USA > Illinois > Macon County > Decatur > Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois > Part 76
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which he had done for the company, he was promoted on the 8th of May, 1899, to the posi- tion of manager and established his head- quarters in his native city, having charge of the entire business of the Manhattan Com- pany for the state of Illinois outside of Chi- cago. He thoroughly understands the multi- plicity of duties connected with such an un- dertaking and keeps in touch with every de- tail of the business as well as its major points.
Mr. Nichols was married November 28, 1889, to Bertie E. Sutton, a daughter of T. L. and Elizabeth Sutton, of Pike county, Illinois. They have four daughters : Ollie Fay, Mae, Hazel E. and Vivian. Mr. Nichols is a mem- ber of Cisco Lodge No. 599, I. O. O. F. He was reared in the faith of the Democracy and continued to give his support to the party until the nomination of W. J. Bryan upon a free silver platform. As his views were not in harmony with the principles of the party or- ganization at that time he became an advocate of the Republican party and has since voted its ticket. In his political views he is inde- pendent, voting for the measures which he be- lieves to be for the best interest of the city, state, and nation. He is a man well liked wherever known and most liked where best known and the fact that his stanchest friends are numbered among those with whom he has been acquainted from boyhood is an indica- tion that his career has ever been an honorable one.
ARTHUR D. BREWER.
Arthur D. Brewer, a photographer of De- catur, was born in the neighboring state of Wisconsin, the place of his nativity being the city of Appleton, and the date July 9, 1876. He is a son of John and Jemima (In- man) Brewer. He obtained his education in the public schools, continuing his studies until he had completed the high school course. He spent his boyhood days in Baraboo, Wisconsin, and at the age of fif-
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teen years he became interested in photog- raphy, securing a situation in the gallery of Simon Mould, where he remained for seven years, mastering the business both in principle and detail, and becoming quite expert in the art of taking pictures. At the end of that time he went to Chicago, where he filled positions in some of the leading photographic studios of that city during a period of five years. In May, 1900, he ar- rived in Decatur and opened his present gallery, in which he is now doing a high grade of work, being recognized as one of the capable and successful photographic artists here.
On August 30. 1902, Mr. Brewer was married to Miss Laura E. Wright, of De- catur, and they have a large circle of friends and acquaintances in this city, where their own home is noted for its gracious hospi- tality.
JOSEPH SPANGLER.
No man was better known in Macon county in the period of its carly development than was Joseph Spangler, who settled here in 1834. The conditions which prevailed at that time are within the memory of few men of the present. The Indians were numerous in the county at that time, the lands were unclaimed and uncultivated and the work of civilization and progress seemed scarcely begun. It re- mained to such intrepid pioneers as Joseph Spangler to reclaim this district for the uses of the white race and to plant here the seeds of advancement and development that have ripened with time and have made Macon coun- ty one of the most important in this great commonwealth. After residing here for a short time he removed to Springfield, Illinois, in order that he might afford his sons better business opportunities, but after six months he returned and settled near the village of Oreana in Whitmore township, where he entered land from the government at the usual price of a
dollar and a quarter per acre. From time to time he added to his property until he was the owner of an extensive farm.
Mr. Spangler was a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, born January 14, 1788. His parents were natives of Germany, and at an early day came to America, first settling in York county, Pennsylvania, whence they after- ward went to Cumberland county, where the father carried on agricultural pursuits up to the time of his death. His wife also passed away there.
The educational privileges of Joseph Spang- ler were extremely limited. He was but thir- teen years of age at the time of his father's death and soon afterward he began to learn the miller's trade, which he followed in his native county for several years. He then re- moved to York county, Pennsylvania, where he entered into partnership with a Mr. Ernst in the establishment and conduct of a mill. They engaged in grinding flour and meal for several years and also carried on a distillery there.
While living in York county Mr. Spangler was first married and a number of years after- ward he sold his mill and distillery and started for the west with the idea of establishing his home in Ohio. He was not pleased with that state, however, on account of the heavy growth of timber there and accordingly returned to York county, Pennyslvania, where he con- tinued to reside for a year longer. During that year he sent his oldest son back to the west to look for a location and the son re- ported favorably upon Macon county and its prospects, writing for the father to join him here. Accordingly in the year 1834 Joseph Spangler arrived. He entered land from the government in different townships and finally entered three hundred and twenty acres on the Sangamon river in Whitmore township, where he built what is still known as the old Spang- ler mill. There he engaged in the milling busi- ness and also in farming. There was no market here for grain at that time and he had
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to haul his wheat to Chicago. Throughout his remaining days he engaged in general farming and milling and was one of the early and prominent representatives of trade rela- tions in Macon county.
As before stated Joseph Spangler was mar- ried in York county, Pennsylvania, the lady of his choice being Miss Barbara Bentsley, who was born in the Keystone state, but died in Macon county. They were the parents of nine children : Betsey Elizabeth, Polly Mary, Jacob. John, Susan, Joseph, Felix, and Daniel, all now deceased; and Eliza, the widow of D. Daniels, who now resides on a farm five miles east of Decatur. Mr. Spangler's second mar- riage was celebrated in Macon county, at which time Miss Elizabeth Zerger became his wife. She was a native of York county, Penn- sylvania, born August 27, 1828, and a daugh- ter of John and Polly ( Ferringer) Zerger, both of whom were natives of York county, where her father engaged in the distilling business and also in the conduct of a farm. In 1839 he made his way westward by the river route and settled in Macon county near the village of Oreana, where he continued to engage in the tilling of the soil until his life's labors were ended in death. His wife also passed away there. They had seven children, five of whom are living: Elizabeth, Andrew, Ann. Mary, and John. Caroline and Mary Ann are both deceased. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Spangler: Lydia, the wife of William Strong, who is engaged in the poultry business in Missouri; Hattie, who died at the age of seven years: Caroline, the deceased wife of Thomas Daniels ; and Frank, who is residing with his mother and superin- tends the farm.
Mr. Spangler died on the 17th of February, 1862, and thus passed away one of the valued pioneer settlers, whose efforts were very help- ful in the early work of the county as it emerged from pioneer conditions. On several occasions his friends desired him to become a candidate for office, but he always refused.
His vote was usually given to the Democratic party, but he took no active part in political affairs. He and his wife were at one time members of the Universalist church of De- catur, but Mrs. Spangler now attends the Christian church. Mr. Spangler was a very successful business man and became well-to- do. Prior to his death he told his wife to select her future home and she decided upon her present location in Decatur, which he pur- chased for her. She resides at the east edge of the city where she has a good residence on Wood street, standing on a high hill and com- manding an excellent view of the surrounding country. She there owns fifty acres of valua- ble land and she and her son Frank are carry- ing on farming. Mr. Spangler was a man of strong character and marked individuality and firm purpose and such qualities are valuable in the pioneer who braves the hardships and dangers of life on the frontier in order to es- tablish a home in a new country.
FRANK P. LEHMAN.
Frank P. Lehman, who for many years was an active representative of business interests in Decatur, but is now living retired, was born in Clark county, Ohio, on the 31st of Decem- ber. 1853, the third in order of birth in the family of Peter F. and Mary Jane (Alvin) Lehman. The father was born August 19, 1826, and was of German descent, while his wife was born September 14. 1828, and came of an old American family. His death oc- curred April 19, 1883, when he was but fifty- seven years of age. In the family were eight children, all of whom reached mature years, while seven are yet living. The eldest. George W., is married and now lives in Decatur ; J. H. is married and resides in Hickory Point township, Macon county; Mary Elizabeth has passed away; Ida L. is the wife of James B. Good, now general manager for the Decatur Lumber Company; Emma is the wife of
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Samuel Cussins : Katie is at home : and Min- nie is the wife of Charles Andrews.
The other member of the Lehman family is Frank P. Lehman of this review, who in the district schools acquired his preliminary edu- cation, which was supplemented by study in Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York, in which he was a graduate in the class of 1878. After his return home he be- came connected with his father in general farming pursuits in Hickory Point township, the family having removed to Macon county in the spring of 1865. Mr. Lehman, Sr., con- tinued to engage in farming until about 1881, when on account of ill health he removed to the city of Decatur and there passed away two years later. Frank P. Lehman had come to this city on the 3d of December. 1878, and he accepted a position as bookkeeper and general clerk with Read Spencer, agent, with whom he remained for about two years in those ca- pacities. The co-operative company then sold out to the Decre & Mansur Company of Mo- line, with whom Mr. Lehman remained two years. At the end of that time he was ad- mitted to a partnership in an implement and farm machinery business under the firm style of Spencer. Lehman & Company, and later the business was incorporated under the name of the Spencer & Lehman Company. After- ward Mr. Spencer and Mr. Lehman purchased the interest of the other stockholders and the firm style of Spencer & Lehman was then as- sumed and was continued until June, 1901, when our subject sold his interest and retired from business. When he left the farm he ex- pected to remain with Mr. Spencer for only a brief period, merely to assist him with his accounts, but the connection was continued for twenty-three consecutive years, the relation being mutually pleasant and profitable. They worked together in most harmonious connec- tion, the labors and efforts of the one supple- menting the energy and activity of the other so that the firm was a strong combination, taking an active and important place in busi-
ness circles. For years they enjoyed an ex- tensive patronage which continually added to their income and with a handsome competence Mr. Lehman retired to private life. He had invested his earnings in lands and he now en- joys the financial return from eleven hundred and sixty-five acres of choice farming and rice land, a part of which is yet uncultivated. Ilis farming lands are distributed in Pocahontas county, lowa, near the village of Rolfe, and in Hamilton county, Iowa, near Webster City, while his rice lands are located in Lonisiana. He has lived a life of industry, thrift and en- terprise and well deserves the rest which is now vouchsafed to him. He resides on the old family home which was deeded to his mother as long as she lives and which is a comfortable residence at No. 557 West Wood street. His business record is commendable and in the city where he has so long resided and where his history is familiar to his fellow- townsmen he is held in the highest regard and esteem, a fact which indicates that his has been an upright and honorable carcer.
JOSHUA GREEN.
For almost forty years this gentleman has been a resident of Macon county, his home being on section 31, Whitmore township, and he has therefore witnessed much of the growth and improvement of this section of the state, seeing the wild lands transformed into fine farms, villages and cities spring up, and all of the conveniences of the twentieth century in- troduced.
Mr. Green was born in Yorkshire, England, on the 3d of October, 1826. a son of Thomas and Sally (Wilson) Green, prominent farm- ing people who lived and died in England. In their family were eight chiklren, four of whom are now deceased, namely : Mary. Wil- liam, Charles and George. Those still living are Mrs. Sarah Hughes, now eighty-five years of age, whose home is between Chester and
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Liverpool, England : Joshua, of this review ; Ann, wife of John C. Dodson, of Christian county, Illinois : and Mrs. Emma Bailey, who lives in the state of Washington. On the 8th of May, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. John C. Dodson celebrated their golden wedding and among those present our subject and his wife were the only ones who had attended their wed- ding. Mr. Dodson is a brother of our sub- ject's wife ..
Joshua Green was reared upon a farm and was educated in the parish of Roystone. He continued to make his home in his native land until about twenty-four years of age, when he decided to try his fortune in America. Ac- cordingly on the 5th of May, 1850, he took passage on the Isaac Wright, a sailing vessel in command of Captain Peabody, and landed in New York on the Ist of July after about two months spent upon the water. From that city he went to Philadelphia and shortly after- ward came west to Illinois, locating first in Greene county, where he worked for two years at ten dollars per month. In the meantime he had purchased about three hundred acres of land, and to the improvement and cultivation of that place he devoted his time and energies until 1854. He then removed to Christian county and bought three hundred acres of land at the government price of one dollar and a quarter per acre. This was all wild prairie and he broke the land with five yoke of oxen and made many improvements there- on. He rented a house in the edge of the timber and continued a resident of Christian county for ten years, Springfield being his trading point.
Selling his farm in 1864, at twenty-six dol- lars per acre. Mr. Green came to Macon coun- ty and purchased two hundred acres of land on section 31, Whitmore township, at thirty dollars per acre. He has since tiled and drained the tract and placed it under a high state of cultivation. Upon the place is a good brick residence, substantial barns and out-
buildings, and its neat and thrifty appearance indicates the owner to be a man of progressive ideas and good business ability, as well as a good practical farmer. His front yard is shaded by beautiful soft maple trees, which were raised from seed which he brought in his pocket from Christian county. He now rents his land and is living retired upon his farm, enjoying a well earned rest.
On the 10th of October, 1854, Mr. Green was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Dod- son, who was born near Carrollton in Greene county, Illinois, June 19, 1837, and is a daugh- ter of Thomas and Prudence (Robins) Dod- son, natives of England and North Carolina, respectively. Her paternal grandparents were Jolın and Elizabeth Dodson, the former of whom lived to be eiglity-five years of age and the latter ninety-two. They had six sons : Thomas, John, Charles, Peter, Christopher, and William, all of whom emigrated from England and settled in Greene county, Illinois, before the admission of the state to the Union. Mrs. Green's father died in 1846 and her mother, who survived him for some years, passed away at the home of our subject in 1864. She was a great weaver and her skill in that direction is shown in a number of coverlets now in the possession of her daugh- ter. Of the six children constituting the Dod- son family only two are now living, these being Jolin C., previously mentioned, and Mrs. Green. Our subject and his wife have two sons : Edward, who married Mrs. Mary (Eckert) Hiser; and Charles W., who mar- ried Carrie Renshaw and has one son, Wal- ter J. Both are residents of Whitmore town- ship.
Mr. and Mrs. Green are familiar with many pioneer experiences and can relate many in- teresting incidents of frontier life. During her girlhood Mrs. Green often assisted in molding the tallow candle used in lighting the house and performed other duties which are entirely unfamiliar to the girls of the present
الع سكر
MARTIN P. MURPHEY
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.
day, such as spinning and weaving. She is a strong Prohibitionist and was the first woman in her township to cast a vote. Mr. Green is independent in politics and has been called upon to fill a number of positions of honor and trust. He was made enrolling of- ficer at the time of the draft during the Civil war; has served as county supervisor four terms; assessor many years; and highway commissioner. He was also justice of the peace in Christian county one term and has filled the offices of school trustee and school treasurer, serving in the latter capacity for thirty consecutive years. He was one of the charter members of the Farmers' Mutual In- surance Company and is now secretary of the same. Ilis official duties have been most faithfully and conscientiously discharged and no trust reposed in him was ever misplaced. He helped to district Whitmore township and has been prominently identified with its devel- opment and prosperity, doing all in his power to advance its interests along material, social and moral lines. In early days he assisted in locating several roads in this part of the state and in improving the same. Both Mr. and Mrs. Green are people of literary tastes and have a complete library, of which they make good use. They are members of the Old Set- tlers' Association and the Patrons of Hus- bandry and it is safe to say that no couple in their community is held in higher regard or has more warm friends. In their home they have a number of interesting relics which they prize very highly, including a candlestick, which belonged to Mr. Green's grandfather and dates back to 1730, and a decanter which is about as old. Besides these Mrs. Green has a splendid collection of valuable relics which belonged to her ancestors. She recently re- ceived two solid gold spoons intended as pres- ents for their golden wedding to be celebrated October 10, 1904. One of these, which was sent by her sister, Mrs. Hughes, is of the car- nation pattern and a facsimile of the spoon used in anointing King Edward VII.
MARTIN P. MURPHEY.
Decatur has been the home and scene of labor of many men who have not only led lives that should serve as an example to those who come after them, but have also been of important service to their city and county through various avenues of useful- ness. Among them must be named Martin P. Murphey, who passed away on the 24th of June, 1896, after a life of industry, and rich in those rare possessions which only a high character can give.
Mr. Murphey was born in Warren county, Indiana, March 3, 1832, a son of John J. and Ursilla (Mauzy) Murphey, who were both natives of Kentucky and removed thence to the Hoosier state. During his boyhood and youth Mr. Murphey of this review received a very good education in the schools of New l'aris, Ohio. Coming to Illinois in 1858, he located in Decatur, where he continued to make his home until called to the world beyond. He began business here as a clock agent, selling clocks throughout the sur- rounding country, and later he was with a lightning rod firm for a few years. He gave up his position as agent on being appointed deputy under Sheriff Wheeler, and besides filling that office he also served as constable for a few years. He served as deputy under four different sheriffs. During the Civil war he enrolled the county for the draft, performing that difheult undertaking very satisfactorily. On his retirement from of- fice he began speculating in land and also in loaning money. This business he car- ried on for several years with excellent suc- cess, but finally on account of ill health he retired, his remaining days being spent in ease and quiet.
On the 9th of April, 1863, Mr. Murphey was united in marriage to Miss Mary P. Wykel, a native of Macon county and a daughter of Joseph D. and Margaret Wykel. who came to this county at a very early day and settled on a farm in Decatur town-
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ship, where the father engaged in farming for several years. He then retired from active labor and removed to the city of Decatur, purchasing a residence on South Main street, where he and his wife resided until their deaths. Mr. and Mrs. Murphey became the parents of four children, namely : Minnie L., wife of J. J. McDonald, a resi- dent of New York city ; John L., a traveling salesman who resides with his mother in Decatur ; Joseph MI., also a traveling sales- man, who married Ella Pike and lives in Decatur ; and Margaret Elizabeth, deceased wife of Charles B. Ogle, who is now travel- ing passenger agent for the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy Railroad.
Mr. Murphey always took a very active part in politics and was formerly a Repub- lican, but when the temperance movement became an important issue in American poli- tics he joined the Prohibition party, though he afterward supported the Republican ticket again at presidential elections, Both he and his wife were earnest and faithful members of the Central Church of Christ of Decatur, and there was no one in the city who took more interest in church and tem- perance work than he. He assisted in build- ing all the churches of Decatur and gave liberally to any enterprise which he believed would prove of public benefit. For many years he labored with all the strength of a great nature and all the earnestness of a true heart for the bettering of the world about him; and when he was called to the rest and reward of the higher world his best monument was found in the love and re- spect of the community in which he lived for so many years. Throughout his career of continued and far-reaching usefulness, his duties were performed with the greatest care and his personal honor and integrity were without blemish.
Mrs. Murphey has a beautiful residence at No. 459 South Main street and also owns other valuable property in the city. She is
a lady of many excellent traits of character which have endeared her to all with whom she has been brought in contact, and she and her family occupy a prominent position in social circles where true worth is received as the passport into good society.
JOHN R. MILLER.
Since 1856 this gentleman has been a resi- dent of Decatur, and for many years he was actively identified with its business interests, but is now living a retired life in a beautiful home at No. 303 West Main street. He was born on the oth of September, 1831, in Bour- bon county, Kentucky, of which state his par- ents, John and Jane ( Levesque) Miller, were also natives. The father was a soldier of the war of 1812, and both he and his wife are now deceased. In their family were six children, three sons and three daughters, and our sub- ject has two sisters still living, namely : Sarah E. Proctor, who makes her home with him, and Mary J. Worshan, a resident of Coving- ton, Kentucky.
Mr. Miller began his education in an old log school house in Kentucky, and during his boyhood assisted his father on the home farm, but after completing his education he began learning the tailor's trade, which he followed for seven years. Before coming to Decatur he spent most of his time in Bourbon county, Kentucky, and as before stated arrived in this county in 1856. For many years he conducted a boarding house where the American Express Company's office in Decatur now stands, at the corner of Prairie and North Main streets, and for some time worked in the grocery store of Dr. Hughes, which occupied the pres- ent site of the Arcade. As the years passed he prospered, and has become the owner of some good business property in this county be- sides his city home. He has now laid aside all business cares and is enjoying a well earned rest.
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