USA > Illinois > Christian County > Past and present of Christian County, Illinois > Part 34
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the ferocious wolves. They would come round the houses at night and eat the scraps that were thrown out. Amid such surround- ings Mrs. Claussen grew to womanhood. Her father died August 11, 1835, and her mother passed away AAugust 11, 1845. About six years after the death of her first husband Mrs. Claussen married Ira Hewett, and in 1867 they came to Christian county, where he died on Christmas day of that year, after twelve years of married life. Mrs. Hewett is still an esteemed resident of Chris- tian county. She is a member of the United Baptist church and has lived an earnest and consistent Christian life.
By her first marriage Mrs. Hewett had nine children but two died in infancy. The others are as follows : James married Louisa Bateman, who died in Jackson county, Illi- nois, April 5. 1888; William married Eliza- beth Arthur and is now farming in Chris- tian county ; Newton wedded Mary Tuber- man and is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Minnesota : G. B. is the next of the fam- ily: Jasper is married and engaged in the grocery business in Indian Territory ; Alex- ander married Mansey Fanning and resides at Scottville, Illinois: and Malvina became the wife of John Yockey and died January 4 .. 1885.
G. B. Claussen pursued his education in the district schools of Jefferson county, Illi- nois, and when twenty years of age he went to California. He afterward made his way to the state of Washington but in 1867 re- turned to this state, establishing his home in Christian county, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of good land. He then began farming and from time to time as his financial resources have increased he has added to his property until he now has two hundred and forty acres of well im- proved land, constituting one of the fine
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farms of the locality. The tract was all raw and unimproved when it came into his pos- session, but with characteristic energy he began the work of plowing and planting and soon golden harvests rewarded his labors. He also worked for five years in the con- struction of the Wabash Railroad and the Eagle Grove branch of the Northwestern Railroad, but with this exception he has ever given his attention to agricultural interests. in which he has met with well deserved pros- perity. In politics he is a Republican. He has always lived with his mother, caring for her in the evening of life and by filial devo- tion repaying her for the love and care which she bestowed upon him in his youth.
E. A. HUMPHREYS.
One of the best known and most prom- inent lawyers of central Illinois .is E. A. Ilumphreys, who is now serving as state's attorney in Pana, filling the position for the second term. He was born November 20, 1852, in St. Louis, Missouri, and is a son of E. A. and Martha J. Humphreys. His father was a native of Coventry, England, born in 1821, and when seventeen years of age he came to this country, settling in what is now New York city. He became a resi- dent of Christian county in 1861, taking up his abode in Pana, where he followed the plasterer's trade, which he had learned in early life. He died in this city and his widow is still living here. He took a very active and helpful part in the upbuilding of Pana, was a member of the city council and also served on the board of education. Any- thing pertaining to the welfare and progress of the town elicited his attention and won his earnest co-operation. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church and gave
his political support to the Republican party until 1872, when he joined the organization known as liberal Republicans. In the fam- ily were four sons and two daughters, who are yet living.
E. A. Humphreys is indebted to the pub- `lic school system of Pana for the educational privileges he enjoyed. He was but nine years of age at the time of his parents' re- moval to this city and here he mastered the elementary branches of English learning. On attaining his majority he started out upon an independent business career and pursued the study of law under the direction of the firm of Kitchell & McMillen. Later his preceptor was Mr. McMillen and when he had sufficiently mastered the principles of jurisprudence to pass an examination he was admitted to the bar and entered upon the practice of law in Pana, where he has re- mained continuously since. He is thus actively connected with the profession which has important bearing upon the progress and stable prosperity of any section or commun- ity and one which has long been considered as conserving the public welfare by further- ing the ends of justice and maintaining in- dividual rights. The favorable judgment which the world passed upon him in his early years has never been set aside or in any de- gree modified. It has on the contrary been emphasized by his careful conduct of im- portant litigation, his candor and fairness in the presentation of his cases, his zeal and earnestness as an advocate, and the generous commendation he has received from his con- temporaries, who unite in bearing testimony as to his high character and superior mind. In 1873 he was elected city attorney and that he proved a most capable officer is in- dicated by the fact that he was continued in the position by election for sixteen years. In 1896 he was elected state's attorney and
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was re-elected in 1900 for a second term of four years, so that he is the present in- cumbent in that office.
Mr. Humphreys is also engaged in stock farming and has one of the largest droves of full-blooded registered English Berkshire hogs in America. He also owns a herd of registered Aberdeen Angus cattle. He ships hogs all over the central portion of the cour- try and has made an excellent reputation for handling only pure-blooded animals. In this business he is associated with his son and their stock farm. comprising one hundred and sixty acres. is pleasantly and conveni- ently located near Pana. Mr. Humphreys. however, gives the greater part of his time and attention to the duties of his position as state's attorney. He owns considerable business and residence property in Pana in addition to his farming lands and he has ever enjoyed quite an extensive and import- ant law practice.
In 1877 occurred the marriage of Mr. Humphreys and Mrs. A. C. McMillen and they had one son. Arthur, who is associated with his father in the stock business. For his second wife Mr. Humphreys chose Miss Clara E. Trower and they were married on the 30th of September. 1899. Mrs. Humphreys is a member of the Presbyterian church, while Mr. Humphreys has member- ship relations with the Knights of Pythias. the Woodmen. the. Fraternal Aid Associa- tion. the Fraternal Army and the Mystic Circle. In his political views he has ever been a Democrat and he takes an active in- terest in the growth and success of his party. believing strongly in its principles. His pri- vate life and official career commend him to the confidence and respect of his fellow-men and all who know him entertain for him warm regard.
ARCHIE TILDEN GIBSON. M. D.
Among those who devote their time and energies to the practice of medicine and have gained a leading place in the ranks of the profession is Dr. A. T. Gibson, of Mor- risonville. He was born in Bellflower, Mc- Lean county. Illinois, on the 23d of .April. 1873. and is a son of F. M. and Mary J. (Mc Williams ) Gibson. On the paternal side his grandfather was a native of Vir- ginia and of Scotch parentage. The family was founded in America in the early part of the seventeenth century and for some years made their home in the Old Dominion. Many of its members still show character- istics of their Scottish ancestry. Our sub- ject's mother was of Scotch-Irish descent. the McWilliams family having come to this country from the north of Ireland. They became loyal citizens of their adopted land and participated in the Mexican and Civil wars.
F. N. Gibson. the Doctor's father. was born in 1834 in Indiana and in 1848 came to Illinois, locating at Bellflower. Having considerable confidence in the future of his adopted state. he purchased large tracts of land near that place. real estate being then quite cheap and as it was improved and rose in value he became quite wealthy. He dis- posed of a part of his property at an excel- lent profit but still retains a portion of his land. and although he is now practically liv- ing a retired life he still has charge of his landed interests. He makes his home in Bellflower, surrounded by all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life which were acquired through former toil. In his fam- ily are five sons and three daughters. of whom three are physicians. these being J. W .. H. C. and Archie T., of this review. John D .. another son. has been in the employ of one railroad for many years and is now
A. T. GIBSON, M. D.
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ticket agent in Chicago, while Frank M., the youngest son, is still at home and assists his father in the management of his prop- erty. The maternal grandfather of our sub- ject was the architect who planned the state house at Jefferson City, Missouri, built in 1836-7, and it still stands as a monument to his skill and ability.
During his boyhood Dr. A. T. Gibson spent much of his time on the home farm, though he also lived in Bellflower a part of the time and had the advantages of the city school. He completed his literary education in the high school of that place and then began the study of medicine under the di- rection of his brother, Dr. J. W. Gibson. Later he matriculated at the Barnes Medi- cal College of St. Louis, where he was grad- uated in the class of 1895. He entered upon the practice of his profession at Fort Dodge. Iowa, where his skill and ability soon won recognition and he built up a large country practice, but having decided to return to Illinois, he located in Morrisonville in 1897, purchasing the practice of Dr. W. A. Brit- ton. His success was assured from the start and his practice soon went beyond his ex- pectations. . He is undoubtedly the leading physician of Morrisonville, although there are two other representatives of the medical profession at that place and his patronage reaches out into the country twelve miles in every direction. He has purchased a build- ing on Main street, twenty-five by one hun- dred and forty-eight feet in dimensions, and has fitted it up as an office with a reception room, drug and consulting room and an operating room. He has the best selected medical library in the city and has all the latest improved instruments needed in his profession.
The Doctor is a Democrat in his political views and has been alderman of Morrison-
ville for two terms. While serving in that capacity he was a member of several im- portant committees and always discharged his official duties in a most creditable and satisfactory manner. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic Lodge of Morrisonville, the Knights of Pythias, No. 387, and is a char- ter member of I. O. O. F., No. 459, in which he has filled all the chairs. He is ex- amining surgeon for the Modern Woodmen of America, the Fraternal Army, the Loyal Americans, the Court of Honor and the Royal Neighbors. He has met with marked success in his chosen profession, for which he is well fitted by nature and education, and he possesses those admirable traits of char- acter which make him a favorite in the sick room. Wherever known he is held in high regard and has made a host of warm friends since coming to Morrisonville.
ISAAC S. CORZINE.
Isaac S. Corzine, whose home is on sec- tion 15, Prairieton township, is one of the representative farmers of Christian county. Thorough, systematic and progressive, he has met with success in his chosen calling and by his own unaided efforts he has risen to a position among the substantial citizens of his community, being now the owner of a well improved and valuable farm of three hundred acres.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Corzine was born in Guernsey county, February 8, 1861, his parents being Allen and Mary Ann (War- ren) Corzine. On the paternal side he is of Dutch descent, his grandfather having come to this country from Holland at an early day when quite young. He settled in New York city and at one time owned sixty acres of land along Wall street, which is to-day one of the most valuable sections of that great
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city. The father of our subject was born in Pennsylvania in 1816 and during boy- hood removed to Guernsey county, Ohio, making his home in the Buckeye state until 1868, when he came to Christian county. Illinois.
Isaac S. Corzine was but seven years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to this state and here he grew to manhood, his education being acquired in the public schools of Christian county. On attaining his majority he rented a farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he oper- ated quite successfully for five years and in the meantime saved enough to purchase a farm. He sold that place in 1887 and bought one hundred and sixty acres in Prairieton township where he now resides. As time passed he continued to prosper and at one time owned one hundred and forty-five acres of land near Eagle Grove, Iowa, which he sold at the end of two years and then pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres in Wright county, that state. He disposed of the latter tract a few years ago and in 1900 bought one hundred and forty acres more in Prairieton township, this county, so that he now has three hundred acres here of as fine farming land as is to be found in this section of the state. He has made all of the improvements upon his place and they stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise.
On the 27th of January, 1886, Mr. Cor- zine was united in marriage to Miss Sadie Coffman, a daughter of James D. Coffman, who was one of the leading farmers of this county and died here in 1885. To our sub- ject and his wife have been born three chil- dren, namely: Lela, Edith and Eva, all at home and attending school. The family hold membership in the Willowdale Meth- odist Episcopal church and are people of prominence in the community where they
reside. In his political affiliations Mr. Cor- zine is a Republican and he takes an active interest in public affairs. His life has been one of industry and usefulness and due suc- cess has not been denied, it being but the just reward of honest labor for all that he has acquired through his own efforts.
RUBEN K. PENCE.
The list of the leading citizens of Chris- tian county contains the name of Ruben K. Pence, one of the representative and honored citizens of Morrisonville. He has been an important factor in the development of the city and has been identified with the agri- cultural and business interests of the county for over forty-four years. He is a man of recognized ability and generally carries for- ward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.
Mr. Pence was born in Butler county. Ohio, on the 31st of March, 1822, and in early life removed with his parents to a farm near New Paris, that state, where he lived until eighteen years of age, receiving in the meantime a good common school edu- cation. After leaving home he was engaged in different enterprises until 1850, when he came to Illinois. In 1857 he became a resi- dent of Litchfield, this state, where he spent two years, and then removed to Christian county, locating two miles north of Mor- risonville, where he opened up a farm. He has ent wheat on the present town site of Morrisonville and continued to prosper in his farming operations until 1888, when he purchased fifty-three acres of land adjoining the city, had it surveyed and laid out in town lots, forming the Pence addition to Morrisonville. This has since become one of the finest residence portions of the city and here he now makes his home.
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Mr. Pence is a representative of an old Virginian family and his grandmother was closely related to General Price, being a member of the same family. On the 10th of May, 1848, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Pence and Miss Louisa Watts, a daughter of John Watts and a direct de- scendant of James Watts. Nine children blessed this union, namely: Mrs. C. C. LeMasters is a resident of Taylorville. James M. lives two miles west of Morrison- ville and has three children, Thomas R., J. Randolph and Robert R. Mrs. Daisy D. Large also has three children, Roxana, George and John. Mrs. F. P. Gordan lives in Tecumseh. John died in infancy and Della also died when small. Calvin K. went west and has never been heard of since. Mrs. J. D. Lowis makes her home in Morrison- ville. Mrs. George W. Kerr is a resident of Marshall, Oklahoma.
Since voting for General Fremont in 1856 Mr. Pence has supported every presidential nominee of the Republican party but at local elections votes for the man whom he be- lieves best qualified for office, regardless of party lines. He belongs to the Masonic fra- ternity, being the oldest Mason in good standing in the county. It was in Decem- ber, 1846, that he joined the order and has since been a member in good standing. He also belongs to the chapter in Morrisonville. In 1845 he was made a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows and was a contributing member of the same for over forty years. He has lived peaceably with all men, having never had a lawsuit, and he has been a liberal contributor to charitable enterprises. For many years he has been an active and consistent member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and by his upright honorable life he has gained the confidence and respect of all who know him. He is a
good neighbor, a kind friend and a devoted husband and father. Everything pertaining to the public good receives his hearty en- (lorsement and he is justly numbered among the leading citizens of the community in which he lives.
SAMUEL PICKER.
Samuel Picker, dealer in clothing and men's furnishing goods in Assumption, stands as a type of the representative Ameri- can citizen who owes his advancement to his own efforts, and who, despite the fact that there are many obstacles and difficulties to be encountered in the business world reso- lutely set to work to achieve prosperity, and has advanced to a very enviable position in trade circles in his adopted county.
Mr. Picker was born in Russian Poland, May 23, 1873, a son of Henry and Ada Picker. The mother died in her native country when the son was but eleven years of age and he then started out to make his own living and has come off conqueror in the world's broad field of battle. At the age of fifteen he emigrated to America, paying his passage with what he had saved from a weekly salary of fifty cents. He had heard very favorable reports concerning opportuni- ties in the new world and has never had occasion to regret the step he took in 1888. Landing in New York he at once sought employment, entering the service of the Wal- ler Shirt & Pants Company, in which house he remained for two years, during which time he learned the cutter's trade. In 1890 he came to the west and worked at various points in Illinois. He arrived in Assump- tion in 1897 with a capital of eighty dollars, but he possessed thorough business ability. is methodical in his habits and correct in his judgments. Here he opened a "racket"
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store in the Commercial block and after a few months removed to the old Armstrong building on South Front street, where he remained until high rentals caused him to remove to the building on the opposite cor- ner now occupied by the bank. This was in 1898 and in 1900 the building was de- manded for banking purposes.
In the meantime Mr. Picker's business had grown to such proportions that he re- moved to a store two doors north of the Illi- nois State Bank-the site of his present lo- cation. There in November, 1901, together with a large number of the other business men of Assumption, he suffered a heavy loss by fire, his entire stock being destroyed. However, the building was quickly replaced 'but even before that time Mr. Picker had opened up a small stock in the east room of the Columbia Block on First street. There he remained until September 7, 1902, when he was again able to occupy the North Front street store, where he is now to be found. Mr. Picker is a very successful and enter- prising business man. His knowledge of the real worth of materials enables him to buy advantageously and to sell at a profit that is fair alike to the customer and the mer- chant. ITis business has annually grown and developing from small proportions has be- come one of the leading mercantile concerns of the city.
On the 30th of May, 1894. Mr. Picker was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Lewis, of Springfield, Illinois, a daughter of H. and Molly Lewis, the former a merchant of Springfield. They now have three bright and interesting children : Edna. Paul and Reta.
that the advantages of America are such as draw to her shores men of ambition, reso- lution and energy, men who advance in the business world and at the same time become loyal. progressive citizens, doing much for the substantial improvement and develop- ment of the localities in which they reside. Such a one is Mr. Picker, who only about fifteen years ago was a poor boy, landing on the shores of the new world without capi- tal. To-day he stands among the well-to-do and respected residents of Assumption. He was one of nine children and, with the ex- ception of one who was drowned in child- hood, all reached years of maturity and the six sons were left to battle with the world at an early age. David, the eldest, is mar- ried and lives in New York, where he is connected with the Mutual Life Insurance Company. Louis is also married and lives in New York. Victor is married and is machinist in the employ of the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad at Clinton, Illinois. Myron and Osup are graduate druggists of New York, obtaining their diplomas by studying evenings. It is certainly a creditable family record.
HON. RUFUS M. POTTS.
The life record of the Hon. Rufus M. Potts stands in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is never without honor save in his own country, for the subject of this review is a native son of the county in which he has directed the efforts of his career. He was born in Christian county. September 3. 1870, and has back of him an ancestry, honorable and distinguished. In the paternal line he comes of Welsh descent. ITis great-great-grandfather was David Potts, a famous general of the English
While America is the home of the "self- made man," no less credit and honor is due the individual because he is one of a large class, on the contrary we should be proud AArmy. The family was established on this
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side of the water at an early period in the development of the country and Joel Potts, the grandfather of the Judge, having be- come a pioneer of the west, served in the Black Hawk war of 1832. Two of the uncles of the Judge were valiant defenders of the Union cause in the Civil war and the family has ever been noted for brave and loyal defense of country and of principle. The first representative of the name in America became a resident of Pennsylvania and founded the town of Pottsville in that state. Later his descendants removed to Kentucky and thence came to Christian county, Illinois, where representatives of the name have since been found and in public affairs here they have borne an important and helpful part.
In the maternal line Judge Potts comes of ancestry equally honorable. His grand- father, Colonel Preston Langley, was a dis- tinguished pioneer and influential citizen of Kentucky and when Illinois was still a fron- tier district he came to this state, locating in Christian county, where the Langleys have since been worthy citizens.
When quite young Judge Potts lost his mother by death. The father was a man of considerable wealth but the son did not profit much by this fact as the father was engaged in adding to his possessions rather than in assisting the Judge to enjoy ad- vantages, educational and otherwise, which his means might have secured. The boy at- tended the public schools and early mani- fested the elemental strength of his char- acter. He realized early the fact that there is no excellence without labor and that there is no royal road to wealth. He soon de- veloped industry and a laudable ambition, which was guided by sound judgment and supplemented by persistency of purpose. Wishing to enjoy better educational privi-
leges than were afforded by the common schools, he pursued a classical course of study and then continued the acquirement of knowledge,-but this time along a more spe- cific line, as he had determined to make the practice of law his life work. Accordingly he became a student in the law office and under the direction of the firm of Palmer, Schutt & Drennan, of Springfield. He ap- plied himself assiduously to the mastery of the principles of jurisprudence and when he had become familiar with many of the lead- ing principles of law he was admitted to the bar, but he continued to remain with his preceptors for a few years for the purpose of preparing himself to be able to impart in the courtroom what he had learned from his books. Being a great admirer of Gov- ernor Palmer and his private secretary when a law student, he partook of the Governor's forcible style of arguing a case in court or a question on the stump, thus winning for himself a leading position at the bar and also high rank as a platform orator.
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