USA > Illinois > Piatt County > Past and present of Piatt County, Illinois : together with biographical sketches of many prominent and influential citizens > Part 30
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PIATT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
ried Jennie Ashleman, and is a farmer resid- ing about a mile east of Monticello; Cora, who is the wife of Edwin E. Fuller, a resi- dent farmer of Humboldt county, Iowa; Charles, who married Elsie Saint, and is now residing in Humboldt county, Iowa; Jennie, who is the wife of Louis Nisson, a farmer living about four miles southeast of Monticello; Frank, who married Ottie Hon- selman and resides on a farm two miles east of Monticello; Mary, who is at home with her parents; John, who is working on his brother's farm near Monticello; Emery, who assists his father in the operation of the home farm; Nellie, who is yet under the parental roof ; George, who died when about a year old; and Letha, who is now eleven years of age and is attending school. Mr. Dresbach belongs to the Court of Honor, No. 118, of Monticello, with which he has been connected for four years. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, and has held the office of school director for nine or ten years, the cause of education finding in him a warm friend. He is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of this por- tion of the state, and is to-day classed among the most successful, energetic and reliable ag- riculturists of the community.
RICHARD S. MINER.
In taking up the personal history of Rich- ard S. Miner, we present to our readers the life record of one who has a wide acquaint- ance in Piatt county, having resided here since pioneer times. He is now living a re- tired life after many years of connection with agricultural interests. He was born in Ross county, Ohio, in 1847, a son of J. G.
and Emeline Miner. The father was born on the 3d of October, 1812, and learned the tailor's trade. He also became a farmer, and for many years engaged in the tilling of the soil. He died in 1901, his death re- sulting from an accident. While walking home one day he slipped on a slab and broke his angle, and the injury terminated his life. His wife, who was born on the 5th of May, 1818, passed away in 1892. The subject of this review has three broth- ers and two sisters yet living in Piatt coun- ty.
Richard S. Miner was educated near Monticello, in an old log schoolhouse fur- nished with slab seats, a writing desk around the wall and an immense fireplace in one end of the room. The methods of instruc- tion were somewhat limited, but reading and observation have greatly added to his knowledge as the years have gone by. He accompanied his parents to the west and can well remember the journey. They started on the 2d of November, 1856, driving across the country, and on the 16th of November reached Piatt county. On the way they en- countered a severe snowstorm and the trip was thus fraught with hardships. The coun- try was all prairie, wild and unimproved, and the district abounded in game. The town of Mansfield was not established at that time, nor were any railroads built, Mr. Miner well remembering when the first roads were laid .for steam traffic. He remained with his father upon the old homestead, which was known as the Collins farm. The father, of making the purchase, secured an old buck- skin deed, such as were used at that time. He bought a farm of two hundred and forty- two acres, and then drove to Decatur in or- der to purchase tables and chairs. On the return trip he became lost in a fog, and drove
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all day before he could arrive at his home. Many were the hardships and trials endured by the pioneers as they attempted to estab- lish homes on the frontier and perform the arduous task of rerhiming the wild regions for the uses of civilization. Mr. Miner as- sisted his father in the development and cul- tivation of the home farm and continued to reside there until the time of his marriage, which occurred when he was twenty-five years of age.
It was in 1872 that Richard S. Miner was joined in wedlock to Miss Hannah F. Stewart, a daughter of Levi and Mary J. Stewart. Unto them were born two chil- dren: Etta, who is now the wife of Isaac Wilson and has three children; and Stew- art A., who at the age of eleven years is liv- ing with his parents.
After his marriage Richard S. Miner en- gaged in the cultivation and operation of his wife's farm, comprising one hundred and forty acres. He paid special attention to the raising of stock, having large numbers of cattle and hogs upon his place. He also engaged in the raising of grain and fed much of his crops to his stock. He tiled the farm and improved it from year to year, making it a valuable property. There he continuously carried on agricultural pursuits until about four years ago, when he removed to Mansfield and erected a residence, in which he is now spending his days in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. . His wife's farm is rented to their son-in- law, while Mr. Miner has rented his own farm to his brother. He owns thirty acres of land in Goose Creek township.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Miner belong to the United Brethren church, and in his political affiliations he is a Democrat, while socially he is connected with the Odd Fellows' So-
ciety of Mansfield, being a popular and val- ued member of that lodge. For five years he served as school director of the county, and the cause of education finds in him a warm friend, interested in its welfare and doing all he can to promote the standard of the schools. His mind bears the impress of the early historic annals of the county. Few men have longer resided within the borders of Piatt county than has Mr. Miner, who from the age of nine years to the present time has lived here. He herded cattle on the prairies when no towns could be seen, none of the small towns which now dot the county here and there having been built. There was only one mill in Piatt county at that time, and it was operated by water power. Corn could be purchased for ten cents per bushel, and prices for other farm products were equally low. The courthouse was an old plank storeroom, and court was only held for one day at a time. Marvelous changes have since occurred as this county has emerged from pioneer conditions to take its place in the leading counties of the com- monwealth. Mr. Miner has ever borne his part in the work of progress and improve- . ment, and is known as a highly respected cit- izen, who in all life's relations has been hon- orable, and who in his business career has been active and energetic, thus gaining a comfortable competence.
JAMES A. VENT.
James A. Vent is the popular and well known cashier of the State Bank of Ham- mond and is recognized as one of the lead- ing and influential citizens of this town in which he has made his home since 1898.
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PIATT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
He was born in Willow Branch township, Piatt county, on the 23d of May, 1874, and is a son of James T. Vent, who is now living a retired life in Monticello. To the . common schools of his native township he is indebted for the early educational privileges which he enjoyed. Subsequent- ly he attended Brown's Business College at Decatur for one term and obtained a good business education, graduating in February, 1894. At the end of that time he returned to the old homestead and for a short period he engaged in farming in Willow Branch township, but not desiring to follow the plow as a life work he re- moved to Monticello in the fall of 1894, where he was connected with an implement business for one year. He then entered the employ of the firm of E. G. Knight & Son, with which he remained for three years, during which time he became famil- iar with business methods and was thus well qualified for the position when called upon to take charge of the jewelry house in Monticelo owned by Mr. Knight. He acted as its manager most capably con- trolling its affairs until 1895. He also held other positions in business circles in Mon- ticello, remaining there until the Ist of November, 1898, when he came to Ham- mond and accepted the position of cashier in the bank owned by Dighton & Thomp- son. It was then a private banking insti- tution. Mr. Vent was the youngest bank cashier in Piatt county, being only twen- ty-four years of age at the time he accepted the position. This bank was organized as a state bank on the 23d of September, 1901, and Mr. Vent has since been cashier, his efforts being an important factor in making this one of the reliable financial institutions of this part of the county.
In Monticello January 12, 1899, was
celebrated the marriage of James A. Vent and Miss Jessica Stafford, a native of Graf- ton, Illinois, and a daughter of Charles Stafford. She was reared, however, by Dr. and Mrs. Tidball, of Monticello. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Vent have been born two children: Louise, born December 31, 1899; and Vivienne, born October 17, 1901. Mrs. Vent is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and both our subject and his wife occupy an enviable position in social circles. He belongs to Lovington Lodge, No. 228, F. & A. M., of Lovington, Illinois, and he gives his political support to the Republican party. He is now serving as a member of the vil- lage board and also as school treasurer of 16-5. He occupies a very fine residence in Hammond and is a prominent, well-to-do and popular young business man. He spends the greater part of his time at the bank be- tween the hours of nine in the morning and four in the afternoon, and he is also interest- ed in real estate, dealing largely in that line. He is likewise a representative of the insur- ance business, being agent for the Hartford Company, the Insurance Company of North America and the Security Insurance Company. Whatever he undertakes he carries forward to a successful completion and has found that success is ambition's answer.
EDWARD S. STOUT.»
Edward S. Stout is one of Illinois' na- tive sons, his birth having occurred in Moultrie county, on the 18th of February, 1867. He is a son of Amos and Catherine (Allman) Stout, and only the first years of his life were passed in the county of his nativity, his parents then removing to
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Champaign county. The father was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, and there lived until he had attained his majority. Decid- ing that he might find better business op- portunities in the west he came at that time to Illinois, first settling in Monticello township, Piatt county. This was about 1855. There he engaged in farming for some years and afterward was employed in the village of Monticello, where he spent a number of years. At the end of that time he removed to Moultrie county, where he carried on farming for a year, after which he followed the same pursuit in Champaign county for a year. Return- ing then to Piatt county, he located in Bement township, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 3. Here the family settled and still reside. He placed excellent improve- ments upon his land, remodeled the house and continued to cultivate the fields with success until his death. He also carried on stockraising in connection with gener- al farming and both branches of his busi- ness proved profitable. In all his work he was enterprising and was thoroughly in touch with the progress that character- ized agriculture in the nineteenth century. In matters of citizenship he was public spirited and was deeply interested in ev- erything pertaining to the general welfare. At the time of the Civil war Mr. Stout es- poused the cause of the Union and in 1862 feeling that he wished to aid in the defense of the old flag and the cause it represent- ed, he donned the blue uniform and went to the front, serving for three years as a member of Company E, One Hundred and Seventh Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. He participated in the battles of Frank- lin, Nashville, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach-
tree Creek, Resaca and the Georgia cam- paign and in the engagement at Kenesaw Mountain he was wounded by a bullet in the head, but he never received a pension. Prior to the Civil war he gave his support to the Republican party for a time and aft- erward became a Democrat, voting with that organization until his demise. He served as road commissioner, but was nev- er an active politician in the sense of office- seeking, content to do his duty as a private citizen.
Amos Stout was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Allman, who was born in County Kerry, Ireland, and who was brought to America when a little maiden. of eleven years. She was reared in Ohio and came to Illinois when a young lady. Both of her parents died on the Emerald Isle. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stout were born five children, of whom three are still liv- ing, the subject of this review being the eldest. The others of the family are : John, who died when about thirty years of age; James C., who is a bank clerk at Ivesdale, and married Miss Annie Crinigan; Mary, who is the wife of Malachi Loftus, a farm- er of Ivesdale, Illinois, by whom she has two children. The father of this family passed away in 1888 and his remains were interred in the cemetery at Ivesdale. His widow still survives him and is now residing on the home place in Bement township at the age of sixty-one years. Mr. Stout was a leading and influential resident of his community and an honored veteran of the Civil war and his many excellent traits of character gained for him the high regard of all with whom he came in contact.
Under the parental roof Edward S. Stout spent his boyhood days, most of his time being passed in Piatt county. At the
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usual age he entered the public schools and therein mastered the branches of learning usually taught in such institu- tions. He assisted in the work of the home farm when not engaged in the duties of the schoolroom and on the old home place he has always resided, devoting his ener- gies to general farming and stockrais- ing. As a companion and helpmate for the journey of life Mr. Stout chose Miss Bridget Grady, the wedding being cele- brated in Ivesdale. The lady is a daugh- er of John and Bridget (Lynch) Grady, and her father is a farmer of Ivesdale, where both he and his wife are living. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Stout has been blessed with three interesting children: Catherine, who is four years of age; Mary, two years old; and Edward, who is the baby of the household. All of the children were born in Bement township.
Mr. Stout exercises his right of fran- chise in support of the men and measures of the Democracy and socially he is con- nected with the Independent Order of Foresters, while both he and his wife are members of the Catholic church. Having resided in Piatt county throughout his en- tire life with the exception of a brief pe- riod of two years he is to-day widely and favorably known and among those with whom he has been acquainted from boy- hood are numbered many of his stanchest friends.
F. BALES, D. V. S.
Dr. F. Bales, who is engaged in the practice of veterinary surgery in Monti- cello, is a native of Indiana, his birth hav- ing occurred in Vermilion county, that
state, upon the home farm, June 12, 1865. His father, William F. Bales, was a pros- perous agriculturist and stockraiser of that county, carrying on business in a way that brought to him a good financial return for his labor. He continued to re- side in Vermilion county until his demise. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Nancy Merriweather, was likewise a na- tive of Vermilion county, Indiana, and a daughter of Josiah Merriweather, a prom- inent and influencial gentleman of high standing in the community and of con- siderable wealth.
Dr. Bales of this review was educated in the schools of his native county, attend- ing the district school near his home. During periods of vacation he worked up- on a farm and early became familiar with the best methods of caring for the fields and for the stock. His father was especially active as a stockraiser and Dr. Bales learned much concerning horses and cattle, their needs and requirements. His early educational privileges were sup- plemented by one year's study in the Agri- cultural University at Lafayette, Indiana. He afterward read medicine and, deciding to devote his life to the practice of veter- inary surgery, he became a student in a veterinary college at Toronto, Canada, which is considered the best institution of the kind in the new world. There he studied until he had mastered the branches which constituted the , curric- ulum and was graduated in the spring of 1890.
Dr. Bales then returned to Indiana and entered upon the practice of his chosen calling. In December, 1890, he removed to Monticello, Illinois, where he opened an office and now devotes his en-
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PAST PRESENT.
tire time to his professional duties. He is well established in practice, his business extending all over Piatt county. His treatment of horses has been particularly successful. He has made a very close study of his work and his knowledge is broad, comprehensive and accurate.
The Doctor is a Democrat in his poli- tical affiliations and during the adminis- tration of Governor Altgeld he was ap- pointed assistant state veterinary surgeon. This brought to his care a number of im -. portant cases. The Doctor is also a breeder of standard bred trotting horses and is the owner of the celebrated stud Vincent DePaul. He is likewise the owner of the noted stallion Pluton, weigh -. ing two thousand pounds and imported by John Ulrich of Decatur, Illinois. Another stallion, which is the property of Dr. Bales, is Albrook, sixteen and a half hands high and weighing twelve hundred and fifty pounds. As a breeder as well as a veterinary the Doctor has become well · known and is conducting a successful bus- iness in both lines. He has attained a high position in Piatt county and has done much to improve the grade of stock raised in this locality and thus to advance prices whereby the general agricultural popula- tion is benefited.
In 1895 Dr. Bales was united in mar- riage to Miss Louise Jones, of Monticello, and this union has been blessed with three children : Harold, Carl and Frederick.
MARTIN E. MILLER.
Martin E. Miller, a well-known and high- ly esteemed citizen of DeLand, is largely in-
terested in agricultural pursuits here and elsewhere, but has practically retired from active labor, leaving the operation of his lands to others while he gives his entire time and attention to the supervision of his busi- ness affairs and the management of his prop- erty.
A native of Illinois, Mr. Miller was born in Fulton county, this state, March 27, 1865, and is a son of Jacob F. and Anna ( Nicewan- der) Miller, both natives of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, which was their home until after their marriage. The father was born in 1834, and in early life followed the black- smith's trade, but after his removal to Fulton county, Illinois, in 1863, he turned his atten- tion to farming. He rented land until 1870, when he removed to Piatt county and pur- chased a farm of eighty acres in Goose Creek township, near DeLand, to which he after- ward added an adjoining eighty acres though just across the line in DeWitt county. Here he continued to engage in farming until his death, and so successful was he that he was able to add to his property until he had two hundred and eleven acres under a high state of cultivation and well improved. He also fed stock for market and both branches of his business proved quite profitable. After a use- ful and well-spent life he passed away in the fall of 1890. In his family were eight children : Louisa, the wife of Henry Reeser, a retired stock-buyer of Farmer City, Illinois; Martin E., whose name introduces this sketch; Dessie, wife of Newton Troxell, of Huntsville, Alabama; Oliver, a liveryman and farmer of South Dakota; Cora, a resi- dent of Farmer City; Clarence, a farmer of that place ; Belle, deceased wife of Frank Mc- Bride: and Tishia, who died in infancy.
Martin E. Miller was only five years old when he accompanied his parents on their re-
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MARTIN E. MILLER
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MRS MARTIN E. MILLER
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PIATT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
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moval to Piatt county, and here he acquired a good practical education in the public schools, at the same time gaining an excellent knowledge of every department of farm work while aiding in the operation of the home farm. He remained with his father un- til his marriage, which was celebrated Febru- ary 4. 1891, the lady of his choice being Miss Catherine McBride, a daughter of Philip and Mary (Johnson) McBride, of Piatt county. Her ancestors were originally from Mary- land and Pennsylvania. To our subject and his wife have been born two children : Corda Opal and Cecil Dale, now in school.
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After his marriage Mr. Miller located on his father-in-law's farm of one hundred and sixty-six acres in DeWitt county, and on the death of Mr. McBride the property came into possession of Mrs. Miller. Our subject con- tinued to operate that farm until 1901, when he removed to DeLand, but Mrs. Miller still owns the place. In the meantime he had pur- chased a farm of one hundred and two acres south of Farmer City, which he sold in the fall of 1901, and also bought three hundred and eight acres in Carroll county, Missouri, which is still in his possession: Besides this property he has sixteen and a quarter acres at the edge of DeLand, which is a well-im- proved place, he having remodeled the resi- dence, built a barn, and in other ways en- hanced its appearance. Here he raises some stock, and he still continues to operate his wife's farm, one hundred and sixty-six acres of which is in DeWitt county, and the re- maining forty, which they have added, be- ing just across the line in Piatt county. He is a practical and progressive farmer, who thoroughly understands the vocation and is meeting with well-deserved success. He is also a stockholder and director in the First National Bank of DeLand, and is a man of excellent business and executive ability.
Religiously, both Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and fraternally, he is connected with the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows and De Land Camp, No. 2178, M. W. A. His po- litical support is given the men and measures of the Democracy, and he takes a deep in- terest in public affairs. Pleasant and genial in manner he makes many friends, and is held in high regard by all who know him.
ALBERT HISER.
As the world has progressed in civili- zation history is no longer a record of wars and conquests or the tale of a power- ful nation conquering a weaker one, but has become the record of an enlightened people whose energies are devoted to bus- iness activity and a steady culture. There is no country on the face of the globe that has made such rapid advances along busi- ness 'lines as has America, and every com- munity has its leading and progressive men who are the promoters of the pros- perity of the towns which they represent. To this class Albert Hiser belongs and he is now largely engaged in dealing in grain in La Place, where his operations having assumed extensive proportions are bringing to him very gratifying success. He has resided in the village for six years and for eighteen years has made his home in Piatt county. He is, moreover, a na- tive son of Illinois, his birth having oc- curred in Macon county, this state, on the 5th of January, 1864. His parents were John and Sarah (Hess) Hiser and the father throughout his business career car- ried on agricultural pursuits in Macon county, but at length when he had ac-
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PAST AND PRESENT
quired a comfortable competence he re- moved to the village of Cerro Gordo, where he is now living retired, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves.
Upon the old homestead and in the usual manner of farmer lads of the period Albert Hiser spent the days of his boy- hood and youth. When a little lad of six years he was supplied with the necessary text books, and made his way to the country school near his home. Therein as the years passed he mastered the branches of learning usually taught in such institutions and during the summer months he assisted his father in the work of field and meadow. He continued upon his father's farm until the time of his mar- riage, which was celebrated in 1883, the lady of his choice being Miss Martha Veagh, also a native of Macon county and a daughter of John Veagh, who died in Macon county. Mr. and Mrs. Hiser now have two very interesting children, Bessie and Firman.
owns a large grain elevator at the west end of the village and handles many hundreds of bushels of grain annually, his business forming an excellent market for the produc- ers in this section. He is also a dealer in coal and his annual sales of both commodi- ties have reached a large figure. While care- fully conducting his business affairs Mr. Hi- ser has also faithfully performed his duties of citizenship and is public spirited. He has held several minor offices in his township and for the past six years he has been a mem- ber of the school board, doing all in his pow- er to further the interests of education along practical lines. His political support is given the Democracy. Socially he is con- nected with La Place Lodge No. 787, In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, of La Place and both he and his wife are mem- bers of the M. E. church here. He is a man of distinctive ability and his character is one which is above a shadow of re- proach. He has been faithful in the posi- tions in which he has been called to serve and is widely known and respected by all who have been at all familiar with his honorable and useful career.
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