Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 116

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1228

USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois > Part 116

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WILLIAM BARNETT.

William Barnett, who was formerly an active representative of the farming interests in Adams county! but is now practically living a retired life in Marcelline, was born October 12, 1838. in the county which is still his home. his parents being Davis and Lucy ( McFarland) Barnett. The father was a native of Kentucky, born De- ember 12. 1800. while the mother's birth oo- curred in Virginia. October 25, 1802. They he- came residents of Missouri in 1823. and five years later removed to Adams connty, Illinois, which

was then a pioneer district, the city of Quiney containing only a few houses, while a mumber of the now thriving towns and villages had not yet sprung into existence. They settled near Mar- celline and there remained until the death of the mother. June 7, 1847, after which the father removed to Camp Point, where his death of- enrred November 14, 1886.

William Barnett was educated in the public schools and after acquiring a good knowledge of the branches of English learning, he worked upon his father's farm for four years, thus gain- ing practical knowledge of the best methods of caring for the fields and stock. Ile then removed to Missouri, where he purchased a farm, making it his home for two years. He afterwards sold out and returned to Adams county, buying a farm two miles northeast of Marcelline, where he lived for thirty-four years, at the end of which time he retired from business life. Ile was an active and energetie agriculturist, working earn- estly in the fields from the time of the early spring planting until the crops were all harves- ted in the late autumn. He placed his fields under an excellent state of cultivation and nsed the best improved machinery to facilitate his work. Ile owns one hundred and sixty aeres of good land lying partly in Mendon and partly in Lima townships. Ile also has a home and six fine lots in Marcelline and the rental from his farm brings him a good annual income.

On the 22nd day of February, 1863. Mr. Bar- nett was married to Miss Martha Tarr, a daugh- ter of William and Mary M. (Adair) Tarr, both of whom are natives of Kentneky. They came to Adams county at an early day, settling abont one and a half miles east of Marcelline. Mr. Tarr was born JJanuary 14. 1810, and died De- cember 10, 1878, while his wife was born De- comber 10. 1813. and died October 8, 1891. Mrs. Barnett was born on the old Tarr homestead, March 27. 1841. Unto onr subject and his wife have been born five children : James, who was horn November 25, 1863. married Evaline Wait and lives in Marcelline : John W., born August 5. 1865. married Amanda Cate, and is engaged in the operation of the old home farm east of Mar- celline: Dodley, born October 13. 1868, married Myrtle Eshom. now deceased, and resides with his parents: Eldora. born September 22. 1871. died in September of the following year: Mary W. born March 22, 1873. is the wife of George B. Hless of Oklahoma City.

Mr Barnett gives his political support to the republican party and has been honored with a few local offices. He served as road commission- er for five years and has been school director for several years. ITe is always interested in the public welfare and is champion of many meas- pres that have contributed to the general prog-

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ress. Hle manifested his allegiance to his coan- try in July, 1861, when in response to the call for troops he enlisted in Company L, Second Illi- nois Cavalry, with which he served for fifteen months and was then honorably discharged be- cause he was disabled at Cairo. In times of peace he has been equally loyal to the best inter- ests of his country. Ile is a member of Marcel- line lodge, No. 114, A. F. & A. M .. and enjoys the regard not only of the brethren of his eraft. but of all who know him.

CALOT E. BAKER.

Calot E. Baker was one of the best known gro- cery merchants of Quincy, carrying on business on Hampshire street for more than twenty years. He arrived here in 1865, having about that time attained his majority, and thus a young man, he came to the west imbued with the spirit of en- terprise and progress which have been the dom- inant factors in the upbuilding of this section of the country. He labored to goodly ends, aequir- ing a comfortable competence for himself and also advancing the city's prosperity through his commercial activity.

Tle was born in Schaghtieoke, near Troy, New York. April 21, 1844, his parents being Bryan and .lanette (Calot) Baker. Ilis maternal grand- father was a native of France. Dr. Baker, the pa- ternal grandfather, devoted his life to the prac- tice of medicine and under his direction Dr. Bryan Baker began studying. Ile afterward at- tended the Wesleyan Medical College, of New York city, and was graduated therefrom, subse- quent to which time he began practice at Schaght- icoke, New York, where he remained until his death. Ile passed away during the early boyhood of his son Calot. One son. D. Bryan Baker, be- came a practicing physician and followed the pro- fession in Quiney. After the death of her first husband Mrs. Baker married Dr. Bassett, of Quincy, and resided here until her demise, while Dr. Bassett also died in this city.

Calot E. Baker acquired a common-school edu- cation in his native county. Ile went to live with his grandparents at the time of his father's death and was just seventeen years of age at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. Thrilled with a patriotic spirit and impulse he ran away from home and enlisted as a bugler in Company F of a New York cavalry regiment, serving in that capacity throughont the period of hostilities, after which he was honorably discharged at Rich- mond. Virginia, in 1865.

His mother was then living in Quincy and Mr. Baker was thereby infineneed to come to this city.

lle arrived the same year in which the war closed and began here as a clerk in a dry goods store, following that pursuit until he had attained his majority. He then began travelling for a whole- sale candy house of Quiney, of which William Brown was the owner and later he traveled for the Warfield Wholesale Grocery House, remain- ing upon the road for several years. He after- ward entered into partnership with Charles U. Colburn in the conduet of a retail grocery busi- ness and from that time forward Mr. Baker was a well known merchant of this city. carrying on business on Hampshire street between Fifth and Sixth streets for almost twenty years. His store was always filled with excellent goods and the firm secured a very liberal patronage. having a trade which constantly developed as the years went by. The business methods of the house, too, were also such as would bear closest investigation and serntiny and Mr. Baker won for himself an enviable position in trade circles.

In this city occurred the marriage of Charles E. Baker and Miss Isabella A. Brown, a native of Quiney and a daughter of William and Jane ( Begg) Brown. Her father was a native of Scotland and came to Quiney at an early day, making for himself a place among the leading business men of the city. Hle engaged in the wholesale and retail confectionery and bakery business here until his death and his wife also died in Quincy.

The death of Mr. Baker ocenrred on the 9th of September, 1903. Ile was a member of the Masonic fraternity and was laid to rest with Masonic honors. Ile had attained the Knights Templar degree in Masonry. and was also a mem- ber of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks and the Grand Army of the Republic. In poli- ties he was a republican, but without political as- pirations. He became very well-to-do as the re- sult of unremitting diligence and enterprise in business and was one of the prominent and lead- ing merchants of Quiney. His wife is a member of the Unitarian church. After his death Mrs. Baker carried on the grocery business, but is now selling out the stock and expects to close her interests in the store. She owns a beautiful home at No. 628 Spring street, where she resides, and she has a wide and favorable acquaintance in the city.

MRS. MARY A. E. ORTON.

Mrs. Mary A. E. Orton, living in Clayton, was born in Richmond. Warren county, In- diana, March 4, 1832, and when three years of age was brought to Illinois by her parents, the family home being established in Quincy,

C. E. BAKER

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PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

where they remained for four years, and then removed to Brown county, Illinois, where the father carried on farming for a long period. He died in 1872 at the age of seventy-six years, while his wife passed away in 1898 at the age of ninety-four years.

Their daughter, Mary A. E. Kellar, was edu- cated in the public schools near her home and in Quincy, and after attaining womanhood she gave her hand in marriage on the 11th of September. 1856, to Clark Orton, who was born in the Gen- esee valley of New York, in December, 1826. When a young man he came from the Empire state to Illinois, settling in Morgan county, and throughout his remaining days he carried on gen- eral agricultural pursuits. He was also a school director and was active and influential in com- munity affairs, taking a deep interest in all that pertained to publie progress and improvement. His political allegianee was given to the republi- can party and his sons have followed in his foot- steps in this direction.

Into Mr. and Mrs. Orton have been born eight children : Rosella, born December 13. 1857, is the wife of William May and resides in Kansas: Barintha, born July 8. 1859, became the wife of John Black and died in September, 1892 : Charles F., born November 25, 1861, lives at home: Ida. born in October, 1863, died in infancy : Eva, born in June. 1865, became the wife of Harvey Wil- liams and died in 1901 ; Vandever, born June 10, 1869, married Alta Robbins and lives with his mother in Clayton: Clark, died in infancy in 1871; and Elsworth, born April 13, 1873, was married to Mamie Lee and resides near his moth- er's home in Clayton. He is a school teacher.

Mr. Orton departed this life February 29. 1896, respected by all who knew him. His widow is now the owner of one hundred and twenty-five acres of land on section 13. Clayton township. about four and a half miles from the village of Clayton and this land is operated by her son. Mrs. Orton and her sons are all members of the Christian church and are deeply interested in its work and upbuilding. She has won many warm friends during her residence in this part of the state and has a favorable acquaintance in Clayton.

CHARLES LIONBERGER.

Charles Lionberger. living on seetion 23. Payson township, was born March 15, 1862, in Adams county, his parents being John and Elizabeth (Kite) Lionberger. His paternal great-grandfather was Peter Lionberger, who lived in Rockingham county, now Page county. Virginia, but was born in Germany, coming to

America about the time of the Revolutionary war. He was three times married and Peter Lionberger, a son of the first marriage, became the grandfather of our subject. Peter Lion- berger, having arrived at years of maturity. was married to Elizabeth Smith, and among their children was John Lionberger, father of our subject, who was born in Licking county, Ohio, near Newark. At the time of the ont- break of hostilities between the colonies and the mother country Peter Lionberger espoused the cause of independence and served as an offier in the Revolutionary war.

In the family of Peter Lionberger were ten children, of whom Christina, Sallie, Sanmiel, John and Katie, are deceased. Jemima became the wife of Aber Lamberson, who was a farmer in Crawford county, Illinois, near Robinson, but is now deceased. His widow is eighty-nine years of age. She had six children. Elizabeth Lionberger died December 14, 1882, and was buried in Stewart cemetery. Michael Lion- berger married Sophia Langhrey and lives at Newark, Lieking county, Ohio. William Lion- berger, born January 1, 1829, in Licking coun- ty. Ohio, has followed farming thronghont his entire life. He married Amanda Taylor, who belonged to a Virginia family, that was estab- lished in Ohio at an early day. Willitm Kite followed farming in Ohio for some time, after- ward removing to Missouri, thence to Adams county, Illinois, and later to Huntington, In- diana. where he remained from 1860 until 1864. He then returned to Adams county, where he spent four years. after which he lived for eight years in Missouri and then spent one season in Sherman, Texas. He afterward lived for three years in Indian Territory, where his wife died and was buried. They had four children. William Kite afterward removed to Ohio, but when seven months had passed he removed to Crawford county, Illinois, and later came to Adams county. Again he located in Missouri and his remaining days were spent among his children and at the home of Charles Lionberger of this review. Nancy Lionberger, the young- est member of the family of Peter Lionberger, married Ross Brown, a farmer and land owner living three and a half miles south of Newark. Ohio. They have nine children.

John Lionberger was born Angust 11, 1816, and died June 16, 1887. le came to Illinois with Benjamin Lionberger and William Morris in 1842. Ile remained in Adams county for about a year and a half and then returned to Ohio, but soon afterward he again came to this state and took up his abode on what is now the old Lionberger homestead, his house being a little log cabin. He married Miss Elizabeth Kite. a daughter of Adam and Sarah Parri

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Kite. The Kites removed from Page county. Virginia. to Ohio about 1804. The grandfather of Mrs. John Lionberger was a native of Ilesse, Germany, and came to America prior to the war for independence. One of the family was a colonel in the Hessian army. Adam Kite, at the time of the Revolution, was detailed to stay at home and keep guard over the people who resided in his locality. The children born unto John and Elizabeth (Kite) Lionberger were eight in number: Sarah, born April 2, 1842. is deceased. George, born March 20, 1844, has passed away. Alfred, born April 22, 1846, married Maggie Greene, and they reside near Dawn, Livingston county, Missouri, with their family of five sons and two daughters. Alvira, born Inne 16, 1848, is the widow of George Green, by whom she had eight children, and her home is at Hull Station, Illinois. Cal- vin, born April 28, 1850, is deceased. Isaac, born March 10, 1852, has passed away. Lonisa, born June 20, 1855, is the wife of John Ray, a carpenter living in California, and they have three children.

Charles Lionberger pursued his education in the country schools and in Gem City Business College at Quiney. He has always followed farming and resides upon the old home place which has been in possession of the family from pioneer times to the present. He worked for his father until twenty-one years of age. and then started out in life on his own account. He was married April 14, 1891, to Miss Ollie Blauser, who was born March 4, 1872, and is a daughter of John and Amanda ( Wagy) Blauser. Iler father, who was born November 27, 1844, is now living a retired life at IInll Station, but her mother passed away in No- vember, 1877. He is a native of Pennsylvania and was brought to Illinois about 1854 by his father, the journey being made by water. The family is of German descont. Here Mr. Blan- ser was reared amid the wild scenes of frontier life. and after beginning farm work for him- self he accumulated a valuable traet of land of one hundred and nine acres. He was twice married, and by his first wife had two dangh- ters-Mrs. Lionberger and Nellie, who was born November 28, 1873, and is the wife of Frank Waters, a merchant of Plainville, by whom she had three children. By the father's second marriage there were two children: El- mer, who died when seven years of age: and Florence, born July 15, 1888. now at home with her parents.

Mr. Lionberger is the owner of two hundred and four acres of land, acquiring one-half of it by purchase. He has one hundred and sixty aeres on section 23, the rest being on section 24, Payson township. ITis farm is a splendidly

developed property, well improved with all modern equipments, and as a business man he enjoys the entire confidence of the community, being straightforward and honorable in all his dealings. His political allegiance has always been given to the democratic party on whose tieket he was elected road commissioner.

LOUIS WOLF.

The strength of character, persisteney of pur- pose and carefully planned and well exeented labor which constitute the basis of all success have been manifest in the career of Lonis Wolf, to-day a prominent representative of industrial and financial interests in Quincy. Ilonored and respected by all, his position in trade circles commands uniform admiration not alone be- cause of what he has accomplished, but also by reason of the straightforward methods he has ever followed.

Ile was born in Alexander, Missouri, August 14. 1857, his parents being Charles and Floren- tine (Klump) Wolf. The father came to Amer- ica in 1852, when but twenty-eight years of age. from the state of Brunswick, Germany. Ile landed at New Orleans, where he worked for a year or more at his trade of harness-making and later he proceeded up the river to St. Louis, Missouri, where he resided until 1856 and again worked at his trade. In the year men- tioned he removed to Alexander. Missouri, where he embarked in the harness-making busi- ness for himself and this he conducted until 1861, when on account of his extreme northern sympathies he was forced to have that place and removed to Warsaw, Ilinois. He remained a champion of the Union cause throughout the period of hostilities. He continued in the har- ness business at Warsaw from 1861 until the time of his death, which oeenrred in 1886. His wife died ten years later, passing away in Warsaw. April 6, 1896.

Louis Wolf was a publie-school student in Warsaw, passing through successive grades until he had completed the high school course. after which he attended a business college at St. Louis and was there graduated at the age of seventeen years. During his boyhood days he learned the harness-maker's trade in his father's shop and following the completion of his education he returned to Warsaw, where he entered his father's employ, remaining there for three years. On the 1st of January, 1877. he removed to St. Louis, where he entered the employ of a wholesale saddlery

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company with which he was connected for nearly four years and during that time he was offered the management of the factory, but owing to his youth he wisely refused. In September, 1880, he came to Qniney and iden- tified himself with J. B. Schott Saddlery Com- pany as manager. In that position he has since been retained and is now one of the leading stockholders of the company. Largely to his enterprise, his thorough understanding of the business and his exeentive management the success of the house is attributable. He has seen the business increase from year to year umtil it now covers more than five times the space that it did when he became interested therein. The excellence of the output has been the basis of the prosperity which has attended the undertaking and this is due to the capable management of Mr. Wolf, whose practical knowledge of harness and saddlery-making in every department made him splendidly quali- fied for the control of the factory. The J. B. Schott Saddlery Company employs ninety men throughout the year and is one of Quincy's large wholesale concerns. He has, as the years have advanced. become interested in various business enterprises in Quincy and is to-day the president of the Qniney National Bank, while for twelve years he has been a director in the Central Iron Works of Quincy.

Mr. Wolf was married to Miss AAntoinea Schott, in October, 1881, a daughter of J. B. Schott, one of Quincy's oldest and most es- teemed citizens. Their position socially is equal to his place of prominence in the business world and their circle of friends in Quiney is extensive. In his political views Mr. Wolf has always been independent, vet he is never re- miss in the duties of citizenship, giving to all progressive and practical measures a stanch and helpful support. His industrial career has been characterized by continued advancement, for he has brooked no obstacles that could he overcome by persistent purpose ; and one ele- ment in his success is the fact that he has always continued in the business in which as a young tradesman he embarked and in which, gaining a thorough mastery, he has been enabled to so direet the labors of others as to win gratifying prosperity.

ASA W. BLAKESLEY.

Asa W. Blakesley, deceased, was one of the prominent early residents of Quiney and took a very active part in public affairs. He was identified with the early educational develop- ment of the county and for many years was all

office-holder, discharging his duties with marked promptness and fidelity. His birth occurred near Perryville, in Madison county, New York, April 21, 1818. His parents were farming people of that state and spent their entire lives there. Relatives of Mr. Blakesley still reside upon the old homestead in New York that has been in possession of the family since the early part of the eighteenth century and is still owned by the descendants of the original proprietors.

Asa W. Blakesley aided in the work of the home farm until he attained his majority, and although his opportunities for acquiring an education were only such as the district schools afforded at that early day, he mani- fested special aptitude, and was well qualified for teaching in early manhood. Turning his attention to that profession, he was connected with the district schools of his native county for a time. In July, 1841, he came to Illinois and first located in Carthage, Hancock county, where for two years he engaged in teaching school and then served as clerk in the post- office and recorder's office for three years.

In August. 1846, Mr. Blakesley removed to Payson, Adams county, and after teaching school at that place for one year he located in Quincy on the 1st of September, 1847, becom- ing principal of the female department of the publie schools, which position he occupied for seven years. In April, 1854, he was appointed clerk of the city and served in that capacity for five years. In the meantime he was elected county superintendent of schools in 1856 and filled that office for two years.

In 1859 Mr. Blakesley was honored with the position of superintendent of the Quincy & Toledo Railroad, which appointment was made during the great strike and about the close of the "Brown county war." Under his ener- getie and successful management the strike was soon brought to a close and good order and success followed. From the time of his retirement from that position in November, 1861. until his death he held various public positions, serving as police magistrate eight years and justice of the peace for the same length of time. For two years he was assessor of Quiney and was assistant assessor for four- teen years, while his connection with the board of edneation covered many years. He was also superintendent of the city schools in 1864 and 1865, and was a notary public from 1855 until his death, which occurred on the 30th of March, 1899. In the various offices hekt by him during a long and eventful life he was active, vigilant and untiring in the discharge of the trusts committed to his care.

Mr. Blakesley was three times married, first

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in Perryville, New York, where his wife died after a short married life of nine months. She left an infant daughter who died at the age of fourteen years. In Payson, Mr. Blakes- ley wedded Miss Ilannah Avise, of New York, who died in Payson about three years later. There were two children of that marriage but the younger died unnamed, and Martha, who became the wife of William E. Owen, is also deceased as is her husband.

For the third wife Mr. Blakesley chose Miss Mary L. Watson, and they were married in Quincy in 1850. She was a native of Bridge- port, Connecticut, born July 20, 1828, and was a daughter of George D. and Mary Ann ( Lit- tle) Watson, both of whom were natives of St. Albans, England. Her father eame to America at an early age and the voyage covered three months. Two days after landing in New York city he wedded Miss Mary Ann Little and they then came to the west, settling in Clayton, Illinois, where they resided for three years. On the expiration of that period they removed to Quiney and Mr. Watson began working in the old Brown mill. He was afterward made city marshal and held that office for many years, after which he retired to private life. He died in Quincy, while his wife passed away in Augusta, Illinois. They have one daughter still living, Mrs. A. B. Miller, who resides with a daughter in Denver, Colorado. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Blakesley were born two children : Marion, who is still a resident of Quiney and is employed as packing clerk in the wholesale boot and shoe house of Upham, Gordon & Com- pany ; and Isabella, the widow of Arthur Stock- well and a resident of Chicago. The mother of these children died in Quincy on the 12th of November, 1904.

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Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 116

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1228

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1228