Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois, Part 35

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 35

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C. R. BAUER.

A work devoted to the past as well as the present of Macon county should not fail to make reference to C. R. Bauer, who was a highly respected farmer of the county and one whose life record would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny for at all times it was guided by honorable and manly prin- ciples. Pennsylvania was the state of his nativity, his birth having occurred there, in Northampton county, near Nazareth, No- vember 26, 1847. His parents were William

and Lydia (Miller) Bauer, also natives of the Keystone state and of German descent. The father was a farmer and weaver and owned a tract of land in Northampton coun- ty, which he continued to cultivate until his death, which occurred when he was fifty- four years of age. His wife died of apoplexy many years ago. In their family were eight children, of whom C. R. Bauer was the fifth. These are Marietta A .; James, who lives on the homestead farm; Aaron, of South Beth- leham, Pennsylvania; Lucy, who lives in Nazareth ; C. R., of this review; Polly, who died in infancy; Josiah T., who owns and conducts a drug store in Stonington, Illi- nois; and Andrew, who died in Rising City, Nebraska.

In the district schools of his native state C. R. Bauer pursued his education but his privileges in that direction were very lim- ited as he was early thrown upon his own resources and had to earn his living by working upon a farm in Ohio. He also spent one year as an employe in a shoeshop in Tiffin, Ohio. About 1868 he came to Illi- nois and began working on a farm in Chris- tian county, while in the winter months he again followed the shoemaker's trade. He was thus employed until 1876, when he re- turned to his native state and visited the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. After his return he purchased forty acres of land in Stonington township and when he had cultivated it for a time he sold that and purchased two hundred and forty acres in Mosquito township, Christian county, which remained in his possession until his demise and which is now rented, the family enjoying a good income therefrom. In his farm work he was very active and energetic and his labors resulted in the production of good crops which found a ready sale on the market.

On the IIth of February, 1877, Mr. Bauer sought a companion and helpmate on life's journey and was married to Miss Alice K.

Frank Vi Name

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Wall, a daughter of Paul and Kitty N. (Sei- berling) Wall, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania. Iler ma- ternal grandparents removed to Ohio at an early day in its development, settling near Akron, in Summit county. Mrs. Wall was the eldest of a family of fifteen children. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Bauer lived in Medina county, Ohio, where Mrs. Bauer was born. Her father was a farmer by occupation. He was seventy-three years of age on the 6th of August, 1903. By his first marriage he had but one child, Mrs. Bauer, and by his second wife he had one son, H. L. Wall, who resides in Muncie, In- diana, and has two children, both deceased. The mother of Mrs. Bauer died September 4. 1854, and was buried in the Waltz ceme- tery in Wayne county, Ohio. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bauer were born five children: Wal- ter W., who was born June 6, 1878, and (lied January 4, 1885; Lena G., who was born October 28, 1881, and died January 15, 1885: Frederick C., who was born May 7, 1886, and is now attending Millikin Uni- versity at Decatur; Frank S., who was born November 27, 1888, and having finished eight years of common school work, is now a student in Millikin University ; and Harry L., who was born June 14, 1892, and is with his mother. The family home is a fine resi- dence in Blue Mound situated in the midst of nine acres of valuable land, the entire place being worth forty-five hundred dol- lars.

Mr. Bauer gave his political allegiance to the Republican party and served as a school director but was never active in politics as an office seeker. While in Pennsylvania he belonged to the Lutheran church but after coming to the west united with no church organization. In his business affairs he prospered and deserved much credit for what he accomplished for at an early age he was forced to earn his own living and what- ever he possessed was acquired entirely

through his own efforts. Industry and per- severance enabled him to overcome the diffi- culties and obstacles in his path and work his way steadily upward to the plane of af- fluence. Ilis death occurred June 15, 1896, and his remains were interred in Hall ceme- tery northwest of Blue Mound. With his family he was a devoted husband and father and in matters of citizenship and of friend- ship he was ever reliable and trustworthy.

FRANK W. HAINES.

It would perhaps be difficult to find a resi- dent of Decatur more widely known than was Frank W. Haines, for during many years he was connected with the theatrical business of the city and in that way became widely known to professional people as well as to his fellow townsmen. He was a man whose sterling traits of character gained for him the warm friendship of those with whom he was associated, and the favorable judgment which the world passed upon him during the early years of his residence in this city was never set aside or in any degree modified but in fact was heightened as time passed.

Mr. Haines was born in St. Louis in the year 1851, his parents being Mr. and Mrs. Richard Haines, who were Virginia people, having removed from the Old Dominion to the Mississippi valley. Soon after the birth of their son Frank, however. they took up their abode in Trenton, Tennessee, and afterward returned to their old home in Charleston, Virginia, where the death of the father occurred in the year 1859. It was not long after this that the mother came to Decatur to make her home with her brother, Charles Milton, and in this city she died in 1860.

Frank W. Haines came to Decatur with his mother and his boyhood and youth were largely passed in Macon county. His edu-

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cational privileges were somewhat meager. He attended school to a limited extent, but being left an orphan he found it neces- sary to provide for his own support and worked in various shops and factories of Decatur. At different times he was em- ployed in the Ward & Haskell Woolen Mills in the plant now owned by the firm of Cham- bers, Bering & Quinlan, and in the Decatur l'nion Iron Works. At length, however, he inherited from Virginia relatives some money that enabled him to carry out his cherished desire of obtaining a more ad- vanced and complete education and he en- tered the Sangamon street school, which was then under the direction of Professor David E. Bigelow.

Throughout the greater part of his busi- ness career he was connected with the man- agement of the theatrical interests of De- catur, in fact, his work in this direction cov- ered twenty-seven years. He did not leap with a single bound, however, from his entrance into this business to a managerial position, but steadily worked his way up- ward. He was first employed as a bill- poster and advertising agent at a time when the opera house interests of Decatur were represented by the old Macon Hall situ- ated on Merchant street, where the Salva- tion Army barracks are now located. The place seated between four and five hun- dred people and was the only place in De- catur adapted to theatrical productions, hav- ing a stage and scenery. but was very prim- itive in comparison to the beautiful theaters of the present time. Mr. Haines, however, became acquainted with notable personages who played in Macon Hall, including Ed- win Forrest and MeKean Buchanan. In his business connection with the theater inter- ests he displayed marked capability in the way of making theatrical attractions known to the public through the medium of adver- tising and of bill-posting. When the ac- commodations of Macon Hall became too

small for this city and the building was re- placed by Smith's Opera House with Hiram Brown as its first manager, Mr. Haines was promoted from the position of bill-poster to assistant manager. The house was opened in the fall of 1869 and during its existence many stars of considerable mag- nitude in the theatrical profession stood be- fore its footlights. In 1873 Mr. Haines was promoted to the position of manager and while acting in that capacity he brought to the city such well known professional people as Lillian Russell, John McCullough, Law- rence Barrett, Lotta, Emma Abbott and Mrs. Langtry. Henry Ward Beecher also lectured in this opera house through the instrumentality of Mr. Haines. Again be- cause of the growth of the city Smith's Opera House was found inadequate to meet the public demand and in 1888 the subject of erecting a musical auditorium was agi- tated, but Mr. Haines was ambitious to have a new theater and submitted his ideas to Charles Powers, who succeeded in en- ticing his father, Orlando Powers, to build a new theater. The plan was carried out and the Powers' Grand Opera House was erected, being opened on the 9th of Septem- ber, 1889, by the celebrated comedian W. H. Crane in his play "On Probation." At one time Mr. Haines secured an engage- ment with Edwin Booth and Helen Mod- jeska. who presented Hamlet. This is un- doubtedly the most notable attraction that has ever appeared in Decatur and the box office receipts for a single night were more than twenty-five hundred dollars, the largest sum ever received in any theater in the state outside of Chicago. On the 4th of Novem- ber, 1895, the Powers' Opera House was destroyed by fire and Mr. Haines then de- cided to carry out his plans of retiring from active business life. He had so man- aged his affairs in the meantime that lie had acquired a comfortable competence that

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might enable him to put aside the more arduous cares of business life.

Mr. Haines was one of the best known theater managers in the entire west and was held in the highest esteem by the profession and by his comtemporaries in this line of work. He gave to the citizens of Decatur the best class of entertainments and always pointed with pride to the fact that during his management the Powers' Opera House never presented to the people a per- formance which was not clean and whole- some and which a lady could not attend with propriety. Ile possessed excellent . business ability added to his powers of man- agement and his work in behalf of the opera house resulted to the benefit of its owners as well as to himself.

Mr. Haines was for many years a mem- ber of what is now known as the Goodman Fourth Regiment Military and Concert Band, an organization whose reputation ex- tends over many states. When Professor Goodman died Mr. Haines accepted the leadership of the band and was its musical director until his theatrical business as- sumed such proportions that it took all his time. He resigned and Professor Foster was appointed and later Professor Robert Walters, who is to-day its director.

On the 8th of September, 1873, Mr. Hlaines was united in marriage to Miss Mollie Jennings, a daughter of Isaac D. Jennings, the wedding being celebrated in this city. They became the parents of two children: Edwin J .; and Ada, the wife of Fred Stoner. The home life of Mr. Haines was very pleasant and his greatest interests centered in his family and he put forth every effort in his power to promote the happiness and welfare of his wife and chil- dren and counted no personal sacrifice on his part too great if it woukl prove of bene- fit to those whom he loved. In his political views Mr. Haines was a Republican and at one time was nominated for collector, but

could not overcome the usual strong Demo- cratic majority. He, however, lived in quiet retirement after he gave up his position as theatrical manager. le greatly enjoyed the companionship of his friends who were many throughout Decatur and who enter- tained for him the warmest regard. For some time prior to his demise he was in ill health and at length went to Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, in the hope that he might be benefited there, but on the 20th of Septem- ber, 1900, he departed this life. All who knew him remember him as a man of genial disposition, kindly spirit and of genuine worth, one who was honest and upright and who well merited the confidence and regard so freely accorded him.

Mrs. Haines and her children still reside in Decatur. The son, Edwin J. Haines, was born August 24, 1875, and attended the pub- lic school here, pursuing the high school course. Between the years 1895 and 1902 he occupied a position in the collection de- partment of the Millikin's National Bank and in the latter year he turned his atten- tion to the insurance business, representing fire, life, health and accident insurance com- panies, also doing a liability and bonding business in Decatur. Ile is one of the rep- resentative young business men of the city, widely known and popular.

DANIEL WEBSTER TRIMMER.

Daniel Webster Trimmer, a well known farmer of Hickory Point township resid- ing on section 27, was born March 20. 1849, in Perry county, Pennsylvania, and is a, worthy representative of an old and highly esteemed family of Macon county, his pa- rents being Joseph and Catherine (Fetrow) Trimmer. The father was also born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, August 26, 1814, and was reared to farm life. In 1838 he married Catherine Fetrow, a native of

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the same county, born July 18, 1821, and a daughter of Abraham and Mary (Oren) Fetrow, of York county, Pennsylvania.

In 1853 Joseph Trimmer came to Illinois, in company with his wife and seven chil- dren, the journey being made across the country through Ohio and Indiana in a prairie schooner. They reached Macon county in June of that year and spent the first winter in an old log cabin, which was built by John Hanks with the assistance of Abraham Lincoln. Later Mr. Trimmer bought one hundred and sixty acres of land on the mound in Hickory Point township, eighty acres of which had already been placed under cultivation, and to the further development and cultivation of his place he devoted his energies throughout the re- mainder of his life. He died on the 20th of July, 1886, and was laid to rest in Boiling Springs cemetery. He was an earnest and consistent member of the church of God and was a Republican in politics. After his death the sons, Joseph, Jr., and Daniel W., took charge of the place and later our sub- ject and Abraham bought it, each taking eighty acres. The latter now resides at the old family homestead. A year after her husband's death Mrs. Trimmer, with her youngest son, George W., removed to De- catur and built a pleasant residence at No. 943 North Water street, where she is now living at the age of eighty-two years. Grandma Trimmer, by which name she is familiarly known to her many friends, can relate many interesting incidents of pioneer days when this part of the country was mostly wild and unimproved and deer, geese, ducks and other wild game was plen- tiful. She and her family were forced to endure many hardships and privations and there was much sickness among the early settlers. Decatur was a mere village on her arrival in this county and many of the thriving towns of this region had not yet sprung into existence. Before leaving Penn-

sylvania she used to spin and weave most of the cloth used for clothing for the fam- ily. In those days she used to mold all the candles for lighting her little home and cooked her meals over an old fashioned fire- place, doing her baking usually in a Dutch oven. Her first cook stove was of primi- tive construction and had but three legs. She used to ride to church on horseback with one child on her lap and another on the horse behind her. Since the age of fourteen years she has been a faithful mem- ber of the church of God and has led a con- sistent Christian life which has won for her the love and respect of all who know her.

Mrs. Trimmer is the mother of nine chil- dren, namely: Andrew J., a resident of Hickory Point township ; William, who died from illness while serving in the Union army during the Civil war; Abraham, who lives on the old homestead; Joseph F., a resident of Hickory Point township; Mary E., widow of Isaiah Henry and a resident of Iowa; Daniel W., of this sketch ; Henry M., who makes his home in Decatur ; John P., who is now living in Louisiana ; and George W., who resides with his mother in Decatur. Mrs. Trimmer has thirty-eight grandchildren and twenty great-grandchil- dren.

The subject of this sketch was only four years old when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Macon county and in the district schools of Hickory Point town- ship he obtained the greater part of his education, though for one year he was a student in the public schools of Decatur. Leaving home at the age of twenty-one he worked as a farm hand by the month for four years, and then went to Iowa, where he engaged in farming on rented land for one year. After his marriage in 1875 he located on a farm one mile northeast of his present place in Hickory Point township, this county, and operated his father's land for eight years. In 1883 he purchased one

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hundred and sixty acres of land in Green- wood county. Kansas, where he was en- gaged in farming for five years, and at the end of that time he sold out and returned to Macon county, renting a farm south of Forsyth for seven years. In the spring of 1896 he removed to a place near Niantic, and lived there until 1901. The following year was spent near La Place in Piatt coun- ty, and in 1902 he returned to the old home farm, which he and his brother Abraham purchased of the other heirs. They divided the property and our subject now owns the north half of the southeast quarter of section 27, Hickory Point township, where he now lives. He has erected all of the buildings upon his portion of the farm and has made other improvements which stand as monuments to his thrift and industry.

On the 6th of April, 1876, Mr. Trimmer was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Good, who was born in York county, Penn- sylvania. April 20. 1851, and is the fifteenth in order of birth in a family of nineteen children, fourteen of whom reached man and womanhood. Her parents, Peter and Catharine (Zorger) Good, spent their en- tire lives in York county, the former dying at the age of eighty-three years, the latter at the age of seventy-six. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Trimmer have been born thirteen chil- dren, of whom three, Etta, Pearl and Esther, died in infancy. Those still living are Roy, a resident of Hickory Point township, who married Cora Woodcock and had one child, Ada May, who died at the age of eighteen months ; Clarence, at home ; Ada F., wife of John B. Herr, of York, Pennsylvania ; Eva, who is the wife of C. Webb, of Macon county, and has two children, Edwin and Nora ; and Harry, Elma, Frank, Katie, Otto and Amelia, all at home.

Mr. Trimmer and his family are members of the church of God and he also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America at For-

syth. Ile votes with the Republican party and has filled the office of school director in his district. Wherever known he is held in high regard and he has a host of warm friends in the county where he has so long made his home.

ANDREW J. TRIMMER.

This well known and highly esteemed citi- zen of Hickory Point township, who is en- gaged in farming on section 32, was born on the 26th of September, 1839, in Perry county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Joseph and Catharine (Fetrow) Trimmer. llis father is deceased, but his mother is still living and now makes her home in Decatur, Illinois. It was in 1853 that the family came to this county and here our subject completed his education, having previously attended school in Pennsylvania. During early life he worked one summer on a farm in Piatt county, Illinois, and after his mar- riage located on his present place, where he has one hundred and twenty acres under a high state of cultivation. He has fol- lowed general farming and stock-raising quite successfully since reaching man's es- tate. His labors, however, were interrupted during the Civil war as he enlisted in Com- pany E. One Hundred and Forty-fifth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, under Captain West and Colonel Lockey, and was in the service for six months.

On the 6th of March, 1862, Mr. Trimmer was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Rife, who was born in the house which is still her home, August 30, 1842. Her pa- rents were Joseph and Elizabeth (Garver) Rife, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Macon county, Illinois, in 1840 and set- tled in Hickory Point township. Her father died in July, 1886, and she is now the only survivor in his family of three children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Trimmer have been

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born ten children, as follows: Mrs. Mary C. Flickinger, of Decatur, who has four children ; Grant, at home; Mrs. Libbie Wel- ty, of the state of Washington, who has five children ; William, at home; Mrs. Ida Kiser, of Decatur, who has two children ; Charlie, who married Cora Crossen and has three children; Mrs. Luie Westhafer, of the state of Washington, who has two chil- dren ; Grace, at home; Mrs. Stella Danzei- sen ; and Irvie, at home.

Politically Mr. Trimmer is identified with the Republican party and fraternally is a member of Durham Post, No. 141, G. A. R. During the fifty years of his residence in this county he has seen the greater part of its development and he is widely known as a good reliable citizen, one devoted to the public welfare.

ABRAHAM TRIMMER.

Among the enterprising farmers of Hick- ory Point township probably none is better known than Abraham Trimmer, whose home is on section 27. He was a lad of ten years when he came to this county and here he has made his home the greater. part of the time since. Since old enough to work he has given his attention to agricultural pursuits and in his chosen occupation he has prospered, becoming a well-to-do citi- zen of the community where he resides.

Mr. Trimmer was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, on the 31st of January, 1843, a son of Joseph and Catharine (Fetrow) Trimmer, of whom extended mention is made in the sketch of Daniel W. Trimmer on another page of this volume. He began his education in the county of his nativity and after coming to Macon county, Illi- nois, he attended school to some extent. He remained on the home farm with his parents until he attained his majority and then worked out one summer. after which he engaged in farming for himself upon rent-

ed land in Hickory Point township for two years.

On the 28th of February, 1867, Mr. Trim- mer was united in marriage to Miss Pris- cilla Cross, who died in the winter of 1878, leaving three children, namely: William Edward, J. Franklin and Lou May, now the wife of B. Brady, of the state of Wash- ington. Mr. Trimmer was again married January 17, 1882, his second union being with Emma Binns, a native of Morgan county, Illinois. Four children blessed this marriage but two are now deceased, those living being Leroy and Ethel.

After his first marriage Mr. Trimmer lo- cated north of Boiling Springs in Hickory Point township, where he rented a farm for two years, and then rented another place west of Forsyth for the same length of time. Going to Iowa in 1872, he pur- chased land and engaged in farming there for five years, but at the end of that time he sold out and returned to Macon county, purchasing the Jacob Cross farm in Harris- town township, where his first wife died. After his second marriage he rented that place and removed to his father's farm in Hickory Point township, where he lived for three years. The following three years were spent in Maroa and at the end of that time he purchased fifteen acres of land just west of Decatur, where he resided for three years. On disposing of that place he re- moved to Piatt county, Illinois, where he bought a farm and operated it for four years. His next purchase consisted of a tract north of Decatur, where he resided for one year and then sold, buying a small farm south- west of the city. When he sold the latter property he purchased a part of his father's farm on section 27. Hickory Point town- ship, where he has since lived. He has made a number of valuable and useful improve- ments upon the place, including the erec- tion of a new barn in 1903. This farm has been in possession of the family since 1862,

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when our subject's father purchased a quar- ter section of land on section 27, Ilickory Point township, which has since been equally divided between Abraham and his brother Daniel W.

Politically our subject is identified with the Republican party. During the fifty years that have come and gone since he first came to Macon county he has seen wonderful changes made in this section of the state and he can relate many interesting incidents of pioneer life. The first home of the fam- ily in this region was an old log cabin very poorly constructed. At one time while his mother was ill in bed a black snake dropped down through the boards of the loft right over her head. William Trimmer, the second son, used to assist his mother in the household duties before the only daughter was old enough to aid her and he became quite proficient in spinning and weaving. The other sons worked with their father in the fields, and when in the employ of others they would bring their wages home to assist in the support of the family, as they were in limited circumstances on com- ing to this state. As time passed, however, they prospered and became quite well-to- do. Wherever known the members of this family are held in high regard and they have many friends throughout their adopted county.

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Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois, Part 35

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