USA > Illinois > Menard County > Past and present of Menard County, Illinois > Part 47
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On the 5th of December, 18:2. Mr. Pestel was married to Miss Nancy J. Atterberry. a daughter of Christopher and Nancy ( Kirby) Atterberry. There were no children by this marriage. On the 9th of December. 1896. Mr. Pestel was again married, his second union be- ing with Mrs. Tillie Kendall, a daughter of Morris and Sophia ( Atterberry ) Lownsberry. Her father was born in Menard county where the town of Oakford now stands and her moth- er's birth occurred near the town of Atterberry. They were the parents of eight children. five sons and three daughters. namely: Mrs. Pes- tel: J. C., who is married and lives near Oak- ford: C. W., who is married and resides in the same locality; Addie and Curtis, twins, who died in childhood; one who died in infancy ; Collie, who is married and resides on the old homestead ; and Freddie, who died in child- hood. The father of Mrs. Pestel was reared as a farmer lad. attending school until the time of his marriage, when he purchased a farm and began its further cultivation and develop- ment. He also engaged in stock-raising and as his financial resources increased he extended the boundaries of his property until he had about four hundred acres of fine farming land. He has been a prosperous buyer and feeder of cattle and hogs. selling many carloads of stock in his day. At the present time he is living retired from further labor, having turned his farm over to his three sons, who are now ope- rating it. He has been influential and active in public affairs, has served as a member of the school board for ten or fifteen years and has given earnest support to many publie meas- ures that have benefited his locality. He votes with the Democracy and he has been a faithful church member for vighieen years, taking a
very active and helpful part in the work of the Methodist Episcopal church at Oakford until failing health caused him to leave these duties to others.
Mr. Pestel has been solicited to accept pub- lic office, but has always refused. save when he served a- mayor of Oakford and as a member of the town board several times. Prompt and faithful as a public official. he rendered to his town capable service by the manner in which he discharged his duties. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp and is a member of the Baptist church, while his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. They are both highly esteemed people of Menard county, en- joying the friendship and favorable regard of many with whom they have been associated and in its history they well deserve mention. The life record of Mr. Pestel proves the value of activity and honesty in a business career and his example is in many respects worthy of emulation.
EDWARD EVERT CLAYPOOL.
Edward Evert Claypool, who, as the most ex- tensive shipper of horses and mules in Menard county. is an important factor in its business circles, was born July 19. 1865, upon the farm on section 18. township 19. range 5. upon which his father. William Claypool. now resides. The latter was born near Athens, March. 14. 1831, which indicates that the family was connected with the county in its pioneer epoch. The grandparents of our subject were Levi and Melinda ( Rollins) Claypool. the former a na- tive of Virginia and the latter of Kentucky. They were married in Kentucky, whence they removed to Ohio, and in 1822 they came to Menard county. Illinois, settling on a farm two miles south of Athens, which Levi Claypool en- tered from the government. There be carried on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred February 2, 1861. while his birth of- curred February 19, 1793. llis wife, who was born May S. 1801. died February 16, 1892, at the very advanced age of ninety-one years.
William Claypool was educated in the sub- scription schools. for the public-school system
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had not then been established. Upon the home farm, amid the environment of the frontier, he was reared and after attaining his majority he chose as a life work the occupation with which he had become familiar in his youth. lle has for many years successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising and during the period of the Civil war he bought and sold horses for the goverment, making purchases throughout this section of the country. After the war he returned to the farm upon which he now resides and he has placed all of the im- provements upon it, for when he took posses- sion it was a traet of raw prairie. He now has five hundred and sixty acres of as highly cul- tivated land as can be found in the county, and that his farm is one of the most productive, and therefore one of the most valuable, is due entirely to his own labors, guided by sound business judgment and experience. He has al- ways raised very high grades of horses and cattle and now has a fine herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle of about fifty head.
On the 30th of September. 1863. William Claypool was married to Miss Elizabeth Engle. a daughter of William Engle, a native of Vir- ginia. Mrs. Claypool was born in Ohio and with her parents came to Menard county in 1823. the family home being established in Sugar Grove, where the father engaged in farm- ing and stock-raising. He also conducted the first store in that part of the county, its loca- tion being on the present site of Sweetwater. Illinois. He was born April 1. 1800, and died November 8, 1820, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Alkire, and was born April 27. 1808. died March 30th. 1900. She was a member of the Christian church.
Edward Evert Claypool. son of William and Elizabeth Claypool, pursued his more -p- cifically literary education in Greenview and afterward attended Brown's Business College of Jacksonville. He then returned to the farm and has since conducted a general stock busi- ness. buying and selling horses, mules and cat- tle, but making a specialty of the first. Ho ships a carload of horses and mules each week and employs three men in buying horses. llis business has reached extensive proportions and is profitable. his sales annually returning to
him a good income. He chips to St. Louis and Chicago, but finds the former city the best mar- ket for mules. a larger number of mules being sold there annually than in any other market of the world. He has a barn that will contain one hundred and twenty head of horses and mules, and his other equipments on his farm are in keeping with that fine structure. He also has from one to two carloads of Aberdeen Angus cattle upon his farm all the time. In 1890 he erected a nice residence on the farm, which he now occupies.
On the 23d of July. 1899, Mr. Claypool mar- ried Miss Emma Simmons, a daughter of A. P. and Nancy ( Stackhouse) Simmons, who re- moved from England to Canada in carly life. living there when the country was so wild that they had to continually watch their wheat erops to keep them from being destroyed by the deer and had to build pitfalls for the bears, so nu- merous and troublesome were they. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons removed to Bloomington. Illi- mois, at the time the Chicago & Alton Railroad was being built and he acted as superintendent of construction. Ile afterward removed to Dwight. where he conducted a large black- smith shop and wagon factory. He was run over and killed by a train on January 2. 1902. when seventy-three years of age, and his widow is still living in Dwight. Mrs. Claypool is a graduate of the high school of Dwight and taught school in and near that place for twelve years.
In his political affiliation Mr. Claypool is a Democrat and for two forms he served on the school board, but has never sought office as his business affairs have fully occupied his time and in the development of his business he has found ample incentive for the exercise of his powers and the employment of his best efforts. Ile affiliates with the Christian church of Greenview.
CHIARLES CANTRALL.
The name of Cantrall is inseparable asso- ciated with the history of central Illinois and the town of Canirall in Sangamon county was named in honor of Levi Cantrall. grandfather
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of Charles Cantrall. From an carly period in the nineteenth century representatives of the name have taken an active and helpful part in the upbuilding and improvement of this part of the state and the work of progress is still being carried forward by Charles Cantrall in Menard county. He makes his home in town- ship 18 and is accounted one of the substan- tial agriculturists of his community.
His grandfather. Levi Cantrall, was born in Virginia. October 1. 1283, and was married November 30, 1809. lo Miss Fanny England, who was born October 2. 1292. They became the parents of thirteen children. On leaving the Old Dominion. Levi Cantrall took up his abode in Ohio and subsequently came to Illi- nois, arriving on the present site of Springfield December 4. 1819. Later he entered land north of the town of C'antrall and began the develop- ment of a farm in that locality, being the orig- inal owner of his tract. after the Indians had left for hunting grounds farther west. He took a helpful interest in the work of early develop-
Their son. MeDonald Cantrall. father of our subject, was born in Sangamon county. April 6. 1833, and died September 15. 1822. He was reared mid pioneer environments and he re- mained at home. assisting in the improvement of his father's farm up to the time of his mar- riage, which occurred in Sangamon county, Miss Narcissa Hedrick beroming his wife. She was born in Sangamon county, April 15. 1834. and is a daughter of Jonathan and Inlia ( Hol- land) Hedrick. the former born March 29. 1199. and the latter February 8. 1803. They were married November 1, 1822. and became the parents of three sons and three daughters. Mr. Hedrick died September 10, 1883, and his wife November 29. 1890. Their danghter, Mrs. Narcissa Cantrall. is now living with her son Charles Cantrall. her only child.
At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. McDonald Cantrall began their domestic life upon a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of
land and later he purchased forty acres, and subsequently one hundred and twenty-eight acres, so that within the boundaries of his farne was comprised a tract of three hundred and twenty-eight acres. He raised and fed stock and found a good market for them. thus add- ing materially to his income. A part of his land was wild prairie when it came into his possession. but he placed it under the plow and made substantial modern improvements. erect- ing good buildings, planting shade and fruit trees and continuing the work there along pro- gressivo lines until at the time of his death his property was very valuable. forming one of the attractive features of the landscape. He left a fine home surrounded by all modern improvements and his property was the visible proof of his career of enterprise and useful- ness. In connection with general farming he had raised as fine cattle and hogs as were to be found in the county.
Charles Cantrall was reared under the pa- rental roof and obtained his education in the
ment, was one of the valued pioneer residents & public schools of Menard county. His father of Sangamon county, and the town of Cantrall is justly considered a moment to his enter- prising labors in behalf of that district. Ile died in the year 1862. while his wife passed away in 1835. instructed him in farm labor and they worked together until the father's death, at which time Charles Cantrall. then eighteen years of age. took charge of the farm and has siner con- ducted the business, giving his attention to the further development and cultivation of his land. In 18:5 he and his mother bought a hundred acres of land additional and subse- quently he sold one hundred and twenty acres and also bought two hundred and forty acres. At the present time he is farming eight hun- dred and twenty acres of land. Up to three years ago he fed. shipped and sold cattle and hogs. but since then he has merely superin- tended the cultivation of the land, without en- gaging in stock-raising or dealing. He is one of the directors of the Fancy Prairie Grain & Coal Company and. having served four years, has been re-elected.
On the 16th of May. 1888, Charles Cantrall was married to Miss Anna F. Council. a daugh- ter of John H. and Edna ( Lake) Council, both natives of Sangamon county. The father, born May 19, 1823. died February 26, 1901. His wife. born June :. 1831, is now living with her son. John William Council. on the old home-
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stead. They were the parents of four souls and a daughter, who are yet living : James II .. who was born January 21. 1859, married Miss Julia Cantrall and is living in Logan county ; Charles F. born August 5. 1861. married Miss Gussie Jones and resides in Springfield : George R., born September 3, 1868, married Miss Mary C. Carpenter, and makes his home in Logan county : John W. twin brother of George, mar- ried Annie Kendall and is a resident of Sanga- mon county. The other member of the family is Mrs. Cantrall. who by her marriage has he- come the mother of three children: John Harry, born May 1. 1889 : Me Donald, February 2. 1892 : and Edna N., November 25, 1902.
Mr. Cantrall has served as a school director for about ten years. He is prominent in Ma- sorry, belonging to Van Meter lodge, No. 202. A. F. & A. M., of Cantrall. Ilinois: De Witt chapter. No. 119. R. A. M .: and St. Aldemar commandery. No. R. K. T. both of Peters- burg. Both he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star lodge and his wife and mother are members of the Christian church. to the support of which he contributes. Theirs is a commodious and attractive country residence. where cordial and warm-hearted hospitality abounds, and in social circles they are promi- nent and influential. Mr. Cantrall stands as a high type of the progressive business man of modern times, keeping in touch with the rapid advance that has been made along agricultural lines in recent years.
ELIHU HALL.
Elihu Hall. now deceased, whose memory is cherished by his many friends of Menard coun- ty who knew and honored him, was a son of Fleming Hall and a grandson of Thomas R. and Catherine (Thomas) Hall. Fleming Hall was born in Patrick county. Virginia. in 1191. and in 1828, about eleven years after hi- mar- riago. he emigrated westward to Missouri, where he was engaged in teaching school for a year. On the expiration of that period they came to Ilinois and pre-empted the land upon which the town of Athens has since been built. Ho remained for two years on the quarter section
there and entered the tract from the govern- ment. He hewed the logs used in the coll- struction of the first house of Athens, after the town was laid out in 1832. At the time when Mr. Hall and Benjamin and John Wiseman we're laying of the school sections into small lots for sale. Abraham Lincoln acted as fluir surveyor and Mr. Hall would often relate how the tall. athletic form of the future president would be seen passing silently through the deep ponds which the others were glad to avoid. Fleming Hall was united in marriage to Miss Susannah Tice, a native of Pennsylvania. and for many years remained a respected and worthy pioneer settler of Menard county, his name being inseparably interwoven with the early development of this part of the state. He died January 1. 1891, in his ninety-seventh voar. U'p to his last brief illness he retained his remarkable health and had full possession of his faculties until the day of his death.
Elihu Hall, who came with his parents to Menard county in 1829 and assisted in the early agricultural development of this part of the stato, was also well known as an active and in- Ihnential factor here. He married Miss Eliza- both Brown and resided upon the old homestead until his death, which occurred September 21. 1882. He was one of the most successful farmers of the county and in addition was one of the most learned botanists of the state. Ilis collection of well arranged and classified plants. inchiding over ten thousand spreies, was prob- aby not excelled by any other in the west at that time. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hall were born three children : I'na M., the oldest, is the wife of Dr. Howard Boone. of Chandlerville. Illi- nois. Julian 11 .. born May 22. 1825. is a grad- uate of Eureka College, of Eureka. Ilinois. with the class of 1896. He afterward entered the Columbia Law School of New York city and was graduated from that institution with the class of 1900, after which he returned to Menard county and took charge of the home farm. lle was married October 2. 1902. to Miss Lillis Watson, a daughter of 1 .. F. and Drucilla ( Purviance) Watson. Hubert R. Hall. the youngest of the family, born Septem- ber ?1. 1SEC. is a graduate of Eureka College of the class of 1899 and of the Columbia Law
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School of New York with the class of 1904. and at the present time is practicing his chosen profession in Springfield.
CHARLES D. GUMI.
Charles D. Gum, who is now serving as county commissioner and township trustee. is an active factor in community interests. rec- ognized as a prominent and influential citizen of Menard county, where his entire life has been passed and where he is still engaged in general farming, owning and operating three hundred and sixty acres of land in Tallul: precinct. He was born on this farm October 5. 1855. and in the paternal line comes of Ger- man ancestry. The family was established in America at an early epoch in the history of the new world and the grandfather of our sub- ject was a resident of Kentucky.
The father. Thomas D. Gum. was born in Kentucky and when a small boy was brought by his parents to Menard county. Illinois, where he was reared amid frontier conditions and on- vironments. His birth occurred December 14. 1813. He married Jemima Carter, a daughter of Robert Carter, who came to Illinois in the fall of 1830. settling at Clary's Grove. His daughter. Mrs. Gum. was born September 26. 1816. Thomas Gum was a farmer and fol- lowed that occupation throughout his entire life. thus providing for his family. He was a Democrat in politics. He died November 18. 1859. when his son Charles was but four years of age. and Mrs. Gum departed this life April 14. 1900, having for more than forty years survived her husband. She was a con- sistent member of the Baptist church and both were laid to rest in Rose Hill cemetery. In their family were the following children : MI.
D .. who died August 11, 1811 : Jesse, who died in infancy. in 1841: Leander, who was born March 13, 1841. and died June 2. 1812 : Robert G., who was born June 9. 1843. and died No- vember 21. 1811: Margarel, who was born March 26, 1846, and died December 12, 1841 : John C .. who was born March 22. 1817. and died June 9. 1898: George, who married Belle Miller and lives in Kilbourne. Mason county.
Illinois ; William, of Tallula, who married Marinda Elmore. afterward wedded Adeline Bawn and for his third wife chose Emma Thomas : and Charles D.
In taking up the personal history of Charles D. Gum we present to our readers the life rec- ord of one who is widely and favorably known in Menard county. He was educated in the district schools and has always resided upon the farm on which he was born, and here he has so directed his energies as to meet with gratifying success. He has never been off the place for more than a month at a time. al- though he has visited New Mexico and other parts of the country. He owns the old home- stead place. comprising three hundred and sixty acres of rich and arable land, and is one of the more progressive farmers of his locality. He use- the latest improved machinery in the culti- vation of the fields and the gathering of the crops. and neatness characterizes all depart- ments of the farm.
On the 22d of April, 1883. Mr. Gum was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Deppe, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Deppe, who resided in Sand Ridge, but are now deceased. For fifteen years Mr. and Mrs. Gum traveled life's journey happily together, and then the wife was called to her final rest. her death or- curring on the 20th of March. 1898. while her remains were interred in Rose Hill cemetery. Five children had been born unto them. all of whom are living. namely: Mary D., who was horn April 18. 1885: Lottie B., born July 9. 1881: Estella A., born March 18, 1889: Edna M .. born March 26. 1891 : and Goldie P .. born March 13. 1893. Mrs. Gum was a member of the German Methodist church and was a most estimable lady. who won the friendship of many with whom she was brought in contaet.
In his political views Mr. Gum ha- always Feen a Democrat and is a recognized leader in the ranks of his party in Menard county. He las served as road commissioner for ten years and is now township trustee, having been pleel- ed for a term of three years, and his service in this office altogether covers seventeen years. In 1902 he was elected county commissioner to serve for three years, so he is the present in- cumbent in that office. His official duties have
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C. D. GUM AND CHILDREN.
MRS. C. D. GUM.
MRS. LENAH CARTER.
JERS. JEMIMA GUML.
FRED DEPPE.
PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY
ever been discharged with marked promptness and fidelity, his devotion to the best interests of the community being one of his most strong- ly marked characteristics. He has always lived upon the oldl Gum homestead. and the fact that many of his warmest friends are those who have known him from boyhood is an indication that his has been a straightforward life and useful career.
JOSEPH B. PILLSBURY.
The strong. forceful and commendable ele- ments in the life record of Joseph B. Pillsbury are close application in business, carnest and honorable purpose and indefatigable energy. He was born December 21. 1866, in Petersburg. his parents being Joseph H. and Susan M. (Gardner) Pillsbury, the former a native of New Hampshire and the latter of Sangamon county. Illinois. Joseph H. Pillsbury was born August 3, 1830. a son of Alpha and Margaret (Caverno) Pillsbury. He lost his father in New Hampshire, his death occurring in June or July. 1831, when he was but thirty-one years of age. Joseph H. Pillsbury had a brother. George Pillsbury, who was born December 6. 1826, and died January 22, 1851. in Menard county. Illinois, his remains being interred at Farmers Point. When Joseph H. Pillsbury was less than two years of age his mother's house was destroyed by fire and she went to Dover. New Hampshire, to work in the tailor shop of Peter Conshion. In the summer of 1836 she went by stage from that place to Provi- dence, Rhode Island, thence by water to New York, on to Philadelphia by rail. by canal to Pittsburg and thence down the Ohio and up the Mississippi rivers to St. Louis, Missouri. and up the Hlinois river to Beardstown. coming from that point across the country to New Salem, Menard county. by wagon. Her brother had come to this state in 1835 with JJonathan Colby and here he worked and afterward bought land. Mrs. Pillsbury joined her brother the following year and a few years later married James Goldsby. the first sheriff of Menard county.
Joseph H. Pillsbury was reared in Menard county and here followed the occupation of
farming. He married Susan M. Gardner and they became the parents of tive children. but Alice died when two and a half years of age; John died in infancy ; and Mary Harper died at the age of six years. Those living are Joseph B. and Susan H., the latter living with her mother. In early life the father taught school and read law in the office of Gus Riggin, the circuit clerk. in 1851. The following year he tanghi the first free school in Petersburg and was elected school commissioner that year. He took an active and prominent part in public affairs and was elected county judge in 1861. having been admitted to the bar in 1856. In 1852 he was appointed master in chancery and served in that office until elected county judge. le was re-elected to the latter position in 1823. In 1834 he bought a farm four miles north- west of Petersburg, but never lived upon that place. continuing to make his home in Peters- burg until his death, on the 29th of November. 1899.
Joseph B. Pillsbury was educated in the schools of Petersburg and in Illinois College, which he entered in the fall of 1881. attending that institution through two winters. He was also a student in the business college at Jack- sonville, and in June. 1886, he returned home. In the following year he began farming on his present farm of one hundred acres, which he afterward purchased, and has since bought an additional traet of eighty acres, so that he now has a valuable farm of one hundred and eighty acres. He has been engaged in general agri- cultural pursuits, raising both grain and stock. and has met with a fair measure of success in his undertakings. having now a well improved tract of land, which yields to him golden har- vest- in return for the care and labor which he bestows upon the fields.
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