USA > Illinois > Christian County > Past and present of Christian County, Illinois > Part 36
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GEORGE P. HARRINGTON
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CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Emma J. Wilkinson, a daughter of Reuben Wilkinson of Taylorville, the wedding being celebrated on the 4th of June, 1873. Unto them were born five children, four of whom are now living: Essie, the wife of John Nelson, of Prescott, Arizona, by whom she has five children: James R., of this re- view; George Francis, who is living at Crown King, Arizona ; and Helen.
James R. Harrington pursued his educa- tion in the public schools of Edinburg and in the Lincoln University. He went with his father to Arizona in 1893 and was as- sociated with him in his mining operations in that state. In July, 1902, he returned to Edinburg, his former home. and became connected with the firm of Brownback & Company in the grain business. He was in their employ for eight months, after which he installed the electric light and steam heat- ing plant in Edinburg. This plant he is now operating and it is one of the important in- dustries of the county. It is well equipped with the latest improved machinery needed in such a concern and the business has se- cured many patrons and has entered upon a prosperous career.
On the 22d of September, 1897, Mr. Har- rington was united in marriage to Miss Ger- trude A. Brownback, a daughter of William H. Brownback, a capitalist and grain dealer of Edinburg. Their union has been blessed with two children but Elrena, the younger, is now deceased. She was born December 16, 1900, and died on the 13th of January, 1902. Their little son Don was born Sep- tember 26, 1898.
Mr. Harrington is a Mason, belonging to Blueville Lodge, No. 647, A. F. & A. M. He has also taken the chapter degrees and is a member of Elwood Commandery, K. T., of Springfield, Illinois. He is also asso- ciated with Electric Lodge, No. 505. K. P.,
and in his political views he is a Democrat, believing that the principles of the party contain the best elements of good govern- ment. A young man, he possesses good business sagacity, keen discrimination and landable ambition and these are elements which ever have great force in the battle of life and ultimately result in winning success.
M. H. SOLLIDAY, M.D.
This is an age of specialization. The ten- dency of the times is to concentrate one's energies along a given line of study or labor in order to attain the highest degree of per- fection. Dr. Solliday has followed this course, and while he has a good knowledge of the science of medicine, such as is de- manded by the general practitioner, he nev- ertheless devotes his attention more largely to the treatment of diseases of women and children and has become very capable as a specialist.
Dr. Solliday was born in Stonington town- ship, Christian county, Illinois, on the Stli of April. 1873, and having acquired his pre- liminary education in the public schools, con- tinued his studies in St. Louis College, the University of Illinois, and Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he finished for the practice of medi- cine. He was graduated with the class of 1901, and received one year's hospital ex- perience in the Jefferson Hospital, of Phil- adelphia, after which he came to Owaneco. establishing his office in this place in the fall of 1901. Here he lias since practiced and although he follows a general practice he makes a specialty of the treatment of dis- eases of women and children, and is continu- ally promoting his efficiency along; that line by reading and study, consulting the books
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and magazines which speak authoritatively on the subject.
Dr. Solliday was married in 1901, the lady of his choice being Miss Sylvania Pflei- ger. a daughter of Franklin Pfleiger, who is a cigar manufacturer of Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania. Mrs. Solliday is an accomplished musician. She made a specialty of instru- mental music and took a thorough course for her own pleasure and benefit and while she is capable of imparting instruction to others she has never followed teaching as a profession. The Doctor and his wife own their own home in Owaneco, and it is blessed with the presence of a little son, Monroe Franklin. They are members of the Reformed church and he belongs to the Masonic lodge of Taylorville. His political support is given the men and measures of the Democracy, but he has never been an aspirant for office, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business affairs, in which he is meeting with creditable success for one who has just reached the third clecade of life.
J. A. BOWMAN.
J. A. Bowman has spent the greater part of his life in Christian county and is one of its respected and honored citizens as well as extensive landholders. His realty posses- sions aggregate twelve hundred and thirty acres in this part of Illinois. He was born in lowa in 1846, the only child of Dr. Asa and Mary Bowman. His father was born in Washington county, Ohio, June 9, 1818. and attended the common schools of his neighborhood, where he acquired a thorough education. On attaining his majority he began teaching school and followed that pro- fession for five years, at the end of which time he determined to prepare for the prac-
tice of medicine. For four or five years he continued his reading alone and in 1843 he came to Illinois and profited by the instruc- tion of his cousin, Dr. Daniel Bowman, who was located near Greenfield in Greene county, this state. For two years his cousin was his instructor.
In the meantime Dr. Bowman was united in marriage to Miss Mary Bowman, the wed- dling being celebrated on the 7th of Novem- ber. 1844. In 1846 they removed to Ot . tumwa, lowa, where the Doctor opened his office and entered upon practice. When two years had passed, however, he resolved to return to his native state and between the years 1848 and 1853 was a resident of Ohio. In the latter year he once more came to Illi- nois and rented a farm in Greene county. He planted his first crop and having then determined to make a permanent home in this state he went to Springfield, where, through the land office, he invested in three hundred and twenty acres in Stonington township, Christian county. As his choice of a location fell upon Christian county, he cast in his lot with its early settlers of a half century ago. He took up his abode near Stonington in May, 1857, in order to im- prove his land, and in 1858 he turned the first furrow on the farm where he continued to reside until called to his final rest. Splen- did improvements were made by him and he became the owner of a very valuable or- chard, his fruit and forest trees covering forty-five acres. Although he engaged in general farming for a long period he made a specialty of the production of fruit for a number of years prior to his death. His business affairs were capably conducted ; his labors were of a practical nature; and he was also progressive in everything that he undertook, so that as the years advanced he won creditable success. In politics he was
317
CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
an earnest Republican for a number of years and Shelby counties. His home is well and afterward became a supporter of the equipped with all the latest improvements and conveniences and because of his excel- lent business management in former years he is now enabled to enjoy all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. Greenback party. For seven or eight years he served as township supervisor and dur- ing a part of that time was chairman of the board. At the time of his demise he was one of the oldest residents of Stonington town- ship. In every respect a self-made man he won his own way to a place among the re- spected and substantial farmers of central Illinois through industry and energy. In the later years of his life it was the annual custom to celebrate his birthday, and on these occasions a large number of friends and relatives would gather to spend the day happily with him. He was called to his final rest March 6, 1901, and his wife passed away on the 26th of August, 1893.
John A. Bowman, whose name introduces this record, obtained his early education in the schools of Morgan and of Greene coun- ties of Illinois, and for two years was a stu- dent in the public schools of Taylorville. Since putting aside his text books he has read broadly and his reading embraces his- toric and scientific subjects as well as the classical literature and thus he has become one of the best informed men of the county. He has been a special student of science for a number of years, giving much time and thought to the study of metaphysics. When he attained his majority he was given an in- terest in the home farm and was associated in its conduct with his father. He engaged extensively in the raising of stock until about the time of his mother's death, when he retired from that business and rented his land. Since his father's death he has resided alone upon the old homestead, his time being given to reading and to the supervision of his farming interests. He has extensive landed possessions, his holdings aggregating twelve hundred and 'thirty acres in Christian
Mr. Bowman came to Christian county at a time when there was hardly a furrow turned in what is now this richly cultivated portion of the state. There was much wild game to be had and some deer were seen, but they soon disappeared before the ad- vancing civilization. Dr. Bowman entered the land from the government and with the aid of his son improved the farm, making it a very valuable property. In his political views Mr. Bowman is a Prohibitionist. He represents one of the most prominent fami- lies of Christian county and well deserves mention in this volume.
FLETCHER HAINES.
Among the old and honored residents of Christian county none stands higher in pub- lic esteem than the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. For almost a half century he has made his home here and his name is inseparably connected with its ag- ricultural interests, for he has made farming his life work and is to-day the owner of eight hundred and fifteen acres of valuable land in this county, his home being on sec- tion 5, Bear Creek township.
Mr. Haines was born in Kentucky, No- vember 5, 1824. and is a son of Christopher Haines, who was a native of Virginia and one of the early settlers of Sangamon county, Illinois, where he died in 1851. During the boyhood of our subject he ac- companied his parents on their removal to Sangamon county and he was there reared and educated, attending an old-time sub-
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cription school. In 1845. at the age of twenty-one, he commenced earning his own livelihood. AAbout this time the Mexican war broke out and the following spring he offered his services to the government, en- listing in the Fourth Illinois Infantry under the command of Colonel E. D. Baker. He participated in the battles of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo under General Winfield Scott and when hostilities ceased was honorably discharged and returned to his home in San- gamon county. It was in February, 1854, that he removed to Christian county and purchased three hundred acres of land, to which he has since added from time to time as he found opportunity until he is now the owner of a very valuable tract of eight hun- dred and fifteen acres.
Mr. Haines was first married in 1848, the lady of his choice being Miss Lucinda Jane Hattler, a daughter of James Hattler, of Sangamon county, who came originally from Tennessee. Two children blessed this union : J. W., who was born in 1849 and now resides in Denver, Colorado, where he is engaged in business ; and Sarah Matilda, who was born in 1850 and died when about eighteen months old. On the 4th of Novem- ber. 1852, Mr. Haines was united in mar- riage to Miss Lydia AAnderson, a daughter of Thomas and Nancy Anderson, who were natives of Kentucky and residents of Chris- tian county, Illinois. The seven children born of this union were as follows: Thomas Theodore, who was born in 1853 and died in 1855: Edward D., who was born in 1856 and died in 1857 ; Millard C., who was born in 1858 and is now engaged in the grocery business in Portland, Oregon; Lizzie N., who was born in 1861 and is the wife of Wilber Hayes, of Bear Creek township. Christian county ; Mary J., who was born in 1863 and was the wife of Jacob Schnepp
and died December 24, 1903; Edith, who was born in 1868 and is the wife of George Schnepp; and Sherman H., who was born in 1864 and was for some years a student in the law departments at Ann Arbor, Mich- igan, and Bloomington, Illinois. He is now following his chosen profession at Portland. Oregon, and is enjoying an extensive prac- tice.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Haines are carnest and consistent members of the Methodist Protestant church. The ancestors of our subject affiliated with the Whig party and on the organization of the Republican party most of the family joined its ranks. Mr. Haines is a stanch supporter of the latter party and was personally acquainted with Abraham Lincoln, whom he met a great many times. In early life he took quite an active interest in public affairs and served as justice of the peace from 1861 until 1864. was township trustee for thirteen years, and school director for many years. He is what the public terms a self-made man, having made all that he has by hard work and care- ful management, being a man of exception- ally good judgment and close observation. He is a pleasing conversationalist, being well posted on the current questions of the day and he stands high in the esteem of his fel- low citizens.
E. G. COONROD.
E. G. Coonrod has spent his entire life in Illinois and is familiar with the history of Christian county from an early period in its development. He has witnessed all the changes that have occurred. the transforma- tion that has been wrought, and has borne his share in the work of improvement along lines of substantial upbuilding. His birth occurred in Greene county, Illinois, Septem-
E. G. COONROD AND FAMILY
321
CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
ber 5, 1832. His grandfather was George Coonrod, his father Stephen Coonrod. The latter settled in Greene county at a very early day but was a native of Kentucky and was married in that state to Candace Lee. They removed to Wayne county, Illinois, and after several years to Greene county, where the father engaged in farming. He would engage in the tilling of the soil throughout the week and on Sundays would preach, being a minister of the Baptist church. In his family were ten children who reached mature years and seven are now living. The eldest, Jefferson, resides in Greenfield, Illinois, and was eighty years of age in June, 1903. Elizabeth is the wife of T. E. Melvin, also of Greenfield. Mrs. Isabel Kincade is the next younger and was followed by our subject. S. M. is living in Colorado Springs and C. C. in Philo, Cham- paign county, Illinois. Nancy A., the youngest, is the widow of Washington Rice and resides in Pinckneyville, Illinois. The father carried on farming until his death, which occurred in the 'zos, when he was seventy-five years of age, and his wife passed away in 1882, at the age of seventy- eight years.
The educational privileges of E. G. Coon- rod were limited. He began his education in a log schoolhouse and never had the op- portunity of attending for more than three months in a year, as his services were needed on the home farm at the time of plowing. planting and harvesting. In his youth the family lived in true pioneer style. They wore home-made clothing, shearing the sheep and spinning and weaving the cloth from which garments were fashioned. The only light was furnished by tallow candles, which Mr. Coonrod frequently assisted in molding. His mother would do her baking in the fireplace, using skillets, and he well
remembers the first cookstove which they had-an old-fashioned stove with three legs. Alton was the market for grain and the stock was driven to St. Louis. Mr. Coon- rod used a wooden moldboard plow in his boyhood and cultivated corn with a single shovel plow.
He remained on the home farm until his marriage, which occurred February 7, 1861. the lady of his choice being Nancy Doyle, a native of Greene county and a daughter of Thomas and Mary ( Coates) Doyle, early settlers of that county. After their mar- riage they came to Christian county, settling in Prairieton township on eighty acres of wild land, which he greatly improved and to which he added until he is to-day the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, all in one body. In 1857 he began breaking his land with three horses and his neighbors predicted that he would kill the horses-oxen having previously been used. The prairie grass and rosin weed grew often as high as a man's head and it was a difficult task to prepare the land for cultivation. Mr. Coonrod, however, con- tinued to engage in farming until 1893. when he retired from the hard labor inci- dent to cultivating the soil, and removed to Assumption, where he has since enjoyed a well-earned rest.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Coonrod were born five children: Edmund D. wedded Mary Redding and resides in May township. Orton P. married Maud Long, resides on the old homestead and has three children. Rena B. became the wife of A. L. Moore, a merchant of Assumption, and died, leaving two daughters, one of whom resides with her grandfather and the other with her father. Nettie died at the age of three years. Mary A. is now the widow of George Lov-
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ering of Assumption and has two children. Her home is south of her father's house.
While residing on the farm Mr. Coonrod served as township supervisor for one term, also highway commissioner and school director and he is now one of the trustees of the west school of Assumption. In poli- ties he is a Democrat. He attends the Bap- tist church and has ever been an advocate of all measures for the general good and for the improvement of the county. His life has been active, his actions sincere and manly, and as one of the worthy pioneer set- tlers of Christian county he well deserves mention in this volume. His success has been honestly gained and his life record shows what can be accomplished by deter- mined purpose and continued activity.
AARON SAMUEL HEDDEN.
Aaron S. Hedden, who is living on sec- tion 9, Taylorville township, where he fol- lows the occupation of farming and stock- raising, was born March 29, 1840, in Shelby county, Kentucky, a son of Simon and Sa- lina Hedden. The father was also a native of Shelby county, Kentucky, and in Novem- ber, 1855, arrived in Christian county, Illi- nois, making the journey in a two-horse wagon. Here he rented land and engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in December, 1868.
Mr. Hedden, of this review, spent his early youth in the county of his nativity and acquired his education in the public schools there. He arrived in Christian county in August, 1856, and here began working by the month on a farm. He was thus em- ployed for two years, after which he en- gaged in farming in connection with his father for a time. On attaining his ma- jority he again began work as a farm laborer
by the month and followed that pursuit for three years, after which he began farming on his own account, securing a tract of rented land. He lived upon that farm for five years and when his industry, economy and perseverance had brought him capital sufficient to enable him to purchase a farm of his own he invested in eighty acres in Taylorville township, on which he lived for six years. On the expiration of that period he removed to the farm which he now owns, comprising two hundred and eighty acres of rich and arable land on section 9, Taylor- ville township. Here he has resided con- tinuously since 1875 and has made nearly all of the improvements upon the place. He set out trees, erected substantial buildings, built good fences and placed the fields under a high state of cultivation. Neatness and . thrift characterize the place and indicate to the passerby the careful supervision of the owner.
Mr. Hedden has been twice married. In 1864 he wedded Miss Samantha S. Holland, who died in 1867 and the two children born to them both died in infancy. She was a most estimable lady and was highly re- spected by all who knew her. On the 24th of February, 1870, Mr. Hedden was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Williams Ladd. a daughter of Noyes and Phoebe (Will- iams) Ladd, both natives of Connecticut. Her ancestors were among the Pilgrim Fathers who founded the New England col- onies and she is a descendant of both El- bridge Garry and William Williams, both signers of the Declaration of Independence. In 1849 Mrs. Hedden's father brought his family to Christian county, Illinois. As there were few railroads at that time the journey was made principally by water. From Ston- ington Point, Connecticut, they sailed down Long Island Sound, then up the Hudson
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CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
river to Albany, but the steamer on which they first took passage was sunk near New- burgh on Mrs. Hedden's fourth birthday and four of Mr. Ladd's brothers were drowned, as were many other passengers on the ill-fated Empire State. From Albany they proceeded by way of the Erie canal to the Great Lakes, Illinois canal and Illinois river to Springfield and by wagon to Buck- hart township, Christian county, where Mr. and Mrs. Ladd made their home throughout the remainder of their lives. As pioneers of the county they materially aided in its early development and improvement. Dur- ing their residence in the east they were members of one of the first Congregational churches organized in the United States, it being the Old Road church of Stonington, Connecticut, and they became charter mem- bers of the first Presbyterian church of Tay- lorville, to which Mrs. Hedden's second mother also belonged. They always took a very active and prominent part in church work and their lives were in perfect har- mony with their professions. Mrs. Hed- den's mother died in 1866 and two years later her father married Miss Eliza J. Hen- nard, who was one of the grand good women of this county. The father died in 1897, at the age of seventy-five years and his wife ten months later, honored and respected by all who knew them. Throughout life he made farming and stock-raising his occupa- tion.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hedden were born five children, as follows: William Samuel married Alice M. Owens. of Indiana, and resides upon the farm in Taylorville town- ship. Lydia Harriet and Elizabeth Jane are now attending Eureka College, and Mary Salina and Prue Anabell are at home. There is quite a romance connected with the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Hedden. Mr. Hedden's
family all belong to the Christian church, and although he is not a member he con- tributes generously to its support. As a citi- zen he is actively interested in all that per- tains to the public welfare and is a helpful co-operant in many measures for the general good.
As a self-made man Mr. Hedden certainly deserves much credit for he started out in life with nothing and all that he possesses to-day he has made through hard work and good management. When he came to this county it was nearly all raw prairie and a great deal of it was under water, but it has been drained and tiled until the fields are now extremely productive and there is no richer farming country in all the broad Mis- sissippi valley than is found in Christian county. Mr. Hedden gives his attention to the raising of both grain and stock, but has profited more largely from the former. He now owns more than four hundred acres of land in Christian county and is one of six partners who own six thousand three hun- dred and sixty-four acres in Mississippi His life history shows what can be accom- plished through strong determination, unfal- tering energy and capable business manage- ment and it should serve to encourage and inspire others who have to start out in life as he did-empty-handed.
WILLIAM H. McDONALD.
Throughout the greater part of his life William H. McDonald has successfully en- gaged in teaching school, but now follows farming on section 17, Johnson township. Like many of Illinois' most worthy citizens he comes from Ohio, his birth having oc- curred in that state on the 9th of February, 1844. His parents were John and Christen McDonald, also natives of Ohio and of
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Scotch descent. The father died August 29, 1889, having survived his wife only a few months, as she passed away on the 11th of February, 1889.
In the state of his nativity William H. McDonaldl was reared and educated. He prepared himself for teaching at the Na- tional Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, where he was graduated on August 15, 1867. He entered upon his duties as an in- structor in the schoolroom in 1862 and con- tinued to follow the teacher's profession most of the time up to 1900. It was in 1865 that he came to Christian county, Illinois, and he had charge of schools here until his retirement from the profession, having con- fined his efforts to only four districts in Johnson township. In 1874 he made his first purchase of land, consisting of a tract of eighty acres, which he subsequently sold and then bought one hundred and twenty acres in Johnson township where he now lives. This, together with the property owned by his wife, makes a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres. The well tilled fields and neat and thrifty appearance of the place testifies to his careful supervision and untiring industry.
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