History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a tale of its evolution, settlement, and progress for nearly a century, Volume II, Part 74

Author: Jones, Lottie E. 4n
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 940


USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a tale of its evolution, settlement, and progress for nearly a century, Volume II > Part 74


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George F. Sanders, the father of Mr. Sanders of this review, was but a little lad of five years when brought to this county by his parents. He never left the old homestead farm and eventually bought the property, owning two hun- dred and forty acres at the time of his demise. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and he took an active and helpful interest in all matters pertaining to the general welfare. For nine years he capably served his fellow townsmen in the position of commissioner. When he passed away on the 13th of May, 1905, the community mourned the loss of one of its best known and most highly esteemed citizens. The death of his wife, which oc- curred on the 19th of April, 1909, was likewise the occasion of deep and wide- spread regret.


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Albert Sanders pursued his education in the common schools and when not busy with his text-books assisted in the operation of the home farm, thus early gaining practical knowledge of the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. On attaining his majority he took charge of the place and has been busily engaged in its operation continuously since. He now owns the prop- erty, which comprises two hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land on section 10, Love township. In connection with the tilling of the soil he makes a specialty of handling and feeding stock and has shipped and fed more than twelve hundred head of cattle which he purchased in Kansas City and Chicago in seven years. His undertakings have been attended with a gratifying measure of success and he has long been numbered among the substantial and enterprising citizens of his native county.


Mr. Sanders has been married twice. On the 6th of October, 1887, he wedded Miss Dora Pribble, a native of Vermilion county and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Pribble, both of whom are deceased. She was one of a family of five children and by her marriage became the mother of four children, namely : 'Albert, a resident of Rossville, who acts as assistant state veterinarian; and Roy W., James R. and Minnie May, all at home. The oldest son, Albert, grad- uated from a Chicago veterinary college prior to his twenty-first year and now enjoys a fine practice. Mrs. Dora Sanders passed away on the 27th of February, 1905, and was laid to rest in the Georgetown cemetery. On the 26th of January, 1910, Mr. Sanders was again married, his second union being with Miss Jessie McDowell, a native of this county and a daughter of William and Sarah (Ram- sey) McDowell. Her father, who is likewise a native of Vermilion county, still resides here, while her mother, whose birth occurred in Ohio, was called to her final rest on the 19th of September, 1903. She was one of a family of eight children.


In politics Mr. Sanders is a republican and for seven years he held the office of commissioner. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Georgetown, having filled all of the chairs in the latter organization. In the county where they have spent their entire lives both Mr. and Mrs. Sanders are widely and favorably known.


H. F. CUNNINGHAM.


H. F. Cunningham is a retired farmer now living in Rossville, his former activity and well directed industry having brought to him the success which now enables him to rest from further labors with capital sufficient not only to supply the necessities of life but also many of its comforts. He was born in Newell township, this county, on the 30th of July, 1851, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (French) Cunningham, both of whom have now passed away. The father came from Kentucky to Vermilion county in pioneer times, being one of the first settlers in Newell township. He was the son of William Cunningham, who entered the land from the government. Not a furrow had been turned nor


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an improvement made upon their property at that time and with characteristic energy William Cunningham began the development of a farm, in this work being assisted by his son John as the years passed by. The latter continued in active connection with general agricultural pursuits here until his death, which occurred September 25, 1865.


Reared on the old homestead farm, H. F. Cunningham attended the country school through the winter months, while the summer seasons were devoted to the tasks of plowing, planting and harvesting. He lost his father when but a boy and in his youthful days the work of the farm largely devolved upon him. The estate comprised five hundred acres of land, a part of which would have gone to H. F. Cunningham as his inheritance but he sold his interest therein and made investments elsewhere. He is today the owner of two hundred acres of valuable land in Ross township, situated about a mile west of the village of Rossville, where he lived until April 4, 1908, when he bought property and moved to Rossville. For some time he resided on a farm of one hundred acres east of the town. To his sound judgment and to his careful management of his agricultural interests he owes his success. He followed modern methods of farming, utilizing the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields and kept the soil in good condition through the rotation of crops. His labors have been attended with a measure of success that is most gratifying and well merited and at present he has leisure to enjoy those pleasures and pur- suits which are a matter of interest to him.


In 1877 Mr. Cunningham was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Camp- bell and unto them have been born four children: Vera, who is now the wife of D. H. Smith and has one daughter, Garnette Marie; Grace, who married Dr. E. M. Bush and has one child, Marshall Dale; Perry and William, who still reside at home. The parents are members of the Christian church and their good qualities of heart and mind have endeared them to many friends and gained for them the kindly regard of all with whom they have been associated.


ELMER J. FRAYSER.


Elmer J. Frayser, who is now most capably filling the position of city super- intendent of buildings, has for many years been identified with the development and upbuilding of Danville in the construction of many of its leading business houses and residences. He was born in Davis county, Kentucky, September 15, 1872, and is a son of Richard and Katherine (Baker) Frayser, both of whom were of Scotch-Irish descent. The latter, who was born and reared in Ken- tucky, is now a resident of Evansville, Indiana, but the father, who was also a native of that state and a farmer by occupation, passed away in 1875.


In the district schools of Vanderburg county, Indiana, Elmer J. Frayser be- gan his education and later attended the public schools of Owensboro, Ken- tucky, for three years. On laying aside his text-books, he began learning the bricklayer's trade and on completing his apprenticeship continued to work as ยท a journeyman bricklayer, serving as foreman for a period of nineteen years.


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In April, 1906, he went to San Francisco and aided in the erection of many of the principal buildings in that reconstructed city following the earthquake. On the 8th of June, however, he returned to Danville and resumed work at his trade. Here he has been identified with the construction of a great many of the most prominent buildings of the city and in June, 1909, received the appoint- ment of city superintendent of buildings, which position he is now most capably and satisfactorily filling.


Mr. Frayser was married in Danville on the 16th of October, 1902, to Miss Mary A. Comrie whose parents were natives of Scotland but became residents of Danville about a quarter of a century ago. Here the father died in 1892, but the mother is still living.


By his ballot Mr. Frayser supports the men and measures of the democratic party and has been an active worker in the interests of his party. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Wood- men of America, and is also a member of the Bricklayers Union. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church. Industry, honesty and perseverance have been the characteristics which have been instru- mental in gaining for him success and his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, hold him in high esteem.


Mrs. Frayser possesses considerable poetic ability and has written a large number of poems, some of which have been published in papers all over the union. One of the best of these is entitled "Progress of a Year," a poem written on the destruction and reconstruction of San Francisco.


JAMES FRANCIS CLEM.


Among the progressive and up-to-date business men of Danville is num- bered James Francis Clem, who is a native of Vermilion county, his birth oc- curring in Blount township on the 25th of June, 1875. His ancestors on the paternal side were of German origin, while on the maternal side they were of Irish and English origin, but they came to this country at a very early date in its development. His paternal great-great-grandparents were from Virginia and from that state removed to Kentucky with Daniel Boone. There in the wild, unbroken forest they made for themselves a home and the great-great- grandmother of our subject molded the bullets which her husband used in de- fence of the family from the Indians. Later the family removed to Indiana and subsequently its representatives came to Illinois. Our subject's father, Francis Marion Clem, was born in Warren county, Indiana, and at an early day came to Vermilion county, Illinois, with his grandfather. On reaching manhood he com- menced farming and continued to follow that pursuit throughout his active business life, but is now living retired in Danville. At State Line, Indiana, he married Miss Rebecca McGee, a native of Missouri, whose father was a physi- cian.


During the boyhood of James F. Clem, the family resided in Vermilion county, Indiana, where they made their home for twenty years, returning to


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Vermilion county, Illinois, in 1909. It was in Perrysville of the former state that he obtained his education, attending the public schools until he attained his majority, being a student in the high school for one year. On the completion of his education he took charge of his father's farm, which he successfully operated for some years and then leased the farm of his uncle, Jacob Clem, which he conducted for a period of three years. At the end of that time, in the fall of 1901, he removed to Danville and has since been engaged in the storage and transfer business at Nos. 101-103, South Vermilion street. He began busi- ness in a very small way but has steadily prospered and is today at the head of the leading firm of the kind in this city. Besides his property in Danville he is now the owner of some good farm land in this county, and is today numbered among the prosperous citizens of the locality.


Mr. Clem was married in Columbus, Wisconsin, June 6, 1907, the lady of his choice being Miss Laura Keefer, a daughter of Charles Keefer, who for the past two years has been a resident of Danville. Mrs. Clem, however, was born near Columbus in Dodge county, Wisconsin, and by her marriage has become the mother of one child, Dora Viola, whose birth occurred in Danville, August 31, 1909.


Mr. Clem is an earnest and consistent member of the Christian church and being a strong temperance man, is a stalwart advocate of the principles of the prohibition party of which he is a stanch supporter, but has never been a poli- tician in the sense of office seeking. He is a man of strong character and ster- ling worth and well merits the high regard in which he is uniformly held.


JEHU R. COLYER, M. D.


Dr. Jehu R. Colyer, long well known in this section of the state as a capable member of the medical profession from which he was forced to retire on ac- count of ill health, is now successfully engaged in banking in Catlin, being cashier of a bank which he organized. His work in this connection is proving of worth to the community as well as a source of profit to himself, and the bank has become recognized as one of the strong financial institutions of the com- munity, furthering the interests of the commercial world by carrying on bank- ing in all of its varied and legitimate departments.


A farm near Somerset, Kentucky, was the birthplace of Jehu R. Colyer, and his natal day was November 19, 1856. His parents were St. Clair and Eliza- beth (Morgan) Colyer, both of whom were natives of Virginia, and removed from the Old Dominion to Pulaski county, Kentucky, with their respective par- ents in childhood days. The former was a grandson of Arthur St. Clair, who served as a colonel in the Revolutionary war. When the Civil war was inau- gurated both the Colyer and Morgan families were slaveholders and their sym- pathies were with the Confederacy, seven of the uncles of J. R. Colyer joining the southern army. At the close of the war all returned uninjured save Colonel Wesley Colyer, who was severely wounded in the breast by a gun shot but recovered. Notwithstanding the fact that he was born and reared in the south,


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St. Clair Colyer was strongly opposed to secession of the southern states, never accepting their theory that they had a right to disrupt the Union. The grand- parents of J. R. Colyer on both the paternal and maternal sides were devout Christian people and church leaders, and most of their children became faithful members of the church. The paternal grandfather had a family of nineteen children, all of whom reached advanced age, save one, who died of smallpox at the age of twenty-five years. St. Clair Colyer reached the very venerable age of eighty-five years and his widow is still living at the age of seventy-seven. Not only did he engage in farming as a life work but also was well known as a coal merchant, shipping coal on the Cumberland river from the Cumberland coal mines in Kentucky, to Nashville, Tennessee, and to Cairo, Illinois. His family numbered ten children, seven sons and three daughters, and all are yet living. Nine of the number during their earlier life were schoolteachers; three are now regular graduated physicians of the allopathic school; two are lawyers and two ministers of the Methodist church, while a brother-in-law is also a physician. It will thus be seen that the family are given to professional ac- tivities and in their chosen fields they have made excellent records.


Dr. Colyer of this review pursued his education in the public and private schools of Somerset, Kentucky, and at the age of seventeen began teaching, which profession he followed through the succeeding decade. During the next three years he studied medicine in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was graduated from the Ohio Medical College in the class of 1886. His boyhood days were un- eventful and without exciting incident, save one never to be forgotten experi- ence. At the age of eighteen years he was on a large open coal barge on the Cumberland river, loaded with about seven hundred tons of coal, bound for Nashville, Tennessee. The heavy tide water made the Cumberland river shoals, which were seven miles long, very rough and the billows rolled high. So great were these breakers that the boat, although built very strong, went to pieces and sank, leaving the pilot and sixteen men of the crew to fight for their lives in the surging waters. Their only hope of escape was clinging to the oars, which were about sixty feet long and two feet in diameter at the broadest parts. For- tunately all rode through on the four oars and were rescued at the foot of the shoals by boatmen. Dr. Colyer came on shore bareheaded, barefooted and coat- less and had to walk home barefooted-a distance of seven miles. The experi- ence was a very memorable one and the horror of it seems yet upon Dr. Colyer as his memory brings vividly before him that scene with all of its hardships and terrors.


Following his graduation from medical college Dr. Colyer returned to his home in Somerset, Kentucky, where he practiced medicine until his removal to Douglas county, Illinois. There he continued successfully in practice until the fall of 1898, when his health failed, due to hard work and exposure, which brought on rheumatism and chronic neuritis. He spent a year in rest and recuperation and then turned his attention to banking in Douglas county, Illi- nois, having previously had some experience in that line in earlier life. In 1904 he sold his interest in three banks in Douglas and Piatt counties, after which he organized a banking company and established the Catlin bank ,of which he is now cashier. In 1907 he also organized the Bank of Oakwood, Illinois, of


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which he is a director and in addition to his banking interests he is the owner of three hundred and eighty acres of land and a home in Catlin.


On the 19th of December, 1898, Dr. Colyer was married to Miss Sallie Newell, the only daughter of Henry Clay and Florence V. Newell, of Somerset, Kentucky. Her parents are both living at the ages of seventy-eight and seventy- five years respectively. Mrs. Colyer was born October 17, 1870, and by her marriage has become the mother of one child, Florence E.


Dr. Colyer is an exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity in his loyalty to its teachings and principles. At the age of fourteen years he became a mem- ber of the Methodist church and has since been one of its devoted followers. In his profession he had many opportunities to exemplify the teachings of Masonry and of the Christian faith and again and again responded to a pro- fessional call when he knew that no remuneration would reward his labors. His life in all of its phases has commanded the respect and confidence of his fellowmen and he now ranks high among the prominent and valued citizens of Catlin and Vermilion county.


JOHN S. MARSH.


Among the young men who are leaving their impress upon the business development and material progress of Danville is numbered John S. Marsh, who is now successfully engaged in the life insurance business. He was born in Chicago, April 10, 1875, his parents being Edwin D. and Jennie F. (Ingham) Marsh, who removed with their family to Danville in 1881. Here the father died in 1901. He was engaged in the fire insurance business and was a man highly respected and esteemed by all who knew him. The early home of the mother was in Middletown, Connecticut, but during her girlhood she came to Danville, in 1861, and taught music in the Old Red Seminary on Main street.


Being brought to Danville in childhood, John S. Marsh attended the public and high schools of this city and after acquiring a good practical education ac- cepted the position of bookkeeper with the Danville Electric Light & Gas Com- pany, with which he remained for about a year. He was next in the employ of the Second National Bank as bookkeeper for six years, after which he was made district agent of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Three years later he was made general agent for this section of the state with headquarters in Danville and still continues to fill that position to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. A wide-awake, energetic and progressive business man, he has met with remarkable success and during the year 1909 did the largest personal business for the company of any agent in the state of Illinois. As he has prospered in business, he has become financially interested in various mercantile and manufacturing enterprises in Danville and is today regarded as one of its leading business men.


Mr. Marsh was married in Danville in 1900 to Miss May Kiningham, a daughter of Columbus N. Kiningham, an old resident of Danville. They have become the parents of three children, namely: Eugene W., born May 16, 1901 ;


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John S., Jr., born January 2, 1908; Douglas N., born April 9, 1910. By his ballot Mr. Marsh usually supports the men and measures of the republican party, but at local elections generally votes for the candidate whom he believes best qualified to fill the office, regardless of party.


He is a member of the First Presbyterian church and his many good quali- ties have gained for him the respect and confidence of those with whom he has been associated either in business or social circles. In business he has won success along lines which bear close investigation and scrutiny, for never has he sacrificed the interests of others to further his own prosperity.


C. C. WHITE.


C. C. White, an alert, active and wide-awake buisness man of Henning, was born in Richland county, Ohio, April 30, 1850. His parents, John and Elizabeth White, were also natives of the Buckeye state, but both have now passed away. The mother died in 1853, aged twenty-nine years, and was laid to rest in a ceme- tery in Perrysville, Ohio, while the father, who died at the advanced age of seventy-six years, was buried at Bolivar, Missouri. He had nine children, two by his first wife and seven by his second wife, for following the death of Mrs. Elizabeth White he wedded Isabelle Crawford.


C. C. White, whose name introduces this review, was a pupil in the public schools of Perrysville, Ohio, in the days of his boyhood and learned lessons that have been of value to him in his later years, for he early became impressed with the fact that industry and perseverance are indispensable elements to success in business. He also served a three years' apprenticeship to the mason's trade at that place. In 1869 he came to Illinois, intending to work at his trade, and for a time attended the Gem City Business College at Quincy. It was in 1894 that he became a resident of Vermilion county and for sixteen years has been a rep- resentative of the grain trade at Henning. This is a rich agricultural district and extensive farms produce splendid crops, so that there is ample opportunity for a grain merchant to make his purchases preparatory to shipping to the city mar- kets. In business circles Mr. White has established a reputation for keen dis- cernment and sagacity and at all times is thoroughly reliable, his success never being won at the sacrifice of another's interests. At present he is engaged in the real-estate and insurance business in Henning.


In 1870 Mr. White was married in Champaign county, Illinois, to Miss Lucy H. Welles, a daughter of Joseph H. and Sarah A. (Jones) Welles, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Maine. Her mother was a cousin of Gideon E. Welles, secretary of war under President Lincoln. Mr. and Mrs. White have become the parents of nine children, five sons and four daughters. Dora, the eldest, is now the wife of S. 'A. Paulson, of Rossville, and they have four daughters and one son. J. W. White, who married Rosie Stickrod, is now cashier of a bank at Henning. Olive is the wife of Frank J. Dodson, principal of the public schools at Ogden, Champaign county. Mark T. White was in- jured in a grain elevator at Henning managed by his father and died in Febru-


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ary, 1903, eight days after the accident, at the age of twenty-three years. Clara W. is the wife of Charles Mason, a farmer, living near Henning. Harlan J. and Hazen E. are twins. The former is now with the Armour Packing Com- pany as an auditor in the southern states, while the latter is with the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Company, holding an office position at Oaklawn, Dan- ville, Illinois. Frank V. is a fireman on the Eastern & Joliet Railroad, living at Rossville, and Sarah A. completes the family.


Mr. White is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and also of the Knights of Pythias fraternity and is in sympathy with the purposes of those organizations which recognize the obligations of man to his fellowmen. Moreover, he is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is president of the church association of his township. He takes an active interest in all the phases of church work and in fact is known as an earnest and able supporter of those projects and movements which tend to uplift mankind. He has many friends in the community where he makes his home and is apprecia- tive of the social amenities of life. He always has a cheery and encouraging word for those with whom he comes in contact and his good qualities as a man and citizens cause his name to be spoken only in terms of respect and good-will.


JOHN TORRANCE.


John Torrance, who is now serving as city clerk of Danville, has made an excellent record as a public official, his course being highly beneficial to the city in many ways. In all that he has done he has been actuated by a desire to pro- mote the best interests of the community and his labors have been effective and far-reaching. He was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, on the 24th of September, 1849, his parents being David and Sarah (Kearns) Torrance, both of whom are now deceased. The father, who was a carpenter by occupation, came to Dan- ville in 1864 and made his home here until called to his final rest on the 15th of December, 1893. The mother's death occurred January 19, 1908. She was born near Reading, Pennsylvania, and was of German ancestry, while the father of our subject was born near Circleville, Ohio, and was of Irish extraction.




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