Decatur Township (part 11 of 46)

When Dr. Lonergan was but four years of age he came with his parents to Illinois and pursued his education in the public schools of Jacksonville until he reached the age of fourteen. He then entered upon his business career by becoming an employe in a store of that city, but later he continued his studies in the Whipple Academy and subsequently prepared for the duties of business life by a course in Brown's Commercial College. He worked in the store during the day, attending school at night. The elemental strength of his character was thus manifested and gave promise of a successfid future, because success is more often the result of strong purpose and close application than of any other elements. With educational work Dr. Lonergan was also connected for some time, having for five years engaged in teaching in Sangamon county. It was his desire, however, to become a member of the medical fraternity and he began reading in the ofHce of Dr. David Prince, of Jacksonville, ere he discontinued his work as a member of the teacher's profession. Later he pursued a course of lectures in the Long Island Hospital College in Brooklyn and was next a student in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. He also took a post-graduate course in the Chicago Polyclinic in 1888 and in 1894 in the New York Polyclinic and the same year served as house physician in the Mothers and Babies Hospital, New York. The money for his collegiate 'course he earned through his own labors and when his capital became exhausted he again accepted a position as a school teacher in order to gain the funds necessary for the completion of his course in medicine. He was graduated in 1877 and through the influence of his roommate, J. A. Dawson, lie located at Casner, Illinois, in March, 1878, there opening an oiifice.

One of his first patients was Mrs. William Wilson, who subsequently became his mother-in-law. Becoming acquainted with the daughter, ]\Iary, he sought her hand in marriage, and on the 14th of November, 1878, the wedding ceremony was solemnized. She was born and reared in Mount

Zion township, Macon tount}-, and b)- her marriage became the mother of four children, of whom two are now living: Ellis C. and Bertha j\Iay. The first-born, Bertie, died at the age of only four years, and John M. died at seventeen years of age.

The first wife, Mary, died on the 14th anniversary of their marriage, November 14, 1901, and the Doctor was again married November 27, 1902, to Mary E. Dresback.

In his professional career Dr. Lonergan has been quite successful. He continued a partner of Dr. Dawson until November, 1883, and since that time has practiced alone. He owns a good drug store and has a liberal patronage in that line as well as in medical practice. He continued to make his home in Casner until 1S95, when he came to Decatur and has since been active in the practice of his profession in this city. He keeps thoroughly informed concerning the advancement made by the profession and has long since demonstrated his skill in handling intricate cases. Socially he is a member of Ionic Lodge, No. 312, A. F. & A. M. ; Macon Chapter, No. 12, R. A. M.; and Decatur Council, No. 21, R. & S. M., all of this city. He was likewise a member of Casner Lodge, No. 463, I. O. O. F., of which he served as noble grand. He is also a member of the Macon County Medical Society; the Illinois State Medical and the American Medical Association.

The Doctor is a firm believer in the cause of temperance and does everything in his power for the suppression of the use of intoxicants. He manifests his principles in this by his ballot, voting for the Prohibition party, with wliich he has been allied since age gave to him the right of franchise. He and his wife hold membership in the Cnndjerland Presbyterian church and he is a man of broad humanitarian principles, whose influence has alwa3's been on the side of right and justice. He believes that the most iinporiaiit work of man is the development of honorable character and has ever used his inHuence in behalf of the promotion of moral proijress in the communities in which he has lived.

Charles Lewis

Cliarles Lewis, one of the leading citizens of Hickory Point township, who is successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising, was born in Warwickshire, England, on the 27th of November, 1832, a son of William and Ann (Clark) Lewis, who spent their entire lives in that country. Of their eight children those still living arc: Isaac, who still makes his home in England ; Charles, of this review ; George, a wealthy resident of England ; and Thomas, who is now li\-ing in Missouri.

Our subject's early advantages were very meager, and since the age of fourteen years he has been dependent upon his own resources for a livelihood. lie worked hard during his boyhood at various occujialions, being employed on farms a part of the time and also at brick and tile making.

Witli the hope of bettering his financial condition Mr. Lewis came to America in the fall of 1864 and spent the first winter in X'ermont. r.cfore leaving England he borrowed fifty dollars from his brother William, tlu-n li\ ing in \^ermont, to help pay his expenses to the new world. In 1865 - the year of President Lincoln's assassination - he came to Macon county, in company with his wife and four children and his brother William's wife and their four children. They made the trip west by way of P>ufl['alo, New York, and Logansport, Indiana. Through soiue mistake the}' were put on the wrong train at the latter place and taken to a station seven miles out of their waj-. As Mr. Lewis was entirely unfamiliar with this jiart of the country he was at a loss to know what to do, but a kindhearted man came to his assistance with a wagon anil conveyeil the women and children as far as the Wabash trestle work. Our subject then carried the children across and led the women to a place of safety. As he did not know at what minute a train might appear, this was an experience never to be forgotten.

Arriving in Macon county he first settled in Decatur township, where he lived in a shanty for about two years, and then removed to Hickory Point township, where he engaged in the manufacture of brick, making the brick for the house of John Hanks, a relative of President Lincoln, and receiving in exchange eleven acres of land on section 33, which forms a part of his present farm. In later years this, caused considerable trouble in his securing a title to the land. Mr. Lewis also made the first tile ever manufactured in the county and was among the first to drain the land. They brought the machinery for his tile factory from l-',nglan(l. .As the years have passed he has steadily prospered in his business affairs and is to-day the owner of a fine stock farm of three hundred and thirty-one acres of choice land in Hickory Point township. The ])asturage is good and all the grain that he raises he feeds to his stock, having two hundred and fifty head of Shropshire sheep and thirty-five head of cattle.

P.efore leaving JCngland Mr. Lewis was married in the town of Coventry to Miss Enuna Jane PiCtts, who was also a native of \\'ar\vickshirc. and died in Macon county, I Illinois, in iS^jS, lea\ing five small children. One child born to them died in Englan. The others are as follows: George, a successful farmer of .\ustin township, this county, married Sarah Kirkpatrick, and has four children, one of whom is Mrs. Nellie P.elford, who has five children; Mary Jane is the wife of John Bear, and has three children ; Fannie is the wife of Ira Parrish, of

Ilarristown townsliip, and has two children ; Charles married Kate dicker, by whom he has three children, and they live on his father's farm ; Emma is the wife of Giis Parrish, of Mount Auburn, Christian county, and they have two children. As will be seen, Mr. Lewis has fourteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

On the loth of October, 1871, Mr. Lewis was again married, his second union being with Miss Catharine Hastie, who was born in Dumfrieshire, Scotland, November 22, 1828, a daughter of Adam and Margaret (Tait) Hastie, who both died in Scotland. Mrs. Lewis is the youngest of their nine children and the only one living with tlie exception of her brother Robert, a resident of California. Another brother, William, died in this county and was buried in Boiling Springs cemetery. Hickory Point township. Emigrating to America in 1866 she came to Macon county, Illinois, with her brother-in-law, Andrew Myers, and a niece. She has been to her husband a faithful companion and helpmate and carefully reared his children. By her aid and encouragement she has materially assisted him in securing a home and competence and she certainly deserves much credit for what she has done. She takes much pleasure in her flowers which adorn the front yard and add much to the beauty and attractive appearance of the place. She presides with gracious dignity over her home, which is a comfortable brick residence, noted for its hospitality and good cheer.

Since casting his first presidential vote for Rutherford B. Hayes, Mr. Lewis has supported the Republican party and its nominees. He was reared an Episcopalian, but he and his wife now attend the First Presbyterian church of Decatur, in which she holds membership. She is an active worker in the cause of Christianity and the children were reared amid good influences. Mr. Lewis belongs to that class of men whom the world terms self-made, for coming to this country empty-handed, he has conquered all the obstacles in the path to success, and has not only secured a comfortable competence but has gained the good will and friendship of those with whom he has come in contact either in business or social life.

For a third of a century J. M. Persinger was a leading business man of Maroa, and the commercial interests of the town were well represented by him. He located here at an early day in the development of Maroa and the growth of his business kept pace with the growth of the city, the years bringing to him a large patronage, which was well merited by reason of his energy, his honorable methods and his straightforward dealings with his fellow men. When called to his final rest he left behind him an honorable record and his memory is yet cherished and revered by many who knew him.

Mr. Persinger was born in Shelby county, Ohio, in 1837, and upon the home farm was reared, early becoming familiar with the labor of field and meadow, and thus forming habits of industry. When seventeen years of age he began teaching school and followed that profession until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he became a member of the bodyguard of John C. Fremont. This company, however, was disbanded, and returning home Mr. Persinger enlisted as a member of the Ninety-ninth Ohio Infantry under Colonel Sweeny. He participated in eighteen battles, but was never wounded nor ill in the hospital. He rendered valuable service to his country as a brave and loyal soldier and on being mustered out he returned to Sidney, Ohio. He then again engaged in teaching school for a year or two.

In 1866 Mr. i'crsinger was united in marriage to .Miss Sarah Beck, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Beck, the former a farmer of Montgomery county, Ohio. She acquired her education in the Centerville Academy and in the Lebanon College of Ohio. The year following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Persinger removed to Maroa, becoming early settlers of this place, and with the business history of the town Mr. Persinger became closely identified. He formed a partnership with J. C. Beatty and opened a harness and saddlery store. The new firm prospered and in 1878 they purchased the hardware stock of Hartman Brothers. In the same year S. M. .\dams purchased the hardware and implement store of John H. Crocker, and the stock of both houses was consolidated and the business continued under the name of Persinger, .Vdams & Company, a relation that was maintained until 1882, when Mr. .Vdams withdrew and the firm of Beatty & Persinger became the owners of both stores. This .arrangement was continued until January, 1885, when the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Beatty taking the harness and saddlery business, while .Mr. Persinger retained the hardware stock. He was then alone until 1889 and in the meantime he extended the field of his trade operations by adding a stock of furniture in 1886. Three years later he admitted T. P. Miller to a partnership in the business and the firm became Persinger & Miller, a relation that was maintained milil March, 1893. when Mr. Miller withdrew, Mr. Persinger continuing alone in the conduct of his large store. In 1894 he added an undertaking department and in May, 1900, he sold his hardware and furniture stock to J. M. Rammel & Company. He then retired, after thirty-three years of active business life in Maroa. Not a business man of the city at that time was connected with the trade interests of Maroa as long as Mr. Persinger, and he always maintained a place in the front rank as a leading, progressive and reliable merchant. He was never known to take advantage of his fellow men in any transaction, content to realize a fair profit antl valuing his own self-respect and the regard of his fellow men more than wealth or position. He sold his business for seventy-five liundred dollars in cash, thus receiving a merited reward for his life of industry and enterprise.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Persinger was born one son, Rolland E., whose birth occurred in 1870. He acquired his early education in -Maroa and later attended the University of Illinois for one year. He afterward spent a year in Grant University of Tennessee and tlicn became a student in the college at Bioomington, this state. On putting aside his text books he returned to his home in Maroa and was engaged in the hardware business with his father until 1895, when he accepted the position of secretary to the Crocker Elevator Company, which position he is now filling and the success of the business is attributed in no small degree to his efforts. The companj- operates six different elevators in Macon county and handles a large amount of grain raised in this locality. In public affairs Rolland Persinger is also prominent. He was elected city clerk in 1897 and mayor of Maroa in 1899, and his official service was satisfactory to the general public and reflected credit upon his own loyal citizenship. Socially he is connected with the Masons, belonging to the lodge of Maroa. He is likewise a member of the I'enevolent Protective Order of Elks at Clinton. His political support is given the Republican party and he is widely and favorably known in business, political and fraternal circles in this part of Illinois.

Mr. Persinger held membership with the Grand .Army of the Republic, being connected with the post in Maroa. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, to which his wife also belongs, and in his po- litical affiliations he was a Republican, as was his father and is his son. Matters of citizenship relating to the public welfare elicited liis attention and his co-operation was many times given to movements for the general good. lie guided his Hfe by honorable principles and was well worthy the confidence and regard so uniformly tendered him. He died October 17, 1900, and thus one more name was dropped from the roll of Maroa's citizens who had long been active in her public and business life, but while he has passed away the work which he accomplished lives after him, and his name is honored and his memory cherished by those among whom he had long lived and labored, exemplifying in his life a high type of American manhood. His widow, now living in Maroa, owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Macon county and a business block in Maroa, which is now occupied by a grocery and restaurant. After her husband's" death the old home was sold and a handsome home erected in Maroa, where she and her son are still living.

George B. Spitler

George B. Spitler, one of the leading business men of Mount Zion, has shown in his successful career that he has the ability to plan wisel}^ and execute with energy, a combination which, when possessed by men of any walk of life, never fails to effect notable results. For twenty years he has made his home in Mount Zion and his name is inseparably connected with its business interests.

Mr. Spitler was born on the 14th of April, 1854, in Lura)^ Virginia, of which state his parents, Wesley and Ann (Varner) Spitler, were also natives. His paternal grandfather, Abram Spitler, was a life-long resident of the Old Dominion and was of German descent, and his maternal errandfather, David Varner, was also a native of \'irginia. The father was born in 181 1 and throughout the years of his active business life engaged in farming and surveying. On leaving his native state in 1833 he removed to Jasper county, Indiana, where he has spent the greater part of his life, but is now living in Effingham county, Illinois. His wife died in 187S at the age of sixty-nine years. Ten children were born to them, but five died in infancy, those still living being Sallie, wife of J. M. Lecrone, a resident of EffinghaiVi county, Illinois ; Molly, wife of George W. Shull, of Montrose, Illinois; Abram, who makes his home in Mattoon, Illinois; and George B., the youngest of the family. David died in January, 1891.

The house in which our subject first saw the light of day was built of log and weatherboarded. It is still in a good state of preservation and has been the home of some of the Spitler family for at least two hundred years, being now owned and occupied by Jacob Spitler. Our subject received his early education in the country schools near his boyhood home and when young learned telegraphy, acting in the capacity of operator and agent for the Vandalia Railroad sj'stem for some time. He was in the train despatcher's office at Terre Haute, Indiana, for two years, and on leaving the employ of that company he entered the service of the Illinois Midland Railroad as train despatcher, which position he held for two years. In the meantime the office was removed from Paris, Illinois, to Decatur, where he remained a year and a half.

In the spring of 1883 Mr. Spitler bought a stock of goods in partnership with William Conn and opened a general store in Mount Zion, but at the end of a year he purchased Mr. Conn's interest and has since carried on the business alone. He has enlarged his store and increased his stock until he now has a first-class establishment. For sixteen vears he was also interested in the grain business and in 1895 bnik the elevator at .Mount Zion now owned and conducted by W. S. Smith, selling out five years later. Mr. Spitler was the originator of the Mount Zion Telephone Company, whicli he carried on as organized until June, 1903, when he bought the Moultrie county line and consolidated the two. The latter had been established in 1896. The new system now extends from Sullivan to Decatur, connecting Mount Zion, Dalton City and Lake City, and it. has phones in most of the farm houses along the route, three hundred being now in operation. Mr. Spitler has also been identified with other business enterprises which have met with marked success. In 1900 he became a third owner in the Mount Zion Nursery with E. R. Hurlbert and W. B. Hunter, which business has steadily prospered from the beginning. He has extensive farming interests in Mount Zion township and makes his home on section 10, just a short distance east of the^ village of Mount Zion.

On January 18, 1892, Mr. Spitler was united in marriage to Miss Ida P). Smith, a daughter of George A. and Martha (Wilson) Smith, who were natives of Macon county, Illinois, their parents being from Tennessee. She was making her home in Mount Zion at the time of her marriage. In his political views Mr. Spitler is a stalwart Democrat and for some time he served as chairman of the central committee of Mount Zion township, but the greater part of his time and attention is devoted to his business interests. Since his arrival in Mount Zion he has been an important factor in its advancement and prosperity. The man who establishes on a firm basis ami conducts large and paying enterprises docs more for a city than he who gives large sums of money for its embellishment, for the fnrnicr furnishes tlic means of livelihood to many and promotes commercial activity, which is essential to the welfare of any community. .Mr. Sjiitler is

Dwtght V. Lewis

The mercantile history of Decatur would be incomplete without mention of Dwight F. Lewis, who for a quarter of a century was connected with commercial interests here and throughout that period he sustained a most enviable reputation, having the trust of the public to a high degree. A native of Hartford, Connecticut, he was born on the l6th of July, 1829, a son of Charles and Melissa (^Dodge) Lewis, both of whom were natives of Connecticut, where the father was engaged in carding wool and in the dyeing business for many years. He afterward came to the Mississippi valley and resided in Decatur until his death, while his wife also passed away in this city. There is but one of their children now living here, H. B. Lewis, who is a retired grocery merchant, residing on College street.

To the public school system of his native state Dwight F. Lewis was indebted for the educational privileges he enjoyed, but his opportunities were somewhat limited. However, in later years, he became a wellinformed man, adding continually to his knowledge b}' reading, observation and experience, lie was married in Herkimer county. New York, to Miss Mary Jane Grove, of Onondaga county, that state. She was born January 10, 1832, a daughter of .Adam and ICliza (Hoag) Grove. The father was a tailor by trade and both he and his wife spent their entire lives in the Empire state. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were born three children : Charles H., who now holds the position of freight agent in Decatur in connection with the \\'abash Railroad Com- ])an}- ; George T., who is also a clerk in the

Wabash freight office, and resides with his mother ; and William H., who occupies a similar position and who married Miss Laura Ryder, their home being on Marietta street, in this city.

At the time of his marriage Mr. Lewis came to the west, believing that he might have better business opportunities to gain a good living for himself and his bride in this district of the country, which was then not so thickly settled as the older portions of the east. Its rapid growth, however, furnished excellent business openings and he resolved to try his fortune in Illinois. Accordingly he settled in Rockford, where he worked at the carpenter's trade for a few -months, and then came to Decatur in 1856. The embryo city bore little resemblance to - the Decatur of the present day. There were many evidences of frontier life still existing here and the town was small but its future seemed bright and Mr. Lewis identified his interests with the business affairs of the city. He worked at the carpenter's trade for four years and then with the capital he had acquired through his own energy and economy he established a grocery store on Broadway. After remaining there for a few years he removed to the corner of Cerro Gordo and Alorgan streets, where he conducted his store for a quarter of a century. In that time Mr. Lewis became very widely known in business circles of the city and was honored and respected by all, not alone on account of the excellent success which he achieved, but also because of the straightforward business policy he ever followed. He was energetic, j)rompt and notably reliable in all his trade transactions, never making an engagement that he did not fill nor incurring an obligation that he did not discharge. One of his friends remarked: "Everybody knew Dwight Lewis and liked him." This is certainly an indication of a splendid character - one that commanded the respect and good will of all.

Mrs. Lewis resides in a beautiful home at No. 450 North Morgan street. She is a member of the Episcopal church of Decatur and is a lady whose friends are many. In his political views Mr. Lewis was a Republican of unfaltering faith in the party and its principles. He died April 26, 1900, and a feeling of deepest regret spread about the city when the news of his demise was received. In everything pertaining to the upbuilding of Decatur he took an active part and was a liberal contributor to the enterprises which insured its progress. He was a self-made man in the fullest sense of that oft misused term, his prosperity in life being due to his 'industry and integrity. His life was a living illustration of what ability, energy and force of character can accomplish, and it is to such men that the west owes its prosperity, its rapid progress and its advancement.

Airs. Margaret Ann Freeman

Among the old and honored citizens of Macon county must be numbered Mrs. JMargaret Ann Freeman, who is one of the few remaining '' snowbirds," a name given to those who arrived here before the great snow of 1830-31. She has, therefore, witnessed almost the entire development and improvement of this section of the state and can relate many interesting incidents of pioneer days when this was a wild region largely covered with ponds and sloughs.

Mrs. Freeman was born on the loth of May, 1822, in Montgomery county, Virginia, a few miles west of the Blue Ridge mountains, and one of the most pleasant recollections of her childhood is that of the beautiful forest covered mountain range lying to the southeast. Her parents were Abraham and Barbara Allen (Alaury) Sheppard, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Pennsylvania. The father was born on the 4lh of July, 1776 - the natal day of this great republic - and was a son of John Shcppard, who came to this country from England in colonial days. After the Revolutionary war, .Mrs. Freeman's father located near Newburg in Montgomery county, Virginia, where he rented a farm of a large landowner, and in connection with its operation he conducted a distillery, in this way using all the grain raised upon his place. With the aid of his sons, who were half-brothers of Mrs. Freeman, he hauled the finished product, together with cured pork fattened at the distillery, to Lynchburg, a distance of over one hundred miles, that being the nearest available market. For his second wife Mr. Sheppard married Barbara Allen Maury, a daughter of John and Christina (Sprinkel) Maury. Her grandfather Maury, was a school teacher by profession. In September, 1830, they started west, accompanied by the smaller children of the family and a few of I\Irs. Freeman's grown half-brothers. The mother and the younger children rode in an old-fashioned carryall, a wagon being the conveyance for the remainder of the party. They were many days upon the road but finally arrived in Decatur, Illinois, on the loth of October. It was impossible to find a house to live in as the few log buildings then on the site of Decatur were then all occupied, so the family went into camp upon some open ground adjoining the courthouse, it being the present site of the St. Nicholas Hotel. There they remained until the weather became very cold and they were compelled to look for better quarters. Mr. Sheppard then rented a house on the Smallwood farm near the present city limits on the north but as the former tenant could not move out for a few weeks, they found temporary shelter in a blacksmith shop, which was fitted up for their accommodation. By his first marriage .\braham Sheppard had five sons and three daughters, namely: James, born February 9, 1796; William, born March 28, 1799; Mrs. Mary Manlcy, born December i, 1801 ; John, born October 25, 1803; Stephen R., who was born January II, 1806", and was first married in Montgomery county, Virginia, January 10, 1825, to a Miss Snuffer, and second in Macon county, Illinois, January 17, 1833, to Mary Hawks ; Letitia, who was born April 24, 1808, and died in Virginia ; Russel, who was born yVugust 16, 1810, and was married in Macon county in 1832 to Sarah Manley, but died on the 24th of June, 1839; and Rhoda, who was born December 28, 1813, and was married in Macon county to Albert Lemons. FIcr death occurred September 27, 1836. Five children were born unto Abraham and Barbara Allen (Maury) Sheppard, as follows: Henry Allen, born November 6, 1817, died in Montgomery county, Virginia, June 20, 1824; Margaret Ann, now Mrs. Freeman, is the next in order of birth; Elizabeth Jane, born July 3, 1824, married John Spangler, of Macon county; Leurany, born March 28, 1827, married Freeman Jones and died August 6, 1901, while visiting her sister, Mrs. Freeman, and she left several children, one of whom is Mrs. Houchin, a resident of Jefferson City, Missouri ; and Rachel E., born May 19, 1829, married John Hull, of Logan county, Illinois, and later went to Kansas, where she died in May, 1902. Her children now live near Sabetha, that state.

Amid pioneer surroundings, Mrs. Freeman grew to womanhood and on the nth of October, 1838, she gave her hand in marriage to James Milor, of Ohio, the cerenionv being performed by Elijah Freeman, a justice of the peace, who lived on a farm adjoining that of her father, about three miles east of Lincoln's log cabin in Harristown township, and who was the father of her second husband, James Freeman. Mr. Milor look up government land a mile or two north of Harristowii and partially improved the place but unfortunately became ill and died in 1845 before it was proved up and it went back to the government. By that union three children were born: William Marion Milor, born August 30, 1839, married a ;\Iiss Dunlap and in 1876 went to Kansas. He had three sons, Franklin, Elmer and William. Saline Jane Milor, born December 11, 1841, was married January 2, 1862, to Horatio J. Eyman and spent her life on a farm about two miles southeast of Warrensburg, where she died March 24, 1896. ^Ir. Ej'man was born July 21, 1825. and died December 16, 1882. Their children were as follows : Lillie May, born December 9, 1862, died January 7, 1873 ; Charles W., born July 11, 1865, was killed in a planing mill in Decatur, November 5, 1893; Minnie Ann, born October 11, 1867, was married April 22, 1891, to Edwin F. Boss, of Petoskey, ^Michigan, where they now reside, and they have one child, L. Cecil, born November 17, 1892 ; John A., born August 7, 1869, now a furniture dealer and undertaker of Argenta, Illinois, was married November 22, 1900, to Anna B. Reynolds, of that place, and they have one child, Nefifa, born Januarj^ 22, 1902; James M., born September 11, 1871, was married December 17, 1901, to Cora Culp and lives on the old home farm, which he owns ; Arthur M., born October 8. 1873, died September 18, 1874; Sarah Margaret, born August 31, 1875, was married May 31, 1903, to Dr. F. B. Baker, of Chicago, where they reside ; Samuel, born December 25, 1878, died on the same day ; and Harry Horatio, born February 7, 1883, is with his brother, John \., in Argenta. John McHenry Milor, the youngest child by Afrs. Freeman's first marriage, was born March 11, 1843, ^"<^1 was married June 13, 1875, to Eliza Cathey, at Greenville, Michigan, where he was engaged in the nurser}' business for several years and later in merchandising. In .\pril,

1879, he removed his stock of goods to Petoskey, Michigan, and conducted the first exclusive shoe store at that place. He also carried on a general store up to the time of his death except for a few years when engaged in the manufacture of woodenware. He died October 15, 1899, leaving two children : Carroll, who was born in Greenville, Michigan, August 28, 1876; and Winnie E., born in Petoskey, October 17, 1879. They now reside with their mother in the latter city.

Left a widow at the age of twenty-three years with three small children depending upon her, Mrs. Freeman had to fight the battle of existence in a frontier covmtry with the wolves howling nightly in the forest not far from her log cabin home. She was again married on the 4th of July, 1847, her second union being with James Freeman, shortly after his return from the Mexican war, in which he had served as a private in Company C, Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He enlisted on the 27th of August, 1846, and was discharged on account of illness at New Orleans, May 25, 1847, before the expiration of his term of enlistment. The first lieutenant of his company was Richard Oglesby, who afterward became so distinguished and beloved by the people of Illinois. The regiment saw some severe service in the campaign under General Taylor and in the march to the City of ^Mexico. A relic much treasured by the children of Mrs. Freeman is a letter from Tampico, Mexico, written by James Freeman to the 3'oung widow, Margaret Milor, proposing marriage. This was written on his learning of the death of her first husband. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Freeman lived on a farm southwest of Decatur, about three miles east of the Lincoln log cabin, until his death, which occurred on the 6th of .\pril, i860.

April 7. 1848, was married June 25, 1876, to L. E. Mackey, now a resident of Indianapolis, Indiana, and their children are Margaret May, who married John McClintock and has one child, Laveta Evans ; and William Allen, who married Elizabeth Hoaglin and has one child, Herman Evans. Susan Lavena, born February 7, 1850, died August 30, 1859. Joel Seth, born March 28, 1852, was named for Captain Joel S. Post, who was second lieutenant in Mr. Freeman's company in the Mexican war. Matilda Ann, born March 15, 1854, is the wife of William Minson, living east of Decatur, and their children are Claud, Roy, Jessie, George, Otis and Ruth. The last named is now deceased. James Douglas, born .Vpril 12, 1856, entered the retail shoe business at Petoskey, Michigan, in 1882, and continued in the same until 1893, when he accepted a posilittn as traveling salesman for a wholesale shoe house, with headquarters at Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was married October 26, 1882, to Ida M. Boss, and they have three children : Lowell C, who was born October 25, 1884, and is now a promising student of architecture and civil engineering; Homer D., who was born March 16, 1889, and died January 27, 1890; and Bessie AT., born July 18, 1891. Rosclla, born April 3, 1859, was married November 2, 1881, to F. B. Ritchie, a dealer in im])lements and coal in Warreiisburg, Illinois, and they had two children, Litta, born Februar)^ 22, 1888, and Vilas Lamar, born February 23, 1891, who died in infancy. Racliel Emeline, born January 11, 1861, died in December of the same year.

For the past twenty years Mrs. Freeman has lived with her daughter Mrs. Ritchie at a pleasant home in Warrensburg, where she dispenses a cordial old-fashioned hospitality to ever}- visitor. She is remarkably vigorous for one of her years, her faculties of sight and hearing are still keen, and being very active she still takes enjoyment in performing llu- lighter household tasks. Her memory is good and she delights in telling many interesting reminiscences of pioneer days. One of these is a tale of apparent danger but with a rather ludicrous ending. One dark night her grandfather, John Sheppard, who was then living near the Blue Ridge mountains, was aroused by a terrific noise near the river and concluded it was a 1)and of marauding Indians, who were then quite hostile. Believing that they would attempt to kill the entire family the grandmother hastened to arouse her children and prepare for flight, but on going out to learn the cause of the noise her husband found, to his great relief, that the disturbance was caused by two colored women who were at the river washing clothes in the old way and who, becoming involved in a quarrel, had fallen to belaboring each other with the heavy wooden paddles used to beat the garments on the rocks. Mrs. Freeman has been a life-long member of the Christian church, first attending meetings in Illinois in the old courthouse at Decatur soon after the arrival of the family in this county. She is beloved by all who know her and has a wide circle of friends and acquaintances throughout this section of the state where she has so lonsjf resided.

John P. Parker

JOHN P. PARKER. John P. Parker, a prominent citizen of Maroa, now retired from active business cares, was born in Preble county, Ohio, in 1853, and is a son of James S. and Rachel Parker, of whom extended mention is made in the sketch of James H. Parker, on another page of this volume. Our subject was only eighteen months old when brought by his parents to Illinois, and he is indebted to the schools of this state for the educational privileges he enjoyed during his boyhood and youth. Until twenty years of age he remained under the parental roof, giving his father the benefit of his labors in the operation of the home farm. Later he engaged in farming on his own account for ten years and is still the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of valuable and well-improved land in Maroa township and eighty acres in Blue Mound township, besides a nice house and lot in the village of ^laroa, where he now lives. While on the farm he gave considerable attention to the raising of cattle and horses and had a fine herd of registered shorthorns. He continued to handle fancy horses for five or six years after coming to Maroa, and as a stockdealer he met with excellent success, being a good judge of all kinds of farm animals. He has traded to a considerable extent in western lands and has placed good inprovements on all the land which he owns, in this way materially advancing the interests of the localities where he owns property. He seems to have inherited much of the business ability of his father, who was a very successful man and who, during that first twenty-one years of his residence in Macon county, bought and paid for twentyone hundred acres of land. For the past few years our subject has been living a retired life in Maroa, having already acquired a sufficient competence to enable him to lay aside all business cares.

Mr. Parker was married in 1875 to IMiss Hannah E. Gray, who was born and reared in Maroa township, a daughter of John N. Gray. Two children blessed this union: Elzina, who died at the age of one year; and James G., now twelve years of age. The parents are both active and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Parker is also connected with the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias and Order of the Eastern Star. He is a Republican in politics and served as road commissioner one term. He is extremely benevolent, being noted for his kindness and liberality to the poor, and no worthy one has ever sought his aid in vain. Especially has he given his assistance to young men just making a start in life, having aided a number in this way. His life has been manly, his actions sincere, his manner unafifected, and his example is well worthy of emulation.

William S. Garver

William S. Garver, who is conducting business at No. 222 and 224 East Wabash avenue, Decatur, under his own name, is well known in commercial circles in this city. He is yet a young man, but has already attained success that many an older man might well envy. He was born in Humboldt, Kansas, on the 6th of February, 1870, and is a son of Samuel H. aad Sarah J. (Magee) Garver. The Garver family was established in America at an early period in the colonization of this country, the first of the name in the new world being Jacob Gerber, who came from Europe. His descendants were John, Samuel; Nancy, Christian and Jacob F. Among his children, Jacob F. is the direct ancestor of the subject of this review, the grandfather of the Carvers who settled near Decatur, Illinois. The descendants of the original ancestors became residents of Washington county, Ataryland ; of Lancaster, Franklin and Dauphin counties, Pennsylvania ; and of different parts of Ohio. The name has undergone many changes in spelling as the family has thus become separated. Those in Pennsylvania have generally spelled the name as does the subject of this review, while the branches of the family in Maryland and Ohio use the spelling of Garver, Gerber, Garber and even Carver is found. To-day representatives of the name are found in nearly all the states and territories of the Union.

nois branch of the family, removed from Lancaster to Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and died in 1841. Jacob Carver, the grandfather of our subject, was married in 1820 in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, to Susan Hisey, and, removing westward, took up his abode near the city of Decatur, Illinois, in the year 1838. There he resided continuously until 1S71, when he went to Humboldt, Kansas, where his wife died in 1878, leaving ten children. Jacob Garver passed away in Macon county, Illinois, in 1888 at the age of eighty-nine years. Their children were C. H., Nancy, J. H., Barbara, -Mary, D. II., S. 11., Susan, D. H. and A. II. After the death of his first wife Jacob Garver was again married, his second union being with Christina Servin, whom he wedded in 1881.

Samuel H. Garver, the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, and after arriving at years of maturity was married in 1856 to Miss Sarah J. Magee, a daughter of John Magee, who came to Macon county, Illinois, from Ohio, in the year 1829. Mrs. Magee was born in Ohio and by her marriage she became the mother of ten children, eight of whom are now living, as follows : J. U., who is superintendent of the pumping station on the Sandwich Islands; Ellen, who is the wife of Samuel Quigley, of Jennings, Louisiana ; Samantha, who is the wife of Louis Moomey, of Decatur; Amelia the wife of James Huff, of Hammond, Illinois; William S., of this review; Frank, who is living on the old homestead farm in Macon county; Theodore, who is a member of the regular army in the United States Cavalrj^ and has entered upon his second term of three years, being now stationed in the Philippines; and two, who died in childhood. The parents are now residents of Jennings, Louisiana.

and here he was reared on the home farm, acquiring his education in the common schools. Entering upon his business career he engaged first in the grain, feed and grocery business at No. 620 East Eldorado street, in Decatur, during the years 1894 and 1895. In 1897 he opened a place at No. 1036 North Water street and in 1900 he came to his present location at Nos. 222 and 224 East Wabash avenue, Decatur, where he is buying and selling grain and feed and doing a custom grinding business. He is a man of energy and enterprise and is prospering in his work. Mr. Garver belongs to Celestial Lodge, No. 186, I. O. O. F. He is one of the young business men of the city and in trade circles as well as in social life he has gained many friends.

Charles C. H. Cowen

To the real estate and insurance business the subject of this sketch is now devoting his attention, and is regarded as one of the most energetic and reliable business men of Warrensburg. His life has been mainly passed in Illinois, his birth having occurred in Magnolia, Putnam county, this state, June 24, 1861, and he was named for his father's preceptor. Dr. Charles C. Ilildreth, of Zanesville, Ohio. His father. Dr. Jesse .M. Cowen, was a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, and a son of Robert Cowen. Our subject's great-grandfather, who also bore the name of Robert Cowen, was of Scotch-Irish descent and was one of three brothers who came to this country from Ireland at an early day. Robert Cowen, Jr., made farming his life occupation. Fle married Miss Martha Miller, who was a lifelong resident of the Buckeye state and lived 10 be nearly ninety years of age.

Past And Present Of Aiacon Col'Xty

gree came In illiiu)is, making the journey by boat down the Ohio and up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers to Henry, Illinois, and thence across the country to Magnolia, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession until 1869 with the exception of the three years he spent in the army during the trying days of the Rebellion. In the fall of 1862 he enlisted as surgeon in the Seventy-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which left Peoria under the command of Colonel Greer. The regiment was first with the Army of the West and later with the Army of the Potomac. Before entering the service Dr. Cowen was married at Hennepin in i860 to Miss Amelia Ann Dent, a native of Putnam county, Illinois, a daughter of George and Comfort Dent, who were from Virginia. Her father became quite an extensive farmer of this state. Mrs. Cowen was one of two daughters in a large family, the oldest son being Thomas Ijams Dent, a prominent lawyer of Chicago. She was a distant relative of Mrs. Julia (Dent) Grant, the wife of General U. S. Grant. She was educated at the Rock River Seminary in INIount Morris, Illinois, and was a lady of culture and refinement, as well as a devout and earnest Christian worker in the INIethodist Episcopal church. In 1869 Dr. Cowen and his wife removed to Hennepin, Illinois, which was the old historic French trading post in the west and is to-day one of the quaint old towns of the state, being without railroad, telegraph or other connection with the outside world, although it was formerly, during steamboat days, one of the busy towns of the state. Mrs. Cowen died there of rheumatism of the heart when only thirty-six years of age, leaving many friends as well as relatives to mourn her loss. Our subject at that time was only fourteen and his brother Robert M. was twelve. The latter is now married and living in Peoria. He had six children but the oldest is now deceased. Dr. Cowen was the only son in a family of several children. He long survived his wife, dying at Hennepin of apoplexy in September, 1890, at the age of fifty-six years. Both were laid to rest in the Hennepin cemetery. For many years he was leader of the choir and chorister in the Jilethodist Episcopal churches of Magnolia and Hennepin and was also leader of musical clubs in both towns. 1 le was a man highly honored and esteemed by all who knew him on account of his many sterling traits of character.

Charles C. H. Cowen's early education was hmited to the common branches taught in the public schools of Hennepin but. a solid foundation for knowledge acquired in subsequent years was laid bj' his parents at home. Until eleven years of age he assisted in the work of the farm during the summer months, while during the winter season he attended school. During the early '80s he entered the employ of Ed White, who was serving as postmaster at Bureau Junction, Illinois, and was engaged in business as a general merchant and grain dealer. fie remained there four years, during which time the business passed into other hands. The following year was spent at Peoria in the wholesale dry goods house of Day Brothers & Company, and he was next employed in a dry goods house in Chicago for one year. For two years he was engaged in railroad claim work for the ^Missouri Pacific Railroad Company at St. Louis, Missouri, and for the Santa Fe, at Galveston, Texas, and at the end of that time came to Warrensburg, Illinois, where he resumed merchandising with his former employer, Ed White. The business being sold to D. C. Myers in 1896, Mr. Cowen has since been engaged in the insurance and real estate business on his own account.

On the 17th of August, 1893, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Cowen and Miss Millie Pearce Batchelder, a daughter of John J. and Alary F. (Thorndike) Batchel- der. Her oleiiientary education was acquircil in the district school near her childhood home and she afterward attended the Decatur high school, where she was graduated in 1889. Later she was graduated at Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, which was then under the presidency of Dr. Bateman, who had formerly served as state superintendent of public instruction. In 1891 and 1892 she taught in the Ryerson school of Chicago, after having cadetted in the Ogden school on the north side of that city. By her marriage she has become the mother of two children : Joy Batchelder, born January 9, i80; and Nira Elizabeth, born April 22, 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Cowen are both members of mini Congregational church, located on land set apart for church purposes on her father's farm, and she is also a charter member of Concordia Club, which is a literar}- and musical organization formed in 1899. Our subject and his wife are very popular socially and have a large circle of friends and acquaintances in the community where thev now make their home.

John Wheeler Brown

JOHN WHEELER BROWN. For many years J. Wheeler Brown was connected with agricultural interests in Christian county, Illinois, but in more recent years has devoted his time and energies to the banking business, which he is now following in Blue Mound. He was born near North Stonington, Connecticut, September 17, 1838. His father, John Denison i3rown, was born in North Stonington, March 23. 1809, and was the oldest son of John and Sally (Denison) Brown. His ancestry, however, can be traced back to Lad}^ .Anne Bordell, a member of the English nobility. After arriving at years of maturity the father of our subject was joined in wedlock to ^lary Ann Wheeler, who was the third in a familv of twelve children born unto

Peres and Desire (Wheeler) Wheeler. The mother of our subject traces her ancestry back for thirty-five generations, through Godfrey I, Henry II, Lambert III, Lady (ieoberga, wife of Lambert of Lorain I, Charles, duke of Lorain, Louis II, King of France, Charles III, King of France, Louis H, King of France, Charles II, King of France, Louis I, King of France, to Emperor Charlemagne, born in 742 A. D. The Wheelers were also connected with the Grant family, of whom General LI. S. Grant was the most illustrious member, and both the Grant and Wheeler families were represented in the Revolutionar)^ war. At an early period in the development of Christian county, Illinois, John Dcnisnn P.rown located there with his family, and in 1839 secured a tract of land on which he developed a good farm, making there a comfortable home for his family. When thirtytwo years of age he united with the Baptist church at Stonington, Christian county, Illinois, and seven years later was chosen one of its deacons, in which capacity he acted for over thirty years, and though seventy years of age at the time of his death, he was active to the last in anything that concerned the church and its welfare. Both the father and mother of our subject have passed away.

J. Wheeler Brown received but limited educational privilfeges, attending school for only about three months in each year. His first teacher was the late Judge Wilham Hammer, who died but a few years ago, and under whose instruction he pursued his preliminary studies in the winter of 1S43-4. His best mental training, however, was received from his father, who was himself a well educated man, taking an active interest in educational affairs, and who, in connection with Judge William S. Frink, of Taylorville, was instrumental in securing the services of two of the most prominent teachers that ever came to the west - Miss

Buraham, who taught in Sloiiington, and Miss Holland, who taught in Taylorville, both from Governor Slade's school in Massachusetts. When not engaged in the duties of the school-room Mr. Brown worked in the fields and meadows and early became familiar with the experiences that fell to the lot of farmer boys in the west in those days.

On the 30th of September, 1862, he was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca T. Catherwood, a daughter of Joseph and Lydia Catherwood, and one of a family of ten children, four of the number, Catherine, Joseph, Allen and Mrs. Brown are now deceased; the others being John, William T., Mrs. Eliza J. Bonnel, J. Steele, Lydia A. and Mrs. Emma Powell. Mrs. Brown removed with her parents to Guernsey county, Ohio, in 1846, and there her father died. The family afterward went to Shelby county, Illinois, in 1857, and in 1859 took up their abode near Old Stonington, Christian county, Illinois. On the 30th of September, 1862, Rebecca Catherwood gave her hand in marriage to J. Wheeler Brown, and for twenty-eight years she resided with him upon the old home farm.

Mr. Brown continued to reside on the old homestead which had been purchased by his father in 1839, until September, 1890, when he removed with his family to Normal, Illinois, there remaining for nearly two years. On the ist of August, 1892, he went to Moweaqua, and in connection with William Miller, now of Decatur, Illinois, and the late Hon. D. P. Keller, he established the Commercial Bank under the firm style of Miller, Brown & Keller. This institution opened its doors for business on the 2d of December, 1892, and Mr. Brown remained in Moweaqua until the ist of May, 1896, when he came to Blue Mound, having in connection with Ralph Ayers purchased the bank of J. M. Brownback. About the 1st of May, 1900, Mr. Brown purchased his partner's interest and in turn sold him his uwn interest in the Commercial Bank at Moweaqua. He then transferred one-third of the Blue Mound bank to his son, John A. Brown, and the present firm of J. W. Brown & Company was established. They are now conducting a good banking business, having a large patronage and enjoying in high degree the confidence of the public.

Alter the removal to Blue Mound Mr. Brown was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 2d of October, 1896, and was laid to rest in the old Stonington cemetery. Her mother, Mrs. Lydia Catherwood, died in Taylorville in the spring of 1897, at the very advanced age of ninety-three years. She was noted for her strong religious character and her upright life. In the fall of 1867 Mrs. Brown was converted and immediately united with the "Nebraska Schoolhouse Class," which at that time was an auxiliary of the Methodist Episcopal church at Moweaqua. In 1890 she transferred her membership to the church in Normal, and after the removal of the family to Moweaqua she joined the ]\Iethodist church in that place, remaining a consistent member there until her death. She took great pleasure in aiding in the work of the churches to which she and her husband belonged, being especially active in the Ladies* Missionary Society, and as long as health permitted she faithfully attended the church and worshiped at all its services. She was a devoted and loving wife and mother and her loss was very deeply felt, not only by her immediate family, but by many friends throughout the county. Unto ]\Ir. and Mrs. Brown were born four children : John Arthur, who is now the junior member of the banking firm of J. W. Brown & Company, of Blue Mound ; Mary A., now Mrs. J.. Riley Anderson, and the mother of ten children; Grace L., wife of O. E. Briggs; and S. Agnes, at home with her father.

held nor sought no office save township positions. W'liilc Hving upon his farm he was called upon by his fellow townsmen to serve in a numb'er of local offices and was supervisor, overseer and justice of the peace. Fe was also school airector for seventeen years. In May, 1845, lie became one of the scholars in the Sunday-school organized at Old Stonington - the first Sunday-school formed in Christian count)-, Illinois. In November, 1850, he united with the Baptist church at that place and has held membership therewith continually since. Fraternally he is a Master Mason, belonging to Blue Mound Lodge, No. 682, F. & A. M. In his business life he has prospered. For long years he followed farming, and in connection with his banking and property interests in Blue Mound ho still owns six hundred acres of land in Prairieton township. Christian county, a part of which is included within the old homestead, which came into his father's possession in 1839. He was only about a year old when the family came to Illinois, and in this state he has spent his remaining days, always living in this portion of the state. He is, therefore, well known to its citizens and his life history has been such as to win for him the regard and confidence of his fellow men.

Robert N. Baker

ROBERT N. BAKER. Robert N. Baker was a life long resident of Macon county and spent many years in Decatur, where he became widely known as a citizen of worth and one of business enterprise and integrity. He was born on a farm near Antioch in Macon county on the loth of September, 1834, and was a son of James and Arrahnah (Hodge) Baker, both of whom were natives of Tennessee. In an early day they came to Macon county and established their home upon a farm near Antioch, first living in a log cabin after the primitive manner of the times, but later building a more comfortable and modern residence. The father continued to engage In farming on the old family homestead near Antioch throughout his remaining days, but he died in the prime of life, passing away when about forty years of age. For a number of years thereafter his widow resided on the old home farm and then removed to the village of Mount Zion, where she made her home with her daughter for a few years. Afterward she came to the city of Decatur, where she continued to reside until called to her final rest in 1896. There were but two children in the family, the daughter being Sarah Ann, the wife of James Gregory, of Lovington, Macon county.

Robert N.Baker, who was the older, began his education in the common schools near his native place and acquired a good practical knowledge of the English branches of learning. He was reared upon the old home farm and after he had attained his majority he engaged in farming on his own account near his father's homestead for a few years, but later he sold his property and came to Decatur. After his marriage he was employed as express messenger by both the American and Pacific Express Companies, but finally secured a position with the latter which enabled him to remain at home. Previous to this time his services had called him upon the road. He continued with the express company until his death and was one of its most faithful and trusted employes. In his work he was systematic and methodical, prompt and reliable and he enjoyed the confidence of all with whom he came in contact.

In the city of Decatur Mr. Baker was united in marriage to Miss Sylvira M. Matthews, a native of Fayette county, Indiana, and a daughter of Gerard and Sarah (Cooper) Matthews, who were natives of Baltimore, Alaryland, whence they removed to the west, settling in Fayette county.

Indiana. There the father was engaged in farming for thirteen years, after which he took up his abode in Springfield, lllin(_)is, where he spent one winter. C_)n the e.xpiration of that period he settled on a farm- in Sangamon county, this state, making it his home for several years and then came to IMacon county, purchasing a farm in Blue iMound township, on which he continued to reside up to the tiiue of his death. His attention and energies were devoted to general farming and to the raising, buying and shipping of stock and his business affairs were capably managed. He died at the age of forty-eight years, in the prime of life, and his wife passed away when fortyseven years of age. They were the parents of five children, who are now living, namely : Mrs. Baker; John, a retired farmer residing in Decatur; Mrs. J. C. Bell, a resident of Springfield, Illinois; Mary J., whose home is in Nebraska: and Mrs. S. M. Trump, who resides in Indiana. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Baker was born one son, Lewis G., who married Emma Wagner, and resides in Decatur. He is now express messenger for the Pacific Express Company, his route being between Decatur and Moberly. He also has one child, Gladys, aged eleven years.

Mr. Baker Avas a citizen of prominence, active in public affairs and several times was solicited to become a candidate for public office, although his aspirations were not in that direction. He served as city marshal of Decatur for one year and was urged to become a candidate for sherifif of Macon county, but declined the nomination. In his political views he was a Republican and took a deep interest in politics, believing firmly in the principles of the party and doing everything in his power to secure their adoption. He held membership in the Masonic Lodge at Decatur and belonged to the First Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is also a member.

His life was honorable, his actions kindly and sincere and the salient traits of his character were such as won for him the regard and good will of all with whom he vvas associated. He passed away April i, 1899, but his memory is still cherished and revered by those who knew him. Mrs. Baker now owns and occupies a nice residence at No. 404 West Decatur street, which was built by her husband. She is an estimable lady and has many friends in this city.

George Faith

This well known and progressive citizen of mini township, who is now so successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 11, was born in Cumberland county, Maryland, on the 26th of January, 1863, and is a son of Joseph and Catherine (Hasine) Faith. His paternal great-grandfather was born in Alsace-Loraine, Germany, though it then formed a part of France, and he was of French descent, while his wife was born in Amsterdam, Holland, and was of Dutch ancestry. Our subject's father was born in Baltimore, Maryland, April 25, 1823, and in early manhood he married Miss Catherine Hasine, a native of the same state, whose birth occurred on the 5th of March, 1826. For some years he worked at the machinist's trade in Cumberland, .Maryland, but finally selling his property in the east he came to Illinois in the spring of 1871 and settled on a farm west of Warrensburg in Macon county, his time being devoted to agricultural pursuits until his retirement from active labor. He and his wife are now living in Decatur and they have the respect and esteem of all who know them. More extended mention is made of them in the sketch of Charles H. Faith, on another page of this volume.- binh in a family of fourteen cliildren. nine of whom came witli tlie parents to Illinois. Our subject completed his education in the schools of Warrensburg, and on laying aside his text books at the age of nineteen years he devoted his entire time to farming, giving his father the benefit of his labors until twenty-two years of age, when he went to Stanton, Kansas, and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of government land. After constructing a dugout, in which to live, and a sod barn, he began to break and improvehis land and planted a number of trees. Selling out in iSgq. he returned to Illinois, and entered the employ of C. J. Off. of Peoria, training race horses. Two years later we again find him in Warrensburg and he is now successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising on his own account, feeding over one htmdred and thirty hogs and a large number of cattle for market. He has a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres in .\ustin township and carries on his worlv in a most approved manner.

On the 26th of February, 1890, Mr. Faith married Miss Alice Schroll, of Warrensburg, the only child of D. L. and Alice (Watkins) Schroll. Her father is a veteran of the Civil war and endured all the hardships of army life while assisting the government in her efforts to preserve the Union. Mrs. Faith was educated in the district schools of Macon county and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Warrensburg. The children born to our subject and his wife are David Franklin, whose birth occurred August 21, 1891 ; and Edna Joy. born October 11, 1893. Politically Mr. Faith is independent, and socially is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and Good Templars. In this county where he has so long made his home he is widely and favorably known, and wherever he has lived he has made many friends for he is ])leasant and courteous in manner.

Peter Betzer

Peter P)etzcr, who was one of the old and prominent citizens of Macon county, took up his abode in this part of the state in 1856, and up to the time of his death remained a valued citizen of the community, interested in all that pertained to the general welfare and active in support of many measures for the public good. He was a native of Cliillicothe, Ross county, Ohio, born on the 17th of January, 1820. His parents were William and (Mc- Ilarvey) Betzer, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, whence they removed to Ross county, Ohio, at an early period in the development of that portion of the Buckeye state. There the father engaged in farming until his death, and the mother also passed away there.

Mr. Betzer was educated in the common schools of his native county and in early life learned the plasterer's trade, which he followed in Ohio for a number of years. While still making his home in the state of his nativity he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Bunn, also a native of Ross county, Ohio, born on the 30th of September, 1823. Ilcr parents were Ezekiel and Mary (Prutzman) Bunn, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, whence they removed to Ross county, Ohio, the father becoming identified with agricultural pursuits, nis death occurred in that county, after which his widow came to Decatur and spent her last days in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Betzer, where she died at the advanced age of eighty-five years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Betzer were born four children: W. O. died October 16, 1875; Alice M. is now the wife of Dr. C. D. Camp, a practicing physician of Chicago; Margaret is the wife of Benton Blackstone, who is connected with the firm of Linn & Scruggs, of Decatur ; and Frank C. married Florence Ellis and they have three children; Frank

After his marriage Mr. Betzer settled upon a farm in Ross county, Ohio, and was engaged in its improvement and cultivation for a few years, or until 1856, when, thinking that he might have better business opportunities in the west, he came to Illinois, settling in Macon county. Here he purchased a tract of land in Hickory Point township and resided thereon for eleven years, devoting his energies to general farming with good success. Then on account of impaired health he sold his property and in 1867 took up his abode in Decatur, purchasing a residence on North street, after which he lived a retired life until called to his final home. He died on the 17th of January, 1876, which was the fifty-sixth anniversary of his birth.

In public affairs he had been prominent and active and he served as assessor of his township in Macon count)' for one year and as township collector for two years. His political allegiance was given to Democracy and his religious faith was indicated by his membership in the German Reformed church of Ross county, Ohio. The Betzer family became prominent in Macon county and ]\Tr. Betzer was widely and favorably known, the sterling traits of his character winning him the friendship and favor of many with whom he came in contact. His business career was attended with prosperity, owing to the capable conduct of his affairs, his laudable ambition and his indefatigable industry. Mrs. Betzer, who still survives her husband, owns a nice brick residence at No. 406 West ]\Iacon street, where she is living with her son and his family. She also has other property on North street, in Decatur, and thus is comfortab'v situated in life.

Harry L. Holiday

HARRY L. HOLIDAY. Harrj' L. Holiday, who is a traveling salesman of Decatur, was born in Fairfield, Iowa, December 8, i860, and is a son of John P. and Frances A. (Wright) Holiday. The father was of Scotch ancestry and was a native of Xenia, Ohio, while the mother, who was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, was of Irish lineage. When only nine years of age John Holiday was left an orphan but in connection with his three sisters he maintained the old family home until all had reached adult age. By trade Mr. Holiday became a carpenter and followed that pursuit throughout his active business career. About 1840 he came to Macon county, journeying by stage from Indiana to Mount Zion. He then forded the river on . horseback and continued on his way until he reached Decatur, arriving here before any railroad was built in the county. He was thus one of its pioneer settlers and he took an active and helpful part in the work of progress and improvement. A number of years later he removed to Fairfield, Iowa, where the subject of this review was born. He had been married before coming to the west and eight children graced the union, of whom one died in infancy. The others are as follows : J. W., who married Emma Davis, by whom he has four children, and is now living in Burlington, Iowa ; C. W., who married Jennie Leisk, but is now a widower; J. Frank, who wedded Sallie Delzell and is located in 2\Iorning Sun, Iowa ; James F., who wedded Mary Priest, of Decatur, and has one son ; C. D., who married Emma Christman and is living in Chicago ; Harry L., of this review; Fannie, the wife of Lyman Crosthwait of Nebraska, by whom she has three sons. In 1869 the father returned from Iowa to Macon county, Illinois, where he continued to work at his trade until his death. He assisted in the erection of many buildings in this city and did considerable contracting on his own account. He was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church and died in that faith June 26, 1897, when seventynine years of age. His widow still survives him and is now living with her son, Dr. J. W. Holida3% of Burlington, lovva, in the seventy-eighth year of her age.

Harry L. Holiday, who was the seventh in order of birth in their family, pursued his education in the schools of Decatur and after putting aside his text books learned the carriage-maker's trade, which he followed for four years. On the 24th of June, 1886, he entered the employ of the Standard Oil Company as a salesman and has since remained with that corporation, for which he is now doing special work, his duties being of an important and responsible nature. That he has the entire confidence of those wimm he represents is indicated by his long continuance in the one cmploy.

On the 27th of January, 1894, .Mr. Holiday was united in marriage to Miss Eugenia Maxfiold. a daughter of B. F. and Charlotte J. (Davis) ^laxfield. The father was a natixo of Kentucky and the mother of Illinois. C^f their three children one is now deceased and the youngest sister of .Mrs. Holiday is Ella M. Maxfield, who resides in Decatur with our subejct and his wife.

In his political affiliations Mr. Holiday is a Republican, firm in support of the principles of the party, but never an officeseeker. He has witnessed the growth and development of Decatur from a very early period. He has seen it when it was but a village and in his boyhood days he had ample opportunity to indulge his love of hunting in this locality. He yet enjoys that sport and follows it to some extent during periods of rest and recreation. In his business affairs he is methodical and during his long connection with the Standard Oil Company he has kept an accurate account of all business transactions to which he can refer on a moment's notice. In all his trade dealings he has been strictly fair and reliable and is justly regarded as a man of strong individuality and upright character and as one of the early settlers of Macon county he certainly deserves representation in this volume.

Jabez J. Combs, an honored and highly respected citizen of Macon, now living a retired life, was born in Wilkes county, North Carolina, December 7, 1824, and is a son of William and Asenath (Ellis) Combs, also natives of that state, the former born in 1802, of English ancestry, and the latter in 1800 of A\>lsh lineage. In early life the father was engaged in farming in North Carolina and from there removed to Indiana in 1833, becoming one of the pioneer settlers of that state, where he improved a farm and made it his home until his death in 1866. His wife survived him a few j'ears and died in 1872. They were married in North Carolina and became the parents of eight children, five of whom are still living, namely: Jabez J., of this review ; Niram, a farmer of Hancock county, Indiana ; ]\Iartha, who lives on the old home place in the Hoosier state; Eli, who is also living on the home farm and is unmarried ; and William, who married Bell Fauset and occupies a part of the old homestead.

The subject of this sketch was quite young when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Indiana and upon the home farm in that state he grew to manhood, his education being acquired in a log school house with slab seats, greased paper windows and an old-fashioned fireplace. The farm consists of over five hundred acres and is to-dav one of the finest and best im- proved places in that part of the state, but when the land came into posses.sion of our subject's father it was covered with a dense growth of timber and was entirely unimproved. In those early days the family had to haul their corn thirty miles to mill and were forced to endure all the hardships and privations of pioneer life.

On attaining his majority Jabez J. Combs left the parental roof and learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he worked for several years. In the meantime he was married, November 4, 1849, to Miss Sarah Whitaker, who was born December 2, 1832, a daughter of James and Susan (Cullison) ^^'hitaker. Twelve children blessed this union, namely: Judson is now proprietor of a general store at Moweaqua, Illinois; Edward r>. is a farmer of South Macon township this county; Albert is now a bookkeeper in a general store in Paunee, Nebraska, but was formerly engaged in teaching school and was principal of the schools at that place for several years; William AI. is at home with his parents ; Susan died at the age of five years; Eli S. is carrying on a lumber and coal yard at Findlay, Illinois; James A. was at one time bookkeeper in the Woodcock Bank of Macon but is now with his brother, Eli, in the lumber and coal business at Findlay ; Mary C, wife of O. S. Highley, a farmer of South Macon township ; Flora B., wife of Frank Tomlinson, a farmer of the same township; .A.da L., wife of Benjamin Armstrong, superintendent of the coal mines at Niantic, Macon county; Ethel, wife of Orin Lindley, a farmer of South Alacon township; and Sarah, wife of Robert Patterson, Jr., a dealer in horses and mules at Macon. Mr. and Mrs. Combs take a just pride in their family as none of their sons drink or have any bad habits. They also have twenty grandchildren and one greatgrandchild.

Combs tirst settled in Christian county, where he engaged in farming upon rented land for four years, and then removed to the village of Macon, which at that time contained not more than a half dozen houses. After working at his trade in that place for four years he resumed farming upon rented land in South Macon township, this county, and continued to engage in agricultural pursuits for twenty-two years. At the end of that time he sold out and returned to Macon, where he has since lived a retired life, enjoying a well earned rest. Here he owns a nice home and eight lots, the residence being surrounded by beautiful shade trees and a small orchard which furnishes its fruits in season. When Mr. Combs came to this part of the country ponds and sloughs were to be seen on every hand, there were no roads, and it looked as though this region would never be fit for habitation. There were only two houses between Macon and Mt. Auburn, and our subject has watched with interest the development of the county, at the same time aiding in its upbuilding. He has contributed liberally of his means to churches and schools and in other ways has materially advanced the interests of the community in which he has lived.

For over half a century Mr. and Mrs. Combs have traveled life's journey together as man and wife, their mutual respect and love increasing as the years have gone by. .A.S children they attended school together and through the long years that have since passed they have never had a quarrel or misunderstanding of any kind. Both are earnest members of the Baptist church of Moweaqua and their lives have been in harmony with its teachings. Politicalh' Mr. Combs is a Republican but has never cared for office, though he served as road commissioner for a few terms. He is now nearing the eightieth milestone on life's journey but is still hale and hearty for nature deals

MOSES E. BATCHELDER. There is particular satisfaction in reverting to the life history of the honored and venerable gentleman whose name initiates this review, since his mind bears impress of the early historical annals of the country and from the fact that he is a worth)- representative of a very old and patriotic family. Me was born on the uth of July, 1823, in Hampton I-"alls, Rockingham county. New Hampshire, of which state his parents, Moses and Abigail (Drake) Batchelder, were also natives. On the paternal side he traces his ancestry back to Rev. Stephen Batchelder, who was born in iMigland in 1 561, and came to America in 1632. Ho was an Episcopalian minister and was ejected from his vicarage because of his religious views. He brought with him to this country his grandson. Nathaniel Batchelder, Jr., who -founded the old homestead at Hampton Falls, New Flampshire, in 1638. The latter's fourth child was Josiah Batchelder, whose youngest son was David, the grandfather of onr subject. David Batchelder wedded Mary I'.mery, who was personally ac(|uainte(l with the nurse of Hannah Dustin, who was captured by a northern tribe of Indians. Mrs. P.atchelder was familiar with all the circumstances leading U[> to this capture. At night Mrs. Dustin and her nurse would be placed on rugs of skins ;ind the Indians wijuld lie all around them with thOir feet upon the women, .\fter several days spent in captivity the Indians got drunk on some rum they had secured and in the night Mrs. Dustin and the nurse quietly got up and killed the seven red men while they slept. They thus macLe their escape, and on her return home Mrs. Dustin found that her husband had erected a new house on the site of the one burned when she was taken prisoner. Our subject well remembers his grandmother telling this and other wonderful tales of early New England life. She was born in 1741 and died in 1834. Three of her brothers were soldiers in the Revolutionary war and endured all the hardships of army life at that time. On one occasion one of her brothers was granted a twenty-four hour leave of absence and returned home. Being in rags his mother asked him if her other sons were in the same condition, and wdien told that they were she went to a cupboard, got a pair of sheep shears and told her youngest son to go to the barn and shear some sheep and bring the fleece to the house. She thcK sent for a shoemaker and with his assistance and that of three women she made three full suits of clothes, including stockings and shoes, all from raw material, before the twenty-four hours expired, which was no easy undertaking in those days, when all sewing had to be done by hand, not to say anything of the carding, spinning and weaving. All of her sons survived the war. Moses E. Batchelder was educated in the school at Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, where he attended during the winter months until seventeen years of age, while he worked on the home farm during the summer. .\fter leaving school he engaged in general farming and also assisted in carrying on a lumber business in the east. C)n the 22d of January, 1832. he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. L. Batchelder, a daughter of Colonel Nathaniel Batchelder, of Pittsfield, New Hampshire. .She was born in March, 1822, and was educated in Pittsfield. Five children blessed this union : Fred Janness, who married l^^lizabcth J. Jones, and lives in lUini townslii]) ; .\athaniel Cary and Frank Drake, both at home with their parents ; Edward L., who is engaged in farming south of W'arrcnsburg,

It was in 1864 that Mr. Batchelder brought his family to Illinois and purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 19, lllini township, Macon county, paying for the same thirty dollars per acre. In 1867 he bought another one hundred and sixty acre tract for ten dollars per acre and to the cultivation and improvement of his land he has since devoted his attention with marked success. He has also raised considerable stock and has found that branch of his business quite profitable.

Since his earliest years Air. Batchelder has always taken a great interest in political affairs and well remembers the campaign cries of "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too," and "Old Tipp's the boy that swings the flail and makes the Locos all turn pale." He also remembers when Jackson was first elected president in 1828. At that time men would work from fourteen to fifteen hours and would only earn fifty cents per day. Mr. Batchelder cast his first vote for the Whig candidate of 1844, and since the organization of the Republican party has been one of its stanch supporters. He served as school director a good many years and has always aided in promoting any enterprise calculated to advance the educational, moral and social welfare of his community. He and his wife are to-day the only charter members of the Congregational church of lllini township now living in the township, and they are people highly respected and esteemed by all who know them.

Walter Pope

and honored him. He was an active factor in business life in Decatur for long years and was one of the early settlers of the county, dating his residence here from 1856. Mr. Pope was born in County Waterford, Ireland, on the 19th of November, 1835, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Pope, were also natives of that county and there spent their entire lives. The son acquired a common school education on the Emerald Isle and remained a resident of his native land until about twenty-one years of age, when, thinking to benefit his financial conditions in the new world he crossed the Atlantic to America. He had heard favorable reports concerning the business opportunities of this countrj^ and he resolved that he w'ould make his home here. He first settled in Quebec, but only remained there for a short time, after which he came direct to the city of Decatur, where his remaining days were passed. He began work here as a common laborer and a few years later he purchased a horse and dray and began teaming. This was the extent of iiis outfit for several years and then when his financial resources had increased he purchased -more horses and drays until he controlled and operated nearly the entire drayage system of Decatur. He continued in the transfer business until October, 1894, receiving a very lil)eral patronage, whereby a large sum of money was annually returned to him in compensation for his services. At length failing health obliged him to put aside the arduous duties of a business career and for several months he lay ill at his home and then death came and on the 2ist of July, 1893, he passed away.

Mr. Pope was married in Decatur in 1864 to Miss Margaret Turner, also a native of Ireland, and a daughter of James and :Mary Turner, who were likewise born on the Emerald Isle, where her father, a brick-layer by trade, was connected with the building interests for a number of years. In 1850, accompanied by his family, he bade adieu to friends and native land and sailed for the new world, taking up his abode in New Orleans, but the climate did not seem to agree with hinr and because of his ill health he started to return lo Irehuul. He died, however, ere reaching his destination. His widow went back to Ireland in later years and there spent her last days.

JMr. and Mrs. Pope never had any children of their own. They were very congenial and companionable, however, and theirs was a happy married life. Mr. Pope never sought or held office, preferring to give his time and energies to his business affairs and the enjoyments of social life. He \-oted with the Democratic party, believing firmly in its principles and desiring its success. In his business afifairs he was very successful and became a prominent citizen of Decatur, widely known and honored because of his fidelity lo strict business ethics and his just and honorable dealing at all times. Mrs. Pope is now the owner of much valuable property in the eastern part of the city, including her residence at No. 702 East Wood street, also three other houses and lots on the same street, a house and lot on East Williams street and another on East Jackson street. .She is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic church and like him she shares in the high regard of many friends.

There are in every comnumity men of great force of character and exceptional ability, who by reason of their capacity for leadcrshi]) become recognized as foremost citizens and take an active and prominent part in the affairs of the locality with which they are connected. Such a man is 'David E. Brett, who is serving as supervisor of Hickory T'oint township.

May 1859, on the old homestead on seclion 35, Hickory Point township, where he now resides. His father, David J>rett, was born in Prince William county, Virginia, on the 2 1 St of December, 1817, and was a son of Richard A. and Margaret (Lee) Brett. Tire grandfather was also a native of the C)ld Dominion and of English descent. In his family were fifteen children, all of whom grew to man and womanhood.

The father of our subject attended a subscription school conducted in an' old log cabin, and the knowledge there accjuired was greall\- supplemented in later years by reading and observation, which made him a well informed man. He remained under the parental roof until coming west and after the death of his father took charge of the old homestead in Virginia. It was in 1835 that he arrived in Macon county, Illinois, and after spending two years on a rented farm in Decatur township, he removed to Hickory Point township, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land from the go\ernment, paying one dollar and a quarter per acre. In 1848 he purchased the farm on section 35 where our subject now resides and look up his residence thereon in 1852, making it his home throughout the remainder of his life. In 1847 '^c was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth P. Wheeler, and to whom were born five children: Annie M.; Richard, who is engaged in farming on sectic)n 4, Hickory Point township; Frances, wife of John Christie, of the same township ; Edward, who died when about one year old ; and David E., of this review. 'J'he mother died on the 7th of October, 1864, in the faith of the Christian church, of which she was a faithful and consistent member. The father was a Baptist and in ])olitics was a stanch Republican. 11 r fdled the offices of school director and school trustee but never cared for political preferment. After a useful and well spent life died on the old homestead December

Mr. Brett, whose name introduces this sketch, gave his father the benefit of his labors upon the home farm during his minority, and for a year and a half after his marriage he remained there. In the spring of 1885 he removed to Maroa township, but in 1896 returned to the old homestead on section 35, Hickory Point township, where he is now living. He has set out a young orchard and made a number of other improvements to the place.

On the 8th of November, 1883, Mr. Brett was united in marriage to ]\Iiss Addie S. Rife, a daughter of Joseph and Rosanna (Campbell) Rife, both natives of Pennsylvania. The mother was born in Adams county, that state, and followed teaching in early life. Mrs. Brett's ancestors were among the earliest settlers of Macon county, her paternal grandfather having located here in 1832. His father was of German and his mother of English descent. In the family were three children, namely : Jacob; Joseph, the father of Mrs. Brett; and Elizabeth, wife of Andrew Trimmer, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. The father of these children was a charter member of Boiling Springs church, which he helped to organize, and to which he was a most liberal contributor. In business affairs he met with success and he not only left a comfortable competence but also the priceless heritage of an untarnished name. His word was considered as good as his bond and he was honored and respected by all who knew him. In early life Joseph Rife accompanied his father on his removal to this state and he was married in Decatur to Miss Rosanna Campbell. They spent their married life on his father's old homestead where their son, Frank, now resides. Mr. Rife died May 23, 1892, and his wife passed away on the 21st of December, 1886. They were the parents of eight children, namely; Mrs. Mary Carruthers, now a resident of Wichita, Kansas ; Mrs. Minnie Moore, of Niantic, Illinois; Addie S., wife of our subject; Mrs. Cora Willard, of Johnson City, Illinois ; Frank, who is single and lives at Bearsdale ; James B. : Elizabeth A. ; and Harry L., deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Brett have three children: Edna E., David Franklin and Harry Richard.

Since attaining his majority Mr. Brett has affiliated with the Republican party and has taken quite an active and influential part in political affairs. Since 1896 he has served continuously as a director of the Mound school and is now president of the board. He was elected townsship collector, and so acceptably did he fill the office that he was re-elected the following year, and in the spring of 1903, he was chosen to the office of supervisor. His official duties have always been most capably and satisfactorily discharged, and he has done all within his power to promote the interests of his township and county.

JACOB \V. BARTH. Among the representatives of real estate and insurance business in Decatur is Jacob W. Barth, who has here resided since i8q2. He was born in Newark, Ohio, on the 7th of April, i860, and is a son of Michael and .\nna Maria (Dittus) Barth. The father was a native of Stuttgart, German}-, and in 1832 came to America, locating first in Ohio. At the time of the Civil war he responded to the call of his adopted country for aid and served for eleven months as a private in the Union army. He joined the Seventy-sixth Ohio \'olunteer regiment, was assigned to Company E and remained with that command until receiving an honorable discharge on account of physical disability. He afterward removed to Illinois, settling in Macon county in 1868. He purchased a farm in Friends