USA > Illinois > Portrait and biographies of the governors of Illinois and of the residents of the United States > Part 20
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In 1859. Mr. Beaman married in Montgomery County Mary Jane Landers, who was born and reared in that county, where her family were early residents. Mr. and Mrs. Beaman are the parents of the following children: James L., who married Miss Hall and lives on a farm in this township; Laura B., wife of Mr. Livergood, of Stonington; Osta Estelle, wife of Charles Oller, now hving on the home farm; Sina, wife of William Shafer, of Greenwood Township; George Ilerman, who lives on the home farm; Eva and William Grant. They were all reared on the home farm and educated in the public schools. Laura was a successful teacher of this county until her marriage.
In 1856, Mr. Beaman deposited his first Presi- dential ballot for Fremont, and has since been a true-blue Republican. In the canvass of 1859 he had the pleasure of hearing a speech by Abraham Lincoln. He has held several local offices and has been Township Clerk. Ile is a reliable business man and good citizen of the county, having al- ways been alive to its best interests.
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QUILLA M. COUNCIL, a farmer residing on seetion 15, South Fork Township, was born on the same farm April 27, 1843. llis parents were Aquilla and Sarah E. (Melugin) Couneil, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. Their family comprised ninechildren: Amanda, Rebecca, Joseph and James, who are all deceased; Sarah, widow of L. J. Dun- can, and now living in Edinburgh; Elizabeth, wife of J. Young, a farmer of South Fork Town-
ship; Aquilla; William, who lives in Jasper County, Mo .; and Amelia, wife of James Calloway, a far- mer and stock-raiser of Taylorville Township.
The father of our subjeet followed the occupa- tion of farming during his lifetime, and removed from Tennessee to Illinois in 1829, making the trip by team. Ile located in Sangamon County, about sixteen miles from Springfield, where for about three years he was engaged in farming rented land. He then came to this county and purchased a small traet of land from the Govern- ment in what is now South Fork Township. He erected a log house and engaged in cultivating this farm until his death. He took quite an ac- tive interest in politics, being a supporter of the Democracy, and held a number of local positions of more or less responsibility during the early . years of the county's history. For a number of years he was Justice of the Peace, and for years was Township Treasurer. He departed this life July 13, 1857, and lies buried in Finley Cemetery, South Fork Township. llis wife is still living, though well along in years, being now eighty- three.
Aquilla M. Council, whose name heads this sketch, was born and reared on the piece of land where his father first located, and which he has inherited. His first schooling was in the early subscription schools, after which he attended those of the district. After his father's death he re- mained on the home farm with his mother, and soon after took entire charge of the place. His home- stead now comprises three hundred and fifteen aeres on section 15, all well improved and valuable land, which is well adapted to general farming and stock-raising.
On Christmas Day of 1868, Mr. Council mar- ried Miss Martha Williams, by whom he has had three children. Phoebe is the wife of Charles Bauf- man, a boot and shoe merchant of Edinburgh; Alice is deceased; and William T. is still at home.
Mr. Council bears an honored record as one of the devoted defenders of the Union, having en- listed as a private in Company D, One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Infantry, on the 14th of August, 1862, and was mustered in at what was then Blueville, but is now Edinburgh. The term
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of his enlistment was for three years, and with his regiment he was at once sent to Mississippi, where he took part in the engagement at Ft. Gibson. He was in the battles of Champion Hills, Black River, and took part in the sieges of Vicks- burg and Jackson, Miss. In Mansfield, La., he was taken prisoner, and was held a prisoner for thirteen and a-half months in Camp Ford, near Tyler, Tex., being only released at the close of the war. He received an honorable discharge July 6, 1865, after having spent many a weary month on marches and many days in hotly-fought battles for his country's sake.
On his return home Mr. Council resumed his farming duties, and has since given his time to the cultivation of his farm. Ile has been elected to fill various local offices of honor and trust, and has proved himself thoroughly eapable and true to his duties. He has held the offices of Super- visor and Assessor, and has been one of the Com- missioners of Highways. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order, and belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic.
ICHAEL OATS is numbered among the best farmers and citizens of Johnson Township, his well-equipped farm being situated on seetion 9. He was born in Ilampshire County, W. Va., December 21, 1825. His father, George Oats, was born and reared in Maryland. The date of his birth was 1785, and when he had arrived at a suitable age he was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Slonaker, who was born in West Virginia in 1793. The death of the father occurred in 1841, and his mother died some seven years later. They were the parents of nine children, in order of birth as follows: George. Polly, Christopher, Jonathan, Mary Jane, Silas, Sylvia, Michael and Margaret. Only two of the family are now living.
The subject of this sketch was employed in the usual manner of farmer boys until he had reached
his sixteenth year. He then started out to earn his own livelihood, and for one year worked upon a farm for $6 per month. For the two years suc- eeeding he received $9 per month. As this oecu- pation did not appear to be very remunerative. he resolved to learn a trade, and chose that of a car- penter. For about three years afterwards he worked at that occupation in Virginia. At this time he became convinced that he could better his fortune in the West, and in 1849 went as far Westward as Logan County, Ohio, where for three years he worked at his trade.
In the year 1852, Mr. Oats arrived in Christian County, having emigrated here in a covered wagon. He at onee settled in Johnson Township, where he rented land and where he has been located ever since, engaged in farming and stock- raising. Ilis farm, which comprises some two hundred aeres, is highly cultivated and well im- proved.
In November. 1864. Mr. Oats wedded Miss Harriet Shivers. Her father was born in Mary- land, June 20. 1803, while her mother, who was also a native of the same State, was born in 1813. They were the parents of thirteen children, as follows: Thomas, a resident of Shelby County, Ill .; Jacob, who lives in Nebraska; Robert, whose home is in Ohio; Kate, wife of John W. Johnston, of Missouri; Sampson, who makes his home in Johnson Township; Washington C., who resides in El Dor- ado Springs, Mo .; Harriet, the wife of our subject; John W., now deceased: Matilda, deceased, who was the wife of J. B. Eaton; Delilah, wife of Dr. Lilie, of Raymond, Montgomery County, Ill .; Sallie, who is now Mrs. Eads, of Decatur; and Rebecca, the wife of William Black, of Edinburgh, Christian County. The parents came to this county in 1863, and here made their home until claimed by death. They lie buried in the Ander- son Cemetery.
To Mr. and Mrs. Oats has been born a family of nine children. Catherine, John Wesley and Nancy May are deceased and are buried in An- derson Cemetery; Dora and Charles live with their parents; Arthur is deceased; George, Cleveland and Bertie Leland complete the family. For many years our subjeet has been a member of the
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Methodist Episcopal Church. He has served as a School Director and School Trustee and has also filled the position of Road Commissioner. By his manly and straightforward course in life he has won the friendship and confidence of his fellow-eitizens. and is considered,a worthy man in every sense of the word.
C S. NASH, a grain dealer of Sharpsburg, was born in Franklin County, Mass., near Green- field, April 3, 1843. ITis paternal grand- father, Robert Nash, was also born in the Bay State. He was a clothier by trade and a dresser of elothi in Greenfield. The ancestry is traced back through Tubal, Daniel ( who was a farmer and blacksmith), Daniel, Sr., and Lott Timothy Nash, all of whom were natives of Massachusetts. The father of the last-named, Thomas Nash, was a native of Eng- land, and in 1620 braved the dangers of an ocean voyage in order to make a home in the New World. IIe became a resident of the Massachusetts Colony.
Robert S. Nash, the father of our subject, was born in Massachusetts in 1814, and was a farmer by occupation. Emigrating Westward, he located in Wisconsin, and thenee came to Christian County in 1859, taking up his residence in Buckhart Township. He now resides with our subject. He married Joanna Packard, who was born in Enfield, Mass., and was of English deseent. Three sons and two daughters were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Nash, the eldest of whom is O. S .; Rob- ert is now living in Taylorville Township; Edwin C. makes his home in Buckhart Township; Mary died at the age of twenty-eight years; and one child died in infaney.
Our subject spent the first thirteen years of his life in the old Bay State, and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Wisconsin. He was a boy of sixteen when he came to Christian County, where he has since resided. He was reared to the occupation of farming, and has followed that pur- suit throughout much of his life. In November,
1868, he was joined in marriage with Rachel Shep- ardson, a native of Massachusetts, and a daughter of Orash Shepardson. She was born in March, 1841, and died in 1877. Two children were born of their union, a son and daughter: Edwin H., who is now at home, and May L., who died at the age of eleven months.
Mr. Nash is a Royal Areh Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge of Edinburgh and the Chapter of Taylorville. In polities he is a supporter of Re- publican principles. In addition to farming he does business as a dealer in live stock and grain at Sharpsburg. He purchased the elevator at this . place and buys and handles large quantities of grain, doing a good business, which has constantly increased from the beginning. Mr. Nash is well known in Buckhart Township and is also fa- vorably known in Taylorville Township, where he has his home. lle has long made his home in this county, being numbered among its earliest set- tlers, for his residence here covers a period of more than a third of a century. He has therefore wit- nessed much of its growth and upbuilding and has seen the rapid progress and development which it has made. Ile is a genial, pleasant gentleman and very prominent in business and social circles.
IAL DAVIS, of Mt. Auburn, has lived in Christian County since 1832, when he was a small lad, and his life history therefore has been closely interwoven with that of the community in which he has dwelt for more than sixty years, and a history of the representa- tive men of Christian County would be sadly in- complete if his was not placed among the others.
Mr. Davis is a native son of Illinois, born in Sangamon County January 10, 1826. His father, John Davis, was born in Tennessee, in that State passed his youth, and was married to Sarah Mill- igian, also of Tennessee. In 1818, Mr. Davis came to Illinois, and settled near the present thriving city of Springfield. For a few years he
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lived upon a traet of land east of Clear Creek. He afterwards located south of Mechanicsburg, and while there he spent the memorable winter of incredibly deep snow, well remembered by the hardy pioneers and first settlers of Illinois. In 1832, he came to what is now Christian County, and opened up a farm in Mt. Auburn Township. Ilere he passed his declining years, dying in 1847. His wife's death occurred some years previously.
During the boyhood days of Dial Davis, educa- tion was obtained under rather trying circum- stanees, as the nearest schoolhouse was situated four miles from his home. In June, 1846, he en- listed for the Mexican War, joining Company C, Fourth Illinois Infantry, under Capt. Pugh and Col. E. D. Baker. The company to which Mr. Da- vis belonged was raised in Decatur. With his regiment he went to Mexico, and passed the twelve- months term of his enlistment in active service, participating in the battles of Cerro Gordo and Vera Cruz under the noted commander, Gen. Scott. lle was honorably discharged in June, 1847, re- ceiving a land warrant for his services. This he traded for a piece of land in Mt. Auburn Town- ship. After improving this property, he sold it, in ยท 1852, and bought other land, on which he located and opened up a large farm. At this time he is the owner of thirteen hundred acres of choice farming land and business property in Mt. Auburn. He has a substantial and commodious residence and has made valuable improvements on his farm.
In his political affiliations, Mr. Davis is a Demo- crat and east his first Presidential ballot for Lewis Cass. In local polities he has also been greatly interested, and after returning from his service in the Mexican War, he was elected to the position of Constable, and served in that capacity very ered- itably for eleven years. lle has also served as Supervisor and Collector of the township, and was one of the Commissioners who laid out Mt. Auburn Township. Our pubhe-school system has always been strongly supported by him, as, in short, have all public enterprises.
On the 4th of February, 1852, Mr. Davis was united in marriage in Mechaniesburg, Sangamon County, with Miss Edmonia E. Hesser, who died July 4, 1864. Three children of this union are
still living. Charles E. is married and lives in Mt. Auburn; Sallie D. is the wife of E. R. Mooney, of the same place; and Carrie E. is the wife of William L. Rasor. The three children now de- ceased are Frank P., Henry N. and Dial M., who died at the ages of twenty-five, twenty and fifteen years, respectively.
Our subject was agam married. in 1867, when Miss Hulda J. Stobaugh became his wife. She is a native of Indiana, and a daughter of James Sto- baugh, formerly of Indiana. One daughter, Nel- lie M., has blessed this union. She is the wife of George W. Morgret, of Mt. Auburn Township. Our subject and his wife are members of the Chris- tian Church of Mt. Auburn, and with their family are highly esteemed in social circles.
AVID BURCHIFIELD, a retired farmer now residing in Taylorville, and one of the honored veterans of the late war, has during his residence in Christian County been recognized as one of its best citizens, for he has ever faithfully discharged his duties of citi- zenship and borne his part in all that pertains to the welfare and upbuilding of the community. A native of the Buckeye State, he was born near Car- rollton, in Carroll County, on the Ist of March, 1833. His father, Joseph Burchfield, was a na- tive of Pennsylvania, and in his youth went to Ohio, where he met and married Phobe Tope, a native of that State, born on the 16th of April. 1795. Coming to this State, they located in Greenwood Township, where they spent the re- mainder of their lives. The father, who was born February 2, 1802, died on the Ist of March, 1880, at the age of seventy-seven, and his wife, who was seven years his senior, and who survived him seven years, was called to her final rest February 25, 1887, at the age of ninety-two. They had six children, three of whom are now living: Thomas, Joseph and David.
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The subject of this sketch was reared to man- hood in the usual manner of farmer lads, and re- mained at home until twenty-six years of age. For three years he followed the carpenter's trade, and then resumed the occupation to which he was reared. As a companion and helpmate on life's journey, he chose Miss Mary Price, their marnage being celebrated March 22, 1860. ller father, Benjamin Price, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, April 1, 1808, and was a son of Thomas and Sarah Price. On the 16th of January, 1830, he married Elizabeth Seran, who was born October 11, 1806. Together they traveled life's journey for fifty-four years, sharing with each other its joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity; but at length the hand of Death separated them, and the mother passed away in Leesville, Ohio, Novem- ber 4, 1884. Mr. Price survived her a few years, dying in Leesville, April 12, 1888. They held membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and were people whose lives of uprightness won them the respect of all with whom they were brought in contact.
At the time of his marriage, Mr. Burchfield possessed no cash capital, and had only a small farming outfit, but he rented land, upon which he made his home until after his return from the army, when he bought a farm of forty acres. Feeling that his country needed his services, in the fall of 1864 he joined Company HI, One Hun- dred and Seventy-eighth Ohio Infantry, which was attached to the Army of the Cumberland. They were, however, detailed to supply cattle for Sher- man's army, and for that purpose were stationed at Tullahoma, Ga. The regiment afterward went to Raleigh and joined Sherman's army at Wheat- swamp Church, in North Carolina. Afterward the regiment was sent to Charlotte, N. C., as guards, and its members were discharged June 29, 18,65, and mustered out at Columbus, Ohio. At one time, Mr. Burchfield was with a squad of twenty- five men, all of whom were captured except him- self, but he stood his ground, and after the rebel guns were discharged, he and his comrades turned on their captors and escaped. lle took part in about one hundred and fifty skirmishes while en- gaged in guarding railroads. When the war was
over and the country no longer needed his serv- ices, Mr. Burchfield returned home and carried on farming in Ohio until 1867, when he left his na- tive State for Illinois. Coming to Christian County, he located in Greenwood Township, where he purchased eighty acres of land, making that farm his home for eight years. In 1875, he rented one hundred and sixty acres of land in Johnson Township, and removed to that place for the educational facilities of that neighborhood were superior to those near his old home and he wished to afford his children good advantages. For eleven years he operated a rented farm, and then, in 1886. purchased a small tract of land in John- son Township, to the cultivation and improve- ment of which he devoted his energies until the spring of 1891, when he came to Taylorville. . He has now invested in city property, which yields to him a good income.
By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Burchfield, five children were born, two sons and three daughters: James William, Elizabeth, M. Belle, Benjamin Price and Violet F. With the exception of the eldest child, all are still under the parental roof. The family have a pleasant home in Taylorville, and their hospitable doors are ever open for the reception of their many friends. In his farming operations, Mr. Burchfield was successful, and un- der his care and cultivation the soil was made to yield to him a ready return, so that he is now comfortably situated in life, having a competence that enables him to live retired.
h ENRY CLAY BOHN is one of the honored veterans of the late war, having served nobly in the defense of the Stars and Stripes. He is now engaged in the cloth- ing business in Morrisonville, and is one of the prominent business men of the place. His birth occurred in Franklin County, Pa., October 15, 1843, and his boyhood was spent in his native State until his thirteenth year, when he removed with
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his father to Hagerstown, Md., where he obtained his education. Ile there learned the cigar-maker's trade and followed that business until the opening of the Civil War.
Our subject is a son of Adam and Hannah (Wingard) Bohn, who were both natives of Penn- sylvania. The former was a farmer by occupation in the Keystone State, where his death occurred in 1878, at the age of eighty-six years. His fa- ther. Adam Bohn, was a native of Germany, who emigrated to Pennsylvania, where he engaged in farming for a number of years, reared his family of nine children and lived to be over seventy years of age. Our subject's mother was a daugh- ter of Jacob Wingard, a native of the Keystone State, who followed agricultural pursuits and was also a well-known preacher of the United Brethren denomination. lle died after having attained the ripe old age of eighty-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Bohn were members of the United Brethren Church. The latter was called from this life in 1846.
In a family of eleven children, comprising five sons and six daughters, the subject of this sketch is the youngest. Only three of the family are now living. Maria is the wife of August Shirey, of New Castle, Ind .; and Elizabeth is the wife of George Alsbaugh, also of New Castle. In August. 1861, our subject became a member of Company E. First Regiment of Maryland Infantry, and was in active service for three years and three months. He received a slight flesh wound at the battle of Gettysburg, but otherwise was fortunate in escap- ing injury. He also participated in the battles of Winchester, Falling Waters. Antietam, Harper's Ferry, and a number of minor engagements. Af- ter receiving an honorable discharge, he went to Greencastle, Pa., where he engaged in the dry- goods business for three years.
In 1868 Mr. Bohn came to Marion County, Ill., where he embarked in the agricultural business and operated a farm for three years. Ile after- ward obtained employment in a dry-goods store as a clerk, in Sandoval, Ill., where he was sta- tioned for a number of years. In 1882 he came to Morrisonville and opened a clothing store, which business he has carried on up to the present time. He is the owner of a farin comprising one
hundred and sixty acres of land in Clinton County, Ill., and also owns the building in which his store is located, besides other desirable town property, in addition to his residence. Ile is a business man of good ability, and has secured the patron- age of the citizens of this place and the surround- ing country.
On the 3d of November, 1865, Mr. Bohn was united in marriage with Miss Mary Frances Savin, daughter of John and Margaret (Hiatt) Savin, of Harper's Ferry, W. Va. Two children have been born of this union, Ida and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Bohn is a valued member of the Presbyterian Church, in which she is an active worker.
In polities our subject affiliates with the Demo- cratie party. lle was President of the Village Board of Trustees for two terms, and was a mem- ber of that body for some five years. For one term he served acceptably as Supervisor of Ricks Township. In his social relations he is identified with Morrisonville Lodge No. 681, A. F. & A. M., with Taylorville Chapter and the Litchfield Com- mandery. Ile is also a member of the Morrison- ville lodge of Odd Fellows, and belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a Grand Army man, being a member of Dan Nutt Post.
AMES R. VANDERBELT has been engaged in active merchandising in Mt. Auburn for over twenty years, and is numbered among the old residents of this locality. He is a native of Indiana, born near Shelbyville, Shelby County, February 15, 1837, and is a son of David and Mary Ann (Nichols) Vanderbelt. The former was a native of Pennsylvania, coming from a fam- ily of Dutch ancestors, who were among the early settlers of the Keystone State.
David Vanderbelt, on arriving at manhood, left the scenes of his youth and went to Ohio, in which State he met the lady who became his wife. At an early day he removed further West, settling in
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Shelby County, Ind., where he followed his trade, that of a tanner. He also opened up a farm there, but after a few years went to Sullivan County, Ind., where he made his home until his death, which occurred in August, 1863.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in Shelby and Sullivan Counties. Since arriving at man's estate he has mainly acquired his education, as in his early days he had but few school privi- leges. In 1856 he came again to Illinois, drifted Westward to Missouri and Kansas, and finally was married in St. Clair County, Mo., to Miss Frances Shank, their marriage being celebrated February 13, 1859. The young couple returned to Illinois, and in 1860 located in Rochester, Sangamon County, where they resided about one year.
In 1861, Mr. Vanderbelt started in the harness business in Taylorville, and had made a fair start in this direction when he felt obliged by his pa- triotie impulses to drop all other considerations and go to the defense of the Union. Ile became a member of Company D, Forty-third Indiana Infantry, joining the regiment in Indianapolis, and going with it to the front. He was in active service until the elose of the war, receiving his discharge papers June 6, 1865.
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