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 58
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The subject of this sketch is a Republican in his political views and has been placed by his fellow- citizens in several offices of trust and responsibil- ity. He and his excellent wife are the parents of four children, namely: William M., who took to wife Mary Schnieder, and lives on a farm in Gil- lespie Township; James L., who is married to Clara Coffee and is also farming in this township; Thom- as, who married Cora Vanata and lives on the home farm; Henrietta, the eldest child, is the wife of Theodore Meyer of the mercantile firm of Meyer
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Bros., Dorchester. This family is one of the solid and substantial families of Macoupin County and worthy of the respect which is given them by their neighbors.
ILLIAM D. REDER, lumber merchant in Chesterfield, was born in this county No- vember 7, 1848, and is the youngest child of Paschal L. and Margaret ( Rafferty ) Reder. Ilis parents were natives of Tennessee and Kentucky respectively, and each came to this State early in the '30s, accompanying their respective parents. The pioneers, Jeptha Reder and James Rafferty, improved farms and aided much in bringing this section under subjection and in opening the way for the work which is now being carried on by their descendants and those of other equally hard- working and courageous frontiersmen. They spent their remaining days here and died full of years and honors.
The parents of our subject were united in mar- riage and settled on a farm in Western Mound Township. The father became the owner of a large amount of land, a portion of whichi be en- tered from the Government. His career was cut short by death in 1866, while he was visiting old acquaintances at Dallas, Ter. His wife survived him many years, dying at Chesterfield in 1889. They had ten children, six of whom grew to ma- turity. These are Elizabeth, wife of A. B. Peebles; Nancy J., wife of John Hageman; Martha E., widow of George Orr; James K., George W .. and William D. The last named was reared amid the surroundings of rural life and received the ma- jor part of his education in the district school, but had the added opportunities afforded in Carlin- ville.
October 7, 1879, Mr. Reder was married to Lucy J. Albin, daughter of William D. and Margaret Albin. The bride was born in Western Mound, where her parents settled in 1860, coming hither from Virginia. They resided there until 1887, then removed to Henry County, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Reder have had three children, but their
first-born was removed from them by death. Their living sons are Elmer D. and George W. After his marriage Mr. Reder located on a farm in Polk Township and remained there until March, 1889. He was the owner of a good farin of one hundred and sixty aeres which he sold in 1891. The year that he abandoned farming he established his pres- ent business and now has the only lumber yard in Chesterfield.
Mr. Reder keeps on hand a good supply of rough and dressed lumber, making a specialty of mater- ial suitable for the best building purposes, and is making very satisfactory progress as a dealer. He gives his attention earnestly to the business before him, and at the same time keeps himself well in- formed regarding general news of the day and the movements in which the people are interested. While he was a resident of Polk Township he held several offices of public trust, among them being Town Clerk, Collector, Supervisor and Justice of the Peace. In polities lie is a Democrat. Ile be- longs to the United Baptist Church, is an earnest believer, and tries to govern his life by correet principles.
HOMAS VANORSDAL. The fact that a man has been a Union soldier is sufficicent to give him the respect and gratitude of every American citizen, and when to this recom- mendation is added a knowledge of an industrious and upright life, he is still more worthy of regard. Under such circumstances is Thomas Vanorsdal placed, he having served in the ranks of his conn- try's defenders during the Civil War, and having since been actively engaged in farming in Bird Township, and joining with her citizens in good works. Ilis farm is on section 16, and consists of one hundred broad and fertile acres, well improved and well stocked.
Madison and Lucinda (Burford) Vanorsdal, the parents of our subject, emigrated from Kentucky to this State in an early day and made their first settlement in Greene County. They afterward came to this county and established their home in Bird Township, where the wife and mother died
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about 1875. They had six daughters and four sons, and the subject of this notice was the third on the family roll. He was born in Greene County January 30, 1843, but the greater number of his early years were spent in this county, which he has continued to make his home.
When in his twentieth year young Vanorsdal en- listed, being enrolled in Company A, One Hun- dred and Seventy-second Illinois Infantry, August 9, 1862. Ile served until the close of the war and did what he could to maintain the Union, cheer- fully enduring the hardships of a soldier's life and displaying manly courage in times of danger. Ile took part in the engagements at Perkin's Cross- roads, Town Creek, Nashville, Ft. Blakely, etc. When the war was over he was mustered out, and returning to his old home turned his attention to farming, exchanging the implements of warfare for those of his peaceful calling.
In South Palmyra Township, this county, Sep- tember 1, 1868, the marriage rites between Thomas Vanorsdal and Martha Regan were solemnized. The bride was born in Barr Township. March 4, 1847, and was the youngest of eight surviving children of Joshua and Jave (Huskey) Regan, who came from Tennessee to this county many years ago. Her parents are now deceasca. Her happy union has been blest by the birth of seven chil- dren, who are named respectively : Alberta, Elroy, Rose, Walter, Horace, Grace and Emma. The eldest daughter was married November 6, 1890, to Edgar Bates. Both Mr. and Mrs. Vanorsdal be- long to the Baptist Church, and their standing in the community is assured.
Le EANDER S. THACKER. The good influ- enee of any family in a community is greatly increased by its prolonged residence therein. Generation after generation of honorable living and thorough, enterprising work brings a cumulative force to bear which emphasizes every good point in the character and life work of a family. Illinois has been so young a State as to have little of this wealth of influence, but in
Macoupin County we occasionally find a family homestead which has been occupied for two gener- ations and there we are sure to discern the effects of such occupancy. This is the case at the Thacker homestead, which is now occupied by the gentle- man whose name appears at the head of this sketch.
Z. Thacker, the honored father of our subject, is more fully sketched on another page of this RECORD. His son Leander is a native of Maconpin County, having been born near Palmyra, March 21, 1849. He was four years old when his father removed to Nilwood Township, where he received his early training and education, taking full advan- tage of the district school instruction, after which in 1870 he entered Shurtleff College.
Our subject grew to manhood in Nilwood Township and since his fourth year has made it his home, with the exception of two years which he spent in Franklin County, Kan., where he went in 1881. Ile has always followed agricultural pur suits and now owns the old homestead, which consists of three hundred and twenty broad and productive acres, which bear upon their surface an attractive home and neat and convenient build- ings for the accommodation of the farm work and stock.
The married life of Mr. Thacker began February 10, 1875, with his marriage to Miss Mary J. Crane at her home in Nilwood Township. She made him an affectionate and helpful wife during the short time which was given them together and she died at their home September 1, 1879. One child blessed their union, to whom they gave the name of James O., but he too was soon taken away from the home, being called hence when two and one- half years old. The second marital union of this gentleman took place February 17, 1881, at the home of the bride in Montgomery County, Ill. The lady who then became Mrs. Thacker was Miss Edna A. Thompson, who was born in Dowagiac, Cass County, Mich., July 10, 1856.
They have had three children. His daughter, Amy E., lived to be seven years old and was then taken from him. Those living are Leroy H. and a babe named Walter Clyde. In this quiet home harmony prevails and the lives of its occupants
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY ~: ILLUST
P. S. Denby
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are good examples of the best kind of country life.
Mr. Thacker was for one year in the office of Township Clerk and he has ever been interested in political affairs and helpful in forwarding the pros- perity of the Republican party, to which he is ardently attached. Both he and his good wife are earnest and active in religious work and are conscientious and devoted members of the Baptist Church.
P ETER L. DENBY. The agricultural element that has been so largely instrumental in the upbuilding of Macoupin County has no better representative than this gentleman whose portrait in on the opposite page. He was a native-born citizen of this section of the State, grew with its growth, has become a man of wealth and one of the principal farmers and stock-raisers of South Palmyra Township, his birthplace, where he lias large farming interests and a beautiful resi- dence on the old homestead where his entire life has been passed.
Mr. Denby was born November 21, 1838, to Peter and Sarah (Quarton) Denby, pioneers of this county. His father was a native of Yorkshire, Eng., and a son of English people who spent their whole lives in the land of their birth. The father of our subject and two of his brothers were the only members of the family that ever crossed the ocean to this country. The brothers, William and Thomas, settled in Morgan County, this State. Peter Denby, Sr., was about thirty years of age when he came to America in 1834, sailing from Liverpool and landing at New York. He camne directly to Illinois by the most convenient and expeditious route at that time, which was by the way of the Hudson River, Erie Canal and Lake Erie to Cleveland, thence by the Ohio Canal to Portsmouth, from there by way of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to this State. He first located in Morgan County, where be rented land. In 1835 he visited South Palmyra Township and entered Government land on section 36, which was one of the finest tracts in this county. His first pioneer work was to build a log cabin, which became the
birthplace of his son, of whom we write. At that time, and for some years after, the surrounding country was sparsely settled and people going from one place to another drove over the open prairies, where in season large herds of cattle grazed, while deer, wolves, and other wild animals were often seen. Alton and St. Louis were the nearest markets.
By years of hard and persistent toil Mr. Denby brought his land into a fine state of cultivation and erected a neat set of frame buildings to take the place of the primitive cabin and outbuildings that he first erceted. Ile lived here in peace and con- tentment until death rounded out his life Decem- ber 3, 1862. Ilis wife also spent her last, days on the home farm that she had assisted him to reclaim from the wilderness, her death taking place Febru- ary 2, 1847. She was likewise a native of Yorkshire and came from her carly English home with her father, Thomas Quarton, who was of Yorkshire birth and a pioneer of Morgan County. Three children were reared by the parents of our sub- ject: William, a resident of Carlinville Township; Thomas, the youngest, who lives in Missouri, and our subject.
As before mentioned, Peter Denby, of this bio- graphical review, has always resided on the farm where his life began and he was never separated from his parents until their death. Ilis education was obtained in the pioneer schools, the first that he attended being taught in a log house. The seats were made by splitting logs and hewing one side smooth and inserting a wooden pins for support, the seats being without backs or desks. A log was taken out of one side of the building and in the apperture thus made, that extended nearly the whole length of the room, glass was inserted. Holes were bored in the logs underneath this primitive window, wooden pegs were inserted and a piece of puncheon laid on them served as a writing desk for the larger schoolars.
Our subject was reared to habits of industry and early displayed those strong characteristics that have made him eminently successful in earry- ing on extensive farming operations and have placed him among the leaders in his vocation. Besides possessing the old homestead he has much other valuable property, as from time to time be
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has judiciously invested his money in real estate, and now has twelve hundred and fifty acres of choice land. Ilis improvements rank among the best in the county, and make his farm a model and an ornament to the township. He has erected a commodious frame house of a modern style of architecture, which is neat and tasty in its appoint- ments and is surrounded by well-kept grounds. In keeping with this handsome residence are a large and conveniently arranged barn and other substan- tial outbuildings.
Mr. Denby was first married in 1863 to Miss Margaret S. Trible, native of England. she de- parted this life in 1876 leaving behind her the record of one who was a good wife and tender mother. These six children are of that marriage -Nellie, Laura, Charles, John, Walter and Clara. The marriage of our subject to his present amialle wife, formerly Miss Clara E. Johnson, a native of Illinois, was consummated in January, 1878. Two children-Zoe M. and Fred L. have added to their felicitous wedded life.
Mr. Denby possesses in a rare degree force and decision of character, tenacity of purpose, a saga- cious, independent judgment and great practibility which have enabled him to conduct his business to the best advantage and after the best methods, and those traits have also made him an important agent in developing the agriculture of the county. He has decided views on all subjects with which he is conversant; this is particularly' true in regard to his political opinions. and we find him a firm sup- porter of the Republican party.
OHIN KELSEY, deceased, was born in York- shire. England, January 12, 1824, and was a son of John and Mary ( Atkinson ) Kelsey. Ilis parents were also natives of the same county, where they were married, and after the birth of their children they emigrated with their family to America, in 1834, crossing the Atlantic in the sailing vessel "Hull," which after a long and tedious voyage safely landed in New York, whence they came to Illinois, locating in Madison County, near
Edwardsville. After there improving a farm, Mr. Kelsey sold out and in 1854 purchased a tract of unimproved land in Brighton Township, Macou- pin County, which he developed and improved, making it his home until his death. His wife has also passed away. They were prominent people of this community, members of the Church of Eng- land, and many friends mourned their loss.
The subject of this sketch was a lad of only ten summers when by his parents he was brought to America. After spending a few years in Madison County, IN., he came to this county and on attain- ing his majority began life for himself, engaging in agricultural pursuits, the occupation to which he had been reared. Ile was very successful in his business undertakings, and his landed possessions at the time of his death aggregated more than one thousand acres, the greater part of which was under a high state of cultivation and well im- proved. Ile gave his personal supervision to the business, and being a man of industrious habits, energy and enterprise, he met with excellent suc- cess. He possessed more than ordinary business ability, and was far-sighted and sagacious, and his good judgment led him to invest his capital in lands which rose in value as time passed on and the country became more thickly populated. At length. having acquired a handsome property, he re- solved to lay aside business cares, and on the 17th of April, 1883, left the farm and removed to Brigh- ton
Mr. Kelsey was united in marriage in Brighton Township with Miss Sarah E. Evans, who was there born July 19, 1813, and is a daughter of Joliu Evans. a native of New York, who in an early day emigrated to this county, becoming one of its pio- neers. Ilis wife, whose maiden name was Mercy Loveland, was born in Rhode Island in 1824. and with her parents came to the West in a very early day. She was a lady of influence, who figured prominently in social circles and won many friends. Of the Methodist Church she was a faithful mem- ber, and she died in that faith on the 16th of Jann- ary, 1873.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey were born six chil- dren, but Nellie A. and Leroy both died in child- hood. Mercy M. is now the wife of Frank Moore,
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who operates a part of the old homestead; Mary Alice is the wife of Harry M. Eldredge, and they reside in Brighton with Mrs. Kelsey; John H. and James R. also make their home with the mother. The children were all well educated, and have be- come useful men and women who do honor to their name.
On removing to Brighton, Mr. Kelsey provided a most pleasant and commodious home for himself and family, and there surrounded with all the com- forts of life, he lived until called to his final rest on the 9th of November, 1888. lle was a good citi- zen, a faithful and tender husband and father, and many friends shared with the family in their loss. Mrs. Kelsey still resides in the beautiful home in Brighton, Jeft her by her husband. She devotes her time to the interests of her family and friends and to the work of the Methodist Church, in which she is a leading and consistent member. Of her means she gives liberally to all worthy enter- prises, the poor and needy find in her a friend, and many have reason to bless her for her bounty.
D ANIEL II. COMBES, a farmer of intelhi- genee and standing, residing in Hilyard Township, has a fine set of farm buildings and a well-improved tract of land on see- tion 10, and here he carries on successfully, gen- eral farming and the raising of tine stock. This land he has been in possession of since 1868, and on it he has made his home since 1869, when he came from Jersey County. Ilis birth was near Jerseyville, November 4, 1848, and his father, Daniel HI. Combes, Sr., was born in Trenton, N. J., and was a son of Isaac Combes, who lived and died in that State, having followed an honored career as a citizen and tradesman.
Daniel H. Combes, Sr., became an undertaker by trade and followed this line of work until he came to illinois, in 1847, after which he improved a good farm and gave to each and all of his children a helpful start in life. He died at the home of his only daughter on the old homestead when nearly
eighty years of age. Ilis early political prefer- ances were for the principles of the Whig party and he afterward became a Republican. Ile was for many years connected with the Baptist Church.
The marriage of the father of our subject in Trenton, N. J., united him with Mary R. Sun- derland, a native of that State. She was one of a large family and a representative of an old New Jersey family. Together they lived and labored to build up a home, in which they attained good success. Our subject is the youngest of four chil . dren. who came to this harmonious home, his sis- ter and one brother, yet surviving.
Hle of whom we write receivect his education in his native county and having reached the age of maturity decided to establish a home of his own. The lady whom he chose as his life partner was Abigail Longstaff, who was born in Shipman Town- ship. She was reared by her parents in Brighton, her father, Richard Longstaff, being a native of England, and her mother, Maria Bradley, being also from the British Islands. Their marriage did not take place, however, until after they had both come to this country, as they met in Macoupin County, and were there united. They spent the re- mainder of their days here, dying in Brighton, having neither of them reached old age.
Mrs. Combes is a woman of unusual refinement and ability and is one whose strength and sweet- ness win to her many permanent friends. Her ac- tivities in charitable and church work place her in 'the front rank, and her intelligence and education tit her to be what she is-a reader of thought. Both she and Mr. Comhes are members of the Pres- byterian Church and in his politics he is attached to the Republican party. They have one child- Isaac, who makes his home with his parents.
B ENJAMIN E. PARKER. Our subject belongs to a family that is widely known and greatly respected throughout this county. He resides on a good farm located on section 9, Shipman Township. His parents were Joel and Mirian ( Haycroft) Parker. The former
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died in Shipman Township, November 28, 1843, llis mother afterward became the wife of Henry Jolly. She still survives and a sketch of her life may be found in that of Oliver (. Forwood, in another part of this volume. Benjamin E. Parker is one of seven children that were the fruit of the marriage of his parents. He was born in Shipman Township, October 9, 1839, where he grew to man- hood and has always resided.
Mr. Parker has always followed agricultural pur- suits and his experience being wide and his intelli- genee keen he has made of his calling a decided success. Ile was married in Shipman Township, January 27, 1864, to Miss Margaret A. C'ain, a daughter of the late Abraham P'. Cain, who was a native of Grayson County. Ky., where he was born about the year 1814. Ilis wife was Nancy Downs. She also was born in the same county of which her husband was a native, September 2, 1828. They married and settled in Grayson County and thence came to Jersey County, Ill., where they lived for several years, and then came to Maconpin County, settling in Shipman Township in 1860, where the father died January 1, 1881. They had eleven chil- dren whose names are as follows: Margaret A., John T., Sarah C., Israel T., Mary E., James W. and Hardin. The eldest daughter is the wife of our subject; John married Mary E. Morgan; Israel T. was united to Ella Jolly ; Mary E. became the wife of R. A. Love ; Ilardin was united in marriage with Lillie Miller.
Mrs. Benjamin E. Parker was born in Grayson County, Ky., March 3, 1815. In her social inter- course she is distinguished for her geniality and hospitality for which Kentuckians are so noted. Our subject and his wife are the parents of two children, Leonora, who is the wife of J. G. Mon- tague, and Kittie L., who presides over the home of Llian O. Hay ward.
Mr. Parker is a Prohibitionist in principle and politics and has held many positions awarded not so much for party allegiance as for capability and judgment. He has been Highway Commissioner for ten years and School Director for many years. He and his estimable wife are members of the Baptist Church at Medora, of which body he has been Clerk for many years. Socially he is a member of the
Masonic fraternity and also the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association. Ile has erected a good series of buildings upon his farm and has made with its valuable improvements a truly enviable home upon his tract of one hundred and eighty acres.
b ENRY C. DUCKELS is numbered among the practical and enterprising young farmers and stock-raisers who have within recent years stepped to the front to assist in carrying forward the great agricultural interests of this their native county and is successfully managing the Loper farm in Western Mound Township. Ile was born in Chesterfield Township December 2, 1855, a son of Richard and Elizabeth Duekels, pioneers of that township, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this volume.
The early life of our subject was spent much as that of other farmers' sons, in attendance at school, and in assisting in the labors of the farm, thus ac- quiring a good insight into the best methods of carrying on agriculture, which he has applied suc- cessfully since he began his career as an indepen- dent farmer,
Mr. Duckels resided with his parents until his marriage and then settled on a farm in Western Mound Township. He was busily engaged in tilling its soil the ensning three years, and at the expira- tion of that time removed to Chesterfield and de- voted himself to the mercantile business there one year. llis next enterprise was to engage in the manufacture of flour at Medora, where he operated a mill one year. After that he purchased a farm in Chesterfield Township, and taking up his resi- dence on it, was actively employed in its cultivation and improvement for some time. Under his care its one hundred and twenty acres of rich soil yielded good harvests and a comfortable income.
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