USA > Illinois > Piatt County > Past and present of Piatt County, Illinois : together with biographical sketches of many prominent and influential citizens > Part 23
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After his marriage Mr. Chenoweth en- gaged in operating a rented farm until he entered the army during the Rebellion. In 1861 he joined the boys in blue of Com- pany E, Twentieth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry and remained at the front until honorably discharged at Jefferson Bar- racks, Missouri, April 16, 1863. He par- ticipated in the battles of Frederickstown, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth, and was accidently wounded at Jackson, Tennessee, being confined in the hospital from the 16th of September 1862, until he left the service.
On his return home Mr. Chenoweth accepted a clerkship in a general store in Clinton, Illinois, where he was employed until 1867, when he came to Piatt county and for four years rented and operated the farm belonging to his sister, Mrs. Eliza Lowery .: At the end of that time he re- moved to Monticello, where he con- ducted a meat market for two years, and then assisted in building a branch of the Illinois Central Railroad from White Heath to Clinton, this state. In 1876 he became connected with the firm of Piatt. Hubbell & Company, who were in the
elevator business at Monticello, acting as their buyer at Cisco, Illinois, and when the business was sold to E. A. Townley, he remained with that gentleman in the same capacity until 1883. During the fol- lowing two years he was with W. H. Tel- ford, who was in the same line of business, and on the expiration of that time he went to Ness county, Kansas, where he pre-empted three claims, both homestead and timber claims. He had nothing on his removal to that state but on his re- turn to Illinois after five years he was the owner of four hundred and eighty acres. of fine farming land in Kansas and one hundred head of cattle besides other per- sonal property, so successful had he been. After his return to Monticello he was in the employ of E. C. Knight in the grain business until November, 1900, when he accepted a position as carrier in the rural mail service and faithfully served as such for two years and two months, during which time he lost but seven days. He made a trip of twenty-seven miles and a half each day and therefore traveled nearly nineteen thousand miles during. the twenty-six months' time.
, Mr. Chenoweth has been called upon to mourn the loss of his estimable wife, who died in Monticello of heart failure on her way home from church December 3, 1899, when sixty years of age. She was a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal church and was an active and faithful worker in the same. On the 7th of January, 1903, Mr. Chenoweth re- moved to De Land, where he is now living a retired life, honored and respected by all who know him. He is still a member of the Grand Army Post at Monticello and enjoys meeting with the gray-haired :
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veterans who as young men fought with him on the bloody battle-fields of the south.
EDWARD B. CHENOWETH.
Edward B. Chenoweth, a son of Gid- eon Chenoweth, was born in Piatt county, January 4, 1869, and has here spent al- most his entire life. Since attaining man's estate his attention has mainly been de- voted to mercantile interests. For two years he engaged in clerking in a store in Argenta and for about eight years was similarly employed in De Land, although during six months of that time he served as assistant cashier in a bank at this place. In November, 1902, he embarked in business on his own account, opening a new store in De Land with a well selected stock of general merchandise. He car- ries an excellent grade of goods and spares no pains to please his customers.
In. 1891 was celebrated the marriage of Edward B. Chenoweth and Olive S. Mitchell, of Weldon, Iowa. a daughter of Rev. George E. and Rosetta (Westfall) Mitchell, and three children bless this union: Lela, now eleven years of age; Lola, nine years; and Beulah, a year and six months. Socially Mr. Chenoweth is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 740, of De Land, of which he is treasurer ; Twentieth Century Lodge, No. 603, K. P .; and the Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 2178, of which he is clerk. He was also a delegate to the head camp of Mod- ern Woodmen in 1903. Politically he is identified with the Republican party and has held the office of township clerk two years and village clerk the same length of
time. He is regarded as one of the lead- ing young men of the town, active, enter- prising and progressive, and although he has been in business for himself only a short time he has already built up a good trade and his patronage is steadily in- creasing.
MRS. HELEN C. TIPPETT.
Mrs. Helen C. Tippett, a well-known resident of White Heath and a worthy rep- resentative of an honored pioneer family of this county, was born on the IIth of Janu- ary, 1842, in Ross county, Ohio, and is a daughter of David and Anna (Porter) Heath. Her father was a native of New Jersey, and when a young man removed to Ohio, where he married Miss Porter, who was born near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, February 27, 1799, and was a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Clinton) Porter. On the maternal side she was of Scotch- Irish descent. Mrs. Tippett's paternal grandmother bore the maiden name of Wood and was of English descent. After farming in Ohio for about eighteen years, David Heath came to Piatt county, Illi- nois, and purchased eighty acres of land near White Heath. He then returned to Ohio to settle up some business, making the journey on horseback, as there were no rail- roads at that time, and while there caught a severe cold which developed into pneu- monia, from which he died within a year from the time he come to Piatt county, and it, was two weeks before his relatives in this county learned of his death. His widow then took charge of affairs, and with the as- sistance of her two sons, James and Noble,
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she transformed the wild tract into a good farm. She was one of the bravest and best of women, bearing uncomplainingly the hardships and trials of frontier life. Many times she was left alone for two or three days while her sons went to the city for sup- plies. Their home was at the edge of the timber and the nearest neighbor was at least one mile away. Wolves and rattlesnakes were numerous and many dangers and diffi- culties were encountered by those early set- tlers.
In the Heath family were six children, namely : Mary J .. born January 3, 1825. became the wife of B. F. Harris, a banker of Champaign, Illinois, and died March 23, 1883 ; James Clinton, born August 20, 1828, died December 22, 1872; Noble Porter, born February 8, 1833, died June 8, 1893; Anna E., born June 6, 1838, died in 1851; one died in infancy; and Mrs. Tippett is now the only survivor.' The mother passed away June 10, 1877, loved and respected by all who knew her.
Mrs. Tippett was only three years old when she accompanied her parents on their removal to this state and amid pioneer scenes she grew to womanhood. She was educated in an old log school house. known as the Hughes school, and after her gradu- ation commenced teaching at the age of eighteen years, following that profession from 1860 to 1870. On the 9th of March, 1871, she gave her hand in marriage to Cumberland Tippett, who then took charge of the old Heath homestead and operated the farm until his death, which occurred October 2, 1875. He was a member of Monticello Lodge, F. & A. M., and was a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a lifelong member, always taking an active part in church work
and doing all in his power for the uplifting of his fellow men. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Tip- pett were born two children: Florence B., born December 18, 1871, is now the wife of Dr. B. E. Duvall, of Atlanta, Georgia. She is also a physician. being a graduate of the Eclectic Medical College of Atlanta, and having also taken a post-graduate course at the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical College. James Clinton, born January 3, 1873. was married October 4, 1896, to Mattie I. Jami- son, and is now circuit clerk and county auditor, living in Monticello, Illinois. His sketch appears on another page of this vol- ume.
After the death of her husband Mrs. Tippett and her mother took charge of the farm, hiring a man to run it, and when her mother died she went to Champaign, where she lived for four years, her brother having charge of the place during that time. The following eighteen years were spent upon the farm with her children, her brother still continuing to conduct the property. In
1901 Mrs. Tippett purchased her present comfortable residence in White Heath, where she has since resided. Her brother continued to manage the farm until 1894, when her son, J. C., was old enough to take charge of the same. He lived there until he was elected circuit clerk and still rents the place. Mrs. Tippett is a woman of many ex- cellent traits of character, who is highly respected and esteemed by all who know her.
HON. SEYMOUR MARQUISS.
Among the citizens of Piatt county on whom has been conferred public honor and whose careers have reflected credit upon
SEYMOUR MARQUISS
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those who have reposed in them public trust is numbered Seymour Marquiss. He has represented his district in the legislature and has been active and influential in busi- ness circles, where his course has ever been such as to commend him to the confidence and good will of those with whom he has come in contact. He is now living a re- tired life in Monticello, having acquired a competence which has enabled him to put aside business cares and enjoy the fruits of former toil.
Mr. Marquiss is one of Piatt county's native sons, his birth having occurred in Goose Creek township on the 7th of June, 1837. He is a son of Ezra and Ann Maria (Norris) Marquiss, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Maryland. Their marriage was celebrated in Illinois, the fa- ther having come to this state in 1833 with the paternal grandfather of our subject, Abraham Marquiss, who was a native of Vir- ginia. He settled in Piatt county in 1833 at a very early period in the development of this portion of the state, and there he took up government land. He made the jour- ney from Ohio by wagon and cast in his lot with the early settlers who lived amid frontier environments. Not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made upon his place, but he at once began the develop- ment of a farm and soon rich fields returned to him good harvests. Ezra Marquiss was one of a family of seven children and his education was obtained during his residence in Ohio. After coming with his father to Il- linois he began farming in Goose Creek township, Piatt county, near the old Abra- ham Marquiss homestead, entering forty acres of land from the government. As the years passed he prospered and his business methods were such as to win for him public
confidence as well as to gain for him gratify- ing success. As his financial resources in- creased he made judicious investments in real estate until he became the owner of two thousand acres of land. His death oc- curred on the 3d of January, 1898, when lie had reached the advanced age of eighty- four years, and his wife passed away on the ioth of August. 1881. This worthy couple were the parents of eight children, of whom four are yet living, namely : Seymour ; Pau- lina, the wife of Frank McMillan, of Mon- ticello; Ezra, who is a resident of Monti- cello; and Mary E., the wife of John Kirby, who is also living in the county seat.
Under the parental roof Seymour Mar- quiss was reared and attended the old Piatt school in Goose Creek township. He spent his winter months in mastering the studies therein taught, and during the summer sea- sons he worked upon the home farm, early becoming familiar with the labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. The sun shone down on many a field which he plowed and planted in his youth, and when autumn came he assisted in harvesting the crops. He remained at home until twenty-four years of age and then made preparations for having a home of his own by his mar- riage to Miss Caroline McMillen, the wed- ding taking place on the 19th of December, 1861. The lady is a daughter of Thomas McMillen, who came to Illinois in 1856 and located in Goose Creek township, Piatt coun- ty. He was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1806, and in 1812 was taken by his parents to Highland county, Ohio, where he lived until 1828. He then went to Indiana, where he was married to Miss Mary Hathaway, who was born in Fort Harrison during the war of 1812. In 1856 he again became a pioneer settler. He
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had previously lived amid frontier surround- ings in Ohio and in Indiana, and now he cast in his lot with the early settlers of Piatt county, Illinois. Later he removed to Champaign county, where he died in 1869, when sixty-three years of age. Mrs. Mar- quiss was one of a family of ten children, being the third in order of birth.
At the time of his marriage Seymour Marquiss began farming and buying stock. He took up his abode in Goose Creek town- ship near DeLand, and for many years was a most prominent representative of agricul- tural interests. He continued to reside upon his farm until 1887, when he estab- lished his home in the village of DeLand, but is now living retired in Monticello, al- though he has given his personal supervis- ion to the management of his farming inter- ests. While living on the farm he was very extensively engaged in feeding stock, using in this way all of the grain which he raised and also purchasing large amounts of feed for his cattle. He owns two hundred and for- ty-eight acres of rich and arable land lying in sections 8, 9, 16 and 17, Goose Creek township, eight acres of which is in the vil- lage of DeLand. .
Mr. and Mrs. Marquiss have never had any children of their own, but the kindness of their hearts has prompted them to give homes to six different children, namely : So- phia Norris, who is now the wife of R. M. Cathcart and resides upon Mr. Marquiss' farm; Lillie Ives, the wife of Don P. Chandler, a resident of Nebraska; Minnie Hubbard, who died in San Diego, Califor- nia ; Delta M. Parsons, now the wife of Doc- tor Keel, of Monticello; Jessie Parsons, who is teaching school southeast of White Heath, and Florence Tripp, who is nine years of age, and is yet with Mr. and Mrs. Marquiss.
Mr. Marquiss exercises his right of fran- chise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party. He served as asses- sor in his township, was also township clerk, highway commissioner and school director. He was found so loyal and faithful in all of his local offices that his fellow townsmen conferred upon him higher political honors, electing him to the fortieth general assem- bly as the representative of what was then the Thirtieth senatorial district. There he served on several committees, including those on license, agriculture, roads and bridges, public buildings, public grounds and state institutions. He was an active working member of the house and did everything in his power to promote what he believed would prove the best interests of the state. He has been president of the DeLand village board for three terms and has taken an active part in the growth and development of this place. Prompt and faithful in the discharge of his duties his official service is a criterion of his entire career, for in all life's relations the qualities of an honorable and upright man- hood have been manifested. He enjoys the confidence and respect of young and old, rich and poor, and well deserves representa- tion in the history of his native county.
WILLIAM S. HIGGINS.
William S. Higgins is one of the native sons of Piatt county and, although a young man, is classed among the representative farmers successfully conducting agricultural pursuits upon his home place on section 10, Monticello township. . He was born on the 2d of December, 1872, in Milmine, a son of George and Henrietta Higgins. He be-
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gan his education in the Shadynook school and later successfully attended the Howell and Baker schools, continuing his studies until fifteen years of age, after which he devoted his entire time to assisting his fath- er in the work of the home farm. He never worked for any one save his father until he began farming on his own account. This occurred in the year 1895.
On the 18th of March, of that year, Wil- liam S. Higgins was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Lewis, a daughter of Steplı- en and Omilia (Oliver) Lewis, of In- diana. The young couple began their domes- . tic life upon the Hale farm, which Mr. Hig- gins rented for five years. He then re- moved to the C. E. Pierson farm which he rented for three years, and at the end of that time he took up his abode upon a farm which is now his home. He cultivates one hundred and sixty acres of land and he is making a specialty of the production of corn and oats. He also feeds a large number of hogs annually for the market, and he has eighteen head of cattle, principally of the Galloway and shorthorn breeds. He also has eight head of horses and several mules which he utilizes in the cultivation of his farm. He now owns a Galloway bull, for which he has refused sixty dollars, and he has a shorthorn cow called Roney for which he has refused one hundred dollars. Mr. Higgins keeps good stock and manifests practical judgment in their care. He also has a nice orchard upon his place and every- thing about his farm is in various ways showing him to be a wide-awake, loyal and enterprising owner.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Higgins has been blessed with four children, but only one is now living-George D., who was the second in order of birth, and is now a lad
of five years. Emmet, the eldest, died at the age of one year and twelve days. The other children, Iva and Ora, were twins and died in infancy. In his political views Mr. Higgins is a Democrat, but, though re- quested many times to accept public office, he has always refused, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business affairs, in which he is meeting with creditable and well-merited success.
HIRAM ROYSE.
When Hiram Royse was called to the home beyond one more name was added to the list of honored dead, whose earthly rec- ords closed with the words "Well done, thou good and faithful servant," but as long as memory remains to those who knew him the influence of his upright life will remain as a source of encouragement and in- spiration. "Our echoes roll from soul to soul," and the good we do lives after us through all ages, handed down from gener -. ation to generation. Mr. Royse was a man well known in Piatt county, where, for many years, he was identified with agricul- tural pursuits.
He was born in Bartholomew county, Indiana, upon his father's farm, October 23, 1840. His parents were Aaron and Elizabeth (McGuyre) Royse. The father . was born in Clark county, Indiana, and the mother's birth also occurred in that state. They remained residents of Indiana through- out their entire lives, and during the greater part of the time Aaron Royse was connected with agricultural interests. Thus it was that Hiram Royse was reared upon a farm, and like most farmer boys of the period he
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attended the district schools through the winter months, while in the summer seasons he worked upon the home farm, thus contin- uing to assist his father until he reached his twenty-second year.
At that time Hiram Royse was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Helen Long, who was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, in August. 1844, being the fifth in order of birth in a family of ten children, whose parents were Young B. and Cather- ine (Weaver) Long. Both Mr. and Mrs. Long were natives of Pennsylvania, but soon after their marriage they removed to Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and when Mrs. Royse was a little maiden of six summers they went to Bartholomew county, Indiana, where she was reared, educated and mar- ried. It was on the 23d of October, 1861, that she gave her hand in marriage to Hi- ram Royse.
The young couple began their domestic life in Indiana, where they lived for about seven years. They also spent two years in Macon county, Illinois, but not being pleased with that locality, they removed to DeWitt county, Illinois, where they spent one year. On the expiration of that period they came to Piatt county,
settling in Goose Creek township in 1871. Mr. Royse purchased eighty acres of new land upon which not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made, but he at once began to break the prairie and to carry on the work of cultivation. Therefore, it was not long before a marked change was wrought in the appearance of the place, and instead of the grain, giving promise of abundant harvests. From time to time Mr. Royse added to his property as his financial resources increased mintil within the boundaries of his farm
was comprised a valuable tract of three hun- dred and sixty acres. On this place he car- ried on general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, meeting with excellent success in his undertakings. He erected a good res- idence, built substantial barns and other outbuildings and added other improvements as they were needed. His farm became a valuable one, attractive in appearance and was the visible evidence of the life of indus- try and enterprise led by Mr. Royse. For many years he carried on agricultural pur- suits with success, annually adding to his income until he had obtained a very desira- ble competence. He then removed from his farm to Monticello in 1895 and continued to make his home in the capital city until his death, which occurred May 14, 1900. The last five years of his life were spent in honorable retirement from business cares. He well merited the rest which came to him for all that he possessed had been acquired through his own honest efforts.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Royse were born nine children : Emily, who is now the wife of A. M. Doss, a resident farmer of Wil- low Branch township; Amanda E., the wife of Fred Swam, also a farmer; Albert E., who resides in Johnson county, Indiana; Mary A., the wife of John Stilabower, of Piatt county: Ella O., who died in her eighth year; Clara E., the deceased wife of William O. Daffer ; Josie, at home : John A., who resides on the old homestead farm in Goose Creek township; and Harvey E., who is a student in school.
The home farm of three hundred and wild prairie grasses were seen rich fields of . sixty acres is still in possession of the fam- ily, and of this Mrs. Royse owns one hin- dred and sixty acres in her own right. She has performed her part of wife and mother in the home, and is a most estimable lady
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comfortable residence in Monticello, where she is now living, and she has seventeen grandchildren, who take great delight in visiting their grandmother. Of the Metho- dist Episcopal church she is an acceptable member and her life has ever been in con- sistent harmony with its, teachings and faith. To this church Mr. Royse belonged and was one of its liberal contributors, took an active interest in its work and thus did what he could to advance its growth and welfare. He died in its faith in 1900, and, passing away, he left to his family not only a handsome competence, but also an untarn- ished record, for his life was ever honorable and those who knew him entertained for · him the highest confidence.
who shares in the high regard of all with Shively, the former of Montgomery whom she comes in contact. She has a county, Ohio, and the latter of Clinton county, Indiana. Andrew Shively went to Indiana in his youth, locating first in Clinton county, where he carried on agri- cultural pursuits until 1872. He then came to Piatt county and purchased a tract of land in Cerro Gordo township, where he carried on general farming with success until 1887. His well directed ef- forts, his sound business judgement and his indefatigable industry brought to him capital sufficient to enable him to put aside business cares and after removing to Cerro Gordo he lived retired here for a few years. Wishing, however, to enjoy the balmy climate of California, he re- moved to Lordsburg, that state, where he is still living, resting in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. His wife passed away in Cerro Gordo in 1895. They were the parents of three children : J. M. SHIVELY. Susan, who is now the wife of Isaac Metz- ger, a resident of Cerro Gordo; John M., our subject ; and Joseph, who resides upon a farm in Cerro Gordo township.
The world instinctively pays deference to the man whose success has been wor- thily achieved, who has overcome the ob- stacles in his path and has reached, a creditable position in the business world. This is a progressive age and he who does not continually advance is soon left be- hind. By the improvement of opportun- ities by which all. are surrounded, J. M. Shively has steadily and honorably worked his way upward and is to-day one of the prosperous business men of Cerro Gordo, where he is connected with the grain trade as a member of the firm of J. M. Shively & Company. He repre- sents an old and prominent family of the county. He was born in Indiana in 1860, a son of Andrew and Barbara (Metzger)
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