USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Past and present of Montgomery County, Illinois > Part 55
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FRED MONDHINK.
Fred Mondhink is a prominent farmer and stock-feeder and shipper of Montgomery coun- ty. That his business affairs have been capa- bly conducted along modern, progressive lines is indicated by the fact that his possessions have been increased and he is now the owner of four hundred and twenty acres of land which is pro- ductive and yields to him good harvests. He was born in Madison county, Illinois, March 25, 1849, his parents being Henry and Char- lotta Mondhink. The father was a native of Germany and there spent the days of his boy- hood and yonth, while in that country he was also married. Believing that he might have bet- ter business opportunities in the new world, he severed the ties that bound him to his native land and crossed the Atlantic to the United States. Making his way direct to Illinois, he settled in Madison county and there reared his family.
Fred Mondhink spent the days of his carly vonth on the old family homestead in Madison county and in Litchfield. His educational privileges were quite limited, and in fact he is largely a self-educated man. He began work- ing when a small boy for neighboring farmers, and being employed in the fields he assisted in the plowing and planting, receiving for his services twenty-five cents per day. He worked as a farm hand both before and after the Civil war, and later he rented a tract of land which he cultivated for twelve years. His economy and careful management during that period brought to him the capital that enabled him, in 1881, to become the purchaser of a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres. He lo- cated upon this farm in 1882 and it has since been his home. That quarter section formed the nucleus of his present valuable possessions.
UNIVERSUOOF ILLINOIS UP IA
العالي
MR. AND MRS. FRED MONDHINK.
MR. AND MRS. HENRY MONDHINK.
UNILI MIY OF ILLINOIS
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
As his financial resources mercased he extended the boundaries of his farm from time to time by additional purchases until he now has four hundred and twenty acres of as rich land as can be found in central Illinois, and no better farming country is seen in all the United States than is here found. He has erected a large residence, attractive in appearance, and has also built substantial barns and made other im- provements which add to the value and attract- ive appearance of the place and also indicate his progressive, practical spirit. He is dealing in stock, buying, shipping and feeding. and he always has good grades of cattle and horses upon his place. In recent years he has fed from three to four carloads each year, and his stock-dealing interests have proven an im- portant source of income to him. On one oc- casion he shipped five carloads and at another time he purchased seven carloads of cattle from one person. He is now one of the most extensive stock-dealers in this part of Illinois, and the purchase just mentioned was one of the largest ever made by a stock-dealer of this locality. In July, 1903, he formed a partner- ship with C. F. Mondhink.
Mr. Mondhink was married on the farm which is now his home, October 26, 1821. the lady of his choice being Ann Eliza Wray, a native of Montgomery county, born upon this farm and a daughter of James W. Wray, whose birth occurred in Sangamon county and who hecame one of the early settlers of this part of the state. Six children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Mondhink: Mary, who died at the age of three months: Lulu, who reached mature years, was married and died at the age of twenty-three years: Lottie: Charles H., Ilarry H. : and Perlie.
Mr. Mondhink's study of the political ques- tions and issues of the day has led him to give his vote to the Republican party, but he never seeks nor desires office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs. ITo is a Master Mason, belonging to the blue lodge at Raymond. Throughout his entire life he has resided in illinois and is closely identified with the people and the development of Mont- gomery county. He started upon his business career empty-handed and had no assistance
from friends or family. but he realized the value of unfaltering labor and economy. and owing to his frugality and good business judg- ment has worked his way steadily upward un- til he is now one of the substantial men of his community, who has gained not only success, but also has won the honorable name that is the result of strict integrity and an upright character.
A. G. BUTLER.
A. G. Butler, who has been active and prom- inent in public affairs in Montgomery county. being recognized as one of the leaders of the Democratic party. is now the owner of a well improved farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Fillmore township, and his business career, like his political record. is creditable and commendable. A native of Tennessee, he was born in Buenavista. Carroll county, January 1. 1839, and is a son of C. J. and Martha J. Butler. His father was born in North Carolina, but was roared in Tennessee, in which state he began farming on his own account. He remained there until 1865, when he came to Illinois, settling near Ramsey, where he spent his remaining days. Ilis wife died several years after the establishment of their home near Ramsey.
A. G. Butler is indebted to the public school system of his native state for the edu- cational privileges he enjoyed. He was reared upon his father's farm and in 1860 he came to Montgomery county, Illinois, with his elder brother, arriving here during the time of the political campaign when Lincoln was candidate for the presidency. He started in business with an uncle in a store at Donnell- son and continued in that for three years.
About that time Mr. Butler was married. being in March, 1866, joined in wedlock to Miss V. J. Casey, a daughter of John G. and Lonisa Casey, who wore residents of Fillmore township. Her father was an carly settler and very prominent man and had a wide ac- quaintance in the community where he made his home. Mrs. Butler was an only child and by her marriage she has become the mother of five children, of whom two died in infancy.
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while three are still living, namely: Charles F., who resides upon the home farm : Ora J., who is living near Chapman : and Louisa, the wife of J. J. Alexander, Jr., of Fillmore township.
After his marriage Mr. Butler began farm- ing upon the old family homestead and has made most of the improvements there. He now owns three hundred and twenty acres of land and he gave to each of his three children eighty acres. He is largely devoting his at- tention to the raising of stock, having fine cattle, hogs and sheep upon his place and the grain which he raises is used for feeding. Be- ing an excellent judge of stock he always makes judicions purchases and because his an- imals are of good breeds they find a ready sale upon the market. Moreover, he is al- ways reliable in his business transactions and as his word is trustworthy he has in business circles a reputation which is enviable.
Since 1863 Mr. Butler has been a member of the Masonic lodge at Fillmore and prior to that time he held membership relations with the Masons at Ramsey, Fayette county. He also took the chapter degrees in Hillsboro and is now a Royal Arch Mason. Hle likewise be- longs to the Modern Woodmen camp and in his life he exemplifies the beneficent spirit of these fraternities. His study of political questions has led him to give carnest alle- giance to the Democracy and on that ticket he has been elected to several positions. including that of a highway commissioner. He was supervisor for a number of years and in 1818 he was elected sheriff of Montgomery county, receiving the largest majority of any man over elected in the county, his opponent leing Wil- liam Bolles. In office he has always been loyal to the duties which have devolved upon him and his fidelity has been one of the notable elements in his career. Ile has ever taken an active interest in all that he has believed would prove beneficial to the town and county and has been the promoter of many public enter- prises. About six years ago he removed from his farm to Fillmore and now employs a man to conduct the place. while he gives to it gen- oral supervision, but is not actively engaged in the labor of raising grain and stock.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Butler hold member- ship in the Methodist Episcopal church, with which they have been identified for twelve or fourteen years and they have taken a most helpful interest in church work in Fillmore, contributing generously to its support and doing all in their power to advance the cause of Christianity. Mr. Butler's life has at all times been in harmony with his professions and his is, therefore, an untarnished career, such as commands good will and confidence in every land.
DAVID DAVIS.
David Davis, deceased. was one of the early pioneers who did much to promote the welfare and growth of the city of Litchfield. In young manhood he settled in this city, and throughout a business career covering more than forty years, was connected with almost every pro- jeet for the advancement of the city. He was born in Madison county, Illinois, in December, 1838. and received his education in that coun- ty. At the age of sixteen years he came to Litchfield with his father, David Davis, Sr., and after serving various merchants as book- keeper for a period of about two years, he em- barked in the grocery business in an old frame building on East Edwards street. He was one of the first grocers in the city, and prospered from the start. In 18:1 ho erected a large three-story brick building at the corner of State and Edwards streets, and embarked in the wholesale business.
In 1820 he became a stockholder in the Litchfield Bank, and the following year became president of that institution. Shortly after- ward the concern was reorganized under the name of Beach. Davis & Company, and Mr. Davis was actively engaged in the management of the business until he retired from business. about the year 1892.
He was an uncompromising Republican and filled many positions of trust. He served sey- eral terms as mayor. and was at one time presi- dent of the school board. He also served sey- oral terms as alderman. On December 23, 1861. he married Miss Blanche Keating, of Rockbridge. Greene county. who with four
David Davis
1
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
children : Captain David Davis, of Litchfield ; Lieutenant Edward Davis, Eleventh Cavalry, United States Army: Miss Regina Davis, and Mrs. Blanche Crabb, of Litchfield, survive hin. Mr. Davis died in April, 1898, the evening be- fore his sons were to leave for the front in the Spanish-American war.
David Davis. the father of the above, was born near Genoa. Italy, of Welsh parents, in 1985, and at the age of fourteen years came to the United States. In the city of New York he learned the baker's trade and came west, locat- ing in St. Louis when it was nothing more than a typical French village. He served for tive years in the regular army, during which time he participated in the war of 1812. In the battle of Queenstown he was wounded by a saber and was taken prisoner and as such was taken to Boston, where he endured all of the hard- ships of war. At the elose of the war be re- turned to St. Louis, where he resided until about 1834. when he moved to Madison county, Illi- nois, and engaged in farming. In 1856, two years after the establishment of the town, he moved to Litebfield, and for years was engaged in business with his son. He died in 1842. at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, re- spected by all who knew him.
The present David Davis was born in Litch- field, September 12, 1868, and was reared and educated here. At an early age he accepted a position in the bank with which his father was associated, remaining there until he became connected with the Litchfield Gas & Electric Company, of which he is secretary and man- ager. He is also largely interested in the Beach & Lang Milling Company, and in the Illinois Brick & Tile Company. He is also chairman of the committee on industries of the Litchfield Board of Trade, and to his untiring effort> is due the location of the Litchfield plant of the American Radiator Company, an institution which has done much to lift Litch- field from a state of great financial depression. Mr. Davis is a tireless worker, making the in- terests of Litchfield bis own, and depending en- tirely for his own success upon the success of his home city.
He served during the Spanish-American war as captain of Company K. Fourth Illinois Vol-
unteer Infantry. He has just completed a term as commander of United Spanish War Veterans, Department of Illinois. He is well known throughout the state in electric circles, as well as others where his extensive business engagements have given him a wide acquain- tance. He was married February 11. 1893, to Miss Estella Beach, daughter of Henry H. Beach. one of the early citizens and manufac- turers, of Litchfield, who is now a resident of Canon City, Colorado.
His brother, Lieutenant Edward Davis, of the Eleventh Cavalry, United States Army, was also reared and educated here, graduating from the Litchfield high school in 1891, and from Cornell University four years later. He then studied law and began its practice in Chicago. He went to the Spanish-American war as seo- ond lieutenant of Company 1. First Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and saw service in the cam- paign at Santiago. At the close of the war he enlisted in the Thirty-third United States Volunteers with the rank of captain, and served for almost two years in the Philippines. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he joined the Eleventh cavalry with the rank of first lieutenant.
JOSEPH SPINNER.
Among the resident farmers of East Fork township is numbered Joseph Spinner, who was born in Clinton county, Illinois, in 1868, and is a son of George and Ernestine ( tuber) Spinner, of whom mention is made on another page of this volume. He was reared in East Fork township, where he also attended school. gaining a fair practical English education. In his youth he assisted in the labors of the home farm and when twenty-five years of age he started out in life on his own account by as- suming the management of the home place. He has made many excellent improvements here and now has a property which is noat and thrifty in appearance. a glance indicat- ing to the passerby the careful supervision of the owner. Mr. Spinner has eighty-five acres of land in East Fork township and he also owns one hundred and eighty acres in Fillmore
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
township. He has been very successful while farming here, raising both grain and stock. and each branch of his business returns to him a desirable income. He has also made excellent improvements upon the farm in Fillmore township and both properties are valuable.
Mr. Spinner was married April 11, 1893. by Rov. Father Storp, at St. Louis' Catholic church, Nokomis, to Miss Lena Huber, a daughter of Andrew Huber, of Witt township. and they now have three living children : Minnie, Genevieve and George. Mr. and Mrs. Spinner are communicants of St. Agnes' Cath- olie church in Hillsboro and he is a Democrat in his political affiliations. He is connected with the Equitable Life Insurance Company. Almost his entire life has been passed in East Fork township, so that he has a wide ac- quaintance and his many excellent traits of character have made the opinion in which he is uniformly held a favorable one.
GEORGE ELLIS OLLER.
George Ellis Oller, eldest son of his parents, Judge Amos Oller and Ida E. Oller, was born October 22, 1879. at the residence of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Huddleston, nine miles south of Carlinville, Macoupin county, Illinois. He has been noted all his life for his physical and intellectual strength. happy disposition and devotion to his parents. grandparents, brothers and sisters, and for be- ing one of the best workers wherever em- ployed. either in school or on the farm, fac- tory or office of any of his co-laborers. As soon as vacation commenced every season dur- ing his school days, from the time he was old enough to attend school, he spent his holidays on the farm with his grandparents or in some of the factories of the city, carning his own spending money, and when thirteen years old his grandmother made him foreman of her large stock and grain farm, consisting of over a section of land.
At the age of fifteen he had hauled off and marketed about a thousand bushels of wheat. collected the money for his grandmother, but
it was after banking hours, and, having some errands to attend to in the city, he sent his teams out with the other hands and was in- tending to drive out in the buggy after some necessary repairs had been made thercon. which detained him until after dark. lle no- tieed a couple of suspicious characters watch- ing him while he was paying the blacksmith for the work, which necessitated him showing the large roll of bills he carried in his pocket. Becoming alarmed, but never the least fright- ened, he went and bought a Smith & Wesson revolver, loaded it and started home. and while passing through a dark and lonely spot in Ma- coupin creek bottom. a mile south of Carlin- ville, he was stopped by two men, one catch- ing hold of the horse's reins and the other pre- senting a pistol toward him, telling him to throw up his hands, but he had been taught to always carry his weapon in his hand when expecting danger. He was a crack snapshot and quicker than a flash he had fired twice, cach shot taking effect on the bandits. The horse. a high-blooded animal, made a lunge, jerked from the one holding it and started down the road at full speed. He drove home, delivered the money to his grandmother, said nothing about what had happened, for fear it might frighten her. but drove to Litchfield immediately, a distance of twelve miles, to inform his father of what had transpired. Ilis father secured the services of a noted character, whom he had once defended. to go to Carlin- ville and see if he could learn from any of his pals the result of the shots, and afterward learned that each of the robbers had been se- riously but not fatally wounded and had been taken to a private hospital at St. Louis for treatment, but he could never find out the identity of the parties. That his old client would never reveal.
Mr. Oller graduated from the Litchfield high school in the class of 1899, and soon there- after passed a civil service examination and ae- cepted an appointment under the Ilon. Thomas M. Jett. member of congress, in the census bureau, where he has continued to be promoted from time to time until he is now section chief. and for the past season has been assigned to special work for the department in lowa, Ne-
GEORGE E. OLLER
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braska and South Dakota. While in Washing- ton he has worked sixteen hours a day, eight of which he has devoted to his duties in the office and eight attending the Georgetown Law University, where he has attended two years, passing high grade examination, and will com- plete the course next spring.
Mr. Oller has no bad habits, and says that in publie life he has been brought in con- taet with all classes of people, but never found it necessary to drink in order to associate with his chums. All persons acquainted with Mr. Oller predict for him a glorious future.
ROBERT P. BARNARD.
Robert P. Barnard, classed with the diligent and thrifty farmers of Nokomis township, was born in Livonia, Livingston county, Now York, September 14, 1858. Ilis father, Bon- ton Barnard, was also a native of the Empire state and was a lineal descendant of John Alden and Priscilla Mullens, who came to America in the Mayflower and whose romantic history has formed the basis of many an in- teresting tale. Others of his ancestors were numbered among the heroes of the Revolution- ary war. who fought for independence and Ropert P. Barnard is therefore eligible to membership in the Sons of the American Revolution. Bonton Barnard married Lillis P. Smalley and on removing to Illinois in 1829 settled in Montgomery county, where he purchased a farm March 2, 1868. One of his sons had already come to this state. He and his wife died upon the farm which is now the home of their son. Robert. the father passing away on October, 19. 1885, and the mother on the 10th of November, 1896, but their remains were taken back to Livonia. New York, for interment. There were five children in the family: Melvin Monroe, who married Emma Smalley, of Bunker Hill, Illinois, is now a farmer of Caldwell. Kansas. Solon Smalley died and was buried at Livonia, New York. Lillis J. is the wife of George Hoppough, of Livingston county, New York. One son died in infancy.
Robert P. Barnard, the youngest, was af-
forded excellent educational privileges, at- tending the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary of Lima, New York, and completing a course in a business college at Lima by graduation. He afterward spent a year here and then went to Kansas and later to Oklahoma, where he en- tered into the stock business, which he fol- lowed for two years. He purchased five hun- dred acres of land at that time and has since added one hundred and forty aeres to his pos- sessions, which he still owns. He has carried on farming on his present place since Decem- ber 16, 1879, and is largely devoting his farm in Kansas to the raising of wheat, securing ex- cellent crops annually, so that he derives a good income therefrom. lle is very progres- sive in his methods, using the latest improved machinery and carries forward his work along modern business lines that indicate his fore- sight and enterprise and have led to his sue- cess. At the present writing Mr. Barnard is filling the position of secretary and general manager of the Peoples Mutnal Telephone Company, with lines extending into Christian. Fayette, Bond, Madison and Macoupin coun- ties, with head office in Hillsboro, Montgomery county, Illinois.
On the 7th of April, 1891, Mr. Barnard was married to Miss Adelaide P. Hamlin, a daughter of Pahner and Jennie (Squire) Hamlin, the former a native of New York and the latter of England. Mr. and Mrs. Bar- nard are the parents of three children, but Virgie, the second, born September 26, 1893, is the only one now living. Leon, born August 15, 1892, died on the 21st of October, of the same year and was buried in Nokomis cemetery. Robert Parker, born January 17, 1902, died on the 20th of the same month. In his political views Mr. Barnard is a Re- publican withont political ambition, yet hav- ing a citizen's true interest in the success of his party, because he believes that its plat- form contains the best elements of good gov- ernment. ITo holds membership with the Mutual Protective League and also with the Methodist church and his career has not only been a successful one, but has also been char- aeterized by the commendable qualities which everywhere command respect and confidence.
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HENRY P. KASTIEN.
Henry P. Kastien, who for eighteen years has been engaged in merchandising in Harvel. has made his home in Montgomery county since the spring of 1883, but his residence in Illi- nois dates from 1865, at which time he took up his abode in Madison county, so that he has long been familiar with this portion of the state. Ile is a native of Germany, where his birth occurred September 13, 1849. His father. Frank J. Kastien, also born in that country, was married there to Louisa Sehreve, a native of Germany. They became the parents of four sons and four daughters, who reached mature years, and three sons and four daughters are yet living. The second oldest son came to the new world. locating first in St. Louis. The father spent his last years in Madison county, Illinois, where he died in 1901 at the age of eighty-seven years, while his wife passed away in 1814 at the age of sixty years.
Henry P. Kastien spent the first seven years of his life in his native country. He had but a short course at a private German school in St. Louis, he is largely a self-educated as well as self-made man. Hlo crossed the Atlantic to the new world in 1855, arriving in St. Louis, Missouri, on the 31st of December of that year. Subsequently he went to Madison county, Illi- nois, where he began work as a farm hand, con- tinuing his residence in that locality until 1883. when he came to Rountree township, Montgom- ery county. Here he continued to engage in agricultural pursuits for four years, at the end of which time he purchased a mercantile establishment in Harvel, containing a line of dry goods and groceries. This he afterward traded for a stock of hardware, and is now engaged in the hardware and implement busi- ness, in which he has built up a good trade. which is constantly increasing. He is well known in Harvel and the surrounding com- munity, is thoroughly identified with its pro- gressive interests, and in his business career displays the sterling traits which command confidence and respect.
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