USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a tale of its evolution, settlement, and progress for nearly a century, Volume II > Part 36
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Levi Long, the father of our subject, spent his entire life on that farm, win- ning a gratifying measure of success in his undertaking. At the early age of nine years he commenced plowing and doing other farm work, continuing to en- gage in agricultural pursuits throughout his active business life. After raising fifty-three successive crops, he went to Texas on account of his health and there spent one winter. For a few years prior to his death he lived retired. His political allegiance was given to the democracy and he was widely recognized as a most loyal and public-spirited citizen, doing everything in his power to pro-
MR. AND MRS. LEVI LONG
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mote the general welfare. He passed away on the 25th of December, 1905, having for some years survived his wife, whose demise occurred on the 6th of January, 1899. Their children were eleven in number, namely: James B., Flora E. and Sallie B., all of whom are deceased; William F., living in Colo- rado Springs, Colorado; John L., who is a resident of Indiana; Mattie Lee, the wife of Howard Pugh; Grace, who has passed away; Eva May, who is the wife of Arnold F. Gerrard and lives in Wells county, Indiana; Josephine, who is likewise deceased; W. H., of this review; and Minnie W., who is the wife of George Bedinger.
W. H. Long supplemented his early education by a college course and on attaining his majority wisely chose as a life work the occupation to which he had been reared-farming. When twenty-one years of age he undertook the operation of the old homestead place, cultivating it as a renter until the time of his father's death, when he purchased the property. The farm embraces one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 31, Love township, and an adjoining tract of fifty-four acres in Indiana. In addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he makes a specialty of raising full blooded Oxford sheep and, being a man of excellent executive ability and unfaltering energy, has found both branches of his business profitable.
On the 6th of September, 1908, Mr. Long was united in marriage to Miss Blanche Baldwin, whose birth occurred in this county on the 19th of February, 1884. Her parents, James and Laura (Golden) Baldwin, are likewise natives of this county and now reside in Quaker, Indiana. Mrs. Long, who was one of a family of five children, taught school for four years prior to her marriage. She is now the mother of a son, James Levi, who was born on the 18th of Au- gust, 1909.
In politics Mr. Long is a democrat and at the present time he holds the posi- tion of township road commissioner and also acts as trustee of the school funds, ever discharging his official duties in a most capable and satisfactory manner. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to lodge No. 632 at Ridge Farm. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church at Bethel, in the work of which they take an active and helpful part. The young couple have spent their entire lives in Vermilion county with the exception of four years which Mrs. Long spent in Fulton county, Indiana, and they en- joy a very extensive acquaintance within its borders.
JOHN W. KEESLAR.
John W. Keeslar, who has won distinction as a representative of the legal fraternity, now practicing in Danville, was born in Vermilion county, on the 24th of August, 1864, a son of Charles W. and Sarah (Snyder) Keeslar, the former a native of New York and the latter of Ohio. On coming to this county in 1857 the father located in Pilot township, where he purchased a farm and con- tinued to engage in agricultural pursuits for a number of years. He took a very active and prominent part in public affairs in early life and was called
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upon to serve as supervisor of his township, holding that position for fifteen years, and for seven years of that time was chairman of the board. He pros- pered in his undertakings and is now able to lay aside all business cares and live retired at his pleasant home in Danville. His wife came to Vermilion county with her parents in 1849 and also settled in Pilot township, where Mr. and Mrs. Snyder passed away.
John W. Keeslar began his education in the country schools near his boy- hood home and supplemented the knowledge there acquired by a course at the Union Christian College at Merom, Indiana, from which institution he was graduated in 1885. He then took a post-graduate course at the University of Illinois at Champaign and was graduated from the law school at Bloomington, Illinois, in 1888. The same year he was admitted to the bar and in 1889 be- gan practice in Danville, since which time he has been a member of the well known firm of Keeslar & Gunn. His fellow citizens, recognizing his ability, elected him state's attorney in 1900 and so acceptably did he fill the office that in 1904 he was reelected, serving in all eight years. In 1903 he gained consider- able distinction in the prosecution of the Danville rioters, succeeding in send- ing twelve of them to the state prison. He is now successfully engaged in the general practice of law and has won for himself an enviable reputation in his chosen profession.
On the 4th of November, 1891, Mr. Keeslar was united in marriage to Miss Effie Sandusky, of Fairmount, Illinois, and to them has been born one child, Nellie. Socially Mr. Keeslar is identified with the Masonic fraternity and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
JOHN W. WILLIAMSON.
John W. Williamson owns and cultivates an excellent farm of one hundred acres in Ross township, about three and a half miles southeast of the town of Rossville, on the Bethel road. He represents one of the old American families, his ancestors having settled in New Jersey at an early period in the colonization of the new world. His grandfather, Daniel Williamson, was born in the vicinity of Newark, New Jersey, and removed westward to Ohio, where he took up land near Bellefontaine. His son, Charles Williamson, was also born in New Jersey and, removing to Ohio, became identified with the farm- ing interests in the vicinity of Bellefontaine, where he made his home until 1875, when he brought his family to Vermilion county, Illinois. Here he lived until October, 1910, when he moved to Michigan, where with his youngest son he is now engaged in farming. His wife bore the maiden name of Eliza- beth Braden.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Williamson were residents of Ohio at the time of the birth of their son, John W., whose natal day was March 23, 1866. At the usual age he entered the public schools of that state, but at the age of nine years accompanied his parents to Vermilion county, Illinois, and continued his studies in the public schools of Newell and Ross townships, while spend-
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ing his boyhood days on his father's farm. The vacation periods were devoted to the work of the fields, and after he put aside his text-books he aided his father in the farm work until his marriage, which was celebrated on the 5th of September, 1889, at Catlin, Illinois, Miss Katie M. Wolf becoming his wife. Her parents were William F. and Cornelia (Hickman) Wolf, both of whom are now deceased. Her father was born in Vermilion county and became a representative citizen of this locality. During the Civil war he enlisted Sep- tember 19, 1863, in Company D, Thirty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out September 27, 1864. He entered the service as a private, but was promoted to lieutenant. He took a prominent and active part in public affairs and served as tax collector of Catlin township for several years. His father was Isaac Wolf, one of the pioneer residents of Vermilion county, and the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Williamson was also a leading citizen, active in public affairs. He served as sheriff of the county and in the management of his private business interests attained success, becoming a large landowner.
Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. John W. Williamson took up their abode upon a farm and have since been closely connected with the agricultural life of Vermilion county save for a period of five years which they spent in Oklahoma. They went to that state in 1890, Mr. Williamson home- steading a claim upon which they lived for five years, during which period two of their children were born. They had three sons and lost their only daughter, Mayme, who was their first born and died June 19, 1907, when in her fourteenth year. Their eldest son, Frank, passed away on September 12, 1899, at the age of three years. The others are Charles E., six years of age, who has recently started in school; and Benjamin E., two years of age.
Mr. Williamson has always been a warm friend of the cause of educa- tion and has done effective service for its interests while filling the office of president of the school board. He is a United Brethren in religious faith and is serving as trustee in the church. He is likewise a trustee of Bethel cemetery and is widely recognized as a man of many substantial qualities, justly meriting the high regard in which he is uniformly held by his fellow townsmen. Since his return from Oklahoma he has devoted his attention to the development and further improvement of his farm. His diligence and perseverance are the basis of his success and his life is a busy, active and useful one.
DANIEL WATSON.
Daniel Watson needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for as a banker of Rossville he is widely known, having gained for himself a creditable name and enviable position in the business and financial circles of Vermilion ·county. He is a man of resolute spirit and resourcefulness, and when one avenue of opportunity has seemed closed to him he has carved out another path that has enabled him to reach the goal for which he set out.
Mr. Watson is a native son of Illinois, his birth having occurred in La Salle county on the 27th of October, 1845, his parents being Stephen and Elizabeth
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(Clark) Watson. While spending his boyhood days under the parental roof he mastered the fundamental branches of learning as a pupil in the public schools of his native county and later he continued his education in a private school in the south having, at the age of fourteen years, gone to Texas with his brother. While in that state he learned and followed the blacksmith's trade and during the period of his residence in the south he managed to save from his earnings the sum of five hundred dollars, which constituted the nucleus of his present prosperity.
With that capital Mr. Watson returned to the north when twenty-three years of age, settling first in Seneca, Illinois, after which he went to Danville. For about fourteen years he engaged in the meat business at Danville, conducting a well appointed market. Through this period he was establishing a business reputation which has been one of the foundation stones upon which his present success as a banker has been builded. He entered the field of banking in 1873 with his two brothers, Washington and Alva, business being carried on under the name of Washington Watson, who managed affairs until failing health com- pelled his retirement and on the Ist of October, 1884, Daniel Watson took charge. The bank was then conducted under the name of D. Watson & Com- pany until October 1, 1910, when it was reorganized and the name changed to the Farmers National Bank, with our subject as president A man of keen in- sight, resourcefulness and ready adaptability, he soon acquainted himself with every detail of the business on taking charge of the bank and has met with most excellent success in its management.
Mr. Watson first married Emma E. Odom, who died in 1869, and their only child died in infancy. For his second wife he married Ellen Ream, whose death occurred in 1895, and in 1901 he was united in marriage to Eliza E. Hender- son and they have one daughter, Catharine Gertrude.
The life record of Mr. Watson has at all times been a creditable one. Each forward step in his career has brought him a broader outlook and wider oppor- tunities and his success has been attained in legitimate lines of trade without the adoption of a single underhand business method or principle. Under safe, conservative lines he is conducting the bank of which he is now the head, and it is proving not only a source of individual profit but also an element of great convenience and value to the business men of the town and surrounding country.
JACOB F. ILLK.
Jacob F. Illk, living retired at Oakwood, Vermilion county, since 1898, and for forty-five years identified with the farming interests of this region, was born in Wittenberg, Germany, January 6, 1836. He is of good German stock and is a son of Daniel and Agnes (Frank) Illk, both natives of Wittenberg. The father served as a soldier under Napoleon Bonaparte and, although it was against his will, he participated in the disastrous Russian campaign, being one of the few survivors of that memorable expedition. After returning home he lived for many years, being called to his reward in 1883. His wife died twenty-
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five years before, in 1858. Eleven children were born to them, of whom three are still living, Abraham, Gottlieb and Jacob F., all of this county.
Jacob F. Illk was educated in the old country, but when he became eighteen years of age, his brother Abraham having preceded him to the United States, he decided to seek his fortune in the republic and accordingly he came to Vermilion county, Illinois, where he has since lived. For eight years after his arrival here he worked by the month, a part of the time assisting in building the Wabash, the Illinois Central and the Big Four Railways.
The great rebellion aroused in him the spirit of the. soldier and he yielded to the impulse by enlisting in 1864 in the Eleventh Illinois Infantry, General Canby being the commander of the army corps to which this regiment was as- signed. He saw some hard fighting at Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely and was also engaged in a number of skirmishes, his services concluding in July, 1865, when he received his honorable discharge and returned to this county.
Previous to his enlistment he had purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres and this land he energetically proceeded to develop, also add- ing from time to time until he now is owner of a finely improved farm of two hundred and twenty-five acres. For many years he made a specialty of hand- ling live stock and, having gained a thorough practical knowledge of this branch of the farming industry, he became one of the prominent live stock men in his part of the county. For the past twelve years he leased his farm and in a com- fortable home, surrounded by many friends and acquaintances, he is enjoying the quiet of his declining years.
On September 30, 1867, Mr. Illk was united in marriage to Miss Julia Good- ner, a native of Indiana, who came to this state in 1866. Five children were born to them, the first of whom died in infancy, and Nora, the third in order of birth, died at Cripple Creek, Colorado. Those living are: Hulda, a resident of California; Rupert A., who is a minister of the gospel and resides with his parents ; and Ira L., who lives in Vermilion. county. Mrs. Illk was called from earthly responsibilities in September, 1905, and three years later Mr. Illk was married to Miss Jane Andrews, a native of Carroll county, Indiana, and a daugh- ter of John Andrews, who came from Ohio to Indiana at an early day. Mrs. Illk is one of two daughters born to her parents, her sister, Drusella now living at Dayton, Indiana.
Mr. and Mrs. Illk are both affiliated with the Methodist church and are active workers in its behalf. Politically he is identified with the prohibition party and, while he has not been an aspirant for office, he has served as postmaster at Oakwood for two terms and also discharged with great acceptance to the community his responsibilities as member of the school board. He has always been an ardent advocate of education and all of his children were sent to col- lege, where they were given every advantage of improvement of the mind that could be desired. The elder daughter was for fourteen years a school teacher and the younger daughter taught for one year. Mr. Illk is a worthy representa- tive of the Teutonic element which has assisted in such an important degree in upbuilding this country and during the time of the Civil war stanchly supported the stars and stripes, showing by the sacrifices of its sons on many a hard fought battlefield their fidelity to principles which they considered true. Mr. Illk was
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a brave soldier and his honorable discharge from the army is a document his descendents should always retain as of priceless value. In the vocations of peace he has shown undaunted perseverance and unimpeachable integrity and has truly earned the enviable position he occupies as an honored and trusted citizen.
W. S. COSSAIRT, M. D.
Among the medical practitioners of Vermilion county who have earned suc- cess by conscientious application to their profession after years of thorough preparation is Dr. W. S. Cossairt, of Potomac. Ten years ago he began prac- tice in the same community where he has since remained and today he is one of the leading physicians in this part of the county. He was born in Potomac, September 2, 1869, and is a son of William and Louisa (Smith) Cossairt. The father was born on a farm seven miles east of Potomac and the mother in the town. The father is still living, but the mother on October 30, 1910, fell and injured herself, dying from the effects the following Saturday.
The subject of this review was educated in Vermilion county and later studied for three years in the Wesleyan University at Bloomington, Illinois. After leav- ing the university he began teaching school and continued for three years earn- ing money which enabled him in 1896 to become a student in Rush Medical Col- lege of Chicago, one of the great medical institutions of the country. Here he continued for four years under some of the most celebrated instructors in the various branches of the medical profession to be found in the United States. He proved to be a highly promising student and was graduated with honors with the coveted title of M. D., in 1900. Immediately upon leaving college he prac- ticed for seven years in Potomac by himself and then became associated with Dr. J. E. P. Butz, of that place. As a general practitioner Dr. Cossairt has from the beginning of his career been unusually successful, his equipment for the work having been thorough and practical. He has a well selected medical library and is a constant reader of the best medical magazines, keeping posted as to the latest advances in a profession that has made marvelous progress in recent years. The position he has attained is the direct result of faithful application and a deep interest in the work to which he has devoted the best energies of his life.
On October 9, 1901, Dr. Cossairt was united in marriage to Miss Minerva Viola Acton, of Potomac, and unto them has been born one child, Louie Jane. Dr. Cossairt holds membership in the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Wood- men of America, but his time is almost taken up with the duties of his practice and he has little opportunity for social recreation. Mrs. Cossairt is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, but her husband does not belong to any religious denomination, although he is a generous contributor toward the work carried on by the local churches. It has been said that what a man can do best, that is the task given him by his Creator. Fortunate is he who finds the work for which he is by nature adapted, and doubly fortunate is he if he finds this
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work at the beginning of his active career. Then indeed does he labor not entirely for financial gain, but for the joy and the excellency of the things he is doing. Under such circumstances powers are awakened that are unknown to the one who drudges at his work and success is as certain as life itself. Dr. Cossairt apparently found the work for which he was born and he was not re- quired to pass through years of waiting before obtaining a lucrative practice and it need hardly be said that he has gained the confidence and respect not only of his brother practitioners but of all to who he is known.
R. M. KNOX.
R. M. Knox is now dividing his time between his home in Hoopeston, where he spends the summer months, and Florida, where the winter seasons are passed. He long held a place among the leading and prominent business men of Hoopes- ton, continuing to operate in the field of real estate for thirty years. He was born in Holmes county, Ohio, June 14, 1840, and is a son of Andrew J. and Elizabeth (Richards) Knox, formerly residents of Wayne county, Ohio, where the father followed the occupation of farming.
It was in that county that R. M. Knox pursued his education, his opportunities in that direction being limited to the branches offered by the public schools. He gave his time to his studies as he could until about twenty-three years of age, but much of his youth was devoted to farm work as he assisted his father in the labors of the fields. He then learned the trade of carriage-making and upon his removal to the middle west in 1864 settled in Paxton, Illinois. Previous to this he had served his country during the Civil war, enlisting on the 2d of August, 1862, at Fredericksburg, Ohio, in Company H, One Hundred and Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged at Nashville, Tennessee, in 1864.
Mr. Knox engaged in teaching school in Paxton for a time and later turned his attention to farming, which he followed for seven years. He then leased his farm and in 1871 came to Hoopeston, where he entered the grain business, which claimed his energies for three years. On selling out in that line he turned his attention to the real-estate business and engaged in handling property and negotiating realty transfers in this part of the country for thirty years. He be- came thoroughly familiar with property values, had comprehensive understand- ing of the realty market and largely promoted the interests of clients in the management of sales and of purchases. At length he retired and now spends the summer seasons in Hoopeston and the winter months in Florida.
In 1865 Mr. Knox was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Given, of Ford county, Illinois, who died in 1875, leaving two children: Lulu B., the wife of Ernest S. McClellan, of Idaho; and Edwin R., a resident of Los Angeles, Cali- fornia. In 1879 Mr. Knox was again married, his second union being with Miss Jeanette M. Bruce, who died in 1891, and there were two children by that mar- riage : Robert R., a resident of Denver, Colorado; and Martha Helen, the wife of J. B. Dunn, of Florida. In May, 1892, Mr. Knox married Mrs. Martha Ran- dall, of Hoopeston.
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Mr. Knox is a valued and helpful member of the United Presbyterian church, in which he is serving as elder. His political views were for a long period in accord with the principles of the republican party and to it he gave his support, but during the last eight years he has voted the prohibition ticket, because that party embodies his ideas upon the temperance question, which he regards as a paramount interest before the country today. His fellow townsmen regard him as one whose word is as good as his bond. He lives up to every promise he makes, to every obligation he incurs. Those who know him in social relations find him genial, courteous and obliging, and he has gained high regard wherever he has gone, whether sojourning in the north or south.
GEORGE W. POOLE, M. D.
Dr. George W. Poole, whose ability in his profession is the outward expres- sion of close study and long experience, was born upon a farm in Owen county, Indiana, on the IIth of September, 1859, a son of Hamilton and Charlotte (Parrish) Poole, natives of Kentucky and Indiana respectively. The mother was a daughter of Zebedee and Helen (Goodwin) Parrish, the former born in North Carolina and the latter in Kentucky. Following their marriage they became resi- dents of Putnam county, Indiana, in 1828 and soon afterward removed to Owen county, that state, where they cast in their lot with the pioneer settlers and fam- ilies who were reclaiming the region for the purposes of civilization and laying the foundation for its future progress and prosperity. They continued residents of Owen county until called to their final rest and there reared their family of seven children, namely: George W., Lewis C., Edward, Mary, Martha, Helen and Charlotte.
The last named became the wife of Hamilton Poole. They settled upon a farm in Owen county but when their son George was but three years of age the father passed away, leaving two young sons, George W. and Thomas B., to the care of the widowed mother, who long survived her husband, her death occurring at North Yakima, Washington, in the fall of 1899.
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