USA > Illinois > Greene County > Past and present of Greene County, Illinois > Part 41
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Mr. Darr is always loyal in his citizen- ship and his devotion to the general gond has been recognized by his fellow townsmen, who have elected him to the office of asses- sor of the township and supervisor. He is a believer in Democratic principles and indi- cates his political preference by his ballot. He attends the Baptist church, although he is not connected through membership with any denomination. Fraternally he is asso- ciated with the Modern Woodmen and with the Farmers' Alliance. His interest in pul- lic affairs is deep and sincere and has le 1 him to co-operate in many measures for the gen- eral good, but his chief attention is given to his business, which is carefully managed s) that he is counted one of the leading resident farmers. The accompanying group shows
19
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four generations. the four gentlemen sitting down being the great-grandfathers of the children, whose father is M. A. Darr, and their grandfathers are G. W. Darr and S. G. Bass.
THOMAS M. MEEK.
Thomas M. Meek,, whose farm of two hundred and forty acres is situated on sec- tion 26, Rockbridge township, is numbered among the native sons of Illinois, his birth having occurred near Carrollton the 14th of March, 1857. His father, John M. Meek, was born November 23, 1823, upon the farm where our subject's birth occurred. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Meek, was a native of Yorkshire. England, and be- longed to a family closely identified with royalty, one of its members having been knighted by Queen Victoria. On crossing the Atlantic to the new world Thomas Meek established his home in Greene county, Illi- nois, in 1821, becoming one of the early pioneers, and he took an active and prom- inent part in the early development of this region. He entered land from the govern- ment and opened up the farm on which his son John M. Meek was born and reared. Having attended school in England, he had acquired a much better education than the majority of his associates at that time and became a minister of the Methodist Episco- pal church, carrying the Word from place to place without thought of recompense. In politics he was a Whig but never aspired to public office though much of his life was de- voted to the welfare of his fellowmen. He died on the old homestead in this county, Jamir ry 23. 1866, honored and respected by all who knew him.
After arriving at years of maturity John M. Meek was married in this county to Miss Jane Webster, a native of England, who was born in Yorkshire and was a daughter of Benjamin Webster, who died in England. John M. Meek owned and operated the old home farm near Carrollton and there he reared his family of nine children, of whom three sons and a daughter are now living. He died July 18, 1876, at the age of fifty- three years, while his wife passed away in July, 1901, at the age of seventy-nine.
Thomas M. Meek was reared on the old family homestead and acquired a good com- mon-school education, remaining with his father until the latter's death. He continued to reside at the old homestead until twenty- seven years of age and in connection with his brother carried on the farm. On the 14th of February, 1884, in Greene county he was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Griswold, a native of this county, and they began their domestic life upon the farm which he had purchased just previous to his marriage. This comprised one hundred and sixty acres and with characteristic energy he began its development. Later he built a good two story residence, also erected the necessary outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock and planted an orchard. He purchased more land, becoming the owner of a tract of eighty acres, which added to his other, makes his farm of good size, compris- he is engaged in the raising of grain and also a high grade of cattle and hogs. Both branches of his business are proving profit- able, for he is practical in his methods. prompt in the execution of his business af- fairs and reliable in all that he undertakes.
U'nto Mr. and Mrs. Meek have been born four children : Chester M., Hattie. Stella and Floyd .\. The parents are members of the
S. G. BASS G. W DARR .
DARR
GEORGE DARR. W. H BASS.
JOHN SNYDER THOMAS BANDY
THE
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Rockbridge Methodist Episcopal church, Mr. Meek serving as one of the official board and also taking an active interest in the work of the Sunday-school. He has never falt- ered in his allegiance to the Republican party since attaining his majority, yet he has never sought office as a reward for party fealty. His interest in the general good is that of a public-spirited citizen who desires rather the growth of his party and the welfare of his community than self aggrandizement. He has a wide acquaintance in this part of the state, in which he has always lived, and his efforts in business life have been so discern- ingly directed that he has won a very desir- able competence.
D. F. KING.
D. F. King, probate judge of Greene county and a leading member of the Car- rollton bar, was born south of Bonham, Texas, January 9, 1853, and is descended from Irish ancestry, the family having been established in North Carolina at an early epoch in the development of America. His paternal grandfather, Alexander King. was a native of North Carolina. whence he removed to Indiana, residing in that state for a few years. About the year 1820 he became a resident of Greene county, Illi- ne is. Alexander King, Jr., the father of D. F. King, was born in Indiana and after arriving at years of maturity was married in Greene county, Illinois, to Mary Waggoner, a native of Kentucky.
Judge King acquired his preliminary ed- ucation in the public schools of Greene county and afterward entered the Blackburn University at Carlinville, Illinois. Subse-
quently he uritriculated in the lona Wes- leyan University at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where he devoted the greater part of his time to the study of liw. Returning to Car- rollton he continued reading law with Mark Meyerstein as his preceptor. He wais biter a student in the office of James R. Ward, and on the 17th of January, 1879. he successfully passed an examination which secured his ad- mission to the bar. Having been elected su- perintendent of schools prior to this time he served in that office for two years, but on his admission to the bar he resigned his position in order to devote his entire atten- tion to his professional duties. In 1880 he was elected states attorney and served so capably that in 1884 he was re-elected. In 1892 he was appointed postmaster of Car- rollton, occupying that position for two years. He then resumed the active practice of law and secured a good clientage. In 1898 he was elected county judge of probate and again was elected in 1902, so that he is now serving for the second term.
In September, 1875. Judge King was married to Miss Nancy E. Morrow. of Greene county, Illinois, a daughter of Jesse Morrow, one of the early settlers of this county. Their children are Jesse, who is now a medical student in St. Louis, Mis- souri : John B., who is a practicing attorney formerly of Roodhouse, now of Peoria: Oliver, who is also in St. Louis: Frank, an electrician of Carrollton ; Ward and Doris, at home.
Judge King is a valued representative of the Odd Fellows lodge and of the Modern Woodmen camp of Roodhouse. Ile is a gentleman of attractive social qualities and in the field of political life and commer- cial activity in Greene county he has won distinction, being to-day numbered among
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the leading, influential and honored citizens of Carrollton. Honored and respected in every class of society he has for some time been a leader in thought and action in the public life of his adopted county and over the record of his public career and his private life there falls no shadow of wrong for he has ever been most loyal to the duties of friendship and of citizenship, so that his history well deserves a place in the annals of his adopted state.
HON. DAVID MEADE WOODSON.
Hon. David Meade Woodson, who as judge of the first judicial circuit of Illinois, left the impress of his individuality upon the legal history of the state and whose superior ability and attainments reflected credit upon the bench and bar of the commonwealth, was born in Jessamine county, Kentucky, May 18, 1806. His father, Samuel H. Woodson, was an eminent lawyer of the Kentucky bar. A native of Albemarle county, Virginia, he was taken to Kentucky by his mother and step-father. Colonel Joseph Crocket, an offi- cer of distinction in the Revolutionary war. He was then but seven years of age and in the Blue Grass state was reared. He studied law with the celebrated George Nicholas and was a contemporary of Henry Clay, William T. Barry, William Logan, Jesse Bledsoe, Robert Wickliffe. John Roman and other dis- tinguished men who figured in the judicial and political history of the state at a time when the brilliance of its bar attracted the attention of the nation. Mr. Woodson was a gentleman of polished address, varied ac- quirements and great personal popularity. Ile repeatedly represented Jessamine county
in the state legislature and in 1820 was elected from the Ashland district to con- gress, where he displayed a statesman's grasp of affairs in the manner in which he performed his service as one of the lawmak- ers of the nation. He was married, January I, 1804, to Ann R. Meade, a daughter of Colonel David Meade, who had settled at an early day nine miles south of Lexington, in what is now Jessamine county. His mansion (Chaumier De Prairie) was long celebrated as the seat of elegant and bounteous hospi- tality, while the master was renowned for his graceful and polished manner. He died in 1827, at the age of fifty years.
Judge Woodson, the second son of the Hon. Samuel Woodson, spent his youth in the atmosphere of refinement and intellectual culture, and acquired his education in classi- cal schools near Lexington and in Transyl- vania University, of that city. At the age of seventeen years he became a student under the preceptorship of Jesse Bledsoe, then a professor in the law department of Transyl- vania University, thus securing daily asso- ciation with one of the most acute legal minds of the country. In 1827 his father died and this occasioned Judge Woodson to devote his attention to other pursuits in con- nection with the settlement of the estate. His natural ability, however, combined with his deep interest in the political issues of the day, led to his selection, when he had but just passed the prescribed age, for the candidacy for the state legislature. This was in 1831 and was at a time when there was a pecu- liarly interesting crisis in the political history of the county, which up to this time had given Democratic majorities, in which Mr. Woodson was the Whig nominee. His per- sonal popularity and his ability led to his election and amid the shouts of the people
HION. DAVID M. WOODSON.
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he was borne in triumph on the shoulders of his friends through the streets of the town. While a member of the legislature he assisted in electing Henry Clay to the United States senate.
In the fall of 1833 Judge Woodson first visited Illinois and the following year he took up his abode in Carrollton, Greene county, entering upon the practice of law in connection with Charles D. Hodges, the part- nership continuing for fourteen years and reaching its conclusion when Judge Wood- son was elevated to the bench. In 1835 he had returned to Kentucky and spent another session in Transylvania University as a stud- ent under the Hon. George Robertson, chief justice of Kentucky. Having graduated with honor he returned to Illinois and again entered upon law practice in Carrollton.
In the year in which he attained his ma- jority and in which he entered political life Judge Woodson was also married. On the 6th of October. 1831, he wedded Miss Lucy McDowell, a sister of Dr. McDowell, a prominent physician and surgeon of St. Louis and a daughter of Major John Mc- Dowell, of Fayette county, Kentucky. Her health failing he returned with her to her old home in Kentucky and there among old friends she passe 1 away in 1836. In No- vember. 1838, Judge Woodson was again married, his second union being with Julia Kennett, a daughter of Dixon H. Kennett. formerly of Kentucky. By his first marriage he had a son. the llon. John M. Woodson, of St. Louis, Missouri, and by the second marriage a daughter-the wife of the Hon. H. C. Withers, who for a number of years was her father's law partner and who is represented elsewhere in this work.
Judge Woodson continued the practice of law in Carrollton and for some time filled
the office of states attorney, to which he was first appointed by Governor Dune'in and then elected by the state legislature during the session of 1838-9. He served in that capac- ity until 1840, when he was elected to repre- sent Greene county in the general as- sembly, being chosen for the office on the whig ticket in a county usually giving four or five hundred democratic majority. In 1843 he received the nomination of his party for the office of congressman, but was defeated by Stephen .A. Douglas. In 1847 the people of Greene county, without distinc- tion of party, elected him to a seat in the convention called to amend the state consti- tution and, to his credit be it said, he fought all of the detrimental provisions of the amendment. In 1848 he was called to the circuit bench, to which he took the very highest qualification, his course as a judge being in harmony with his record as a man and citizen-distinguished by unimpeachable integrity and a masterful grasp of every situ- ation which was presented. He had a most thorough and accurate understanding of legal principles and precedents and he always considered the questions involved in the equity of the case. His decisions were strictly fair and impartial and his record was one which reflected credit upon the judicial history of the state. By re-election he was continued in the office until 1867, when he re- tired and resumed the active practice of his profession. In 1868, having in the meantime become an advocate of the Democratic party, he was elected on its ticket to the state leg's- lature, which was his last official service. He died in 1877. The favorable opinion which the world had passed upon him at the ontset of his professional career was in no degree set aside or molifie 1 throughout all the years of his practice of of lus service
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upon the bench; on the contrary it was strengthened as the length of his professional life increased, and professionally and socially he was honored by all with whom he came in contact, his circle of friends including some of the most distinguished men of Kentucky and of Illinois.
THOMAS S. PARKER.
Thomas S. Parker, a man of strong na- tive talent and excellent business judgment, has large landed interests in Kane township. his possessions aggregating eighteen hundred acres. His fine residence stands as a monu- ment to his business ability, and large and substantial barns and outbuildings, richly cultivated fields and high grades of stock all indicate the supervision of a progressive ag- riculturist, conducting his interests in har- mony with modern methods of farming.
A native of West Virginia, Thomas S. Parker was born north of the Potomac river, in Romney, Hampshire county, February 18. 1837, a representative of one of the old- est families of that state, founded there by his great-grandfather, Job Parker, who went to West Virginia when a young man, set- tling among the Indians. Because of the pioneer conditions which prevailed he had many exciting times, for the red men proved treacherous and unfriendly and several times he was forced to flee for his life. On one occasion he escaped on his skates on the ice. When he went upon the ice he feigned to be : novice until the Indians felt confident of capturing him, but in reality he was a fine sitter, and, being a man of athletic build and mich endurance, he managed to make his escape. He continue l to make his home in
West Virginia, notwithstanding the dangers and hardships incident to the frontier life. Benjamin Parker, the grandfather, was a native of West Virginia and spent his life there, engaged in farming. Different mem- bers of the family were extensive stock- shippers of that part of the country.
Jacob W. Parker, the father, was born in Hampshire county, West Virginia, in June, 1801, was reared in the state of his nativity and married Miss Mary Ludwig, who was born in West Virginia, in May, 1801, and was of Pennsylvania German ancestry. On leaving the state of his nativity he came di- rect to Greene county, Illinois, and settled on Macoupin creek, where he spent his re- maining days, devoting his attention to gen !- eral farming. He died in the year 1872 and1 his wife in 1867. They were the parents of seven children.
Thomas S. Parker, the sixth in order of birth, spent his boyhood days upon the home farm amid pioneer environment. His edu- cational privileges were limited but to some extent he attended the subscription schools. The remainder of the time was devoted to farm labor and he continued to reside upon the old homestead until his father's death, when he received a quarter section of land as his share of the estate. In 1882 he pur- chased the General Fry property just across the road from his farm and removed to the elegant residence standing on that farm. There are large barns and other good equip- ments for the care of grain and stock, and as he has prospered in his undertaking he has made judicious investments in farm lands until he now has eighteen hundred acres, all lying in Kane township. He has engaged largely in feeding stock and feeds between three and four hundred head of cattle an- nually.
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On the toth of March, 1878, Mr. Parker was married to Miss Lida Gilleland, a native of Greene county, Illinois, and a daughter of Robert Gilleland, one of the pioneer resi- dents and respected citizens of the county. U'nto them have been born seven children : Susan C., Mary E., Ruth, Jacob W., George T. and William 1 .. , who are still living, and one who died in infancy.
Mr. Parker has had a successful career. and yet there is no secret concerning his suc cess, which has been won through persistent effort, guided by sound business judgment. He shows keen discrimination in buying. selling and handling stock, and moreover he is known to be thoroughly relialle in all tride transactions. His example should en courage and inspire others. for with little assistance at the outset of his career he has gradually worked his way upward until he is now numbered among the most prosperous agriculturists of the county.
PAUL W. WOOD.
Greene county figures as one of the most attractive, progressive and prosperous divis- ions of the state of Illinois, justly claiming a high order of citizenship and a spirit of en- terprise which is certain to conserve con- secutive development and marked advance- ment in the material upbuilding of the sec- tion. The county has been and is signally favored in the class of men who have con- trolled its affairs in official capicity, and in this connection the subject of this review de mands representation as one who his ser the county faithfully and well in positions of distinct trust and responsibility, and is no serving as county sheriff.
Mr. Wood was born in Woodville town- ship, Greene county, on the 4th of March. 1856, and is a son of Wilson and Lucetta ( Mulberry ) Wood, both of whom were nd- tives of Kentucky. The paterial grande father, Amon Wood, who was also a native of Kentucky, came to, Ilinois at an early day, establishing his home in Greene county when pioneer conditions yet existe l here. Ile iel lowed farming in Woodville township und remained a resident of that locality until bi- death. A public spirited citizen he tok an active interest in educati mil matters, giving land upon which the first schoolhouse in his section was erected. He also d'mated the land which was used for cemetery purpose thus being known as the Mayberry cemetery -the first burial place of the locality. What- ever tendel to improve the county and ad- vance its material and moral progress re- ceived the endorsement of Amon Wood and in all lite's relations he was honorable and upright. thus winning the respect and good will of those with whom he was associated. In his family were thirteen children, inclued- mg Wilson Wood, who was reared to the occupation of farming and on arriving at years of maturity turned his attention to agricultural pursuits on his own account. Ile receive l a large tract of land from his father, which had been included in the orig- inal Wood claim, and he carried on general agricultural pursuits up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1801, when he was in lus fortieth verr.
Paul Wy Wood is the second son in the family of four children. He is indekiel box the public school system of the county for the educationd provleges which he called and he remained at home with los Bother until her death in the year 180; He the started out in Me on his own account. le-
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ing employed on farms in the neighborhood. He was at that time about eleven years of age. When fifteen years of age he went to Denver, Colorado, where he was employed in raising vegetables. His brother, Clarence H .. who was two years his senior, went to the west to benefit his health, being troubled with asthma and Paul W. Wood accompanied him. The brother has continued a resident of Colorado and is now a prosperous and ex- tensive stockman, owning ten thousand acres of land about fifty miles east of Denver. He is one of the most successful representatives . of this business in that state.
Paul W. Wood, however, was not en- tirely pleased with the west and returned from Denver to Greene county, where at the age of nineteen years he was married on the Ioth of October, 1875, to Miss Alice Brad- ley, a native of this county and a daughter of Absalom Bradley, one of the prominent early settlers. They became the parents of the following named : Absalom, who is fill- ing the position of deputy sheriff of Greene county and resides in Carrollton ; Stella, now the wife of J. W. Adams of Carrollton ; Paula ; Lela; Lucius; Lola ; and Paul, Jr.
After his marriage Mr. Wood located on the old homestead farm, which he had prev- iously purchased, and there he engaged in the tilling of the soil for a number of years. He afterward traded the property for a store in Woody, where he conducted business un- til 1884. when he removed to Roodhouse and there he again engaged in merchandising and also in dairying. He was one of the business men of that place until 1890, when he sold his interests there and came to Car- rollton, accepting the position of janitor in the courthouse in this city. He acted in that capacity for five years, at the end of which time he became candidate for sheriff, but he
had two opponents in the field and was de- feated by nine votes. Resuming the dairy business he continued it for four years and was then again a candidate for sheriff. He was elected in 1902 and is the present in- cumbent. He also rents a dairy farm ad- joining the town, which is now operated by his son. He has made for himself a good record as a reliable business man and in public office he has discharged his duties without fear or favor.
WARREN BEEBE.
Warren Beebe is classed with the lead- ing stockdealers of Greene county, Illinois. conducting an extensive and prosperous business near Eldred. He was born on the 5th of January, 1848, within a half mile of his present home, his parents being Aurora and Betsey (Smeed) Beebe, who became early settlers of Greene county, the father ยท arriving here in 1836, while the mother came in 1837. Aurora Beebe was a son of Francis and Susanna Beebe. Our subject's great- grandfather, Clark Beebe, came west about 1818 and settled in Greene county. At his death he was buried on Apple Creek Prairie. His son Sheldon Beebe left Massachusetts in 1818 and after spending some time in Illi- nois and Missouri finally located in Greene county, in 1821, on the farm now occupied by our subject.
The father of our subject carried on agricultural pursuits in the western part of Greene county and was also a stock-raiser. He took an active and helpful part in the work of carly improvement in the county, assisting materially in the development and progress of this portion of the state. Ile
AURORA BEEBE.
MRS. AURORA BEEBE.
FIRE
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favored every movement which tended to advance the county's best interests and was widely known as a loyal citizen, reliable busi- ness man and trustworthy friend. He died at the home of his son Warren at the age of seventy-four years and his widow is now living with her son at the advanced age of eighty-one years. She is a daughter of Ches- ter and Liddie Smeed, of Greene county, who cast in their lot with the pioneer settlers of this portion of the state in 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Beebe were the parents of ten children, of whom four died in infancy. The others are Emma S., who is now the wife of Byron Bradley : Warren, of this review : Olive, the wife of R. T. Robley: Alice, who died in 16,01 : Lillie : and Frank.
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