USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Past and present of Montgomery County, Illinois > Part 21
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In 1881 Mr. Kirkpatrick was united in mar- riago to Miss Hattie Ringwald. who was born in Germany in 1862 and in 1870 was brought to America by her parents, who located in Alton, her father following the occupation of farming in that locality. Three children have been born of this union: Harry, who is a fire- man on the Big Four Railroad, now living at Mattoon. Ilinois: Edward, deceased ; and one that died in infancy. Mr. Kirkpatrick belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge. his wife to the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and he is a Republican in his political affiliation His life has been char- actorized by untiring diligence and one ele- ment of the success which he has achieved is the fact that he has persevered in the calling which as a young tradesman he embarked, con- contrating his energies along this one line with good result.
SOLOMON HAAKE.
Solomon Haake was born June 5. 1867. in Fillmore township. upon the farm where he now makes his home, and throughout his active business career he has carried on agri- cultural pursuits. The family, as the name in- dicates, is of German lineage. His parents
were Henry and Hannah ( Welge) Jaake. The father was born in the province of Hanover, Germany, in 1821, and there remained until about thirty years of age. Il". too, was a farmer by occupation and on crossing the At- lantic to the new world he made his way west- ward to Illinois, settling in Macoupin coun- ty, whence he afterward removed to Mont- gomery county. Here he purchased one hun- dred and twenty acres of land in Fillmore township, constituting a part of the farm upon which Solomon Haake now resides. He worked earnestly in order to gain a comfortable com- petence and established a good home for his family, and as the years advanced he was en- abled to extend the boundaries of his farm by additional purchases until he was the owner of a valuable tract of five hundred and five acres of rich land, the productive condition of which enabled him to garner good harvests each fall. He was married to Miss Hannah Welge, a sis- ter of Louis Welge. of Hillsboro, and they be- came the parents of four children, of whom one child died at the age of three years. Those living are Mrs. Ida Wolters. Otto and Solo- mon. The father died in 1899 at the age of seventy-eight years, but the mother is still liv- ing. residing with a brother upon the old homestead. Mr. Haake was a Democrat in his political views, but he had neither time nor inclination for public office. as his business affairs claimed all of his attention. When he arrived in Montgomery county he worked for ten dollars per month and all that he possessed was acquired through his untiring effort. He possessed good business ability and koen fore- sight and judiciously invested his earnings until he stood as one of the substantial resi- dents of his adopted county.
Solomon Haake was reared on the old fami- ly homestead and at the usual age entered the public schools, wherein he gained a fair knowl- edge of the common branches of English learn- ing. His training at farm labor was not meager, for his father instructed him in the various duties of the farm and he gained prac- tieal knowledge of this work in all of its de- partments. He continued to assist his father until the latter's death and then entered upon an independent business career. He raises
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
MR. AND MRS. SOLOMON HAAKE
MR. AND MRS. HENRY HAAKE
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
bothi grain and stock, having taken up the lat- ter branch of business since his father's deatlı. Ite has made all of the improvements upon his home place, including the erection of a substantial residence and good barns. There was not even a fence upon the land when he took possession of it, and he has since divided the place into fields of convenient size by well kept fences, has secured modern machinery to facilitate the farm work and has carried on his labors along progressive lines. He owns two hundred and fifty acres of land, which he re- ceived as his share of his father's estate, while his brother also received an equal amount. The boys had assisted their father in paying off his indebtedness and in developing the farm, and the property came to them as the legitimate reward of their labor.
On the 10th of February, 1897, occurred the marriage of Mr. flaake and Miss Effie Fesser, and they have become the parents of three children: Graydon Paul, born January 4, 1898; Maude Elberta, born December 26, 1902; and Solomon Ray, born June 23, 1904. Mrs. Haake's father, August Fesser, is a na- tive of Hanover, Germany, and on coming to America in 1865 located in Christian county, Illinois, but a year later came to Montgomery county and purchased eighty acres of land in Fillmore township. As time passed he pros- pered in his farming operations and is to-day the owner of four hundred and eighteen acres of fine farming land. lle married Adaline Livingston, a native of this county, and to them were born six children, five of whom are still living. In politics Mr. Fesser is a Re- publican. while Mr. Haake votes with the Democracy, but is not an active politician. for his interests are concentrated upon his busi- ness affairs, which, being managed capably. have brought to him a very desirable financial return.
GEORGE W. HUFFER.
George W. Huffer, who is engaged in real estate dealing in Coffeen, was born on the 29th of February. 1864, in Shelbyville. Shelby county, Illinois, his parents being Noah and
Catharine Huffer. The father was born in Reading, Berks county, Pennsylvania, on the 3d of April, 1828, and when ten years of age became a resident of Ohio. He remained in that state until twenty-one years of age, and during that time learned the blacksmith's trade. On attaining his majority he removed to Shelbyville, Illinois, where he engaged in the manufacture of plows and carriages. He also made the first serapers and graders for the Big Four Railroad Company, for at that time there were no iron fenders in operation. He invented what was known as lluffer's corn- planter, which was patented on the 8th of February. 1861. It was the first planter ever made that covered two rows. Mr. Huffer of this review now has the patent which was issued to his father. After perfecting his in- vention Mr. fluffer began contract work and remained in this until his death, which oc- curred April 29, 1899. He never reaped the just reward of his invention, for the papers were not drawn up properly by his lawyer. and other men used his ideas by making slight changes in the machine. On the 2d of August, 1853, Noah Iluffer married Miss Catharine Dush, who was born in Wooster county, Ohio, February 2, 1834, and died June 15. 1901. They became the parents of four children : Catharine Elizabeth, who married Joseph Wade and died in 1885; Simon, who lives in Decatur: George W .; and Mary L., who is married and lives at Cowden.
George W. Huffer acquired his early edu- cation in the district schools in Shelby county. tle afterward learned telegraphy, and in April, 1884, as a telegraph operator he entered the employ of the Toledo, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad at Cowden, Illinois. His wife also learned telegraphy and they worked in the same office for seven years. Mr. Huffer con- tinued in the railroad employ for almost twen- ty years, giving excellent satisfaction to the corporations which he represented. In con- nection with A. Studebaker he opened the American Exchange Bank in Coffeen in 1900, but afterward sold out to his partner. He then turned his attention to the real estate and insurance business in Coffeen. in which he his since been engaged. Ile has secured a
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good clientage in this line and has negotiated many important real estate transfers and writ- ten considerable insurance.
On the 230 of November, 1881, Mr. Hutter was united in marriage to Miss Inez L. Stude- baker, a daughter of A. Studebaker, of Cof- feen, and to them one child has been born, R. llortense. Mrs. Huffer belongs to the Cum- berland Presbyterian church. Mr. Huffer gives his political allegiance to the Repub- lican party and both he and his wife are fa- vorably known in the social circles of Coffeen. having gained many warm friends during their residence here.
A. T. STRANGE.
A. T. Strange, living on a farm in Grisham township, is one of the prominent and in- fluential citizens of Montgomery county, con- trolling important business interests and at the same time taking an active part in com- munity affairs. his efforts proving beneficial and far-reaching. Ils publie spirit is manifest by co-operation in many helpful publie move- ments, and his integrity in both citizenship and in business life is above question.
Mr. Strange was born in Floyd county, Georgia, on the 6th of July. 1850, a son of John A. and Fidello A. (Grisham) Strange, who in his boyhood days removed to Blount county, Tennessee, so that the period of his youth was passed in the two states. At the age of twenty-one years he began teaching school and at the same time continued his own studies. In the fall of 186; he came to illi- nois, going to Reno, Bond county, where lived his maternal grandfather, Archibald Grisham. lle secured a position as a teacher in Bond county, and in 1822 he came to Montgomery county, where he followed the same profession for several years and subsequently engaged in teaching only through the winter months, while the summer seasons were devoted to other labor. chiefly farming.
On the 22d of August, 1822. Mr. Strange was married to Miss Elizabeth M. Copeland, a daughter of Samuel Copeland, and they re- moved to the farm in Grisham township upon
which they now reside. To the development of his land and the improvement of his farm he devoted his energies from early spring un- til after crops were harvested in the autumn, while in the months of winter he labored in the schoolroom, but in 1884 he gave up teaching altogether and his entire attention was devoted to agricultural pursuits until 1891. in 1890 he became one of the organizers of the Hills- boro Mutual Farmers' Insurance Company, was chosen its first secretary and has since held that office. Under his able management the business has increased from one hundred and sixty thousand dollars' worth of property insured in 1900 to over one and a quarter mill- ions. In 1894 he aided in organizing the Pana Cyclone Mutual Insurance Company and was made its secretary, so that he now repre- sents both companies in that capacity. The latter company also has grown rapidly from a small beginning to its present amount of near- ly one and a half millions in force. In 1895 he began merchandising at Walshville and has since conducted his store with good success, but makes his home upon his farm, which is pleasantly and conveniently situated about two miles east of Walshville, and which comprises one hundred and forty-fonr acres of rich and valuable land, now under a high state of culti- vation.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Strange were born four children, of whom two are deceased. The liv- ing sons are twins-Algy F. and Eury B. Strange. The former is now a practicing den- tist of Litchfield, while the latter is now a student in the Marion Sims Dental College at St. Louis, Missouri.
In his political views Mr. Strange is a Re- publican, stalwart in support of the party. He served as township clerk for three years and later was supervisor of his township for three terms. He is a prominent member of Walsh- ville lodge. A. F. & A. M., was made a Mason therein in 1821, and for twenty-nine years was worshipful master. Hle then resigned and was succeeded by his son. ITis devotion to the craft is above question, and in his life he exemplifies its beneficent spirit and its principles of broth- erly kindness and helpfulness. He is a trustee of the William Jordan educational trust fund
A. T. STRANGE
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-- a fund of twelve thousand dollars, the income from which goes for educational purposes in the township. fle has also been trustee and administrator of many estates, which shows how high is the position which he has attained in the public regard and confidence. Never has any trust reposed in him been betrayed in the slightest degree, for he is a man of unflinching honor and business reliability, and in his adopted county his name is a synonym for straightforward dealing.
AUGUST T. DOERR.
August T. Doerr, living on seetion 1, Ray- mond township, is one of the progressive and thrifty agriculturists of his community and his land, covering one hundred and forty acres. is highly cultivated and well improved. His life record began on the 22d day of May, 1856. in Madison county, Illinois, on which date he first opened his eyes to the light of day. Ilis parents were Peter and Joanna ( Volbrecht) Doerr. The father was a native of Germany and when a young man came to the new world, going to Missouri in 1844, at the time of high water in that state. He was married in St. Charles, Missouri, in 1846, to Joanna Vol- brecht, who was also a native of Germany, and they resided for two years in St. Charles, after which they spent seven years in St. Louis. Subsequently they removed to Edwardsville, Illinois, and Mr. Doerr was there engaged in business as a brick-mason, contractor and builder, which pursuit he had also followed in Missouri. He afterward bought land in 1854, becoming the owner of a tract upon which his son August T. now resides. In the spring of 1852 he took up his abode thereon, broke the fields, planted crops and in course of time garnered rich harvests. lle also built a house and moved his family to the farm from Ed- wardsville in the spring of 1858. Through many a succeeding year he was numbered among the enterprising agriculturists of his community and spent his last days upon the old homestead there, dying in 1893 at the ripe old age of seventy-two years. His wife de- parted this life in 1897. In their family were
seven children, three sons and four daughters. of whom six are yet living.
August T. Doerr was reared under the parental roof, largely spending his youth upon the home farm, and when not engaged with the labors of the field he attended the common schools near his home and the graded schools of Butler. When he started out upon an in- dependent business career he desired to have a companion and helpmate for the journey of life and on the 15th of October, 1879, he was united in marriage to Miss Alice R. Williamson, a native of Montgomery county, where her girl- hood days were passed. She acquired a fair education and engaged in teaching school prior to her marriage. She is a daughter of William Williamson, formerly of Hamilton county, Ohio, and one of the early settlers of Montgom- ery county. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Doerr has been blessed with five living chil- dren : Elmer, who is married and is a draughts- man in the steel works at Granite City ; Walter, who is foreman of the water works at Lemar, Iowa; Mabel, William and Nellie, at home. They lost one daughter, their youngest child, Anna, who died at the age of two years.
Mr. Doerr succeeded to a part of the old homestead and after coming into possession of this property he built a good home thereon and continued the work of further cultivation and improvement, making the farm one of the desirable properties of the neighborhood. In connection with the raising of grain he is also engaged in the raising and feeding of stock, and both branches of his business have proved a good source of income. He finds time for the discharge of public duties and as a citizen he is publie-spirited and progressive, unfaltering in his allegiance to the Republican party. He cast his first presidential ballot for General James A. Garfield and for each of its nominees since that time. He was elected and served as drainage commissioner for two years, has been a member of the school board and has been a delegate to various county conventions, and as every true American citizen should do. he takes a deep interest in politics, earnestly desir- ing the success of the principles which he be- l'oves to contain the best elements of good gov- ernment. He has frequently attended the agri-
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cultural institutes and is a most progressive farmer, laboring earnestly for the betterment of the agricultural class. He recognized the value of the interchange of thought and ex- perience that comes in agricultural institutes and has done unich to make the organization in Montgomery county a success. For the past six years he has made a study of the raising of different kinds of corn and has developed some well known varieties and also propagated some new varieties. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which they take an active and helpful inter- est. lle has served as Sunday-school superin- tendent for more than twenty years, has been a teacher in the Sunday-school and is active in behalf of the Christian education of the young. For six years he has been a member of the Woodmen camp. Progress and advance- ment are terms synonymous with the business record of Mr. Doerr, who since starting out in life for himself has put forth every effort to make his labors effective and resultant. He has worked earnestly and along modern lines and has not only followed advanced methods instituted by others, but has been the promoter of agricultural interests, especially along the line of producing new varieties of corn and demonstrating the possibilities of the state for production of this cereal.
CHARLES GILLMAN.
Charles Gillman, a practical, progressive and intelligent farmer and stock-raiser of Mont- gomery county, living on section 8, Pitman township, is the owner of valuable landed pos- sessions, his farm comprising seven hundred acres. 1Je is also classed with the pioneer resi- dents of Illinois, having established his home in Sangamon county in 1854. while since 1862 he has lived in Montgomery county. He is one of the worthy citizens that Germany has fur- nished to this country, and he possesses many of the strict and sterling characteristics of its people.
Hle was born in Brunswick, July 17, 1835. and had good school advantages in his youth. Ilis knowledge of English, however, has been
acquired since he arrived in this stato. When a young man he was employed as a sheep herder in Brunswick, Germany, but he did not regard the business outlook as very encouraging and believed that he might enjoy better opportuni- ties in the new world. At the age of nineteen, therefore, he crossed the Atlantic and in 185+ became a resident of Sangamon county, Illi- nois, where he joined some German friends who had previously come to the I'nited States. There Mr. Gillman entered the employ of C. T. Hoppin, his duty being to herd and care for a large flock of sheep numbering fifteen hundred head. He continued in this employ for more than four years, during which time he made good wages, which he carefully saved, and then with the capital he had acquired through his own efforts he embarked in the sheep-raising business on his own account. Ho resided in Sangamon county for three years, making his home near Auburn, and in 1862 he purchased land where he now resides, becoming the owner of a tract of three hundred and six acres, of which one hundred and sixty acres is partially improved. He at once began its further de- velopment and cultivation and in connection with the tilling of the soil he was engaged in the raising, feeding and fattening of cattle, hogs and sheep for the market. As he pros- pered in his undertakings he purchased more land from time to time, and is now the owner of seven hundred aeres. At one time his realty holdings comprised one thousand acres, but he has since sold abont three hundred acres. He is one of the largest feeders and shippers of fat stock in the northern part of Montgomery county. shipping from one hundred to two hun- dred head of fat cattle annually, besides several carloads of hogs and sheep. Mr. Gillman has his place welt improved. He has erected a large, substantial and attractive residence, built in modern style of architecture and surrounded by a well-kept lawn inclosed within an iron fonce. There are many beautiful forest, shade and ornamental trees on the place, and in the rear of the home are good barns and outbuild- ings. The latest improved machinery is used in cultivating the fields and harvesting the crops, and all modern equipments are found upon this well condnoted farm.
MR. AND MRS. CHARLES GILLMAN
LIBRARY Of THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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In Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1862, Mr. Gillman married Miss Anna Handley, also a native of Germany, and they became the par- ents of five sons and five daughters: Frank, a substantial farmer of Montgomery county; Henry, a traveling salesman: John, a pros- perous merchant of Farmersville; Emma, the wife of George Cardenback: Ella, the wife of Lafe Bristo, a resident of Missouri: Carrie, the wife of Grant Rodgers, a farmer of Pitman township: Flora and Anna, at home: and two sons, deceased. Of these William died at the age of twenty-seven years and George at the age of twenty-four years.
Mr. Gillman, interested in the progress of his county along many lines, gives liberally to the support of different churches as well as to the Lutheran church at Farmersville, of which he and his wife are consistent and active mem- bers. le votes with the Republican party, but has never desired political preferment. Forty- two years have come and gone since he arrived in Montgomery county. He landed in America a poor young man, empty-handed and amid strangers, he worked his way upward, his labor and enterprise making for him success, while his straightforward dealing has secured him an untarnished name. His business record is indeed creditable and his life history proves conclusively what can be accomplished if one has determination and is not afraid to work. In his private relations he is kindly and cour- teous, an agreeable companion and true friend.
R. FOREST LINGLE.
R. Forest Lingle, a representative farmer of Montgomery county whose enterprise and in- dustry are typical of the progressive spirit of the west. resides on section 15. Irving town- ship. He is a native son of the county, his birth having occurred in Rountree township, March 11, 1865. His parents are N. H. M. and Harriet C. Lingle, natives of North Caro- lina and Illinois, respectively. The father was one of the carly settlers of Montgomery county and in 1853 he went to California attracted by the discovery of gold upon the Pacifie slope. He drove to the far off state with an ox team
and spent one year in that section of the coun- try. He is now living in Rountree township, where he owns four hundred acres of land and eighty in Irving township. He is seventy-three years of age and his wife has reached the age of sixty-three years. In their family were eight children, all of whom are yet living with the exception of the eldest, Albert A., who died at the age of two years. The others in order of birth are R. Forest; Linnie May and Lula Belle, twins, the former the wife of Jacob C. Snider, and the latter the wife of William Bryce; Joseph O., who is living upon the home place; Elva G., the wife of Frank Berry, of Irving township; Alma L., the wife of Asa Black, of Auburn, Illinois; and Hubert G., who married Viola Masters, and is living in Roun- tree township.
R. Forest Lingle was a public school student in Rountree township in his early boyhood days and he received mental training in farm labor upon the old homestead, where he remained un- til twenty-five years of age. Ile then deter- mined to follow as a life pursuit the occupation to which he had been reared and began farming for himself in Rountree township. After five years had passed he purchased eighty acres of land, where he now lives. He has a well de- veloped property, upon which he has made ex- cellent improvements, so that his farm is now productive and his labor profitable. For four- teen years he has been operating a threshing machine and a clover huller, being his own en- gineer, and his labors in this direction have added materially to his income.
On the 24th of September, 1889, Mr. Lingle was united in marriage to Miss Ettie A. Cham- bers, a daughter of Francis and Elizabeth A. Chambers, both of whom were natives of Ohio and became carly settlers of Fayette county, Illinois. In 1885 they removed to Nokomis, Montgomery county. where Mr. Chambers is still living, but in 1901 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died at the age of sixty-two years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lingle have been born two children: Ivan M., who is eleven years of age, and Franeis F., one year old. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Lingle is a Republican in his political views. He is in-
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