USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Past and present of Montgomery County, Illinois > Part 68
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
in breeding short horn cattle and one of the best herds is to be found on his farm. Daniel Sellers and Boone Isaacs were also carly set- tlers along the Vandalia road in East Fork township. Both of these old settlers have passed away but have left many children sur- viving them who are residents of dit- ferent parts of the county. . Just before the breaking out of the late Civil war, Leonard Fath. a German who had settled in Missouri and engaged in blacksmithing and farming. removed io Illinois and bought an extensive tract of land in the north part of the township. He had sev- eral sons who grew to manhood and became prominent in the political and social life of the county. His son. Leonard Fath. Jr., was elected and re-elected to the office of sheriff and his son, John Fath, served the county as circuit clerk through a term of four years. Jolm Fath has purchased property in Coffeen and will soon become a resident of the village.
Among others whose names were familiar thirty years ago might be mentioned Joel Hohnes. Ruben Lewey, Dave Lowey, John Lowey and Wesley Edwards. These formed part of a set- tlement near Allen Edwards' ostate. Long years ago one Fountain Whitledge settled the farm on which the present village of Coffeen is located. For some reason unknown he con- mitted suicide and left his wife and children in possession of quite an estate. His son John, who lives in Hillsboro and is identified with much of the county's history, not caring to con- duct agricultural enterprises. sold his father's estate to G. F. Coffeen and here comes into the history of East Fork one of the most unique and forceful men who has ever resided in this section. When the I. & St. L. road was build- ing. G. F. Coffeen. then a young man, had con- tracts for building certain parts of the road. After the completion of the road, Mr. Coffeen drifted into Montgomery county. Here he en- gaged in farming and stock raising and no man thought more of a good horse than did Gus Coffeen. Mr. Coffeen represented his district in the state legislature in 1860. In 1880, when the location of the Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City Railroad was being fixed through this section, Mr. Coffeen was successful in hav- ing it located across his farm, and by his in-
fluence he secured the location of the depot and siding at this place. It was also due to his energy and influence that the coal mine which has been everything to the town was located at this place. Yet, Mr. Coffeen was more fortu- nate than the other stockholders in the Coffeen Coal and Copper Company. Ile sold out his interests in that concern for five thousand dol- lars and was the only one of the original stock- holders who made anything out of the venture while several of them lost not only what they put in but thousands of dollars in addition. Gustavus Coffeen, in whose honor the village is named, in general appearance was a magnificent specimen of manhood, about six feet in height, broad shouldered and weighing two hundred and twenty-five pounds. The intelligent expression of his face and his physical bearing would at- tract attention in any group of men. He was naturally a leader among his fellows. A par- tisan Democrat he stood for many years as a leader of that party in the community. An in- vident which he enjoyed relating occurred while he was serving on the claims committee in the state legislature. The famous Wardwell gun claim was before the committee. That at least one-half of the claim was "padded" was evident to all the members of the committee. The claimants had seenred just one-half the com- mittee favorable to the allowance of the claim and it required an additional vote to report it out favorably from the committee. The agent for the Wardwells offered Mr. Coffeen twenty thousand dollars to make a favorable report, which, be it said to his credit, he indignantly refused. Ho states, however, that the claim was allowed at the succeeding session of the legislature. It is evident that in this case some one was found in the next legislature willing to take the bribe, and it is further evident that the people were nol protected against bribe givers forty years ago, nor are they protected against that favor-seeking class to-day. and only the adoption of a constitutional amend- ment providing for "The Initiative and Refer- endum" will prevent this wholesale jobbing in special privileges by our state legislatures. W. S. Barry, son of John Barry, of Hillsboro township, was for many years a prominent farmer and stock man. but unfortunately ho
PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
became interested in the Coffeen Coal and Cop- per Company and was elected the first president of that concern. Like many others that had to do with the Coffeen Coal Company, his ex- perience cost him very heavily. Mr. Barry has always borne the reputation of being an up- right and honorable man and the misfortunes which came upon him in his ohl age are much to be regretted, but being of an ambitious spirit, it is to be hoped that out of the tangles of the company's business Mr. Barry will be able to come off with a sufficiency to provide for his declining years. Donald MeLean, a Scotch- man, settled in East Fork township about 1840 and secured for himself and his children several hundred acres of the best land in the town- -hip. Among those sons are John. Duncan, Neil and Thomas. All of these men live on farms and are engaged in agriculture and stock raising. John and Duncan Mclean both lost heavily in the collapse of the Coffeen Coal and Copper Company, but with the accustomed spirit and energy of the Scotch blood, they have gone to work with will and will soon recover from the losses which they sustained. Henry Ludewick, who lives on the mound, is another carly settler of the township. In his declining years he enjoys the comforts of an elegant home and all that a competency may bring. His wife, however, has been an invalid for sev- eral years. Wood. an only son. is a very sue- cessful stock raiser and feeder. Calvin Pais- ley, who lives in the north part of the township. is one of our best citizens and most successful farmers: and the Funks, who live west of Mr. Paisley. are a German family who have acquired quite an estate by energy. thrift and economy. Otto Funk, the oldest son, is a musician of more than local reputation. After completing his -tudies in this country. he was for several years a student in Germany. We predict for him a brilliant future. Mr. Robert Funk, another -on. is among the successful business men of Irving. Early in the settlement of the wide prairie that stretches eastward from Hillsboro there came two brothers, John and Abner Short. and they succeeded in changing much of the wild prairie into beautiful farms. Both of these pioneers have passed away, but their sons are honored citizens of the county. John C.
Short, son of Abner Short, is one of the in- fluential citizens of the township. He has a very interesting family, and it has been a mat- ter of interest with Mr. Short to give his chil- dren an education as thorough as our schools would provide and in this way his home has become a center of refinement. James Short, son of John Short, is living ai Paisley. Illinois, and is engaged in the grain and hay trade. Mr. James Short is among the prominent citizens of his section and personally we esteem him among our especial friends. William Frame, an early settler of the county, was also a pio- neer of the prairies and like most of those who left the skirts of timber and pushed out into the "blue stem" wilderness, has been richly re- warded for the privations which they for sev- eral years endured. Uncle Billy Frame has several children, who are at present among our best citizens. Amos and George live on farms in this township and Mary, his daughter, is the wife of Samuel Edwards, of Coffeen. Howard Young and JJacob Young are sons of William Young, the pioneer and brothers of John W. Young, whom we have mentioned in this con- nection. These men are among the substantial and solid citizens of the township. They enjoy the reputation for integrity and uprightness bequeathed to them as a legacy from their father. Howard Cress is another of our young men, who is establishing for himself a reputa- tion among his fellow men that is without flaw or blemish. He is a nephew of Joseph P. Price and lives on an adjoining farm. Mr. Cress is related to the Fillmore branch of the Cress fam- ily. Joseph P. Price, who lives in the extreme northeastern part of the township. is a man of more than ordinary ability. He has served his township in various official capacities and has also been a member of the state legislature from this senatorial district. Mr. Price has a beautiful farm well stocked and well kept and though his friends have tried to persuade him to move from the farm to the town. he has very wisely refused to accede to their wishes. He is a Democratie partisan and at present is com- mittee-man for his township. Mr. Price is a gentleman of great force of character and he is an acquisition that any community might feel proud to have. Another character living in
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
the rural section of the south part of East Fork we must not fail to mention is Jacob Booher, living on the farm where his father settled early in the 20s, and is among the oldest native born of the township. He has succeeded financially, socially, and otherwise in his neighborhood. He has served the township as supervisor and in other minor capacities. His older brother, Thomas Booher, lives near him at the advanced age of eighty-two and is possibly the oldest native born except John Fogleman and John T. MeDavid, in the county. In passing, we de- sire to notice a few of the more prominent busi- ness men of Coffeen as it presents a record to- day. We have Dr. Cook, the veteran physician of the community, still active in the practice of his profession after forty years of service, and Dr. Entrekin, who also enjoys a large and Inerative practice. Dr. Entrekin has lived in Coffeen about fifteen years and is highly es- teemed as a physician and public citizen. We have also Dr. Turney, who has lately located among us. He comes well recommended and we extend to him a hearty welcome and wish for him a prosperous future. W. F. Pfertner & Company, O. A. Edwards. Sidney Hilton, Fred Morse, Sam Walker, Oliver Edwards, Fiken & Company and Harry Hickman include those doing a general merchandise and grocery busi- ness. C. A. Traylor carries on the only hard- ware establishment in town and Robert MeGuire and Al Mathews do a restaurant business and Robert Isley at the brick and John Barringer at the Morgan House provide good things to eat for all who may come this way. Charles Lewey provides us with the best pork and steak and C'lem Laws sells to the farmer harness, saddles and bridles and vehicles of all kinds. Jo Myers, the optician and jeweler, will sell you a watch, will fix your eyes or do anything else for you in his line. Taylor Phipps, the barber, and Bud Jones, in the same line, are here to cut your hair and give you an easy shave. Ella Daly and Nellie Barkley cach keep an elegant line of millinery. We have two banks which will receive notice in the chapter on banks and banking. Our real estate men are the Edwards Brothers, Homer Roberts and L. R. Traylor. These will sell you anything from a town lot to a ranch in Texas. E. Harris, our furniture
dealer and undertaker, does an extensive busi- ness. He is a licensed embalmer and in his preparation of the dead for burial has no su- perior in this section of the state. We are well provided with three livery men, who furnish the best turn-outs for little money. Mr. Cundiff, Mr. Fleming and Mr. Bunton are all courteous gentlemen and supply Coffeen with everything needed in the livery line. The Toberman Brothers operate the grain elevator and buy hay, timothy and clover seed and all other products that come in their line. Jake Sherer and Jo Chumley each do a good business at black- smithing. John Elam owns and operates the dairy at this place. He pays out several thou- sand dollars to the farmers of this section an- nually for milk. We have four churches in the village. Possibly the Methodist Episcopal people have the largest following. The Free Methodists have a prosperous society here and the Cumberland Presbyterian church is in fair condition, although they have no regular pastor at present. Rev. Charles Kochler is the prosent Methodist Episcopal pastor and Rev. J. C. Sills officiates in the same capacity for the Free Methodist people. The Catholic society, which has been established as an organization for sev- eral years, has not as yet built themselves a house of worship, Int hold their services in the hall of the Howell Building. They have no resident pastor, but are supplied by the priest at New Douglas.
MARVEL TOWNSHIP AND THE VIL- LAGE OF HARVEL.
This is the smallest civil township in the county, consisting of but one half of a con- gressional township. Formerly Harvel town- ship comprised both Pitman and Harvel in its territory. but in 1828 on petition the township was divided and its present boundaries fixed. This township is possibly the only one in the county that reports no waste land. No settle- ments were made in this section until 1854 when Herman Pogenpohl, a German, made a settlement in section 30. Following him came C. Courcier who settled near Mr. Po-
PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
genpohl. This gentleman. however, was a Frenchman and after living some ten years in the neighborhood. sold his farm to Joseph Vincent. We learn that Mr. Courcier removed from Illinois to Texas and that he has accu- mulated quite a fortune in the Lone Star state. Nicholas Hankinson is another who made his settlement in 1854 north of Mr. Pogenpohl. Descendants of Mr. Ilankinson still live near the village of Marvel. In 1855 William F. Jordan. A. C. Jordan and C. H. Jordan made settlements in this prairie country. Jean Baptiste Millett, a Frenchman, also made a settlement in Harvel at about this time. He sold out soon thereafter to William Boekewitz. John Munsterman in the summer of 1855 set- tled the farm in the northern part of the township, which he afterward sold to Conrad Weller. B. Tulpin. a Frenchman, is another of the early pioneers of Harvel township. Mr. Tulpin afterward engaged in business ventures in the village of Ilarvel. The vil- lage of Harvel sprang up soon after the com- pletion of the Wabash road and derived its name from John llarvel who made the loca- tion of the village. William Vansandt kept the first general assortment of merchandise and he was followed shortly afterward by B. Tulpin previously mentioned. The Harvel postoffice was established in 1820 with George Vansandt as postmaster. In 1823 tra Nelson and D. O. Settlemeyer built the first elevator. -and in 1876 Henry Niehaus built a much larger one. This passed into other hands a few vears later and several changes have been made in the ownership since they were first erected. Henry Bennett was the first physician to lo- cato in llarvel. William Adams has been for many years in the elevator and milling busi- ness at this place and W. W. Whitlow also was engaged for several years in shipping grain and hay from that point. J. J. Carey for sey- eral terms supervisor of Ilarvel township. is another of the business men who have suc- corded in their enterprises in that village. While owning a valuable farm east of town. Mr. Carey carried on an extensive trade in lumber. Mr. Carey is the father of Mrs. A. N. Banes of Hillsboro. I will be remembered that Mr. Banes is an efficient deputy in the
county clerk's office at Hillsboro. W. W. Whit- low, whose name appears above, was for sev- eral years a member of the board of super- visors from this township and it was the priv- ilege of the writer to serve with him, and we are pleased to acknowledge that he was one of the most capable men of that board. Martin Brown and John Young are characters that belong to the history of this township. Martin Brown is the father of our present county treasurer, Dan Brown, and Unele Martin has long been known as a political factor in his township. He has reared quite a family of chil- dren who are residents of Montgomery county and who honor in character and service their parents. John Young is of German stock and has served his township in the capacity of asses- sor through more years perhaps than any other similar township officer in the county. Much might be said of those who have contributed to the building up of the magnificent homes of this township, of those who settled in this hog like section of Montgomery county and who by toil and the expenditure of much money succeeded in draining these marsh lands and securing to cultivation the richest section of our county. We are told, however, that the history of a people begins when the actors have passed from the scenes of their activity and as many remain who were participants in the settlement of this section of our county. the story is the more briefly told.
TOWNSHIP OF BOIS D'ARC AND THE VILLAGE OF FARMERSVILLE.
This township is one of the most fertile in the county. The soil belongs to that class of lands described as black loam soil. In no section of the state do we find more fertile soil than in Bois d'Arc, Montgomery county. One of the first settlers in this territory was John Henderson in 1825. He was followed shortly after hy a Mr. Hendershot and these two fam- ilies were the sole inhabitants of this section for a member of years. In 1835 a settlement was made at Macoupin's Point by a man named Woods. Here he built a tavern which was a favorite stopping place for travelers
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
making the journey from Springfield to Hills- boro. A postoffice was established here soon after and kept by Mr. Woods. Louis Sedentop is the present owner of the old Wood home- stead. In 1850 Louis II. and Sammel R. Thomas in making a prospecting trip through this section, were so favorably impressed with the character of the soil that they determined to make their homes in this section. In 1852 they located claims which today are known as the Louis Thomas and Sammel Thomas home- steads. Samuel R. Thomas has been dead for several years, but by his enterprise and in- dustry he seenred for his family quite a large area of these very rich lands. His family re- tain the greater part of what the father gath- Prod. Louis H. Thomas, at one time the owner of nearly three sections of this soil, is one of Montgomery county's very best citizens. Unfortunately for Mr. Thomas, within recent years he was drawn into a railroad speculation that cost him the larger part of this immense estate. Mr. Thomas has been a friend to the deserving of his township and his neighbors relate many incidents illustrating his gener- osity to those who sought his aid. When a good man has financial reverses, it should not take the name of failure, for no man of this character can fail. He may lose his material possessions, but he may retain his character, which is, after all, the only possession whose value is not measured by gold. The "Gold Standard" may be the highest known among nations, but it is inadegnate in measuring the value of character. You mak ask how then shall we estimate such an elusive thing? By com- parison this physical world and all the stars that stud the sky can not purchase faultless character, but men and women may have it for the living. Absalom Clark came with the Thomas Brothers and entered the north half of section 7 and the south half of section 8. This he converted into one of the best farms of our county. Among those that we desire to name are Prior Witt. William Smith, Joseph Smith. Anthony Almond. John Ward, Frank Dunkley. Mark Risley, Hiram Young, George Rice, Sanford Clow, Peter Christopher, Albert Clayton. John Price, James Woodward. Wil- liam Garrison. Henry Weston. Henry Hathaway.
William King, George and Cornelius Lyman and Michael Simason. These are perhaps a majority of the names of those who made early settlement in Bois d'Are township. Some of them are yet living and are glad to relate their experiences in settling up this prairie country. Quite a colony of Irish settlers located near the line separating llarvel and Bois d'Are town- ships and are to-day among the wealthier citizens of our county. At the time when they made these settlements, this land was covered for the greater portion of the year in stretches of lakes and tall water grass, and I have thought that possibly these Irish emi- grants were reminded by the condition of the land of the hog lands of their native country, and that in reality they selected this section from choice. The village of Farmersville sprang up on the new railroad that had been built by D. L. Wing & Company from Peoria to Litchfield, which road is now a part of the Illinois Central, situated in a territory some- what removed from other centers of trade. Farmersville has made rapid growth and to- day boasts of several hundred inhabitants. Lonis Sedentop. who lives at the old Woods homestead, has contributed very largely to the building of this little town and much the larger part of the present village plat has been made on his lands. A. J. Witt has contributed also in additions to the village. John Ball. the banker, has given assitance in various ways to the upbuilding of this little city. Among the industries located here is a brick and tile fac- tory which does an extensive business. The elevator operated by Nobbe & Son does a large business in grain and hay. They also keep a lumberyard in connection with their grain business. Several stocks of general merchan- diso that do credit to a village of this size have a wide trade throughout an extensive farming section. Lee Paul, cashier of the Farmersville Bank. is among the young enterprising busi- ness men of Farmersville. and William McLean. who owns an elegant homestead just west of the village, is another who has served his township faithfully and well. John Newport, who rep- resented this township for several years on the board of supervisors. has exerted a wide influ- ence for good in that township. Unele John
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is now a very old man and has within the last few years resided in the village of Farmersville. Here he is spending the evening of life as pleasantly as the infirmities of age will allow. Finishing the chapter we feel some little sat- isfaction in knowing that during a recital of these few facts, we have in a sense visited some of our old friends in Bois d'Are township, that the names of some whose friendship we prize just as much may chance to be omitted here results from the lapse of memory and not be- cause of any desire to neglect.
PITMAN TOWNSHIP AND THE VIL- LAAGE OF WAGGONER.
This township was originally a part of Har- vel, but for the accommodation of its citizens, the township of Harvel was divided and the west part was named in honor of Joseph Pit- man. This township is almost wholly within the black soil belt of the county. The first settler of this township was Henry Denton, who entered a piece of land in the year 1822. lle lived on this homestead until 1830, when he died and his was the first burial of which we have any record in this township. John Haynes was another early settler of this sec- tion. He came some years later than Denton. Henry and Green Haynes, sons of John Haynes. were living in the neighborhood of the old homestead at last accounts. John Haynes was a brother of Dr. Baxter Haynes, who is living at an advanced age in Fillmore township. John L. Rogers in 1829 made a settlement in the southwest part of the township. Here he built a mill and operated it for some years. Mr. Rogers died in 1852 and left surviving him three sons and two daughters. These are among the honored citizens of the country. . At last accounts the sons wore located in differ- ent sections of the state of Illinois. That three families by the name of Rogers settled in the western part of Montgomery county, makes it somewhat difficult to omit tangles in their genealogy. The daughters of John L. Rogers, if we are not in error, were the Misses Jennie and Molly, who were for several years teachers
in the public schools in the city of Litchfield. One of these. Miss Molly Rogers, is now the wife of a physician and resides in the city of Charleston. At last account Miss Jennie Rog- ers was engaged in school work in East St. Louis. Theodore Rogers, son of John L. Rog- ers, became prominent as a Methodist divine and the writer does not know whether he is liv-
ing at present or not. Davis Bagby came to this section with his father-in-law. Miller Woods, in 1832. and located in the southwest corner of the township. Both were men of excellent reputation and each did his part in the struggle to subdne the wilderness. Bagby was a soldier of the war of 1812 and seems to have won distinction during that memorable struggle. The records are silent with refer- ence to Miller Woods, but we gather it that he died quite a good many years ago, but David Bagby lived until 1865, when, worn with the cares of a long and eventful career, he closed his cartlily account. and we are informed by those who remember him. that he was a most excellent gentleman and good neighbor. D. G. Whitehorn was another of the earlier settlers of Pitman township, locating a homestead on section 18 in 1831. He married a daughter of the David Bagby previously mentioned. Miss Katherine Bagby. 1834. This was the first marriage ceremony performed in this part of the country. Another carly settler was George Waggoner. He came to Illinois from Ken- theky about 1830. and settled on section 29. Mr. Waggoner died in 1864, and left surviving him several children. In 1833 Frederick Ham- ilton settled in the western part of the town- ship. He did not remain in this neighborhood for any great length of time, but removed to the south part of the county and many of his descendants reside in that neighborhood. Fred Hamilton, however, made several trips to Kan- sas prior to the Civil war and died in that state. llis sister was an aunt by marriage to the writer of this article. 1 notice in a pre- vious history of this county it is stated that Fred Hamilton died in Zanesville township in 1835. This is, however. an error, and I am not surprised that these mistakes often creep in be as careful as we may. Between the years of 183; and 1840 Zadok Leach, William King. Tazewell
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