USA > Illinois > Piatt County > Past and present of Piatt County, Illinois : together with biographical sketches of many prominent and influential citizens > Part 12
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chased his property he made enough off of his wheat to pay for his land at the rate of twenty dollars per acre, and have seven and a half dollars yet remaining to each acre. His substantially developed farm is an indi- cation of his life of industry and thrift. He has worked earnestly and persistently in' or- der to gain a competence for himself and family, and to-day he is classed among the substantial agriculturists and stockdealers of this portion of the state. His worth as a man and citizen as well as a farmer is widely acknowledged, and all who know Mr. White entertain for him high regard.
MATTHEW T. SCOTT.
Matthew T. Scott, who is now living a retired life and resides upon his farm ad- joining the village of Bement on the north- east, is a native of the state of Kentucky, his birth having occurred in Lexington, on the 20th of January, 1840. The Scott fam- ily is of Scotch-Irish descent and was es- tablished in Pennsylvania at an early epoch in the history of America. Matthew Thomp- son Scott, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Pennsylvania, whence he re- moved to Kentucky, locating in Lexington, where he became a prominent and influential . citizen. He was one of the best known of the prominent bankers of the south, and it was largely due to his advice and influence that the Kentucky banks did not suspend payment during the great financial panic of 1837.
Isaac W. Scott, the father of Matthew T. Scott, of Bement, was born near the city of Lexington, Kentucky, and after arriving at years of maturity he was engaged in gen-
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eral merchandising, and also in the manu- facture of woolen goods for the southern trade, yarn being the principal commodity which he made. He was one of the leading citizens of Lexington and was held in the highest regard by his fellow men. His la- bors were of marked benefit in prompting the general prosperity, because of the extent and importance of his commercial and in- dustrial enterprise. In connection with his manufacturing and mercantile interests he he was for many years the president of the Red River Iron Works Company. In 1833, when a young man, he journeyed through Piatt county, investing in lands for his father. From Sadorus Grove he made a trip of fifty miles and the only house which he passed in that distance was the Piatt house at Monticello, where he passed the night. He and his brothers were the first to introduce the system of tiling in this part of the country, and a great amount of wet land was reclaimed by them through this method. When they first began their tiling operations they were laughed at, and it was predicted by nearly all that their ef- forts would prove a failure, but soon the beneficial effects of tiling were observed by their neighbors and others followed their example. Isaac W. Scott continued to make his home in his native state, however, until the spring of 1874, when he came to Illinois and located in the village of Bement, there residing for a number of years. After some years spent in Illinois he returned to his old. home in Lexington, Kentucky, where he is now living at the advanced age of eighty- nine years. He has always been a progress- ive and enterprising man and has accumu- lated a large landed estate. His wife died in the city of Lexington, in 1853, in the faith of the Presbyterian church, of which she was a faithful member. Mr. Scott has
for long years been a devoted member of the same church, and in his political views he was a Whig until the organization of the Republican party, of which he is still an ardent supporter. This worthy couple were the parents of seven children, but only three are now living.
In Lexington, Kentucky, Matthew T. Scott spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and in its schools acquired his edu- cation. Soon after putting aside his text- books he engaged in the ice business in Lex- ington, which he followed for a number of years. In 1876 he removed to Piatt county, Illinois, settling upon the farm adjoining Bement, which is still his home. Here he has resided continuously for more than a quarter of a century, and for twenty years he was engaged in general farming, but now he is living a retired life, having leased the farm to a tenant. He still occupies the resi- dence that stands upon his land, while enjoy- ing a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves.
In 1861 Mr. Scott was united in mar- riage to Miss Kate W. Williams, a native of Georgia, whence in an early day she re- moved to Pennsylvania and then Kentucky, being a resident of Lexington at the time of her marriage. She is å daughter of Pro- fessor S. R. and Mary L. (Chappelle) Wil- liams. Her father was principal of the Sayre Seminary for young ladies, at Lex- ington-quite a noted educational institu- tion of that day-and he had formerly been a professor in one of the colleges of Penn- sylvania. He became well known through- out the south as an able instructor and left the impress of his individuality and labors upon the educational development of that section of the country. Both he and his wife are now deceased.
Eleven children have been born unto Mr.
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and Mrs. Scott, six of whom are now living : Isaac W., who resides on the home place ' with his parents, was born in Lexington, Kentucky, November 22, 1862, and obtained his education there and in the high school of Bement. He is a farmer by occupation and assisted in the cultivation of the old homestead until a few years ago. He has taken a very prominent part as a political worker in the ranks of the Republican party, but has never sought or desired political pre- ferment. Socially he is connected with the Knights of Pythias fraternity, in which he has passed through all the chairs, and he is now the oldest representative of the order in Piatt county. Those of the family now deceased are Joseph,, Louise Chappelle, Sam- uel W., Mary M., Matthew T., Margaret S., John W., and Henry S. Ethelbert Dud- ley and Lucian W. are still under the parent- al roof.
Mr. Scott holds membership with the Presbyterian church and with the Masonic fraternity, and in his political views he is a Prohibitionist, which indicates his views on the temperance question. He believes that intemperance is one of the greatest evils which to-day threaten the American peo- ple, and he has labored by precept and ex- ample to promote the cause of its suppres- sion. All matters pertaining to the welfare of his fellow men, all that tends to amelior- ate the burdens of the poor, all that tends to promote the progress and improvement of the race, receives his earnest endorsement.
CARLTON J. BEAR.
One of the most extensive landowners and successful representatives of the agricultural interests of Piatt county is Carlton J. Bear, of
Monticello. He is recognized as a man of exceptional business ability, executive force and keen discernment, who forms his plans readily and brooks no obstacles to their suc- cessful completion that can be overcome by persistent and honorable effort. He is very widely known as one of the most prominent farmers and stock-breeders of Piatt county and as a leading citizen of central Illinois he is well entitled to mention in the history of his adopted county.
Mr. Bear is a native son of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Mercer county, on the Ist of October, 1856. His father, Jacob Bear, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, November 29, 1816, and the grandfather, Peter Bear, was a native of Pennsylvania. After arriving at years of maturity the last named was united in marriage to Miss Cath- erine Casner, and they became the parents of several children, among whom was Jacob Bear, the father of our subject. He wedded Miss Jemima Casner, whose birth occurred October 15, 1828, in Pickaway county, Ohio, both being representatives of early pioneer families of that county. In 1834 Jacob Bear cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of Mercer county, Illinois, removing to this state in company with Martin Bear, his brother. He was then a young man of eigh- teen years. possessed of energy and indus- try and desirous of gaining a good home and competence in the west. Ten years later, in 1844. he was united in marriage to Miss Casner and took up his abode upon. a farm in Mercer county, where he continued to engage in agricultural pursuits for. forty years. He prospered in his undertaking, winning success through careful manage- ment and unremitting diligence. In 1884, however, he put aside the cares and respon- sibilities of business life and removed to New Boston, Illinois, where he lived retired un-
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til his death, which occurred March 19, 1893. His widow then came to Monticello to make her home with her son, Carlton J. Bear, and here died October 12, 1895. In the family were three children: Roland, who died January 14, 1871; C. J., of this review ; and Clinton, who was born in Mer- cer county, Illinois, July 4, 1859.
On the home farm in his native county Carlton J. Bear was reared and in his youth attended the district school near his home. He also spent a short time in a select school and then returned to the farm, where he con- tinued until his twenty-sixth year, giving his father the benefit of his services. He became familiar with farm work in its vari- ous departments and his broad experience proved of much value to him when he start- ed out upon an independent career.
In 1882 Mr. Bear was united in mar- · riage to Miss Bertha R. Mannon, who was born in Mercer county, Illinois, on the 18th of March, 1860, the only daughter of James M. and Sarah J. (Moore) Mannon. Her father was a prominent and influential citi- zen of Mercer county, where in 1856 he was elected county sheriff. He served most ac- ceptably in that office and later was elected and served as circuit clerk. At the time of . the Civil war he manifested his loyalty to the Union cause by enlisting in its defense, becoming a member of Company K, One Hundred and Second Illinois Infantry. On the organization of the company he was elected its captain, and his meritorious con- duct on the field of battle won him various .promotions. In 1862 he was commissioned , major of his regiment, and in October of the same year was promoted and commis- sioned lieutenant colonel, thus serving until the close of the war, after which he returned to his home in New Boston, where he died on the 24th of May, 1901.
Mrs. Bear was reared and educated in New Boston, and at the time of her mar- riage went with her husband to a farm in Mercer county, adjoining the old Bear home- stead. There Mr. Bear engaged in general farming and stock-raising, and upon indus- try and enterprise he placed his dependence, using these as the foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of success. He made a specialty of the raising of hogs and cattle, and from his sales realized good profit. As his financial resources increased he added to his landed possessions from time to time until he had between seven and eight hundred acres, constituting a very val- uable property. In 1888, however, he dis- posed of his landed interests in Mercer coun- ty and came to Piatt county, where he pur- chased two or three fine farms. He has since placed his capital in the safest of all investments-real estate-until he to-day owns over one thousand acres of Piatt coun- ty land, and no richer land can be found throughout the entire country than is to be seen in central Illinois. He rents a part of his land and the remainder is devoted to the breeding and raising of fine stock. He makes a specialty of high grade Aberdeen- Angus cattle, breeding from thoroughbred bulls, and he has some of the finest specimens of that stock that can be found in the state. He also is engaged in the breeding of Berk- shire hogs. His bull at the head of his herd is Vice Consul. His farm is splendidly adapted to the purpose for which it is used; there are commodious barns, outbuildings, and feed yards ; and, in fact, the farm is ex- cellently well equipped for stock-raising. In all of his agricultural and kindred interests Mr. Bear has followed progressive methods and his efforts have been followed by most creditable and gratifying success.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bear have been born
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six children : Paul C., who is a graduate of the Monticello high school; Lee M., who is yet in school; Grace M., Ralph W. and- Lloyd, at home ; and one that died in infan- cy. In 1893 Mr. Bear built a residence in the eastern part of Monticello, constructed in attractive style of architecture and mod- ern throughout, with all up-to-date equip- inents, and in its furnishings and interior decorations it indicates comfort, wealth and cultured taste.
In his political views Mr. Bear is a Dem- ocrat and served for one term as supervisor of Monticello township. He takes an ac- tive interest in the growth and success of his party, although he has never been a poli- tician in the sense of office-seeking. He and his family are members of the First Presby- terian church, of which he is a trustee and elder. An intelligent and affable gentleman, he is a public-spirited citizen who takes a deep and helpful interest in everything per- taining to the welfare of the community along intellectual, social, material and moral lines, and he has gained many friends through his sterling worth of character. -
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W. A. FLECK.
WV. A. Fleck is now serving as postmas- ter of LaPlace and is also dealing in general merchandising here. He is a young man, and the success which he has achieved is creditable and argues well for a prosperous future. He was born in the village which is still his home, his natal day being August 5, 1875. His parents are James A. and Cath- erine (Horner) Fleck, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Crawford county, Illinois. The father came to Piatt county in
1870, settling in the village of LaPlace, .where he engaged in teaching school for several years. He also filled the office of jus- tice of the peace and was engaged in the in- surance business for some time. He then embarked in general merchandising here, and successfully conducted his store until 1902, when he sold his interest to his son, W. A. Fleck, of this review. He then re- moved with his wife to Decatur, and they are now living at No. 328 East Bradford street in that city. The father is there en- gaged in the grocery business in connection with another son, under the firm name of B. E. Fleck & Company, the store being lo- cated at the corner of Morgan and Marietta streets. Mr. Fleck is a typical business man of the west, always alert and energetic, and has attained creditable prosperity in the con- duct of his business affairs. In matters of citizenship he is loyal and progressive, and at the time of the Civil war he served as a soldier in defense of the Union. Unto him and his wife have been born three children : Benjamin E., who resides in Decatur and is engaged in the grocery business with his father; W. A., of this review; and Estella B., who is at home.
In the common schools of his native town W. A. Fleck obtained his education and afterward began teaching in Cerro Gor- do township, following that profession for three years with creditable success. In 1895 he became a representative of mercantile in- terests of LaPlace, by becoming a partner of his father in the store which was conducted here under the firm style of Fleck & Son ' until October, 1902, when our subject pur- chased his father's interest, since which time he has been alone in business. He carries a large and carefully selected stock of gen- eral merchandise and the business methods
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which he has there followed have commend- ed him to the confidence and patronage of the public. In October, 1902, he was made postmaster of LaPlace, and is now occupy- ing that position. He likewise has other business duties, being agent for the Hart- ford & German Insurance Company. His is the leading store in the village, and Mr. Fleck is an enterprising young merchant, his life being typical of the progressive spirit of the times.
Mr. Fleck was united in marriage, De- cember' 7, 1898. to Miss Minnie Garver, also a native of Cerro Gordo township and a daughter of Samuel Garver, who is one of the pioneer settlers of Piatt county and now resides in the village of Cerro Gor- do. Mr. and Mrs. Fleck have two in- teresting children : Ethel and Bernice. They hold membership in the Christian church and are people of sterling worth, held in the highest esteem because of their many excellent traits of heart and mind. Mr. Fleck gives his political support to the Re- publican party, having endorsed its princi- ples since he attained his majority. He is' now serving as treasurer of Cerro Gordo township.
Socially, he is connected with the Wood- men Camp at LaPlace. A young man, he has already attained an enviable position in public regard and in business circles, and he is held in the highest esteem in the com- munity in which his entire life has been passed.
GENERAL JOHN L. MANSFIELD.
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the founder. His nature was too broad to bear the impress of the prejudices or peculi- arities of any one locality. He was one of those great characters that seem to compre- hend world-wide conditions, to recognize the trend of events which make history, and to understand the needs of humanity and our possibilities for development. He labored long and earnestly for the improvement of the race along those lines which prove of per- manent good. He was a man of scholarly attainments, a lover of liberty in its broadest and best sense, an educator who regarded his mission to be one preparing the youth to meet life's duties, and a statesman who looked beyond the exigencies of the moment to the possibilities of the future and labored for the good of coming generations as well as for those of the present age. Piatt coun- ty, during the years of his residence here, held him in the highest honor, and the town of Mansfield stands as a lasting monument to his memory.
General Mansfield was born in Bruns- wick, Hanover, Germany, on the 6th of June, 1803, and was descended from ancestry hon- orable and distinguished. His father, Ferdi- nand Lutz, was at one time minister of finance in Germany, and a man prominent in the affairs of the government, wielding a wide influence, but his brilliant career was terminated by death on the fiftieth year of his age. He was a man of broad education and desired that his son. John, should receive ex- · cellent advantages in that direction, so that capable private tutors were employed, who instructed him in various languages as well as in rudimentary and more advanced branches of learning. Later he attended some of the most advanced excellent educational institutions of Germany, being a student in
General John Lutz Mansfield spent the closing years of his life in the Illinois town which bears his name and of which he was the University of Leipsic and the University 1
GEN. JOHN L. MANSFIELD
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MRS. JOHN L. MANSFIELD
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PIATT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
of Gottingen. He was, however, instructed at home until twelve years of age. He then entered a school, where he showed marked aptitude in algebra and other branches of mathematics, and later he was recognized as having few superiors in mathematics and as- tronomy in Germany. He was a favorite pu- pil of the great mathematician Gaus, and when eighteen years of age Mr. Mansfield was offered the observatory at·Gena, but de- clined the honor in order to further continue his private studies. General Mansfield's physical training was not neglected in the midst of his arduous mental discipline, and he developed a physique and vigor which made possible the great performance of work which he did in later years. In youth he was very delicate and many believed that he would never attain his majority, but he sought out physical training which would de- velop bone and sinew, taking as his pattern his elder brother, who was a general under Napoleon, and was regarded as one of the most powerful men in the service of the Cor- sican. The result of his careful and syste- matic physical training was that he became an expert athlete, and was a leader among his fellow students physically as well as mentally, having frequent contests of strength, and with the sword.
While thus developing physically and mastering the principles of different sciences and gaining familiarity with various lan- guages, Mr. Mansfield was also formulating .his character and giving shape to his own destiny. During these years of his student life he was giving much thought to the study of government, its purposes, its uses and abuses. He became a champion of free gov- ernment and his argument and efforts in his favor largely molded the opinions of those with whom he came in contact. He became
a leader in a free government movement among his fellow students, who demanded the recognition of the principles for which they stood. One night General Mansfield spent the night with some fellow students in a hotel. He was sought out by the government authorities, who desired his arrest because of his activity in the rebellion, and the next morning he was captured in the hotel, which was filled with soldiers, but their vigilance be- ing relaxed for a brief period, he managed to escape by jumping from a second-story win- dow. He lay in hiding all day and then fled to England.
Although General Mansfield could con- verse fluently in the French, Spanish, Italian and German languages and was very profi- cient in Latin, he coud not speak the English language, but after spending six weeks in England, he had largely mastered that tongue. Desiring rather a residence in "the land of the free" than on the "merrie isle," General Mansfield sailed for the United States in 1824, the vessel in which he took passage dropping anchor in the harbor of New York. From that time forward, in dif- ferent parts of the country, he exerted strong influence over public thought and action, viewing life from a humanitarian standpoint, at the same time studying political, social and economic questions with a student's and statesman's grasp of affairs. In 1831 he be- came professor of mathematics in the Tran- sylvania University, at Lexington, Kentucky, occupying that position for twelve years, during which time some of the most distin- guished men of the country were among his students. Promotion came to him in the in- stitution until he was made its president, and under his administration the university gained in reputation and in the extent of its . patronage.
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On severing his connection with Tran- sylvania, General Mansfield devoted himself to civil engineering and surveyed and con- structed the first turnpike through Kentucky. It was while he was living in that state that he changed his name, through an act of the legislature to John Lutz Mansfield. The influ- ences of slavery caused him to remove north of the Ohio river, so that his children might be separated from the institution. A lover of liberty and of equal right, he became bit- terly opposed to the system of human bond- age then existing in the south, and in 1853 he took his family to Madison, Indiana, where he retired from active business life. A man of such breadth of thought, strong prin- ciple and firm convictions, however, could not but leave his impress upon the public mind, and the deep interests which he took in political questions and his marked patriot- ism led to his selection for political honors. Chosen to represent his district in the state legislature, he was a member of the Indiana senate for a number of years, filling a position in the upper house at the time of the inaugu- ration of the Civil war. He labored earn- estly for the adoption of the war measures which found their way to the statute books of Indiana, and he was a close personal friend and adviser of Governor Morton, the chief executive of the state during the period of the war. In 1860 he was made one of the electors-at-large in Indiana on the Republican ticket, and he took an active part in cam- paign work, delivering many addresses, not- ably the one on the merits of the Dred Scott Decision, which greatly aroused patriotism throughout the state. When the war came on he did everything in his power toward de- vising means necessary to the prosecution of -the war, and he was also largely instrumen- tal in raising troops for the front.
When the war was over and the preser- vation of the Union an assured fact, Gen- eral Mansfield removed with his family to In- dianapolis, where he remained for several years, coming thence to Piatt county in 1870. He took up his abode in. Blue Ridge town- ship, where he had previously entered an ex- tensive tract of land, and here he founded the town which bears his name.
In 1841 General Mansfield had been united in marriage to Miss Josephine A. Tur- ner, who was born in New Orleans in 1821. They became the parents of nine children, one of whom, Colonel Fielding 'Mansfield, was the youngest colonel, with one exception, in the Union Army in the Civil war, and was for some years a manufacturer of St. Louis. Oscar is a prominent stockman and resides in Mansfield. Margaret became the wife of ·M. C. Straight and lives in Champaign. Ma- ria, who has given much attention to musical and literary pursuits, is now living in Califor- nia. The others have passed away. Gen- eral Mansfield spent the last years of his life in the beautiful home which he established in Piatt county, and died September 20, 1876, at the age of seventy-four years. His widow, who was a most beautiful Christian charac- ter, and whose life was filled with kind deeds and gracious thought, has also passed away.
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