USA > Illinois > Greene County > Past and present of Greene County, Illinois > Part 51
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Alfred White, one of the respected and worthy citizens of White Hall, was born in Harrisville, Harrison county, Ohio, on the 9th of February, 1818, and comes of Quaker ancestry. His grandfather. Joseph White. was a native of England and of Welsh line- age. His father was Thomas White, who married Grace Stackhouse, a daughter of Joseph Stackhouse, of Welsh lineage. Mrs. White was also born in Wales and with her parents crossed the Atlantic to New Jersey. Alfred White, acquired a common-school ed- ucation and in his native county learned the carpenter's trade. Throughout his entire life he has engaged in building operations and has been a builder of threshing machines. Industry has been one of his strongly marked characteristics and whatever suc- cess he has achieved is due entirely to his en- terprise and well directed efforts.
On the 22d of August, 1851, was cele- brated the marriage of AAlfred White and Miss Elizabeth Hubbard, a native of Greene county, Illinois. Their children are Amanda, who is married and has two children : Will- iam .\. : Richard H. L., who has one child : Mrs. Annette Avery, who has three chil- dlren : Mrs. Anna Shirley, who has four chil- dren : Mrs. Elizabeth Miller. All reside in White Ilall with the exception of the last
named, who is a resident of Memphis, Mis- souri. Mr. White has ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
In the year 1849 Mr. White removed from Martinsville, Ohio, to White Hall and has since resided in this place, so that the period of his residence here covers fifty-five years. He has always lived so as to enjoy the high respect and esteem of his fellow- men. He owns his own residence in the town and it is a monument to his industry, econ- omy and carefully directed labor. He is in splendid health, being a hale and hearty man of eighty-six years. He plants and tends his own garden and does other work about the place. His wife is seventy-six years of age and with the exception of the partial loss of her eyesight through neuralgia she. too, retains her faculties unimpaired. She came to White Hall with her parents from Ken- tucky when three years of age and has al- ways been a resident of this place. Mr. White is an intelligent man still deeply in- terested in public affairs and matters of moment to his community and both he and his wife are numbered among the most re- spected people of White Hall.
A. E. HOAG, D. D. S.
Dr. A. E. Hoag is one of the younger representatives of the dental profession in Greene county, but his years seem no bar to his ability or success, for he has a large prac- tice in Carrollton and is accorded a prom- inent position in connection with his chosen calling. He was born in Baraboo, Wiscon- sin, on the 20th of May, 1880, his parents being Edwin M. and Stella R. ( Partridge) Iloag, the former a native of the state of
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New York, the latter of lowa. In the year 1862 the father removed westward to Wis- consin, settling at Baraboo, where he is now engaged in merchandising. Unto him and his wife were born two children, the Doctor and his sister Ethel.
Dr. Iloag is indebted to the public school system of his native county for the educa- tional privileges which he enjoyed in early youth and later he entered Wayland Acad emy, at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, after which he became a student in the Northwestern University, at Chicago. There he devoted his attention to the mastery of the principles and practice of the dental science and was
graduated with the class of 1904. He then came to Carrollton, where he now has an office in the Kergher block. splendidly equipped with all modern dental appliances. lle is thoroughly conversant with the latest inventions and modes of dental work and in his practice has demonstrated his efficiency. He is already building up a most lucrative business in Carrollton and has also made for himself an enviable place in social circles, being popular with the residents of Car rollton.
WILLIAM FRANKLIN DOWD ALL.
William Franklin Dowdall is a repre sentative of one of the old and valued fami- lies of Greene county and his life record is in harmony with that of his ancestors. being characterized by activity in business and loy- alty and progressiveness in citizenship. He was born in Rockbridge township. Greene county, on the 7th of August. 1859. and is a son of James Dowdall, who is residing in
White Hall, being one of the respected citi zens of Ins locality.
The son obtamed his education in the dis triet schools and was early tramed to the work of field and meadow. continuing to as sist in the cultivation of the old home prop- erty until the 25th of February. 1886, when desiring to establish a home of his own he was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Rob inson, a native of New Jersey and a daugh ter of William Robinson, who was born in England, whence he emigrated to the new world and after spending some years in New Jersey he removed to Jersey county, Illi- nois, where he remained until 1894. In that year he came to Greene county and resided with Mr. and Mrs. Dowdall until his death. which occurred in the year 1896. Unto our subject and his wife have been born five chil- dren : Marcille, Albert. Leven, Jennie June and William F.
At the time of their marriage the young couple removed to what is known as Wag- goner's Mound, in the northeastern part of Kane township. Here Mr. Dowdall is op erating five hundred and sixty acres of valu- able farm land. lle follows diversified farming, raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and also having good grades of stock upon his place. The portion known as Mound covers about one hundred and sixty acres of land with an elevation of one hundred and fifty feet and is equally good as the level land for farming purposes. It is usually planted to corn and excellent crops are raised thereon In all of his tamin work he is practical and enterprising, keeping in touch with the modern, progressive spirit of the times and he has a fine residence. consti tuting a comfortable home, over which his wife presides with gracious hospitality,
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PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
F. A. WHITESIDE.
F. A. Whiteside, a representative and in- fluential citizen of Carrollton, who in the practice of law has won notable and gratify- ing success, was born in Adams county. Illi- nois, on the 28th of October, 1861, his parents being John W. and Millie T. (Dale) Whiteside, the former a native of Hamilton county, Ohio, and the latter of Illinois. The grandfather, Isaac Whiteside, was a native of New York, whence he removed to Ohio, remaining in that state until the early '40S, when he came to Illinois. A few years after- ward he settled in Brown county, where he spent his remaining days. He was a tailor by trade and followed that pursuit for a number of years, but in his latter life he gave his attention to farming.
John W. Whiteside learned the black- smith's trade and continued to work at the anvil until after the inauguration of the Civil war, when he responded to the coun- try's call for aid, enlisting in Company I. Eighty-fourth Illinois Infantry, and contin- uing with his regiment until after the close of hostilities, when he was honorably dis- ·charged. He participated in a number of important battles and was always faithful to the cause which he espoused. Since the war he has resided in many places, following his trade until about 1890, when he retired, and he now makes his home in Perry, Okla- homa. Unto him and his wife were born three children.
F. A. Whiteside, the eldest of his father's family, obtained his elementary education in the public schools of Adams county, where he engaged in teaching for two years, fol- lowing the completion of his own course of study. He afterward came to this county. where he taught for several years. Ilis
leisure hours during that period were de- voted to reading law with James R. Ward, an attorney of Carrollton, as his preceptor. In 1887 he was admitted to the bar and for a year thereafter he remained in Mr. Ward's office, subsequent to which time he began practice on his own account. He is to-day one of Greene county's most successful law- yers-successful because of his thorough preparation, his devotion to his clients' inter- ests and his forceful presentation of his cause before judge or jury. He is strong in argu- ment, logical in his deductions and clear in his reasoning, and upon his own merits and capability he has won a place in the ranks of the foremost representatives of the legal fra- ternity in Carrollton.
In 1887 Mr. Whiteside was married to Miss Mary E. Muldrum, a native of this county and a daughter of George W. Mul- drum, now deceased, who was an old and respected resident of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Whiteside have three children : George W., Edith A. and Mary. They have an at- tractive home and Mr. Whiteside brought the first automobile to Greene county. He is progressive, a typical American citizen, who delights in substantial progress and is in touch with the spirit of the times. In com- munity affairs he is active and influential. In politics he is independent. voting for the men and measures which he believes will ad- vance the best interests of the people. Ile served as city attorney for four years, was president of the board of education, and as a private citizen has contributed in substan- tial measure to the improvement of the city in many ways. He was made a Mason in Carrollton and is now a prominent member of Carrollton lodge, No. 50. A. F. & A. M .: Carrollton chapter. No. 77. R. A. M. : and Hugh De Payens commandery No. 29, K.
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T. He has a wide and favorable acquain- tance, possessing an intellectual strength and social nature that renders him an agreeable companion and causes his friendship to be prized by those who know him.
GEORGE B. DANFORTH.
George B. Danforth, who is occupying the position of bookkeeper with the firm of David Culbertson & Son, is descended from a family of English lineage. Ile traces his ancestry back to General Danforth, who was an officer of the Revolutionary war and the first white settler at Onondaga llollow, now Syracuse, New York. Asa Danforth, his great-grandfather, was the first to engage in the manufacture of salt in Syracuse.
Cyrus Danforth, the grandfather of our subject, came to Illinois from Syracuse, New York, and he secured a claim from the gov- ernment, the tract of land upon which the town of Friendsville, Illinois, was built. He contributed in large measure to the early de- velopment and improvement of that section of the state, erecting the first church in the town and assisting materially in the upbuild- ing of the place. He married Mary, or Polly, Winter and his death occurred in 1852, when he was seventy-nine years of age. while his wife passed away at the age of eighty-four years.
George Danforth, father of our subject. was born in Syracuse, New York, July 9. 1811, and was brought by his parents to Illi- nois in 1818. being at that time but six years of age. Here he was reared amid pioneer conditions and environments, sharing with the family in all the hardships and trials of frontier life. He served in the Black Hawk
war as first lieutenant in 1832. For mriny years he followed farming, spending much of his life at Friendsville, and he also oper- ated a woolen factory for a time. He mar- ried Miss Emily R. Browne, a daughter of Francis and Ruth ( Burnham ) Browne, who were of English descent. Mrs. Danforth was born July 20, 1812, and died May 9. 1903. while George Danforth passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Charlotte Winslow, in lowa. Their marriage was contracted in 1833 and they became the pa- rents of ten children, three of whom died in early life, while five are yet living. Francis, the eldest, died at the age of two years ; Ella. the youngest, died at the age of three years. and Franklin died in infancy. Harriet and Emma lived to be married but are now de- ceased. The others are Mary, Cyrus, George, Charlotte and James W., all of whom are married with the exception of James.
George B. Danforth was born at Friends- ville, Illinois. November 15, 1844, and there acquired his education. He was a young man of twenty years when in response to his country's call for troops he enlisted on the 13th of February. 1865. as a member of Company E. One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Illinois Infantry. He was mustered in as second lieutenant and thus served until the close of the war. When hostilities were over he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and was employed as a traveling salesman by 11. & R. B. Whitemore & Company, wholesale dealers in hats and caps. Ile remained upon the road during the greater part of the time until 1870, in which year he came to White Ilall and opened a general mercantile estab- lishment, which he conducted with good suc- cess for a quarter of a century or until 1805. For seven months he was with the White Ilall Stoneware Company and in 1902 he
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accepted the position of bookkeeper for David Culbertson & Son, manufacturers of stoneware. He has also been financially in- terested in the pottery business in White Hall and at one time went on the road, trav- eling through Kansas in the interest of his ware.
On the 12th of June, 1872, occurred the marriage of George B. Danforth and Miss Kate Worcester, a daughter of Marcus Wor- cester, who died in 1871. They have two children, Ada and Grace. The former mar- ried C. E. Potts, a son of one of the most prominent families of Greene county, and they now have one child, Danforth E. Potts. Grace is the wife of H. A. Chapin, MI. D., and they have a daughter Florence. They are prominent socially in White Hall and enjoy the hospitality of the best homes in the city.
Mr. Danforth is a Republican, unfalter- ing in his allegiance to the party, and in mat- ters of citizenship he is progressive, mani- festing the same loyalty to his community and to his country that he displayed when he enlisted as a defender of the Union cause in the Civil war.
DANIEL FLATT.
Daniel Flatt, a worthy representative of farming interests in Greene county, was born in Bluffdale township on the old Flatt homestead, south of his present farm. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (Garrison) Flatt, carly settlers of Greene county. ITis paternal grandfather was one of the first to chablish a home within the borders of this county and he aided in laying broad and deep the foundations of its present upbuild-
ing and prosperity. He came from Ken- tucky to this state, the family having lived for some time in the Blue Grass state, where his father was the owner of a tract of land that embraced Mammoth Cave, where he dug salt in his boyhood days. For a long period the grandfather of our subject re- mained a resident of Greene county, his death occurring at the very venerable age of one hundred years, while his wife reached the advanced age of one hundred and one.
John Flatt devoted his entire life to agri- cultural pursuits in Greene county and wit- nessed many changes in the methods of farming. He enjoyed taking up the im- provements which were introduced and in his farm work he won good financial returns for his labor. For many years he was one of the most respected citizens of his com- munity and his death, which occurred in September, 1895, when he was eighty-three years of age, was the cause of uniform re- gret throughout the community in which he lived. His wife died about thirty years ago. Their children were as follows: Gregg, who died at the old farm homestead when twelve years of age; William, who is now living in Greene county, south of the old Flatt farm; Laura, who died about twenty years ago and who was the wife of Hiram Snyder, a resi- cent of Wayne county, Illinois : Daniel, of this review; John, who died in childhood : James, who is living south of the old home farm and owns a half interest in that prop- erty in connection with his brother William; Damon, who is living in Walkerville town- ship; and Matthew, who died at the age of one year. After the death of his first wife John Flatt was united in marriage to Martha Malone, who is now living on the old home farm. The children of this marriage are as follows: Angeline, who became the wife of
JOHN FLATT.
DANIEL FLATT.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
John Nolan and died leaving one chikl ; Hattie, who married N. M. March and is living in Greene county ; Adeline, who is the wife of Robert Darr, their home being on the old Darr farm in Greene county; and George, who is living with his mother on the Flatt homestead.
Daniel Flatt of this review pursued his education in the schools of Greene county, attending through the winter months, while in the summer season he worked at farm labor. His training in that way was not meager and he gained practical experience which enabled him to capably carry on farm- ing on his own account when he started out in life for himself. He lived with his father until twenty-three years of age and was then married and went to a home of his own. It was on the 4th of July. 1871, that he wedded Miss Katie King, a daughter of Alfred and Charlotta (Gibson) King, early settlers of Greene county, who came to Illi- nois, from England. Mr. and Mrs. Flatt have one living son, Stephen, who is rep- resented on another page of this volume. They lost two children, one of whom died unnamed, while Anna also died in infancy.
Mr. Flatt is now the proprietor of a fine farm highly cultivated and well developed. Hle has made a specialty of stock-raising and has upon his place high grades of cattle, horses and hogs. Everything about his place is kept in excellent order, showing neat- ness and thrift, which gives evidence of the careful supervision of the owner. Mr. Flatt has also acted many times as adminis- trator of estates, indicating thereby that he is a man in whom explicit confidence and trust can be reposed. He is also president of the Advance Flour Mill Company of Car rollton and has been one of its directors since its organization.
conducted with dispatch. He forms his plans carefully and then executes them with determination and in lus busmess judgment he is seldom if ever at fault.
Daniel Flatt since age gave him the right of franchise has never faltered in his alle- giance to the Democracy and upon the ticket of his party he has been elected supervisor, serving for two years, and has also been chosen collector of his township. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church and they are people whose promi- nence in social circles is indicated by the warm friendship and high regard which are uniformly extended to them throughout the community in which they now reside.
CAPTAIN WALTON M. COLLINS, SR.
Captain Walton M. Collins, Sr .. who at · ne time owned and operated a farm of more than four hundred acres near Greenfield and is now living a retired life in the city of Greenfield, dates his residence in the county from the fall of 1831. His memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present. He has close and intimate knowledge of the history of the county through more than seven decades and has watched its evolution as the condi tions of frontier life have been put aside and the advantages of an advanced civilization have been taken on, bringing forth the county to stand in a conspicuous place in the foremost ranks of the leading counties of the commenwealth.
Captain Collins was born in Bourbon county. Kentucky. March 20, 1831 Ilis Esther. the Rev John Collins, was a native
Ifis business affairs are of Maryland, born on the 7th of MiNe 1Son
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PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
and in 1816 he removed to Kentucky with his mother, the family home being estab- lished in Bourbon county, where he attained his majority. He was afterward married there to Marian Pifer, a native of Bourbon county, and began farming in that county, residing there until 1831, when he came with his family to Greene county, Illinois. He purchased a claim and entered the land from the government, thus becoming owner of two hundred acres which he placed under a high state of cultivation, after which he sold the farm. He then bought another tract of land in Rockbridge township and was closely identified with agricultural interests, yet he did not confine his attention entirely to this field of activity, for he labored earnestly for the moral welfare of his community as a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church. He died in Greene county, June 7, 1860, having for some time survived his first wife, who died in 1835. Rev. Collins after- ward married again.
Captain Collins is the only surviving member of the family of four children born of the father's first marriage. He was reared upon the old homestead farm and went to California in 1849, attracted by the discovery of gold on the Pacific coast. He made the trip overland with a drove of cows and was six months on the way, traveling across the long hot stretches of sand and over the mountain passes. At length his eyes were gladdened by the sight of the green fields of the Pacific coast country. He made his way to the gold fields and was en- gaged in mining for about a year, being fairly successful. He then returned to the east in the fall of 1851, crossing the isthmus of Panama and proceeding to his home by way of New Orleans and up the Mississippi river. The money which he had earned in
his mining ventures he invested in land, pur- chasing one hundred and twenty acres in Rubicon township, and thus he made prep- aration for having a home of his own.
Captain Collins further completed his preparation by his marriage on the IIth of March, 1852, to Miss Nancy Jane Ruark, a native of Alton, Illinois, but reared to Greene county. The young couple began their domestic life upon the farm which he had purchased and there lived for three years. In 1856 he removed to Rockbridge township, where he purchased four hundred and seventeen acres of land. With charac- teristic energy he began the further improve- ment and development of that farm and built thereon a large neat residence and good barns and outbuildings. Upon the farm he also raised and fed cattle, having annually one hundred head of cattle which he shipped to the city markets. He also bought, raised and dealt in mules and found this a profitable source of income. He continued his farm- ing operations until 1897, when he sold the farm and removed to Greenfield, where he purchased residence property. He now owns four dwellings in the city and two business houses. He has been very successful as a businees man, making judicious investments, and through his unremitting diligence and keen foresight he has so managed his affairs that the result has been most gratifying from a financial standpoint.
In 1895 Captain Collins was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife. There were thirteen children of that marriage, nine of whom reached mature years, while eight are yet living and are heads of families, namely : Lorenzo, who is now living retired in Jacksonville, Illinois: James, a practic- ing physician of Carlinville. this state; Charles, a lawyer of Chicago: Alonzo Y., a
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prosperous farmer of Greene county : Wal- ton M., who is engaged in the hardware bus- iness in Greenfield ; Marian L., the wife of Charles Smith, of Rubicon township; Nancy J., the wife of John Waller, of Rubicon township; and Rosa, the wife of Frank Dams, of Macoupin county. They also lost one son, William, who died in early man- hood.
Captain Collins was again married in Liberty, Clay county, Missouri, October 6, 1896, when Mrs. Mary .A. King became his wife. She was born in Greene county and is a daughter of Thomas C. Robinson, one of the early settlers of this part of the state, having established his home here in 1837. Mrs. Collins was reared here and in 1850 she gave her hand in marriage to Dr. John J. Ilodge, a physician who practiced here until his death in 1860. There were three children by that marriage : Joseph C. Hodge. now a merchant of Beaver, Oklahoma ; Anna B., the wife of James Robb, of Lib- erty, Missouri ; and Johnetta, the wife of Dr. Edward Burrows, of Holly Grove, Arkan- sas. Mrs. Collins was married again in Greene county to .Aquilla King, and located on a farm in Rubicon township, whence they afterward removed to Jacksonville, where Mr. King died. There were two sons of that marriage, Thomas R., now of Kansas City; and Charles \. King, of Liberty. Missouri.
Politically Mr. Collins is a staunch Re- publican. Ile cast his first presidential vote for Millard Fillmore and in 1860 he sup- ported .Abraham Lincoln and has since given his ballot for each presidential nominee of the party. He won his title by serving as captain in the state militia for a year and a half and he later served as captain of Com- pany C in the One Hundred and Thirty
third Illinois Infantry, entesting for one for- dred days. Ile served at Rock Island m guarding prisoners and after the expiration of his term of service in the Civil war was honorably discharged. Ile has never cared for political office, content to do his duty as a private citizen. His wife is a member bi the Methodist Episcopal church and Captain Collin's identification with the church dates from the time when he was sixteen years of age. He has been active in its work and up- building and for two years served as super- intendent of the Sunday-school. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, was treasurer of Fayette lodge No. 107, for twenty years and is also a member of the Grand Army post at Greenfield. His life might well be compared with a quiet stream bordered by green fields. There has been nothing of the character of the turbulent roaring river that attracts the artist, but is more like the little brook that enriches the land through which it flows. Captain Collins has labored energetically and persistently not only for his individual suc cess, although his career has been crowned with desirable prosperity, but has also put forth strenuous and able effort in behalf of advanced movements which touch the gen- eral interests of society and have direct bear- ing upon the public good.
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