USA > Illinois > Christian County > Past and present of Christian County, Illinois > Part 56
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Mr. and Mrs. Moore are earnest and con- sistent members of the First Presbyterian church of Assumption, in which he is serv- ing as deacon, and they are held in high re- gard by all who know them. Mr. Moore cast his first presidential vote for James K. Polk and since the organization of the Re- publican party has been one of its stanch supporters, taking a deep interest in public affairs.
ALBERT L. MOORE.
Albert L. Moore, who for a number of years was actively engaged in farming in Christian county and is now a hardware merchant of Assumption, was born in Mar- ion county, Indiana, near the city of Indian- apolis, June 16, 1862, a son of John P. and Mary J. ( Brauhard) Moore. He was edu- cated in the district schools of Assumption township and the Indiana State Normal School at Valparaiso, in which he completed a commercial course. He afterward re- turned to the home farm, where he engaged
in the work of the fields until the time of his first marriage. He then operated a rented farm for three years and later he purchased two hundred acres of land on section 29, Assumption township situated northwest of the town of Assumption. The place was only partially improved and he erected a substantial farm residence, other good build- ings, tiled the land and carried on the work of improvement until he wrought a great change in the appearance of the place. He lived upon that farm for eight years and then removed to Assumption, where in con- nection with his younger brother, Oliver M. Moore, he opened a shoe store, which he conducted for four years. He then returned to his farm and while living there his first wife died.
In 1889 Mr. Moore had wedded Miss Rena B. Coonrod, and unto them were born two children. Lillie and Lena, the former now living with her maternal grandparents. Mrs. Moore died October 10, 1900, and on the 29th of October. 1902, Mr. Moore was again married, his second union being with Miss Louise Milligan, the only child of Jesse G. and Rebecca A. (Long) Milligan. The latter now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Moore. Mr. Milligan is deceased. He was a veteran of the Civil war, serving for three years in Company A. One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois Infantry. His death resulted from a sunstroke in June, 1868. His parents were William and Eliza ( Pol- lock) Milligan, and the former, a native of Pennsylvania, died November 7, 1850, and the latter in 1865. Sammuel Milligan, now deceased, an uncle of Mrs. Moore, was one of the most prominent citizens of Taylor- ville. He platted five acres of ground known as Milligan's addition to Taylorville and erected thereon a number of desirable resi- dences. Mrs. Moore was educated in the
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public schools and in the Pana high school, also spent one term in study in the Cook County Normal. She devoted fourteen years of her life to teaching, one year being spent in Texas and the remainder in Chris- tian county, doing excellent work in behalf of the schools.
In the spring of 1900 Mr. Moore sold all of his stock upon his farm and came to As- sumption, where he purchased the hardware stock of T. W. McFarland, and has since been numbered among the leading mer- chants of this place, conducting a business which brings to him a good financial return anually. He owns one of the modern homes in the west part of the town and is a most progressive and public-spirited citizen. He is now serving as a member of the school board and he belongs to the Knights of Py- thias fraternity, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Fraternal Army and in these lodges, as in all other relations of life, he is held in high esteem, being a man of genuine worth, of genial disposition and cordial manner, so that he has become popu- lar with his fellow men.
JAMES M. MOORE.
James M. Moore, an enterprising farmer of Assumption township, living on section 30, is a native of Indiana, his birth having occurred in Marion county, that state, near where the city now stands. His natal day was April 20, 1849, and he is the eldest son of John P. and Mary J. ( Brauhard) Moore. He was quite young when his parents re- moved to Illinois, and he pursued his edu- cation in the public schools of Christian county, while later he attended the univer- sity at. Lincoln, Illinois. For almost a quar- ter of a century he was identified with edu- cational work, teaching in the district schools of Christian and of Shelby counties for
twenty-three years. For nine years of this time he was a teacher in the home district and he gave general satisfaction because of his ability to maintain discipline and also to impart with accuracy and clearness to others the knowledge which he had acquired. He has devoted his attention exclusively to farming in recent years and formerly gave the months of summer to that work. He now owns eighty acres of land on section 29, Assumption township, just opposite his own farm, his residence being situated on section 30, Assumption township, where he has one hundred and twenty acres of good land. His farm is well tilled and improved with modern equipments and is a very rich and productive tract. Mr. Moore did all of the ditching himself. He had ears of corn in 1903 which measured fourteen inches. His grain crop annually yields about forty- five or fifty bushels per acre and in 1903 the yield was from sixty to seventy bushels to the acre. Mr. Moore has seen great changes in the methods of farming. He has culti- vated corn with a single shovel plow, to which was hitched one horse. In his boy- hood days he cut grain with a cradle, but as the years have advanced he has been able to secure the latest improved machinery and his work has therefore been carried on along progressive lines that have produced ex- cellent results. His first home was de- stroyed by fire in 1893, but after two years he erected a modern and substantial resi- (lence and has recently also built a good barn upon his farm. He is engaged in the raising of graded stock, both horses and cat- tle, and he also feeds some stock.
On the 26th of September, 1877, Mr. Moore was united in marriage to Miss Mar- garet Clawson, who was born in Christian county, Illinois, on the 7th of April, 1858. and is a daughter of Josiah and Lucinda
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( Ketchem) Clawson. Her mother is now (leceased. but her father is living in Red- lands, California, where he went about 1897. for the benefit of his health. He is an in- valid. now seventy-four years of age, and at this writing Mrs. Moore is in California caring for him. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Moore have been born eight children, five of whom are yet living, namely : Maza, who is the wife of K. E. Bugg, a resident of Assump- tion township : Grace, at home ; Arthur, who is a student in Millikin University, at De- catur. Illinois, having previously graduated from the district school near his home; and James and Ada, who are under the parental roof. Three of the children of the family died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Moore are members of the First Presbyterian church of Assumption and in his political views he is a stanch Re- publican, believing firmly in the principles of the party. Since 1893 he has served as a school director in his district and the cause of education ever finds in him a warm friend. his efforts having been effective, far-reach- ing and beneficial in behalf of the school system of this county and in places where he has labored as a teacher. His life has been honorable and well spent and those who know him respect him for his sterling traits of character. He is a man who keeps thoroughly informed upon all public ques- tions of the day and current events. He reads broadly and thinks deeply and is a man free in his judgments and unbiased in his decisions and yet when he believes a course to be right he never falters in his adherence to it.
REV. CALEB PRICE BALDWIN ..
Only those lives are worthy of record that have been potential factors in the public progress, in promoting the general welfare
or advancing the educational or moral inter- ests of the community. As a Methodist Episcopal minister Rev. C. P. Baldwin labored untiringly for the betterment of his fellow-men and in his life span of over sev- enty-eight years he accomplished much. . leaving behind him an honorable record well worthy of perpetuation.
Mr. Baldwin was born on the oth of Octo- ber. 1818, in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, and was the fifth child of Smith and Mary Parcels (Stiles) Baldwin. His father, who was a member of the company called Jersey Blues during the war of 1812, died of yel- low fever at Elizabethtown, August 27. 1823, at the age of thirty-five years. In the spring of 1833 his widow and children ac- companied her son-in-law, William M. Pruden, on his removal to Cincinnati, Ohio, where Mrs. Baldwin died on the 16th of April, 1848, at the age of sixty years.
The boyhood and youth of our subject was passed in New Jersey, being a resident of Elizabethtown ten years and of Morses Mills five years. He went with the family to Cincinnati in the spring of 1833, and early in the following fall entered upon an apprenticeship to the wagon-maker's trade with John R. Monroe, who was a devout Methodist. He remained with that gentle- man two years and a half and on the with of August. 1834. was happily converted to God at a camp meeting northwest of Cin- cinnati. He united with the old Fourth Street Methodist church of that city, August 12, 1834. under the pastorate of Rev. J. M. Trimble, D. D .. and Rev. Thompson, D. D., who some years later was elected bishop of the Methodist Episcopal church. In August, 1836, Mr. Baldwin removed to Alton, Illi- nois, by way of the Ohio river, and again entered the employ of John R. Monroe at Upper .Alton as a wagon-maker. The fol-
REV. CALEB P. BALDWIN
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lowing spring he purchased the business of his employer and continued the same at Middle and Upper Alton until the spring of 1844, when he removed to Godfrey, Madi- son county, Illinois, following the same oc- cupation at that place until 1849.
On the 4th of March, 1841, Mr. Baldwin was united in marriage to Miss Mary Mc- Lean Pinckard, of Middle Alton, by Rev. William K. Deneen. She was the eldest daughter of William G. and Elizabeth (Warner) Pinckard, who moved from Lon- don, Ohio, arriving at Upper Alton Novem- ber 20, 1818. She was educated at Monti- cello Seminary at Godfrey and was a very accomplished and devout Christian lady.
Mr. Baldwin was licensed to exhort by Rev. Nicholas S. Bastion, preacher in charge at AAlton, and to preach by the AAlton quarterly conference, Rev. Peter Cart- wright, presiding elder, July 15, 1843. He was ordained deacon September 17, 1848, at Belleville, Illinois, by Rev. Thomas A. Morris and was received on probation in September, 1849, into the Illinois annual conference with the following class: Revs. William Barton, J. H. Dolson, I. Groves, J. C. Long. Joseph E. Cobby. B. Parish, J. H. H. Young, Henry Roth, J. W. Cald- well. J. S. Estep, Charles F. Jay, Jacob Mil- ler, William Niedameyer, J. A. Robinson, W. S. Prentice, Pious McNeel, J. P. Dim- mitt, Jacob Feisel, .A. J. Kalb, C. P. Bald- win, M. M. Pallate, J. Schmidt and M. Reity.
Mr. Baldwin was ordained an elder at Griggsville, Illinois, September 26, 1858, by Rev. Thomas .A. Morris, and filled the fol- lowing appointments in this state: White- hall during the years 1849 and 1850; War- erly. 1851-1852: Carrollton, 1853-1854: agent for the Illinois Conference Female College at Jacksonville, 1855-1856: was ap-
pointed to Warsaw in 1857 but did not fill the appointment and remained at Gillespie : Pittsfield, 1858-1859: Jacksonville circuit, 1860: Beardstown, 186t; chaplain of the One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry, 1862-1863: Mechanics- burg, 1864-1865; Middletown, 1866-1867 ; Pana, 1868-1869 ; presiding elder of the De- catur district, 1870-1871 ; presiding elder of the Pana district, 1872-1873: Whitehall, 1874-1875-1876; supernumerary, 1877: su- perannuated, 1878-1879: Grove City, 1880- 1881: Pana, superannuated, 1882-1883- 1884: Millersville and Dalton. 1885 : Butler, 1886-1887-1888. during which period he lived in Pana: Pana, superannuated, 1889 to 1895. inclusive; assistant pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Pana, 1896.
In 1872 Rev. Baldwin was elected a dele- gate to the general conference of the Meth- odist Episcopal church at Brooklyn, New York (this being the first general confer- ence admitting lay delegates) with the fol- lowing class : Revs. Hiram Buck, W. S. Prentice, W. E. Johnson, Preston Wood, Dr. Peter Akers, C. P. Baldwin, William McElfresh and lay delegates William Thomas and Joseph G. English.
Rev. Baldwin's first wife died in Pana, August 19. 1887, at the age of sixty-three years. She was a true Christian woman, a loving wife and tender mother. In her fam- ily were fourteen children, nine sons and five daughters, of whom the following sur- vived at his death : William McLean Bald- win, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Webb, Mrs. Lucy Ann Peters and Caleb Price Baldwin, Jr .. all residents of Pana: Mrs. Abbie Pruden Bullard, of Olena, Arkansas; and Mrs. Maria Wood Heinlein and Thomas Pinck- ard Baldwin, both of Butler, Missouri. Mrs. Webb and Mrs. Peters are now de-
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. ceased. Of Rev. Baldwin's forty-one grand- children twenty-six are living and of the great-grandchildren four survived him. On the 29th of May, 1890, he was again mar- ried, his second union being with Mrs. B. W. Wescott, of Butler, Illinois, who sur- vives him. No children were born of that minion.
For over half a century Rev. Baldwin labored earnestly in the Master's vineyard and when the summons came he was ready to respond. He died at Pana on the 14th of April. 1897, at the age of seventy-eight years, six months and five days. His funeral services were held at the First Methodist Episcopal church of that city, Friday after- noon, April 16, under the auspices of Pope Post, No. 411, G. A. R., of which he was a charter member. The members of Colonel P. G. Galvin Camp, No. 20, Sons of Vet- erans, and the Woman's Relief Corps, No. 190, were also in attendance. Rev. A. P. Stover, chaplain of the Illinois department of the Grand Army of the Republic, con- ducted the services, assisted by Rev. M. W. Everhart, of Carlinville, and Rev. C. Nash, of Jerseyville, Illinois. The other ministers present were Revs. C. P. Hard, of Rose- mond : J. Jay Dugan, of Hillsboro; J. W. Waltz, of Latham; W. C. Lacy, of No- komis; P. Michael, W. C. North, M. M. Durard, E. W. Clark, H. W. Thiel and Gerrit Snyder, all of Pana: Jesse Stout, of Assumption; W. A. Dawson, of Oconee ; and Presiding Elder E. B. Randall, of De- catur. Letters were read from the officers of the Ladies' Aid Socity of the Whitehall Methodist church, tendering the sympathy of the members of that church and society to the family of the departed, and also from Colonel J. F. King, of Riverton, Illinois, who was in command of the regiment of which Rev. Baldwin was chaplain during
the years 1862 and 1863 of the Civil war. Rev. Stover spoke of the personal friendship and high esteem in which Chaplain Baldwin was held by General William T. Sherman, who appointed him to take charge of the United States mail of his command while in the rear of Vicksburg. He also referred to a personal inquiry by General Sherman as to the welfare and whereabouts of Chap- lain Baldwin only a few years prior to the General's death.
Rev. Baldwin was a man among men. He was one of the best ministers and citizens ; a man of inestimable moral worth; a true patriot ; a high-minded man, whom to know was to admire and respect. Such is Father Baldwin's record and it is most certainly a remarkable one and well may his relatives and hundreds of friends feel justly proud of it.
W. M. & C. P. BALDWIN.
The well-known firm of Baldwin & Bald- win, of Pana, is composed of two brothers, William McLean and Caleb Price Baldwin, who as real estate, insurance and loan agents have an office at No. 102 Locust street. They are wide-awake, energetic and progressive business men and have met with most excellent success during their residence in Pana. Both gentlemen are natives of Illinois, William M. having been born in Upper Alton, September 13, 1843, and Caleb P. in Carrollton, June 15, 1856. They are sons of Rev. C. P. Baldwin, whose sketch precedes this. Their maternal great- grandfather was Rev Nathaniel Pinckard, who as a missionary accompanied Bishop Coke to Africa and was with him at the time of his death. His wife bore the maiden name of Lucy Greene and was a sister of General Nathaniel Greene, of Revolutionary fame.
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CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Their father being a Methodist minister, the brothers lived at various places during their boyhood and youth. They were prin- cipally educated in the public schools of this state, although William was for one year a student at Wesleyan University in Bloom- ington, Illinois. Like many other young men at that time he left school to enter the army, enlisting on the 25th of August, 1861, as a private in Company K. Second Illinois Cavalry, with which he served for three years, rendering his country valiant and faithful service although he had not yet at- tained his majority when discharged. Aug- ust 31, 1864, as sergeant. From 1866 until 1889 he resided at Gillespie, Illinois, being engaged in farming most of the time. In the spring of the latter year he came to Pana, where he opened an insurance office nine years ago in partnership with William M. Warren. This connection was dissolved five years later and the firm of Baldwin & Baldwin was formed. After entering upon his business career. C. P. Baldwin. Jr., fol- lowed mercantile pursuits for a few years, and subsequently was in the employ of rail- road companies for twelve years, being trav- eling freight agent the last five years. He has made his home in Pana since 1892. The firm represents the Equitable Life Assur- ance Society of New York, also fire, tor- nado, plate glass, burglary, fidelity, employ- ers' and public liability, accident, health, dis- ability and steam boiler insurance com- panies, and makes a specialty of buying. selling and exchanging farm lands and city real estate.
On the 29th of January, 1868, at Gil- lespie, Illinois, William M. Baldwin was united in marriage to Miss Emma Jane Chandler, who died in Pana, February 27, 1901. Of the nine children born of that union, five are still living, namely : Mary
E., Emma Ann, Mrs. Lucy M. Hitchcock, George L. and Thomas P., all residents of Pana. Mr. Baldwin was again married No- vember 25, 1902, at Pittsfield, Illinois, his second union being with Miss Ella Webb Mudd, the only child of Colonel John J. Mudd, of the Second Illinois Cavalry, who was killed in battle May 3, 1864.
For eighteen years William M. Baldwin has been a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and is past commander of Pope Post, No. 411, Department of Illinois. He has also been adjutant of the same post for more than ten years and has been a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church from boyhood. Politically both he and his brother are identified with the Republican party. Public-spirited and enterprising. they take an active interest in the upbuilding and advancement of their adopted city and county and they stand high in both business and social circles.
C. S. BURDICK.
C. S. Burdick is identified with the farm- ing interests of Christian county and is one of the native sons of this locality, his birth having occurred within the borders of the county in 1868. He is a son of C. D. and Isabella (Shaw) Burdick, who were natives of Connecticut and Ireland, respectively, and were married on the 16th of February, 1865. To them were born five children, one of whom died in infancy and Mary, the oldest, died at the age of thirty-four years. It was in 1838 that C. D. Burdick emigrated west- ward and settled in Christian county, Illi- nois. In this state he engaged in teaching school until thirty-five years of age and then turned his attention to farming. He as- sisted in the pioneer development of this por- tion of the state and is numbered among
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the honored early residents who laid broad and deep the foundation for the present pros- perity and progress of the county. For several terms he served as supervisor of his township, was also school treasurer for a number of years, and he never failed in the performance of any public duty that tended to enhance the welfare of his district. He died in the year 1880, while his wife passed away in 1875.
C. S. Burdick was only eleven years of age when left an orphan. During his boy- hood he attended the public schools and when not engaged in the duties of the school- room his attention was largely given to the work of the home farm. He assisted in the labors of field and meadow until twenty-one years of age, when he began farming on his own account upon the eighty acres of land that he now owns and occupies. This farm has been his home continually since and its well improved condition is due to his dili- gence and laudable ambition.
In 1894 Mr. Burdick was united in mar- riage to Miss Maggie J. Gray, who was born in Madison county, Illinois, and moved to Christian county with her parents. For some years her father, R. A. Gray, was one of the leading farmers of Mos- quito township, this county, but is now liv- ing a retired life and makes his home in Blue Mound. Macon county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Burdick have been born four children, name- ly: Edna, who died at the age of five months: Iva G., now six years of age; Charles R .. four years old ; and Mary E .. who died of scarlet fever January 20. 1904. at the age of seven months and ten days.
Mr. and Mrs. Burdick hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, are deep- ly interested in its success and take an active part in its upbuilding. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and
measures of the Republican party and while he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day he has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. He has, however, served as school director in his district and fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America.
WADE F. JOHNSON.
Wade F. Johnson, one of the most ex- tensive landowners of Christian county, was born in St. Clairsville, Belmont county. Ohio, on the 13th of September, 1828, his parents being Benjamin J. and Elizabeth (Foote) Johnson. His father was a native of London, England, born June 8, 1799. and the mother's birth occurred in County Cork. Ireland, in 1802. The father emigrated to America in 1823 and in early life he learned the cabinet-maker's trade, which he followed in Baltimore, Maryland, for a few years. He afterward removed to Ohio, first locat- ing in St. Clairsville, Belmont county. whence he afterward went to Guernsey county. Ohio, where he again worked at cabinet-making for several years. While in Belmont county, he was married, in 1826. to Miss Elizabeth Foote, who had come to America in the same year in which her hus- band had crossed the Atlantic. In 1849 they removed to Illinois, settling in Greene coun- ty, where Mr. Johnson and his sons entered into a partnership with a Mr. Harding and engaged in farming and stock-raising for ten years. In 1860 Mr. Johnson came to Christian county and made a permanent lo- cation upon the homestead farm, on which his son Wade is now living. There he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in January. 1876, when he was seventy-seven years of age. His wife survived him for many years and died March 12. 1891, at the
WILLIAM L. MARTHA AND WADE F. JOHNSON
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age of ninety years. By this marriage there were born seven sons and two daughters, all of whom reached years of maturity. The eldest, Robert G., was born in Belmont county, Ohio, March 10, 1827, and died in 1900. Wade F. is the second of the family. Margaret died in 1878. Edward, who was a member of the firm of Johnson Brothers, married and died in 1882. Martha is now acting as housekeeper for her brother Wade. Walter was married and died in 1890. Will- iam L. is living on the old homestead. Ben- jamin is married and is a well-to-do farmer of Owaneco. Leo completes the family.
The firm of Johnson Brothers originally comprised the father and seven sons and the daughters were also financially interested in business. They bought a farm and raised stock, carrying on an extensive business for a number of years. As the sons married. however, they withdrew their interests from the firm and the present partners are Wade F., Martha and William L. Johnson. Two of the brothers of the family, Edward and William, enlisted for service during the Civil war as members of Company G. One Hundred and Sixteenth Illinois Infantry, in 1862, and served until the close of the war. They were with Sherman in some of his campaigns and took part in the operations around Atlanta and the march from that city to the sea. Another brother, Benjamin, en- listed May 14, 1864, for one hundred days' service, becoming a member of the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was with the army for five months. Wade F. Johnson furnished a sub- stitute when drafted.
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