USA > Illinois > Piatt County > Past and present of Piatt County, Illinois : together with biographical sketches of many prominent and influential citizens > Part 34
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Mr. Warren exercises his right of fran- chise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, and is deeply interested in its success, for he believes that the party platform contains the best elements of good government. He has been a school director for five terms and the cause of education has in him a warm friend. Socially, he is con- nected with the Modern Woodmen of Ameri- ca, and carries two thousand dollars' insur- " ance in that order.
JACOB H. CLINE.
In viewing the mass of mankind in the varied occupations of life the conclusion is forced upon the observer that in the vast majority of cases men have sought employ- ment not in line of their peculiar fitness, but in those where caprice or circumstances have placed them, thus explaining the rea- son of the failure of ninety-five per cent of those who enter commercial and profession- al circles. In a few cases it seems that men with a peculiar fitness-genius it may be called, for a certain line have taken it up and marked success has followed. Such is the fact in the case of the subject of this bi- ography, who is now engaged in general merchandising in White Heath.
A native of Piatt county, he was born in Sangamon township, August 25, 1851,
and is a son of John and Letitia Cline. His parents were natives of Ohio, coming from Pickaway county, that state, to Illinois at an early day. They entered a claim from the government, thereby becoming the own- er of a tract of land in Piatt county, and in the course of years the father improved about eight hundred acres. He certainly, in this way, aided largely in the development and progress of the county and this section of the state acknowledges its indebtedness to him for the work which he performed in advancing civilization here. His death occurred on the 25th of March, 1860, when he was living upon his farm two miles northeast of White Heath. His wife, who was born in Pickaway county, April 7, 1817, died in White Heath on the 4th of March, 1891. They were people of the highest respectability, and during the long years of their residence here they gained many friends for their sterling traits of character awakened the respect and admi- ration of those with whom they were asso- ciated.
Jacob H. Cline when small became a student in a little schoolhouse where the White schoolhouse now stands about three and a half miles north of White Heath. Later he attended the Hazeldell school, but his education was somewhat limited for the schools of that day had not reached their present advanced standard. It was also necessary that he should assist his mother. The father died when the son was only nine years of age, leaving a large family of six children to the care of his widow. Jacob H. was the fifth in order of birth. He remained upon the old home with his mother until nineteen years of age, when he was married and started out in life for him- self. It was on the 13th of February, 1870, that he wedded Miss Josephine Knott. His
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share of his father's estate was then under the control of the second guardian, S. R. Reed, of Monticello. Mr. Cline took his bride to his farm and continued its cultiva- tion for two or three years. He then traded the property with his younger brother, Ezra Cline, and in the second or third transfer he came into possession of the home farm, which he cultivated for two years. He then traded that property with John A. Flanagan, and he became the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of land near White Heath. Removing to this place he there erected a new house, built a barn, planted an orchard and made other improve- ments, which added to the value and at- tractive appearance of his home. After re- maining there about three years he made a deal with Charles Smith, of White Heath, whereby he came into possession of a store, house and lot, formerly owned by Mr. Smith in the village. Mr. Cline is now one of the oldest as well as one of the most re- liable merchants of White Heath. He car- ries a large stock of general merchandise and receives a gratifying share of the pub- lic patronage. His diligent attention to business has won him a constantly growing trade among the best families of White Heath and the surrounding district. He is always courteous to his customers, is pro- gressive in his business methods and is al- ways fair and just in his dealings. In addi- tion to supervising his store he has also served as postmaster, being appointed dur- ing President Arthur's administration, and holding the office continually since, with the exception of the period of President Cleveland's second administration. A rural route was established from this office on the Ist of March, 1902, and at that time the old star route from White Heath to_Center- ville was discontinued. ,
Mr. Cline owns a fine home adjoining his store, and it stands in the midst of a beau- tiful and well-kept lawn, adorned with shade trees. He also has many other trees upon his place, including apples, cherries, peaches and plums. The home occupies an excel- lent location in the center of the · business district in the pretty village of White Heath and there is no more attractive place than that of Mr. Cline. He likewise owns twenty acres of rich land, adjoining the vil- lage and another desirable residence situ- ated on Washington street in Monticello, Il- linois. His business affairs have been care- fully conducted, resulting in the acquire- ment of a desirable capital, which he has judiciously invested in real estate.
In this connection it will be interesting to note something of the family history of Mrs. Cline who is a daughter of Dr. A. B. and Mary (Law) Knott. Mrs. Cline was born in Washington Court House, Ohio, January 22, 1853, and in the year 1856 was brought by her parents to Illinois, the fam- ily locating in Centerville, where the Doc- tor practiced his profession continuously for twenty-five years, being one of the lead- ing and successful physicians of that part of the state. Mrs. Cline pursued her educa- tion in the schools of Centerville and of Ot- tawa, Illinois, and by her marriage she has become the mother of five children: Anna B., who is the wife of Edward Gale, and is a nurse, making her home with her parents: Minnie M., the wife of Jerry Purcell, of White Heath; Cora O., who is a doctor of osteopathy in Monticello; Ona L., who is deputy circuit clerk of Piatt county ; and Roy R., who attends school and assists his father is the store during the periods of va- cation.
. In his political views Mr. Cline is a stal- wart Republican, active in the party and in-
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. fluential in its councils. For several years he has served as chairman of the township central committee. He has held the office of supervisor for fifteen years and has also been commissioner of highways. Fraternal- ly he is connected with Monticello Lodge, No. 58, F. & A. M., and also with the Mod- ern Woodmen of America. His wife is a member of the Royal Neighbors and with the Court of Honor and has long been a prominent and influential member and work- er in the Universalist church of White Heath. He is truly a representative Ameri- can citizen and a worthy representative of that type of American character which pro- motes public good in advancing individual prosperity. Prosperity has come to him as a natural consequence of industry and appli- · cation, and his splendid success bears testi- mony to his rare judgment in business af- fairs.
WILLIAM H. FIRKE.
Among the representative business men of Mansfield who have done much toward its upbuilding and development probably none are better known than the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. As an extensive landowner and banker he has been prominently identified with the business in- terests of the county for many years and is a recognized leader in agricultural and fi- nancial circles.
Mr. Firke is a native of Indiana, his birth having occurred in a log cabin in Wiesburg, on the 17th of January, 1852. His parents were Conrad and Anna (Auf- encamp) Firke. The father was a carpen- ter by trade and followed that pursuit throughout his business career. He died in
Indiana on the 28th of January, 1852, and is still survived by his widow who is now living in Cass county, Nebraska, near Green- wood. Mr. Firke is one of three living chil- dren and two of the family are now de- ceased.
In the common schools of his native state the subject of this review obtained his. early education. He was left an orphan and started out to earn his own living at the age of seventeen years, first working as a farm hand in which capacity he was em- ployed until 1874, when he came to Illinois, settling near Farmer City. There he worked for one year as a farm hand for D. WV. and J. C. Smith, after which he rented a tract of land and carried on farming on his own account. During this time he made money and with the capital he had acquired he purchased one hundred and sixty acres land in Piatt county, of which he became owner in 1876. This he plowed, planted and tiled, thus producing very rich and ara- ble fields and he continued his farm work there until 1883, at which time he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land in Champaign county. He has since owned much valuable property. In 1889 he bought what is known as the William Lindsey farm in Piatt county near Blue Ridge. This he tiled and upon the place he erected two good' barns, unsurpassed by any in the county. He also built corn cribs and other necessary buildings, planted an orchard and made various improvements which added to the value and attractive appearance of the place. In 1890 he purchased forty acres of land in Champaign county, and in 1895 he bought in Vermilion county four hundred acres of land on Eight Mile Prairie. This he im- proved and tiled, erected a good residence, substantial barns and new corn cribs, in fact,
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he made. all the improvements upon the place. In 1902 he became the owner of four hundred and twenty-seven acres of land in Pike county, afterward purchased one hundred and seventy-three acres in Piatt county, this being the old Mansfield home, for which he paid one hundred and seventy and a half dollars per acre. He also owns a half interest in four hundred and thirty acres of land in Pike county, which he purchased in 1893, and one hundred and sixty acres in Champaign county, and also an eighty- acre tract there. Thus from time to time he has continued to make investments in real estate, until he now is one of the extensive landowners in central Illinois, his posses- sions aggregating altogether nineteen hun- dred and fifteen acres of well-improved and valuable land. All this is the visible evi- dence of his life of industry, of his keen foresight and business sagacity. He has also been associated with financial interests of the county, having in 1893 organized the State Bank of Mansfield, which is capital- ized for forty thousand dollars. Mr. Firke is its president and holds stock in the insti- . tution to the amount of twelve thousand dol- . lars. The other officers are Alvah James, vice president ; W. H. Burns, cashier ; and . Robert Howe, assistant cashier. This was conducted as a private banking institution until 1899, when it became a state bank. He is interested in the Dighton & Dilatush Loan Company of Monticello.
On the 6th of March, 1878, Mr. Firke was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth J. Petry, a daughter of Jacob Petry, a native of Indiana. Her mother died during the infancy of the daughter and the father has also passed away. · Six children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Firke: Alma Belle, the wife of J. R. Bateman, who resides four
miles north of Mansfield upon a farm and by whom she has one son, Russell; C. W., who was graduated in the law department of the State University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in the class of 1902, and is now prac- ticing his profession in Mansfield; Lutie Phebe, who died at the age of five years; Ada Catherine, at home; Ralph W. and Frank J., who are also under the parental roof.
Mr. Firke gives his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the De- mocracy and has served eighteen years as school trustee and two years as supervisor. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Firke is a broad-minded man, who looks at life from a practical and humanitarian standpoint. He is one of the well-known citizens of Piatt county, whose labors have closely touched the interests of the state and have contrib- uted toward the general advancement. He is a man of firm convictions, and it is doubt- ful if he ever weighed a single act of his life in the scale of policy, his conduct being prompted by the spirit of usefulness and conscientious obligation. While he has won wealth it has been gained so honorably that the most envious . cannot grudge him his success. His achievements represent the result of honest endeavor, along lines where mature judgment has pointed the way.
JOHN C. FURNISH.
One of the leading and representative farmers of Sangamon township is John C. Furnish, who was born on his present farm on section 21, near White Heath, March 17, 1851, and has here spent his
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entire life, his time and attention being devoted to agricultural pursuits. His father, Samuel Furnish, was one of the oldest settlers of Piatt county. He was born in Kentucky in 1822 and was only two years old when he accompanied his parents on their removal to this locality. making his home here until his death which occurred in 1869. He cleared and broke a large amount of land which was originally covered with a heavy growth of timber, and became the owner of. con- siderable property though prior to his death he disposed of much of it, though he still retained about one hundred and sixty acres. He was educated in an old log schoolhouse such as is generally found in a pioneer settlement, and in his younger days drove cattle from this coun- ty to New York city, where prices were enough better to pay him for so doing. Throughout life he successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Miss Catherine Coon, a daughter of Henry and Ruth (Clemens) Coon, who were from Ohio. By this union were born six chil- dren, as follows: James, who is now operating the Foster farm northwest of White Heath; John, of this review; George and William, both farmers of Missouri; Charles, who is farming one half mile west of White Heath; and Frank, deceased.
John C. Furnish received a common- school education, beginning his studies in what was known as the Hughes school- house, which was a log structure with a puncheon floor, slab seats and a desk made by placing boards on wooden pins driven into the walls. During the early residence of the family in this state deer were known to have eaten salt out of the
troughs his father had fixed for the cattle and horses, and all kinds of wild game were then abundant. Like most boys our subject was only able to attend school for a short time during the winter months while through the summer season he aided his father in the cultivation of the farm, re- maining with him until the latter's death, after which he worked out one season. He then returned home and had charge of the farm until the estate was settled, when he received his share of the same. In connec- tion with its operation he also cultivates some rented land and raises corn, oats, wheat and melons, making a specialty of the last named product, which he finds quite profitable, planting ten or twelve acres of that crop. He hauls his melons by team to the neighboring towns, where he finds a ready sale for them, owing to their excel- lence, and he makes more money on them than he could from any other crop raised on a similar amount of land.
On the 30th of April, 1874; Mr. Fur- nish was united in marriage to Miss Cynthia Blacker, a daughter of Guston and ·Anna Blacker, of this county. They have become the parents of eleven children: George, now a resident of St. Louis, Missouri ; Frank, deceased ; Lewis, Oscar, Erria, Ollie, Stella, Lola, Pearl and Wilma, all at home; and one who died in infancy. The younger children are still in school.
By his ballot Mr. Furnish supports the men and measures of the Republican party, and for three years he acceptably filled the office of school director but refused to hold the office any longer. He is a worthy repre- sentative of one of the honored pioneer fam- ilies of this county and can remember when this region was still largely wild and unim- proved. He was born in an old log house
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which stood on the site of his mother's pres- ent residence, it having a puncheon floor, a stick chimney and many other pioneer appli- ances. Some of the land which his father bought cost him only the government price of one dollar and a quarter per acre, and with the development and improvement of the county the family has been actively iden- tified.
WILLIAM A. WACHS.
One of the prominent German Ameri- can citizens now residing in Monticello, is William A. Wachs, who was born on a farm bordering the Baltic sea, near Colberg, Ger- many, September 22, 1836. His father, Christopher Wachs, was a native of the same place, his entire life being passed upon a farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Colberg. He married Sophia Kopka, and unto them were born three children: Frank, who is still engaged in farming on the old homestead in Germany ; Annie, who married a Mr. Benson, a farmer of that country, and died in 1861; and William A. .
Our subject was educated in the public schools of his native land, and on leaving home at the age of fourteen years he went upon the ocean, spending five years as a sailor before the mast. He then returned home on a visit, and while there was draft- ed into the German army, becoming a mem- ber of the Fourth Company, Ninth Regi- ment with Colbeck. After serving for three years he was discharged in the fall of 1858, and the following year he spent at home with his parents.
In 1859 Mr. Wachs sailed for America, and while on shipboard he-met Miss Lizzie Zybell, also a native of Germany and a
daughter of John Zybell. They soon be- came fast friends and journeyed together to Monticello, Illinois, where she had a broth- er living. It was not long before they were engaged to be married, and Mr. Wachs de- cided to purchase a farm with the three thou- sand dollars he had brought with him to this country, so that they might have a home of their own. They went to Iowa in search of a location, but not being pleased with the country, and Miss Zybell wishing to be nearer her brother, they returned to Piatt county and purchased forty acres of land in Goose Creek township near DeLand. They were married at Monticello in the spring of 1860 and at once took up their residence on the land which Mr. Wachs had purchased and lived in a cabin he erected thereon. It was all wild prairie and swamp land, and their nearest neighbor at that time was a mile and a half away. so sparsely was the country settled at that time. Tiling and ditching his land, Mr. Wachs soon made it cultivable and after it was broken good crops were raised, but she who had borne with him all of the hardships and trials of frontier life, died in November, 1863, leaving two children: Frank, who married Katie Lust and is now operating a farm adjoining the old home farm in Goose Creek towship; and Martha, who married Elza Davis, a farmer of Iowa, and died in 1888.
Mr. Wachs was again married, March 29, 1864, his second union being with Miss Dena Hammerschmit, a daughter of Enda and Elizabeth Hammerschmit, of Dena, Province of Hanover, Germany. Her father died in that country and her mother after- ward came to the United States to live with , Mrs. Wachs. Here she married again, be- coming the wife of Thomas Angar, a farm-
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er of Washington, Missouri, where she died in 1890. The children by her first marriage were Louis, a furniture dealer of Monticello; Lizzie, wife of August Zybell. a retired shoe merchant of Monticello; Charles, a carpenter of that city; August, who is still living in Germany ; and Augus- ta, wife of Henry Smith, who is engaged in farming near Poplar Bluff, Iowa; and Dena, wife of our subject. By his second marriage Mr. Wachs has four children : Albert, who is engaged in farming on section 35, Sangamon township, and whose sketch appears below; Lillie, widow of Rempt Arends, now residing near Green- up. Illinois; Lizzie, wife of John Nelson, a carpenter of Normal, Illinois; and Rose, wife of Joe Clinton, a farmer of Monticello township. All of the children have been given good educational advantages and have attended high school.
After his second marriage Mr. Wachs sold his farm in Piatt county and went to Missouri with the expectation of locating there, but not liking it there he returned to Illinois and bought a farm of forty-three acres in Piatt county, where he spent one year. He was next engaged in the butch- ering business in Washington, Missouri, but as this was uncongenial he again came to Piatt county and purchased a farm of eighty acres in Goose Creek township near De- Land. In the operation of this place he met with excellent success and at the end of five years bought an eighty-acre tract adjoining, and still later another eighty acres. Upon his property he built two good houses and a number of barns and other outbuildings, tiled the land and set out orchards, until he had a well-improved and valuable place. Mr. Wachs continued to actively engage in farming until 1893, when he retired and
moved to Monticello, where he now owns a nice home. He is a man of sterling worth and many excellent traits of character, and is held in high regard by all who know him.
ALBERT WACHS.
Throughout his active business life the subject of this sketch has been identified with the agricultural interests of Piatt coun- ty and is to-day successfully carrying on his chosen occupation on section 35, Sangamon township. He was born on a farm south of DeLand in Goose Creek township, Janu- ary 8, 1866, and is a son of William and Dena (Hammerschmit) Wachs, whose sketch appears above. During his boyhood and youth he worked on the farm with his father in the summer and for about three months during the winter season attended the neighboring school. He remained un- der the parental roof until his marriage. It was on the 8th of October, 1889, that he wedded Miss Katie Baker, who had come from Germany in 1885, and to them has been born one child, Lillie, who is now with her grandparents in Monticello attending school.
After his marriage Mr. Wachs com- menced farming upon eighty acres of land which he rented from his father, and when the latter retired and removed to Monticello our subject took charge of half of his land, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres, which he farmed quite successfully. At length in the fall of 1902 he was able to purchase one hundred and ten acres of land, known as the R. H. Benson farm and upon this place he has made his home since the 9th of March, 1803. The place is im-
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proved with good modern buildings, and the land is under a high state of cultivation, the latest improved machinery being used in its operation. Mr. Wachs' crops are principally corn and oats, and he raises some cattle and hogs for market. He is a very progressive and energetic farmer and well deserves the success that has crowned his efforts thus far in life. In his political view's he is a Republican, active in the party, and influential in its councils.
HARMÓN KUHN GILLESPIE.
Harmon Kuhn Gillespie, who for many years was a representative farmer of Piatt county, but is now deceased, still lives in the memory of his friends because he had en- deared himself to them by strong ties. His honorable manhood and his genuine worth won for him the respect and confidence of all and when he was called away his death was deeply deplored.
and a daughter of James and Anne ( Wein- gardner) Moore. Her people were also from Pennsylvania. Her father followed farming, spending his entire life in the Keystone state, as did his wife. The Moores were of Scotch- Irish descent, and all were of Quaker faith. The Gillespies were also of Scotch-Irish line- age and the grandfather of our subject came from Ireland to America in an early day. The family was represented in the Revolu- tionary war and also in the war of 1812. Unto our subject and his wife were born nine children, all of whom are yet living : Chris- tian, who resides in Champaign county, Illi- nois, and is mentioned in connection with the sketch of Fred Gillespie; George Moore, who is living in Champaign county, and who wed- ded Ollie Crawford, by whom he has two children, Belle Irene and Luella Ida; Ann Dorothy, who is the wife of Philip Wied- man, a resident of DeWitt county, living near Farmer City, by whom she has two chil- dren-Frank L. and Lou Ola; Samuel Jo- seph, a resident of Storm Lake, Iowa, who married Miss Eva Wisegarver and has two children-Nancy Pearl and Clyde C .; John Wesley, who resides in Farmer City and married Miss Emma Cook; Henry Martin, who is living near Farmer City in DeWitt county and married Ida Knight, by whom he has one child, Hazel A .; Lizzie Jane, who is the wife of Henry C. Eakin, a resident of Piatt county ; Carl O., who is represented elsewhere in this volume; and Frank Leslie, a resident of Montezuma, Indiana, and mar- ried Jennie Bunton and has one child, Cas- sius M. C.
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