USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > Portrait and biographical album of Vermilion county, Illinois, containing sketches of prominent citizens of all the governors of the state, and of the presidents of the United States, Volume I > Part 30
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W ILLIAM DAVIS. The man who has thought much and studied much, and whose char- acter has commended itself to his fellow- men, naturally has an influence in shaping their views and opinions; and this influence will be felt long after he has been gathered to his fathers. Here and there we find one far in advance of his age- one whose children will probably live to see the time when his prophecies will have been fulfilled and his ideas adopted by a later generation. These thoughts involuntarily arise in contemplating the career of Mr. Davis, who is a man of more than ordinary intelligence, possessing a mind filled with
those broad and philanthropic ideas which must necessarily in time become of benefit to the human race. Ile was born with a natural antipathy to tyranny in all its forms, believing with Patrick Henry. that death is preferable to oppression. Ile is totally averse to trusts and monopolies and when- ever opportunity ocenrs lifts up his voice against those corporations which have proved the ruin, not only of individuals, but sometimes almost of entire communities.
Mr. Davis was one of the earliest pioneers of Vermilion County and was at an early day acknowl- edged as one of its leading men. He was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, Jan. 25, 1811, and was the third in a family of ten children, the offspring of Henry and Rachel ( Polock) Davis, both natives of Pennsylvania and the father born in Greene County. The paternal grandfather, also a native of the Keystone State, was a patriot of the Revolu- tionary War, after which he settled in Ohio, reared two families of twelve children each and departed this life about 1823. Grandfather Polock died in Guernsey County about 1820. This branch of the Davis family was of Dutch and Welsh descent while the Polocks traced their ancestry to Ireland. Henry Davis occupied himself largely as a farmer and was also successfully engaged in raising tobacco,
The parents of our subject after marriage lived in Pennsylvania two years, then in 1807 made their way to the young State of Ohio, accompanied by grandfather Polock. and settled in Guernsey County. The mother of our subject died in Illi- nois in 1848. The father survived his wife five years, dying in 1853. They came to Illinois in the fall of 1836. Mr. Davis, prior to this, had vis- ited Illinois four times, being determined to settle here. Five of their children are still living, making their homes in Illinois and lowa.
The boyhood and youth of our subject were spent amid the wild scenes of pioneer life during the early settlement of Ohio and he naively states that the only bear hunt he ever took part in was when he was five months okl and his father killed the bear. He attended school two months in the winter season for a few years, and after reaching his majority began making arrangements for the establishment of a home of his own. In the fall of
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1834, he was married to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of David Hayes of Washington County, Pa. The young couple thirteen days afterward started for Illinois with a wagon and accompanied by an uncle of our subject and bis brother Azariah with his wife and child. They were nineteen day's on the journey and Mr. and Mrs. Davis walked nearly all the way.
Mr. Davis received from his father seventy-seven acres of land in Vance Township, this county, upon which was a hewed log cabin. The newly wedded pair had brought with them a couple of beds and a few things stowed away in sacks, while Mr. Davis had his ax and gun. Two hours after reaching their destination they were visited by prairie wolves which were frequent callers for many years after- ward. After obtaining some wheat which had been raised on his place the year before, Mr. Davis re- paired to Eugene. Ind .. and selling this wheat. purchased a few cooking utensils. He and his wife had stools to sit npon and a table made by boring holes in the log wall of their dwelling, driv- ing in a couple of pins and laying a few slabs across.
In those days there were only a few houses between Catlin and Sidney. Homer was not in existence. The Wabash Railway track was sur- veyed in 1837. Our subject's little farm was partly broken before it became his, his father giving him the deed for it in 1837. He was suc- cessful in his first farming operations, although he had very crude implements with which to culti- vate the soil and no help save that of his wife. Hle struggled along in the new country and grew slowly with it. He thinks the most prosperous times for this section were between 1850 and 1860 and the two years following the close of the war.
Ten children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Davis, seven of whom grew to mature years. Rachel became the wife of Daniel Roudebush who is now deceased: she has four children and lives near Portland. Ore .; Edith married Ben- jamin Browning and became the mother of four children; they live near Sacramento, Cal .; D. Cook married for his second wife a Mrs. Miller of Pen- field, Ill .. and they have six children: Henry is written of elsewhere in this volume; Jemima is the
wife of Sullivan Cox, lives in Dement and has one child: Lydia, E .. the wife of George W. Baird. is the mother of four children and they live in Vance Township.
Mrs. Elizabeth (Hayes) Davis departed this life at the homestead in the fall of 1861.
Our subject contracted a second matrimonial al- liance Aug. 21, 1863, with Miss Mary C., daughter of Lawrence T. Catlett and sister of Hiram and Harold Catlett of Vanee Township. Mrs. Davis was the third in a family of twelve children and was born Aug. 23. 1821, in Charlottesville, Va. She attended school for a time in her native State and completed a good education in Ohio. She fol- lowed the profession of a teacher for some years prior to her marriage. The family came to Illinois . in 1846 and Miss Mary taught school for some time in this county. She is a most estimable and . worthy lady, kind, generous and hospitable and especially attentive to those in affliction. She has always been interested in educational matters and donated $75 from her own private purse to the imniversity at U'pper Alton. She also gave $50 to the Baptist Church in Danville of which both she and her husband have been members for many years, Mr. Davis serving as Deacon and Trustee and both laboring earnestly in the Sunday-school. The health of Mrs. Davis for the past two years has been delicate. preventing her from pursuing this good work as she would have liked.
Mr. Davis, more fortunate than many of his com- peers, financially, received $2.500 from his father and had the good judgment to take care of it and add to it. He is now the owner of about 1.000 acres of land in this county and five good houses. Ile has an interest in the implement firm of Davis & Stearns, and also in a large grain warehouse. Besides this he owns fifteen or eighteen lots in Fairmount and has given to each of his children $3,500. IIe donated 81,000 to the Douglas University at Chi- cago. $500 to the Wabash Railroad, $500 to the university at Upper Alton and has always been a liberal supporter of the schools, churches and other worthy enterprises in this County. Ilis estate is valued at 860.000. While busy with the accumu- lation of this world's goods for himself he has the satisfaction of knowing that the needy have never
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been turned empty from his door. Ile sympathizes with those less fortunate than himself and none are more ready to aid those, who will try to help them- selves.
The first presidential vote of Mr. Davis was cast in 1832 for Andrew Jackson, and he has been a uniform supporter of the Democratic party until 1876, since which time he has been a Greenbacker. Taking a lively interest in politics, his expressed son- timents have always been pure and upright and conkl he have his way there would be no wire-working and no political dishonesty. During the election of 1888 he supported the Union-Labor nominee and he has favored the election of : Greenbacker. He is rather opposed to secret societies and has held aloof from them. He served as School Director many years and for several terms officiated as Road Overseer. Few men have kept themselves more conversant with matters of general interest to the intelligent citizen, and few have been of more essential aid in supporting the various worthy en- terprises tending to elevate society and benefit the community.
G EORGE HOAGLAND. In the fall of 1860 there might have been seen wending their way across the new country. a young man with his wife and four children. intent upon mak- ing a home in a new section. and practically grow- ing up with the country. Few men had settled at that time in township 23, range 12, where our sub- jeet secured 120 acres on section 32. Upon this land there was a small house, into which he moved his family, and made them as comfortable as pos- sible. Little of the land around them had been fenced or cultivated, while deer, wolves and other wild animals had scarcely learned to be afraid at the approach of man. The nearest trading point was at Rossville, and for anything out of the com- mon line of merchandise Mr. Hoagland was obliged to repair to Danville, Attica or Paxton, twenty miles away.
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Our subject came a long distance from his birth- place to seek a permanent home, having first opened his eyes to the light on the Atlantic coast, New
Jersey, May 15. 1802. There he spent the first nineteen years of his life, and then emigrated with his parents to Hamilton County. Ind., where they were among the earliest pioneers. In due time he was married to Miss Mary Van Zant, who died, leaving one child. His second wife was Rachel Cushman, and to them there were born tive chil- dren, of whom Jonathan C., who lives on the farm with his father, is the only survivor.
Our subject first cleared eighty acres from the wilderness, then sold out, and purchased that which he now owns and occupies. He built this up from the raw prairie. and has given to it the labor of many years in bringing it to its present position, besides a generous outlay of money. Although now quite well advanced on the down hill of life. he retains much of the activity of his former years, and keeps himself well posted upon current events. Ile voted for both the Harrisons, and no man has rejoiced more in the results of the war which brought about freedom and preserved the Union. He has been a member of the Baptist Church since 1828, and is of that kindly and genial disposition which has made him friends wherever he has so- journed.
Jonathan C. Hoagland, the only living child of our subject, was born in Indiana, April 24, 1846, and lived there until coming to this county, in 1860. Soon after the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in Company E. 149th Illinois Infantry. which was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee. This regiment. however, while before Atlanta dur- ing the siege of the city, was not called upon to do any active fighting, but was simply assigned to guard duty. They received their honorable dis- charge. and were mustered out in 1866. Mr. Hoag- land then returned to this county. and engaged in farming with his father, and has since remained a resident here.
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Jonathan C. Hoagland. son of our subject, was married on the 21th of December, 1871. to Miss Rebecca Sanders, of Butler Township. The three children born to them-Rose E., Mary M. and Flora B .- are all living at home with their parents. Jonathan C. Hoagland has been School Direc- tor in his district several terms, and, like his hon- ored father, is held in high esteem by his neighbors.
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Mrs. George Hoagland, wife of our subjeet. was born in Pennsylvania, July 30, 1815. and removed with her parents to Indiana when a maiden of cigh- teen years. She remained under the parental roof until her marriage. Her father, Thomas Cushman. was a farmer by occupation, and spent his last years in Indiana.
Charles Barens, the grandson of our subject, and the child of his daughter, Mary, resides at the homestead. John Barens. his father. after his mar- riage with Miss Hoagland, located in Grant Town- ship, and they became the parents of three sons and one daughter, one older than Charles, and two younger.
ENRY LLOYD, a veteran of the late war. wherein he did loyal service for his adopted country. is one of the leading citizens of Catlin Township, prominent in the manage- ment of its public affairs, and closely identified with its material interests as an intelligent. pro- gressive farmer, stock-raiser, and stock-dealer. Ilis farm on section 31, with its broad, well-tilled acres, its orderly. commodious buildings. and pleas- ant dwelling is one of the most desirable and at- tractive places in this part of Vermillion County.
Mr. Lloyd is of good English stock. and is him- self a native of the mother country, born in Berk- shire, April 5, 1841. llis parents, Richard C. and Susan ( Wicks) Lloyd, were also born in England. and were life-long residents of the old country, dying in Berkshire. They were people of sterling worth, well thought of by their neighbors, and they trained their seven children to habits of useful- ness and honesty.
Henry Lloyd was the fourth child of the family and the years of his boyhood were passed among the pleasant scenes of his native land. In 1858, when seventeen years of age he left his old home. ambitions to see more of life and to avail himself of the many advantages offered by the United States of America to the poor youth of other coun- tries to make their way in the world to positions of comfort and even affluence. After landing on these shores he came to Catlin Township, of which he has been a resident since, excepting during
the trying times of the great Rebellion, when with a. patriotism not exceeded by those native and to the manor born, he bravely consecrated his young life to the defence of the land of his adoption. In August. 1862. tearing himself away from his little family, and laying aside all business interests. he enlisted, and in the following September he was mustered into Company G, 125th Illinois Infantry, and was in the army until after the war closed. He took an active part in the battles of Perryville. Mission Ridge, second battle of Mission Ridge. battle of Dallas, and was with Gen. Sherman in his famous march to the sea. During two years of his service he was detailed to haul ammunition. He was honorably discharged June 9, 1865, and re- turning to Catlin, resumed his former vocation. The first four years after coming to Catlin Town- ship he was engaged in the butcher business, but aside from that he has been occupied in farming and in raising, buying and shipping stock quite ex- tensively. lle owns 240 acres of choice land. all improved. and amply supplied with excellent buildings for all necessary purposes and with mod- ern machinery for facilitating the labors of the farm.
Mr. Lloyd and Miss Sarah Church were united in marriage in Catlin Township, Dec. 20. 1860. and nine children have been born to them-Edwin C., who died when ten and a half months old; Maria L. is the wife of Abraham Wolf; two who died in infaney; Alice E., Fred R., Fannie E .. Edwin II., and William R.
Mrs. Lloyd is like her husband, a native of England, born in London Jan. 7, 1844. In 1850, when she was six years of age. her parents. Henry and Sophia ( Puzey ) Church. who were likewise of English birth, brought her to this country. They cast their lot with the early settlers of Catlin Township, and passed their remaining days here. They had seven children, Mrs. Lloyd being the youngest. She is a woman of a happy. amiable disposition, is well liked by all who know her. and is a member in high standing of the Methodist Church.
Mr. Lloyd is a frank, open hearted man. gifted with rare energy and stability of character. His publie spirit is well known, and any good scheme
Il Jerker
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that will in any way promote the best interests of the township is sure to meet with his cordial ap- proval and substantial support. His fellow-citi- zens have often called upon him for advice in weighty matters, and as a public official he has shown his disinterested regard for the welfare of the community. He has been Road Commissioner three years, Township Collector two years. School Director six years, and Vice-President of the Vermilion Agricultural Society seven years. IIe is connected with the A. F. & A. M. as a member of Catlin Lodge, No. 285. He and his family are people of high social standing in this community, and their pleasant residence. situated a short dis- tance from the road and close to the corporation of Catlin, is the centre of a genuine hospitality, the graceful and kindly courtesy of its inmates making friends and strangers alike feel at home within its walls.
IRAM YERKES. The firm of Yerkes & Reese conduct a first-class meat-market in Fairmount. obtaining their supplies from the farm of Mr. Yerkes. which furnishes the pure article so essential to the health of man- kind. The firm is one of first-class standing, and enjoys the patronage of the best people of Fair- mount and vicinity. The subject of this notice is a man of more than ordinary abilities, with a thor- ough-going business talent, while at the same time he is whole-souled, genial and companionable, en- joying the esteem and confidence of hosts of friends.
The Yerkes family originated in Germany. from which country the paternal great-grandfather of our subject emigrated prior to the Revolutionary War. He reared a fine family. and among his sons was Jacob S., the father of our subject. who was born in Pennsylvania and adopted the business of a wagon-maker and farmer combined. He was married, in his native State. to Miss Ann S. Shoe- maker, who was born there. and not long after. ward they removed to Ohio, where Mr. Yerkes followed wagon-making for four years. Then he removed to Indiana, and remained a resident of
the Hoosier State a quarter of a century and en- gaged in wagon-making and agricultural pursuits. There the parents passed the remainder of their lives, the mother dying in 1882. and the father in the fall of 1886.
To the parents of our subject there were born eight children, only four of whom reached their majority. Hiram, the second in the family, was born May 7, 1810, in Ohio, and was a mere child when his parents left the Buckeye State for Indi- ana. In the latter State his early education was conducted in the primitive log schoolhouse. the terms being very short and far between. He, how- ever, took kindly to his books, and gained a very good knowledge of the common branches. Ile re- mained under the home roof until the outbreak of the Civil War, and in August, 1862, enlisted in the Union army as a member of Company HI, 63d In- diana Infantry, which regiment was organized in Indianapolis, first commanded by Col. Williams and later by Col. I. N. Stiles.
Mr. Yerkes fought in sixteen battles and fol- lowed his regiment in all its marches. participating in all the hardships and vicissitudes of a soldier's life. The records indicate that he was one of the bravest men of his company, and while at the front, in some of the hardest fought battles of the war, stood at his post without fear or flinching. Ile was content to enter the ranks as a private. and was first promoted to the post of Corporal, and after- ward to Sergeant. Ile met the enemy in the field at Resaca, Ga., Franklin and Nashville. Tenn .. At- lanta. Kenesaw Mountain, Jonesboro, Cassville, Lost Mountain. Altoona, Chattahoochie, Town Creek. Burnt Hickory, Buzzard's Roost, Ft. Ander- son, Wilmington and Columbia, N. C.
Although experiencing many hairbreadth es- capes, Mr. Yerkes never received a serateli. IIe was at one time entirely buried in the dirt plowed up by a Rebel cannon ball, escaping by a miracle from being torn to pieces by the deadly missile. HIe had the satisfaction of witnessing the sur- render of the rebel Gen. Johnston to Gen. Sher. man, but the joy of the Union army was soon sad- dened by the news of Lincoln's assassination. After the surrender spoken of. they remained in Greensburg until July, 1865, when the regiment
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was discharged, and our subject. being mustered out at Indianapolis, returned to his home in In- diana.
On the 21st of September, in the above-men- tioned year, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Hester E. Prevo, daughter of a promi- nent farmer of Fountain County, Ind .. and one of the most lovely young ladies of that region. Mrs. Ilester E. Yerkes was one of a family of six chil- dren, and was born in Indiana. in October, 1839. Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Yerkes came to Illinois, arriving in this county Oet. 17, 1865, and settling upon the land which constitutes the present homestead of our subject. Of this con- genial union there were born six children, the eldest of whom, a son. Spencer G .. remains at home with his father. Alice M. is the wife of Charles Price, and they live on a farm two miles northeast of Fairmount. Ella May, Anna L., Susie and Hattie are at home with their father. The mother of these children departed this life at the home farm in Vance Township, on the 6th day of September, 1877. She was a lady greatly beloved by her family and friends, possess- ing those estimable qualities by which she was en- abled to illustrate in her life the best traits of the devoted wife and mother, the kind and generous friend, and the hospitable neighbor. Her name is held in tender remembrance by all who knew her.
Our subject, in January, 1878, contracted a see- ond marriage with Miss Mary Olive, daughter of the Rev. J. H. Noble, a prominent minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. This union resulted in the birth of four children, one of whom, Pearl, died in infancy. The others are Hiram N .. Lola G. and Winnie M. The boy Hiram is especially bright, very attentive to his studies in school, and maintains his position at the head of his class, gaining great enconiums from his teacher. Mr. Yerkes has othiciated as Township Supervisor for five years, holding the office during the erection of the County Court House (at Danville), which bears his name upon its corner-stone. This was a scheme iu which he was intensely interested, and it was largely through his efforts that the edifice was fin- ished in good shape and without involving the loss of a dollar to the county. So judiciously were its
affairs managed that the taxpayers hardly realized that they were contributing to its erection, and never missed the additional sum imposed. The County Jail was erected about the same time and under the same conditions.
Our subject has officiated as Highway Commis- sioner three years, and in this, as in all other posi- tions of trust and responsibility, which he has occupied, bent his energies to effect those improve- ments which would benefit the people and at the same time prevent excessive taxation. While hold- ing the above-mentioned office, he furthered the introduction of the system of stone arch bridges in Vanee Township, and they are, without question. the cheapest and most durable bridge which can be erected. Sewer drainage for the small streams instead of the old plank culverts was also adopted. through the persistent efforts of Mr. Yerkes. Ile has been School Director in his distriet for many years, and so well has he performed his duties in connection therewith, that the Board is about to purchase a site and erect a new building at a cost of about 87,000.
Politically, Mr. Yerkes uniformly votes the Re- publican ticket, and has frequently been sent as a delegate to the County Conventions. In connec- tion with this, as in all other matters, he is content with no halfway measures, and has thus been of effective service to his party in this section, being thoroughly well-informed and alive to all the po- litical issues of the day. Both he and his estimable wife are members in good standing of the Meiho- dist Episcopal Church. Socially, Mr. Yerkes be- longs to Fairmount Lodge No. 590, A. F. & A. M .. and to George N. Neville Post, G. A. R., of which he was onee Vice Commander. In his church he officiates as Steward and Trustee, and for the past eighteen years has been one of the most efficient workers in the Sunday school, officiating as Super- intendent nine years, as teacher of the Bible Class the same length of time. and, when not chief Su- perintendent. acting as assistant.
The farm of Mr. Yerkes is finely situated on section 9, and comprises 320 acres of land-all in one body. Being just outside the corporate limits of Fairmount, on the southwest. it is naturally very valuable. The whole is in a productive condition,
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and yields abundantly the rich erops of Central Illinois, Mr. Yerkes feeds nearly 100 head of cattle each year. and about seventy-five head of swine. He keeps simply enough horses to operate the farm. He has recently disposed of 185 acres of coal land. seven miles west of Danville.
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