USA > Illinois > Macon County > Decatur > Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois > Part 67
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In politics Mr. Bramble is a Republican and has been deeply and actively interested in local politics in Decatur. He has served as alderman of his ward for forty-five years and for a long time he was the only man the Republicans re-elected. He has high standing with the laboring classes and he has been an extensive employer of labor. All who have worked under him recognize his fairness, his justice and his regard for those who serve him. He has taken con- tracts for railroad work and graded the line between Decatur and Monticello, fin- ishing the road in ninety days. Besides this he has done much grading of residence lawns and a few years ago he platted an addition to Decatur, covering four acres.
Mr. Bramble was united in marriage to Anna Slaback, a daughter of Levi Slaback, of Tippecanoe county, Indiana. She died
in December, 1900, at the age of seventy- nine years. Three children were born unto them: Estella B., who is the widow of Alexander Jenison; Edward Gordon; and Oneis. A friend of all educational, social and moral interests Mr. Bramble has long been recognized as a progressive and pub- lic-spirited citizen of Decatur, and, though not a member of any religious denomina- tion, he was for a number of years a trus- tee of the Baptist church and his support, co-operation and helpfulness have never been withheld from any worthy object. He has none of the eccentricities generally at- tributed to inventors, and when not in his workshop, engaged with his experiments, he has always been found as a man genial and affable, a gentleman whose pleasing manner has won him hosts of friends, while his achievements along the line of inven- tion command the admiration and respect of the world. He has now passed the eighty-second mile-stone on life's journey and is to-day enjoying the fruits of his toil and the honor and fame which he has so justly won.
SAMUEL WEAVER.
A resident of Macon county for more than half a cenutry, Samuel Weaver is one of the best known stockmen in Illinois, and his efforts in this direction have aided in gaining for the state its reputation as a stock-growing center of America. He owns altogether twenty-two hundred and fifty acres of land in this county, his home farm comprising seven hundred acres, and all is under cultivation. He resides on section 22, Hickory Point township, and while num- bered among the most successful agricul- turists of this part of the state all recognize the fact that he well deserves his prosperity for it has come to him as the direct result of his own labors. Since seventeen years of age he lias been dependent upon his own
JOHN G. KELLER
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resources for a living and his advancement has been along legitimate business lines.
Mr. Weaver was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in October, 1824, a son of Conrad Weaver, a native of the Key- stone state, and of German lineage. Throughout his entire life the father fol- lowed farming and his labors were termin- ated in death in the year 1841. His widow, who bore the maiden name of Rebecca Senseman, survived him until 1862. They were the parents of ten children, of whom our subject was the fourth in order of birth.
Samuel Weaver remained at home until after his father's death, when he started out to make his own way in the world, learning the blacksmith's trade in Carlisle, Pennsyl- vania, where he served an apprenticeship of two years, receiving nothing but his board and clothing during that time. He then returned to the farm and operated his mother's homestead farm for six years. In 1850 he started by team for Illinois, lo- cating in Macon county. In 1850, in Penn- sylvania, he had married Miss Sarah Sailer, and their life in the west was begun upon a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which Mr. Weaver purchased on section 16, Hickory Point township. It was raw prairie and he turned the first furrows there and planted the first seed upon the virgin soil. For fourteen years he continued to develop, cultivate and improve that place and then removed to his present home on section 22, Hickory Point town- ship, where he has seven hundred acres of valuable land. As his financial resources have increased he has added to his property from time to time until now his landed pos- sessions in Macon county aggregate twenty- two hundred and fifty acres. All of his land is under cultivation and in addition to the production of the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate he is extensively en- gaged in the raising and breeding of stock.
He has about one hundred head of cattle upon his place and also good grades of horses. His business in this line has been carried on so extensively and successfully that he has won the reputation of being one of the most prominent stock-raisers of Illinois. Ile is an excellent judge of cattle, horses and hogs, which has enabled him to purchase judiciously and to make advan- tageous sales.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Weaver have been born five children: Alfred, the eldest, re- sides upon the home farm; Charles, who married Miss Shirley, is a farmer and lives upon the tract of land on which his pa- rents settled more than a half century ago; Nancy is the wife of John Keister, of Ma- roa, Illinois, a well known farmer of this county ; Catherine is the widow of Jacob Lehman, and resides in Hickory Point township; and Susan is the wife of Asa Crossman.
Mr. Weaver has served as commissioner of highway, but has never sought or desired public office, his time and attention being fully taken up by his business affairs, which are extensive, important and valuable. His life record should serve to inspire and en- courage others who have to start out for themselves empty-handed, for it has been along legitimate business lines that he has won his splendid prosperity, so that he is now ranked with the most substantial citi- zens of Macon county, and is held in the highest honor and esteem.
JOHN G. KELLER.'
John G. Keller was born near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1853, and at the age of four was brought to central Illinois, where he has since resided. Ile is the oldest of a family of eight children, all of whom are living. IFis father. Jacob S. Keller, born near Middletown, Pennsylvania, in 1828, of German descent, was married to Elizabeth B. Garver in 1850.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.
This union was severed by the father's death, which occurred October 21. 1903, making fit- ty-three years of married life, during fifty years of which death never visited the imme- diate family. The father was one of the early pioneers of central Illinois; sacrificing his eastern home he devoted himself to the devel- opment of the western wilds into waving fields of golden grain.
Our subject's boyhood days were spent on the farm, following the plow in the summer, and attending the neighboring school in the fall and winter. After availing himself of the privileges afforded by the country schools, he attended Westfield College, from which he holds a certificate of graduation.
The greater part of his life, thus far, has been devoted to educational work, ranging from country school to city and county super- intendencies. In 1894 he was elected county superintendent of the Macon county schools ; in 1898 he was re-elected to the same position, which he held until the expiration of the term December 1, 1902, making eight successive years of public service. He has taken an active part in politics as well as in education, serving seven years as chairman of his home township, and two years as chairman of the county central committee.
In August, 1890, at Argenta, Illinois, Mr. Keller was united in marriage to Mollie B. Wikoff, who is a descendant of the Burns fam- ily, of which Robert Burns was a member, and has for the last nine years been a resident of Decatur, Illinois.
Mr. Keller is a member of the following lodges: Macon Lodge, No. 8, A. F. & A. M .; lodge No. III of the Order of Eastern Star of Decatur :' lodge of Modern Woodmen of Argenta; and of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Decatur Lodge, No. 401.
JAMES E. BROWN.
James E. Brown is one of Macon county's native sons and a representative of an old and honored family of this section of the state,
whose identification with the history of this country dates from an early period in its de- velopment. He was born in Illini township on the 21st of November, 1868, and is a son of Amos and Abbie A. ( Brown) Brown, natives of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, re- spectively. The father was born in Kensing- ton, March 9, 1843, his parents being Stephen and Dollie ( Batchelder ) Brown. The latter's father, David Batchelder, was a deacon in the Congregational church at Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, having succeeded his father and grandfather in that office. Our subject's paternal grandfather, Stephen Brown, was a very prominent and influential man in his com- mimity and was called upon to represent his town in the state legislature. He was born February 4, 1817, and died July 7. 1900. In his family were ten children, of whom Amos is the second in order of birth. The latter is the father of six children, four sons and two daughters, namely : James E., whose name in- troduces this sketch: John A., who married Mabel C. Ingham and is living in Illini town- ship : Alice M. and May Helen, both at home with their parents; Arthur, who was born September 14, 1884, and died in the following November ; and a son, who was born October 28. 1885, and died the same day.
James E. Brown secured his early educa- tion in the district schools of Illini township and later took a general course at the normal school at Valparaiso, Indiana, in 1889 and 1890. He began earning his own livelihood by working on a farm at eighteen dollars per month and has since devoted his time and energies to agricultural pursuits with good results. He commenced farming for himself in 1891 upon the Taylor farm on section 30, Illini township, where he remained two years, removing to his present farm on the same sec- tion in the fall of 1893. He is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and well improved, making it one of the model
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.
farms of the locality. He feeds about two car- loads of cattle for market each year and a halí a carload of hogs, and he also owns and operates a threshing machine and corn-sheller. He is a very industrious, energetic man and the success that he has achieved is certainly well merited.
On the 12th of January, 1892, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Brown and Miss Katharine M. Batchelder. a daughter of Sam- uel E. and Sarah M. (Clark) Batchelder. Her paternal grandfather was Nathaniel Batch- eller, a son of Elisha Batchelder and grand- son of David Batchelder, who was born Janu- ary 13, 1736. Her father. Samuel E. Batch- elder, was born in Pittsfield, New Hampshire, February 24, 1828, and died in Illini township, this county, July 3, 1893, his remains being interred in the Illini cemetery. He inherited the old homestead in New Hampshire, which he sold and removed here about 1860, becom- ing one of the leading men of the community. He was a deacon in the Illini Congregational church, which was organized in 1868 and is one of the few churches of that denomination in Illinois that has never received any aid in building the house of worship and in suport- ing its ministers. Mrs. Brown is the youngest in a family of four children, the others being Augusta, wife of William T. Eaton; Abby Whitehouse, who was born June 8, 1858, and died October 22, 1893: and John Clark, who married Susan L. Harper. Our subject and his wife have an interesting family of six children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Avis Marilla, April 24, 1893; Mildred, August 27, 1894: Kathleen Augusta, December 26, 1895: Baxter Batchelder, Janu- ary 18, 1808; Helen Abigail, December 13. 1899: and Theodore, June 28, 1902.
Mr. Brown is an ardent Republican in poli- ties and for two years has filled the office of road commissioner. Both he and his wife are active and consistent members of the Congre-
gational church of Illini and are people of prominence in the locality where they reside, their circle of friends and acquaintances being extensive.
JESSE E. YOHE.
Jesse E. Yohe, a well-known jewelry mer- chant of Decatur, has resided in this city for the past fifteen years. He was born in Mon- ongahela, Pennsylvania, a son of John S. and Amanda S. Yohe. The father was a carriage manufacturer and in the year 1880 he left Pennsylvania and removed with his family to Mount Vernon, Ohio, where he remained for seven years and then came to Illinois, the fam- ily home being established in Shelbyville, Shelby county. The father again engaged in carriage manufacturing, but later turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, conducting a farm in the southern part of the state.
Mr. Yohe of this review accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio and to Il- linois. He pursued his education in Mount Vernon, Ohio, and after his father began farming he assisted him in the cultivation of fields and meadows on the home place in southern Illinois. In 1901 the family re- moved to Macon county and here the father again engaged in farming. He is still living in this county. Unto him and his wife were born ten children, four sons and six daughters, all of whom yet survive with one exception.
It was in the year 1889 that Jesse E. Yohe arrived in Decatur. He was then quite young and he entered the service of H. Post as an errand boy, but his ability, faithful perform- ance of his duties and close adherence to his work gradually won him advancement and that he enjoyed the unqualified confidence and trust of his employers is shown by the fact that he remained for fourteen years in the services of H. Post & Son, learning the watch- maker's and jeweler's trade during that time and becoming an efficient workman. In March, 1903, he resigned his position and pur-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.
chased of E. J. Harpstrite the jewelry store located at No. 146 East Prairie avenue. This he is now conducting and it is recognized as one of the best jewelry stores in this part of the state.
Mr. Yohe is a member of Macon Lodge No. 8, A. F. & A. M., also belongs to En Ami Lodge No. 593, K. P., and to the Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 1626. Socially he is connected with the Iroquois Club, of this city. He is one of the popular and prominent busi- ness men of Decatur and his establishment is well conducted, he handling a large line of fine jewelry goods, which in its attractive ar- rangements wins the attention of the public and secures a liberal share of the general pa- tronage. Mr. Yohe is genial in manner and his unfailing courtesy and deference for the opinions of others have won him the high re- gard of young and old, rich and poor.
CYRUS M. IMBODEN.
Cyrus M. Imboden, who has longer been connected with the butchering business than any other representative of the trade in De- catur, was born in Pennsylvania in 1845. His father. John Imboden, was a native of Lebanon county, that state, and on the 22d of November, 1855, arrived in Decatur, where on the 23d of December of the same year he opened a meat market. He did his own slaughtering and purchased his own stock. The new enterprise proved profitable and he continued to engage in that business until the Ist of April, 1880, when he retired to private life. He was then succeeded by his sons, Cyrus M. and John G., and the new firm con- tinued in the trade until the Ist of October. 1898, when Cyrus M. Imboden became sole proprietor. The market has been continued at one location since its establishment in 1855. The father's first shop was in a small frame building twenty by thirty feet and one story in height. That was afterward replaced by a
brick structure of the same size and early in the '6os he built the present block known as the Imboden Block at the corner of South Main and Wood streets. It was built in mod- ern style and thoroughly equipped for the pur- pose intended and in the new building Mr. Imboden gained even greater success than he had previously enjoyed.
While in Pennsylvania John Imboden was united in marriage to Sarah Mark, a native of Lebanon county, and when he came to De- catur was accompanied by his wife and their four children. They made the journey west- ward by way of Pittsburg, Cleveland and Chi- cago and eventually reached Macon county. Mr. Imboden never sought or desired office, preferring to devote his time and attention to his business affairs until his retirement from active business life. He died December 31, 1899, and his wife passed away March I, 1894, at the age of seventy-five years. In their family were nine children, of whom seven are living, all sons. These are Cyrus M., of this review ; Adam H., who is married and is a traveling salesman of Wichita, Kansas; Hiram, who is married and is living in Wich- ita; Miller, who is married and conducts a flouring mill in Wichita ; David C., who is en- gaged in the brokerage business in Chicago; and John G., who is a farmer and stock-dealer ot Macon county, carrying on business on an extensive scale and acts as judge of cattle in Chicago; and Frank W., a Methodist min- ister, located in Kingman, Kansas. The other members of the family died in infancy. The father was president of the board of trus- tees of the First Methodist Episcopal church for many years and took a very active part in church work.
Cyrus M. Imboden acquired his education in the schools of Decatur and after putting aside his text-books began clerking in this city, being thus engaged with several large firms. At the age of seventeen years he en- listed in Company F. One Hundred and Fif- teenth Illinois Infantry, as a private under
ANDREW SHOEMAKER
MRS ANDREW SHOEMAKER
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.
Captain F. L. Hayes and Colonel Jesse H. Moore. He served until February 29, 1864, and was then discharged on account of severe wounds sustained in the battle of Chicka- mauga on September 19 and 20, 1863. After his return from the war he engaged in the grocery business and in other pursuits in con- nection with his brother Adam until July 6, 1870, when he became a member of the firm owning a meat market established by his father. The firm name was then changed to Imboden & Son and our subject has since con- tinued in this business, conducting the market along progressive lines and keeping thorough- ly in touch with modern ideas. He deals in a high grade of meats and because of the ex- cellent quality of his goods and his honorable business methods he receives a large and growing patronage.
On the gth of AAugust. 1870, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Imboden and Miss Clara Allison, a daughter of Dr. B. A. and Amanda ( Patrick) Allison, the former a na- tive of Kentucky and the latter of Indiana. Seven children were born of this union. of whom five are now living : Daisy J., the wife of Ira Fleming of Storm Lake, lowa; Saralı, who is a teacher in the public schools of De- catur ; Charles A., who is a bookkeeper in the Millikin Bank; Benjamin 1., who holds a similar position : Susanna, a student in the high school of Decatur; and two that died in infancy. The family residence is at No. 236 West North street.
Fraternally Mr. Imboden is a Mason, be- longing to the blue lodge and chapter and also to Beaumanoir Commandery, K. T. In public affairs he has been prominent and influential and in the 'Sos he served for two terms as assistant supervisor. He has always taken an active part in politics yet has never sought office for himself, preferring that his friends should have the honor and responsibilities of public office. He is a prominent member of the First Methodist Episcopal church, with which he has been identified for forty years,
having joined at the age of fourteen. He has long served as one of its officers and is now a member of its board of stewards.
ANDREW SHOEMAKER.
Andrew Shoemaker has passed the sev- enty-third mile-stone on life's journey and and is now living a retired life. In former years he was a well known contractor, but now a rest from further labor has been vouchsafed to him as the reward for his activity and energy in earlier years. He was born in Ilerkimer county, New York, No- vember 20, 1828, a son of John S. and Lena (Piper) Shoemaker, both of whom were natives of the Empire state. In their family were eight children and four of the brothers are still living in New York.
Mr. Shoemaker of this review was the third in order of birth and he pursued his education in his native county, studying in the old schoolhouse which stood on what was known as Shoemaker IJill. Nearly all of the pupils in that school bore the name of Shoemaker, as the family was a numerous one in the locality. Our subject was reared to farm life, carly becoming familiar with the labors of field and meadow and he as- sisted in the cultivation of the old home- stead until he was twenty-two years of age. At that time he went to work on the Hud- son River Railroad under J. B. Moss, as- sisting in making the grade for that road. He acted as foreman for the contractor for a number of years and in this capacity was engaged upon the construction of the Frie canal, being foreman of a crew enlarging that artificial waterway.
The business opportunities of the west, of which he heard favorable reports, at- tracted him to Illinois and in 1852 he came to this state. Here he worked under J. B. Moss, the contractor, acting as his foreman in the grading of the Alton Railroad. Later
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.
he returned to the east, remaining three months, and on the expiration of that period he again came to Illinois in 1854 and took charge of the railroad work on the Illinois Central Railroad extending through Cairo. With railroad building he was long actively identified as a contractor and has taken and executed many contracts for railroad bridges and special work. He has also carried on contracting as a carpenter and in this ca- pacity has erected a number of good build- ings in Decatur and vicinity. He possesses excellent mechanical ability and thoroughly understands the great scientific principles which underlie such work. He has, more- over, had varied practical experience and in the execution of his contracts has dis- played marked capability, fairness and skill. Many evidences of his handiwork are seen in substantial structures in Decatur and the surrounding country and he continued in business until about 1897, when he put aside the more arduous cares of life and has since lived retired.
On the 28th of October, 1856, Mr. Shoe- maker was united in marriage in Decatur to Aliss Sarah Jane Meyers, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of James Meyers. She came to Illinois during her girlhood days and for many years she was a faithful companion and helpmate to her husband on the journey of life, but in May, 1903. she was called to her final rest, passing away when about sixty-six years of age. Four children had been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker, but one was deceased ere the mother's death. The others are as follows: Ernest, who resides at home : Mary L., who is acting as her father's housekeeper ; and Chloe, who is now the wife of lra Swarts, of Christian county, who is a train dis- patcher on the Illinois Central Railroad. They had two children but both are now cleceased. Grace Shoemaker, a daughter of our subject, was the wife of James Brooks and died leaving one daughter, Florence
I. Brooks, who now lives in Chicago. Mrs. Shoemaker was a consistent and active member of the Grace Methodist Episcopal church and a lady whose many excellent traits of character endeared her to all who knew her so that her death proved a great bereavement to her many friends as well as her immediate family.
In his political affiliations Mr. Shoemaker has long been an active Democrat and served as alderman of the city fourteen years, being elected to represent the fifth ward. He exercised his official prerogatives in support of every measure which he be- lieved would prove of public good and did much for the substantial progress and im- provement of the city. He also served as a volunteer fireman of Decatur and for thirty- six years he has been a valued and honored member of the Odd Fellows Society, ex- emplifying in his life its beneficent prin- ciples.
For thirty-nine years he has occupied his present home at No. 992 East Eldorado street, this having been one of the first houses erected in that part of the city. The land lying to the east of his home was even not under cultivation at that time and there were many sloughs, which seemed to ren- der it unfit for tilling. There was a great deal of wild game in the neighborhood and the work of improvement and progress seemed scarcely begun. Mr. Shoemaker has taken a deep interest in everything per- taining to the progress and development of this part of the state and has borne his full share in this work. He now owns a sub- stantial residence in Decatur and other city property and is well-to-do as the result of a life of industry, enterprise and careful management.
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