USA > Illinois > Macon County > Decatur > Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois > Part 54
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On the 26th of March, 1868, occurred the marriage of Dr. Matthew and Miss Aman- da E. Lawley, a daughter of William B. and Sarah M. (Duncan) Lawley, the for- mer a native of Tennessee and the latter of Illinois. Mrs. Matthew belonged to a family of six sons and four daughters and her brothers, David, Elijah and James, were all soldiers in the One Hundred and Four- teenth Illinois Infantry, serving in Company E under Captain Adam Hiveley and Colonel Shoup. One sister of Mrs. Matthew died in infancy. Ruth Jane became the wife of Lawrence Salanger and lives in Palmer,
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Illinois. Sara M. is the wife of William Knotts, residing near Chatham, Illinois. Elmer died in childhood. Leonard N. re- sides at the old family homestead in Cotton Hill. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Matthew were born five children, but three died in infancy. The oldest and the youngest, however, are still living. These are Charles Edgar, who at the age of thirty-three years is engaged in farming. and William Oscar, who is twenty-two years of age and is attending the Northwestern University. IIe is a grad- uate of the Blue Mound high school and spent three years in the academy of the Northwestern University.
In addition to his practice Dr. Matthew is financially interested in industrial affairs, holding sixteen shares in the Illinois Skein & Nutlock Company at Pana, Illinois. He is a member of the Illinois State Eclectic Medical Society and the National Eclectic Medical Society. In politics he has always been a Republican and takes an active in- terest in the work of the party. While liv- ing at Mount Auburn he was appointed postmaster, but resigned in favor of an old soldier. Ile belongs to the Methodist Epis- copal church and the Masonic lodge and to the Royal Arch Chapter. Ile also holds membership relations with Joe Miller Post, of the Fraternal Army, the Mutual Protec- tive League and is medical examiner for the Equitable Life Insurance Company of New York, the Prudential of New York, the Franklin of Springfield, Illinois, and the Fi- delity Mutual Life Insurance Company of Philadelphia, and is likewise examiner for the Fraternal Army and the Mutual Pro- tective League.
Each year the Matthew family has an an- nual reunion held on the last Thursday in August at Reservoir Park in Springfield. The Doctor has some valuable old papers, including a land grant issued and signed by John Quincy Adams and also letters re- ceived by his father between the years 1816
and 1861. Ile represents one of the old families of central Illinois and is a promi- nent and influential citizen, having the warm regard of many friends in Blue Mound and this section of the state.
STEPHEN H. SWAIN, D. V. S.
Careful preparation through private study and a deep interest in his chosen profession has made Dr. Stephen H. Swain one of the leading veterinary surgeons of the state of Illinois. He was born in Madison county, Illinois, July 11, 1841, and is a son of Asa and M. Elizabeth (Truit) Swain, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Tennessee. In an early day the father manifested a fondness for horses and showed a special skill in treatment of those that became diseased. He was an excellent judge of horses and made a specialty of breeding fine stock. Both he and his wife have now passed away and of their six chil- dren four are yet living.
The public schools of his native county afforded the Doctor his educational privi- leges. Ile spent much of his youth upon the home farm and in 1866 he began farm- ing on his own account. He seemed to have a natural predilection for the work of the veterinary profession and in 1875 we find him located in Maroa, Illinois, where he was following that calling. While upon the farm he began the study of veterinary sur- gery and while pursuing his investigations along that line he was also engaged in the breeding of good horses, making a specialty of fine trotting stock. In February, 1884, he removed to Decatur, where he opened an office and his time has been devoted almost exclusively since to the practice of his pro- fession, in which he has been very success- . ful. He is not a graduate of any veterinary school, but has an ability scarcely equaled in the state. llis patronage is now very ex-
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tensive and reaches as far as one hundred and fifty miles from Decatur. He makes a specialty of spaying and the castration of ridglings and has been a very successful operator. He has read broadly and studied widely upon the subject of veterinary sur- gery and his knowledge is now comprehen- sive and exact so that he is to-day reeog- nized as one of the leading veterinary sur- geons of central Illinois. He was instru- mental in founding what is known as the Illinois Veterinary Medical and Surgical . As- sociation and he drafted its constitution and by-laws.
The Doctor has been twice married. In 1862 he wedded Miss Mary E. Emerson, who died about 1867. They had two chil- dren, one of whom is now living: Mary E .. who is the widow of William H. Miller of Maroa.
In 1868 Dr. Swain was again married, his second union being with Naney L. An- derson, of Carlinville, Illinois, who died August 31. 1897. By this union there were born a son and daughter, William A. Swain. who married Imogene Peadler. studied un- der his father and is now a successful prac- ticing veterinary surgeon in Mount Pulaski, Illinois. He also holds the position of sec- retary of the Illinois Veterinary Medical and Surgical Association. Louisa Swain, the daughter. is yet at home and with Mrs. Mary E. Miller is keeping house for her father. The Doctor owns a fine residence at No. 226 West Decatur street and in con- nection has forty acres of farming land in Decatur township. upon which he keeps good horses. He likewise has other city property and his office is located at 127 South Franklin street. . All that he pos- sesses has been acquired through his own efforts and his property holdings are a monument to his life of thrift and industry. llc has been ambitions to win success and has realized that there is no excellence with- out labor, so that he has worked hard and
consecutively in order to win the success and prominence which he now enjoys as a worthy representative of his profession. In politics he is a Democrat but has never sought or desired office. He is a member of Coeur de Lion Lodge, No. 17. K. P., of Decatur: Decatur Camp. M. W. A .: the Royal Cirele, and Knights and Ladies of Security.
W. H. WILLOUGHBY.
A prominent representative of the busi- ness interests of Macon, Illinois, is W. H. Willoughby, a successful dealer in agri- cultural implements. He is a wide-awake, progressive business man and by fair and honorable dealing has built up a good trade which extends for many miles throughout the surrounding country in every direction.
Mr. Willoughby is a native of Illinois, his birth having occurred in St. Clair county on the 15th of November. 1852. His parents were W. E. and Mary ( Moore ) Willoughby, the former of whom was born in Delaware. June 7. 1820, and died at Lebanon. Illinois, July 20. 1896, and the latter was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, June 14. 1825, and died at Lebanon. November 24, 1890. The father was of Scotch-Irish descent and was a farmer by occupation. . It a very early day he settled in St. Clair county. Illinois. becoming one of its pioneers. In his family were four children. of whom W. H. is the oldest. the others being J. Amos, who is editor of the Belleville Advocate of Belle- ville, Illinois : Mary Julia, wife of Robert Keith, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin : and Ida May, who is the wife of Charles Starr and lives on the ohl home place at Lebanon. Illinois.
W. H. Willoughby completed his literary education at Mckinley College in Lebanon. Illinois, where he was a student until eigh- teen years of age, and then turned his at- tention to farming. In 1883 he came to
SR. May
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Macon county and settled in Pleasant View township, where he carried on agricultural pursuits until 1891. The following year he was engaged in the butchering business in Macon and the next year was agent for the Champion Machine Company at the same place. In 1900 he became associated with W. Il. Carroll in the implement busi- ness, under the firm style of W. II. Carroll & Company. This connection has still con- tinned and the firm enjoy a large patronage which is constantly increasing. Besides his town property and business, Mr. Wil- loughby owns a quarter section of fine farm- ing land in Pleasant View township, which is well cultivated and improved.
On the 20th of September, 1871, in St. Clair county, Mr. Willoughby led to the marriage altar Miss Emma Forquer, and to them have been born four children: May, who married Silas Morehead, of Macon county, and died at the age of twenty years ; Blanche, wife of W. 11. Carroll, who is in business with our subject : Harry F., at home ; and Edward, who died in infancy.
In his social relations Mr. Willoughby is a member of the South Macon Lodge, No. 467. A. F. & .A. M., of Macon. He was made a Mason at Lebanon, Illinois, in 1880. He is a standard bearer in the ranks of the Republican party in his locality and is now serving as chairman of the central commit- tec. He filled the office of constable for four years and has ever taken an active and commendable interest in public affairs, do- ing all in his power to promote the interests of his town and county along moral, social and material lines.
SHEFFIE REEVES MAY, M. D.
One of the most exacting of all the higher lines of occupation to which a man may lend his energies is that of the physician. A most serupulous preliminary training is
demanded, a nicety of judgment but little understood by the laity. Dr. May, of Mount Zion, is well fitted for the profession which he has chosen as a life work and his skill and ability have won him a large and lucra- tive practice.
The Doctor was born in Oakland, Illi- nois, June 3. 1859, and on the paternal side is of German descent. His father, Rev. D. E. May, was born in 1829 in Port Republic, Virginia, where he was reared and educated, and in early life he studied for the ministry, becoming a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal church. At the age of twenty- five years he came to Illinois and located in Coles county. Throughout his active life he continued the work of the ministry, but is now living a retired life in Mount Zion, enjoying a well carned rest. In carly man- hood he married Miss Sarah Ann Merica, whose birth occurred in Page county, Vir- ginia, in 1834, and to them were born four children, of whom the Doctor is the eldest, the others being Edward M .; Clara, wife of J. B. Henry ; and Wilbur F., who died at the age of thirty-five years.
During his boyhood Dr. May attended the public schools of his locality and was graduated at the high school and also at the Springfield Business College in 1876. He commenced the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. J. L. Connelly, of Har- ristown. Illinois, and later was with Dr. Buck, of Moweaqua. Ile next attended lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, and was grad- uated with the class of 1880. As soon as he obtained his degree, the Doctor located at Dalton City, where he was engaged in prac- tice for seven years, and from there came to Mount Zion, where his skill and abili' v soon won for him a liberal patronage which is constantly increasing. He has been re- markably successful in the treatment of all cases that have been placed in his care and he enjoys the largest country practice of
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any physician in Macon county. He is mak- ing a specialty of electro-therapeutics and possesses all the latest electric and X-ray apparatus and appliances. He also has a very fine library, some volumes of which were published in 1812. He has become interested in real estate and has made sev- eral valuable investments in rice planta- tions in Louisiana.
On the 5th of June, 1884, was celebrated the marriage of Dr. May and Miss Jennie Lawrence, of Mattoon, Illinois, and to them have been born four children : George Shef- fie, who was born in Dalton City, June 20. 1885, and died in Mount Zion at the age of three years and eleven months : C. Jewel, born February 10. 1889; Myrtle Louise, born February 20, 1891; and Freddie Reeves, born February 14, 1894.
The Doctor is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and belongs to Mount Zion Lodge, No. 300, I. O. O. F., and De- catur Encampment. No. 37. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica and the Court of Honor and is medical examiner for both of these organizations as well as for a great many old line insur- ance companies. In connection with his profession he holds membership in the American Medical Association, the Illinois State Medical Society and the Decatur Med- ical Society. Genial and pleasant in man- ner, he is popular in both professional and social circles and wins friends wherever he goes.
SOLOMON WILLIAMSON.
Solomon Williamson, deceased, was for many years a contractor and builder of Ma- con county and was a man highly respected and esteemed by all who knew him. He was a native of Ohio, born in Ross county, De- cember 23. 1830, and was a son of Henry and Elizabeth ( Chaffin) Williamson. In the state of his nativity he grew to manhood
and learned the carpenter's trade in De- catur. In 1850 he came west and settled in Macon county, Illinois. After living in Decatur for two years he removed to the farm on section 34. Hickory Point township. now owned and occupied by his widow. Throughout life he followed contracting and building and in the employ of the Illi- nois Central Railroad Company he erected many buildings along their line. Although he resided on his farm of eighty acres for many years he left its operation to hired help while he worked at his trade.
Mr. Williamson was very fond of hunt- ing and in early days had ample opportunity to indulge in that sport as wild game was then plentiful in this region. He shot a deer about two hundred yards from his resi- dence, and from where the barn stands he shot wild turkeys. One of his principal companions on his hunting trips was John Read and together they killed hundreds of prairie chickens and other game.
On the 26th of May. 1852, Mr. William- son was united in marriage to Miss Eliza- beth Johnson, and to them were born ten children, of whom seven are still living. namely: Edward, now a contractor of De- catur : Laura, wife of William Slayback, of Macon county: Maggie, wife of Rev. O. B. Huston, of Charleston, Illinois ; George. a resident of Decatur : Eva. at home with her mother : May. wife of George Met- len, of Dillon, Montana; and Gussie, at home.
Mr. Williamson was a prominent and in- fluential man in his community and a stanch supporter of the Republican party, taking an active part in campaign work. He served as a delegate to a number of conventions of his party and filled various township of- fices in a most commendable and satisfac- tory manner. lle was a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church of De- catur and at his death, which occurred on the 11th of February, 1802, the community
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realized that it had lost a valued and use- ful citizen.
Being left an orphan in infancy, Mrs. Williamson was adopted by Robert and Lou Ann (Church) Johnson, who were pioneer settlers of Macon county, who emi- grated from Bath county, Kentucky, and made the journey to this state in a wagon by way of Indiana. Settling in Decatur, Mr. Johnson bought property in that city and also entered eighty acres of land on section 34, Hickory Point township, now owned by C. E. AAkers. For a time he worked at his trade, that of shoemaking, but afterward removed to his farm just north of where Mrs. Williamson now re- sides and turned his attention to agricul- tural pursuits. Ile died there in May, 1885. at the age of seventy-eight years, honored and respected by all who knew him. His wife passed away at the age of sixty-seven. They had no children of their own. Re- ligiously they were members of the church of God and politically Mr. Johnson was a Democrat. Ile filled the office of justice of the peace for a time,
Since her husband's death Mrs. William- son has carried on the farm and has dis- played good business ability in the manage- ment of her affairs. She has a nice peach orchard and raises a variety of other fruits. During her younger years she spun and wove most of the material for her own dresses and became very proficient in such work. She would weave fine linen for arti- cles of wearing apparel and use the re- mainder of the flax for toweling. She re- members to have seen the old fashioned grease lamps in use for lighting, and later the molded candles became quite common. Cooking was then done over a fireplace and everything was baked either in a covered skillet or Dutch oven. Mrs. Williamson once saw nine hundred Indians march through Decatur on their way to the San- gamon river and remembers distinctly of
one time when it took four horses to pull a wagon with two sacks of flour in it from Decatur to the farm, so bad were the roads at that time. On another occasion, while returning home on horseback with a child in front of her, the creek had risen so high on account of a recent rain that she was obliged to swim the horse across. In those early days she often rode to church on horseback, but the conditions of pioneer life have now passed away and the people of Macon county now have all the advantages and conveniences known to the civilized world. Mrs. Williamson has a nice home on the main road of the township line and the residence is surrounded by beautiful shade trees and many flowers. Here she has resided for about forty-eight years and the home has ever been noted for its hos- pitality and good cheer. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is held in the highest regard by all who know her.
WILLIAM BLANK.
William Blank became well known as an artist and possessed superior talent in that direction. He gained fame not only in De- catur but in many other parts of the country because of his fine paintings and now in many of the homes of this section of the state his works are seen. He also put forth his efforts not only along ornamental lines, but also in sign painting, fresco and other decorating work of a more practical nature.
Mr. Blank was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, on the 11th of May, 1845, a son of Gottlieb and Barbara Blanc, both of whom were natives of Germany, where they spent their entire lives. The subject of this review was the only one of the family who came to the new world. In his youth he attended the public schools in his native country for four years and it was noticed by his teachers that he possessed strong
PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.
artistic talent and tendencies for when a boy of only seven years he made many fine drawings. At the age of fourteen his pa- rents, desiring to cultivate his artistic pow- ers and temperament, sent him to an art school in Stuttgart, Germany. While in that city he followed many kinds of employ- ment during the daytime in order that he might earn the money necessary to meet his tuition at the night school. He was a stu- dent in the night school of art for over three years and there his talent was prop- crly directed along lines of great benefit in his work. He began painting pictures while still in the fatherland and also did fresco and other decorative work for several years.
While thus engaged Mr. Blank was united in marriage to Miss Louise Koeppler, who was born in Germany on the 19th of July, 1852, and is a daughter of Gottlieb and Caroline (Segar) Koeppler, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was a cabinet maker by trade and followed that pursuit in order to provide for the wants of his family. Both he and his wife died in that country. Mr. and Mrs. Blank be- came the parents of seven children, five of whom are now living: Earlea, who resides in St. Joseph, Missouri; Emil, who is a baker by trade and makes his home with his mother: Emma. the wife of W. Fred Ferguson, of Decatur ; Pauline, who resides in Jacksonville, Illinois; and Schiller, who is also with his mother. The two children who have passed away were both named Paul.
After his marriage Mr. Blank continued to reside in his native country until twenty- eight years of age and worked at his chosen trade and also in the more artistic lines of ornamental painting. He then sailed with his family for America, landing in New York, but he did not tarry in the eastern metropolis. He went, instead, direct to Lan- caster, Ohio, where he established his fam- ily in a comfortable home and then began
traveling over the United States executing fine paintings and art work of all kinds in different portions of the country. After traveling for a year and a half he came to Decatur, where his talent won recognition and he was employed to paint a number of fine pictures. Being pleased with the city he decided to locate here and sent for his family who joined him in Macon county. Many of his paintings here sold for as high as one thousand dollars each and beautiful specimens of his artistic skill adorn the walls of many fine homes in this portion of the state. At length, however, his health began to fail and once more he traveled, hoping that he might be benefited thereby, his family during this period remaining in Decatur. He traveled for a number of years, making frequent visits, however, to Decatur and his health becoming very bad- ly impaired he decided to travel in the west and visit many places of interest in that section of the country, where he painted many fine pictures from nature. He finally located in Pueblo, Colorado, and because of his marked talent and ability he received a very liberal patronage, in fact, the de- mands made upon his services as a painter were more than he could meet. His health gradually grew worse there and he died in Pueblo three months after locating in that city. He passed away December 23. 1901, and was laid to rest on Christmas day in a grave on the side of a beautiful mountain near Pueblo-a mountain whose loveliness he had transferred to canvas only a few weeks before. Many of the largest business houses of the city were draped in mourning at his death, for all of the people of Pueblo had either heard of him, seen his work or knew him personally. At the sale of his estate in Decatur many of his paintings brought thousands of dollars, one of the finest of his productions now being in pos- session of Mrs. Graham of this city. Mrs. Blank has very few of his works, the greater
JOHN M. LOWRY
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number of them having been sold by him prior to his death. The Millikin Univer- sity, which is now being erected in Decatur and is one of the best educational institu. tions in this part of the country, intended through the board of directors to have Mr. Blank take charge of the art department and conduct classes in drawing and paint- ing. His work here made him well known to all the citizens whose great admiration for his talent and ability was strictly mani- fest.
Mr. Blank was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and belonged to the church in Germany, but united with no re- ligious organization after coming to this country. Like those who live on a high plane, the circle of his friends was select rather than large, but all entertained for him the highest respect and his death is deplored by all true lovers of art. Mrs. Blank still resides in Decatur and has a nice home at 467 South Webster avenue, where she is living with her two sons.
JOHN M. LOWRY.
No history of the business development of Decatur and its expansion and its prog- ress along commercial lines would be com- plete without the history of John M. Low- ry, because he was one of the first business men of the city and also because his honor- able methods, straightforward dealing and unflagging energy commended him to the confidence and good will of those with whom he came in contact. He took up his abode here about 1850 and remained a re- spected and valued resident of Macon coun- ty until his death.
Mr. Lowry was born in Clark county, Illinois, November 2, 1825, and was a son of William and Elizabeth Lowry, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. The father was born in that state, July 5, 1779,
and the mother's birth there occurred on the Ist of January, 1782. After their mar- riage they removed to New York, where they remained for several years and then came to Illinois, settling in Clark county, where Mr. Lowry engaged in farming for a few years. He next went to DeWitt county, Illinois, where he again secured a tract of land and carried on agricultural pursuits until his death. His wife died in Macon county and was buried in De Witt county.
John M. Lowry was reared upon the home farm and obtained his education in the common schools, while during the periods of vacation he assisted his father in the work of field and meadow. After com- pleting his school life he continued to de- vote his entire attention to work upon his father's farm for a few years and then learned the miller's trade, which he followed until his removal to Macon county in 1850. He settled in Decatur, which was then mere- ly a crossroads town, the embryo city giv- ing little promise of its future growth and development, but he had faith in its pos- sibilities and believed it afforded a good business opening. He established a small grocery store on what is now East Main street and about the same time he was made assistant postmaster of Decatur, in which capacity he served for one year. He con- tinned to engage in the grocery trade for a few years and then, selling his own place of business, he accepted a position as sales- man in the Gorin store, where he remained for a few years. He was also for some time a salesman in the employ of Colonel Pugh. Ile next settled upon a farm in De- catur township, where he carried on agri- cultural pursuits until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when his patriotic spirit being aroused by the attempt of the south to overthrow the Union he joined the army and fought in defense of the stars and stripes.
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