Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 154

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 154

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LEFEVER, John A .- The steady tides of im- migration which have flowed into the fertile States of the Middle West, have had their part in the marvelous development of this part of the Union, but they take away none of the credit due to the man who dared to brave the terrors of the wilderness and to whose unremitting efforts has come ultimate success. That kind of a man will not be forgotten whenever the story of American development is told. John A. Lefever, a farmer and stock-raiser of Oblong Township, Crawford County, is a native of Mar- ion County, Ohio, where he was born August 17, 1867, a son of James M. Lefever, one of the pioneers of the Township, who was also born in Ohio, was there reared, educated and mar- ried to Susan Curfman, also a native of that State. They became the parents of five chil- dren, three of whom were born in Ohio, and two in Crawford County, namely : John A., Eva, William Wesley, James T., and Etta, deceased.

In 1873 James M. Lefever with his brother .emigrated to Crawford County, Ill., his family following later by rail. They settled in Oblong Township, and there bought 160 acres, a part of which he cleared. The two brothers shared this land, working in partnership, and at one time they owned 400 acres, cleared it off and transformed it iuto a very valuable property, and here James lived until 1900, when he retired to Oblong where he now resides. In politics he is a Republican and has taken quite an active part in local affairs. In religious affairs, he is

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a member of the United Brethren Church, and is very highly respected in his community.

John A. Letever remained at home until his marriage, March 23, 1890, to Mary C. Gray, born in Brown County, Ind., daughter of Daniel Gray, a farmer and Christian preacher. Mr. Gray mar- ried in Owen County, Ind., and came from Ind- iana to Jasper County, Ill., in 1876, where he reared his family, Mr. and Mrs. Lefever are the parents of the following children: Ray ; Verna, deceased ; Mabel ; Fanchion and Guy, all born at their present home, to which they moved in the fall of 1890. He began with twenty-five acres, and it was all woodland, but he soon had it cleared, and has added to it until he now owns 85 acres of as good land as can be found in the township. Oil was discovered on his property in 1907, and he now has seven wells in opera- tion. Mr. Lefever has always been a Republi- can, and is very enthusiastic about his party. Fraternally he is a member of the I. O. O. F., and like his father he is a religious man, al- though he is connected with the Christian Church. He has faithfully performed the duties which have lain to his hand, and is a reliable farmer, a successful business man, and kind, charitable neighbor, who enjoys fullest confi- dence and respect from all who know him.

LEFEVER, Wesley A .- The vocation of a farm- er is steadily becoming more attractive as the science of farming progresses, and the men en- gaged in agricultural pursuits are possessed of good sense, industrious habits and thrifty econ- omy, and are succeeding wonderfully, especially in Crawford County, where lives Wesley A. Le- fever, of Section 23, Oblong Township. He was born in Marion County, Ohio, March 26, 1870, second son of James M. Lefever. The first son was John A. The youngest son, James T. Le- fever, was born on Section 24, Oblong Township, October 13, 1874, and the two boys were edu- cated in the district schools of Oblong Town- ship.

Wesley A. Lefever has greatly improved his present farm and makes a specialty of raising Duroc-Jersey hogs, as does his brother James T. On June 5, 1892, Wesley A. Lefever was mar- ried to Bertha Ellen Larrabee. a daughter of Hiram Larrabee of Oblong Township, and they have had the following children : Vera May, Hal- lie James and four who died in infancy, all born on the homestead. Mr. Wesley A. Letever is a Republican in politics, a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church.

James T. Lefever was married July 25, 1898, to Eva Shoemaker, born in Crawford County, where she was reared and educated. She is a daughter of Theodore Shoemaker, a farmer of Licking Township who came from Indiana and settled here a great many years ago. Mrs. Le- fever is the oldest of four children born to her parents. Mr. and Mrs. James T. Lefever have three children : Earl Cleo, Florence Zena and Merl Robert, all born on their present farm. In politics James T. Lefever is a Republican, and

fraternally belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and his wife belong to the Christian Church.

Both brothers are enterprising, energetic and successful and they enjoy in the highest degree the confidence of their neighbors.

LEFEVER, William A., successfully pursuing his farming operations on Section 13, Oblong Township, Crawford County, Ill., and an excel- lent type of the up-to-date farmer of the twen- tieth century, was born on his present home farm, November 15, 1874, a son of Andrew F. Lefever. The latter was born in Marion County, Ohio, in 1844, and was there reared and educated. He was a farmer in Ohio and therc married Miss Sarah A. Curfman, also born and reared in Ohio. They became parents of nine children: I. F., Amanda, MI. James, William A., Ella May, Mary Ida, Pearl, Permelia, Margaret Edith and Char- les Arthur. A. F. Lefever came to Crawford County at an early day, settling in Oblong Town- ship, where he cleared and cultivated a farm and lived until he retired to Oblong. He is a well- known man all over Crawford County, and is a stanch Republican in politics.

William A. Lefever was educated in the dis- trict schools of Oblong Township. His first wife was Effie E. Sutton, and she bore him onc child, who died in infancy. Her death occurred April 9, 1896, and April 2, 1899, he married Grace Voke, daughter of J. R. Voke of Lincoln Town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Lefever have two children : Marjorie Juanita and Majorie Lucile. In poli- tics Mr. Lefever is a Republican, although he has never sought public office. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order and of the Sons of Veterans. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Lefever is highly es- teemed in his neighborhood for his many excel- lent traits of character, and the success which has come to him is well merited.

LEWIS, F. W., editor of the "Robinson (Ill.) Constitution,' in Lewiston, Mahoning County, Ohio, April 8, 1864, is one of the lead- ing newspaper men of Crawford County. His father, George W. Lewis, was horn near Phila- delphia, Pa., April 5, 1835, and died in Prairie Township, Crawford County, Ill., June 10, 1900. His mother, Elizabeth (Calvin) Lewis, was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, January 19, 1835, and still survives, living at Paris, Ill. Mr, and Mrs. Lewis were married in Ohio, to which State George W. Lewis had been brought in infancy by his parents. The great-grandfather of F. W. Lewis came to America from Wales, settling near Philadelphia. Having secured a good education for his timc, attending Mt. Union College at Alliance, Ohio, where his wife also went to school, George W. Lewis was well fitted for his battle with life. He began his business career as a merchant at Washingtonville, Ohio, where he remained until 1870, in which year he came to Crawford County, and located on a farm near Eaton, in what is now Prairie Townshlp. Here the family resided for about ten years and then

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moved to Robinson, where he was engaged in general merchandising for several years. He then returned to farming, although retaining his residence in Robinson. In politics, George W. Lewis was a Democrat, and was very active in political affairs. The children of George W. Lewis and wife were: Robert and Clara, who died in infancy ; Jennie, wife of B. F. Brown, of Robinson Township; Douglas A., of Chicago; F. W. ; Clement L., of Terre Haute, Ind. ; John V., of Momence, Ill .; Loretta L., wife of Dr. Lewis F. Curl, of Paris, Ill.

F. W. Lewis was educated in the district school at Eaton, Ill., and at the Robinson High School, being graduated from the latter in 1884, after which he taught in the district schools for two years. He then worked in his father's store for about a year, meanwhile studying law with Judge Franklin Robb and P. G. Bradbury, and was admitted to the bar in November, 1888. For the following six months, he was employed by E. B. Myers & Co., publishers of law books, and traveled through the State of Indiana. Return- ing to Robinson, Mr. Lewis engaged in the prac- tice of his profession in partnership with P. G. Bradbury, under the firm name of Bradbury & Lewis, and this connection continued until he was elected State's Attorney, when the partner- ship was dissolved. Finishing his term of office, Mr. Lewis practiced law alone for twelve years, but in September, 1902, purchased the "Robin- son Constitution," which he conducted as sole proprietor and editor until January 1, 1909, when he sold a half-interest to F. E. Riker and J. R. Parkison, still retaining the position as editor. Since his original purchase of the paper its circulation has doubled. In politics it is Democrat and is the leading organ of the party in Crawford County.

In his political views Mr. Lewis exercises a strong influence in his party, and has been re- peatedly called upon to represent it in an offi- cial capacity, serving ably as State's Attorney, Mayor of Robinson for two years, Alderman for two years, and for sixteen years was a member of the School Board, resigning in the spring of 1908. Fraternally, Mr. Lewis is also very promi- nent, belonging to the following orders : Knights of Pythias, in which he has filled all the chairs; Independent Order of Odd Fellows, also filling all the chairs in that order; A. F. & A. M .; Tribe of Ben Hur; Modern Woodmen and Mod- ern American.

On September 10, 1900, Mr. Lewis married Hattie L. Cox, born in Hutsonville Township, Crawford County, Ill., a daughter of John T. and Lucinda J. (Buckner) Cox, the former a native of Crawford County, and the latter of Clark County, Ill. Mr. Cox is deceased, but his wife still survives, living in Robinson. Mrs. Lewis was the eldest of four children, the second being Manford E., who is the present State's At- torney of Crawford County ; Estella (now de- ceased), was the third child, and married Paul Bean of Crawford County, while Merle, the youngest, married Roscoe Richards, of West Union, Clark County.

In the spring of 1898 Mr. Lewis, at the out- break of the Spanish-American War, organized an infantry company at Robinson. The officers of the various volunteer companies of Southern Illinois met at Greenwich, Ill., and Mr. Lewis who was Captain of the Robinson Company was elected Major of the Battalion, the regiment be- ing known as Knoph's Provisional Regiment, but on account of the early termination of the war, it did not leave the State.

Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have one son, Kent Van, who was born August 29, 1904.

LEWIS, G. W. (deceased), one of the repre- sentative men of Crawford County, who for some years was manager of the Co-operative Com- pany's Store at Robinson, Ill., was born in Mont- gomery County, Pa., April 5, 1835. His father, a physician, moved his family to Carroll County, Ohio, when G. W. Lewis was but a baby, and when he was four years old, he had the misfor- tune to lose his father. Later the family located in Columbiana County, Ohio, and there G. W. Lewis lived until 1870, when he came to Craw- ford County, Ill. He bought a farm of 200 acres in Hutsonville Township, but in 1877 became manager of the co-operative store at Robinson, and a year later returned to the farm, but re- sumed his duties as manager. In 1859 he mar- ried Elizabeth Calvin, a daughter of Robert Cal- vin, and they had the following children: Mrs. Jeannette Brown, Douglas A., Fernando W., Clement L., John V. and Loretto L.

LINCOLN, Robert R. (deceased), for many years a

farmer of Licking Township, was born in Zanesville, Muskingum County, Ohio, December 19, 1822, a son of Leonard Lincoln, a machinist who moved to Zanesville at an early day, and worked in the first nail factory in Ohio. He was born in Massachusetts in 1800 and died in Zanes- ville in 1836. Soon after his location in Mus- kingum County, he married Nancy Dick, daugh- ter of Esquire Dick, the first blacksmith of Falls Township. She was born in Pennsylvania about 1802. Seven sons were born to them : Robert R., John Dudley, George, Abraham, Elijah and one who died unnamed. After the death of Mr. Lincoln, Mrs. Lincoln married Will- iam Baker, who kept the first tavern in Falls Township, and she died in 1852. After receiv- ing a fair common school education Robert R. Lincoln worked as a machinist and also on the river, coming to Crawford County in 1842, and for some years worked at anything he could find to do. In 1848 he entered land in Sections 29 and 31, Licking Township, and added 400 acres in an adjoining section to his original purchase of 160 acres. On January 5, 1850, he married Mary Lamb, daughter of William Lamb, and they had the following children : Charles B., Henry C., Emma J., Araminta and one who died in in- fancy. Mr. Lincoln was a great-nephew of for- mer Governor Lincoln of Massachusetts, and tradition states that the Illinois branch of the Lincoln family springs from the same common

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stock as General Benjamin Lincoln of Revolu- tionary fame.

LINDSAY, John T., who is numbered among the progressive young men of Crawford County, affords an excellent example of the prosperous citizens of Robinson, where he is engaged in oii and gas and real-estate business. Mr. Lindsay was born at Flat Rock, Crawford County, No- vember 20, 1876, a son of James William and Hannah E. (Richards) Lindsay, the former boru March 7, 1835, and the latter Jaunary 1, 1846, Mrs. Lindsay died May 22, 1897. The elder Mr. Lindsay is a farmer, owns 200 acres in the oil belt, has sixteen good producing wells on his property and is drilling more.

For a number of years John T. Lindsay was connected with the schools of Crawford County. After finishing a common school education, he attended the Central Normal School at Danville, Ind., and then taught in the County Schools, later taking a course in Austin College, at Effing- ham, Ill., from which he was graduated in 1902. He was then appointed Principal of the Effing- ham High School, later was made Principal of the Oblong and Hutsonville Schools, his experi- ence as a teacher covering nine years, during which time he became one of the best known teachers in the county, as well as one of the most popular. In 1905, he came to Robinson to embark in the oil and realty business, in which he has continued ever since. Mr. Lindsay is a business man of marked ability and he is doing a large volume of business, handling some of the most valuable oil lands in the county. A Mason of high standing, he belongs to Robin- son Lodge, No. 250, A. F. & A. M .; Robinson Chapter, No. 225, Robinson. Ill. ; and Gorin Coni- mandery, No. 14, Olney, Ill., and is also a mnem- ber of the K. of P., Tribe of Ben Hur, and Mod- ern Woodmen of America. In politics he is a Republican.

On August 10, 1905, Mr. Lindsay was married at Effingham, Ill., to Miss Edith Charlotte Holmes, daughter of William B. and Lena Holmes, both residing in Effingham, where Mr. Holmes is a leading attorney. Mr. and Mrs .. Lind- say have one child, Forrest Holmes, born April 11, 1907.

LINDSAY, John Tolson, a veteran of the Civil War and one of the revered residents of Robin- son, who at eighty-three years is still actively engaged in promoting the commercial activity of his town, was born at Versailles, Ripley County, Ind., January 28, 1825, a son of Hazel and Sallie (Ford) Lindsay, both natives of Henry County, Ky. The father was a hatter by trade, who fol- lowed his calling in Kentucky and Illinois and taught school for years in both States, but later took up government land in Crawford County, half a century ago. His first farm was 40 acres, to which he added until he owned 160 acres at the time of his death at the age of seventy-two years. His wife died at the age of sixty- seven. He was Assessor of Crawford County, filling that office for two terms, and he was

taker of the government census at an early date.

John T. Lindsay lived on the farm until he was twenty years old, learning the trade of cigar maker, which he followed many years. For four years he was Postmaster, being appointed by President Benjamin Harrison, at Birds, Law- rence County, and later was agent for five years of the Adams Express Company at the same place. In politics Mr. Lindsay is a Republican, and he has done yeoman service for his party. He is a member of the G. A. R., Longenecker Post of Robinson, Ill. His religious home is in the Universalist Church, of which he has long been a member.

On October 25, 1840, Mr. Lindsay was married to Elizabeth Clayton, daughter of George P. and Rebecca (Fields) Clayton, both pioneers of Ken- tucky. Mrs. Lindsay died in 1897. The follow- ing are the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lind- say : Leander S., born December 5, 1846, died August 2, 1864, in Jackson Hospital at Mem- phis, Tenn., after four months military service ; Samuel T., born January 20, 1847, lives at Rob- inson, Ill .; Sarah Ann, born June 16, 1848, lives at Severy, Greenwood County. Kan., is married and has seven children ; Martha, born February 10, 1854, lives in Lawrence County, Ill., is mar- ried and has three children ; Susan Rebecca, born October 26. 1858, died October 23, 1865 ; Dr. N. F., born September 5, 1849, now living in Robinson, Ill. ; Mary E., born January 22, 1861. married Dr. Wardell, both now deceased; Viola, born April 2. 1863, lives in Lawrence County, Ill., is mar- ried and has three children : Minnie and E. E., twins, born August 25, 1870, of whom Minnie lives with S. T. Lindsay.

The war record of Mr. Lindsay is very inter- esting, as he enlisted October 23, 1864, and dur- ing the time he was in service he participated in several bloody engagements, including the siege of Spanish Fort where Admiral Farragut won immortal fame. The siege lasted thirteen days, and the Union troops were under constant fire. Mr. Lindsay was not discharged until after General Lee's surrender. Mr. Lindsay was in Company C, Forty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Captain Frederick commanding under General A. J. Smith of the Fifth Brigade, Six- teenth Corps.

Mr. Lindsay delights in his garden, where he works each day, taking a pride in raising the best of flowers and vegetables, His grandchil- dren love him, and he has many friends not alone of his own age, for he is a man who com- mands the respect and attention of all. A strong man mentally and physically. Mr. Lindsay is yet a prominent figure in local affairs, and what he has done in the past cannot be overestimated. Brave, noble-hearted, sincere. he has lived a long and useful life, and now all honor Is due to him in his beautiful old age.

LINDSAY, Nathaniel F., M. D .- The Lindsay family is one of the oldest to be found in the three States of Kentucky. Indiana and IllInols, and its history is woven with that of these three commonwealths, while its representatives are

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among the substantial aud responsible citizens of the many other communities. In Robinson, Crawford County, three generations of the family are to be found : John T. Lindsay, his sons, Dr. N. F. Lindsay, Samuel T. Lindsay and E. E. Lindsay, a banker of Robinson and the children of the latter. There are others belonging to the family living in the Township, besides many others scattered over the three States before men- tioned.

Dr. Nathaniel F. Liudsay was born in Mont- gomery Township, Crawford County, September 5, 1850, a son of John T. and Elizabeth (Clay- ton ) Lindsay. After completing a common school education, Dr. Lindsay attended the State Nor- mal University at Normal, Ill., later studying medicine at the University at Louisville, Ky., from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in March, 1878. Prior to begiuning the practice of his profession, Dr. Lindsay taught school iu Lawrence County, Ill., and after re- ceiving his degree engaged in practice there, re- maining until 1907, when he located at Robinson and has there built up a large and remunerative practice, and firmly established himself in the confideuce of his patrons.

In 1871 in Moutgomery Township, Crawford County, Dr. Lindsay married Miss Nancy J. Bristow. In 1886 he moved to Los Angeles, Cal., in the hopes of benefiting his wife's health, but it was in vain as she died in November of the same year. For two years he remained in Cali- fornia in the drug business, when he returned to Lawrence County to resume his practice. In 1890 he was appointed Surgeon of the Union Pacific Railroad at Rawlings, Wyo., remaining there oue year, then he again came to Lawrence County. For four years he was Examining Surgeon for the United States Pension Depart- ment at Lawrenceville, Ill.

Ou October 16, 1907, Dr. Lindsay married Miss Effie Hughes of New Hebron, Crawford County, Ill. By his first marriage he had these children : Lulu, born July 4, 1872, who died at the age of thirty-three, the wife of Carey Roberts of Law- rence County ; Willard C., born August 22, 1880, in Lawrence County, and now a court re- porter residing in Chicago. Dr. Liudsay is a prominent Mason, being a member of the Oriental Consistory and Medinah Temple of Shriners ot Chicago. In politics. he is a Republican. Dr. and Mrs. Lindsay have a beautiful home in Rob- inson, where they dispense a charming hospital- ity. In comfortable circumstances, as the owner of his home and other valuable properties, Dr. Lindsay is in a position to devote attention to the scientific side of his profession, and while his practice is large, he does not confine himself exclusively to it. He is a man of wide experience, deep study, personally charming in manner and a delightful companion socially.

LINDSAY, Samuel T .- Although uow retired from the more active duties of life, Samuel T. Lindsay of Robinson, Ill., has accomplished much in his useful career, and filled more thau one im- portant office with credit to himself and to the

satisfaction of his constituents. Mr. Lindsay was born January 20, 1847, one mile southeast of Flat Rock, Crawford County, Ill., a son of John and Elizabeth (Claytou) Lindsay, who emigrated from Kentucky to Illinois. A sketch of their lives appears in another part of this history. The grandfather, Hazael Lindsay, upon coming to Crawford County with his son John, entered a quarter-section of school land, the greater part of which was covered with white oak timber. He lived to be seventy-two. Iu Kentucky he learned to be a hatter, then learued shoe-making and followed both trades while farming. At one time he was Assessor of Crawford County. His sons, John and Amos, and Leauder S., a son of John's, enlisted in 1864, Leander S. dyiug in the hospital at Memphis, Tenn., after a four months' service, but John and Amos came out unscathed after serving until the close of the war.

The children of John and Elizabeth (Clayton) Lindsay were: Leander S., born December 5, 1845; Samuel T., born January 20, 1847; Sarah A., born June 16, 1849 ; Dr. N. F., now practicing mediciue at Robinson; Martha C .; Susan Re- becca; Mary E .; Viola; E. E., in the First Na- tional Bank of Robinson, and Minnie.

Samuel T. Lindsay attended the subscription school, then went to the Palestine High School. after which for ten years he taught school in Crawford County. On February 6, 1868, Mr. Lindsay married Miss Mary E. Harris, a daugh- ter of William Harris of North Carolina, and Elizabeth (Roher) Harris, from Jessamine County, Ky. Although Mr. Lindsay and his wife have no issue, they have given homes and reared to manhood and womanhood three children of other families, namely : Samuel F. and Lillie M. Clayton, children of a brother of Mr. Lind- say's mother and May Lindsay Wardell, a daugh- ter of his sister Mary E .- all three of whom have been educated under direction of Mr. and Mrs. Lindsay. Mr. Lindsay's youugest sister, Minnie, also resides with them. Their foster daughter, Lillie M., married C. L. Heustis, now a resident of Paris, Ill., and they have three children : Lawrence, Ruth and Ralph.

Mrs. Lindsay's mother, Mrs, Elizabeth (Roher) Harris, came with her parents Peter and Rachel (Buntin) Roher, from Kentucky to Crawford County, Ill., in 1829, traveling in a covered wagon, and camping out of nights. The country at that time was very wild. About 1841, Williamn Harris came from North Carolina, in a covered wagon, with his parents, Joshua and Martha (McMahon) Harris. On June 24, 1843, Mr. and Mrs. Harris were married, and Mr. Harris died April 14, 1855. By this marriage there were two children : Mrs. Lindsay, and Sarah, who is the wife of W. B. Lillie of Poplar Bluff, Mo. After Mr. Harris' death, Mrs. Harris married Dr. Peter Hale, who came from England to Illinois, and owned a farm in Montgomery Township. For about fifty years he was engaged in the prac- tice of medicine in Lawrence and Crawford Counties. By this marriage there were two chil- dren: Rev. William G., a Methodist clergyman, who died in 1902, and Emma, wife of George W.

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Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 154

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