USA > Illinois > Christian County > Past and present of Christian County, Illinois > Part 42
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In the county of his nativity Albert Da- vidson grew to manhood and is indebted to . its district schools for the early educational privileges he enjoyed. In 1864 he came to Christian county and with his youngest brother bought two hundred acres of land near Mount Auburn, now the property of Stephen Sheppard. This was subsequently sold and he then purchased eighty acres of his present farm on section 27, Mosquito township, to which he has since added an- other eighty acre tract. It was all raw prai- rie land when it came into his possession. but he has converted the same into a well improved and valuable farm. He built his present home in 1868, has planted trees and made many other useful and valuable im- provements to the place. He has watched with interest the wonderful changes that have taken place in the county during the last forty years and has materially aided in its development and upbuilding.
SCOTT DAVIDSON
MRS. SCOTT DAVIDSON
LOUISE DAVIDSON
ALBERT DAVIDSON
MRS. ALBERT DAVIDSON
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CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
On the 3d of January, 1867. Mr. David- son led to the marriage altar Miss Mary S. Henderson, who was born in Madison county, this state, January 21, 1846. Her father, John A. Henderson, was a native of Virginia and came to Illinois at an early day. In 1855 he became a resident of Chris- tian county, locating two and a half miles northeast of Mount Auburn. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Davidson were born two children : W. Scott, who married Agnes Griswold and has one child. Louise: and Alice Daisy, who died at the age of four and a half years. The son is now living on a part of his fath- er's farm. The family is widely and favor- ably known throughout the community in which they live.
ISAIAH POUDER.
One of the representative citizens and prominent farmers of Locust township is Isaiah Pouder, whose home is on section I. He comes originally from Ohio, his birth having occurred in Hamilton county, that state, November 28, 1831, and he is a son of Joseph and Catherine Pouder, also na- tives of the Buckeye state, where the mother made her home throughout life, dying there in 1847. In 1862 the father came to Chris- tian county, Illinois, where his death oc- curred about 1883.
Isaiah Pouder spent his early life in Ohio, attending the district schools until he ac- quired a good practical education. At the age of nineteen he started out to make his own way in the world and was engineer in a steam mill for some time. He assisted in building two mills in Missouri, one in In- diana and another in Ohio. Subsequently he was engaged in the butcher business for two years and then came to Christian county
in 1854 and turned his attention to farming, operating rented land for nine years. At the end of that period he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of his present farm in Locust township. Prosperity attended his well directed efforts and he added to his property, now owning a fine farm of two hundred and ten acres, which is well im- proved and under excellent cultivation. He erected all of the buildings upon the place. In connection with general farming he is engaged in the breeding of fine stock, his specialties being shorthorn cattle, Poland China hogs and Percheron draft horses, and he has some registered stock upon his place. For twenty-five years he has devoted con- siderable attention to the raising of hogs and he has met with excellent success, being a good judge of all kinds of farm animals and a man of excellent business ability and sound judgment.
On the 26th of March, 1854, Mr. Pouder married Miss Catherine Gresh, a daughter of John Gresh, who was a native of Penn- sylvania. Five children blessed this union. namely : Albert R., who is married and is engaged in farming near Assumption : Can- dis, now the widow of George Herrin ; Murry, who died at the age of twenty-one years ; Iva, the wife of Charles Thrawl, who follows farming in May township, this county ; and Frank, who is married and is also farming in May township. Mrs. Pou- der and her daughter, Mrs. Herrin, are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Pouder is identified with the Ma- sonic Lodge, No. 128, of Assumption. He uses his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, and has held the offices of highway commis- sioner and school director. He is practically a self-made man, for his success in life has been achieved by his own industry, perse-
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verance and good management and he well deserves the prosperity that has come to him.
AMOS A. RHODES
Amos A. Rhodes was for many years identified with agricultural interests in Christian county and was also a capable county official for a number of years. His record as a man and citizen was above re- proach and though he has passed away his memory is yet enshrined in the hearts of many who knew him. He was born in Shelby county, Illinois, on the 23d of May. 1841, and was of Scotch-Irish lineage. Prior to the Revolutionary war the family was founded in America, for Hezekiah Rhodes, the great-grandfather of our sub- ject, was a member of the Patriot army. Jesse Rhodes, the grandfather, was born in North Carolina and followed the occupation of farming. Believing that he might have better business opportunities in the west he came to Illinois in 1830, settling in Shelby county. Here his force of character and fitness for leadership made him a man of considerable prominence and influence and he was honored with a number of public offices, being elected upon the Democratic ticket. He was appointed by the governor as one of the commissioners to select a site for the county seat of Macon county and they determined upon the site of the present city of Decatur. His son, James M. Rhodes. the father of our subject, was born and reared in Wilson county, Tennessee, and after arriving at years of maturity was joined in wedlock to Miss Pernetty Wake- field, whose birth occurred in Shelby county. Illinois, October 13, 1824. At the time of her death, which occurred in April, 1894. she was the oldest native citizen of Shelby
county. Her father, Andrew Wakefield. was born in Georgia and became one of the pioneer settlers of Illinois, locating in Shelby county about 1820, in the district which afterward became known as the Wakefieldl settlement. There he entered land from the government, establishing one of the first permanent homes of the locality. Indians were still numerous in the neighborhood and primitive conditions existed on every hand, but with the true courageous spirit of the pioneer he bravely faced all the difficulties and obstacles and in course of time devel- oped a good home for his family. His death occurred at the age of forty-eight years. Both his father and his mother, Charles and Anna Wakefield, were born on a ship on which their respective parents were crossing the Atlantic to America.
The parents of Amos A. Rhodes were married in Shelby county, Illinois, in 1840. The father was one of the pioneer teachers there and also became extensively engaged in farming. His death occurred in Shelby county when he was forty-three years of age. In the family were two sons, Amos A. and Jesse, and the latter was born in 1844 and died in the service of his country in 1864 from disease contracted in the army. He was a member of Company G. One Hundred and Forty-third Illinois Infantry, and was a valiant defender of the Union cause.
Amos A. Rhodes, whose name introduces this review, was reared in the county of his nativity and began his education in a little log schoolhouse, in which his father was the teacher. During the period of the Civil war he was a student in Quincy, Illinois, and would have graduated there in 1863 had not the government appropriated the building for hospital purposes. Mr. Rhodes then be- came a factor in business life by the estab-
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lishment of a grocery store in Pana in 1864 May of that year. She had received good under the firm name of Eichelberger & Rhodes. For five years he was connected with that enterprise and then turned his at- tention to the real estate business. In the year 1873 he was called to public life, being elected county treasurer and ex-officio county collector of Christian county on the Democratic ticket. Twice he was re-elected so that he was the incumbent in the office for six years. When his term had expired in the year 1879 he retired to his farm two miles south of Pana, having resolved to live a private life, but his fitness for public office led to his selection for the position of town- ship supervisor and he acted in that capacity for three terms. In the year 1884 he was again called to the county seat, being elected clerk of the circuit court, which position he acceptably filled for four years. Declining to again accept the nomination he then re- turned to his farm of one hundred and twenty acres lying just west of Pana.
On the Ist of January, 1865. Mr. Rhodes was united in marriage to Miss Dora Jage- man, a daughter of Ignatz Jageman, of Madison county, Illinois. She was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, and when a little maiden of six years was brought by her parents to America, the family settling in Trenton, New Jersey. The father was a prominent citizen of Furth, his native city, . Ohio, where the father continued to reside
and there served as burgomaster, an office equivalent to that of mayor in this country. Four children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes: Edward J., who is now circuit clerk of Christian county and resides in Taylorville : Charles A., who is secretary of the Christian County Savings, Loan & Building Association of Taylorville; and two sons that died in infancy. In 1892 Mr. Rhodes was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away on the 6th of
educational privileges in both German and English, completing her studies in . the schools of New Jersey. Her natural refine- . ment and many graces of character endeared her to all with whom she came in contact. Fraternally Mr. Rhodes was connected with Pana Lodge, No. 226, A. F. & A. M., and with Orient Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. He was a man of firm pur- pose and of unfaltering fidelity to what he believed to be right, and all who knew hin entertained for him warm regard. He died in April, 1902, leaving behind him an un- tarnished name. In all of his business af- fairs he was straightforward and honorable : and in office was prompt and reliable, so that he won the respect of young and old, rich . and poor. -
A. F. KRIEGER. : 1 )
Among the worthy citizens that Ohio has furnished to Illinois is numbered A. F. Krie- ger, who was born in Darke county of the Buckeye state June 26, 1849. His parents were A. S. and Amelia (Myers) Krieger, both of whom were natives of Germany. On leaving the fatherland in 1848 . they . crossed the Atlantic to the United States and established their home in Darke county, until 1864, when he removed ; to Elkhart, Logan county, Illinois, and remained there; until called to his final rest. He passed away in October, 1869, and his widow spent her last days in Christian county, Illinois, where she died July 11, 1881.
In the county of his nativity \ F. Krie- ger was reared until he had attained the age of fifteen years and during that period he pursued his education in the common schools of Darke county. In 1864 he ar-
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rived in Christian county, Illinois, and he continued to work upon the home farm until twenty-one years of age, when he started out in life to make his own way in the world. He worked by the month for eight months and then rented four hundred acres of land for a year. On the expiration of that period he removed to his present farm, then renting two hundred acres. He after- ward purchased the one hundred and ninety- three acres of land which he now owns, be- coming the possessor of this property after his mother's death in 1881. In connection with the cultivation of the soil Mr. Krieger is extensively and successfully engaged in the breeding of fine Percheron horses and has some of the finest horses in this section of the country. He has sold two-year-oldl colts for two thousand dollars and his stock always commands the highest market prices. Upon his farm are large barns and excellent equipments for the care of his stock and he also has a very fine residence and all modern accessories which are found upon the model farms of the twentieth century.
On the 10th of December. 1872, Mr. Krieger was united in marriage to Miss Eunice D. Hurd, a native of New York. who died April 21. 1903. By that marriage there were born seven children : Emma M .. who married Earl D. Schieb, a farmer of Christian county; Grace, the wife of B. R. Pippin, now a grocer of Edinburg, Illinois; Arthur L., who married Lena Greive and is operating land in this county; Allen T .. Minnie L., Augustus and Clara, all at home.
Mr. Krieger and his family belong to the German Reformed church and he is a char- ter member of Stonington Lodge, M. W. A. His political allegiance is given to the De- mocracy and he served as assessor for three terms, while throughout nearly all of his residence here he has been a school director.
The cause of education finds in him a warm friend. interested in promoting the standard of the schools and in citizenship he is always progressive and enterprising, putting forth every effort to promote general progress along substantial lines of development. A cordial, genial manner wins him friends and he is a man entirely free from ostentation or display, yet possessing many excellent traits of character which have won for him high esteem.
D. O. DANIELS.
D. O. Daniels, an honored veteran of the Civil war and one of the representative farmers of Christian county, whose home is on section 13. Mosquito township, was born on the 4th of May, 1845, in Fulton county. Pennsylvania, of which state his parents. Daniel and Rachel Daniels, were also na- tives. In 1858 the family came to Illinois and settled in Christian county but the father is now a resident of Pawnee Rock. Kansas. The mother died about 1875.
The subject of this sketch was about thir- teen years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois and as there were no schools in the locality where they settled his education was principally ac- quired before coming to Christian county. His early life was passed in a rather un- eventful manner until he entered the service of his country during the dark days of the Civil war, enlisting on the 4th of February. 1865, as a member of Company K, One Hundred and Fifty-second Illinois Volun- teer Infantry. He first went to Louisville. Kentucky, and from there to Nashville. His command subsequently started for Texas but the boat on which they sailed sank while going down the Mississippi. Mr. Daniels remained in the service for some time after
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hostilities ceased and was honorably dis- oldest residents of Mosquito township, hav- charged in Sepetmber, 1865.
Returning home he worked on his father's farm for a year and then purchased a prairie team of five yoke of oxen and a twenty-four-inch breaking plow. With this outfit he engaged in breaking prairie for three and a half or four dollars per acre and the first year saved seven hundred dollars. This he invested in forty acres of railroad land and renting eighty acres more he com- menced farming on his own account, al- though he continued to break prairie for two years thereafter. Ten years ago he had the misfortune to lose his house by fire and then removed to his present location on the cross- roads, where he has a fine large residence and good and substantial outbuildings. He is now the owner of one hundred acres of rich and arable land and in connection with general farming he has engaged in the buy- ing and feeding of stock.
In 1867 Mr. Daniels led to the marriage altar Miss Louisa V. Fletcher, a daughter of John G. Fletcher, who was one of the early settlers of this county. By this union the following children have been born: Anna. wife of John Marshall, a grocer of Decatur ; Otis, who is married and is engaged in the transfer business in Macon, Macon county ; Nona, wife of Elmer Ellis, a farmer of Christian county; John D., who is now attending a business college in Decatur ; Elmer, at home; Carrie, who died at the age of sixteen years ; and Daisy, who died at the age of four years ..
Religiously Mr. Daniels is a member of the Christian church and politically is identi- fied with the Democratic party. He has filled the offices of school director, constable, township clerk and collector, and his public duties have always been most faithfully and satisfactorily performed. He is one of the
ing for forty-five years made his home within its borders and he has taken an active part in its development and upbuilding.
WILLIAM AUGUSTUS GOODRICH.
William Augustus Goodrich is one of the honored pioneers of Christian county. Long years have come and gone since he arrived here and great changes have occurred. The traveler of several decades ago would not recognize in the improved condition of the county to-day the district which he visited at that time for it was then a region in which the land was wild and uncultivated. There were few homes and even Taylorville was nothing save a courthouse, there being no residents there at that period. Wild game was upon the prairies and the entire work of improvement and advancement lay in the future. Mr. Goodrich has borne an active and helpful part in the work of upbuilding and deserves the gratitude of present and future generations for what he has accom- plished in this way.
He was born November 24, 1818, in Pittsfield, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, a son of Orrin and Lydia Goodrich. His father was born January 15, 1771, and died on the 17th of July. 1855. For more than twenty-five years he served as a magistrate and was very prominent in public affairs, being elected to represent his district in each branch of the state legislature. He aided in molding public thought and action and his influence was felt on the side of progress and improvement. In 1793 he was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Sackett and after her death was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Bagg. William A. Goodrich remained in Massachusetts until nineteen years of age and during the period acquired his educa-
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tion in the public schools. When a young man, ambitious and energetic, he resolved to seek his home in the west and take ad- vantage of the opportunities which are al- ways found in a growing country. In No- vember. 1837. therefore, he arrived in Springfield, Illinois, where he had a sister living
There he remained for two years, being engaged in railroading. The day following the presidential election of 1840-at which time he cast his first vote for Martin Van Buren-he came to Christian county. His father had purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land near Mount Auburn, Illinois, for which he paid ten dollars per acre, and William A. Goodrich and his brother settled upon that land. They had a team of horses and two hundred dollars in money with which to make a start in the new country. They were wide-awake and pro- gressive and for ten years Mr. Goodrich continued to reside upon that farm, laboring earnestly in its development and producing excellent results in his farm work.
On the 24th of December, 1841, was cele- .brated the marriage of our subject and Miss Maria N. Augur, of Mount AAuburn. Illi- nois, who died in 1854. Unto them were born three children: Charles Francis, a farmer residing near Taylorville: Julia Helena, deceased, wife of I. N. Richardson, who is living near the county seat; and Henry Augustus, who follows farming near Taylorville. On the 17th of June. 1855. Mr. Goodrich was again married, his second union being with Miss Martha A. Ryan, of Springfield, Ohio, by whom he had one son, William R., who died in infancy. In 1898 Mr. Goodrich was called upon to mourn the loss of his second wife.
In public affairs in Christian county Mr. Goodrich has been prominent and his labors
have been very helpful and beneficial in many ways. In August, 1843, he was elected surveyor of Christian county and filled that position for seven years, or until 1850, when he was elected county sheriff on the Democratic ticket. In order to more readily discharge the duties of the position he took up his abode in the city. He served for two years and then con- tinned as deputy sheriff under William C. Brentz. In 1854 he was again elected sheriff, but before the expiration of his sec- ond term he was appointed to take charge of the county clerk's office and was the in- cumbent in that position for more than four terms, being elected at four successive elec- tions. He thus served for seventeen years and in 1873 retired from office as he had entered it-with the confidence and good will of the public. He gave his allegiance to the Democratic party in early life but in 1868 he became a supporter of General Grant and has since affiliated with the Re- publican party. Keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day, he has ever been able to support his position by in- telligent argument.
Mr. Goodrich became interested in real estate operations and in this line has done considerable business. He erected a number of residences in Taylorville and in 1853 laid out an addition of forty acres to the city. Fraternally he is a Mason, having become a member of Mound Lodge, No. 122, A. F. & A. M .. in Taylorville, in 1852. For more than half a century he has been a worthy fol- lower of the craft and exemplifies in his life its beneficent teachings. He has passed all the chairs of the local lodge, has been a member of the grand lodge and has also taken the degrees of the Royal Arch chap- ter. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Baptist church. The
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residence of few men in Christian county antedates that of Mr. Goodrich. When he first arrived here he went to Taylorville to have the deed of his land recorded and there was not a building in the town save the courthouse. He stood on the courthouse steps looking for miles across the prairie and he saw deer and wolves on the present site of the city. He has taken a very com- mendable interest in everything that has been done here in the way of improvement and upbuilding and certainly has borne his full share in the progress of the county. His business affairs have been very carefully managed and has resulted in bringing to him success. In public office he has been fearless, faithful and honorable and over the record of his private life and official career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil.
B. F. PARRISH.
The subject of this sketch is one of the most successful and enterprising farmers of Bear Creek township, his home being on section 1. He was born on the 26th day of July, 1846, in Hampshire county, West Vir- ginia, of which state his parents, Josiah and Mary A. ( Sloanaker) Parrish, were also na- tives. On leaving West Virginia in 1870 the father came to Illinois and first located in La Salle county, but after residing there for two years he came to Christian county, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying here in 1893. The mother of our sub- ject had long since departed this life, her death occurring in West Virginia in 1864 before the emigration of the family to this state.
B. F. Parrish grew to manhood in his native state and received a good practical education in its public schools. On attain-
ing his majority he started out in life for himself by working by the month on a farm and was thus employed for four years, after which he engaged in farming on rented land for five years. In 1875 he removed to Clarksdale, this county, and was there en- gaged in wagonmaking and blacksmithing until 1883. In partnership with his brother, D. W. Parrish, he made his first purchase of land, consisting of a tract of one hundred and five acres, and they afterward bought sixty acres more and still later a tract of forty-five acres, making two hundred and ten acres. In 1885 they divided the prop- erty and our subject has since added to his share until he now has three hundred eighty- four and a half acres. He has made all of the improvements upon the place and has converted it into one of the most desirable farms of its size in the county. He has an interest in residence property and six lots in Clarksdale and is engaged in the buying and shipping of hay at that place. In business affairs he has ever been found upright and honorable and due success has not been de- nied him.
Mr. Parrish was married in 1878, the lady of his choice being Miss Martha Ruckman, a daughter of Thomas Ruckman, who was a native of West Virginia. She died on the 26th of February, 1899, leaving two chi !- dren, namely: Josiah, who is married and engaged in farming in Johnson township: and Maggie, at home with her father. In June, 1901, Mr. Parrish wedded Mrs. Ella Barrett. a daughter of Peter English, who was a native of Illinois. By this union one child has been born, Roy Franklin.
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