Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 139

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1058

USA > Illinois > Crawford County > Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical > Part 139

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BREHM, Elias .- The successful prosecution of farming, even in the well-favored Crawford County, Ill., requires intelligenee, foresight and thorough knowledge of all the details of the work.

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The farmer today has to know many things hidden from his father, and many of the men now owning large tracts of land can well re- member wheu farming was held to be something anyone could do. Elias Brehm, a very prosper- ous farmer and stock-raiser of Martin Town- ship, Crawford County, has been a resident of the township since 1871. He was born in Prairie County. Ohio, March 3, 1839, a son of Henry Brehm, He was a farmer and sawmill operator iu Prairie County, Ohio, and owned a sawmill operated by water power. The father of Henry Brehm was George Brehm, who was born in Pennsylvania and came to Ohio with his family at an early date, and settled in Perry County, where he entered land from the Government. owning about 400 acres at one time.

Henry Brehm was educated in Perry County, and there grew to manhood. He married Eliza- beth Saunders, also born and reared in Perry County, Ohio. They became the parents of chil- dren as follows : George, Samuel, Mary, Moses. Elias, Joseph, Alfred and Abraham.

Elias Brehm was educated in the subscription schools of his native county, and walked three miles to attend school. During his school life he worked hard on the farm, and made himself useful. When he was eighteen he lost his father, and the farm was sold, so that the estate could be divided among the children. Mr. Brehm re- ceived as his share $400. Having married Mary Ann Rinehart. daughter of Jesse Rinehart, a farmer of Ohio, on February 12 1871, he came to Crawford County, and bought 80 acres in Mar- tin Township. Thirty acres of this were cleared, but he cleared off the remainder, and bought 20 acres more, adjoining, all in timber. His farm is one of the best in Crawford County, and is well supplied with every comfort. Mrs. Brehm died September 23, 1900. His brother's daughter has kept house for him for the past eight years. Mr. Brehm belongs to the Baptist Church. He is a Republican, aud cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. Mr. and Mrs. Brehm had one child. rhich died in infancy.

BRISTOW, Napoleon B., M. D. (deceased) .- In enumerating the distinguished and able profes- sional men of Crawford County, Ill., too much prominence cannot be given to the late Dr. Nano- leon B. Bristow, physician and surgeon, who for many years was a well-known and beloved prac- titioner at Flat Rock, Ill. Dr. Bristow was born in Parke County, Ind., near Hollandsburg, March 23. 1852, a son of Dr. James C. Bristow, de- ceased, who was a native of Shelby County, Ky., and there married Elizabeth Williamson, also a native of Kentucky. After marriage, the elder Dr. Bristow moved to Parke County, Ind., and farmed for some years, but later moved to Iowa and established a mercantile business. From there he went to Kansas City and from that city came to Crawford County and commenced practicing medicine in the vicinity of Craw- fordsville, where he continued in active practice until 1884, when he removed to Wayne County,

Ill., and there continued iu practice until his death, which occurred July 16, 1906. Dr. Napo- leon B. Bristow was the fourth child iu a family of nine children born to his parents, two of whom were boru in Crawford Couuty on a farm in Honey Creek Township.

Dr. Napoleon B. Bristow attended the district schools of Honey Creek Township, the select school at Robinsou, and the University of Louis- ville, Ky., being graduated from the medical department of the latter, March 1, 1875. For one year he was in partnership with his father, but in the spring of 1876 established himself at Flat Rock and continued there in active practice until his death, which occurred October 12, 1896. He had a very large practice throughout Flat Rock and vicinity, and was recognized as a very able physiciau and surgeou.

On October 25, 1876, he married Aurelia Rundle, who was born in Houey Creek Town- ship, the daughter of Ansou M. Rundle, a uative of Sullivan County, Iud., born August 29, 1823. Mr. Rundle was reared in that State, but about 1847, when a young mau, he came to Crawford County. By trade, he was a tanner, and worked with David Logan at Palestine for a while, but later bought the Norton tanyard and entered and bought some land adjoining it. About 1855 he quit the tanning business, sold his land and bought a farm of James Weger; on which a part of the town of Flat Rock is uow located, aud the present home of his daughter, Mrs. Bristow, Ou January 10, 1849, he married Elizabeth Joues, born in Butler County, Ohio, June 28. 1827. She moved with her parents to Lawrence County, III., when five years of age. Her father, Lewis Jones, was a pioneer of Lawrence County, where he remained only a few years, and then came to Honey Creek Township, Crawford County, and resided until his death iu August, 1874. His wife, Mary (Brown) Jones, died October 8, 1896. Mrs. Bristow is the secoud in the family of seven children born to her parents, two sons and five daughters, three of whom are deceased, and all born in Honey Creek Township. Anson M. Rundle died September 6, 1881; Elizabeth Rundle, his wife, died April 13, 1900. After mar- riage, Dr. and Mrs. Bristow built a dwelling aud lived in Flat Rock for fourteen years, after which in 1890, they bought the Rundle home- stead, and erected the residence in which Mrs. Bristow now lives, and in which Dr. Bristow's death occurred. Dr. N. B. Bristow was engaged in the practice of medicine for more than twenty- one years. In politics he was a Republican. and fraternally he was a member of the I. O. O. F. Dr. and Mrs. Bristow had three children : Claud- ius L., of Colorado Springs, Colo .; Roscoe, D. D. S., practicing at Taylor, Tex. ; and Miss Nellie, at home.

BROWN, Capt. Achilles Morris .- In the struggle in which man pitted himself against primeval forest and aboriginal inhabitants. the strongest types of manhood and womanhod were evolved, and traits of character developed that otherwise

James If Rick

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might never have been seen. Illinois is a State that has a pioneer history that thrills and ex- cites, and none of those who there once bore that title of pioneer can fail to be interested in what- ever pertains to the early history of the State. Achilles Morris Brown is one of those who have made Illinois his home since 1857, having been born in Henry County, near Louisville, Ind., forty-five miles east of Indianapolis. December 26, 1828, a son of William and Sarah (Martin- dale) Brown. William Brown was born in Vir- ginia, and his wife in South Carolina, and they were among the early settlers of Indiana. mov- ing to Wayne County at a very early day, and doing their part in developing their new home.

Educated in the subscription schools of his native place, Mr. Brown worked on the farm in Indiana, but the same spirit that moved his father and mother to start anew in Indiana prompted him to take up his new home farther west, and in 1857 he made his way to Crawford County, locating land in Oblong Township, there being then only seven families in Oblong village. On December 27, 1854, he married in Rush County, Ind., Miss Anna Gilmore, formerly of Ireland. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown are as follows : William Seward (named for the statesman of that name), born August 28. 1855, married and resides on a farm two and a half miles from Oblong; Mrs. Mary E. McKnight, born August S, 1860. and is a widow with three sons and one daughter; James G., born August 27, 1868, is married and has a boy and girl and is living on the home place one and a half miles north of Oblong.

Like others in his neighborhood, when he felt the call of duty to be strong for further ex- istence, Mr. Brown enlisted in Company D, Nine- ty-eighth Illinois Mounted Infantry, becoming a member of Wilder's Lightning Brigade, August 14, 1862; was mustered in as Orderly Sergeant, and on February 4, 1863, was promoted to Second Lieutenant and participated in all the battles of the Army of the Cumberland, until he resigned in April, 1864. and returned home. Among the engagements in which he took part were Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, Farmington, besides many minor skirmishes. He is a member of the G. A. R., Albert Wood Post, of Oblong, and is a Mason of long standing.

In politics Mr. Brown is a Republican, although he has never been an office-seeker. He owns two valuable farms in addition to his home property, the whole consisting of 270 acres, of which 200 acres have been cleared. When oil was discovered it added very greatly to the value of his property. In the rest and security of their declining years, Mr. and Mrs. Brown can look back with pleasure to the times when they did so much for the general welfare of their neighbor- hood, and take comfort in the fact that all they now enjoy has been won by them through hard labor and economic thrift.

BROWN, David William .- The pioneers of any community should ever be honored, for to them

is due much of the prosperity of civilization. The Brown family is well and favorably known throughout Crawford County, where settled the father of David William Brown, the latter a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Martin Township, residing on Section 24, but born in Miami County, Ind., April 10, 1852. His father, Charles M. Brown, now deceased, was also born in Indiana, and there reared, educated and mar- ried. His wife was Sarah Graham, born in Ohio, but reared in Indiana. In 1856 Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Brown emigrated to Crawford County, Ill., locating in Martin Township, where he bought a farm of 80 acres of prairie land. He worked hard on it, clearing it off and placing it under cultivation, lived there until his death. The land has always been devoted to general farming and stock-raising. Mr. Brown was a public-spirited man and erected the first school- house in the district. For years he and two others supplied the wood for the fire, and helped in many ways to provide a school home for their children. In politics he was a Republican. and always took an active part in local affairs. Although he accomplished much, he died when only forty. He and his wife had eight children. seven sons and one daughter, three of them being born in Martin Township.

David William Brown attended the school held in the house his father built, and he and his brothers helped their mother to take care of things after the father's death. On December 2. 1875, Mr. Brown married Margaret Wright (now deceased), born in Howard County, Ind., but reared in Martin Township, a daughter of Thomas Wright and Mariah C. (Lontz) Wright, who were among the early settlers of the Town- ship. Upon coming to the township Mr. and Mrs. Wright entered 120 acres, which they cleared and cultivated. Mr. Wright was a soldier of the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were the parents of three children: Sarah Maria, who married S. R. Mitchell, a carpenter and farmer : Victor I .. present superintendent of the Casey schools, first engaged in teaching in the district schools of Martin Township, was later Principal of the Oblong schools for a season, after which he taught in the district schools of Oblong and Licking Townships for one season and then re- ceived his present appointment ; and one child who died in infancy. Mrs. Brown died February 6. 1899. On November 1. 1903 Mr. Brown mar- ried Janie Johnson, born in Oblong Township. the daughter of Madison and Jane (Campbell) Johnson, and reared and educated in her native township. She is the youngest in a family of five daughters and one son, is an intelligent and public spirited woman and actively engaged in church and Sunday school work.

Mr. Brown bought SO acres of land and has cultivated his farm, made all the improvements on it and set out many valuable trees. The home is a very pleasant one to which all the family friends are made welcome. He is a Republican in politics and. while not an office-seeker. takes an active interest in local affairs. Fraternally he

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is associated with the Masonic order. Like his wife. he is an active worker in the Methodist church, iu which he has filled many offices, as well as in the Sunday school.

BROWN, James Gilmore, has lived on the Brown homestead all his life, having been born there August 27, 1868. It is most conveniently and pleasantly located on Section 25, Oblong Township, Crawford County. Growing up in the township, he was here educated, devoting him- self to farming and stock-raising, his property being one of the most valuable in his community. On December 28, 1898, Mr. Brown married Har- riett Tilroe, a daughter of William and Mary A. (Dunning) Tilroe. her father being a minister of the Methodist church. Mrs. Brown was born at Reynolds, Johnson County, Ill. Her father was born in Holland, aud her mother in Michigan, and they now reside within two blocks of the Methodist church at Robinson. Mrs. Brown was one of the following family : William Edward, Harriett, Addie, Sarah, Hugh M. and George Staley. Two children died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Brown have had the following family : Bernice Brown. died in infancy ; William Fesler, born July 26, 1901; Frances Elizabeth, born February 5, 1905. Fraternally, Mr. Brown is a Mason and member of the Sons of Veterans. He is a liberal supporter of church work, and an industrious, thrifty and enterprisiug mau who commands the highest respect of his neighbors and friends.

BRUBAKER, Charles Clifford, junior member of the well-known lumber firm of Brubaker & Son, is a young man whose business success has come as a result of intelligent effort, honorably directed along legitimate lines. Robinson is the home of many large business concerns, but the individual members of none stand higher than do Elisha Brubaker and his son. Charles Clifford, who is his partner. The latter was born on a farm in Marshall County, Kan., June 20, 1869. a son of Elisha and Mary M. (Batey) Brubaker. After graduating from the Robinson High School, Charles C. Brubaker worked in a geueral utility capacity for Judge W. C. Jones for about a year, when he devoted four years to learning the car- penter's trade. In the spring of 1891 the present firm of Brubaker & Son was formed for the pur- pose of carrying on a general contracting and building business, and the firm carry a full line of building materials, including lumber, shingles. lath, sash, doors, lime, cement, plaster, etc., hav- ing on hand at all times a full line of these ma- terials which are unsurpassed as to quality and favorable prices. The firm has two yards: one on Webster Street, called the Suburban, and the other on Franklin Street, which is the City Yard, where they have a large building of brick, 130 x 30 x 60 feet, which houses a big stock. The office is on the north, a commodious building, 20 x 30 feet. The firm has lost one of its mem- bers in the person of William A. Brubaker, who was a very gifted draughtsman and had charge

of all the work of that kind done by the firm, his death occurring May 14, 1896.

On July 20, 1892, Charles C. Brubaker mar- ried Miss Belle G. Titus, daughter of George W. and Mary Titus of Merom, Ind. She was born in September, 1871. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brubaker : George A., born May 18, 1893, aud Mary Nancy, born September 8, 1900. In politics Mr. Brubaker is a Republi- can, and, although not an office-seeker, has rep- resented his Ward in the City Council, serving as Alderman very acceptably. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Red Meu, the Modern Woodmen and Chamber of Commerce. He has been an active member of the Methodist Church for twenty-seven years, and is a man of whom nothing but good can be said, as he has couducted his business upon the same high standard of living as he has his private affairs. Mr. Brubaker last year built him one of the finest and up-to-date residences in the city, at 209 South Franklin Street.

BRUBAKER, David C .- Very prominent as a Democrat and thoroughly identified with his party in local affairs, David C. Brubaker has been called upon more than once to represent it in public office. His election following, he has faithfully discharged the duties imposed upon him, proving his fitness for the office and his general ability as a man. Mr. Brubaker was boru August 23, 1856, iu Darke County, Ohio, and is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Miller) Brubaker. Daniel Brubaker was born in Penn- sylvania, December 28, 1828, and Mrs. Brubaker was born in Ohio, April 28, 1829. By occupation Daniel Brubaker was a farmer, and in 1869 he emigrated to Crawford County, Ill., where David C. Brubaker was reared to manhood.

Working alternately on his fathers' farm, and attending the common schools of Licking Town- ship, David C. Brubaker gained his education. and after leaving school took a position in a country store at Annapolis as clerk. He held this until 1875, when he engaged in carpenter work. He owns a farm in Martin Township on which he lived from 1879 until 1907. In 1907 he came to Oblong where he now resides. Mr. Brubaker has been Town Clerk and Assessor of Martin Township, beiug elected to those offices on the Democratic ticket. In March, 1901, he became a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. His religious affiliations are with the United Brethren church, of which he is a member.

Mr. Brubaker was married in Crawford County, Ill., in 1879 to Mary E. Higgins, born in Martin Township, in 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Brubaker have had children as follows: James E., born in 1881; Mattie J., born in 1883; Eliza- beth. born in 1886; Jesse W., born in 1890; Clinton S., born in 1893, and Ruth, born in 1896. These children were all born in Martin Town- ship Crawford County, and given good educa- tions. They are bright, intelligent young people,

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and their parents have every reason to be proud of them.

March 14, 1908, Mr. Brubaker purchased the furniture stock of E. T. Shire, at Oblong, and his since conducted that business, dealing in general furniture, musical instruments, trunks and suit cases. His store is located on North Range Street.

BRUBAKER, Elisha .- The man who can es- tablish and maintain a large enterprise, con- ducting it upon broad-gauged principles of un- flinching honesty and with due regard to the welfare of his customers, is not only a success- ful business man but a public benefactor as well. The success of his undertaking raises the com- mercial standing of his locality; the activity of his concern gives employment to many, while the stimulant of his prosperity is very healthful in its effect upon the community at large. Elisha Brubaker, of Robinson, Crawford County, Ill., senior member of the firm of Brubaker & Son, contractors and builders, and dealers in lumber, builders' supplies and coal, is a notable example of what one man can accomplish, provided he possesses the faculty to make much out of little and never fall back in his upward struggle.

Mr. Brubaker was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, in 1842, but in 1856 was brought to Clark County, Ill., where he engaged in farming, young as he was. The outbreak of the war disarranged his plans, for he could not resist the call to duty, and he enlisted in August, 1862, at Terre Haute, Ind., in Company E. Eighty-fifth Regiment Indiana Infantry, serving until June, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. He saw much hard service and participated in many of the notable battles of the war, being with Sherman on his historical March to the Sea.

Returning home he resumed his farming opera- tions in Vigo County, Ind., but in 1869, deciding that Kansas offered more favorable opportunities, moved to that State, there living on a farm for six years. In 1875, however. he returned to Illinois, and located in Robinson, where he began work as a carpenter and builder, four years later forming a partnership with John A. Wiseman, which continued a few years, when in 1890 he admitted his two sons to the firm, and the style became Brubaker & Sons. The new firm estab- lished the present lumber business, and later enlarged their field of operations so that they now carry a full line of lumber, builders' sup- plies including paints, oils, varnishes, brushes. lathes, lime, hair, cement, plaster and hardware, and a full line of coal. They carry a stock worth $25,000 to $30,000, and it embraces all kinds and grades of goods in their line. Their yards are located near the New Methodist church, where they have a branch yard located on the Illinois Central Railway. The warehouse is 56x120 feet. two-stories in height, with metal front, with additional storage capacity for sash and doors. The office is in front of the warehouse, and is 23x30 feet. It is well supplied with every modern convenience, no pains having been spared

in its equipment. In 1896, William A. Brubaker, the junior member of the firm, died, and the style was changed to the present one of Brubaker & Son, under which business is transacted and a very enviable reputation has been built up. In addition to his other interests Mr. Brubaker owns a small farm northeast of Robinson and · a brick building on the southwest corner of the square where his lumber yard is located. He also owns his handsome home at No. 607 Pine Street.

In 1866 Mr. Brubaker married Miss Mary M. Battery, of Meigs County, Ohio, who died in 1886, leaving him with four children. In 1893 he married as his second wife Miss Hannah Carter of Robinson. Mr. Brubaker is a member of the G. A. R. Post and takes a lively interest in its work and in the various encampments, which he always attends. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist church and contributes liberally towards its support. Public-spirited, en- terprising, a man who can be depended upon to do the right thing at the right time, Mr. Brubaker is most justly enrolled among the business men at Crawford County who have won success in their lives.

BUCHANAN, George L. (deceased) .- The rec- ords of Crawford County show the results at- tained by men, now passed away, but whose untiring efforts conscientiously directed along progressive lines, did much towards the advance- ment of their locality. These men lived fear- lessly and nobly, doing all they could to make better and purer the world, and after their de- mise, they were mourned by those who knew and appreciated them. It is such men as these who really constitute the backbone of any nation. While able men are needed upon legislative floors and lead armies in time of war, those who really attain to true greatness are those who faithfully do whatever lies nearest at hand, and who set forth in their lives the faith which is theirs.

The late George L. Buchanan, of Robinson Township, who died May 31, 190S, was a man of this caliber, and it will be a long time before he is forgotten by those who best knew him and profited by his kindly nature and generous impulses. Mr. Buchanan was born in Jackson County, Ohio, August 19, 1867. He was a son of James L. and Amanda E. ( Smith) Buchanan, and in 1868 his parents came by boat down the Ohio River to the Wabash. and up that stream to Palestine Landing, locating first in La Motte Township. However, after a short time they came to Robinson Township, where they made their permanent home. James L. Buchanan was a soldier in the Civil War serving under General Sherman, was on the famous March to the Sea and died in 1899. His widow survives and makes her home with Mrs. George L. Bu- chanan. Mr. Buchanan was the elder of the two children born to his parents, his brother, Ralph Ernest, dying when about two and a half years old.

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On August 18, 1890, Mr. Buchanan was mar- ried at the residence of the bride's father, near Duncauville, Crawford County, to Mollie E. Duu- lap, a daughter of John P. and Margaret J. (Scott) Dunlap. Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan had children as follows: Helen, born March 25, 1893; Oliver, born December 28, 1896; Cecile, born February 13, 1900; Margaret Emma, born December 30, 1901, and John James, born Octo- ber 31, 1905.

Mr. Buchanan was a member of the United Presbyterian Church for over twenty years, and served as Elder in the Duucanville Church for about ten years. In 1902 he was a delegate to the General Assembly of his church, represent- ing the Presbytery of Princeton, which was held at Greenville, Pa. In politics he was independ- ent, preferring to cast his vote for the man he deemed best suited for the office. He never would consent to be a candidate, and was in no sense a politician, his private affairs occupy- ing his time and interest.

Mrs. Buchanan was born in Greenville, Mer- cer County, Pa., November 20, 1868. Her father, John P. Dunlap was born in Trumbull Couuty. Ohio, March 3, 1833, and her mother Margaret J. (Scott) Dunlap was born on a farm near West Middlesex, Pa., in September, 1832. The grandfather on the Duulap side of the family, Alexander Dunlap, and his wife, Eliza (Bur- gess) Dunlap, were both reared in Ohio, and set- tling on a farm, there lived . and died. The grandfather, James Scott, was born in Massa- chusetts, and became a manufacturer. His wife bore the maiden name of Martha Simison, and she was born in Trumbull County, Ohio.

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Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 139

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1058

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1058