USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Past and present of Montgomery County, Illinois > Part 30
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URBAN E. KINTZ.
Urban E. Kintz. who is a representative of industrial interests in Litchfield. was born in Terre Haute, Indiana. in 1820. His father. Charles Kintz, was a native of Ohio, born on the 10th of February, 1848, and his death oe- curred on the 26th of February. 1874. He was a carpenter by trade and in an early day he re- moved with two brothers to Terre Haute, In- diana, where he spent the remainder of his life. He held membership with the Catholic church and in his political views he was a Democrat. He married Catherine Martha Mil- liken, who was born January 30. 1853. and is also deceased. Their marriage was cele- brated March 13. 1869, and they became the parents of three children : Urban E. : Blanche, who was born in 1872 and has passed away :
HARRY C. STUTTLE
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Evoy Josephina, who was born in 1844 and is deceased.
Urban E. Kintz acquired his education in the parochial schools near Terre llaute, Indiana, but his opportunities in that direction were somewhat limited. He learned the carpenter's trade in his native place, beginning work at twenty-five cents per day and boarding himself. He was employed as a journeyman for five years and afterward worked at his trade in Van Buren, Missouri, for a similar period. On the expiration of that time he returned to Terre Haute, Indiana, and was employed at farm labor for two years, but afterward re- sumed carpentering. He came to Litchfield in 1891 and worked in the coach shop of the Big Four Railroad Company until the plant was removed from this city. He afterward fol- lowed his trade in St. Louis, Missouri, but later again came to Litchfield and entered into partnership with George C. Fellner in 1902. This relation has since been maintained and as contractors and builders they are doing a good business, having a liberal share, of the publie patronage.
On the 20th of July. 1902, Mr. Kintz was married to Miss Fannie Grace Weatherford. who was born October 28. 1868. in Litchfield, and is a daughter of Hardin and Martha ( Reams) Weatherford. In his younger days his father was a farmer and at the time of the Civil war he offered his services to the govern- ment, enlisting at Carlinville, Illinois, in 1861, as a member of Company K, One Hundred and Twenty-second Illinois Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. He was see- ond lieutenant and he participated in a num- ber of important engagements. In one battle he was shot in the temple. He is now a char- ter member of Sidney Philip Post. G. A. R., and has filled all of the positions in the post. In his family were eleven children, of whom Mrs. Kintz is the eighth in order of birth.
Unio Mr. and Mrs. Kintz have been born four children : Roy Eugene, who was born in Litchfield, October 6, 1893 : Pauline May, born in St. Louis, Missouri, February 18. 1896: Charles Hardin, born in Litchfield, March G. 1900; and Martha, born July 2, 1903. Mrs. Kintz is a member of the Lutheran church
and Mr. Kintz is connected fraternally with the Knights of Pythias lodge and the Order of the Eagles. Politically he is a Republican. Dur- ing the greater part of his life he has continued in the business in which he embarked as a young tradesman and his skill and efficiency have increased with the passing years, so that he is worthy the patronage which is extended him. His business has been constantly growing since he entered into his present partnership in Litchfield and many substantial structures here stand as evidences of his handiwork.
WILLIAM B. POTTS.
William B. Potts, one of the intelligent. en- terprising and successful farmers of Mont- gomery county, is living on section 34, Zanes- ville township, and is the owner of valuable landed possessions comprising three hundred aeres, of which two hundred and fifty acres is in the home place. A native son of this county, he was born in Zanesville township, October 30, 1858, a son of E. J. Potts, whose birth occurred in Macoupin county, illinois, where the days of his boyhood and youth were passed. He was married here to Miss Agnes Ann Allen, who was born in Zanesville, town- ship, Montgomery county, and he opened up a famn in Zanesville township, breaking his land. planting his crops and in due course of time gathering rich harvests. He used four yoke of oxen to the breaking plow and he broke hundreds of acres in this county, thus assisting in large measure in the substantial improvement and agricultural development of this portion of the state. Upon the old home- strad farm he roared his family hut subso- quently he sold his property in Montgomery county and went to Evansville, Indiana, where he is now living retired.
William B. Potts was reared upon the old family homestead in the usual manner of farmer lads of that period and remained with his father until twenty-three years of age, as- sisting in the labors of field and meadow. During the winter months he attended the public schools, thus acquiring a fair educa- tion. Hle was married in Litchfield on the
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5th of February, 1882, to Miss Olive Belle party. Hle is one of the organizers and direct- Rushton, a native of Bond county, Ilinois, ors of the Farmers Mutual Telephone line. born at Mulberry Grove, her parents being Gaines and Martha Rushton. Mrs. Potts and their two eldest daughters are members of the Christian church. Mr. Potts has been identified with the growth and devel- opment of the county throughout his entire life and he has been a hard working, indus- trious man, attending strictly to his business affairs and through his persistent purpose win- ning the success which is the just reward of untiring labor.
After his marriage Mr. Potts located upon a farm in Raymond township, where he rented a tract of land and carried on agricultural pursuits for four years. He then purchased a small place of twenty-five aeres covered with stumps and brush, but with characteristic en- ergy he began to clear the land and develop his farm. Ile worked on day after day, earnestly and persistently, and as time passed his efforts were rewarded with good success. Later he purchased more land from time to time in ten and fifteen acre tracts until he was the owner of one hundred and thirty acres, which he had cleared. fenced and developed into productive fields. He then sold that property and purchased his present home on section 34. Zanesville township, where he has two hundred and fifty acres. The place was somewhat dilapidated, however, when it came into his possession in 1900, but he has continued the work of improvement here and now has a good property well equipped with modern buildings and all the accessories needed to carry on the farm work. In addition to the raising of grain he also raises and feeds stock for the market. Mr. Potts began his business life without a dollar and he has made what he possesses through his labor, frugality and enterprise.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Potts were born eight children: Agnes A .: Henry J., who became a member of the United States navy; Carrie Mae; Albert Leroy; Alice G. : Joseph E. ; and Florence O. They also lost a son, William W., who died at the age of four years.
Politically Mr. Potts is a Democrat when voting upon national issues and he cast his first presidential ballot for Grover Cleveland and his last for William Jennings Bryan. At local elections, however. he votes independently. supporting the candidate whom he thinks best qualified for the office. He has been elected and served as commissioner of highways, has been a member of the school board and is now serving as its president. He was also for two terms county commissioner and he has served as a delegate to the county conventions of his
1. SUMNER BARRY.
The name of Barry figures conspicuously in connection with the history of Montgomery county, for at an early period in the develop- ment of this portion of the state the grand- parents of A. Sumner Barry located here, and since that time their descendants have been fac- -tors in the agricultural progress, and in mat- ters of citizenship have been loyal to high ideals resulting to the good of the community.
Mr. Barry of this review was born upon his father's farm in Hillsboro township. Decem- ber 25. 1851, a son of John W. Barry, a native of Barren county, Kentucky, born October 3. 1830. The grandfather, Richard Barry, was born in Wythe county. Virginia, in January, 1285. and there resided until eighteen years of age, when he removed to Kentucky. In that state he married Nancy Smith, whose birth occurred in North Carolina in 1289. They were the parents of nine children, five sons and four daughters: Nellie, Joseph, Polly. Alford, Michael S., Nancy, Emily, James T. and John W. The last named. the father of A. Sumner Barry, was brought by his parents to Mont- gomery county in 1831, the journey being made by team and wagon in accordance with the primitive methods of travel of that day. The grandfather entered from the government one hundred and sixty acres of land, by purchasing a squatter's right to a claim on which a small rude cabin had been built. To the development and improvement of this property Richard Barry devoted his energies until his death. which occurred June 30, 1848. His wife died
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
MR. AND MRS. A. SUMNER BARRY
JOHN W. BARRY
ADDISON MCLAIN
MRS. ADDISON MCLAIN
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at the home of Smith Barry, February 11, father was born in North Carolina, October 1867.
Amid the wild scenes of frontier life John W. Barry was reared, carly becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He married Sarah C. Newcomb, who was born in Wythe county. Vir- ginia, December 18, 183t, and came to Mont- gomery county with her parents, William A. and Mary A. ( Aimbester) Newcomb, both of whom were natives of the Old Dominion. The father, who was born in Prince George county, came to Montgomery county, illinois, in 1837, and thus it is that A. Sumner Barry is de- seended from pioneer families of Illinois in both the paternal and maternal lines. Unto his parents were born nine children, but the eldest died in infancy. The others are: Mary, the wife of Joseph B. Nail, of Litchfield ; Jane, who died April 2, 1904; William, who died at the age of a year and a half; A. Sumner ; Lou. who married John F. White and died October 18, 1890; Ilenry W .: Amanda A., the wife of Edward Bailey, of Grisham township; and George, who died at the age of ten months. Upon the old family homestead John W. Barry reared his family. He lived there during the period of his own youth, in fact, the farm was his place of residence from 1831 until his death, which occurred on the 11th of June, 1899. He gave his political allegiance to the Republican party and held some local offices, the duties of which he ably discharged, but his atten- tion was chiefly directed to his business inter- ests, in which he met with good success. He had long survived his wife, who died March 15, 1866.
Reared on the old farm on section 35, Hills- boro township, Sumner Barry received his practical training in farm work by assisting his father in the labors of the fields, and he carly came to understand the value of industry, perseverance and honesty in active business life. His literary education was received in the public schools, and when his time was not occupied with his textbooks he aided in the work of the fields.
On the 6th of September, 1882, Mr. Barry was married to Miss Dora MeLain, a daughter of Addison and Catherine MeLain. Her
5. 1811, and was married September 17, 1834. About two years later he came to this county and settled in Hillsboro township. He followed farming throughout life, and died hore AAugust 25, 1843. llis wife passed away July 13, 1903. In their family were eleven children, namely : Mary A., Isabel, Sarah J., Nancy, William A., Catherine A., John H., James C., David M., Dora F., and one that died in infancy. Three of the children are now deceased. Mr. MeLain was a supporter of the Republican party, and both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Barry: Nellie, the wife of Chester Holmes, of East Fork town- ship: Earl, Rosene and Florence.
After his marriage our subject rented the Smith Barry farm for three years and then took up his abode on the place where he now resides. lle owns one hundred and ten acres here, and also a half interest in his father's old farm of one hundred and seventy-nine acres. He carries on general farming. follows modern business methods, and his agricultural labors are returning to him a good annual in- come.
Mr. Barry has taken an active and helpful part in community interests. He served as highway commissioner for three terms and was school director for twelve years. ITis political support is given to the Republican party, and fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. He possesses many sterling traits of character which command for him uniform regard.
GEORGE A. PARTLOW.
Among the residents of Montgomery county who have come to Ilinois from the south is George A. Partlow, who resides in Audubon township. lle was born in Rappahannock county, Virginia, June 19, 1858, a son of Wil- Fam W. and Sarah J. ( Rudacill) Partlow. The ancestral home of the family was in the Old Dominion, where were born the father, grand- father, and great-grandfather of George A. Partlow. The family, however, is of Scotch-
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Irish lineage. The grandfather and father al- ways resided in the Old Dominion, where they carried on agricultural pursuits and were known there as extensive planters and slave owners, the father having large landed posses- sions in his native state.
In early youth George A. Partlow became familiar with agricultural labors. His educa- tion was acquired in the subscription schools and he remained at home until 1879, when at the age of twenty-one years he went to Clark county, Virginia, where he began working for ten dollars per month as a farm hand. He was thus employed for three years and during the last year was paid one hundred and twenty- five dollars. At the end of that time he was married, June 1, 1882. to Miss Jennie Mc- Donald, who was of Scotch-Irish lineage, her parental grandfather having come from Scot- land to America. ller father was James Mc- Donald and her mother bore the name of Mrs. Priscilla Spade Moreland prior to her marriage with Mr. McDonald. They, too, were native residents of Virginia and her father was a Confederate soldier, who served in Lee's army, participating in the battle of the Wilderness and many other important engagements, which occurred in Virginia. He died in 1886 and was buried upon his farm in Culpeper county, that state, where the mother's remains were also interred when she was called to her final rest. In their family were fifteen children, eight sons and seven daughters: James W., who is living upon the home farm in Culpeper county, Virginia ; John R., of Williamson county, Texas; Mrs. Nellie M. Carpenter, of Brandy Station, Culpeper county, Virginia ; Mrs. Jen- nie R. Calvert, who lives in Palmer. Christian county, Illinois; Mrs. Partlow ; William H., who resides in Prince William county, Vir- ginia : Luey M .. deceased, who was buried at Woodville, Virginia : Wallace E., who is mar- ried and follows blacksmithing at Culpeper Courthouse, Virginia : Mrs. Carrie Livergood. of Taylorville, Illinois; Edward J., who re- sides with his brother, James, upon the old family homestead; Mrs. Lizzie K. Bost, who is residing in Nokomis, Illinois: Mrs. Belle Kibler, who died and was buried at Woodville. Virginia : Annie M., who died in infancy and
was buried in Rappahannock county, Virginia; Charles H., who is married and is located in Williamson county, Texas; and Horace L., who is also married and makes his home in Williamson county.
Mr. and Mrs. Partlow are parents of two children: Nellie M., born May 11. 1883, at- tended the common schools, was educated in music in Pana, and is now teaching large music classes in Ohlman, Rosemond and other parts of Montgomery county. Bertha C. was born March 4, 1885, on the day on which Pres- ident Cleveland was first inaugurated. She attended the district school, also spent one term as a student in the high school at Nokomis and is now a teacher in the home school at Prairie Chapel. The parents and daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Partlow is identified with the Court of Honor and with the Republican party. He has been school director for nine years and was as- sessor for one year. Ile has always been a church trustee, has been Sunday school su- perintendent and has thus taken a very active and helpful part in the moral as well as the educational and material development of his community. He owns a farm of eighty aeres, upon which he has made most of the improvements, bringing it up to its present state of development. His influence has ever been exerted on the side of right, truth, justice, reform and progress and therefore he is a man whom to know is to respect and honor and whose friendship is prized by those who have gained his favor and confidence.
WILLIAM SHOEMAKER.
Among the retired farmers of Raymond is William Shoemaker, who for a period of thirty years was actively and successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits in Montgomery county, owning three hundred and twenty acres of land in Nokomis township. His residence in this county dates from 1866, so that he is numbered among its early settlers. His birth occurred in Jefferson ocunty, Ohio, March 20. 1838, and his father, Adam Shoemaker, was horn in Bedford
MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM SHOEMAKER
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county. Pennsylvania, in 1810. The parental grandfather was John Shoemaker and the family is of German lineage. John Shoemaker removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1816, becoming one of the early residents of Jeffer- son county. Adam Shoemaker was there reared and in that county he married Eliza- beth Albaugh, a native of Ohio. He followed farming in Jefferson county, where he opened up and developed two tracts of land. becoming one of the successful. enterprising and inde- fatigable agrienlturists of his community. There he reared his family and his last days were spent in that county, his death there oe- curring in 1886. His wife, surviving him for a few years, passed away in 1892.
William Shoemaker was reared to manhood in Jefferson county and his educational privi- leges were very limited, because of the primi- tive condition of the schools and also because his services were needed upon the home farm. His training in the labors of the field was not meager and he early gained the practical ex- perience which proved the foundation for his success in later life. Hle was married in Gal- lia county, Ohio, January 9, 1862, to Miss Margaret Graden, who was born in Harrison county, Ohio. After his marriage he engaged in the operation of a flouring and grist mill for one year. after which he carried on general agricultural pursuits for two years. In 1866 he removed to Illinois, locating in Montgomery county near Nokomis. There he purchased raw land and opened up a farin which he con- tinned to improve for several years. He had at first a tract of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he afterward added by purchase sixty aeres. Ile improved the entire amount and cultivated it for some time, but later sold that property and bought a farm of three hun- dred and twenty acres near Nokomis. This he placed under a high state of cultivation, adding all modern equipments which are found upon a model farm. He worked persistently and energetically in placing his farm in the best possible condition and he continued its active operation until 1903, when he removed to Raymond and purchased residence property which he now occupies. The history of his business career is the account of steady pro-
gression from humble financial surroundings to affluence. He followed methods such as any man might employ, his business life be- ing characterized by industry and integrity.
In 1884 Mr. Shoemaker was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away on the 24th of December of that year. There were seven children of that marriage: Ella M., the wife of Cornelius Pocock, a well-to- do farmer of Montgomery county; Amos A., who owns a good farm and is engaged in the creamery business at Nokomis; Luther F., a business man of Raymond; Leora M., the wife of J. F. Kellogg, of Jacksonville; Adam R., who died in childhood; John W., who is living in Greenfield, Illinois ; and Jerome, who died in infancy. In September, 1886, Mr. Shoemaker was married in this county to Ma- tilda V. Gibson, who was born in Montgomery county and is a daughter of R. E. Gibson, one of the early settlers of this portion of the state, arriving from Maryland in 1862.
Politically, because of his strong sympathy with the temperance cause, Mr. Shoemaker gives an ardent support to the Prohibition party. but political honors and emoluments have had no attraction for him. He served, however, as school treasurer of Audubon town- ship for six years, but otherwise has filled no public positions. He was reared in the Lu- theran faith, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was formerly a member of the Masonic fraternity but is now dimitted. For thirty-eight years he has been a resident of the county and has seen many changes, bringing about a modern develop- ment and advanced civilization. Ile occupies a pleasant home in Raymond and still owns the house and two lots in Nokomis. He is now enabled to enjoy a well merited rest.
JOSIAHI BIXLER.
Josiah Bixler, editor and proprietor of the Ilillsboro Journal, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, in 1859. The family, of Ger- man origin, has been largely represented in Pennsylvania and Ohio through many genera- tions. The first of the name in America set-
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tled in Maryland. and later others of the fam- ily went to the Keystone state. Daniel Bixler, the father of Josiah Bixler, was born in Ohio, followed the occupation of farming throughout his business career and died in 1894 at the age of sixty-nine years. He was a member of the United Brethren church and in his political views was a Republican. He was influential and prominent in his community and held a number of minor positions. He married Sa- rah Kanaga, who was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and is now living on the old homestead near Bolivar, that state, at the age of seventy-five years. She, too, was of German lineage and her father was a minister. Unto Daniel Bixler and his wife were born three children : Amos, who is living in Bolivar; Josiah ; and Abraham Lincoln, deceased.
Josiah Bixler acquired his preliminary edu- cation in the country schools of Ohio and afterward entered the normal school at Ada, that state, remaining as a student there from 1883 until 1887. when he was graduated. For nineteen years he was actively identified with educational interests as a teacher, spending seven years of that time in Ohio and twelve years in Illinois. The fall following his grad- mation he came to this state and located in Sangamon county, becoming principal of the schools of Mechanicsburg. Subsequently he re- turned to Jefferson, Ohio, and was principal of the high school there for one year. when he resigned to accept the superintendency of the Hillsboro schools, remaining at the head of the public school system of this city for six years. He then resigned and purchased the Hillsboro Journal in 1898 from B. F. Boyd & Company. He has prospered in his new venture and in the six years of his journalistic experience he has more than doubled the subscription of his paper and has made it the official paper of the Republican party in Montgomery county.
In November. 1898, Mr. Bixler was mar- ried to Miss Anna Witherspoon, a daughter of William and Sarah E. ( Blackwelder) Wither- spoon. She was born in Hillsboro in 1869 and they now have one child, Sarah Louise. Mr. and Mrs. Bixler are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he is an active worker in the church and Sunday school, serving as one
of the officers in the former and doing all in his power to promote the growth and extend the influence of the church. He is also prominent in Masonic circles in Hillsboro, has been Mas- ter of his lodge four years, and is the present high priest of the chapter.
JAMES R. OSBORN.
During a life span of more than seventy-two years James R. Osborn has been a resident of Montgomery county. his birth having occurred in Butler Grove township, on the 2d of March, 1832. lle is a son of Levi and Mary (Com- best ) Osborn, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. the father having been born Feb- ruary 26, 1808, and the mother on the 10th of January, 1810. In the fall of 1830 they started overland, making the journey on horse- back and bringing with them their only child. Mr. Osborn settled in Butler Grove township, securing a claim of eighty acres from the gov- ernment. The land had never been cultivated and a breaking plow prepared the fields for the planting. He built a log cabin of one room and in this pioneer home began life in Illi- nois, continuing the work of the fields until he had made his land a productive tract that yielded him good profit. He died August 6, 1851. after about twenty-one years of active and helpful connection in the pioneer development of the county. His wife, surviving him for a quarter of a century, passed away May 22, 1826. They were the parents of eleven chil- dren. of whom three died in infancy, while eight reached years of maturity.
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