USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Past and present of Montgomery County, Illinois > Part 10
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H. S. Short spent the first thirteen years of his life in the state of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois. His education was acquired in the common schools of Fayette and Shelby coun- ties, and he also attended a Quaker institute north of Indianapolis, Indiana. Having ac-
quired a good literary education to serve as the foundation upon which to build the super- structure of professional knowledge, he en- tered the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cin- einnati, Ohio, where he pursued a complete course of study and was graduated with the class of 18:3. Ile had also previously studied medicine at Ramsey with Dr. Jones, and he practiced for four years before his graduation. He opened an office in Fillmore, Illinois, in July. 1869, practicing there for four years; was also at Ramsey from September. 1875. un- til 1828, and in the latter year returned to Fillmore, where he has since remained, being now the oldest practitioner of the town. Ile has been very successful, his practice being at- tended with excellent results. He has always made a close study of the profession, has kept abreast with the best thinking men who are representatives of the medical science. and has gained a liberal patronage, which is accorded him in recognition of his ability.
Dr. Short was a young man of only about twenty-one years when. on the 3d of July. 1861. he responded to the country's call for aid to preserve the Union and enlisted in Com- pany C. Thirty-fifth Illinois Infantry, from Shelby county. He served until September 27, 1864. and was with Sherman on his campaign as far as Atlanta. Ile participated in the bat- tles of Stone River, Perryville, Chattanooga and Knoxville, and from the 7th of May un- til the 18th of August, 1864, was never beyond the range of the enemy's guns. being constantly under fire.
On the 31st of October, 1871, Dr. Short was married to Miss Sarah M. Stokes, a daughter of Bird and Mary Stokes. and they have six children, all of whom are living: Dr. W. T. Short, who is now practicing in Stonington, Illinois : Mary L., the wife of Dr. Hoyt. of Fillmore : Emma E., the wife of Walter Tober- man ; U. S., who is now practicing in East St. Louis, Illinois, and is a graduate of the Ma- rion Sims Beaumont College, having com- pleted the course with honors; Walter C., who is a graduate of the Illinois University and was appointed by President Roosevelt to the rank of second lieutenant in the United States Army. February 15. 1902. and is now serving
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as battalion quartermaster at Fort Reno, in of William B. and Kate (O'Brien) Carter, Oklahoma; and L. Bird, who was born No- vember 22, 1883, and has attended medical college two years, being now a junior in the Marion Sims Beaumont College at St. Louis.
Dr. Short belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being made a Mason at Cowden, Illinois, in Cold Spring lodge, in 1866. He is an exem- plary representative of that order and is also connected with the Modern Woodmen camp, while his wife belongs to the Methodist Epis- copal church. In politics he is a Republican and has ever taken a deep and active interest in the welfare of the town, co-operating in many community affairs which have for their object the general good and the promotion of the county's progress and improvement. Great changes have occurred during the period of his residence here, for he can remember when a few settlements on the border of the county remained only in the edge of the timber. the prairie land then being considered unfit for farming purposes. There were many deer and many kinds of lesser game, most of the homes were but pioneer cabins, and the work of im- provement and progress largely lay in the fu- ture. Dr. Short has for many years been the loved family physician in a large number of the households of Fillmore and the surround- ing district, and his genuine personal worth. as well as his professional skill, has gained for him the warm regard of a large circle of friends. He stands to-day among the leading representatives of his profession in the county, and his life has been one of great usefulness to those among whom his lot has been cast.
WILLIAM DANIEL CARTER.
William Daniel Carter, living on section 20, Zanesville township, where he is carrying on general farming and stock-raising, breeding, feeding and shipping thoroughbred Angus cat- tle, has been a resident of Illinois since 1880 and has prospered in his business undertakings here, becoming the owner of five hundred and twenty acres of rich and arable land. A na- tive of Ohio, he was born in Clinton county, on the 11th of December, 1852, and is a son
who were natives of Ireland, the father born in 1822 and the mother in 1812. They spent their youth in that country and were married there. They afterward emigrated to the new world, settling first in New York. whence they later removed to Ohio and about 1863 came to Illinois, settling in Madison county, where the father developed a farm of three hundred and twenty aeres, placing his land under a high state of cultivation and adding substantial improvements in the way of good buildings. It was upon the old homestead in Madison county that he reared his family and there he continued to reside until 1880, when he came to Montgomery county. Having sold his Madi- son county property he purchased five hundred and twenty acres of land in Zanesville township, this county, which he operated for ten years. In 1890 he retired from the farm and removed to St. Louis, where he died on the 2d of Decem- ber, 1902. His wife still survives him and re- sides in St. Louis at the age of eighty-seven years, making her home with a daughter.
William D. Carter is the only son in a family of five children. three of whom are living. He was reared in Madison county and is indebted to its publie-school system for the educational privileges he enjoyed. Early in youth he be- came familiar with farm labor in all of its de- partments and his boyhood experience has proved an excellent foundation upon which to build his manhood's success.
In St. Louis, Missouri, on the 4th of Novem- ber. 1900. Mr. Carter was married to Miss Lil- lian Hennessy, who was born in that city, a daughter of Thomas and Anna ( Hayes) Hen- nessy, and obtained her education there. They now have one daughter, Isabel, born July 10. 1903.
Mr. Carter located upon his present farm in Zanesville township in 1880. having inherited one hundred and twenty acres of this tract, while the remainder he purchased from the other heirs. He has made an addition to and remodeled the house and now has a comfortable residence. There are also three good barns upon the place and other necessary outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. He has set out a good orchard and his farm in its various
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
W. D. CARTER AND FAMILY
MRS. WILLIAM B. CARTER
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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departments is neat and thrifty in appearance. indicating his careful supervision and practi- cal progressive ideas. Ilis fields are well tilled and he also raises fine stock, shipping from five to ten carloads of fat stock annually. For the past thirteen years he has been engaged in breeding and dealing in thoroughbred polled Angus cattle and now has a fine herd and is well known as a raiser of this breed of stock. He had formerly been identified with his father in a similar business enterprise. He now has a herd of one hundred and ten head with twenty head of full blooded Angus cattle and a splen- did bull at the head of the herd. He also makes a business of buying and selling road horses of the better breeds, and raises Poland China hogs, having a fine thoroughbred male hog and shipping on an average of two hundred head annually.
Mr. Carter votes with the Democracy and while interested in its success and the growth of the party has never sought or desired office. He and his wife were reared in the Catholic faith and are members of the church at Litchfield. He has made for himself an excellent reputa- tion as a good business man and is widely known throughout central Illinois as one of the suc- cessful agriculturists and leading stock-raisers of Montgomery county.
GEORGE T. SEWARD.
George T. Seward is a man of rare business capacity, who, in his day. has been among the foremost in developing the mercantile and municipal interests of Hillsboro. His native talent has led him out of humble surroundings to large worldly successes through the oppor- tunity that is the pride of our American life. nor has his success been such as to be meas- ured by material standards alone, for he has developed that type of character which makes for higher ethical ideals in business and in society, and in his business relations and deal- ings he has applied the principles which have made him a most honored and honorable man in private life.
George T. Seward was born near Butler, Montgomery county, on the 14th of September,
1856, and is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of this part of the state. His paternal grandfather, Israel Seward, came to Montgomery county at a very early epoch in the development of this portion of Illinois and established his home near Hillsboro. Ile afi- erward removed to the farm near Butler.
George C. Seward, the father of George T. Seward, was on that farm, a mile and a half north of Hillsboro, in 1820, and for forty-eight years lived upon the farm which was his birth- place. His entire life was devoted to agri- cultural pursuits and his consecutive labor and unfaltering perseverance made him one of the substantial citizens of the community, and at his death enabled him to leave his family in comfortable circumstances. He was regarded as a trite and faithful friend to the needy and was held in the highest regard by his fellow citizens. He died January 1. 189%, when in his seventy-seventh year. He gave his political allegiance to the Republican party and in all matters of citizenship was progressive and public-spirited. He watched with interest the progress of events in the county as it emerged from pioneer conditions and was the champion of all measures for the general good. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Unity J. Phil- lips, was a daughter of Captain Thomas Phil- lips, who served his country in the Black Hawk war. He was a farmer during the greater part of his life, but for a time resided in Hillsboro and during that period engaged in the raising of horses. Both he and his wife died when in their eighty-eighth year. Mrs. George C. Seward, who is still living, is a member of the Presbyterian church and a lady whose many good traits of heart and mind have won for her the friendship of a large majority of those with whom she has come in contact. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Seward were born seven chil- dren: Hattie, who married Lloyd C. Wash- burn, a commercial traveler, residing in South Dakota: Thomas L., who is living on the old family homestead near Butler; Benjamin H .. who is employed as a clerk in St. Louis : George T .: Carrie, who is the wife of Dr. C. W. Hickman, of Springfield: Jesse J., who is engaged in carpentering in Butler; and one that died in infancy.
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George T. Seward acquired his education in the schools of Butler and in the Hillsboro Academy. He left school, however, at a com- paratively early age and worked upon the home farm until he attained his majority. Ile then came to Ilillsboro and accepted a position in Woodruff's shoe store. but after a short time became a salesman in the general store of A. A. K. Sawyer, in whose employ he re- mained for eight years. In 1887 he embarked in the furniture business, forming a partner- ship with Jesse MeHenry. under the firm style of Seward & Mellenry. This relation was continned for about two years, at the end of which time Mr. Seward purchased his part- ner's business and has since been alone. He is now in a corner block, occupying two floors, one hundred and forty by one hundred and five feet, and one floor forty by seventy- five feet, and he carries the largest stock of general furniture in the county, and also deals in carpets and does an undertaking business. His trade has become extensive. his business profitable, and his success is attributable en- tirely to his own well directed efforts and in- telligent and capable management. He has otherwise extended his efforts to other fields of activity, and is now the president of the ITillsboro Briek & Tile Company and a di- rector in the Hillsboro Building & Improve- ment Association, of which he was formerly vice president for two years.
In 1881 ocenrred the marriage of Mr. Sew- ard and Miss Katie Rohlfing. a daughter of Christian and Katherine Rohlfing. both of whom are natives of Germany, whence they emigrated to St. Louis, and thence came to Montgomery county, eventually settling in Hillsboro, where they spent their remaining days. Mrs. Seward was born in St. Louis in 1861 and has become the mother of two chil- dren : George LeMar and J. Frederick. The parents are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Seward is a Republican in his political views. He has served as a member of the city council for two years and has a publie- spirited interest in everything pertaining to municipal affairs and lo the improvement and progress of his community. His business ca- reer has been crowned with a high measure of
success. He has the dominating personality and the imagination, coupled with a sure grasp of affairs, that mark the progressive man who does not shrink from taking large risk in the hope of large reward. Besides. he has the pa- tience, the wide vision and the power to reeog- nize and to grasp an opportunity. Because of these salient traits in his character he has won for himself success and made an honorable name in business circles.
A. F. WEAVER.
Of a large number of Illinois' native sons now residing within the borders of the state none are more deserving of mention than A. F. Weaver, who in his community is well known and highly respected. He resides in Nokomis, where he is engaged in the insurance business and he has secured a good elientage, while at the same time he has won warm friend- ship which is accorded in recognition of his per- sonal traits of character. He was born in Madi- son county, Illinois, in 1838, his parents being John and Ann Maria Weaver. The family is of Swiss lineage. In 1804 three brothers and a sister came from Switzerland to Amer- ica and two of the number settled in Ohio and one in northern Indiana. To the latter branch of the family Mr. Weaver traces his ancestry. The father's birth occurred in Fair- field county, Ohio, in 1816, and the mother was born in Pennsylvania in 1811. He was reared in the Buckeye state and in 1834 re- moved to Illinois, settling near Edwardsville, where he lived until about a year ago, when he came to Nokomis. He is numbered among the early settlers of this state, having come to the Mississippi valley when this was largely a wild and unimproved district. For many years he carried on farming. but is now living a retired life. He lost his wife in 1891 and their only living child is A. F. Weaver.
in Madison county A. F. Weaver was reared, attending school there until seventeen years of age, after which he went to Edwardsville. Later he spent two years as a student in the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. Ohio,
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and was there located at the time of the out- break of the Civil war. Returning to Illinois he enlisted in August, 1862. as a member of Com- pany D, One Hundred and Seventeenth Illinois Infantry. He participated in the battles of Fort De Russey. Pleasant Hills, Tupelo, Nashville, Fort Blakeley and a number of skirmishes and was never wounded or captured, although in the battle of Nashville a shot from the artillery passed directly under his foot. Through three years he remained a faithful defender of the old flag and the cause it represented and in Angust, 1865, he received an honorable dis- charge at Camp Butler near Springfield.
Mr. Weaver returned to his father's home and there continued until January. 1866, when he was married to Miss Martha AA. Dunn. of Zanesville, Ohio. This union has been blessed with eight children, of whom six are living: Lorena, the wife of G. W. Churchill. a resident of Chicago ; Winnie, at home : Dumm W., who is occupying a position in the auditing depart- ment in Marshall Field's mercantile establish- ment in Chicago; Hattie, at home; Earl, who is a graduate of Brown's College and is em- ployed by the Paddock Lumber Company : and Harry, at home.
After his marriage Mr. Weaver located upon the home farm, where he resided for two years and in 1868 be removed to this county. where he carried on agricultural pursuits. purchasing four hundred acres of land west of the town of Nokomis. This he still owns and for fifteen years he was actively engaged in farming. He then came to Nokomis and for six years carried on general merchandising. but since 1891 he has devoted his energies to the insurance busi- ness and now represents seven of the old re- liable fire insurance companies. lle is re- garded as one of the representative men of Nokomis and his labors have been an active factor in promoting its welfare and substantial improvement. He now owns the Opera House of the town and also sixty acres at the north side of the town. having thereon a splendid residence, which he occupies. He was also one of the organizers of the bank. and after- ward served as one of its directors. Mrs. Wea- ver has been to her husband a faithful com- panion and helpmate on the journey of life
and is a most estimable lady, who enjoys the warm friendship of many with whom she has come in contact. Her life is permeated by her Christian faith, for she is a devoted member of the Methodist church. Mr. Weaver belongs to the Masonie fraternity and to the Grand Army of the Republie and has been commander of the post at Nokomis. In his political views he is a Democrat and has tilled various public offices, serving as supervisor, as lown clerk and as school director, occupying the last named position for a number of years. He has al- ways taken an active interest in politics and has done much to promote the growth and insure the success of his party in this lo- cality.
R. M. BARRINGER.
R. M. Barringer, engaging in the livery busi- ness, is active in community affairs as super- visor of Witt township, in which connection he has rendered signal service to his fellow citi- zens. A native son of Montgomery county. he was born eight miles south of Paisley, June 16, 1851. His parents were Caleb and Dor- thula (Fleming) Barringer, the former a na- tive of North Carolina and the latter of Ten- nessee. They became residents of Montgomery county in 1832, locating in Filhore township, where Mr. Barringer secured land from the government for twenty-five cents per acre. He placed all the improvements upon his farm, developed the land into productive fields and made his home thereon until about t892, when he took up his abode in the village of Fillmore and in 1904 he removed to Paisley, where he is now living retired at the advanced age of eighty years, while his wife has reached the age of seventy-six years. R. M. Barringer is the second son in their family of six living children, the others being: Mrs. Carrie Po- land, of Ellensburg. Washington : Sidney Ed- ward, who is superintendent of the county farm: Mrs. Anna Alderson, who is living in Pond Creek. Oklahoma: Isaae N., a farmer of Filhnore township; and Mattie, the wife of Richard Holmes, of Paisley.
R. M. Barringer, having attended the com-
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mon schools, afterward entered the academy at Hillsboro and subsequent to putting aside his text books he remained upon the home farm until twenty-two years of age, after which he engaged in farming on his own account for two years. He next took up his abode in Nokomis, where he was engaged in conducting a restau- rant and bakery. After seven years he re- turned to the farm where he again lived for two years and then removed to Summer county, Kansas, where he spent eight years in farming and in the livery business. In 1893 he made the race for land in the Cherokee strip in the In- dian Territory. For days people had gathered around that strip and at a given signal all started in a rush for the land. Mr. Barringer secured a claim two miles south of Blackwell. Ile afterward removed to Howell county, Mis- souri. where he carried on farming for two Years and then returned to Illinois, settling in Hillsboro. In 1896 he was janitor of a schoolhouse, occupying that position for two years, after which he engaged in teaming for a year. In 1899 he removed to a farm south of Hillsboro and on the 23d of October. 1900. he took up his abode in Paisley, where he worked as top man in connection with the mines for a year. Later he bought the livery business, which he is now conducting and he has a well equipped stable and is enjoying a good patronage.
On the 2d of April, 18:4, Mr. Barringer was married to Miss Meca L. Sanders, a daughter of Elza and Sarah Sanders, carly settlers of this county, coming here in 1830. They had twelve children, of whom Mrs. Barringer is the third in order of birth. Those living are Frank, who is now living in Witt; Mrs. Lena Richards, of Litchfield: Ervin, who resides up- on the old home place near Ohlman ; Charles, who is living in Rosemond, Illinois: Edward, a resident of Chicago; Jefferson, who is located in Canada: and Mrs. Ella Graden. of Ne- maha. Kansas. The others died in infancy. The father died in 1902 at the age of eighty- two years and the mother is now living in Ohl- man, at the age of seventy-six years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Barringer have been born three children: Corwin E., who is married and re- sides in Paisley ; Viola E., the wife of Homer
Sawyer, who follows farming near Paisley : and Lawrence M., who died in 1899 at the age of nineteen years.
Mr. and Mrs. Barringer are members of the Lutheran church and he is a member of the Mutnal Protective League. His political al- legiance is given to the Democracy and in the spring of 1904 he was elected supervisor of Witt township, which usually gives a strong Re- publican majority. His election therefore is indicative of the confidence reposed in him and the high position which he holds in the regard of his fellow townsmen. He has also been a member of the school board. Possess- ing a genial manner and social disposition he has won many friends during the years of his residence in Montgomery county.
J. J. GATES.
J. J. Gates has figured prominently in public affairs in Donnellson and Montgomery county, and through his ready recognition of business opportunity and his utilization of the advan- tages that have come to hand he has made him- self a place among the substantial residents of his part of the state. He was born in Rock- ingham county, North Carolina, June 24, 1851. His father, Philip Gates, of Coffeen, was reared in North Carolina, and in that state followed the occupation of farming until after the Civil war, when, in November, 1866, he came to Montgomery county, Illinois, settling near Coffeen. For a number of years he was actively identified with agricultural interests, but is now living retired in the town. He first married Miss Barbara Thomas, and after her death wedded Miss Nancy Raglin. of News Ferry, Halifax county, Virginia. He had five children, four sons and a daughter, namely: Mrs. S. C. Qualls and James R., both residents of Coffeen, Illinois : Hardin, of Fillmore town- ship; A. L., also of Coffeen; and J. J .. of this sketch.
The mother died when her son, J. J. Gates, was but ten years of age. He continued to re- main upon the old home farm, however, until 1872, when, at the age of twenty-one years, he
MR. AND MRS. J. J. GATES
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staried out in life for himself, beginning work as a farm hand, in which capacity he was em- ployed for two or three years. On the expira- tion of that period he rented land and began farming for himself. When two years had passed he bought a place of seventy acres in Bond county, later added to it another tract of seventy acres, and upon that farm he re- mained for thirteen years, or until he pur- chased a farm of one hundred and forty acres in Montgomery county. He taught school for seven terms in Bond and Montgomery counties, For ten consecutive years he was engaged in the operation of a threshing machine, and at one time he owned a half interest in the creamery at Donnellson, but sold that a short time ago. He now feeds and ships stock for the market, and he is quite successful in this business, mak- ing judicious purchases and profitable sales.
In 1878 Mr. Gates was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Ross, of East Fork township, where her early life was passed. Seven children have been born unto them, of whom four are living: Ethel, who is now a stenographer in St. Louis; Mary, Carrie and Nellie, all at home. The parents and three of their children hold membership in the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Gates is identified with the Modern Woodman camp, the Mutual Protective League and the Royal Neighbors. In politics he is a Democrat, but the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him, as he prefers to give his attention to his business affairs and the interests of his household. IIe is a self- made man, having gone in debt when he pur- chased land, but within the first year he had discharged all his obligation. He has worked on persistently and energetically, year after year, and is to-day the owner of a valuable and attractive property.
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