USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 78
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Under the parental roof William M. Harvey was reared and the public schools afforded him the educational privileges which equipped him for the performance of the practical and respon- sible duties of life. For four years he worked in the office of custodian of surveys in Springfield, Illinois, and was an able and faithful official. With the exception of this period he has been engaged in farming and stock-raising and is the owner of one thousand one hundred acres of land situated near Griggsville, constituting a valuable property. The soil is productive so that golden harvests reward him for the care and labor which are bestowed upon the fields. The work of im- provement is carried steadily forward in all de- partments of farm labor and Mr. Harvey has become one of the prosperous agriculturists of his community.
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On the 3d of February, 1876, William M. Har- vey was married to Miss Elizabeth Turnbull, a daughter of William Turnbull, a prominent and noted old-time citizen. They have become the parents of two children, who are with them in Griggsville, namely: Raymond W., who was married February 1, 1905, to Ellen S. Bierley ; and Mary Grace, who was married August 30, 1904, to Harry C. Laird and they have one child, Florence Elizabeth, born November 27, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey are worthy citizens, highly esteemed by a large circle of acquaintances. A history of our subject shows that he has ever been reliable as well as energetic in his business those sterling traits which win warm friendships.
life, while in social relations he has manifested . of the father's first marriage. He was with his
MILLARD FILLMORE GODWIN.
Millard Fillmore Godwin, who is serving for the second term as a member of the "honorable county board of supervisors, is classed with the representative citizens of Pike county and is also recognized as one whose opinion's carry weight and influence in the local councils of the demo- cratic party. Moreover he is a prosperous and progressive farmer with valuable landed hold- ings, having six hundred acres in his home place, while in all of its equipments his farm is in keep- ing with the most advanced ideas concerning modern agriculture. His birth occurred in Ross township, Pike county, on the 23d of August, 1856. His father, George W. Godwin, was also a native of this county, born near Pittsfield in 1828, the grandfather having been one of the honored pioneer settlers here. In the place of his nativity George W. Godwin was reared to man- hood amid pioneer conditions and environments, assisting in the arduous task of developing new land that made the life of the early settler a strenuous one. He was married here to Miss Mary E. Stewart, also a native of Pike county and in 1849 he made the overland trip to Califor- nia, spending two years in the mines of that state, meeting with a fair measure of success. He then returned by way of the Panama route and New
Orleans, proceeding up the Mississippi river and a little later he bought land and located in what is now Ross township. There he carried on farming until 1860, when he sold his property and removed to' Kansas, locating in Douglas county near Lawrence, where he again purchased land and devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. In 1862 he lost his first wife and later married again. He continued a resident of Kan- sas for fifteen years and then sold his farm, after which he took up his abode in St. Louis county, Missouri, where he again purchased land, spend- ing his remaining days upon that property.
Millard F. Godwin is one of two brothers born father in Douglas county, Kansas, for fifteen years and then accompanied the family on the removal to St. Louis county, Missouri. He had fair school advantages, pursuing his studies in Lawrence, Kansas, and in Kirkwood, Missouri, and after arriving at mature years he went, in . 1877, to Texas and was there employed on a cattle ranch. Subsequently he returned to Illi- nois, locating on the Mississippi bottoms, where he rented land and engaged in farming. In 1889 he purchased a part of his present farm and, has since resided thereon. He began with one hun- dred and fourteen acres of land, which he com- menced to cultivate and improve. He has since erected a good, neat and substantial residence and has fair outbuildings and improvements. With his farming he makes a business of raising high grade cattle and hogs and feeds and fattens for the market from two to four carloads of stock annually.
Mr. Godwin was married in Pike county, Oc- tober 4, 1882, to Miss Fannie Yokem, a daugh- ter of William Yokem, who was one of the pio- neer residents of this county and a prosperous farmer and large landowner. He was also a man of considerable influence and left the im- press of his individuality upon public thought and opinion. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Godwin have been born ten children: Homer; William; Net- tie and Emma, twins; Harry F .; Ruth; Mary; Fannie ; Hallie; and Lawrence.
Throughout his residence in Pike county Mr. Godwin has continuously carried on farming and
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his home place now comprises six hundred acres, for as his financial resources have increased he has extended the boundaries of his farm by addi- tional purchase from time to time. He also owns another farm in Martinsburg township and he has thus become one of the large landowners of the county, his business capacity and enterprise being indicated by his realty holdings, for he owes his success entirely to his well directed ef- forts. His interests have been carefully man- aged and he has brought keen discrimination and untiring industry to bear upon his business af- fairs, so that he is now one of the progressive farmers and successful stock-feeders, who occu- pies a position of affluence in Pike county. He has always voted with the democracy and in 1893 was elected supervisor of Pleasant Hill township. In 1904 he was again chosen for the office and is now serving for the second term as a member of the honorable county board. He is acting as a
chairman of the road and bridge committee, also a member of the railroad committee and presi- dent of the board of directors. Matters of local progress are of deep concern to him and elicit his earnest attention and active co-operation and whether in office or out of it he is always loyal to the public good.
FINIS KILLEBREW.
Finis Killebrew, in his farming operations, keeps fully abreast with the most modern methods of farming, using the latest improved machinery and all the accessories which facilitate farm work. Advancement along agricultural lines has been as rapid and pronounced as in any other depart- ment of labor, and Mr. Killebrew is a typical representative of this spirit of progress. He re- sides on section 6, Spring Creek township, where he has eighty acres of land. Mr. Killebrew was born in Calhoun county, Illinois, March 23. 1858, and is a son of Levi Killebrew, whose birth oc- curred in Scott county, Illinois. The paternal grandfather, James I. Killebrew, resided for a time in Missouri, and later removed to Scott
county, where his son Levi was reared. Later he went to Calhoun county, where he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land, which he cultivated up to the time of his death in 1902. He was married to Miss Mary Looper, a native of Greene county, Illinois, and a daughter of Daniel Looper. They became the parents of nine children.
Finis Killebrew, the fourth in order of birth, was reared to manhood upon the old homestead farm in Calhoun county, where he assisted in the labors of the fields and also enjoyed the educa- tional advantages afforded by the common schools. He was twenty years of age when he started out to work by the month as a farm hand, being thus employed for two years, which gave him his start in life.
On the Ist of September, 1881, Mr. Killebrew was united in marriage to Miss Thursa A. Stark, a native of Pike county and a daughter of John member of the committee on salaried offices, is . P. Stark, a native of Indiana. This marriage has been blessed with four daughters, all of whom are living: Alta Esther, Bessie Maud, Neva Velma and Amanda Buella, all yet are under the parental roof.
Following his marriage, Mr. Killebrew pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of land two miles east of Nebo and later he bought forty acres more, so that he thus became the owner of a farm of two hundred acres, which he improved by building a good house and also good barns and outbuildings. He set out an orchard,. cultivated the fields and continued to develop the property for twelve years, when in 1893 he sold out and bought where he now resides on section 6, Spring Creek township. He at once began the improve- ment of this farm, has built an addition to the house, has put up a windmill and stock scales, and has added other modern equipments until he now has a model and valuable farm. He raises some stock and feeds hogs for the market, and has been a shipper of cattle, hogs and hay for fifteen years, sending his shipments to various markets. His business views are penetrative, his methods practical. He seems to see readily to the center of things, and from the center to the outermost circumference of possibilities in the line of his business endeavor.
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Mr. Killebrew is a member of the Primitive Baptist church, and Mrs. Killebrew and . their daughters are members of the Missionary Baptist church. Politically he is a republican where na- tional issues are involved, but at local elections is broad-minded enough not to be hampered by party ties, when only the capability of the candi- date is a matter for consideration, and therefore votes independently at such times. He has held the office of highway commissioner for one term, and has been a member of the school board for nineteen years; but the honors and emoluments of office have little attraction for him. He finds that his business affairs make sufficient demand upon his time and attention, and he has attained through his own labors his position as one of the sub- stantial and progressive farmers of the county.
ABEL DUNHAM.
Abel Dunham, who since 1893 has resided in the village of New Salem but superintends the operation of his farm, was born in Ohio on the 7th of April, 1843, his parents being Lewis and Sarah Ann (Nelson) Dunham. His paternal grandfather was William Dunham, a native of Maryland, and the great-grandfather was of English birth, becoming the founder of the fam- ily in America. William Dunham was reared to the occupation of farming and was married to Miss Mary Chaney, who was also a native of Maryland and her parents, like the Dunhams. came to this country about the time of the Revo- lutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. William Dunham lived in Maryland and Ohio until about the year 1845, but in the evening of life were residents of Illinois, where Mr. Dunham purchased a small farm in Griggsville township. There he died at the age of three score years and ten. His wife survived him for a number of years and also' passed away on the old homestead on section 17. Griggsville township, at an advanced age. , Both were active and devoted members of the United Presbyterian church and were people of strong religious faith, doing all in their power to pro- mote the work of the church and extend its influ-
ence. They had a large family of children, of whom Lewis Dunham was the eldest.
The birth of Lewis Dunham occurred in Mary- land, September 12, 1802, and he died at his home in New Salem township, September 14. 1866. His early life was passed in the state of his nativity, where he acquired his education. His marriage was probably celebrated in Ohio and he began his business life there as a farmer and cooper, making his home in that state until 1844, when in the month of April he came to Illi- nois. Three years later he settled on land of his own in New Salem township and was there suc- cessfully engaged in general farming. He was in limited financial circumstances at the time of his arrival in this county, but he became a com- paratively wealthy man and improved a valuable farm of two hundred and sixty acres. He was a useful citizen of the township and an active and conscientious worker in the United Brethren church. He was widely known for his truthful- ness, his industry and other valuable traits of character, which won for him the esteem of the .community and the confidence of all with whom he was associated in business or social relations. In politics he was a stalwart democrat and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability frequently called him to local office. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah A. Nelson and was a native of Maryland. Her parents were Elisha and Mary (Stringer) Nelson, who were also natives of Maryland and are thought to have been of Scotch lineage. They were farm- ing people and after their marriage lived in Maryland, but later removed to Harrison county, Ohio, where they resided until 1842, when they came to Illinois, spending their remaining days. upon a farm which Mr. Nelson owned in New Salem township, Pike county. They were mem- bers of the United Brethren church for many years and were earnest Christian people. Their daughter, Sarah Nelson, who became the mother of Abel Dunham, was born in April, 1807, and was reared in Maryland and Ohio. She came to Illinois with her husband, whom she sur- vived for several years, passing away when more than eighty years of age. She, too, was a con- sistent member of the United Brethren church
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and her Christian faith permeated her entire life and shaped her conduct toward those with whom she came in contact. She was the mother of nineteen children, nine of whom are still living. Her death occurred September 5, 1887, and her memory is yet cherished by many who knew her.
Abel Dunham acquired a limited education in the common schools but much of his time was devoted to farm labor and throughout his entire life he has been connected with agricultural in- terests. He purchased his first tract of land in 1867, becoming the owner of a farm in New Salem township and since that time he has con- tinuously owned and operated farm property. He removed to New Salem in 1893 and he now employs a man to cultivate the fields, but super- intends the farm work himself. He owns three hundred acres of productive and valuable land in New Salem township, which is well improved, while the fields have been brought to a high state of cultivation. All of the improvements upon the property stand as a monument to the enter- prise and labor of Mr. Dunham, who has as fine a farm as can be found in the county, with good buildings upon it, the latest improved machinery and every evidence of careful and practical su- pervision. He is well known as an extensive. stock owner and buys, feeds and sells stock. His residence in New Salem is one of the fine homes of the town.
In 1864 Mr. Dunham was united in marriage to Miss Laura Temple, a native of Illinois, and unto them was born a daughter, Lenora, who married Frank Holdridge. They reside in Han- nibal, Missouri, and have one child, Nellie. Mrs. Dunham departed this life in the fall of 1866 and on the 26th of August, 1867, Mr. Dunham was married to Miss Emily Cobb, who was born in Chautauqua county, New York, and was a daughter of James and Mary (Hale) Cobb, a direct descendant of Sir Nathan Hale, of England. She came west to Pike county in her early girl- hood. She had a brother who established and af- terward edited the Barry Adage, remaining its proprietor for some time. Her father was a stock-buyer and also a farmer and was serving as deputy sheriff of Pike county at the time of his death.
Mr. Dunham is an advocate of democratic principles and votes for the men pledged to sup- port the party. For several years he served as supervisor of New Salem township. He belongs to the Masonic lodge at New Salem and his wife is a member of the Methodist church. In the community where they reside they are esteemed because of genuine worth, social natures and kindly manner, and Mr. Dunham ranks with the leading and prominent business men of the county. In connection with the superintendence of his farming interests he is also president of the Illi- nois Valley Bank of Griggsville, which position he has occupied since its establishment in 1902. This is a state bank, capitalized for twenty-five thousand dollars and George Carnes is vice-presi- dent and Fred Farrand cashier. Mr. Dunham is watchful of business opportunities and his judgment is seldom at error in business matters. He has advanced steadily through his own efforts, regarding all obstacles and difficulties in his path as an impetus for renewed effort and his business integrity and genuine worth make him a popular and honored citizen.
SAMUEL A. WILLARD.
Samuel A. Willard, who died upon his farm in Martinsburg township March 25, 1899, was one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers of his locality and owned a farm of three hundred acres, which in its well improved appearance indicated his careful supervision and practical methods. He was a native son of Pike county, his birth having occurred in Hardin township on the 25th of Au- gust, 1843. He was a son of Orlando Willard, a native of New York and one of the first settlers of the county, having come here when this was a frontier district, in which the work of improve- ment and progress had scarcely begun. He was married in Pennsylvania to Miss Nancy Bixby, a native of the Keystone state, and unto them were ยท born ten children.
Of this number Samuel A. Willard was reared under the parental roof in the usual manner of farm lads of the period, dividing his time between
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SAMUEL A. WILLARD
LIBRARY Of THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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the work of the schoolroom and of the fields, during the period of his minority, or until nine- teen years of age, when, on the 23d of August, 1862, he responded to his country's call and with patriotic spirit enlisted as a member of Company E, Ninety-ninth Illinois Infantry, with which he served for three years, taking part in a number of important engagements. He was in some of the movements of the army in Missouri and was also in the siege of Vicksburg. He was promoted from the ranks to regimental fifer and at the close of the war was honorably discharged at Spring- field in August, 1865, having been a faithful and loyal soldier, whose fidelity to duty was never called into question.
Following the cessation of hostilities Mr. Wil- lard returned to his father's farm, where he re- mained until the Ist of January, 1867, when he was married to Miss Sarah Frances Miller, who was born in Brown county, Ohio, and was a daughter of James B. Miller, a native of Penn- sylvania. Her father was reared, however, in FRED S. GAY, M. D. the Buckeye state and was married there to Miss Mary Griffin, a native of Ohio, where she spent her girlhood days. In the fall of 1853 they re- moved to Illinois, settling in Hardin township, Pike county, where Mrs. Willard was reared and where she afterward gave her hand in marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Willard began their domestic life in Martinsburg township, settling upon a new and unimproved farm of eighty acres, the greater part of which Mr. Willard placed under cul- tivation. Subsequently he added to this property and as his financial resources increased further extended the boundaries of his farm until he owned over three hundred acres of rich, product- ive and valuable land. He erected a good residence Dr. Gay was born in Atlas township, July 23, 1878, and was reared upon his father's farm, ac- quiring his preparatory education in the country schools of his native township, and afterward attended the high school at Pittsfield. Upon leav- in Pleasant Hill and Pleasant Vale townships, and subsequently he engaged with the Milwaukee Harvesting Company as a traveling salesman, oc- cupying that position for about three years, dur- ing which time he devoted his leisure hours to reading medicine, for he had become imbued with and fair outbuildings and was energetic and deter- mined in his work and reliable and trustworthy in all his dealings. He was quite extensively engaged in stock-raising, making a specialty of raising and fattening hogs for the market for , ing school he engaged in teaching for three years several years. Together Mr. and Mrs. Willard labored earnestly and effectively and he found in her a most capable helpmate. Their success was attributable entirely to their own efforts and following her husband's death Mrs. Willard took charge of the farm and business, remaining there-
on until 1903, when she purchased a residence in Pittsfield, where she now resides. She also owns her farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Hardin township.
Mr. and Mrs. Willard had no children of their own, but reared an adopted daughter, Martha, who is a niece of Mr. Willard, and became a mem- ber of their household when four years of age. She is now the wife of J. F. Roberts, of Martins- burg township. In his political views Mr. Willard was a stanch republican but did not care for office, preferring to give his time and energies to his business affairs, in which he met with well merited success. His integrity was above ques- tion and in. his life he exemplified many sterling traits of character. His widow is a member of the Methodist . Episcopal church, active and earnest in its work, and belongs to the Ladies Aid Society.
Dr. Fred S. Gay, actively engaged in the prac- tice of medicine in Atlas township, is a repre- sentative of one of the distinguished families of Pike county, the name of Gay having long fig- ured prominently and honorably in connection with business interests and public life in this sec- tion of the state. His parents were William H. and Elizabeth (Shinn) Gay. The father was one of the early settlers of the county, and is a veteran of the Civil war, having loyally defended the Union cause in the dark hours of the . country's peril. He is now living a retired life, and makes his home in Summer Hill.
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a desire to enter upon the practice of the profes- sion as a life work. In 1900 he entered the med- ical department of the Barnes University, at St. Louis, Missouri, and was graduated therefrom in the spring of 1904, the degree of M. D. being conferred upon him. He at once located for practice in Rockport, where he has since re- mained, and he now enjoys a large and lucrative business, being ably assisted by his wife, who is also a physician.
On the 18th day of July, 1905, Dr. Gay was married to Dr. Emma Von Greyerz, a daughter of K. G. and Mary (Gygax) Von Greyerz, both of whom were natives of Bern, Switzerland. On crossing the Atlantic to the United States, they made their way to Louisville, Kentucky, Mrs. Gay being at that time three years of age. They lived in Louisville for ten years, when they went to Kirkwood, Missouri, where they now reside. Mrs. Gay attended the medical department of the Barnes University in St. Louis, spending four years in that institution. She was graduated with the professional degree in 1905. Both have early in their professional careers attained enviable rep- utations as skilled physicians, and it is safe to pre- dict still greater success in the future as repre- sentatives of the medical fraternity. They are also prominent socially, the hospitality of the best homes of this part of the county being cordially extended to them.
JACOB POWELL.
Jacob Powell, deceased, was one of the early settlers of Pike county. He was a native of Ten- nessee, born near Knoxville, September, 1828, and came to Illinois with his parents about 1835, settling about four miles west of Perry, Pike county, where the family resided on a farm for several years. From there they moved to the
part of the country, but in going to the little in- land towns, the settlers would take the most di- rect line going through timber and brush, cross- ing necks of prairie, creeks and ravines, moving from their pathways only such trees as was necessary.
At that time Quincy was but a little trading post and steamboat landing, with but a few set- tlements along the road between that place and the Powell home. Yet Jacob, a mere boy, oft- times had to take breaking plows to Quincy to a somewhat renowned blacksmith, who had learned the art of plow sharpening. The blacksmith oc- cupied a small, log building. To this market he used to haul grain with ox teams, and for sev- eral years, during the summer and fall months, broke hazel and prairie lands for new settlers in his section of country.
Lands were cheap at that time, and fully real- izing that .prices would advance, he invested his hard earned money in Pike county lands, until he had acquired over eleven hundred acres be- side purchasing quite a tract in Iowa. In after years he sold and divided a portion of his lands among his children but at the time of his death was the possessor of three hundred and sixty acres, which was divided among the surviving children.
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