USA > Illinois > Greene County > Past and present of Greene County, Illinois > Part 42
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laving spent his entire life in this county. Warren Beebe is well known to many of its settlers. He is indebted to the public school system for the educational priv- ileges which he enjoyed and which qualified him for the discharge of life's practical and responsible duties. After putting aside his text-books he gave his father the benefit of his services and has remained upon the . ld homestead farm continuously since. The occupation to which he was rearel he has made his life work and while he is most practical in his methods he is also quick tu adopt any new and improved ideas concern- ing farming that will facilitate the farm work and result beneficially to the business. His fields are well tilled and in his pastures and barns are found high grades of stock. He is particularly well known as a stock-raiser and is now iceling one hundred and forty hendl of cattle. He has also raised very fine horses, having upon his place some of the finest stock to be found in this part of the state. He is a man of sterling purpose and honorable motive, as is evidenced in his re-
lations with his fellow men Deeply inter- ested in the cause of temperance. He Loves In- political allegiance to the Production parte. although he was reared in the faith van thie Repubhean party. 1le has a wide and fayor- able acquaintance in Greene county and be- cause of his personal worth and because he is a representative of an honored pioneer fam ily he well deserves representation in this volume.
S. W. ELDRED.
S. W. Eldred, a substantial farmer and stock-raiser living on section 9. Bois Dare township. Montgomery county, is the owner of extensive landed possessions, his farm comprising seven hundred acres. He is a native son of Illinois and his life history is such of which the state can well be prend, for in his career he has displayed the enter- prising spirit which has led to the substan- tial and rapid development of the great west.
Mr. Eldred was born in Greene county, November 12. 1848, and is a son of Jedi- thun B. Eldred, whose sketch is given che- where in this volume. Our subject was reared under the parental roof in his native county and at the usual age he entered the public schools, therein acquiring a good prac- tical education. He receivedl manual tram- ing at farm labor under the direction of The father, whom he continued to assist upen the old homestead up to the time of his maar riage. In Jacksonville, Illinois, on the 21st of December. 1876. he was jomebhi well- Lock To Miss Mary J. Robertson, andfire ni Morgan county, Illinois, and a daughter vi Join und Miry Robertsom. also naties () that county She was reared in the carly
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of her nativity, pursuing her education in the schools of Jacksonville.
Mr. Eldred removed to his present home in 1874 and began the development of his farm, which at that time had few improve- ments. The place, however, was three hun- dred and twenty acres in extent and with characteristic energy he began to till the fields, construct buildings and continued the farm work along progressive lines that have led to substantial and gratifying results. As his financial resources increased he bought more land from time to time and now has seven hundred and fourteen acres. He has erected a large two story residence, also three barns, corn cribs, sheds and other out- buildings, has planted fruit and shade trees and now has an excellent property equipped with all modern conveniences and accessor- ies and displaying in its excellent appearance the careful supervision of the owner. The farm is enclosed with a hedge and wire fences, which also divide the place into fields of convenient size. In the pastures are found good grades of stock and annually he ships about four carloads of fat hogs, from four to six carloads of steers and two car- loads of sheep. He is very successful as a stock-raiser and dealer and is accounted one of the leading agriculturists of this part of the county. He is also a stockholder and director in the Carrollton Bank. His father was one of the organizers of this institution and his brother has been in the bank for twenty-seven years as cashier.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Eldred have been born two sons and a daughter: John J., who is now occupying a position in the Carroll- ton Bank: William S., who assists in the operation of the home farm ; and Jennie, also under the parental roof. The parents hold membership in the Baptist church of Bois
Darc, to which their children also belong, and they are deeply interested in the various church activities and contribute generously to the support of the church. Mr. Eldred cast his first presidential vote in 1872 for General Grant and has supported each presi- dential nominee of the Republican party since that time, having firm faith in the Re- publican principles and earnestly desiring their adoption. He served as commissioner of highways, but otherwise has held no office, preferring to give his undivided at- tention to his business affairs. He has been blessed with remarkably good health, hav- ing never had to employ the services of a physician for over thirty years. His en- tire life has been passed in Illinois and he has assisted materially in making Montgom- ery county what it is to-day, never neglect- ing any duty of citizenship, while at the same time promoting his individual inter- ests with success. He is one of the honored residents of his community, having the good will and confidence of those with whom he has been associated, for in all his trade trans- actions he has been strictly reliable, making the most of his opportunities, never taking advantage of the necessities of his fellow- men in any business transaction.
HENRY W. HAND. B. S., M. D.
Dr. Henry W. Hand, of White Hall, who in his practice has demonstrated his ac- curate and comprehensive knowledge relat- ing to the science of medicine, was born in Greene county, June 29, 1860. At an carly period in the development of the new world the Hand family was established in America, representatives of the name living in Con- necticut and New Jersey. Dr. Hand's great-
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grandfather, Jeremiah Hand, was reared in Hardy county, Virginia, and was married there to Mary Badgely. a daughter of David Badgely, who was born in Essex, New Jer sey, in 1749, and whose ancestors livel in that state and in Connecticut. David Badgely removed to Hardy county, Virginia, in 1768, was married there to Rhoda Valen- tine and in that locality reared his family. In 1796. however, he emigrated with his family to Illinois, locating at kaska-kia. which was then only an Indian trading post. and there founded the first school and first church west of the Ohio river. Later he re- moved three miles north of the present site of Belleville, there founding what is to-day known as the Badgely settlement. He ex- erted a strong and beneficial influence in the early development of the state, being one of its real pioneers. He selected a quarter sec- tion of land on which the present city of Greenfield is located as a suitable homestead for his daughter Mary and her husband. Jeremiah Iland. Mr. Hand entered the same from the United States government and settled thereon in 1827 and erected a log house for a home. Two nephews of Rev. David Badgely were living in the vicin- ity of Belleville, Illinois, as late as 1885. Adam being eighty-two years of age, while Elisha was ninety-three years of age. Rev. Badgely die 1 December 27. 1824, at the age of seventy-five years, and his wife, who was born in 1752, passed away in 1832. In their family were five sons and four daughters, of whom Mrs. Mary Hand, wie of Jeremiah Hand, was the eldest daughter.
(11 the land he entered ir my the goveri- ment, comprising a part of the present se of Greenfield and efected a log hoffe there- on. In 1830 his son Stephen Hand who had married, also posted on this text and legal builling an addition to the house, making it a double log have such as was the en-tom in that early day, But before this was fully completed the property was transferred to James Cannedy, who was the material great-grandfather of Dr. Ilan 1. and vins completed it and Uvedl in it with los fondly through the terrible winter of the deep siew. 1830 31. This same dulle log house -foul until only a few years ago as the lyonelike of the first white mbalitante. Jeremiah Hind next enterel land a file doll che-half senth of his former entry and povupied it for some veirs He and his family were antony the first white settlers of the community. While living on the del homestead ner Greenfield his wife diel all lo: afterward bych wier until the prece was well. This forly com - bered mme cloudren, two sons and seven daughters, musely : Richel. Rholt, Samal. Priscilla. Tarinda, Mille. Schon @ mail Stephen. Jeremiah Hand was a member vu the Baptist church and took a von geus and helpful part in the early refgao- de velopment of the county. When gifte ohl and feel le his time was largely spenton unk which học vil đã by the lon
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Following his marriage in Virginia, Jer emiah Hand. the great-grandfather of Wie subject of this sketch, removed westward in 180g and settled in the Badgely settlement leaving las vite tu emlich the imer near Belleville. Illinois. In 1827 he letel fam. while the dot with in the
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PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
She was a woman of most remarkable busi- ness ability and of a refined and artistic na- ture, rare indeed in any community at that early day. She possessed a strong character and a brilliant intellect. Descended from good ancestry, too, her better qualities shone forth to advantage when left in charge of the one hundred and sixty acre farm by the absence of her husband. She managed the property in a most business-like manner and prospered in spite of all adverse circum- stances. She was able to have her own fine carriage with brass-mounted harness, such as was rarely seen in this county before the days of railroads and local markets. She took an active and helpful interest in the up- building of her community. Unto Stephen and Harriet Hand were born four children : Rachel. John, William and Sarah.
John Hand, the father of our subject, was born in Greene county, in 1835. After arriving at years of maturity he married Eliza Ellen Cannedy, who was also born in this county in 1842. She was a daughter of George W. Cannedy.
The Cannedy family was founded in America by John Cannedy, who emigrated to the new world and settled at Darlington, South Carolina. He married a lady of Scotch descent and. in 1807 removed to Tennessee. His son, James Cannedy, the great-grandfather of our subject, was born in Darlington. South Carolina, March 18, 1790, and in 1816 he was united in marriage in Tennessee to Eliza Grizzle. They con- tinned residents of the south until 1829. when they came to Greene county, Illinois. settling where the town of Greenfield now stands and purchasing the homestead of Jer- emiah Hand, but two years later Mr. Can- nelly bought land three miles south of the town. He made the journey to Illinois in an
ox cart, bringing with him a large family but little money. He worked as a rail-splitter in 1830-31 in order to support his family and for many years was compelled to labor in this way, but at length prosperity crowned his efforts to some degree and by his earnest toil and perseverance he accumulated a de- sirable competence and rose to an honored and respected position in the community. He was elected justice of the peace, which posi- tion he filled for many years, discharging his duties with the utmost fairness and im- partiality. He also served as county com- missioner for three years and in minor of- fices. His wife died August 16, 1867, at the age of sixty-nine years. They were the parents of twelve children, all of whom be- came useful and respected members of society.
George W. Cannedy, a son of James Cannedy and the maternal grandfather of Dr. Hand, was born in Tennessee in 1818 and came with his parents to Greene county, Illinois, in 1829. As before stated they pur- chased a part of the double log house which Jeremiah Hand had built and resided there until 1833, when they returned to Tennessee. Subsequently, however, they again came to Greene county, settling on section 21, Rock- bridge township, where for many years George W. Cannedy resided. His death oc- curred when he was seventy-five years of age. He wedded Miriam Witt, who was born in Indiana in 1823 and died in 1844. Their marriage was celebrated in November, 1840. They had two children : Eliza Ellen, who became the wife of John Hand and the mother of Dr. Hand: and James H. Can- nedy, who lives in Kansas. Mrs. Eliza Ellen Hand was born in 1842 and died in Greenfield in 1895 at the age of fifty-three years. Her husband, John Hand, died in
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this county in 1876, near the place where most of his life had been spent. lle served his country as a soldier in the Civil war, serving from 1862 until 1865. He was a farmer and stock-breeder, residing near Greenfield, where he engaged in operating rented land. This he carefully cultivated and he became prosperous, owing to his well conducted business affairs. Later he pur- chased a farm in Macoupin county and dili- gence, fairness and keen foresight character- ized all his business transactions. His health failing in later years from infirmities in- curred in the Civil war, he quit the farm and studied medicine for some time but when ready for practice he was still in poor health and went south hoping to be benefited there by. Hle died, however, soon after his return home, in December, 1876. His aspiration was that his son should be highly educated and become a competent physician. He was a Republican in his political views, although he voted for Horace Greeley, and his relig- ious faith was that of the Baptist church.
Dr. Henry W. Hand accompanied his parents on their removal to Macoupin county in his early boyhood and there re- mained until twenty years of age. Hle sup- plemented his public-school education with a preparatory course in Shurtleff College at Upper Alton and from 1880 until 1884 he was a student in Illinois College at Jack- sonville, winning high honors in athletics, oratory and the natural sciences, and grad mating in the latter year with the degree of Bachelor of Science. During the three suc- ceeding years he engaged in teaching and was principal of the Milton, Perry and Man. chester schools. He regarded teaching. however, merely as an initial step to his real professional labor, for it was his desire to become a member of the medical profession.
.Accordingly m 1887 he entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York city. where he pursued a full course and special hospital courses and was graduated with the class of 1800. He has also taken special work and in 1896-7 he pursued a post-grail- Hatte course at the Post-Graduate School of Medicine in New York city.
Dr. lland entered upon the practice of medicine in 1888 as a licentiate, having passed the state medical examination in that year, and he followed his profession in Pittsfield, Illinois, for a year and a half be- fore returning to New York to graduate. In 1800 he removed to White Hall, where he has since remained. In 1902 he went to Chiengo, where he pursued a post-graduate course in nervous diseases and he now makes a specialty of their treatment in his practice. Ile is constantly broadening his knowledge by reading and investigation as well as study in other directions and he is to-day one of the most capable and well informed members of the medical fraternity in the state. lle is a member of the County, State and National Medical Societies. His keen, analytical mind and care at the bedside have won for him the confidence and esteem of a large and influential clientage.
On the 6th of March, 1886. Dr. Hand was united in marriage to Miss Dora B. Foreman, who is a lovely, accomplished and educated woman. She pursued literary and musical studies in Chicago, St Louis and New York, and she engaged in teaching 11 the public schools and also taught music for several years prior to her marriage She studied German, Itahan and French as a part of her musicdl education. Dr. and Mrs Hand have one son, George, two years all whom they are carefully rearing
The Doctor is a Republican in his politi
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cal views, belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, and is a supporter of all that is fair and right. In both the paternal and maternal lines he is a representative of hon- ored pioneer families of Greene county as well as of the state and nation. Their names of Hand and Cannedy are indelibly inter- woven with the history of progress and in- provement in this county and Dr. Hand con- tinues the work of his forefathers in that he is loyal and progressive in citizenship, man- ifesting a keen and helpful interest in every- thing that pertains to the upbuilding and ad- vancement of his county.
SIMEON F. WILHITE.
Simeon F. Wilhite, living on section 3, Rubicon township, is one of the thrifty farmers whose active and energetic labors are well manifest in the splendid condition in which his farm of three hundred and twenty acres is found. More than half a century has come and gone since he located in Greene county, for he was brought to this county in 1852. His birth occurred in Oldham county, Kentucky, on the 3d of October, 1849, his parents being Jesse and Martha M. Wilhite, also natives of the Blue Grass state. The father was a farmer of Oldham county and there he continued to engage actively in agricultural pursuits until 1852, when he re- moved to Illinois and purchased land in Greene county, upon which his son now re- sides. He began here with a partially im- proved tract of land, on which was a log house, but his labors soon wrought a won- derful transformation in the appearance of the place. fle planted a good orchard, de- Veloped rich fields and in course of time
erected a substantial frame residence and other good buildings. Active and energetic in his farming labors, success attended his efforts and brought to him a handsome com- petence that enabled him to spend his declin- ing days in retirement from further labor. He reared his family on the farm but his last days were passed in Greenfield, where he en- joyed a richly merited rest up to the time of his death in December, 1891. His first wife passed away about twenty years before his demise, and he afterward married again.
Simeon F. Wilhite is one of a family of six children, but only three are now living, his sister being Mrs. Lucy Nichols, the wife of J. H. Nichols, a farmer of Rubicon town- ship, while his brother is Samuel M. Wil- hite, a merchant of Greenfield. Simeon F. Wilhite was reared to manhood on the old homestead farm and pursued his education in the district schools. He was early trained to the work of field and meadow and con- tinued to assist his father until the father removed to Greenfield, when he took charge of the farming interests.
In Rubicon township Mr. Wilhite was married on the 10th of October, 1874. to Miss Emma Nichols, who was born in Vir- ginia, but was reared in Greene county, Ill- inois, her father being M. T. Nichols, now a resident of Greenfield. Six children have graced this marriage : Effie, now the wife of Jesse Story, a farmer of Greenfield, by whom she has two children, Mildred and Franklin Story ; Charles, a student in a veterinary col- lege in Kansas City, Missouri: Fred, who is married and follows farming in Athens township: Jesse, who assists in the operation of the home farm: Clara, who is a student in the Greenfield high school ; and Guy, also attending school.
After his marriage Mr. Wilhite began
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his domestic life upon the old home farm and has since devoted his attention uninterrupt- elly to agricultural pursuits. Annually he harvests good crops and at the same time he raises and feeds stock, being prosperous in both branches of agricultural activity. Po- litically he has been a life-long Democrat. but has preferrel to concentrate his efforts upon his business affairs rather than to seek or hold office. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Wilhite, spending almost his entire life in this county, has witnessed much of its growth and devel- upment and has helped to improve and mike it what it is to-day. He can r men der when there was much wild game here, irchinting turkeys, geese, ducks and prairie chickens. 1 ut with the advent of the farm-yard fow's the wild game has disappeared and all the evidences of frontier life have given way be- fore the advance of civilization. Mr. Wil- hite is well known in Greenfield and throughout the county as a man of tried in- tegrity and worth and although his life has been quietly passed it furnishes an example that is well worthy of emulation.
H. A. CILAPIN. M. D.
Dr. H. A. Chapin, engaged in the prac- tice of medicine in his native city, his won desirable and gratifying success, and his life record sets at naught, therefore, the old adage that a prophet is never without honor save in his own country. The Doctor was born here in 1872, a son of Seneca D). Chapin, whose history is given at length on another page of this volume. His paternal grandfather. \bel J. Chapin, was born in New York in 1807 and died in the year 1894.
Hewie, who bere the mallet sans i Klesla Hart, was born of Vagy ). The 0 1810 and died En 1285. Ilf- mittemil ghoul- father we Willrun Carr.
Verdient of special importance desired during the youth of Dr. Chapm torto the routine not the average American long of hm. He attended the public -die f White Hall mol he masterel the joppeles there t' uofft :od then chtere 1 the Southern Illinois Normal School at Diven 1. graduate of the White Hall high school of the class of 1801 and in 1801-2 he engaged in teaching schod m Pike county. He por- pare 1 for the practice of medicine in the Cal- lege of Physicians and Surgeons. af Clic . Illinois, where he remained for a year, ami in the Baltimore Medical College. Troll which institution he was graduated on the completion of a three vous Faire in April. 1895. Ile then bezted in White Hall, where he began practice. In 1002 1e je9-1 3 special post- graduate course in d'e lllines School of Electro Therapeutics. His pren aration for practice has been the rough and exmoistive and his success gr tifying. He i- very careful in the diagnosis of a case. rarely at fault in estimating the outcome ci dnes and on his closen his work his rope Heraf valuable service to His fellowwitter
On the 25th of September. 195. Vr Chopin was united in marriage to Miss Grace Danforth. a native of Greene county and daughter of George B. and Kate ( War- vester) Danforth. She is a graduate of the Ingh school of White Half of the class vo 1801. nl i- p odlar and prominent ih tlils city. Dr and Mrs Chapin now have die child. Florence D., born October 17. 1900
Ja le - political affiliation Dr. Chamoy is a Repubhem, deeply interested in the success of his party, yet never holding offre tir ci-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
ing for political preferment. He belongs to the Baptist church, is a member of the Ma- sonic lodge, the Eastern Star chapter and the Court of Honor. He is serving on the board of education. His energies, however, are concentrated largely on his professional duties and he is a popular and prominent young physician with a large and growing practice.
LOYAL POST GRISWOLD.
Loyal Post Griswold, who for seventy years was a resident of Greene county, re- spected by all who know him because of his upright life and successful business ca- reer, was born in a log cabin in this county, on the 14th of August, 1833, his parents be- ing Harry and Maria (Post) Griswold. His parents, representing old New England families, remained residents of Vermont until 1820, when they sought a home on what was then the wild western frontier, coming to Illinois soon after their marriage. Settling in Greene county, they contributed to the pioneer development of this part of the state. They lived in a little log cabin in true pioneer style and there they reared their family.
Loyal P. Griswold spent his boyhood ‹lays on the old homestead and early be- came familiar with agricultural pursuits in all departments, assisting materially in the arduous task of developing a new farm. Hc had gained practical and comprehensive knowledge of the best methods of farming and when he entered upon an independent business carcer it was to continue his work as an agriculturist. Throughout his entire life he was interested in farming and he de- veloped an excellent farm property in Greene
county, the well tilled fields bringing to him a good income. In the later years he trav- eled quite extensively and while in the west invested in land in Nebraska. He also owned land in various Illinois counties and his realty possessions were valuable.
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