Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois, Part 89

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 89

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Mr. Ehrhart has been twice married and by his first union had three children : John and George, who are married and live in Decatur ;

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and Ellsworth, who died in 1883. On the 22d of April, 1883, Mr. Ehrhart was joined in wedlock to Annette Songer and they had two children : Alma and Abigail, but the former died in infancy. Mr. Ehrhart has given his children good educational privileges, thus pre- paring them for the practical and respon- sible duties of life. He and his wife are de- voted members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their hospitable home is located at No. 1275 North Union street and in addition to this valuable property Mr. Ehrhart owns other realty in Decatur, all of which has been acquired entirely through his own energy and capable management. He is one of the worthy pioneer settlers of this city and has aided in developing Decatur from the hazel brush to a city of metropolitan proportions, having within its borders all of the equipments and improvements of the older cast. He remem- bers to have seen Lincoln Square when it was covered with straw and used as a feeding place for the teams of the farmers who drove into town. The open prairie was the feeding ground of many deer and other wild game and the surface of the country was dotted here and there with ponds or crossed with sloughs. During his boyhood days Mr. Ehrhart was dressed in home-made clothing. In his father's family they would shear the sheep and have the wool sent to the factory where it was spun into clothing. Pioneer life as it was a half century ago was well known to him and he retains vivid recollections of De- catur when it was a very primitive town, giving little promise of its present develop- ment and progress.

HENRY L. HIGHLY.

Henry L. Highly is one of Macon's repre- sentative citizens, whose useful and well spent life has not only gained him the confidence of his fellow men but has also secured for him a comfortable competence which enables

him to lay aside all business cares and spend his declining days in case and retirement.

A native of Ohio, Mr. Highly was born near Zanesville on the 12th of June. 1835, and is a son of Thomas and Susan (Gist ) Highly, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. Leaving the Key- stone state they removed to Ohio at an early day and settled ten miles east of Zanesville, becoming pioneers of that section. There the father secured forty acres of timberland, which he cleared. improved and cultivated, and in addition to the operation of his farm he con- ducted a saw and grist mill for many years, being a miller by trade. Selling out in 1850, he removed to Hocking county, Ohio, and purchased eighty acres of land four miles from Logan. where he made his home until his death. In his family were eleven children, but only four are now living, namely : Thomas, a retired farmer living in Oregon ; Henry L., of this review : Samuel and Eliza- beth, twins, the former of whom is now jan- itor of the courthouse at Logan, Ohio, while the latter is the wife of John Coon, a retired farmer living near Lancaster, Ohio.

Henry L. Highly was educated in an old log school house which had a puncheon floor. slab benches and other rude furniture. but he was only able to attend school for about three months during the winter season as his services were needed on the home farm dur- ing the remainder of the year. At the age of fifteen he started out to make his own way in the world and was told by his father, if he would pay off the mortgage on a forty acre farm he could have the place, only one pay- ment having previously been made. To earn the money for this purpose Mr. Highly worked by the month for five years. He then cleared his land, which was a timber tract, and split the rails to fence it with.

In the spring of 1861 he came to Macon county, Illinois, and commenced work on the Allison farm. About a year later he returned to his old home in Ohio, and was there mar-

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ried on the 6th of March, 1862, to Miss Jane Gibson, a daughter of Patrick and Margaret ( Flanigan ) Gibson. The wedding journey of the young couple was from Ohio to Illinois and was made in an old fashioned covered wagon. After making a short visit at Col- umbus, Ohio, they proceeded on their way, passing through Springfield, Ohio; Indianap- olis and Terre Haute, Indiana; and Arcola and Mount Zion, Illinois, finally reaching Macon after fourteen days upon the road.

For two years Mr. Highly was engaged in farming upon the Allison place, and then purchased eighty acres of railroad land east of Macon, for which he paid twelve dollars and a half per acre. Upon the place was an old log house, fourteen feet square and a kitchen made of slabs, twelve by fourteen feet. Here Mr. Highly and his wife lived for ten years and then erected a fine home at a cost of twenty-five hundred dollars, while a new barn was built at a cost of twelve hundred. The farm was all wikl prairie land when they took up their residence thereon, but Mr. Highly soon placed it under cultivation and at the end of ten years was able to purchase an adjoining eighty acres. As time passed he kept adding to his property at intervals until he had three hundred and sixty acres, con- stituting one of the finest farms in Macon township. The last one hundred and sixty acres purchased by Mr. Highly cost sixty dollars per acre. The farm is now under a high state of cultivation with valuable im- provements, the buildings alone having cost ten thousand dollars, while the ditching, deep wells, wind pumps, etc., have cost fifteen thousand dollars. Mr. Highly continued farming operations with marked success until 1800), when he retired from active labor and removed to Macon, where he now owns and occupies a nice modern residence.

He has two children, Olna S., who is the older, now has charge of one of his father's farms. He married Gladys Combs and has three children, Lena, Lloyd and Pauline.

James Il .. the younger son, married Minnie Wise and is living upon the okl homestead farm. Mr. Highly is a charter member of the Presbyterian church at Macon, has ever taken an active part in its work, and has served as elder for over twenty years. llis wife is also a member of that church. Socially he belongs to the blue lodge of Masons, No. 467, at Macon, having been made a Mason about 1856 in Columbia Lodge, at Cumberland, Ohio, and politically he is identified with the Prohi- bition party as he is a strong temperance man and believes that question to be the most important now before the American people. For over twenty years he acceptably served as school director in his district and for one term was road commissioner but always re- fused to accept other official positions, pre- ferring to give his undivided attention to his business interests. On his removal to this state he had but forty dollars in money and the horses and wagon in which he and his wife traveled, but he has always made the most of his advantages and by industry, per- severance and good management he worked his way steadily upward until he is to-day one of the well-to-do and substantial men of his communnity, as well as one of its most highly esteemed citizens.

CHARLES M. HURST.

Charles M. Hurst is connected with mer- cantile interests in Decatur as the secretary of the Morehouse & Wells Company, whole- sale and retail dealers in hardware. He was born in this city in February, 1859, and is a son of E. W. and Sarah E. ( Miller ) Hurst, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, having been born in York county, that state. In the schools of his native state Charles M. Hurst pursued his early education and after- ward became a student in a college of Penn- sylvania. When he had completed his school life he entered upon his business career in

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connection with mercantile interests. His first employment was with the hardware estab- lishment of Morehouse & Wells with whom he continued as an employe until 1894, at which time the company was incorporated under the style of the Morehouse & Wells Company, with Mr. Hurst as its secretary. He has since acted in this capacity and has been very active in the control of what is now a most important mercantile concern, doing a large business both along wholesale and retail lines. He is well versed in every department and his energy and sound business judgment have been salient features in its success. He is also connected with the United States Wire Mat Company, of which he is a director and the secretary, and he is now president of the Central Malleable Iron Company of Decatur. His activity touching many lines of business enterprise, causes him to be classed among the leading men of the city.

Mr. Hurst was united in marriage to Miss Rella Shockley, a daughter of DeWitt C. Shockley, a prominent and much respected citizen of Decatur. In matters pertaining to the general progress Mr. Hurst is public spir- ited and progressive and keeps in touch with public thought and effort. In the business world he has won the trust and confidence of those with whom he has been associated. His social qualities, too, render him popular with a large circle of friends and he is a genial gen- tleman without ostentation or display, who holds friendship sacred and is as true to the duties and obligations of citizenship and of private life as to those to which he is pledged through business connections.

DAVID SKILLMAN ALLEN.

Only those lives are worthy of record that have been potential factors in the public prog- ress in promoting the general welfare or ad- vancing the educational or moral interests of the community. Mr. Allen was ever faithful

to all the duties of life and by the successful conduct of his business affairs not only pro- moted his individual success but also advanced the general prosperity. In his life span of almost sixty years he accomplished much and left behind an honorable record well worthy of perpctuation.

Mr. Allen was born in Scott county, Ken- tucky, on the 8th of February, 1822, and was a son of Joseph and Katherine (Skillman) Allen. The Allen family originated in Scot- land and from that country ancestors of our subject removed to Ireland, where the old Allen homestead is now in possession of Pat- rick Allen. In early life our subject's father removed from Loudoun county. Virginia. to Kentucky, and in Bourbon county, of that lat- ter state, he married Katherine Skillman. they located in Scott county, Kentucky, where they reared their family, and where the father died in March, 1846. His wife, long surviving him, passed away a few years ago.

During his boyhood David S. Allen pursued his studies in a log school house in his native county, the school being conducted on the subscription plan as this was before the day of free schools, and after putting aside his text books he worked on his father's farm until twenty-five years of age, when he es- tablished a home of his own. On the 16th of September, 1845, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Amanda D. Risk, who was also born in Scott county. Kentucky, December 29, 1829, a daughter of John and Ann (Daugherty) Risk. Her mother was a native of the same county and there she gave her hand in marriage to Jolin Risk, the name being originally spelled Risque. They contin- tied to make their home there throughout the remainder of their lives. In religious faith they were Presbyterians and in politics Mr. Risk was a Whig. Of their ten children, Mrs. Allen is the ninth in order of birth and the only one now living.

After his marriage Mr. Allen located on a

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farm four miles from Georgetown, Kentucky, and from there removed to Macon county, Illinois, in January, 1855, settling one mile north of Harristown, where he purchased a section of land at sixteen dollars per acre but the property is now valued at one hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre. When the family located on this farm Decatur was the nearest town and there were no railroads through the county, much of this region being still wild and unimproved. With the develop- ment and upbuilding of his adopted county Mr. Allen bore an important part and through- out life carried on agricultural pursuits with good success. He died upon his farm on the 2Ist of August, 1880, honored and respected by all who knew him, and he was laid to rest in the Harristown cemetery. His political support was always given the Republican party but he never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office. He took an active part in church work, being a member of the Methodlist Episcopal denomination and served as steward from the age of twenty-five up to the time of his death. He was also a strong advocate of temperance and his life was ever in harmony with his professions.

Since her husband's death Mrs. Allen has made her home with her children but is now living with her brother-in-law, William J. Quinlan, at 222 West William street, Decatur. She is a lady of culture and refinement, who has traveled extensively both in this country and in Europe and she possesses literary talent of a high order. She has contributed several interesting articles on the pioneer settlers of Illinois to different periodicals and also wrote an article which was read at the last meeting of the Old Settlers of Macon county, who cach year hold a reunion at Fairview Park in Decatur. She is a lady of many excellent traits of character which have endeared her to all with whom she has been brought in con- tact.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Allen were born six children, five sons and one daughter, as fol-

lows: Rhodes C. married Miss Emma Levett and resided near Harristown for some time, but finally removed to Hot Springs, Arkan- sas, where he died. Of his three children only one is now living, Roy S., a resident of Los Angeles, California. Louisa C. married Dr. John M. Gregory, who was for thirteen years president of the State University at Champaign and also president of the University of Michi- gan at Ann Arbor. Mrs. Gregory introduced domestic science into the former institution and was made professor of the same. The Doctor served as civil service commissioner under President Arthur and was one of the first to advocate free mail delivery and also the first to introduce work reading in the public schools. He died in Washington, D. C., Oc- tober 19, 1898, and was buried in the Cham- paign University grounds. His widow and daughter Allene are still residents of the cap- ital city. Henry C., Mrs. Allen's second son, is engaged in farming in Scott county, Ken- tucky. He married Miss Fannie Moore, of Georgetown, Kentucky, and has two children : Harvey M. and Evelyn. Charles Wesley, the third son, died July 6, 1880. He studied law at the State University and was graduated in 1877, being admitted to the bar two years later. Joseph Bascom, the next of the family, married Miss Sena Talbott and lives near Ottawa, Kan- sas, where he is engaged in farming. They have two sons, Louis and Arthur. E. Wright Allen, the youngest chill, was born October 20, 1861, on the old homestead in Ilarristown township, where he now resides. He began his education in the public schools of this county and later attended the State University at Champaign for three years. Throughout his active business life he has followed farming and has met with good success, being the owner of con- siderable farming land near Harristown. Ile is interested in the breeding of polled An- gus cattle and is quite extensively engaged in that business, which he finds quite profitable. On the Ist of September, 1887, he was united

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in marriage to Miss Minnie H. Moffett, who was born on the old Moffett homestead near Boody, December 28, 1868. Her father, Will- ianı T. Moffett, was a native of Beardstown, Illinois, and was a very prominent man of his community, serving as state senator for a time. Unto Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Allen were born four children, but Skillman died November 29, 1896, at the age of seven years. Those still living are Leonora, Marie A. and Moffett B. E. W. Allen gives his political support to the men and measures of the Republican party and takes a deep interest in public affairs. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and Summit Lodge No. 431, A. F. & A. M., and stands high in both business and social cir- eles. Success has attended his well directed efforts and he has become one of the most prosperous agriculturists of his community. Besides his valuable property in Harristown township he owns a half section of land in Texas.

CLARENCE J. VAN DEVENTER.

Clarence J. Van Deventer is widely known throughout Illinois and to a considerable ex- tent throughout the country in photographic circles. He is the president of the Photog- raphers' Association of the state and, although one of the more recent acquisitions to the busi- ness life of Decatur, he has already gained a large patronage, being connected with a pro- fession where merit is easily discernible and in which success cannot be won without this quality.

Mr. Van Deventer was born in Mount Pul- aski, Logan county, Illinois, on the 15th of April, 1865, and is a son of James C. and Car- oline ( Nicholson) Van Deventer. The father, a resident of Lee county, Virginia, in his early life, removed from the Old Dominion to Illinois in the '50s, and in this state engaged in stock-raising and dealing. He is a son of Abraham Van Deventer. When Clarence J. Van Deventer was but two months old the

father died, but the mother is yet living and still makes her home in Logan county.

To the public school system of this state Mr. Van Deventer is indebted for the edu- cational privileges he received in his youth. In early life he began carning his own live- lihood and when a youth of sixteen he secured a clerkship in a hardware store, where he remained for two years, proving a capable and trustworthy employe who won the un- qualified confidence of those whom he servedl. In 1883 he removed to Bloomington, Illinois, where he was employed by T. P. Garrett, a photographer. Thus he was initiated into the business which has become his life work. He continued to serve Mr. Garrett until 1866, gradually acquiring a comprehensive knowl- edge of the art and the methods pursued in the conduct of a photographie gallery. In the year mentioned he went to Springfield, Illi- nois, where he was employed in the Anderson Art Gallery until 1888. He next located in Alpena, Michigan, where he purchased an art gallery in connection with A. R. Nicholson, the studio being conducted under the firm style of Nicholson & Van Deventer until 1891. Our subject has also been employed by lead- ing artists of Chicago. In 1892 he opened two galleries, one in Carlinsville and the other in Litchfield, Illinois. These he conducted until 1808, when he sold both and came to Decatur, establishing his present studio in the Powers block. ITere he soon became recognized as a leading artist of this city, his ability placing him in the ranks of the most prominent and capable representatives of his calling. His suite of rooms are decorated with some of the most beautiful specimens of photographic work. He is a member of the National Pho- tographers' Association and his exhibits at its meetings have won medals because of their merit. He also belongs to the State Photog- raphers' Association and has won its prizes. He likewise holds membership in the New England Photographers Association and at- tended its last meeting held in Boston. For

PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

five years he has been the treasurer of the state association and in the year 1903 is serv- ing as its president. He has taken a deep and zealous interest in his work, doing everything in his power for advancement along artistic lines and his studio is equipped with every facility for producing work of the highest grades. He has advanced steadily to a front rank among photographic artists in Illinois through persistent effort and because of his special adaptability to his chosen calling. He has real artistic skill for executing the labor of the mechanic, who by means of certain devices can transfer a likeness to paper. His appreciation for the effects of light and shade is great and in his posing he shows true ar- tistic skill.

In 1803 Mr. Van Deventer was joined in wedlock to Miss Martha F. Macknet, a daugh- ter of 1). S. and Rhoda (Clark ) Macknet. Their children are Florence A., Clarence J. and Macknet F. Mr. Van Deventer belongs to Macon Lodge, No. 8, F. & A. M .. Macon Chapter, No. 21, R. A. M. and Beaumanoir Commandery, No. o. K. T. : to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks; to Easterly Camp, No. 1626. M. W. A .: and to Decatur District Court. No. 39. Court of Honor. He is a genial, courteous gentleman, a pleasant, enter- taining companion and has many splendid and admiring friends among all classes of people. As a man of genuine worth of character and a gentleman of attractive social qualities he stands high in the estimation of the entire community.

YONG P. JONES.

Yong P. Jones, a retired farmer residing at No. 1084 East Wood street in Decatur, has been a resident of Macon county for more than half a century, dating his arrival in 1851. One of Illinois' native sons, his birth occurred in Marion county on the 2d of June, 1842, so that he was only about nine

years of age when brought by his parents to Decatur. Hle is a son of Joseph E. and Sarah (Neel) Jones, the former a native of Ten- nessee and the latter of Kentucky. They were married very young. Mr. Jones being but eighteen years of age when with his bride hc came to Illinois, settling in Decatur, here act- ing as fireman and also as engineer in some of the lumber mills of this city. Subsequent- ly he was given charge of the county poor farm and acted as its superintendent for eleven years, discharging his duties in a most capable manner so that he won the confidence and approval of the entire public. Hle then purchased the old county farm and there car- ried on general agricultural pursuits until his life's labors were ended in death on the 20th of March. 1866. His widow afterward sold the farm and removed to Mount Zion town- ship, where she purchased a tract of land and resided there until her death, which oc- curred on the 17th of July, 1804. This wor- thy couple were the parents of five children, the youngest being Yong P. of this review. The others are Thomas, a retired farmer now living on West Wood street in Decatur : Ozro, a resident farmer of Traverse City, Illinois ; William Columbus, who is residing on the old farm in Mount Zion township; and Amanda, the wife of Martin Cooper, who is living in Decatur. All were educated in the common schools of Macon county.

Like the other members of the family Yong P. Jones pursued a public school course and in his youth he aided in the labors of the fields upon the home farm. His practical training well qualified him for carrying on farm work on his own account after he had attained his majority.

In 1861 in Decatur, Mr. Jones married Miss Emma May, a native of Tennessee, who died six years after their marriage, leaving two children: Joseph T., who wedded Anna Briner and lives on a farm in South Wheat- land township; and lda. the wife of .\. J. Anderson, telegraph operator for the Illinois

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Central Railroad at Decatur. Mr. Jones was again married in Decatur, on the 9th of De- cember, 1869, his second union being with Miss Sarah Malissa Bordman, who was born in Columbus, Indiana, September 19, 1840, and is a daughter of Captain Isaac Bordman, one of the early settlers and a very prominent citizen of Decatur. For several years he served as county clerk of Macon county and was influential in public affairs. His death occurred in this city and the community there- by lost one of its valued representatives.

After his marriage Mr. Jones purchased a farm on section 35, South Wheatland town- ship, comprising one hundred and twenty- five acres, and to the improvement of this property he gave his attention, making it a valuable and productive place. He still owns it and thereon he engaged in general farming and stock-rasing until 1892. when he removed to the city and, putting aside business cares, has since enjoyed a well earned rest. His home is at No. 1084 East Wood street, where he and his wife are now living. She is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Decatur.

In his political views Mr. Jones has always been a Democrat. His life has been one of activity and usefulness and it seems almost impossible for him to put aside business cares altogether. Indolence and idleness have ever been utterly foreign to his nature and now he makes daily trips to his farm to super- vise its cultivation, but the active work of field and meadow he leaves to others. He owes his success not to any fortunate combi- nation of circumstances. but to his persistency and diligence and his prosperity is therefore well deserved.

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Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois, Part 89

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