USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Past and present of Montgomery County, Illinois > Part 18
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CHARLES 11. POLAND.
Charles II. Poland, who follows farming and stock-raising, is one of the active sons of Montgomery county, whose present place of residence was also his birthplace. He was born April 13, 1861, and is a son of Jacob and Sal-
lie M. N. (Stokes) Poland. His parents were natives of Tennessee and came thence to Illi- nois, settling in Fayette county. The father removed to this state with his parents when thirteen years of age, and he afterward became the owner of a farm, upon which the town of Ramsey, Illinois, has been built. He came to Montgomery county in 1856, locating on the farm which is now the home of his son, Charles II. Here he began the development of his land, comprising two hundred and forty acres, and he continued its cultivation until he had made it a very productive and valuable property. He died August 29, 1898, at the age of eighty-two years, and his widow, who still survives him, is living in Filhnore, Illinois, at the age of eighty years.
Charles H. Poland, having acquired his pre- liminary education in the common schools of Montgomery county. afterward spent two terms as a student in the Northern Indiana Normal College at Valparaiso. IIe then returned home and engaged in farming until 1900, when he went to Metcalf, Illinois, where he conducted a general mercantile store for about two years. In 1902. however. he sold his property there and returned to his farm. He has two hun- dred and forty acres of well improved land. and this is very rich and arable, the well tilled fields yielding to him splendid harvests in re- turn for the care and labor he bestows upon them. He has good improvements upon his property and is widely known as an enterpris- ing agrienlturist.
On the 10th of January. 1886, Mr. Poland was united in marriage to Miss Amanda E. Craig, a daughter of John and Nancy Craig, of Fayette county, Illinois. They became the parents of two children, Carroll and Roxie, and Mrs. Poland died on the 16th of August. 1898. On the 22th of March, 1902, Mr. Poland was again married. his second union being with Maude Knowles, a daughter of William and Mahala Knowles, who were early settlers of Montgomery county, and the father is now liv- ing in Fillmore.
Mr. Poland and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he also be- longs to the Court of Honor. He votes with the Republican party. has served on the village
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C. H. POLAND
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board of Fillmore, has been township collector and was on the school board for six years. The public duties thus placed upon him have ever been faithfully discharged, and he is ever loyal to a trust, whether of a public or a private nature. In his business relations he is thor- oughly reliable, and he deserves to be classed among the representative farmers of Witt township.
HENRY NEUHAUS.
Henry Neuhaus, who for eight years has been engaged in general merchandising in Farmers- ville, was born in Madison county, Illinois, August 18, 1869. His father, Henry Neuhaus, Sr., was a native of Germany and spent the days of his youth in that country and was married there ere his omigration to the new world. The year 1864 witnessed his arrival in America. Crossing the Atlantie, he made his way direct to Madison county, Illinois, where he located upon a farm and still makes his home, being one of the prosperous and high- ly respected agriculturists of that community.
Henry Neuhaus, whose name forms the cap- tion of this review. was born and reared in Madison county and remained upon the farm with his father until he had attained his ma- jority. He had fair common-school advantages, pursuing his education through the winter months, while during the summer season he assisted in the labors of plowing, planting and harvesting. He made the most of his oppor- tunities in the schoolroom, being an apt scholar. and broad reading and experience in later years have also largely added to his knowledge.
While residing in Madison county Mr. Neu- hans was married in 1892 to Miss Sophia Lucker, who was born in that county and was of German parentage. Her girlhood days were spent in the same neighborhood in which Mr. Neuhaus resided and as boy and girl they at- tended school together. Following their mar- riage they began their domestic life upon a farm in Madison county and there resided for five years, his attention being devoted to the tilling of the soil. In 1892, however, believing that he would prefer a mercantile career, he
bought out an established business in Farmers- ville and has since been identified with the commercial interests of the town. He now carries a well selected stock of general goods, including dry goods and groceries, and his pat- ronage has constantly increased until he has become one of the prosperous business men of his locality. He owns his own store building, which is a neat, well arranged and well lighted business house and his unfaltering courtesy to his patrons and his earnest desire to render satisfaction in all trade relations have secured to him a business that is represented by a large figure annually. In addition to his store he also owns a neat residence which he has re- built and remodeled, making a delightfully comfortable home.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Neuhaus have been born four children : Paul, Albert, Bertha and Marie. The parents were reared in the Lutheran faith and are members of the church of that denom- mation in Farmersville. Politically Mr. Neu- haus is a Republican and is now serving as a member of the village board, having been elected on that ticket. Ho exercises his official prerogatives in support of measures which he deems will prove of benefit to the town and whether in or out of office gives loyal allegiance to everything pertaining to the general wel- fare. In his trade relations he has made an honorable name, for he has never been known to take advantage of the necessities of his fol- low men, lives faithfully up to the terms of every contract and fulfills every obligation.
JOSIIUA OSBORN.
Joshua Osborn, interested in general farming in Audubon township, was born on the 9th of April. 1836, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his parents being William and Sarah ( Manwaring) Osborn. The father came from England. He was a shoemaker by trade and followed that calling in Philadelphia prior to the Mexican war. When there was need of military service he responded to the call of his adopted coun- try and joined the army, but his health became impaired from wounds and disease contracted while at the front and he died when his son
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Joshua was but ten years of age. He had mar- ried Sarah Manwaring, whose father was of English birth, while her mother, whose maiden name was Platt, was of French descent. He died when ninety-six years of age and his wife reached the age of seventy-six years. It will thus be seen that Mrs. Sarah Osborn came of a family noted for longevity and she reached the venerable age of eighty-six years and at her death. which occurred at the home of her son Joshua, she was laid to rest in the cemetery near Mountainburg, Arkansas. In the family were two sons, the elder being John L. Osborn, who conducts a general store in Oscoda, Michi- gan. Ile is married and has two children.
Joshua Osborn was educated in Michigan. in early childhood his family had removed from Philadelphia to Mount Holly, New Jer- sey, and when he was a lad of six summers the family home was established at Rochester, Michigan, twenty-five miles north of Detroit. There Mr. Osborn attended the public schools until sixteen years of age. when he entered upon life's practical duties by learning the shoe- maker's trade, which he followed for four years. He arrived in Audubon township, Montgomery county, Illinois, in 1856, and purchased eighty acres of land in Hurricane township, Fayette county, Illinois, but never resided upon that place. For six years after his arrival here he was employed by Otis Little. three years before entering the army and three years after his return from the front.
Prompted by a spirit of partiotism Mr. Os- born responded to the president's call for troops and on the 3d of July, 1861, enlisted in de- fense of the Union as a private of the Thirty- fifth Illinois Infantry, being mustered in at Jefferson Barracks. Ile served as commissary sergeant and was honorably discharged Sep- tember 22. 1864, after more than three years' connection with the army. He took part in the battles of Pea Ridge, Perryville, Stone River. Chiekamanga, Missionary Ridge and all of the battles of the Atlanta campaign until the capitulation of that city. He was very fortunate in that he was never captured nor wounded, yet he never faltered in the perform- ance of any duty. although it ealled him into the thickest of the fight.
Mr. Osborn was married on the 20th of Feb- ruary. 1868, to Miss Emma F. Bishop, a daughter of Robert K. Bishop, of Audubon township. Mrs. Osborn was the elder of their two children and Frank Bishop was the young- er. By her marriage she has become the moth- er of three children: Frank J., who married Eva West, a representative of one of the old families of Audubon township, is living in Ohlman and has one child. Otis Ray. Howard L. is a resident of Jacksonville, Illinois. Eva M. has completed the course in the district schools and expects to continue her education in a high school.
After coming to Montgomery county Mr. Osborn purchased eighty acres of land. Later he removed to Ford county, Kansas, where he secured a homestead elaim of one hundred and sixty aeres, going to that state in 1884. In 1886 he removed his family to the claim and proved it up by living upon it for five years. He afterward traded that land for a farm of one hundred and four acres in Arkansas, where he also spent five years, coming, however, to Montgomery county upon the expiration of that period. He has been quite successful here in his farming operations and now has a good property of eighty acres, which is well im- proved and is kept in excellent condition. He has been connected to greater or less extent with the county since 1856 and is therefore known to many of its older settlers as well as its later citizens. While his life has been quiet- ly passed it has exemplified a spirit of industry and enterprise that is most commendable and has been the basic element of his present com- fortable competence.
MARSHALL DRISKELL.
The name of Driskell is one well known in Montgomery county. for the subject of this review and others of the family have been aet- ively and successfully engaged in farming here for many years. Marshall Driskell. now re- siding on section 21. Zanesville township, is living a retired life, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves, for through many years he was an active factor in
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farming interests and he became the owner of a well improved tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres.
Mr. Driskell has intimate knowledge of the history of Illinois through a long period, for he became a resident of the state about 1835 and has lived in Montgomery county since 1851. He was born in Gallatin county, Ken- tucky, December 2:, 1825, and was a son of William Driskell, who was born and reared in that state and was there married to Sarah Owens, also a native of Kentucky. The father carried on agricultural pursuits in Kentucky. and both he and his wife died there. They were the parents of three children and they departed this life during the early boyhood of their son Marshall.
Thus left an orphan at a tender age. Mar- shall Driskell was reared by his uncle. John Owens, and with him came to Illinois in 1833. settling in Macoupin county, where he attained his majority. Desiring a companion and help -: mate for the journey of life, he was married in that county in 1850 to Miss Louisa Davis, who was born and spent her girlhood in Ken- tucky, whence she came to Illinois, In 1851 Mr. Driskell brought his young wife to Mont- gomery county and purchased eighty acres of land, comprising both timber and raw prairie land. This he at once began to clear and im- prove. and he opened up an excellent farm. He afterward bought another eighty acre tract ad- joining. and with characteristic energy he be- gan the development of his property. In the early days he underwent many of the hard- ships and adversities incident to pioneer life when one has but limited capital. but as the years passed by he was enabled to enjoy many of the comforts and conveniences known to the older east. He built a neat and substantial residence. a good barn and other necessary buildings upon his place. He also planted an orchard, made fences. cultivated his fields and raised good stock. As he found opportunity he extended the boundaries of his farm by additional purchase until he owned two hun- dred and forty acres, but he has since given his son an eighty aere traet and now retains possession of one hundred and sixty acres on seetion 21. Zanesville township. In raising
both grain and stock he was successful, and at length he had saved from his earnings and the sale of his products a capital sufficient to en- able him to put aside further active farm labor and live in the enjoyment of a well earned rest.
In 1894 Mr. Driskell lost his wife, who had for many years been a faithful companion and helpmate to him on life's journey. They were the parents of six children, but they lost their youngest, a daughter, in early childhood. The others are John, who is conducting the home farm and is represented elsewhere in this vol- ume; Alice E .. the wife of George Martin ; James M., who owns and operates a well im- proved farm adjoining his father's land in Zanesville township; Sarah Catherine, who is acting as her father's housekeeper; and Net- tie I ... the wife of Robert Allen, a resident farmer of Zanesville township.
Politically Mr. Driskell is a stanch Demo- erat, believing firmly in the principles of the party and never desiring office as a reward for his political allegiance. lle belongs to the Christian church, in which he is serving as an elder, and in its work he takes an active in- terest. As one of the pioneer settlers of the state, he certainly deserves mention in this volume, for his residence here covers almost seventy years. This has been a period of the marvelous growth and development in Illinois, and no one feels greater pride in what has been accomplished along substantial lines than does Mr. Driskell, while in the community where he has long made his home he has ever borne his part in the work of improvement and upbuilding.
THEODORE BUMANN.
Theodore Bumann. an inventor and manufac- turer, operating an extensive productive in- dustry of Litchfield, was born in Bunker Hill, Macoupin county, in 1857. and is of German lineage. Ifis parents. Frederick and Catherine (Kuhl) Bumann, were both natives of Ger- many and the father emigrated to the United States in 1848. He finally located at Bunker Hill. where he became a grain merchant and
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also made extensive investments in farm prop- erty until he is now a large landowner. By trade lie is a plasterer, but was a grain mer- chant from the time of the Civil war until he retired from active business life. He is now living in the enjoyment of a comfortable com- petence that has been acquired entirely through his enterprising efforts. As a business man he has figured prominently in commercial circles and in political life has also been recognized as a local leader. He has served as a member of the council and as mayor of Bunker Hill and his devotion to the general good has been mani- fest by active co-operation in the measures which have had for their object the substantial improvement of his city. He has been called to office as a Republican candidate, having long supported the party. Fraternally he is identi- fied with the Odd Fellow's lodge. His wife is also living and is now seventy-seven years of age. In the family were nine children, four of whom yet survive.
Theodore Bumann having obtained his edn- cation in the publie schools of Bunker Hill was later engaged in the hardware business there, conducting his store for about fifteen years. Ile early displayed considerable me- chanical ability and inventive ingenuity and he continued his experiments until he had per- feeted a siphon oil can, upon which he received a patent in 1892. The following year he came to Litchfield and built a factory for the manu- facture of this can. His establishment com- prises a large plant. the building being twenty- six by one hundred and fifty fect and with the others he occupies four thousand six hundred feet of floor space and employs twenty-five peo- ple, including traveling salesmen. The product of the factory is shipped to almost every state in the Union. Everything about the place is in a flourishing condition and although the fae- tory is being operated to its full capacity the supply is not equal to the demand. Mr. Bu- mann also invented an improved mouse trap which he manufactures, and other products of the factory are various kinds of sheet metal ware. Altogether he makes over twenty-five dif- ferent articles, but the principal output are oil cans, pails and traps. Unlike many men of in- ventive genius Mr. Bumann also possesses good
business and executive ability and has made his enterprise a profitable one. His brother, A. M. Bumann, who is a teacher of manual train- ing in the normal school in Pittsburg, Kansas, is financially interested in the business.
In 1885 Mr. Bumann was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Hintz, who was born in Ger- many, a daughter of E. C. F. Hintz, who was; a cabinet-maker by trade and settled in Bunker ITill in the '70s. Mr. and Mrs. Bumann have three children: Ilarry, Doris E. and Albert. Mr. Bumann is connected with the Modern Woodmen camp at Bunker Hill, and he exer- cises his right of franchise in support of men and measures of the Republican party. He belongs to that class of representative American citizens who, while promoting their individual interests, also advance the general welfare, and he is now a leading factor in manufacturing circles in this city.
JOHN W. RITCHIE.
John W. Ritchie has been a resident of Mont- gomery county for almost a half century, hav- ing located here in 1855. He was born August 14. 1834, his parents being John and Seeley (Blackwelder) Ritchie, who were natives of North Carolina, born in Cabarrus county. The grandparents had been residents of Pennsyl- vania. whence they removed to the Old North state, founding the family there. They were farming people, living in a manner common in colonial days, and their religious faith was that of the Lutheran church.
John Ritchie was born in 1:98 and died in the year 1854. llis wife passed away in the same year and they were laid to rest near their home in North Carolina. Mr. Ritchie had been a farmer and miller and he was also the owner of slaves, having twelve negroes at the time of his death who were worth one thon- sand dollars each. These were sold together with the land and the proceeds of the estate was then divided among the children. In the family were six children, of whom John W. was the fifth in order of birth. Mary Ann be- came the wife of Wilson Ridenhour and after his death married Milas Bond. who is also
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deceased, but his widow is yet living in North Carolina. Elizabeth married Jacob A. Cruse and both died in North Carolina. Martin A. is living in North Litchfield township, Mont- gomery county. Daniel M. was killed by a horse in childhood. Sallie, who married Jacob A. Cruse, died in North Carolina in 1884 at the age of forty-eight years.
John W. Ritchie was educated in the state of his nativity, attending both subscription and free schools and later continuing his studies in the schools of Illinois. He came to this state in 1855 with his brother and his family, settling on section 15, North Litchfield town- ship. Later he purchased a tract of land of more than two hundred acres and as a com- panion and helpmate on life's journey he chose Miss Rachel S. Cress, a daughter of George Henry Cress, of North Carolina, while her grandparents were from Pennsylvania. Her parents resided in Cabarrus county. North Carolina, near Concord, and her father was a farmer and slaveholder. He died in the Old North state and his land was afterward sold and his widow came to Illinois, arriving here in 1855. She then made her home with her chil- dren until her death, which occurred Septem- ber 2, 1901, when her remains were interred in the Lutheran cemetery in Litchfield. She bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Fogleman and belonged to one of the old and prominent families of North Carolina. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cress were born five children, of whom the eldest was Mrs. Ritchie, who was educated in North Carolina and was married the year following her arrival in Illinois. Eliza, the second daughter, became the wife of M. A. Ritchie and died in North Carolina in 1854. Martha afterward married M. A. Ritchie and is still living. Helena is the wife of D. M. Blackwelder, of Litchfield. Rufus C. died in 1845 at the age of three years and was buried in North Carolina.
John W. Ritchie and his brother purchased about three hundred and eighty acres of land after they completed the payment on the prop- erty it was divided between them. Our subject has since made additional purchases until his landed possessions now aggregate four hundred and fifty acres. He has greatly improved the
home farm, upon which he resides, making it a very productive and valuable tract of land, equipped with substantial buildings and sup- plied with modern facilities and the latest improved machinery to promote the farm work.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie were born eleven children: George A., who died in infancy; James M., at home; Lora J., who died in in- fancy ; Mary E. and Sarah E., at home; Joel E., who died in infancy; C. A., a grocer of Litchfield, who married Margaret Taulbee; Flora R., who is the wife of William E. Bowles, of North Litchfield township, by whom she has two children, Ruth R. and J. Stanley; Alice Ann. at home; Louise E., who died in infancy ; and Albert L., of North Litchfield township, who married Anna Waldrop and has two chil- dren, Morris G. and John M.
Mr. Ritchie has always been an earnest Demo- vrat, his first presidential ballot being cast for Stephen A. Douglas, since which time he has nover faltered in the allegiance to his party. Hle and his wife are members of the Evangel- ical church, of Litchfield. They have long traveled life's journey together, sharing with each other its joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity. They reared a family of chil- dren of whom they have every reason to be proud and to them they have given good edu- cational privileges and in addition to attend- ing the common schools James and Charles have been students in Litchfield and Albert in Valparaiso, Indiana. Mr. Ritchie has also been interested in the upbuilding and development of the county, furthering all measures for the practical good and at the same time conduet- ing his private business affairs so as to win snecess.
HENRY CRESS.
Henry Cress, who has attained deserved financial success by reason of an active busi- ness career, was born in Fillinore township, Montgomery county, in 1865. Ilis father, Dan- iel Cress, was a native of North Carolina, born in 1835 and in 1856 he came to Illinois, set- tling in Fillmore township, this county, where he carried on agricultural pursuits, residing on
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one farm for forty-three years. In 1900, how- ever, he removed to his present farm in the same township. He has been very successful in conducting agricultural interests and is now the owner of five hundred acres of valuable land. His political allegiance is given to the Democracy and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Lutheran church. He wedded Mary J. Sanders, a daughter of Alva and Chloe Sanders. Iler father was a fariner by occupation and was a great traveler, visiting many parts of the new world and gain- ing thereby broad knowledge and experience. He, too, supported the Democracy. Mrs. Cress was born in Audubon township. Montgomery county, and died at the age of thirty-six years. By her marriage she became the mother of ten children, nine of whom reached years of ma- turity : Bettie, who is the wife of T. C. Dough- erty, of Auburn, Nebraska ; Katie, who married Claypole Whitten and is living on the old home- stead; Martin. a farmer who makes his home in Hillsboro: Henry; Lillie, the wife of Robert Wright, a farmer who resides near Irving; Hattie, the wife of J. W. Harvey, an agricul- turist of Nebraska; Peter, at home; William, who is living with his brother; and Luvena, who is the widow of T. F. Haven and is liv- ing in Fillmore township.
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