USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > Portrait and biographical record of Macoupin County, Illinois : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with biographies of all the governors of the state, and of the presidents of the United States > Part 106
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111
871
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD).
vanced age of ninety-two. They were members of the Congregational Church, and were well known in this eounty as among its best citizens. In their family were twelve children, ten of whom lived to an advanced age, while four yet survive, the eldest, a resident of St. Louis, being eighty-six years old.
Mr. and Mrs. Ira Sanford, as before stated, re- moved to St. Paul, where the death of the husband occurred in 1857, after which Mrs. Sanford re- turned to Bunker Hill. She long survived her husband, dying at this place in September. 1886, at the age of seventy-four, her birth having oe- curred in 1812. She was a member of the Congre- gational Church, and a woman whose many excel- lencies of character endeared her to all. Mr. San- ford was a Presbyterian in religious faith, and in polities was a Whig and Republican.
Our subject returned with his mother to Illinois, where his early education was acquired and he then attended the Williston Academy, of Willis- ton, Vt. At the age of nineteen years he began life for himself and has since been dependent upon his own resources. He was married in Bunker Hill, to Miss Isa Shepherd, a native of that city. born September 21, 1852, and a daughter of Isaac and Hannah Shepherd. Her parents were natives of Cumberland County, N. J., where their child- hood days were passed, and after their marriage they came to Bunker Hill. Mr. Shepherd bad previously been married and resided in that town as one of its early settlers. His death occurred in the prime of life. His widow yet survives bim and now makes her home with our subject, at the age of seventy four years. She is a consistent member of the Congregational Church, to which Mr. and Mrs. Sanford also belong, the former be- ing Treasurer of the church, while both are active workers for its interests. The family numbers the following children: Edward, Anna B., Mary F., William S. and Herbert B.
In 1866, Mr. Sanford established business in Bunker lliil as a grocer, and from the beginning has had a constantly increasing trade. He first carried on operations under the firm name of S. N. Sanford & Co., and after three years changed the name to Sanford & True, which company ex- isted for about eight years, when Mr. Sanford be-
came sole proprietor, having entire charge of the store until December, 1889, when he sold out to J. II. Simmons, who is now in charge. With many of the leading industries and enterprises of Bunker llill, our subject has been and is prominently con- nected. He is one of the Directors of the Build- ing and Loan Association, which was organized in 1887, is a stockholder and Dircetor of the Bunker Ilill Nail Company, which was established in Jan- uary. 1890, and is also Manager and Treasurer of the Boss Coulter Company, which was formed in 1885. For fifteen years he has been Director of the Library Association and for the same length of time has served on the School Board as Clerk. The cause of education has tound in him a warm friend, and he has done not a little toward pro- moting the high standard of Bunker Hill's schools. A public-spirited and progressive man, he is num- bered among the valued citizens of the community and has ever manifested a commendable interest in all that pertams to the upbuilding and welfare of town and county. As a business man he is in- dustrions and enterprising and in consequence snc- cessful. While in the grocery trade his fair deal- ing and courteous treatment won bim hosts of friends, and whoever he meets either in business or social circles. accord him their high esteem and good will.
RED L. BLOME. This gentleman is the editor and proprietor of the Staunton Times, which he has had charge of since September, 1885, and has made it a newsy, eight column weekly folio. It is a spicy little paper edited with considerable ability, and issued every Friday. He is a practical printer and his office, in its com- pleteness for getting out a paper and doing job work, is as good as is to be found in the county. It has been the ambition of Mr. Blome to improve his paper from year to year, and he now contem- plates an increase in size to a six coluinn quarto, which will be as large a paper as is issued in Ma- coupin County. It has a good local circulation which is steadily increasing. Mr. Blome is a practical man and is working hard for the good of
872
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the town where he now resides, and lends his aid willingly to every enterprise calculated to better the place and its people.
Prior to coming hither. Mr. Blome had been en- gaged in the publishing business in Warrenton, Mo., where he caried on the Warrenton Banner, and where his first newspaper work was done. After serving his apprenticeship there he went Bonanza, Colo .. where he took the position of foreman on the Daily Enterprise until the summer of 1882, when he went to Villa Grove, in the same State. and was there one of the proprietors of the Dis- patch. Later he returned to Mongomery County, Mo., and two years after this went to his old home, Warrenton, and thence, in 1885, came to Staunton.
The subject of this sketch was born in Lincoln County. Mo., June 5, 1862. and is a son of Lyman and Dorothy Blome, who were of German birth and came from the Fatherland to the United States immediately after their marriage. Their migration to this country was in the last half of the '40s. and their first settlement was made in the city of Chicago, and then for awhile in Washing- ton, Mo. The father had learned the boot and shoe business in Germany and he followed that after coming to this country. They finally located at Truxton, Lincoln County, Mo., and there our subject was born. Eight years later the father died at the age of forty-seven. His widow is still living and makes her home with the daughter, Mrs. Mary Miller, at Marysville, Cal. She is now upwards of three-score years and ten and in her old age is resting from her labors, She is a mem- ber of the Methodist Church as was her husband in his lifetime.
Our subject is the youngest of four children born to his parents two of whom died in infancy, and he and his sister Mary are all that now remain of that once happy household. Mr. Blome was married in Staunton to Miss Ella Jageman who was born in Madison County and had her training and education in Staunton. She comes from an ex- cellent family, being the daughter of Charles W. and Kate Jageman who were formerly well-known throughout this part of the State and are now liv- ing in Arizona. She is a woman of more than or- (linary ability and brightness and is an earnest
worker in the Presbyterian Church. The political views of Mr. Blome cause him to affiliate person- ally with the Democratic party but his paper is in- dependent in both polities and religion.
AMES S. THOMPSON. Among the reputa- ble men who in the conduct of business matters and the duties belonging to the various relations of life have acquired a worthy name, mention should be made of Mr. Thompson who is now the Superintendent of the Maconpin County Alms House, which is located on section 16, Carlinville Township. He was born in Wayne County, Ill., September 5, 1838 and there spent his boyhood days until 1854 when he started out in life for himself, coming to Scotts. ville this county where for one year he lived with his brother, L. J. Thompson.
The marriage of our subject with Miss Rhoda .J. Conlee took place in Palmyra Township, this county, March 31, 1858. This lady was born in the township where she was married on December 22, 1837, and there she grew to womanhood, re- ceiving e:lucational and domestic training. The first wedded home of this young couple was in South Otter Township, where they rented land and lived for a year, and then removed to South Pal- myra Township, which continued to be their home until 1865. During their residence there Mr. Thompson was for three years engaged in the saw- mill business and during the remainder of the time carried on farming.
Our subject was now filled with a desire to go farther West and see more of pioneer life, and sell- ing his property he removed to JJohnson County, Neb., where he homesteaded and farmed for a year only when he felt satisfied to return to Macoupin County and make his home in Girard, where he acted as engineer for something over a year. For ten years he then lived in South Palmyra Town- ship, and again sold his property and bought one hundred aeres in South Otter Township, and four years later disposed of that and bought a farm of
873
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ninety-five acres in South Palmyra Township which he now has in the hands of a tenant.
The appointment as Superintendent of the Ma- coupin County Alms House, was made in March, 1888, and Mr. Thompson has since filled that posi- tion with great eredit to himself and satisfaction to the people. This institution is calculated to ac- commodate about one hundred inmates and while it is conducted on business principles, kindly care is given to the unfortunate inmates by both the Su- perintendent and his estimable wife. Eight living children form the family of Mr. and Mrs. Thomp- son, namely : Alice S. wife of J. E. Bacon : Thomas M. married Miss Martha Little; Clara B., Mrs. Jolin W. Kidd; James S. Jr .; George A .; Amelia J. wife of Douglas Davidson ; Olive M., and Will- iam R. M. They have also laid to rest three chil- dren, John M., Mary M. and Franklin E.
Mr. Thompson has held the office of Road Over- seer of South Palmyra Township, and also that of Highway Commissioner for several years. For four years he was Road Overseer in South Otter Township, and has ever taken an active part in political affairs, being an ardent Democrat. Both he and his good wife are devoted members of the Baptist Church.
E MANUEL FRIEDMAN, sole manager of the banking interests of E. Friedman & Co., of Staunton, and one of the represent- ative business men of that place, is a native-born citizen of Illinois, and his entire life has been passed within the borders of that State. His birth occurred in Tazewell County on the 22d of Feb- ruary. 1854, and he is of German descent. 1lis father, Mayer Friedman, was born in Germany and when a young man crossed the Atlantic to America, locating first in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he became acquainted with and wedded Mina Eich- berg, who was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, and came to America during childhood. After their marriage they emigrated Westward and be- came residents of Tazewell County, Ill., where Mr. Friedman embarked in merchandising on a
small scale at Armington. In 1857 he removed to Maroa, which was then a mere hamlet, and opened a general merchandise store, which he carried on successfully for many years. From the beginning his trade constantly increased and he had to proportionately enlarge his stock, which thus kept growing until he was at the head of a large establishment. As the result of his indus- try, perseverance and good management he ac- quired a handsome property, and he and his wife are now living retired lives, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. He has reached the age of sev - enty years and his wife is about ten years his junior.
The subject of this sketch was quite young when the family removed to Maroa, where he was reared to manhood and acquired his primary education, which was supplemented by a course in one of the excellent private schools of Cincinnati, Ohio. ITis business training was received in his father's store, which he entered at the age of fourteen, and since that time has been ever connected with mer- cantile interests. For some years he was employed as a salesman in Maroa and Paxton, and January 1, 1888, came to Staunton. In the month of August, 1886, S. A. Friedman established a private bank as a member of the lirm of Eichberg, Friedman & Co., under which style business was carried on until September, 1887, when a change in the man- agement occurred, the bank becoming the prop. erty of S. A. Friedman & Co. They continued business until February, 189t. since which time the bank has been the property of E. Friedman & Co. As before stated. our subject is sole manager, and under his able administration the bank has become one of the leading financial institutions of the community. It is established on a financial basis and represents a capital of about $40,000. Business is carried on in the line of domestic and foreign exchange, receiving deposits, and in other branches of general banking business. It is located in the fine structure which was re- cently erected and is known as the Quade Block, being the finest business block in the city. The bank is complete in all its appointments and is equipped with an absolute burglar-proof Hall safe, which is placed within a fire-proof vault.
874
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
August 7, 1890, Mr. Friedman was married, in Staunton, to Miss Mame Ripley, who was born in that city in 1869, and is a daughter of J. R. Rip- ley, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. The young couple hold an enviable posi- tion in social circles and are widely and favorably known throughout the community. Mr. Friedman is a worthy representative of that class of progres- sive and enterprising business men to whom the city owes her prosperity and greatness. lle is now serving as City and Township Treasurer with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all con- cerned. Socially he is a Royal Arch Mason, be- ionging to the Blue Lodge of Staunton, of which he is Warden, and to the Chapter at Maroa. He also holds membership with Staunton Lodge, No. 685, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all the chairs and is now Treasurer; and is also a member of Royal Lodge, No. 109, K. of P., of Moros.
BRAHAM G. KABLE. The original of this sketch is the owner of and resident on the fine farm located on section 15, North Otter Township. Ile is a son of James and Susan (Garver) Kable, whose history will be found in the sketch of James Kable in another part of this RECORD. Our subject was the second son and fourth child born to his parents, his natal day being December 16, 1844. Ohio was his native State. He grew to manhood in the State where he was born and just as the country was beginning to think that it could rest after the turmoil of four years of the most terrible warfare the world has ever known, our subject came to Macoupin County with his parents, settling here in March, 186.1. Ile belonged to the State Militia 147, Ohio Volunteers, and got a discharge when he left the State.
Mr. Kable continued to live at home until his marriage, at which time he went back to Ohio for his bride. He was married in Troy, Ohio, Febru- ary 8, 1866, the lady's maiden name being Mattie C. Stafford, a daughter of George P. and Elizabeth (Pumphrey) Stafford. They were among the carly settlers in Miami County, Ohio, going there from
West Virginia. The Kables came from Pennsyl- vania. The mother's death took place at her home, August 14, 1846, when only twenty-six years of age; the father still survives and had three children by his first marriage, Mrs. Kable being the youngest of the family. She was born in Miami County, Olio, October 18, 1845.
On the marriage of our subject he lived on a farm given him by his father fourteen years. Then he purchased the farm where he now resides, and he is the owner of four farms. Mr. Kable has always been engaged in farming, especially favor- ing the raising of stock. Ilis farm comprises be- tween four and five hundred acres of land and his residence is a commodious and elegant dwelling. There are also other buildings upon the farm in which he has invested a large sum of money.
Mr. and Mrs. Kable are the parents of four children. They are George J., Mary E., Carrie M .. and Eva M. The eldest daughter is the wife of William Wallace, and resides in North Otter, Carrie M. was united in marriage to William E. Alderson, and resides in North Otter. George J. was united in marriage to Minnie A. Rausom, of Pueblo, Colo., and resides at North Otter.
Mr. Kable has held some of the minor oflices in the township, but although he is public-spirited and generous, he thinks that his own business should receive attention before that of any other.
AMES KABLE, a well-known resident of section 4, North Otter Township, was born in Berks County, Pa., January 3, 1805, and is a son of Daniel Kable and Mary Rice, both natives of that State. They removed from the Keystone State to the Old Domion in 1815 and there lived through the remainder of their lives. Our subject was but ten years old when his parents removed to Jefferson County, Va., where he took the remainder of his education and grew up to a sturdy and self-respecting manhood. In 1829 he decided to move West and made his home in Greene County, Ohio.
In this new home our subject was united in mar-
875
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD).
riage on May 14, 1837, with Miss Susan Garver, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Garver na- tives of Pennsylvania and Maryland respectively. 'This lady was born in Maryland and when quite young removed with her parents to Virginia, and when she was about fifteen years old they removed to Clarke County, Ohio, which continued the fam- ily home until after her marriage.
The young married couple established themselves in Greene County, Ohio, and afterward removed to Miami County where they lived until 1864, when they came to Macoupin County and settled upon a farm in North Otter Township, where they have since resided. They are the parents of seven liv- ing children, namely: Hannah, Benjamin F., Eliza, Abraham G., Henry C., Laura and Charles W. and they have twice had the grief which par- ents know when they have to lay in the grave their beloved children. The names of the two who have passed over the dark river are John and Isaac.
Mr. Kable has throughout life engaged in agri- cultural pursuits and with his good wife he is now living at an advanced age. both being members of the German Baptist Church. This venerable couple are spending their last days in quiet retire- ment surrounded by their children, and all the cit- izens of the township unite in wishing for them a calin and peaceful period as a closing epoch of their worthy lives.
ROF. B. F. PEADRO. This scholarly gentleman and ex-Superintendent of Schools in Macoupin County, closed his second term in that office in December. 1890. Ile has been a teacher in the county since 1871, having come hither in 1865. Ile received his education in this county and in the State l'niver- sity at Champaign, graduating with the Class of '81. He is a thoroughi student and has been one of the leading educators of Macoupin County since the year of his graduation, and in 1882 was elected County Superintendent of Public Instruction. 1Ie has also been notable as a lecturer as he has a course of six illustrated lectures on European topics.
which have won for him favorable mention by the press and an excellent reputation on the platform.
This gentleman was born in Campbell County, Ky., and is a son of B. G. Peadro and a grandson of John Peadro, both Virginians, of French ex- traction. The great-grandfather of our subject was a soliier and served through the Revolutionary War under Gen. Washington. B. G. Peadro grew up in Virginia and there became an architect and merchant, but upon removing to Kentucky changed his oveupation and became a farmer and merchant. After removing into the Blue Grass State he was married to Miss Katie Stillwell, a Kentucky girl, belonging to an old and well known family of that section, her father, Joseph Stillwell, having been a pioneer there.
After marriage the parents of our subject made their home for a number of years in Kentucky and later came to Illinois, whence they removed to Missouri, but they were not contented there and returned to Kentucky and afterward came again to the Prairie State, where the father died after reach- ing the age of three-score years. Ilis faithful companion is yet living on the okl homestead and is now sixty five years old. These faithful parents were devoted members of the Baptist Church. and the father in his political views was a thorough Democrat. A thorough and liberal education was provided for our subject by his parents as we have already related. Prof. Pedro's lectures are highly appreciated by his audiences, as he handles his sub- jects skillfully and describes his beautiful views in that easy conversational style which is always pleasing to listeners.
G EORGE W. BOWERSOX. the genial Sup- ervisor of Grant Township, was born near Fletcher in Miami County, Ohio, March 26, 1851. His father, Jacob Bowersox, was born in I'niontown, Pa., October 15, 1803, and his father, Benjamin Bowersox, was a native of the same county. Our subject's great-grandfather was born in Germany and came to America and settled in Pennsylvania. A blacksmith by trade, our suh-
876
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ject's grandfather removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1818 and settled in Miami County. With his family of six children he started out to Ohio by embarking on a flatboat and they floated down the Monongahela and Ohio Rivers. On arriving at their destination our subject's grandfather pur- chased a tract of timber land near the present site of Fletcher, at a time when there were but few white people, the Indians being their most frequent callers. To guard against the hostilities ot the red men, the settlers resided near block houses, to which they fled in time of danger. The old gentle- man turned his attention to trade while his sons cleared the farm and reduced the place to a good state of order. There the father remained until his deathı.
Our subject's father had acquired considerable experience while still a young man in heavier farm work, having assisted in clearing the land of the homestead. lle remained on the farm until grown and then commeneed life for himself. He went to the Indian reservation and was there engaged as an Indian trader for a time, then returned to Miami County and in 1829 was married to Miss Sarah Scudder. She was a daughter of Jonathan Scudder and was born September, 1807. in Greene County, Pa. After marriage our subject's father entered a tract of Government land near the old homestead. There was no railroad at the time and be became engaged in teaming on the road from Toledo to Dayton and intervening points. In that way he earned money enough to enter a tract of Government land near the old home and then turned his attention to the improvement of the land he had purchased.
Mr. Bowersox's father's house was eight miles from Piqua on the turnpike from Columbus to the last named place and his house was for some years a stage station. In 1863 he sold this and removed to Macoupin County, where he secured a farm and remained until his death, which occurred October 17, 1876. The mother of our subject still survives at the age of eighty-three years. She has nine children still living. They are David, Rebeeca, Elizabeth, Mary, Sarah, Margaret, Benjamin, Jacob and George W. As will be seen, our subject is the youngest of these children. The major portion
of his education was received in the public schools of Miami Township. He later attended school in Macoupin County and was graduated in 1872. The following year he commenced teaching and in that way accumulated money enough to continue his education and entered the Indian Normal School at Valparaiso, from which he graduated with the Class of '79.
During the time Mr. Bowersox was teaching he commenced the study of law and in 1881 was ad- mitted to the bar and in 1883 opened an office in Girard, where he has practiced ever since. A Democrat in his political views, onr subject has filled various offiees. Ile served as Assessor of his township for two terms and also served as Super- visor. In 1883 he was appointed County Super- intendent of Schools and elected to that position in 1884. In 1888 he was elected a member of the County Board of Supervisors representing Girard and in 1890, was again elected to the same posi- tion. Hle is a member of the Girard Lodge, No. 171 A. F. & A. M. and Girard Chapter, No. 132, R. A. M., also Iliawatha Lodge of the Knights of Pythias.
n ATHAN CHAMBERLIN, of Virden, whose success in life has been such as to attract the attention of all who know him, was born in the town of Marcy, Oneida County, N. Y., Inly 30, 1825. His father, Hachalialı Cham- berlin, was a native of New England and became a pioneer in Oneida County, where he bought a tract of timber land, and having built a log house. commenced to clear a farm. He resided there until his death and had in the meantime put it in first-class order and erected good frame buildings. His wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Delano, was also a New Englander and survived her hus- band for seven years. Their five children are: Hannah, David, Ira, Franklin and Nathan, our subject being the youngest of the family.
Having received his early training upon the farm and in the district sehools, he left home at the agé of eighteen and came to Illinois in June, 1843
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.