USA > Illinois > Piatt County > Past and present of Piatt County, Illinois : together with biographical sketches of many prominent and influential citizens > Part 18
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In March, 1865, Mr. Pierson and his family started for Illinois in an old covered wagon. It proved a tedious journey as it
took them about fourteen days to make the trip, at times being able to travel only four miles per day. In 1868 the father located permanently in Piatt county, where he found the prairies covered with ponds and sloughs and most of the land wild and unbroken. He purchased an eighty acre tract from the Indiana, Decatur & Western Railroad, now the Champaign, Havana & Western road, for which he paid eighteen dollars per acre. It was all wild and only about thirty acres were then fit for cultivation, the remainder being under water. The village of Pierson has been laid out upon this place, which now be- longs to our subject, and was named in his honor. The father tiled this land and made many improvements thereon. For many years he successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising and was also in- terested in the grain and mercantile business at Pierson for eight years as a member of the firm of Pierson & Son, our subject being the junior partner. His fellow citizens rec- ognizing his worth and ability called upon him to serve as commissioner of Unity town- ship for the long period of nineteen years, and for two years he filled the office of jus- tice of the peace and as tax assessor one year. His friends and neighbors often sought fluence in the community where he resided. He was practically the founder of the Mis- sionary Baptist church here and gave the land on which it and the parsonage stood to . be the property of the church as long as it stood there, but the buildings have since been removed. For over forty years Mr. Pierson was a member of the Masonic lodge at At- wood and was also a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for many years, holding the office of treasurer in both organizations for some time. After
WILLIS C. PIERSON
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MRS. WILLIS C. PIERSON
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his retirement from active business, he de- marriage of Mr. Pierson and Miss Susan J. voted considerable attention to his apiary, having forty stands, and he found great pleasure in working among his bees. In his political views he was a Democrat and as every true American citizen should do he took an active interest in public affairs. Aft- er a useful and well-spent life he passed away July 6, 1898, honored and respected by all who knew him, and his wife departed this life February 8, 1896.
The children of the family still living are : Mary J., wife of A. Beedle and a resident of Garrett, Douglas county, Illinois ; Catherine, wife of H. J. Rigney, the oldest merchant of Pierson; Candacy, wife of Mel- born Bell, who has a fruit farm near Red- lands, California; A. D., who is fourth in order of birth; J. G., a member of the firm of Pierson & Fisher, hardware merchants of Pierson; Emma, wife of James White, of Moultrie county, Illinois ; and Mame, wife of Richard Willis, a fruit farmer of Red- lands, California.
A. D. Pierson attended the public schools of Piatt county and gained a good practical business education as his father's assistant. For a time he conducted a hotel and livery stable in Buffalo, Illinois, and since then has made his home uninterruptedly in Piatt county. He had a splendid farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres on section 21, Unity township, north of Pierson, and on selling that place he purchased the old homestead where he now resides. This farm consists of one hundred and eighty-four acres on sec- tion 33. Unity township, just south of Pier- son, and is a well-improved and valuable tract. Mr. Pierson is engaged principally in raising broom-corn and is regarded as one of the most progressive and practical farmers of Piatt county.
In September, 1880, was celebrated the 8
Hook, a daughter of John and Catherine (Montgomery) Hook. Her father was born in Ross county, Ohio, and was but twelve years of age on his removal to Moul- trie county, Illinois, with his parents, Jacob and Susan (Frederick) Hook, the family locating there in 1847. The unbroken prairies abounded in wild game and the Hook family experienced many of the hardships and trials of pioneer life in their new home. Mrs. Pierson is the oldest in a family of ten children, all of whom reached man and womanhood, and six of the number are still living, the others being Mrs. Sarah Shultz; Amanda, who married Hiram Meece, of Moultrie county; James, who married Maggie Dick; P. C., who married Alice Chase; and Harvey. The mother of these children died and the father subse- quently married Mrs. Susan Davis, and since August, 1902, has lived a retired life in Pierson. He is one of a family of six children and the living are all residents of Moultrie county with exception of Mrs. Pierson's father.
Our subject and his wife have six chil -. dren : Willis C., Elmer Elsworth, Charley C., Pearl, Grover G. and Samuel D. Willis C., named for his grandfather, was married in May, 1903, to Miss Blanche Benner and lives on the home farm. Mr. Pierson is a member of the Missionary Baptist church and a stanch supporter of the Democratic party. For five years he efficiently served as ditch commissioner and has been a val- uable member of the school board for fif- teen years, taking an active interest in edu- cational affairs and in the material upbuild- ing and prosperity of his township and coun- ty. He is a man of progressive ideas and sound judgment which renders him an im- portant factor in public affairs.
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PAST AND PRESENT
WILLIAM NOECKER, M. D.
Fifty years have been added to the cycle of the centuries since Dr. William Noecker came to Monticello. He had just graduated from the Starling Medical Col- lege, and here he entered upon his profes- sional career, in which he was destined to gain honor and distinction. For thirty years he devoted his energies to the alle- viation of human suffering and then he put aside professional cares to engage in the banking business in which he continued for about twenty years, being the president, as well as the founder of the First Nation- al Bank of Monticello. Among the ear- nest men whose depth of character and strict adherence to principles excite the admiration of contemporaries, Dr. Noeck- er was prominent and he was as influential in financial circles as he was active in the practice of medicine. Banking institutions are the heart of the commercial body, indi- cating the healthfulness of trade, and the bank that follows a safe, conservative busi- ness policy does more to establish confi- dence in times of widespread financial de- pression than anything else. Such a course did the First National Bank of Monticello follow under the able manage- ment of its president, the subject of this re- view. For a half century he was one of the active business men of Piatt county, and probably no single individual was more widely or favorably known within its bor- ders.
The Doctor was a native of Northum- · berland county, Pennsylvania, born in April, 1823, and represented an old family of Berks county, that state. It was in the latter county that his paternal grandfather spent his entire life, and there it was that
John Noecker, the father of the Doctor, was born. After arriving at years of maturity, however, he married and removed to Northumberland county, where he en- gaged in farming .. His wife bore the maid- en name of Maria Stump, and was also a native of Berks county, but both spent their last days in Northumberland coun- ty, where they had long resided and where they reared their family of twelve children, all of whom reached adult age, the young- est to pass away being forty years of age at the time of death.
Dr. Noecker spent the first fifteen years of his life under the parental roof and then accompanied an elder brother to Pickaway county, Ohio. As there were no railroads then they traveled in a spring wagon drawn by a team of horses, and for some years thereafter the Doctor was connected with farm work. He also em- braced every opportunity possible for se- curing an education, and in 1849 he be- gan teaching, which profession he fol- lowed for two years. At the end of that time he resolved to give his attention to other professional labor and took up the study of medicine, Dr. Peter K. Hull, of Circleville, Ohio, directing his reading. In the winter of 1851 he became a student in the Starling Medical College, of Colum- bus, Ohio, where he continued to attend lectures until February, 1853, when he was graduated and received his degree. In March he started for Monticello with the intention of establishing an office and en- gaging in practice here.
Westward of Ohio lay a section of the country as yet largely unimproved and in many sections the work of cultivation and development had scarcely been begun. Methods of travel were then very primitive
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as compared to the parlor coaches on the railroads of to-day, and the young physi- cian traveled by stage from Columbus to Cincinnati, where he took passage on an Ohio river boat. On reaching the Missis- sippi he proceeded up that stream to Al- ton and on by rail to Springfield, which was the nearest railroad station to Monti- cello. He learned that at eight o'clock the next morning the stage would start for Piatt county. He made preparations to continue his journey at that time and when the hour arrived he saw a team drive to the hotel, to which was attached a two-wheeled cart, and on the axle was a dry-goods box. The Doctor engaged pas- sage in this primitive vehicle but the driver refused to take both his trunks and he was obliged to leave one behind. Three times the driver stopped to change horses and yet it was three o'clock on the follow- ing morning before they arrived at their destination. In such a manner did Dr. Noecker arrive in Monticello, which was then a mere village in the midst of a sparsely settled region. At that time the merchants largely bought their goods in Springfield and brought them by team to Monticello and Dr. Noecker soon made arrangements with the teamster to bring his trunk.
Then began his professional labor here. He formed a partnership with Dr. C. R. Ward, but the connection continued for only a few months, after which Dr. Noeck- er practiced alone. His was the usual ex- perience of the physician who settles upon the frontier in a thinly populated district. Calls came to him from long distances, and necessitated hard rides at all hours and through all kinds of weather. Most of the settlers lived in the timber regions
bordering the Sangamon river and Goose and Camp creeks. There was little money in circulation and thus collections were very difficult, but as the years advanced and the people prospered Dr. Noecker re- ceived a profitable and extensive patron- age. For thirty years he continued in practice here and into many a household carried comfort and cheer. His profes- sional skill was continually augmented by his reading and research and viewed from both a professional and financial stand- point his labors were crowned with suc- cess. Great had been the changes which had occurred during that time, the coun- try having become thickly populated, while science, too, had made marked ad- vance, rendering the labors of the progres- sive physician much more beneficial. With a nature that could never content itself with mediocrity, Dr. Noecker had contin- ually kept abreast of the times, and many of his patrons felt loath to part with his professional services when he determined to retire from the practice of his profes- sion. He then turned his attention to the banking business and established the Bank of Monticello, now the First National Bank, which has become one of the safe and re- liable moneyed institutions of this part of the state.
In 1861 was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Noecker and Miss Ella Britton, a na- tive of Ross county, Ohio, and a daughter of John and Jane Britton. They had but one child, who died at the age of four years. Mrs. Noecker is a most estimable lady, cultured and of innate refinement, and over her pleasant home she presides with gracious and charming hospitality. · The Doctor's. political support was ever given to the Democracy, and he served
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as a member of the school board and as city treasurer. There were many elements in his life history worthy of emulation. The secret of his success was undoubtedly that he had a talent for hard work and close application, combined with a mind which delighted in investigation. Realiz- ing that "there is no excellence without la- bor" he attended closely to the details of his profession and of his banking business, carefully superintending each department. Such methods cannot fail to win success, but it is not the acquirement of success which is so deserving of commendation, but the use of it in ways that benefit man- kind, and in this regard Monticello's citi- zens speak of Dr. Noecker in terms of highest praise. He died very suddenly of throat trouble, May 4, 1897; at Columbus, Indiana.
S. M. FUNK.
tired life until called to his final rest in the year 1890. His widow still survives him and is widely known as Grandma Funk in Monticello, where she makes her home. There were five children born unto this worthy couple, four of whom are now liv- ing, as follows: Emma, the widow of San- ford Tracy, who resides in Cerro Gordo; Samuel M., whose name introduces this rec- ord; Amelia, the wife of William Edie, of Monticello; and Theodore, who married Al- ice Good and now resides in Decatur, Illi- nois. For several years he was a successful teacher of Piatt county.
Like the other members of the family Samuel M. Funk pursued his education in the common schools and had no advantages beyond that. After putting aside his text- books he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits in Cerro Gordo township and was engaged in farming until after the inaugu- ration of the Civil war, when in response to his country's need he offered his services. It was in August, 1862, that he joined Com- pany K, One Hundred and Seventh Illinois Infantry under Colonel Thomas Snell of Clinton, and at a later date Colonel Lowry of Monticello commanded the regiment. Captain U. M. Lawrence was in command of the company which took part in a num- ber of important engagements, including the battle of Knoxville, the Atlanta cam- paign and the capture of Wilmington and Raleigh. Mr. Funk was never injured in any way and at Salisbury, North Carolina, on the Ioth of July, 1865, he received an honorable discharge after three years of faithful and valorous service.
S. M. Funk, ex-county treasurer and dealer in hardware, cutlery, buggies and har- ness at Cerro Gordo, has resided in Piatt county since the year 1853. He is a native of Indiana and a son of Abraham and Eliza J. (Mckinney) Funk, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Indiana. The father lived in his native state until 1836, when he removed to Bloomington, Il- linois, where he was married, and there made his home until 1853. In that year he ar- rived in Piatt county, taking up his abode in Willow Branch township, where for several years he was engaged in farming. He then removed to Macon county, Illinois, where he Mr. Funk returned to Cerro Gordo township, where he resumed his agricultural pursuits. He was married to Miss Sarah lived for a short time, but soon returned to Piatt county, and at this time settled in the village of Cerro Gordo, where he lived a re- A. Chilson, a native of Ohio and a daughter
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PIATT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
of William A. Chilson, who was one of the early settlers of Piatt county, where he ar- rived in 1857. Here he followed farming, which he carried on continuously until his death. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Funk have been born eight children, of whom four are now living, namely: John E., who is a partner in his father's store; Samuel E., who is now farming in Cerro Gordo township and who served as county deputy treasurer of Piatt county for four years ; Cora A., at home; Aaron L., who is assisting his father in the store and who through several years was a capable teacher of the county. The chil- dren of the family who have passed away are Eugene M., who died in November, 1902; Elvaretta, William A. and Charles WV.
Mr. Funk engaged in farming in Cerro Gordo township until 1883, when he re- moved to the village of that name and en- tered upon his present business. He yet owns a fine farm of 240 acres in Cerro Gor- do township, which is operated by his chil- dren. He now has two large stores, in one of which he carries a full line of general hardware, stoves, etc. To the conduct of this business he gives his personal attention. . His father was a native of Ireland, who The other store is stocked with a good large supply of buggies and harness. Mr. Funk has secured a good patronage and now has a profitable trade. He has also been quite active and well known in public affairs. For several years he served as collector of Cerro Gordo township and in 1898 he was elected county treasurer of Piatt county in which capacity he ably served for four years or until December, 1902, when he retired from office as he had entered it-with the confi- . . dence and good will of all. In politics he has always been a Republican, taking an active interest in the growth and success of the
party and is recognized as one of its lead- er in this part of the county. Socially, he is a member of the Grand Army Post, No. 210 of Cerro Gordo and both he and his wife hold membership relations with the Metho- dist Episcopal church in the town. He has been one of its members for more than for- ty years and takes much interest in church work. Mr. Funk has been a very successful business man and no man is better known in this part of the county.
JOHN E. COMERFORD. 1
John E. Comerford is one of the younger and prominent business men of the village of Bement, actively associated with its industrial interests, and he. pos- sesses the qualities-industry, enterprise and laudable ambition-which will bring him future success. He is one of Piatt coun- ty's native sons, his birth having occurred in Cerro Gordo township, near Milmine, on the 26th of April, 1877. He is a son of Robert and Mary (Seitz) Comerford,
when but sixteen years of age left the Em- erald Isle for the new world, taking up 'his abode in Piatt county, Illinois. In 1846 he first purchased a farm in Cerro Gordo. township of eighty acres of prairie land, and at once began its development, mak- ing excellent improvements upon it, and transforming it until it was å rich and pro- ductive farm. From time to time he added to the original purchase until he was the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of valuable and improved land. He carried on his work with marked enterprise and in- dustry and by his careful management
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and diligence he accumulated a handsome competence. His death occurred upon the old homestead in January, 1895, at the ad- vanced age of sixty-five years. He be- longed to the Catholic church and was a Democrat in his political views, but he never sought or desired political prefer- ment. . His life record furnishes to his children an example that is indeed worthy of emulation, for he so lived as to merit the regard of all with whom he came in contact. His wife survived him and now resides in Bement, where she has pur- chased a pleasant home, being there sur- rounded by the comforts of life. By her marriage she became the mother of six children, five of whom are still living. Bar- ney, who resides near Milmine, occupies a part of the old home farm in Cerro Gordo township, and devotes his attention to its cultivation. He married Bridget Tynan and they have three children: Lona, Mary and Daniel. Anna is the wife of John Uhl, of Pana, Illinois, who is a traveling sales- man for a hide and leather house of Cin- cinnati. They have four children: Mary, Thomas, Victor and Augusta. Michael, who resides upon a part of the old home farm, wedded Alice Gulliford, a native of this county, and they had one child that died in infancy. Robert has recently re- moved from Bement to Monticello, where he is now living. Joseph died in infancy. The youngest member of the family is John E.
Mr. Comerford of this review entered the public schools at the usual age and con- tinued his studies in Bement until after he had completed the high school course. Subsequently he entered St. Bede College, in LaSalle, Illinois, and was graduated in that institution when eighteen years of
age. Returning to his home in Piatt coun- ty he accepted a clerkship in a cloth- ing store in Cerro Gordo, and was also employed as a clerk in Bement after the removal of the family to this place about eight years ago. He continued in the clothing business for about four years in Bement, and then followed the undertak- ing business as a member of the firm of Evans & Comerford, his connection there- with covering two years. On the expira- tion of that period he sold his interest to A. Swinson, who still conducts the busi- ness. Mr. Comerford then engaged in the manufacture of brooms at his present location, and from the beginning his busi- ness has, steadily and constantly increased so that he now employs a large force of expert broommakers. They also manu- facture all kinds of brushes that are made from broomcorn. In the control of this enterprise Mr. Comerford has displayed marked business ability, executive force and keen discrimination. He forms his plans readily and 'is determined in their execution and 'along legitimate business lines he is winning very creditable success.
On the 29th of April, 1903, in Ivesdale, Champaign county, Illinois, was celebrat- ed a pretty wedding ceremony which unit- ed the destinies of John E. Comerford and Miss Josephine Foohy, a native of Ives- dale. The wedding was solemnized in St. Joseph's church by its pastor, Rev. Charles C. O'Brien, who, assisted by Rev. Haw- ley, of Bement, and Rev. Berry, of Philo, performed the ceremony in connection with solemn mass. The bride is a daughter of John Foohy, who is now living a re- tired life in Ivesdale, where he was for- merly engaged in the grain business. He has always been a prosperous and pro-
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gressive man and has accumulated consid- erable property. He is a communicant of the Catholic church there and a well- known and influential citizen. Mrs. Com- erford was educated in Ivesdale and in St. Mary's Academy, near Terre Haute, In- diana.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Comerford are communicants of the Roman Catholic church, and fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 199, of Bement, in which he has passed all of the chairs. He votes with the Democracy, but has never sought or desired public of- fice. A young man of genial disposition and kindly manner, he is popular with a large circle of friends, and in Bement is widely and favorably known. Already he has established for himself a position in the business world and those who know him have no hesitancy in predicting for him a successful future.
H. W. BUCKLE.
The press has not only recorded the his- tory of advancement, but has also ever been the leader in the work of progress and im- provement-the vanguard of civilization. The philosopher of some centuries ago pro- claimed the truth that "the pen is mightier than the sword," and the statement is contin- ually being verified in the affairs of life. In molding public opinion the power of the newspaper cannot be over estimated, but at all events its influence is greater than that of any other single agency. Mr. Buckle is connected with the journalistic interests of Monticello as the manager of the Monticello Bulletin Company, and through much of his
life has devoted his energies to this line of work.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Buckle was born on the banks of the Ohio river, in Gallia county, and began his education in private schools, while later he continued his studies in the National Normal University, at Leb- anon, where he was graduated with the class of 1892. He next matriculated in Rio Grande College, at Rio Grande, Ohio, com- pleting his work there by graduation in 1895. Turning his attention to journalistic work he was for some time employed on leading newspapers in Wisconsin, and later he began teaching, which profession he fol- lowed for thirteen years, four of which were spent in Kansas, two in Ohio, four in Illi- nois and the remainder of the time being spent in village schools and in graded schools at Mound City and Milan, Illinois. At Gen- eseo, Illinois, he published a daily and weekly paper, and from the latter place he went to Freeport, Illinois, where for a year he was in- terested in the Freeport Daily Democrat. In May, 1901, he bought an interest in the Monticello Bulletin. This paper was es- tablished in 1858 and is the oldest paper in the county, having been published by a suc- cession of proprietors. The paper is now owned by a stock company. In January, 1903, it was incorporated and has one hun- dred stockholders with a paid up capital of five thousand dollars. Its officers are as follows: James Hicks, president; H. W. Buckle, secretary ; T. J. Ater, treasurer ; and William C. Handlin, vice president, and the board of directors numbers nine members.
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