USA > Illinois > Macon County > Decatur > Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois > Part 29
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ANDREW H. MILLS.
Andrew H. Mills is actively connected with a profession which has important bear- ing upon the progress and stable prosperity of any section or community, and one which has long been considered as conserving the public welfare by furthering the ends of jus- tice and maintaining individual rights. His reputation as a lawyer has been won through earnest, honest labor, and his stand- ing at the bar is a merited tribute to his ability. He now has a good practice, and his careful preparation of cases is supplemented by a power of argument and a forceful presentation of his points in the courtroom so that he seklom fails to impress court or jury.
Mr. Mills is a native of Putnam county,
Illinois, his birth having there occurred on the 6th of October, 1851. His parents were Eli R. and Elizabeth R. (Kimber) Mills, who were members of the Society of Friends in western Pennsylvania. In early man- hood the father left the east, making his way to Illinois. He settled in Putnam county and became the owner of steamboats running on the Ohio, Mississippi and Illi- nois rivers, but he died when the subject of this review was only four years of age. In his boyhood days he was a playmate of James G. Blaine. By his marriage to Miss Kimber he had nine children, five of whom are now living, namely: Susan K., who is the wife of Robert N. West : Sarah M., the wife of Frederick M. Cox, of Decatur ; H. C., who is judge of Putnam county, Ilinois; Andrew H., of this review; and Isaac R., who is the law partner of his brother Andrew.
Upon the home farm Andrew H. Mills was born and reared and his education was begun in the district schools. During the summer months he assisted in the work of the fields and developed a strong, robust manhood which has enabled him to apply himself closely to his professional duties in later years. After gaining his preliminary education near his home he entered Lincoln University, in which he was graduated on the completion of a five years' classical course of study in 1875. He then spent two years as a member of the faculty of the same institution and therein pursued a post-grad- uate course. For some time he was a suc- cessful educator and became superintendent of the city schools of Waverly, Illinois, where he remained for three years. In his instruction before the class he was always clear and concise and forceful, and these qualities have likewise been manifested in his presentation of a case before court or jury. While acting as principal of the schools of Waverly he also took up the study of law. In 1880 he came to Decatur
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and completed his reading in the law office of the well known firm of Clokey & Mills, being admitted to the bar of the state in May, 1881. In the following June he en- tered into partnership relations with his brother, I. R. Mills, and the firm has long maintained a high reputation among the leading lawyers of the Macon county bar. For six years Andrew H. Mills served as assistant city attorney and for twelve years as
assistant states attorney under his brother. Ile now makes a specialty of chancery, probate and real estate law, al- though he is well informed in all depart- ments of jurisprudence. He does not care, however, to give much of his time to crim- inal law and has gained a good clientage in the other branches of the profession, being regarded as a wise counsellor and safe ad- viser in matters pertaining to corporation or other business interests. The firm of Mills Brothers are attorneys for the Citi- zens' National Bank of Decatur and they occupy a handsome suite of rooms on the sixth floor of the Millikin Bank Building. . Their law library is extensive and with its contents Andrew H. Mills has familiarized himself, being a deep student and one who has carried his investigations far and wide into the realms of judicial knowledge.
On the 2d of January, 1877, occurred the marriage of Andrew HI. Mills and Miss Elizabeth E. Bell, a daughter of the late Rev. W. C. Bell, of Lincoln, Illinois. Their children are Ralph G., Judith B., Helen E., Harold E. and Andrew Hubert. The en- tire family hold membership in the First Presbyterian church and through many years Mr. Mills has been one of its most active and helpful workers. He has long served as one of its elders and for fifteen years has been superintendent of its Sunday- school. Through a considerable period he has also been chairman of the County Sun- day-school Association and is now chairman of the executive committee of the Illinois
State Sunday-school Association, while in the International Sunday-school Associa- tion he is also serving on the executive com- mittee. He has taken a deep interest in the welfare of the boys and young men of the city and he secured the handsome bequests of David F. Hamsher and Reuben Betzer for the Young Men's Christian Association of Decatur. He is deeply interested in the James Millikin University and has rendered valuable services to this institution. His attractive residence is situated on West Decatur street and in addition he holds valuable property interests in Putnam and Shelby counties. A broad minded man, while giving his chief attention to his bus- iness affairs he has yet found opportunity to aid in the material progress, the intellec- tual development and the moral advance- ment, realizing that man's nature should grow along all these lines. A man of un- swerving integrity and honor, one who has a strong appreciation for the higher ethics of life, he has gained and retained the con- fidence and respect of his fellow men and is distinctively one of the leading citizens not only of Decatur, but of Macon county.
H. E. DICKEY.
H. E. Dickey, a well known farmer re- siding on section 36, Friends Creek town- ship, is one of Macon county's native sons and has been an eye witness of much of her development. During his boyhood much of the land was still wild and uncultivated and Decatur was but a small town. He aided in building the railroad through his locality in 1873 and in other ways has ma- terially assisted in the improvement of his native county, which to-day is one of the best in this great commonwealth.
Mr. Dickey was born in Friends Creek township, on the 13th of January, 1859, and is a son of William and Sarah Dickey. His father was a native of Kentucky and was
Dr. A. Barnes
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one of the carly settlers of Friends Creek township, where he purchased land at the government price of one dollar and a quarter per acre. Ile broke and improved his farm and for many years was successfully en- gaged in agricultural pursuits in this local- ity. After a useful and well spent life he died in 1875.
II. E. Dickey, of this review, obtained his early education in the Newburg schoolhouse and when not in school he aided in the work of the home farm, thus carly acquiring an excellent knowledge of the occupation which he has chosen as a life work. At the age of twenty-two years he commenced op- crating a tract of land belonging to his father, and is still engaged in the cultiva- tion of two hundred and forty acres be- longing to the estate. The place was im- proved by the father but our subject has made many changes and is now successfully engaged in both farming and stock-raising.
In 1885 Mr. Dickey married Miss Au- gustus, a daughter of Clarke and Margaret AAugustus, of Friends Creek township, both now deceased. Four children blessed this union, namely: Nellie, born in November, 1886; Lula, born in February, 1888; Grace, born in September, 1889; and Howard, born in July, 1891. Grace is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Dickey are worthy members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and he is also connected with the Modern Wood- men of America. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat and he has filled the of- fices of collector and school director in a most creditable and satisfactory manner. llis children are now attending school in Argenta.
WILLIAM A. BARNES, M. D.
No adequate memorial of William .A. Barnes can be written until many of the useful enterprises with which he was con- nected have completed their full measure of
good in the world and until his personal in- fluence and example shall have ceased their fruitage in the lives of those who were about him when he was yet an actor in the busy places of the world !; yet there is much concerning him that can with profit be set down here as an illustration of what can be done if a man with a clear brain and willing hands but sets himself seriously to the real labors and responsibilities of life. It can be truthfully said that he was the architect of his own fortunes and from the time when Decatur was a struggling and unimportant little village down to almost the present Dr. Barnes was identified with its interests. The silent and unwritten his- tory of its streets, its railroads and its pub- lic institutions is replete with his spirit and untiring energy. lle gained distinctive recognition as one of the leaders in business life here, having shown a marked capacity for the successful conduct of affairs of great breadth. It is not alone compatible but practically imperative that there be incor- porated in this volume a review of his life.
Dr. Barnes was born in New Hampshire, his natal place being Claremont, while his natal day was the 15th of March, 1824. In an early period in the development of New England the family was established there. The Doctor's paternal grandfather removed from Farmington, Connecticut, to Clare- mont, New Hampshire, when that section of the state was almost an unbroken wil- derness and amid the hills of New Hamp- shire he reared his family. Ira N. Barnes, the father of the Doctor, was born in Clare- mont and after reaching years of maturity devoted his energies to agricultural pur- suits, but his death resulted from an acci- dent when he was only about thirty years of age. ITis wife, who bore the maiden name of Harriet Eastman, belonged to an old New England family of considerable prominence.
Dr. Barnes. the chest of five children,
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was only six years of age at the time of his father's death. The following year he went to live with his grandfather, with whom he remained until he reached the age of fifteen years and during that period he acquired an excellent education in the public schools and also in Claremont Acad- emy. When a youth of fifteen he started westward for the purpose of making his home with a cousin in Dayton, Ohio, with whom he lived from 1839 until 1844. He further continued his studies in that city and, well qualified for the teacher's profes- sion, he became an instructor in a school- room in Montgomery county, Ohio, when twenty years of age. In early manhood he also engaged in teaching music, in which he was quite proficient, but another profession seemed to him more attractive and, believ- ing that it would be also remunerative as a life work, he took up the study of medi- cine in 1846, his preceptor being Dr. Van Harlingen, of Centerville, Ohio. Later he matriculated in the Starling Medical Col- lege at Columbus and in the fall of 1849 he went to Philadelphia, where he pursued his second course of lectures in the University of Pennsylvania and in that institution was graduated with the class of 1850.
Returning then to Centerville, Ohio, he opened an office and entered upon his pro- fessional career, but in the autumn of the same year he located in Valparaiso, In- diana, remaining a member of the medical fraternity there for three years. In 1853 he became a resident of Decatur and for a short time practiced his profession, but also became engaged in other lines of business which ultimately demanded all of his time and attention. Upon his arrival here he purchased a tract of land about four miles from the town and at once began its culti- vation and development. He had been a resident of Decatur but two years, when in 1855 he succeeded Drs. King and Cheno- weth as proprietors of a drug store in De-
catur, which he conducted with success un- til 1859. During the period of the Civil war his time was largely occupied with offi- cial service, for in 1861 he was appointed master in chancery. In that office as in all other relations in life he was found prompt and faithful in the execution of his duties and he capably served until 1865, when he resigned.
Dr. Barnes was among the first to inau- gurate the manufacturing interests which have made Decatur one of the largest pro- ducing centers of the Mississippi valley. In 1860 in partnership with William Lintner he established a factory for the manufac- ture of hay-presses and when this work was placed upon a paying basis it was extended in scope by the establishment of a depart- ment for the manufacture of pumps and agricultural implements. Its trade steadily increased, owing to the excellence of its product and the reliability of the propri- etors, and thus Dr. Barnes became an active factor in the manufacturing interests of De- catur. After some years he sold it to his partner and later the enterprise became known as the Decatur Furniture Company, under which style it is to-day conducted. In 1868 Dr. Barnes decided to devote the greater part of his attention to real estate operations and to the improvement of his lands. In an early day he had invested largely in property in Macon, Piatt and Moultrie counties. With the increase in population, owing to the large emigration from the east to the Mississippi valley, these lands had risen greatly in value and their sale brought to him a handsome for- tune. He also added to their market prices by the excellent improvements which he placed upon the property. His real estate dealings were indeed extensive and of an important character and annually his oper- ations in this direction brought to him a splendid financial return.
In October, 1849, on the completion of
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his collegiate course, Dr. Barnes was united in marriage to Miss Eleanor Sawyer, who was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania. He had formed her acquaintance while she was residing in Centerville, Ohio, and the marriage ceremony was performed in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. Unto the Doctor and his wife were born the follow- ing children : Albert, now a leading busi- ness man of Decatur : Charles M., a distin- guished attorney of Boston, Massachusetts. who died March 9, 1893: Mary, wife of George R. Stanton, a resident of Decatur: William, a prominent surgeon of this city : and one son who died in infancy.
Along political lines the influence of Dr. Barnes has been felt and he was one of the first standard bearers of the Republican party in Macon county, continuing its sup- port until his death, which occurred August 20, 1897, in Dansville, New York. Noting with interest the progress of events he took a deep interest in the movements which led to the establishment of a political organiza- tion for the further suppression of slavery in the United States and from 1856.up to the time of his demise he gave an unfalter- ing allegiance to the party which was the cause of the abolition of this great national evil. He labored carnestly for Fremont during the campaign of 1856 and delivered a number of political addresses in his behalf throughout the county. He was one of the representative citizens of Decatur and filled several public positions, his fellow towns- men recognizing his devotion to the general welfare, as well as his personal worth, elected him mayor of the city prior to the Civil war and several times he was a mem- ber of the city council. Whatever tended to promote the welfare and progress of De- catur elicited his earnest attention, active co-operation and substantial aid. With other prominent men he was influential in
securing to the city the system of railroads which has made it an important commer- cial center through furnishing an outlet for the agricultural and commercial products of this locality and bringing it into close relations with other trade centers. He was one of the active members of the Citizens' Association, organized to advance the pub- lic interests of Decatur. The cause of edu- cation found in him a warm friend and for a number of years he took an active part in behalf of the schools as a member of the board of education and for some time was its president. From its organization until his death, with the exception of one year, he was president of the Decatur public li- brary. His benevolence was unostentations and genuine, and there is nothing in the story of his life to show that he ever for a moment sought to compass a given end for the purpose of exalting himself. He championed measures and aided men, and accepted as his reward that thrill of de- light which always accompanies victories achieved. Endowed by nature with a sound judgment and an accurate, discriminating mind. he feared not that laborious attention to the details of business so necessary to achieve success, and this essential quality was guided by a sense of moral right which would tolerate the employment only of those means that would bear the most rigid examination by a fairness of intention that neither sought nor required disguise. It is but just and merited praise to say of Dr. Barnes, that as a business man he ranked with the ablest ; as a citizen he was honor- able, prompt and true to every engage- ment ; as a man he held the honor and es- teem of all classes of people, of all creeds and political proclivities ; as a husband and father he was a model worthy of all imita- tion : unassuming in his manner, sincere in his friendship, steadfast and unswerving in
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his loyalty to the right. Throughout his career of continued and far-reaching useful- ness, his duties were performed with the greatest care, and during a long life his per- sonal honor and integrity were without blemish.
CHARLES E. CONNARD.
In the pioneer epoch in the history of this section of Illinois, Charles E. Connard came to Macon county and has since been an important factor in its substantial de- velopment and permanent improvement. He has seen its wild lands transformed into fine farms, while industrial and commercial interests have been introduced and thus towns have become thriving cities. In the work of progress he has borne his part and has been particularly active as a represen- tative of the agricultural interests of the community. His home is on section 2, South Wheatland township.
Mr. Connard was born on the 6th of No- vember, 1829, in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. a son of John and Dorothy (Schriver) Connard and grandson of Ebe- nezer Connard. The father was a native of Bucks county, this state, and was there reared and educated. His wife was of Ger- man descent. In 1830 they removed to Ross county, Ohio, where the following ten years were passed, and in 1840 they came by wagon and team to Macon county, Illi- nois, locating near where our subject now resides. The father was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church and was a Democrat in politics until 1856, when he joined the newly organized Republican party. His death occurred on the 6th of November, 1876, when he was seventy-three years of age, and his wife passed away March 27, 1891, at the age of seventy-nine. They were the parents of the following children: Sarah Anne, the wife of John
King, of Elwin; Hannah, who married James Lowry, of Decatur, and died in 1856; Mrs. Catherine Widick, who is living in Webster county, lowa: Maria Angeline, who died at the age of twenty years; and Charles E.
The early educational privileges afforded our subject were very meager, but by read- ing and observation he has become a well informed man. During his early life he was associated with his father in farming, and on the death of the latter became the owner of four hundred acres of land, the only im- provement upon the place being a log cabin and sixty acres under fence. But as time passed Mr. Connard placed acre after acre under cultivation and erected good and sub- stantial buildings, making his farm one of the best in the locality. In addition to his farming interests he has dealt in grain for the past thirty years and is now part owner of an elevator at Elwin, being asso- ciated with his sons and others in the busi- ness. The elevator was erected by him and has a capacity of fifty thousand bushels. He also built a large corn crib at that place. To his sons he has given a portion of his land, but still retains two hundred and forty acres, which is under a high state of culti- vation and well improved.
At Elwin, in 1855, Mr. Connard was unit- ed in marriage to Miss Nancy A. Eagur, who died on the 30th of September, 1878, in the faith of the Methodist church, of which she was a consistent member. Unto them were born the following children: George S .; Milton A .; Carrie, wife of William Wilt, a farmer living near Lake City, Illi- nois ; Effie, who died at the age of ten years ; Johnnie, who died at the age of eight ; Mar- tin E., whose sketch appears below ; Charles H., a resident of Marseilles, Illinois; and Harley and Hattie, twins, the former of whom died at the age of one year and a half, and the latter now the wife of William Floyd, of Hollywood, California.
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In 1879 Mr. Connard was again married, his second union being with Miss Elizabeth J. Rozzell, a native of Macon county and a daughter of Micah and Isabella (Davis) Rozzell, who were natives of South Caro- lina and Tennessee, respectively, and were married November 4, 1845. Her father was one of the carly settlers of this county and was engaged in farming in Long Creek township. He died on Christmas day of 1888, and his wife departed this life in Sep- tember, 1880. In religions faith they were Presbyterians. Their children were David, a farmer of Tennessee and postmaster at Dughill, Tennessee; Mrs. Connard, who was born October 5, 1851 ; Isabella, wife of Scott Satt, a shoemaker of Whiteboro, Texas; Anna, wife of James Withgott, of Decatur; and Lily, who is living with her sister in Texas. By his second marriage Mr. Connard has three children: Curtis, Marcus and Walter, all at home.
Since 1849 Mr. Connard has been an ac- tive member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has been officially connected with the same. He cast his first presidential vote for General Fremont in 1856 and has since affiliated with the Republican party. For over sixty years he has been identified with the interests of Macon county and is justly regarded as one of her honored pio- neers and representative citizens who have borne an important part in her upbuilding and development. lle is widely and favor- ably known and well merits the high regard in which he is held.
George S. Connard, our subject's eldest son and one of the present members of the firm of grain-buyers of Elwin, was born on his father's farm in this county, March 15, 1856, and received his early education in the district schools of the neighborhood, after- ward graduating at Eastman's National Business College of Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1875. Since starting out in life for himself he has engaged in farming. has
acted as railroad agent for the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad Company and has dealt in grain at Elwin. He ran the first check-rower in the county, which was made by llay- worth & Sons in 1809, and was purchased by his father. He continued farming on the home place until 1883, when he purchased eighty acres of land in South Wheatland township which formerly belonged to his grandfather. On the 3d of February, 1883, he was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Crumm, a native of Dauphin county, Penn- sylvania, who came to Macon county with her parents. She died April 1, 1893, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Connard is also a member of that church and has served as superintendent of the Sunday-school and as class leader. Hle cast his first presidential vote for James A. Garfield but for the past eighteen years has supported the Prohibition party. He served as township clerk before he attained his ma- jority and has always taken a deep interest in public affairs.
M. A. Connard, the junior member of the original firm of M. A. Connard & Company, grain buyers of Elwin, was born on the old homestead in South Wheatland town- ship in 1858. Ile was married in June, 1885, to Miss Eva L. Foster, a native of De- catur and a daughter of David and Margaret (Price) Foster. She died in December, 1891, leaving three children: Arthur F., Nellie and Mac.
MARTIN E. CONNARD.
Prominent among the business men of Macon county is numbered Martin E. Con- nard, a well known grain dealer of Elwin. No one in that locality is better known for his entire life has been spent there and all his interests from boyhood have been close- ly associated with those of his native town- ship. In business affairs he has met with
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