USA > Illinois > Macon County > Decatur > Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois > Part 59
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In 1845 Mr. Stoutenborough married Miss Margaret J. Hankinson, who was born in 1825 and is a daughter of James and Sarah Ilankinson. Her father was also an Ohio farmer. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stoutenborough were born the following children: Sarah Jane, born March 18, 1848, is now the wife of James Fruit, who lives on our subject's farm near Kenney, and by whom she has three children ; Mary E., born October 7, 1850, is the wife of Edward Schoby, of 1 Witt county, and they have three children ; James, born January 16, 1854, married Ella Baird and has one child living; John, born September 14, 1856, married Ella Miller and with his wife and five children lives in Ma- roa township, Macon county ; William, born April 13, 1858, married Hattie Miller and has four children ; Frank, born November 20, 1861, wedded Emma Moore and has forr children. He makes his home near Ken- ney. Mr. Stoutenborough has three broth- ers living in Maroa.
Mr. and Mrs. Stoutenborough holdt mem bership in the Methodist Episcopal church
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and he votes with the Republican party. Ile has filled the office of school director but has never cared for political preferment, his time and attention being wholly occupied by his business affairs in early life. When he came to this state they were just build- ing the railroad through Maroa but the vil- lage had not yet sprung into existence and he has watched with interest the growth and development of this region, at the same time taking a very active part in its up- building. Now in his eightieth year, his career has ever been such as to command the respeet and confidence of men and he is well worthy of representation in the his- tory of his adopted county.
JOHN R. FITZGERALD.
John R. Fitzgerald is the junior member of the well known law firm of Decatur of Mills & Fitzgerald. He was born upon a farm in Moultrie county, Illinois, Novem- ber 29, 1873, his parents being M. C. and Ellen (Delahunty) Fitzgerald, who in 1870 came to this state and established their home near Bethany, where the father en- gaged in general farming and stock-raising. He still resides upon that farm and thus for more than a third of a century has been identified with agricultural interests there.
John R. Fitzgerald, who is one of a family of five children, began his education, as did the other members of the household, in the district school. Later, however, he had the opportunity of attending the Bethany high school, in which he was graduated and after- ward he entered the Lincoln University. His mental training was still further ob- tained in the State University of Cham- paign, where he pursued his studies for three years. Thus he gained broad general and literary knowledge to serve as the founda- tion upon which to rear the superstructure of his professional learning. Upon the com- pletion of his college course he took up the
study of law in the office of Judge Cochran, at Sullivan, under whose direction he pur- sued his reading until he was ready for en- trance into the law department of the Uni- versity of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated in 1894. For a year there- after he served as a clerk in the office of Mills Brothers. Ile was then admitted to the bar in 1895 before the supreme court at Springfield and came to Decatur, where he opened a law office. Soon thereafter he entered into partnership relations with L. A. Mills, under the firm name of Mills & Fitzgerald, and they have since been en- gaged in general practice. The firm has won a wide reputation for ability and splendid success has attended them in the control of numerous interests in which they have been employed. As a law- ver Mr. Fitzgerald is distinguished in the trial of cases in court, where his quick per- ception, close reasoning and power of speech make him a dangerous antagonist.
It was on the 30th of October, 1899, that Mr. Fitzgerald was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Griffin, of Dalton, Illinois, a daughter of P. Griffin. They are surrounded in their home by many friends and are well known young people of this city. Mr. Fitzgerald is a young man of strong men- tality, of keen intellect, logical in his ans- wers and forceful in his reasoning and thus his qualities are such as insure success in the arduous and difficult profession of the law. Being a Republican in politics he stands high in the council of his party and is an able exponent of its principles on the platform, but has never sought public office. Ile is a member of a great many fraternal and benevolent organizations.
BUTLER SIMPSON.
This well known and highly esteemed citizen of llickory Point township is a native of Illinois, his birth having occurred
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in St. Clair county on the 4th of May, 1848. llis father, W. G. Simpson, was born in the same county and was a son of William G. Simpson. The grandfather was of English descent and his wife belonged to an old Virginian family. At a very early day they came to Illinois and settled in St. Clair county and there the father of our subject made his home until 1854, when he came to Macon county, the trip being made in a prairie schooner. Ile first located two and a half miles west of Decatur, where he lived in a log cabin until February, 1857, and then removed to the northwest corner of Macon county, settling on section 21, Ni- antic township. On coming to this county he brought stock with him and throughout the remainder of his life was quite ex tensively engaged in the stock business. Ilis first purchase of land in Niantic town ship consisted of a tract of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he subsequently added until he had two hundred and eighty acres. Upon the old homestead his daughters now reside. The family passed through the usual . pioneer experiences and the father materi- ally aided in the early development of this section of the state. After a useful and well spent life he died at Illiopolis, May 19, 1903. when over eighty-one years of age, and his wife, who was also a native of St. Clair county, passed away in 1902, at the age of eighty years. Both were laid to rest in Long Point cemetery. Niantic township.
Eleven children were born to this worthy couple, eight of whom are still living, name- ly: Butler, of this review; Kate, wife of Thomas Wright, of Niantic township ; Mrs. A. E. Sullivan, a widow living in Illiopolis; William, a resident of Logan county, Illi- not: Jacob and Edward, both of Macon county : John, of Christian county ; and Ida. of Illiopolis.
Butler Simpson was only six years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Macon county and here he ob-
tained his education in the common schools. The early home of the family was a log cabin, but during the boyhood of our subject a frame house, sixteen by thirty-two feet, was built. As the land which his father pur- chased was wild and unimproved he assist- ed in breaking many an acre of virgin soil with a plow that cut a furrow from eighteen to twenty inches wide, to which were at- tached four or five yoke of cattle. He began plowing when only ten years of age and continued to drive cattle until twenty-two. Ile not only became familiar with the work of the fields but with household duties as well. He would shear the sheep, spin the wool into yarn and knit his own socks and mittens. At that time all of the clothing of the family was home-made. Deer were often seen and other wild game was plenti- ful, the ducks and geese rising from the ponds in great dark clouds. During his boy- hood Mr. Simpson thus had ample oppor- tunity to indulge his love of hunting. The young farm animals had to be penned up every night to keep them from the wolves who often came prowling around the house, and rattlesnakes were also very numerous at that time. Mr. Simpson killed the last den of young wolves found in his neighborhood. Hle has often assisted his mother in mold- ing candles to light their little home and has driven six miles for wood to be burned in the old fashioned fireplace. He used to go to market in a two-wheeled wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen over almost impassable roads between his home in Ni- antic township to Decatur, a distance of seventeen miles. Farming was then carried on in a rather primitive manner, the grain being cut with a cradle and thrashed out by horses. It will thus be seen that Mr. Simpson is thoroughly familiar with pio- neer conditions, yet those were the good old times when the latch-string was always out and hospitality reigned supreme in the little cabin home.
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At Illiopolis, on the 5th of March, 1873, Mr. Simpson was united in marriage to Miss Martha Gourley, who was born in Carter county, Tennessee, September 1, 1856, a daughter of Marcus L. and Julia A. (Edens) Gourley. The father was also born in that county, April 19. 1831, his parents being Charles and Nancy (Morgan) Gourley. Charles Gourley was educated in Edinburgh, Scotland, becoming a civil en- gineer and government surveyor, and in the community where he resided was recog- nized as a very prominent citizen. In 1837 in Tennessee while fording a river on horse- back he was drowned and his wife died the following year, thus leaving Marcus L. Gourley an orphan at the age of seven years. There were six other children in the family. His brother, David, was killed at Chucks Crossroads, Tennessee, during the Civil war and was buried on the battlefield, and his brother William, who was serving as captain of Company C, Thirteenth Ten- nessee Cavalry was killed at Marion, Vir- ginia, and his remains were also interred at the scene of conflict which cost him his life. After the death of his parents, Mar- cus L. Gourley lived with an aunt until his sixteeenth year, when he started out in life for himself with a limited education. working on a farm at six dollars per month. At the end of five years he rented land in Tennessee and carried on farming there until 1856, when he removed to Sangamon county, Illinois, locating near Springfield, where he operated rented land until 1868. That year he purchased a farm on which he made his home until 1882 and then re- moved to Illini township. Macon county, buying an eighty acre tract near Harris- town. In 1883 he located on section 35, Hickory Point township, two and a half miles north of Decatur on the Blooming- ton road, where our subject and his wife now reside. When Mr. Gourley first landed in Illinois he had only fifty cents and a
wife and two children depending on him for support. His wife died September 1, 1887, and was buried in Boiling Springs ceme- tery, where a monument now marks her last resting place. Mr. Gourley was a Republican in politics and was a good re- liable business man. He died in February 1900, and was buried by the side of his wife. He was married in 1852 and had three children but Lavina died in infancy and John E. died April II, 1890, so that Mrs. Simpson is the only one now living.
Unto our subject and his wife have been born seven children: Annie E., now the wife of Charles Marshall, of Niantic town- ship; Bertha, wife of W. G. Gourley, of Perry, Iowa; Lucy, wife of Frank Hays, who lives on the Bloomington road: Nel- lie E., Julia and Otto W., all three at home ; and one who died in infancy.
For one year after his marriage Mr. Simpson lived on his father's old home- stead and then purchased cighty acres of partially improved land in Illini township, where he lived for a number of years. On selling that place he bought another eighty acre tract one mile south of the old home place and resided there until his removal to his wife's farm on section 35. Hickory Point township. Here he now lives retired. the farming being operated by hired help, while he enjoys a well merited rest.
Mr. Simpson's interests center in his fam- ily, especially in his descendants, and he has three very interesting pictures, one of four generations of males, the second of four generations of females, and the third a group of the whole family. These he prizes very highly. Politically he is a stanch Democrat and he has been called upon to fill the offices of commissioner of highways in Illini and Niantic township, and was also school director for many years. His father was identified with the building of churches and school houses in Niantic township, and the family has always taken
THOMAS B. DOAKE
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.
an active interest in the growth and devel- opment of the county, doing all in their power for its improvement.
THOMAS B. DOAKE.
Thomas B. Doake, now deceased, was a well known liveryman of Decatur for many years and among the earlier representatives of the business interests of the city, com- ing here in 1854. Illinois claimed him among her native sons, for his birth oc- curred in Quincy, this state, on the 19th of September, 1846. His parents were Mad- ison and Mary Ann Doake. At an early epoch in the history of Sangamon county, Illinois, the father located within its bor- ders and for a few years was engaged in farming there. He afterward removed to Quincy, Illinois, where he lived until 1854, when he came to Decatur. Here he was engaged in buying and shipping stock for a few years and in 1856, while traveling in a stock train between Decatur and St. Louis, lie was killed in a railroad accident, which occurred at Taylorville, Illinois. His wife passed away in Springfield some years later.
To the common school system of the state Thomas B. Doake was indebted for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. After leaving school he was employed in various ways in Quincy until his father's removal to Decatur, when he came to this city and assisted in the stock business here for a few years. After his marriage he turned his attention to the livery business, establishing a barn in Decatur at Nos. 205 to 225 West Wood street. There he con- ducted a very fine livery and boarding stable and also did transfer business for many years. Ile had a large line of fine carriages and many good horses and from the public he received a liberal patronage because of his well known fairness in business trans- actions and earnest desire to please his cus-
tomers. He was a lover of fine horses, care- ful in his treatment of them and gave them every consideration which is due from man to the animal world.
Mr. Doake was married April 16, 1871, in Mount Zion, Macon county, to Miss Mar- garet Ballinger, a native of West Virginia, born December 2, 1852, and a daughter of Robert and Catherine M. Ballinger, who removed to Macon county in 1860, settling on a farm in Wheatland township, where they resided until death, the father passing away in 1862, while the mother long sur- vived and departed this life in 1895. Four children graced the union of Mr. and Mrs. Doake: Jessie, now the wife of George Mc- Crory, a resident of Peculiar, Missouri ; Cora B., the wife of James Logan, who is a traveling salesman and makes his home in Decatur ; Mary M., the wife of Everett K. Ehrhart, a groceryman doing business at No. 275 West Greene street, Decatur ; and Robert C., who resides with his mother.
Mr. Doake voted with the Democracy and never faltered in his adherence to Demo- cratic principles. The citizens of Decatur and Macon county wished him to accept the nomination for county sheriff on several different occasions, but he always refused, never being an office seeker, content to do his public duty as a private citizen. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, holding membership in the lodge in Decatur, and both he and his wife were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church here. A very prominent citizen, he was well known through Macon county and in his business affairs he gained success. Ife had many friends here, his genial man- ner, unfailing courtesy and unostentatious life winning him the warm regard of those with whom he was associated. After her husband's death Mrs. Doake sold the livery business. She and her son reside at No. 1015 North Edward street and the residence property there she owns.
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NICHOLAS BOMMERSBACH.
Industry wisely and vigorously applied never fails of success but carries a man up- ward and onward and in due time he reaches the goal of his ambitions. The truth of this statement has been many times verified in the lives of the prosperous citi- zens of the United States and again finds exemplification in the career of Nicholas Bommersbach, who is the leading florist of of Decatur, carrying on an extensive and profitable business.
Mr. Bommersbach is a native of Metz, France, born on the Moselle, on the 25th of June, 1845. His parents were John and Susan ( Laqua) Bommersbach and the name is of Holland origin. The father was a farmer by occupation and died in France- his native country-in 1872. The subject of this review was early trained to the business in which he is now engaged. At the age of fifteen years he began to learn the florist's trade, for which privilege he had to pay three hundred and fifty dollars, in order to receive his special instruction of the leading florists of France. During the first two years he received no wages. He has a diploma which was signed by the mayor for each two years' service. This had to be done before he could receive any compensation for his labors. He spent the years of his apprenticeship in the Leona florists gardens, where twenty-five men were employed, remaining there from 1862 until 1865. In the year 1870 he joined the French army for service in the Franco- Prussian war and went to Belgium and from there to Paris. He participated in the battle of Weissenberg and in the battle of Sedan where Napoleon was captured. In Paris he was stationed in the Fort Setienne and took part in many actions of that siege dur- ing the summer of 1870. He was afterward at Versailles, where he did guard duty un- til the 6th of April. 1871. The soldier en- dured many hardships and trials and fre-
quently had hardly enough to keep him from starving.
After being mustered out of the service Mr. Bommersbach returned to his home in Metz, but the idea of seeing his province Alsace become a part of Germany was so distasteful to him that he determined to emigrate to America and in 1871 he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, landing at New York on the Inth of June of that year .. He then made his way from there to Albany, Indiana, but after a short time he went to Nashville, Tennessee, where he remained for two years, being in the employ of Mr. Clement, a florist. On the expira- tion of that period he went to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he spent two and a half years in the service of Herr Recourt. From 1876 until 1881 he served as florist for the State Insane Asylum in Indianapolis, hav- ing entire charge of the improvement and beautifying of the grounds there, eighteen men working under his supervision. On the 17th of March, 1881, Mr. Bommersbach arrived in Decatur, where he established a business of his own on a small scale. Each year he has built additions to his greenhouses until they are now the most extensive and his plant is the largest of the kind in Decatur or this portion of the state. Success has attended his efforts since his arrival here and is the outcome of his in- dustry, guided by intelligence and experi- ence.
On the 28th of December. 1876. Mr. Bom- mersbach was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Cody, of Indianapolis, and unto them were born five children, but only two are now living, John and Albert. Those who have passed away are Estella, who died at the age of five years; Arthur, who died at the age of nine years and six months ; and Katie, who passed away at the age of four years.
In 1899 Mr. Bommersbach was made a Mason. He belongs to Macon Lodge, No.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.
8. A. F. & A. M. : Macon Chapter. No. 21. R. A. M .: Beaumanoir Commandery, No. o. K. T .: to the Mystic Shrine of Peoria. and to Decatur Chapter, No. 111. O. E. S. He is also connected with the Knights of Pythias Fraternity and the Modern Wood- men of America. Hle is one of Decatur's solid men and has done considerable for his adopted city in the way of co-operating in general improvements. He is a most genial man to meet and is a fine illustration of the self-made man. He began his career under somewhat adverse circumstances, being compelled to make his own way and his success in life illustrates most forcibly the power of patience and persistent effort and self-reliance. He has so conducted all affairs, whether of a private interest or of public trust. as to merit the esteem of all classes of citizens.
JOHN L. DRAKE.
John L. Drake, who is engaged in the hardware business and has done much 10 improve the city both through his business activity and capable official service, has spent almost his entire life in Macon coun- ty. lle was born upon a farm near Argenta on the 25th of October, 1854, and is a son of John and Rebecca ( Robinson) Drake. But little is known concerning this branch of the Drake family yet it is reasonable to think that the ancestors of our subject were from New Jersey and at an earlier date from New England. The Robinson family also lived in the east and the grandfather of our subject, removing westward, settled in Friends Creek in Macon county when his daughter. Mrs. Drake, was only nine years of age. A few years afterward he removed to Arkansas where his last days were spent. John Drake was one of the pioneers of Macon county, coming to this state about 1843 from New Jersey. He
purchased a large tract of land which he improved, but in the work of development he subjected himself to exposure and as the result of this and his untiring efforts his career was terminated in death at the early age of forty years, passing away in 1855. At the time of his demise he was the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of valu- able land in Macon county. His widow sur- vived him until November, 1898, when she. too, died at the age of seventy-two years. They were the parents of five children, but two of the number died in infancy. The others are S. P., a resident of Luddington, Illinois : John L. : and Isaac, who died at the age of twenty-one years.
John L. Drake, whose name introduces this record, has practically spent his entire life in Macon county and his early privi- leges were those of the common schools and such as might be obtained upon the home farm. He began carning his own living by working as a farm hand at twelve dol- lars per month and was thus employed for two and a half years. Ile then began farm- ing on his own account in Friends Creek township when but eighteen years of age. Later he purchased land and improved it, carrying on agricultural pursuits with good results for fourteen years. On the expira- tion of that period Mr. Drake took up his abode in Argenta, where he engaged in the lumber business for two years and in the spring of 1889 he removed to Nebraska, while in the fall of 1800 he came to Decatur. flere he has engaged in the real estate busi- ness and has handled considerable valuable property, negotiating many important realty transfers. Ile bought and now owns three hundred and seven acres of valuable land in Macon county and in 1893 he built the Co- lumbia block and has other moneyed in- terests in Decatur.
On the 3d of August, 1903, he purchased the stock of the Barnett Hardware Com-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.
pany, which is the oldest store of the kind in the county, it being first owned by Mr. Close, later by the firm of Close & Gris- wold, still later by C. L. Griswold and aft- erward by C. M. Barnett. Mr. Drake is now carrying on this business and has the second largest stock of hardware in the county.
The home life of Mr. Drake has been very pleasant. He was happily married April 12, 1877, to Miss Aura Belle Dickey, a daughter of Harvey Dickey, a pioneer of Macon county. Six children have been born this marriage: Jeanette M., who has been educated for the duties of a librarian and was graduated at Champaign, Illinois, in the class of 1903; Clarence E., who is with the Decatur Plumbing & Heating Company and who married Miss Amy Bray, of this city : Mabel; Erma Fay; Leah, deceased ; and Louise.
Mr. Drake is an ardent supporter of the Republican party, casting his first ballot for Rutherford B. Hayes and for each Repub- lican presidential candidate since that time. He has been honored with a number of local positions, having been elected alderman of his ward in 1893 and afterward re-elected for a second term. While residing upon the farm he served as commissioner of high- ways and has always been most loyal in his performance of public duties. He is a member of Chevalier Bayard Lodge, No. 189, K. P .; of Celestial Lodge, No. 186, I. O. O. F .; and of Decatur Camp, No. 144, M. W. A. In his business career he has been active, energetic and successful. His close study of the issues and situations has made his knowledge broad, thorough and comprehensive. His loyalty in citizenship, his honesty in business and his trustworthi- ness in private life stand as unquestioned facts in his career, making him one of the most honored and esteemed men that has ever represented the city in its council.
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