USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 77
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Politically Mr. Berry has been a lifelong re- publican, casting his first presidential ballot for General Grant in 1872. He was elected and served as assessor for several years, and has been a delegate to numerous county and congressional conventions of his party. He regards it the duty
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as well as the privilege of every American citi- zen to exercise his right of franchise in support of the measures which he deems will prove of greatest good. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving as trustee, while Mrs. Berry is a teacher and earnest worker in the Sunday school. Mr. Berry belongs to the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in the blue lodge at Pleasant Hill and in the chapter at Pittsfield. He is a past master of the lodge, and has represented the local organi- zation in the grand lodge of the state at several sessions. His good qualities are many, and have gained him favorable regard with those with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact. Through many years he has been an interested witness of the growth and develop- ment of the county, and is classed with the sub- stantial farmers and influential men of Pleasant Hill township. His integrity stands as an un- questioned fact in his career, and his business ca- pacity is manifest in his capable management of his large farming interests. The consensus of public opinion concerning Mr. Berry is favor- able, and that his entire career is worthy of re- spect is indicated by the fact he is best liked where best known.
ROBERT BONIFIELD.
Robert Bonifield, interested in general farming and stock-raising, is a native of Barry township born on the 6th of April, 1861, his parents being Mareen and Elizabeth (Hampton) Bonifield. The father was born in Kentucky, July 31, 1827, but spent the greater part of his life in Pike county, whither he came with his parents in 1843, the family home being established near the village of Kinderhook, where the paternal grandfather of our subject died. The maternal grandfather, Mar- tin Hampton, came to Pike county from Ireland, at an early day in the settlement of this part of the state, and his daughter Eliabeth was born here on the 21st of October, 1834. Her girlhood days were spent amid pioneer surroundings, and she was carefully trained to the labors of the house- hold, as were all girls in those times. On reach-
ing early womanhood she gave her hand in mar- riage to Mareen Bonifield, who provided for his family by following agricultural pursuits ; and by the careful control of his business interests he prospered, becoming owner of more than six hun- dred acres of valuable lad. He had had no edu- cational privileges whatever, and could not read nor write; but he possessed much native intelli- gence and keen sagacity, and displayed excellent business qualification in the management of his affairs. He voted with the republican party, taking some interest in politics ; and held member- ship in the Kinderhook lodge, No. 353, A. F. & A. M. His many admirable qualities and the success which he accomplished in the face of seemingly insurmountable difficulties, won him the respect and esteem of all who knew him. He died in April, 1896, having for many years sur- vived his wife, who passed away August 21, 1873. They were the parents of five children, of whom three are now living, namely: Robert; John, who resides near his elder brother; and Mrs. Matilda Lewton, who is also living in the same neighborhood. It was in this same locality 'that the father had his farm, which was rich bot- tom land.
In his boyhood days Robert Bonifield acquired the usual country-school education, and when a young man of twenty years, he started out in, life on his own account, and has since given his at- tention to farming. He first went to Macon county, Missouri, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits for a year on land owned by his father. He made the first purchase of land in 1897, becoming the owner of one hundred and forty acres, of which he still has one hundred and seventeen acres. His wife also owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Kansas which she rents. Her farm is well improved, having good build- ings upon it, while the fields have been carefully tilled. The home property of Mr. Bonifield in Barry township is also well developed and is lack- ing in none of the accessories of the model farm of the twentieth century. Mr. Bonifield is also a railroad contractor and has done considerable work in railroad grading, usually keeping several teams for this purpose. At the same time he car- ries on the work of the fields, and also raises stock upon the home farm, and in both branches of his
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business his efforts are being attended with a gratifying measure of success. At one time Mr. Bonifield conducted a livery stable in Kinder- hook for about three months.
In 1881 occurred the marriage of Mr. Boni- field and Miss Sarah A. Bridgewater, who. was born October 31, 1860, and is a daughter of Elias and Mary Jane (Hankins) Bridgewater, the former a native of this county, while the mother was born in Tennessee. The paternal grandfather, Samuel Bridgewater, came to Illinois before the town of Kinderhook was laid out, and was a pio- neer resident, whose efforts contributed to the early substantial improvement of his locality. Reared in Pike county, Elias Bridgewater gave his entire attention to general agricultural pur- suits, and in the course of years accumulated a large property, owning four hundred and eighty acres of land at the time of his death, while pre- viously he had sold one hundred and sixty acres. He was a successful agriculturist ; and moreover was a good man, just and fair in his dealings at all times, and strictly honorable in all life's rela- tions. He belonged to Kinderhook lodge, No. 353, A. F. & A. M .; and both and his wife were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church. His study of the political issues and questions of the day led him to give his adherence to the republican party; and at the time of the Civil war he courageously espoused the Union cause, manifesting his loyalty to the Union by ac- tive service with the Ninety-ninth Illinois Regi- ment of Volunteers, in which he enlisted on the 5th of August, 1862. He served with that com- mand until the close of the war, and on one oc- casion was wounded in the leg at Vicksburg. He was mustered out July 31, 1865; and many more years of usefulness were vouchsafed to him, for during almost four decades he continued a resi- dent of Pike county, where he died in April, 1904, at the age of sixty-six years. His widow is now residing in Kansas, and will have attained an age of sixty-four in May, 1906. In their family were eight children but only three are now living : Mrs. Bonifield; John, who resides in Kinderhook town- ship; and Charles A., who is living in Ford county, Kansas.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bonifield have been born four children, of whom three yet survive. Floyd, born June 4, 1881, and now living in St. Louis, Missouri, married Miss Ilah Gilvin, of Pike county, and they have two children, Charles and Grace L. Oliver, born September 24, 1889, and Clarence, born February 23, 1892, are still at home. The daughter, Tillie May, born June 16, 1883, died in March, 1884. The family home is pleasantly located about four miles from Barry and three miles from Kinderhook, and is a com- fortable residence in the midst of a well tilled farm. Mr. Bonifield votes with the republican party, and is serving for the second term as road commissioner. He belongs to Odd Fellows lodge, No. 757, at Kinderhook, and the Mutual Pro- tective League, and both and his wife are con- nected with the Rebekah lodge, No. 133, in which she has filled all of the offices. Both are repre- sentatives of old pioneer families of the county, the names of Bonifield and Bridgewater having long figured in connection with agricultural prog- ress, and also with the permanent public improve- ment of this part of the state.
J. W. KUHLMAN.
J. W. Kuhlman, who is engaged in the imple- ment business at Hull, was born in Adams county, Illinois, on the 5th of February, 1867, and is son of Peter Henry and Fredericka (Meyer) Kuhl- man. As the name indicates, the family is of Ger- man lineage. The father was born in Germany, October 27, 1827, and was a son of Herman and Louisa (Bockeye) Kuhlman. The former was born in 1794 and died in Germany at the age of eighty years, while his wife's death occurred when she was sixty-nine years of age. Herman Kuhl- man learned and followed the stone-mason's trade throughout his entire life. Two of the members of the family, one son and one daughter, are yet living.
Peter Henry Kuhlman was educated in the common schools of his native land, and on the Ist
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of August, 1853, left Germany for America, cross- ing the Atlantic on a sailing vessel. He arrived at Quincy, Illinois, on the 10th of December of that year and began working out by the day. He was employed for some time in this way, and later followed teaming for several years. Subsequently he removed to the country and turned his atten- tion to farming in the southern part of Adams county, carrying on general agricultural pursuits for about fifteen years. In 1893 he took up his abode in Hull, where he resided for eleven years, when he sold his residence there to his son, J. W. Kuhlman, and removed to Quincy, where he has since lived retired, having a comfortable home at No. 919 South Eighth street. He has for several years been engaged in no active busi- ness pursuits, for the years of his former toil supplied him with a capital that now enables him to rest in well earned ease. At the time of the Civil war his sympathies were with the Union cause, and in February, 1865, he enlisted in Com- pany H, One Hundred and Forty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Heidbreder. He was in Arkansas until the close of the war, and was discharged in November, 1865, at Springfield, Illinois, after which he returned to Quincy.
On the 18th of January, 1854, Peter H. Kuhl- man was married to Fredericka Meyer, who was born in Germany, April 28, 1824, and was a daughter of Henry and Mary (Bemeyer) Myer. Her father died when she was but six weeks old, and the mother's death occurred in Germany in 1851. Unto Mr. and Mrs, Kuhlman were born five sons and five daughters, of whom six are now living, namely : Herman, who resides at Hull: William, of St. Louis, Missouri; Henry, who is living in Canada; John W .; Edward, who resides upon a farm near Hull; and Julia, of Colorado. Peter H. Kuhlman and his wife are members of the Lutheran church in Quincy. In politics he has long been a stanch republican, but has never held nor desired office.
J. W. Kuhlman was educated in the schools of Quincy, and began life on his own account at the age of twenty-five years. He and his brother Henry then entered the implement business at Hull, and he has since been connected with this
trade with the exception of a period of a year and a half, which he spent as a traveling salesman in the employ of the Collins Plow Company of Quincy. He was traveling during 1902 and 1903, and was especially successful as a salesman of hay presses. Since his retirement from the road, he has been sole proprietor of the business at Hull, and he carries a fine line of farming imple- ments, machine oil, pumps, harness supplies, whips and a general line of kindred goods. He now has a fine business, a liberal patronage hav- ing been accorded him, and his annual sales have reached a large figure.
On the 2d of January, 1898, J. W. Kuhlman was married to Miss Lilla Miller, who was born De- cember 22, 1875, in Westfield, Massachusetts. She is a daughter of Gustave and Emma (West) Frohlick. Her father was born October 9, 1843, in Baden, Germany, and is now living in Kings- ton, New York. He is a veteran of the Civil war, having given his services to the government during the dark days of our country's history. His wife was born March 12, 1856, in London, England, and died July 27, 1877, in Westfield, Massachusetts. After the death of the mother, Mrs. Kuhlman went to live with her grandmother West, and subsequent to the grandmother's death, she was adopted by Jarvis W. and Adda B. (Bowker) Miller. Mr. Miller was born in South Adams, Massachusetts, June 4, 1849, and his wife's birth occurred there July 13, 1850. They were married December 26, 1869, and they adopted Mrs. Kuhlman in October, 1877. Her own mother had died of heart disease when twen- ty-one years of age, leaving two little children, but the son died in early life. When Mrs. Kuhl- man was but four years of age her foster-par- ents came to the west, locating in Hannibal, Mis- souri, and she attended the convent there. She afterward went to Plainville, Illinois, to live with Mrs. Miller's mother, Mrs. Hepsy Bowker, and during that time she also attended school. She there resided up to the time of her marriage on the 2d of January, 1898. Her foster-mother is now the wife of Dr. J. H. Aleshire, of Plainville, Adams county, Illinois, one of the old practi- tioners of that county, who has followed his pro- fession in that locality for more than thirty years.
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He is now pleasantly situated in life, having a beautiful home in Plainville and a good practice ; and he and his wife are a most estimable and highly esteemed old couple of their community.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kuhlman have been born four children : Fay F., born February 21, 1899; Adda Rice, February 1, 1900; John Merl, July 25, 1901 ; and Dorothy Lilla, September 17, 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Kuhlman may well feel proud of- their family of beautiful children. Theirs is a model home; and the husband and wife enjoy in large measure the friendship and kindly regard of all with whom they have come in contact. In his political views he is a republican, and for several terms has served on the town board. Socially he is connected with the Masons and the Odd Fellows. There is in him a lack of ostentation and display and a true worthy character, that have made him one of the respected and leading citizens of the community ; and his nature, too, is such as wins warm personal friendship.
WILLIAM MYERS, JR.
William Myers, Jr., is a farmer, practical, pro- gressive and prosperous. He resides upon his. father's old homestead in Barry township; and his birth occurred in New Salem township, Pike county, on the 13th of March, 1855. His parents were William and Mary (Wike) Myers. The father was born in Cumberland county, Pennsyl- vania, July 15, 1819, and was a son of Jacob Myers, whose father, Jacob Myers, Sr., is sup- posed to have been a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, whence he removed to West Penns- boro township, Cumberland county, taking up his abode in the midst of a dense forest. Upon his farm there was a stone house, while a small clear- ing had been made; and he began business there as an agriculturist and blacksmith, spending his remaining days upon that place. He married Mar- garet Marat, who also died in Cumberland county.
Jacob Myers, grandfather of William Myers, Jr., was born in Cumberland county in 1795, and from his father purchased the old family home- stead, upon which he continued to reside until
1848. He then came to Illinois, settling in Pike county, where he made his home until his death at the age of seventy-six years. He wedded Lydia Lyne, a daughter of William Lyne, and a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, where her death occurred.
William Myers, Sr., acquired his education in his native county, and made his home with his parents up to the time of his marriage. In 1848 he came to Illinois, traveling by team to Wheel- ing and thence by boat to Cincinnati, where he landed. He had brought a team with him, and from that city drove all the way to Barry, Illi- nois. After his arrival he rented land for a year, and then purchased a farm in New Salem township, upon which he lived for five years, when he bought the farm upon which William Myers, Jr., now resides. His, agricultural in- terests became extensive and profitable, his pos- sessions aggregating four hundred acres of as fine farming land as could be found in the county, and upon the property he made excellent improve- ments. He was married in 1844 to Miss Mary Wike, a native of Cumberland county, Pennsyl- vania, and a daughter of George and Mary Wike. They became the parents of six children, of whom four are living. Both parents are now deceased, the mother having passed away in August, 1887, while the father's death occurred in May, 1895. In politics Mr. Myers was a democrat and was a very prominent and influential resident of his community. Among those who knew him his word was as good as any bond; and he well mer- ited the success which crowned his earnest and indefatigable efforts. In the evening of life he was enabled to enjoy many comforts and luxuries which were unknown to him in his earlier years, and which were made possible through his earnest and persistent labor in his early manhood.
William Myers was educated in the public schools and in the State Normal School at Nor- mal, Illinois, where he pursued his studies for two years. He has always lived on the old home- stead with the exception of one year, which he spent in Texas, where he was engaged in the stock business. He and his brothers purchased six hundred and forty acres of land there, but ill health caused him to return to Pike county. He
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owns one hundred and twenty acres of land where he now resides on section 34, Barry town- ship, and ninety acres in Pleasant Vale township and he carries on general farming and stock-rais- ing. The place is well fenced and the property is a valuable one. He has a good comfortable home which was built by his father in 1864, and his fanın is situated about two and a half miles from Barry.
In 1880 Mr. Myers was married to Miss Pau- line Bright, who was born in Pike county, Oc- tober 2, 1858, and is a daughter of William and Rosella (Osburg) Bright. Her father, well known as "Uncle Billy" Bright, is a retired baker of Barry, and the number of his friends is almost co-extensive with the number of his acquain- tances. He was born in Westphalia, Prussia, April 25, 1825, and is a son of Joseph and Mary A. (Grause) Bright. He was educated in the common schools; and in 1844 enlisted in the German army for three years' service. In 1850 he came to America, making his way to Baltimore, Maryland, where he remained for six months, when he crossed the mountains to Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania, and then went down the Ohio river to St. Louis, Missouri, where he spent four years in the bakery business, having learned the trade while still a resident of Prussia. He came from St. Louis to Adams county, Illinois, and lived upon a farm for three years, after which he engaged in the bakery business in Barry. He was with the Twenty-eighth Regiment of Illinois Vol- unteers in the Civil war, acting as baker for the regiment until the battle of Corinth in 1863, after which he returned home. He was married April 5, 1853, to Mrs. Rosella Sanger, nee Osburg, of St. Louis, Missouri, and they had six children, of whom five are now living: Fred W., who resides in Kansas City : Sylvania, at home; Pauline, now Mrs. Myers; Louis F., a merchant of Barry ; Minnie, who is in the store with Louis ; and Aldo, deceased. The parents had traveled life's jour- ney together as man and wife for forty-nine years, eight months and seventeen days, when they were separated by the death of the mother, November 22, 1902. The father is now living retired and occupies a fine home in Barry. He is a democrat, and was supervisor of Barry township for four
years, while for many years he has been school trustee. He has also been many times a delegate to the state conventions, and has been recognized as one of the stalwart advocates of the party and a leader in its local circles. He is a communicant of the Catholic church, to which his wife also belonged.
Mr. and Mrs. Myers have become the parents of five children: Mary, the wife of Charles S. Lippincott, who resides near her father; Maude, the wife of George Gray, of New Canton; Clar- ence, Lewis and Ellis, all at home. Mr. Myers votes with the democracy, and has been school director for several terms and also commissioner of highways for several terms. He has been very successful as a business man, and in his interests has shown capable control and unfaltering enter- prise. He is a worthy representative of one of the old and prominent families of the county, and it is with pleasure that we present to our readers this history of the family, whose work has ever been an element in the substantial progress of the community.
ROBERT EDMISTON.
· Robert Edmiston, deceased, was born in County , Antrim, Ireland, at Barney Castle in December, 1830, and was a son of Archie and Nancy (Brown) Edmiston. He was educated in Ireland, remaining a resident of that country until thirty years of age, when he emigrated to America. He had one brother and two sisters, those still living being: Archibald, who resides in Aurora, Ne- braska; Mrs. Sarah Cunningham, the widow of Thomas Cunningham, of Baylis.
When Robert Edmiston lived in Ireland, he would herd cattle barefooted; and he only had money enough to bring him to the new world. He crossed the Atlantic on a sailing vessel and emp- ty-handed, but with a courageous heart, began life in a strange land. He was married July 25, 1871, to Miss Ann Holt, who was born in the state of New York, January 20. 1847, and was a daughter of Charles and Martha (Howard) Holt. both of whom were natives of England, whence they came to America at an early day. In 1848
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they removed from the Empire state to Illinois, settling in the southeast part of Adams county, where the mother spent her remaining days, her death occurring in 1852. The father afterward married again, and in later years came to Baylis, where his last days were passed. He owned one farm of two hundred and forty acres and another tract of one hundred and thirty acres nearby. He carried on both blacksmithing and general farm- ing; and he cleared his land, grubbing away the stumps, and carrying forward the work of im- provement along modern lines. In the early days, however, he lived in true pioneer style. His first house had no regular floor, although boards were laid down upon the ground. He cut the timber in order to build the house; and as the years passed, he put away the evidences of pioneer life for the improvements of an advanced civilization. In his family were three children, born of his first marriage: Charles, who is living in Baylis ; Mrs. Martha Sykes, a resident of Colorado; and Mrs. Edmiston.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Edmiston were born three children : Leah, Charles and Emmett, all of whom are with their mother. In 1869, Mr. Ed- miston purchased eighty acres of land on section 24, Hadley township, where his wife now resides, and to this property he added two hundred acres. As his financial resources permitted he invested in more land. He thus cleared and improved his farm which he fenced and cultivated, carrying on general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. He built a fine home and added other modern buildings, continuing to engage successfully in general agricultural pursuits up to the time of his death, which occurred August 16, 1903. His widow now resides upon the home farm near Baylis, her sons operating the land.
In his political views Mr. Edmiston was a democrat, but never cared for office. His sons have followed in his political footsteps. He held membership in the Presbyterian church, to which his wife also belongs, and he displayed in his rela- tion with his fellowmen various commendable traits of character, which.gained for him the trust and respect of those with whom he was associ- ated. His life was one of untiring activity, and his persistent energy and sterling purpose gained
for him the success which made him a representa- tive and substantial agriculturist of the commu- nity. His son Charles has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since Febru- ary, 1901. The family is well known in the com- munity, their home being a quarter of a mile west of the village; and their interests are closely allied with those things which tend to prove of most benefit to the locality.
WILLIAM M. HARVEY.
William M. Harvey, residing in Griggsville, Illinois, has met with well merited success.as a farmer and stock-raiser and has a wide and fa- vorable acquaintance in Pike county, owing to the extent of his business interests and his social qualities which have brought him many friends. He was born in Griggsville, December 2, 1846, and is a son of John W. and Nancy Harvey, na- tives of Ohio, who came to Pike county in 1839, when it was largely an undeveloped region. Much of the native timber was uncut and the sod had not been turned on many stretches of prairie land. Mr. Harvey became connected with the early development of the county and figured prominently in local interests.
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