Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 145

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 145

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).

Charles R. Ferguson of Flat Rock. Ill., was born in Charleston. Coles County, Ill., April S. 1863, of good pioneer Kentucky ancestry. Hls father James H. Ferguson was born in Greens- burg. Ind .. and died in 1877. at the age of fifty- seven years and one month. By occupation he

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was a farmer. The mother's name was America Ferguson, and she was born in Kentucky. These parents had six sons and six daughters: Nancy Ellen ; Davis, deceased; Rachel ; John, deceased ; Thomas; William, deceased ; Samuel, deceased ; Eliza, deceased ; Charles R .; Maggie, deceased ; Nannie, deceased; Emma, married William Trombly and has three children-one boy and two girls.

Mr. Ferguson was educated in the common schools of Charleston until he was nine years old, when removal was made to Russellville, where he finished his education, at the same time working on the farm. In 1887 Mr. Fer- guson was married near Russellville, Lawrence County, to Lucy Shinkle, daughter of John and Rachel (Stotler) Shinkle. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson were: John P., born May 27, 1889 (deceased) ; Mae, born January 17, 1891; William, born February 20, 1894, and Emma, born June 25, 1896. For the past seven years Mr. Ferguson has been a member of the Methodist Church. His political views are such that he feels that the Prohibition party would most successfully carry them out, and so supports the candidates of that party and took much interest in the anti-saloon movement which swept the State in the spring of 1908.

FIFE, Robert .- Many of the most substantial men of the various cities and towns contiguous to large farming districts are gathered from these farms, they having retired to the more quiet life where they are able to enjoy what they worked so hard to secure. Their children are given advantages they never had, and in their successes and achievements they take their deep- est pleasures. Robert Fife, born on a farm three miles south of Palestine, Ill., May 16, 1872, is a son of William Fife who came from Ireland with his parents when about six years of age, and located in Crawford County in 1865. Prior to that time he lived in Philadelphia, Pa .. for twenty-four years, the balance of the time being spent in Clinton County, Ohio, where he mar- ried Mary Jane Paris, and there farmed until 1865, when he moved to Illinois and bought the French farm of 320 acres, upon which he resided until 1904. He was active in stock-raising, and bred and shipped stock upon an extensive scale, his markets being Chicago and Buffalo. His hold- ings amount to 3,000 acres in all in Crawford County, and represent forty-three years of hard work, thrift and wise investments. He also owns the building occupied by the Palestine Bank, and a number of substantial business blocks.

The first purchase of land made by Mr. Wil- liam Fife contained less than 100 acres that was cleared, but he soon had the balance im- proved and under cultivation. This farm was bought from the widow of Governor French. who had built the house on it and occupied it to within a short time of his demise. Of the 3,000 acres he has bought in Crawford County, one-half has been cleared under his supervision. In August, 1898, William Fife and his son Robert organized

the Palestine Bank of Palestine, Ill., with Wil- liam Fife . as President and Robert Fife as Cashier. The bank has been in operation for over ten years and is one of the sound financial institutions of the county. About a year ago, an- other son, Matthew Fife, was taken into the firm and is now Vice-President.

There is no other man in Palestine, to which Mr. William Fife retired in 1904, who has con- tributed so largely towards the advancement of that city. He has been actively identified with every public measure brought before the people of Palestine, and has always been on the side of law and order. His charities are many and his friendships deep, and he has been extremely generous to his sons, presenting each of his eight children with a farm upon attaining their ma- jority. At the age of seventy-eight years this hale, cheery, pleasant Irishman, a true son of his native land. looks like a man of fifty, and Mrs. Fife, who is seventy, is in excellent health. Mr. and Mrs. William Fife are the parents of the following children: Anna Mary, who is the wife of G. J. Dickinson and they have six living children ; Nancy Jane, who is the wife of Harry H. Bussard, and they have four living children; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Dr. J. A. Martin ; Martha Jane, is the wife of James Hughes and they have three children: David, who married Alta Woodworth; Robert; William, unmarried, and Matthew, who married Oro M. Welch and they have one child.

Robert Fife was brought up on a farm and was well educated in the district schools of his township. He has improved the farm his father gave him, and is making it pay. He is also largely interested in the bank he and his father founded. On September 15. 1898, Mr. Fife mar- ried in Palestine Inez Pearl Ambrose, a daughter of Rev. Matthew Ambrose, a retired minister who resides in Chicago. These children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fife: Harold Ambrose, born June 26, 1900; Helen Catherine, born August 14. 1903, and Robert Roland, born September 3, 1907. The family are Presbyterians, and Mr. Fife is active in church and Sunday school work, and has been an elder in his church for the past four years. In politics he is a Re- publican. There have been no deaths in this family, all still living in 1909-a remarkable record.

FINLEY, De Witt Talmage .- The remarkable increase in the commercial and industrial pros- perity of Robinson, Ill., is largely due to the progressive spirit displayed by some of its lead- ing men, who have devoted capital and effort towards maintaining the prestige of the city and inducing new corporations to locate within its limits. Conspicuous among these men has been De Witt Talmage Finley, who was born at Clarion, Pa., July 7, 1877, a son of William Penn Finley, who was a large oil producer in the oil fields of Pennsylvania, prior to his death in 1882. His wife was Elizabeth Kribbs, who

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was born in Pennsylvania and came of one of the old families of the State.

De Witt Talmage Finley remained on a farm until twelve years old, when his family removed to Pittsburg, where he was educated. At au early age he began his business career as all errand boy in a large wholesale hardware store in Pittsburg; later was a clerk for the largest wholesale millinery establishment in that city, and finally went on the road as salesman. While succeeding very well, he was severely injured and, for eighteen months, was incapacitated for busi- ness, but being undismayed, as soon as able es- tablished himself in a retail butter aud egg store in a suburb of Pittsburg. No sooner had he beguu to enjoy a good trade than he met with another accident and for six months was obliged to remain unemployed. Still possessed of plenty of pluck aud ambition, he went to Oil City, Pa., and there entered the employ of the Standard Oil Company. While thus employed he was sent to Lewis County, W. Va., to take a position as telegraph operator at a gas measuring station. Misfortune seemed to follow this young man, for while discharging his duties, he met with an accident which resulted in blood-poisoning, and once more for six months he was disqualified for active service. When he was again able to re- sume work, the Standard Oil Company gave him a position in the construction department, which was laying an 18-iuch gas line fromu Lewis County, W. Va., to Cleveland, Ohio. So capable did he prove that he was called upon to fill numerous positions, being time-keeper, pay- master, team foreman and geueral utility man. For the fourth time Mr. Finley met with an accident aud the blood poisoning that set in nearly terminated his life aud he was unable to work for another three months. Other mell would have been entirely discouraged, but not so Mr. Finley, for with optimistic spirit, he once more resumed his responsibilities, and going to Little Rock, Ark., he entered the employ of W. H. Schott & Co., of Chicago. Here he was en- gaged for six months installing the hot-water heating system for the city of Little Rock, and then becoming interested in the oil fields of Oklahoma Territory, went to Cleveland, Okla., as lessor for the Minnetonka Oil Company. Afterwards, he leased oil land amounting to 160 acres, which developed very profitably and he still owns it. As though he had not been un- fortunate enough, just as success came to him in this first oil venture, Mr. Finley was stricken with an attack of malarial fever wbich lasted four months, and which left him in a very de- bilitated condition. As soon as able, he re- turned to Pittsburg, ouly remaining there a short time in July, 1905, when he went to the Casey, Ill., oil fields. A tborough inspection showed him that the Casey fields were shallow, but believing that more productive wells of oil and gas were in the vicinity, he went eight- een miles southwest of Casey and secured a block of 4,500 acres in leases. He then re- turned to Pittsburg and organized a company

for the purpose of testing for oil. Accomplishing this, he returned to his property and began drill- ing, with the result that he found nothing. Not satisfied, however, for he was convinced that the oil field at Casey was connected with the Princeton, Ind., fields, a distance of 130 miles, he persevered and was rewarded by locating the Shire Well, No. 1, thirty-one miles southeast of Casey, and on the same day started a well on the A. M. Brown farm, one mile north of Ob- long. These wells were drilled to a depth of 800 feet. Once more, Mr. Finley was called upon to face dire misfortune. Just as he re- ceived news of the failure of his partner in the stock market, Mrs. Finley was taken sick with typhoid fever and for twenty-four days he nursed his wife almost ceaselessly. In the meanwhile the wells had been shut down for three weeks, but with his indomitable courage Mr. Finley soon had a new company formed, and the wells were completed. The product was found to be the best in that locality. The Shire Well was shot some time later, and produced in the first twenty-four hours 3,000 barrels of oil. The Brown well was destroyed when shot. Having demonstrated the truth of his theories, Mr. Finley organized the Mahutska Oil Com- pany, Mahutska meaning, in the Osage Indian language, "money." This company has been very successful and was managed by Mr. Finley until March, 1908, when be resigned in order to look after his outside interests.

In the meanwhile, Mr. Finley had been look- Ing over Robinson, and appreciating the many advantages this city offered, in April, 1906, he organized the Finley-Baker Realty Company, taking into the firm his old associate. Mr. Baker. This realty business has been extraordinarily successful, and Mr. Finley has now associated with him W. M. Scarborough, from Pittsburg, as the Finley Realty Company. successors to the Finley-Baker Company. In addition to these varied interests. Mr. Finley has been iu- strumental in organizing the following corpora- tions : The Wanda Oil Company of Pittsburg, and The Mitchell Company of Robinson: the Oil Company of Brown, Hogue & Finley. the Splane & Finley Company, The Finley-Baker Oil Company. and Finley Brothers. Mr. Finley's brothers are F. W. and G. K. Finley, and the firm of Finley Brothers controls holdings of from 25,000 to 30.000 acres in Western Illinols. In the near future this company proposes to prospect for natural gas in sufficient quantity to pipe the entire city of St. Louis.

On September 27, 1905, Mr. Finley married Miss Laura Leone Paden. daughter of M. J. Paden, one of the prominent West Virginia business men. Mr. and Mrs. Finley have two children : Dorothy Anı Elizabetli, born Jan- uary 19. 1907, and Virginla, born June 25, 190S. Mr. Finley is Independent in his political views. He and his wife are consistent Methodists, and liberal in their contributions to that church. He is very prominent in Masonle circles, having attained to tbe 32nd degree, having assoclated

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himself with the Knights Templar Commandery, and is also a Mystic Shriner. One of the most beautiful homes in Robinson was built by Mr. Finley, and there he and his wife and little daughters dispense a charming hospitality. By firm determination and constant painstaking effort, Mr. Finley has achieved success and steadily risen to his present remarkable pros- perity. He is a man of earnest and thoughtful character, and while rising, has carried up with him more than one of his associates of humbler days.

FIREBAUGH, Isaac L., M. D .- Doctor Fire- baugh, one of the representative members of his profession in Robinson, comes of one of the oldest families of Crawford County. Dr. Firebaugh was born in Bucyrus, Ohio, July 14, 1847, son of David Firebaugh, who was born in Harrison County, Ohio, in 1812, and died in 1887, at Robinson, Ill. The mother of Doctor Firebaugh was Lucy (Lud- wig) Firebaugh, born in Berks County, Pa., in 1818, and died at Robinson, Ill., in 1901. The Firebaugh family moved from Bellefontaine, Ohio, in 1855, coming to Crawford County, Ill .. where they purchased a quarter-section of land, tour miles west of Robinson, and this land now is extremely valuable, there being a number of active oil-wells on it.

Doctor Firebaugh, after attending the common schools of Bellefontaine and those near his old home in Crawford County, attended the ·Uni- versity of Indiana and later taught school for two years to enable him to enter the Miami Medical College at Cincinnati, from which he was graduated in 1875. Returning from college, he engaged in practice in Robinson, in which he has continued ever since. Steadily he has gained the confidence of the people and, not only has a large private practice, but for the past fifteen years has been one of the surgeons of the Big Four Railroad, and for some time has acted in the same capacity for the Illinois Central. He is also President of the Robinson Hospital Asso- ciation, and belongs to the Crawford County Medical Society, the Illinois State Medical As- sociation and the American Medical Association. In addition to his other multitudinous duties, Dr. Firebaugh finds time to give his services as Pres- ident of the Robinson School Board, and for twenty years was a member of the Pension Board.

On October 20, 1881, Doctor Firebaugh was married to Ellen M. Sims of Robinson. Mrs. Firebaugh's parents came from Edgar County, Ill., and settled in the town when it was a mere village of a dozen houses, and here Mrs. Fire- baugh was born in 1858, five years after her family's settlement there. Doctor and Mrs. Fire- baugh have four children, three sons and one daughter, all at home except the eldest son, who is now in the Philippines. Mrs. Firebaugh is a lady of literary tastes and accomplishments and has contributed sketches to some of the leading journals. The Firebaugh home on West Main street, with its spacious grounds, is one of the

most beautiful in Crawford County, and is al- ways hospitably open to friends.

FITZPATRICK, James Thomas .- There are in every community men of great force of character and exceptional ability, who by reason of their capacity for leadership become recognized as fore- most citizens, and bear an important part in public affairs. As citizens they are honorable, prompt and true to every engagement, and as men they hold the honor and esteem of all classes of people, performing their duties with diligent care and guarding their personal integrity as a sacred possession. Such a man is James Thomas Fitzpatrick, who is prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Crawford County.

The birth of James Thomas Fitzpatrick oc- curred in Greene County, Ind., August 6, 1849, a son ot Joseph and Sarah (Floyd) Fitzpatrick. Joseph Fitzpatrick was born in Kentucky, but went to Greene County, Ind., at an early day. He was born in 1815 and died in 1898, aged eighty- three. He was a miller by trade and operated a mill at Jonesboro, Ind., where he owned a small farm. His wife was born in Tennessee in 1816; and died in the same year as her hus- band, aged eighty-two. The following family was born to Joseph Fitzpatrick and wife: Henry E., Elizabeth Dorcas, Sabra Catherine, Cassie Jane, James Thomas, Augustus LaFayette, Jacob Fletcher, Ruth Margaret, Mary Ann, Mitchell, John C. Fremont, and Nancy Alice.

James Thomas Fitzpatrick was educated in Greene County, going to school until eighteen, after which he worked on his fathers' farm. On January 5, 1872, he married Sarah Pethtel, born January 10, 1853, a daughter of William and Rachel (Watson) Pethtel, the former born in Pennsylvania, May 20, 1820, and the latter in Ohio, January 4, 1826. Mr. Pethtel died January 21, 1904, his wife having passed away November 12, 1886. Mr. Pethtel was Deputy United States Marshal in Noble County, Ohio, during the Civil War. He and his wife had the following family : Ella. Mary, Nancy, Barbara, Sarah, Lucinda, Rachel, William Thomas, Rebecca Elizabeth and Emma Jane.

Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick have had the follow- ing children: William Joseph, born October 27, 1872, on January 1, 1898, married Chloe Ann Stoner, daughter of Jesse C. and Mary (Book- walter) Stoner, but who died September 29, 1902, after which he married as his second wife Amy Alice Stoner, sister of his first wife; Rachel Rosanna, born August 26, 1873, married Willis A. Swinger, son of Jacob Swinger, on November 4, 1899, and they have three children-Vola S., born August 3, 1900; Volora Gay, born February 17, 1902, and Cile Wilbur, born January 6, 1905; George Oran, born July 1, 1875, died September 20, 1884 ; James Curtis, born July 29, 1877, mar- ried Edith Rebecca Stoner, daughter of Jesse C. Stoner, on March 14, 1900, and he has one boy, Russell, born March 11, 1901.

In politics, Mr. Fitzpatrick is a Republican, and while he has never cared to hold office, he

WILLIAM A. MAXWELL

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has always been active in the councils of his party and is regarded as one of its foremost rep- resentatives. For thirty years Mr. Fitzpatrick has been a member of the Christian Church, and his wife has belonged to this church for the same length of time. They are both active in church work, and take a strong interest in all matters pertaining to the religious development of their community. Fraternally, Mr. Fitzpatrick be- longs to the order of Modern Americans.

The Fitzpatrick family has been connected with the history of several States, its members always being found among the sound, conserva- tive men of the community, and none have ever done anything to bring reproach upon the name. The younger generation are rapidly forging to the front, and identifying themselves with the best interests of their localities. Mr. Fitzpatrick and his wife have brought up their children care- fully, giving them good educations and are justly proud of them and what they have been able to accomplish.

In the fall of 1879, Mr. Fitzpatrick with his family came to La Motte Township. Crawford County, where for a few years he rented land. About 1892 he bought 100 acres of his present farm, and about four years later purchased 10612 acres joining the first land bought on the north- east, and he now owns 20612 acres. In 1905 he built the house in which he now resides.

FOLCK, Adam Sheler .- There is so much of interest in a record of the lives of pioneers of any locality, that it is difficult to condense even a few of the main facts. Every one of the States has been settled by a few who have gone on before, bearing the hardships, risking their lives and giving up the comforts and many of the necessities of life. Yet through them and their work has come the great Union, the greatest country in the world. The majority of these early settlers were, or became, farmers, buy- ing land from the Government and gradnally bringing it into cultivation. Illinois is no ex- ception to this rule, and in Crawford County there still remain many relics of those old days, among which one that is very interesting is the primitive log house, with puncheon floor, built by the Folck family upon their location in Robinson in 1872.

Adam Sheler Folck about 1872 emigrated with his family from Greene County, Ohio, where he was born and given a common school edu- cation. His parents were Jacob Folck and Elizabeth (Frick) Folck, both natives of Pem- sylvania, whence the former came to Greene County, Ohio, where his death occurred in 1867 at seventy-two years of age. There were eleven children born to Jacob Folck and wife, but only Adam and a sister who resides in Springfield, Ohio, now survive.

On September 22, 1862, Mr. Folek married in Greene County, Ohio, Sarah Elizabeth Fogwell, daughter of John and Rebecca (Horner) a

Fogwell. Mrs. Folck was one of a family of three children and the only one now surviving.

two brothers having died some years ago. Mr. Fogwell was a native of Maryland, while bis wife was born in Greene County, Ohio. The following family was born to Mr. and Mrs. Folck : Charles Edward, born September 25. 1863, died September 16, 1879; Rebecca J., boru November 25, 1865; Jesse May, born May 15, 1868, died December 27, 1SS6; Albert, born April 16, 1870; Emma Ann, born July 22, 1871; Maggie Lulu, born April 17, 1873, was the first of the children born in Crawford County, others born in the same county being: Nora Belle, born August 8, 1878; Leota, born December 7. 1881; Montie, born March 14, 1SS5, and Bena- welle, born August 18, 1887. The first five chil- dren were born in Greene County, Ohio.

Mr. Folck has a good farm of 117 acres, and his residence is comfortable and substantial. Since coming to Crawford Connty in 1872, he has seen many important changes and as a Democrat has figured prominently in township affairs. His wife has been a member of the Lutheran Church since childhood.

DONNELL, Foster (deceased), for many years prominently identified with 'agricultural inter- ests in Crawford County, was born in Wilson Connty, Tenn., June 18, 1818, and was taken to Jackson's Purchase, Tenn., in 1830, by his par- ents, who remained there several years before they located in Crawford County, Ill., settling near Palestine. There they died, the moth :: in 1841 and the father in 1858. They were natives of North Carolina and Delaware, respec- tively, born in 1797, and about the close of the eighteenth century. Owing to the fact that he had to assist in supporting the family, Foster Donnell received very little education, and com- menced farming on his own account at the age of nineteen. On September 28, 1837. he mar- ried Caroline Martin, born in Crawford County. December 19, 1821. In 1839 he borrowed suffi- cient money to enter land in Martin Township, and eventually became the owner of 240 acres, devoted to grain and stock raising. Mr. Donnell suffered many hardships, and until he was mar- ried never wore boots, and not until he had a wife and two children did he possess an over- coat, but in spite of all he succeeded. He and his wife had four children: Margaret, Sarah Jane, Lavina E. and John M.

FOX, David Woodworth .- The old families of Crawford Connty, Ill., which have been long established in this part of the State. are as- sociated very prominently with the development and improvement of the best interests of the several localities in which they lived. Their members, coming here at an early date, entered land and devoted themselves to clearing it off and putting it under cultivation. They con- tended with many obstacles and endured count- less hardships, but their descendants are reap- ing rich rewards and the State has been ad- vanced to its proud position among other great

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commouwealths, so the price these pioneers paid was not too great.

The Fox family is one of those thus represen- tative, among its other prosperous members being David Woodworth Fox, who was born in Mont- gomery Township, February 20, 1845, a son of John and Emeline Fox, natives of New Jersey and La Motte Township, Crawford County, re- spectively. The grandfather, also named John Fox, came from New Jersey to Crawford County. Ill., where he farmed and was a Methodist preacher of the early days. The Fox family was established in Crawford County by John Fox, Jr., in 1818, the year the State was ad- mitted into the Union, and he entered a large tract of government land and became one of the prosperous farmers of his day.

Until he was twenty-one, David W. Fox at- tended the Montgomery Township schools and remained on his father's farm until he was twenty-five, when he was married in La Motte Township, December 30, 1870, to Eliza Jane Crews, who was a daughter of William J. and Amelia Crews. She was born July 25, 1849, and died in October, 1885. The following children were born of this marriage: Frederick Mail, born October 25, 1870; Harry Weil, born July 25, 1874 ; Lucy May, born April 11, 1877 ; Martha Ellen, born March 27, 1879; William Palmer, born May 1, 1881; Mary Blanche, born February 23, 1883; Lawrence Arthur, born December 14, 1885 ; one who died September 1, 1875, and Frank Coke, born December 14, 1872. The second wife of Mr. Fox was Elizabeth Kent, widow of Jasper Kent, and daughter of Henry and Mary (Looney) Miller. Mrs. Kent had one chlid, Amy. By his second marriage Mr. Fox had three children : Clara, born November 25, 1888; Roy, born June 13, 1891, and Kate, born August 4, 1893. His third wife was Lucille McKay, but there were no children by this marriage.

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Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 145

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