Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 143

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 143

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William L. Dickinson was sent to the district schools of Montgomery Township, and helped his father clear off the property. He remained with his father until his marriage, on April 19. 1893, to Nellie Cooper, a daughter of Jonathan Cooper.

The latter was a farmer, but later moved to Rohinson and took charge of the High School building. when overwork caused a breakdown. Mrs. Dickenson was born in Clark County, Ill., but later resided in Rohinson. Mr. Dickenson is Deacon of Liberty Baptist Church, and was form- erly its Treasurer and Sunday School Snperin- tendent. When the new church was being erected, Mr. Dickinson was on the building com- mittee and rendered the church very valuable help. He was also treasurer of the fund con- tributed to build the church, and he regards the work he did in this line among the best deeds of his well-spent life. Mr. Dickinson enjoys a wide-spread popularity, and is justly numbered among the most representative men of his town- ship.

DRAPER, W. L. (deceased) .- The pioneers in any line deserve mnch credit, for theirs has been the courage that forged ahead nuresistingly. and prepared the way for a more advanced civilization. The names of men who founded the beginnings of places and honses in new sec- tions are indelibly stamped npon the pages of history, and to tell of the deeds of these men Is to relate the history of their localities. W. L. Draper's name is associated with the early hardware trade of Hutsonville. Crawford Connty, he having been one of the early mer- chants of that city, and his efforts to promote good government and to secure for his community the best there was to be had, made him a promi- nent character.

Mr. Draper was born in Crawford County, September 22, 1827. a son of Exum Draper. The latter was born in North Carolina in 1804, and was brought to Crawford County, Ill., In 1816 by his parents, who were among the connty's earliest settlers. Upon the pioneer farm of his father. Exum Draper grew to sturdy yonng manhood and received a limited education in the subscription schools, He learned the trade of a carpenter, at which he worked for a number of years. In 1846 hc removed to New Orleans, where his death occurred a year later. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Wells, who was a North Carolinian, born about 1806. and died while she and her husband were on their way to New Orleans on the Mississippi River. Mr. and Mrs. Exum Draper became the parents of four children, of whom William Draper was the eldest.

Like his father. he was reared on a farm and attended school in the primitive log school- nonse, hut was well grounded in the common branches, and all his life added to his store of information by close observation. In 1846 he went to New Orleans with his parents, and cn- tered the employ of his brother-in-law in that city. In 1849, however, he returned to Hut- sonville, and founded a mercantile house, con- tinuing this business until 1865. In that year he sold his business and located in Terre Haute, Ind., and embarked in cotton speculation, therehy losing $40,000, and was forced into

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bankruptcy. However, he was not a man to allow himself to be discouraged, so returning once more to Hutsonville, in 1868, he again em- barked in the mercantile business, and carried on a general store for two years, then started a hardware store which he operated until 1883, when, disposing of it, he lived retired at Hutsonville during the rest of his life. Mr. Draper worked until he discharged every cent of his indebtedness incurred through his failure, and no man was more highly respected, or had a better financial rating than he when he re- tired from business life.

On January 22, 1850, Mr. Draper was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Foster, who bore him five children, three of whom survived to maturity : Beatrice, widow of Frank Boyd ; Mattie, wife of Samuel Bennett; and Henry L. Mr. Draper was very active in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for a number of years, and was sent to represent his lodge at the Grand Lodge more than once. Politically he was a Democrat, although he never aspired to political honors.

After his retirement he and Mrs. Draper spent their winters in New Orleans and vicinity, and his death occurred at the home of his sister, Mrs. C. D. Armstrong, who resided fifteen miles south of New Orleans, January 2, 1893, his re- mains being brought to Hutsonville for inter- ment. Mr. Draper will long be remembered as one of the most honorable and public-spirited men Hutsonville has ever known, and the good he accomplished and the high standard of liv- ing he steadfastly maintained cannot be over- estimated.

DRY, Charles Lincoln .- Some men seem born to rise no matter what their surroundings may be nor how many discouragements may be theirs. They are able to overcome each and every ob- stacle manfully and courageously, and to feel that these hardships are but a part of a necessary de- velopment of the age. A man who has modestly and unobtrusively wielded a strong personal in- fluence towards effecting what he believes is best for his community; who has earnestly fulfilled every obligation laid upon him, and from child- hood tried to take advantage of every opportunity offered him to improve himself and develop the faculties which he possessed, is Charles Lincoln Dry, educator and farmer of Hutsonville Town- ship, Crawford County.

Mr. Dry was born in Limerick Square, Mont- gomery County, Pa., February 6. 1868. When about a year old his parents, Daniel and Hannah (Henry) Dry, moved to Illinois, and after nearly a year's residence in Hutsonville, they moved to the farm in Hutsonville Township where Charles was reared to young manhood. His life until he was eighteen years of age was that of any or- dinary, healthy country boy. He commenced at- tending school at the age of seven, and after reaching ten years spent about six months of each year in school, the remaining six months being devoted to helping his father on the farm.

Until he became old enough to handle the real articles, his boyish fingers manufactured play- things from wood in imitation and he believes these rude toys afforded him much more pleas- ure than those of costly make now given to chil- dren. Of course he had all the childish ailments. as well as the chills and fever incident to the Wabash Valley district, but emerged strong and hardy from them all, and was able to take a course of twenty months in the Northern Indiana Normal School. His father had promised him a year's instruction when he attained his majority, but through the advice of his teacher, F. M. Shaw, Mr. Dry decided to fit himself for the occupation of teaching. Going to Valparaiso, Ind., he en- tered upon his course and by hard work and steady application, he obtained the teacher's first grade certificate from County Superintendent F. M. Shaw, and in September, 1887, began teach- ing at twenty-five dollars per month for a five months' term. Out of these scanty earnings he paid back to his father the money he had bor- rowed, and the following year taught another five months' term at the same school at thirty dollars a month.

During 1889 and 1890, he again attended the Northern Indiana Normal School, taking up the scientific and classic courses, but his studies be- ing interrupted by a severe attack of the grip, which left one of his eyes in bad condition, he was forced to abandon his original plan, and en- tered the penmanship and commercial courses, and was graduated from the latter department in May, 1890, and the former in July of the same year. Returning home he continued teaching in the public schools. During the spring of 1894 he did advanced work at the Central Normal College at Danville, Ind., and so satisfactory was his work, that he was appointed Principal of the penmanship and commercial departments of the Union Christian College at Merom, Ind., and re- mained there five years. While teaching there, he completed the scientific course and the major part of the classical course. In 1898 he was nominated by the Republican party for Superintendent of Public Schools for Crawford County, but was de- feated by the incumbent of the office, M. N. Bee- man, by a small majority. During the summmer of 1899, he was elected Principal of the Penman- ship and Commercial Departments of the Ozark College, at Greenfield, Mo .. and in the fall of 1902 he took charge of the Penmanship and Commer- cial Departments of the Lebanon (Pa.) Business College.

In 1903 he took up the study of medicine at the Hering Medical College, Chicago, and in Jan- uary, 1904, matriculated in the Hahnemann Med- ical College, that city, at which institution he completed the first three years of the course, but on account of grief over the death of his son Earl, in March, 1905, and other family matters, he decided to give up his medical studies and re- turn to teaching and farming. During his ex- perience as a teacher he has instructed fully 1.000 pupils, and has always won their friend- ship as well as their confidence and respect.

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With the assistance of their father, he and his brothers Irvin and Edwin bought a farın of 160 acres near the homestead, and, in a few years, Irvin sold his interest to the other two. In 1904 Mr. Dry also sold his interest, and in the spring of 1905, bought a farm of 120 acres from the estate of his deceased brothers, Christian and John. It took no little amount of sacrifice and economy to enable Mr. Dry to meet the interest and payments on his farm and defray the ex- penses of his education, and yet he managed to do it, and to take pleasure in the experience. He believes in hard work, plenty of it, and in work- ing towards some objective point.

While he has never become a politician, Mr. Dry is a firm supporter of Republican principles, and was an earnest believer in Mr. Taft. In conjunction with a number of his neighbors he has been instrumental in forming a sanitary dis- trict of about 6,000 acres of waste and over- cultivated and poorly drained land in the eastern part of Crawford County, east and northeast of Palestine. While not a member of any church, he believes in encouraging their work and in living in perfect fellowship with his neighbors, and giving them the benefit of his advice and counsel.

On August 24, 1898, Mr. Dry was married near Adaville, Plymouth County, Iowa. to Isabella Alice Taylor, a teacher of Plymouth County for a number of years and a lady of many accomplish- ments. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dry: Ruth, born December 16, 1900; Earl, born June 28, 1902, died March 8, 1905; Edna, born January 12, 1904; Hannah, born May 28. 1905; and Leonard, born May 8, 1907.

Mrs. Dry was born December 12, 1870, near Liberty Ridge, Grant County, Wis., a daughter of Robert and Margaret (Irvin) Taylor, both born in Ballybay, County Monaghan, Ireland,- he in August, 1832, and she in 1850. He came to America in 1849, and she in 1868. Mrs. Tay- lor is still living and resides in Iowa. They had three sons and four daughters, reared and edu- cated in Grant County, Wis., and Plymouth County, Iowa.

Until she was twelve years old Mrs. Dry lived at Liberty, and attended the country schools, but at that time was taken by her parents to George- town, Grant County, Wis., where they remained for two years, and then, in 1885, the family went to Merrill, Iowa, where Mrs. Dry lived until 1888. She then entered the Le Mars Normal School, remaining two years. Her next place of residence was at Valparaiso, Ind., where she attended the Northern Indiana Normal School for a year. She then went to Chicago and re- mained there until 1896, when she returned to Plymouth County, Iowa, and was there engaged in teaching for two years, when she was mar- ried. Mrs. Dry has had a very useful and happy life, marred first by the death of her beloved father, who was killed accidentally in 1902, and later by the death of her son, Earl. When her father died, Mrs. Dry went to her girlhood home and made a visit of three months, consoling her widowed mother. During her married life she

has entered heartily into her husband's inter- ests, and been very proud of him. She has never complained of hardships but has assisted him nobly and cheerfully. Her parents were Presby- terians, and Mrs. Dry was reared in the faith of that denomination. Mr. and Mrs. Dry have made many friends wherever their duties have called them, and they are remembered with kindly in- terest by those with whom they came in contact. They are rearing their children very carefully, giving them every advantage within their power. and at the same time are exerting a helpful in- fluence in their community.

DRY, Daniel Guldin .- Some farmers are content to cultivate their land according to the methods in vogue when their fathers first commenced farming, but there are others who appreciate the vaue of scientific rules and regulations and who carry on their agricultural operations in accord- ance with the latest discoveries relative to soil. climatic conditions and the merits of various seeds. Among those of Crawford County who have made a name for themselves in the rank of progressive and thoroughly modern farmers of La Motte Prai- rie, is Daniel Guldin Dry. Mr. Dry was born in Broomfieldville, Amity Township. Berks County, Pa., June 15, 1840. The parents of Mr. Dry were both Germans, who came at an early day to Penn- sylvania. After receiving a limited education in the district schools, when only fifteen years old, he was apprenticed to a miller, and for three years was employed in learning the trade. He next acted as clerk In a general store for nlne years, when he received appointment as post- master of Broomfieldville, during President Lin- coln's second term. Later he worked as a farm laborer, and always displayed a conscientious care in all he did. Realizing that there was very little opportunity for a poor man to advance lo Pennsylvania, Mr. Dry emigrated to the West, ar- riving at Hutsonville, Ill .. April 14, 1869, having come from Terre Haute by boat to Crawford County. He first occupied the E. Callahan prop- erty on the hill in the west part of the town, and worked for the adjoining farmers by the day and month. In a few years he had saved sufficlent means to purchase 60 acres on La Motte Pralrie, where he now resides. As he was able he added to his possessions until he now owns 119 acres of finely improved farm land. He has always been an advocate of rotation of crops. and his ex- ample in scientific farming has been followed with excellent results by many of his neighbors. In 1898 he retired from active farm life, his sons continuing the farming operations.

Il 1861 Mr. Dry married Miss Hannah S. Henry, of Hoppenville, Montgomery County, Pa., born June 18, 1841. Her parents were Germans. and Mrs. Dry was well educated in both English and German. She was one of the most kind- hearted and generous of women, and was not only beloved by her family, but by the entire neigli- borhood. Never was there trouble or sickness In her vicinity but she was on hand with words of sympathy and deeds of kindness, and she was

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welcome everywhere, and when she died Febru- ary 8. 1903, her loss was mourned by the entire township. Mr. and Mrs. Dry became the parents of the following children: Catherine, Esther, William and DeWitt Clinton died in infancy or early childhood; Irviu Grant, now a bridge car- penter (Palestine, Ill.) ; Charles Lincoln, educa- tor and farmer (La Motte, near Palestine) ; Ed- win Sheridan, Christian Howard, and John Jacob grew to maturity, and all were well educated. They were all musicians and organized what was known locally as the Dry Brothers Orchestra, and they furnished music at the various social gatherings of the neighborhood and at some of the public meetings. Christian H. and John J. Dry were very enthusiastic over the organization, and devoted much of their time and energy to perfecting themselves. Death claimed them both. however, the former on August 20, 1904, and the latter July 31. 1904. and their untimely demise filled the community with gloom.

Mr. Dry has been a great reader not only of newspapers and farm magazines, but also of standard books, and has a fine library numbering fully 500 volumes on scientific and historical sub- jects. He was always interested in the work of Mr. Ingersoll, believing that he did much to awaken the indifference prevailing in the world upon religious opinion. He believes that any priuciple that cannot withstaud the attacks of higher criticism is not worth upholding. Ever since the formation of the Republican party he has been a stanch supporter of its candidates and principles, and feels that it more nearly conforms to his own views. Accustomed to think out prob- lems for himself, well-read, a man of more than ordinary ability, Mr. Dry has been a very im- portant factor in shaping the views and molding the opinions of his community, and the fact that he is looked up to and his advice is asked upou many occasions is but natural.

DRY, Edwin Sheridan .-- The teachers of Craw- ford County are a well educated class of men and women, who have devoted their lives to fitting themselves for their profession, and have never relaxed their efforts to increase their store of knowledge or to keep their ideas abreast of the uew methods and discoveries in pedagogy. Amoug them, Edwin Sheridau Dry, of La Motte Town- ship, is one of the foremost, and is especially well fitted for his position as teacher of the Cauli- flower District School, having supplemented his common school course with one at Valparaiso (Ind.) University, and later one at the Central Normal College at Danville, Ind., from which he was graduated with honor in the Class of 1895. He has been a teacher since 1889, and is one of the most popular instructors of his locality. Mr. Dry was born at Hutsonville, Ill., June 15, 1869, a son of Daniel G. and Hannah S. (Henry) Dry, the former of whom was born June 15, 1840, iu Montgomery County. Pa., while the mother was born in Berks County, same state. The father and son have the same birthday.

In 1892 Mr. Edwin Sheridan Dry bought his fine farm of 160 acres which he has in a high

state of cultivation. His house, which is a very substantial and comfortable structure, was erected by him, as were his commodious barns and other outbuildings. Mr. Dry has one of the mnost delightful homes in his township, which is a center of charming hospitality, he and his wife being model hosts.

On April 18, 1897, Mr. Dry married Fannie Rains, twin sister of Nannie Raius (still unmar- ried), and daughter of Simpson and Nancy Jane Rains, both natives of North Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Dry have these children : Hazel Morine, born August 27, 1898; MacOwen, born December 15, 1901 ; Harriet Arline, born November 7, 1904; and Marie Hoy, born December 21. 1906. Mrs. Dry is a member of the Universalist Church, with which she has been connected for twelve years. In politics Mr. Dry is a Republican, and he takes an appropriate interest in local affairs, although not an office seeker. The family occupies an en- viable position socially, and they have many friends throughout the neighborhood.

DUNCAN, Andrew Wilson .- The better class of druggists everywhere are men of scientific attain- ments and high integrity, who devote their lives to the welfare of their fellow-men in supplying the best of remedies and purest medicinal agents of known value, in accordance with physicians' prescriptions and well known scientific formulas. Druggists of the better class compound many ex- cellent remedies, but always under original or official names, and they never sell false brands or imitation medicines. They are the men to deal with when in need of auything in their line, which usually includes all standard remedies and corresponding adjuncts of a first-class pharmacy, and the finest and best of toilet articles and prep- arations and many useful accessories and rem- edial appliances. The earning of a fair living with the satisfaction which arises from a knowl- edge of the benfits conferred upon their patrons and the assistance they are able to render the medical profession, is usually their greatest re- ward for long years of study and practice and many hours of daily toil.

One of the oldest established druggists of Craw- ford County is Andrew Wilson Duncan of Flat Rock, Ill., who established his present drug busi- ness at Flat Rock in 1878, thirty years ago. Mr. Duncan was born in Blount County, Tenn., March 9, 1842, a son of James Kennedy and Sarah (Swansey) Duncan. The father was born in Ohio and was a farmer and blacksmith. The family lived for some years in Blount County, Tenn., where Andrew Wilsou Duncan began his studies in the common schools, but in 1859 re- moval was made to Illinois, and Mr. Duncan con- tinued in the high schools of Palestine. His youth was passed upon a farm, but when he se- cured his certificate, he taught school for some time, aud at the same time pursued his own studies. Later he established a general mercan- tile business at Morea, but in 1878 located in Flat Rock which has since been his home. In 1862, on August 12th. Mr. Duncan enlisted in Com-

JAMES A. MCGAHEY

DORCAS MCGAHEY

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pany E, Ninety-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably discharged at Gallatin, Tenn., February 4, 1863, because of disability. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. is a Republican in politics, and for twenty years has been a member of the New Church ( Swedenborgian ) .

October 4, 1864, Mr. Duncan was married at the residence of the father of the bride in Montgom- ery Township, to Miss Sarah Tedford, a daugh- ter of Robert A. and Rebecca (McClurg) Ted- ford, and the children born of this marriage are : Alice, born August 12, 1865, and married Dr. W. C. Hayhurst, has a daughter Welcome Z .. and lives at Birds ; Camilla, born Mach 12, 1871, married R. E. Young, a conductor on the Vandalia line and they live at Terre Haute, Ind., having one son, John, thirteen years old. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan had one child, Oswald, who is deceased.

Few men have taken a more active interest in public affairs than Mr. Duncan, who has been prominently identified with all the public enter- prises which have been successfully carried out during the thirty years he has made Flat Rock his home, and he is truthfully regarded as one of the public-spirited and representative men of his township.

DUNLAP, Richard Francis .- To be born on prop- erty long in the family and to own the homestead that has descended from father to son, has long been regarded as a very desirable thing, and Crawford County farmers are of this opinion. Among those who are fortunate in this respect, is Richard Francis Dunlap, a farmer and stock- grower on Section 8, Honey Creek Township, where he was born February 19, 1862, a son of Thomas and Polly Dunlap, the former deceased. Thomas Dunlap was born in Crawford County, December 12, 1829, a son of William Dunlap, a pioneer of the County, who came from his native State of Kentucky, where he married Polly Elli- son, also a native of Kentucky. They became the parents of nine children, three of whom were born in Kentucky before the family exodus to Craw- ford County. Coming here at an early date, they settled in Honey Creek Township, and entered 160 acres of timber land. On this William Dunlap built a log house, and clearing off the timber, de- veloped a fine farm, where his death occurred in March, 1865. He was a Democrat.

Thomas Dunlap was educated in the primitive log school houses of the neighborhood, and early learned all the details of pioneer farming. In December, 1848, he was married to Polly Fitts, who was born August 15, 1820, near Palestine, Crawford County. She was a daughter of Jeffer- son Richard Fitts, a pioneer of the County, who entered 40 acres of land from the Government. Later he entered 40 acres more, and cleared off his property and improved it. He married in Crawford County Polly Reedy, who came from one of the Eastern States. Jefferson Fitts and wife became the parents of six children, two of whom died in infancy, all being born in the neigh- borhood of Palestine. Mrs. Dunlap attended the

early schools, and learned from her mother the duties of a good housewife. After their marriage Thomas Dunlap and wife bought 40 acres in Honey Creek Township, and cleared off the greater part of it. He sold this and bought an- other farm of 80 acres, and cleared a part of this. Once more he sold, and then bought 130 acres on Section 8, this, too being pretty generally covered with timber. As soon as he located on it he went to work with characteristic energy and cleared it. He had the following family: Presley, John A. (deceased), William, Polly Ann, Hannah Jane, and Richard F., all born in Honey Creek Town- ship. In 1861 Thomas Dunlap enlisted and served for three months, when he died of the measles which were epidemic at that time. He was a Democrat and a hard working, reliable man, who enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his neigh- borhood.

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Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 143

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