USA > Illinois > Warren County > Portrait and biographical album of Warren County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 72
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was born in Ohio January 16, 1855, and has borne her husband four children, Charlie M., Mary E., Ka- tie and J. Edgar. Mr. Whelan has held the office of School Director in his Township, and in his politics is independent. He and his wife are faithful and active members of the Catholic Church.
homas Meadows, farmer on section 3 , Berwick Township, was born in this county, Dec. 18, 1845, and is a son of Henry Meadows, a native of Kentucky, where he was born March 28, 1798. The father of the sub- ject of this notice came to Illinois prior to the Black Hawk War, in 1832, and died Jan. 13, 1851, in this county. He was married to Miss Mary Coffey March 26, 1818. She was also a native of Kentucky, born there Sept. 6, 1799, and died Aug. 24, 1881. They had 14 children, namely : Nancy, born May 21, 1819; Andrew, May 10, 1820; Jane, April 15, 1821; Martin C., March 12, 1822; Eliza- beth, July 23, 1823; James and Martha (twins), Nov. 11, 1825 ; Mary, July 3, 1827 ; Sarah, July 5, 1829; Henry. W .. Dec. 30, 1831 ; Althea, Jan. 5, 1834; Jolin G., Nov. 30, 1837 ; Artimisia, Feb. 20,". 1836; Erastus, April 16, 1842; and Thomas, born as stated above.
Thomas Meadows, the subject of this biographical notice, was married to Miss Mary J. Brown, March 9, 1865. She was born Oct. 13, 1846, in Indiana, and her parents came to this State in 1854, locating in this county. Her father, Wm. L. Brown, was born in Ohio, Dec. 31, 1820, and was there married to Miss Julia A. Newkirk, Jan. 1, 1846. She was born Sept. 1, 1826, and was also a native of Ohio, and both are still living, residing at present in Ab- ingdon. They have been blessed with eight chil- dren-Mary Jane, born in October, 1846; Almeda Ann, who was born Oct. 6, 1848, and married Wm. P. Meadows March 10, 1870; Sarah M., born Sept. 26, 1850, (marriedGalen P. Meadows Feb. 7, 1871) ; John W., born Aug. 27, 1852; Harriet E., born Feb. 27, 1855, (married Wm. L. Roney Sept. 24, 1874) ; Jerusha R., born June 1, 1858 (married Albert J. Haynes in 1879); Alzora, born June 24, 1861, is deceased; and Alvira A., born Nov. 29, 1863, be- came the wife of Lewis J. Supple April 3, 1884.
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Thomas Meadows, of whom we write, and his wife are the parents of the following children : El- mer, born Feb. 12, 1866, Ira D., Feb. 10, 1868; Austin T., March 16, 1870; Leonard P., Dec. 22, 1874 ; Charlie L., Jan. 20, 1878; Vella Ann, June 17,1885.
Mr. Meadows is the proprietor of 98 acres of good land, located on section 3, Berwick Township, and as an agriculturist is meeting with the success which energy and perseverance are sure to bring. In poli- tics, he votes with the Democratic party, and, re- ligiously, he and his wife are members of the Chris- tian Church.
eimer Lahann is a manufacturer and whole- sale and retail dealer in cigars and tobacco, at Monmouth, the name of his establishment being the Maple City Cigar Factory. He was born Oct. 8, 1842, at Delmat, Holstein, Ger- many. He came to America in 1861, four years after his father, who died suddenly at Palmyra, Mo., in 1868, while en route from Hannibal, Mo., to Monmouth. Reimer Lahann's first employment in the United States was farming, which he followed for a year and a half near Troy, N. Y., after which he went to work at cabinet making, in Troy, N. Y., where he resided until 1866, during which time he also learned the cigar-maker's trade. While a resident of New York State he served a term as a member of the National Guards, assisting the organ- ization in protecting lives and property at a time when riots and disturbances were imminent.
Immediately upon removing to Monmouth, which he did in 1866, Mr. Lahann began the manufacture of cigars. He rolled the smokers himself. His bus- iness was on a sinall scale, but with slight assistance from his estimable wife, a good start was being made. The fire of '68 completely cleaned out the business, but Mr. Lahann was not discouraged. He began work again at the beginning. By gradual development his establishment, which he has built up alone and unaided, except by his wife, has become one of the leading institutions of Monmouth. The Maple City factory is Mr. Lahann's pride, and it is evidence of Li; industry and business ability. From 35 to 40 men
are constantly employed in the factory and a num- ber of salesmen are continually on the road, dispos- ing of the different brands of cigars, all of which have an excellent reputation. The factory turned out in 1884 over 1,500,000 cigars. During the last four months of that year the number sold was 440,525, while during the corresponding period of '85 the number was 493,500, a most gratifying increase. Not only its size, but its prosperous condition, makes the institution one of particular advantage to the city of Monmouth, inasmuch as the place becomes known throughout the extensive territory in which the cigars are sold. Mr. Lahann's adherence to the practice of using only a superior quality of stock has done much to overcome the prejudice for Eastern cigars where- ever the products of the Maple City factory are ob- tainable.
Mr. Lahann was married at Troy, N. Y., Jan. 24, 1865, to Miss Katie Fougard, of Huhrhesse, Ger- many. Their children are Ida, Andrew and Nina May, the first the wife of Mr. Fred T. Hayden, the second a cigar-maker and the third a school girl. Mr. Hay- den and Andrew Lahann are both employed in the factory. Mrs. Hayden has a daughter, born Feb. 2, 1886, and Mr. R. Lahann proudly responds to the title of grandfather. Mr. Lahann is a Knight Tem- plar in Masonry, an Odd Fellow, a member of the Leiderkranz Society, and in politics, a Republican.
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eorge W. Stice is extensively engaged as an agriculturist upon section 30, Swan. Township, where he owns 910 acres. It is all tillable land but 15 acres, which is cov- ered with timber. He has erected a good, substantial two-story dwelling, which is 30 x 30 feet in dimensions, upon his farm ; also a good barn, 38 x 42 feet. He is a breeder of Short-horn cattle, having at present seven head, also excellent grades of roadsters. In his chosen vocation, he has met with remarkable success, being an industrious, per- severing and economical farmer, and to himself and good helpmeet, his wife, is his prosperity attribut- able.
Mr. George. W. Stice, of whom we write, was born in Madison Co., Ill., July 8, 1832, and is the son of
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Charles Stice, a native of North Carolina, where he was born in 1795, on the rith of February. The latter came to this State in 1814 and located in Madison County. The elder Mr. Stice was a Ranger during the War of 1812, and was under General Whiteside in the Black Hawk War in 1832. It was while in that war that he came through this county and saw the fertility of the soil, and was so well pleased that in r833 he came to what is now the southern part of Henderson County ; but as that lo- cality proved unhealthful, he came to Greenbush, this county, engaging in merchandising and was ap- pointed Postmaster. After a residence of seven years there, he exchanged his town property for a farm on section 29, Swan Township, which he occupied until his death. Miss Patsey Whitley was the lady chosen to share his joys and sorrows, successes and reverses. She was born in 1800, in Illinois, and of her union with Mr. Stice 12 children were born, as follows : Sarah, Andrew, Nancy, Tabitha, James and Diana (twins), Martha, Charles, George W., Oscar, and a pair of twins who died in infancy. Mrs. Stice, the mother of our subject, died in r847, the father's demise occurring April r, 1869, in Swan Township.
George W. Stice was united in marriage with Miss Phobe King, Jan. 19, 1860. She was a native of McDonough County, and the daughter of R. T. King, who was born in Washington Co., East Ten- nesse, Nov. 28, 1817. He came to Illinois in 1835, and on Nov. 28, 1839, was married to Miss Martha A. Holden, who was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, July 2, 1822. Her father was a native of Vermont, moved to Ohio at an early day, and had a family comprising eight children-Phebe, born Feb. 4, 1841: William H., Feb. 12, 1847; James M., in November, 1849; John H., in July, 1852; Myrim H., Oct. 10, 1855 ; Isabella L., in 1857; Thomas F., Feb. 28, 1859; and Charlie, Aug. 8, 1861. All the above children are at present living and have at- tained the age of manhood and womanhood. Mr. King was really one of the pioneers of McDonough County.
George W. Stice, whose name heads this article, is the father of three children living and three deceased. George F. was born Oct. 29, 1864; Freeman S., Oct. 15, 1870; Sylvia A., Oct. 2, 1872; Edith, born Dec. 3, 1860, died in infancy; Charles, born Jan. 8,
1862, died Nov. 13, same year; Harry, born April 30, 1876, died May 22, 1876. Mr. Stice lived on sections 26 and 27, of Point Pleasant Township for 16 years. In the spring of 1874 he moved to sec- tion 30, Swan Township, where he had purchased land and here he has lived to the present time.
In addition to the cultivation of his land, Mr. S. is engaged to a considerable extent in the breeding of Short-horn cattle and graded roadsters. In pol- itics, he is a strong advocate of temperance and votes with the Prohibition party. His wife is President of the W. C. T. U. county organization, and has held the position for five years. She is also President of the Band of Hope at Swan Creek, and is a lady of most excellent qualities. Mr. Stice is one of the leading representative citizens, not only of Swan Township but also of Warren County.
yrus B. Bristol, Jr., of the grocery house of Bristol & Glendening, at Monmouth, was born at Fairmount, W. Va., Feb. 13, 1840. His parents, the Rev. Cyrus Beecher and Maria (Henderson) Bristol, were de- scended respectively from old English and Irish families, and were born, the first named in New Haven, Conn., and the latter in Fayette Co., Pa. They reared four sons and four daughters, and as if the figure four were destined to play some con- spicuous part in his history, the subject of this sketch was the fourth child in order of birth and was four years old when his parents removed to Armstrong Co., Pa. The Rev. Mr. Bristol had charge of two churches in Armstrong County for about 12 years, and in 1856 came to Illinois. He resides now (Oct- ober, 1885) at Schaller, Iowa, with his son, W. R. T. Bristol. He is 87 years old ; his wife 78.
At Elder's Ridge, Glade Run Academy and an institution of learning in Pittsburgh, Pa., Cyrus B. Bristol, Jr., acquired a pretty thorough English edu- cation. After coming to Illinois he learned the car- penter's trade, and worked at it for some years. Feb. 20, 1862, he enrolled in Mercer County, this State, as a private in Co. B, 65th Ill. Vol. Inf., and re-en- listed at Knoxville, Tenn., March 30, 1864. Soon after his first enlistment he was promoted Corporal. He veteranized as Second Sergeant, was promoted to
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Orderly Sergeant and mustered out as Sergeant Major, July 13, 1865 ; was commissioned Second Lieutenant, but did not muster. He saw service un- der Burnside in East Tennessee; was in the 23d army corps and took part in all the engagements of that army from Dalton to Atlanta. He smelt gun- powder and heard the bullets at Columbia, Ga. Franklin, Tenn., and Nashville. After the battle of Nashville, his regiment was transferred to the Eastern Army and took a hand in the Wilmington and Fort Fisher engagements. At Harper's Ferry, Sept. 15, 1862, the enemy gobbled him up along with the regiment, held them a day or two and paroled them. He was with his command from beginning to end and never missed duty but two days.
Returning from the war, he farmed two years in Mercer County, and went to Pennsylvania, where, on the 16th of May, 1867, at the town of Kent, In- diana County, he was married to Miss S. J. McFar- land, a native of that place and a daughter of Mr. William McFarland. In 1868, he came to Mon- mouth, where he has since resided. He worked for the Weir Plow Company about nine years, and has been in the grocery business since 1879. His first partner in mercantile business was W. T. Wiley ; second, W. P. Pressley ; third, A. S. Carson ; and the present partnership was formed in June, 1885. (See biography of D. D. Dunkle).
Mr. Bristol is a Mason, a member of the G. A. R. and Master Workman in the A. O. U. W. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the Presby- terian Church.
ol. James W. Davidson, an attorney and counsellor at law, residing at Monmouth, has practiced at the Warren County Bar a greater number of years than any other man now living. He was born in Barren County, Ky., Sept. 16, 1813, and was the third of six sons bred and reared to manhood by Hezekiah and Eleanor (Wilson) Davidson, natives of the States of North Carolina and Kentucky. and of Irish and Scotch extraction respectively.
Hezekiah Davidson was a mechanic, and in his day was the most extensive manufacturer of guns and cotton gins in the country where he resided. He came to Warren County in 1831, and spent the rest of his life on his farm near Monmouth, dying in 1841, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. His widow survived him up to the winter of 1857-8.
Col, James W. Davidson was in his youth inured to the toils of farm life, and also learned the trade of his father. He afterwards acquired a thorough acad- emic education, teaching school two years in Logan and two years in Simpson counties, Ky. He went to Mississippi and remained there about one year. He returned to the old Kentucky home to find that the rest of the family had some time before emigrated to the West. He had traveled from Brandon, Miss., to Barren Co., Ky., on horseback, and without delay he pressed forward, and by the same conveyance reach- ed Monmouth. Remaining there but a short time, he returned to Kentucky, and at Bowling Green, in the office of W. L. Underwood began reading law. During the last two years spent under the instruction of attorney Underwood he taught school in Simpson County, going thence to Logan County, Ky., where he taught about two years. At Russellville, Ky., he finished his course of study with lawyer Benjamin E. Gray, and was admitted to the Bar. He landed at Monmouth, May 10, 1839, and at once hung out his shingle as attorney-at-law.
Something of the confidence with which young Davidson inspired the people in his abilities as a lawyer, may be surmised from the fact that before the convening of the first term of Court after his arrival in Warren County, Nov. 1839, he was entrusted with no less than 83 causes. When Court set, however, his early ambition was doomed to disappointment. The cold November day augmented the decline of his young, though invalid wife, and her condition became at once so precarious as to forbid· his absence from her bedside, and the Court convened and adjourned regularly for more than two years without his attend- ance, Not that his young wife yet required his at- tention, for before the roses bloomed and while yet the new spring time was just warming into life the little seeds that were to shoot forth the bright flowers and green grasses, Mary E. (Wickware) Da- vidson, to whom he was married in Kentucky, Aug. 26, 1838, yielded up her life, leaving to the care of
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her husband an only child, Thaddeus C. Davidson now a business man at Kansas City, Mo.
Mr. Davidson has led the Democratic party of his district in two heated campaigns for Congress, his last noinination being by acclamation at Peoria, in the fall of 1858. In the first, he ran 1,271 votes ahead of Buchanan. Senator Douglas publicly complimented him by saying, "his campaign was, under all circum- stances, the grandest he had ever witnessed." In June, 1857, James Buchanan appointed Mr. David- son United States Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois, but because the influence of the office was not used against Mr. Douglas, Davidson was soon afterward replaced. .
At the request of the members of the Bar of his Judicial District, Mr. Davidson ran for the Circuit Judgeship in 18-, but his Democracy was too pro- nounced to carry a majority in a district so ultra radical, and previous to the election he withdrew from the contest. In 1844, he was defeated by seven votes for the Illinois Legislature. For 46 years Mr. David- son has devoted his time to the practice of law, and during the last decade has been ranked as the Nestor of the Warren County Bar. Criminal causes have re- ceived so much of his attention as to make it proper to say that that branch of his practice has been his specialty.
April 4, 1843, Mr. Davidson was married to his sec- ond wife, Mary E. Coleman, a native of Hopkins- ville, Ky., who was born July 2, 1823.
The parents of Mrs. Davidson were James and Lucy O. (Hawkins) Coleman. The father was of German extraction and the mother of Scotch. The family of Mr. Coleman consisted of ten children, five brothers and five sisters. The only survivors are Mrs. Davidson and one brother, William P. Coleman, who is now a resident of Sacramento, California, President of a Sacramento bank, and an influential citizen ; and one sister, the wife of Dr. Huston, of Blandinsville, McDonough Co., this State. One of Mrs. D.'s brothers, Stephen O. Coleman, formerly of St. Louis, Mo., was a soldier in the Mexican war, and in the late war was Captain of the St. Louis Grays and with his company served until near the close of the war, and was killed at the battle of Wilson Creek, near Springfield, Mo.
Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. David- son, we make the following brief memoranda
Rosalind O. and Cordelia A. died in infancy ; Jes- sie P. is now the wife of Mr. H. A. Webster; Lucy Ellen, is the widow of Frank Huff; Harry died in in- fancy; Stephen Lee is a business man in Kansas City ; Julius M. resides at Monmouth ; Kate married a Mr. Johnson ; and Pearlie was united in marriage to a Mr. Montgomery.
illiam P. Pressly was born near Abbey- ville, South Carolina, March 17, 1811. His father, David Pressly, and his mother, whose maiden name was Jane Patterson, came from Ireland in their early youth. William was the youngest of seven children. He attended for some time Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio.
In 1832 he bought a farm in Preble Co., Ohio, and engaged in farming with that energy and success that has always marked his busy life. After about 20 years his health failed him, and he went into busi- ness for a time in Hamilton, Ohio. In 1859 he came to Monmouth. For one year he farmed west of the city limits. Then he began mercantile life here and from that time to the present he has been identified with Monmouth as one of the most successful, un- tiring, energetic and reliable of the business men of the city. He dealt finally in dry-goods, and of late years also in groceries.
No man, far or near, has sustained in all these years a more unblemished credit than Mr. Pressly and none have made a more benevolent use of money carefully invested "where it would do the most good." In the year 1863 he gave to Monmouth College 700 acres of choice farming land in Iowa: This would have proved exceedingly valuable to the college if it . could have been held for a few years longer. He has given, for the purpose of educating native Egyp- tian ininisters and teachers, $20,000 to missions in that sorely troubled land. He was practical in this as in all his benevolences, thinking that a native could best deal with natives.
In this county W. P. Pressly will ever be remen- bered as the founder of the Warren County Library. To establish a library for the county he bought an ample lot and built a substantial and excellent brick
L
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building in 1870. He provided that the building should be kept up, and books constantly purchased from the rents of two large store-rooms, also given by him. As the library has grown in usefulness and other needs have become manifest, he has increased its power for good by increasing his gift. The $18,- ooo which he has expended in this way has founded one of the most successful popular libraries in the West. In accordance with his own idea it is a peo- ple's library, for the country as well as for the city. Thus its benefits are intended for and enjoyed by a population four times that of Monmouth.
The practical good sense of a careful business man has given direction and insured success in his own life time, and under his own eye, to that which his money founded and his judgment sanctioned.
Mr. Pressly was married in 1833 to Mary Gilmore, of Preble Co., Ohio, who died in 1836. In 1838 he was married to Mary Miller, of Virginia. She died in 1885. Their four children, Virginia, Sarah, Mary Jane and Henry are all deceased.
Henry, a fine, bright, excellent young man, gave his life in the service of his country, before Vicks- burg.
Mr. William P. Pressly has always been prominent as a devotedly religious man in Sabbath-school work, in a devout knowledge and use of Scripture, and in that broad Christian charity which lives for others and recognizes " One Lord and One Faith" in the Christian world.
W. Jones, the subject of this brief per- sonal sketch, is one of the leading farm- ers of Roseville' Township, living on section 12. His farm comprises 297 acres and is finely improved and cultivated. He makes a specialty of raising the cereals and is also interested in stock-raising, being succesful in his particular line of labor and a go-ahead, indus- trious agriculturist.
Mr. Jones was born in Hardin Co., Ky., in 1836, and his parents are Jesse P. and Magdalen (Gray) Jones, both natives of Kentucky. All their lives they followed the occupation in which Mr. Jones is at present engaged. He remained at home until he reached his majority, receiving a common-school ed- ucation, and soon after leaving home he visited the
State of Illinois, remaining one summer. He then returned to Kentucky, in which State he continued two years, at his home. In 1860 he came to Warren County and rented a farm in Roseville Township. He then, in 1867, bought a farm in Fulton County, which property he held two years, and which he sold at the end of this time, and in 1871 bought his pres- ent home. He has been active and energetic and has allowed nothing to deter him from the discharge of his duty, and, as the result of this, he is the owner of one of the pleasantest homes in the county.
In the year 1872 Mr. Jones was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Mary J. Hiett. To their family circle have been added four children-Em- eranza, Mary E., William J. and Edith M. Both himself and wife are members of the Baptist Church and he is a member of the Masonic Order. He has been School Director for some length of time and is a rigid Democrat in belief and sentiment, with which party he also votes. He is one of the representa- tive citizens of Warren County and a desirable friend and neighbor.
ohn Flake is one of the settlers of 1856, and a leading farmer by occupation, resid- ing on section 3, Kelly Township. His farm includes 102 acres, all improved and cul- tivated, and upon it stands a good and com-
modious farm residence. He also devotes some attention to stock-raising and has proved him- self successful in business.
Mr. Flake was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., Sept. II, 1830. His father, Amos Flake, was a native of Indiana and of German descent. John grew up from childhood in the county of his birth, living at home on the farm and receiving his education in the com- mon schools. He continued with his parents until his marriage, Oct. 28, 1852, with Miss Amelia Welhoff, who was born in Butler Co., Pa., Nov. 23, 1833, and was the daughter of Jacob and Wilhelmina (Steele) Welhoff.
Michael Flake, grandfather of our subject, was of German descent and was one of the first settlers in Dearborn Co., Ind. He "took up " a tract of tim- ber land, upon which he fixed the boundaries and commenced its cultivation and improvement. From here he went to Hawesville, Ky., where he became
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a slave-holder. The father of the subject came to Mercer County in 1856 and settled in North Hen- derson Township, where he bought a farm, and where he lived until his death, in 1862.
The father and mother of Mrs. Flake were born in Pennsylvania and Germany, respectively. The young people took up their abode at the Flake home- stead, where they lived until 1856. From there they came to Warren County, locating in Kelly Township, where the husband purchased land on section 9, and where they lived for two years. At the expiration of this time he was confronted with the old title, where- upon he leased the place for five years and bought the place which is now his present home.
In 1868 a tornado swept over the country and de- stroyed his house, barn and fences. This was a great loss to him, but he rallied from the shock and soon after rebuilt, this time a neat frame house.
The family circle of Mr. and Mrs. Flake has been made complete by the addition of six children as fol- lows : Augustus, Laura, Emily, Amos, Hattie and Albert. The father and mother and three of the children of this happy household are members in regular standing in the Methodist Church. Mr. Flake is a Republican in political sentiment and a useful man in the community. In 1863 he added to his property a sorghum mill, which he has run ever since.
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