USA > Illinois > Christian County > Past and present of Christian County, Illinois > Part 33
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prises that have proved successful He is president of the Christian County Coal Com- pany of Taylorville and vice president of the Farmers' National Bank of this city. He owns considerable property, including twen- ty-six hundred and sixty-five acres of fine farming land in. Christian county and over one thousand acres in Mississippi. While re- siding on his farm he gave considerable at- tention to the raising of stock for the market and found that business quite profitable.
Mr. Johnston was married in 1879 to Miss Sarah E. Wilson, who was reared in this state, and to them have been born two chil- dren : Roy A. and Cleona. Mr. Johnston is a member of the Masonic fraternity. As a Democrat he has taken quite an active and prominent part in local politics and for eight terms served as supervisor of Johnson township. He was also president of the board of education for three years. The record of Mr. Johnston is that of a man who by his own efforts has worked his way up- ward to a position of affluence. His life has been one of industry and perseverance, and the systematic and honorable business meth- ods he has followed have won for him the confidence and respect of all.
B. P. WINDSOR, M. D.
Dr. B. P. Windsor, who follows scientific methods in the practice of his profession and whose knowledge and capability rank him among the foremost representatives of the medical fraternity in Christian county, has made his home in Mount Auburn since 1899, and during this period has gained a very gratifying patronage. He was born in McLean county, Illinois, on the 15th of July, 1874, a son of E. B. and Mary Alice (Grant) Windsor. About fifteen years ago his father removed to Horton, Kansas, and
for thirteen years was foreman of the round- house of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific and the Chicago & Alton Railroad Com- panies. For three years he was in the mas- ter mechanics' office and three years ago he took up his abode in Mount Auburn, where he has recently been appointed postmaster, so that he is now discharging the duties of that position.
Dr. Windsor, having mastered the pre- liminary branches of English learning, con- tinued his studies in the high school of Hor- ton, Kansas, and also in Creighton Uni- versity, at Omaha, Nebraska, in which in- stitution he prepared for the practice of med- icine and won the Doctor of Medicine degree with the class of 1895. Further preparation for the important duties of the profession was received through six months' hospital experience in St. Joseph's Hospital, at Omaha, and in 1897 he went to Chicago, where he was assistant to Professor Sanger Brown in the Post-Graduate Hospital for a year. He also served for six months in the United States Marine Hospital at Omaha, Nebraska, and on the 25th of October, 1899: he came to Mount Auburn to make his home.
Dr. Windsor then purchased of W. K. Wright four acres of ground, on which he has built a fine modern residence of eleven rooms, supplied with all up-to-date equip- ments. He has his own gas plant, hot and cold water, bathroom, and the house is heated by hot water. He has his office in his residence and also the central office of the Independent and Bell Telephone Com- panies. His home is most tastefully and beautifully furnished and an air of gracious and hearty hospitality pervades the place. Dr. Windsor has also erected a modern six- room house in which his father is living.
On the 26th of May, 1897, Dr. Windsor
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was united in marriage to Miss Litia Carter, a daughter of Dr. A. H. Carter, a practicing physician of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Unto the Doctor and his wife were born, on the 29th of June, 1898, twin boys, Bennet P. and John Clark, but the former died in in- fancy. Dr. and Mrs. Windsor are members of the Christian church, and he is a valued representative of several fraternal organiza- tions. He belongs to Kedron Lodge, No. 340. A. F. & A. M .; Racy Lodge, No. 629, K. P., of Mount Auburn ; and the Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 2849. His uniform courtesy and kindly disposition have gained him many friends outside those whom he has met professionally and he is a popular citizen of Mount Auburn. His attention, however, is chiefly given to his profession, which makes heavy demands upon his time, his patronage continually increasing. In ad- dition to a large private practice he is now examining physician to the John Hancock Life Insurance Company, the Aetna, the New York Mutual and the New York Life Insurance Companies. He is a men- ber of the Christian County Medical Society, the Decatur Medical Society, the Illinois State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. He has un- faltering regard for the ethics of the profes- sion and enjoys the highest respect and con- fidence of his brethren of the medical fra- ternity as well as of the general public.
JUDGE LYMAN G. GRUNDY.
He is actively connected with a profes- sion which has important bearing upon the progress and stable prosperity of any sec- tion or community, and one which has long been considered as conserving the public welfare by furthering the ends of justice and maintaining individual rights. His
reputation as a lawyer has been won through earnest, honest labor, and his standing at the bar is a merited tribute to his ability. He now has a very large practice, and his careful preparation of cases is supplemented by a power of argument and a forceful presentation of his points in the courtroom, so that he never fails to impress court or jury, and seldom fails to gain the verdict desired.
The Judge was born in Macoupin coun- ty, Illinois, near Virden, in 1861, a son of Harry and Ellen M. (Smith) Grundy, who are now residing near Morrisonville, in Christian county. The paternal grand- father of our subject was Henry Grundy who came to America from England in the year 1853. Establishing his home in Bureau county, Illinois, he there engaged in business as a stock man. He married Ruth Gladstone, a lady of Scotch descent, and both have now passed away. The maternal grandfather of our subject was John G. Smith, a native of North Carolina, whence he removed to Jersey county, Illinois, in the early '30s. He wedded Polly Ann White, a daughter of Jacob White of Jersey county. In the vicinity of Virden John G. Smith made his home and carried on farming for many years. He was one of the supervisors of Macoupin county and took an active part in public affairs, being recognized as one of the leading and influential citizens of his community. Harry Grundy was born in Lincolnshire, England, and, crossing the At- lantic to America when a young man, lo- cated in Bureau county, Illinois, in 1850, as one of its pioneer settlers. He assisted in building the railroad and was engaged in working in the lumber woods until the time of his marriage, which occurred in 1860, the lady of his choice being Miss Ellen M. Smith, a native of Jersey county. The
L. G. GRUNDY
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young couple began their domestic life upon a farm in Macoupin county and in 1863 re- moved to Christian county, where they have since resided. In the family are three sons and a daughter: Lyman G., Charles N., George G., and Maude, the wife of Louis Rittger.
In the common schools of Morrisonville Judge Grundy acquired the rudiments of his education, and spent one year as a student in the Jacksonville Business College at Jack- sonville, Illinois, and two years in Mon- mouth College. For seven years he engaged in teaching school, being for three years a teacher in Ricks township, and for a similar period he was principal of the high school of Pana. He also served as principal of the schools of Morrisonville for one year and was known as a capable educator who imparted clearly, readily and concisely to others the knowledge that he had gained. He followed that profession until 1890, when, wishing to make the practice of law his life work, he began reading in Pana and subsequently he pursued a course of study in the law department of the Uni- versity of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated with the class of 1893. The same year he located in Taylorville, forming a partnership with Ex-Judge Rufus M. Potts. This relation was maintained until the succeeding year, when Mr. Grundy was nominated for the position of judge of Christian county on the Republican ticket, securing election by a majority of nine hun- dred and forty, although the usual Demo- cratic majority is seven hundred. No higher testimonial of his personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow- citizens could be given. On the bench his decisions were always fair and impartial and were a correct application of legal principles to the points in litigation. He won high
encomiums from the bar and proved a capa- ble officer. On his retirement from the bench he resumed the practice of law in Taylorville. While on the bench he tried the first case involving the Australian ballot law in this state, which was brought up under the name of White versus Orr, being an election contest case for county superin- tendent of schools of Christian county. The construction put upon the statute by Judge Grundy was sustained and affirmed by the supreme court of Illinois and has been the leading case of the kind in this state. After his retirement from the bench the Judge be- came a member of the law firm of Sharrock & Grundy, but this connection was dissolved in August, 1903, and our subject has since been alone in practice. He is patient and persevering, possesses an analytical mind and one that is readily receptive and re- tentive of the fundamental principles and intricacies of the law. He is fearless in his defense of any cause he may espouse and at the bar has won many notable victories.
On the 2d of June, 1897, Judge Grundy was united in marriage to Miss Roxy C. Bates, a daughter of Zura F. Bates, of Lo- cust township, Christian county, and they now have a son, Harry Bates Grundy. So- cially the Judge is connected with the Ma- sonic fraternity and the Knights of Pythias order and is past chancellor commander of the latter lodge in Taylorville. He is also a member of the Presbyterian church and his life has ever been actuated by sterling principles and characterized by close fidelity to every cause, measure or improvement which he believes to be right.
WILLIAM E. TURNER.
William E. Turner, who is occupying the position of cashier in the bank of B. A. Tur- ner in Edinburg. is one of the native sons
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of Christian county, his birth having oc- curred in Taylorville on the 27th of Febru- ary, 1872. His preliminary education, ac- quired in the public schools, was supple- mented by a course of study in the business college at Quincy, Illinois. From 1890 until 1897. he engaged in teaching in the district schools and proved a most capable instructor, imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired. From 1897 until 1899 he was principal of the public schools of Good Hope, Illinois. and in July of the latter year he accepted the position of cashier in the banking house of his brother. B. A. Turner, of Edinburg. in which capacity he has since served. He is a popular official and to his efforts may be attributed not a little of the success of the institution.
On the 27th of July, 1897. Mr. Turner was united in marriage to Miss Edith F. Hitchcock, a daughter of the Rev. W. H. Hitchcock of Lewiston, Fulton county, Illi- nois. They have an adopted daughter, Hazel Evelyn. Mr. and Mrs. Turner are widely and favorably known in this city and enjoy the warm regard of a large circle of friends, while the hospitality of the best homes is freely accorded them. In public matters Mr. Turner is prominent and influ- ential and in April, 1903, he was selected president of the village on the anti-license ticket. Everything pertaining to the welfare of the community receives his endorsement and co-operation and he is exercising his official prerogatives in support of whatever tends to benefit his community.
OLIVER LEE CROW, M. D.
Dr. Oliver Lee Crow, the junior member of the firm of Rockey & Crow, physicians and surgeons of Assumption, was born in
Blue Mound, Illinois, October 16, 1878, and is a son of E. W. and Nancy Jane ( Dealty) Crow, who were also natives of Blue Mound. By their marriage they became the parents of seven children who are yet living.
Dr. Crow spent his boyhood days under the parents' roof in Macon county and at the usual age began his education as a pupil in the public schools of Blue Mound. Subse- quently he attended the Illinois State Nor- 'nal School at Bloomington for a year, and then turned his attention to teaching, which profession he followed for three years in the district schools of Christian county, giving excellent satisfaction by reason of his easy and accurate manner of imparting to others the knowledge that he had acquired. When twenty years of age he began to study medi- cine, having resolved to make its practice his life work. He spent four years in St. Louis, Missouri, as a student in the College of Phy- sicians & Surgeons, and during his college clays he was also under the preceptorage of Dr. A. C. Foster, now of Bement, Illinois, and Dr. William Barnes, of Decatur, Illi- nois. He made a splendid record while in college. He won first honors in the first, second and fourth years and was valedic- torian of his graduating class. He has a gold medal won for scholarship during his senior year, and he was graduated on the 8th of April, 1903, a member of a class of sixty-one, fifty-nine of whom made grade. Aside from his regular course in medicine and surgery he also pursued a six months' course in pharmacy, and thus he was par- ticularly well equipped when he came to As- sumption to enter upon the difficult and arduous duties of the medical profession. Forming a partnership with Dr. Rockey he has already won the public confidence in a large degree and has secured a very liberal patronage for a young and newly established
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physician. His high standing in college argues well for a successful professional career.
Dr. Crow was married December 24, 1902, to Miss Ida Kester, a daughter of I. K. Kester, a farmer living east of Macon, Illinois. She was born in Christian county, March 3. 1880, attended the Taylorville schools, the Decatur high school and Chris-
tian College, at Columbia, Missouri. She made a specialty of the study of music and has engaged in teaching that art. Both the Doctor and his wife have already made many warm friends in Assumption, where they have a pleasant home, noted for its gracious and charming hospitality. He is a Repub- lican in his political views.
MRS. LAURA B. EVANS.
Mrs. Laura B. Evans, who is serving as a trustee of the state university and as presi- dent of the library board of Taylorville, is one of the most prominent and influential ladies of this portion of Illinois and her ef- forts have been effective in promoting edu- cational advancement. She was born in Weston, Missouri, and is a daughter of Ur- bane Neill and Elizabeth ( Malson ) Twadell. Her father was born on the 12th of April, 1830, at Springhill, Logan county. Ohio, and died in the year 1864. He went to Kan- sas at the time of the great struggle concern- ing its admission as a free or slave state. He was married there and afterward removed to Missouri, where in 1862 he offered his services to the government, enlisting in St. Louis, in the Eleventh Missouri Cavalry. His family then went to Clinton, Illinois, where his wife's parents were living. Mr. Twadell remained in the army until 1864, when he died from a congestive chill.
Mrs. Evans and her mother and brother,
Charles N. Twadell, afterward removed to Waynesville, where her later girlhood days were passed. In 1877 she gave her hand in marriage to Charles E. Evans, who was born in Waynesville in 1855, and is a son of James W. and Elizabeth Evans. He was serving as postmaster at the time of their marriage and Mrs. Evans was at once in- stalled as deputy. In 1879 they removed to Kansas and subsequently came to Taylor- ville, Illinois, where Mr. Evans accepted a position with S. S. Sprague & Company, grain dealers, with whom he remained for twelve years or until the elevator of the com- pany was destroyed by fire. He then be- came bookkeeper for Price & Wilkinson and yet occupies this position. He is an expert accountant and is now acting as auditor in connection with the Boyd case which is in court. He is a representative of the Houser family, one of the oldest and most prominent families of the state.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Evans have been born three children: Nonna, who died in 1898 at the age of sixteen years ; Bessie, who was born in 1885 and is now a student in Forest Park Seminary of St. Louis, Missouri; and Kenneth, who was born in 1882 and is now a student in the State University of Illinois at Champaign. He is a member of the class of 1904 and he belongs to the Beta Theta Pi. Both Mr. and Mrs. Evans hold membership in the Presbyterian church and he is a valued member of the Woodman Camp, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. the Loyal American Legion and the Court of Honor.
Mrs. Evans received her education in Waynesville Academy and was actively con- nected with public work in the city of Waynesville. When but fourteen years of age she was chosen to present a flag to the Republican club of the city. After remov- ing to Taylorville she joined the Women's
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Relief Corps, the Eastern Star, the Rebekah Lodge, the Tribe of Ben Hur and the Court of Honor and has exerted a strong influence in all of these organizations. She was the president of the Women's Relief Corps when in 1892 it erected a monument to the old soldiers in the cemetery here. This mont- ment was unveiled by her daughter Bessie in the presence of the largest crowd ever assembled in Taylorville. In 1900 the fam- ily removed to Champaign in order that the son Kenneth might attend college there. They were there two years and while there the friends of Mrs. Evans insisted upon her becoming a candidate for the position of a trustee for the state university. The con- vention was held in Springfield, Illinois, and two hundred and fifty of her Taylorville friends went to that city to secure her nom- ination. She was placed in nomination by Mrs. S. L. Chamberlain in one of the best speeches ever made by a woman in Illinois and in 1902 she was elected to the position upon the Republican ticket. Mrs. Evans early became identified with the Womans' Club, which was organized in 1897 with the object of establishing a library here. She became chairman of the library committee and was one of six ladies who collected eight hundred volumes and presented them to the mayor and council for the city on the condi- tion that the city would furnish a room for library purposes in the city hall, which was readily agreed to. Mrs. Evans is now the president of the library board. The library has received a donation from Carnegie of twelve thousand dollars and the institution has become one of great value and of prom- inence in Christian county. Mrs. Evans is a woman of broad mind, of liberal culture and of innate refinement and her influence is strong and forceful; her efforts in behalf of intellectuality and educational advance-
ment have been far-reaching and beneficial ; and her work in other lines has been of great benefit to her fellow-men.
1. B. GORDEN.
Prairieton township probably has no more honored or highly respected citizen than the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He was born on the 2d of Feb- ruary, 1843, in Montgomery county, Ken- tucky, of which state his parents, William V. and Lydia E. Ribelin Gorden, were also natives. They were married December 7. 1841, and in their family were the following children: I. B .; William R .; Randall R .; Thomas J .; John M .: Joseph A .; Sarah J. ; Mary A., deceased ; and B. F., also deceased. Coming to Illinois the family located in Christian county on the 5th of March, 1862. and here the mother died two years later. passing away on the ioth of January, 1864. The father, who long survived her, died at the old homestead in Christian county, Feb- ruary 22, 1899. He was a son of Randall R. and Rachel ( Baber) Gorden, natives of Virginia. At the age of nine years, how- ever, Randall R. Gorden went to Kentucky, floating down the Ohio river on a flatboat and landing on the present site of Mays- ville, where he located. On the trip he was shot at by the Indians who were then very hostile to the white settlers. He was only eighteen years of age at the time of his mar- riage, while the bride was a girl of fifteen.
In the state of his nativity I. B. Gorden was reared and educated, pursuing his studies in an old log schoolhouse. He was twenty years of age at the time of the re- moval of the family to Christian county. Illinois, and two years later he started out in life for himself as a farmer, operating rented land for three years. At the end of that time he purchased eighty acres on sec-
1. B. GORDEN AND FAMILY
WILLIAM V. GORDEN, MAUD AND CELIA GORDEN
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tion 20, Prairieton township, where he now resides, and has since added to his property until he now has two hundred and forty acres, which is under a high state of cultiva- tion and well improved with good and sub- stantial buildings. The pleasant residence is surrounded by fine shade trees, all of which were set out by Mr. Gorden, and the neat and thrifty appearance of his place plainly indicates the supervision of a pro- gressive and painstaking owner.
On the 26th of January. 1865, Mr. Gor- den was united in marriage to Miss Effa- dilla Workman, a daughter of Stephen B. Workman, who came to this county at an early day. She died March 29, 1897, leav- ing the following children, namely : Charles, who is married and is engaged in farming in Macon county: James W., who is mar- ried and lives in Cincinnati, Ohio: Mary L .. wife of Albert Ziegler, a farmer of Prairie- ton township, this county : Maggie M., wife of Hiram Bilyeu; and Louis I., Estella Grace and Thomas L., all at home. The family hold membership in the Christian church and the hospitality of the best homes of the community is extended to them, for they have many friends and are held in the highest regard by all who know them. Mr. Gorden uses his right of franchise in sup- port of the Democratic party and its princi- ples, and he has capably filled the offices of township collector and school trustee, serv- ing in the former capacity four years and in the latter nineteen years. He has recently returned from Kentucky, where he went to purchase the burial plot in which the re- mains of his grandparents were interred.
G. B. CLAUSSEN.
G. B. Claussen through much of his life has resided in Christian county and is to-day the owner of a valuable farm of two hundred
and forty acres of well improved land on section 10, Stonington township. He has resided here continuously since 1867, and the excellent improvements upon the prop- erty are an indication of his diligence, enter- prise and progressive spirit.
Mr. Claussen was born in Montgomery county, Illinois, on the 15th of April. 1843, and is a son of E. H. and Sarah (Lingo) Claussen. His father was a native of Den- mark and in 1834 came to the United States. He landed in New Orleans, where he re- mained for but a year and then removed to Bond county, Illinois, in 1835. In the early years of his residence in this country he was engaged in school teaching. He was a very well educated man, a fine linguist, and taught three different languages. In Bond county he married Miss Sarah Lingo, and they afterward lived in Madison, Montgom- cry and Jefferson counties, successively. In the last named county Mr. Claussen died on the 23d of July, 1849, at the age of thirty- five years.
Our subject's mother was born in St. Charles county, Missouri, February 19. 1817, and is a daughter of James and Jane (Thompson) Lingo, the former born in Vir- ginia. July 5, 1777, and the latter in Ken- tucky, January 30, 1790. Her paternal grandfather, James Lingo. Sr., was a mem- ber of Washington's army during the Revo- lutionary war and fell in battle in 1780 or 1781. His widow was left with three small children, the oldest being a girl and the sec- ond James, Jr. She died when the latter was only twelve years of age and the chil- dren were then bound out to different per- sons in Virginia as their property had been destroyed by the Tories during the war. James Lingo, Jr., remained a resident of that state until grown and then went to Ken- tucky, where he was married in 1810 to
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Jane Thompson. Her ancestors migrated to Kentucky when that region was inhab- ited only by the savage Indians, being a member of the same colony with Peter Cart - wright's father. They had to corral their wagons and some of the number stood on guard with their guns while the others work. building homes in the forests. At that time the state was not laid out into counties and sections. William Thompson, Mrs. Lingo's father, settled at a place known as the Flag Spring and there established a postoffice. It was at that place that Mrs. Lingo was born. Her father was a soldier of the War of 1812, under the command of General Wil- liam Henry Harrison, afterward president of the United States. He died when about eighty years of age. In 1811, the year fol- lowing his marriage, Mr. Lingo and his wife removed to Missouri. They went up the Mississippi river in what was known as a keel boat and stopped at St. Louis, which was then a small village. inhabited mostly by French and Spaniards. During their so- journ in Missouri they lived a part of the time in St. Charles county and the remainder in St. Louis county. Much of the time they were in great peril on account of the hostile Indians, who would often kill whole fami- lies. The early settlers would build their houses without windows so that no light could be seen at night that might be a guide to the Indians. In 1824 Mr. Lingo brought his family to Illinois, our subject's mother being then seven years of age, and settled in Madison county. They crossed the river at St. Louis in a ferryboat propelled by horses. AAt that time herds of deer were often seen on Looking Glass prairie and the large nun- ber of wolves made it dangerous for chil- dren and even grown folks to venture out alone, especially after night. Thrilling tales were told of people being torn to pieces by
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