USA > Illinois > Piatt County > Past and present of Piatt County, Illinois : together with biographical sketches of many prominent and influential citizens > Part 16
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The subject of this sketch, who is the youngest of the family, was educated in the common schools near DeLand, and re- mained with his father, assisting in the op- eration of the home farm until his marriage,
which was celebrated December 28, 1898, at the home of Thomas Bondurant in DeLand, where his wife had resided for several years. In her maidenhood she was Miss Lucy Thornton, a daughter of William and Fanny (Bondurant) Thorton, of Des Moines, Iowa. She has become the mother of one child, Wendell Bondurant Trenchard, who was born on the 3d of April, 1900.
After his marriage Mr. Trenchard com- menced farming on a tract of one hundred and sixty acres south of DeLand, but after residing there for a year he sold that place' and bought a farm of three hundred and twenty acres just north and adjoining the corporation limits of DeLand. After oper- ating that place for three years he was ap- pointed cashier of the First National Bank of DeLand and has since given his atten- tion principally to the discharge of the du- ties of that position.
Mr. Trenchard has taken the first degree in the Masonic Lodge there and is also a member of DeLand Lodge, No. 603, K. P., and DeLand Camp, No. 2178, M. W. A. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Christian church. In all of his under- takings he has prospered thus far, his excel- lent success being but the logical result of his careful and correct business methods.
JOHN FRIZZELL.
This well-known and highly esteemed citizen of DeLand, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, April 25, 1841, a son of Jason and Rebecca (Turner) Frizzell, both representatives of old Virginia families. The father was born in Ohio in 1808, and was educated in the common schools of that
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state. In early life he followed farming in Fairfield county, and for the long period of forty-five years most acceptably served as justice of the peace. At one time he was also the Democratic candidate for sheriff, but was defeated. He was a stanch support- er of that party and took a very active and prominent part in local politics. In 1830 he married Rebecca Turner, who died when our subject was a year old, and he was again married in 1851, his second union being with Jane Jones, of Pennsylvania, by whom he had three children : Jason, who served in the Civil war as a member of the Seven- teenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and is now a railroad man living in Ohio; William; and Barbara, wife of Dudley Layman. The chil- dren of the first marriage were Joel, a resi- dent of Ohio; Frederick, who died in the army; Jackson, also deceased; John, of this review ; Emily and Rebecca, both deceased. The father died in Ohio, February 5, 1862.
John Frizzell is indebted to the ' public schools of Ohio for the educational privi- leges he enjoyed during his boyhood, but he was able to attend school but little as he be- gan work as soon as old enough. At the age of fifteen years he commenced learning the tanner's trade, which he followed con- tinuously until the Civil war broke out, when prompted by a spirit of patriot- ism he offered his services to the govern- ment. At Columbus, Ohio, in 1863, he en- listed in the Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until hostili- ties ceased. He was in a number of engage- ments, including the battle of Guntown, where he was taken prisoner June 10, 1864. For about seven months he was incarcerated in Andersonville prison, was in Millen pris- on six or seven weeks, and was also confined in the jail at Columbus, Georgia, for a few
days, but was finally paroled and sent home, receiving an honorable discharge at Colum- bus, Ohio, in 1865.
After resting for a time Mr. Frizzell be- gan work as a farm hand and also did odd jobs. In 1866 he left his native state and re- moved to Charleston, Illinois, where he was married on the 7th of June, that year, to Miss Mary L. Frizzell, a daughter of David B. and Harriet (Smith) Frizzell, who were from Ohio. Her mother is still living in Cumberland county, Illinois, at the age of eighty-five years, but her father died in 1868 at the age of fifty-four. He had two brothers : Lloyd drove an ox team across the plains to California in 1849 and died in San Francisco of heart failure. He was county treasurer for one or two terms. John, a physician, served for three years as a sur- geon in the Civil war and died in Butler, Bates county, Missouri, six years ago. The wife of our subject is one of a family of seven children, the others being Sarah, de- ceased ; John, who died in the army ; Craw- ford, a resident of Terre Haute, Indiana ; Rebecca, wife of John Jenuine; Alice, wife of George Stults, a farmer ; and Lloyd, who is operating the old home farm. Unto our subject and his wife were born two children, namely : Florence, deceased; and Gertrude, wife of O'Neal Barnes, who is engaged in farming on our subject's place near DeLand.
In 1879 Mr. Frizzell came to Piatt coun- · ty and began farming near the present site of DeLand, which was then a cornfield. He bought a forty-acre farm in 1882, but sold the same later and purchased sixty acres, on which he made his home for fourteen years. On disposing of that farm he bought an- other of one hundred acres, which he oper- ated quite successfully until 1902, when he removed to DeLand and purchased town
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property, though he still owns his farm near the village. His home in DeLand is a valu- able property, consisting of a fine house, good barn and other outbuildings situated on four lots. He has a large amount of fruit upon his place, including cherries and berries of all kinds, and everything is in first-class condition. Here, surrounded by all the comforts which go to make life worth the living, Mr. and Mrs. Frizzell expect to spend their remaining days. They are prom- inent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, taking an active part in its work, and they enjoy the esteem and friendship of all who know them. Mr. Frizzell is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is a strong Republican in politics. His life has been one of industry and usefulness and he merits the success that has come to him as well as the confidence that is so freely ac- corded him.
JAMES CLIFTON TIPPETT.
Piatt county figures as one of the most attractive, progressive and prosperous di- visions of the state of Illinois, justly claim- ing a high order of citizenship and a spirit of enterprise which is certain to conserve consecutive development and marked ad- vancement in the material upbuilding of men who have controlled its affairs in official ca- pacity, and in this connection the subject of this review demands representation as one who has served the county faithfully and well in positions of distinctive trust and re- sponsibility. He is now acting as circuit clerk and recorder of Piatt county and makes his home in Monticello.
Mr. Tippett was born at White Heath,
Piatt county, on the 3d of July, 1873, and is a son of Cumberland Tippett, whose birth occurred in Licking county, Ohio, about the year 1834. The father was a merchant and also devoted some time to farming and to preaching the gospel as a local minister. He became an early settler of White Heath and his influence for good was widely felt. In his ministerial capacity he was called upon to perform the marriage ceremony for many couples in Piatt and adjoining counties. He was ever the friend of progress, reform and improvement, and his influence was ever given on the side of right and justice. His death was occasioned by accident on the 2d of October, 1875, at which time he fell from an apple tree. His wife survived him and is still living at White Heath. She was born in Ohio in 1848. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Tip- pett were born two children: Florence M. is the wife of Dr. B. E. Duvall, a resi- dent of Atlanta, Georgia. She is also a physician, having pursued a course in the Southern Eclectic Medical College at At- lanta, Georgia, in which institution her hus- band pursued his medical course. Both are now actively engaged in practice and each are in the enjoyment of a lucrative business. In connection with their work in this direc- tion they are editing the Southern Eclectic Medical Journal of Atlanta, Georgia, which is recognized as authority on many subjects of which it treats.
James C. Tippett, whose name intro- duces this record, was reared and educated at White Heath. On leaving the public schools he entered the State University at Champaign, where he pursued his studies for several terms, and then returning to his home he engaged in farming and stock-rais- ing, making a specialty of feeding hogs and cattle. His father was the owner of a small
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tract of land and it was upon this that Mr. Tippett carried on his agricultural pursuits. He continued farming until May 1900, when he was nominated on the Republican ticket to the office of circuit clerk, and was elected the following fall, assuming the du- ties of his office in December of the same year, his term to extend four years. He is now the incumbent in the office and is dis- charging its duties with marked promptness and fidelity. By virtue of his position as circuit clerk he is also recorder of the county and his administration of the affairs of the office is most commendable.
On the 5th of October, 1898, occurred the marriage of Mr. Tippett and Miss Mat- tie Jamison, a native of Illinois and a daugh- ter of Mrs. Inez Bender, of Decatur, Illinois. Socially, Mr. Tippett is connected with the Knights of Pythias fraternity, with Selah Lodge, No. 243, I. O. O. F., and with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a most genial and affable gentleman and is well known in his native county, where he has spent his entire life. His interests are thoroughly identified with those of Piatt county, and at all times he is ready to lend his aid and co-operation to any movement calculated to benefit this section of the coun- try or advance its wonderful development.
B. T. McCLAIN, M. D.
Dr. B. T. McClain, of Atwood, Illinois, was born on the 28th of September, 1854, in Harrison county, Kentucky, of which his parents, George and Sarah McClain, were also natives. Throughout life the father followed farming and made his home in either Harrison, Scott or Grant counties,
Kentucky. Both he and his wife died in that state. Our subject and his brother Wil- liam, were the only ones of the family to come to Illinois, and the latter is now an ex- tensive farmer of Sangamon county.
The preliminary education of our sub- ject was obtained in the common schools of Grant county, Kentucky, and he also at- tended high school there. Later he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and began the study of medicine, pursuing a two-years' course in the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Sur- gery, from which he was graduated in the class of 1886. He was grant- ed the degree of M. D. and licensed to practice. Opening an office in Scott county, Kentucky, he was engaged in practice there for four years, and at the end of that time removed to Franklin, Morgan county, Illi- nois, where the following seven years were passed. In 1897 he came to Atwood, and here he has built up a large practice which is constantly increasing. As the village is in the southeast corner of the county he re- ceives many calls from Douglas and Moul- trie as well as Piatt county for his country ·
practice· is very extensive.
Dr. McClain married Miss Sarah Hughes, of Owen county, Kentucky, and to them have been born two children: Myrtle and Nellie. Mrs. McClain is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Atwood, while the Doctor is a Baptist in religious be- lief. They have a nice home in the south part of town, where his office is also located, and in the latter he keeps a stock of medi- cines. He is a member of the Esculapian So- ciety of the Wabash Valley, the Douglas County Medical Society and the Illinois State Medical Society, and by the inter- change of thought which forms a feature of those organizations he keeps in touch with
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the progress which is continually carrying the science of medicine toward perfection. His life is a busy one, so numerous are the demands made upon his professional skill, and it is therefore well that he takes a deep and abiding interest in his work, in which he has attained a high degree of proficiency. Socially, he is a member of Atwood Lodge, No. 761, I. O. O. F., and the encampment of the same order at Atwood; Atwood Lodge, No. 651, F. & A. M., of Atwood ; the chap- ter and commandery of Masonry at Tuscola, Illinois ; and the Knights of Pythias Lodge at Tuscola. In politics he is a Republican.
E. L. REEVES, M. D.
Among those who devote their time and energies to the practice of medicine and surgery and are meeting with success in their chosen profession is Dr. E. L. Reeves, who had built up a good practice in and around Milmine, although he has made his ' home here only a short time. A native of Illinois, he was born near Carlisle in Clin- ton county, November 17, 1865; and is a son of J. M. and Rachel (Jones) Reeves, who are now living near Vandalia, Fayette coun- ty, this state, both having passed the Psalm- ist's allotted span of life-three score years and ten. The father has made farming his life occupation. In the family were three children: J. T., a physician of Pittsburg, Illinois ; H. C., a farmer of Fayette county ; and E. L., of this review.
During his boyhood Dr. E. L. Reeves at- tended the public schools and was graduated at the Vandalia high school in the class of 1884. He then engaged in teaching for a. time, and having determined to enter the
medical profession he matriculated at the Ec- lectic Institute in Cincinnati, where he gradu- ated in 1890, with the degree of M. D. He opened an office in Lake City, Illinois, where he remained until 1892, and was then a practitioner of St. Elmo until the fall of 1902, which witnessed his removal to the village of Milmine, where he has already secured a good patronage, his skill and abil- ity being soon recognized.
On the 12th of July, 1893, near Van- dalia, Illinois, was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Reeves and Miss Ella J. Godsey, who was born near that city, March 30, 1869. The Doctor is a Republican in politics, and is a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he is serv- ing as official instructor. He also belongs to the Rebekah Lodge and to the Modern Woodmen of America, being medical exam- iner for the camp at Milmine. : Occasionally he contributes articles of worth to the Ec- lectic Journal and has gained recognition as one of the able and successful physicians of his part of the county, as well as one of its best citizens.
WILLIAM DIGHTON.
Controlling important financial and agricultural interests, William Dighton occupies a prominent position in business circles of Piatt county, where his efforts have been so discerningly directed along well defined lines of labor that he seems to have 'realized at any one point of his ca- reer the full measure of possibility at that point. He is yet a young man, but he possesses the energy and enterprise so characteristic of this section of the coun-
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try and in the management of his busi- ness affairs displays marked capability. While winning success he has also gained the confidence and good will of his fellow men and William Dighton is to-day num- bered among the popular, prominent and representative citizens of Piatt county.
Mr. Dighton has spent his entire life here, with the exception of a brief period passed in college. He was born upon the home farm in Piatt county, June 4, 1873, and is the fourth son of Andrew J. and Sarah C. (Netherton) Dighton. 'His boy- hood days were passed in the usual man- ner of farmer lads of the period and the work of field and meadow became familiar to him in his youth. He was provided with good educational privileges, for after attending the grammar and high schools of Monticello, he entered the State Uni- versity, at Champaign, Illinois, where he spent two years as a student. On leaving college he again took up his abode upon the home farm but soon afterward became connected with the active management of the First National Bank in Monticello, in which he accepted the position of assistant cashier. The successful conduct of the in- stitution since that time has been largely due to his efforts. He has made a close and thorough study of the banking busi- ness and his obliging manner, unfailing courtesy to the patrons, his keen fore- sight and energy have been salient feat- ures in the prosperity of the bank. He acted as assistant cashier until 1897, when he was elected vice president and now holds that connection with the bank.
Mr. Dighton has not confined his at- tention, however, to one line for he is a man of much natural business ability, resourceful and alert, and in agricultural
interests he is especially prominent. His real estate possessions are extensive, amounting to about fifteen hundred acres of choice land, and there is no finer land in all America than is contained in the farms of Piatt county. His property is divided into a number of farms, some of which are situated in Champaign county and all are under a high state of cultiva- tion. Mr. Dighton is also extensively in- terested in live stock. He buys, feeds, raises and ships both hogs and cattle, and annually sends several carloads to the city markets. Besides those he raises himself or buys in this locality he has also dealt in western cattle, and being an excellent judge of stock, he makes judicious purchases. and profitable sales.
In 1888 occurred the marriage of Wil- liam Dighton and Miss Jessie L. Thomp- son, a daughter of Mrs. C. N. Thompson, of a prominent old family of Monticello. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dighton hold mem- bership in the First Presbyterian church, of which he is a trustee. They contribute- liberally to the support of the church and take an active part in its work, and Mr. Dighton is also a prominent Mason, be- longing to Fraternal Lodge, F. & A. M .; Markwell Chapter, R. A. M .; and Cham- paign Commandery, K. T. Having al- ways made his home in Piatt county he- is widely known in this part of the state. He is also widely recognized as one of the most prominent, alert and enterprising business men of the county. Intricate business situations he readily masters and shapes conditions to the further- ance of his own ends and yet in his busi- ness life he has . never been known to take advantage of the necessities of his. fellow men or to swerve in the least from
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the strictest commercial ethics. His gen- ial nature renders him popular, and as a citizen he belongs to that class of public- spirited men who are found as supporters of all that contributes to the material, social, intellectual and moral development of the communities with which they are connected.
SAMUEL SMOCK.
A representative of the agricultural inter- ests of Piatt county, Samuel Smock, who resides on section 16, Monticello township, well deserves mention in this volume. He is to-day the possessor of a fine property which stands as a monument to his enter- prise and unfaltering perseverance through- out the years of his business career. He was born in Ohio near the dividing line be- tween Pickaway and Ross counties, his natal day being the 14th of November, 1834. His father, William Smock, was a native of Vir- ginia and in early childhood removed to Ohio where he was educated in the common schools. He was reared upon a farm, early assisting in the labors of field and meadow and in the Buckeye state he remained until 1839, when he sought a home in Illinois, coming to Piatt county. He cast in his lot with the early settlers and/lived amid the wild scenes of frontier life. He purchased his farm from the government, becoming the owner of a tract of land in Monticello township, for which he paid one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made upon the place, but with characteristic en- ergy he began its development. Subse- quently he sold it and purchased another
farm of eighty acres on which he made his home until his death which occurred about 1878. His wife bore the maiden name of Jane Heath and she, too, was born in Ohio. They became the parents of three children : Samuel; Rufus, who died about fifteen years ago; and Hiram, who died about twelve years ago.
Samuel Smock obtained his education in one of the old-time log schools with a puncheon floor, slab benches and other prim- itive furnishings. This school was located where the fairgrounds are now seen. At an early day, however, he left school, for his services were needed upon the home farm and he continued to assist his father until 1861, when he began farming on his own account. This occupation he has made his life work and his labors have been crowned with a fair degree of prosperity. At the time of his marriage he took up. his abode upon the farm which has now been his home for forty-two years. Many great changes have occurred during this period, many rods of tiling have been laid, an orchard has been planted and two houses have been erected by Mr. Smock, the second one being his present residence, which is very attractive and com- modious, containing ten rooms. It stands in the midst of a fine lawn in which are a large number of shade trees that have been planted by Mr. Smock. He has also erected a new barn and other buildings and has generally improved the place until it is one of the best improved in this section of the county. In connection with general farm- ing he feeds a large number of hogs for the market, all mostly Poland China and Red Rock stock.
On the 7th of March, 1861, Mr. Smock was united in marriage to Miss Marietta Hart and unto them have been born four
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children : John H., who is engaged in farm- ing; Charles A., who is with his father on the homestead; Ada A., who is also under the parental roof; and Edwin O., who died in 1894. Mrs. Smock and her daughter are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Smock has held the office of school director for twenty-seven years. In politics he is a Democrat, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no at- traction for him. He has concentrated his energies along one line and his undivided at- tention combined with capable management and energy have resulted in bringing to him a creditable success.
SAMUEL WATERS ALLERTON.
One of the largest land owners in Piatt county, but who makes his home in Chicago, is Samuel W. Allerton, who traces his an- cestry to Isaac Allerton, who came over in the Mayflower in 1620. Isaac Allerton was a native of England and was born between the years 1583 and 1585, the exact date be- ing unknown. He resided in London for some time prior to his removal to Holland in 1609. It is generally admitted that he was the wealthiest of all the Pilgrims and was one of the few among them to whose names Bradford and other contemporaneous writers always gave the prefix "Mr." which in those days was used as an index of supe- rior family or respectability. He was also one of the three upon whom the privilege of citizenship was conferred by the city of Leyden, his associates in this honor being William Bradford, afterward governor of the Plymouth colony, and Degory Priest. his brother-in-law. He was first married in
the city of Leyden, November 4, 161I, to Mary Norris, of Newbury, England, and at the time of the sailing of the Mayflower he had four children. His wife died Feb- ruary 25, 1621. In 1626 he married Fear Brewster, daughter of Elder William Brew- ster. She was a woman of pleasing appear- ance and of a pious disposition and was the motlier of Isaac Allerton, the second of that name, from whom the Allerton family is de- scended. She died in 1634, while his death occurred in 1659.
Samuel W. Allerton is of the ninth gen- eration from Isaac Allerton, of whom men- tion has just been made. He was born at Amenia, Dutchess county, New York, and is a son of Samuel W. and Hannah (Hurd) Allerton, the former also being a native of Amenia, born December 5, 1785. He was united in marriage to Hannah Hurd on March 26, 1808. She was born in South Dover, Dutchess county, New York, and was the eldest daughter of Ebenezer and Rebecca (Phillips) Hurd, her father being an extensive farmer and stock-dealer in Amnenia. By this union there were nine children, eight of whom were living in Jan- uary, 1899, at a combined age of over six hundred and thirty years. In his early life the father of our subject studied for the medical profession, but changing his mind he learned the tailor's trade and became a merchant tailor, while at the same time he carried on a country store. In 1828 he was one of the promoters in building a woolen mill and establishing a factory. In conse- quence of the reduction of the tariff in 1833 nearly all the manufactories in New Eng- land were ruined, and Mr. Allerton lost nearly all his fortune. In 1837 he went west to Iowa with the hope of building up his fortune but was taken sick and returned
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