Addis, Simon P. bio

Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, 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; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 877-878; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst

Simon P. Addis. Many of the native born citizens of this county have adopted an agricultural career, and are accomplishing their purpose of securing good homes wherein all the comforts of our advanced civilization may be enjoyed. Among this number is the gentleman above named, whose estate on section 5, Banner Township, consists of one hundred and twenty-seven acres, on which stand the various outbuildings thought necessary by a progressive farmer, together with a beautiful modern residence erected in 1889 at a cost of $2,000. The soil is naturally fertile and every effort is made to increase its productiveness by a proper rotation of crops and the wise use of drainage or fertilization, as seems advisable. The commodious residence and pleasant surroundings are represented by a view on another page.
Our subject is the fifth in a family of nine children born to Aaron and Jane (Snydam[Suydam]) Addis, of Banner Township. The father is now deceased, but the mother is still living at the age of eighty-four years. He of whom we write was born in Buckheart Township, February 18, 1843, and passed his youth in the usual manner of farmers' sons. He worked on the home farm until August, 1862, when he was able to accomplish his desire to enter the armies of his country and devote the strength of his right arm to the preservation of the Union. Responding to the call for three hundred thousand troops, he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Third Illinois Infantry, under the command of Col. Dickerman, and was mustered into service at Peoria.
The regiment was attached to the Fifteenth Army Corps, commanded by the gallant John A. Logan, and formed a part of the Army of the Tennessee. It participated in all the battles of that department, but young Addis was detailed for provost duty, and was absent from his regiment much of the time. He has preserved all his orders, which prove interesting reading to a student of the Civil War, but his modesty prevents him from publishing them in this life record. For three years he acted well his part as a loyal, valiant man, faithful to the trust reposed in him and watchful over the territory in which he had jurisdiction. He received an honorable discharge at Chicago July 5, 1865, having been mustered out at Louisville, Ky., after participating in the Grand Review at Washington. He had never missed a roll-call or taken a dose of medicine while in the service.
On his return to his home in August, 1865, Mr. Addis engaged in farming on rented land, and on November 1, 1866, was happily married to Miss Georgianna Sheaff, of Westmoreland County, Pa. This lady is a daughter of George and Margaret Sheaff, and under their care and training grew to womanhood with much useful knowledge and many virtues of heart. After his marriage Mr. Addis bought the beautiful farm he now occupies, where he has continued to give his attention to the calling of a farmer, wooing from the soil abundant crops and surrounding himself with the best of rural belongings.
Mr. and Mr. Addis have had nine children, of whom the following survive: Della, wife of Leroy C. Ballard, living in Buckheart Township; Webster, aged fourteen; Grace, aged twelve; Russell, aged nine, and Grover, aged four, who add to the charm of the fireside.
Mr. Addis is an active Democrat of the Stephen A. Douglas school, and takes a part in the councils of the party at conventions, etc. He is at present Supervisor of Banner Township and formerly held the position of Highway Commissioner more than fifteen years, and was School Director fourteen years continuously. He is Master of Banner Grange, No. 1643, P. of H., and was the representative to the State Grange. He also belongs to Olive Branch Lodge, I. O. O. F., at Canton. His reputation is well established as a man of honor, reliability and true worth, and he is respected in due proportion.