USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Past and present of Montgomery County, Illinois > Part 3
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
In politics he is a Republican and he takes an active and helpful interest in community af- fairs. He was the first president of the board of education under the present law and served in that capacity for seven years, his labors be- ing effective and greatly promoting the school interests of the city. He is also one of the trustees of his church, takes a very active part in church work and is now serving as a mem- ber of the official board. Faultless in honor, fearless in conduct and stainless in reputation, he is no less honored in public than loved in private life.
PIERSON B. UPDIKE.
Pierson B. Updike, now deceased. was identi- fied with the business interests of Litchfield. where he made for himself an honorable name as a representative of commercial interests. He was born near Trenton, New Jersey. July 14. 1834. and in his early boyhood days was brought by his parents to Illinois, where he was reared to manhood and acquired his education. After arriving at years of maturity he was married in Woodburn. Macoupin county, Illinois, on the 234 of October, 1856. to Miss Estella Op- dyke, who was of Holland lineage and there was a distant relationship between the Updike and Opdyke families. They became the parents of two children : Ella E., the wife of G. L. Settle- mire, by whom she has two sons. David P. and Wilbur Lynn, aged respectively twenty-three and twenty years: and Mrs. Cora May Cratty.
Pierson B. Updike became a resident of Litchfield in 1864 and through more than thirty years was connected with its commercial interests as a dealer in machinery and hard- ware. His patronage steadily increased and ho continued in the business until a couple of years prior to his death, which occurred on the 28th of November, 1896. During the last two years of his life succeeding the dissolution of his hardware business he was receiver for the Litchfield Car and Machine Company and this position he was ably filling at the time of his demise. He was always straightforward and honorable in his dealing and his reputation in commercial circles was unassailable. Mr. Up-
dike also took an active and helpful part in community interests and his public spirit was manifest in tangible way through his capable service as mayor of the city. He was three times called to that office and his administra- tion of municipal affairs was at once business- like, practical and progressive. Hle introduced needed reforms and promoted various improve- ments and the city benefited by his efforts. He gave his political allegiance to the Democratic party for many years, but in 1892 voted for William MeKinley and was thereafter promi- ment in political circles until his demise. He was a member of the state legislature from 1891 to 1893.
Mr. Updike was a prominent Mason and had received the honors of the thirty-second degree. A Presbyterian in his religious faith he held membership in the church of that denomina- tion in Litchfield, took a very active and help- ful part in its work and was superintendent of its Sunday-school for many years. His life record covered sixty-three years and was filled with good deeds, with successful accomplish- ment in business and with loyalty and honor in citizenship. Mrs. Updike is a lady of strong intellectual qualities, broad-minded and cul- tured and has a very large circle of friends in Litchfield. where she still makes her home.
SAMUEL L. CRATTY.
Samuel L. Cratty, who was classed with Litchfield's prominent citizens, was born April 17. 1858 near Walshville. Illinois, and his life was passed upon a farm in that locality and also near Sorento, Illinois. He remained in the latter neighborhood until his removal to Litchfield in the fall of 1880. He acquired his education in the public schools and follow- ing his removal to Litchfield he entered the em- ploy of Pierson B. Updike in his hardware and machinery store. In 1896 after long and faith- ful service with Mr. Updike he became con- nected with the Mundy-Settlemire Company, grain merchants, and he also extended his ef- forts to another line of business activity by be- coming a member of the firm of Rose & Cratty, insurance agents. Throughout his business
LIBRARY OF THE
RBUpdike
SAMUEL L. CRATTY
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
career his industry and perseverance were num- or an improvement made thereon. but with bered among his salient characteristics and led to a gratifying measure of success.
On the 12th of March, 1886, Mr. Cratty was united in marriage to Miss May Updike, and they became the parents of two children: Fay and Grace, aged respectively seventeen and fif- teen years.
In his political views Mr. Cratty was a stal- wart Republican, having firm faith in the prin- ciples of the party. He was popular with his fellow townsmen because of his genuine worth, social nature and unfailing courtesy, and when he died on the 16th of May, 1899. his death was deeply deplored by many friends as well as his immediate family. Ile died very sud- denly and not long after the death of Mr. Up- dike and his loss thus came particularly hard upon his wife, who had so recently lost her father. Mrs. Cratty was educated in the Litch- field high school and occupies an enviable posi- tion in social circles where true worth and in- telligence are received as passports into good society. She is a very earnest worker in the Sunday-school. a most capable teacher and also assists in various departments of the church activities. She now lives with her mother in a beautiful and commodious brick residence at No. 523 Union avenue.
D. W. NEISLER.
D. W. Neisler, conducting a well improved farm on section 22. Witt township, where he not only engages in the tilling of the soil but also in the raising of stock, was born in Irv- ing township, October 21. 1846. He is a son of Henry Milton and Elizabeth E. (Lipe) Neisler. who were natives of Knox county, North Carolina. The father was a millwright by trade and. thinking that he might have bet- ter business opportunities in the new and grow- ing west, he came to Irving township. Mont- gomery county, about 1832. Few improve- ments had been made here. the work of prog- ress and civilization being scarcely begun, but with characteristic energy he began the de- velopment of a farm, securing his land from the government. Not a furrow had been turned
characteristic energy he undertook the task of breaking the fields and planting the crops. For many years he successfully carried on agri- cultural pursuits, and at length his life's labors were ended in death on the 230 of August, 1881. His widow later became the wife of Joseph Davis, now deceased, and she resides in Irving.
Đ. W. Neisler was educated in the common schools of Montgomery county. He early be- came familiar with all of the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. work- ing in field and meadow through the months of summer, while in the winter season> he mas- tered the branches of learning taught in the public schools. At the age of twenty-one years he began farming on his own account, settling where he now lives. Hle had eighty acres of land, which was then raw prairie, and he has since made all of the improvements upon the place, building fences, planting trees, erecting buildings and tilling the soil. He now has a fine orchard of eight acres, and his fields are producing excellent crops. He also has good grades of stock upon his place.
On the 24 of December, 1815, Mr. Neisler was united in marriage to Miss Ora E. Knodle, a daughter of George and Margaret (Spiel- man) Knodle, both of whom were natives of Maryland. whence they removed to Ogle coun- ty, Illinois, in 1852. They came to Mont- gomery county in the spring of 1864, locating at Hillsboro, and Mr. Knodle purchased land in Witt township. He was identified with farming interests for a number of years, but is now living retired on his farm in the en- joyment of a well earned rest. He is one of the most venerable men of the community, hav- ing reached the age of ninety-two years on the 10th of April, 1904. His wife is now do- coased.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Neisler has been blessed with eight children: Oscar L .. born August 28, 1876. is a machinist with the Lake Shore Railroad and is located in Chicago ; Henry D., born July 31. 1878. died on the 28th of July, 1896; Guy K., born January 2, 1882: Milton Earl, born December 17, 1883; George A., born September 16, 1885; Ira E.,
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
born March 1, 1888; Walter 1., born Decem- her 8. 1889; and Edgar Lee, born December 20, 1893. are all at home. Mr. and Mrs. Neis- ler are identified with the Lutheran church through membership relations, and he is a member of the school board, on which he has served for a minber of years, the cause of edu- cation finding in him a warm friend. His political affiliation is with the Democratic par- ty. and. keeping well informed on the ques- tions and issues of the day. he is enabled to support his position by intelligent argument.
WILIAM RILEY BLACKWELDER.
William Riley Blackwelder, a retired farmer living in Litchfield, is numbered among Mont- gomery county's native sons, his birth having occurred July 28, 1840. upon his father's farm ten miles southwest of Hillsboro. He is a son of Alfred and Joanna ( Scherer ) Blackwelder, the latter a daughter of Frederick Scherer, a farmer of German descent. The father, Alfred Blackwelder. was born in Cabarrus county, North Carolina. July 12. 1811. and was also of German lineage, and his wife was a native of the same state. In April, 1838. he became a resident of Illinois and began working for Judge Rountree at ten dollars per month. he- ing thus employed for three years. When he arrived in Illinois he owned a small sorrel horse and had ten dollars in money. Though poor, he possessed a courageous spirit and ever made the most of his opportunities. On the 19th of April, 1837, he was married to Miss Joanna Scherer. and later he rented land, on which he lived until 1840, when he purchased eighty acres, on which he built a house, making that place his home for sixteen years. He then sold out and bought two hundred and forty aeres. a part of which is now within the cor- poration limits of Litchfield. He afterward added one hundred and eighty acres to his tract, so that his landed possessions comprised four hundred and eighty acres in all. This is now highly improved land, constituting one of the valuable farms of the county. Mr. Black- welder continued in the active management
and enltivation of the farm until 18:8, when he retired to private life.
Unto him and his wife were born twelve children, of whom four died in early childhood, while the others, who are yet living, are resi- dents of Montgomery county and are identified with farming interests here. These are : Daniel M. : William R. : Minerva C., who is the wife of Robert Morrison : Jacob Francis; David Alexander : John M. ; Harriet Louise, the wife of Gideon Davis :'and Samuel R.
Alfred Blackwelder was a member of the Lutheran church and came of a family long identified with that denomination, the repre- sentatives of the name in different generations being of a deeply religious nature. He, too. took a very active and helpful part in church work and filled various offices in the church through more than a half century. His po- litical allegiance was always given to the Dem- ocratie party. His wife died January 31, 1846, when more than sixty years of age, and after a happy married life of forty years. His death occurred in 1900, when he was about eighty-six years of age. He was one of the venerable citizens of the county and an honored pioneer resident who. casting in his Jot with the early settlers, took an active part in lay- ing broad and deep the foundation for the present development and progress of this part of the state.
William Riley Blackwelder obtained his edu- cation in the common schools and remained under the parental roof until after the inaugu- ration of the Civil war. when, in August. 1862. he enlisted in Company A. Ninety-first Illi- nois Infantry, with which he served for about three years, being mustered out in July. 1865. He was promoted from the rank of third ser- geant to orderly sergeant and commissioned brevet lieutenant in 1865. He served under C'anby at the capture of Fort Hudson and Fort Blakeley. On the 28th of December. 1863, at Elizabethtown. Kentucky. he was captured by General Morgan's troops and was later paroled and sent lo St. Louis, Missouri, where he was exchanged in June. 1864. after which he returned to active service. He was wound- ed at the battle of Morganza and he par- ticipated in the battles of Mobile, Spanish Fort
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and Fort Blakeley. He was a war Democrat, advocating the cause of the Democracy, yet at the same time being an unfaltering supporter of the Union cause.
On the 1st of December, 1865. not long after his return from the army. Mr. Blackwelder was married to Miss Mary Jane Fogleman, and they became the parents of seven children : Ira Ulysses, who was named in honor of General Grant, was born September 25. 1866, and is engaged in business as a dealer in agricultural implements in Raymond, where. having been married, he maintains his home. Eva J., horn November 19, 1864, is the wife of J. W. Mc- Cowan, of Kansas City, Missouri, and they have two children. Julius 1 .. born February 21. 1869. is married and resides upon his father's farm. He has five children. Amanda R .. horn December 3, 1872, is the wife of Frank Stuttle and resides near Raymond. John W. born March 19. 1844, is a coal miner of Raymond. and is married and has two children. Annie M., born December 3, 1822, died at the age of twenty-one. Nellie It .. born December 23. 1826. died December 24. 1890. The chil- tren have been provided with excellent educa- tional privileges, and Ira. Eva and Rosa were students in the Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso and were successful school teach- ers. For his second wife Mr. Blackwelder chose Amanda E. Fogleman, a sister of his first wife, their marriage being celebrated Au- gust 6, 1878. They had three children: Mary E., who was born March 23, 1882. and died June 22. 1883; Ella M., who was born Janu- ary 10, 1884. and died February 16, 1893 ; and Bertha F .. born October 5. 1886. The young- est daughter will graduate from the high school of Litchfield in the class of 1905.
Mr. Blackwelder is a member of the English Lutheran church, takes a most active part in its work and is now a teacher in the Sun- day-school. The cause of education also finds in him a warm friend, and he does all in his power to advance its interests. Public spirit- ed. he has ably supported many measures for the general good, and his efforts in behalf of publie progress and improvement have been far-reaching and effective. His business career has been attended with success, and he still
owns a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which is in excellent condition, the land being woll tilled. He also raised good stock and his business affairs were capably conducted. He is now a stockholder in the First National Bank of Raymond. Throughout his entire life he has been known as a man of integrity and unfaltering honor, and in his business dealings is always straightforward and reliable; in fact, his religion is manifest in his everyday life and is a motive power in his kindly and just treatment of his fellow men.
JESSE S. GRIFFIN.
No history of Nokomis would be complete without mention of Jesse S. Griffin, who is one of its leading merchants. In his business career he has always displayed qualities which ever command respect and secure patronage. He was born March 6, 1865, in Morgan county. Illinois, a son of E. and Sarah Griffin, hoth of whom were natives of England, the father's birth ocenrring in Devonshire in 1828, while the mother was born in Huntingdonshire. They came to America in 1850 and finally settled in Ilinois. the father being a merchant of Mor- gan county for many years. He passed away in 1828 and his widow now resides with our subject in Nokomis, occupying a beautiful home in the western part of the town. In the family were ten children, of whom five are still living. Jesse S. and Alf being residents of Montgomery county.
Jesse S. Griffin, however, spent his boyhood days in Morgan county, assisting his father in business. In the summer of 1879 he came to Nokomis and found employment with J. W. Russell. Later he accepted a position in the dry goods store of A. F. Weaver. with whom he remained until 1885. when the firm of Griffin Brothers was organized, succeeding to the ownership of the store formerly the proper- ty of the firm of Bliss & Griffin. The new firm consisted of Alf and Jesse S. Griffin, who carried on the business together until 1898, when the latter purchased his brother's inter- est and his since continued alone in trade. He is now sole proprietor of one of the largest
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and most elaborate modern mercantile estab- lishments in southern Illinois, carrying an extensive line of hardware, queensware, guns, furniture, buggies, etc. The building occu- pied by him is built of brick, is two stories in height and fifty by one hundred feet in di- mensions. Besides this there is a warehouse two stories in height and twenty by seventy feet, so that the entire establishment covers a total of twelve thousand square feet. Every foot of space is occupied and the store is spe- cially arranged with reference to the con- venient handling of a large and complete stock. Mr. Grillin has been at his present location for nineteen years and his name is inseparably connected with the business interests of No- komis, for he has contributed in a large meas- ure to the commercial prosperity and develop- ment of the town.
Politically Mr. Griffin is a Democrat and is the Montgomery county member of the Demo- cratie congressional committee of the twenty- first district of Illinois, of which committee he is now serving as secretary. He is also a member of the county central committee, of which he has been secretary and treasurer and is now serving for the second term as its chair- man.
C. F. EDWARDS.
C. F. Edwards, who has been closely associ- ated with the business development of Mont- gomery county through agricultural and finan- cial interests, and who has also figured in pub- lie affairs as the promoter of many measures for the general good, is now engaged in bank- ing in Coffeen. He was born November 4. 1856, in East Fork township, Montgomery county, his parents being James A. and Chris- tina T. Edwards. His father was born in 1818 in North Carolina and was the son of Thomas Edwards. In the state of his nativity he was reared and educated, and when a young man he came to Montgomery county, Illinois, and purchased land here. Thomas Edwards be- ing among the early settlers of this portion of the state. From that time forward members of the family have borne an active and helpful
part in the work of general improvement and upbuilding. Thomas Edwards continued as a farm resident of Montgomery county until his death, which occurred in 1857.
James Allen Edwards continued farming in this county from the time of his arrival until his demise. He was married in 1848 to Miss Christina T. Cannon, a daughter of William Cannon, and they became the parents of ten children, of whom nine are living: William T., of East Fork township; Margaret, who died in infancy: John W., also of East Fork township: Julia F., who is the widow of John W. Major: Mary T., who is the wife of Jo- seph A. Hanner: C. F .: Samuel H .. of Cof- feen : Amos R., of East Fork township: Ida, who married William A. Boyd, of East Fork; and James A., also of East Fork. The father died in 1867 and was buried at Edwards Chapel, which was named in honor of his grandfather, who gave the land upon which the church was built. JJames A. Edwards was deeply interested in all that pertained to the welfare of his community and was a co-operant factor in many measures for the general good. At the same time he conducted important and extensive business interests, becoming one of the leading landowners of the county, having at the time of his death bought nine hundred acres. In his political affiliation he was a Democrat, taking an active interest in politics and keeping well informed on the questions of the day. His barn was the voting place of his district. After the death of her husband Mrs. James A. Edwards remained upon the home farm until her children were married and then removed to Coffeen, where she is now living.
C. F. Edwards was roared to farm life and acquired his education in the public schools, while in the summer months he assisted in the labors of field and meadow. When twenty-one years of age he began farming for himself on land which he inherited from his father. After his marriage he settled upon a farm of one hundred and sixty acres and there carried on agricultural pursuits with good success for about eight years. In 1888 he removed to Coffeen. where he purchased a lumber yard, which he conducted with profit for ten years, having a very extensive patronage and thereby
C. F. EDWARDS
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
realizing a good return from his investments and his labors. In 1898, however, he sold the lumber yard. He was secretary of the Build- ing & Loan Association for nine years, and in 1900 he built a bank. and has since conducted a private bank. which has become the leading financial institution of the township. He still owns his farm, which is now rented. After re- moving to Coffeen he built a nice residence, which he occupies, and he is classed with the substantial citizens of his community.
When twenty-four years of age Mr. Edwards was united in marriage to Miss Catherine J. Nichols, a daughter of Gordon Nichols, of East Fork township. Her father was born in Kentucky, July 3, 1826, and with his parents removed to Indiana, where he was reared. He became a resident of East Fork township. Montgomery county, in 1856, and made for himself a place among the substantial farmers of the community. becoming the owner of four hundred acres of rich and valuable land. At length he retired from active farming pur- suits and in 1893 removed to Coffeen. where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring on the 6th of March, 1901. He was married in 1848 to Miss Jemima E. Robinson, of Greencastle. Indiana, who is now living in Coffeen. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Edwards has been blessed with eight children, of whom six are now living: Clarence L., Harvey C., Lester Franklin. Floyd Springer. Russell Wayne and Chauncey J., all of whom are at home. Rosetta and Grove Allen, the second and third members of the family, died in in- fancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Edwards belong to the Method- ist church. he having become identified with the Edwards Chapel prior to his marriage and served in church offices since his removal to Coffren, and he is deeply interested in the va- rions church activities, contributing generously to their support and doing all in his power for their upbuilding. In politics he is a Democrat with accurate information concern- ing political questions, conditions and issues. and the important service which he has ron- dered his party led to his selection for a delegato to the state convention held in Spring- field in 1904. He was a member of the first
town board of Coffeen and is now filling that position, although his service has not been con- tinnous. lle has been particularly active in opposition to the saloons, doing all in his power to promote temperance sentiment here. There were only a few houses in Coffeen when he removed to the town, and he has been a very important factor in the upbuilding of the place. lle is quick to recognize and take ad- vantage of opportunities for the public wel- fare. as well as his individual business inter- ests. and his career has been marked by steady progression and characterized by the develop- ment of a life history which commands uni- form respect and esteem.
GEORGE WILLIAM PAISLEY.
George William Paisley, a representative business man of Montgomery county, who at the head of the Montgomery Coal Company is now controlling one of the important product- ive industries of this section of the state, was born and reared within the borders of the county and obtained his early education in the country schools. Later he attended for three short terms the Hillsboro Academy and then put aside his textbooks to take up the active work of the farm. At a later date. however, he put aside agricultural pursuits and entered upon a three years' service in the Civil war as a member of an llinois regiment. He did his full duty as a soldier, and when hostilities had ceased returned to his home.
After the war Mr. Paisley took up the study of law and for a time served as county sur- veyor of Montgomery county, while later he engaged in the publication of a newspaper. Ho has always been a man of much activity in both business life and in connection with pub- lic affairs, and from 1881 until 1883 he was a member of the lower house of the Illinois legislature. In 1892 he was chosen to repre- sent his district in the state senate, of which be continued a member for four years. Dur- ing President Cleveland's first administration he was connected with the interior department of the government and had charge of the land offices and surveyor general's offices in the
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