Macon County Biographies C Campbell, James D.     Cantrall, William     Carter, Col. E. D    Cassell, Berry H. Caulk, Jacob     Cox, Ephraim     B. Hilton Cassell  NEW!! Cox, William     Crissey, Rev. William S.     Curtis, Dr. Ira B. JAMES D. CAMPBELL was born June 26, 1803, in North Carolina; removed thence to Caldwell County, Kentucky, and thence to Wayne County, Illinois, in 1826; thence to Sangamon county in 1828, and to Macon County in 1830. He married in Kentucky Lavina Travis, who is stIll living. Mr. C. was a member of the county commissioners' court, and for many years a justice of the peace. He died in 1864. Their children are - Matilda, John T., Margaret, (married Thomas Warfield,) David, Louisa, (married Wm. Foly,) and Mary, (married Geo. Schroll.) Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 253. Transcribed and annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards. WILLIAM CANTRALL was born in Green County, Ky., January 17, 1800; came to Sangamon County, Ill., in 1825, and to Macon County in 1833. The first part of his life in Illinois was spent in selling goods. He has held several offices of trust since his connection with Macon County. Was married on the 14th of February, 1868, to Elizabeth Hall, who was born in 1809, and died in 1868. Of their children - Thomas was born in November, 1829; died in Washington Territory. Jane was born in 1831; married Dr. Kellar, who now lives in Sullivan. Mary was born in 1835; married Dr. DIllon in 1854; they now reside in Adams County. Susan was born in 1844; married Harl P. Christie; they are now living in Decatur. Mr. Cantrall was married a second time, August 19, 1869, to Mrs. Han, who was born in the State of Kentucky. Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 252. Transcribed and annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards. Col. E. D. CARTER, was born February 2, 1814, in Logan County, Ky., and removed thence to ShelbyvIlle in 1833, thence to Springfield in 1836, and thence to Decatur in 1838, where he now resides. He married Christina Smick, who was born in Kentucky in 1812. Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 253. Transcribed and annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards. BERRY HILL CASSELL BORN IN 1822, CAME TO DECATUR IN 1839 AND LONG A MOST PROMINENT CITIZEN Berry H. Cassell was born in Dauphin County, PA, May 23, 1822. The family was of old German stock and moved from Virginia to Pennsylvania early in the settlement of that state. At the age of 17, Mr. Cassell came to Illinois and being impressed with the appearance of the country about Putnam county returned home and induced his parents to move to this state. ACROSS THE PRAIRIES The family started in the fall of 1839, going down the Ohio river from Pittsburg to Louisville. From the latter place they made the trip overland in two large wagons through an unbroken wilderness. Across the prairies of waving grass there was no trail to guide the travelers. The tall grass waved in front of them and on each side as far as the eye could reach. In the timber, however, they were able to follow a trail left by emigrants who had gone before. STOPPED AT DECATUR The party arrived in Decatur in November, 1839, and as the snow was deep they decided to remain here during the winter. In the spring all except Berry Cassell went on to Putnam county, but the latter decided to remain here.  Decatur was then located in the center of thirty acres, the center of which was the old square. What is now Central park was then a timber and hazel brush patch and Mr. Cassell said, “It was the worst place for snakes in those days that I ever saw. I ran on to one big snake in there one day that caused me to run and it was the only snake I ever ran from”. BEGAN AS TINNER In 1840, Mr. Cassell opened a tinner’s shop. He had a dollar and a quarter at that time and called on Captain Allen to go into partnership with him. Mr. Allen furnished the capital for the enterprise and a shop was opened on Franklin street in the cellar of a building close the intersection of Park and Franklin streets. The business prospered so that in the next spring the firm took the room on the first floor. In about a year Mr. Cassell bought a lot at the corner of South Park and Franklin streets and erected a small building to be used as his shop. Shortly afterward he sold the lot and moved the building to the lot at the corner of Water and East Main streets, no occupied by Linn & Scruggs. SOLD L.& S. CORNER In the fall of 1852, he sold the Linn & Scruggs corner, 80 x 150 feet for $800. About that time Mr. Cassell started in business with William Prather, opening a hardware and furniture store in the Cantral building on East main street. In about a year the firm was compelled to seek larger quarters and moved to a building on the spot where the Morehouse & Wells Co. building now stands. At that time there was a great immigration to this part of the state and business was flourishing. Most of the immigrants located on farms and there was an urgent demand for farming implements which the firm handled. Money came fast and the firm prospered. Macon county at that time embraced part of Christian. Platt and Moultrie and Decatur drew trade from forty miles around. In 1855, the firm sold out to J.R. Gorin. BOUGHT LAND Mr. Cassell early began to buy land in the new country. In 1852, he purchased 240 acres of land, the first 160 acres beginning at what is now the intersection of Wood and Broadway streets and extending north to the Wabash railroad, thence east to Jasper street and south to Wood and west to Broadway. There was no railroad at that time and the Wabash later received its right of way from Mr. Cassell. Another piece of land was soon purchased lying southeast of the other and taking in that territory where the brickyards are located southeast of the city. For the first piece of land, Mr. Cassell paid $12.) an acre. He has since sold forty-foot lots off of it at $1,000 each. OWNED HERALD HOUSE In 1856, Mr. Cassell purchased the Herald house, which stood on the lot now occupied by the St. Nicholas hotel and conducted the hotel for several years, changing its name to the Cassell house. Since giving it up he has devoted his time to looking after his real estate. During the time he was in the Herald house he had an opportunity to become intimately acquainted with Lincoln and Douglas. That was in the period of the exciting political campaigns in which both the men were taking such an active part. They spoke in the vicinity many times and always topped at the Herald house, Mr. Cassell could relate many of the stories told by Lincoln, many of which are not found in books. I was in the Cassell house that the convention of the editors of the state was held in February, 1856, and named the date of the convention which was held a few months later in the city of Bloomington when the Republican party was formed. GAVE DEPOT SITE When the people of Decatur were especially anxious for the Illinois Central to build passenger station here, Mr. Cassell gave the company five acres of land for depot purposes. Mr. Cassell sold to henry Prather and William Martin thirty acres of land between Broadway and the railroad tracks and these two men with Mr. Cassell gave to the Wabash five acres of land for depot purposes. It was stipulated that a station should be erected but the Wabash did not build and a lawsuit to recover the property followed. There was a compromise and Mr. Cassell got back land where part of the buildings on Front street now stand and the Wabash got the land where the station is now located. AS PUBLIC OFFICER Mr. Cassell served as clerk of Decatur in 1850, as clerk and treasurer in 1851, and clerk until 1855 when the city was incorporated. He also served as assessor several times. He was the last recorder of Macon county. He was elected in 1846 and in 1848 the officer of recorder was merged into that of circuit clerk. The education he acquired was picked up after the time he began to work. He was a fine penman and says he learned to write by scratching the letters on tin with a scratch awl and in that way learned to write a good hand. Although having attended school but a short time he managed to obtain a good education. he was an extensive reader and was well informed on many subjects. in his earlier days Mr. Cassell was very fold of music and spent much of his spare time in that way. He played a clarinet in the first band of which Decatur ever boasted and also played several other musical instruments. HIS MEMORY He had a wonderful memory for dates and events and could GE a clear description of the location of every building of what is known as the original town of Decatur. His close association with the business of the city and the active part he took in its growth probably made his recollection more distinct than most of the older settlers. During recent years, Mr. Cassell’s eyesight had been affected and he did not go about much. CASSELL’S CASTLE His beautiful home on Cassell’s Hill was erected in 1887 and contains twenty-two rooms. The hill is twelve feet higher than the pavement on Lincoln square and fifty feet higher than the pavement at the corner of East Prairie and Broadway. It is only a few feet less in elevation than John’s Hill. The house is reached by a private approach that would be Webster street if that were extended. The interior of the house is finished in hard wood cut on Cassell’s Hill and seasoned and specially prepared for this purpose. The grounds about the building are platted in a circle and contain about four acres. Outside the circle and immediately surrounding it on the east and north are about fourteen acres of land retained by Mr. Cassell until his death. Governor Oglesby made his first public speech on the spot where the house now stands. It was on July 4th, 1842, when a big celebration took place. The platform stood on the grounds now covered by the west and of the front porch and from this form Mr. Oglesby made an old fashioned Fourth of July oration and Henry Elliott read the Declaration of Independence. [Source: “THE DECATUR REVIEW”. Wednesday Evening, October 12, 1904 Page 5 - Transcribed by Nancy Piper] B. Hilton Cassell Among the men prominently operating in real-estate circles is B. Hilton Cassell, and his efforts are an element in the substantial growth and development in the city. When Decatur contained only a few hundred inhabitants he started upon life's journey here, the date of his birth being March 20, 1846. His parents were Berry H. and Louise M. (Shultz) Cassell, natives of East Hanover, Pennsylvania and Maryland, respectively. They were pioneer people of Macon county, arriving when Decatur had not yet emerged from villagehood and gave but little evidence of future growth and development. The father was a tinner by trade and carried on that business for several years, after which he turned his attention to the hardward business, becoming the junior partner in the firm of Prather & Cassell, their store being upon the present site of the Morehouse & Wells building which is now being erected. From time to time he extended the scope of his activities and became a prominent factor in the substantial growth of the city. In 1856 he was in the hotel business as a member of the firm of Cassell, Stroh and Henderson, the hostelry being known as the Cassell House, which stood on the present site of the St. Nicholas. His varied business activities and his prominence in other directions made him well known throughout this section of the state. A tract of land which he purchased at the east end of the city at an early day is now build up almost solidly with residences. He also purchased eight acres of land known as Cassell Hill, a tract almost circular in form, and on this he erected a beautiful residence now owned and occupied by B. Hilton Cassell and designated throughout the city as Cassell's Castle. The death of Mr. Cassell occurred October 12, 1904. His wife had passed away October 21 1903. Mr. Cassell was reared in Decatur, attended the public schools and after his marriage removed to a farm in Decatur township, which remained his place of abode until 1901. He is still the owner of two hundred acres of valuable land to the cultivation and development of which he devoted a number of years, transforming it into one of the valuable and highly productive properties of this region. In 1901 he removed into his father's old home which is now his residence. He also owns about twenty houses in Decatur which he leases, and as a speculative builder he has become well known, erecting various dwelling for the purpose of sale. His intention is to divide the old homestead, consisting of eight acres, into building lots and make it one of the ideal residence districts of the city. In 1872 Mr. Cassell was married to Miss Fannie W. Harrison, of Ohio, and unto them have been born three sones: Louis B., now engaged in the practice of law; Fred R., who follows farming; and Otto D., who is engaged in the real-estate business. Mrs. Cassell is a daughter of Matthew and Lydia (Plummer) Harrison, both natives of Ohio, where the father died. He was a farmer by occupation. After his death, Mrs. Harrison came to Macon county, Illinois, and here she passed away in October, 1898. In their family were fourteen children, seven of whom are living at the present time. Two sons died in Andersonville prison during the Civil War. Mr. Cassell is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of Macon Lodge, No. 8 A.F.&A.M. Macon Chapter, No. 21, R.A.M.; Decatur Council, No. 12, R.&S.M.; Beaumonoir Commandery, No. 9, K.T.; Peoria Consistory, S.P.R.S.; Decatur Chapter, No. 171, O.E.S.; Mecca Shrine, No. 15; and the White Shrine of Jerusalem, and his wife is also a member of the Eastern Star and the White Shrine. Mr. Cassell was born in the house which stood on the site of the Linn & Scruggs dry goods store, in a long building which had been used for a wagon and paint shop. His father had a little tine shop in the east end of the building; the family occupying the west end. Decatur at that time had less than a thousand population. He has, therefore, witnessed its growth to a city of thirty-five thousand - one of the most progressive and enterprising in Illinois. He has not only maintained a deep interest in what has been accomplished but has also borne his share in the work of development, his cooperation being a tangible factor in various movements for the general good. He is today one of Decatur's most popular and prominent residents and a well spent life is indicated in the fact that many of his staunchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood to the present time. [Source: City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement. Chicago: Pioneer Pub. Co., 1910. Pages 129-131, Biography of B. Hilton Cassell - Transcribed by Nancy Piper] JACOB CAULK was born November 5, 1802; was married to Mary __________, January 7, 1830, who was born January 22, 1804. Of their children -- James was born October 26, 1830; died September 5, 1833. Martha was born February 19, 1832. John was born October 13, 1833; married Malinda Pound. They are now residents of Decatur. Albert was born June 20, 1837; supposed to have died in the army. [ed., according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Nationwide Gravesite Locator, he was buried in the Andersonville National Cemetery following his death on April 9, 1864. Mary was born November 19, 1839. Sarah was born December 23, 1841. Jacob Caulk and wife were among the first settlers of this county; neither of them is now living. Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 254. Transcribed and annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards. EPHRAIM COX was among the early settlers who came here about 1828 or 1829. We have no record of the family complete. George M. Cox was born April 6, 1830, in Macon County, and married Ellen Downs, who was born in Ohio, March 15, 1832. Of their children -- Nancy C. was born October 24, 1852; married John Woods, December 17, 1873. Mary A. was born February 27, 1854; married John A. W. Bell, October 19, 1876. WIlliam H. was born March 8, 1856. John C. was born April 5, 1858; died February 23, 1862. M.J. was born August 16, 1860. L. A. was born December 24, 1863; died August 15, 1864. Ida F. was born April 16, 1865. George E. was born November 15, 1867. Eda A. was born February 22, 1870; died February 26, 1870. S. C. was born July 26, 1871. Margaret E. was born March 14, 1832; married Cornelius Morris in 1848, who was born November 6th, 1825. Of their children -- Nancy A. was born February 28, 1849; died December 9, 1861. Mary E. was born September 27, 1850; married November 19, 1872, to C. W. Frew. Margaret M. was born February 22, 1853. Lewis J. was born July 17, 1856; died November 12, 1875. Thos. F. was born April 23, 1861. Amanda E. was born April 7, 1864. George W. was born July 1, 1867. Ada A. was born June 27, 1870. Elmer O. was born May 8, 1872. Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 252. Transcribed and annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards. WILLIAM COX was born in the State of Maryland, December 19, 1803; was married to Martha __________, July 3, 1832, who was born April 14, 1806, in the state of Virginia; died December 18, 1867. Of their children — Mary Elizabeth was born August 24, 1833; was married to Harvey Travis; died February 6, 1862. Martha Ann was born December 17, 1834. Almeda Virginia was born May 7, 1837; was married to Gilbert McDaniel; died November 5, 1861. WIlliam Ephraim was born July 15, 1838; was married to Ellen Traughber, now Hunt; died December 18, 1861. Triphena was born November 5, 1840; was married to Thomas Price; died February 24, 1862. Emily was born March 12, 1843; died December 27, 1861. Charlotte was born September 9, 1845; was married to John Miller, and now resides in this county. Lucetta was born January 14, 1848; was married to Harvey Epling, and now resides in Kansas. Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 254. Transcribed and annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards. Rev. WM. S. CRISSEY was born in Connecticut, April 21, 1811, and came to Macon County in 1831, on a visit, and removed here in 1834. In 1831-2, Mr. C. was upon the Tazewell Circuit, which included a very large territory, viz : Peoria, Pekin, Bloomington, etc. In 1832-3, he was assigned to the JacksonvIlle Circuit, which was as extensive as his former field of labors. Of the experiences of circuit rider among the pioneers of Illinois, Father Crissey relates some very amusing instances. He has been a close observer of men and events, and has a mind well stored with facts gathered from a long life and varied experiences. Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 253. Transcribed and annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards. JESSE CARROLL CULBERTSON. Operating widely in the real estate field of Muskogee [ed., Muskogee County, Oklahoma] and thoroughly acquainted with values and the opportunities for sale, Jesse Carroll Culbertson has made steady progress in his business career through his close application, energy and commendable determination. A native son of Illinois, he was born in Macon county, November 25, 1882, and is a son of Griffith James and Lydia (Pieper) Culbertson. The father was also engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business and thus in youth Jesse C. Culbertson gained considerable knowledge of the business, laying up information that has been to him of great value in later years. He supplemented his public school training by study in the University of Nebraska, for a period of two years. He afterward became a law student there and completed his law course in 1903. In the meantime, however, he had made his initial step in the business world by entering the First National Bank of Lincoln, Nebraska, as a messenger in 1898. Steadily he worked his way upward through a period of eight years, winning various promotions until he became teller. He resigned that position in 1906 to become a resident of Muskogee. Since taking up his abode in this city Mr. Culbertson has engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business, thus returning to the field of activity with which he had become somewhat familiar ill his boyhood through association with his father. In 1908 he purchased a business, forming a partnership on the 15th of February of that year with Luther E. Tomm, under the firm style of Culbertson & Tomm. They maintain not only an extensive real estate department but also handle loans and insurance. Their position is one of leadership-in their chosen field and today they are well known as the owners of the Railway Exchange building, an eight-story structure recognized as the finest business block of Muskogee, containing seventy-two thousand square feet of floor space. Mr. Culbertson is recognized as a splendid valuator of property and most progressive in the conduct of all his business interests. Aside from the three lines which claim his attention in Muskogee he is well known through his agricultural activities. He has fifteen hundred acres of land which he farms himself and is the. owner altogether of three thousand acres of farm land Mr. Culbertson belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and he is a very active and helpful member of the Kiwanis Club. He is also a member of Beta Theta Pi college fraternity. He generously cooperates in all measures that he believes will prove of public benefit and he was very active in the bridge bond election and campaign. He belongs to the Sequoyah Club and also to the Town and Country Club and in these various social organizations with which he is connected is extremely popular. While he has nothing of that familiarity which prompts the individual to greet everyone as a valued friend, he is nevertheless of a cordial and genial disposition, readily recognizing the good qualities in others and judging his fellowmen not by wealth but by worth. Benedict, J. D. (1922). Muskogee and northeastern Oklahoma, including the counties of Muskogee, McIntosh, Wagoner, Cherokee, Sequoyah, Adair, Delaware, Mayes, Rogers, Washington, Nowata, Craig, and Ottawa. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Pages 41-42.  -- Submitted by Nancy Piper. Dr. IRA B. CURTIS, the 17th county treasurer of Macon County, was born October 23, 1823, in Delaware County, Ohio, and moved to Sangamon County, Ill., in 1835, and has been a resident of this county since 1844, excepting seven years of which time he was a resident of Christian County. He was a physician in active practice from 1846 until 1862, when he received a stroke of paralysis in his lower limbs, and has been unable to walk since, which, of course, destroyed largely his usefulness in his profession. In 1863 he was elected county treasurer, which position he held until 1869. Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 254. Transcribed and annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards. HOME ©2008 Genealogy Trails