USA > Illinois > Portrait and biographies of the governors of Illinois and of the residents of the United States > Part 22
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resided until 1841, which year witnessed their emigration to Illinois. They took up their resi- dence in Fayette County, where they made their home until 1856, when they came to Christian County, locating in Buckhart Township. Here Mr. Gardner carried on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occured on the 22d of January, 1889, at the age of seventy-two. His wife still " survives him and is now living in Sharpsburg.
The subject of this sketch is the third in order of birth in a family of eleven children, of whom four sons and two daughters are now living. It was during his infancy that his parents came to Illinois, so that he has no recollection of his native State as a place of residence. Hle remained under the parental roof until he had attained his ma- jority, and his boyhood days were quietly passed midst play and work. He attended the district schools during the winter season, thus acquiring a good English education, while his time in summer months was devoted to farm labor.
In August, 1864, Mr. Gardner led to the mar- riage altar Miss Clarinda Doak, who died the me year. For his second wife he chose Mis Ward, a native of Macon Connty, their union has been born a family William, Lewis and Frank, who with their parents and aid their father Luis fa. ing duties. Since 1864, Mr. Gardner has resided upon the farm which is now his home. He first purchased eighty acres and began its development, but as his financial resources have increased he has added to his landed possessions from time to time, until he now owns two hundred acres of rich and fertile farming land. In connection with its cul- tivation. he also raises some good stock, making a specialty of the breeding of Shorthorn cattle.
Mr. Gardner has several times been called upon to serve in positions of public trust by his fellow- townsmen, who have recognized his worth and ability. He was Road Commissioner for the long period of fifteen years, and is now Trustee of the school funds. Socially, he is connected with Edin- burgh Lodge No. 647, A. F. & A. M .; and religiously with the Free Baptist Church. In politics he is an advocate of the Democracy. Pleasant and social in manner, he gains friends wherever he goes and
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has a host of them in this community. He is one of the leading and influential citizens of Buck- hart Township, and it is with pleasure that we pre- sent to our readers this record of his life work.
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C A. PRATER, an attorney of Edinburgh, and President of the Citizens' State Bank, is a native of Illinois. He was born in Fay- ette County, January 21, 1851, and is a son of Elisha and Naney ( Watkins) Prater. His father was born in Tennessee in 1815, and was of Irish deseent. In his native State he was reared upon a farm, and in 1840 emigrated to Fayette County, Ill., where he met and married Miss Watkins, her family having there located in a very early day. In 1861, Mr. and Mrs. Prater came to Christian County, where the father died in 1887, at the age of seventy-two years. His widow is still living in Edinburgh. They were the parents of nine children, five sons and four daughters, two of whom died in infancy. Louisa J. is now the wife of A. McCarty, J. A. is living in Taylorville; C. A. Tiger; Sarah JJ. is the wife of Henry Jenkins, or Centralia, Ill .; and Mary C. is the wife of W. W. Love, of Edinburgh.
Our subject is the fifth in order of birth. When a lad of ten summers he came with his parents to Christian County. Ile began his education in the district schools of Fayette County, and completed it in this county. Upon the home farm he was reared to manhood, and to his father gave the benefit of his services until twenty-four years of age, when he began teaching in the distriet schools, which profession he followed for a period of seven years. During that time he began studying law, and pursued his researches in that direction with a law firm in Springfield. After thorough prepar- ation he was admitted to the Bar, in January, 1882, and at once entered upon the practice of his chosen profession. Locating in Edinburgh. he has here since made his home and has been numbered among its leading attorneys.
In 1877, Mr. Prater was united in marriage with Miss Martha J. Finley, a native of Christian County, Ill. Their union has been blessed with one son, Lyman, who is still with his parents. In his political views, Mr. Prater is a Democrat, has served as Justice of the Peace and has held other local offices. In his social relations he is con- nected with Edinburgh Lodge No. 631, 1. O. O. F., of Edinburgh, and is a member of the Christian Church. He possesses skill and ability as a lawyer and has secured a large number of elients. The liberal patronage which he receives is well merited, for he takes rank among the prominent leading practitioners of the community. Ile is also Presi- dent of the Citizens' State Bank, and is recognized as an enterprising, progressive and publie-spirited eitizen of Edinburgh.
DOLPHUS DE BARR has been engaged in agricultural pursuits for the past thirty years and has made it the business of his life. He is of French and English extrae- tion, and was born in Virginia April 28, 1834. IIe is one of the most successful farmers of the county, and is one of the extensive land-owners of Loeust Township, his home being on section 21. He is a man of broad and liberal views, who has the wel- fare of the entire community always at heart, and both himself and wife are highly respected and merit the esteem accorded them by one and all.
The father of our subject, John De Barr, was also a native of the Old Dominion, where he grew to manhood and chose for his life companion Miss Sarah Daws. The birthplace of this lady was in Virginia, and by her marriage she became the mo- ther of four children, the eldest of whom is our subject. William, the next younger, is now liv- ing at the home of his brother; Mary, deceased, was buried in Taylorville; and Harriet is the wife of Isaae McCune, of Taylorville.
Adolphus De Barr started out to fight life's bat- tles at the age of twenty-one years empty-handed.
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He learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked in Taylorville for several years after his arrival in the West, in 1857. He commenced farming about 1863, since which time he has made it his chief business. Ile has been successful be- yond his expectations, and now at the end of three decades finds himself possessed of about five hun- dred acres of fertile farm land under good im- provement.
In December, 1857, was celebrated the first mar- riage of our subject, Sarah Ann Huffman being the lady of his choice. She was a native of Ohio, and to her were born four children. Joseph and James are living at home; John is a merchant, conduct- ing a general store at Millersville, Locust Town- ship; and Annie is the wife of Joshua Cleary, a farmer of the same township. The present wife of Mr. De Barr was formerly Miss Sarah Ann Leeper. Their marriage took place in Christian County in 1874. Mrs. De Barr was born in Noble County, Ohio, and is of Irish and German ances- try, being first cousin to Ira D. Sankey, the world- renowned singer. They became the parents of five children : Willie. Mary, Erma, Albert L. and Eugene. Willie and Eugene died in early child- hood.
Our subjeet deposits his ballot in favor of the Democratic party and supports its principles. In his social relations he is a member of the Masonic order and is a Royal Arch Mason. As an industri- ous man, whose course in life has been marked by striet attention to his own affairs and a high regard for the rights of others, he well merits the respect and confidence in an eminent degree of his hosts of friends and neighbors.
R EUBEN WILKINSON is one of the best- known citizens of Taylorville, and a his- tory of Christian County would be in- complete without the life record of this worthy man. Ilis energy and determination have made a success of his life, and it is with pleasure
that we present to our readers this account of him. He was born in Kentucky, but when a small boy accompanied his parents to the prairies of Illinois, so that nearly his entire life of seventy years has been intimately connected with the development and prosperity of this section of the State. His boyhood days were indications of his after years, and, early learning the value of a dollar, he was not slow to develop a trait for money-mak- ing. and to that end he has devoted most of his time His business ability was soon recognized, and for nearly half a century he has been classed as one of the successful financiers of this county. Not having the advantages afforded by the schools of the day for academic studies, his education is mostly of a practical kind; and though his atten- tion has been fully engrossed by busmess cares, the years of application have had such an effect upon him that no little thought and attention are given to the affairs of his friends and neighbors as well as to his own. Probably no man in the county is of a more helpful nature than he.
When yet a young man, Mr. Wilkinson married Miss Hester Pratt, a native of England, and unto them have been born two children: George C. and Emma J., wife of George P. Nerrington, a banker of Edinburgh. lle has not stood aloof in investing his means in such measures as would develop the resources of his home and city, but has given lib- erally. The present coal interests are largely de- pendent upon him for development. The fine flouring plant of the Ruth Mills owes its existence to him. It was erected in 1867, at a cost of 827,- 000, and since then the firm of Price & Wilkinson has done an extensive and successful milling busi- ness. Illustrative of the boldness of his business methods, he, not content to market the mill prod- ucts near home, shipped his fine flour to the world's milling center, Minneapolis, and there secured a market for much of his surplus goods. He has probably been financially interested in more enterprises than any other man in this local- ity, and when he has had full control, or his ad- vice has been closely followed, disaster has not overtaken any of his business ventures.
Mr. Wilkinson is an enthusiastic advocate of Prohibition. Not only by precept, but by ex-
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ample as well, has he advocated temperance. Ile has never sought public office, preferring to devote himself to the more congenial commercial life. He has a rugged nature-the diamond in the rough- but is warm hearted and true. Of a genial, so- cial nature, he has hosts of warm friends, who es- teem him highly and delight in his successes. Ilis home is the abode of hospitality. his estimable wife being a lady of many excellencies of character, and having the happy faculty of making her guests feel at case.
AMES H. JOHNSTON, a well-to-do farmer of Johnson Township, has been engaged in farming in Christian County for nearly forty years, and has been a prominent factor in the development of this region. Ile was born in Delaware County, Ohio, November 22, 1836. Ile removed with his parents to Madi- son County, the same State, and later arrived in this county in 1854.
Our subject's father, Alexander Johnston, was born in Ireland in 1818. Ilis father was a soldier in the British army for five years. In 1825. Alexander Johnston crossed the Atlantic and first settled in Pike County, Pa. In 1831, he emi- grated to Ohio, where the following year he mar- ried Susan Allen, who was born and reared in Delaware County, that State. She was of German origin, her father having emigrated from the Fatherland and settled in Virginia at an early day. Mr. Johnston died in 1871, and lies buried in Anderson Cemetery, Johnson Township. His wife, who died two years later, now rests by his side in the same cemetery. They were the parents of eleven children, our subject being the second in order of birth.
I'ntil reaching his majority, James II. Johnston resided with his parents and received a good education. Having been brought up to the busi- ness of farming and stock-raising, he felt himself best qualified for that occupation and chose it as
his life work. Ile has been successful to an emi- nent degree in his business undertakings, as will be seen from the fact that he is at present the owner of five hundred and sixty acres of fertile farm land, which is all under good improvement and is well stocked with horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. Mr. Johnston usually has on hand from one hundred to one hundred and fifty head of cattle, and from one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty head of hogs. Hle is also en- gaged in buying, selling and shipping live stock to a considerable extent, is a good judge of their value, and has made considerable money in that direction. He is well known as one of the prin- cipal farmers of the township, and has made his home on his present farm for some fifteen years. He has a pleasant and comfortable residence and good farm buildings upon the place.
The marriage of Mr. Johnston took place March 18, 1879, when Miss Hattie Murray, of La Salle County, Ill., became his wife. They have had born to them five children, who are all living and at home. In order of birth they are as follows: Eugene, Grace, Pearl, Blanche and James. The parents are highly respected citizens, and are well received in the social circles of the neighborhood in which they dwell. Our subject is a Democrat politically, and is a member of the Masonic order.
W E. SEATON, who is the present Super- visor of Buckhart Township, follows farm- ing on section 30, where he has a well-im- proved and valuable tract of land. One of Illi- nois' native sons, he was born in Fayette County on the 5th of November, 1840, and is a son of William and Ellen ( Williams) Seaton. The father was born and reared in Tennessee, and in 1830 emigrated to this State, locating in Fayette County, where he entered land from the Government at $1.25 per acre. Upon the farm which he there improved his death occurred at the age of forty- two. Ilis wife was also a native of Tennessee,
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and was called to her final rest at the age of fifty- seven. The family numbered seven children, four sons and three daughters, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. Levi is now living in Fayette County; Louisa is the wife of James Little, of the same county; Amanda is the widow of Tony B. Williams, of Fayette County; Clarissa is the wife of John Farber, of Fayette County; W. E. is the next younger; John is now deceased; and Riley is living in Fayette County.
In the usual manner of farmer lads the subject of this sketch was reared to manhood. The com- mon schools afforded him his educational priv- ileges. He studied through the winter season and in the summer months aided in the labors of the fields. Having arrived at years of maturity, he was married, in 1862, to Julia Piatt. a native of Fayette County and a daughter of John F. Piatt. Unto them were born four children: Marinda, who died at the age of six years; John W., Jesse E. and Gordon E., who were born on the Seaton farm in this county, and are still with their father. The mother of this family was called to her final rest February 22, 1888, and her death was widely mourned by a large circle of warm friends.
Mr. Seaton came to this county in 1865, and lo- cated upon the farm which has since been his home. There was a small house upon it, but no other improvements, and the place of which he came into possession bears little resemblance to the fine farm of to-day. Within the boundaries are comprised three hundred and sixty acres of rich land, which by well-kept fences is divided into forty-aere fields, all under a high state of cultivation. There are a tasty residence, good barns and outbuildings and all the accessories and con- veniences of a farm of the nineteenth century. In connection with the raising of crops, Mr. Seaton is also engaged in stock-raising, and this branch of his business yields him a good income.
Our subject exercises his right of franchise in support of the Democratic party. In 1889 he was elected Supervisor of the township, and has since been unanimously re-elected to that position, be- ing the choice of both parties. He has served for twenty-one years as School Director, and has done much to advance the cause of education in this
community. Ile proves a faithful and competent officer, and the trust reposed in him is never be- trayed. No better citizen can be found in the community than Mr. Seaton, who always bears his part in the work of public improvement, and in private life is alike true.
2 HOMAS J. ELLIOTT was one of the hon- ored early settlers and representative men of Christian County. From his early years he was obliged to depend upon his own resources, and was a self-educated and self-made man. He was a native of Illinois, having been born in Clay County on the 16th of February, 1829. He be- came a resident of this county in 1853, and was located in Taylorville Township, on section 29, for about a quarter of a century.
Ilis father dying when he was young, Mr. El- liott began working when only about nine years old, and received for a number of years only twenty- five cents per day for his services. His education was necessarily very limited, and it was owing to his habits of study and desire for information that he acquired such as he possessed. After living for a number of years in his native county, he went to Sangamon County, where he made his home for some time, and, as previously stated, came to Christian County in 1853. For some years he was a resident of Bear Creek Township, thence re- moving to Taylorville Township. In 1868 he purchased a farm of one hundred and thirty acres, to the cultivation of which he devoted himself during the remainder of his life. He afterward purchased another thirty-acre tract, and there en- gaged in general farming and stock-raising with good success.
On the 26th of December, 1868, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Elliott and Miss Ruth Clay- ton, who was born in Sangamon County, and re- moved with her parents, Jefferson and Elizabeth (Scott) Clayton, to Christian County when she
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was a little girl. To our subject and his wife was born a family of eight children, who, with the ex- ception of one, are still living. They are as fol- lows: Luella, Alvin I., Minnie E., Worthy E .. Dwight, Ida M., Franklin O. and Leda G. Myrtle is deceased.
The death of Mr. Elliott occurred on the 12th of February, 1888, and his mortal remains were placed to rest in the Taylorville Cemetery. In politics. he was ever to be found in the ranks of the Democratic party, and was greatly interested in promoting the welfare of the community with which his lot was cast. Ilis widow and children are still living on the old homestead, and occupy a high place in the friendship and good-will of their friends and neighbors. Mr. Elliott's course in life deserves the highest commendation, as he was possessed of a courage and fortitude which surmounted all obstacles in his pathway. Of these there were truly more than falls to the lot of most men, but he at last reached the goal of his hopes, becoming a good citizen, a practical and progress- ive farmer, and a friend who could be ever re- lied upon.
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B EVERLY VAN BUREN MARTIN, who is engaged in the dray and transfer business in Taylorville, comes from the far-off State of West Virginia. Ile was born in Harri- son County, on the 6th of July, 1840, and is a son of John B. and Mary Ann ( Wood) Martin, who were both natives of the Old Dominion. His grandfather, Levi Martin, was born in West Vir- ginia, and there followed the occupation of farm- ing for many years. Ile was called to his final rest in 1845, when about eighty-five years of age. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Alex- ander Wood, carried on agricultural pursuits in Virginia, the State of his nativity.
Of the family of ten children, numbering six sons and four daughters, to which our subject be- longed, six are now living, namely: Martha E.,
wife of Monterville Bartlett; Emery; Catherine E., wife of John Payne; Beverly V. B., whose name heads this sketch; Cree; and Homer. The father of this family carried on farming and stoek-deal- ing in West Virginia, where his death occurred in February, 1892, at the ripe old age of eighty-four years. lle had long survived his wife, who had passed away in 1851. Both were consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Church. Mr. Martin was a second time married, the lady of his choice being Miss Hannah Bailey, a daughter of Albert Bailey, of Virginia. She now makes her home in Des Momes, Iowa.
The subject of this sketch remained npon the home farm in the State of his birth until sixteen years of age, when he began the study of medi- eine. For two years his energies were directed along that line, after which he went to California, in 1861, spending four years upon the Pacific Slope. Returning to West Virginia in 1865, he there remained until 1870. when he determined to seek a home in the West. Coming to Illinois. he located in Dorehester, where he embarked in mer- chandising and also engaged in buying stock. It was in the eentennial year of 1876 that he went to Staunton, where he carried on the livery busi- ness until 1880. That year witnessed his arrival in Taylorville. Here he again opened a livery stable, carrying on business along that line until September, 1892, when he sold out to Messrs. Fisher & Kinney. He also imported Clyde, Ham- bletonian, Percheron and Norman stallions. Since disposing of his livery business he has continued in the dray and transfer business.
On the 22d of May, 1871, Mr. Martin was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann Wayne, a daugh- ter of Churchill and Mary (Kellar) Wayne, of Dorchester. By their union they became the parents of four children, all sons: John, Frank, Alonzo and Harry. The first-named died at the age of seventeen years, but the other children are still with their parents.
Socially, Mr. Martin is connected with the An- eient Order of United Workmen, and his wife holds membership with the Cumberland Presby- terian Church. He votes with the Republican party and is a stanch supporter of its principles.
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He was honored with the office of Mayor of Tay- lorville for a term of two years, was Supervisor for two terms, and has been School Director and Pres- ident of the East School Board for seven years. With promptness and fidelity his public duties were discharged. The cause of education finds in him a warm friend and he has done effective serv- ice in its interests. Besides his residence and other city property in Taylorville, Mr. Martin owns one hundred and sixty acres of farming land in South Dakota. lle has a wide acquaintance throughout this community and by his pleasant, genial manner and excellencies of character has won many warm friends.
OHN W. NICODEMUS, who is well known in Christian and neighboring counties as a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, now owns a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Taylorville Township. Ile was one of the pioneers of his denomination in central Illinois and was for a period of twenty-two years on the Illinois circuit. He was zealous and active for years as a minister and often walked from ten to twenty miles to conduct a religious service.
The birth of our subject occurred in Knox County, Tenn., February 29, 1824. He is a son of Frederick Nicodemus, and is one of two children, he being the eldest, and Locky Ann, who is de- ceased. The mother died when John was very young, and his father passed away when he was a lad of only seven years. Ile was taken by an uncle, and remained with him until he was seven- teen years of age. Desiring to learn a trade, he apprenticed himself for two years to a blacksmith, working for his board and clothes. For two terms he was in Knoxville pursuing his studies. After- wards he built a shop of his own and continued to work at his trade for a few years. Returning to Knoxville, he there resided until 1860, when he came to Illinois, making the trip by team. He lo-
cated in what is now King Township, and pur- chased eighty acres of unimproved prairie land, where he lived for about five years.
Mr. Nicodemus became a resident of Taylorville Township in 1865, having sold his former farm and purchased one of eighty aeres on section 14. There he engaged in agricultural pursuits for a few years and then located on his present farm, to which he came in 1882. This property comprises one hundred and twenty acres of arable and well- improved land, and has been placed under a high state of cultivation.
Our subject has been twice married, his first un- ion being celebrated October 3, 1843, with Miss Mary E. Ault, by whom he had six children: Joel A., who died in March, 1845; Martha A., who died in March, 1847; William K., a resident of Taylor- ville; Wesley B., a farmer of this county; Mary A., who died January 10, 1852; and Willie B., who died April 20, 1854. The mother departed this life May 7, 1854. The second marriage of Mr. Nicodemus was with Miss Mary A., daughter of John and Mary Falkner. The wedding ceremony took place July 20, 1854. She was born near Knoxville, Tenn., January 20, 1829.
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