Index to PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
of
Hancock, McDonough and Henderson
Counties Illinois

Lake City Publishing Co.
Chicago
1894

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ROBERT TARMAN, who died January 17, 1894, was a well-known agriculturist of Hancock County, residing on section 28, La Harpe Township. He was a native of Rappahannock County, Va., born May 19, 1827. His father, George Tarman, was born in Maryland, but in early life removed to Virginia, from whence he enlisted in the War of 1812. While residing in the Old Dominion, he served as overseer of slavedriver for Samuel Chancellor, but he did not like this occupation, and in consequence removed to Ohio, in 1836, accompanied by his family. All the produce raised on the one thousand acre plantation was hauled to Falmouth, and Mr. Tarman handled all the money for the same. He was married in February, 1817, to Mary Spicer, daughter of William Spicer, of Rappahannock County, Va., and unto them were born nine children in all. He took his wife and eight children in a one-horse cart to their new home in Ohio. Their journey, which lasted four weeks, was made in December, 1836, the weather being bitterly cold. When they reached Muskingum County they put what household effects they had into a rented cabin, and the father worked at whatever he could find to do. The mother spun and wove all the wearing apparel for the family, and in those early days they suffered many trials and hardships. Their children were as follows: Martha Ann, deceased, wife of Philip Barnes, a farmer of Muskingum County, Ohio; Mary Elizabeth, widow of Philip Parker, a farmer of Fayette County, Ill.; William, who was a farmer of Muckingum County, but is now deceased; Alfred, who carries on agricultural pursuits in Muskingum County; Robert, of this sketch; Mahala Jane, deceased, wife of Michael Dolan, who was captain of a boat on the Ohio Canal and subsequently became a physician in Allen County, Ind., where he died; Sarah, deceased, wife of Mathias Farman, of Hancock County; Samuel who died in this county; and Archibald, of La Crosse, Ill.

Robert Tarman accompanied his parents to Ohio, and received the rudiments of an education in the district schools of Muskingum County, but his privileges were very meagre. He worked on various farms for his father until he has attained his majority, when he began working in his own interest as a farm hand. His first independent effort in life brought him the munificent sum of twenty-five cents per day. He had many obstacles to overcome, but by industry and perseverance he worked his way upward to success.

On the 1st of May, 1851, Mr. Tarman was united in marriage with Miss Phoebe Cassingham, daughter of Richard and Margaret (Morrison) Cassingham. Six children were born unto them, a son and five daughters, namely: Minerva, wife of Peter Peck, a farmer of Page County, Iowa; Mattie, at home; Laura, wife of Judson Farman, an agriculturist of McLean County, Ill.; Celia, deceased; Ollie, at home; and Luther, who has also passed away.

Mr. Tarman came from Ohio to Hancock County in 1853, and purchased fifty acres of land in La Harpe Township, upon which he at once located. To this he added, however, from time to time, until at his death his farm comprised one hundred and twenty acres of good land, which yielded to him a golden tribute in return for the care and labor he bestowed upon it. He was a man of good business ability, and his well-directed efforts brought him a comfortable competence, which his family now possesses.

In politics, Mr. Tarman was a Republican. In early life he supported the Whig party, but on the organization of the Republican party he joined its ranks, and afterward fought under its banner. He served as School Director for about sixteen years, and during his term the cause of education found in him a stalwart supporter, ever ready to promote its interests. He held membership with the Methodist Protestant Church of La Harpe. During the past four years he had been in poor health, and in 1892 he made a trip to the West, hoping to be benefited thereby. For twenty-eight years, Mr. Tarman cared for his parents and made their declining days happy. His mother passed away April 9, 1892, at the very advanced age of ninety-five years. Mr. Tarman was a man of upright principles, and one always honorable and straightforward in his dealings, and his well-spent life gained him the confidence and high regard of his fellow-townsmen.

Mr. Tarman died January 17, 1894, on his farm, and shortly afterwards the family removed to La Harpe, where they now reside. Of him the La Harper said upon the occasion of his death:

"For a long time he was seriously afflicted, but during all his afflictions he was patient and hopeful. His expressed desire to live was from intense love for his family. But though desirous to live, he became fully reconciled to the Divine Providence that called him away. His faith and hope rested upon the Rock of Ages. It is blessed to die the death of the righteous. though conscious that he had not lived up to the privileges afforded him--conscious of failure to live a perfect Christian life--yet such was his faith in the mercy and love of God, so clearly manifested in the gift of His Son to redeem a lost world, that he calmly rested at the foot of the Cross, and for many days before his death, as he thought of that hymn entitled, 'Take Me as I Am,' requested that it be sung at his funeral. It was a great comfort to the bereaved that Mr. Tarman was conscious and able to converse with them to within a few minutes of his death. In the death of Mr. Tarman the community has lost an excellent citizen, the church a devoted member, and the family a loving husband and father."

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JOHN PAUL ROARK, M.D. , one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Bushnell, Ill., was born on the 5th of July, 1864, near Macomb, McDonough County, and was the eldest in a family of ten children, six sons and four daughters, whose parents were James and Catherine (McGinnis) Roark. On both the paternal and maternal sides our subject is of Irish descent. His father was a native of the Emerald Isle, where he resided until 1861, when he crossed the broad Atlantic to America. Coming west to Illinois, he purchased a farm in Chalmers Township, McDonough County, where he still resides. He was only about nineteen years of age at the time of his emigration. Since his arrival here he has successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits, and is now ranked among the substantial farmers of the neighborhood. In politics, he is a supporter of the Democratic party. His wife was born in McDonough County, but her parents were natives of Ireland, and came to this country in 1840.

The children of the Roark family are: John Paul, of this sketch; Patrick D., who is now engaged in the drug business in Macomb; Mary, who is still at home; Michael E., who is engaged in teaching school and in reading law in his native county; and Susie, Jo, Kate, Nell, Jimmie and Louis, who are still under the parental roof.

The subject of this sketch remained upon the home farm and attended the district schools of the neighborhood until about seventeen years of age. He then supplemented his early educational advantages by study in the Macomb Normal College. Later, he embarked in teaching, which profession he followed for two years, but it was his desire to enter the medical profession, and to this end he entered Rush Medical College of Chicago, where for three years he pursued his studies, graduating from that institution on the expiration of that period. He also attended and was graduated from the Cook County School of Surgery.

When his college course was completed, Dr. Roark came to Bushnell, in 1889, and, opening an office, began the practice of his profession, to which he has since devoted his energies. On the 18th of October, 1893, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary G. Stanton, of White Hall, Ill. Both are members of the Catholic Church. Socially, the Doctor is a member of Chevalier Lodge No. 101, K.T., of Bushnell; and also of the Modern Woodmen of America. On subjects of national importance, he votes with the Democratic party, but at local elections supports the candidates whom he thinks best qualified, regardless of party affiliations. He has served as a member of the Board of Health since locating in Bushnell. Recognized as a skilled physician, he receives a liberal patronage, which is well merited. He always keeps abreast with the times, and is a thorough student of everything connected with the science of medicines, so that this success is the result of his earnest efforts. The Doctor has always lived in McDonough County, and is both widely and favorably known.

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Dr. JEFFERSON S. CANNON , who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Terre Haute, was born in Hamilton County, Tenn., January 16, 1854. His father, Dr. Andrew J. Cannon, was born in the same state in 1818. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Melinda Sawyer, and was of German descent. The former was reared as a farmer, and in early life became a miller, but at the age of thirty-two he began studying medicine, and was in the office of Dr. Simpson for three years. He then began practice in Eastern Tennessee, where he remined until 1858, when he went to Arkansas, and there engaged in practice and in merchandising until 1880. He still makes his home in that State. His wife, however, was called to the home beyond in April, 1880. They were the parents of nine children: Eliza, wife of Rev. O.R. Bryant; Monroe, who died in 1881; Benjamin F., a Baptist minister of Texas; Mary, who became the wife of Jasper P. Henry, and died in 1876; George, who died in 1882; Jefferson S., of this sketch; Dr. John S., a graduate of the Kentucky School of Medicine, and now engaged in practice in Missouri; Robert E., who died in 1863; and Melinda T., wife of James Arnold, a farmer of Arkansas.

Dr. Cannon of this sketch spent the first ten years of his life upon a farm, and then entered an academy at Wallaceburg, Ark., where he completed his literary education. He then embarked in school teaching, which profession he followed for about five years, when he began studying medicine under his father, and also clerked in a drug store. In 1881 he bagan practicing in Arkansas in connection with his father, with whom he remined until 1882, after which he spent his time in Hot Springs until 1891, when he went to Oklahoma, where he remined for about eighteen months. During that time he was graduated from the Memphis Hospital Medical College. He is also a graduate of the Bomont Hospital Medical College of St. Louis, Mo. In the spring of 1893 he came to Terre Haute, where he has since made his home. The Doctor was married September 25, 1871, to to Miss Lula J. Wood, and by their union have been born four children: Newton J.., Emma L., Robert E., and Willie Ola, who died November 28, 1886. The mother passed away August 27, 1886, and the Doctor was again married, June 28, 1889, his second union being with Miss Hattie A. Aldrich, of Blandinsville, Ill.

Dr. Cannon is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen lodges. He also belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. In the practice of his profession he has won good success, and though he has only resided in Terre Haute for a year, he has secured a liberal patrongage, which is constantly increasing.

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