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 69
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In Staunton, Mr. Dowzer was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary (Carson) Smith who was born in Ireland. and when young came to America. Almost her entire life has been passed in St. Louis and in the city where she yet makes her home. She has been a faithful wife and a true helpmate to her husband
ters-Mollie D., John C. and Maggie. The sou is now assisting his father in his business. Mr. Dow- zer is a self-made man who began life without cap- ital and has worked his way steadily upward, over- coming by a determined will and energy the ou- stacles in his path, until he has reached a proud posi- tion and is numbered among the substantial citi- zens of the community.
G EORGE II. CLARK, Postmaster and gen- cral merchant at Piasa, one of the native- born citizens of this county and has been identified with its interests since he was able to understand what lay before him in the way of man's work and obligations. He was born March 7, 1852, and is a son of Edward B. and Nancy (Park- er) Clark, of whom a sketch is given on another page in this RECORD. His birth-place was in Ship- man Township and his early life was passed on his father's farm. His fundamental education was obtained in Piasa, and he attend the Illinois State Normal I'niversity at Normal two terms. Taking up the profession of teaching, he devoted himself to the work in Maconpin, Jersey and Greene Coun- ties five years, and demonstrated his ability to im- part instruction, his power to guide and control the young and his interest in the growth of civil- ization.
After the period mentioned Mr. Clark entered upon mercantile life, clerking six months for C. B. Wilson and then buying out the business. He has increased the stock and added lines of trade until he now has nearly every branch of merchandise re- presented in his store. He has been in business ten years and has no reason to be dissatisfied with the results he has achieved, although as he is enter- prising and ambitions he is constantly aiming at a larger trade and more extended opportunity. Ile was appointed Postmaster during the administra- tion of President Arthur.
LIBRARY OF THE MONIT : 30 ALİSOBAINO
Henrich Ja Frange
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In October, 1879, Mr. Clark was married to Miss Jennie Price, daughter of Evan and Ann (Lewis) Price. Mr. and Mrs. Price were natives of Wales and after their marriage came to the l'nited States and located in Alton, this State. There Mrs. Clark was born December 24, 1857. She is the fourth of five children, the others being Mary, wife of John Blotne, Rebecca, who married William Armstrong; Anna, wife of William Powers; and Henry, who was adopted into the family of Henry Hankhouse and has taken the name of his adopted father. Mr. Price was a miner and worked in the mines at Alt- on. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have two sons-Charles and Victor-whose habits are being carefully molded by their parents and who are being given opportunities suited to their age for cultivating their mind and fitting them for the duties of cit- izenship.
In exercising the right of suffrage Mr. Clark al- ways deposits a Republican ticket as he has firm faith in the principles of the party. He has served as Township Clerk and Collector and has done well in office. Ile is a member of the Knights of IIon- or. He and his estimable wife move in the best circles in Piasa, take much interest in that which is for the best good of her people and are looked up- on as honoring the place by their residence.
ENRY PRANGE, a wealthy German-Amer- ican citizen and a large land owner of Ma- coupin County, residing on section 2, Mt. Olive Township, near the village of that name, was born in Prussia, Germany, November 14, 1821. His people were industrious and ener- getic Germans. His father, Frank II. Prange, was a native of Prussia and a hard working man but was not in very affluent circumstances. He mar- ried a Prussian lady, Anna Leimkuller, who was born, reared and died in her native province, de- parting this life at the age of fifty-thrce. In relig- ious faith she was a Lutheran.
After her death the father and his family took passage upon a sailing-vessel which left Bremen on
the 24th of September, 1853, and arrived at New Orleans on the 15th of November. They made their way up the Mississippi River, landing at St. Louis, and then continued their journey to Mt. Olive, Maconpin County, Ill. The father was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, for his death occurred on June 26, 1854, and his remains were laid to rest on the farm now owned by our subject. IJe was then sixty-eight years of age. He too was a member of the Lutheran Church and a man whom all respected for his sterling worth.
The early life of our subject was spent at hard work upon a farm in his native land, few advan- tages and privileges being afforded him. He was married in Prussia to Miss Wilhelmina Poppenwert, a native of that province, born December 10, 1825. She has proved a true helpmate to her husband and a faithful wife and mother. Their union has been blessed with nine children, and only one is now de- ceased-Louis, who died at the age of twenty-four years. Frank H., who wedded Anna Keiser, is liv- ing on a farm in Montgomery County; Henry wed- ded Minnie Eikmeyer and is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Cahokia Township; Minnie is at home; William married Ida Ghenter and is a miller of New Douglas Township, Madison County ; John F. married Minnie Niehaus and they resided on a farm iu Montgomery County; August, who was joined in wedlock with Emma Budde, is engaged in mill- ing at New Douglas; Charles H. wedded Minnie Nollman and operates a farm in Christian County ; Edward, who completes the family, is at home.
Mr. Prange has resided upon his present farm since 1854, having there located when it was all wild prairie, entirely destitute of improvements. The county too was new and the village of Mt. Olive had not yet sprung into existence. Although when Mr. Prange came here he was a poor man he has worked hard and by his industry, perseverance and good management has made a fortune. In addition to the large and valuable farm on which he resides he also owns considerable landed prop- erty in Madison and Montgomery Counties. Ile is a man of strong determination who accomplishes whatever he undertakes and thus when he resolved to make of his life a success, adversity and difficul- ties could not deter him. He made much of his
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money during the time when the war had inflated all prices, and with a remarkable fore-sight and sagacity he invested his surplus earnings in lands, which, as the country has become more thickly set- tled, have rapidly arisen in value and made him a wealthy man. He feels a just pride in his success and certainly is entitled to much credit.
In connection with general farming, Mr. Prange was largely interested in opening up the mines at Mt. Olive and was once one of the most extensive stock holders in the Mt. Olive Coal Company. In politics, Mr. Prange is a Republican and has held a number of local offices. Both he and his wife are active members of the Lutheran Church and he gives liberally of his means to its support. The handsome property which he has acquired now en- ables him to live a retired life and he is resting in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil.
Accompanying this brief biographical notice, the reader will find a lithographie portrait of Mr. Prange.
R EV. STEPHEN FRENCHI RICE, a min- ister of the Gospel who is well-known throughout Macoupin County as the org- anizer of a number of flourishing young churches and who resides in Medora, was born in Shipman Township, this county, January 10, 1812. His father, Judge Thomas Brown Rice, was one of the pioneers of the county who did grand yoeman service in the early days. He was born in Fred- erick County, Va., August 17, 1806, and was of English descent. His father came from England to America and died in Frederick County, Va.
Thomas Rice was reared in his native county and learned the trade of a saddler which he fol- lowed there until 1855 when his establishment was burned out and he came with his family consisting of his wife and four children to Illinois. They made the entire journey overland with two teams, and brought with them in their prairie schooners most of their household goods. They rested as was necessary on the way, camping out and taking their time so that they made a very comfortable journey. At first they rented a vacant log cabin
in Medora Township, but soon located themselves permanently.
Thomas Rice entered a traet of Government land upon section 6, of what is now Shipman Town- ship, and at once erected a log house which is still standing and occupied. The family celebrated Christmas Day by moving into this new domicile, and as soon as winter broke up the father began work upon the farm, which he continued to make his home until claimed by death. He had in the meantime been very successful and accumulated a handsome property.
The mother of our subject whose maiden name was Mahala Farrow, was united in marriage with Thomas Rice, April 17, 1828. She was a native of Culpeper County, Va., her natal day being December 22, 1807, and she was of German an- cestry. Through all the poverty of her early married life and the struggles of pioneer existence she was a faithful and devoted wife and mother, and reared carefully and to an honorable manhood and womanhood ten children, who are named as follows: Susan Catherine, Elizabeth Strather, James Washington, John Williams, Thomas Brown, Mary Virginia, Stephen French, Amanda Mahala, Emma Ann and Charles Arthur.
While she was bringing up these children, her cares were great and her conveniences limited. She cooked, washed and ironed by the open fireplace and clad ber children in home- spun, which was made by her own hands as she carded, spun and wove the cloth which she cut into garments and made with the needle, for sew- ing machines were not then introduced. There were then no railroads within many miles of them, and Alton and St. Louis were their nearest market towns. Hundreds of deer, wolves and other kinds of wild game roamed at will through the region and were often to be seen from the cabin door. Both she and her worthy husband were faithful and conscientious members of the Baptist Church, as they united with the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, August 6, 1826, and he was elected Dea- con the following year. In his political views be was a Democrat and a leading man in that party and indeed among all thoughtful citizens. He served as Postmaster at Rhodes Point (as Medora
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was formerly called). He was collector for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad for two years and served two terms as Associate Judge of Macoupin County.
The subject of this sketch was reared upon the home farm, a part of which is now ineluded in the village of Medora, so that we may say that he has been a life-long resident of that place. In his early years he attended school and resided upon the farm, assisting his parent, until be reached the age of twenty two years. He became a decided Christian in 1864 and during the same year joined the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church and in 1869 was ordained a preacher and joined the Apple Creek Association, in which connection he has been ever since administering the rites of religion. lIe or- ganized the church which is known as Little Flock and assisted in organizing others.
The marriage of our subject August 8, 1863, was an event of great importance in his life, as he was then united with Luetta Keele who has proved to him a noble and self-sacrificing helpmate. She was born in Shipman Township and was also of pioneer parentage, her father being Enoch and her mother, Margaret Taper Keele. Three children only have crowned this union, Alonzo, Maggie and Charlie. The Rev. Mr. Rice was in his early years an adherent to the doctrines of the Demo- cratic party, but of late years be has become a Pro- hibitionist in his convictions and vote.
AMES W.LUMPKIN is the senior member of the firm of J. W. Lumpkin & Son, propri- etors of the Macoupin County Inquirer, an ably conducted journal, that is classed among the leading newspapers of this part of the State. Our subject is a representative of one of the pioneer families of this county, and is one of its native-born citizens, his birth taking place in Bird Township, November 15, 1836, he being the only son of John and Emily A. (Rafferty) Lump- kin. His father was a Virginian by birth, as was also the grandfather of subject, whose name was William Lumpkin. The latter moved from his
native State in 1818, after his marriage, in Ken- tucky, and resided for two or three years in Jeffer- son County. He then went to Davis County, that State, where he bought a tract of timber land, built on it, and commenced to clear a farm, upon which he lived the remainder of his life. The maternal grandfather of subject, James Rafferty, is sup- posed to have been a native of Kentucky. He married Mary Booth of the same State. By occu- pation he was a farmer, and in 1835 he came to Macoupin County, where in time he improved a farm in Polk Township, upon which he continued to reside until his decease. John Lumpkin was a lad of ten years when he went to Kentucky with his parents. In his youth he learned the trade of brick-layer, which he pursued in the afore men- tioned State until 1835, when he came to Illinois. Hle was accompanied thither by his wife, and came by the way of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to St. Louis, from whence he journeyed to his des- tination in this county with an ox-team. He ar- rived here with but fifty cents in his pocket, but he had a sturdy, self-reliant spirit and a good trade for capital, and was well-fitted to cope with the trials of pioneer life. He purchased a tract of wild prairie land on time, located in Bird Town- ship, and his first work was to erect a log house for shelter, riving the boards to cover the roof, which was held in place by weight poles; and mak- ing the door and floor of split puncheons. As soon as his dwelling was completed he commenced to improve his land, doing all his farm work and marketing for some time with oxen. He worked a great deal of the time at his trade, except in the winter seasons, and he assisted in building the first brick court house at Carlinville, besides other brick buildings erected here. Ile continued to make his home on his farm until his life was closed by death in 1871. Ilis wife had passed away before, her death occurring on the old homestead in 1865.
The subject of this biographical sketch is the only child born to his parents, and the primitive dwelling erected by his father when he first came to this county was the scene of his birth. He was reared amid pioneer influences ; his early education was obtained in the schools of his native county, and was supplemented by an excellent course of
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study at Shurtleff College. After leaving college he taught school one term, and then gave his at- tention to farming and dealing in livestock, which he continued until 1880, when he removed to Carl - inville and for one year engaged in the sale of farm implements. In 1882 he was appointed Deputy Sheriff, and remained in the Sheriff's office four years. In June, 1886, Mr. Lumpkin formed a partnership with his son, Clement J., and pur- chased the Enquirer printing office, since which time he has devoted his attention to the manage- ment of the paper and to the general business con- nected with the printing department.
In 1857, Mr. Lumpkin and Miss Eizina Bates were united in marriage, and theirs has been a pleasant union, that has brought them two child- ren, Clement J. and Mattie E. Mrs. Lumpkin is also a native of Macoupin, and is a daughter of James and Martha Bates.
Our subject was a man of high character and standing in his native county professionally, and also as a private citizen and a civic official. He has occupied various offices of trust, and is at present serving his third term as a member of the City Council.
While a resident of Bird Township he was Town- ship Collector, and has also held the office of Jus- tice of the Peace. Politically, his sympathies are with the Democrats, and he gives his party carnest support through the columns of his paper, though he is by no means violently partisan. Socially. he belongs to Mt. Nebo Lodge, No. 76, A. F. & A. M .; is a member of Macoupin Chapter, No. 187, R. A. M .; and of St. Omar Commandery, No. 30, K. T., of Litchfield, Ill.
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℮ HARLES T. HANSHAW, President of the Bank of Palmyra and one of the prominent business men of Macoupin County, was born in Botetourt County, Va , January 31, 1847. His father, Elisha Hanshaw, was born in the same county and his grandfather Benjamin was, it is be- lieved, born in Maryland and went to Virginia with his parents when very young. He was a
farmer and followed agricultural pursuits through life. He came from Botetourt County to Illinois in his old age to spend his last days with his children.
The father of our subject was reared in his nat- ive State and there learned the trade of a miller, which he followed until 1847 when he came to Ill- inois, accompanied by his wife and four children. They traveled by what was then the most conveni- ent and expeditions route, overland to the Ohio River, thence ou that beautiful stream by boat to the Mississippi, and up that river to St. Louis. There they took a team and journeyed in a prairie schooner to Auburn, Sangamon County, this State. He engaged in farming in that vicinity for a year or two, and then went to Hart's Prairie, Morgan County, where he bought an interest in a mill and operated it for two years, after which he resumed farming. A little later he took charge of Crow's Mill, east of Auburn until 1856, when he came to l'almyra, and in company with his brother IIezekialı and A. C. Farmer, erected a flouring mill at this place. He operated this until 1865 and then went to Chesterfield, and managed a milt there for one year, after which he retired from active business, making his home at Palmyra until 1877, when he moved to Anburn, where he died two years later.
The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Mary S. Vandegrift. She, like her husband, was born in Botetourt County, Va., and is the daughter of John and Barbara (Wineman) Vande- grift. She reared four of her five children. Sus- an, the eldest married J. T. King, and resides in Wichita, Kan .; John H. is represented by a sketch in this volume; Charles T., is the second son and the youngest child Minna, resides with her mother in Auburn.
The subject of this sketch was but an infant when he was brought to Illinois by his parents and was nine years old when he came to Palmyra, when he was reared and educated. When twenty years old he commenced clerking in a general store and had clerked but a short time when he became a partner in the business, continuing there- in until 1871. For ten years after that date he was not regularly engaged in any active business,
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but in 1881 he formed a partnership with D. N. Solomon, S. L. Boyd, and II. C. Hamilton and then organized the Bank of Palmyra. Of this institu- tion Mr. Hanshaw was Cashier until 1885, when Mr. Hamilton withdrew, and Mr. Hanshaw was elected president which position he has since held. The lady who presides with so much grace and di- gnity over the household of our subject bore the maiden name of Etta Nichols and was born in Ind- iana and reared and educated in Auburn, Sanga- mon County. She became Mrs. Hanshaw in June, 1888. Mr. Hanshaw was one of the organizers of the Palmyra Loan Building and Savings Associa- tion and has been president since its formation. He is a member of Palmyra Lodge No. 348, I. O. O. F. In his political views and vote he affiliates with the Republican party, of which he is an intelligent adherent. He is a man of public spirit and an act- ive promoter of all movements which tend to en- hance the prosperity of Palmyra and increase the advantages of its citizens.
LBERT E. MORRIS is one of the repre- sentative and leading men in Polk Town- ship, where he resides. He is a live wide- awake citizen, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of those with whom he mingles. He is probably one of the youngest Justices of the Peace in Macoupin County. His father was the late Richard Morris, a man of British origin being born in Somersetshire, England, June 24, 1818. llis mother was Martha A. Rusher, an American, born in Sullivan County, Ind., January 26, 1828. The grandfather, John Morris, died at the old home- stead in Somersetshire, England, and the grand- mother, Mary (Wilton) Morris, spent her last days in Wales.
The father of Mrs. Martha Morris was Henry Rusher who died in Montgomery County, III., April 14, 1828. Ilis wife, Catherine (Newton) Rusler, dying March 29, 1875. They came to Macoupin County in 1840, and after living here about eight- een years returned to Montgomery County, where they spent the remainder of their days, Upon the
marriage of Richard and Martha Morris, December 26, 1854, they settled in Polk Township, and here made their home through life. Richard Morris passed away August 19, 1884, leaving his bereaved widow to make her home with our subject at the old homestead. Their four children are: Albert E., who is the subject of this brief sketch; Mary J., who became the wife of J. W. Kissel and was the mother of Samuel R., and Florence M. She died on her twenty-fourth birthday, June 6, 1884, in Madison County, Ill .; Willie O. died in infancy as did also Lillie M. thus leaving our subject now the only surviving child of his bereaved mother.
Albert E. Morris was born in Polk Township, May 24, 1858, and here was reared to manhood and has found at the old homestead a congenial home and a suitable place for carrying on the business which he has chosen. He received a good education in the common schools of the county, and has be- come an intelligent and prosperous farmer. The old homestead which he carries on consists of one hundred and eighteen acres upon which are situa- ted excellent farm buildings and every appliance necessary to the successful prosecution of farm work.
February 15, 1881, was the wedding day of Albert Morris and Mary Brown, and this union was solemnized in Shipman Township, at the home of the bride's parents, John II. and Ellen L. (Good- ell) Brown. This lady was born in Polk Township and Mr. Brown in Tennessee, and of their goodly sized family of two sons and four daughters, Mrs. Morris is the eldest daughter. She was born in Shipman Township, October 11, 1860. Four lovely children came to share the paternal affection and solicitude, namely : Bertha A., Robbie, Ada, and Cassie M. The son Robbie died in infancy.
The fellow-citizens of Mr. Morris hold him in high esteem and have placed him in the office of School Director. He has also filled since the spring of 1889 the office of Justice of the Peace in which his knowledge of the law and his good sense and well known reputation for just rulings have made his services in that position highly prized and of great benefit to his neighbors. He is a man who is well read in political matters and casts his vote with the Democratic party.
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Mrs. Morris' paternal grandfather was Peter Brown, who died in Shipman Township. His faith- ful companion, Catherine (Baker) Brown, survives him at the very advanced age of ninety-two years, being born in the summer of 1799. Mrs. Morris' maternal grandparents, Joshua E. and Laura (Morse) Goodell, were people of intelligence and culture who passed away some years ago, Mrs. Goodell dying in Polk Township, and ber husband in Iowa. The standing of every branch of this family connection is such as to give influence to each member of it, and every one in the community rejoices in the prosperity which has erowned Mr. Morris' efforts in life.
Since the above was written the subject has been deprived by death of one of his children.
L R. ROBERT E. BLEY, residing in Bunker ITill, was born on the 2d of December, 1855, in Scott County, Iowa, and comes from a family of physicians, having two brothers and a brother-in-law engaged in the prac- tice of medicine, while his father, George Bley, Sr., was also a prominent Doctor of this county. The latter was born in Wortemburg, Germany, Jan- uary 12, 1821, and was a son of George and Sophia (Muller) Bley. The family emigrated to America in 1832, settling in Berks County, l'a., where George Bley, Sr. died. The father of our subject left home at the age of twelve years to begin lire's battle for himself and at the age of fifteen began serving an apprenticeship in a drug store in Phila- delphia, where he remained until he had attained his majority, when he began business in that line for himself. Soon after this be determined to be- come a physician and attended lectures at the Jefferson Medical College in 1845. From 1848 until 1850 he was a student in the Philadelphia College of Medicine, from which he was graduated and then began practice in that city, where he re- mained until his removal io Scott County, Iowa. in 1855. Three years later he located in Rock Island, Ill., and after a year went to Monroe
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