USA > Illinois > Piatt County > Past and present of Piatt County, Illinois : together with biographical sketches of many prominent and influential citizens > Part 42
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Mr. and Mrs. Moody have had no chil- dren of their own, but have displayed great . kindness of heart and sympathetic natures by rearing eight children. These are James IV. Moody, now of DeLand; D. B. Troxell, who is now postmaster of DeLand; Rumina Troxell, who died when twenty-four years of age; Bruce Clemons, who resides near Fort Madison, Iowa; Pearl Clemons, the wife of I ... C. Dick, a resident of Port Arthur, Tex- as; Grace Jones, who died at the age of ten years; Eva Moody, whose name was Eda Carroll, and who lived in Chicago, but for a number of years has resided with her fos- ter-parents and is now attending school in DeLand ; and Lawrence Dawson, who is also with our subject and his wife.
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ments of the church work. Fraternally, he is connected with DeLand Lodge, No. 812. F. & A. M .; Chapter No. 48, R. A. M .; and Urbana Commandery, No. 16, K. T. He is past master of the lodge here and is recog- nized as one of the exemplary representatives of the craft. In politics he has always been a stalwart Republican, and his close study of the political issues has made his knowledge concerning politics broad, thorough and comprehensive. He has served continually since 1876, except four years, as justice of the peace, and has been school treasurer since 1875. His loyalty in citizenship, his hon- esty in business and his trustworthiness in private life stand as unquestioned facts in his career, making him one of the most hon- ored and esteemed men connected with agri- cultural, industrial and financial interests, as well as public affairs in Piatt county.
. GEORGE W. BAKER.
George W. Baker, who is now deceased, was a resident farmer of Blue Ridge town- ship and lived on section 13. He was born in 1852 in Darke county, Ohio, and died in Piatt county in 1897, leaving to his family the record of an upright life. He was a son of Jonathan and Sarah Baker, and acquired his early education in the schools of Darke county, Ohio. He was thrown upon his own resources when only fourteen years of age. and from that time forward earned his living and gained through his own labors all that he possessed. He first worked by the month as a farm hand in Ohio until he was twenty- two years of age. He then came to Piatt county, where he was employed for three or four hours as a farm hand, after which he
resolved to engage in farming on his own ac- count, and rented land for four or five years. Thus with the capital he had acquired through his own industry, economy and per- severance he purchased land in Piatt county, upon which he lived up to the time of his death. His farm comprised one hundred and sixty acres and the soil was rich and ar- able, returning to him good harvests. He built a barn and made other improvements from year to year, and successfully carried on his labors until he was the possessor of a comfortable competence that enabled him to leave his family in good financial circum- stances. He first gave his attention to the raising of grain, but after a time he began raising stock and gradually increased in this because he found it a lucrative business. He made a specialty of the raising of beef cattle and of hogs, and his annual sales were large and profitable.
In the year 1880 Mr. Baker was united in marriage to Miss Mary Leach, a daughter of William Leach, of Mansfield. She was born in 1857 in Grundy county, Illinois, and came to Mansfield with her parents, who lived upon a farm until the time of their daughter's marriage. It was in her home there that Mary H. gave her hand in wed- lock to George W. Baker. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Baker was born but one child, Millie Jane, who is now the wife of Wallace Walk, by whom she has two children, Verna Belle and Clifford Clayton, the former born July 1901; and the latter February 19, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Walk reside upon Mrs. Baker's farm and keep house for her.
Mr. Baker was a member of the Metho- dist church at Mansfield, with which his wid- ow is still connected. In his political views he was a Prohibitionist and was serving as a school director at the time of his death. He
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took a deep interest in the cause of tem- as a wagonmaker, following the trade con- perance and in all the movements for the welfare and betterment of humanity. He was a great church worker, indefatigable in his efforts to promote the cause of Chris- tianity. He served as one of the trustees of the church, labored untiringly for the Sun- day-school, and was frequently superinten- dent of the school or one of its teachers. His entire life was in harmony with his profes- sions as a member of the church, and his name was a synonym for honor and integrity in all business transactions. He was long a citizen who enjoyed the highest respect and confidence of his fellow men, and he left to his family not only a good property, but also the priceless heritage of an untarnished name.
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GEORGE DE LAND.
George DeLand, who is engaged in the cultivation of small fruits for the city mar- kets and at present rural mail-carrier, and has his home in White Heath, has passed the Psalmist's span of three score years and ten, but is still an active factor in business cir- cles, and his career should put to shame many a man of much younger years who would relegate to others the burdens that he should bear.
tinuously until he left Vermont in the fall of 1837. He removed to Union county, Ohio, and then turned his attention to ag- ricultural pursuits, and purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which he suc- cessfully operated until his life's labors were ended in death on the 22d of April, 1858. It was on the 14th of December, 1809, that he had wedded Hannah Butler, and unto them were born nine children : Amy M., who was born August 22, 1810, became the wife of Philip S. Fay, and died May 4, 1864 ; Harriet A., born August 15, 1813, married Jonathan Reynolds and died about 1860. Lucy M., born November 6, 1815, became the wife of John Stooks, and departed this life March 10, 1888; Mariette, born February 9, 1818, is the wife of Michael Sager, and resides upon a farm in Union county, Ohio. James, born August 31, 1821, was married October 20, 1842, to Emily Abbott, and died May II, 1896. It was in his honor that the town of DeLand was named, and he took the contract for the building of the Champaign & Havana branch of the Illinois Central Railroad which ran through that place. Charles, born September 3, 1823, was married April 7, 1846, to Elizabeth A. Eaton, of Madison county, Ohio. He is now a retired farmer of Wymore, Nebraska. Edward, born Feb- ruary II, 1827. married Elizabeth McCloud on the 5th of July, 1853, and is now assistant secretary of the Farmers' Loan and Trust Company of Sioux City, Iowa. Hannah, born April 29, 1831, was married October 12, 1848, to Ross Mitchell. She is now a widow and she and her children reside with her brother, George, who completes the fam- ily. .
Mr. DeLand is a native of Rutland, Rut- land county, Vermont, his birth having there occurred on the 19th of October, 1832. The same city was also the birthplace of his par- ents, Squire and Hannah (Butler) DeLand, the former born on the 19th of December, 1788, and the latter on the 27th of August, 1794. The father of our subject pursued a common-school education in Rutland and In one of the old log schoolhouses of then entered upon his business career there Ohio, seated with slab benches and supplied
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with other primitive furnishings, George De- Land pursued his education through three months of the winter term. In the summer seasons his attention was given to the farm work, and he gave his father the benefit of his assistance until he had attained his ma- jority. In the meantime, however, he taught school for three winter seasons. In early manhood he was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Ellen A. Converse, and the wedding took place November 3, 1853. She is a daughter of Darius and Lois M. (Smith) Converse. On leaving her parents' home, she went to the home of her husband upon a rented farm near Plain City, Ohio, where he lived for about seven years, carry- ing on agricultural pursuits in a successful manner.
He tlen turned his attention to merchan- dising in Chuchery, Union county, Ohio, in 1860, and was thus engaged until the out- break of the Civil war, when in response to his country's call he joined the army, enlist- ing on the 16th of August, 1862, as a mem- ber of Company I, One Hundred and Thirty- first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He partici- pated in the battle of Champion Hill and Perryville on the 8th of October, 1862; the battle of Chickamauga, September 20, 1863 : Lookout Mountain, November 20, 1863, and the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, on the 22d of June, 1864. In the engagement at Chick -. amauga he was wounded in the back and side, and for two months lay in the hospital. He then returned to the army just in time to participate in the battle of Kenesaw Moun- tain, where he was again wounded. He was first struck in the leg and, while trying to stop the flow of blood from that wound, he was again struck by rebel lead, this time in the shoulder. The injuries there sustained were the cause of his discharge on the 24th
of February, 1865. Being unable for furth- er field duty he was mustered out at Colum- bus, Ohio, and for two years after returning to his home lie was unable to walk save with the aid of crutches. For a long period his health was so impaired that he could not work, but ultimately he obtained a position in a railroad office at Union City, Indiana, where he remained for two years.
On the expiration of that period Mr. De Land rented a tract of land near Union City, where he resided until 1881, when he came to White Heath, Piatt county, Illinois. Here he erected a store building and stocked it with a general line of goods, carrying on the business for two years. His store was then destroyed by fire, after which he pur- chased two blocks of ground in 1885, and began raising small fruits. He has since fol- lowed this pursuit, and the products of his place find a ready sale upon the market be- cause he has so effectively labored to raise fruits of superior size and flavor. In addi- tion to this work he carries the mail on the rural route from White Heath, and though now seventy-one years of age, is covering twenty-eight miles daily in this work, hav- ing performed this service for the past two years.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. DeLand have been born five children: Linda, born June 26, 1855, died October 17, 1859; Ernest, who was born February 2, 1857, was married February 4, 1877, to Mary E. Alexander, and died August 7, 1896, while his widow is now living in White Heath; Edward R., born March 5, 1862, was married August 10, 1883, to Etta Teats, and is now telegraph operator on the Illinois Central Railroad at Maroa, Illinois; Lola M., born June 9, 1867, is the wife of B. R. White, one of the most successful farmers of Piatt county; Earl,
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born May 8, 1878, was married February 23, 1901, to Minnie Perry, and they are now liv- ing with his father in White Heath.
In his political views Mr. DeLand is a stalwart Republican, unfaltering in support of the principles of the party, and he is now serving as town clerk and also owns the township right on the White self-operating farm gate, handling the same throughout Sangamon township. George DeLand, the father, votes with the Republican party, and for some time has been notary public, while for twelve years he has filled the position of justice of the peace. About eighteen years ago he built the house in which he now lives, it being one of the pleasant homes of White Heath. He and his family are all members of the Universalist church, and he belongs to Franklin Post, No. 256, G. A. R., of Mon- ticello. In days of peace he is as loyal to the old flag as he was when he followed it upon the southern. battle-fields, and in matters of citizenship he is ever public-spirited and pro- gressive, taking a deep and helpful interest in whatever pertains to the general progress and improvement.
HENRY H. GILMORE.
Henry H. Gilmore, a practical and en- terprising farmer residing on section 32, Goose Creek township, owns and operates four hundred and eighty acres of land in this county, constituting one of the valuable and highly improved farms in this locality. His possessions have been acquired through his own efforts and as the result of his consecu- tive endeavor he has won a place among the substantial citizens of his adopted county. He claims Illinois as his native state, for he
was born near Canton on the 5th of October, 1840.
His father, William Gilmore, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1782, and during boyhood, removed with his parents to Pickaway coun- ty, Ohio, where, after reaching man's estate, he was married to Miss Addie Vandolah. He followed farming there until 1836, when he 'came to Illinois and took up his residence in McLean county, where he engaged in the same occupation for two years. His next home was near Canton, where he purchased two hundred acres of land, and continued to operate that place up to within a few years of his death, which occurred on the 10th of November, 1870. When this farm came in- to his possession it was all wild and unim- proved, but he transformed it into a highly cultivated and very desirable place. He served in the war of 1812, under the com- mand of General Harrison, and was ever a patriotic and loyal citizen, devoted to the best interests of his country. His first wife died about eight years after their marriage, leaving three children, namely : James, who died in 1877; Sarah Ann, who died in 1882; and Amanda, who died in 1880. About 1820 he wedded Jane Pinkerton, by whom he had one child, Ada Jane, now the widow of David Bennett and a resident of Oregon. This wife survived the birth of her daugh- ter only a short time, and for his third wife Mr. Gilmore married Sophia P. White in 1835, and to them were born four children, as follows: Eliza, who died in infancy ; Wil- liam Milton, now a resident of Lincoln, Ne- braska; Henry H., of this sketch; and Elizabeth M., who died in 1887.
The primary education of our subject was obtained in subscription schools, but in 1850 he commenced attending a free school --- the first in this part of the country, and in
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1859 he entered Lombard University at Galesburg, Illinois. After his graduation he entered upon the more practical duties of business life as a farmer upon rented land, his property at that time consisting of only one team, but he met with success in this un- dertaking, and in a short time had put him- self on a firm footing, being able to have all the teams necessary and everything required to carry on his farming operations. He lived economically, was careful and painstaking, and worked incessantly, almost day and night, never losing an opportunity to make an hon- est dollar. After six or seven years had passed, he was able in this way to purchase three hundred and twenty acres of land on section 32, Goose Creek township, Piatt county, which he has farmed almost contin- uously since. From 1872 until 1879, how- cver, he was obliged to part with the same during the panic at that time, but in 1880 he bought it back and has since added to it un- til he now has four hundred and eighty acres, besides a sixty-acre tract in Fulton county, and considerable city property in Can- ton, Illinois. He is also a stockholder and director of both the First National Bank of Farmer City and the State Bank of DeLand, and is numbered among the wealthiest farm- ers of Piatt county. When his present farm came into his possession it was in a wild state, not a furrow having been turned, or an improvement made thereon, but he soon broke the land, erected a good residence and several barns, and has since built another house. He has also expended several thou- sand dollars in tiling and draining the land, has divided the farm into fields of forty or eighty acres by well-kept fences, and has set out orchards, a new one being three acres in extent, and to-day he has one of the most valuable, well-cultivated and highly improved places in this part of the state.
At Canton, Illinois, in 1870, Mr. Gil- more led to the marriage altar Miss Mary Jane Chambers, a daughter of Rev. John R. Chambers, a Methodist Episcopal minister, who died in Hamilton county, Illinois, about thirteen years ago. Six children were born of this union, namely : Arthur B. and Fran- cis, both of whom died in infancy; Charles. who married Othela Spratt and is engaged in farming in Goose Creek township; Ora Raymond, who was drowned when about one year old; Bertha, who was born July 2, 1893, and is with her parents; and Estella M., who died at the age of one year. While the son, Charles Gilmore, was taking part in a charivari at the home of Daniel Horsh, an accident occurred, the blame of which fell upon him. The matter was brought up in the courts in 1900, where jugment was ren- dered against him for fifteen hundred dollars, and this was afterward affirmed by the ap- pelate court, but when carried into the su- preme court by the state the decision was re- versed and the son's name was cleared of disgrace, the other parties being beaten on the entire three points of the law. The suit cost our subject over three thousand dollars, but he has never regretted the money thus expended.
In his political views Mr. Gilmore is a pronounced Republican, and he has been called upon to serve his fellow citizens as school director twelve years, school trustee the same length of time, and also as road ov- erseer. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are people of prominence in the community where they reside. Mr. Gilmore is a man of recog- nized ability, and his success in life is due en- tirely to his own well-directed efforts and ca- pable management. He is widely and favor- ably known throughout this section of the state, and deserves prominent mention among
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the leading and representative citizens of his adopted county.
C. H. ASHMORE.
C. H. Ashmore, who is residing on sec- tion 36, Blue Ridge township, was born in New Jersey, on the 23d of January, 1848, and is a son of Jabez and Keziah ( Reeder) Ashmore, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, having been born in Bucks county. After their marriage they removed to Trenton, New Jersey, and settled in Mer- cer county, where the subject of this review was born. Jabez Ashmore was a blacksmith by trade and followed that pursuit for a long period. When the son, C. H. Ashmore, was two or three years of age, he removed with his family to Lena, Miami county, Ohio, where he established a blacksmith shop and carried on business for a time. He after- ward removed to Plattsville, Shelby county, Ohio, where he made his home for six years and then passed away at the age of thirty- five. His widow still survives him at the age of seventy-eight years, and has always remained true to his memory. This worthy couple were the parents of six children, four of whom are yet living, but none reside in Piatt county save the subject of this review.
C: H. Ashmore attended the schools of Shelby county, Ohio, for a time, and after the death of his father the mother removed with her family to Fletcher, Miami county, Ohio, where the son completed his education, his knowledge, however, being more largely acquired through reading and observation in later years than through mental discipline in the schoolroom. The first school which he attended was an old log building seated
with slab benches and with a puncheon floor. Around the wall was a writing desk nailed to the logs. The first teacher was a Mr. Heat, who is yet living at the advanced age of.about ninety years. After completing his education Mr. Ashmore began working, . starting out for himself when eleven years of age as a farm hand. The first six years he was bound out, receiving no compensation for his labors but his board and clothing, and the latter was of a very poor quality. The first wages he ever earned was twenty-five dollars a month, a high price for those days. He was industrious and energetic, however, and as the years passed he added to the sum of money which he was enabled to save in his early years. In November, 1865, he came to the west, going first to Secor, Woodford county, Illinois, where he remained until the winter of 1878-9. During this period he worked as a farm hand for twenty dollars per month, and later he operated a ditching ma- chine for a number of years. In 1871 he be- gan farming and rented land in Roanoke township, Woodford county, where he pur- chased forty acres, this being the first land that he ever owned. In the latter part of De- cember, 1878, he came to Piatt county, es- tablishing his home in Blue Ridge township, after the first three months, which were passed in Champaign county. He then bought eighty acres of land in Blue Ridge township, which was unimproved with the exception of a little shanty which had been built thereon. He then planted all of the shade trees, as well as the orchard, has built a good house and substantial barns and out- buildings. His attention has been given to the raising of grain and stock.
On the IIth of March, 1869, Mr. Ash- more was united in marriage to Miss Bernice Jane Bullington, a resident of Eureka,
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Woodford county, Illinois, and a daughter of Robert and Mary Bullington, who were early settlers of Woodford county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ashmore have been born three children : Ora, who married Miss Lydia E. Knupp, of Mansfield, Illinois, and has three children-Amy Fern, Leslie C., and Eulalia Ruth, the family home being in Blue Ridge township, where Ora is engaged in farming ; Bertie Lewis, who died at the age of three years ; and Carrie A., wife of S. E. Smith, of Sterling, Colorado.
Mr. and Mrs. Ashmore are consistent members of the Brethren church, and his po- litical support is given the Democracy. He is now serving his twenty-first year as a school director, and the cause of education finds in him a warm friend who is deeply in- terested in the advancement of the schools and has done much for their progress. His career has been creditable and his success is the just reward of his capable management and unremitting labor. Starting out in life at the early age of eleven years, and since de- pending upon his own resources, he has steadily worked his way upward, overcom- ing all difficulties that have barred his path to the goal of success.
D. F. WYMAN.
D. F. Wyman is one of the more recent additions to the business circles of Mansfield, but during his residence here has given proof of his diligence and energy in the conduct of the lumberyard of which he is now the pro- prietor. Mr. Wyman was born in Essex county, New York, on the 9th of April, 1849, and is a son of Daniel and Anna ( Phelps)
Wyman, also natives of Essex county, the former born on the 6th of April, 1816, while the mother's birth occurred in Essex county, on the 6th of July, 1825. The father was a millwright by trade, and followed that pur- suit for some time, but during the last twen- ty-five years of his business career engaged in milling.
To the public school system of Crown Point, New York, D. F. Wyman is indebted for the educational privileges which he re- ceived. He continued to reside in the east until 1883. when he came to the Mississippi valley, establishing his home in Iowa. He afterward removed to Nebraska in 1887, and there engaged in the lumber business, contin- uing in the trade there for three years. On the expiration of that period he went south, locating at Eagle Mills, Arkansas, where he became connected with the Eagle Lumber Company. For six years he was associated with that firm, and then severing his business connections in the south he came to Mans- field, Piatt county, Illinois, in order that his children might take advantage of the excel- lent school system of this city. Here he pur- chased the lumber business of W. D. Root and has since conducted his yard which is now equipped with a large stock of lumber and building materials. He has demon- onstrated his right to a share of the public patronage through honorable business meth- ods and an earnest desire to please his pa- trons, and to-day he numbers among his cus- tomers many of the best citizens of: Mans- field and the surrounding country.
On the 16th of October, 1872, Mr. Wy- man was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Barnett, and unto them have been born four children, all of whom are yet living: Orin, who was born September 25, 1873, was grad- uated in the public schools of Davenport
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Iowa, and is now assistant manager of the Eagle Lumber Company at Eagle Mills, Ar- kansas. Charles, who was born December 30, 1875, is a graduate of the schools of Crown Point, New York, and is now accept- ably serving as bookkeeper for the Crossett Lumber Company of Crossett, Arkansas; Florence, born June 24, 1883, is yet with her parents. Wallace, born June 13, 1890, is now a student in the schools of Mansfield.
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