Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 150

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 150

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In 1878 Mr. Smith was married to Miss Anna McCann, a daughter of Michael and Jane (Me- Laughlin) MeCann. She was born in Adams county, Illinois, in 1853, and her parents were natives of Ireland. her father coming to Adams county in 1847, at which time he settled in Men- don township. For a long period he carried on agricultural pursuits, but is now living in Quincy. Mr. and Mrs. Smith became the parents of nine children and two are now living. Jennie and Russell.

The parents are members of St. Rose church and Mr. Smith belongs to the Order of Hiber- nians and the Knights of Columbus. He is also a member of the Illinois Sheriff's Association and the International Association, and is vice-presi- dent of the latter and treasurer of the former. No publie trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree, and he ranks with that class of representative citizens who have dne regard of the duties devolving upon them.

JOHN HERMAN DEKER.

Jolm Herman Duker, proprietor of one of the oldest furniture and undertaking establishments of Quincy, was born October 10, 1855, in the city which is still his place of residence, his par- ents being Frank and Caroline (Schmidt ) Duker.

ED P. SMITH

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PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

His father was born at Ankum, Hanover, Ger- many, March 5, 1826, and learned the cabinet- maker's trade in his native land. Ile emigrated to Ameriea in 1845, when nineteen years of age. landing at New Orleans on the 1st of December. He proceeded up the Mississippi river by boat to St. Louis and thence came to Quiney, where he conducted an undertaking business for three years. HIe established the oldest undertaking and furniture business in Quincy, and during the period of the Civil war he and a Mr. Bartlett were the leading undertakers of Quincy, main- taining that position in the city's trade relations for some time. At that time an undertaking establishment was simply a shop in which coffins were made to order by hand. The business which he established, however, was the foundation of what has developed by steady growth into the present dimensions of the Duker undertaking and furniture establishment, which has been conducted at No. 712 Maine street. for many years under the firm style of Frank Duker's Sons. Mr. Duker continued in active connec- tion with the business until his death, which oc- curred on the 14th of July, 1894. He had been in America but two years when in 1847 his mother and three brothers, Henry, Theodore and Herman, came to the I'nited States and settled in Quincy, joining him in his new home. Frank Duker was an honorable and energetic business man, straightforward in all his dealings. In 1850 he married Miss Caroline C. Schmidt, who still survives him and is now residing in Quincy. They became the parents of eleven children. Those living are Elizabeth, widow of William Schmitt: Mary and Anna, at home: and John Herman. One son, Theodore, died three weeks before the father. At that time there were other members of the family living, namely : George, Henry, Caroline and John.

John Herman Duker was reared in Quincy and acquired a collegiate education, also attending the Gem City Business College. When not en- gaged with the duties of the schoolroom he as- sisted his father in the management of the under- taking business, beginning in 1873, and ultimate- ly became associated with him in the ownership of the enterprise. Later the firm of Frank Dnker's Sons was formed, the partners being John Herman and his brothers, Theodore, John. George and Henry. but the first named is now the only one of these living. The has had charge of the business sinee 1880 and is now condnet- ing a prosperous undertaking establishment. as- sisted by his two sons. Frank and Albert. The old firm style, however, has always been retained. Ile is a man of marked business enterprise, mak- ing continuons progress in the line of his trade and he now has a very liberal patronage.

On the 22d of April, 1880. Mr. Dnker was

united in marriage to Miss Margaret Schwab, a daughter of Casper Schwab, of Quincy. Their children are Frank, Albert, Carrie, Elizabeth, Lenora, Estella, Bertha and John. Mr. Duker is a member of the Western Benevolent Associa- tion and the Catholic church, and is a mem- ber of St. Nicholas Branch of the Western Catho- lic Union.

TIMOTHY P. CASTLE.

Timothy P. Castle, secretary and treasurer of the Comstock-Castle Stove Company, and thus a representative of one of the leading industrial enterprises of Quincy, has attained a creditable position in the business circles of his native city, and although he entered npon a business al- ready established he has shown marked enter- prise and diligence in carrying it forward. Born in Quiney, in September, 1873, he is a son of Chauncey H. and Mary E. (Parker) Castle. The father, who was born in Columbus, this county, in 1843, took up his abode in Quincy, in 1857, coming with his father, Timothy Hunt Castle, who purchased an interest in the business of A. Comstock & Company, stove manufacturers, the name being then changed to Collins, Comstock & Company. In 1884 the business was incor- porated as the Comstock-Castle Company, with Channeey H. Castle as president. The factory is located at Front and Washington streets, where are manufactured various kinds of "Economy" wood and coal stoves. employment being furnished to two hundred and fifty men.

Timothy P. Castle continued his edneation through the successive grades of the primary and grammar schools of Quiney and spent one year in the high school, after which he attended a private school in the west and later entered Phillips Academy, at Andover. Massachusetts. In 1893 he was enrolled as a student at Harvard University, spending two years within the classic walls of that institution, and in 1895 he returned to Quiney. where he became connected with the stove manufacturing business as shipping clerk in the house in which his father was a leading stockholder. In 1897 he was appointed to the position of secretary and treasurer, in which capacity he has since served. This is a very re- sponsible position for so young a man, but he has shown himself well qualified for the dis- charge of the onerous duties which devolve upon him. Ile has not been favored because of his connection with the president of the company. but has made a thorough and conscientions study of the business and his labors and efforts have been a factor in its capable control.

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Mr. Castle was married October 6, 1897, to Edith Hathaway Berry, daughter of Colonel W. W. Berry, and they now have two children : Georgiana, born December 2, 1898, and Eliza- beth, born August 31, 1901. Mr. Castle belongs to Lambert lodge, No. 659, A. F. & A. M., and in his political views is a republican. In addi- tion to his other interests he is a director of the F. W. Molly Orchard Company, composed of business men of Quiney owning extensive orch- ards in Texas. Tle is a typical business man of the time, with a well trained mind, marked en- terprise, a power of utilizing opportunities and with a capability that enables him to promote the general welfare while advancing individual interests.

EDGAR S. BUTTERWORTH.

Edgar S. Butterworth is a well-to-do farmer and orchardist living on section 11, Ellington township. He was born in Shelby county, Mis- souri, October 29, 1848, and is a son of Sylvanus Butterworth, whose birth occurred in Orange county, New York, his parents being Henry and Charlotte (Fowler) Butterworth, who came from Birmingham, England, soon after the Rev- olutionary war and lived in Newburg, New York. In their family were one daughter, Gloriana B. Smith, and five sons, the others be- ing Samnel, who became president of a govern- ment mint; John F., who was commissioner of Central Park, New York city, for many years; and llenry, Jr., and Theron, who were promi- nent business men. The family was of Quaker origin.

Coming west in 1840, Sylvanus Butterworth settled in Shelby county, Missouri, where he bought six hundred acres of land and began its cultivation. In 1843 he returned to New York and bought three head of imported shorthorn or Durham cattle, the first pure bred cattle taken west of the Mississippi river. They were shipped by water to New Orleans, thence by boat to Ilan- nibal, Missouri, and driven across the country to the Butterworth farm near Shelbyville. Syl- vanus Butterworth was married in Missouri to Miss Virginia Vandiver, a native of Virginia, who had removed with her parents from the Old Dominion to Missonri in 1834. Unto them were born three children who are still living, namely : Theodore; Mrs. Gloriana Virginia Settle. a resident of Monroe City, Missouri: and Edgar S. Theodore came to Quincy in 1866 and two years later established the Western Agriculturist and Live Stock Jour- nal, but in 1892 he removed to Chicago. where he now publishes the paper as The Live

Stoek Journal, it being a prominent weekly. The father died at the age of forty years. Al- though a comparatively young man at that time he had prospered in his business undertakings and left his family in comfortable circumstances.

Edgar S. Butterworth received a good high- school education at Shelbyville, Missouri, and remained at home until 1866, when he came to Quincy with his brother Theodore, remaining in this state for three years. In 1870 he was united in marriage with Miss M. C. Alexander, who died leaving one child, Mabel, now employed as secretary in the University of Chicago, which position she has filled for the past six years.

Following his marriage Mr. Butterworth re- turned to Missouri, where he engaged in farm- ing on the old home place for three years. HIe then sold his property there and returned to Quiney, where he engaged in the drug business as a member of the firm of W. II. Alexander & Company at the corner of Fourth and Maine streets. Ile was thus identified with the com- mercial interests of the city for four years when he became advertising manager of the Western Agriculturist and Live Stock Journal, published by his brother. He acted in that capacity for eight years and contributed in no small degree to the success of the paper because of the large amount of advertising he secured. Since 1891 he has devoted his time and energies to agricul- tural pursuits, taking up his abode in that year on his present farm, which is located only a half mile from the city limits of Quiney. He has thirty-nine aeres in this tract and also forty acres of timber land in another tract. The farm is devoted to the raising of fruit and garden products, twenty acres being planted to apples, peaches and vegetables. Mr. Butterworth rents a part of his land and receives from the remain- der an annual product which is sufficient to sup- ply him with all the comforts and many of the Inxuries of life. The fruit and vegetables which he raises are of excellent size and quality and, therefore, find a ready sale on the market

In 1891 Mr. Butterworth was again married, his second union being with Miss Sophia M. Kidney, who was born in Adams county in 1854, and they have one son. Edgar, now eight years of age. Iler father, Thomas Kidney, was a na- tive of Pennsylvania, born in 1822, and was about nineteen years of age when he came to Quincy in the fall of 1837, with his parents. John and Matilda Kidney, the journey westward being made by way of the river route. Return- ing to the east. John Kidney died in New York city about 1879. at the advanced age of eighty- six years, while his wife was eighty-one years of age at the time of her death. In their family were three children : Jacob, who died in Kan- sas; Ann Maria; and Thomas. Coming to Ad-

MR. AND MRS. THOMAS KIDNEY

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ams county a young man withont capital, Thom- as Kidney made the most of his advantages and by earnest and persistent labor succeeded in ac- quiring a handsome competence. He became the owner of a fine farm which was divided at the time of his death, March 8, 1889, Mr. and Mrs. Butterworth coming into possession of the tract upon which they now reside. In early manhood Mr. Kidney married Sophia L. Berrian, and to them were born six children, of whom two are still living: Mrs. Sophia M. Butterworth; and William A., who lives on Broadway in Quincy. He married Clara Rentze, and they have one daughter, Lonise. After a useful and well spent life, Mrs. Sophia L. Kidney died at her home in Ellington township, January 23. 1904. She had lived for almost a half century in Adams county and her estimable qualities of mind and heart endeared her to the many friends she had made during her long residence here. She made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Butterworth upon the old homestead, where she had resided for forty- two years.

Mr. and Mrs. Butterworth were married by Rev. Dana, a Congregational minister. having both been members of the Congregational church since early life. In his political views Mr. But- terworth is a democrat but though he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. as every true American citizen should do, he has never sought office. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. His entire life has been spent in the Mississippi val- ley and he possesses the enterprising spirit which has been the dominant factor in the rapid np- building and progress of this portion of the country.

WILLIAM F. BACON.

William F. Bacon, deceased, was a resident of Adams county for many years and was identified in early life with its agricultural interests and afterward with mercantile pursuits. He was a native of Massachusetts, born July 18, 1834, his parents being Benjamin and Mary (Smith) Bacon, the former a native of England and the latter of Pennsylvania. At an early day the father came to America, settling in Massachu- setts, where he was married and resided for sev- eral years. He afterward removed to Saratoga Springs. New York, and was there engaged in the hotel business until his death. His wife also died at Saratoga. They were the parents of eleven children, one son being a resident of Saratoga Springs, New York, while another son makes his home in Seranton, Pennsylvania.

William F. Bacon acquired his early education in the common schools of his native state and then began to study pharmacy, completing a full conrse in that branch. He afterward engaged in teaching school in Massachusetts for a few years, when, attracted by the business conditions and opportunities of the west, he came to Illinois, settling first in Chicago. There he was engaged in railroading for a few years, after which he came to Adams county and settled upon a farm in Liberty township in 1859. He continued in the tilling of the soil until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted in the Fiftieth Illinois Infantry, the company going soon after- ward to the sonth. lle participated in the battle of Shiloh, and in that engagement was shot in the hand, after which he was taken to the hos- pital at St. Joseph, Missouri, where he remained for some time and was then discharged, being in- capacitated for further anty by his wound.

When Mr. Bacon conld no longer render his country active aid in the field he returned to his farm in Liberty township and was actively en- gaged in agricultural pursuits for a brief period. He then removed to the village of Liberty, and soon afterward established his home in the vil- lage of Fairweather. A few years later he re- moved to the village of Eldara, Pike county, where he conducted a drug business, continuing to carry on that business with gratifying success up to the time of his death, being a reliable, enterprising merchant, whose prosperity was attributable entirely to his well directed efforts and business sagacity.

Mr. Bacon was married. October 2, 1862. to Miss Sarah E. Harkness, a native of Liberty township, born March 30, 1838, and a daughter of Ebenezer and Sarah (Golden) Harkness, the latter born in Virginia. Mr. Harkness was a native of Maine and became one of the early set- tlers of Fall Creek township, where he engaged in general farming during the greater part of his life. In his later years he removed to the vil- lage of Payson and lived retired until called to his final rest. Mr. and Mrs. Bacon had but one child, Edna E., now the wife of Henry II. Bar- tholomew, a registered pharmacist who is em- ployed in the Newcomb pharmacy in Quincy and they make their home with her mother. Mr. Bacon departed this life November 17. 1884

In polities he was a very stanch republican and did all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his party. The gov- ernment granted him a liberal pension for his services in the war and by reason of his good business ability and careful management in mer- cantile affairs he was enabled to leave his widow in comfortable financial virenmstances. He was numbered among the pioneers of the county and had many warm friends in Quincy, so that his

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death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret. After her husband's death Mrs. Bacon sold the drug store in Eldara and removed to Quiney, having promised her husband to do so. and she now resides at No. 425 Sixth avenue north. She is a member of the Baptist church of this city and, like her husband, enjoys the favorable regard of many friends here.

GEORGE W. BERRIAN.

George W. Berrian, deceased, was one of the early farmers of Ellington township. Ile was born in New York city in 1823. and is descended from French ancestors, who came to America at an early period in the colonization of the new world. His paternal grandfather was William Berrian, his father William A. Berrian. The iatter was born in New York city and married Miss Sophia Riker, who was also a native of the eastern metropolis and was a daughter of JJames Riker. William A. Berrian engaged in merchan- dising in the east and in 1833 came with his family to Adams county, being six weeks in mak- ing the trip. On the 7th of November, 1833. he arrived in Quiney, which was then a mere hamlet. containing only a few houses, while the outlying distriets were largely unsettled, the work of im- provement and progress having scarcely begun in this part of the state. After a year spent in Quincy, Mr. Berrian purchased a farm from his brother. Washington Berrian, who had en- tered land a mile east of the farm upon which Mrs. George Berrian now resides. Taking up his abode thereon he continued its cultivation until his death, which occurred when he was seventy years of age, while his wife reached the age of seventy-seven years. He was a whig in his political views and was one of the worthy pioneer residents of the county, advocating and supporting all progressive measures which pro- moted the early and substantial development of the county.

George W. Berrian was ten years of age when his parents came to Illinois and was educated and reared in this county. His father purchased the present Berrian farm soon after their arrival and George Berrian resided thereon until his death. In his youth he worked in the fields through the summer months and in the winter season pursued his education in the public schools, and later his undivided attention was given to the farm work, which he continued to carry on with unremitting energy until his death.

Mr. Berrian was married to Miss Elizabeth Anderson, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1827 and came to Adams county with her brother

John K. Anderson in 1848. She is still living upon the old homestead, to which her husband took her as a bride and on which she spent her entire married life. Their children are: Mrs. Sophia Hunsaker: Ella, the wife of Charles Ilirth: Walter E., who has purchased and operates the home farm: Theodore: Etta; Wil- liam and George.

Mr. Berrian died at the comparatively early age of forty-four years. Ile was a republican in polities and his fellow citizens called him to a number of township offices, the duties of which he discharged with promptness and fidelity. In his business affairs he prospered, becoming the owner of a valuable farm of one hundred and twelve aeres seven miles northeast of the court- house of Quiney, on which he placed excellent improvements. Hle worked earnestly and per- sistently in order to provide well for his family for his interests centered in his home.

GEORGE W. ALEXANDER.

George W. Alexander, who is filling the posi- tion of fireman at Dick's Brewery, was born in Quiney, February 22, 1856, and has always re- sided in this city. Ilis parents were George Noble and Jane Emily Alexander, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of County Monaghan, Ireland. The mother came to Amer- iea when a little maiden of seven years and was married in Quincy in 1853. Her death occurred in November. 1903, when she was seventy-two years of age. The father was a soldier of the Civil war, having enlisted in 1861 in Company D. One Hundred and Nineteenth Ilinois Volun- teer Infantry, and when hostilities ceased he was honorably discharged on the 15th of Septem- ber, 1865.

To the public school system of Quincy George W. Alexander is indebted for the educational privileges he enjoyed, and on putting aside his text-books he began earning his own living, hav- ing since been dependent upon his own exertions. Ile has been variously employed but is now fire- man at Dick's Brewery.

On the 15th of September, 1885, Mr. Alexan- der was united in marriage to Miss Octavia Frances Roland, who was born February 14. 1860, and they have become the parents of five children : Lee Early, the oldest, was born July 12, 1886. Glenn Roland, born July 5. 1888. died when three and a half years of age. Lil- lian Bell. born May 22, 1891, died November 14. 1898; Chauncey Arthur was named for Chaun- cey Castle, a well known business man of Quincy : and William Bryan, who was born Iune 14, 1900.

G. W. BERRIAN

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was named for the Hon. William Jennings Bryan, of Lincoln, Nebraska.

Mr. Alexander is a democrat in his political views, but while he always exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the party, he has never songht or desired of- fice. Ile belongs to the Masonic fraternity and to the Royal Arcanum, and he has many friends in Quiney, where he has spent his entire life.

FRANCIS DWIGHT SCHERMERHORN.

Francis D. Schermerhorn, for many years active and prominent in business circles in Quiney, was born in Geneva, Ontario county, New York, February 26, 1836. His father, John Van Rensselaer Schermerhorn, was born in the city of Albany, New York, October 8, 1795, the family removing some years later to Geneva, New York. On November 30, 1852, he was accidentally killed in the city of New York. On April 24, 1817, he was married to Amia Charlotte Mantz, who was born in the city of Frederick, Maryland, January 14, 1796. This marriage was blessed with ten children, all of whom have passed away with the exception of Francis D., of this review.

Ile received his education in the public schools of his native town. Ilis father's death caused the family home to be broken up, and he came to Quincy, November 18, 1853, when seventeen years of age. He was employed as rodman in the engineering party locating and on construc- tion of the Northern Cross Railroad, between Quiney and Galesburg, now a part of the ('hi- eago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and later he held a similar position on the location and construction of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Rail- road. In the fall of 1856 he returned to Quincy and seenred employment as clerk in the road- master's department of the Northern Cross Rail- road. which position he held until the road passed into control of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, when he was given charge of the ticket-office. He opened the first up-town tieket-office in the city, located in the old Quincy IFouse. In 1858 he resigned this place to accept the position of bookkeeper in the Quiney Savings & Insurance Company's Bank, now the First Na- tional Bank. In 1863 he resigned this position on account of ill health and engaged in the grain and commission business on Front street between Maine and Hampshire streets. This he con- tinued until November, 1875, when the ware- honses and contents were destroyed by fire. These years were busy ones for river commerce, many large steamboats coming daily to our landing, seenring cargoes of hay, corn, oats, flour, etc.

Frequently during these years our levee was one vast storehouse piled with prodnee awaiting ship- ment. During the season of navigation, every day was a busy one on the river front. In 1866 he accepted the position of general agent for the Merchants Despatch Fast Freight Line for the southwestern district, with headquarters at In- dianapolis, Indiana. In 1868 he resigned that position to accept the general agency at Quiney for the Toledo, Wabash & Western Railroad. In 1871 he was contracting agent for the Chicago, Burlington & Qniney Railroad and Merchants Despatch Fast Freight Line; agent for the St. Louis & Keokuk Packet Company; and was elected harbor master for Qniney. In 1875 he was commissioned by President U. S. Grant as surveyor of the port of Quincy, and held this latter position until the port was closed. In 1877 was appointed general superintendent of the Quiney, Missouri & Pacific Railroad; in 1880 was division superintendent of the Quincy, Mis- souri & Pacific branch of the Wabash Railroad. In 1885 he was appointed superintendent, gen- eral freight and ticket agent of the Quincy, Mis- souri & Pacific Railroad, which road had been turned over to the trustees of the first mortgage bondholders and which was reorganized as the Quiney, Omaha & Kansas City Railroad. He gave it the name "O. K." Quincy Route, by which the road is known today. In April, 1889. he resigned the position he held with this com- pany. Later he became resident agent for the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, acting in that capacity a few years, and then re- tired from business life. This briefly embraces the history of a busy life.

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Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 150

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