USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a tale of its evolution, settlement, and progress for nearly a century, Volume II > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93
Born and reared in a frontier region, Henry A. Foster experienced many of the hardships and privations of pioneer existence and during the first nine- teen years of his life wore only homespun clothes. He attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education and remained under the parental roof until twenty-four years of age. The year 1859 witnessed his arrival in Vermilion county, Illinois, and here he has resided continuously to the present time. In 1859 he located on a farm given him by his father and the cultivation and improvement of that property claimed his time and energies throughout his active business career. Alert, energetic and enterprising, he won a gratify- ing measure of success in the conduct of his agricultural interests and is now enabled to spend the evening of life in honorable retirement. Though the im- provements on his farm were entirely destroyed by fire three times, he was not dismayed and after each conflagration erected a new set of buildings. His property holdings now embrace one hundred and sixty acres of land in Catlin township, a third interest in a six-acre tract in Lafayette and seven lots and a fine residence in the village of Catlin.
In 1861 Mr. Foster was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca A. Byerly, a native of Putnam county, Indiana, and a daughter of K. F. and Mary (Wilson) Byerly, who are mentioned on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of J. N. Byerly. Unto our subject and his wife were born seven
69
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
children, namely: Robert F., a resident of Chicago, Illinois; William T., who is deceased; Edmund B., who makes his home in Indiana; Sarah J., the wife of Sterling Cord, of Indiana; Charles N., who died in infancy; Nora A., who is the wife of Clint Sandusky and lives in Indiana; and Cora L., who is the wife of Samuel P. Sacre, and resides on her father's farm.
Mr. Foster is a stanch advocate of the democracy but has never cared for office, preferring to concentrate his attention upon his private interests. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church, of which he has been an elder and to which both he and his wife have belonged for forty-three years. He has now passed the seventy-fourth milestone on this earthly pilgrimage and his life has ever been such as to win and hold the regard and esteem of his fellowmen.
OLIVER M. JONES.
Oliver M. Jones, a leading and successful attorney of Vermilion county, has practiced his profession in Danville since 1891. He was born in Rob Roy, Indiana, January 18, 1867, and on both paternal and maternal sides is descended from pioneer families of Indiana. His grandfather, Hiram Jones, was of Scotch descent and his grandmother, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Taylor, be- longed to an old Kentucky family. As early as 1820 they removed to Indiana and became actively identified with the development of the state. It was in Fountain county, Indiana, that our subject's father, Henry B. Jones was born on the 23d of October, 1841, and there he grew to manhood and married Miss Joanna D. Meeker, also a native of that state. Born March 18, 1843, her par- ents were Usual H. and Sally (Dudley) Meeker, also pioneers of the Hoosier state, to which her father removed from New York at a very early day. Throughout his active business life Henry B. Jones followed the occupation of farming, his death occurring March 29, 1904, but his widow is still living.
Oliver M. Jones began his education in the public schools of Rob Roy but later attended high school at Attica, Indiana. He was next a student at Pur- due University, where he was graduated in 1889 with the degree of B. Sc., and next entered the law department of Michigan University as a member of the class of 1891. From that institution he was graduated with the degree of LL. B. Coming to Danville in November, 1891, Mr. Jones began practice in this city in connection with Messrs. Calhoun and Steely under the firm name of Calhoun, Steely & Jones. Later he was in partnership with A. A. Partlow and as Jones & Partlow they engaged in general practice until 1902, since which time our subject has been alone.
Mr. Jones was married on the 7th of October, 1891, at Deer Creek, Carroll county, Indiana, to Miss Emma F. Fouts, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Solomon and Margaret Fouts. Her father is now deceased but her mother is still living and continues to make her home in Carroll county, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Jones now have three children: Josephine, born November 16, 1892; Joanna, born November 14, 1904; and Paul F., born November 6, 1908.
70
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
The republican party has always found in Mr. Jones a stanch supporter of its principles and from 1905 to 1909 he served as corporation counsel of the city of Danville to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. He has always been interested in municipal affairs, giving his aid and cooperation to every movement for the general good and has served as director and attorney for the Vermilion County Building Association. In his religious faith he is a Pres- byterian and in his fraternal relations is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. Throughout his residence in Dan- ville he has ever enjoyed in the fullest degree the respect and confidence of his fellowmen, and his work as a man and citizen as well as a lawyer is widely acknowledged.
AREUS N. NESBITT.
The agricultural interests of Vermilion county find a worthy and successful representative in Areus N. Nesbitt, who owns and operates a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Catlin township. His birth occurred in Ohio in March, 1837, his parents being John and Mary (Ray) Nesbitt, who were natives of Belfast, Ireland, and Ohio respectively. They spent their en- tire married lives on a farm in Ohio, the father passing away in 1879 and the mother in 1872. Unto them were born eleven children, three of whom still survive, namely: Robert, a resident of Kansas; Nancy, who is the widow of A. W. Willy and lives in Ohio; and Areus N., of this review.
The last named enjoyed the advantages of a high school education in his youthful years and remained under the parental roof until he was married at the age of thirty. Following that important event in his life he cultivated rented land and at different times also taught school and worked at carpentering. In 1891 he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Catlin township, Vermilion county, and has since devoted his attention to its further cultivation and improvement with excellent results. Progressive in his ideas, he has made a careful study of the subject of crop rotation and the means of increasing or of preserving the productiveness of the fields.
As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Nesbitt chose Miss Henrietta Kinder, who was born in Ohio in 1849, her parents being Al- fred N. and Emily (Lasley) Kinder, who spent their entire lives in the Buck- eye state. The father passed away in 1888, while the mother was called to her final rest in 1894. Their children were two in number, as follows: James V., living in Huntington, West Virginia; and Mrs. Nesbitt. Unto our subject and his wife have been born eight children, namely: Orla A., of Vermilion county ; Oma B., the widow of Rev. C. O. Morris; Emma J., the wife of Willet I. Ashby, of this county ; Mary E., at home; James A., who is married and operates the old homestead farm; Amanda E., the wife of Rev. Roy C. Bedinger, who is now in Africa as missionary; Julia S., who died at the age of eighteen months; and Ruth A., the wife of Henderson Willison, of Vermilion county.
71
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
Mr. Nesbitt gives his political allegiance to the democracy and has capably served in several township offices. He has also acted as a member of the school board and for ten years held the office of trustee. He is a charter member of Jones Camp, No. 431, M. W. A., and has filled several of its principal offices. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, with which the other members of his family are also identified. He has now passed the seventy-third milestone on life's journey and his career has ever been such that he can look back over the past without regret and forward to the future without fear.
ERNEST FECKER, JR.
Ernest Fecker, Jr., who is president of Fecker Brewing Company and is prominently identified with the business and industrial interests of the city, was born on the 2d of August, 1862, in New York city, his parents being Ernest and Pauline (Huber) Fecker, both natives of Germany. His mother died on the 24th of September, 1906, but his father, who is now a retired paper box manufacturer, makes his home in Chicago. In their family were three children, the brother of our subject being Frank Fecker, who is now deceased, and the sister, Mrs. Charles Foltz, is a widow who makes her home in New York city.
Reared in Brooklyn, New York, Ernest Fecker, Jr., attended the grammar schools of that city until fourteen years of age and after starting to work con- tinued his studies in an evening high school of New York for a time. He was first employed in a paper box manufactory owned by his father and for about five years devoted his time and attention to that business but for over a quarter of a century he has now been interested in brewing. He served his apprenticeship in the brewery of Peter Engle of Schenectady, New York, and later attended a brewing academy from 1885 to 1886. It was in 1890 that he embarked in the brewing business on his own account, conducting operations for six years under the name of Fecker Brewing Company, their plant be- ing located on the Dudley and Bloomingdale road, now called Winchester avenue. At the end of that period he sold his interest in the business to a syndicate and took the management of the United States Brewing Company, being in charge of breweries Nos. 3, 4 and 5 for some time, but in 1903 he purchased his present plant which he has conducted under the firm style of Fecker Brewing Company. He is president of the company and its success is largely due to his own well directed efforts. He thoroughly understands the manufacture of beer in every detail and is a man of exceptional business ability and sound judgment.
On `the 27th of July, 1889, in Chicago, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Fecker and Miss Clara Simon, a daughter of Nicholas and Barbara Simon, residents of Chicago, both of whom are now deceased. The children born of this union are: Clara, who was born in Chicago, July 5, 1890; Frances, born January 27, 1892; Pauline, born Decer ber 8, 1893; Frank, born July 6, 1901; Lydia, born June 4, 1905; Herbert and Harold, twins, born November II, 1908, in Danville.
72
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
Mr. Fecker is an Episcopalian in his religious belief and is today an honored member of the Masonic fraternity and the Turn Verein of Danville. His political support is always given to the men and measures of the republican party and during his residence in Chicago he was a member of the Bridewell board from 1891 to 1897 inclusive. He has taken a very active and promi- nent part in political affairs and was chosen a member of Governor Tanner's staff, on which he served from 1896 to 1900. His genial, pleasant manner has made him many friends and he is popular both in business and social circles.
J. B. CHAMBERS.
Among those enterprising citizens who have attained success in business affairs and are now able to live retired is J. B. Chambers, a well known resident of Danville, who was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, on the 9th of May, 1852, and belongs to a very prominent and influential family of this region. His father, William J. Chambers, was a native of Maryland and was a young man when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Indiana. On start- ing out in life for himself he chose the occupation to which he had been reared- that of farming-as his life work and on coming to Vermilion county, Illinois, in 1855 settled in Middlefork township, where he engaged in agricultural pur- suits for some time. He early became prominently identified with the public affairs and was called upon to serve as supervisor there for several terms. In 1868 he removed to Ross township, which he also represented on the board of supervisors for ten terms. At length retiring from active work, he removed to Rossville in 1887 and continued to make his home there until his death in 1907, when he was eighty years of age. He always bore a prominent part in local affairs and was a consistent member of the Baptist church. He was mar- ried in Montgomery county, Indiana, to Miss Lydia Fouts, a native of Pennsyl- vania, who had removed to this state with her parents during childhood. J. B. Chambers is the second in order of birth in a family of nine children, having three brothers and five sisters. Those now living are: Sarah, the wife of J. D. Leonard, of Potomac, Illinois; Malinda, now Mrs. Bridges, of Jasper county, this state; Melissa, the wife of J. A. Allen, of Covington, Indiana; and R. F. Chambers, a resident of Wichita, Kansas.
As J. B. Chambers was only three years of age on the removal of the family to Vermilion county he has practically spent his entire life here and is indebted to its common schools for the educational privileges he enjoyed. He remained on the home farm until eighteen years of age and then went to Rossville, where he engaged in the grocery business for himself for four years. During his residence there he was married in 1874 to Miss Elizabeth Cope- land, a native of Middlefork township and a daughter of William H. and Rachel (Stearns) Copeland, who were farming people and old settlers of this county.
After his marriage Mr. Chambers resumed farming, which he carried on from 1874 until 1887, when he removed to Danville and embarked in the hard-
73
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
ware and implement business, which he continued to carry on with good success until his retirement in November, 1909. In 1896 he erected the building on North Walnut street now occupied by his son Earl B., who succeeded him in business but is now devoting the greater part of his attention to the automobile business. This son is the only child born to Mr. and Mrs. Chambers and after completing his education in the public schools in Danville entered his father's establishment as assistant. He is a very enterprising young business man and since the business came into his control has carried it on in an able and success- ful manner. He married Miss Blanche Hogan, of Chicago.
Mr. and Mrs. Chambers hold membership in the Kimber Methodist Epis- copal church and he is also identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and other fraternal orders. Although deeply interested in public affairs and the welfare of his county, Mr. Chambers has never been an office seeker or desired political preferment. He is, however, an enterpris- ing and progressive citizen and a worthy representative of one of the most highly respected families of the county.
CHARLES T. WOOLSEY.
Prominent among the successful business men of Danville is Charles T. Woolsey who is now devoting his time and attention to the real-estate business. A man of keen discrimination and sound judgment, his pronounced business ability and excellent management have brought to him a high degree of success. He was born in Bainbridge, Indiana, January 21, 1875, his parents being George W. and Sarah (Nelson) Woolsey. The father is a newspaper man and for several years has been editor and publisher of the Banner in Danville.
In the public schools of this city Charles T. Woolsey acquired a good prac- tical education and on putting aside his text-books entered a printing office, where he soon mastered the trade, continuing to follow that occupation for about fifteen years. In 1905 he embarked in the real-estate business, which has steadily grown from year to year until he is now one of the leading real- estate dealers of Danville, handling not only his own property, but a large amount for others. He keeps well posted on everything connected with his line of trade and his success is due to his own energy and perseverance.
Mr. Woolsey was married in Covington, Indiana, on the 25th of October, 1897, to Miss Marie M. Walz, who was born in Danville and is a daughter of George Walz, one of the old residents of this city and one of the first furniture dealers and undertakers here. This union has been blessed by four children, three sons and one daughter, namely: Wood, now eleven years of age; Carl, nine; Jean, six, and Mary Jane, an infant.
Mr. Woolsey is not identified with any political party but endeavors to sup- port those measures which he believes to be for the public good and votes for the men best qualified to fill the offices. In 1907 he was appointed notary public for a term of four years and is now acceptably filling that position. He
74
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
is a man of unflinching integrity and commercial honor who enjoys in the high- est measure the respect of all who know him. That many of his stanchest friends are numbered among those who have known him from boyhood to the present time is an indication that his has been an honorable and upright life and one worthy of the esteem in which he is universally held.
PROFESSOR ELWIN LEROY BAILEY.
Professor Elwin LeRoy Bailey, president of the Greer College of Hoopeston, has devoted his life largely to educational work and, ever laboring for the at- tainment of high ideals, his service has been a potent and helpful influence in promoting intellectual advancement in the various localities in which he has made his home. He was born at Minonk, Woodford county, Illinois, July 27, 1865, a son of Hiram S. and Fidelia Salina (Labar) Bailey, both of whom were natives of New York, the former of English lineage and the latter of French descent. About 1861 Mr. Bailey came to Illinois, continuing his residence in this state until 1899, when he removed to Monon, Indiana, and continued to reside there until his death, which occurred in 1901. His widow still survives him and now lives with her son, Professor Bailey, in Hoopeston.
In the public schools of Woodford county, E. L. Bailey pursued his early education, became a high school student in Minonk and afterward attended suc- cessively the Rice Collegiate Institute at Paxton, Illinois, the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, Indiana, and the Normal School at Bushnell, Illi- nois. He continued his studies to the year 1891, and after completing the last course took up the profession of teaching. He taught for one year in Wood- ford county and seven years in the public schools of Ford and Iroquois counties. He also spent a year as a teacher in the college at Paxton, two years in the Western Normal College at Macomb, Illinois, and for nine years has been a representative of the educational interests of Hoopeston, coming to this city in 1901, at which time he became a member of the faculty of Greer College. He was for three years science teacher and in 1904 was elected to the presidency of the school, which has an enrollment of between two and three hundred pupils, while the summer session is attended by from sixty to seventy-five pupils. Pro- fessor Bailey studied law for two years, but never engaged in practice. His entire life since attaining his majority has been given to educational work and he has become an able and recognized leader in this field. He is zealous and discriminating, imparts readily and clearly to others the knowledge that he has acquired, and moreover studies each pupil from the standpoint of the individual, without which understanding the best work of the teacher is never done. He has during his nine years' connection therewith raised the standard of Greer College, and the student who will apply himself to his work finds in this institution a means for thorough preparation for the practical duties of life. In addition to his educational work Professor Bailey has property interests, being the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of timber land in Wayne county, Missouri, and also owns his residence in Hoopeston at 703 West Penn street.
EL Bailey
77
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
On the 29th of July, 1902, in Hoopeston, Professor Bailey was married to Miss Bertha Landess, a native of Pike county, Illinois, and a daughter of Levi P. Landess. Mr. Bailey holds membership in the First Methodist Episcopal church of Hoopeston, while Mrs. Bailey is a member of the Christian church. He is also identified with the Modern Woodmen of America. His political al- legiance is given to the republican party, and while at times he takes an active interest in political affairs, he has never been a politician in the usually accepted sense of the term. He is never neglectful of the duties of citizenship, however, and his influence has been a tangible force for good in the community.
LOUIS W. COE.
Louis W. Coe, who has lived for the last sixteen years at Ridge Farm, Ver- milion county, and is the owner of a valuable farming property in this part of the county, was born in Elwood township, September 12, 1865. He is a son of Brainard E. and Margaret (Wiseman) Coe, who were both natives of Wirt county, West Virginia, and came to Illinois in 1865, where they lived upon a farm in Elwood township. The mother was called to her final rest in 1866, her companion departing this life thirteen years later, on July 9, 1879. At the time of his death Mr. Coe was the owner of a finely improved farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he had won from the virgin soil through his persistence and well applied labor. The father and mother now lie side by side in Yankee Point cemetery, five miles northeast of Ridge Farm. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, intelligent and progressive, and highly esteemed on account of their unselfish acts. Eight children were born to them: Clairmont E., Nimrod S., Clinton W., who died April 2, 1890; John F., Margaret N., Alice, Anna, and Louis W.
Having lost his mother at the age of ten months, the subject of this sketch became a member of the household of John C. Dicken and wife of Ridge Farm. There he continued until twelve years of age, when he went home and remained with his father until the death of the latter two years later. He received his education in the district schools and as he grew up he worked upon the farm and when he was twenty-four years of age he rented land, where he carried on operations for seventeen years. Having acquired a competence, he retired to Ridge Farm, where he has lived since 1894. He and his wife are the owners of one hundred and eighty acres of land, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation and has supplied with all the conveniences of the modern farm.
On November 29, 1893, Mr. Coe was united in marriage to Miss Annie C. Canada, who was born in Elwood township, February 18, 1873. She is a daughter of William Canada IV and Jane (Hayworth) Canada, the former a native of Vermilion county and the latter of Indiana. They were the parents of eight children: Dora, deceased; Horace, Ida, Owen, Eunice, deceased; one who died in infancy; Annie C., the wife of our subject; and James W. Mr. and Mrs. Coe are the parents of two children : Viola M., born January 1I, 1896,
78
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
who is now a student in the high school and also a student of music; and Doris J., who was born February 27, 1907.
Mr. Coe is politically affiliated with the republican party, in which he is a prominent and active worker. He has been a member of the republican central committee of Vermilion county and for six years was tax collector of his township, also serving for one year as assessor. He is a member of the school board at the present time. In secret societies he has been quite promi- nent, holding membership in the Modern Woodmen of America, the Royal Neighbors, the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic order and at various times he has occupied offices in these organizations. He is also well known in club circles, being president of the Ridge Farm Club, an organization which has a great deal of influence in this community. Mrs. Coe is a valuable member of the Friends church, and she and her husband cheerfully lend their assistance to any movement that has as its object the advancement of the permanent in- terests of those with whom they are associated. Mr. Coe, now in the prime of his life and at the head of a happy family, is one of the prosperous citizens of Ridge Farm. As a farmer he has demonstrated his ability and as a public- spirited and wide-awake citizen he has won an enviable position in Vermilion county.
NICHOLAS ENGELMANN.
Without any special advantages at the outset of his career Nicholas Engel- mann has labored diligently and persistently to attain success and is now the owner of a good farm in Catlin township, embracing forty acres of rich and productive land. He was born in Stark county, Ohio, July 20, 1854, and is a son of John N. and Mary (Schuetz) Engelmann, both of whom were na- tives of Prussia, Germany. They came to America early in the year 1854 and established their home in Stark county, Ohio. The father was a miner by oc- cupation and followed that pursuit in the Buckeye state until 1857, when he came with his family to Vermilion county, Illinois, and settled at Tilton, where he was employed in the mines for two years. Believing that he would find agricutural pursuits more profitable, he then rented a farm, which he occupied for three years, during which period he carefully saved his earnings until he felt justified in purchasing eighty acres of the farm upon which Nicholas Engel- mann now resides. He afterward bought forty more acres and lived upon this place until his death, which occurred in September, 1908. For two years he had survived his wife, who died in August, 1906. In their family were eight chil- dren, four sons and four daughters, all of whom are yet living.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.