USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II > Part 115
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father. He married May Deming, formerly a teacher. They have two children, Melvin E., born in 1912, and Rex, born in 1914. Mr. Lierle is a democrat and his sons follow the same line of thought.
IVIN BLACK. One of the oldest communities in Clayton Township is that grouped around what is known as Black's Station, and here the Black family have resided through three generations. The present representative is Ivin Black, a farmer, stock man and merchant, who has spent all his life in that community.
He was born in Clayton Township June 19, 1869, son of Samuel and Eliza- beth (Crippen) Black. His father was born in Tennessee in 1834 and his mother in Virginia in 1837. Samuel Black came to Adams County when a child with his parents, Amzi and Amy (Campbell) Black. They located in Clayton Village, for a few years kept one of the old country inns there. and afterward located on a farm in the same township, where Amzi Black died when about fifty-six years of age near what is now Black's Station. His widow died at Golden at the age of seventy-five. Their children were: Samuel; a son that died in infaney ; Mary, wife of James Beekett, of Golden.
Samuel Black was the son of a teacher, and acquired much of his education at home and through his own efforts. He became a very skillful penman and taught that art several years. One the whole, however, he was a farmer and grain merchant, and for a number of years he and his son Ivin were associated at Black's Station as dealers in agricultural implements. He was a republican, served as supervisor of Clayton Township, was a member of Clayton Lodge of Masons, and he and his wife were Presbyterians. Samuel Black died in May, 1912, and his wife in October, 1911. Their children were: William L., now of Kansas City ; Carrie, deceased; Rosa, wife of Christ Holock, of Golden; and Ivin.
Ivin Black grew up on the old farm, attended the public schools, and has given his mature years to grain dealing, handling agricultural implements, and in the practical operations of farming. He owns a fine place of 200 acres, in- cluding Black's Station,
Mr. Black is a republican and a member of the Methodist Church at Golden. December 21, 1892, he married Miss Rosa Bottorff. She was born in Camp Point Township, daughter of James Bottorff, of Clayton Township. Mr. and Mrs. Black have two children. Irma, born March 1, 1897, is a graduate of the Maplewood High School, spent one year at the Macomb Normal, and is now a student in the Gem City Business College. Orrin, born March 29, 1901, is now a pupil in the Maplewood High School.
HENRY B. WHITFORD is of one of the pioneer families of Adams County, and has grown up and spent practically all his life on the farm where he was born November 13, 1861.
His parents were Henry S. and Myra C. (Clark) Whitford, the former a native of Providence, Rhode Island, and the latter of New York State. Henry S. Whitford came to Adams County about 1833, bought land and became an extensive owner of real estate both here and in Hancock County. He owned 320 acres where his son Henry B. now lives and also had 170 acres in Hancock County. He was a republican, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died at the advanced age of eighty-eight. He married his first wife in Rhode Island and had one child by that union. He also married Sarah Down- ing, and by that union had ten children, those still living being James T., Lydia A., E. C., John S. and Mary C. By his marriage to Myra Clark his children were: Henry B .; Alice E., wife of J. S. Wallace; Dora A., wife of W. S. Stabler ; Fannie C., wife of Charles Downing ; and Daniel W.
Henry B. Whitford grew up in Adams County, attended the public schools and also the Maplewood High School at Camp Point. As a farmer he now directs the activities of 460 aeres, raising general erops and livestock, and is a
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large cattle feeder. In polities he is a republican and attends the Methodist Episcopal Church.
June 5. 1912. Mr. Whitford married Miss Amelia Arntzen. of near Quincy. They have one child. Myra Elisa. born August 6, 1914.
JOHN DECKER. one of the best known stock men and farmers of Adams County. came here without means many years ago, and gained his present pros- perity through a beginning made as a farm hand at the normal wages paid at that time.
Mr. Decker was born in Germany April 1. 1842. son of John and Hannalı Decker. His mother died in 1:46 and his father in 1876. His father was born March 3. 1800.
John Decker was reared and educated in Germany and in 1871 eame to Adams County. When he arrived here he was $65 in debt. He worked as a farm hand at $18 and $20 a month, and finally invested his modest accumula- tions and savings in eighty aeres that he still owns. He has sinee increased his holdings until he has 515 acres, all of it representing his management, in- dustry and good judgment. Mr. Decker has long been an extensive cattle feeder. has a large herd of Polled Angus cattle, and keeps a large drove of hogs.
He is a republican and has served as a director of his local schools for thirty years. In church affiliation he is a Lutheran. Mr. Decker married in Brown County. Illinois. Miss Minnie Hildebrandt. Mrs. Decker was born in Adams County in 1852. Her father, Alfred Hildebrandt, came here in 1850 and died at the advanced age of ninety-two. Mr. and Mrs. Decker have had seven chil- dren : Hannah. who died in 1916: Folka; John: Minnie. deceased; Albert. who lives in Nebraska : Harm and Annie.
JOHN E. MEATHERINGHAM. For over sixty years the name Meatheringham has been identified with the farm progress and good citizenship of Clayton Township, where John E. Meatheringham. owner of one of the valuable farm homes of that community. was born April 7. 1874.
His parents were William and Zebuline Horner Meatheringham. His mother was born near Columbus. Ohio. in 1>51. daughter of William Horner. of a well known Adams County family. William Meatheringham was born in Lincolnshire. England. July 6. 1844. and was a child when brought in 1:51 by his parents, James and Elizabeth Roland Meatheringham, to Adams County. Mrs. Elizabeth Meatheringham died here in 1916. at the very advanced age of ninety-eight. Her children were Janette. Carrie. Elizabeth, Susan. John. Wil- liam and Jame -. William Meatheringham grew up in Adams County, and after reaching bis majority hought a farm in Missouri. subsequently trading that for the 160 acre farm in Clayton Township where he now lives retired. He is a republican. has served as road commissioner. is a member of Clayton Lodge of Odd Fellows and of the Christian Church. His wife died in 1909. mother of dve children : James William, Anne I. John Ellsworth. Lula. who died in chil Ihood, and Dessie Carrol.
John E. Meatheringham grew up on the home farm and had a good educa- tion. beginning with the public schools. continuing with the Western Normal at Bushnell. and finally at the Christian University at Canton. Missouri. For two winters He was employed to teach the old home district. Later he took the agricultural course at the Illinois State University. and has since been a pra tieal and progressive farmer. He bought a place of sixty acres in section 30 of Clayton Township. and later traded that for his present farm of 167 aeres in se -ion 32. known as the Robert Banton farm. He is using his land and other re- irres to the best of his ability and is regarded as one of the most efficient atri ulturis :- in his community. Mr. Meatheringham has also interested him- -elf in local affairs, has served as a member of the school board. is a republican and a member of the Christian Church at Camp Point.
In 1495 he married Miss Minnie Hoke. of Clayton Township, daughter of
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Leonard C. Hoke. Mrs. Meatheringham died in October, 1911. In 1912 he married for his present wife Miss Lena P. Roath, of Sterling, Illinois. They have two children : Roath E., born October 18, 1914. and Carol. born September 4, 1918.
HENRY A. EASUM, of Clayton Township, represents a pioneer family of the county, and is connected by marriage with some of the very first families to acquire homes in this part of the state.
Mr. Easum was born in Clayton Township October 6, 1859, son of Charles and Margaret Swope Easum. His father was born July 16. 1:07, and his luother September 29. 1815. both in Indiana. They were early settlers in Adams County, locating in Clayton Township. where they had a farm of 160 acre». The father died August 21. 1571. and the mother January 8. 1865. Their children were James, Matilda. Charles William and John. both of whom served three years as Union soldiers in the Civil war. Lydia. Albert. George, Francis. Mary. Susan and Henry A.
Henry A. Easum grew up on a farm in Clayton Township. attended school there and also in Cass County. and since 1859 has been busily engaged in look- ing after his farm of 160 acres. He is a republican, has served on the school board and as road commissioner. and is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
February 16. 1886, Mr. Easum married Miss Martha Gay. She was born in Clayton Township December 7. 1860. Her great-grandfather. James Gay. served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Her grandfather was William Gay, who was born in North Carolina October 28, 1772. William Gay married Ann Rut- ledge. born July 5. 1783. They came west soon after their marriage. first settling in Indiana. where William Gay died. His widow spent her last days in Adams County. Abel Gay. father of Mrs. Easum, was born in North Carolina November 27. 1820. As a young man he learned the trade of tanner. On coming to Adams County he engaged in farming. and married here Nancy Douglas. who was born in Kentucky October 26. 1825. Her parents were Joseph and Jane (McMurray Douglas, both natives of Kentucky. After their marriage they came to Adams County in 1535 and settled near Quincy on a farm. later coming to the land where Mr. and Mrs. Easum now live.
Abel Gay spent much of his married life on the farm now owned by Mr. Easum. He died there in 1$$8 and his wife on November 16. 1914. Abel Gas was a republican. and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their children were George. Emily, Joseph, Martha, Lillie and William.
Mr. and Mrs. Easum have seven children, and a service flag in their home betokens that two of the sons are with the allied armies. The oldest child is Leon, who is now in France with the Eighty-Eighth Division. The second child. Edith. died in infancy. Dora married Herschel Mitchell. Chester is a second lieutenant in the Three Hundred and Sixty-Ninth Regiment. with the armies in France. The younger children. at home. are Elmer. Ruth and Margaret.
HEZEKIAH G. HENRY is one of the most prominent bankers of Adams County. has organized and managed several banks at Camp Point and other towns, and has been a resident of this county for a quarter of a century or more.
Mr. Henry was born near Indianapolis. Indiana, July 18. 1866. son of Dr. James and Caroline (Smart) Henry. His father was born in County Derry. Ireland, and his mother in Kentucky. Dr. James Henry was one of a family of twelve children. After coming to America he served as a soldier in the Civil war four years and ten months, and for ten months after the war was employed in establishing some of the national soldiers cemeteries. He then took up the study of medicine. graduated from the Bellevue Medical Hospital of New
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York City and the Rush Medical College of Chicago, and began practice at Columbus, Illinois. Later he practiced for a number of years at LaHarpe in Hancock County, and on retiring moved to Galesburg, where he died. He was a republican, a member of the Masonic Lodge at LaHarpe, and he and his wife were Congregationalists. Ilis widow is now living at Santa Anna, California. Their children were: Hezekiah G., Berdenia, Bess, Alexander, James and Fannie. the last three now deceased.
Mr. H. G. Henry received some of his education in Columbus, graduated from the Giddings Seminary at LaHarpe and from Elliott's Business College at Burlington, lowa. He received his early banking training at LaHarpe, and in 1893 came to Camp Point and organized the People's Private Bank. He has been its cashier ever since. Mr. Henry organized the Farmers Bank at Liberty and the Paloma Exchange Bank and the Beverly Bank, all in Adams County, and all reflecting his ability and energy as a banker. These institutions now have aggregate deposits of about a million dollars.
Mr. Henry is a republican, has served as mayor of Camp Point two terms, and is a member of the State Board of Equalization and president of the Adams County Sunday School Association. Ile is a member of the Presbyterian Church, is affiliated with Lodge No. 197, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Camp Point Chapter No. 77. Royal Areh Masons, Delta Commandery, Knights Tem- plars, at Clayton, Quincy Consistory, and the Eastern Star and Mystie Shrine at Springfield. He is also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Henry married Miss Maude Smith, of LaHarpe. She was the mother of three children, Riva, James and Maude. Maude is now deceased. For his second wife Mr. Henry married Mattie C. Farlow, daughter of Samuel Farlow, of Camp Point. His daughter Riva married Rev. R. L. Long, pastor of the Collingwood Avenue Presbyterian Church of Toledo. Mr. and Mrs. Long have two children, Robert H. and Martha.
James Henry was edneated in the Maplewood High School at Camp Point, spent one year at Colorado College at Colorado Springs, also attended the Gem City Business College and the Northwest Military and Naval Academy. He is now head of one of the committees of the Auditing Department of the First National Bank of Chicago.
CHARLES EMORY CAIN, who owns one of the large and well managed farms of Clayton Township, was born in that township December 14, 1861, and his family has been in Adams County sinee pioneer times.
His grandfather was Philip Cain, who married Ruth De Moss. On coming to Adams County in 1840 they settled in Clayton Township, acquiring a tract of timbered land and clearing it up into a good farm of 160 acres. Philip Cain spent his last years retired at Golden and died in 1892, at the age of eighty-six. His wife died in 1887. Ile was a democrat in polities. Philip Cain and wife had the following children: John, Abel, Nelson, Samuel, Laban, Lewis, Philip, Hannah and Margaret.
Samuel Cain. father of Charles E., was born in Ohio September 10, 1837, . and was three years old when his parents came to Adams County. He was educated in the public schools of Clayton Township, and as a farmer owned eighty aeres of good land and for some years was also a merchant at Clayton. IJe died in 1910. He was a democrat, and served as road commissioner some years. Ile and his wife were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Samuel Cain married Margaret Wilson, who was born in Ohio Marel 10. 1841, and is still living. Their children were Charles Emory, and Lenora, the latter dying in January, 1904.
Charles Emory Cain grew up on a farm, and at the age of twenty-one moved to the Village of Clayton with his parents. In March, 1886, he came to his present farm of 160 acres, and has been busily engaged in its cultivation and management for over thirty years. Mr. Cain is a democrat without politica!
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aspirations, is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Clayton and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
March 15, 1886, he married Miss Dora A. Curry, member of an old and well known family of Adams County. She was born in Clayton Township March 15, 1858. daughter of Benjamin A. and Mary A. (Majors) Curry. Her father was born in Kentucky May 8, 1825, and her mother in Ohio August 3, 1831. Benja- min Curry was a son of Thomas S. and Malinda (Murphy) Curry, who drove overland from Kentucky to Adams County in 1837. Benjamin Curry was an ex- cellent farmer and a good business man, and accumulated about 700 acres in Adams County. He was a republican, quite active in polities, and served as supervisor. assessor and road commissioner. His wife was a member of the Christian Church. Mrs. Cain's mother died in 1865, the mother of five ehil- dren, Amanda J. and Harriet Elizabeth, both deceased, and Linnie A., Dora A. and Nellie G. In 1866 Benjamin Curry married Lney J. Hoskins, who died in October, 1881, the mother of Edgar T., Charles Samuel and Carrie E., all still living. In 1884 Benjamin Curry married Mrs. Lavina Benton, and she now lives with a daughter in Kansas City. Benjamin Curry died June 29, 1915.
Mr. and Mrs. Cain have had four children : Everett E., who died at the age of five years; Rilla, who married Howard Veach, a hardware merchant of Clayton, and they have one ehild, Vivian E .; Benjamin Emory, who is now a soldier at Camp Taylor, and married Lula B. Hamilton; and Mary M., a teacher at Dallas City, Illinois.
JAMES HENRY CRAFTON is one of the vice presidents of the Gem City Busi- ness College. Probably no other one institution has given Quiney a wider and better fame than this college, and it is the gratifying privilege of Mr. Crafton, who has been connected with the college as a teacher and offieer for thirty-five years, that he has been able to impress, guide and direct so many former students, many of whom are now among America's successful business men, and scattered over all the states of the Union.
Mr. Crafton was born September 20, 1856, in Griggsville, Pike County, Illinois, son of Jesse J. and Naney E. Crafton, both of whom were of English parentage. The Craftons first settled in Kentucky, went from there to Indiana, and arrived in Illinois in pioneer days. Naney E. Crafton's family lived in New York State near Elmira. She was stolen from her mother when only five years of age and brought west, the people who had taken her finally settling in Pike County, Illinois. J. J. and Nancy E. Crafton had seven sons, two of whom are still living. J. J. Crafton died in 1863 and his wife in 1900.
James Henry Crafton, or Harry as he is better known among his friends and intimate associates, attended school at Griggsville to the age of twelve, and then moved with his parents to La Prairie, Illinois, and later to Delavan, this state, where he continued to attend school. He taught his first school when about sixteen years of age, and since completing his high school work that has been his regular occupation. He taught in the country and the graded schools of Tazewell and Mason eomities for a number of years. In the meantime he was increasing his own proficieney by attending the normal at Bloomington. the Illinois University, and he has the degree Ph. B. from old Chaddock College at Quincy.
In order to perfect himself further in commercial arts Mr. Crafton entered the Gem City Business College in 1882. He did not realize it at the time, but that opened to him his big opportunity of life. After he was graduated he was selected by the president, Mr. D. L. Musselman, as a teacher. For abont twenty- five years he continued as principal of the Actual Business and Banking De. partment of the College and was then elected one of the vice presidents, and has since been superintendent of the business departments and registrar of the institution. Mr. Crafton is identified with business interests of Quincy in Inany ways. He is a director of the Illinois State Bank, vice president of the Gem City Building and Loan Association, is a member of the Vermont Street
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Methodist Episcopal Church, and treasurer of its board of trustees. In 1899 he married Miss Fidelia M. Schaffnit of Red Cloud, Nebraska. They have one daughter, Louise.
SAMUEL A. BAKER. Over a period of years that is longer than the reeollee- tion of many except the very oldest settlers the Baker family have been resi- dents and prominent factors in Richfield Township. One of the best known representatives of the family today is Samuel A. Baker, who is living in the house in which he was born in section 19, 234 miles east of Plainville.
He was born there December 10, 1861, son of Simon M. and Ann (Lamb) Baker. The family have an interesting history. In the days of the Crom- wellian Commonwealth in England two brothers, Jacob and Joseph, cavaliers and loyalists to King Charles I, escaped from England and eame to the Colonies. Joseph settled in Virginia. Jacob first located in Philadelphia, but later de- seendants moved to Virginia, and he was head of the present line. One of his descendants was Samnel, whose son was Jacob, and who in turn was father of Cornelius, the father of Simon M. Cornelius was born in Virginia in 1793. Jacob, father of Cornelins, served as a soldier of the Revolutionary war, while his father, Samuel, was an officer in the same struggle. Samuel had taken a grant of land from Lord Fairfax. He leased this land for a period of ninety-nine years. The lease expired about 1872, but during the Civil war all reeords were destroyed and consequently the claims of the family have not been validated.
Cornelius Baker eame to Illinois in 1851 with his son Simon M., who was born in Hampshire County, Virginia, now West Virginia. Cornelius settled in seetion 20 of Richfield Township and died there October 13, 1865. He owned a 200 aere farm and was one of the leading members of the Shiloh Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his son Simon was also a trustee and one of the builders. Cornelius married Phoebe Swisher, who died young. His second wife was Lydia Arnett. By his first wife he had six children and seven by the second marriage, none of whom are now living. John Baker, who died in Kansas in 1913, was the last survivor of this family of thirteen. Only three others besides Simon M. remained in Richfield : Louisa, who married Abram Millslagle and died at the age of seventy-eight; Aaron, who lived and raised a family on the Cornelius Baker Farm and was aetive in demoeratie polities and held various loeal offices; and Hannah Rice, who left honorable descendants in the township.
Simon M. Baker married in Hancock County, Illinois, October 8, 1856, Mrs. Ann (Lamb) Doolittle. She was born in Ohio, and went with her family to eastern Illinois in 1842, at the age of thirteen. By her first marriage she had a son, Milan, who is now living at Garden City, Kansas. Her grandfather, C'apt. Daniel S. Lamb, served as an officer in the Revolutionary war and lived near Laneaster, Pennsylvania. He spent his fortune feeding soldiers during the war, and after that struggle re-established himself as a teacher, starting the first English academy in the Shenondoah Valley of Virginia, near Winchester. In that work he was assisted by his cultured daughters. William Lamb, father of Mrs. Simon Baker, was born in Pennsylvania and during the War of 1812 as a boy hauled eannon for the army. His team of six horses had been im- pressed for the government service. Later he settled near Newark, Ohio, and in 1842 moved to Crawford County, Illinois, and died there abont 1852. He was a man of great publie spirit and was one of three who laid out the county seat of Crawford County.
After his marriage Simon M. Baker and wife spent all their lives on the home farm in Richfield Township. In 1859 he built the present substantial home where his son resides. Originally he owned 157 aeres, but his prosperity brought him the ownership of 400 acres in different traets. The first traet con- tained fifty aeres of prairie, covered with brush. and he cleared that up. Hc was an extensive raiser of eattle and hogs and a democrat in polities, but. always refused office. Simon Baker died January 15, 1890, and his widow sur-
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vived him almost twenty years, passing away January 12, 1910. He was sixty- eight years of age at the time of his death and his widow eighty-one. They had three children to reach maturity: Minerva, who became the wife of Sylvester Cunningham and died at Richfield at the age of forty-two; Julia M., who married Millard Lester and died soon afterwards; and Samuel A.
Samuel A. Baker took a course in the Gem City Business College at Quincy and received a certificate to teach, but never used it. At the age of twenty-two he went into the hardware business at Plainville in company with Charles W. Sturtevant. He was in that business four years and then took charge of the farm. His father had given each of the daughters a traet of land and Samuel A. received 200 acres, including the old homestead. There he has lived and worked ever since. He built a large cattle barn and lost the old horse barn by fire, entailing a loss of $1,000. He has won prosperity in spite of numerous losses. A lot of hogs died at a loss of $1,000. He keeps a bunch of cattle and runs a general purpose farm and for some years was well known as a breeder of Shorthorn eattle.
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