USA > Illinois > Piatt County > Past and present of Piatt County, Illinois : together with biographical sketches of many prominent and influential citizens > Part 37
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four years. Three years ago he purchased about ten acres of land within the town lim- its, and in September, 1902, bought another nine acres, upon which he is now engaged in the raising of fruits, including pears of all kinds and also peaches, plums and cher- ries. He makes a specialty of strawberries and blackberries, however, and has a thor- ough and comprehensive knowledge of hor- ticulture, his opinions on this subject being largely regarded as authority in the com- munity. He makes a close study of the needs of different kinds of fruits, is always ready to investigate any methods advanced for the improvement of fruit and that which he pro- duces is of such superior size and excellent flavor that he can always command the high- est market prices. He and his family occupy a nice home only a short distance from the center of White Heath, and Mr. Teats is now improving this property by building an addi- tion thereto.
FRED D. GILLESPIE.
Fred D. Gillespie, who is engaged in dealing in grain in Harris and is also a gen- eral merchant there, was born in McLean county, Illinois, on the 12th of August, 1879, and is a son of Christian and Lauretta (Da- vidson) Gillespie. The father was a native of Blair county, Pennsylvania, born on the 2d of August, 1846, and the mother's birth occurred in Westmoreland county, of the same state, on the 19th of April, 1849. Dur- ing his early boyhood days Christian Gilles- pie came to the West with his parents, who settled in McLean county, Illinois. He was educated in Piatt county, however, but was married in McLean county. He then took
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up his abode on the old Gillespie homestead in this county and continued to engage in farming here for a number of years. Later he removed with his family to Normal and there his wife died in the year 1882. On Thanksgiving Day of 1889 he was again · married, his second union being with Louisa Osborn, of Mansfield. They now reside in Champaign county, and are well known and highly respected citizens of that locality. By the first marriage there were two children- Jessie, who is the wife of Charles B. Har- rison, a resident of Manhattan, Kansas ; and Fred D.
Fred D. Gillespie is indebted to the com- mon-school system of the state for the early educational privileges he received, while later he attended school in Farmer City, pur- suing a high-school course there. He then went to the normal school at Normal, Illi- nois, and later he engaged in teaching school for three years in Piatt county, following the A native of Piatt county, Mr. Taylor was born in Willow Branch township on the 14th of October, 1863, and is a son of Elijah Tay- lor, a farmer and stock-raiser who was well and favorably known in this county, where he made his home for many years, dying here July 2, 1887. The father was born in a pio- neer home in Ross county, Ohio, January 23, 1834, and passed his early life in that state. He received a public-school education, profession in Blue Ridge and Sangamon townships. In the year 1901 he established · his grain business at Harris, having a good elevator there, with a capacity of fifty thou- sand bushels. He is now carrying on a suc- cessful trade as a grain merchant, and his business furnishes an excellent market for the grain-raisers of this locality. He like- wise conducts a general mercantile store and has secured a good patronage in that line be- · and as soon as old enough he commenced cause of his earnest desire to please his cus- tomers, his obliging manner and his straight- forward business methods. In the fall of 1901 he was appointed postmaster of Harris and is now acting in that capacity.
On the 17th of June, 1904, Fred D. Gil- lespie was united in marriage to Miss Stella M. Long, a native of Piatt county, Illinois, and a daughter of Lewis Long. They now reside on the old Gillespie homestead near
Harris, which place was entered by his grandfather. H. K. Gillespie, who settled in Piatt county many years ago, becoming one of the first residents of this portion of the state. Mr. Gillespie votes with the Repub- lican party and is a popular, enterprising, wide-awake and highly respected young man of his native county.
CHARLES TAYLOR.
For some years Charles Taylor has been prominently identified with the business in- terests of Milmine, where as a member of the firm of Phillips & Taylor he is now doing an extensive business as a grain-dealer. He is a representative of that class of citizens who, while advancing individual success, also pro- mote the public welfare.
farming. He came to this county in 1853, and here he was married on the 13th of Feb- ruary, 1861, to Miss Catherine Peck, a native of Piatt county, born December 15, 1839, and a daughter of Adonijah and Mary (Ater) Peck. For three years after his marriage Mr. Taylor engaged in farming on rented land, and then located on the farm in Willow Branch township, where his widow still re- sides in a well-appointed home. His first
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CHARLES TAYLOR.
MRS. CATHARINE TAYLOR
ELIJAH TAYLOR
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purchase consisted of eighty acres of wild prairie land, on which not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made. By per- sistent hard work he brought his land to its present high state of cultivation and made many valuable improvements on the place, in- cluding the erection of the handsome brick residence occupied by his widow, it being built in the summer of 1871. He kept add- ing to his property from time to time until he had one of the best and most desirable farms of the township. For many years he was an active and prominent member of the Christian church, in which he served as dea- con, and was always found on the side of right. Politically, he was identified with the Democratic party and he served as clerk of Willow Branch township and as township school trustee. After a useful and well-spent life he passed away, leaving many friends as well as his immediate family to mourn his loss. His widow still survives him and con- tinues to reside on the old homestead. At her husband's death she was left with seven chil- dren to care for, the eldest of whom had just arrived at man's estate, while the youngest was only nine years old. No one but those who have experienced it can measure the weight of the load thus thrown upon her, but with a heroism born of a great need she faced the situation and began the contest. Details vary in such cases and the outcome alone con- cerns us. Her children were reared to habits of industry and honesty and are to-day num- bered among the leading citizens of the com- munity where they reside. Eight children were born to her, but Edwin, the eldest, is now deceased. Charles is the next of the family. Ulla Dell was the wife of C. Davies, who now lives in Oklahoma. Alonzo is a mechanic at Milmine. Lewis and Adelbert, the youngest, carry on the farm for their 17
mother. Anna B. is the wife of William Burns, superintendent of the United States weather bureau at Springfield, Illinois. James E. is on a cattle ranch in Arizona.
Charles Taylor was educated in the pub- lic schools of this county, and on completing his education he engaged in teaching school here for four or five years. He next engaged in general merchandising with A. C. Evans at Bement for two years, and in June, 1890, formed a partnership with R. M. Shepherd under the firm name of Shepherd & Taylor in the same line of business. They carried a large and well-selectd stock amounting to about three thousand dollars and met with excellent success, doing an annual business between fifteen and twenty thousand dollars. Mr. Shepherd is to-day one of the popular men of Cerro Gordo township. On disposing of his mercantile interests, Mr. Taylor em- barked in the grain business in partnership with Frank Phillips under the firm style of Phillips & Taylor, and they now do the largest business in their line of any firm in tlie county. Their elevators have a capacity of thirty-five thousand bushels and they have succeeded in making Milmine one of the great grain centers of central Illinois. Dur- ing the summer of 1902 they handled one thousand dollars worth of oats per day for thirty days. Both Mr. Phillips and Mr. Tay- lor are energetic and enterprising business men of known reliability and well deserve the success that has come to them.
On the 9th of January, 1889, Mr. Taylor wedded Miss Mary Brandenburg, a native of Piatt county and a daughter of Samuel Bran- denburg, who was born in Clark county. Kentucky, July 1, 1827. Her paternal grandfather, David Brandenburg, was of German extraction. Samuel Brandenburg was married August 24, 1853, to Miss Ade-
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line Haggard, who was also born in Clark county, Kentucky, April 15, 1835, and is a daughter of Zachariah and Zilpha (Hodge) Haggard, her father being a Virginian by birth and a pioneer of Kentucky. Mrs. Bran- denburg was reared and educated in that state, and by her marriage became the moth- er of eight children, Mrs. Taylor being the seventh in order of birth. Mr. Brandenburg died at his home in Cerro Gordo township, January 29, 1886, honored and respected by all who knew him.
Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have three children : Theo, aged thirteen; Adlia, aged nine; and Ulla, aged seven. The family have a very cozy and pleasant residence in Milmine and are highly respected and esteemed by all who know them. Mrs. Taylor is an active worker in the Christian church and Mr. Taylor was formerly connected with the Presbyterian church, but now attends the Christian church. He is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 276, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Court of Honor and Loyal Americans, all of Milmine, and in all of which he is serving as secretary. He also belongs to Cerro Gor- do Lodge, Bement Chapter, Decatur Com- mandery and Mohammed Temple of the Mystic Shrine of Peoria, all of the Masonic order, and his wife is a member of the Re- bekahs, a branch of the Odd Fellows society. He takes a very active and influential part in local politics and is a strong supporter of the Democratic party and its principles. He served as postmaster of Milmine for four years under President Cleveland and is now filling the office of township treasurer of schools. He is also United States section di- rector and weather forecaster. Public-spir- ited and progressive, he takes a deep interest in the welfare of his community and is num- bered among its most valued and useful citi- zens-one devoted to the public welfare. .
CHARLES W. YAPP.
Charles W. Yapp, who is engaged in farming on section 27, Blue Ridge township, was born in IIlinois in the year 1850 and is a son of G. W. and Anne Yapp. The father was a native of New York and at an early day came west, establishing his home in Iowa. He carried on agricultural pursuits in the Empire state, afterward following farming in Iowa, dying there. The mother and family came later to Champaign county, Illinois. He died when the subject of this review was only eight years of age, and the mother's death occurred in the year 1867. In the family were six children, but Charles WV. is the only one now living in Piatt county.
When a youth of seventeen years Charles WV. Yapp was left an orphan. At the age of nineteen he came to this county and, entering upon his business career, he leased eighty acres of land, upon which he is now living. Later he leased an additional tract of a quar- ter section, and in 1874 bought forty acres, to which he has since added one hundred acres. When he took charge of the farm there were no improvements upon it. The land was all wild prairie and not a furrow had been turned. Mr. Yapp has planted all of the trees upon his place and has carried on the work of improvement along various lines until he is to-day cultivating one of the finest farms to be found in this section of the state.
As a companion and helpmate on life's journey Mr. Yapp chose Miss Martha A. Gardiner, a daughter of William Gardiner. Their marriage was celebrated in 1873 and has been blessed with five children-Grace, who died at the age of a year and a half; two who died in infancy ; Lucy May, who is now at home, and William W., who is also
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under the parental roof. The daughter, arrived at Bloomington, Illinois, and thence Lucy, however, has been appointed to a went to Mahomet. The snow at that time school in the Philippine Islands. She at- tended school in Normal, Illinois, and is now studying music under Professor Foster in Champaign, but expects to go to our colonial possession in the far East.
The family attend the services of the Methodist church, to which Mr. Yapp be- longs, taking an active and helpful part in its work. He is now serving as superintend- ent of the Sunday-school, is also a trustee and steward of the church and likewise sec- retary and treasurer of the board. He does everything in his power to advance the cause of Christianity, and his labors in its behalf have been far-reaching and beneficial. In his political views he is a Republican and he served as collector and road supervisor. Fra- ternally, he is connected with the Masonic lodge at Mansfield and he also belongs to the Court of Honor.
He may. truly be called a self-made man, for both of his parents died when he was young and he had to begin work when but a boy, his early life being a period of hard- ships in many respects. He never had but two hundred and sixty-four dollars given him in all of his lifetime. When he was about seventeen years of age he had only one suit of clothes, and he had to work an en- tire month in order to secure another suit. For three years he was employed in the tim- ber, having to grub up roots and split rails while in Iowa. In November, 1859, he started to make the trip from Iowa to Illi- nois. When he came to the Mississippi river it was frozen so that the boats could not run and the wagon had to be hauled across the ice. Mr. Yapp only had one boot on owing to a sore foot and the one with the boot on was frozen at that time. Finally he
was up to the horses' knees. The town of Mahomet was called Middletown and Farm- er City was known by the name of Mount Pleasant. At that time Mr. Yapp went to live with his grandmother in Champaign county and thus established his home in a district where wolves were still numerous, and where various kinds of wild game abounded. He has watched with interest the development of this county as the years have gone by and has seen its wonderful transformation. He has also advanced in his business career and to-day he is the own- er of an excellent farm of one hundred and forty acres of land, on which he raises grain and stock.
JOSEPH S. HUBBARD.
Among the representative farmers of Piatt county is Joseph S. Hubbard, who re- sides on section 21, Blue Ridge township. He was born in Pike county, Illinois, in 1844, his parents being Joseph and Lucinda (Lewis) Hubbard. The father was a native of Massachusetts and was a painter by trade. He also engaged in school-teaching and in farming, and he died when his son Joseph was but five years of age. Two years later the mother was called to her final rest and thus our subject was left an orphan. He acquired his early education in Pike county in a log schoolhouse, but by reading and ob- servation in later years has added largely to his fund of knowledge and become a practical business man. He started out for himself at the age of fourteen years in Pike county by working as a farm hand for ten dollars
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per month. He was thus employed until 1862, when he enlisted in Company C of the Ninety-ninth Illinois Infantry under the command of A. C. Matthews and Colonel Bailey. His company was the flag company of the regiment, and with this command M Hubbard participated in the battle of Harts- ville, Missouri, and also about fourteen other open fights. He was likewise in the siege of Vicksburg and afterward was taken ill, be- cause of which he received an honorable dis- charge and returned home.
Following his military experience, M -. Hubbard was engaged as a farm hand for two years in Logan county, Illinois, receiv- ing twenty-three dollars per month, which was very high wages to be paid for such labor. In the year 1866 he was united in marriage in Logan county to Miss Sarah P. Johnston, a daughter of William Johnston, and by this union have been born four chil- dren, but the first two died in infancy ; Min- nie, the daughter, is now the wife of Bert Collins, who is living in Farmer City, Illi- nois, and J. W. C. Hubbard, the youngest of the family, died on the 18th of December, 1902, at the age of twenty-five years. The wife and mother passed away in January, 1895. In 1900 Mr. Hubbard was again mar- ried, his second union being with Elizabeth Johnston, with whom he is now living on his pleasant farm in Blue Ridge township. .
Mr. Hubbard came to Piatt county in 1869 and rented one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he lived for four years, continuing its care and cultivation throughout that period. He then pur- chased eighty acres of land near the West Point schoolhouse. Later he'sold that prop- erty and took a trip to the Pacific coast, spending about four months in Oregon and California. He then came to Illinois and. this volume.
rented a quarter section of land for a period of seven years, after which he purchased that property. He has made all of the improve- ments upon his farm and has now an excel- lent tract of land under a high state of culti- vation. Upon the place are good buildings and everything is modern and progressive. He has always made it the rule of his life to be honest and straightforward in his dealings with others and these qualities have gained for him the unqualified confidence and re- gard of his fellow men.
He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Mansfield and with the Grand Army Post at Farmer City. In his political views he is a Republican, and for two terms served as a school director. Both he and his wife be- long to the Methodist Episcopal church and he is well known throughout the community as one whose career has been guided by hon- orable principles and characterized by stead- fastness of purpose. Left an orphan at a very early age and starting out in life on his own account when still quite young, he has steadily worked his way upward and the suc- 'cess that he has gained may be attributed en- tirely to his own diligence and perseverance.
WALTER GULLIFORD.
Walter Gulliford, a representative young farmer of Piatt county, now engaged in his chosen occupation on section 34, Cerro Gor- do township, was born in Bement on the 2Ist of April, 1874, and is a son of Thomas and Eliza (Knighton) Gulliford, both natives of England. The father is now deceased and the mother is now the wife of William Clark, whose sketch appears elsewhere in
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During his boyhood Walter Gulliford pursued his education in the Gulliford school of Cerro Gordo township and after complet- ing his studies he turned his attention to farming, to which vocation he still devotes his energies with marked success. He now rents and operates his mother's farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 34, Cerro Gordo township.
On the 22d of February, 1899, Mr. Gulli- ford was united in marriage to Miss Ora Edith Peel, who is the second in order of birth in the family of Benjamin and Amanda E. (Haviner) Peel. By this union one child has been born, Katie Belle. Mrs. Gulliford's father is a native of Marshall county, Ken- tucky, and on first coming to this state in 1857, located in Sangamon county, whence he removed to the village of Bement, Piatt county, in 1880. He is now working for our subject on the farm. During the Civil war he served for eight months as a member of the Seventh Illinois Cavalry and was hon- orably discharged November 4, 1865. His children are as follows: Charles E., Ora Edith, wife of our subject; Laura E., a resi- dent of Kansas ; Lenora; Lura Eva and Carl William. In his political views Mr. Gulli- ford is a Republican and he takes a deep and commendable interest in public affairs, as each American citizen should do.
JOHN BECKENHOLDT.
Since 1881 John Beckenholdt has made his home in Piatt county, where he began work as a farm hand, and to-day he is one of the well-to-do agriculturists of Blue Ridge township and all that he possesses has come as the reward of earnest labor. He was born
in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, on the 7th of February, 1856, and is a son of John and Wilhelmina Beckenholdt, both of whom were natives of Germany. In early life they came to America and were married in Cincinnati, Ohio. The father was a brewer by trade and for many years operated a brewery in Law- renceburg, while later he devoted his ener- gies to farming in that county. He and his wife both died during the early boyhood of their son John.
In the schools of Dearborn county, Indi- ana, John Beckenholdt of this review ac- quired his education. He was there in- structed in the elementary branches of learn- ing and as the years have passed he has add- ed to his knowledge through reading and ex- perience. He possesses an observing eye and retentive memory and has thus gained valu- able information concerning the world and the practical duties of life. He and his three elder brothers lived together in Dearborn county, Indiana, keeping "bachelors' hall." In 1877 Mr. Beckenholdt, whose name in- troduces this review, came to Illinois. Later he went to Kansas, where he took up a homestead in Sheridan county, but not meet- ing with the 'success that he had anticipated there, he went to Colorado and also to Ne- braska, remaining in the west until 1881, when he returned to Illinois, this time estab)- lishing his home in Piatt county. Here he began working by the month as a farm hand in the employ of Jacob B. Chase, of Blue Ridge township, but when he had acquired a sufficient capital to become a landowner he invested his savings in a tract of three hundred and twenty acres, for which he paid thirty-one dollars and a quarter per acre. As his financial resources steadily increased he extended the boundaries of this farm until it. now comprises four hundred and eighty
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acres of the rich land of Piatt county, and there is no more productive soil in this great farming state of Illinois than is to be found in Blue Ridge township. Mr. Beckenholdt also owns four hundred and twenty-three acres in Pike county, Illinois. His home farm was improved but very little when he took up his abode there, and it is now well tilled, the rich fields promising golden har- vests in the autumn. He has also given con- siderable attention to the raising of beef cat- tle and hogs, shipping to the Chicago mar- kets and finding this a profitable source of income.
In 1884 Mr. Beckenholdt was united in marriage to Miss Sallie E. Chase, a daugh- ter of his first employer in Piatt county, Ja- cob B. Chase, who came from Dearborn county, Indiana, and won a place among the well-to-do residents of this locality. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Beckenholdt have been born four children-Walter; Minnie, who died September 4, 1902, and was laid by the side of her mother in Blue Ridge cemetery ; Wil- ber, who passed away February 8, 1890, and Willard. The wife and mother was called to her final rest October 16, 1894, her death being deeply deplored by many friends. In 1895 Mr. Beckenholdt was joined in wed- lock to Miss Emily Godwin, but after a short married life she passed away March 5, 1898. In 1900 he wedded his present wife, who bore the maiden name of Lena Roth. She is a daughter of Christian Roth, who is rep- resented elsewhere in this volume.
Mr. Beckenholdt is a member of Farmer City Camp, M. W. A., and in politics is a Democrat, but has never consented to be- come a candidate for office, desiring rather to give his time and energies to his business pursuits. He is a member of the Baptist church of Mansfield and has been a co-op-
erant factor in the material advancement and the moral improvement of his community. In addition to his agricultural interests he became one of the organizers of the State Bank of Mansfield in 1901 and is one of its directors. He is a man of great natural abil- ity and has been very successful in business. As has been truly remarked after all that may be done for a man in the way of giving him early opportunities for obtaining the require- ments which are sought in books and schools, he must essentially formulate, determine and give shape to his own character, and this is what Mr. Beckenholdt has done. He has . been very persevering in his life work and has gained a satisfactory reward.
EDWARD MOYER.
Edward Moyer, who is the present as- sessor of the township of Bement and who resides on section 13 there, where he owns an excellent farm of one hundred and fifty- . eight acres, was born at Delphi, Indiana, on the 3Ist of October, 1853. The Moyer fam- ily is of German lineage and was established in America by Jacob Moyer, the grandfather of our subject, who settled in Pickaway county, Ohio, and there spent his remaining days, reaching the advanced age of eighty- one years. He was a farmer throughout his active business career.
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