USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a tale of its evolution, settlement, and progress for nearly a century, Volume II > Part 41
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performance of the duties that have devolved upon him in connection with this position, and the institution under his administration is being conducted in a manner which wins him the commendation of his constituents and all con- cerned. He is carrying on its affairs in a most businesslike manner, follows methods most approved in the conduct of such institutions and at all times has an eye for the comfort and well being of the inmates-a fact which makes him a most popular official.
It was in February, 1882, that Mr. La Mar was united in marriage to Miss Lulu McCloud, who was born in St. Louis, a daughter of S. B. and Lucinda (Betner) McCloud, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. They removed to Marion county, Illinois, in 1865, and there the father was engaged as a plasterer and brick-mason. He is yet living at the very advanced age of ninety-five years and makes his home in East St. Louis. In their family were five children, of whom three are yet living.
Mr. and Mrs. La Mar hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and their lives have ever been governed by its teachings. Both are well known in fraternal circles, being members of the Rebekahs, and Mrs. La Mar is identified with the Pythian Sisters, of which she is past chancellor and is now serving as official examiner of the state. Her husband belongs to Georgetown Lodge, No. 386, A. F. & A. M .; Georgetown, Lodge, No. 62, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all of the chairs; and to the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 502. In politics Mr. La Mar is a stanch republican, and his standing among his fellow citizens is indicated by his election to his present responsible office. In private life he has been actuated by principles which govern honorable and upright manhood and the same high ideals have ever been manifest in his deal- ings with those with whom he has been connected in an official capacity.
JAMES B. FLEMING.
James B. Fleming was well known to Danville citizens, for, although he did not reside permanently in this city, he came here from time to time and always kept in close touch with public interests and maintained a wide acquaintance among the people of Vermilion county. He was born in Williamsport, Indiana, in 1832, and was directly descended from James IV. of Scotland. The family has a coat of arms given to them in 1066. Dunbarton Castle was the ances- tral home and scarcely any of the old castles of Europe have figured more largely in history. The great-grandfather of James Fleming was the first of the family to come to America. He settled in North Carolina, where he owned considerable land. James Fleming, Sr., the father of him whose name intro- duces this review, was a native of Tennessee and died when his son and name- sake was a young man, leaving him to make his own way in the world: The mother, who bore the maiden name of Lucinda Perviance, was of French descent.
James B. Fleming was only twenty-six years of age when he first came to Danville, arriving in the year 1859. Here he engaged in clerking for the firm of
James B. Fleming
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Tincure & English, dry goods merchants. At intervals he resided elsewhere but returned to Danville as a pleasing place of residence when his health failed, and also in his later years. In an early day he was engaged in the grocery business, conducting his store successfully for some time, but later removed to La Fayette, Indiana, where he established a wholesale grocery house, building up a good trade in that connection and carrying on the business for twenty-five years. At length, however, his health failed and he returned to Danville, where he lived until his removal to Kansas. Thinking himself again able to engage in business he began handling the Buckeye buggies and carried on that undertaking while a resident of the Sunflower state. At length, however, he came again to Danville, where his remaining days were passed.
It was in the year 1863 that Mr. Fleming was united in marriage to Miss ' Lucy A. Ellsworth, a daughter of B. F. Ellsworth, who came to this city in 1860 from Granville, Ohio, and remained a resident of Danville until called to his final rest. He was related to Henry Ellsworth, of La Fayette, Indiana, who made a gift of Ellsworth Park to that city. In early manhood B. F. Ellsworth wedded Miss Clarissa Wilcox, a native of Fairfax, Vermont, and unto them were born three children, two daughters and a son: Marietta, now living in Danville; Mrs. Fleming; and Norman F., who has passed away. The death of the father occurred on the 16th of February, 1891, and his wife, surviving him for only a few months passed away in September of the same year.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fleming was born an only son, William Hatcher, who died in 1906. The death of Mr. Fleming occurred on the 20th of February, 1897, and was especially regretted by many who knew him. He was a very active and prominent Mason, attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and filled many offices in the order. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and in religious faith he was a Presbyterian. His life was in harmony with his professions and those who knew him entertained for him the highest regard because of his admirable qualities of heart and mind.
JOHN W. VAN ALLEN.
John W. Van Allen, identified with general farming in Oakwood township, is numbered among those citizens whose lives are proof of the attractiveness of Vermilion county as a place of residence. Numbered among the native sons of the county, they have by preference remained within its borders, recogniz- ing the fact that there is no better investment than Illinois farm land and that the various opportunities and advantages here afforded are surpassed nowhere.
Mr. Van Allen was born July 16, 1877, his parents being W. P. and Caro- line V. (Kiger) Van Allen, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Vir- ginia. They were married in the Buckeye state and in 1866 came to Illinois, settling upon a farm in Vermilion county which the father continued to further cultivate and develop until he retired in 1907. He also engaged in handling stock and, prospering as the years went by, he invested in more land until he became the owner of two hundred and forty acres, constituting a finely im-
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proved farm. He and his wife now occupy an atractive home in Oakwood. They had nine children: Walter, who is a resident of Oklahoma; Frank, who was killed by a horse when nineteen years of age; States Amasa, living in Ver- milion county; Bertha, the wife of Max Miller, of Danville; Maud, the wife of Charles Oakwood, of this county; Etta, who gave her hand in marriage to Edward Davis and resides in Vermilion county; Nellie, the wife of Charles Oakwood, of Oakwood township; Vida, who is the wife of Oscar Oakwood, of this county; and John W., of this review.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for John W. Van Allen in his boyhood and youth. He worked in the fields during the summer months and in the winter seasons attended the public schools, therein mastering the branches of learning which qualified him for the transac- tion of business later on. The occupation to which he was reared he has made his life work and is now located in Oakwood township, where he is devoting his time and energies to the cultivation of a farm of one hundred and sixty-two acres. His labors are intelligently directed and his enterprise is bringing him substantial success.
On the 12th of June, 1901, Mr. Van Allen was married to Miss Gertrude Bently, a daughter of Henry and Serena (Gones) Bently, the former a native of England and the latter of Ohio. Their family numbered four children : Eliza- beth, the wife of John Sterns, of Catlin; Mrs. Van Allen; Ethel, the wife of Orville Selby, of this county; and Jessie, the wife of Bert Elgin, also of Ver- milion county.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Van Allen has been blessed with one son, Norlyn Bently, born August 2, 1907. The parents are members of the New Light church and Mr. Van Allen belongs to the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges and the Modern Woodmen camp, all of Oakwood. His political views cause him to exercise his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party but he has never sought nor desired office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, which are bringing to him substantial success. He is well known in the county and a genial manner and cordial disposition have gained for him many friends.
DAVID G. MCMILLIN.
David G. McMillin, a well known and honored resident of Danville, was born in this county in 1852 and is a son of Reason H. McMillin, whose birth occurred near Columbus, Ohio, June 17, 1816. His paternal grandfather was a farmer and miller by occupation, operating a flour and saw mill on his farm. Thus during his boyhood and youth Reason H. McMillin became thoroughly familiar with milling and farming and on the removal of the family to Illinois in 1832 assisted his father in the erection of the first sawmill in Denmark, Vermilion county. He married Miss Martha Oder, who was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, October 13, 1821, and from that state removed with her parents to Cincinnati, Ohio, later coming to Vermilion county, Illinois. For some years
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she and her husband resided on a farm in Blount township and then removed to Iowa, remaining about two years, after which they returned to Vermilion county and settled in Danville township, where Mr. McMillin continued to en- gage in agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his life, dying on the 4th of May, 1876. Both he and his wife were earnest and consistent members of the Christian church and were people of the highest respectability. In their family were nine children, seven of whom are still living. Two of their sons, J. G. and William M., were soldiers of the Civil war, being members of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
David G. McMillin was reared and educated in much the manner of farm lads, early becoming familiar with the work of the fields and acquiring an ex- cellent knowledge of all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. On attaining manhood he commenced farming on his own account and is today the owner of a well improved and valuable farm, which he continued to operate until a few years ago, when his health failed and he removed to Danville, having made his home here since 1902. During his early years he was a very active and energetic man and the prosperity which came to him was well merited.
In 1889 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. McMillin and Miss Minnie Davis. Her father, Jesse Davis, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, October 24, 1832, and was brought by his parents to Vermilion county, Illinois, when only one year of age. The family located on the farm where Mr. Davis died May 3, 1891. His parents were natives of Virginia and from that state removed to Ohio at a very early day, but their last years were spent in Illinois, the father dying in Vermilion county in 1834 and the mother in 1870. On reaching man- hood Jesse Davis married Miss M. E. Hyatt, who was born in Davis county, Kentucky, November 24, 1838, and they became the parents of two sons and two daughters: Clara J., now Mrs. Haskins; Van C .; Scott G .; and Minnie L., now Mrs. McMillin. Fraternally Mr. Davis was a member of Catlin Lodge, No. 285, A. F. & A. M.
Mr. McMillin affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his religious belief is indicated by his membership in the Church of Christ. The republican party has always found in him a stanch supporter of its principles and he gives willing support to all movements which he believes calculated to promote the moral, intellectual or material welfare of the community in which he lives.
WALTER T. GUNN.
In no profession is there a career more open to talent than that of the law and in no field of endeavor is there demanded a more careful preparation and more thorough appreciation of the absolute ethics of life or of the underlying principles which form the basis of all human rights and privileges. Possessing all the requisites of an able lawyer, Walter T. Gunn is now successfully prac- ticing at the bar of Vermilion county, his home being in Danville.
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A native of Illinois, he was born on the 4th of June, 1879, in La Salle county, and is the eldest of six children, three sons and three daughters, whose parents were Luther V. and Alice E. Gunn. His father was born in Schoharie county, New York, and was a young man when he removed to La Salle county, this state. In 1879 he came to Vermilion county and settled in Grant town- ship, where he has since followed farming and continues to live, an active, re- spected and prosperous citizen.
During his youth Walter T. Gunn had good educational advantages, attend- ing the Hoopeston high school and Greer College, and after graduating from the latter institution entered Illinois Wesleyan University, where he pursued the study of law and was graduated in 1901. On his admission to the bar he came to Danville, where he was alone in practice for one year and then formed a partnership with J. W. Keeslar, states attorney, which connection still exists. In 1903 he was made assistant states attorney and two years later was ap- pointed master in chancery of the United States circuit court for the eastern district of Illinois, which office he is still filling. Although he has been engaged in practice for but a few years, he has already met with remarkable success and now has a large clientage which is steadily increasing.
Mr. Gunn was married in 1904 to Miss Vina Dayton, a native of Santa Bar- bara, California, and a daughter of W. H. and Sarah (Gundy) Dayton, who were old residents of Vermilion county. This union has been blessed by two children, namely : Horace and Marjorie.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, Mr. Gunn has been a stalwart supporter of the republican party and in 1909 was elected alderman of the seventh ward, in which capacity he is still serving. He is a strong ad- vocate of those measures which he believes will advance the interests of his town and county and never withholds his support from any worthy object. Fra- ternally he is an honored member of the Masonic order, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and other societies, and is one of the most highly respected young men of Danville with bright prospects for the future.
GEORGE E. CRAYS.
Prominent among the enterprising and progressive business men of Ross- ville is George E. Crays, the cashier of the First- National Bank. He possesses excellent business ability and keen sagacity and from the outset of his business career has worked his way steadfastly upward. He was born on the 16th of November, 1863, in Macoupin county, Illinois, and is a son of Rev. George M. and Maria (Courtney) Crays. The father was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, a collegebred man, whose talents and ability were used for the moral progress of his race. He became a member of the Illinois conference and labored zealously and untiringly for the uplifting of his fellowmen until he was called to the home beyond. He was married to Miss Maria Courtney, a daughter of Richard Courtney, who was one of the early settlers of this part
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of the state, and whose early life was passed in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, after which he removed from Ohio and then came to Illinois, casting in his lot with the pioneers.
George E. Crays was the second in a family of nine children. He was reared in a home of culture and refinement, where the attainment of success was always regarded as secondary to character building. At the usual age he was sent to the common schools and through the periods of vacation in his boyhood days he worked upon the home farm. Later he had the advantage of a course in the Danville Seminary and subsequently he pursued a commercial course in the Springfield (Ill.) Business College, being graduated therefrom. In early manhood he engaged in teaching school but afterward turned his atten- tion to commercial pursuits, becoming a clerk in a general store for about a year, when, with E. A. Brown, he started in the merchandising business at Armstrong, Illinois, for twelve years conducting business under the firm name of Brown & Crays. At the end of that time, with Samuel Collison he purchased the Citizens Bank of Rossville, which was later reorganized into the First National Bank of Rossville. Mr. Collison was elected president of the institution, with Mr. Crays as cashier, which position he has since filled, contributing in substantial measure to the success of the bank, while his uniform courtesy to its patrons has made him very popular with its depositors or all who do business within its walls. Moreover, he is most loyal to the best interests of the institution and carefully, systematically and accurately performs the duties that devolve upon him.
In 1892 Mr. Crays was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Collison, a daugh- ter of Thomas F. and Mary Collison. Their marriage has been blessed with three sons : Wendell T. and Harold C., who are students in the high school; and John A., a public-school pupil.
The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Crays is a member, and he likewise holds membership relations with the Masons and the Woodmen. He has always lived in this section of Illinois and has ever been numbered among the progressive citizens who are never so engrossed with business affairs and individual interests that they cannot find time and oppor- tunity for cooperation in measures and projects which are promoted for the public good. Nevertheless in his business he has been actuated by laudable ambition and has made continuous progress along the path leading toward prosperity.
JAMES A. DICKSON.
James A. Dickson is one of the extensive landowners of Jamaica township, his real-estate possessions aggregating five hundred and sixteen acres. He was born December 5, 1834, in what is now Jamaica township but was then a part of Carroll township. He is a son of John and a grandson of John Dickson, Sr., who came to Vermilion county about 1822 with his wife and their five sons and one daughter. They settled in Carroll township and all of the chil- dren were here reared and married and all established homes in Vermilion
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county and reared their families here. In the early days the family shared in the hardships and trials of frontier life for they were among the early settlers, arriving here a decade or more before the Black Hawk war occurred whereby Indian supremacy was put to an end and the authority of the white race in this region established.
Following his marriage John Dickson, Jr., located in Carroll township, where he made his home until his death, dying when a comparatively young man. He passed away in 1838 prior to the fourth birthday of his son James. Following the death of her husband Mrs. Dickson kept the six children together and reared them to manhood and womanhood. She rented and personally super- vised the operation of the farm herself until James A. Dickson and his brother, two years his senior, were old enough to assist in the maintenance of the family and it was under these conditions that James A. Dickson was reared to man- hood. The mother died December 28, 1854, and he and his brother afterward operated the home farm for a year. They then purchased adjoining tracts of eighty acres of swamp land in Jamaica township which they cultivated in part- nership for a year. James A. Dickson then traded his six hundred dollar in- terest in the estate for his brother's eighty acres. He made further arrange- ments for having a home of his own by his marriage in November, 1857, and for nine years thereafter he lived upon his farm of one hundred and sixty acres, making many improvements thereon. He then sold that property and purchased his present farm to which he removed in March, 1869. For eighteen months he lived upon an eighty-acre tract of land which he owned three miles south of his present farm, while engaged in making a home for his family upon this place. As he has prospered in his undertakings he has added to his realty holdings until he now owns five hundred and sixteen acres of land, having-sold the site upon which the town of Jamaica was built and the land for the rail- road, thus reducing his tract of six hundred and thirty-five acres to its present size. His farm is splendidly improved, being equipped with all modern con- veniences and accessories.
As previously stated, Mr. Dickson was married in November, 1857, at which time Miss Amanda Shepherd of Vance township, this county, became his wife. Her father, John Shepherd, was one of the early settlers of that section and in pioneer days built a mill on Salt Fork, the first mill of that district, known for years afterward as Shepherd's mill. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dickson were born four children, but three are now deceased : John Wesley; Charles Edwin; and a daughter who died in infancy. The only one now living is Simon Alexander, the second in order of birth, who remains on the home farm and has charge of its cultivation. He was married April 21, 1886, to Cora Hilton, and they have four children : Grace, who is now the wife of William Tyler and has one child, Willis ; Ernest; Edna May; and Hazel. The wife of our subject passed away July 11, 1889, and her death was deeply regretted throughout the com- munity, for she had won many friends in this locality.
In his political views Mr. Dickson is a democrat. He served as road super- visor in his early days for a number of years and for a considerable period was a member of the school board, proving a champion of the cause of edu- cation by reason of his activity and effective efforts in its behalf. He has long
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been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, was superintendent of the Sunday school for several years and is now serving as one of the church trus- tees, which office he has filled for more than forty years. He was one of the active factors in building the handsome new structure known as the Kingsley Methodist Episcopal church, one of the finest church edifices in this section of the county, erected at a cost of nine thousand two hundred dollars. Mr. Dickson is one of the well known men of Jamaica township and one of the oldest native sons of Vermilion county, his residence here covering a period of seventy-six years. He has therefore been an interested witness of the events which have occurred and the changes which have been made through more than seven decades and at all times has cooperated in the work of public progress and improvement, while, especially along agricultural lines, he has done much to advance the farming interests of this part of the state.
JOHN CLARENCE MCCLURE. .
John Clarence McClure has devoted his life to educational work and to the practice of law. While he was capable and successful in the former, he seemed to have found a more congenial profession in the latter and his ability is mani- fest in the success that is attending him. His preparation of his cases is thor- ough and exhaustive and his presentation is laudable and forceful, so that in the six years of his connection with the Vermilion county bar he has gained a reputation that insures him a liberal clientage.
Mr. McClure is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in Loyal- ton, Dauphin county, in July, 1865. His parents were David K. and Anna Eliza (Beshler) McClure, the former of Scotch-Irish and the latter of Pennsylvania Dutch descent. The father is still living in Dauphin county, but the mother passed away March 7, 1882. They were the parents of seven children : Charles B., now practicing medicine in Bangor, Maine; Emma T., the wife of Jeremiah Kahler, of Millersburg, Pennsylvania; Henry Joseph, who is living at New- castle, Pennsylvania; John Clarence, of this review; Arthur E., whose home is in Chicago, Illinois; Martha Gertrude, the wife of Nathaniel Miller, a resident of Elizabethville, Pennsylvania; and one who died in infancy.
John Clarence McClure, reared in the Keystone state, was a pupil of the pub- lic schools of his native county until he entered Berrysburg Seminary at Berrys- burg, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated with the class of 1886. He then took up the profession of teaching, which he followed until 1904. He was first employed in the country schools of Dauphin county for about two years, at the end of which time he went to Valparaiso, Indiana, where he devoted four years to the study of scientific and classical courses, completing both and 1eceiving therefor the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. Subsequently he became superintendent of schools of Clarksdale, Mississippi, and removed thence to Mulberry, Tennessee, and became president of the Male and Female College at that place. He continued at the head of the institution for four years and in January, 1896, came to Hoopeston to accept the presi-
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