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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