USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a tale of its evolution, settlement, and progress for nearly a century, Volume II > Part 20
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After his marriage Mr. Stephen entered business on his own account as a dealer in horses, thinking to find that line of activity more congenial and profitable than work on the farm, and for the conduct of that business located in Danville, Illinois. There he remained for one year and then purchased a farm, to which he removed and upon which he continued in the same line of business for eleven years. He then sold the farm and bought three acres adjoining the village of Catlin, but after remaining there for three years traded the place for a house and three lots within the city limits. Erecting a fine cement barn, he has since engaged in the livery business, meeting with most gratifying success in that undertaking. An excellent judge of horses, his stables contain many fine animals, while his line of cabs, buggies, run-abouts, etc., represents the most modern and up-to-date makes. His equipment is full and complete, des- tined to meet all demands made upon the business, and his barn is one of the first class and well patronized establishments of the city.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen was blessed with seven children, all of whom are yet at home with the exception of the fourth, who passed away in infancy. The others are Richard E., Carrie Emma, Ruby, Herman, Verney, and Mary A. Mr. Stephen holds membership in Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 431, and, recognizing the fact that the liquor traffic is one of the worst evils against which the country has to contend, he has cast his influence ever on the side of temperance and gives his political support to the prohibition party, al- though he has never sought nor desired public office. Early coming to a realization of the fact that success in business must come as the legitimate and logical result of well directed effort and intelligently applied labor, persever- ance, diligence and integrity have constituted for him the guiding posts of life, bringing him to the creditable place which he now occupies in business circles.
FRANK H. GUTHNECK.
Frank H. Guthneck, a representative of journalistic interests in Vermilion county, is the enterprising editor of the Westville Record. His birth occurred at Harpers Ferry, Iowa, on the 21st of March, 1864, his parents being Hubert and Mary C. (Leseure) Guthneck. The father was born in Alsace, France, on the 3d of November, 1832, while the mother was a native of Nancy, France. When six years of age Hubert Guthneck accompanied his parents on their emi- gration to the United States, the family home being established in Indiana. After attaining his majority he turned his attenion to general mercantile pur- suits and in that field of endeavor won a small fortune. About eighteen years ago he put aside active business cares and now lives retired at Harpers Ferry,
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Iowa. It was in the Hoosier state that he married Miss Leseure, who came to this country with her parents when nine years of age, locating in Indiana.
Frank H. Guthneck, who was one of a family of nine children, acquired his early education in the grammar schools and afterward attended Bailey's Commercial College of Dubuque, Iowa. After putting aside his text-books he assisted his father in the store for five years and then took up newspaper work as a reporter on the Dubuque Evening Telegraph. He was subsequently identi- fied with journalistic interests at various places until the time of his arrival in Westville, Illinois. where on the 6th of May, 1910, he founded the Westville Record, the first American newspaper in the town. It is printed in two lan- guages, American and Lithuanian, and is a most up-to-date publication in every respect. Although but recently established, the Westville Record has a large subscription list as well as excellent advertising patronage, and it is acknowl- edged that the paper fills a long-felt want in the community.
On the Ist of November, 1891, Mr. Guthneck was united in marriage to Miss ,Katherine Donahue, who was born, reared and educated in Marshall Illinois. They have become the parents of nine children, eight of whom are yet living. Paul H., the oldest son, is associated with his father in business.
In his political views Mr. Guthneck is a republican but he publishes his paper as an absolutely independent sheet. He is a devoted communicant of the Roman Catholic church - the faith of his ancestors. His life has ever been upright and honorable and the motives which have guided his actions have been such as will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny.
FRANK B. SMITH.
In all the relations of public and private life Frank B. Smith worked toward high ideals and seldom failed to accomplish what he undertook. The extent and importance of his business interests, his support of projects for the public good and his fidelity to the principles of honorable, upright manhood made him a valued and honored citizen. He lived for many years in this county but was a native of New York, his birth having occurred at Painted Post, October 12, 1848. His father was Joseph Smith, at one time well known in business cir- cles in this county, where he located during the boyhood of his son Frank, who attended the public schools of this locality and afterward continued his educa- tion in Stockwell, Indiana.
Following his graduation from the Stockwell schools Frank B. Smith be- came associated with his father in a milling enterprise at Myersville, doing the outside work, including the buying of grain. He thus gained comprehensive knowledge of the business in its various phases and in 1875 he came to Dan- ville and purchased a one-third interest in a flouring mill on what was then known as Mill street, but now Logan avenue. His partners in the business being his father and George Giddings. After a few years failing health necessitated a change in business, and Frank B. Smith exchanged his mill interests for a farm on North Vermilion street, where he removed in January, 1879. This
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tract at that time was simply farm land and some distance out of the city. The change in business at once brought about an improvement in Mr. Smith's health. In connection with farming he commenced raising early vegetables, also breed- ing fine poultry and pet stock. As a breeder of both he became one of the best known men in the state. He made a specialty of Buff Plymouth Rocks, which with his other stock were exhibited successfully all over the state. At one time he was breeding fifteen varieties of poultry and pet stock.
He gave considerable attention to small fruits and became widely known because of the large and fine strawberries which he raised and which found a ready market. Mr. Smith was thorough in what he did, and whatever he raised was the best of its kind. He was always a great lover of flowers, which as much as any real desire for pecuniary gain caused him to go into the florist business. In 1881 he purchased the Klingenspoor greenhouse on East Main street, to be used mostly in raising vegetable plants for that branch of his business, but see- ing an opportunity for florist business, he branched out into that line. He began in a modest way but it was a success from the start, as had been his other vent- ures, and soon became the leading and most extensive in Danville, a position that has been maintained to the present time. While some branches of the business were discontinued from time to time it grew in other lines to extensive and profitable proportions.
Mr. Smith laid out considerable of his land in town lots, which were sold off. He planted many beautiful shade trees and all in all did much to beautify that section of the city. His two sons, Joseph and Herbert, were practically reared in the business, and at their father's death succeeded to the business, which has been kept fully abreast of the times. Mr. Smith was one of the most active members of the Vermilion County Poultry Association. He died May 13, 1906, and is buried in Springhill cemetery.
On January 27, 1874, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Flora Shockley, a native of Greenfield, Highland county, Ohio, born July 31, 1853, but at that time a resident of Eight-mile Prairie. The parents of Mrs. Smith, Joshua A. and Helen F. (Merrill) Shockley, are still living at the ages of eighty- six and eighty years respectively. Mr. Shockley was born near Dover, Dela- ware, and his wife near Columbus, Ohio. They came to Illinois in the early '60s. Mrs. Shockley is the only surviving member of the family to which Bishop Merrill belonged, he being her brother.
They were parents of four children, as follows: Raymond Delbert, was a member of Battery A during Spanish-American war. He married Miss Nina Jump, a daughter of Perry Jump. Raymond Smith is wire chief for the Dan- ville Telephone Company, with which he has been connected for a number of years. Joseph J. served in the Spanish-American war as sergeant of Battery A. He married Miss Leona Burgoyne, of Danville, a daughter of James Bur- goyne and has one daughter, Letitia. Herbert E. also a sergeant in Spanish- American war, married Luella Prouty of St. Joseph, Missouri, and has two children, Frank B. and Herbert David. Juliette Jean is now Mrs. John E. Lee of Danville and has one son, John Ersom.
In his political views Mr. Smith was an earnest republican, giving unfalter- ing support to the principles of the party. He held membership with the Knights.
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of Pythias and the Court of Honor and also belonged to the Kimber Methodist Episcopal church. He was a man of domestic habits and tastes, devoted to the welfare of his family and measuring his greatest happiness by the welfare of his wife and children. A public-spirited citizen, he was ever ready to advance the interests of city and county by cooperating in the measures and projects for the public good and as the years passed on he established himself firmly in the public regard. The cause of education found in him a stalwart champion and as a director for years of the Roselawn school he did much to further its interests. He made good use of his time and opportunities and as the years went by gained prosperity, yet his success was measured not alone by material gain but also by an enterprising spirit, by intellectuality, by sincerity of purpose and his championship of what was in his opinion right and just.
PROFESSOR LIN H. GRIFFITH.
It is ability that has gained for Professor Lin H. Griffith the position he now fills as superintendent of city schools of Danville. A native of Ohio, he was born at Short Creek, Harrison county, on the 23d of September, 1858, and is a son of Benjamin B. and Sarah M. (Morgan) Griffith, the former a native of Reading, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Harrison county, Ohio, both born in 1836. The father is a machinist and blacksmith by trade and is still living in Harrison county, but the mother died in 1901. Since attaining his majority he has taken a very active interest in politics, although he has only filled a few minor offices. In his family are five sons and one daughter, namely : Professor Lin H. of this review; John M., a farmer; George A., a blacksmith ; William, a farmer; Anna, the wife of William Smyth of Short Creek, Ohio; and Frank M.
Professor Griffith received his early education in the public schools of his native village and later entered Franklin College at New Athens, Ohio, where he was graduated in 1887 with the degree of B. S. He worked his way through school, earning every dollar for his education by his own exertions, and before his graduation he taught five winters in the rural schools and was principal of a school at Potomac, Illinois, for five years, having come to Vermilion county in 1884. Previous to this, however, he had spent two years in McLean county, Illi- nois. In 1889 he was appointed by the board of supervisors as county superintend- ent of schools and was elected to that position in 1890, reelected in 1894 and 1898, serving in all a little over ten years, to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. In 1899 he was made superintendent of the Danville schools and has since filled that position, being reappointed by the board of education every year since. He now has under his supervision eight graded schools and one high school with an average attendance of about three thousand six hundred students. All the schools of Danville are under his control and during his regime three new buildings have been erected at a cost of about two hundred and fifteen thousand dollars and extensive repairs and additions have been made at a cost of forty thousand dollars. Professor Griffith has done much for the betterment of edu-
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cational affairs in this city, being progressive and up-to-date in his methods as well as conservative and it is largely due to his efforts that the schools of Dan- ville now rank among the best public institutions of the state. He has also made- himself very popular with the residents of the city and is a man held in high esteem by all who know him.
On the Ist of April, 1884, Professor Griffith was united in marriage to Miss Lulu May Heffling of McLean county, Illinois, who died in September, 1886, leaving one daughter, Viola N., now assistant librarian in the Danville public library. He was again married December 25, 1887, his second union being with Miss Nannie A. Heaton of Hoopeston, Illinois, by whom he had six children, five of whom are still living, namely: Helen M., a graduate of the high school; Florence M., Robert H. and Howard W., still in school; and Joseph Lawrence.
Professor Griffith is a prominent Scottish Rite Mason and is also a member of Lodge No. 69, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Marsh Encampment. He is past chancellor and one of the trustees of Damascus Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and a charter member of Northcott Camp, Modern Woodmen of America, and was one of the trustees and members of the Sons of Veterans during its existence in Danville. Religiously he is connected with the First Methodist Episcopal church, to which his family also belong. In connection with his educational work, he was made one of the directors of the State Teachers' Reading Circle and held several offices in the State Teachers' Associa- tion. He has filled all the executive offices and was president of the Central Illinois State Teachers' Association and is today chairman of the executive committee of the City Superintendents' Association of Illinois. Since 1902 he has been an active member of the National Educational Association and occu- pies a prominent position in educational affairs. He has become widely known as a man of much more than ordinary ability and the success that he has attained in life is due to his own unaided efforts, for he had to work his own way through school and has since been dependent entirely upon his own exertions.
HENRY R. JONES.
Henry R. Jones needs no introduction to the residents of Catlin township, among whom he has spent his entire life, for the upright and manly principles which have ever governed his life, constituting him one of the valued and honored citizens of the community, have at the same time won for him the high regard, confidence and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact. Born in Catlin, November 21, 1856, he is a son of Richard and Sarah A. (Bent- ley) Jones, natives of London, England, whence they came to America in 1849 in company with their respective parents, the family homes being established in Vermilion county. Here the father engaged in general farming and in mer- cantile business for a number of years, he and his wife spending their remain- ing days in this county, his death occurring October 23, 1876, while she passed away January 31, 1903. In their family were six children, all of whom are yet living.
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In the schools of Catlin township Henry R. Jones received a good education, and he was reared to manhood on the home farm, where he learned many les- sons concerning the value of industry, perseverance and integrity. He assisted his father in the cultivation of the fields until the latter's death, when he took charge of the homestead and was engaged in its further cultivation and improve- ment until 1893, when, thinking to find other pursuits more congenial and profit- able he became identified with the meat business, conducting a market for about two years. In the year 1897 he was appointed postmaster at Catlin under President McKinley's administration and has occupied that position to the pres- ent time, covering a period of thirteen years, his entire attention being given to the duties devolved upon him in that connection. His long continuation in office is an indication of the fact that he has proved an excellent and trust- worthy official, performing his duties in a way creditable to himself and en- tirely satisfactory to his fellow citizens.
It was in 1885 that Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Annie V. Champion, who was born in Indiana in 1861. She was a daughter of F. M. and Jane (Church) Champion, natives of Indiana and England, respectively, both of whom are now deceased. She was one of ten children born unto her parents and by her marriage to Mr. Jones became the mother of five children, namely : Grace V., who married C. H. Hughes, of Chicago, Illinois; Claud R., a graduate of the high school, who is living at home; Russell F. and Ferris H. also at home; and Lloyd W., who has just entered the high school.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which they are deeply and actively engaged and of which he is serving as treasurer, while the teachings of that denomination have ever governed his actions, whether in private, business or public life. He is well known in fra- ternal circles of Catlin, holding membership in Catlin Lodge, No. 285, A. F. & A. M., in which he has served as treasurer for fourteen years, and is also identi- fied with the Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 431, of Catlin. In politics a stal- wart republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, he has been an active party worker, serving on the village board and also filling the position of tax collector. For several years he was a member of the school board and throughout his long and close connection with public life has done everything in his power to further the political, material, moral and intellectual interests of the community. His long residence in Catlin township has made Mr. Jones widely known throughout the community, while his strength of character and his honorable public record constitute him a valuable citizen whom Catlin is proud to number among her native sons.
GEORGE S. SMITH.
On the roll of Vermilion county's honored dead appears the name of George S. Smith, a life-long resident of this part of the state, where his sterling traits of character gained him the favorable regard of all who knew him. He was born in 1856, in Vermilion county, and while spending his youthful days under the parental roof pursued his education in the country schools, which he at-
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tended through the winter months, while in the summer seasons he aided in the work of the home farm. His entire life was devoted to general agricultural pursuits. While in school he gave his vacation periods to the work of the fields and after completing his school days in Rossville he spent his entire time in promoting the development of the old home place. Following his marriage he farmed his father's land and as the result of his careful cultivation of the soil he annually gathered good harvests. He practiced the rotation of crops and by the judicious use of fertilizers kept the soil in good condition. At all times he marched in the front ranks of the progressive agriculturists of the community and his labors therefore, brought him substantial returns.
In February, 1889, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Smith, a daughter of John R. and Josephine R. (Stewart) Smith. Her father was a native of this county and a representative of a very prominent family. He followed farming through the period of his early manhood and afterward turned his attention to merchandising, in which field of business he continued up to the time of his retirement, which occurred about five years ago. Unto Mr. and Mrs. George S. Smith were born two children: Eugene C., who is now a student in the Culver Military Academy on Lake Maxinkuckee, Indiana; and Josephine, who died when three years of age.
The family have taken a prominent part in church affairs and are interested in the moral development of the community. Mr. Smith belonged to the Masonic fraternity and was in hearty sympathy with the principles of the craft, which are based on mutual helpfulness and brotherly kindness. His political support was given to the republican party, and he served on the town board as an alder- man, in which connection he exercised his official prerogatives in support of various measures for the general good. When called to his final rest Decem- ber 24, 1904, he left a record that is well worthy of emulation.
W. A. COCHRAN, M. D.
Dr. W. A. Cochran, a well known and successful representative of the medical fraternity in Vermilion county, has practiced his profession within its borders for almost three decades and for the past fifteen years has been located at Danville. His birth occurred in Madison, Indiana, on the 8th of October, 1850, his parents being Andrew and Minerva (Morris) Cochran, who were likewise natives of that place, the former born on the 2d of November, 1822, and the later on the 2d of November, 1826. The father was a contractor and builder by trade and in 1855 removed to Brookston, Indiana, where the mother died of smallpox on the 6th of May, 1861. The death of Andrew Cochran occurred on the 30th of September, 1901. He was twice married and by his first wife had three children, of whom our subject is the eldest. His brother and sister died in childhood. By his second wife Andrew Cochran had two sons, Clyde and Sherman, who are residents of Brookston.
Dr. Cochran obtained his education in the academy at Brookston, Indiana, leaving that institution in 1868. The following year he began preparation for
DR. W. A. COCHRAN
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his chosen life work as a student in the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, from which institution he was graduated in 1873. Locating for practice at Brookston, he there remained for one year and then spent a similar period in Boone county, Kentucky. The scene of his professional labors next changed to Indianapolis, where he was actively engaged in practice until 1882, which year witnessed his arrival in Vermilion county, Illinois. He established his home and office at Grape Creek and remained there until 1895, since which time he has practiced continuously in Danville. He has gained a liberal patronage and his success in administering the remedies necessary for alleviating human suffering has won for him a desirable reputation. Through his membership in the County, State and National Medical Societies he keeps in close touch with the progress that is being continually made by the profession. He has served on the hospital surgical staff of the Vermilion county hospital for fifteen years and is also examining physician for a number of insurance companies.
In 1877, at Brookston, Indiana, Dr. Cochran was united in marriage to Miss Martha Perry Medaris, who was born in Hartford, Indiana, on the 3d of April, 1855, her parents being John and Martha Medaris, the former a phy- sician of Brookston. Unto Dr. and Mrs. Cochran have been born two children, namely: Charles H., whose birth occurred February 7, 1878, and who is a machinist in the employ of the Danville foundry and machine shops; and Helen E., born August 30, 1880, who is now the wife of W. W. Stratton, of Chicago.
In his political views Dr. Cochran is a republican and for seven years he filled the office of county physician, while for two terms he acted as police magistrate at Grape Creek, Illinois. In 1894 he was elected assistant super- visor of Danville township. He belongs to the Physicians Club and also holds membership relations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Tribe of Ben Hur and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His personal characteristics have gained for him the warm regard and friendship of many, while in professional lines he has attained that eminence which only comes in recognition of merit and ability.
ALFRED A. JOHNSON.
Although one of the younger members of the Danville bar Alfred A. John- son has already proceeded far on the road to success. A native of Vermilion county, he was born in Oakwood township, on the 22d of February, 1886. His father, George W. Johnson, a native of Indiana, came to this county in 1854, accompanying his parents on their removal to Illinois when a lad of six years. He was a son of Job Johnson, a native of Virginia, who after his removal to Indiana followed the occupation of farming upon a tract of land of forty acres. George W. Johnson also devoted his life to the occupation of farming until the 8th of March, 1899, when he removed to Danville, where he is now living re- tired, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. He still owns a farm in Oakwood township, from which he derives a substantial in- come. For more than a half century he has been a resident of Vermilion county
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