USA > Illinois > Greene County > Past and present of Greene County, Illinois > Part 62
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
On the 24th of September, 1889, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Susie Rainey, a sister of Henry Rainey, con- gressman for this district. They occupy a prominent position socially and enjoy the warm friendship of many. Mr. Williams
573
PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
was a school director and socially is con- nected with the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the Royal .Arch degree. He also belongs to the I. D. K. lodge and in his fraternal relations has won the regard and goodwill of many.
EDWARD J. STOCK.
Edward J. Stock, a practical mechanic who has been engaged in contracting and building in Greenfield for more than thirty years and who has contributed in large and substantial measure to the improvement of the city, was born in Philadelphia. Pennsyl- vania, on the 11th of October. 1844. His father. Frederick J. Stock, was also born in Philadelphia, his natal year being 1810. and in that city occurred the birth of Frederick Stock, Sr .. the grandfather of our subject. The family is of English origin and was es- tablished in America at an early day. The grandfather was a well educated man, prom- inent in local affairs. His son. Frederick Stock, Jr., was reared in Philadelphia and at the age of seventeen years was apprenticed to learn the trade of a carpenter and joiner. at which he served a four years' term. Ile later worked at his trade for several months in the east and then went to Michigan, where he remained for three years, being engaged in contracting and building at Detroit. He afterward returned to Philadelphia, where as a contractor and builder he was connected with the improvement of the city during two years. He had charge of all of the buildings and the repair work of the Girard estate
In 1857 Mr. Stock arrived in Illinois, locating first at Alton, where he remamed about eighteen months, when he removed to
Greenfield, since which time he has been an netive factor in the substantial improvement of the city, erecting some of the finest bus1- ness blocks and finest residences here. He has improved unsightly vacancies by build- ing thereon commodious and substantial res- idences and through his efforts added much toward beautifying the city and making it the attractive place of residence which it is to-day. Ilis three sons learned the trade with their father and were later associated with him in business. He was an active. energetic business man, a thorough and practical mechanic and in trade circles com- manded the unqualified confidence of all with whom he was associated. He spent his last years in Greenfield, passing away .August 7. 1807, at the ripe old age of almost eighty- six years.
Frederick Stock was married in Phila- delphia to Miss Christina Fay Kahler, a na- tive of Pennsylvania and of German parent- age. She died several years prior to her hus- band's demise.
Edward J. Stock was reare l in Green- field, having been brought to this county dur- ing his youth. He learned the trade with his father and worked with him for some years as a partner, carrying on a contracting and building business. Ile has always been Identified with the improvement of the city in this way. He has erected some of the finest residences here and a large number of substantial business houses and has also taken and executed the contract for the erection of many good dwellings throughout the county. lle has done more building than any other man in the town and his capability and fair- ness in his business transactions have caused lim to prosper.
On the 28th of October, 1800. in Green- field. Mr Stock married Miss Anme Liles, a
574
PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
daughter of Davis Liles, one of the first set- tlers of Greene county and a native of Illi- nois, born near Cairo. Mrs. Stock, however, was born and reared in Greenfield and by her marriage has become the mother of one daughter, Nina, now the wife of B. M. Kin- caid, of Greenfield.
Politically Mr. Stock has been a life-long Democrat, unfaltering in his advocacy of the principles of the party, and he has served on the town board as alderman. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episco- pal church and both have taken an active part in its work, Mr. Stock serving as one of the officers of the church, while his wife has been a teacher and worker in the Sun- day-school. The prosperity of any commun- ity, town or city depends upon its commer- cial activity, its industrial interests and its trade relations, and therefore the real up- builders of a town are those who stand at the head of the leading enterprises. In this con- nection Mr. Stock well deserves mention as one of the representative citizens of Green- field and while his efforts have benefited the town they have also brought to him desir- able business success.
ISAAC D. VEDDER.
Isaac D. Vedder, formerly identified with industrial interests in White Hall and now serving as justice of the peace, was born in Onondaga county, New York, on the 5th of June, 1820. He is of Holland-Dutch and French-Canadian lineage. His father. Aaron F- Vedder, was a native of New York and wain carpenter by trade, following that pur- suit for many years in order to provide for his family. His wife, Mrs. Nancy Vedder.
was a native of Canada. The parent's came to Illinois in 1847 and after residing here for four years returned to New York in 1851. The father died in 1860 at the age of seven- ty-seven years, while his wife passed away in 1878 at the very advanced age of ninety- three years.
In the public schools of Lysander, New York, Isaac D. Vedder acquired his early ed- ucation and after putting aside his text-books he accepted a clerkship in a country store, at Fulton, Oswego county, New York, where he was employed for a year. In early life he also learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for three years.
On the 15th of February, 1849, Mr. Vedder was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Prettyman, who was of English lineage, her ancestors having located in Vir- ginia at a very early day. Her father died in the year 1837, but her mother reached the very advanced age of ninety years, passing away in 1901. Mrs. Vedder was educated in the Georgetown College for Women in Georgetown, D. C., and by her marriage she became the mother of nine children : Nannie, now deceased; Ada, who became the wife of Dr. George B. Millard, of Vergennes, Ver- mont, and died leaving four children, Sarah, Amelia, George and Delana: Minnie; Thomas A., who lives in Oklahoma and has one child; Francis L., who is married and has four children ; Isaac D. ; Richard P., who is married and has two children ; Mrs. Nellie Stevens ; and Charles.
Mr. Vedder has been a resident of White Hall for more than sixty-four years, having come to this county from the east in 1840. He has since resided in White Hall and in its development and progress lias felt a deep interest and taken an active part. Only once has he left White Hall for any extended
575
PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
length of time. In 1847 he went to Wash- ington, D. C., where he occupied a position in the land office until 1850. In that year he returned to White Hall and entered the dry-goods business as a partner of .A. Davis, this relationship being maintained for six years. In the meantime upon his return to White Hall he had been elected justice of the peace and he served in that capacity until he resigned in order to become a factor in the mercantile circles here. He was asso- ciated with A. Davis and G. S. Vosseller until 1861. In 1866 he was appointed notary public, in which capacity he has since served. In 1872 he purchased a wagon and carriage factory from Judge Worcester and after conducting that enterprise for five years sold out. In the meantime he had be- come interested in real estate operations and in 1868 he laid out Vedder's addition to White Hall, owning in all about eleven acres of land, which he subdivided and sold as town lots.
Fraternally Mr. Vedder is a Mason and he attends the Methodist Episcopal church. of which his wife and family are members. He has long been a resident of Illinois, living in the state through the period of its early pioneer development as well as its later-day progress and improvement. lle was per- sonally acquainted with Lincoln and John Bell and heard many of the famous orators of the early day, including Clay. Webster and Calhoun. He has been a life-long Dem- ocrat, although not a politician. He is, how- ever, a stanch party man, unfaltering in his loyalty to the principles of the Democracy and in citizenship he is always loyal, having been the champion of many measures for the public good and given substantial assistance to movements which have resulted benen cially to the county. He is now one of the
veneralble citizens of Greene county and he receives the respect which should ever be ac corded to one who has traveled thus far on life's journey and his career has been char- acterized by all that is honorable and straightforward in his dealings with his fel- lowmen. Mr. Vedder is particularly fond of a game of checkers and this proves his principal source of recreation. His office is a favorite rendezvous with many of his old friends and the early residents of Greene county and their reminiscences present a most interesting account of pioneer life and ex- periences in White Hall and this portion of the state. What to many are matters of his tory concerning Greene county are to Mr. Vedder affairs of personal knowledge or ex- perience and throughout the long years of his residence here there has been no more loyal or progressive citizen of Greene county.
ROY E. DAVIS, M. D.
Dr. Roy E. Davis, the youngest regular physician and surgeon of White Hall, whose success, however, does not seem to be limited by this fact, was born in Carbondale. IHli- nois. December 14, 1875. his parents being the Rev. Thomas J. and Mary ( Lacey) Davis, the former a representative of an okl Southern family, while the Laceys are of French descent. John Davis, the grand- father, was related to Jefferson Davis, presi- dent of the Southern Confederacy. He died in 1857. at the age of fifty-five years. Rev Thomas J. Lacey was a member of the Southern Illinois conference of the Metho- dist Episcopal church for thirty years, devot ing seven years of his life to evangelistic work He was born in Virginia, Illinois.
576
PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
in 1842, and has been most active and ef- ficient in the ministry. He now makes his home in Mount Vernon, Illinois. His wife is a daughter of Samuel and Jane (Caulk) Lacey, both of whom are still living.
Having completed his literary course in the public schools Roy E. Davis prepared for the practice of the profession which he had determined to make his life work by pursuing a course in Barnes Medical Col- lege, at St. Louis, of which he is a graduate of the class of 1899. He located in South Dakota, where he lived for three and a half years, and in addition to the practice of his profession he performed the duties of county coroner of Charles Mix county, South Dakota, for two years, and was sur- geon for a coal company. He afterward went to New York city, where he entered Bellevue Hospital and further prepared him- self for his work. He was also a student in the Georgetown University, near Washing- ton, where through hospital training he greatly broadened his knowledge and pro- moted his efficiency. He then came to White Hall on the Ist of March, 1904, and is now building up a fine practice among its best citizens, his business gradually increas- ing in volume and importance. He is thor- oughly conversant with the latest discoveries in relation to the medical science and in his practice is demonstrating his ability to cope successfully with the intricate problems which continually confront the physician.
On the 16th of April. 1902, Dr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Mae His- song, a daughter of James H. and Mary ( Wilson ) Hissong, both of whom were na- tive of Pennsylvania. They now have one child. Denmead. Socially they are prom- ment, enjoying the hospitality of the best homes of the city, and the circle of their
friends is constantly increasing. Dr. Davis, well known as a studious, scholarly, refined and cultured gentleman, has already built up a fine practice and undoubtedly has a successful future before him.
E. B. PEGRAM.
E. B. Pegram, who is successfully en- gaged in agricultural pursuits and in buying and selling stock, is numbered among the representative men of his community. He has a well cultivated farm of two hundred and seventy-eight acres in Bluffdale town- ship and in addition to operating this he is cultivating a rented farm of one hundred and fifty-nine acres. Besides his home farm he owns one hundred and twenty acres of land in Bolivar county, Mississippi.
Mr. Pegram was born in Bluffdale town- ship, four miles north of his present home, on the 25th of November, 1846, his parents being Nathaniel H. and Amanda (King) Pegram, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of South Carolina. The father was a son of Edward and Marie Pegram, who were likewise natives of Vir- ginia and who died before the birth of Mr. Pegram of this review.
Nathaniel H. Pegram spent his early days in Virginia and Alabama and when a young man came to Illinois, locating in Carrollton about 1830. It was the period of early development and progress here and Carrollton was then a little hamlet containing only four houses. Mr. Pegram turned his attention to farming and devoted his remaining days to agricultural pursuits in Greene county. At the time of the birth
MISS ROSALIA PEGRAM.
MRS. E. B. PEGRAM.
E. B. PEGRAM.
WALTER A. PEGRAM.
PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY. 579
of our subject he was farming in Bluffdale township, where he continued to reside throughout the remainder of his life. Ile bore a helpful and substantial part in the up- building and development of this section of the state, aiding in reclaiming the wild land for the purposes of civilization. He was married in Alabama to Miss Amanda King. They became the parents of the following children. Alvin, who married Minnie Cook. clied in Carrollton in 1901, leaving a family of three daughters and one son. Mar ha J. became the wife of Hubbard Taylor of Car- rollton and is now living in that city. Maria is the wife of Samuel Graham, a resident of Missouri. E. B. is the fourth of the family. John died at the age of four years. James B. married Elizabeth Rollins and is a resi- dlent farmer of Bluffdale township. Frank- lin died at the age of five years. Mary E. is the wife of Richard Kelly and they make their home in Greene county. Caroline is the wife of John Vingard. Virginia, a twin sister of Caroline, died at the age of four years. Nathaniel married Lucy Vingard and is living in Bluffdale township. One child died in infancy.
E. B. Pegram acquired his education in the schools of Greene county, studying there for some time. During the months of vaca- tion he assisted in the work of the home farm and remained with his father until twenty-one years of age. when he removed to Douglas county, residing there for four years. On the 25th of January. 1870, he wedded Miss Rosalia Watson, a daughter of George and Melvina ( Hammond) Wat- son, whose great-grandparents were banished from England during the conscription of the Christians. They were titled people of that country. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Pegram
were born three children, but tlu eldest son. Edward Clifton, is now deceased. He is represente 1 elsewhere in this volume. The other children are Walter \. and Rosalia, who are now students in the high school at Carrollton.
After his marriage Mr. Pegram began farming on his own account and for many years he has carried on general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. Ile buys in the market and brings his stock to his home farm to fatten and then sells again. In 1884 he also began buying grain in connection with his brother at Hurricane Station and five years later they built an elevator at that place, but sold the same to the National Bank of Carrollton in 1896. Our subject has a well improved farm of two hundred and seventy-eight acres known as Locust Grove farm, his fields being rich and productive, and in addition to this he cultivates a rented farm of one hundred and fifty-nine acres. In the control of his property and his agricultu- ral interests he displays business ability and keen discernment, and moreover he has gained for himself an enviable reputation by his straightforward methods.
Mr. l'egram has always given his politi- cal support to the Democracy and he served as supervisor of his township for seven terms proving a most capable officer as is indicated by his re-election. Since 1871 he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity and he now belongs to Carrollton lodge. No. 50. A. F. & .A. M., while he took the chapter degrees at Oakland. Douglas county, Illinois. His wife is a member of the Metho- dist church and they are people of the highest respectability, enjoying the warm regard of all with whom they have been associated either through business or social relations.
29
580
PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
FRANK L. VEDDER.
Frank L. Vedder, who is engaged in the drug business at Roodhouse, was born at White Hall, Illinois, on the 12th of Febru- ary, 1859. His father is Isaac D. Vedder, who resides at White Hall, and the mother bore the maiden name of Sarah E. Pretty- man and was a daughter of Thomas and Mary ( Pelton) Prettyman.
Frank L. Vedder spent his boyhood days in his native city and acquired his education at the public schools and in the College of Pharmacy at St. Louis. Wishing to engage in the drug business as a life work he pur- sued the course in the latter institution and was graduated with the class of 1881. He spent the following year in Washington, D. C., and then removed to Winchester, Illi- nois. In 1883 he returned to White Hall and was employed in the store of Mr. My- tinger. On the expiration of that period he embarked in business for himself, conduct- ing a store in White Hall for three and a half years. He afterward located in Mar- shall. where he remained for six months and in August. 1889, lie removed to Roodhouse, where he has since lived, conducting a well equipped drug store. He receives a liberal patronage not only because of the excellent line of goods which he carries, but also owing ti his earnest desire to please his patrons and his honorable business dealings. After reaching Roodhouse he worked for one year for Dr. Moore and in November, 1891, he opened the store which he now conducts.
On the 18th of December. 1883. Mr. Vedder was united in marriage to Miss Til- he Clement, a daughter of E. C. and Eliza- beth ( Barnes ) Clement. Mrs. Vedder was bern in Vermont and with her parents came to Illinois, the family home being estab-
lished in Jacksonville, where she was reared and educated. Mr. Vedder is a Democrat in his political affiliations and socially is united with the Knights of Pythias fraternity. Having spent almost his entire life in Greene county he has a wide acquaintance here and enjoys the warm regard of many friends.
JOHN A. LUDLUM.
John A. Ludlum, the senior member of the firm of Ludlum & Crist, hardware deal- ers of Roodhouse, was born in Iowa county, Wisconsin, on the 26th of October, 1870. His paternal grandparents were Henry and Martha Ludlum, who were of German par- ents. Lewis Ludlum, his father, who was born in 1847, died in Yuma, Colorado, in 1898. His wife bore the maiden name of Martha Smith and was a daughter of John Smith, of Scotch ancestry.
John A. Ludlum acquired his education in the public schools and afterward learned the tinner's trade in Pindar, Nebraska, un- der Thomas Critle, the leading hardware merchant of that place. He became a cap- able workman, thoroughly familiar with the business in every department, and in 1891 he founded the hardware business of the present firm in Roodhouse, entering into partnership with Charles H. Crist. under the firm style of Ludlum & Crist. They have prospered from the beginning and have a well equipped store, in which they are meet- ing with excellent success, having secured a large and constantly growing patronage. For seventeen years Mr. Ludlum has been connected with the tinning business and hardware trade and his long experience as a journeyman well equiped him for the work which he now conducts.
PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
Mr. Ludlum is a believer in the Advent- ist doctrine and holds a membership with that society. In politics he is a Republican but has no political aspirations or ambitions for himself. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. Ile was married April 11, 1899. to Miss Stella M. Gibson, of this place, and they have a wide and favorable acquaintance, enjoying the warm regard of many friends, while Mr. Ludlum has the entire confidence of the bus- iness community.
BENJAMIN F. MANN.
Benjamin F. Mann, a retired farmer. who is now filling the position of marshal at White Hall, was born in Ohio in 1846. The Mann family is of German lineage and the grandfather. Jacob Mann, died in 1868 at the age of seventy years. His son. Cap- tain Martin J. Mann, was a farmer by occu- pation and very successful in business. At the time of the Civil war, however, he re- sponded to the call for troops and joined the Union army. At the battle of Shiloh he suffered wounds, the effects of which caused his death in February, 1871. During the war he was taken prisoner and later was paroled. When hostilities had ceased he re- turned to Greene county and resumed his farming operations, but soon afterward lo- cited in White Hall and in 1866 he estab- lishell his home in Kansas, purchasing land where the town of Baxter Springs is now located. He became quite wealthy through his investment there, but he lost heavily in the financial panic which swept throughout the west in 1870. He married Elizabeth Baldwin, a daughter of Judge Benjamin and
Murtha ( Varner ) Baldwin. Both the Ball win and Varner families were of German and Scotch lineage. Judge Baldwin was me of Greene county's most distinguished and honored citizens. He was a Virginian by birth and in 1849 came to Illinois, settling in Greene county upon the Henry Robley farm. His wife, who was born in New- town, Ohio, in 1814. died upon that price in 1858. Two years later Judge Baldwin leit the farm and took up his abode in White Hall, where his death occurred February 13. 1865. Ilis wife, long surviving him, passed away in 1885. Their daughter, Mrs. Martin J. Mann, died in 1858.
Benjamin F. Mann, son of Captain Mar- tin and Elizabeth ( Baldwin ) Mann. re- mained upon the home farm until about fourteen years of age, when his father re- moved with the family to White Hall. After completing his own education he en- gaged in teaching school, following that pro- fession between the years 1874 and 1884. He served as teacher and principal of the high schools in Belltown, Virden, Appolona and other schools and was very successful and popular as an educator. Subsequently he purchased a farm and carried on agricul- tural pursuits for fourteen years with credit- able success, at the end of which time he re- moved to Carrollton in the year 1897.
He was married in July. 1876, to Miss Laura Bowman, a daughter of Dr. A. Bow- man, now a retired physician of White Hall. Mrs. Mann died in 1898 and the following year Mr. Mann removed to White Hall. where he has since made his home. Six children were born of this union, namely : Ernest. Lillian, Myra. Benjamin, Abbie and Howard.
Mr. Mann was reared in the faith of the Universalist church but does not belong to
58.2
PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
any religious or fraternal organization. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, doing ev- erything in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his party. He has always had the respect and esteem of his neighbors and has been honored by election to public office. He served as school director while living upon the farm, acting in that capacity for six years, and from 1888 until 1892 he was justice of the peace. He has been marshal during the greater part of his residence in White Hall and though now fifty-eight years of age he is yet a young man, well preserved and having the vigor and appearance of one much younger. The greater part of his life having been passed in this locality, his history is well known to many and those who are acquainted with him entertain for him high regard.
O. F. GRISWOLD.
O. F. Griswold, who has long occupied a prominent position in business circles in Greene county and after many years' con- nection with its agricultural and financial interests is now living retired, was born in this county March 20, 1846, his parents being Sylvester and Elizabeth ( Hodges) Griswold, while his grandparents were Adonijah and Mary ( Barton) Griswold. Ilis grandfather was born in Waltham, Addison county, Vermont, and on seeking a home in the west he made a settlement on Apple Creek prairie in White Hall town- ship. Greene county, Illinois, in 1828. He was induced to remove to this state by some of his children who had preceded him here. While this country was engaged in the sec- ond war with England he became a soklier in
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.