USA > Illinois > Macon County > Decatur > Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois > Part 62
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Daniel Dinneen was educated in the pub- lic schools of this city, leaving the high school in his senior year. He entered upon his business career at the age of fifteen, en- gaging with the Wabash Railroad, and con- tinued in their employ until about 1892. Later he was associated with his father in the grocery business and upon the latter's
death assumed control of the store and has greatly increased the trade as the years have gone by. He deals in staple and fancy gro- ceries and he has several delivery wagons used in sending out his goods to his cus- tomers. His store is located at No. 545. North Broadway and he there employs a large force of clerks. He has extensive rooms and carries a very desirable stock, conducting his store along progressive and modern ideas. His methods of business will bear the closest investigation and scru- tiny and his labors are attended with the highest success.
On the 10th of February, 1897, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Dinneen and Miss Helen J. Hackett, a most estimable and cultured lady. She is a graduate of Brown's Business College of Decatur and in social circles occupies an enviable posi- tion. Mr. Dinneen is a member of the fire commission of Decatur and in politics is an earnest Republican. He has frequently served as a delegate to county conventions and his opinions carry weight in the coun- cils of his party. Socially he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and with the Modern Woodmen of America, and he and his wife are devoted members of St. Patrick's Catholic church. His business record is indeed creditable. It is true that he entered upon a business already established, but in controlling and enlarging this many a man of less resolute spirit would have failed. He instituted new methods in keeping with the progressive spirit of the times and his capable control of his store has led to its expansion and made him one of the prosperous merchants of the city.
JOHN J. JOYNT.
John J. Joynt, a well known farmer and stock-raiser of Harristown township, is a native of Illinois, his birth having occurred
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in Logan county, this state, on the 27th of September, 1858. His parents were E. A. and Clara S. Joynt, who were born, reared and married in London, England. About 1855 the father came to America, making the voyage on a sailing vessel which was six weeks in crossing the Atlantic. Dur- ing that time a mutiny broke out on board the ship and the crew was arrested on reaching New York. Although Mr. Joynt had previously served an apprenticeship as a sailor, on coming to this country he turned his attention to farming and first located near Jerseyville in Jersey county, Illinois. Later he returned to England, where he was married, and then brought his bride to this country, establishing a home on Salt creek in Logan county, Illinois, where he purchased forty acres of land. He subse- quently sold that place and bought another forty-acre tract near Latham. There he continued to make his home, though since the death of his wife in April, 1902, he has spent much time in visiting his children. He had four sons, three of whom are liv- ing. and two daughters, namely: John J., of this sketch ; Stephen A., of Macon coun- ty; Clara, now Mrs. William Brown, of Decatur, a twin sister of Stephen A .; Alice, now Mrs. Leslie Benson, of Macon county ; and Frederick E., of Logan county.
John J. Joynt was educated in a little schoolhouse near Latham, where he pur- sued his studies until about twenty years of age and at the same time acquired a good practical knowledge of farm work while assisting his father in the labors of field and meadow on the home farm. He then rented land and commenced farming on his own account and has for several years operated the J. G. Willard farm in Harris- town township, Macon county, where he now resides. It consists of two hundred and forty acres and is under excellent culti- vation. Mr. Joynt feeds cattle and hogs for market, but makes a specialty of the breed-
ing and raising of draft and road horses, doing a good business in that line.
On the 2d of April, 1884, he was united in marriage to Miss Louisa O. Whiteside, who was also born near Latham in Logan county, and is a daughter of James and Elizabeth Whiteside, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter born near Belleville, St. Clair county, Illinois. IIer father, who was a Democrat in politics, died on his farm at Latham in 1892, and her mother passed away many years ago, about 1861, In their family were one son and three daughters, but one daughter is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Joynt have six children, namely : Clarissa Jane, Alice Ada, Irene Ellen, Minnie M., Hilda M. and James Roscoc.
Socially Mr. Joynt is a member of the Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 1786, and politically he is identified with the Re- publican party. He has filled the offices of school director and road commissioner, and has always taken a deep and commenda- ble interest in public affairs, doing all in his power to promote the general welfare.
JOIIN GOGERTY.
John Gogerty was born in County Meath, Ireland, in the year 1833, a son of Chris- topher and Jane Gogerty. The father died in the year 1854 and the mother passed away in New York in 1872. In the family were eleven children, all of whom reached years of maturity, but there is only one brother now living, Christopher Gogerty, who came to America in 1849 and is now living in Michigan.
Our subject spent the first fourteen years of his life on the Emerald Iste and in 1847 he accompanied his elder brother, Thomas, to America, landing in New York. From that time he has been dependent upon his own resources for a living and all
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that he has acquired may be attributed to his own efforts. He first worked on a farm and in a dairy at Ogdensburg, New York, for three years, and in 1850 he went to Rochester, that state, where he continued to serve as a farm hand for about two years. In 1852 he was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith's trade at Waddington, New York, serving for a term of four years. dur- ing which time he became a very proficient workman. His residence in the Empire state continued until 1870, when thinking that he might have better business oppor- tunities in the middle west, he came to lili- nois, arriving in Decatur on the 22d of January, of that year. Here he began work- ing for the Wabash Railroad in the capacity of blacksmith and filled that position until 1885. lle was in charge of the railroad shops at the depot for fourteen years and was one of the most trusted representatives of the company, being ever prompt and faithful in the discharge of his duties and capably superintending the labors of those who worked under him.
On severing his connection with the rail- road company he engaged in contracting, laying brick in connection with Harry Wag- oner, now city assessor. Subsequently he became associated with Andrew Shoemaker under the firm name of Shoemaker & Gog- erty, and still later another partner was admitted to the firm and the name was changed to Shoemaker, Gogerty & Kincaid. As a contractor Mr. Gogerty has been ac- tively and closely identified with the city's improvement and has conducted a large and profitable business. This is now in great contrast to his financial position dur- ing his early years of residence in America, for from 1847 until 1850 he worked for Isaac Ogden and the highest wages he received during that time was two and a half dol- lars per month. The first year he worked at his trade he received fifteen dollars per month and his clothing and the second
year twenty dollars while the third year brought twenty-five dollars. He was a very industrious and energetic man, how- ever, and thus he gained his start in life. He would work from four o'clock in the morning until ten o'clock at night in order to get the shoes prepared for the smithy the next day. It was necessary that he go to Plattsburg to get three-inch iron which he made into shoes, all work being done by hand at that time. Now he is kept busy as a contractor because of the demands which are made upon his time and services and his business has assumed extensive and profit- able proportions.
While residing in Rochester, New York, John Gogerty was united in marriage on the 10th of August, 1857, to Miss Nora Guerin, and unto them have been born seven children: J. L., who married Eliza McGowan and has a family, is now superin- tendent of the Terminal Iron Mountain Railroad and lives at Little Rock, Arkansas. Mary Ursaline is the next of the family. John is the third in order of birth. Rose is the wife of Frank Grayson, of Decatur. Ed J. is the fifth in order of birth. Fred A. wedded a Miss Witt. Frank P., the young- est. married Miss O'Brien and is engaged in railroad work on the Vandalia line.
In his political views Mr. Gogerty has al- ways been a stanch Democrat since becom- ing a naturalized American citizen. He served as alderman of the fifth ward of this city for ten years and has been influential in political circles. While a member of the city council he did most effective work for the city, promoting many measures which have proven practical and have been im- portant factors in the substantial develop- ment of this portion of the state. He is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic church and he takes an active interest in everything pertaining to public progress and improve- ment along social, material and moral lines. IHis own business career is one well worthy
G. T. OUTTEN
t
M. I Outhen
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of study for it shows what can be accom- plished through firm purpose, strong deter- mination and unflagging industry. Coming to this country a poor boy, he has steadily worked his way upward and to-day he is the owner of very desirable city property on Jasper street, together with a pleasant resi- dence on East North street in Decatur, where he has resided continuously since 1870. Ile is to-day one of the well-known and highly respected citizens of Macon county and it is with pleasure that we pre- sent to our readers the record of his career.
GEORGE CARROLL OUTTEN.
George C. Outten, a well known resident of Mount Zion, is one of Macon county's native sons and a worthy representative of one of her most prominent and honored families, whose identification with her his- tory dates from an early period in the de- velopment of the county. The first to lo- cate here was his grandfather, Purnell S. Outten, a native of Kentucky, and of Wels] descent, who came to Macon county at a very carly day and took up government land. He was actively identified with the upbuilding and improvement of this region and so successful was he in his farming operation that he was the owner of over two thousand acres of land at the time of his death, which he divided among his chil- dren.
George T. Outten, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Cass county, Virginia. June 4, 1850, and came to Macon county at the age of four years, when this section of the state was wild and unimproved. Throughout his active business life he fol- lowed farming with good success, accumu- lating a fair competence. He died on the 22d of May, 1885, at the age of thir- ty-five years. A genial, kind hearted man, he made many friends and was
highly respected by all who knew him. By his ballot he supported the men and measures of the Democratic party and took quite an active part in local poli- tics, efficiently serving as supervisor of his township and in other offices. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was a well read man and in carly life engaged in teaching school for a time.
In Mount Zion, November 9, 1872, George T. Outten was united in marriage to Miss May Bell, a native of Macon county, Illi- nois, born near Mount Zion April 21, 1852, and a daughter of Alexander W. and Mary (Montgomery) Bell, also resident farmers of Mount Zion township, who came from Tennessee to this county at an early day. Her father died October 6, 1901, at the very advanced age of ninety years, and her mother passed away January 29, 1892, at the age of seventy-five years, three months and four days.
Mr. Outten, whose name introduces this sketch, was born on the old homestead farm in Mount Zion township, January 11, 1874, and is an only son, but he has a sister, Cora T., now the wife of J. A. Kessler, of Auburn, Illinois. Our subject is indebted to the public schools of the county for the early educational advantages he enjoyed, and later he attended Brown's Business Col- lege, of Decatur, and Gem City Business College, of Quincy, Illinois. On the com- pletion of his education he returned to the home farm in Mount Zion township, which he conducted until the 5th of March, 1903, when he removed to the village of Mount Zion, where he erected a handsome resi- dence with all modern conveniences of a city home. With him resides his mother. Hle is part owner of four hundred and ninety acres of rich and arable land in Mount Zion township, which he now rents, while he devotes his entire attention to buying and selling stock. His largest yield of corn
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was fifteen thousand bushels from two hun- dred and forty acres of land.
Mr. Outten is a very active, energetic and progressive young man, who stands high in the community where he resides. He is devoted to his mother and fondly looks after her welfare and interests. He filled the of- fice of collector two terms and as assessor of his township and votes with the Demo- cratic party. Socially he is a prominent member and past noble grand of Mount Zion Lodge, No. 300, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also belongs to the Court of Honor. Religiously he is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church.
READ SPENCER.
Read Spencer, a retired merchant of De- catur, was born in Pennsylvania, on the 23d of December. 1836, his parents being John and Sarah (Read) Spencer, the former of English lineage while the latter came of Puritan ancestry. In the spring of 1838 the father brought his family to Illinois, set- tling in Stark county, and in the spring of 1865 he located on a farm a mile and a half west of Oakley, in Macon county, where he lived until his death. His wife had departed this life in Stark county. They were the parents of three children, of whom two died in infancy.
Read Spencer was reared upon the home farm and received his preliminary education in the district schools. Better opportunities, however, were later accorded him and he became a student in the preparatory depart- ment of Knox College. After putting aside his text books he went upon a farm and while engaged in its cultivation he devoted the winter months to teaching school. Later he became a traveling salesman and fol- lowed that pursuit for five years. The year 1875 witnessed his arrival in Decatur as a permanent resident here. He became
manager of the Grange Implement House and later he entered into a partnership for the sale of implements under the firm name of Spencer & Lehman. This relationship was maintained with mutual pleasure and profit for a number of years or until July, 1901, when they sold out to the firm of Tenny & Sikking. Mr. Spencer then re- tired from business and is now enjoying a well merited rest at his comfortable home at No. 751 West Wood street.
On the 23d of February, 1863, occurred the marriage of Mr. Spencer and Miss Sarah J. Greenman, a native of Center Belpre, Ohio. Her parents were B. M. and Sarah .A. (Folsom) Greenman, the former of Welch and the latter of Holland-Dutch an- cestry. Mrs. Spencer, the mother of our subject, was at one time a school teacher and his wife followed the same profes- sion prior to her marriage. Unto our sub- ject and his wife have been born three daughters: Jessie, who is a graduate of the Pratt Institute of Brooklyn, New York, and who pursued a post-graduate course in art in New York city, has for seven years been teaching drawing in the Normal School at Mankato, Minnesota. Estella, also a graduate of the Pratt Institute and who holds the degree of Bachelor of Arts, has for two years been supervisor of draw- ing in the schools of New York city. Ber- tha is the wife of Professor A. Miner, who occupies the chair of Latin in the schools of Kewanee, Illinois, and who won the degree of Master of Arts on the completion of a collegiate course at Galesburg, Illinois.
In his political views Mr. Spencer is an earnest Republican, keeping well informed on the issues of the day and thus being able to support his position by intelligent argument. For several terms he served as supervisor of Oakley township. As a citizen he is public-spirited and progressive and takes an active and helpful interest in every- thing tending to prove of public benefit.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.
His labors have been effective in advancing social, material, intellectual and moral progress and wherever he is known his genuine worth has won for him the respect and confidence of those with whom he has come in contact. He owes his success in life entirely to his own efforts and his his- tory stands in illustration of the fact that prosperity is ambition's answer.
MELVIN FISHER BOYER.
One of the representative and prominent citizens of Whitmore township is Melvin F. Boyer, who follows farming on the old homestead on section 2. He was born on section 12, the same township, January IS, 1864. He belongs to a family which has for over half a century been identified with the agricultural interests of this county and has borne an important part in its upbuilding and development.
Ilis father, William Boyer, was born Feb- ruary 23, 1832, in Shelby county, Ohio, a son of Samuel and Christina (Fisher) Boyer, natives of Pennsylvania. His early education, acquired in the common schools of Ohio, was supplemented by the vast knowledge lie obtained through reading and observation and William Boyer became a well informed man. After reaching man- hood he engaged in farming for a time upon the old home place in his native coun- ty. On the 3d of June, 1852, he was there married to Miss Lydia Moothart, the wed- ding ceremony being performed by Rev. Spangler, who boarded them for some time. Her parents were Andrew and Mary Ann (Cashiner) Moothart, the former a native of Holland, whence he emigrated to America at an early day and settled in Pennsylvania. He was a tailor by trade. After his death his widow made her home with her daugh- ter, Mrs. Boyer, and died there March I,
1889, at the age of eighty-eight years and nine months.
In 1859 William Boyer and his wife came to Macon county, Illinois, and settled in Whitmore township, where he purchased forty acres of prairie land. At that time wild game was still plentiful in this region and deer were still seen. Mr. Boyer im- proved his land and added to the original purchase until he had a large well culti- vated farm, but finally sold part of his land to his son Samuel. For a time he was inter- ested in the hardware and grain business in Argenta, as a member of the firm of Pratt & Boyer, his partner being F. M. Pratt, who finally sold out to S. Gerber. As an enter- prising and public spirited citizen Mr. Boyer took a deep interest in public affairs and gave liberally toward building the Zion school and Union church in Whitmore township. He held the office of pathmaster and supervised the ditching and building of roads in his district. He assisted in organizing the Christian church in Oreana and was there ordained an elder by Rev. Thayer, of Maroa. His life was ever in harmony with his professions and he was honored, respected and esteemed by all who knew him. Upon the home farm he passed away September 7, 1886, at the age of fifty-four years and seven months.
There were seven children in his family, six sons and one daughter, all of whom reached years of maturity. In order of birth they are as follows: Samuel M .; Mary Jane, who wedded F. M. Pratt, and is now deceased ; William F .; Andrew W .; Melvin F., of this review; James M .; and Jolin E., who died June 25, 1884, at the age of fifteen years, as the result of a kick from a colt, on the home farm.
On the 13th of December, 1900, the mother of these children married Elijah S. McCarty, who was born in Shelbyville, Tennessee, May 1, 1836, a son of William C. and Louisa (Ilardin) McCarty, who were
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.
natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively. and were married in Morgan county of the latter state. In early life his father en- gaged in farming but later followed mer- chandising. He was born in 1809 and lived to be almost ninety years of age, while his wife was seventy-nine years old at the time of her death. They had four children, two sons and two daughters. all of whom remained in Ohio, with the exception of Elijah S. Ile was educated at Marietta, Ohio, and successfully engaged in teaching school there for a time. In 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil war, he enlisted in Company G, Seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Hildebrand, who died in the service and was succeeded by Colonel Mason. Captain I. A. McCormick, of Marietta, commanded the company. Mr. McCarty was made hos- pital steward on the regimental staff, his duties being to attend to the wounded and establish hospitals wherever needed. He was in the engagement at Pittsburg Land- ing, the siege of Corinth, the capture of Mobile and Little Rock and the engagement on the Saline river. After four years of faithful service he was honorably discharged in July. 1865, and the following winter at- tended the Michigan University at Ann Arbor. Coming to Illinois in 1866, he first located in Litchfield, where he wedded Mary Blackburn, a daughter of Richard and Mary A. Blackburn, of England. She died June 26, 1893, and their only child died in infancy. Mr. McCarty was first en- gaged in the drug business at Litchfield and after selling out taught school for a few years. In 1875 he removed to Decatur and was in the railway mail service under Presidents Harrison and Cleve- land for eleven consecutive years. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are held in high re- gard by all who know them.
Melvin F. Boyer was reared on the home
farm and attended Zion school in Whitmore township until he had acquired a good prac- tical education. His whole life has been devoted to farming and with exception of seven years, when at work in different parts of the county, he has spent his time upon the old homestead. He purchased part of the interests of the other heirs in the tract of one hundred and twenty acres, which he keeps under a high state of cultivation. He is a thorough and systematic farmer and in the management of his affairs has met with marked success.
In February, 1889. Mr. Boyer led to the marriage altar Miss Ida Bowman, a native of Miami. Indiana, and a daughter of A. Bowman, in whose family were seven chil- dren. one son and six daughters. Mrs. Boyer and all her sisters became popular and successful teachers. Our subject and his wife has two children, Floyd and Homer, and the older son is now attending the same school in which his father was edu- cated, and is one of the brightest boys of his class. Mr. Boyer is a member of the Court of Honor and his wife belongs to the Christian church. They began life in limited circumstances but success has crowned their combined efforts to secure a home and competence and by industry, perseverance and good management they have become quite well-to-do. They are well known in the community where they make their home and their circle of friends is extensive.
THOMAS W. PITNER.
Thomas W. Pitner is the junior member of the firm of Bixby, Pitner & Company, manu- facturers of burial shoes in Decatur. He was born in this city on the 2Ist of December, 1875. and comes of ancestry that at an early period was established in Vermont. His par- ents were Washington and Sarah ( Starr) Pitner, the former a native of Tennessee and
J. R. HENARD
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.
the latter of Pennsylvania. The name of Pit- ner was originally Buettner, but little is known of the ancestry of the family. Re- moving to the west, the father of our subject established his home in Decatur, where he opened a photograph gallery and to-day he is the oldest photographer of this city as well as one of the most prominent and capable.
Under the parental roof Thomas N. Pitner was reared and at the usual age he entered the public schools, pursuing his studies therein until he had completed the high school course. lle afterward matriculated in the Illinois Col- lege at Jacksonville, Illinois, where he devoted two years to the mastery of the branches forming the scientific course in that institution. Entering upon his business career he became an employe of the firm of Bixby, Pitner & Company, the second partner in the enterprise at that time being his brother, Frank S. Pit- ner, whom he succeeded in the business on the Ist of January, 1902. The latter was then in poor health and died on the ioth of Janu- ary, 1902, when thirty years of age. Mr. Pit- ner of this review is an enterprising business man, wide-awake and alert to opportunities, and in the control of the enterprise in which he is now a partner is proving an important factor. Hle is well known in this city, where hus entire life has been passed, and is a popu- lar young man, having a large circle of friends. He now belongs to W. C. Roe Camp. No. 7201, M. W. A.
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