USA > Illinois > Macon County > Decatur > Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois > Part 72
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FRANK R. GOODE.
This is an age of improvement and inven- tion and America is the exponent of the spirit of the age. No country has kept apace with the United States in its inven- tions of a utilitarian character, American citizens having given to the world many products which have been of the greatest value in business life. Frank R. Goode is an inventor whose carcer has been eventful and who is a self-made man. One of lli- nois' native sons he was born in Taylorville. Christian county, on the 12th of February, 1873, and is a son of Francis and Margaret (May) Goode, both of whom were natives of this state. The father died in the year 1887, when sixty years of age. He had de- voted his entire life to stock-raising and was also an auctioneer for several years. In politics he was a prominent and influential Democrat, who held a number of offices, serving both as sheriff and deputy sheriff in Christian county. As a citizen he was enterprising and public spirited, as a busi- ness man, active and energetic, and thus in his life record are many elements worthy of emulation. His widow still survives
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him and is now living at 129 North Church street in Decatur. The Goodes came orig- inally from Pennsylvania and James Goode, an uncle of our subject, is now the oldest living representative of the family. He has reached the advanced age of eighty-nine years and makes his home in Springfield, Illinois. He is the oldest living settler of Sangamon county, and the Old Settlers' Association presented him with a pair of gold glasses in 1900, and a gold headed cane in 1901. He has never been ill a day in his life, and has never used tobacco or intoxi- cants in any form.
Mrs. Goode, the mother of our sub- ject, was a daughter of the late Dr. Fran- cis May, who began his career as a physi- cian in 1847 and continued in active prac- tice until his death, which occurred in De- catur in 1885.
Frank R. Goode was the only child born unto his parents. He acquired his educa- tion in the public schools and when four- teen years of age he lost his father. He en- tered upon his business career as a clerk and at first received no salary, gaining, however, experience concerning mercantile methods. The first money he received for his services was eight dollars per month, and gradually his wages were increased until he had reached the age of sixteen years. He then worked upon the road as a travel- ing salesman for the Wichita Produce Com- pany of Wichita, Kansas, being associated with that house until nineteen years of age. He then took charge of the wholesale house at Hennessey, Oklahoma, owned by the M. T. Gillock Milling Company, the territory extending through Oklahoma and with headquarters at Hennessey. Mr. Goode spent altogether sixteen years in Kansas and Oklahoma, remaining in the west from 1880 until 1896. In the latter year he came to Decatur and entered the employ of the F. B. Tait Manufacturing Company for the purpose of selling a windmill patent. In
September, 1897, he engaged in the patent business on his own account opening an office in Decatur exclusively for the sale of patents. In 1897 he secured a patent upon an invention of his own-a clothes line grip-which he sold in 1898. In the latter year he took out a patent for a slot rending machine and the same year secured a patent 011 an invention for laundry packing and wrapping. In 1900 he again became a trav- eling salesman for the F. B. Tait Manu- facturing Company, having charge of the gasoline department for one year. In 1903 he invented a spring hitch for farm wagons and machinery and he carries this on sale in connection with his patent business. His specialty, however, is patents and during his nine years connection with this line of activ- ity he has placed some forty different patents on the market, many of which have become paying inventions. Two important ones have been the equalizer for gang plows and the surface blade attachment for culti- vators. Mr. Goode has made several trips to Washington, D. C., in the interest of his patents and his office is located at No. 110 West Prairie street, Decatur.
In 1899 Mr. Goode was united in mar- riage to Miss Gertrude Wisher, a daughter of C. W. Wisher, of Decatur, and they have one child, Ruth Beatrice. He is well known in connection with industrial and manufac- turing interests throughout this portion of the country and has done an important business by placing upon the market many inventions which have proven of value to the business world.
J. P. STOUTENBOROUGH.
The subject of this biography is one of the leading citizens of Maroa township, where he has spent his entire life. He is not only engaged in farming and stock rais- ing but is also interested in a number of dif-
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ferent enterprises which have been of de- cided advantage to his section of the coun- ty, promoting its material welfare in no uncertain manner. As a business man he is notably prompt and reliable and he has attained a leading place among the repre- sentative men of the community in which he lives.
Mr. Stoutenborough was born in Maroa township in 1865, a son of Anthony and Sarah J. Stoutenborough. His father was one of the carly settlers of this county and is now living a retired life in Maroa, hon- ored and respected by all who know him. He is a brother of Garrett Stontenborough, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. The primary education of our sub- ject was obtained in the public schools of Maroa and he later attended a business col- lege at Decatur.
At the age of twenty years Mr. Stouten- borough commenced operating his father's farm, having previously become thoroughly familiar with every department of farm work. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres of the old homestead but has charge of the entire tract of four hundred acres, which is under a high state of cultivation and well improved with good and substan- tial buildings. His place is supplied with all modern conveniences, the house is heat- ed by a furnace and there is a good system of water works. Mr. Stoutenborough has always been more or less interested in stock- raising and now has some pedigreed stock of the Hereford and shorthorn breed of cat- tle. He is a director of the Farmers' Mer- cantile Association : is also interested in the Citizens' Bank of Maroa and was instru- mental in establishing elevators at Rowell and Maroa. He possesses good business and executive ability and the success that has come to him is certainly well deserved.
On the 9th of April, 1891, Mr. Stouten- borough was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Barr, a daughter of Captain Barr,
of Maroa. She first attended school in Friends Creek township, this county, and later pursned her studies at Galesburg, Illi- nois. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stoutenborough are members of the Christian church and he is also a member of the blue lodge and chap- ter of the Masonic fraternity and the Order of the Eastern Star at Maroa. He votes with the Republican party but has never consented to hold office, preferring to de- vote his undivided attention to his business interests which have become quite exten- sive. He is a true type of western progress and enterprise and in all his undertakings he has prospered thus far, his success being the logical result of his careful and correct business methods.
AUGUSTUS HARPSTRITE.
The name of Harpstrite early became well known in connection with agricultural in- terests and the subject of this review is now the owner of splendid tracts of farm land in Macon county. The name is also a well known one in commercial circles, for during thirty years Augustus Harpstrite was en- gaged in the grocery business in Decatur. Now he is living a retired life and all that he possesses has come to him as the legiti- mate reward of his own labors. He was only three years of age when brought to this country, but is of German birth, having first opened his eyes to the light of day in Baden on the 4th of March, 1830. He is the third son in the family of John B. and Mary (Roamar) Harpstrite, who in the year 1833 severed the connections that bound them to the fatherland and came to the new world. They braved the dangers incident to an ocean voyage at that time when weeks were required to make the trip while only days are now demanded for the voyage. Sixty-one days had passed ere they reached the harbor of New York, and after living
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at a number of places in the east the family home was established at Delphi, Indiana. where Augustus Ilarpstrite spent about six years, pursuing his education in the public schools during that time. The year 1844 witnessed the removal of the family to Illi- nois and the establishment of the family home in Clinton county. Mr. Harpstrite of this review largely passed his early life upon a farm and for some time made his home with his sister. In Clinton county he also continued his education in the public schools and he was early instructed in the value of industry and perseverance in the active affairs of life. The habits which he thus formed have been strong elements in his later success.
In October, 1855, Mr. Harpstrite came to Macon county and settled upon a farm near Albion in South Wheatland township. In 1857, however, he went to Chicago, after- ward to St. Louis, Missouri, where he was employed for a time, while later he located in Belleville, Illinois, and was employed as a farm hand at eight dollars per month. It is from such a humble beginning that he has steadily worked his way upward until his name is now enrolled among the pros- perous citizens of Decatur. After five months at farm work near Belleville he re- moved to Michigan in 1858, but in the same year came to Decatur and located in the first ward.
In the meantime Mr. Harpstrite had managed to save a small sum from his earn- ings and began business for himself as a grocer. His stock of goods was limited. but he gradually increased his facilities in order to meet the growing demands of his trade and for long years he had one of the best equipped grocery houses of this city. Ilis courteous treatment of his patrons, his earnest desire to please and his fair and honorable dealings won him many cus- tomers and he conducted a successful en- terprise from 1858 until 1888, when he sold
out to Mr. Apple. As his financial resources increased he also invested in realty and is to-day the owner of five valuable farms in Macon county in addition to considerable city property. His labors have been very helpful in the upbuilding of Decatur and its improvement is attributable in consid- erable measure to his efforts, for he has erected twenty-eight dwellings and business houses here. These he rents and the finan- cial returns from his property are sufficient to supply him with all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
While Mr. Harpstrite began business with very small means he soon gained a reputa- tion for honesty and persistency of purpose and it is safe to say that throughout his entire career he never took advantage of the necessities of his fellow men in any trade transaction. In all of his dealings he paid one hundred cents on the dollar. There has been no sensational chapter in his busi- ness career, his wealth not coming to him as the result of a single fortunate deal, but as the direct outcome of earnest and long continued effort.
HIRAM ARNOLD.
Hiram Arnold, who was an honored vet- cran of the Civil war and who for many Years was a representative of agricultural life in Macon county, was born on the 29th of February, 1840, in Marshall county, West Virginia, where the city of Wheeling now stands. His parents, Joseph and Lucretia ( Mannon) Arnold, were natives of Virginia and the father there followed the occupa- tion of farming. The paternal grandfather was engaged in building steamboats which sailed on the Ohio river. During the early boyhood of our subject the parents removed to Misssouri and subsequently to Illinois and in the schools of this state he acquired his education. He had just attained his
GEORGE OREN
JOHN H. OREN
PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.
majority at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war and becoming deeply interested in the events which aroused the country at that time, he esponsed the Union cause, en- listing in Company E, Fifty-seventh Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, with which he re- mained for nine months. Ile was in the hospital and because of physical disability was then discharged. Later the govern- ment granted him a pension in recognition of the aid he had rendered the country and because of the ill results which followed his military career.
It was on the 28th of January, 1868, that Mr. AArnoldl was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ellen Ward. For his second wife he chose Elizabeth Hurst, and by that union had one son and five daughters: Mary Lucretia, the wife of 1. N. Newberry, a farmer of Osbornville, Illinois, by whom she has three children ; Sarah M., the wife of J. W. Ehlers, who follows farming near Mount Auburn, and has two children ; Ellen S., the wife of Philip Wetzel, a carpenter of Blue Mound, by whom she has one living child: Ithamar, at home; and Dora May, the wife of Henry Ehlers, a car inspector of Decatur.
Mr. AArnokl was a member of the United Brethren church and exemplified in his life his Christian faith and belief. He gave his political allegiance to the Republican party and he had fraternal relations with the Grand Army of the Republic. Throughout his business career his attention was given to farming and he was the owner of eighty acres of land in Pleasant View township, which is still in the possession of his widow. Ile placed his land under a high state of cultivation and the fields returned to him golden harvests, so that the sale of his crops brought to him a comfortable living. Ile died January 24, 1903, when in his sixty- third year, and his remains were interred in Ilall cemetery. The qualities of his man- hood and the strength of his upright char-
acter had gained for him the confidence and regard of his fellow men, so that his death was deeply regretted.
JOHN H. OREN.
John Il. Oren, a well known and enter- prising business man of Decatur and now proprietor of the industry conducted under the name of the Decatur Hard Plaster Com- pany, was born in this city June 17, 1859, his parents being George and Mary (Miller) Oren. The father was a native of Potts- ville, Pennsylvania, and came to Decatur in the carly '50s in company with Jackson Fisher, making the trip from Pennsylvania in a wagon. He was then a young man and in this county he learned the trade of a plasterer and later entered into partnership with Mr. Fisher under the firm style of Fisher & Oren. They did a large contract- ing business as plasterers and their services were in constant demand, a liberal patron- age bringing to them a good income. Mr. Oren continued an active factor in the in- dustrial circles of the city until his death, which occurred in August, 1899, when he was sixty-seven years of age. His wife, a native of Virginia, died in 1897, at the age of sixty-three years. She was a representa- tive of the okl historic Miller family and was a daughter of "Aunt Polly " Miller, one of the pioneer settlers of the state. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Oren were born five children : John II., the subject of this review; Mar- garet, the wife of John Diller; Frank; Liz- zie, the wife of Charles Jacobs; and Clara, the wife of Harry Misenhelter.
John H. Oren received but limited edu- cational privileges yet mastered the com- mon English branches of learning which prepare one for life's practical duties. Ile began learning the plasterer's trade with his father when seventeen years of age and subsequently became interested in the com-
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pany, doing contracting on his own account and having charge of the business for twelve ycars. He became associated with S. F. Perry, who was a practical plasterer with an experience of over twenty-five years in business at the time the partnership was formed. When, in 1897, the Decatur Rock Plaster Company became financially em- barrassed, resulting in the forced sale of the plant, the firm of Perry & Oren bought the outfit and established the Decatur Hard Plaster Company. They began experiment- ing for the production of a material which would prove superior to anything known in that line and their experience and skill en- abled them to perfect a wall plaster better than anything placed upon the market to which they gave the name of the Decatur hard wall plaster. All contractors and builders recognize the fact that there has been nothing placed upon the market equal to that which is now manufactured by the Decatur Hard Plaster Company. The basis of this is gypsum rock, which is secured from deep mines. It is manufactured by men who have devoted many years to se- curing and making the best that can be made and as the chief element in the hard plaster it makes an article of superior worth. That the Decatur hard plaster has become popular and that its value is recognized by contemporaries throughout the country is seen by enumerating many fine buildings in which it is to-day used. In Decatur it is seen in the Orlando Powers block, the Cum- berland Presbyterian church, in a number of large business buildings, together with some of the best private residences of the city. It is now recommended by every con- tractor in the city and by business and pro- fessional men generally. The plant is lo- cated at No. 341-343 Wabash avenue, where the firm is not only manufacturing and deal- ing in hard plaster, but where they also deal in lime, hair, cement and other materials. Mr. Oren has ever worked conscientiously
and has gained a splendid reputation among all classes of citizens as a business man of integrity and worth, well meriting a large share of the public patronage. He manu- factures two forms of plaster. The first is known as the Decatur hard plaster, which has all the ingredients ready mixed and to which simply water needs to be added and the second is the Decatur hard plaster com- pound which requires the addition of sand. In placing this product upon the market Mr. Oren has given to the world a material of marked value in building operations and he certainly richly merits the success which is now accorded him.
Mr. Oren has been twice married. In 1887 he was joined in wedlock to Miss Mag- gie Tiernan, of Dalton, Illinois. They lived happily together for five years and then in 1892 Mrs. Oren was called to her final rest. In 1894 Mr. Oren was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Mary Millard, a daughter of Captain C. C. Mason, of Mount Pulaski, Illinois. They have two children : Elsie May and George Mason. In his political views Mr. Oren is a Repub- lican where questions of national import- ance are involved, but at local elections he votes independently of party ties. He be- longs to the Fireman's Association, to Coeur de Lion lodge, No. 17. K. P., and to De- catur District Court, No. 39, of the Court of Honor. He finds his chief source of recreation in fishing and hunting, but allows nothing to interfere with his faithful per- formance of business duties and no man en- joys a more enviable reputation because of the fidelity which he manifests in meeting business obligations.
CAPTAIN JAMES H. GLORE.
When the tocsin of war sounded and brave men from all parts of the country flocked to the standard of the nation Macon
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county sent its full quota of gallant soldiers to the field and among this number was Captain James HI. Glore, who won his title through the valiant aid which he rendered to the nation. Because of this and because of his loyalty in citizenship in times of peace he is well worthy of representation in the history of Macon county. He was, more- over, one of the pioneer settlers here, estab- lishing his home in this county in 1850.
A native of Kentucky, his birth occurred in Brownsboro, Olden county, on the 27th of November, 1834. His parents, Milburn and Sarah (Clark) Glore, were also natives of Olden county, and in the year 1850 the father removed with his family from Ken- tucky to Decatur, where he became asso- ciated with business affairs as a manufac- turer of brick. He owned and operated a brickyard for many years and the product of his factory was utilized in the construc- tion of many important buildings here at an early day. Later he turned his atten- tion to the grocery business, which he car- ried on for a few years and subsequently he lived a retired life, spending his last days in rest from further labor and in the enjoy- ment of the comforts which his own en- ergy and industry provided. He passed away in 188; and his wife has also departed this hfe. They were the parents of ton children: Wash, who now resides in Chi- cago; Lon, a resident of St. Louis; Scott and Norman, both deceased; James HI .; Relda, the wife of Captain Bingham, of De- catur ; AAmy, the wife of Andrew Hill, of this city; Alice G., who is now librarian of the Decatur Free Public Library ; Valissa, the widow of Edward Moore, of Decatur; and Ella, also in this city. All were well edu- cated in the best schools of Macon county.
Like the others Captain Glore attended the public schools and subsequently he assisted his father in the conduct of the brickyard here. At the same time he learned the trade of a brickmason and assisted in the erection
of many of the best brick buildings of this city. Until the war broke out he followed that pursuit, but after the inauguration of hostilities he could not content himself to remain at home while his country was in danger and therefore he enlisted as a private of Company K, One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. This regi- ment was organized in 1862 and with the exception of two companies its members were all sons of Macon county. Mr. Glore was afterward promoted to the captaincy of his company and served in many import- ant engagements of the Civil war. With his command he remained at Camp Macon during the months of August, September and October and on the 30th of September, 1862, was mustered into the United States service. On the 8th of November, the regi- ment was ordered to Memphis, where it was attached to the First Brigade, Second Division, Fifteenth Army Corps of the Army of the Tennessee. Its active service be- gan in Grant's campaign in central Missis- sippi and included Sherman's Yazoo expedi- tion, meeting the enemy in battle at Chris- tian Bayou and afterward at Chickasaw Bluffs. Later came the Arkansas expedi- tion, including the investment and capture of Arkansas Post. In General Grant's ef- forts to gain a foothold in the rear of Vicks- burg the One Hundred and Sixteenth Illi- nois joined the expedition up Steele's Bayon and after other encounters with the enemy rejoined the corps and fought at Jackson, Mississippi, Champion Hills, Bridgeport and in the assaults on Vicksburg. After the fall of this city the regiment advanced on Jackson and in September, 1863, moved to Memphis, Tennessee, 'thence marching to Chattanooga. They participated in the battles of Tunnel Hill, Missionary Ridge and afterward marched to the relief of Knoxville. On the 4th of May, 1864, be- gan the Atlanta campaign and with Sher- man's great army the One Hundred and
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Sixteenth Illinois moved toward the south- east. During this time Captain Glore and his men were in the engagements at Snake Creek Gap. Resaca and New Hope Church and at the last named Captain Glore, who was then lieutenant, was wounded. Then followed other encounters with the enemy in the Atlanta campaign, concluding in the great battle of Atlanta, July 22. 1804, and later the siege of the city resulting in its sur- render. For three months the One Hun- dred and Sixteenth Regiment had been un- der fire continually night and day. On the 15th of November they started on the march to the sea and then came the Carolina cam- paign, ending in the battle of Bentonville. the last engagement of the war, followed by the Grand Review in Washington, where with the other representatives of the vic- torious army Captain Glore and his men received the plaudits of the nation. On the 7th of June, 1865. with his command. Cap- tain Glore was mustered out.
After the war he returned to Decatur and established a woodyard, which he conducted for a few years or up to the time of his marriage in 1870. The lady of his choice was Miss Frances E. Gunther. a daughter of George and Susan Gunther, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Ten- nessee. Her father came to America in 1832 and settled in Ohio but after a short time removed to Macon county, Ilinois, be- ing one of its early residents. Here he first operated a saw mill and later purchased a tract of land in South Wheatland town- ship. whereon he engaged in general farm- ing up to the time of his death in 1849. His widow, long surviving him, passed away in Decatur in 1901. Captain and Mrs. Glore became the parents of two children : Sarah Alice and George G., both with their mother. The latter was born March 28. 1882, and is now a machinist by trade.
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