USA > Illinois > Christian County > Past and present of Christian County, Illinois > Part 41
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Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Davis one died in infancy. Carrie A.
is the wife of C. B. Tracey, a photographer, and they have two children, Ralph and lone. Charles A. married Nettie Clark and they have two children, Fred and Bertrand. At his death Mr. Davis was in comfortable cir- cumstances and left his widow well pro- vided for. Besides her home she owns three business blocks and other property adjoin- ing her residence, and in the management of her affairs she has displayed good business ability and sound judgment. On their ar- rival in Pana, Mr. and Mrs. Davis took up their abode in a six-room frame cottage and there was not a house east or west of their home on the north side of the railroad track, while the surrounding country was nearly all wild prairie land. The first railroad shop was a small structure built about three- quarters of a mile north of the present depot. Few wagon roads had been laid out, much of the land was unfenced and wild game was very plentiful. Mrs. Davis can relate many interesting reminiscences of her early life. The wool for her dresses was all spun at home, the goods being chiefly linsey wool- sey, and many pieces of these are now seen in her quilts. Her father was a presser and dyer of goods. The table linen was made of flax home grown and the house was lighted by dip candles or the old grease lamp. She has watched with interest the wonderful changes that have been made since her girl- hood and has seen Pana develop from a mere village to a flourishing city. She is a well read woman of progressive ideas and is universally loved and respected by all who know her.
JAMES W. LOCKWOOD.
In taking up the personal history of James WV. Lockwood we present to our readers the life record of one who was well worthy of
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mention among the representative men of Christian county. He lived a life of up- rightness which was characterized by activ- ity in business and by fidelity to all manly principles and thus he left to his family not only a comfortable competence won through his earnest labor, but also the untarnished name which is rather to be chosen than great riches. He was born on the 3rd of August. 1826, in the state of New York and was a son of Sylvan and Nancy (Dolbier) Lock- wood, the former a native of the Empire state and the latter of Massachusetts. Both have long since passed away. Their son pursued his education in a boarding school in Bedford, Ohio, and received good educa- tional privileges which he improved so that he was well qualified for teaching when at the age of twenty years he took his place in a schoolroom as an instructor. He followed that profession for fifteen years and then worked on a farm owned by his father.
As a companion and helpmate for life's journey Mr. Lockwood chose Miss Amanda A. Smith, the wedding being celebrated on the 3d of July. 1853. The lady was born March 1, 1831. and is a daughter of Lyman T. and Sarah ( Hines) Smith, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Ohio The paternal ancestry can be traced back through many generations to the time of the arrival of the Mayflower, for the progenitor of the family in the new world crossed the Atlantic in that historic little vessel. In the year of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lock- wood removed to Tennessee, where they spent one year, and for one year he occupied the position of paymaster with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at Lawrenceburg, Indiana. He then purchased an interest in a farm in connection with his father and operated the land until 1857. when he removed to Illi- nois. Settling in Christian county, he pur-
chased three hundred and twenty acres of land, where his wife now resides. He after- ward bought one hundred and sixty acres, all of which was raw prairie, but with char- acteristic energy he began its development and improvement and as the years passed by he transformed the wild land into richly cultivated fields which annually returned to him golden harvests for the care and labor he bestowed upon it. In all of his farm work he was progressive and enterprising and his success was well merited.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood were born the following children : Charles H. is yet under the parental roof. Frank A .. who . is operating his mother's farm and also owns one hundred and thirteen acres in Stonington township, married Al- tona Smith and of the six children born to them three are still living, Flora M., Clarence R. and Stella B. Will- iam Clayton is engaged in the insurance business in Fort Madison. Iowa. Flora B. is the widow of Darwin Adams and with two of her three children is living with her mother. Her eldest child, Jennie, is now the wife of Homer Parsons, a resident of Rockford, Illinois. Stella died when only one month old. Arthur N., who follows farming in Stonington township. married Lizzie Gardner and has two children. Elme: J. and Earl N. Darwin F. died at the age of one year. James W. is still under the parental roof. The mother and children are all identified with the Baptist church and the family is one of prominence in the commu- nity, its members occupying an enviable po- sition in the regard of friends and neigh- bors.
Mr. Lockwood took an active interest in public affairs, doing everything in his power to promote the welfare of his community and its substantial improvement. For many
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years he served as road commissioner and took a pride in having good roads in this part of the state. In politics he was a Re- publican. He died June 15, 1870, and the community mourned the loss of one of its representative men, while the family lost a most devoted husband and father. He was always true to manly principle, was diligent and enterprising in business and made an excellent record. After his demise his widow continued to conduct the farm for a number of years, but now rents the land and the income derived therefrom supplies her with the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
H. L. HAMMER.
Among the business men of Christian county must be numbered H. L. Hammer, who is now engaged in general merchandis- ing at Clarksdale and is also serving as post- master at that place. He is a native of this county, born near Taylorville on the 27th of August, 1855, and is a son of A. W. and Rebecca (Langley) Hammer, who claimed Kentucky as their native state. They were among the earliest settlers of Christian county, having located here in 1827, and were eye witnesses of its entire growth and development. The father, who was born in 1821, is still living and now makes his home in Taylorville, but the mother died in 1864.
During his boyhood Mr. Hammer at- tended the public schools of this county and he commenced life for himself by working on a farm by the month, being thus em- ployed for seventeen years. In the fall of 1874 he went to Taylorville and served as turnkey at the jail for three years. At the end of that time he removed to Hayes City, Kansas, where he was engaged in farming for two years and on his return to Christian
county continued to follow that occupation for two years. During the following three years he conducted a general store at Berry, Sangamon county, Illinois, and then re- sumed farming, having purchased one hun- dred acres of land, which he cultivated for seven years. Selling that place, he bought four hundred acres of land on section 24. Bear Creek township, near Clarksdale, and engaged in its operation for five years. At the end of that time he sold the place to J. C. McBride and in August, 1902, purchased the general store of J. S. Wallace at Clarks- dale, which he is now so successfully carry- ing on. He is a wide-awake, energetic busi- ness man, who generally carries forward to successful completion whatever he under- takes, and besides his town property he still owns one hundred and seventy-two acres of fine farming land two miles north of Clarks- dale.
In December, 1877, Mr. Hammer was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Brown, whose father was killed in the Civil war, and to them were born four children : Myr- tle, now the wife of Charles Greene, of Springfield, Illinois; Jesse, who died at the age of seventeen years; Glenn A. and Fred- erick, both at home. The mother of these children died in 1887, and in 1893 Mr. Hammer was again married, his second union being with Miss Lizzle J. McWard, a daughter of David McWard, a wealthy farmer of Johnson township. Three chil- dren grace the second marriage: David Mckinley : Sanford G. and Hugh H.
In his social relations Mr. Hammer is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Court of Honor and the Fraternal Army of America, and in his political views he is an ardent Republican. A man of sound judgment and good business ability his suc-
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cess in life is due entirely to his own efforts and he deserves prominent mention among the leading and representative business men of his native county.
O. B. FRALEY.
O. B. Fraley, who is now so acceptably serving as supervisor of May township and is regarded as one of the leading citizens and prominent farmers of that locality, was born on the 30th of April, 1853. in the town- ship where he now makes his home, his par- ents being John S. and Sarah J. (Wiley) Fraley, natives of Ohio, the former born June 6, 1818, and the latter May 23, 1821. They came to Christian county, Illinois, in October, 1849. Here the mother died on the 12th of April, 1866, and the father, who long survived her, passed away on the Ist of March, 1888.
As a boy O. B. Fraley pursued his studies in the district schools of May township and remained at home with his father until twenty-six years of age, aiding in the labors of the farm. He then went to Oregon. where he was engaged in farming for some time, but in 1887 returned to Illinois. He has since occupied his present farm on sec- tion 29, May township, where he has one hundred and twenty acres of very product- ive land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and improved with good buildings, having recently erected a fine new residence.
Mr. Fraley was married in December. Igor, to Miss Julia Lowrance and they stand high in the community where they reside. Mrs. Fraley is the daughter of Jonathan C. and Sarah J. (Travis) Lowrance, the for- mer a native of Kentucky and the latter of Illinois. They were early settlers of Chris- tian county and resided in May township.
Mr. Lowrance died in 1887, aged seventy- two years, and his wife survives him, now living in Assumption township. They reared four children to maturity : Julia. William, John and George. Our subject has ever taken quite an active and prominent part in public affairs and has been called upon to fill the office of supervisor of May township for three terms, being the present incumbent. He served on the building com- mittee .during the time of the erection of the new court house. He has also served as school trustee and he has discharged his official duties with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents.
KARL HIGHT.
The Hight family is too well known in Christian county for the subject of this re- view to need any special introduction to the readers of this volume, and as assistant cash- ier of the Illinois State Bank of Assumption he has won for himself a creditable place and name in financial circles in central Illi- nois. He was born in Macon, Illinois, July 1. 1879, a son of Benjamin F. Hight.
The father was born at Natural Bridge, Virginia, August 12, 1845, and died Decem- ber 18, 1899, at the age of fifty-four years four months and six days. His parents were Samuel and Margaret ( Rapp) Hight, and he was one of five brothers, three of whom, Robert W., William and James L. Hight, are still living, the first two being residents of Macon county. When but two years of age Benjamin F. Hight was brought by his parents to Illinois and in 1855 the family removed from Greene county, where they first settled, to Macon county. In the public schools of the latter Benjamin F. Hight acquired a good knowl- edge of the common English branches of
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learning, supplemented by a college course world, will the real value of his work be known.
in Shurtleff College, at Alton, Illinois. His business career was characterized by activ- ty and accomplishment, and while his ef- forts brought him prosperity they were also factors in advancing the commercial devel- opment of the community. After complet- ing his education he was engaged in busi- ness with his brother, J. L. Hight, in Macon county, and in the fall of 1883 he came with his family to Assumption. In that year he joined S. D. Moore in founding the Bank of AAssumption, now the Illinois State Bank, a financial institution of which he became the president, serving in that capacity until his death and making it one of the leading and reliable financial concerns of this part of the state. He was also associated with Mr. Moore in the establishment of the brick and tile company, an industry of importance to the community, furnishing employment to many workmen, and thus keeping much money in circulation. He was largely instru- mental in sinking the coal shaft and thus developing the mining interests of Assump- tion. He it was who drew up the first papers in order to get the enterprise upon a working basis by the securing of subscribers to incorporate it, and become stockholders therein. He was likewise instrumental in the formation of the Assumption Telephone Company, which has so greatly facilitated business as well as proving of the greatest possible convenience to the people of the county, and he instituted the electric light plant. He was also a factor in the improve- ment of the cemetery and gave his aid and influence to all that seemed for the benefit of the public. Thus in brief is outlined his business career in Assumption, but not until the movements which he instituted shall have completed their fruition of good in the
On the 5th of April, 1870, Mr. Hight was united in marriage to Mrs. Belle M. Meach. a sister of Dr. R. E. Tobev, of Decatur, Illi- nois, the senior member of the dental firm of Tobey & Lacharite of Assumption. By this marriage there were three children, but Charles, the first born, died in infancy. Karl is the second and Alta is the wife of Her- man Lacharite, the junior member of the firm of Tobey & Lacharite, practicing den- tists of Assumption. On the 28th of May. 1895. Mrs. Hight was called to her final rest, leaving behind her the memory of a noble life filed with good deeds and high purposes. On the 20th of July, 1896, Mr. Hight was again married. his second union being with Miss Amanda Huffer, a popular school teacher of Shelby county, Illinois, a daughter of Josiah and Mary (Carr) Huf- fer, early residents of Shelby county and both now deceased. By this marriage there is one son, Harold.
Mrs. Hight, in connection with her hus- band, was very active in church work. In his boyhood days he united with the Meth- odist Episcopal church, of which he was ever an honored and consistent member, doing much for the upbuilding of the church in Assumption and contributing liberally to the cause. No labor was too hard, no time too precious nor any sacrifice too great if it would promote the church which was so dear to him. He was an active worker in the Sunday-school and League as well as the church and put forth every effort in his power to promote the cause of Christianity. He had the greatest admiration and friend- ship for children, was the wise counsellor of the young and the benefactor of the poor and needy. He lives to-day enshrined in the hearts of those who knew him and the
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affection in which he was held by young and old, rich and poor, is more enduring than any monument of stone or metal could be. In citizenship he was always loyal, and while he never sought public office he never shrank from the performance of any duty which his fellow townsmen wished him to assume. For a number of years he served as president of the school board of Assump -. tion and was largely instrumental in raising the standard of the schools. When he was called from the busy scenes of life, the fu- neral services over his remains were held in the First Methodist Episcopal church of Assumption, Rev. W. A. Dawson and Rev. J. A. Stout officiating. Every business house in the city was closed as a tribute of respect and the merchants attended the ob- sequies in a body. His influence is yet felt in the business circles of Assumption and is a potent factor in the lives of many who were inspired by his example of uprightness and nobility of character.
Karl Hight, the son, was but four years of age when he came with his parents to Assumption. He attended the public schools and afterward the Gem City Business Col- lege at Quincy, Illinois. He had almost completed the course when he was called home to accept the position of bookkeeper in the Illinois State Bank, of which institu- tion his father was president. In July, 1903. he became assistant cashier and is now fill- ing that position, being active in the man- agement of the institution, which is carried on along safe and conservative lines, and yet is also progressive in its methods.
In 1892 Mr. Ilight was married to Miss Edith Hillabrant. a native of Christian county, Illinois, a daughter of George and Lous ( Keiler) Hillabrant, who removed from Illinois to Washington, Kansas, where they are now living. There Mrs. Hight was
reared and educated. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hight has been born a little daughter, Alta E., named for his sister. The young couple are leaders in the social life of Assumption and their home is noted for its gracious hos- pitality. It is one of the substantial resi- dences in the west part of the town and Mr. Hight is also the owner of a nice farm in Assumption township, adjoining the cor- poration limits of the city. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Fraternal Army of Loyal Americans. In religious faith he is a Methodist. He has worked untiringly for the establishment of a public library in Assumption and is about to see the fulfillment of his hopes and the re- ward of his labors, for within a few weeks the library will be opened.
MAJOR D. D. SHUMWAY.
One of the most prominent early settlers of Christian county was Major D. D. Shum- way, who was born in Williamsburg, Worcester county. Massachusetts. Septem- ber 28, 1813. Attracted by the glowing ac- counts of the far west he. on attaining his majority, emigrated from the Bay state in 1834 and settled at first in Zanesville. Ohio, where he remained until the year 1837. when he removed to Zanesville, Montgom- ery county, Illinois, and embarked in mer- cantile business.
On the 3d of June, 1841, Major Shum- way was married to Miss Emily R. Roun- tree. daughter of Hon. Hiram Rountree. of Hillsboro, Illinois. In the spring of 1843 he removed to Christian county and on the wild prairie, some four miles east of Tay- lorville, improved a farm of seven hundred acres, on which he resided until 1851, when he became a resident of Taylorville.
There he engaged in mercantile business
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and continued with marked success until 1858, when he retired. He expended a large part of his accumulated wealth in im- proving his landed property and especially in adorning and beautifying his homestead adjacent to town. He was a gentleman of culture and taste and it was one of the chief purposes of his life to make his home pleas- ant and attractive to his family. Soon after his retirement from the mercantile line he commenced the practice of law, the reading of which he had pursued during his leisure hours while in business. In this profession he won success and his practice at Taylor- ville gained for him a distinctively repre- sentative clientage.
Major Shumway was strictly a self-made man and his qualifications were such as to fit him for any pursuit or position. He pos- sessed one of the finest libraries in the coun- try and his fund of information on all the leading topics of the day was as ample as his collection of books was complete. He was a man of generous disposition and highly esteemed by his fellow citizens. He filled many public offices with honor. While a resident of Montgomery county he served as county commissioner. In 1845 he was elected to the state legislature from the counties of Christian and Shelby and at the following session was elected clerk of the state senate.) In 1848 he was elected a mem- ber of the state constitutional convention and was prominent in the important deliber- ations of that body. He also served as major in the state militia. For several years he, was an honored member of both the County and State . Agricultural Societies. At the time of his death and for several years previous he was master in chancery of the county.
To Major Shumway is due much praise for advancing the material prosperity of
Taylorville and Christian county. By his efforts and speeches he contributed very largely to securing railway communications through Christian county. He gave liber- ally of his time and means to all public en- terprises. While a member of the legisla- ture he never failed to guard the interests of his own district and to advance wise and prudent legislation for all parts of this great commonwealth. The location of the Terre Haute & St. Louis Railroad through the southeastern part of the county was brought about by his untiring efforts. He was also one of the principal promoters and incor- porators, and a director of the Springfield & Southeastern Railroad.
Major Shumway devoted much time to the interests of Masonry. In 1839 he was made a Master Mason and was a charter member of Mound Lodge and the Taylor- ville Chapter. After serving his lodge as worshipful master for eighteen consecutive years he was complimented on his retiring therefrom with a past master's jewel. He was high priest of his chapter at the time of his death and was buried with Masonic hon- ors. He passed away on the 9th of May, 1870, and his wife died in 1886. His fam- ily consisted of seven children: Hiram P .. deceased; Sarah N .: D. Dwight; August F. : John N. C. : Emily R. and Ellen R.
CLINTON HOWARD.
Clinton Howard is a retired farmer re- siding in Pana. He was born in Madison county, Ohio, October 19, 1835, his parents being Amos J. and Rachel ( Kirkley ) How- ard. The father was a native of New Hampshire, whence he removed to Ohio and there he followed the occupation of farming. He died upon the old home place in the Buckeye state in 1882 and the farm there is
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now occupied by Marion Howard, a brother untiring perseverance and thus as the years of our subject, who is an extensive land- advanced won the prosperity which now en- ahles him to enjoy a well earned rest. owner, his possessions aggregating twelve hundred acres.
Clinton Howard acquired his early edu- cation in the public schools of his native state and supplemented his preliminary training by a course of study in Mechanics- burg Academy and afterward in Antioch College. He started out upon his business career in 1861 as a farmer. In his youth he had become familiar with the work of field and meadow through the assistance which he gave to his father on the old home place. After beginning business on his own ac- count his attention was directed to the rais- ing of stock, including sheep and cattle, and he was a very successful stockdealer of his native state. In 1876, however, he sold his land in Ohio and came to Pana, where he- purchased a beautiful residence and since that time has lived retired from active busi- ness cares. He still, however, retains some banking interests in Ohio.
On the ist of January. 1861. Mr. How- ard was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Jane Perkins, a native of Madison county, Ohio. Their union has been blessed with but one child, Percy. Mr. and Mrs. How- ard belonged to the First Methodist Epis- copal church, contributed liberally to its sup- port and took an active part in its work. Ile gives his political allegiance to the De- mocracy and has been one of its stanch advo- cates since voting for Stephen A. Douglas in 1860. While living in Ohio he served as township trustee, but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. pre- ferring to devote his time and energies to his busines affairs. Through his connection with agricultural interests he followed prac- tical and progressive methods, manifested
ALBERT DAVIDSON.
Albert Davidson, who is one of the lead- ing citizens of Mosquito township, has made farming his life occupation and now owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 27. He was born in Greene county, this state, on the 19th of April, 1840, and is a son of Ellis and Mar- garet (Wright) Davidson. The father, who was a native of North Carolina, came to Illinois in 1829 and was actively identified with the early development of this state. It was in 1864 that he became a resident of Christian county and here his remaining days were passed, dying on the 4th of Feb- ruary. 1877. His wife had died in 1875.
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