USA > Illinois > Piatt County > Past and present of Piatt County, Illinois : together with biographical sketches of many prominent and influential citizens > Part 48
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Our subject entered the state of matri-
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mony in May of 1851, Mrs. Kingston's name having been Sarah M. Bunting. She was the daughter of John and Jane Bunting. Their children are as follows : Rose married Henry Purkheiser, a railroad conductor, living in Macon county, Illinois; George W. married Mary Ann Cooper and is a farmer living on section 26, Goose Creek township; Susan married James Spurling and is now de- ceased; John married a Miss Reynolds, and removed to California, where he died in 1891 ; Ansel is a farmer living near Weldon, Illinois ; Ellis married Miss Cooper and is a farmer of Goose Creek township; Virginia died at the age of eleven years.
Mr. and Mrs. Kingston are prominent and leading members of the Baptist church, in which they were ordained as deacons in 1888. For a period of twenty-seven years, both our subject and his wife have been ear- nest and enthusiastic workers in this denomi- nation, he being at the present time superin- tendent of the Baptist Sunday-school of Monticello, while she is one of the efficient teachers. The consistent Christian lives of . our subject and his wife have endeared them to a very large circle of friends in the coun- ty, among whom they are most highly re- garded.
GEORGE W. KINGSTON.
George W. Kingston, a son of John W. and Sarah M. (Bunting) Kingston, was born in Woodford county, Illinois, in 1857, and now cultivates a farm on section 26 and 35, Goose Creek township, Piatt county. He re- ceived his education in the common schools of Piatt county, and resided on the home farm until he had attained his majority. In Feb- ruary. 1879, he was happily joined in mar-
riage to Mary Ann, daughter of Joshua and Martha ( Rainwater) Cooper. Mrs. King- ston's parents were leading farmers of Gocse Creek township. Her father entered the army during the Civil war as a member of Compa- ny D, Seventy-third Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, and after a period of service was stricken with disease and died. A short time later the mother also died, Mrs. Kingston being thus left an orphan at the tender age of three years. The other members of the fam- ily were: James F., a stockbuyer of Kansas, and Martha E., who is the wife of John Laka, a farmer and storekeeper residing at Breeze, Missouri.
To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. King- ston have been born five children, as follows : all of whom still reside at home: Alva E., Dora V., Bertha, Ray and Carl. After our subject's marriage, he rented a portion of his father's farm and met with such success in its cultivation that he was soon enabled to buy the quarter section adjoining, on which he now resides. On this farm he has erected a modern farm house and large barn, has tiled the entire place thoroughly, and has it under a high state of cultivation. He is re- garded as one of the best farmers in the coun- ty, being particularly careful in the use of good stock and up-to-date machinery. He carries on general farming, and demon- strates that care given to such an occupation will make it pay.
In the field of politics Mr. Kingston sup- ports the principles of Jefferson and Jack- son, and has been school director of his dis- trict for the past twelve years. He and his wife are prominent members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, taking an active part in all the work of that organization. They are most highly esteemed in their local com- munity.
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OLIVER M. MARTIN.
One of the younger representatives of ag- ricultural interests in Piatt county is Oliver M. Martin, who resides on section 34, Goose Creek township. The birth of Mr. Martin occurred in Piatt county, November 29, 1868. His father was William S. Martin, his mother Jane M. Chandler. The former was born in the Hoosier state, November 9, 1835, and at eighteen years came west to De- Witt county, Illinois, where he passed three years on a rented farm. In 1856, he bought eighty acres of prairie in Piatt county, to which he later added another eighty acres, and at the end of fifteen years owned a half section. He continued to cultivate this body of land successfully until 1894, when he passed a year in Bloomington, and then set- tled in Monticello. Here he resided for the following four years, and after a trip to Cal- ifornia moved to Weldon, Illinois, where he died October 25, 1901. He was a man of sturdy qualities and of patriotic mold, hav- ing served his country loyally during the Civil war as a member of Company B, One Hundred and Seventh Illinois Volunteer In- fantry. His wife, whom he married Febru- ary 28, 1866, was a daughter of Hiram and Rachel (Manlove) Chandler. She became the mother of six children : Ettie M., resides with her mother in Weldon; Oliver M. is the second child ; Edgar O. is a farmer of Goose Creek township; Luther died at two years; Wenford B. is a practicing physician at Free- port, Illinois; Manford R. is a student of medicine in the College of Physician and Surgeons of Chicago.
schools of the county and lived dutifully at home until he was twenty years old. He then went to California with the intention of making that state his home, but after an eight months' period on his uncle, Wilbur F. Chandler's ranch, he was cured of his west- ern fever and returned to his native state.
Here, on the 4th of June, 1891, Mr. Mar- tin was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Ennis, who is also a native of Illinois, and they now have five children, namely : Erma F., Gladys E., Bernice, William Lawrence and Granville N. William H. Ennis, the father of Mrs. Martin, was born in Mary- land in 1837, and in early life came west, lo- cating in Sazewell county, Illinois. He was married at Pekin in 1866 to Sarah E. Houk, who died two or three years later, leaving one child, James E., now a minister at Cat- lin, Illinois. For his second wife Mr. Ennis married Martha Jane Houk, who was born in Tazewell county in 1847, and they now make their home on a farm in Willow Branch township, Piatt county. The children born of this union are : William D., a farmer of Macon county; Mrs. Martin; Thomas J., a farmer near Kanawha, Iowa; Mary E., Mrs. Emery McGinnis, of Piatt county, Illi- nois; Louie J., wife of Carmi Parrish, of Macon county ; Ira Lee, a farmer of Sullivan, Illinois; Handy M., of Glenhaven, Illinois; Cora E., now Mrs. Clarence Pease, of Cisco. Illinois ; and Lester C., who resides with his parents. The father of this family was a sol- dier of the Civil war, having enlisted in Au- gust, 1862, in Company B, One Hundred and Seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
After the marriage of Mr. Martin, he set- tled on a rented farm in DeWitt county, where he passed three years, and then rented the old home place from his father, where
Oliver M. Martin, since his father's death, has resided on the home place, which is regarded as one of the fine farms of the county. He was educated in the public , he has since resided. Here he carries on gen-
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eral farming, and has made a specialty of raising blooded cattle of the polled Angus breed. Mr. Martin has also a fine reputation as a dealer in thoroughbred horses, he hav- ing but recently purchased a car load of splendid animals in the famous state of Ken- tucky. Upon his settlement upon the old home place, he began systematically to put it in splendid condition, remodeling the house, fencing the entire place with a good wire fence, and adding many new outbuildings. He is now the owner of the farm, together with other lands, making in all three hundred and twenty acres.
The character of his citizenship has been such as to secure to him and his family the respect and esteem of the whole country side. In politics he favors the principles of the Re- publican party, and he is a liberal supporter of the Presbyterian church, of which his wife is a· faithful member.
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CHARLES F. WEILEPP.
Through forty-five years Charles Fleet- man Weilepp has been a resident of central Illinois and is one of the venerable citizens of Piatt county, his mind bearing the impress of the early historical annals of this part of the state. He has passed the eightieth mile- stone on life's journey, having been born on the 9th of December, 1819, in Prussia. His parents were Christopher and Hannah Weil- epp, and the father was a farmer by occupa- tion, following that pursuit throughout his entire business career. He and his wife died in the fatherland, her death occurring before the emigration of her son Charles F. to the new world.
Weilepp was reared and educated and in 1851 he crossed the Atlantic to America, be- lieving that he might have better business opportunities in the new world than could be obtained in the older countries of Europe. He landed in New York with only fifty cents in his pocket. He had made the voyage in the sailing vessel Idelphia, which weighed anchor in the harbor of Bremen on the 6th of June and reached the harbor of New York on the 24th of August, 1851. He exper- ienced pleasant weather and a voyage which was without danger. Mr. Weilepp did not tarry long in the east, but started at once for the interior of the country, making his way to Rush county, Ohio, where he remained for about six or seven years. It was neces- sary that he secure immediate employment for he was without funds, and he first worked at daily labor. He was afterward employed at farm work and in 1858 he came to Illinois, settling in Macon county upon a tract of rented land. Thus he began farming upon his own account, and' for ten years followed that pursuit at his first location. As the years passed Mr. Weilepp prospered in his under- taking, gaining a comfortable competence, and in agricultural circles he was well known as a leading representative of that line of business activity. In 1885 he left the home farm and came to Cisco, where he has since lived with his son.
Mr. Weilepp was married in Prussia about sixty-four years ago, the lady of his choice being Christina Hyer, who was born in Prussia and who was long a faithful com- panion and helpmate to his on life's journey. They became the parents of nine children : Minnie, who is now the widow of Samuel Smith and resides in St. John's, Kansas; Charles. deceased; Edward, who is also liv-
In the land of his nativity Charles F. ing in St. John's; David, who resides in
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Maroa, Illinois; Laura, who is the widow of John McKinley and makes her home at Forsyth : William and Samuel, who have passed away ; Frank S., with whom our sub- ject makes his home ; and John, who died in - Ohio. The mother of these children depart- ed this life in 1870, dying in Macon county. She had gained many friends during her residence in this part of the state, and her loss was therefore deeply and widely mourned.
Mr. Weilepp, of this review, was one of the early settlers of Macon county, and as- sisted in breaking a great amount of new land there and in otherwise reclaiming the district for cultivation and improvement. He resided in that county for twenty-six years, but has spent his later years at the home of his son in Cisco, living retired. Mr. Weilepp cast his first presidential vote for Abra- ham Lincoln, but since that time has sup- ported the Democracy, and is unfaltering in his allegiance to its principles, for he believes its platform contains the best elements of good government. He is a member of the German Lutheran church, to, which his wife also belonged, and has lived an earnest Christian life, doing unto others as he would have them do unto him, making the most of his opportunities, and at all times giving his influence for improvement along lines of benefit to the entire community.
FRANK S. WEILEPP.
of these, being to-day extensively engaged in the purchase and sale of grain, having a large elevator in Cisco. He is a native son of central Illinois, and is imbued with the spirit of enterprise and progress which has been the dominant factor in the development and permanent improvement of this section of the state. He was born in Macon county on the Ist of June, 1862, and acquired his early education in the common schools. His youth was spent in working upon his father's farm, where he early became familiar with the labors of field and meadow and continued under the parental roof until eighteen years of age, when he went to Forsyth and em- barked in the grain business. About 1882 he arrived in Cisco, where he began buying grain for the firm of Day, Sons & Company, with whom he remained for about seven years, when he purchased his employer's in- terests in the business in connection with. M. Croninger. Since that time Mr. Weilepp has enjoyed a very prosperous career, meet- ing with gratifying success in his undertak- ings. The elevator has a capacity of about forty thousand bushels, the granary in con- nection about thirty thousand and the total capacity of elevator, granary and cribs is about one hundred thousand bushels of grain. This is a well equipped plant, of which Mr. Weilepp is sole owner. The valuation of his business property is fifteen thousand dollars, and he is to-day regarded as one of the lead- ing representatives of the grain trade in this . part of the state. His operations are quite extensive and his business furnishes an excel- lent market for producers so that his work is of value to the community as well as a source of good income to himself. Mr. Weilepp is also a stockholder in the bank owned by the late M. Croninger. He likewise owns about
The broad prairies of Illinois furnished splendid opportunities to the agriculturist who annually harvests good crops of grain. Because of this there has sprung up various industries of a kindred nature and Mr. Weil- epp, of this review is a representative of one twenty-five acres of land near Cisco, and one
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hundred and sixty acres in Macon county. He also leases and sublets about a section of land, and has some valuable real estate hold- ings, besides those already mentioned. He has a good residence in Cisco which he occu- pies and another which he rents, and alto- gether his property possessions represent large investments and indicate something of the success which has come to him in reward for his life work.
On February 1, 1883, Mr. Weilepp was united in marriage to Miss Ada F. Nogle, a native of Illinois, and this union has been blessed with eight children, namely : Lela N., Carl N., Edward S., Louise M., Eva F., Laura, Paul and Max. Mr. Weilepp is a Democrat in politics. He regards it the duty as well as the privilege of every American citizen to exercise his right of franchise unrestricted by a political ring. and he reserves to himself the right which he grants to others of forming an un- biased opinion. Socially, he is quite prominent. He has taken the three degrees of the blue lodge of Masonry at Weldon, also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias fraternity, and in the last two has held office. He has served as a member of the town board of Cisco, and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Having spent his entire life in this section of Illinois, he is well known. The qualities of an up- right manhood are his, and his reliabiltiy in business and his trustworthiness in every relation of life make him respected by all with whom he is associated. In business cir- cles he sustains an enviable reputation, and is recognized as a man of energy and enter- prise. He has ever conducted his affairs along progressive lines and commands uniform confidence.
OTTO LUBBERS.
One of the thrifty Germans of the county who has made a splendid success at farming is Otto Lubbers, residing at the present time on section 33. Goose Creek township. He was born March 9, 1846, in the fatherland. His father was Reemt Lubbers, his mother Dena Bookhoff. They came to this coun- try in 1870 and purchased a farm near Mani- to, Illinois, where they lived for a period of four years, and then purchased a quarter sec- tion in Logan county. The father died on this farm in his sixty-third year, having survived his wife for a time. They were the parents of Eike, a farmer of Goose Creek township; Fannie, wife of Chris Roos, a Logan county farmer; Otto, the subject of this sketch; George, a farmer near Enden, Illinois; Net- tie. Mrs. Harm Hohlfs, residing in Logan county ; and Dena, wife of John . Roos, a Goose Creek township farmer.
The education of Otto Lubbers was ac- quired in Germany, where he continued to reside until his twenty-second year. In 1868 he came to America and settled on what was then known as the Sculley land in Logan county, Illinois, where he purchased a quarter section. After five years he sold this farm and came to Piatt county, where he purchased the farm of two hundred and eighty acres on which he now resides, paying therefor thirty dollars per acre. To the original purchase Mr. Lubbers has added two hundred acres, constituting him one of the largest farmers in the county. He has made many improve- ments upon his place. In 1892 he erected a handsome residence on the site of the old frame house, and the previous year built a good barn for all purposes, good sheds and granary. Near the house stands a splendid orchard planted by his hand, while wind-
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mills draw water from wells which have been sunk at different times. The farms are all thoroughly tiled and ditched, and in all their appointments are among the up-to-date farms of the county.
Prior to 1873 the wife of our subject was Miss Kate Remmers. She was the daughter of Jurko and Wendelke (Tenhove) Rem- mers, and is the mother of nine children : Dena married Lewis Meyer, and resides on section 32, Goose Creek township; Winnie is the wife of Jurgen Weets, also residing on section 32; Fannie is Mrs. Christ Lubbers, who resides on section 31 ; Reemt is a young man at home; Jurko, Kate and Otto are at home.
Mr. Lubbers and his family are consistent members and supporters of the Baptist church, of which he is one of the trustees. To this church they have given many of the best years of their life, he being at the present time secretary of the church, and superin- tendent of the Sunday-school, in which the wife is also a teacher. In political affiliation, Mr. Lubbers votes with the Democratic par- ty, though he does not aspire to the emolu- ments of office. Men, as well as trees, are judged by their fruit. The life of our sub- ject has been singularly fruitful in good works and deeds, and the splendid Christian character which he has built up in his home community wields a powerful and beneficient influence.
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CASPER WACK.
Casper Wack is one of the well-known stock-raisers of Piatt county, his home be- ing in Blue Ridge township. He was born September 20, 1850, in Canton township, Fulton county, Illinois, a son of Casper and
Mary Jane (Linaberg)" Wack. The father was a farmer and carpenter by occupation, following both pursuits. The subject of this review was reared on the old family home- stead in Fulton county, Illinois, and acquired his early education there, pursuing his studies in the Mound schoolhouse, which is still standing and is yet used for educational pur- poses. In the summer months Mr. Wack as- sisted in the labors of the fields, and thus early gained practical experience of farm work. When he was twenty years of age his father began paying him wages. He received twenty dollars per month in compensation for his services, and he worked in this man- ner for his father for one year, at the end of which time they entered into partnership relations. They raised and bought consid- erable stock and as the result of their stock- dealing they prospered. Both were men of good business ability and marked energy, and their capable management and strong determination enabled them to progress along lines of their chosen occupation.
On the 4th of September, 1878, Mr. Wack was united in marriage to Lizzie Ash- by; a daughter of Jeremiah and Ann (Mc- Kee) Ashby, of Hamilton county, Indiana, where Mrs. Wack was born September 13, 1851. Her parents died there many years ago. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wack were born three children: Garrett J., born July 23, 1879, is now living with his father; Wallace, born February 23, 1881, married Miss Millie Baker and they have two children; and Emery, born September 3, 1883, is yet at home. There is also an adopted child, Leo, born on the 27th of January, 1897.
Mr. Wack now devotes his attention al- most exclusively to the raising of stock of various kinds. He perhaps pays more atten- tion to Poland China hogs than any other,
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but he has large numbers of cattle and horses upon his place. At the present time he has nineteen head of horses and mules, and he feeds annually about forty head of cattle, all of which he ships to the Chicago markets. He buys stock cattle in Kansas City, and be- ing an excellent judge of farm animals he is thus enabled to invest his money so that his sales bring to him good financial returns. He feeds almost all of the grain which he raises to his stock, and yet he annually harvests good crops for his fields are rich and produc- tive, returning to him excellent harvests. Mr. Wack lives upon a rented farm in Piatt county, but he owns a good tract of land in Hamilton county, Iowa, near Webster City.
In his political views he is an earnest Democrat, and has held some minor offices, having served as school director in his town- ship for six years, while for nine years he was a trustee. He belongs to the Masonic frater- nity, holding membership in Mansfield Lodge No. 773. The beneficent spirit of the craft appeals to him, and he endorses its princi- ples by active co-operation for its good. His business career has been honorable and awakens the admiration of those who know his history, for all that he possesses has been attained through his own labors.
JUDGE M. R. DAVIDSON.
Judge M. R. Davidson, who has gained distinction by capable service upon the bench and by marked ability in the trial of cases at the bar of Piatt county, now makes his home in Monticello, where he is enjoying a good practice. He was born in Macon county, Il- linois, on the 4th of April, 1847, and is a son of Baxter W. and Elizabeth (Harbaugh)
Davidson. The father was a native of Illinois and the mother of Kentucky. The parental grandfather of our subject was Samuel Da- vidson, who removed from South Carolina to this state before the admission of Illinois into the Union. Pioneer conditions were ev- erywhere prevalent and in many sections of the state new settlements had been made. He took up his abode in White county, where later his son Baxter W. Davidson was born, and with the early development and progress of his locality he was actively identified, tak- ing a helpful part in many measures which pertain to the public good.
Upon the old family homestead Baxter WV. Davidson was reared amid the wild scenes of frontier life and early became fa- miliar with the arduous task of developing and cultivating a new farm. In 1830 he re- moved to Macon county and became one of the early settlers of that locality. It, too, was a frontier district, and he entered land from the government and began its cultivation, . turning the first furrows in the fields upon what became his homestead there. For many years he carried on agricultural pursuits in Macon county and was widely known as one of the successful, progressive and enterpris- ing farmers of this portion of the state. His business career was honorable, because in all his dealings he was straightforward, never taking advantage of the necessities of his fel- low men in any trade transaction. He died at his home in the village of Mount Zion, on the 23d of January, 1899, at the advanced age of eighty-one years, one of the honored pioneers and respected citizens of the com- munity, in which he had made his home through nearly seven decades. His wife died on the Ist of March, 1867, and both lie buried in the cemeteries of Mount Zion, Il- linois. This worthy couple were the parents
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of seven children, five of whom are yet living, but the subject of this review is the only one residing in Piatt county.
Judge Davidson acquired his early edu- cation in the district schools of Mount Zion township, Macon county, and when he had mastered the branches of learning therein taught, he became a student in Mount Zion Seminary, which has since become the Milli- kin University of Decatur. He there pur- sued a classical course and for several terms. he engaged in teaching school in Macon and Shelby counties. In 1871 he entered the law office of the firm of Nelson & Roby, having formed the determination to make the prac- tice of law his life work. Both of his precep- tors are still living and Judge Nelson is yet in active practice. They carefully directed his reading and he applied himself assidu- ously to the mastery of the principles of juris- prudence. Necessity compelled him to teach again in order to replenish his depleted pock- et-book, and he taught for two years, and one year engaged in farming in the mean- time. After studying for two years he was admitted to the bar before the supreme court of Springfield in January, 1877, and has since been an active factor in professional circles of the state. He first practiced in Lovington. Illinois, as a colleague of Judge William G. Cochran, there remaining for almost three years, and in 1878 he came to the county seat of Piatt county, since which time he has lived in Monticello and has been recognized as one of its most prominent lawyers. He was a partner of Samuel R. Reed from 1882 until 1885, but with that exception has been alone in the prosecution of his profession. He prepares his cases with great diligence and care, carefully weighing every point of evi- dence until he has ascertained with correct- ness the most important points, and is thus enabled to present them with clearness and
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