USA > Illinois > Menard County > Some interesting Menard County homes > Part 3
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For fifty years the house was occupied by the Charles Hinman family. After Mr. Hinman's death, Mrs. Hinman continued to live in the home, but following her death in 1966, the home was sold to Arthur Reiser.
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Diedrich Fisher House
his dignified home which stands at the top of a hill at 503 Sheridan Road, conceals an interior of unusual beauty. Built during the Civil War, the construction of this house was interferred with due to the lack of ma- terials. Bricks used in this house were made in the South, and because of the difficulty in obtaining more bricks, what was to have been a full two-story house was made into a story and a half. Because of the shortages, the house was not finished until after the war. The fireplaces were of walnut, two of them having been removed in later years, one of which was made into a baptismal font and stands in St. Paul's United Church of Christ, and the other being used in the new home recently built by Mrs. John Whitaker, a great-granddaughter of John H. Schirding.
The foundation walls are built of solid rock, 18 inches thick, and of in- terest are the interior partitions of doublethickness with frame work between the bricks to prevent dampness.
Small wonder that this house is so well constructed, since it was built by Diedrich Fisher, a contractor, who did a great deal of work in the construction of bridges, railroad bridges and public buildings in Illinois, Texas and Colo- rado. Mr. Fisher built many homes and business places in Petersburg.
Diedrich Fisher was married to Mrs. Minerva Wernsing in 1861. Her maiden name was Smith and she came withher parents from Kentucky when a child. She was first married to J. W. Wernsing, a leading Petersburg merchant. Mr. Wernsing died in 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher had no children of their own but raised several children, among them being a niece of Mrs. Fisher, Minerva Wernsing Shepherd, who married Allen Clary, mother of Allen D. Clary and Mrs. Ella Smith of Petersburg.
Mr. and Mrs. Fisher moved to San Diego, California in 1892, where Mr. Fisher died in 1894. Mrs. Fisher continued to make her home in San Diego un- til her death in 1908 at the age of 86 years.
The house was then purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schirding, who with their son and Mr. Schirding's parents moved into this home. Mr. and Mrs. John H. Schirding both died in 1893.
Henry Schirding was born in Badbergen, Germany in 1833, the son of John Henry and Helena Mary Schirding. When Henry Schirding was 15 years old he came to Menard county with his parents. The family landed in New Orleans in 1848, having been three months at sea in a sailing ship. From New Orleans they came up the Mississippi River to the Illinois River, up the Illinois River to Schulte's Landing at Havana, where they disembarked, making their way overland to the vicinity of Petersburg. Soon after their arrival they settled on land north of Petersburg, where they erected a log cabin, in which the family lived for a time. Later they built a nine room red brick house, later adding two upstairs rooms. This house stood where a new home was built in recent years by a great-grandson, John Schirding.
Henry Schirding was married in 1863 to Miss Mary Christine Behman, also a native of Badbergen, Germany. They werethe parents of three children: John and Emma, who died in childhood, and Harry.
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In 1904, Mr. Schirding with his son Harry, established the H. H. Schirding & Son Bank in Petersburg, which was later incorporated as the Schirding State Bank.
Harry Schirding was first married to Miss Hattie Nance and they had one daughter, Hattie (Boynton). Following the death of Mrs. Schirding he was later married to Miss Anna Grosboll. They were the parents of three children: Mary (Whitaker), Margaret, and John who married Jessie Clark.
After the Schirding family built a new home on the land west of this house, now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Chester Powell, the house was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stier, who were the parents of Clarence Stier.
In 1919 the house was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Schmidt, who moved to Petersburg from near Athens. Here they lived with their four daughters: Betha, Louise, Emma and Kathryn, until 1944 when they moved to the house south at the foot of the hill.
The house was then sold to Harm Ahlrichs, who lived there until his death.
Dr. and Mrs. Alvin Davis purchased the home in 1954. Here they reside with their three sons: Alvin III, Paul and George. Since the Davis' purchased the home it has been enriched by additions and made more comfortable by mod .. ernizations, but it still remains anarchitectural and historic landmark.
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David Frackelton Home
N o Menard county home has greater dignity thanthis imposing brick ed- ifice. It was built by David Frackelton in 1868, and has been described as a perfect example of Victorian architecture. Marblefireplaces grace the spacious rooms, and frescoed medallions adorn the ceilings. Of interest are the carved stone lintels over the windows.
David S. Frackelton was born in Dromore County Down, Ireland in 1827. At the age of 16, he and his brother Robert Frackelton, crossed the Atlantic in a sailing vessel, coming first to Springfield, thento Petersburg in 1844. David Frackelton became a clerk in the general store of W. M. Cowgill. After a time he was admitted to partnership, under the firm name of Wm. M. Cowgill & Co. At the same time his brother Robert also became a partner. After 11 years the business was taken over by the Frackelton brothers under the name of R. & D. Frackelton, and continued in connection with the banking business which was established in 1865. Robert Frackelton died in 1874.
In 1889 a new bank building was erected on the southwest corner of the square, replacing the two-story frame building which had been used as the store and bank until that time. This building was moved to a lot across the alley west, and today is owned by Harold Derry and used as an apartment house. At this time the store was disposed of and full attention was given to the banking business.
In 1856 David Frackelton was married to Miss Louise Chandler, daughter of Dr. Charles Chandler, a native of Connecticut, who came to Illinois in 1830 and settled in what is now Chandlerville, and for whom the town of Chandler- ville was named.
Mr. and Mrs. Frackelton were the parents of three sons and three daugh- ters: One daughter dying in infancy, Miss Louise Frackelton, Miss Clara Frackelton, Charles, who became president of the Bank and married Miss Iona Antle; Robert, who married Miss Constance Chandler, became president of the Chandler & Price Press Co. of Cleveland; and David, who became president of the Cleveland Trust Co. David Frackelton married Miss Caroline Roberts of Jacksonville, and they were the parents of two daughters, Mary Louise and Elizabeth. After the death of his wife he was married to Miss Fannie Pitcarin of New York City.
Miss Clara Frackelton lived in this home for many years following the death of her parents and sister. Following her death it was sold to Mrs. Hazel Keeley of Springfield, who in 1957 sold the home to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Mar- cussen, who with their son David and daughter Jane, and Mrs. Marcussen's mother, Mrs. Mayme Davenport, lived there until 1964.
The house is now owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Millard Bingham III. The Binghams' are the parents of a daughter Debbie. A son Millard IV died in 1967.
It is gratifying that the present owners have taken the greatest pains to restore the house in authentic detail, so that today the house is at its charming best.
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gee ager zoet
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527 W. Jackson Street, Petersburg
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Robert Frackelton Home
his handsome eight-room frame house which was built by Robert Frack- elton, is in an excellent state of preservation. This house is built on the block where once stood the "Petersburg Seminary", a private organiza- tion of higher learning. W. S. Bennett was the first principal, followed by D. M. Bone. The tuition was $35 per pupil for nine months, but the Seminary was dis- continued after a few years.
The facade of this house remains very much the same as when built. Lo_ cated at the corner of Jackson and Twelfth streets, the house boasts a cupola, and ornamental iron trim around the roof of the front porch. The woodwork in each room is of different finish, which is of unusual interest. The house was surrounded by a cast iron fence, andfor many years was the only house in the block.
Robert Frackelton was born in Dromore, County Down, Ireland in 1823. After the death of his father, he came to the United States in 1843 with his brother, David S. Frackelton. He taught school in Springfield for a short time, coming to Petersburg in 1844. After being employed in a general store, owned by Wm. M. Cowgill, he and his brother David eventually became partners in the business. The business was finally taken over by the brothers, the store operating under the name of R. & D. Frackelton. In connection with this busi. ness they began banking in 1865.
In 1847 his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Frackelton, and his sister, Miss Eliza Frackelton, came to Petersburg from Ireland to make their home. Here they lived until Mrs. Frackelton died in 1872 and Miss Eliza in 1901.
In 1871 Robert Frackelton was married to Miss Rachel H. Beers of Vir- ginia, Illinois. Miss Beers was the daughter of Nelson and Hannah Holmes Beers and was born in 1834 in Macedon, New York. The family came in a car- riage drawn by horses to Illinois, settling in Virginia. Robert Frackelton died in 1874.
Following the death of her parents, Miss Myrtilla Beers of Virginia came to Petersburg to make her home with her sister, Mrs. Frackelton. Mrs. Rachel Frackelton died in 1928. Miss Beers continued to live in this home until her death in 1932.
In 1935 the home was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Krueger who have occupied the house since that time. They are the parents of five children: Jac- queline (Worthington), Roger, Bonnie Lou, Sherry Marie, and Robert Allen.
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Gault House
he foundation of this house was built by a man named Fulton, but was not completed by him. For some years only the foundation stood, and it was reputed to be a "courting place", and was known as "Fulton's Folly".
Elijah Gault came to Petersburg, and started building the present home in 1865. Upon it's completion he was married to Miss Lou Bergen, who was a sister of Milton Bergen, and brought his brideto live in the new home. Milton Bergen was the father of Edward Bergen and Thomas Bergen Sr. Mr. Gault was in the flour milling business, being in partnership with D. Fisher. The mill was later changed into an elevator, known as the Charter Oak Elevator.
The house was later sold by the Gaults to William Meyer, a native of Han- over, Germany. Mr. Meyer attended school in Switzerland where he learned the trade of watchmaker and jeweler. He cameto Petersburg in 1857 where he established a jewelry store. Mr. Meyer was married to Miss Mary Goucher of Elkhorn, Wisconsin. They were the parents of two children, Elsie, who died in childhood, and Fred W. Meyer, who became a lawyer and married Miss Lynn Greene, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gaines Greene. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Meyer were the parents of two children, Elsie and William Meyer.
The house was then sold to Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Shipley who lived there with their son Donald and two daughters, Marjorie and Laura Jean. The Ship- leys sold the house and moved to California.
In 1924 this beautiful 12-room Victorian home was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Milo Franklin Vogt. The Vogts havetwo sons, Milo Henderson Vogt and Stephen Berry Vogt.
Two exterior changes were made in this house by the Vogts, a cupola was removed and a large family room was built in the rear. The kitchen was also remodeled, to the extent that it has been pictured in a national magazine. Of interest are the beautiful walnut and maple marquetry parquet floors, and the fireplaces of marble. This majestic house stands as a monument to a storied past. A gazabo stands on the lawn to the south of the house.
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319 South 9th Street, Petersburg
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Godbey Home
A t the cross roads four miles west of Greenview, stands this fine old red brick house. Built between 1830 and 1839 by Squire Russell Godbey, who came to Menard county from West Virginia in 1830, the year of the big snow. This house today stands as a fine example of workmanship.
Squire Russell Godbey was born in Montgomery county, Virginia in 1800. He was married in 1822 to Miss Elizabeth Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Godbey left Virginia in 1829 in a covered wagon, arriving at their destination near Green- view a year later. While building their log cabin, which stood on a sand hill one quarter of a mile east of this brick house, they lived in their covered wagon,
Bricks used in this house were burned in a kiln which stood across the road. The plastering was mixed with hog hair, and testifying to the results of this mixture is the fact that the original plaster is in excellent condition today. The slats were hand hewn, as were the sills. The floors are of hard oak and the woodwork of walnut. The original house was of two stories and had five rooms, however a kitchen and two upstairs rooms were added later. The rooms are large, and with the exception of the rooms which were added later, each room has a fireplace. When the house was completed, stairways led to two distinct sleeping quarters. There are four upstairs bedrooms, the south two were the "girls upstairs" and the north two the "boys upstairs", and there was no connecting door between the two sections.
The construction of this house is interesting in that it is held together by a large rod, which runs the full length of the house east and west. During a heavy wind one can feel this house sway, but at no time has any damage re- sulted from heavy winds. Walnut used in the house came from timber cut from the farm and window panes came from Beardstown.
West of this house stands the old brick building called the meat house. Half of the building had hand hewn flooring and half earth flooring where the meat was smoked. Close by is a frame building which was used as a loom house. Here Mrs. Godbey did all of her carding, spinning and weaving. Another build- ing was the ice house, built with double walls, with sawdust between, where ice was stored each winter, cut from small lakes nearby. This was a self- sufficient farm home.
The original land grant was for 160 acres, however, Mr. Godbey later was the owner of 900 acres of land. Descendants are still in possession of the orig_ inal parchment grant.
Mr. and Mrs. Godbey were the parents of eight children: Nancy Dickerson Godbey; Overton Brown Godbey; William Godbey; Russell Ballard Godbey;
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Moses Godbey; Margaret Chapman Godbey (Ewers); Eliza Elizabeth Godbey (Wood); Mary Jane Godbey. Mrs. Elizabeth Godbey died in 1854.
Squire Russell Godbey was marriedthe second timeto Mrs. Eleanor Lan- terman Carpenter, who was the widow of Illinois State Treasurer Milton Car- penter. They were the parents of two children: Virginia Ann, who married John Burrus, and John Douglas Godbey, who married Anne Belle Quaintance. Squire Russell Godbey died in 1888 and Mrs. Eleanor Godbey died in 1887.
After the death of his parents the home was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. John D. Godbey. They were the parents of four daughters: Geraldine and Jennie of Greenview, Gwendolyn who married Claire Olson and lives in Long Beach, Calif., and Nina Gail who married Allen Hawley and lives in Chillicothe. Mr. and Mrs. Godbey retired from the farm in 1919 and moved to Greenview.
The brick house is now owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Edward Sim_ mering and their family. The farm land is owned by George Weimers Jr.
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Mentor Graham Home
A fter Mentor Graham's wife Sarah died in 1869 at their home south of Pe- tersburg, he continued to live on his farm, his son Samuel and family living with him. The following year they sold their farm and the same month Samuel Graham died leaving his wife Mary and three small children, Mary, Fred and Herbert Graham. In 1870 Mentor Graham built this red brick house of brick which he had burned at his farm, and here he lived with his daughter-in-law and her three small children. Mentor Graham taught school and cared for the little family until his daughter-in-law remarried and moved with her children to Greenview.
This sturdy house stands at 923 N. Fifth Street in Petersburg. There are three rooms downstairs and three rooms upstairs. It has carried its 97 years with special grace, and one cannot but have the deepest admiration for the man who was its builder. Mentor Graham contributed fifty-two years of his life to teaching hundreds of children of Menard county.
Mentor Graham was born in Kentucky in 1800, the son of Jeremiah and Mary Graham. He started teaching in Kentucky, and was married there to Miss Sarah Rafferty. Mentor and Sarah Graham left Bush Creek, Kentucky for Ill- inois on Oct. 2, 1826, settling on a farm near Greene's Rocky Branch, 1/2 mile south and 1/2 mile west of the north entrance of the present State Park. At first the Grahams lived in a log cabin, but later Mr. Graham built a fine brick home, which in later years burned to the ground.
Shortly after arriving in Menard county, Mr. Graham started a subscrip- tion school. School was held in the log Baptist Church which was built in 1826 and stood about 1/2 mile south of the Graham home, on land owned by Wm. G. Greene, who was Mentor Graham's uncle. Here church was held on Sundays and school during the week. Mr. Graham also farmed and tutored children in their homes.
After New Salem became a settlement and Lincoln became a resident, Lin- coln lived for six months in the Graham home, where in the evenings he would recite lessons to Mr. Graham. Mentor Graham became famous as Lincoln's teacher. He was one of Lincoln's closest friends and supporters, and because of this close friendship was invited to sit on the platform with Lincoln at his inauguration for president of the United States in Washington, D. C.
Mr. and Mrs. Graham were the parents of fifteen children: Almira (Golds- by); Minerva (Kennedy); Elizabeth (Bell); Mary (Smith); William; Samuel and Harry, who married twin sisters, Mary and Malissa Blane; Bennett; Sempter; and six children who died in childhood.
Mr. Graham taught in many schools throughout the county, among them being New Salem, Tice, Curtis, Tick Ridge, Hog Corner, Honey Hart and Ship- ley.
In 1883 Mr. Graham went to Blunt, S. Dakota, where he made his home with his son Harry and family. Here the man who dedicated his life to teaching died in 1886. In 1933 his remains were brought to Farmer's Point cemetery south of Petersburg for reinterment beside his wife.
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Samuel and Mary Graham's daughter Mary, married Henry Bradley of Greenview. They were the parents of one daughter, Marie Bradley, who mar- ried Elton Ennis. Mrs. Ennis is the only great-grandchild of Mentor Graham living in Menard county.
Mentor Graham sold this house in May 1881 to William Kern and his wife Melinda. William Kern was a native of Germany, and came to America when 22 years of age, coming to Petersburg soon after the Civil War. He engaged in the bakery business most of his life, his bakery being located on the south side of the square. The Kerns had six children: William, John, Frank, Henry, George and Mary, who married J. N. Rule.
Today this house is owned and occupied by Leopold Eberhard. Mrs. Eber- hard died in 1963. They were the parents of three daughters, Mary Leta, Anna Marie and Donna June.
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Scott Greene Home
O n North Ewing street in Tallula stands a fine old red brick house, rich in detail, which was built by Scott Greene in 1891-1892. This house was designed and constructed by Elliott of Jacksonville at a cost of $20,000. Beautifully landscaped, the yard is of special interest because of the unusual trees. Of the ten rooms in the house, eight have fireplaces.
Said to have been the greatest social event in the history of Tallula, was the "house warming" of this home on March 6, 1892. Forty couples were pres- ent. Music for dancing was furnished by Jeffries Orchestra of Jacksonville and Rohlender & Howard of Jacksonville catered the supper.
Scott Greene was the son of William Graham Greene and Louisa White Greene. William G. Greene is said to have been Lincoln's closest friend, hav- ing at one time worked with Lincoln in the Offut store at New Salem. At that time Lincoln was 21 years of age and William G. Greene 18 years. He was also a close friend of Gov. Richard Yates. Mr. Greene and Dr. J. F. Willson started the Willson & Greene Bank in Tallula. The bank later became the Greene & Greene Bank, under the management of Scott Greene and his son Nelson Greene. The bank was later known as the Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Tallula. Mr. Greene was also an extensive land owner, and was at one time president of the Petersburg & Tonica railroad, which later became the C. & A. Mr. Greene in connection with J. A. Brahm in 1866 established at Petersburg the first bank in Menard county, known as the Brahm & Greene Bank. The town of Greenview was named in honor of W. G. Greene. W. G. Greene died in 1893.
Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Greene were the parents of nine children: Carlin, Mc_ Nulty, Byrd, Vance, Julia, Frank, Kate (who married J. S. Noble of Seattle, Wash.), Gaines and Scott Greene.
Scott Greene married Miss Sarah Greene of Cane, Illinois. They were the parents of three children, one daughter who died in infancy, and two sons, Nel- son and Jones Greene. Nelson Greene married Betty McNeely of Petersburg. Jones Greene was twice married. His first wife was Miss Ellen Rogers. Fol- lowing her death he was married to Miss Velma Robinson of Tallula.
Scott Greene was a Civil War veteran, and when he died in 1933 at the age of 87 years, was the last surviving member of the Dick Johnson Post G. A. R. of Tallula.
Following the death of Mr. Greene, the house was occupied by his widow, whose hospitality will long be remembered by her Tallula friends. Mrs. Greene died in 1941.
Mrs. Josephine Jones of Springfield purchased the home following Mrs. Greene's death, where she lived until her death twenty years later.
The home then became the property of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Morris, of Springfield, the present owners, who are using it as a shelter care home.
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Hamilton House
his imposing home was built in the early 1870's by Hobart Hamilton. The contractor who constructed the house was Robert Carver, who came to Menard county from the state of Virginia in 1865.
This house has ten rooms and in the large front hall a winding walnut staircase extends to the second floor. This house is spacious and cheerful.
Hobart Hamilton was born in Jericho, Vermont in 1831 and was educated at the University of Vermont at Burlington. After his graduation he came west, and in 1857 came to this community where he worked as a civil engineer on several railroads, among them being the Petersburg & Tonica (C. & A.) and the Peoria & Oquawka (C. B. & Q. R. R.)
Mr. Hamilton established the Menard County Index, which was the first newspaper in Menard county. He was a Civil War veteran, and served as Coun- ty Clerk, County Surveyor and Master in Chancery of Menard county.
Mr. Hamilton was married to Miss Clara McDougall of Rome, New York in 1860. She came west with her brother, Daniel McDougall, in 1851 and taught in the first public school in Petersburg. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton were the par- ents of ten children, Edwin, Jennie (Hurie), William, Catherine (Webster), Samuel and John. Four children died in infancy.
Mrs. Hamilton died in 1916. After Mr. Hamilton's death in 1918, the house was sold to Mr. and Mrs. John Johnson, and was occupied by them and their three daughters, Mary (Irwin), Martha (Hitchcock), and Margaret (Niemeier).
Later the house was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Don Davidson, and was occupied by them and their three children, Donald, Duncan and Susan, until the family moved to Indianapolis.
Mr. and Mrs. Milo Vogt Jr. then became owners of the house, and they with their children, Milo III, John and Cindy occupied this home until 1965, when it was sold to Dr. and Mrs. Robert Schafer who are the present owners of the house. Dr. and Mrs. Schafer are the parents of six children, Michael, Mark, Robert Jr., Mary, Regina and Ann Marie.
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404 W. Washington Street, Petersburg
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Judge Harrison Rooming House
A t the corner of Jackson and Eighth streets stands this white two-story house, which has a charm all its own. This house originally stood on the west side of the square, it is thought where the store building be- longing to Mrs. Marshall Christensen is now located. This house was erected in 1836 by Milton Harrison, and was used as a rooming house. It was moved to its present site when the new two_story brick building was erected.
Judge Milton Harrison was born south of Petersburg in 1824. He began his education in the log school house at New Salem, his teacher being Mentor Graham. He later attended Farmers Point school, the school having been erected by his father.
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