USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. II > Part 66
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In 1869, at the age of twenty-three, Mr. Murrah married Miss Melissa Koontz. She was born in Virginia, now West Virginia, in 1846, and was reared in Missouri. When a young woman she came to Illinois and at the age of nine- teen became a member of the Murrah family, where she remained until her marriage. Mrs. Murrah died in 1914, at the age of sixty-eight. She was the mother of nine children, two of whom died in early childhood. The seven still living are: Marietta, widow of John Gunn, of Loraine; Peter Lawrence, who has never married and is now active manager of the home farm; Joseph Ar- thur, a farmer in Camp Point Township who married Rilla Felsman ; Minnie Rebecca, wife of James P. Gunn, a farmer of Honey Creek Township; Lula, widow of J. T. MeCormick, of Loraine, this county: William E., who married Cora Guenther and lives on the old homestead ; and Rose Evelyn, wife of Frank Fite, now living in Iowa.
DERRICK L. MONEALL, cashier of the State Street Bank at Coatsburg and a former county official, has spent practically all his life in Adams County and is connected with some of the oldest and best known families here.
His grandfather, Dr. Abraham B. MeNeall, was an old time medical prae- titioner of Columbus Township. Abraham B. MeNeall was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, March 8, 1810, the oldest of the nine children of Ar- thur and Elizabeth (Boyer) MeNeall, also natives of Pennsylvania. During his infancy his parents moved to the vicinity of Cincinnati, and during his youth at Hamilton, Ohio, he learned the carpenter's trade. In the intervals of his mechanical employment he read medicine, studied at Starling Medieal College in Columbus, Ohio, during 1849-50, and in September, 1855, came to the Village of Columbus in Adams County. He practiced there, and in 1868, after further study, was graduated from the Keokuk Medical College. He owned considerable land in and around the City of Columbus, served as a magistrate. was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and his wife were Methodists. November 21, 1833. he married Esther Haywood. who died September 5, 1864, leaving five children : Nathan H., Lydia A., Arthur A., Sarah E. and David F. Dr. Abraham MeNeall married for his second wife, January 4, 1866. Ruth A. Carroll, and they had four children.
Nathan H. MeNeall, father of Derrick L., was also a physician, studying at first under his father and later graduating from Keokuk Medical College. He began practice at Columbus, and for a few years lived at Denver in Han- cock County. He finally took up his residence at Paloma and practiced there until his death in January, 1884, at the age of forty-eight. During the Civil war he served as first assistant surgeon in the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Illinois Infantry and was with his command until discharged. He was an active member of the County and State Medical societies and the American Medical Association, and was also a good business man. The saddle bags in
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which he kept his instruments and medicines as he rode his rounds over the eountry are still carefully preserved by his son Derrick L.
.
Dr. Nathan H. MeNeall married Louisa Whitlock, a daughter of Derriek Whitlock and a sister of Dr. Greenberry E. Whitlock. Derriek Whitlock was born in Sussex County, New Jersey, April 2, 1817, a son of John and Lydia (Howell) Whitloek. Derrick Whitloek was reared in Butler County, Ohio, and married Rachel Elliott in that county December 18, 1839. Derrick Whit- lock in early life was a tailor. He came to Adams County in 1853, and from 1857 to 1871 was a merchant at the village of Columbus. He was also town and police magistrate. He and his wife had two children, Greenberry E. and Louisa. Louisa Whitlock MeNeall survived her husband many years and died May 3, 1914. She was the mother of three sons: Rolla E., a commercial sales- man living at Quincy : Wilbur II., who is rural free delivery carrier at Paloma ; and Derrick L., who was named for his grandfather Whitloek.
Derrick L. MeNeall was born at Denver in Hancock County, Illinois, Sep- tember 20, 1875, but spent his early life at Columbus, where he attended pub- lic schools. For eight years he served as deputy county recorder, part of the time under his brother Rolla, and part of the time under David P. Lawless. He was also in the undertaking business at Columbus for a year or so. In the fall of 1909 Mr. MeNeall entered upon his duties as cashier of the State Street Bank at Coatsburg. This bank is a branch of the State Street Bank of Quincy.
Mr. MeNeall is a republican. His father was also active in the affairs of that party, and in 1861 was elected school treasurer at Columbus, and fifty- seven years later, in 1918, Derrick L. took the same position. Derrick L. Mc- Neall resides at Columbus. He is superintendent of the Sunday School of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a member of the Masonic order. His home at Columbus is the old Whitlock house of his grandfather.
May 15, 1913, Mr. MeNeall married Ada F. Myers, daughter of Leroy L. and Margaret (Lummins) Myers, of Gilmer Township. Her mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. MeNeall have one living child, Derriek Leroy MeNeall, Jr.
JAMES SANFORD LAWLESS is one of the oldest members of a family that has been prominently identified with Adams County for eighty years or more. Ile resides in Gilmer Township, eleven miles east of Quiney, and was born July 28, 1838, on a farm just 21% miles northwest of where he now lives.
His parents were John and Margaret (Skirvin) Lawless. His father was a native of Virginia, was reared in Grant County, Kentucky, and married there Miss Skirvin. About 1833 they moved to Illinois. An ox team drew the wagon, while Mrs. Lawless rode horsebaek. Their first home was in Bur- ton Township, but they soon moved to Gilmer Township, and secured a tract of government land at $1.25 per acre. This land was partly covered with heavy timber and some of it was prairie land. There was also a spring of good water. In those pioneer days the grass on the prairie grew as high as a horse's baek. Their nearest neighbor was David Harrison, five miles away on Mill Creek. There were at that time very few families in Gilmer Township, and Columbus was still the county scat. John Lawless died on the old farm' at the age of seventy and his wife at sixty-eight. Her brother, Joel Skirvin, also eame to Adams County and settled 21% miles further north, and there were several other members of the Skirvin family here. Besides his home- stead John Lawless acquired between 300 and 400 acres, and helped all his children to start in life. He and his wife had nine sons and daughters, and all of them reached the age of sixty except a daughter who died at the age of forty. Their oldest son, John Quiney Lawless, who was born in Grant County, Kentucky, in 1826, became one of the most extensive farmers in the county. owning land in several townships, and he died at Columbus at the age of eighty-six. He was the father of David P. Lawless, former county recorder. William C. Lawless was born January 7, 1829, and he and his brother John Quincy married sisters, daughters of David Pearee. The wife of William C.
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Lawless was Mary Pearce, who was born in Baltimore, Maryland, January 26, 1830, and died in Adams County, July 6, 1907. William C. Lawless, who died at his farm in Gilmer Township at the age of seventy, was the father of Mr. Charles C. Lawless, the well known business man of Paloma. Thomas Lawless was a soldier in the Seventy-eighth Illinois Infantry, was captured and held a prisoner fourteen months, lost his health and died at the com- paratively early age of sixty. Susan was the daughter who died at the age of forty. She married Mr. MeBroon and died in Iowa. The next in age is James Sanford. Oliver P. Lawless is a resident of Gilmer Township. Mary Ann, the oldest child, married William Judy and died when ninety years of age. Elizabeth married John P. Yeargain and died in old age. Sarah is the wife of J. Lummis, and their son is now postmaster at Quincy.
James Sanford Lawless remained at home to the age of twenty-four and in 1865 came to his present farm, where he and his brother Oliver were partners for a number of years, but James finally bought out his brother's interest. He began with a farm of about 160 aeres and now has 500 aeres in one body. He is an extensive hog and eattle raiser and markets two or three carloads of cattle and three carloads of hogs every year. He has never been an office holder but is a republican.
At the age of thirty-three he married Miss Clara Vida Ferguson, of Bur- ton Township. Their children are Clay; Bernadina, Mrs. Willis Cook of Pa- Joma ; Stephen G., a banker at Liberty and president of the County Exemp- tion Board; Emmett, who lives on a farm adjoining that of his father; Homer, who is in the United States Army; Henry, who operates the home farm; and Emily, who is also at home.
CHARLES C. LAWLESS. One of the most frequently recurring names in con- neetion with the business and civic interests of eastern Adams County is that of Charles C. Lawless, farmer, grain and stoek dealer and leader in republican politics, whose home is at Paloma. His own record is merely in keeping with that of one of the oldest and best known families in the county.
Mr. Lawless was born in Gilmer Township, September 4, 1873, and is a son of William C. and Mary A. (Pearce) Lawless. A number of references to the different generations of the family will be found on other pages. Wil- liam C. Lawless spent his life as a farmer near the old homestead, and his home place contained 160 aeres and he also owned another quarter section a half mile south. He followed farming on general lines, and his chief livestock was hogs. He was never in polities, thongh a stanch republican. His wife, Mary A. Pearee, was a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Stabler) Pearce. Of the Pearee family none now remain in Adams County. David Pearee was born in Baltimore County, Maryland, March 18, 1807, and died in Gilmer Township December 16, 1878. He married Elizabeth Stabler February 27, 1829. They enjoyed their happy companionship for more than half a een- tury. In 1835 David Pearee moved to Butler County Ohio, and in 1848 came to Adams County. At that time he was in limited circumstances, but his sub- sequent efforts brought him valuable property and the esteem of a large com- munity. His farm was in the western part of Gilmer Township. He and his wife were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife was born in York County, Pennsylvania. September 15, 1808. David and Eliza- beth Pearce had five children: Mary A .; John C., who died at Bowen, Illi- nois; Thomas D., who died at Camp Point; Elizabeth, who married J. O. Lawless and died at Columbus: and Ruth, who died in Gilmer Township the wife of E. A. Yeargain.
William C. Lawless and wife had eight children, seven of whom reached maturity : Orville H., of Paloma ; John T., who died at Bowen, Illinois; David O .. who resides at Bowen ; William W., of Carthage, Illinois; Mary A., Mrs. William C. Morton, of Golden ; Elizabeth, Mrs. M. Henry, of Paloma; and Charles C., the youngest.
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Charles C. Lawless was twenty-three years of age when his father died, and after attaining his majority he had taken the management of the farm and continued it until his mother's death. He then moved to Paloma and bought the Doetor MeNeall farm of eighty acres. To this he added in 1902, 110 acres and now gives his supervision to the entire farm, which is a large and valu- able one. Mr. Lawless has paid varying priees for his land, securing some as low as $80 an aere and the top price was $143 an aere. A good residence was on his farm, built by Doetor MeNeall, but Mr. Lawless has rebuilt and remodeled it. He carries on his farming partnership with Frank Wilson, an old employe. He is also associated with Willis Cook in the stoek and grain trade and the firm handles about 100 earloads of live stoek every year. They buy and ship grain from Coatsburg and Loraine. He is also a partner with G. A. Wilkey under the name Wilkey & Lawless, proprietors of a general store at Paloma. MIr. Lawless and Mr. Cook have an eighty acre pasture in eom- mon ownership, and use it for grazing their stoek before shipping.
As a republican leader Mr. Lawless has been very active in the party and in behalf of his friends, but never as a seeker for office. He is a committee- man of the thirty-sixth senatorial distriet and has been a delegate to a num- ber of congressional and county conventions. He is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church.
February 25, 1903, Mr. Lawless married Mrs. Ellen F. (Wolfe) Ferguson. widow of Cliff Ferguson and daughter of J. B. Wolfe. Mrs. Lawless died six years after her marriage, January 7. 1909. She was the mother of two ehil- dren, William W., born Mareh 8, 1904, and Eldon E .. born November 26, 1906. William is at home with his father, while Eldon lives with an aunt. On January 4. 1911, Mr. Lawless married May Diekhut. They have one son, Kenneth D., born June 29, 1913.
ORY A. SCOTT. The Scott family has been identified with the southern part of Adams County for over three quarters of a century. They have been eapable farmers, good citizens, and have supplied much of the work and influenee through which Payson and Fall Creek Township have been developed since pioneer days.
The member of the family now under special consideration is Ory A. Scott, whose home is in Payson Township, three quarters of a mile northwest of the village of that name. He was born just a mile away. in Fall Creek Township, January 28. 1859, son of E. C. Scott. E. C. Scott was a native of New Jersey, born in 1824, and was sixteen years of age when in 1840 his parents, Samnel and Elizabeth Seott, eame west and settled in Payson Township. Samuel Seott and wife lived here and died at a good old age. After reaching his majority E. C. Seott settled in Fall Creek Township, adjoining the Payson Township farm and on the main Payson and Quiney road. About 1869 he moved to the present farm of Ory A. Seott, and he lived here until his death at the age of eighty-six. E. C. Seott married Mary Leebrick, daughter of George Leebriek, who was one of the pioneer merchants of Quincy, being connected with the Dimmock firm at the corner of Fifth and Maine streets. George Leebriek died when about eighty years of age. The last fifteen years of his life he was blind and spent most of his time with E. C. Seott, but eventually died at the home of a neighbor in Missouri. Mary Leebriek was born at Quiney and died at the age of fifty-seven. She and her husband had thirteen children, four daughters and two sons eoming to ma- turity. One son. Lynn, died at the age of seventeen.
Ory A. Scott has lived on his present farm sinee he was ten years of age. He had little to begin with when he reached his majority beyond a common sehool education and experience as a farmer, and has made his sueeess through his own efforts. He bought out the other interests in the old homestead, and two years ago he also acquired the old Seott home in Fall Creek Township. At present he has 235 aeres in his home farm and seventy acres in Fall Creek. It all constitutes a splendid farm, devoted to stoek, grain and fruit. In 1907 Mr.
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Scott went to Texas and acquired some interests in the Panhandle country of that state, owning 320 acres there.
His father was a republican in politics until the prohibition party was formed. and he was one of the first in Payson Township to formally ally himself with that organization. The son is also a prohibitionist, and both were workers for that cause when it was by no means as popular as it is today. Mr. Scott and family are all members of the Payson Baptist Church, including his four sons, and when he was a boy that was the leading church in this part of the county.
At the age of twenty-three Mr. Scott married Miss Mollie Harrell, who came when a child from North Carolina to Payson Township with her widowed mother, Rebecca Harrell. Mr. and Mrs. Scott had a family of five sons, one of whom died in childhood. Ira E. lives on his father's ranch in Hartley County, Texas, and is married and has three children. Noble H., on the old Scott farm in Fall Creek Township, has a daughter, Tamar Blanche. Harvey L., occupying part of the home farm, has four children, Russell, Thomas, Elizabeth and Loyd. Otis L., who also operates part of the home farm, which has three complete sets of buildings, is married and has a daughter, Margaret, and a son, Harrell.
CHARLES C. BANGERT is an enviable citizen of Ellington Township, owner of a fine farm in section 2, a thoroughly progressive agriculturist and a citizen whose name is spoken with the respeet it deserves throughout a wide community.
Since 1895 he has owned his farm of 111 acres. It has a fine house of seven rooms built several years ago, and in 1912 he erected a substantial modern barn 36 by 42 feet. The land has a good natural drainage, and is capable of growing all the erops fitted to this soil and climate. Mr. Bangert keeps some fine live- stock, and for a number of years has been a successful dairyman. He has a herd of about a dozen good grade cows, and uses them for the production of cream and makes about 1,000 pounds of butter every year. Mr. Bangert also raises a number of sheep. He is a practical all around farmer, capable of handling any class of livestock, and has also proved equal to the emergencies that at times confront every farmer.
Mr. Bangert was born in MeKee Township of Adams County October 7, 1860, but has lived in Ellington Township for over half a century since early boyhood. He has always been a farmer, and since 1895 has owned and occupied his present place.
His parents were Charles F. and Mary (Wollet) Bangert, both natives of Germany. Charles F. Bangert was born in Germany October 18, 1834, and eame to Adams County in 1853, his parents settling in Melrose Township. After six years he moved to Concord Township, and three years later to Ellington Township. The Bangert family came to America by way of New York City in a sailing vessel. The parents of Charles F. Bangert both died in Quincy. Charles F. Bangert married in Adams County Mary Wollet, who had been brought from Germany by her parents on a sailing vessel, which landed at New Orleans. The parents of Mrs. Bangert died in Gilmer Township. All of them were Lutherans. After Charles F. Bangert married he farmed as a renter for a time, and on mov- ing to Ellington Township bought a place in section 16. There he lived thriftily and in complete enjoyment of the esteem of his neighbors and friends and died there in 1890 at the age of fifty-six. His wife was born in 1840 and died in 1902. They were members of St. John's Lutheran Church at Quiney and he was a democrat. Charles F. Bangert and wife had eight children, four sons and four daughters. Third in age among them is Charles C. Bangert. He is now the oldest of the three sons and two daughters still living. His brother Fred is married and lives in Wisconsin. Mary is the wife of Joseph Hildman, and she has a family of sons and daughters. Elizabeth has been an invalid sinee early childhood. Gus Bangert lives in Quiney and is a tinner by trade.
Charles C. Bangert married at Quincy May 12, 1886, Miss Mary M. Meyer. They were married in St. John's Lutheran Church by Rev. A. Willner. Mrs. Bangert was born on her father's farm in Ellington Township January 15,
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1863, and attended the Franklin district school in her girlhood. Iler parents were John and Caroline (Ochse) Meyer. John Meyer was born in Germany and came to this country alone on a sailing vessel, and was a farmer in Adams County for many years. His wife was born in Adams County in 1832, daughter of Jacob and Maria Ochse, both natives of Germany, but among the very earliest settlers of Adams County as the date just mentioned indicates. The Ochse family put up with all the conditions and hardships of the pioneer country of Elling- ton Township, buying new land, making homes that lacked most of the comforts and conveniences, and only after many years seeing their foresight and energy rewarded by well tilled fields and comfortable houses. Mr. Meyer died there at the age of sixty-five. His first wife died when only thirty-three years of age. The Meyers were charter members of the Salem Evangelical Church at Quincy. In the Meyer family besides Mrs. Bangert were the following children: John Meyer, a Gilmer Township farmer, who is married and has two sons and three daughters; Jacob J., a resident of Portland, Oregon, and father of two sons and one daughter; Charles, who died after his marriage in Ellington Town- ship and left one daughter, his wife being now deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Bangert's family of children are the following: George, who is unmarried and is still at home; Emma, who was born in 1888 and died at the entrance to young womanhood in 1907; Laura, wife of John F. Dissel- horst, an Ellington Township farmer and mother of two children, Lloyd and Garner; Amanda R. F., who is still at home; and Clara Emma, who like her sisters was well educated in the local public schools and also attended the Gem City Business College and is also at home. The family are all members of the Lutheran Church, Mr. Bangert is a democrat and has filled the office of town- ship tax collector.
WILLIAM O. LARIMORE, son of Albert W. and Julia (Pottle) Larimore, has done much to carry on the reputation of the Larimore and Pottle families for their steadfast industry and successful farm management which have been characteristic of the names in the southern part of Adams County for three generations. He is owner of a fine farm, the original Pottle homestead, located 11% miles north of Plainville and eighteen miles southeast of Quincy.
Mr. Larimore was born May 26, 1863, in Payson Township. As a boy he lived at home with his father, attended the local schools and spent one winter in the Knox College preparatory school.
September 30, 1885, Mr. Larimore married Miss Blanche Humphrey, of. Burton Township, her birth occurring in Burton Village June 25, 1864. She is a daughter of William and Cinderella (Childers) Humphrey. Her mother was brought to Adams County as a child from Grant County, Kentucky, by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Childers. Joseph Childers died when his granddaughter Blanche was six years old. William Humphrey came to this county at the age of fifteen with his parents, John G. and Mary (Vickers) Humphrey, who established their home in Burton Township. William Humph- rey served as deputy sheriff and was sheriff at the close of the war. He had under his charge at the county jail two horse thieves, and they were taken from him and hanged by a mob. After his official term he returned to Burton Township, later moved to McDonough County, but spent his last years in Adams County, where he died at the age of sixty-two. His widow survived him eighteen months and passed away at the age of fifty-seven. There were seven children in the Humphrey family by two marriages. Six are still living : Mary, Mrs. Thomas Spence of Peoria ; Gill M., who died at the age of fifty- eight; Thomas L., a retired farmer of McComb; Alice, Mrs. G. M. Muhl, of Denver, Indiana; James, a mine superintendent at Idaho Springs, Colorado; Charles P., a farmer in Missouri ; and Blanche, Mrs. Larimore.
In 1887 Mr. and Mrs. Larimore moved to their present home on the old Pottle estate of 160 acres. He has subsequently acquired other land until his total acreage is 298. Twenty-six acres of this is a high elass apple orchard.
LIBRARY : THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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However, his chief dependence in the way of farming has been stock raising. For a number of years he was a breeder of Aberdeen Angus cattle and draft horses. He has been more of a stock feeder than a breeder, having about sixty head of cattle and handles about 200 hogs yearly.
The substantial home in which Mr. Larimore lives was built by his grand- father fully seventy-five years ago. It cost $5,000, was made of brick manu- factured nearby, and was the first brick house in the township and at that time the largest and most commodious residence. Mr. Larimore recently had the house stuccoed with cement, increasing its warmth and durability. IIe also built a large barn in 1905. He has had no inclination to hold office and has steadfastly refused any tenders in that direction. He, like many other Ameri- cans of the modern generation, has chosen an independent course in politics and is now what might be described as a Wilson republican. He and his family attend the Congregational Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Larimore have the following children : Humphrey, of Rich- field Township, who married Edna Inman, and their three children are Carl, Maurice and Donald. Harry, a farmer on part of his father's land, married Nellie Linthicum, and they have two children, Carson and Frances Mae. Mae, who attended the Payson High School and the Illinois State Normal University, was a teacher for four years in Adams and McDonough counties, and is taking the nurse's training course at Blessing Hospital in Quincy. She is living at home with her parents. Edna is the wife of J. B. Thompson, of Fall Creek Township. Alice is a graduate of the Payson High School and for three years has taught in the Whitcomb School in Adams County. Ray and Merle are school- boys, the former in the Payson High School.
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