Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 173

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 173

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).

Mr. Woodworth is a man whose intelligence and public spirit brought him into active co-op- eration with his fellow citizens in various move- ments of the day, and he can always be relied upon to take an advanced stand, his influence ever being cast on the side of progress. Shrewd, alert, careful in looking after the interests of his depositors, he is a man who has always com- manded the highest confidence, and no one has ever possessed in a higher degree the full esteem of the community, as private citizen and head of a great banking institution which his own ability and foresight built up out of a small beginning originally undertaken as a side issue in connec- tion with mercantile business.

WOODWORTH, Martin B. (deceased) .- The lives of those gone before often point out morals and show the gratifying result of good living. After a man is dead, his true character comes to light, and when his memory is honored and his life pointed to as a standard of Christian endeavor, then he has not lived in vain. The late Martin B. Woodworth of Palestine, Craw- ford County, Ill., was a man of the most excel- lent habits, conscientious and hard working, and a true Christian in every sense of the word.

Mr. Woodworth was born in La Motte Town- ship, Crawford County, August 19, 1825, a son of J. S. and Polly (Gill) Woodworth, a concise sketch of whom will be found in connection with a blographical record of his half brother, Abner P. Woodworth of Robinson. Mr. Woodworth was educated by a private tutor in his younger days. and later attended the Palestine schools. He remained with his father until his marriage, when he commenced farming on 100 acres of

land his father had given him, located in La Motte Township. Of this, 30 acres were Im- proved, and he cleared off and improved most of the remainder, and added to his holdings until he owned some 200 acres in one body. Afterward he sold the first property and bought 100 acres on the east side of Palestine, upon which he and his wife moved in 1870, and which continued to be his home until his death, whleli occurred August 10, 1904, when he lacked but nine days of being seventy-nine years old.

Mr. Woodworth had united with the MethodIst Episcopal Chruch when a young man, and his funeral was held in the Methodist Church at Palestine, the Rev. S. B. Edmondson officiating. The body was interred in the Wesley Chapel Cemetery, four miles southeast of Palestine, and Mrs. Woodworth has there erected a beautiful monument to his memory. He was a Republican but not an office-seeker.

Mr. Woodworth was instrumental in securing the establishment of the Illinois Central machine shop at Palestine, at the time the road was built, and he furnished and helped to raise con- siderable money for that purpose. After his re- tirement, Mr. Woodworth became a director of the First National Bank in Robinson, Ill., aud was most highly esteemed in the business world. The crowd which attended his funeral was im- mense, all striving to render him honor.

The widow of Mr. Woodworth, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth (Crews) Woodworth, was born on a farm near Palestine, Ill., September 29, 1831, a daughter of William J. and Amelia ( Spraggins) Crews, the former born October 7, 1802, in Tenn- essee, where he was a farmer, while the latter was born in Lincoln County, Ky., August S, 1810. John Crews, the grandfather of Mrs. Woodworth, was English and came to Crawford County when but little of it had been developed. At that time there were no roads, and much of the land being under water, quleksands abounded. Mrs. Crews' people were from Kentucky, but they, too, became pioneers of Crawford County at a period when Mrs. Crews was only six years old.

Mrs. Woodworth attended the subscription schools in early girlhood, but later had the ad- vantage of attending more modern schools near Palestine. She was married at her father's home February 29, 1848, to Martin B. Wood- worth. After the death of Mr. Woodworth, Mrs. Woodworth built her present home, which is a very comfortable one, and she now lives there surrounded by every comfort. She has been a consistent member of the Methodist Church for sixty years, and Is one of the substantlal resl- dents of Palestine, who is managing her property interests thriftlly and successfully. She is pos- sessed of ample means, is prominent In church work, and an important factor lui the life of her community.

WRIGHT, James Wesley .-- One of the homes to which the people of Palestine point with pride is the one occupied by James Wesley Wright. once known as the Lagow homestead. It is sub-

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stantially built of brick, contains ten rooms and is one of the most comfortable and spacious in this locality. Set back 200 feet from the street, the beautiful lawn that surrounds it shows up to excellent advantage, and the ornamental trees are artistically interspersed with shrubs and flowers. In this charming home Mr. Wright is living retired from the active duties of life, rent- ing his farm of 500 acres.

Mr. Wright was born in Gibson County, Ind., October 1, 1851, a son of Andrew Jackson and Lucinda (Spain) Wright. The father was born in Gibson County, Ind., August 24, 1822, and he died February 23, 1883, when sixty-one years of age, in La Motte Township. In 1853 he moved from Gibson County, Ind., to Pike County, Ind., and in 1862 came to Crawford County, buying 860 acres of land, part timber and part prairie. He was a very extensive raiser of cattle, horses and hogs, and raised more corn than the majority of his neighbors, even then having great faith in corn, and appreciating the suitability of Illi- nois soil for its production. His wife, also born in Gibson County, Ind., in 1826, was a daughter of Archie Spain who came from Virginia.

Mr. Wright was given the usual educational advantages of his place and time and made good use of them. Later he attended Merom College. Returning home he commenced farming and did not retire until he had become the owner of 500 acres, which he devoted to wheat, corn and stock. In politics he is a Republican, and fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen. For thirty-seven years he has been a member of the Christian Church and is now one of its Trustees.

On October 17, 1880, Mr. Wright was married to Eva Pearce, daughter of the late Zadok Alex- ander and Louisa Jane (Wilhite) Pearce, in Oak Grove Church on La Motte Prarie, near Palestine, by the Rev. T. C. Smith, President of the Union Christian College at Merom, Ind. Three girls have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wright: Pearl, born April 12, 1883, on La Motte Prairie; Laota Clair, born July 2, 1886, in Palestine ; and Hazel Spain, born October 20, 1897, and died the same day. June 7, 1906, Pearl married the Rev. H. G. Rowe of Union City, Ind., who is now in charge of the large church community at Atwood, Ill. At the time of her marriage Mrs. Rowe was a teacher of Elocution and Oratory at the Union Christian College. She is a graduate of Colum- bia College. A charming feature of the marriage was that it was performed on the same platform at the college on which Mr. Rowe had received his diploma, after an evening's entertainment given by Mrs. Rowe.

Prior to marriage, Mrs. Rowe and her sister, Laota, travelled extensively. Mrs. Rowe went with her uncle William C. Pearce, International Sunday School Superintendent of Chicago, to the Holy Land in 1903, to attend the International Sunday School Convention held in Jerusalem, and from there they went to all parts of the Holy Land, and the trip consumed seventy-one days. Miss Laota went in 1907 on a trip that was equally interesting. Starting from Boston

she visited the Azores and Rome, Italy, where another International Sunday School Convention was being held. She accompanied the same uncle. From Rome they went to the principal cities of Europe, including Paris, Venice, London and Heidelberg, after a tour of three months, re- turning home via New York.

Mrs. Wright comes of an old and honored family. Her father, Zadok Alexander Pearce, was born in Warren County, Ind., March 4, 1829, and died October 21, 1881. She was one of a family of four children born to her parents : William C., Mrs. Ida Decker, Mrs. Wright and Mrs. Ora Godley. Coming to Crawford County . in 1851, her father was one of the energetic and successful farmers here until his demise. Few men were more prominent than he in the Chris- tian Church, and he was buried from the Oak Grove Church, President Aldrich of the Union Christian Church officiating, while Hon. E. Calla- han delivered a touching address. Mrs. Pearce, born on La Motte Prairie, Ill., September 18, 1833, died February 1, 1892, at the home of her son, William C. Pearce. She had been a mem- ber of the Methodist Church, but transferred to the Christian Church when it was organized. She was a daughter of Enoch and Polly (Myers) Wilhite. When she died, Mrs. Pearce left two brothers, M. H. Wilhite and W. C. Wilhite. The services were held at the home of her son, Wil- liam C. Pearce, the Rev. J. E. Steele officiating, and later there were services at the Oak Grove Church where Rev. Aldrich, who three months before had performed the same office for her husband, conducted the services over her re- mains. She was laid to rest by the side of her husband in Oak Grove Cemetery.

WURTZBERGAR, Andrew J. - Agricultural prosperity seems to be the prevailing order in Crawford County, where broad fields and sub- stantial buildings reflect the owner's industry, enterprise and thrift. Andrew J. Wurtzbergar of Section 36, Oblong Township, was born on the old homestead, August 23, 1877, a son of Andrew Wurtzbergar, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, November 13, 1848, and died October 28, 1900. He came to Oblong Township, Crawford County, Ill., in 1850, being brought by his father, Wil- liam Wurtzbergar. William entered 340 acres, a portion of which is included in the farm of the present Andrew J. Wurtzbergar. William also erected the present home, and cleared his land of timber. In politics he was a Democrat, and at an early day was quite prominent in public affairs.

The present Andrew J. Wurtzbergar was edu- cated in the common schools and at Wyoming Academy, and then on March 22, 1899, enlisted in Company H, Eighteenth United States Regu- lars, and went to the Philippines. He was in the battle of Illayas, November 21, 1899; in the bat- tle of Lata Barbiria, December 14, 1900; Lubin- gan, October 15, 1900, and was honorably dis- charged and commended for honest and faithful service, March 21, 1902, at Fort Russel, Wyo. The commander of the regiment was Col. W. J.

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Sano, while the captain of the company was Capt. E. L. Butts.

Returning home, Mr. Wurtzbergar was married April 27, 1902, to Edith M. Brock, daughter of Telman H. Brock, a farmer of Oblong Township, where she was reared, having been born in Ir- oquois County, Ill., and brought here when nine years of age, Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wurtzbergar: Charles William and Mabel Beneta, both born on the homestead, the former September 23, 1903, and the latter, October 21, 1905. Mr. Wurtzbergar has fifty acres of fine land, which he devotes to general farming. In politics he is a Democrat, and fra- ternally he belongs to the order of American Patriots. Mrs. Wurtzbergar is a member of the Christian Church.

WURTZBERGAR, William P .- Domestic and social life on the prosperous Illinois farm of the twentieth century, and under varying conditions, is just so broad and so deep as are the individ- uals who compose it. Life in the country, as no- where else, presents the most favorable condi- tions for permanent advancement. In most com- munities of this great Commonwealth is to be found easy communications between different portions of the county. The telephone elimin- ates time and distance, the daily mail brings news of the world. Mechanical genius has revolution- ized the labor of the farm, and machinery trans- forms, in a day, the landscape of a country. Among the progressive young farmers of Craw- ford County is William Wurtzbergar of Section 35, Oblong Township, who was born on his pres- ent farm, April 7, 1874, a son of Andrew Wurtz- bergar, now deceased, who was a farmer of Ob- long Township but a native of Ohio, born in 1848. His father, William Wurtzbergar, was a pioneer of Oblong Township, born in Pennsylvania, and married in Ohio, to Frances Miller, of German descent. William Wurtzbergar and wife werc the parents of five children, one son and four daughters. He brought his young family to Ob- long Township at a very early date, and here reared them. He entered a farm of several hun- dred acres and placed it under cultivation, and there he resided until his death. All his life he was Democratic in his political views, and be- came very well known throughout the county.

Andrew Wurtzbergar was educated in the early log schoolhouse and when he attained to manhood estate he married Lucy (Best) Ikemire, widow of Jesse Ikemire. She had two daughters and a son by her first marriage to John Larrabe, who died in the Union Army during the Clvil War. Mr. and Mrs. Wurtzbergar had eight chil- dren, three sons and five daughters, of whom William P. was the eldest, the others being : Andrew, Jr., Lucy, Mattie and four deceased- all born on the homestead of 200 acres. The father cleared about 70 acres of this and 70 acres each on two other farms. Like his father he be- came a very widely known Democrat, and was noted for his energy as a farmer and stock-raiser. His death occurred when he was fifty-two years old.

William P. Wurtzbergar attended the district school of Oblong Township and was reared on the old homestead. On April 7, 1898, he married l'earl Jackson, a farmer of that county. Five children have been boru to Mr. and Mrs. Wurtz- bergar : Andrew Thomas, Florence, Hazel, Ches- ter, and Vernon. A daughter, Bertie Alice, was born to Mr. Wurtzbergar by a former mnarrlage. his first wife having been Lucy Stitle, a daughter of Jasper Stifle. The children all have been born in the present home.

Mr. Wurtzbergar helped his father clear 70 acres of the present farm and has made many of the improvements upon it, developing it into a very valuable piece of property. He, too, Is a Democrat, but is not an office-seeker.

WYLDE, David Z., D. D. S .- Energy, enterprise and perseverance will accomplish large results, and no one has proved this more thoroughly than Dr. David 7. Wylde, one of the popular yonng dentists of Oblong, Crawford County, Ill. Dr. Wylde was born in Oblong, Jnly 13, 1883, a son of John and Lenora (Condrey) Wylde. John Wylde was a farmer, living one-half mlle north of Oblong, where he died when thirty-eight years of age. His widow was married July 4, 1899, to J. B. Hook. David Z. Condrey, grandfather of Dr. Wylde on his mother's side, served In the Civil War and was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant. The grandparents on the father's side were English, the grandfather having come to this country when thirty, and the grandmother in girlhood.

Dr. Wylde attended the common school until thirteen years old, when, his mother moving into town, he spent a year in the high school, and later went to the Dental College at Keoknk, Iowa, from which he was graduated when only nine. teen. He had exhausted his funds going through college, and returning home borrowed fifteen dol- lars from his mother and, with it went to St. Lonis where he worked in the Union Depot when not employed in his profession, but in 1905, re- turning to Oblong, opened an office there, and Is now one of the most popular men in his profes- slon, his skill being universally recognized. IIIs practice Is a very large one and is constantly growing. He is a Republican In polities, but Is liberal enough to concede that oftentimes men are found outside his party better titted for the office in question. On May S, 1908, he joined the Elks, and is enthusiastic over this order.

On March 9, 1905, Dr. Wylde was married at Etlingham to Cloa Burroughs-no issne. Dr. and Mrs. Wylde are very popular socially, and their hospitable home is thronged with their many friends.

YORK, Wiley Grant .- The discovery of oll in Crawford County changed the complexion of business in a good many localities, and made ex- credingly valuable otherwise barren land. The fortunate ones who have wells upon their prop- erty need no longer seek for opportuulties lo In- crease their material welfare, for the Income from a few of these welis is sufficient to remove

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them forever from any fear of want. Wiley Grant York, of Robinson, owns a farm of 112 acres, on which are nineteen good oil wells, and in addition to this property he owns 1,500 acres in Arkansas. He was born near Robinson, Crawford County, Ill., October 17, 1865. a son of Charles York, a farmer, who was born in 1824 and died in 1903. Brought up on the farm, Wiley Grant York early learned all the details of farm life upon his father's property of 200 acres, at the same time attending the district school, and after spending sometime at Merom College, de- voted attention to his farm, and after the dis- covery of oil on his property, to its proper mark- eting.

Mr. York has been twice married, his first marriage being with Miss Ellen May Beabout, February 21, 1892, in Crawford County. She was the daughter of a farmer, and was born February 5, 1873, and died in 1902. Mr. York was married at Danville. Ill., September 10, 1907, to Mrs. Mary (Beabout) Gordon, a widow with three children : Glenn, Dale and June Gordon. Mr. York has the following children by his first mar- riage: Alma Maud, born June 16, 1893, is in the eighth grade; Edna J. and Edgar Roy were twins and they died in infancy ; Virgie Bell, born August 17, 1898, attends school and is in the third grade, and Bessie Marie, born October 26, 1902, died in infancy. Mr. York has a beautiful home which is the center of domestic felicity, and is the scene of many delightful social gatherings, he and his wife displaying a lavish hospitality. Fraternally, Mr. York is a member of I. O. O. F., Masons, Modern Woodmen and Patrons of Hus- bandry, which succeeded the Grangers. His father was an enthusiastic Republican, naming his son for the late President Grant, and Mr. York is himself equally strong in his advocacy of the party principles. His large oil holdings have made him an important factor in the his- tory of Crawford County, and he is prominent alike in social, public and business affairs, and universally liked.

YORK, Willis Rily .- Crawford County is not only one of the best farming communities, but has centered in it extensive oil interests that have materially influenced the commercial and industrial life of this part of the State, and placed the owners of oil-producing property in the ranks of the well-to-do class. Among those thus fortunate is Willis Rily York, born in Rob- inson Township, January 4, 1855, a son of Ben- jamin and Jane (Athey) York, natives of Craw- ford County, Ill., and Licking County, Ohio, re- spectively. There were ten children in the family of Benjamin York, namely: Willis Rily. Alice, Mary, Eva, Ida, John, Amanda, Adeline, Cora 'and Leota, of whom Amanda died unmar- ried, and Eva and John died after marriage.

Until he was twenty years of age, Willis Rily York attended the district school of Robinson Township, and then purchased 40 acres of heavy woodland and cleared it all off with his own hands. He has added to it until he now owns 160 acres, and also has an interest in 470 acres

near Stoy, upon which are nineteen oil wells. For thirty-five years Mr. York has been operat- ing a threshing machine in his neighborhood and owns the very valuable machine which he uses.

On December 28, 1878, Mr. York was married in Granville Township, Jasper County, Ill., to Julia M. English, by 'Squire Ryan. The fol- lowing children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. York: Arthur Preston, born January 9, 1880, married Zella Green, daughter of Joseph Green of Crawford County, no issue; Walter Bruce, born February 8, 1881, married Maude Newlin, daughter of Sherman Newlin, and they have one girl; Leona Ophelia, born December 8, 1882, married Dr. Andrew J. Goodwin, of Crawford County, they live in Bradley, near Kankakee, Ill., and have one son ; Alma Madge, born October 19, 1885, married Orlin Kirk, of Crawford County, and they have two sons; Gracie, born June 19, 1887; Glen Garland, born January 31, 1892; Claudia, born June 20, 1895; Ashbel Millard, born August 1, 1897; Raymond Benjamin, born September 5, 1899, and Christina May, born Oc- tober 29, 1903.

Mrs. York is a daughter of Andrew Jackson and Amanda English, both born in Ohio. They had the following children: George Stephen, Wellington, Mrs. York, William Lincoln, Nettie Malinda, Alma, Lily and Cora, and of these five are married and the remainder deceased.

Mr. York is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen, and is active in both orders. For twenty years both he and Mrs. York have been consistent members of the Christian Church. Mr. York is a Republican in politics and in 1902 was elected County Treasurer on the Republican ticket when the county was Democratic by 100 majority. After serving his term as Treasurer. he still remains upon the farm farming and in the threshing business.

YOUNG, Aaron, a man who for many years operated his farm in Montgomery Township, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, August 16, 1830, a son of Robert Young, born in Newark, N. J., February 13, 1787. By trade he was a shoemaker and traveled about working at his trade. He married in Ohio, Sarah Gogin, born September 16, 1803, in Cape May, N. J., daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Scull) Gogin, and she became the mother of seven children. Robert Young was a soldier in the War of 1812, and a son of his, Robert S., died in the Civil War. Aaron Young was educated in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Crawford County. On January 4, 1865, he married in Miami County, Ohio, Sarah Yates, daughter of Edmund and Sarah (Leming) Yates. born June 20, 1842. They had children as fol- lows: Sarah L., Hannah C., Robert E. and Maria J., twins, and Mary L. Mr. Young is of Scotch descent, but his wife's parents traced back to Indian ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Young early connected themselves with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has long been a Repub- lican and is a prominent and well-liked man.

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YOUNG, Robert Chesley .- It is many years since registered stock was introduced into Craw- ford County, but now there are few farmers who do not have one or two horses, cows or hogs of registered stock. Registered stock produces bet- ter prices, are more prolific, and not any more expensive to raise, so that, once the initial price is paid, the profits are much larger. For this reason many men whose business acumen is great, are extensively engaged in the breeding and raising of registered stock, and among those who have been eminently successful along this line is Robert Chesley Young, of Hutsonville Township, Crawford County.

Mr. Young was born west of Danville, Ver- milion County, Ill., January 1, 1858, a son of David Young, who was born May 29, 1839, in Franklin County, Ohio. He came to Crawford County in 1892, and owns 239 acres of excellent farming land, which is in a good state of culti- vation. He owns a good residence and his farm buildings are in excellent condition. His first wife was Mildred Swim, who was a daughter of Nathaniel Swim, and died in April, 1870. They were married September 22, 1856, in Vermilion County, by the Rev. Jackson Partlow, of the Methodist Church, and seven children resulted from their union: George Monroe, born March 14, 1857; Robert Chesley ; Franklin A., born in 1860; Joseph K., born February 22, 1862; Mary Florence, born in 1865; Milton Gilbert. born in 1867; Lucy, born in 1870. His second wife was Mrs. Georgiana Wood, daughter of John Gunning, from Missouri. They were married September 8, 1881, by the Rev. Charles Seals, of the Baptist Church. She died In January, 1882, leaving no issue. In politics Mr. David Young is a Democrat, and while he has never aspired to public office, he has taken a deep interest in township affairs. He has been a good business man and worthy citizen.

Robert Chesley Young attended the Potomac School and remained in Vermilion County until he settled in Crawford County in 1892. On Feb- ruary 4, 1886, he married Kate Franklin. a daughter of B. G. Franklin and Mary (Buck) Franklin, natives of Indiana. The marriage was performed at the residence of A. G. Smith, by the Rev. J. R. Smith, of the United Brethren Church. Mrs. Young was born January 24, 1868, and has borne her husband these children : Cleo, born January 26, 1890, married Claude Tenny- son, a son of William Tennyson, and they have no Issue. They reside in Prairie Township. Mr. and Mrs. Young had twins born to them, Ray and Ralph, but Ray died July 12, 1898.

Mrs. Young has been a member of the Univer- sallst Church for ten years. Mr. Young raises Percheron horses and Poland-China and Hamp- shire hogs, shipping to the Chicago market. He also ships considerable cattle, and his prodnet always commands excellent prices on account of the superiority of his stock of all kinds.

ZIEGLER, Earnest .- The farmers of Crawford County are a fine set of men who possess plain

common sense, high courage and sincerity of pur- pose, and they have redeemed their land from the wild prairie and made it into wonderfully valuable property. Earnest Ziegler of Oblong Township, Section 6, was born in the township where he now resides, October 17, 1868, and here was reared and received a good common school education. He remained with his father, George Ziegler, nutil twenty-two, when he married and since that time has managed his father's farm. Oil has been discovered on his father's land. thus greatly increasing its vaine, and there are four- teen wells on it in active operation.

In 1890 Mr. Ziegler married Ava Gill, daughter of Lafayette Gill of Oblong Township. Mrs. Ziegler died in 1896, having horne her husband two children,-Lulu and George. About two years later Mr. Ziegler married Julia Sentney, a danghter of Henry Sentney. Mr. Ziegler and his present wife are the parents of the following children : Marietta, Ellen E., Leo Muri and Lilly May. Mr. Ziegler has always been a Democrat, and earnestly supports the principles and can- didates of that party. He is a hard-working. thrifty man who has always endeavored to do his full duty by his family and his neighbor and hls success is certainly well merited.

ZIEGLER, George .-- After a long and useful life filled with hard work and good deeds. George Ziegler of Oblong Township, Crawford County, is now living retired, enjoying the well-earned rest that is his. He was born in Perry County, Ohio, October 10, 1835, a son of Peter Ziegler, now de- ceased, who was a farmer of Ohio, and died when George was but ten years of age. Peter was born in Pennsylvania of German descent. He married Saloma Bowman, born in Pennsylvania also of German descent. In the family of seven chii- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Peter Ziegler, George was the third child and second son.

Being reared and educated in Ohio, as were all his brothers and sisters, George Ziegler ro- mained there nntil 1852, when he came to Illinois and settled in Oblong Township, he there rented a farm for about six years, and then bought the farm his son Ernest now operates consisting of 137 acres. This he cleared off. cultivated and improved. To the original purchase he added 421% acres, and devoted his farm to general farming and stock-raising until 1008, when he removed to Oblong and, building a very pleasant home, retired to it.

George Ziegler was married September 15. 1858, to Martha V. Muchmore, the daughter of Benjamin and Ruth ( Robinson ) Muchmore. Mrs. Ziegler was born in Indiana. They had three children : Edgar, Anna and Ernest. all born in Oblong Township, where Mrs. Ziegler died. Feb- rmary 19, 1896. On April 14, 1904. Mr. Ziegler married Rachel (Dedriek) Kirk, widow of Jos- eph Kirk, a farmer of Oblong Township. and a danghter of Jacob Dedrick. deceased, a . pioneer of Oblong Township. Mrs. Zlegler was born in Pennsylvania, June 21, 1849, and is of German descent. July 20. 1847, Jacob

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Dedrick, the father of Mrs. Ziegler, married Mary Delany, also born in Pennsylvania, and they had two daughters and three sons, one of the family being born in Oblong Town- ship. Mrs. Ziegler is the oldest of this family. The father left Pennsylvania when Mrs. Zieg- ler was four years old, and coming to Oblong in 1852, bought 120 acres of land there, but did not settle on it until 1864. He improved the property and there Mrs. Ziegler was reared. His

first wife dying, he married Rachel Smith, by whom he had two daughters.

While Mr. Ziegler is a Democrat he believes in voting for the right man without adhering too closely to party lines. He is a member of the United Brethren Church, while his wife belongs to the Christian Church. In 1907 oil was dis- covered on his property, which has greatly in- creased its value, and he now has fourteen wells in active operation.

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Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 173

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