USA > Illinois > Macon County > Decatur > Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois > Part 30
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good success and by the energy and zeal which he has manifested he has won the confidence and esteem of the public.
Mr. Connard was born in South Wheat- land township, May 16, 1868, a son of Charles E. and Nancy (Eagur) Connard, whose sketch precedes this. After com- pleting his common school education he attended the Northern Illinois Normal School and Dixon Business College for a time. In 1886 he became connected with the grain business in the employ of the firm of M. A. Connard & Company, and in 1893 became a member of the firm, the name be- ing then changed to G. S. Connard & Com- pany, as his brother George S. had pur- chased Milton A.'s interest in the business. On the Ist of November, 1900, William R. Hopkins became a member of the firm, which still carries on business under the name of G. S. Connard & Company, and they now have control of the grain trade in Elwin, handling one hundred thousand bushels of oats and two hundred thousand bushels of corn annually. Shipments are made to Memphis, Tennessee, New Orleans, Decatur and other points, and Martin E. Connard has charge of the buying and selling of all grain at their elevators. He is also interested in a general store at El- win and is the owner of the Elwin Tele- phone system, which began the building of its lines in 1892 and now has over eighty phones in operation, practically covering the whole of South Wheatland township.
On the 30th of June, 1898, Mr. Connard led to the marriage altar Miss Mae Hop- kins, who was born February 20, 1876, and they now have two children: Lneile, born March 14, 1899; and Harold, born July 20, 1900. The family have a lovely home in Elwin, which was recently erected by Mr. Connard and which is supplied with all modern conveniences. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a sup- porter of the Republican party. In 1903
he was commissioned notary public for a term of four years. Although comparatively a young man he already occupies a prom- inent position in business circles and his success is largely due to his energy, perse- verance and progressive ideas, as well as his good business ability.
Samuel S. Hopkins, the father of Mrs. Connard, was born near Circleville, in Pickaway county, Ohio, November 24, 1846, and is of Scotch-Irish descent, though the family was founded in this country in colo- nial days, one of its members having been a signer of the Declaration of Independence. In early life Mr. Hopkins came to Macon county, Illinois, and was married near Boody, November 14, 1872, to Miss Emma- retta Williams, who is also a native of Ohio, born in Gambier, Knox county, on the 23d of September. 1848. She was a mem- ber of the first graduating class from the Decatur high school, which consisted of but four members. This was in 1867. For three years she successfully engaged in teaching in Warrensburg, this county, and during the years of 1870 and 1871 had charge of a school near Blue Mound. Her father, William Henry Williams, is still living and has one brother and five sisters, the youngest of whom is sixty-three and the oldest eighty-two years of age. His father was a soldier of the war of 1812 and his grandfather took part in the Revolutionary war and was with Washington during that terrible winter at Valley Forge.
After his marriage Samuel S. Hopkins located on the old Hopkins homestead, about two miles southeast of Elwin, and from there removed to a farm near As- sumption, Illinois, where he spent two years. His next home was on a farm near Forsyth, and about 1884 he removed to a farm near Mount Zion, where he spent ten years. The following seven years were passed in Decatur, and in the fall of 1901 he came to Elwin, where he embarked in
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general merchandising with his son, William R., and his son-in-law, Martin E. Connard, under the firm name of S. S. Hopkins & Company. He has five children, namely : William R., Mae, Bessie, Lelah and Tracy, and the family circle has never been broken by the hand of death. In his political views Mr. Hopkins.is a Republican and he is now serving as postmaster of Elwin. He is a prominent and active member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and is closely as- sociated with the work of the Sunday, school. Wherever known he is held in high regard as a man of ability and sterling worth.
FRED E. SCHROEDER.
With the business interests of Warrens- burg Fred E. Schroeder has been identified since attaining man's estate and is to-day one of the leading merchants of the place, carrying a large and well selected stock of hardware and furniture. He was born here on the 5th of April, 1875, and is a son of Max R. and Marie E. (Hagely) Schroeder. both of German descent. His paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Schroe- der, were natives of Germany and emigrated to America at an early day, being residents of Freeport, Illinois, at the time of their deaths. Both reached an advanced age, the former dying when ninety-one and the latter when ninety. Our subject's father came to Macon county in 1871 and settled at Warrensburg, his home being on the site of the old City Hotel, where our subject was born. Here he followed shoemaking and harnessmak- ing for some years and served as the first postmaster of the village, being appointed to that office during the administration of President Grant, although he was a stanch Democrat in politics. At that time he was able to keep all of the mail in a sewing machine drawer. He also served as justice of the peace for several years and was
holding that position at the time of his death, which occurred on the 3ist of Octo- ber, 1885. Ile took a very prominent and active part in public affairs and was one of the leading and influential citizens of his part of the county. llis estimable wife still survives him at the age of sixty-nine years and now makes her home with our subject. She is the mother of eight children, two of whom are now deceased, those living being Rudolph 11., a resident of Warrensburg, who married Alpha Loretta Acres, the camp of Royal Neighbors of this place being named Alpha Loretta in her honor : Jenny, wife of Frank Kretzer, of Warrens- burg: Louise, wife of Amos Robinson ; William R., who married Eva Raymond and lives in Warrensburg: Frank, who married Lulu Slonaker; and Fred E.
Fred E. Schroeder was educated in the village schools, which he attended until fourteen years of age, and then began earn- ing his own livelihood by working on a farm. In 1802 he accepted a clerkship in the gen- eral store of Ed White & Company, where he remained for four years, and then in partnership with his brother, Rudolph H., opened a hardware and implement estab- lishment under the firm name of Schroeder Brothers. In 1899 he purchased his broth- er's interest and has since continued alone. Hle has ceased to handle agricultural im- plements but has added a stock of furniture, being the exclusive dealer in that line in Warrensburg. Ile has met with marked success in his mercantile efforts, having built up a large trade which is constantly increasing.
On the 2d of June, 1897, Mr. Schroeder was united in marriage to Miss Flora Min- son, a native of Macon county, and a daugh- ter of Tilden and Emma (Fish) Minson. She was educated in the home schools and the high school at Decatur and for three years successfully engaged in teaching. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder have been
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born three children, namely: Ralph M., Ruth M., and Mildred 11.
Our subject and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he also holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, being past grand in the former lodge. His political support is given the Republican party and in 1898 he received the appointment of postmaster of Warrens- burg under President Mckinley and is still filling that office with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of all con- cerned. He is one of the most progressive, enterprising and reliable young men of the town and the position he occupies in busi- ness circles is well deserved, it having been attained through persistent industry and un- tiring effort.
NICHOLAS SCHERER.
Nicholas Scherer became a resident of Decatur in 1882 and at his death was well known in business circles. He was born in France on the 4th of June, 1825, and was a son of Jacob Scherer, who was also a native of France. About 1865 the father sailed for the new world with his family, first locating in Lowville, New York, where he purchased a farm, carrying on agricult- ural pursuits in that vicinity for several years. Ile then took up his abode in the village where both he and his wife are now living. He has spent his last few years in retirement from labor and at the age of eighty-one is enjoying a well merited rest and also receiving the respect and venera- tion which should ever be accorded those who advance far on life's journey.
The educational advantages which Nich- olas Scherer received were limited. He gaine 1 much knowledge, however, from ex- perience and through contact with the
world and when twenty years of age he emigrated to America with his parents, as- sisting in the development of the home farm in New York. There he remained until 1882, when in connection with his brothers, Jacob and Emile, he came to the west, settling in Decatur. His brother Jacob is now night watchman of the Mueller Man- ufacturing Company of this city and Emile is in the shops of the Union Iron Works.
Nicholas Scherer of this review was first employed here by the Decatur Brewery, working there for some time. He then had charge of an express wagon for the Pacific Express Company for about two years and after his marriage he embarked in the sal- oon business, establishing a retail local house on East Eldorado street, conducting the enterprise for eight years. On the ex- piration of that period he sold out and en- gaged in tending bar until his death.
Mr. Scherer was united in marriage to Miss Anna Frank, a native of Decatur and a daughter of John and Theresa (Kepler) Frank, who were natives of Germany and are represented elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Scherer became the parents of two children : Frank, who was born May 19, 1885, and is now telegraph operator at Winston; and Jacob, who was born April 13. 1887, and is with his mother. They now occupy a nice home at No. 350 South Broad- way, which was erected by Mr. Scherer and in addition to this property Mrs. Scherer also owns residence property at Nos. 738, 746 and 760 Leafland avenue.
Mr. Scherer was never an office seeker nor desired such return for party fealty. However, he gave an unfaltering support to the Democracy. He belonged to the Cath- olic Knights and both he and his wife were members of the Catholic church of this city. Ilis business career was successful and he steadily advanced working his way upward
JaRandolph
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through energy, determination and fidelity to duty. Year by year his financial re- sources increased and it was thus that he was enabled to make judicious investments in real estate which now returns to his family a good income.
GUY ARCHER RANDOLPH.
Prominent among the young business men of Macon county is Guy Archer Ran- dolph, who is now successfully engaged in the banking business at Warrensburg and is rapidly working his way to a foremost position among the able financiers of this section of the state. A native of Illinois, he was born in Aetna township, Logan county, on the 15th of November, 1873, and is a son of James M. and Elizabeth G. (Jett) Randolph. The birth of the father also occurred in that township, June 27, 1846, but the mother was born in Bracken county, Kentucky, on the 30th of January, 1855. Her father, William Jett, was killed in the battle of Richmond, Kentucky, Aug- ust 29, 1862, while serving as a private in the Eighteenth Kentucky Volunteer Infan- try during the Civil war and the following year Mrs. Randolph, who was then a child, accompanied her mother on her removal to Illinois. James M. Randolph, the father of our subject, has spent his entire life in cen- tral Illinois and now owns and operates a valuable farm of five hundred acres near Kenney. He is a well educated man, having spent two years at Shurtleff College, Alton, Illinois, after completing the common school course, and he is one of the leading and rep- resentative citizens of his community.
Mr. Randolph is descended from one of the oldest and most prominent families of the south, the progenitors being William Randolph and his wife, Mary Isham, who came to Virginia in 1673 and settled on Turkey island in the James river, becom-
ing one of the most popular and influential men of the early Virginian colony. He was a nephew of the famous English poet, Thomas Randolph, and was the father of seven sons and two daughters, whose de- scendants are now numerous in the Old Dominion and are widely scattered through- out the other states of the Union. Among the most prominent of his posterity were John Randolph, of Roanoke, the celebrated orator; Edmund Randolph, first attorney general under President Washington and secretary of state; Thomas Jefferson, presi- dlent of the United States; John Marshall, chief justice; and Robert E. Lee, general in the Confederate Army during the Civil war. Among the most prominent now liv- ing are Carter Il. Harrison, mayor of Chi- cago ; and Isham Randolph, chief engineer of the Chicago sanitary canal, now promi- nently mentioned as a member of the Pan- ama canal commission.
During his boyhood Guy A. Randolph at- tended the common schools near his home and at the age of sixteen years entered Brown's Business College at Decatur, where he pursued a commercial course and was graduated in 1889. After one year spent upon the home farm, he accepted a position in Scroggin's Bank at Kenney, Illinois, where he served as cashier for two years and a half, and at the end of that time, wishing to obtain a better education, he resigned in the summer of 1894 and entered the preparatory department of Illinois Col- lege at Jacksonville, graduating in June, 1895, at Whipple Academy. He wished to continue the full college course but was compelled to abandon it from threatened loss of health. In 1895 he spent some time in travel, his, trip extending into the in- terior of the republic of Mexico, and he returned home in the fall of that year. In October, 1895, he made arrangements to es- tablish a bank in Warrensburg, and in the following July after the completion of the
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new bank buikdling it was opened for busi- ness. In this venture Mr. Randolph has met with marked success. The deposits now amount to from one hundred and twenty-five to one hundred and fifty thon- sand dollars, varying according to the sea- son of the year ; the capital is ten thousand dollars, and the responsibility of the firm, consisting of James M. Randolph, H. C. Suttle of Seroggin's bank at Kenney, and (. A. Randolph, is two hundred thousand dollars.
At Midland City, Illinois, November 19, 1896, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Randolph and Miss Mary Jones, a daughter of John Jones, an old resident of De Witt county, and to them has been born one child, Virginia Randolph, whose birth oe- eurred on the 6th of March. 1899. Frater- nally Mr. Randolph is a member of War- rensburg Lodge, No. 600, I. O. O. F., the Decatur Encampment and Canton No. 19, Patriarehs Militant. Since attaining his majority he has generally affiliated with the Democratie party, but is not disposed to draw party lines in matters of local interest. For one term he filled the office of president of the village board, being elected on a re- form movement, and during his incumbeney succeeded in regulating certain undesirable characters. Systematic and methodical, his sagacity, keen diserimination and sound judgment have been the means of bringing to him success and although he is still a young man he has already attained an en- viable position in business circles. Pleas- ant and genial in manner and of high social qualities, he is very popular and has an ex- tensive circle of friends and acquaintances.
JAMES S. BALDWIN.
One of the younger attorneys at the bar of Macon county is James S. Baldwin and although a young man has attained a credit- able position at the bar that might well be
envied by many who have practiced for twice his years. Ile was born in New Al- bany, Indiana, September 14, 1874, his par- ents being Ed and Susan E. (Spittler) Baldwin. The father was a native of Louis- ville, Kentucky, born in 1835, and the mother's birth occurred in Indiana, where both are now living. In 1843 Mr. Baldwin became a resident of that state. He fol- lowed the life of a pilot on the river for some time and his father, Robert Baldwin, was also a steamboat man. Ed Baldwin has now for thirty years been identified with the quarter-master's department of the army and during the Civil war he acted as a pliot in condueting vessels which were used in the country's service. At the present time he maintains his residence in New Albany, Indiana. Unto him and his wife were born seven children, six of whom reached years of maturity, the subject of this review being the fourth in order of birth. One of his brothers is practicing medicine in Jeffer- sonville, Indiana, another is living in Tole- do, Ohio, and the third is a resident of New York, while one sister is married and lives in Deeatur, and another sister is with her parents in Indiana.
James S. Baldwin completed his literary education by his graduation in the high school of New Albany, Indiana, with the class of 1893. In carly life he greatly en- joyed taking part in debates and mani- fested a deep interest in the work of liter- ary societies. He has always directed his efforts along intellectual lines and when still quite young manifested excellent ora- torical ability, a characteristic which has been of value to him in his ehosen profes- sion. Desiring to enter the practice of law he then prepared for the bar as a stu- dent in the law department of the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated with the class of 1896. In June of the same year he was admitted to the bar in New Albany, Indiana, and prac-
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ticed in his native town for some time. He won his first criminal case in the January term of court in 1897, on which occasion he defended a man accused of stealing a set of harness from a shed and the indictment was quashed. On the 30th of March, 1897, Mr. Baldwin was admitted to practice before the supreme court. In January of that year he had formed a partnership with Ed Wil- son and practiced under the name of Wilson & Baldwin until October, 1897, after which he became a partner of Frank Ewing and this association was maintained under the firm style of Ewing & Baldwin until the Ist of May, 1903, when Mr. Ewing left for Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Mr. Baldwin is now practicing alone and he has met with splendid success in his work as a repre- sentative of the legal profession. He is now the attorney for the R. G. Dunn & Com- pany and is regarded by that corporation as one of the best informed men in his line. He has engaged in the trial of two very cele- brated will cases, one involving the question of insanity and the other that of undue influ- ence, and it is the only two cases of the kind ever tried in this county in which the will was sustained. Mr. Baldwin is a very hard student, carnest and diligent in the preparation of his cases and presenting his cause with a clearness and force that leaves no doubt as to his view upon the correct- ness of his position. He is widely known throughout Macon and other counties as a young lawyer of marked ability and one who is destined to enjoy a brilliant future. He is now the secretary and treasurer of the Macon County Bar Association and he occupies an enviable position in the regard of his brethren of the legal fraternity. He has one of the most complete law offices in the county where all work is carried on systematically. He can refer in a moment to cases tried long years ago because every- thing is kept on file. In his office he is methodical in all that he does and because
of this is enabled to accomplish a great amount of business with dispatch.
On the 20th of November, 1901, Mr. Baldwin was united in marriage to Miss Mary V. Dishman, a daughter of F. E. and Martha (Galbraith) Dishman, the former a native of New Albany, Indiana, and the latter of Ireland. Mrs. Baldwin is a grad- uate of the high school of New Albany, In- diana, of the class of 1895 and comes of a prominent family there. Her father always took a deep interest in affairs of local and national importance and was a public spirited citizen whose influence was strongly felt for good in the community in which he made his home. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin has been born one daughter, Mary Virginia, whose birth occurred December 16, 1902.
A young man of strong intellectuality, his tastes have always been literary and he was one of the four who organized the Decatur Chautauqua, which was formed in January, 1993, and which held an assembly at River- side Park in the present year. Of the society he is now treasurer. He has ever been a great reader and is especially fond of biography, noting the elements in the lives of successful men and the cause which formed the striking features in the lives of those who have attained distinction and honor in various walks of life. He entered upon his political career in Indiana by as- sisting in the election of Senator Fairbanks to the U'nited States senate, being at that time president of a young men's Republican club. Since casting his first presidential vote he has taken a very deep and helpful interest in local and national politics, believ- ing it the duty as well as the privilege of every American citizen to support the principles which he thinks are best cal- culated to advance the welfare of the general public. He is now the secre- tary of the Republican central com- mittee of Macon county, having acted in
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this capacity since April, 1902. Socially he is connected with the Masonic fraternity and has attained to the highest office in the blue lodge. He is also a member of the commandery and is connected with the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of the . Maccabees and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Both he and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian church of this city.
JOHN FRANK.
John Frank was a resident of Decatur from 1857 until 1902 and during the long years he became widely known and was re- garded as a citizen of worth and value. He lived in this city when it was but a village and gave little promise of its present de- velopment and prosperity. He was one of the first shoemakers and he had a wide acquaintance among pioneer settlers not only in Decatur, but throughout the sur- rounding country.
A native of the fatherland, John Frank was born on the 18th of March, 1831. His parents both died in Germany. There he spent the days of his boyhood and youth and acquired his education and also learned the shoemaker's trade. In the year 1857 he bade adieu to friends and native country and crossed the briny deep to the new world. landing in New York city. He came direct to Decatur and at once began working at his trade in the employ of a Mr. Wester. lle served as a cobbler for a long period and continued with Mr. Wesler for nine years. He then started a shoe shop of his own on West Main street, which he con- ducted for a short time and then purchased the building at No. 317 East Main street. Following his marriage he continued to en- gage in shoemaking at No. 317 East Main street, where he built up a successful and large business, employing several hands. There he engaged in the manufacture of all
kinds of boots and shoes and to some ex- tent he carried on real estate operations. Gradually he worked his way upward. Hc had no friends or inheritance to depend upon to assist him at the outset of his career, but he placed his dependence upon far more substantial qualities-industry, perseverance and careful management.
In 1861 Mr. Frank was united in mar- riage, in Decatur, to Miss Theresa Kepler, who was also a native of Germany, born on the 5th of September, 1841, and a daughter of Enos and Anges (Staley) Kepler. Her father came to America in 1854 and, making his way direct to Decatur, was here em- ployed as a laborer for a time. As his finan- cial resources increased, enabling him to make investments in property, he pur- chased a few houses here and also owned a few acres of land near the city, although during the greater part of his residence he was employed by others. Both he and his wife passed away in Decatur. The mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Frank was blessed with seven children : Anna, who is the widow of Nicholas Scherer, a resident of Decatur; Mary, who became the wife of J. L. Burtschi and died on the 14th of June, 1902 ; Minnie, who is the wife of Emil P. Scherer, of this city; Elizabeth, the wife of Paul Kastner; Theresa, who is at home with her mother : and John and Catherine, who are both deceased.
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