USA > Illinois > Piatt County > Past and present of Piatt County, Illinois : together with biographical sketches of many prominent and influential citizens > Part 32
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being Abram and Alsey (Moslander) Haneline. The father was a native of North Carolina, where he spent the first eighteen years of his life, removing thence to Kentucky with his mother. In the lat- ter state he was married and afterward went to Champaign county, Ohio, where he lived for some years. In 1822 he came from Ohio to Illinois and for two years was a resident of Sangamon county. It was there that the mother of our subject died in the spring of 1823, and in the spring of the following year the father came with his children to Piatt county, locating within the present limits of San- gamon township, where he spent his re- maining days. He belonged to that cíass of representative early citizens to whom the present generation owes a debt of gratitude, for what they accomplished in the work of preparing the way for ad- vancement and improvement at a later date. He assisted in the arduous task of developing new land and gave his in- fluence in behalf of every measure for the general welfare, so that when he was called to his final rest the community mourned the loss of one whose value was great and who had come to be widely known and honored in this section of the state.
Nathan Haneline was the last sur- viving member of the family of ten chil- dren. He was reared amid the wild scenes of frontier life, sharing with the family in all the hardships and trials which fall to the lot of the pioneer. Around the home for long distances stretched the unbroken prairie, while along the stream the native timber grew and the work of development lay in the future. The Indians were still numerous
in the neighborhood and Mr. Haneline had the little sons of the forest as his playmates. They belonged to the Potta- watomie, Kickapoo and Delaware tribes. Mr. Haneline shared in their sports, went hunting with them and often slept in their wigwams. He acquired a know- ledge of their languages and greatly en- joyed with them the pleasures which they indulged, the Indian always proving friendly to him. He had in his posses- sion up to the time of his death a number of interesting relics as mementoes of his early associations with the tribes. How- ever, his early youth was not all a period of pleasure, indeed, the greater part of his time was devoted to farm work and as soon as old enough to handle the plow he began work in the fields. Throughout his entire business career he carried on farming and stock-raising and for more than a half century he resided upon the farm which was his place of residence at the time of his demise, taking up his abode there in 1850. The farm is situated on section 14, Monticello township, and com- prises two hundred and forty acres of very rich land. When he settled on this place there were but three families living in the entire district. At first he did his farming after the primitive manner of the times, but as improved agricultural im- plements were introduced he kept apace with the general progress and had better facilities to aid him in his farm work. He practiced the strictest economy and the most unfaltering industry in his early days and thus as the years passed he added to his financial resources, ultimately becom- ing one of the substantial residents of his community ..
There is a period of romance in the
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early history of Mr. Haneline, for he was but eighteen years of age when he sought in marriage the hand of Miss Sarah Souder, who was then but fifteen years of age. 'Her parents were Peter and Mary Souder, who were residents of Champaign county, Illinois. Piatt county then formed a part of Macon county and her parents resided on the Champaign county line. The course of true love did not run smoothly, however, for the young couple. Their marriage was opposed by the par- ents because of their youth and because of the impecunious condition of the young lover. However, they were not to be de- terred by parental objection and finally the parents reluctantly consented to the marriage and arrangements were made for the wedding. The trousseau of the bride was not very elaborate, the wedding dress of white costing but seventy-five cents a yard. The groom went to Pekin to purchase his wedding suit and the shoes for the occasion were the third pair he had ever owned. They were married on the 12th day of November, 1833, and Abe Haneline, a brother of the groom, went to Urbana to secure a justice of the peace to perform the ceremony. They were de- layed on the return trip and did not reach their destination until eleven o'clock at night. When everything was ready it was discovered that the license was issued in Champaign county and that if the wed- ding was legal it must take place in that county. Fortunately the parents lived on the county line, so the party proceeded across the line and under a giant oak the marriage ceremony was solemnized. This was the beginning of a long and happy married life, in which they shared together the joys and sorrows, the adversity and
prosperity which come to all. They be- came the parents of eight children, of whom the living are James, now a resi- dent of Piatt county; Mary Jane, the wife of Jacob M. Freeman of Jasper county, Missouri; Peter, who lives in Piatt coun- ty; Elizabeth, the wife of David Shipman; Columbus Thomas of Stafford county, Kansas. Those deceased are Sarah H., John and one that died in infancy. After traveling life's journey side by side as man and wife for fifty-six years Mr. and Mrs. Haneline were separated in death, the wife being called to her final rest. Mr. Haneline afterward made his home during the greater part of the time with his son James. He is survived by his five chil- dren, twenty-six grandchildren and thirty great-grandchildren.
In his political views Mr. Haneline was always a stanch Democrat and did everything in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his party. He served as township school treasurer and did what he could to pro- mote education in this section of the state. In 1855 he aided in organizing lodge No. 58 F. & A. M., becoming one of its char- ter members and throughout the re- mainder of his life he was identified with the organization. His history is unique in that he lived in four counties without moving out of the neighborhood. He was first a resident of Sangamon, then of Macon, later of DeWitt and lastly of Piatt county. In matters pertaining to the general good he was deeply interested and his interest was often that of active co-operation. He desired to see the sub- stantial development of the county and his assistance was of a practical nature that leaves lasting results. Death came
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to him at the advanced age of eighty- seven years. The vital forces slowly ebbed and at last rest came, but he went about the house up to within a short time prior to his demise. It was compara- tively only a few hours in which he had not the use of his faculties. His friends and neighbors had learned to respect and honor him because of his genuine worth, his freedom from ostentation and his life of integrity and honor and because of the important part which he performed in the improvement of Piatt county and be- cause he was so long a representative of its business interests we take the greatest pleasure in presenting his record to our readers.
JACOB GROSS.
No better illustration of the characteris- tic energy and enterprise of the typical Ger- man-American citizen can be found than that afforded by the career of this gentle- man, who is successfully engaged in farm- ing and stockraising on section 36, Unity township. Coming to this country with no capital except his abilities he has made his. way to success through wisely directed ef- fort and he can now look back with satis- faction upon past struggles.
Mr. Gross was born in Waldshut coun- ty, Baden, Germany, on the 23d of October, 1845. and is a son of Casper and Rachel (Gross) Gross, also natives of that coun- try, where his father followed the trade of wagonmaking until his immigration to America in 1863. In the family were seven children, five of whom are now living : Casper, a furniture dealer of Atwood. Illi- nois; Henry, a general merchant of the
same place; Theodore, who is living retired in Atwood; Rachel, wife of William Berch- er, of Atwood; and Jacob, our subject. Those deceased are Salina and Mary. The first of the family to come to the new world was Henry, who settled in Chicago in 1857, and there followed the carpenter's trade for a time. Theodore and Salina also came in 1857; Casper in 1861, and the remainder of the family in 1864. The father was acci- dently killed while walking on the railroad track August 3. 1883. at the age of eighty- one years.
Jacob Gross was reared and educated in his native land and although his home was in a· village, he worked on a farm -during his boyhood and youth, and has always fol- - lowed agricultural pursuits. In 1864 he ac- companied his parents on their immigration to America, and coming direct to Illinois, settled on section 36, Unity township. Piatt county. He purchased the Ned Shunk- wieler farm, which was a partially 'im- proved place of one hundred and sixty-five acres, and also bought forty-seven acres of land where he low lives. He has since made many improvements upon his farm which to-day is well tiled and fenced, and he is suc- cessfuly engaged in general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of draft horses. He also keeps a good grade of cattle and has prospered in all his under- takings.
On the 26th of December. 1872. Mr. Gross was united in marriage to Miss Kath- erine Scheffer, a daughter of Henry and Katherine Scheffer, both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Gross was born in Hesse- Cassel, Germany, and became the mother of nine children, those still living being Cas- per. Mary, Arthur, Annie, Mollie and Ma- linda. The wife and mother died August 29, 1892, when in the prime of life, and
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two childden died when about seventeen years of age. For his second wife Mr. Gross married Christina Peterson, who was born in Holstein, Germany, and by whom he has two children, Robert and William. The children have all been given good educa- tional advantages and are well fitted for life's responsible duties.
In 1879 he became identified with James A. Hawkins in the manufacture of brick and tile at Atwood, a business which they carried on quite successfully under the firm name of Hawkes & Gross until 1893, since which time our subject has given his attention principally to his farming interests. In his political views he is a stalwart Republican and is one of the standard bearers of his party in Piatt county. He has served as a member of the board of education in At- wood, as trustee of the Mutual Telephone Company of the place, and trustee of the cemetery there. He has also been vice pres- ident of. the Farmer's Institute of Unity township, and is a man of prominence and influence in the community where he re- sides. He is a member of the County Fair Association and in this connection has done much to advance the interests of this section of the state. Religiously, Mr. Gross is a member of the German Evangelical church at Garrett, Douglas county, and he is a man who commands the respect and confi- dence of all with whom he is brought .in contact either in business or social life.
STEPHEN SHIVELY.
Piatt county is very rich in its agricul- tural opportunities. . Throughout the length and breadth of this land there can be found
no district of soil more productive or which is better adapted to the production of grain which is the basis of all business prosperity. More than a century ago George Washington said "Agriculture is the most useful as well as the most honorable occu- pation of man," and the truth of this state- ment has been verified throughout the ages. It is to this work that Stephen Shively has devoted his energies through an active and honorable business career, and now he is living a retired life. He has made his home in this section of Illinois for over forty-five · years, having settled in Oakley township, Macon county, Illinois, near Cerro Gordo, in 1858.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Shively was born in Montgomery county on the 28th of De- cember, 1828, and is a son of Jacob and Susannah (Metzger) Shively, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylva- nia. The father was reared in Ohio and there lived until 1836, at which time he re- moved to Clinton county, Indiana, where he carried on farming until his life's labors were ended in death. His wife also passed away in that county. They were the parents of three children: Stephen; Andrew, who married Barbara Metzger and is living in California : and Mary, who is the widow of John W. Metzger, and makes her home with her children.
Stephen Shively was quite young when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Clinton county, Indiana, and there he ob- tained his education in the public schools. He also assisted his father in the work of the home farm until his marriage, which important event in his life occurred in the year 1850, the lady of his choice being Miss Catherine Metzger. She, too, was born in Ohio, her birth occurring on the 4th of No-
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vember, 1832, near the place of the nativity of our subject. She is a daughter of John and Hanna (Ullery) Metzger, the former a ,native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Chio. Her father was an agriculturist, fol- lowing that pursuit in the east until 1859, when he came to Piatt county, Illinois, and settled on a farm in Cerro Gordo towship. Later he went to California, but soon re- turned to Illinois and lived retired in Cerro Gordo until his death, which occurred in 1896. His wife passed away in 1887.
After his marriage Mr. Shively began farming in Clinton county, Indiana, where he carried on agricultural pursuits for eight years. On the expiration of that period he came to Illinois, establishing his home in Oakley township, Macon county, where he purchased a tract of land and at once be- gan its development and improvement. There he carried on general farming with creditable and gratifying success from 1858 until 1881. when he removed to the village of Cerro Gordo, wherehe has since lived a retired life. In his farm work he was progressive and enterprising, steadily advancing along all lines which have proven of value in the work of cultivating the fields and producing excellent crops.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Shively has been blessed with five children: John J., who married Miss L. Blickenstaff and is now a resident farmer of Cerro Gordo township; Solomon, who married Mary Yont, and is engaged in carpentering in Ram- sey, Illinois; Susannah, who is the wife of Amos Ratsman, and resides on the old homestead in Oakley township, Macon coun- · ty; Hannah, who is the wife of John Cripe, a farmer of Macon county, Illinois; and Jacob, who died in 1862, at the age of two years. The parents are members of the
German Baptist Brethren church of Cerro Gordo, and have lived earnest Christian lives in harmony with their professions. In political views Mr. Shively has always been a Republican and has held a number of minor offices. During his long residence in this section of the state he has witnessed almost its entire development and improve- ment, and his interest in its welfare has been indicated by the co-operation which he has given to movements for the general good. He is thoroughly genuine, there be- ing not the slightest suggestion of anything hypocritical about him. With him friend- ship is inviolable, his word is as good as his bond, and he clings with unyielding firmness to a position which careful consid- ation and mature judgment has convinced him to be right.
ALONZO T. PIPHER.
The profession of law when clothed with its true dignity, purity and strength must rank first among the callings of men, for law rules the universe. The work of the legal profession is to formulate, to harmonize, to regulate, to adjust, to ad- minister those rules and principles that underlie and permeate all government and society and control the varied relations of men. As thus viewed there is attached to the profession nobleness that cannot but be reflected in the life of the true law- yer, who, rising to the responsibilities of the profession, and honest in the pursuit of his purpose, embraces the richness of learning, the firmness of integrity and the purity of morals, together with the graces.
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and modesty and the general amenities of life. Of such a type Alonzo T. Pipher is a representative. His connection with the Piatt county bar covers a longer period than that of any other resident of this section of the state.
A native of New York Alonzo T. Pipher was born in Jefferson county on the 13th of May, 1831, and is a son of Lewis and Sophronia (Gardner) Pipher. It is thought that the father of our sub- ject was a native of France and he fol- lowed carpentering in Jefferson county, New York, until August, 1854, when he came to Illinois, settling near Blackberry, Kane county. There he continued to work at his trade for a number of years and afterward removed to Miami county, Kansas, where he spent his remaining days, dying at the home of a son there. His wife was a daughter of Hiram Gard- ner, who was of English descent and was a native of Connecticut, whence he re- moved to New York at an early period in the development of the Empire state. He became one of the pioneers of Alexan- dria, Jefferson county, and it was during his residence there that Mrs. Pipher was born. The tract of timber land which he purchased he developed into a rich and pro- ductive farm and continued to make his home thereon until his removal to Illinois, where he cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of Kane county. There he en- tered land from the government, securing a tract of prairie about four and a half miles west of Aurora and to its cultivation and improvement he at once directed his energies. He made his home on that farm until 1847, when he died at about the age of eighty years. His daughter, Mrs. Pipher continued to survive her husband for some time and died in Miami county, Kansas, in 1884.
Alonzo Pipher of this review was one of a family of ten children. He acquired his preliminary education in the common schools of Jefferson county, New York, and when he had mastered the branches of learning therein taught he became a student in Aurora Academy at Aurora, Cayuga county, New York, being then nineteen years of age. For two years he was enrolled among its pupils and then en- tered Blackriver Institute at Watertown, New York, where he prepared for admis- sion to Hamilton College. In 1852 he matriculated in that college and com- pleted the work of two years, but failing health obliged him to abandon his hope of graduating there and he had to put aside his text books. In September, 1854, Mr. Pipher arrived in the west, reaching Chicago on the 28th of that month. After spending a few weeks in visiting friends in Bloomington, Illinois, he went to Springfield, afterward to St. Louis, Mis- souri, and then to Kane county, Illinois. He had relatives living in this place and after renewing his acquaintance with them he entered upon his business career in this state, accepting a position as teacher at Ross Grove, DeKalb county, where dur- ing a six month's term he received a salary of twenty dollars per month as compensa- tion for his services and "boarded around" among the pupils. In August, 1855, Mr. Pipher met with an accident that incapaci- tated him for any work for eighteen months and during that period he re- mained at his father's home in Blackberry. In the fall of 1856 Mr. Pipher began ac- tive preparation for the profession which was his life work, becoming a law student in the office and under the direction of John Stephens at Dixon, Lee county. He remained under that preceptor for a year and then accepted a position as a teacher
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in Winthrop, Kane county, thus replen- ishing his somewhat exhausted ex- chequer. On the expiration of that pe- riod he located in Bloomington, where he engaged in teaching school, devoting all of his leisure hours, to the study of law. In 1857 he was admitted to the bar and on the 13th of April. 1858, he came to Monti- cello, where he has since practiced. He stands to-day as the nestor of the Piatt county bar and has easily maintained a leading position in the ranks of the legal fraternity. Nature bountifully endowed him with the peculiar qualifications that combine to make a successful lawyer. Patiently persevering, possessed of an analytical mind, and one that is readily re- ceptive and retentive of the fundamental principles and intricacies of the law ; gifted with a spirit of devotion to wearisome de- tails ; quick to comprehend the most sub- tle problems and logical in his .conclusions : fearless in the advocacy of any cause he may espouse, and the soul of honor and integrity, few men have been more richly gifted for the achievement of success in the arduous difficult profession of the law.
wife of William Mentz, who died in Monticello in 1869. By her first marriage she had three children : Sarah B., now the wife of Frederick Haines; Nancy , Maria and William.
Mr. Pipher has served as police inagis- trate for a number of years and was also for a long period master in chancery and in the discharge of his official duties he has ever been found prompt, faithful and reliable. His political support is given to the Republican party and he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church while his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church. Faultless in honor, fearless in conduct and stainless in reputation, such has been his life record. His scholarly ' attainments, his excellent judgment and his charming powers of conversation would have en- abled him to fill and grace any position however exalted, but he has desired rather to give attention to his professional labors. He is honored in public life and loved by his friends and close associates, and his prominent position at the bar well en- titles him to representation among the leading citizens of his county.
Mr. Pipher was married July 1, 1850. to Sophia Singer, a native of Hummels- town, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Jacob Singer. They be- BENJAMIN F. . LODGE. came the parents of the following chil- dren: Ella Lillian, who is now the wife of Only those lives are worthy of record that have been potential factors in the pub- lic progress in promoting the general welfare or advancing the educational or moral inter- ests of the community. Mr. Lodge was a man of noble character, much of whose life was devoted to the betterment of his fellow men, and the world is certainly better for his having lived. Elijah Hedrick; Albertina; Florence, the wife of Frederick Bostwick; May; Alonzo S .; and Sophia. In 1872 Mr. Pipher was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife who died on the 28th of April, of that year. He was again married May 5, 1880, his second union being with Mrs. Caroline H. Mentz, a daughter of John H. and Mary Mona. Mrs. Pipher was born in A native of Ohio, he was born in Read- Ross county, Ohio, and first became the ing, that state, December 26, 1832, and was
B. F. LODGE
MRS. F. E. LODGE
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a son of Benjamin F. and Julia A. (Brooks) Lodge. His father was born in New Jersey, and at an early day came to Illinois, taking up his residence in Paris, where he and his wife both died. For many years he served as county surveyor of Edgar county, and took an active part in public affairs. In his family were seven children.
Mr. Lodge, of this review, was only about five years old when the family removed to this state, and his early education was ac- quired in the schools near Paris. In 1856 he united with the Methodist church in that city, and determining to enter the ministry he aft- erward took a theological course and joined the Illinois conference in 1858. Coming to Piatt county he entered upon his ministerial labors, and for a time was junior preacher on the Monticello circuit. Among his charges were Bement, Cerro Gordo, Monti- cello, Baker schoolhouse, Ridge school, Camp Creek and several other places in the coun- ties of Sangamon, Shelby, Cole, Edgar, Douglas, Champaign, Piatt and Menard, but at the end of nine years he was obliged to giving up preaching on account of ill health, and in 1866 located on a farm near Paris, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits for some years. He then came to Piatt county and made his home on the farm now occu- pied by his widow until called to his final rest.
On the 21st of April, 1862, Mr. Lodge was married by Rev. Peter Cartwright to Mrs. Frances E. Lyon, a daughter F. Ewing and Eliza (Foster) Berry. Her maternal grandfather was Constantine Foster, who was born in Cape May county, New Jersey, October 18, 1792, and was married in Cum- berland county, that state, to Miss Margaret . lo, Illinois, at the age of two ; Harold V., now Sayre, who was born in the same county, February 25, 1800. They had five children born in Cape May county, New Jersey, who 15
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