Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II, Part 107

Author: Wilcox, David F., 1851- ed
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 952

USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II > Part 107

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Returning to Illinois, Mr. Ruff introduced the newer methods of preserving bottle beer, and his system is used in all breweries in the state, if not in the entire country. Mr. Ruff has also invented and patented a self regulating machine for this purpose used by brewers, besides other deviees used in brewing (beer. In 1906 Mr. Ruff assumed the management of the brewery with which he has since been officially connected, and through his energetie and systematic efforts he has built up an extensive and highly remunerative business, his plant being one of the best equipped in the county, and produeing one of finest brands of beer to be found anywhere.

On May 2, 1887, Mr. Ruff was united in marriage with Bertha A. Barth. She was a life-long resident of Quiney, her death oeeurring here April 1, 1914. Three children were born into their home, namely: Edgar J., in business with his father; Clarenee F., in the hardware business; and Wilbert B., attending school. In polities Mr. Ruff is independent, voting regardless of party restrie- tions. He is an active member of the Park and Boulevard Association, and was influential in raising the first money for the purchase of South Park. He is one of the directors of the Quiney Hotel, and was greatly interested in the development of oil fields in Plymouth, Illinois.

During the war Mr. Ruff was greatly interested in improving safety deviees in aeronauties, and invented a quiek opening, variable speed parachute. He also has patents pending for preventing aeroplanes taking fire, thus obviating loss of valuable lives.

GEORGE E. STAUFFER, whose home is in seetion 13 of Beverly Township, seven miles northwest of Baylis and thirty-four miles southeast of Quiney, has had a straightforward, consistently suecessful eareer as a farmer and stoek- man. Anyone familiar with farming and farming conditions in Adams County will confirm that statement, and it is evident that Mr. Stauffer would be eom- pletely satisfied to be ranked among the able farmers of the county, sinee he has always eentered his interests on agriculture and apparently has cared nothing for those public honors which are frequently conferred upon men of his standing.

Mr. Stauffer was born on the old home farm elose to the noted Mound Farm October 23, 1863. Ilis parents were George W. and Elizabeth (Cunningham) Stauffer. George E. Stauffer is a nephew of the late Christopher Stauffer, at one time one of the largest land owners in Adams County and proprietor of the Monnd Farm above mentioned. George W. Stanffer was a son of Jacob and Nancy Stauffer, who came from Pennsylvania to Adams County in 1837. George W. Stauffer died in January, 1907, at the age of seventy-four. On com- ing to Adams County Jaeob Stauffer located on land now constituting the Vol. II-42

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home farm of W. R. Sykes, a mile and a half south of George E. Stauffer's farm. He spent the rest of his life there. Elizabeth Cunningham was a native of Holmes County, Ohio, daughter of John and Christine (Carbaugh) Cun- ningham. The Cunningham family lived north of Beverly. George W. Stauffer came to rank with his brother Christopher as a leading farm owner and stock- man in this county. He acquired about 1,400 acres of land, and was an ex- tensive feeder of cattle and hogs. Ile survived his wife one year. He was one of the most ardent republicans in a democratic county and held some of the township offices. He and his brother Christopher were among the leaders in establishing the Mound Prairie Christian Church. George W. Stauffer and wife had nine children : Margaret, living at Baylis, widow of William Davidson; Elizabeth, who lives at Oakdale, Nebraska, widow of Milton W. Moore, who died at Oakdale in January, 1919; Sarah Kate, wife of Frank Grammar, of Kearney, Nebraska ; Caroline, wife of William Huffmaster, of Macksville, Kan- sas; Emma, who died at the age of thirty-six, the wife of William Mixer; Charles, who lives near Barry in Pike County; George E .; Jacob, a banker at Baylis; and John, a farmer and auctioneer at Griggsville, Illinois, and owner of the old Stauffer farm in Adams County.

George E. Stauffer lived at home to the age of twenty-two. Ilis father then gave him his present place of 185 acres and with that as a nucleus he has steadily promoted his holdings until he is now owner of 1,040 acres. The home farm comprises 600 acres all in one body, and he has 400 acres 11/2 miles away. Most of this land he acquired in an era of cheap prices, ranging from $40 to $75 an acre. One farm now occupied by his son comprises 240 aeres of bottom land. Mr. Stauffer invested a large amount of money in tilling this land, and it is now the most productive soil he has. On another farm he has a tenant, being in partnership in the matter of stock and improvements. IIis home place of 600 aeres comprises a model stock farm. He has kept as high as 2,000 sheep and at present has 250 breeding ewes. He also has from 125 to 150 cattle. Ile buys stock cattle on the Kansas City markets and turns them off direct from the grass to the market in the fall. It has been his practice to feed from four to six carloads of hogs every season. He takes pride in the im- provements on his farm, especially good barns. While his home is not the largest it is one of the most desirable and attractive home properties in Beverly Township. Mr. Stauffer is a republican voter. Though not a member, he has served as a member of the building committee and has done much to promote the welfare of the Mound Prairie Christian Church, of which Mrs. Stauffer is a member.

November 27, 1895, Mr. Stauffer married Miss Mary Wells. She was born on the old Wells farm two miles northwest of where she now lives February 24, 1877, daughter of Francis and Serena (Bimson) Wells. Her father was born in Adams County and her mother came from Ohio. Her father died in 1904, at the age of fifty-eight, and her mother two years later, aged fifty-six. Mr. and Mrs. Stauffer have two sons. Ray E. has the complete operation and management of the 240 acre farm of his father above noted. Ile married Ezma Robertson, member of the well known Robertson family of this county. They have two children, Analu and Silber Ray. Roy L. Stauffer, second son of Mr. Stauffer, was educated in Eureka College and is now a partner with his father in the stock and operations of the home farm. He was in Class A of the draft but was never ealled into active service.

WILLIAM MARK HUFFMAN. Since early times Beverly Township has had a reputation for its well improved farms and its capable farmers. One of the men who are doing much to uphold this reputation at the present time is Wil- liam Mark Huffman, whose place is 114 miles east of Beverly Village.

Mr. Huffman when a boy worked out as a farm hand, and he knows every phase of country life, that of farm hand, renter, land owner, and has not only

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made money at farming but has always kept his land constantly improving and increasing in value.

Ile was born at Georgetown in Vermilion County, Illinois, February 8, 1861. He comes of a family of pioneer ministers. His grandfather, Samuel Iluffman, was of German parentage, and spent most of his life as a circuit rider and minister. He was in Missouri during the Civil war, and carried the gospel to various other states. Rev. Pleasant B. Huffman, father of William M., was born in Tennessee and during his boyhood his parents moved to Georgetown, Vermilion County, Illinois. His father at one time had preached in Adams County, but did most of his work in Missouri and later went to Texas. Pleasant also beeame a cireuit rider and for several years was on the eireuit ineluding Adams County. For two years he was located at Beverly, and spent two years at Lima. Many of the old timers remember him in Pike, Adams and Hancock counties. His later years were spent at Berdan in Greene County, Illinois, where he died in October, 1892, at the age of sixty- two. He was a man of great ability and led several stirring revivals, one of the most successful being held at Kinderhook. Pleasant Huffman married Naney Clifton. She is now living at Whitehall, Illinois.

William Mark Huffman is now the only member of his father's family in Adams County. He received the equivalent of a grammar school education and as a boy worked out on farms. One of his early employers was Jacob Funk of Beverly. While there he became acquainted with Miss Emma Sykes, and they were married January 15, 1882. Mrs. Huffman is a daughter of James Sykes, of a notable family in Adams County to which especial attention is paid on other pages.

Mr. Huffman at the time of his marriage hecame associated with his father- in-law for five years and then he and his brother-in-law, Frank Sykes, operated as partners for a similar period. On dissolving the partnership each rented a farm until 1896, when William Mark Huffman bought the old Sykes homestead. Most of the buildings on this land were ereeted in the time of Mr. Sykes. In one particular Mr. Huffman has effected a conspicuous change. Like many other farms the fields were set off by the old fashioned hedge fences. Most of this has since been removed and Mr. Huffman has replaced it with post and wire fenees. He continued the active management of the farm until five years ago, when he rented it to his two sons. He and his wife then lived for three years in Beverly Village, but two years ago they returned to the farm and Mr. Huffman now gives it his personal attention. It is a fine farm and the home is one of the best in the township, standing on a sightly elevation. Mr. Huffman has filled most of the township offiees, being elerk six years, and also supervisor. Ile is a republican. Some years ago he was called upon to make some repairs on the local telephone line, and that may be said to have given him a permanent interest in telephone work. He and associates bought the line leading from Baylis to Hadley, passing through Beverly, and he has since been a director of a local company and is manager of the Beverly switchboard.

Mr. and Mrs. Huffman are the parents of four children : Laura, wife of Dr. George A. Lierle, of Burton ; William M. : Elsie, Mrs. Raymond Sykes, of Beverly Township, and they also own a homestead at American Falls, Idaho ; and Frank. Mr. Huffman's son William M. is now a farmer at Amberg, Wisconsin. The son Frank L., who married Nellie Rhodes, is a farmer west of Beverly.

JAMES SYKES was one of three brothers, John, William and James, all of whom became prominent in the early history of Beverly Township.

James Sykes was born at Huddersfield, England, in 1819, son of James and Hannah (Hurst) Sykes. Their three older children, Mary, William and James, were all born at Huddersfield. The family came to America in the fall of 1821, and another son, John, was born in New York in 1824. James Sykes. Sr., in England was foreman in a cloth dressing establishment, a factory where the finest

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cloth was manufactured. He came to America in advance of his family and located at Manhattanville, now a part of New York City, where he found em- ployment. He sent for his family, who were twenty weeks in crossing the ocean. In 1834 James Sykes, Sr., brought his family west to Illinois. He made the trip with the Robertson family, elsewhere referred to in these pages. At that time the only other resident of Beverly Township was Esariah Mayfield, near the present Mound Prairie Church on seetion 21. He had located there only the preceding spring. The Sykes and Robertson families made the entire journey westward by the water route. They went up the Hudson River to Albany, thenee by canal to Buffalo, around the lakes to Cleveland, across the State of Ohio by canal to Portsmouth, and thenee down the Ohio and up the Mississippi to Quiney. Be- tween Quincy and Beverly at that time there were only five houses. It was an era of pioneer things, and the Sykes family did their first farming operations with ox teamus, with the wooden moldboard plow, with grain eradles, and threshed their grain by tramping and flailing. Mr. Sykes secured the southeast quarter of section 21. His home was half a mile south of the Mayfield home. He and his son William lived with the Mayfields while the first log house was being con- structed. He died at the old home in June, 1852, at the age of sixty. He had survived his wife, Hannah, about two years. In the meantime he had bought other land, so that he could give each child a farm. He served as a justice of the peace and when the county seat was moved from Columbus to Quincy he was ap- pointed a county officer, by Governor French, but never qualified. His sons William, James and John all settled near him, and his daughter Mary became the wife of Jacob Funk, whose son, William Funk, still lives on an adjoining farm. The oldest son, William Sykes, was born April 17, 1817, and died in July, 1884. He married Eliza G. Raymond. He was a justice of the peaec thirty years and school treasurer twenty-eight years.

James Sykes, Jr., was only two years old when the family came to New York and was fifteen when they settled in Beverly Township. In 1849 he married Miss Mary Avers, who was born in New Jersey in 1830 and died April 1, 1873. In 1850 he bought the land where his daughter Mrs. Huffman lives at $4 an aere. He owned 440 acres there and also 325 aeres three miles away. He became one of the leading farmers of the township and about 1888 he bought property on Diamond Hill in Barry, where he spent his last years in re- tirement. He died at Barry July 21, 1906. At one time he owned land not only in Beverly Township, but property in Nebraska and Minnesota. He was a noted figure in the life of the county not only by reason of his possessions but by his unusual character. The first presidential vote he cast was for Martin Van Buren. Later he became a republican when that party was or- ganized and never deviated from a stanch allegiance therewith. For thirty years he was a school director, and he also served on the school board at Barry and as chairman of the board of health. He was very systematie in everything he did, and all of his life kept a diary. He was also correspondent for local papers and was ever ready with the courage of his convictions to defend his views. He had that moral stamina so valuable to every community in that he was not afraid to report any misdemeanor which came to his official view. He was a radical temperance man, and fought vigorously for anything he con- ceived to be for the benefit of the community. In old age he became a member of the Masonie Lodge at Barry and the Masons had charge of his funeral. The sermon was preached by Rev. W. M. Hailey, an old friend. Such a man in- evitably leaves a deep impress upon his community, and as such his memory is deeply cherished. It was characteristic of him that he practically settled his estate before his death, giving each of his children the equivalent of about $10,000.

By his first marriage he had eleven children, six of whom are yet living: Hannah, wife of Aaron House, of Cresbard, South Dakota; Elizabeth, Mrs. J. O. MeClain, of Lincoln, Nebraska ; Joseph, who married Martha E. Holt

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and lives at Colorado Springs, Colorado; Emma, wife of William M. Huffman; Frank, who married Eliza Hill and is a retired resident of Macomb, Illinois ; and Hattie, Mrs. Frank Lawson, of Barry.

November 25, 1875, he married Martha Cunningham, of Barry, Illinois, formerly of Harrison County, Ohio. She came to Barry, Illinois, in 1867. She survived her husband only three weeks.

JOHN WILLIAM HENDRICKS. The people of Richfield Township' long knew and admired the late John William Hendricks, regarded as one of the best farmers and public spirited citizens of that locality. Mr. Hendricks had re- tired only a short time from his farm to the Town of Barry when his death occurred December 15, 1918.

He was only sixty-two years of age, having been born in Richfield Township July 26, 1856. His parents were James and Sarah (MeClellan) Hendricks, who came from Ohio to Adams County at a very early date. They settled three miles from Kingston in Richfield Township. James Hendrieks lived to a good old age, and his widow is now living with her daughter Mrs. John Pennell.

John W. Hendricks spent his boyhood on the farm and had a common school education. At the age of twenty-three he married Elvira MeLean, a neighbor girl in Richfield Township. After his marriage he devoted his time steadily to farming in that township, and after a few years bought the old home place. He was quite successful in handling his resources and pursued a poliey of mixed farming, raising grain and feeding hogs.

Hle was always interested in local affairs and for twenty years held the office of road commissioner and was also a school director. Ile was a good and loyal democrat and a member of Northentt Chapel of the Methodist Church. He was laid to rest in the Barry cemetery. He was also affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. Outside of his business as a farmer and as a local citizen he became widely known as a drummer. He had taken up that art when a boy, was an expert, and for years his services were in demand at nearly all the rallies. The last time he appeared in that capacity was the celebration over the signing of the armistice in 1918, when he drummed at Barry and at Kinderhook.

Mr. Hendrieks lost his first wife in 1900. On June 7. 1903, he married Mrs. Alice Mixer, of Beverly Township, daughter of William and Mary (Cos- tello) Manker and widow of Alexander Mixer. She was married to Alexander Mixer at the age of twenty-six. and they lived together for seventeen years, until his death. Mr. Mixer was a farmer in Beverly Township. Mrs. Hendricks has one son by her first marriage, Vernon Mixer, now a farmer at Bunston. Missouri. Mr. Hendrieks continued to live on the old Hendricks farm of 200 aeres six miles north of Barry in Richfield Township until October, 1918, at which date he retired to a comfortable home in Barry and died there a few weeks later, as above mentioned. By his first marriage he was the father of eight children : Myrtle, wife of Samuel Gamble, living on the old Gamble farm in Richfield Township; Daisy, Mrs. Harry Funk, on the old Predmore farm in Pike County; Grover of Jacksonville, Illinois; Nellie, wife of George Burroughs, of Kinderhook; James, a farmer in Payson Township of Adams County ; Ila, wife of Leonard Wickenkamp, living near New London, Missouri : Basil, who now lives on the old Ilendrieks farm; Blanche, wife of George Long. a railroad man living at Sedalia. Missouri. Mr. Hendricks had no ehil- dren by his second wife. They took Viola Woodworth, his granddaughter, at the age of three years, and she is now a young schoolgirl living with Mrs. Hendrieks.

ELMER C. CLARY. One of the well located and highly productive farms of Columbus Township is the place of Elmer C. Clary in seetion 13. Mr. Clary is one of the younger farmers but has made sneh good use of his time and op-

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portunities that he has already accumulated 176 acres in a body, well improved between cultivated fields and pastures, with a good eight-room house, two barns, one for stoek and the other for grain, and various other buildings which give him a complete equipment for all the varied industry that goes on at his farm.

Mr. Clary bought this place eight years ago. He came here from Liberty Township, where he was born July 8, 1889, and was reared and educated in the locality. His parents were Patrick and Sophia (Schwartz) Clary. Both are still living. His father was born in Payson Township of this county of Irish parentage, and his mother is a native of Liberty Township and of German parentage. Both families were early settlers in Adams County, and the grand- parents on both sides died in advaneed years. The Clarys were Catholies and the Schwartzs were Lutherans in religion. Patrick Clary and wife were married in Liberty Township and have spent their lives there as farmers. They are now about sixty-five years of age. Both are members of the Presbyterian Church and the father is a demoerat. They had three sous, Edward and Elmer C., twins, born July 8, 1889, and Audrey, who was also born in Liberty Township and after a good education in high school and business college became a bookkeeper and is so employed today in Chicago. The son Edward is a farmer near the Lost Prairie School House, where he and his brothers were edueated and where their mother also obtained her schooling. Edward is now married and lives in Columbus Township. His wife was Amelia Herman.

Elmer C. Clary married in Liberty. Township Cora Erke. She was born in Columbus Township in 1881 and attended the Wolf Ridge School. Her father, Fred Erke, died in 1912, at the age of sixty-three. He was born in Germany, came to the United States when a boy with his parents, and married in Colum- bus Township Amelia Schultz. She was born in that township and is still living at the age of about seventy. Mr. and Mrs. Clary lived on a farm in Liberty Township until they removed to their present place. They had two children, Earl, who died when sixteen days old, and Vera, who was born January 16, 1917. Mr. and Mrs. Clary are members of the Wolf Ridge Christian Church.

WILLIAM FUNK, now living retired at his country home a half mile south- east of the Village of Beverly, is a member of one of the old and interesting families of Adams County. Perhaps the distinguishing characteristic of the Funk family has been skillful and honest workmanship, whether in meehanieal lines or as farmers and business men. No higher compliment could be paid any family than this.

Especially deserving of memory is his father, the late Jacob S. Funk, who was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, May 25, 1818, and died in Adams County December 1, 1901. He was a son of Abraham and Susanna (Stoner) Funk. The Funk family came to Adams County in 1835, in the very early pioneer epoch, and settled in Richfield Township, 21% miles from Kingston. Abraham died a few years later and his wife, Susanna, spent her last years with her children. She died July 30, 1866, at the age of seventy-three, and was laid to rest in the Mound Prairie cemetery.

On December 2, 1838, Jaeob S. Funk married Miss Mary Sykes, who was born April 24, 1815. at Huddersfield. England. and was a daughter of James and Hannah ( Hurst) Sykes. The Sykes family came to Adams County in 1834, and this publication contains several references to members of the family. Mrs. Funk died in January, 1877.

Jacob S. Funk was a successful business man, but is perhaps best remem- bered for his remarkable skill as a cabinet maker and wood worker. For a great many years he was the local undertaker in Beverly Township. IIe had his shop on his farm three quarters of a mile southeast of Beverly until it was burned. He employed the leisure of old age in manufacturing some marvelous specimens of cabinet making. They chiefly took the form of jewelry boxes.

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They were wonderfully and eleverly made, and contained much inlay work in patterns. In his eighty-third year he made such a box and put upon it his signature with the date July 25, 1901. That is still carefully preserved by his family. The box contains 5,100 distinet pieces of wood. Several such boxes he gave away as presents to his children. He learned his trade in early life in Quiney, and no finer workman in that line ever lived in Adams County. Besides his business and trade he owned a farm of 200 acres in Beverly Town- ship. This land is now owned by his sons William and Frank, Sr., and is operated as a farm by the son of William Funk. Jacob S. Funk was a re- publiean in polities and a member of the Methodist Church at Beverly. He was a man of good address, a fluent talker, and for many years was super- intendent of the Sunday school. He and his wife had nine children, eight of whom reached mature years: Mary Ann, wife of Thomas Shepherd, now living at Zephyrhills, Florida; James, who died at Beverly at middle age; Charles H., who died in 1877, when past thirty years of age; George, who died at the age of twenty-one; William; John, who died in middle age; Frank, who lives near Barry in Pike County, Illinois; Nellie, wife of Orlando Havird, near Barry.

Mr. William Funk was born at Quiney October 8, 1848, and when three weeks old his parents moved to the farm which became his future home. He spent his early days there and attended the local schools.

December 29, 1874, he married Hannah E. Kelly, daughter of Frazy and Hannah (Raymond) Kelly, of a well known family of Adams County. She was an infant when her mother died and grew up with her aunt, Mrs. William Sykes, whose maiden name was Eliza G. Raymond, and her sister, Hannah Raymond. As a boy with his father William Funk acquired a skillful knowledge of the cabinet making trade. Ile worked at the earpenter's beneh from 1871 for ten years, doing largely loeal work. For some years he lived on the William Sykes farm. He became interested in the manufacture of water tanks for

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Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II, Part 107

Author: Wilcox, David F., 1851- ed Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 952

Author: Wilcox, David F., 1851- ed
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 952