USA > Illinois > Christian County > Past and present of Christian County, Illinois > Part 48
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ยท Unto this worthy couple were born eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, all of whom reached maturity, namely: Jo- seph, whose name introduces this sketch : Isaac and William, twins : Mary, who is now. acting as housekeeper for her brothers: Marion, who died at the age of thirty-one years : . Columbus : Emma, wife of R. A. Bar- bour, of Perry county, Missouri; Jennie, wife of B. I. Van Housen, of Meade coun- ty, Kansas: W. McClelland, who married a Miss Horney and lives in Wichita, Kansas : Grant, who married a Miss McNamara and resides in Meade county, Kansas ; and Ben- jamin F., who lives on the old homestead.
Joseph Cowan was born in Perry county, Missouri, in 1848, and was reared amid pioneer surroundings on a farm in that coun- ty. Upon the place a large cottonwood now stands that was planted by the father many years ago. Our subject and his sister Mary pursued their studies in a log cabin school- house furnished in a primitive manner but later she went to school in a frame building. When not in school Mr. Cowan aided in the work of the farm and used to ride many miles to mill to have feed ground. At that
time there were no commission houses in St. Louis and all of the produce raised on the Cowan farm was marketed at Appleton, Missouri. They cut the grain with a cradle and cultivated the corn with a single shove! plow. After coming to Christian county, Il- linois. Joseph Cowan assisted in the develop- ment of their new farm in Rosemond town- ship, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, and he broke many an acre of wild prairie land, which he has since transformed into a fine farm. He is successfully engage l in general farming and stock-raising in con- nection with his brother. Benjamin F., and they have Shire and Norman horses and a good grade of cattle and hogs upon their place. Being good practical agriculturists and reliable and trustworthy in business, they have prospered in their undertakings and are ranked among the substantial citizens of the community. Their home is pleasantly located three miles north of the village of Rosemond.
MRS. CHARLES BEAULIEU.
Mrs. Charles Beaulieu, a well known resi- dent of Assumption, is a native of West Virginia and a daughter of Charles and Caroline Long, who were also born in that state. There the father carried on general farming until the Civil war, when in 1864 he brought his family to Illinois and settled in Christian county upon the Ennis farm on section 3. Assumption township. Here he became the owner of a half section of land. which was recently sold. the profit to be di- vided among his heirs. Here he and his wife worked early and late to improve the farm and they soon made it one of the most desirable places of the township. Mrs. Long often assisted her husband in the fields, drop- ping corn and doing other outdoor work be-
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sides her household duties. Many hours each day were devoted to spinning and in the family are still a number of coverlets and blankets which she and her mother wove. The boys then wore jeans and the dresses of the girls were made of linsey wool- sey. No stoves were then in use in West Virginia and the houses were lighted by a grease lamp which hung in the chimney corner. Later, dipped candles came into use and were afterward replaced by molded ones. Cooking was done over an old fashioned fireplace, the kettle being hung on a crane. Most of the baking was done either in a skillet or a Dutch oven. Settlements were then widely scattered and the Long family walked from three to four miles to attend church. On coming to Illinois they found Christian county largely wild and unim- proved, much of the land being under water, and they underwent many of the hardships and privations of pioneer life. Ducks, geese. brants and prairie chickens were to be had in abundance and furnished the early settlers with much of the meat which they tised. After a useful and well spent life Mr. Long passed away June 21. 1903, in his eightieth year and the funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Strain, pastor of the Pres- byterian church of Assumption. His wife. who is the oldest in a family of four chil- dren and the only survivor, is now in her seventieth year. She has been a hard work- er, has passed through many trying ordeals in sickness and death, and is loved and re- spected by all who know her. She is the mother of fourteen children, but five died in West Virginia and four in this county. Those still living are Margaret, now Mrs. Beaulieu : Andrew S., who is married and living in Fort Madison, Jowa : Mrs. Pouder, who lives on the home farm in Assumption township; Charles, who is also married and
living in Assumption township ou the old home place : and Luella, wife of Walter Mc- Donald, of AAssumption.
Mrs. Beaulieu was reared and educated in her native state, her girlhood being passed on a farm. When a young woman she gave her hand in marriage to Albert Woodruff, by whom she had four children, namely : Leonora, who married and died in Spencer. lowa, at the birth of her child who is still living: Charles H., a physician now living in Texas; Mrs. Minnie Dodson, a resident of Iowa; and Annie, who died in infancy. The husband and father died in Chicago in 1893 and Mrs. Woodruff subsequently mar- ried Charles Beaulieu. There were three children born of this union: Hattie, now deceased ; and Jowa and Orville, who are still living. Mrs. Beaulieu is an earnest men- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church and is a most estimable lady, having a wide cir- cle of friends and acquaintances in the coun- ty where she has so long made her home.
A. J. JOHNSON.
No better illustration of the characteristic energy and enterprise of the typical Swedish- American citizen can be found than that af- forded by the career of this gentleman, who is now so successfully engaged in the stock business in Bear Creek township, his place being pleasantly located on section 4 near the village of Palmer. He was born in Sma- land, Sweden, March 11, 1849, and is a son of Jonas and Mary Johanas Johnson, who spent their entire lives in that country, where the father followed farming as a life work. He died about 1886, and the mother passed away on the roth of May, 1903.
Mr. Johnson, of this review, attended the schools of his native land and remained at home, aiding his father in the work of the
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farm. until twenty years of age, when lis father gave him money with which to pay his passage to America. It was in the spring of 1869 that he landed in the new world and at once made his way to Christian county, Illinois. His first employment was on the railroad, where he worked for four months, and then entered the service of J. M. Simp- son, in whose employ he remained for ten years, working at farm labor. At the end of that time he began farming for himself upon rented land and in 1888 purchased thirty acres of land near Palmer. For some years he has engaged in the breeding of Poland China hogs and now has some very fine specimens of that stock upon his farm. He also raises, buys and sells mules and is also engaged in breeding those animals. He owns two jacks, one named King Torn, and the other Napoleon, and King Torn won the first premium in his class and also sweep stakes at the State Fair in 1903. Some of his stock he intends to place on exhibition at the World's Fair in St. Louis in 1904. His specialty in cattle is shorthorns and he feeds more stock for market than any other man in Bear Creek township.
In 1875 Mr. Johnson wedded Miss Mary Ann Marshall, by whom he had four chil- dren, namely : Charles, who married Anna Marie Grauer, a daughter of Conrad Grauer, and lives in Palmer: John and Ida Levena : and one who died in infancy. Mr. Johnson was again married September 13, 1887, his second union being with Martha Whitworth. Her father, Thomas Whitworth, was a na- tive of Kentucky and one of the early set- tlere of Macoupin county, Illinois.
In religious faith Mr. Johnson is a Pres- byterian, both he and his wife being mem- bers of that church, and in his social rela- tions he is connected with Morrisonville Lodge, No. 358, .A. F. & A. M .; Palmer
Lodge, No. 501, I. O. O. F., of Palmer ; and Burr Oak Camp, No. 353. M. W. A., of the same place. Politically he is an ardent Re- publican and takes an active interest in public affairs although he cares nothing for official honor. He has served as highway commis- sioner and township treasurer and always gives an active support to all measures which he believes calculated to advance the moral, social or material welfare of his township and county.
FRANK REED.
Frank Reed, of the Breeze Printing Com- pany of Taylorville, was born in that city on the 12th of July, 1871, and is a son of John and Mary C. (Will) Reed, who were born of German parents near the Separatists Society near Zoar, Ohio, in 1836 and 1838, respectively. They were married there and in 1857 came to Taylorville, Illinois, where the father worked at shoemaking, making regular trips over the prairie on horseback to Mount Auburn, where he also plied his trade, waiting for approaching civilization to determine his permanent location. He early decided on Taylorville, however, and conducted a shoe store on the west side of the square mutil his death in 1893 He was known as the "pioneer shoe dealer" and also ran a harness shop. He was reared a Demo- crat but twice voted for Abraham Lincoln, the Republican candidate, and later became a Greenbacker, Knight of Labor and Popu- list, frequently lending his name as a can- didate to make up a ticket in this county. He is survived by his widow and five sons : Jesse B., Orlando W., Ellsworth E., Frank and Manfred C.
Frank Reed received a common-school education at the West ward, attending regu- larly during school months and doing what
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little work his father could get out of him in the harness shop during vacations. Rather than milk a kicking cow he walked to Blue Mound in the summer of 1889 and worked for a barnessmaker there. Return- ing to Taylorville in the fall, he entered the law office of J. C. McBride as a student on the 2d of September and passed the exam- ination before the appellate court at Spring- field May 19, 1892, but not being of age he was not admitted to the bar until the meet- ing of the supreme court in January, 1893. He then began the practice of law and won his only case in the circuit court. after which he formed a partnership with W. H. Kelly. a practical printer, and purchased the Tay- lorville Daily News, then on the verge of bankruptcy, by assuming a multitude of debts.' This was April 30 , 1894, and on the 15th of May, following, the name of the paper was changed to The Daily Breese, the Weekly Breese following on October 14 of the same year. Since that time the history of the Daily and Weekly Breese is too well known in Christian county to need mention here, as is the history of Frank Reed, who has constantly been connected with these publications.
CHARLEY R. OSBERN.
One of the most progressive and success- ful agriculturists of Christian county is Charley R. Osbern, for whom the village of Osbernville is named. He is the owner of a large and valuable farm in Mosquito town- ship, his home being on section 10. and his methods of farm management show deep. scientific knowledge combined with sound. practical judgment.
Throughout life Mr. Osbern has been a resident of this county, his birth having oc- curred in Mosquito township on the 25th of
November. 1865. His parents, Robert B. and Phoebe Osbern, were natives of Ten- nessee but came to Illinois in pioneer days, the father being one of the very earliest settlers of Christian county, where he con- tinued to make his home until called to his final rest in 1879. The mother died in 1883.
Reared upon a farm Charley R. Osbern early became familiar with all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist and his literary education was acquired in the district schools near his boyhood home. At the age of eighteen years he commenced farming for himself on the old home place and has since followed that occupation with marked success. He is now the owner of eight hundred acres of rich and arable land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and improved with a fine set of farm buildings. Abont 1901 the town of Osbernville was laid out upon his farm and named in his honor. He has done all in his power to promote its interests and mainly through his efforts it has become a large grain and stock shipping point. Mr. Os- bern is a very wide-awake, energetic and progressive business man and his sound judg- ment and keen discrimination have enabled him to attain a prominent place in business circles.
In 1885 Mr. Osbern was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary E. Bottrell, a daughter of Daniel Bottrell, who was born in Eng- land and on coming to America settled in Christian county at an early day in its de- velopment. Three children bless this union, Ethel G., Robert D. and Laura, all at home. In his political affiliations Mr. Osbern is a Democrat and he takes a deep and commend- able interest in public affairs. He stands high in the community where he has so long made his home and he has the respect and confidence of all who know him.
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Forty-two years have come and gone since this gentleman arrived in Christian county and he is justly numbered among her honored early settlers and leading citizens. He has been prominently identified with her agricultural and business interests, and al- though now in his eighty-ninth year he is still engaged in the grocery business at Pana. Old age is not necessarily a synonym of weakness and inactivity. it needs not suggest, as a matter of course, want of oc- cupation or helplesspess. There is an old age that is a benediction to all that come in contact with it, that gives out of its rich- est stores of learning and experience, and grows stronger as the years pass. Such is the life of Mr. Swim, an encouragement to his associates and an example well worthy of emulation to the young.
Mr. Swim was born in Kentucky, August 30. 1815, a son of Nathaniel and Eunice ( Maddox ) Swim, who were natives of Ken- tucky and Tennessee, respectively. He is the oldest of their eight children and the only survivor. He was born in a log cabin. reared upon a farm and educated in an old log schoolhouse. In early manhood he was married at Batavia, Ohio, to Miss Rachel Hill, who was born in that state. March 8. 1817. Her father, Rev. John Hill, was an old-time circuit rider whose salary amounted to only two hundred dollars a year.
After his marriage Mr. Swim removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, to accept a position that had been offered him as clerk in a grocery store, having previously had some expe- rience in a country store. Later he em- barked in business on his own account as a wholesale and retail dealer in groceries and remained a resident of Cincinnati for about fourteen years. At the end of that time he removed to Pike county, Illinois, making the
journey by wagon and camping out along the way at night. The trip occupied about three weeks.
It was in 1862 that Mr. Swim came to Christian county and purchased one hun- dred and twenty acres of raw prairie land on Buckeye Prairie from the Illinois Central Railroad Company at ten dollars per acre. This was bought on seven years' time at six per cent. interest. Although he paid none of the principal for four years he was able to pay one-fourth of the amount at the end of that time. He feels very grateful to the company for the kind way in which they treated him as he was unable to make the last payment at the specified time and they extended the time for him, although they could have taken the property. A few months later he met his obligation and re- ceived his deed to the land. Many families secured good farms in that way. Much of Mr. Swim's land was under water, the ponds and sloughs being often so deep that a horse would have to swim across. Wild game, especially cranes, were numerous and the stock had to be penned up at night to keep them from the wolves. Mr. Swim engaged in the cultivation and improvement of his farm in Rosamond township until 1881. making it so valuable that it is now worth one hundred dollars per acre. His wife being in poor health, he left the farm in 1881 and removed to Pana. where she died on the 14th of September. 1891, at the age of seventy-four years six months and six days. She had been a devout and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church for over sixty years and was a faithful and loving wife and mother. Her funeral ser- mon was delivered by Rev. Orr.
On his removal to Pana Mr. Swim em- barked in the coal business and was the first to introduce hard coal into the town. In
WILLIAM SWIM, HIS SON, GRANDSON AND GREAT-GRANDSON
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CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
1892 he again turned his attention to the grocery trade, opening a store on South Lo- cust street in partnership with his youngest son. Although now in his - eighty-ninth year he arises every morning at five o'clock and walks to the store, a distance of five blocks.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Swim were born eight children, as follows: Catharine, born June 8, 1838, was married August 17, 1856, to Thomas P. Clark, now a resident of Spring- field, Illinois. Louisa, born June 27, 1840, was married September 23. 1848. to James McCune, a resident of Louisiana, Missouri. Annie, born October 12, 1842, was married October 8, 1860, to John A. McElroy, who is now living in Chicago. W. Henry Har- rison, born May 1, 1844, was married Sep- tember 7, 1867, to Ellen Harbor. Mary, born June 23, 1846, was married October 26, 1864, to Elijah Gimlin. John Quincy, born May 30, 1848. was married April 2, 1871, to Flora J. Rosenbury and is now a re- tired Methodist Episcopal minister living in Texas. George A., born August 4, 1850, was married February 23, 1876, to Eunice Kimball. Edward Stickney, born March 30, 1855, was married October 8, 1876, to Josephine Kimball and is now engaged in the grocery business with his father at Pana.
In September, 1887, Mr. and Mrs. Swim celebrated their golden wedding, the cere- monies being conducted by Rev. C. P. Bald- win, assisted by Rev. C. Galener. A very happy evening was spent and the couple re- ceived a number of valuable presents, in- cluding two pairs of gold spectacles and a silver cake basket. A family reunion was held July 16, 1902, at which time Rev. M. G. Coleman was present and in behalf of the children presented Mr. Swim with a fine Morris chair. He has a group picture of forty-one, representing five generations of
the family. He has had forty-one grand- children, thirty-six of whom are still living. and he also had nineteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild-Nellie Har- rison, of Springfield.
Mr. Swim has recently sold his farm and town property. He cast his first vote for William Henry Harrison, the ninth presi- dent of the United States, and with the ex- ception of 1856 has voted at each presiden- tial election since that time. He is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and has taken an active interest in political affairs. At the last election he had fourteen grand- sons who voted the same ticket, as did also their seven fathers. For over fifty-two years he has been a faithful and active mem- ber of the Methodist church, being a mem- ber of the building committee and a trustee of the first church built on Buckeye Prairie. He also assisted in raising the oldl Buckeye school, there being none in that locality when he settled there. He brought the first sew- ing machine into the community and in early life was regarded as one of the most pro- gressive men of Rosamond township. Mr. Swim can relate many interesting incidents of pioneer days when his mother used to spin and weave all the cloth to be converted into clothes for her family and when the shoemaker used to come round once a year to make their Christmas shoes, which were highly prized and kept only for state occa- sions. During his boyhood he hoed corn for twelve and a half cents per day and used to cut grain with a sickle and later with a cradle. When his daughters became old enough they used to assist him in the thresh- ing, planting and gathering of corn, and now two of his sons follow in his footsteps, being successful farmers. Bright and active in both mind and body, Mr. Swim appears much younger for nature deals kindly with
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PAST AND PRESENT
the man who abuses not her laws, and his life has ever been such as to command the respect and esteem of those with whom he has been brought in contact either in busi- ness or social relations.
THOMAS W. BRENTS.
Thomas W. Brents, who is identified with agricultural interests in Christian county and is now serving as sheriff. is one of the na- tive sons of this county, born April 7. 1857. his parents being Samuel and Caroline ( Kel- ler) Brents. The father of our subject was long a resident of Christian county. where he devoted his attention to agricultural pur- suits. He had a brother William who served as sheriff in this county. The Brents were the second or third family to settle in Chris- tian county, the family home being estab- lished here about 1820, by Mrs. Brents, the grandmother of our subject, who was then a widow, and who on her removal was ac- companied by her sons. William. John, Moses, Simeon and Thomas. The father of our subject has now passed away, but the mother is still living and there is also a sister, Lydia, who is now the wife of H. M. Langley.
Thomas W. Brents was reared upon the home farm and has followed agricultural pursuits throughout the greater part of his life. He was educated in the public schools of his native township and in 1878 started out upon an independent business career as a farmer of Taylorville township. In 1880 he was injured in a cyclone which passed over this locality and was thus incapacitated for hard manual labor, but he has, neverthe- less, superintended his farming interests and has taken a justifiable pride in keeping his farm in the best condition possible. The land is now under a high state of cultiva-
tion and substantial buildings have been erected upon the place which is now supplied with modern equipments. His land is lo- cated on sections 17 and 20, Taylorville township and comprises one hundred and ten acres, which are rich and productive.
In 1878 Mr. Brents was united in mar- riage to Miss Martha A. Langley, a daugh- ter of Robert P. and Irene Langley of this county. They now have one son, Homer. In his political views Mr. Brents is a Demo- crat, having always given his support to the party. He served as assistant supervisor to a Republican supervisor and was elected for three successive terms to that position. In 1898 he was a candidate before his party convention for the nomination of sheriff but was defeated by Thomas Downey. In April, 1902, however, he was nominated and was elected by a fair majority over Samuel Win- ters, a Republican candidate. He makes an efficient officer, being fearless and prompt in the discharge of his duties. He is cordial and genial in manner and has thus won many warm friends. His entire life has been passed in Christian county and as those who have known him from boyhood are num- bered among his warmest friends it is an indication that his has been an upright, hon- orable career.
J. WILL SMITH.
J. Will Smith is one of the oldest repre- sentatives of business interests of Pana. when the term of connection with trade cir- cles here is considered. He is now dealing in men's furnishing goods and shoes, and, carrying a good stock, meets with a ready sale, on which he makes a reasonable profit. Realizing that there is no royal road to wealth he has labored indefatigably and earnestly and is now one of the prosperous merchants of the city.
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CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Mr. Smith is a native of Montgomery county, Illinois, born in 1861, his parents being Stephen M. and Nancy Smith. The father was born in Ohio and in 1848 came to Illinois, where he first followed the oc- cupation of farming. About forty-one years ago, however, he abandoned the plow and removed to Pana, where he embarked in the dry-goods business, soon winning for himself a place among the foremost mer- chants of the city. Active and influential in public affairs, he left the impress of his in- dividuality upon public thought and feeling. He was one of the delegates sent to secure the building of the Big Four Railroad through this place and was always identified with the business interests of the town and the work of public progress and advance- ment along the lines of modern civilization. His political support was given the Repub- lican party. His death occurred January 22, 1898.
J. Will Smith was but a boy when brought to Pana and in this city he was reared, his education being acquired in its public schools. When sixteen years of age he be- gan clerking for G. V. Penwell, and thus became familiar with mercantile methods. After several years' experience in commer- cial pursuits, he began business on his own account as a member of the firm of Conklin & Smith, dealers in clothing, men's furnish- ing goods, boots and shoes. After a few years Mr. Smith purchased his partner's in- terest and for twenty-six years has carried on business alone. He now carries a large and well selected line of men's furnishing goods and shoes, and his business methods have commended him to the public confi- dence. He not only desires to please his patrons, but is systematic and reliable in all that he does, and thus has secured the con- fidence of all with whom he has business
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