USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 46
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99
On the 6th of October, 1855, Dr. Stoner was married to Miss Ann Eliza Whitaker, a daughter of Benjamin and Delia (Wood) Whitaker, who were natives of New York city. Her father came to Illinois at an early day, settling on a farm two and a half miles north of Perry, Pike county, and was engaged in the meat-packing business for a number of years. He afterward removed to St. Louis, Missouri, where he was engaged in a general commission business for twenty years. and in 1876 he came to Griggsville, where he lived retired up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was eighty-one years of age. His wife survived and passed away at the very venerable age of ninety-four years. They were members of the Baptist church and Mr. Whitaker gave his political allegiance to the republican party. In his family were four children, all of whom are yet living, namely: James ; Mrs. Helen
DR. E R. STONER
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
1
339
PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
Dozer, a resident of St. Louis, Missouri; Mrs. Stoner, and Mrs. Emma Lacey, who is living in Baltimore, Maryland.
Unto Dr. and Mrs. Stoner have been borıl three children. Mrs. Emma Douglas is now in Paris, France, educating her two daughters. The elder, Kathryn, is a graduate of the Chaevachase school and is now engaged in translating lan- guages. Margaret, the younger daughter, is at- tending a French school in Paris. The mother is a most highly educated lady of superior lit- erary attainments and is also acting as chap- eron for two other young ladies beside her own daughters in Paris. Stanley, the only son, mar- ried Miss Evadne Rumsey, of St. Louis, Missouri. They were married in Minnesota and have one child. Stanley is a graduate of Cornell Univer- sity of the class of 1886 and was a teacher of po- litical economy for three years in Washington University. He was appointed to represent Chan- celor Elliott after his death and for fifteen years he was a practitioner of law in St. Louis. He re- ceived the appointment of consul general from President Roosevelt to Calcutta, India, and was transferred to that place from Bombay, but he resigned his position because of his family, it being unsafe for them to remain there on account of the plague. Alice, the third member of the family, is the wife of Dr. Vincent Lasbury, of Chicago,
In his early life Dr. Stoner engaged in teaching school between the ages of seventeen and twenty years and then entered upon preparation for the medical profession. Since engaged in practice he has had eighteen or twenty students under his direction and some of them attained prominence in medical circles, including Professor A. C. Cot- ton, who is with the Rush Medical College, of Chi- cago; Dr. Charles A. Wade, who is a teacher in Chicago, and Dr. Henry Hatch, who after study- ing with Dr. Stoner continued his studies in Lon- don and Berlin. He died in Quincy, Illinois, in the summer of 1905 and was buried in Griggs- ville cemetery. Dr. Stoner, although for more than a half century connected with his profes- sion, is still the beloved family physician in manv a household in Griggsville and the surrounding districts, and his professional skill and irreproach-
able private life have won him the love, confi- dence and trust of his fellowmen and made him a most honored citizen of Pike county.
ROLLIN MEARS DIX.
One does not have to carry his investigations far into the history of Griggsville to learn that the name of Dix has long been an honored one in Pike county and the subject of this review has fully sustained the admirable family record. He was born in this county August 31, 1855, and ac- quired his education in the public schools! of Griggsville. His father, Levi W. Dix, was a na- tive of Malden, Massachusetts, born February 15, 1821, and his death occurred in Griggsville, April 30, 1874. He was a son of John Dix, who in 1834 came to Illinois with his family. In 1841 Levi W. Dix was united in marriage with Miss Ruth E. Kiddle, a native of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and a daughter of Arthur Kiddle. Five children were born of this marriage, but only Rollin M. Dix is now living. The father was engaged in merchandising in Griggsville for ten or fifteen years and had a good business, being known as- one of the leading merchants of this place. He was a partner of James Brakefield and in all of his business relations commanded uniform confidence and trust.
Rollin Mears Dix was educated in the public schools of Griggsville and has spent much of his life in traveling with his mother. With her he visited her old home in 1881 and at that time they took an extended trip over the New England states, visiting many places of historic interest. He lived in Las Vegas, New Mexico, from July 18, 1888, until after the death of his sister in April, 1889. In 1897 he and his mother made an ex- tended trip in the east, visiting many points; in- cluding Chautauqua, New York. On the 22d of December, 1899, Mr. Dix lost his mother, since which time he has occupied the old homestead, where he has spent his entire life with the excep- tion of the periods devoted to travel. He has lived on this site for forty-one years, but two of the old houses have been torn down. His life
18
340
PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
was devoted to his mother and the affection be- tween them was largely ideal. He gave to her almost his entire thought and devotion and put forth every effort in his power for her comfort and happiness. His home is a beautiful one, most attractively furnished, showing every evidence of a refined and cultured taste as well as of wealth. In politics Mr. Dix has always been a republican and his religious faith is indicated by his mem- bership in the Congregational church.
i .
JOHN B. CHAMBERLIN.
There are no rules for building character ; there is no rule for achieving success. The man who can rise from the ranks to a position of prominence is he who can see and utilize the opportunities that surround his path. The essen- tial conditions to human life are ever the same, the surroundings of influence differ but slightly and if one man passes another on the highway, reaching the goal of prosperity before those who perhaps started out ahead of him, it is because he has the power to use the advantages which probably encompass the whole human race. To- day among the most prominent business men of Barry stands Mr. Chamberlin and his name brings to mind an important commercial indus- try of the city, for he has long been engaged in the conduct of a men's furnishing goods store in Barry, where he has made an unassailable repu- tation for business integrity, for progressive methods and for successful accomplishment.
Mr. Chamberlin was born in Butler county, Ohio, May II, 1832, and is descended from one of the old colonial families of New Jersey. His paternal grandfather, Aaron Chamberlin, was one of the heroes of the Revolutionary war and par- ticipated in the battle of Monmouth. Following the close of hostilities he owned a farm near that battle-field, upon which he spent his remaining days, reaching the very advanced age of ninety- four years.
Aaron Chamberlin, Jr., father of our subject, was born in Monmouth county, New Jersey, in 1787, and in early manhood went to Ohio, locat-
ing at Darr township, Butler county. He was married in Ohio to Miss Rachel Bryant, a native of Butler county, where her father had located in pioneer times. Mr. Chamberlin followed the wagonmaker's trade in Darr township until 1835, when he removed to Illinois accompanied by his wife and five children, making the journey by way of the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois rivers to Phillip's ferry and thence to Derry township, Pike county, Illinois. Upon a previous visit to the county he had purchased a tract of land, of which twelve or fifteen acres had been cleared, while the remainder was wild prairie and timber. The family took up their abode in the little log cabin, which had already been erected, and Mr. Chamberlin continued to engage in farming there until his death in 1850. His wife long survived him, passing away in 1888, at the age of eighty- three years. In their family were four children : Alfred and James W., both deceased; John B., of this review ; and Lydia A., the wife of Hutson Martin, a resident of Rockport. By a former marriage the father had one son, William Cham- berlin.
John B. Chamberlin of this review has been a resident of Pike county from the age of three years. When a young lad he attended the daily school in Derry township which was conducted upon the subscription plan. Primitive conditions existed on all sides and the most far-sighted could scarcely have dreamed of the changes which were to occur and bring about such a radical trans- formation in the appearance of the county which at that time contained many tracts of wild prairie land and stretches of unbroken forest. Mr. Cham- berlin passed many a pleasant hour in hunting and killed many deer and much lesser game in this county. His youth was passed upon the old homestead farm and he assisted in its care and cultivation until 1848, when, thinking that he would find other pursuits more congenial he se- cured a clerkship in a general store in Rockport, where he remained for three years. In 1850, however, he went with his father upon a visit to the latter's old home in New Jersey, the journey to the east being made by way of the Illinois, Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Cincinnati and thence by rail to Sandusky City, Ohio, where
341
PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
they arrived Saturday evening. They found they could secure a boat that night but a friend, Mrs. Bradley, who was traveling with them, was very tired and desired to wait until Monday and then take the regular packet. Mr. Chamberlin and his father decided to wait with her and found that they were very fortunate in doing so, for the other boat on which they might have sailed was lost with all on board. They proceeded by packet to Buffalo and by rail to New York city and thence on to their destination. On the return trip they traveled by way of the lake from Buf- falo to Detroit, by rail across the state of Michi- gan and from New Buffalo across Lake Michi- gan to Chicago, thence by canal to La Salle and on down the Illinois river to their home. Such was the slow and tedious method of travel in those days before Illinois had become the great- est railroad state in the Union.
After his return to Pike county Mr. Chamber- lin engaged in clerking in a store at Winchester for about six months and in 1851 came to Barry, where he entered the employ of the firm of Shields & Lillis. Many nights he slept upon the counter in the store and he used every oppor- tunity that would enable him to promote his financial interests. He continued with the above mentioned firm until they retired from business, when he formed a partnership and became a member of the firm of Hammond & Chamberlin. After a year, however, Mr. Chamberlin sold his interest to Dr. D. W. Greene. On the 8th of April, 1858, Mr. Chamberlin purchased his first bill of clothing and embarked in the line of business in which he has since continued, occupy- ing at first a rented building, in which he placed hi's small stock of ready-made clothing. This was the nucleus of his present large establish- ment. In 1861 he purchased the building in which he was conducting business and his fur- ther success is indicated by the fact that in 1863 he built a frame building thirty by sixty feet. His trade continued to grow and in 1869 justified the erection of a brick building on the corner-a two story structure thirty by one hundred and twenty feet. There he continued with growing success until the big fire of 1894, when his store with its contents was destroyed. However, it rose
phoenix-like from the ashes, for with an unfalter- ing courage and determination he at once began the erection of a second brick structure, two stories in height with enlarged dimensions, it being seventy-five by one hundred feet. He now rents one store, while the remainder of the build- ing is occupied with the clothing stock of the firm, for since 1875 Mr. Chamberlin has been associ- ated with his son, Albert J. Chamberlin, whom he in that year admitted to a partnership. They still continue in business having a large and fine stock of goods and a very extensive patronage which makes the volume of business transacted over their counters each year of much importance. Theirs has become one of the leading commercial enterprises of the town.
On the 21st of August, 1854, Mr. Chamber- lin was united in marriage to Miss Martha E. Rush, who was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, April 1, 1829, a daughter of Josiah and Mary (Cook) Rush. Her father was born in Virginia and her mother in Ohio. At an early day they came to Pike county and continued residents of Barry up to the time of their death. In their family were four children: Caroline, Catherine, Martha and Mary Ann. The last named was the wife of William F. White and all are now de- ceased. Mrs. Chamberlin died at her beautiful home in Barry, March 11, 1901. In her child- hood she had come with her parents to this city, where she continued to live until called to her final rest. In early life she became a believer in the Christian religion and her faith was always exemplified in her daily conduct. Her nature was refined and sensitive to an unusual degree and she possessed the kindly spirit and tact which placed at ease all who came within her presence. In her family she was a most devoted and loving wife and mother and her relations to those out- side of her own home were always just, kind and magnanimous. She seemed to live to make others happy and her death came as a crushing blow to her many friends and to the members of her own household. Her memory is yet enshrined in the hearts of all who knew her and her in- fluence remains as a blessed benediction to those with whom she came in contact. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlin were born three children:
342
PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
Eugenie R., who is living at home; Freddie, who died at the age of five years ; Albert J., who mar- ried Anna Scott and has one daughter, Zoe, the wife of De M. Doran, by whom she has one child. Mr. Chamberlin has a beautiful home, where he now resides. It stands in the midst of six acres of land and is surrounded by fine shade trees. He also owns the old homestead property adjoining his present residence and now he has made many improvements. He likewise has very valuable realty in Barry, having made judicious investment of his capital. He has never cared for public office but is a stanch republican, having supported the party since casting his vote for Abraham Lincoln. For almost a half century he has been numbered among the merchants of this town and he has made a reputation that any man might be proud to possess. He has been prompt in meeting obligations and in keeping en- gagements and his name has become an honored one on commercial paper. His career has ever been such as to warrant the trust and confidence of the business world, for he has ever conducted all business transactions on the strictest principles of honor and integrity. His devotion to the pub- lic good is unquestioned and arises from a sincere interest in his fellowmen.
MRS. SUSAN ROBERTS.
linois, making his home near Pittsfield, where his death occurred, his remains being interred in the Goodin graveyard.
Asa D. Cooper, father of Mrs. Roberts, re- moved to Morgan county, Illinois, in the early '30s and prior to his marriage came to Pike county. He wedded Miss Eleanor Goodin in Martinsburg township, in April, 1834, and her death occurred in the same town- ship, on March 20, 1854, her remains being interred in the Goodin graveyard. Mr. Cooper survived until December 29, 1858, and also passed away on the old homestead, after which his re- mains were interred near the burial place of his wife. In their family were eight children, of whom Mrs. Roberts was the third in order of birth. The others were: John H., born October 10, 1836; Mary E., January II, 1838; Robert A., January 27, 1843; George W., in June, 1845; Nancy J., January 6, 1847; James M., October 26, 1850; and Sarah A., born March 9, 1853. Of these, three have now passed away : George, who died October 10, 1853, and was buried in the Goodin graveyard, four miles south of Pittsfield; Robert B, who died near Folsom, California, in November, 1854; and Sarah, who died near Dal- las, Texas.
Susan Cooper spent her girlhood days in her parents' home upon the old farm in Martinsburg township and was educated in the country schools, while under her mother's instruction she was trained to the duties of the household, so that she was well qualified to take charge of a home of her own at the time of her marriage. On the. 20th of March, 1862, she gave her hand in mar- riage to David Roberts, a son of David and La- vina (Pool) Roberts, who were natives of New England, the former having been born in Ver- mont in 1800, and the latter in New York in 1802. The grandfather of David Roberts also bore the name of David Roberts, and was a wheelwright by trade and a soldier of the Revolutionary war. In 1816 he became a pioneer settler of Ohio and in 1839 took up his abode in Pike county, Il- linois, where he died in 1847.
Mrs. Susan Roberts, living in Montezuma township, was born December 15, 1840, in Mar- tinsburg township. Her parents were Asa D. and Eleanor (Goodin) Cooper, the former born in Kentucky, February 27, 1811, and the latter in Saline county, Missouri, October 10, 1818. The paternal grandfather, George W. Cooper, was · born in Georgia, removing to Tennessee, after- ward to Kentucky and subsequently to Morgan county, Illinois, thence to southwest Missouri and afterward resided in Pike county, Illinois, whence he went to Macon county, this state, his death there occurring. The maternal grandfather was Robert Goodin, a native of Tennessee, who re- David Roberts, his grandson, was a man of more than average ability intellectually and was moved to Missouri and subsequently became a res- ident of Martinsburg township, Pike county, Il- a very interesting and entertaining conversation-
DAVID ROBERTS
LIBRARY Of THE UNIVERSITY IN HANNOIS
345
PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
alist. His educational opportunities were very meagre, for in school he never progressed beyond the third reader but after putting aside his text- books he read and studied extensively. He never attended school after he was thirteen years of age and up to that time had only such instruction as was afforded in the old-time log schoolhouse. He read extensively however, and was an ex- cellent judge of people as well as of books. He was also a logical reasoner and deep thinker and was always regarded as an educated man by those who conversed with him, for his language was good, his words ever being well chosen. In 1850, when sixteen years of age, he accompanied his father to California, remaining on the Pacific slope for eight years. He then returned home in April, 1858, and engaged in farming at the old homestead for three years. He then started out upon an independent business career as a farmer and from time to time added to his landed possessions. In the spring of 1870 he purchased a farm in Montezuma township, whereon he re- sided for thirty years, or up to the time of his death. He led an eventful and prosperous life and became the owner of three hundred and seventy-five acres of very valuable land, now held by his heirs. The home farm was not improved in the least when it came into his possession and the only building upon it was a log cabin, but he soon wrought a transformation in the appearance of the place and was a successful agriculturist who added various improvements to the farm in the way of buildings and machinery, while the soil produced bountifully, good crops being annu- ally harvested. The little log cabin was replaced by a more modern, commodious and substantial residence, the fields were fenced, barns were built and the work of progress and improvement was carried steadily forward.
By the marriage of David Roberts and Susan Cooper there were born five children, two daugh- ters and three sons. Lavina E., born December 26, 1862, is a graduate of the Illinois State Normal, at Normal, Illinois. She discontinued teaching on account of ill health and later made a canvass for the office of school superin- tendent of Pike county, 1890, being en- dorsed by the republican and union labor par- ties, but the county is overwhelmingly democratic
and she failed of election. She then took up the cause of the Farmers' Alliance and discussed the platform throughout the county. Later when the Farmers' Alliance was merged into the people's party she espoused that cause and delivered many addresses in support of its platform throughout Illinois and Missouri. In 1894 she took charge of the populist newspaper published in Pittsfield and was at its head for nearly two years. In the summer of 1894 she was nominated by the popu- lists of Illinois for the position of state superin- tendent of public instruction. While engaged in newspaper work she was ably assisted by her brother, John I. Roberts, who was a brilliant writer. Lizzie Roberts, born September 10, 1864, died August 6, 1884, when about twenty years of age and was buried in the Green Pond cemetery. John I, born December 18, '1866, passed away July 23, 1896. David, who was of the fifth gener- ation of that name, was born August 15, 1869, and died July 15, 1894. George Roberts, born April 8, 1871, is now superintending the old home farm in a successful manner. The family are members of the Church of Christ. The hus- band and father, after a useful, active and honor- able career departed this life May 8, 1900, and his death was the occasion of deep and wide-spread regret among his many friends. He had resided upon the home farm for thirty years and during a long residence in the county had become very widely and favorably known, his good qualities endearing him to all with whom he was associ- ated. Mrs. Roberts lives at the old homestead in Montezuma township and her entire life has been passed in this county, so that she is largely familiar with its history and has been a witness of much of its growth and change.
FRANKLIN M. FENTON.
The farming and stock-raising interests of Pike county have a worthy representative in Franklin M. Fenton, who is living on section 21, Newburg township. He is operating the old Fenton home- stead of two hundred and forty acres, which is a neat and well improved property. It was upon
346
PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
this farm that he first opened his eyes to the light of day on the 12th of March, 1877, his parents being John M. and Sarah M. (Biggs) Fenton. His father was born April 22, 1825, in Butler county, Ohio, and was a son of the Rev. Samuel and Mary (Degroff) Fenton. The ancestral his- tory can be traced back to a still more remote pe- riod, the founders of the family in America hav- ing come from Scotland. The great-grandfather of John M. Fenton was George Fenton, who was was born December 24, 1748, while his wife, Elizabeth, was born August 18, 1749. He served as a soldier of the Revolutionary war. John M. Fenton's grandfather, John Fenton, who was born August 18, 1779, and married Elizabeth Marsh, who was born June 8, 1786. John M. Fenton's father, Rev. Samuel Fenton, was a native of Hamilton county, Ohio, born May 4, 1800, and was a minister of the Christian church, devoting his life to that holy calling He was also a shoe- maker by trade. He died in Butler county, Ohio, in 1839, and his wife, who was a native of Brook- lyn, New York, survived him for a number of years, and spent her last days in the home of her son, J. M. Fenton, in Pike county. She was born in 1803, and died in 1895, at the good old age of ninety-two years.
John M. Fenton was reared to mature years in Ohio, and had but limited educational privileges, so that he is largely a self-educated man, having greatly broadened his knowledge after attaining to years of maturity. He is a man of superior business ability, widely and favorably known in Illinois. Coming to this state in 1856, he settled in Pike county, purchasing land in Newburg township, owning here some five hundred acres of land, comprised in several well improved and valuable farms. He devoted his attention to agri- cultural pursuits and to the raising and feeding of stock, and was regarded as one of the success- ful farmers and stockmen of the county. Ha has been married twice. In Butler county, Ohio, in 1844, he wedded Miss Sarah Biggs, who died at their home in Newburg township. There are two living sons of this marriage: Samuel A., a resident farmer of Beeville, Texas; and Albert M., who is a substantial agriculturist of New- burg township. In 1876 Mr. Fenton was mar-
ried in Griggsville township to Mrs. Sarah M. .Davis, nee Biggs, the widow of F. M. Davis. By this marriage three children were born, in- cluding Franklin M. Fenton of this review. In recent years the father has lived a retired life, and for some time has spent the winter months in California and Texas, having a residence in Los Angeles. In the summer seasons he returns to Illinois and visits with his children. His life has been active and enterprising and his labors have been crowned with a gratifying measure of prosperity. There are two daughters of the sec ond marriage: Rosa, now the wife of Charles Bradburn, a farmer of Newburg township; and Anna, the wife of Otto Offenbecker, now of Lawrence, Indiana.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.