USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 3
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
school advantages, and is mostly self-edu- cated. In 1854 he took passage on a sail vessel bound for Montreal, Canada, and was seven weeks in crossing the Atlantic, dur- ing which time the ship encountered some severe storms. On their arrival in Quebec they were quarantined for two weeks, there being some twenty cases of smallpox on board. Mr. Crabb spent about six months in the city of Montreal, where he worked at his trade, that of a blacksmith.
In 1854 he came to Illinois, and first lo- cated in Tazewell county, where he worked for his uncle, William Monroe, as a farm hand, for about two years and a half, at ten dollars per month. He next engaged in farming for himself upon rented land in the same county, where he continued to make his home until 1866, and in the mean- time purchased eighty acres of land in Pike township, Livingston county, where he now
resides. Hle located here in 1866, and com- menced immediately to break the virgin soil, upon which he built a small house. Later he purchased an adjoining eighty-acre tract. and still later another eighty-acre tract, and today has a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and improved with good and substantial buildings, which stand as momments to his thrift and enterprise. After years of faithful toil he can now well afford to lay aside all business cares and en- joy a well earned rest.
In Tazewell county. December 25, 1861. Mr. Crabb married Miss Mary Ann Dor- ward, who was born and reared in the same neighborhood in Scotland as her husband and came to the new world in 1853, locat- ing in Illinois. To them have been born six children, namely: Florence, now the wife of William Snethen, of Pike township;
John Henry, who is married and engaged in farming in the same township: Robert, also an agriculturist of Pike township: Marga- ret, wife of Lewis Brinkman, of Rooks Creek township : Cecelia, wife of Louis Salz- man, of the same township; and Agnes, wife of C. B. Rollins, who operates the Crabb farmı.
Mr. Crabb voted for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, but since 1868 has been independent in politics, giving his suport to the men and measures that he believes will best advance the interests of the public regardless of party lines. He has taken quite an active part in local politics, and is now serving his sixth term as supervisor, and is now a member of the committees on public buildings, county house and farm, fees and salaries. He has also served as township clerk, assessor and treasurer, which office of treasurer he now holds, and as township trustee eighteen years. He and his wife are active members of the Presbyterian church, and his public and private life are alike above reproach, for his career has ever been one characterized by the utmost fidelity to duty. He and his family receive and merit the high regard of the entire community.
THE LESLIE E. KEELEY CO.
Time tests the merit of all things, and the years with unerring accuracy set their stamp of approval upon all that comes be- fore the public notice, or cause to sink into oblivion that which is not worthy of atten- tion. Only truth is eternal, while "error wounded, writhes in pain and dies among her worshippers." There is no escape from such results ; the ages have proven this, and the law will hold good throughout all time.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
In the face of the most bitter opposition there was given to the world a wonderful discovery by Dr. Leslie E. Keeley, of Dwight, Illinois. Ile early met the ridicule and persecution of the medical fraternity, of which he was a member, and the amused and oftentimes abusive disbelief of the world, but time proved the efficacy and value of his discovery, and today he is known as one of the greatest benefactors that America produced in the nineteenth century.
Although the founder has passed away his living record forms an epitaph time will never efface, and the work he created is con- tinued under the corporate name of The Leslie E. Keeley Company, the leading mem- bers being Major Curtis J. Judd and John R. Oughton, the latter the present mayor of Dwight, while the former for several years was a successful merchant and filled posi- tions in the executive departments of the village. The history of the Keeley Insti- tute forms the most important chapter in the history of Dwight, for prior to its es- tablishment the little village was scarcely heard of outside of a radius of a few miles, and seemed to have little business or com- mercial prosperity outside of the farming industry before it. Today no city of equal size in the Union is as widely known.
In 1866 Dr. Leslie E. Keeley was grad- uated from Rush Medical College. of Chi- cago, and in seeking a location. determined upon this little village in Livingston county, Illinois. Ile soon won an enviable repu- tation, and enjoyed a large practice which came to him from miles around ; but while he successfully performed his daily duties as a general practitioner. he became inter- ested in the question of a possible cure for inebriety. He gave careful thought, study and investigation to the matter, prompted by
a love of scientific research, but more than all by the great humanitarian principles which ever formed a basic element in the character of Dr. Keeley. At length he be- came convinced that drunkenness was a dis- ease just as surely as a fever or any other disease which comes under the care of the physician. He became convinced that there was nothing in the claim that heredity had anything to do with either. He believed that while a neurosis might be entailed upon descendants, they were not from necessity liquor or drug users. He defined drunken- ness as "a conditon wherein the nerve cells have become so accustomed to performing their duties and functions under the in- fluence of alcohol that they are dependent on it and will no longer perform those duties and functions properly and painlessly ex- cept when under its influence." This theory has long been accepted by physicians throughout the country, and is taught in the leading text-books on physiology and hy- giene in our public schools, but at the time Dr. Keeley advanced it he met with the greatest opposition from the medical frater- nity. Hoping to perfect a cure for this con- dition of the nerve cells, he wrote to several well-known physicians to ascertain what they knew about the effects of salts of gold. .A few responded and their information was meager, but Dr. Keeley continued to investi- gate and experiment, and as a result, per- fected not only the cure but the system of treatment. The storm of abuse and oppo- sition which he brought down upon him- self can hardly be imagined. The president of a prominent medical college, with whom he took counsel, advised him thus: "Main- tain the secret of your discovery if you think it of use to humanity, but the pro- fession will not leave a shred of your medical
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
reputation." This was painfully true, but he fought his and humanity's battle nobly, until now thousands have been benefited by his treatment, the number reaching more than three hundred thousand.
It was in 1880 that Dr. Keeley abandoned general practice and began giving his en- tire attention to the cure of those who had become slaves to alcohol, opium and other very injurious drugs. He carly associated with him Major Judd and Mr. Oughton, and the connection was maintained until the Doctor's death. These gentleman were prominent, popular and reliable business men of Dwight, and their faith in Dr. Kee- ley and his discoveries did much to gain for him the confidence of his home community. Major Judd is now the secretary and treas- urer of the company, and Mr. Oughton is president and chemist. Soon after the part- nership was formed Mr. Oughton was given the formulae and being an expert chemist has compounded the Keeley remedies to the present time.
With three such men as Dr. Keeley, Ma- jor Judd and Mr. Oughton at the head of the Institute its success was assured, al- though it was almost a decade before it gained the recognition and assistance of the press. Gradually public opposition was lessened, as those who came to the Institute under the curse of inebriety went away sober, intelligent citizens, ready to take their places again in the work of the world. Their tes- timony and influence lead to the growth of the work, the number of patients gradually yet constantly increased, and it is estimated that twenty-five thousand took the treatment prior to 1891, when Joseph Medill became its champion and advocated the cause through the columns of the Chicago Tribune. Before so doing. however, he thoroughly in- 3
vestigated the cure. In an editorial in the Chicago Tribune he said : "I tested this cure : I selected a half-dozen of the toughest products of alcoholism that the Chicago sa- loons had been able to turn out, and the drunkard-making shops in no other city can beat them in their line of workmanship. The experimental cases were sent down to Dwight, one at a time, extending over a period of several weeks, and in due time they were all returned to me, looking as if a veritable miracle had been wrought upon them. The change for the better was so great that I scarcely recognized them. They' went away sots and returned gentlemen. It was amazing, and converted me to a belief in the efficacy of the 'Gold Cure' for alco- holism and opium. Well, I did not stop with the half-dozen specially selected cases, but sent down to Dwight a number of ine- briate acquaintances to take the treatment, as I was anxious to reclaim those old friends who had been respected and useful citizens before the 'drink habit' had ruined their lives. When I had thus become fully con- vinced that drunkenness was a disease, the result of imbibing poison, and that a medi- cine had been discovered which released the victim from the irrepressible thirst for alco- hol, and that it restored the man to normal health of body and mind, I felt it to be a duty which I owed to humanity to make known the virtue of the Keeley Cure as fast and as far as in my power, and I rejoice that the control of a widely-read journal enabled me to reach the minds of a multitude of in- telligent people. I opened the columns of my paper freely to the rescued victims of al- cohol, who related their experience and tes- tified to what the Keeley Cure had done for them." The Tribune's example was imme- diately followed by that of other leading
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL. RECORD.
journal~ m Chicago, and then throughout the country, until the Keeley Institute of Dwight became largely known throughout the length and breadth of the lan
It was soon found that the accommoda- tions at Dwight were totally inadequate, so greatly did the number of patients increase. Dr. Keeley, Major Judd and Mr. Oughton held consultation and it was determined that the congestion at Dwight should be relieved at once by the opening of branch institutes. The first one was established at Des Moines. Iowa, soon others were started in New York and Pennsylvania, and after this branches sprang up in various places until at the pres- ent time there are one or more in nearly every state and territory. The most notable work perhaps was accomplished at the Leaven- worth branch of the National Sokliers' Home, where nearly fifteen hundred veter- ans of the war of the Rebellion were treated with the most gratifying results, and the re- port of the board of managers to congress and the secretary of war spoke of the great good accomplished. The treatment wis also administered in the Soldiers' Home at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Hampton, Virginia. Los Angeles, California, and others, with excellent results. Many men and officers of the regular army have also taken the treatment, sixty Indians from the Cherokee and Chage reservations were sent to the branch in Kansas City, and the results were so favorable to the cure as to prompt the writing of a letter In Chief Justice Connor. of the Inthian Territory, to Dr. Keeley, prais mg the treatment in the highest terms, Sixty - Ive men in the work-house of Minneapolis were sent Is the mayor of that city to the branch noutute there, and a large majority mi tem, atough they had been victims of mehriety, convicted from two to twenty-
nine times, were enabled to leave the work- house, and were changed from wards of the state to self-supporting, self-respecting citi- zens. To cite, either collectively or indi- vidually, the wonderful cures effected by the system inaugurated by Dr. Keeley would fill a large volume: suffice it to say that more than three hundred thousand have taken the cure, and the greater nuumber have remained sober, useful citizens.
The cure for drunkenness is usually ef- fected in four weeks. There is no sickness attendant upon the treatment, and the phys- ical condition improves from the start. Men are also freed from the opium, morphine, laudanum, cocaine and chloral habits. The patients are left absolutely free. there being I restraining influences other than those of law-abiding citizenship. All patients are treated alike and stand on the same footing. It is interesting to note the many exhibitions of kindness and good will of the patients towards each other. A useful lesson is taught by this democracy of the Keeley Institute-a man of humble station is lifted up and given a new trend, whereas a man of high position is convinced more than ever of the leveling qualities of drink toward the lowest strata of society.
The Livingston Hotel of Dwight is owned and conducted by the Leslie E. Kee- ley Company, and is an excellently conducted hotelry, with pleasantly arranged rooms, well lighted and ventilated, and tastefully furnished. The laboratory is one of the finest and best equipped in the country, and the offices are models of convenience.
Dwight certainly owes her prosperity in very large measure to the Leslie E. Kee- les Company. Prior to the establishment of the institute it was an ordinary country town, without electric light-, without water-
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works and without drainage. Today it has all the accommodations and improvements of cities many times its size, this result being largely obtained through the efforts of the members of the Keeley Company. It is safe to say that no private institution in the entire country is so well known as the insti- tute at Dwight, nor is there one whose in- fluence and efforts have been so beneficial and far reaching.
The business of the Leslie E. Keeley Company is conducted upon a liberal prin- ciple and most approved business methods. The system is the result of years of expe- rience and intelligent work, and cannot be improved upon. Visitors to Dwight inva- riably inspect the general offices as one of the sights of the village. While it has been a paying investment to its owners, it cer- tainly deserves to be ranked among the greatest institutions for good that the nine- teenth century has known.
MATTHIAS TOMBAUGH.
Matthias Tombaugh, deceased, was one of the most prominent of the early educators of this county, and served as county super- intendent of schools for several years, dur- ing which time there was a marked im- provement made in the educational sys- tem then in vogue here. He was born near Washington, Washington county, Pennsyl- vania. June 11, 1835, and there grew to manhood. His parents were Mathias and Rachel ( Spohn) Tombaugh, life-long resi- dents of that county and of German descent. The mother survived her husband several years, dying about 1890.
Our subject completed his literary edu-
cation at Mt. Union College, and then com- menced teaching school in his native county. serving as superintendent of schools at Monongahela City for a time. While there he married Miss Elivira J. Letherman, who was born June 11. 1838, a daughter of John and Christina Letherman, of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and of German de- scent. Her father was a soldier of the war of 1812, and a farmer by occupation. To Mr. and Mrs. Tombaugh were born seven children, five of whom are still living, name- ly: Charles R., who is represented on an- other page of this volume: Alice 1., wife of E. F. Pound, of Glen Eller, Kansas; Dr. Frank M., medical examiner for the Chi- cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad at Burlington, lowa: Nettie Z., wife of W. F. Worthley, of Odell, Illinois; and John L., a student in the Chicago Medical College. Raymond R., the third in order of birth, (lied June 25. 1886. at the age of nineteen years. Horace Reid, the fifth child died in infancy.
In 1865 Mr. Tombaugh came to Living- ston county, Illinois, and purchased land in Reading township, when this country was quite new and but slightly improved. Vi- ter making his home there for three years he moved to Sunbury township and bought another farm. While living there he served as principal of the schools of Odell for one year, and in 18873 was elected county su- perintendent of schools, which important position he held until 1882. the term at that time being four years. While in office a change was made in the election laws and he was elected by the board of supervisors for one year. During his incumbency he made many important changes in the schools which have been of permanent value. and it is conceded that he was a very effective
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school officer. Selling his farm in Sun- bury township. in 1876. he bought property in Odell township, and successfully en- gaged in farming there up to the time of his death.
After 1882 Mr. Tombaugh served as su- pervisor of his township and was also a member of the Odell school board. Ile was a Republican in politics and a member of the Masonic fraternity. Both he and his wife held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and took an active part in its work. He served as superintendent of the Sunday schools twelve years ; was presi- dent of the County Sunday School Associa- tion: and was also steward, trustee and church secretary, in fact was one of the pil- lars of his church. While one of a fishing party at Marseilles, Illinois, May 13, 1887, he was drowned while attempting to rescue another member of the party who had fallen in the river. He was highly respected and esteemed by all who knew him on account of his sterling worth and true nobility of character, and his death was widely and deeply mourned. His estimable wife still survives him and makes her home in Odell.
CHARLES R. TOMBAUGHI.
Charles R. Tombaugh. the present county superintendent of schools, was born near Washington, Washington county, Pennsyl- vania, October 1. 1862, and is a son of Mat- thia- and Elvira J. (Letherman) Tom- baugh, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work. He was about three years old when brought by his parents to Livingston county, Illinois. He began his education in the school of Sunbury town-
ship. later attended, the common chools of Odell and then taught school for five win- ters in this county, at the end of which time he entered the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois. After his return home he resumed teaching and taught for six years, during which time he was principal of the East Side School at Dwight, and also principal of the schools at Chebanse and Odell. While at Odell he was president of the Livingston County Teachers' Associa- tion for two years, and also an instructor in the County Teachers' Institute. After the death of his father, in 1887. he took charge of the home farm and carried it on until he assumed the duties of his present position as county superintendent of schools. Ile was elected on the Republican ticket. and in 1898 was renominated by acclama- tion and again elected to that office. The educational meetings held during his term have been most successful, and he has the entire confidence and respect of the people.
On his election to his present office Pro- fessor Tombaugh moved to Pontiac, and now has a pleasant home at No. 311 South Vermilion street. On the 20th of January. 1892, he married Mrs. Anna L. Bradrick. a daughter of Rev. Samuel Deach, of the Central Illinois Methodist Episcopal con- ference. Rev. and Mrs. Deach were in Kansas for a time on account of his health. and Mrs. Tombaugh was educated in Sa- lina, that state. By a former marriage she has one child. Margaret L. Bradrick, and she has borne our subject three children : Alice V., Glen D. and Stella 31.
Professor Tombaugh was made a Ma- son in Odell Lodge, No. 401, F. & .A. M .. in which he served as warden, but has since demitted to l'ontiac lodge, No. 204. Where he is now sering his fourth year as mas-
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ter. Both he and his wife are active mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is now a member of the offical board of the church and president of the Livingston County Sunday School Association. While a resident of Dwight, Chebanse and Odell, he was superintendent of the Sunday schools there, having like his father devoted much time to Sunday school work. He has fol- lowed closely in the footsteps of his father, having held practically all of the local. county and church offices held by the latter. As a citizen he ever stands ready to dis- charge any duty devolving upon him, and as an educator he stands deservedly high.
EMILE A. SIMMONS.
The man who achieves success in the le gal profession is even more strictly the "ar - chitect of his own fortunes" than is the average self-made man, there being in the keen competition of the lawyer's life, with its constantly recurring mental duel be- tween eager and determined antagonists, no chance for the operation of influences which may be called to the aid of the merchant, the manufacturer or the financier. Among the men of Livingston county who have demon- strated their abilites in this difficult field Emile A. Simmons hokls a leading place. being one of the prominent attorneys of Pontiac.
A native of Illinois, Mr. Simmons was born in Avon, October 19, 1865. and is a son of George and Charlotte L. J. ( Mail- liard ) Simmons. The father was born. reared and educated in Hamilton, Madison county. New York, and as a young man removed to Avon, Illinois, about 1850, where
he followed the carpenter's trade, and also engaged in farming, making his home there until his death. Hle held different local offices, including those of justice of the peace, assessor and collector, and was a Re- publican in politics, having been an aboli- tionist in New York. His father was a sollier of the war of 1812, and a life-long resident of Hamilton, New York, where he followed the occupation of farming. The mother of our subject was born in Flor- ence, Italy, of French parentage, and was reared in France until twelve years of age. when she came to America with her family and settled in Avon. Illino's. Her father was Ely Mailliard. She is still living, but the father of our subject died in 1892.
During his boyhood and youth Emile . 1. Simmons attended the public schools of Avon, and at the age of sixteen commenced teaching. After following that profession for six years, he became a student at the Normal School in Normal, Illinois, and af- ter leaving that institution again taught school for two years, being principal of the school at Vermont, Ilinois. In December, 1889, he came to Pontiac and entered the office of .A. C. Ball, studying law with him two years, and also teaching the latter year. The following year he was in the office of Mellduff & Torrance, and in May, 1892, was appointed deputy circuit clerk. While in that position seeing the practice of lead- ing lawyers was of great benefit to him. In .August, 1892, he was examined at Mt. Ver- non by the judges of the appellate court, and a certificate issued at the next session of the supreme court at that place the follow- ing November. In December he left the clerk's office and entered the office of Mr. Melkluff, remaining with him until August, 1894, when he opened an office of his own.
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He is now successfully engaged in practice before all the courts of the state.
In the gist of December, 1804, Mr. Simmons was united in marriage with Miss Katherine M. Smith, of Avon, a daughter of P. H. Smith, and to them has been born one child. Louise A. They holl member- Ship in St. Mary's Catholic church, of Pon- tiac, and fraternally Mr. Simmons is a member of Crescent Lodge, K. P., is clerk of the Camp. M. W. A., of Pontiac, and is president of the Pontiac Colony Pioneer Re- serve Association. He is also director and treasurer of associated charities of Pontiac. For some time he has been secretary of the Pontiac Loan & Building Association-a home ban building concern, whose assets amount to one hundred and twelve thou- sand dollar -. Hle is also a member of the company. By his ballot he supports the men and measures of the Republican party, and take an active and prominent part in local politics. lle still retain- an interest in edu- cational affairs, and in April. 1900, was elected to the Pontiac township high school Iward. He is also serving his second term is a member of the board of directors of the Pontiac public library, receiving his appoint- ment from the mayor, and as a progressive and public-spirited citizen, he takes a deep interest in every enterprise calculated to ad- vance the moral. social and educational wel- fare gibi community.
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