Macoupin County
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Biography - JOSEPH S. VOLLENTINE

Joseph S. Vollentine, a prominent business man of Staunton, Illinois, senior member of the livery firm of Vollentine & Grove, was born August 13, 1855, in Bond County, Illinois, and is a son of Benjamin J. and Margaret A. (Evans) Vollentine.

William Vollentine, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Tennessee, probably of Irish parentage, came to Illinois in pioneer days, and here acquired much property, leaving 1,000 acres at his death, his possessions being so large that it required three days to complete the administrator's sale of his effects. He was a veteran of the Mexican War, and was a Democrat in politics. He was married three times and had 22 children.

Benjamin J. Vollentine was a son of William Vollentine's second marriage, and was born in Bond County, Illinois, and died at New Douglas, Madison County, Illinois, aged 40 years. He administered his father's estate and engaged in farming. He was a man of high character and was held in much respect by all who knew him. Had he not been rejected by the examiners, he would have served in the Civil Wai:, and was always a stanch Republican. For years he was a leading member of the Methodist Church. Our subject was reared on his father's farm and was 14 years old when his parents moved to the Village of New Douglas, in order to give him school facilities, and they were living there when his father died. At about the age of 22 years he went to farming and then carried the mail between Staunton and New Douglas for two years. Later he accepted the agency at New Douglas for the National and American express companies, a position he filled for nine years. A trip to Wichita, Kansas, resulted in his remaining there two years, engaged in teaming, and he also conducted a feed store for six months in Kansas City, Missouri. Upon his return to New Douglas, he was again engaged as express agent for eight years, and then went to Mulberry Grove, Bond County, where he carried on a livery business for a year. On November 8, 1900, he removed to Staunton and bought the Carroll livery business which he conducted two and a half years before selling it. For four months he was then engaged on the road in the interest of the Consolidated Coal Company, buying timber in Missouri, after which he returned to Staunton, and in association with Joseph Grove purchased the livery business of Cox & Schaffer, the firm style being Vollentine & Grove. They are the operators and owners of one of the best and most complete livery concerns in Macoupin County and the only one located at Staunton.

On October 4, 1877, Mr. Vollentine was married to Amelia Taylor, who was born in Marion County, Illinois, November 1, 1858, and is a daughter of George and Martha (Smith) Taylor. They have had three children: Benjamin; Roscoe, who died at the age of six years; and Willard. Benjamin Vollentine, who is a painter, was married June 29, 1902, to Charlotte Easley, daughter of Dr. J. T. Easley, of Sterling, Colorado, but now a resident of Carlsbad, California. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Vollentine have one child, Lelah Louise, born April 30, 1903.

In politics Mr. Vollentine is a Republican and is a school trustee. During his residence at New Douglas, he was a city alderman and a citizen of prominence. Like his father, he has been active in Masonry, and belongs also to the Woodmen and to the Knights of Pythias. With his family he is a member of the Methodist Church.


Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 501-503.


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