USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 96
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The birth of Charles Hall occurred in Belle- view, Illinois, and he was reared upon his father's farm, acquiring his education in the country schools of Pike county. When fourteen years of age he began farming on his own account, and has devoted his entire life to general agricultural
pursuits. He has always advanced, never mak- ing a backward step in his business career; and he is recognized as an energetic and leading agri- culturist of his community. At the time of his father's death he took charge of the old home farm, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of as valuable and productive land as can be found in Pike county. Forty acres of this is covered with timber, mostly hard wood, including ash, oak and walnut. The remainder is under cultivation ; and the fields are richly tilled, producing excel- lent crops.
Warren Doyle, a farmer and stock-raiser of Spring Creek township, is a self-made man, the analyzation of his life record showing that he has been dependent upon his own resources for all that he possesses; and, that earnest, persistent effort has been the dominant element in his career. He was born in Hardin township, July 22, 1872, and has spent his entire life in Pike county. His parents were also natives of this county; and the father is still living, but the mother passed away on the 6th of June, 1905.
Mr. Doyle, of this review, is indebted to the public-school system of the county for the educa- tional privileges which he enjoyed in his youth. His attendance at school was alternated by his la- bors on the home farm through the summer
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months, while his studies were pursued in the winter seasons. He has worked earnestly and per- sistently, early developing self-reliance and force of character that have enabled him to surmount all the difficulties and obstacles in his path. He is now the owner of two hundred acres of land, which he is carefully cultivating in order to bring it up to the highest possible state of productive- ness, his principal crops being wheat and corn. Cattle and horses and hogs are also raised; and he can accommodate during the winter thirty-five head of cattle and seven horses, having large barns and sheds upon his place.
On the 29th of October, 1897, Mr. Doyle was united in marriage to Miss Elsie Smith, a daugh- ter of George and Mary (Phegley) Smith. She was born in this county, November 9, 1874, and by her marriage has become the mother of four children, namely : Mabel, Eula, Virgil and Euna Doyle.
In his political views Mr. Doyle has always been a democrat, but without aspiration for of- fice, having found his time fully occupied with the management of his business affairs, and his close application and energy constitute the basic elements in his prosperity. He. leads an active and busy life; and the sure rewards of labor are his.
ELMER SMITH.
Elmer Smith, devoting his life to general farm- ing, was born June 30, 1878, in Spring Creek township, and it is in this township that he is now carrying on his business interests. He is a son of George and Mary (Phegley) Smith. The father, also a native of Pike county, was a farmer by occupation, following that pursuit in order to provide for his family. He died in Spring Creek township, January 25, 1891, while his wife sur- vived until January 12, 1893. In their family were six children, three sons and three daughters : Elsie, the wife of Warren Doyle, who is repre- sented elsewhere in this work; Melvin, who mar- ried Laura Ballenger ; Elmer, of this review ; Ella, the wife of Alvin Bunn; Clema; and Oscar, who married Verna Bobo.
Elmer Smith, at the usual age, entered the com- mon schools near his father's home, and therein pursued his education. He was also trained to farm labor upon the old homestead. At his fa- ther's death he was only thirteen years of age, and was left an orphan at at the age of fifteen years. His brother-in-law, Warren Doyle, purchased the interests of the heirs in the old family homestead, and after holding the property for a time, sold it to our subject, who now has sixty acres of land here under a high state of cultivation. He an- nually harvests good crops of corn and wheat, and he has a well improved property, which he is improving as the years go by, and which in its neat and thrifty appearance indicates the careful supervision of a painstaking owner. His political views accord with republican principles. He is well known in the community where his entire life has been passed and is best liked where best known.
N. A. THORNTON.
N. A. Thornton, an attorney-at-law and police magistrate at Milton, was born in Detroit town- ship, Pike county, December 25, 1839. He is a son of Larkin and Polly (Allen) Thornton, who were among the early settlers of Warren county, Kentucky. The paternal grandparents of Mr. Thornton were Aaron and Sarah (Evans) Thorn- ton, who settled in Warren county, Kentucky, about 1800, and afterward removed to Pike county, Illinois, becoming pioneer residents of this locality. They contributed to the early de- velopment and progress of the community, and continued residents of Pike county up to the time of their death. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Thornton were Zachariahand Dinah ( Boone) Allen, who became residents of Boone. county, Kentucky, when that state was a vast wilderness inhabited mostly by Indians, who were so hostile that the white settlers were obliged to live in block houses and to be constantly alert in order to protect themselves from the invasions of the red men. The grandmother, Dinah Boone Allen, was a niece of the noted hunter and explorer, Daniel Boone, who was the first to visit Kentucky
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and make extensive explorations there. With her uncle and with his brother, Jonathan Boone, and his brother-in-law, Mr. Calloway, she left Virginia at the age of seventeen years, the family home being established in the neighborhood wherein Daniel Boone achieved world-wide fame, contributing so greatly to the world's history by his explorations in the Blue Grass state. It was Jonathan Boone and his wife who were the par- ents of Daniel Boone. In Kentucky she became the wife of Zachariah Allen. John Thornton and his wife, great-grandparents of our subject in the paternal line, became pioneer settlers in Texas, removing from North Carolina and Vir- ginia to the Lone Star state, living there under the rule of Governor Samuel Houston when Texas was a separate republic under its own flag, and became known by the name of the Lone Star state, which has since clung to it. Zachariah Al- len, the maternal grandfather, was a Revolution- ary soldier, who served for seven years in the war for independence. He died in Pike county near Milton, and was buried in what is now known as the French cemetery near the town.
Mr. Thornton has spent his entire life in this county, pursued his education in the public schools, and prepared for the practice of law, to which he has given his attention for a number of years. He has also served as justice of the peace in Detroit township for twelve years.
JOHN J. BROWNING.
John J. Browning, an honored veteran of the Civil war, now belonging to Hayes post, No. 477, G. A. R., of Summer Hill, Illinois, was born in Bracken county, Kentucky, December 13, 1838. When he was but fifteen years of age he was taken to Palmyra, Marion county, Missouri, by his parents, Andrew and Alice (Chick) Browning, both of whom were natives of Bracken county. The father learned the distiller's trade and was employed in his grandfather's distillery up to the time he removed to Missouri, where he engaged in freighting prior to the advent of rail- roads. He took up his abode in that state in 1840,
and continued to make his home there for some time ; but afterward returned to Kentucky, where he died in 1853. His wife long survived him and passed away in her ninetieth year, her remains being interred in Shelby county, Missouri.
John J. Browning was reared in the usual man- ner of lads in a country town, and he acquired his education in Palmyra, Missouri. The first money he ever earned was secured by assisting in a livery business, in which he continued for about six years. In 1856 he came to Atlas town- ship, Pike county, and secured employment as a farm hand with William Dustin, a farmer of At- las township, with whom he remained for two years. He afterward began working for Henry H. Yokem, continuing upon his farm until 1860, at which time he went to Pittsfield, remaining there until the 17th of August, 1861. His pa- triotic spirit being aroused by the attempt of the south to overthrow the Union caused him to offer his services to his country and he was sworn into the Union army at Camp Butler, Illinois, be- coming a member of Company B, Twenty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he re- mained for three years. During this period he participated in the battle of Fort Harmon, Ten- nessee, and the engagements at Shiloh, Corinth, Davis Bridge, Holly Springs, the siege of Vicks- burg, the battle of Jackson, Mississippi, and af- terward returned to Vicksburg. Later he was in the engagement at Natchez, Mississippi, and then went with his regiment to Harrisburg, Louisiana, but the enemy evacuated before the arrival of the Union troops, so Mr. Browning, with his com- mand, returned to Natchez and then went to the Big Black River, nine miles from Vicksburg, where the regiment went into camp for the win- ter. When spring came they marched back to Vicksburg and embarked for Cairo, Illinois, where the Seventeenth Army Corps joined McPher- son's command and was reorganized. They took passage on steamboats going to Savannah, Ten- nessee, and marched to Kingston, Alabama, where Mr. Browning and his corps overtook Sherman's command and under the guidance of that bril- liant military leader engaged in the battle of At- lanta. 'At that time his term of service having expired, Mr. Browning returned to Springfield,
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Illinois, and was mustered out of service on the 26th of August, 1864. After the battle of Shiloh he was detailed from his regiment for detached service. When his term of enlistment had expired he returned to his home in Pike county, Illinois ; but the war was still raging, and he could not content himself to remain in the village while the safety of his country was imperiled, and on the 12th of October, 1864, he again enlisted, this time for one year's service, as a member of Company A, Thirty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He started to the front, but was delayed on account of illness, and did not reach his command in Ra- leigh, North Carolina, until the time of the sur- render of General Joe Johnston. With his com- mand he went to Washington, D. C., and took part in the grand review, the most celebrated mili- tary pageant ever seen on the western hemisphere. Not long afterward he became ill and was finally discharged August 2, 1865.
Mr. Browning then returned to Pike county and took up his old occupation as a farm hand with Mr. Yokem, continuing with him for a short period. On the 14th of September, 1865, how- ever, he completed arrangements for having a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Mar- garet J. Dunaven, a daughter of James Duna- ven, of Virginia. His wife died August 6, 1866, and their only child, a daughter, died in infancy. On the 8th of April, 1868, Mr. Browning was again married, his second union being with Sarah T. Dunaven, a sister of his first wife. She died April 8th, 1869, and their son died at birth. On the Ist of June, 1869, Mr. Browning wedded Miss Sarah A. Carr, a daughter of John and Eliz- abeth Carr, and unto this union were born nine children, six sons and three daughters: Huey, born January 30, 1871 ; Fred K., born January 6, 1873; Elsie E., January 8, 1875; Mary J., Octo- ber 24, 1876; William R., August 6, 1878; Ho- mer C., May 24, 1880; Stella E., December 27, 1882; Nathan M., March 26, 1884; and Ernie, March 19, 1886. All are yet living but the mother, Mrs. Sarah A. Browning, passed away February 14, 1888. Mr. Browning has since married Mrs. Eliza Johnson, nee Waters, the widow of James S. Johnson. Her husband was a Civil war veteran, enlisting on the 18th of Febru-
ary, 1865, and was discharged from service at Louisville, Kentucky, July 9, 1865.
Politically Mr. Browning is a stalwart repub- lican, never faltering in his allegiance to the party since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. In an active buiness career he has depended entirely upon his own re- sources and labors and has justly won the proud American title of a self-made man.
JON W. BALLENGER.
Jon W. Ballenger operates one of the best farms in Spring Creek township. He was born Octo- ber 3, 1843, in Kenton county, Kentucky, and is a son of Benjamin and Mary (Lipscomb) Bal- lenger. The parents were natives of Kenton county, Kentucky, and the father engaged in the butchering business for a short time in Coving- ton, that state, after which he removed to Pike county, Illinois, settling in Pittsfield, where he conducted a meat market throughout almost the remainder of his active business career. However, about two years prior to his death he retired from butchering and engaged in farming. His death was occasioned by accident, his team running off while he was stacking wheat. He was born Sep- tember 10, 1819, and was killed when sixty-two years of age. His wife died in Kentucky in 1849.
Jon W. Ballenger was educated in the public schools of Pittsfield, Illinois, and entered busi- ness life as an employe in his father's butcher shop, in which he continued until the business was closed out. He afterward turned his atten- tion to farming, and later he engaged in general agricultural pursuits and in butchering. How- ever, in 1885 he retired altogether from the latter trade, and has since given his undivided atten- tion to general agricultural pursuits. He now operates one of the best farms in Spring Creek township, and has made excellent improvements upon it since he rented it. He has about forty- five head of cattle and fifty head of hogs; and in addition to raising stock, he makes a specialty of the production of corn.
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Mr. Ballenger has been married twice. He first wedded Miss Deborah Dow, a daughter of William and Sallie Dow, and unto them were born two children, a son and a daughter, Wil- liam and Sallie Ballenger. The latter is the wife of Reuben O'Donnell, and they reside in Shel- bina, Missouri. William Ballenger married Flor- ence Judd, and they make their home in Staun- ton, Illinois. The wife and mother died in Wil- son county, Kansas, in 1871. He afterward mar- ried again, his second union being with Virginia Chappell, who was born May 11, 1853, and is a daughter of Hiram and Polly Chappell. Of this union there were born the following children : Annie, born September 8, 1874; Laura, Septem- ber 28, 1876; Hiram E., December 18, 1879; James C., January 28, 1881 ; Charlie F., who was born November 21,. 1883, and died when a year old; Nellie, born November 22, 1885; Alva, Feb- ruary 5, 1889; Virgil C., October 31, 1898; and Walter F., January 26, 1894.
In his political views Mr. Ballenger is a demo- crat, and has always affiliated with that party. He has not time nor inclination for office, however, but devotes his entire attention to his farming interests, which are capably conducted. He is operating one of the best farms in Spring Creek township, and his labors are bringing him a good financial return.
CHARLES BILLINGS.
Charles Billings is a representative of com- mercial interests at Rockport, where he is en- gaged in the drug business. He also has the rural mail route of Rockport, and is a well known citi- zen of this part of the county. His birth oc- curred on the IIth of March, 1868, in Atlas town- ship, his parents being Richard and Mahala J. (Payne) Billings. The father is a native of Hamilton county, Illinois, and for more than forty years has been living in Atlas and Derry townships, Pike county, his time and attention being given to farming. He now makes his home in Rockport; and there, on the 7th of September, 1905, he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who was laid to rest in Taylor cemetery.
Upon his father's farm Charles Billings was
reared; and his education was acquired in the country schools of the Taylor district and at Rockport. Between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one years he worked at farm labor, being in the employ of one man for three years. After he had attained his majority, wishing that his work might more directly benefit himself, he rented a farm in Derry township, where he car- ried on general agricultural pursuits for five years and later he followed the same calling in Atlas township. In 1902, however, he disposed of his agricultural interests in Pike county and removed to Pueblo, Colorado, where he was em- ployed in a steel works for a short time, and in a lumberyard for two and a half months. On the expiration of that period he returned to Atlas township, where he resumed farming ; but after a brief period he gave up farm life altogether and engaged in buying and shipping wheat for the firm of Haines, Rupert & Company, which he represented until the fall of 1902. He then ac- cepted a position as clerk in the large general store owned by that firm, and so continued until May, 1903. On the 22d of the same month he purchased the stock of drugs, stationery, paints, oils and tobacco from the firm of Miller & Gar- ner, and together with his sister, Miss Susie M. Billings, has since conducted the business, his sister becoming a partner in September, 1904. They carry a large and well selected line of goods and are now enjoying a large and growing trade. Mr. Billings is also a stockholder in the Rock- port Percheron Horse Company, and is agent for the American Insurance Company of Newark, New Jersey. He has filled a number of public offices, acting as clerk in the postoffice in con- nection with the management of his mercantile interests for a year and a half. He then took a civil service examination for rural mail-carrier at Pittsfield, passing at a grade of eighty-nine and five-eighths per cent in all the questions asked. He received the appointment and entered upon the discharge of his duties October 1, 1904.
On the 5th of October, 1905, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Billings and Miss Georgiana Pryor, a daughter of George and Fanny Pryor, of Rockport, Illinois. Her parents are both de- ceased. Politically Mr. Billings is a republican, and has always taken an active interest in the
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work of the party. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, affiliated with lodge No. 830, at Rockport, and he likewise belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp. He is in the best sense of the term one of Pike county's self-made men, and has early in life established a good business and won for himself a creditable position in trade circles, so that it is safe to predict for him a still more prosperous future.
CHARLES A. CHARLTON.
Charles A. Charlton, a veteran of the Civil war and an enterprising farmer living on section I, Belleview township, Calhoun county, near the Pike county line, and who at one time made his home in Pike county, was born in Martinsburg township on the 13th of January, 1847, represent- ing one of the pioneer families of this part of the state. He was reared to farm life, pursued his education in the early district schools; and when not occupied with his text-books gave his at- tention to the work of the fields. He was thus engaged until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted for one hundred days' service as a member of Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, join- ing his company at Pittsfield. With his regiment he went to the front and continued there during the term of his enlistment, being mustered out and honorably discharged at Springfield, Illinois.
Following the close of the war, Mr. Charlton returned to Pike county, where he was employed at farm labor by others for a time. As a compan- ion and helpmate on life's journey, he chose Miss Louisa J. Kirk, whom he wedded on the 15th of October, 1867. Unto them were born five children : Annie E., Nellie L., Gertie, Pearl L. and George J. Charlton. Of these Annie and George are now deceased. Following his marriage Mr. Charlton rented his father-in-law's farm, and continued the cultivation and improvement of that place for about fourteen years. He then removed to Cal- houn county, Illinois, settling in Belleview town- ship, where he has continued farming up to the present time. He has here a well developed tract
of land, having brought his fields under a high state of cultivation. He used the latest improved machinery for plowing and planting his land and caring for the crops, and everything about his. place indicates his careful supervision and prac- tical methods.
On the 20th of November, 1893, Mr. Charl- ton was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife. Three years later, on the 12th of April, 1896, he was married to Miss Martha Buchanan Fielder, and unto them have been born two chil- dren, Lillie S. and Orville Raymond, both of whom are at home with their parents. Mr. Charl- ton has ever been a stanch advocate of republican principles and votes for the party at state and na- tional elections, but at local elections, where no issue is involved, he gives an independent ballot for the men whom he thinks best qualified for office, regardless of party affiliation. He started out in business life empty-handed, working first as a farm hand by the month, afterward renting land and eventually acquiring, through his own earnings, the money which enabled him to pur- chase a farm of his own. He is now in posses- sion of a good property which returns to him a gratifying income; and his life record proves the value and force of unremitting diligence and unabating energy in the everyday affairs of life.
GEORGE B. CAREY, D. D. S.
Dr. George B. Carey, practicing his profession in Perry, his native city, was born August 31, 1856, his parents being Eleazer and Rebecca (Morris) Carey. The father was born in Arkport, Steu- ben county, New York, and was married on the 7th of September, 1841, in Pike county, Illi- nois, to Miss Rebecca Morris, whose birth oc- curred in Kentucky, October 26, 1826. Enter- ing business life he first devoted his energies to teaching school in Pike county, but subsequently determining to engage in the practice of medi- cine and surgery, he was graduated from the old Jefferson Medical College, in Philadelphia. In 1847 he pursued a post-graduate course in sur- gery in the same school. He displayed broad
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humanitarian principles in his practice, never making any charge to a poor widow or family who could not afford to pay for his services, and yet responding readily to the call of those who needed his professional aid. His practice covered Brown, Scott, Morgan and Pike counties, and he was one of the honored pioneer physicians of this part of the state. He was often called in con- sultation of cases to Jacksonville, Quincy and Springfield. In 1850 he went to California, spending two years there for the benefit of his health and in attendance upon medical societies. In 1852 he returned to Illinois; but losing his eyesight from exposure, he was blind during the last seven years of his life. In 1850 he was made a Mason in Perry lodge, No. 95, A. F. & A. M., and both he and his wife were members of the Presby- terian church, Dr. Carey becoming a member when sixteen years of age. His death occurred when he was sixty-three years of age, and his widow is now living at the age of seventy-nine years. They were the parents of nine children, A. B., a dentist of Pittsfield, and George B., of this review, being the only ones now living.
In his boyhood days George B. Carey assisted his father in every way that he could. He also attended school and worked with his brother, Dr. A. B. Carey, in his dental office. In 1871 his brother removed to Pittsfield, and in 1873 Dr. Carey of this review went to the county seat, remaining with his brother there for about nine years. In 1882 he opened a dental office in Perry and has engaged in general practice with constantly grow- ing success. He is a member of the Morgan County District Medical Society and of the Illi- nois State Dental Association, with which he was connected for twenty-five years. He also belongs to Perry lodge, No. 95, A. F. & A. M., Perry chapter, R. A. M., the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Mutual Protective League and the Pike Coun- ty Anti-Horse Thief Association. He also be- longs to the Pike County Insurance Company and to the Northwestern Life and Savings Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
On the 29th of September, 1904, Dr. Carey was married to Miss Celia Vail, a daughter of Leander and Mary (Elledge) Vail, who were
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