USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a tale of its evolution, settlement, and progress for nearly a century, Volume II > Part 48
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
Black Hawk war occured. Few settlements had at the time been made in the northern part of the state and there was little indication that Illinois would be- come the great and mighty commonwealth of the present. The father, David Swank, also followed farming in the same township until 1878, when he removed to Missouri, where his remaining days were passed.
It will thus be seen that S. F. Schecter in both the paternal and maternal line is a representative of pioneer families of this county his forebears taking an ac- tive and helpful part in the development and progress of this portion of the state. The public schools of the county afforded him his early educational privi- leges and after determining upon the practice of law as his life work he began studying in the office and under the direction of the firm of Mabin & Clark. His mastery of the principles of jurisprudence enabled him to successfully pass the required examination for admission to the bar in December, 1903, after which he was with G. G. Mabin until October, 1904, since which time he has main- tained an office independently in the Daniel building. His course has been marked by steady progress and a large and distinctively representative clientage is now his, connecting him with much important litigation heard in the courts. In his presentation of a cause before judge or jury, he is clear and felicitous in expression, strong in argument and logical in his deductions, and he has thus won many verdicts favorable to his clients.
In September, 1892, Mr. Schecter was united in marriage, in Bloomingdale, Indiana, to Miss Ellen Mendenhall, whose father, Ira Mendenhall, leaving North Carolina in the slavery days, removed to Indiana, where he married Eunice Newlon. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Schecter have been born two children, Ralph W. and Ruth.
Mr. Schecter is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and other fraternal and social or- ganizations which find in him an exemplary representative, ever loyal to their basic principles. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and while he has never been an office seeker he is deeply interested in the party prin- ciples and is ever ready to support his position by intelligent but unaggressive argument.
WILLIAM G. HALBERT.
'A life of unremitting toil for many years has at last brought William G. Hal- bert to a position where he can enjoy a well earned and well merited rest and the comforts that go to make life worth the living. He was born April 30, 1851, in Kilbirney, Scotland, and as the years passed his well directed labors secured his advancement until he became a successful mine owner and operator. His parents were John and Jeanette (Greenless) Halbert, the former a son of Will- iam and Mary (Gardner) Halbert, while the latter was a daughter of Joseph and Alice (McIntyre) Greenless. William Halbert was a cotton spinner and also gained considerable reputation as an actor. He and his wife never left their native land. Their son, John Halbert, also became a cotton spinner and
WILLIAM G. HALBERT
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later foreman of the mills. He always worked at that business and was thus actively engaged up to the time of his death, which occurred when he had reached the age of seventy-four years. In his family were seven children, of whom one daughter is now deceased. Two of the sons and three of the daugh- ters are residents of America.
William G. Halbert, the eldest child of the family, acquired his early educa- tion in Scotland and afterward attended the public schools of Athens county, Ohio. He came as a young man to the new world and has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek his fortune on this side of the Atlantic, for here he found the opportunities which he sought and through their utilization has made steady progress. He was first employed in the cotton mills and also worked in the blast furnaces. For three years he followed the sea on a steam- ship, after which he located in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and for one year was employed at Irwin, that state. He afterward went to Hubbard, Ohio, and sub- sequently to Nelsonville, Ohio, where he continued for twenty-four years in connection with the development of mining interests in that state. From a humble position he gradually worked his way upward to one of prominence and for some time served as mine superintendent. Recognizing the excellent field offered in that business, he began developing coal mines on his own account, the most important property being "Lost Run" mine, of which he was part owner and general manager. He afterward went to Colorado to install mining machinery at Chandler creek near Canon City. He then returned and took charge of an electric plant at Nelsonville, Ohio. There he remained until 1895, when he came to Vermilion county, Illinois, to develop the mining property of the Westville Coal Company, of which he was general superintendent up to the time he went with the Deering Coal Company as district manager in 1905. At that time the Deering Coal Company was formed and took over the property of the Westville Coal Company. He was with that corporation as district manager until 1908 and subsequently owned a controlling interest in the Danville Col- liers Coal Company. In December, 1909, he sold out and is now living retired. In the intervening years he had come to understand fully every phase of the mining business, superintending the operation of the fields and the placing of the product upon the market, and in the management of his business affairs he met with excellent success.
On Christmas day, 1872, Mr. Halbert was united in marriage to Miss Re- becca Bennett, a daughter of James and Priscilla (Lukins) Bennett, both of whom were natives of Baltimore county, Maryland, whence they removed to Athens county, Ohio, in 1859. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Halbert have been born six children. The eldest, J. A. Halbert, now superintendent of the Bunson Coal Company, married Miss Maud Pleischner and has five children: Robert, Will- iam, Morton, Dickson and Helen. Walter S., who is a mine manager at West- ville, Illinois, married Elizabeth Murphy and has three children: Donald, Zilda and William. Frances is the wife of George Puzey, a native of Vermilion county and a farmer of Catlin township, by whom she has four children: Re- becca, Richard, Robert and Russell. William is now in school. Helen died in Westville at the age of twenty years, and Mary died in infancy while the family were residing in Nelsonville, Ohio.
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The family are all active members of the Presbyterian church, holding firmly to its faith and teachings. Mr. Halbert belongs to the Masonic fraternity, hav- ing taken the degrees of the lodge, chapter and commandery, while with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Medina Temple of Chicago he crossed the sands of the desert. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he served as postmaster at Bretland, Ohio, under Grover Cleveland. As the years have gone by he has made steady progress along business lines, and his enter- prise and energy are salient features in his success. He has never faltered in the pursuit of a persistent purpose and has, therefore, gained a most satisfactory re- ward, permitting now of honorable retirement from labor and the enjoyment of those comforts which make life worth the living.
HARLAND E. VINES.
The field of business is a limitless one ; its prizes are many and are accorded in recognition of unfaltering perseverance and intelligently directed effort. De- voting his life to industrial interests, Harland E. Vines by close application and unfaltering energy has reached a prominent position in business circles as one of the proprietors of the Hoopeston Planing Mills. He was born in Benton county, Indiana, June 11, 1871, a son of Jacob and Calista (Johnson) Vines, both of whom were of English descent. The father was born in Devonshire, England, and came to the United States in the early '6os, first settling in Illinois, while later he removed to Indiana. He was married in Canada to Miss Calista Johnson, a native of that country, who died in March, 1881. The father, how- ever, is still living, his home being now in Benton county, Indiana.
In his youthful days Harland E. Vines attended the public schools of Tal- bot, Indiana, pursuing his studies to the age of nineteen years. He afterward worked upon his father's farm until he reached the age of twenty-two years, when he decided to abandon agricultural pursuits and learn a trade. In 1892, therefore, he came to Hoopeston and with his present partner, W. J. Kellogg, learned the carpenter's trade and worked with him as a journeyman and also as a contractor for seven years, during which period they were closely con- nected with the building operations of the city, being accorded an extensive patronage that brought to them substantial success. Later they purchased the Hoopeston Planing Mills, which they are now conducting. They are carrying on a large business in this connection and the enterprise is one of the leading productive industries of the city. They carefully safeguard its interests by wise management and a watchful indication of the trade conditions and their suc- cess has resulted also from close application and honorable dealing.
On the 27th of September, 1899, in Hoopeston, Mr. Vines was married to Miss Gertrude F. Faurote, a native of Fayette county, Indiana, and a sister of Mrs. Kellogg, the wife of his partner. Mr. and Mrs. Vines have become the parents of three sons: Harold L., born in Hoopeston, January 19, 1902; Lester F., May 26, 1905; and Everette Keith, November 19, 1907. All three were born in Hoopeston.
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The parents are devoted members of the Christian church, of which Mr. Vines is a trustee. He is also a member of the Commercial Club of Hoopeston and the Modern Woodmen camp, while his political endorsement is given to the republican party. Mr. Vines is yet comparatively a young man. In his life he has made wise use of his time, talents and opportunities and realizing that suc- cess is not a matter of genius, as held by some, but is the outcome of clear judg- ment, experience and industry, he has so labored that his success has been the logical sequence of his efforts. Moreover, his actions have conformed to a high standard of commercial ethics and he therefore enjoys the good will and respect of his contemporaries and his colleagues.
JOHN WILSON.
John Wilson, a representative and successful agriculturist of Sidell township, was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, on the Ist of November, 1844, his par- ents being Valentine and Mary Ann (Roland) Wilson, who were natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey respectively. In early life they accompanied their respective parents to Dearborn county, Indiana, where they were married and continued to reside until called to their final rest, making their home on a farm. Valentine Wilson gave his political allegiance to the republican party and held the various township offices. He died in March, 1898, passing away in the faith of the old school Presbyterian church, to which his wife also belonged. The lat- ter's demise occurred in 1863.
John Wilson spent his youthful years under the parental roof, attending the common schools in the acquirement of an education. On the 5th of September, 1861, when not yet seventeen years of age, he enlisted for service in the Union army as a member of Company F, Thirty-seventh Indiana Infantry, remaining with that command until honorably discharged at Jonesboro, Alabama, on the 27th of October, 1864. He was never wounded but had several narrow escapes, his cap being shot off on one occasion, while at another time a bullet pierced the sleeve of his coat, passing between his arm and body. He participated in the battle of Bowling Green, Kentucky, served through the siege of Nashville and the Atlanta campaign and took part in the engagements at Stone River, Chicka- mauga, Missionary Ridge and Peach Tree Creek, Georgia.
After leaving the army Mr. Wilson came to Illinois, spending a little more than a year in Homer, Champaign county. Subsequently he resided in St. Louis for a couple of years and during the following eight or nine years drifted about the country. In 1873 he came to Vermilion county, Illinois, locating in Fairmount. Three years later, in 1876, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth A. Gray, of Sidell township, this county. Following that important event in his life he settled in Sidell township, which has remained his place of residence continuously since. For five or six years he operated the farm belonging to his father-in-law, William Gray, and in 1882 he improved and located on his present place, which was a part of the old Gray homestead and which he purchased, with his wife's interest included, when the estate was settled in 1908. His home farm embraces
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ninety acres. For several years he operated the entire Gray homestead of two hundred and forty acres in addition to other land, but since his sons have left the parental roof he has confined his attention exclusively to the management of his home farm. His agricultural interests have been so wisely and carefully con- ducted that he has won substantial success and has long been numbered among the prosperous and esteemed citizens of the community.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have two sons, namely: Otto, who is a resident of Danville, Illinois; and Charles, living in Allerton, this country. In his political views Mr. Wilson is a stanch republican but he has never been active as an office seeker. He still maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in Tristlee Post, No. 777, G. A. R., at Sidell. Both he and his wife are widely and favorably known throughout the county, having gained many friends during the long period of their residence here.
WILLIAM P. CANNON.
Various corporate interests profited by the business discernment and keen enterprise of William P. Cannon, who for many years figured prominently in the commercial circles of Danville. A native of Indiana, he was born in Morgan county on the 18th of September, 1841, and was a son of Dr. Horace F. Cannon, who was born and reared in North Carolina and removed to the Hoosier state in 1840. He was a physician by profession and was drowned in Sugar Creek while on his way to visit a patient. In the state of his nativity William P. Can- non passed the days of his boyhood and youth and received a good practical edu- cation in Earlham College of Indiana. He commenced the study of law with his brother, the Hon. Joseph G. Cannon, and in 1862 was admitted to the bar. Forming a partnership with his brother, he then commenced practice at Tus- cola, Illinois, but in 1865 turned his attention to the banking business, becom- ing a member of the firm of Wyeth, Cannon & Company, which conducted a private bank, he being the active manager until 1870. During that year he assisted in organizing the First National Bank of Tuscola and was made its president, retaining that office until 1873, when he became a resident of Dan- ville and organized the Vermilion County Bank, of which he was elected presi- dent. The name of this bank was subsequently changed to the Second Na- tional Bank in 1881 and throughout the remainder of his life he was identi- fied with its operations.
In 1864 Mr. Cannon was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Wamsley, of Indiana, a daughter of William Wamsley, and they became the parents of three children, namely: Orville W., who is mentioned below; Joseph G., Jr .; and Mrs. Gratz Helm. The wife and mother passed away in May, 1898, and Mr. Cannon was called to his final rest on the 3d of May, 1902.
No man in the community took a greater pride in the development and up- building of this city or was more actively identified with its welfare. He erected what became known as Cannon's Row on Walnut street shortly after coming to Danville and laid out several additions to the city. In this way he did much
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for its improvement and upbuilding. In connection with others he started the first street car lines here and as they did not pay and ran behind he bought up the shares of the dissatisfied stockholders who wanted to dispose of their hold- ings, for he had faith in the enterprise and knew that some day it would prove a profitable venture. In his efforts to carry on the business he was supported by A. C. Daniel and F. W. Penwell and their faith was subsequently rewarded, for they at length sold to the present company at a fine profit. In all that he did Mr. Cannon was actuated by a desire to assist in the material progress of his adopted city and in his death Danville realized that it had lost a valued and honored citizen. In his political views he was a republican, but never took a very active part in politics aside from casting his vote.
Orville W. Cannon, the elder son of our subject, was for many years in- terested with his father in the banking business, being for twenty years con- nected with the Second National Bank, but he retired some time ago and has since given his attention to some extent to the automobile business. He is an ardent republican in politics and is actively interested in public affairs, being, like his father, a public-spirited citizen, who takes a commendable interest in the welfare of the city. He was married in Rossville, Illinois, to Miss Elizabeth Tomlinson, and they have one child, William B.
WILLIAM B. McFARLAND.
William B. McFarland, a respected resident and representative agriculturist of Grant township, makes his home on section 5, where he owns a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, while his property holdings likewise include a tract of one hundred and twenty acres on sections 29 and 32. In addition to the conduct of his farming interests he acts as secretary of the Grant township Mutual Fire Insurance Company and as vice president of the Pana District Cyclone Mutual Insurance Company.
His birth occurred in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, on the 12th of April, 1860, his parents being James and Sarah (McCartney) McFarland, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state. In the year 1865 they took up their abode in Marshall county, Illinois, there continuing to reside until 1882. In that year they came to Vermilion county, purchasing and locating on the farm which is now the home of our subject. James McFarland remained an esteemed citizen here until called to his final rest in 1898, having for a number of years survived his wife, who passed away in 1883. Their children were eight in number, as follows: John and Sarah, both of whom are deceased; two who died in infancy; Flora, who is a resident of Hoopeston, Illinois; Elizabeth, the wife of William Bell, of Vermilion county; Samuel, who has passed away ; and William B., of this review.
The last named obtained his education in the common schools and on at- taining his majority purchased a portion of the old homestead farm on section 5, Grant township, where he has made his home continuously since. He like- wise owns one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 29 and 32 and
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as an agriculturist has won a gratifying measure of success. Since 1889 he has. served as secretary of the Grant Township Mutual Fire Insurance Company, the president and treasurer of the concern being Josiah Jones and D. H. Chap- man respectively. He is also the vice president of the Pana District Cyclone Mutual Insurance Company, of which the other officers are as follows: George D. Taylor, president; W. E. Killam, treasurer; and A. T. Strange, secretary. The printed reports of both companies indicate their good standing and success.
In 1885 Mr. McFarland was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary A. McCoy, who was born in West Virginia on the 7th of April 1861, her parents being Josiah and Sarah (Jump) McCoy, likewise natives of that state. They came to Illi- nois in 1867 and spent the remainder of their lives on a farm in Peoria county. Mrs. McFarland was the youngest in a family of ten children, five of whom are yet living. By her marriage she became the mother of four children, as follows: Etta, a graduate of the Hoopeston high school; Ida May, who was born on the 15th of June, 1888, and passed away January 2, 1900; Arthur B., likewise a graduate of the Hoopeston high school; and James E., at home.
In politics Mr. McFarland is a republican and for about twenty years he served as a school director. At the present time he acts as clerk of the board. Both he and his wife belong to the Presbyterian church and exemplify its teachings in their daily lives. They have the warm esteem and friendship of many with whom they have come in contact and the hospitality of the best homes of the locality is cordially extended them.
WILLARD WALLACE ABBOTT.
To attain leadership in any business is not to possess qualities unusual to mankind but to possess them in higher degree and in a more harmonious and well balanced union. The elements of success are those which can be cultivated by any individual and which grow by use. It has been the exercise of activity that has kept Willard Wallace Abbott alert and brought him in the course of years to his present enviable position as superintendent of the Illinois Canning Company.
He was born in Oneida county, New York, July 7, 1848, a son of Alfred Willard and Mary Jane (Thompson) Abbott. The father, also a native of Oneida county, New York, was born in 1818, became a millwright and pattern- maker and followed those trades throughout his entire life. He died in 1898, being survived for five years by his wife, who passed away in Newark, Wayne county, New York, in 1903. She was then about eighty years of age, her birth having occurred at Charleston Four Corners in Schoharie county, New York, in 1823.
Willard W. Abbott pursued his education in the schools of Oneida county and of Camden, New York, to the age of fifteen years and then made his initial step in the business world, his first position being in a woolen factory at Camden, where he worked for two seasons. At the end of that time his father apprenticed him to learn the machinist's trade, which he followed for
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two years, but had to abandon it because the heavy work was undermining his health. He next took up what proved to be his life calling, obtaining em- ployment with Annaias Edgett Company, vegetable and fruit packers at Cam- den. There he first became acquainted with the canning business, remaining with that house for about a year. He was next employed by the firm of Day Brothers, of Camden, New York, and after several years spent in learning the business in intermediate positions, he became superintendent of the canning company and eventually represented several New York companies in that capac- ity. For a number of years he was superintendent of the Ezra Edgett Com- pany, of Wayne county, New York, and also of the Wayne County Preserving Company. For three years he was superintendent of the Oneida Community Canning Company, of Oneida, New York, and in 1880 he organized the United County Canning Company, of Verona, New York, and was superintendent there for one season. In 1881 he established the business of the New Hartford Can- ning Company, of New Hartford, New York, and was in active connection therewith until the fall of 1885, when he reestablished the business of the Delhi Canning Company, of Delhi, Ontario. He remained in Canada for two years, in 1885 and 1886.
In the spring of 1887 Mr. Abbott came to Hoopeston to accept the superin- tendency of the Illinois Canning Company. In the intervening years he has inaugurated many changes and improvements and has been a recognized factor in the company's success. He is now one of the stockholders and has shares in the company, of which he has been superintendent since 1887, although he spent several years at Vinton, Iowa, where he remodeled and rebuilt the plant of the Iowa Canning Company. In the spring of 1904 he returned to Hoopes- ton and has since bent his energies to the promotion of the business at this place. This is one of the most extensive industries of the kind in the country, the output of the Illinois Canning Company for the year 1910 in corn and beans alone amounting to seven million cans. Mr. Abbott is today one of the most widely known packers in the United States and the oldest in his line in years of continuous connection with the business. He has introduced many features in bringing the business up to its present high state of perfection and there is no phase of the undertaking with which he is not perfectly familiar, while his opinions are regarded everywhere as authority upon questions of vital import to the canning industry.
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