Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 160

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 160

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Fraternally, Mr. Nickle is a member of the Order of Elks and Odd Fellows. He is a Repub- lican, but while always willing to support all measures which he believes to be for the good of the community, he is not a seeker for public office. The beautiful modern residence of the Nickle family is one of the most complete in Crawford County, and is supplied with all mod- ern conveniences, including running water, hot air heat and electricity. The grounds surround- ing the house are very spacious and beautifully laid out and planted with trees, shrubbery and flowers, so that it is regarded as one of the show places of the town.

Much more might be said of the business career of Mr. Nickle, for his experiences have been varied and interesting; but, after all, the main fact is that commencing when almost a baby, he has worked himself up to his present position of affluence and prominence, and that he is held in high esteem by the people of Robinson, and wherever he has been connected in a business way.

NORTON, Charles Jefferson .- The farming ac- tivities of a community are influenced largely by the climatic conditions, the fertility of the soil, and the transportation facilities. Crawford County, Ill., offers almost ideal conditions for successful farming, and the many intelligent men who are engaged in it demonstrate that the people of this county are not backward in appre- ciating these advantages. One of the prosperous agriculturists of this locality is Charles Jefferson Norton, who was born near Burr Oak, St. Joseph County, Mich., November 26, 1847, a son of Alonzo Norton, who was born in Genesee County, N. Y., February 20, 1807. and died in Montgomery Township, Crawford County, May 18, 1879. He had a family as follows: William, born April 17, 1838; Rowena, born December 16, 1839, mar- ried Allen Magill, and they have a son and daugh- ter and live in Montgomery Township; Harris, born December 25, 1843 ; Alvira, born May 7, 1841 ; Almira born October 24, 1845 ; Charles Jefferson ; Harriet, born February 19, 1850, and Harris (2), born June 13, 1854. The mother of this family was Nancy (Bethelow) Norton. who was born in Virginia, January 22, 1815, and died in Mont- gomery Township, Crawford County, April 4, 1879. In 1855 Alonzo Norton came to Crawford County and purchased 120 acres in Montgomery Township, on which was a small log house, where the family lived for a number of years.

Charles Jefferson Norton attended the district school in Montgomery Township until he was seventeen years old, and then until his marriage

worked for his father on the farm. On February 26, 1871, he was married by the Rev. Young Alli- son, minister of the Missionary Baptist Church, to Hannah E. Lackey, who was born, April 18, 1852, and is a daughter of Alexander and Diana (Nor- ton) Lackey, the former born in Lawrence County, Ill., and the latter in Ohio. The follow- ing children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nor- ton : Harriet Armida. born February 27, 1872, married Doss A. East, a son of Joseph and Mary (Pethtel) East, have had three children, lost their oldest daughter but have a son and daugh- ter still living and reside in La Motte Township; Harris Putnam, born April 23, 1874, married Cora Buzzard, daughter of Rev. Samuel Buz- zard, and they have one daughter and live in Colorado; Thede May, born February 25, 1876, married Oris McGovern, and they have two sons ; Urban, born October 12, 1878, married Mary Seymour, daughter of Morton Seymour, and they have a son and daughter and live in Indiana; Bertie C., born March 28, 1880; Lela A., born December 28, 1882; Elmer F., born February 21, 1885, married Iva Fitzpatrick and they have one daughter ; Charles E., born January 4, 1887, married Zella Baker, daughter of Jesse and Flora Elizabeth ( Shoulders) Baker, no issue ; and Owen R., born January 24, 1889. Mrs. Charles E. Norton was born April 27, 1884, in Montgomery Town- ship, where her parents were also born, she be- ing the eldest of the six daughters and four sons born to them.

Mrs, Charles Jefferson Norton was one in a family of five children, the eldest of whom, Sarah, is deceased. Asa, the second child, is liv- ing; James is also deceased; Mrs. Norton is the fourth child, and the fifth. Frank, is deceased. The Lackey family was one of the most promi- nent in Lawrence County, Ill., where Mr. Lackey owned considerable property and took a promi- nent part in the affairs of his township.

Mr. Norton is a Republican, and while inter- ested in local affairs, has never aspired to polit- ical honors. Mrs. Norton is a member of the Christian Church, which she joined when she was seventeen years old. The Norton farm con- sists of 260 acres, which is highly cultivated and is devoted to general farming and stock-raising. The large residence was erected by Mr. Norton and is one of the most pleasant farm houses in the township. Mr. Norton has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, and is recognized as an authority on all matters pertaining to his work. A quiet, conservative man, he is content to de- vote his time to his personal affairs, but his neighbors find that, in times of trouble, he is a friend to be depended upon.

ODELL, David W .- No one man has borne as prominent a part in the development of Oblong, Crawford County, Ill., as has David W. Odell, who has been connected with almost every enter- prise in the flourishing little town of Oblong, and who is now President of the First National Bank of that place, senior member of the firm of D. W. Odell & Son, President of the Oil Bent Traction Company, President of the Illinois Oil Company,

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Vice-President of the Clark Byers Machine and Supply Company, and Treasurer of the Oblong Manufacturing Company. Mr. Odell was born on a farm one and one-half miles south of Oblong, June 21, 1867, a son of S. H. and Margaret A. (Perkins) Odell. The father resides in Oblong Township, Crawford County, on the place which his father bought about 1854-55, where the former is now a prosperous farmer. The grandfather, David W. Odell, for whom David W. Odell is named, moved from Indiana to Illinois and started the first store in Oblong. buying 160 acres on the present site of the village, fifty-seven years ago. With him came his son S. H. Odell, and the two be- came pioneers of this new country. Many acres of prairie land did both break up with the primi- tive method of an ox-team attached to a heavy plow. Game of all kinds supplied the table with fresh meat, and David W. Odell, the younger, early learned to be skillful with his gun, but from earliest boyhood he was ambitious, and while other boys were playing he tramped about the country selling books, fruit trees and other commodities, trying to get a start in life. When only twenty-one years old he decided to abandon farm work and become a business man, and he founded a mercantile house at Oblong, there continuing until January 1, 1897, when he went to Robinson, and for two years was in business there. In February, 1899, he returned to Ob- long and for a year was engaged in mercantile business, but on January 1, 1900, established the Oblong Bank, which, in April, 1907, was re- organized as the First National Bank of Oblong, of which he was made President, a position which he still holds. He also conducts a large store adjoining the bank building, under the firm style of D. W. Odell & Son, and carries a full line of shoes, controlling a large trade. In every line of business in which he has embarked, Mr. Odell has met with marked success, and is justly recognized as the leading business man of Craw- ford County.

Mr. Odell has been married three times; on April 5, 1890, to Miss Dora A. Allison, who died March 24, 1896; on April 3, 1897, to Miss Hattie Carroll, who died October 25, 1902, and on No- vember 21, 1904, he married Miss Josie M. Lar- rabee, a daughter of Hiram and Sarah J. Lar- rabee, who was born at Oblong, Ill. He has the the following children: S. F., born February 25, 1891; D. E., born November 12, 1894; I. W., born August 11, 1902; Ida M., born February 17, 1894; Mildred A., born July 29, 1899, and Ber- nice J., born April 15. 1907. Fraternally, Mr. Odell is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen and Modern Americans. He has been a member of the Meth- odist Church since 1886. In politics he is a Democrat, but has never aspired to political honors. He is a man widely and favorably known and in the business world, his word is as good as his bond.

ODELL, William Jasper (deceased) .- In the death of the late William Jasper Odell, Oblong,

Ill., lost one of the finest types of citizen that any community can boast. He was a man of the highest integrity ; gentle, and warm-hearted, he drew hundreds to him and retained their friend- ship and respect through life. No one who knew him failed to respect him, and no one who had any knowledge of his kindly, busy life, but felt a keen regret when he knew that his span of activity had ended.

Mr. Odell was born in Hancock County, Ind .. January 5, 1836, and died in Oblong, February 10, 18SS. He was a farmer, dry-goods merchant and hotel proprietor, and a man of many excellent qualities of heart and mind, which he developed to a marked degree. When about seventeen years old he came to Illinois with his father, D. W. Odell, Sr., a sketch of whom will be found else- where in this work. Mr. Odell was brought up in his native County and in Oblong Township. where he attended school, and he was reared to farm life. On March 22, 1855, lie married Isa- belle Ryan, who was born in Highland County, Ohio, November 13, 1836, a daughter of William Ryan, deceased, who was a farmer and pioneer of Jasper County, Ill., born in Virginia, where he was reared, educated and married to Sarah Tindolph. His wife was also a native of Virginia, and was reared at Richmond. Mrs. William J. Odell is the third of a family of four daughters and two sons, two born in Virginia and the re- mainder in Ohio and Jasper County, Ill. Will- iam Ryan, her father, came to Illinois with his family in 1866, and locating in Jasper County, entered a quarter-section of land, which he cul- tivated and improved. He became a very promì- nent man of Jasper County ; politically he was a Democrat, and took an active part in local affairs; was a Mason in fraternal relations and active in the order. His death occurred on his farm.

Mr. and Mrs. Odell lived in Oblong Township for eighteen years, where he became the owner of 140 acres of land, besides 160 acres in Jasper County, all of which he improved and cultivated. In 1872 he retired from the farm and moved to Oblong, where he opened a general store, and for two years operated the only store in that place. In 1874 he embarked in the hotel business, open- ing the Oblong House, which he conducted until his death, and under his management this be- came a very well known and popular hostelry. A strong Democrat, he was much interested in local affairs and made his influence felt for good. Mr. and Mrs. Odell had children as follows: Arminta, Emma Minor, William Washington ( de- ceased), Agnes Johnson, Pearl Sheets and Dallas T. Odell, all born and reared in Oblong Town- ship.

OLWIN, Judge J. C., attorney-at-law. and Judge of the Crawford County Court. now deceased, was born December 6. 1838. In Montgomery County, Ohio, and brought up on the farm, re- ceiving a good. common school education. In 1860 he commenced studying law in Dayton. matriculating in 1862 in the Ohlo State and Union Law School at Cleveland, and In 1863 came

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to Crawford County, for one term teaching school near Palestine. He then settled in Robinson and entered into active practice. Judge Olwin be- came very prominent as a Republican and was elected to the Thirty-second General Assembly, his term expiring in 1882, and he rendered such efficient service that the same fall he was elected County Judge, also served as Master-in-Chancery for four years. Judge Olwin married January 4, 1866, Amelia A. Tobey, of Montgomery County, Ohio, and they had a family as follows : Harry, Claudia E., Ora M., Tobey, Beulah and Jessie. Judge Olwin's popularity in a Democratic county is sufficient testimony to his unswerving loyalty to duty and his ability as a member of Bar and Bench.

OLWIN, John .- Some of the most beautiful homes in Robinson, Crawford County, Ill., are occupied by men who have retired from the bat- tles of business life and yet keep up their inter- est in civic affairs. Among them is John Olwin. who was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, fif- teen miles west of Dayton, December 5, 1838. Shortly after his birth the family removed to Darke County, Ohio, and here he grew to man- hood on a farm, helping clear off the timber and assisting his parents, David and Nancy (Gray- bill) Olwin, natives of Pennsylvania and Vir- ginia, respectively, and both of German extrac- tion. Both died in Ohio, where they had become successful in agricultural life.

John Olwin received the usual common school education of his time and locality, and at the outbreak of the Civil War in April, 1861, enlisted for three months in the Eleventh Regiment, Ohio, Infantry. He was sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, and from there to camp in a wheatfield near Cincinnati, known as Camp Dennison. The regi- ment established itself there and before the men were properly trained the three months had ex- pired. Mr. Olwin returned to his farm life, but the spirit of patriotism was still strong in him and in June, 1862, he enlisted in Company G. Forty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry for a period of three years or during the war. The regiment was attached to the Army of the Poto- mac and taken through Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina. During his long service, Mr. Olwin participated in many engagements, in- cluding the Siege of Knoxville, a raid on the Cumberland, the raid to destroy Louden Bridge near Knoxville, and here many were captured while climbing the mountain. Mr. Olwin was among these unfortunates, and was sent to Libby Prison where he was kept six months and then exchanged. He immediately rejoined his regi- ment at Knoxville, and was then transferred to the One Hundred and Fourth Ohio Vounteer Infantry. Soon after his transfer, however, Mr. Olwin was placed on detached duty in the com- missary department, where he remained until June, 1865, when he was mustered out. While in the department he had charge of the Post Bakery.

In August, 1865, Mr. Olwin came to Palestine, where D. B. Olwin, an uncle, was living, and

after he paid him a visit he decided to remain in , Crawford County with his cousin, Fred Ernest, also from Ohio, and they opened and op- erated a furniture store at Hutsonville on the Wabash River. Soon thereafter, they sold to J. A. Parker and Mr. Olwin entered the em- ploy of the new proprietor, remaining as sales- man for a year, when occurred his marriage. In the fall of 1867, Mr. Olwin became a partner of his father-in-law, J. R. Hurst, in a general store under the nome of Hurst & Olwin, with Mr. Olwin in charge. He soon induced Mr. Hurst to add a grain business to their undertaking. Still later, the business was enlarged to include hardware, and the success that followed was highly satisfactory. For seventeen years this association continued, when Mr. Hurst retired and his sons, W. B. and L. C. Hurst, assumed his interest. In 1883 Mr. Olwin sold his interests to his partners, W. B. and L. C. Hurst, and com- ing to Robinson entered into partnership with H. O. Wilkin in. the dry-goods business, but a year later the stock was divided and each mem- ber embarked alone. At this time the John Ol- win & Company firm was started, and continued for sixteen years, or until 1903, the partners be- ing members of his family. The present location of the Farmers' and Producers' Bank, on the cor- ner of North Cross and Main Streets, was the site of his old place of business. He carried a line of general merchandise and enjoyed a very large trade. Mr. Olwin erected a big elevator in 1895 on the Big Four Railroad and continued to operate it. In 1903 he disposed of his dry- goods business, in that year buying the stock of goods owned by the Estate of J. C. Alexander, which was soon reduced to an exclusive shoe- house, the only one in the county, which is now owned and operated by Mr. Olwin's son, O. G. Olwin. In December, 1906, in conjunction with W. B. Hiteshew and others, Mr. Olwin organized the Farmers' and Producers' Bank, with himself as Vice-President and director. The affairs of the bank are in a flourishing condition, with de- posits of over $400,000.

For the past twenty-four years Mr. Olwin lived in the comfortable home on West Main Street which he erected in 1884, but has re- cently sold this place and erected a more modern dwelling. In 1874 he met with a serious loss when his building and stock were completely de- stroyed by fire, but the firm reopened business at another stand. and soon after the firm erected a new building of their own.

Few men are more stanch in their support of the Republican party than Mr. Olwin, and he prides himself upon having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Mr. Olwin is deeply interested in civic and county affairs, and can always be counted upon to give his support to whatever measures he believes will conserve the best interests of the community. For forty years he has been a member of the Masonic order at Hutsonville and for years was its Worshipful Master.

On October 4, 1866, Mr. Olwin married Flor- ence R. Hurst, daughter of John R. Hurst, a

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merchant of Hutsonville, where she was born and reared, she being then twenty years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Olwin have had the following chil- dren : Charles H., a commercial salesman of Robinson ; Lola, died at twenty, was an artist of unusual ability, and was decorating the house in pastel and water colors when her death sud- denly occurred; Georgia G., wife of William C. Swartz, of Danville, an osteopath; Ocie G., now proprietor of the Olwin shoe store; Fred B., a dentist of Hammond, Ind .; Byrd G., a commer- cial salesman of Robinson ; Clara B., wife of W. Russell Hodge, a bookkeeper of Marshall, Ill .; Nan B., wife of Leslie G. Palmer, a clothier of . Robinson, and Lois B., wife of S. S. Spencer, a commercial salesman of Williamsport, Pa.

OLWIN, Ocie Gordon .- Of good judgment and high purpose in life, Ocie Gordon Olwin's years have been busy ones, and he has succeeded in building up a very fine trade and in becoming one of the leading merchants of Robinson. Mr. Olwin was born in Hutsonville, Crawford County, Ill., February 1, 1873, the son of John and Re- becca Florence Olwin, the former born in Darke County, Ohio. December 5, 1838, and the latter born in Crawford County, Ill., May 23, 1846. John Olwin is a retired merchant of Robinson. Ocie G. Olwin began attending school in Hutson- ville when only five years old and when the family located in Robinson he continued his studies until seventeen, when he entered his father's store as a clerk. After two years there, he attended the Parsons Horological School for watchmakers for one year. In 1892 he located in Albion, Ill., in the jewelry business, then re- turning to Robinson, worked for his father. Once more he left home, this time to engage as a trav- eling salesman for a queensware house of In- dianapolis. After one year with that firm, he engaged with Barker, Brown & Co. of Hunting- ton, Ind., manufacturers of shoes, and remained with them for five years, thoroughly learning the business in all its practical details. In March, 1907, in partnership with his father and brother he purchased an extensive stock of dry-goods and shoes and opened his large quarters. In June of the same year, Mr. Olwin bought out the inter- ests of his father and brother, and sold out the dry-goods, so that in October, 1907. he opened the only exclusive shoe-store in Crawford County, and enjoys a very large patronage, while his busi- ness shows a healthy increase.

On October 6, 1897, Mr. Olwin married Miss Daisy Endsley. born in Westfield. Ill., and one child, Clotilde Florence, was born to them March 31, 1899. Mr. Olwin is a Republican In politics, and fraternally was initiated as a member of the Knights of Pythias, in 1896, the Modern Wood- men in 1904, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks in'1906. and became a Mason at Rob- inson, Ill., in 1906.

Mr. and Mrs. Olwin are engaged in erect- ing one of the most beautiful homes in Robin- son, thoroughly equipped with every modern ap- pliance and with conveniences without number, and pleasantly located on South Cross Street.

His thorough knowledge of his business, and good business sense have gained him a fair share of this world's goods. Strict honesty in business dealings, loyalty to his friends and the deepest love for his family have-made a record which all who know him may well envy, and which has established him among the popular and progres- sive young men of Robinson.

OTEY, E. N., who has been so prominentiy identified with much of the building operations of Robinson, and, as a member of the firmi of Otey & Son, has operated a large planing mili here, was born in Palestine, Ill., in March, 1831. Learning his trade in Terre Haute, Ind., Mr. Otey returned to Crawford County, where the most of his work has been done. Mr. Otey ac- cumulated considerable property during his busi- ness life, including an excellent farm and some valuable town residences. On December 20, 1854, Mr. Otey was married in Terre Haute, Ind., to Mary C. Hebb, and they have had four chil- dren : Harry E., Rose, Clifford F. and Helen.

OVERSTREET, Frederick A .- To faithfully discharge the duties of any public office shows reliability of character and decided energy. As distributor of maiis in the postoffice at Robin- son, Ill., Frederick A. Overstreet shows the same scrupuious care that has characterized him ever since he started out to earn his own living, and those who recognize his excellent qualities know that he is devoted to the interests of the publlc. Mr. Overstreet was born five miles northeast of Oblong, Crawford County, Ill., October 9, 1SS6, a son of John Roland Overstreet, who came from Kentucky. His wife, whose maiden name was Harriet Louise Larrabee, was born near Oblong, and died in Robinson.

Frederick A. Overstreet attended the Robin- son High School and also the Peoria Polytechnic School. and held responsible positions in the jewelry establishments of Mr. Swern in 1906, and Mr. Seitz in 1906-07, respectively. His ap- pointment to the postoffice was made October 9, 1907, and was received favorably by all who knew the young man. In polltics he Is a very active Republican, and contributes generously towards the support of the Methodist Church, of which his wife is a member. Fraternally he is a member of the Order of Red Men.

On March 25, 190S, Mr. Overstreet married Orabelle Dodge, daugliter of W. E. Dodge, Sup- erintendent of the Warren Machine Company of Robinson. Mrs. Overstreet was born at Cooper Tract, Pa., March 22, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Over- street have a beautiful home on Madison Avenue, Robinson. where they welcome their many friends with delightful hospitality.

PARKER, George (deceased), for many years one of the successful farmers of Honey Creek Township, was born In 1812 near Four Mile Creek, which runs through Butler County, Ohio, a son of Samuel Parker. The latter was born in Kentucky in 1782, and moved to Ohio in an early day, and to Illinois in 1819. In Kentucky

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he married Sarah Newman, born about 1783, and they had the following family: Merinty, John, George, William, Julia, Rachel, James. Annie, and two who died unnamed. George Parker's boyhood days were spent assisting his father, and securing what education the subscrip- tion schools afforded. Early in life he joined the Missionary Baptist Church and preached in various places throughout the county. His first marriage occurred when he was united to Pattie Henry, by whom he had these children : Annie, William, Eliza J., John, Henry, Julia, Sarah A., Washington, LaFayette and Barbara A. His second wife was Mrs. Jane Mouroe. On the pa- ternal side of the house, the ancestors were Eng- lish, while on the maternal side they were Dutch.

PARKER, George N .- Eminently successful as a lawyer and business man, prominent in local, county aud State politics, and possessing large legal knowledge, wide experience, the judicial temperament, unsullied integrity and a high sense of honor, George N. Parker is one of the leading representatives of his profession in Crawford County, having resided in Robinson since boy- hood. Mr. Parker is a native of the county, having been born within its limits April 9, 1843, a son of Samuel and Emeline (Lanham) Parker, the former of whom was a native of Miami Township. Butler County, Ohio, and the latter born in Clinton County, Ia. Samuel Parker, with his father, Jonathan, came to Illinois be- fore it was admitted to the Union in 1818, and there Jonathan Parker died near Flat Rock, Crawford County.

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Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 160

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