USA > Illinois > Piatt County > Past and present of Piatt County, Illinois : together with biographical sketches of many prominent and influential citizens > Part 8
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Green, and has two daughters, Effie and Dora. . Emma is the wife of John Miller, a resident of Oklahoma. Katherine is the wife of Andrew Spunseller, of Pennsylva- nia, and has six children. A. C., the young- est member of the firm, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1856, and after acquiring a good education in the schools of that state, he commenced teach- ing at the age of eighteen years and success- fully followed that profession for twenty- one years, being principal of the schools at Milmine, Illinois, for four years and of La Place for eight years. He now has charge of the store. His wife, who bore the maiden name of May Gannon and was graduated at the Decatur high school, taught in the pri- mary department at La Place. They have two children, Kenneth and Cedric. A. C. Duncan came to Piatt county in 1882 and since 1897 has served as postmaster of Lint- ner, being appointed to that position under President Mckinley. Elizabeth is the wife of Henry Hoffiens, of Abbotstown, Penn- sylvania. Charles H., the youngest of, the ' Duncan family, was killed by lightning in this county, half a mile south of Lintner, at the age of thirty-seven years. He married Etta Wilson, and had two children. They . now make their home with her father in Moultrie county, Illinois.
which has a capacity of twenty thousand bushels, and they have made this place a good grain market as they ship · a large amount of grain annually. In the line of gen- eral merchandise they carry a fine stock and have built up an excellent trade by fair and honorable dealing. J. M. Duncan handles considerable stock, making a speciality of horses, and is a very successful farmer. All of the brothers are stanch supporters of the Republican party and Lutherans in religious belief. They are wide-awake, energetic busi- ness men, of known reliability and their suc- cess is but the logical result of careful and correct business methods which they have always followed.
JOSHUA HILL.
Joshua Hill, one of the early settlers and highly respected citizens of Piatt county, Illinois, now leading a retired life in the vil- lage, of Bement, was born in Franklin coun- ty, Ohio, December 16, 1826, and during his early boyhood was taken to Piqua coun- ty, that state, by his parents, Joshua and Hannah (Cramer) Hill. The father was a native of Delaware and when a young man removed to Ohio, where he engaged in farm- ing. He was by trade, however, a shoemaker, and for a few years he followed that pur- suit. In his farming operations he pros- pered, and at the time of his death he was the owner of two hundred and forty acres of valuable land in Piqua county, Ohio, consti- tuting one of the finest farms of the locality. Fraternally he was a Mason, and for many years he was a worthy exemplar of the craft, but he belonged to no order. Politi-
The business now carried on by Duncan Brothers was formerly owned by Wilson & Stone. The latter sold his interest to Mr. Glazbrook and J. M. Duncan afterward bought out Mr. Wilson. Later A. C. Duncan bought out Mr. Glazbrook, and in 1895 the firm name was changed to Duncan Brothers, though S. H. did not become connected with the enterprise until 1901, when he took charge of the implement department. In 1898 they erected their elevator at Lintner, , cally he was a Whig in early life, but he at-
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tended the first Republican convention of Ohio, held in Columbus, and afterward gave his support to the principles of the new par- . ty. He died at the age of seventy-eight years and was survived for about two years by his wife. She was born in New Jersey near the town of Hope, and she also passed also passed away at the age of seventy-eight years. A member of the Methodist church, she was an earnest church worker, a devout Christian woman and a devoted wife and kind, loving mother. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hill were born ten children, of whom six reached years of maturity, while the others died in infancy. At this time Joshua Hill has two sisters and one brother living.
The "temple of learning" in which Joshua Hill obtained his education was built of logs, after the primitive manner of the times. He worked upon the home farm in his youth, and afterward spent some time as a clerk in different stores. About the year 1850 he came to Illinois, locating in Piatt county, and for four years he carried on farming here in the summer and taught schools for three terms in the winter. On the expiration of that period he returned to Ohio, and when he again came to Piatt county he established his home near Lodge station, where he has resided since 1861, covering a period of forty-two consecutive years. He removed to Bement on 27th of December, 1862, and established the first regular dray line and conducted the business during his active life, and it is still carried on by his sons. About 1893 he retired from further business cares and is now enjoying the fruits of his former toil.
On the 2d of September, 1857, Mr. Hill was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Peo- ples, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of Alexander and Rachel (McClish) Peoples.
Mr. and Mrs. Hill have become the parents of eight children : William H., a resident of Decatur, Illinois, married Etta Curfman, and they have two children. Sarah E. is the wife of John W. Powell, of Piqua county, Ohio, a conductor with headquarters in Co- lumbus, and they have four living children. Charles, who is engaged in the dray business in Bement, married Jennie Fisher and has four children. Edward, in Newcastle, Indi- ana, wedded Saddie Swigart. Lewis is en- gaged in the dray business in Bement. Franklin, who resides on the property ad- joining his father's home, and is working for the Wabash Railroad Company, married Willie Dawson, and they have six children. The other two children of the family died in infancy.
To the great political questions which divide the country into parties Mr. Hill has given considerable thought, and his views on these have occasioned him to ally his force with the Republican party. He was assessor of his township for fourteen years, but otherwise he has never been an office- seeker, preferring to give his time and atten- tion to his business affairs, rather than to political cares. For at least half a century he has been identified with the Masonic fra- ternity, and he has long been a faithful mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he served for a number of years as a trustee. His life interest has centered along those lines through which flow the greatest good to the greatest number, and he has· ev- er favored reform, progress and improve- ment. When he came to this county, nearly all the land was wild prairie, and he has been a witness of nearly all the changes made as the county has emerged from pioneer condi- tions to take its place with the leading coun- ties of the commonwealth. During his early
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residence here he taught for a number of years in the district school and was a very successful educator. He and his wife now have a pleasant home in the village of Bę- ment, where they are spending their days in the midst of children. grandchildren and friends, who entertain for them the warmest regard.
JOHN KIRBY.
To say of him whose name heads this sketch that he has risen unaided from com- parative obscurity to rank among the most successful business men of central Illinois is a statement that seems trite to those fa- miliar with his life, yet it is but just to say in a history that will descend to future gen- erations that his business record has been one that any man would be proud to possess. Beginning at the very bottom round of the ladder he has advanced steadily step by step until he is now occupying a position of prom-" inence and trust reached by very few men. Through his entire business career he has been looked upon as a model of integrity and honor, never making an engagement that he has not fufilled, and standing to-day an example of what determination and force, combined with the highest degree of business integrity can accomplish for a man of nat- ural ability and strength of character. He is respected by the community at large and honored by his business associates. Through many years Mr. Kirby was actively and ex- tensively identified with agricultural and stock-raising interests, and is now making his home in the city of Monticello, where he is engaged in the abstract business as the senior member of the firm of John Kirby & Company.
Mr. Kirby is among the sons of the Em- erald Isle who have come to the New World to enjoy its broader business opportunities and greater advantages. He was born in County Limerick, Ireland, on the 8th of December, 1842. His father, Morris Kirby, whose birth occurred in the same locality and who spent his entire life there, followed the occupation of farming. In 1850; how- ever, he resolved to seek a home and fortune in America and crossed the Atlantic, taking up his abode amid the green woods near Ur- bana, Ohio. At a later date he removed to Greenville, Darke county, Ohio, and his remaining days were passed in the Buckeye state, his death occurring in 1878. In early manhood he wedded Elizabeth Tuley, who died in Ireland. Both were consistent and faithful members of the Catholic church.
John Kirby, whose name initiates this review, is the eldest of the four children who were born unto his parents and was but eight years of age when he came with his father to the United States. His educa- tional privileges were those of the public schools of Ohio, where he remained as a student until thirteen years of age, when he came to Illinois. Mr. Kirby has since been dependent entirely upon his own re- sources, and the splendid success he has achieved is the direct reward of his own la- bors. He first located in Decatur, Macon county, and as it was necessary for him to seek immediate employment he began work as a farm hand, being employed in that way until after the inauguration of the Civil war, receiving ten dollars per month in com- pensation for his services.
Although born across the waters, his love for the stars and stripes was deep and sincere, and in the early part of the long struggle for the preservation of the Union
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JOHN KIRBY
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he offered his services in its defense, ar- though but a youth of seventeen years. It was in July, 1861, that he donned the blue uniform and became a member of the Sec- ond Illinois Cavalry. He was appointed one of the carriers on the Mississippi river between Cairo and Belmont, where a battle was fought. He was next dispatched to Bolivar, Tenn., and participated in the engagement at that place, where he had a horse killed and where the colonel of the regiment and six members of his company were killed. Later Mr. Kirby was under fire at the battle of Columbus, Kentucky, and he was also in many skirmishes with the rebels, while guarding supplies at Holly Springs, Mississippi, the most severe en- gagement in which he participated occurred at that place, the loss of life being very heavy. His regiment led the advance from Milliken's Bend which terminated in the surrender of Vicksburg and also followed Johnston to Jackson, Missis- sippi. A duty which then devolved upon the Second Illinois Cavalry was the destruction of a railroad as far as Brook Haven, and later the regiment was sent to west Louisiana. In the month of February, 1864, the regiment veteranized, and with others of the command Mr. Kirby was granted a thirty days' furlough, which he spent in the north. When the regiment . again returned for duty the soldiers were sent to Florida, Alabama and Georgia, suc- cessively, thence returning to Vicksburg. They afterward went on the Red River expe- dition and marched from Shreveport to the Rio Grande in Texas. Thus almost from the time of the beginning of hostilities until · after the cessation of all actual warfare, Mr. Kirby was with the army, being mustered out in December, 1865, and honorably dis-
charged at Camp Butler, on the 3d of Jan- uary, 1866. He had command of his com- pany as second lieutenant for the last year of his service. His service covered four and a half long years, during which time he experienced all the hardships and rigors of war. Although but a boy when he en- tered the army, he was as true and loyal to the government as many a veteran of twice his years, and his meritorious conduct on the field of battle won him promotion to the rank of second lieutenant.
His military service ended, Mr. Kirby then returned to Illinois, and for many years was engaged in farming and stock-raising. In 1869 he made purchase of a tract of land ·and also invested in some young stock. His success in these enterprises was rapid and consecutive, and as his financial resources increased he extended the boundaries of his farm by additional purchases, and also bought stock until he became one of the most extensive stock-dealers and landowners in this portion of the state. He now operates two thousand acres of valuable farming land. He studies closely the best methods of producing crops and keeps fully abreast with the times in all improvements connect- ed with agricultural work. Upon his place , he also made many improvements, including the erection of a beautiful home in 1875. In 1870 he entered into partnership rela- tions with Abraham Piatt for the shipment of cattle and the handling of stock which they purchased over a large section of the country and sent to the Chicago and eastern markets. Each month many carloads of cat- tle were sent by them to New York city." They sold dressed hogs in the board of trade and made large sums of money by the operation. The partnership with Mr. Piatt continued until 1875, after which Mr. Kir-
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by engaged alone in stock business with splendid success. In 1897, however, he put aside agricultural and kindred industries and removed to Monticello, where he is now making his home, and where he is engaged in the abstract business as the member of the firm of John Kirby & Company. Their office contains all of the abstract books ever compiled of Piatt county lands, beginning more than forty years ago.
. On the 21st of January, 1873, was cele- brated the marriage of John Kirby and Miss Mary E. Marquiss, a representative of one of the old pioneer families of the county, her father being Ezra Marquiss, who settled here in 1833. Mrs. Kirby was born in this county, and by her marriage became the mother of two children, but one died in in- fancy, the surviving child being Nellie May. Few residents of Piatt county are more widely known than Mr. and Mrs. Kirby, and none are held in higher regard. Their home is celebrated for its gracious hospital- ity and its good cheer is enjoyed by their many friends.
Mr. Kirby votes with the Republican party, having long been one of its stalwart and active supporters in central Illinois. He has served as a delegate to its county, dis- trict, state and national conventions, and his opinions have carried weight with those who have been called upon to decide ques- tions relating to political work and to the progress of the party. In 1868 Mr. Kirby was elected to the office of sheriff and was most prompt and faithful in the discharge of his duties. For seven terms he repre- sented Goose Creek township on the board of county supervisors, and in that capacity did everything in his power to promote the improvement of this section of the country. His social relations connect him with the
Grand Army of the Republic and with the Masonic fraternity, his identification with the latter dating from 1867. That Mr. Kir- by possesses excellent business ability and executive force- is indicated by the marked success which has crowned his efforts. In an analyzation of his character we find many elements worthy of commendation. He has always been energetic in business, enterpris- ing in his work and above all honorable and straightforward in his dealings, never tak- ing advantage of the necessities of his fel- low men in any business transaction. His success has been marked and should serve as a source of inspiration and encourage- ment to others, for Mr. Kirby had to begin life empty-handed. He is to-day one of the honored and respected residents of Piatt county, and the most envious cannot grudge him his success so worthily has it been won and so honorably used ..
SAMUEL R. REED.
The profession of the law when clothed with its true dignity, purity and strength, must rank first among the callings of man, for law rules the universe. The work of the legal profession is to formulate, to har- monize, to regulate, to adjust, to adminis- ter those rules and principles that underlie and permeate all government and society and control the varied relations of men. As thus viewed there is attached to the legal profession nobleness that cannot but be re- flected in the life of the true lawyer, who, rising to the responsibilities of the profes-' sion, and honest in the pursuit of his pur- pose, embraces the richness of learning, the firmness of integrity and the purity of mor-
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als, together with the graces and modesty and the general amenities of life. Of such a . type is Samuel R. Reed a representative and by many he is accorded the leading place at the bar of Piatt county. He is the sen- ior member of the law firm of Reed, Edie & Reed, of Monticello, where for more than thirty-six years he has practiced. Mr. Reed is a native of Ohio, his birth having oc- curred in Beallsville, Monroe county, on the 16th of June, 1842. His paternal grandfa- ther was William Reed, who was of Scotch- Irish descent. Our subject's father, the Rev. Samuel Reed, was born at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, in 1795, and became a preach- er of the Presbyterian church, devoting the best years of his life to the ministry. 'A man of scholarly attainments and broad learning, fluent in speech and logical in ar- gument, his power in the pulpit was largely felt and his influence for good is yet mani- fest in the lives of those who knew him. He wedded Miss Margaret R. Thompson, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of William Thompson. The father of our subject died in Monroe coun- ty, Ohio, in 1872, and his wife passed away, in 1878.
Samuel R. Reed spent his early boyhood days in the county of his nativity and there began his education as a student in the dis- trict school near his home. Later he at- tended a select school in which he prepared for teaching. The year 1860 witnessed his arrival in Piatt county, Illinois, and for sev- eral years he was connected with the intel- lectual interests of this locality as a success- ful teacher. He regarded this, however, merely as a preparation for other profession- al labor and began reading law under the direction of the firm of Coler & Smith, of Champaign, Illinois. In April, 1866, he was
admitted to the bar before the supreme court, which at that time met at Ottawa, Il- linois. Well equipped for his chosen profes- sion by broad and comprehensive reading, Mr. Reed then opened a law office in Pax- ton, Illinois, where he practiced for a short time, but soon afterward he came to Monti- cello, where he has since resided. Here he entered into partnership with Judge Mc- Comas, and later entered into partnership with George Clouser, with whom he was as- sociated for twelve months. His next part- ner was E. A. Baringer, now of New Or- leans, and when that partnership was dis- solved by mutual consent, Mr. Reed entered into business relations with Judge M. R. Davidson. In 1895 he became associated in business with A. C. Edie, under the firm style of Reed & Edie, and later the firm name was changed, its present form being adopted at the admission of his son, Carl S., to an interest in the business.
Samuel R. Reed is recognized as a lead- ing member of the Piatt county bar, and has been connected with much important litigation, being retained as counsel or defendant in almost every case of import- ance that has been tried in the courts of Pi- att county through a third of a century. He is very thorough and careful in the prepara- tion of his cases, and martials his evidence with military precision. He is logical in his arguments, forceful in the presentation of a cause, and never fails to make a strong im- pression upon court and jury, and has been fairly successful in gaining the verdict de- sired.
In 1862 Mr. Reed was united in mar- riage to Miss Jennie Clouser, a native of Fayette county, Ohio, and a daughter of George and Hannah(Coyner) Clouser. This . marriage has been blessed with five children :
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George M., who is now living in Grange- ville, Idaho; Erasmus E., of Omaha, Ne- braska; Maggie L., who is. the wife of R. C. Peters,, of Omaha; Carl S., who is associat- ed with his father in the practice of law in Monticello; and Agnes B., the wife of R. D. Winship, of Chicago.
Mr. Reed has made judicious invest- ments in farming land, having lands in Iowa and Nebraska, which he rents. Socially he is connected with Fraternal Lodge, No. 58, F. & A. M., with Markwell Chapter, No. 48, R. A. M. He is a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity, taking a deep an active interest in its growth and the extention of its influence. In politics he is a pronounced Democrat, and for three years he was states attorney, while for four years he was mas- ter in chancery. He has, however, devoted his attention chiefly to his chosen profes- sion. His nature is kindly, his temperament jovial and genial, and his manner courteous. He is a most companionable gentleman.
FREDERICK ADOLPH ODERN- HEIMER.
The German element in our American citizenship has been of the utmost import- ance. The sons of the fatherland have come to the new world, bringing with them the knowledge of business methods in the old country. They have readily adapted them- selves to the conditions found in America, and improving opportunities have worked their way upward to positions of prominence here, but not only have they attained indi- vidual success, but have also labored for the welfare of the various communities in which they have made their home. Frederick A.
Odernheimer is a worthy representative of the fatherland, and has become a leading farmer of Piatt county, his home being on section 12, Monticello township. He was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, on the 3Ist of March, 1857, a son of Frederick and Marian (Rudder) Odernheimer. Far back can the ancestry of the family be traced. There is an account of the lineage on the paternal side back to 1200, while on the ma- ternal line the subject of this review is de- scended from Sir Miles Patrick, who flour- ished in 1099. The father of our subject was born at Wiesbaden in 1808, and spent his entire life in that place, his death occurr- ing on the 12th of December, 1885, when he was seventy-eight years of age. His wife, who was born at Sydney, New South Wales,. Australia, passed away in 1863.
Mr. Odernheimer, whose name intro- duces this review, obtained his early educa- tion in the common schools of his native place, where he pursued his studies until nine years of age. He then entered what is known as a gymnasium, where he pursued a course equivalent to ·a high school course in America. At the age of sixteen years he put aside his text-books and entered the na- vy as a cadet, being thus engaged with the military service of the country for five years. Successfully passing an examination which made him a lieutenant, he served in that ca- pacity for a short time or until he was obliged to leave the navy on account of fail- ing eyesight .. He then determined to try his fortune in the new world, and in February, 188 1, he sailed for the United States, locat- ing first near Austin, Texas, where he acted as deputy sheriff of the county and also as deputy United States marshal for five years. In 1886 he arrived in Illinois, going first to .Mansfield, and in that locality he purchased
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a farm which he continued to operate until 1890. On selling his property he purchased eighty acres of land five miles east of Mon- ticello, to which he removed. He has since made excellent improvements upon the property, placing three hundred rods of til- ing upon the land, building new fences, a commodious and substantial barn and other outbuildings. He has also planted an orch- ard which is now returning a good yield. He feeds annually quite a number of hogs for the market, and he also keeps on hand a number of milch cows. He makes a speciaity of the production of corn, oats and clover and he also has rich pasture lands. This farm was purchased in 1890 for forty-sev- en dollars, but because of the many improve- ments he has placed upon it and because of the rise in land values it is to-day worth at a low figure one hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre. Mr. Odernheimer is a progressive agriculturist and the methods which he follows in carrying on his work ' of Monticello and Markwell Chapter, No. have brought to him excellent success in his undertakings.
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