USA > Illinois > Menard County > Past and present of Menard County, Illinois > Part 52
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY
reside. however, upon the old homestead, where He possessed the first sewing machine which he passed away in the eighty-second year of was brought into the neighborhood and also the first coal-oil lamps. He witnessed the in- traduction of many devices that are now coll- sidered necessities, but which the pioneer set- there were accustomed to do without. He has scen great changes in farming methods, owing to the improved machinery which has been put upon the market and at all times he kept touch with the advance that was made. for he po -- sesses a practical and progressive spirit and was ready to adopt anything that would facili- tate his farm work and render his labors more effective in his attempt to gain a comfortable competence. his age. His wife also died in Menard county. Both were consistent and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church and were nun- bered among the worthy pioneer people. MIr. Lownsbery served as a member of the school board for many years and his co-operation was given to all work or concerted actions that he believed would prove of value for the sub- stantial improvement of his adopted county. Unto him and his wife were born twelve chil- dren. but only four are now living: Margaret. who is the widow of Leander Brown. and is now living near Oakford at the age of eighty- four years: Samuel, of this review: Maurice. who married Mrs. Sophia Atterberry and is How bring in Menard county. where both were born : and Lettie, who is the wife of Elias Kirby. They, too, are natives of Menard county and still reside within its border -.
Samuel Lownsbury was a youth of only ser- en year- when brought by his parents to Me- nard county and upon the old family home- strad he was reared, assisting his father in the farm work until twenty-four years of age. Ile performed the various duties incident to the cultivation and development of the farm and to the care of the family. He hauled the grist to the mill on sleds, for there were few wagons at that time. Frequently he would carry the grain to Mounts mill on Crane creek and in 1536 when eleven years of age he went to Aurora upon a sled drawn by four yoke of oxen, driving across the country for a dis- tance of one hundred and sixty miles. fle then -pent the sunnner in driving ox teams and breaking prairies and he received in payment for his labor a cook stove, which was made at the foundry in Aurora and for which his brother-in-law, Mr. MeDoel, paid him forty dollars. Mr. Lownshery's father went to Auro- ra for him with a two horse wagon and on the return trip carried the store. It was the first one brought into the neighborhood. After hi- marriage in 1819 Mr. Lownsbery built a log cabin. of which he took possession in 1850. making it his home for about ten years. He then moved into a frame house and in 1821 he built a fine home, which he yet occupies.
Mr. Lownstery has been married three times. He first wedded Susan Overstreet and they In - came the parents of six children, but four died in infancy. One daughter. Ellen. im- came the wife of Hamilton Lutes and died when about forty years of age. For his second wife Mr. Lownsbery chose Miss Margaret Over- street. a sister of his first wife and they be- came the parents of three children. but only one is now living: William A., who has been married twice and now resides with his father. operating the old homestead farm. For his third wife Sammel Lownsbery chose Elizabeth Holland, who died twenty-five years ago.
Mr. Lownsberg, although in his eightieth year. has enjoyed excellent health and has re- tained his mental and physical faculties large- ly unimpaired. Nature is kind to those who oppose not her laws, and Mr. Lownsbery has lead an upright. honorable life, taking care of his health and making the best use possible of his talents and opportunities. Through care- 'ul management and unfaltering perseverance he has acquired a comfortable competence that now enables him to live retired. For forty- five years he has been a consistent, faithful and helpful member of the Methodist Episcopal church and he has led a strictly temperate life. never using intoxicants. In politics he has been a stalwart Republican and he has helped to eleet nine president -. Born ere the first quarter of the nineteenth century had drawn to a close, he has been connected with the ora of wonderful progress and improvement in America, has seen the building of railroads
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throughout the country. the establishment of telegraph and telephone lines, the introduction of many wonderful inventions, which have rev- olutionized trade and commerce as well as all lines of industrial activity and at all times le has felt a just and commendable pride in what has been accomplished. His labors have been concentrated upon his farm work in Me- nard county and upon his duties of citizenship and though he has led a quiet and unassuming life it is one which is well worthy of emula- tion because of his fidelity to honorable prin- ciples.
WILLIAM J. BLAIN.
In taking up the personal history of William J. Blain we present to our readers the life record of one who is well known in Menard county. where the greater part of his life has been passed. his attention being given to agri- cultural pursuits. He has lived in this county for almost a half century and is therefore largely familiar with its history as it has emerged from pioneer conditions to take its place with the leading counties of this great commonwealth. He was born in Montreal. Canada, on the 3d of December, 185%, and is of Irish lineage. His father. William Blain, was born at Warren Point, Ireland. on the 3d of July. 1829. and after his emigration to the new world he was married in Canada to Ann MeCrudden, also a native of the Emerald Isle. Removing to Illinois after the birth of their son William they established their home in Menard county. where the father success- fully carried on agricultural pursuits through- out his remaining days.
In his youth William J. Blain was trained to farm work, assisting in the labors of the field- as soon as old enough to reach the plow handles. He has seen great changes in the methods of farming. the old crude implements of former days being replaced by splendidly im- proved machinery and upon h's home place are seen many evidences of this progress. He attended the public schools and when not en- gagel with the duties of the schoolroom as- sisted in the work of the farm. He continued
farming in partnership with his father and brother George R. until the death of his father. lle built a new residence for himself in 1901 and he and his family therefore have a med- ern and attractive home. He operates one hundred and ninety-seven acres of rich land in Menard county, which because of its produc- tiveness and the care and labor he bestows upon it annually returns to him good harvests. Ile also has one hundred and sixty acres in Arkansas. Diligence and enterprise have al- ways been numbered among his salient char- acteristies and have been strong factor- in hi- sitecess.
As a companion and helpmate for life'- jour- ney Mr. Blain chose Miss Anna Bolle Meerud- den, and their marriage was celebrated January 11. 1891. The lady is a daughter of Robert and Sarah (Renney) MeCrudden, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Canada. In early manhood her father crossed the At- lantic to the new world and in Canada he fol- lowed the trade of shoemaking, which he had learned in his native country. He has made that pursuit his business throughout his en- tire life together with the sale of shoes, and he has had close and intimate knowledge of the shoe trade, so that he has been enabled by his well directed effort to conduct a sule- cessful business. He now makes his home with one of his sons, his wife having departed this life in 1829. In their family were six children : Samuel J .. who is now living in Montreal: Matilda, who became the wife of William Bell and died June 21. 1901 : Robert 1 .. a resident of Canada : William, who died in infancy: Mrs. Blain: and Georgia M., who resides in Canada and is caring for the chil- dren of her deceased sister.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Blain has been born a daughter. Estella G., whose birth occurred May 21, 1895. They have an attractive and pleasant home, where the spirit of hospitality reigns supreme and to them is extended a hearty welcome in many of the best homes of thi- part of the county. Both Mr. and Mr -. Blain attend the Cumberland Presbyterian church and he gives his political allegianer to the Republican party. He is now serving as a school director and has been a member of
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the board for the past nine years, acting as it> clerk throughout the entire period. He is interested in all that pertains to general prog- ress and improvement here and takes a spe- cial pride in what has been accomplished in Menard county. where almost his entire life has been passed and where he has so directed his efforts as to win success and at the same time gain the confidence and good will of all with whom he has been associated.
ZAREL C. SPEARS.
Zarel C. Spears, now decreased. was well known as a representative of agricultural in- terest> in this county. His birth occurred in Green county, Kentucky. June 12. 1818, the family home being in the vicinity of Greens- burg. His parents were John and Rebecca (Conover) Spears. His ancestors came from Germany to the new world. There were three orphan boys of the name who crossed the At- lantic from the fatherland to the United States. one settling in Virginia and one in South Caro- lina. It is from the Virginia branch of the family that Zarel C. Spears was descended. Ile remained a resident of his nativo state until about 1827 or 1828, when he came with his mother and her five children to Illinois. the father having previously died in Kentucky. June 5. 1823. The family home was estab- lished in Menard county at Clary's Grove. where Mrs. Spears purchased land and reared her family upon a farm. She was a worthy pioneer woman, devoted to the welfare of her children and her memory is vet revered by those who knew her. She died June 10. 1868. at the advanced age of seventy-nine years and her remains were interred in Greenwood come- terv. She was very positive in her convictions. a woman of strong force of character and vet one whose sterling trait- endeared her to all.
Zarel C. Spears was reared to the occupa- tion of farming and was educated in the coun- try school -. He became the owner of a tract of land of about five hundred acres and for many years carried on general agricultural pursuits on his own account. placing his fields under a high state of cultivation, so that they
returned to him good harvests and he thus annually gained a substantial income. In hi- later years, however. he removed to the town of Tallula and spent his last days in honorabl . retirement from labor. His land was divided among his children, while his widow still ha- two hundred and twenty-two acres.
On the 15th of January, 1831. Mr. Spears was united in marriage to Miss Mary H. Berry and they lived together happily as man and wife for tifty-seven years. Her father. Rev. John M. Berry. was one of the early Cumber- land Presbyterian ministers of central Illinois and organized nearly all of the churches of that denomination in his part of the state. He arrived in Illinois in 1822 from Indiana and previous to his residence in the Hoosier state he had lived in Kentucky. Ho contin- ued in the active work of the ministry up to the time of his demise, which occurred when he was sixty-nine years of age. His wife reached the advanced age of seventy-nine years. Their influence was over a power for good in the community and they left the impress of their individuality upon the moral upbuild- ing of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Spears became the parents of eight children : Theodore died at the age of thirteen years. Amanda married Christopher Smedley and lives in Pittsburg. Kansas. William Ewing married Susan Hos- tetter and resides in Franklin county. Kansa -. with their family of five children. He was a soldier of the One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers and for a tiny was incarcerated in Andersonville prison. George H. became a member of Company F. Twenty-eighth Regiment of Illinois Volun- teers and was never heard of after the battle of Jackson, so it is supposed that he was killed in the engagement. Henry Clay died in infancy. Anna E. died in her fourteenth year. Henry 1. married Kitty Harry and they became resi- dents of California, where his death occurred in April. 1903, leaving his widow and one child. Charles T. married Cordelia Sharon and died in April. 1899. His widow resides in Lincoln. Illinois, and has three children.
The death of Mr. Spears occurred Jannary 12. 1501. when he had reached the age of ser- enty-five years and seven months. His remains
ZAREL C. SPEARS.
MRS. MARY H. SPEARS.
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were interred in Greenwood cemetery and his parents of eleven children, seven of whom are death was deeply deplored by many friends. In his political views he was a Whig until the dissolution of the party. when he joined the ranks of the new Republican party. Throughout almost his entire life he had followed farming in Menard county and was a respected man. loyal in citizenship and true to all the rela- tion, and duties of life. His widow is a mem- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, to which she has belonged for sixty-seven years. For twenty-nine years she resided upon the farm and she now has a good income from the rental of the land, while she lives in a large, commodious residence in Tallula. She, too, has long been a resident of Menard county, esteemed by those with whom she has been associated, and her example of Christian fidelity is well worthy of emulation.
HENRY C. GRAILAM.
The productiveness of Menard county as a place of residence is indicated by the fact that many of the native sons have remained within it> borders. enjoying the advantages and privi- leges here afforded. To this class belongs Henry C. Graham, who was born in this coun- 1y May 8. 1833, a son of Peter and Mary Ann ( Akers) Graham. The father was born in New York city, October 22. 1801, and there resided until twenty-three years of age. when he went to New Orleans. He spent about three years in the Crescent City, working at the car- penter's trade and also upon steamboats plying on the Mississippi river between New Orleans and St. Louis. In 1829 he came to Illinois, Jorating first at Jacksonville, where he re- mained for eighteen months and in 1831 he established his home in Athens, Menard coun- ty. where he remained continuously until his death, covering sixty-two years-a period ex- creding the average life of the majority of mankind. With the pioncer development and progress of the county he was actively asso- ciated and he aided in laying broad and deep the foundation for its prosent progress. In 1832 he was united in marriage at Jacksonville to Miss Mary Ann Akers, and they became the
yet living, as follows: Mrs. Ursula Hurt, of Omaha, Nebraska; Mrs. Harriet Cantrall, of Ifliopolis. Illinois ; Henry C .; Mrs. Ellen C'an- trall: Mrs. Emma Cantrall: Mrs. Eliza Swingle: and E. N. Graham, of Athens. The father lived to see his youngest child reach the period of middle life and all had married and had families growing up around them. At an early age he united with the Methodist Episcopal church and always lived an honor- able. upright. Christian life, faithful in his devotions, true in his convictions, manifesting a Godly spirit by his conversation and his daily conduct. His home in the early days was the reception place of the venerable Peter Cart- wright and other pioneer ministers of Illinois and there the neighbors gathered to hear the preaching of the word in its simplicity Here also the prayer meetings were held and the fam- ily altar was erected and maintained. Mr. Graham's was a truly remarkable life. He was born in the year that Thomas Jefferson was elected president of the United States and a voar prior to the admission of Illinois into the Union. He was eight years of age at the time that the first steamboat, called Fulton's folly. made its way up the Hudson river. He was old enough to vote the year prior to the ope- ration of the first railroad train in America and he had passed the period of middle life when telegraphy was brought into use. He had come down to old age when the Atlantic cable was laid and he arrived in Illinois Iw- fore the city of Chicago was incorporated. Illinois presented the appearance of one great prairie, on which only here and there was soon a timber tract or the settlement of the white man. He lived to see the stage coach sup- planted by the vestibuled train and to wit- ness the remarkable progress that has been brought about in this age of wonderful inven- tion. He retained his physical and mental faculties to a remarkable degree. even in his last years. in July. 1891. his aged companion. with whom he had so long traveled life's jour- ney, was called from his side and on the 30th of September of the following year he passed away at the very advanced age of ninety years. eleven months and eight days.
PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY
Reared under the parental roof amid the re- ty and in that county the wife and mother fining influences of a good home, Henry (. died September 10, 1835. Mr. Cantrall en- tered the land from the government upon which the village of Cantrall now stands and for many years was successfully engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. lle also assisted materially in the development of Sangamon and Menard counties and in the conduet of his business af- fairs won a high degree of success. Prior to his death he became an extensive landowner and ere his demise he divided his property among his children. He passed away Febru- ary 22. 1860, while his second wife, who bore the maiden name of Anu Patterson. was born in Kentucky. September 30, 1803, and died September 26. 1889. She was one of the char- ter members of the North Sangamon Prosty- ferian church. There were two children by this marriage, Mrs. Graham and Joseph S., who is married and resides in Springfield. Graham spent his boyhood and youth with his parents and worked at the carpenter's trade with his father until twenty-four years of age. lle then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits on his own account and has since been engaged in farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of the raising of hogs and cattle. In his business operations he is asso- ciated at the present writing with his son Joseph S. and they have five hundred and sixty acres of as line land as can be found in Menard county and there is no richer tract in all America than is to be seen in central Illinois. The farm is splendidly improved, there being seventeen miles of tiling upon it, together with substantial buildings, modern machinery and all the equipments found upon the model farm of the twentieth century. From the time that he started out in life on his own account Mr. Graham has met with prosperity and yet there is no secret about his success, as it has been won through persistent labor, carefully directed by sound business judgment.
On the 6th of January, 1856. occurred the marriage of Mr. Graham and Miss Fanny L. C'antrall, a daughter of Levi and Ann ( Patter- son) Cantrall. Her father was born in Bote- tourt county, Virginia. October 1. 1282, and in 1189 was taken by his parents to Kentucky. the family home being established in that part of Mercer county which afterward became Bath county. He was there married November 30. 1809. to Miss Fanny England, and they had one child born in Kentucky. In 1811 they re- moved to Madison county. Ohio, where live children were added to the houschokl and sub- sequently they took up their abode in Madison county, Illinois. It was in October, 1819, that Mr. Cantrall reached this state and on the 4th of December of the same year he settled upon a tract of land now included within the corpo- ration limits of the city of Cantrall and reach- ing to the north side of the river in what is now Fancy Creek township. He began build- ing his cabin on the 8th of December, and soon had his family installed in their new home. Seven of the thirteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. Cantrall are natives of Sangamon con-
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Graham have been born five children. three daughters and two sons. Mary Annie, born June 23, 1858, was married September 11. 1882. to William E. Johnson. whose birth ocenrred January 6. 1852. Their children are Mildred, born August 10. 1883. Addie, born June 2. 1885, and Minnie, born August 26, 1881. Mr. Johnson and his fam- ily resided upon a farm near Athens. William II. Graham, the second member of the family. was born August 11. 1862, and was married January 10. 1884. to Anna 1 .. Clark. who died January 14. 1889. leaving one child. Edith L .. who was born November 2. 1881. and was married September 23, 1901. to A. D. Van Meter, a resident of Fancy Creek township. Sangamon county. Owen C., another child of this union. was born June 12. 1888. and died in October of that year. For his second wile William Il. Graham chose Phoebe Hard- man, their marriage being celebrated May 9. 1895, and their children are W. Harold, born May 23. 1896: Paul II., born May 9. 1898; and Helen. Mr. Graham, who is a farmer and stock-raiser, resides in Chatham. Illinois. Ar- aminta Graham, born October 13. 1868, was married May 3. 1893. to Harry Fulton, who was born December 2. 1867. and is a resident farmer of Menard county. They have two chil- dren: Fannie L., horn August 13. 1895, and
PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY
a son born in 1901. Joseph S. Graham, born March 26, 1871. married Lillian N. Primm, January 6. 1895, and resides upon a farm near Athens. Their children are Henry P., born November 25, 1896: Arnold. born in April, 1898 : and Wayne, born in April, 1904. Carrie Graham. born August 5. 1828. was married July 13, 1898, to Webster Il. Van Meter, a farmer and stock-raiser residing near Athens. and they have two children: Joseph. born in August. 1899: and Marguerite, born in Aug- ust. 1902.
Mr. Graham gives a stalwart support to the Republican party and has firm faith in its principles. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist church of Athens and are people of the highest respectability, enjoying the warm regard of many friends. Although now more than seventy-one years of age, he still remains an active factor in business affairs and retains a keen interest in everything con- cerning his county and her welfare. Such a career of activity should put to shame many a man of less resolute spirit and determina- tion who, grown tired of the struggles of busi- ness life, would relegate to others the burdens that he should hear. Mr. Graham has ever been energetic and diligent in his work and the success which he now enjoys is certainly well merited.
JASPER NEWTON RUTLEDGE.
Jasper Newton Rutledge is now living retired il: Petersburg, but in former years was actively identified with agricultural pursuits and his enterprise and untiring labor brought to him the capital that now enables him to enjoy a well earned rest. He was born in Menard county about four miles north of Petersburg on the 26th of March, 1831. his parents heing William and Susanna (Cameron) Rutledge. He was an own cousin of Ann Rutledge, who was Abraham Lincoln's first love. His parents were natives of North Carolina and were mar- ried in Kentucky, whence they came to Me- nard county. Ilinois, about 1820. Here the father secured a traet of land and engaged in farming for many years, but in February. Is56.
sold his property and afterward lived retired until his death. He was one of the honored pioneer settlers of this section of the state, having journeyed by wagon from Kentucky and taken up his abode in central Illinois when this was a wild and unsettled district. He bore his full share in the work of reclaiming the county for the uses of civilization and in laying the foundation for its present prog- ress and prosperity. He died in 1861 when about seventy-four years of age. his birth hav- ing occurred in 1290, and his wife, who was born in 1292, passed away in 1885 at the ad- vanced age of ninety-three years.
Jasper N. Rutledge, reared upon the old home farm in Menard county. acquired his education in the subscription schools, but his advantages in that direction were somewhat meager. owing to the condition of the school system at that time and also because his sery- ices were needed upon the home farm. He was the thirteenth child and the youngest in his father's family and he assisted in the work of the home farm until 1856. During the two succeeding years he was engaged in teaming between Springfield and Petersburg. after which he returned to the farm and has since made it his home. For many years his time and energies were devoted untiringly to the work of plowing, planting and harvesting. lle raised good crops, kept in touch with the ad- vanced methods of agriculture and carried on his work along progressive lines that resulted in bringing to him a handsome competence. He was also engaged in the livery business for three years, Init in recent years he has put aside the active duties of a business career and is now enjoying the fruits of his former toil.
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