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ILLINOIS GENEALOGY EXPRESS
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Vermilion County, Illinois
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BIOGRAPHICAL INDEXES:
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L. D. LANE.
L. D. Lane, a man of strong and forceful individuality
and marked business ability, has in the course of an active life
constantly worked his way upward and each advance step in his
career has brought him a broader outlook and wider
opportunities. He has carefully noted and used his advantages
for progress and is today one of the successful men of his part
of the county, being now engaged in banking in Henning. His
birth occurred in Vermilion County on the 21st of August, 1855,
his parents being W. V. And Sarah J. (Crawford) Lane.
The father was born in Vinton County, Ohio, in 1829, and the
mother is also a native of the Buckeye state. Removing westward
they settled in Vermilion County at an early period in its
development and are still residents of Henning, the father now
having passed the eighty-first milestone on life's journey.
Spending his youthful days under the parental roof
L. D. Lane pursued his early education in the Balaam School
and afterward continued his studies in Greenhill, Indiana. He
began farming at the age of twenty-two years and iii following
that pursuit laid the foundation for his later success in life.
In all business affairs he has been found practical as well as
progressive and his energy and determination have enabled him
to, overcome all the difficulties and obstacles in his path.
After many years devoted to farming he turned his attention to
the grain business which he followed at Henning for five years.
Banking has since claimed his attention and he is conducting in
Henning what is now regarded as one of the safe financial
institutions of the county, a genera1 banking business being
carried on along progressive lines that are tempered with a
conservatism that thoroughly safeguards the interests of
depositors and has brought to the institution a reputation for
thorough reliability and trustworthiness.
Mr. Lane has been married twice. He first wedded
Miss Maria Wilson, who died in 1888 and was
laid to rest in Potomac. Mr. Lane has since
married Miss Anna Godwin, who has also
passed away and her grave was likewise made in the Potomac
cemetery. By his first marriage he has a daughter, Mrs.
Edna Wyman, who has one son, Lemuel D.; and
by the second marriage there is one son, Vinton, seventeen years
of age, who is now a student in Greenville College.
Mr. Lane is a valued member of several fraternal
organizations, including the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the
Knights of Pythias. He is loyal to their teachings and
principles and is, moreover, a devoted member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, to the support of which he contributes
liberally. His entire life has been passed in Vermilion county,
so that he has a wide acquaintance within its borders, and the
high regard which is uniformly tendered him is evidence of the
fact that his life has been well spent. In business he is
progressive, carrying forward to successful completion whatever
he undertakes and utilizing the opportunities that are presented
for progress. He correctly judges his own capacities and powers
and also those things which make up life's contacts and
experiences, and, never placing fictitious values upon
opportunities or conditions, he has by the wise use of his time
and talents gained a creditable position in business circles,
success long attending his efforts.
(Submitted by Mary Paulius from Vol. II History of Vermilion Co.,
Illinois - pg. 184-185) ok |
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JOHN LARRANCE was a native of North Carolina, but he
came to the Little Vermilion directly from Tennessee in 1827. He
had his choice of almost the whole of Vermilion County, at that
time and he made a good one. He entered 240 acres of land,
paying the government price, and thereon built a cabin made of
round logs. It had but one room and was not at all luxurious.
The floor was logs split in two with the flat side up, a
clapboard roof and doors of the same material. They lived
happily for one year in this house and were determined to make a
comfortable home of it in spite of inconveniences. For nine
years Mr. Larrance's wife cooked all the meals on the fireplace,
using a long handled skillet and a brick bake oven. At the end
of that time he went to Chicago for some purpose and brought
back a cook stove. This was the first one in the neighborhood,
and was a great curiosity. The maiden name of Mrs. Larrance was
Ruth Mills, she being the daughter of John
Mills. She was the
mother of nine children.
Mr. Larrance's oldest son was nearly teen years old
when they came from Tennessee, and he soon grew to take his
place in the affairs of the county. His education in books was
had in the old school-house with greased paper for windows,
stick and clay chimney, slab benches and wall desks, of the
pioneer days of Illinois. The school course was limited to two
or three months in the winter. Moses Larrance married
Nancy, the
daughter of Aaron Mendenhall. Mr. Mendenhall.
Had been living in this part of Vermilion County for
three years when Mr. Larrance came from the same place in
Tennessee. Mr. Mendenhall owned the same farm that Silas Baird
later purchased. Mr. Moses Larrance was the father of thirteen
children, who have married among the children of the early
settlers until they are related to many. He and his household
have, as had his father before him, been strong supporters of
the Society of Friends. |
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JOHNATHAN LARRANCE, Ridge Farm,
farmer, section 35, was born in this county on the 7th of June,
1834. His father died when he was but three years of age,
and he was left to the care of his mother. Mr. Larrance
was married on the 5th of December, 1862, to Hannah A.
McGee, who was born in Ohio in 1837. They had seven
children by this union, six living: Perry, M., John C.,
Alice, Laura, Mark and Martha. The name of the
deceased is Marion. Mr. Larrance had no
property when he first married; but by good management and hard
labor, he now owns two hundred and ninety-five acres of good
land. He belongs to the Freemasons; is a republican, and a
member of the Friends church.
(History of Vermilion County, Illinois - H. W. Beckwith -
1879 ~ Page 595 - Elwood Twp.) ok |
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M. L. LARRANCE, Ridge Farm,
farmer, section 35, was born in Jefferson county, Tennessee, on
the 9th of May, 1818, and was raised to the occupation of a
farmer, at which he has had a life-long experience. He
came with his father to this state in the fall of 1827, being
among the early settlers of the county. The subject of
this sketch was married in this state in 1840, to Nancy
Mendenhall, who was born in Ohio in 1819. They had by
this union thirteen children, nine living: John,
William, Betsy, Emily, Richard, Charity J., David, Lydia B.,
and Farris. The deceased were Joseph and
three infants. Mr. Larrance, is a well-to-do
farmer, well respected by all with whom he is acquainted.
His parents were natives of North Carolina. His political
views are Republican, and he is a member of the Friends church.
(History of Vermilion County, Illinois - H. W. Beckwith -
1879 ~ Page 593 - Elwood Twp.) ok |
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JOHN LENEVE, a young
man of twenty, came to what is now Newell
Township in 1823. His birthplace was Tennessee, whence he came
with his parents to Illinois when he was but a lad and they
settled in what is now Lawrence County, on the Ellison Prairie
directly west of Vincennes. He had a brother, Obadiah, who in
1822 took a journey into the newer country looking for a
location. This journey took Obadiah LeNeve from Vincennes to St.
Louis, and thence into
Northeast Missouri, and on his homeward trip through a
circuit in northern Illinois. Coming into the section now Newel1
township of Vermilion County, he took a great fancy to the
country and decided upon locating there. Before he left the
favored place he took the numbers of the following tracts: W.
One-half N. W., one-fourth sec. 23, and E. One-half N. E.,
one-fourth section 24, town 20 N., range 11 W., 3rd principal
meridian, and after going home there was a sale of land when he
bought this particularly desired part. Just before Christmas the
two brothers took their belongings, such as would be needed in a
new country, as provisions and bedding, and set off for their
new home. A third person accompanied them to take the team back.
On reaching their destination they cut a few rails and laid up a
square, chinking and filling the spaces with pulled grass, and
covering one-half of the rude structure with puncheons. The
Indians were very
Friendly and proved themselves honest and, on the
whole, not bad neighbors. When they were abut at the time the
new white settlers were eating, the Indians were invited to
share their meal which they did and showed themselves friendly
and inclined to treat the newcomers with all kindness. These two
brothers spent the winter splitting rails until; when in
February they began making preparation for their return to
arrange a permanent removal to this section. They used
Some of their rails to build a cabin for Ben Butterfield who expected to arrive toward the last of February.
He came, as was expected, and the LeNeves went back, to return
later, prepared to d e a permanent settlement. John LeNeve
married Rebecca Newell, the daughter of the man who was the
leader of affairs in that part of the county as long as he
lived. Rebecca Newell came with
Her father from Harrison County, Kentucky, not long
after the LeNeves had made this settlement in this particular
section.
John LeNeve, it is said, had a limited amount of money,
in exact figures being one hundred and thirteen dollars and
fifty cents ($113.50) and he invested $100 of it in timber and
prairie land at one dollar and a quarter an acre leaving him
thirteen dollars and fifty cents with which to begin farming.
But he could count among his assets a pair of good strong arms
and a willing heart to work, so his success was assured. From
this modest beginning Mr. LeNeve became a land owner of
pretension, and his farm is yet a landmark testifying to his
thrift, and industry. His brother, Obadiah LeNeve, was a man
particularly remembered as one of charity and public spirit. He
was always kind to the widow and orphan and seemed to feel a
responsibility to share with those less well off than he. He
never butchered without killing more than enough for himself, so
as to give to
Those not able to buy meat. He was always ready to help
anyone in distress and was widely known and universally loved.
He was born in 1799 and died in 1884. John LeNeve lived on the
old homestead all his life and died there. His wife also spent
her last days in her own home and died and was buried from the
old homestead.
(Submitted by Mary Paulius from The History of Vermilion
County- Pages 114 & 115) |
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A. J. LEITZBACH, M. D.,
a well known and successful physician and surgeon of Fairmount,
has here practiced his profession continuously for the past
twenty-three years. His birth occurred in Robertsville,
Connecticut, on the 3d of August, 1862, his parents being
Nicholas and Elizabeth (Esslinger) Leitzbach, both natives of
Germany. The father came to this country in early manhood, while
the mother was but a girl when brought to the United States by
her parents. Their marriage took place at Winsted, Connecticut.
Nicholas Leitzbach was a cabinetmaker by trade and for a number
of years worked at that occupation in the employ of the Camp
Manufacturing Company, furniture manufacturers of Robertsville,
Connecticut. During that period he acquired a farm in Kansas and
in 1885 sent his son, Edward H., to look after his property
interests there. Being well pleased with the country, the later
remained in the Sunflower state and this fact largely influenced
Nicholas Leitzbach to likewise establish his home in the west.
Moreover, he had a daughter in Michigan and his son, A. J., had
also located in this part of the country. At Humboldt, Kansas,
in association with his son, E. H., he was successfully engaged
in the furniture manufacturing business for several years or
until the time of his retirement. E. H. Leitzbach then abandoned
manufacturing interests and is now conducting an extensive
mercantile enterprise, carrying a general line of furniture,
pianos, boots, shoes, etc. He is one of the leading merchants of
Humboldt where his father is still living in honorable
retirement. His mother was called to her final rest December 19.
1891.
A. J. Leitzbach was reared under
the parental roof and obtained his early education in the
Robertsville schools and in the graded schools of Riverton.
Subsequently he entered the State Normal College at New Britain,
Connecticut, being graduated from that institution with the
class of 1882. He was then offered and accepted the principal
ship of the Riverton schools and for two years acceptably filled
that responsible position. During the period of his connection
with educational interests he took up the study of medicine,
reading under the preceptor ship of Dr. John W. Bidwell, of
Winsted. Dr. Bidwell was the old Leitzbach family physician and
it was largely through his instrumentality that our subject
became identified with the medical profession. In the fall of
1884 Dr. Leitzbach entered the Bellevue Hospital Medical College
of New York city, completing the prescribed course in 1887.
Following his graduation he rode with his preceptor for a few
months and subsequently traveled through Virginia, Michigan,
Ohio and other states in search of a favorable location. In the
early fall of 1887 he settled in Fairmount, Vermilion county,
Illinois, and this town has since remained the scene of his
professional labors. His practice is now of an extensive and
important character, having continually grown as he has
demonstrated his skill and ability in the line of his chosen
vocation. Through his membership in the Vermilion County Medical
Society and the Illinois State Medical Society he keeps in close
touch with the progress made by the profession.
In 1893 Dr. Leitzbach was united in marriage to
Miss
Clara K. Daugherty youngest daughter of James A. Daugherty, now
deceased, who was formerly one of the well known farmers of
Vance Township. They now have two children, Elizabeth L. and
Maude Louise.
Dr. Leitzbach was one of the organizers of Fairmount
Lodge, No. 1863; M. W. A., and has acted as medical examiner since
the time of its organization. He is possibly the only man who is
identified therewith under like conditions, neither paying dues
nor carrying insurance. He acts as elder and trustee of the
Presbyterian Church, of which his wife is likewise a devoted
member. In professional circles he enjoys an enviable
reputation, while the salient characteristics of his manhood are
such as have brought him the warm regard of those with whom he
has been otherwise associated.
(Submittted by Mary Paulius from History of Vermilion County,
Pages 646 & 647) |
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W. T. LEVERENZ
has always resided in Vermilion county, his birth having
occurred in Danville, November 27, 1873. As the name indicates,
he is of German descent. His father, John Leverenz,
was born in Germany and when a young man came to the United
States, making his way direct to Danville. He was a hard worker
and in the early period of his residence here gave his attention
to farming. Later he engaged in the saloon business on Main
street and continued to deal in wines and liquors up to the time
of his retirement, conducting a well patronized place that
brought him a substantial annual return. He wedded Mary
Hacker, and unto them were born seven children: John, now
deceased, married Mary Caroline Peters and
they have one child, Edna. Christ J. married
Bertha Drews and they have two children, Clarence and
Harold. W. T. is the third of the family. Charles G.
married Anna Shingles and they have six
children. Minnie is the wife of Charles
Schermeyer and they have two sons, Carl and Julius.
Josephine is the wife of Herman Bentrap and
they have one daughter, Henrietta. Anna is the wife of
Herman Hosch and they have two children. After losing
his first wife, John Leverenz married Miss
Mary Gatterman and they have two children, Erma
and Carrie, the latter the wife of Edward Burow.
W. T. Leverenz was educated in the German
schools of this locality and at the age of fourteen years
learned the trade of cigar making, which he followed for ten
years. He then turned his attention to the saloon business, in
which he has since been engaged. He was appointed deputy game
warden in 1909 and has since had charge of Vermilion county in
this capacity. He is one of the prominent sportsmen of the
locality but believes in carefully protecting the game that no
species shall become extinct.
On the 30th of June, 1897, Mr. Leverenz was married to
Miss Emma Strebing and they have four children, Gertrude,
Ethel, Norma and William T. Mr. Leverenz
belongs to the Liquor Dealers Association, is a member of the
Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Turners and St. John's
Evangelical church.
(Source: Vol. II History of Vermilion Co., Ill. - Pub. 1911)
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JOHN G. LEVERICH,
Danville, master in chancery, whose portrait appears in this
work, is a fair example of what may be attained by perseverance,
industry and energy. He was born on the 10th of October 1819, in
Newtown, Queens county, New York, a suburb of New York city, and
is the son of John and Alletta (Berrien) Leverich, both natives
of New York. John Leverich, the father of Mr. Leverichs a
blacksmith by trade, and followed farming. He was a sergeant in
the company of' New York militia in the war of 1812. . Both
parents died on Long Island, New York. At fourteen years of age
Mr. Leverich accepted a clerkship in New York City where he
remained until l84l. This year in the company of Judge 0. L.
Davis, he set out for the far west, arriving and locating the
same year in Danville, which has been ever since. Here he
commenced clerking in a store, and from that he entered the
mercantile business in company with his brother, R. T. Leverich,
keeping a general stock of merchandise. He continued in business
in the oldest brother for about five years. In 1860 he was
appointed master of chancery in the state of Illinois.
He has ably and punctually discharged his official
duties and shares as a result of gratifying degree of
popularity. In 1847 Mr. Leverich married Miss
Sarah Tilton, by
whom they had five children, two deceased. In politics he is a
republican, of which party he has been a member every since its
organization.
(Submitted by Mary Paulius) (Source: History of Vermilion
County by Beckman pp. 394&395
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RICHARD T. LEVERICH
He is a Danville, farmer and is the subject of this
sketch. He was born in Queens County, New York, on the 27th of
August, 1815, and is the son of John and Alletta (Berrien)
Leverich. His father was a blacksmith by trade, sad lived on a
farm, and here Mr. Leverich was brought up, engaged in farming.
In 1835 he, in company with Dr. Fithian, left New York for
Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois. He had made arrangements
with Dr. Fithian to clerk in his store. Mr. Leverich went
Dayton, Ohio Riding Dr. Fithian's horse from there to
Indianapolis. From here he took the stage to Perrysville,
Vermilion County, Indiana and from there to Danville, where he
arrived on the 14th of September; 1835, taking him about two
weeks in rnaking the trip.
The first two years he clerked for Dr.
Fithian at
twelve dollars per month, and on account of business he worked
for his board the third year. From there he entered into
partnership with L. T. Palmer in the general store business.
These gentlemen continued in partnership some fourteen years.
From that he entered into partnership with his brother, J. G. Leverich, which connection continued about five years. Then Mr.
Leverich continued alone in business some five years longer. He
then came to the farm. There he has resided ever since. He was
married in Danville, on the 22d of November, 1843, to Miss Lydia
I. Gilbert, who was born in Ontario county, New York, on the
15th of September, 1692, and is the daughter of Solomon Gilbert,
who was one of the pioneers of Vermilion county. Mrs. Leverich
states that her parents brought the first stove to Danville. On
her way to Danville from New York, with her parents, who came
down the Ohio river in a flatboat, she fell into the Ohio river
at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and came near drowning. She was
rescued by a stranger, after going under water the third time.
By their union they have had seven children, five living.
(Submitted by Mary Paulius) (Source: History of Vermilion
County by Beckman p. 384)
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WALTER CHARLES
LINDLEY, who although still a young man has already
attained an enviable position at the bar of Vermilion county and
is now successfully engaged in practice in Danville, is one of
Illinois' native sons, his birth occurring in Big Spring
township, Shelby county, July 12, 1880. His father, Alfred W.
Lindley, was born in 1856 and was a son of Osmond
Lindley and grandson of James Lindley, who
came to this state from Guilford Court House, North Carolina,
about 1827, and the family has since been prominently identified
with the development and progress of Illinois. The father has
become prominent in financial circles and is today the president
of the Neoga National Bank and a director and formerly president
of the First National Bank of Chrisman, Illinois. He married
Miss Irena Carey, who was born in 1858 and
belongs to a good old Quaker family, which originally settled in
Rhode Island and from there removed southward to New Jersey and
later to North Carolina, where they resided for many years at
Washington Court House. About 1820 her grandfather and her
father, Elias Carey, came north and settled in
Highland county, Ohio, but later removed to Cincinnati and from
there to Marion, Indiana. Subsequently the family became
residents of Shelby county, Illinois.
Walter C. Lindley acquired his early education in the
public schools and in 1897 was graduated from the high school of
Neoga, Cumberland county, after which he entered the University
of Illinois, attending the College of Literature and Arts, from
which he received the degree of A. B. in 1901. He next attended
the College of Law of the same institution and in 1904 was
granted the LL. B. degree, standing at the head of his class in
the College of Law and second highest in a class of two hundred
and fifty in the entire university. While an undergraduate he
was assistant editor and when in his senior year managing editor
of The Illini, the daily newspaper published at the university.
From 1901 to 1904 Mr. Lindley taught English in
the academy of the same institution, at the same time studying
law, being graduated on the 12th of June of the latter year. He
passed the state bar examination on the 30th of the same month
and on the 1st of July, 1904, began practice in Danville. He was
in the employ of the firm of Penwell & Lindley until
January 1, 1906, when he became a member of the firm of
Lindley, Penwell & Lindley, which is
still in existence. Since his admission to the bar he has given
his undivided attention to his professional duties and has
practiced in both the state and federal courts.
A young man of unusual ability and perseverance, he has
met with marked success in his chosen calling and today ranks
among the leading lawyers of Danville. He is also a member of
the advisory committee of the College of Law to the board of
trustees of the University of Illinois. He has never allowed
anything to interfere with his professional duties and has been
constantly engaged in the trial of cases.
By birthright Mr. Lindley was a member of
the Friends church but on his removal from the community of that
denomination he joined the Presbyterian church, with which he is
now connected. At college he was a member of the honorary
literary fraternity of Phi Beta Kappa; the honorary law
fraternity of Theta Kappa Nu; the professional fraternity of Phi
Delta Phi; and the college fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta,
besides other societies of a literary and legal character. He is
now a member of the Industrial Club of Danville and also the
Danville Golf Club, and belongs to the Masonic order, the
Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
and the Modern Woodmen of America. By his ballot Mr.
Lindley supports the men and measures of the republican
party, taking that interest in politics which he deems to be the
duty of every good citizen, and he was actively identified with
the campaigns of 1904, 1906 and 1908 as a speaker in behalf of
the republican candidates, including Roosevelt, Taft, Cannon
and Deneen. In 1908 he was treasurer of the
republican county central committee for Vermilion county. In
connection with his profession he has become a prominent member
of the State Bar Association, the Vermilion County Bar
Association and the Commercial Law League of America, having
served on special committees of the national organization,
preparing and presenting to the national conventions of 1908 and
1909 special articles on subjects connected with the purpose of
the league. He is much in demand as a public speaker and has a
forceful and convincing manner of address. He is a young man of
attractive social qualities, which render him popular while his
laudable ambition augurs well for a successful future.
(Pg. 281) |
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HENRY E. LINNE.
Among the business men of Danville who have won notable success
in their chosen calling is Henry E. Linne, a prominent
wholesale baker of this city. His early home was on the other
side of the Atlantic, for he was born February 23, 1862, in
Niederasphe, Marburg, Hessen, Germany, and is a son of John
and Elizabeth Linne, also natives of that country, where the
family have resided for many generations. In the land of his
nativity he was reared and educated, being eighteen years of age
when, in 1880, he emigrated to the new world and located in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There he learned the baker's trade
and continued to work for about four years.
The year 1883 witnessed Mr. Linne's
arrival in Danville and here he was employed in several
different shops before embarking in business on his own account
in 1886. He then opened a bakery, though his capital at that
time consisted of but one hundred and fifty dollars, and so
steadily has he prospered as the years have gone by that he
today is one of the leading wholesale bakers in this city, his
plant having a capacity of seven hundred loaves an hour and in
the dull season turning out about thirty-five hundred loaves a
day. That he thoroughly understands the trade is manifest by the
success that he has achieved and that he is a good, reliable
business man is manifest by the patronage which he receives.
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mr. Linne was
married on the 25th of September, 1883, to Miss Anna C.
Brombach, a daughter of Adam Brombach, of that
city, and they have become the parents of three children, all
born in Danville, namely: Harry A., born August 14, 1884;
Amelia C., September 7, 1888; and Clarence,
June 7, 1893.
Mr. Linne's religious belief is manifest
by his membership in Immanuel Presbyterian church and in his
fraternal relations he has attained the Knight Templar degree in
Masonry and is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Although he takes an active interest in the success of the
republican party, which he supports by his ballot, he has never
cared for the honors or emoluments of public office. However, he
takes a commendable interest in those organizations which help
to build up the commercial interests of the country and is now
serving as vice president of the State Association of Master
Bakers of Illinois. He is a very pleasant, agreeable gentleman,
who makes many friends, and the place that he has made for
himself in the new world is certainly well merited, for he began
life here as a poor boy in a strange land, unfamiliar with the
English language and customs, but by perseverance, industry and
honesty has worked his way upward until he is today a man of
affluence and prominence in the community where he resides.
(Source: Vol. II History of Vermilion Co., Ill. - Pub. 1911 - Pg. 289)
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JOHN H. LONG,
Danville, saloon keeper, was born in Center county,
Pennsylvania, on the 31st of March, 1838. While in
Pennsylvania Mr. Long was engaged in teaching school.
He, in 1860, came west to Illinois, and joined a circus at
Freeport. He remained with the circus but a short time,
and in 1860 he came to Danville, where he has been a resident
ever since. When he first came here he was engaged in
teaching school in South Danville, thence as superintendent of
the Carbon coal mines, which was very extensive mine, employing
as high as two hundred and fifty hands, with the capacity of
mining five hundred tons of coal daily. He remained with
the coal company for four or five years. He then entered
the grocery business, which he continued for about one year.
Then he opened a billiard-room, where he was very successful.
Then in the saloon business, and this he has carried on in a
very orderly manner. He is now improving his room to enter
into the theater business, and will be known as Long's
Gaiety Theater. Mr. Long represented the first ward
as alderman for four years in a faithful manner. He was
married in Columbia City, Indiana, to Phoebia Shavey, a
native of Paris, France, by whom they had two children.
She died on the 15th of February, 1879, of consumption, after
suffering many weary months.
History of Vermilion County, Illinois - H. W. Beckwith - 1879 ~
Page 429 - Danville Twp. |
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LEVI F. LONG, Long, farmer, section
31, was born in this county, on the 6th of August, 1838.
His father was one of the pioneers of the county, having come
here in 1833. He cast his first vote for General Jackson,
and his last for George B. McClellan. The subject
of this sketch had but little with which to commence life, but,
by industry economy and hard labor, he has acquired a good
property of three hundred and sixty-seven acres of land.
HE carries on farming quite extensively, and raises some horses,
cattle and hogs. Mr. Long was married on the 7th of
May, 1864, to Martha Keen, who was born in Parke county,
Indiana, on the 28th of August, 1840. They are the parents
of nine children, seven of whom are living: James B.,
Sallie B., William F., John L., Mattie L., Eva M. and
Josephus. The deceased was Flora E. and
Gracy. Mr. Long has held the office of school director
ten years, and overseer of roads five years. In politics
he is a democrat and a Presbyterian in religion. His
parents were natives of Kentucky.
(History of Vermilion County, Illinois - H. W. Beckwith -
1879 ~ Page 596 - Elwood Twp.) ok |
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SAMUEL V. LONG, Long, farmer,
section 25, was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, on the 11th
of September, 1819, and was raised a farmer, and this
occupation he has followed through life. Soon after
becoming of age he drove a four-hourse team to Missouri, and
came to this state in 1843, settling where he now lives.
Mr. Long had but forty acres of land when he first married,
but by industry, economy and perseverance he has acquired a
good property of one hundred and forty-nine acres. He
has been twice married: first, on the 14th of Oct. 1845, to
Margaret Kendall, who was born in Ohio. They had by this
union eight children, four living: Jemima, James W. Charley
and Jacob. the deceased were: Lacon, Mary
J., Lena and one infant. Mr. Long was then
married, in May, 1869, to Barbara Prine, who was born
in 1841. They have one child by this union: John C.
Mr. Long's parents were natives of Maryland, and those
of his wife of Ohio. He is a republican and a Methodist.
(History of Vermilion County, Illinois - H. W. Beckwith -
1879 ~ Page 598 - Elwood Twp.) ok |
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WILLIAM LYONS,
holding a position of distinctive precedence as a financier
of Danville, has throughout his long connection with banking
interests stood as an honored representative of a department
of activity that has ever been a most important factor in
conserving the business development and progress of every
community. While today, at the head of the Commercial Trust
& Savings Bank, he is through investment and official
service also connected with many other leading business
concerns that are substantial forces in the industrial and
commercial growth of the city.
Pennsylvania numbers him among her native sons, for he
was born in Lehigh County, May 1, 1830, his parents being
Isaac and Jane (Barr) Lyons, both of whom were natives of
County Derry, Ireland, but were married in Pennsylvania
after coming to this country. During his early residence
here the father was a manufacturer of pig iron in the iron
districts of Pennsylvania, where he continued to live for
several years and then returned to his native land in
company with his four children: William, Oliver,
Samuel and
Isaac, Jr. While in Ireland the last named died and another
son was born there, to whom was given the name of Isaac. The
object of this trip to the Emerald isle was the securing of
a small legacy left to the father, and after about fifteen
months he returned to America with his family. He had sailed
from New York on the ship Empire, which was twenty-seven
days in crossing the Atlantic, and returned on a similar
sailing vessel, known as the New World, which was about the
same length of time on the voyage. On again reaching the
shores of this country he located in the same place in
Pennsylvania but did not remain there very long. His next
home was in Ironton, Ohio, where he continued to engage in
the iron business from 1855 to 1870. In the latter year he
removed to Fairmount, Illinois, where his son William had
bought a farm, and there he engaged in agricultural pursuits
until the death of his wife, when he sold the place and
purchased another farm in Douglas County, this state,
remaining there until called to his final rest. He was born
in 1803 and died in 1899, at the extreme old age of
ninety-six years. He was the youngest in a family of
thirteen children and was a man of regular habits,
possessing a strong constitution and weighing one hundred
and eighty pounds. Throughout life he was very industrious
and energetic and was a man in whom his fellowmen had the
utmost confidence. For a time during the Civil war he was
connected with the quartermaster's department and his sons,
William and Oliver, were also connected with that
department, the latter being stationed at Fayetteville, West
Virginia, where he was foreman of a squad of men, while
William was located at Charleston and was general
superintendent of highways from Charleston to Fayetteville,
having in charge several squads of men on this work. Another
son, Samuel, served for three years in the Second Virginia
Infantry.
During the temporary residence of the family in
Ireland, William Lyons attended school in Coleraine, which
city was divided by a river separating the counties of Derry
and Antrim, but the greater part of his education was
obtained in the schools of this country. He was in the Union
service for about here years and at the end of that time
resigned and engaged in the contracting business at
Parkersburg, West Virginia, remaining there until September,
1865, when he went to Kansas to make arrangements to embark
in the sheep business. Having given a man one hundred
dollars on account to buy one hundred tons of hay for him,
he came to Illinois and near Springfield purchased two
thousand head of sheep. About this time he received a letter
from his brother, who was farming in Douglas county, asking
him to bring his sheep with him and feed them upon the grain
he had raised, as there was no market for the same nearer
than twenty miles. William then went to see his brother and
after talking the matter over with him concluded to accept
his offer, though he lost the one hundred dollars he had
given to the man for the purchase of hay. Thirty years after
this occurred he met a neighbor of this man while on a train
who told him that the man had become very wealthy and
attributed his success to the hundred dollars Mr. Lyons had
deposited with him. As the country was new and the grass
very long, the sheep became diseased and he finally sold out
and discontinued that business. He was next employed as a
salaried foreman on a big ranch of about forty sections of
land until 1871, when he purchased a farm in Vermilion
County and continued its operation for four years. He next
embarked in the lumber business at Hume, Illinois, which he
carried on until 1887 and then sold out to his brother
Oliver, who still continues in that business. Mr.
Lyons
first became interested in the banking business at SideIl,
Illinois, as a member of the firm of Lyons, Alexander &
Company, who conducted a private bank, but he disposed of
his interest in that institution in 1906 and purchased four
hundred and seventy-five shares out of the one thousand
shares of the Commercial Trust & Savings Bank of Danville
and has since been its president. This bank has been
remarkably successful under his administration, having
doubled its amount of deposits, and the capital stock is now
one hundred thousand dollars and the surplus thirty-five
thousand dollars. This success is attributable in a large
measure to the keen discernment, indefatigable energy and
strong purpose of Mr. Lyons. He and the cashier of the bank,
G. W. Telling, own three thousand acres of land in
southeastern Texas, which produces cotton, cane and rice,
and he is also a large landowner in Kankakee, Vermilion and
Edgar counties, Illinois. His judgment has come to be
regarded as practically infallible concerning the complex
problems of banking and finance, for his progressiveness is
tempered by a safe conservatism and based upon a thorough
understanding of the conditions of the money market and the
business principles involved.
In 1871 Mr. Lyons was united in marriage to
Miss Mary Todd, a native of New York city, and to them were born two
children: Anna, now the wife of G. W. Telling, cashier of
the Commercial Trust & Savings Bank; and Flora, who died in
infancy. The family is one of prominence in social circles
and they hold membership in the Kimber Methodist Episcopal
Church. Mr. Lyons is also identified with the Masonic
fraternity and as a public-spirited and progressive citizen
has taken a commendable interest in public affairs, having
served as president of the town board of Sidell for ten
years. Trustworthy and faithful in business, progressive in
citizenship and loyal to the claims of friendship, he has
thus displayed many good qualities which have gained him
high regard.
(Submitted by Mary Paulius from Vol. II History of
Vermilion Co., Ill. - Pub. 1911) ok |
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