|
The following Biographies have been extracted
from the following sources:
†
Portrait
and Biographical History of DeWitt & Piatt
County, Illinois
CHICAGO: Chapman Bros. 1891
AB -
CD -
EF -
GHI -
JKL -
MN -
OPQ -
RS -
TUV -
WXYZ
PLEASE NOTE: If you are interested in one
of these names,
please contact me and I will try to put it on
here ahead of the others that are not done yet.
Sharon Wick, Piatt County Host
TATMAN, Caleb A.
TAYLOR, Elijah
TENNEY, Charles F., Hon.
THOMAS, George D. *
THOMPSON, Edward Payson |
TIMMONS, Henry L.
TRAXLER, David *
TROTTER, Jehu
VAIL, John |
VANCE, Noble, M.D.
VARNER, ANDREW C.
VENT, James T.
VROOMAN, Sebastian G. |
COMPLETE INDEX
of PIATT COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES
CLICK HERE
|
 |
Caleb A. Tatman,
of the firm of Tatman & Tatman, is a prominent capitalist and
influential citizen of Monticello. He has been identified with
the progress of education in this State, first as teacher for more
than a decade and later as County Superintendent of schools.
Besides this connection with the professions, he has been one of the
prominent attorneys in Monticello and interested in the growth of
the city in all that pertains to her true prosperity and
civilization. Especial credit is due Mr. Tatman for the
rank he holds among men of intelligence and culture, as he had no
advantages in his early years and secured an education by his own
exertions.
Before outlining the experience of our subject it may
be well to give some items of information regarding his progenitors.
His great-grandfather Tatman emigrated from England to
America in early Colonial times and secured land in Maryland, which
he operated with slave labor. He died before the Revolutionary
War. His son Joseph, was quite young at the time, but
continued to live on the farm following the occupation in which his
father had been engated. He married Delilah Fosha, a
native of Maryland, whose father, Obediah Fosha, was born and
reared in France. Mr. Fosha came to America before the
Revolution, bought land in Alleghany County, Md., and farmed there
during the balance of his life. The grandmother of our subject
survived her husband some years and went to Ohio with her children,
dying in Pickaway County at the home of a son.
In the family of Joseph and Delilah (Fosha)
Tatman, was a son, Obediah, who was born in Alleghany
County, Md., and grew to manhood in his native State. He
married in Pennsylvania and from that State removed of Ohio, making
his home in Berry and Pickaway Counties until 1851. With his
wife and five children he then came to Illinois, traveling with a
span of horses and a wagon, bringing his household goods and cooking
and camping on the way. He located in Goose Creek Township,
Piatt County, renting a farm, upon which he resided until his death,
in October, 1854. His widow, formerly Jane Thompson,
survived until January, 1860. They reared seven children,
named respectively, Joseph, Anna, Lou, Rahama, Celeb A., Joshua,
Riley and Martha.
The maternal grandfather of our subject
was William Thompson, a native of Ireland and of Scotch
ancestry. When a young man he came to America, settling in
Pennsylvania, where he married and established a permanent home.
He followed the trade of a weaver. His wife bore the maiden
name of Rachel House, was born in Maryland and died in
Pennsylvania.
The subject of this biographical notice opened his eyes
to the light January 7, 1837, in Perry County, Ohio. He was
fourteen years old when he came to Piatt County, where at that time
deer, wolves and other kinds of game abounded and the homes of the
scattering populace were in the timber along the banks of the
streams. There were no railroads here and the trip to and from
the depots of supplies was tedious, and sometimes dangerous, by
reason of swollen streams to be forded and wild animals to be
encountered. The lad assisted in the cultivation of the farm
until after the death of his parents.
The education of our subject had been neglected, owing
to the circumstances by which the fmaily was surrounded and he
determined to overcome his deficiencies in this direction. He
therefore, after the death of his parents, devoted himself
assiduously to the pursuit of knowledge, attending the public
schools at Bement for a time and then entering the Normal School at
Normal. In that institution he took a two years' course of
study, and on its completion engaged in teaching. The
connection of Mr. Tatman with pedagogy embraces altogether a period
of eleven years, and his reputation in that professional field is a
good one. In 1869 he was elected County Superintendent of
schools, and the same year began the study of law. While
not neglecting the duties of the position to which he had been
chosen he devoted every moment which he could properly spare to his
studies, and continued his legal reading until he was admitted to
the bar in 1873. He at once opened an office, forming a
partnership with Judge McReynolds ere long, and later became
an associate with A. T. Pipher. In January, 1879, he
associated with himself his brother, Riley, under the style
of Tatman & Tatman.
The lady who presides over the pleasant
home of our subject became his wife February 10, 1870. She was
born in MOnticello, and is a daughter of Godfrey and Ann
Honselman, and was christened Caroline. Her
ancestral history may be found in the sketch of Godfrey Honselman
on another page in this Album. To Mr. and Mrs.
Tatman two daughters have been born, who are named respectively,
Nellie and Eva. As might be expected, they have
received good educational advantages and are taking their
appropriate stations in society.
As a lawyer Mr. Tatman stands well among his
fellow-members of the bar and in the opinions of the people.
While acting as County Superintendent of schools, during a period of
four years, he did much to elevate the standard of proficiency in
the schools of the county, having an excellent connection with
school work as a teacher and his observation as a pupil when growing
to manhood. He has shown himself one of the best financiers in
this section by the accumulation of a goodly share of this world's
goods, by means of which he enjoys the comforts and many of the
luxuries of life and is able to contribute to various worthy
enterprises. His first Presidential ballot was cast for
Abraham Lincoln and since that time he has always voted a
Republican ticket. He has been School Treasurer of Monticello
about sixteen years. He belongs to the social order of
Masonry, his membership being in Fraternal Lodge, No. 48, A. F. & A.
M. |
|
|
Elijah
Taylor was a farmer and stockraiser, who was well and
favorably known in Piatt County, where he conducted his operations
for many years, and his untimely death, July 2, 1887, ere yet old
age had come upon him, deprived his community of a valuable citizen.
He developed a farm from a tract of uncultivated land in Willow
Branch Township, and thus performed an important work in promoting
the advancement of the agricultural interests of this section of the
county.
Mr. Taylor was a native of Ohio and was there born in a
humble pioneer home January 23, 1834. His early life was
passed in Ohio and as soon as old enough he engaged in farming.
He received his education in the public schools of his native State,
which did not then offer the fine advantages that the schools of
today afford. For about three years after his marriage, which
occurred after he became a resident of this county, Mr. Taylor
farmed as a renter and he then located on the farm in Willow Branch
Township now occupied by his widow. He first purchased here
eighty acres of land, and then settled on the wild prairie where not
a furrow had been turned or any attempts at improvement made.
It was only by severe and unremitting pioneer labor that he brought
his land to its present highly cultivated condition. He placed
upon it many fine improvements, including the handsome brick
residence occupied by the family, which he erected in the summer of
1871. He added by further purchase to his farm till it
attained its present area of one hundred and twenty acres, all of
which is well tilled.
In the upbuilding of his prosperity Mr. Taylor had the
active co-operation of his estimable wife, to whom he was wedded in
this county February 13, 1861. Mrs. Taylor was formerly
Catherine Peck, and is a native of this county, born December 15,
1839. She is the daughter of the late Adonijah and Mary (Ater)
Peck. Her mother is still living and resides on the home farm
in Willow Branch Township. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Taylor
has brought them eight children, as follows: Edwin, deceased;
Charles, a resident of Milmine; Ulla D., wife of C. Davies, of
Bement; Alonzo, Lewis, Ann B., James E. and Adelbert.
Mr. Taylor was a man of unswerving honesty and
truthfulness and was an influence for much good in his community.
He was one of the most prominent members of the Christian Church
during his life and he held the office of Deacon. He was
always found on the side of the right, and was active in promoting
the social and religious status of the township, as well as in
advancing its material welfare. He took part in its public
life and at one time was Clerk of the Willow Branch Township, and
also served as Township School Trustee. Politically he was
identified with the Democrats. He was a kind husband and a
wise father, a true friend to his neighbors and was a man whom to
know was to respect. |
|
|
| Hon. Charles F. Tenney |
|
|
| George D. Thomas |
|
|
| Edward Payson Thompson |
|
|
| Henry L. Timmons |
|
|
| David Traxler |
|
|
| Jehu Trotter |
|
|
| John Vail |
|
|
| Noble Vance, M. D. |
|
|
Andrew C. Varner
has been a resident of Piatt County for forty years, and
though not among its earliest settlers is justly regarded as one of
its pioneers, as he has done much to promote its agricultural
advancement. He is one of the representative farmers of
Monticello Township, where he has a farm on section 11, that he
developed from the wild prairies, making it one of the most valuable
pieces of property in this locality. Mr. Varner was born in
Washington County, Md., on the 21st of October, 1819. Anthony
and Catherine (Cline) Varner were his parents. His father was
a native of Virginia, while his mother was born either in
Pennsylvania or Maryland, somewhere near the line that divides those
States. The Varners were of German origin and came to America
prior to the Revolution. The father of our subject was a
soldier in the War of 1812, in which he fought valiantly.
When our subject was about ten years old he accompanied
his parents from his native Maryland to their pioneer home in Greene
County, Ohio, making the entire journey in an old covered wagon.
That was in the year 1829, and they were among the first to settle
in that section of the country. There Mr. Varner was reared to
a stalwart manhood under the influence of pioneer surroundings.
On his father's farm he gained a good understanding of farming, and
in the early subscription schools of Ohio he received the rudiments
of his education. At the age of twenty-three years he began to
take private instruction under Prof. Thomas Steele, a Scotchman of
much learning, who was at the time conducting an independent school
of a high grade at Zenia, Ohio. Our subject was graduated from
that school with an excellent English education which he
subsequently utilized by teaching school in Ohio for a number of
years.
March 26, 1850, our subject took unto himself the cares
and responsibilities of domestic life by marrying Emily Painter.
Mrs. Varner was born in Warren County, Ohio, March 12, 1826.
Her parents were George and Sarah (Mills) Painter, natives
respectively of Virginia and New Jersey. By their union Mr.
and Mrs. Varner have eight children, seven of whom are living:
Ella, wife of Samuel Dubson, of Piatt County; Clara, John, William,
Jeremiah, Mary, Andrew C. and Richard, all of whom live in Piatt
County. Capitola is the name of the child deceased.
In the fall of 1850 our subject came to Piatt County
with his family in a prairie schooner, and subsequently settled on a
farm that he now occupies in Monticello Township. He first
purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land at $4.57 per acre,
which was in a perfectly wild condition. He turned the first
furrow and made his land what it is today, as fine a farm as can be
found in the neighborhood. He has added to his land by
subsequent purchase, and now has two hundred acres of highly
productive soil. He has carried on his work with untiring
industry, which has been seconded by sound judgment in regard to
business matters, and he has therefore been much prospered. A
part of his success he justly attributes to his devoted wife, who
has cooperated with him in every way possible, and has been to him a
wise counselor.
Mr. Varner has been much of the time since he came here
identified with educational matters in this township. He was
one of the pioneer teachers of the county, having taught for nine
months after he settled here. He has served his township as
School Treasurer for twenty-one years successively. He has
frequently been solicited to hold other offices of trust as his
fellow-citizens fully recognize the value of having a man of his
intelligence and calibre in places of trust, but he would not be
prevailed upon to accept any official positions as he prefers the
quietude of home life. His political affiliations are with the
Democrats, and we always find him favoring every movement that will
in any way benefit the township or county.
Mrs. Varner is one of the most earnest and active
members of the Presbyterian Church, at Monticello, and her name is
connected with its various good works. Her father was a
soldier in the War of 1812. He was of German origin, while her
maternal ancestors were of New England birth. Mr. Varner was
first married to Ivy Paxton, and by that marriage he has one son,
George D. |
|
|
| James T. Vent |
|
|
| Sebastian G. Vrooman |
|
|
NOTES:
* Picture
|
