USA > Illinois > Christian County > Past and present of Christian County, Illinois > Part 59
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PAST AND PRESENT
very suddenly of heart disease at his home in San Jose, California, March 8, 1892. hon- ored and respected by all who knew him.
EDWARD O. SMITH. JR.
Throughout the greater part of his busi- ness career this gentleman has been identi- fied with the agricultural interests of Chris- tian county and is now successfully engaged in farming in Prairieton township, his home being on section 24. A native of Illinois, he was born in Decatur on the 8th of July. 1858, and is a son of Edward Owen Smith, Sr .. whose sketch precedes this.
During his boyhood and youth our sub- ject secured a good education, attending the city schools of both Decatur and Taylorville. as well as the country schools of Christian county. Having decided to make farming his life work. he rented a farm at the age of sixteen years and successfully operated it for one year. At the end of that time he took charge of a tract in Macon county given him by his father, and was engaged in its cutivation until 1884, when he purchased three hundred and twenty-four acres of tim- ber land in Christian county and at once began its improvement. After clearing away the trees he broke the land and trans- formed it into a fine farm. He added to his property until he now has five hundred acres of well improved and valuable land, his home being one of the prettiest in that sec- tion of the county.
In 1881 Mr. Smith was united in mar- riage to Miss Julia Rice, a daughter of G. F. Rice, one of the old settlers of Chris- tian county. Five children blessed that union, namely : Harriet Edna, Hester, Frank De Loss. Walter Rice and Edward Owen, all at home. On account of the illness of his wife Mr. Smith finally left the farm and
removed to Moweaqua, where he spent three years engaged in the implement business. He then took his family to Colorado, living at Manitou and Colorado Springs for three years, and then went to California, spending some time at Los Angeles and Long Beach. He then returned to Moweaqua, where six weeks later his wife died. on the 7th of De- cember, 1901. Mr. Smith was again mar- ried December 1. 1903, at Toluca, Illinois. his second union being with Mrs. Sallie Minturn, widow of Dr. J. W. Minturn, who was a resident of Rantoul, Illinois. Mr. Smith recently returned to his farm in Prairieton township and is now devoting his time and energies to agricultural pur- suits.
The family hold membership in the Chris- tion church and Mr. Smith is also identified with the Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Modern Woodmen of America. He filled the office of supervisor one term and was road commissioner for some time but he has never cared for political honors, pre- ferring to give his time and attention to his business interests. Pleasant and agreeable in manner, he makes many friends and has the confidence and respect of all who know him.
JAMES H. WILLIAMSON. M. D.
Dr. James H. Williamson is engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in As- sumption and has that love for and devotion to his profession which has brought to him success and won him a place among the ablest representatives of the medical frater- nity in Christian county. He was born in Ashland, Kentucky, March 7, 1872. his par- ents being Rev. James E. and Samantha O. (Perkinson) Williamson, natives of Vir- ginia. In their family were three children,
E. O. SMITH. JR.
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CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
of whom the Doctor is the youngest. He completed his literary education in Centre College at Danville, Kentucky, from which famous institution many noted men have graduated. After leaving school he began the study of medicine under the direction of his brother, Dr. George L. Williamson, at that time a leading physician and surgeon of Homer, Illinois, but now of Danville, this state. The brother was graduated at the Missouri Medical College of St. Louis in 1893 and recently took a special course in surgery in Europe. He also received private instruction under the celebrated sur- geon, Dr. Lorenz, of Germany.
After studying with his brother for some time Dr. James H. Williamson entered the Missouri Medical College, where he pursued a three years' course and was graduated in 1898 in a class of eighty-five. Later he took a post-graduate course in the Chicago Ear. Eye & Throat College. In 1900, on visiting his father who was then preaching at .As- sumption, he decided to locate here and it was not long before he had built up a good practice, which is constantly increasing.
Dr. Williamson had the misfortune to meet with an accident in a runaway, badly injuring his knee, and shutting up his office he went to Indiana Springs, where he re- mained until his recovery. After an ab- sence of seventeen weeks he resumed prac- tice at Assumption and now devotes his en- tire time and attention to his professional duties. He is a member of the Illinois State Medical Society, the American Med- ical Association, the District Medical So- ciety of Central Illinois, and the Christian County Medical Society.
On the 27th of August, 1896, at Lonis- ville, Kentucky, Dr. Williamson was united in marriage to Miss Dora Heniken, a na- tive of Cowling, Wabash county, Illinois,
and to them have been born two children : Holland, born March 1, 1900; and Emma, who was born June 13. 1902, and was named for her aunt.
Fraternally the Doctor is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America, and is examiner for the Fraternal Army of Loyal Americans and for the Mutual Protective League. He is also examiner for the Franklin and Pru- dential Life Insurance Companies and for the Bankers' Life of Des Moines, lowa. Social and genial by nature he makes many friends and these qualities combined with his skill as a physician have gained for him the success which is his. He stands high in the esteem of his professional brethren and has the confidence and respect of all who know him.
ORSON P. COONROD.
Throughout life this gentleman has made his home in Christian county and is to-day actively identified with her agricultural in- terests, being successfully engaged in farm- ing and stock raising on section 18. Prairie- ton township. He was born in this county December 18, 1865, and is a son of Edmund G. Coonrod, whose birth occurred in Greene county, Illinois, on the 5th of September. 1832. and whose father, Stephen Coonrod, was of German descent. On the 7th of Feb- ruary. 1861, the father of our subject was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Doyle and the same year he came to Christian county. where he carried on farming for several years but is now living a retired life in AAssumption, enjoying a well earned rest.
Orson P. Coonrod is indebted to the pub- lic schools of Christian county for the early educational privileges he enjoyed and he also attended business college at Atchison. Kan-
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sas, for a time. On attaining his majority he began farming or his own account and for three years operated the home farm in Prairieton township. At the end of that time he removed to May township but in 1893 he returned to the old homestead, where he now resides, though he still owns eighty acres of land in May township. The farm in Prairieton township consists of three hun- dred and twenty acres of well improved land under a high state of cultivation, and in its management he displays excellent business ability and shows conclusively that he thor- oughly understands the vocation which he has chosen as a life work. He gives consid- erable attention to the raising of stock, keep- ing a good grade of farm animals.
In 1893 Mr. 'Coonrod was united in mar- riage to Miss Maud Long, a daughter of H. B. Long, who was one of the early settlers of May township. Three children bless this union, namely : Hollis Long, Helen and Lenore. By his ballot Mr. Coonrod sup- ports the men and measures of the Demo- cratic party, and socially he is identified with the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica. He is widely and favorably known throughout the community where he resides and those who know him best are num- bered among his warmest friends.
SAMPSON BOTTRELL.
One of the most enterprising and progres- sive agriculturists of Christian county is the gentleman whose name introduces this re- view. Prosperity has attended his well di- rected efforts and he is to-day a well-to-do and substantial farmer and stockraiser. Mr. Bottrell was born in England, April 30. 1844, and was a lad of twelve years when, in 1856, he came to the United States with
his parents, Daniel and Mary Am (Dunn) Bottrell. Making their way to Christian county, Illinois, they located in Mosquito township, where the parents continued to make their home until called to their final rest, the father dying in 1873 and the mother two years later. In England the father had practiced veterinary surgery but after com- ing to this country devoted his attention principally to farming.
Sampson Bottrell was educated in the schools of his native land and after coming to America he aided his father in the opera- tion of the home farm until twenty-four years of age, when he commenced farming on his own account. Four years later he was able to purchase fifty acres of land and as time passed and his financial resources increased he kept adding to his property until he had seven hundred acres but he has since given a portion of this to his children, though he still retains five hundred acres. He has made all of the improvements upon his place, which is to-day one of the best and most desirable farms in Christian county. He has a very pleasant nine-room house and a fine set of farm buildings, in- cluding a cow barn thirty-six feet square ; a cattle barn for feeding, sixty by forty-four feet ; two corn cribs, forty-eight by thirty- two feet; and a hay shed forty-eight feet long, twenty-four feet wide, and twenty feet high. He has recently painted the house and all of the outbuildings, making the place very attractive in appearance. Mr. Bottrell gives considerable attention to the raising of stock, making a specialty of cattle and hogs. and he annually feeds about seventy-five head of cattle for market.
On the 5th of February, 1868, Mr. Bot- trell married Miss Elizabeth Dunn, a daugh- ter of John Dunn, who was also from Eng- land. She died May 27, 1878, leaving three
SAMPSON BOTTRELL
MRS. SAMPSON BOTTRELL
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CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
children, namely: Emma Ellen, now the wife of John Arnold, a farmer of Christian county ; John D. and Harry S., who are both married and follow farming in this county. Mr. Bottrell was again married June 17. 1879, his second union being with Miss Mary C. Leeper, who was born in this county, November 17, 1856, and is a. dangh- ter of William and Catherine (Smith) Leeper, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Madison county, Illinois. She was only fifteen months old when her mother died, and her father departed this life in January, 1879. Six children have been born to our subject and his wife, namely: Mary E., AAugusta J., Goldie Lucy Grace. William Henry. Thomas W. and Alice F., all at home with their parents.
The family hold membership in the Meth- odist Episcopal church of Mount Auburn and Mr. Bottrell has always taken an active part in its work, contributing more than his share toward the building of the church. He is now serving as trustee. recording steward, collecting steward and treasurer of the same. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party and for ten years has filled the office of school director in a most cred- itable and acceptable manner. He has ever given an earnest support to all measures which he believes calculated to advance the moral, educational and material welfare of the community in which he resides. Start- ing out in life with no capital, he deserves much credit for what he has accomplished and is entitled to prominent mention in the history of his adopted county.
THOMAS C. CLOYD.
Prominent among the business men of Morrisonville is numbered Thomas C. Cloyd, who is now sole owner of the elec-
tric light plant at that place, having pur- chased the same four years ago. He has a twenty year franchise from the city and his management of the business is giving general satisfaction as well as proving a success financially.
Mr. Cloyd spent his early life on a farm, his primary education being obtained in the country schools. His grandfather was David Cloyd, a native of Virginia and a pioneer of Illinois. He was of Scotch de- scent and was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. During the Black Hawk war he entered the service and aided in subduing the red men. Thomas G. Cloyd, our subject's father, was a suc- cessful farmer and died at the age of sixty years.
Desiring a better education than was af- forded by the district schools, Mr. Cloyd took a high school course and after his grad- uation became a student at the State Normal School of Missouri, where he excelled in mathematics. To this day many difficult problems are brought to him to solve. For twelve years he successfully engaged in teaching school and then turned his atten- tion to farming near Morrisonville, making a specialty of the dairy business. He has since sold his farm with the exception of four acres now within the city limits, where he and his family now make their home. He has platted an addition to Morrison- ville, known as the Cloyd addition and in his real estate dealings has met with good success.
Mr. Cloyd was married on the 25th of April, 1878, to Miss Julia A. Winston, and to them have been born the following chil- dren : James. Thomas, AAdelia B., Nina R .. Charles D., Albert G., Nellie, Esther and Edith. Mr. Cloyd is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, as was also his father,
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and he has been honored with a number of local offices, serving as clerk of both the circuit and district courts, as assessor of his township and as a member of the county board of supervisors for four terms. He is a well informed man and proved a most capable and satisfactory official. Frater- nally he is a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge and Eastern Star of Morrisonville. and he is also connected with the Court of Honor and the Fraternal Army.
LUZERN D. HORD.
When the tocsin of war sounded and men from all walks of life flocked to the stand- ard of the nation, pledging their allegiance to the support of the Union canse. Luzern D. Horn also donned the blue uniform and became a defender of the stars and stripes. He is now a retired merchant, living in Tay- lorville and well does he deserve mention in the history of Christian county. A native of Marion county, Ohio, Mr. Hord was born in 1845. a son of Andrew J. and Mary J. ( Hyland ) Hord. His paternal grandfather. Nathaniel Hord, was reared in Virginia. whence he removed to Ohio, where his death occurred when he was sixty-two years of age. The maternal grandfather. Henry J. Ilyland, was for many years a resident of Franklin county, Ohio, where he died at the age of seventy-two years. He was. how- ever. a native of London, England, and a representative of one of the old families of that country. Andrew J. Hord was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, and was six years of age when he accompanied his par- ents on their removal to Columbus, Ohio. where he was reared and educated. He spent his active life as a farmer and thus provided a comfortable living for his fam- ily. He was quite prominent in local po- litical circles as a supporter of the Democ-
racy, his opinions carrying weight in the councils of the party. He belonged to the Cumberland Presbyterian church and died in that faith at the age of sixty-three years. His widow, however, is still surviving and has now reached the advanced age of eighty years. Their children were as follows: Eu- gene I .. of Kenton, Ohio ; Luzern D. : Olive. the deceased wife of Cyrus Tallman : John K., of Kilpatrick, Ohio: Charles, of Needles. California : Clement. of Neoga, Illinois : \1- zira, the wife of Alfred Reed, of Shelby- ville, Illinois ; and Rilla M.
Mr. Hord of this review received but lim- ited educational privileges and when but a boy learned the butcher's trade, which he followed continuously until after the inaugui- ration of the Civil war. America never had a more loyal citizen than Mr. Hord for he is to-day as true as he was during the dark hours of the country's struggle, a valiant defender of the nation's honor. President Lincoln issued a call for three hundred thon- sand volunteers to serve for three years or during the war. Many of the young men of the neighborhood in which Mr. Hord lived were enlisting and our subject, then a hearty youth of seventeen years, concluded to fol- low their example. He knew there was no use asking for parental consent for he would be told that he was too young. He, how- ever, felt that he could serve as well as any man and slipping quietly away from home one day he made his way to the town where he saw a sight that only served to increase his patriotic ardor. Flags were waving, people were cheering in the street and every effort was being put forth to induce more men to rally around the flag. Mr. Hord de- cided to enlist at once and at Milford Cen- ter in Union county, Ohio, on the 7th of July, 1862. he enrolled his name as a mem- ber of Company D. Thirteenth Regiment of
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Ohio Volunteers. In a day or so he was on his way to the state capital, Columbus, and he spent his first night as a soldier lying on a stone floor under the dome of the capitol building. It was not an easy couch for the boy who had been reared amid the comforts of a good home, but he did not complain and with others of the company went to Camp Dennison, near Cincinnati, where he was drilled and then came the muster in. The regiment was made a part of the Army of the Cumberland, which was in Mississippi, and the first real battle in which Mr. Hord participated was at Iuka. Following the battle of Corinth, he par- ticipated in several skirmishes and then the Army of the Cumberland entered the com- mand of General Rosecrans and fought the enemy at Stone River, Tennessee, the rebel troops being commanded by General Bragg. The battle occurred on the last day of De- cember, 1862, and the Union troops then, on the 2d of January, made another attack and succeeded in driving General Bragg from the field. This ended Mr. Hord's serv- ice during his first enlistment for he became ill with the measles and was taken to the hospital at Nashville, Tennessee. His father then went to that city and because he was not yet of age exercised his right of taking the boy home. On the 7th of November, 1863, Mr. Hord again enlisted, this time in Company B. Thirty-second Ohio Infantry, with which he served under General Grant and General Sherman until the close of the war. During the last year he marched with Sherman's army from the vicinity of Chat- tanooga, Tennessee, through Georgia to the coast, then through the Carolinas and on to Richmond and Petersburg, thence to Washı- ington, D. C., where on the 24th of May, 1865, with the thousands of victorious troops, he passed the reviewing stand in the
nation's great capital, which was the great- est event of his life.
When the war was over Mr. Hord gladly returned to his home. He lived with Lewis Britton in his native town near Mechanics- burg, Ohio, continuing with him until the fall of 1868, when he removed to Shelby county, Illinois, where he carried on farm- ing until 1885. He then became a resident of Christian county and was engaged in agricultural pursuits here until 1890, when he sold his farm and began dealing in gen- eral merchandising in Millersville. He also served as postmaster during three years of President Harrison's administration. In 1893 he disposed of his store and removed to Taylorville, where he has since lived re- tired, being the possessor of a comfortable competence.
In September, 1871, Mr. Hord was united in marriage to Miss Jennie P., a daughter of Lorenzo Fothagill, of Shelbyville, Illi- nois. Four children graced this union : Al- vin, who married Clara Hodson; Edgar, who wedded Alta Horton ; Walter, who mar- ried Katie Oler; and Rosa, at home. In the spring of 1861 Mr. Hord was converted at a large neighborhood revival and joined the Methodist Episcopal church. He became an exhorter and in 1874 was licensed as a local preacher of his denomination, while since 1893 he has held supernumerary rela- tions to the ministry. Ever deeply inter- ested in the cause of Christianity and its advancement, his labors have been effective and far-reaching in its behalf. His life has been honorable, his actions manly, his con- duct sincere and during the years of his residence in Christian county he has won the regard and friendship of all with whom he has been associated. He is a member of F. M. Long Post. G. A. R., and has been commander of same since December, 1902.
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R. J. STONE.
R. J. Stone is well known as one of the extensive stock farmers of Christian county. He does a large annual business and his well conducted affairs have gained him very cred- itable success so that to-day he is numbered among the substantial citizens of his county. He was born in Somersetshire, England, October 23, 1851, and is a son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Ponting) Stone. The father was a contractor and builder and died in the year 1893, but the mother is still living, her home being in Bath, England. The son ob- tained his education in a boarding school of his native country and in his youth started out upon his business career as an apprentice to a modeler.
He was a young man of twenty years when he determined to try his fortune in America, believing that he might have better business opportunities in the new world. Ac- cordingly, he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, arriving on the Ist of Octo- ber, 1871. Making his way to Christian county, Illinois, he lived with his uncle, T. C. Ponting, in Stonington township, where as a contractor he did plastering and ornamental work in houses. He was thus employed for three years, but since that time has engaged in farming and stock-raising. His place is now known as the Maple Grove stock farm and it has gained a wide reputa- tion. Mr. Stone began importing and breed- ing Oxford Down sheep and in this enter- prise soon gained prosperity. He is one of the most successful stock-raisers of this part of the county and has gained more prizes than any other sheep man in America. He has given his attention entirely to show stock and now has about two hundred and fifty head of very fine animals. He has sold his sheep for as high as twelve hundred dollars per head and never sold one for less than
twenty-five dollars. He is an excellent judge of stock and is, therefore, enabled to make judicious purchases and profitable sales. He has put all of the improvements upon his farm and now has a fine modern sheep barn, in fact, his property is one of the best im- proved in the state and he has refused one hundred and fifty dollars per acre for it. Annually he displays his sheep at all the fairs and stock shows in the United States and the prizes that he has won indicate that he stands in the lead among the sheep-raisers of the great Mississippi valley.
On the 18th of October, 1877, Mr. Stone was united in marriage to Miss Frances Sa- lome Livergood, a daughter of Henry and Margaret (Ober) Livergood. Her father was born in Lower Windsor township, York county, Pennsylvania, October 8, 1825, and was a son of Henry and Salome (Ruby) Livergood, who were wealthy residents of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where Mrs. Stone's grandfather engaged in milling. Her father carried on merchandising at that place for some time and there married Miss Margaret Ober on the 19th of September, 1848. Mrs. Livergood was born in Lancaster, July 18, 1825, and was a daughter of Benjamin Ober. In 1850 Mr. and Mrs. Livergood came to Illinois and settled in Sangamon county, where he engaged in farming until his death, which occurred on the 29th of November, 1878. In his family were eight children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stone were born six children, but Myrtle died in infancy. Those still living are Jessie, who married Herbert Radwell and resides with Mr. Stone; Willie T., Francis S., Tom T. and Russell H., all of whom are still under the parental roof.
The family hold membership in the Meth- odist Episcopal church and Mr. Stone is a member of the Modern Woodmen Camp at Stonington. He has served as school direc-
R. J. STONE
MRS. R. J. STONE
JAMES W. COX
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CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
tor for many terms and in the year 1902 was a candidate for county treasurer. In poli- tics he is a Republican and, keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day, he is enabled to support his position by intelligent argument. With a deep love for the land of his adoption no native born son of America has a more loyal attachment to this country and her interests. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to establish his home in America for here he has prospered in his undertakings, gaining success through legitimate business methods and constantly working his way upward un- til he is now one of the prosperous as well as respected citizens of Christian county.
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