Biography - PIERSON B. UPDIKE
Pierson B. Updike, now
deceased, was identified with the business interests of Litchfield, when he
made for himself an honorable name as a representative of commercial
interests. He was born near Trenton, New Jersey, July 14, 1834, and in his
early boyhood days was brought by his parents to Illinois, where he was
reared to manhood and acquired his education. After arriving at years of
maturity he was married in Woodburn, Macoupin county, Illinois, on the 23d
of October, 1856, to Miss Estella Opdyke, who was of Holland lineage and
there was a distant relationship between the Updike and Opdyke families.
They became the parents of two children: Ella E., the wife of G. L.
Settlemire, by whom she has two sons, David P. and Wilbur Lynn, aged
respectively twenty-three and twenty years; and Mrs. Cora May Cratty.
Pierson B. Updike became a resident of Litchfield in 1864 and through more
than thirty years was connected with its commercial interests as a dialer in
machinery and hardware. His patronage steadily increased and he continued in
the business until a couple of years prior to his death, which occurred on
the 28th of November, 1896. During the last two years of his life succeeding
the dissolution of his hardware business he was receiver for the Litchfield
Car and Machine Company and this position he was ably filling at the time of
his demise. He was always straightforward and honorable in his dealing and
his reputation in commercial circles was unassailable. Mr. Updike also took
an active and helpful part in community interests and his public spirit was
manliest in tangible way through his capable service as mayor of the city.
He was three times called to that office and his administration of municipal
affairs was at once businesslike, practical and progressive. He introduced
needed reforms and promoted various improvements and the city benefited by
his efforts. He gave his political allegiance to the Democratic party for
many years, but in 1897 voted for William McKinley and was thereafter
prominent in political circles until his demise. He was a member of the
state legislature from 1891 to 1893.
Mr. Updike was a prominent Mason and had received the honors of the
thirty-second degree. A Presbyterian in his religious faith he held
membership in the church of that denomination in Litchfield, took a very
active and helpful part in its work and was superintendent of its
Sunday-school for many years. His life record covered sixty-three years and
was filled with good deeds, with successful accomplishment in business and
with loyalty and honor in citizenship. Mrs. Updike is a lady of strong
intellectual qualities, broad-minded and cultured and has a very large
circle of friends in Litchfield, where she still makes her home.
Extracted 11 Apr 2020 by Norma Hass from 1904 Past and Present of Montgomery County, Illinois, by Jacob L. Traylor, page 28.
