USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II > Part 116
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For three years Mr. Baker was postmaster at Plainville during the Cleve- land administration. He has always been a loyal democrat and has been county committeeman. For twenty-five years he has been a trustee of the Shiloh Methodist Church.
October 2, 1887, Mr. Baker married Virginia G. Hull, daughter of J. P. Hull and of a well known family elsewhere represented in this publication. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have three children: Simon Peyton, who is a student of law in the University of Michigan with the class of 1919; Loraine E., who was in the army in eamps in Arizona and California, and is now at home; and Cornelia A., who graduated from the Charles W. Seymour Memorial High School at Paysou in 1918.
JAMES SYKES, M. D. Since the earliest recorded events of history in Beverly Township there has not been a more numerous or more prominent family than that of Sykes. One member was the late James Sykes, whose services are especially well remembered as a physician. He performed a steady country practice for upwards of thirty years, and was also a man of great business judgment and a successful accumulator of land and other property.
He was born in Beverly Township 11% miles southeast of the village of that name May 22, 1844, and died Mareh 3, 1910. His father, William Sykes, was horn in England in 1817, and was brought to America by his parents in 1821. In 1834 the Sykes family eame west and settled in Beverly Township, where the father of William built the second house in the township, on seetion 21. Doetor Sykes' grandfather died in 1852 and his grandmother in 1850. William Sykes was seventeen years old when brought to Adams County, and he spent his aetive life as a farmer in section 28 of Beverly Township. In 1840 he married Eliza G. Raymond, and their three children were William R., James and John G. John G. now owns and resides at the old home farm. William Sykes was for many years active in local affairs, serving thirty years as justice of the peace and twenty-eight years as township treasurer. Dr. James Sykes grew up on the home farm, studied in the local schools, and studied medieine privately and later in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, from which he graduated May 21, 1864. He was immediately commissioned an as- sistant surgeon in the Army of the Cumberland, and spent one year at Memphis, Tennessee. He was then transferred to Custer's Cavalry, and spent one year on the western plains, participating in several Indian campaigns. He was finally mustered out at Fort Dodge, Kansas, March 1, 1868.
TTe first developed a private practice at Lancaster, Missouri, but soon re- turned to Adams County and located at Beverly, where his services were in constant demand until his own impaired health compelled him to retire. He was a republiean in polities and was a loyal Mason, being a member of Kings- ton Lodge, three miles from his home. This lodge attended his funeral in a
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body. Ile was laid to rest in the Mound Prairie Cemetery a mile east of Beverly. While not a member of any church he was a liberal contributor to church canses and objeets. He owned several farms, showing a great deal of wisdom and judgment in handling his property and continued aetive in business affairs until his death. The home in which he lived so many years was built about forty years ago, and during his lifetime it was the center of mueh hos- pitality. He enjoyed company, and his liberal mind enabled him to diseuss public questions and other affairs with intelligence.
On April 10, 1872, Doctor Sykes married Helen Harper Godfrey, daughter of John F. and Helen Godfrey. Her father was born in England in 1823, and in 1850 married Helen Thorburn, a native of Ohio. The Godfrey family eame to Adams County in the fall of 1857 and were long identified with the farming community around Beverly. Mrs. Sykes was born in Belmont County, Ohio, and was three years of age when her parents moved to Beverly Township. Her father died at the age of seventy-seven and her mother at seventy-five. Mrs. Sykes has two sisters, Lizzie and Emma Godfrey, living at Beverly. Mrs. Sykes was educated at Beverly. She became the mother of ten children: Marian F., whose home is in Texas; Eliza, wife of C. A. Beavers, living near Jacksonville, Illinois : Howard J., who died at the age of five years; Helen, who became a trained nurse and died in 1915; Annie, wife of Dr. Virgil Beavers, a large land owner at China, Texas; Everett W., who graduated from Northwestern Uni- versity Medical School at Chicago, and praetieed his profession for two years in the State of Idaho, until the death of his father, sinee which time he has lived with his mother; Florence, still at home; Raymond, a farmer in Beverly Township; Thorburn, whose home is in Idaho, and who during the war was a soldier in the United States army; and Mildred, wife of Harry Stillflew, who also was a soldier in the United States army, now living on the old Godfrey farm south of Beverly.
ISAAC CUTTER. Masonry in its varions branches has always been a flourish- ing institution in Quincy and Adams County, and it seems very appropriate that the present Grand Secretary Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Illinois should be a resident of the county.
Mr. Isaac Cutter in addition to his prominenee in the fraternal world has for many years been closely identified with local affairs of different kinds at Camp Point, and was in the railway postal service for a quarter of a century.
He was born at Elmwood, Peoria County, Illinois, January 7, 1854, and the Cutter family is descended from the Crusaders and from ancestors who landed at Plymonth Rock with the Pilgrim Fathers. His parents were Vaehel Metealf and Elizabeth (MeRill) Cutter. Their children were: Isaae and William, both residents of Camp Point : Thomas, of St. Louis; Mrs. Ineinda Detrich, deceased ; Eliza, wife of J. G. Hostetter, of Camp Point: Mary Carp, of Cameron, Mis- souri : Bessie, wife of John Hoskins, of Chicago.
Isaac Cutter finished his edneation in the Maplewood High School at Camp Point, and had the highest grades of his class. He finished the course, but there were no graduation exercises then. His first active experience was as a school teacher. and From that he entered the postal service as a railway clerk. He was in that work for twenty-five years, and when he resigned was head clerk. Mr. ('utter continued with the railway mail service until he entered upon his present duties as Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Illinois.
At Camp Point he served one year as president of the school board and is now president of the Camp Point Building and Loan Association. Mr. Cutter is a republican, a member of the Camp Point Commercial Club, of the Christian Church and president of the Adams County Christian Church Association.
At Camp Point September 14, 1876, he married Mary Eliza Hart, daughter of Thomas West and Maria ( Denny) Hart. They have one daughter. Flora May Cutter, born July 22, 1877. On December 2, 1903, she was married to
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Arthur C. Boger. Mr. and Mrs. Boger have one child, Mary Catherine Boger, born August 13, 1915.
Mr. Cutter's local affiliations with Masonry are with Benjamin Lodge No. 297, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Camp Point. He was Master of his Lodge three years. Of his varied service as a teacher of Masonry he served twenty years as Grand Lecturer, six years as Grand Examiner, and he has been Grand Secretary of the Illinois Lodge for twelve years. He is member and Past High Priest of Camp Point Chapter No. 170, Royal Arch Masons, belongs to Delta Commandery, Knights Templars, of Clayton, to the Royal and Select Masters in the Council at Bloomington, Quincy Consistory, S. P. R. S., is Past Sovereign Prince of the Prinees of Jerusalem and is an honorary member of the Supreme Council of the thirty-third degree for the Northern Masonic Juris- dietion of the United States. He is also a member of Mahomed Temple of the Mystie Shrine at Peoria. Mr. Cutter is honorary member of Aeacia Fraternity of the University of Illinois, and the following lodges have bestowed on him the honors of membership : Bodley Lodge No. I at Quiney, Herman Lodge No. 39, Quiney Lodge No. 296 and Lambert Lodge No. 659, all of Quiney. Alpha Lodge No. 155 and Vesper Lodge No. 584, at Galesburg, Loraine Lodge No. 893 at Loraine, Bloomington Lodge No. 43 at Bloomington, Kilwinning Lodge No. 311, and Woodlawn Park Lodge No. 841 of Chicago. He is also a member of the Grand Leeturers Club of Quincy, the Masonie Secretaries Association of Chicago, and the Grand Seeretaries Guild of the United States.
Mr. Cutter is a member of Excalibur Lodge No. 299, Knights of Pythias, at Camp Point, is a Past Chancellor Commander, and for eight years repre- sented the Lodge in Grand Lodge. With the Sons of Veterans he is a member of Illinois State Camp No. 100 at Chicago, and a life member of the Com- mandery-in-Chief.
Mr. Cutter has been a leader in many patriotie movements, being chairman of the local committee of the National Defense, chairman of the local committee of the Protective League and the Security League, is vice president of the local organization of the Red Cross and chairman of the Troop Committee of the Boy Scouts of Camp Point.
CHARLES HENRY TURNER was an Adams County citizen who put into a com- paratively brief life the energy and achievements that sum up the successful career. He was one of the best known residents of Coneord Township, and his home farm, now carefully cultivated by his sons, is three miles southeast of Clayton.
Ile was born in Columbus Township of this eounty December 16, 1856, and died December 4, 1915, when nearly fifty-nine years of age. His parents were John F. and Isabel (Smith) Turner. His mother was a native of Adams County and his father probably also. The grandparents came from Kentucky, settling in the early days 21% miles east of Columbus. John F. Turner spent all his life in Columbus Township and was a highly prosperous farmer. He and his wife had three sons: Charles Henry ; William E., who died at the age cf fifty-four in Houston Township, where his widow. Mrs. Alvira Turner, is still living : and Lincoln, who died at the age of sixteen. A sister of John F. Turner is Ellen Wallace. Mrs. William MeDonald, of Clayton, is a niece of John F. Turner.
Charles Henry Turner grew up at the old home, living there until his marriage on March 9, 1882, to Mildred Curry. She was born in the Village of Columbus and was twenty-one years old at the time of her marriage. Her parents were Lewis and Mary Jane ( Roseberry) Curry.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Turner rented the old Turner farm for five years, and then for three or four years lived north of Coatsburg. In 1891 they moved to the present home farm. This was originally the Hopper farm, comprising 140 acres. Mr. Turner got this land from his father, who gave each son a farm. It cost $65 an aere. All the building improvements were put upon
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it by the late Charles H. Turner, who left it one of the best farms in Adams County. It comprises a fine body of what was onee prairie land and the soil is unsurpassed in productivity. The farm is now worth $200 an acre. There is a good house, outbuildings to correspond, and there are several living springs on the land. The late Mr. Turner was a republican but never held office. He continued active as a farmer until about 11/2 years before his death, when failing health kept him out of the fields. He was a liberal supporter of churches and other philosophic movements and was a member of the Woodmen Order.
The children of the late Charles II. Turner are given brief reeord as fol- lows: Cora May is Mrs. John A. Craig, of Concord Township; Effie Pearl is Mrs. Raymond Litz, living 21/2 miles north of Camp Point; William F. and Charles Otis are now partners in the management of the home farm; William F. married Frances Lee Booth and they have one child, Forest Lee. The other brother, Charles Otis, enlisted in the United States navy during the great war, was in the Great Lakes Training Station as a second elass seaman, and was honorably discharged December 19, 1918. Olen, the youngest living child, is a ยท boy of fifteen and still at home. Arland died in infaney.
LOUIS N. MELTON is chief of police in Quiney. Appointed to this offiee under Mayor Thompson, he brought to his duties many high personal qualifiea- tions and also the advantage of considerable experience of former years while he was connected with the police department. Mr. Melton is an ideal officer, and sinee entering upon his present duties has done much to raise the effieieney of his department of municipal government.
Mr. Melton was born in Gasconade County, Missouri, September 5. 1876, a son of James M. and Melissa Caroline ( Holt) Melton. Both parents were natives of Missouri and his father was a farmer during his active life. The mother is still living in Missouri. Chief Melton was the oldest in a family of five sons and four daughters.
Being the oldest child, and on aeeount of his father's early death, he re- mained at home and assisted in working the farm until the other children were able to relieve him of those duties. He had limited opportunity to attend school but made the best of his advantages. Leaving home, he traveled in the west and northwest and about 1905 came to Quincy, worked a short time on his unele's farm near Columbus, and then entered the shipping room of a foundry at Quiney. Later for four years he assisted George Rupp in taking charge of the place, and from that went on the fire department for a year. He resigned his position with the local fire fighters to engage in the mercantile business two years, and in 1911 was appointed a member of the police force by Mayor Frank Garner. He served two years under that appointment and two years under William Abbott. Then again he engaged in the mercantile business, but after 11% years sold out and accepted his present appointment as chief of poliee.
Mr. Melton married June 11, 1913, Miss Coletta Koeh, who was born in Quiney, daughter of John and Mary (Snous) Koch. As to polities Mr. Melton is independent. He is a member of the Masonic Order and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
REV. ALBERT BRUESSERMAN, O. F. M., is one of the highly educated Catholie clergymen who look after the parishes, churches and institutions of Adams County, and is a popular priest of St. Anthony's Church in Melrose Township.
Father Bruesserman was born in Rhineland, Germany, January 4, 1872, son of Theodore and Augusta ( Boehle) Bruesserman. His father was a black- smith by trade, and both parents spent all their lives in Germany. Father Bruesserman was one of a family of three sons and two daughters, all of whom are still living. His brother Justus is a trained nurse located at the Alexian Brothers Hospital, Elizabeth, New Jersey.
Up to the age of fifteen Father Bruesserman was a student for nine years in the parochial schools of his native country. He then came to America, arriving
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at Quincy in 1887. Here he began his classical studies in the Quincy College and Seminary, graduating in 1892. He then entered the Franciscan College at Teutopolis, Illinois, where he remained one year, was for two years a student in Cleveland, Ohio, and pursued his philosophical studies at Quincy for another two years. He did his last theological work, four years, at St. Anthony's Monastery at St. Louis.
After being ordained he was assigned his first missionary work in Madison and Platte counties, Nebraska. He remained there ten years, and it was his record as a church builder and organizer in that western country that has since called him to many important tasks. In Madison County, Nebraska, he re- organized the parish, enlarged the church, and had most pleasant relations with the people. His parishioners there were chiefly Irish and Bohemians. Returning east, he took charge of Bishop Creek parish at Teutopolis, Illinois, but from there was sent to Memphis, Tennessee, as chaplain of St. Joseph's Hospital, duties which kept him engaged sixteen months. Then for six months he was assistant priest at St. Peter's Church on Clark Street in Chicago, and in 1914 went to Petosky, Michigan, where he served eight missions. He was there sixteen months, and during that time finished a church at a cost of $15,000. His parishioners in this northern country were chiefly French, Russians, Bel- gians and Indians.
From Petosky Father Bruesserman returned to Quiney and has since been the beloved pastor of St. Anthony's Church at Antonius in Melrose Township, five miles southeast of Quincy. This is a thriving parish and many of the finest families in that township are members and worshipers. This member- ship comprises seventy-two families. In connection there is conducted a splendid parochial school. The St. Antonius School was the first organization in Adams County to make a record in Red Cross work. All the different societies of the parish are in a flourishing condition and Father Bruesserman's energy enables him to keep up all the church activities and at the same time enjoy pleasant social contact with the people of that community.
JOHN LOGAN MCMURRAY represents some of the old families of Adams County, and has given the best efforts of his life for nearly thirty years to the manage- ment of good farms in Clayton Township, where he still resides. The usual spelling of the family name in this county has been MeMurry, but Mr. McMurray follows the true and original spelling.
He was born on the farm which he still owns in Clayton Township Febru- ary 3, 1869, son of John Hunter and Anna (Murphy ) McMurray. John Hunter McMurray was also born on the farm where his son John L. now resides. His wife was born at Alton, Illinois. The pioneer of the family in this county was George MeMurray, a native of Kentucky, who came from that state to Adams County in very early times. He was not only a farmer but also a local minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married in Adams County Elizabeth Waller, and soon afterwards settled on a farm in Clayton Township, owning some of the land which his grandson now operates. George MeMurray died on the old farm. His children were: Thomas; Wilson; Aaron, who became a lawyer at Quincy ; Joseph C. : Matthew ; John Hunter : Ella, who married Henry Harrison Curry, a brother of R. S. Curry of Camp Point; and Margaret, who married Joseph Beckett, a brother of James Beckett of Golden.
John Hunter McMurray spent practically all of his life on the farm where he was born, and owned 160 acres there. He married in Adams County and both he and his wife are now deceased. Ile never took any special interest in politics as a means of office holding, but voted the republican ticket and with his wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They had three children : George Emory, of Cherry Creek, Nevada; Nora E., deceased wife of James W. Kirkpatrick, of Sheridan, Wyoming, though her death occurred in California ; and John Logan.
Many changes have taken place on the old farm since John Logan MeMurray
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was born there fifty years ago, and he has contributed not a few of these im- provements and better facilities. Ilis present farm comprises 257 acres, and the buildings are up to date and the equipment what might be expected of a first- class Adams County farm. He is a member of the Adams County Farm Bureau.
Mr. McMurray has been a trustee of his local school district for nine years and was also township trustee for fifteen years. He has served on the election board several times, served as registrar and also on Liberty loans and war relief drives, and is a republican voter. He is a member of one of the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Clayton, while his wife is a Baptist. His grandfather was one of the organizers of the Methodist Church at Clayton.
In May, 1904, Mr. MeMurray married Miss Inez Staats, of Griggsville, Illinois. They have no children. Mr. MeMurray graduated from the Clayton High School in 1888. The farm that he owns was taken up originally from the government during the administration of Martin Van Buren, who signed the title to the land.
JOHN II. OGLE has spent his life quietly but profitably as a general farmer in Beverly Township. His valuable farm is five miles northeast of Beverly Village and seven miles northwest of Baylis.
On that farm he was born May 17, 1879, and is a son of the late Isaac J. Ogle, long one of the prominent residents of this county. Isaac J. Ogle was born at Belleville in St. Clair County, Illinois, August 20, 1840. In 1850 he was brought to Adams County by his widowed mother, and from the age of fourteen lived at the home of his brother James Ogle in Beverly Township. He left that home to join the Union Army on August 20, 1861. and was mus- tered in as a member of the Fiftieth Illinois Infantry in Company D. He saw four years of service, having veteranized at the elose of his first enlistment. At the battle of Altoona Pass in Georgia he was shot through the hip, and inca- paeitated for service four months. Otherwise he was with his regiment in every battle and skirmish in which he was engaged, and his hearing was per- manently impaired by cannonading. He was with Sherman in the Atlanta campaign and also on the march to the sea. After the war he returned home and soon bought a farm of 300 acres adjoining that of his brother James. James Ogle had died during the war as a result of grief over the loss of his two sons, Solomon and Abraham, both of whom sacrificed their lives for their country. These sons were in the same company and regiment as their unele Isaac. Isaae's brother Abraham also lost his life in the war. Thus this family had more than ordinary distinction on aeeount of patriotie services. Isaac Ogle's land was comparatively new and had only a eabin home. In 1890 he built the present substantial farm home. After the war he became one of the larger farmers of Adams County, and continued to be identified with agricul- tural interests until his death on April 27, 1910. He was a republican and was frequently entrusted with local offices. For many years he was a road commissioner. He was one of the original builders of the Mound Prairie Chris- tian Church, and fraternally was affiliated with the Grand Army Post and the Modern Woodmen of America.
In 1865 Isaac J. Ogle married Louisa Carbaugh, who was born in 1847 and died in 1867, at the birth of her child Alice. This daughter. Aliee, was reared by Isaac Ogle's second wife and is now the wife of Marshall Love at Clayton. In 1868 Isaae Ogle married Alice Carbaugh, sister of his first wife. She was born October 23, 1850, daughter of Jaek Carbaugh. She was left an orphan in childhood and was reared by her grandparents. Mrs. Alice Ogle died April 26, 1899, at the age of forty-nine. She was the mother of nine children: Ida, unmarried and living at Beverly: Clara, wife of William Gieker, of Barry, Illinois : Luey, Mrs. S. A. Moore, of Camp Point: Jacob, who served two terms as township supervisor, and died at the age of thirty-eight, his wife being Mand Drummond ; Edward, who married Grace Taylor and lives at Oklahoma City; John H .; Minnie, Mrs. William Inslee, of Beverly Village : Laverda. Mrs. B. I.
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Hancock, of Jacksonville, Florida ; and Joseph, who married Lulu Cummings and lives on the old farm.
John H. Ogle has spent all his life on the old homestead. He acquired his education in the local district schools. He now owns 160 acres of the old place, and has ereeted a set of buildings just opposite the old home. He engages in general farming. Hog raising has been his most profitable feature. lte is a republican but has never sought office. Mr. Ogle is a member of the old Mound Prairie Christian Church. He is affiliated with the Woodmen Order and mem- ber of the Pike County Mutual Life Association.
November 2, 1904, he married Miss Elsie Stockwell, who was born in Linn County, Missouri, daughter of Elisha and Lucy (Couch) Stockwell. When she was twelve years old her parents came to Adams County and are now liv- ing at Beverly. Mr. and Mrs. Ogle have four children : Alice, Erma, Howard and Herbert.
RICHARD SEATON, JR., for many years a banker and merchant of Camp Point, is the grandson of a Revolutionary soldier, son of an American who fought in the second war with Great Britain, himself bore arins for the cause of the Union, and he has grandsons who are with the colors today.
Mr. Seaton was born in Camp Point Township December 19, 1835, son of Richard and Eleanor (Mundell) Seaton. His father was born either in Virginia or Pennsylvania January 10, 1790, and his mother was born July 20, 1795, probably in Kentucky. The Revolutionary patriot, his grandfather, was Ken- ner Seaton. Richard Seaton, Sr., was taken to Jefferson County, Kentucky, in 1792, grew up. there, married May 11, 1817, and on the 10th of October, 1835, arrived in Adams County and located in Camp Point Township. His son Riehard was born two weeks later. He acquired 160 aeres, and at one time owned 800 acres in the county. Richard, Sr., died April 21, 1874, and his wife August 1, 1865. He began voting as a whig and turned to the republican party, and he and his wife were both members of the Christian Church. Their children were: Margaret, Kenner, Rebeeea, John S., James M., George, who died in infancy, and Richard, JJr., who is the only survivor.
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