USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a tale of its evolution, settlement, and progress for nearly a century, Volume II > Part 33
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JOHN S. MILLER.
John S. Miller, starting out in life as a farm hand, became in the course of years a successful agriculturist and from 1883 until the time of his death in 1895 owned and occupied a valuable farming property in this county in the vicinity of Hoopeston. He was born near Strasburg, Franklin county, Penn- sylvania, April 9, 1819, a son of William and Rebecca (Strain) Miller. The father was a farmer who several years after the birth of his son removed west- ward to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, where he secured land and began farming.
John S. Miller acquired his education in the schools of Pennsylvania and Indiana but at the age of nineteen left school, owing to his father's death, for it became necessary that he aid in the support of the family. He did this by working by the month as a farm hand. While thus employed he carefully saved his earnings and a few years later purchased a farm, on which he established his widowed mother in a comfortable home. Toward her he ever displayed the most filial care and devotion, thus repaying her for the love with which she guarded his youth. For a half century he resided in Tippecanoe county, de- voting his entire time and attention to general agricultural pursuits and in
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JOHN S. MILLER
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1883 he came to Vermilion county, purchasing a tract of land near Hoopeson from John Williams. Taking up his abode upon that place, he did not personally engage in tilling the soil but rented the farm, while he practically retired from active life, enjoying a well earned rest throughout his remaining days. His life had been a very busy, active and useful one and his retirement was the well merited reward of his labor.
In 1851 Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Leah Stephenson, who died in 1877. The only child born of that marriage is now deceased. On the 18th of February, 1879, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Combs, a daughter of Elias and Elsie (Alexander) Combs, the former a farmer of Hendricks county, Indiana. The son of this marriage, Frank E. Miller, resides on the old home farm and is numbered among the enterprising agricul- turists of the commuity. He married Miss Fannie L. Bailey, of Tippecanoe county, Indiana, and they have one child, Harold. Mrs. Miller now resides in Hoopeston, having removed to the city since the death of her husband on the 7th of September, 1895. ,
In his political views Mr. Miller was an earnest republican and never neg- Jected the duties of citizenship, although he neither sought nor desired office. He always kept well informed on the issues of the day and gave to the candi- dates of the party his earnest support. He was devoted to his family, was a good neighbor and a faithful friend. He was extremely sociable by nature and enjoyed the companionship of those of congenial tastes and interests. He readily recognized the good in others and was loved by all who knew him. He left a comfortable competence to his family and also the untarnished name which is rather to be chosen than great riches.
THOMAS SAILOR.
Thomas Sailor, engaging in merchandising and in the conduct of a restaurant at Oakwood, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, December 6, 1875. The family has been represented here from an early day. His parents were David S. and Rosanna (McGown) Sailor. The mother was born in Ireland but spent much of her girlhood in Canada. The father was a native of Ohio and they were married in Canada but soon afterward came to Illinois, settling upon a farm in Vermilion county, where Mr. Sailor rented land for several years. During that period he carefully saved his earnings, after which he purchased a farm near Fairmount of twenty acres. He took up his abode thereon and in connection with its cultivation also operated other land for several years. He then sold out and bought another tract of land near Oakwood, upon which his widow still resides, his death having occurred in 1893. Their family numbered seven children: William J., who is living with his mother on the old home farm; Samuel C., a stockman of Vermilion County; Hannah I., the wife of D. W. Gohn, of Rochester, Indiana; Rebecca, who died at the age of fifteen years ; Thomas, of this review; and James and Rosa M., both with their mother.
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No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Thomas Sailor in his boyhood and youth. He worked in the fields during the summer months and attended school in the winter seasons. At the age of twenty-two years he began farming on his own account near Oakwood and con- tinued the business for five years, after which he removed to the village and carried on teaming for four years. Subsequently he was employed at day labor for three years, at the end of which time he bought a store and at present is conducting a restaurant and mercantile business in Oakwood. He is prospering in his undertakings and his close application and energy have been the strong points in his success whereby he has made steady progress along well defined lines of labor.
On the 23d of March, 1898, Mr. Sailor was married to Miss Myrtle Stiner, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Peters) Stiner, the former born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Illinois. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sailor have been born two children: Ethel May who was born September 16, 1901, and died in infancy; and Gladys M., who was born January 21, 1904.
Mrs. Sailor holds membership in the Christian church and Mr. Sailor be- longs to the Modern Woodmen Camp of Oakwood, while both are members of Oakwood Lodge, No. 830, of the Court of Honor. His political endorse- ment is given to the republican party, but he never sought nor held office, giv- ing his attention rather to his business interests, wherein his close application and diligence have brought him substantial success ..
S. E. CORNELIUS.
S. E. Cornelius, a well known restaurant proprietor of Georgetown, was born in Adams County, Ohio, on the IIth of March, 1871, his parents being C. W. and Sarah E. (Walker) Cornelius. The father, likewise a native of that county, was born on the 29th of December, 1847, while the mother's birth oc- curred in Ohio on the Ist of August, 1845. Their marriage was celebrated in Highland County, Ohio, where C. W. Cornelius still resides. Throughout his entire business career he has successfully carried on general agricultural pursuits.
S. E. Cornelius obtained his education in the grammar schools of his native county and subsequently secured employment in a planing mill, while later he worked in a carriage manufactory at Cincinnati, Ohio, for some time. On arriv- ing in Danville, Illinois, on the 17th of August, 1897, he accepted a position in a planing mill and afterward entered the service of the Chicago & Eastern Illi- nois Railroad, being identified with construction work for five years. On the expiration of that period he opened a restaurant in Georgetown and has since conducted a successful establishment of this character, having won an ex- tensive and desirable patronage.
On the 23d of June, 1901, Mr. Cornelius was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary A. Edmunds. They have one son, Robert, whose natal day was April 23, 1903, and who is a pupil in the Georgetown grammar school. Mrs. Cornelius was born in Georgetown, March 4, 1872, and was educated in the grammar and
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high schools of that city. She is the third in order of birth in a family of four children whose parents were Benjamin and Susan (Mack) Edmunds. The father, who was a harnessmaker by trade, was born and reared on a farm, where he remained until he attained his majority. He lived with an uncle and received his education there. After his marriage he turned his attention to the harnessmaker's trade, which he continued to follow up to the time of his death in 1892. He had come to this county from Eugene, Indiana, and spent his last years in Georgetown.
Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius are devoted and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, taking an active and helpful interest in its work. Mr. Cor- nelius has taken great pleasure in the gathering of relics and now has an in- teresting and valuable collection on display in his restaurant. He is a gentle- man of genial disposition and courteous manner and has other sterling qualities which command the friendship and regard of those with whom he is brought in contact.
EDWIN JAMES DRAPER.
Edwin James Draper, who passed away on the 4th of February, 1910, left the impress of his individuality upon the commercial history, upon public progress and upon the social development of Danville, where he made his home for many years. He was born April 30, 1838, on the Cole farm in Vermilion County, but was only six weeks old when his parents took their family and re- turned to Vermont, where he lived until twelve years of age. He early became imbued with the enterprising spirit which has ever dominated the middle west and has led to its substantial growth and progress. His father, Jonathan Draper, was a native of Bennington, Vermont, and at an early day made his way west- ward with horse and wagon. Altogether he made seven trips back and forth by wagon or on horseback. In 1866 he took up his abode permanently in Aurora and was there engaged in the silver plating business. He wedded Philena Galusia, a daughter of Charles Galusia, one of the early settlers of Illinois.
Edwin James Draper pursued his education in the schools of North Ben- nington, Vermont. In 1857 he again came to the west as a young man of nine- teen years and located first at Sidney, Illinois, where he engaged in business. He afterward conducted business at different points until the opening of the Civil war. In response to the country's call for aid he enlisted at Danville as a member of Company C, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Illinois Infantry, under Colonel Harm. It was in July, 1861, that he joined his regiment, with which he served until the close of hostilities, acting as hospital steward and in other capacities.
When the country no longer needed his aid Mr. Draper returned to Dan- ville and cast in his lot with the early merchants of this city. He was for a short time engaged in the grocery business in connection with A. G. Webster, and after the dissolution of their partnership he established a store of his own
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and conducted it with continuous and gratifying success for twenty-nine years. Later he was engaged in the hardware business for seven years and also pros- pered in that undertaking. He was diligent and enterprising and his close ap- plication, resourcefulness, study of the conditions of the trade and unfalter- ing industry brought him to a prominent position among the leading merchants of this city. His business methods, too, were thoroughtly reliable and thus he acquired a handsome competence that enabled him to live retired during the last four years of his life.
In Danville, in 1865, Mr. Draper was united in marriage to Miss Angeline Probst, whose family are mentioned in connection with the sketch of her sister, Mrs. James Knight, on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Draper had one son, Frank Amos, now deceased, and their adopted daughter, Lillian, has also passed away.
In his political views Mr. Draper was long an earnest republican, sup- porting the party which was the defense of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war and which has always been the party of reform and progress. He belonged to the Kimber Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was treas- urer for twenty years, and in the work of the church he was deeply and actively interested, cooperating in its various measures and movements for the benefit of humanity. He died February 4, 1910, leaving to his widow the competence acquired through an honorable business career and the memory of an untarnished name. Theirs was a close relationship, marked by a most congenial companion- ship, Mr. Draper's first interest being ever for her with whom he so long traveled life's journey. During his long residence in Danville he commanded the respect of all, winning esteem and admiration no less by an irreproachable life than by his activity and honesty in business affairs.
G. H. PRILLAMAN.
G. H. Prillaman has every reason to be proud of his present position as mayor of Rossville for he is one of the youngest mayors of the entire state and was elected to the position by a large majority on the independent ticket. More- over, he is well known in commercial circles in connection with the grain busi- ness, being associated with his father in this line. He was born in Welling- ton, Illinois, March 15, 1886, and is a son of William M. and Effie (Hamilton) Prillaman. His grandparents were William and Rachel (Markley) Prillaman, who removed from Wells county, Indiana, to Illinois during the boyhood days of their son William, whose birth had occurred in Wells county. He was reared to the occupation of farming and for a considerable period was closely associated with agricultural interests. In 1908 he came to Rossville and embarked in the grain trade in which he is still actively engaged.
G. H. Prillaman was educated in the schools of Rossville and pursued a business course in Chicago, attending the Commercial Business College, of which he is a graduate. He has always been connected more or less with the grain trade and is now in partnership with his father. He took out a membership
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in the Chicago board of trade in December, 1909, and is also conducting a brokerage business in the James block in Rossville under the name of G. H. Prillaman & Company. He is a young man of marked enterprise, of indefatigable energy and fertility of resource. He sees and utilizes opportunities which others pass heedlessly by and is thus making steady progress in commercial lines.
Mr. Prillaman was married on the 7th of October, 1908, to Miss Alma Lay- ton of Danville, a daughter of Grant and Nellie (Messner) Layton. They now have one child, Glenn, who is in his first year. Mr. Prillaman belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has already advanced to the sixteenth degree of the Scottish Rite, belonging to the Lodge of Perfection. He is also con- nected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and he holds membership in the Christian church. Moreover, he is identified with that independent political movement which is one of the hopeful signs of the times, showing that thinking men will no longer submit to a blind following of party leadership but are as- serting their right to act as judgment dictates for the best interests of the com- munity and nation. Upon the independent ticket Mr. Prillaman was elected mayor of Rossville on the 15th of April, 1909, and is one of the youngest men in the state to fill the office of chief executive of the city. He was chosen to the position by a large majority, which fact is indicative of his personal popular- ity as well as the confidence reposed in him, and since entering upon the duties of the office his course has always given proof that the trust reposed in him was well placed.
WILLIAM G. PHILLIPS.
William G. Phillips, the senior member of the firm of Phillips Brothers, proprietors of one of the leading grocery stores of the city, was born in this county on the 17th of November, 1870, and is a son of Obadiah and Martha (Kidwell) Phillips, both of whom are still living, the father being now over- seer of the poor in this county. His paternal ancestors came to this country from Germany and settled in Pennsylvania.
Our subject began his education in the district schools of Newell township and later attended the public schools of Danville, but at the age of nineteen years put aside his text-books and turned his attention to the more practical duties of business life. His first employment was with W. C. Thompson, a commission merchant, for whom he worked for a short time, and then accepted a clerkship in a retail grocery store. During the several years that he was employed in that capacity he became thoroughly familiar with every depart- ment of the business and was well qualified to embark in the same line of trade some years later. For some time he was in the service of William Payton. In the meantime, however, he learned the boilermaker's trade, at which he worked in the employ of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad for four and a half years and was then with M. H. Learnerd for four and a half years. In 1900, however, he formed a partnership with his brother Ross, and under the
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firm name of Phillips Brothers they have since conducted their present grocery store, enjoying a trade of extensive proportions.
In Danville, October 4, 1894, was celebrated the marriage of William G. Phillips and Miss Maria Berryman, a daughter of James M. and Addie W. Berryman, representatives of an old family of this city. Her father, who was engaged in business as an iron manufacturer here, died in March, 1908, and her mother passed away in 1902. Of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Phillips, Eugene, who was born April 27, 1897, died September 4, 1897. Those still living are : Rose, born July 16, 1895; James Clark, born November 9, 1900; and Hazel, born January 13, 1903.
For five years Mr. Phillips was a member of Battery A of Danville, but during that time was never called into active service. He is a stanch supporter of the men and measures of the republican party and is ex-treasurer of the Rod and Gun Club. Fraternally he has served as manager of the Modern Wood- men of America, as trustee of the National Protective Legion and is also a member of the Tribe of Ben Hur. Religiously he is identified with the Kimber Methodist Episcopal church. Pleasant and genial in manner, he is popular in social circles and is a man honored and esteemed wherever known.
ROBERT D. McDONALD.
Among the citizens of Danville who through their energy. industry and close application to business, reinforced by natural ability, have became promi- nent in the commercial and financial circles of the city is Robert D. McDonald. His business interests have always been of a character that have contributed not only to his individual success but also constituted an important factor in general progress. A native of Tennessee, he was born near Columbia on the 23d of June, 1834, his parents being C. R. and Nancy (Baldrich) McDonald, who were from South Carolina. His father was a tanner by trade and in con- nection with that occupation also followed farming. On coming to Illinois in 1836, he first located in Jackson county, but later removed to Alton and in 1840 came to Vermilion county, where he died. In 1845 his widow became the wife of Rev. John Cassady, and she passed away in Danville in 1882.
Robert D. McDonald was only two years old when brought by his parents to this state and was about thirteen years of age when he became a resident of Danville, where he obtained a position as clerk in a store, being thus employed for about six years. At the end of that time he went to Pontiac, Livingston county, Illinois, and embarked in the mercantile business on his own account, but at the end of five years returned to Danville, which has since been his home. He carried on business here as a merchant for about four years and then turned his attention to real-estate operations. In 1870 he commenced the study of law at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and two years later was admitted to practice at the Illinois and Michigan bars. He at once opened an office in Dan- ville and soon became recognized as one of the prominent and leading attorneys of this city. He did not confine his attention solely to his professional duties
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but in 1884, in connection with J. S. McFerren, organized the State Bank of Danville, which in 1900 was sold to E. X. Le Seure, who reorganized it, chang- ing the name to the Danville National Bank in June, 1901. Mr. McDonald is still a director of this institution and for many years has been actively interested in its control. At the present time, however, he is practically living retired, giv- ing his attention only to the management of his real-estate and land interests. He is, however, a vigorous and energetic man, keeping abreast with the ques- tions and issues of the day, and can always be counted upon to further any movement which he believes will prove of public benefit.
In 1886 Mr. McDonald was united in marriage to Miss Ellen R. ReShore, a native of Michigan, who died October 4, 1902. In the family are three chil- dren : Jean, who is now the wife of O. D. Mann and lives with our subject ; Ranald, who is attending Princeton University; and Allan, who is in school at Lawrenceville, New Jersey.
In politics Mr. McDonald is a republican. A man of keen foresight and executive ability, he steadily prospered in his business undertakings until he is now one of the substantial citizens of Danville. While his activities have largely been concentrated upon his commercial and professional interests, his influence has ever remained a steady moving force for those enterprises which are vital to the best development of the individual and the community at large. A cour- teous, genial gentleman, he readily makes friends and has the happy faculty of being able to retain them.
ZAC STARR.
Among the farmers of Vermilion county who were born and reared in the same neighborhood where they now live and have attained gratifying suc- cess in cultivating the soil is Zac Starr, who was born in Newell township, Feb- ruary 10, 1849. He is a son of Solomon and Delilah (Robertson) Starr, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Kentucky. The father came to Illi- nois at sixteen years of age and the mother when she was quite young. The country at that time was in many places an untrodden wilderness. After their marriage they located on government land and engaged in farming until over- taken by old age, when they retired after a long life, which involved many hard- ships and a great deal of labor. Mr. Starr was called to his reward in 1892 and his faithful companion followed about ten years later. He was a very success- ful farmer and at the time of his death was the owner of eighty acres of im- proved land, besides having provided each of his children with a farm. He was a man of great industry and directed the energies of his sons so as to pro- duce the best results from their labors. They also learned how to raise and care for horses, cattle and hogs and how to attend to all the other duties of the farm. This education proved of the greatest practical value and in the case of the subject of this review it developed his talents until he became one of the most expert farmers and agriculturists in the neighborhood. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Starr, Simon P., James, Henry, Zac, J. R., Matilda, Anna and Solomon P.
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Zac Starr remained upon the home farm until he was twenty-three years of age, receiving his education in the district schools and always taking an active interest in exercises of a public nature that were going on in the neighborhood. At the age of twenty years he commenced teaching school in this county, and taught for a time in the school he attended as a boy. He began farming on his own account by renting land for two years, after which he bought forty acres, which he developed and sold, investing the proceeds in a tract of eighty acres, which became the basis of his present farm. He has now accumulated two hundred and forty acres of land, which has been developed to a high capacity and provided with all the facilities for modern farming requirements.
On March 25, 1874, Mr. Starr was married to Miss Cleantha Cunningham, a daughter of Joseph and Mary A. Cunningham, both of whom passed their entire lives in this state. This union was blessed with three children : Effie M., now Mrs. Paul M. Atherton, of Danville; Irvin E., who married Flora Leonard and lives in Bismarck; and Arthur F., who married Fleda Hendrickson and lives on part of the old homestead. The children were all given a college educa- tion and the daughter is also a graduate in music. Mrs. Starr departed this life in 1887 and her body reposes in Rose cemetery of Newell township. On September 25, 1889, Mr. Starr was a second time married, the lady of his choice being Miss Mattie E. Loring, a daughter of Elbridge and Minerva Jane (Mor- ton) Loring, a well known farmer of this township.
Mr. Starr has affiliated for many years with the republican party and was honored by the voters of the township by being elected commissioner of high- ways, in which capacity he served for nine years. He also acted as tax collector for two years and as school treasurer for seventeen years. He and his family are consistent members of the Christian Connection church and he has served as clerk of his church for thirty years and has been a delegate to all church conventions. He has made it the principle of his life to perform his duty as it appears and not to worry over troubles which may never come. He is happy in his home, in his associations and in the work to which he decided as a boy to devote his energies and in which by the exercise of fair judgment he has at- tained marked success.
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