USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Past and present of Montgomery County, Illinois > Part 34
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S. E. GERLACH.
S. E. Gerlach, one of the prominent busi- ness men of Waggoner, where he is conducting a general mercantile establishment, has been a resident of Illinois since 1869. Born in Ohio, he first opened his eyes to the light of day in Northampton. Clark county, on the 8th of January, 1862, his parents being Michael and Druscilla (Overpack ) Gerlach. The father, a native of Pennsylvania, was there reared, and when a young man he removed to Ohio, where he formed the acquaintance of Druscilla Overpack, whose hand he sought in marriage. She was born in the Buckeye state and they began their domestic life upon a farm there, Mr. Gerlach continuing the cultivation of land in Clark county until 1869, when he removed westward to Illinois, settling in Maconpin county. He lived there for a few years and then came to Montgomery county.
S. E. Gerlach was reared as are most farm boys, working in the fields during the time of spring planting and when crops were harvested in the fall. In the winter months he attended the public schools, and by reading and expe- rience in later years he has added greatly to his knowledge, becoming a well informed man.
The home life of Mr. Gerlach has been very pleasant. He was married on the 16th of No- vember, 1882, in Zanesville township. Mont- gomery county, to Miss Jane Fooks, who was born December 9, 1864, a sister of George Fooks, who is represented elsewhere in this volume. After their marriage Mr. Gerlach con- tinned to engage in general farming for eight years, meeting with fair success. He then de- termined to turn his attention to other busi- ness interests and became a part owner in a lumber business in Waggoner. Removing to the town, he was actively connected with the conduct of that enterprise until January. 1901,
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S. E. GERLACH AND FAMILY
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MICHAEL GERLACH AND FAMILY
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when he sold out and purchased a general mer- cantile establishment, which he has since con- dueted. He now carries a large and well se- lected line of goods suitable for the town and country trade, and he has built up a good busi- ness, having a large and constantly growing patronage. He has won a good reputation, not only for excellent goods, but also for straight- forward dealing, and he has made it his earnest effort to please his customers and make them entirely satisfied in their trade relations with him. He has improved and built resi- dence property here and he has also bought a good business house.
Mr. and Mrs. Gerlach have two children : Ethel Ann, born March 13, 1890: and George William, born August 22, 1893. The parents hold membership in the Baptist church. Po- litically Mr. Gerlach is a Republican, taking an active interest in the work of his party. He has been elected and served as township col- lector and is a friend of good schools, believing in the employment of competent teachers. He served on the school board for several years, and during that time rendered effective aid to the cause of education. He has been a resident of this portion of the county from his youth to the present time, and the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from boyhood is an indication that his has been a career worthy of regard and one that will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny.
HON. A. F. MCEWEN.
Hon. A. F. MeEwen, superintendent of the Litchfield Marble & Granite Works and one of the honored veterans of the Civil war and in days of peace has been equally loyal to his country and her best interests, was born in Hillsboro on the 12th of March, 1842. His parents were John and Lydia ( Fitch ) Me- Ewen. The former was a native of North Carolina and was of Scotch-Irish extraction. manifesting in his life the sterling honesty and rugged character of the people from whom he was descended. John MeEwen came to Montgomery county in 1839. He had been
married in his native state but his wife had died there. As a pioneer he made his way into this district of Illinois and when it was largely a wilderness with but few settlements and al- most no improvements. He was a blacksmith by trade and followed that pursuit throughout his entire business career. He took an active and helpful part in the work of progress and improvement here and for many years prior to his death, which occurred in 1848. he filled the office of justice of the peace. He dis- charged his duties in the court without fear or favor and he also solemnized many marriages among the earlier settlers of the county. llis death occurred at the comparatively early age of thirty-nine years. He was an earnest l'res- byterian in religious faith and through his efforts in behalf of the church contributed to the moral as well as material development of his adopted county. Ilis widow afterward ho- came the wife of Rey. William J. Boone, of Shelbyville, Illinois. Her death occurred in 1884 and was deeply deplored by many friends for she had the love and esteem of all who knew her. ' By her first marriage there were four children,. two sons and two daughters, one sister residing in Hillsboro, one in Springfield, Ohio, and the brother of our subject in St. Louis.
Alonzo F. MeEwen was only six years of age at the time of his father's death. Four chil- dren were left to the care of the widowed mother and it became necessary that the sons should early start out in life, so that the subject of this review soon learned to face the hardships and difficulties incident to farming. He was put to work that he might help his mother and he entered the employ of Mr. Hayward, a noble character of Montgomery county, who was known as old "twelve per cent." Mr. Hay- ward was an extensive landowner and Mr. Me- Ewen entertained for him the greatest respect and gratitude, for at the hands of his em- ployer he met only kindness. Mr. Hayward paid him seven dollars per month, which Mr. MeEwen says was the old man's way of helping his mother, for the boy had little to do and was sent to school throughout the winter. In his youth, however, he assisted in the plowing and as he did his work barefooted he was constantly
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on the lookout for snakes, which infested the tall prairie grass. There were also many wolves, panthers and wild cats in the locality and large herds of deer were seen, while smaller game was to be had in abundance. His earnest toil awakened a good appetite and brought on sound sleep and these two did much to de- velop in Mr. McEwen the strong constitution which has enabled him to do an immense amount of hard work in his life and conduct important business interests. After leaving the farm he learned the trade of a marble cut- ter, at which he had worked but a short time when he became imbued with the "spirit of '61" and enlisted in the famous Ninth Illinois In- fantry as a member of Company H, on the 23rd of April. 1861.
This regiment was transferred to Cairo, where the first one hundred days of his services were spent. He re-enlisted at the end of that time and participated in all the memorable battles and stirring incidents with which that regiment was connected. This was one of the most renowned commands of the entire army. With his comrades he re-enlisted July 26, 1861. for three years' service and under General Grant the Ninth and Twelfth Illinois Regi- ments went to Kentucky. From the landing at Paducah, until the opening of the Fort Henry and Fort Donelson campaign-Septem- ber 5. 1861, to February 6, 1862-the time was taken up in squad, company and battalion drills and no better drilled troops did the state send to the front than the Ninth regiment. At Fort Henry this command landed opposite th> fort on the Tennessee river. The stream was very high at that time and the bottoms were covered with back waters so that wading was necessary. The boys had to place their cartridge boxes on their heads and thus pro- ceed under difficulties, but when the high land was reached Fort Henry was taken on the double quick. Snow, rain and exposure left many ill in the hospital. On the 12th of February the regiment crossed the river and took its position in the rear of Fort Donelson. The Ninth was one of the first to meet the Con- federate forces when they tried to evacuate the fort on the morning of the 15th. Many were killed and wounded and a few were taken
prisoners. The battle of Shiloh followed and only five hundred and seventy-eight members of the regiment were able to respond for duty and only two hundred and nine came out un- scathed, one hundred and three being killed, while two hundred and sixty-six were wounded. There Mr. MeEwen was hit three times, once in the head, a second time in the shoulder and the third time in the leg. On Friday, April 4. 1862. the Ninth regiment, which had for- merly been uniformed in a gray suit with a stiff, high gray hat, was furnished with new blue uniforms, which they wore on Sunday morning in the battle of Shiloh for the first time. The regiment was commanded by Colo- nel Jesse J. Phillips, the brigade by Colonel August Marsey, while General W. W. Wallace was in charge of the division, At the battle of Shiloh the Ninth held position near a ravine not far from the place where General Albert Sidney Johnston was killed. It was recorded that not one straggler from the ranks of the Ninth regiment was found after the engage- ment at that place- a fact of which no other regiment during the entire war could boast. Colonel Fox says in his Regimental Losses in the American Civil War. "It has now become clear that the greatest loss sustained by any infantry regiment in any battle of the war oc- curred at Shiloh in the Ninth Illinois. This gallant regiment fought on that field at the deadly point known as the Hornets' Nest.' when it suffered a loss of three hundred and sixty-six men out of five hundred and seventy- eight engaged, one hundred and three being killed outright." Its gallant Colonel Phillips was conspicuous in the fray and was wounded while his horse was killed from under him. At the noted battle of Balaklava the Light Brigade of six hundred made its famous charge with a loss of two hundred and forty-seven, or thirty-six per cent, while the Ninth Illinois lost sixty-three per cent in the face of a mus- ketry that was more terrible than the cannon- ading at Balaklava. During the war the Ninth suffered a total loss of seven hundred and sixty-six men in one hundred and ten engage- ments out of a total enrollment of fourteen hundred and ninety-three. In the regiment there were many officers and privates of Ger-
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man, French and American descent but as Illi- nois citizens their glory will never fade. After the battle of Shiloh Mr. MeEwen was sent home on a furlough of six weeks. but on the expira- tion of that period he returned to his regiment and with it went to Atlanta and on the famous march to the sea. Not long after this he was mustered out and returned home with a most creditable and honorable military record.
Not long after his return Mr. MeEwen was married at Hillsboro on the 8th of June, 1865, to Miss Maria M. Abbott, a daughter of Stephen Abbott, one of the prominent citizens of Hills- boro, and a sister of Hon. William Abbott, an attorney of this city. In the spring of 1866 they removed to Litchfield and Mr. McEwen opened a marble shop on the north side of the public square, where he was located in business for twelve years. In 1878 he established a grocery store, which he conducted for two years, but in 1880 he again engaged in the marble business and in 1888 he assisted in organizing the Litchfield Marble & Granite Works, with IIon. T. C. Kirkland as president and Hon. S. M. Grubbs as treasurer, while Mr. MeEwen became superintendent and has since acted in that capacity. This is one of the leading firms in this line of business in central Illinois and Mr. MeEwen's long experience has well quali- fied him for the conduct of the extensive and important business which is now accorded to the company.
Into Mr. and Mrs. McEwen have been born five children : Minnie H., born March 1, 1866, is now the wife of John J. Munson, of Minne- apolis. Minnesota, and they have one child, an infant ; Grace is the wife of James F. Robin- son, of Hillsboro, and they have one son and two daughters; Maude A. is the wife of Will- iam Wilkes: Alonzo F. is employed in his father's shop ; Florence is at home.
In his political views Mr. MeEwen is a stal- wart Democrat, and upon that ticket was elect- ed to the city council from the third ward in 1844 and 1875. Ile was appointed by Governor Tanner, of Illinois, a member of the Shiloh battlefield commission and has served in that capacity since September 4. 1897. The mem- bers of this commission are to mark positions of the Illinois regiment on the battlefield and
erect appropriate monuments to the memory of those brave men who fell there. The mem- bers of the commission at the present writing, in 1904, are Captain George A. Busse, presi- dent ; Major George Mason, secretary ; Colonel J. B. Nulton, Captain Thomas A. Weisner, Captain Benson Wood, Captain J. B. Ramsey, Captain Timothy Slattery, Hon. Isaac Yantis, IIon. A. F. MeEwen and Hon. Sheldon A. Ayres. In 1900 Mr. MeEwen was appointed chairman of the committee on designs and ma- terials by Major General John A. MeClernand, president of the board, and as the result of Mr. MeEwen's committee efforts forty magnifi- cent monuments now mark the positions of twenty-eight regiments of infantry, eleven bat- teries and four detachments of cavalry on the field of Shiloh. He set up the first regimental monument in honor of the Ninth Illinois in the battlefield of Shiloh. He is a prominent and interested member of the Grand Army of the Republic and greatly enjoys meeting with his old comrades at the annual reunions. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp, No. 379. He has been a successful business man and has a host of warm friends, by whom he is loved and respected as a soldier, citizen and substantial man of affairs. Few men are better known in Montgomery county, and none deserve in higher degree the esteem and good will of those with whom they are associated than does Alonzo F. MeEwen.
HENRY WARE.
Henry Ware, who is interested in farming in Butler Grove township, was born on the 4th of May, 1845, in the same township. upon a farm which is now the home of W. A. Young. Ilis father. Obediah Ware, was born in Atkin- son, New Hampshire, and was married in that state to Miss Electa Post. He removed from New England to Missouri and thence came to Montgomery county, Illinois, settling here in 1823. From the government he entered the land upon which he established his home, de- veloping the farm that was the birthplace of Henry Ware. The part which he took in the development and improvement of the county
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was very helpful, for he assisted in laying out the roads and reclaiming the wild land for civilization and in instituting many public measures that have proved beneficial. In his family were ten children, one son ind nine daughters, but only two are now living, the sister of our subject being Mrs. Baldwin, who resides in Butler Grove township. The father died at the advanced age of eighty-two years, while his wife passed away in 1859 at the age of forty-nine years.
The boyhood days of Henry Ware were quiet- ly passed. He worked in the fields through the summer months and attended the public schools in the winter season, and he gained practical experience in all of the varied duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. After at- taining early manhood he married Miss Louisa Morrison and for a year thereafter rented a farm. He then began the operations of the home place and subsequently removed to the farm which is now his home. Here he has two hundred and forty acres of rich land on sec- tions 13 and 23. Butler Grove township; his residence, however, stands on the latter section. Ile follows general farming along progressive lines and the work of plowing, planting and harvesting results in bringing to him a very good income. In his political views he is a Republican, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him, as he has preferred to devote his energies to his business affairs.
DAVID Y. SCHERER.
David Y. Scherer, living upon a farm on section 21. Raymond township, is engaged in the raising of grain and stock and has im- proved a property of one hundred and twenty acres until in its equipments his place is equal to that of any in the community. The farm is situated about three and a half miles from Raymond. Mr. Scherer was born in this town- ship, February 3, 1842, and is a son of David and Mary (Waggoner) Scherer, both of whom were natives of North Carolina. The father's birth occurred in Guilford county in 1802, and there he was reared and married. Five
children were born ere the removal of the pa- rents from North Carolina to Illinois. On reaching this state the father established his home in Montgomery county, securing a tract of land in Raymond township, which he en- tered from the goverment. It was all wild and unimproved, but he undertook its culti- vation with strong determination and in course of time was gathering rich harvests where a few years before were seen the wild prairie grasses, As the years advanced he prospered in his undertakings and he made judicious invest- ment of his capital in real estate until he was the owner of nearly one thousand acres. He was a prominent man of his community, in- flueneing public opinion along progressive lines and lending substantial aid for the de- velopment and upbuilding of the county. He died about 1858 and thus passed away one whose value as a citizen was acknowledged by all who knew him. His wife survived him for many years and reached the advanced age of ninety-three.
David Y. Scherer. belonging to a family of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, who reached mature years, enjoyed the privi- leges and also faced the hardships which usu- ally come to a household of large numbers when the parents are only in medium financial cir- cumstances. He has but one surviving brother, Joseph Scherer, who is living in Texas, and two sisters. He attended the common schools in his youth and when not engaged with his textbooks he assisted in the labors of field and meadow. taking his place at an early age behind the plow. He became familiar with all departments of farm work and his practical experience afterward proved of much value to him when he began farming on his own ac- count. Following his marriage he took charge of the old home place and cared for his mother for many years. On the expiration of that period he bought a tract of land on section 21, Raymond township, and removed to this farm. The land was but partially broken and he con- tinued to place it under the plow. He also built fences and continued the work of culti- vation and development until almost the en- tire amount was transformed into productive fields. He erected a good house and substan-
MR. AND MRS. DAVID SCHERER, SR.
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tial barn, planted shade and ornamental trees and set out two orchards. which have yielded an abundance of fruit. Everything about his place is neat and attractive in appearance. There is a fine well of running water for his stock and also good springs upon the place. lle raises high grade cattle, hogs and horses, and. in fact, everything about his place is in the finest condition, for he believes in progres- sion and is continually improving his methods of farming in keeping with the advanced ideas of the time. Besides his farm he owns twelve lots in Butler, on one of which is a barn and on another is a two-story house.
Mr. Scherer was married in Rountree town- ship, December 11, 1863, to Miss Louisa M. Morrell, who was born in Hancock county, Ohio, and is one of the twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, all yet living, of Rob- ert. Morrell. who came to Montgomery county about 1859. ller father purchased a farm in Rountree township and thereon reared his fam- ily, the children leaving the old homestead as they married and established homes of their own. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Scherer have been born seven children, of whom five are living: Mary Elizabeth, the wife of Henry Mitchell. who resides near Vandalia : William J., a busi- ness man and miner of California : Oliver F .. who is married and resides in Los Angeles, California ; Alice R .. a music teacher : and Elsie E., at home. The last two are accomplished young ladies. Mr. and Mrs. Scherer also lost two children : Robert R., who died when about thirty years of age; and May Leota, who died in infancy.
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Mr. Scherer exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party and he proudly cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. He is a friend of the cause of educa- tion. believing in the establishment of good schools and the employment of competent teachers, and his opinions in this regard were evidenced by his service on the school board for several years. Both he and his wife were reared in the Lutheran faith and are now mem- bers of Ware's Grove Lutheran church. where Mr. Scherer is also identified with the Modern Woodmen. The Scherer home is neat and at-
tractive in appearance. indicating thrift and good taste. The house is surrounded by a fine grove of forest and evergreen trees and beauti- ful shrubbery. Hospitality is one of the not- able features of the household and an air of culture and refinement pervades the place, so that the home has become a favorite resort with many friends, who represent the best element in Montgomery county's citizenship.
CHARLES H. WITHERSPOON.
Charles H. Witherspoon, whose connection with business interests of Hillsboro covers many years, in which he has successfully conducted a jewelry store, was born in the city which is yet his home in 1846. llis father, William Wither- spoon, was a native of North Carolina and in 1830 became a resident of Hillsboro, here he conducted the first tailoring establishment of the then pioneer town. He was also a carpen- ter and wagonmaker and figured prominently in business cireles at an early day. His po- litical support was given to the Whig party. and because of his belief in the abolition prin- ciples he joined the Republican party when it was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery. He held membership in the Presby- terian church and his life was ever honorable and upright, winning him the confidence and regard of his fellow men. He died in Hills- boro in 1886 at the advanced age of eighty-one years. In early manhood he wedded Elizabeth Morrison, who was born in North Carolina and accompanied her husband on his removal to the west. She, too, spent her remaining days in Hillsboro, while her death occurred in 1883 when she was seventy-nine years of age. They were the parents of nine children, but for thirty years Charles II. Witherspoon has been the only living representative of the family. In the pub- lie schools of his native city Mr. Witherspoon of this review acquired his preliminar; educa- tion and afterward attended the old academy. When his education was completed he began clerking in a store and subsequently he learned the jeweler's trade with Frederick Noterman, with whom he remained for five or six years, becoming very proficient in the line of his
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chosen vocation. He then established a jewelry business on his own account and has remained in this line continuously since, covering a pe- riod of almost one-third of a century. ile has a large and well selected line of goods and a finely equipped store for a city of this size and enjoys a good patronage, his business being a profitable one.
In 1886 Mr. Witherspoon was married to Miss Alice Gunning, a daughter of John C. Gunning. a wagonmaker and one of the early settlers of Montgomery county. Mrs. Wither- spoon was born in Hillsboro, and by her mar- riage has become the mother of one child, Nell E. Witherspoon. The parents are members of the Presbyterian church. and fraternally Mr. Witherspoon is identified with the Modern Woodmen and with the Tribe of Ben Hur. He believes in the principles of the Republican party and supports his belief by his ballot. His worth as a citizen and his deep interest in pub- lie affairs has been recognized by his fellow men in his election to several local positions. inelud- ing that of city treasurer and councilman. His entire life having been passed in Hillsboro, he has a very wide acquaintance here and knows and is known to almost all of its citizens. While there have been no exciting chapters in his history, he is respected for his activity and re- liability in business, his fidelity in public office and the many admirable traits which he displays in private life.
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