USA > Illinois > Marshall County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 22
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 22
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J. Cassner Irving, a brother-in-law of Judge Shaw, draws the following reminiscent picture of his many-sided personality: "Judge Shaw was wedded to his profession, and once said to me: 'I had rather feel that I was qualified to fill the position of judge of the supreme court of Illi- nois than be president of the United States.' He loved nature and lived as near to it as his environment would permit. He was a plain, un- obtrusive man, meeting pomp and pride and show, but never seeking it. He loved art for art's
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sake, and said: 'It is nature's first cousin, and music, sweet music, is its soul.' Gentle and kind; always regarding the rights of others; knightly and respectful to women wherever he met them; loving his home and those within it, it was a joy to him to return to it when his day's work was done. He lived for others, and espe- cially those he loved. Firm as a rock when con- vinced he was right, conscientious to an exces- sive degree, he worked harder to do justice and right than any man I ever knew. I was very close to him in some of his campaigns for office, and knew much of what he did and wanted done. Once during his second judicial campaign Luther Dearborn, of Chicago, came to me and said: 'Now, young man, I met a party of lawyers in Peoria last night, and the three democratic can- didates for judges were there, and I was told you had the practical management of their cam- paign in hand and at heart. Do your best, but be sure that Shaw is elected.' I saw Judge Shaw a few days afterward and told him of the inci- dent. He said: 'Cass, do your best; but do not push me past the other boys, for I had rather be defeated than to have them think I had not sailed fair with them.' He lived for others, and in the years to come-in that mysterious, sweet unknown, when mists and clouds and darkness and doubts have been dispelled, I only hope to meet my friend, Judge Shaw."
It falls to the lot of but few in this world to fully and yet humbly respond, throughout a long life of practical and professional activity, to the impressive call of the immortal Bryant:
"So live, that when thy summons comes to join The innumerable caravan that moves
To that mysterious realm where each shall take His chamber in the silent halls of death,
Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night,
Scourged to his dungeon, but sustained and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave Like one that draws the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams."
DAVID B. MOORE.
David B. Moore, who derives his income from a valuable farming property of two hundred and ten acres in Hennepin township, is now living retired from business cares in the village of Gran-
ville. His life occupation was that of farming, and when his labors had brought him a comfort- able competence he put aside the more arduous duties of life to enjoy his remaining days in rest from further labor. He was born in the town of Independence, Washington county, Pennsylvania, February 7, 1831. His father, James Moore, a native of old Virginia, was a miller and wheel- wright in early life and subsequently located on a farm in Washington county, Pennsylvania. He was born in 1800 and died at the age of forty- eight years, while his wife, Nancy Boyd, who was born in the Keystone state, lived to be eighty-four years of age and passed away on the old homestead farm in Washington county.
David B. Moore is indebted to the public-school system of his native county for the educational privileges that fitted him for life's practical and responsible duties. He remained at home with his parents until twenty-three years of age, and then, ambitious to engage in business on his own ac- count, he started fer Illinois, making his way down the Ohio river and up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers to Hennepin, where he landed in the fall of 1853. He was a poor man with no reserve capital, and as necessity rendered it expedient that he find immediate employment he began work at husking corn. He and his brother John after- ward engaged in chopping wood in the first win- ter. They were strangers, and as they had little money they had to purchase their supplies on credit. They tried to buy an ax in Granville on time, but the merchant would not trust them. Finally Moses Chapman, an early settler and blacksmith in Granville, went security for them until they could earn the money to pay for the tools. They made the payments out of the first money earned, and from that time on always had good credit and were recognized as honest men. By the succeeding spring David B. Moore had saved enough to purchase a team and tools and then began farming on his own account on rented land on Hennepin Prairie. He had good crops and in this way made a start.
On the 30th of August, 1855, he secured a com- panion and helpmate for life's journey through his marriage to Miss Martha Moore, who though of the same name was not a relative. She was born in Putnam county, June 20, 1836, a daugh- ter of Robert Moore, one of the early settlers. Mr. Moore, of this review, following his marriage
MR. AND MRS. D. B. MOORE.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
rented land of his father-in-law and put in eighty acres of fall wheat, which averaged thirty-eight bushels per acre. Wheat was then worth about thirty-five cents per bushel, and not desiring to sell at that low figure he built a bin and stored his wheat, later hauling it to Peru, where he sold it for a dollar and a quarter per bushel. This placed him in comparatively· easy financial cir- cumstances, and with the proceeds of his crop he purchased the following year ninety acres of land in Hennepin township near the old Union Grove church. A log stable and a one story frame house were the only improvements upon the farm, but with characteristic energy he began its further development and soon placed it under cultivation. He worked earnestly and persistently year after year, and as he found it possible to make other purchases he added to the farm, until it now com- prises two hundred and ten acres of very rich and productive land in Hennepin township. He also owns sixty acres near the village of Granville and a beautiful home in the town. He continued to reside upon the farm until 1902, when, satisfied with the competence that he had already acquired, he put aside the more active duties of business life and retired to Granville, where he has erected and now occupies a neat cottage on East Hopkins avenue.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Moore have been born six children, all of whom are living: Wilson, who follows farming in Hennepin township; Fannie Evaline, the wife of John Wintersheid, a resident of Coffey county, Kansas ; Harry, who wedded Eva Pangburn and lives upon the old home farm; Minnie, the wife of Milton Ford, who is farming in Granville township; Perry, who is married and lives at Florid; and Howard, who is married and resides in the west.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Moore have for many years been zealous and devoted members of the Presby- terian church. In 1857 he commenced Bible work in his school district in Hennepin township and was local agent until 1862, since which time he has been a county worker, and from 1892 until the present time, in 1906, he has been president of the Putnam County Bible Association. He was reared in the faith of the democracy and followed in his father's political footsteps in early days, voting for Pierce and Buchanan, but when the question of slavery became the dominant issue be- fore the people and the republican party was
formed to prevent its further extension he joined its ranks, cast his ballot for Abraham Lincoln and has voted for each presidential nominee of the party since that time. For thirty-two years he filled the office of school director and has always been an authority on school laws of the state. The cause of education finds in him a very stanch friend, and he is also interested in the material, political and moral progress of his community. He is an entertaining gentleman, a fluent con- versationalist, who though denied broad educa- tional privileges in youth has read widely and thought deeply and in the school of experience has learned many valuable lessons. He relates most entertainingly incidents of the early days in this county and of the hardships and privations en- countered in his own business carcer, and he de- serves and receives the admiration and respect of his fellowmen by reason of what he has accom- plished, while his present honorable retirement is the fitting reward of his life of former toil.
ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.
St. Mary's Catholic church of Henry practically had its beginning in 1850, when the Henry mis- sion was formally opened, although priests had previously visited this neighborhood. Hitherto the few and scattered Catholics of this county had been attended by zealous missionarics who rode through the district, baptizing the children, instructing the Catholic settlers and burying their dead. Mass was occasionally read in the houses of the faithful and there the sacraments were ad- ministered. In 1851 the question of building a church was agitated in Henry and in 1852 the corner stone of St. Mary's church was laid by Father John O'Rielly, of La Salle. Fathers Gip- perich, Kramer, Lynch, Meehan and W. H. Pow- ers attended the church until the arrival of the first resident pastor, Rev. Thomas O'Gara, in 1856. He immediately sought and obtained a suitable rectory, and thoroughly organized the new parish. In June, 1860, he left for other fields of labor and was followed successively by Fathers Cartuyvels, Delahanty and Lightner, who pre- ceded Rev. Henry Koehn in July, 1863. The last named built and furnished the large two-story brick school house in 1869. Father Reck became pastor in 1869 and in 1873 was succeeded by Rev. Schreiber and he in turn by Revs. Max Al-
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brecht and Von Schwedler. Rev. William Scha- moni arrived in 1877 and remained as pastor un- til his death in 1882. Rev. C. Hout was his successor and he it was who built the present substantial two-story brick rectory. Rev. B. Baak was appointed to take charge of St. Mary's in 1886, Rev. P. J. Gerhardy in 1894 and the pres- ent pastor, Leonz Zumbuehl, in June, 1899. The last named has since remained in charge and the church has made steady progress under his min- istration, its various departments being in good working order.
FATHER LEONZ ZUMBUEHL.
Father Leonz Zumbuehl was born in Luzerne, Switzerland, May 11, 1846, where he passed his boyhood years, roaming amidst the beautiful scen- ery of that romantic land, and breathed, while obtaining his fundamental training, its pure air of freedom. Later he entered St. Mary's college in Schwitz as a preparation for the famous uni- versity of Freiburg, Baden. Here he graduated with honor in the philosophical course, choosing the ecclesiastical profession. We next find him studying theology in the seminary at Chur. April 19, 1870, he was ordained for the missions of the United States. The same year he sailed for the field of his future labors with Rt. Rev. Amadeus Rapp, the first bishop of Cleveland. He was ap- pointed to the professorship of philosophy in the seminary of that city, which position he satis- factorily filled until 1877, when he was called by the newly consecrated bishop of Peoria to ful- fill pastoral duties in this diocese, then greatly in need of priests. Bishop Spalding appointed him to the pastorate of Warsaw, where he soon cleared the church of a burdensome debt. Later he la- bored faithfully at Richland, Kickapoo and Otta- wa. For the past seven years he has been in charge of St. Mary's, Henry, where with his usual zeal, he has succeeded in paying off several hun- dred dollars debt and renovated the church by painting it on the outside and frescoing it within. He is now endeavoring to raise a fund to build a handsome church edifice, and no doubt this, his crowning work, will soon be accomplished, if he is spared to labor a few more years.
HON. JOEL WILLIS HOPKINS.
. In the death of Joel Willis Hopkins, Putnam county mourned the loss of one whom it had grown to esteem and honor by reason of his
genuine personal worth. No history of Putnam county would be adequate that did not take into account his great influence in molding the char- acter of its people, in shaping the policy of the county and in promoting public interests along the lines of progress, good order and moral and religious development. He was active in public affairs of the county, state and nation and at all times he stood for high ideals.
"His life was noble, and the elements
So mixed in him that Nature might stand up And say to all the world: "This was a man.'"
Mr. Hopkins became a resident of Putnam county in 1835, and therefore witnessed its growth and development for almost sixty-seven years, his death occurring on the 16th of Febru- ary, 1902. He was born on the 29th of July, 1814, at Ripley, Brown county, Ohio, his parents being William and Jane (Willis) Hopkins, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of South Carolina. When young people, however, they removed to Ohio from their respective states and were there married. In 1835 they brought their family to Putnam county, Illinois, settling upon the farm which later became the home of their son Joel, the residence which now stands there occupying the site of the first log cabin of the family.
William Hopkins secured land of the govern- ment, to the cultivation and improvement of which he devoted his energies until his death in 1842. His wife survived him for about seven years. One son of the family, Archibald Wilson, had previ- ously come to Putnam county, locating here in 1832, and while here participated in the Indian war. His death occurred in 1839. John Craw- ford is a resident of Marshall county, Iowa. Stephen D., who was an invalid, died at the age of forty-four years. George B., who lived near Granville, died May 30, 1904. Elizabeth, who was the wife of Willis Margrave, died May 24, 1892, at Hiawatha, Kansas. Martha married James B. McCord and died June 24, 1881. Mar- garet engaged in teaching for several years in Putnam and Grundy counties, Illinois, and died when past the age of thirty years. Melinda wedded Abbott Barker, of Grundy county, and died May 22, 1865. The parents were earnest Christian people, holding membership in the early years of their residence here with the Union Grove Pres- byterian church, while in later life they assisted
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
in the organization of the Congregational church at Granville.
Joel Willis Hopkins, the second son of his father's family, was a young man of twenty-one years at the time of the removal to Illinois, and he assisted in the arduous task of developing a new farm, sharing in the hardships and privations incident to settlement upon the frontier. His preparation for having a home of his own was completed in 1840 by his marriage to Miss Eleanor Jane Harrison, a sister of Stephen Harrison. She and her brother, Richard D. Harrison, died in the same week in 1849, and in 1862 Mr. Hopkins wedded the widow of the latter, Mrs. Sarah Har- rison, a daughter of Alba Smith, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Bureau county, Illinois, taking up his abode near Princeton in 1835. Mrs. Hopkins is a native of New York and was eleven years of age when she accompanied her father to this state. By his first marriage Mr. Hopkins had five children, of whom two, Eveline and Jen- nie, died in childhood, while those living are Archibald Wilson, residing upon the home farm; Helen De Armand, the wife of Rev. Robert Mc- Cord, of Lake City, Iowa; and Mary Harrison, the wife of Judge W. Wright, of Toulon, Illinois. One daughter graced the second marriage, Martha Belle, who is the wife of Sidney Whitaker. By her first husband Mrs. Hopkins had one son, Rich- ard D. Harrison, who is living in Bureau county, near Princeton.
Viewed from a business standpoint the life record of Mr. Hopkins was a distinguished one, for he so conducted his affairs and placed his in- vestments that he became one of the extensive landowners of this section of Illinois. Upon the organization of the Peru National Bank Mr. Hop- kins became its president and so continued until his death. The safe, conservative policy which he inaugurated made this one of the strong financial institutions of this part of Illinois, and in moneyed as well as agricultural circles he sustained an un- assailable reputation. He was also president of the Putnam County Bank at Hennepin and of the Granville Bank. In all his business dealings he manifested a fidelity to a high standard of com- mercial ethics that won him the honor and ad- miration of all.
A leading and popular citizen, Mr. Hopkins was called upon to fill various important positions of honor and trust, serving as supervisor, while
for ten years he was county judge. He resigned his place on the bench in order to become a mem- ber of the twenty-sixth general assembly, to which he was elected on the republican ticket. He was actively and helpfully interested in political ques- tions, giving to the principles in which he believed a firm and stalwart support. He served as a dele- gate to the convention at Cincinnati, Ohio, which nominated Rutherford B. Hayes for the presi- dency, and he was frequently a delegate to the state conventions of his party. During the dark days of the Civil war he assisted in raising money for substitutes and for the care of the soldiers' widows and orphans, and upheld to the fullest extent the administration and the Union cause. He served for many years as an officer in the Con- gregational church at Granville, in which he held membership. He died February 16, 1902, leaving a valuable estate to his family, chiefly represented in his landed interests. In his character there was an unusual combination of qualities. To the world, the church, his neighbors and his friends, he was a tower of strength; to his family all of that and a world of tenderness beside. He was at ease in the presence of the highest dignitaries of the nation, and was so simple and kindly that no one, however humble, felt abashed in his presence. At his death it could truly be said, "Know ye not that there is a prince and great man fallen this day in Israel ?"
JOHN SPENCER BURT.
The press has not only recorded the story of ad- vancement, but has also ever been the leader in the work of progress and improvement-the van- guard of civilization. The philosopher of some centuries ago proclaimed the truth that "the pen is mightier than the sword," and the statement is continually being verified in the affairs of life. In molding public opinion the power of the news- paper cannot be estimated, but at all events its influence is greater than any other single agency, and in this connection John Spencer Burt, as editor of the Henry Times, has done much to mold public thought and action.
A native of Hartford, Connecticut, he was born on the 16th of March, 1834, and is.a son of George and Jerusha (Spencer) Burt. The father's birth occurred in Lansingburg, New York, January 26, 1806, and in early life he
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
learned and followed the trade of a tanner and currier. He became a good workman and had a large business. In 1833 he married Jerusha Spen- cer, who was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1800. In 1846 they removed with their family to Marshall county, Illinois, and here the father turned his attention to general agricultural pur- suits. He was a representative citizen of the pioneer community and in various public offices, such as school director, tax assessor, and town clerk he rendered capable service in the com- munity. He also held office in the Baptist church, to which he belonged and lived an upright, honor- able life, which was terminated in death when he was eighty-two years of age. His wife was always. a devoted member of the Presbyterian church and her death occurred in 1882.
John Spencer Burt, the eldest of the family of five children, acquired his more specifically liter- ary education as a student in Knox College and Lombard University, at Galesburg, Illinois. He pursued a scientific course, but did not graduate. He was only twelve years of age when he accom- panied his parents on their removal westward to Illinois, the family home being established upon a farm in Marshall county at a time when there were not more than a half dozen settlers in the township. He assisted in the farm labor until eighteen years of age, when he engaged in teach- ing school through the winter seasons, while in the summer months he aided in the work of the fields. Thus his time and attention were occu- pied until his marriage.
In the meantime, however, he responded to the country's call for troops. Hardly had the smoke from Fort Sumter's guns cleared away, when, in the spring of 1861, he offered his services to the government, but the company was not needed at that time and it was not until July, 1861, that he became a regular soldier, enlisting in the First Illinois Cavalry. He did scouting in Missouri for a time and was taken prisoner with the rest of Colonel Mulligan's command at the battle of Lexington, Missouri, by General Sterling Price. He was then paroled and sent home, but later was called into service again, when the government, , finding him and his comrades were paroled men, however, they were mustered out.
On resuming the pursuits of civic life Mr. Burt again engaged in teaching, which profession he followed until his marriage. In 1869 he re-
moved to Henry, where he established a news, book and notion store, which he carried on with a gratifying measure of success until 1888. He then bought the Times, a weekly newspaper, which he has since published. The office has been greatly improved under his di- rection. The Times is a six column quarto, all printed in the office on a large Cranston cylinder press with foundry type and run by a gasoline en- gine. There are also three job presses, a paper cutter, perforator and a full equipment of type, all of which have been put in since Mr. Burt pur- chased the office, which was very poorly supplied when it came into his possession. In his journal- istic venture he has also met with gratifying pros- perity. The paper which he is publishing is vital, enthusiastic and progressive; they aim to advance the interests of the county, to aid in laying fast and sure the foundation for an enlightened com- monwealth, further the ends of justice and uphold the banner of the state of Illinois.
In his political views Mr. Burt is a democrat and through the columns of his paper stanchly supports the principles of that party. For twelve years he served as county surveyor, but otherwise has sought nor held public office. He belongs to the Odd Fellows' society, of which he is treas- urer, and to Lookout Mountain Post, No. 84, G. A. R., of which he is adjutant. He is also a member of the Illinois State Editorial Associa- tion and attends most of its meetings.
Mr. Burt was married in Henry, April 12, 1868, to' Miss Julia Chapman, the eldest daughter of .Hiram and Eleanor (Rogers) Chapman. They have one child, a son, Robert F., who was born in 1869, and married Miss Elizabeth Smith, by which union there is one son, Robert, born No- vember 24, 1903. The son has been associated with his father in business for the past eleven years under the name of J. S. Burt & Son, which is a strong business combination, while their abil- ity in the field of newspaper work is well known to the many readers of the Times.
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GEORGE W. HUNT.
George W. Hunt, superintendent of schools of Putnam county, has, although a young man, at- tained considerable prominence as a representative of the system of public instruction in Illinois, and his abilities, natural and acquired, are an indica-
GEORGE W. HUNT.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
tion that still further advancement awaits him. Born in Fulton county, Illinois, May 8, 1875, he is a son of Hiram and Catherine Hunt, both now deceased. The father, a farmer by occupation, was born in New York and came to this state in the '30s. His wife was a native of Ireland, and with a sister and two brothers came to America. Mrs. Hunt took up one hundred and sixty acres of land near Havana, Illinois, and the deed, signed by President Buchanan, has never been transferred only to the heirs.
George W. Hunt was reared under the parental roof to the age of seventeen years, and during that period acquired a district-school education. Am- bitious for further intellectual progress, he then attended the State Normal School at Normal, Illi- nois, and alternately devoted his time and energies to teaching and study until he entered the State University in 1901. In 1898 he came to Putnam county as teacher of the Center district school, near Magnolia. For three years he was principal of the Granville high school, and in the fall of 1903, while yet a student in the State University, was elected superintendent of schools for Putnam county. In February, 1904, he came to Granville. and entered upon the duties of this office, in which capacity he is now serving. Although he was thus forced to relinquish his class work he continued his studies, returning to the university to take all of the examinations, and was graduated therefrom in 1904 with the degree of L. L. B. In 1905 he was admitted to the bar, and has since successfully engaged in the practice of law. His work in be- half of the schools has been notable and has won him more than local distinction. In April, 1906, he rendered a decision in favor of the consolidation of three school districts into one. This was a new departure in the school work of Illinois, but had been tried successfully in other states. The argu- ments Mr. Hunt presented in a neat eight page pamphlet, which shows his ability as a writer and as a logical thinker and indicates that much time and study was spent in its preparation. Having himself been a student in the district schools and in the State Normal and a teacher in the district schools, he was well qualified to know the condi- tions of the country schools and the limited op- portunity its pupils had in a chance for entering a high school or college. Mr. Hunt's opinions are largely considered authority on public-school ques-
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