Biographies

Source:
Portrait & Biographical Album
of DeWitt and Piatt Counties, Illinois
Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches
of Prominent and Representative Citizens
of the County
Together with Portraits and Biographies of all the
Presidents of the United States
and Governors of the State
Publ. Chicago: Chapman Bros
1891

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James Sherman.  Time has dealt kindly with this gentleman and his wife, and enabled them to lay aside the burdens they bore in former years, and settle down to the enjoyment of the physical comforts and social pleasures their adequate means and good taste make possible and agreeable.  After years of industrious and well-directed efforts, a score of which were spent on a farm in Piatt County, they are now in Cisco.  They have an extended acquaintance and have long been known as among the best representatives of the agricultural class in Willow Branch Township, their home having been on section 27.  They moved into the village in the fall of 1890, but still retain possession of their fine farm in one hundred and sixty acres and also own village property.      Mr. Sherman is of French descent on his mother's side and his grandfather Sherman was a native of Germany.  His parents, Samuel M. and Elizabeth (Werrick) Sherman, were born in Connecticut and Pennsylvania respectively and had a family of  nine children.  Those now living are John, whose home is in Ohio; James, our subject; Samuel, living in Missouri; Uriah, a resident of Kansas; Mary J., wife of David Barnes, their home being in Fayette County, Pa.; Eliza, wife of Nathan Buck, living in Kansas.  James Sherman, who is the third son of his parents, was born in Fayette County, Pa., December 19, 1821.  In the early subscription schools, kept in the old log schoolhouse, he acquired the most of his early education, although for a short time he enjoyed the privilege of attending the public school which was then in its infancy in that vicinity.  It has been his constant aim since arriving at years of discretion, to keep up with the times in his knowledge of current events and topics of general interest.      When a young man Mr. Sherman was a cattle-drover, driving the herds over the mountains to New York, Baltimore and Philadelphia markets.  In 1847 he left his native State for Ohio and during the ensuing twenty years resided at various points, taking contracts with iron-work companies for teaming.  In the fall of 1868 he removed to Piatt County, Ill., and settling on partially improved land, assumed the duties of an agriculturist, bringing his property into the fine condition of today.  His devoted wife aided him by her counsel and prudent management of household matters, and now enjoys with him the results of their labors and now enjoys with him the results of their labors and plans.      The marriage of Mr. Sherman and Miss Mary Hughey was solemnized at the bride's home in Fayette County, Pa., July 8, 1846.  Mr. Sherman was born in that county January 22, 1820, and her parents, George and Margaret (Roughcorn) Hughey, were natives likewise of the Keystone State.  Her paternal ancestors were Irish and her mother was of German lineage.  Mr. Hughey was a soldier in the War of 1812 and his wife's father fought in the Revolution.  Of a large family Mrs. Sherman and three brothers are all who survive.  Simon is now living in Brown County, Ohio, and George and Samuel reside in Pennsylvania.  Eight children were sent to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sherman and two - Joanna and Ida M. have preceded their parents to the silent land.  The living sons and daughters were James H., whose home is in Jackson County, Ohio; Samuel W., in Nebraska; George, in Piatt County, Ill.; Maggie, wife of Daniel Noecker in Effingham County, this state; Lizzie, wife of P. Maxhimer in Piatt County; and Uriah S., also living in Piatt County.      It is a trite saying that blood will tell, and those who are acquainted with the life of James Sherman find in him an added proof of the wisdom of the old saw.  The family which he represents is not unknown to students of history, one of its most renowned members having been Roger Sherman, who is a great-uncle of our subject, and others being the Senator and General so famous in their connection with the more recent history of the Nation.  These last are cousins of the father of him of whom we write.  James Sherman and his wife are active and efficient members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are highly respected members of society, having the esteem and goodwill of all who know them.  Mr. Sherman belongs to the Masonic lodge at Cerro Gordo.  A wide-awake and successful citizen, his interest in the welfare of his adopted home and his public spirit and recognized and appreciated.  His political preference is for Democratic principles and he never fails to cast his ballot at the proper time.

William H. Shonkwiler has passed the most of his life in Unity Township.  He has devoted himself to farming and has placed himself among the substantial men of his vocation in Piatt County, his farm comparing well in every respect with the best in its vicinity.  Putnam County, Ind., is the birthplace of our subject, and January 25, 1841, the date of his birth.  He is a son of Adam and Melinda ( Spurgeon ) Shonkwiler, natives of Kentucky.  His mother is still living.  His father, who came with his family to Piatt County in 1843 and was a pioneer of Unity Township, died here February 18, 1870, at a ripe age.      Our subject was two years old when his parents brought him to Piatt County, and consequently he has no recollection of any other home.  He received his education in the common schools of Unity Township and gained a thorough knowledge of farming under the instruction of his father.  When he arrived at years of descretion he selection farming as the occupation most suited to his tastes and has ever since been engaged in agricultural pursuits.  He owns one hundred and thirty-six acres of land on section 23, Unity Township, whose fields are well tilled and its improvements are an excellent class, including a comfortable residence and good outbuildings.      The marriage of Mr. Shonkwiler with Miss Mary J. Moore took place in Unity Township March 20, 1861.  Mrs. Shonkwiler was born in Coles County, this state, May 15, 1842, but she was reared to womanhood in Piatt County.  She is a daughter of the late George W. and Lydia ( Pownel ) Moore, her father being a native of Kentucky.  They were pioneers of this State and first settled in Coles County, where Mr. Moore engaged in farming.  In 1849 he started for California in search of gold and died while crossing the plains.  His wife died in Coles County.      Mr. and Mrs Shonkwiler are the parents of nine children, namely:  Anna M.; Ida B., the wife of John Stoveall; Minnie C., wife of Caleb Stoveall; Ruth E., wife of Jacob Landgrebe; Della L., Effie N., Jennie M., Nora B. and Adam O., who died when an infant.      Mr. Shonkwiler is a man of sterling worth who is looked upon with respect by his fellow-citizens.  His daily life is guided by sound principles.  In politics he gives his support to the Democratic party.  He has satisfactorily filled the office School Director and is pleased to do all that he can to advance his township.  Mrs. Shonkwiler is a sincere Christian and is identified with the New Light Church as one of its most earnest members.

William E. Smith, of the firm of William E. Smith & Co., dealers in dry-goods, groceries, etc., is one of the ablest business men of Monticello.  He was born at Mt. Sterling, Madison County, Ohio, July 18, 1844.  His father, Dr. William H. Smith, was a native of Vermont and was there reared among its beautiful hills.  He commenced the study of medicine when a young man, and at quite an early age removed to Ohio and established himself in practice at Mt. Sterling and Ansonia.  He acquired a fine reputation as a skillful physician and had built up an extensive practice when his useful career was terminated by his untimely death at the latter place in 1849.  The maiden name of his wife was Alzanah Amelia Webster, who is thought to have been born at Washington Court House, Ohio.  After the Doctor's death she was married a second time, becoming the wife of Samuel D. Searls, and she died in Ohio in 1871 at a ripe age.      William Smith was five years old when his father died.  He lived with his mother a short time thereafter and then found a home with strangers.  He was given fair educational advantages and attended the public schools quite steadily until he was fifteen years old.  He then entered the office of the Journal at Greenville, Ohio, for the purpose of learning the trade of a printer, which he followed until 1862.      Our subject is an honored veteran of the late war, in which he did efficient service as a brave and daring soldier.  He threw aside all personal aims and ambitions in the month of July, 1862, to volunteer in the United army, enlisting in Company F, Ninety-fourth Ohio Infantry.  In August he went to the front with his regiment and was captured in his first engagement with the rebels.  Fortunately he was paroled the same day and in the month of December following was exchanged, and immediately joined his regiment at Stone River, Tenn.  He was with Sherman's command in the Atlanta campaign and showed excellent soldierly qualities in the long marches and in the many engagements in which he took part, fighting in all the principal battles.  After the fall of Atlanta Mr. Smith went with the victorious army to the sea, and thence by the Carolinas and Richmond to Washington, where he took part in the Grand Review.  He was honorably discharged with his regiment and returned home.      After the war our subject continued in the office of the Journal for a time at Logansport, Ind., and then wishing to improve his education he took a course in the commercial college at Dayton.  In 1866 he came to Monticello to accept a position as clerk in a dry-goods store, and he was thus engaged until 1878.  By that time his experience in business, combined with his education, warranted him to enter into business on his own account, and he then bought the grocery department of the store in which he was employed.  In the fall of the same year he secured the dry-goods department, and thus had an establishment that was well equipped, and for some years he carried on an extensive trade by himself.  In March, 1890, he admitted John Reber Huston into partnership with him and they have been together since.      To the lady who presides over his home our subject was married June 3, 1873, and to them have come two children - William Piatt and Clarence Kirby.  Mrs. Smith, who was formerly Miss Elizabeth J. Piatt, is a native of this county and a daughter of William H. and Clarinda Piatt, of whom see sketch on another page of this volume.      Mr. Smith is a straightforward, honorable man who has always performed well his duties as a citizen, as a husband, father and neighbor, and is looked upon with esteem by the entire community.  He is a member of Franklin Post, No. 256, G. A. R.; and of Selah Lodge, No. 403, I. O. O. F.

SNYDER Biography will be put on here upon request.

Wilbur F. Stevenson. Piatt County has in this gentleman a representative farmer and stockman. He was born in Scott County, Ky., November 12, 1842. His grandfather, Job Stevenson, was an active business man and at one time a member of the Kentucky Legislature. His father, Evan Stevenson, was a noted Methodist preacher, and probably married as many couples, preached as many funeral sermons, and delivered as many lectures and political speeches from the time he was seventeen years of age until the date of his death in 1879, as any man of local note in his country. The maternal grandfather of our subject, John Boggs, was a Major in the War of 1812, and was well known as one of the early settlers of Pickaway County, Ohio.      Our subject came to Piatt County in 1868, and entered into partnership with his uncle, John Boggs, Jr., the son of the gentleman above mentioned, and who was also prominent as a stockman throughout Ohio. Indiana and Illinois. Mr. Stevenson now resides in Willow Branch Township, and has identified himself since the date of his arrival in this county, as a resident and citizen thereof, by living quietly on a stock farm, and deserves, in his own estimation, no particular mention. His wife, he says, is really the better one of the two. She was formerly Miss Alice Tallman, and is a native of Pickaway County, whence she came to Illinois when quite young. Her mother is now Mrs. Susan Farra, of Monticello.      A lithographic portrait of Mr. Stevenson is presented in connection with this brief sketch.

Hon. Daniel Stickel, a resident of Monticello since 1865, was born in Pennsylvania September 11, 1816, and of the same state his grandfather, Peter, and his father, John Stickel, were natives.  The latter was reared on a farm and followed the occupation during his active life.  He lived in York County until 1837, then made the journey to Illinois and became one of the earliest settlers of Macon County.  His son Joseph had visited that section the previous year and had brought a tract of partly improved land seven miles east of Decatur, where the family located.  The father subsequently added to his estate by entering large tracts of Government land adjoining that his son had bought for him.  Springfield was his nearest depot for supplies and their were no railroads for many years after his settlement here.  Both parents died in Decatur, whither they removed when the father retired from active life.  The mother was a Pennsylvanian and known for her girlhood as Mary Benson.      Of the eight children born to his parents the subject of this notice was the second.  He came West with them and lived on the home farm a year, then secured the position of clerk in the general store of Prather & Petticord in Decatur.  At that time goods were hauled with teams from St. Louis to the village, which contained about seven hundred inhabitants.  Young Stickel acted as a clerk until 1841, then entered to the business as a partner and came to Monticello and opened what might be called the first store here.  Two years later he attended the land sale at Danville and bought a tract in Monticello Township on which he located a few months later and gave his attention to farming.  He tilled the soil until 1865, and then sold the farm and returned to Monticello where he has permanently remained.      May 31, 1842, Mr. Stickel was married to Miss Anna Bella Piatt, daughter of James and Jemima Piatt, and a native of the Hoosier State.  The union has been blessed by the birth of five children - Richard, Jemima, Anna, Nellie and Kate.  The title by which our subject is known was earned by work in the House of Representatives, to which he was elected in 1858.  He was a candidate of the Republican party to which he has belonged since its formation, he having previously been a Whit.  He was Supervisor in Monticello during the war and has been Justice of the Peace sixteen years.  He has been Trustee, Steward and Sunday-school Superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Stickel is likewise a consistent member of that denomination.

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