USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 56
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but it is only just to say in a history that will de- scend to future generations that his business ca- reer has been such as any man might be proud to possess and it has excited the admiration and won the respect of his contemporaries.
CHARLES H. DOSS, M. D.
The consensus of opinion on the part of the public and the profession concerning Dr. Charles H. Doss, of Pittsfield, has been most favorable during the forty-five years of his connection with the medical fraternity, and he is the honored fam- ily physician in many a household, where his pro- fessional services have been retained through long years. He was born in Simpson county, Ken- tucky, February 19, 1834, a son of Joel Burgess Doss, who was a native of Kentucky and of Saxon ancestry. He was a minister of the Baptist church and also a physician of the allopathic school. He married Miss Mildred Hurt, a daugh- ter of Charles Hurt, who was a native of Ken- tucky and of Welsh lineage. Judge Hurt, of Texas, and Captain Hurt, of Barry, Illinois, are relatives of Dr. Doss, and many of the repre- sentatives of the family are found in various sec- tions of the southern states.
Dr. Doss was one of twelve children and his school privileges were limited, he educating him- self from the age of fifteen years. He was reared in and near Hopkinsville, Kentucky, until twenty years of age, in the meantime serving an appren- ticeship to the milling business. He then came to Illinois, arriving in Jacksonville with only twenty-five cents in his pocket. For five years he continued to make his home in Morgan county, acting as superintendent of the Waverley Mills at Waverley. In the fall of 1859 he went to Car- rollton, Greene county, this state, and entered the office of Dr. A. W. Bowman, an eclectic physi- cian, under whose direction he read medicine dur- ing 1860 and 1861. In the fall of the latter year he matriculated in the Eclectic Medical College, at Cincinnati, Ohio, which he attended for a year, after which he began to practice in Fayette. Greene county, Illinois, where he remained from May, 1862, until November, 1867. He then took
up his abode in Manchester, Scott county, where he practiced until the spring of 1876. In the meantime he had attended lectures and was grad- uated from the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cin- cinnati. In the latter year he came to Pittsfield, where he has since resided and for almost thirty years has been engaged in active practice here. A liberal patronage has always been accorded him and though the old school of physicians were strongly opposed to his methods he has ever en- joyed their personal regard and good will and has steadily gained in public favor. His professional business has been gratifying and his efforts have been attended with a large measure of success, but in sixteen years he lost twenty-five thousand dollars by breeding trotting horses, five stallions dying, which cost him twelve thousand dollars. Throughout the years, however, he has followed his profession with untiring zeal and unfaltering devotion, and in 1870 he joined the National Ec- lectic Medical Society of Chicago, of which he has since been a member. In 1868 he became a charter member of the Illinois State Eclectic So- ciety, in which he has at various times held all the different offices, being its president in 1878. He has prepared many papers for the state and national associations and for different medical journals and through his relationship with the medical societies has kept abreast with the most modern thought of the age, concerning the scien- tific practice of medicine.
Dr. Doss was married in 1856 to Miss Mar- garet Thresher, a daughter of J. M. Thresher, of Morgan county, Illinois. Eleven children have been born unto them, of whom nine reached years of maturity. Two are now graduates of medical colleges, two of dental colleges and one of the veterinary college at Toronto, Canada, while one of the daughters married a dentist, another a physician, a third a tobacco jobber, while a fourth is the wife of O. W. Fullman, of St. Louis. Since 1856 Dr. Doss has been a devoted member of the Christian church and his first wife was also one of its members. Her death occurred in January. 1895, and in 1896 he was again married, his sec- ond union being with Mrs. Ellen Wilson, of Chi- cago, the widow of the late R. W. Wilson, for- mer circuit clerk of Pittsfield.
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Fraternally Dr. Doss has been connected with the Masons for forty years and has taken the Royal Arch degree. Since attaining his majority he has affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he is also a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He cast his first vote in 1855 for Richard Yates, the candidate of the American party for congress, and in 1864 he voted for Abraham Lincoln. He did not vote again until 1876, when he cast his ballot for Peter Cooper, the candidate of the greenback party, and twenty years later he voted for William Jennings Bryan. He has always been very independent in politics, however, supporting principle rather than party, nor has he desired office for himself. The cause of education has found in him a strong and stalwart friend and he has given excellent educational opportunities to his children, all of whom are graduates of good schools. Fifteen young men have studied under Dr. Doss in prep- aration for the practice of medicine. He has been medical examiner for various life insurance com- panies for several years and is now the president of the United States pension board. His genuine personal worth and kindly spirit have gained him warm friends, while his laudable ambition, his close study and his unremitting diligence have made him a prominent representative of the pro- fession which stands as the safeguard of health.
OSCAR F. JOHNS.
Oscar F. Johns, deceased, who was identified with farming interests in Pike county, was born in Chambersburg, this county, December 14, 1842. His parents were James and Theodosia (William- son) Johns. The father was born in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania, February 12, 1812, and the mother's birth occurred in Cincinnati, Ohio, De- cember 29, 1814. They were married in Cincin- nati and on leaving Ohio removed to Chambers- burg, Pike county, Illinois, in 1837. The father was a cooper by trade and followed that pursuit in Chambersburg until 1846, when he purchased
one hundred and twenty acres of timber land in Perry township, the first transfer being made to him for sixteen hundred acres. Later he bought an adjoining tract of one hundred and twenty acres and at his death left a valuable estate of two hundred and forty acres. He was a pio- neer cooper of the county and in his farm work was enterprising and capable, his labors proving resultant factors in the acquirement of success. He acted as supervisor of Perry township for many years and was prominent and influential in community affairs. He voted with the demo- cratic party, supporting the principles advocated by Jackson and he was a member of the Christian church at Chambersburg. His last years were spent upon his farm, where he died March 24, 1875, his wife surviving until November 5, 1889. In their family were nine children but only one is now living, Winfield S., who is engaged in the real-estate business in Hannibal, Missouri.
Oscar F. Johns supplemented his public-school education by study in the Gem City Business College at Quincy. He was married January 7, .1869, in Pittsfield, and in the same year removed to Montgomery county, Kansas. He filed one hun- dred and sixty acres of land, which he believed to be in Kansas, but when the survey was made it was found that one-half of it was in the Indian Territory. He built a log cabin, in which he lived for five years, or until 1874, when he returned to Pike county, settling in Perry township four and a half miles northeast of the village of Perry. There he turned his attention to farming and as his financial resources increased he added to his property from time to time until he was the owner of two hundred and eighty acres, which is now in the possession of his widow and which she rents, and there he carried on farming and stock-raising. In his business he was active, en- ergetic and determined and his well directed labors enabled him to acquire a handsome property.
At the time of the Civil war Mr. Johns re- sponded to his country's call for aid, enlisting on the 15th of August, 1862, as a member of Com- pany C, Ninety-ninth Illinois Infantry, with which he served for three years, or during the war. He was under command of Captain M. D.
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Massie and was discharged July 31, 1865, at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, while acting with the department of the gulf.
In 1869 Mr. Johns was married to Miss Mary A. Norris, who was born in Brown county, Ohio, February 16, 1843, and is a daughter of James P. and Louisa (Morgan) Norris, both of whom are natives of Ohio, the former born March 24, 1818, and the latter February 2, 1820. They were married in Ohio August 17, 1840, and Mr. Norris died June 20, 1864, while his wife passed away January 12, 1879. They were the parents of nine children, of whom five are now living: Elizabeth, who was born July 20, 1841, is the widow of Osmond Cutting and resides in Metropolis, Illi- nois. Mrs. Johns is next in order of birth. Harden H., born January 31, 1849, in Ohio, is married and resides in Perry. Charles H., living in Mount Sterling, Illinois, married Angela Hick- man. Hiram E., born in 1856 in Perry, resides in St. Joseph, Missouri, and married Anna Reed- er. The parents, Mr. and Mrs. Norris. came to Illinois in 1849, settling in Perry, where the father was a carpenter by trade, building many houses not only in the village but also in the sur- rounding country. He was a prominent and in- fluential citizen whose labors were a factor in the public progress and for eighteen years he served as justice of the peace. He held membership in the Christian church of Perry and also be- longed to Perry lodge, No. 95, A. F. & A. M. He took his first degree in a brick house near the town for there was no lodge room at the time. His death occurred June 20, 1864, and his wife died January 12, 1879.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnș became the parents of six children: Maud M., born in Kansas, Feb- ruary 20, 1871, was married March 20, 1897, to Charles Whitaker, and died March 1, 1898; James J., born July 17, 1873, is a civil engineer of Washington now engaged in laying the Idaho Railroad; Oscar M., born September 20, 1875, died August 30, 1876; Inez J., born July 20, 1877, is the wife of Henry Buchanan of the state of Washington; Alice Rowena, born June 2, 1880, is at home; Roy W., born August 10, 1883, is a civil engineer and railroad man also living in the state of Washington.
Mr. Johns was a member of Crippen post, G. A. R. at Perry and became its first commander. He took an active interest in the welfare of the old soldiers and thoroughly enjoyed meeting with his army comrades and in recalling the ex- periences of the tented fields. His political alle- giance was given to the republican party and he was unfaltering in support of its principles. He served as supervisor of Perry township for five years and did all in his power for the general good along modern lines of improvement and advancement. He was likewise a devoted mem- ber of the Christian church in Chambersburg, to which his widow yet belongs. He died De- cember 18, 1893, respected by all who knew him by reason of his honorable business methods, his enterprise and what he accomplished. He was faithful in friendship, loyal in citizenship and devoted to his family, and he left behind him the priceless heritage of an untarnished name.
ROBERT M. WEEKS.
Robert M. Weeks, living on section 5, New- burg township, is one of the active and up-to-date farmers of Pike county, who owns and operates a neat and well improved farm of eighty acres. He is a native son of the county, having been born in Griggsville township on the 22d of May, 1854. His father, John A. Weeks, was a native of Ohio and a son of Ezekiel Weeks, a native of Maryland, who when a young man came west, locating in the Buckeye state. John Weeks was reared to manhood there, but desired to make for himself a home in a new country and he, too, journeyed westward as far as Pike county, set- tling in Newburg township. For two years prior to his marriage he was employed as a farm hand and afterward rented land for two years. He then purchased forty acres on section 5, New- burg township, and cleared and improved this farm, on which he built a residence. Unto him and his wife were born four chilren, of whom three reached years of maturity, Robert M. being the second in order of birth. The wife and mother died in 1858 and John Weeks was afterward mar-
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ried to Martha Wachacer, a native of Pike county and a daughter of John Wachacer. They had eight children, of whom five reached adult age. John Weeks died in 1893 and his second wife still survives him, now making her home with her son, John W. Weeks.
Robert Weeks was reared to manhood upon the old homestead farm, which he assisted in improv- ing and cultivating. He also attended school when he could be spared from the work of the fields. In his twentieth year he went to Ohio, where he was employed at farm labor for two years, after which he returned to Pike county and spent one year. On the expiration of that period he made a trip to New Mexico for his health and while there worked on the construc- tion of the St. Louis and San Francisco railroad, which is now known as the Santa Fe line. He remained there for about a year, after which he again came to Pike county and entered the em- ploy of Moses Duran, with whom he remained for seven years. On the expiration of that period he rented a farm from Mr. Duran for eight years, so that his business relations with that gentleman
The family name of McFarland has long fig- ured prominently in public life in Pleasant Vale township and Pike county and its representatives have ever been men of business reliability and of considerable prominence in local affairs. The continued for fifteen years and throughout the · paternal grandfather of our subject was Joseph entire time were mutually pleasant and profitable. Mr. Weeks next purchased the old home place from his father and a forty-acre tract of land ad- joining and he now has a model farm property. He has erected a good residence, also a substan- tial barn and other outbuildings and in fact he has buildings for everything upon the place, in- cluding all of the stock and the crops and the va- rious improvements here found stand as monu- ments to his thrift and industry. His place is well fenced and a young orchard of twenty acres is coming into good bearing. He feeds all of his own grain and also buys when needed to fatten his hogs for the market. McFarland, now deceased, who became a pioneer settler of Pleasant Vale township, where he car- ried on general farming interests and became well known and highly esteemed. His son, George McFarland, was born in Ireland and came to the United States with his parents in early life, the family home being established in this county. Having arrived at years of maturity he wedded Miss Irene Gage, a native of Louisiana, and among their children was George McFarland of this review. His birth occurred in New Canton on the 24th of November, 1870, and he has spent his entire life here. He early became familiar with the labors of the farm and has since attain- ing his majority given his attention to the tilling of the soil and raising of stock. He is practical and methodical in all his business affairs and has become a successful farmer, whose annual pro- duction of crops and stock have made him a sub- stantial citizen of his community.
On the 27th of September, 1884, Mr. Weeks was united in marriage to Miss Phoebe Crane, a daughter of Lafayette Crane and a sister of Dr. Crane of Pittsfield, who is represented elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks have had three children, but two of the number died in in- fancy. The surviving daughter is Maude, a young lady at home, who has become a successful school teacher and is at present in charge of the Green-
field school. Politically Mr. Weeks is a democrat where national issues and. questions are involved, but locally votes independently. He has served on the board for one term as assessor and dis- charged the duties of the office in an able manner, but he has refused to hold other positions of po- litical preferment, giving his time and attention to his farm and business. He belongs to the Mod- ern Woodmen camp at Pittsfield and he is highly esteemed in the community where his entire life has been passed. His business interests are so capably directed that his labors are now bringing him gratifying success and as the architect of his own fortunes he has builded wisely and well.
GEORGE MCFARLAND.
On the 13th of December, 1892, was celebrated the marriage of George McFarland and Miss Dora Shipman and unto them have been born
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four children, two sons and two daughters, namely : Eva, George» John and Edith.
Mr. McFarland gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and has been a member of the board of supervisors two terms. His alle- giance to the general welfare is a well known factor in his life and he brings to bear upon all matters of public concern earnest consideration and keen discrimination and when once his mind is made up concerning a course of action he stands by his principles and belief with unfalter- ing loyalty.
THOMAS M. MARTIN.
Thomas M. Martin, who is now living retired at the Barry Woolen Mills about half a mile from the city of Barry, was born in Ralls county, Mis- souri, May 6, 1845, and is a son of George S. and Ann (Small) Martin, the former a native of Vir- ginia and the latter of Kentucky. The father came to Pike county, Illinois, in March, 1846, and settled at Little St. Louis. He was a millwright by trade and at that time a Mr. Israel was build- ing the first grist mill in that part of the county and Mr. Martin began working there, in fact came to Pike county for that purpose. He was employed in the mill for many years and also worked in other mills in. the county. Subse- quently he purchased a farm near Mt. Carmel church, which is located between Barry and Pitts- field, and there he lived up to the time of his death, giving his attention to the care and super- vision of his land. He was a stanch democrat in his political views until 1860, when he joined the ranks of the new republican party, which stood loyally by the Union and so continued up to the time of his demise. In his family were five sons and four daughters, of whom four sons and two daughters are yet living, namely: Thomas M .; James, who resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Edwin, who is living in northern Kan- sas ; Harvey, of California ; Mrs. Virginia How- land, of Pittsfield, Illinois; and Mrs. Sarah Bridgeman, of Ralls county, Missouri.
Thomas M. Martin was educated in the public schools of Pike county, but his privileges in that direction were extremely limited. He attended school for only a brief period during the winter seasons and when fourteen years of age started out in life on his own account, entering the em- ploy of John T. Brown, for whom he worked at seven dollars per month. Subsequently he as- sisted in laying the Wabash Railroad that crosses the county and afterward entered the Wike woolen mills. While thus employed he formed the acquaintance of Mr. Wike's daughter, whom he afterward married. He continued in the em- ploy of others until November, 1869, when he began farming on his own account and has since been identified with agricultural interests in Barry township. He first lived on eighty acres of land which belonged to his wife and he has since added to the property until they own one hun- dred and thirty acres in Pike county. Mr. Mar- tin has always been a great lover of fine stock and ever kept high grade animals upon his farm.
It was on the 4th of November, 1869; that Mr. Martin was united in marriage to Miss Laura Wike, who was born in the same house where she now resides and it was here that the wedding was celebrated. Her natal day was August I, 1850, and her parents were George and Laura (Stevens) Wike. She is a sister of the Hon. Scott Wike, who served in the state legislature and was elected three times to congress. He was one of the most distinguished citizens of Pike county and in addition to the legislative and congressional honors which were conferred upon him he served as first secretary to John G. Car- lisle when that famous Kentucky statesman was secretary of the United States treasury. Mr. Wike acted in that capacity for eight years. He was a properous and prominent business man and he won the friendship of many of the leading citizens of the nation during his connection with congress and political interests in Washington.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Martin have been born seven children who are yet living and one who is deceased. Harry, who was educated at Lombard University in Galesburg, Illinois, is a machinist, who wedded Mary Shay and lives in Quincy. Rosa, who was educated in Lombard University
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at Galesburg and in the Gem City Business Col- lege in Quincy. Wallace is a resident of Chi- cago. Eva married Robert Maxwell and died in February, 1902. George is at home. Blanche is the wife of Earl Schulte and lives in East St. Louis. Bertha is the wife of Winfield Peters, a graduate of Pennsylvania colleges, and they re- side in Hannibal, Missouri. Scott is at home.
In his political affiliation Mr. Martin is a demo- crat. In 1898 he retired from active business life and has since been living quietly with his esti- mable wife in his pleasant home about a half mile from Barry. He has traveled quite extensively in old Mexico and the west. Almost his entire life has been passed in Pike county and here he has a very wide and favorable acquaintance, for the sterling traits of his manhood have been such as have won for him unfaltering trust and high regard. Mrs. Martin, too, is greatly esteemed by all who know her and they certainly deserve mention among the representative people of the county.
GEORGE WIKE.
George Wike, for many years a most valued and honored citizen of Pike county and an im- portant factor in its industrial development, was born in the state of Pennsylvania on the banks of the Big Spring in Cumberland county in the year 1807 and at the age of six months he was taken by his parents to Ohio, the family home being established and maintained in Stark county for about seven years. He was a son of George and Mary (Polly) Wike. The former was born August 29, 1781, and died December 17, 1825, at the age of forty-four years, three months and fif- teen days, at Big Spring, Pennsylvania. In 1812 he joined the United States army and served under General Harrison throughout the second war with England, at the close of which he ob- tained an honorable discharge, the paper being still in possession of his descendants. He then re- turned to his home and family in Ohio, but in 1814, having become dissatisfied with the Buck- eye state, he went back to Pennsylvania with his family, settling on the same farm from which
he had removed in 1808. There he remained up to the time of his death. He was a true patriot, who had an ardent love for his country and he was also a devoted Christian man. On the 3Ist of March, 1803, George Wike, Sr., mar- ried Miss Mary (Polly) Essig, who was born in Pennsylvania, November 15, 1782. She was a daughter of Simon Essig, who was born Decem- ber 27, 1754, and died March 18, 1852, aged ninety-seven years, two months and twenty-one days. His wife bore the maiden name of Juliana Market and was born April 15, 1761, while her death occurred August 30, 1844, at the age of eighty-three years, four months and fifteen days. Their daughter Mary (or Polly) became the wife of George Wike, Sr., and after her husband's death she remained upon the homestead farm in Pennsylvania for several years and then emi- grated to Pike county, Illinois, with her children, her death occurring at the home of her daughter. Mrs. Eliza Guss, near Barry, October 1, 1862, when she had reached the age of seventy-nine years, ten months and ten days. She, too, had lived a devoted Christian life, leaving to her fam- ily a memory which remains to them as a blessed benediction. Unto George and Polly Wike were born nine children. John Wike, born May 21, 1804, died in July, 1871. He married Jane Mc- Cachen and had three children. Joseph Wike, born April 11, 1806, married Abigail Mills My- ers, had ten children and died March 15, 1881. George Wike is the third of the family. Sarah Wike, born February 21, 1810, died October II, 1826. Eliza Wike, born February 21, 1812, married William Guss, December 26, 1841, had seven children and died October 10, 1895. Wil- liam Wike, born November 22, 1813, wedded Hannah M. Heagy in Cumberland county, Penn- sylvania, in January, 1842, had four children and died October 22, 1850. Polly (Mary) Wike, born December 21, 1815, was married January 17, 1843, in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, to William Myers, had four children and died Au- gust 6, 1887. Rebecca Wike, born September 14, 1818, was married about 1845 to Jacob Myers, of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, had two chil- dren and died December 22, 1854, near Barry. David J. Wike, born July 16, 1821, was the
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