miss Mary Stoughton, a daughter of Nathaniel N. Stoughton, who is still living in Ridgeway and is a representative of one of the old fam- ilies of that city. To Mr. and Mrs. Humrichouse has been born a son, Elton, whose birth occurred in Homer, July 1,' 1892, and they also have an adopted child, who was taken from the Children's Home.
They are earnest and consistent members of the First Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Humrichouse is also identified with the One Hundred Thou- sand Club. In politics he is independent, giving his allegiance to those men and measures which he believes will prove of public benefit. He has taken the de- grees of the Lodge of Perfection and the Royal Arch chapter of the Masonic fraternity and is also identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias. Being a lover of outdoor sports, he takes quite an enthusiastic interest in baseball and is a genial, social gentleman, who makes friends wherever he goes. He is popular both in business and social circles and is today regarded as one of the leading citizens of his adopted city.
GEORGE B. JONES, V. S.
Dr. George B. Jones, whose skill as a veterinarian has brought him a large and lucrative practice in his chosen profession, was born near Paris, Edgar county, Illinois, on the 28th of October, 1864, and is a son of Lewis and Eliza (Shields) Jones, natives of Bourbon county, Kentucky, and of Edgar county, Illinois, respectively. The father came with his parents to this state about 1843, settling in Edgar county, where he attained his majority, was married and still makes his home. He has devoted his life to general agricultural pur- suits, and is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, which responds readily to the- care and cultivation that he bestows upon it. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party but without desire for office as a reward for party fealty. His wife is a consistent Christian woman, hold- ing membership in the Baptist church. Her father, Elder William Shields, was a member of the state legislature from his district for a number of years, and was one of the prominent influential and honored residents of his section.
Dr. Jones spent his youthful days at home, and the public schools afforded him his early educational privileges, which were supplemented by a course of study in the Valparaiso Normal School, from which he was graduated with the class of 1888. He then began teaching and for seven years was identified with educational work, but abandoned that profession in 1892, in order to go to Toronto, Canada, and enter the Ontario Veterinary College at Toronto, Canada, in preparation for the profession which he is now making his life work. He was graduated from that school in the class of 1894, and came direct to Sidell, Illinois, where he began his practice, which has been built up to extensive
DR. GEORGE B. JONES AND FAMILY
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and profitable proportions. He is one of the ablest representatives of the pro- fession in this section of the state and holds the government appointment of deputy on the United States Board of Animal Industry. He is also filling the position of deputy assistant state veterinary for the state of Illinois. These two oppointments came to him without his solicitation and indicate his stand- ing in his profession. He is an active member of the American Veterinary As- sociation and a member of the Illinois State Veterinary Association, and is a contributor to the columns of the publication of each organization.
On the 6th of March, 1895, Dr. Jones was married to Miss Ettie Mapes, who resided near Paris, Edgar county, and unto them have been born three sons, Howard L., George C. and Frank. Dr. Jones is a member of Austin Lodge, I. O. O. F., at Paris, with which he has been identified for thirty years. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, gives his political allegiance to the democracy and has served both as alderman and mayor of Sidell, being called to public office by the vote of his fellow townsmen who recognize his public spirit and his fidelity to the best interests of the community: He manifests both promptness and accuracy in the discharge of his duties and his devotion to the public good stands as an unquestioned fact in his life. He has been a member of the school board of Sidell, serving as its president for five years.
AMOS SMITH WILLIAMS.
Among the men who have been active in inaugurating and shaping the busi- ness policy and commercial development of Danville was Amos S. Williams, who was prominently identified with a number of business enterprises. His demise, therefore, removed from the city one whom she could ill afford to lose, a man whose strength of purpose and undaunted energy found expression in the de- velopment of business concerns whose magnitude made them not only a source of individual profit but also an element in the city's growth.
Mr. Williams was born on the 22d of August, 1831, in Danville, and was a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family. His father, Amos Wil- liams, who was of German descent, came to this state from Pennsylvania at a very early day and after living for a short time at Butler Point, took up his resi- dence in Danville. He at once became an active factor in public affairs and was elected the first county clerk on the organization of Vermilion county. For some time he engaged in teaching school and was also employed as a surveyor, and prior to his removal to Vermilion county served as county clerk of Edgar county. He was a man of most accurate habits as is shown by the records which he kept. Other positions of honor and trust were conferred upon him and he served as circuit clerk, probate judge, pound master and postmaster of Danville and his official duties were always discharged in a prompt and able manner that won the commendation of all concerned. He assisted in laying out the city and, being deeply interested in educational affairs, did much toward securing good schools and competent teachers. Whatever he did he did well and his record is one well worthy of emulation. He died in Danville in 1857. In his family were six
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children : Maria Louise, born at Butler Point, Vermilion county, February 22, 1827; Benjamin Franklin, born in Danville, April 19, 1829; Amos S., of this review; Charlotte E., born December 30, 1833; Mary Julie, born January 12, 1836; and Enoch A., born July 15, 1838.
Born in Danville when this region was a frontier settlement, Amos S. Wil- liams early became familiar with pioneer life. His early education was obtained in the schools of this county and he later pursued his studies at Paris, Illinois. He began his business career as a hardware merchant in Danville, but subse- quently spent seven years in California, and on his return to this state resumed the hardware business here. Later he turned his attention to the queen's ware and coal business, which he carried on for a number of years, but his last days were spent in honorable retirement from labor. As time passed he became in- terested in many important enterprises of the city, whose success was due largely to his untiring and well directed efforts. He was a man of excellent business ability and sound judgment and in tbe conduct of his affairs met with well de- served success. He assisted in establishing and conducting the Iron Wagon Works, one of the early factories of the city, also the Starch Works and a box factory and was vice president of the first street car company organized in Dan- ville. Through such business connections he materially assisted in the develop- ment and upbuilding of the city and did much to promote its prosperity.
Mr. Williams was married February 15, 1860, to Miss Sarah Jane Gregson, who was born in Danville, October 19, 1835. Her father, George Gregson, was also a pioneer of Vermilion county and was of English birth, but crossed the At- lantic to America in early life. He died when Mrs. Williams was only seven weeks old. The children born to our subject and his wife are: Mrs. Lynne Beck- with; Ernest, who died when about nine years of age; Victor and Carroll.
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