USA > Illinois > Piatt County > Past and present of Piatt County, Illinois : together with biographical sketches of many prominent and influential citizens > Part 36
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Mr. Van Gorder waited until he was well prepared to care for a wife before taking the important step of matrimony, the 13th day of October, 1892, marking that event. Mrs. Van Gorder was a Piatt county girl. the daughter of Hiram and Susan Steele, well- to-do farmers living near Galesville, where her father and sisters still reside, the mother having passed away. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Van Gorder have been born Adelia, Howard, Paul. Vernie, who died in infancy. and baby Bertha, who constitute a most in- teresting family.
The weight which attaches to a life well spent entirely within one community is hardly to be estimated. A floating popula- tion is the bane of our civilization. Using the other end of the familiar old saw, "A rolling stone gathers no moss." one finds in the Van Gorder family a fine old moss-cov- ered stone-covered with the attractive moss of sterling attributes of character. Their church affiliations lie with the United Breth- ren, while fraternally Mr. Van Gorder is a worthy member of the Modern Woodmen and the Masons, with membership at Mans- field. He is a Democrat in politics, and though not courting office, has been called on to serve his community in a minor way. He is at present school director of the dis- trict and as such is an earnest advocate of the growing idea in educational fields-that con- solidation of schools in the country will greatly improve the service-which is an idea that is yearly gathering strength as each new experiment demonstrates its feasibility.
SAMUEL MCCLURE.
Willow Branch township has many good citizens but none better known and more fav- orably held in the esteem of the public than the gentleman whose name prefaces this sketch. He resides on a splendid farm of three hundred and sixty acres on section 9. the fine twelve-room modern farm house, which he erected in 1883, having few equals in the county.
Mr. McClure's place of nativity was in Jefferson county, Kentucky, where he was born in 1829. His father, William McClure, . was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and near there he married Nancy Wheeler about 1823. William McClure was of a stirring, restless character, with an abundance of animal spir- its and not a lazy bone in his body. Had he possessed business ability in a larger degree he would have risen to affluence. In early life he engaged in wagon-making. Later he turned his ingenuity to good account in the manufacture of stocks for cradles and scythes. His later days were passed in agri- cultural pursuits in Macon county, Illinois, to which state he had removed in 1848. After the death of his wife, on November 6, 1877. he became an inmate of our subject's home, where . he was. tenderly cared for until his race was run, the date of his death being 1878. The family born to these parents were as fol- lows: John. C. W., who entered the army during the Mexican war, and died in Mexico; Samuel ; Emaza J., deceased wife of George R. Farrow ; Eranie E., who married William Farrow and is now deceased; Nancy, who died at the age of twelve years, and William, who died at fifteen.
Samuel McClure is the product of grind- ing toil and poverty. It was his lot until near ·his majority to pass the daylight hours. as
SAMUEL MCCLURE
MRS. SAMUEL MCCLURE
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well as many of the night, in hardest toil. After he became a man he, Lincoln-like, se- cured enough education to transact ordinary business, and an observant mind has done the rest toward making him what might safely be called a man of good education. His first efforts were directed toward getting a home for his wife, whom he married May 15, 1851, her maiden name having been Eliza Jane Far- row. She was the daughter of Thornton and
Catherine Farrow, of Macon county.
By
renting land and breaking prairie for outside parties he was finally enabled in 1856 to buy his first piece of land, an eighty-acre tract in Macon county, all wild. Several different times he bought and sold, steadily advancing ini prosperity. Finally, in 1857, he purchased a part of his present farm, it being at that time virgin prairie, and now, as he looks out over his three hundred and sixty acres of broad domain, Mr. McClure does so with the satisfaction that his is the unaided hand which has wrested from nature one of the finest farms in the whole state. He laid the first tile used in the township, and the farm is covered with objects of his care and fore- thought, fine orchards yielding abundant fruit in every variety, wells and good fenc- ing, and spacious and substantial barns and outbuildings. For many years Mr. McClure was one of the most active farmers in the county, raising large crops of all kinds of grain. Of late years, however, he has taken matters more quietly, pleasing his fancy in the raising of thoroughbred stock-Norman horses, Aberdeen and Jersey cattle and Po- land China hogs-with which varieties he has had great success.
Eight children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. McClure : Daniel K., a farmer of Willow Branch township; John C. and Francis, both of Bement ; Theodosia, wife of
William F. Ater, a bookkeeper of Chicago; and Lyona, wife of O. B. Baker, a farmer of the township. Three girls died in early in- fancy.
Life is a battle. To win one must have a superabundance of reserve force. This may consist of inherited wealth or natural ability, reinforced by strong will power. Samuel McClure found himself handicapped as to the former, but endowed with an abundance of the latter he has vanquished adversity. All honor to such a man. As road overseer and school director he serves his community most acceptably, and he and his family deserve the large measure of esteem which comes to them from friends and neighbors.
JACOB FISHER.
Jacob Fisher is a retired farmer living in White Heath. He was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, December 2, 1837, his par- ents being John and Margaret (Cline) Fish- er. The father was a native of Frederick county, Virginia, born on the 9th of Au- gust, 1808, and obtained a common-school education in the Old Dominion. In 1836 he was united in marriage to Miss Cline, and in 1839 they removed to Piatt county. Illinois, this being then a frontier region in which the work of progress and improve- ment had been scarcely begun. For miles stretched the wild prairie unclaimed and un- improved. Mr. Fisher took up his abode upon a tract of this land and developed a farm which continued to be his home for fourteen years. In the early days he and his family endured many hardships and trials incident to pioneer life. He broke the prairie with one of the old-time plows, driv-
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ing an ox team. He raised wheat and corn for market, and by the sale of these prod- ucts was enabled to gain some of the other necessities of life. He would haul his wheat to Chicago for there was only one other flour mill, and that was in Springfield, but on ac- count of the low prices at which groceries sold in Chicago at that day Mr. Fisher pre- ferred to take his wheat to that city in order to secure his other supplies. He first made the trip with ox teams and afterward with horse teams. His wheat 'sold for thirty- seven and a half cents per bushel, while pork brought one dollar and fifty cents per hundred weight. . He harvested his wheat and corn with the sickle, and shocked it all by hand. All farm work was done with primitive machinery, and the farmers felt that they were greatly benefited by the in- vention of the cradle which enabled them to do much more work with less labor. There is certainly a great contrast between farm machinery used at that early day and the improved agricultural implements of the present. The home was a log cabin, and while many of the conveniences in use at the present time were then unknown, still pioneer life was not devoid of its pleasures for hospitality then reigned supreme, and many were the merry gatherings held in the different pioneer homes. After some years residence in this county, Mr: Fisher purchased a farm of three hundred and forty acres upon which he resided until his death. In addition to general farm products he was also extensively engaged in raising stock for the market, making a specialty of hogs. Year by year the work of improve- ment was carried on by him until at the time of his demise he was considered one of the most successful and prosperous agri- culturists of Piatt county. He died on April
II, 1863, respected by all who knew him. His wife was of German lineage and was a most estimable lady, carefully rearing her family. She died on May 1I, 1849, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-three years. Their children were Jacob; George W., deceased; Mary Ann, who died in early childhood; John, who died in infancy; Martha, the wife of James Collins, now deceased ; Sarah Malissa, who died when but three years old ; Hiram, who died at Memphis, Tennessee, while serving in the Union army; David, deceased; James, a farmer living three miles north of Monticello; Serelda C., who is the wife of James Phalen, and is living on the Allerton farm, four miles southwest of Monticello; Margaret, the wife of I. N. Holloway, who is living retired at White Heath; and Ezra, who died in infancy.
Jacob Fisher is indebted to the public school system of Piatt county for the edu- cational privileges he enjoyed. He gained his lessons sitting upon a slab bench in a log schoolhouse and wrote his exercises up- on a plank desk. There were puncheon floors and old fashioned fireplaces. It was just about that time that sawmills were coming into universal use and lumber was therein prepared for flooring and other purposes. Mr. Fisher worked upon his father's farm and attended school when he could be spared from the labors of the fields, but he was the eldest of twelve children and his services were often needed at home. His educational privileges were therefore limited, but in later years reading, experi- ence and observation have added largely to his knowledge, making him a practical business man. He wedded Mary Ann Morse, a daughter of Henry Morse, of Ma- homet. Champaign county, Illinois. Her father was a Canadian while her mother
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was from Ohio, and Mr. Morse followed the blacksmith's trade in Mahomet, carry- ing on the business also at his farm about half a mile from the town.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Fisher began farming upon his father's land and was thus engaged until two years after his father's death. He then purchased land of his own-a part of the Cline tract-and continued to carry on agricultural pursuits there until 1898, when he rented the place and removed to White Heath. About three years ago he sold his farm to William Alexander and purchased a house and a half block of land in the village. He also owns property in Clinton, Illinois, and the rental from the place brings to him a good in- come. Since his removal to White Heath he has lived a retired life. In all his deal- ings he has been straightforward and honor- able, and his untiring industry has been the source of his prosperity. He has never con- sented to hold office nor cared to figure prominently in public positions, save during three years when he served as school direct- or. Many other times he has been urged to become a candidate for political prefer- ment, but has always refused. Both he and his wife are very familiar with the pioneer history of this section of the state, and passed through the experience and hard- ships incident to frontier life.' They can relate many interesting incidents concerning the early days, Mrs. Fisher telling of the times, when years ago the water was so high in the spring that it was almost impossible to ford the rivers, and it overflowed many places until it reached the height of a horse's back. On one such occasion her father's family exhausted their supply of flour and meal and were obliged to live three weeks without bread, subsisting on hominy,
potatoes and meat. At the end of that time they were all so hungry for bread that Mrs. Fisher's mother parched some corn which she ground in a coffee-mill and then converted the meal into bread, which Mrs. Fisher declares tasted better than any wheat bread they ever ate. An estimable lady, she holds membership in the United Breth- ren church and is most loyal to its teachings. Mr. Fisher votes with the Democracy, and. both are widely and favorably known in. the county and are held in the highest re- gard by all with whom they have come in. contact. They are among the oldest set- tlers now residing in White Heath, and it. is with pleasure that we present to our read- ers the history of people who have been so closely associated with the annals of Piatt county through long years. .
CHARLES S. DEWEY.
One of the most progressive and suc- cessful agriculturists of Piatt county is: Charles S. Dewey, whose home is on sec- tion 28, Goose Creek township. His meth- ods of farm management showed deep scien- tific knowledge, combined with sound prac- tical judgment, and the results show that high-class farming as an occupation can be- made profitable as well as pleasant.
Mr. Dewey was born in McDonough county, Illinois, June 10, 1865, and is a son of Edward and Delphina (Lantz). Dewey, and a grandson of Alonzo Baldwin and Emeline (Washburn) Dewey. His fa- ther is a second cousin of Admiral Dewey- of America's most prominent naval officers. The grandfather of our subject lived to quite an advanced age and died on the 20th of
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March, 1891, but the grandmother died in 1845, at the age of thirty-five years.
Edward Dewey, the father, was born in Northfield, Vermont, November 7, 1836, and during boyhood came to Illinois with his parents, the family locating in Mc- Donough county, where he was reared and educated in the usual manner of farmer boys. When the Civil war broke out he resolved to strike a blow in defense of the Union, and on the 12th of October, 1861, enlisted in Company F, Fifty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Going south he partic- ipated in a number of important engage- ments including the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Chickasaw Bayou, Champion Hills, the siege of Vicksburg, the capture of Jacksonville, Mississippi, and the battles of Raymond, Missouri Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta and Peach Tree Creek. He was severely wounded in an engage- ment July 28, 1864, and several days later was sent home on a furlough. In due time he reported for duty at Quincy, Illinois, and. was transferred to Company E, Twen- ty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and his brigade was assigned to General Sher- man's command. At the time of President Lincoln's assassination his company was stationed at Springfield, Illinois, and was appointed a guard of honor while the body lay in state at the capitol. The war having ended and his services being no longer needed, Mr. Dewey was honorably dis- charged in June, · 1865, and returned home.
On the 12th of May. 1864, at Bushnell, Illinois, he was united in marriage to Miss Delphina Lantz, who was born at Stanhope, New Jersey, October 28, 1842, a daughter of David and Malinda ( Heminover) Lantz. Eight children blessed this union, of whoin our subject is the eldest. John- E., born
November 4, 1866, is now a farmer of Ringgold county, Iowa. William F., born August 24, 1868, died December 11, 1871. Mary Estella, born June 27, 1871, is the wife of Joseph Severs, a carpenter living in Ohio. Curtis Melvin, born June 8, 1873, is a farmer of Ringgold county, Iowa. Hattie M., born March 29, 1879, is the wife of Ray Covey, a carpenter of Farmer City, 'Illinois. David Edwin, born March 14, 1881, died January 31, 1889. Etta Viola Jane, born October 26, 1885, is at home with her parents in Farmer City.
In 1871 the father brought his family to Piatt county and purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Goose Creek township, four miles and a half north of DeLand. He broke and improved this place, and after operating it for about two years, he purchased forty acres adjoining and eighty acres more two years later. As time passed he steadily prospered and kept enlarging his estate from time to time by additional purchases until at present he owns about a thousand acres of well im- proved land. His success in life is due en- tirely to his well directed efforts. persistent industry and good management for, on starting out for himself he was without cap- ital and had to make his own way in the world unaided. He is a man of exceptional business ability and sound judgment, and has steadily overcome all obstacles in the path to success until he has acquired a hand- some competence which ranks him among wealthy citizens of his community. After years of active labor, he is now living a re- tired life in Farmer City, enjoying a well- earned rest.
Charles S. Dewey was quite young when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Piatt county, and he is indebted to the
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359
district schools near DeLand for the educa- tional privileges he enjoyed during his youth. During the summer season he would aid in the work of the home farm and at- tended school for about three months dur- ing the winter until seventeen years of age, when he laid aside his text-books and took up the more arduous duties of life. He gave his father the benefit of his labors until about twenty-two years of age.
On the 13th of March, 1889, Mr. Dew- ey wedded Miss Mary Emma Beckwith, a daughter of James and Laura (Levy) Beck- with,, both natives of Pennsylvania, where her father followed farming for some years. In 1871 he came to Piatt county, Illinois, and is now living near Farmer City in De- Witt county. Mrs. Dewey's mother died February II. 1891, at the age of forty-one years and tweny-seven days, and in 1893, Mr. Beckwith was again married, his sec- ond union being with Etta Shreeves, by whom he has one child, Ruth. The chil- dren of the first marriage are Lawrence, a farmer of DeWitt county; Mary E., wife of our subject; and Katie May, wife of Frank Keefer. a farmer living near Storm Lake, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Dewey have two children : Clyde Edwin, born Septem- ber 12, 1890; and Ethel May, born Janu- ary 17, 1894.
After his marriage Mr. Dewey com- menced operating a part of his father's land and purchased eighty acres of the land. He has since bought tracts from other par- ties, and to-day owns a half section of fine farming land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. Upon the place are good and substantial buildings, a fins orchard and beautiful shade trees, and ev- erything indicates the supervision of a pro- gressive and painstaking owner. The best
improved machinery is used in carrying on the work of the farm, and the most ad- vanced and practical methods are employed in its operation. Mr. Dewey is interested in stock, raising hogs for market, and he also has five pure-blooded registered Perch- eron mares and two two-year-old stallions. Like his father, he possesses exceptional ability in business affairs and his success is but the just reward of honest labor. Fra- ternally, Mr. Dewey is a member of De- Land Lodge, No. 603, K. P., and the Twentieth Century Lodge, No. 2178, M. W. A., of DeLand, and politically he affili- ates with the Republican party.
JOHN SMITH.
John Smith, whose entire life has been spent in or near Centerville, Piatt county, Illinois, was born on a farm near that vil- lage, May 28, 1851, and is a son of Wil- liam H. and Julia Ann (Wright) Smith, both natives of Pickaway county, Ohio, the former born in 1818, and the latter in 1826. In 1840 the father came to Piatt county with his stepfather, Ezra Marcus,. and worked on a farm by the month until his marriage to Miss Wright in 1844, when he removed to his father-in-law's farm and there spent twelve years. At the end of that time he removed to Centerville or Lick Skillet, as it was then called, and purchased two lots on which he erected a store building and put in a stock of general merchandise. He carried on business at that place until his death, hauling his goods from Chicago, and sometimes from St. Louis. He passed away in 1870. His first wife also died in Centerville in 1856,
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and after her death he married Barbara Dawson, a daughter of William Dawson. She is now the wife of Daniel Clinger and lives on a farm near Mansfield, Illinois. By his first marriage Mr. Smith had six children : Charles, who is married and lives in Ala- bama; George, deceased; Mary, wife of W. H. Dawson, a resident of Missouri; Sarah, wife of V. I. Williams, of Champaign, Illi- nois; John, of this review; and one who died in infancy. The children of the sec- ond union were James, a resident of the state of Washington; Frank B., of Nebras- ka; Edward, of Missouri; Isaac D., who died in Mansfield, Illinois, in November, 1902; and Madie, wife of Edward Reed, of Mansfield.
During his boyhood John Smith at- tended a subscription school in Centerville, and after completing his education at the GEORGE W. TEATS. age of fifteen years, he commenced driving a team for his father in hauling goods from George W. Teats, who is living in White Heath, was born in Adelphi, Ross county, Ohio, on the 30th of August, 1854, his par- ents being Mathias and Mary (Puffinbarger) Teats. The father was also a native of Ross county, born August 11, 1818, and was a shoemaker by occupation, following that Chicago and Champaign. He also assisted in the work of the home farm until his father's death, when he went to Iowa and spent one year, his brother having charge of his father's store at that time. On his return to Piatt county' he worked in the 3 store until after his marriage, when his pursuit in Adelphi thirty-six years. He was brother removed the stock of goods to married there in 1840 and in 1856 he re- moved with his family to Piatt county, Illi- nois, taking up his abode upon a farm near White Heath, where the Camp Creek ceme- tery is now located. Unto him and his wife were born five children-Maria Louisa, who was the wife of James H. Hickman, and died in the spring of 1902; Mary Elizabeth, who married Jehu Trotter and departed this life in the year 1901 ; Caroline Marian, who died about 1856; Jane, the wife of Jesse Bushee, of White Heath ; and George W. White Heath, and with an entirely new stock, our subject embarked in business on his own account at the old stand. Two years later he sold out and bought a forty- acre farm which he operated for three years, and on· disposing of that property he purchased a house and two lots in Center- ville, where he has since made his home. To some extent he still engages in farming, but owning to failing eyesight he is not able to do much.
In 1873 Mr. Smith was united in mar-
riage to Miss Sarah Jane Camp, a daugh- ter of William and Charity (Morris) Camp, who came to this county from Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1866. Six children bless this union, namely : Lula, wife of Frank Webster, who is engaged in farming near DeLand; Arthur M., who is also a farmer; Alberta, wife of James Winters, a resident of Champaign; Etta, wife of Otis Mc- Wethy, a farmer living near Urbana; Eva, at home; and Elmer, who also follows farm- ing. In his political views Mr. Smith is a Democrat. He is widely known in the com- munity where he has always made his home, and those who know him best are numbered among his warmest friends.
In taking up the personal history of
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George W. Teats we present to our readers the record of one whose life history demon- strates the power of industry and persever- ance in the active affairs of life, for he has been the architect of his own fortunes and has built wisely and well. He was educated in the common schools, attending the Camp Creek school through the winter months, while during the summer seasons he worked upon his father's farm and thus became fa- miliar with every department of agricultural life.
Mr. Teats continued with his father until October 29, 1886, when he was united in marriage to Miss Barbara E. Trotter, a daughter of Hiram and Lydia Maria (All- man) Trotter, of Champaign county. She was born in Newcomb township, that county, June 12, 1858. Her parents were natives of Virginia and are now deceased. Her father was born January 22, 1813, and died No- vember 13, 1900. He was three times mar- ried, his second wife being Mrs. Teats' moth- er, who was born October 7, 1815, and died in Champaign county, December 28, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Teats have a daughter, Lydia May, who was born January 16,-1889, and is now attending school.
Our subject and his wife began their do- mestic life upon the Plunk farm, which he rented for two years, and afterward rented the Jehu Trotter farm, which was their home for the same length of time. Subsequently they removed to Nebraska, but after farm- ing there for one season they returned to Piatt county, Illinois, and Mr. Teats pur- chased of W. P. Smith thirty acres of land in Sangamon township. In 1899 he sold that property, 'having successfully operated it during the intervening years. He then re- moved to White Heath, where he engaged in the livery business and in carpentering for
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