Past and present of Pike County, Illinois, Part 48

Author: Massie, Melville D; Clarke, (S.J.) Publishing Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 760

USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 48

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quite successful in his business operations; and his farm is well located, while the cultivation and improvement he has bestowed upon it have made it a valuable property

ROBERT J. McCONNELL, M. D.

Dr. Robert J. McConnell, engaged in the prac- tice of medicine in Baylis, is a native of Gilmer township, Adams county, born September 23, 1862, and is a son of Robert and Arma M. (Jack- son) McConnell, both of whom were natives of County Monaghan, Ireland. The father was born December 18, 1804, and on the 7th of February, 1840, he wedded Arma Matilda Jackson, the mar- riage ceremony being performed by the Rev. John Blakely, pastor of the Presbyterian church at Monaghan, Ireland. Mrs. McConnell was born on the 20th of May, 1818, and following their marriage they remained residents of the Emerald Isle until the fall of 1857, when they started for America, landing at New Orleans on the Ist of January, 1858, remaining in the Cres- cent city until May of that year. Robert McCon- nell then made his way to Gilmer township, Adams county, and in the spring of 1873 removed to McKee township, of the same county. At the time of his death a local paper said: "He lived a sober and exemplary life, was a loving husband and the best of fathers, and was highly esteemed by his neighbors and all who knew him. He united with the Presbyterian church at an early age, and lived a consistent Christian life." His demise occurred September 4, 1892, and his widow survived until March 29, 1899, when she too, was called to her final rest. After the eight weeks' voyage to America, during which they encountered some severe weather and sailed out of their course, and following their residence of several months in New Orleans, they became identified with farming interests in Gilmer town- ship, Adams county, and later purchased a farm in McKee township, which Mr. McConnell con- tinued to improve up to the time of his death. He built a new house there and in his later years en- joyed many of the comforts of life. In early

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days his market was at Quincy, and he had to pay as high as three dollars and a half per bushel for seed wheat. This was in 1867, soon after the close of the Civil war, when prices were greatly inflated. In 1873 he drove his hogs to market at Mount Sterling, where he sold them at two dollars and a quarter per hundred pounds. He never cared for public office, but was a firm believer in republican principles and gave earnest· support to the party. His widow survived him for several years and, like her husband, was a devoted member of the Presbyterian church. Her life was given to the welfare of her husband and children, and she counted no personal sacrifice too great if it would enhance the happiness of her loved ones. Her memory is deeply cherished by all who knew her; and when she was called to her final rest her remains were interred by the side of her husband in the Dunkard churchyard. In the family of this worthy couple were seven children, four of whom are now living, and with the exception of our subject all were born in Ire- land. Those who still survive are: William H., a resident of Kellerville, Illinois, who married Miss Martha Reid and has two sons and two daughters ; Mary, who is the widow of John S. Doole and resides in Kellerville with her three sons ; John C., also living in Kellerville, and who married Belle Jones, by whom he has two chil- dren; and Robert J., of this review.

Upon the old homestead farm in Adams county Dr. McConnell spent the days of his boyhood and early youth and acquired his preliminary education in the district schools. He afterward attended the Gem City Business College in Quincy, Illinois, and the Western Normal School at Bushnell, Illinois. Having gained a good lit- erary knowledge to serve as the foundation for professional learning, he began preparation for the practice of medicine as a student in Keokuk Medical College of Keokuk, Iowa, from which he was graduated in the class of 1891. In the meantime, however, he had followed other busi- ness pursuits in order to acquire the funds nec- essary to enable his to pursue his collegiate course. He erected a building in which he con- ducted the first restaurant at Siloam Springs, in Brown county, Illinois. This was in 1885. He

taught school in the winters of 1886, 1887, 1888 and 1889, and the money which he was enabled to save from his earnings provided for his col- legiate education. He also taught writing school at night, acted as pension agent, and in fact, worked hard and persistently for the money to pay for his medical education. He first began reading under the direction of Dr. George W. Cox, of Clayton, Illinois, and he spent the sum- . mers of 1889 and, 1890 as a student in the office of Dr. John G. Mckinney, of Barry, Pike county, assisting him in his sanitarium. Following his graduation he opened an office in Fishhook, Illi- nois, in May, 1891, and there remained for seven months, after which he came to Baylis, where he has since been located in the enjoyment of a large and growing practice.

On the IIth of November, 1894, Dr. McCon- nell was married to Miss Emma M. McCleery, who was born April 11, 1873, and is a daughter of John and Hannah E. (Farmer) McCleery. Her father was born in Pennsylvania, May 8, 1831, and came to Illinois with his parents when but six years of age. His father was a farmer and John McCleery followed the same pursuit throughout his entire life. For many years he served as supervisor of Hadley township. Pros- pering in his business undertakings, he was at one time owner of three hundred and eighty acres of rich and valuable land, and his attention was devoted to general agricultural pursuits and to stock-raising. In community affairs he was also actively and helpfully interested, and served as justice of the peace for many years and for a long period was school director. His political alle- giance was given to the republican party and he was a prominent and active member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. When about twenty-two years of age he was married to Miss Hannah El- len Farmer, who was born in Tennessee, No- vember 3, 1833, and who now makes her home with Dr. and Mrs. McConnell. The death of Mr. McCleery occurred July 22, 1890, and was the occasion of deep regret in the community where he lived, for many friends esteemed him for his genuine worth. In their family were eight chil- dren, of whom six are now living : William H., residing in Salem, Dent county, Missouri, mar-

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ried Julia Ann Hill, and has eight children. James A., a resident of Oklahoma, married Miss Alnora Atwood and has five children. Thomas A., of Hadley township, wedded Susanna Tolson and has six children. Martha E. is the wife of Jacob S. Stauffer, a banker of Baylis, by whom she has four children. Lucy. E., is the wife of Jacob L. Tolson, of Barry, and has two children. Mrs. McConnell completes the family. She was married at her mother's home November II, 1894, and in Baylis both the Doctor and his wife have gained many warm friends who esteem them highly for their genuine worth and many good qualities. In his political views the Doctor is a stalwart republican but does not seek nor desire the honors nor emoluments of public office. The cause of education, however, finds in him a warm friend ; and he has been school director for nine years and school trustee for three years. Fra- ternally he is connected with Summit lodge, No. 384, I. O. O. F., and both he and his wife are members of the Rebekah lodge, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen camp, and of the Grand Orient. She is a member of the Royal Neigh- bors. In the line of his profession Dr. McConnell is connected with the Pike County Medical So- ciety and the American Medical Association. He has made admirable progress in his profession since leaving school, for by broad reading and re- search he has continually added to his knowledge and promoted his efficiency. He has also done post-graduate work in Chicago, and has attended clinics in that city and in St. Louis. For the past ten years he has been surgeon for the Wabash Railroad Company in addition to the duties of a large private practice, and the community reposes much confidence in his professional ability while entertaining for him warm personal regard.

FRANCIS AUBREY LONGNECKER.

Francis Aubrey Longnecker, station agent for the Wabash Railroad at Kinderhook, was born August 6, 1861, and is a son of A. B. and Nancy H. (Hull) Longnecker, the latter a daughter of Thomas Hull, who came here in 1831 and was

one of the early settlers of Kinderhook township, where he engaged in preaching the gospel as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Longnecker was born in Randolph county, Illi- nois, April 8, 1829. A. B. Longnecker was born October 24, 1824, in Preble county, Ohio, and when a young man he was a gatekeeper at Alton penitentiary. Later he turned his attention to merchandising in Kinderhook following that pur- suit the greater part of his life. He died May 4, 1873, while his wife passed away near Griggs- ville, January 7, 1894. They were the parents of three children: Francis Aubrey, William A., a member of the Iowa Conference of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and Mis. Thomas Simp- kin, Jr., of Griggsville, Illinois. The father was a republican in his political views; and he be- longed to the Masonic fraternity, holding a mem- bership in the Kinderhook lodge and also in the chapter at Clayton, Illinois.

Francis A. Longnecker was educated in the public schools of Kinderhook and Griggsville and learned telegraphy in the Kinderhook office. He was afterward operator at Valley City for six months and subsequently at Barry for two years, and has been agent at Kinderhook since the 14th of April, 1887, covering a period of nineteen consecutive years. His entire life has been de- voted to this business, and he is a popular and efficient employe of the railroad, his unfailing courtesy and obliging manner winning for him the friendly regard of the patrons of the Kinder- hook office. In connection with his other duties, Mr. Longnecker has for ten years had charge of the sand and gravel pit east of Kinderhook, where he does a good business. He shipped out three hundred and fifty carloads of sand and gravel in the year 1905, shipping mostly to Springfield and Jacksonville, where the product is used for side- walks and in concrete work. He is also interested in two telephone systems, having eight lines cen- tering in Kinderhook and connecting with va- rious farms in this part of the county and with adjacent towns.

On November 19, 1889, Mr. Longnecker was married to Miss Lottie Colvin, a daughter of J. C. Colvin, a merchant of Kinderhook. Her mother bore the maiden name of Ann Andrews;

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and the parents came from Hartford, Connecti- cut, to Illinois, where the father engaged in the milling business and also carried on general mer- chandising at Kinderhook. He was a good busi- ness man, and at his death left a valuable farm of two hundred and forty acres of rich land. His political allegiance was given to the democracy, he served as township school trustee for fifteen years and was also collector for several years. He belonged to the Masonic lodge and was a man whom to know was to respect and honor. He died March 23,1.900, and his wife is still living, making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Long- necker.

Mr. Longnecker is a member of the Modern Woodmen camp at Kinderhook, and has acted as clerk of the lodge since its organization sev -. enteen years ago. He is also a member of Kin- derhook lodge, No. 353, A. F. & A. M., of Barry chapter, No. 88, R. A. M., and of the former has been secretary for three years. His wife is a member of the Baptist church. He has a nice home, and is one of the foremost residents of Kinderhook. His political affiliation is with the prohibition party; and he was village treasurer for several terms. In manner he is social and genial, well known and well liked.

F. MARION CRANE, M. D.

1863, at the age of sixty-eight years. In his fam- ily were three daughters, who are residents of Newburg township-Mrs. D. B. Rose, Mrs. R. M. Weeks and Mrs. Eliza A. Fenton.

Dr. Crane also has one living brother, A. D. Crane, a farmer, residing on the old homestead; and there is also a half-brother, Felix L. Crane, who is located in Stafford county, Kansas. One brother is deceased, Eli L., and also a half-brother,, Ezra. Both Ezra and Felix were born in Ohio. George W., another brother, died at the age of fourteen years, and one sister, Mary Elizabeth, died in infancy.

Dr. Crane was reared in Pike county, and in its schools acquired his early education, which was supplemented by three years' attendance at the Illinois State Normal University at Normal. He early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist upon the home farm. He read medicine with Dr. J. Smith Thomas, of Pleasant Hill, Illinois, while teaching school in that section, and subsequently matricu- lated in Rush Medical College of Chicago, where he completed the regular course in 1892. Im- mediately afterward he entered upon the prac- tice of medicine with Dr. Thomas, at Pleasant Hill, with whom he was associated for three and a half years. On the expiration of that period he went to the Hawiian Islands as one of the gov- ernment physicians, but upon returning home for his family to take them to the islands he was taken ill with typhoid fever, and his wife con- tracted the same disease three days later. He then resigned his position, and has since prac- ticed in Pittsfield with constantly growing suc- cess, keeping in touch with the progress that is continually being made by the medical fraternity as investigation, research and experiment pro- mote the efficiency of its followers. He practices along modern, scientific lines, and has recently completed and occupies a fine new office building near his home, supplied with all modern equip- . ments. He owns a splendid compound toepler- holtz static machine of the Nelson type, on which he can use all static currents including the X-Ray.

Dr. F. Marion Crane, successfully engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Pittsfield, was born near this city upon the home farm in Newburg township, July 20, 1862, his parents being Lafayette and Susan U. (Leeds) Crane. The mother is now living in Newburg township at the age of seventy-seven years. The parents removed to Illinois from Ohio, and were natives of the Buckeye state and Pennsylvania respect- ively. They located in Pike county at an early epoch in its development, and Lafayette Crane devoted his attention to the various pursuits of farming, carpentering and cabinet-making. His later years, however, were given entirely to agri- Dr. Crane was married to Miss Eva H. Platt- ner, who was born and reared in Pittsfield, and cultural pursuits, and he continued upon the home farm until his death, which occurred in is a daughter of A. W. Plattner, an undertaker

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of this city. The Doctor and his wife have two children : Florine May, who was born at Pleas- ant Hill, Illinois, in 1894; and Russell Andrew, whose birth occurred in Pittsfield in 1896. The parents are members of the Christian church; and Dr. Crane is a republican in his political views, but without aspiration for office. He is serving on the official board of the church and takes an active and helpful interest in its work. He is also a member of the school board, and was on the pension board until it resigned bodily, a new board being later appointed. In the line of his profession he is connected with the Pike County and Illinois State Medical Societies and the American Medical Association, and is vice presi- dent of the first named. The profession as well as the general public recognize his skill , and learning. He maintains a high standard of pro- fessional ethics, and by reading and research is continually broadening his knowledge so that he is well qualified to meet the responsibilities that devolve upon him in connection with the impor- tant work he has chosen as his life vocation.

WILLIAM H. BROWN.

William H. Brown, the owner of six hundred acres of valuable land in Pike county and also well known in commercial circles as a dealer in hard and soft coal at Maysville, was born in Griggsville township on the 10th of November, 1867, a son of Henry R. and Jane (Chapman) Brown. The father's birth occurred in Brown county, Ohio, July 15, 1821, and he was a son of William Brown, Sr., a well known pioneer resi- dent of Pike county. Henry Brown came to Illinois in 1834, making his way at once to this county and establishing his home on section 29, Griggsville township. He followed a breaking plow and dropped corn on the Griggsville prairie, the rows being one mile in length. He was em- ployed at that work by George W. Jones, who has since passed away. Mr. Brown also worked in a cotton gin in Morgan county for about three years and like other boys of that early day he was largely deprived of educational advantages

and was compelled to undergo many hardships and privations incident to the settlement of the frontier. He saw the first steamboat that sailed on the waters of the Illinois river and was a witness of many of the historic events which have marked the development of this county. He also saw deer running wild on the prairies, there being twenty or more in a drove, but he never · shot one.

Henry R. Brown was married first to Miss Harriet Park on the 18th of January, 1842, and just two years later she passed away, leaving one son, George W., who was born November 18, 1843. He served his country in the Civil war as a member of the Union army and died July 7, 1900. On the 22d of December, 1847, Henry R. Brown was married to Miss Jane Chapman, a daughter of E. W. Chapman, deceased, well known in early history of Pike county. By this marriage there were eight children. John Q., who was born October 13, .1848, and married Miss Ella Eastman, is now engaged in cultivating a farm of about five hundred acres in Kansas. Mary J., born June 16, 1850 is the wife of John F. Wat- kins, a farmer of Griggsville township. Sarah F., born May 17, 1852, is the wife of Dr. W. O. Skinner, a resident of Griggsville. William E., born August 12, 1854, died May 6, 1855. Julia A., born November 8, 1856, has also passed away. Flora E., born January 12, 1862, died January 10, 1867. Captain Amos W. Brown, born Decem- ber 17, 1863, married Louise Lewis and they now reside in Kansas, where he follows farming and in 1902-3 he raised thirty thousand bushels of wheat. William H. completes the family. The father, Henry R. Brown, long an active, enterprising, prosperous and honored agricul- turist of Pike county, passed away June 7, 1903, when eighty-two years of age, and his wife, · who was born in 1823, is now living in her eighty- second year, at the present writing visiting her sons in Kansas.

William H. Brown, reared under the parental roof, acquired his elementary education in the public schools and afterward attended Illinois College at Jacksonville. He was early trained to habits of industry, economy and enterprise upon the old homestead farm and was associated

LIBRARY Of THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

MR. AND MRS. W. H. BROWN

MR. AND MRS. H. R. BROWN

LIBRARY Of THE UNIVERSITY ! UnIS .

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PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.

with his father in business until the latter's death. In recent years he had more and more relieved his father of the care and arduous duties incident to a business career and since his demise he has been farming the old homestead, comprising six hundred acres of rich and productive land. He also raises and feeds stock on an extensive scale, having a feed shed two hundred by two hundred feet with fifty feeding chutes. In 1904 he fed over five hundred head of cattle and he now has on hand about two hundred head of cattle and between five and six hundred head of hogs. He is the most extensive live stock shipper in this locality, buying cattle all over the county and his business has reached mammoth and profitable proportions. He also has coal sheds at Maysville and is a dealer in both soft and hard coal, which likewise adds materially to his annual income. In January, 1906, he traded a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres, in Brown county, for a well improved place of three hundred and twenty acres in Butler county, Kansas, three miles from Latham.

1882, a daughter of Jacob D. and Catherine (Chipman) Mink, the former born in Ohio in 1852 and the latter in Pike county, Illinois, in 1858. Her father is a farmer and stock-raiser in Salem township, cultivating about five hundred and twenty acres of land. He came to this state when young and in limited financial circumstances but gradually he worked his way upward and has found that success is ambition's answer. His political allegiance is given to the democracy. In his family were three sons and six daughters, as follows: Jessie, the wife of Ralph Gleckler ; William H .; Ruth, the wife of William Dean; Rachel; Grover; Frank, who died in his seventh year; Eunice R .; Mamie; and Emmett.

Mr. Brown has never cared for public office but has always preferred to give his undivided attention to his business affairs and in connec- tion with his other interests is a stockholder in the Illinois Valley Bank at Griggsville. He votes, however, with the republican party and he is a member of Pike lodge, No. 73, I. O. O. F.,

at Griggsville, while his wife is connected with Dove lodge of the Rebekah order. They are highly esteemed people of the community, repre- senting worthy and prominent pioneer families and the hospitality of many of the best homes is freely accorded them. Mr. Brown is a man of excellent business ability, of keen discernment and unfaltering enterprise, and keeps in touch with the modern trend of thought and progress in relation to agricultural and commercial pursuits.

ROBERT YATES BARNES. .

Robert Yates Barnes, vice president of the Farmers Bank of Baylis, also a representative of agricultural and stock-raising interests, is ac- counted one of the active business men of his vil- lage and community, and the. extent and impor- tance of his business operations have brought him a good financial return and at the same time have made him a factor in the advancement of general prosperity. He was born April 6, 1861, in Pike

On the 4th of November, 1902, Mr. Brown was married to Miss Josie A. Mink, who was born , county, his parents being Nathan L. and Mar- in Salem township, Pike county, December I, garet (Cunningham) Barnes. The father was

born March 15, 1833, in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and was a son of William and Sarah (Lawson) Barnes, of Pennsylvania, who came to Pike county, Illinois, in the fall of 1854 and located near Baylis, buying a farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 24, New Salem township. The grandfather was exten- sively engaged in raising stock, making a spe- cialty of cattle and horses. He spent his remain- ing years here, passing away September 4, 1884, while his wife died in 1868.

Nathan L. Barnes was educated in the com- mon schools of Pennsylvania and remained at home until the removal of the family to Pike county, after which he entered business life here by working as a farm hand by the month. Sub- sequently he returned to the Keystone state, and was there married to Miss Margaret Cunningham in 1855. He brought his bride to Pike county, and she engaged in teaching school, and thus assisted him in gaining a start. He was paid à dollar and a quarter per day for his labor, and

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was thus employed for six months, after which he rented land for three years. On the expira- tion of that period with the capital he had man- aged to save from his earnings he bought a farm of one hundred and seventy acres about a mile and a quarter south of Baylis. To this he has added until he now owns three hundred acres of valuable land, and his farm is a well improved property, the well tilled fields yielding him ex- cellent harvests annually. He has placed all of the buildings upon his farm, and has cleared most . of the land. He has engaged quite extensively in the stock business; and although he came to this county a poor boy, he is to-day one of its pros- perous citizens-a fact which is attributable en- tirely to his own efforts. In 1863 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. In October, 1905, he removed from his farm to Baylis, where he is now living a retired life, resting in the en- joyment of the fruits of his former toil. He is a member of the Presbyterian church; and his political views are those of a prohibitionist. He is numbered among the early settlers of Pike county, and, moreover, is a citizen whom to know is to respect and honor because of his fidelity to manly principles in all life's relations. His in- · sons and a daughter: Arthur L., who was born fluence is ever given on the side of right, justice and truth, and he advocates every movement which tends to ameliorate the hard conditions of mankind or to uplift humanity intellectually and morally.

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Past and present of Pike County, Illinois, Part 48

Author: Massie, Melville D; Clarke, (S.J.) Publishing Company, Chicago Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Chicago, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 760

Author: Massie, Melville D; Clarke, (S.J.) Publishing Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 760