Zanesville Township

Zanesville Township

Tins township is undulating in part and level in part. It is drained by tributaries of the west fork of Shoal creek and Macoupin creek. Robert Palmer is supposed to have been the first settler within the limits of this township, at bast we find it recorded that he had established an inn near the site of Old Zanesville as early as 1824. Tradition speaks of Robert Palmer as an all around hard character. Many robberies having been com mil led in his locality, suspicion soon attached to him. His tavern was stopping place for a gang of thieves and gamblers and soon became noted in this western country as a dangerous place for one to stop who had money. It was no uncommon thing in an early <la\ for the traveler to disappear to be heard of no more ami doubtless Palmer and his gang were quite as notorious as the Benders, who operated some years ago along the Kansas frontier. Palmer, finding that he was under suspicion, disappeared rather mysteriously. Later, it is reported, that he was hanged afterward for complicity in a brutal murder in the state of Iowa. Conditions were -ueh in the immediate neighborhood of the Palmer tavern that few permanent settlements were made while he remained in that section. We find that in 1828 George Brewer entered the land on which the village of Old Zanesville was located and that he laid out a part of his land in town Lots. Be secured the Location of a postoffiee at this place and called it Leesburg in honor of a wholesale merchant in St. Louis, in whose name the laud was entered. Mr. Brewer built a commodious store building and piil in a stock of general merchandise. Other parties were attracted 1>\ the opportunities which seemed to present themselves in the been accessions to the town and surrounding community thai warranted the organization of a school and the building of a place of worship. So rapidly did this frontier burg improve that in 1835 it lacked but few in population of being as large as Hillsboro. While this settlement at Leesburg; was being made, several pioneers had entered the southwest corner of the township and had made a settlement there. Among those wliose names have been kept were Isaac Bailey, James Crawford. Thomas and Zebedee Williams. Somewhat later Robert Allen settled near them and following Mr. Allen was Beatty Burk, George Burroughs, D. V. Schumway and Oliver Chastme. About 1840 a settlement was made near the head waters of Shoal creek and among these we find Walker Williams. Elgin Smith, Jefferson Parrott and Moses Martin. Another party settled in close proximity to the village of Leesburg. Among those are Joseph Vignos, Dr. (aldwell and Spence Smitherman. Dr. Caldwell was one of the earliest physicians of this section and at last accounts, the doctor was living in retirement at the village of Waggoner. The writer remembers him as a resident, of the old village of Zanesville, about twelve years ago. The doctor was very entertaining and enjoyed reciting the experiences of pioneer times. Spence Smitherman was engaged in farming and stock-raising. He took especial pride in breeding a class of traveling horses and some of the Inst roadsters that were sold from this county went from the Smitherman farm. He also operated a flouring mill in the village of Old Zanesville (formerly called Leesburg). The Jacksonville and Vandalia stage-coach lines passed through Leesburg and the state road leading from Carlinville to Taylorville intersected the old Vandalia road at this place. In 1838 Edward Crawford erected the first horse mill in the township. This primitive concern was operated almost day and night to supply the settlements adjacent with bread stuff. In 1869 a company consisting of Messrs. Sharp, Johnson ami Berry erected and equipped the Zanesville flouring mill. It is reported that i he first cosi of this mill was sixteen thousand dollars. At its completion it was the largest ami nio>t complete null in Montgomery county, having a capacity of one hundred barrels of flour per day. For three or four years this mill did an extensive business and paid large dividend to its owners, but m ls;:i. when the financial crash came and a panic seized the people, this enterprise, like many others, became seriously involved. Sharp and Berry, who had become sole owners, disposed of the mill to Spence Smitherman and Clark Sinclaire, who for reasons best known to themselves, never attempted to operate it. At the first election held in this precinct which, al that time, 1835, included the entire northwest part of the county. George Brewer and .lames Crawford were elected justices of the peace Stephen Crawford, son of James Crawford, horn in 1831, on the night of the 13th of November, was the first child horn in the township. It is recorded that the great metoric shower, known as the falling stars, occurred on this date. Certainly James Crawford, tin' pioneer, would ha\ icasion to reinber the event. The first school teacher was recorded. The schools of this township were not different from those in other earl] settlements in the county. Usually some vacated cabin was appropriated and made to serve as a school room. In other cases we find that the settlers came together at some point near the center of the settlement and built a log cabin for school purposes. In many instances these rude structures were not provided with other than a dirt floor and a log sawed out of the easl or south side served as a window to admit light. At the west or north was built a large open tire place with a stick chimney daubed with mud. ami in these primitive academies our fathers and mothers, the sons and daughters of the pioneers of Montgomery county learned to read, to cipher and to write. Elder James Street, id' Clear Spring settlement, preached at the residence of Jacob Baker as early as L830. and a Baptist organization was effected in that neighborhood soon after. Other denominations have bad their organizations, have built ejnirehes and each in its time lias flourished, but the building up of surrounding villages and towns along our railroads has interfered ut\ seriously with the maintenance of church organization in rural communities and Zanesville township is no1 an exception to these conditions. While we do not desire to bar the progress or stay the immutable law of change, yet to travel throughout the country districts in any part of our state, the decay of the rural church is so noticeable as to bring a feeling of sadness over one whose early life knew only the sacredness of the country church. To-day these tenantless houses standing so near the burial places of our fathers keep silent watch as they crumble into decay over the last resting place of our pioneer dead. If there is aughi that can stay the mad rush of the present generation in its scramble for wealth, it might be for each to walk alone through the deserted graveyards which may be found in many parts of the country where slabs of marble, green with lichens that almost obliterate the letters carved on the face, tells in few words the name of the worthy dead who lies beneath. To reflect upon the end of the struggle which has no purpose higher than dollars might well afford to listen to the teachings that come from those silent graves. Tn 1869 the village of Zanesville had four large general stores, one grocery, three blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, two hotels, one cooper shop and two saloons. The latter always a eurso to any people. Three physicians hung out their signs in this busy little burg, George Mayfield. J. W. Wheeler and G. W. Caldwell. Dr. Mayfield was among the earlier physicians of the town. In an altercation with a man by the name of Hardy, Mayfield was killed. Tn the trial it was proven that Mayfield was the aggressor and Hardy was acquitted on the ground nf self-defense. Another record of murder belongs to Zanesville township. Tn 1853 Andrew Nash, in a drunken brawl, killed Peter Lookerman. Nash, escaping from the country, was afterward apprehended in Arkansas, brought hack and placed in jail at Carlinville. lie was tried ami condemned to he hung. Ih- friends circulated a petition to he presented to the governor to have his sentence commuted to life imprisonment, fearing that the governor might grant the petition, a mob of Lockerman's friends appeared before the jail in Carlinville at night and so frightened Nash that he committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell. Among those who are to-day foremost in the affairs of Zanesville township are George W. .Martin, who owns a wry line farm ii the southeastern part of the township. 0. K. Rummons, who lives in the neighborhood of Old Zanesville. and Oscar B. Cane, his neighbor, a iv both farmers who contribute to the progressive spirit of the community. R. A. Barnett, who lives in tin1 southwestern part of the township, has also been a leading character in his immediate section. Among those, whose names were familiar a few years ago. was Dan P. Rogers, Perry Martin, .lames Duff. Joseph Vignos, Spenee Smitherman and many others whose accounts are closed but whose works are living still. At present there is no postoffiee within the limits of the township unless it be at Barnett, where a portion of the village lies within Zanesville. Three railroads, the Wabash, crossing the southeast corner, the Illinois Central, dividing the township almost into two parts from north to south, and the Burlington, which touches the southwest comer, have proven of but little immediate value to Zanesville township, as no station of importance has been located therein.

of the Wabash Railroad. This township is somewhat diversified in the character of its soil and with reference to its surface. The «r-i fork of Shoal creek, with it.- tributaries, flow through this township in its western half. Therefore we liml the hill section of Raymond township in its western part. The northern ami eastern part, comprising the larger division of the township, consists of a deep rich black soil. It ranks as one of the most fertile and productive townships in the county. Land values in this township in the black soil sections have doubled within the last ten years, or, in other words, advancing from ti ft v dollars |irr aciv in 3:894 to one hundred dollars per acre in L904. Men of money who do in>t care to enter the maelstrom of speculation find that under existing conditions these lands return an income of five per cent annually on an investment nf one hundred dollars per acre. The certainty of an income and the security of the investment places these lands as valuable and as secure an investment as government bonds. To be sure men who seek to increase then- capital at least by a hundred per cent ever; two or three years are qo1 tempted to make investments in Illinois real estate. We can not hope in see an advance in farm lands within the next ten years such as has been within the period jusi past, nor could we hope should farm products decrease one-half in present average values, that lands would maintain their present prices. It was Russell Sage who said that "five per cent and no hazard are gilt edge investments." Therefore, so long as real estate will pay an average of five per cent on the investment, the careful and discreet investor will seek such holdings. The undulating lands which lie adjacent to the water courses are not so valuable as are the flat black lands. Yet, there i- a vast difference in the management of these different classes of soil. We have noticed that among our must successful farmers we End main who lane grown wealtbv on undulating land- where the soil is light gra\ or even chalk-like (post oak). The farmer on our gray lands who depends upon grain raising can not hope to grow rich, but we know quite a good many men of means who by stock-raising and fruit growing, and who have depended largely upon dairy and poultry raising to acquire considerable moneys in bank and if we were to search out the men of large means in Montgomery county to-day, the larger half by far would fall south of a middle line drawn east and west through our countv. The first permanenl settler in Raymond township was Butler Seward, who located at what has been known as Seward's Point, on the farm now owned by Samuel Miller and formerly owned by Elias .Miller. Mathew Mitchell was the next to locate and his settlement is where Fred Mondhink now resides. David Sherer purchased the improvements that had been made b) Mr. Mitchell and the latter moved to another locality, .lames Baker made a settlement at which is now known as the Oscar Seward homestead and Robert Conyer settled the farm now known as the John Cass place. Mr. Cass purchased the Conyer homestead in 1833 on which he lived until his death. Mr. Cass has many relatives and lineal descendants remaining in that section of the countv. It might be well to state that 1 find one record that claims the first settlement of Raymond township to have been made in 182? by William Wilson and that Mathew Mitchell purchased the improvements which he had made. Oscar Seward, son of Butler Seward, purchased the Baker improvements about the year is:;;,. These were located immediately south of his father's homestead at Seward's Point. Oscar Seward was a very remarkable man and the writer remembers many incidents that might be recorded to show the hospitality and generous spirit of Mr. Seward. It is related of Mr. Seward that in 1860 when Abraham Lincoln had received the nomination for presidency that Mr. Seward. in company with other leading Republican citizens of Montgomery countv. made a pilgrimage to Springfield to pay their respects to Mr. Lincoln, and that on their return Mr. Seward very generously entertained the entire company. It may not be out of place to relate a circumstance in which the writer in connection with several of bis neighbors were made the recipients of Mr. Seward's hospitality. It will be remembered that in issi (be southern part of Montgomery countv suffered a complete failure because of the drouth of that vear and the following winter. L881-82, was very open ami wet and we were compelled to haul corn from the northern part of the county over the almost impassable highways. Some half dozen of our party had returned by night fall as far as Oscar Seward's. We were invited by Mr. Seward to pass the night at his place. On the next morning, however, be refused absolutely to be rec- ompensed for our night's Lodging, saying thai he was glad to be able to do so small a favor for his friends in the smith part of the county, that some ila\ the lurk might change and we could return the favor to linn or sonic one else. Oscar Seward has been dead some years and lefl several children surviving him. These and their children do well to honor the memory of their lather and grandfather, Oscar Seward. At the Butler Seward home during the earlier period of the county, a public house known as Seward's Point was kept. It was a regular changing place for the stage coach of early times and here such men as I lunulas and Lincoln, whose renown was to cover the land, would step on then' regular visits from Springfield paid a \isit to Elias W. Miller, and on returning Mi-. Miller said: "Tonight you will occupy the room in which Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas have often slept." However, as Mi-. Miller came into the room and sat chatting with me until 2:00 o'clock in the morning, 1 was net disturbed by the shades of these ureal men in my visions nor dreams. In speaking of Elias W. Miller 1 wish to say that for power of penetration and intellectual alertness thai I have met few men who were to be considered his equal. Had Mr. Miller received educational advantages in his youth and scl led himself in the law, he would have I n a diplomat worthy to represent any cause at any court. Another character who came later upon the scene was Thomas Jefferson Scott. He resided on a farm near Mr. Miller, and on several occasions he represented his township en tile hoard of supervisors. Mr. Scott has been dead some years. 1 nit lie left surviving him his good wife and several sons and daughters. These form part of the ureal body of energetic young citizenship of the county. Edward Grimes, who owns a beautiful homestead about two miles east of the village of Raymond, is one of the most prominent citizens of thai township. M r. Grimes is very much interested in everything pertaining to farm life and work. He has 1 n a member of the state hoard of agriculture and much interested in the success of onr annual state fair. But few homes in Montgomery county are more attractive and systematically arranged than thai of Edward Grimes of Raymond. Uriah Hartwick for mam years a promienl figure in the business and political circles of Raymond, was well si rved his township several terms as a member of the hoard of supervisors, lie died very unexpectedly to his friends some two years ago, Fred Mondhink, during the period of his youth ami early manhood, was compelled to struggle hard to gain a footing in the world. For several years Fred worked by the month for Oscar Seward and later bought him a home which formed the nucleus of his present goodly estate. Fred is not only engaged in farming and stockraising, hut is an extensive feeder and shipper, lie ranks as one of the solid citizens of Raymond township. Mr. Samuel Miller, the present owner of the Elias Miller homestead, is one of the few who have engaged in the shipment of hogs and cattle to so watch the markets and time his shipments as to be able to more than "break even" in his hazardous business. Mr. Miller in his line has been very successful and to-day as a result of his watchfulness and care, enjoys a large estate. William Bowles, ex-sheriff of Montgomery county, was another of the forceful characters that belonged to the same (dass as Oscar Seward. He was a very prominent citizen of the county in bis day. being elected as sheriff at a time when the county was strongly Democratic, gives proof of his popularity among the people. Among the children which he left we may mention his son. familiarly known as "Bud" Bowles. This gentleman lias inherited the good qualities of his father and few men in his locality enjoy the confidence and esteem of their neighbors more than "Bud" Bowles. Henry Hitchings, son of John W. Hitchings, the pioneer, is another son of the soil who has acquired a competency and who may during the declining wars enjoy the fruits of his industry and frugality. His father, John W. Hitchings, was for many years one of the leading teachers of the county and few of i he men and women of middle aged life who spent their school years in that section hut remember the old school master. John Kidd, until recently a citizen of Raymond township and the villagi however, anion- the honored and well reapected Chapmans are also names familiar to the peopioneer citizens of the village. John II. Mil- pie of that township, Judge Chapman having east of Raymond, on a well apportioned farm, courthouse. Hezekiah Moore is one of the In 1892 Mr. Miller moved to the village of wealthy citizens of the village and has done Raymond ami engaged in the hardware and much to build up the various interests of the Eurniture business, lie sold hi- farming in- town. The coal mine at that place we underterests ami lias given over the control of bis stand was due to his efforts ami that be was hardware and furniture trade to his sons, Clif- among the heaviest subscribers to its stock, ford E. and George A. Hi- younger son. Lem- Mr. Moore is also one of the mainstays of the uel, is at present living in Hunnewell, Missouri, Methodist Episcopal church in Ins town, and his older son. Jesse, is a photographer in Another character that we wish to notice is (be si. Louis, Missouri. His only daughter is the "Only" John Green. This gentleman estabwife of (». A. Edwards, of Coffeen. Mr. Mil- Lished the first banking institution in the viller is anion-' the substantial men of Raymond lage ami he has been engaged in various lines township. Another well known character of of merchandising at this place, lie served his Raymond township is Dorman Crane, 'be am- county as treasurer. 1890-94, and is well known tioneer. For several years he lived with bis to almost every citizen within its limits, lie is brother Needham Crane, about two miles south- a jolly, genial fellow ami to know him mean- to east of the village of Raymond. Within the clasp him a,- a friend. 1 ». W. Star is another last few years, however. Mr. Crane has been a financial pillar of the village of Raymond and resident of Butler Grove township. Dr. Prank we understand that he is among the heavy stock- Hicks, son-in-law of Oscar Seward, was for a holders in the National Bank recently estabaumber of years a prominent physician of Kay- lished there. Mr. Star is a man who appremond. lie has retired from the practice of lnj ciates bis friends and the writer is glad to he profession and is at present engaged in looking numbered among them. alter bis farming interests. Among the busiin'-> men of Raymond we may mention Jacob Culler, Charles Sherer. Joseph Kessi n-er.

mind. Among those who deserve to he remem- Tliis township begins its history with a setbered in this article are the late William Peck (dement made in 1826 at what was known as other, who. at last accounts, was yet among formerly located m the settlement near Donthe living, but infirm ami feeble through the nellson, but two years later in company with old Revolutionary heroes who made their way years, when he sold his farm and moved to the to the western country to find homes for their village of [rving. Much of his attention has children. Joel Knight, who accompanied Mr. been given to buying and shipping stock. We Bostick to Illinois, was a Cumberland Presby- believe, however, thai Mr. Kelley has recently terian preacher, and in an early day he trav- retired from active business. His influence eled from one settlement I" another preaching oh Iho community has been for its betterment, in private homes and when the weather would and Mr. Kelley may rest secure in knowing permit, in the groves, "which were God's first that the reputation formed through the protemples." The writei well remembers tins ductive years of his life is fixed in the good saintly old man and i1 affords pleasure to re- will of his fellow men. Harvey Kelley is reflect mi the life and character of such men as garded as rather eccentric, bu1 his peculiarities the Rev. Joel Knight. In L877,a1 the close of amount to a species of genius. He has for a long life, this aged servant of our Chrisl de- some years been experimenting in the culture parted this .life. He moved out of this earthly of ginseng, and I am informed thai the extabernacle into the mansion which bis Lord bad periment has been very profitable and thai he g0ne to prepare for bun. We may forgel bis has realized severa] thousand dollars from the figure and form and hiswords alike be Los1 in sale of (Ins valuable article of commerce. John forgetfulness, bul his influence shall live on Kelley is a very successful merchanl in the vil- ;ni,l ,,n through ila' lives of the generation that [age of [rving, and Ins reputation I'm- fair dealcome after him until the end. Mark and mg has established I'm- bun a wide and desir- James Rutlidge settled in [rving township near able trade. In L830 John Christian and John the western boundary lino in 1826. James Grantham both made their appearance in Irv Rutlidge remained in Iho neighborhood until ing township - the former, a Baptist, and the

Hi,, spirit of thrifl so characteristic of the Ger- the Christian work. We do not know whal benians. John Lipe died many years ago. hot came of Rev. John Christian, hut one of his no other instance that parallels it in the bis- widow. Nancy Christian, was married later to torv of the slate, .lames Kelley settled in Harrison Brown, and by him she was the mother of several children. John C. Christian, of Coffeen, is the Eather of Arthur Christian an.l Melville Christian, both of the village of Coffeen. John Grantham died in 1842 and 1. ft three sons surviving him. These have done their part in contributing to the religious and social conditions of the community, and the Grantham family has an honored place in the annals of Montgomery county. The first mill built in living township was in 1831 and was about three and a hall' miles southwest "I' the village of Irving, on the Hillsboro road. It was erected by James Paden, who. alter operating it for eight or ten years, sold it to Ezekiel Grantham., who remodeled it and kept it in operation for many years. Many sawmills and gristmills have been operated in the village of Irving ami within the township, but only those that are matters of history will be noticed here. The first sehoolhouse erected in Irving township was in 182? and the first pedagogue was Joseph Mclntyre. Mr. Mclntyre, we are told, was an old man of seventyfive years, but that hi- muscles were like seasoned oak. and when we remember that in the schools of pioneer time the work of schoolteaching was an athletic business and required more muscle than brains, we are not surprised to find this aged Eercules the most popular teacher anywhere to he found. John Grantham was another of the earlier teachers, and this pioneer preacher made his pulpit in the Hopewell church a place for dispensing knowledge as well as spiritual blessing, for he was also the Methodist pastor of the Eopewell congregation. The firs! public school of the township was taught by William F. King in 1848- 49, and the writer remembers that it was his pleasure i" visil a school taught by Mr. King in 1890, and while an -Id man he regarded him as one of the energetic, enterprising teachers of Montgomery county. We believe that this was Mr. King's last term, for he died some two or three years thereafter. If the man or woman who, having spenl half a century in the old days the care and comfort of the state as much as they who go to battle, then public service in the schoolroom is not appreciated as it should he. In ether words, the writer wishes te he understood as favoring a service pension for wornout teachers after they have given the most productive years of their lives m school well, for it is well known that the teacher in our public schools is not sufficiently paid, that by economy and frugal living he may acquire a sufficiency to maintain him in his declining years: that the teacher who gives the best of his life in time and energj is as deserving a- the patriot who, for a few years or months, goes to the front in the defense of his country. The first church organized in the township was the Hopewell Methodist Episcopal church, in 1829. Rev. Benson and Rev. Bastian, two itinerant preachers, made this organization. A building was erected in 1830 mi Locust Fork, m the western part of the organization was moved to a place northeast of the village of Irving, about one mile, and in 1868 it was decided by the congregation to move the church into the town of Irving. The Cumberland Presbyterians, under the direction of Rev. Joel Knight, organized a society in 1830, and for many years Mr. Knight was the resident pastor. In 1866 a reorganization of the church was made, and in the following year a place of worship was built in the village of Irving. There is also a flourishing Lutheran organization in tin- township. As far back a- 1842 Daniel Trimper, a Lutheran minister, effected an organization of the Lutheran adherents in tin- section. These wen largely Germans or of German parentage who had come from North Carolina sonic years before. In 1858 the lr\ m- Lutheran church was established, with Rev. Isaac Short as firs! pastor. In 1856 the Christian church of Irvine' was organized by Elders J. G. Ward and J. M. Taulbee. A reorganization took place, however, in 1876. We may say that the moral influences of the Christian people of Irving. regardless of denomination, has been such that their little city has always maintained, a high moral standard. Irving as a village has maintained a temperance hoard through nearly all of it- history, and the years are few indeed which record the presence of saloons at that place. The first business bouse in the village of Irvine was built bv William Berry and T. G.

Black in 1846. The first dwelling was built by J. M. Taulbee, and in 1856 the town plat was made by Messrs. Huggins and Rider. Huggins and Rider sold their interests the following war to Roberi W. Davis and Madison Berry. The firsl school taught in the village was li\ a Mr. Frink, in the old Hopewell meeting bouse, which had been moved into the town. Dr. J. 11. Spears was the first physician to Locate in the village. Since that time, however, it would require a long list of name- to record the different physicians who have practiced medicine in Irving. Among those who have contributed to the progress of the township and of the village we ma\ name Isaac Lewey, J. B. Cromer, John McDavid, Milton Berry, Charles MeKinney, R. V. 1'arkhill, John Wiley. Sam Wiley. Noah Taylor. II. J. Huestis, Jacob Lyerly, George File, Marvin Thumb, Marshall Wynn, Henry Latham, Samuel Bartlett, .lames Morain and a host of others that we can not at present call to mind. Isaac Lewey was among the earlier settlers of tin township, and by industry and frugality succeeded in acquiring quite an estate. Mr. Leuc\ has been dead some few years, but his wife survives him and is living at present in the village of Irving at an advanced age. Mr. Lewey had but one son, George, who died some twenty years ago. Mrs. Jacob Bone and Mrs. I!. V. 1'arkhill. two of his daughters, reside in the village of Irving. J. B. Cromer was for many years a resident minister of the Lutheran congregation. His widow lived for some years on a farm not far from the village and his daughters were teachers in the public schools of the county. His son George ha- been located in one i.l' the western states tor quite a good many years. John McDavid, Sr., is a -on of William McDavid, the pioneer, and has been worthy the name which lie hears. John some time near the close of the war or not long thereafter. John McDavid did not settle in the immediate neighborhood of McDavid's Point, hut. made his home in the northern part of East Fork township. His first wife was a. daughter of the pioneer preacher, Joel Knight, and by her lie had several sons, among whom are William J., our present county superintendent; John T.. Jr., a grain and stockbuyer of Irving; Joel K., banker and lawyer of the city of Hillsboro; Augustus, who lives on a farm in Irving township; and Logan, who is at present engaged in hardware business in Hillsboro. Alter the death of his first wife Mr. McDavid was married to Malindy Snell, by whom he has one son, Frank, assistant cashier in the Montgomery County Loan & Trust Company Hank in Hillsboro. Mr. McDavid. at the age of eighty-two, is hale and strong for one so advanced in life. He has been one of the aggressive spirits of the time, but with that aggression has also been coupled the spirit of progress. He has acquired a very large estate, winch recently lie has shared with his sons. That his life has been a benefit to the age none may doubt, for while there has been seemingly a bent toward selfishness there has also been the moral example winch bis life has manifested to the world. Milton Berry is a descendant of Madison Berry, one of the pioneers of the county, and is esteemed as one of the most efficient business men in the village of Irving.

Socially and morally .Mr. Berry is regarded in bis home town as a model gentleman, and our acquaintance with him verifies statements of ibis kind, which we have often heard made regarding him. Charles MeKinney is another of the pushing, energetic characters that have contributed largely to the upbuilding of the business interests of I rung. Commencing a poor boy, Mr. MeKinney, at the meridian of life, has accumulated a nice little estate. He has an interesting family, in which he takes great pride. In Christian work Mr. MeKinney has been a leader since his early manhood, and with him precept has become example, ami his life may he read a- an open hook, for no one in the village of [rving doubts tin rnesi and upright Christian life of Charles B. MeKinney. lie is engaged in general merchandising and ha- established a trade lliat ought to please any village merchant. Henry Latham also contributed of his energy to the general uplift of the community. As a dealer in hardware he built up a good business, hut. desiring a wider Meld, he divided bis interest at Irving with Mr. Tony Ludewick and put in a large ill the Irving Bank, and he has extensive real estate holdings in the vicinity of Irving. Dr. I'arkliill has a wide and Lucrative practice and enjoys the reputation of being a very successful physician. His wife is a daughter of the late Isaac Lewey and by him she has inherited a considerable estate. Mrs. Parkhill is a leader in the social envies of her town. John Wiley and Sam Wiley were both early settlers in this section of the county. Sam Wiley has been dead for several years, but Uncle John Wiley is still living at the advanced age of eighty-two. H. J. Huestis, who built the first brick store building in the village in 1856, is still living and at last account was the school treasurer of I rung township. Mr. Huestis has filled this position for a greater number of years than has any other treasurer in any township in the county. Jacob Lyerly. father uf Aaron and Richard Lyerly, was also a. factor in developing the agricultural interests of this part of the county. George File, son of Jacob File, the pioneer, improved a farm east of the village of Irving about two miles. Here he raised to manhood several sons, among whom is Lawrence, a successful hardware merchant in the village, and who is a son-in-law of Rev. T. W. McDavid, of Coffeen. Marshall Wynn, for many years a very successful schoolmaster and withal a very progressive and forceful teacher, laid aside the birch and engaged in business enterprises to the financial interests of Mr. Wynn. hut 1 am compelled to say that, in an educational sense the schools of Montgomery county were much the loser. It has been a pleasure to engage with Mr. Wynn in the discussion of many pedagogic problems, and we acknowledge bis prowess in such encounters. Samuel Bartlett died several years ago. but. having been among the leading citizens of Irving through a period of many years, it is well to remember him here. Mr. Bartlett left residing in the neighborhood of Irving many descendants, and among the business men of the comity we may mention Henry Bartlett, who is the largest dealer in poultry products of any firm in this section. Daniel Stump, who lives on a farm near Irving, is one of the business characters we must not fail to notice. For several years -Mr. Stump was manager of the large estate of George W. Paisley, but recently he has held a position in ci i i nm with the Montgomery Coal Company at. Paisley. Dr. Fullerton is another citizen who deserves to he remembered in these pages, lie has quite an extensive practice and is regarded as one of the leading physicians of the county. Arthur Kine'ade, the druggist, is one of Irving's financial pillars. He is a sonin-law of the late William Brewer, and his wife was a granddaughter of the late Judge Brewer, the pioneer. Mr. Kincade is one of the large landowners of Montgomery county. He is a young man and has an opportunity to accomplish much good by the means which has come into his possession. Mr. Kincade's wife died about two years ago without issue, and with her ended the William Brewer line of the pioneer's family. A. K. Vandever, who is the present proprietor and editor of the Irving Times, will be noticed in our chapter on the Montgomery county press.