USA > Illinois > Portrait and biographies of the governors of Illinois and of the residents of the United States > Part 15
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To preserve the lineaments of our companions we engrave their portraits, for the same reason we col- lect the attainable facts of their history. Nor do we think it necessary, as we speak only truth of them, to wait until they are dead, or until those who know them are gone: to do this we are ashamed only to publish to the world the history of those whose lives are unworthy of public record.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
ILLIAM W. ANDERSON, whose name is intimately connected with every interest tending to advance the financial, social or moral condition of the community in which he lives, whose personality is closely interwoven with local affairs, and whose counsel has in many re- spects shaped the course of events in Christian County, is President of the First National Bank of Taylorville and is a prominent figure in many other busness enterprises; besides which he is closely identified with public affairs and every en- terprise calculated to promote the general welfare. A man of high character, his thousands of warm personal friends will find pleasure in close inspec- tion of the excellent steel engraving of him found in this volume. The pleasant expression of coun- tenance is faithfully reproduced in most artistic lines, and the indication of years of development, of the generous manhood, and of the warmth of friendship and love of right-dealing and justice that have endeared him to every resident of Chris- tian County, are all found preserved in such del- icate and yet permanent form that lapse of time cannot efface them.
The Anderson family is of Scotch-Irish origin, and was established in the South, probably in Vir- ginia, in early Colonial days. It is known that both the paternal and maternal grandfathers of William W. were soldiers during the memorable struggle for the independence of the Colonies, and that his father, George H. Anderson, served un- der Gen. Jackson in the later conflict with Great
Britain and was present at the battle of New Or- leans. He was married in Tennessee, not many years after the return of peace, to Miss Nancy Mann. They soon after migrated to Henderson County, Ky., where they resided for ten years, and where our subject was born October 27, 1825. When he was a lad of five years, the family came to Illinois, and settled two miles east of Hillsboro, Montgomery County. There George Anderson reared his family, developed a comfortable home, and acted his part in the growth of the new coun- try. He was honored by the most responsible local offices of the time, being a man of varied experience, well read for his time, and he is re- membered by the pioneers as a man of generous impulses and strong character. He died at the age of sixty-one. His widow, a woman whose impress was early stamped upon the minds of her children, survived her husband about twelve years.
Their family numbered twelve children, of whom William is the sixth in order of birth, and one of four yet living, all residing in this county. The days of his boyhood were noted for their meagre privileges for education, and what education he received was in one of the first log schoolhouses built in Montgomery County. The demands of the farm were such that he was required to assist in the labors of the field when but a lad of nine. and his attention was almost constantly given to home duties until he had reached his seventeenth year. Ile then entered the employ of Judge Hiram Rountree, of Hillsboro. He remained in the em-
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ploy of Judge Rountree for eight years, first work- ing on the farm, then in the store, and assisting in his office while he was Circuit Clerk of Montgom- ery County. lle was married to Miss Nan B. Rountree, a daughter of Judge Rountree, in Aug- ust, 1850.
The following year they came to Christian County, and Mr. Anderson assumed charge of a farm four miles east of Taylorville. The farm did not satisfy his nature, as his tastes led in the di- rection of mercantile life, he being educated in that direction while in the store of the Judge in Hills- boro. Accordingly, after three years, when har- vests were not sufficiently abundant to satisfy his business sense, he left the farm. removing to Tay- lorville, and we soon find him installed as a sales- man in the dry-goods store of Shumway & Cheney. Mr. Cheney died in January, 1854, and his broth- er-in-law, Albert Sattley, whose figure is still a fa- miliar one on the streets of 'Taylorville, succeeded to the Cheney interest, and he in turn was sue- ceeded by Mr. Anderson. The firm of Shum- way & Anderson continued for about two years, when Mr. Anderson became sole proprietor of the constantly increasing business. He carried an ex- tensive stock of goods, ranging from threshing- machines to the most delicate dress fabries, as de- manded by the trade of the day. The financial depression of 1857, the worst in American history, coming so soon after his embarkation upon the seas of mercantile life, was a test of business abil- ity that gave him ample opportunity for meeting the many demands incident to hard times. By judicious selection of goods, untiring attention to delinquents, and universal courtesy to patrons, he succeeded in passing through that trying period, and his success was ample proof of his business ability. Henceforth he was considered by all one of the cleverest and most successful merchants of the county. During the succeeding decade his business assumed immense proportions, and his standing, not only among his friends at home, but among the large wholesale houses, was such that it was possible for him to conduct much the larg- est business of any firm in a large radius of territory.
After fifteen years of close attention to these ex-
tensive interests, Mr. Anderson disposed of a part of his establishment and placed his brother in charge of the boot and shoe department, thus plae- ing his mercantile interests in shape to admit of his devoting personal attention to another line of business, to which his tastes naturally led him, and which was the logical outgrowth of a suc- cessful career. Accordingly, in the year 1871, he established the banking house of W. W. An- derson & Co., his partner being another one of the most capable business men of Taylorville, D. D. Shumway. , The well-known carefulness and ability of the proprietors assured a substantial business, and the confidence of the public was fully accorded the new institution. The partner- ship as indicated continued with most pleasant re- lations for twelve years, when Mr. Shumway re- tired and Mr. Anderson's son, Hiram R., became partner with his father. He was a young man of brilliant mind, a close student, and a general fav- orite with friends of the bank, who rejoiced to see him advanced in responsible positions. On the 1st of November, 1886, the bank passed into its present form, being incorporated as the First Na- tional Bank of Taylorville, with a capital of $75,- 000. W. W. Anderson became President; A. L. Augur, of Mt. Anburn, Vice-President; and H. R. Anderson, Cashier. Its Directors were W. W. An- derson, A. L. Augur, J. G. Drennan, N. D. Rieks, Matthew Kavanaugh, John White, R. M. Powel, G. R. Sharp and H. R. Anderson. Of these, Messrs. Sharp, Powel, White and II. R. Anderson are now deceased. The present Board of Directors is com- posed of the following: W. W. Anderson, Presi- dent; A. L. Augur, Vice-President; Mat Kava- naugh, W. M. Provine, Hiram White, J. N. C. Shumway, J. C. McBride, D. D. Shumway and F. W. Anderson. The latter is the present Cashier, and E. R. Wright is Assistant Cashier. Mr. An- derson began business on his present site in 1871, and carried on operations in his first building nn- til 1884, when the present building was erected. The bank is supplied with a MeNeale & Urban safe, with the Fowler door attachment, and the other furnishings are complete in all appointments. The First National Bank is a conservative and substantial institution, run on a perfectly safe
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basis, and is doing a good business, having now a capital and surplus of $100,000.
Every venture to which Mr. Anderson has de- voted personal attention has prospered to an emi- nent degree, and his foresightedness in making in- vestments have borne out the views that he had formerly advaneed. Ile served for two years as President of the Board of Supervisors. He has had a firm belief in the future of Taylorville, not only as the county seat and on account of its ex- tensive country trade, but as a coal-producing point, and soon to become a manufacturing center. He has invested largely in business property, and is now owner of one-half the frontage on the sonth side of the square. IIe has always advo- cated the advantages of railroad facilities, and was one of the promoters and at one time Diree- tor of the Ohio & Mississippi Railway, which pass- es through the county, giving a direet outlet to the East. He has always taken an interest in, and frequently furthered, legitimate means of building up his home town, and in no little degree to him is owing the present advantages the city enjoys in its excellent system of electrie lighting, its water works and its ample hotel aeeommodations. His means, advice and energy were called upon and freely given when its extensive coal fields were developed, and thus a permanent basis of growth and prosperity was assured to the city. Prosper- ing to an unusual degree, he has been blessed with ample means, which, unlike some moneyed men, he has liberally devoted to progressive uses. A member and Trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Chureh, he has been a ready supporter of church interests. A Royal Arch Mason, he is held in high esteem by all brother Masons, though his gifts to charity are not eireumseribed by any bounds of fraternal character, for he recognizes the rights. and obligations that man owes to man on the broad plane of universal brotherhood. Politically, Mr. Anderson has been a life-long supporter of the Democratie party, but has preferred to devote his attention to private, rather than to publie, business, and lience has never songht honors at the hands of the party.
Only four years after his marriage, Mr. Anderson was called upon to monrn the death of his com-
pamon, whose only child had died in infancy. This was a blow whose sorrow only years of busi- ness activity could mitigate. When prosperity had come to him, he again felt the need of loving words and womanly counsel, and in 1860 he made Martha L. Wright, widow of Dr. Wright, of Car- linville, his wife. She was a woman of estimable eharacter, and proved a valuable companion and helpmate on life's journey. She, too, was taken from him after a companionship of nearly a quar- ter of a century, her death occurring August 2, 1884, at the age of fifty-four years. Unto them were born five children: Hiram R., who was Cash- ier in the First National Bank, and died September 4, 1891, at the age of twenty-nine years; Nannie West, who died in childhood; Fred W., who is now serving as Cashier; Grace E., wife of F. C. Hawley, of the Paddock-Hawley Iron Company, of St. Louis; and Julia W., a young lady of nine- teen, who is now a student in the Auburndale Seminary, of Boston, from which she will gradnate in the Class of '94.
G
AMES H. HAYES, who is engaged in the manufacture of brick in Taylorville, began operations here in this line in 1889. He at that time established the business now oper- ated by Hoover & Michels. After carrying it on for two years he disposed of it to that firm, and in 189I established his present yard. That year he manufactured eight hundred thousand brick, and in 1892 one million four hundred thousand. He has five acres of land, and in the manufacture employs abont fifteen men. He uses the Palet system of making mud-sand briek, his machinery is complete in all its appointments, and the daily output is from ten to fifteen thousand. Having used up the clay at the present location, he expects to remove a mile southwest, where he has thirty- one aeres of clay land, increase the plant and greatly enlarge the works. To the manufacture of building brick be will add that of paving, or
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vitrified, brick. Mr. Hayes is numbered among the leading brick manufacturers of central Illinois and has built up an extensive business, being now at the head of one of the leading industries of the county.
As one of Taylorville's leading and influential citizens, we are pleased to record the life work of our subject in this volume. He was born in Decatur, Ill., on the 21st of February, 1854, and was reared in that city and in Cerro Gordo. Ilis father, J. E. Hayes, was a native of Ohio, and emigrated from the Buckeye State to Illinois in November, 1851. By occupation he was a farmer, and followed that business throughout his entire life. His death occurred on the 2d of May, 1892, at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Sell, was also a native of Ohio, and is now living in Cerro Gordo, Ill.
Mr. Hayes, whose name heads this record, is a self-made man, who has been dependent upon his own resources since the early age of thirteen. At that time he began working in the brickyards, and was thus employed each scason until he had attained his majority. In 1880, he opened a brick- yard in Cerro Gordo, making the first brick ever manufactured at that place, and he there carried on business for nine years, when he came to Taylor- ville. He spent one year in Texas in the brick- yards at Sherman, Dennison and Mckinney. When he went to Dennison all of its brickyards had proved a failure and were shut down, for the brick would fall to pieces as soon as exposed to the air. Mr. Hayes took charge of a yard at that place and introduced the method of mixing sand with the clay. The process met with success from the start, and the result is that Dennison has since proven to be one of the best brick-making points in the South. The trouble had been that only joint clay was used, and sand was needed to pro- duce the proper consistency.
On the 4th of March, 1884, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hayes and Miss Elizabeth Savage, of Dallas, Tex., a native of England. Five chil- dren have been born of their union: Marion; Walter; Frank, who died in infancy; Louis and .Jennie. They have a pleasant home, which is the
abode of hospitality, and their friends throughout the community are many, although their residence here is of comparatively short duration. Socially, Mr. Hayes is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Encampment, and his wife holds membership with the Christian Church. In politics, he is an inflexible adherent of Repub- lican principles, a stanch advocate of the "Party of Reform," and is now efficiently serving as a member of the City Council. Ile is a wide-awake and enterprising man, full of life and activity, and his good management and business ability have made his career a successful one. IIe is very popular with all classes, and Taylorville finds in him a valued citizen.
S AMUEL AINSWORTH, manager of the Taylorville Mining Company, is a practical and progressive business man, whose saga- city and far-sightedness, combined with perseverance and well-directed efforts, have made his life a successful one. The record of his career is as follows: A native of England, he was born in Staffordshire, on the 8th of May, 1837, and is a son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Ashmore) Ainsworth, who were also natives of England. The paternal grandfather, William Ainsworth, lived in Roches- ter, England, and reached the very advanced age of one hundred and one years, while his wife passed away at the ripe old age of ninety-nine years. The maternal grandfather, Samuel Ashmore, lived to be about seventy, and his wife survived him several years.
The father of our subject was a wheelwright in England, and in his native land spent his entire life, being called to the home beyond at the age of fifty-six. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Ainsworth was again married. Her second hus- band lost his mind on account of religion and died in the insane asylum. She was seventy-three years of age at the time of her death. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth were members of the Church
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of England, and took a very active part in all that would advance its best interests. Their family numbered twelve children, six sons and six daugh- ters, as follows: Walter; William; Samuel; John; Arthur; Jesse; Sophia, wife of Thomas Hall; Myra Ann, wife of Enoch Glass; Mrs. Harriet Welch; Jane, widow of lIenry Elsmore; Emily, deceased; and Hannah, wife of John Betz.
The subject of this sketch spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the land of his nativity. His early years were quietly passed, no event of special importance occurring. His education was acquired in the public schools. After arriving at years of maturity, he chose as a companion and helpmate on life's journey Miss Mary Ann Hall, a daughter of Thomas and Lydia (Smith) Hall. Their union was celebrated on the 13th of April, 1857, and has been blessed with a family of eleven children, four sons and seven daughters. Jesse, the eldest, married Catherine .Jones and they now reside in Lyons, Kan., with their four children: Samuel, Jesse, Ida and William. Emma is the wife of Benjamin Stringer, of Taylorville, by whom she has six children: Annie, Benjamin, Grace, Florence, Jesse and Samuel R. Thomas married Miss Anna Utley, of Collinsville, and they have four children: Edith, Myrtle, John and George. Sophia is the wife of David Jones, of Taylorville, and their family numbers three sons: David, William and Albert. Mary Ann is the wife of Edwin Taylor, and with their three chil- dren, Edwin. Clyde and Loretta, they reside in Trenton, Clinton County, III. Edith is the wife of Frank Auth, of Smithboro, Ill., and they have one child, Mabel. Samuel, Nellie and Margaret Elizabeth are at home, and two children died in infancy.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth are adherents of the faith of the Methodist Church, and in his social relations he is connected with Mattoon Lodge No. 62, A. F. & A. M .; Mattoon Chapter, and Springfield Commandery No. 6, K. T. 1Ie is also connected with Madison Lodge No. 43, I. O. O. F., of Collinsville, and with Mizpah Lodge No. 68, K. P., of Collinsville. With the Miners' Institute, of Springfield, Ill., he also holds membership.
In 1872, Mr. Ainsworth determined to seek a
home in America, and, crossing the Atlantic, came directly to Illinois, where he has lived continuous- ly since, with the exception of eight months spent in Colorado. Owing to the general depression in business prevailing at that time, Mr. Ainsworth conld not get employment for some months after his arrival. It was in March, 1875, that his wife and family came to this country and joined him at Rochester, this State. He has sunk numerous mines in various places in Illinois. Since about fourteen years of age, he has been connected with mining, and thoroughly understands the business in all its details. He took the contract for sinking a coal shaft of the Taylorville Mining Company in 1887. This shaft is over five hundred feet deep. The vein is over eight feet thick and yields a splendid quality of coal.
Mr. Ainsworth has been successful in his busi- ness carcer, and is now the owner of eight houses and sixteen lots in Taylorville. Ile has made the most of his opportunities and privileges, and al- though he has had to depend upon his own efforts, he is now in comfortable circumstances.
D AVID RIDGE. Among the enterprising farmers of Assumption Township has long been numbered our subject, who dates his residence here from 1859. Ile now re- sides on section 27, where he carries on general farming. He has spent nearly his entire life in this county, as he was a child of only five years when his father settled here. From his youth he has been engaged in farming, and has made a great success of agricultural pursuits.
Our subject was born in Greene County. Ill., April 28, 1854, and is a son of James Ridge, who was born in Devonshire, England. The father married in his native county Miss Sarah Tucker, and in 1851 crossed the Atlantic, settling in Greene County, this State, where he engaged in farming for several years. In 1859 he purchased land and
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opened up a farm on section 21, Christian County, where he still resides. David Ridge remained with his parents until arriving at his majority, and was given good common-school advantages. In 1878 he purchased the farm which he is still engaged in cultivating, a traet of one hundred and six aeres, located two miles from the village of Assumption. This farm is feneed with a nice and well-trimmed osage hedgerow, and the fields are divided in like manner. The owner las ereeted a large barn and remodeled and otherwise im- proved the house on the place. He has put in considerable tiling, planted orchards, and now finds himself in the possession of a valuable farm. lIe may truly be called a self-made man, for he started out in the business world with very lim- ited means, and his success is due entirely to his own labor and enterprise.
On the 9th of February, 1876, the marriage of Mr. Ridge and Miss Rebecca Corzine was cele- brated. Mrs. Ridge is a native of Guernsey County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Allen Corzine, of As- sumption. To our worthy subject and wife have been born two children, William Oscar and James Allen.
Mrs. Ridge holds membership with the Presby- terian Church of Assumption, and is a lady well received in social circles. Our subject has been a supporter of the Republican party since casting his first ballot in 1876 for Rutherford B. Hayes. lle gives his hearty support to our pub- lie-school system, and for ten consecutive years has served as a member of the School Board.
OIIN G. ADELIIART is one of the pros- perons and thrifty agriculturists of As- sumption Township, his home being on sec- tion 2. lle is an example of the self-made man, as he has carved out a fortune for himself single-handed. He has been a resident of Chris- tian County for about twenty years, and during this time he has done all in his power to advance
the interests of the community in which he dwells. A native of Germany, he was born in Bavaria, August 18, 1846. 1Ie received a good education in the German language, and early formed a deter- mination to emigrate to the United States. For several years he engaged in farming in Bavaria, but in 1872 took passage in a sailing-vessel at IIamburg, and in due time landed in New York, on the 15th of June. He proceeded directly West- ward to Illinois, joining an elder brother who was located in Nokomis. For about three years Mr. Adelhart worked by the month, and then bought a piece of corn in the field, which he harvested, making quite a profit on his investment. The following year he rented a place in this county of Samuel Winters, which he farmed for one year, and then rented a half-section of land, and in company with two brothers operated this land for two years. For several successive years our sub- jeet continued as a renter, carefully saving his profits, and thus in 1885 he was enabled to be- come a land-owner himself.
In 1871, previous to leaving his native land, Mr. Adelhart was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Price, who has proved a true helpmate to him along the voyage of life. Eight children have come to bless their home. In order of birth they are as follows: John, Joseph, Fred, Robert, Peter, Maggie, Elizabeth and Helen. Anna died at the age of two years. The children have been given good educations in the Assumption schools, and the two older sons have been of great assist- ance to him on the farm. The family are mem- bers of St. Mary's Catholic Church, of Assump- tion.
In 1885, Mr. Adelhart became the owner of his present valuable farm on section 2. This place comprises ninety acres adjoining the corporate limits of Assumption. Our subjeet has made sub- stantial improvements on the place, has erected a large and pleasant house, with barns and farm buildings, and set out an orchard. He is consid- ered one of the thrifty farmers of the county, and has shown that he possesses practical ideas on the subject of farming.
In his political opinions, Mr. Adelhart is a strong Democrat and takes great interest in elections.
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He has, however, never desired office for himself, but chooses rather to give his entire time and at- tention to his agricultural duties. He is a man of upright character and has made many friends dur- ing his residence in this community.
REDERICK REULECKE is one of the pro- gressive agriculturists of Assumption Town- .ship, his home being on section 28. Hle is one of the early settlers of Christian County, hav- ing located on the farm where he still resides in 1867, when there were but five houses between his home and Taylorville. He is a native of Germany, born in Hanover May 24, 1828. After receiving a fair education in his mother tongue, he learned the gardener's trade and then concluded to emi- grate to the New World. In 1854, he took pass- age at Bremen in a sailing-vessel, and at the end of forty-two days arrived at his destination, New York City. He worked as a' gardener at Freehold, N. J., and after a residence there of two years came West to Illinois. This was in 1856, and his first settlement was in Menard County, near the town of Athens. For two years he worked by the month on a farm for a Mr. Kendall, after which he rented an eighty-acre farm, which he carried on for ten years. At the end of that time he bought a tract of forty acres in this county, a part of his present farm, and five years later bought an ad- joining forty acres. In time he erected a good residence and barn and planted a good orchard on the place. Other improvements, such as tiling, fencing, etc., have added greatly to the value of the farm. It is one of the most thrifty farms of the township, and the osage hedge which sur- rounds it adds much to its appearance. Mr. Reul- ecke is now well-to-do, and in addition to his home farm owns two large tenement houses in Assump- tion.
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