USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Past and present of Montgomery County, Illinois > Part 43
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On the 8th of January, 1814, Mr. Ellington was united in marriage to Miss Lamira C. Campbell, who was born in Perry county, Mis- sonri, October 22. 1855, a daughter of George C. and Mary (Smith) Campbell. In 1863 her family moved to Montgomery county, Illinois, and located five miles north of Coffeen. Mr. Campbell died in 1891 and his widow now makes her home in Coffeen. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ellington have been born seven children, of whom six are living: Clement L., who is married and resides in Alton, Illinois ; Ollie B., the wife of O. B. Root. of Charleston, Ili- nois ; Esther May, Ellen, Joseph Perry and Opal. all at home. They lost their third child !. George C., who died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Ellington hold membership re- lations in the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Donnellson, having always been identified with that organization, and its teachings and principles form a strong motive element in their lives. Mr. Ellington is also connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Court of Honor. In politics he has always been a Democrat, but has strong prohibition
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tendencies and has ever been an advocate of temperance principles. He stands to-day among the successful men of his community, who, as the architect of his own fortunes, has builded wisely and well. Without any special family or pecuniary advantages to aid him at the out- set of his career, he has labored energetically and persistently and his course has been char- acterized by continued and laudable advance- ment.
JACOB J. FREY.
Jacob J. Frey, for a number of years num- bered among the prominent and progressive citizens of Hillsboro, may well be termed one of the founders of the city, for he has been the promoter of many leading business enter- prises, and the growth and development of a city depend upon its commercial and industrial activity. His connection with any undertak- ing insures a prosperous outcome of the same, for it is in his nature to carry forward to suc- cessful completion whatever he is associated with. Ile has earned for himself an enviable reputation as a careful man of business, and in his dealings is known for his prompt and honorable methods, which have won him the deserved confidence of his fellow men.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Frey was born in the city of Cincinnati, February 16, 1866. His father. George A. Frey, also born in that city, died at the age of thirty-eight years. He con- ducted a cigar manufactory and was also a trunk manufacturer. In 1860 he removed from Ohio to St. Louis, Missouri, and the fol- Jowing year he enlisted in the Fourth Missouri Cavalry as a member of Company 1, thus serv- ing until the close of the war. He joined the army as a private. but was promoted through successive ranks until he attained that of major. He participated in the battle of Mis- sionary Ridge and other important engage- ments and was mustered out at the close of the war at St. Louis. In one battle he received a gunshot wound, which caused him to lose part of his hand. In 1864 he was captured by the rebel troops, spent eleven months in An- dersonville prison and came out almost a
physical wreck. but by careful nursing and attention he finally recovered his health. When the war was ended and he was mustered out of the service he turned his attention to the manufacture of cigars in St. Louis, where he remained until 1866, when he removed to Cin- cinnati. Ohio, spending about a year there. He then returned to St. Louis, and in 1870 he came to Hillsboro. where he established a cigar factory which he condneted with good success up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1826. In his fraternal relations he was an Odd Fellow and politically was a Republican. He married Miss Clara Benkler, a daughter of John Benkler, a native of Germany, in which country be served as a judge. Both he and his wife died in the fatherland. Mrs. Frey was born near Bremen, Germany, in 1839, and is now living in Hillsboro with a daughter. She was a most devoted wife and mother and made many sacrifices for her chil- dron after her husband's death. She holds membership with the Lutheran church and her entire life has been in consistent harmony with her profession. Unto Mr. and Mrs. George A. Frey were born four children: Jacob. of this review ; Katie, the wife of John O. Mil- ler; George, who was a member of Company E. Fifth Illinois Infantry, and served in the Spanish-American war, after which he re- turned home and re-enlisted for service in the Philippines, where his death occurred in An- gust. 1902. when he was twenty-four years of age. his remains. however, heing interred in the cemetery at Hillsloro: and Ida F., who is the wife of George Dunn, who is in the office with Mr. Frey, of this review.
Jacob J. Frey was brought to Hillsboro by his parents in 1870 and his early education was acquired in the public schools here. He was only about ten years of age at the time of his father's death. His mother afterward met with financial reverses and found it very diffi- cult to provide for her children, of whom Ja- cob is the eldest. She then found it necessary to do laundry work in order to keep the larder supplied. She received able and willing as- sistance. however. from her son Jacob, who did chores for Mr. Stewart in order to help pay the rent, and he also did any other honest
JACOB J. FREY
UNIVERSITETS ILLINOIS
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work that he could secure that would help his mother. At one time the school board passed a rule that children having no books should be prohibited from attending school. A kind friend, knowing that Mr. Frey had to leave school because of the measure passed, tokl him to get what books he needed, and if ever able to pay him back he could do so. The years passed and Mr. Frey. because of his unflagging indus- try and perseverance, prospered and long since he has discharged the indebtedness to his bene- factor and also assisted him at a time when business difficulties pressed him bard. This instance is another proof of the old saying that "bread cast upon the waters will return after many days." Mr. Frey was very desirous of obtaining an education, realizing its value as a preparation for life's practical and responsible duties and after leaving public schools he and three other young men employed a teacher who instructed them for two years. In the mean- time he clerked for C. B. Rhoades in a dry- goods store and on leaving that employ he ae- cepted a position as salesman in the hardware store of Stewart & Linxwiler, continning there for about a year. but the work proved too severe a strain upon his health and he returned to the employ of Mr. Rhoades, remaining there until 1885. TTe then concluded that he would learn the real estate business and obtained a leave of absence from the store for a year with the privilege of returning at the end of that time if he desired to do so. He then went to Topeka, Kansas, where he spent a year and was employed as a clerk in a real estate office of that city. On the expiration of that period be returned to Hillsboro, where he opened an office. Ile had been quite successful in Kansas, but sickness compelled him to use most of his good money. ITo had but little capital upon his return to Hillsboro, but the determination and enterprise which have been noticeable among his strongest characteristics from his carly boyhood were again manifest and. his labors as a real estate agent have met with marked success. In fact, he is now doing the largest business of his kind in the county and his business activity has been an important factor in the npbuilding, progress and improve- ment of this portion of the state. He has
taken an active part in laying out Prairie Heights and his efforts have been very effective in promoting the substantial improvement of Hillsboro. During his business career he has made no foreclosure of a mortgage that has not been what is known as a "friendly foreclosure."
To many other lines of business activity Mr. Frey has extended his energy with good result. He was one of the incorporators of the Hills- boro Brick & File Company and in connection with @. A. Ramsey he incorporated the Mont- gomery County Telephone Company. In con- nection with W. A. Howett he secured the fran- chise for an electric light plant in Hillsboro, costing thirty thousand dollars and in the pres- ent year, 1901, he secured a franchise for an electric light plant for Raymond and rebuilt the plant there, which is now in operation. He has just received a franchise from Montgom- ery county for the use of the roads and streets for stringing wires with the intention of fur- nishing light and power for the county from one central station. In connection with oth- ers he laid out lots in the vicinity of the new radiator plant at Litchfield and was one of the incorporators of the new organization of the electric light company at Litchfield. Mr. Frey is one of the incorporators of the Hills- boro Hotel and was one of the promoters and developers of the Kortkamp Coal Company and helped lay out the village of Kortkamp.
Mr. Frey was married June 22. 1891, to Miss Minnie B. Witherspoon, a daughter of William and Sarah J. Witherspoon, who was born in Hillsboro in 1866. Her father was a merchant of this place and died during the Civil war. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Frey has been born one child. Aldine. The parents are members of the Lutheran church. take a very active part in church work and Mr. Frey is serving as deacon and treasurer. He was also a member of and treasurer of the building committee at the time of the erection of the new house of worship Socially he is connected with the Knights of Pythias fraternity and in politics he is a Re- publican. His success in all his undertakings has been so marked that his methods are of interest to the commercial world. He has based his business principles and actions upon strict adherence to the rules which govern industry,
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economy and strict unswerving integrity. Ils enterprise and progressive spinat have made him a typical American in every sense of the word and he well deserves mention in history. What he is to-day he has made himself, for he began in the world with nothing but his own energy and willing hands to aid him. By constant exer- tion, associated with good judgment, he has raised himself to the prominent position which he now holds, having the friendship of many and the respect of all who know him.
WILLIAM NEECE.
William Necce, who carries on general farm- ing on sections 16 and 21. Audubon township, was born June 24, 1844, in Guilford county. North Carolina, near the town of Greensboro. His parents, Cornelius and Ruth ( Pike) Ncece, were also natives of that state. The paternal grandfather, Jacob Neece, and great-grandfa- ther were natives of Germany and were sol- diors of the Revolutionary war, going through that long-continued struggle without sustaining a wound. Jacob Neece was also in the Mexican war and drew a pension in recognition of his services. He married Jennie Hague, of North Carolina, a relative of Madison Hague, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Montgomery county, Illinois, living at Hillsboro at an early clay. Jacob Necce also came to Illinois in the '60s, but after residing for about two years in Pana he returned to North Carolina, where he died two years later and his wife about six years later. He received a good education in the German language, but could also speak English, and he was a wealthy and inthnential man of his community. By occupation he was both a farmer and blacksmith, and in political senti- ment was a Whig. While hunting he was erip- pled in a fight with a deer.
Cornelius Necce, the father of our subject. was a guard in Salisbury prison in the service of the Confederate States for six months during the Civil war, having been conscripted as was also William Neece, who was detailed to make hats for the Southern Army. He was in the service for three years and had to deliver one hundred and fifty hats every month. carrying
them a distance of sixty miles. Because his entire time was taken up with this work the ladies of the family had to do the work in the fields and support the children. General Wheeler first laid waste to his property and that of his neighbors and afterward Sherman's army de- vastated the same district. William Neece was not loyal to the south, for he believed that the Union should be preserved intact and because of this he left North Carolina and made his way northward to Indiana, where he worked one Season.
After being released from his position as guard in the Salisbury prison, Cornelius Neece returned to his home in North Carolina and two years later removed to Pana, Illinois. where he operated a rented farm in connection with his son. In 1824 he bought a farm of eighty acres in Audubon township. Montgomery county, and afterward added to it an adjoining eighty-acre tract, which was wild and unim- proved, but he converted it into a good farm. making his home thereon until his death, which occurred January 12, 1901. His first wife died in 1868, and he subsequently married Eliza Williams, of North Carolina, who departed this life in 1881. Politically he was identified with the Republican party and religiously was first connected with the Methodist Episcopal church and later with the Free Methodist church.
Coming to Illinois, William Neece settled at Pana on the 24th of December. 1865. When he had spent four years as an employe in a brick- vard he rented a farm of three hundred acres and in this was more successful, making money quite rapidly. Hle raised ten thousand bushels of corn which he sold for forty-two cents per bushel, and with the proceeds of this large crop he paid for the nucleus of his present farm in 18:1. To his first purchase he has added from time to time as his financial resources have permitted until he now has over five hun- dred acres and the income from his property is sufficient to enable him to now live retired from business cares. He leaves the active work of the fields to others, merely giving his super- vision to the farm labor.
Mr. Neeco was married in carly manhood to Pyrena F. Williams, and they became the parents of eight children, five sons and three
L' ARY UNIVERSIONOF ILLINOIS U .DANA
MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM NEECE
JACOB NEECE
MRS. JACOB NEECE
CORNELIUS NEECE
MRS. SILAS PRESNELL
SILAS PRESNELL
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
daughters, but two are deceased, twins, a boy and a girl, having died in infancy. Those liv- ing are as follows: Minnie married Henry Tabor, residing in Audubon near the old gov- ernment grant, and they have four children. George married Lola Sanders and resides with his father on the old homestead. John D. mar- ried Norma Wilson and they reside south of Nokomis in Witt township. Lodusca is the wife of Douglas Young and with their three chil- dren, two sons and a daughter, they reside south of Hillsboro, on section ?, East Fork township. Bert married Jessie Brown, by whom he has a daughter, and they reside a mile south of the Christian county line, on sec- tion 3, Audubon township, near the Prairie Chapel church. Fred married Hattie Price, of Donnellson, and lives in Witt township. For his second wife Mr. Noece chose Miss Molly Presnell, a daughter of Silas and Dica Diana (Sowel) Presnell.
Mr. and Mrs. Neece hold membership in the Free Methodist or Holiness church. When a young man he was identified with the Masonic fraternity. but has not continued his active con- nection therewith. He spent one winter in North Carolina teaching the doctrine of Holi- ness and he has labored untiringly to advance the cause of his church. His business career has been very successful and all that he pos- sesses has been acquired through his own per- sistent and honorable effort. In politics he was formerly a Republican but is now a Prohi- bitionist.
.
AMOS S. BARRY.
The birthplace of Amos S. Barry was the old homestead farm on which his grandfather. Richard Barry, located in pioneer times. lle arrived in Montgomery county about 1826, when this portion of the state was very sparsely settled, and since that time representatives of the name have carried forward the work which he begun of developing the county along sub- stantial lines. Here he reared his family of seven children. Michael S. Barry, the father of our subject, was born in Barren county.
Kentucky, in 1818. fle made the journey by team to Illinois, for the date of his arrival ante- dated the period of railroad building here, and with the early agricultural development of Montgomery county he was identified. He married Elizabeth Clotfelter and they had three children: Emily, the widow of George Beck, of Hillsboro; John Richard, deceased ; and Amos S. By his second wife, Clara Dale, the father had five children, but all are now deceased. By his third wife he had one child, Carrie. Michael Barry lived to be more than eighty years of age, and as one of the hon- ored pioneers and revered patriarchs of the county is yet well remembered by many citizens of this part of the state.
The natal day of Amos S. Barry was Janu- ary 11, 1848. He was reared to farm life, edu- cated principally in the public schools and was graduated at Bryant & Stratton Business Col- lege of Chicago. When twenty-one years of age he started out for himself, going to Texas and the southwest, where he spent the greater part of two years. fle afterward located in St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri, where he was engaged in the commission business until 1874. when he was married and returned to Montgomery county, settling in East Fork township, where he remained for four years. On the expiration of that period he came to the farm which he now owns and occupies, com- prising abont three hundred acres of land in Hillsboro township. The place is well im- proved and highly cultivated, and the accesso- ries and conveniences of the model farm of the twentieth century are found thereon. He annually harvests good crops and also raises high-grade stock for market.
On December 31. 1874, Mr. Barry was united in marriage to Miss Alice B. Richards, a daughter of George H. Richards. who is rep- resented elsewhere in this work. They have five children: George R., who graduated at the State University and is now assistant en- gineer for the Pittsburg. Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad at Columbus, Ohio; Har- old B., who was also educated at the State ITniversity and is a civil engineer in the em- ploy of the Southern Pacific Railroad, residing at Dudleyville, Arizona; Irene 1., who is a
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graduate of the Hillsboro high school; and Arthur A. and Edward II., both at hoate.
For alout a quarter of a century Mr. Barry has resided upon his present farm and is known as a reliable and enterprising business man, and as a worthy representative of an hon- ored pioneer family he also deserves mention in this volume.
LEWIS IL. THOMAS.
Lewis H. Thomas, living on section 10. Bois d'Are township, is one of the well-known agriculturists of Montgomery county, and his farm of six hundred and forty acres is one of the best improved places in this part of the state. Ile was born in Greene county, Illinois. May 24. 1827. and was reared to manhood there on the home farm and enjoyed excellent educational advantages, his preliminary train- ing, received in the district schools, being sup- plemented by study in Carrollton Academy.
Mr. Thomas was united in marriage, on the 11th of November, 1863. in Greene county, to Miss Ann Linder, who was born in that coun- ty. March 3, 1842. He had previously entered land from the government and begun the devel- opment of the farm upon which he now resides. By claiming purchase he became the owner of seventeen hundred acres, and upon this farm he settled in 1855, beginning its development and improvement with characteristic energy. Ile has added all modern equipments and ac- cessories, created a large two-story brick resi- dence, which was afterward destroyed by fire. and later he built his present fine home, which is also a two-story brick residence. The ma- terial for the brick in the first residence and the fuel for making them were products of the farm. In 1853 Mr. Thomas planted ten acres of locust seed and two years later this was supplemented by the planting of fifteen acres more of the same kind of seed. The oldest of this wood was. therefore, but thirteen years when Mr. Thomas began to burn his first kiln of brick. yet the twenty-five acres of locust furnished all the necessary fuel for the three hundred and ten thousand brick that were used in the construction of the first brick
house. The present house is heated by furnace, seeures its water supply from waterworks, and is most beautifully furnished, having many modern conveniences which go to make up the model home of the twentieth century. Around the house is a well-kept lawn, shaded by forest and evergreen trees and adorned with flowers and shrubbery. In the rear of the house is a large barn and other necessary outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. There is also a grove of walnut, chestnut, pecan, hickory, ok, ash. cottonwood. hackberry, ohn, honey- locust, mulberry and soft maple of seventeen aeres, which was planted and cultivated by Mr. Thomas. This took the coveted prize of the gold medal from the State Agricultural Society in 1858 as being "the best grove of cultivated timber in the state." For fourteen consecutive years annual Sunday-school pienie> gathered here, and they were abandoned because an un- precedented heavy sleet caused such dam- age to the timber as to make the clearing-up a herenlean task. Of trees and shrubs there are sixty-three varieties on the place. There is also a good orchard and considerable small fruit. In connection with his farming inter- ests Mr. Thomas has engaged in raising high- graded stock. He has sold a part of his origi- nal tract of land, but he still owns over six hundred acres, constituting a valuable farm.
Mr. Thomas lost his wife in Montgomery county. They were the parents of five chil- dren : Etta, the wife of Edward L. Kendrick, of Buffalo, New York: John L .. who is en- gaged in ranching in Colorado; Mary L., the wife of Robert C. Scott, who carries on mer- chandising in Colorado : Samuel. at home; and Minerva C., who is attending Illinois College at Jacksonville. On the 3d of October, 1889, Mr. Thomas wedded Miss Agnes E. Ball, a sister of John Ball, a prominent banker and agriculturist, conducting business in Farm- ersville. Mrs. Thomas is a native of Wales. was brought to America during her childhood days and was reared in Virden, Maconpin county. She is a lady of superior educational attainments and was successfully engaged in teaching for a number of years, being con- nected with the Washington school in Chicago. Illinois, for seven years.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Politically Mr. Thomas has been a lifelong Democrat, but has never aspired to office, al- though he has supported cach presidential nominee on the national ticket for fifty-six years. Hle served on the honorable county board as supervisor and was a mem- ber of several important committees. He has also been township school treasurer for some Years. He belongs to the Masonie fraternity. being affiliated with the blue lodge at Virden, with Girard chapter and the commandery at Springfieldl. He holds membership in the Bap- tist church and has been one of its olhivers for many years. His life has been in harmony with his professions and he is numbered among the honored pioneer residents of Montgomery county, having for more than a half century resided upon his present farm. He has aided materially in opening up and developing the county and is one of the few remaining early settlers. He is widely known throughout con- tral Ilinois as a man of sterling character and worth, a publie-spirited citizen, having the con- fidenco and good will of all. and he and his estimable wife are greatly esteemed in the com- munity in which they make their home.
GUILFORD BASS.
Guilford Bass, whose very successful ca- reer indicates what may be accomplished by a man of strong purpose and honorable business principles, is now the owner of valuable farm- ing interests in Andubon township. He was born September 26. 1835, in Fayette county. near Vandalia, four miles south of Ranrey. Llis parents were Guilford and Mary ( Proctor) Bass. natives of Kentucky and of English descent. The father was born in 1794 and re- mained a resident of Kentucky until after his marriage, when he removed with his young wife to the vicinity of Nashville, Tennessee. there living for three or four years. On the expiration of that period he went to Fayette county, Illinois, in the fall of 1827. and se- cured land from the government. Few settle- ments had been made in that part of the state and the wild and unimproved condition of the country afforded ample opportunity to the am-
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