USA > Illinois > Portrait and biographies of the governors of Illinois and of the residents of the United States > Part 23
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In his political faith Mr. Nicodemus is a Demo- crat. lle has held the office of Commissioner of Highways and has been a School Director. In his early life lie met with a great deal of discourage- ment, and is a self-educated as well as a self-made man. He has always taken a great and active in- terest in all church and educational work, and is one of the valued citizens of this county.
R. ANDREW F. HAMMER, of Taylor- ville, who is engaged in the practice of the medical profession, was born in the eity which is now his home, December 7, 1849. His paternal grandfather, Frederick Ham- mer, was a native of Kentucky, and was a black- smith and farmer by trade. llaving emigrated to Illinois in an carly day, he served in the Black
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Ilawk War. Locating in Christian County, he here carried on agricultural pursuits for a number of years, and his death occurred on his farm two and a-half miles from Taylorville, at the age of seventy-three years. Ile was laid to rest in the Stonington Cemetery. The maternal grandfather of our subject, who bore the name of Josiah Lang- ley, was also a native of Kentucky, and he too was a farmer. He died at his home, three miles west of Taylorville, at the age of fifty-five years.
The parents of our subject, Addison W. and Rebecca Adeline (Langley) Hammer, were both natives of Kentucky. The father was a black- smith by trade, but after emigrating to Illinois became a tiller of the soil. He came to this State in 1827, locating with his parents in Sangamon County. In 1837 the family removed to the east- ern part of Christian County, and lived near the present site of Moweaqua until 1847. In the mean time Mr. Hammer learned the blacksmith's trade from his father, and then removed to Taylor- ville, where, in connection with his brother Lucian, he carried on business along that line for some years. He now resides in Custer, Sangamon County, and is at present serving as Postmaster of that place. llis wife, who was a member of the Christian Church, died in the fall of 1865, and in 1868 Mr. Hammer married Miss Millie Woods, who was also born and reared in Kentucky. Ile is a member of the Universalist Church, and is a highly-respected man.
The Doctor is one of a family of eight children. numbering five sons and three daughters, of whom the daughters and two sons are now living. They are Andrew F .; Hugh L .; Margaret, wife of Isaac B. Jordan, a lawyer of Kingman County, Kan .; Laura B., wife of T. II. Johnson, of Taylorville; and Lura M., wife of John S. Neal, of Springfield, III. .
We now take up the personal history of the Doctor, who was reared in this city and vicinity and acquired his early education in the Taylor- ville public schools. He remained at home with his parents until twenty-seven years of age and aided in the labors of the farm. With a desire to make the practice of medicine his life work, he en- tered upon a medical course in the Ilahnemann
Medical College, of Chicago, from which institu- tion he was graduated in 1877. IIe then located in Custer, formerly known as Berry, and opening an office began practice. For fifteen years he re- mained in that place, receiving a liberal share of the public patronage. He then determined to re- turn to his native city, and in 1892 took up his residence in Taylorville, where he has since made his home.
On the 14th of June, 1878, the Doctor was uni- ted in marriage with Mrs. Alice A. Allen, widow of John W. Allen, and a daughter of John S. and Mary J. (Bell) Dickerson. Two children grace their union: Stella P. and Lena J. The Doctor and his wife are members of the Christian Church, and, socially, he is connected with Mound Lodge No. 122, A. F. & A. M., and Berry Lodge No. 26, I. O. O. F. He also belongs to the Modern Wood- men of America. He owns two hundred and forty acres of land half a mile from Clarksdale, and his wife has a forty-aere tract near Berry. They also have a residence property in Berry. In politics, the Doctor is a Republican and a strong Protec- tionist. Although he has made his home in Tay- lorville but a short time, he is already building up a good trade, and his skill and ability merit a lib- eral patronage. He is a pleasant, genial gentle- man and is highly esteemed for his sterling worth.
INSTON LEANDER LONG has been en- gaged in the mercantile business in Mor- risonville for a number of years, being a junior member of the firm of Hewitt & Long. A. M. Hewitt, of the firm, is a brother-in-law of our subject, and they have been in business together since 1885. Mr. Long was born in Christian County, Ky., where the village of Herndon now stands, January 15, 1851.
John Culbertson Long, father of our subjeet, was born in Muhlenburg County, Ky., June 19, 1779. Ilis mother, Rebecca Stevenson (McCormick) Long
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was born in Lincoln County, N. C., September 18, 1812. Iler parents removed from North Carolina to Missouri when she was six months old, and from Missouri to Kentucky when she was two years of age. She was married to Mr. Long in Christian County, Ky., in 1837.
Five sons and four daugliters blessed their home. The eldest, Andrew MeCormick Long, died in in- fancy. John Turner Long, the second child, now living in Danville, Tenn., is a mechanic; he was married in 1862 to Mrs. Elvira R. Luek, whose maiden name was McCraw, and they have one son, Lucian Clyde. The third in order of birth, Sarah Ann Long, married Benjamin Scott Pickard in 1859, and four children came to them: Herschel W., lda May, Minnie Lee and Benjamin Scott. Mr. Pickard died in 1866, and some ten years later Mrs. Pickard married John A. Myers, of Dan- ville, Tenn. Two children, Hattie Belle and Dora Pearl, were the result of this union. Mrs. Myers died in 1888, and Mr. Myers is now living in Christian County, Ky. James Marion Long, the fourth child, was married to Miss Carrie MeCraw, a niece of Mrs. John Turner Long, in 1867; they have four children: Drucilla Ann, Jimmie L., Oscar Woodson and Birch. The greater part of James Long's life has been spent in merchandising, but a few years ago he removed to his farm near Bennettstown, Christian County, Ky., where he re- sides. Eliza Long, the fifth child, died at about three years of age. Isabella Washington Long, the sixth in order, married James B. Radford in 1867; they had two children, Edgar Clarence and Viola Mattie. Mrs. Radford died in 1874, and some years later Mr. Radford married Miss Amelia Park, and now resides in Christian County, Ky. Eudora Clem- entine Long, the seventh child, married William G. Williams in 1877, and died the year following. Mr. Williams died about a year later. Fidella M. Long, the ninth child, died at about one year of age.
Winston Leander Long, the eighth child and the subject of this sketch, passed his boyhood in Christian County, Ky., being reared to agricultural pursuits. After his father's death, which occurred when Winston was only ten years old, he worked on his mother's farm, getting such advantages as
the country schools afforded. At the age of fifteen it beeame necessary for him to take charge of the farm, his elder brothers having gone from home. The war coming on the year of his father's death, the freeing of the slaves, and the depreciation of values generally, consequent upon the war, brought his mother to very straitened eireum- stances, which financial embarrassment made it trying for so young a farmer. Ilis opportunities were very limited until the age of eighteen, when he entered the male academy at Garrettsburg, Ky., his teacher being no less a personage than that most profound scholar and instructor, Q. M. Tyler, whose name is dear to so many men who were boys in southern Kentucky and northern Tennessee. Af- ter continuing here two years, he returned to the farm. For several years after this, our sub- jeet aspired to the medical profession, but his ed- ucation not being entirely satisfactory, and his mother and two sisters still being unprotected, he remained at home. He, however, began to make arrangements to enter the mercantile business, and in 1874 bought an interest in his brother James' grocery store, at Roaring Spring, Ky., his brother retaining almost entire control. A year or so later it became necessary, according to the terms of his father's will, to sell all real estate belonging to deceased. Winston bought the homestead, but soon sold to his brother James, and in the spring of 1877 he came to Christian County, Ill., and entered into the dry-goods business in partnership with A. E. Boyd, of Palmer, Ill.
On June 19, 1878, our subjeet was married to Miss Hl. Lou Hewitt, of Taylorville, by the Rev. E. P. Rankin, a Presbyterian minister of Morrison- ville. Miss Ilewitt was the third daughter of William T. and Anna (Gibson) Hewitt. Her eld- est brother, Francis M., died in 1872. Olive C., the second child, married Joseph S. Wallace. Aurelius M., the third, married Miss Florence An- derson. James Byron, the fourth, died in 1869. Laura J., the fifth, married .J. L. Boyd. Mrs. Long, the sixth, was born in Christian County, Ill., Sep- tember 23, 1856. Her mother died when she was eight months old. Some three years later her fa- ther married Miss Mary R. Wilcockson, a very estimable lady, and daughter of Col. John H.
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II. Wilcockson, of Sangamon County, Ill. Three children were the result of this union, William T., Lee D. and Homer B. William T., Jr., died in 1872. Lee D. married Miss Ella . Russell.
William T. Hewitt, Sr., was born in Stafford County, Va., January 15, 1816. Ile removed to Christian County, Ky., when yet a young man, and was married there. He moved to Christian County, Ill., in 1842, and became a prosperous stock-raiser, farmer and a man of wealth. lle was a good and learned man, and a man of sterling integrity. Hle died November 24, 1890. Mrs. Long's mother, Anna (Gibson) Hewitt, was born in Christian County, Ky., in 1821. She was a wo- man of piety, and was noted for her benevolent and amiable disposition, and for her charity to the poor. She died June 8, 1857. Mrs. Long is a Christian lady, being an earnest worker and an ac- tive member of the Presbyterian Church. She is of high social standing, a kind and affectionate wife and mother, and makes home pleasant and happy for her husband and little son.
In the fall of 1878 the firm of Boyd & Long dis- solved, the former partner retiring and the latter continuing in business. In 1884, Mr. Long sold out and moved to Sully County, S. Dak. In 1885, he returned to the Prairie State, and has since been located in Morrisonville, Socially, he is connected with Morrisonville Lodge No. 681, A. F. & A. M., and is a member of Mound Lodge and Chapter of Taylorville. In politics he is a Democrat, first, last and all the time, and is at present serving as Supervisor of Ricks Township. Mr. Long is quiet and retiring in manner, but he has a host of friends and acquaintances who consider him a man of integrity and of a high sense of honor. Mr. and Mrs. Long had only two children, the elder of whom died in infancy. The other, Troy Lovell, was born December 27, 1881. He is now a lad of twelve, healthy, but of a delicate frame.
John Culbertson Long, the father of our subject, was the eldest of ten children, the second being William; the third was Robert F., who married Lu- eretia Boyd; the fourth Joseph; the fifth William; the sixth Isaac, who married Sarah Vincent; the seventh Agnes A .; the eighth Mary, who married Collins Calvert; the ninth Rebecca, who married
Wilson Cates; and the tenth Elizabeth, who mar- ried Jacob Gish. John Culbertson Long was a temperate man and a Christian, being an Elder in the Presbyterian Church for a number of years, or up to the time of his death, which occurred July 11, 1861. The grandfather of our subject, Samuel C. Long, was born in the State of Pennsylvania, and married Joanna Culbertson.
Rebecca S. (McCormick) Long, the mother of our subject, was one of a family of six children. The eldest, Joseph Manson McCormick, married Miss Mckenzie. Immediately after their mar- riage, in Christian County, Ky., they moved to Texas, which was not yet admitted into the Union. The opportunities being favorable, he became a wealthy man. They had only one son, Andrew Phelps McCormick, who is now United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit in Texas. He also sits in the Circuit Court of Appeals at New Orleans from the middle of November to the fol- lowing June of each year. Eliza MeCormick, the second, married Joseph Causey. Juliet MeCor- mick, the third, married James Boyd. Zillah A McCormick. the sixth, married Alfred Boyd, a brother of her sister Juliet's husband. Both of the Boyds and their families moved from Christian County, Ky., and settled in Christian County, III. They reared large families, many of whom are well-known and prominent business men of this county and State. Rebecca S. MeCormick, the mother of our subject. had a twin brother, whose name was John, but he did not survive infancy. She was a very large lady, and at one time weighed nearly three hundred pounds. She was a woman of considerable force of character, was a great reader. and was a Christian, having joined the Presby- terian Church when quite young, and she remained in it until she died, March 16, 1881.
Mrs. Long's father, Andrew MeCormick, was born in Lincoln County, N. C., in 1780, and mar- ried Sarah Steele, who was born in the same coun- ty in the year 1775. The latter's family were people of wealth for their time, and had great force of character. For some cause they opposed their daughter Sarah's marriage to Mr. McCor- mick, hence little is known of her ancestors, She had three brothers, however, one of whom was
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named Henry. Andrew McCormick having died in Christian County, Ky., in 1822, she married a man by the name of Howard. He died some four years after their marriage, and she went to make her home with her daughter, Mrs. Rebecca Long, where she spent her declining years. She died at the age of eighty. Andrew McCormick had an older brother, Joseph, who moved from North Carolina to Washington County, Mo. One of his sons, James Robinson McCormick, now lives at Farming- ton, St. Francois County, Mo. He is a physician by profession, and has twice been elected State Senator, has three times been elected to Congress, and was a General in the Union army. Ile is a wealthy man and has retired from public life and from active business. Andrew had two other brothers, David and John, who died without heirs. He had three sisters, Elizabeth, Catharine and Mary. Elizabeth married Enos Sherrill. Cathar- ine married John Alexander. Mary married A. T. Alexander, a brother of Catharine's husband. The families belonging to these three sisters were peo- ple of prominence.
The great-grandfather of our subject was also named Andrew McCormick. He emigrated to this country from Ireland some time between 1746 and 1750. Information is not definite as to where he was born, but the impression is that he was born in Scotland. But if not born in Scotland, it may be stated with some degree of certainty that he was of Scotch descent. He met and married Catharine Adams in Pennsylvania. She, Catharine Adams, had three brothers, John, Peter and Jacob, and two sisters, Mary and Hannah. Mary married a man named Groves. Hannah married Mr. Low- rance. Catharine (Adams) McCormick's father, John Adams, is the earliest of the common ances- tors, so far as the knowledge of the subject of our sketeh, or family tradition, reaches. This John Adams was born in Holland or in one of the Ger- man States, While still a youth. he and a sister of his came with a colony of Calvinist Protestants to New Jersey. Ile married and settled on or near the Delaware River, not far from Philadelphia. Here he resided with his family until the fall of 1776. lle was an early and ardent supporter of the patriot eause, and when Earl Cornwallis overran
the Jerseys in 1776, John Adams moved his fam- ily into Pennsylvania, then into Virginia, and about the close of the next year, 1777, reached and permanently settled in what is now Rowan County, N. C. The McCormicks, kindred of our subject, have been farmers, stock-raisers, merchants, bankers and lawyers, with an occasional physician and Presbyterian preacher, but few office-holders, either civil or military. Very many have been Ruling Elders in the Presbyterian Church.
E DWARD BUGG, a well-known agriculturist of Christian County, has spent his entire life in May Township, having been born March 31, 1848, on the same farm where he now resides. This place was entered from the Govern- ment by his father, who was among the pioneers of the county. The home of our subject is lo- cated on section 23, where he owns a well-im- proved farm.
Edward Bugg was the seventh child in a family. of eight children born to Joseph and Susanna (Peck) Bugg. Four of the family are now de- ceased. John, the eldest living, is a retired far- mer, and now a resident of Assumption; William is a prosperous agriculturist of this township, as is also Joseph R., the only other survivor. The fa- ther was born March 12, 1810, at Levin, Yorkshire, England. where he continued to reside until his marriage, which occurred February 27, 1833. In June, 1834, the young couple set sail for America and landed in Quebec, Canada, where they spent the winter. In May of the following year they removed to Indiana and settled on a farm three , miles northeast of Terre Haute, where they made their home for four years. At the end of that time they came to this county and made a settle- ment on section 4, May Township, north of Flat Branch. Their location was on the open prairie, half a mile from the timber. At that time all the settlements had been made along the timber-land, and they were the only ones who had yet ventured
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out on the prairie, which people in those days lit- tle expected could be developed into good farms. In 1844, the family removed to the place where our subject now resides and built a log house. To the eastward the prairie stretched for eighteen miles without a single house or improvement of any kind. Though they were much annoyed by the depredations of wolves and had much sickness. they remained on this tract of land and improved a farm of three hundred and eighty acres. Mr. Bugg was called from this life May 10, 1865, and was laid to rest in the Harris Cemetery in May Township. He was an active man and numbered many friends in the county. Religiously, he held membership with the Methodist Church. His wife was born in Yorkshire, England, August 10, 1812. to Simon and Jane (Butledge) Peck. Iler death occurred October 28, 1882, at Terre Haute, Ind., where she was visiting. She had for many years previously made her home with our subject.
Edward Bugg, whose name heads this sketch. resided at his birthplace on the same farm he now cultivates until he was of age. His education was such as was afforded by the country schools of those days. On reaching man's estate he rented a part of the home farm for a number of years, and on the 10th of February, 1874. was united in mar- riage with Miss Christina Bailey. She was born in Oneida County, N. Y., March 7, 1841, and was a daughter of M. S. and Lydia (Taylor) Bailey. The former was a native of Massachusetts, who re- moved with his parents to Oneida County, N. Y .. when a small boy. There occurred his marriage. and in that county he resided until his death, which occurred when he had reached an advanced age. He was of English descent, and was one of the early settlers of Oneida County. Ilis father participated in the War of the Revolution. The mother of Mrs. Bugg was born in Steuben County, N. Y., where she is still living, now well advanced in life. Her father was a native of Scotland, and came to Ameriea in his boyhood.
Three children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bugg, but two died in infaney. Gracie Fidelia, who lives at home, is an accomplished musi- cian and has received a superior edueation. Though not a member of any church, Mr. Bugg contrib-
utes to their support, especially to the Presbyte- rian Church, of which his wife is a member. In politics, he uses his influence in behalf of the Re- publican party. His farm now numbers two hun- dred and fifty acres, which are fertile and well cul- tivated. It is a desirable piece of property and bears little resemblance to the wild prairie which it was at the time of his father's location upon it.
OHN LEWIS TURNER, a carpenter and manufacturer, ranks high in the business cir- cles of this community and well deserves mention in the history of Christian County for the prominent part he has taken in all the public affairs that tend to benefit and upbuild the com- munity. The record of his life is as follows: A native of Indiana, he was born in Greene County on the 2d of September, 1844. Ile is of English and Scotch descent. the paternal grandfather hav- ing been a native of England, who died in Ten- nessee. He is also descended from one of the Revolutionary heroes, his maternal grandfather. Benjamin Phillips, a native of Scotland, having served as a soldier in the War of Independence. He lived to quite an advanced age, and died in Greene County, Ind.
The parents of our subject, Archelaus and Susan (Phillips) Turner, were both natives of Tennessee. The father was a farmer and mechanic. His death occurred in 1846, of brain fever, in Greene County, Ind., but his wife lived until the 3d of April, 1883, surviving her husband about thirty-seven years. and died at the home of the subject of this sketeh. They were both members of the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church and were highly respected peo- ple. Their family numbered ten children. five sons and five daughters, of whom seven grew to mature years. Nancy is now the widow of William Anderson; Delphia, who is the second in order of birth. lives with her brother Thomas; William is a minister of the Gospel. residing at Lincoln and is the father of President Turner of Lincoln Uni-
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versity; Jane is the wife of Rev. R. J. P. Lemmon, of Benton County. Ark .; James Riley died at Owaneeo, this county, June 21. 1893; Thomas J. makes his home in Taylorville; and John L. is our subject. Those who died in early childhood were, Elizabeth. Benjamin and an infant.
John L. Turner, whose name heads this record, was only two years old when his father died, and when he was a lad of ten summers his mother re- moved with the family from Indiana to Shelby County. Il. This was in 1854. There he was reared to manhood upon a farm, remaining with his mother until he had attained his majority. llis education was acquired in the district schools of the neighborhood, and no event of special im- portance occurred during his boyhood and youth. After arriving at man's estate he was united in marriage, on the 11th of April, 1867, with Miss Lizzie, a daughter of William and Mary Haskins, of Dubois County, Ind. Four children have been born of their union: Benjamin Archelaus, Jolin Ellis, William Ezra and Docia Mae. The eldest son married Miss Lydia B. Sweigert, and resides in Edinburgh. Ill., and is cashier of the banking house of George P. Harrington. One child graces their union. Homer A.
In the winter of 1865-66. Mr. Turner removed to Christian County and located in Taylorville, where he has since made his home. For the first ten years after his arrival he engaged in carpen- tering, which he then abandoned to enter upon the manufacture of brick and tile. This business he followed for a number of years. He made the first drain tile in this section of the country, and that branch of his business was his specialty. Al- though he began on a small scale, the demand for his product constantly increased, and in conse- quence his facilities were enlarged. This is one of the leading industries of the community, and adds greatly to the prosperity of Taylorville and surrounding community, as it furnishes employ- ment to a number of men and insures good crops on lands that are well tiled.
Mr. and Mrs. Turner and their children are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which he serves as Deacon. In polities, he is a supporter of the Republican party. Mr. Turner
has had a successful career, which is due entirely to his own business ability and sagaeity, combined with well-directed energies and persistent effort. His prosperity, therefore, is well merited, and he may truly be called a self-made man. He owns a good home and other city property, and, having disposed of his manufacturing business, he and his good wife are at this time living rather retired, devoting themselves to the edneation of their children. trying to prepare them for useful lives.
E PHRAIM BOLLINGER was for long years one of the highly respected and truly worthy citizens of Stonington Township. The whole community was deeply shocked on learning of his death, which occurred in March, 1893. While attempting to eross the railroad track to look after some business near the erossing by the Stonington Station, he was run down and instantly killed by the train. He was laid to rest in Grove City Cemetery.
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