Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois, Part 94

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 94

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Henry Ruthrauff, the eklest of this family. was born in Washington county, Maryland. near Leitersburg, January 23, 1843 and on the 2d of January, 1800, at Waynesburg, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, he was married to Miss Barbara Snyder. When the Civil war broke out he volunteered for service in the Union army, responding to President Lincoln's sec- ond call for soldiers to serve for nine months. Ile enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Regiment of Pennsylvania 'In- fantry and the first engagement in which he took part was the second battle of Bull Run, under General Pope, the regiment being at- tached to the Fifth Army Corps. The second battle in which he was engaged was at An- tietam and there he was with the Fifth Corps under General Fitzporter. He was wounded at Maria Hill, December 13, 1862, in the left ankle, and was then taken to Point Lookout. on the 16th of December. There were sixteen thousand wounded soldiers at that place. There was a contagious disease among the patients and as the doctors carelessly used the same sponges on different patients the disease was spread and Mr. Ruthrauff contracted it and almost lost his life thereby. There was a remonstrance made to Governor Curtin, of Pennsylvania, and he investigated and found that the treatment of the soldiers was any- thing but what it should be. He immediately ordered that all soldiers from Pennsylvania who were unfit for duty in thirty days be sent to Turner's Lane hospital in Philadelphia. Mr. Ruthrauff was among the number thus transferred and he remained in the latter hos-

pital until the expiration of his nine months' service, which was in April, 1863. At that time he returned home and worked for his father at cutting wood, receiving thirty three and a third cents per cord. He felt then that he had done his share to aid in the preserva- tion of the Union, but when the battle of Gettysburg occurred and lee made his raid through Pennsylvania, visiting the home of William Ruthrauff and there robbing him or destroying everything he had, Henry Ruth- rauff decided to again enter the army. He en- listed at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, in Com- pany K. Twenty-first Regiment of Cavalry, and went into camp at Chambersburg for three months. The regiment was then ordered to the front and won honor by its valorous service. It was also notable on account of its mounts, four companies being mounted on bay horses, two on grays, two on sorrels, two on blacks and two on iron roans. The battalion to which Mr. Ruthrauff belonged was drilled by Major Gillis, a West Point graduate, who was believed to be the best drillmaster in the country. Mr. Ruthrauff was in the First Bat- talion of the Twenty-first Pennsylvania Cav- alry, commanded by Colonel Boyd. On ar- riving at Arlington Heights the members of the regiment were ordered to give up their horses and were then given muskets, after which they proceeded on foot. They then re- ported to Grant and it was about this time when the battle of the Wilderness occurred. after which the command to which Mr. Ruth- rauff belonged proceeded to Richmond and he took part in all of the engagements with his regiment up to the time of the surrender at Appomattox. In November, 1864, the regi- ment was remounted and sent to General Gregg's command-the second division of cavalry. He was wounded in the hand in front of Petersburg and was also wounded in the hip at Poplar Grove church. Shortly after- ward they went into winter quarters in front of Petersburg, but in January they were or- dered to destroy the Wellon Railroad. This

854

PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

was done by the Fifth Corps of Gregg's Sec- ond Division of Cavalry, who demolished the road for one hundred and fifty miles. This is known in history as General Warren's famous raid, the soldiers being almost continuously in their saddles for eleven days and nights and by Mr. Ruthrauff this was considered the most severe experience which he had through- out his military career. The battalion to which he belonged also acted as General Sheridan's escort at Five Forks. The war having ended and the flag of the nation having been vic- toriously planted in the capital of the southern confederacy, he was mustered out of service on the 8th of July, 1865.

Returning to the north Mr. Ruthrauff en- gaged in farming on a small scale at his old home in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, but not being very successful there he decided to come to the west and in 1870 made his way to Illinois, locating on a farm in Sangamon county, near Illiopolis. Subsequently he re- moved to Macon county, Illinois, settling on a farm about five miles northeast of Decatur, and he continued to engage in agricultural pursuits in various places in Macon county for several years, when he sold out and embarked in the milling business at Rochester, Sanga- mon county. He also conducted a similar en- terprise at Athens, Menard county, but did not find that a profitable source of income and, disposing of his mill, he has since followed different occupations.

Harry Ruthrauff, whose name introduces this record, is one of a family of ten children and was only about three years of age when his parents removed to Illinois. He was for one year a student in the schools of Sangamon county and later continued his studies in the McGee school in Macon county and in Brush College, thus being well equipped to meet the practical and responsible duties of a business career. After putting aside his textbooks he was connected with agricultural pursuits for a time and between the ages of seventeen and twenty years he was engaged in coal mining

in Athens, Illinois. He also spent one year at Wellington, Kansas, where he was employed in a lumberyard and on the expiration of that period he came to Decatur, securing work at the new shaft of the Decatur Coal Company. He had the misfortune, however, to break his leg and was then given the position of night watchman by the firm of Conklin, Tait & Com- pany, whom he represented in that capacity for a year. Subsequently he engaged in general work in the coal mines at Athens, Illinois, and in 1888 he again came to Decatur, where he accepted his present position, being inspector of the city water works, having supervision of the mains and plumbing. For eight years he has served in this capacity in a most ac- ceptable manner. He has a thorough under- standing of the requirements of the position and is well qualified to act in this capacity. All the pipe work for the new filteration plant came under his personal supervision, also the new mains on North Main street, Green, East Orchard and Wabash streets. Other divisions to the water system have been made under his supervision, including the extension of the lines on Eldorado and Broadway to Stone street in 1902.

In 1884 Mr. Ruthrauff was united in mar- riage to Miss Helen Skelley, of Decatur, and unto them have been born six children : Dolly N., Clifford B., Bonnie B., Teresa, Mabel and Helen. Mr. Ruthrauff belongs to En Ami Lodge, No. 593, K. P., to Easterly Camp, No. 1626, M. W. A., and to Lincoln Tent, No. 1039, Knights of the Maccabees.

GEORGE W. KAYLOR.

Among the most pleasant rural homes of Macon county is that of George W. Kaylor in Decatur township, the culture and artistic taste of its occupants being reflected in its appointments, while a gracious hospitality adds a charm to its material comforts. The owner was born in Decatur township on the

>55

PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

17th of March, 1858, and is a son of Jacob and Rachel ( Street ) Kaylor, who made their home here for many years and were num- bered among the highly respected citizens of the community. The father was a native of Maryland, born April 16, 1818, and in early life went to Ohio, where he married Miss Rachel Street, who was born in that state, February 22, 1817. On coming to Illinois they first located in Mechanicsburg, and from there removed to Decatur township, Macon county. In 1851 the father purchased the farm now owned by our subject in the north- western part of that township. He belonged to a long-lived race and reached the age of eighty-two years, dying on the 4th of March, 1900, honored and respected by all who knew him. His estimable wife survived him only a short time and passed away April 14, 1900.

George W. Kaylor was educated at Sunny- side school and his early life was spent upon the home farm, where he acquired a good practical knowledge of the occupation to which he has devoted his attention since reach- ing manhood. His is one of the model farms of Decatur township, containing one hun- dred and six acres and supplied with all mod- ern conveniences and accessories. For the first ten years of his business career he rented the farm from his father and in the meantime bought property in Decatur, which he dis- posed of in 1892 and took permanent charge of the farm. He has not only erected good and substantial buildings upon the place but has tiled the land. removed boulders and otherwise improved it. The recent improve- ments have been frequent and up-to-date, in- cluding a drive-well: forty-foot Star wind- mill, and a combined horse and cow barn, twenty by forty fect, with an addition, four- teen by forty fect. The residence, which was built in 1893, is undoubtedly the most up-to- date in the township, containing all the con- veniences of a city home, such as hot water equipment. compressed air tank, etc. The granary, twenty-six by forty fect, with an

elevator attached, the power, gasoline engine with oil-cooling device and without batteries, was built in 1903, and has many modern im- provements that are the result of the invent- ive genius of Mir. Kaylor. In this many of his original ideas have been carried out and perfected in a manner which will bring satis- factory results not only to himself but to others who may have occasion to use any ap- pliance of this kind. Mr. Kaylor is a man who believes in up-to-date methods and has made progress along lines which are yet to yield results and bring his inventions in touch with the business world for its advancement and progress.

On the 22d of December, 1881, he was united in marriage to Miss Nancy E. Fisher, who was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, September 5, 1857, and is a daughter of Charles and Isabella A. ( Bowen) Fisher, both deceased, the former a native of Ken- tucky and the latter of Sangamon county, Illi- nois. Mrs. Kaylor is the second in order of birth in their family of five children, the others being Mary E., wife of D. Morris, of Waverly, Illinois; Catherine E., who died at the age of twenty-four years; W. Z., a resi- dent of Sangamon county ; and John N., who is living in El Reno, Oklahoma. Mr. and Mrs. Kaylor have one child, Sadie B., born in 1886.

In national politics Mr. Kaylor votes the Democratic ticket, but at local elections, where no issue is involved, he supports the men whom he believes best qualified for office re- gardless of party lines. For many years he has been school director of his district and also clerk of the board. He was superin- tendent of the Sunday-school for five years and has held all the offices that are in the Methodist Episcopal church, to which he be- longs. Socially he is a member of Chevalier Bayard Lodge, K. P., and the Modern Woodmen of America, and was camp lecturer for re-adjustment in 1903. Ile is a worthy representative of that class of citizens who

856

PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

lead quiet, industrious, honest and useful lives and constitute the best portion of a con- munity. Wherever he is known he is held in high regard and is certainly deserving of honorable mention in the history of his native county.

ANTHONY HECKLER.

Since 1856 Anthony Heckler has been a res- ident of Decatur and for many years was actively identified with its industrial and bus- iness interests, but is now living a retired life in his pleasant home at No. 455 South Broad- way. As an energetic, industrious man he acquired a competence during the years of his active business career that now enables him to live in case, free from the cares and responsibilities of business affairs.

Mr. Heckler was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, on the ftth of January, 1828, a son of Anthony and Elizabeth ( Augele ) Heckler, who spent their entire lives in that country. The father made farming his life occupation and both he and his wife died in their native land. They had two children to come to America, these being Anthony and his sister Mary, now the widow of Charles Walser and a resident of Decatur.

Our subject acquired his education in the public schools of his native land and worked on a farm before his emigration to America. It was in 1854 that he crossed the broad .It- lantic and landed in New York city. For about two years he was engaged in farming in the Empire state, and then came west, lo- cating near Monticello, in Piatt county, Illi- nois, where was similarly employed for a short time. He then came to Decatur and first worked as a laborer for old Dr. Johns, but shortly afterward obtained employment in a furniture factory and continued to en- gage in that business for twenty years. At the end of that time he erected a store building near his residence and was engaged

in the grocery business for six years. Selling out in 1896, he has since lived retired in the enjoyment of a well earned rest.

After coming to Decatur Mr. Heckler was married in 1860 to Miss Grenesne Halder, also a native of Germany, of which country her parents were life-long residents and are both now deceased. U'nto our subject and his wife were born six children, as follows: Elizabeth, now the wife of D. Armbruster, living with her parents ; Edward, a resident of Chicago; Teressa, wife of Thomas Vest, who makes his home in Quincy, Illinois; Carrie, wife of Charles Conway, of Decatur: Josie, wife of Louis Meyers, of Decatur; and Anna, wife of llomer Maxwell, of Little Rock, Arkansas. The mother of these children is now an in- valid.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Heckler are members of the German Catholic church of Decatur and are held in high regard by all who know them. In politics he is a Democrat but at local elections votes for the man whom he be- lieves best qualified for office regardless of party affiliations. He has never cared for of- ficial honors, having preferred to give his en- tire time and attention to his business affairs, in which he has met with success. Besides his residence property he still owns the store building which he erected near his home. In all the relations of life he has been found true to every duty that has devolved upon him and he well merits the confidence and respect so freely accorded him by his fellow citizens.

DAVID L. EBERLY.

David L. Eberly, a well known carriage trimmer of Decatur, is a native of Illinois, born in Princeton, August 11, 1856, and is a son of Isaac Eberly, who served for three years in the Civil war and laid down his life on the altar of his country, dying in the serv- ice. By trade he was a carpenter. The sub-

857

PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

ject of this sketch was educated at Quincy, lllinois, and after leaving school at the age of seventeen years learned the trade of car- riage trimming in that city, serving an ap- prenticeship in the carriage shop of E. M. Miller, for whom he worked for four years and a half.

About 1878 Mr. Eberly came to Decatur and entered the employ of Wayne Brothers, remaining with that company and its successor, the Wayne Sulkyette and Road Cart Com- pany, for twenty-one years. In 1897 he em- barked in business on his own account, trim- ming for that and other firms, and doing all kinds of repair work, such as retrimming bug- gies and surreys, putting in new cushions and side curtains, and re-covering old buggies and grocery wagons. Ile has built up a splen- did trade and is considered one of the best as well as the oldest carriage trimmer in the city.

Mr. Eberly was married in Decatur in 1878 to Miss Agnes Wright, a daughter of John and Eliza ( Runkle) Wright. Iler father is deceased, and her mother now makes her home with our subject, at the age of sixty- seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Eberly have three children living, namely: William, who is a draftsman for the Mueller Manufacturing Company: Mabel and Emmett. All are graduates of the Decatur high school. The oldest son, Clarence, was killed in a railroad accident while going on a hunting expedition at the age of sixteen years, just six months before he would have graduated from the high school. His death was a sad blow to his parents and many friends.

In his social relations Mr. Eberly is a mem- ber of the Modern Woodmen of America, and both he and his wife hold membership in the First Christian church of Decatur and take an active part in its work, Mr. Eberly having been a member of the church board for three or four years. They are held in high regard by all who know them and have many friends in the city where they make their home.

JOHN F. KEMMERLY.

John F. Kemmerly is one of the leading farmers of South Macon township, his home being on section 14. The possibilities that America offers to her citizens he has utilized, and though he came to this country in lim- ited circumstances he has steadily and perse- veringly worked his way upward, leaving the ranks of the many to stand among the suc- cessful few.

Mr. Kemmerly's early home was on the other side of the Atlantic for he was born in Germany, January 8, 1829, his parents being George and Kate (Shoemaker ) Kemmerly, also natives of that country, the former born in 1800, the latter in 1804. They were farm- ing people and continued to reside in the fatherland throughout life. Our subject has two sisters living in the United States: Caro- lina, now the widow of Chris Rissler and a resident of Indianapolis, Indiana ; and llan- nah, widow of Frederick Shempf and a resi- dent of Pana, Illinois.

In the common schools of his native land John F. Kemmerly acquired a good practical education, and there he grew to manhood. 111 1850 he entered the German army, with which he served for six years, and was then honorably discharged. The following year- 1857-he came to America and was first em- ployed on a farm near Paris, Ohio, where he worked four months. At the end of that time he went to Shelby county, Illinois, where he continued to work as a farm hand for three years, and then engaged in farming on his own account upon rented land in that county for twenty-two years. He was at length enabled to purchase his present farm of one hundred and ten acres on section 14, South Macon township, this county, for which he gave forty dollars per acre, and he has since devoted his energies to its development and cultivation, it being mostly wild and un- improved when it came into his possession. After living for seventeen years in a little log house he built his present substantial

855

PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

frame residence, also erected barns and out- buildings, has set out fruit and shade trees, and by hard work has converted his place into one of the most desirable farms of its size in the locality. In early life he used the sin- gle-shovel plow and other primitive farm im- plements, but now has the most modern and best improved machinery for facilitating farm work. He feeds some cattle and hogs for market and also raises a good grade of horses.

On the Ioth of August, 1857, in Richmond, Indiana, Mr. Kemmerly was united in mar- riage to Miss Magdaline Colby, a daughter of Frederick and Kate (Kagle) Colby, and nine children blessed their union, six of whom are still living, namely: John F., who is engaged in farming near Moweaqua; Lizzie, wife of Frank Cox, who follows farming near Shel- byville, Illinois; Emma, widow of Ernest Heise and a resident of Pana, Illinois; Henry, who is engaged in farming on the home place : Tillie, also at home; and Charlie, who is now operating a rice plantation near Colby, Louisi- ana. The parents are both members of the Lutheran church and Mr. Kemmerly is a sup- porter of the Republican party and its prin- ciples. They are widely known and their many friends and acquaintances hold them in the highest regard.

HENRY LUNN.

Every civilized country on the face of the globe has sent representatives to Illinois, yet to no people does she owe more than to the Anglo-Saxon race, whose business activity and adaptability and marked enterprise have made them valued citizens wherever they have carried the civilization of Great Britain. Mr. Lunn is a representative of this class, his birth having occurred in Newark, Notting- hamshire, England, on the 9th of April, 1841. Ilis parents, William and Sarah (Baker) Linn, were also natives of England, and the father became a contractor and builder, fol-

lowing that pursuit throughout his active bus- iness career. Both he and his wife died when about seventy-six years of age. In their fam- ily were seven children: Alfred, who is now a contractor and builder of Newark, Eng- land; Ann, the wife of John Porter, who took up his abode in Ohio in the '50s and removed to Kansas before its admission into the Union ; Elizabeth, the wife of the Rev. Frank Hoyes, who came to this country in 1869 and after- ward located in Kansas, becoming a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal conference there and now residing in Topeka, that state; Eliza, the deceased wife of John Lane, an English revenue officer for the British govern- ment: George, a farmer and bricklayer, of Kansas; and Henry. The other children of the family died in infancy.

In the public schools of his native land Henry Lunn acquired his education and he mastered his trade as an apprentice, serving for eight years under his father, who was then the superintendent of construction for the electrical commission of England. Hear- ing favorable reports concerning the new world and its opportunities he resolved to try his fortune in America where competition was less and advantages more quickly se- cured. Crossing the Atlantic in 1872 he es- tablished his home in Decatur and the same vear took out naturalization papers intend- ing to make the United States his home country. In order to provide for a liveli- hood he began contracting and building in partnership with Henry Bishop. a relation that was maintained until 1875, when the connection was dissolved and Mr. Lunn be- gan business for himself. During the greater part of the time since that period he has been one of the successful contractors of this city and many of Decatur's fine residences are the visible evidence of his life of thrift and en- terprise and of his excellent handiwork. He erected the Hill. Cato and Shellabarger resi- dences. the Tait factory and power house. with its high smoke stack, the building of

859

PAST AND PRESENT OF MACON COUNTY.

the Hlaworth Manufacturing Company and many business houses of the city. In 1880. however, he went to Spokane, Washington. where he remained until 1894 and then again came to Decatur. At that time he entered into partnership with his two sons, Ernest H. and Thomas, as builders and contractors and this relation was continued until 1903. when the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Lunn, however. is yet actively identified with build- ing interests of the city and many important contracts are annually awarded him, show- ing his high standing as a representative of the vocation and also indicating the confi- dence and trust reposed in him by the gen- eral public.

In 1866 was celebrated the marriage of Henry Lunn and Miss Emma Dodson, a · daughter of Thomas Dodson, and unto them have been born five children : Ernest H. : Thomas; Lula, the wife of Frederick Cod- ington, of Lincoln. Illinois : Minnie G .: and Percy, who died in Spokane, Washington. In the year 1875 Mr. Lunn was converted to the Christian faith and has since been a member and local minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, being ordained in the Co- lumbia river conference at Moscow, Idaho. While in the northwest he held charges, thus preaching the gospel in connection with his daily work of building. He is an carnest. energetic laborer in the Master's vineyard and through more than a quarter of a cen- tury has put forth effective effort in behalf of the church and the extension of its influ- ence. He has always read broadly. thinks deeply and believes in keeping abreast with the times. In early life he gave his political support to the Republican party, but since the death of President Garfield he has voted with the Prohibition party, believing the tem- perance question to be one of the paramount issues before the people. Hle stands as a representative of the high type of American manhood, fearless in defense of his honest

convictions and laboring for ideal conditions concerning the welfare of the race.

Mr. Lunn's actions have during his life been such as to distinctively entitle him to a place in this publication, and although his carcer has not been filled with thrilling inci- dents, probably no biography published in this book can serve as a better illustration to young men of the power of honesty and in- tegrity in insuring success.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois, Part 94

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