Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois, Part 64

Author:
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 988

USA > Illinois > Macon County > Decatur > Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois > Part 64

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

directed efforts and good business ability, and he not only deserves the prosperity that has come to him but he has also gained the con- fidence and good will of those with whom he has been brought in contact either in busi- ness or social life.

CAPTAIN GEORGE W. THOMPSON.

Captain George W. Thompson, deceased, was one of the gallant defenders of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war and was a man highly respected and esteemed wherever known. For many years he made his home in Macon county and was residing in Warrensburg at the time of his death, which occurred on the 6th of August, 1896.

A native of New York, Captain Thompson was born in Erie county, February 17, 1836, and was a son of James and Mehitable ( Gould ) Thompson, who were also natives of the Empire state and the former of Scotch descent. In 1844 the family came to Illinois and settled in MeHenry county twelve miles from Woodstock, where the father owned and operated a large farm.

The Captain grew to manhood in this state and was educated at Belvidere, Boone county. For several years after leaving school he was engaged in teaching and after coming to Macon county in 1857 he taught for a time at Cherry Point. He was principal of the high school at Mount Pulaski two years and of the Buffalo school in Sangamon county for one vear. He subsequently engaged in farming in that county for two years, and at the end of that time removed to a farm of two hun- dred and forty acres on Section 18, Illini township, Macon county, which he had pur- chased. After operating that farm for eight years he took up his residence in Warrens- burg, where he continued to make his home until called to his final rest.

On the 10th of April. 1866, Captain Thomp- son was united in marriage to Miss Mary

Langston, a daughter of James and Harriet Langston, natives of North Carolina and Kentucky, respectively. Her father was a veteran of the Black Hawk war and her pa- ternal grandfather had aided the colonies in their struggle for independence as a soldier of the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Thompson at- tended the State Normal School at Normal. Illinois, for two years and subsequently en- gaged in teaching at Williamsville and Buf- falo. It was the spring following her last term at Buffalo that she gave her hand in mar- riage to our subject and removed to Macon county. Unto them were born nine children. who in order of birth are as follows: Har- riet, now the wife of Gilmore Cunningham, a Methodist Episcopal minister of Cantrell. Il- linois : Laura, who died at the age of eight years : Lillian, wife of C. J. Tucker, a general merchant of Warrensburg: Gertrude, who is teaching music in the school for the blind at Nashville, Tennessee : Flora, the wife of Pro- fessor (). L. Manchester, a teacher of lan- guages in the State Normal University; George H., who was graduated at the Uni- versity of Illinois in 1900 and at the Jolin Marshall Law School of Chicago, June 29. 1903: Frank L., who was graduated at the University of Illinois in 1902 and is now con- nected with the St. Louis Terminal Railroad in St. Louis: Clarence, who is pursuing an agricultural course in the University of Il- linois, and is a member of the class of 1904; and Sherman, who is in the office of Mlr. Pat- terson, an architect of Decatur.

At different times Captain Thompson credit- ably filled the offices of township clerk, jus- tice of the peace and school director, and by his ballot he supported the Republican party. Socially he was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Grand Army of the Repub- lic. When the Union was in peril he offered his services to the government and was com- missioned first lieutenant of Company .A. Fif- teenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was

JAMES G. GRIFFITH

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

assigned to the Seventeenth Corps. Army of the Cumberland. He participated in many important engagements and was with General Sherman on his celebrated march to the sea. At the close of the war, when his services were no longer needed. Captain Thompson was mustered out with the rank of captain and returned home with a military record of which his family may be justly proud. For many years he was an earnest member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and was quite active in its work. He was always found faithful to his church, to his country, and to his friends. and in his death the community realized that it had lost a valued citizen.

JAMES G. GRIFFITH.

James G. Griffith, now deceased, was born near Tunbridge, Orange county, Vermont, on the 30th of March, 1830. The family is of English lineage. The father of our sub- ject was a farmer of the Green Mountain state and owned one hundred and sixty acres of land which is still in possession of his heirs. The old house is still standing there with its old fashioned fireplaces and other early equipments. The place is called the Whitney Hill. The father died when his son James G. was five years of age and the latter then lived with a distant relative until twenty years of age. He pursued his preliminary education in the country schools and later was a student at Haverhill. Mas- sachusetts. Later he was employed by a Mr. Wadleigh at Haverhill and thus entered upon his business career.

About this time James G. Griffith was united in marriage to Miss Susannah Whit- ney, the wedding taking place in 1855. In the fall of the same year they removed to Morgan county, Illinois, settling near Chat- ham, where Mr. Griffith engaged in farming until 1866, when he came to Macon county. He then rented a tract of land in Pleasant

View township and after a few years he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 26 of the same township, residing thereon up to the time of his death. He was an active, enterprising, practical and progressive agriculturist and as the result of his labors his fields were placed under a high state of cultivation and re- turned to him an excellent income. As the years passed seven children were added to the home: William H., a retired farmer who married Alice Logan and resides in Macon ; Clara Adeline, the wife of Charles L. Colby, a lumberman of Decatur, by whom she has two children ; Arthur L., who lives on a farm southeast of Macon, and married Sattie Ingram, by whom he has two children ; and four who passed away. The mother of these children died Novem- ber 5, 1891, and on the 23d of November, 1892, Mr. Griffith was again married, his second union being with Vida J. Holtz, a daughter of Major David and Elizabeth ( Hoover) Holtz. Her mother was a daugh- ter of Christopher Hoover, of Ohio. The paternal grandmother of Mrs. Griffith was ninety-six years of age at the time of her death and the paternal great-grandmother reached the advanced age of one hundred and eleven years. Mr. Holtz passed away at the age of sixty-eight years. lle was a mechanic by trade, but reared his family upon a farm. He had the following chil- dren : Addie F. became the wife of Sam- uel T. Young, of Macon county ; Christo- pher 11., who was in the hospital corps during the Civil war, afterward became a practicing physician and died in 1867; Rachel Margaret died in February, 1875; John William, who served in an Ohio regiment during the Civil war, died in hospital No. 6 at Nashville, Tennessee, in the middle of October, 1862, as the result of exposure and hardship at Shiloh, being then but twenty-one years of age; Mrs. Griffith is the next of the family ; Susan

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

died July 27, 1876: David Ilenry passed away August 20, 1874; Isaac Milton died in February, 1879; Mary Elizabeth became the wife of Martin Miller, of Blue Mound, and the mother of three sons; Carl D. is part owner and cashier in the Mount Auburn Bank; Arthur G. is cashier in the bank of Blue Mound; Earl M. is engaged in horti- cultural pursuits in Montgomery county, Illinois ; Jacob LeRoy died May 24, 1887; Edward Augustus and Clarence H. were twins and the former died December 2, . 1880, while the latter died August 3, 1881.

Mrs. Griffith was educated in eastern Ohio and in Antrim College, in which she spent one year. When fourteen years of age she won two teacher's certificates. She first taught school at Attica, Indiana, as assistant principal, and afterward in Marsh- field, Indiana, for a year. She then spent a year as a teacher south of Attica, three years in a school south of Rossville and two years in Warren county, Indiana. For four terms she was teacher in the Dales school northeast of Alvin, was next em- ployed at College Corner, then at Pleasant Hill and in 1881-2 was a teacher in the high school in Rossville. She was next employed at Hedge Corner, west of Rossville. In 1887 on account of illness in the family she re- mained at home in order to act as nurse and then came to Pleasant View township, where she engaged in teaching for one year. She afterward gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Griffith and for fourteen months they traveled life's journey happily together.

In January, 1866, Mr. Griffith became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, being connected with the organization at Macon, Illinois. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party and he was enthusiastic in its support, but never sought or desired office. He died December 29, 1893, respected by all who knew him. He had been a loving and devoted husband and father, a consistent Christian gentle-

man and a faithful friend, and the sterling qualities of his manhood had endeared him to all with whom he came in contact. His widow is now occupying a handsome home in Blue Mound, where she is widely and fa- vorably known.

JOHN W. HAMMAN.

John W. Hamman was born November 6. 1867, in Ohio, and is of German lineage. His paternal grandfather, Philip Hamman, was a native of Germany and about the time he at- tained his majority he bade adieu to friends. and native land and sailed for the new world. Favorable reports had reached him concern- ing the opportunities for a business career in this country and hoping that he might benefit his financial conditions he established his home in Ohio, arriving there about 1807. He was. a farmer by occupation and carried on agricul- tural pursuits in the Buckeye state until called to his final rest. His son William Hamman, the father of our subject, was born in Ohio and on leaving that state took up his abode in Illinois in 1879. Here he carried on farming west of Warrensburg in Macon county. He became a representative and influential resi- dent of that district and was also prominent in public life in the Buckeye state, having served as overseer and collector. A gentleman of the highest respectability, his life was honorable and upright and when he was called to his final rest his death was deeply mourned by many friends. It was in July, 1899, when sixty years of age that he passed away. Unto- him and his wife had been born ten children, of whom nine are now living, as follows: Elizabeth, the wife of George Theobald; Kate, who is the wife of Otto Heiner; Tena, who married Judson Drobich: William; John W .: Philip P .: Mollie, the wife of Guy Park; Daniel ; and Raymond. Edward, the eighth child, died at the age of nineteen years.

There was no event of special importance

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

to vary the routine of life for John W. Ham- man in his early youth. Some duties claimed his attention, especially the duties of the schoolroom, and hours of pleasure in the play- ground were enjoyed by him. After reaching man's estate, however, the cares and responsi- bilities of life came upon him and in order to carn a living he established a transfer line and storage warehouse in partnership with his brother Philip P. under the firm name of Hamman Brothers. They began this work in 1892 with limited capital, each having only a few dollars. By persistent effort and square dealing, however, they have developed their business to its present proportions and its ex- tension has been along safe, conservative and yet progressive lines. They first had but small quarters in East Prairie street, but have occu- pied their present quarters on Franklin street since February, 1898, and in addition they have a large warehouse on East Main street and Broadway. The affairs of their business now make heavy demands upon their time and as the result of their close application and careful management they are now enjoying a season of prosperity which is much appre- ciated and justly deserved.

In 1889 Mr. Hamman of this review was united in marriage to Miss Lou L. Davis, a daughter of George C. Davis, of Long Creek, Illinois, and they now have three interesting children-Lester, Irene, and Ruth. In 1899 Mr. Hamman was made a Mason. He be- longs to lonic Lodge, No. 312, F. & A. M., and he also holds membership relations with the Order of the Eastern Star. He is a mem- ber of Easterly Camp, No. 1626, M. W. A., has been its manager for the past six years and is now its banker and he also has mem- bership relations with the Royal Neighbors of America. Ile has a place amid a circle of friends who honor and esteem him for his many manly virtues and genuine worth. His prosperity cannot be attributed to any com- bination of lucky circumstances, but has risen from energy, enterprise, integrity and indi-

vidual effort well directed and his business has ever been conducted on the strictest prin- ciples of fair dealing.

JOHN MCEVOY.

Among the carly residents of Decatur whose work entitles them to distinction as leading citizens and as upbuilders of the city John McEvoy should be numbered. He was a native of the Emerald Isle, his birth having occurred in Kilbegnet, county Galway, Ireland, on the 12th of December, 1832. His parents were Felix and Ellen (Scanlan) McEvoy, also natives of Ireland, in which country they spent their entire lives. It was to the common-school sys- tem of his native land that Mr. MeEvoy was indebted for the educational privi- leges he enjoyed in his youth.

In 1849, when about seventeen years of age, he came with two of his cousins to America. They landed in New York and thence went to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where John McEvoy learned the carpenter's trade. He continued to follow that pursuit in Pittsfield until 1856, when he removed to the west, settling in Decatur. Here he continued in the employ of others for a time and finally began working at bridge work for both the Illinois Central and Wa- bash Railroads and he was afterward given full charge of all of the bridge work on the Wabash Railroad between Stateline, Indi- ana, and the Mississippi river, and continued to serve in that capacity for seven years. He then ceased building operations and turned his attention to the conduct of a grocery and meat market in Decatur, but after a short time disposed of his interests in mercantile life in 1864. Hle then built what it now the National Hotel, conducting it successfully up to the time of his death.

While in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Mr. MeEvoy was married to Miss Jane Kenney,

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a native of Frankfort, Kings county, Ire- land, born December 26, 1835, and a daugh- ter of Richard and Julia Kenney, who were also born in Kings county, and there re- mained from birth until death. The father was a carpenter by trade and made that his life occupation. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Evoy were born nine children: James D., who was born January 23, 1856, resides at the National Hotel and superintends the business interests there ; Julia E., born June I, 1857, is the widow of James P. Nolan and resides with her mother at the hotel. She had two chidren, Richard F. and Fran- cis J., but the latter is now deceased. The third member of the McEvoy family is Richard F. McEvoy, who was born Febru- ary 13, 1859, and married Minnie Hall. He is now foreman of the large blacksmith shop of the Wayne Carriage Manufactory in De- catur. John Patrick, born December 23, 1800, died in childhood. Maria E., born December 19, 1861, died at the age of two years. Jennie Agnes, born November 8. 1863, is the deceased wife of W. B. Thomp- son, of Decatur. Patrick F. was born March 6, 1867, and resides at the hotel. Henry M., born April 10, 1869, is living in California. Cathaline M., born March 30, 1871, is the wife of James R. Russell, a con- ductor on the Vandalia Railroad, living in Decatur.

Mr. McEvoy always took a deep and active interest in political affairs and gave his support to the Democracy until 1860, when he became a stanch Republican. He always kept well informed on the issues of the day and did everything in his power to secure the success of his party, yet never sought or desired office. He was one of the leading representatives and charter member of the Ancient Order of Hiberni- ans, Division No. 1, of Macon county, and held some high offices in the organization. He and his wife were members of St. Pat- rick's Catholic church of Decatur, of which

their children also became communicants. Mr. MeEvoy deserves great credit for what he accomplished in life, for when he came to Decatur he had no capital and was de- pendent upon his own labors in his trade for all that he possessed and enjoyed up to the time of his death. He owned consider- able property in this city and was recog- nized as a leading and influential man here. He passed away August 29, 1889, and thus ended a life record of usefulness and activity crowned with good results. Mrs. McEvoy and her sons now own and conduct the National Hotel, located at Nos. 561 to 505 North Front street. The building is new and modern and the hotel has a liberal patronage, being conveniently located near both the Illinois Central and Wabash depots.

CHARLES P. THATCHER.

Practical industry, wisely and vigorously applied, never fails of success and the truth of this statement finds another exemplifica- tion in the life record of Charles P. Thatcher, who after many years of close connection with business affairs, during which he labored carnestly and indefatigably, is now enjoying a well earned rest from further work. He was born January 16, 1841, near Milford Mills, in Chester county, Pennsylvania, his parents being William P. and Sarah M. Thatcher. The father was a farmer by occupation, follow- ing that pursuit in Chester county until 1853. after which he turned his attention to mer- chandising in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. There he remained until 1861, when he dis- posed of his mercantile interests in the east and came to Illinois.

Mr. Thatcher, whose name introduces this record, was for two years a student in the school conducted by S. Aaron at Norristown, l'ennsylvania, and he completed his education in the Friends Central School in Philadelphia.

MR. and MRS. J. B. GLEASON

MR. and MRS. ADAM DICKSON

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

After leaving school he spent one year in the general mercantile business conducted by his father in the town of St. Clair, Pennsylvania, and in the spring of 1861 he accompanied his parents on their removal from the Keystone state to Illinois, the family home being estab- lished in Decatur, near which city the father purchased a tract of land. He then engaged largely in the growing of sheep and the pro- duction of wool and Mr. Thatcher of this re- view assisted him in the business through the six years of its continuance, when owing to the father's death this industry was discon- tinued.

In the spring of 1867 Charles P. Thatcher turned his attention to the lumber business, establishing a yard in Decatur, at the intersec- tion of the Wabash Railroad and North Water street. There he conducted a growing trade for many years, continuing in that line until 1890. Gradually his patronage increased and his sales brought to him a splendid financial return. His business methods were honorable and in all trade transactions he was straight- forward, never taking advantage of the neces- sities of his fellow-men, but gaining thereby a fair profit on his investment.

On the 18th of January, 1865, Mr. Thatcher was united in marriage to J. Neta Robinson, who resided with her parents at Schuylkill Haven in Pennsylvania. Immediately after- ward he brought his bride to Decatur and as the years passed four children were added to the family, of whom two died in infancy. The others are Irene R., now the wife of W. L. Shellabarger; and Alice Neta, who is the wife of Robert U. Maffit, both residing in Decatur. Mrs. Thatcher died in this city March 9, 1895, and was laid to rest in Green- wood cemetery. On the 6th of October, 1898. Mr. Thatcher was again married, his second union being with Mary M. Hall, with whom he is now living in a pleasant home at the corner of Water and North streets. Keen and clear-headed, always busy, always careful and conservative in financial matters, moving

slowly but surely in every transaction, he had few superiors in the steady progress which invariably reaches the objective point.

ADAM DICKSON.

Adam Dickson is a prominent and well- known citizen of Decatur, where he is now living retired after many years' connection with agricultural interests. llis residence in Macon county dates from 1859, at which time he took up his abode in Macon town- ship. He came from the land of hills and heather, his birth having occurred in Scot- land, on the 19th of July, 1835. His parents were Archibald and Alice ( Innes) Dick- . son, who were also natives of Scotland. where they spent their entire lives, the father providing for the family by following farming. Unto this conple were born eight children, five of whom have passed away, while the three now living are residents of this country, namely: George, who is now residing in Clay Center, Nebraska; Archi- bald, a retired farmer residing at No. 1012 West Decatur street ; and Adam.

Mr. Dickson of this review was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, but his privileges in that direction were very meager, for at the age of ten years he had to leave school in order to assist his father upon the home farm. Ile was thus employed until 1853, when, de- termining to try his fortune in America he sailed for the new world, landing in New York city. He did not tarry long in the eastern metropolis, however, but went at once to Rock county, Wisconsin, where he was engaged in farming for three years. On the expiration of that period he took up his abode in Red Wing, Minnesota, where he followed the trades of plastering and brick-making for a scason. lle then returned to Rock county, where he carried on agri- cultural pursuits and also worked at odd

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

jobs of plastering, being thus engaged until 1858, when he went to Phillips county, Arkansas. In that state he was employed in the timber regions through the winter and in 1859 he returned to the north, settling in Macon county, Illinois, where he se- cured employment as a farm hand. In this manner his time was passed until 1865, when with the capital he had acquired through his own labors he purchased a farm in Milam township, for which he paid nine dollars per acre. At once he began its further development and cultivation and at the end of that time he built the first school- house in Milam township, erecting this in 1866. His wife's father was the second teacher of the first school in the township. After his marriage Mr. Dickson engaged in general farming in Milam township and as his financial resources increased he kept adding to his land from time to time until now he owns three hundred and twenty acres, constituting one of the best improved farms of the locality. The entire tract is situated on sections 2 and II, Milam town- ship, and it is improved with modern build- ings and substantial equipments in harmony with the progressive spirit of the twentieth century.

On the 31st of December, 1868, occurred the marriage of Mr. Dickson and Miss Har- riet J. Gleason, a native of Summit county, Ohio, born December 29, 1850. She is a daughter of Jonah B. and Rebecca (Little) Gleason, the former a native of Hartford, Connecticut, and the latter of Peru, Massa- chusetts. ' The father was a carpenter, brick- mason and farmer and on removing from Connecticut settled in Ohio, while later he took up his abode in lowa, where he lived until 1865. During that time he was county surveyor for a number of years and also worked at the brick-mason's trade. He then established his home in Milam township. Macon county, where he was engaged in general farming in connection with car-

pentering. Of that locality he remained a resident up to the time of his death, which occurred February 29, 1884, and his wife passed away September 13, 1889. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Dickson are nine children: Nina R., who resides at home; Allie, the wife of Frank Kennedy, a resi- dent of Mount Zion township, this county ; Luella, who died at the age of four years ; Archie R., a resident of Portland, Oregon ; Louis B., who married Grace Wilson and lives in Milam township, this county; George A., who resides on his father's' farm in Milam township with his brother Louis B. : Bert, Edward M. and Nellie M., all re- siding with their parents. Edward won the four-years' free scholarship and is now at- tending James Millikin University, where his brother Bert is also a student.

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Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois, Part 64

Author: Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 988

Author:
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 988