USA > Illinois > Macon County > Decatur > Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois > Part 37
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school and church have been potent factors in shaping his entire career.
In 1855 Mr. Busher came to Decatur and here he opened a shoe shop for the purpose of making and mending shoes, continuing to work on the bench until 1862. He then purchased a small stock of ready made goods and finding that there was more profit to be made in the sale of such goods than in making them he entered into part- nership with John Black and purchased quite a large stock. Opening their store the firm soon secured a large and growing trade and the partnership existed continu- ously from 1871 until 1881, when it was dis- solved by mutual consent. Mr. Busher purchased his partner's interest and for some time was alone, but afterward became associated with Walter Hutchins under the firm style of W. F. Busher & Company. This relation was maintained for five years and then again Mr. Busher became sole proprietor. He was then carrying a large and carefully selected stock and had an ex- tensive patronage, which made the business very remunerative. For almost forty years he was a representative of commercial in- terests in Decatur and in 1894, with a hand- some competence as the reward of his labors, he retired from mercantile life. In 1862 he had erected a good business block at 152 East Main street. It is twenty-two by eighty feet and three stories in height and this he still owns. He also has other property interests in Decatur, including a number of dwelling houses which he rents and from which he derives a good annual income.
Mr. Busher has been twice married. On the 21st of February, 1856, he wedded Miss Louise Bekemyer of Springfield. She was born in Germany, spending the greater part of her girlhood in Prussia, but was living in the capital of Illinois at the time of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Busher became the parents of four children : Walter, who died
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in his twenty-first year : Carrie, who is the wife of George P. Zeiss, of Houston, Texas ; Sophia B., who is the wife of William P. Shade, a prominent business man and mer- chant of Decatur; and Josie, the wife of Charles Schuck, a Inmber merchant of Springfield, Illinois. The wife and mother passed away in October, 1897, and in 1898 Mr. Busher was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Mary A. Jones, a most estimable lady whose value in social and benevolent circles is widely acknowl- edged. She is a member of the board of managers of the Anna B. Millikin Home, a charitable institution, and in her is vested the power of admission and dismission in connection with this home. She possesses not only rare executive ability and marked tact in dealing with the unfortunate ones of life, but also of most cordial and charming manner that has made her a favorite among her many friends. She presides with gra- cious hospitality over her own beautiful home and its good cheer is greatly enjoyed by the many who know both Mr. and Mrs. Busher in Decatur.
While actively connected with business affairs Mr. Busher also finds time to aid in the promotion of interests calculated to benefit his city and his co-operation with movements for the general good has been far-reaching and beneficial. His fellow townsmen recognizing his worth and ability have called him to serve in the city council, of which he was a member in 1870-1. He has never been an active politician, however, and the honors of office have had little at- traction for him. Mr. Busher was among the first to erect a monument of marked beauty to the memory of his family in Greenwood cemetery. This is in the form of a mausoleum built of granite by most skilled workmen, and was constructed at a cost of several thousand dollars. About 1873 Mr. Busher erected a fine residence built of brick and modern in all of its ap-
pointments. He is now in his seventy- second year, a hale and hearty man, and though the snows of many winters rest upon his head, in spirit and interests he seems yet in his prime. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in America for in this land where opportunity is open to all he has steadily advanced until he now occupies a foremost position as one of the wealthy and honored men of his adopted city.
TITUS QUERY.
Among the energetic and successful agri- culturists of Maroa township whose success in life is due to their own well directed ef- forts may be numbered Titus Query, who now owns and operates a fine farm of two hundred acres on section 8, and the neat and thrifty appearance of the place plainly indicates his careful supervision. He was born in Ashland county, Ohio, October 10, 1850, a son of George and Mahala (Braden) Query, who are now deceased. The father died in DeWitt county, Illinois, and was buried in Maroa cemetery, but the mother was laid to rest in Rose cemetery, DeWitt county. By occupation he was a farmer.
Titus Query was reared in much the usual manner of farmer boys of his day, his time being devoted to the farm work when not in school. He attended the district schools of DeWitt county and gained a good practical knowledge of the elementary branches of learning therein taught. On at- taining his majority he started out in life for himself, working five years as a farm hand for twenty to twenty-two and a half dollars per month. At the end of that time he began operating rented land and was thus engaged for eight years. At the end of that period he was able to purchase a farm of eighty acres on section 8, Maroa township, where he now resides, and in
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1802 bought another eighty acre tract. In partnership with his son he bought eighty acres more in 1900, and is now the owner of a valuable tract of two hundred acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. He raises both grain and stock and is meeting with well deserved success in his undertakings.
Mr. Query was married on the 3d of Sep- tember, 1874. the lady of his choice being Miss Adeline Bennett, a daughter of Aquilla Bennett, and to them have been born eight children, one of whom died in infancy, and Perry died at the age of one year. Those still living are Calvin, Eva, Sylva, Oscar, Mahala and Israel. The family are widely and favorably known and are people of prominence in their community. In politics Mr. Query is an ardent Democrat, but never sought office.
ROBERT W. HIGHT.
Robert W. Hight, one of the representa- tive citizens of Macon, who has laid aside business cares and is now living a retired life at his beautiful home in that village, was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia. June 21, 1830, a son of Samuel and Margaret (Rapp) Hight. On the paternal side he is of French origin, while his maternal an- cestors were of German extraction. He was quite young when his father died, and at the age of seventeen years accompanied his mother, brothers and sisters on their re- moval to Tennessee, where the family lived for two years. In 1849 they became resi- dents of Greene county, Illinois, where the mother died, and in 1855 the other mem- bers of the family came to Macon county, which has since been the home of our sub- ject. He is the oldest of six children, three of whom are still living, namely : Robert W., James and William.
Robert W. llight received his education in a primitive old log school house with one log cut out for a window, slab seats and a huge fire place at one end of the building. His father being a farmer he early became familiar with the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. During his boy- hood he cultivated corn with a single shovel plow, and the first crop that he raised he marked off the ground with a marker, dropped the seed by hand and then covered it with a hoe, as in those days they had not the improved machinery now found upon the farms of the twentieth century. He has seen this county developed from a wild uncultivated prairie, covered with sloughs and ponds, and abounding in wild game of many kinds. After locating here he and his brothers bought an old settler's claim and later purchased railroad land in partnership with his brother James and a Mr. Armstrong, the tract consisting of four hundred acres. In connection with these gentlemen he engaged in farming until 1860, but has been alone in business since 1865, and through his own unaided efforts he became the owner of a valuable and well improved farm of four hundred acres in Macon township, it being one of the best in that locality.
On the 23d of July, 1863, Mr. Hight was married in this county to Miss Martha J. Unroe, a native of Virginia, born February 6, 1848, who came to Illinois when a child and grew to womanhood in this county. Her parents, J. T. and Sarah (Clark) Un- roe, were both natives of Rockbridge coun- ty, Virginia, and from that state came to Macon county, Illinois, in 1855. For five years he acted as overseer of the Law- rence estate, one mile north of Pana, and later removed to Pittsburg, Crawford coun- ty, Kansas, where he purchased a farm, it being his home at the present time. His wife died there in 1890. Of the eight chil-
Edward Foulkes
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dren born to them Mrs. Hight is the sec- ond in order of birth, and two sons and three daughters are still living. Mr. Unroc has always adhered to the Democratic party and for several years has been prominently identified with public affairs, serving in a great many county and township offices. lle is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and the Masonic fraternity. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hight, five sons and three daughters, seven of whom are still living, namely: Maggie, wife of Frank Webb, of Decatur ; Florence, wife of J. H. Culver, of Decatur ; Ervel, who is married and living in Assumption, Illi- nois : Nora N., who lives with her sister, Mrs. Culver, in Decatur; Robert, who is married and also lives in that city; and Clyde and Ray, who now have charge of their father's farm.
In 1895 Mr. Hight retired from active labor and removed to Macon, erecting one of the best homes in the town, it being large, roomy and modern in all its appoint- ments. It is also well shaded and sur- rounded by a beautiful lawn and cement walks. While living on the farm Mr. Hight served as school director of his district, assisted in building the schoolhouse, and did much toward promoting educational interests. Both he and his wife are active and helpful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Macon, to the erection of which they contributed liberally, and he is now serving as steward. In all the rela- tions of life he has been found true to every trust reposed in him and he has a large circle of friends and acquaintances through- out his adopted county. The prosperity that has come to him is certainly well merited, for he has led an honorable, industrious and useful life and has made his own way in the world from an carly age. In politics he is a Republican but has never cared for office.
EDWARD FOULKE.
In the early days of Macon county's de- velopment Edward Foulke became a resi- dent of Maroa township, settling upon a farm there. He was long a worthy repre- sentative of agricultural interests of the community and while his life history con- tained no exciting chapters, it yet contained lessons of value that might profitably be followed by all who wish to gain success along legitimate and honorable lines. He was a native of Hamilton county, Ohio, born on the 31st of July, 1834. His parents were John M. and Ann (Sinclair) Foulke. The father was born in Montgomery coun- . ty, Pennsylvania, and the mother's birth occurred near Baltimore, Maryland. In the county of his nativity John M. Foulke car- ried on farming for a number of years and then removed to Baltimore, where he re- sided for a few years. Subsequently he be- came a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, where through a long period he was engaged in the pork packing business, but in old age he retired to private life, putting aside all business cares, and lived with his two chil- dren throughout his remaining days. Ilis death occurred at the home of his son Ed- ward in Maroa township in 1874, while his wife passed away near her native city in 1844. They had but two children, the daughter being Lydia .A., who was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, in 1837. She was educated in a seminary near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and engaged in teaching school until the Civil war broke out, when she became an army nurse and served in that capacity for over three years. In 1881 she married David Wilson, of Wenona, 11- linois, her present home. She is a promi- nent and active member of the Woman's Relief Corps and department president of the National Army Nurses' Association.
Edward Foulke was reared under the pa- rental roof and was given good educational privileges. His preliminary advantages in
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that direction were supplemented by a course in Tremont Seminary in Pennsyl- vania. He then went to Baltimore, Mary- land, where he studied and worked as a florist, remaining in that city for several years. He next removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he engaged in the florist busi- ness until 1857. In that year, attracted by the possibilities of Macon county, which was then being rapidly developed, he came to Illinois and purchased a farm in Maroa township, giving his attention to agricul- tural pursuits from that time until his re- tirement from active business life. He en- gaged in general farming and stock-raising and rich fields and meadows returned to him good crops of grain and hay. He real- ized also a good income from his stock, both branches of his business proving profitable. Upon the farm he made substantial and ex- cellent improvements and added all the equipments and accessories necessary to a model farm of the period. Living on his first purchase until 1894, he then removed to Decatur on account of ill health and passed his remaining days in retirement froni active labor.
On October 13, 1864, Mr. Foulke was united in mariage in Maroa township, to Miss Adelaide Colladay, a native of Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, born on the 4th of March, 1841. Her parents were Jacob W. and Julia A. (Stuil) Colladay, both natives of Philadelphia, where her father engaged in business as a contractor and builder until 1858. That year witnessed his removal westward and he established his home upon a farm in Maroa township, Macon county, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits for many years. His wife died upon the old family homestead and he then removed to Decatur, where he lived a re- tired life until called to his final rest. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Foulke was blessed with five children: Anna F., the wife of E. Arthur Pinkham, who is proprietor of a fced
store in Indianapolis, Indiana; John M., a farmer of South Dakota; Edward L., who married Gynietha Cox and is employed by Swift & Company, at Kansas City, Mis- souri ; Llewellyn, who married Leila Craig and resides upon the old home farm in Maroa township; and Caroline E., who is a graduate of the Michigan University at Ann Arbor and is principal of the schools of Corunna, Michigan.
In his political views Mr. Foulke was a stanch Republican, believing firmly in the principles of the party and doing all in his power to secure their adoption. He was never an office seeker, but held minor offices in his township, such as supervisor and school director. He belonged to the So- ciety of Friends at Benjaminville, Illinois, with which his wife was also a member. He became a well-to-do citizen of this coun- ty and thus left his family in comfortable circumstances, when on the 29th of Octo- ber, 1900, his death occurred. During his long residence in the county he lived at peace with his fellow men, so honorable was he in all his business affairs, faithful in citizenship, and loyal in friendship. Mrs. Foulke owns a beautiful residence at No. 1005 North Church street in Decatur, where she resides, and she is also the owner of the old home farm of three hundred and eight acres situated in Maroa township, three miles south of the village of Maroa. This is a well improved and vahtable property and returns to her a very gratifying in- come.
MINER R. ALLSUP.
Miner R. Allsup, who since 1891 has en- gaged in the grain business in Maroa and is now the vice president of the Citizens' Bank, was born in DeWitt county, Illinois, in the year 1861, his parents being Wash- ington T. and Margaret Allsup. The father was a farmer by occupation and followed
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that pursuit in DeWitt county up to the time of his death, which occurred about a quarter of a century ago. His widow, a native of Ohio, afterward became the wife of L. B. Hobbs and is now living in Maroa. Mr. Allsup of this review also has a brother living in Maroa and a sister who is married and resides in Wichita, Kansas.
Miner R. Allsup acquired his education in the schools of his native county and of Maroa. Ile was reared to farm life and early became familiar with the labors of field and meadow. When he was fifteen years of age his father died and the follow- ing year he started out in life for himself and has since been dependent upon his own efforts. His present position in financial circles is in marked contrast to his condi- tion at that time. He began farming and stock-raising on his mother's land, and in his undertakings met with success. Later he gave much time and attention to the purchase and shipping of stock, and his in- vestments yielded him a good financial re- turn. About twenty years ago he purchased land in De Witt county and since that time he has increased his landed possession until he is now one of the most extensive land- owners of this part of the state, having very valuable farming property, which re- turns to him a gratifying income. At length leaving the farm, although not abandoning agriculutral interests, Mr. Allsup purchased the Midland Elevator of Maroa, which has been operated since 1875, and of which he has been the owner since March, 1891. Ile handles a large amount of grain annually and his business adds to the expansion of the business interests of the city. Mr. All- sup also feeds hogs, cattle and horses for the market and his annual sales of stock reach a large figure. His business has stead- ily grown since the time, when as a boy, he began operating his mother's land. Long since it assumed very profitable propor- tions and to-day Mr. Allsup is numbered
among the substantial citizens of the coun- ty. He is also connected with financial in- terests, being the vice president of the Citi- zens' Bank of Maroa.
In matters of citizenship Mr. Allsup is equally progressive and Maroa has profited by his efforts in her behalf. Ile is a Demo- crat in his political views and at the present time in serving as mayor of Maroa. Ile brings to the discharge of his official duties the same businesslike and enterprising methods that have marked his career as an agriculturist and stock-dealer and the city is therefore enjoying a practical adminis- tration and one that is valuable in the pro- motion of its substantial progress and per- manent improvement. Mr. Allsup is a charter member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge of Maroa and is well known through- out this part of the state because of his ex- tensive business connections, his wide ac- quaintance and his social relations. He is a man of strong character, of marked in- dividuality and of sterling worth. His fel- low men respect him and the world accords him the admiration which is ever given in recognition of a purpose accomplished in accordance with methods which neither seek nor require disguise.
OLIVER Z. GREENE.
Since 1873 Oliver Z. Greene has been a resident of Decatur and since 1882 has been the president of the Decatur Coffin Com- pany, one of the leading industrial enter- prises of the city. Ile is a man of keen dis- crimination and executive force and in the control of important business enterprises has shown marked capability. The history of mankind is replete with illustrations of the fact that it is only under the pressure of adversity and the stimulus of opposition that the best and strongest in men is brought out and developed. Perhaps the
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history of no country so forcibly impresses one with this truth as the annals of our own republic and certainly in our own land the palm was awarded to New England's sturdy sons. If anything can inspire the youth of our country to persistent, honest and laudable endeavor, it should be the life record of such men as he of whom we write, for from the age of sixteen years Oliver Z. Greene has been dependent upon his own resources and to-day is controlling enter- prises which make him a prosperous resi- dent of his adopted city.
Mr. Greene was born in Pittsfield, New Hampshire, May 20, 1834. His father, Oliver P. Greene, was likewise a native of Pittsfield and was a son of Ephraim Greene, who was born in the Old Granite state and was descended from Scotch-Irish ancestry. After arriving at years of maturity Oliver P. Greene was united in marriage to Char- lotte M. Fay, a native of Warwick, Massa- chusetts, and in their home the boyhood days of their son Oliver Z. were passed. He acquired his early education in the pub- lic schools of Pittsfield and afterward at- tended the home academy in that town un- til he reached his sixteenth year, when he began learning the carpenter's trade. When he had largely mastered that pursuit he went to Lowell, Massachusetts, where he was employed as a journeyman for a year, working in two of the principal mills in that city. In 1853 he went south to Ala- bama, where he became foreman of the bridge department for the Chattanooga & Memphis Railroad Company, acceptably serving in that capacity for two years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he engaged in contracting and building, erecting a num- ber of dwelling houses during his four years' residence in the north.
On leaving Minneapolis he came to Illi- nois and, establishing his home in McLean county, he engaged in general farming, car-
rying on that pursuit there for several years. In 1862 he arrived in Macon county, Illinois,. where he has since resided, settling first at Harristown, a small station on the Wa- bash Railroad. There he engaged in the grain business and was also employed as station agent by the railroad company. Prospering in his undertakings he later sought a broader field of labor and in 1873 removed to Decatur, where he became in- terested in the Roberts Greene Company, the business being conducted under partner- ship relations. The company was engaged in the manufacture of coffins, the enter- prise having been established by Robert P. Lytle, but its founder sold out soon after Mr. Greene purchased an interest in the business. When his connections with the enterprise had covered nine years the busi- ness was incorporated under the firm style of the Decatur Coffin Company, with a capital stock of eighty thousand dollars. At that time Mr. Greene was elected presi- dent, while George E. Moeller was chosen vice president and Thomas T. Roberts, sec- retary and treasurer. This business was incorporated for the purpose of manufac- turing coffins and the company entered up- on a successful career. They now have an extensive plant and ship the products of the house throughout the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The plant is equipped with the latest and best improved machinery, and coffins of all grades are manufactured, so that the house is able to meet the varied demands of the trade. For twenty-one years Mr. Greene has remained president of the company and much of the successful control of the industry is due to his untiring business sagacity and sound practical judgment.
In 1863 Mr. Greene was united in mar- riage to Miss Clara A. French, a native of New Hampshire and a daughter of Hiram French. Mrs. Greene is a lady of marked culture and possesses superior skill and
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talent as an artist, many fine works in both portrait and landscape painting which are the result of her skill adorning the walls of their beautiful home. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Greene have been born two daughters: Myrtle F., who became the wife of William D. Harvey, a resident of Boston, Massachu- setts, and died in 1893 ; and Clara M., who is the wife of Kilburn H. Roby, Jr., who is teller in the National Bank of Decatur. The wife and mother died in November, 1901. She was most devoted to her family. was a faithful friend and an acceptable and conscientious member of the Congrega- tional church. Both Mr. and Mrs. Greene joined that church upon its organization and she aided materially in its upbuilding and the extension of its influence. She was also a member of the Art Club of Decatur and her charming personality made her a favorite in social, church and home circles.
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