USA > Illinois > Macon County > Decatur > Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois > Part 81
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On the 3d of September, 1851, Mr. Stoner was united in marriage to Miss Nannie J. Hathaway, a daughter of Philip Hathaway, of Montgomery county, Kentucky. She died April 28, 1900. at the age of sixty-nine years. By this union were born eight chil- dren as follows: William Clinton, who died in Texas, had three children: Hope A., Royal and Clinton, the last now deceased. Andrew was scalded to death at the age of two years. Millard is also deceased. Mary P. is the wife of W. W. Burt, principal of the McLeonard school of Springfield, Illi- nois, and they have seven children : Price, Clinton Miriam, Margaret, Robert. James and Hathaway. Thomas C. is a resident of Mount Zion township, this conuty. Robert L., who married a Miss Glenn, is a resident
of Macon township. Nannie H. is the wife of Walter S. Bromley, who lives on our sub- ject's farm, and they had three children : Elva, Wallace, and Vera, deceased. Mattie A. is the wife of Thomas Smith, of South Wheatland township. They have three chil- dren : T. Weaver, Nannie Hathaway and Daniel Boone Michael Stoner Peter Tribble.
Mr. Stoner is spending his declining years on his farm, looking after his interests, but he leaves the operation of the land to younger hands, while he practically lives retired. Since casting his first vote he has affiliated with the Democratic party and has always taken a deep interest in public affairs. He is widely and favorably known in the coun- ty where he has now made his home for almost a half century and he has the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens.
THOMAS T. ROBERTS.
Thomas T. Roberts was born on a farm near Charleston, Coles county, Illinois, of Scotch-Irish Presbyterian parents, who emi- grated from East Tennessee about 1830. He is the ninth child of a family of three sisters and seven brothers. His early life was spent on the farm, working during the summer and in winter attending the school which was then held in a log schoolhouse near the farm. The Charleston Academy was afterward established and he took ad- vantage of this better opportunity for an education. He enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois Volun- teers in 1862 and continued in active ser- vice with his regiment until the close of the war, being mustered out in July, 1865. He was once wounded in a battle at Selma, Alabama, April 2, 1865. Immediately upon his return from the war he came to Decatur and associated with his brother, Dr. J. E. Roberts, in the drug business and continued in the same until 1872. He then entered in-
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to co-partnership with Captain R. P. Lytle and O. Z. Green and built up what was afterwards known as the Decatur Coffin Company, where he has continued ever since.
Mr. Roberts was married in 1870 to Miss Rachel T. Musgrave, of Cincinnati, who died in 1882. 1n 1886 he was again married to Miss Anna H. Jack of Decatur. Mr. Roberts has been prominently associated with many of the business interests of De- catur, among others the raising of the one hundred thousand dollars by the citizens, which secured the location of the James Millikin University. Since its establish- ment, he has been a member of the board of directors of this university.
Politically Mr. Roberts is a Prohibitive Republican, and was one of the six alder- men, who, in 1883, voted the city anti- license. He. is a man who believes and trusts men, and thinks success is always within the reach of all who are willing to pay the penalty in honest effort. He does not think success is always measured by the money standard, but that to be honest, in- dustrious and true is to be successful.
FRANK J. MITTAN, M. D.
One of the recent additions to the citizen- ship of Decatur is Dr. Frank J. Mittan, who removed from Colfax, McLean county, Il- linois. He has already won favorable atten- tion here and is building up a good practice, for he is recognized as a thorough student of his profession who keeps abreast of the times and the improvement that is continually being made in the practice of medicine and surgery. He was born in DeWitt county, Illinois, April 13, 1865, and obtained his literary education in the district schools and in the high school of Farmer City.
His father, George H. Mittan, was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, September 12, 1837,
and when twelve years of age accompanied his parents on their removal to Lee county, Il- linois, where after completing a course in the common schools lie learned the blacksinith's trade and later conducted a shop of his own. Subsequently he became the owner of a farm which he operated for a time or until turning his attention into mercantile affairs. He is now engaged in the ice business in Farmer City, Illinois. He has been twice married, having on the 24th of December, 1862, wedded Miss Eliza Margaret Erwin, of Farmer City, by whom he had seven children, five sons and two daughters, namely: Clara B., Frank J., Wesley C., Effie J., Ira C., Elmer, and Ora C. The eldest daughter became the wife of John S. Brandon of Bellflower, Illinois, and they have two daughters, Myrtle and Pearl. They now reside in Marshalltown, Iowa. Effie J. is the wife of Frederick D. Rhea, who form- erly lived in Bellflower, but is now a railroad agent, living at Marion, Illinois. They have three living children. Mrs. Eliza Mittan died August 31, 1888, and the father of our sub- ject was again married March 3, 1897, his second union being with Mrs. Fannie ( Knight) Wharton.
After completing his literary education Dr. Mittan engaged in teaching school for four years, being for two years a teacher in the country schools and for a similar period in the high school at Bellflower, Illinois. During the vacation months of 1883-4-5 he studied medicine with Dr. Godfrey of Bellflower and in the fall of 1887 he entered the Miami Medi- cal College of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he re- mained for one year. He then taught school as principal of the high school of Bellflower and in 1888 he entered the Rush Medical Col- lege of Chicago, in which he was graduated with the class of 1891.
Immediately after receiving his diploma the Doctor located in Colfax and entered upon the practice of his profession. in which he has since met with enviable success. He was a member of the McLean County Medical So-
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ciety and also belongs to the State Medical Society, taking an active interest in each or- ganization. On leaving Colfax he came to Decatur and has already won prominence as a medical practitioner here.
On the 24th of November, 1896, Dr. Mittan was united in marriage to Miss Emma L. Butcher, of Bellflower, Illinois. Her father, James C. Butcher, was born near Crawfords- ville, Indiana, October 7, 1829, and was edit- cated in the schools of his native state. He always followed the occupation of farming. In 1852 he wedded Jane C. Emmett, of Craw- fordsville, Indiana, and they became the par- ents of three sons and three daughters, but two of the sons died in infancy. Those now living are: Flora E., Emma L., John A. and Ida A. The family removed to McLean conn- ty, Illinois, in 1850, locating in Oldtown, where Mr. Butcher resumed farming opera- tions. His first wife died November 3, 1870, and he afterward wedded Mrs. Susan Harris, nee Fordyce, this marriage being solemnized October 2, 1871. Three children have been born of this union: Jay A., Myron H. and Jessie H. Mr. Butcher is now living a retired life. Flora E. Butcher, a sister of Mrs. Mit- tan, is now the wife of Lincoln P. Goodhart, of Chicago. They have a daughter, Ina L. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Mittan was John Butcher, who was born in 1799, the eld- est member of his father's family. He mar- ried Abigail Monahan. The great-grand- father, James Butcher. was born in 1777 and he, too, was the olde:+ .nember of the family to which he belonged. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Patterson. The ma- ternal grandparents of Mrs. Mittan were Peter and Silence (Shobe) Monahan.
Fraternally Dr. Mittan is a member of Col- fax Lodge, No. 799, A. F. & A. M .; of Bloom- ington Chapter, No. 26, R. A. M .; Blooming- ton Council, No. 43, R. & S. M .; and DeMo- lay Commandery, No. 24, K. T., of Blooming- ton. While in Colfax he took an active part in everything pertaining to the welfare of the
village. He was especially interested in edu- cational matters, his experience as a teacher enabling him to know what was for the best interests of the schools. He acted as a mem- ber of the board of education for eight years and for five years was its president. He was also a member of the board of aldermen and acted as its president for one year. He like- wise served as chairman of the board of health in Colfax and in all his official positions dis- charged his duties with marked fairness, capa- bility and for the best interests of the general public. His political support has ever been given to the Republican party and he is a stanch advocate of its principles. He con- tinted an active worker in behalf of the schools in Colfax until 1902, when he left for Europe in order to pursue a post-graduate course in medicine and surgery.
Accompaniedl by his wife he went direct to London, England, where he studied in the Associated Medical Colleges of London for four months, pursuing the study of surgery under Sir Victor Horsley, Dr. Barter, Dr. Watson Cheyne and Dr. Corless. He also at- tended a polyclinic held at night in the hospi- tal for the diseases of women, his instructor there being Dr. Fenwick. He also did special work in St. Mark's Hospital in connection with the treatment of rectal diseases. While abroad Dr. Mittan and his wife traveled ex- tensively over the continent, visiting France, Holland, Germany and other European coun- tries and thus broadening their general knowl- edge and gaining that culture and experience which only travel can bring. In the spring of the present year (1903) Dr. Mittan returned to America and spent several months in the hospitals of Chicago. He then came to De- catur, where he fitted up elegant rooms on the fifth floor of the Powers building, where he has all the latest and modern appliances such as the X-ray machine and other devices for the treatment of disease. He is making a spe- cialty of surgery and of the diseases of women and his thorough preparation has made him a
CHARLES LAUX
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.
practitioner of marked ability. He has gained a place of distinctive precedence in the ranks of the medical fraternity in this part of the state and is building up a practice commen- surate with his skill and learning.
J. B. STOUTENBOROUGH.
The expression "the dignity of labor " is exemplified in the life record of this gentle- man, who without reserve attributes his suc- cess to earnest work as he has never engaged in speculations of any kind. He is a man of strong force of character, purposeful and energetic, and his keen discrimination and sound judgment are shown in his capable management of business affairs. He resides on section 4. Maroa township, where he owns and operates a good farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres.
Mr. Stoutenborough was born in Butler county, Ohio, July 28, 1855, and in 1863 was brought to Illinois by his parents, John and Elizabeth Stoutenborough, the family locating in Macon county, where the father engaged in farming for many years, but he and his wife are now living retired in Maroa. Our subject attended the public schools of this county during his boyhood and youth and re- mained at home with his parents until he at- tained his majority. For ten years thereafter he was engaged in farming on rented land, and then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land east of Maroa, where he lived for four years. At the end of that time he bought a one hundred and sixty acre tract from his father and has since engaged in its cultivation. There is a fine house and barn upon the place, besides a good set of farm buildings of all kinds, and the farm is one of the most attractive and desirable in that sec- tion of the county. Mr. Stoutenborough is engaged in both general farming and stock- raising.
In 1881 was celebrated his marriage to Miss
Lanra Baird, a native of De Witt county, Illinois, and a daughter of Peter Baird. They have two children, Norman, the older, com- pleted the proscribed course in the schools of Maroa and later attended Brown's Business College at Decatur. Two years ago he ac- cepted the position of bookkeeper in the Crocker & Company's Bank of Maroa, where he is still employed. Ernest, the younger son, is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Stoutenbor- ough are members of the Presbyterian church and occupy a prominent position in social cir- cles of the community. By his ballot Mr. Stoutenborough supports the Republican party and its principles.
CHARLES LAUX.
Charles Laux, proprietor of the St. Nich- olas, has had as strennous a life perhaps as any of the older citizens of Decatur and his career is a striking example of hard work rewarded. He came to Decatur when it was a village and the hotel he established here has kept pace with the progress of the city. Three times when the growing city demanded it, Mr. Laux built a new St. Nicholas and the present one is in every respect all that a larger city than Decatur could expect.
Born in the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, November 17, 1842, Mr. Lanx came to America in 1854 with his parents and fam- ily. Ile came direct to Decatur, where his mother died in July of the same year and his father died in 1859. Mr. Laux was but eleven years old when he arrived with his parents in this country. When eighteen he crossed the continent to California. Ile was attracted to the west by the great gold craze and while there he worked at various hotels on the Pacific coast. After four years of California he returned to Decatur and the firm of Laux Brothers was estab- lished. Mr. Laux and his brothers pur-
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chased the old llarrell House, which was then called the Cloudas House. The hostel- ry was re-named the St. Nicholas. In 1880 the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Laux's brothers went west, leaving him the sole proprietor of the hotel. Since that time, he has made his hotel very popular with the traveling public and has gained the approbation of the Decatur citizens. ln 1892 the present St. Nicholas was built and ranks today as one of the handsomest buildings in the city. It has one hundred and fifty guest rooms, a home-like office, a beautiful dining room and parlor. The house was built at an outlay of one hun- dred and five thousand dollars.
Many bits of central Illinois and even national history have taken place in the St. Nicholas hotel. Since the days of Abra- ham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, the St. Nicholas has been a political headquar- ters. The framers of the Grand Army of the Republic drew up the original code of the army in the parlors of the St. Nicholas and this act will make Decatur famous after the last veteran of the Civil war has gone to join his fallen comrades. Mr. Laux held the office of city treasurer for a term of two years.
JAMES A. WILSON.
James A. Wilson, a retired farmer and stock-raiser. now residing at No. 1067 West Main street, in Decatur, belongs to one of the oldest families of the county, the Wilson home being first established here in 1830. The par- ents of our subject were Robert and Sarah ( Lindsey) Wilson, both natives of North Car- olina. The father was born in Mecklenburg and resided there until twenty years of age, when he removed with his parents to Wilson county, Tennessee. There he engaged in farming until 1829, when he brought his fam- ily to Sangamon county, Illinois, settling on
a farm about fifteen miles from Springfield. For a year he resided on what was called the old Bone place, and in December, 1830, he re- moved to Macon county. This was the win- ter of the famous "deep snow," so memor- able in the early history of the state. Mr. Wilson purchased a tract of land on section 6, Mount Zion township, the deed for which was made on a piece of sheepskin. There he began raising stock, for which there was a great demand, and as there were no railroads to provide shipping facilities his sons, includ- ing our subject, drove many a herd of cattle and of horses across the country to the markets of Wisconsin. Mr. Wilson was actively con- nected with general farming and stock-raising interests in Mount Zion township until his death. He was twice married, his first union being with Miss Jane Donnell, of Tennessee, who died in that state in 1828. He then wedded Sarah (Lindsey) Hodge, widow of Joseph Hodge. By the first union there were seven children, but all are now deceased. The three children born of the second marriage are: Robert D., now deceased; Sarah A., the widow of John H. Davidson and a resi- dent of Mount Zion ; and James A., of this review.
Our subject was born on the old family homestead in Mount Zion township, Septem- ber 5. 1835, and like the other children of the household he was educated in the public schools of the locality, while later he entered a college at Sullivan, Illinois. On account of his eyesight, however, he had to return home and again he attended the common schools near the farm. In his early youth he began herding stock for his father and also per- formed all kinds of work incident to the culti- vation and improvement of land. After his education was completed he returned to the old homestead and there continued to engage in general farming and stock-raising until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when on the 5th of August, 1861, he enlisted, becom- ing a member of Company E, Forty-first Il-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.
linois Regiment under Captain J. L. Arm- strong and Colonel I. C. Pugh. He partici- pated in a number of important engagements, including the battles of Fort Donelson, Pitts- burg Landing, Jackson, Vicksburg and Cor- inth and was in numerous skirmishes in con- neetion with the Red river expedition under General Banks. In the battle of Tupelo he was in command of his regiment for two days, these being the last days of his service, and on the 20th of August, 1864, he was honor- ably discharged at Springfield. He was first lieutenant at that time, being promoted imme- diately after the battle of Pittsburg Landing, being commissioned by Governor Yates.
Returning to his farm he resumed agricul- tural pusuits and October 29, 1867, he won a companion and helpmate for the journey of life, being united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Jones, also a native of this county, born in 1849, and a daughter of Claybourn and Ma- tilda (Davis) Jones. Her mother, born Sep- tember 1, 1820, is now deceased. The father, born August 10, 1811, was one of the early settlers of Macon county. Hle settled in Oak- ley township and later removed to Mount Zion township, where he engaged in farm- ing and stock-raising until, well advanced in years, he retired from business life and is now living with Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, at the ripe old age of ninety-two years. Six children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Wilson : Charles C., who went to Colgate University, Hamil- ton, New York, to attend school, was there taken ill and returned home, dying here Feb- ruary 26, 1894, at the age of twenty-six years ; Mabel E. is now a teacher in the Wood street school and resides with her parents; Sadie is the wife of Clarence C. Mills, a veterinary surgeon of Decatur; Robert Roy, who mar- ried Fannie Davenport, is employed by the Morehouse & Wells Hardware Company of Decatur; Bessie B. and James Victor are at home.
Mr. Wilson continued to engage in agri- cultural pursuits until 1887, when he removed
to Decatur. He first bought property at No. 721 West Wood street and resided there until December, 1901, when he purchased his pres- ent residence at No. 1067 West Main street, near the Millikin University. This is in one of the best residence portions of the city and the Wilson household is a most hospitable one. Ile yet owns eighty acres of fine farm- ing land in Mount Zion township. In his politics he gives a stalwart support to the Re- publican party. He belongs to Dunham Post. G. A. R., of Decatur, and for four years he was the treasurer of the Old Settlers' Associa- tion of Macon county. His wife is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church of De- catur. In all his dealings Mr. Wilson has been successful and well deserves the rest which he is now enjoying among all the com- forts of an attractive home.
WILLIAM J. MAGEE.
Among the residents of Decatur who at one time were identified with agricultural pursuits and therein won a competence suf- ficient to enable them to live retired surrounded by all the comforts of life is William J. Magee, who now occupies a beautiful residence at No. 1595 North Water street. He has made his home in Macon county since five years of age and is a native son of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Sangamon county, May 31, 1844. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Norris) Magee, the former born in Delaware, September 18, 1808, and the latter in Ohio on the 12th of December, 1816. The paternal grandparents of our subject were James T. and Sarah (Adams) Magee, both of whom were born in the east and there spent their entire lives, the former dying January 20, 1845, and the latter on the 17th of September, 1851.
When eighteen years of age John Magee left his home in Delaware and made his way to Ohio, settling in Pickaway county,
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.
where he became acquainted with the lady whose hand he sought in marriage. He there engaged in buying and shipping cattle and also followed farming until about 1841, when he again started westward, this time taking up his abode in Moultrie county, Illinois, where he carried on farming for a year. In 1842 he removed to Sangamon county, settling nine miles northeast of Springfield, where he engaged in general agricultural pursuits for about seven years. In 1849 he came to Macon county and first rented a farm in Decatur township, but after living thereon for two years he pur- chased a tract of land on section 29, Whit- more township. To its development and cultivation he devoted his energies through- out his remaining days. He served as constable and deputy sheriff in Macon county for about thirty-six years and at his death he was the oldest constable in the county. He passed away September II. 1890, and his wife died October 31, 1895, and they were held in high regard because of their allegiance to upright principles and as a public official Mr. Magee made a most creditable record. The family included six children: Sarah Jane, the .wife of Samuel H. Garver, now of Jennings, Louisiana ; Samuel. who died in 1861; Samantha, the wife of George M. Barnett, of Long Creek township: William J .; Angeline, the de- ceased wife of Benjamin Musselman ; and Marietta, who died at the age of seventeen years.
Like the other members of the family, William J. Magee received but a common- school education and then had the oppor- tunity of attending for only about two months in the year. as his services were needed on his father's farm in the cultiva- tion and development of the fields. He con- tinued to follow the plow until twenty years of age, when he enlisted in the army, being enrolled on the 4th of February, 1865. as a member of Company K, One Hundred
and Fifty-second Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, under Captain Mattocks and Colonel Stephenson. From Springfield the regiment went to Tennessee and after the close of the war Mr. Magee was discharged at Memphis on the 18th of September, 1865. Returning to his home he again lived with his parents and assisted in the operation of the home farm for a year, on the expiration of which period he was married.
It was in 1866 that Mr. Magee was joined in wedlock to Miss Fannie Musselman, a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Jacob and Annie Mus- selman, who removed with his family to Macon county, Illinois, at an early day, and it was here that Mrs. Magee was reared. The young couple began their domestic life upon a farm which Mr. Magee pur- chased on section 29, Whitmore township, and there he engaged in the work of plow- ing, planting and harvesting until 1879, when he took charge of the Macon county poor farm, of which he was made superin- tendent for fourteen years. On retiring from that office in 1893 he removed to Decatur and has since been engaged in no active business pursuits. He is still, however, the owner of two hundred and thirty acres of fine farming land in Whitmore town- ship, seventy acres in Pleasant View town- ship and one hundred and sixty acres in Moul- trie county, Illinois, and from this enter- prise he derives an excellent income, for the land is valuable and brings a good rental.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Magee have been born five children : John J., who married Ella Waterman, and is a graduated pharmacist, was formerly engaged in the drug business in Chicago, but is now retired; A. Mary, a graduate of the high school of Decatur and the Normal University at Normal, Illinois, has taught school in this city for three years ; Samuel is a resident of Iowa Falls. Iowa, in the drug business ; Marcus D. died at the age of three months; Ada Estelle is
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