USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 32
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He was a whig in politics, but on the muster- out of that party he joined the republican party.
and was vice-president of the first state conven- tion of the republican party, which was held May 29, 1856, at Bloomington, and which was at- tended by Lincoln, Palmer, O. H. Browning, Wentworth, Yates, Lovejoy, Oglesby and others. General John M. Palmer was president of the convention. This convention has become historic and is well known in Illinois history. He was a delegate from the fifth congressional district to the national convention which nominated Mr. Lin- coln, held in Chicago on the 16th of May, 1860, and did what he could to secure the nomination of that great man. His acquaintance with eastern people, and especially with the friends of Gov- ernor Seward, enabled him to render efficient serv- ice in that regard. The eastern people very much desired the nomination of Mr. Seward, but the attention of the delegates was turned in the direc- tion of Mr. Lincoln, and on the third ballot he received two hundred and thirty-one 'votes, Mr. Seward receiving one hundred and eighty, and was declared nominated.
William Ross connected himself with the First Congregational church of Pittsfield, and from the time of his connection to his death he was a steadfast, hard-working, earnest supporter of the cause he had espoused, and the church with which he connected himself at that time. He built a church from his own means, decorated it with a bell, and deeded it to the trustees of the church. Since his death the old building has been removed and a more stately and commodious building has been located on the same lot.
At his death he left surviving him two sons, Marcellus Ross, who resides in Tacoma, Wash- ington : William Ross, residing at San Jose, Cali- fornia ; and two daughters, Mrs. D. F. Kellogg, a resident of Chicago; and Mrs. A. C. Matthews. who lives at the old homestead near Pittsfield, Illi- nois. They all have families and are respected citizens in their several places of residence.
Colonel Ross was much more than the average citizen in point of energy and never-tiring indus- try. He had splendid judgment, correct percep- tions, unlimited energy, and moved forward in the line of enterprise that he conceived to be right until its full consummation. Like the early pio- neers of Pike county, he never stopped to inquire
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into any disaster, but moved forward to new lines and better fields. He died on the 3Ist day of May, 1873, aged eighty-one years, and was buried in Pittsfield, in the West cemetery, near the grave of his wife, who had preceded him a few years.
J. D. NIGHBERT, D. V. S.
Dr. J. D. Nighbert, who in the practice of vet- erinary surgery is winning merited success in Pittsfield and Pike county, is a native of Illi- nois, born October 20, 1856. His father, Na- thaniel A. Nighbert, was a native of Virginia, born in 1827, and removing westward to Illi- nois became one of the early settlers of this state. He was engaged extensively in farming and. stock-raising in Macoupin county, conducting a prosperous business up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1903. His wife is now living. In their family were seven children, six of whom yet survive.
Dr. Nighbert was educated in the common schools and in Blackburn University, while later he was graduated from Toronto College, in 1889, with a class of one hundred and eighty members. He was one of five who were called to compete for a gold medal given by the Ontario Veter- inary Medical Association and at his graduation he received honors for the best general examina- tion, also in written and oral anatomy and in microscopy. Splendidly equipped for his chosen life work he came to Pittsfield in 1889 and has since engaged in practice here. Since that year he has been a member of the state veterinary board and he also belongs to the American Vet- erinary Association and the Illinois State Asso- ciation. He has contributed articles to numerous medical journals in America and some of these have been copied in English publications. Dr. Nighbert has made a study of veterinary sur- gery and he receives letters from nearly every state seeking his advice and opinions upon sub- jects connected with the profession. He is con- sidered an expert on animal dentistry and sur- gery and his business has therefore reached ex- tensive proportions. He practices both in Illi-
nois and Missouri and his labors when viewed from both a financial and professional stand- point have been very successful.
Dr. Nighbert was married in 1881 to Miss Lil- lie Malone, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of M. C. Malone, a mechanic. They have two children: Maynard, who was born in 1882 and is now a student in the Veterinary College at Toronto, Canada; and Vida, who was born in 1884, and is a graduate of the high school of Pittsfield. She was also educated in music and is at home with her parents. Dr. Nighbert owns a fine residence in Pittsfield and also has other buildings and property in this city, having pur- chased considerable real estate -- which is the safest of all investments. He votes with the re- publican party and he belongs to the Masonic fra- ternity, while his wife is a member of the Chris- tian church. Thoroughly qualified for the pro- fession which he has undertaken as a life work. he has long since passed through the ranks of mediocrity to stand with the more successful few in his profession and his large business is at once an indication of his skill and of the confi- dence reposed in him by the public.
RAY N. ANDERSON.
Ray N. Anderson, a prominent attorney of Pittsfield, practicing in all the courts, was born in Pike county, in 1874, a son of H. L. and Eliza (Stebbins) Anderson, of Summer Hill, of this county. The father, a native of Hartford, Con- necticut, came to Illinois prior to the Civil war and began business as a merchant in Summer Hill, Illinois, but is now a farmer and grain mer- chant. Unto him and his wife were born eight children. six of whom are living.
Ray N. Anderson attended the common schools until seventeen years of age, when he entered upon a preparatory course of study in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and later was graduated from the University of Michigan, completing the law course in 1899. Going to the Pacific coast he practiced at Seattle, Washington, until 1901, when he returned to Pittsfield, where he has
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since been located. He is now associated with Colonel Matthews, the oldest member of the Pittsfield bar, and is already winning success, having secured a good clientage which connects him with important litigated interests of his dis- trict.
On the 18th of October, 1905, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Helen Gray Bush, a daughter of William C. and Mollie Bush, and a granddaughter of Merrick Bush. Her par- ents were eastern people and her father is now connected with the Pike County Democrat. Mrs. Anderson is a graduate of the high school of Pittsfield and of the business college at Jackson- ville, Illinois. In his political views Mr. Ander- son is a prominent republican, active in the local ranks and is now serving as one of the city al- dermen. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Masonic lodge. In citizenship he is influential, being the champion of prog- ress and improvement along lines of practical and permanent good. In his law practice he is found as an earnest worker in that preparation which is so necessary before the active work of the court is done and in the presentation of a cause he is clear and cogent in reasoning and log- ical in his deductions.
CHARLES T. KENNEY.
Charles T. Kenney, an honored veteran of the Civil war, who for many years was a prominent factor in commercial circles in Griggsville but is now living a retired life, was born in this city December 4. 1841, a son of Hon. Charles and Mary G. (Carnahan) Kenney. The father was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, April 7, 18II, and was the eldest son of James and Rachel Kenney, who were also natives of Pennsylvania. He acquired his education in the schools of that state and when twenty-five years of age was united in marriage to Miss Mary G. Carnahan, a daughter of James and Margaret (Carnahan), of Wilmington, Delaware. In 1837 he removed with his family to Illinois, becoming a resident of Griggsville two years later. Here he embarked
in merchandising and also was engaged in the grain trade, continuing in those lines of business until his retirement from further business cares in 1866. He was then succeeded by his son and son-in law under the firm style of Kenney & Clark. A pio- neer settler of Pike county, he took an active and helpful interest in its development and while pro- moting his individual success also contributed in large measure to the welfare and progress of the community in which he made his home. He was in limited financial circumstances on his removal to Illinois but gradually he worked his way up- ward to a creditable position on the plane of afflu- ence. He also figured prominently in public af- fairs and was a recognized leader in the ranks of the democratic party, on which ticket he was elected to the state legislature. There he gave earnest and thoughtful consideration to every question which came up for settlement and was connected with important constructive legislation. The cause of temperance found in him a stanch advocate and he held membership with the Sons of Temperance. Both he and his wife were loyal members of the Congregational church and their many excellent traits of character won them the love and respect of all with whom they were asso- ciated. Mr. Kenney continued to live retired in the enjoyment of a well earned rest up to the time of his death, which occurred in Griggsville, No- vember 9, 1880. His widow, who was born in Wilmington, Delaware, July 28, 1814, survived him for about twenty years, passing away March 4, 1900. They were married in Sadsburyville, Chester county, Pennsylvania, by the Rev. John Wallace, on the 18th of February, 1836.
In their family were ten children, as follows: William W. Kenney, who was born in Sadsbury- ville, Pennsylvania, November 20, 1837, married Alice Pritchard and is now living in St. Louis, Missouri. Mary H., born in Naples, Illinois, Oc- tober 5, 1838, is the wife of W. H. Clark, a resi- dent of Griggsville. Charles T. is the next of the family .. Robert M., born in Griggsville, Febru- ary 3, 1843, was married here to Mary Shinn and died in California in October, 1900. Harriet E., born in Griggsville, February 3, 1845, died in this city, November 21, 1860. Preston H., born in Griggsville, June II, 1847, died here October 4,
CHARLES T. KENNEY
CHARLES KENNEY
LIBRARY 0+ 14F UNIVERSITY .
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1849. Samuel C., born in Griggsville, October 20, 1849, was married to Ella Cunningham and is now living in Los Angeles, California. Sallie B., born in Griggsville, October 16, 1851, is the wife of Dr. L. J. Harvey, of Griggsville, and died June 1, 1894. James C., born in Griggsville, July 27, 1855, married Nellie Turnbull, of Griggsville, and now makes his home in Kansas City. Ed L., born in Griggsville, October 15, 1857, died in this city, August 31, 1886.
Charles T. Kenney, whose name introduces this record, is indebted to the public-school system of his native town for the educational privileges he enjoyed and in his youth he secured a clerkship in a dry-goods store, where he remained until after the inauguration of the Civil war, when he put aside business cares in order to respond to the country's call for aid. He enlisted from Pike county, August 18, 1861, to serve for three years or during the war and was mustered into the United States service at Camp Butler in Spring- field, Illinois, September 3, 1861. He was a pri- vate under command of Captain William W. H. Lawton, of Company I, Thirty-third Illinois In- fantry, Colonel Charles E. Hovey, commanding. This regiment was organized in the month of September at Camp Butler and on the 20th of that month proceeded southward by way of St. Louis, Missouri, to Ironton, that state, where the troops went into winter quarters but occasionally did scouting duty in the surrounding country. The first battle in which the regiment participated was at Fredericktown, Missouri, and soon afterward was engaged at Big Black Bridge, Missouri. Sub- sequently the Thirty-third Illinois was assigned to the First Brigade of the First Division, Thir- teenth Army Corps, with which it remained un- til March, 1865, when it was transferred to the Sixteenth Corps. The members of that regiment participated in the engagements at Cotton Plant, Cache Creek, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Big Black River, the siege of Vicksburg and the siege of Jackson, after which they embarked on steam- boats and went down the Mississippi river to New Orleans, there taking part, in October, 1863, in the campaign under General Ord up the Bayou Teche and returning to New Orleans in Novem- ber of that year. The regiment afterward moved
by way of Arkansas Pass to Brownsville, Texas, and disembarked on St. Joseph Island, whence they marched over Matagorda Island to Saluria, participating in the capture of Fort Esperanza They then removed to Indianola and later to Port Lavaca, Texas, and afterward the regiment was chiefly engaged on guard duty in Louisiana until ordered to take part in the expedition to Mobile, Alabama, during which the members of the Thirty-third Illinois did loyal service in the siege of Mobile and in the capture of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, also participating in a number of minor engagments, skirmishes and raids. The regiment lost during its service three hundred and nine officers and men by death. In recognition of his valor and meritorious conduct on the field of battle Charles T. Kenney was pro- moted from the 'ranks' to orderly sergeant, was commissioned second' lieutenant March 18, 1862, and first lieutenant June 3, 1863. He was wounded at Vicksburg, Mississippi, May 2, 1863, by a gun- shot in the right leg six inches above the knee. He was removed to a private house for treat- ment and about three inches of the bone was cut from the limb. He was one of the only two men of eighty who were similarly wounded in the battle of Vicksburg who survived. When able to travel he was granted a furlough and spent several weeks at home, after which he rejoined his regi- ment at New Orleans, Louisiana, to receive his final pay and discharge. With the exception of this period he was always with his command, doing active service, and he made a splendid rec- ord for soldierly conduct and fearlessness in face of danger. Upon a surgeon's certificate of disa- bility he was honorably discharged at Washing- ton, D. C., August 19, 1864, owing to the wounds which he sustained in action.
Returning to Griggsville, Mr. Kenney was for twenty-three years engaged in the grocery busi- ness with J. B. Morrison and on the expiration of that period the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Kenney has since lived a retired life. He was widely known as an enterprising and reli- able merchant and enjoyed a good business, so that as the years passed by he added continually to his capital until he had acquired means suffi- cient to enable him to put aside further business
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cares and enjoy a well earned rest throughout his remaining days.
On the 30th of May, 1865, in Griggsville, Mr. Kenney was married to Miss Fannie M. Green, a daughter of Jonathan and Abbie D. (Worcester) Green. Her parents were married May 7, 1840. Her father was born in Pepperell, Massachu- setts, February 20, 1814, and died June 7, 1878, while his wife, who was born May 26, 1821, in Stoddard, New Hampshire, is now living with Mr. and Mrs. Kenney at the age of eighty-four years. They resided in the east until 1857, when they came to Illinois and Mr. Green first clerked for R. B. Hatch & Company at Griggsville. From that time until his death he was connected with the dry-goods business in this city, con- ducting a store of his own for a long period. He never cared for public office nor public noto- riety of any kind but was always found reliable in his business transactions and honorable in all life's relations. He and his wife were members of the Congregational church and he held mem- bership in Griggsville lodge, No. 45, A. F. & A. M., while his political support was given to the republican party. In their family were four chil- dren, three sons and a daughter, the latter being Mrs. Fannie M. Kenney, who was born in Stod- dard, New Hampshire, December II, 1843. Her brothers were: George W., who was born at Mar- low, New Hampshire, August 1, 1846, and died October 20, 1851 ; Charles O., who was born in Plattsburg, New York, October 2, 1853, and is now engaged in the grocery business in Denver, Colorado; and Fred E., who was born in Platts- burg, October 9, 1855, and is a druggist in Oska- loosa, Iowa.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kenney have been born six children. Jessie Elizabeth, born June 1, 1866, was married to Ernest E. Williamson, April 2, ยท 1891, and resides in Griggsville; Alice, born January 1, 1868, died 'March 9, 1869. Willie Morrison, born February 2, 1870, died January 27, 1871. Freddie, born February 27, 1872, died on the 14th of March of the same year. Helen Frances, born April 19, 1874, is the wife of Har- vey E. Baxter, to whom she was married Novem- ber 29, 1898, and their home is in Chicago. Marie
Louise, born September 18, 1881, completes the family and is at home with her parents.
Long a resident of Griggsville, Mr. Kenney has figured prominently in public affairs and has been the champion of many movements for the general welfare and upbuilding. He has filled the office of city clerk for fifteen years and was a member of the school board for a similar period. He belongs to Griggsville lodge, No. 45, A. F. & A. M., and to W. W. H. Lawton post, No. 438, G. A. R. His life has in many respects been a commendable one and, as has been shadowed forth between the lines of this review, he was found a brave and loyal soldier in the hour of his country's danger, has been a reliable and trustworthy business man and a public-spirited citizen, while in his home and social relations he has commanded the respect and friendship of many by reason of the possession of those traits of character which awaken warm personal regard.
WILLIAM M. BROWN.
The history of commercial progress in Milton would be incomplete without mention of Wil- liam M. Brown, a leading and prominent mer- chant of that city. He was born November 29, 1840, in Carrollton, Greene county, Illinois, his parents being Isaac S. and Catharine (Hay) Brown, who became early residents of Pike county, where they took up their abode in March, 1850. The father purchased a farm a mile and a half south and a half mile east of Mil- ton and upon that place William M. Brown was reared, having been a youth of nine years at the time of the removal to the old homestead. He acquired his education in the district schools near by and he still owns the farm, which comprises one hundred and twenty acres of as rich soil as can be found in the state of Illinois. During the periods of vacation he aided in the work of the fields and remained upon the old homestead until nineteen years of age, when he went to Califor- nia by way of the Isthmus of Panama. The journey consumed . twenty-four days from the
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time he left New York city until his arrival at San Francisco in March, 1859. He remained upon the Pacific coast for three years engaged in mining and ranching and he was fairly suc- cessful in his work, but lost much of what he pos- sessed in his first mining ventures in prospecting for greater results at a later date. In 1863 he returned to the old homestead near Milton, Illi- nois, and leased the farm from his father in con- nection with his brother, James A. The father went to the war, becoming a member of a com- pany of the Ninety-ninth Illinois Regiment com- manded by Captain J. G. Johnson. He served for three years as wagon master and was killed in the siege of Vicksburg on the 22d of May, 1863. There was a very sad incident in connec- tion with his death. In the heat of battle he heard the Masonic cry for help from one of his comrades and, facing almost certain death amidst a hail of bullets, he picked up his comrade and while carrying him off the field away from dan- ger a bullet passed through his comrade's body, killing him, and entered Mr. Brown's thumb, passing out through the hand. This occasioned blood poisoning, which caused Mr. Brown's death a few days later. At his request his re- mains were interred upon the battle-field but were afterward removed to the National Sol- diers' Cemetery at Vicksburg. In March, 1869, William M. Brown, accompanied by his mother, made a pilgrimage to Vicksburg to discover his father's grave and place a monument over it. . They had no trouble in finding the place of inter- ment, which was on the topmost circle, he being' the eighth soldier buried in the beautiful Union Soldiers' National Cemetery at that place. The monument was erected according to the plans and after performing this act of love and duty over the grave of husband and father they re- turned home.
On the 2d of December, 1868, Mr. Brown was married to Miss Alice Strawn, a daughter of Alvis and Joanna Strawn. Unto them were born three children, two sons and a daughter. William Edmund, born December 13, 1869, died March 26, 1870. Fred S., born in Milton, April 2, 1873, is now a physician and druggist of Wich- ita, Kansas. Helen A., born December 25, 1887. in Milton, is at home.
Mr. Brown is a member of the Modern Wood- men camp, No. 922, and in his political views he is a liberal republican. He has been associ- ated with business interests in Milton through a long period and is a self-made man, whose prosperity has resulted entirely from his enter- prise and capable efforts.
MAJOR WILFRED I. KLEIN.
Major Wilfred I. Klein, of Barry, is one of the native sons of that town and has won distinc- tion as a lawyer and legislator. He is the third son of Joseph and Agnes (Spalding) Klein, the latter a daughter of Judge Spalding, of St. Louis, Missouri. The father was born at Cats- kill, New York, in February, 1809, and the mother's birth occurred in St. Louis, in 1818. In his boyhood days Joseph Klein accompanied his father on his removal to Springfield, Illinois. At one time he owned a large amount of land, covering the present site of the fair grounds in Springfield. It was in that city that the grand- father spent his last years. In 1840 Joseph Klein removed to St. Louis, where he was married, and in 1846 he came to Barry. In the former city he purchased the Little St. Louis saw and grist mill, which he operated for about six years and he would drop bran in the creek when he could not sell it. On disposing of his mill and removing to Barry he entered upon the practice of law, in which he continued for twenty years, his ability and comprehensive knowledge win- ning him prominence in his profession. He was a well educated man, strong minded and became recognized as a distinguished and leading resi- dent of this part of the state. He died at his home in Barry, February 28, 1869. As a citizen, father and friend he had no superior, manifest- ing in his life splendid traits of character which won for him the respect and confidence of all who knew him. He left a large circle of friends througout the county. His wife passed away in 1897. They were the parents of five children, all of whom are now living: Walter S., who is en- gaged in general. merchandising in Time ; Charles
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H., who is living a retired life at Elmdale, Chase county, Kansas ; Willie L. and Wilfred I., twins, the former living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he is editor of the Northwestern Medical Journal ; and Julia R., the wife of T. C. Long, of Texas.
Major Klein was educated in Barry, where he engaged in teaching school for seven years. He entered upon that profession when sixteen years of age and taught at Pittsfield, Rockport and New Salem. He afterward entered the Univer- sity at Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he pursued a course in law, being graduated in 1878. The following year he was admitted to the bar and en- tered upon the practice of his chosen profession in his native town. The same year he was elected city attorney, which office he has held almost continuously since save with the exception of a few years which he spent as a legislator. He entered the race for the legislature from the thirty-ninth district in 1894, receiving the en- dorsement of his county and was nominated and elected by a large majority. He proved a useful and valuable member of the house, in which he served during 1895-6, giving to each question careful consideration an proving untiring in his support of the men and measure which he deemed of greatest good to the commonwealth. In his profession he has won honorable position by reason of his comprehensive knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence, his close application and his strong presentation of each cause before court or jury.
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