Montgomery County IL Archives Bios......Nokomis Township 1882 
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History of Bond and Montgomery Counties Illinois 1882 - Part II, 
pages 318-324, Nokomis Twp 

[Page 319] 

D. P. BROPHY, Postmaster, Nokomis, son of Dennis and Julia (GALVIN) BROPHY, was 
born in New York City March 3, 1832; he lived in the city till about fourteen 
years of age, receiving, during this time, the rudiments of a common course of 
education; upon the death of his mother, in 1846, he went to the city of 
Philadelphia and engaged in the type-foundry business; after about eighteen 
months, he went to the city of Baltimore and engaged in the same occupation with 
Edwin STARR, of the Sun building; in about nine months, he engaged on the 
Pittsburgh & Baltimore Railroad as assistant baggagemaster; this position he held 
about nine months, when he went back to New York City and engaged in the 
type-foundry business for a number of years; his health failing, he abandoned 
this business and engaged in market gardening near the city of Boston, for James 
YOUNG. In the fall of 1856, he came West, and first stopped at Litchfield and 
worked for Galvin HOWE some six months, and then came to Nokomis. At the beginning 
of the late rebellion, he responded to the call for troops; volunteered in the 
One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Illinois Infantry, Company F, during this time acting 
as Postmaster till the close of the war, after which he came back to Nokomis, and 
was appointed Postmaster, which position he still holds, having been in the employ 
of the Government for twenty years. September 17, 1868, he married Miss Susan, 
daughter of Thomas S. and Ann (OLDROYD) BATTLES, by whom he has had two children 
- Nathaniel B. and Julia A., both dead. Mr. BROPHY traces his ancestry back to 
an Irish origin through both his father and mother; his great-grandfather settled 
in New York in an early day, and the BROPHYs are scattered over the States; Mr. 
BROPHY's father raised two children - our subject, and Hannah, who died in New 
York City at the age of twenty-three; Mr. BROPHY's father died before he was born, 
and many years after, his widow, and mother of our subject, married John ROBERTS 
and raised two children, a son and a daughter, the daughter marrying James JACKSON, 
a custom house officer in New York City. Mr. and Mrs. BROPHY are members of the 
Baptist Church, and are respected by all who know them.

William M. BLUE, farmer and stock-dealer, P. O. Nokomis, born in Franklin County, 
Ohio, April 26, 1826, son of Peter BLUE, a farmer, who was born in Virginia in 
1792, married in Ohio in 1823, and died there in 1855, from the effects of a 
rattlesnake bite, in eight days after being bitten; subject’s mother, Nancy 
(CRABB) BLUE, born in Virginia in 1797, is now living at Nokomis, in the 
eighty-fifth year of her age; they had six children – Letitia, wife of Thomas 
F. WILSON; William M., our subject; Thomas C., who died at the age of twenty-five; 
Nancy C., wife of the late N. BRONS; Peter, who died at the age of thirty-three; 
and Susan E., who died at the age of thirty. Subject was married, in Franklin 
County, Ohio, in 1844, to Rachel E. MARSHALL, born in that county in 1828, died 
in Montgomery County April 4, 1869, and a daughter of John and Hannah (CAIN) 
MARSHALL; by this union, subject had a family of nine – Rebecca J., Alice 

[Page 319]
 
A., Francis P. (deceased), Augusta M., William P. (attending law school at 
Bloomington, Ill.), Ella, Ada, and twins, both dead. Mr. BLUE began farming at 
the age of twenty, and has followed his vocation successfully; besides farming, 
he is a well-known stock-raiser; owns 320 acres of land in this county, and 320 
acres in Madison County, Neb.; he began life with a limited capital, but, by hard 
work and close attention to business, he now ranks among the wealthy men of 
Nokomis. Mr. BLUE is a Democrat; is well and favorably known in his district, and 
has made, in his busy life, a host of friends. 

George CULP, furniture, Nokomis, born in Jefferson County, Ohio, November 28, 1821, 
son of Adam and Nancy (WRIGHT) CULP, he, a farmer, born in Pennsylvania July 5, 
1795, moved to Ohio about 1812, where he raised fourteen children by two wives, and 
died there October 20, 1865; she, born in Jefferson County, Ohio, September 20, 
1795, died there March 15, 1837. Subject received a common school education; worked 
at the carpenter’s trade and furniture business; has continued to manufacture 
furniture since his arrival in Nokomis in 1855, and keeps in stock a full line 
of superior goods. He was married, in Jefferson County, Ohio, September 12, 1844, 
to Elizabeth EASTERDAY, born in Jefferson County, Ohio, April 27, 1823, daughter 
of Christian and Ann Marie (STEMPLE) EASTERDAY, he, born October 18, 1789, in 
Frederick County, Md., died September 29, 1875; she, born in Morgan County, Va., 
March 7, 1791, died July 6, 1875. Subject had nine children, seven now living – 
Benjamin F., Barbara (now wife of C. F. TINDALL), Loretta K. (deceased), Adam C., 
Amos L., James A., Leora F., Lillie M. and Martin William (deceased). Mr. CULP is 
a member of the Lutheran Church; a Democrat, and is a strong advocate of temperance. 
The name CULP was of German origin, and was originally spelled Kalb, then changed 
to Kolp, and afterward to Culp. Baron De KALB, of Revolutionary notoriety, was of 
the same genealogy. Baltza CULP, grandfather of subject came to the United States 
from Germany about the close of the Revolutionary war.

Martin HARKEY, farmer, P. O. Nokomis, who came with his parents from North Carolina 
and settled at Hillsboro, Montgomery Co., Ill., when there were only eight log 
cabins (1830); he was born in North Carolina in 1813, and is the son of Martin and
Christina (MESINGER) HARKEY, who were natives of Pennsylvania, from where they 
emigrated to North Carolina in an early day; they both died in this county at a 
ripe old age, and were both respected, and working on a farm; he received a common 
school education, and began life for himself at the age of twenty-two, by farming, 
which occupation has ever been his vocation. In 1835, he married Mary, daughter of 
Jacob and Catharine (BOST) CRESS; she was born in North Carolina in 1815, and came 
with her parents to this county in 1818; they settled close to Hillsboro, and 
followed farming; father was born in 1779, and died in this county in 1865; his 
wife was born in 1786, and died in 1859; they were both members of the Lutheran 
Church. Mr. HARKEY, by hard work and economy, has secured a good farm of 300 acres, 
and a good property in Nokomis. To Mr. and Mrs. HARKEY have been born nine children 
- six sons and three Daughters - Sophia C., dead; Harriet R., dead; Henry L., in
California; Jane E., wife of E. BRIGHTMAN, in California; George W., dead; Jacob 
M., Thomas P., James M., and one dying in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. HARKEY are members 
of the Presbyterian Church, and strong advocates of the 

[Page 320]

temperance cause, and, in fact, everything that pertains to good and the promotion 
of society.

Thomas G. HOBSON, miller, Nokomis, born in Yorkshire, England, May 10, 1840, son 
of Robert and Elizabeth (LEAMING) HOBSON. Robert HOBSON, subject‘s father, a native 
of England and miller by trade, came to America in 1843; followed his trade in 
different parts of the United States, and died in Litchfield, Ill., January 25, 
1877, aged seventy-three years; his wife, also a native of England, is still 
living; they had ten children, of whom our subject is the eighth; he received a 
common school education; at the age of seventeen, learned the miller’s trade, and, 
in 1873, formed a partnership with L. M.HARTSOCK, at Nokomis, where he has since 
resided. At Staunton, Ill., December 8, 1867, he married Elizabeth COWELL, born at 
or near Staunton, Ill., September 20, 1847, daughter of James R. and Lucinda 
(CAMP) COWELL; she died May 18, 1870. He was married the second time, at Lincoln, 
Logan Co., Ill., January 23, 1879, to Matilda E. SNELL, born in Staunton, Macoupin 
Co., Ill., December 4, 1851, daughter of Selby and Sarah Jane (DEES) SNELL, he, 
born May 8, 1811, died February 17, 1872; she, born at Staunton, Macoupin Co., 
Ill., April 11, 1831, still living. Mr. HOBSON is a Democrat, and a member of the 
Masonic fraternity. Messrs. HOBSON & HARTSOCK have a mill, 60x40, engine room 30x16, 
and boiler room 30x16; the four run of stones are run by a sixty-horse-power engine; 
the mill was built by RHOADER in 1866; the shipments of flour annually average 
15,000 barrels; the shipments in 1881 were 20,000 barrels.

L. M. HARTSOCK, miller, Nokomis, born near Johnsville, Frederick Co., Md., November 
9, 1841, son of Nicholas and Sarah HARTSOCK, he, a stone and brick mason, died when 
our subject was thirteen years old; she died when subject was but four years old; 
they had two children - L. M. and Maggie E. Subject was raised among strangers, and
received a common-school education; at the age of eighteen, he began learning the
miller’s trade at Little Pipe Creek, near Middleburg, Md., and has followed his 
trade ever since. At Waterloo, Ill., January 9, 1969, he married Frances A. Cooley, 
a native of Indiana, born September 6, 1844, her father, Lorin COOLEY, dying when 
she was quite young; her mother, Mary BOWERS, is now Mrs. J. D. JONES. Mr. HARTSOCK 
has a family of four – Maggie E., Arthur L., Robert L. and Ethel. In 1873, subject 
went in partnership with Thomas G. HOBSON in the milling business, owning a half 
interest in the Nokomis large mill, a description of which is given in Mr. HOBSON’s
biography, published in this book. Subject is a Republican, a Freemason, and a 
member of the Knights of Honor. Mr. HARTSOCK is a fine example of American pluck;
starting out in life without a cent, he has, by patience, perseverance and 
indomitable will, made a name for himself which the ravages of time cannot efface.

Charles L. HENKEL, druggist, Nokomis, was born in Virginia, son of Rev. D. M. 
and Susan (EGER) HENKEL, his father being a Lutheran clergyman, as his forefathers 
were of nine generations back; both parents were natives of Virginia, his mother 
being a sister of HAVEMEYER, the great sugar refiner of New York. Our subject 
received a good classical education; made chemistry a study, and, early in life, 
engaged in his present vocation as clerk in a drug store at Richmond, Va., and 
elsewhere; he began in the drug business in Nokomis in 1876, and is considered 
an excellent pharmacist, having spent the greater part of his early life in 
familiarizing himself with

[Page 321] 

the details of his profession. He was married, in 1870, to Belle LEAS, born in 
Jefferson County, Ohio, daughter of Leonard LEAS, Esq., a native of Adams County, 
Penn., where he was born March 20, 1811, being now a resident of Nokomis.

F. O. PADDOCK, lumber-dealer, Nokomis, was born in Argyle, Wis., December 16, 1853, 
son of Oscar H. and Ann (THREADGOLD) PADDOCK, he, born in Woodstock, Vt., June 12, 
1830, came to Illinois at an early day, and is now in the lumber business at Pana, 
Ill., and with his son (subject) at Nokomis; she, a native of Yorkshire, England, 
was born December 12, 1836. Subject received a good business education, and engaged 
in business at Pana, Ill., where he dealt in lumber and building material; thence 
he moved to Nokomis, where he carries on the same business; he has the largest stock 
of any dealer in his line in Montgomery County, and does an extensive trade. At St.
Joseph, Mo., August 28, 1877, he married Ada PLATT, born in Brooklyn, N. Y., April 
8, 1855, daughter of Rudolphus T. and Mary (NARES) PLATT, he born in Clifton Park, 
N. Y., August 1, 1832, died in May, 1876; she, a native of Geneva, N. Y., born 
November 8, 1834; from this union, one child, Jessie F., now three years old, has 
been born. Mr. Paddock is of old Revolutionary stock; his great-grandfather and
grand-uncles were Revolutionary soldiers, and he is an honor to the stock from 
whence he springs.

M. P. PUFELES, merchant, Nokomis, born in Austria in 1852, and came to America 
in 1868; he was the son of Sigmund and Rosa (HIRSCHSTIN) PUFELES. Our subject 
received a good common-school education. In 1879, he married Dora WEINSTEIN, who 
was also born in Austria; they have three children – Sigmund, Lena and Jessie. Mr.
PUFELES commenced business by clerking and traveling in New Your City; came to 
Nokomis in 1879, and joined in partnership with Lessel & Bro. for one year; after 
that, in 1880, went in business for himself, and now does a first-class business 
in dry goods and general merchandise; sells for cash, and pays cash for his goods, 
which enables him to sell cheap. Mr. PUFELES is a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
and a credit to the business community at Nokomis.

H. F. ROOD, banker, Nokomis, President of the Nokomis National Bank, and one of 
the first settlers of Nokomis, was born in Massachusetts in 1818; he is the third 
son of Ashael and Asenath (FULLER) ROOD, who were also of Massachusetts; father 
born in 1772, and by occupation was a farmer in his native State, where he died 
in 1852; his wife was born in 1789, and died in 1828. Our subject spent his 
boyhood days on a farm, and received a common-school education. In 1843, he 
married Nancy LOUDEN, a lady of rare attainments, and daughter of Joshua and 
Nancy HINES LOUDEN. Mrs. ROOD has been to her husband ever an efficient co-worker,
sharing with him all his trials and sustaining him by earnest co-operation in all 
his plans; she is an active member of the M. E. Church. Mr. ROOD began life by 
engaging in the hotel business in his native State, and then followed the same 
business both in Connecticut and New York. In 1850, he removed to Crawford County, 
Penn., and in 1857, by the solicitation of friends, he removed to Montgomery 
County, where he embarked in the mercantile business, occupying for his store the 
first plastered house in Nokomis; by a close attention to business and honest 
dealings with his customers, he soon gained the confidence of the community; in
connection with his merchandising, he was Postmaster, express agent and railroad 
agent. In 1877, he became President of the National Bank 

[Page 322] 

of Nokomis, which position he still retains. To Mr. and Mrs. ROOD were born four 
children - Florence A., dying in infancy; Clarence E., express agent at St. Louis; 
Horace E., with his brother; and Maude, a promising young lady, and beloved by all 
who knew her, died in the nineteenth year of her age.

J. W. RUSSELL, merchant, Nokomis, was born in Montgomery County, Ill., in 1839; 
he is the oldest of a family of eight children that were born to William H. and 
Catharine (TODD) RUSSELL. William RUSSELL was born in Kentucky in 1818, and came 
to Montgomery County, Ill., with his father, John RUSSELL, a native of North 
Carolina, in or about 1823, settling on land entered by them; they followed 
agricultural pursuits till their death, which occurred in the year 1880. William 
RUSSELL, the father of ur subject, married in this county, about the year 1838; 
his wife, daughter of Benjamin and Mary TODD, ws born in about 1816; is still a 
resident of Montgomery County. Our subject spent his early days on his father’s 
farm, and received such a common-school education as the advantages permitted in 
those days. In 1860, he began life for himself by engaging at farming, and in 
1871 he embarked in the general mercantile business at Nokomis, and, by honest 
dealing and a close attention to business, he has not only been successful 
financially, but has gained the confidence of his many customers. He is a member 
of the Lutheran Church, Masonic fraternity and Knights of Honor. In 1863, he 
married Miss Mattie D. STRADER, daughter of John and Elizabeth (AVIS) STRADER; 
she was born in Jefferson County, Va., in 1842, and died in 1880, leaving one 
child, Charlie D. In 1881, Mr. RUSSELL married again – Annie STRADER.

H. S. STRAIN, physician, Nokomis, born in Highland County, Ohio, June 13, 1837, 
son of Andrew Miller and Rebecca A. (PATTON) STRAIN; he, a farmer, born near 
Abingdon, S. C., March 23, 1800, died July 3, 1859; she, born near Lexington, 
Bourbon Co., Ky., March 29, 1808, died July 31, 1872; their family consisted 
of seven sons and three daughters. Dr. STRAIN received a rudimentary education 
in the common schools of Highland County, Ohio, but afterward attended and 
graduated at the Worcester University, Cleveland, Ohio. In September, 1861, 
he enlisted in Company C, Eighty-first Regiment Ohio Infantry, and was detailed 
as Assistant Surgeon of the regiment, filling that position until 1862. On 
September 13, 1866, near Greenfield, Highland Co., Ohio, the Doctor was married 
to Miss Mary A. WALKER, by the Rev. McKnight WILLIAMSON; she was born March 22, 
1840, near Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio, and is a daughter of John H. and 
Margaret B. (ELLIOTT) WALKER, he born in Rockbridge County, Va., in January, 
1809, is still living in Hillsboro, Ohio. The Doctor has five children living - 
Maggie H., born February 23, 1869; Annie Kate, born June 22, 1872; John W., Born 
March 13, 1875; Stanley M., born March 24, 1877; and Andrew N. ("Scottie"), born 
July 22, 1867, died June 26, 1872. In 1865, the Doctor was appointed Surgeon of 
the One Hundred and Ninety-fifth Regiment of Ohio Infantry, and served until the 
end of the war. Dr. and Mrs. STRAIN are Presbyterians; in politics, he is a 
Republican, and known in his district as an able physician. Samuel STRAIN, the 
Doctor's grandfather, was an Irishman; came to America before the Revolutionary 
war; was a soldier for seven years, and fought under Gen. GREEN; in one battle, 
another soldier and himself were the only two who escaped; he had been married 
four times, raised twenty-

[Page 323] 

two children, and died at the age of eighty-five.

William STEINRAUF, M. D., Nokomis, born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, September 
18, 1850, son of John and Catharine (STENGEL) STEINRAUF, he, a native of 
Hesse-Darmstadt, born in 1827, died at St. Louis, Mo., in September, 1872; was 
a stone mason, and served two years in the United States Army; she, still 
living in St. Louis, was born in Kurkessen, Germany, November 8, 1822. Subject 
received a good classical education at St. Louis and Washington, Mo., and 
graduated, in 1876, from the St. Louis College, Missouri. He was married, at 
Belvidere, Ill., in March, 1878, to Miss Carolina KUPPLER, born at Rock Island, 
Ill., June 19, 1860, and a daughter of John and Anna Maria (LEPLA) KUPPLER; he, 
born in Wurtemberg, Germany, died in 1877, and she, born in Bavaria, Germany. 
The result of his union is one son, Albert, now four years old. Subject 
practiced medicine in Jefferson City, Mo., and moved to Nokomis in 1880, where 
he soon gained a host of friends and an enviable reputation. He is a strict 
member of the Lutheran Church, and is always on hand when duty calls.

George M. STEVENS, attorney, Nokomis, born in Canada in 1846, son of John M. 
and Sibyl (GODDARD) STEVENS, he, a farmer, born in St. John, New Brunswick, now 
of Shelby County, Ill.; she, also a native of Canada, is still living. Subject 
received a rudimentary education at the public schools in Canada; afterward 
attended the high school at Springfield, Ill., graduated at the law school of 
Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1872, and began the practice of law in Nokomis in 1873. 
Mr. STEVENS was married, at Nokomis, in 1875, to Jennie BLUE, a daughter of 
William M. BLUE (a biographical sketch of this family will be found in this 
work). The subject is a Royal Arch Mason, and a Democrat, has been Attorney 
for Nokomis for six years and is temperate in all things.

Thomas TWOHEY, railroad, Nokomis, was born in Ireland in 1832, is the son of 
Thomas and Ann TWOHEY. Mr. TWOHEY came to America in 1848, with the intention 
of making for himself a home; he located in Massachusetts, where followed 
farming for four years; then in Putman County, Ind., and at St. Mary’s, Vigo 
County; then he attended the water tank at Tower Hill for the railroad company 
for six years, and, after spending one year in Missouri in the employ of a 
railroad company there, he came to Nokomis and took charge of a section for 
the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad, and has held that position for eighteen 
years. He married, in 1852, Sarah BOLTON, a native of Ireland; five children 
have been born to them – Mary, wife of N. SINGER; John M., Train Dispatcher at 
Mattoon, Ill.,; Patrick, also an operator; Tomas and Michael. Mr. TWOHEY and 
family are members of the Catholic Church.

Thomas J. WHITTEN, M. D., Nokomis, was born in Montgomery County, Ill, February 
21, 1844, son of Austin and Keziah (CASEY) WHITTEN, he, born in Newberry District, 
S. C., November 29, 1802, came to Illinois at an early day, where he followed 
farming until his death, which occurred May 12, 1869; she, also a native of 
South Carolina, born March 15, 1799, died in Montgomery County, Ill., October 
1, 1856. Subject began the study of medicine in 1856, and graduated at the 
Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Penn., in 1867; he began the practice 
of his profession at Hillsboro in 1867, remaining there till 1880, when he came 
to Nokomis; he now ranks as one of the leading physicians of Montgomery County. 
He served as Hospital Steward at Fort Prickren 

[Page 324] 

from 1862 till the close of the war. At Hillsboro, Ill., January 2, 1868, he 
married Sophia C. HARKEY, born in Montgomery County February 3, 1843, daughter 
of George and Martha S. (MASTERS) HARKEY, natives of North Carolina, he, born 
April 5, 1804, died October 29, 1856; she, born June 7, 1803, died August 13, 
1852. From this marriage four children have been born, viz: Harry Hood, George 
Ernest, Lelia Grace and Lester Cook. The Doctor is a member of the Lutheran
Church, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and an Odd Fellow; is Secretary of 
the County Medical Society, and has officiated as President of the Central 
Illinois District Society.

D. H. ZEPP, attorney, Nokomis, born in Carroll County, Md., in 1845, the son 
of Samuel and Caroline C. (ZIMMERMAN) ZEPP; he, a farmer, born in Maryland in 
1822, was married in 1843, and is still living there; she, born in Maryland, 
is still living; they had nine children – five sons and four daughters - of 
whom our subject is the oldest; he received a good common-school education, 
and, by working on a farm for $6 per month, he was enabled to continue his 
studies; at the age of eighteen, he began teaching school, and, after having 
taught school in the county for one year, he became Principal of the Westminster, 
in Maryland. He was married, in 1874, to Ella Beaver, daughter of Jacob and 
Sarah (HAMMETT) BEAVER. Mr. ZEPP was elected to the Thirtieth General Assembly,
and received the second largest majority of any member in the House. He began 
reading law with Judge John E. SMITH, of Maryland, in 1866; admitted to the bar 
in 1868, and came West in 1869; he was Principal of the Public School at 
Hillsboro one year, and at Nokomis two years. Mr. ZEPP is a Republican, a 
Knight Templar, and a self-made man; not only has he been successful as an 
educator, but also as a financier, now owning 400 acres of land near Tower 
Hill, as well as property in Nokomis.

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