USA > Illinois > Menard County > Some interesting Menard County homes > Part 5
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Mr. McNeely came to Petersburg from Jacksonville where he was born in 1835. His father and mother were natives of Kentucky. After coming to Menard county, Mr. McNeely lived for a time with the Robert Conover family near Tallula, until his father, Robert McNeely moved to Petersburg and engaged in the mercantile business. His store was located on the west side of the square. After being employedby his father for a short time, he attended school in Peoria and Galesburg where he studied law. After being admitted to the bar he entered the law department of the University of Louisville, Kentucky.
In 1868 T. W. McNeely was elected on the Democratic ticket as a member of Congress from the Ninth Congressional District of Illinois, serving two terms in Washington, since he was reelected in 1870. It was in Washington that he became a close friend of William Jennings Bryan, who visited in the McNeely home many times.
Mrs. McNeely was the daughter of Col. and Mrs. L. L. Dirickson of Berlin, Maryland. The McNeelys' had one daughter, Miss Betty, who married Nelson Horner Greene of Tallula.
The house, a two-story white frame, has a hipped roof and is crowned by a cupola. Eight of the ten rooms in the house have fireplaces, one of which is onyx, the other seven marble, one being hand carved and was imported from Italy by the McNeelys. The original plastering in this house is very ornate with molded cornices and ceiling medallions, differing in each room. The woodwork is of walnut, the walnut stairway extending to the third floor.
After Mr. and Mrs. McNeely moved to a smaller home, the house and adjoining land became the property of John Hurie. For many years this house stood vacant.
The house passed through various ownerships and in 1944 came into the possession of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas V. Plews, who like the original owners took delight in its handsome formality, which they were able to restore.
Dr. Plews was born in Cobourg, Ontario. After graduating from Queens University at Kingston, Ontario, he practiced medicine in Brantford, Ontario for a time, coming from there to Petersburg in 1926. Dr. Plews was a 33 De- gree Mason. Since his death in 1962, the house has been occupied by Mrs. Plews and her sister, Miss Ruth Johnson.
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316 West Washington Street, Petersburg
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Montgomery House
his little brick house stands at the corner of Fifth and Antle streets, and was built in 1855 by Benjamin Montgomery. Little is known of this family, only that his wife was named Priscilla, and that in 1866 they sold the house to James S. Bryant. In 1886 after Mr. Montgomery's death, Mrs. Montgomery removed to Brownsville, California, with her daughter, Mrs. Jennie Smith, and died there in 1888.
The timbers, floors and walls are very substantial, and of interest is the paneled living room where each wide panel has been outlined with a tiny design, the design being stained a darker finish. The old walnut fireplace has been bricked up in recent years. The first shingles on this house were "cut shingles" of oak and walnut.
James Sims Bryant and his wife Arteceia Bryant were members of one of the oldest families of Petersburg. James Bryant was a blacksmith and wagon maker, making many of the implements used on the farms by the early settlers. The blacksmith shop stood where the Standard Oil Station is now located, and was later operated by Hardy S. Peterson. Just east of the old blacksmith shop at one time stood the old Presbyterian Church which was built in 1841, one of the main organizers of this church being Dr. John Allen. In 1881 it was pur- chased by the Bryants. After this church was torn down a building was erected where the Bryants made their wagons and buggies. They were built entirely and painted in this shop.
Mr. and Mrs. Bryant were the parents of four children, Samuel, Cornelius, Douglas and Lucy Anna (Lemley).
Douglas Bryant followed the blacksmith business and as Samuel Bryant grew to manhood he also associated himself with his father and became an expert mechanic. At the death of his father he became head of the thriving firm and carried on the business for many years. As he grew older the paint shop was removed to a small building west of his house.
Many people will remember the mural painted by Samuel Bryant in the Menard County Circuit Court room, which remained there for many years. He also designed and painted the Honor Roll of World War I veterans of Menard county which stands in the hall of the Menard County Court House.
Because of his knowledge of history of Petersburg and through a desire that people know more of that history, Samuel Bryant wrote several articles of historical interest which were published in the Petersburg Observer, and treasured by a great many people.
Samuel Bryant, after living in this house for nearly 60 years, moved across the street and a half block to the south to the house now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Miller, where he lived with his sister, Mrs. Lemley. Here Sam Bryant died in 1925.
This home is now owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Loren Anderson. They are the parents of eight children, Edwin who died in 1965, Allen, Gertrude (Cooney), Myrtle (Williams), Opal (Cox), Lacona (Pierson), Edna (Brown) and Jessie (Drummond).
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Martin Neff House
6 he first 80-acre land grant where this house stands was obtained in 1829 by Felix G. Greene. In 1829 William Greene came into possession of the 80 acres east, and in 1836 sold 19 acres to Mentor Graham. Felix Greene later sold 40 acres to Mentor Graham.
It is believed this house was built by Martin Neff, a native of Virginia. In 1883 the family moved from this community and the farm was sold to Henry Frank Cupp, who was also a native of Virginia. The Cupp family lived here for 16 years when they moved to Ava, Illinois.
This house, which is located about three and a half miles southwest of Pe- tersburg, is of great interest due to the fact that incorporated into the house is the old log Baptist church which was built in 1826, and was used during the week as a subscription school house. It was in this log building that Mentor Graham taught school. The church stood one half mile to the south and was moved to this location. It is a large room, and is said to be warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The massive sills in this room denote its extreme age. This house has seven rooms downstairs and four upstairs.
The home was eventually sold to Rev. George Eades, who along with op- erating his farm, acted as a part time minister in the Tallula Baptist Church. Rev. Eades was first married to Miss Amanda Lowe. They were the parents of thirteen children: William (married Edith Derry), Mae (Zack Minor), Minnie (James Minor), Louella (Lee King and later Thos. Eades), Wolford (Mary Burk. holder), Mary (Arthur Bast), Estill (Goldie Purvines), Irving (Grace Antle), Thomas, Cedric (Geraldine Bast), Thelma (William Orth) andtwo children who died in infancy. Mr. Eades was married the second time to Miss Amelia Hend- rieker. After Mr. and Mrs. Eades moved to Tallula to make their home, the home was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Irving Eades and their two daughters, Marie and Joan.
This farm was later owned by Isaac Meece, who sold the farm to Mandle- bert W. Baker. The farm at that time consisted of over 300 acres.
Today this house is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Alfred LaBarre of near Spring- field and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Reimer and their two sons Kenneth and Roger and Mr. Reimer's mother, Mrs. Nettie Reimer.
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Pillsbury Home
6 he old grist and woolen mill which was built in 1840 and owned by Hardin Bale, who later sold a half interest to Samuel Hill, was located at the corner of Main and Spring Street, (now Seventh and Lincoln Ave.) This large three-story mill burned to the ground in 1865, at a loss of $150,000. The land where this mill stood, as well as the remainder of the block of ground, was purchased by Joseph H. Pillsbury. Two houses stood on this block, one a brick house which is now owned by Misses Opal and Zelia Power, and a frame house which was torn down many years ago. The alley which now runs north and south was not opened up until 1908. A large ditch was located on the mill quarter of this block, but was later tiled and used as a horse lot.
The Pillsbury family lived in the small brick house which stands just east of the Baptist Church, and is now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Albert Doyen. Here the family lived until 1872 when they moved into their new home, a two-story white frame house which was built by Mr. Pillsbury. This house stands at the corner of Eighth and Jefferson and is now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Bert Kramer.
Joseph H. Pillsbury was a native of New Hampshire and was born in 1830, the son of Alpha and Margaret Caverno Pillsbury. His father died when he was a year old. He cameto Menard county in 1836 with his mother where he grew to manhood. Mrs. Margaret Pillsbury was married a second time to James Golds- by, the first sheriff of Menard county.
Mr. Pillsbury became a school teacher, teaching in the first free school in Menard county. He studied law under T. L. Harris, was admitted to the bar, and was elected County Judge of Menard county for two terms. He also served as Police Magistrate, County Commissioner and Master in Chancery.
In 1861 Joseph H. Pillsbury was married to Miss Susan Morris Gardner of Springfield. Her father was Hiram Gardner, after whom Gardner Township in Sangamon county was named. They werethe parents of five children: Alice, John and Mary, who died in childhood, Joseph B. and Susan.
Joseph H. Pillsbury died in 1899 and Mrs. Pillsbury in 1906.
Joseph B. Pillsbury married Miss Emma Cooper, who was a granddaugh- ter of John Bennett who built the home which is now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. William Menichetti. They were the parents of three children: George, who died in childhood, Lyman and Ross.
Lyman Pillsbury, who became County Clerk of Menard county, was mar- ried to Miss Ollie Thomson. They were the parents of Richard Adair, Glenn Thomson, Rozena Ann (Binger), Howard Cooper and Earl Lyman Pillsbury.
Ross Pillsbury married Miss Inez Bradley of Belle Plains, Kansas, They moved to Chicago where they have resided for several years. They are the parents of Donald Arthur, Mary Helen and Theodore Ross Pillsbury.
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Purkapile House
g ames Purkapile, who was born in Greene county, Kentucky, inherited a tract of land on Route 97, about three miles south of Petersburg, from his father, John Purkapile. The deed to the original land was signed by John Quincy Adams in 1824. This eight-room house was built in 1868 by James Purkapile, the brick being burned near what is now the Horace Nance farm. The mortar and the lime came from Rock Creek, as did the large rocks used in the foundation.
James Purkapile was thrice married. His first marriage was to Miss Polly Goldsby. They had one daughter who died in childhood.
His second marriage was to Miss Annette Nance. This marriage was blessed with ten children: William R., who married Ella Carman; Frank; Sarah Jane, who first married Thomas Armstrong who died in the Civil War, and then George Weatherby; John, who was badly wounded in the Civil War; Eton, killed in the Civil War; Emma, who married Will Spears; Annette, who married Thomas Rutledge; Charles, who married Mary Ellen Stith; Elizabeth and Mar- iette, who died in childhood. Charles and Mary Ellen Stith were the parents of four children: Sudie Purkapile who married Horace Nance; Nina, who married Palmer Nolting; Kate and James who died in childhood.
His third marriage was to Mrs. Catherine Houghton Nance. To this mar- riage one daughter, Mary Ellen (known as Nell), was born. Mentor Graham was a private tutor to little Mary Ellen Purkapile.
Mary Ellen Purkapile was married to James S. Miles, a young school teacher, who taught in various schools in Menard county. Following the death of Mr. and Mrs. Purkapile, Mr. and Mrs. Miles became the owners of this home. Mr. and Mrs. Miles were theparents of three children: James S. Miles Jr., Anna Catherine, and one child who died in infancy.
The porch across the front of this house was added by Mr. and Mrs. Miles, and at one time this house was one of the finest homes in the county. When the marriage of Miss Anna Catherine Miles to John Ainsworth of Mason City occurred, the reception was held here, and among the many guests who attend- ed was Governor Len Small, who was a close friend of the Miles family.
A huge walnut tree stood in the northeast corner of the front yard. At the back of the yard stood a cider press. It was under this tree that Abraham Lin- coln would stop to rest, and drink cider, served by the Purkapile family. This large tree was destroyed by a storm in later years, the walnut logs were saved, and from them canes were made, with Lincoln's profile carved on the handles. The canes were carved by Frank Phillips.
Today the house is occupied by James S. Miles and his son, James Miles III.
Time has taken its toll of this old house, yet despite its threatening dis- solution, it is still one of Menard county's important landmarks.
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William C. Smoot Home
his house is located on the rich rolling prairie between Petersburg and Greenview. It was built by a prosperous landowner and stockraiser, William C. Smoot nearly a century ago. Of brick construction, with arched windows and carved modillions under the eaves, this house is striking in appearance. William C. Smoot was also the owner and builder of Hotel Smoot in Petersburg, now the Hotel New Salem. He also built the two-story brick apartment building which is located just north of Hotel New Salem.
William C. Smoot was born in Kentucky in 1830, the son of Coleman and Rebecca Wright Smoot. Coleman Smoot was born in 1791 and Rebecca Smoot in 1795. In 1832 they came to Menard county and settled on the farm where this house now stands. Coleman Smoot bought this land from David Onstott who came to this community in 1825. Onstott moved from Menard county to Ark. ansas. The log cabin which Coleman Smoot erected stood on a knoll about one quarter mile north and west of the present house.
William Smoot married Catherine Engle, daughter of William Engle of Sugar Grove precinct. They started housekeeping in a frame house which stood east of the present house, and whenthe large brick house was built, this frame house was moved across the road to the west. They were the parents of seven children: Coleman; Mary, who married John W. Terhune; Charles, who mar- ried Tempe Clark; John, who married Minnie Brooks; Anna, who married Dr. Thomas Powell Antle; Edward, who married Eva Summers; and Becky, who died in childhood.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Smoot were the parents of four children: Harry, Marshall, Paul and William Clay. Mr. and Mrs. John Smoot had three children: Mabel, Harold and Catherine. Dr. and Mrs. Antle had one son: William Smoot Antle. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Smoot had two children: William and Mary.
Following the death of Mr. and Mrs. William Smoot, the house was oc- cupied by Mr. and Mrs. Edward Smoot and their two children.
This house, with its spacious Victorian rooms, is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Johnston.
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George Spears House
he life story of Mary Neely is of such interest, that it is small wonder that Putnam's Magazine and Harper's Weekly each published the story of her life. Like a saga of Indiandays, Mary Neely and her father were captured by Indians, her father was killed and Mary remained a captive for three years before she was able to escape.
Mary Neely was born in South Carolina in 1761, the daughter of William and Margaret Neely. The Neelys were the parents of ten children. Desirous of moving his family to the state of Tennessee, Mr. Neely, accompanied by his sixteen year old daughter Mary, joined with six other pioneers, emigrating to the state of Tennessee to make preparations for the arrival of their families. Twenty other families had settled in the community. It was here that her fath- er was killed and Mary was taken as a captive. She escaped in the state of Michigan three years later.
Mary Neely was married to George Spears, a Revolutionary soldier, in 1785. In 1824 they sold their possessions in Green county, Kentucky and came to Sangamon county (now Menard) Illinois, and settled at Clary's Grove, about three miles east of Tallula. Clary's Grove was named for John Clary, the first permanent settler in Menard county who settled there in 1819. Clary sold this farm land to Thomas Watkins, Watkins later selling the farm to George Spears. Here Mr. and Mrs. Spears built a log cabin. The country was sparsely settled at that time, friendly Indians coming every fall to hunt.
Mr. and Mrs. Spears were the parents of the following children: Hannah, who married James White, for whom White Cemetery north of Tallula is named; William Spears; Mary Spears; John Spears; Solomon Spears; David Spears; Elizabeth Spears and George Spears Jr.
In 1827, their son George Spears Jr., started burning brick on their farm for a new house. Clay for the bricks was tramped by oxen. The house was con- structed a short distance from their log cabin. Upon completion, the elder George Spears and his wife Mary and the George Spears Jr. family moved into the house on New Year's Day in 1829. The rooms to the north were occupied by the elder Spears' while the rooms tothe south were occupied by the younger family. Each family had separate basements.
This house was conspicuously grand in its day, being the first brick house built in Menard county and the second brick house within the territory of Sang_ amon, Menard, Mason, Cass and Logan counties. Peopletraveled for miles to see this twelve room house when it was completed. This house has eight rooms downstairs, four upstairs, and two large halls. The woodwork is of walnut and the flooring blue ash. Five of the six simply carved walnut mantels remain in the house today. Interior walls are thirteen inches in thickness, and in the basement one may observe the many large straight logs used as joists. Laths are hand hewn and the plaster was mixed with hog hair.
George Spears Jr. married Maria Blankenship and they were the parents of Mary Conover Spears who married William T. Beekman; Elizabeth Spears who married George C. Spears; William Spears, known as "Fiddler Bill"; John Q. Spears; and Henry C. Spcars, a Civil War veteran.
George Spears Sr. died in 1838. His widow continued to live in this house until her death in 1852 at the age of 91 years. J. Colby Beekman of Peters- burg was a great-great-grandson of George and Mary Neely Spears.
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Mr. and Mrs. Spears were buried in the Spears cemetery on a knoll west of the house, but were later removed to Greenwood Cemetery west of Tallula, where their remains rest on the east slope of the cemetery.
The Spears family was instrumental in organizing the Clary's Grove Church, which was one of the first churches in the county, being organized on Christmas Day in 1824. Members met in various homes in the community un- til the little log church was built. This congregation later built the Baptist Church in Tallula in 1871.
The cabin that the Spears family had occupied prior to moving into their new home was moved to the village of New Salem to a lot which George Spears Jr, had purchased there for $14, He later sold the cabin to Samuel Hill of New Salem fame for $500. After the people of New Salem moved to Petersburg and the surrounding community, the cabin was again moved and stood on a lot near the west end of Sheridan Road in Petersburg, where the home of the late Lloyd Chalcraft now stands. It was eventually purchased by Almon Hurd and moved across the road about a quarter of a mile north from the Hurd home, now the home of Mrs. II. S. Peterson, west of this city. Mrs. Peterson is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hurd.
This farm remained in the Spears family from 1824 until 1952 when it was sold to John H. Walker of Ashland. This house is now owned by the John Walker estate and is occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Estel Tedder and family.
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John Haley Spears House
S ituated about three miles east of Tallula, is this beautiful two-story red brick home, designed in the Georgian colonial style, built by John Haley Spears in 1840.
Mr. Spears married Louisa Radford and they were the parents of seven children: John Haley Spears Jr., Joe Spears, Frank Spears, Letitia Spears, Elizabeth Spears, Mattie Spears and May Spears.
The John Haley Spears family later moved from this farm to the home which had belonged to Robert Perkins, a large frame house, located about two miles east of Tallula on Route 123, now owned by the Mrs. Lynn Greene heirs.
After Mr. and Mrs. John Haley Spears moved from this home, it was oc. cupied by Mr. and Mrs. George C. Spears. Mrs. Spears was the former Eliza- beth Spears, daughter of George Spears Esq., and was a first cousin to her husband. They were the parents of eight children: William B., who married Emma N. Purkapile; Maria Lettie, who married Carlin W. Greene; Mary and John who died in childhood; R. Yates Spears, who married Mary V. Washburn; Henrietta C., who married Charles Reding; George, married Florence Wood; and Pauline, who married Evans Watkins. It was in this house that the large double wedding of Misses Pauline and Henrietta Spears occurred.
The farm was later owned by Mr. and Mrs. George Daniels, and following their deaths has been owned and occupied by their daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Kirby.
Well cared for and with an ideal setting, the beauty of this house deepens with time.
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Major Stephenson Home
his charming eight-room home at 714 South Seventh street was erected by the Grand Army of the Republic and presented as a gift to the widow of Major B, F. Stephenson, in appreciation of the efforts of Major Steph- enson, founder of the G.A.R. So well constructed is this house that one can scarcely realize that it was built in the 1870's.
Benjamin Franklin Stephenson was born Oct. 3, 1823 in Wayne county, Illinois, the son of James and Margaret Clinton Stephenson. The Stephensons came to Illinois from Kentucky and were the parents of eleven children. While Dr. Stephenson was yet a child the family moved to Sangamon county where Dr. Stephenson grew to manhood. Ile later attended Rush Medical College in Chi- eago,
Meanwhile the family moved to Menard county, locating in the Rock Creek community. Dr. Stephenson returned to the home of his parents, broken down in health, the result of a severe case of erysipelas, and the exertions he had put forth to finish his medical education. Ilere he rested for a period of a year and a half. After he improved he started practicing medicine in Petersburg in partnership with Dr. Z. P. Cabanis.
In 1855 he was married to Miss Barbara Moore of Springfield. They were the parents of three children: Mary, Carrie and B. F. Jr.
Dr. Stephenson accepted a professorship at lowa Medical College at Keokuk in 1855 where he remained for three years, being forced to resign at that time and return to Petersburg due to illness in the family.
Union men of both political parties hastened to respond to the president's call for troops. Dr. Stephenson was among the first to offer his services and enlisted at Jacksonville. He was appointed surgeon of the 14th Illinois Infantry Volunteers. For meritorious services in the battle of Shiloh and Hatchee, Gov- ernor Yates conferred on Dr. Stephenson the rank of Major. Before this battle he had been promoted to Senior Brigade Surgeon. His enlistment expired in 1864, when he returned to Springfield to practice medicine.
In 1866 he conceived the idea of a National Soldiers Mutual Benefit Society, whose motto should be loyalty, fraternity, charity and whose name was to be the Grand Army of the Republic. Thefirst encampment of the G. A.R. was Post No. 1 at Decatur. The second was organized in Springfield.
The first national convention was held in Indianapolis Nov. 20, 1866. At this convention the rules and regulations originated by B. F. Stephenson were adopted. Stephenson was elected Adjutant-General.
At the time of his retirement from office in the G.A.R., his health began to decline rapidly . He gave up his practice and removed with his family to Rock Creek in the fall of 1870. Here he died on August 30, 1871 at the age of 48 years. He was buried in Rock Creek cemetery but was afterwards reinterred by Estill Post No. 71 G. A. R. onthe 29th day of August 1882, eleven years after his death, in Rose Hill cemetery.
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A shaft, 30 feet high of Italian marble, costing $2500 was erected at his grave by small contributions of thousands of members of the G.A.R. Over 10,000 people attended the dedication services of the monument at which Gov. Oglesby, Gen. McClernand and Gen. Connally were speakers. It is said to have been the greatest event inthe history of Petersburg. A $40,000 shaft of granite was erected in Washington, D. C. in 1909, in honor of Major Stephenson and the G.A. R. President Taft officiated at this occasion.
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