USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 67
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Dr. McComas pursued his early education in the public schools of his native county and in 1876 came to Illinois, being at that time about seventeen years of age. He worked at farming about three summers and then returned to Mary -. land, where he read dentistry under the direction of J. W. Barton, at Blackhorse, Maryland, with whom he remained for two years. In 1880 he returned to Illinois and registered as a dentist at Mendon, Adams county, where he spent a year and a half, after which he came to Barry in 1882. There he engaged in dental practice for six years, but in the meantime, believing that he would find the practice of medicine more con- genial, he devoted his leisure hours from 1884 until 1888, inclusive, to reading medicine under the direction of Dr. J. G. Mckinney, passing the state board examination on the 13th of August, 1888. On the 7th of November of the same year he located for practice in New Canton, where he has remained continuously since. He has been an earnest student of his profession and in the winter of 1892-3 he attended the College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk, Iowa. Reading research and experiment have also broadened his knowledge and promoted his efficiency and he now has a good business and is well thought of throughout the county. He belongs to the Pike County Medical Society, the Illinois State Medical Association and the American Medical Association.
On the 25th of June, 1884, Dr. McComas was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary E. Davis, who was born April 8, 1859, and is a daughter of Perry
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H. and Eliza (Johnson) Davis. Her father was born in Fountain county, Indiana, February 10, 1826, and was a son of Robert and Amanda. and laudable ambition have been the salient feat- (Blair) Davis, the former a native of Kentucky ures in a successful professional career, and cons- tantly growing business is indicative of the trust reposed in him by his fellow townsmen who find in his capable work the best justification of their trust and confidence. and the latter of Indiana. The family comes of Scotch ancestry and in 1829 the grandparents of Mrs. McComas came to Pike county, settling in Kinderhook, where her father acquired his edu- cation. In 1851 he married Mrs. Eliza Ship- man, who was born in Columbus, Ohio, March 6, 1828. They became the parents of five children. In the year of their marriage they removed to MARK S. BRADBURN. New Canton, where Mr. Davis engaged in mer- chandising until 1862, when he was elected Mark Shackelford Bradburn, member of the Pike county bar and state's attorney at Pittsfield, was born in Randolph county, Missouri, August 5, 1860. His parents were Alexander M. and Emily E. (Jamison) Bradburn. The father was a farmer by occupation and died September 10, 1890. He served for three years as a soldier in the Civil war, advocating the Union cause. He came of Scotch-Irish ancestry. county sheriff, serving for two years in that of- fice. He then resumed business as a merchant, continuing in that line until 1878, when he sold out. He also practiced law to some extent and was successful as a representative of the profession. His political allegiance was given to the democ- racy. As a pioneer settler he saw the country in its primitive condition, when wolves and other wild animals were numerous and when deer and lesser kinds .of game could be had in abundance. He died January 27, 1887, and is still survived by his widow, who now resides in New Canton, where she has lived continuously since 1845. She was twice married, her first husband being . James Shipman, who died in 1849, after which, in 1851, she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Davis. By her first union she had three sons : Philander, who was born October 23, 1845, and died after attaining manhood; Pulaski, who was born August 3, 1847, and is living in New Can- ton ; and James, who was born August 13, 1849, and resides in the state of Washington. By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Davis there were five children but only two are now living : Mrs. Mc- Comas; and Charles J., who was born May 16, 1861, and now resides in Portland, Oregon.
Dr. McComas is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being affiliated with New Canton lodge, No. 821, A. F. & A. M. He also belongs to Pleasant Vale lodge, No. 381, Knights of Py- thias, and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a republican but is without aspiration for office, as his time and attention are fully occu-
pied by his professional duties. His native intel- lectual strength, his unfaltering determination
Mark S. Bradburn spent his boyhood days un- der the parental roof and supplemented his early education acquired in the common schools by study in the Central Normal College at Danville, Indiana, where he pursued a scientific course. After attaining his majority he worked by the month in the summer seasons for several years upon various farms of the county. He was al- ways of a studious nature, of quiet disposition and industrious habits and his personal worth as well as his industry won him the unqualified confidence and respect of those by whom he was employed. When about nineteen years of age he began teach- ing school, which he followed in both district and village schools in Pike county, giving his attention largely to the profession until 1894. In the mean- time he had taken up the study of law, which he pursued assiduously and, having mastered the chief principles of jurisprudence, he was, upon ex- amination, admitted to the bar in 1894. He has since practiced with good success. In the court- room he presents his cause in clear and logical manner, being seldom at fault in his deductions, but like all truly successful lawyers, his greatest work is done in his office, where he prepares his cases with great thoroughness and care. On the
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9th of April, 1904, he was nominated for states at- torney of Pike county on the democratic ticket and at the election in the succeeding November was found to be the popular choice for the office, which he is now capably filling, discharging his duties without fear or favor. In his private practice his devotion to his clients' interests is proverbial, yet he never forgets that he owes a higher allegiance to the majesty of the law.
Mr. Bradburn was for three years, from 1894 to 1897, a member of the Illinois National Guard. Since 1893 he has been a member of the Christian church, having joined the organization in Barry and he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Masonic fraternity and the Mutual Protective League. In manner he is entirely free from ostentation and display, yet possesses that genuine personal worth which commands regard and good will. He has ever been of studious habits, displaying a strict conformity to the high moral principles which he has ever entertained and developing a well rounded nature through the exercise of the latent talents with which na- turę endowed him. He is in his present office proving a capable official and in his chosen life . work has met with a fair measure of success.
JOHN KENDRICK.
About a mile and a half from New Canton is located the well improved farm of John Ken- drick who is a self-made man, owing his success entirely to earnest and unremitting toil. He is today the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of rich and arable land. He was born in Kildare, Ireland, on the 24th of June, 1855, and in his business career has exemplified the versatility and diligence characteristic of the Irish race. His parents were William and Maria (Heffron) Ken- drick, who were also natives of the Emerald Isle, where the father followed the occupation of farm- ing. They resided in the land of their birth until May, 1866, when they took passage on a sailing vessel bound for America and after five weeks and three days on the ocean landed at Castle
Garden, New York. They had a very rough voyage and in the storm one night all the masts were broken. After reaching the eartern metrop- olis Mr. Kendrick at once made his way to Quin- cy, Illinois, whence he drove to Pike county with a one-horse wagon, locating near the head of Kiser creek. After a period of about three years spent here he passed away in 1869. His widow afterward married Joseph McFarland and her death occurred in March, 1902. By the first marriage there were born six children, four sons and two daughters, namely: John; Mrs. Belle Barnett, now deceased; Mrs. Jane Feshe, of Wash- ington, also deceased; Ed; Mrs. Mary Smading, of Washington ; and Mrs. Kate Gogsdill, also of the same state.
John Kendrick spent the first eleven years of his life in his native land and then accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world. His education was acquired in the common schools and when a youth of fifteen he started out to make his own way in the world, fighting life's battles unaided but coming off victor in the, strife. He was first employed by the month at farm labor and saving his earnings he was finally enabled to purchase a farm south of New Canton, which he cultivated for a time and then sold. He first invested in two hundred acres of land where he now lives in Pleasant Vale township, and this is one of the fine farms of the county. It is lo- cated both on the bluff and on the bottom and is conveniently situated about a mile and a half north of New Canton, so that the privileges of urban life are readily acquired. The fields are well tilled and through the rotation of crops and the use of fertilizers are kept in good bearing condition, so that he annually harvests large crops.
Mr. Kendrick was married to Miss Mary Wheelan, a daughter of James and Isabelle (Brown) Wheelan. Her father was born in Ire- land in 1837 and came to St. Louis, Missouri, with his mother in 1848. He was a son of Richard and Mary (Scully) Wheelan and the former died in 1846, after which his mother crossed the Atlantic with her son, making the voyage in a sailing vessel, which was six weeks and four days upon the bosom of the Atlantic before dropping anchor in the harbor of New
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Orleans. They remained in St. Louis until 1855, when Mr. Wheelan came to Pike county and en- tered the employ of Horace Palmer, a black- smith. Later he followed the same pursuit upon his own account until 1873, when he turned his attention to farming and in 1877 he took up his abode upon a farm, which he had purchased in 1870, and on which he has resided continuously since. He has here two hundred and forty acres of fine land on section I, Pleasant Vale township, improved with a beautiful home and substantial buildings for the shelter of grain and stock. He was married in 1857 to Miss Isabelle Brown, a native of Ireland, and of their seven children four are yet living, namely: Mary, now Mrs. Ken- drick; Belle, the wife of Warren S. Spencer, of Pleasant Vale township; William, who resides with his father, having lost his wife, who bore the maiden name of Anna Brammel and who at her death left three children, John B., James S. and George S .; James G., who also lives with his father. He married Anna Hoverland, who has departed this life. One daughter, Ella, became the wife of John Likes and at her death left a son, Alexander H. Rebecca married Ed Fesler, and both are now deceased. They left two chil- dren, James W. and Ella M. Richard was the other member of the Wheelan family. The mother died in 1873 and in 1877 Mr. Wheelan married Eliza Brown. He is a democrat and a Royal Arch Mason.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kendrick have been born ten children: William, who married Mabel New- man and is living in Washington; Belle, the wife of Will Gard, who resides near the Kendrick farm; James; Charles; Harry; Kate; Samuel; Mary; Eliza ; and Johnnie.
The family have a pleasant home upon the farm and with the assistance of his sons Mr. Kendrick is carefully conducting his business interests. He carries on general farming and stock-raising and is quite extensively engaged in stock-dealing. He has both Angus cattle and shorthorns, and he also raises a large number of hogs. He buys, feeds and ships cattle, and annually sends large numbers to the city market. This branch of his business is proving a very profitable source of income to him and indicates that he is an excellent judge
of stock, making judicious purchases and remu- nerative sales.
In his political views Mr. Kendrick is an earn- est and unfaltering republican, deeply interested in the growth and success of his party. He has held some local offices, being school director, road commissioner and chairman of the board of town- ship trustees at different times. He belongs to the Masonic lodge, No. 821, of New Canton, and camp, No. 1148, M. W. A. His life work might be summed up in the phrase "through struggles to success." He has triumphed over difficulties and obstacles such as any man may encounter in a business career and as the years have gone by, he has wrested prosperity from the hand of fate.
JACOB TURNBAUGH.
Jacob Turnbaugh, deceased, was born in Wash- ington sounty, Kentucky, May 22, 1818, and was a son of George and Nancy Turnbaugh, so well known in the pioneer days of Pike county. In infancy the subject of our sketch emigrated with his parents to Lincoln county, Missouri, where they lived until March 6, 1827, when they were lured to the rich soil of Pike county, settling on what is now known as the Donevan farm near the Stockland schoolhouse.
The country being new, they had to undergo untold suffering. The county at this early period of its history was sparsely settled, and they had none of the conveniences of modern times, while the native savages and ferocious animals were numerous. At this early day where the village of Pleasant Hill now stands was a dense wilder- ness known as "Bear Thicket," and just one mile west of this, surrounded by an almost impene- trable forest, was a small one-roomed log house- . the home of the boy whose life we here record, and who grew to the pure and noble-hearted man widely known as one of the landmarks in the early history of the county.
Mr. Turnbaugh's early educational advantages were very limited, not having enjoyed the free schools, as do the boys of the present day. While he was deprived of such opportunities himself,
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he never failed to realize the worth of an educa- tion, and always advised the young that it was the best investment of their lives.
In this wilderness home the subject of our sketch grew to manhood, residing continuously within three miles of town, much of the time on the Mississippi bottom. He was the second of a family of ten children, of whom one brother and one sister are still living. On the 2d of July, 1836, he was united in marriage to Abigail Col- lard, and to this union were born eight children, two boys and six girls: Jonathan, Cotel, Nancy Jane, Mary Elizabeth, Margaret Eliza, Ruth Em- ily, Sarah Samantha, Amanda Melvina and George Washington. Mrs. Abigail Turnbaugh departed this life in July, 1869.
Mr. Turnbaugh was married again on the 22d of February, 1871, this time to Samantha Jane Simpson. To this union two children were born: William Edward and Viola Belle; the sister hav- ing crossed the river of death February 3, 1899.
In the early '50s the deceased united with the Baptist church at Martinsburg, six miles north of Pleasant Hill, and was one of the fifty-three petitioners who later asked the mother church at Martinsburg for letters of dismissal, that they might constitute an independent church in Pleas- ant Hill, and which were granted May 4, 1857.
While a young man he learned the carpenter trade, but is remembered as one of the industrious pioneer farmers of Pleasant Hill township. Up to the time of the war he had owned three differ- ent farms, and finally bought a farm one mile south of Pleasant Hill, where he spent the closing years of his life, and where his death occurred January II, 1903, at the age of eighty-four years, seven months and nineteen days. The funeral, conducted by Rev. William Gaither, of Medora, took place in the Baptist church, of which he had been so long a faithful member.
He was the last of the old settlers of Pleasant Hill township; was a member of the Old Settlers' Association of Pike county, and helped erect the first building ever put up in Pleasant Hill, being near where the Baptist church now stands.
Another event noticeable is that the subject of our sketch was born in the same year the grand old state of Illinois was admitted to the Union.
Politically he was a democrat, and never voted anything but that ticket. He never held office of any kind either socially or politically, believing , his plain duty to be that of a hard-working, hon- est and honorable citizen. He lived to see the country change from its wild state to a fertile field of plenty-a living monument to the noble work of the sturdy pioneers with whom he cast his lot in life.
Mr. Turnbaugh loved to talk with his friends, children and grandchildren of his early life in this new country. It would require a volume to record his recollections of those early days of pioneer hardships, but he looked back to them with happy recollections and liked to recall them and talk about them.
"Uncle Jake," as he was familiarly called by both old and young, was a man of Christian in- tegrity, high moral principle, good judgment, be- loved and esteemed by all who knew him. He was plain and unostentatious in his manners, a kind neighbor, a pleasant conversationalist, a lov- ing father, and a kind friend with strong religious convictions, undeviating honesty-a fit and hon- orable representative of his worthy ancestors.
CHARLES E. BOLIN.
Charles E. Bolin is one of the prominent and representative business men of Pike county, mak- ing his home in Milton, where he is now conduct- ing the Exchange Bank, of which he is sole owner. He is also engaged extensively in the live-stock business, and has large landed interests. His recognition of business opportunities, his ca- pable use of each situation and his unfaltering perseverance and diligence constitute the salient elements in a successful career. He is a native of Dewitt county, Illinois, born April 29, 1843, his parents being Myrus F. and Rebecca A. Bo- lin, both of whom are now deceased, the father having passed away at the age of sixty-five years, while the mother's death occurred when she was eighty-one years of age. They were long resi- dents of Dewitt county, Illinois, where they ar- rived in 1838, thus casting in their lot with the
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early settlers who aided in the reclamation of that district for the purposes of cultivation and civilization. There they continued to reside until called to their final rest.
Charles E. Bolin was reared upon the old home farm there, and acquired his education in the country schools, wherein he mastered the usual branches of learning taught in such institutions. Through the summer months he aided in the la- bors of the farm, becoming familiar with the work of cultivating the fields and raising stock. When twenty-five years of age, realizing the ne- cessity and value of further education, he en- tered Eureka College in Woodford county, Illi- nois, where he remained for six months. He then turned his attention to farming, continuing ac- tively in that work until the fall of 1868.
Mr. Bolin was married on the 22d of October, 1868, to Mrs. Harriet N. Bolin, a daughter of Nathan and Elizabeth Tucker, early settlers of Pike county, Illinois, but both are now deceased." been deeply and helpfully interested, and Nathan Tucker died in 1847, and his wife, long , at various times through a period of ten years surviving him, passed away at an advanced age in 1894.' Their daughter first married Charles Colburn Bolin, now deceased. There was one child by that marriage, Caddie Colburn Bolin, who died in 1877, at the age of ten years. Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Bolin became the parents of six children : Estella B., Artie L., Charles E., Hat- tie, Jewel and Myrtie D. Bolin. Of the living Estella B. is now the wife of O. C. Hoover, and has three children, two of whom are living: Bede Bolin and Myrrell Bolin Hoover. Artie L., Charles E. and Myrtie D. Bolin are all at home with their parents.
The year following his marriage Mr. Bolin re- moved to Milton, where he has since been engaged in the live-stock business, and is one of the most extensive and prominent dealers in this line in the county. He is now associated with his son, Charles E. Bolin, Jr., and their sales of cattle and swine bring a most gratifying financial return annually. In July, 1875, in connection with W. E. Butler and L. J. Frank, Mr. Bolin established the Exchange Bank of Milton which was under the management of Mr. Butler until October, 1878, at which date Mr. Butler retired and Mr. Bolin succeeded him as manager, the business be-
ing continued under the firm name of C. E. Bolin & Company until the death of Mr. Frank in Au- gust, 1898, since which time Mr. Bolin has been sole owner and proprietor of the bank, which is a reliable financial concern, of much value to the community as well as a source of individual profit. As opportunity has offered Mr. Bolin has also made investment in real estate, until he is now the owner of about one thousand acres of rich and fertile land in Montezuma and Detroit townships. He is alert and enterprising, quickly notes a good business opportunity, and through his well directed efforts has worked his way upward to success. He is indeed a self-made man, owing his prosperity entirely to his own labors; and his life record should serve as an inspiration and encouragement to others, showing what may be accomplished through personal effort guided by sound judment and supplemented by laud- able ambition. In community affairs he has
has served as a member of the board of super- visors. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party; and he is a member of the Christian church, having served as one of the elders at Milton since 1872. He has probably at- tended and officiated at more funerals than any other man in the county. In an analyzation of his life record it will be seen that while he has pros- pered, his methods have ever been such as would bear close investigation and scrutiny. He has never taken advantage of the necessities of his fellowmen in any business transaction but through the legitimate channels of trade has won his prosperity, while at the same time his course has excited the admiration and won the respect of all who know him.
WILLIAM H. LEWIS.
William H. Lewis, who since 1883 has resided upon his present farm of two hundred acres on section 5, Pleasant Vale township, was born on the Ist of June, 1836, in this township, his par- ents being John W. and Caroline (Ward) Lewis.
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
À
MRS. WILLIAM H. LEWIS
WILLIAM H. LEWIS
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The father was born in Lincoln county, Mis- souri, and removed to Pike county, Illinois, when about eighteen years of age. The mother's birth occurred in the Empire state, and she came with her parents to Pike county at an early day, when deer were frequently seen in large numbers, when wolves made the nights hideous with their howl- ing, and when the Indians were still frequent visi- tors to this locality. John W. Lewis and Caro- line Ward were married in this county, and with one exception their children were all born here. In 1846 they went to Texas, where they remained until March, 1847, and it was on their return journey that their youngest child, Abelleno D., was born in the Indian Territory. The other members of the family were: William H., of this review ; Ardelia, the widow of Green Baston, and a resident of Oklahoma ; Addison B., who resides in Macon City, Missouri ; and Mary F., deceased. The youngest member of the family, Abelleno D., is now a resident of California. From the time of his arrival in Pike county in the early '20s, John W. Lewis was a farmer in Pleasant Vale town- ship, securing a wild tract of land, which he trans- formed into richly cultivated fields, carefully con- ducting his farming interests in accordance with the most progressive methods of his day. In poli- tics he was a democrat, and his first presidential ballot was cast for Andrew Jackson. For some time he served as constable in this county, and in all matters of citizenship he manifested a public spirit and devotion to the general good which was above question. His death occurred in this county when he was sixty-four years of age, while his wife passed away in 1855, at the age of thirty- six years. Her brother, Hiram, carried the mail from Quincy to Atlas when there was only one house on all that road. Mrs. Frances (Smith) Ward, the maternal grandmother of our subject, came to Pike county with the Ross family in 1817. She was born in Saratoga county, New York, in 1796, and died when ninety-six years of age. Her father came to this county in 1816. It will thus be seen that Mr. Lewis is descended from early and worthy pioneer residents of this part of the state, and the representatives of the family have taken an active and helpful part in the development of a frontier region.
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