Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois, Part 87

Author:
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 988

USA > Illinois > Macon County > Decatur > Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois > Part 87

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ticket over five candidates. At each biennial election since that time he has been again chosen and is now serving in his tenth year.

On the 28th of February, 1871, Mr. Hol- linger was united in marriage to Miss Cor- nelia Barber, of Decatur. Her mother is liv- ing with them, her father having died. Mr. Hollinger made for himself a record that is creditable and honorable. His business career has been most commendable, characterized by fidelity to duty and straightforward dealing. In matters of citizenship he is progressive and public-spirited and his labors have been ef- fective in advancing Decatur's welfare. He has been a close and earnest student of the questions of the day and is ever able to support his position by intelligent argument.

HUSTON J. BANTON.

Huston J. Banton, who is now successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits on section 4, Mount Zion township, was born March 21, 1849, in Garrard county, Kentucky, of which state his parents, Oliver T. and Susannah W. (Walker) Banton, were also natives. The father was born on the 7th of March, 1826, and was a son of George Banton, who was also a native of Kentucky and a veteran of the Mexican war. The latter had three sons, all of whom are now deceased. James having died in the army during the Civil war and John in Chicago. Oliver T. came to Macon county, Illinois, in 1868 and settled in the vil- lage of Mount Zion. His last days were spent with our subject on his home in Mount Zion township, where he passed away October 9. 1897, in the seventy-third year of his age. He was married June 15, 1848, to Mrs. Su- sannah W. Conn, who was born May 7, 1819. and died February 20. 1884. Her parents were Kemp P. and Sarah Walker, who were married August 1, 1811. The former was born October 12. 1787, and died June 22, 1861, while his wife was born March 27, 1793, and

PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

died. July 22, 1863. Mr. Walker was a son of Elijah and Dorcas Walker, who were also Kentuckians by birth, and the former died March 23, 1833, and the latter December 7, 1844. By her first marriage to John Conn. the mother of our subject had two children, namely: Alex and Kemp W. Conn. The children by her second marriage were Huston J., of this review : John W., who died Febru- ary 14, 1853; Edmund W., who died January 29, 1853 ; and Sarah C., who died March 18, 1858.

During his boyhood Huston J. Banton had but limited school advantages. In 1874 he learned the carpenter's trade, which he fol- lowed in connection with farming until the past three years, when he has given his atten- tion entirely to farming and stock-raising. He is now the owner of two good farms, the one on which he resides being on section 4, Mount Zion township. Here he built with his own hands a fine modern residence in 1893, it being finished in various kinds of woods, the wood- work in some of the rooms being walnut, while others are in white pine and sycamore and em- bellished with beautiful ornamentations. The house is a monument to his skill and ability in the line of his trade. For twenty-nine years Mr. Banton followed carpentering, during which period he erected many substantial buildings in his locality, including the resi- dence of J. E. Rucker of Long Creek town- ship and the barn of Walter Hodge in Mount Zion township.

On the 27th of January. 1876. Mr. Banton was united in marriage to Miss Mary Alice Sheldon, a daughter of Seth and Sallie An Sheldon, of Arcola, Illinois. She was born December 6, 1851, and died in March, 1888, leaving four children, namely: Edmund, now a resident of the village of Mount Zion : John, at home: Curtis, of Mount Zion township: and Arthur, deceased. Mr. Banton was again married in 1891, his second union being with Miss Mary A. Armstrong, of Macon county, Illinois, by whom he had five children: Oliver

and Iluston, both living ; and three who died in infancy.

Mr. Banton is a member of the Antioch Christian church and is a supporter of the Re- publican party and its principles. He is a liberal minded, public-spirited man, of pro- gressive ideas, and is numbered among the valued citizens of his community, as he gives an earnest support to all measures which he believes will advance the moral or material welfare of his township and county.

J. FRED GIVEN.

J. Fred Given, who is now manager of the Powers Opera llouse, of Decatur, was born on the ioth of April, 1862, in Darbyville, Ohio, his parents being the Rev. James F. and Lottie (Geren) Given. The father was a native of Paducah, Kentucky, and came of an old south- ern family of German and English lineage, while the mother's birth occurred in Marietta. Ohio, and she was of Scotch-Irish and English ancestry. Rev. Given was the pastor of the Christian Union church, originally called Givenites and which has a large membership in Ohio. He was a Methodist minister in early life, but on account of his political and religions views during the Civil war he was ostracized by his denomination and in 1864 he founded this sect which became known as Givenites. He was a man of scholarly at- tainments and broad general learning and at the same time had a most comprehensive knowledge of the people. He acted as pro- fessor of languages for some years in the Ohio Wesleyan University and also in Athens College of Athens, Ohio. He possessed su- perior ability as a linguist and was master of seven languages. Rev. Given was a man of strong personality and wonderful magnetism in holding and swaying an audience. During the Civil war a mob attacked him, but he brought his wonderful persuasive power into play in his own behalf. Standing with his

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

bible in his hand he spoke to the crowd until his eloquence enabled him to disperse the riot- ers and harmony prevailed. He left his influ- ence for good upon a great majority of those with whom he came in contact, his forceful utterance, his strong logic and his wonderful power never failing to make a deep impresion upon his audiences. He died in 1868, after which his widow became the wife of W. H. Bishop and with her family and her second husband she then removed to a farm near Grovesport, Ohio. She is still living, her home being in Columbus, Ohio.

J. Fred Given had two sisters, Mattie and Mary, and two brothers, John and Joseph, but at this time (1903) the only surviving children in his parents' family are his brother John and himself, his sisters having died of consumption and his brother Joseph of heart failure. Our subject was only seven years of age at the time of the family's removal to Grovesport, where he remained until seven- teen years of age, being engaged in the active duties of farm life during that period. He attended the country schools and also spent some time in the high school, after which he engaged in teaching for a year. Later he pur- sued a post-graduate course in the Lithopolis Normal School and after spending a short time in Columbus, Ohio, he went to Chicago, Illinois. Going from there to Jacksonville, Illinois, for a time he there pursued a theo- logical course, but his health made it necessary that he should give up his studies as he could not stand the close confinement of the school- room.

With the family of his uncle Orlando Pow- ers he came to Decatur in 1883 and for a short time was employed in the drug store of H. B. Cole. Soon afterward he entered the service of R. W. Weld in the hardware busi- ness and afterward was engaged in a manu- facturing enterprise in Columbus, Ohio, for a few months. Ile next went to Olathe, Kansas, where he took charge of a bank and also su- perintended a grocery and queensware busi-

ness for eight months. For a year he was a salesman in the wholesale grocery house of Woodson, Todd & Company and when that firm dissolved partnership his employers se- cured for him a position with the Riley, Wil- son Company, wholesale grocers, with whom he remained for two years. He next went to Los Angeles, California, where he was asso- ciated with Meyberg Brothers, wholesale and retail dealers in queensware, having charge of their art department for several months. Sub- sequently he was employed by H. Jevne, as bookkeeper, and afterward went to San Fran- cisco, California, where he acted as a tea salesman for the firm of A. Schilling & Com- pany. Upon receiving word of the death of his step-father and sister Mary he returned to Ohio and assisted his mother in selling the farm and closing out the affairs of the estate. His mother then removed to Columbus, Ohio, and Mr. Given of this review entered the em- ploy of the Eldridge & Higgins Company, wholesale fancy grocers of that city, where he remained until 1895. He then came to De- catur and took charge of Powers Opera House in September of that year. The theater was burned in the following October, but was at once rebuilt and was again open for business on the Ioth of February, 1896. Mr. Given has since had the management of the theater and of the bill-posting plant and is also gen- eral overseer of the Orlando Powers estate during the absence of the members of the family. He has furnished the people of De- catur with the highest class of plays and en- tertainments to be obtained, the best attrac- tions known to the stage being here seen during the season.

On the 9th of January. 1892, Mr. Given was united in marriage to Miss Emma Jones, a daughter of Eben Jones, of Jackson, Ohio, a prominent business man there who is now president of the Commercial Bank and is also identified with the coal and iron furnace indus- tries. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Given have been born two children: Frederick Eben and Thel-

PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

ma Mary. Socially Mr. Given is connected with Macon Lodge, No. 8, F. & A. M., and has attained the Knight Templar degree in Beaumanoir Commandery. He likewise be- longs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Few men are more prominent or more widely known in the enterprising city of De- catur than Mr. Given. He is now an import- ant factor in business circles and in private life he has gained that warm personal regard which arises from geniality and deference for the opinions of others.

STEPHEN G. WASHBURN.

For many years Stephen G. Washburn was one of the most active and progressive men of Macon county, as well as one of its most re- liable and honored citizens, and now in his declining years he is enjoying a well earned rest, free from the cares and responsibilities of business life. He makes his home in the village of Macon.

Mr. Washburn was born in Jefferson coun- ty, New York, July 17, 1832, a son of Isaac and Brittania (Britton) Washburn, of that state. lle cannot remember his mother, who died when he was quite small, and at the age of twelve years he was left an orphan by the death of his father. Ile then worked as a farm hand for several years and his educa- tional privileges were limited. He came to Macon county, Illinois, in 1860 and was in the employ of John Hatfield when the Civil war broke out.

Mr. Washburn then entered the service of his country as a private in Company I, Sev- enth Illinois Cavalry, under Pitt Kellogg and Judge Gallagher, as captain, and was in the army for three years and two months, taking part in the siege of Corinth and the hard- fought battle at that place in 1862. He was under fire about seventy-five times and was honorably discharged on the 20th of October, 1804, with the rank of second lieutenant.

On his return home, Mr. Washburn bought a small farm of eighty acres of prairie land, which he improved and which continued to be his home until 1873, when he removed to the village of Macon and was engaged in the butchering business for three years. He then bought a store building and embarked in gen- eral merchandising, which he carried on for eighteen years. From 1882 until 1886 busi- ness was carried on under the firm name of S. G. Washburn & Company, his partner be- ing William Lawley, and on the latter's death William Towson bought out his heirs. Dur- ing the years of his residence here Mr. Wash- burn has acquired considerable property, in- cluding one hundred and eight acres of land in Pleasant View township, this county, and forty-five acres adjoining the village of Ma- con, besides a half section of land in Texas. He is a man of good business ability and sound judgment, and to these qualities, com- bined with industrious habits, is due his suc- cess in life.

On the 22d of February, 1865, in Macon county, Mr. Washburn married Miss Emma Jordan, a half sister of John Hatfield and a daughter of William and Paulina ( Harris) Jordan. Three children blessed this union : Minnie L., the oldest, is the wife of R. B. Richmond, a jeweler of Decatur, and they have three children, Ralph, Hazel and Edna. Edna II., the second daughter of our subject, is the wife of George E. Pollard, of Pleasant View township, and they have two children, Stephen and Robert. Robert A., the only son of Mr. Washburn, was drowned in a cistern at the age of two and one-half years. The wife and mother, who was a consistent and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, died on the 10th of November, 1900, and her death was deeply mourned by all who knew her.

For some time after his wife's death Mr. Washburn lived with his daughter on a farm in Pleasant View township, but is now board- ing at a hotel in Macon. Ile is a prominent

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member of the Masonic Lodge, No. 467, and Jordan Post, No. 535. G. A. R., of Macon, and was elected the first commander of the post on its organization. He served as alder- man in Macon for several years and has al- ways been prominently identified with those interests calculated to promote public welfare along social, moral or material lines, being as true to his duties of citizenship in times of peace as when following the old flag to vic- tory on southern battle-fields. He is widely and favorably known and well merits the high regard in which he is uniformly held. :

EDWARD WADE.

Edward Wade, a well known nurseryman residing on section 4. Decatur township and one of the most highly respected citizens of his community, was born in Somersetshire, England. on the 16th of August, 1831, his ancestors having for generations lived on the same farm. His father, Abraham Wade, was an agriculturist in comfortable circumstances and was also a minister of the Methodist Epis- copal church. He heard John Wesley preach and in the early history of the church became one of its members. He was active in estab- lishing churches and did all in his power to promote the cause of Christianity in his neigh- borhood. Being a man of considerable prom- inence he was also called upon to fill a num- ber of local offices in his native land. In 1867 he came to the United States with his son and throughout the remainder of his life lived retired, dying in De Witt county, Illinois, at the ripe old age of eighty-three years. His wife died in the same county. She bore the maiden name of Martha Harding and was born and reared in the parish adjoining that in which her husband lived.

U'nto this worthy couple were born twelve children, nine of whom reached man and womanhood and three sons and two daugh- ters came to America. Abram died in Eng-

land; Samuel is now living near Clinton, De Witt county, Illinois; Josiah was accidentally killed in England; Mrs. Martha Haverfield is a resident of Coffeeville, Kansas; Edward is the next younger ; Francis is a farmer of De Witt county; and Thomas H., now deceased, was engaged in farming in Austin township, Macon county, for some years.

Edward Wade was reared upon the home farm in his native land, remaining under the .parental roof until twenty-three years of age, and he acquired a good practical education in the local schools. He early became familiar with the work of the farm and during his youth learned the nursery business, being em- ployed by one of the largest nursery com- panies in England, that of Garney, Nays & Company, in Durhamdown. After coming to this country he was also with a nursery firm at Washington, D. C., for a time.

Reading the pamphlets sent out by the Illi- nois Central Railroad Company concerning the almost fabulous productions of this state and hearing of other opportunities afforded young men in America, he determined to test the truth of these reports by trying his fortune in the United States, and in 1854 sailed from Liverpool to New Orleans. After a voyage of six weeks he reached the Crescent City and proceeded up the Mississippi river to St. Louis. He stopped first at Greenville, Bond county, Illinois, where he spent two years, and then went to Michigan, where the following two years were passed. In 1857 he arrived in Decatur, Illinois, and has since made his home in Macon county as a representative of her agricultural interest. In 1862 he pur- chased sixty-five acres of land in Decatur township and has since given the greater part of his attention to the nursery business, de- voting ten acres of his land to choice fruits. In 1900 he erected a nice residence and other buildings on the section adjoining the one on which he first located and here he now makes his home.

In 1859 Mr. Wade was united in marriage

PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

to Miss Susanna Dement, a native of De Witt county, Illinois, who died on the 3d of Febril- ary, 1869, leaving three children : Martha F., now deceased; Eva Laura, wife of Frank Hamlin, of De Witt county : and Francis Ells- worth, a resident of Aurora, Illinois. For his second wife Mr. Wade chose Miss Anna M. Granger, who had formerly been a teacher in the public schools of Decatur. She died at the birth of her only son. Mr. Wade was again married in Union county, Ohio, in 1875. this third marriage being with Miss Louisa Gill, a native of that county and a daughter of Mason and Harriet Gill. Her father died in 1864 and her mother passed away in 1865. at the age of seventy-three years. The only other member of her family now living is Hon. John S. Gill, of Columbus, Ohio. Unto Mr. Wade and his present wife have been born four children, as follows: Jessie MI., now the wife of Charles Peck, of Decatur ; Albert Ed- ward, a farmer of Michigan, who is devoting his attention principally to bee culture : Harry Gill, who is in the employ of the Decatur Coffin Company : and John Ralph, at home.

In religious faith both Mr. and Mrs. Wade are Methodists and they take a very promi- nent and active part in church work. The pos- sibilities that America offers to her citizens he has utilized and though he came to this coun- try in limited circumstances he has steadily and perseveringly worked his way upward and is to-day quite well-to-do. By untiring indus- try and sound business judgment he has won merited success and is worthy the high regard in which he is held by his fellow citizens.

WILLIAM J. HOOPER.

One of the most progressive and up-to-date farmers and stock raisers of South Wheatland township is the gentleman whose name intro- duces this sketch. In carrying on his farm work he uses the latest improved machinery and appliances and follows only the most ap-

proved methods, and he has thoroughly dem- onstrated the fact that high class farming can be måde profitable as well as pleasant.

Mr. Hooper was born on the 14th of Janu- ary, 1862, in this county, his parents being William and Mary E. (Goodman) Hooper, who now make their home in Decatur. His father is a native of Washington county, Ken- tricky, which was also the birthplace of his paternal grandfather. Fountain Hooper, and his maternal grandfather. John Goodman, was born in the same state. Fountain Hooper was a prominent clergyman in the Methodist Epis- copal church and spent his entire life in Ken- tucky. There our subject's father grew to manhood and married, and at an early day he and his wife came to Macon county, Il- linois, where they still reside. They are the parents of eleven children, of whom William J. is the third in order of birth, and those living at the present writing in 1903, are Mat- tie, wife of John Gouchman: Sarah E., wife of James Saudaros : William J .; Fountain L .; and Flasker H.

William J. Hooper was reared on the home farm, where he remained until twenty years of age, and was educated in the public schools of the neighborhood. On leaving the parental roof, he took charge of the farm of A. G. Rob- erts in Mount Zion township, where he re- mained for two years, and then removed to the farm of A. C. Traughher, where the fol- lowing eight years were passed. In 1892, while residing upon the latter farm, he pur- chased his present place near the northeast corner of South Wheatland township, to which he removed two years later on the expiration of his lease to the Traughber farm. As he prospered in his farming operations he has added to his property from time to time until he now owns two hundred and seventy-five acres of land under a high state of cultivation and well improved. On starting in life for himself his first earnings came from fattening stock for market and in the raising of colts and calves. In this way he was soon able to

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purchase sixty acres of land, stock and im- prove it, and in connection with its cultiva- tion he operated a one hundred and sixty acre tract which he rented. In 1892 he bought one hundred and twenty acres additional, as previously stated. Upon his place he has laid seven thousand feet of tiling, has set out an orchard covering five acres, and has added drill wells and wind pumps, besides erecting a good modern residence in 1891 and a barn and other outbuildings since that time. He is a breeder of pure Aberdeen Angus cattle, has made some sales and still has twenty head of registered stock upon his place. As an agri- culturist he has thoroughly demonstrated the fact that he understands fully the vocation he follows and believes that a man should put into use his business qualifications in all that he undertakes. In the year 1889 he produced fourteen thousand bushels of corn on a quarter section of land. Mr. Hooper's success as an up-to-date farmer has been frequently men- tioned in the leading agricultural journals, of which he has been a most valued correspon- dent.

On the 14th of September, 1892, Mr. Hooper was united in marriage to Miss Alice B. Scott, who was born April 8, 1861, and is a daughter of Charles W. and Martha ( Trent) Scott, both natives of Kentucky. Her father died on the 30th of April, 1900, and her mother is now living in Davis City, Iowa. Mrs. Hooper is the fifth in order of birth in their family of ten children, two of whom are now deceased. The others still living are D. P., a resident of Topeka, Kansas; J. W., of De- catur, lowa; Mary, wife of Merritt Gritten, of Macon county, Illinois : C. D., of Portland, Oregon : Nannie, wife of Charles Tillier, of Christian county, Illinois; and P. M. and Sophronia, who are with their mother. Mr. and Mrs. Hooper have two children: Clyde Chester, born July 17, 1801; and Fay. born February 10, 1896.

By his ballot Mr. Hooper supports the men and measures of the Democratic party. So-

cially he is a member of Mount Zion Lodge, No. 300, 1. O. O. F., and religiously is a member of the Christian church, to which his wife also belongs. His influence and labors have done much toward promoting the inter- ests of his community along various lines of progress and he is recognized as one of the leading and valued citizens of South Wheat- land township.

HENNING JACOBSEN.

Success is determined by one's ability to recognize opportunity and to pursue this with a resolute and unflagging energy. It results from continued labor and the man who thus accomplishes his purpose usually becomes a prominent factor in the business circles of the community with which he is connected. Through such means Mr. Jacobsen has at- tained a leading place among the represen- tative men of Macon county and his well spent and honorable life commands the respect of all who know him.

The Jacobsen family is of German origin and our subject is a native of Schleswig, born January 6, 1846. His parents, Henning and Augusta Jacobsen, were born in the same country and there made their home for many years but finally came to America. The father emigrated two years later than our subject and landed in New York in 1863 and came direct to Niantic, Illinois. Here he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land in Nian- tic township and throughout the remainder of his life engaged in farming here. Both he and his wife are now deceased.

In the family of this worthy couple were four children, three sons and one daughter, namely : Anna is the wife of Herman Nottel- mann, who is our subject's partner in business, and they have six children: Augusta, wife of Frank Beall. of Niantic; Juergen, of Macon county ; Anna. wife of Charles Pritch- ett, of Latham. Illinois; IIenning, also of Latham : Dora at home; and John in Chicago.

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Henry, who is now living retired in Tuscola, Illinois, was formerly engaged in the manti- facture of brick. He married Jennie Faris, of Niantic, a sister of J. P. Faris, and they have four children, May, Ollie, Lula and John. George, who conducts an elevator at Niantic, married llattie Ford, a daughter of Elias Ford, and they have three children, Augusta, Bessie and George.

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Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois, Part 87

Author: Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 988

Author:
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 988