USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Past and present of Montgomery County, Illinois > Part 38
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On November 20, 1890, Mr. Oshorn was mar- ried to Miss Emma Ware, a daughter of David Ware, one of the honored and valued pioneer settlers of Montgomery county. They now have an interesting family of four children : Wesley W .. Grace, Clarence A. and Harold M. Politically Mr. Osborn is a Republican and has three times been elected township supervisor of Butler Grove township. He is also a school direc- tor and is secretary and treasurer of the cemetery association. ITis interest in community affairs has been manifest by active co-operation in many measures for the general good and in tangible support of different movements which have for their object the upbuilding of the county.
ALFRED N. BANES.
Alfred N. Banes, prominent as a representa- tive of fraternal circles and a leader in com- munity interests in Hillsboro. having for four years been a member of the board of education and now serving as its secretary, was born in Hamilton county. Illinois, July 1, 1866. His father. Charles Edward Banes, was a native of Tennessee, and is now living in MeLeansboro, Illinois, at the age of seventy years. He came to this state from Tennessee with his parents when five years of age, the family home being
established in Hamilton county, where he was reared amid the scenes of frontier life. He was a farmer throughout the years of his active business career, but at the time of the Civil war he put aside agricultural pursuits in order to esponse the cause of the Union, enlisting in Company A, of the Fortieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Ile was enrolled at Springfield in 1861 and served until the close of the war, par- ticipating in many important engagements and thus displaying his valor and loyalty on many a southern battlefield. In his political allegi- ance he is a Republican. and he maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. In early manhood he mar- ried Elizabeth Perry, who was born in Illinois and died September 6, 1822. at the age of thirty-six years. She was a daughter of Leroy Jackson Perry. an early resident of this state.
Alfred N. Banes, one of a family of five children, acquired his education in the public schools and completed his preparation for life's practical and responsible duties by pursuing a course of study in the business college at Dixon, Illinois. He afterward pursued a teacher's course at Covington, Indiana. and then engaged in teaching school for eight years in Christian county. Illinois. During the last three years of that period he was principal of the schools at Harvel. On the expiration of that period he began editing the IIarvel Era, which he conducted for three years and at the same time was connected with J. J. Carey in the lumber business at that place. In December. 1898. he was appointed deputy county clerk. of Montgomery county under John M. Shoemaker and has served in that capacity to the present time, proving a capable and faithful officer.
In 1895 Mr. Banes was united in marriage to Miss Phoebe A. Carey. a daughter of Jesse J. and Helen (Ross) Carey. Her father was a farmer and merchant of Harvel, who removed from Pike county to Christian county and thence to Montgomery county. His political views were in accord with the principles of Democracy and he served as a member of the board of supervisors for three terms, acting as chairman of the board in 1898. Tle is now engaged in the lumber business at Harvel and
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is a man of considerable means, having directed lar Baptist church. He was a successful busi- his business interests with such care that he has acquired a handsome competency. Mrs. Banes was born in Pike county, Ilinois, in 1865, and has become the mother of five daugh- ters: Ada E., Myra E., Havilla J., Gladys and Eunice.
The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Banes belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Wood- men of America. He is very prominent in these organizations and has represented. each local lodge in the grand lodge. In his political views he is a Democrat and does everything in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his party. His entire life has been passed in Illinois, and during much of the time he has lived in Montgomery county, where he has a wide acquaintance. lle is known for his reliability in business, his faithfulness in office. his progressiveness in citizenship and his fidel- ity in friendship, and these qualities have made him a valued resident of Hillsboro and Mont- gomery county.
LEROY F. WOOD.
Leroy F. Wood, a member of the firm of Wood Brothers, real-estate dealers in Litchfield, conducting extensive and profitable business operations in land and improved property, was born on the 25th of January, 1841. in North Litchfield township, and is the eldest son of Elder John and Elizabeth W. ( Williams) Wood, the former a Baptist minister. The paternal grandfather was Bennett Wood, who was born in Virginia, and died in Montgomery county. Illinois. He had a family of ten chil- dren. including Elder John Wood, whose birth occurred in Knox county, Tennessee. in 1818. and died in this county in 1883. His educa- tional privileges were very limited, he being unable to read until after his marriage, when he was taught by his wife. He came to Illinois with his parents in 1828, and for many years he devoted much of his time to the work of the ministry, being a Regular Baptist and a local elder ordained to that office in the Regu-
ness man, owing to his enterprise and unfalter- ing perseverance and courage. fle worked for one man at ten dollars per month until he had earned enough money to pay for eighty acres of land, which he had entered from the govern- ment and for which he had to pay the usual price of one dollar and a quarter per acre. Ile married Elizabeth W. Williams, March 25, 1840, and they became the parents of twelve children, those now living being Leroy F., Mrs. Naney Bewley. Mrs. Rachel S. Baker, Mrs. Martha M. Post. Francis E .. MeCurley, Wil- liam S. and Thomas II.
Leroy F. Wood was reared under the parental roof and in his early manhood was married to Lurancy E. Ward, a native of Vigo county, Indiana, the marriage being celebrated on the 25th of February, 1858. In their family were five children : Mrs. Sarah E. Roberts, the old- est, whose husband is a farmer and resides near Litchfield, has five children, one of whom is married; Rufus F .. who is also married, is em- ployed by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and resides in Litchfield; Rettie, who is the wife of R. II. Coffey, a paperhanger, and they have one child; John S .. thirty years of age, is now in his father's otlice; Jesse A. is married and resides in Holiday, Kansas, where he is now engaged in farming. At the time of the Spanish-American war he enlisted in the United States Army for three years, and for two years was in the Philippines with Battery O of the Sixth United States Heavy Artillery.
After his marriage Leroy F. Wood began farming and followed that pursuit until after the inauguration of the Civil war, when he re- sponded to his country's call for aid. enlisting on the ftth of August. 1862. as a member of Company A, Ninety-first Illinois Infantry. He served as a non-commissioned officer for three years and was in the department of the Rio Grande in the southwest. He took part in a number of important battles and was always faithful to the cause which he espoused. He was wounded at Spanish Fort, Alabama, March 26. 1865, and discharged June 19, 1865. After the war he returned to his family and resumed farming in Montgomery county, but subse- quently he learned the carpenter's trade, which
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he followed for a few years. At a later date he turned his attention to the insurance busj- ness and since 1882 has been a representative of this field of activity. He has also operated in real estate, and in March, 1891. he was joined by his brother in the establishment of the pres- ent firm of Wood Brothers. They have dealt extensively in farm and city property and have enjoyed a large clientage.
Mr. Wood became a member of the Christian church in 1858, and for twelve years was con- nected with the ministry, putting forth earnest and conscientious effort in behalf of the cause. HIe was elected justice of the peace in 1886 for a term of four years, has also been assistant suprevisor, and was on the county board of supervisors from 1884 until 1886, being elected to these various positions on the Democratic ticket.
JUDGE EDWARD YOUNG RICE.
Judge Edward Young Rice was born in Lo- gan county. Kentucky, February 8, 1820. In his native state he remained until about fifteen years of age, when he removed with his parents to Macoupin county. Illinois. His father, Francis Rice, was a native of Caswell county, North Carolina. He was engaged in a minis- terial life, and identified with agricultural and mercantile pursuits. His death occurred in August. 1832, aged about sixty-three years. Ilis wife was Mary Gooch. also a native of Cas- well county. North Carolina, and a daughter of William and Mrs. (Carr) Gooch. Both were among the prominent families of North Caro- lina. The parents of our subject had seven sons and four daughters, of whom the JJudge was the youngest.
The Judge received a limited education in the common schools, with the addition of about two years at Shurtleff College. He then taught school and studied law with Governor Palmer, at Carlinville, from which place he was admit- ted to the bar in February. 1844. In Septem- ber of the following year he came to Hillsboro, where he practiced his profession until in Oc- tober, 1881, when he entered into partnership with Judge A. N. J. Crook, at Springfield, Illi-
nois. While engaged in the practice of his pro- fession he has always been honored with a large and lucrative practice. In 1842 he was elected to the office of recorder of deeds of Montgomery county. In November, 1848. he was honored with an election to the lower house of the Illinois legislature, a special session car- rying him to the year 1851, and in that year he was elected to the office of county judge to fill the unexpired term caused by the resig- nation of Joseph Ralston, and during the years 1853 to 1852. he was master in chancery. In April. 1857, he was elected to the office of cir- cuit judge for a term of four years. but by the formation of a new circuit, composed of Sangamon, Macoupin. Montgomery and Chris- tian counties, he was re-elected for a term of six years, and in 186% for a term of six years longer. but before the term expired he resigned his office to accept the nomination for congress from the "old tenth district." In that position he served until in March, 18:3, and it was during his term that the state was re-districted. He was a member of the constitutional conven- tion which assembled in December. 1869, and completed its work in May. 1820. In this con- vention he served upon many important com- mittees. In the carly part of 1824. he. in connection with his son-in-law. Amos Miller. opened their present law office in Hillsboro, now under the firm name of Rice. Miller & McDavid. He was married November 29. 1849, to Mrs. Susan R. ( Allen) Condy, a na- tive of Clark county. Kentucky. She had one child-Isabella, wife of F. C. Bolton. a rail- road operator in Indianapolis. By this mar- riage, the Judge has two children living-Mary. wife of Amos Miller, and James E. Y., who is attending Blackburn University. He is a Dem- ocrat in political tenets, and, with his wife, belongs to the Presbyterian church.
MOSES E. BERRY.
Moses E. Berry, the owner of a productive farm of two hundred and seventy-five acres on section 21. Butler Grove township, is one of the worthy citizens that Ohio has furnished to Montgomery county, his birth having occurred
Eng2 by FREalla Son "Barcing SWWW.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
in the city of Cincinnati on the 4th day of December, 1855. He was only a year old. how- ever. when brought by his parents to Illinois, and was reared in this county upon a farm, his boyhood days being passed in the usual manner of farmer lads. He acquired a common-school education and through the summer months worked in the fields. Since attaining manhood he has followed the pursuit to which he was reared, and he is now the owner of a very de- sirable property, comprising two hundred and seventy-five acres of land. which is very pro- ductive. It constitutes a valuable farm, which is highly cultivated and is improved with all modern equipments. for the owner is abreast with the progressive spirit of the times.
Mr. Berry was married September 21, 1877, to Miss Tillie S. Schroeder, and they now have four children: Chester. Arthur. Annetta and Harry. The parents hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Berry belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp. Ilis position on the temperance question is indicated by the fact of his earnest and unfaltering sup- port of the Prohibition party. He is thoroughly in sympathy with all that is tending to elevate mankind and to advance the moral condition of the people, and to aid in a substantial and honorable character development, and his own career is guided by high principles, which make him a respected citizen of his community.
ELIAS N. PRAY.
Elias N. Pray. interested in general farm- ing, his landed possessions embracing three hundred and sixty acres of choice prairie land in Audubon township. is also well known be- cause of the active and helpful interest he has taken in community affairs. He was born on the 25th of September, 1852. in Uniondale, Dutchess county, New York, his parents bring George D. and Nancy ( Baker) Pray, both of whom were natives of the Empire state, and were of English and Scotch lineage. respect- ively, although both the paternal and the ma- ternal grandparents were likewise born in New York. The Pray family was represented in the Colonial Army during the Revolutionary
war, two of the great-uneles of our subject he- ing killed while defending the interests of the colonists in that long struggle with Great Brit- ain that resulted in the establishment of the Republic. Their remains were interred in the cemetery of Beekman. New York.
George D. Pray had three sisters and three brothers, but all are now deceased. Ile devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits and was the owner of a farm of two hundred and ten acres, which he conducted with excellent she- cess. Inuit since his death it has been sold. Hle died when forty-five years of age and his wife passed away at the age of forty-three years, their remains being interred in Verbank ceme- tery in Uniondale. In their family were two sons and two daughters who are yet living, and one son who is deceased, Elias N. being the oldest of the family. George died in Chicago in August. 1883. lda is the wife of Charley Duncan, a resident of Pleasant Valley. Dutch- ess county. New York. Martha resides at Chestnutridge, in Dutchess county. Seward, the youngest, married Cassie Chase, of Rose- mond, Illinois, and he is employed as baggage- man by the Illinois Central Railroad Company at Chicago.
To the public school system of his native county Elias N. Pray is indebted for the carly educational privileges which he enjoyed. He afterward spent two years in a boarding school and one year in a military school at Pough- keepsie, New York, and later continued his studies for a year in DeGarmo Institute and one year at Moore's Male Institute. When his education was completed and his text-books laid as'de he entered business life to learn its prae- tical and difficult lessons. Ile began farming in eastern New York, cultivating a tract of land in Dutchess county which belonged to an uncle, and there he remained for six years. after which he operated a cousin's farm for one year and later rented land for a year. This was in 1829, and after leaving the rented farm he came to Montgomery county, Illinois, in March. 1880, where he had previously pur- chased two hundred and sixty acres. The boun- daries of his place he has since extended until he now has three hundred and sixty acres, and all of the improvements upon the farm have
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been made by him and stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise. Hle planted the en- tire orchard save a few trees, and has been suc- cessfully engaged in horticultural pursuits as well as agricultural pursuits. The farm is well equipped with modern accessories, and his life has been one of unwearied diligence, which has formed the basis of his richly merited prosper- ity. He is likewise the vice president of the Audubon Detective Association.
On the 22d of February. 1883, Mr. Pray was married to Miss Etta Conant, a daughter of P. II. Conant. of Springfield, Illinois. They became the parents of nine children : Ida, who died December 11, 1896, at the age of thirteen years: Elmer R., who died December 11, 1887. at the age of two years: Sadie V., who died March 15, 1891, when two years old; Nellie, born January 30, 1891: Harry, born July 2. 1892 : Gladys, born May 21, 1894: Mabel, born January 1, 1896; Pearl Marie, born September 18, 1897 : and Helen Adelaide, born December 10, 1900. The parents hold membership in the Congregational church at Rosemond, and Mr. Pray is a recognized leader of the local ranks of the Democracy, taking an active part in its work and doing all in his power to pro- mote the growth and success of the party. He was assessor for two years, collector for one year and is township treasurer at this writing. flis official service has always been acceptable to his fellow townsmen, being characterized by conscientious and capable performance of duty.
EASTON W. WHITTEN.
The desirability of Montgomery county as a place of residence is indicated by the fact that many of her native sons have remained to be- come substantial residents of this part of the state. Mr. Whitten. now following farming in Fillmore township, was born September 23, 1848, near the present place of his residence. and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth ( Kirk) Whitten, who were early settlers of the county. The father was born in Kentucky and came to Illinois with his parents among its earliest residents. He was then but a boy, and amid the wild scenes of frontier life he was reared,
sharing with the family in the hardships and trials which fall to the lot of those who seek and establish homes in a frontier district. He assisted in the arduous task of developing a new farm, and throughout his entire business career he carried on agricultural pursuits, which he found to be a good source of revenue. lle became the owner of two hundred and forty acres of rich land, constituting a fine farm, in Fillmore township, and thereon he spent his remaining days. In his family were seven children, of whom five are now living, namely: Cinor, the wife of John Allen, a resident of Fillmore township ; Willmuth, wife of Benjamin Roberts, of the same township; Easton W., of this review: Thomas J., also a resident of Fillmore township; and Eliza- beth, wife of Thomas Wilson, of Fillmore.
Easton W. Whitten remained under the parental roof during the period of his minority and acquired his education in the public schools, the duties of the schootroom and the pleasures of the playground largely occupying his attention until he became his father's active assistant in the labors of the farm. Hle continued to carry on agricultural pursuits on the old homestead until thirty years of age, when he removed to his present place of resi- dence. Here he at first had but twenty acres, but as opportunity has afforded he has added to his possessions, extending the boundaries of his farm until he now owns six hundred and seventy-eight acres. He raises both grain and stock for the market and he has a well devel- oped place. the fields being carefully tilled, while in his pastures are found good grades of cattle, hogs and horses. He has erected a good residence, built a commodious barn and other necessary outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock, cleared the land, has planted trees. and now has a farm which is very productive in appearance and is worthy of considerable mention.
On the 22d of April, 1880, at the home of the bride. Rev. J. Williford performed the wedding ceremony that made Easton W. Whit- ten and Celestia Wright man and wife. The lady was born September 11. 1855, and is a daughter of Elijah and Druscilla (Lynn) Wright. Her father is a native of Fillmore
UNIVE MIO EF ILLINOIS
E. W. WHITTEN AND FAMILY
MR. AND MRS. THOMAS WHITTEN
MIR. AND MRS. ELIJAH WRIGHT
UT YES WAR LLINOIS
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township, this county, his parents having come here at an early day from Kentucky, and her mother is a native of Kentucky. Mr. Wright owned a valuable farm of about five hundred acres in Fillmore township and built the brick honse which stands on a part of our subject's farm. In his political views he is a Demo- erat. but has never cared for the h mors or emoluments of public office. He and his wife now make their home in the town of Fillmore. Of their seven children five are living. namely : Camilla, wife of Robert Nelson, of Fillmore township; Celestia. now Mrs. Whitten; Jo- seph J., a resident of Ramsey; Sarah Eliza- beth, wife of Frank Blackburn, who lives near Quiney, Missouri; and Emerson, a resident of Houston, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Whitten have become the parents of five children : Perry O., who was born May 28, 1881, and now lives on a farm near Quincy, Missouri; Elijah O .. born December 16. 1882: Thomas O., who was born August 21. 1885, and died September 23. 1885: Denver G., born June 20. 1891; and Ima. born December 29, 1892. All are at home with the exception of the eldest son.
Mr. Whitten supports the Democratic party, but political positions and honors have no at- traction for him, as his life has been devoted to farming and stock-raising interests. When he came into possession of his place it was largely covered with timber, and to clear this and make the fields productive has been his real lifework.
JOSEPHI ROBERT GRANTHAM.
J. Robert Grantham, now living in Butler Grove township, was born in Irving township, Montgomery county, on the 30th of November. 1869. Tlis father, Joseph Grantham, died when the son was It seven years of age, leav- ing his widow, Mrs. Mary M. Grantham, with a family of six children, the youngest being but six months old. The Grantham family is one of the oldest of Montgomery county. having been established here at a very early day by the grandfather. James Grantham, who settled in Irving township. All around was wild and unimproved and he assisted in laying the foun-
dation for its present development and up- building. llis son, Joseph Grantham, was born upon the old farm place in Irving town- ship.
In his youth J. Robert Grantham of this re- view had few privileges and advantages. Ile was but ten years of age when he and his elder brother. then a youth of twelve years, took charge of the home farm for their mother. They worked together until he was fifteen years of age, when he assumed the entire man- agement of the home place, his brother hiring ont to assist in caring for the family. As op- portunity afforded he attended school, remain- ing a student in the common schools until six- teen years of age, when he entered the Irving high school. All this time he continued his farm work. When twenty-three years of age he began teaching and soon afterward he en- tered the Wesleyan University, where he spent one term. Ile was a teacher in the public schools of Irving for one term. and thus he supplemented the income derived from his farming operations. He continued to carry on agricultural pursuits there until 1895, covering a long period, characterized by unfaltering dili- gence and perseverance.
On April 4, 1895, Mr. Grantham was mar- ried to Miss Grace M. Westcott, of Butler Grove township, and with her started one week later on a tour of California and the west, returning the last of June following, when they took up the labors of building and improving their home. Their landed estate consists of two hundred and thirty-two and one-half acres, one hundred and eighty acres of which is in the. home farm. Tle has made all of the improve- ments upon the place, and in connection with general farming has carried on stock-raising. making a specialty of shorthorn cattle. TIP owns some fine cattle, and this department of his business has proved a good source of income to him.
In politics he is a Prohibitionist and in reli- gion a Methodist. and has served as superin- tendent of the Sunday-school for many years and taken a helpful part in other church activi- ties. ITis life has been one of continned and persistent industry crowned with success. The duties which generally come with manhood
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