USA > Illinois > Piatt County > Past and present of Piatt County, Illinois : together with biographical sketches of many prominent and influential citizens > Part 51
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sition as commander of the company, and just before the army moved he was detailed to command the pioneers of the brigade. This cut him off from active participation in the movements on the battlefield and there- fore was not pleasing to him, but as Colonel Wilder said that he had only one other man in the brigade who could get as much work out of men as Captain Kilborn, and as that man could not be spared for the position Cap- tain Kilborn was compelled to remain in that service for a time.
However, after the capture of Gurley, he was relieved of the command of pio- neers by General Crook and was detailed to command scouts to be attached to the general headquarters. In that position Ma- jor Kilborn accompanied General William S. Smith on his raid along the Mobile and Ohio Railroad to West Point and Columbus, Mississippi, and was thus often engaged in severe and perilous service. A part of the Seventy-second Regiment together with Ma- jor Kilborn's scouts were all of the Wilder Brigade that went on this expedition. Cap- tain Kilborn was promoted to the majority of his regiment November 9, 1864, and served with credit until the close of the war. He went with General Wilson on his famous raid through Alabama and Georgia, result- ing in the capture of Selma and Montgom- ery in Alabama, of Columbus and Macon in Georgia. From the latter place the com- mand was ordered home and the Seventy- second was mustered out in June, 1865 ..
While Major Kilborn was in the field faithfully performing his duty to his coun- try, and doing everything possible for the preservation of the Union, his wife was caring for their little family at home, and by her economy and industry she had bought a house and lot in the village of Ladoga, In-
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diana, and had almost completed the pay- ments thereon. After the Major's return they traded this property for a quarter sec- tion of land in Shelby county, Illinois, and removed there in the fall of 1895. The fol- lowing year they went to Marion county, Illinois, and as Major Kilborn had not pros- pered in his agricultural pursuits he again became connected with educational work as principal of a graded school. Through many years he continued to follow the pro- fession and won high standing among its representatives in this section of Illinois. He was principal of the schools of Marshall, Il- linois, for seven years, and his name was prominently mentioned as a candidate for superintendent of public instruction at the Prohibition convention at Bloomington, in 1882. In the schoolroom he closely studied the needs and requirement of the situations and planned for the furtherance of the schools and the permanent improvement of the educational systems of the various local- ities in which he was located. His own zeal in the work inspired the teachers who came under his guidance and he won for himself a prominent position in educational circles.
In 1900 Major Kilborn became a resi- dent of Monticello, and here he is now well known as a representative of journalistic interests, being the senior member of the firm of L. S. Kilborn & Son, editors and pro- prietors of the Monticello Pilot, which he publishes in the interests of the Republican party. It is a bright entertaining journal and its editorials from the pen of Major Kilborn show comprehensive understanding of the questions which affect the state and national welfare. He has always been a flu- ent and ready writer, a master of the art of rhetoric, and yet one whose language is but the adornment for keen thought and decis-
ive logic. His life has been all that is exem- plary of the unright and therefore truly great citizen. He has favored progress, reform and improvement, and has labored as earn- estly for the welfare of his country in times of peace as when he followed the starry ban- ner of the nation upon the battlefields of the south.
CHARLES EDWARD ENGLAND.
Charles E. England, one of the most pro- gressive and successful agriculturists of Piatt county, is the owner of a valuable farm of several hundred acres in Goose Creek township, and his management of the estate is marked by the scientific knowledge and skill which characterize the modern farmer. A native of this county, he was born on sec- tion 4, Goose Creek township, on the 9th of April, 1866, and is a son of A. T. and Har- riet (Plunk) England. His paternal grand- father was Rey. John England, a minister of the Christian church, who was engaged in preaching the gospel through this section of the state for many years, his home being in Sangamon and Logan counties most of the time. He was also a mechanic and fol- lowed farming to some extent.
A. T. England. the father of our sub- ject, was born in Sangamon county, but was principally reared in Logan county. whither his parents removed when he was quite young. He received a good common- school education and throughout his active business life successfully engaged in farm- ing, but is now living a retired life in Monti- cello, Piatt county. He was married in 1865.
Mr. England, of this review, attended first the public schools of Monticello, and later became a student at the State Univer-
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sity at Champaign, where he remained for two years. His school life being ended in 1884, he returned home and on attaining his majority, began life for himself by oper- ating a farm which was formerly owned by his father. He has since devoted his time and energies almost exclusively to agri- cultural pursuits, and has made his home in the neighborhood where he now resides. In his undertakings he has met with remarka- ble success and his landed estate now amounts to eleven hundred and twenty-six acres, all in Goose Creek township. His crops consist principally of corn, oats and hay, and he is also engaged in the feeding of stock for market, shipping from three to four carloads of hogs each year. He also raises some very nice colts for the market. Mr. England's home is a beautiful place, his splendid residence being well and taste- fully furnished. The farm buildings are neat and substantial and a beautiful grove near the house adds to its attractive appearance. There are also fine orchards and many kinds of small fruit on the place, the land is under a high state of cultivation, and in fact it is one of the model farms of the locality. Mr. England is a stockholder and vice president of the First National Bank of DeLand, and is a man of marked business and executive ability.
In 1893 he was united in marriage to Miss Esta M. Fitzwater, and to them have been born four children, namely : Leland, now eight years of age; Helen, five; Dor- othy, three; and Herbert, a year and a half. Both Mr. and Mrs. England are members of the Christian church, and he is also iden- tified with the Blue lodge of the Masonic fraternity at DeLand, and the Twentieth Century Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of the same place. By his ballot he supports the
men and measures of the Republican party, and takes an active interest in public affairs, giving his support to every enterprise for the public good, and materially aiding in the ad- vancement of all social, educational and moral interests.
JOHN F. MCGINNIS.
John F. McGinnis, who is successfully engaged in the operation of a nice farm on section 10, Willow Branch township, Piatt county, was born on the 5th of March, 1857, in Owen county, Indiana, and is a son of John H. and Marinda (Hinkle) McGinnis. The father was also a native of that state, where he was reared and educated in much the usual manner of farmer boys of his time, and he made his home with his parents, Elisha and Amelia Abigail McGinnis, until grown. They were originally from Ken- tucky and of Scotch-Irish descent, our sub- ject's great-grandparents having come to this country from the north of Ireland.
On the 2d of January, 1851, was cele- brated the marriage of John H. McGinnis and Miss Marinda Hinkle and to them were born ten children, as follows: Amelia A., now the wife of C. C. Bales, a farmer of De- Witt county, Illinois ; Emily Jane, who died at the age of two years; Elisha, who died in 1896; John F., of this review; James H., who died August II, 1888; Jesse B., who died May 23, 1893, leaving a wife and three children: George R., who died March 5, 1901, leaving a wife and five children; Thomas Lee, who is married and is engaged in the draying business in Cisco; Emory S., a farmer of Cisco; Charles P., who died Jan- uary 21, 1891.
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After his marriage the father of our sub- ject continued to reside in Indiana until 1868, when he came to Illinois and located two miles west of Weldon in DeWitt county, where he rented land and engaged in farm- ing quite successfully for some time. Later he removed to the farm on which his son now resides, and in 1881 purchased the place which was then known as the William Coleman farm and consisted of seventy- eight acres. He erected thereon new build- ings, fenced and tiled the land, and made many other substantial improvements. At an early day he raised considerable wheat, but for the past twenty years there has been very little of that grain produced in Piatt county, corn and oats being the principal crops at the present time. Mr. McGinnis died on the 7th of January, 1895, and his wife passed away July 19, 1898, honored and respected by all who knew them. They left many friends, as well as their immediate family, to mourn their loss, for they were widely and favora- bly known.
John F. McGinnis began his education in the public schools of Indiana, and after coming to Illinois at the age of eleven years he continued to attend school here during the winter season until he attained his ma- jority. In the meantime he also gained an ex- cellent knowledge of all kinds of farm work, and to-day successfully operates the old home farm. He gives considerable atten- tion to stock-raising and usually raises about a carload of hogs each year. He never left the parental roof, and after the death of his father he took entire charge of the farm, and since his mother passed away he has also managed the household affairs. He has made many improvements on the place, and to-day has a fine bearing orchard of one hundred trees and all kinds of small
fruits. Politically, Mr. McGinnis is a stanch Democrat, and for fifteen years has most efficiently filled the office of school di- rector, being clerk of the board at the pres- ent time. He takes a deep interest in educa- tional affairs and gives his support to all measure which he believes will prove of pub- lic benefit.
ELIJAH CAMPBELL.
Elijah Campbell, who resides on section 33, Goose Creek township, owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres pleasantly located two miles north of De- Land, its neat and thrifty appearance plainly indicating his careful supervision. Substan- tial improvements are surrounded by well tilled fields, and all the accessories and con- veniences of a model farm are there found.
A native of the neighboring state of In- diana, Mr. Campbell was born in Clark coun- ty, July 7, 1840, and is a son of Turner and Isabel (Hinthorn) Campbell. The father was born in Ireland, of Scotch ancestry, and the mother was of Irish descent. Through- out life Turner Campbell followed farming and died in Indiana in 1844. Four years later his widow became the wife of John Loudenback, of Kentucky, and after residing in Indiana for a few years, they removed to Fulton county, Illinois, making their home there until 1888, when they went to How- ard county, Missouri, settling near Mob- erly, where Mrs. Loudenback died about 1892.
Mr. Campbell is one of a family of nine children, who in order of birth were as fol- lows: Isaiah died in Indiana; William died in Missouri in 1899; John died in Indiana, leaving a wife and three children, Francis
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Marion, Elizabeth and John Floyd; Oliver died when about twenty-two years of age; Isaac married Jane Ailman, a daughter of John Ailman, of Canton, Illinois, and with his wife and children is now living on a farm near Wyoming, Illinois. Alexander, who was single, disappeared from a farm near Canton, Illinois, about fifteen years ago, when forty-five years of age, and has never been heard from since; Turner died of ty- phoid fever at the age of fourteen years ; Elijah is the next of the family; and Sarah married Michael Phalen and died in Mis- souri about 1863, leaving three children. Her husband has since married again.
Elijah Campbell obtained his early edu- cation in an old-fashioned log schoolhouse in Indiana, with its puncheon floor, hewed seats and a fireplace large enough to hold a six-foot log. He attended school only through the winter season, while through the summer months he worked on the home farm from sunrise until sundown. The school also lasted all day and through the noon hours the boys cut wood, meeting on Saturdays to haul it to the building with ox teams.
In 1863 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Campbell and Miss Sarah Elizabeth Carter, of Lewiston, Fulton county, Illinois, where her parents. Jackson and Harriet Jane (Riley) Carter, made their home. She is the oldest in their family of seven children, the others being Atha, wife of James O'Brien, a farmer of Fulton county ; Eldora, wife of H. D. Porter, a grain-dealer of DeLand; Everett, also a farmer of Fulton county ; Almeda, deceased wife of Jacob Miller, a farmer ; Quincy, who is engaged in the lum- ber business at Sidell, Illinois, and Jessie wife of John Wertman, a fariner of Fulton county.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have been born twelve children: Hattie Belle, the old- est, was married in 1886 to Thomas Wise- garver, and they have one daughter, Aubra. Cora is the wife of Frank Huddleston, of Webster City, Iowa. Atha is the wife of Luther Cox, a member of the mercantile firm of Gantz '& Cox, of DeLand. Lillian is the wife of George Galliver, of Bagdad, Santa Rosa county, Florida. Both are phy- sicians and are graduates of the Harvey Medical College of Chicago. Wynona is the wife of Smith Wisegarver, a farmer of Piatt county. Pearl is the wife of Edward Hag- gard, also a farmer of this county. Ray- mond R. was recently graduated at Lom- bard College, Galesburg, Illinois, with the highest honors, being three points higher than any other graduate there during the forty-eight years of the existence of the col- lege. He has taught in a training school in Chicago, and by teaching earned the money with which to pay his way through college and meet all his expenses while there. He is. a young man of marked ability and deserves great credit for what he has accomplished. At present he is in Chicago, undecided as to what he will devote his time in the future. Turner Jackson, the next of the family, ma- ried Jennie Armstrong, a daughter of Leon- ard Armstrong, and at present is engaged in draying in DeLand, though he previously followed farming in this county. Canova died in infancy. Caddie is the wife of Oscar Moody, who follows farming near DeLand ; Wave and De Forest are both at home with their parents.
After his marriage Mr. Campbell rented a farm in Fulton county for two years, and in its cultivation was fairly successful. He then came to Piatt county and purchased eighty acres of land, which he operated for
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two years, and on disposing of that he pur- chased another tract here. Since then he has bought and sold a number of places, usually making money on the transaction, and finally purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 33, Goose Creek township. His crops are principally corn and oats, and he gives considerable attention to the breeding of pure blooded Ohio Im- proved Chester hogs, which are considered a superior breed, and in the raising of which he has met with remarkable success for sev- eral years. He usually ships from eighty. to one hundred hogs each year, and as those he raises are among the best to be found on "the market, they command the highest prices. He may well take a just pride in his success in this enterprise. He also feeds some cattle for market. His farm is under a high state of cultivation, and there is a good or- chard and many varieties of small fruit up- on it. He has erected a new house, barn and other buildings, and everything is in first- class condition.
Mr. Campbell, his wife and all his chil- dren are members of the Christian church of DeLand, and for thirty-two years he has also been connected with the Masonic order, now holding membership in DeLand Lodge, No. 812, F. & A. M. The Democratic party has always found in him a stanch supporter of its principles, and his fellow citizens recognizing his worth and ability have called upon him to fill several local offices, the du- ties of which he has most capably and satis- factorily discharged. He was road commis- sioner one term, road overseer seven years and . township treasurer twenty-two years. He is still filling the last named office, and is also school treasurer of his township. Up- right and honorable in all the relations of life, he well merits the confidence and trust reposed in him.
MALDEN O. CURRY.
To succeed where others have failed, to advance where others have retrograded indi- cates certainly thorough understanding of the business in which one is engaged together with marked capability, close application and keen sagacity. Malden O. Curry in 1890 became proprietor of a paper 'in Bement, which, previous to this time, had had various proprietors and editors, none of whom had made the journal a paying enterprise. He brought to the work strong determination, resolving that he would brook no obstacles that could be overcome by honorable and de- termined effort. He is now editor and pro- prietor of the Bement Register, which is a weekly newspaper, and the only one pub- lished in the village.
Mr. Curry was born in Moultrie county, Illinois, March 16, 1866, a son of Thomas A. and Martha A. (Davis) Curry. The father was born in Kentucky on the 22d of December, 1827, and in an early day came to Illinois, locating in Moultrie county, where he engaged in farming. During his residence in Moultrie county he drove cattle through Piatt county, taking them to market across the prairies. There were then no rail- roads through this part of 'the country, and but a few settlers, so that one could journey for miles without coming to a fence or other evidence of settlement to impede progress. By trade he was a cabinetmaker, learning the business at Sullivan, Illinois. He fol- lowed the pursuit for some years before go- ing to Missouri, in which state he resided for some time. Upon his return to Illinois he lo- cated in Shelby county, where he is yet living. His political support is given to the Democracy, and his religious faith' is that of the Christian church, with which he has long held membership. His wife, who bore the
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maiden name of Martha A. Davis, was born in Moultrie county, Illinois, April 8, 1837, and died on the 26th of August, 1900, in Shelby county, Illinois. She, too, was a member of the Christian church, and was a most estimable lady. By their marriage September 4, 1855, eight children were born, five of whom are now living, but Malden O. Curry is the only one residing in Piatt county.
Malden O. Curry spent the first six years of his life in Moultrie county, Illinois, and then accompanied his parents to Missouri, where they resided for six years, returning then to this state. He has since been a res- ident of Illinois, and in the public schools of Shelby county he acquired his early educa- tion, pursuing his studies there until fourteen years of age. He began learning his trade in 1880 in a newspaper office in the village of Stewardson, Shelby county, Illinois, where he continued for several years. He was aft- erward employed at his trade in Effingham, Altamont, Kinmundy, Chicago, Brazil, In- diana, Bloomington, Monticello, Assumption and Bement. All these places are in Illinois, with the exception of Brazil. On the 10th of January, 1890, he became editor and proprie- tor of the Bement Register, entering into partnership at this time with G. A. Burgess, of Monticello, under the firm style of M. O. Curry & Company. Later our subject formed a partnership with C. A. Burks, which con- tinued for three years, and he was afterward with F. E. Unholz until 1895, when he sold his interest to Mr. Unholz. He then pur- chased the Assumption News in Christian county, Illinois, and remained there until October, 1897, when he returned to Bement and again became owner and editor of the Be- ment Register, which he is still publishing. The office is well equipped with the latest
improved machinery needed in his line, and he turns out a high grade of work as viewed from the printer's standpoint.
On the 19th of November, 1886, Mr. Curry was united in marriage to Miss S. Olive Patton, who was born in Shelby coun- ty, Illinois, near Shelbyville, was edu- cated in that county and taught school there for several terms. Both Mr. and Mrs. Curry are devoted and active members of the Christian church and are greatly interested in temperance work, doing all in their power to suppress the evil of intoxication. Mr. Curry votes with the Prohibition party, and his wife is a member of the Woman's Chris- tian Temperance Union. Unto them have been born four children, of whom two are living : Marvella O., who was born in Chi- cago and educated in Bement ; and Lois O., who was born in Assumption, Illinois, and is now seven years of age. The other two children died in infancy. Mr. Curry holds membership in Bement Lodge, No. 199, Knights of Pythias. Through the columns of his paper he advocates every measure which he believes will prove of permanent benefit to the community.
EVAN STEVENSON.
Evan Stevenson is numbered among Piatt county's native sons for his birth oc- curred on the old home farm in Willow Branch township, September 3, 1872. He is the only son of Wilbur F. and Alice (Tall- man) Stevenson, who are mentioned on an- other page of this work. Back to a pioneer epoch in the history of Kentucky can the ancestry be traced, and his paternal great- grandfather, Job Stevenson, was not only a
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leading business man of that state, but was also a member of the legislature and aided in framing the early policy of the common- wealth. His son, Evan Stevenson, for whom the subject of this review was named, became well known in political circles and was equally prominent as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. While on the maternal side Mr. Stevenson of this review is descended from John Boggs, his grand- father, who served as major in the War of 1812, and aided in laying broad and deep the foundation for the present development of Pickaway county, Ohio; being one of its pioneer settlers.
Upon the home farm Evan Stevenson was reared and in his early youth he attend- ed the district school of the neighborhood. Later he continued his studies in the Monti- cello schools and subsequently he pursued a collegiate course as a student in the Mich- igan State University at Ann Arbor, Michi- gan, where he remained for two or three years. On account of ill health he was obliged to leave school, and returning home he be- came owner of the Monticello Bulletin, but when a year had passed he severed his con- nection with that paper and in 1898 went to Texas with the hope of benefiting his health. At that time the Spanish-American war was in progress and he joined a volunteer cav- alry company which was used in patroling border, remaining in the service four months. The state militia had gone to Cuba and it was rumored that an attempt might be made by Mexican adventurers to invade Texas.
house of the general assembly of Illinois, where he served on a number of important committees. Each question which came up for settlement received his close considera- tion and he labored in behalf of many im- provements which he believed would con- tribute to the general good. Particularly he worked for liberal appropriations for the University of Illinois, which is located in his district. His influence and efforts have extended beyond the confines of Illinois. In 1901 he went to New York city and took an active part in the campaign there in support of Edward M. Shepherd, the Tammany nominee for mayor of New York. He is a fluent and forceful speaker, logical in his ar- gument and bases his statements upon fact as shown by history and statistics. He never fails to entertain an audience and to leave an impression upon the thinking mind. Mr. Stevenson is a typical American citizen, alive to the interests and questions of the day, and to the welfare of his county, state and na- tion. Although yet a young man, his work has been felt in political circles and should he continue to give his attention to political work he can undoubtedly win success and distinction in that line. His fellow towns- men respect and admire him for what he has acomplished, and he well deserves mention in the history of Piatt county.
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