USA > Illinois > Menard County > Past and present of Menard County, Illinois > Part 46
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Russell Watkins was born near Petersburg. July 29, 1860, and has one sister. Mary, who was born May 2, 1866. and is now the wife of Edward Miller, residing in Petersburg. Rus- sell Watkins has never married. Hle owns a large farm three miles southwest of Petersburg and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. in both of which he is very successful. He is a plain, unassuming man, attends strictly to his own affairs, and is a shrewd and success- ful man in all that he undertakes. He stands very high among his neighbors as a man of honesty and integrity.
N. W. BRANSON.
N. W. Branson. secretary of the state board of law examiners of Illinois and prominent in legal and political circles, is a native of Jack- sonville. Ilis father. William Branson, was born in North Carolina and his mother, whose maiden name was Jane Cooledge, was a nativo of Kentucky. They were married in the latter state and almost immediately removed to Jack- sonville. Hlinois, where Mr. Branson continued to reside until his death. being a factor in the business life of that city as a furniture dealer. In his political views he was a Republican, in- terested in the work of the party and doing everything in his power to promote its growth
and insure its success. He exercised consid- erable influence in political affairs, his opinions carrying weight in the councils of the party and at one time he efficiently served as mayor of Jacksonville. Both he and his wife have passed away. In his fraternal relations he was an Odd Fellow and he belonged to the Presbyterian church.
N. W. Branson. the eldest of a family of live children and the only one now living. began his education in a subscription school and afterward attended the high school of which Newton Bateman was teacher. Later he continued his studies in the Illinois College and was graduated on the completion of the classical course. Desiring to enter upon the practice of law. he studied with David .1. Smith, a well known attorney of that day. and. having mastered many of the principles of jurisprudence, successfully passed the examin- ation required for admission to the bar.
Mr. Branson chose Petersburg as the scene of his professional labors and coming to this city entered upon the practice of his chosen profession. Ile has since resided here, enjoy- ing a large clientage, which has been accorded him in recognition of his comprehensive under- standing of the law. his close application. his fidelity to the interests of his clients and his striet regard for the high ethics of the pro- fession. He has been connected with much of the important litigation tried in the courts of his district. He belongs to the Illinois State Bar Association and he owns a very valuable law library with the contents of which he is largely familiar.
In his political views Mr. Branson has al- ways been a Republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and his labors in behalf of the board have won public recog- nition as to their valne and importance. Ho has twice been a member of the state Republi- can central committee, was once a delegate to the national Republican convention and was twice an alternate to the national conventions of his party. He also served as presidential elector and was register in bankruptcy under the bankruptcy law of 1867. being appointed to the position by Chief Justice Chase. He held the office during the time that the law
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N. W. BRANSON.
PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY
was in force. having jurisdiction over all of law examiners upon its creation in 1897. He southern Illinois, including sixty counties, with is yet connected with the board and is now serving as its secretary and treasurer. He is vice-president and director of the Old Salem Chautauqua AAssociation and is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having been made a Mason in Jacksonville. Illinois He now he- long- to Clinton lodge. A. F. & A. M., of Peters- burg. offices for several years in Springfield. He was twice elected a member of the state legis- lature and served for three sessions. While serving in the twenty-eighth general assembly he was chairman of the committee on state in- stitutions and a member of the committees on judiciary and state penitentiarios. During the twenty-ninth general assembly Haines was Mr. Branson was married to Miss Fannie Regnier, of Menard county, and they have two children : Edward R., who is telegraph editor of the Springfield Journal: and Ella R .. who resides with her parents. Notwithstanding his extremely active life he is a man of remark- able vitality, actively connected with important and extensive legal and political interests. He has a statesman's grasp of affairs and in mat- fers of deep political concern he has always kept well informed. exerting strong influence in support of the measures and movements which he has deemed would prove of value in promoting the welfare of state and nation. speaker of the house and the legislature was Democratic. During that term Mr. Branson served also on the judiciary and penitentiary committees and some others. There were two sessions called for the twenty-eighth general as- -embly. a special one being convened for the purpose of revising the laws. Other political honors have been conferred upon Mr. Branson. He was master commissioner of the United States courts in Springfield and Chicago for a mmmuber of years and during that period he had control of the legal departments of ser- eral railroad receiverships. Several roads were soldl under decrees of United States courts during that period and his operations in this connection involved millions of dollars and many legal technicalities. His course, how- FREEMAN O. R. BAKER. ever, was over sustained by the United States appellate and supreme courts. He was the representative of the court during the time of these railroad receiverships and was thus roll- nected with thousands of legal points, on which he gave expert legal opinions. his decisions al- ways being sustained by those higher in author- ity. The federal courts would foreclose the re- ceivership of the railroads and Mr. Branson would then have in charge the sale of the roads in order to satisfy the creditors. During his term of office there was an unusual amount of this business to be transacted and his course awakened uniform commendation because of its justice.
Aside from his more specifically political duties Mr. Branson has done much in behalf of the public service, oreupying positions of trust and responsibility wherein he has ever been found faithful to his duty. He was a trustee of the Illinois institution for the blind for eighteen years and he was appointed by the supreme court a member of the state board of
Freeman O. R. Baker, a member of the Me- nard county bar, practicing in Petersburg. was born in Salisbury, Ilinois. January 26, 1815. his parents being O. R. and Polly Ann ( Dun- (an ) Baker. His paternal grandfather was John Baker, of Ohio, and the maternal grand- father was William Duncan, a native of Ken- tucky. Both were farmers and were prominent in their day and locality. O. R. Baker was also a farmer by occupation, and was a man of influence in his community. Hle took an active and helpful interest in public affairs, aided in shaping the public policy along pro- gressive lines, and twice served as county treas- urer of Sangamon county. Ilinois.
Freeman O. R. Baker pur-ned his education in the public schools of his native town and in 1893 began teaching school at Sugar Point. in Menard county. He followed that profes- sion for about seven years and during the last three years was principal of the first ward school in Petersburg. He gained an excellent reputation as an educator. his service giving
PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY
general satisfaction, but desiring to Become a member of the bar he devoted his leisure time to the study of law and was admitted to prac- tice in 1900, after successfully passing an exam- ination before the supreme court. The follow- ing year he was elected city attorney of Peters- burg, and in October. 1901. he was appointed master in chancery of Menard county by the circuit court. His mind is analytical and in the preparation of his cases he is careful and painstaking, so that he presents his cause be- fore the court in a clear, concise. logical man- ner.
Politically a Democrat. Mr. Baker takes an active interest in the work of the party and has contributed to its local success by his ef- forts for its growth. He regards the duties of citizenship as abundantly worthy of his best efforts and has been the champion of many measures which have proven of value to city and county. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias lodge of Petersburg. in which he has filled all the chairs and he was one of the charter members of the Modern Woodmen camp, of which he served as the first venerable counsel.
In Springfield, Illinois, on the 1st of June. 1898. Mr. Baker was married to Miss Lura M. Primm. of Athens. Illinois, and unto them have been born two children. Corlin Primm and Margery Baker. The parents are widely and favorably known socially, and their circle of friends, like his practice. is constantly grow- ing.
FRANK A. TERIIUNE.
chased land near Curtis, where he began farm- ing and stock-raising. He made his home in that locality until his death, which occurred June 15. 1882. when he was fifty-six years of age, while his wife died April 6. 1885, at the age of fifty-five years.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Frank A. Terhune in his youth. He was educated in the Curtis school and has always lived upon the old family homestead. His father died when the son was but eighteen years of age and he at oner took charge of the farm in partnership with his brother C. L. Terhune. He has since conducted the home place with good result and in connection with the rais- ing of the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate he is also successfully engaged in the breeding of Hereford cattle and Poland China hogs. He now owns three hundred and forty acres of land. all of which he cultivates. Hle has improved one hundred and eighty acres of thi- and has placed his farm in excellent con- elition. keeping the buildings and fences in good repair and utilizing the latest improved machinery in the cultivation of his crops.
On the 16th of December. 1891. occurred the marriage of Frank A. Terhune and Miss Flora E. Spear. a daughter of G. G. Spear. She was born August 2. 1st 1. and is a graduate of the Greenview high school. Her father carried on general farming and stock-raising on section 20. township 19. He was born in Vermont. October 6. 1836. and was the third in a family of seven children born unto Elisha and Lucretia ( Walker) Spear, who came to this state in the fall of 1838, and were there- fore carly sefilers of the county. George Spear was then but two years of age and upon the old family homestead he was reared and has resided thereon throughout his entire life.
Frank A. Terhune is numbered among Me- nard county's native sons, his birth having oc- curred June 16. 1869, on the old family home- stead. where he now resides and where he owns In his youth he aided in the arduous task of developing a new farm and in later years he has carried on agricultural pursuits along the most progressive lines, using the latest im- proved machinery and equipping his place with modern accessories. and operates three hundred and forty acres of rich and valnable land. lle is a son of James and Ann Elizabeth ( Harrison ) Terhune. who were natives of Kentucky. The father was a farmer by occupation and in 1853 left hi- native state for Menard county. Illinois. He On the 6th of October, 1820. George Spear was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Daw- located first at Petersburg. but soon afterward removed to Indian Point and subsequently pur- son, who was born in Indiana. in October.
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1841. They became the parents of three chil- dren : Flora, who was born August 2. 1811: Elva, born January 26, 1873: and Elisha G., born January 28. 1836. After his marriage the father continued farming on the old home place and is now the owner of a valuable tract of land of five hundred and forty acres. He has been very successful in his chosen life work and because of his unremitting diligence is now the possessor of a very fine property.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Terhune have been born two children: Francis Lee. born July 13, 1901: and Marshall Henry, whose birth of- curred April 11. 1904. The parents are devot- ed members and active workers of the Presby- terian church of Greenview. in which Mr. Ter- hume is serving as one of the elders. His busi- ness interests are extensive and claim much of his time and attention. yet he has found op- portunity to assist in the church work and to promote many enterprises for the general good. He realizes that the development of character is all that really counts in the world and while he has won snecess he has also made for himself an honorable name by reason of his straightforward methods and his justice to all in business transactions.
MISS ELVA G. SPEAR
Miss Ehva G. Spear, one of the property holders of township 18. was born January 26. 1813. and is a daughter of G. G. Spear and a sister of Mrs. Frank A. Terhune. She has made her home with Mrs. Terhune since March. 1898. and she owns one hundred and eighty acres of land which is managed by Mr. Ter- hune. She is a graduate of the Greenview high school and spends her winters in the south or in Colorado.
JONATHAN COLBY.
Jonathan Colby, deceased. during the period between the pioneer epoch in the history of Menard county and the latter part of the nine- teenth century, so utilized his opportunities and the business conditions of this part of
the state that he gained a place among its ex- tensive landowners and substantial citizens. and. moreover, he always maintained an hon- orable reputation and an unspotted record for business integrity. He was born in Hopkin- ton. New Hampshire, seven miles from Con- cord. March 10. 1808, and was a son of Tim- othy and Lydia ( Herrick) Colby. the former a native of New Hampshire and the latter of Massachusetts, both representing old families of New England. Timothy Colby was a farmer and lumberman of the east and in addition to the tilling of the soil operated a lumber mill. becoming, through the careful condnet of his business interests, a well-to-do man of his lo- cality. In addition to his other interests he furnished shipmasts for the shipwrights of Portsmouth. His last days were spent at the old homestead in the Granite state and both he and his wife died when about ninety years of age.
Jonathan Colby began his education in a district school and also attended a select school of Hopkinton, and when he attained his ma- jority he went to Boston. where he engaged as a clerk in a mercantile store. He afterward removed to western New York. when he was about twenty-five years of age, but did not tarry long in the Empire state. Starting westward, he made his way to Chicago by canal and the Great Lakes, and thence proceeded to Salem. Ilinois, where he purchased land in what is now Petersburg township. the purchase price being a dollar and a quarter per acre. AAbra- ham Lincoln was at that time postmaster of Salem. A friend from the east brought tive letters for Mr. Colby to Ilinois. but stopping in Chicago he sent the letters on by mail. Mr. Lincoln, putting the letters in his big hat. went out to collect from Mr. Colby the price of postage-twenty-five cents apiece. or a dol- lar and a quarter for all-which at that time was the price of an aere of land. Today the land sells for one hundred and forty dollars per acre. while the postage on that amount of mail would be ten cents. Arriving in this county in 1834. Mr. Colby turned his atten- tion to farming and as the years passed by he prospered. He invested his carnings. above what was needed for the expenses of the home
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY
and farm. in more land and eventually became the owner of twelve or fourteen hundred acres, wnich gradually increased in value, owing to the cultivation he bestowed upon it and a rise consequent upon the increased population. Ile was one of the well-to-do men of Menard coun- ty, and his -nece- was attributable to his own etforts.
Mr. Colby was married in 1831 to Miss Lydia Ingals, a native of Connecticut and a daughter of Ephriam and Lucy Ingals, of Pom- fret. Connectient, who died in that state, their children afterward coming west to Cass county, Illinois. It was in this neighborhood that Mrs. Colla met her future husband. Unto Mr. and Mr -. Colby were born six children : William D., a resident of Henry county, Illinois: Mrs. Mary F. Dixon, of Menard connty : Sarah S., the widow of John Beckman. of Menard coun- ty : Henry H .. who is living at Rock Creek. Menard county : Mrs. Maria L. Rucker. of Bos- ton. Massachusetts : Grosvenor G .. a resident of Petersburg township. The father died in the fall of 1885 and the mother's death occurred in the fall of 1858. They were both members of the Congregational church and Mr. Colby was a Whig in his political views. until the dissolution of the party, when he joined the ranks of the new Republican party. He was never an office seeker, but was interested in publie progress and improvement and was the champion of many progressive measures. Hle enjoyed in large measure the respect, confi- dence and admiration of his fellow men. he- cause of his success and the straight forward manner in which it was gained, and from pioneer times to his death he was classed with the valued citizens of his community.
JOHN H. CLARY.
Menard county figures as one of the most attractive, progressive and prosperous divisions of the state of Illinois, justly claiming a high order of citizenship and a spirit of enterprise which is certain to conserve consecutive devel- opment and marked advancement in the ma- terial upbuilding of the section. The county
has been and is signally favored in the class of men who have controlled its affairs in official capacity, and in this connection the subject of this review demands representation as one who has served the county faithfully and well in positions of distinct trust and responsibility. He is now serving as county treasurer and as an official as well as private citizen he enjoys the esteem and confidence of his fellow men.
Mr. Clary was born in township 19. range 1. Menard county, three miles northwest of Pet- ersburg. September 15, 1855. His father, Hugh Clary, whose birth occurred about two and three-quarter miles northwest of Petersburg in the year 1831, is a representative of one of the old and prominent pioneer families of this part of the state. The grandfather. Jolin Clary, settled in the grove which was named in his honor. Clary's Grove, in 1819. and took an active and helpful part in laying the foundation for the present upbuilding and progress of Menard county. He aided in ro- claiming the district for the use of civiliza- tion and for many years was actively identi- fied with agricultural interests here. Ingh Clary was reared amid the wild scenes and en- vironment> of pioneer life and after arriving at years of maturity he established his home in town-hip 19, range 2. There he resided for a number of years, actively engaged in the till- ing of the soil and in his business carver he was over found reliable and trustworthy. Ho was a man whom to know was to respect and honor, because of his fidelity to manly and upright principles. He married Miss Louisa Traylor, also a native of Menard county, and he died at the home of his son, J. H. Clary in the year 1896, while his wife is still living with her children. There were nine children in their family.
J. H. Clary, the second of the family. was educated in the district schools and no event of special importance occurred to vary the rou- tine of farm life for him in his boyhood and vonth. He worked in the fields when not en- gaged with the duties of the schoolroom and in 1881 he began farming on his own account. locating four and a half miles northwest of Petersburg, where he remained for a few voars. Hle then sold that property and bought
J. H. CLARY.
MRS. J. H. CLARY.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY
another farm, of which he retained possession for some time. but at length he disposed of that and spent one year in lowa. In 1888 he re- turned to Menard county and purchased his present farm of one hundred and twenty-two and a half aeres, which is situated about three and a half miles northwest of Petersburg on section 34. township 19. range 7. There he has since conducted agricultural interests with good success and his land is valuable and pro- ductive, annually yielding to him good harvests in return for the careful supervision which he gives to the farm work.
On the 2d of March. 1881. Mr. Clary was married to Miss Catherine S. Rutledge, a na- tive of Menard county and a daughter of J. M. Rutledge. Mr. and Mrs. Clary have be- como the parents of two children : Alberta 1 .. now deceased : and Edith E. The parents hold membership in the Cumberland Presbyterian church and Mr. Clary gives his political alle- giance to the Democratic party. He has served for two terms as district clerk and in 1902 he was elected to the office of county treasurer. which position he is now capably filling. His business career has been marked by steady pro- gression and characterized by the success which always follows persistent labor and yet he has found time to devote to the general good. be- ing recognized as a public-spirited eitizen.
JOHN H. PESTEL.
John H. Pestel is now living retired in Oak- ford and well does he merit the rest which has come to him, for in former years he lived a most active business life. devoting his atten- tion at different times to agricultural pursuits and merchandising. He was born August 4. 1815. in Menard county. on the family home- stead, between Athens and Springfield. His father. John Pestel. was born in Germany. at- tended school in that country and in accord- ance with the laws of his native land also served his time in the German army. When about twenty-six years of age he bade adieu to friends and native land and sailed for Amor- ica, landing in New York, whence he made his way to Pennsylvania. There he formed the
acquaintance of Miss Hannah Tailer and they were married. The lady was born in the Key- stone state. After his marriage Mr. Portel followed carpentering in the east for a time and later he removed to Springfield, Illinois. where he worked at his trade for about a year. lle then rented a small farm and engaged in the tilling of the soil in connection with his carpenter work. Subsequently, however. he removed to Athens, where he was employed in a tan yard for about a year. Later he bought thirty-six acres of land adjoining Athens. Ilo was actively identified with carly progress and improvement in this portion of the state. con- tributing through his building operations 10 the substantial development of Menard county. Ile was an early settler and reliable business man and all who knew him respected him. About 1852 there was a cholera epidemic at Athens and he and his wife assisted materially in the care of the sick. There were many deaths from that disease and many people were afraid to nurse the sick for fear of contract- ing the cholera, but Mr. and Mrs. Postel, with marked unselfishness and heroic sacrifice, did what they could for their neighbors and friends. They lost one of their sons from cholera. After living upon their farm near Athens for four years Mr. Postel lost his wife and becom- ing despondent on account of his great bo- reavement, he left home and was never heard from again. It was in February, 1856. that Mrs. Pestel was called to her final rest. They were the parents of five children, two sons and three daughters: Louis C., who died in in- fancy: John II .: Emeline, who married James Hall and is now living near Athens : Mary. who died in infancy: and Annie. the wife of Charles Buchanan, who resides near Spring- lield.
John H. Postel, when eleven years of age. want to live with D. J. Hichinson in the vicin- ity of Petersburg and remained with him for nine years. He then began working by the month for George Kirby in the year 1865, and he continued in that employ until 1823. Soon after his marriage he removed to a farm of one hundred acres and began the development of his land. transforming it into highly culti- vated fields. He continued to carry on gen-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY
eral agricultural pursuits until 1892, when he rented his farm and purchased the Samuel Watkins drug store in Oakford. He was thus identified with mercantile interests until 1895, when he sold the drug business to M. O. Atter- berry. He was then retired for a time, but later again took up business life. Since his second marriage, however, he has lived retired in the enjoyment of a comfortable competence, which he has won through persistent and hon- orable effort.
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