DRY POINT TOWNSHIP
(Shelby County)

DRY POINT TOWNSHIP (Shelby County)

FIRST SETTLEMENTS

LAND ENTRIES

COWDEN

HOLLIDAY

LAKEWOOD

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
DRY POINT TOWNSHIP. (SHELBY COUNTY.)

IS one of the southern tier of townships in the county; bounded on the north by Rose, east by Holland, south by Fayette county, and west by Cold Spring township. It is well drained by the Kaskaskia river, which flows through its entire length north and south, and its tributary, Richland Creek coming from the east, also by Mitchell Creek, with its tributaries, in the western part of the township. It is well timbered, in parts heavily so. The soil is rich and fertile, and is well adapted to all cerea ls raised in this latitude. The scenery presented to the eye of the observer is varied and inviting.

The early settlers located along the river and creek bottoms in the timbered country, thinking the thousands of acres of prairie lands adjacent of little value. Many of them were hunters and trappers, satisfied with a small clearing whereon to raise suffi cient corn and garden truck for home consumption. The cabins of many of these hunters were temporary affairs, scarcely affording any shelter. As the country was settled these characters left for other fields wherein to enjoy their chosen vocation. Their m emories are treasured up in many anecdotes of big hunts and narrow escapes. One of them, as related by an old citizen, is of a chase after a strange animal, which proved to be a panther; when overtaken it showed fight, and the pursuers were astonished at finding themselves out

Page 289

of powder. They broke a knife-blade off and inserted it in the end of a long pole, with which they "prodded" the animal successfully.

FIRST SETTLEMENTS.

Aside from the coming and going of these hunters, other parties, the advance guard of a genuine civilization, real home seekers, were early attracted to this township; among them Samuel Hall, who came from St. Clair county, in 1821; his sons were John, Je hu, Thomas, Samuel, and William. From the same county also came David Beck, in 1823, Charles Wakefield, in 1826, William Crocker, John Crocker, Jacob Brewer, and Elijah Bangston, ranging from 1821 to 1826. These all settled along Mitchell Creek, in the we stern part of the township. Dr. Johnson, an Indian herb doctor, practiced medicine among them as early as 1827. His favorite remedies were " Blackstrap," a syrup made of white walnut bark, and "Blue Tea," which was death on fever and "ager." It is related of the doctor that he combined much of the superstitious with his practice, claiming that some herbs, in order to possess medicinal virtues must have been collected at midnight and under certain phases of the moon. William B. Sullivan, from Tennessee, lo cated on the farm, where he yet resides, in 1831. His first post office was Vandalia, and, as he facetiously says, the second was Uncle Joe Oliver's hat. Samuel Hall was probably the first person born in the township; his parents lived on section 18 at th e time, which was in 1823. Children of the early times attended a school several miles distant, in Cold Spring township, taught by John Perryman. The earliest teaching was in the year 1830. In 1834 Elias Bissen, an Englishman, taught in the Brewer neighbo rhood, as it was called. Samuel Thompson, afterwards a presiding elder, was among the first preachers.

In the eastern part of the township, along the Kaskaskia, settlements were made at a later date; the first being by Jeremiah Banning, who came from Virginia in 1828 and settled on section 35, R. 10. The Indians had just vacated their wigwams, which were o n a lake, on what is now the Ferrell place, and taken their departure from happy hunting grounds before the approach of the pale face.

The first marriage was of James Carson to Keziah Crocker, in December, 1828, by Squire Simeon Wakefield, at what is now the Cole heirs place, on section 25, near the Boiling Spring. The mother of the bride wouldn't permit her daughter to be married at hom e, saying it was bad luck; she had had other daughters to run away and marry against her will, and now Keziah shouldn't marry there either; hence they sought the shades that sequester the Boiling Springs, where the ceremony was performed.

The first birth in this settlement was that of Mary E. Banning March 14, 1829.

C. M. Banning taught in the neighborhood of Thompson's mill, simultaneously with Elias Bissin.

William Hall was the first magistrate; Simeon Wakefield the second.

Joseph Foulkes was the first preacher. He belonged to the Methodist Church, and was universally beloved.

The first mill was built by Higgins & Thompson on the Kaskaskia, in 1843. It supplied a want long felt, as a corn and sawmill for the neighborhood. Prior to its erection, parties had a long distance to go to mill; and it is related that flies were so bad on the prairies that persons were compelled to travel to and from mill by night time. The mill was destroyed and rebuilt in 1862. A post-office, called Hart, was opened at the mill in 1860; it was kept by W. Jackson Banning.

Of the old settlers Mrs. Malinda Wakefield, who came from Tennessee, in 1826, James E. Beek, also from Tennessee, in 1825, and Wm. B. Sullivan, heretofore mentioned, are yet living in the township.

LAND ENTRIES.

Township 9, Range 3 E. -- December 13,1832, Alexander Banning, N. E. 1/4 N. E. 1/4 10, eighty acres.

December 13, 1832, Alexander Banning, S. E. 1/4 S. E. 1/4 3, forty acres.

March 14, 1833, Elias Carr, N. E. 1/4 S. E. 1/4 2, forty acres.

December 11, 1835, Clark M. Banning, S. W. 1/4 S. E 1/4 15, forty acres.

Township 10, Range 3 E -- July 9, 1821, Charles Wakefield, W. 1/2 N. W. 1/4 19, eighty acres.

July 9, 1821, Thomas Coates and others, W. 1/2 N. W. 1/4 20, eighty acres.

April 21, 1829, Nathaniel Hamilton, W. 1/2 S. W. 1/4 7, eighty acres.

Supervisors -- Wm. J. Milton, elected in 1860, re-elected in 1861, 1862 and 1863; William Neil, elected in 1864; J. S. Roberts, elected in 1865; William J. Milton, elected in 1866; S. Severns, elected in 1867; J. S. Roberts, elected in 1868 ; W. A. Carlis le, elected in 1869; B. A. Virden, elected in 1870; L. G. Torrence, elected in 1871; J. S. Roberts, elected in 1872, re-elected in 1873; L. G. Torrence, elected in 1874; G. W. Cleveland, elected in 1875, re-elected in 1876 and 1877 ; W. A. Carlisle, elect ed in 1878, reelected in 1879; T. Warren, elected in 1880, and is the present incumbent.

COWDEN.

THIS is the largest village in the township. It is located on the southeast quarter of Sec. 4, Tp. 9, R. 3, and was surveyed and platted by John Maguire, April 15, 1872, under direction of H. M. Cowden, for whom the prospective city was named. Its early growth was fraught with great promise, and in 1873 the Fowler and Hudson addition of twenty acres was made; then the Cleveland and Zeigler addition in 1874, of forty acres. The members of the first board of trustees were: G. W. Cleveland, chairman; E. C. Zeigler, M. D. Carlisle, Henry Ledbetter. W. W. Nance and Chas. Kelly; James F. Williams, clerk. The present officers are: James Mara, chairman; D. H. Devor, C. C. Fry, N. T. Pinckney, W. H. Burrow and C. E. Zeigler, with Geo. H. Cowden, clerk.

During the year 1875 the town made quite a vigorous growth, and improvement was the prevailing order. During that year three neat church edifices were erected, respectively by the Christians, the United Brethren and Southern Methodists and Methodist Episc opal Church.

The First Dry Goods Merchant was C. E Zeigler, in 1872.

Societies. -- Lodge No. 706, A. F. of A. M., was instituted October 8, 1873, with L. H. Williams, W. M; S. W. Torrence, Sec.; T. Inman, S. W.; J. T. Jones, J. W.; L. G. Torrence, Sec.; N. P. Pickney, Treas.

Present officers, S. Cosart, W. M.; Wm. Burrow, S. W.; R. R. Jones J. W.; L. G. Torrence, Sec.; James Mara, Treas.

Lodge No. 548 I. O. O. F. known as Okaw Lodge was instituted Oct. 14, 1874, with the following charter members: C. Burrows, Perry Daniels, David Sandford, C. E. Ziegler, H. L. Walston and J. E. Brown.

First officers: C. E. Zeigler, N. G; C. Burrows, V. G.; D. Sandford, Sec; Perry Daniels, Treas.

Present Officers: C. Smith, F. G.; N. J. Christy, V. G.; M. A. Cox, Sec.; James Mara, Treas.

Okaw Lodge 162, A. O. U. W. was chartered Feb. 22, 1850. L.

Page 290

H. Williams, P. M. W.; Wm. Groves, M. W.; S. Cosart, G. F. Chas. B. Harwood, 0.; Geo. Corley, Recorder; Wm. L. Haydon, F.; John Wonas, Receiver.

The present business houses are:

Dry Goods. -- C. E. Zeigler, Fremont Frazee, S. P. Powers.

Grocers. -- Wm. Gross, J. H. Cristy, T. C. Headen,

Restaurant. -- H. J. Conrad.

Hardware. -- A. Fuehring.

Blacksmith. -- Wm. Clark & Son, Pinkley & Rinehart.

Wagon Makers. -- Wm. Chatam, Jno. Merryman.

Butchers. -- A. M. Stitt, John I. Fraley.

Shoemakers. -- C. C. Fry, J. N. Horn & Co., Wm. Schnitzke.

Milliners. -- Mrs. C. Comstock, Mrs. N. J. Woodward & Sister.

Physicians. -- M. D. Carlisle, S. T. McDermith, John Hohn, John Kendle.

Hotel. -- Wm. Rasor & Sons.

Grist and Saw Mill. -- Lockhart & Pollard.

Grain Dealers. -- Wm. Brownback & Co, Frazee & Hudson, W. Dunaway.

Stock Dealer. -- Geo. Fraley.

Station Agent. -- Victor Robson.

Postmaster. -- S. Severns.

American Express Agent. -- C. E.Zeigler.

HOLLIDAY.

THIS village lies chiefly in Fayette county. It is on the O. & M. R. W., 2 1/2 miles south-east from Cowden, and that part lying in this township is on section 14, R. 9. It like Cowden and Lakewood is an outgrowth of the O. & M. R. R. to which they trace their origin. Its business houses are:

Groceries. -- A. J. Higgenbotham.

Dry Goods. -- R. Jennings, J. F. Landrum,

Drugs. -- E. A. Shelton

Spoke Factory. -- E. Umble.

Saw and Grist Mill. -- Thos. Holliday.

Station and Express Ag't and P. M. -- E. A. Shelton.

LAKEWOOD.

IS A village located on sections 7 and 8, R. 10, 5 1/2 miles north-west from Cowden on the O. & M. R. R. Its business houses are:

Dry Goods and Groceries. -- C. Frizzell, D. M. McLaughlin.

Blacksmith. -- Benjamin Brazle.

Physician. -- Walsher.

The O. & M. R. R. enters this township on the western side of sec. 6 and extends entirely across it in a southeasterly course making its exit at Holliday at the south-west corner of sec. 13, thus furnishing the township by its three stations an excellent outlet for produce.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

TILFORD WARREN.

AMONG the representative men and old settlers of Shelby county is he whose name heads this sketch. He is a native of Illinois, and was born in Madison county, May 1st, 1829. The family is descended from English ancestors on the paternal side, and a mixture of German and Scotch on the maternal. Jacob Warren, the grandfather, was a resident of North Carolina. His son, Hardy Warren, was born in that state, and moved to Tennessee, then to Kentucky, and about 1810 came to the then territory of Illinois, and settled in what has since been known as Madison county, at Troy, about ten miles from Edwardsville, He remained there until 1852, when be came to Shelby county, and sojourned here until 1857, when he moved to Anderson county, Kansas, and died there i n 1860. His father was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and he was a ranger under General Whitesides in the Indian war, and he was a ranger under General Whitesides in the Indian wars in Illinois. He had two sons in the Mexican war viz., Hardy, who was in Colonel Bissell's regiment, and Laban, who was a member of Colonel Foreman's regiment. Hardy Warren married Elizabeth Smart in North Carolina, by whom he had twelve children, ten of whom lived to be grown and seven still survive the parents. The mothe r died in 1836. Mr. Warren afterwards married Mrs. Nancy Fox, nee Creed, by whom he had four children. She died in 1862. Tilford Warren is the youngest son by the first marriage. His advantages in his youth for receiving an education were to read and writ e, but at the age of twelve years he went to work on a farm, and from that time forward had to maintain and support himself. In later years, by extensive reading and habits of close observation, he has become well informed, and possesses a mind well store d with useful information. In the fall of 1849 he came to Dry Point township, in Shelby county, where he put in and raised a crop, on the shares with his brother. The same year he purchased forty acres of land in section 17, Dry Point township. In 1851 he bought a land warrant, and located it on one hundred and sixty acres, south of where the village of Cowden now is. He remained upon it for two years; then went to where the town of Pana now is, and worked on the Illinois Central railroad, which was then building. After finishing his job on the railroad he went to Macon county, and took a contract for getting out wood, and afterwards engaged in breaking prairie.

In 1861 he returned to Dry Point township, and purchased eighty acres of land, which was partially improved, and upon that eighty he has remained to the present time. On the 7th of March, 1849,

Page 291

he married Ann Geiger, a native of Madison county, Illinois. She died January 8th, 1855. By this marriage there were four children, two of whom are living. Their names are Mary Susan, wife of John Howard, a farmer of this township, and Parlee Isabel, wife of Elam J. Holman, a farmer of the same township. On the 7th of May, 1857, he married Miss Mary Sickels, his present wife. She was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, November 30th, 1819. Her father, Benjamin F. Sickels, was a native of Rockingham county, Vir ginia, and her mother, whose maiden name was Brown, of Pennsylvania. Her father came to Ohio after the War of' 1812, and her mother's family settled in Ohio in 1806, and were among the first settlers of the state.

Mrs. Warren is a member of the Christian church. Mr. Warren is not a member of any church organization. His idea of true religion is to do unto others as you would have others do unto you, and believes that that is true Christianity. Politically, he is a sound democrat, and has been since casting his first vote for Franklin Pierce in 1852. In 1879 he was appointed to fill the vacancy of Supervisor for his township in the Board of Supervisors, caused by the death of the former Supervisor. In the spring of 1880 he was elected to fill the position for the next year. He has also held other local offices in his township. Upon the subject of temperance he is a radical. Mr. Warren is a good citizen, and much respected by all who know him.

CHARLES E. ZEIGLER.

THE ancestry of the Zeigler family on the paternal side is German. Frederick Zeigler, the grandfather, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania. He removed to Ohio in 1834, and settled in Delaware county, where he remained until his death, May 21st, 1854, in the seventy-eighth year of his age. He married Mary Nightlinger. She was born in Pennsylvania, and died in Ohio in 1821. There were ten children in the family ; Jonathan, the father of Charles E., is the oldest. He was born in Berks County Dec. 4 th, 1803. He went with his father to Delaware county, Ohio, where he remained until 1867, when he emigrated to Illinois, and settled in Dry Point township, Shelby county, Illinois. He, at present, is a resident of the village of Cowden. While yet a reside nt of Pennsylvania, he married Hannah Ely, of Berks county. She died March 24th, 1842, in her thirty-fourth year. By this marriage there were six children, four of whom are living. The subject of this sketch is the youngest of the family. He was born in D elaware county, Ohio, January 22d, 1842. He was raised upon the farm, and educated in the public schools of his native state. In 1859 he entered a grocery store in the capacity of clerk, and continued thus engaged until the 18th of March, 1863, when he en listed in the gun boat service, in the vessel Queen City. He was assigned to the position of loader of a Parrott gun in the bow of the boat. He enlisted for two years, but was discharged at the end of eight months by reason of sickness. He returned home a nd went back to clerking in the grocery store in which he had been prior to going into the service. He remained there until he came west, which was in the month of March, 1868. He came to Dry Point township, where he had purchased land, and then engaged i n farming, which occupation he followed for three years. When the town of Cowden was laid out he abandoned farming, purchased a stock of dry goods, and opened the first dry goods store in the town. It may here be added that he is the only remaining origin al merchant of Cowden. He has continued general merchandizing from that time to the present. On the 12th of May, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss Clara, daughter of Isaac Worline, a native of Delaware county, Ohio. By this union there are two chil dren, named, Annie Viola, and Edward Phineas Zeigler, aged ten and eight years, respectively. Both he and his wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., and A. O. U. W., of Cowden. He is a member of the democratic party. He was President of the Board of Village Trustees for two years, and member of the board for four years. He is one of the most successful merchants of Cowden. He is yet young, in the prime of life, and possessed of much business tact, an d so conducts his business as to merit the esteem and confidence of the general public. He is scrupulously honest and exact in his transactions, and bears the character of an honorable gentleman.

S. T. McDERMITH, M. D.

WAS born in Fairfield, Ohio, August 1st, 1848. He is the oldest son, and second child in a family of six children of James and Sarah McDermith. He was raised upon the farm, and educated in the public schools. In his twenty-second year he entered c ollege at Westfield, Clark county, Illinois, and remained there, and at the Illinois Wesleyan University at Bloomington, for two years. In 1874, he commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. T. B. Hunt, of Tower Hill, and in the winter of 1874-5 , he entered the Medical department of the University of Louisville, and took two courses, and graduated from that institution in March, 1876, with the degree of M. D. He commenced the practice at Tower Hill, where he remained three months, and then remov ed to Cowden, and entered the drug business, which he has continued to the present. He has also kept up his practice.

On the 11th of May, 1876, he was united in marriage to Miss Lillie May Smith. One child is living by this marriage, named Inez M. McDermith. Both he and his wife are members of the M. E. Church. Politically, he is a republican. Dr. McDermith is well quali fied for the profession of medicine. He is of studious habits, and a graduate of one of the best medical colleges in the Union. He graduated with high honors, and was Valedictorian in the graduating class of one hundred and eight students.

LIEUT. L. G. TORRENCE.

THE Torrence family were originally from Pennsylvania. John Torrence, the paternal grandfather, removed from that state to Ohio about the time it was admitted in the Union. He died in 1822. His son Caleb, father of L. G., was born in Fairfield coun ty, Ohio, in 1815. He removed to Shelby county, Illinois, in 1859, and settled in Dry Point township, where he still resides. He married Mary Ann Kelsy, who was born in Maryland in 1813. Her parents, Joshua and Sarah Kelsy came to Ohio in 1818. Her father died in 1861, and mother in 1864, at the residence of Caleb Torrence in Shelby county. Caleb and Ary A. Torrence have all sons living. Felix died in his twenty-fifth year while a student of medicine in the university at Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was, durin g the late war a member of the 143d regiment, Illinois volunteers. All of Caleb Torrence's sons were in the service, except the youngest, L. G. Torrence, the subject of this sketch, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio March 9th, 1840. He went to school and helped his father at the cooper's trade, and came west with the family and here worked upon the farm until July 3d, 1861, when he enlisted as a private in Co "C," 35th regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The company was raised in Dry Point township. H is first battle was

Page 292

at Pea Ridge and next at Perryville. On the 18th of August, l863, he was promoted to the second lieutenancy of Co. " B," 12th U. S. Colored Infantry. During the same year he was promoted to the first lieutenancy. After the battle of Nashville, he was appo inted regimental quartermaster, with rank of first lieutenant, and was mustered out as quartermaster in January, 1866, being in active service for four years and seven months. On the 26th of February, 1865, while at home on leave of absence, he married Mi ss Mary A. Lockhart, a native of Fairfield county, Ohio, but a resident of this county at the time of her marriage. By this union there are seven children -- three sons and four daughters. Their names in order of their birth are: Josephine Cary, Emma Cath erine, Jacob Grant, Mary Elizabeth, Caleb Callier, Laura Ann, and David Felix. Both he and his wife are members of the M. E. Church. He is a member of the Ancient and Honorable order of Freemasonry, and belongs to Joppa Lodge, No. 706. Politically he is a republican. He represented his township for two years in the Board of Supervisors. He is a representative man of his township and county.

WILLIAM W. NANCE.

LEVI Nance, the father of William W., was born in Bond county, Illinois, August 11, 1822. His father, John W., was a native of Kentucky, and came to Illinois in 1820. He married Mary Lorton. Levi is the eldest of five sons. He married Mary Hooper o f Shelby county Illinois, by whom he had nine children. Of these the subject of this sketch is the oldest. He was born in Dry Point township, Shelby county, Illinois, March 8th, 1846. His advantages for securing a good education were limited. In 1870, he commenced clerking in a general store in Cold Spring township, and in 1872, came to the town of Cowden, and continued clerking for different parties, until November, 1880, when in connection with others, under the firm name of Prizzel, Nance & Co., he eng aged in general merchandizing, in which he still continues.

On the 18th of February, 1868, he married Miss Margaret V. Frailey. She died July 9th, 1873. By this union, there were three children. Their names are : John A. L., Nora B., and Mary Frances. On the 15th of October, 1874, he married Miss Julia Belt. By th is latter marriage there are two children, named Lucy and Stuard Nance. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist church. He is a member of the beneficiary order of A. O. U. W. Politically he is a republican. He is an advocate of temperance.

McDONALD CARLISLE, M. D.

THE subject of this sketch is one of the prominent physicians of Shelby county. He was born in Kenton county, Kentucky June 20th, 1842. His father, Albert M. Carlisle, was a native of Virginia. He removed to Kentucky about 1812, and remained upon t he place where he first settled, until his death in 1876. He married Hannah Reynolds. She died August 25th, 1877. Doctor Carlisle is the fourth in a family of seven children, of Albert and Hannah Carlisle. Mr. Carlisle had been married prior to Isabel Fir st, by whom he had one son. After her death he married the mother of the subject of this sketch. McDonald's education was obtained in the district schools of Kentucky. In September, 1863, he went to Eminence College, and remained there two years. In 1865 he came to Illinois, and taught school in Jackson county, and while teaching read the standard text books upon medicine. His reading hours were confined to the nights and morning hours before opening the school. He read under the tuition and direction of Dr. Daniel Neal, of Manning's Prairie. After the close of the school term he came to Shelby county, and stopped with his brother in Dry Point township, and here pursued his studies with another Dr. Neal. He then entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinn ati, and took one course, and returned to Dry Point township, and commenced the practice in March, 1867. In the fall of 1879, he re-entered the Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated in March, 1880, with the degree of M. D., and resumed the pr actice of his profession. He located in the town of Cowden, when it was first laid out, and was the first physician and druggist in the village. He has contributed much to the prosperity of the town, built many houses, engaged in different business, and a ll the time kept up his practice. He was a member of the first board of trustees of the town. He is a live, active, energetic worker, full of push and energy. Politically he is a sound democrat. He is a member of the order of A. F. and A. M., and was W. M . of his Lodge, and was also N. G. of the I. O. O. F. As a physician he belongs to the progressive school of medicine, and advanced modern practitioners. His first case was a patient with delirium tremens -- and the first in obstetrics, triplets. He treat ed both scientifically and successfully. Dr. Carlisle has many friends in Shelby county. He is a member of the District Medical and Shelby County Medical Societies.

JAMES McDERMITH.

WAS born in Loudon county, Virginia, Sept. 14, 1817. Philip McDermith, his father, removed from Virginia to Ohio, about 1818, and remained there until his death, in 1823. He married Anna Hart. She died in 1845. By this marriage there were six child ren, two sons, and four daughters. The subject of this sketch was the oldest child. His father dying while he was quite young, he was compelled at an early age to support himself, and help maintain the family. He was therefore deprived of opportunities fo r receiving such an education as falls to the lot of most youths. In 1844, he commenced farming for himself upon rented land, and by hard work and close living, he saved money, and a few years after purchased land in Wyandotte county. He continued there u ntil October, 1854, when he sold out, and followed the stream of emigration that was pouring into Illinois. He came to Shelby county, and bought one hundred and fifty acres of land in Dry Point township, which was partially improved. There he has lived, a nd raised a fine family, and added to his original purchase until he has around and about him sufficient of this world's goods to render him comfortable, and secure from want the balance of his days. On the 4th of October, 1844, he married Sarah Nye. She was born May 20th, 1826. Her family were from near Hagerstown, Md., but were residents of Ohio at the time of Mr. McDermith's marriage. She died July 12,1865. By this Union there were nine children, six of whom are living. Their names in the order of birt h are as follows: Nancy Ann, wife of Uriah Fowler, was born August 14th, 1845; Mary Jane and William died in infancy; Samuel T., born August 1st, 1848, a Physician and Druggist in Cowden; Alice, born March 7th, 1851, wife of Andrew Philips, a farmer in Fa yette county, Ill.; Henrietta, born September 26, 1853. She died in October, 1874. She was the wife of George Cordey. George Scott, born June 12th, 1858. He married Elizabeth Pettibone. There was one child by this marriage anmed Orval. Laura, born January 20th, 1861, is yet at home; Jesse, youngest of the family, born Dec. 9th, 1863 is also

Page 293

yet beneath the parental roof. On the 27th of October, 1868, Mr. McDermith married Mrs. Matilda Jane Garner, nee Laws, daughter of Buckner Laws. No children by this marriage. Politically Mr. McDermith is a republican, having cast his first presiden tial vote for William Henry Harrison, in 1840. He remained a Whig until 1860, when he voted for Abraham Lincoln, and from that time to the present has remained a member of that party. He has been assessor and collector for his township for several terms. He has never sought office, and it was only at the earnest solicitation of his friends that he accepted any. He is an advocate of temperance and sobriety. Mr. McDermith is a kind, hospitable gentleman in his home and abroad in his neighborhood, where best known, bears the reputation of a kind and accommodating neighbor and friend, and an honest and upright man.

R. C. TORRENCE.

WAS born in Pickaway county, Ohio, Nov. 29, 1854. His father, Caleb Torrence, was born in Fairfield county, same state. In October, 1858, he came to Shelby county, and settled in Dry Point township, where he still resides. The subject of this sketc h is the youngest in the family of Caleb and Ary Ann (Kelsy) Torrence. He was raised upon the farm and attended the country schools until his seventeenth year, when he entered Westfield College in Clark county, Ill., and remained there one year, then retu rned home and taught school, and in the fall of 1874 entered the Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, where he took the irregular course and remained there until 1875, when he returned and entered the law office of McGrew & Mouser, of Shelbyville, and re ad law. He also taught school for several terms during the time he was reading law. At the May term of the Appellate Court in 1879, in Springfield, he passed the examination and was admitted to the bar. He commenced the practice in Cowden, where he still continues. On the 21st of September, 1876, he was united in marriage to Miss Parmelia I. Christy. By this union there are two children named Thornton C. and Jessie Lenore. In politics he is a republican, and radical upon the subject of temperance.

VICTOR ROBSON.

WAS born in Stockholm, Sweden, December 19, 1854; he received a liberal education in the schools of his native country. At the age of fifteen years he came to America, and went to work on the farm of Gen. L. B. Parsons, of Clay county, Ills. One ye ar later clerked in a hotel at Flora, and six months afterwards went to tracking on the Springfield and South Eastern railroad, now the O. & M. railway. In 1873 he learned telegraphing, and came into the Cowden office as agent and operator, and there he h as remained to the present. He is the first agent that checked baggage from that station. Politically, he is a democrat. His father, Charles August Robson, was a captain in the Swedish army. His brother, Frederick, is a first-lieutenant in the regular arm y of Sweden. Charles E., another brother, is a graduate of the University of Lousiana and attorney -at-law in Sedalia, Mo. Mr. Robson is an excellent man, and a reliable and efficient agent.

|| Return to Main Site Index ||