Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois, Part 25

Author:
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 988

USA > Illinois > Macon County > Decatur > Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois > Part 25

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home and business location and the success that he has achieved is certainly well mer- ited, being due entirely to his own industri- ous efforts and good management. He is a good reliable business man, and his fel- low citizens recognizing his worth and abil- ity have elected him alderman of the second ward, which office he is now filling. By his ballot he supports the men and measures of the Republican party, and he is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 17, of Decatur.

ROBERT FARIES.

Robert Faries was born in Shelby county, Ohio, March 4, 1837. He lived on a farm near Middletown, Ohio, from the age of six to eighteen years, going to school nearly all the year round until the age of ten, after which he went in the winter time only. Having shown a mechanical bent by mak- ing many playthings, such as wagons, sleds, etc., and culminating in a working station- ary steam engine and boiler, complete in every detail, it was decided that he should learn the machinist's trade and to that end he got work in the old Madison Railroad shop at Indianapolis, Indiana, remaining there and at the shops of the Indianapolis & Cincinnati Railroad until the spring of 1859, when he went with a party across the plains to Colorado, known then as Pike's Peak, starting about the middle of March and going from St. Joseph, Missouri, by ox- teams. They arrived at a little cluster of sod-covered log cabins, called Denver city the 21st of June, remaining in this vicinity until fall, when he joined a blacksmith in a trip to Taos, New Mexico, going with some Mexican teamsters who had brought up a load of flour and were going back empty. They stayed there until March, 1860, when they went back to the mines. Having tried mining at first without much success, he made his living and other ex-

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

penses at gun repairing in the company of, but not in partnership with, his blacksmith friend.

In the fall of 1860, with a company of others, who like himself, had failed to make a fortune in the short time that they had been in this new country, and had con- cluded that it would never amount to any- · thing anyway, he went back to what they were in the habit of calling "The States." Arriving in St. Joseph late in October flat broke, he worked in a livery stable for a few weeks and later as an engineer in a planing mill. Business was dull in con- sequence of the political excitement which had just culminated in the election of Abra- ham Lincoln to the presidency of the United States. The mill shut down and he went back to Indianapolis, working for small wages in a machine shop through the win- ter. He enlisted in the fore part of March in Company HI, Eleventh Indiana Volun- teers for three months, Lew Wallace, colo- nel. After seeing some pretty rough service in Maryland and Virginia, the company was mustered out of service at Indianapolis, in July, after nearly four months' service. While most of his company re-enlisted for the three years' service he had become too deaf to hear the word of command and went to work again in the Indianapolis & Cin- cinnati Railroad shops, where he remained most of the time during the war.

In 1864-5 he invented and patented a cast iron steam boiler similar to some of those that are used now for steam and hot water heating, but as this manner of heating had not come into use at that time, he had little other use for it than to generate steam for steam engines. He built several of these boilers and put them into use in different places and at first they seemed to promise success and he got some good testimonials from the users of them. But later they de- veloped some faults that caused their fail- ure. Ile had sent out one of these boilers

to Decatur for the use of the new firm of Greely & Brodt, who were starting a fur- niture factory on Mason street (now Wa- bash avenne) in the building which is now used for the Hard Plaster factory.

This brought him to Decatur in the spring of 1866. His boiler and this firm soon fail- ing. he got a position with the Central Iron Works (now Union Works) who, together with mill and elevator work, built steam engines. He set up the engines they sold and worked in the shop between times. He remained with them about three years. Ile then, in 1870, went to work as foreman of the machine department of the Decatur Ag- ricultural Works, where he remained until it went out of business in 1872. Ile got per- mission to put up a small engine here and run part of the machinery on plow and other farm machine repair work, he paying a per cent of the income as rent for the use of building and tools. This arrangement lasted only about one year when Chambers & Quinlan bought the property and Mr. Faries worked for them for about another year. In 1875 he bought the Wilson Boiler shop, which is now a part of the Decatur Novelty Works on Morgan and Williams streets, and, bringing the plow repair work with him, did general plow, machinery and boiler repair business and sheet iron work. In 1877 he took William L. 'Oakes into part- nership with him in this business and in 1881 sold out his interest to Mr. Oakes. He then put a small engine and a lathe into the basement of his residence and did some special machine work in the winter and spring of 1882. In the spring and summer of this year he built the nucleus of the pres- ent Faries Manufacturing Company's plant and continued the manufacture of special machinery such as box fastener, hog-ring and checkrower wire making machines. During the winter and spring of 1883 he made some checkrower wire for the firm of Kaylor, McClelland & Fisher and having

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found that there was more money to be made by running machinery than in mak- ing it for others he continued to do this and has gradually worked into a manu- facturing business, the chief of which has been checkrower wire. This got him into a patent law-suit, which lasted for over twelve years, costing a great deal of work, worry and money, and although he lost in the lower courts and finally compromised by paying a considerable sum, it was not all loss for the suit tended to deter others from going into the business in competition with him. In 1890 he built the first addition to the factory and among other improvements put in an electric lighting plant and in put- ting up fixtures for holding the lamps he devised an adjustable bracket for shifting and holding the lamp where put. He had before this been doing considerable brass work in the way of store window display fixtures and working lamp fixtures in with these and by continually adding to them, the company has worked up a very large electric and gas fixture business. Most of this fixture business has been worked up since the business was incorporated in 1894. Since the beginning twenty years ago, Mr. Faries and the Faries Manufacturing Com- pany have made several important special machines, the chief of which are automatic checkrower wire machines and machines for spinning lamp shades.

A couple of years ago, 1900, Mr. Faries got up a little device for automatically tripping of a camera shutter and which he calls an "Autopoze," by the use of which the photographer is enabled to take his own picture, or include himself in "the group." While this is of not much importance in any way, a good many amateurs, and espe- cially tourists, find satisfaction in the use of it. By putting themselves in the picture they can prove that "they were there."

In September, 1901, Mr. Faries, in com- pany with others, started the Decatur Re-

frigerator & Manufacturing Company, but as factories are to be written up separately little necd be said about this herc.

Mr. Faries was married in Ohio in 1867 to Lena Bender. Ife has two daughters and one son, all grown up and the daughters married. \'r. Faries says he was born and raised a Democrat and has always been one, but as the party of that name has always been on the wrong side of the issue ever since he has been of the voting age he has always voted the Republican ticket.

JOHN CROCKER.

The name of Jolin Crocker is a familiar one in grain and banking circles throughout the state and Maroa owes much of its busi- ness activity and consequent prosperity to his efforts and enterprise. The enterprising spirit of the west, which has led to the rapid development of this section of the country, is perhaps his strongest characteristic.

Mr. Crocker is one of Illinois' native sons, his birth having occurred in Vandalia, in 1857, his parents being John H. and Louisa V. (Philbrook) Crocker, who are mentioned on another page of this volume. The fam- ily removing to Maroa during the early boy- hood of our subject, he was educated in the public schools of this city until he had mas- tered the common branches of learning, after which he continued his studies in Illi- nois College at Jacksonville, Illinois. Later he became a student in Dartmouth College, at Hanover, New Hampshire, in the class of 1881. On his return to Maroa, he joined his father in the banking business and in the grain trade. This association was contin- ued until the death of the father, February 10, 1890, since which time John Crocker has continued in the conduct of extensive and important interests. He is a member of the firm of Crocker & Company, bank- ers, one of the soundest financial institu-

PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

tions of this part of the state, its safe, con- servative policy recommending it to the confidence and patronage of the public. He is also the president of the Crocker Elevator Company and has become widely known as one of the extensive grain dealers of the state, the company owning six different plants in Macon county. The business fur- nishes an excellent market to the grain pro ducers and at the same time yields a very desirable profit to the stockholders of the company.

Every interest or enterprise calculated to prove of benefit to Maroa or promote the welfare and prosperity of the city elicits his attention and ofttimes receives his hearty co-operation and substantial assist- ance. lle is the president of the Maroa Electric Light Company and also of the People's Telephone Company, both enter- prises of value to the general public as well as to the individual stockholders. ITis abil- ity as an organizer is one of the strong ele- ments of success. He is quick to note op- portunity and to secure the co-operation of others in the successful control of important undertakings, and he not only forms his plans readily but is determined in carrying them forward to successful completion.

On the 20th of December. 1893, Mr. Crocker was united in marriage to Miss Arabella Baird, a daughter of Peter Baird, and unto them have been born four chil- dren : Ruth Baird, now eight years of age; John H. and Joan P., twins; and Thomas W., who completes the family. Socially Mr. Crocker is connected with the Masonic Lodge of Maroa and has taken more ad- vanced degrees in the order in Decatur and Chicago, being now a well known repre- sentative of the craft, whose tenets and teachings he exemplifies in his relations with his fellowmen. In his political views and affiliations he is a Republican, and the regard in which he is held by the party and by his fellow citizens is indicated by the

fact that he was elected to the office of mayor upon the death of his father, who was then filling the position. He gives his personal supervision to the extensive and important business interests with which he is connected, but he has never allowed this to interfere with his duties of citizenship or to bias his relations with his fellow men. With a keen appreciation for upright char- acter, he numbers his friends among all classes and is himself honored and respected by all who know him.

JAMES W. CARTER.

Whether the elements of success in life are innate attributes of the individual or whether they are quickened by a process of circumstantial development it is impossi- ble to clearly determine. Yet the study of a successful life is none the less profitable by reason of the existence of this uncer- tainty, and in the majority of cases it is found that exceptional ability, supplemented by close application and carnest purpose, forms the real secret of success which so many have envied. This is certainly true of James WV. Carter, who is now cashier and office manager of the Decatur Coal Company and also is connected with other important interests here. Mr. Carter is a native son of Illinois, his birth having oc- curred in Sullivan, Moultrie county, on the 5th of June, 1861. His parents were Charles A. and Polly Ann (Waggoner) Carter, who were also natives of Moultrie county. The paternal grandfather of our subject was James K. Carter, a native of Culpeper. Vir- ginia, who in early life removed to Moultrie county, becoming identified with its agricul- tural interests. There he spent some time but finally removed to Decatur, where he lived until his death, in 1874, when he had reached the venerable age of eighty years. His political support was given to the Whig party and he was a leading and influential

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resident of the community in which he long made his home. His wife belonged to an old Kentucky family. They had three sons, Charles A .: James W. and Henry H. ; and five daughters : Nancy .A., Emeline, Frances, Mary and Martha.

Charles .\. Carter, the father of our sub- ject, was born at the old homestead in Moultrie county and reared amid the wild scenes of frontier life there. After attain- ing his majority he was for some years en- gaged in the hardware business in Sullivan and in 1863 he removed to Decatur, where he continued in the same line of trade for a number of years. Ile then left Illinois for the far west, settling in Fresno, Cali- fornia, in 1880. There he still makes his home. His political support is given to the Republican party and the qualities of his manhood are such as command for him the respect and admiration of those with whom he is brought in contact. In early manhood he wedded Miss Polly Ann Waggoner, who was born in Moultrie county, but her peo- ple came to Illinois from North Carolina.

To the public school system of Decatur James W. Carter is indebted for the educa- tional privileges he enjoyed. He entered upon his business career in connection with the hardware trade, having charge of his father's store during the latter's illness, cov- ering a period of five and a half years. He showed excellent business ability in taking up this work and controlling the affairs of the enterprise. In 1878 he entered the em- ploy of Overmeyer & Kaufman, who were engaged in the fire insurance business. For several months Mr. Carter was also book- keeper for Peter Loeb, a well known foun- dryman, and for three years was bookkeeper in the Union Iron Works. Ile afterward again spent six months in the service of Mr. Loeb and then became bookkeeper in the Chicago agricultural implement house of George D. Hlaworth. Again coming to Decatur he accepted the position of book-

keeper for B. Z. Taylor in the linseed oil mill, where he remained for eighteen months, and in 1885 he invested his capital in the Decatur Coal Company, of which he has since been the cashier and office man- ager. He is also the secretary of the De- catur Milling Company and is director in the Savings Fund & Building Association, with which he has been associated in this manner since 1891. He has also had charge of his father's business interests in Illinois during the latter's residence in California. A man of keen insight he readily compre- hends business situations and utilizes the means at hand to the best advantage.

On the 28th of June, 1882, Mr. Carter married Miss Idora J. Patterson, a daugh- ter of William F. and Melinda (Travis) Patterson. Their children are Ralph M., who is now a student in the medical depart- ment of the State University at Cham- paign, Illinois; Neil T., who died at the age of two years and eight months ; and Alma Lois, at home.

Mr. Carter is a popular and exemplary representative of various fraternal organi- zations. He belongs to Chevalier Bayard Lodge, No. 189, K. P .; W. C. Roe Camp, No. 7201, M. W. A .; and in November, 1890, was made a Mason in Decatur, join- ing Macon Lodge, No. 8, A. F. & A. M., of which he is a past master. He has also taken the Royal Arch degree, belongs to Decatur Council, No. 16, R. & S. M., and to Beaumanoir Commandery, No. 9, K. T. He is true and loyal to the teachings of the craft and in his life exemplifies the benefi- cent spirit. Hle belongs to the First Baptist church of Decatur, in which he is now serv- ing as deacon. His loyalty to the best inter- ests of the community has been manifested in many ways. He is a public spirited and progressive citizen and his labors have ad- vanced the material progress and prosper- ity, the intellectual development and the moral advancement of Decatur.

John N. Crocker

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

JOHN H. CROCKER.

The name of Crocker has been long, inti- mately and honorably associated with the history of Maroa, its development and sub- stantial progress, and father and sons have left an indelible impress upon the city and its advancement. He whose name intro- dnees this review was actively associated with business affairs here and his own upright career added new luster to an un- tarnished family record.

John 11. Crocker was born in Derry, New Hampshire, on the 9th of July, 1829, a son of John and Mary Neal ( Pillsbury) Crock- er. His father was one of the first settlers of Maroa and the city owes its substantial upbuilding in no degree to one man as much as it does to John Crocker, who not only located here when Maroa was an embryo village but served as the first station agent. the first postmaster and was the first banker and the first lumber and grain merchant. Hle realized that business possibilities ex- isted here and improved them. He made the most of his opportunities and in So cloing he became one of the builders and pro- moters of Maroa and contributed in large measure to its progress. He was one of the founders of the Presbyterian church here. became one of its first elders and contrib- uted generously to its support, while taking a helpful part in its work in other ways. He died in the year 1879, respected by all who knew him. His name should be inscribed on the roll of pioneers of Macon county and he should ever be held in grateful re- membrance by the residents of the town. who are now enjoying the results of his labors. He came of Scotch-Irish descent. tracing his ancestry back to colonial times, and since that period the Crockers have had marked influence in making history in the various communities in which they have resided.

John H. Crocker, whose name introduces this record, supplemented his early educa-

tional privileges by pursuing a course of study in Illinois College, at Jacksonville, Illinois, and later he engaged in teaching school for two years. He then studied civil engineering and was then engaged in that line of business in connection with the Illi- nois Central Railroad until 1857, and with the Cairo & Fulton Railroad from 1857 until the war broke out. He was known as a loyal advocate of the Union but he could not enlist on account of his health. How- ever, he rendered valuable aid to his country by engineering the erection of the breast- works at Birds Point and he was also in- spector of cotton in Tennessee. Following the close of the war Mr. Crocker turned his attention to the grain and lumber business and later he joined his father in the lumber business. In these connections he became widely known as a representative of the trade interests in Maroa, and the extent of his operations made him one of the leading merchants and financiers here. He pros- pered in his undertakings because his judg- ment was rarely at fault and because he possessed a large share of that energy which is the foundation of all success.

On the 23d of January, 1855, Mr. Crocker was united in marriage'to Miss Louisa P. Philbrook, a daughter of Seth and Margaret (Ward) Philbrook. She was born in Gran- ville, Ohio, and was educated in the semi- nary at that place. Her father was a farmer by occupation and removed with his family from the Buckeye state to Vandalia, Illi- nois, where he lived until 1865. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Crocker were born seven children. of whom four are living: George L., of Springfield, Ilinois, who married Elizabeth Grimes and has two children: John, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work; Mar- garet Philbrook, wife of Dr. McLean; Anna Louise, the wife of W. H. Black, of De- catur ; and three that died in infancy. Mrs. Crocker now has an adopted daughter, Elsie May, who lives at home. She is a grad-

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uate of Monticello Seminary, of Godfrey, Illinois.

In his political views Mr. Crocker was an earnest Republican and served as the first mayor of Maroa. In matters of citi- zenship he was ever found on the side of advancement and he labored for the future as well as the present welfare of the city in which he so long made his home. He was chosen to represent his district in the legislature, and when concerned with the affairs of the same showed the same loyal- ty to the public good that he manifested in his home town. A strong temperance man, he advocated the cause both by precept and example and labored untiringly to secure the abolition of the liquor evils. He be- longed to the Royal Templars and served as supreme counselor. Fraternally he was connected with the Masonic lodge and with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His Christian faith was indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church and was exemplified in his daily life. His wife shared with him in his interest in the church and its work, she being also a member and thus in this as in many other things their relation was a most congenial one and their married life was fraught with much happiness. In the year 1890 Mr. Crocker was called to his final rest. He had started out in life empty handed, having nothing save a good education as the foun- dation upon which to build, but he achieved both character and fortune, leaving to his family a handsome competence and an hon- ored name. Worthy of emulation is his life record and honored is his memory. The world is better for his having lived and Maroa especially benefited by his efforts in her behalf.

REUBEN BETZER.

The object of this volume is to preserve an authentic record, as far as possible, of the lives and deeds of those who have as-

sisted in the upbuilding of the varied in- terests of Macon county. The rank that a city or county holds very largely depends upon the achievements of its citizens. Some add to its reputation by efficient public serv- ice, some by professional skill, some by in- creasing its manufacturing or commercial interests and some by cultivating and im- proving its lands. To give a faithful ac- count of the lives of old settlers and repre- sentative citizens of a community is to write its history in its truest sense. Mlr. Betzer was for long years associated with agri- cultural interests and his last days were spent in retirement from business cares in a pleasant home in Decatur. It would be difficult to find a man who had higher re- gard from his friends than did Mr. Betzer and this was because of a life that mani- fested many admirable qualities and sterling traits of character. He became a resident of Macon county in the year 1865.

He was born in Ross county, Ohio, his natal day being July 5, 1824. and his parents were William and Margaret (Harvey) Bet- zer. His father was born in New Jersey and his mother in Pennsylvania and they be- came the parents of eleven children, of whom Reuben was the seventh in order of birth. It was in the year 1810 that William Betzer removed to Ohio and two years later he offered his services to the government in defense of this country in the second war with England. After his return from the army he located in Ross county, Ohio, where both he and his wife spent their last days and their children have also passed away.

Reuben Betzer had the usual experiences and advantages of a farmer boy. He worked in the fields and meadows through his youth and after arriving at years of maturity he determined to follow the occupation to which he had been reared. He was a young man of twenty-five years, when he settled upon a farm near the old homestead in Ross

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county, there remaining until after his father's death. He received from his father a tract of land, as did the other sons, while the daughters of the household received an equivalent in money to the sum of one thousand dollars. Desiring a companion and helpmate for life's journey Mr. Betzer was joined in wedlock on the 3Ist of De- cember. 1848, to Miss Sarah Evans. She was born in Ross county, Ohio, January 9, 1820, and her parents were John and Sarah (Miller) Evans, who were also natives of Ohio. The mother died during the girlhood days of her daughter and Mrs. Betzer was then reared by relatives near Circleville, Pickaway county, Ohio. Her father, how- ever, continued to engage in farming in Ross county throughout his life and at length passed away there.

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Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois, Part 25

Author: Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 988

Author:
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 988