USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 37
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Mr. and Mrs. Willsey have become the parents of one son, William R., who was born July 29, 1853, and married Judith A. Brown. They reside near the old family homestead and have four children : Grace Malinda, who was born June 2, 1881, and is the wife of Clarence Fudge, a resident farmer of Pittsfield township, by whom she has one daughter, Nellie Frances, born April 30, 1904; Laura Edith, born October 31, 1885, and now at home; Francis Scott, born December 12, 1887; and James Gallett, December 31, 1891.
The parents are now pleasantly located in an attractive home and are enjoying the comforts and many of the luxuries of life, which have been secured through the earnest and persistent efforts of Mr. Willsey in an active business career. He has been thoroughly reliable at all times and his name is a synonym for integrity and honor in business transactions. He is a charter member of Pittsfield lodge, No. 790, A. F. & A. M., and is also a member of the chapter and commandery.
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In politics he is a democrat and has served as school director for several years and also as road commissioner. His life record is creditable and should serve as a source of inspiration and en- couragement to others, showing what can be ac- complished through earnest and determined pur- pose. He is moreover one of the pioneer residents of the county having watched its growth and de- , velopment from an early day and he has a very wide acquaintance among the early settlers and those whose arrival dates at a later period, being respected by young and old, rich and poor.
JOHN H. COOPER.
John H. Cooper, who is living on section 23, Martinsburg township, is familiarly called "John" by his numerous friends and is accounted one of the prosperous farmers of this county, owning and conducting a farm of two hundred and seven- teen acres, which presents a neat and well im- proved appearance. He is a native son of Pike county, having been born in Pittsfield, October . 10, 1836. His father, Asa D. Cooper, was born in Kentucky and was a son of George W. Cooper, who removed from Tennessee to Kentucky and afterward to Illinois, settling in Pike county. He took up his abode here at a very early day, prob- ably about 1832. It was in this county that Asa D. Cooper was married to Miss Eleanor Gooden, whose birth occurred in Saline county, Missouri, and who was a daughter of Robert Gooden, one of the early settlers of Pike county, who removed from Tennessee to Missouri and afterward to Illinois. Following his marriage Asa Cooper lo- cated on a farm in Martinsburg township, open- ing up a new tract of land. Later he sold that property and developed another farm, whereon he reared his family and spent his last years, his death occurring December 29, 1858. His wife passed away March 29, 1854.
John H. Cooper was reared in Pike county and is largely a self-educated as well as self-made man, for his school privileges in youth were lim- acres of valuable land, of which two hundred ited. He remained with his father until he had
attained his majority, after which he rented a farm for a few years. He was married in Mar- tinsburg township, February 1, 1857, to Miss Mary M. Moomaw, a native of Logan county, Ohio, and a daughter of Rev. Jacob Moomaw, a minister of the German Baptist church. Her father was a native of Virginia and was married in Ohio to Elizabeth Ohmart. In 1842 he came to Illinois, settling in Pike county, near Pittsfield, upon a farm where he reared his family and con- tinued to make his home through the evening of his life.
Following the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Coop- er he rented a tract of land which he cultivated for several years. He started out for himself empty-handed but realized that industry and en- terprise constitute the basis of success and he worked persistently and energetically until he was enabled to purchase property, In 1867 he bought one hundred and eighty acres where he now resides, located thereon and began to improve the farm, to which he had added from time to time until he now owns five hundred and fourteen acres of valuable land, of which two hun- dred and seventeen acres are in the home farm. Here he has built a good neat resi- dence, also a bank barn and other outbuildings. He has fenced his place and added the various equipments found upon a model farm property of the twentieth century. That he has prospered is indicated by his property holdings, for he now owns two other farms in addition to the home place, one of one hundred and sixty-one acres and the other of one hundred and thirty-seven and . one-half acres, the second lying west of Pitts- field, and the other to the north. Both are fairly improved. He has also giveri forty acres of land to his children. Although he had no capital to aid him at the outset of his career, he and his estimable wife, who had indeed been a. faithful companion and helpmate to him on life's journey, have accumulated a valuable property, comprising three excellent farms and in connection with the cultivation of his home place Mr. Cooper raises good grades of stock. He now rents most of his land but gives his personal supervision to the property and to the improvements which are made thereon. The only financial assistance which ever
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came to him was eight hundred and twenty-nine dollars received from įjis father's estate, but this did not come until after he had purchased the home farm.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cooper have been born four children : George D., who is a farmer of Pittsfield township and is represented elsewhere in this work; Mary E. the wife of Wesley Wal- ston, who lives upon her father's farm and also owns land of his own and by whom she has two children, Lottie A. and Iva; William Hardin, who married Lillie McClintock, by whom he has a son, John Hurley, their home being in Martins- burg township; and Charles H., a merchant of Martinsburg, who married Anna R. Lawrence and has two children, Mary B. and Veda A. Mr. Cooper now has several grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He and his wife adopted a young girl when eight years of age, reared and educated her and she is now the wife of Frank Gooden. Benton Johnson also became a member of their family when ten or twelve years of age, was educated by them, is now married and fol- lows carpentering in Pittsfield. They also reared James Cooper, a brother of our subject, who came to live with them when thirteen years of age.
Politically Mr. Cooper has been a lifelong democrat, voting first for Stephen A. Douglas in 1860. He served as township collector in 1874 and has been road supervisor for one or two terms, but has never sought or desired office. He believes in good schools and the employment of competent teachers and has done earnest work in behalf of public education while serving on the school board. He and his wife are members of the Church of Christ of Martinsburg. His entire life, now covering sixty-nine years, has been passed in Pike county, and he has helped to improve and. make it what it is today. He has cultivated and de- veloped several farms, thus contributing in sub- stantial measure to the agricultural development of the community. He commenced life for him- self at the bottom of the latter, but has steadily climbed upward. At the time of his marriage he had no capital and he and his faithful wife ex- perienced many hardships and privations, but they worked and labored together, were frugal and economical and by their united efforts have . since conducted a bakery, dealing in all kinds
become prosperous people. Their home farm is improved with a large, neat and substantial residence and constitutes a comfortable home, in which their many friends receive a hearty wel- come, cordial hospitality and good will being extended to all. Mrs. Cooper is now an invalid, but for many years she was a model housekeeper and her labors were an important factor in her husband's success. Mr. Cooper is well 'known as an active and energetic farmer and as one of the honored pioneer settlers of the county justly deserves mention in this volume.
HENRY B. JUDD.
Henry B. Judd, whose name is found on the roll of Pittsfield's merchants for he is proprietor of the Judd bakery, was born in Missouri, August 27, 1859, his parents being Samuel and Celia (Seals) Judd. The father was a native of London, Eng- land, and crossing the Atlantic to America became a traveling salesman. In his family were nine children. His death occurred in 1899, in St. Louis, Missouri, when he had reached the ad- vanced age of seventy-eight years, while his wife passed away at the age of sixty-eight years, in Chicago.
Henry B. Judd completed his education in the high school at Quincy, Illinois, and then entering business life was employed in a bakery and candy manufactory at Quincy, there working for the firm of Brown & Brothers. Later he entered the employ of Clark & Morgan, wholesale dealers in confectionery, and subsequently he went to Brook- ville, Missouri, where he continued for three years in the same line of business. He was next located in Palmyra, Missouri, where he couducted a bakery and confectionery on his own account for ten years and on the expiration of that decade he removed to Chickamauga Park, conducting a similar business for the government during the Spanish-American war. Upon his return to the north he located in Pittsfield and for two years was in the employ of Mr. Sineff. In 1899 he embarked in business on his own account and has
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of bakery goods, soft drinks, oysters, cigars, etc. He likewise conducts a restaurant and in both branches of his business has a good trade, his store being located on the northeast corner of the courthouse square. He has prospered since open- ing his present establishment and his patronage is constantly growing.
Mr. Judd now resides with his sister in Pitts- field and he has one son, Samuel. In his political views Mr. Judd is a republican and keeps well in- formed on the questions and issues of the day. He belonged to the Odd Fellows lodge at Kirks- ville, Missouri, and while in Quincy became a. communicant of the Episcopal church, with which he has since been connected. He has prospered since coming to Pittsfield and he deserves much credit for what he has accomplished for he is en- tirely a self-made man.
ANDREW YAEGER.
Andrew Yaeger, who is now living a retired . life in Pittsfield was in former years actively con- nected with general farming and stock-raising, having devoted nearly half a century to work along those lines. His rest was therefore well earned and he is spending the years now in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. He has been a resident of Pike county since June, 1853, and has traveled life's journey for seventy- seven years. A native of Germany, he was born in Wurtemberg on the 24th of October, 1828, and was reared and married there, having in 1853 wedded Miss Barbara Kern, who was born in Wurtemberg, December 26, 1820. Soon after their marriage they carried out the previously formed determination of emigrating to America by taking passage on a sailing vessel which weighed anchor at Bremen on the 8th of April, 1853, bound for New York. The voyage lasted for eight weeks, and for two days the ship was in a fearful storm, being driven back before the gale, so that it had to cover a part of the course a second time. However, the harbor of New York was finally reached in safety on the 2d of June. The Yaeger family at once made their way direct-
ly westward to Illinois and eventually reached Pittsfield. They were passengers on the first train over the road between Chicago and La Salle, Illi- nois, and thence proceeded down the Illinois river by boat to Florence and on to the county seat, where they joined some German friends. Mr. Yaeger worked by the month for a year or more and then rented a farm for four years in Newburg township. He bought his first land in Martins- burg township, becoming owner of ninety-five acres on section I. He located on that place, which had a few acres under the plow but was largely uncleared and undeveloped. He began to farm and improve his land, however, living thereon for nine years, when he sold that property and bought a tract of eighty acres in Hardin township near Time. He then engaged in farm- ing and bought more land adjoining, carrying on general agricultural pursuits on his farm near Time for thirty-eight years. During that · period he erected a good house upon his place, also built a barn, fenced the fields and planted an orchard. He also secured the latest improved machinery in order to facilitate his work and in addition to cultivating the soil he engaged in the raising of fine horses and other high-grade stock, which he fattened for the market. He was a prosperous farmer and he still owns three hundred and twenty acres of that property, but, having acquired a handsome competence he retired from active business life in 1899 and removed to Pittsfield, where he and his wife have since been living with their daughter, Mrs. Kleinschmidt.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Yaeger have been born seven children, all of whom are now married and are heads of families. Louisa is the wife of Charles Shadel, of Pittsfield. Mary is the wife of Fred Hack, a resident farmer of Kinderhook. John G. is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Barbara is the wife of W. D. McBride, of Jersey- ville, Illinois. William is living on the old home- stead farm. Henry resides in St. Louis, Mis- souri. Anna is the wife of Henry Kleinschmidt, a business man of Pittsfield.
Politically Mr. Yaeger has ever been an earnest democrat since becoming a naturalized American citizen. He has never desired office, but has given his time to his business affairs. He and
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his wife were reared in the Lutheran church. and now have membership relations with the denom- inations in Pittsfield. Mr. Yaeger feels that he was wise in the step that he took in severing his connection with his native land and seeking a home in the new world for here he has found good business opportunities and has steadily worked his way upward through persistent energy to a place among the enterprising business men of the county, and through the exercise of his native talents and industry he has accumulated the hand- some competence which now enables him to rest in the enjoyment of a well earned ease.
WILLIAM E. SHASTID, M. D.
Dr. William E. Shastid, physician and sur- geon, oculist and aurist, of Pittsfield, was born in this city, March 12, 1863, and 'with the excep- tion of twelve or thirteen years has resided here continuously. He is the eldest son of Dr. T. W. Shastid. He was prepared for college in the schools of this city and after four years in Eureka College, at Eureka, Illinois, he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, having taken the full classical course, with additions in Ger- man and French. His summers were devoted to the study of medicine under the direction of his father and following his graduation at Eureka College he went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, matriculating in the Jefferson Medical College, one of the oldest and best known schools in America. While there he received special instruc- tion in the Pennsylvania School of Anatomy and the Pennsylvania Hospital. In the year 1886 he was graduated at the Jefferson Medical College. his thesis on pathology receiving second honor.
In the same year Dr. Shastid was married to Miss Clara B. Willson, of Tallula, Illinois, who is a graduate of the Jacksonville Conservatory of Music and Young Ladies' Athenaeum, of Jack- sonville, Illinois. Her father, Dr. J. F. Willson, is a prominent banker and capitalist of Menard county, Illinois.
Dr. and Mrs. Shastid located in Wichita, Kan- sas, where he practiced for nearly five years and
for three years during that time was physician and surgeon to the Wichita Hospital. He also lectured on anatomy one year in the Wichita School of Medicine and served for a time as a member of the city board of health. In 1889 he was called to Eureka College, where the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him. . In 1891 he returned to his old home in Pittsfield and has practiced here since, his special attention being given to diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. He has taken post-graduate work several times : in 1894 in London, England, and Vienna, Austria-in the former city at the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital, Moorfield's and Central London Hospital, for eye, ear, nose and throat diseases ; in the latter city at the General Hospital for medicine, surgery and specialties, this hospi- tal being one of the largest in the world. In 1901 he attended the New York Post Graduate Medical School and Hospital. In 1903 he again went abroad for post-graduate work at Berlin, Germany. The Doctor has traveled extensively in most of the countries of Europe as well as in Egypt and Palestine. He has been very success- ful in his practice and is one of the leading physi- cians of the county. He has served as a member of the board of education of Pittsfield and is a member of the board of United States examining surgeons for pensions. He has been prominent in Masonic circles for some years, being past commander of Ascalon commandery, No. 48, K. T., and is a thirty-second degree Mason.
Dr. Shastid has two children, a son and a daughter, William J. and Mary Margaret Shas- tid. His office and home are located on Monroe street, a block and a half from the public square in Pittsfield. -
CAPTAIN JOSEPH G. JOHNSON.
Captain Joseph G. Johnson is a veteran of the Civil war and prominent in Grand Army circles in this section of the state. He makes his home in Milton, where he is now living in well earned ease after close and active connection with busi- ness interests in former years, for he was well known here at an earlier day as a merchant and
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later as proprietor of a hotel. Captain Johnson is a native of Posey county, Indiana, born July 30, 1821, his parents being Joseph and Ester (Jolly) Johnson, who were early residents of Posey county, where they spent their remaining days.
Captain Johnson was reared to farm life and continued to devote his attention to agricultural pursuits until 1856, when he became a resident of Milton. Here he embarked in merchandising, in which he continued until 1862, when, his spirit of patriotism being aroused, he not only offered his services to the goverment, but also organized a company in Milton to join the Union forces. This company became Company I of the Ninety- ninth Illinois Regiment and Mr. Johnson was chos- en its captain, serving with that rank for two years and five months, at which time an order was issued consolidating his regiment with a battalion on account of its being below the minimum number for regiment organization and Captain Johnson's command then became Company B. For a portion of the time Captain Johnson was ill, but he rendered active and valuable service to the Union in the engagements at Vicksburg and Hartsville, Missouri, and in a number of skir- mishes and was honorably discharged at Spring- field, Illinois, in December, 1864, by reason of the expiration of his term.
Returning home he resumed merchandising in Milton, in which he continued until 1867, when he retired from business life, but after five years became proprietor of a hotel and so continued until 1884. He then permanently put aside the more arduous duties of a business career and has since enjoyed a well earned rest.
Captain Johnson has been married three times. In August, 1842, he wedded Eliza Henderson and unto them was born a daughter, now Mrs. Mary A. Armstrong, of Milton. The wife and mother died in February, 1847, and in October, 1853, Captain Johnson wedded Elizabeth Travers, by whom he had one son, Daniel R. Johnson, who is residing in St. Louis, Missouri,and is an engineer. In 1855, the captain was called upon to mourn the loss of his second wife and on the 17th of November, 1857, he married Judith C. (Baker) Hughes, by whom he had two children, Jo Anna H. and Joseph G. H. Johnson. The daughter is
now the wife of C. E. Battershill, a merchant or Milton. Captain Johnson is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows societies and also holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, being true to the teachings of the latter and the tenets of the former. He is one of Milton's most esteemed and jovial citizens, always genial in manner, courteous and social. He has now passed the eighty-fourth milestone of life's journey and is classed with the most venerable and respected citizens of Milton, whose long resi- dence in the county and upright life have made him a prominent citizen.
· COLONEL D. D. HICKS.
Colonel Daniel D. Hicks, deceased, for many years cashier of the First National Bank of Pitts- field, was one of the prominent citizens of Pike county and resided in a beautiful home on Jef- ferson street, where, surrounded by many friends, he spent his last years, respected and honored by all who knew him. He came of a family in whom the spirit of patriotism was a strong characteristic. His grandfather, Simeon Hicks, espoused the cause of the colonies and fought for independence, while Truman B. Hicks, the father, was a soldier of the war of 1812. The latter was also a distinguished physician of the Empire state, and in addition to his success and prominence in that calling, he became recog- nized as a leader of public thought and action and was honored with political preferment. He served as judge of Warren county, New York, and for two terms represented his district in the state legislature. He married Barbara Hayes, a native of Clarendon, Vermont. and they had two sons and a daughter.
Colonel Daniel D. Hicks, of this family, was born at Sunderland, Vermont, on the 12th of August, 1812, and was quite young at the time of the removal of the family to the state of New York. A few years later, following the death of the mother, the family returned to the Green Mountain state but in 1830 again took up their
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DANIEL D. HICKS
LIBRARY Of THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
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abode in New York. In 1838 a removal was made to Pike county, Illinois, and Colonel Hicks entered business life in the middle west as a teacher, following the profession in the vicinity of Pittsfield for about two years. He then ac- cepted a clerkship in Pittsfield and was thus en- gaged until 1842, when he was appointed deputy sheriff by Ephraim Cannon and served for four. years, on the expiration of which period popular suffrage chose him for the office of sheriff and incumbency again continued for four years. This length of time had been sufficient to fully demon- strate to the people his entire trustworthiness and capability and his election to the office of county treasurer for a term of four years, fol- lowed. From 1850 until 1852 he was also en- gaged in merchandising. In 1865 he entered the First National Bank as clerk and teller and in 1867 was elected cashier, which position he filled up to the time of his death, when he was succeeded by his son, Robert T., who was for years assistant cashier of the institution.
In October, 1842, Colonel Hicks was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Burbridge, a ha -.. tive of Ohio, but at the time of her marriage a resident of this county. She was the daughter of James Burbridge. She was a devoted member of the Christian church and a most estimable lady and her death, which oc- curred March 30, 1844, was deeply regretted. Their only child, Helen M., died at the age of eighteen years. Colonel Hicks was afterward married to Miss Julia Ann Burbridge, a daughter of Robert Burbridge and a cousin of his first wife. They were married in 1845 and had five daughters and two sons: Frances, the wife of George Barber; Barbara E., the wife of Henry R. Miller ; Florence E., the wife of E. P. Dow; Emma, deceased wife of Hon. Harry Higbee, the present circuit judge of the eighth judicial district of Illinois; Robert T., cashier of the First National Bank of Pittsfield, and a prominent business man of the city; Laura, the wife of Mar- tin S. Frick, of Independence, Missouri; and James W., of Houston, Texas.
Mr. and Mrs. Hicks were members of the Christian church, in which he served as elder for many years, and in the work of which he took
a most active and helpful interest. His military title was conferred upon him while he was a resident of New York. He belonged to the One hundred and Sixty-sixth Regiment of the state militia and served for two years as its adjutant and two years as its colonel, at the end of which time he resigned in order to come to Illinois. He was a resident of Pike county for forty-six years and was deeply interested in its progress and development. His faithful service in office, his trustworthiness in business, his faithfulness in friendship, all combined to make him one of the leading citizens of this part of the state.
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