Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois, Part 66

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 66

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In early life Mr. Abbott voted with the Republican party, but later held himself free from all party ties and cast his ballot for the candidates whom he regarded as best . qualified for office. He was a hard working man and became skilled in his chosen pur- suit, so that he was always enabled to com- mand good wages at his trade and thus he left his family in very comfortable circum- stances. His wife owns the property at No. 1048 North Monroe street, where she and her daughter reside.

JOHN BARRON.

In a history of those who were once ac- tive in the business life of Decatur mention should be made of John Barron, now de-

ceased, who was a real estate and loan agent here. His business grew to extensive and important proportions and he was wide- ly and favorably known as a representative of the trade relations of the city. Ilc claimed Vermont as the state of his nativity, his birth having there occurred in the city of Burlington, March 21, 1860. Ilis parents were Patrick and Julia Barron, both of whom were natives of Vermont and they always made their home near Burlington, where the father followed the occupation of farming. There both the father and mother passed away. One of their sons, however, is still a resident of Vermont, being now a priest of the Catholic church in Bennington. A sister, Mrs. John Fitzgerald, resides in Troy, New York.

John Barron attended the public schools of his native county to some extent, but his educational privileges were limited. At the age of ten years he left home and went to Lancaster, Ohio, where he began work as an apprentice to the blacksmith's trade, be- ing thus employed for three years. From that time until his death he was dependent entirely upon his own efforts and deserved great credit for what he accomplished and at the age of thirteen years he came to Ma- con county, Illinois, and settled in the vil- lage of Warrensburg, where he began work at his trade. Later he engaged in black- smithing on his own account and secured a good patronage because of his excellent workmanship, his honorable business methods and his earnest desire to please his customers. While living in Warrensburg he likewise filled the office of postmaster for three years and was recognized as a leading and influential citizen there. In 1897 he removed to the city of Decatur and be- came identified with its business affairs as a real estate and loan agent, his office be- ing located at No. 123 East Main street in connection with James O'Mara, an attorney. HIe handled much valuable property and

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negotiated many important realty transfers ; also placed many loans and as a representa- tive of this line of business had a large clientage.

On January 1, 1900, Mr. Barron was mar- ried in Decatur to Miss Mollie Holland, a native of this city and a daughter of John M. and Margaret ( White) Holland, both of whom were natives of Ireland, whence they came to America at an early day, mak- ing their way at once to Decatur. They were among the early settlers here and Mr. Holland worked as a common laborer in Decatur until 1901, when he removed to Pueblo, Colorado, and retired from business life. Both he and his wife still reside in this city. Two children were born unto Mlr. and Mrs. Barron : Willie Andrew, born June 22, 1901 ; and Julia, born January 1, 1903.

The business career of Mr. Barron was one which gained him deep and sincere ad- miration from all who were familiar with his honorable record. Starting out in life for himself at the tender age of ten years, mastering his trade and then following it for a long period, he made his course such a one as was worthy of the highest respect. In public affairs he was prominent and while in Warrensburg he held the office of constable and collector for several years. He was also postmaster at that place for three years and was assistant supervisor of Decatur for some time. Ile exercised his right of franchise in support of the Repub- lican party and always kept well informed on the issues of the day, thus being able to give intelligent support to the principles which he advocated. lle was a charter mem- ber of Decatur Council, No. 577, Knights of Columbus, and both he and his wife were members of St. Patrick's Catholic church of this city. In manner he was genial and cor- dial and he gained many friends. He passed away December 28, 1902, and that he was a popular and highly esteemed citizen was shown by the fact that his was one of the

largest funerals ever held in the city, hun- dreds gathering to pay their last tribute of respect to one whom they had known and honored. Mrs. Barron owns a nice new residence at No. 940 North Edward street, in which she is now living, and she also has other valuable property interests in De- catur.

LEVANT B. C. LEFFINGWELL.

Levant B. C. Leffingwell is now engaged in dealing in oil in Decatur. There are many points in his business career which show him to be an honorable, upright man and while he has encountered difficulties and hardships he has always maintained a reputation which proves the truth of the old adage that a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. He is to-day, however, meeting with a fair degree of suc- cess and year by year his prosperity is in- creasing.

Mr. Leffingwell was born in Wheeler township, Steuben county, New York, Jan- uary 16, 1830, a son of Jonathan and llan- nah (Avery ) Leffingwell, of New York. The paternal grandfather also bore the name of Jonathan Leffingwell and was a native of Massachusetts. The maternal grandfather was Temperance Avery, and he, too, was born in New England. Jonathan Leffing- well, Jr., died when but fifty years of age, his son Levant being then a youth of eleven years. He had always followed farming and upon the old homestead reared his family of eight children, of whom four are now living, namely : Artemas, Levant. Ruth Cordelia and Hannah Jane. Those de- ceased are Amanda, Jonathan Avery, Lem- uel and Leander.

Levant B. C. Leffingwell, who was the fifth in order of birth, accompanied his pa- rents on their removal from the Empire state to Indiana during his early boyhood and there he was reared. His advantages

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

for securing an education in early life were limited, however, for he was able to attend school only during three months of the win- ter season. He managed to acquire a knowledge sufficient, however, to enable him to teach school and he entered upon that profession when twenty years of age, following it for five winters in the country district. During three winter seasons he was a teacher in Macon county. Ile ar- rived here in 1856 and engaged in farming in connection with his educational work. In 1861, however, he returned to Indiana, where he spent four years. In 1865 he came once more to Decatur, where he established a grocery store, conducting this with a fair measure of success until 1873. Hle then be- came a factor in business circles of Indian- apolis, Indiana, engaging in the wholesale paper trade. The following year he came once more to Decatur and again opened a grocery store, but about this time he met with financial reverses, and thinking to re- cover his losses he removed to Kansas in December, 1877, and homesteaded a claim. There he began life anew, but drought and failure of crops again brought gloom and disappointment. However, he did not to- tally lose his courage, but with a brave heart started again. Returning to Decatur in July, 1880, he engaged in the restaurant business, putting forth every effort to make the enterprise a profitable one with the firm determination that he would pay off all of his creditors. This honorable course he continued in and in four years he had paid off dollar for dollar. Ilis business industry has since won him a fair measure of success. In 1884 he removed to Florida, where he spent one year, and then, returning to De- catur, he again engaged in the grocery trade. In 1887 he began dealing in oil, which business he sold in 1893, removing then to California on account of the health of his daughter, Mande. She was not ben- efited as they had hoped, but died in Indi-

ana in 1895, and Mr. Leffingwell then re- turned to Decatur, where he became an oil dealer, and his attention is still devoted to that pursuit.

On the 24th of August, 1854, Mr. Leffing- well was united in marriage to Esther An Sutton, who was killed by a run-away team on the 18th of April, 1888. She left two children : Maude, now deceased : and San- ford, who is living in California. On the 18th of August, 1901, Mr. Leffingwell was again married, his second union being with Amanda Seilegg, of Decatur. Mr. Leffing- well and his wife have many friends in this city. A man of strong individuality and indubitable probity, he has attained a fair measure of success in the affairs of life, al- though he has encountered hardships and difficulties in his career. Ile is a man of genial and social nature and one who is honored and respected by all those who know him.

FRANCIS STEWART.

Francis Stewart was for many years iden- tified with farming interests in central Illi- nois, and his activity in business and his trustworthiness in all trade transactions made him a valued representative of agricul- tural life here. A native of the Emerald Isle, his birth occurred in County Down, March 24, 1837, and he was the youngest of the seven children of James and Dorothea (Brown) Stewart, who were also born in County Down, but were of Scotch descent. The father was a miller by trade and owned a mill in his native country, where he and his wife spent their entire lives, the father pass- ing away in middle life and the mother at an advanced age. In the family are two sis- ters who are yet alive in Ireland-Mrs. Isabella Brown, a widow. in Belfast; and Martha Stewart, who is living in Killaleigh, County Down.

Francis Stewart is the only member of

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the family that came to America. He was in infancy, while the former died July 30, eighteen years of age when he left home 1895, at the age of twenty years. Belle is the wife of William Black, living north of Blue Mound. William married Nellie Armstrong, of Blue Mound, and they have one child, Golda B., born July 1, 1897. Charles, who is now superintendent of the schools of Elwood, Illinois, Was a member of Battery D, Sixth United States Artillery, in the Philippines and returned home with health greatly impaired. and went to Glasgow, Scotland, where he worked in a foundry for two years, after which he came to America in 1857, at- tracted by the business opportunities of the new world. He settled in Livingston county, New York, fifty miles east of Buf- falo, where he worked as a farm hand for three years, or until 1860, when he came to Illinois and purchased forty acres of land in Christian county, to which he afterward added two hundred acres, thus making a valuable farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he owned up to the time of his death. In his farm work he was prac- tical, enterprising and resolute, and his labors made his fields very productive and his work profitable. He had had but lim- ited educational privileges in his native land but by experience and obeservation he added greatly to his knowledge and be- came a well informed man.

On the 26th of October, 1861, Mr. Stew- art was married to Miss Isabella Irvin, at Mount Auburn, Christian county. She was a daughter of James and Margaret (Corri- gill) Irvin, natives of Scotland, born on the island of Pomona-"the goddess of flowers." Mrs. Stewart was born there and well remembers the beautiful island. Her father was a farmer there. She had an uncle who was pressed into military service to assist the allied armies fighting against Napoleon and as he was never heard from again it is supposed that he was killed at the battle of Waterloo. Mrs. Stewart also remembers when church differences caused many of the Presbyterians to withdraw from their church under the name of Dis- senters.

Unto Mlr. and Mrs. Stewart were born six children: James married Agnes Carr, a native of Canada, and they had two chil- dren, but both are now deceased. Dorothea and Maggie were twins and the latter died

Mr. Stewart was a volunteer of the One Hundred and Fifty-second Illinois Infantry, and served until the end of the Civil war, proving a valiant defender of the Union cause. In times of peace he was equally loyal to the nation and ever had a deep and sincere love for the stars and stripes. His political support was given the Republican party and he held the office of school di- rector. A Royal Arch Mason, he first held membership in Grove City Lodge, F. & .A. M., and on his removal to Blue Mound he joined Blue Mound Lodge. No. 682, of which he was an exemplary representative up to the time of his death. His church relationship was with the Presbyterian de- nomination, while his wife is a consistent member of the Methodist church. He lived true to the principles in which he believed and at his death, which occurred in Blue Mound, July 14, 1900, his remains being interred in Waltz cemetery, his loss was deeply felt by many friends. He came to this county a young man with very limited capital and in an honorable business career he steadily worked his way upward so that he left to his family a comfortable com- petence as well as an untarnished name.

ANDREW J. THOMPSON.

For many years a resident of Macon county, Andrew J. Thompson was well known because of his activity in business life and his devotion to manly principles.

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He followed farming during the early years of his residence here, but afterward became connected with industrial and commercial interests of the city of Decatur, and his last years were spent in an honorable and well earned retirement from labor.

Mr. Thompson was a native of the Em- pire state, his birth having occurred near Rochester, New York, on the 4th of June, 1834. His parents were James C. and Me- hitable (Gould) Thompson, also natives of New York, where they remained until their removal to the west at an early epoch in the settlement and development of Illinois. They took up their abode in McHenry county, this state, and upon the farm which the father cultivated and improved there they spent their remaining days.

Andrew J. Thompson was but a boy at the time of the removal of the family to the west, and his education, which was begun in the public schools of New York, was continued in the schools of McHenry county and in a college in Chicago, in which he was graduated. Through the periods of va- cation and after completing his college course, he assisted his father in the opera- tion of the home farm, and while there he also learned the carpenter's trade. He re- mained in McHenry county until 1859, when, with his brother, George W. Thomp- son, he came to Macon county. The latter engaged in farming near Warrensburg until his death, which occurred in 1899.

Andrew J. Thompson settled upon a farm in Hickory Point township and was there united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth A. Allen, who became a most faithful and valued companion on the journey of life. She was a native of Tennessee and a daugh- ter of James Allen, who was born in South Carolina but spent the greater part of his life in Tennessee, devoting his energies to farming until his death, which occurred during the early childhood of our subject.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were born

four children, but the first one died un- named. Allen J., the son, married Dora Green, and now resides in St. Louis, where he is engaged in the restaurant business. Mina is now the wife of J. L. Hedrick, who is employed as a finisher in the Pullman car shops in Chicago. Eva, the youngest, died at the age of eleven years.

After his marriage Mr. Thompson en- gaged in farming in Hickory Point town- ship, where he remained for six years, and on the expiration of that period he sold his land and removed to Decatur, where he turned his attention to the grain bus- iness, which he followed for three years. He then began carpentering, which he fol- lowed for many years, being engaged on the construction of some of the best buildings in the city. He also traveled for the Tait Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of agricultural implements. He traveled for this firm and also other manufacturers of Decatur, working at his trade with them all the time in their factories located at dif- ferent places. He was thus connected with carpentering until a few years prior to his death, when he put aside active business cares and labors and enjoyed a well carned rest at his pleasant home in Decatur until called to his final rest. On the 13th of July, 1903, he had a stroke of paralysis and passed away the following day.

Mr. Thompson always took an active in- terest in politics and voted with the Re- publican party. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity of Decatur and also the Knights of Pythias lodge, while his wife is a member of the Christian church. She is an estimable lady whose excellent traits

of heart and mind have gained her many friends. Mr. Thompson was particularly well known in Decatur and Macon county, where he made his home for forty-four years. Ile made it his aim to utilize his time to the best advantage, to so direct his labors as to bring the best results possible,

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

and he accomplished much through an ac- , tive and reliable business career that won him the confidence and good will of all with whom he was associated.

WILLIAM H. BRAMBLE.

Indelibly engraved on the pages of his- tory in Illinois is the name of William H. Bramble. Within the last half century America has demonstrated her right to the leadership of the world in the realm of in- vention. She, at first, by the brilliancy of her achievements won the attention of the old countries, then commanded a respect which rapidly developed into a wondering admiration. Though she cannot cope with the old masters in the fine arts, Europe has acknowledged her pre-eminence in science and useful invention. She has given to the world unexcelled labor-saving and cost- reducing machinery, and Mr. Bramble has contributed to this reputation of the United States through his efforts along the lines of invention. It was said by an eminent Chi- cago divine that "There is nothing extem- poraneous; everything results from some previous condition or labor." This truth is especially manifested in the life of the in- ventor. He may perfect in a few weeks or perhaps days an invention of good worth, but it is the ontgrowth of years of thought, study and experiment.

Mr. Bramble is now widely known as a pioneer of Macon county, as a prominent architect and contractor, and because of his inventive power is known as the "Western Genius." He was born in Piketon, Pike county, Ohio, September 19, 1821, being the youngest of three children. the others being James, who died in early childhood: and Rebecca, who became the wife of Dr. Ly- man, of Chicago. The father, Henry Bram- ble, was born and reared in Maryland, and · there learned the stone-cutter's trade. When

a young man he removed to Pike county, Ohio, where he worked at his trade for a time and then devoted a number of years to the conduct of a hotel in Chillicothe, Ohio. Subsequently he removed to Delphi, Indiana, and for some time he engaged in merchandising. His next venture was in farming and in connection with his son-in- law he purchased a large tract of land near Lafayette, Indiana, but after several years he sold his interest in this property and purchased land elsewhere, making his home on the latter tract until after his son was married. He then went to live with his son-in-law, Dr. Lyman, in whose home he passed away, at the age of forty-six years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Turner, was a native of Ohio, and died in Chillicothe, that state, when her son William was a young lad.

William Bramble spent his early life in his father's hotel and store. He attended school until about sixteen years of age and then went upon his father's farm, but he possessed natural inventive genius and his gift in this direction was shown in early boyhood. While working in the fields he would think of some improvement that might be made in farm implements and would immediately set to work to embody his idea in material form, perchance to the detriment of the field he was weeding. When but fifteen years old he invented a corn planter and about the time he attained his majority when lying in bed one night he suddenly conceived the idea of making a grain scale that would receive, weigh and discharge the grain and add up the amount. This idea took complete possession of him, butt it required eleven years for him to bring his ideas and the scale to perfection. In order to carry out his experiments he sold his farm and erected a hotel near Lafayette, Indiana, building a little workshop nearby. There he spent many hours every day trying to perfect the grain scale. His mind was

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completely absorbed in the project and the money he received from the sale of his farm was soon spent. People of the neigh- borhood almost believed that he had lost his reason, so completely did he devote him- self to his invention, but after eleven years of hard and self-denying labor his work was completed. Going to Washington he received a patent and on his return he be- gan the sale of the automatic grain scale. One of his sales amounted to eighty thon- sand dollars. The success of the invention was astonishing after a brief period. .1 machine was placed on exhibition at Lafay- ette which received and measured the grain, gave the number of bushels and calculated the amount which it might bring at the current price. From the receipts of his sales Mr. Bramble erected a large hotel in Lafayette, Indiana, which still bears his name.

There were, however, some difficulties to be overcome and hardships to be endured before he reaped the full reward of his labors. He sold his patent from a model, but when the purchaser came to put it in use it was worthless, so his property was returned and he handed back the money. He then borrowed money to improve this machine and after six months he went to Cincinnati, where he remodeled and per- fected his invention. While there he re- ceived a gold medal upon it, also one in Baltimore and a third at the World's Fair in New York. The scale being completed. Mr. Bramble admitted a partner to the bus- iness and opened an office in Cincinnati, where he began the sale of his machine. He sold it to the extent of about ten thous- sand dollars, but through the rascality of his partner he lost all that he had made. retaining only about twenty-five hundred acres of wild land. near Council Bluffs, Iowa. The machine he exhibited in every state of the Union and received premiums at hundreds of places, including the Ohio

state fair in 1855 and the New York state fair in the same year. Ile also won a gold medal at Baltimore and at the New York American Institute. He won a special gold medal, a silver medal and the first diploma at the fourteenth annual exhibition of the Ohio Mechanics Institute and also gained another special medal, and all of these he now has in his possession.

In the spring of 1857 Mr. Bramble took his family and household goods to łowa, proceeding by boat from St. Louis to his possessions near Council Bluffs. He found the country, however, wild and unsettled. being inhabited much more largely by Indi- ans than white men, and not caring to make that district a place of residence he re- turned to St. Louis with the intention of making his way to Springfield, Ohio. Com- ing, however, to Decatur he decided to locate in this city, feeling that it had a promising future before it. Ile first pur- chased an acre of land of the late Orlando Powers, and thereon built a brick house, which he afterward sold for eight thousand dollars. He then purchased six and a half acres of land, upon which he has since built twenty dwellings, some of which he has sold at different times. He now owns a dozen or more residences in Decatur, all in two blocks. He has likewise done con- siderable contracting and building in this city following the erection of his first brick house.

His inventive genius, however, has largely been the controlling influence of his life. Not content to engage in the usual routine of business affairs his genius at one time found expression in an improved bedstead known as Bramble's Spring Rockaway bed. This proved successful and met with an ex- tensive sale, and many of the beds are still used. One of his most important inven- tions, however, is the Yale Postoffice Lock Box, which is now in hundreds of towns throughout America and Europe. He re-

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ceives a royalty on every box sold and this affords him a princely income. He secured a patent on this box in 1865 and showed the invention to the postmaster of Boston and he agreed to adopt the box. Trouble con- cerning the invention followed, for the Yale Manufacturing Company of Stamford, Con- necticut, adopted his ideas and began man- ufacturing the box without regard for Mr. Bramble's patent. A long contest followed, but at length the United States courts de- cided that Mr. Bramble should receive a royalty on every postoffice box manufac- tured. He has also invented a padlock that brings him a large income and he is the in- ventor of twenty-seven different styles of locks. A manufactory was established in Terre Haute, Indiana, called the Bramble Lock Company, of which he was superin- tendent, and from its manufactures he was to receive a royalty, but this company went out of existence after several months. Mr. Bramble received twelve medals on his in- ventions and his genius places him among the most prominent inventors of the coun- try.

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Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois, Part 66

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