USA > Illinois > Piatt County > Past and present of Piatt County, Illinois : together with biographical sketches of many prominent and influential citizens > Part 27
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. Mr. Orr voted with the Democracy and believed firmly in its principles, but was never an active politician in the sense of office-seeking. He held some minor township offices, but always preferred to give his attention to his business affairs, in which he prospered so that he left his widow in very comfortable circumstances.
He died August 1, 1901, respected by all who knew him, for throughout his life he had been honorable in all his relations with his fellow men, and he thus gained uniform confidence and regard. Mrs. Orr is a consistent and valued member of the Baptist church of Hammond. She now owns three hundred and twenty acres of the best farming land in Unity township, which she rents, and in addition to this she has a beautiful residence in Hammond, where she is now living with her grandson. She also owns several building lots in Ham- mond, and she is well known in the county where for thirty-seven years she has made her home. Mr. Orr lived to see many changes wrought here by time and man as the county emerged from its primitive condition to take its place with the lead- ing counties of this great commonwealth. Because of its broad and rich prairies agriculture has been the chief occupation of its people, and of this business Mr. Orr was also a· worthy representative. So · productive is the soil and so enterprising the farmers that Piatt county has become one of the garden spots of the world.
CHARLES M. DAUBERMAN.
Charles M. Dauberman, who is en- gaged in business in Mansfield as a grain merchant, was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, on the 5th of February, 1856, and is a son of Jacob and Esther (Yarger) Dauberman, who are still living. Both were natives of Snyder county, Penn- sylvania, which adjoins Union county, and throughout his business career the father carried on the occupation of farming. On the old homestead in the Keystone state
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Charles M. Dauberman was reared, and at the usual age he entered the public schools of Union county, therein pursuing his studies until he had largely mastered the common branches of English learning. His training at farm work was not meager, for at an early age he began assisting in . the work of plowing, planting and harvest- ing. He continued upon his father's farm until twenty-one years of age, when he be- gan working in a machine shop in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, where he was em- ployed for a year. At. the end of that time he began working as an engineer in a flouring mill, and afterward he came to the west, where he secured a position as a farm hand in the employ of W. D. Fair- banks, a well-known agriculturist of Piatt county. He acted as assistant manager and engineer upon the farm for some time, and in 1881 he took up his abode in Mans- field. Here he managed a grain office for W. D. Fairbanks through a period of six years, after which he leased an elevator and engaged in the grain trade on his own account. He had followed that business for himself for six years in Mansfield, when he ceased renting and built an ele- vator of his own, worth about nine thou- sand dollars. He is one of the wide-awake and progressive grain merchants of this place, and his business furnishes an excellent market for the grain-raisers of this. locality, while his own sales are attended with profit and are bringing to him a very creditable prosperity.
In 1891 occurred the marriage of Charles M. Dauberman and Miss Sarah M. Osborne. They now have one child, Lucile, who is attending school in Mans- field and is now nine years of age. Mr. Dauberman holds membership relations with the Modern Woodmen of America,
and he exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party. Almost every year he is solicited to become a candidate for of- fice, but has always steadily refused, pre- ferring to devote his energies to his busi- ness affairs. While a member of no church there is probably no resident of Mansfield whose career more clearly il- lustrates the power of honesty and integ- rity in active business affairs than does that of Charles M. Dauberman. He start- ed out in life empty-handed, but resolved that he would win success if it could be done by persistent, earnest effort. Brook- ing no obstacles that could be overcome by diligence and perseverance, he has steadily advanced to the goal of prosperity, and as a grain merchant is now well known as a successful and enterprising business man of Mansfield.
REV. MOSES PREDMORE.
Rev. Moses Predmore has for the past twenty-eight years devoted his life to the ministry of the United Brethren church. Who can measure the influence of such a career or can tell of what shall be the harvest of the seeds of good sown? It is a well-known fact, however, that Mr. Pred- more has taken a very active and helpful part in the moral redemption of the people of this locality, and long after he shall have passed away his influence will be held as a blessed benediction by those who know him.
Rev. Predmore is a native of Licking county, Ohio, his birth having there oc- 'curred on the 9th of April, 1833. His father, Benjamin Predmore, was a native
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of Scotland, a man of powerful frame and well fitted to cope with the hardships and difficulties of pioneer life. He became an early settler of Licking county, Ohio, and aided in the arduous task of reclaim- ing that region for the purposes of civiliza- tion. He wedded Miss Mercy Ann Evans, a native of that county and a daughter of Lewis Evans, who was also born in Ohio. It was of this marriage that Rev. Moses Predmore was born. He was reared as a farmer boy and early became familiar with hard work. His father was a well-edu- cated man and a successful teacher in early life, but he died when his son, Moses, was only two years of age, and the mother passed away ten years later, so that the boy was left an orphan at the tender age of twelve years. After that he made his home among strangers, fighting life's bat- tles as best he could without any one to advise him or to guide him. He was am- bitious and energetic, however, and de- sirous of obtaining an education. He at- tended the district schools as he had op- portunity until his sixteenth year. He then left Ohio and made his way to Ful- ton county, Illinois. As his means were limited he traveled on foot part of the , way, and during other portions of the journey proceeded by stage. He stopped first at Otto, Fulton county, where he found employment with a farmer who re- sided on the bank of Otter creek. Rev. Predmore remained in his service for three years, and on the expiration of that 'pe- riod he returned to Ohio. Soon after- ward, however, he went to Arkansas for the purpose of chopping wood during the winter months. Being large and strong. he proved himself especially capable as a chopper, and had no difficulty in secur-
ing employment in that way. Returning to the north, he located in Springfield, Illi- nois, and there rented land for four years.
Seeking a companion and helpmate for life's journey, on the 10th of March, 1861, Rev. Predmore led to the marriage altar Miss Sarah Fairbanks, of Springfield, Illi- nois, a daughter of Samuel Fairbanks. They continued to reside upon the farm near the capital city for four years, and during that time Mr. Predmore prospered so that he was enabled to purchase a larger tract of land, buying one hundred and six- ty acres of land in DeWitt county, Illinois, and there resided until 1875. During that time he had resolved to devote at least a portion of his time to the holy calling of redeeming men from sin, and while there he began studying for the ministry and became a local preacher of the United Brethren church. In 1875 he commenced work on the circuit, which embraced two or three counties. Later selling his De- Witt county farm, he came to Monticello. and continued in the work of the ministry here, giving his labors to the United Breth- ren church in this city until 1902, when, on account of failing health, he was obliged to retire from active connection with the ministry. His deep interest in the church and its work, however, has never abated in the slightest degree, and he does every- thing in his power to promote the cause. of Christianity in this locality.
In 1896 Mr. Predmore was called upon to mourn the loss of the faithful and lov- ing wife with whom he had traveled life's journey for thirty-five years. He has since married again, his second union being with Mrs. Martha Martin, the widow of John Martin. By her first marriage she. hạd three children: William, a mechanic-
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of Springfield; Allen, who engages in farming ; and Bertha, who is at home with her mother. Like her husband, Mrs. Pred- more is much interested in church work, and has long been active in behalf of the cause of Christianity. Mr. Predmore in former years made judicious investments in real estate, and now owns considerable property in Monticello, including a num- ber of dwellings, the rental from which brings to him a good income and enables him to enjoy the rest which he greatly de- serves. Through his reading, research and observation he has become a man of scholarly attainments, and has ever put forth his utmost power in behalf of his church. In his discourses he is earnest, forceful and logical, and many have heard him with attention and deep interest, re- sulting in a change in the course of their lives.
THOMAS MORRIS.
Thomas Morris is one of the self-made men and successful farmers of Piatt coun- ty, his home being on section 4, Unity township. The possibilities that America offers to her citizens he has utilized, and though he came to this country in limited circumstances he has steadily and perse- veringly worked his way upward, leaving the ranks of the many to stand among the successful few.
A native of Ireland, Mr. Morris was born in County Galway in 1833, and is a son of Michael and Mary (Shaughnessy) Morris, who spent their entire lives in that country. In their family were nine chil- dren. Our subject grew to manhood in his native land and was twenty years of
age when, in 1853, he emigrated to the United States. He landed in New York city and from there proceeded to Pennsyl- vania, where he remained until the fall of 1854, which witnessed his arrival in Piatt county, Illinois. Here he hired out as a farm hand and continued to work by the month for about nine years, receiving from sixteen to twenty dollars per month. In this way he gained a start in the business world and for five years rented land in Un- ity township. At the end of that time he was able to purchase eighty acres of land on section 4, the same township, and sub- sequently bought eighty acres on section 9, another eighty acres on section 4, and eighty acres on section 5, all in Unity town- ship. He also purchased two one hundred and sixty acre tracts in Bement township and a similar amount in Monticello town- ship, making four hundred and eighty acres in all. For his first land he paid elev- en dollars per acre and the second tract nine dollars, but it is now very valuable · property owing to the rise in value and its present improved condition. When he lo- cated on section 4, Unity township, his place was all wild, but he has tiled and drained the land, made many improve- ments thereon, and is to-day the owner of some of the best farming property in this section of the state. Since 1861 he has been a resident of Unity township and has been actively and prominently identified with its development and prosperity, but at present is practically living retired while his sons cultivate the land.
Mr. Morris married Miss Mary Con- ners, who was born in County Kerry, Ire- land, and came to America when a child. By this union six children have been born namely: Michael, who lives on one of his
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father's farms in Bement township, mar- ried Sarah Dooley and has three children; David, who also lives on a farm belonging to his father in Bement township, wedded Mary Brown and has one child; James married Jane Dooley and makes his home in Monticello township; Thomas, Mary and Henry are still with their parents upon the home farm.
Mr. Morris and his family are commu- nicants of St. Michael's Catholic church of Bement and he assisted in building both the old and new churches at that place, as well as the school houses in his section of the county. In his political views he is a stalwart Democrat, taking an active interest in public affairs. When he first came to this county the Illinois Central Railroad only extended as far as Cham- paign and he has been a witness of the greater part of the growth and develop- ment of this section of the state. He has broken many an acre of prairie sod with oxen and some with horses and has mate- rially aided in transforming this region in- to a productive agricultural district. In early days he was fond of hunting wild game of all kinds, including ducks, prairie chickens and cranes which were found in abundance. Much of the land was under wa- ter and fever and ague were the prevailing diseases among the pioneers, but all of these conditions have gradually changed and Piatt county now ranks among the best in this great commonwealth.
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E. S. ROOT.
E. S. Root is numbered among the hon- ored veterans of the Civil war, and is also one of the early settlers and highly esteemed citizens of Piatt county. He is now leading
a retired life in the village of Bement and well does he merit the rest, for he has himself earned the competence which now 'enables him to put aside further business cares. He was born in Athens, Athens county, Ohio, on the 30th of January, 1831, and is a son of Levi and Polly (Stewart) Root. The father was born in Vermont, but at an early day in the history of Ohio he took up his res- idence in the latter state, becoming identi- fied with its farming interests. Throughout his business career he carried on agricultural pursuits, and at length he died in Missouri at the advanced age of eighty-one years. His life record shows that industry and in- tegrity were salient features in his career and formed the basis of his prosperity. He voted with the Republican party and was a member of the Methodist church, his life being in consistent harmony with its teach- ings and principles. His wife was born and reared in Athens county, Ohio, and always lived there until called to the home beyond. She, too, was a member of the Methodist church and into the minds of her children she instilled lessons of honesty and morality which have borne fruit in honorable lives. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Root were born twelve children, all of whom are natives of Athens county. Ohio, and of this family E. S. Root is the eldest. Eleven of the children are still living, but none are residents of Piatt county with the exception of our subject. The mother was born in 1809, and passed away in 1857. at the age of forty-eight years.
Ezra S. Root began his education in Ohio at an early day. His advantages in that direction were somewhat limited, ow- ing to the primitive condition of the schools and to the need of his services upon the home farm, but he made good use of his op- portunities, and in later life has added large-
E. S. ROOT
MRS. EZRA S. ROOT
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ly to his knowledge through reading, obser- vation and experience. In 1857 he came to this state, locating first in Douglas county, Illinois, where he engaged in general farm- ing until after the outbreak of the Civil war. Prompted by a spirit of patriotism he of- fered his aid to the government, enlisting in Douglas county in 1862 as a member of Company E, Seventy-ninth Illinois Infantry, with which he served for three years. He was in a number of very important battles and skirmishes, including the engagements at Stone River, Tullahoma, Chickamauga and Mission Ridge, and when the war was over he received an honorable discharge at Springfield, Illinois. He was always found at his post of duty, whether it led him into the thickest of the fight or called him to the lonely picket line. He never failed in his allegiance to the old flag and his military record is one which he has every reason to be proud of.
Mr. Root had five brothers in the Civil war, and all retured home save one, Wil- liam Henry, who was killed in the battle of Perryville. The others were D. O., Charles, · John Wesley and Lawrence Eugene, the last being but fifteen years of age when he en- listed. The grandfather of our subject on his mother's side, served in the Revolution- ary war, while his grandfather on his fa- ther's side was in the war of 1812. An uncle served in the Black Hawk war.
After receiving his discharge Mr. Root returned to Douglas county, where he re- sumed farming, carrying on the work of tilling the soil there until 1874. In that year he removed to Iowa, but after three years returned to this state, making his way to Piatt county. Locating in Bement town- ship he engaged in farming and followed that pursuit throughout the remainder of his act-
ive business career. In 1898 he retired from agricultural life and is now living in Bement, resting in the. enjoyment of the fruits of his former labor. His life record stands in exemplification of the truth that success is the outcome of energy guided by practical judgment and by laudable ambi- tion guided by common sense.
In 1850, in Athens county, Ohio, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Root and Miss Margaret McCreary, who was born in the Buckeye state, and who proved to her husband a faithful companion and helpmate on life's journey for about fifty-one years. At length she was called to her final rest, passing away at her home in Bement in 1901, at the age of sixty-nine years. She held membership in the Methodist church, and was a woman who was greatly loved by all who knew her, because she was most faithful to her friends and was a devoted wife and mother. In her life she displayed many excellent traits of character, and her death was thus the occasion of deep regret among those in whose midst she had lived. Mr. and Mrs. Root were the parents of nine children, four of whom survive. Emily, who died at the age of forty years, was the wife of William Cravatt, of Iowa, and had three children, Guy and Levi, who are liv- ing, and Grace, deceased. Mary Jane died at the age of eleyen months. Elizabeth be- came the wife of James Gill, and at her death left seven children. Harriet is the wife of Cornelius Hopkins, af Bement, who is en- ployed as a section hand on the Wabash Railroad, and they had four children, Myr- tle, Arthur, Jerry and one that died in in- fancy. Levi F., who resides in Bement and works at the coal shaft of the Wabash Rail- road, married Victoria Snyder. Ezra N., the next in the family, died at the age of one
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year. Wesley Bement married Bessie Davis and has four children. Theodore G. died at the age of nine months. William Sher- man is a farmer and resides with his father. He married Laura Martindale, and they have two children, Rosetta and Raymond. All of the children were born in Illinois with the exception of the three oldest.
Mr. Root has seen many improvements made in Piatt county and has assisted mate- rially in the substantial development and permanent upbuilding of this section of the state. He owns the dwelling in which he lives and three village lots in Bement, in addition to two lots and dwellings which he leases. For his services in the Civil war he draws a pension. In times of peace he has been as loyal to his country as he was when he followed the old flag on the battle-fields of the south, and his public career is indeed hon- orable and upright. In his business relations he has ever been straightforward. He holds membership in the Grand Army Post and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades. In politics he has long been a stalwart Republican and feels it the duty as well as the privilege of American citizens to exert his right of franchise in support of the measures he believes will prove of greatest benefit to his country and its government.
JOHN H. GARVER.
There is an old German saying that a man may have three things in this world -the gains he accumulates, the hearts he loves and his good works. The wealth is the first to leave him when death lays its hand upon his form; the loved ones go to the tomb, turn from it and pass to their
homes; but the good works followed through all the years, praising his name and make hallowed his memory. Mr. Gar- ver won creditable and honorable success in his business career, but it was not this that made him so loved by the people who knew him and caused him to be accounted one of the most prominent and best liked citizens of Piatt county. He lived a life that at all times commanded respect and honor and his kindness of nature, his gen- ial disposition and his honorable principles gained for him the warm friendship of all with whom he came in contact.
Mr. Garver was born November 3. 1825, in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, a son of Jacob and Susan (Hisey) Garver, both of whom were natives of the Key- stone state, where they lived until 1839, when they came with their family to Illi- nois, settling in Macon county. There the father engaged in farming for several years, but afterward removed to Kansas, where both he and his wife died. Of the children born unto them seven are now living as follows: David, who is engaged in the poultry business in Cerro Gordo; Mrs. Susan Johnson, a resident of Kan- sas; Mrs. Mary Wallace, who is living in Humbolt, Kansas; Samuel, a carpenter re- siding in Louisiana; Barbara, the wife of Sanford Rogers, also a resident of Kan- sas; Daniel, who is clerking in a store in Decatur, Illinois; and Abram, who con- ducts a meat market in Westfield, this state.
John H. Garver was a youth of only fourteen years when he became a resident of Illinois and throughout his remaining days he resided in this part of the state. After coming to Cerro Gordo he engaged in the grain business, buying and shipping
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grain of all kinds. He conducted opera- tions along that line for several years and then, disposing of his enterprise, he turned his attention to the grocery business, con- ducting a store here until his life's labors were ended in death. His business meth- ods were very honorable and would bear the closest investigation. In all of his work he was systematic, progressive, in- dustrious and thoroughly reliable and his word was as good as any bond that was ever solemnized by signature or seal.
On the 16th of December, 1848, Mr. Garver was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Jane Hudson, the wedding taking place in Cerro Gordo. The lady is a na- tive of Newcastle, Maryland, born in 1830, and is a daughter of Asa and Phoebe (Jester) 'Hudson, who were also natives of Maryland, but in 1832 they removed to Ohio, where they resided for a number of years. In 1841 they came to Illinois, and settled in Oakley township, Ma- con county, near the village of Cerro Gor- do. Subsequently they took up their abode within the borders of Piatt county and the father engaged in farming un- til his death. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Carver were born nine children, but five of the number are now deceased, namely: Al- bert, Addie, Willie, Chester and Minnie. Of those living Benjamin F. is the eldest. He married Docia Neblock, of Cerro Gor- do, and follows the painter's trade here. Samuel D., who married Emma Hummell, is a plasterer who follows his chosen occu- pation in Cerro Gordo. May is the widow of H. E. Mckinney, a son of Andrew and Mary (Rogers) Mckinney. Andrew Mc- Kinney was a prominent dry goods mer- chant of Cerro Gordo who removed from Illinois to Kansas, where he became an extensive landowner and both he and his
wife died in the Sunflower state in 1898. Their son, H. E. Mckinney, acted as a salesman in the stores of Cerro Gordo dur- ing the greater part of his life and was a prominent young business man here, popular with a large circle of friends. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity and was a worthy exemplar of the craft. His, death occurred August 7, 1888, and his widow now resides with her mother, Mrs. Garver. Charles A., the youngest of the family, is a farmer and resides in Okla- homa. Mrs. Garver and Mrs. McKinney occupy a pleasant home in the southwest- ern part of Cerro Gordo and each own other valuable property in the village.
In early days Mr. Garver was a Repub- lican, but in later life gave his political support to the Prohibition party for he was a stanch advocate of the cause of tem- perance and believed it to be one of the paramount issues before the people .. For a half century he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church to which his wife also belongs and was one of its most earnest and consistent workers. Perhaps no better estimate of his character can be given than to quote from the funeral ser- mon which was delivered at his death by his pastor, Rev. J. H. Waterbury, on the 15th of November, 1898, and who said: "We bury from our sight this day one of God's saints. For three score years and ten he has been engaged in the conflict which all men must wage in this world. His pathway has not been one of roses entirely. He knew what it meant to be an overcomer. In the contest for material prizes he has been fairly successful. By the economic use of his energies, he has gained for himself a competency. His de- clining years were spent in the peaceful possession and benefits of accumulation
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