Past and present of Menard County, Illinois, Part 60

Author: Miller, Robert Don Leavey, b. 1838
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 604


USA > Illinois > Menard County > Past and present of Menard County, Illinois > Part 60


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Cornelius Janssen was a youth of eleven years when his parents crossed the Atlantic. He is truly a self-made man, for at the early age of seven years he began earning his own living and was employed until eleven years of age at herding cows for his board. lle re- ceived only rye bread and milk that had been skimmed. The bread was broken into a bowl and milk poured over it and handed him out of the door of the house. In that country the cows are not housed until late in November, at which time the weather was often very cold. Mr. Janssen would frequently force a cow to rise from the ground where it had been lying and he would then stand on the spot which had thus been warmed in order to warm his bare feet. for he had no shoes at that time. After coming to America Mr. Janssen earned his first money by carrying water for the men at work on the Chicago & Alton Railroad. Later he worked for the Old North Shaft Com- pany, in which (. B. Lanning was a partner. and during five years of the sixteen years that he followed that business he had a contract to do all the driving for the company. In this way he gained an intimate and practical knowl- edge of mining. On leaving the employ of that company he removed to his present place of residence. He owned property in Petersburg. which he traded with Mr. Shipp for the home where he now lives, having here one hundred and forty acres of good farming land. worth one hundred and fifty dollars per acre. He has placed his fiells under a very high state of eul- tivation and annually harvests good crops. ile also has fine stock upon his place. the sale of which brings to him a good financial return.


546


PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY


Ile likewise has other business interests, having in 1902 sunk a coal shaft, called the Janssen Valley coal shaft, from which he sells on an average of about six hundred tous of coal per month. He and his sons superintend and work the mine. Mr. Janssen beig a practical miner. having a state license. such a> is required by all managers of mining property. His son Har- man has passed the state inspection examina- tion for hoisting engineers. his license being issued at Springfield, June 12. 1904. Mr. Janssen received from J. H. Meyers the money that enabled him to sink his coal shaft and that gentleman also furnished him with all funds necessary to continue the business, and Mr. Janssen gratefully acknowledges his indebted- ness to Mr. Meyers and his deep feeling of gratitude to him.


On the 14th of October, 1814, occurred the marriage of Mr. Janssen and Miss Helkelina Junker. a daughter of Roelf C. and Ahrends (Von Mark) Junker, both of whom were natives of Germany, whence they came to America


in July, 18:1. The mother died of smallpox nine months after her arrival here. Mr. Junker died in Dawson county. Nebraska. in 1898. Mrs. Janssen was born at Groswolderfeld, Han- over. Germany, December 10, 1853, and by her marriage has become the mother of eleven chil- dren, all sons : Theodore, aged twenty-six years, is the eldest: Harman, twenty-four years of age. having passed the examination of the state board a> a mining engineer, is taking charge of the mining interests of the firm of Janssen & Sons : Jerry is nineteen years of age. Willie six- teen years. Cornelius fourteen years and Luther twelve years of age. The other members of the family are deceased. The parents hold mem- bership in the German Lutheran church and are prominent and influential people in their community. In his political views Mr. Jans- sen is a stalwart Republican, but has never had time or inclination to seek office. preferring to give his entire attention to his business affairs. which are capably conducted. He certainly de- serves great credit for what he has accom- plished. for he started out in life with no as- sistance at the early age of seven years, and all that he has siner possessed and enjoyed has


been obtained through his perseverance and un- tiring labors. He is now one of the substantial citizens of Menard county and well deserves representation in this volume.


JOHN A. PETRIE.


Hon. John A. Petrie. formerly representative from his district to the Illinois general assein- bly and now engaged in the insurance and real- estate business in Greenview. was born near Mount Carmel. Fleming county, Kentucky, February 8. 1856. His father, David A. Petrie, was born December 21, 1829, near Newport, Herkimer county. New York. and his father was of German and his mother of Irish descent. He went to Fleming county, Kentucky, in 1854, and was there engaged in farming and dairving. He married Hannah C. Lewellin. April 30, 1855. She was born in Fleming county, Ken- tucky, March 24, 1832. and was a descendant of John Hart, one of the signers of the Decla- ration of Independence. Leaving Kentucky, Mr. and Mrs. Petrie removed to Illinois, reach- ing Petersburg, Menard county, February 8, 1865. They lived on a farmn for three years and in March. 1868, removed to Greenview, where the family has since resided, the father being engaged in the lumber business and con- tracting. Unto him and his wife have been born the following named: John A. : Clarence


A .. who was born April 21, 1859, and died Jan- uary 3. 1904; Frank H., born June 25, 1861; Lney G. Hamil, born May 4, 1863; Lydia A. Moore, March 21. 1867: Phebe A., who was born April 20, 1869. and died September S, 1870; Charles A .. who was born December 28. 1821, and died July 18, 1872: and Claude, born September 22, 1873.


At the usual age John A. Petrie entered the Greenview schools, where he remained as a student until June, 18:2. He became a mem- ber of the freshman class of Lincoln University in September. 1813. and after a year left school to engage in business with his father in Greenview. This was in the summer of 1814. He never returned to school but has al- ways been a student and a great roader and


PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY


keeps posted on the affairs of the day. taking an active part in all that pertains to the prog- ress and welfare of his town and state. Al- though born on a farm and there remaining until twelve years of age, he was not interested in farm life and always longed for a business or professional life, and up to the time he was twenty years of age he entertained the idea of studying law and in later years has many times expressed the regret that he did not do so. After coming to Greenview he attended school in the winter seasons and worked on a farm in the summers of 1869 and 1820. In 1871 he worked with his father and from July, 1872, until September, 1823, he clerked in the hard- ware store of W. S. Morse & Company, receiv- ing a salary of twenty-five dollars per month and thus earning the money which paid his tuition in Lincoln University the following year. After leaving school he engaged in busi- ness with his father under the firm name of 1. A. Petrie & Son, in 1864. and continued in the business until January, 18:2. when they consolidated their hardware business with that of Frank Frorer, of Lincoln, Illinois, which was then being conducted under the name of Leigh- ton & Company, by E. F. Leighton. The bust- ness was consolidated under the name of Pet- rie & Company. This firm handled grain of all kinds in connection with their hardware and farm machinery and did a large business, which they sold out in 1881 to A. E. Stewart. In 1880 John A. Petrie assisted in organizing the Greenview Coal Company and was its first secretary. He was a member of the board of directors for several years, was president of the company for one terin and afterward was general superintendent. resigning in 1883, and selling his interest in 1885 to E. F. Crane. of Mount Sterling, Illinois. In tas6, with several citizens of Greenview, he helped to organize the Menard Coal Company. which began sink- ing the second shaft in Greenview, June 28. 1886. He entered the employ of this company as clerk in 1886. was appointed sales agent in 1881. was elected secretary about. 1890 and had the active management of the company until January, 1899. He is still a director of the company. In the meantime the Greenvier Coal Company and the Menard Coal Company


were consolidated in [893, under the name of Menard Coal Company. and this was reorgan- ized, in October, 1895, as the Greenview Coal & Mining Company. In March. 1899. Mr. Petrie opened an insurance and real estate of- fice, and is now engaged in that business, en- joying a very satisfactory patronage, being ever mindful of the best interests of his patrons.


Mr. Petrie has ever worked for the best in- terests of Greenview and never fails to speak a good word for her business men nor try to promote their welfare as opportunity offers. He has always been closely connected with the business affairs of the village and has been a most carnest champion of its system of public education. He was elected school director when twenty-two years of age and has been connected with the school board. either as mem- ber or president. for the past nine years. Ho has served several times as trustee of the vil- lage, and for the last five years has been village clerk-elected three times without opposition.


Politically a Democrat, as was his father, Mr. Petrie, from the time he attained his ma- jority. has taken an active part in politics and has been solicited many times by his friends to run for office. About two weeks before the primaries were held in 1896 he announced himself as a candidate for assessor and treas. urer. He went into the county convention with the largest number of delegates and the larg- est popular vote, but. there being two other candidates-J. U. Clary and Henry Burtiend -the contest was close and after seventy-three ballots were taken Mr. Clary withdrew from the convention and the nomination of Mr. Petrie was conceded, but three of the Oakford dele- gation failed to follow their instructions and voted for Burfiend, who was nominated by a half vote. The dissatisfaction caused by the action of the convention resulted in the defeat of a part of the ticket, and had it not been for the personal work of Mr. Petrie among his friend- Mr. Burtiend, who was only elected by a small majority, would have been defeated. Mr. Petrie next entered the political field in 1900, when he became a candidate for member of the forty-second general assembly against Hon. T. W. MeNeely, whom he defeated in the county convention, and, with the assistance


548


PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY


of Logan and Mason counties, in the senatorial convention held at Havana, Illinois. The can- didate from Cass withdrawing, Mr. Pet- rie and Hon. John C. Young, of Ma- son, were nominated for the legislature and Lawrence B. Stringer, of Logan, for the senate. The thirty-second senatorial dis- triet was then composed of Logan, Mason, Cass and Menard counties. Mr. Petrie was elected by a large majority. and in January, 1901, en- tered upon his duties. His record in the forty- second general assembly was a clean, honest, business record, where he was ever on the alert, looking after the best interests of his constitu- ents, working for good and working and vot- ing against all vicious and unworthy measures. Hle was appointed on the following committees : fish and game, insurance, mines and mining. public charities, and roads and bridges. By his courteous treatment and gentlemanly bear- ing he made many friends among Republican as well as Democratic members. During this session of the legislature the gerrymander of the state changed Mr. Petrie's district from the thirty-second to the thirtieth and made a strong Democratie district, composed of Schuy- ler, Brown, Tazewell. Cass, Mason and Menard, and Tazewell having a holdover senator and every county a candidate for representative, the fight for preferment in the forty-third general assembly became a lively and interesting con- test. Mr. Petrie was again a candidate and received the endorsement of his county without opposition. and after a hotly contested fight in the senatorial convention was renominated and again elected to represent his district. In the forty-third assembly he became an active worker and was appointed on the committees on rules, insurance, mines and mining, roads and bridges, revemie, appropriations. education, horticul- ture, and public buildings and grounds. Though he never made a speech in the house. his work in the committee rooms and his watch- fulness on the floor of the house gave him a prestige among the members which surpassed any influence many speeches could have gained, and on leaving Springfield. at the close of the session. it was the wish of many members that he would again be returned from his district.


Mr. Petrie belongs to Greenview Lodge. No.


653. A. F. & A. M .. and has always been one of its most active and influential members. He has filled all the various stations and served the lodge as master several times. He is a member of De Witt Chapter, No. 119, R. A. M., and St. Aldemar Commandery, No. 47, K. T .. and has the distinction of having been elected eminent commander of the commandery the next year after being made a Sir Knight. He is also a charter member of the Modern Wood- men of America, belonging to Tree Camp, No. 178. of Greenview, and the Fraternal Reserve Life Association, No. 48. of Greenview.


On the 10th of February, 1816, Mr. Petrie was married to Miss Samantha Pierce, who was horn September 21, 1856. a daughter of IIon. Hiram L. Pierce, of Logan county, Illinois. now of Indian Territory. The wedding cere- mony was performed at Lincoln, Illinois, by Rev. L. P. Crawford, of the Presbyterian church. They became the parents of two chil- dren: Nina Edith, born November 13, 1876 : and Mabel Eva, born January 14, 1879. The former, a graduate of the Greenview high school of the class of 1894, was assistant in the postoffice here and then spent a year in Grand Rapids, Michigan, pursuing a course in kinder- garten work, and for five years prior to 1905 she had charge of the primary department of the Greenview schools, and for three years had charge of the kindergarten at Old Salem Chau- tanqua. Mabel Eva, a graduate of the Green- view high school of the class of 1895. was a teacher of a country school in the winter of 1899-1900 and until January. 1901, when she resigned. She was married August 5, 1901. to Alonzo W. Larison, of Lin- coln. Illinois, where they reside. They have a son. Donald Alonzo, born October 6, 1902. Mrs. Petrie, the mother, died in September, 1883. and her remains were interred in Rose HTill cemetery, near Petersburg, Illinois. She was an earnest. devoted Christian, was an active worker in the church, a lady of fine social qual- ities, and was loved and mourned by all who knew her. On the 13th of November, 1881, Mr. Petrie married Emily Florence Alkire. daughter of John H. Alkire, of Sweetwater. Illinois. Unto them was born a son, Loyal John Petrie, November 22, 1889. Mrs. Petrie


549


PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY


is a lady of sterling qualities, an advocate of the true and right. a disbeliever in the shams and an avowed enemy to the evils in life, and especially to the abuses and frivolities of the social world. She loves her family, and the loyalty of her son and his rapid progress in his school life and the honors he has won are especially dne to her untiring oversight of his life and work.


Mr. Petrie is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, of which body he has been an elder and officer for several years. He is a regular attendant at the services of the


Sunday-school and church and has taught a class for many years, very seldom failing to be present. Ilis wife and three children are also members of the same church. lle is strong in his convietions of right and wrong, but liberal in his views and never infringes on the rights of others. Devoted to his family. attached to his friends, charitable to his enemies, he he- lieves in giving every man a fair show in the world. Perhaps no one man in the town has done more to help his fellow men or tried more earnestly to make their burdens less than John A. Petrie.


INDEX


HISTORICAL


Introductory


Agriculture


9


Sugar Grove


53


Churches of Menard


Mineral Resources


10


John Wilkinson 59


Aborigines 12


Athens


60


Banks and Banking 106


Cemeteries 108


Early Experiences


21


Rock Creek 70


Steamboats 110


Early Trials


Indian Creek


74


Railroads 111


The Deep Snow


24


Greenview And Irish Grove


77


Crime in Menard County 113


The Sudden Change


25


()kd Salem


,1


War Times in Menard 117


Ilail Storm of 1850


27


Overstreet


War of 1>1? 120


Manners and Customs


29


Tice


Petersburg and Viemity


War of the Rebellion


122


Early Churches 35


Petersburg, The County Seat. 96


BIOGRAPHICAL


Armstrong. Elijah J 345


Armstrong, Ryal


531


Ayres, F. W. 42.5


Baker, F. O. R. 407


Batterton, Richard 511


Gaddie, Andrew 1 &G


Gaddie, J. Thomas 503


Gibbs, George T 353


Gleason, Henry 329


Godbey, K. B. 299


139


Blain, William 42


Blain, William


191


Graham, Henry C. 175


Lenz, Otto F. 206


l.cvering, Henry C. 254


Levering, H. M 263


Lloyd, J. C ... 512


Lockhart, C. 11 139


Loohy, L. L .. 210


Lownsbery, John D 521


Lownshery, Samuel 467


Lukins, John R 300


McDoel. C. J. 330


McDonald. C. 11. 491


MeDougall. Dr. C. D 182


McKee, James O. 368


McNeely, T. W. 166


Marbold, I1. 1[ .. 156


Marbold, H. J


Meyer, William 217


Miles, James


Miles, James S. 381


Miller. Rev. R. D 127


Montgomery, Alexander 491


Moulton, Dr. H. P' 134


Mudd, Dr. W. A. 336


Mundy, I. E. 339


Myers, J. 11. . 526


Edwards, J. M. 367


Eichenauer, Henry J 426


Eldridge, Dr. F. P 143


Ensley, William


Tuhl. Andrew ( 162


Kenyon, John W 495


Kincaid, A. S .. 220


Kincaid, J. 11. 147


Kincaid, John K 204


Kincaid, Lee 133


Kincaid. Thomas 226


Kincaid, W. T 314


King, F. . 1. 289


King, Marshall J 321


Kirby, George, Sr. 463


Knoles, S. S. 138


Knowles, W. D. 354


Graham, G. W. 327


Graham, James R. 510


Grimsley, William R 112


Grosholl, Jep P' 505


Grosboll, Peter 290


Gum, C. I). 120


Gum, Jesse F 456


Canterbury, C. F. 343


C'antrall, Charles 417


C'arney, James J 539


Cheancy, E. S. 300


Hall. J. N.


3×2


Cheaney, James W.


543


Harrison, M. B 214


llartley, .1. W. 230


Ilatch, G. W ... 308


Henderson, W. P


ilill, Dr. T. C ..


152


Hitchcock, Mrs. S. F 178


Hole, Dr. Berton W. 151


Hornback, Elmer 453


Houghton, II. S.


210


Houghton, William 1I 519


Hurd, .1. G .. 194


Huric, John S. 447


Janssen, Cornelius


545


Johnson, Jeff 193


Johnson. John 461


Johnson, Kirby S 190


Nance, Albert G


Neely, Mary 239


Neff, David 206


Nusbaum, Charles 265


Finley, Mrs. Rebecca 320


Foster, J. T ... 394


Frackelton, David S. 115


Beard, Augustus F 174


Beckman, C. T. 324


Beckman, John T. 335


Behrens, John H.


257


lilain. George R. 334


Coff, William


198


Blanc, John P.


506


Bane, Dr. L. E. 520


Blanc, Capt. S. H.


140


Branson, N. W 404


Brasheld, John F


Cheaney, Dr. William J 523


Clary. J. 11 .. 410


Claypool, Edward E. 416


Lohce, William 517


Colby, Jonathan 409


C'olson, Joseph


173


Corson, Charles P. 509


Couchman. J. C. 427


C'ulver, James E. 4×1


Deal. Samuel C. 239


Diehl, Daniel


Donaldson, Alexander 213


Donaldson, John W 203


Johnson. William F 357


Tones, Mckinley 389


Mexican War 121


Education 33


Clary's Grove


Officers of Menard County.


Secret Societies 104


Early Settlements


Sandridge


Futterer, Rev. William 533


Goff, 1 .. K.


Blanc, Frank E.


Hall, Elihu 419


llall. John T 992


5.2


PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY


INDEX-Concluded.


Onken, Reinhard


119


Ott, Jesse M


254


Shipp, Edward 30%


Tice, Homer 144


Short. J. C ... 374


Smedley, J. . 1. 305


Pantier, R. ( 462


Park. Andrew


254


Pestel. John H.


413


Petrie. John 1


546


I'jerson. Louis 344


425


Spears. Dr. G. W.


205


Watkins. Elias 225


Watkins, Lewis 402


Watkins. Russell


Watkins, Samuel 499


Reding. Isaac N 434


Reed. George C. 2-3


Speer, J. F., Jr.


497


Welsh, G. R. 246


Reed, W. W. P


340


Reep. Eli 390


Stone, W. W.


178


White, John E. 209


Reep. Thomas P. 376


222


Riggin, A. K .. 234


Williams, Joe D. 454


Roberts. George 229


Williams, Thomas 352


Williams, W. B 251


Terhune, C. L ...


Willson, J. F .. 396


Terhune, Frank A 408


Terhune, John W 300


Wood, II. .. 165


Scott. Thomas


295


Terry, A. R .. 520


Senter. James T


490


Thompson, Aaron 448


Young, Robert A 432


Shaver. J. W. 534


Thompson, Inson 355 Young, W. W'


359


Tice. Jerman 242


Van Eman, George N 264


Waring, G. . \ 323


Waring, G. G. 512


Watkins, Alvin 541


Pillsbury. J.


201


l'ond, J. F.


Pond. T. C. 379


Spears. Richard G 537


Spears, Zarel C. 170


Speer, J. F. 482


Watkins, William 539


Wernsing. J. W 25S


Strader, Mrs. Mary J 492


Whitley. Dr. James D). 31G


Ridge, John .\


Sturgis, .\. I ..


185


Wilkins, Dr. H. E. 120


Rogers. C. T


233


Taylor. Dr. W. S. 221


Ruth, R. B ..


538


Rutledge, J. N. 477


Shipley, Clement W 141


Thompson, Z. . 1. 319


Smith. Samuel MI.


241


Spear, Elisha G.


540


Spear. Miss Elva G.


409


Spears, G. C .. 34G


Spears, G. L' ... 253


Spears, John Q .. 266


Stone. A. II. 321


Winterbauer, George 333


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