USA > Illinois > Christian County > Past and present of Christian County, Illinois > Part 50
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LEVEUS E. SMEDLEY
This worthy citizen of Rosamond town- ship belongs to an old and honored New England family that originated in England
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and dates back two hundred and fifty years, the deeds to the home being made out in the time of George III. The progenitors of the family in America were two brothers, John and James Smedley, the former of whom located on a farm in Litchfield, Con- necticut, while the latter settled in old Vir- ginia. Their descendants are now widely scattered throughout the United States.
Nehemiah Smedley, our subject's great- great-grandfather, was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, in 1732, and he and William Hosford were the first white men to locate at Williamstown, Massachusetts. There was a book dedicated to his honor, Nehe- miah Smedley and Colonel Simons. compiled by Arthur Latham Perry, LL. D., professor of history and political economy in Williams College, a member of the Massachusetts His- torical Society and president of the Berk- shire Historical and Scientific Society. Ne- hemiah Smedley was twice married, his first wife being Mary Harwood, and their oldest child was Levi Smedley, the great-grand- father of our subject. He was born Octo- ber 8, 1764, at Bachelor Hall, which was built by his father and which was the birth- place of four of the latter's children, the other four being born in a new and larger house that is still standing near the junction of the Green and Hoosac rivers. The oak timbers for the new house were lifted in place October 8, 1772, when Levi Smedley was only eight years old, and the Harwoods and other friends came from Bennington, Vermont, to assist in the raising. The coun- try was then preparing for war, this being just before the Revolution and Captain Ne- hemiah Smedley was away from home most of the time, leaving the care of the children to his wife. After her death he was mar- ried in less than a year to Mrs. Lyman Gibbs, by whom he had one son, James, who was
born December 23, 1783. His will, dated December 17, 1789, made his eldest son, Levi, sole executor, then just past his twen- ty-fourth year. His bond for the sum of one thousand pounds was signed by his neighbors, Samuel Kellogg and Ira Baker, who owned adjoining farms and who, to- gether with William Wells, had witnessed the will. The testator lived about two years after his will was drawn and it was approved by the judge of. probate March 2, 1790. Tradition says that Nehemiah Smedley died of consumption at the old homestead. The place was afterward occupied by his son Levi, who was known as Deacon Smedley and who was the great-grandfather of our subject. He died in 1848 at the age of eighty-four years.
Levi Smedley, Jr., our subject's grand- father, was born in 1795 and in due time in- herited the farm, where he lived a long and useful life. For one year he represented his town in the general assembly, entering upon the duties of that position in January, 1857, and he did good service in forwarding the cause of the Hoosac tunnel then before the legislature, the Boston & Albany Railroad making a strong fight against the proposi- tion.
Chauncey Smedley, the father of our sub- ject, was born December 24, 1819, on the old home farm, of which he afterward came into possession. After operating the an- cestral acres for half a lifetime he sold the place and came to Illinois in 1870. locating near Aurora in Kane county, where he pur- chased a farm. He was married in Will- iamstown, Massachusetts, to Miss Celestia Bardwell, a daughter of Giles Bardwell and a descendant of Obediah Bardwell, who was a Revolutionary soldier. Unto this union two children were born: Leveus E., of ' this review; and Eliza D., who married
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William R. Hobbs and died at South Bend, Indiana, leaving four sons. After coming to Illinois the father engaged in farming in Kane county until 1885. when he came to Christian county to make his home with our subject. Here he died on the 29th of Octo- ber. 1885, and his wife, who was born at Sandy Hill, New York, May 28, 1821, passed away January 6, 1900.
Leveus E. Smedley is of the fifth gen- eration of the Smedley family born at Will- iamstown, Massachusetts, his natal day be- ing November 13, 1846. He was educated in the public schools of that place and has made farming his life occupation as did his ancestors. It was in the spring of 1885 that he came to Christian county and took up his residence upon his present farm on section 14. Rosamond township, where he has one hundred and sixty acres of land under a high state of cultivation and well improved with good buildings. Here he is success- fully engaged in general farming and stock raising, his principal crops being hay and grain.
At Williamstown, Massachusetts, March 15. 1871, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Smedley and Miss Clara Ellis Kellogg, who was born July 28, 1849, a daughter of Samuel Blair and Mary A. (Hosford) Kel- logg, both representatives of old and highly respected families of that place. Her father (lied about 1892, but her mother is still liv- ing and now makes her home in Brockport, New York. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smedley were born five children : Lucy, born Decem- ber 2. 1871, is now the wife of C. S. Bailey. of Rosamond township. Mary .A., born De- cember 2. 1873. is the wife of James A. Mc- Kee, a merchant and postmaster of Rose- mond. Samuel C., born January 7, 1879, died August 23. 1880. Julia Kellogg, born April 13. 1882. was graduated at the Rose-
mond schools in 1900, and was married in 1903 to Morris Newell, now of Richland, Michigan. Chauncey Harold, born Decem- ber II, 1889, completes the family. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smedley are earnest and con- sistent members of the First Congregational church of Rosemond, of which he is one of the trustees, and they are held in high es- teem by all who know them.
JOSIAH LESLIE BOYD.
The world instinctively pays deference to the man whose success has been worthily achieved, who has overcome the obstacles in liis path and has become an important factor in business circles. This is a progressive age and he who does not advance is soon left far behind. By the improvement of opportunities by which all are surrounded Mr. Boyd has steadily and honorably worked his way upward and is to-day one of the wealthy and substantial citizens of his com- munity. He makes his home in Palmer and is now engaged principally in farming and in buying and selling stock.
A native of Christian county, he was born near the present site of Palmer, April 25, 1850, and is a son of Alfred and Zillah A (McCormick) Boyd, who were natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, but spent the early part of their married life in Christian county, Kentucky, where the father engaged in farming and tobacco-rais- ing. In 1839, accompanied by his wife and four children, he came with a brother to Christian county, Illinois, the journey be- ing made in a prairie schooner and consum- ing several weeks. At length they arrived at their destination and located in what is now Bear Creek township, a mile and a half from Palmer, where the father entered a tract of government land, the place being
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now owned by his eldest son. He continued to reside in Bear Creek township through- out life. In November, 1880, he was killed by a train. His wife died July 9, 1897. This worthy couple were the parents of thirteen children, of whom nine reached years of maturity and eight are still living. Four of the number are residents of Chris- tian county, these being Mrs. John F. Ander- son, of Taylorville; Joseph, of Bear Creek township ; and James M. and Josiah L., both of Palmer. During their early residence in this county the family endured many of the hardships and privations which fall to the lot of the pioneer and the father often went to St. Louis to do his shopping, driving an ox team across the unbroken prairies.
Our subject acquired his education in a distriet school situated two miles from his home and in going that distance he had to cross three swamps, so wet was the land at that time. Until twenty-one years of age he continued to attend school off and on dur- ing the winter season after the crops were harvested in the autumn. He remained on the homestead farm until thirty-one and then removed to Palmer, where he opened a mer- cantile establishment, carrying a full line of goods usually found in a first class general store. He retired from the active manage- ment of the same in 1902, when he sold an interest in the store to A. L. Shrout, who is now in charge. In 1897 Mr. Boyd bought the elevator at Palmer, having two years prior to this time embarked in the grain business, but he sold out in 1902 and now devotes his entire time and attention to his farming and stock dealing. He is the owner of seven hundred and eighty acres of land in Johnson, Greenwood and Bear Creek town- ships, all under cultivation and well im- proved, and he gives his personal supervision
to the operation of two hundred and sixty acres of this. He not only buys and sells live stock but he also raises and feeds consider- able beef cattle for the markets, and in his business undertakings has met with marked success, being a man of sound judgment and keen discrimination.
On the 6th of May, 1875, Mr. Boyd mar- ried Miss Laura J. Hewitt, of Taylorville. and to them have been born ten children, of whom Francis A. died at the age of four years. Those still living are as follows : Anna Zillah, wife of A. L. Shrout, by whom she has one child, Helen Ione: Laura Eunice. Olive Edna, Lotus Emma. William Leslie. Velma Gertrude, Ross H., Byron B. and Ruth V., all at home.
Religiously Mr. Boyd and wife are mem- bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and fraternally he holds membership in Mor- risonville Lodge, No. 681, A. F. & A. M., of which he is junior warden. He is a prom- inent Odd Fellow, having several times passed all the chairs in Palmer Lodge. No. 501, I. O. O. F. He also belonged to the encampment at Palmer, which is now aban- doned, and twice served as a delegate to the grand lodge of the state. He also belong? to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Fraternal Army of America. In poli- tics Mr. Boyd is a pronounced Republican and the fact that he was elected a member of the county board of supervisors in a Dem- ocratie township plainly indicates his per . sonal popularity and the confidence and trust reposed in him by his fellow citizens. He also served as president of the village board two terms and has been a member of the school board and clerk of the same. He is a public spirited and progressive citizen and he well merits the high regard in which he is held.
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CHARLES M. PARKER.
Charles M. Parker, editor and proprietor of the School Nerves and Practical Educator. published at Taylorville, Illinois, has throughout his entire life been connected with educational work and his labors have resulted to the benefit of the school system of this and many other states. Deeply inter- ested in the cause of education, he has made a close and carnest study of the needs and demands of the public in this direction and his ideas, as set forth in his publication, have been most practical and helpful. In this regard he may certainly be termed a public benefactor, for he who gives to man useful knowledge bestows upon him some- thing that can never be taken from him but will grow stronger with use.
Mr. Parker was born in the mountains in the western part of North Carolina, his birth occurring in Wilkes county, near Wilkesboro, on the 17th of September, 1860. His parents were Samuel S. and Elizabeth 1. (Call) Parker, the former a farmer by occupation. His father died when he was only two years of age. In 1867 he. with his mother and stepfather left the south and came to Christian county, Illinois, settling in Mosquito township. He became a stu- dent in the district schools, which he at- tended for a few months each winter until eighteen years of age, the summer seasons being devoted to working for farmers of the community. He spent about six months in 1880 as a student in Westfield College, of Westfield, Illinois, and in 1879 began teach- ing in Mosquito township, being then eight- cen years of age. He attended the annual teachers' institutes in Christian and Macon counties and the work there done and the course of reading which he pursued in the Illinois Teachers' Reading Circle gave him
an inspiration in his teaching and in his efforts to secure improved methods of in- struction. He had a natural love for the work and also realized that teaching afforded opportunity for study and culture. From 1881 until 1886 he taught school near Blue Mound, in Macon county, Illinois, and for two years thereafter was a teacher in the West Side school of Taylorville.
Ere severing his connection with the city schools in 1888 he began the publication of the School News and Practical Educator in June, 1887. This journal is now in its sev- enteenth year and has been continuously and exclusively under the management and own- ership of Mr. Parker. He has made it what its name implies-a paper of the greatest assistance to the teacher, and from almost every county superintendent of the state he has received letters of endorsement and praise, speaking of the value of his paper. His time and attention have been given to a study of the conditions of the schools, their needs and requirements and the ideas ad- vanced by him have been of a most practical and helpful character. From 1888 until 1897 he was an instructor in teachers' institutes in various parts of Illinois. He has thus been identified with educational work in more than thirty counties of the state and has thereby gained a broad, comprehensive and accurate view of the conditions of the schools and has planned work for their im- provement, his ideas being set forth in the School Notes. The circulation of this jour -. nal is continually increasing and meets a need of the teachers of the public schools.
From U. J. Hoffman, county superin- tendent of schools of La Salle county, came the following : "In my judgment the School News, in connection with the State Course of Study, is the best help available to the teacher in the common schools.
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cannot conceive of anything more to the point. The work of the month is outlined in the Course. The valuable suggestions here given are re-inforced every month in the School News in advance by the best educators of the state. A teacher just be- ginning the work, can, by an intelligent use of the Course of Study and the School Newes, grow into an experience in one year which would cost him five years of labor without such aid." This is but one of hundreds of such letters that Mr. Parker has received. and they not only bear testimony of his splendid work in relation to the schools, but also speak in high terms of him as a gen- tleman and business man, always reliable, honorable and worthy of public trust and high regard.
In politics Mr. Parker is independent, but is inclined to the Republican party on ques- tions of finance and tariff. He has never sought or desired political office, but has been and is now especially interested in the public library movement. At the present he is a member of the board of directors of the Taylorville public library and also a member of the board of directors of the Taylorville township high school. He be- longs to the State and National Teachers' Associations and is a member of the Edu- cational Press Association of America. His religious faith is indicated by his member- ship in the First Baptist church of Taylor- ville, in which he is now serving as super- intendent of the Sunday-school.
On the 27th of December, 1883. Mr. Parker was united in marriage to Miss Leonora L. Wright, of Mosquito township, Christian county, and they have four chil- dren : Minnie L., Howard K., Jennie and Roy. In his home he is devoted to his fam- ily and finds his greatest enjoyment when with his wife he dispenses hospitality to
their many friends. His entire life has been given to the work of benefiting his race, and in his efforts he seems to have been imbued with the same spirit which prompted the words of Sydney Smith, who said: "The real object of education is to give children resources that will endure as long as life endures: habits that time will ameliorate, not destroy : occupation that will render sick- ness tolerable, solitude pleasant, age vener- able, life more dignified and useful and death less terrible."
MISS MATILDA TEDLIE.
For over fifty-two years this lady has been a resident of Christian county and she has therefore witnessed much of its growth and development. During the early years of her residence here she experienced many of the hardships and privations of pioneer life and is thoroughly familiar with the conditions which exist in a frontier settlement when the land is unimproved and wild game is abundant.
Miss Tedlie was born in County London- derry, Ireland, February 6, 1826, a daugh- ter of William and Elenor Tedlie. The father died in that country in 1848, leaving six children, namely : John, William, Henry. Esther (Murphy), Jane and Matilda. In 1836 the sons came to the United States and first located in West Virginia, but in 1850 came to Christian county. Illinois, where they were joined by their mother and sisters the following year. Here the mother died in 1861. and on the 13th of January, 1863. John passed away. Jane died Febru- ary 7, 1898. William Tedlie became a prom- inent and honored citizen of his community and took quite an active part in public af- fairs, representing May township in the
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board of supervisors in 1876. He departed this life on the 13th of February, 1902.
It will thus be seen that Miss Matilda Tedlie is the only representative of this worthy family now living. She is the owner of a fine farm of three hundred and fifty acres in May township, where she makes hier home and is surrounded by a large circle of friends and acquaintances who hold her in the highest esteem. Her farm is now being operated by a great-nephew. B. F. Walker, who was born in Pennsylvania, July 1. 1869, a son of W. A. and Elizabeth Walker, who still make their home in that state. During his youth he learned the ma- chinist's trade, which he followed for thir- teen years, but in 1902 came to Christian county and has since had charge of the farm. which he has managed in a most capable and satisfactory manner.
JOSEPH SIMONS.
Joseph Simons has since 1865 been a val- ued resident of Christian county, making his home in Assumption. After being identi- fied with commercial interests for a number of years he began investing in land and is now one of the large landowners of this place. All that he has has been acquired en- tirely through his own efforts, and he may well be called a self-made man, for he came to America empty-handed, possessing no capital, but being endowed with courage, de- termination and energy. Indolence and idle- ness are utterly foreign to his nature and there are in his life record many elements that are well worthy of emulation.
Mr. Simons was born in Prussia, August 21. 1822, a son of Jacob and Barbara (Ru- mirsbaugh ) Simons, who spent their entire lives in that country. The mother died in 1835, and the father, who was a farmer by
occupation, passed away after the emigra- tion of his son Joseph to the new world. There were but two children in the family. the daughter being Susanna, who lived and died in Prussia, leaving a family.
Joseph Simons acquired a common school education and afterward served an appren- ticeship to the baker's trade, following that pursuit as a journeyman in his native coun- try for four years. In 1857 he determined to come to America and took passage on a westward bound sailing vessel belonging to the Lloyd steamship line, on which he made the voyage from Antwerp to New York. It took five weeks to make the trip and for twenty-two days very severe weather was encountered. He came at once to Illinois and secured work on the seminary at Au- rora, which was then being builded. He af- terward spent a few months on a farm. working for thirteen dollars per month and next engaged to work for a year for one hundred and fifty dollars in Menard county, being thus employed from 1858 until the out- break of the Civil war. In August, 1862. he responded to the call of his adopted coun- try for aid and enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, with which he went to Cairo under Captain Mallory. He served throughout the Vicks- burg campaign and was present at the sur- render of that southern stronghold. July 4. 1863. He was in the two battles of Jack- son, Mississippi, and at Guntown, January 12, 1864, he met with a serious injury, hav- ing his arm shattered by a musket ball. The member was amputated above the elbow a few days later. On account of being dis- abled he was also taken prisoner by the Reb- els and the operation was performed by a Confederate surgeon in the hospital at Mo- bile. Alabama. After his partial recovery he was sent to Macon, Georgia, and thence
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JOSEPH SIMONS
MRS. JOSEPH SIMONS
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to Andersonville, where he was imprisoned for four months or until about the close of the war. Upon his release he made his way to Vicksburg and was there the night the news of President Lincoln's assassination was received. At the close of the war he was sent to St. Louis, thence to Camp But- ler and was mustered out at Springfield. Illi- nois, in August, 1865. He was ever a brave and loyal soldier and his military experience is one of which he has every reason to be proud.
Returning to Menard county Mr. Simons settled up his affairs there and started out in search of a location. His choice fell upon Assumption, then a small village, in which he opened a little restaurant, December 9, 1865. The following year he began build- ing a store and added to his restaurant a grocery department, carrying on business there until his store was destroyed by fire. He at once rebuilt, however, and resumed operations. In May, 1880, he sold out and bought a half block on Hickory street. on which he erected a fine residence in 1890-1. In 1891-2 he built two stores and also be- came part owner in the opera house, a mam- moth brick building, which was destroyed by fire in 1901. Since then he has sold his lots in Assumption and has invested in farm- ing lands, located in Assumption and Locust townships, Christian county. He began buying land in 1867 and now owns two hin- dred and sixty-six acres on section 27. one hundred and sixty on section 33, and two hundred acres on section 16, AAssumption township; and one hundred and sixty acres on section II, Locust township, his aggre- gate holdings being seven hundred and eighty-six acres. The first tract was all raw when it came into his possession, but he tiled and drained it and as he bought his other
farms he placed them all in a cultivable con- dition and they are now valuable property. Ilis children are now living upon his five farms, and his land is considered among the best in the county, bringing to the owner a very gratifying financial return.
On the 6th of November. 1867, Mr. Sim- ons was married to Miss Flora M. Bickner. a native of New York, who came to Illinois in her childhood days with her father, Ed- ward Biekner, one of the earliest settlers of the county. In the family were five chil- dren : Jennie, wife of Michael Donovan, of Assumption, lives on section 33. and has seven living children and has lost one. Jo- seph married Mrs. White, a widow, and lives on section 16, Assumption township. Jacob, named for his grandfather, married Margaret Ryan, has three children and re- sides on section 27, AAssumption township. Eliza is the wife of Daniel Ryan, by whom she has four children, and their home is on section II. Locust township. Wilham wed- ded Mary Betner and also resides on section 27, Assumption township.
Mr. Simons, his wife and sons and daughters are all members of St. Mary's Catholic church of Assumption. He has been one of its trustees for a number of years and assisted materially in building the new house of worship and also St. Mary's Cath- olic school, which is conducted by the Do- minican sisters. In politics he has always been a Democrat and on one occasion served as alderman of Assumption, but otherwise has neither sought or desired public office. He started out in life for himself at the age of fourteen years, and in the business world he has achieved both success and an honor- able name. He came to America to become an American citizen and no native son of this land is more loyal to the stars and
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stripes and to our republican form of gov- uates of the public schools of Assumption. ernment than is this honored veteran of the Civil war.
ROBERT MORRISON.
Robert Morrison, who is one of the lead- ing and influential citizens of Assumption and the present chairman of the board of supervisors, was born in Morris county, New Jersey. November 25. 1842, and is a son of Peter and Phoebe (Wyckoff) Morrison. The father was a native of Ireland but the mother was a Pennsylvania-German by birth. In 1855 they brought their family to Illinois and first located at Springfield, Sangamon county. In 1875 they removed to Virden, Macoupin county, where they continued to make their home throughout the remainder of their lives. the father dying in 1884, at the age of seventy-six years, and the mother in April. 1897, at the age of eighty-five. They had six children, three sons and three daughters, all of whom mar- ried.
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