USA > Illinois > Greene County > Past and present of Greene County, Illinois > Part 47
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1822, and was a daughter of Samuel Read, who was born on the ocean while his parents were en route from Scotland to America, the family being of Scotch descent. Mrs. Greer was first married in 1842 to Benjamin F. Barnes, who went to California in the spring of 1850 and died there on the 5th of No- vember, that year. There were four chil- dren by that union : Nancy C., born Janu- ary 3, 1843, married J. F. Brinker and now resides in Kansas City, Missouri : James S., born May 7, 1845, lives in Audrain county, Missouri; Darwin Read, born January 20, 1847, makes his home in Moore county, Texas: and William C., born June 6, 1849, is a resident of Victoria, Texas. It was on the 7th of November, 1852, that Mrs. Barnes gave her hand in marriage to Joseph H. Greer. In 1831 she had removed from Ken- tucky to Boone county, Missouri, with her parents, Samuel and Nancy (Baldwin) Read, who settled nine miles northeast of Columbia, and she died at her home near Mexico, that state, March 9, 1899. By her second marriage she also had four children : Benjamin W., born August 7, 1853, resides in Carrollton, Illinois ; Hiram S., born May I, 1855. resides in Victoria. Texas: Joseph P., born March 30. 1857. resides in Audrain county. Missouri: and John F .. of this re- view. Of her thirty-nine grandchildren twenty-six are now living and there are six out of eight great-grandchildren also living.
John F. Greer was reared upon the old home farm in Audrain county, Missouri. where his parents located when he was but six years of age, and he attended the public schools of that locality, completing his edu- cation in the high school of Mexico, Mis- souri. He engaged in teaching between the years 1878 and 1884 and taught in the school at Patterson, Illinois, in 1880-81. Between
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188t and his admission to the bar he carried on merchandising very successfully. De- sirons of becoming a member of the legal fraternity he began the study of law in 1900 and in June, 1904. he successfully passed the examination which secured his admis- sion to the bar. Among his ancestors have been those who have achieved success in this profession and there is every reason to be- lieve that Mr. Greer will win for himself a desirable position at the Greene county bar.
On the 9th of November. 1884. was cel- ebrated the marriage of Mr. Greer and Miss Ida May Baldwin, who was born on a farm on Apple Creek Prairie, Greene county, Illi- nois, May 4. 1864, and received her educa- tion in Maple Grove school in White Hall township. She is a daughter of Jesse Hughes and Margaret Logan ( Williamson ) Baldwin, the former of English and the latter of Scotch descent. ller paternal grandfather was Judge Benjamin Baldwin. so well known in Greene county, and her maternal grandfather was llugh William- son, who was of Scotch Presbyterian faith and brought his family to the United States and settled in Warren county, Ohio, when Mrs. Baldwin was nine years of age. Jesse H. Baldwin was a very prominent farmer and stockman, being the largest stock feeder in his neighborhood. He took an influential part in public affairs but never cared for political office.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Greer, but Margie A., who was born September 18, 1886, died July 21. 1889. Those still living are Jessie May, born May 16, 1880: Nellie, born April 2, 1893: Fran- ces, born August 28, 1808; Mamie, born September 1, 1900; and Hughes Hampton, born July 18, 1903. Mrs. Greer is an earnest member of the Baptist church, has prominent
literary and musical taste- connected with practical ideas of home life which makes her a typical American mother, who devotes almost her whole time to her home and fam- ily, taking a special interest in the proper education and musical training of her children.
In his political views Mr. Greer is a Democrat, active in the work of the party and his influence has not been of restricted order. He has served as city clerk and as a member of the city council of White Hall. In 1896 he was chairman of the county Democratie central committee. That year Greene county gave its banner Democratic majority. Ile belongs to the Modern Wood- men camp and to the Court of Honor, being one of its supreme officers, and is a deve ted member of the Baptist church, taking an active part in Sunday school work, having served as its superintendent for seven years. His influence is ever on the side of right. justice, truth and progress. What he has accomplished has been done in accordance with the strictest ethics governing business relations and all who know him respect him for his genuine worth and fidelity to principle.
GEORGE W. ROBERTSON.
George W. Robertson, telegraph opera- tor and station agent for the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company, at Roodhouse, was born at Bentley. Illinois. December 31. 1874. The Robertson family is of Scotch lineage. but James Robertson, the grandfather, was born in the state of New York. His son. 1. R. Robertson, was born at Camp Pomt. Illinois, and is now living at Bentley_ Han- cock county. He married Miss Sarah 1.
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Browning, who was born in 1842 and is a daughter of John and Sarah Browning.
In the public schools of his native town George W. Robertson began his education and later spent a year as a college student in Carthage, Illinois. He then took up the study of telegraphy and railroading at Carthage and entered the employ of the Wa- bash Railroad Company, working at various points in its service. In 1900 he entered the employ of the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company and after a year's stay at Jackson- ville, Illinois, he came to Roodhouse in the spring of 1904. Here he has since remained as freight and passenger agent and his ac- commodating manner and obliging spirit, as well as his capability have made him popu- lar with the traveling public who are patrons of the road at this point.
Mr. Robertson was reared in the faith of the Methodist church. He is a supporter of the Democracy, but has no political as- pirations for himself. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Knights of Pythias and with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a man of fine physique, of genial manner and social disposition and during his residence in Roodhouse has become popular among busi- ness men and social acquaintances.
JUDGE W. B. ROBINSON.
Judge W. B. Robinson is proprietor of the JJawthorn Hill stock farm and is, more- Over, not only a business man of marked energy and enterprise, but also a leading citi- zen of his community, exerting a strong and beneficial influence in public life. He was born in West Virginia, his birth occurring near Wheeling, in Mason county, on the 16th
of August, 1834. His father, Gregory Bay- lor Robinson, was born in Virginia, and was there reared, after which he married Louisa B. Hill, also a native of that state. Remov- ing to West Virginia he resided for some years in Mason county, there acting as over- seer of a plantation on the Ohio river. In 1837 he removed westward to Illinois, set- tling in Greene county upon a tract of land which he purchased in Kane township. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade and was thus identified with building interests for several years. He died in 1843 at the age of fifty-one years.
Judge Robinson accompanied his par- ents to Greene county during his boyhood days and was reared here on the home farm. He acquired his preliminary education in the public schools and supplemented his early mental training by one year's study in Shurt- leff College. He afterward went into a store at Old Kane, where he engaged in clerking for eight years. He was then appointed deputy sheriff, serving in that capacity for a year, and in 1861 he located on the farm where he now resides. This he began to cultivate and develop, and as the years have passed he has added many improve- ments to the property, making it one of the best farms of his district. He has since added to and remodeled the house and now has a large two-story residence, in the rear, of which are good outbuildings, such as are necessary for the shelter of grain and stock. He has likewise planted an orchard, has fenced his farm, and today the Hawthorn Hill stock farm bears an excellent reputation because of the splendid condition in which it is found in every department. In connec- tion with the raising of grain he has also engaged in the raising, feeding and fatten- ing of stock for the market and has met with
JUDGE W. B. ROBINSON.
MRS. W B. ROBINSON
PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY. 413
good success in this work. The Hawthorn Hill stock farm is famed for the high grade of catttle, horses and hogs raised thereon, and its annual shipments are large, bringing to the owner an excellent financial return. The farm comprises three hundred and twenty acres of land, which is free from all encumbrances, and thus Judge Robinson may well be classed among the substantial agriculturists of his community.
Judge Robinson was married at Carroll- ton, in 1859. to Miss Mary Burruss, who was born and reared in Greene county and is a daughter of D. N. Burruss, for- merly of Kentucky. There are nine children of this marriage, of whom eight are yet living, but the first born, Louisa B., became the wife of llarry P. V'an Arsdale and died in 1903. The living children are: Ada, the wife of Coleman Duncan, of Carrollton, Illinois; Nettie, who for several years has engaged successfully in teaching school in Greene county : Fannie. the wife of Clair Sharron, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Richard B., a carpenter and joiner of Carrollton : Georgiana, the wife of Frank Burruss, a farmer living near Miami. Missouri: Lee R., a young man at home ; Maria, who is engaged in teaching music ; and Fred W., who completes the family.
Politically Judge Robinson has been a life-long Democrat, giving his allegiance to the party since casting his first presidential vote for James Buchanan in 1856. 1le has voted every four years since that time in support of the standard bearers of the party. Hle was elected as supervisor of Linder town ship and served for three years, during which time he was chairman of the board. lle also served for one year as county commissioner and has been a member of the school board. doing effective service in behalf of the cause
of education in huis home fannly. He is a stockholder and was one of the reorganizers of the Greene County Fair -Association. Ile and his wife and all of their children are members of the Carrollton Baptist church. lle was formerly a member of the Masome lodge at Greenfield, but is now demitted. His residence in Greene county covers sixty seven years, and he is one of the few surviv - ing early settlers. Ile has intimate knowl edge of the history of the county from the days of its early development to the period of its present progress and prosperity, and he has always borne his full part in matters of citizenship. He is honored and esteemed by all who know him, and no history of Greene county would be complete without mention of Judge Robinson.
J. C. BOWALAN.
Among the native sons of Carrollton, whose intense and well directed activity have made them forceful factors in community affairs is J. C. Bowman, who is now serving as alderman of the city and who for two terms was judge of Greene county. In the practice of law his abilities have found recognition in a large clientage and he is now numbered among the leading members of the Carrollton bar.
Born in this city. May 18. 1856, he is ? son of Dr Alexander and Elizabeth D. (Johnston) Bowman, the former a native of Meadville, Pennsylvania, and the kiffer of Vandalia, Ilinois. The father has de- voted his hic to the practice of medicine and. coming to freene county in 1850, was for eleven years a physician and surgeon of Ca- rollton He 's now living in White Hall at
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the advanced age of eighty-seven years and is now retired from professional duties, but for many years his labors proved of marked value to his fellowmen.
Judge Bowman, the third child and eld- est son in a family of three sons and three daughters, was reared in White Hall and when he had mastered the branches of learn- ing which constitute the curriculum of its public schools, he entered Shurtleff College, at Upper Alton, Illinois. His literary educa- tion being completed. he matriculated in the law department of the Missouri State Uni- versity, at Columbia, Missouri, and com- pleted the full course by graduation in the spring of 1884. Having thus qualified for practice he returned to White Hall and opened an office. His success came soon be- cause his equipment was good and because he soon demonstrated the fact that careful preparation of cases and devotion to his clients' interests entitled him to the public patronage. In 1885 he was elected city at- torney and served for six years, his service giving uniform satisfaction to all law-abid- ing citizens. His elevation to the bench came in 1890, being elected on the Democratic ticket for a term of four years. He was then re-elected and removed to Carrollton. His decisions were models of judicial soundness and free from all personal bias, and the bar unite in bearing testimony to his capability and marked fidelity to duty. Not becoming a candidate for re-election on the expiration of his second term he retired from office and has since given his attention to the private practice of law, wherein he has won gratify- my success. Many important litigated in- terests have been entrusted to him and he has won many verdicts favorable to his clients.
On the 16th of May, 1886. Judge Bow- tin was married to Miss Mattie Cooper. 3
who was born in Wrights township, Greene county, and is a daughter of W. T. Cooper, whose birth occurred in Kentucky. Her grandfather was Judge E. L. Cooper, one of the distinguished early settlers of the county, whose life record forms a part of the historic annals of this section of the state. The chil- dren of Judge and Mrs. Bowman are Mark C. and Edmond L. The former is a grad- uate of the high school at Carrollton, Illi- nois, and is the appointee to the Annapolis Naval Academy, having been appointed through Congressman Rainey.
Judge Bowman belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp and the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He was elected alderman from the second ward and takes an active interest in matters political, being known as one of the influential supporters of his party in the county. His record, political, professional and social, commend him to the respect and good will of his fellowmen and he is one of the representative citizens of the county of his nativity.
JOHN W. GANO.
John W. Gano, who is carrying on gen- cral farming in Kane township, was born within the borders of that township, Decem- ber 18, 1858. He was reared to the occu- pation of farming, his days being quietly spent on the old homestead farm throughout the period of his boyhood and youth. The public school afforded him his educational privileges and he continued to aid his father in the work of the fields until 1883.
In that year Mr. Gano was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Susan Foley, who was born in Kane township. Greene
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county, and is a daughter of Abram Foley. who removed to Colorado in 1903. This union was blessed with nine children : Wal- ter L .: Bessie: Edith: Nellie: William Avery : Ninette : Susie, deceased : Fleda Mar- guerite, also deceased : and Vera Sada.
For two years after his marriage Mr. Gano resided on a farm directly west of the old homestead and then removed to his pres- ent home, which comprises eighty acres of rich and arable land north of Kane. He is diligent and progressive and his business af- fairs are capably conducted, so that he is meeting with a fair measure of success in his undertakings. Ile is now operating a hay press.
In public affairs relating to the welfare of the community Mr. Gano is deeply inter- ested, and his loyalty and public-spirit have found recognition by election to office. He served as assessor of Kane township for two terms, has filled the office of school director for nine years and for six years was a trus- tee. He votes with the Democratic party. and in office he is found most reliable, being prompt and faithful in the discharge of his duties. Hle is a member of Carrollton camp. No. 476, Modern Woodmen of America.
FRANK E. STRANG.
Frank E. Strang, who is one of the active and substantial farmers and stock-dealers of Greene county, owns and operates a tract of land of more than six hundred acres near the city of Greenfield. He has raised. fed and shipped stock extensively and his business capacity, keen foresight and executive abil ity have been salient features in a successful career that has brought to him a very dlesir-
Me and gratifying competence Mr. Strang was born near White Hall in Oc- tober, 1866. This father. Wilham Strang. was also a native of Greene county and was reared within its borders. He became a prominent farmer, owning a large tract of land near White Hall, which he successfully operated for a number of years. Ile ad- vanced according to the progress of the times along agricultural lines and his close application and unfaltering energy were salient features in his success. He is now living retired. making his Home in White Ilall. In early manhood he married Sarth Elizabeth Morrow, a sister of William Mor- row, former sheriff of Greene county.
Frank E. Strang. spending the days of his boyhood and youth in Greene county. was reired upon the home farm and received good school advantages, pursuing his early education in the district schools and later at- tending the White Hall high school. In early manhood he sought and won a com panion for life's journey, being married in Greene county near Greenfield on the 20th of October. 1887. to Miss Minnie Kahm, a native of this county, reared and educated here. Her father, Conrad Kahm, now de ceased, was one of the extensive farmers and stock raisers of Rockbridge township. Ile was a native of Germany and after coming to this country wom success by reason of his utilization of the excellent business oppor- tunities here afforded.
Following his marriage Mr. Strang Me cated upon his farm noir Greenfield, bavig tract of land there of three hundred .nul ninety deres and as his financial resources male further investment possible he e- tened the Boundaries of his place until he NOW BAIS SIN hundred and seventy acres He has erected a good residuece, barns and
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other outbuildings and has a very well im- proved and valuable farm. In addition to raising wheat, corn, oats and other cereals, he has made a business of dealing in and shipping stock. Upon his own farm he fattens annually for the market several car- loads of cattle and hogs and he feeds and ships from one hundred to two hundred car- loads of cattle annually. He also feeds and ships a number of carloads of fat hogs and, in fact, is one of the most extensive stock-shippers of Greene county, doing a business of large propor- tions that returns to him a very gratifying income. He also raises and ships wheat, hay and other farm products and is a most enterprising, energetic man who conducts extensive interests and at the same time has always enjoyed the full confidence of the business community. In the spring of 1894 he erected a neat brick residence in Green- field and has since made his home in the city.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Strang have been born six children: Ernest, who died in his seventh year: Wilbur; Margaret; Ralph; Helen : and Lena. The parents are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Strang was one of the most liberal con- tributors toward the erection of the new house of worship which was built at a cost of sixteen thousand dollars and is the finest church edifice in Greenfield. Mr. Strang also belongs to Greenfield lodge, K. P., and the Code of Honor. the Modern Woodmen and the Masonic fraternity, and his political views are in accord with the principles of the Republican party, to which he gives his sup- port at each local, state and national elec- tion. He is one of Greene county's best citi- zene and has a wide acquaintance throughout thi- and adjoining districts. In citizenship
he is enterprising and public-spirited, in bus- ness reliable and trustworthy, and in friend- ship is true to all those finer traits of char- acter which endear man to his fellowmen.
JAMES B. HAYS, M. D.
Dr. James B. Hays, who in the practice of medicine in Greene county has won a posi- tion of distinctive preferment as a represen- tative of the medical fraternity, was born in Bartholomew county, Indiana, on the 18th of August, 1844. The family is of English, Welsh and Irish ancestry. The great-grand- father, David Hays, was born in England and became the founder of the family in the new world, crossing the Atlantic to Amer- ica in colonial days. He settled in New England and because of the oppressive taxes of the mother country he espoused the cause of the colonists during the Revolutionary war and was killed in battle. His son, who also bore the name of David Hays, and was the grandfather of Dr. Hays, was born in England and served his country in the war of 1812. He, too, met death as the result of his military service. He was sent against the Indians upon the frontier and was shot in the Wabash district of Indiana, after which he was taken down the river in a canoe to Fort Valonia, where he died. His son, George W. Hlays, was born in Fort Valonia, in Jackson county, Indiana, July 12, 1810, being the first white male childl born in that county. He spent the greater part of his life in that locality and was prominent in its substantial development and improvement in the early days. He built several mills there and thus contributed to the industrial ac- tivity of this community. The same pa-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
triotic spirit which was manifest in his an- cestors was also shown in his career, for at the time of the Civil war he responded to the country's call and enlisted in the Fifty- third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, becoming a second lieutenant of Company .A. General Gresham was in command and he served for eighteen months, at the end of which time he resigned, owing to his son's illness, that he might bring him from Memphis, Ten- nessee. Ile afterward returned to the front. however, as a sutler and when the war was over he engaged in the hardware business at St. Jacob, Madison county, Illinois, where he made his home until his death, which oc- curred in 1892. Ile had seven children by his first marriage, the youngest of whom was Dr. Hays. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Margaret House, was a na- tive of Indiana and died when her son James was but two years of age. after which the father married Mrs. Elizabeth (Coppin) Dennison.
Dr. Hays acquired his early education in the public schools of his native state, pursu- ing his studies until sixteen years of age. when in July, 1861. he went to Indianapolis. in order to enlist in defense of the Union. desiring to become a member of Company F. Thirty-ninth Indiana Infantry. His services were refused on account of his youth, but he remained in the capital city and camped with the troops until they left the state in August. He then returned home, but on the ist of De cember, of the same year, he again went to Indianapolis, remaining in Camp Morton with the recruits until the 24th of Decem- ber. 1861. when he was accepted as a vol- unteer and mustered in with the boys in blue of Company A. Fifty-third Indiana Infan- try, his father's influence enabling him to be- come a member of the army. With his reg
ment he went to Fort Donelson and after ward returned from there to Indianapolis. the command acting as guard to five then- sand prisoners who were captured at bort Donelson. A short stay in the capital city was followed by a return to the south. the regiment joining General Grant's command at Savannah. Tennessee, and was stationed. together with the Fifty-third Illinois Inian try, to guard the commissary department. continuing at that point until the battle of Shiloh, in which the Fifty-third Indiana took part as a part of Beecher's brigade and Hurl- burt's division. Later Dr. Hays participated in the siege of Corinth and after its evacu- ation by the Confederates he went with his regiment into Tennessee and Mississippi. that campaign ending with the engagement at Memphis. There were almost daily skirm ishes in the vicinity of Holly Springs and Memphis. The Doctor was taken sick at the latter place and as before stated his father resigned in order to take him home. After he had recovered sufficiently he reported at headquarters at Louisville, Kentucky, and was honorably discharged in the fall of 1862. In April. 1863, however, he went as a citi- zen under a pass from General Rosecrans to Chattanooga. Tennessee, where he joined the Second Battalion of Pioneers and with that command participated in the battles of Chickamangua, Missionary Ridge and Look out Mountain. Afterward he returned home During this period he was at the front suply as a citizen but was under fire. In Septem ber. 1864. he again enlisted, becoming a private of Company B. Twenty second In diana Veteran Volunteers of the Third Brig ade. Second Division. Fourteenth Army Corp of Sherman's Army, General J C Davis being in command of the corps. Dr. Hays wis with his regiment on the march
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