The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 100

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 848

USA > Illinois > Mason County > The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois > Part 100
USA > Illinois > Menard County > The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois > Part 100

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

R. S. EAKIN,lumber-dealer, Notary Public, collecting agent, Manito ; was born Oct. 25, 1827, in Greenc Co., Ill., on farm, and remained there until 10 years old, when he moved, with his father, to Whitehall, where he engaged in merchandising with his

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father for two years ; his father then moved to Montezuma, Ill., and engaged in mer- chandising for some time, when his father built a stone mill. Mr. Eakin worked for his father until 23, at masonry, carpentering and farming. In 1851, Mr. Eakin went to Fulton Co., and settled at Ellisville and engaged in carpentering and improving a farm. He remained until August; spring of 1852, he began teaming with A. Roper, of Montezuma, and remained until 1853; was engaged part of this time laying traek on T., W. & W. R. R. In the fall of 1853, he returned to Fulton Co., settling at Fairview, and was occupied in farming, plastering and stone work, until the spring of 1855, when he learned daguerreotyping, with W. H. Seaving, of Canton, Ill. In 1855, he returned to Montezuma and engaged in daguerreotpying there, and in Scott Co., until the fall, and then worked at plastering and briek-laying until Dee. 22, when he was taken sick, and was confined until February ; after his recovery, he went to Fulton Co. on business, and, on return worked at stonemasonry until 1856, when he left for Moroy, and engaged in plastering till the elose of season, returning then to his home in Pike Co., where he remained until March, 1857, when he went to Spring Lake, Tazewell Co., and engaged in plastering and improving his farm until spring of 1858, when he was elected Asses- sor, and appointed collector of taxes for Ezekiel A. Poe; he was also engaged in farm- ing, but was unfortunate, by reason of erops failing, and, in 1859, he came to Manito, Ill., and stopped at O. C. Bartram's during the winter ; next changing his home to J. K. Cox's ; here he remained, engaged in trading, until 1860, when he worked at Pekin, laying briek with H. Ribbet, until midsummer, when he was again taken siek. In the fall of 1860, Mr. Eakin began boarding with B. F. Nash, and remained there until he enlisted in July, 1861, in Co. C, 2d I. V. C., and remained until Aug. 16, 1862, when he was wounded at the battle of Merriweather's Ferry, Tenn. ; was taken to hospital at Union City, and remained until Oet. 30, when he was discharged by Gen. Grant; he returned home from Cairo, on horseback, and became administrator of his father's estate, who had died in 1861 ; also settling up his own business. and making his home with Nash until spring, at which time he found his business such as to demand a settle- ment, which he made-by paying his ereditors 100 eents on the dollar, leaving him only his clothes, books, and some poor notes. Shortly afterward, he purchased his present resi- denee, and rented the same to Dr. J. W. Neal. In April, 1863, he went to Brown Co., and engaged in canvassing for " Abbott's History " until June, when he was again taken siek, recovering in time to attend the celebration at Quincy, Ill. ; he then went to Mor- gan Co., and canvassed for " Mitchell's Atlas " until August ; not succeeding well, he re- turned to Manito Aug. 20, and engaged at plastering and bricklaying until 1876, when he went into the lumber business at Manito, which he still continues. Dee. 25, he was married, in schoolhouse in Manito, to Minnie Ziegenbein, born in Germany ; they have three children-Lillian, Ernest J. and Daisy B. His wife is in the millinery business. at Manito, and is doing well. Mr. Eakin has held offices of Police Magistrate (now in second term), Notary Publie at present ; has been Trustee of Schools, and President of Board of Trustees ; March 7, 1874, he was appointed School Treasurer, and still holds that office ; was Trustee of Manito, and was onee candidate for County Clerk, but was defeated ; is insurance agent for the Hartford Insurance Co. ; is a charter member of Manito Lodge, No. 476, A., F. & A. M., and now holds the office of W. M. in same.

JOHN FURRER, farmer ; P. O. Manito; was born June 9, 1838, on a farm in Ger- many, where he remained until 14 years old, when he came with his parents to Illinois, and settled in Mason Co., and has been here ever sinee. He first engaged in farming for Mr. Akers, near Topeka ; after hard working three years, for $10 a month, he worked for himself, on what is the Kidman farm, for three years. In 1864, he was married to Lidda Singley, of Pennsylvania; after marriage they settled on Mr. Starrett's farm, and remained two years, after which he moved to Mr. Sehrink's farm, and has been there ever since-a period of twelve years. They have four children-Sarah, William, Lindy and Melia, deceased. They are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Furrer takes quite an interest in educating his children, furnishing them excellent literature.

REV. W. B. GILMORE, elergyman, Manito ; was born April 4, 1836, in Mechanicsville, N. J., remained there until 1} years old, when his parents moved to

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Springfield, Ill., and remained a year ; they then moved to Fairview, Fulton Co., where his father now lives; his mother's maiden name was Vanordstrand. He attended sehool while he was with his parents, and at length studied Latin and Greek, under Rev. Mr. Jerolmon ; during 1859 and 1860, he taught sehool at Fairview. . In September, 1861, he went to Holland, Mieli., and attended the Hope College, at that place, where lie graduated in 1866; he then commeneed his eourse in the Faith Seminary, at Fair- view, in whieli he graduated in 1869. He then went to Amelia Court House, Va., and engaged in the Amelia Institute, remaining four years. During this time, he married Christine C. Van Ralte, daughter of Rev. A. C. Van Ralte, founder of the colony of Holland, Mieh .; they moved to Holland, Mich., where he engaged as Principal of the Female Academy for a year. Owing to ill healtlı, he abandoned teaching, and eame to Spring Lake, Tazewell Co., and took charge of the Reform Church there. In 1876, he began his labors at Manito, where he now resides ; has held almost all offiees eonneeted with the Church. All through life, he has depended upon his own resourees ; he gave instruction in musie while in the Institute at Michigan. He has had four children-A. C. V. R., Willie B. S., ded June 25, 1871 ; Margaret A., died Feb. 21, 1879; Frank E., died Feb. 13, 1879.

GEORGE HECKMANN, blaeksmith and earriage-maker, Manito; was born Aug. 24, 1831, in Baden, Germany, and remained there until August, 1853, when he eame to New York and engaged in his trade, blacksmithing and wagon-making, for two years, after which he came to Pekin, Ill., and worked for T. & H. Smith at smithing for eleven years. In 1866, he was in business for himself in Pekin for a year. In Sep- tember, he moved to Manito, Ill., settling in partnership with N. Weber until Dee. 13, 1871, when the firm of Heekmann & Weber moved to Pekin and remained there in business until 1874, when Mr. Heckmann sold to Fry & Weber, and returned to Manito, July 24, and engaged in the present business. Mr. Heekmann has aeeumulated a little fortune; has a shop, house and three lots in Manito and 106 aeres of land in Tazewell Co., under fine improvement, earned entirely by his eareful management. He has been a member of the M. E. Church twenty-three years; his wife and two children are also members. He was married, Jan. 24, 1856, to Mary F. Weber, of Pekin; they have had teu children-Lizzie (dead), George, Freddie (dead), Philip, Arthur, Anna, Lewis, Liddie, Ida, and Frankie. George is working at wagon-making in Kansas City. Mr. Heckmann has held the office of Town Trustee.

THOMAS HILL, farmer; P. O. Manito; was born in England in 1825, on a farm, and remained there until 1851, engaged in farming with his father. He came to New York ; remained but a short time; then came to Illinois, settling at Knoxville for six months, making briek ; he then worked on a farm in Knox Co. for Bainbridge, for one winter, when he hired out to Squire Marks for a year, and afterward went to Peoria and engaged in working in a tavern for Prinee, where he remained some four years; he · then worked at farming at Prineeville for three years for himself; from there he eame to Mason Co. and engaged in farming for himself, renting of B. Prettyman ; he then went to what is ealled Egypt and engaged on E. Alwood's farm for two years. Nov. 22, 1862, lie was married to Naney C. Charlton, of Clark Co., Ill .; some time after marriage, they bouglit land and settled on it and rented ; he sold out in a year and rented a farm of George Alfs for three years ; from there they came to the present farm of 240 aeres, 160. of which they inherited and the rest they have obtained by their own labor ; the land is worthi probably $50 per aere. His wife had the following ehildren before marrying Mr. Hill-James B., A. Lineoln, William H .; after this marriage- John T., George W., Annie, Mary (died Oet. 14, 1864, Sargent M., Cornelius E., Columbus, Sarah A. (dead), Charlie.

MATTHEW, LANGSTON, farmer; P. O. Manito; was born June 4, 1824, in Rutherford Co., Tenn., on a farin, and remained there some time ; when quite young, he went to Missouri, and his father there engaged in farming and as a wheelwright for sowie two years ; they eame, in the fall of 1828, to Illinois, and settled in Morgan Co. (now Seott), on a farm ; Mr. Langston remained at home until 1843, at which time lie went into partnership with his brother and bought a saw-mill of their father, owning

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and running it until the spring of 1850, when he sold out and moved to Mason Co. and improved a farm, which he sold in 1873; he was engaged in mercantile business at Manito from 1865 until 1873, in which year he went to Kansas and farmed a year, returning and settling in Manito, Ill., on some property which they now own ; he is now managing and farming a piece of land owned by Peter W. Gay, of Manito Township; he was engaged one year in the war with Mexico, and, in the late war, was Captain of a company in the 85th I. V. I .; he has held various offices in the township and district, such as Justice of the Peace in Manito, one of the first Commissioners who laid off the township, Supervisor of Manito Township six years, School Trustee and Treasurer, Road Commissioner, Collector one term ; elected County Judge, served two years and then resigned, and, in the fall of 1870, was elected Representative from the Sixty- First District of Illinois, which position he filled with honor ; he is a member of Lodge No. 476, A., F. & A. M., of Manito ; his education was very limited ; he studied arithmetic but eleven days; by securing all kinds of valuable literature, he has made himself both useful and beneficial. Mr. Langston's father was a minister and early educated his son. Was married, in 1848, to Elizabeth Havens, of Illinois ; she died in February, 1850; in January, 1851, he was married to Sarah Havens, a sister of his first wife ; they have five children-William M., Elizabeth, Rebecca, Ellen, Edward.

J. R. McCLUGGAGE, physician and surgeon, Manito ; was born in Holmes Co., Ohio, June 13, 1844, on a farm; when 16 years old, he went to Southern Ohio, and engaged in farming with his father, until 1865, when he came to Illinois, settling in Mason Co., working on a farm by the month, going to school in winter ; in the fall of 1867, he commenced teaching school at the Walker district; he continued teaching in Illinois until 1871, when he went to Nebraska and engaged in teaching and laboring; he taught there in the summer of 1871, and winter of 1872 and spring of 1873, after which he returned to Mason Co., Ill., and read medicinc at Mason City, with Dr. I. N. Ellsbury, until the fall of 1875, when he began attending Rush Medical College at Chicago, graduating in 1877, when he returned home and began practicing medicine at Manito and has met with good success; during the win- ter of 1878, his office burned up in connection with Dr. Walker's, and consumed every medical book in town ; he is at present Highway Commissioner. He was married, in April, 1877, to Clara Todd, of Topeka, Ill .; they have one child-Thomas T.

BENJAMIN RUTHENBURG, merchant, Manito ; was born in 1819 in Prussia ; remained there until 21, when he went into the army for two years; in 1843, he came to Baltimore and from there to Philadelphia, thence to Nashville, Tenn., where he began merchandising, afterward moving to New Orleans and engaging in selling goods ; he then moved to St. Louis, in 1845, and, in partnership with his brother, dealt in dry - goods for six years, when he sold out and next engaged as clerk in merchandising for a firm in Agency City, Iowa, which he afterward bought and continued in until 1859, in which year he married Mrs. Dolinda Sparks, (Witherforth); she had two sons-Edgar and Hubbard Sparks; Edgar owns a farm of 200 acres which he and his brother man- age. In 1861, Mr. Ruthenburg engaged in merchandising in Spring Lake Town until 1863, when he came to Manito and engaged in merchandising; in 1877, he transferred his business to his step-son. He was a Justice of the Peace at Spring Lake and also member of the first Town Board of Manito; he owns property worth $2,000, earned entirely by his own labor and management.

M. W .. ROGERS, farmer ; P. O. Manito ; was born Oct. 14, 1825, in Clark Co., Ky., on a farm and remained there until 6 years old, when he went with John C. Rogers to Old Virginia; Mr. John C. Rogers was a Baptist minister, who married W. Boni- field, of Virginia ; they moved to Illinois in 1831, and settled in Morgan Co., on a farm. where Mr. Rogers lived until 1850. In 1848, he was married to Rebecca Lang- ston, of 'T'ennessee ; they settled, some time after, on Hugh Davis' farm for a year, afterward renting for a year ; he then moved to a farm owned by Livingston, in Taze- well Co., for a year; in 1851, he settled the present farm of 160 acres, then a raw prairie, but now, by improvement, is one of the finest farms in the country ; Mr. Rogers made his happy home by his own labor and management; he takes an interest in all

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modern improvements, having on his farm utensils worth laboring with ; in an early day, he took quite an interest in starting hedges ; he has taken much care in selecting and cultivating fine fruits for home use ; has held offices of Supervisor, Road Commissioner and Pathmaster. Has five children-Lucinda S., John W:, Mary E., Rhoda R: and Nellie E. ; John has taught school and is now attending the institute at Mason City. Mrs. Rogers is a member of the Lutheran Church.

W. B. ROBINSON, builder and contraetor, Manito; was born Sept. 15, 1836, in Union Co., Penn., and remained there until 14 years old. His father was a tailor by trade and also followed piloting on the Susquehanna River. When Mr. Robinson was 10 years old his father died, leaving him an entire orphan, his mother having died when he was 6 months old ; he came to Tazewell Co., Ill., when about 10 years old, in company with his brother-in-law, Mr. Boone, and settled at Pekin for some three years ; when about 17, began to work at carpentering, and lias been at it ever sinee; after leaving Pekin, they went to what is called Egypt, Tazewell Co., and settled on a farm for some five years; Mr. Robinson then came to Egypt Sta- tion (now Manito) ; in 1861, he enlisted in Co. A, 28th I. V. I., and remained in the service until April 6, 1866 ; he went out as a drummer, in which capacity he served two years, and was then appointed by the Colonel Regimental Postmaster and afterward Brigade Postmaster ; on his return from the war, he settled in Manito and soon married, Aug. 3, 1866, Mrs. Martha Boone, daughter of George Black ; she had one child --- Ella A. Boone ; by their marriage they had two children-Drusilla R. and W. W. Mr. Robinson has held the office of President of Board of Trustees three years and is such at present ; Village Trustee six terms; Justice of the Peace three years and still holds the office; Town Clerk, Collector, and is now collector and insurance agent for the Pho- nix, American Central, at St. Louis, Roekford, of Rockford, and Home, of New York ; he also belongs to Lodge No. 476, A., F. & A. M., of Manito; he has held office of Secre- tary in the Lodge seven years ; is now S. W.

JOHN O. RANDOLPH, farmer; P. O. Manito; was born Dee. 9, 1816, in Virginia ; son of Philip Randolph, who died before J. O. Randolph was born ; when Mr. Randolph was 6 weeks old, his mother moved with him to Tennessee, where she supported herself and children ; when Mr. Randolph was 12 years old, he worked out for his board ; at 13, he hired out at $3 per month, and was to go to sehool in winter ; when he was 15, he was bound out to A. Blackburn, with whom he went from Sullivan Co., Ind., to La Porte Co., Ind., and engaged working on a farm for five years, when he began business for himself on a farm near Terre Haute, where his mother was living. In 1837, he married Elizabeth Best, of Harrison Co., Ind .; they lived in Vigo, Ind., six years. In 1843, he moved to Clark Co., Ill., and engaged in farming and keeping woodyard, running a saw-mill and building boats; he remained until 1851, when he moved to Manito, Ill., and settled on a farm, renting of Thomas Landrith; in 1853, they bought a farm of 100 acres in Manito Township, paying for it by their own labors ; in 1856, he went into mercantile business at Spring Lake, Ill., and continued it until 1859, when he returned to farming until 1871 ; in that year, he opened a grain busi- ness in Forest City, and continued it until 1876, when he moved to Manito; he sold his farm in 1877 to P. W. Thomas; he has a house and two lots in Forest City and a house and three lots in 'Manito. Has held office of Justice of the Peace, Clark Co., Ill .; Constable, Vigo Co., Ind .; Assessor, Manito Township; School Treasurer and Director, Clerk of' Board of Trustees and has taught sehool. Has had seven children -Mary L., Susan E., Mary P. (dead), Jolın E. (dead), William C. (dead), Margaret A. (dead), Nancy J. (dead).

E. A. ROSHER, Postmaster and dealer in dry goods and notions, Manito ; Was born April 27, 1827, in Germany, and remained there until 1849, when he came to New York, staying there a short time, and then went to Milwaukee, Wis., where he engaged in the grocery business for three years; afterward, going to Peoria, Ill., and engaged in dry goods for ciglit ycars ; he then moved to Manito, Ill., and engaged in his present business, managing it ever since. In 1869, he was made Postmaster at this place and still holds that position ; some time after he became Postmaster, he took it.

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upon himself to procure the establishment here of a money-order offiee. He was mar- ried, in 1850, to Caroline Darris, by whom he had eleven ehildren-Dora, William, Gustus, Eda, Charlie, Otto, Mena, Ida, John, Emma (died July 4, 1853), Matilda (died Dee. 20, 1859); his wife died in 1874. In 1875, he married a second time. Mr. Rosher is doing a first-elass business and is using his means with frugality ; his home is under fine improvement.

RICHARD SAUTER, boots and shoes, Manito ; was born in Wittemburg April 3,1831, and remained there until 21, engaged in the boot and shoe business ; in May, 1852, he emigrated to New York, and soon went to Reading, Penn., and was engaged in shoemaking for four years ; he next went to Steubenville and worked for Kent six years ; from there he moved to Pekin, Ill., and worked at shoemaking for John Velde one year ; moving from there to MeLean Co., he settled at Danvers and engaged in the boot and shoe business for himself for two years. Nov. 25, 1857, he was married to Elizabeth Hotz, of Pekin. They shortly afterward moved to Havana, where he opened in the same business, remaining until he came to Manito ; he now has a happy home with two lots and a good boot and shoe shop. Has held office of Trustee of Manito two terms ; is a Freemason ; he was Vice President of the German Free School of Havana, Ill. Names of his children-Philip, Matilda (deceased), Emma (deceased), Carl (deceased), Bertha, Margaret, Elizabeth, Sabina. Philip makes harness in eonnec- tion with his father's business.

REV. A. SIEVING, minister, Manito; was born Sept. 9, 1847, in Distriet of Melle, Hanover, Germany ; at the age of 7, he eame with his parents to St. Louis, Mo., where his father was in the boot and shoe business for seven years; here he attended school ; in his 15th year, he began attending the Gymnasium College at Ft. Wayne, Ind., and remained six years; after graduating, he went to St. Louis, Mo., and attended the Concordia College for four years ; he graduated there and soon after engaged in the ministry at Lincoln, Benton Co., Mo., in the Lutheran Church ; remained there about five years ; he then eame in 1876 to the Egypt Lutheran Church in Mason Co. and is still rendering serviees at that place ; he has another appointment at Sand Prairie, Tazewell Co., which he founded ; he has taught school ; was Secretary of the Western Distriet of the Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other States. Was married May 12, 1872, to- Mary Querl ; has three children-Charlie, Theodore, Augustus, besides Annie, an orphan girl, whom they are raising. Mr. Sieving devotes his entire attention to the ministry.

PETER SINGLEY, farmer ; P. O. Manito ; was born in 1817, in Pennsylvania, on a farın, and remained until 1861; was engaged in farming until 21; when he was 25 years old, he began coal mining in Pennsylvania, and followed it for twenty-five years, part of which time he was under a boss, and afterward was foreman, the boss having been killed ; in 1850, lie eame to Illinois, and bought 160 acres, which he paid for by his own labor ; his improvement on the same has made it one of the finest farms in the county. He was married, first, in 1844, to Catharine Boyer, by whom he had three children-Emma, Elizabeth A. and Henry; his wife died in 1849. In 1850, he was married again to Josephine Huntzsinger, of Pennsylvania ; they have had eleven ehil- dren ; deeeased-Margaret, Josiah, Eliza, Christiana, Walter ; living-Jeremiah, Han- nalı, George, Ida, Peter and Saralı J. He has been no office-seeker, but has been connected with sehools. Mr. Singley settled on his present farm in 1861, and has been here ever sinee. When he was married the first time, he was $5 in debt, and had no resourees.

BENJAMIN SINGLEY, farmer ; P. O. Manito ; was born in 1832, in Schuyl- kill Co., Penn., on a farm, and remained there until 1863 ; was engaged in farming and handling timbers, when, in 1863, he came to Illinois, settled and engaged in working for farmers by the day, $1 to $2, cutting hedge; in 1869, he began farming on the present farm of forty aeres ; he has improved this little farm, and made it one very desirable. He was married, in June, 1860, to S. Zimmerman ; they were blessed with, five children-David R., Rebeca (deceased), Annie, Jacob and Lindy ; he has been no office-seeker, but has held office of Pathmaster. Mr. Singley and wife belong to the

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Egypt Church, Lutheran, and have been members ever since the organization of the same.

J. N. SHANHOLTZER, miller, Manito; was born in Hampshire "Co., Va., in 1841, and remained there, farming for his father, until 18 years old, when he moved to Lieking Co., Ohio, and commenced farming; here he remained five years, when he went West, and finally settled in Tazewell Co., Ill .; he farmed for two years, afterward engaging in milling, at Dillon, Ill., for four years ; he then moved his machinery to Manito, Ill., in 1870, and has been here ever since. This is the first and only mill in the township. Mr. Shanholtzer manages his own business, and is doing splendid work for the publie ; he is an active worker in the temporanee movement; has held office of Trustee of Manito. He owns a beautiful lot and house, in addition to his mill. In 1868, he was married to Marinda Rector, of Dillon, Tazewell Co., Ill .; she died April 29, 1873. By her he had two children, Minnie Bellc (dceeased), and Miranda E. He was marricd, Jan. 23, 1879, to Mrs. S. C. Rector (Dean). She had onc ehild-Nellie Rector.

HENRY A. SWEET, retired farmer ; P. O. Manito; was born July 12, 1818, on a farm near Mendon, Worcester Co., Mass .; when about a year old, he went with his parents to Connectieut, and lived in that State until 21; when old enough, he began clerking in a dry-goods store for Joseph W. Turpin, at Warehouse Point, Conn., after which he went to New York, and worked at earpentering for three years. In 1842, he came to Ohio, and engaged in wagon-making and merchandising until 1849. In 1852, he sold out and came to Green Valley, Ill., and farmed until 1860, then engaging in grain business in Pekin, Ill., for two years; he then moved back to his farm in Tazewell Co., and stayed there until the spring of 1867, when he came to Manito, and engaged in grain and lumber for one year. In 1868, he went into mercantilc business, and was burned out ; was also express agent for three years. In 1870, he moved again to his farm in Tazewell Co., and remained until 1875, when he returned to Manito, and became station agent for one year. In .1876, he entirely lost his eyesight, which has but slightly returned. Was married, in 1840, to Mary Weber, of Massachusetts, and has eight children-Henry, Mary, George W., Annette, Rowena, Fannie, Carrie, Eva, and Leroy. He has held office in Ohio; was Town Clerk and Trustee three years in Tazewell Co., Ill .; was Supervisor, Assessor, Collector, Commissioner of Highways, Poormaster and Justice of the Peace fourteen years. In 1864, he took the census of Tazewell Co .; was President of the Board of Trustees of Manito one year ; he taught school eleven months ; he has 90 aeres, well improved, also a house and four lots in Manito.

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The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 100

Author: Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 848

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 848