USA > Illinois > Piatt County > Past and present of Piatt County, Illinois : together with biographical sketches of many prominent and influential citizens > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
Mr. Mansfield is equally well known in political circles, having been an active work- er in the ranks of the party for the benefit of local, state and national successes. In 1896 he was nominated on the Republican ticket for the office of state's attorney of Piatt county for a term of four years, and filled the position so capably that in 1900 he was re- elected for a second term, which will expire in December, 1904. In January, 1903, in order to better discharge the duties of his position he removed from the old home at Mansfield, which he had occupied for nearly a third of a century, to Monticello, where he is now living. He has presented some of the most important criminal cases in this
part of the state, acting as prosecutor in the Hickman murder case-the people versus Fred Fales, Otis Woolington, Lloyd Kincaid and Charles Beckhart. This case was tried in the circuit court in Monticello in Septem- ber, 1897, eleven days being consumed in the hearing. This resulted in the conviction of three of the parties, the fourth, Charles Beckhart, succeeding in making his escape, since which time he has never been found. He is quick to master all the intricacies in a case and grasp all details, at the same time losing sight of none of the essential points upon which the decision of every case finally turns. He has a ready flow of language, and as a speaker is fluent, forcible, earnest, log- ical and convincing. His knowledge of the law, it must be conceded, is hardly second to that of any member of the bar in Piatt county.
T. G. BAKER.
In America where all are equal before the law and where success is the logical re- ward of earnest, persistent effort, there are many `men who achieve prosperity. Mr. Baker is among the number who owes his financial advancement to his own labors. For many years he was actively connected with agricultural interests in Piatt county, and now he is living a retired life in Monti- cello, enjoying a well-earned rest.
He was born in Ross county, Ohio, on the 11th of August, 1854, and is a son of William and Jane (Grove) Baker, both of whom were natives of Pickaway county, Ohio. The Bakers, however, were Massa- chusetts people, and the Groves were from Pennsylvania. William Baker, the father of our subject, followed farming in Picka-
123
PIATT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
way county, Ohio, for some years, and in 1858 came to Piatt county, settling in Wil- low Branch township, where he purchased a tract of land, devoting his attention there to agricultural pursuits. He is now living a retired life in Bement, Illinois, at the age of seventy-three years, and his wife has reached the age of sixty-nine years. They were the parents of four children: T. G., whose name introduces this record; F. M., a resident of Jefferson county, Illinois, where he follows farming; Mary, the wife of Thomas Lamb, Jr., who is engaged in farm- ing, his home being in Bement township, Piatt county ; Florence, the wife of Ed- ward Hoover, who is engaged in the grocery business in St. Paul, Nebraska. The father prospered in his undertakings and now owns three hundred and sixty acres of valuable land.
T. G. Baker of this review was only about four years of age when brought by his parents to Piatt county. He acquired his early education in Willow Branch township, and later pursued a course of study at Nor- mal, Illinois. He began teaching at the age of nineteen years, having charge of what is known as Wild Cat school in Willow Branch township. He devoted five years to educa- tional work, spending the entire time in Piatt county and during the summer months he assisted in the operation of the home farm. In early life he became connected with agricultural pursuits, and when twenty- four years of age he began farming on his own account. That year he was married, the wedding being celebrated on the 24th of April, 1878. The lady of his choice was Miss Emma Tallman, of Willow Branch township, a daughter of Douglas and Susan Tallman. Her father died when Mrs. Baker was three years old, and Mrs. Tallman aft-
erward became the wife of R. H. Farra. She is now living in Monticello, and is the second time a widow. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Baker has been blessed with two chil- dren: Susan and George, both of whom are attending school.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Baker began farming upon one hundred acres of land which he had purchased in partnership with his father. He continued to cultivate and improve that place for two years, and then sold his interest on the farm and bought seventy acres in Willow Branch township. Removing to his new farm he began its further development and with characteristic energy has since carried on the work. He added to the property all mod- ern equipments, facilitating the labors of the family by use of the latest improved machin- ery. Annually he harvests good crops and thus receives for his labor a substantial financial return. He has invested in other land and now is the owner of three hundred and fifty acres in Willow Branch township, and he has a tract of eighty acres, adjoining the corporation limits of Monticello. He continued to farm on his original homestead until 1890, when he removed to the county seat, where he has since lived. He yet gives his supervision, however, to two hundredand twenty-five acres, and his other farm of two hundred and five acres is now rented. While carrying on general agricultural pursuits, Mr. Baker has also given considerable, at- tention to the raising of stock, making a spe- cialty of beef cattle, and his sales have add- ed materially to his income.
In his political allegiance Mr. Baker is a Democrat, and for one term served as town clerk. He has also been assessor and school director and has taken a very active interest in school work and in maintaining a high
124
PAST AND PRESENT
standard of education here. He has like- wise been a delegate to various conventions of his party and he is a valued and exem- plary member of Fraternal Lodge, No. 58, F. & A. M., in which he has served as sec- retary. His wife, a most . estimable lady, belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church of Monticello. Mr. Baker is a broad-mind- ed and intelligent man, and through reading has kept in touch with current events and the progress of the world. His business ca- reer is honorable and through keen discrim- ination and unremitting diligence he has gained a place among the prominent and prosperous landowners of Piatt county.
J. FRANK STANLEY.
J. Frank Stanley, the editor and pro- prietor of the Hammond Courier, has re- sided in Hammond since March, 1902, and is now thoroughly in touch with its interests, laboring effectively and earnestly for its wel- fare. He was born in Clay county, Illinois, on the 22d of December, 1876, and is a son of Stephen and Sarah E. (Brackett) Stan- ley, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, whence they came to Illinois at an early day, settling first in Christian county, where the father was engaged in general merchandis- ing for several years. He afterward turned his attention to farming there, which he fol- lowed for a few years, and later he removed to Ingraham, Clay county, where he resumed
commercial pursuits, establishing a general store, which he carried on for some time. He then sold out and is now conducting a restaurant in Newton, having a good patron- age. In the family are three editors : Int, who is editor of the Lovington Reporter,
published at Lovington, Illinois; Otis, who is editor of the Sainte Marie Tribune, of Sainte Marie, Illinois ; and J. Frank, of this review. The other members of the family are still at home with their parents in New- ton, Illinois.
In the public schools of that place J. Frank Stanley acquired his education. At the age of sixteen he started upon his busi- ness career, going to Lovington, Moultrie county, where he learned the printer's trade in his brother's office, where he worked for six years. He mastered the business in every department, becoming familiar with every principle in detail, and was thus well- equipped when he decided to engage in busi- ness on his own account. Returning to Newton he there established a paper called the Newton Star, and also published the first daily paper ever issued in Newton. He con- tinued his journalistic interests in that place until March, 1902, when he came to Ham- mond and established the Hammond Cour- ier, which he has since conducted. He is the editor as well as the proprietor, and each week issues a journal that is a credit to the locality. The paper is published every Thursday and has a large circulation. Mr. Stanley has a well-equipped office and in ad- dition to his large printing press he has a nice job press and does all of the job print- ing for Hammond and other villages nearby. He keeps well in touch with the progress made in the "art preservative of arts" and in his business career, his thorough under- standing of printing and his executive abil- ity and capable management have brought to him a comfortable competence.
In 1898 Mr. Stanley was united in mar- riage to Miss Josephine Myers, a native of Indiana. They are well known in Ham- mond, where they have gained many friends
125
PIATT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
during the period of their residence here. ' reared on the home farm in Milford town- Mr. Stanley is independent in his political affiliations, advocating the men and meas- ures that he thinks will promote the best in- terests of the county, state and nation. So- cially he is connected with the Court of Honor and the Tribe of Ben Hur in Ham- mond.
EMOR H. MITCHELL.
There is no more highly respected citi- zen in Piatt county than Emor H. Mitch- ell, one of its early settlers. He makes his home in Bement after many years' connec- tion with agricultural interests. He has watched the greater part of the progress and improvement which have transformed Piatt county from a wild prairie district into one of the leading counties of this great com- monwealth with its rich agricultural inter- ests and its thriving towns, enterprising busi- ness affairs and educational, social and mor- al advantages.
Mr. Mitchell is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Knox county, on the 5th of December, 1839. His paternal grandfather, Sylvanus Mitchell, removed from his native state of Massachusetts to Ohio in the year 1805, settling in Granville township, Licking county, where he engaged in general farming until 1823. At that date he took up his abode in Knox county, where his remaining days were passed and where he died at an advanced age. He was of Eng- lish lineage.
Almond Mitchell, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Licking county, Ohio, on the 30th of March, 1816, and was a lad of but seven years when he accompanied his parents to Knox county in 1823. He was
ship, where he remained until he had at- tained his majority, after which he pur- chased a farm in the same township, con- tinuing to engage in general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising there until his death. He was a diligent, industrious man, progressive in his business methods and in his undertakings he prospered, becoming the owner of between five and six hundred acres of rich farm land. He was also prominent in public affairs and was well-fitted for lead- ership, because of his keen insight into pub- lic matters, his devotion to the general good and his marked capability. He held a num- ber of township offices and he cast his first presidential vote for Andrew Jackson, but after the inauguration of the Republican par- ty he became one of its followers. He was also a supporter of the Methodist church, and everything pertaining to the general good received his endorsement, and many times his active co-operation. In early man- hood he wedded Miss Margaret Hawkins, who was born in Knox county, Ohio, on the 2d of May, 1818. She was a member of the Disciple church and was a devoted and lov- ing wife and mother and a faithful friend. Mr. Mitchell died April 6, 1896, and his wife passed away in 1901. Unto this worthy couple were born fifteen children, of whom three died in infancy, while the others reached years of maturity. Eight of the family are now living, two sisters and five brothers of our subject. One brother? re- sides in Chicago, another in Texas, and, with the exception of our subject, the others are living in Ohio. Harris, the eldest of the family born in Ohio- in 1838, died in in- fancy. Emor H. is the second. Lewis is a farmer of Morrow county, Ohio, and was a soldier of the Civil war. Alice is the de-
I26
PAST AND PRESENT.
ceased wife of Monroe Crego, who is a farmer of Galena, Ohio. Elizabeth is the deceased wife of Dempsy Conway, of De- catur, Illinois. Albert is a resident farm- er of Knox county, Ohio. Wealthy is the deceased wife of Thomas Wade, of Knox county. Torrence is an agriculturist of the same county. Maria is the wife of Abram Jackson, of Wichita Falls, Texas. William is a merchant of Knox county, Ohio. Laura is the deceased wife of Emer Harris, a farm- er of Red Oak. Iowa. Dana is engaged in the practice of law in Chicago. Mary is the wife' of Judson Poland, an agriculturist of Knox county, Ohio. The other two died in infancy unnamed.
In taking up the personal history of Emor H. Mitchell we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in Piatt county. He ob- tained his education in the common schools of Knox county, Ohio, and in his youth was trained to habits of industry, economy and honesty, which have been important factors in shaping his career in later life. He gained practical knowledge of farming upon the old homestead and he remained in Ohio un- : til. 1864. when he came to Illinois, establish -. ing his home three and a half miles east of Bement in Piatt county. Purchasing a farm of one hundred and sixty acres which was then but a tract of wild prairie, he began its development with characteristic energy, placed all of the improvements upon the land and made a good home for himself and . familv. There he lived until 1889, when he removed to the village of Bement. leaving his farm. For many years he had carried on general farming and stock-raising and in the careful control of his business he won capital sufficient to enable him at the pres- ent time to live retired.
On the 13th of December, 1860, Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage to Miss Emily S. Reynolds, who was born in Knox county, Ohio, a daughter of Amos and So- phia (Houch) Reynolds. Her paternal grandfather was William Reynolds, a na- tive of England, and his wife was born in Scotland. In the year 1793 he crossed the 'Atlantic to the United States, then in the early years of its republic existence, and lo- cated in Knox county, Ohio, purchasing a large tract of land at twelve and a half cents per acre. This property is still owned by his descendants. He planted an orchard with apple seeds brought from England, and many of the old trees are still standing up- on this land. Amos Reynolds, the father of Mrs. Mitchell, was born in Knox county, Ohio, on the old family homestead, and in the place of his nativity he spent his entire life, living upon the farm which is still in possession of the family. It is situated at Richhill, and he owned one hundred and thirty-seven acres as a nucleus to his estate which grew as the years advanced until it became a valuable and extensive property. Throughont his business' career he carried on general farming and stock-raising, and his justice and honor in all business transactions won him the unqualified regard of his fellow men. He died March 26, 1850, at the age of forty-nine years, his birth having oc- . curred on the 16th of January, 1801. He- was a devoted member of the Methodist church and to his family he left an untar- nished name. His wife, who was born April 25, 1808, in Knox county, Ohio, was a con- stant Christian woman, holding membership in the Methodist church, and her death oc- curred in her native county, January 8, 1849. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds were .born ten children, and the family record is.
127
PIATT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
as follows: James, the eldest, born in Knox county, died at the age of nineteen years. Sylvester is one of the oldest and most suc- cessful practicing physicians of Knox coun- ty. Burr, who. went to California in 1849, and there remained for eight years, after -- ward resided in Huntington, Indiana, where his death occurred. Daniel was an adjutant- general in the southern Confederacy and lost one of his lower limbs while serving his country. Prior to the Civil war he engaged in the practice of law in Memphis, Tennes- see, and subsequently he became a well- known lawyer of Lake Village, Arkansas. He was fitted for his profession by gradua- tion in the Wesleyan College of Delaware, Ohio. William, born in Knox county, Ohio, was a resident of Iowa for a number of years, and. is now an extensive farmer and stock-raiser of South Dakota. Sarah is the deceased wife of Lucius Webster, of Knox county, Ohio. Barbara died at the age of seven years. Mrs. Michell is the next of the family. Caroline is the wife of Nelson Jones, of Foosland, Illinois. Mary died in infancy. All of the members of the family were born in Knox county, Ohio.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell has been blessed with six children. Walter R., the eldest, born in Knox county, Ohio, is a graduate of the Illinois State University of the class of 1887, and now resides in Chicago, where he is professor of biology in the Hyde Park high school. He also won a degree from the Chicago University. He married Miss Florence Stuart, of Cham- paign, Illinois, and they have two children, Beulah and Maurice. Olive, the second member of the Mitchell family, was born in Bement, was educated in the common schools, in the State University and in the Art Institute of Chicago, doing excellent
work as a water-color artist. Pauline, who resides in St. Louis, and was educated in the Normal School of Chicago, is now the wife of James Grant Abbott, who is a graduate of the Wesleyan University of Bloomington, Illinois, and is now a contractor and car- penter of St. Louis Worlds' Fair. Annie, who resides at home, is a teacher and as- sistant principal in the high school of Green- field, Illinois, her specialty being languages. Elizabeth died at the age of seventeen years and Charles died at the age of eight months.
Mr. Mitchell has served in a number of township offices, and in all the public posi-' tions he has filled has been found true and faithful to the trusts reposed in him. While acting as school director for a number of years he was instrumental in securing the erection of three new school buildings. In politics he has always been a stalwart Re- publican, and has ever kept well informed on the great national questions which have divided political opinions into two parties. His religious faith is that of the Presbyter- ian church, and his life has ever been guided by high moral principles and characterized by sterling integrity and fidelity to duty. He has seen nearly all the improvements made in this part of the county, and has done his full share in the work of public progress and advancement:
S. A. BLAGG.
S. A. Blagg, who is now residing in Mansfield, belongs to that class of represent- ative American citizens who are known as self-made, because their possessions have been acquired entirely through their own ef- forts unassisted by inheritance, or by influ-
128
PAST AND PRESENT
ential friends. Mr. Blagg was born in West Virginia, November 29, 1844, his parents being James and Elizabeth (Armstrong) Blagg. The father was a farmer by occupa- tion and died when the subject of this re- view was only five years of age.
In Lewis county, West Virginia, Mr. Blagg, of this review, obtained his early ed- ucation. His school privileges, however, were somewhat meager, and it has been in the school of experience that he has learned the valuable lessons fitting him for a practical and successful business man. At the time of the Civil war, although but a young boy, he joined the Confederate army. He went to face the enemy at Laurel Hill and could not get away, so enlisted with the Confeder- ate troops just after the battle of Philippi. He then served for four years, becoming a member of Company I, Thirty-first Regi- ment of Virginia Volunteers under the com- mand of Captain A. H. Jackson and Colonel W. L. Jackson. He was a brave and loyal soldier and continued with his regiment un- til the cessation of hostilities. He was, how- ever, only twenty-one years of age at the time of the close of the war.
Almost immediately afterward he came to Illinois, settling first in Moultrie county near the Piatt county line. He found this section of the country in a wild state, the land was raw and unimproved, and it was possible to travel in almost any direction without coming to a fence to impede his progress. There were no roads and the work of improvement and development seemed scarcely begun. Mr. Blagg was in very limited financial circumstances at the time of his arrival, and in order to gain a liv- ing he worked by the day as a farm hand. Later he rented a tract of land and thus be- gan life on his own account. As he pros-
pered in his undertakings and was enabled to save something from his earnings he care- fully hoarded the money thus won until he was able to purchase a tract of land. He now owns two lots in the home which he oc- cupies in Mansfield. He has been a resident of Piatt county since 1892, and for a num- ber of years carried on agricultural pursuits here.
Mr. Blagg was united in marriage in Moultrie county, Illinois, to Miss Martha Hardin, and their union has been blessed with nine children, eight of whom are now living: Ida, who was born June 3, 1869; James, born April 6, 1871 ; Jesse, born Oc- tober 20, 1873; Benjamin, April 13. 1875: August, on the 24th of August, 1878; Marie, May 8, 1880; Charlie, February 21, 1882; Grace, February 6, 1885; and Maude, April 7, 1892. The oldest daughter, Ida, is now the wife of Wesley Williams and has five children.
In his political views Mr. Blagg is a Democrat, but has never sought or desired office, preferring to give his time and ener- gies to his business affairs, whereby he has attained the success that he now enjoys. During his long residence in the county he has become widely and favorably known, and it is with pleasure that we present his history to our readers.
WILLIAM E. LODGE.
There are few men whose lives are crowned with the honor and respect which was so universally accorded to William E. Lodge, but through more than forty years connection with the history of Piatt county his was an unblemished character. With
WILLIAM E. LODGE
131
PIATT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
him success in life was reached by ster- ling qualities of mind and a heart true to ev- ery manly principle. He never deviated from what his judgment would indicate to be right between himself and his fellow men, and he never swerved from the path of duty. He gained distinction at the bar, where he practiced for four decades, and he also won marked financial success in the control of ag- ricultural interests. Into whatever channel he directed his energies he so guided his la- bors that he was always true to his duties to his fellow men, and secured his own ad- vancement upon a high mental and moral plane.
Mr. Lodge was a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in the town of Mount Hope, which is now included within the city of Cincinnati, in December, 1834. Back to England can the ancestry of the family be traced, and representatives of the name es- tablished homes in America prior to the Rev- olutionary war. The old family homestead which came into possession of the emigrants in 1750 is still owned by descendants of those who were the first occupants. This property is situated in Gloucester county, New Jersey, and it was there that Samuel Lodge, the grandfather of our subject, carried on farm- ing throughout his entire business career. He wedded Miss Abigail Horner, who was of German lineage, and like her husband was a native of Gloucester county, New Jersey. It was their son, Benjamin F. Lodge, who be- came the father of our subject, and who after arriving at years of maturity, removed from New Jersey to' Brooklyn, New York, maintaining his residence in that place while he conducted his business operations in New York city for some years. He was engaged in merchandising there when attracted by the opportunities of the growing west, and
went to Hamilton county, Ohio. In that sec- tion of the country he became well known as a builder of turnpikes, and he took contracts for similar work in Kentucky, carrying on the business with success until 1836. In that year he took passage on a steamer which eventually landed him at Clinton, Indiana, but that was not his destination and he con- tinued his westward journey by team until he arrived in Paris, Edgar county, Illinois. All around him stretched the wild prairie, 'the work of improvement and development being scarcely begun, and Mr. Lodge under- took the mammoth task of improving and op- erating eleven hundred acres of prairie land for William Neff, of Cincinnati. He used forty yoke of oxen in breaking the prairie. The farm work at that day was very ardu- ous, because of the primitive condition of the farm machinery and agricultural implements. Grain was cut with a sickle and cradle and a scythe was used in mowing the meadow. Prices, too, were very low, corn at one time bringing six and a quarter cents per bushel, while other cereals were proportionately cheap. However, Mr. Lodge, with deter- mined purpose and marked business capabil- ity, continued the work which he undertook and central Illinois owes much to him for its advancement of agricultural interests here. He planted the first osage orange hedge ever seen in Illinois, and in his farming he always kept abreast with the progress and improve- ment of the times. His first home was about three and a half miles north of Paris, but lat- er he removed four miles west of the town, where he resided until 1857. In that year he took up his abode in Paris and was identi- fied with its commercial pursuits as a mer- chant until his life's labors were ended in death in the year 1863.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.