Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II, Part 43

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 43

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Newton J. Hinton as a boy attended publie school in Melrose High School in Payson, and also had several terms of instruction at Chaddock College in Quincy. He taught his first school at the age of eighteen. It was a rural school in the Whitcomb District in Payson Township. His second school was the Center School in Fall Creek Township. The patrons of that school were so well pleased with his serviees that they kept him five years. He left that to take charge of the grammar school at Payson, later organized the grade school

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at Liberty and taught it five years, and following that spent seven years again at Payson and one year at Mendon. He was principal of the Payson High School seven years. Sinee coming to the Franklin school as principal in 1898 Mr. Hinton has graduated more than 400 pupils from the eighth grade. This is one of the old and well known schools of the city, located at Third and State streets. Ile has thirteen regular teachers under him, besides the teachers who handle the domestic science and manual training department.

In Quiney Mr. Hinton married Miss Lois Thompson. She was born in Melrose Township and she and Mr. Hinton were fellow students, and she like- wise taught for three years, one year after her marriage. Mrs. Hinton is a daughter of Isaac N. and Elizabeth (Forgy) Thompson, both of Kentucky ancestry. Her mother was born in Kentucky and her father near Athens, Ohio. On coming to Adams County they bought a farm in Melrose Township, and later lived in Payson Township, where the mother died at the age of sixty- six and the father at the age of eighty-six. Mrs. Hinton's father was an active democrat and besides township offices was at one time deputy sheriff of Adams County. The Thompsons were members of the Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Ilinton are active members of the Vermont Street Methodist Episcopal church, and he has served as a member of its official board and for about twelve years was assistant superintendent of the Sunday sehool. In politics Mr. Hinton is a republican. He is affiliated with Bodley Lodge, No. 1, Ancient Free and Ac- eepted Masons, and is a past master. He is also secretary of the local court of the Tribe of Ben Hur and a member of North Star Camp, Modern Woodmen of America. He is secretary of the Adams County Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Mr. and Mrs. Hinton are properly proud of the achievements and attain- ments of their only son, Dr. Ralph C. Hinton, one of the prominent alienists of the state. He was born in 1881, is a graduate of the Payson and Quincy schools, and in 1904 took his medieal degree from the University of Illinois. For two years he was an interne in the Michael Reese Hospital at Chicago, and for a time carried on a private practice at Quiney. He entered upon the real work of his life when he became assistant superintendent of the State Hospital at Jacksonville. Later he was superintendent of the hospital at Elgin several years, was also connected with an institution at Peoria and on September 1, 1917, was sent back to fill the position of superintendent at the Elgin State Hospital. He has made a splendid record in these several state institutions. Doctor Hinton married Alna Thompson, of Adams County, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Thompson, both now deeeased. Her father died in California at the age of thirty-five and her mother in Fall Creek Township at the age of fifty- six. Doctor and Mrs. Ilinton have a son, Ralph C., born August 25, 1912, and this grandson is the particular pride of Professor Hinton. Doctor Hinton and wife also have an adopted daughter, Elizabeth R., born June 20, 1913.

JOHN ADAM BANGERT has a store that is a recognized institution in his part of Quiney at 700 North Fifth Street. This has been a locality for family trade in groeeries for about forty years. It was established by his father, Frederick Bangert, who was the first to open a stock of goods of that kind in this part of the eity. The lot on which the present store stands was at one time a steep hillside. and was as a result of mueh labor graded down and brought into condition for the erection of a building 25 by 70 feet. Frederick Bangert presided over this store the rest of his life and it has been eontinned by his son, John Adam, and is now the oldest store north of Hampshire Street. Fred- erick Bangert was proprietor of the business until his death in 1896, at the age of sixty-one.

Frederiek Bangert was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, in 1835. and came of a very substantial and well-to-do family of German people. He grew up in his native land, spent his early life on the farm, and in order to avoid military duty came to the United States. He made the voyage from Bremen

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to New York City on a sailing vessel in seven weeks' time, and from New York came at once to Quincy. In Adams County he followed farming in Melrose Township until after the close of the Civil war, and his industry and thrift enabled him to accumulate the modest capital which he finally invested in his property and store at Quincy.

After coming to this country he married at Quincy Maria Heidloff, sister of John Heidloff and member of a well known Quincy family elsewhere referred to. Mrs. Frederick Bangert was a noble wife and mother and by her thrift and care in supervising the early training of her children earned their undying gratitude. She died in 1911, at the age of seventy-seven. Both she and her husband were active members of St. John's Lutheran Church. Frederick Bangert was a very decided democrat in politics. Of their six children Kath- arine is the wife of Thomas Rottenkobler, a retired butcher of Quincy. Mary married John David, a grocery merchant of Quincy. Fred C. is in the butcher business and married Miss Mohler and has two children, and by a former marriage had three children. Leonard was also a butcher by trade and died in 1915, at the age of forty-five. Anna died unmarried in 1914, when about thirty-eight.

John Adam Bangert was born in Quincy in 1875. His birthplace was a house that stood on the lot where he now has his store. Thus his associations of home and business center around one locality, and in this atmosphere he grew up, attended the local schools, and learned the business from his father and by practical experience. When his father died he and his mother and sisters Mary and Anna continued the business. Later a sister went into the grocery business for herself, and since then Mr. Bangert has been sole proprietor of the old store.

In Quincy he married Margaret Wemhoener, daughter of F. C. and Eliza- beth (Wisenberger) Wemhoener. Her father was a former city clerk of Quincy. Both her parents were born in Quincy, were married here and are still residents, being now about seventy years of age. They are active members of the Luth- eran Church. Mr. and Mrs. Bangert have two daughters, Maria E. and Helen K. Maria was born in 1905 and is now in the eighth grade of the public schools, while Helen was born in 1909 and is in the fifth grade. The family are mem- bers of the Lutheran Church.

EDGAR McNAY. A farm that measures up to the best standards of Illinois rural improvements, representing value, productiveness, first class buildings, ample facilities for crops and livestock, and at the same time the comforts that insure the welfare of its occupants, is that of Edgar MeNay, located about three miles west of Mendon in section 9 of that township and on the line of Ursa Township.

This farm home is the birthplace of Edgar MeNay, where he was born May 3, 1865. IIe is a son of James and Helena (Laughlin) MeNay. Helena Laugh- lin was a daughter of William Laughlin, one of four brothers who more than eighty years ago came to Adams County and were among the most prominent pioneers of Mendon Township. James McNay was born in Kentucky of Scotch parents. One of his brothers died while the family were coming to America and was buried at sea. James MeNay was a small child when his father died and later his mother came to Adams County as the wife of Daniel Lewis, and both spent the rest of their days in Mendon Township. As a boy James MeNay worked for his brother Andrew until he was about grown. In 1849 he and J. P. Nichols were attracted to the gold fields of California. The entire sum- mer of that year they were on the plains traveling to the gold coast, a journey that required six months. They were in the California mines for a year and a half, and had more than the average success. James MeNay had gold dust to the value of between $3,000 and $4,000 when he returned, and he invested much of it in eighty acres of land included in the present farm of his son Edgar. Later he bought another eighty acres and was a prosperous farmer in that

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community until his death on March 4, 1876, at the age of fifty-one. He was born in the year 1824 and was brought to Adams County from the vicinity of Covington, Kentucky. His brother Andrew also spent his life in Mendon Township, and there were two other brothers, John and William, who were long identified with this part of Adams County. Mrs. James McNay died June 17, 1906, at the age of seventy-three. They were married soon after his return from California, and she survived her husband about thirty years. Their children were: William, a railroad man living at Peoria; Herschel, who died in California at the age of twenty; Edgar; Charles, who is eashier in the freight office of the Burlington Railroad at Des Moines, Iowa; Violet, who died at the age of two years; and Gertrude, who died at seventeen.

The life of Edgar MeNay has been identified from birth to the present time with the old homestead farm. During his mother's lifetime he bought the farm and has since increased its size by the purchase of eighty acres until he now has 240 aeres under his ownership and control. For the eighty aeres which he bought he paid $100 an acre. He and his family enjoy the comforts of a good home, the house having been erected in 1875, and having sinee been remod- eled. Mr. MeNay served twenty years on the school board of his distriet and in the spring of 1916 was elected township supervisor and served until 1918. He was elected on the democratic ticket in a strongly republiean distriet, and was defeated for re-election on account of the high school question. During his term as supervisor for Mendon Township he secured the entire aid from the county for two bridges. This was a much needed improvement and they were ereeted at a cost of $3,000. He has always been democratic in his politics, and is affiliated with the Lodge of Odd Fellows at Ursa. At the age of twenty- four Mr. MeNay married Miss Clara Wilkins, daughter of Eli and Susan (Kelley) Wilkins. Six children were born to their marriage: Mabel, wife of Virgil Baker, a carpenter at Marcelline, and they have two children, Milton and Lois; Florence, who is still at home ; Marie, who graduated from the Mendon Iligh School in 1912 and is at home; Helen, wife of Ray MeClelland, a farmer in Honey Creek Township, and they have one daughter, Alma ; Gilbert and Glen, both at home.

WILLIAM D. GROVES, M. D. The oldest and best known physician of Ursa Township is Doetor Groves, who has practiced medieine in this county for over thirty years and whose personal associations have been with the localities of Marcelline and Ursa. Doctor Groves is a man of high standing in his pro- fession, and is now vice president of the Adams County Medieal Society.

He was born at Marcelline in Ursa Township April 18, 1862, a son of John P. and Amanda (Rnddell) Groves. His mother was a daughter of Rev. Stephen A. Ruddell, one of the prominent pioneers of Ursa Township, who took a promi- nent part in organizing the first religious society in the township, and later gave from his own farm the site for the Christian Church. The Ruddell family has been active in Adams County for ninety years.

John P. Groves was born in Pennsylvania and was brought as a child to Adams County, his parents locating at Marcelline. He was born in 1817 and died March 22, 1881, at the age of sixty-four. John P. Groves' mother lived to a good old age. He was the only one of three sons to reach maturity. His brother Daniel died while a soldier in the Civil war and his brother Joseph Henry died in young manhood. John P. Groves spent his active career as a farmer near Marcelline. He was never in public life, but was one of the organ- izers of the Christian Church at Mareelline. His wife died in 1891, at the same age as himself. They had four children: Mary E., widow of R. M. Agee, of Berkeley, California ; George W., a farmer of Mendon Township; William D .; and Martha R., wife of John D. Gerard, of Tacoma, Washington.

Doetor Groves was liberally educated, taking his literary work in Christian University at Canton, Missouri, and graduating with the class of 1878. He then entered the St. Louis Medical College, from which he received his medical

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degree in 1883. With this preparation he began practice at Marcelline, and in 1902 established his home at Ursa. The four years previous to his establish- ment at Ursa he spent at Kansas City, Missouri. He has given all his time to his work as a physician, and there is hardly a home in Ursa Township which he has not entered at some time in a professional capacity. lle is a member of all the medical societies, including the District and State societies, and the American Medical Association. He is an Odd Fellow and has sat in the Grand Lodge. Doetor Groves has spent several winters either in Florida or California.

At the age of twenty-three he married Minnie Keith, of Marcelline, daugh- ter of E. B. Keith, a farmer of that vicinity now deceased. Mrs. Groves died July 28, 1915. She was very active in the Christian Church and for many years taught a Sunday school class. Their only child, Ursula, is now Mrs. William B. MeAdams, wife of a prominent stockman of Ursa. Her first husband was William Smith Byrd, who died in Florida. William Smith Byrd was a son of Dr. William A. Byrd, long a prominent physician of Quincy. Mrs. Ursula MeAdams by her first marriage has a daughter, Mary Belle, now ten years of age.

JAMES T. RUDDELL is the present supervisor of Ursa Township and for a number of years has sold much of the merchandise distributed from the village of Ursa over the surrounding country. In 1904 he acquired his present busi- ness as successor to the Lummis Brothers. The store was originally established about 1880, the building being erected by Mr. Steinbach, and is now owned by the J. M. Daugherty Estate. Mr. Ruddell has a stock of general merchandise valued at about $7,000, representing an increase from an original investment of $3,300. The business has grown and prospered and shows very satisfactory returns.

Ursa Township was a wilderness when the Ruddell family came here nearly ninety years ago, in 1829. It is recorded that the first religious society in the township was organized at the residence of Rev. Stephen Ruddell in section 18, and he and his wife were among the seven charter members. Stephen Rud- dell afterwards gave a site from part of his farm for the first house of worship. and a church has stood there for many years.

James T. Ruddell was born in Ursa Township November 4, 1855, a son of John M. and Martha A. (Dunlap) Ruddell. John M. Rnddell was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, September 28, 1812. The date of his arrival in Adams County was November 20, 1829. On March 20, 1832, he married Miss Martha Dunlap, who was born in Mercer County, Kentucky, April 28, 1813. Her father, David Dunlap, came to Adams County in 1830 from Audrain County, Missouri. David Dunlap settled in Mendon Township, and spent his life as an active farmer there. He died at the age of eighty years. Martha Dunlap's mother died in Kentucky. John M. Ruddell developed a farm of 120 acres in seetion 1 of Ursa Township and was a citizen of high standing in that loeality for many years. He was a democrat, an active member of the Chris- tion Church, and served for over fourteen years as township supervisor and in other offices. In the Blackhawk Indian war of 1832 he was a member of Philip W. Martin's company. Three of his sons and a son-in-law were Union soldiers. His son William D. went out as first lieutenant in Company A of the Seventy-Eighth Illinois, and came back a captain. John D. enlisted in Com- pany B of the Fiftieth Illinois Infantry, and was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. George H. served as a private in Company B of the Seventy- Eighth Regiment, and the son-in-law, J. W. Wiester, was also in the Seventy- Eighth Regiment. John M. Ruddell died in August, 1896, and his wife in April of the same year. They had altogether eleven children, including: Wil- liam D., who removed to Andrew County, Missouri, in 1876, and served as county treasurer of that county and died in 1888, at the age of fifty-four; John D. died at Mendon, Chariton County, Missouri, at the age of forty-one; Margaret R. lives with her brother James and is the widow of Jacob Wiester,

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of Mendon; George H. died in Andrew County, Missouri, at the age of fifty- eight; May C. was past fifty when she died; and James T.

James T. Ruddell was reared a farmer and gave his years usefully to agri- cultural operations until 1897. During 1897-98 he was a merchant at Ursa, and from 1901 for a number of years was manager of the local creamery. He has been regularly established in business as a merchant since 1904.

Mr. Ruddell served as assessor of the township eight years, as tax collector four years, and has now filled the office of supervisor four years. He is an active democrat, has been prominent in church affairs, and in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows has filled all the chairs in the local lodge, has been repre- sentative to the Grand Lodge and distriet deputy.

At the age of twenty-one he married Miss Sarah E. Jenkins. She was born in this locality of Adams County November 30, 1858, a daughter of Wil- liam A. and Rachel Jenkins, who were married in Adams County. William A. Jenkins came from Kentucky to this county about 1838. Her mother, Rachel Price, was a native of Maryland. Mrs. Ruddell died May 28, 1916, the mother of five children : Charles A., a farmer in Ursa; John M., associated with his father in the firm of James T. Ruddell & Son; William F., a resident of Engle- wood, Kansas ; Margaret M., who was born in 1889 and died February 6, 1914. at the age of twenty-five, leaving two children : and Martha A., wife of James Selby, of Lima Township. On June 27, 1918, Mr. Ruddell married Mrs. Mary B. Main, of Knox City, Missouri.

CHIARLES LAYCOCK is founder and president of the Bank of Ursa. This institution, one of the most substantial of the smaller towns of Adams County. was established June 5, 1905, with a capital stock of $10,000. Mr. Charles Layeock is president and his son, Robert E. Laycoek, is cashier. The bank is housed in a solid conerete building, erected for the special purpose, and has all the equipment and facilities of the modern bank.

Mr. Charles Laycock is a native of West Riding, Yorkshire, England. He grew up as a factory boy, with limited education and opportunities. Coming to the United States at the age of twenty-two, he worked in a factory at Providence, Rhode Island, as a dresser in the cloth industry, and also at Manchester, New Hampshire. Perhaps the most important event of his early life was a visit during one summer at the home of an old friend on the Georgian Bay in Canada. While in Canada he chaneed to attend a great religious debate lasting ten days between Rev. O. A. Burgess, president of Butler University of Indianapolis, and a Mr. Underwood, a celebrated free thinker of Boston. It was hearing this struggle between master and opposing minds, and his acquaintance with Doctor Burgess which influenced him to enter Butler University as a student. He grad- uated after a thorough training for the ministry, and at once entered upon his career as a pastor of the Christian Church. While in college he paid his way by preaching, and had more resources at the end of his course than when he entered. Mr. Layeock served as pastor of a Christian Church at California, Missouri, also of two country churches, and was active in the ministry in both Missouri and Illinois for thirty-three years. He came from Canton, Missouri, to Ursa to start the bank, and with all the duties of business affairs has con- tinued to render service occasionally as a minister, and hardly a month passes that he is not subject to some eall from his old friend and parishioners to attend funerals. He has met and known many of the celebrated pulpit orators, includ- ing John A. Brooks, who was one of the ablest preachers of his time and was once candidate for vice president on the prohibition ticket.

While at California, Missouri, Rev. Mr. Laycock married Eugenia Chas- tain. They have two children, Robert E. and Fern. The daughter is still at home. Robert E. Laycock is cashier of the bank and has also become widely known in association with his father by his work in breeding of high grade Belgian and Percheron horses and mules. Their industry is widely known, and has done much to improve the blood of standard bred horses and mules through-

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out this section of the state. Robert Layeock married Lillie Calvin, daughter of James M. and Phebe (Shepherd) Calvin, of Ursa Township.

HORACE D. MORTON. The Morton family have been in Adams County for seventy years or more and their record as successful farmers is found in Gilmer, Ellington and several other localities. Mr. Horace D. Morton, who among his friends is better known as "Harry," did his share of the hard work involved in farm operation, and is now living in comfortable retirement at a home in Quiney at the corner of Ninth and Oak streets. He moved from the Ellington Township farm in section 9 on December 24, 1904. In that part of Ellington Township he owned a good place of eighty aeres for nine years, and had pre- viously farmed in Mendon Township.

Mr. Morton was born in Gilmer Township July 26, 1856. He lived there to the age of eight years, when his father bonght a farm in Henry County, Illinois. Four years later the family returned to Adams County and again settled in Gilmer Township, where his father bought a place of 106 aeres.

The grandparents of Horace D. Morton were Z. and Clarissa (Morgan) Mor- ton, who came from Ohio to Adams County in 1848 and bought a half seetion of land in Gilmer Township. The land was completely wild, and it was the task of the family to improve it. Mr. Z. Morton died there and his estate was divided among his three sons and three daughters. The grandparents and most of their six children are now at rest in the cemetery at the Village of Columbus. One daughter, Mrs. Rebecca Henderson, is still living at advanced age at Atlanta, Georgia.

Benjamin Morton, oldest of the six children, and father of Horace was born in Butler County, Ohio, September 9, 1825. He was of New England ancestry and the first American Morton came over about the time of the Mayflower. HIe grew up in Butler County and was a young man when he came to Adams County. He married Nancy Cate, who was a native of New Hampshire and was brought to Adams County at the age of eight years. Her parents settled on a farm in Gilmer Township and spent the rest of their days there. Mrs. Nancy Morton died when nearly seventy years of age.

Horace D. Morton was reared as a Methodist, which was the family religion. However, after his marriage he joined his wife in worship in the Christian Church. He married in Gilmer Township Miss Eunice King. She was born in Burton Township of Adams County July 23, 1859. She died at the home in Quincy April 5, 1918. She was reared and educated in Burton and Gilmer townships and after graduating from the Maplewood High School at Camp Point was a teacher until her marriage. Her parents were Elijah and Ruth (Chase) King, early settlers of Burton Township, where they lived on a farm many years. Later they had a farm in Gilmer Township, where Mr. King died. His widow spent her last years in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Morton. She lived until past eighty years. All the King family were members of the Christian Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Morton had seven children. Albert was killed when ten years of age, being kicked by a horse. Carl B., born July 20, 1883, is a farmer in Marion County, Missouri. He married Nellie Windmeyer, of Quincy. They have three children, Eunice E., Robert B. and Marjorie F. Mary R., born November 2, 1885, was educated in the Quiney High School, graduating as an honor student in 1905, and is now the wife of Andrew L. Hastings. Mr. and Mrs. Hastings live at Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Ada N., born November 25, 1887, was educated in the Quiney High School and the Gem City Business College and is now the wife of Harlan Turner, of Quiney. Lulu M., born January 21, 1893, is a graduate of the Quiney High School and the Gem City Business College and is now keeping house for her father. Nellie E., born November 28, 1896, is a graduate of high school and the Gem City Business College, and is the wife of Harry Henhoff, of Ellington Township. Anna Lueile, born November 9. 1898, has a diploma from the high school and the Gem City Business College

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Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II, Part 43

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