USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Past and present of Montgomery County, Illinois > Part 48
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Allen have been born four children : Josephine D .. Robert Marshall, Willard T. and Lester 1. The parents are consistent and faithinl members of the Chris- tian church, taking an active and helpful part in its work and he has served as an older in the church during the past six years. He is also active in the Sunday-school and was its super- intendent for ten years. He votes with the Democracy and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. but has never sought or desired office. He has not only lived in Montgomery county throughout his entire life, but has always made his home in the same township and school district and he is thor- oughly identified with its interests, desiring its best development and contributing his share to the upbuilding and progress.
JOEL K. MeDAVID.
Joel K. MeDavid, whose extensive property holdings class him with the substantial citizens of Montgomery county and who is also a factor in its financial interests, was born upon a farm two and a half miles east of Hillsboro, October 31. 1853. The family is of Scotch-trish lin- cage and through various generations its mem- bers have been farming people. His paternal grandfather, William MeDavid, came from Tennessee to Illinois at a very carly period in the development of this portion of the state, making a settlement east of Coffeen. His son. John T. McDavid, was born in Montgomery county, mpon a farm a mile west of Coffeen, to which his parents had in the meantime ro- moved. lle is now living in Irving at the ad- vanced age of eighty-two years. Through the greater part of his active business career ho carried on agricultural pursuits, and, prosper-
ing in his undertaking. became one of the well- to-do citizens of his community. In his polit- ical views he has long been a stalwart Democrat and has served as supervisor of his township, while in 1868 he was elected to the office of county sheriff, discharging his duties without fear or favor. Hle was formerly actively identi- lied with the Masonic fraternity and the Odd Fellows lodge and he is a consistent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He mar- Tied Miss Edna J. Knight, who was born in Montgomery county and died in March, 1820. at the age of forty-three years. She was a daughter of William Knight, who came to this county at an early day and followed agricul- tural pursuits. He was of German lineage and was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. MeDavid were born six children : Albin B., who is a minister and also an agriculturist of Sullivan : William J., who is filling the position of county super- intendent of schools: John T., Jr., a stock- buyer of Irving; Joel K .; Augustus B., a farmer of Irving: and James L .. a hardware merchant of Hillsboro. After the death of his first wife, John T. MeDavid was married to Miss Malinda Snell, and they became the par- ents of one son. Frank L., who is now assistant cashier of the Montgomery County Loan & Trust Company.
Joel K. MeDavid acquired his early educa- tion in the district schools and afterward at- tended Hillsboro Academy and the Lincoln I'niversity at Lincoln, Illinois. He was gradu- ated from the latter institution with the class of 1828 on completing the Latin scientific course. After leaving school he entered the office of Rice & Miller, attorneys of Hillsboro. with whom he road law and in 1880 he was ad- mitted to the bar. He then became a member of the firm and practiced successfully for a number of years, but in more recent years has ben devoting his time and energies to the supervision of his large property interests. har- ing placed much of his capital in that safest of all investments, real estate. He is, however, closely associated with financial concerns of the comty and in 1900 was chosen president of the Montgomery County Loan & Trust Company's Bank the oldest bank of the county, in which
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position he has since served. Hle is, likewise, the president of the Hillsboro Building & Loan Association, which is capitalized for two mil- lion dollars and is one of the largest concerns of the kind in the state. He and his wife have twenty-three hundred acres of land and he is also interested in the MeDavid Hardware Company. He stand- to-day as the type of the American business man of the middle west, alert and enterprising, watchful of opportuni- ties and so utilizing the means at hand as to gain gratifying success. At the same time his business methods are in close conformity to the ethies of the business world and he has thus made for himself an honored name while win- ning the confidence of his fellow men by the prosperity that he has achieved.
In September, 1829. Mr. MeDavid was mar- ried to Miss Emma Tiffin, a representative of the family to which Judge Edward Titlin, the first governor of Ohio, belonged. She was born in Madison county, Illinois, in 1860, a daughter of William and Aleinda ( Blackwell) Tiflin, formerly a farmer and stock-buyer of Madison county. Mr. and Mrs. McDavid have one child, Edward P., who was a graduate from the Missouri Valley College at Marshall. Mis- sonri, in June, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. MeDavid are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and his political support is given to the Democracy. He is a man of enterprise. posi- tive character. indomitable energy, strict integ- rity and liberal views and has been fully identified with the growth and prosperity of the county of his nativity in which his entire life has been passed.
CHARLES FRANCIS LIPE.
Charles Francis Lipe, whose woll improved farm is a proof of his enterprising spirit and useful career, resides on section 1t. Irving township. His birth occurred on this farm January 16, 1822, his parents being John S. and Catherine Louisa ( Weller) Lipe. They were also natives of Montgomery county. represent- ing early pioneer families of this portion of the state. The maternal grandfather, JJohn Weller. was born in Maryland in 1292 and in early life
removed to Stark county, Ohio, where he mar- ried Miss Mary Lingofelter, also a native of Maryland. He first came to Illinois in 1839 and walked all the way back to Ohio in the winter of 1839-40. In the latter year he re- moved to this county, making the journey by steamboat down the Ohio river and up the Mississippi to St. Louis, where his goods were unloaded. One of his horses fell off the boat into the river at that place but was rescued by ropes. From St. Louis he proceeded over- land to Montgomery county. Ile and his fam- ily took up their abode in a log cabin in the northwest corner of Irving township, where they were surrounded by dense forests, inhabited by wolves and other wild animals that would gather round the hut at night and howl as though they were going to take possession. It was a very common thing in those days to see the red man skulking through the woods in his savage state. Mr. Weller was not long per- mitted to enjoy his new home, however. for he died three years after his removal to this state, leaving a widow and nine chillren, of whom Mrs. Lipe was the youngest. being then a little over two years old. The others of the family were Jacob : John; Elizabeth ; Mary and Sarah. who are now deceased : Daniel, a resident of Raymond township: Adam, of Ronntree township: and Mrs. Edward Tester, of Irving. After the death of her first Imsband Mrs. Weller was married again to JJos ph Weber, who also died about ten years after their marriage. She lived to the advanced age of eighty-four years, dying in the winter of 1886.
John S. Lipe, the father of our subject, was horn December 25. 1839. a son of Nelson and Naney ( Hotfner) Lipe, who were both born in North Carolina in 1812, the former on the 1st of November and the latter on the 4th of February. They were married in that state September 8, 1831, and the following day started for Illinois. Coming direct to Montgomery county, they located on section 4, Irving town- ship. Nelson Lipe followed both farming and milling, his mill being operated by horse-power. and in business affairs he was very energetic and successful. He died on the 24th of Novem- ber. 1880, and his wife passed away May 6. 1895. They were the parents of eleven children.
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MRS. J. S. LIPE
J. S. LIPE
MR. AND MRS. C. F. LIPE
MR. AND MRS. E. D. LIPE
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MRS. NELSON LIPE
MRS. JOHN WELLER
UNIVE TIN OF ILLINOIS
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but only four are now living, namely: Mrs. tively early age of thirty-nine years, and Mrs. Sarah Carriker, of Rountree township; and Lipe still resides on the old home farm at the age of sixty-four years. Jacob L. Lipe, Mrs. Mary Blackwelder and Mrs. Maria Hefley, of Irving township. Nelson Lipe Charles F. Lipe supplemented his carly odu- rational privileges by study in the Irving high school. In his youth he assisted in the farm work and he remained at home until twenty-one years of age. In 1895 he went to Cedar county, Iowa, where he followed farming for two years, and on his return to Montgomery county began farming on the place where he now resides. He has made excellent improve- ments here, including the erection of a good house and barn, and he owns ninety acres of land, the greater part of which is now under a high state of cultivation. He has had a brief experience in merchandising, for when he completed school he entered the store of Brook- man & Lipe, thus becoming a partner in a gen- oral mercantile establishment. After a year. however, he resumed agricultural pursuits. has three sisters still living: Mrs. Delilah Walcher, now in her eighty-fifth year; Mrs. Elizabeth Davis; and Mrs. Diana Fite. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. John Lipe, who also came to Montgomery county in 1831 and settled on what is known as the D. T. Hefley farm in Irving township. John Lipe was a soldier of the Revolutionary war and was the father of thirteen children. John Lipe, the father of our subject. was reared in this locality. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company E. First Illinois Cavalry, under Captain Paul Walters, and was mustered in at Benton Barracks, He participated in a number of engagements of the Civil war and was taken prisoner at the battle of Lexington, where his horse was shot from under him. but was soon paroled and sent home.
On the 9th of April. 1863. John S. Lipe was united in marriage to Miss Catherine L. Weller, who was born November 3. 1840, and they became the parents of nine children, of whom Charles F. is the sixth in order of birth. Two of the number, George C. and William B., died in infancy. Those still living are Anna E., the wife of C. W. Hetley, of Irving; Albert N., of Paisley ; John L., of Litchfield : Ephraim D., of irving township: Charles F .: Herbert S .. at home: and Nancy E., the wife of Ralph Thumb, of Witt township. After his marriage the father engaged in farming on the okdl homestead where his widow yet rosides. When the place first came into possession of the fam- ily it was considered almost worthless, it being swampy and largely under water. Besides the ducks and fish that there abounded there were moccasins, rattlesnakes and other poisonous rep- tiles, but Mr. Lipe converted the place into a very desirable property. At the time of his death he was the owner of three hundred and thirty-seven acres of rich land, which had been accumulated as the result of his industry and capable management, for at the time of his marriage he had only fifteen dollars and a team of horses and was in debt for one of them. lle passed away December 30, 1838, at the compara-
On the 2d of September, 1900, Mr. Lipe was married to Miss Mary B. Carriker, a daughter of John T. and Alice Carriker, of Irving township. Her father, who now follows farming on section 14, was born in Irving township. November 28, 1848. his parents being James and Prudence Carriker, who were natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. James Carriker came to Montgomery county about 1832 and cast in his lot with its carly settlers, He resided here until his death in 1852 and his wife passed away in 1888 at the advanced age of seventy- two years. Their son John T. Carriker was educated in Irving township and lived at home until twenty-seven years of age. He has devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits and now has a farm of forty acres in Irving township. which is well equipped with modern improve- ments. Ile has holdt all of the official positions of the township, has been a member of the school board and gives his political support to the Republican party, believing firmly in its principles. On the 20th of December, 1874, he married Miss Alice Kelly, a daughter of S. Kelly, of this county, also one of its pioneer residents. To Mr. and Mrs. Carriker were born live children: James Frederick. of Irving township : Mary B., the wife of Charles F. Lipe ; Albert Harris, who is living in the state of
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Washington : George Francis, who is in the employ of the government at St. Louis; and John Homer, at home.
Since their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lipe have resided on the farm which they now occupy and with characteristic energy he is devoting his time and attention to agricultural pursuits, his labors being attended with good and profit- able returns. Ho votes with the Republican party, but never seeks or desires public office. preferring to give his time and attention to his business affairs.
EPHRAIM D. LAPE.
Ephraim D. Lipe, whose farm of one hun- dred and twenty aeres on section 11, Irving township, is well improved, was born upon that section December 2, 1820 and is a son of John S. and Catherine (Weller) Lape, of whom extended mention is made in the sketch of Charles F. Lipe. The son pursued his edu- ration in the Oak Grove school of his native township and in the summer months, when school was not in session, he assisted in the labors of the hells, early gaining extensive and practical experience concerning farming meth- ods. Ile romained at home until twenty-one years of age and then started out in life for himself, purchasing eighty acres two miles east of Irving. Upon this tract he engaged in farm- ing, but after three years he sold the property and purchased seventy acres of land where he now lives on section 11, Irving township. In 1901 he made an additional purchase of fifty acres and now has a good farm of one hundred and twenty acres. He has erected two sub- stantial barns and keeps everything about his place in good repair. His fields are well tilled, his farm machinery is of modern construction and his careful supervision of the place is evi- dent to the passerby at a single glance.
On the 4th of November. 1891, Mr. Lipe was united in marriage to Miss Cora A. Cook, who was born in Champaign county. Illinois, Sep- tember 10, 1820, her parents being Charles and Martha A. (Freeman) Cook, of Champaign county, where her mother died September 18. 1874. About two years later her father re-
moved to Montgomery county and is now en- gaged in farming in Irving township. During the early days of the gold excitement in Cali- fornia he went to the Pacific slope with his father, Jesse Cook, who crossed the plains four times. Unto Mr. and Mrs, Lipe was born a son, Earl C., November 4, 1902, who died August 8. 1903, at the age of nine months and four days. Mr. Lipe exercises his right of franchise in sup- port of the men and measures of the Republican party, but is not an office seeker, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business af- fairs, which, being carefully conducted, are bringing to him a good financial return.
JOHN C. SHORT.
John C. Short, who carries on general farm- ing upon a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres in East Fork township, was born in southeastern Missouri, August 2, 1844. llis father. Abner Short, was a native of North Carolina, spent his boyhood in that state and with his parents removed westward to Missouri. There he formed the acquaintance of Miss Jane Campbell, also a native of North Carolina, and they were married in Missouri, beginning their domestic life there upon a farm. Subsequently they removed to Illinois in 1852. settling two miles north of the farm upon which their son John C. Short now makes his home. There the father carried on general agricultural pursuits throughout his remaining days, passing away on the 25th of January, 1884, when seventy years and ten months of age. He was one of the carly settlers of the county who had long resided within its borders and was familiar with its history. while of its development he had been an eye witness. His entire life record was such as commended him to the confidence and good will of those with whom he was asso- ciated and his loss was therefore deeply de- plored. In the family were six children, of whom three are now living.
John C. Short was brought to Illinois in early boyhood days by his parents and upon his father's farm here was reared. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in his youth, for he worked
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in field and meadow when not occupied with the duties of the schoolroom. Like other boys. he enjoyed the pleasures of the playground, but he was thoroughly taught the value of industry and integrity in the active affairs of life. When about twenty-three years of age he left home for a time and worked at the carpenter's trade. He afterward engaged in elerking for six months and then resumed farming, purchasing forty acres of land. At a later date he sold this and bought the home place of one hundred and sixty acres, which is devoted to the raising of both grain and stock. There is a good house and barn upon his land and he uses the latest improved machinery in the cultivation of the fields. Ile is practical in all that he undertakes and his efforts have been crowned with a measure of success that makes him one of the substantial residents of his com- mmmity. He is a director of the Hillsboro Farmers Mutual Association, formed to insure farmers against fire and lightning. He has seen great changes in methods of agriculture. for when he came here he saw prairie broken with five or six yoke of oxen, and the plow which was used was very crude in comparison to those in use at the present day. He saw deer upon the prairie and he can remember when the leading towns of the state were mere vil- lages, while others had not sprung into ex- istence.
On the 28th of January, 1823, Mr. Short was married to Miss Jane Louisa Turner, a daughter of MeKinsey Turner, of Montgomery county. Her father came from Tennessee to Illinois, was numbered among the early set- tlers here, at one time served as sheriff of the county and was widely known throughout this part of the state. He was a strong Democrat in politics and was identified with the Masonic fraternity and the Methodist Episcopal church, to which the mother of Mrs. Short also be- longed. Mr. Turner was twice married, his first wife being Rachel Ward, by whom he had three sons and one daughter. His second wife was Malissa Bennett, a native of Massachusetts, and by that union there were two sons and five daughters, including Mrs. Short. The father died in 1862 and the mother in 1876.
Five children have been born unto our sub-
jeet and his wife, of whom four are living: Mabel Agnes, Myrtle Fidelia, Roberta Blanche and Ralph Moody. They lost their third child, Orpha Dayton, who died in infancy. The liv- ing children are all graduates of the Hillsboro high school and Mabel has been a successful teacher in the schools of Coffeen, Irving and Montgomery, having taught for three consecu- tive torms at the last named place. Blanche has been a teacher of the Victor schoolhouse and Ralph is assisting his father in the opera- tion of the home farm.
Mr and Mrs. Short belong to the Presby- terian church of Hillsboro, reared their chil- dren in that faith and have had the satisfaction of seeing them all become church members. Mr. Short is a member of the Hillsboro Mutual Farmer- League. He gives his political sup- port to the Democracy, has served as school director and is well known as a warm friend of the cause of education, putting forth every effort in his power to advance the cause of the schools. He has always given loyal adherence and substantial support to movements to ad- vance the welfare of the county in other di- rections and is known as a progressive citizen as well as a successful business man.
T. J. ITILL.
T. J. Hill, a member of the firm of Hill Brothers, general merchants of Fillmore, was born in Missouri, in 1845, his parents being Elijah and Hannab Hill. The father, a na- tive of Kentucky, was reared in Allen county, that state, and upon his removal to Illinois settled in Fayette county in 1832. There were few settlers within the borders of the county at that time and the Hill family took an active and helpful part in reclaiming the wild dis- triet for the uses of civilization. The father carried on agricultural pursuits with success for many years, but his life's labors were ended in death in June, 18;1. In his family were ten children, of whom six are now living. Isaac Hill, a brother of Jack Hill, was born in 1852. was reared in Montgomery county and built the first house in the town of Fillmore. Ho also built the first business house and began
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dealing in haber, carrying on trade along that line until he sold out and removed to the west. He is now located near Joplin, Missouri. where he is engaged in lead and zinc mining and has made an excellent success in this busi- ness.
T. J. Hill spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Fayette county and remained a resident of that portion of the state until about ten years ago. Ile then spent one year in Texas and afterward came to Fillmore, where he became connected with mercantile interests as a partner in the firm of Grigg & Hill. Later he sold his interest to Mr. Grigg and then in connection with his brother, W. H. Hill, pur- chased the store formerly owned by John Q. Bost. The firm of Hill Brothers was organized and they have since engaged in business as gen- eral merchants, having a well appointed store. containing a large and carefully selected line of general merchandise,
It February, 1842. T. J. Hill was united in marriage to Miss Mahala Donaldson, who died in 1826 and in 1880 he was married to Miss Rebecca Robertson. He had four children, but Joseph. the eldest, is now deceased. Those still living are Osian, Ethel and Jessie. Mrs. Hill belongs to the Universalist church and Mr. Hill gives his political support to the Dom- ocracy.
PERRY COMMODORE OLLER.
Perry Commodore Oller, who was one of America's most distinguished Indian scouts and whose life record formed a most interest- ing chapter in the annals of the great west, was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, on the 4th of February, 1819. a son of George and Elizabeth ( Taylor) Oller, the latter a near relative of President Taylor. He was de- seended from an ancestry honorable and dis- tinguished, being related to the Taylors, John- sons, Clays, Jacksons, Putnams, Bullochs and others of the foremost families of Kentucky and Virginia and the original colonies. When he was but twelve years of age his parents re- moved to Illinois and the family was attacked by Indians near Swan lake. It was then that
Mr. Oller entered upon a course of life which involved his entire career. The fearless boy carried a message to Kaskaskia, seventy miles through an unknown wilderness, seeking as- sistance. and successfully accomplishing his mis- sion. lle faced the dangers and hardships of pioneer life in this state and was early iden- tified with agricultural interests. On the 6th of April, 1855, he married Elizabeth Snook, a daughter of Amos Snook, whose grandfather was one of Washington's bodyguards. Mrs. Oller died in 1862, leaving three sons, Amos, Thomas and Jacob.
Placing his children in the care of their grandmother, Mr. Oller started for the far west. conducting a wagon train across the plains. During an absence of eight years no word was received from him by his relatives. In the meantime he was engaged in the peril- ous duties of scouting and carrying messages for the various army officers of the west and gained an intimate knowledge of the red man, his habits of living and his means of warfare. lle was then detailed to carry an important message from Portland, Oregon, to St. Louis. through two thousand miles of country in- habited by hostile Indians. llis business suc- cessfully completed, he returned to the west in 1869. He has engaged in sconting from the Yukon valley in Alaska to Mexico, and for thirty-eight years his relatives, receiving no communication from him, supposed that he was dead. lle was known among the Indians as "Cultus Boston Man"-a bad fighter. Some- thing of his bravery, daring and his skill in horsemanship and with the rifle is indicated by the fact that when a boy he won a five hun- dred dollar wager by riding erect on a wild colt, bareback, carrying a horse-pistol in one hand and a rifle in the other, and killing on the wing two pigeons thrown from a trap simultaneously, one with a pistol and the other with the rifle. Ile also won one thousand dol- lars and gained the championship of St. Louis by killing ten pigeons on the wing in nine shots, thrown from traps two at a time. On another occasion he was captured by Indians and was to be burned alive at the stake, but when the red men came to untie him from the tree he slipped his hand through the noose.
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