Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois, Part 34

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 34

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"Hoosier schoolmaster" in the rural dis- tricts of Indiana. He has throughout his professional career advanced steadily by reason of his close application, his zeal and interest in his work and his broad study and thorough investigation. Ile is con- nected with a calling wherein advancement is won through merit and it is because of his capability that he is justly regarded as a prominent practitioner here.

IR N. BARNES, A. M., M. D.

Dr. Ira N. Barnes was born in Claremont, New Hampshire, December 19, 1829, and was the youngest of the five children born to Ira Norton Barnes and Harriet Eastman. His father died when he was four months old. He spent his youth attending school in his native town and at an early age became a clerk in a drug store. He fitted for col- lege at Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, New Hampshire, and entered Dartmouth College in 1851, graduating therefrom in 1855 with the degree of A. B. Ile was a classmate of the late Nelson Dingley, of tariff fame, and of Chief Justice Field of the superior court of Massachusetts. Ile first came to Decatur in November, 1853, and spent the following year in the drug business with his brother, the late Dr. W. A. Barnes. In 1858 he received the degree of Master of Arts from Dartmouth College and in the same year attended his first course of medical lectures at Dartmouth Medical College and read medicine with Drs. Dixi Crosby and E. R. Peaslec at Han- over, New Hampshire. IIe spent the sum- mer of 1859 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, attending the clinics at the hospitals and in the autumn of the same year matriculated at the Jefferson Medical College and grad- uated therefrom in March, 1862. ITe then located in Decatur, Illinois, and formed a partnership with the late Dr. E. W. Moore

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for the practice of medicine, which contin- ued for thirty-six years.

In 1863 he was commissioned as surgeon of the One Hundred and Sixteenth Regi- ment, Illinois Volunteers, which was at- tached during the whole war to the First Brigade, Second Division of General Sher- man's famous Fifteenth Army Corps. He served with his regiment at the various bat- tles around Vicksburg. Champion Hills and Jackson, Mississippi, Missionary Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain and Atlanta, Georgia. February 22, 1864. he was appointed sur- geon in chief of the Second Division, Fif- teenth Army Corps, on the staff of Brigadier General Morgan L. Smith. He was on the . famous march to the sea and at the storm- ing of Fort McAllister, Georgia, and thence marched through the Carolinas and Virginia to Washington, D. C., where with his regiment he took part in the grand re- view and was mustered out of the service June 9, 1865, by reason of the close of the war.

He married Diantha G. Sargent, of Clare- mont, New Hampshire, September 25, 1861, who died May 10, 1879. One son was born. Dr. Lynn M. Barnes, who graduated at Harvard University in 1896 and at Harvard Medical School in 1900, and is now a prac- titioner of medicine. At Decatur, Illinois, July 8, 1886, Dr. Barnes was again mar- ried, his second union being with Mary Wilder.

Dr. Barnes is an honored and respected resident of Decatur, where he has practiced for so many years, becoming the loved fam- ily physician in various households. Man's worth in the world is determined by his use- fulness-by what he has accomplished for his fellow men-and he is certainly deserv- ing of the greatest honor and regard whose efforts have been of the greatest benefit to his fellow citizens. Judged by this stand- ard Dr. Barnes may well be accounted one of the distinguished residents of Decatur,

for throughout his professional career, cov- ering many decades, his labors have been of a most helpful nature. Certainly his life work has been of the greatest practical ben- efit and the world is better for his having lived. Although he is now seventy-four years of age he is yet connected with affairs of moment to the city of Decatur, where he has long made his home, although in recent years he has retired from the active prosecu- tion of his profession.

J. W. WILLIAMS.

Prominent among the successful men of Friends Creek township must be numbered J. W. Williams, who is known far and wide as a breeder and shipper of thoroughbred Poland-China hogs. His home is on sec- tion 17, about two and a half miles west of Cisco. He was born in this township in 1859, his parents being Jackson and Lavina Williams. His father's birth occurred in Ross county, Ohio, in 1826, and in that state he spent his boyhood and youth. He commenced life for himself by working as a farm hand by the month. On leaving Ohio, he came to Macon county, Illinois, in a one-horse buggy and settled in Friends Creek township, becoming one of its pioneers. Throughout his active business life he gave considerable attention to the raising of stock, making a specialty of hogs, and he became quite well-to-do, owning three hundred acres of land at the time of his death, which occurred in 1901. His wife, who came to this county when only nine years old, is still living, and continues to reside on the old home place.

During his boyhood J. W. Williams at- tended the public schools of Friends Creek township and under the able guidance of his father he early became familiar with the best methods of farming and stock-raising, which he has continued to follow up to the

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present time with marked success. At the age of twenty-three years, he commenced operating a part of his father's place and in 1885 he purchased one hundred and ten acres on section 17, Friends Creek township, where he now lives, paying for the same forty-four dollars and a quarter per acre. This land was entered by his grandfather, who at one time owned twenty-five hun- dred acres of land in this locality. Our sub- ject has made all of the improvements upon his place. He has a good hog barn, well equipped for breeding purposes and has one of the best systems of water works in cen- tral Illinois. There is running water in eight different lots, a gasoline engine for pumping the water and over one thousand feet of pipe have already been laid. Mr. Williams is fast gaining a wide reputation as a breeder of fine thoroughbred hogs and for the past five years he has shipped forty hogs annually to different parts of the United States. Ile raises pumpkins, which mixed with mill feed he considers the very best feed for breeding purposes and he also feeds his hogs oats and corn in equal pro- portions. He uses all the grain raised on his own place. As previously stated his specialty is thoroughbred Poland-China logs and he now has some fine males, four of whom are from Chief Perfection. the Second, which was sold for forty thousand dollars, that being the highest price ever paid for a hog in the world. He was owned by a stock company in Indiana. Mr. Will- iams owns hogs by Top Chief. a half. inter- est in which was sold for twenty-five thou- sand dollars and he also has five hogs by Perfection Bloom, No. 53037, which is at the head of his herd. Ile also has some fine sows, sired by T. C. U. S., which is one of the greatest show hogs in the world and is owned by Burgess Brothers of Bement, Illinois. Mr. Williams aims to get as good a constitution in a hog as possible to guard

against disease and he tried to develop both bone and muscle.

In 1890 was celebrated his marriage to Miss Alice Piper, who was born in Decatur and is a daughter of Edmond and Sarah (Querrey) Piper. They have one child, Zora, who was born November 17, 1893. Mrs. Williams is a member of the Presby- terian church and our subject belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Cisco. He votes with the Democratic party but takes no active part in politics, preferring to give his entire time and attention to his business interests. He is a man of marked ability and executive force and has met with most excellent success in the occupation to which he devotes his energies. He is quite popular personally and makes friends easily.

LOUIS A. MILLS.

Louis A. Mills is numbered among the members of the bar of Macon county and is now successfully practicing in Decatur with offices at No. 507 Millikin Building, in this city. He was born in Putnam county, Illi- nois, on the 15th of October, 1864, and is a son of Joseph and Mary E. ( Merritt) Mills. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and in the year 1845 left the cast for Illinois. Ile established his home in Putnam county, where he secured a tract of land and carried on farming for many years, being a well known and respected agriculturist of that community. He died in 1884 at the age of forty-three years and is still survived by his wife. In their family were six children, namely: Jessie L .: Louis A .: Mary Ar- villa ; Mabel, the wife of S. E. Walker, of Decatur ; Elizabeth, the wife of O. W. Daw- son, of this city; and Maud, the wife of C. F. Parker, a resident of Julesburg, Colo- rado.

It is a noticeable fact that the great ma- jority of men who have become prominent

PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

and successful in commercial, industrial and professional circles have spent their early years upon farms and from the free and outdoor life they gain the strength and steadfastness of purpose which enables them to cope with the strenuous duties that come during their connection with other fields of labor in later years. Mr. Mills was a farmer boy in his youth and attended the country schools near his home. After acquiring his preliminary education he became a student in the Decatur high school and later pur- sued a course in Lincoln University. For a time he resided in this city and afterward went to South Dakota to look after his father's interests in that state, his father's death having occurred there. Upon return- ing to Illinois MIr. Mills of this review be- came a student in the office of the firm of Mills Brothers of Decatur, the partners be- ing Isaac R. and Andrew H. Mills. When he had continued his reading until his knowledge of the law was broad and com- prehensive he was admitted to the bar in 1890 and became a member of the firm of Mills Brothers, thus joining his old pre- ceptors. In 1893 he became associated with the Columbia Manufacturing Company as a partner and on the Ist of May, 1896, he formed a partnership with J. R. Fitzgerald for the practice of law with offices in the Millikin Building. He has since carried on general practice and has been connected with considerable important litigation in the courts of this district. During the year 1898 he was appointed assignee for the Farmers' Bank and is still acting as such.

.In ISS9 Mr. Mills was united in marriage t Miss Anna Hill, a granddaughter of H. W. Hil. by whom she was reared. They now have two children: Margaret and Walker H. Socially Mr. Mills is a Mason, having been initiated into the order in Ma- con Lodge, No. S. F. & A. M., in 1894. He has since taken the Royal Arch degree in Macon Chapter, No. 21, R. A. M .; and be-

longs to Beaumanoir Commandery, No. 9, K. T. He has a general law practice and a good law library, with the contents of which he has made himself familiar. While yet a young man he has taken high rank among the attorneys of Decatur and the position which he has gained through meritorious endeavor is an enviable one.

D. E. DENISE.

D. E. Denise, one of the representative young farmers of Illini township, residing on section 1, was born in Middletown, Ohio, on the 16th of August, 1871, and is a son of Garrett G. and Rebecca (Brown) Denise, who are now living on a farm east of Ma- roa in this county. The paternal grand- father was a native of Pennsylvania, where his ancestors located on coming to America at an early day. The mother of our sub- ject was born in Ohio and is of English lineage. During his early life Garrett G. Denise was engaged in the dry goods and clothing business at Middletown, Ohio, but since coming to Illinois in 1884 he has turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, purchasing a farm of eighty acres in Macon county, which he still owns and operates.

The subject of this review was a lad of thirteen years when he accompanied his pa- rents on their removal to the Prairie state and Macon county has since been his home. He received a good practical education in the district schools and afterward entered Mann's Commercial College at Dayton, Ohio, where he pursued a commercial and banking course and was graduated in 1893. After leaving that institution he engaged in bookkeeping in Dayton for a time but in 184 returned home and has since devoted his energies mainly to farming. though he has other interests. He has taken general statistics of thunder storms in a territory covering Macon and DeWitt counties, mak-

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

ing a scientific demonstration of the laws and nature of lightning, and he takes a deep interest in demonstrating the utility and efficacy of good roads rightly constructed for the preservation of life and property.

On the 6th of October, 1896, Mr. Denise led to the marriage altar Miss Grace Corn- well, whose parents are William and Mar- tha (Nichols) Cornwell, the former of Eng- lish and German descent and the latter of Irish origin. Mrs. Denise acquired her early education in the country schools of Macon county and later attended the Normal School at Decatur. Prior to her marriage she successfully engaged in teaching school in this county for two years. Unto our subject and his wite have been born four children, namely: Chester Leone, who was born July 8, 1897, and died July 1, 1899; Harold Edward, born July 11, 1899: Gar- rett William, born May 13, 1901 ; and Rob- ert AArnold, born March 4, 1903. The family have a nice home where hospitality reigns supreme and Mr. Denise is regarded as one of the leading young men of his locality. He is a member of the Presbyterian church of Maroa and is an ardent Republican in his political views. He has efficiently served as school trustee and takes an active inter- est in any measure for the public good.

THOMAS DAVIS.

Fifty-six years have passed since this gentleman arrived in Macon county and he is justly numbered among her hon- ored pioneers and representative citizens. Throughout the years of his active business life he was prominently identified with her agricultural interests, but is now living a retired life on section 27, South Macon township. Ilis is an honorable record of a self-made man, who has not only won a handsome competence through his own well directed efforts but has also gained the con-

fidence of those with whom he has come in contact by his upright life.

Mr. Davis was born on the 12th of Sep- tember, 1819, in an old log cabin in Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, which was de- stroyed by fire when he was nine years of age. His parents, George and Hester (Wheelman) Davis, were natives of the same county, the former born in 1774 and the latter in 1778. The father was a brick- maker by trade and in connection with that occupation he also operated a farm in Washington county. He died when our subject was only nine years old but his wife survived him for some years, passing away at Belleville, Pennsylvania, at the age of sixty-five. They had a family of seven children, but only our subject and his sister Mary Jane are now living, the latter being the widow of John Craft and a resident of Millsboro, Pennsylvania.

Among the earliest recollections of our subject is that of the old log house in which he was born, with its puncheon floor and large fireplace around which the family would gather in the evening when the day's work was done. The school which he at- tended was also built of logs, with greased paper windows, slab seats and other prim- itive furniture. It stood on Coon Island and was known as the Coon Island school in those days. After the death of his father Mr. Davis commenced learning the cooper's trade with Joshua Stoolfire, with whom he remained until he attained his majority, and then went to Licking county, Ohio, where he commenced work for his employer's brother, Jacob Stoolfire, a farmer and ex- tensive sheep raiser. During the five months in his employ he saved some money, which he invested in sheep and put them out to feed on shares. He next rented a farm near Zanesville, Ohio, for one year and engaged in sheep raising.

Selling his property in the Buckeye state, Mr. Davis came to Illinois on the 30th of

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December, 1847, and in partnership with Philo Buckingham bought a flock of sheep at Todd's Point, where they spent the win- ter, and then rented what was known as the Hale farm in South Macon township, this county, consisting of fourteen hundred acres. llere they commenced sheep raising in earnest and in a short time had between six and eight hundred sheep. This business they successfully carried on together for twelve years, under the firm name of Davis & Buckingham, becoming the largest buy- ers and shippers in their line in this part of the country, and when Mr. Buckingham died at the end of that time he was suc- ceeded by his father, who passed away a few years later and was in turn succeeded by his youngest son, James Buckingham. Subsequently Mr. Davis purchased the lat- ter's interest in the business, which he car- ried on alone and under his own name until his retirement. There was a time when he did not know how much he was worth or what amount of land the firm possessed, as they had taken up property in various parts of the country on land warrants and had sheep and cattle on every farm. In April, 1860, he removed from the Hale farm to his present place of residence in South Ma- con township, where he owned a whole sec- tion of land, besides several other farms, but he has since disposed of most of his prop- erty, keeping only one hundred and sixty acres in the home place, eighty acres in Nebraska and some city property in De- catur. Besides this, however, he holds mortgages on a large amount of property throughout the country. About twelve years ago he sold out the sheep business, but continued to engage in general farm- ing, stock-raising and the buying and sell- ing of horses and mules for some time, gradually disposing of his business and landed interests, and for the past two years he has practically lived retired on his farm.

Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss

Elizabeth Rogers, also a native of Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, who died about fourteen months later, and the only child born of that union died in infancy. Mr. Davis subsequently married his first wife's sister, Miss Margaret Rogers, who was born June 3. 1824, and by whom he had two children, but they, too, died in infancy. Mrs. Davis is the youngest in a family of ten children and the only survivor. Her parents were Francis and Elizabeth (Hupp) Rogers, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Washington county, Pennsyl- vania. The family lived in that county prior to the Revolutionary war and it was sometimes necessary for them, together with the other early settlers, to seek pro- tection from the Indians in block houses that had been erected for that purpose. Mlr. and Mrs. Rogers both died and were buried on the old home farm in the Keystone state.

When Mr. Davis came to this county he found the homes of the early settlers widely scattered, most of them being from eight to ten miles apart, and much of this region was then under water and seemed unfit for cultivation, but as the years have passed it has been transformed into fine farms which are the homes of a happy and prosperous people. In the work of improvement he has ever borne his part and has aided in the building of schoolhouses and supported the first school law introduced in the state, though he had no children to receive any benefit therefrom. For many years he ef- ficiently served as school director and also filled the office of road commissioner. Po- litically he is now a Populist. He is one of the distinguished and honored residents of Macon county and his history contains many elements well worthy of emulation. He has passed the eighty-fourth milestone on life's journey and now receives the ven- eration and respect which should ever be accorded those who have advanced thus far.

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ROBERT F. KINCAID.

llistory is no longer an account of battles fought or won, or peoples conquered and of lands destroyed by large armies, but has be- come the record of the work of an enlight- ened people who put forth their best ener- gies to utilize the natural resources of a country and to promote business activity so that the general welfare will be advanced as well as individual prosperity. Robert F. Kincaid was one well known in the business circles of Decatur and his activity and en- ergy was so directed along honorable lines that he gained the good will and confidence of his fellow men. He was known as one of the pioneer settlers of Decatur for he located here in 1850, finding a village, which bore little resemblance to the present splen- did city of to-day. Ile became connected with its business interests and spent his remaining days here.

Mr. Kincaid was a native of Kentucky, born on the 26th of July, 1847, his parents being Asa and Margaret (House) Kincaid, who were likewise natives of the Blue Grass state. They removed to Macon county, Illinois, about 1850 and settled upon a farm in Decatur township, where they resided throughout their remaining days, the father being engaged in general farming. Ile was among the early settlers of this locality who shared in the work which was necessary in laying the foundation for the present devel- opment of the county. Hardships and trials were endured but as the years passed the comforts and accessories known to the older portions of the country were introduced here. Both the parents spent their remain- ing days in the old homestead in Decatur township and there they reared their family of eight children, but only four of the num- ber are now living, namely: Oliver W., who is a retired farmer residing at 865 East Williams street, Decatur; Charles, who is employed in a furniture house in Chicago; David, who is farming near Decatur; and

Nellie, the wife of William Stearns, a farmer living near Lincoln, Nebraska.

Robert F. Kincaid was but an infant when his parents came to Macon county and on the old homestead farm he was reared. His mind bore the impress of many of the historic annals of the county and he could relate many interesting incidents of the early days. He attended the district schools through the winter months and in the sum- mer aided in the work of plowing, planting and harvesting until on leaving home he came to the city and opened a meat market. For many years he conducted this business, enjoying a large trade. Ile always made it a point to carry a good line of meat and in his dealings he was not only straightfor- ward and honorable, but was also obliging and very courteous in his treatment of his fellow men. After long years connection with that trade he sold his market and be- gan taking contracts for street work, which business occupied his time and attention until his demise.

In was in Decatur on the 26th of June, 1876, that Mr. Kincaid was united in mar- riage to Miss Libbie Robinson, a native of Ashland county, Ohio, born on the ist of October, 1855, a daughter of Charles HI. and Margaret (Bowman) Robinson, both of whom were natives of Ohio, whence they came to Macon county at a very carly day. The father was a farmer by occupation and after following that pursuit for many years in this locality he lived a retired life in Maroa until called to his final rest. Both he and his wife died in that village. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kincaid were born six chil- dren: Bertha, now deceased; Robert, who died at the age of eighteen years; Hattie and Walter, both at home; one that died in infancy unnamed ; and Charles Wilbur, who died in childhood. Mr. Kincaid passed away on the Ist of May, 1900.

Ilis business career was crowned with success for gradually he added to his pos-

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sessions, his unfaltering application and his unremitting diligence bringing to him the financial reward which always comes as the logical result of such efforts. He was never an office seeker, but he gave a stalwart sup- port to the Democracy. He held member- ship in the Masonic lodge of Decatur and his life exemplified the spirit of fraternity, which is based upon mutual helpfulness and brotherly kindness. His widow and chil- dren now have a nice home at No. 907 East Eldorado street and in addition Mrs. Kin- caid owns a large business block near her residence, which she rents, the income sup- plying her with many of the comforts of life. The world passed favorable judgment upon Robert F. Kincaid in the early years of his manhood and never saw occasion to set aside or modify this judgment, because in all life's relations he was a true man, having due regard for upright principles and for his obligations of citizenship. He cared more for his reputation than for wel- fare, more for the regard of his fellow men than for distinguished social position and to his family, because of his upright life, he left the priceless heritage of an untarnished name. As long as those who knew him re- main he will be held in grateful remem- brance by the citizens of Decatur as well as by his immediate family.

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Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois, Part 34

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