Full text of "The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois"

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TI-iED 



Biographical Record 



OF 



Livingston County 



ILLINOIS. 



TED. 



/ "people that take no pride in the nobli achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve 
anything worthy to be remembered with pride by n mote generations.' 1 ' — Macaulhi . 



CHICAGO: 
The S. 1. Clarke Publishing Company. 




- 



PREPACK. 




HE greatest of English historians, Macaw IY, and one of the most 
brilliant writers of the present century, has said : "The history of a 
country is best told in a record of the lives of its people.'' In con- 
formity with this idea, the Biographical Record has been prepared. 
Instead of going to musty records, and taking therefrom dry statistical 
matter that can hi' appreciated by but few, our corps of writers have 
gone to the people, the men and women who have, by tlu-ir enterprise 
and industry, brought this county to a rank second to none among 
those comprising this great and noble State, and from their lips have the Story of their life 
struggles. No more interesting or instructive matter could be presented to an intelligent 
public. In ihis volume will be found a record of many whose lives are worthy the imitation 
of coming generations. It tells how some, commencing life in poverty, by industry and 
economy have accumulated wealth. It tells how others, with limited advantages for securing 
an education, have become learned men and women, with an influence extending throughout 
the length anil breadth of the land. ll tells of men who have risen from the lower walks of 
life to eminence as statesmen, and whose names have become famous. It tells.. I those in 
every walk in life who have striven to succeed, and records how that success has usuallv 
crowned their efforts. It tells also ol many, very many, who, nol seeking the applause of the 
world, have pursued the "even tenor of their way,' content to have it said ol them, as Christ 
said of the woman performing a deed of mercy — " The) nave done what the) could. 1 ' Ii 
tells how many, in the pride and strength of young manhood, left the plow and the anvil, the 
lawyer's office and the counting-room, lef I ever) trade and profession, and al their country's 
call went forth valiantly " to do or die.'' anil hov through their efforts the Union was 
restored and peace ..nee more reigned in tin- I. uid. In the life of ever) Mi.m ami ..I ever) 

woman is a lesson that should not he lost upon those who follow after. 

Coming generations will appreciate this \ olume and presei ve it as a sat in! I reasut e. I linn 
the fact that it contains so much that would never find its ua\ into public records, and which 

would otherwise he iii.it . e»-i hie . Great care has been taken in the compilati I the work. 

and ever) opportunit) possible given to those represented to insure correctness in what has 
been written ; and the publishers flatter themselves that the) give to theii readers a work with 
few errors of consequence. In addition to biographical sketches, portraits of a number of 
representative citizens are given. 

The faces of some, and biographical sketches of many, will he missed in this volume. 
For this the publishers are not to blame. \ot having a proper conception of the work, some 
refused to give the information necessary to compile a sketch, while others were indifferent 
Occasionally some member of the I'amiK would oppose the enterprise, and on account of such 
opposition the support of the interested one would be withheld. In a few instances men 
never could be found, though repeated calls were in ide at their residence or place of business. 



October, 1900, 



s. 1 . Clarke Publishin> 



Biography is the only frae history."— Emerson. 




GEORGE W. PATTON. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 




tire energies to a 



ON. GEORGE W. 
PATTON. At the 
present time it is sel- 
dom that one wins 
pn iminence in sev- 
eral lines. It is the 
tendency of the age 
to devote one's en- 
pecial line, continually 
working upward and concentrating his efforts 
toward accomplishing a desired end; yet in 
the case of Judge Patton it is demonstrated 
that an exalted position may be reached in 
mi ire than one line of action. • lie is an emi- 
nent jurist, an able judge and a leader in 
political circles. For several years he was 
successfully engaged in the practice of law in 
Pontiac, and is now serving as judge of the 
eleventh judicial circuit. 

The Judge is a native of Pennsylvania, 
and during his infancy was brought to 
Woodford count)'. Illinois, in 1851, by his 
parents, Samuel R. and Jane (Haines) Pat- 
ton, who were also natives of the Keystone 
state. His paternal grandfather was Rev. 
James Patton, and his great-grandfather, 
Rev. John Patton, both of whom achieved 
some local celebrity as Baptist ministers in 

western Pennsvlvania.tlie latter having been 
2 



pastor of the church at Smithfield, Fay- 
ette county, for thirty consecutive years, as 
the inscription on his monument, erected by 
his church, still attests. Judge Patron's ma- 
ternal grandparents were John and Marga- 
ret (Anderson) Haines, farming people of 
western Pennsylvania. The latter was a 
daughter of James Anderson, a native of 
Ireland, who carried a musket for six years 
in General Washington's army during the 
Revolutionary war. I luring their entire 
residence in this state the parents of Judge 
Patton made their home in Woodford coun- 
ty, where the mother died in 1873, the father 
in 1886. He was a Democrat in politics, a 
successful farmer, a man of great industry, 
indomitable will ami strong common sense, 
while the mother was a woman of keen wit, 
remarkable memory and forceful intellect. 

Reared on the home farm in Woodford 
count}'. Judge Patton attended the common 
schools of the neighborhood until twenty 
years of age, and then took a three years' 
course at Normal, Illinois, completing the 
Name in 1871. During the following two 
years he taught school in Secor and El Paso, 
Woodford county, and with the money thus 
earned he commenced the study of law with 
Hay, Green & Littler at Springfield, Illinois, 



IO 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ami wa< admitted to the bar in 1875. being 
a member of the same class as \V. J. Cal- 
houn, ex-Senator T. C. Kerrick and George 
Torrance. Subsequently he again taught 
school and engaged in other pursuits until 
1881, following farming for three years 
to regain hi> health. In 1881 he com- 
menced the practice of law at Fairbury, this 
county, and two years later located in Pon- 
tiac. where he formed a partnership with C. 
C. Straw n, which was dissolved in 1888. Af- 
ter that time lie was alone and succeeded in 
building up a large and lucrative practice. 
On the 7th of June, 1897, he was elected one 
of the judges of the eleventh judicial circuit, 
composed of Livingston, Woodford, Ford, 
McLean and Logan counties, and is now 
1 reditably filling that office. Hi> mind 
i« analytical, logical and inductive. With 
a thorough and comprehensive knowledge oi 
the fundamental principles of law, he com- 
bines a familiarity with statutory law and a 
sober, clear judgment, which makes him 
iily a formidable adversary in legal 
combat, hut ha- given him the distinction 
of being one of the ablest jurist- in this sec- 
tion 1 if the state. 

Although reared in a Democratic at- 
mosphere. Judge Patton has never voted 
that ticket, hut is a stanch Republican. He 
a member of the state central commit- 
tee of his party from [894 to [896. He was 
made a .Mason at Fairbury, and is now a 
member of Pontiac lodge, No. 294, F. & 
A.M.; Fairbury chapter. R. A. M.; Chenoa 
council. K. & S. M.; and St. Paul com- 
mandery, K. T., of Fairbury. He also be- 
to the Odd Fellows lodge and en- 
campment, and both he and his wife are 
members of the Pontiac Methodist Episco- 
pal church, in which he is serving as an offi- 
cer. The Judge was married. September 



jo. 1877, '" Miss ''" Cook, daughter of 
James and l.ucinda Cook, of Fairbury, ami 
they now have two children, Marie and 
Proctor. 



HAMILTON R. STEWART. 

Hamilton R. Stewart, who for the last 
fifteen years has successfully operated the 
farm of [;. M. Stoddard on section 8, Avoca 
township, Livingston county, was horn in 
county I Jerry. Ireland. June 4. 1 S 5 4 . and is 
the oldest child of William and Mary A. 
^McLaughlin) Stewart, also natives of 
county Derry, where the father successfully 
engaged in farming from early manh 1 un- 
til his death in [868. Subsequently his 
widow came to America with her family of 
five sous and one daughter, namely: Ham- 
ilton K.. the subject of this sketch: Joseph, 
a fanner, who died in Iowa; Samuel, a resi- 
dent of Avoca township; William, a laborer 
: Ogden, Iowa: Fohn, deceased; and Han- 
nah, wife of William Scott, who lives near 
Rochelle, Ogle county. Illinois. On their 
emigration to America the family located in 
Lexington, Illinois, where they made their 
home for four years, and in 1N7J moved to 
La Salle county, where the following two 

were passed, coming to Living 
County at the end of that time. While in 
llgton the mother married Thomas 
Clinton, by whom she had one son, Thomas 
1'.. now a school teacher in Swygart, Illinois. 
Her second husband died in Living 
county and she is now living with our sub- 
ject at the age of sixty-seven years. 

Hamilton R. Stewart commenced lvis 
education in the common 51 oi his na- 

tive land, and after coming to America, at 
the age of fourteen years, attended school in 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1 1 



] exington, Illinois, for a short time. Be 
kg the oldesl of the family he had to go to 
work on a farm that he might aid in their 
support, and lived at home until twenty- 
two. While in La Salle county he worked 
in a coal mine in Streator for two years. In 
1X7(1 he left home and was employed as .1 
farm hand about five years, at the l-uA of 
which time he rented land and embarked in 
farming on his own account. 

In [883 Mr. Stewart married Miss Jane 
Blair, who was born in Tazewell county, 
this state, in 1862. Her parents, William 
and Mary (Gillian) Blair, both natives of 
Ireland, located in Tazewell county on their 
emigration to the United States, and after 
residing there for a Few years moved to Mc- 
Lean county, where they now make their 
home. The father is a successful farmer. 
In the family were seven children, namelj : 
Thomas, a farmer of McLean county; Jane, 
wife of our subject; David, a prosperous 
tanner of McLean county; Annie, wife of 
II. .Gillian, of the same county; William, 
also a resident of McLean county: and Lydia 
and Addie. both at home. Of the nine chil- 
dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Stewart, one dud 
ir infancy. The others are as follows: 
William J. and Mabel M.. who passed the 
central school examinations at the ages of 
fifteen and thirteen years respectively, be- 
ing the youngest who ever passed from their 
schi » 'Land standing high in rank in a class, if 
forty; Minnie P., Litta G., Ira ).. Hamil- 
ton G., Geneveive and Morris M. The par 
ents are giving their children the best possi- 
ble educational advantages. 

After his marriage Mr. Stewart located 
on a farm in McLean county, where he 
cessfully engaged in general farming for two 
years, and in 1SS5 moved to the farm of two 
hundred acres in Avoca township. Livings- 



ton county, where he now resides. He is 
a conscientious man. upright and honorable 
ir. all his dealings, as is shown by his re- 
maining on one farm s, , long. During his 
residence here he has been prominently iden- 
tified with local politics, lie was justice of 
the peace five years, school trustee m\ years 
and assessor two years, being re-elected for 
a third term, anil serving in each office to 
the besl of his ability and for the interests 
of the people he represents. lie is a man 
who does not draw party lines in local af- 
fairs, hut supports those whom he believes 
best qualified to fill the positions, regardless 
of party affiliations. For the past twelve 
years in national elections he has supported 
the nominees of the Prohibition part)- and at 
present is township committeeman of that 
party. Socially he is a member of Fairbury 
camp. No. 6, M. W. A., and religiously is 
a member and active worker in the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church and Sunday school, 
serving as a member of the 1« >ard 1 if trustees 
for the past fourteen years. IK- is a genial 
gentleman, who is well liked by a large circle 
1 1" friends and acquaintances. 



FREDERICK DUCKETT. 

Success is determined by one's ability to 
recognize opportunity, and to pursue this 
with a resolute and unflagging energy. It 
results from continued labor and the man 
who thus accomplishes his purpose usually 
beo mes an important factor in the business 
circles of the community with which he is 
ci nnected and also prominent in public life. 
Through such means Mr. Duckett has at- 
tained a leading place among the representa- 
tive men of Livingston county, which he is 
now serving as county clerk. 



12 



THE BIOGRAI'IIU \L RECORD. 



A son of Benjamin and Jane (Redmond) 

Duckett. he was born November 10. 1S40, 
in Wedmore, Somersetshire, England, which 
place lias been the ancestral In 'me of the 
family for many generations. There the fa- 
ther engaged in farming until his death, 
which occurred when our subject was a boy 
of five "i" six years. The mother was left 
with six children, five sons and one daugh- 
ter. She spent her entire life in her native 
land and died in the faith of the Episcopal 
church. Those of the family who came to 
.America were Francis, now a resident of Des 
Moines, Iowa; Daniel, a physician, who died 
hi Forrest, this county, in [890; Sarah, wife 
of Jesse Arney, of Kent. Washington: and 
Frederick, our subject. The youngest son, 
Gabriel, is a resident of Australia. 

Frederick Duckett received a good prac- 
tical education in the schools of his native 
lsnd. In 1S54. at tin- age of thirteen years, 
he came alone to the United States and spent 
two years in New York state, where he found 
employment. In [856 lie came to Illinois 
and first located in Henry, .Marshall county, 
wi irking 1 >n a farm near there until fall, when 
he went to Peoria county and obtained a 
position, where he worked for his board with 
the privilege of attending school. lie re- 
mained in that county until the Civil war 
1 roke out and in the spring of i,Xo_> enlisted 
in Company K, Eleventh Illinois Cavalry. 
1 oing immediately to the front, he joined 
his regiment at Memphis, Tennessee, and 
was firsl under tire at Lexington, that state. 
He took part in the second battle of Corinth 
and th< f Vicksburg, and remained 

jr. active service until mustered out Septem- 
ber 30. [865, being never off duty a single 
day. He was serving as second lieutenant 
al the time of his discharge. Returning to 
Peoria county he remained there until 1867, 



when he removed to Forrest, Livingston 
o unty, and entered in the drug business with 
his brother. Later he became sole proprietor 
of the Store, and though he began in a small 
way he carried a large and well-selected 
stock and had built up an excellent trade at 
the time of disposing of his business. 

On the 19th of February. [866, Mr. 
Duckett married Miss Mary E. Munhall. 
of Peoria county, a daughter of Samuel 
Munhall, and to them have been born six 
children: Jeanette, now the wife of H. C. 
Amsbury, of Wellsville New York : Arthur 
!'.. who married Grace Stillwell and resides 
ii Forrest; Jesse, now serving as deputy 
count}' clerk under his father: Nellie M. ; 
Mabel M.. wife of Everett Tate, of Pontiac; 
and Aldine, at home. 

Mr. Duckett attends and supports tic 
Methodist Episcopal church, of which his 
wife is a member. He is a very active and 
prominent member of several civic societies, 
was one of the organizers of Forrest Post, 
< .. A. R.. and served as its first commander. 
He has represented it in the state encamp- 
ment several times and was a member of the 
commander's staff one year. He was a 
charter member of Forrest lodge. No. 014, 
F. & A. M.. of which he was master about 
ten years, and is now a member of Pontiac 
lodge, No! -'04. F. & A. M.. of which he has 
been secretary, while at present he is high 
priest of Pontiac chapter, R. A. M.. and 
past commander of St. Raul Commandery, 
K. T., of Fairbury. He also belongs t,, 
Chenoa Council, R. & S. M.. of Forrest 
li dge, K. I'., of which be is past chancellor, 
and the Modern Woodmen of America, of 
which he is past venerable consul. 

Since attaining his majority Mi". Duckett 
has been an active Republican. He served 
as collector of bis township several terms 



THK r.loCKAI'HICAL RECORD. 



13 



ami was a member of the township board at 

different times. In 181^4 he was elected 
county clerk by a good majority and after 
filling that office for four years was renom- 
inated by acclamation in [898 and elected 
by an increasing majority, which speaks well 
for the estimation in which he is held by the 
] eople of the county, who recognize his abil- 
ity and fitness for the office. His present 

term will not expire until December, j. 

As a citizen he has always been found true 
to every trust reposed in him, so that his 
loyalty is above question, being manifesl in 
days of peace as well as when he followed 
the old flag to victory on southern battle 
fields. Since he entered upon the duties of 
his present office lie lias made his lumie in 
Pontiac. 



JAMES P. DAHL. 

James P. Dahl, who is successfully en- 
gaged in farming on section 3, Eppards Point 

township, Livingston county. Illinois, two 
miles from Pontiac, is a native of Denmark, 
horn on the Baltic Sea March 24, [839, and 
is a son of Lars P. and Christina ( Peter- 
son) Dahl. who spent their entire lives as 
farming people in that country. 

Our subject was reared mi a farm and 
educated in the common schools of his na- 
tive land. His knowledge of the English 
language has heen acquired through his own 
unaided efforts. It was in i860 that he 
crossed the broad Atlantic, sailing from 
Liverpool. England, to New York, and land- 
ing in the latter city on the 25th of May, 
that year. He came direct to I .a Salle coun- 
ty. Illinois, where he had friends living, 
and where he worked on a farm by the 
month for some time. Later he was similarly 



employed in Putnam county for five vears, 
and from there went to Peru, Illinois, where 
lie formed a partnership with his brother-in- 
law . John 1 )i\. m. and engaged 111 fruit gri wv- 
ing and the milk and dairy business for nine 
years, selling out on coming to this county. 

( >n the null of April. 1N77. in Peru, Mr. 
Dahl married Miss l.ydia Jensen, a native 
oi Copenhagen, Denmark, and a daughter 
of Paul and Louisa 1 < >tt0 I Jensen, who were 
also horn in that country. The father was 
a business man of Copenhagen. Mrs. Dahl 
was well educated in tin- schools of that city 
ami came to the new world in 1875. To our 
subject and his wife have heen born six chil- 
dren, of whom four are living, namely: 
Anna is a well educated young lad}', who is 
now successfully engaged in teaching music 
and also serves as organist of the Mel )owell 
.Methodist Episcopal church; William assists 
his father in the operation of the farm; and 
l< iseph and ( 'lint' in are als< 1 at In >me. Carrie 
died at the age of ten years; Mary, at the 
age of six months. 

The day .after their marriage Mr. and 
Mrs. Dahl came to Livingston county and he 
purchased eighty four acres of land on s C c- 
t.on 3,' Eppards Point township, where he 
now resides, and has since -bought forty 
acres more, making a line farm of one hun- 
dred and twenty lour acre-, which he has 
tiled and placed under a high state of cul- 
tivation, lie has remodeled the house, 
planted an orchard, erected outbuildings and 
made many other useful and valuable im- 
provements on the place which add greatly 
to its attractive appearance. He is quite suc- 
cessfully engaged in general farming and 
stock raising. Originally he was a Repub- 
lican in politics, hut is now a Prohibitionist, 
and at local elections votes for the men whom 
he believes besl qualified to till the offices, 



U 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



- of party affiliations. lit.- is now 
an efficient member of the school board and 
president of his district. Religiously Mr. 
Dahl and his family are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church of Mel • 
and are highly respected and esteemed by 
ah who kn« >\v them. 



JAMES II. GAFF. 

Tame- H. Gaff, a prominent "1<1 resident 
of Pontiac, Illinois, who is now servii 
justice of the peace and deputy sheriff of 
Livingston county, was horn in Xenia, 
Greene county. < >hio, March 23, [827, a -on 
of David M. and Hannah (Mock) Gaff. 
His paternal grandparents were John and 
Martha (Scott) (,at'f. natives of Pennsyl- 
vania and Maryland respectively, the birth 
place of the fi rmer being not far from Gel 
tysburg and Hagerstown. They were of 
h-Irish de-cent and members of the old 
I lanter church. The maternal grand- 

parents were John and Mary (Homey), 
natives of North Carolina. In iNoi they 
removed from that state to Xenia. Ohio, in 
r. one-hors in, resting always on the 

Sabbath dav during the journey. Mr. Mock 
1 build the first house ever erected in 
Xenia and owned one hundred acre- of heav- 
ily timbered land about fi south of 
where that city now stands. This lie cleared 
and transformed into a good farm. Lea 
mily and several children at home. 
1 in the war of 1812, and was sta- 
tioned at McPherson's block house on the 
line between Indiana and Ohio. He and 
I their last days upon a farm 
which he improved in Fayette county. ( >hio. 

• and was a daugh- 



ter of James Homey, who had charge of the 
train of seventeen wagons in which the Mock 
family moved to Ohio from North Carolina. 
They became members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church and old Peter Cartwright 
preached in their house. 

1 >a\ id M. ( raff, the father of our subject, 
was horn in Maryland near the Pennsylvania 
line, and was a young man when the family 
moved to Xenia. Ohio, where he married 
Hannah Mock, a native of Ohio. He fol- 
lowed farming, hut died at the early age of 
twenty-seven years, heing accidentally killed 
March 27, 1831, when our subject was only 
four years old. leaving his widow with three 
-mall children to support. This she did bv 
engaging in weaving. Later she married 
John Calhoun ami moved to Montgomery 
county, Ohio, locating six miles south of 
Dayton, where the family lived until about 
[857, when they came to Illinois and settled 
near Decatur, Macon county. Mr. Calhoun 
died in Deqatur in [866 and his wife died 
near Bloomington, this state, in [892, at the 

■ if eighty-five years. At an earlyday J< ihn 

f, our subject's paternal grandfather, who 
v. a- al-o a soldier of the war 1 if 1S1 2, fli iated 
down the Ohio river on a flat boat to Cin- 
cinnati, and from there drove across the 
country to Xenia. where in the midst of the 
forest he commenced to develop a farm, 
which was to have been inherited by our 
subject's father had. he not been killed 
early in life. 

Just before he attained hi- eighth year 
lame- II. < iaff, our subject, went to live with 

uncle, with whom he remained for four 
years, and then made his home with his 
grandfather Mock. Until eighteen year- old 
ht attended school not to exceed thirty days 
a year, his tir-t hook- heing an elementary 
speller and testament, which were later -up- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



15 



plemented by the American reader and 
Smith's arithmetic. The school house where 
he pursued his studies was a primitive struc- 
ture built of logs, with puncheon floor and 
seat< and greased paper windows, and the 
little room often had to accommodate forty 

pupils. 

After leaving school at the age of eighl 
ecu years Mr. Gaff learned the blacksmith's 
trade in feffersonville, serving a three-years 
apprenticeship, and then working as a jour- 
neyman at that place for a time. While there 
In was married. December 23, 1850, to Mis.s 
( atherine Powell, a native of Fayette coun- 
ty, Ohio, and a daughter of Harper Powell, 
a farmer. They have one child. Ann E., 
now the wife of Charles Tanquary, of Chi- 
by win mi she has a daughter, Helen ( i. 

On leaving Jeffersonville, Ohio, in the 
fall 1 if [85 1 . Mr. ( iati' moved to w hat is ni >w 
Cooksville, McLean county. Illinois, where 
he bought eighty acres of land and com- 
menced breaking prairie with an ox team. 
In [8^4 he moved to Pleasant Hill and 
opened a blacksmith shop, which he con 
ducted for five years and then sold. Coming 
to Pontiac he was here engaged in general 
blacksmithing until after the Civil war 
broke 1 ut. 

In the fall of [862 Mr. Gaff enlisted in 
Company G, One Hundred and Twenty- 
ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and first 
went to Louisville, Kentucky. lie was at 
the engagements at Bowling < ireen, < iallatin 
and Xashville and later started on the Chat- 
tanooga and Atlanta campaign, His regi- 
ment being one of the first to enter Atlanta 
after the evacuation. They were on the left 
wing of the army in the march to the sea 
and up through the Carolinas to Goldsboro 
and Raleigh. The war having ended they 
continued their march through Richmond to 



Washington, D. C, where they participated 
in the grand review. They were mustered 
out at Washington June 8, [865, and dis 
charged at Chicago on the 21st of that 
month. Mr. Gaff had four half-brothei 
one step-brother in the service, not one of 
whom was ill or wounded while in the army, 
although their aggregate service amounted 
to over nineteen years. 

Returning to his home in Pontiac, Mr. 
< iaff resumed blacksmithing, at which he 
worked, until the fall of [866, when lie was 
elected sherifl of the county for a term of 
two years, and the following two 
served as deputy sheriff, having charge of 
the office for his successor. After clerking 
1 1 a store for one year he again opened a 
blacksmith shop and built up an extensive 
business, furnishing employment to four 
men. During President Hayes' administra- 
tion he was appointed postmaster, having 
always been an active Republican and chair- 
man of the central committee during the 
Hayes campaign. He had previously filled 
the office of assessor for a number of terms. 
While serving as postmaster the postag 
a letter was reduced from three to two cents, 
which naturally affected the revenue of the 
office. He was reappointed by President 
Arthur and for eight years devoted his 1 me 
exclusively to the dutie s of hi- position. 
Later he -pent a year ami a half in Kansas, 
returning to Pontiac in [890. He has served 
as constable four years, justice of the | 

years and deputy sheriff since [891, 
having charge of the circuit court. His 
official dutie- have always been discharged 
in a prompt and able manner, which has 
won the commendation of all concerned. 

Mr. ( iaff i< 1 me '-i the ■ rldest members ■ I 
T. Tyle Dickey Post, No. 105, < '.. A. K.. 
and has served a- it> commander. He 



i6 



Till 7 . BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



is one of the oldest Masons belonging to 
Pontiac lodge, No. 294. F. & A. M.. 
ami is a member of Fairbury Chapter, 
R. A. M. For forty years he and his 
wife have held membership in the Meth- 
Episcopal church and during that 
entire time lie lias served as steward or in 
other official positions, lie has also been 
class leader fi if some time and takes an active 
and prominent part in church work. Dur- 
ing the long year> of his residence in Liv- 
ingston county he has been one of its most 
influential and popular citizens — a man hon- 
ored and respected wherever known. 



GEORGE TORR \NVH. 

Whatever else may he said of the legal 
fraternity, it cannot he denied that mem- 
bers «it" the bar have been mere important 
acti >rs in public affairs than any other class 
of the American people. This is but the 
natural result of causes which are manifest 
and require no explanation. The ability 
and training which qualify one to practice 
law also qualify him in many respects for 
duties which lie outside the strict path of 
his profession and which touch the general 
interests of society. The subject of this 
<: is a man who has bn « keen 

discrimination and thorough wisdom to 
bear not alone in professional paths, but also 
for the benefit of his fellow citizens and the 
community in which he lives, lie i- now 
most efficiently and satisfactorily serving as 
superintendent of the Illinois state reform- 
atory at Pontiac. 

Mr. Torrance was horn in Lancaster. 
Ohio. May 15, 1K47. a son of David and 
Sarah ( Kerns 1 Torrance, both natives of 



Pennsylvania, and the former of Scotch- 
Irish and the latter of German descent. The 
parents removed from their native state to 
Lancaster, Ohio, and in 1863 came to Illi- 
nois, locating in Danville. Vermilion county, 
where for some time the father engaged in 
business as a contractor and builder, being a 
carpenter by trade. He died in that city. 
While a resident of Ohio he took quite an 
interest in educational affairs, and always 
attended and supported the Presbyterian 
church, though not a member. His wife 
still survives him and continues to make 
her hi une in 1 '1 >ntiae. 

During his boyhood George Torrance 
attended the common schools of his birth- 
place, lie removed vvitli the family to 1 »an 
ville, Illinois, and there enlisted. 111 1X1.4. in 
1 ompany E, One Hundred and Forty-ninth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was with 
his command in Tennessee, Georgia and Ala- 
bama. He remained in the service until 
the close of the war. being mustered out at 
Dalton, Georgia, and discharged at Camp 
Butler, Illinois. At the age of twenty 
years Mr. Torrance began his business ca- 
reer as clerk in a grocery store, ami was 
later in the United States express office and 
a clothing store of Danville. He came to 
Chatsworth, this county, as a dry-goods 
clerk, and held that position for some time, 
alter which he was employed as a commer- 
cial traveler. He served as justice of the 
peace and read law with the firm of Fosdick 
1^ \\ allace, the latter being now Judge Wal- 
lace, of Pontiac. Later he studied for a 
time with A. M. W'yman. and was admitted 
to practice by examination January 9, 1N75. 
He was engaged in practice at Chatsworth 
until the spring of t.XNi, when he came to 
Pontiac. Here he began practice alone, hut 
later was in partnership with R. S. Mclll- 




GEORGE TORRANCE. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



'9 



duf. as a member of the firm of Mclllduf & 
Torrance, and when that was dissolved he 
was alone for some years. Subsequently 
he was engaged in practice with his son un- 
der the linn name of Torrance & Torrance. 
He would never accept criminal cases, hut 
as a civil lawyer met with most excellent 
success in his chosen profession. 

On the 9th of June, 1869, Mr. Torrance 
was united in marriage with Miss Eliza M. 
Fenn. of Chatsworth, a daughter of Elam P. 
Fenn, a farmer, from Connecticut, and to 
them have been born two children : 1 lerbert 
E., now an attorney of Pontiac; and Grace 
Tren. The family attend the Presbyterian 
church, of which Mrs. Torrance is a mem- 
ber. 

As a Republican Mr. Torrance has 
taken an active and influential part in po- 
litical affairs, and has been chairman of the 
county committee. In the fall of 1880 he 
was elected to the state senate and served 
two terms of four years each with credit to 
himself and to the entire- satisfaction of his 
constituents. During this time he was one 
of the one hundred and three who helped to 
elect General Logan to the United States 
senate. 

.Mr. Torrence was appointed superin- 
tendent of the Illinois State Reformatory, 
March 1, 1897. Realizing that if it was 
to properly perform the work designed for 
it many changes must be made in its build- 
ings, schools, etc., he immediately began his 
labors along that line. This institution, 
with the great outlay of money necessary to 
its building, and the wants of fifteen hun- 
dred inmates to look after, including their 
schooling and discipline, would be a tax 
upon the strength of any man, but with this 
additional work has been a heavy burden. 
which he has borne with wonderful forti- 



tude. Though critised and condemned at 
times, he has never faltered, but patiently 
awaited the time which he felt sure must 
come when his work would meet with pub- 
lic approval. It has now arrived and the 
discipline of the inmates, the success of its 
trade and common school work, and the 
beauty of the grounds are generally com- 
mended and the institution is recognized as 
among the most successful of its kind in the 
world. Mr. Torrance has been told that 
he expected to leave the institution as a 
monument to his work in this state, and if 
given time would place it in such a position 
that it could not be surpassed li\ anj other 
in the near future. That he has succeeded 
is now conceded and his former critics are 
loud in his praise, and the doubting vet hope- 
ful friends jubilant over his success. 

The discipline is excellent, yet without 
apparent severity. There seems to be a hope- 
ful, contented air permeating the whole in- 
stitution, and he has not elsewhere and prob- 
ably never will have better friends than can 
be found among the boys in his custody. 
They speak kindly of him, are very respect- 
ful to him and obey his requests or com- 
mands as cheerfully as if he was paying 
them salaries. ( )ue by one the former modes 
of punishment have been abolished until the 
shackle, hand-cuff, ball line, solitary, etc., 
are relegated to the things that were. Pa- 
rade and assembly grounds have been ar- 
ranged, fine lawns, cement walks and flower 
beds constructed, until the inner yard is a 
beautiful park, the admiration of all that 
see it. Great attention has been paid by 
him to the training of inmates in both in- 
strumental and vocal music until the insti- 
tution has one of the best bands in the state. 
A military organization has been perfected, 
and it is unsurpassed anywhere, outside of 



20 



THE nioe.UAI'IlR'AL RECORD. 



West Point. To instruct the inmates he 
has about twenty-two common and twenty- 
five trade schools, classes in ethics, Sunday 
school, chapel services, lectures, concerts 
and entertainments of various kinds. 

Willi him the work is not peri irmed for 
the salary alone; it has become a work into 
which he throws his entire energy and 
ability. A visit to the institution is very 
instructive and interesting-, and hundreds 
inspect it every week, as many as fifteen hun- 
dred being conducted through it in one 
week last summer. In the handling of hun- 
of thousands of dollars, the making 
and looking after many contracts with build- 
ers, machinists and plumbers, not one word 
of -caudal has ever been heard, not a dif- 
ference ever existed but has been adjusted 
without discord. The same is true in re- 
gard to his officers; differences often exist, 
hut under his direction they are harmonized 
or he takes hold with a firm hand and set- 
tle- them beyond further controversy. < >ne 
employe said: "I have worked at other 
institution- and found much trouble among 
the officers always existing. This one runs 
without friction." As an organizer and di- 
rector, he is unsurpassed. He possess) 
ecutive ability of a high order, has had great 
experience in public matters, is an excellent 
lawyer, an extensive reader and possesses a 
brain that works rapidly. Probably no man 
in the state is required to promptly pass 
upon so many matters embracing all the 
lines of industry and education as he is, or 
that could do so with less deliberation. 

For nearly -ix year.- Mr. Torrance has 
been officially connected with the high school 
of Pontiac, and was president of the board 
almost five year-, during which time the 
school wa> opened and raised to it- pn 
high standing among similar institutions in 



the state. Other official honors would have 
been conferred upon him had he not de- 
clined, refusing to allow his name to go far- 
ther on the party ticket. Upright, reliable 
and honorable, his strict adherence to prin- 
ciple commands the respect of all. and as a 
ant, affable gentleman he makes many 
friends. 



JOHN" K. OLESON. 

John K. Oleson, who resides on section 
8, Pontiac township, is one of the success- 
ful farmers of Livingston county, lie is 
a native of Norway and was born June 20, 
[831, just sixty-nine years from the day the 
notes for this sketch were taken. lie grew 
to manhood on a farm in his native country 
and until about thirteen years old attended 
the parochial schools. He then had to begin 
making his own living and engaged in farm 
labor. 

The life of a poor man in Norway is 
not one for envy, and the opportunity for 
advancement is not such as is afforded in 
the 'United States. Realizing this fact. Mr. 
Oleson determined to emigrate to this coun- 
try, and accordingly, in [858, he took pas- 
sage in a sailing vessel, crossed the Atlantic, 
and landed in Quebec. From that city he 
came west to Chicago, and from there to 
1 .a Salle county. Illinois, where he com- 
menced work on a farm by the month, and 
continued to be thus employed for several 
years, saving as much of his wages as possi 
hie. 

While yet living in La Salle count v. Mr. 
Oleson was united in marriage with M 
Elsie Olson, by which union two children 
were born. Ole R., the eldest is now mar- 
ried and has one son. I le is enaged in farm- 



T11F. BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



21 



ing in Livingston county. Emma is the wife 
of Olc Knudson and they have four suns. 

In 1870 Mr. Oleson came to Livingston 
county and purchased a farm of eighty acres 
and also rented a place on which was an old 
log house. The place had formerly been 
worked, hut when he obtained possession it 
had mostly grown up to grass and weeds 
and only about fifteen acres was fenced. 
Life in Livingston county was commenced 
under very discouraging circumstances, hut 
he had grit and determination, and the un- 
sightly weeds si ion disappeared and the land 
was placed under cultivation. A small house 
■was first erected, which in due time, gave 
place to a larger and better one, and the 
area of the farm was increased until the 
farm now comprises two hundred and twenty 
acres, all of which is under cultivation and 
the land tilled and well drained throughout. 

Politically Mr. Oleson is a Republican, 
with which part}' he has been identified since 
coming to this country. On his arrival the 
slavery question was being agitated and the 
country was ah it 1st in the midst of the throes 
of a revolution. Lincoln ami Douglas were 
holding their great debate, and the young 
Norwegian naturally took his place on the 
side of those who were fighting for freedom. 
His first presidential vote was cast in [864 
for Abraham Lincoln, while his last was 
casl for William McKinley. He was reared 
in the Lutheran faith and is yet a member of 
that church. His wife is also a member of 
the same church. 

Mr. Oleson was a poor man when he 
came to the United States, and for several 
years he had a hard struggle to "fitain a 
foothold, hut he persevered, with the result 
that he now has one of the best improved 
farms in Pontiac township, within three 
miles of the county seat, and he can calmly 



look the future in the face, knowing that he 
has sufficient to carry him through old age 
in comfort, if not in luxury. 1 1 1 ^ forty-two 
years in this country have served to broaden 
his views and to make him progressive and 
thi iroughlv American in all things. All w ho 
know him have for him the utmost respect 



JOEL ALLEN, M. D. 

Joel Allen. M. D., a prominent and suc- 
cessful physician of Pontiac, Illinois, is a 
native of this state, horn on his father's farm 
in Jefferson county. November 13, [827, and 
is a son of Abel and Prudence (Wilkey) 
Allen, naties of Kentucky and Georgia, re- 
spectively. His paternal grandfather. James 
Allen was horn in Virginia, and when quite 
young moved to Kentucky, where he en- 
gaged in farming for some years, coming 
to Illinois about [819, locating in Jefferson 
county, where he spent the remainder of his 
life, dying about 1830. The Doctor's father, 
who was a prosperous farmer, lived in his 
native state until about thirty five years of 
age, when he came to Illinois and settled in 
Jefferson county, where he continued to fol- 
low his chosen occupation until his death, 
which occurred at his home March jo. [869, 
at the aee "f seventy-four years. I lis wife 
survived him about six years and died on 
the old homestead in Jefferson county. June 
3, [875. for a quarter of a century she 
was a great invalid and for the last ten years 
of her life was also entirely helpless, requir- 
ing much care and attentii m. The 1 >i icti ir 
has one brother in this county. Christopher 
Columbus Allen, a farmer of Pontiac town- 
ship. 

Dr. Allen obtained his early education 
in the district schools of Jefferson county. 



22 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and assisted his father with the farm work 
until twenty-two years of age. He had a 
great fondness For the study of medicine 
ami for some time read with his uncle, Dr. 
Carter Wilkey, with a view of fitting himself 
f( H- the medical pp ifessii >n. 

On the 14th of November, [849, Dr. 
Allen was united in marriage with Miss 
.Martha Trowbridge, a daughter of Philo 
and Martha Trowbridge of Jefferson county, 
/where her father was SUCcessfullj 
in farming until his death, about [855. By 
this union were four children, all of whom 
are living, namely: Hardin A., born in Jef- 
ferson county, wedded Mary Kinnehan, of 
Livingston county, and is now a pavement 
and concrete walk contractor of Stn 

is; Lydia A. is the wife of A. C. Scott, 
:• prominent farmer of Eppard's Point town 
ship, Li\ ingston county ; Laura is the wife 1 if 

1 Taylor, a dealer iii hardware and ag- 
ricultural implements of Pendleton < >regon; 
and J. Brown married Lizzie Labourn and 
i- a street car conductor of Denver, 1 olo- 
rado. 

After his marriage Dr. Allen continued 
farming for some years in Jefferson county 
and then went to Lincoln, Logan county, 
where he was engaged in the manufacture 
of brick until the death of his wife, which 
occurred January 15. 1858. He then came 
to Livingston county and again took up 
farming, at the same time continuing his 
medical studies, being thus employed until 
the outbreak of the < 'ivil war. 1 le was again 
married. December 6, [860, his second union 
being with Emily Tromly, by whom he had 
two children: Gertrude, born in La Salle 
county, August 23, [861, resides at home, 
and J born in tin- county, July 17. 

1866, is the wife of Robert Harm-, a farmer 
of l\"ck Island. Illiii 



In August, [862, Dr. Allen enlisted at 
Mm. 'iik. Woodford county, in Company II. 
Seventy-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
as hospital steward and remained in the serv- 
ice three years, having charge of his regi- 
ment as physician and surgeon the last two 
years, lie was serving as second assistant 
surgeon at the time he was mustered out 
with hi- regiment at Mobile, July 25, [865. 
They participated in sixteen battles, the first 
kasaw Bluff, in the rear of 
Vicksburg, and for forty day- was in the 
of Vicksburg. The following winter 
was passed in New < (rleans and in the spring 
the command took Fort Gaines on Mobile 
Bay, also Spanish Fort and Fort Blakeley. 

After the close of the war Dr. Allen re- 
turned to Livingston county. While in New 
Orleans he took a course of medical lectures 
and on his return, as a representative of the 
Eclectic School of Medicine, he commenced 
practice in this county, and was not long 
uring a liberal patronage. In the fall of 
1882 he moved to Graymont, where he en- 
I in practice and also conducted a drug 
store until coming to Pontiac, in Oct iber, 
[888. He has lus office at his handsome 
residence, No. 307 East North street, and 
although well advanced in years continues 
to engage in active practice. 

For his third wife Mr. \llen married 
Mrs. Mary llallam. of Livingston county, 
a daughter of James < arsi >n. a farmer 1 if this 
county, now deceased. She died in Pontiac, 
nber 5, 1 888, leaving no children. On 
the 12th of November, iSSg, in Pontiac, 
the Doctor married Mrs. Addie E. Pound, 
oldest daughter of John S. and Eunice 
1 1 'acker 1 Lee. The father, a native of 
Connecticut, and a blacksmith by trade, 
came to Illinois in 1857 and settled at Pleas- 
ant Ridge, near Lexington, where he fol- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



23 



lowed his trade for two years, and then 
came to Pontiac. He now makes his home 
with the Doctor and his wife, Mrs. Lee 
having died at her home in Pontiac in [896. 
They had three children besides .Mrs. Allen, 
namely: llattie. wife of Joseph Roggy, a 
farmer of Nebraska; Frank P., who is em- 
ployed in a pork packing establishment in 
Chicago, and Charles, agent on the Ilinois 
Central Railroad at Riverdale. Illinois. 

Mrs. Allen was born in Connecticut, De- 
cember 24. 1850, and was seven years of age 
when she came to this state with her par- 
ents. She is a lady of refinement, highly 
educated, and after the death of her first 
husband she was, for a number of years, 
successfully engaged in teaching in the dis- 
trict schools of this county, and for a period 
pf eight years in the public schools of Pon- 
tiac. Her first husband was Joseph Pound, 
a farmer living near McDowell, Livingston 
D iunty, by whom she had two children. Mar) 
and Alfred, both now deceased. The Doc- 
tor and Mrs. Allen have one child. Wayne 
Lee, who was bom in Pontiac, May 10, 1892. 
In his political views Dr. Allen is a Republi- 
can, but has never sought or desired public 
office, preferring to devote his entire time and 
attention to his professional duties. He is 
a member of the Methodist church of Pon- 
tiac. and is honored and respected by all 
who kn>>w him. Mrs. Allen is also a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. 



REV. E. P. WRIGHT. 

Rev. E. P. Wright, who for six years 
has been the beloved pastor of the Congre- 
gational church at Dwight. Illinois, was 
born July 21, 1842, in Shoreham, Vermont, 



adjoining Whiting, where Senator Sawyer 
was born. His paternal grandfather was 
Andrew Wright, a native of Connecticut, 
and a soldier of the Revolutionary war, who 
after that struggle migrated to Shoreham, 
\ ermont, and took up a large tract of land. 
lie was married twice and reared a large 
family. The youngest of his children by the 
second marriage was Samuel Wright, our 
subject's father, who in early life followed 
the s^a. sailing first on a whaling vessel and 
later on a merchantman. Alter giving up 
the sea he made his home in Vermont for 
some time, but spent the last three years of 
his life in Jackson county, Michigan, where 
he died when our subject was only four 
years old. He was twice married, but bis 
first wife died young, leaving no children. 
Ills second wife was Minerva Knowlton, a 
native of New York state, by whom he had 
three children, namely: P. I'"., our subject: 
Florence, wife of C. W. Piatt, of North 
Adams, Massachusetts; and Charles T., a 
resident of Crow Point, New York. The 
mother survived her husband many years, 
dying in Rutland, Vermont. 

Our subject was reared by his fat! 
sister and her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Lu- 
cius Robi son, and his early education was 
acquired in the district schools of \ ermont, 
which he attended during the winter months. 
I le was eighteen years of age when the civil 
war broke out and was one of the first from 
his state to enlist, joining Company K. Sec- 
ond Vermont Volunteer Infantry. May 17, 
[86l. He was mustered into the United 
States service at Burlington, and in June 
went to the front, participating in his first 
battle — that of Pull Run — on the nineteenth 
anniversary of his birth. July _' 1 , [861. His 
regiment was in the Peninsular campaign. 
the siege of Yorkfown, the battles of Lee's 



24 



Till'. BIOCRAI'IIICAL RECORD. 



.Mills and VVilliamstown, and the seven days' 
battle in front of Richmond. He was ill 
and off duty from August, [862, until Jan 
uary, [863, and after rejoining his command 
took part in the battle of Chancellorsville. 
The regiment gained distinction the follow- 
ing day by making a famous charge on St. 
Mary's Height, and later participated in the 
battle of the Wilderness, where they lost 
three hundred and thirty-six men. The 
brigade of which Mr. Wright was a mem- 
ber probably lust more than any other in 
the service. He was mustered out June 
29, (86 (., and returned home. 

Previous to leaving the army Mr. Wright 
was converted, and soon after his return 
home entered the academy at Harry, Ver- 
mont, where he spent two years. The fol- 
lowing year he was a student at Newbury, 
Vermont, and in the summer of 1866 en- 
tered Middlebury College, from which he 
was graduated in [870, with the degree of 
A. I'... receiving the degree of A. M. three 
years later. In the autumn of 1X70 he com- 
menced teaching in the academy, where he 
remained two years, and in [872 was called 
t" the pastorate of the Congregational 
church at Danby, Vermont, where he was 
ordained and installed in [873. 

On the 1 1 tli of November, 1871, Mr. 
Wright married Mrs. Ellen M. Marsh, of 
Norwich, Vermont, who died July 4. (874, 
leavin on, Robert Hopkins, who is 

now married and in the employ of the Illi- 
nois Central Railroad at Dubuque, Iowa. 
After the death of his wife, Mr. Wright en- 
tered the Chicago Theological Seminary, 
which he was graduated in [876. While 
attending that institution he had served as 
pastor of the Congregational church at Des 
Plaines, Illinois, and later was in charge of 
the church at Seward. Winnebago county, 



eight year-; Rockton three years, and Crys- 
tal Lake. Illinois, for a time. From the last 
named place he came to Dwight, where he 
lias now been for the past six years, during 
which tune he has built up the church and 
has ministered faithfully to the spiritual 
needs of his people, lie is not only well 
liked by his own conyre^aiioii. hut is hon- 
ored and esteemed by all who have wit- 
nessed his devotion to his noble calling. 

Mr. Wright was again married, Septem- 
ber 7. 1X7(1. his second union being with 
Miss M. S. Stone, of Pecatonica, Winne- 
bago county, Illinois, by whom he has two 
children, namely: Florence, who is now 
bookkeeper and stenographer fur the Dwight 
Star and Herald; and Clarence. Both re- 
side at h< mie. 



ARCHIE CKABR. 

The early home of this well-known and 
honored citizen of Pike township wa 
the ether side of the Atlantic, and on com- 
ing to the new world he was in limited cir- 
cumstances, but so successful has he been 
in his business undertakings that he is now 
able to lay aside all labor and live a reined 
life upon his farm on section 4, Pike town- 
ship, Livingston county, about eight miles 
from l henna. 

Mr. Crabb was born in Arbroath, For- 
farshire, Scotland, June [8, [833, a so 
James and Cecelia (Monroe) Crabb, also 
es of that county, where the mother 
died. The father, who followed the sea in 
early life, came to the United States after 
the death of his wife and spent his last years 
with a daughter in Illinois. During his 
boyhood and youth our subject had hunted 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



25 



school advantages, and is mostly self-edu- 
cated. In 1854 he took passage on a sail 
vessel li< Hind for Montreal, Canada, and was 
seven weeks in crossing the Atlantic, dur- 
ing which time the ship encountered some 
severe storms. On their arrhfal in Quebec 
they were quarantined for two weeks, there 
being some twenty cases of smallpox on 
board. Mr. Crabb spent about six months 
in the city of Montreal, where he worked at 
his trade, that of a blacksmith. 

In 1854 he came to Illinois, and first lo- 
cated in Tazewell county, where he worked 
for his uncle, William Monroe, as a farm 
hand, tor about two years and a half, at 
ten dollars per month. He next engaged 
in farming for himself upon rented land in 
the same county, where he continued to 
make his home until [866, and in the mean- 
time purchased eighty acres of land in Hike 
township, Livingston count}', where lie now 
resides. He located here in [866, ami com- 
menced immediately to break the virgin soil, 
upon which he built a small house. Later 
he purchased an adjoining eighty-acre tract, 
and still later another eighty-acre tract, and 
today has a tine farm of two hundred and 
forty acres, which he has placed under a 
high state of cultivation and improved with 
good and substantial buildings, which stand 
as monuments to his thrift and enterprise. 
After years of faithful toil he can now well 
afford to lay aside all business cares and en- 
j' y a well earned rest. 

In Tazewell county. December 25, [8 ii, 
Mr. Crabb married Miss Mary Ann Dor- 
ward, who was born and reared in the same 
neighborhood in Scotland as her husband 
and came to the new world in [853, local 
ing in Illinois. To them have been horn 
six children, namely: Florence, now the 
wife of William Snethen, of Tike township; 



John Henry, who is married and engaged in 
farming in the same township; Robert, also 
an agriculturist of Tike township; Marga- 
ret, wife ol Lewis Brinkman, of Rooks 

Creek township; Cecelia, wife of Louis Sal/. 
man, of the same township; and Agnes, wife 
of C. B. Rollins, who operates the Crabb 
farm. 

Mr. Crabb voted for Abraham Lincoln 
in [860, l>ut since [868 has been independent 
in politics, giving his suporl to the men and 
measures that he believes will best advance 
the interests of the public regardless of party 
lines. He has taken quite an active part 
in local politics, and is now serving his sixth 
term as supervisor, and is now a member of 
the committees on public buildings, county 
house and farm, fees and salaries. He has 
also served as township clerk, assessor and 
treasurer, which office of treasurer he now 
holds, and as township trustee eighteen 
years. I le and his wife are active members 
of the Presbyterian church, and his public 
and private life are alike above reproach, for 
his career has ever been one characterized 
by the utmosl fidelity to duty. He and his 
family receive and merit the high regard of 
the entire community. 



THE LESLIE E. KEELEY CO. 

Time tests the merit of all things, and 
the years with unerring accuracy set their 
stamp of approval upon all that comes be- 
fore the public notice, or cause to sink into 
oblivion that winch is not worthy of atten- 
tion. Only truth is eternal, while "error 
wounded, writhes in pain and dies among 
her worshippers." There is no escape from 
such results; the ages have proven this, and 
the law will hold good throughout all time. 



26 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



In the face of the most bitter opposition 
there was given to the world a wonderful 
discovery by Dr. Leslie E. Keeley, Of 
Dwight, Illinois. He early met the ridicule 
and persecution of the medical fraternity, of 
which he was a member, and the amused and 
< iftentimes abusive disbelief of the wi >rld, hut 
time proved the efficacy and value of his 
discovery, and today he is known as one 
of the greatest benefactors that America 
produced in the nineteenth century. 

Although the founder has passed away 
his living record forms an epitaph time will 
never efface, and the work he created is con- 
tinued under the corporate name of 'I he 
Leslie E. Keeley Company, the leading mem- 
bers being .Major Curtis J. Judd and John R. 
Oughton, the latter the present mayor of 
Dwight, while the former for several ye; 
was a successful merchant and tilled pi 
tions in the executive departments of the 
village. The history of the Keeley Insti- 
tute forms the most important chapter in 
the history of Dwight, for prior to its es 
tablishment the little village was scarcely 
heard of outside of a radius of a few miles, 
and seemed to have little business or com- 
mercial prosperity outside of the farming 
industry before it. Today no city of equal 
size in the Union is as widely known. 

In [866 Dr. Leslie E. Keeley was grad- 
uated from Rush Medical College, of t'hi- 

>. and in seeking a location, determined 
upon this little village in Livingston county, 
Illinois, lie so, ,n won an enviable repu- 
tation, and enjoyed a large practice which 
came to him from miles around; hut while 
he - Lilly performed his daily duties 

eneral practitioner, he became inter- 
ed in the question of a possible cure for 
inebriety, lie gave careful thought, study 
and investigation to the matter, prompted by 



a love of scientific research, hut more than 
all by the great humanitarian principles 
which ever formed a hasic element in the 
character of Dr. Keeley. At length he be- 
came convinced that drunkenness was a dis- 
ease just as surely as a fever or any other 
disease which comes under the care of the 
physician. He became convinced that there 
was nothing in the claim that heredity had 
anything to do with either. He believed 
that while a neurosis might he entailed upon 
descendants, they were not from necessity 
liquor or drug users. He defined drunken- 
ness as "a conditon wherein the nerve cells 
have become so accustomed to performing 
their duties and functions under the in- 
fluence of alcohol that they are dependent on 
a and will no longer perform those dr. 1 
and functions properly and painlessly i 
cept when under its influence." This 
theory has long been accepted by physicians 
throughout the country, and is taught in the 
leading text-books on physiology and hy- 
giene in our public schools, hut at the time 
Dr. Keeley advanced it he met with the 
greatest opposition from the medical frater- 
nity. I [oping to perfect a cure for this c m- 
dition of the nerve cells, he wrote to several 
well known physicians to ascertain what 
they knew about the effects of salts of gold. 
A few responded and their information \ 
meager, but Dr. Keeley continued to investi- 
gate and experiment, and as a result, per- 
fected n, it onl) the cure hut the system of 
treatment. '1 he storm of abuse and oppo- 
sition which he brought down upon him- 
self can hardly he imagined. The president 
of a prominent medical college, with whom 
he took counsel, advised him thus: 'Alain- 
tain the secret of your discovery if j 
think it of use to humanity, hut the pro- 
fession will not leave a shred of your medical 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



27 



reputation." This was painfully true, but 
he fought his and humanity's battle nobly, 
until now thousands have been benefited by 
his treatment, the number reaching more 

than throe hundred thousand. 

It was in 1880 that Dr. Keeley abandoned 
general practice and began giving his en- 
tire attention to the cure of those who had 
become slaves to alcohol, opium and other 
very injurious drugs, lie early associated 
with him Major Judd and Mr. Oughton, and 
the connection was maintained until the 
Doctor's death. These gentleman were 
prominent, popular and reliable business 
men of Dwight, and their faith in Dr. Kee- 
ley and his discoveries did much to gain for 
him the confidence of his home community. 
.Major Judd is now the secretary and treas- 
urer of the company, and Mr. Oughton is 
president and chemist. Soon after the part- 
nership was formed Mr. Oughton was given 
the formulae and being an expert chemist 
lias compounded the Keeley remedies to the 
present time. 

With three such men as Dr. Keeley, Ma- 
jor Judd and Air. Oughton at the head of 
the Institute its success w^as assured, al- 
though it was almost a decade before it 
gained the recognition and assistance of the 
press. Gradually public opposition was 
lessened, as those who came to the Institute 
under the curse of inebriety went away sober, 
intelligent citizens, ready to take their places 
again in the work of the world. Their tes- 
timony and influence lead to the growth of 
the work, the number of patients gradually 
yet constantly increased, and it is estimated 
that twenty-five thousand took the treatment 
prior to [891, when Joseph Medill became 
its champion and advocated the cause 
through the columns of the ( Ihicago Tribune. 

Before so doing, however, he thoroughly in- 
3 



vestigated the cure. Jn an editorial in the 
Chicago Tribune he said: "] tested this 
cure; 1 selected a half-dozen of the toughest 
products of alcoholism that the ( hicago sa- 
loons had been able to turn out, and the 
drunkard-making shops in no other city can 
heat them in their line of workmanship. The 
experimental cases were sent down to 
Dwight, one at a time, extending over a 
period of several weeks, and in due time 
they were all returned to me. looking as if 
a veritable miracle had been wrought upon 
them. The change for the better was so 
great that I scarcely recognized them. They' 
went away sots and returned gentlemen. It 
was amazing, and converted me to a belief 
in the efficacy of the 'Gold Cure' for alco- 
holism and opium. Well, I did not slop 
with the half-dozen specially selected cases, 
hut sent down to Dwight a number of ine- 
briate acquaintances to take the treatment, 
as 1 was anxious to reclaim those old friends 
who had been respected and useful citizens 
before the 'drink habit' hail ruined their 
lives. When I had thus become fully con- 
vinced that drunkenness was a disease, the 
result of imbibing poison, and that a medi- 
cine had been discovered which released the 
victim from the irrepressible thirst for alco- 
hol, and that it restored the man to normal 
health of body and mind, 1 felt it t' 1 be a 
duty which I owed to humanity to make 
known the virtue of the Keelc\ I urc as fast 
and as far as in mv power, and I rejoice that 
the control of a widely-read journal enabled 
me to reach the minds of a multitude of in- 
telligent people. 1 opened the columns of 
my paper freely to the rescued victims of al- 
cohol, who related their experience and ti 
tilled to what the Keek) < 'urc had di me for 
them." The Tribune's example was imme- 
diately followed by that of other leading 






THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



journals in Chicago, and then throughout 
tin- country, until the Keeley Institute 
Dwight became largely known throughout 
tin- length and breadth of the Ian 

It v found that the accommoda- 

tions at Dwight were totally inadequate, so 
greatly did the number of patients increase. 
Dr. Keeley, Major Judd and Mr. Oughton 
held consultation and it was determined that 
the congestion at Dwight should be relieved 
at once by the openhng of branch institutes. 
The first one was established at Des Moines, 
Iowa, soon others were started in New York 
and Pennsylvania, and after this branches 
sprang up in various places until at the pi 
ent tune there are one or mure in nearly e\ 
state and territory. The most notable work 
perhaps was accomplished at the Leavi 
worth branch of the National Soldier-' 
Home, where nearly fifteen hundred veter 
ans of the war of the Rebellion were treated 
witli the most gratifying results, ami the 
port of the hoard of managers to congress 
and the secretary of war spoke of the great 
■i accomplished. The treatment was 
also administered in the Soldiers' Home at 
Milwaukee. Wisconsin. Hampton. Virginia, 
Los Angeles, California, and others, with 
client results. Many men and officers 
of the regular army have also taken the 
treatment, sixty Indians from the Cherokee 
and (-nations were sent to the 

branch in Kansas City, and the results were 
le to the cure as to prompt the 
writing of a lei hief Justice Connor, 

of the Indian Territory, to I >r. Keeley, pi 

it in the highest terms. Sixty- 
Minneapolis 
r of that city to the 
br; ml a large majority 

'hey had been victims 
ted from two t, , twe 



nine times, were enabled to leave the work- 
house, and were changed from wards of the 
state to self-supporting, self-respi ti- 

zens. To cite, either collectively or indi- 
vidually, the wonderful cures effected by 
the system inaugurated b) Dr. Keelej would 
till a large volume; suffice it to say that 
more than three hundred thousand have 
taken the cure, ami the greater number have 
remained sober, useful citizens. 

The cure for drunkenness is usually ef- 
fected in four weeks. There is no sickness 
attendant upon the treatment, and the phys- 
ical condition improves from the start. Men 
are also freed from the opium, morphine, 
laudanum, cocaine and chloral habits. The 
patients are left absolutely free, there being 
no restraining influences other than those 
of law abiding citizenship. All patients 
are treated alike and stand on the same 
footing. It is interesting to note the many 
exhibitions of kindness and good will of 
the patients towards each other. A useful 
lesson is taught by this democracy of the 
Keele) Institute — a man of humble station 
is lifted up and given a new trend, when 
a man of high position is convinced more 
than ever of the leveling qualities of drink 
toward the lowest strata of si ciety. 

The Livingston Hotel of Dwight is 
owned and conducted by the Leslie E. Kee 
lev company, and is an excellently conducted 
hostelry, with pleasantly arranged rooms, 
well lighted and ventilated, and tastefully 
furnished. The laboratory is one of the 
finest and best equipped in the country, and 
the offices are models of conveniei 

Dwighl certainly owes her prosperity 
in very large measure to the Leslie E. ' 
ley Company. Trior to the establishment 
of the institute it was an ordinary country 

n. without electric lights, without water- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



29 



works and without drainage. Today it lias 
all the accommodations and improvements 
of cities many times its size, this result being 
largelj obtained through the efforts of the 
members of the ECeeley Company. It is 
safe to say that no private institution in the 
entire country is so well known as the insti- 
tute at Dwight, nor is there one whose in- 
fluence and efforts have been so beneficial 
and far reaching. 

The business of the Leslie E. Keeley 
Company is conducted upon a liberal prin- 
ciple and most approved business methods. 
'I he system is the result of years of expe- 
rience and intelligent work, and cannot he 
improved upon. Visitors to Dwight inva- 
riably inspect the general offices as one of 
the sights of the village. While it has been 
a paying investment to its owners, it cer- 
tain! v deserves to he ranked anions;' the 
greatest institutions for good that the nine- 
teenth century has known. 



MATTHIAS TOMBAUGH. 

Matthias Tombaugh, deceased, was one 
of the most prominent of the early educator-, 
of this county, and served as county super- 
intendent of schools for several years, dur- 
ing which tune there was a marked im- 
provement made in the educational sys 
tern then in vogue here, lie was born neai 
Washington, Washington county. Pennsyl 
vania. June 11. [835, and there grew to 
manhood. I lis parents were Mathias ami 
Rachel (Spohn) Tombaugh, life-long resi 
dents of that O unity and of ( ,ermau descent 
fhe mother survived her hushand S< 
years, dying about [890. 

Our subject completed his literary edu- 



cation at Mt. Union College, and then c >m- 
menced teaching school in his native county. 
serving as superintendent "i schools at 
Monongahela City for a time. While there 
he married Miss Hlivira J. l.etherman. who 
was horn lune 1 1. [838, a daughter of John 
and Christina Letherman, of Washington 
county, Pennsylvania, and of German de- 
scent. Her father was a soldier of the war 
of 1812. and a farmer by occupation. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Tombaugh were horn seven 
children, five of whom are still living, name- 
ly: Charles R.. who is represented on an- 
other page of this volume; Alice I., wife of 
E. F. Pound, of (.leu Elder, Kansas; Dr. 
Frank M., medical examiner for the t'hi- 
cago. Burlington & Quincy Railroad at 
Burlington, Iowa; Nettie /... wife of \Y. F. 
W'orthley. of Odell, Illinois; and John L., 
a student in the Chicago Medical College. 
Raymond R.. the third in order of birth, 
died June 25. 1886, at the age ^i nineteen 
years. Horace Reid, the fifth child died 
in infancy. 

In 1865 Mr. Tombaugh came to Living- 
ston county. Illinois, and purchased land 111 
Reading township, when this country was 
quite new and hut slightly improved. Al- 
ter making his home there for three years 
he moved to Sunbury township and bought 
another farm. While living there he served 
as principal of the schools of ''dell for one 
year, and in 18873 vvas elected count} su- 
perintendent of schools, which important 
position he held until I SSj. the term at that 
time being four years. While in office a 
change was made in the election laws and 
he was elected by the hoard of supervisors 
for one year. During his incumbency he 
made many important changes in the schools 
which have been of permanent value, and it 
is conceded that he was a verv effective 



3° 



THE BIOGR \I'II1C\L REG »RD. 



sell". .1 officer. Selling his farm in Sun- 
bury township, in [876, he bought propert) 
in Odell township, and successfully en 

sjed in farming there up to the time of 
his death. 

After 1882 Mr. Tombaugh served as su- 
pervisor of his township and was also a 
member of the Odell school board. He 
was a Republican in politics and a member 
of the Masonic fraternity. Both lie and 
his wife held membership in the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and t""k an active pan 
in it> work. He served a^ superintendent of 
the Sunday schools twelve years; was presi 
dent of the County Sunday School Associa- 

1; and was also steward, trustee ami 
church secretary, in fact was one of the pil- 
lars of his church. While one of a fishing 
party at Marseilles, Illinois, Maj 13, [887, 
he was drowned while attempting t" rescue 
another member of the party who had fallen 
in the river. He was highly respected and 
esteemed by all win > knew him on account 
of his sterling worth and true nobility of 
character, and his death was widely and 
deeply mourned. lli~ estimable wife still 
survives him and makes her home in Odell. 



CHARLES R. TOMBAUGH. 

Charles R. Tombaugh, the present county 
superintendent of schools, was hum near 
Washington, Washington county, Pennsyl- 
vania, < >ctober 1. [862, and is a son of Mat- 
thias and Elvira J. (Letherman) Tom- 
. a sketeh of whom appears on another 
irk. 1 le was about three 
when 1' by his parents to 

Living inty. Illinois, lie began his 

. Sunbury town- 



ship, later attended, the common chools of 
(•dell ami then taught school for live win- 
ters in this county, at the end of which t 
he entered the Northwestern University at 

anston, Illinois. After his return home 
he resumed teaching and taught for six 
years, during which time he was principal 
■ if the East Side School at Dwight, and also 
principal of the schools at Chebanse and 
< 'c le 11. While at Odell he was president of 
the Livingston County Teachers' Associa- 
tion i'<v two years, and also an instructor 
in the County Teachers' Institute. After 
the death of his father, in 1887, he took 
charge of the home farm and carried it on 
until he assumed the duties of his present 

ition as county superintendent of schools. 
lie was elected on the Republican ticket, 
ami in [898 was renominated '' ma- 

tion and again elected to that ofi The 

educational meetings held during his term 
have been most successful, and he has the 
entire confidence and respect of the peop 

( in his election to his present office Pro- 
fessor Tombaugh moved to Ponliac, and 
now has a pleasant home at X". 31 t South 
Vermilion street. On the 20th i>i January. 
[892, he married Mrs. Anna I.. Bradrick, 
a daughter of Rev. Samuel Deach, of the 
Central Illinois Methodist Episcopal con- 
ference. Rev. and Mis. Deach were in 
Kansas for a time on account of his health, 
and Mrs. Tombaugh was educated 111 E 
lina. that state. By a former marriage she 
has one child, Margaret L. Bradrick, ami 
she has borne our subject three children: 
Alice \\. (den 1). and Stella M. 

Professor Tombaugh was made a Ma- 
son in ( »dell Lodge, X". 401, F. & A. M.. 
in which he served as warden, hut has since 
demitted t" Pontiac lodge, X". -'04. where 
he is now sering his fourth year as mas 



BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ter. Both lie and his wife arc active mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, and 
he is now .1 member of the offical board of 
the church and president of the Livingston 
County Sunday School Association. While 
a resident of Dwight, Chebanse and Udell, 
he was superintendent of the Sunday schools 
there, having like his father devoted much 
time t<> Sunday school work. lie has fol- 
lowed closely in the footsteps of his father. 
having held practically all of the local, 
county ami church offices held by the latter. 
As a citizen he ever stands ready to dis 
charge any duty devolving upon him, and 
as an educator he stands deservedly high. 



I MILK A. SIMMON'S. 

I he man who achieves success in the le 
gal profession is even more strictly the "ar- 
chitect of his own fortunes" than is the 
average -elf-made man, there being in the 
keen competition of the lawyer's lite, with 
its ei instantly recurring mental duel he 
tween eager and determined antagonists, no 
chance for the operation of influences which 
may he called to the aid of the merchant, the 
manufacturer or the financier. Among the 
men o| Livingston county who have demon 
strated their ahilites in this difficult field 
Emile A. Simmons holds a leading place. 
being one of the prominent attorneys of 
Pontiac. 

A native of Illinois, Mr. Simmon-, was 
horn in Avon, October [9, [865, and is a 
son of George and Charlotte I.. |. (Mail 
hard) Simmons. The father was horn. 
reared and educated in Hamilton. Madison 
county, New York, and as a young man 
renn >ved to Avon, Illinois, about [850, where 



he followed the carpenter's trade, and also 
engaged in farming, making his home there 
until his death. Me held different local 
offices, including those of justice of the 
peace, assessor and collector, and was a Re- 
publican in politics, having been an aboli- 
tionist in New York. His father was a 
soldier oi the war of iNi_>. and a life-lo 
resident of Hamilton, Xew York, where he 
followed the occupation of farming. The 
mother of our subject was horn in Flor- 
ence, Italy, of French parentage, and was 
reared in France until twelve years of age, 
when she came to \merica with her family 
and settled in Avon, Illinois. Her father 
was Ely Mailliard. She is still living, hut 
the father of our subject died in [892. 

During his boyhood and youth Emile A. 
Simmons attended the public schools of 
Avon, and at the age of sixteen commenced 
teaching. After follow inn- that profession 
for sj\ years, he became a student at the 
Normal School in Normal, Illinois, and af- 
ter leaving' that institution again taught 
school for two years, being principal of the 
school at Vermont, Illinois. In December, 
[889, he came to Pontiac and entered the 
office of A. i". Ball, studying law with him 
two years, and also teaching the latter year. 
The following year he was in the office of 

Mcllduff & Torrance, and in May. [892, 
was appointed deputy circuit clerk. While 
in that position seeing the practice of lead- 
ing lawyers was of great benefit to him. In 
August, [892, he was examined at Mt. Ver- 
non by the judges of the appellate court, 
and a certificate issued at the next session of 
the supreme court at that place the follow- 
ing November. In December he left the 

clerk's office and entered the office of Mr. 
Mcllduff, remaining with him until August, 
[894, when he opened an office of his own. 



nil b R \rinc \i. RED iRD. 



He is ii"\\ successfully engaged in practice 
re all the courts of the state. 
i >n the ,;i-t of December, 1894, Mr. 
Simmons was united in marriage with Mi<> 
{Catherine M. Smith, of Won, a daughter 
of P. II. Smith, and to them has been born 

hild, I 1 atise A. I hey hold member- 
ship in St. Mary's Catholic church, of Pon- 
tiac, and fraternally Mr. Simm ins 1- a 
member of Crescent Lodge, K. P., i- clerk 
of the Cam]). M. \\ . A., of Pontiac, and is 
president of the Pontiac Colony Pioneer Re- 
serve Association. He is also director and 
treasurer iated charities of Pontiac. 

]-c>r some time he has been secretary of the 
Pontiac Loan & Building Association — a 
home loan building concern, whose assets 
amount to one hundred and twelve thou- 
sand dollars. He 1- also a member of the 
company. By hi- ballot he supports the men 
and measures of the Republican party, and 
take- an active and prominent part in local 
politics. He -till retain- an interesl in edu 
cational affairs, and in April, 1900, was 
elected to the Pontiac township high school 
b !!(.■;- ng his sec »nd term 

lember of the b iard of directors of the 
Pontiac public library, receiving his appoint- 
ment from the mayor, and .as a progn 
and public-spirited citizen, he take- a dee]) 
inten Iculated b 1 ad 

1 the moral. social and educational wel- 
nmunitv. 



1 1 »L( >XEL FRANK L. SMITH. 

Frank L. Smith, of < iovernor 

the li ders of the 

n party in I I m county, his 

iid unbounded popu- 



larity ,i;i\ ins^ him an influential following, 
while his shrewd judgment of men and 
fairs make his counsel of value in all im- 
portant movements. In business circles he 
also take- a foremost rank, his success as a 
real e-tate dealer being all the more notable 
From the fact that it has been secured by his 
<>wn judicious management. 

This prominent citizen of Dvvight. a 
member of the well-known firm of Romber 
ger & Smith, was born in that city Novem 
ber -'4. I*'*-, and i- a -on of Jacob J. ami 
Jane K. (Ketcham) Smith, natives ol Ger- 
many and New York, respectively. The 
father was only four years old when broug 
to America by his parent-, who located in 
Pennsylvania, but at the age of fifteen he 
came to Dwight, Illinois, which continued 
to he In- home until [891, when he removed 
to Chicago, where he died in 1894. His 
wife died nine years previous. In their 
family were three children. 

1I1 mel Smith received In- earl) educa- 
tion in the public schools of D-wight, ami 
nteen taught school in 
Round Grove township for about one year. 
er which he accepted a position in the 
freight department of the Chicago & Alton 
Railroad at Dwight, remaining with them in 
a clerical capacity about four ve; In 

[887 he went b 1 ( !hicag i and d n 

similar position with the Rock Island Rail- 
ad, being located at the Englewood sta- 
tion two years. Subsequently he served as 
shier with P. II. Bolton & (ompany.com 
mis-ion merchant- on South Water street, 
1 hicago, until [890, when he retui 
Dwight and entered into partnership with 
\V. II. Ketcham in the real e-tate and loan 
busini When that linn wa- dissolved 

April 1. 1895, Colonel Smith became con- 
nected in business with C. I.. Rombereer un- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



33 



tier the name of Romberger & Smith, their 
specialty being real estate and real estate 
work, although they do a private banking 
business for the accommodation oi friends 
ami acquaintances. Without question the 
firm does one of the largest loan and real es- 
tate businesses in central Illinois, this fact 
being conceded by all other firms in their 
line. At present the) arc extensively inter- 
ested iti Mississippi and Louisiana lands. 
Their holdings in the latter state arc tim- 
ber lands, which the firm purchased with the 
view of enhancing their value, and in Jan 
uary, 1900, the) sold one trad of twelve 
thousand aero in Madison parish. ["his is 
desirable property, being accessible to steam- 
and the Vicksburg, Shreveport & Pa- 
cific Railroad. The Mississippi land is in 
the Delta country, and is also covered with 
hard \\ ood timber, principally oak, pecan and 
gum. When cleared this will become e\ 
cellent cotton land. Besides this property, 
the firm has about fifteen hundred acres ol 
line farming land in l.ee county, Illinois, 
which 1^ well improved ami under a high 
state of cultivation, and also operate largely 
in Iowa and Indiana lands. 

On the Nth of February, [893, Mr. 
Smith was united in marriage with Miss 
Erminie Ahern, of Dwight, a daughter of 
John and Margaret Ahern. who are at pres- 
ent living in Ogden, Utah. Mrs. Smith is 
a member oi St. Patrick's Catholic church, 
"t" Dwight, and the Colonel belongs t" He- 
bron lodge, X". 75. K. I'., and Dwighl 
Camp, M. \V. A. Since attaining his ma- 
jority he has affiliated with the Republican 
party, and has taken a very active and promi- 
nent part in political affairs, always attend 
the county conventions and serving as 
a delegate t<> the state conventions three 
times. In the spring of [900 he was offered 



the nomination for state senator 1 in his party 
ticket, hut would not accept "it account "f 
his business interests, though the nomina- 
tion was equivalent to an election in his dis- 
trict, which is strongl) Republican. Early 

in his career he served as city clerk ill 
Dwight, hut since then he has never been 
prevailed upon \<< accept office. In January, 
1897, he was appointed colonel on Governor 
Tanner's staff, and in that capacity has par- 
ticipated in many important functions, being 
present at the inauguration of President Mc- 
Kinley at Washington, 1 >. C, in March. 
[897; the unveiling of the < .rant monument 
at New York; the unveiling of Logan's 
monument at Chicago; the christening of the 
battleship Illinois at Newport News, Vir 
ginia.; and the dedication of the lllin 
monument at Chattanooga, rennessi 



HON. NELSI IN J. MYER. 

There are in ever) community men 
of great force of character and exceptional 
ability, who by reason of their capacity for 
leadership become recognized as foremost 
citizens, and take a very important part in 
public affairs. Such a man is Mr. Myer, 
who is now s<> efficiently surving as superin- 
tendent of the Livingston county farm in 
Eppards Poinl township. 

lie was horn in that township. Jul) 30, 
1851, ami is a son of Judge Eli Myer, who 
was born and reared in Maryland, and at 
the age of eighteen years moved t'' Licking 
count). Ohio, locating near Newark. There 
he married, and continued to make it his 
home until after the birth of several of his 
children. In [850 he came u< Livingston 
county, Illinois, and purchased a trad ol 
raw land in Eppards Poinl township, to 



34 



HE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the cultivation and improvement of which 
once turned his attention. Later he 
bought more land and at one time owned 
five hundred and sixty acres, which he 
placed under a high state of cultivation and 
improved with a good set of farm buildings. 
] le was a mar ss ability, and 

was one of the most prominent and infl 
tial citizens of his community, being called 
upon to serve as associate judge, and i 
ship treasurer and clerk for seme years each. 
He died upon the old home place December 
28, [868, and his wife passed awaj June 5. 

1875- 

Nelson J. Myer grew to manh 1 upon 

the farm and attended the local schols, but 
the knowledge there acquired has been 
greatly supplemented by reading and study 
in later years. For some time he and his 
brother operated the old homestead together, 
and in 1S75 Mr. Moyer purchased eighty 
acres in sections _m and [6, on which he 
lived and there made his home until 1895, 
when lie took charge of the Livingston 
county farm, lie has been very successful 
in the management of this place, and has 
gained an enviable reputation as 1 ne oi its 
most efficient superintendents. When he 
took charge of the farm it had fifty-one in- 
mates, hut the number has since been in- 
creased i" eighty-four, which includes a 
number of insane, "Id and decrepit persons. 
In the in.' ent of the place and the 

care of the inmates, he has been greatly as- 
sisted by his estimable wife. 

In this county, December 17. [871, Mr. 
Myer married Mis-, Helen I''.. McHlhincy. 
who \\a-~ born in Green county, Wisconsin, 
but was reared and educated in Stephenson 

county, lllin Her father was James 

McElhiney. To our subject and his wife 
have been born two children: Nelson I'.. 



who is attending the Pontiac High Scl 
and James < '.. a student in the home school. 
In In- political affiliations Mr. Myer is a 
Republican, and cast his first 
presidential vote for General I'. S. G 
iu [872. lie has taken a very active and 
prominent part in political affairs, and has 
keen elected to several offices, serving as 
township collector several years, and was 
justice of the peace fur eight years from 
[876. In [881 he was elected supervisor, 
and filled that office continuously for ten 
years, during which time he was chairman 
of a number of important committees. He 
was elected I 1 the state legislature in [888, 
and s, , acceptably did he fill that office that 
he was reelected for another term, and 
was a member of the committees on state 
institutions, revenue and others. In [893 
he was again elected supervisor, was re- 
elected two years later and made chairman 
of the count) hoard. lie resigned 
office to accept his present position as su- 
perintendent of the county farm. I lis offi- 
cial duties have always been discharged with 
a fidelity and promptness worthy of the 
highest commendation, ami he is today one 
of the best-known and most popular citizens 
of the county. Religiousl) both he and his 
wife are members of the (enter Methodist 
Episcopal church. 



CHRIST* IPHER \Y. STERRY. 

Christopher W. Sterry, of Pontiac, was 
born in Somersel count). Maine. Vugust 12, 
[826. Ills father. Samuel Sterry, also a 
native of Maine, was horn in 1 jSj. married 
Hannah Harding, in [807, and servetl 
through the war of iNu. dying at his home 
in Somersel county in 1827, when Christo- 




C. W. STERRY. 



THE BI< (GRAPHICAL REO >RD. 



37 



pher \vas less than one year old. The pater- 
nal grandfather, David Sterry, was one of 
the heroes of the Revolutionary war. and 
died at Ins home in Maine at the advanced 
age of eight) eight years and eight months. 
The mother, Hannah Harding Sterry, 
was a devoted Christian woman. She was 
born in 1788, and died in Maine in [871, 
when eightv-two years old. At the death 
of her husband she was left with five sons, 
the eldest less than eighteen years old and 
the youngest, Christopher, not a year old, 
to face the stern realities of life with but 
seam means of support. The devoted 
mother, after a heroic struggle for several 
years to keep Iter family of boys together, 
found it necessary to find homes for them. 
Thus the subject of this sketch, when but 
eight years of age, was placed among 
strangers, where he remained under harsh 
treatment and hard work, and but few op- 
portunities for school privileges for four 
years, when he could endure it no longer, 
and ran away. When fifteen he worked 
six months for twenty-five dollars, and at 
eighteen he went into Massachusetts and 
commenced work at twelve dollars and a 
half per month on a farm. Then he be- 
came engaged in manufacturing business, 
in which he continued until he came to Illi- 
nois in [852, and located in Chicago, where 
he remained four years, having charge of the 
stone sawing' works of A. S. Sherman & 
Company. Jn 1856 he was engaged as 
1 kkeeper of the Sheffield Mining & Trans- 
portation Company, of Sheffield. Bureau 
county. It was in this year. 1X50. that Mr. 
Sterry came into Livingston county and 
settled in Esmen township, where he bought 
a farm of one hundred and sixtv acres of 
raw prairie land, seven miles north of Pon- 
tiac. This he improved, erecting buildings 



and making of it a pleasant home, on which 
he lived for mam' years, engaged in farm- 
ing and stock-raising. During this time he 
added one hundred and seventy acres to 
the homestead, which he still retains in the 
highest degree of cultivation, and became 
:ssed of large business interests and 
property holdings in New Orleans, Louis- 
iana. The latter required so much atten- 
tion that he left his farm in [884 and 11 
into Pontiac. Securing one of the finest lo- 
cations in the city on the north hank of pic- 
turesque Vermillion, Mr. Sterry erected on 
it one of the most elegant modern residences 
in Pontiac. It is located on Easl Water 
street, in the midst of spacious grounds ex- 
tending hack to the river, and is shaded by 
grand old oaks and native forest trees. Here 
he makes his home, though business as well 
as comfort calls him south during the win- 
ter months. 

Soon after becoming a citizen of Pon- 
tiac, Mr. Sterry became identified with the 
business interests of the city, first by es- 
tablishing the jewelry, drug. 1 k and wall 

paper firm of John S. Murphy & Company. 
A little later he was one of the principal or- 
ganizers of the Pontiac Shoe Manufactur- 
ing Company, which was incorporated in 
1889, taking one-third of the stock and fur- 
nishing financial hacking to a much greater 
extent. He has been a director and presi- 
dent of the company from its organization. 
It is the chief industry of Pontiac, and is 
c< msidered a prime fact' r m itspn >sperityand 
growth. Starting up in October, 1889, it 
has grown to a capacity of two thousand 
pairs of shoes per day. and furnishes em- 
ployment to three hundred men and women, 
the majority of whom are skilled workmen. 
The product of the factory is disposed of 
throughout the territory from Ohio to the 



38 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Pacific coast on the west and the Gulf of 
Mexico on the south. 

In 1897 Mr. Sterry purchased Riverside 
Park, adjoining the city on die east, ami 
almosl encircled by the Vermillion river, 
shaded by stately native forest trees, thus 
securing it- use for the Pontiac Chautauqua 
Association, which he assisted in organizing, 
ami in which he was the largest stockholder. 
He i- also largely interested in the Pontiac 
State Bank, of which he has been director 
and vice-president since its organization. 
While he does not give special attention to 
the detail-- of this business, yet the mere 
fact of his connection with its has served 
tn increase the confidence of the business 
community in it- conservative management. 
lie is also president and largest stockholder 
nf the Riverside Irrigation Company, of 
Idaho, which controls some fifteen thousand 
acres of arable land in that state. About 
thirty miles of canal have been constructed 
and is in operation for irrigation purposes. 
In 1899 he erected the four-story office 
building mi the southwest corner of Court 
House square. It is known as the Sterry 
block, and will doubtless he a landmark f< r 
years to come a- its equal has nut appeared 
in any city the size of Pontiac. It fronts 
eighty feet mi Washington street and one 
hundred feet mi Smith Mill street, and is 
four stories above the basement. It co 
si-t- of two stores and the Pontiac State 
Bank below, and of sixty suites of offices 
above, which are made accessible by an elec- 
tric-power passenger elevator, heated by 
steam and supplied with city water and with 
electric lighting. 

As a citizen Mr. Sterry has ever been 
read} i" accepl the responsibilities and pi 
form his duty in the mosl conscientious way. 
While a- a matter of cli 1 would have 



avoided the cares of public office, yet he has 
served many years in various official p 
.tions. In Esmen township he served as 
school director, trustee, school treasurer. 
justice 1 if the peace and supervisi >r. 1 le w a- 
a member of the board of supervisors of 
Livingston county for several terms, anil 
a- Mich, aided in securing the location of 
the State Reform School at Pontiac. 

Having been a strong advocate of anti- 
slavery principle- even as an abolitionist, mi 
the organization of the new party, he be- 
came a stanch Republican, and during the 
war of the Rebellon was an active member 
uf the Union League, lie continued t> 
act with the party until the old issues were 
settled, and he became convinced that the 
new and greater issue uf temperance could 
expect mi real support from the < Id party. 
lie then gave the Prohibition party his lib- 
eral support and became an ardent supporter 
of that party. 

Realizing in his own life what he missed 
through want of school privileges, he has 
been an ardent supporter of the public school 
system and also of higher education. He 
has been a supporter especially of New l 
leans University, of which he is a trustee, 
Wheaton College, and uf Illinois Wesleyan 
University. 

In 1^47 Mr. Sterry was married t « « Miss 
Elizabeth Day, who lived with him s< 
years, bearing to him three children, all of 
whom died in infancy, while her death oc- 
curred March 25, [855. 

In [858 be married Mi-> Amanda I lad- 
ley . daughter of the late James I'. Iladley. .1 
prominent farmer uf Sunbury township, 
tin- county. < >ne child was burn, and lived 
but a short time, and the wife also was taken 
away after a union of a little mure than 
\ear. In t86l he was united in man 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



39 



with Mrs. Mary C. Beeler.a daughter i if Ji >hn 
Ross, oi Sangamon county, and she has 
been spared to live with him until the pres- 
ent time. To them have been born six 
children: Lida, wife of Dr. C. II. Long, of 
Pontiac, whose sketch appears elsewhere in 
this volume; John L., the only son, a young 
man of great promise who died at the age of 
twenty years, in 1884, while attending the 
Illinois Weslevan University at Blooming- 
ton, where he was preparing himself for the 
ministry; Hattie and Josephine, who both 
died in infancy; Mary E., wife of E. M. 
Kirkpatrick, a prominent grain merchant of 
Chenoa, Illinois; and Jessie, wife of Clar- 
ence B. Hurtt, now a resident of Roswell, 
Idaho, where he is serving a^ secretary of 
the Riverside Irrigation Company. They 
have also four grandchildren, Christopher 
Sterry Long. Mary Catherine Long. John 
Nelson Hum and Baby Hunt. 

Mr. Sterry early identified himself with 
the Methodist Episcopal church, and for 
many years has served in official capacity as 
Steward, trustee and Sunday school super- 
intendent. While in Esmen he was instru 
mental in securing the erection of the Es- 
men Center church. On moving to Pon- 
tiac he was immediately chosen as a trustee 
of the First Methodist Episcopal church, 
and on the destruction of the old church by 
fire in [885, he aided in the building of the 
present church edifice. He is president of 
the hoard of trustees, having held that office 
fi >r a number of years. 

For almost half a century Mr. Sterrv 
has been a resident of Livingston county. 
< >n his arrival here the greater part of its 
rich land was yet unbroken, its inhabitants 
were few in uumbcr : widely scattered and 
the improvements were not of the best. He 
has certainly done well his part. Thor- 



oughly honest and conscientious in all he 
does, he has won the respect and confidence 
of all with whom he has been brought in 
contact, and his lifework is worthy of emu- 
lation by the generations to follow. 



CAPTAIN' SILAS MIL TON' WITT. 

Captain Silas Milton Witt, an honored 
veteran of the civil war and a prominent 
resilient of Pontiac. Illinois, who is now' liv- 
ing a retired life, was born in Lebanon. 
Boone county, Indiana, February 1, [842, 
and is a si in 1 if Michael ami Lohama 1 Wall ) 
Witt, the former a native of Guilford coun- 
ty, North Carolina, of which state his fa- 
ther, a soldier of the Revolutionary war. 
was an early settler. The maternal grand- 
father. Elisha Wall, also fought for the in- 
dependence of the colonic-. lie was a 
relative of Daniel Boone, who was a fre- 
quent visitor at his home, and they often 
hunted and trapped together. Later Mr. 
Wall went with Bo, me and a number oi 
others to Kentucky, becoming pioneers of 
that state. 

Michael Witt, our subject's father, grew 
to manhood on the home farm in his native 
state, and from there entered the service of 
his country during the war of [812, serv- 
ing as captain of a company. Later he 
was commissioned colonel in the North 
Carolina militia, and after his removal to 
Indiana was an officer in the slate militia 
there. Our subject well remembers seeing 
him on horseback on general training days, 
which at that time were the important days 
of the year. Soon after his marriage Mi- 
chael Witt and his wife removed to the ter- 
ritory of Indiana, and she was the first vvlUe 
woman to locate in Lebanon, the county 



40 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



t of Boone county. There lu I in 

farming for a time, and after the town was 
started opened out an old fashioned general 
store, hauling his goods first from Cincinnati 
later from Indianapolis and Lafayette. 
He became one of the successful men of 
that locality, owning large tracts of land, 
and part of the town of Lebanon was built 
on the first three hundred and twenty at 
which he purchased. He held much of this 
property until his death, the land later be 
coming very valuable. As a Whig he i 
quite an active and prominent part in 1 i 
politics, and held a number of offices, in- 
cluding those of county judge and coroner. 
lie left the south on account of slavery, 
and also because he believed that men of 
in- 'derate means c mid di i better in the ro irth. 
Both he and his wife are devout members 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, and his 
home was always the stopping place for the 
minister-.. His first house in Lebanon was a 
• of hotel for travelers journeying be- 
tween Lafayette and Cincinnati, and in those 
days he was the man of the town. He died 
there March 2, [86l, and was buried the 
day President Lincoln was first inaugurated. 
Our subject's mother died in Dwight, this 
county, in 1N74. They left a family of six- 
teen children, of whom our subject is the 
youngest. Both had been married before, 
the mother's first husband being a Mr. 
Blair, of Kentucky. 

Captain Witt received a good practical 
education in the schools of Lebanon, and 
aided his father in the work of the farm 
and store until the civil war broke out. < )n 

night of the surrender of Fort Sumter. 
April 13, [861, he enlisted for three months 
as a private in Company I. Tenth Indiana 
Volunteer Infantry, at the president's first 
call for seventy-five thousand men. Thev 



joined General McClelland in West Vir- 
ia, and with him participated in the hat- 
tie of Rich Mountain. July 11. which was 
followed by the ei nt at Phillippi 

Tunnel Hill. When his term of enl -uncut 
expired, Captain Witt returned home and 
was made recruitin er at Lebanon, 

where he helped recruit the Tenth. Fortieth, 
Eighty-sixth and One Hundred and Six- 
teenth Indiana Regiments, raising two com- 
ic- for the Eighty-sixth. In the spring 
of [863 he enlisted a- orderly sergeant in 
1 nipany G, One Hundred and Sixteenth 
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was first 
ordered to Dearborn, Michigan, to guard the 
arsenal there during the time of the Vallan- 
dingham trouble. Cr ssing the lake to 
Cleveland, he proceeded to Camp Nelson, 
Kentucky, where he joined hi- brigade, and 
later was through the east Tennessee and 
Knoxville campaign, capturing Cumberland 
( ap the last time. This was followed by the 
ge of Knoxville ami the engagement at 
Walker's Ford and Tazewell. Tennessee, 
where his regiment was on the extreme left 
of Burnside's army. In March, [864, he 
was mustered out and appointed deputy 
provost marshal with headquarters at La- 
fayette. Indiana, where he helped the deputy 
provost mar-hal organize a regiment, then 
went to Indianapolis, where he secured 
arms and ammunition and started in pursuit 
of Morgan. He spent sixty day- on this 
expedition, and assisted in capturing some 
of Morgan's force- at Mt. Vernon. When 
the president called for troop- to push the 
Atlanta campaign, he helped organize Com- 
pany !■".. One Hundred and ThirtV-fifth In- 
diana Volunteer Infantry ami was commis- 
sioned second lieutenant. They were on 
duty in Kentucky, Alabama and North Caro- 
lina, and participated in the battle of I.,, ok- 



Till-; BIOGRAPHICAL RECokh. 



4i 



out Mountain. Captain Witt was always 
with his regiment with the exception of 
three clays when ill with fever after the hat- 
tie of Tazewell, hut was never in the hos- 
pital. After being mustered out in the fall 
of 18(14 he returned to Lebanon, Indiana. 

At Lebanon Captain Witt was married, 
November 10, 1864, to Miss Maria I.. Lan- 
don, a daughter of Myron and Martha 
(Jeffers) Landon. Her father removed 
from Ohio to Indiana at an early day. and 
was one of the first teachers in his locality. 
I [e was a prominent Mason. He died when 
Mrs. Witt was only a year old and her 
mother died two years later. Their eldest 
son, Albert Landon. was a prominent mem- 
ber of the Humane Society, of Chicago, and 
was the publisher of the Humane Journal 
until his death, a period of over thirty years. 
Mrs. Witt spent her early life in Shelby ville, 
Indianapolis and Lebanon, Indiana. To 
the captain and his wife were bom three 
children, namely: Hattie A., now the wife 
of I.. S. Baldwin, of Noblesville, Indiana; 
Jessie M., wife of Philip Piper, a dentist of 
Pontiac; and Albert M._. at home, who has 
been a member of the National Guard for 
three years, and served as corporal in Com- 
pany P, Third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
during the Spanish-American war. 

On the 13th of November, 1864, Cap- 
tain Witt removed to Dwight, Illinois, 
where he engaged in the real estate business 
one year, dealing first in farm and later in 
village property. In 1866 he was appointed 
marshal of that town, and held the office 
thirteen years; was also deputy sheriff ten 
years and constable nineteen years. For a 
year and a half he engaged in the harness 
business, but at length was forced to give it 
up as his various official duties required his 
entire time. At the same time he als 1 held 



other local offices, such as school director, 

street commissioner, and was lire marshal 
fourteen years. As a Republican he has 
always taken an active part in political af- 
fairs. In 1866 on the first organization of 
the Grand Army Post at Dwight, under the 
old dispensation Captain Witt became one 
of the charter members, but the organiza- 
tion afterward went down. Since 1SS0 he 
has been a member of T. Lyle Dickey Post, 
of Pontiac, of which he is now past com- 
mander, and which he has represented in 
the state encampment, and was also elected 
to represent his district to the national en- 
campment at Chicago in the fall of 1900. 
He was a member of Dwight Lodge, I. O. O. 
1\, ami admitted to Pontiac Lodge, X". 
262, in which he has filled all the chairs. He 
is also a member of the encampment, and 
was the organizer ami captain of the Canton 
for three years. For man)' years he was 
an active member of the Independent Order 
of Good Templars, and was an officer in the 
same until the lodge disbanded. 

For ten years Captain Witt was a mem- 
ber of the Illinois National Guard, and rose 
from second lieutenant to captain of his 
company, thus gaining his title. During the 
strike of 1877 he was in active service with 
his company for three months, being sta- 
tioned at Braidwood. After his election 
to the office of sheriff he had to disband the 
company as his men refused to elect another 
captain, so well was he loved by them, and 
he was given permission to disband them 
by Governor Cullom. 

It was in [882 that Captain Witt was 
elected sheriff of Livingston county, which 
office he filled for four years with credit to 
himself and satisfaction to his constituents. 
At one time he had thirty-two prisoners in 
the jail. Later he was appointed an officer 



42 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



in the Illinois State Reformatory under Dr. 
Scouller, but resigned after holding the po- 
sition for two years and four months, and 
returned to Dwight, where he was engaged 
in business for a year and a half. Subse- 
quently he conducted a bakery in Pontiac, 
but is now living retired, enjoying a well 
earned rest. His beautiful heme at No 
West Grove street, is pleasantly located on 
the hanks of the Vermilion river in what is 
now the best portion of the city, and the 
lawn and garden surrounding it cover one 
acre of ground. The Captain and his wife 
are leading members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church, of Pontiac, and are highly re- 
spected and esteemed by all who know 
them, while their circle of friends through- 
out the county is extensive. 



WILLIAM KIMBER. 

William Kimher. a thorough and skill- 
ful farmer residing on section (O, Esmen 
township, Livingston county, six m les west 
of ' Idell. was born near the city of London, 
England, October [O, [853, a -on of Jesse 
and Alice I Hacket) Kimher. natives of the 
same country. In [873 he crossed the 
broad Atlantic with his parents, and on land 
ing in New York proceeded at once to La 
Salle county, Illinois, where hi- brother 
sister had located four year- previously. 
There the father rented land and eng 
in farming for several year-, hut finally 
came to Livingston county and spent his last 
day- on a farm in Esmen township with our 
subject, dying here May 11. [885. The 
wife and mother departed this life October 
1 '). [883, and both were laid to rest in Es 
men township cemetery. In their familv 



were three children : Mary, wife of Samuel 
Mill-, of Grundy county; Percival, a farmer 
of Esmen township, Livingston county; and 
William. 

Our subject was given good educational 
advantages in hi- native land. On the emi- 
gration of the family to America, he assisted 
hi- parents and worked as a farm hand by 
the month for six years. He was married 
in De Kalh county, fanuary 1. 1880. to Miss 
Caroline Rose Tomlin, a native of Adams 
township. La Salle county. Her father, 
lames Tomlin. was horn in England, and 
came to America in [842 when a young man, 
and located in Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Kimher were horn seven children, namely: 
Bertha May. now the wife of Henry War- 
ner, of La Salle county; Jesse Arthur. Ella 
Alice. Edward James, Dora Ann. Caroline 
Eliza and William Andrew, all at home. 

For live year- after his marriage Mr. 
Kimher operated a rented farm adjoining 
hi- present place, and in [884 bought eighty 
acre- where he now resides, hut did not lo- 
cate thereon until a year later, though he- 
had engaged in its cultivation for two years. 
To the original purchase he has since added 
a forty-acre tract, and now has a tine farm 
of one hundred and twenty acres which he 
has placed under a high -tate of cultivation 
and improved with good and substantial 
buildings. He i- an industrious, enterpris- 
ing and progressive man. and to these char- 
teristics may he attributed his success, 
for he received no outside aid. 

By his ballot Mr. Kimher supports the 
men and measures of the Prohibition party, 
ami he served one term a- a member of the 
school hoard, hut ha- never cared for offi-. 
cial honor-. Religiously both he and Ins 
wife are earnest and faithful members of 
the Methodist Episcopal church at Esmen 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



43 



Center, of which he is a trustee. In the 
Sunday school he has served several year-. 
as superintendent. 



WILLIAM W. WASSOM. 

William W. Wassom is one of Pontiac's 
highly respected citizens, whose useful and 
well-spent life has not only gained for him 
the confidence of his fellow men, hut has 
also secured for him a comfortable compe- 
tence which enahles him to lay aside all 
husiness cares and live retired. A native of 
Illinois, he was horn in Spring Valley, Bu- 
reau county, December i. 1X48, and is a son 
of Jacob and Jane (Scott) Wassom. The 
father was horn in Pennsylvania, hut when 
a small boy accompanied his parents on their 
removal to Tennessee, where he was reared, 
and as a young man came to this state, lo- 
cating in Bureau county. There he was 
married, and subsequently removed to Bur- 
lington, Iowa, where he purchased a farm 
and successfully engaged in general farm 
ing and stock-raising, where he remained 
seven years. Then returning to Bureau 
count)- he purchased a farm on the site of 
the present village of Spring Valley. lie 
was a prominent man in his community and 
took an active interest in the early schools. 
He died there August 25, [879. The wile 
and mother died when our subject was only 
four years old. Both were earnest mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. She 
was a native of Virginia, and a daughter of 
Robert Scott, of Scotch descent, who was 
one of the earliest settlers and most pros 
perous farmers of Bureau count)-. He 
manufactured the brick of which his house 
was constructed, and that building is still 



standing, lie was probably the first manu- 
facturer of brick in that county. 

William W. Wassom was educated in the 

schoo.s 01 nail townsnip, and remained 
with h.s tather until com.ng to Livingston 
count)- in ino.s, when he took up his resi- 
dence in Nevada township. While living 
there he was married, June 20. 1 87 1 , to 
Miss Hannah Sharp, a native of Farm 
Ridge, Illinois, and a daughter of George 
ami Catherine ( Spence ) Sharp. Her father 
was horn in Ireland of English parentage, 
being a son of Noble Sharp, who never emi- 
grated to America. George Sharp was 
married in Ireland, and later crossed the At- 
lantic to Toronto, Canada, whence he re- 
moved to Farm Ridge, Illinois. Subse- 
quently he took up his residence in Dwight, 
and later upon a farm in Nevada township, 
this count)'. He was highly respected and 
was called upon to fill different township 
offices. Mr. and Mrs. Wassom have a fam- 
ily of six children, .namely : Jacob, a resi- 
dent of Marengo, Iowa; Charles Bert, who 
is living on the Blackstone farm, in Sun- 
bur)' township; Fannie, who married I A 
erett Ferguson, of Saunemin, this county, 
and has two children, Laurine and Lela ; 
Ada, who resides at home and is success- 
fully engaged in teaching in the schools of 
this count)-; George, who was graduated 
from the Pontiac High School in [900; and 
Catherine, who is still attending the high 
schi Mil. 

On locating in this county, Mr. Wassom 
found considerable wild game and much of 
the land was still in its primitive condition, 
lie purchased eighty acres of raw prairie 
in Nevada township, which he at once com- 
menced to break, fence and improve. Pros 
pering in his new home, he purchased more 
land until he owned five eight)' acre tracts, 



44 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL R 



which he tiled and put in first class condi- 
tion, making one of the best improved 
farms in the township. He also owned an- 
other eighty-acre tract in Suubury town- 
ship, and in connection with the operation 
of his land was engaged in stock rai 
He always kept a had con- 

siderable registered stock on hand, being 
among the first to introduce it. In (895 he 
I to Pontiac and bought a pleasant 
home at No. 608 North Mill street, where he 
has since lived retired. 

Politically .Mr. VVassom has always been 
identified with the Republican party, but 
lias never held office, his home being in a 
strong Democratic township where his party 
could get nothing that the Democrats would 
take. He was an efficient member of the 
school hoard tor some time, and helped to 
erect the school buildings in his township. 
lie and his wife are active members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, and while liv- 
ing in the country he --er\ed as superintend- 
ent of the Sunday school one year and took 
a leading part in church work, filling all of 
the different official positions. He was a 
member of the building committee when the 
church was erected in Nevada in (873, and 
hauled the first load of stone for its founda- 
tion. He is now connected with the church 
in Pontiac. Wherever known he is held in 
high regard, and justly merits the confi- 
dence ami esteem of his fellow citizens. 



HON. ROBERT R. WALLACE. 

In the legal profession, which embr; 
.some of the finest minds in the nation, it is 
difficult to win a name and place of promi- 
nence. In commercial life one may 



out on a more advanced plane than others; 
he may enter into a business already estab- 
and carry it further forward, but in 
the legal profession one must commence at 
the beginning and work his way upward by 
ability, gaining his reputation and success by 
merit. People do not place their legal busi- 
ik'ss in unskilled hands, and tin >se w hi 1 t' '-day 
.stand at the head of their profession, must 
merit their position. Among the most promi- 
nent lawyers of Livingston county is Robert 
K. Wallace, of Pontiac, who served as coun- 
ty judge for the lony period of twenty-one 
years. 

'1 he Judge was horn in Belmont county, 
Ohio, March 13. 1835, a son "' David and 
Frances 1 Ross 1 Wallace. His paternal 
grandfather was David Wallace, who came 
to this country from the north of Ireland 
and was a strong United Presbyterian in re- 
ligious belief. The maternal grandfather, 
k ibert k iss, w as 1 if So itch descent, and alsi > 
a stanch member of the United Presbyterian 
church. The Judge's father was horn in 
western Pennsylvania, and reared there and 
11; eastern < Ihio, while the mother was born 
near Chambersburg, in eastern Pennsylvania, 
and when young removed to the western 
part of that state. J luring his active life 
David Wallace engaged in farming in Bel- 
mont ami Guernsej counties, Ohio, and in 
1 So,, came to Illinois, locating near B 
ville, Henderson county, where he continued 
e in agricultural pursuits until his 
death in [875. His wife Mill survives him 
and is now living with a daughter in Kansas 
at the age of ninety-one years. 

During his boyhood Judge Wallace at- 
tended the common sellouts of his native 
county and completed his education at Mon- 
mouth. Illinois, where he received the de- 
grees of \. |;. and A. M. and was graduated 




R. R. WALLACE. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



47 



with the class of 1861. In December of 
that year he responded to his country's call 
for troops, enlisting in Company K. Seventy- 
fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was 
first sent to Nenia, Ohio, and from there to 
Camp Chase, Columbus, where he was en- 
gaged in guarding prisoners for a time, and 
later with the Army of the Cumberland he 
participated in all the battles from Nashville 
to Atlanta, and after the fall of the latter 
city took part in the defense of Nashville. 
Later he was on post duty near there and 
Memphis until the close of his term of enlist- 
ment, lie had re-enlisted in the same regi- 
ment and was promoted to captain during 
the summer of 1864, remaining in the ser- 
vice until 1866. 

Judge Wallace had previously com- 
menced the study of law, and after the war 
continued his studies at Ottawa, Illinois, 
1 icing admitted to the bar in April, [867. 
hi the fall of that year he located in Chats- 
worth. Livingston count}', where he was en- 
gaged in general practice until his removal 
to Pontiac in the spring of 1874, having the 
previous fall been elected count}' judge on 
what was known as the anti-monopoly ticket. 
He took the office in December, 1873, and 
held it five consecutive terms — a longer 
period than other count}- officer has been 
retained in one position. '1 his fact clearly 
indicates his efficiency, popularity and fidelity 
to duty. During all this time he continued 
to engage in active practice, and is to-day 
one of the leading general practitioners of 
the count}'. He is an honored member of 
T. Lyle Dickey Post, G. \. K.. anil is past 
commander of the same. 

( hi the 3d of June, 1807, Judge Wal- 
lace was united in marriage with Miss C. 
Louise Strawn, a daughter of tsaiah and 
Elizabeth (Champlain) Strawn, of Ottawa, 



Illinois, and to them were born four chil- 
dren: Ross S., now chief engineer of the 
People's Gas & Electric Company, of Peoria; 
Francis; Lucile, and Grace, a teacher in the 
schools of Joliet. The family have a pleas- 
ant home at No. 303 East Howard street, 
and are prominent members of the Presby- 
terian church of Pontiac. 



MILLER HOTALING. 

Miller Hotaling, a successful farmer and 
land owner mi section 31, Avo'ca township, 
and a resident of Livingston county since 
1876, was born in Greene count}-, New 
York, July 30, 1850, and is a son of Rich- 
ard and Helen (Miller) Hotaling, both na- 
tives of that state and of German descent. 
The father died in New York in [882, where 
he had followed fanning since early man- 

b 1. His wife survives him and lives on 

the old .Miller In unestead, w hich was 1 iccupi- 
ed by her father for sixty years, never pass- 
ing out of the family. She is now seventy- 
three years of age, and has always been act- 
ive. Our subject's paternal grandfather 
served as lieutenant through the war of [8l2. 
The family were formerly Whigs, and upon 
the formation of the Republican party joined 
its ranks. To Richard Hotaling and wife 
were born eight children, five of whom are 
still living, namely: Annie, wife of John 
Jacobs, nf I la/elton. Pennsylvania; Augusta, 
wife of Harry Herr, of Athens, New York; 
William, who lives with his mother on the 
old Miller homestead; Van Allen, a pros- 
perous farmer and land owner of Livingston 
County, Illinois; and Miller, the subject of 
this sketch. Jacob, the oldest son. was a 
member of the Seventh New York Artillery 



48 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



during the civil war. was taken prisoner and 
nt i" Andersonville, where lie was incar- 
cerated twenty-two months hefore ex 
changed, and contracted disease from which 
he died in [865, jusl 1 vas released. 

Miller Hotaling received a common 
schi ication in his native state anil 

w to manhood <>n his father's farm. On 
leaving the parental roof at the age of seven 
teen years he came to Illinois and worked 
as a farm hand for two years in .McLean 
county, at the end of winch time he rented 
i farm and carried on farming quite suc- 

sfully in that way for a number of year-. 
In [885 he purchased fifty acres of rich and 
arable land on section 31, Avoca township, 
Livingston comity, and has since engaged 
i" general farming here with marked suc- 
cess, lie ha- added to the original pur- 
chase another fifty-acre tract: has made 
many valuable improvements "ii the place 
and to-day ha- a most desirable farm. He 
gives In- entire tune and attention to the 
improvement and cultivation of his land. 

Jn 1N74 Mr. Hotaling was united in 
marriage with Mi-- Flora Pulsipher, a na- 
tive Knox county, Illinois, and 
1 them were born four children: Lewis, 
who graduated at Eureka College and 1- 
now a Christian minister at Kent land, In- 

ta; Philip, who was graduated at the 
same institution, and is now assisting hi- I 
ther "ii the farm: Leah and Chloe, who 
are both at home. The wife and mother 

: at their home in Avoca township in 
1887, and in 1890 Mr. Hotaling married 
Mi— Martha Van W'ormer, a nati 
Brimfield, I'' unity, by win on he li 

three children. Edna. Millie and 1 
Hotaling i- a daughter of William and Mar- 
(Shepherd) Van Wormer, her father 
hen ran of the* i\ il war. and who fi >r 



year- was engaged in farming. Both he 
and hi- wife are yet living, and are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. 

As a Republican Mr. Hotaling has al- 
ways been an active worker in the interests of 
In- party, and has held several minor of] 1 
in the township, faithfully fulfilling cv< 
trusl reposed in him. In \S<)<) he was 
elected supervisor. He has been a school 
director fifteen year-, always taking a stand 
for gui'd schi mis and teacher-. Re- 
ligiously he i- a member of the Christian 
church, in which he i- serving a- elder, and 
socially i- a member of the ( ourt of Honor 
''i Fairbury. lie is a man of rather un- 
pretentious nature, hut i- well liked by all 
whi 1 know him. Mrs. Hotaling 1- also a 
member of the Christian church. 



HENRY C. JONES. 

Henry C. Jones, a well-known citizen of 
Pontiac, Illinois, was born in Cicero, Ham 
ilton county, Indiana. February 11. 1838, a 
-"ii of Henry Jones, who was born near 
* incinnati, Ohio, where during his youth 
he learned the blacksmith's trade. When 
a young man he removed t > Cicero, Indiana, 
and turned his attention to mercantile 1hi-i- 
llere he married Emily He Moss, a 

daughter of James De Moss, a French Hu- 

:not and a carpenter l>\ trade, who passed 

last day- as a farmr in Livingston 

county, Illinois. The parents of our subji 
e to tin- county in 1845, but after a 
1 tune -pent here they renn >\ ed ti > the ti 

riton of Iowa, locating at Bellevue, where 

our subject began his education. In 1X47 
family returned to tin- county, and after 

following farming fm" a -hurt time the fa- 



Till". lWOCkAI'lllCAL RECORD. 



49 



ther, in [849, went to California, where for 
several years he was engaged in mining and 
mercantile pursuits. Re turning to Pontiac 
in 1855 In- again engaged in mercantile busi- 
ness here, ami was. in 1857, elected county 
judge. In 1859, resigning his office of coun- 
ty judge here, he returned to the Pacific 
slope in company with our subject and fif- 
teen young men. He engaged in mercantile 
business in Shasta. California, and became 
one of the must prominent and prosperous 
men of that place. He was elected a member 
ni' the board of supervisors, and was also 
alcalde! or mayor) of Shasta. In connec- 
tion with his other business he was unite 
extensively engaged in gold mining. lie 
■ lid much to build up the town and was rec- 
ognized as mie of its most influential and 
prominent citizens. After the Civil war 
he supported the Republican party and took 
a leading part in public affairs, lie died in 
Shasta in [893, and the mother of our sul>- 
ject died in the same place in 1868, leaving 
five children, of whom Henry C. was third 
in order 1 if birth. 

During- his boyhood our subject attended 
the public schools of Pontiac, and when his 
education was completed clerked in his fa- 
ther's store until going to California in 1859. 
I hey made the trip overland with horseless 
vehicles (ox teams) and were six months 
upon the way. They passed through St. 
Joseph, Missouri, went up the Platte when 
the Indians in that region were quite hostile, 
and passed through what is now Ogden, 
I 'tah, and through Nevada. Arriving at 
Shasta, California, which was a g 1 min- 
ing town, father and son opened a store and 
a- merchant^ soon built up a good trade, 
lor some years they were interested in 
placer and later in quartz mining. < >ur sull- 
ied continued in business with his fat 



mud [864, when he enlisted in the volun- 
teer service and was elected lieutenant of h : s 
company, hut when they were put in bar- 
racks and the regulars senl to the front, he 
resigned, lhal he might see some active 
service he went, z'ia Panama, to \ew York 
with the intention of enlisting there, hut 
the war ended before he found the oppor- 
tunity. 

Returning to Livingston county, Illinois, 
Mr. Jones entered the newspaper field, and 

with Mr. Renoe established the Free Press 
at Pontiac. Later he bought the Sentinel, 
the oldest newspaper in the county, from 
James Sti.nu. and. consolidating the two, 
published a paper known as the Sentinel and 
Press. Mr. Renoe was a Democrat, while 
he was a Republican, hut Mr. Renoe later 
withdrew, leaving Mr. Jones as sole editor 
and proprietor, and the paper resumed its 
old name as Sentinel. lie continued the 
publication of the Sentinel for nine years, 
during which time he built up a good cir- 
culation and made it the leading Republi- 
can paper in the county. Selling out in 
1875, he went to Texas, and engaged 
in the auxiliary newspaper business in I >allas, 
getting out patent insides. In this enter- 
prise he was remarkably successful, having 
a list of two hundred and sixty-two 1 
papers to supply, lie also published the 
Planter and Farmer, and in that undertaking 
was also successful, hut on account oi the 
ill health of his wife, he disposed of his in- 
terests in Texas and removed to Santa < ruz, 
('ah foi ma, where he owns a valuable prune 
ranch. 

In [892 Mr. Jones returned to Pontiac 
and acquired a three tilths interest in the 
electric light plant, having helped to develop 
the enterprise. This company was incor- 
porated as the Pontiac Light. Heat & Power 



5o 



Till. l;K iCK M'llh \L RECORD. 



Company, and has grown to large propor- 
tions. Mr. Jones served as its president for 
seven years, though he recently sold his 
interest in the same, lie has been a tax- 
payer in Pontiac for over thirty years and 
is recognized as one of her must progressive 
citizen-, giving his support to these objects 
which lie believes will prove of public bene- 
fit. Socially he is a member of the Pontiac 
].< idge, X". 294, F. & A. M. 

On the 25th of September, [873, Mr. 
Jones was united in marriage with Miss 
Mary A. Bancroft, a native <>\ New York, 
and a daughter of Luther Bancroft, of Pon- 
tiac. They have one daughter, Nellie A., 
whd with her mother is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church of Pontiac. 



LUTHER C. HAYS. 

Luther C. Hay-, a practical and enter- 
prising agriculturist of Eppards Point town- 
ship, owns and operates two hundred and 
fifty acre- of land on section 32, constitut- 
ing a valuable ami highly improved farm. 
pleasantly located nine miles south of I' 
tiac and three and a half miles northeast 
of Cb Hi- possessions have been ac- 

quired through his own efforts, and a- the 
result of his consecutive endeavor he has 
wmi a place among the substantia] citizens of 
his community. 

Mr. I lav- was born in l'.r.>\\n county, 
Ohio, July 27, [836, and is descended from 
an mecticut family of Scotch-Irish 

drigin. Hi- great-grandfather, Celia Hay-. 
was a native of that -tate and a pioneer of 
Pennsylvania. He was a soldier of the 
Revolutionary war. while the grandfather, 
Warren I lay-, aided in the defense of his 
country during the war of [812. The lat- 



ter wa- born in Pennsylvania, and married 
a Miss Stark, a cousin of Rev. Lorenzo Dow. 
Abie! I lays, father of our subject, was born 
in New York, in 1813, and from that state 
removed t<> Kentucky and later to Brown 
county, ( )hio, where in the midst of the for- 
e-t he cleared and improved a farm. There 
he wedded Mary Kennedy, a native of Vir- 
ginia, and a daughter of James and Mar- 
garet Kennedy. In 1S55 he brought his 
family to Illinois, driving across the coun- 
try with an ox team and locating first in 
Woodford county, hut a year later he re- 
moved to Chenoa township, McLean county, 
where he bought land ami improved a farm. 
making his home then me years. He 

helped organize that township, which was 
previously only a voting precinct. Hi- last 
days were spent upon a farm in southern 
Illinois, where he died in [890, at the ripe 
1 >ld age of seventy-seven year-, and his wife 
died in 1XS4. at the age of sixty-nine years. 
Our subject is the oldest of their family of 
seven children, two sons and five daughters, 
all of whom reached year- of maturity, the 
others being a- follows: Arminda J., de- 
-n\ w iiY of E. C Hyde ; Clarissa A., who 
married John (',. Dodge and died in 1898; 
Ellen, deceased wife of Elijah Cole; Minerva 
V... wife of A. D. Polk, of Minneapolis, Min- 
nesota; Eva, who died when a young lady, 
and Thomas J., a resident of San Diej 
( alifi irnia. 

Luther C. Hays was a young man of 
nineteen year- on the removal of the family 
t< • this -tate. and he aided his father in open 
ing up and developing the farm in McLean 
county, remaining with him until his mar- 
riage, lie wa- educated in common and se 
led schools of hi- native -tate. With the 
n of the ' ildest, all hi- sisters engaged 
in teaching school in McLean county. 



Till- P.IOCRAPHICAL RECORD. 



5i 



In Chicago, Illinois, September 26, [860, 
Mr. Hays married Miss Matilda Fraser, a 
native of Canada and a daughter of Louis 

and Mary Fraser, who were burn in thai 
country of French ancestry, and removed 
t" Chicago during the childhood of Mrs. 
Hays. They began their domestic life upon 
a farm of forty acres in McLean county, to 
which our subject added until he had one 
hundred and twenty acres, lie continued 
to operate that farm until 1888, when he 
purchased the two-hundred-and-fifty-acre 
tract of land in Eppards Point township, 
Livingston county, where he now resides. 
Jt was known as the 'Squire Payne farm, 
being entered by him in 1852. Since tak- 
ing possession of this place, Mr. i lays has 
remodeled the residence, built a good barn, 
set out fruit and ornamental trees, and made 
many other improvements which add greatly 
to its value and attractive appearance. 

Mr. Hays' first wife died in McLean 
county, in 1S72. leaving four children, 
namely: Samuel L., who is married and en- 
gaged in farming in ( >regon; Mary Frances, 
wife of (i. L. Howard, of Byron, Nebraska; 
Jessie, wife of Andrew Vercler, of Salem, 
Oregon, and W. C, who is married and fol- 
lows farming in this county. Mr. Hays 
was again married, in Livingston county, 
in 1S74. to Mrs. Frances A. (Mark, a daugh- 
ter of Almon Rhodes, an early settler, first 
of La Salle county and later of Livingston 
county. She was first married in the former 
county to Wilson M. Clark, a veteran of the 
Civil war, who died in [S70, leaving two 
daughters: Alda, a teacher of Black Hawk 
county, Iowa, and Laura B., wife of |. C. 
Rainbow, of Pottawattamie count), Iowa. 
By his second union our subject has six chil- 
dren, namely: George M.. who assists in the 
operation of the home farm: Nellie, Pearl 



M., Eva F... John S. and Lottie 1... all at 
home. 

Politically Mr. Mays was identified with 
the Republican party until 1896, when he 
voted for \\ . J. Bryan and free silver; He 
cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham 
Lincoln in i860. He has been a delegate 
to numerous conventions; served as com- 
missioner of highways in McLean county 
for six years, and as a member of the school 
board for over thirty years, having always 
taken an active interest in educational af- 
fairs. Mrs. Flays ami her daughter are 
members of the Baptist church and the fam- 
ily is one of prominence in the community 
where they reside. 



CAPTAIN HENRY B. REED. 

Captain Henry B. Reed, an honored cit- 
izen of Pontiac, now living a retired lite at 
Xo. 504 South Mill street, is a veteran of 
the Civil war and bears an honorable record 
for brave service in the cause of freedom 
and union, and in the paths of peace has won 
an enviable reputation through the sterling 
qualities which go to the making of a good 
citizen. 

The Captain was born near Pottsville, 
Schuylkill county. Pennsylvania, January 
29, 1833, a son "' Thomas and Elizabeth 
I Barley) Reed. The father was also a na- 
tive of Pennsylvania and a sou of Thomas 
Reed, who was born in the North of Ire- 
land and came to this country six years prior 
to the Revolutionary war, in which he took 
part. He first settled near Philadelphia, and 
throughout life followed farming, dying at 
about the age of eighty years. Our sub- 
ject '^ father was a life-long resident ol I 'enn- 



52 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



sylvania and a carpenter by trade, bul al the 
time of his death was following farming in 
Schuylkill county. He died in February, 
1833, when our subjecl was only three weeks 
old. and the mother, who long survived him, 
departed this life in [873. They had eleven 
children, of whom the Captain is the young- 
est. Only three are now living. Elijah, 
now seventy-six years of aye. is living re- 
tired in Schylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, 
after having served for twenty-two years as 
superintendent of the ear shops at that plait-. 
His wife died leaving five children that are 
still living. Rebecca is the wife of Jacob 
Zimmerman, who also worked in the car 
shops at that place for a great many years, 
but is now living retired at the age of sev- 
enty-five years, while his wife is sixty-nine 
year- of aye. They have a family of three 

- and three daughter-. 

Captain Reed remained with his mother 
in his native county until nine years of age, 
and then lived with a married brother on 
his farm in the same county until tw< 
ye. ■.■.-. when he commenced learning 

the shoemaker's trade in Schuylkill Haven. 

ing a three-years apprenticeship. The 
following year he was foreman in the shoe 
factory of Frederick Milieu, at Tamaqua, 
Pennsylvania, and then started in business 
for himself at that place, remaining there 
until 1852 and building up a large business 
for those time-. Receiving a good offer 

it the firm of Packer & Olewine. shoe 
manufacturers of Mauch (.'hunk. Pennsyl- 
vania, he accepted the position as foreman 
for that company, and was in their employ 
a year and a half, after which he returned 
t'> Tamaqua. He was elected constable and 
held that ■•nice until coming to Illinois in 
1855. He fin ml )u Pagi it v. 

where he worked at hi- trade for a time. 



and later wa- foreman for John Wallace, 
at Juliet, for about a year and a half, at the 
end of which time he removed to Bl 1 imi 
ton. I luring the Lincoln campaign of [860, 
he was captain of the Wide-Awake-, and 
came to this county with that political or- 
ganization. Being pleased with this locality 
he decided to remain and was engaged in 
the shoe business in Pontiac until the Civil 
war bn fke 1 mt. 

At the President's first call for troops, 
Captain Reed responded, being the first to 
enlist in Pontiac, and he helped organize 
the first company from that city, which was 
mustered in a- Company 1). Twentieth Illi- 
nois Volunteer Infantry. He went to the 
front as second sergeant, hut .after the battle 
of Fort Donelson was promoted to second 
lieutenant, his commission citing that his 
promotion was for meritorious conduct on 
February 14. 15 and \t>. [862, at Fort Don- 
elson. Returning home lime 30, [862, he 
organized a company under the large call 1 £ 
that year, and again entered the service 
captain of Company G, One Hundred and 
Twenty-ninth Volunteer Infantrv. which 
wa- under General Sherman'- command 
on the march to the sea. and fn im t : 
marched 1 >n n < Washingti 'it. 1 >. ( '. < >ur sub- 
ject was mustered out at Chicago, in !r 
1865, as captain. 

After the war Captain Reed returned 
to his family in Pontiac, and was here en- 
red hi the 1 t and -hoc- business for a 

number of years, but finally retired on 
count of ill health. He was appointed by 
erm >r < >{ < ust idian of menu trial 

hall at Springfield, and was nted by 

ernor Fifer. Since 1N114 he has led a 
quiet, retired life at hi- home in Pontiac. 
By his ballot he support- the men and me; 
ure- of the Republican party, but has never 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



53 



sought political honors. Religiously he is a 
member of the Methodist church, and so- 
cially belongs to Pontiac Lodge, No. 294, 
F. & \. M., and T. Lyle Dickey Post, Mo. 
[05, (I. A. R., of Pontiac, of which he is 
past commander. His loyalty as a citizen 
and his devotion to Ins country's interests 
have ever been among his marked charac- 
teristics, and the community is fortunate 
that numbers him among its citizens. 

(in the 29th of September, 1850, in 
Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, Captain Reed was 
united in marriage with Miss Esther Beck, 
a daughter of ( leorge and Mary ( Barbary 1 
Beck, oi Carbon county, who were farming 
people and life long residents of that state. 
I he father died on his farm in Carbon coun- 
t_\ at the age of eighty-five vears, his wife 
at eighty-six. Mrs. Reed's paternal grand- 
father was a native of Germany and came to 
this country at an early date. To the Cap- 
tain and his wife were hum nine children, 
six oi w hi 'in are 111 iw living, namely : < ie< irge 
( ).. horn in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, is now 
engaged in the hoot and shoe business in 
Pontiac; Katie I... born in I hi Page county, 
Illinois, is the wife of Thomas Kay, a dry- 
goods merchant of Pontiac; Edward O., 
horn in Bloomington, in [860, is now serv- 
ing as county treasurer of this county, and 
is a prominent citizen of Pontiac; Harry B., 
honi in Pontiac, March 17. 1862, has been 
mail clerk on the Chicago & Uton Railroad 
for fourteen years, running between Chica- 
go and St. Louis, and makes his home in his 
birthplace; Joseph S.. horn in Pontiac, in 
[864, is now a groceryman of that city and 
has served as alderman from the mti md 
ward: Cora E. is the widow of Frederick 
0. Scrivens, late of Pontiac, and is assist- 
ant county treasurer at the present time. 
other children died at an early aee. 



FREDERICK SCHOEXBEi 

Frederick Schoenbeck is one of the 
worthy citizens that German) has furnished 
to Livingston county, and is to-day 01 

her most prosperous and successful farmers, 
lie resides on section 15. ['ike township, 
where hi' has a line farm of one hundred 
and sixty acres, and besides this property 
he owns two other farms of similar si/e on 
sections 10 and 20, respectively. 

Mr. Schoenbeck was born in the king- 
dom of Prussia, Germany, Februar) 26, 
[850, and attended the schoi Is of his native 
land lor eight years. His knowledge of 
English has mainly been acquired through 
his own unaided efforts. In [867, at the 
age of seventeen years, he crossed the ocean 
with his mother, brother and sister and 
joined an uncle in Peoria, where the mother 
subsequent!) married John Rutz, who later 
came to Livingston county and settled on a 
farm in Pike township. < >ur subject worked 
for an uncle in Woodford county, and then 
spent a year in Peoria county. In 1N71 he 
came to Livingston county, and after work 
ing for others two years he rented a farm. 
which he operated for the same length of 
tine. At the end of thai period he pur- 
chased eighty acres in section 15. Pike town- 
ship, where he now resides. The improve- 
ments upon the place at that time were ol 
a very inferior order, but he has sinci 
a pleasant residence, good barns and out- 
buildings, has built fences, pinned fruit 
and ornamental trees and to-day has , 
the best improved farms in the township. 
lie has extended its Ik undaries until it now 
ci mtains 1 me hundred ami sixty acres, and his 
other farms are hi th valuable places oi one 
hundred and sixt) ai 1 e 

On the 25th of .March. 1 N75. Mr. Scb 



54 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



beck was married, in Peoria, [llinois, to 
Mis- Frederica Wenke, a native of Olden- 
burg, Germany, and a daughter of John F. 
Wenke, who, mi his emigration to America, 
settled in Peoria and purchased a farm ad- 
joining the city, where he spent the re- 
mainder of his life, dying there in 1N75. 
Mr. and Mrs. Schoenbeck have four chil- 
dren, namely: Frederick, Jr., at home; 
Katie, wife of John 1). Klein, a son oi John 
Klein, who is represented on another page 
of this volume; Anna and William, both at 
In une. 

Mr. Schoenbeck cast his first presidential 
ballot for Rutherford B. Hayes in [876, and 
has never wavered in his allegiance to the 
Republican party since that time, but he has 
never cared for political preferment. Hi- 
life has been one of industry and persever 
ance, and to these characteristics as well 
as his good business ability may be attributed 
his success, for he has received no outside 
aid. Both he and his wife were reared in 
the Lutheran faith and are highly respected 
and esteemed by all who know them. 



DAVID S. MYERS. 

David S. Myers, of Pontiac, president of 
the Pontiac State Bank, i s ranked generally 
a- "in- of the safest financiers and most sa- 
gacious business men in central Illinois. If 
success i- t<> he measured by results he must 
be regarded a- an eminently successful man. 
for not "iily his individual affair-, hut all 
the enterprises he has organized and pro- 
moted in Pontiac and elsewhere have pros 
pered even beyond his predictions and the 
expectations of those he enlisted in these 
various undertakings. IN- active connec- 



tion with mi many projects, both of a public 
and private nature, most of which contrib- 
uting t" the material advancement of his 
county ami city, marks Mr. Myers as one 
hi the u-eful and prominent citizen- of Liv- 
i< ui o unity. 

David S. Myers was hum Februarj m. 
[858, mi a farm near Russell ville. Ohio, 
and is niivv. July, 1900, only in the early 
maturity of intellectual and physical man- 
hood, lie inherited much (if the vigor of 
hi.- constitution and force of character from 
hi- ancestors, who were people of reputation 
and intelligence, conspicuous in the pioneer 
history of Ohio. He is the sun of William 
and Margaret Myers, both natives .if Ohio, 
the former being horn March _>_'. [814, at 
Russellville, and the latter in 1 823 at I iei >rge 
town. This ladv, who was a woman of 
practical merit and mental attainments, 
was the daughter of Kbenezer Mm ire. a sub- 
stantial and influential citizen of Brown 
county, Ohio, where he resided all his life 
a- a prosperous farmer and useful member 
of the community. I [is first political affilia- 
tions were with the Whig-, hut later the 
progressive principles of the Republican 
part} appealed to his sympathies and won 
lii- ardent support. As a girl Margaret had 
what -he afterward considered the rare dis- 
tinction of being the schoolmate and study- 
ing the same less.ius with an unpretentious 
lad win was destined to become the most 
famous soldier of hi- time. General I'. S. 
nt. the Grant and Mm ire families being 
neighlii irs. 

Francis Myers, grandfather of I'. S. 
Myers, was among the earliest settler- of 
southern Ohio, actively assisting in the de- 
velopment 1 if the county, and. together with 
his family, resolutely undergoing all the t"il 
and privations that were assumed by those 




D. S. MYERS. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



57 



devoted pioneers who blazed the way and 
smoothed the path for the coming genera- 
tions. 

William Myers, father of D. S. Myers. 
was in many respects a remarkable man. 
He parsed the largest portion of his life in 
Ohio, his native state, where he achieved 
the noteworthy record of having taught 
school uninterruptedly for forty years. The 
entire. course of his life was regulated and 
directed by his love of humanity, his sense of 
justice and his sympathy with the oppressed, 
and lie was one of those dauntless spirits, 
who, known as Abolitionists, were the 
vanguard of that grand movement which 
resulted in the extinction of slavery within 
the borders of the United States. His home 
was one of the stations on the "Underground 
Railway," which was the significant name 
of a secret byway over which fugitive slaves 
Were assisted and hurried from the yoke of 
bondage to the blessings of liberty. He was 
suspected and bis life often endangered, 
but no intimidation could swerve him from 
his convictions of right. William Myers 
had been a Whig, but the noble mission of 
the abolition of slavery proclaimed by the 
Republican party induced him to pledge his 
voice and vote t" that organization. For 
a time but two Republican votes were re- 
corded in his township, one of which was his 
own. He enjoyed the distinction that few 
could claim cf having cast his first presi- 
dential vote fur William Henry Harrison 
and his last for that president's grandson, 
Benjamin Herrison. William Myers was a 
man of culture in book knowledge as well 
as df practical intelligence in the affairs ol 
life, being a close observer and a clear 
thinker, with distinct though liberal views 
on all the political and social problems of 
the time. He was everywhere honored for 



his excellent qualities of head and heart and 
universally respected for his unyielding 
fidelit) to principle. He resided on his farm 
until [888, when his son induced Ins father 
and mother to come to Pontiac and make 
their home with him. and he contributed to 
their comfort and the serenity of their de- 
clining years until death closed their eyes 
in eternal slumber. After a life seldom 
equalled in its steadfast purpose of uplift- 
ing bis race. William Myers died in March, 
I Sod, and was followed a year later by his 
worthy helpmate, a loyal wife, devoted 
mother and sympathetic friend. Both lived 
as exemplary Christians, being until death 
members of the Presbyterian church. 

The boyhood and early manhood of 
David S. Myers was passed upon his father's 
farm, where he formed habits of industry, 
a fixed purpose in life and stability of char- 
acter, and in the district schools where he 
acquired the elementary principles of edu- 
cation, and under the vigilant eye of his fa- 
ther, the most effective training that any boy 
could receive. To prepare himself for the 
profession of teaching he attended different 
normal schools in southern Ohio and so im- 
proved his advantages that he soon qualified 
and was called to take charge of schools, 
first in Kentucky and then in < >hio. In i SS ^ 
he came to Livingston county, Illinois, a 
movement upon which all bis later successes 
appear to hinge. 1 tere he engaged in teach- 
ing for nearly two years in OwegO and 
Saunemin townships, with the most satis- 
factory results. Going to Chicago he en- 
tered a real estate office, where he diligently 
applied his time for a year, familiarizing 
himself with the details and acquiring much 
valuablekm im ledge i if real estate transactions. 
Returning to Livingston county he, with X. 
Q. Tanquary, opened the real estate office 



58 



■III-. BIOGR \IMIIL \I. REO >KI>. 



of Tanquary & Myers in Pontiac, an ar- 
rangement which continued in force until 
1889, when Mr. Tanquary's withdrawal dis- 
solved the firm, since which time Mr. Myers 
has conducted an extensive real estate busi- 
ness independently, always beneficially to his 
patn His and satisfacti t_\ b 1 himself. I luring 
the years following 1888 several additions 
to the city of Pontiac, owned by Mr. Myers, 
were platted and opened to market. By 
inviting buyers who improved the property 
and became actual residents, he has promoted 
the growth of the city in wealth and popu- 
lation and thereby enhanced the value of 
all real estate, stimulated business and in- 
creased the general prosperity. The first 
project of this kind in which he was inter- 
ested, known as (amp's addition, comprised 
sixteen acres of eligible lots and is now the 
most desirable residence portion of the city. 
A second addition to this tract has since been 
opened. Myers' first, second, third, fourth 
and fifth additions have also been platted. 
all of which have their attractions and in all 
ot which lots are being rapidly disposed of 
home builders, many of whom he has 
assisted in their improvements. At this 
time. July. here are but two other 

additions on the market, and in one of these. 
the Riverside addition, near the shoe factory, 
he holds an interest. In [899 Myers sold 
thirty thousand dollars worth of vacant 1 
in his various a 1 Id it ions to PontiaCj which nol 
only attests Ins ability as a real e aler, 

but is evidence of the remark- 

able growth and improvement of the city. 
For the past ten years Mr. Myers has been 
interested in drainage and reclaiming ex 
tensive tracts of swamp lands in Livingston. 
Lee. Henry and Bureau counties, in llliivis. 
and La Porte county, Indiana, and is the 
owner of a large amount of verv valuable 



and highly_ productive land in each of these 
counties. 

Mr. Myers docs not believe that a city 
can become permanently prosperous without 
pn iductive industries empl< lying skilled lab >r. 
Hence he has encouraged such enterprises 
in Pontiac, and was one of the founders, as 
well as the first stockholder, and is still a 
director, in the Pontiac Shoe Manufacturing 
Company, one of the most extensive and 
prosperous plants of this kind in the United 
States, affording employment to more than 
three hundred persons, disbursing for its 
pay roll more than one hundred and twenty- 
five thousand dollars annually and an annual 
product valued at nearly one million dollars. 
In [899 Mr. Myers became interested in the 
Allen Candy Company, which was incor- 
porated with a capital stock of twenty-five 
thousand dollars. lie was chosen as one of 
the directors and the company is now in suc- 
cessful operation. Mr. Myers was the chief 
promoter of the organization of the Pontiac 
State Bank, which was incorporated and 
opened for business in February, [899. lie 
was the larest stockholder and was elected 
president, which position he still tills ac- 
ceptabl) to patrons and to the best interests 
of the hank. Under his able managemi 
assisted by an efficient hoard of directors. 
1, prising some of I Ik- most capable luisincss 
men ' if I '1 intiac, tin- I '( 'in i Li State Lank 1 
a success from its inception, and is recog 
nized as one of the solid financial institu- 
tions 1 if central Illinois. The hank occupies 
elegantl) appointed rooms in the corner of 
the new Sterry block, which were especially 
designed f< ir that purpi ise. 

'I he Pontiac Chautauqua Association is 
the pride and boast of every citizen, and has 
been popular as well as prosperous from us 
first assembly. Mr. Myers actively pi 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



59 



moted its organization and has since been 
one of its directors. In [899 its earnings 
were fifty-five per cent, on its stock. He 
rendered valuable aid in founding the public 
library, and purchased, at a liberal price, land 
donated by Mr. Babcock, besides contribut- 
ing generously to the library fund. The 
township high school was another object of 
his generous public spirit, donating the 
gn nuids in the center of which stands the im- 
posing school building. 

Mr. Myers has always been an interested 
student of state and national affairs, and is 
well informed on all the public questions of 
the day. Politically, he is an avowed Re- 
publican of the most pronounced type. His 
first presidential vote was given to General 
Garfield in 1880. He has participated act- 
ively in comity and citv politics and rendered 
valuable assistance to his party. In [892 
he was selected as councilman from the first 
ward, and while acting in that capacity ad- 
vocated the system of sewerage and adoption 
of water works which marked the beginning 
of an era of city improvements. In [897 
he was elected mayor of the city, his ad- 
ministration being one of the most import- 
ant and successful in it-- benefits to the city 
in the iii'.toiyof P( ntiac, including the removal 
of the unsightly raised sidewalks and bring- 
ing the streets and sidewalk's to ;i uniform 
grade. From June, [898, to June, [900, he 
served as chairman of the Republican count) 
central committee and brought to that pi >si 
tion the same energy and sagacity that he 
exercised so effectively in other affairs. As 
a prominent and active Republican Mr. 
Myers is well known to the leaders through- 
out the state. 

Mr. Myers is a man of keen perceptions, 
almost unerring in his judgment of men 
and .affairs and of the very first order of 



executive ability. In his methods of 
thought and action he is very deliber- 
ative, weighing every word before it is tit- 
tered and measuring every step befi re it is 
taken. He is quiet and self -possessed, and 
he turns off transactions involving tens of 
thousands of dollars with less palaver than 
many men would require to consummate the 
most trifling transaction. The elements 
that contribute to his unexampled successes 
are undoubtedly his self-evident honesty and 
sincerity, which invite confidence, the clear 
manner in which he presents a proposition, 
his excellent judgment in making invest- 
ments and his exceptional ability in organiz- 
ing and maturing extensive enterprises. He 
is unselfish in his success, for every step in 
his prosperity has been marked by some ad- 
vantage to his city and county. As an ex- 
ample of what may be accomplished by a 
well-balanced, energetic and ambitions young 
man, dependent absolutely upon bis own ef- 
forts, the career of Mr. Myers is invaluable. 
Although an intensely busy man. and 
while engaged in business oblivious to every 
distraction. Mr. Myers, recognizing all the 
obligations of citizenship and society, has 
a very agreeable social side to his nature, 
lie has a refined home, one of the most ele 
gant residences in Livingston county, which 
is located on Grove street, overlooking the 
Vermillion river, and lias a cultured family. 
On February 9, 1887, David S. Myers and 
Miss Louise Catherine Slyder were united 
in marriage. Mrs. Myers is a lady oi 
acknowledged refinement, supplemented by 
a practical, womanly disposition and a cheer- 
ful nature. She was born in Livingsl 1 
count) . 1 mi' 1 if ten children, her father In 
Simon I-'. Slyder, a prominent citizen of the 
same count)-. Four children came t" bless 
this union, two of whom are living, Diller 



<5o 



THE BIOGRAPHU AL RECORD. 



Slyder and \nna Louise. The Eamilv are 
ar attendants of and liberal contributi irs 
to the maintenance of the Methodist i- 
copal church of Pontiac. The passing years 
have justified the wisdom of Mr. Myers in 
the choice of a bride, for their domestic re 
lations are very happy and their home life 
what may he trulv termed ideal. 



CHARLES L. ROMBERGER. 

Prominent among the enterprising, pro- 
gressive and successful men of Dwight is the 
subject of this sketch, who as a lawyer and 
business man lias been prominently identified 
with its interests for several years. His life 
history must happily illustrates what may he 
attained by faithful and continued effort in 
carrying i lut an h< mesl purpt ise. Activity and 
energy have been the crowning points of his 
success, and his connection with various en- 
terprises have been of decided advantage to 
his community, promoting its material wel- 
fare in no uncertain manner. 

Mr. Romberger was horn in a log cabin 
in VVyanet, Bureau county. Illinois. June 12, 
[862. His father, L. 1). Romberger, was 
horn in Pennsylvania, April _'^. [831, of 
German ancestry, and was left an orphan 
when only a year old. At the age of eight he 
started out in lite for himself ami served an 
apprenticeship to the tinner's trade, lie was 
utt twenty-three years of age when he re- 
moved to VVyanet, Illinois, where he was 
married. .March 1, i860, to Francisca I.. 
Weaver, who was also born in Pennsylvania, 
February jo. [839, and had come wesl with 

parents, who w< jr<\ in the h< itel 

business. Mr. Romberger was engaged in 
merchandising in Wyanel for a few years 



and fater foil, .wed farming for two years, 
after which he moved to Princeton. Illin 
where he was engaged in the mercantile 
business until his health failed, in [880, 
when he sold out and has since devoted his 
attention to bee culture, having one of the 
largest apiaries in the United States. He 

always been a stanch Republican in poli- 
tics, hut never an aspirant for office, though 
he is now serving as justice of the peace. 
( 'f his three children, one died in infancy: 
Emma 1.. is now the wife of Frank 11. Hoff- 
man, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and 
Charles L. completes the familv. 

The primary education of our subject 
was obtained in the public schools of Prince- 
ton, and he was graduated from the high 
school of that city at the age of seventeen 
years. He then entered the law department 
1 if the I niv ei'sity 1 if Michigan at Ann Arb >r, 
where he was graduated at the age of nine- 
teen and received the degree of I, I.. I'.. 
.March 2Q, [882. He was not permitted to 
practice, however, until he attained his ma- 
jority, when the state of Michigan forwarded 
his certificate, and he was admitted to prac- 
tice at the bar of Illinois. September _'4. 
1883. After his graduation he located at 
(Htavva. Illinois, and entered the office of 
Mayo & Widmer, prominent attorneys of 
that place, with whom he remained for fif- 
teen 111, 'lltllS. 

In [884, at the suggestion of Hon. Wal- 
ter Reeves, now member of congress from 
this district. Mr. Romberger came to Dwight 
and opened a law office over the People's 
Bank, being alone in business until 1SS7. 
when he formed a partnership with John 
I Hetzel, a real estate and insurance agent, 
under the firm name 1 if 1 let/el & Romberger. 
In [89] he bought out his partner and con- 
tinued alone until November, [895, when he 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



61 



sold a half interest in the business to Frank 
L. Smith. the firm being known as Romberger 
& Smith. 'I heir specialty is real estate and real 
estate work, although they do a private bank- 
ing business for accommodation of friends 
and acquaintances. Without question the 
firm does one of the largest loan and real es 
tate businesses in central Illinois, this fact 
being conceded by all other firms in their 
line. At present they are extensively inter- 
ested in Mississippi and Louisiana lands. 
Their holdings in the latter state are timber 
lands, which the firm purchased with the 
view of enhancing their value, and in Jan- 
ary, igrxx they sold one tract oi twelve 
thousand acres in Madison parish. I his is 
desirable property, being accessible to steam- 
boats and the Vicksburg, Shreveport & Pa- 
cific Railroad. The Mississippi land is in 
the Delta country and is also covered with 
hardwood lumber, principally oak. pecan 
and gum. When cleared this will be- 
come excellent cotton land. Besides this 
property the firm has about fifteen hundred 
acres of fine farming land in Lee county, 
Illinois, which is well improved and under 
a high state of cultivation, and also oper- 
ates largely in Iowa and Indiana lands. 
Since coming to Dwight Mr. Romberger 
has had complete charge of the keeley Com- 
pany's legal business, and is attorney for 
the estate of Dr. Leslie E. Keeley. He is 
also local attorney for the Chicago & Alton 
Railroad. J le docs very little court work, 
however, his entire legal business being con- 
lined to office practice. He is interested in 
the Keeley Institute, located at \'o. 2803 
Locust street, St. Louis, Missouri, being a 
partner of Dr. J. E. Blaine, who for eight 
years was chief of the medical staff of the 
Leslie E. Keeley Company of Dwight. 
On the 7th of < >ctober, [884, Mr. Rom- 



berger married Miss Nellie M. Ensign, a 
native of Connecticut, and a daughter of 
Edward II. and Martha S. Ensign. l'.v 
this union three children were born, the old 
est, a daughter, died in infancy. Louise E. 
died very suddenly of tonsilitis, November 
2, 1899, at the age of twelve years. Emma 
I'., aged eleven years, is attending school in 
Dwight. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Romberger are mem- 
bers of the Congregational church, and he is 
also a prominent member of the Masonic 
fraternity. In |NN| he was made a Master 
Mason in Livingston Lodge, No. 371, A. 
I - ". i\: A. M.. of Dwight. of which he is now 
past master, and received the higher degrees 
in Orient Chapter, No. 31, R. A. M., and 
Blaney Commandery, N» 1.5, EC. T., 1 if Morris. 
Illinois; Dwight Chapter. No. [66, 0. E. 
S., oi which he is past worthy patron; is a 
member of the Oriental Consistory and Me 
dinah Temple of the Mystic Shrine, both of 
Chicago. He is now a member of Wil- 
mington Chapter, No. 14-'. R. A. M.. of 
which he is past high priest, and Joliet Com- 
mandery, No. 4, l\. I .. of winch he is senior 
warden. Since old enough to vote Mr. 
Romberger has affiliated with the Republi- 
can party, and in [892 was elected president 
of the hoard of trustees of the village oi 
Dwight on the ticket advocating public im- 
provements, lie has always taken the lead 
in anything tending to advance the inn 
ests of his town and worked hard to get the 
sewerage system, electric light and water 
works adopted and cement sidewalks laid. 
Therefore during his administration there 
were more improvements made than at any 
other time, and he is justly numbered among 
Dwight's most progressive and public-spir- 
ited citizens. He is emphatically a man •<( 
enterprise, positive character, indomitable 



62 



THE i:i< (GRAPHICAL RECORD. 



energy, strict integrity and liberal views, 
and is thoroughly identified in feeling with 
the growth and prosperity of his city. 



NATHAN S. GR \X1)V. 

Nathan S. Grandy, deceased, was num- 
bered among the honored pioneers oi Liv- 
ingston county, where he located when this 
i was wild and unimproved. In the 
work of development he ti ok an active part 
in the early days and aided in opening up 
the country to civilization. As the years 
passed his faithfully perf< irmed duties i if c. ti 
zenship and his interest in the welfare and 
ess of the community never abated. 
Becoming widely and favorably known he 
made many friends, and his death was a loss 
to the entire a immunity. 

Mr. Grandy was born October 6, [816. 
in Phantom township, Addison county, Ver- 
mont, where he grew to manhood, and there 
worked at the carpenter's trade, as a manu 
facturer of sash, doors and blinds. He first 
married a Miss Kent, who died in Illinois a 
tew years after soming here. After his 
mam ame t<> Illinois, arriving in Chi- 

cago about the ist mi' May. (850, when only 
thirty miles of railroad extended from that 
city t"uard < i.alena. and a few miles had been 
buill in this directii >n. their 1m more 

than one hundred miles in the state. From 
Chicago Mr. Grandy went t<> Alton, a part 
of the journey being made by way of the llli- 
nois river, and the whole trip occupying 
a week. He first located in Kane. Greene 
county. Illinois, when- he had a brother liv- 

nd there he engaged in farming 
time. 

While a residenl 1 if county, Mr. 



Grandy was married. February u. 1854, t<> 
Miss Harriet E. Christy, a native <'f Law- 
county, Illinois, and a daughter of 
John and Elizabeth (Dannison) Christy, p 
neers of that county, where their marriage 
is celebrated. The father, who was a na- 
tive of < Ihii 1 ami a fanner by 1 iccupatii »n, re- 
moved to Greene county soon after the birth 
of Mrs. (.randy and bought a tract 'if land 
in Kane, where he spent the remainder of 
hi- life. In relig ef he was a Baptist. 

1 Mr. ami Mrs. Grandy were born eight 
children, namely : T. E., a real estate dealer 
of Pontiac, married Elizabeth I.. Mason; 
Harriet A., at home with her mother; Clara 
1- the wife of Allien ( i. Mason, of Pontiac, 
and they have four children living, Ollie, 
Leonard L., Alice and tress; Charles E., 
win 1 lives mi a farm three miles and a hah* 
east of Pontiac, married Susan Foster, 
Owego township, and they have two chil- 
dren. Mabel E. ami Victor J.; George \V.. 
a resident of St. John's, Kansas, married 
Jennie Dudley, of Missouri, and they have 
inie child. Pearl; William A., a lumberman 
"I Masi n City, Illinois, married Emma An- 
trim, and they have one child. Margery; 
Henry lues on the home farm and married 
Miss Tillie Hill: Mary J. is the wife of VV. 
C. Young, a farmer living three miles east 
• 'f Pontiac, and they have three children. 
1 idith, Marshall and Lewis. 

In [856 Mr. and Mrs. Grandy cami 
Livingston county and took up their n 
deuce in < '■ iwnship, where he pur- 

chased a farm of eighty acres, on which 
was standing a small cabin, 14x1s feet, in. 

_li slabs from the sawmill set up on 

end and the cracks filled with clay. The 

floor was of ash and oak boards about I 

inches wide hewed down, while the roof was 

,1 old-fashioned clapboards split 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



63 



11. iii oak timber. In this rude dwelling the 
family lived for over a year. With the ex- 
ception of a few acres the farm was un- 
broken. On taking up In-- residence here 
Mr. Grandy at once turned his attention 
t" the improvement and cultivation of his 
farm. The first winter he constructed a 
stable b) putting forked poles into the 
ground, laying other poles across these and 
covering them with brush and then with hay, 
while the sides were also hanked up with 
hay. This comfortably sheltered his stock 
until a better barn could he built. 1 le fenced 
his land and placed acre after acre under the 
plow until all was highly cultivated. In 
[86] a more substantial anil comfortable 
residence was built, much of the timber being 
taken from his own wood lot. two miles 
from his home. Men were making the si 1 1 > 
for the new house when the news came of 
the firing upon Fort Sumter. The house 
was completed that summer and is stiill 
standing. A large part of the finished lum- 
ber used in its construction was bought at 
sixty dollars per thousand and paid for with 
corn at ten cents per bushel. This had to he 
shelled, sacked and hauled to Pontiac. Air. 
Grandy used a small two-hole corn sheller. 
run by h< irse p< iwer. 

When he located in this county he could 
travel in a northeasterly direction from his 
home and find not a house nor a fence until 
within two mile- of Kankakee, while his 
nearest trading places were Pontiac and 
Fairbury. Coal was almost unknown and 
was very high when obtainable. Several 
times during the first four years spent here, 
the Grandy home came very nearly being 
destroyed by the prairie lire-. Mrs. Grandy 
once saved the house with a pail of water and 
her mop. They added to the farm by addi- 
tional purchase as their financial resources 



increased, but in 1872 sold it ami bought two 
hundred and fi nr acres in Pontiac township, 
"lie mile fn m the court house, which Mrs. 
Grandy still own-, and on which the family 
ni> ved ilnt year. Our subject made all of 
the improvements upon the place, including 
the erection of a line house, a good barn and 
substantial outbuildings, lie was actively 
engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1S77, 
when he was injured by a saw, after which 
he practically lived retired until his death, 
being blind the last two years of his hie. 

Mr. Grandy was a Democral in politics 
and took an active and prominent part in the 
public affairs of his time. While a resident 
c it ( )wegi 1 n iwnship he served as sch< h >1 treas 
urer. assessor and justice of the peace, and 
was known throughout the county as Squire 
Grandy. In Pontiac township he served as 
road commissioner some years and took an 
active part in building the bridges and im- 
pn iving the n 'ads , »f his \, icality, assisting in 
the construction of the fine iron bridge three 
miles we-i of Pontiac. In [868 he was ap- 
pointed countv commissioner by the hoard 
of supervisors t" .^" over the county and re- 
appraise the swamp lands, to which business 
he devoted one whole summer, spending 
marly all the time driving over the county. 
I le w a- one 1 if the early members of the Bap- 
tist church and later attended services at 
Avoca, where a church was built for the use 
of any denomination, this being much nearer 
Iris home. After his removal to Pontiac he 
united with the Baptist church in that city. 
I le dud ' 'ii his farm, one mile east 1 if I'oiiti 
ac. June _><i. [890, honored and respected 
by all who knew him. Throughout his career 
of continued and far-reaching usefulness his 
duties were performed with the greatesl care, 
and his personal honor and integrity were 
without blemish. 



6 4 



THE BK IGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



.Mrs. Grandy still survives her husband 
and now makes lier home in Pontiac, where 
she lias a lovely home at No. 317 East I Inw- 
ard street. She has only lived here a year. 
though owning the place for some time. She 
wa> always a tnu- helpmeet t" her liusband, 
aiding him in every possible way. and is a 
most estimable lady, beloved and respected by 
all who know her <>n account of her sterling 
worth and many excellencies of character. 



JOHN \V. HOOVER. 

John W. Hoover, whose home is at X". 
215 East Livingston street, Pontiac, is one 
in' the most public-spirited and enterprising 
citizens , if that place. He is a native of Illi- 
born in Putnam county, March 9, [840, 
and is a son of Henry Mann and Sarah 
• Hunt 1 Hoover. The father was born in 
Pennsylvania, June to, [808, and in 1838 
came t" Illinois, locating in Bureau county, 
where he engaged in farming until 1848 
and then went t" California, crossing the 
plains with an < >x team. The fi '11- m ing fi >ur 
years were passed in prospecting and min- 
during which time he accumulated con- 
siderable property, but when just ready to 
return to his family in Illinois he met with 
a violent death and his hard-earned treasure 
taken from him. His widow is still liv- 
ing at the age of eighty-eight years, and 

resides with her daughter in Minonk, W 1- 

fi 'id o »unty, Illinois. < )nly three 1 >f her ten 
children survive. Two sons, Ge rge 1 1, and 
Julius < ... were soldiers of the Civil war, and 
died in Tennessee during their service. 

Our subject remained with his mother 
mi the home farm in Bureau county until 
1N57. when the) ren to Livingston 



county and located in Nebraska township, 
where he engaged in agricultural pursuits 
until the breaking out of the Civil war. in 
1861, when lie enlisted in the Third Illinois 
Cavalry, Company K. for three years. He 
participated in a number of battles in Mis- 
souri and Arkansas, including the engage- 
ment at Pea Ridge, where he was wounded. 
He went to the gulf, was stationed at New 
( >rleans for a time, and was in the sieges nt 
Porl Hudson and Vicksburg. He was at 
the latter place at the time of the first re- 
pulse of Sherman, and remained there until 
the surrender to Grant. He was mustered 
-in at Springfield, Illinois, as commissary 
sergeant, having held thai position two years. 
After his discharge Mr. Hoover returned 
to Livingston county and again engaged in 
farming in Nebraska township. I he sud 
den death of his father had left the family 
in very straightened circumstances and 
placed a very heavy burden on the shoulders 
of our subject, but he early displayed that 
determination and grit which have carried 
him forward to a successful life. ' lie was 
devoted to his mother and toiled carls and 
late that she might have the comforts ,,f [if e 
that she had been accustomed to before the 
death of her husband. He continued to en- 
gage in farming until the fall of 1N70, when 
he was elected sheriff of Livingston county 
on the Democratic ticket and moved to Pon- 
tiac. He filled that office for one term with 
credit to himself and to the general satis- 
faction of the public, and at its close em- 
harked 111 general merchandising, which he 
carried on until his store and its contents 
were destroyed by tire. July 4, 1874. Al- 
though he lost almost everything he p 
sessed, he was not east down or crushed by 
the misfortune, hut with characteristic 1 
erg) he immediately purchased another stock 




J. W. HOOVER. 




MRS. JOHN W. HOOVER. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



69 



of goods and continued business until 1897, 
being associated with Wilson Pittenger some 
years, and afterward with \\ . S. Sims for 
about five vears. the firm name being Hoover 
& Sims. He was then alone in business until 
selling "tit. in 1897. 

Mr. Hoover was married. December 31, 
r868, to Miss Mary E. Van Doren, of this 
county, a daughter of Hilyard and Eliza 
(Thompson) Van Doren. Her father was 
born in New Jersey, in [808, and was six 
years old when he removed to Ohio with his 
parents. I lis father. John Van Doren, also 
a native of New Jersey, conducted a hotel 
near Clarksville, Clinton county. Ohio, for 
main years. Throughout the greater part 
of his life Mrs. Hoover's father followed 
the carpenter's trade, but after coming to 
Livingston county, Illinois, engaged in farm- 
ing and st<>ck raising in Nebraska township. 
He was school trustee for many years and 
also tilled the office of collector and super- 
visor for some years, tie helped build the 
first school house in his township, advanc- 
ing money for the -work until the district 
could reimburse him, and be organized the 
first Sunday school within its borders, serv- 
icer being held at his home until the school 
house and church were built. Jn 1885 he 
retired from active life and moved to Pon- 
tiac, where he died September 1. [898. His 
wife had departed this life February 14, 
1892. Mrs. Hoover is the youngest of their 
se\ en children. William T.. the 1 West, mar- 
ried Julia Smith in 1855, and 1- a prominent 
contractor and builder of Pontiac. Frank 
M. and Luther were both members of Com- 
pany A. One Hundred and Twenty-ninth 
Illinois Volunteer infantry, during the Civil 
war. and the latter was drowned in the Cum- 
berland river in Tennessee after serving one 
year. I'rank M. married Nettie Nickerson 



ami resides on the old home farm in Ne- 
braska township. Air. and Mrs. Hoover 
have a family of four children, namely: 
Ella I., born in Pontiac. was married. May 
10, [898, to Halbert Opperman, a grocer 
of Pontiac; Helen P. has for the past three 
years been head bookkeeper at the Pontiac 
Shoe manufactory; Edna 1\. is at home, 
and Maude W. is a student in the high school 
of Pontiac. 

In [898 Mr. Hoover was elected super- 
visor of Pontiac township, and his services 
gave such universal satisfaction that in the 
spring of Kjoo he was re-elected, being the 
only I K-mocral elected on the township ticket, 
which speaks well lor his personal popularity 
and the confidence and trust reposed in him 
by his fellow citizens. He has been fire 
marshal of the city for the past twenty five 
years, and was a member of the department 
for some years before. It has been bis ■ 
slant study to improve the department and 
the time he has devi ited to that w irk has been 
well spent, for his efforts have been crowned 
with success. At present a new cit) hall and 
engine house is being erected. Mr. Hoover 
is an honored member of T. Lyle Dickey 
post. (i. A. P., and attends and supports 
the Methodist Episcopal church. 



GEORGE Z. FLAGLER. 

I 'roil linen t anion-" the citizens . if Dwig 
who have witnessed the marvelous develop- 
ment "f Livingston county in the last half- 
century, and who have, by honest toil and in- 
dustry, succeeded in acquiring a competence 
and are now spending the sunset of life in 
quiet and retirement, is the gentleman 
name introduces this sketch. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mr. Flagler was born in Herkimer, New 
York. June 4, iSjS. and was reared there 
until ten years of age, when he removed to 
Ohio with hi- parents, Philip and Nancy 
( Dygert 1 Flakier, also natives of New York. 
His ] aternal grandfather, Zachariah Flagler, 
was born in France, and en his emigration 
to America settled in Dutchess county, New 
York, where, in the midst of the wilderness, 
he d ed a farm and spent the remainder 

of his lite. 1 le reared a family of eleven chil- 
dren, ten -ins and one daughter, of whom 
Philip was tilth in order of birth. 

< )n reaching manhood Philip Flagler re- 
moved to Herkimer county, Xew York, be- 
coming one of it- early settlers, and there he 
married Nancy Dygert. a daughter of Will- 
iam Dygert, who emigrated from Germany 
to the United State- at an early day. After 
his marriaee Mr. Flagler conducted a m< 
market in Frankfort, Herkimer county, until 
our subject was ten year- of age, and then 
moved to Middlebury, Portage county, < Hiio, 

ng by way of the Erie canal to Buffalo, 
by lake to Cleveland, by canal to Akron, 
Ohio, ami from there aero-- the country by 
wagon to Middlebury, where he worked at 
the shoemaker'- trade live year-. lie then 
returned to Xew York by the same route. 
this time locating in Dutchess county, where 
he followed farming until a few years prior 
to hi- death, when he sold hi- farm and 
moved to Rochester, Xew York. There he 
lived retired until called to hi- final rest, 
at the age of seventy years. The mother 
of our subject had died many year- previous, 
leaving six children, who reached man and 
womanl mely: George Z., Catherine, 

Walter. Albert, William and < >-car. all -till 
living with the exception of Walter. Cath- 
erine is the wife of Philip Miller, of Dwight, 
Illinois. Fi ir his second w ife the father mar- 



ried Katherine Wright, by whom he had one 
daughter, Annie. 

rge Z. FJagler received hi- education 
in the scb Portage county. < )hio. and 

Dutchess o unty, Xew York, and remained 
at home with his father until after hi- mar- 
1 '11 the 27th of September. [848. 
when twenty-one year- of age, he married 
Phebe lane < larkson, then sixteen. They 
met at the village school in Stormville, Xew 
York, ami the friendship there formed 
ripened into a love that has never died out. 
for they are -till lovers, the same a- in the 
days 1 >ng -one by. Mrs. Flagler was horn 
in Dutchess county, of which her parents, 
Egbert and Maria < facox) ' larkson, were 
also natives, while her paternal grandfather, 
Charles Clarkson, was a native of England, 
having emigrated to this country at an early 
day. For many year- her father followed 
farming in Dutchess county, hut in the fall 
of [856 he came to Livingst m count} - . Illi- 
nois, where he lived retired until hi- death. 
at the age of sixty-three year-. Ill- wife 
died at tin of seventy-three. In their 

family were four children, William. 1 lamil- 
ti m. I 'hehe Jane and Mary Elizabeth.but Mrs. 
Flagler i- the only one now living. To our 
subject and his wife were horn three chil- 
dren, namely: 1 1 1 Eugene, a resident of 
I Iv ight, married l.etty Potter, and they have 
liildren: Stella, wife of Eberett Lewis, 
a jewelet of Dwight, by whom -he ha- one 
child. Harland; and Louise. ( _' 1 John W.. 
an invalid residing in Dwight, married 
Laura Lee, and they have one child. Helen. 
(3) George X.. who has succeeded hi- fa- 
ther in the lumber business, married Letty 
Saltmarsh, and they have two children. Ed- 
die and Mattie. 

After In- marriage Mr. Flagler remained 
with In- father a year, hut determining to 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



7i 



engage in business for himself, lie rented a 
farm of one hundred and seven acres in 
Dutchess c< unty, New York, which he suc- 
cessfully operated for three years. Selling 
uut in the east he came to Illinois in [855, 
ami after spending ten days at Joliet pro- 
ceeded to 1 (wight, Livingston county, where 
he lured .nit to a Mr. Spencer, whose farm 
included the present home of our subject. 
After working for him one year he was va- 
riously employed for a time, and then turned 
his attention to the carpenter'- trade. < >ne 1 if 
the first houses which he built is the one he 
i> now living in, it being situated en a inn 
of the old Spencer farm and is one of the 
most beautiful places in Dwight, surrounded 
by four acres of well-kept grounds. Here 
.Mr. Flagler located in 1899. The first house 
that he owned in Dwight is still standing. 
1 le continued to follow the carpenter's trade 
for several years, and in 1874 became inter 
ested in the lumber business, which he car- 
ried on alone for three years, when he 
formed a partnership with Thomas Sims, 
under the name of Flagler & Sims. Three 
years later this was dissolved and Zed John- 
son purchased an interest in the business, 
which was conducted under the linn name of 
Flagler X' Johnson for three years and a 
half. From that time on he was alone in 
business until [897, when he was succeeded 
b) his son, 1 leorge X.. who still carries it on, 
while our subject is practically living retired. 
though he still continues to look alter his 
property interests in Dwight. which include 
a number 1 if houses. 

Mr. Flagler has been prominently identi 
tied with almost the entire growth and de- 
velopment of Dwight. as when he located 
there there were only six houses in the place. 
During the first year of his residence here 
he and his wife, with another family, ■ 



CUpied a little shanty. [6x24 feet. In [856 
be and William Clarkson each built a house, 
the first that were erected that year. < >ne 
Sunday the two men went out about three 
miles in the country and got some young 
basswood trees, which thej brought to town 
on their hacks and planted, these being the 
first trees set out in Dwight. as the place at 
that time was flal prairie land, unadorned 
by trees or shrubs. Mr. Flagler helped or- 
ganize the village ami has aided materially 
in its growth and building, assisting in the 
erection of most of the older dwellings ol 
the place. He helped build the Presbyterian 
church, which was the first house of worship 
erected in Dwight. and later, as a contractor, 
built the Methodist Episcopal church. lb- 
was one of the first trustees of the village, 
being elected on a temperance ticket, and 
was a member of the village board four 
terms. By his ballot he has always sup- 
ported the men and measures of the IV111- 
OCratic party at national elections, but in 
local affairs, when no issue is involved, votes 
for the man whom be believes best qualified 
to till the office. Socially be is a member of 
Livingston lodge. No. 371. F. & A. M.. and 
Wilmington Chapter. No. [42, R. V M. 
During their long residence in Dwight Mr. 
and Mis. Flagler have made a host ,,f warm 
friends, have gained the confidence and re- 
spect of all who know them, and as honored 
pioneers and representative citizens are cer- 
tainly deserving of prominent mention in a 
work of this kind. 



STEPHEN A. <;<>< M>M \X. 

Stephen A. <l lman. the efficient en- 
gineer of the Dwight Electric Lighl > 
pany and a highly respected citizen "I 



72 



THE I'.K (GRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Dwight, Illinois, was born in Huntingdon 
county. Pennsylvania, December 26, [851, 
and is a son of James J. and Catherine 1 Nu- 
nK'ii 1 Goodman, also natives of Pennsyl- 
vania. By track- the father was a wagon- 
maker and bridge carpenter, and during his 
residence in the Keystone state followed 
bridge building on railroads and canals. In 
1867 he brought his family to Illinois and lo- 
cated >'ii a farm in Dwight township, two 
miles si mthwest 1 if the ti »wn of i )wight, mak- 
ing liis home there for two years, at the end 
of which time he took up his residence in 
town, where his death occurred, in [884, and 
where his wife is still living. In their fam- 
ily were ten children, namely: Anna, wife 
of W. II. Watson, a conductor on the Penn- 
sylvania Railroad and a resident of Altoona, 
Pennsylvania; Mattie, widow of ' i. W. 
Stewart and a resident of Union Furnace, 
Pennsylvania; Stephen A., our subject; 
Emma, wife of ' Ie irge Taylor, a farmer and 
dairyman of Dwight township; Alfred, a 
farmer of Grundy county, Illinois; James, 
a conductor on the Chicago >!v Alton Rail- 
road; George, who is employed in the round 
house at Dwight: Mary, twin of George and 
deceased wife of J<>hn Camerorn, of Ono, 
Willow county. Nebraska; Nora, wife 
Frank Phole, of Dwight: and Bruce, an en- 
gineer on the Chicago & Alton Railroad. 

The boyhood and youth of Stephen A. 
mainly passed in Pennsyl- 
vania, and at tl he entered 
the Mill Creek furnace shops to learn the 
blacksmith and machinist's trades, his father 
being then engaged in the hotel business at 
Mill ( xeek. I U- was sixteen 3 ear- 1 if aj 
when the family came to [Hinois, and for a 
time he worked at his trade in Dwight. Sub- 

tently he accepted a position as engineer 
and general assistant with the firm of Wt-i- 



fenbaugh & Rutan, hut his first permanent 

position as engineer was in the old stone mill 
of I lalm & Siegert, where he was employed 
two years, lie next entered the service of 
the Chicago & Alton Railroad in the round 
house at Dwight. and later was fireman on 
the Streator branch of that road and served 
the company until [893. He spent two y< 
as fireman on the Pennsylvania Railroad, 
running between Altoona and Harrisburg, 
Pennsylvania. In November, [896, lie ac- 
cepted his present position with the Dwight 
Electric Light Company, and has since filled 
it in a most capable and satisfactory manner. 

On the jjd of September, [877, at 
Dwight. was celebrated the marriage of Mr. 
G01 dman and Miss Belle 1, [speed, a na- 
tive of ( 1'rundy a >unty, Mini 'is. and a dauj 
ter oi I !» irge R. and Emily 1 Stark 

<i Ispeed. Her father gave up his life for 

his country as a soldier of the Civil war. 
During the last ten years of her life Mrs. 

dspeed made her home with our sub- 
ject and there died March 31, [897. Mrs. 
Goodman died January u. (893, and of the 
three children horn of that union. Emma 
died at the age of four years and 1 lanit- 
al the age of eleven. Charles is -till living 
and i- with his father. Mr. <■ [man was 

in married, in Peoria. Illinois, April 20, 

97, his second union being with Mi^ 

Ague- McCloskey, a native of Blair county, 

Pennsylvania. They have a pleasant home 

in Dwight. erected by him in [882. 

In political affairs Mr. Goodman sup- 
ports the Democratic party. While a r< 
dent of Altoona. I 'enn-ylvania. he joined the 
Independent < >rdcr of Odd Fell >W S, and m iW 

liates with Dwight Lodge, No. 513, of 
which he i- past noble grand, lie is also a 
member of Pacific Encampment, No. [26, 

and was elected and installed chief patriarch. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



73 



but resigned on accounl of his night work, 
which occupies his time to the exclusion of 
everything else. He is a thorough and 
skilled machinist and is a highly respected 
and honored citizen of I 'wight. He was for 
five years a member of the Illinois state 
guards and was honorably discharged. 



X. M. and TRUM W M. KELL( >GG. 

These hi'' ithers, who are numbered ami >ng 
the representative citizens of Pontiac town- 
ship, Livingston county, own and operate 

a tine farm of three hundred and twenty 
acres mi section 8, pleasantly located on 
Wolf creek, within three miles of the 
city of Pontiac. They are natives of 
Oneida county, New York, the former 
born near I'tica June _'<). 1S29. the lat- 
ter October 7. [835, and belong to an old 
colonial family of English origin, which was 
founded in this country by two brothers, 
whi) were among the pioneers of Connecti- 
cut. Our subjects' paternal grandfather. 
Truman Kellogg, .was a native of that state 
and a pioneer of Oneida county, Xew York, 
where he located in 1700. There he cleared 
and improved a farm in the midst of the 
wilderness, making it his home throughout 
the remainder of his life. The father, who 
also bore the name of Truman, was horn in 
that county, in 1795. ami on reaching man- 
hood married .Malinda Marsh, also a native 
of ( Ineida county. I le was a farmer by OC 
cupation and lived on the old Kellogg home- 
stead throughout life. dyin<>- there May 17. 
1867. lie survived his wife only a few- 
weeks, as she died .March 3. [867. In their 
family were four children, two sons and two 
daughters, hut only the former are now liv- 
ing. 



In the county of their nativity the broth- 
ers passed their boyhood and youth, being 

provided with g 1 educational advantages 

in both common and select schools. In 1852 
Truman M. went to Chicago, where he en- 
tered the employ of the Illinois Central Rail- 
road Company, in the engineer department, 
as a rodman, and for twentj years was em- 
pli yed in the general office of the civil en- 
gineer for the Illinois Central Railroad Com- 
pany at that city, being promoted for suc- 
cessful service From rodman to division en- 
gineer, and as such he superintended the con- 
struction of the Lake Shore harbor. X. M. 
Kellogg remained at home with his parents 
until their deaths, having charge of the 
farm. In 1868 he came to Livingston coun- 
ty. Illinois, and purchased the farm in Pon- 
tiac township where the brothers now re- 
side. Ther located thereon in 1X71, and 
have since devoted their time and energies 
to the further improvement and cultivation 
of the place. Converting it into one of the 
most desirable farms of its size in the coun- 
ty. They follow general farming and have 
engaged extensively in feeding and shipping 
-1. ck, fattening from six to ten ear loads of 
cattle and hogs annually. To this branch of 
their husiin-ss they have de\ 1 >ted a msiderable 
attention for the past fifteen years, and re- 
cently have made a specialty of the breeding 
and raising of good roadster horses of the 
Hamiltonian and other standard bred stock. 
Success has attended their well-directed ef- 
forts and they are now numbered among the 
most substantial men of the community in 
which they live. 

Politically the Kellogg brothers have 
been lifelong Democrats, and X. M. has 
served as highway commissioner for fifteen 
ye irs, hut neither have cared for official hon- 
ors, preferring to give their undivided atten- 



74 



THIi BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tion t'> their extensive business interests. 
They are men of keen perception and sound 
judgment and their success in lift- is due to 
their own well-directed efforts, s i that they 
deserve t>> be prominently mentioned among 
the leading and representative business nun 
of this county. Fraternally, Truman M. is 
a member of the Masonic lodge of PontiaCj 
having been made a Master Mason Mime 
years ag >. 



CHARLES H. LONG, M. I). 

The world has little use for the misan- 
thrope. The universal truth of brotherh 1 

is widely recognized, also that he serves < rod 
hi^t who serves his fellow men. There is no 
profession or line of business that calls for 
greater -elf sacrifice or more devoted atten- 
tion than the medical pri ifessii in, and the suc- 
cessful physician is he. who through love of 
hi- felli iw men gives his time and attention to 
the relief of human suffering. Dr. Long is 
one of the ahlest representatives of this noble 
calling successful]}' engaged in practice in 
Pontiac, lllini 'is. 

The Doctor was horn in Dimmick town- 
ship. I. a Salle county, this state, May 14. 
1850, a si , n of Archibald and Adeline 
1 Leigh) Long. The father was born in Gal- 
Hpolis, Gallia county. Ohio, in October, 
1825, a son of Archibald and Catherine 
(Keller) ; The grandfather was born 

near Wheeling, West Virginia, September 
24. I7<)i. and was om.- of a large family of 
children left orphans at an early age. and 
who were thrown upon the world to make 
their own way with little educational ad 
vantages. I te managed, however, to acquire 
much varied information, which, with untir- 
ing energy, he ever put to use for the uplift- 



ing of his fellow men. After drifting about 
through Tennessee, Georgia and North Car- 
olina during his boyhood he was finally mar- 
ried, in October, [813, and settled in Gal- 
lipolis, Ohio, where most of his family were 
horn and where he acquired some property. 
He also secured the maintenance of select 
schools in the county, and early became a 
leader and exhorter in the Methodist Episco- 
pal church, and afterward a licensed 
preacher. He spent a few years in Indiana, 
and then, in order to secure homes for his 
children, now grown, he came to Illinois, 

miiil; first in the military tract, near Km >\- 
ville, Knox county, in 1834. He built the 
first mill in that section and opened his house 
for church and school purposes, there being 
neither in his locality. He regularly tilled 
appointments to preach for miles around, 
and our subject now has in his possession the 
parchment certificate given by Bishop Mor- 
n's, in [839, at his ordination as deacon. 
He soon secured the building of a church 
at Hermon, the expense of which was largly 
borne by himself. At camp meetings ami 
revivals he was recongized as powerful in ex- 
hortation and prayer. It was at a meeting 
in his house that his son. Archibald. Jr., and 
Rev. M. I.. Haney were converted. In [849 
he removed to I .a Salle county, and early 
the following year secured the organization 
of a church at La Salle, there having been 
ii" religious society there prior to that time, 
lie resolved to build a house of worship and 
went about with his usual energy to accom- 
plish this, hauling lumber, raising mi nicy and 
working on the building. While thus en 

■ d he was exposed to the inclenicnc\ of 
the weather .and contracted a disease that 
affected his lungs and eventually caused his 
death. His home was always the stopping 
place for all ministers, and he labored 1111- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



7S 



tiringly for his church, lie held niost all 
the local offices, including those of school di- 
recti ii" and justice of the peace, and in his 
death the community realized that it had 
lost one nf its must valued and useful citi- 
zens. 

Archibald Long, Jr., the father of our 
subject, was reared on his father's farm near 
Knoxville, and received a good practical ed- 
ucation in the select school conducted in his 
father's home. This was largely supple- 
mented in later years hv extensive reading 
and observation. lie built the first saw- 
mill at Knoxville ami engaged in milling 
for si une time. In early days before the 
grist-mill was built, the family hauled their 
grain t" Chicago, a distance of two hun- 
dred miles. The early pioneers ground their 
cornmeal on stones. After building the mill 
the Long family sometimes rafted flour 
down the Mississippi river to St. Luuis. 
In Kn< ix county, Archibald Long, Jr.. was 
married, in 1S47. to Miss Adeline Leigh, a 
daughter of Robert Leigh, a veteran of the 
war nf [8l2, and an early settler of that 
county, where he followed farming until his 
death. Her paternal great-grandfather, 
Leigh, was private secretary to George 
111, 1 if England, and fur political reasons 
lied t>> the United States, lie was the pos 
H'-nr 1 if a large fortune, which the family 
never received. After his marriage, the 
Doctor's father engaged in farming in Dim- 
niick township, La Salle county, and was 
1 'tie 1 if the large land owners of his locality. 
Although he gave stricl attention to his 
business affairs he never neglected his duties 
In his fellow men. and took a very active 
part in education and church work, ably 
seconding his father in the support of the 
feeble little church at l.a Salle. lie was a 
member of the official board throughout life 



and after his father's death was its strong- 
est mainstay fur forty years, lie was hon- 
ored with all the township offices. lie died 
in l.a Salle county, December 31, [892, and 
the mother of our subject departed this life 
in [856, leaving two children, the younger 
being Robert, now a resident of Koszta, 
1 1 >wa. 

Dr. Lull- began his education in the dis- 
trict schools near his boyhood home, ami al 
the age of fifteen years entered the academic 
department of Wheaton College at Wheaton, 
Illinois, where he was a student fur two 
years. In 1 866 he entered the lllin.>is Wes- 
leyan University at Bloomington, where he 
was graduated with the degree of B. S., in 
[873, being president of the class organi- 
sation during' his senior year. In the mean- 
time he had engaged in teaching schools, 
and after leaving college followed that pro- 
fession for three years as principal at Mack- 
inaw, Stanford and Homer, Illinois. 

Having decided to make the practice of 
medicine his life work. Mr. Long matricu- 
lated at Hahnemann Medical College, I hi 
cago. in 1X75. and was graduated with the 
degree of M . I)., at the Chicago Homeo- 
pathic Medical College in [878. lie is no'W 
the leading homeopathic physician of Pon- 
tiac, and enjoys a large general practice. 
I le served as I hiked States pensii m examiner 
under Presidents Haves and Arthur, doing 
all the work in that line for the county, there 
being no pension board at the time. In 1 880 
he was elected coroner of Livingston county 
and served by re-election eight years, dur- 
ing which time he held the inquests made 
necessary by the terrible Chatsworth wreck 

when sevculv tour Niagara excursionists 
I' st their lives. He is an honored member of 
the Illinois Homeopathic Medical Associa- 
tion, "f which he was provisional secretary 



7" 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



two terms, ending in May, [899, and is also 
active member of the Central Illinois 
Homeopathic Association. He is med 

examiner for the Modern W linen of 

America at Pontiac. 

Dr. Long has been twice married, his 
first wife being Miss Martha Veimont, who 
died .March jo. 1884. leaving two children. 
who are still living, namely: Eva Mary. 

>. attending the Northwestern University 
at Evanston, Illinois, and Archibald V., at 
home. For his second wife he married Lida 
Sterry. daughter of C. W. Sterry. of Pbn- 
tiac, and to them have been horn two chil- 
dren: Christopher Sterry and Katherine. 
The family have a beautiful home at No. 
304 East Water street, Pontiac. 

From the start Dr. Long has served as 
secretary of the Pontiac Riverview Chau- 
tauqua Association, which is to-day one of 
the mi >st successful organizatii >ns of the kind 
in the west, financially and otherwise, and 
he is also a trustee of the Illinois Wesleyan 
University at Bloomington, and also trustee 
of the board of finance for the same institu- 
tion. With such ancestry it is not strange 
that the Doctor takes a very active and 
prominent part in church work and has al- 
ways been willing to contribute his share to 

any enterprise for the public g 1. He is 

one of the leading and influential members 
of the Methodist Episcopal church of Ponti- 
ac, and is now the oldesl member of it-- offi- 
cial board in point of continuous service, 
having held some office for the pasl twenty- 
two year>. After serving eight years as su- 
perintendent of the Sltnda) school, he re 

ted that position t" become superintend- 
ent! if the primar) department, w Inch has de- 
veloped rapidly during the seven years he 
has been in charge, the enrollment at pri 
ent being two hundred and fifty. lie was 



also secretary of the Livingston county 
Sunday School Association seven years; 
was chairman of the executive committee 
a number of years; vice-president of the 
third Illinois district, and has been chairman 
of the finance committee a number of years. 
At the age of thirteen he was elected sec- 
retary of the Sunday school, which lie at- 
tended, and has since been officially con- 
nected with Sunday school work, lie was 
a lay delegate to the general conference of 
the Methodist Episcopal church, at Cleve- 
land, 111 (896, and at Chicago, in May. 19OO, 
and for four years was president of the Lay 
Association of the central Illinois conference. 
lie is also editor of the Pontiac Methodist, 
with which he has been connected from its 
beginning, in 1896. As a physician he 
ranks among the ablest, and as a citizen he 
stands deservedly high in public esteem, be 
ing honored *and respected by all who know 
him. 



AUSTIN GIBB( INS. 

Austin Gibbons, of Dwight, was born in 
county Mayo, Ireland. January 5. [846, a 
son of Philip and Bridget (McDonald) 
Gibbons, also natives of that county. The 
tather was born December to, [819, ami 
continued to make his home in county Mayo 
until his emigration to America in March, 
1 85 1 . h' r three years the family made their 
hi in' in \'ew York state and in 1851 came 
t>' Illinois, locating first in Kendall county 
and rem. iving t<> Livingston county in 180;. 
the lather purchased a hall' section of 
land in Nevada township, which he operated 
eighteen years, and then moved t>> Chii 
where he has since made his home. lie is 
highly respected and esteemed anil is a de- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECOUP. 



79 



vout member of the Catholic church, to 
which his wife also belonged. She died in 
the fall of 1899, at the age of eighty years. 
In their family were nine children, all of 
whom are still living', namely: Mary, a 
resident of Chicago; Austin, our subject; 
Margaret, widow of Denslow Marsh and a 
resident of Pittsburg, Kansas; Ellen, of 
Chicago; John, of Barton county, Missouri; 
Philip, Jane. Sarah and Thomas, all of Chi- 
cag p. 

Our subject was only four years old 
when brought to this country by his parents 
and his education was begun in New York 
state, though the greater part of it was ob- 
tained in the schools of Kendall county, Il- 
linois. At the age of twenty-two he started 
"lit in life for himself by learning the trade 
of bridge builder and carpenter, which he 
lull. .weil twelve years. During this time he 
made his home in Nevada township. Liv- 
ingston county, and on retiring from that 
business, in 1877, he engaged in farming on 
section 2, that township, where he purchased 
eighty acres of land. To this he added one 
hundred and sixty acres in iX<jo. making a 
fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, 
which he placed under a high state of cul- 
tivation. In connection with general farm 
ing he always gave considerable attention I 1 
stock raising, his specialty being Norman 
horses. 

In i.x<)7 Mr. Gibbons commenced Inning 
grain for Edmund Mezger, of Dwight, and 
continued in his employ until that gentleman 
tailed in business in March. [898, when he 
entered the employ of William Pope, who 
then took the elevator, remaining with him 
until the fall of [899, when Mr. Pope sold 
out to Merritt Brothers, of Dwight, by whom 
Mr. Gibbons has heen retained as manager 
of the elevator. That fall he built a picas 



ant residence at the corner of Waupansie 
and North Clinton streets. Pwight. and in 
the spring of [900 took tin his residence 
there, having remained on his farm up to 
that time. 

On the 6th of January. 1S7S. Mr. Gib- 
bons married Miss Margaret Kane, a native 
of Wisconsin and a daughter •<( Robert and 
Ann Kane, of that state, where her father 
died a number of years ago. Her mother 
met her death in the tornado at St. Paul, 
Minnesota, in 1893. Mrs. Gibbons was their 
only child. Our suKjc-ct and his wife have 
a family of five children: Nellie, now the 
wife of William Neville, a farmer of ( lood 
harm township, Grundy county. Illinois, by 
whom she has one child. Frank; Frank, son 
of our subject and his father's assistant in 
the grain business in Pwight: and Annie, 
Philip and Sarah, students in the public 
schCH 'Is 1 if Dwight. 

Religiously both Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons 
are members of the Catholic church of 
Pwight. He has always heen a stanch sup- 
porter of the men and measures of the Dem- 
ocratic party and taken an active and promi- 
nent part in local politics for a number of 
years. He was assessor of Nevada town- 
ship in 1X7 1 and [872 and served as super- 
visor of that township for more than twenty 
years, which office he tilled continuously un- 
til the spring of [900, when, owing to his 
removal to Pwight. the township was forced 
to seek another representative. His long 
retention in office plainly indicates Ins effi- 
cient service and the confidence and trust 
reposed in him by his fellow citizens. He 
was chairman of the hoard in [897 and [898 
and was one of the special committee to 
oversee the building of the county house, 
which was built during his term at a cost 
of seventy-five thousand dollars. He was 



So 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RED >KD. 



chairman of the board of equalization for 
sixteen consecutive ycar^ and served on 
most of the committees, especially the more 
important ones. He was school treasurer 
for ten years prior to his removal to Dwighl 
and the cause of education always found in, 
him a faithful friend, in (892 he was the 
Democratic candidate from his district for 
member of the state board of equalization 
and although he failed of election he suc- 
ceeded in reducing the usual Republican ma- 
jority from twenty five hundred to five hun- 
dred, a fact which testifies strongly as to 
his personal popularity. At present writ 
e is the nominee of his party from the 
twentieth district as a member of the legis- 
lature. No man in his community is more 
highly respected or esteemed, and he has 
been called upon to settle a number of es- 
tates in Livingston, Will and Grundy coun- 
ties, and is now in charge of three estates 
as executor and administrator. 



S. II. POTTER, 1). 1). S. 

S. II. Potter, I). 1 >. S., a prominent and 
successful dentist of Dwight, Illinois, was 
horn on the 7th of July, 1074. in Sheldon, 
[roquois county, this state, and is a son of 
M. ( i. and Mahala (Griswold) I 'otter, na- 
if \ew York state and pioneers of [ro- 
quois county, Illinois. In early life the fa 
ther engaged in farming and as a progressive 
enterprising agriculturist he met with 
marked success, becoming owner of some 
five hundred acres of valuable land in that 
county. Having secured a handsome prop 
erty he moved to Sheldon, in [881, and has 
1 a retired life, enjoying the fruits 
of former toil. In his family were ten chil- 

l, nine of w In >m are still living. 



Of this family Dr. Potter is ninth in 
order of birth, lie received his literar) ed 
ucation in the public schools of Sheldon and 
was graduated from the high school of that 
place. In 1893 he entered the Northwestern 
Dental College, of Chicago, where he pur- 
sued the regular course and was graduated 
in April. [896, with the degree of | ). | >. S. 
That same month he came to Dwight and 
opened an office. Although he met with 
strong opposition from his competitors, la- 
was not discouraged, and. as his skill and 
ability were soon widely recognized, he was 
not long in building up the excellent practice 
which he now enjoys. He is especially pro- 
ficient in bridge and crown work and has met 
with remarkable success. ||i s younger 
brother, Edgar *'.. was graduated at the 
Northwestern Dental College. May 1. 1900, 
and is now engaged in practice with our sub- 
ject, under the linn name of Potter Brothers. 
Politically, the Doctor is identified with 
the Republican party, and socially, affiliated 
with Hebron Lodge, No. [76, K. 1'. of 
Dwight. 



JOHN Q. JOHNSON. 

John Q. Johnson, whose home is on sec 
tion 29, Esmen township, has been identified 
with the agricultural interests of Livingston 
count) since July, 1857, and has borne an 
active part in its development and progress. 
IU- comes from across the sea. for he was 
horn in Norway. November 1. 1835, and is 
a sou of John ami Martha 1 tverson) John- 
son, who spent their entire lives as farming 
people in that country. The father was four 
limes married, and our subject is the young- 
est of the live children, two s, ,ns and three 
daughters, born of tin- second union, lie 



Till-. BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



81 



and a sister arc now the only survivors. He 

\\a> reared on a farm and had fair common 
school advantages, llis knowledge of the 
English language lias all been obtained 
through lhs own efforts since his emigra 
tii hi U> America. 

Before leaving Norway, Mr. Johnson 
was married, in April, [856, t » > Miss tarn- 
line Mitchell, also a native of that country, 
and the following year they came to the new 
world, taking passage on a sailing vessel at 
Stovanger and reaching Quebec, Canada, 
after a voyage of six weeks. They crossed 
the lakes to Chicago and proceeded at once 
to La Salle county, this state, where friends 
from Norway had previously located. Soon 
afterward they came to Livingston county 
and located in the town of Amity, where they 
made their home while Mr. Johnson worked 
by the day or month as a farm hand four or 
live years. He next rented land, and in [864 
bought eighty acres of the farm in Ksmcn 
township, where he now resides. At that 
time it was wild prairie with no improve- 
ments, hut he built thereon a small house 
and soon placed the land under excellent cul- 
tivation, lie has since purchased an ad- 
joining eighty-acre tract, and the whole has 
been converted into a well-improved farm. 
I le has tiled and fenced the land, has erected 
a good residence and substantial outbuild- 
ings, and has set out fruit and shade trees. 
In C893 he bought another place of forty 
acres on section 29, Esmen township, where 
he now lives, and he has since made many 
improvements upon that farm. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born 
seven children, namely: Label and Martha, 
twins, the former of whom died at the age 1 
of seven years, the latter now the wile ol 
James Street, of Hamilton county, Iowa; 
Mitchell, who is married and engaged in 



farming in Minnesota ; John, who is married 
and assists in the operation of his father's 
farms; Dora, wife of Oliver Heriderocker, 
of Hamilton county, Iowa; Isabel, wife of 
James Jacobson, a farmer of South Dakota, 
and Theodore, who died at the age of three 
years. 

Since casting his lirst presidential 
for Abraham Lincoln, in 1 Si >.;. Mr. John- 
son has been an ardent Republican in politics, 
and has given his support to every enter- 
prise which he believed would prove oi pub- 
lic benefit. I le served one year as road com- 
missioner and was a member of the school 
board three years, but has never sought 
official honors. Religiously, both he and his 
wife are members of the Lutheran church 
and are highly respected and esteemed by 
all who know them. 



GEORGE SKINNER. 

ddie deserved reward of a well-spent life 
is an honored retirement from business in 
which to enjoy the fruits of former toil. 
To dav. after a useful and beneficial career. 
Mr. Skinner is quietlj living at his beautiful 
home in Pontiac, surrounded by the comforl 
that earnest labor has brought him. 

Mr. Skinner was born in Troy, ('bio. 
December 5. [822, a son of Joseph M. and 
Lydia (Stillwell) Skinner. His paternal 
grandfather was George Skinner, a Revolu- 
tionarj soldier, who was bom in Franklin 
county, Pennsylvania, in May. [761, and 
there was married, September 23, [789, to 
Susanna Freeman, who was bom in April, 
ij;(). At an early dav they floated down 
the Ohio river to Cincinnati, and located 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



mi ;i farm of one hundred and sixty acres 
near Milt". ml. Obi... one mile from Cam]) 
Dennison, which place is still in possession 
of the family. There t lie grandfather died 
in 1853, his w iff in [8 10. 

|bseph M. Skinner, father of our sub 
ject, was born in Franklin county. Pennsyl- 
vania, January 25, [795, .'mil accompanied 
his parents on their removal to ( >hio, where 
he grew to manhood, remaining at home 
until he attained his majority. On the 27th 
of September, 1820, he married Lydia Still- 
well, who was horn in Xew Jersey. January 
24, 171;-'. As a young man he built many 
mills in the unbroken forests of Ohio. On 
leaving the parental roof, he went to Troy, 
that state, and entered a general mercantile 
-tore, later becoming a leading merchant and 
prominent business man of that section. 1 le 
engaged in pork packing through the winter 
months and also shipped produce quite ex- 
tensively down the Miami. Ohio and Mis- 
sissippi rivers to Xew Orleans. At that 
time it required three months to go t< 1 Xew 
York, buy goods and convey them to his 
store, a- the trip had to he made with horses. 
Value of money was unstable and postage 
on a letter amounted to twenty-five cents. 
Mr. Skinner owned the first freight boat at 
Troy, which proved of great benefil to the 
township, and he was extensively engaged 
in the freighting business for some years. 
Later he 1 iwned and a inducted a branch Si 
at Covington, < >hio, ami when the canal was 
completed engaged in the commission and 
shipping business, 1 'W ning ami running b 
on the canal, while he left his partner in 
charge of the store at Troy. General Har- 
rison was present at the opening 1 if the canal, 
and our subject well remembers that import 
ant occasion. The father had served in the 
war of [812 under that general, was a strong 



Whig and anti-slavery man. hut never an 
■ iffice seeker. Fi >r many years he was an 
elder in the Presbyterian church ami also a 
Mason, hut during the Morgan trouble, he 
was forced, by public opinion of the church, 
to withdraw from the order. lie died Sep- 
tember l - > - [869, and his wife passed away 
December 10. [860. 

Our subject was educated in a subscrip- 
tion school at Troy, and during his youth 
assisted in his father's store. Later he com- 
menced to learn the tanner's trade at Cov- 
ington, Ohio, where he remained one year. 
Later. Mr. McCorkle, the leading tanner of 
Troy, dying, he took charge of the business, 
his father being administrator of the estate. 
In [851 he went to Louisville. Kentucky, 
where he was engaged in the ice business, 
being the first man to bring northern ice into 
that city. Ibis he shipped down the Ohio 
river. 1 le was living there during the great 
American, or "Know nothing" mob. of [856, 
but that summer he was forced to give up his 
business on account of failing health, anil 
came to Livingston county, Illinois. He 
purchased two hundred and ten acres ol 
land in Odell township, near the station of 
Cayuga, and in the spring of [857 brought 
his family to their new home. They often 
traveled ten or fifteen miles without seeing 
a single habitation of any sort, and wolves 
were still quite numerous in this region. 
Mr. Skinner's land was still in its primitive 
condition when he located thereon, but he 
s. ,011 broke and tiled it. and erected good 
and substantial buildings, making it one of 
the most desirable farms of it- size in the 
count v. Though he still owns the place, he 
has made his home in Pontiac for the past 
twelve years, and lias a fine brick residi 
here, which is supplied with many comforts 
and luxuries. In connection with general 



TIIK l'.loCU ARHICAI. R1-C( )R|). 



farming he always engaged in stuck raising, 
and while living in the country served as 
school director, but would never accepl po 
litical positions. 

Jn the fall of 1862 Mr. Skinner returned 
to his old home in Trov, Ohio, where he re- 
mained two years. As a young man he 
had been a member of the La Fayette Blues 
of that place, an infantry company that 
drilled all over the state, and in May. [864, 
he joined the Home Guards as a member of 
Company K. One Hundred and Forty-sev- 
enth Ohio Infantry. They first went to 
Camp Dennison, Ohio, and from there to 
Fort Morrisy, Washington, J). ('., where 
they were stationed at the attack of < .eneral 
Ewell, the last attempt of the rebels to cap- 
ture the capital. Mr. Skinner remained 
there until the close of his term of eunlist- 
ment and was mustered out at (amp Denni- 

S< Ml. 

On the [2th of April, 1849, Mr. Skin- 
ner was united in marriage with Miss Eliza- 
eth Shafer, who was horn November 15, 
[829, a daughter of Eckert and Rachel 
(Smith) Shafer. Her father was horn in 
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, December 
29, 1804, a son of George and Barbara 
Shafer. and was reared in Earl township, 
Lancaster county, between that city and 
Philadelphia. J lis father was of German 
destent and a soldier of the Revolutionary 
war. .Mrs. Skinner's mother was horn at 
Xew Holland, Pennsylvania, March 25, 
1809. a daughter of Edward Smith. After 
following farming in his native state for seA - 
eral years Eckert Shafer left there in the 
spring of 1847, accompanied by his wife 
and six children, and moved to Troy. Ohio, 
by way of the canal and Ohio river. He 
bought a farm two miles from Troy, where 
his wife died March 7, 1854. Later he came 



to Livingston county, Illinois, and purchased 
land in Esmen township, to the improvemtn 
and cultivation of which he devoted In- en- 
ergies until after his children were all mar- 
ried, lie then made his home with his eld- 
est child, Mrs. Skinner, dying there Decem- 
ber 13, [882. 

Mr. and Mrs. Skinner have a family of 
nine children, namely: Loretta, wife of John 
J. Pfau, of Odell; Clara L., wife of Joseph 
French, of Indiana, b) whom .she has one 
daughter, Edna May; Elias Freeman, a 
a resident of Missouri: Rachel L., who mar- 
ried James Jones, of Streator, Illinois, and 
the}' have three children; Martha L., who 
married J. W. Adams, traveling passenger 
agent for the Yanderhilt lines, and a n 
dent of San Francisco, and they have four 
children, Nona L., Nina I.., George J. and 
Harry Y. ; Eckert, also a residenl of Cali- 
fornia; Joseph Morris, who married Minnie 
Streator, ha- one child, lnna. and operates 
the home farm near Cayuga; l.uella and 
Emma L, at home. 

Roth our subject and his wife are active 
members of the Presbyterian church, lie 
assisted in organizing the church at ( ayuga, 
and was one of the leading contributors to 
the erection of the house of worship there. 
He also served as elder of the church at 
Louisville, Kentucky, and has filled that ■ 
lice ever since in different societies with 
which he has been connected. I le was most 
of the time superintendent of the Sunday 
school during- his residence at Cayuga, and 
has never missed in his attendance at Sun- 
day school or church since coming to P 
tiac. His life has heen exemplary in all re- 
spects, and it is safe to say that no man in 
his community is held in higher regard or is 
more desen ing the 1 1 teem of his 

fellow men than George Skinner. He has 



84 



THE BIOGR VPHICAL REO >RD. 



been an active worker for the Republican 
party and its principles, but has never been 
an aspirant for i iffice. 



I< »HN KULL 



It is astonishing to witness the success 
of men who have emigrated to America 
without capital and from a position of com 
parative obscurity have worked their way up- 
ward ti i a position of promin* m e. ["he read 
iness with which they adapt themselves to 
circumsl e advantage of op 

portunities offered brings to them succ 
and wins them a place among the leading 
business men of the community in which 
they reside. No better illustration of this 
can be found than in the life of John Kull, 
the well known proprietor of the Pontiai 
Steam .Mill and manager of a meal and feed 
store "ii the Alton Railroad and Water 
street. Pontiac, of which place he has been a 
resident since < >cti 'her i i . [894 

Mr. Kull was hunt in Niederlenz, Canton 
Argau, northeastern Switzerland, < Ictober 5. 
1834, a -mi of John Kull. a baker by trade, 
who spent hi- entire life there. < >ur subji 
attended school there, hut the time- being 
hard he commenced work at the early age *'i 
nine year- with the hope of being of some as- 
sistance t" hi- parent-. I [e entered the spin- 
ning room "i a cotton factory, where he 
worked from -i\ in the morning until nine 
at night, with only an hour each day for 
dinner, and received only the equivalent to 

dollar per month in our money. \\ I 
all tired out with the day'- work he had to 
walk a distance of three miles to his home 
before getting his -upper. In the winter 
he put in six hours of school work each day 



during the six year- spent in the cotton fac- 
tory. At the end of that time he began serv- 
ing a three-year's apprenticeship to the mil- 
ler'- trade with hi- uncle, ami while thus 
cm pi \ ed re< eived onlj his board and cli it lies 
in compensation for hi- labor, hut he thor- 
oughly learned the business and at the agi 

eighteen had a g 1 trade, having passed the 

examination and received hi- papers. 

Wishing t" see more "i the country Mr. 
Kull traveled over Switzerland and Ger- 
many, working in mills in all of the import- 
ant cities •<> those countries. Me also -pent 
-.hi. in France and learned t" handle 

and put togetln the ] rench burrs, tin- be- 
ing an impi rtant part 1 if hi- trade. By 
working in so many different mill- he gained 
a varied knowledge of the methods in use 
and an expert miller. Returning t<. 

Basal, Switzerland, one of the largest cities 
• if hi- native land, he served as head miller 
in its largest null for three years to the en- 
ure satisfaction 1 if the owners. 

In April, 1867, Mr. Kull came to the 
United State-, landing in New York after 
a fifteen-days voyage in a steamer with an 
excellent knowledge of a good trade, hut 
unable to speak a word of English. Coming 
directly to Highland, Illinois, he served as 
miller there for a time, and then went to 
Pocahontas, Illinois, where he was similarly 
employed for three year-, lie then removed 
to Greenville, Boone county, Illinois, and 
ti 1 ik ch a mill fi if J. E. \\ alls, an 

glish gentleman, who wanted a fij 
class, practical miller. Ml of the employees 
of the mill being Americans hut himself, he 
learned the English language more readily 
than had ever before been necessary, and 
this has since been of great advantage to 
him. From Greenville he went to Litch- 
field, Illinois, and other places throughout 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



«5 



this state, and also various places in eastern, 
southwestern and northwestern Missouri. 
Subsequently he had charge of some of the 
best mills in Kansas. On the ist of Octo- 
ber, 1N94. he came to Pontiac, Illinois, to 
take charge of the Pontiac Steam Mill For F. 
E. Wuerpel & Company, of St. Louis, and 
in March, [897, purchased the mill, which 
he has since successfully conducted on his 
own account, having built up a good busi- 
ness, lie has the leading custom trade oi 
the city, receiving the patronage of all the 
extensive farmers of this sectii m of the a >un- 
t) who have grain to grind. He is also gen 
era! agent for the Jersey Lily flour, made h\ 
Jennison Brothers & ( !ompany, of Janesville, 
Minnesota, and has built up a fine whole 
sale and retail trade, as the flour is of a su- 
perior quality and gives excellent satisfai 
tii hi. As a wholesale dealer he sells in car 
load lots. In the spring of 1900 he equipped 
his mill with electric motors and now very 
successfully uses electricty for his motive 
power. I le was the first miller in this part of 
the enmity to adopt it and this shows the 
characteristic enterprise of the man. While 
by nature conservative, he is yet ready to 
adopt new ideas in his business and keep in 
the front. 

On the iSth of June. 1X117, in Pocahon- 
tas, Illinois, Mr. Kull married Miss Karo- 
line Bornhausef, who was born in W'ein- 
felden, Canton Thurgau, Switzerland, and 
who came to this country on the same ves- 
sel with him, joining her father. Jacob 
Bornhauser, a cabinetmaker by trade, who 
crossed the Atlantic in [866. By this union 
has been born one daughter, Carrie. Mr. 
Kull and his wife are both earnest members 
oi the Presbyterian church and he is a 
Democrat in politics. He is enterprising 
and progressive and gives his support to any 



object he believes will prove of public bene 

lit. lie was one of the men who felt the 
need of a bridge at Vermillion street. Me 
gol up the petition and secured a subscrip- 
tion of nine hundred dollars from citizens 
and also a good one from the Chicago & 
Alton Railroad Company. With such a 
backing the council passed the ordinance and 
appropriated twenty five hundred dollars to 
the enterprise, w hile the In iard 1 >f supen is. .is 
gave one thousand dollars. So Mr. Kull 
was realle) the founder of the bridge, which 
i- a great improvement to the western part. 
of the city. Its need was long felt, hut it 
required an active and energetic man like 
Mr. Kull to carry the enterprise through 
successfully. 



WTLHELM BISCHOFF. 

Wilhelm Bischofif, an industrious am 1 
terprising agriculturist residing on section 
14, Avoca township. Livingston county, is a 
native of Illinois, his birth having occurred 
in Towanda township, McLean county, Feb 
ruary 5, [862. I lis parents, Ludwig and 
Mary (Allendorff) Bischoff, were both na- 
tives of ( lermany and came to America when 
young, about [850. Their marriage was 
celebrated in Bloomington, Illinois, and in 
the vicinity of Towanda, McLean county, 
they began their domestic life upon a farm 
which Mr. Bischoff had rented. The) re- 
mained residents of that county until coming 
to Livingston county in 1X70. when they 
located on the farm now occupied b) our 
Subject. Idle father purchased the proper! \ 
and at once began to clear away the timber 
and break the land. ha\ ing pre\ iousl) e: 
a small house suitable for a home for the 
family, lie died in [893, having survived 



86 



THE BI< (GRAPHICAL RECORD. 



his wife several years, her death occurring in 
1894. Both were consistent members of 
the Lutheran church, and he was a Repub 
lican in politics and an ardent worker for 

the party. In their family were live chil- 
dren, two sons and three daughters, hut two 
died in childhood. Wilhelm, cur subject, 
is the oldest of those who reached maturity: 
Matilda is now the wife of Richard Mor- 
ton, who lives south of Fairhury; and Al- 
vena married F. Burley, of Pleasant Ridge 
t< iv nship, and died in 1889. 

Wilhelm Bischoff came with the family 
to Livingston county and upon the home 
farm he grew to manhood, his education be- 
ing acquired in the district schools of Avoca 
township. lie early became familiar with 
the duties which fall to the lot of the agri- 
culturist and ha- never left the homestead, 
but carried on farming successfully with his 
father until the hitter's death, since which 
time he has had entire ch. the place. 

consisting of one hundred and twenty acres 
ood land, nearly forty of which are 
covered with timber, while the remainder is 
under a high state of cultivation, lie has 
d, by purchase, an eighty-acre tract, 
giving him a farm of two hundred acres. 
lie is a thrifty and energetic farmer, and by 
means has made a success of his labors. 
He raises >r the Chicago market and 

in all his undertaking steadily pros- 

pered 1 . 

In [890 Mr. Bischoff was united in 
marriage with Miss Mary E. Funk, who was 
horn August jj. 1869, in Morton, Illinois, 
and daughter of John and Christian Funk. 
Her parents, dying when she was an infant, 
left her in care of relatives, with whom 
she mule her home until reaching woman- 

h 1. She ha- a sister, Mr-. I 1 1 .11 

cas, who resides in Stonington, Illinois. Mr. 



and Mr-. Bischoff have four children: Clar- 
ence I... Ethel Mae. Lester E. and Irving F.. 
all attending the district school with ex- 
ception of the youngest. The parents are 
active members and liberal supporters of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Bis- 
choff is also a member of the Modern V\ 
men Camp of Fairbury and the Court of 
Honor, in which later his wife is a member. 
I le ha- always been a stanch supporter of the 
Republican party, hut would newer accept 
office or hold any public position, preferring 
that they should lie given to men whom he- 
consider- more worthy of them. He is. 
however, public spirited and pn gressive and 
gives In- support to those measures which lie 
believes will prove of public benefit. 



JAMES A. CALDWELL. 

Prominent among the enterprising, ener- 
getic and pn gressh e business men of Ponti 
ac, Illinois, is the subject of this sketch, who 
i- now devoting his time and attention to 
the real e-tate. insurance and abstract busi- 
ness. He was horn in Charleston, We-: 
iiia. March 22, 1831, a -on of Joseph 
and Mary Ann (Adams) Caldwell. 

Joseph Caldwell, the progenitor of the 
family in the United State-, emigrated 
with hi- family from Derry. Ireland, in 
1 ~'«). and settled in Sherman'- Valley, 
Perry county, Pennsylvania, lie was of 
Scotch descent. About 1780 he moved 
farther west, locating on Sew icklev creek. 
Pennsylvania, lie had five children, of 
whom Joseph, the eldest, was tin- 
grandfather of our subject. The grandfa- 
ther wa- James Caldwell, who was horn in 
Ireland. February 21, 1750. and v 




J. A. CALDWELL. 



TI I E BIOGRAP] [ICAL RECORD. 



89 



ten years of age when brought to America. 
Ilo married Sarah Byram, who was born 
I ebruary 13, 1703. and was the eldest child 
of Edward Byram. At an early day her 
lather moved with his familv to the neigh- 
borhood of Fort Pitt, now Pittsburg, Penn- 
sylvania, and on the 7th of April. 177'). dur- 
ing the Revolutionary war. he and one 
daughter were captured by the Indians and 
taken to Canada, where they remained in 
captivity for a year. The child was allowed 
to ride with the Indians on horseback a 
part of the way, but Mr. Byram was com- 
pelled to walk. In 1780 they were taken to 
Montreal and later to Quebec, being in prison 
a* both places, and finally, in the spring 
[781, were transferred by boat with other 
English prist mers through Lake Cham- 
plain and Rake George, then down the llud- 
Si n river and on b > Mi irristi »wn, Xew Jersey, 
— their old home. 

The Byram family is traced hack to 
Nicholas Byram, son of a gentleman of 
prominence in Kent count}'. England. He 
was born in 1610, and as a boy was sent 
in charge nf an agent to a reunite school, 
but the agent took his gold and placed the 
boy on board a ship to the West Indies, 
where he was sold to pay his passage. Se- 
creted in his clothes was some gold given 
him by his mother and with this he came 
t 1 Massachusetts Bay in [633 or [634. He 
settled in Weymouth, Massachusetts. Ed- 
ward Byram, previously mentioned, was 
descended from John and Priscilla Alden 
in the fifth generate >n. F< ir a mi >re extended 
history of this family see the book entitled 
" Ahhy Byram and her Father, the Indian 
Captives," published at Ottumwa, towa, in 
[898. 

After his marriage James Caldwell, our 
subject's grandfather, became a farmer of 



Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where 

he spent his life, dying there July I 1, 1847. 
J J is wife passed away prior to 1833. He 
was a zealous Christian, strong and positive 
in his belief, and served as elder of the Se- 
wickley Presbyterian church for some years. 
Most of his suns adhered to that faith and 
the father of our subject was educated for 
the Presbyterian ministry. He was born 
in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 
1780. and was a student at the college in 
Cannonsburg, that state, — the oldest college 
west of the mountains. In early manhood 
h' removed to Charleston, West Virginia, 
where he embarked in merchandising, and 
became one of the must prominent and suc- 
cessful business men of the place. He mar- 
ried Miss Alary Ann Adams, who was teach- 
ing school in Tennessee at that time. She was 
a native of Weston, .Massachusetts, and a 
granddaughter of Alpheus Bigelow, who as 
a Revolutionary soldier participated in the 
battle of Concord. On both sides she was 
descended from old New England families. 
She was born in 181 1 and died in C890, hav- 
ing long survived her husband, who died at 
Charleston in 1848. Of their eight children 
who reached years of maturity our subject 
ir the oldest. 

James A. Caldwell was about eighteen 
years of age at the time of his father's death ; 
lie received a good academic education in his 
native city and began his business career as 
clerk in a drug store at Charleston. \\ 
Virginia, where he continued to make his 
home until 1805, covering the period of the 
Civil war. There he engaged in business for 
himself for a time. lie first married, in 
[860, Miss Jennie llar\ey, of Springfield, 
Ohio, a daughter of Captain John Harvey, 
hut she died in 1873. leaving two children, 
ne 1 if whom, Jennie, is still living. 



90 



iRAPHICAL RECORD. 



In July. 1865, Mr. Caldwell cam 
Pontiac, Illinois, and embarked in the drug 
business on West Madison street in part- 
nership with John A. Fellows, under the 
me of Fellows & Caldwell. They 
continued in bush for s ime 

years and were finally succei the firm 

of Caldwell & McGregor, who for twenty- 
five years carried on a most successful busi- 
ness, theirs being by far the oldest drug si 

firm in the city. To their stock 
of drugs and books they later added jewelry 
and built up a good trade in that line. They 
built the block on the northeast corner of 
Mill and Madison streets, then tin 
business block in the city, and also bought 
the opposite corner, and after selling the 
front part improved the remainder of the 
iperty. In [895 the partnership was dis- 

ed and Mr. Caldwell retired from the 
drug trade. For about eighteen m »nths he 
conducted a grocery ston 1 since dis- 

posing of that has successfully eng I in 
the insurance and real estate business, hand- 
ling property t'"r others as well as himself. 
After the dissolution of the firm of Fellows 
& Caldwell he bought lots 4 and 5 at 
corner of Madison and Plum streets, which 
lie subdivided into three business lots and 
sold to different parties. About 1880, in 
partnership with Mr. McGregor, he boug 
twenty feet front on the corner where the 
Sterry hlock now stands and sold it aft 
wan W. Sterry. At the time of pur- 

chas ; with a two-story bu 

use. Mr 
dences in the citv and has a nice home at 
i Mill and Grove streets. 

In September, [874, Mr. Caldwell was 
>nd union being with 
. ina 1 1 ill. of Ponfiai 

E. Tibbets, who came here in [866 from 



Maine, which wa- the birthplace of .Mr-. 
Caldwell. They are active members of the 
Presbyterian church, in which our subject 
i- now serving as elder. lie ha- been a 
member of the official hoard many years and. 
was superintendent of the Sunday school 
si me time. He always supported the Dem- 
ocratic party until the campaign of [896, 
hut omld not endorse the principles advo- 
cated by the Chicago platform. 1 le ha- made 
an untarnished record and unspotted reputa- 
tion as a business man. In all places and 
under all circumstances he is loyal to truth. 
honor and right, justly valuing his own 
-elf respect a- infinitely more preferable than 
ilth. fame and position. His success has 
been the result of honest, persistenl effi 
in the line of honorable and manly dealing. 



GEORGE W. WOMELDI >RFF. 

W. \\ 1 meldorff, one of the high- 
ly respected citizen- and successful farmers 
of Eppards Point township, residii 
tion 33, i- a native of Illinois, horn near 
Tremont, Tazewell comity. February 22 
I lis father, Daniel VVomeldorff, was 
horn in Gallia county, Ohio, in 1N04, and 
there married Mi— Harriet X. Kerr, a na- 
tive of the same comity and a daughter of 
Major John M. Kerr, an officer of the war 
of [812. After his marriage Mr. Womel- 
dorfif followed farming in Ohio until 1844, 

■itled in Taze- 
county. for about four year- he was 
in flaf-boating down the Mississippi 
to Xevv Orleans, and then turned his atten- 
tion to agricultural pursuits, having pur- 
I a claim in 11 ci unty. I 'poll 

that place he died in 1852. Subsequently 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



9« 



his widow took her family back to Ohio, 
locating in the old neighborhood in Gallia 
county. 

There our subject grew i" manhood and 
attended the common schools. On the 25th 
of March, [863, at the age of seveni 
years, he joined the In .\ > in blue of the Civil 
war, enlisting as a private in Company I., 
Seventh Ohio Cavalry, which was assigned 
to the Army of the Tennessee, under com- 
mand .if ( ieneral Sherman. I le participated 
in the battle of Stone River, the engage- 
ments of the Atlanta campaign, and then 
with his command went to the relief of 'ien- 
eral Thomas at Nashville. They were in 
the battle of Franklin and followed Hood 
1- the Tennessee river. At < Iravely Springs, 
Alabama, Mr. Womeldorfif was severely 
wounded, being shot in the left fore-arm and 
lift side and receiving a saber thrust in the 
righl leg and a scratch on the right shoulder. 
lie was sent to a hospital boat at Waterloo 

the Tennessee river, and fourteen days 
later was taken n> Jeffersonville, Indiana. 
where he remained in the hospital until Inne 
5. [865, when honorably discharged from the 
service, though his wounds did not heal for 
nearly a year after his return home. 

.Mr. Womeldorff then attended a select 
school for nine months and engaged in farm- 
ing in ( tin',, for a year, hut in the fall of 1 Ni ,7 
he returned to Tazewell county, Illinois, j n 
company with his mother, youngest brother 
and sister. They drove the entire distance 
and located in Tremont. For eightei 
months our subject was employed as over- 
seer of a farm and in [869 came to Livings 

county, operating a rented farm in Pike 
tow 11. hip for three years, while his mother 
and sister kepi house for him. 

In that township Mr. Womeldorff was 
married, March tS. [873, to Miss Maria C 



Beeks, a native of Pennsylvania and a daugh- 
ter of James II. Beeks, who moved to Mar- 
shall county, Illinois, in (853, and later to 
Livingston county, but is now a resident of 
Arkansas City, Kansas. ( >f the twelve chil- 
dren horn to Mr. and Mrs. Womeldorff 
died in infancy. Those living are Hula, 
wife of John W. Farley, of Eppards Point 
town-lnp; Eugene, at In une ; 1 >ella, v\ ife of 
Alhert I). Hewitt, of Pontiac; Gilbert, Min- 
nie. Ethel and Bertel, all at home. Mr. 
Womeldorff's mother died at his home De- 
cember _>S, [898, at the advanced age of 
eighty-fi air years. 

For two years after his marriage our 
subjeel continued to engage in farming upon 
rented land in 1'ike township, where he sub- 
sequently purchased a trad of eight) acres. 
This he sold six years later and bought one 
hundred acres in tin township, upon 

which he also resided six years. ( In dis 
posing of that property, in 1NS7. he bought 
his present farm of two hundred acres on 
section >-. Eppards Poinl township, to which 
he has subsequently added a fort) acre tract. 
I le has made many useful and valuable im- 
provements upon the place, and now has one 
of the most desirable farms of its size in the 
township. Starting out in hie for himself 
empty-handed, his career illustrates what can 
be accomplished through industry, perse- 
verance, good management and a determina- ' 

til '11 t< I succeed. 

While with the army at Atlanta. ( ,c< irgia, 
in [864, Mr. Womeldorff cast his firsl pres- 

itial vote for Lincoln and has since been 
a stanch supporter of the Republican party. 

He has served his fellow citizens as super- 
visor and is now filling the office of town- 
ship trustee. 1 le has i di- 
rector for thirteen years and president of his 
district in both Hike and EppardsPoint town- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ships. Religiously he and all his family. 
with the exception of the youngest sen. are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church 
at Weston, McLean county, and take an ac- 
tive part in church and Sundaj school work. 
He i- a prominent member of the Grand 
Army Post at Chenoa, in which he has 
served as commander and is now vice-com- 
mander. In times of peace as well as in war 
he is recognized as a most patriotic and 
useful citizen, and is held in high regard by 
all with whom he comes in contact, either in 
business i >r s< cial life. 



LESTER EDWIN KENT. 

ter Edwin Kern, a retired grain deal 
er and a prominent early settler of Pontiac, 
was born in Suffield, Hartford county, Con- 
necticut. August 18, 1834, a son of Edwin 
and Huldah 1 Tewettl Kent, also nativi 
that state, his ancestors being among its 
pioneers. The father was of English ex- 
traction and of good Revolutionary stock. 
He was a farmer of Suffield and a man of 
lerable prominence in his community, 
servinj ectman and road commissioner. 

There both he and his wife died. She was 
a consistent member of the Baptist church. 
< lur subject was educated in the common 
schools and academy of his native town and 
remained at home until h< ed his ma- 

jority. In [855 he came west to Chit 
Illinois, but first located in I ounty, 

having -in living at Kaneville, where 

he spent 1 ne year. In the fall of [856 he 
came to Pontiac and entered the employ of 
Sidney A. Kent, a grain dealer and a very 
prominent man. who recently died in Chi- 
While with him our subject became 



thoroughly familiar with the grain busi- 
>S in all its details, and in [858 purchased 
the elevator in Pontiac and embarked in the 
business on his own account. The elevator 
was located on the Chicago & Alton Rail- 
i"' iad, which w as then run by < ri >verm >r Mat- 
te-' m. 

At that time grain was brought into ! 
tiac from distances of twenty or twenty-five 
miles, and as the wagons of the farmers 
would not hold -helled crn Mr. Kent fur- 
nished them with -ack-. The elevators were 
often more than full and sacks would be 
piled up elsewhere like cord wood. It was 
sometimes impi ssibh box cars to ship 

the grain and it had to be 1< aded on fiat 
cars. Mr. Kent soon became interested in 
the grain business in other towns, lie 1 
larged the elevator at Fairbury, when that 
place contained hut one -mall house and 
store and before the railroad was built. He 
would drive over in the morning and hack 
again at night, lie built the first elevator 
at Odell, when it had hut one store, and was 
instrumental in building up the town, as 
farmers bringing their grain to the elevator 
wished to do their trading there. At Odell 
the grain was shoveled into the cars at first. 
Mr. Kent also built the first elevafc ay- 

Uga and Blackstone, this county, where he 
also engaged in the lumber business, and 
for two years shipped grain from Nevada, 
hut did not huild there. In those days he 
was the largest shipper on the Alton road, 
ami would load full trains at both Pontiac 
and Blackstone; the road being short of ca 
they would run a train in for him to load 
immediately, lie kept one man at Ocoya 
and furnished employment to a number of 
others most of the time. Most of his grain 
was shipped to Chicago. For over twenty- 
five years he continued to he at the head of 



THE BIOGRAPHIC VL RHu )RD 



93 



the grain trade in this county and gave his 
attention entirely to that business, lie ad- 
vanced money liberally to farmers in need 
oi assistance when starting out, and was of 
great help to Pontiac in bringing trade here, 
as well as to the other towns where he had 

ele\ ali irs. 

Mr. Kent was also one of the original 
stockholders of the Pontiac National Bank 
and served as its vice-president for a number 
of years. At one time he owned and op 
erated a distillery and was engaged in cat- 
tle feeding'. lie went into the former hnsi- 
ness to assist a man in difficulty, knowing 
nothing of the business, and gut into trouble 
with the government, as the taxes were nol 
paid, hut owing to his influence and it being 
ascertained that the delinquency was prior 
to his taking possession he was sunn cleared. 
He closed the distillery, but \vt\ cattle for 
some years, doing a big husiness in that line, 
shipping in cattle from Chicago. 

.Mr. Kent married Miss Antoinette 
Graves, of Joliet, and they have 6ne daugh-' 
ter, Mary L., wife .if Victor Pearre, of Pon- 
tiac, by whom she has two children. William 
Paysoh and Kent Alden. lie attends and 
supports the Episcopal church, of which his 
family ai;e members. About 1865 he pur- 
chased a half-block at No. 206 North Court, 
opposite the park, which property he still 
<>wn> and occupies, it having been improved 
by him. In [894 he retired from active busi- 
ness and is now enjoying a well earned rest. 

Socially Mr. Kent is a member of Pon 
tiac lodge, No. 294, F. & A. M., and be- 
longs i" the chapter, council and St. Paul's 
Commandery, all of Fairbury. lie has al- 
ways affiliated with the Republican party, 
casting his first presidential vote for Fre 
mont m 1856. He served as alderman from 
the second ward for four years and was in- 



strumental in getting seventj five car-loads 
of stone put into the street from the court 
house i" the depot and also a sidewalk 
around the court house square. Having 
shipped so much over the Chicago X \.lton 
road he gol Mr. Chappel to ship the stone 
free of freight charges. This stone made an 
excellent foundation for the city streets. He 
has taken an active interest in promoting 
the welfare of tin- town and county, en- 
couraging and aiding all enterprises tending 
to benefit the public, and enjoys in a high 
degree the confidence and esteem i >f his fel- 
li iw men. 



LE< WARD WEBER. 

Leonard Weber, a representative agri- 
culturist of Pike township, residing on sec- 
tion to, has made his home in Livingston 
county since [869 and has taken an active 
part in its development. He was born in 
New York February 2, 1850, and is a son 
of I icorge Weber, who was horn in Wurtem- 
burg, Germany, about [822, and emigrated 
to the United States when a young man, 
locating near I'tica. New York, where he 
married Sophia Horner, also a native of 
Wurtemburg. Her father died in Germany 
and she came to America at the same time 
as her future husband. In this country Mr. 
Weber worked for others and also engaged 
in teaming in New York for • ears, 

three of his children having been horn in 
that stale, but in [856 he came to Illinois 

and first settled in W Iford county, where 

he engaged in farming on rented land for 
several years. At length he was able to pur- 
chase a small place in the southern part of 
the county, and on disposing of the same, 
in [869, he bought a farm of one hundred 



94 



THE WOGRAPIIICAL RECORD. 



and sixty acres in I 'ike township, Livings- 
ton county, which at that time was but slight- 
ly improved. After operating it for several 
years he sold and bought another place in 
Pike township, which he subsequently d 
posed of, and now makes his home in Pon- 
tiac township, where he owns a valuable 
farm of three hundred and twenty acres. 

The subjeel of tins sketch was a lad 
six years when he came to this state, and in 
Woodford and Livingston counties he grew 
to manhood, his education being acquired in 
the public schools near his home. He re- 
mained with his father until he attained his 
majority, and then rented a farm on section 
3, Pike township, where he engaged in farm- 
ing for about six years. Mr. Weber was 
married in this county, April 2. [878, 
Miss Barbara Fischer, a native of Woodford 
county, Illinois, and a daughter of Joseph 
Fischer, a 51 al farmer of I 'ike town- 

ship, Livingston canity, who was formerly 
a resident of \\ < » df ird o >unty and was b irn 
in Germany. Mrs. Weber was reared and 
educated in this county. Our subject and 
his wife have a family of three children: 
Barbara S.. Joseph G. and Leonard F., all 
al In .me. 

After his marriage Mr. Weber contin- 
ued t" engage in farming upon rented hand 
for about five years. I te rented his presi 
farm of one hundred and sixty acres on - 
tii in 10, Pike township, for two years and 
then purchased the place, n> the further im- 
provement and cultivation of which he has 
.since devoted his energies. In his farming 
operations he is meeting with marked suc- 
and the prosperity that has c >me to him 
is certainly justly merited, for it is due en- 
tirely n> his own unaided efforts and g 1 

management. Politically Mr. Weber is 
identified with the Democratic party on na- 



tional issues, but at local elections votes f >r 
the men whom he believes best qualified to 
fill the offices regardless of party lines. For 
three yea: chcx >1 director, but 

has never cared for political honors. Re- 
ligiously both he and his wife are members 
of the Evangelical church of Eppards P 



EDW \KD '). REED. 

Edward < >. Reed, who for several years 
has been prominently identified with the 
public affairs of Livingston county, and is 
now mi ist acceptably serving as county tre 
nrer. was born in Bloomington, Mini 'is. June 
12, [860, a son of Captain Henry B. and 
Esther 1 Beck ) Reed. The father is a native 
of Pennsylvania, born near Pottsville, 
Schuylkill county, January 29, [833, and 
there grew to manhood and married. In 
early life he learned the shoemaker's trade, 
which he followed prim- to the Civil war. 
On coming to Illinois, he settled in Naper- 
ville. later spent a short time in Juliet, and 
then moved t" Bloomington. In the fall 
of 1 Son he came !•■ Poritiac, where he was 
engaged in the shoe business until the follow- 
ing spring, when lie enlisted in Company I '. 
Twentieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with 
which he served until after tin- battle 

()n the field at Fort Donelson, he 
Minted fur gallant service n > the rank 
rod lieutenant, and our subject now 
in his p m a reward of merit is- 

1 ivernor Yates. I lis term of en- 
listment having expired. Lieutenant Reed 
returned home. While being paid •■(( at St. 
I.i mis. the paymaster told the government 
needed such men as he and suggested that 
he see Governor Yates. This he failed to 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



95 



do, bul the Governor sent for him and asked 

Iiim t'> help recruil three companies in this 
part of the State. lie helped recruit five, 
and again wenl to the front as captain of 
Company <>. One Hundred ami Twenty- 
ninth [llinois Volunteer Infantry, lie was 
with Sherman on the march t" the sea and 
remained in the service until the close of 
war. participating in the grand review at 
Washington, District of Columbia. Re- 
turning t" his home in Pontiac, he resumed 
the shoe business, which he carried on un- 
til appointed by Governor < Iglesby as custo- 
dian of memorial hall in the state house at 
Springfield, and served four years at that 
time, being the first in the new hall and at- 
tending to the arranging of all the flags, 
etc. lie proved a must capable official and 
was re-appointed bj Governor Fifer. Ik- 
is an honored member and commander of I 
1 ytle Dickey Post, ( i. A. R., also belongs to 
Fontiac Lodge, No. 294, F. & \. M.. and 
both he and his wife are members of the 
Methodist Episa ipal church. He is now liv- 
ing a retired life in Pontiac. A more ex- 
tended mention of this worth) gentleman 
may be found on another page of this vol- 
ume. 

ir subject was educated in the public 
schools "t' Pontiac, and during his youth 
served an apprenticeship t<> the cigarmaker's 
trade, at which he worked until twenty-seven 
years of age, when he funned a partnership 
with John * '. Riess, under the firm name of 
Reed & Riess, and started a manufactory of 
their own, which they still conduct. They 
have met with marked success in the under- 
taking and furnish employment t" six 
eight men. .Mr. Reed built up the trade 
a traveling man. hut the t'n 111 now sells their 

g Is mainly to home consumers, in this 

o >unty. I le < iwns a gi •< id sfo ire building and 



a Fine residence on South Mill street. 
he makes his home. He was married, De- 
cember 15. [897, to Miss Eunice Stott, a 
daughter of John Martin Stott, of Chicago, 
and they have one daughter, Esthet 

Smce attaining his majority Mr. Reed 
has been an ardent Republican in politics 
and has taken a prominent and influential 
part m public affairs, lie was serving as 
alderman from the third ward when the 
water works were put in and the sewer sys- 
tem adi >ptcd. the city being 1" mded b < put in 

the sewers. Before his term expired h. 
elected assistant supervisor and was a mem- 
ber of the finance committee that found the 
ways and means by which the county could 
build the new court house, the contract being 
let to a contractor providing he would take 

unty warrants. It was buill 
of sixty thousand dollars and is one "\ the 
finest in this section of the state. In the 
fall of [894, before his time as assi 
supervisor expired, .Mr. \<l-l-<\ wa 
county sheriff ami entered upon the > 
of the office in December, that year. That 
he tilled the position in a mosl creditabli 
satisfactory manner is shown by his being 
elected county treasurer prior to the cxpira- 

f his term as sheriff, taking the office 
of treasurer the day he left the office. 

When the auditing committee of the county 
checked up his four years as sheriff they 
found that the county was sixty dollars in 
his debt instead of their being deficiency. 
lie was a member of the Sheriff's Ass 
tion of the state, lie is now supervisi 
assessment of the county, which makes his 
position a very large and responsible one. 
and he handle- over one hundred and fifty 
thousand dollars a year. Ills official duties 
have .always been discharged with a fidelity 
and promptness worthy of the highest com- 



9 6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



mendation, and he has pn ived a itk ist popular 
and efficient officer. Mr. Reed is now, in 
1900, chairman of the Republican central 
committee of Livingston county, and the 
party organization will, under his adminis- 
»n, be Kept intact, and the full vote of 
the party be polled. Fraternally he is a 
member of Pontiac Lodge, No. 294, F. & A. 
M. ; Fairbury Chapter, R. \. M. ; the Council 
R. & S. M., of Gibson City; and St. Paul 
Commandery, No. 34. K. T., of Fairbury. 
He also belongs to a number of mutual or- 
der-, including the Modern Woodmen of 
America. 



MRS. MAR] \ OWEN. 

Mrs. Maria Owen, who now lias the dis 
tinction of having been a resident of Ponti- 
ac l< inger than any 1 ither 1 >i it- citizens, came 
lire with her husband in 1842. She has 
witnessed almost the entire development of 
the county, ha- seen it- wild land- trans- 
formed into beautiful homes and farm-, it- 
hamlets grow into villages and thriving 
town- and all of the interests and evidences 
of an advanced civilization introduced. 

Mr-. Owen was born January id, iSij. 
in New York. en miles from Lake 

l >ntario, and i- a d of Stark- and 

Esther 1 Tracy. The father was 

a native of Sharon, New York, born April 
3. 1 JjX. and an early settler of ( )-w egi 1 ci nin- 
tv. where he bought land prior to his mar- 
riage and there continued t" make hi- home 
throughout life, lie wa- a farmer by 
cupation ami one of the highly respected 
men of hi- community. Hi- estimable wife 
was a member of the < iongregational church. 
Beth died in Oswego county. New York. 
Mrs. Owen's maternal grandfather was 



Allen Gilbert, a soldier of the Revolutionary 
w..r. who was severely wounded in the head 
and left for dead on the battle field, but was 
found and cared for until he recovered. At 
an early day he removed from Schoharie 
county. New York, to < (swego county, where 
his daughter, Mrs. Tracy, was born August 
23, 1703. He, too, was a farmer and a 
prominent man in his community. 

In 1840 Mrs. Owen married Augustins 
Fellows, who, with his brother, owned a large 
farm in ' >swego county, New York, but in 
1842 he sold his interest in the same and 
purchased property in Pontiac, Illinois, 
whither the family removed in the fall of 
that year. The trip was made bv way of 
the great lake- and Welland canal in a small 
propeller to Chicago, and the) brought with 
them all their household effects, which were 
con\-eyed from thai cit) to Ottawa, Illinois, 
by teamsters who were returning to the 
latter place, where Mr. Fellows had a sister 
living. There team- were hired to convey 
the family and their effect- to their new In ime 
in Pontiac. A farm of two hundred acres 
and a number of town lot- belonged to the 
estate they had traded for before coming 
we-t. so that they practically owned all of the 
ent city at that time. There were only 
three families living there, and the build- 
ings of the I isisted of a small frame 
house and the court house. Upon the farm. 
which adioined the village on the east was 

I two room log house, with large tire 

places in both room-, making it perfectly 
ci 'in f' irtable. 

Selling his town lots, Mr. Fellows turned 
his attention to the improvement and culti- 
vation of his farm and met with success in 
it- operation. On the lot now occupied by 

iiire Woodrow's residence he built the 
first large hotel in Pontiac in [847, and also 




ELIJAH B. OWEN. 




MRS. MARIA OWEN. 






■ill! 



Till'. PIOGUAPIIICAL RECORD. 



tor 



a large barn. In [848 they rented the hotel 
and that summer returned east on a visit, 
but in 1849 took charge of the property. 
While thus employed Mr. Fellows died of 
cholera in the summer of 1849, :ul( ' ,XN " "' 
their children, aged seven and two years, 
respectively, died of the same dread disease. 
Having lust their three other children prior 
t this time, Mrs. Fellows was thus left 
alone. For over a year sin- carried on the 
hotel and ("arm. but found it a very difficult 
task. 

In the fall of 1850 she married Nelson 
Buck, a surveyor and nurseryman of Bloom- 
ington, where he was engaged in business 
for some years. For several years they 
conducted the hotel and also the farm, and 
their place became the leading hostelry in 
this section. In those early days before the 
railroad was built drovers often stopped at 
their house in large numbers. ( )ne man 
v 1 mid conn- in an hour in advance of the rest. 
saying that twelve or fourteen men would 
b< there For supper. They also had a large 
barn for the teams of the manv movers pass 
ing through this part of the state at that 
time. In the spring of [854, when the Chi- 

: ' & Alton Railroad was built, they 
boarded the construction hands and did an 
extensive business. .\h\. Owen has enl 
tained Abraham Lincoln. Judge David 
Davis and other illustrious men. Her hus- 
band received appointment to conduct the 
government survey between Kansas and Nfe 
1 raska, and while thus engaged he and his 

ty were killed by the Indians in July, 
iNi.,,. Thus she was again lefl alone with a 
targe propertv to care for, including the 
farm, hotel and city lots. Mr. Buck had 
three children by his first marriage, namely: 
Willard, a soldier of the Civil war. who is 
now living in Wisconsin: Clarissa, deceased: 



and Cordelia, widow of William Wats, ,11 
and a resident of Pontiac. 

At intervals Mrs. Owen continued to 
conduct her hotel for main years, 11 1" 
rented in the meantime. She made her 
home on Water street until (899, when her 
present elegant home on North Main sti 
was built. It is supplied with all modern 
conveniences and accessories, including elec- 
tric light, hot water, etc., and here, sur- 
rounded by every comfort, she is spending 
her declining days, loved and respected by 
all who know her. Her youngest sister, 
Mary G., w as alsi 1 < me < >f the pii ineers 1 if the 
county, locating here about the same time as 
Mrs. ( Iwen, and her home was two miles 
Up the river. Her first husband was Mr. 
Burgett, her second Mr. Fricks and her third 
Mr. Winslow. After her last marriage she 
lived on a farm two miles from Pontiac, but 
spent her last days in the city, dying at the 
home of Mrs. (iwen February [6, njoo. 

For her third husband our subject mar- 
ried Elijah ( Iwen, who came from near El- 
mlra, Chemung county, New York, and dur- 
ing his active business career engaged in 
farming but later lived retired in Pontiac. 
Mr. Buck laid off two additions from her 
1 riginal farm and Mr. < 'wen laid off the re- 
mainder, the additions being known as 
I nick's first and seci md additions and < >wen's 
addition. I ler name appears 1 m man) 
the deeds of thi She was one of 

the original stockholders of both of the na- 
tional banks of Pontiac and has displayed 
remarkable business and executive ability in 
the mana.LVeniicnt of her business affairs. 
She united with the Presbyterian church in 
Pontiac on its organization, and has since 
been one of its active and prominent mem- 
bers. When she first located here the only 

religious services were prayer meetings held 



371 



«:> / O 



102 



THE BK (GRAPHICAL RECORD. 



in the court house on Sundays, but as 
as the railroad was built churches were 
erected, and to their erection and suj>p< rt 
she lias always contributed liberally. She 
is a most estimable 1 many sterling 

qualities, and has a large circle of friends in 
iv which has so !< ng been her home. 



LOl'IS A. XAFFZIGER. 

•.is A. Naffziger, the popular cashier 
the Bank "t' Dwight, has won the enviable 
reputation as a most capable financier ami 
occupies a position of no little prominence 
in connection with the public affairs of the 
town. His life demonstrates what may lie 
accomplished through energy, careful man- 
■iient, keen foresight, ami the utilization 
of the powers with which nature has en- 
dov and the opportunities with which 

the times surround him. 

.Mr. Naffziger is proud to claim Illinois 
his native state, his birth occurring in 
McLean county, March 31, i860. His fa- 
ther. Peter Naffziger, was horn in Darm- 
dt, Germany, March 4. 1831, and there 
lie remained until reaching his majority, 
when he came to America and located first 
i.. Mel. can county on a farm, later went to 
Butler county, Ohio, where he worked on a 
farm, the next year removing to Chic. 
where he worked at his trade of baker for a 
time. When his parents came to America 
with them to Putnam county, 
later removing to McLean county. At the 
of twenty-eight he was married in Mc- 
Lean county, llinois, to Mis^ Catherine 
Stuckey, who was horn in Hamilton county, 
Ohio, August 30. 1S40. Her father. Pet 



Stuckey. was born in Switzerland in August, 
[799, and died February 23, [860. In 1 s_> ^ 
he married Elizabeth Sommers, who was 
honi ovember 24, 1801, in Alsace-Loraine, 
and in [830 the) emigrated to the United 
States and located in Butler county, Ohio, 
where they resided twenty years. In ( Ii 
her. [850, they removed to McLean county, 
Illinois, and took up their residence in Dan- 
vers township. Mrs. Stuckey died in 1885 
in Pike township, Livingston county. 

After his marriage Peter Naffziger en- 
gaged in farming in McLean county until 
1869, when he came to Waldo township. 
Livingston county, and purchased a tract 
of raw land, which he commenced imme- 
diately to improve ami cultivate, converting 
it into a tine farm, 011 which he lived for 
many years. In 1876 he moved to Wash- 
ington, [llinois, where he was engaged in 
mercantile business for a few years, and 
later followed the same pursuit in Stanford, 
Illinois, until [896, when he went to Slaugh- 
ter. East Felician Parish. Louisiana, where 
he is now engaged in planting. < >f his 

four children. Louis A., our subject, is the 

esl : Emile died at the age "i* nine ye 
the result of an accident : Bertha is the wife 
of < George L. Riggs.a farmer and stock raiser 
of Botna, Iowa, and one son died in infancy. 

Christian Naffziger, the paternal grand- 
father of our subject, was horn in Darm- 
stadt. Germany, January 17. [803, and came 
to this country, locating in Putnam county, 
later moving to McLean county. Illin 
dying there March 8, 1893. His wife, who 
bore the maiden name of Barbara Staley, 
was born January 22, 1805, and died Feb- 
ruary 19, 1898. 

Louis A. Naffziger, our subject, re- 
received his primary education in the public 
schools of McLean countv, and later at- 



THE l'.n »GR M'HU'AF. RED IRD. 



103 



tended the high school of Washington, Illi- 
nois, at the same time clerking in a cloth- 
ing store mornings and evenings, and itead- 
ily through the summer months. Leaving 
school at the age of sixteen, he continued 
to clerk in the clothing store of John Burkey 
for one year, and then entered the dry goods 
establishment of E. E. Hornish as clerk and 
bookkeeper, remaining with him in that ca- 
pacity for three years. In the spring of 
[880 A. G. Danforth, of the banking firm 
dt' A. ( 1. Danforth & Company, of Wash- 
ington, Illinois, made .Mr. Naffziger a prop- 
osition tn (.'liter the hank as bookkeeper and 
assistant cashier, which he accepted, remain- 
ing with hint three years. At the end of 
that time, March 15, [883, he accepted a po- 
sition with David McWilliams of the Hank 
of Dwight as bookkeeper and assistant cash- 
ier, and in the fall of that year, when the 
cashier, J. W. Watkins, resigned, he was 
appointed t<> that position, which he has 
since si 1 efficiently tilled. In September, 
[891, he built hi> present pleasant home mi 
the corner nf Seminole and (lint. in streets, 
and besides this property he owns a well 
improved farm of one hundred and sixty 
acres in section 2, Broughton township, Liv- 
ingsti hi O unity, and alsi > Si 'ine w estern lands. 
( >n the ist of June, [882, Mr. Naffziger 
was united in marriage with .Miss M. Car- 
rie llukill, of Washington, Tazewell county, 
Illinois, whd was born in McLean enmity, 
a daughter of Jackson and Maria (Kern) 
llukill. Her father was born in Fay 
county, Ohio, October 12, 1823, and for a. 
number of years was a traveling salesman, 
representing a school furniture company of 
Wabash, Indiana. In early days he also en- 
gaged 111 mercantile business in Lincoln, 
Illinois. He died July jj. 1893, but his 



wife, who was born in Mount Pleasant, 
Pennsylvania, December 28, [829, 1- still 
living and continues tn make her home in 
Washington, [llinois. Their children were 
lames II.. M. Carrie, Ida Belle and Grace. 
The last named is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. 
Naffziger have t\\" children: Clara, born 
June i 1. [883, and < Hiver llnkill. born ' 
tober 29, 1887. The former is attending 
the high school, the latter the grammar 
sch' 11 ils ( if I )\\ ight. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Naffziger are active 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
i>! which he has been an official member for 
ten years, serving as superintendent of the 
Sunday school two years; one of the board 
of stewards at the present time, and chair- 
man nf the finance committee of the church. 
As a Republican, he has taken an active 
and prominent part in local politics since 
attaining his maority, and was secretan 
the Republican club nf Dwight during < 
McKinlej campaign nf [896. Ills first 
lice was that <'\ village clerk, and he was 
afterward appointed village treasurer, which 
position he filled two years. During 
1h» 'in of the t"\\ u a sewerage - stem, 1 

over twenty-eight thousand dollars, ■ 
put in. and Mr. Naftziger was appointed col- 
lector of special assessment by the president 
' if the village In iard. I le \\a- 1. lect< I trtt 
ice nf the village and server! m that 1 
t\\'i years ; w as appi tinted township treasurer 
ami held that office six years. In all the 

•us t:\ life he lias been found true t" 
ever) trust reposed in him, whether publii 
private, and is numbered among the valued 
and useful citizens of Dwight, for he 
eminently public spirited and progressive, 
and takes an active interest iii the cnterpi 
tending tn public development. 



104 



Till. BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



AUGUSTUS W. ( I 'WAX. 

Augustus \Y. Cowan, who is now suc- 

- fully engaged in the abstract business 
in Pontiac, with office at No. 108 West 
Washington street, was born near Water- 
town, New York, October 14. 1837, a sun 
of William and Emeline (Coffeen) Cowan, 

1 natives of the Empire state. For some 
years the father was engaged in business 

a tinsmith and hardware merchant, in 
Watertown, but died in Naples, New York, 
in 1851, at about the age of forty-eight 
years, our subjects maternal grandparents 
were Henry Male and Delight (Whitney) 
Coffeen. Throughout life the former en- 
gaged in farming near Watertown, in 
Jefferson county, New York, and was a 
term as sheriff of thai county. The 
paternal grandparents of our subject 
were Andrew and Euphemia (Kelly) 
Cowan, natives of Scotland, who came to 
the United States in [797, and settled in 
Schenectady. New York, where they made 
their home throughout the remainder 1 if their 
lives. 1 )n leaving their native land the fol- 
lowing testimonials were given them: 

"Wegtown, 25th March. 1797. 

"That Andn in and his wife Eu- 

phemia Kelly are members of the Associate 
and now remove fr m 
this country to North America with un- 
blemished characters i- attested by 

Tin o. OdL\ ik. Minister. 

"We, tin h of 

Wegtown, North Britain, hereby certify and 
that the hearer Mr. Andrew Cowan 
has resided in this borough since his infancy 
and ha- always maintained an unexception- 
able character for honest) and sobriety, and 
being about to depart for North Amei 
with his wife and children, also of good 



character, ought t" meet with no molestation 
or hindrance, he Continuing to behave as 
beci uneth. 

"(ii\en under onr hand and the common 
seal of the borough this 25th day of March. 
[797 year. 

John Nathom, 
- Seal ) James I [em mac. 

Appended by 

Wm. W. Conni 

n < lerk. 

The subject of this sketch remained in 
Watertown until eighteen years .if age. and 
was educated at the Jefferson County Insti- 
tute. I !e came west in [854 and the follow- 
1 year took up his residence in Pontiac, 
where he clerked in a general store for some 
years, lie then firmed a partnership with 
Judge Jonathan hurt' in tin- banking and 
real-estate business, conducting it with such 
success that in .a few years the linn had 
gathered together a considerable fortune, in- 
vested mainly in lands in this section. In 
[870 the partnership was dissolved. Al- 
though the business relations were discontin- 
ued there >till remained such warm personal 
feelmg as exists between brothers and the 
closesl friends, until the Judge's death in 
[881. Bound together by ties nol onlj of 
per si .11 al friendship but that of political affin- 
ity and the brotherhood of secret sociel 
the two members of the firm were regarded 

almost members of one family, and it 
was natural that the living member of the 
firm should he deeply affected at the depart- 
ure nf 'me he loved s< . well. Mr. Cowan 

Mimed in the real estate business until 
inx_>. when he was elected county treasurer 
and for four years held that office, discharg- 
ing its dutie- in a commendable ami satis- 
factory manner. Since [889 he has been 
owner of the Livingston county title ah- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



105 



stracts and has devoted his time and atten- 
tion tn that business, meeting with good 
success. 

At Rome, New York, August 21, [867, 
was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Cowan 
and Miss Mary 11. P. Christian, a daughter 
of Luther arid Margaret (George) Christian, 
natives of that state. The mother died in 
Rome, in [868, after which the father lived 
with our subject for some time, but died at 
the hi mie of his son in Port Erie, Canada. 
in 1871. Throughout his active business 
life he engaged in blacksmithing. Mr. and 
Mrs. Cowan have one child, Emeline, who 
was 1 Kirn in Pontiac, in [872, and is at hi >me. 
The family all attend the Episcopal church, 
and Mr. Cowan is connected with Pontiac 
Li dge, No. _ , ')4. !•'. & A. M., and the higher 
orders of Masonry, belonging to the Com- 
mandery at Bloomington. Until [896 he 
always affiliated with the Democratic party. 
and besides serving as enmity treasurer he 
has been called upon to fill several minor 
offices in his township and city, lie has 
always taken a deep interest in public affairs, 
a every true American citizen should, and 
gives a hearty support to those enterprises 
which he believes will prove of public benefit. 



!< >B FARL1 

Job Farley, deceased, was for many 
years one of the leading agriculturists of 
Eppards Point township, a man honored 
and respected wherever known, lie was 
born in Wiltshire, England, September 16, 
1829, and a son of Nias and Mary (Sell 

\< i 1 Farley, both natives of the southern 

part of England. They lived as farming 



people in that country throughout their en- 
tire lives, both dying at about the age of 
sixty five years. 

Our cubject was reared and educated at 
the place of his birth, and before coming to 
America he was a member of the London 
police Force two wars, and the force at 
Shaftsbury one year. It was in 1859 that he 
crossed the board Atlantic and came at once 
in Illinois, settling first near Oneida, Knox 
county, where he commenced farming, an 
occupation he continued to follow until In 
labors were ended. After seven years spent 
in Knox a iunt) . he remi ved to I tenry coun- 
ty, where fifteen years were passed, and in 
[883 came to l.i\ ingsfc m o ninn . f ical 
section 28, Eppards Point township. In 
1875 he purchased one hundred and sixty 
acres on this section, and in [882 eighty 
acres more, to winch he added from time 
time until at his death he was the owner of 
five eighty-acre tracts, with the exception 
of one acre used for school purposes, all un- 
der a high state of cultivation and a co 
fortable house on each farm. These were 
purchased and improved with the view 
providing homes for his children. 

On the 14th of April, [863, in Knox- 
villc, Knox county, Illinois, Mr. Farley mar- 
ried Miss Elizabeth Walker, a daughter of 
James and Mary (Smith) Walker, also na- 
tives of Leeds, Yorkshire, England, where 
her father, a machinist by trade, died at 
age of thirty six years when Mrs Farley was 
only eleven years "id. Her mother had 
died eight years previous. She came in the 
United States in i S 5 5 . when nineteen years 
1 ild. and lived with her uncle and aunt. John 
and Mary Else, in Truro township, Knox 
county, Illinois, until her marriage. Mr. 

-e. w In 1 v mer by 1 iccupatii >n, died 

in Peoria in [882, after which his wife made 



io6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



her home with Mr. and Mrs. Farley, wl 
died February i i. ujoo. 

< If the seven children b i >ur sub- 

ject and his wife five are still living, namely: 
Ida. born in Knok county, March 27, 
i. is the wife of Edward Folsom, a far- 

r of Eppards J', .int. and they have 1 
chiid, Edith. (2) Onias W., born in Knox 
county, July 3, 1865, married Lizzie 

ndts, and until recently was engaged in 

ming, hnt is now living in Pontiac. 
1 3 1 Mary, horn in Knox county, Augusl ij. 
1867, is the wife of Charles Moffett, a far- 
mer of Eppards Point township, and they 
have three children, Lela Heath, Merton J. 

i Han ild. (4) Anna S., born in Henry 
c> unity. May 28, 1869, 1- the wife of Sher- 
man Myer, also a farmer of Eppards Point 
township, and to them were born five chil- 
dren, three of whom are now living, Maud 
M.. Glenn and Lee C. 1 5 ) John J., born in 

iry county, May 1 1. [872, died January 
26, 1*74. M>) Arthur J., born January 7. 
1874, married Anna Earhardt, and follows 

ming in Eppards Point. (7) The young- 
est child died in infancy unnamed. 

Mr. Farley died at his home in Eppards 
Poinl township, January 9, [895, after an 
illness of about six months, though he had 
been a sufferer from drops}- for twenty 
years and was often in great pain. The fu- 
neral was held at his home and the sen 
were conducted by Rev. Hussey, assisted 

Rev. Hobbs. The remain- were interred 
in J'a_\ 1 1 etery. In his reli lief 

Mr. Farley was an Episcopalian, and in po- 
litical sentiment was a Democrat. Though 

tiled upi H 
iwnship commissioner in Henry 

mty fi ir nine hoi >1 di- 

' ir. I le was rking and indus- 

, - 



in all In- dealing a ho made many 

friends and no enemies. He was a dfcVOted 
husband and father and took great delight 
in his home and children. He accumulated 
considerable wealth and was able to leave 
family in comfortable circumstances. 
Since her husband's death Mrs. Farley has 
moved to Pontiac and purchased a pleasant 
home at X South Vermilion street, 

where she now resides. She is a most esti- 
mable lady, highly respected by all who 
kni p\v her. 



ANDREW J. IK II IBLER. 

Andrew J. Hoobler, who 1- now living 
a retired life in Streator, Illinois, 
for many years actively identified with the 
business interests of Livingsb n county, and 
was one of its honored and representative 
citizen-, lie is a native of In , b irn 

in Vermillion county, in October, t8j7, and 

there grew to manh 1. His father, John 

Hoobler, was born in Pennsylvania, in [801, 

old Pennsylvania Dutch stock, and was 
one of the pioneer farmers of Vermillion 
county. Indiana. In [853 he came to Liv- 
ingston county. Illinois, and entered about 
fourteen hundred acres of land in Newton 
township, becoming one of the large land 
owners of the county in his day. Here he 
continued to make his home throughout the 
remainder of his life, dying in 1885. He 
was elected a representative to the legisla- 
ture on the Whig ticket and filled that posi- 
tion one term. He was one of the pioneer 
United Brethren circuit riders and rode the 
state over at one time. He established the 
church of that denomination in his township, 
and spent most of his means in founding 
churches throughout Illinois, being prac- 
Iv the father of them all. 



Till". P.IOGRA1 VHICAL RECORD. 



107 



Upon the home farm Andrew J. Hoobler 

\ to manhood, receiving the usual edu- 
cational advantages of the day. lie married 
Miss Sarah Leonard, a daughter of Dexter 
and Elizabeth Leonard, natives of Massa 
chusetts and early settlers of this county. 
Three children were born of this union, 
namely: .Mrs. Fanny Syphers of Cornell, 
Illinois; Wilder, of Manville, this county, 
and Erastus, the present popular circuit 
rk, whose sketch appears on another page 

his vi ilume. 

.Mr. Hoobler purchased a farm in New- 
town township, but after operating it fur a 
few years he turned his attention to mer- 

itile business, conducting a store in what 
is now .Manville (then the village of New 
town ) for some seventeen or eighteen years. 
I Le met with marked success in the enter- 
prise, and finally retired from business, turn- 
ing it over to his sons. Moving ti> Streator 
he has since lived retired, lie is well known 
throughout Livingston county, and has the 
confidence and respect of all with whom he 
has come in contact either in business or SO 
cial life. 



J< >!l.\ M. FINLEY. 

John M. Finley, a successful farmer 
mmI honored citizen of Pontiac township, 
owns and operates a well-improved and 
valuable farm of two hundred and forty 
acres mi sections .} and 4, three and three- 
quarters miles north of the city of Pontiac. 
He is a native oi Ohio, born in Delaware 
county, November 25, 1831, and is a - n of 
Robert Finley, who was born in Virginia in 
1 801. The family is of Irish origin ind 
was founded in the Old Dominion at an early 
day. ( hir subject's paternal grandfather was 



John Finley, a soldier of the Revolutionary 
war. who removed from Virginia to Ol 
and opened up a farm in Delaware couniy. 
There Robert Finley grew to manhood and 
married Elizabeth Riley, who was born in 
Pennsylvania of German ancestry. Her 
father. Joseph Riley, was a native of Ger- 
many, and when a child came to America. 
The vessel on whic he sailed was wrecked 
and his parents \\ ere dn >w ned. I le was then 

taken to the home of strangers and readed 
by them, at the same time adopting their 
name. For a few years after his marri 
Robert Finley engaged in farming in Ohio, 
and in 1837 came to Illinois, locating on 
the Fox river, near St. Charles. Kane conty, 
where he opened up a farm and spent his re- 
maining years, dying there in [886, at the 
ripe old age of sevent} five years. His wife 
had passed away two years previously at the 
age of sixty-nine years. 

Our subjeel was about six years of age 
when brought by his parents to this state, 
and in Kane county he grew to manhood. 
lie attended the common schools, but is 
mostly self-educated, haing always been a 
great reader, and is to-day a well-informed 
man. ( hi leaving home in [854 he came to 
Livingston county, where he and his brother 
Joseph had purchased land in 1852 and 
[853, and after locating thereon they oper- 
ated u ti igether until t86i. 

( >n the _' 1 st 1 if Ni ivember, [861, in 
county, Mr. Finley married Miss Frances 
-all. a native of New York, and 
a daughter of Robert and Christiana Mc- 
Dougall, who came from that stale to Illi- 
nois al>' mt [850 and settled in La Salle c< >un- 
ty, where her father died in I S 3 7 . Her 

other is still living in California .11 the 
of eighty-two. Mrs. Finley was priciji 
reared in that county. To our ubject and 



ioS 



THE l'.K.H.kArilk'AI. RECORD. 



his wife were born two children: Marian 
E.j who was educated at the lontiac high 
school and Dixon College, and has • 
full) engaged in teaching in this county, 
but is now at home with her parents, and 
Orilla Eloise, wife of Warren Collins, who 
ates a part of the Finley homestead. 
Mr. and .Mrs. Finley began their do- 
mestic life upon his present farm. He lias 
since erected a neat and substantial resi- 
dence, good barns and other outbuildings, 
has tilled the place and set out fruit and 
ornamental tree-, so that it is now one of 
the best improved farms in the locality, li 
nection with general farming he has en- 
cd in raising and feeding stock of a go \1 
de, and in all \u> undertakings he has 
met with excellent success, becoming quite 
well t'> do. He and hi- brother had little 
means on locating here, hut being indus- 
trious, persevering and ambitious, his lab 
were soon crowned with success. As a pub- 
lic spirited citizen he takes a deep and com- 
mendable interest in public affairs and gives 
his support to those enterprises which he be- 
lieves will advance the general welfare. 
( >riginally, he was a staunch Republican in 
politics and cast his fir t presidential vote 
for John C. Fremont in [S56, continuing 
to affiliate with that party until 1896, when 
he voted for W. J. Bryan and free silver, 
lie has been a delegal ncrous con- 

vent. .11-. and for a quarter of a century has 
been an efficient member of ■ : board, 

but care- nothing for political preferment. 



APOLLI >S C \MI\ 

Ap Camp ed, was f »r 

forty years prominently identified with the 
iltural and business interests of Liv- 



ton county, and was justly numbered 

among her honored pioneer- and leading 
citizens, having located here in the spring of 
[851. He was horn in Thomaston 1 then 
Plymouth Hollow 1, Connecticut, March 19, 
and wa- a Ephraim Camp, a 

Revolutionary hero, wl horn in 175" 

and spent his entire life in Connecticut, 
where he owned and operated a mill. < hir 
subject grew to manhood in his native place 
and there learned the -tone mason's trade in 
earl_\- life. 

There Mr. tamp married Miss Nancy 
Thomas, a niece of Seth Thomas, the noted 
clockmaker, by whom our subject was em 
ployed as superintendent of hi- outdoor 
work for some time, and lived upon Mr. 
Thomas' large farm for eighteen year-. His 
health failing, Mr. Camp purchased a farm 

rear by and for three year- devoted In- at- 
tention t ( . agricultural pursuit-. 

[n the spring of 1 S3 1 Mr. Camp came to 
Living-ton county. Illinois, and located kind 
in Sunbury town-hip, hut the family did 
not come until one year later, when the trip 
to this state was made by water. Jn the fall 
of [852 he moved to Esmen town-hip. his 
first home in Illinois, where he took up a sec- 
tion of land, though he still continued to 
own a three hundred and-twenty-acre tract 
iit Sunbury township, lie built the besl 
house in Esmen township at that time. His 
nearest neighbor was then three mile- away, 
and if he required anything such as hlack- 
smithing or a supply of groceries he had to 
go to Ottawa, fordinp all the stream- ami 
taking two day- to make the trip, SO Sparsely 
wa- the country settled at that time, so few 
improvements having been made and so few 
town- established. Mr. Camp continued to 
upon hi- farm until [876, when he 
to Pontiac, hut went day after day 




APOLLOS CAMP. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1 1 ( 



t his farm until past eighty years of age. 
lie added to his landed possessions from 
time to time until he and his son-in-law, 
Mr. Humiston, together owned two thou 
sand acre- of valuable land, most of which 
was improved and under a high state of cul- 
tivation. Of excellent business ability and 
broad resources, he attained a prominent 
place among the wealthy and substantial citi- 
zen- of the county. < >n locating here he 
had six thousand dollars in gold, and being 
a wide awake business man of keen discrim- 
ination and sound judgment his accumula- 
tions rapidly increased, lie and his son-in- 
law engaged in business together until the 
latter's death. They were among the orig- 
inal stockholders of the National Bank of 
Pontiac, of which he was one of the early 
directors. I [is career was such a- to warrant 
the trust and confidence of the business 
world, for he conducted all transactions on 
the strictest principles of honor and integ- 
rity, and he was highly respected and es- 
teemed by all who knew him. 

Mr. Cam]) died .May 2, iN')J, and his 
wife departed this life January 23, 1864. 
She was a member of the Presbyterian 
church for some years. To them were horn 
two children, hut Edward Thomas 'lied Sep 
tember t fj, 1861, before he attained his twen- 
ty-first year. The only representative of the 
family now living is 1 larriet. widow of Ben- 
net Humiston, whose sketch appears on an- 
other page of this volume. 



JOHN II. SMITH. 

This gentleman is entitled to distinction 
as one of the most progressive and enter 

prising men of Pontiac, with whose business 

7 



interests he has been prominently identified 

for many years. I "poll the commercial ac- 
tivity of a community depends it- prosperity 
and the men who are now recognized as 
leading citizens are those who are at the 
head of important business enterprises. He 
is a man of broad capabilities who curies 
forward to successful completion whatever 
he undertakes. 

Mr. Smith was horn in Half Moon Val- 
ley, Centre county, Pennsylvania, August 
1 J. 1839, a s, ,n of Jacob and J.ydia Ann 
(Henderson) Smith. The father was born 
in Union county, that state, of old Pennsyl- 
vania Dutch Stock, and being left fatherless 
at the age of nine years was bound out to 
strangers. There were only two children 
in the family and his sister was taken to 
another place. In Tent re county, he mar- 
ried Lydia Ann, daughter of David Hender- 
son, who lived near Tyrone, Centre comity. 
Later lu- located near Pine Grove, Pennsyl- 
sylvania, where he engaged in farming and 
on stormy days worked at the gunsmith's 
trade which he had learned during his youth. 
Later he lived in Huntingdon county, the 
same state, hut was with our subject in Pon- 
tiac. Illinois, a short time prior to his death. 
Both he and his wife were consistent and 
faithful members of the Methodist Episco- 
pal church. 

In the county of his nativity, John II. 
Smith was reared and obtained a good prac- 
tical education in its common schools. At 
the age of eighteen he was hound as an ap- 
prentice to a carpenter, working for his 
board and clothes and the privilege of at- 
tending school four months during the win- 
terter. For three years and four months he 
was thus employed, during which time he 
thoroughly mastered the trade, including the 
making of doors, sash, etc. 



I I 2 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



( hi the 30th of December. [863. Mr. Smith 
married Miss Mar) J. Duff, who was born 
er 8, [840. I fer paternal great-grand- 
father come to this country from Scotland. 
The grandfather. John Dufl born in 

Philadelphia, and at an early day removed 
to Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, where 
he - remaindi life as a fanner. 

married Winifred Couch, of Philadel- 
phia, a daughter of William Couch, v 
was from Great Britain. Mrs. Smith's 
father, Charles Duff, was born May 24. 
1816, in Huntingdon county. Pennsylvania, 
where he grew to manhood and engaged in 
farming for many years. 'There he . 
married, August 31, 1838, to Eliza Cun- 
ningham, who was born October j. 1819, a 
daughter of Robinson and Mary J. ( Lane) 
Cunningham, of the same county. Her fa- 
ther, a farmer of Huntingdon county, was 
born in that state, hut his father was a na- 
tive of England, (.diaries Duff continued to 
1 home farm in Pennsylvania 
until 1865, when he came to Pontiac, Illi- 
nois, and purchased one hundred and sixty 
acres of land east of the corporation, which 
lie improved and which continued to be his 
home throughout life, lie also owned two 
hundred and forty acres of land north of 

itiac, and in all hail about six hundred 
acres, lie was one <i the prominent and 

ilthy men of his community and was 

I by all win 1 knew him. I [e 

ber 9, [873, and his w ife passed 

ay July 11. [887, Both were earnest 
n embers of the Methodist Episcopal church. 

After learning his trade. Mr. Smith be- 

1 taking contracts and many build- 

Huntingdon, Centre and Clearfield 
-. I 'ennsj l\ ania. 1 le met with 1 
cellent - and although a young man 

he often emplo jht hands. While 



erecting a large church in Kerwinsville, 

trfield county, he cast his first vote for 

Abraham Lincoln, and when the war broke 

the wi >rk was dropped 1 >f his 

workmen entered the service. Returning 
t< Tyrone, he aided in the construction of 
the one-mile trestle of the Tyrone and 
Clearfield Railroad at that place, remaining 
thereuntil going to Oil City. Venango coun- 
ty, during the excitement of 1864. There 
he put thwn many wells, one of which was 

irteen hundred feet deep and the aver. 
depth of the seventeen he drilled was six 
hundred and fifty feet. For this work he 
received one dollar per foi t and an eighth 
interest in the well, which proved quite 
quite profitable, as the one dollar per I 
paid all expenses, and he sold his eighth in- 
terest from eight hundred to two thousand 

lars a well. On first going into the oil 
region he was engaged by the New York- 
Oil Company, of which .Mr. Hamilton, of 
New York, was president, in the erection of 
derricks. Mr. Hamilton noticing the rapid- 
ity with which lie worked asked him how- 
much a foot he would ask to drill the wells, 
and later asked him to name a sum per 
year as superintendent of all their wells. Not 
caring particularly I . e in that work, 

In named two thousand dollars per year, 
believing the sum greater than the com- 
pany would be willing to pay. His terms, 
hi wever, were accepted, and he remained 
with the firm one year, and then refused an 
offer of two thousand five hundred dollars 

ear to continue. Leaving the emplo] 

tiie oil company he commenced drilling wells 

himself, and his first well, which took 

him twenty-six days to drill, he sold for 

eighteen hundred dollars. During the time 

-pent there he made enough to pure! 
his father's farm of one hundred and sixty 



Till". BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



113 



acres for eight thousand dollars, and he 
operated tin- place one year. 

At the end of that time Mr. Smith sold 
cut and came to Pontiac, Illinois, and pur- 
chased a farm three quarters 1 t' a mile east 
of the city, tor which he paid fifty dollars 
per acre although it was poorly improved 
land, lie buill one of the largest and best 

barns in this section at that time, lie fenced 
and tiled the land, bringing the first carload 
of tile into the comity. This he bought in 
Joliet, paying thirty seven dollars and a half 
per thousand for three inch tile. Previous 
to this he hail pul in some clapboard tile 
inding that it benefited the land, he re- 
solved to thoroughly tile it. Some of it is 
still in working order although in use for 
over thirty years. .Mr. Smith's next pur- 
chase consisted of a quarter-section of land 
owned by .Charles Duff, which adjoins the 
city, and he also bought one hundred acres 
of Mr. Duff north of his first home, making- 
four hundred and twenty acres adjoining 
the town. All of this he has thoroughly 
tiled and improved, and being well located, 
i' is now among the best and most valuable 
land of the count}'. At present he rents 
his farm property. 

For two years Mr. Smith rented and 
Operated a tile factory near town erected 
by il. C. Bruner, and met with success in 
that enterprise. In [890 he erected a fine 
brick residence on the corner of Walnut 
and Washington streets, one of the first and 
besl brick houses in the city at that time. 
Ii is heated by steam, lighted by electricity 
and supplied with all modern convenii 
while the lawn about the house is a quarter 
of a block in extent. Mr. Smith also 
d a store building on Madison street 
opposite the court house and still owns that 
property. In iSi,^ he boughl the coal shaft 



at PontiaCj which he operated a year, and 
sank a shaft within twenty-eight feet of the 
third vein of coal, afterward selling the 
same at a profit, hen illy one to make 

any money in thai venture. For the past 
two years he has again given his attention 
n 1 the tile business and furnishes empli 1) ment 
to seventeen men in manufacturing both 

brick and tile. 

Mr. Smith began life for himself with- 
out a dollar, and in fact was sixty two dol- 
lars and fifty cents in debt. As already 
stated he was apprenticed to learn the car- 
penter's trade. For the first year he was 
to receive thirty dollars; the second year 
forty five dollars; ami the third year sixty 
dollars. Hoard was included and in ad- 
dition he was to have four months schooling 
each year. The first year he was permitted 
to go to school, according to contract, hut 
during the succeeding years on one pretext 
or another he was kept at work. On the 
advice of his mother he permitted his last 
year's wages to remain with his employer 
until the end of the year in order that he 
might have a means to purchase a set of 
carpenter's tools. His employer failed 
about the end of his third year, and he never 
received a cent. A local merchant kindly 
agreed to furnish him the set of tools needed 
and which amounted to sixty-two dollars and 
fifty cents, and wait his convenience 111 pay 
ing. Securing the outfit he went to work 
a- a journeyman carpenter, and in due time 
paid for his tools and felt like a free man. 
( m coming to Illinois, his father loaned him 
live hundred dollars, but the wealth he has 
since acquired has keen secured through 
his own enterprise, good business ability 
and sound judgment. 

Mr. and Mrs. Smith have three children, 
iiamelv : Elizabeth is the wife of t'ary VV. 



H4 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Hill, of Pdntiac, and they have one son, 
Harold Smith; Charles is engaged in busi- 
ness with his father and now manages the 
tile works; and Winifred, twin sister of 
Charles, is the wife of Franklin Laver, who 
operates the home farm and they have 
child. Alfred Veron. 

During the Civil war, Mr. Smith was a 
member of the Pennsylvania militia, which 
was not supposed to leave the state, but the) 
went t" Hagerstown, Maryland, and p 
ticipated in the battle of Antietam. At his 
home he could hear the cannonading at Get- 
tysburg and also during the Morgan raid. 
He has served as school director, hut has 
never cared for political honors, preferring 
t.i devote hi- entire time and attention to 
his business interests. Both he and his 
wife are members of the Methodist Episco- 
pal church and are highly respected and 
esteemed by all who know them. 



ERASTUS IK ►OBLER. 

Erastus Hoobler, the present well- 
known circuit clerk, is one of the most 
prominent young men of Livingston county, 
a leader in political and business circles, 
anil whether in public or private life lie 
is always a courteous genial gentleman, well 
deserving the high regardd in which he is 
held. 

A native of this county, Mr. Hoobler 
was born in New town township, December 
li, 1867, and i- a son of Andrew J. and 
Sarah (Leonard) Hoobler, a sketch of 
whom appears elsewhere in this work. He 
was educated in the public schools, which 
lie attended constantly until eighteen years 
of age. ainl then began his business career 



a merchant of Melville, he and his 
brother Wilder purchasing the store for- 

\ owned by their father and conducting 
u under the firm name of II » bier Broth 
They did a large and successful business for 
some seven or eight years, being jctic 

and progressive young men of good busi- 
ness ability and industrial habits. 

the 9th of June, 1888, .Mr. Hoobler 
was united in marriage with Miss Jodie 
Beach, a daughter of Anson and Phoebe 
Beach, formerly of La Salle county, and to 
them have been horn one child, Ernest E. 
The parents both hold membership in the 
Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Eloob- 
ler is now serving as one of the stewards 
of the church in Pontiac. Fraternally, he 
.1 member of the Modern Woodmen -1" 
America and of Beacon Lodge.No. 618, i. 
<>.<>. F., of Cornell. 

Since reaching man's estate Mi'. Hoob- 
ler has always been active in Republican 
politics, doing all within his power for the 
success of his party. In the spring of 1894 
lie sold his store, and two years later was 
nominated as circuit clerk for Livingston 
county, to which office he was elected that 
fall by a handsome majority. He has since 
efficinetly discharged the duties of that po- 

■n, and in [900 was renominated by ac- 
clamation. 



JAMES NICOL. 

James Nichol is the proprietor of an 
excellent farm of two hundred and forty 
on sections 11 and 3. Pike township, 
Livingston county. The well-tilled fields 
and neat and thrift}- appearance of the place 
testify to careful supervision of a painstak- 
ing owner — one who is a thorough farmer 



THE BIOGR AIM lie AL RECORD. 



i i 



and successful business man. He was born 
in Arbroath, Forfarshire, Scotland, June 6, 
[8 (.9, a son of William and Jane 1 Shnps m ) 
Nicol, also natives of that country, where 
the mother spent her entire life. After her 
death the father married again. He was 
born in Forfarshire in 1813, a son of James 
Nicol, and in his native land was employed 
as a pattern or model maker. In 1865 he 
emigrated to the new world and came direct 
to Livingston county. Illinois, where he had 
previously purchased eighty acres of land on 
section 3, Pike township, where onr subject 
now resides. At that time the tract was 
wild prairie land, but he at once commenced 
to fence, break and improve it. Eater lie 
built a good house and made many other 
permanent improvements. In connection 
with fanning he also worked at the car- 
penter's and joiner's trade and built many 
of the residences in his part of the county. 
As one of the prominent and honored citi- 
zens of his community, he was called upon 
b fill the offices of supervisor, justice of 
the peace, school director and clerk of the 

trict some years. He was a man of Sterl- 
ing worth and strict integrity and was pre- 
eminently public spirited and progressive. 

Reared in his native land. James Nicol 
received the advantages of a good common 

ool education, and served a live years' 
apprenticeship to the cabinetmaker's trade 
after which he worked as a journeyman for 
two years. In [868 he decided to join his 
father in America and sailed from Glasgow 
b New York, landing in the latter city in 
September of that year, lie proceeded at 
once to his father's home in this county, and 
for the first six months of his residence here 
he worked at the carpenter's trade. The fol- 
lowing two years he engaged in farming and 
then went to Chicago, where he was em- 



ployed at his trade for six months, returning 
to this county at the end of that time, lie 
has since devoted his time to agricultural 
pursuits, and now own- the old homestead, 
which he has greatly imroved, and to which 
he has added one hundred and sixty acres, 
making a hue farm of two hundred and 
fi irty acre-. 

In Livingston county. November 24, 
[8873, Mr. Nicol was united in marriage 
with Miss Elizabeth Petrie, who was born, 
reared and educated in the same town as 
her husband, and is a daughter of William 
Petrie, who is still living in Scotland at the 
advanced age of seventy-nine years, liy 
this union have been horn seven children, 
namely:' William I', ami James, both farm- 
ers m|" this county; Mabel May. Alfred, Ed- 
ward Arthur. I ). Harry and Annie Edith, 
all at home. 

In his political affiliations Mr. Nio 1 is an 
ardent Republican and cast his iirst presiden- 
tial vote for Rutherford B. Hayes. He 
has been a delegate to county conventions, 
served as township clerk ah en years 

and was a member of the school board and 
clerk of the district twelve years. Socially, 
he is a member of the Modem Woodmen 
np of Chenoa, and religiously is a member 
of the Presbyterian church, to which his 
wife also belongs. In all life's relations he 
has been true to every trust reposed in him, 
and is justly numbered among the valued 
and useful citi/ens of his community. 



JOHN GUTHRIE. 

John Guthrie, who for over a third 
of a century has been identified with the 
agricultural interests of Livingston county, 
and now makes his home on section [O, Pike 



n6 



THE BIOGR U'llk'AL RED >RD. 



township, was born in the city o gow, 

Scotland, December 26, [827, a son of 
James and Jane 1 McMurtrie) Guthrie, who 
spent their entire lives in Scotland, mostly 
in Glasgow, locating there soon after their 
marriage. There all of their children were 
born in that city and both parents dud. By 
trade the father \\ ttter. 

Our subject grew to manhood in his na- 
tive land and obtained a g 1 education in 

an Ayrshire village school, lie served a 
four years' apprenticeship to the weaver's 
trade with his uncle. 1 >avid McMurtrie. and 
then returned to Glasgow, where he worked 
in a factory, having charge of one depart- 
ment four years. Later he was employed in 
a wholesale store for three years, and then 
emigrated to America, in [850, taking pass 

e on a sailing vessel at Greenock on the 
Clyde for Montreal, and arriving in the lat- 
ter city after a stormy voyage of eight 
weeks. While in the Gulf of St. Lawrence 
the masts were broken and they were delayed 
two weeks at Sidney, Cape Breton, while 
new m;hh were -et up. Mr. Guthrie and 
two other men worked all one night at the 
pumps in order to save the vessel from de- 
struction. [1 twelve weeks from the 
time he left home until he reached his desti- 
nation in Kendall county. Illinois, in Sep 
temher. 1X50. The ad an uncle liv- 
ing, while another uncle made the voy; 
with him. The following year he com- 
menced work in Kendall county gathering 
a m for ten dollars per month, and. being 
unused 1- such work, the -kin was worn 
from his fingers in a short time. 

In 1852 Mr. Guthrie went to Madison 
county, Iowa, where he -pent one year, and 
on hi- return to Illinois settled in Wood- 
ford county, where he worked by the month 
until 1864, During that year he purchased 



tin- farm in Pike township, Livingston coun- 
ty, where he now resides, hut engaged in 
farming upon rented land in Tazewell 
comity for two year-, at the end of which 
time he located upon his own land, hav- 
ing since February, 1861, made it his home, 
lie has planted an orchard and considerable 
small fruit, has divided his land into fields 
of convenient size by good fences, has erect- 
ed a pleasant residence and substantial out- 
buildings and now has a well-improvi 
desirable farm of eighty acre-. 

In Tazewell county Mr. Guthrie was 
married, in [864, to Miss Betsy Nicol, who 
wa- horn and reared in Arbroath, Scotland, 
and came to the new world with her mother 
in 1853. She died. leaving no children, and 
for his second wife Mr. Guthrie married 
Mrs. Eliza 1 McCracken) McNeil, who was 
born and reared in Ireland. By her first 
married -he has three children: Martha, 
wife of Henry Crabb, of Livingston county; 
Lizzie, wife of I li.nle- Richardson, of I 'ike 
[< wn-hip. and James, a resident of Chicago. 
Mr. Guthrie has two children by his .second 
marriage: David M. and Maggie May, 
both at home. 

Since casting hi- first presidential ballot 
for General U. S. Grant, in 1868. Mr. ( .inli- 
ne ha- been a stanch Republican, hut has 
never cared for political honors. Both he 
and his wife are active members of the 
J 'resbyterian church oft ihenoa, and are pet 
1 sterling wi irth and stri 1 ity. 



JOHN II. CRUMBAKER. 

John II. Crumbaker, a well known and 
highly respected citizen of Avoca township, 
Livingston comity. Illinois, wa- horn in 
Muskingum county, < (hio, August 1 1. 1845, 



THE lUOGRAlTIICAL RECORD. 



i'7 



runl is a son of William A. and Margaret 
(Piper) Crumbaker, natives of Virginia 
;iii«l Pennsylvania, respectively. As chil- 
dren 'the) went to ( Ihio, and after thai con- 
tinued tn reside in that state fur many years, 
tin.' father being engaged in fanning. In 
1864 the) came tn Illinois ami settled near 
Lexington, where the) -till reside on a farm 
nf fiirt\' acre-. Both arc consistent mem- 
bers of the Methodist church, and in politics 
the father was formerly a Whig and is now 
a Republican. To them were born twelve 
children, two of whom died in infancy, while 
those who reached years nf maturity are 
John 11.. our subject; Marion Y., a Meth- 
odisl Episcopal minister of Kankakee; Sarah 
C, wife of S. S. Smith, of Nebraska; Maria 
E., wife nf William Stickler, postmaster of 
Lexington : < >li\ er M., a resident of ( n ipsey 
township, McLean county; Samuel, a resi 
dent of the state nf Washington; Joanna, 
wife 1 if J. C. Finley, <>i Nebraska; Jonas A., 
of Washington; Margaret, wife nf II. Wil- 
son, who lives near Lexington, Illinois; and 
Alice E., wife of Ralph Wilson, of Ne- 
braska. 

The in I) edui ;n ion 1 if Ji ihn H. < rnm- 
baker was obtained in the common schools 
of Ohio, and after coming t" Illinois with 
tic family, at the age nf eighteen years, he 
took an elective course at the Wesleyan Uni- 
versity in Bloomington and also attended 
school m Onarga for a short time. Sub 
enent l\ he taught school in different parts 
OJ \h I .can con nt_\' during the winter months 
lor sixteen years, while through the sum- 
mer season he engaged in farming. In [885 
he came to Livingston enmity and first rent- 
ed, a farm near Wing. Since then he has 
lived in Avoca township and has made his 
home upon the J. L. McDowell faun of 
three hundred and ten acres since [894. 



I wo hundred acre- of this tract are under 
cultivation and he devotes the same to the 
1 aising 1 if grain. 

< >n the 25th <<i March, [869, Mr. Crum- 
baker married Miss Elizabeth Jane Wilson, 
who was born near Cincinnati. Ohio, in 
1850, and they have become the parents of 
eight children, two of whom died in child- 
hood. Thi isc living arc Victor A., win 
preparing f<>r the ministry at I hi I'anw 
University >>\ Indiana; William, who I 
near Chalmers. Indiana, is married, and has 
two children, Bessie and an infant ;D. Theo- 
dore, who is engaged in farming near Fair- 
bury, and resides at homejjonas l\., 1 an rge 
R. and John P., who are all at home assist- 
ing their father on the farm. 

By his ballot Mr. Crumbaker supports 
the men and measures nf the Republican 
part), has served as collector of his town- 
ship two terms, town clerk two years and 
school director three years. Religiously, he 
1- an active member and supporter of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, and has the 
confidence ami respect of all who know him 
nit account <>i his sterling worth and strict 
integrity. 



si >L< IN C. DC.MI WW. 

Solon C. Dunham, a wellknown agricult- 
urist nf Eppards Point township, who owns 
and operates a line farm <'i one hundred 
and seventy-two acres on section ,•; 1 . is a 
native <^ Illinois, Ins birth having occurred 
in Morgan county, October (8, [848. His 
father. Ebenezer Dunham, was born in New 
Hampshire, in [810, and was a son of Will- 
iam I hinham. tive of the old I iianite 
state. About [83] Ebenezer Dunham came 
w csi and 1' icated in Mi irgan a unity, w here he 



i i s 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



married Catherine Sweet, a native of this 

te ami a daughter of Peleg Sweet, one "t 
the' earliesl settlers of that county. There 
Mr. Dunham followed farming some years, 
later spent about eighteen years in Wash- 
burn, Marshall county, and in [865 came to 
Livingston county and purchased the farm 

which our subject now resides. At that 
time it was a tract of wild prairie land, and 
t< it- improvement and cultivation he de- 
voted his energies throughout the remainder 
of his life. There he died in 1884, hon- 
ed and respected by all who knew him, 
and is still survived by his wife, who resides 
nn the 1. Id homestead with her -mil 

During his boyhood and youth Solon 
( . Dunham attended the local schools and 

isted hi- father in the labors of the farm. 
and after reaching man'- estate took charge 
<>f the farm and business, which he has since 
carried on with marked success. He has 
erected a large, neat and substantial resi- 
dence, built a commodious barn, and has 
made many other improvements, which add 
to the beauty and value of the place. 

In this county. Mr. Dunham was married, 
in 1880, to Miss Anna Stuckey, who was 
born in England, hut was reared in .McLean 
and Livingston counties, Illinois. By this 
union have been horn four children, namely: 
Ralph. Roscoe I'.., Earl and Inez, .all at 

ie. Mrs. Dunham and Mrs. Dunham's 
are members of the Baptist church 
and the family is widely and favorably 
known. In his political views Mr. Dunham 
i- a stanch Republican, and cast his first 
presidential vote for General U. S. Grant, 
in 1872, hut he ha- never cared fi r the honors 
or emoluments of public 1 iffice. 1 le is, how- 

r, a staunch friend of education, and 
been an efficient member of the school board 
for some years. 



K. W. PE \RS(>.\. 

Among the pleasantest rural home- of 
I -men township, Livingston county, is the 
one belonging to this gentleman on section 
26, and lii- farm i- one of tin- model places 
of that locality, being supplied with all 
modern conveniences and accessories needed 
by the progressive agriculturist of the pres 
ent day. 

Mr. Pearsdn was horn in Miami county. 
Ohio, August 11, [836, and belongs to a 
family which wa- founded in that -tate by 
his grandfather, Enos Pearson, a native of 
Virginia. Hi- ancestry can he traced hack 
to two peers of England, in which country 
the family was quite noted. Aaron Pear- 
son, father of our subject, grew to manhood 
in Miami county, Ohio, and there married 
Rachel Moore, who was born in tint state of 
German parentage. In early life the father 
followed farming and later engaged in the 
manufacture of [umber, lie died in Ohio 
when our subject was about ars old, 

his wife three years later. In their family 
were five children, four sons and one daugh- 
ter, hut only E. \\\. our subject, and John, a 
resident of Marion county, Ohio, are now 
living. 

( >ur subject's school privileges during his 
boyhood were limited, and he i- almost 
wholly self-educated. Being left an orphan, 
he was tliri mil upon his own resources when 
a lad of seven years. Me grew to manhood 
upon a farm and remained in his native 
county until October, 1 S 5 5 . when he came 
to Illinois, joining his guardian in Bloom- 
ington. lie came to this -tate by himself, 
driving aero-- the country with a team of 
horses. In November of the -ante year he 
located in Livingston county and bought 
eighty acre- of hmd in Odell township, to 




E. W. PEARSON. 



THE niOGRAriUCAL RECORD. 



121 



the improvement and cultivation of which 
he devoted his attention until [865, when 
he --"lil thai place ami bought one hundred 
ami sixty acres of wild prairie land in I 
men township, where lie now resides. Me 
has since added t" u an eighty-acre tract, 
making a fine farm of two hundred ami f. irty 
acres, which he has placed under a high state 
of cultivation. He has erected a modern 
and commodious residence some distance 
From the road, and leading up to it is a nice 
driveway through grounds shaded by loveh 
ergreen anil other shade trees. The land 
i- well tiled, there are two good orchards 
upon the place ami a flowing well, which. 
operated by a windpump, supplies the water 
1" 'ih for house and m, ick. I '.elides this valu 
able property Mr. Pearson owns two well 
improved farms near Hartley, O'Brien 
county, fowa, one of two hundred and fi irty, 
the other of eighty acres, and has two farms 
of "lie hundred and sixty acres each 111 Col 
-'.id. 1 and one of three hundred and twenty 
acre- 111 Kansas, u-cd as cattle ranches. In 

tii m with farming he has been en 
gaged in buying and selling real estate. He 
is an energetic and progressive business man 
whi ' carrier forward b 1 successful o impletion 
whatever he undertakes, and his prosperity 
is due entirely to his own well directed and 
forts. I le was one of the orig- 
inators ami charter members of the Pontiac 
Mutual Fire Insurance Company, organized 
in 1892, and was elected Us firsl president, 
which position he has filled must satisfai 
torily since that time. 

Returning to his old home in Miami 
county, Ohio, Mr. Pearson was married 
there. < >ctober 28, 1858, to Miss Rachel 
Sheafer, who was born in Pennsylvania, bul 
was reared in that county, and is a daughter 
"i Eckert Sheafer. By this union were born 



six children, namely: Rachel, at home; 
Abraham 1... who is married and engaged in 
mm ' ,md fruit raising in ( ialifornia ; 
Arthur, w Ik 1 is married and follows farming 
in Esmen r,i m nship, I ,i\ ingsti mo mnty, Illi- 
nois; Emma, wife of R. E. Knapp, of Ponti- 
ac; Anna, wile .u' Robert Brunskill, a farm 
er "f Esmen township; and Ida M.. who 
was graduated at the State Normal School 
ami has successfullv engaged in teaching for 
some years, beinf? firsl assistant principal 
of the Jefferson Park high school at El Paso 
at the present time. 

Politically Mr. Pearson was formerly 
identified with the Republican party and cast 
his firsl presidental \ 1 ite fi ir Ji ihn t '. Fre- 
mont in [856, hut of late years has been in- 
dependent in politics, lie is a stanch friend 
uf education, was elected a member of the 
school board of Odell when nineteen years 
I'l age and filled that position almost con- 
tinually until moving i" Esmen township. 
lie has served as township treasurer since 
[870 am' at intervals has been a member of 
the county board uf supervisors for ah 
fifteen years, during which time he was a 
member of various committees ami chairman 
of tin' building committee in charge of build- 
ing the poor house after the death of Mr. 
Morrow, lie has been a delegate to nu- 
merous county, congressional and state cou- 
ncils of his party and to two national 
ci m entii ms, helping to nominate J. B. Wi 
er at the first Populist convention, and at the 
Si. Louis convention, in [896, helping 1 1 
nominate Bryan and Watson, lie is always 
to he found mi the Populist county commit- 
tee, having served as its chairman, and is 
popularity known as the father of the party 
in this county, and he has always taken an 
ire ami commendable interest in public 
affairs, lie is preeminently public-spirited 



I 22 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



;md progressive, and as a citizen lias always 
been found true to every trust reposed in 
him. 



TH< >MAS JOHNSTON 

Thomas Johnston, the well-known super- 
intendent of the Pontiac Diamond Co-opera- 
tive Coal Company of Pontiac Illinois, is a 
native of England, born in Staffordshire, 
April 20, [884, and is a son of Thomas and 
Mary Ann ( Brown) Johnst >n. The father 
was born in Ireland, but when quite young 
went to England, where lie continued to 
make his home throughout lite, dying 
March 1 _>, [878, at the age of sixty-seven 
years. The mother died mi the _>ist of the 
same month I If was always a hard work- 
ing man and for many years was foreman of 
an iron works in Staffordshire. 

( ). ir subjeel is the sixth iii order of birth 
in a family of eleven children, nine of whom 
are still living, hut he is the only one in this 
country, lie obtained his education in the 
common schools of Staffordshire and 
learned the trade of an engineer in the em- 
ploy of the Apedale Coal & tron Company 
1 1 that place, remaining with them live years. 
In the fall of [880 he came to the United 
States, and first located in Streator, Illinois, 
v here he n Li -.'1 mining, and after- 

becami For th 

Vermilion & Wilmington Coal Company at 
that place, hut only remained with them a 
year or two. lie was next employed as en- 

teer with the Star Coal Company of 
Streator for three or four years, and 
eleven years was with the Richard Evans 
' oal Company of tin.- same place. In 
cember, 1895, he came to Pontiac to take 
charge of a shaft at this pi engineer, 



and was thus employed until [897, when the 
shaft was leased by the present cooperative 

company, of which .Mr. Johnston is manager, 
being associated with five others: Thou 
Velvin. president; Charles F. Acklin, treas- 
urer; Walter Hogan, mine manager, and 
Mathew Dickman and William Schress, di- 
rectors, all of whom reside in Pontiac. The 
shaft was leased for I of fifteen years 

from October, 1899, and the entire man- 
agement is with the six men mentioned. Ac- 
cording to the present law only six men can 
work in one shaft, hut the company has now 
sunk another escape shaft and can put more 
men to work so that the) will he able to take 
out from two hundred and fifty to three 
hundred i< ms 1 if o >al per daw 

Before leaving England Mr, Johnston 
was married. July 8, [878, to Miss Mary 
Ann Pickerill, of Staffordshire, a daughter 
of Robert and Sarah 1 Eccles) Pickerill The 
father was a shoe manufacturer and fol- 
lowed that occupation throughout his active 
business life, but is now living a retired life 
in Staffordshire, at the age of seventy seven 
years. The mother died in [893, at the 

sixty-six. < mly two of their family came 
to America: Mrs. fohnston and Anna, wife 
oil ' i! jaiiim ( • ipeland.a c< ml miner of Strea- 
1. [llin . Mr. ami Mrs. Johnston have a 
family of four children, namely: Thomas 
Bowyer, horn in Staffordshire, England, I >e- 
cember 29, [878, was educated in Streator. 
and is now living in Wenona, Illinois, where 
he is a hoisting engineer for the Wenona 
ial Company. Sarah Ann. horn in Staf- 
fordshire, June 9, [880, is at home: h'an- 

. horn in Livingston county. Illinois, 
June [9, (883, graduated from the public 
schools of Pontiac in [900, and Pearl, horn 
in Fulton county. Illinois. January 3. 1 
is attending sch< « >1. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



123 



By his ballot Mr. Johnston has always 
supported the men and measures 1 if the 1 >em- 
ocratic party, but has never sought nor de- 
sired public office, though often urged by 
his friends to become a candidate. lie is a 
prominent member and financial secretary 
of the Episcopal church of Pontiac, which his 
family also attend. I le is also a member of 
Court Pride, Foresters of America, of Pon- 
tiac, of which he has served as trustee erne 
term; is a member ''f the Court of Honor, 
X.i. [85, of Pontiac, and the National 
Brotherhood Association of Coal Hoisting 
Engineers. As a business man he is thoi 
OUghly reliable and the success that lie has 
achieved in life is justly merited, for it is 
due entirely to his own industry, enterprise 

and good management, lie has a g 1 

home, 411 East Prairie street, which he 
bought in [898. 



WILLIAM \Y< X IDING. 

William Wooding, a retired farmer 
of Pontiac, who came to this country in 
the spring of [869, is a typical self-made 
man. and in the following record of his ; 
reer there is much to amuse respeel and es- 
teem. He has placed his reliance upon in- 
dustry and perseverance, and 1 y making the 
most of circumstances, however discourag- 
ing, has made his way to substantial suc- 
cess, his fine farm in Pike township being 
tangible evidence of prosperity. 

Mr. Wooding is a native of England, 
born in Yarley Hastings, Northamptonshire, 
November 17. 1831, and is a son of Jesse 

and Ann (Rainbow) W ling, who were 

married September [3, [828. The father 
was born in the same place in [805, and 



there made his home until coming to this 
country two years after our subject 1 
the Atlantic, lint died the ninth day after 
landing at the home <>i our subject in New 
Jersey. The mother came to America with 
her husband and died here in 1S71. 

William Wooding acquired his educa- 
tion in the public schools of his native land. 
As a young man of nineteen years he emi- 
grated to the United States and located first 
in Salem County, New Jersey, where he 
worked on a farm and also in a tile factory, 
which was probably the first started in the 
United States, the proprietor having sent 
to England for the machinery. Our sub- 
ject ami his brother worked for him five 
years and then came to [llinois, 111 856, 
with the intention of starting a fact -rx 
their own. hut finding land so cheap they re- 
solved to engage in agricultural pursuits. 

After looking over the Held Mr. \\ ling 

located near Farmington, Fulton county, 
when- he engaged in farming for nine years. 

In the spring of [869 he came ti 1 I a\ ing 
Ston county and in partnership with his 
brother purchased a farm of two hundred 
and sixty acres in J 'ike township, which they 
improved and operated together for a time, 
hut finally divided the property. < lursubji 
Still owns an excellent farm of one hundred 
and eighty-one acres in that and Eppards 
Point township, which he has thoroughly 
tiled and transformed into one of the most 
highly cultivated and productive tracts in 
the locality. It is hedged and cross hedged 
and improved with good ami substantial 
buildings, w hich stand as a mi mument to his 
thrift and enterprise. In connection with 
general farming he engaged in st >ck raising 
quite extensively, and usually had a carload 
oi hogs for shipment each fall. Besides his 
farm in this count v. he owns land in Indiana. 



124 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL Rl 



which he is now improving; he built a good 
home at No. 303 West Moulton street, at 
the corner of Plum street, Pontiac, where he 
lias resided since the spring of [896, havi 
retired from active labor to enjoy a well 
earned 1 • 

Mr. Wooding has been twice married, 
his tirst wife being Amanda Humphry, a 
native of Washington county, Indiana. 1 1c 
tootook her to Kearney. Nebraska, in [885, 
with the hope of benefiting herhealth, but 

died there the same fall, leaving three 
children, namely: Mary, now the wife of 
Perry Morton, of Pontiac, by whom she has 
two children, Mabel and Leonora; Lucy. 
wife of Wesley Porter, of ( )wego township, 
by whom she has two sons, Harry and 
Charles; and William, who married Leona 
Perry, and has two children, Orville and 
Hazel Lorena. He lives on the heme farm 
in Pike township. 

Returning to England in 1887, Mr. 
Wooding there married Miss .Mary Berrill. 
1 if Yardley 1 [astings, a daughter of John and 
Elizabeth (Morris) Berrill, and by this 
union has been born a daughter. Winifred. 
For twenty-five years Mrs. Wooding's 
ter, Sarah Berrill, has held the position of 
maid with Lady Southampton, who is a lady 
in waiting on Queen Victoria, and as such 
makes all the trips with the Queen's escort. 
Her father. John Berrill, was a native of 
Northampton, where his ancestors have re- 
sided for at least three or four generations, 
and on the maternal side Mrs. Wooding 
an old and respected family that for many 

erations have been horn on the Marqnis 
of Northampton's estate. Her grandfather 
Ah a shepherd by occupation. The 

•rds of the family are to he found in the 
parish church. In tracing his ancestry back 

or sj\ generations. Mr. Wooding fil 



that he springs from the same family as his 
wife. His mother. Elizabeth Rainbow, was 
a daughter of James and Elizabeth Katley. 
and the latter was a daughter of John and 
Ann Berrill, who were the great-grandpar- 
ents of Mrs. Wooding. Her grandfather 
was Richard, who in turn was a s ,11 of John 
and Ann Berrill, previously mentioned. All 
were residents of Yardley Hastings. 

Mr. and Mrs. \\" ling have traveled 

quite extensively, and visited their native 
land again in 1890. He has ever taken an 
active interest in educational affairs and 
most efficiently served as school director of 
his township while residing in the country. 
He 1- a consistent and faithful member of 
the Baptist church, and one of the highly re- 
spected and honored citizens of the com- 
munity. 



JAMES MURPHY. 

James Murphy, the well-known engineer 
of the water works in Pontiac, Illinois, was 
born in Campbellford, Northumberland 
county. Ontario, Canada, August 7. [854, 
and is a son of Peter and Ann (Spence) 
Murphy. The father was born in New ray. 
Count) Down, Ireland, about iN_'_>. and 
there gained a thorough knowledge of the 
shoemaker's trade. When a young man 
he emigrated to Canada, where he married 
Ann Spence. a native of Nottingham, Eng- 
land, who had moved to Canada with an 
aunt after the death of her prentS. In [864 
they came to Pontiac and were among the 
early property owners of the city, building 
their own house on west Water street. 
Throughout the greater part of his life the 
father engaged in mining. lie died in 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



125 



April. 1895, the mother April 16, [899. 
Both were devout members of St. Mary's 
Catholic church, and were highly respected 
liv all \\li«' knew them. 

This worthy couple left a family of eight 
children, of vyhom our subject is the second 
in order of birth. He began his education 
in Canada and after the removal of the fam- 
ily tu Pontiac attended the public schools 
here for a time. After the completion of 
his education he was variously employed 
for a time, but for the past twenty five years 
he has been principally engaged in running 
stationary engines, operating some of the 
first ever brought to Pontiac. In [884 he 
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of 
wild land in York county, Nebraska, which 
he converted into a well improved farm, 
and there he successfully engaged in mixed 
farming for some time, during which period 
the omntry was well settled up and became 
a thriving agricultural district. 1 te w as 1 me 
of the school directors in his township for 
four years, during which time a school house 
was built in his district. Renting his farm 
he returned tu Pontiac in [896 and was 
appointed engineer of the water works, 
which position he has since tilled in a most 
efficient and satisfactory manner, having 
charge of two Gordon pumps with a capac- 
ity of one million and live hundred thousand 
gallons daily, which are fully taxed most of 
the time. These are kept running day ami 
night, his son serving as night engineer. 
Fraternally he is a member of the Modern 
Woodmen of America. 

On the 14th of September. 1881. Mr. 
Murphy was united in marriage with Miss 
Bridget Sullivan, and to them have been 
horn four children, namely: James, who 
is an engineer with his father; Katie. Joseph 
and Mary. Michael Sullivan, Mrs. Mur- 



phy's lather, was bom in Limerick, [re- 
land, and as ayoung man came to Amei 
After some time spent in Xew York state 
he came to Chicago, and entered the employ 
of the Chicago & \ltoii Railroad, aiding in 
it< construction from Dwight to Blooming- 
ton. Being pleased with this locality he 
located in Pontiac when it was a very small 
village/ being among its early residents, 
building a home on North Vermillion stn 
\t Lake Station he had previously married 
Catherine Annan, of Chicago, who vvas 
horn in Waterford, county (oik, Ireland, 
and prior to her marriage worked in New 
York and latter in Chicago. They were 
members of the Catholic church, and bei 
a church was established in Pontiac ma^s 
v as said at the homes of the different mem- 
bers. In [880 they, too, removed to York 
county. Nebraska, and purchased a tract of 
one hundred and sixty acres adjoining our 
subject's farm, and upon that place Mr. Sulli- 
van died June _•. [885, his wife. February 
ji, 1896. In their family were only two 
children. William, a resident of Nebraska; 
and Bridget, wife of our subject. 



LARS ENGELSEN. 

Lars Engelsen, a well-known agricult- 
urist residing on section 10. Esman town- 
ship, Livingston county, was born in Nor- 
way, July 1 J. [845, and is the only child of 
Engel and Ella (Mickleson) Engelsen, also 
natives of that country, where the father 
followed farming until his death in [852. 
Five years later the wife ami son came to 
America on a sailing vessel, and were about 
three weks in crossing the Atlantic from Ber 
gen to Quebec. They proceeded at once to 



126 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Morris, Grundy county, Illinois, and in the 
tall of the same year moved to La Salle 
nty, where Mrs. n was married, 

in 1859, to Torris Johnson, also a Norwe- 
gian by birth and a cooper by trade, follow- 
ing that ocupation in Dayton, Illinois, for 
many years. Later they moved to fndian 
1. reek, the same county, where Mrs. John- 
si n died. 

Lars Engelsen lived with his mother and 
step-father until grown, and received a fair 
education in the schools crfLa Salle county. 
lie began life for himself as a farm hand 
and was thus employed for several ye 
before and after his marriage. He sul 
ently rented land. In [868 he came 
ingston county and located upon his 
present farm in [880, it being a part of the 
jr trad of land owned by Apollos Camp 
Pontiac, for whom our subject worked 
1 years and who virtually gave 
him the place. Ml has erected 

thereon a large and substantial residence. 
barn and other outbuildings, and 
has made many other improvements upon 
the farm. In connection with its op, 

1- he also cultivates about one hundred 
acre-- more, and has been quite successful 
in his farm business. 

the 14th of February, [865, Mr. 
Engelsen was married in I. a Salle county. 
to Miss Anna Dora Engelsen, who was 
11 and reared in Norway, and when a 
young lady came to America, where she 
attended the English schools for a short 
time. By this union were horn six chil- 
li who are -till living, namely: Ei 
B., a r< if Iowa; Elmer T., of North 

Daki t. 1 E., who is in this county; 

Milton I... Bertha I-;, and Ellen M., all at 
home. Those deceased were James M., who 
died at the eventeen years: Lilly A.. 



who died at the age of eighteen: Bertha and 
Angeline. who died of scarlet fever at the 
of four and two years, respectively, 
and one who died in infancy. 

Mr. Englesen h a stanch Repub- 

lican since casting his first vote for General 
l\ S. Grant in 1868, hut he has never cared 
for political preferment. In the spring of, 
1900 he was elected township assessor, and 

some years was a member of the school 
hoard in Pontiac township. Religiously, he 
and his wife and daughters are members 
the Lutheran church, while some of his sons 
hold membership in the Methodist Episco- 

church. His life has been one of indus- 
try and perseverance and he is deserving 
the high regard in which he is held. 



PATRICK 11. KANE. 

Patrick II. Kane, the genial and popular 
proprietor of the Transient I louse of Pon- 
tiac, which is conveniently located near the 
Chicago & Alton Railroad depot, was horn 
in Holyoke, Massachusetts, March 14. [81 
a son of John and Mary ( Lannan 1 Kane. 
The father was a native of Ireland and as a 
young man came to America, locating first 
in Massachusetts, where he worked in the 
woolen mills for many years, being night 
foreman for some time. On leaving that 
state in 1863 he came to Illinois and 
tied five miles southwest <^' Ottawa, La 
Salle county, where he engaged in farming, 
later following the same pursuit in Allen 
township, the same county. Selling out he 
ne to Living-ton county and took up his 
residence in Nevada township, hut his 
days were spent as a farmer in Sullivan 
township, where he held different township 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



127 



offices. He was a Democrat in politics and 
one of the early members of the Cathi 
church of Dwight. He died in July. [895, 
and his wife passed away in the fall of [881. 

I furing his hi iyhi n d < mr subjecl attended 
the public schools of La Salle ami Livings 
tun counties, ami at the age of eighteen years 

in life for himself by working as a farm 
hand, having become thoroughly familiar 
with that occupation on his father's farm. 
Subsequently he went to Nebraska ami > 
tered the employ of the Union Pacific Rail- 
brakeman on the line running from 
Lincoln to Valparaiso and later to Strawns- 
blirg Mil the main line, remaining with the 
o mpany four years ami four months, after 
which he returned to Illim 

Mr. Kane was married, July _>. [881, 
the day President Garfield was -hot. to Miss 
Rosa Young, a native of Lincoln, Illinois, 
ami a daughter of Joseph N'> 'tm^. one of the 
early farmers of Saunders county, Nebraska. 
They lived in Valparaiso, Nebraska, early 
in 1883, before returning to Pontiac, where 
Mr. Kane worked for II. C. Bruner as fore 
man and burner at his tile and brick works, 
doing all the burning until he severed his 
connection with that gentleman in June. 
1896. For two years he had entire charge of 
the plant and burned eighteen or nineteen 
kilns a week. Later he was with John II. 
Smith, when he run the factory, and had the 
onfidence and respect of both gentle- 
men. Before leaving their employ he built a 
house in River View addition to Pontiac, 
which he traded in [895 for a hotel in Clay 
City. Illinois, hut after conducting the latter 
for a year he returned to Pontiac, where he 
engaged in the restaurant, bakery and con- 
ttctipnery business until May 24, t899,\vhen 
he In aight the Transient I louse and has since 

cessfully engaged in the hotel busini 



h is a nice two stor) frame building, and 
nnection with this Mr. Kane owns a 
gt lot. lie alsi 1 has a gi « id house and 
n Madison street and has successfully 
engaged in the real estate business for him- 
self, having owned a number of different 

places, 'lie is a g 1. reliable busi 

man, and the prosperity that has attended. 
fforts is certainly justly merit 
Mr. Kane's first wife died while mi a 
visit i" her old home, in [888, leaving two 
children, Elvira and Sadie, who are now 
1 en- educated in a convent. In [894 he 
married Mrs. Nancy Adams, of Pontiac, 
a daughter of Samuel Garner, who was one 
of the pioneer residents of this city and at 
one time a prominent property owner. 

\s a I (emocrat Mr. Kane has ever taken 
an active pari in local politics, hut has never 
keen an aspirant for office, though he took a 
leading part in the political affairs of the first 
ward, and is 1 me of the most promi- 

nent Democrats in the ward where he is 
now living. 



SAMUEL II. BOYER. 

Samuel II. Boyer, a well known livery- 
man ami highly respected citizen of Dwight, 
Illinois, was born in Blair county, Penn- 
sylvania, July 25, [858, a son of George 
VV. and Mary Ann (Turnbaugh) Boyer. 
'fhe Boyer family is of German origin and 
was founded in this country in early colonial 
days. I lis great-grandfather, John Lover, 
was horn in America, and throughout life 
engaged in farming in Lancaster county. 
Pennsylvania. The grandfather, George 
Boyer, was horn in that county, in t8oo, 
and married Lydia Rupp, daughter of Jacob 
Rupp, who lived near Reading, and belonged 



128 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



to a family of German origin, which was 
founded in Cumberland county, Pennsyl- 
vania, soon alter the landing of William 
l'enn. To George and Lydia (Rupp) Boyer 
were born six children : Jacob, John, < ieorge 
W-, William. Samuel and Sarah. The father 
of this family died in Pennsylvania, at the 
age of sixty-eight years. He was a Lu- 
theran in religious belief and a Republican 
in politii 

George W. Hover, father of our sub- 
ject, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsyl- 
vania, February 20, i8_>7, and accompan 
his parents on their removal to Blair county, 
that state, where £ iged in farming' sev- 

eral years. He was reared on a farm and 
received a common-school education. < >n 
the 24th of May, [849, he married Man- 
Ann, daughter of Henry and Catherine 
(Cherrj 1 Turnbaugh, who were of German 
ancestry and lived near Altoona, Blair coun- 
ty. By this union were horn seven children. 
namely: Henry, who married Nellie M 
ris; Annetta, who married James B. Austin: 
Samuel H., our subject; Sarah C. wife of 
Dwight P. Mills; Climenia E., now Mrs. 
Muro Bertholic; Alfred A., of Dwight; and 
George W.. who died at the age of twelve 
years. The father was a member of Company 
I . One Hundred and Fourth Pennsylvania 
Volunteer Infantry, during the latter part 
of the Civil war. and was honorably dis- 
charged at Philadelphia, after which he re- 
turned to his home in Blair count)'. In 1 No- 
he came to Livingston county, Illinois, and 
purchased a farm on section jo. Dwight 
township, where he resided until a few war- 
ago, when he retired to Dwight. He has 
always affiliated with the Republican party 
and has held several township offices, in- 
cluding th< ■ ho, ,1 direct ir and n 
commissioner. Both he and his wife are 



mbers of the Lutheran church and are 

highly respected and esteemed by all who 
know them. 

Samuel II. Boyer was only nine years 
of age on the removal of the family to this 
county, and in the schools of Dwight town- 
ship he acquired his education. He remained 
at home until twenty five years of age. On 
the 30th of January. [884, Mr. Boyer was 
united in marriage with Miss Jennie Lower. 
also a native of Blair county, Pennsylvania, 
and a daughter of Samuel and Mary E. 
(Downs) Lower, who were horn in the 
same state. In early life her father learned 
the blacksmith's trade, which he continued 
to follow until his retirement recently from 
active labor. He brought his family to Illi- 
nois in [86s and firsl located in Lanark, but 
a few years later came to Dwight, where 
he has since made his home, with the excep- 
tion of a short time spent in farming in 
Broughton township, this county. In 189] 
he built a hotel in Dwight. to which he gave 
the name of Pennsylvania House, and which 
he conducted for seven years, and where he 
slid resides. In his family were ten chil- 
dren, of whom seven are now living. Mrs. 
Boyer being the second in order of birth. 
1 ler mother died in February, 1898. To our 
subject and his wife have been horn five 
children, namely: Harvey, Elwood, Clar- 
ence. Ira and Ralph. • 

After his marriage Mr. I '.oyer engaged in 
farming upon rented land for a time and 
then operated Mr. Lower's farm in Brough- 
ton township for six years. In the fall of 
[891 he built a large livery stable in Dwight 
and to that place he removed in January of 
the following year, and has since devoted 
his time and attention to the livery business 

with g 1 success. 

Iii politics Mr. Hover is a Republican, but 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



129 



has never been an aspirant for office. He 
attends the Methodist Episcopal church and 
affiliates with Dwight Camp, No. 270, S. 
of V., of which he is captain ; I [ebron Lodge, 
No. 513, I. O. < '. F.. and Dwight Court of 
I torn ir, No. 508. 



TOHN CRABB. 



John Crabb, who is industriously en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits upon a good 
farm of one hundred and twenty acres on 
section >>. Pike township, Livingston coun- 
ty, Illinois, was born in Forfarshire, Scot- 
land, July 1, [839, a son of James and Ce- 
celia (Monroe) Crabb. also natives of that 
country, where the mother died. The fa- 
ther was of English descent. 

Our subject was reared and educated in 
his native land and for three years prior 
to his emigration to America he worked in 
a foundrv. At the age of eighteen he de- 
cided to try his fortune on this side of the 
Atlantic and took passage on a sailing ves- 
sel at Montrose. The voyage lasted six 
weeks, dining which time they encountered 
two severe storms, but finally landed at Que- 
bec in safety in August. 1857, and proceeded 
at once to Tazewell county, Illinois, where 
his brothers. Henry and Archie, had pre- 
VIOUSI3 located. They were joined by their 
father two or three years later and he made 
his home in this country throughout the re- 
mainder of his life, dying in 1875 at the ripe 
old age of eighty-one years. 

At first John Crabb worked on a farm by 
the month and later he and his brother. 
Archie, rented land and engaged in farm- 
ing together for seven years. At the end 
of that period the property was divided and 
our subject came to Livingston county and 



purchased a tract of raw prairie land in 
Pike township, to the improvement and 

cultivation of which he devoted his energies 
until (889, when he sold that place and 
bought his present farm of one hundred and 
twent) acres of land on section 9, the same 
township, At thai time it was only slightly 
improved, bin he has remodeled the resi- 
dence, tiled the land, erected g 1 outbuild- 
ings and made many other improvements, 
transforming it into a most desirable farm. 

On the 25th of December, 1865, in Liv- 
ingston county, Mr. Crabb was united in 
marriage with Miss Hannah E. Capes, a 
sister of David 1). Capes, whose sketch ap- 
pears on another page of this volume. She 
was born in Lincolnshire, England, but was 
only three years old when brought to this 
country by her father. Willoughby Capes, 
who first settled in Tazewell county, Illi- 
nois, but later came to Livingston county. 
Mr. and Mrs. Crabb have a family of seven 
children, namely: Charles, who is married 
and engaged in farming in this county; Wal- 
ter, at home;. Ada. wife of Henry Beeks, 
a farmer of Benton county, Indiana; Eliza- 
beth, wife of Lucius Phillips, a farmer of 
Pike township, this county; Dora, Ethel and 
Zephyr, all at home. 

Politically, Mr. Crabb was originally a 
Republican, but of late years has supported 
the Democratic party, and being a friend of 
temperance he takes an interest in the Pro- 
hibition movement. He was an efficient 
member of the school board for some years 
and gives his support to every enterprise 
which he believes calculated to advance the 
moral, educational or social welfare of the 
community in which he lives. Religiously, 
both he and his estimable wife are earnest 
and consistent members of the Bethel Meth- 
1 idi 'pal church. 



'30 



111'. BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



; \RLES A. McGREGl )R. 

Few men are more prominent or m 
\\itlel\" known in the enterprising city ol 
Pontiac than the gentleman whose name 
introduces this sketch. He was born in Wil- 
mington, Clinton county, Ohio, March 14. 
1843. ar "' ' s a s " n "'" John II. McGregor, 
who was born in Orange county, North 
Carolina. August 30, [814. The grandfa- 
ther, John McGregor, a native of the high 
lands of Scotland, settled in North Caro- 
lina on Ins emigration to this counry, and 
there lie was a professor in an educal 
institution and also a land owner. When his 
son. John II.. was three years old he re- 
moved with his family to < ireen River, Ken- 
tucky, where he purchased a large amount 
of land, but seven years later disposed of his 
property there and moved to Clinton coun 
t_\. ( 'hi", where he bought in. >re land, mak- 
ing his In une there thn »ugh ait the remainder 
1 if his life. 

John If. McGregor, father <>t our sub- 
ject, was educated in Louisville, Kentucky. 
and was admitted to the bar in Clinton coun 
tv. Ohio. In Wilmington, Ohio, he was 
married. October 3, [838, by Rev. Joseph L. 
]rvin. to Miss Mary J. Buxton, who was 
horn m Warren county, that state. March 
27, [821, a daughter of Charles and Eliza 
(Vandoren) Buxton. Her father, who was 
of English birth, died when she was only 
four years old. At an early day the father 
of our subject removed to the territorj of 
Iowa and located in Davenport, owning the 
original claim on which that city was 
founded in partnership with his brother and 
another gentleman. In 1850 he remoi 
Ottawa, Illinois, where In n the 

practice of law, having his office with Dr. 
the noted abolitionist, and in ' 



her. [8^2, before the railroad was built, 
came to Pontiac, where lie was first engaged 
in practice with Mr. DeWitt, the earliest at 
torney of the place, hut later was a member 
of the firm of McGregor & hart. Ik- 
erected one ''i the lust buildings of any 
size in the town, the lumber being hauled 
10 in 1 Htawa. a distance of forty miles, and 
was one 1 f the most prominent citizens of 
I ontiac in that day. as well as one of the 

ding lawyers of this section of the state. 
being engaged in practice with Lincoln. 
1 aton and 1 'ther illustrious men. lie died 
January 5. 1856, honored ami respected by 
all whi 1 knew him. His wife is still Living 
and is . .ne 1 if the twi 1 surviving charter mem 
bers of the Presbyterian church of Pontiac. 
lie left five children, namely: Elizabeth, 
who married A. J. Laws, hut is now de 
ceased; Emma, Charles A., Alonzo II. and 
H. Burton, all residents of Pontiac. 

The early education of ( harles A. Mc- 
Gregor, acquired in the public schools, was 
supplemented by a course at Dickinson Col- 
lege, Carlisle. Pennsylvania. He left col- 
lege to return home and enlisted in the Spring 
.•1" 1863, joining Company C. Thirty ninth 
Illinois Vulunteer Infantry, which was then 
statu .lied in front of Richmond. From that 
time mi he was in all the engagements in 
which his regiment took part, including the 
battles around Richmond and Petersburg, 
and after Lee's surrender did provost duty, 

tiaining in the si until December, 

1865, when he was honorably discharg 

Returning to Pontiac Mr. McGregor was 
interested in a grocery Store '-lie year, lie 
had been practically brought up in the drug 
business, as from tl 1 E thirteen years 

he had worked in a drug Store when not in 
school until he entered the army, and s, , 
had acquired a very good knowledge of that 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



'31 



business. As ;i clerk he had charge of the 
grocery store of Mr. Turner, but also re 
ceived a percentage of the profits, and so 

was really interested in the business. In 

1 Si .7. in partnership with I. A. Caldwell, 
under the linn name of Caldwell X- McGreg 
or. he embarked in the drug business on his 

own account on Mill street, where business 
was earned on lor a number ol years, hut 
in [872 they built a fine block on the corner 
of Mill and Madison streets, which at that 
time was the best business house in the city. 
it being _>o\iio feet in dimensions and two 
stories in height. Here Mr. McGregor is 
still engaged in business, occupying all oi 
the main floor, part of the second ami most 
of the basement. The firm built up the 
largest drug trade in this section of the state 
and alii .ut twenty years added to their stock 
a tine line of jewelry and silverware, which 
proved quite profitable. They also dealt in 
hunks, stationery, wall paper, etc. They 
i ; ected the building adjoining their store and 
also owned another where the Sterry block 
now stands. In February, (895, -Mr. Mc- 
Gregor purchased his partner's interest and 
has since been alone in business. lie has 
erected a number of business blocks, owning 
five buildings on the main business streets 
of the city besides the one he occupies, and 
also has considerable residence property and, 
with his children, owns several farms, lie 
was one of the early stockholders of the 
Livingston County National Bank and 
original stockholder of the Pontiac National 
Hank, as well as a director of both. In 
business affairs he is energetic, prompt .'"id 
notably reliable and carries forward to »U( 
cessful completion whatever he nndertai 

'Mi the 23d "f November, 1N71. Mr. 
McGregor married Miss Eunice J. Johnson, 

a nam e of Ji ihnsi m's < n iss Roads. 1 ,i . . 



brier county, Virginia, and a daughter of 
Morris Johnson, who came to Pontiac about 
[860 and was here engaged in general mer- 
chandising and the stock business for many 
years'. By this union were born five chil- 
dren, of whom three still live I I'.ernice E. : 
Ellis J., now a student in the law depart- 
ment of the Cniversit) of Michigan; and 
Lewis C, at home. The wife and mother. 
who was a consistent member oi the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church and a most estimable 
woman, died in January, [888. Mr. Mc- 
Gregor holds membership in the Presby- 
terian church and for many years has been 1 
trustee of the same, lie also took an active 
part in Sunday school work for some years. 
IP has never had time nor inclination for 
political affairs, though he has served as 
alderman from his ward and ever stands 
ready to discharge any duty devolving upon 
him. 



IK IN. LABAN M. STROUD. 

lion. Laban M. Stroud, who is now 
living a retired life on his farm near Pon- 
tiac. has been a resident of the state since 
[830. He is a native of Tennessee, bom 
near the city of Nashville, Dixon county, 
September 27, [822, and is the son of 
Thomas and Sally (Thompson) Stroud, the 
former a native of North Carolina, horn in 
17.11. and the latter a native .if Virginia 
and daughter of Xeal Thompson, who lo- 
cated in Tennessee in 1 7N0. and there be 
came a large and wealthy planter and where 
the remainder of his life was passed. Thomas 
Mi 1 nd was a s, ,n 1 .i Jess_e and gi andsi in 1 if 

Stri iud, 1" itll 1 »f w hi 'in were 11 
of North < an ilina, but of I' nglish and Irish 
ancestry. Jesse Stroud moved from North 



i^- 



TH F. BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Carolina to Tennessee and located in ' ibion 
county, where he owned a large plantation 
and a number of slaves. 

Thomas Stroud grew to manhood in 
Tennessee and in iSu married Sally 
Thompson, by whom he had a family of 
two sons and seven daughters, two only of 
the number now living, <>uv subject and his 
sister. Mrs. Artimissa Higgs, now living 
with our subject. The other members of 
the family were Cassa R., Fanetta, Sinia 
Sabury, Ellen. Obedience Lee. Mourning 
Tilford, Julian and Milton P. 

Thomas Stroud was a soldier in the 
war of iKu and served under General Jack- 
son. He was a planter in Tennessee for 
some years after his marriage, hut. with the 
desire to better provide for his family, he 
came to Illinois in 1830, first stopping in 
Sangamon county, where he spent one sea- 
son, and then moved to that portion of Taze- 
well county which was later detached and 
now forms the county of Logan. ( )n settling 
in the latter county he took up a claim of one 
hundred and sixty acres, a part of which was 
government land, which he improved and on 
which he continued to live until his death, 
March 7, 1858. Mis wife passed away in 

1*57- 

The subject of this sketch was eight 
years of age when he came with his parents 
to Illinois. His educational advantages 
were limited, hut his advantages for work 
were not. The farm was to be improved, 
crops were to Ik- planted and harvested, and 
he musl do his share of the work. In his . 
youth, however, lu- learned the carpenter's 
trade with his uncle, Colonel S. M. Thomp- 
son, but he continued to make his home with 
his parents until some years after attain' 
his majority. 

On the 7th of April, 1847, Mr. Stroud 



was united in marriage with Miss Elvy 
Adams, who was horn in Bedford county, 
Tennessee, January i). [826, and daughter 
of Captain John G. Adams, a name of one 
of the Carolinas, hut who came to Illinois 
and located in Tazewell county in [828, 
when his daughter was but two year-- old. 
He was in command of a cavalry company 
in the Black Hawk war and was killed by 
the Indians. His wife was so shocked by the 
death of her husband that she lost her m 
and never recovered, though she lived many 
yeard afterward., dying when seventy-five 
years old. The family were of Scotch an- 
cestry and were early settlers of North Caro- 
lina, from which state they moved to Ten- 
nessee and later to Illinois. 

After his marriage Mr. Stroud boughl 
one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved 
land, which he improved and on which he 
continued to live until 1870,. in the mean- 
time adding to its area until 11 comprised a 
well improved farm of four hundred and 
twenty-five acres. Renting his place he 
moved to Minier, where he bought residence 
property and where he made his home for 
ten years. He then came to Livingston 
county and took up his residence on his 
farm adjoining the city of Pontiac, which he 
purchased at that time, comprising one hun- 
dred and sixty-three acres, all of which is 
under improvement. He had previously, in 
1885, purchased a farm of four hundred 
acres lying northeast of the city of Pontiac. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Stroud seven children 
were horn. Louisa is the wife of II. II. 
Darnell, of Tazewell county, Illinois. Mar- 
tha is the wife of William Xcal Mountjoy, 
of Logan county. Illinois. 'Thomas Frank 
resides in < >maha, Nebraska. Mrs. Sarah 
Jane Livesay is a resident of Livingston 
count v. Parmelia Ann" :s at home. 



THE i:i< x;k aphtcal record. 



'33 



r ohn < i. is married and is engaged in farm- 
ing in Livingston county. Warren M. is 
carrying on the home farm. Vfter fifty two 
years of a happy wedded life Mrs. Stroud 
passed to her reward December 5. [899, 
while on a visit to the "Id neighborhood in 
Logan county, where so many years of her 
life were spent. Her remains were laid to 
rest in the Xihlack cemetery, there to wait 
the resurrection day. She was a faithful 
helpmeet to her husband, to whom she was 
greatly attached, and was a most loving 
mother. The family and all who knew her 
in this life will always hold her in grateful 
remembrance. 

Politically Mr. Stroud is a Jackson Dem- 
ocrat and he has been an earnest advocate 
of the principles of his party throughout 
life. His first presidential vote was cast for 
James K. I 'oik in 1X44. and from that time 
to the present the nominee of his party has 
always received his ballot. By his fellow 
citizens he has been honored with various 
local offices, serving for many years as a 
member of the county hoard of supervisors. 
In i8~j he was elected by his party a mem- 
ber of the < leueral Assembly, the district ci >m- 
prising the counties of Tazewell and Logan, 
and served two years, during which time he 
served on several improtant committees and 
was known as a working member. Believ- 
ing that others should serve, he declined 
further political honors. Since he was eigh 
teen of age Mi'. Stroud has been a member 
of the Christian church and has ever taken 
an interest in the work of the church and in 
the evangelization of the world. His good 
wife was also a member of the same church. 
At the present time his membership is with 
the church in l'ontiac. 

Like thousands ,.f the well-to do men .if 
this country. Mr. Stroud began life with hut 



little means, hut he had health, a good con- 
stitution, a stout heart and willing hands. 
He was not afraid of work, and with tem- 
perate habits and an earnest desire to do 
right with his fellow men, he has labored on 
until tO-day he is the owner of six well im- 
proved farms, comprising about two thou- 
sand acres, and is well content to live a quiet 
life, enjoying the fruits of his labor in the 
past, while others shall take up the more 
active duties. Well known and universally 
respected, he can quietl 3 review the past with 
the satisfaction of qjie w In 1 has not lived in 
vain, while those that know him can feel 
that the world is better for the life that he 
has lived. 



WILLIAM T. CRAWFORD. 

William T. (raw ford, a prominent horse 
dealer, who has since 1875 been an active 
factor in the business life of Prntiac, Illi- 
nois, was horn in New York City October 
[3, [832, and is a son of Andrew and Eliz- 
abeth (Turner) Crawford, the former a 
native of Ireland, the latter of New York, 
where their marriage was celebrated, the 
lather having come to this country when a 
young man. Meeting with business reverses 
in the metroplis. he removed to Harrison 
county, Ohio, where he took up land and 
commenced life anew in very limited cir- 
cumstances. Though the country where lie 
settled was hilly ami stony and covered with 
a heavy growth of timber, he steadily pr< s- 
pered, and by hard work, good management 
and close economy he became possessed of 
considerable land, being quite well off at 
the tune -I' his death, which occurred in 
November, [889. The mother died on the 
old home farm in [897. Both were faithful 



134 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



members of the Methodist Episcopal church 
and were highly esteemed in the community 
where they made their home. 

'The subject of this sketch began his edu- 
cation in the schools of New York City, 
but was only eight years old when the family 
removed to Ohio. The school house nearesl 
his father's home was two miles distance 
and the path lay through the woods. His 
mother went with him the first day. carry- 
ing a hatchet, with which she marked the 
trees that he might find his way home again 
at night. The school proved quite different 
from the one he had attended in the city, 
but lie managed to acquire a good practical 
education. On leaving home, in [854.att.he 
age of twenty-line years, lie went to Scott 
county, [owa, and spent one year on a farm 
some twenty miles west of Davenport. 

Mr. Crawford then returned home and 
was married. February 14. [856. to Miss 
Sarah Johnston, daughter of Andrew John- 
ston, who was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and 
to them have been born six children, namely: 
Elizabeth, now the wife of Charles Strevelle, 
of Sail Lake City, Utah; George A., who is 
in business with his father and has served 
as alderman in Pontiac; Ada. wife of Albert 
Dolde; Elmer, a resident of Montana: Will- 
iam, who has been connected with the Na- 
tional [tank ii Pontiac for some years; and 
Maude, at home. 

In the spring of 1856, a short time after 
his marriage, Mr. Crawford moved to 
Bloomington, Illinois, where he followed 
farming for three years, and then Ixnight a 
farm in Tazewell county, which he operated 
six years. I lis next home was a farm north- 
west of Bloomington, on which was laid out 
the town of Yuton, and on selling thai pi 
he moved to Bloomington, when en- 

gaged in the horse and cattle business for a 



number of years, becoming a very extensive 
shipper of cattle and hogs, lie was among 

the first from that city to send cattle to the 
Union stockyards, Chicago, to he sold on 
commissi, hi, mill was the firs! to ship horses 
there for thai purpose. Me owned the first 
car-load of horses ever put in the old brick 
barn known as the Cooper barn, and has 
handled those animals on quite an extensive 
scale ever since, lie buys mainly in Iowa 
and Molilalia, and sells from three to five 
hundred western horses every year, dealing 
in draft horses and fine drivers. Xo one in 
this section handles as many as tin- (raw- 
fords — father and son — and they have met 
with most excellent success. Although he 
has traveled so extensively in the interests 
of his business and been brought in contact 
with all classes of people, Mr. Crawford has 
never tasted intoxicating drinks, and has 
led a most exemplary life, commanding the 
respect and confidence of all who know him. 
lie has never taken an active part in poli- 
tics, preferring to give his undivided atten 
ti' 'ii to his business interests. 



J( MIX DENEHE. 

It is said that biography yields to no 
Other subject in point of interest and profit 
and is is especially interesting to note the 
progress that has ln-eii made along various 
lines of business by those of foreign birth, 
who have sought homes in America — the 
readiness with which they adapt themselves 
to the different methods and customs of 
America, recognize the advantages offered 
and utilize the opportunities which the new 
world affords. \\ e find a worthy repre- 
sentative of tin- class m |ohn Denehe, the 



I'lll- BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



'35 



present foreman of the locomotive and car 
department ai the round house in Dwight, 
which is the end of the I 'curia division of 
the Chicago iV' Alton Railroad. 

Mr. Denehe was born in county Water- 
ford, Ireland, December 23, 1846, a son of 
Edward and Margaret Denehe, farming peo- 
ple, who -pent their entire lives in that coun- 
try. Our subect grew t<> manhood on the 
home farm with very limited educational ad- 
vantages. At the age of twenty years he 
en >ssed the ocean alone and landed on Amer- 
ican soil, a stranger in a strange land, He 
Stopped lirst in New York, and remained 
about three years in that city and vicinity, 
where he was employed as a gardener and 
farm laborer. 

At Flatbush, N T ew York, Mr. Denehe was 
married, August -'. (868, to Miss Bridgel 
Taylor, a native of county West Meath. Ire- 
land, who came to this country about the 
same time as her husband. They have three 
sons: Thomas E., inspector and repairer oi 
cars at Dwight; William, who married 
Emma Smith, of Dwight. and is now a fire- 
man on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, and 
John I\. at home. 

\t'ter his marriage Mr. Denehe moved 
to Valparaiso, Indiana, where he worked in 
a saw-mill one season, and then went to Le- 
mont, Illinois, where he was employed on 
the construction of the canal two years. In 
[871 he took up his residence in Blooming- 
ton and entered the shops of the Chicago >K 
Alton Railroad, where he worked as car 
truck builder until the fall of 1N7J. Need- 
ing a reliable man at Dwight. the companj 
sent Mr. Denehe there in September of that 
year to take charge of the car department. 
lie held that position until 1885, when he- 
was promoted to foreman, in which capacity 
he has since served the road to their entire 



satisfaction. He lias under him four men 
in the car department and seven in the lo- 
comotive department, besides seven regular 
tram crew-. lie also ha- charge of their 
shop at Washington, Illinois, and for some 
time had charge of those at Lacon and 
Streator. lie came to the new world with 
the hope of making his fortune and his 
dreams have been more than realized, and 
he is to-day a well-tod,, man. Besides his 
pleasant residence in Dwight, erected by 
linn in [874, he has a tine farm of -in hun- 
dred and twenty acre- 111 [Yego county, Kan- 
sas, lie is intelligent and well informed 
and that he has proved an efficient and valued 
employee is proved hv his long retention 
with one company, for he has now been with 
the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company for 
twenty-eight years. His success in life is 
due entirely to his own well-directed and 
energetic efforts, for he came to this coun- 
try empty-handed and has had to make his 
own way in the world unaided. I te and his 
family are communicant- of the Catholic 
church, and he is identified with the Republi- 
can party. He takes an active interest in 
public affairs and has efficientl) served as 
school trustee. Fraternally, he i- a mem 
her of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, 
and was one of the charter members oi the 
lodge in Dwight. I le has held all the offices 
in the lodge, being active in the order as 
well as in public affairs. 



HERMAN l.( (MMATSCH. 

Many of the most enterprising and pro- 
gressive farmer- of Livingston county have 
come from the land beyond tin nd al- 

though they had no capital when thev lo 



'36 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



cateil here they arc now prosperous arid stre- 
ssful. Among the most prominent of these 
is Herman Lommatsch, who owns and oc- 
cupies on excellent farm of three hundred 
and twenty acres on sections 23 and -'4. Pike 
township, and also has property elsewhere 
in the county. 

lie was born in Saxony, Germany, Oc- 
tober, 27, [835, and was reared on a farm 
in his native land, at the same time attend- 
ing school for eight years. In [854, al the 
of nineteen, he came t'> America with 
his father. William Lommatsch, taking pas- 
_.>• "ii a sailing vessel at Bremen and ar- 
riving in Xew York after a voyage of six 
weeks. They proceeded at once to Cincin- 
nati, and frmn there went t" Ripley county, 
Indiana, where for five years our subject as- 
sisted his father in opening up a farm. 

There Mr. Lommatsch was married, in 
June. 18^9, to Augusta Fellwock, also a 
native of Saxony, who came to the new 
rid when a girl of twelve years and grew 
to womanhood in Indiana. By this union 
have been horn nine children, namely :Emma, 
wife of Jonathan Chicodanse, a farmer of 
Pike township, Livingston county; Laura. 
wife of Fred Altman, of the same county; 
Theodore, who is married and lives on the 
farm in Pike township, where Mr. Lom- 
matsch tir-' Louis, who is married 
and follows farming in the same township; 
Charles, who is married and engaged in 
business in Chenoa; Herman L., a farmer 
of Eppards Point township; Melan, a 
farmer, at home: Lena and Nettie, both at 
home. 

After hi- marriage Mr. Lommatsch con- 
tinued t" engage in farming upon his fa- 
ther's place in Ripley county. Indiana, for 
two year-. In [861 he came to Livingston 
county. Illinois, and purchased eighty acres 



of land in Pike township, hut for two years 
he operated a rented farm in Eppards Point 
township, and then located upon hi- own 
place, which he improved by the erection 
of a comfortable residence. I hat farm was 
his home for several years, during which 
time lie added to it a li me hundred 

and forty acres adjoining, so that he had 
two hundred and twenty acre- in all. Sub- 
sequently he purchased eighty acres where 
lie now resides, and located thereon in [878. 
I le ha- extended the boundaries of his place 
until they now jnclude three hundred and 
twenty acre-, and to its improvement and 
cultivation he ha- devoted hi- energies with 
excellent results. He has erected a large, 
neat residence, a o >mmi idii >us barn, cribs and 
sheds, has tiled the land, set out shade and 
fruit tree-, and has converted it into one 
of the most desirable farms in the township. 
Besides his valuable property he has an- 
other farm of one hundred and sixty-seven 
acres in Eppards Point town-hip. ||>- suc- 
cess is due to his industry, energy and per- 
severance, and comes as a fitting reward for 
honest toil. Politically, Mr. Lommatsch is 
a stanch Republican, and religiously he anil 
his family are members of the Evangelical 
church. 



J< >S1 \H X. PARR. 

For forty-five years this gentleman has 
been identified with the agricultural interests 

of Livingston county, and now own- and 
operates a well-improved farm of one hun- 
dred and eighty acre- on section 17. Esmen 
township. Hew a- horn in Lancaster coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, July <>. [833, .and i- a -on 
of Jacob and Susan 1 Parr 1 I'.arr. also na- 
tives of Pennsylvania and of German de- 




J. N. BARR. 



^s 






THE BIOGF \IMIIf \L RECORD. 



'39 



scent. Our subject's paternal grandfather, 
Jacob Barr, Sr., was one of the pioneers of 
Lancaster county, where the family con- 
tinued to make their home until 1836, when 
the parents of our subject moved to Clark 
county, Ohio, and there the father cleared 
and improved a farm. In that county they 
spent the remainder of their lives, the mother 
dying January, [846, and the father in 1N4N. 
At the deatli of the mother there were seven 
children living, of whom five yet survive: 
Jacob, of Lawrence county, Illinois; Josiah 
X., our subject; Cyrus, of Dwight, Illinois; 
Susan, now .Mrs. Kemp, id' Iowa, and Laura 
J'.., now Mrs. Foy, a widow living- in Wash- 
ington county, Nebraska. The oldest daugh 
ter, Elizabeth, died in November, 1X4(1. 

Josiah X. Barr was fifteen years old 
at the time of his father's death. He then 
went to work for various farmers, and con- 
tinued to be thus employed in that vicinity 
until he was twenty-one years old, in the 
meantime securing a fair common school ed- 
ucation, and then came to Illinois, in 1S54, 
locating first in Kane county, where he 
■worked by the month as a farm hand for one 
year. At the end of that time he purchased 
one hundred and sixty acres of land 011 sec- 
tion 17. Esmen township. Livingston county, 
where he now resides, to its improvement 
and cultivation he has since devoted his en- 
ergies with the exception of the time spent 
in his country's service during the Civil war. 
Mi- broke aboul half of this tract before en 
tering the army. It is now a well improved 
place, being tiled, fenced and under a high 
state - ■ t" cultivation. The buildings are neat 
and substantial, and the whole farm indicates 
the thrift and enterprise of the owner. 

On the 30th of August. [862, Mr. Barr 
enlisted in Company M, First Illinois Ar- 
tillery, which was organized at Camp Doug- 



las and sent from there to Louisville, spend- 
ing the tune from < Ictober until the follow- 
ing February in Kentucky in pursuit of 
Morgan. They next went down the Ohio 
and up the < Cumberland rivers, joining Ri >se - 
crans at fort Donelson, where they were 
held in reserve lor a lime, afterward going 
to Nashville and Franklin. As a reserve 
corps they proceeded to Chickamauga, in 
which engagement they took part, it being 
their first important battle. Later they 
were in the battle of Missionary Ridge, and 
were sent with Sherman to relieve the forces 
a: Knoxville. On the 2d day of May, [864, 
they started on the Atlanta campaign, and for 
ninety days were under tire almost constant- 
ly. They participated in the battle of Kene- 
saw Mountain and assisted in the capture 
of Atlanta, after which the artillery was sent 
hack to Chattanooga, where they were on 
duty until the following spring, and then 
proceeded to Cleveland, Tennessee, remain- 
ing; there until the close of the war. Mr. 
Barr was honorably discharged at Camp 
Douglas July 25, [865. lie had lost hut 
little time on account of sickness, and, al- 
tln 'Ugh disabled fi >r duty a sin >rt time, he v 
ia-\ er in the hospital. 

Mr. Barr was married, in Livingston 
conntw December -'4. [872, to Miss Tinnie 
\nnis. a native of London, England, and a 
daughter of Mr. Chalmers. As her father 
died when she was quite small, she was 
adopted by a Mrs. Annis, with whom she 
came to \nienca during childhood. They 
located firsl in Vermont, hut when she was 
about nine years of age moved to Nebraska, 
where she grew to womanhood. She died 
September _'_'. 1895, and was laid to rest 
in the Esmen cemetery. By this union were 
horn four children, namely: Lutie. who is 
now keeping house for her father: Lorenzo 



I 4>' 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



X.. a pharmacist, who is now engaged in the 
drug business in Idaho, and Theda M. and 
l.i >ren C, both at home. 

Mr. Barr cast his first presidential vote 
for John C. Fremont, in 1856, and as a Re- 
publican he has since taken an active and 
prominent part in local politics. He helped 
organize his township and was elected first 
collector, in which capacity he served for 
two years. Me was township trustee six 
years, and at intervals has filled the office of 
supervisor for twelve years, during which 
time he served on various important commit- 
tees, lie has also been a delegate to nu- 
merous county conventions of his part v. and 
whatever position he has been called upon 
v< till, it duties he has always faithfully. and 
satisfactorily performed. 1 te was a member 
<>t the VVesleyan Methodist church until it 
was disbanded, and now attends the Method- 
ist Episcopal church, to which he contributes 
liberally, lie takes quite an active and 
prominent part in church and Sabbath school 
work, and is now serving as superintendent 
oT the Sabbath school. He ha- witnessed 
the wonderful development and progress 
made in this region in the last half-century. 
has seen Pontiac grow from a cross roads 
town of two stores to be one of the impi irtant 
cities in this section of the state, and in the 
work oi advancement he has ever borne an 
active part and is numbered among the most 
useful and valued citizens of his community. 



NELSON COUNTRYMAN. 

Nelson Countryman, deceased, was for 
several years prominently identified with the 
business interests of Pontiac, where he lo- 
cated in 1859, and bore an active part in the 



early development ol the city. 1 le was horn 
in St. Johnsville, New York. July 1 1. [832, 
a son of Jacob Countryman. The father. 
who belonged to an old New York family, 
was a shipbuilder by trade, and also engaged 
in the practice of law in that state. For a 
time he made his home in Syracuse and 
later in Buffalo, anil built many of the early 
lake boats. < >n coming west he soon located 
in Ottawa, Illinois, where he purchased land 
and engaged in farming until 1859, which 
year witnessed his arrival in Pontiac, where, 
as a well-to-do man he lived retired until his 
death, which occurred ten or fifteen years 
later. He erected one of the first brick 
-tores on the square. Religiously, he was a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 

Nelson Countryman was educated in the 
schools of Syracuse and Buffalo, New York, 
and later accompanied his parents 011 their 
removal to Ottawa, Illinois. \- previously 
stated the family came to this county iu 
1859, and our subject bought and opened up 
the first -tone quarry near Pontiac, it being 
three-quarters of a mile northeasl of the 
court house, and for this land he gave two 
hundred dollars per acre. From his quarry 
nearly the stone for the foundations of 
buildings in the city were obtained, lie did 
a large and prosperous business, furnishing 
employment to many men. and had the name 
of being one of the best workmen in his line 
in this seceion of the state. He contracted 
to put in foundations and also shipped rock 
and sand. 

( >n the 3d of ( )ctober, 1854, M 1 l 
tryman married Miss Paskalenia Reynol 
and to them were horn two children, namely: 
Mary I'... wife of I). II. Shiland. of P 
and Minnie, wife of Frank Sinclair, also of 
Pontiac. Benjamin B. Reynolds. Mrs. 
Countryman's father, was born in Lewiston, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



141 



Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, June 10, [810, 
and there married Eleanor Scofield, who was 
born in Clearfield^ Clearfield county, Penn- 
sylvania, August 14. [812. He was en- 
gaged in the hardware business in Lewiston 
until 1833, when, with his w it'e ami two chil- 
dren, he removed t<> Ottawa, Illinois, being 
one ni' its first settlers. lie had lust a fort- 
une ul' nearly fifty thousand dollars by the 
failure of the state to pay fur an acqueduct. 
In I. a Salle county, he purchased six hun- 
dred and forty acres of land six miles from 
( )ttawa, where he made his home until [877, 
and then went t« 1 Indiana, hut his last days 
were passed in Texas. 1 Ii- brother, Dr. 
John 1'. Reynolds, was killed at the Alamo, 
and his property, consisting of four thou 
sand and forty-seven acres of land and two 
thousand dollars fell to Mrs. Countryman's 
father and his sister in Indiana. The fa- 
ther went south to take possession of the land 
and located every acre. The property also 
included thirteen houses and lots in Wells 
Point, Texas, lie died in that state Febru- 
ary _•. 1882, leaving eight children, his wife 
passed away February [6, [874. Both were 
active members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, and were people of prominence in 
the community where the) resided. 

.Mrs. Countryman was reared on a farm 
near < Ittawa and was mostly educated by her 
father, who had been a professor of schools 
for thirty years, lie also served as super 
visor of his township for over forty - 
and was considered the leading man of the 
community, his fellow citizens always giv- 
ing him their political support regardli 
party lines. He also took an active interest 
pi state affairs, and was well acquainted with 
Lincoln and other prominent politicians of 
his day. 

Mr. and Mrs. Countrvman resided for 



a short time in Wisconsin, and then returned 
to Pontiac, where she has since made her 
home at No. 3 13 East Livingston street 
Here, he died February 23, 1886. Through 

his own well-directed efforts he acquired a 
comfortable competence, and also won by an 
honorable, upright life, an untarnished name, 
and the record which he left behind is one 
well worthy of emulation. Since her bus 
hand's death Mrs. Countryman has carried 
on the business and quarry interests ami has 
met with marked success, having more or 
ders than she can till, although she knew 
nothing of the business when it came undei 
her management. She gives employment 
to ten men. and ships stone quite extensively, 
having the only quarry in this neighborhood. 
I) is a very valuable piece of property, cov- 
ering two acres of the eighteen and a half 
tract which she owns. She is a member of 
the Baptist church, and is honored, not alone 
for her business ability, hut for her straight- 
forward, womanly course and true nobility 
of character. Her circle of friends and ac 
quaintances is extensive. 



\\ \i. I ER 



AR 



Walter Hart, a successful florist now 
gaged in business at \ T i . ^>j North Ladd 
street, Pontiac, Illinois, was born near \ T or- 
age, England, February i~, 1833, ;m '' when 
eighteen years of age emigrated to Amer- 
ica with his parents, George and Mary Ann 
(Locke) Man. also natives of England, 
where the father earned a livelihood as 

a fisherman. The familj settled near 
Aurora, in Kane county. Illinois, where 
the father engaged in farming until a 
few years before his death, when he came 



142 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL REO (RD. 



to Pohtiac, where he passed away September 
15, 1884, at the agi enty-three years. 

After his death the mother lived with our 
subject and at his home she died December 
9, [884, at the age of nearly eighty-four. 
They had a family of nine children, all born 
in England, hut only three are now living, 
namely: Dennis, a fanner of Sac county, 
Iowa; ' a machinist of J >es Moin 

Iowa, and Walter, cur subject. The others 
all died in England, with the exception of 
Mrs. Mehalah Hugging who died in Dwight, 
Illinois. 

Walter Hart never left the home of his 
parents until his father's death. He ob- 
tained the greater part of his literary educa- 
tion in the evening schools of Norage, Eng- 
land, and for a brief time after coming to 
this country attended school in 1 * list >1. Ken- 
dall count}-. Illinois, where his father was 
engaged in fanning. In November, 1875, 
he came to Pontiac with his parents and 
entered the employ of the Illinois State Re 
formatory as gardener, remaining in their 
employ for two years, after which he leased 
a greenhouse on Maplewood avenue, and en- 
gaged in business there as a florist for five 
years. The following eight years he carried 
in the northern part of the city, 
and then purchased his present place at No. 
507 North Ladd street. Here he constructed 
a greenhouse, hut his business has increased 
so rapidly that it is fast outgrowing his pi 
ent quarters. A man of artistic tasn-s and 
ess ability, he has met with suc- 
- in his chosen calling. He has been a 
life-long member of the Methodist church, 
and his career has ever been such as to com- 
mend him to the confidence and high regard 
of all with whom he has come in contact, 
either in bu ial life. In his pi 1- 

litical views he is a Republican. 



In 1 Si io, in Kendall county. Illinois, was 
celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hart and 
Miss Sarah Springer, of that county, the 
sixth chiM of James and Katherine Springer. 
She was horn in Indiana and came to this 
state with her parents when quite young. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Hart were horn seven chil- 
dren, namely: Anna ('.. who died at the age 
of .me year and eleven months; Sebina, who 
died in Pontiac at the age of five months; 
one who died in infancy unnamed: James 
\\\. who married Laura McKinsey, of Mc- 
Dowell. Illinois, aiid is an electrician in the 
employ of the Electric Light Company of 
Pontiac; Marv Ann. wife of Pearl Carrier, 
a fanner of ( henoa; Illinois; Adeline, wife 
of c'hark-s Page, a painter and paper hanger 
of Pontiac, and George R., who is employed 
m a shoe factory in Pontiac. 



JOHN HAND ICK. 

John Hancock, whose home is mi section 
25, Pike t- .unship. Livingsti >n >untj . is one 

the most prominent and influential citi- 
zens of his community. He takes an active 
and commendable interest in public affairs, 
and gives his support to all enterprises which 
he believes will prove of public benefit 'i" 
will in any way advance the interests of his 
adopted county. 

Mr. Hancock was born in Franklin coun- 
ty. Pennsylvania, lanuary [3, [839, a son of 
John and Catherine 1 Mooney I Hancock, na- 
tives of Maryland ami Pennsylvania, re- 
spectively. Throughout the greater por- 
tion of his life the father made his 1k .me in 
Franklin county, Pennsylvania, his time and 

ntion being devoted to agricultural pur- 
suit-, and he died there in 1875. "'" wife, 



Till". I'.K HiRAPIIICAL RF.O >K1>. 



'43 



who still survives him. a hale and hearty old 
lady of seventy-five years, continues to re- 
side on the old homestead with her young 

est si '", S^ '1- rnion 1 lancock. 

During his boyhood our subject attended 
the common schools and remained in his na- 
tive county until eighteen years of age, when 
he came to Illinois, locating in .McLean 
county, March r, 1857. There he worked 
by the month for two years, and then came 
to Livingston count}-, operating rented land 
in Pike township until the outbreak of the 
Civil war. On the 14th of June. 1861, he 
enlisted for three years, in Company A, 
First Illinois Cavalry, which was assigned 
to the western army, and his first engagement 
was at Lexington, Missouri, lie partici- 
pated in numerous skirmishes in that state 
and Arkansas, and was in active service two 
years, being mustered out and honorably 
discharged at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, 
in iS<>3. After his return from the war Mr. 
Hancock continued to engage in farming 
upon rented for several years, after which 
he speculated in farm property quite exten- 
sively, buying and selling several places. In 
1878 he purchased his present farm of one 
hundred and sixty acres, on section 25, Pike 
township, and has since successfully engaged 
in its operation. He has erected thereon 
good and substantial buildings, and has made 
many other improvements, which add greatly 
to the value and attractive appearance of the 
place, making it one of the best farms of its 
size in the township. By untiring industry 
and sound judgment he has won a merited 
success in his undertakings, and is in all re- 
spects worthy the high regard in which lie 
is held by his fellow citizens. 

On the 2d of June, 1863, in Livingston 
county, while home on a furlough, Mr. I lan- 
COck was united in marriage with Miss 



Rachel Campbell, who was horn and reared 
in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and 

is a daughter of Archibald Campbell, a 
teacher 1>\ p n. and a life |i >ng n 

dent of the Keystone state. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Hancock were born five children, 
namely: [da, wife of Harry Reed, of Pon- 
tiac; Lettie, Charles. Josephine and Bessie, 
all at home. Josephine was educated at the 
Pontiac high school and is now one of the 
successful teachers of the county, and Bessie 
is now a student at the Chenoa high school. 
Formerly Mr. Hancock was identified 
with the Republican party and cast his first 
presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln, in 
i860, but is now a stanch Democrat, and 
takes quite an active and prominent part in 
local politics and public affairs, having served 
his fellow citizens as \< iw nship collector, com- 
missioner of highways and a member of the 
school hoard. He has filled the last position 
for some years and is now president of the 
board. As a citizen he ever stands ready 
to discharge any duty devolving upon him, 
and has taken an active interest in promot- 
ing the welfare of his township and county, 
his patriotism being manifest in days of peace 
as well as when he followed the old flag 
to victory on southern battle fields. He is 
an honored member of the Grand Army Post 
of Chenoa, and both he and his wife hold 
membership in the Presbyterian church of 
that place, with which lie has been connected 
since 1858. 



JOHN STEWART. 

John Stewart is a well known repre- 
sentative of the business interests of Dwight, 
Illinois, where he is extensively engaged in 
contracting and building, and also deals in 



U4 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



lumber and coal. ( >f excellent business abil- 
ity aiHl broad resources, lie has become one 
of the well-to do citizens of the place. He 
has won success by his well directed, ener- 
getic efforts, and the prosperity that lias 
c< me to him is certainly well deserved. 

Mr. Stewart was born in the north of 
Ireland June i t. [846. and is a son of John 
and Mary A. (McKelvey) Stewart, also 
natives of Ireland, but of Scotch parentage. 
There the father learned the weaver's trade, 
which he followed until his emigration to 
America in 1850, bringing with him Ins 
family, consisting of wife and eight children. 
lie located in Warrensburg, Warren coun- 
ty, New York, and accepted a position as 
finisher in a tannery, but he was not long 
permitted to enjoy his new home, for he 
died live years after his arrival, at the 
of sixty-three, lie had ten children: Jane. 
William. Mary A., Robert, Thomas, Eliza 
beth, Ellen, Margaret, John and Rosa, all 
>tdl living, hut iK me residing in this county 
with the exception of our subject, lie has 
<me brother and three sisters in Aurora, 
Kane county; one sister in Kendall county, 
Illinois; a brother in Missouri, and the 
others are in Xew York state. 

( )ur subject was only four years old when 
brought by his parents to this country, and 
he received his education in the common 

iooIs and seminary of Warrensburg, Xew 
York. After leaving school he worked in 
lumber mills for four years, and "ii the 15th 

March. (865, came to Aurora, Illinois, 
working one year on a farm in Sugar < irove 
township, Kane unity. I [e then enl :i ed 
the car shops of the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy Railroad, where he followed I 
trad arbuilder four years, hut <<n the 

advice <<( his physician he again turned his 
attention to agricultural pursuit! G 



Grundy county, Illinois, he rented a farm for 
a year and a half, and then came to Livinj 
ti in c< 'iinty. purchasing a farm 1 if eighty acres 
oi improved land in Nevada township, to 
the cultivation of which he at once turned 
his attention. About six years later he 
boughl another eighty-acre tract, making in 
all a line farm of one hundred and sixty 
acres on section u. Nevada township, which 
he thoroughly tiled and placed under a high 
state of cultivation, lie gave the greater 
part of his time and attention to the raising 
of stuck, feeding from two to three car- 
' cattle per year and one of hogs. In 
this way he more than used all of the grain 
raised upon his own land. After fourtei 
years devoted to agricultural pursuits, Mr. 
Stewart moved to Dwight in the spring of 
[890 and commenced working at the carpen- 
ter's trade. Since the fall of [891 he has en- 
gaged in contracting and building on his 
own account and has erected many of the 
line residences in the place. In i<»oo he 
purchased the coal Ihmiuss ,.f F. p>. Chester, 
known as tin- Dwight Coal Company, and 
now carries it on in connection with his 
t 'ther business. 

()n the 14th of September. 1N70. Mr. 
Stewart was united in marriage with Miss 
Mary E. Vcale. a native of Grundy county. 
Illinois, and a daughter of Charles and Mary 
\ eale, who were horn in England and came 
to this country in early life, settling in Grun- 
dy county, where both died when Mrs. Stew- 
art was a child of four years. She then 
made her home with her uncle. John Yiek- 
They were among the first settlers 
of Grundy county and while improving his 
land Mr. Ycalc lived in a wagon. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Stewart v hildren, 

namely: Ernest I'.. who died on his thir- 

ih birthday and the anniversary of his 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



'45 



parents' marriage; Nellie I > . who was grad 
uatecl from the Dwight Ivgh school in the 
spring of [899 and is at home; and Robert 
Earl, aged ten years, is still in school. 

Mr. Stewart is an earnest member of 
the Methodist Episcopal church, has always 
lived up tn his professions and taken an ac 
tive part in church work, lie has been an 
official member for the past sixteen years 
and i^ now trustee of the church and super- 
intendent of the Sunday school. Fraternally 
he is a member of Dwight Lodge, No. 513, 
[. ( ). ( ). I-'., of which he is deputy, and po 
litically is a Prohibitionist and served as 
a delegate to the county conventii ns oi his 
part) and as chairman of the township Pro 
liibition committee. When there is no Pro 
hibition ticket in the field he supports the 
Republican party. For the last four years 
he has been an active and efficient mem 
her of the village board of trustees and has 
been chairman of the water winks committee 
fqr the past three years, during which time 
the system has been improved and a stand- 
pipe placed. lie has the entire confidence 
and respect of his fellow citizens and is held 
ii high regard by all with whom he comes in 
ci intact, either in business or social lite. 



SAMUEL GOODWILL MORRISON. 

Samuel Goodwill Morrison, a promi- 
nent farmer of Avoca township and a worthy 
representative of one of its old and In inured 
families, was born in the house he now oc 
cupies October jo. 1857, a son of Samuel 
ami Mary A. (Rockwood) Morrison, both 
of whom were born near Buffalo, New 
Vork, and with their respective parents 
to Illinois when children, being married in 
this >tate. Our subject's paternal g 



father only lived a few years after settling 
m Livingsti n county, ami his wife did nut 
long survive him. They were pioneers oi 
the county and made their hi ime near wh< 
our subject now resides The Rockwood 
family were also among the early settlers, 
win 1. by persistent labors, subdued the wild 

pi. line lauds anil made homes for their de 
scendants. The grandparents both died in 
Livingston county. The father was one of 
the ni' tst successful fanners of Avoca town- 
ship, where at one time he owned five hun- 
dred acres of land, hut later sold all hut two 
hundred and forty four acres, which he re 
tained as a home place. This was school 
land when he purchased it and abounded 
with prairie grass and rattle snakes, but he 
improved and converted the same into one 
of the most fruitful and valuable farms of 
his locality. In polit'cs he was a Republican 
and held mini ir 1 iffices in the ti iwnship, which 
were thrust upon him. as he never sought 
political honors. Ilis first wife died in 1866. 
Six children were horn to them, four son-. 
and two daughters, namely: Betsy, who 
died in infancy; Susan A., wife of C. D. 
tiering, of Indiana; John ( >., an employee 
i'i II. ( ). Babcock, of Pontiac; George I)., 
a successful farmer of Avoca township; 
James J., a resident of Spear. Nebraska; 
and Samuel (I., our subject. For his second 

wife the father marned Maria Phillips, of 

Livingston county, by whom he had seven 
children: Nellie, wife of [oel \V. Hanker. 
of Pontiac ; Joseph C, oi unity, h wa ; 

Lenora, wife of Charles Friant, of Avoca 
township; William R., of Owego township; 
Harry I... of Lodemia; Mary, who lives 
with our subject; and Charles, a farmer of 
Avoca township. After a successful and 
honorable career the father died at home 
Ma_\ 1. [884, at tin sixty five years. 



'4' ' 



II1K BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



During his boyhood Samuel G. Morri- 
son pursued his studies in the districl school 
near his home and when his education was 
completed he worked with his father on the 
farm until the latter's death, when he was 
appointed administrator of the estate. He 
purchased the interests of the other heirs 
in the home farm and now has one hundred 
and eighty acres, on which he is successfully 
engaged in general fanning and raising sti ck 
for market. 

On the 1 8th of February, 1892, Air. 
Morrison was united in marriage with Miss 
Knse < >regg. who was born in Osceola coun- 
ty. Iowa, in [868, and he brought his bride 
to the farm which has since been their home. 
Two children bless their union: Ivan G. 
and Samuel \V.. both bright boys. Mrs. 
Morrison is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church and her husband is a supporter 
of the same, lie holds membership in the 
Modern Woodmen Camp. No. 6, of Fair- 
bury, ami n politics always affiliates with 
the Republican party, though he would never 
accept public office other than school di- 
restor, a position he acceptably filled for 
twelve years. 1 \c has led a quiet, uneventful 
life in the same neighborhood where there 
are many who were his boyhood friends, and 
those who know him best hold him in the 
highest regard. His genial, pleasant man- 
ner makes him quite popular, and he is rec- 
ognized as a valued citizen of the com- 
munity. 



DAVID E. CAPES. 

David E. (ape-, a successful ice dealer 
of Pontiac, is a native of Illinois, his birth 
occurring June l6, [862, six miles south 
of Washington, in Tazewell county. I lis 



parents, Willoughby and Elizabeth ( Miln< 
(apes, were born, reared and married in 
Lincolnshire, England, where they continued 
to make their home until after the birth of 
three of their children. Then the family, in 
[852, came to the new world and settled in 
Washington, Illinois, where for two years the 
father supported his wife and children by 
workingas a day laborer at fifty cents per day. 
The second year he was able to purchase a 
horse. and the following year bought another, 
after which be engaged in farming on bis 
own account, operating rented land for 
eleven wars. At the end of that period he 
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of 
raw prairie land on section <j. Pike township. 
Livingston county, for which he paid seven 
dollars and a quarter per acre. He located 
thereon in the spring of 1864, and at once 
turned his attention to the improvement and 
cultivation of bis place, soon converting it 
into a most desirable farm. In connection 
with general farming he was also engaged 
in stoek raising, and each fall shipped a car- 
lod of hogs to market. He built a tine house 
upon his place and made many other im- 
provements, costing as much as two sections 
of land would have cost when he purchased 
his property. As an agriculturist he met 
with marked success and was able to assist 
his sons in getting a start in life. He was 
one of the early members of the Bethel 
Methodist Episcopal church at Greymont, 
which he helped to establish, and was one 
of the main standbys in the erection of the 
house of worship. From the first he served 
as steward of the church, and was recognized 
"lie of the most honest, honored and 
highly respected men of his community, 
lie was never an aspirant for office, but was 
always a consistent and earnest Republican, 
and never failed in his duties of citizenship. 




WILLOUGHBY CAPES. 




D. E. CAPES. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



'5' 



He was born at Mar's Chapel; near Grirasey, 
Lincolnshire, England, October iS. 1819, 
and died October 4. [899. He was united 
in marriage with Elizabeth Milner, in [844, 
and they became the parents of thirteen chil- 
dren. She was horn in Yorkshire, England; 
March 13, 1827. In her seventeenth year 
she was converted and joined the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and her life was freely 
given to the labors of the church, and her in- 
fluence upon Bethel community will he felt 
in the years to come. After a long illness 
she fell asleep September 4. 1898. 

Our subject was the eighth in order of 
birth 111 the family horn to this worthy 
couple. 1 >uring In- boyhood he attended the 
public schools of Pike township, and aided 
his father in the work of the home farm until 
he attained his majority. On the 28th of 
December, 1882, he was united in marriage 
with .Miss Alice A. Piper, of Rock Creek, 
Illinois, and they now have two children: 
Dfilbert R., horn January S, 1884, and Cora 
Belle, horn February 1, 1886. Both are now 
attending the high school of l'ontiac. 

After his marriage .Mr. Capes remained 
at home until the fall of 1883, when he pur- 
chased eighty acres of raw prairie land only 
three miles from l'ontiac — a rare thing for 
that late date. 1 le had no money and it was 
only with the help of his father as security 
for the first payment that he was able to pur- 
chase it. That fall he built a house and com- 
menced breaking the land, lie tiled it the 
next spring and continued the work of im- 
provement and cultivation until he had one 
of the best farms of its size in the locality, 
raising as much on it. by working it thor- 
oughly, as many did who owned twice the 
number of acres. At the age of sixteen he 
commenced running a threshing machine. 

which he operated thirteen years, and this 
9 



helped him out considerably in paving for 
his land, which was soon free from debt. 
I le was one of the youngest threshers in the 
county and made a success of the business. 
He continued to carry on his farm until 
1893, when he sold it for ninety five dollars 
per acre, having paid forty dollars for it. 
Mr. Capes then moved to Pontiac, where 
he was engaged in different lines of trade 
tor a time, including the implement and milk 
business. In July, 1895, he turned his 
attention to the ice business. At that 
time there were two firms of the kind 
in the city; one of these he got his 
brother to buy, while he purchased the 
other and then, buying his brother's business, 
he had entire control of the ice trade. His 
ice houses were located on the Vermilion 
river near the Wabash Railroad, where he 
owns two acres of land, on which are six 
houses, with a storage capacity of eight 
thousand tons. He puts up a full supply 
and gives employment to many men in cut- 
ting the ice. During the summer he runs 
four teams and employs nine men in its dis- 
tribution to bis customers, and for the past 
three years has controlled the ice trade of 
the city and done a good business. He has 
a line property on the south side of the river, 
opposite the Chautauqua grounds and ex- 
tending- to the river. Here be has a nice 
home where he can enjoy the results of his 
labor. lie belongs to that class of men 
whom the world terms self made, for, com- 
mencing life empty handed, be has con- 
quered the obstacles in the path to success, 
and has nol only secured a comfortable com- 
petence, but by bis efforts has materially 
advanced the interests of the community 
with which he is associated. Politically, he 
dentified with the Republican party and 
fraternally affiliated with the Knights of 



«5: 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America, 
Royal Neighbors and Toilers Fraternity. He 

attends and aids in the support of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, of which his 
wife is a member. 



SAMUEL J. PRISK. 

Samuel J. Frisk, a well-known nursery 
man and highly respected citizen of Pontiac, 
who has made his home in this county for 
the past eighteen years, was horn in Corn- 
wall, England. December _>o. 1836. a son of 
Samuel and Grace (Williams) Prisk, na- 
tives of the same place, where the father 
engaged in mining until his emigration to 
America in 1S40. The grandfather. Joseph 
Prisk, had previously crossed the Atlantic 
and located on a branch of the East Fork 
river, four miles southeast of Galena, erect- 
ing one of the pioneer homes of that lo- 
cality. With his two sons. William and 
Paul, he built the first Methodist Episcopal 
church east of Galena, a log structure, also 
laid out a cemetery and a mound there, which 
is still known as Joseph Prisk mound. He 
owned and operated a farm of forty acres 
and also engaged in mining. He was a 
very active member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church and bis borne became the stop- 
ping place for all the ministers. The fa- 
ther of our subject bought a farm of eighty 
acres between Scales Mound and Council 
Hill. Jo Daviess county, and built the first 
stone house in that part of the country, it 
being also the first good house. During the 
construction of the Illinois Central Rail- 
road through that locality he boarded the 
bands, and throughout his active business 
life engaged in farming and mining. He 



finally sold bis farm and bought a two-bun- 
dred-and-twenty-acre farm on Rush creek in 
Woodbine township, living on it tint 1 bis 
death, which occurred in July. [86l. His 
wife died June 14. [892, at the ripe old age 
of seventy-seven years. Both were earnest 
and consistent members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. 

At a very early age our subject began 
work, and all the education he acquired was 
obtained at Sunday school, which be at- 
tended about three hours every Sunday, but 
by reading and observation in later years 
he has become a man of broad practical 
knowledge. He worked with his father in 
the lead mines from the age of eight years 
until he attained his majority, when he 
started out in life for himself. Going to 1 .a 
Salle, he found employment in the coal 
mines, where he worked fifteen years. 

There Mr. Prisk was married. December 
31. [859, to Miss Mary Ann Case, who was 
born in Preble county. Ohio, in [843. Her 
father. Conrad Case, was a native of Penn- 
sylvania and went to Preble county. Ohio, 
when a young man. locating eighteen miles 
from Dayton, where he married Sarah Ann 
Combs. He engaged in farming there until 
1854. when he came to Illinois and settled at 
Jericho, near Aurora, where he followed 
the same occupation two or three years. 1 lis 
next home was four miles from De Witt. 
Iowa, where he located when the country 
was all wild and unimproved, but he bought 
land, built a house and engaged in the cul- 
tivation of his farm for three years, at the 
end of which time he sold out and returned 
to Illinois, this time locating in I. a Salle, 
but his last days were spent in Ohio, where 
he died in 1863. His wife bail died in Jeri- 
cho, Illinois. Both were members of the 
Lutheran church I le was a cooper by trade. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



'53 



.Mr. and Mrs. 1 'risk have eight children 
living, while Mary Jane, wife of Albert Ber- 
nell, of Streator, died at the age of twenty- 
four years. Allen, a resident of Pontiac, 
married Maggie Lampkin and has four chil- 
dren. Robert, Marguerite, Allen and Levi. 
William J. is now living in Springfield. 
Samuel, a resident of Pontiac, married Ida 
Block, and has four children. May. Lloyd 
Lincoln. Lillian and Dewey. Lillie is at 
home. Mrs. Estella McGill has one child. 
Pearl, and lives with her parents. Wesley 
married Emma Laycock, now deceased, and 
is serving as corporal of Company H, Thir- 
ty-ninth United States Volunteer Infantry. 
in the Philippines. Clara and May are both 
at home. 

After President Lincoln's first call for 
seventy-five thousand men at the opening 
of the Civil war. Mr. Prisk was the eight- 
eenth to enrol! his name among the volu 
teers at La Salle, and was a member of the 
first company to leave that place, it being 
Company K, Eleventh Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry. They went to Springfield. Illinois. 
April jo. [86l, and from there proceeded 
to Villa Ridge, near Cairo, where they were 
detailed to guard a bridge. They were next 
ordered to Bridge Point, Missouri, and when 
their term of enlistment expired were honor- 
ably discharged. 

Returning to La Salle. Mr. Prisk en- 
gaged in mining and farming there for some 
time and then devoted four years to the latter 
pursuit at Rush creek. Jo Daviess county. 
after which he returned to La Salle, where 
he again followed farming. Subsequently 
he engaged in mining at Streator until com- 
ing to Livingston county in [882, when he 
located northwest of Pontiac and engaged 
in agricultural pursuits until 1889, in the 
meantime serving as roadmaster two years. 



lie then came to Pontiac and has since de- 
voted his attention to the nursery business, 
becoming one of the best known and most 
successful nursery men of this section. In 
1895 ' le built a fine home at No. 117 Park 
street, facing River View Park. He was 
the first to build on that Street and the peo- 
ple laughed at him for going so far out. but 
it is now well built up and is one of the most 
pleasant parts of the city, being advan- 
tageously located near the park and river. 
Mr. Prisk has charge of the park, in which 
the Chautauqua Association is held. Ib- 
is a member of T. Lyle Dickey Post. No. 
105, G. A. R., of which he is now officer 
of the guard, and both he and his wife are 
active and faithful members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, in which he has served as 
steward, class leader and superintendent of 
the Sunday school. 



JOHN C. TAYLOR. 

John C. Taylor, who resides on section 
36, Pontiac township, Livingston county, is 
the owner of a fine farm of two bundled 
and thirty-six acres, within three and a half 
miles of the city of Pontiac. He is a na- 
tive of Saratoga county. New York, born 
near the great Saratoga springs October 5, 
[843, and is a sou of George C. Taylor, a 
native of the West Indies, born on the island 
of St. Bartholomew January 30, 1817. The 
grandfather. George W. Taylor, was a pro- 
fessional sailor and followed the sea for 
many years, but later settled in Saratoga 
countw New York, where his last days were 
spent. George I'. Taylor was reared in Sar- 
atoga county and there married Miss I'retta 
Bentley, a native of Saratoga county and 



'54 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



a daughter of Otis Befitley, one of the pio- 
neers of Saratoga county, \\h" lived to the 
remarkable <>M age of ninety-nine years and 

six months, arid whose faculties were pre- 
served to the last, lie continued to vote 
at every election until within one month of 
his death, voting at an election in March and 
dying the next April. 1 le never wore glasses 
and could see to read until near the last. 

Jn Saratoga county George C. Taylor 
engaged in agricultural pursuits until his 
removal to Livingston county in 1858. Here 
he purchased an undivided half of a half- 
section of land which had been entered by his 
brother, John J. Taylor, and which had been 
partially improved. In partnership with his 
brother he commenced the further improve- 
ment of the place and in due time had one of 
the best farms in the township. He later 
purchased the interest of his brother in the 
half-section and continued to live on that 
homestead until his death, December 9, 1893, 
at the age of seventy-six years. He was 
twice married, his first wife dying March 
8, 1877. The second wife is yet living. By 
the first wife three sons were born. Otis B. 
was a soldier in the Civil war and died in 
1862, at Buck's Lodge. Tennessee, while in 
the service. John C, of this review, was the 
second in order of birth. George W. died 
ai tin- age ' if twenty 1 me 3 ears. I le died 
in Saratoga county and at his death was 
jus) the same age as his brother when he 
• lied. 

J( >hn ( '. Taylor came to Livingsti >n a >un- 
ty in his fifteenth year. Mi- education, 
which was begun in the common 5Cl 1- of 

bis native state, was completed in the com- 
mon schools of Livingston comity. While 
he gave the greater portion of his time in 

assisting his father with the farm work, 
he S] hori time in teaching in the d 



trict schools, in which line he met with a 
reasonable degree of success. He was first 
married, April 22, [866, to Miss Cecelia 
Zeph, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, 

but who came to this country in early life 
and was reared to womanhood in Livingston 
county. By this union were three children. 
as follows: Hattie. now the wife of Grant 
McConnack. of Livingston county; Zephyr, 
wife of Lincoln Tuttle, of Graymont, Illi- 
nois; and William, who married Daisy 
Pearre. and now resides in Arkansas, where 
he is engaged in fanning. 

After his marriage Mr. Taylor continued 
t< operate the home farm, on which he made 
many improvements, including the erection 
of a large barn. For some years he engaged 
quite extensively in the stuck business, in 

which he met with g 1 success, llis wife 

died in [872 and October 1. [873, he mar- 
ried Miss Eliza McManis, a native of Ohio 
and daughter of Joseph McManis. who was 
born in Pennsylvania, but who removed to 
( >hio and later to Illinois, lie was married 
three times and was the father of nineteen 
children, sixteen of whom grew to mature 
years. Mrs. Taylor was mostly reared in 
Livingston county. 

Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have U\v children: 
George, who is assisting in the cultivation 
of the home farm: John, a teacher in St. 
A'.ban Academy. Knoxville, Illinois; Ar- 
thur (I., a student at Zion College. Chicago; 
Alice, a student in the Pontiac high school ; 
and 1 [any, in the home schi ■< '1. 

Politically Mr. Taylor was originally a 
Republican and supported the men and meas- 
of that party for many years. Of late 
he has given hi- support to the Prohibit; 
party, lie never sought or desired public 
office and declined several that were offered 
him: however, he served for a time as a 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



'55 



member of the school board and as president 
of his scIk ml district. Reared a Baptist, he 
has since undergone a change of faith and is 
now a member of the Christian Catholic 
church in Zion, of which body his wife is 
also a member. As a citizen he lias always 
enjoyed the respect and confidence of those 
by whom he is surrounded and by those who 
km >w him best. 



WILLIAM 11. BRACE. 

William II. Brace, who is now success 
fully engaged in the milk husiness in Ponti- 
ac, Illinois, was born in Baldwinsville, New 
York. February _> i. [845, a son of Moses 
and Frances (Sibbelds) Brace, also natives 
of the Empire stale. His paternal grand- 
father. Benjamin Brace, was bom in Eng- 
land and on his emigration to this country 
settled in Baldwinsville. When our subject 
was eight years old his father removed to 
Chicago and shortly afterward located in 
Will county. Illinois, where he engaged in 
farming throughout the remainder of his 
life. 

William II. Brace was reared on the 
home farm in Manhattan township. Will 
county, and was educated in the local schools. 
In August. 1862, he enlisted in Company 
E, I 'in- Hundredth Illinois Volunteer Infan- 
try, being one of the youngest to serve for 
three years as a regular soldier. His regi- 
ment, which was assigned to the Army of 
the Cumberland, went first to Louisville and 
spent some time in Kentucky following 
Bragg* s army. Mr. Brace's first battle was 
that of I'crryville. followed by the engage- 
ments at Stone River, Nashville and Ch'ck 
amauga. He participated in the siege of 
Atlanta and went with Sherman on the 



march to the sea. He was mustered out at 
Chicago in August. [865. At Chickamauga 
he received two flesh wounds, hut was never 
seriously injured. 

While home on a furlough, in 1804. Mr. 
Brace married Miss Adeline Mossow, of 
Manhattan, Illinois, who came here from 
New York. After the war our subject en- 
gaged in farming in Will county on his own 
account for two years, and then went to 
Chicago, where he had charge of the team- 
ing husiness of A. 11. Andrews \' Company 
for eight years. On leaving there he came 
to Chatsworth, Livingston count}', where he 
followed farrming our year, and engaged in 
the same pursuit in Eppards Point township, 
successfully 1 iperating a farm of one hundred 
and sixty accres for eight years. On sell- 
ing out. he moved to Pontiac and bought 
thirteen lots on West Washington street, 
where lie has a nice home surrounded by a 
beautiful lawn. I le also has a house and lot 
elsewhere. For four years, under Dr. 
Scouller, he held the position of night of- 
ficer at the reform school, having charge of 
a dormitory, but on account of ill health he 
was obliged to resign. and after a six-months' 
rest he became night police in Pontiac, serv- 
ing as such for ten years with credit to him- 
self and satisfaction of all concerned, being 
one of the best known and most highly-re- 
spected officials the city has ever had. He 
resigned that position in [898 and embarked 
in the dairy business, keeping cows and sell- 
ing his own milk, hut on account of his wife's 
health he sold his dairy, though he still re- 
tains his milk route, which is the largest in 
the city. He is a good business man. being 
energetic and progressive, and has met with 
success in this undertaking. 

Mr. Brace lost his fust wife May 30, 
1 Si 14. and on the 7th of October, 1896, lie 



i 5 6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



married Miss Lizzie Krell, of Pontiac, a 
daughter of John Krell. of Havana. Illinois. 
In his political views he is a stanch Repub- 
lican, and while living in the county served 
as deputy under three different sheriffs. 
Fraternallv he is a member of T. Lyle 
Dickey Post, G. A. R. A pleasant, genial 
gentleman, he makes friends and is held in 
high regard by all who know him. 



PETER BAUMAN. 

Peter Bauman. one of the representative 
German-American citizens of Livingston 
county and a prosperous farmer, residing on 
section 26, I 'ike township, two miles from 
Chenoa, was born in Luxemburg. Germany, 
April 30. 1834, and there grew to manhood. 
He had good educational advantages, at- 
tending school eight years, becoming familiar 
with the < ierman language, but his knowl- 
edge of English has been acquired through 
his own unaided efforts since coming to the 
new world. In [854 he was one of the pas- 
sengers on a sailing vessel, which left the 
harbor of Havre, France, and arrived in 
New Yorkafter twenty-eight daysspent upon 
the water, which was considered a quick 
trip at that time. He proceeded at once to 
Chicago, joining his brother, Michael Bau- 
man, who had located in Illinois in [849. 

Our subject found emplomenl on a farm 
in Woodford county, working by the month 
several years there and in Marshall county. 
1 Ms first purchase of land was a partially im- 
proved farm of one hundred acres in the lat- 
ter count}-, on which was standing a small 
house, and there he made his home for sev- 
eral years. In [888 he bought the farm of 
one hundred and sixty acres on section 2.6, 



Pike township. Livingston county, where he 
now resides, and to its further improvement 
and development he has since devoted his 
time and attention, success attending his well- 
directed efforts. 

While a resident of Woodford county, 
Mr. Bauman was married, in January, 1861, 
to Miss Helen Balbach. who was born and 
reared in Bavaria. Germany, and is a daugh- 
ter of August and Anna Elizabeth t Keeler ) 
Balbach. The mother died in that country. 
and in [854, the father, with his three daugh- 
ters and one son. came to America, joining 
his older son. Jacob Balback. who had been 
a resident of Woodford count}'. Illinois, since 
1 85 j. and who is now a merchant of Chenoa. 
The other son. Paul Balbach, is a farmer of 
1 'ike township. Livingston county. The fa- 
ther died in Woodford county, in 1 856. Mr 
and Mrs. Bauman have a family of eight 
children, namely: Mar_\'. wife of Chris 
Pfeffinger, of Waldo township, Livingston 
county; Lizzie, at home; Krrie. widow of 
Alaxander Black, and a resident of Wood 
ford count}-; Peter, who is married and lives 
in Pekin, Illinois; Lena. Anna and Clara, all 
at home. The last named was educated at 
Chenoa and the normal college at Valpar- 
aiso, Indiana, and is now one of the success 
ful teachers of Livingston county. 

Politically Mr. Bauman is a standi Dem- 
ocrat, ami cast Ins first presidential ballot 
for Stephen A. Douglas, in [860. He has 
never cared for public office, but has pre 
ferred to devote Ins undivided time and at- 
tention to his business interests. His life 
has been one of industry and t\uc success has 
not been denied him. His honorable, upright 
course commends him t 1 the confidence and 
respect of all. and he i> well worthy of rep 
resentation in the histor) oi his adopted 
county. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



'57 



WILLIAM I. St. JOHN". 

William I. St. John, an honored veteran 
of the Civil war. who is now living a retired 
lite in Lontiae. was horn in Warren county, 
Indiana. July jo. 1S44. a son of Samuel and 
Margaret ( Coldren ) St. John, both of whom 
were horn in Ohio, the latter near Zanesville, 
hut were married in Indiana, where the fa- 
ther located when a young man. and where 
he engaged in farming until coming to Liv- 
ingston county, . Illinois, about 1853. He 
settled near Ocoya, in F.ppards Point town- 
ship, where he purchased one hundred and 
sixty acres of unimproved land. That lo- 
cality was then all wild, there being hut four 
hi mses scattered through the timber, and his 
nearest neighbor was some distance away. 
I le devoted his time and attention to the im- 
provement and cultivation of that farm until 
[866, when he rented it and moved t< • 
( henna, where he worked at wagonmaking 
until called to his final rest. He was one 
of the earl_\- members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church in this county, and was a Re- 
publican in politics. 

Before leaving Indiana. William I. St. 
Ji 'hn attended school a term or two. hut there 
was no scln ml house in his district when the 
family came to Illinois, and he was well 
grown before a school which lie could at- 
tend was built. IMs educational advantages 
were therefore limited, hut he has become 
a well informed man by reading and ob 
servation in later year-.. lie remained on 
the In mie farm until after the Civil war bn ike 
out. when he enlisted. August 6, 1862, in 
Company <J. One Hundred and Twenty- 
ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The r< . 
menl spent much time in Louisville, hut par- 
ticipated in the engagements at Frankfort, 
(."rah Orchard and Bowling < ireen. and did 



garrison duty at Mitchell ville. Tunnel Hill 
and Gallatin, Tennessee. From there thev 
went to Nashville and participated in the hat- 
ties of Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge, 
being on the march most of the time during 
that campaign. They were also with Sher- 
man on his celebrated march to the sea, and 
at Peach Tree Creek, in front of Atlanta, 
Mr. St. John was wounded He was sent to 
the hospital at Chattanooga, was later trans- 
ferred to Nashville, and from there \\a^ sent 
home. At the end of three m< 'lit lis he was 
able to rejoin his regiment in time to take 
part in the Carolina campaign. He was in 
the battle of Goldsboro, and was at Raleigh 
when Johnston surrendered. He then 
marched to Washington. I). C, and partici- 
pated in the erand review, after which he was 
mustered out at that place and discharged at 
Chicago, after almost three years of faithful 
service on southern battle fields. 

Returning t" his home, Mr. St. John 
engaged in farm work one year, and then 
went to Chenoa, where he worked at the 
carpenter's trade four years. On the 6th <>i 
September. [866, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Amelia Stone, a daughter of Will- 
iam Stone, a farmer of Ohio. By this union 
were born two children: William Seth, who 
now operates his father's farm, married 
Minnie Talbot and has four children : Mabel, 
Roy, Pert and an infant. Burton <i. is a 
resident of Pi intiac. 

( )u leaving Chenoa Mr. St. John pur- 
chased a farm of forty acres in Eppards 
Point township, which he sold three years 
later and boughtfi fifty acres of land in Wnitv 
ti iwnship, but thi-. in- disposed of a year later 
ami bought an eighty-acre tract in the same 
township, where he successfully engaged 
in farming for twelve years. At the end of 
tha ttime he traded it fi ir a farm ■ if two bun- 



i 5 8 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



dred and thirty-five aero in Amity town- 
ship, which be has greatly improved and 
still owns. In 1880 he moved to Pontiac 
and bought property at No. _• ti Smith Ver- 
milion street, where he lias a large and nicely 
kept place. Here he worked at the carpen- 
ter's trade for a time, hut is now living re- 
tired, enjoying a well-earned rest, tree from 
the cares and responsibilities of business life. 
Religiously both he and his wife are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he 
also belongs to 'I". Lyle Dickey Tost. <i. A. 
R., of which he is junior vice commander. 
J [e has always been a stanch supporter of the 
Republican party and its principles, and he 
has ever been a loyal citizen, co-operating 
i.' all that is calculated to promote the inter- 
ests of his State or nation, his patriotism 
being manifest in times of peace as well as 
in war. 



BENNET HUMISTOX. 

Bennet Humiston, deceased, was one of 
the leading business men of Pontiac, Illi- 
nois, who in his successful career showed 
that he had the ability to plan wisely and 
execute with energy, a combination which, 
when possessed by men in any walk of life. 
never fails t" effect notable results. 

Mr. Humiston was horn in Plymouth 
Hollow, Connecticut, September <>. [830, a 
-'.11 of Bennet and Emily ( Warner) Humis- 
ton. representatives of old and honored fam- 
ilies of that state. On attaining to man's 
estate the father started out in life for him- 
self as a peddIeo, traveling through the 
south for many years, but after his marriage 
he settled on a farm in Plymouth ami de- 
voted the remainder of his life to agricult- 
ural pursuits. 



Our subject grew t" manhood on the 
home farm and was provided with better 
educational privileges than most farmer 
hoys, attending school at Warren. Litchfield 
county, Connecticut, for two years, lie then 
followed farming in his native state until 
the fall of iS5_>, when he came west with 
Apollo- tamp, and together they took up 
a section of land in Esmen township, Liv- 
ingston county, Illinois. May 22, [856, he 
married his partner's daughter, Miss Harriet 
( amp, .and they made their home on his half- 
section of land until 1876. In the mean- 
time he erected good .and substantial build- 
ings thereon and placed the land under a 
high state of cultivation. He introduced 
some of the first tine horses into the count v 
and at the time of his death, which occurred 
November 15. [883, he hail one hundred 
head. Me and Mr. Camp were always in 
business together and owned in the neigh- 
borhood of two thousand acres of valuable 
land. They expended large amounts in til- 
ing and converting their land into highly 
productive tracts. They were among the 
original stockholders of the Pontiac Na- 
tional Hank, of Pontiac, of which Mr. Camp 
was ah., a director. In his political views 
Mr. Humiston was a Democrat. He was a 
member of the Masonic fraternity and a 
11. an of high standing in the community. 
( >f keen perception, of unbounded enterprise. 
his success in life was due to his own well-di- 
rected efforts, and he deserves prominent 
mention among the leading and representa- 
tive business men of the county. 

Since her husband's death Mrs. Humis- 
ton has successfully carried 011 the vast <■> 
tate. and has displayed most excellent busi- 
ness and executive ability in its management. 
She was one of the heavy original stock- 
holders of the Pontiac State Bank, and from 




BENNET HUMISTON. 



\ 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



161 



its organization has been a director. She 
owns a good deal of property in Pontiac, 
also in Odell, Illinois, and Eldorado, Mis 
souri, where she lias a business block. She 
has been a liberal donator to the public li- 
brary of Pontiac and other charitable insti- 
tutions, and never withholds her liberal sup 
port from any enterprise which she believes 
will prove of benefit to the community. In 
[876 Mr. Humiston built a beautiful resi 
dence on North Main street. Pontiac, which 
is still owned and occupied by his widow, 
k occupies a whole block Oil the hill and is 
one of the most attractive places in the city. 
Over this home Mrs. Humiston presides 
with gracious dignity and its hospitable 
doors are ever open for the reception of her 
many friends. 



JOHN T. ARMSTRONG. 

The subject of this personal narrative is 

one of the most successful and prosperous 
farmers of Eppards Point township. hishome 
being on section 16, five miles south of Pon- 
tiac. lie has made his special held of in- 
dustry an eminent success, and is highly re- 
spected and esteemed by those who know 
him. 

Mr. Armstrong was horn in Madison, 
( )hio. April 28, [839, and there grew to man- 
hood, receiving a common-school education. 
In April, [864, during the dark days of the 
(nil war, he enlisted in the one-hundred-da) 
service, as a private in Company C, One 
Hundred and Forty fourth Ohio National 
Guards. The regiment went to Virginia and 
took part in the battle of New (.'reek and 
several skirmishes, hut only one man died 
in the service, his death occurring in a hos- 
pital. On the expiration of his term of en- 



.listment, Mr. Armstrong was honorably dis- 
charged at (amp Dennison, in August, [864, 

and returned to Ins < )hii 1 home. 

In the spring of [865 he came to Liv- 
ingston county. Illinois, and located upon his 
present 1 arm in Eppards Point township, 
purchasing four hundred acres, about half 
ot which had been broken and a small house 
erected thereon. IP- lias since purchased 
more land, and to the further improvement 
and cultivation of his place he has devoted 
his energies with most gratifying results, 50 
that he now has one of the besl farms in the 
township. In connection with general farm- 
ing he is engaged in feeding and dealing in 
stock, and in this branch of his business he 
has alsi 1 prospered. 

Returning to his old home in Madison 
county, Ohio, in March, iN(>o, Mr. Ann 
trong married Pvdia Cousins, who was 
horn in Pickaway, that state, hut was reared 
in the same neighborhood as her husband 
and educated in the same school. They 
became the parents of six children, hut only 
three are in iw li\ ing : Archie P.. a pharmacist 
of I hvight ; Pida \\ . and ( iranl ( '.. both at 
home. Bernard C. and John both died in 
childhood, and Sarah P.. wife of ( ). I. Ellis, 
died in Ana ma. [llini >is. at the age 1 if twenty- 
two years, leaving two children, ( ). I. and 
Sadie Pllis. 

Mr. Armstrong cast his first presidential 
vote for Abraham Lincoln, in [860, and has 
since been an ardent Republican. Although 
he has never sought political preferment, he 
was elected ami served three years as high- 
way commissioner and was a member of the 
school hoard for a number of years, during 
which time he did all in his power to secure 
competent teachers anil advance the educa- 
tional interests of his community. Relig- 
iously, both he and his wife are active mem- 



l62 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



hers of the Centre Methodist Episcopal 
church and they give their support to every 
worthy enterprise which they believe calcu- 
lated to advance the moral, social or material 
welfare of the township and county in which 
thev live. 



JARVIS C. SUMNER. 

Jarvis C. Sumner, one of the best known 
citizens of Pontiac, was horn in Elkhart. In- 
diana. November 7. 1843. a son of John M. 
and Ann | Strong ) Sumner. The father 
was horn in New York, March 3. [812, and 
was a son of Harvey and Sally (Sherwin) 
Sumner, who were horn, reared and married 
in Vermont. The latter was a daughter of 
Ahamaz Sherwin, a drum major from Ver- 
mont in the Revolutionary war. At an early 
day Harvey Sumner and wife moved to 
Westport township, Essex county. New 
York, and in [818 went to Ohio, sailing out 
of Buffalo on the first steamer that ever navi- 
gated the great lakes. They located four 
miles i-a^t of Cleveland, where Mr. Sumner 
followed farming for some time, but spent 
his last days in Elkhart, Indiana. His wife 
died in Cleveland about [825. 

John M. Sumner, father of our subject, 
accompanied his parents on their removal to 
Ohio, and later went with his father to Elk- 
hart. Indiana, in the fall "i 1834, when that 
place contained hut few inhabitants. < >n his 
arrival there he had but m.\ and one-fourth 
cents, but he soon found employment and 
the next summer was able to purchase forty 
acres of land. There lie married Ann Strong, 
a daughter of Walter Strong, who went to 
Indiana from Ohio, but was born in Con- 
necticut. He gave his daughter forty acres 
of laud, and upon that place Mr. and Mrs. 



Sumner lived until 1850, when they moved 
to Wisconsin, but a year later returned to 
Indiana. He followed farming throughout 
the greater part of his active business life, 
but is now living retired with our subject. 
The wife and mother, who was a member 
of the Universalist church, died November 
24, 1886. 

Our subject acquired his education in the 
common and high schools of Elkhart, and 
assisted his father in the operation of the 
home farm until twenty-one years of age. 
He manifested his patriotism by enlisting in 
the Civil war. but was discharged on account 
of illness and sent home before leavinv the 
state. He was a member of the Chandler 
Horse Guards of Coldwater. 

In 1X04 Mr. Sumner moved to Eureka, 
Illinois, where he engaged in farming on his 
own account. Prior to his removal, he was 
married, in Cass county. Michigan, to Mis- 
Sarah Martin, who was horn in Elkhart 
county. Indiana. February '1. [846, a daugh- 
ter of William and Mary A. (dinger) 
Martin, natives of Ohio, whose home was 
live miles east of Middlebury, in 1 .a Grange 
county. Indiana. The mother died when 
.Mrs. Sumner was only two years old, and the 
father departed this life at Benton Harbor, 
Michigan. September jj. [872. Mr. and 
Mrs. Sumner have three children, namely: 
Charles M.. May Belle and William Roy. 
The last named was a member of the state 
militia, but was not accepted into the United 
States service during our recent war with 
Spain. 

While at Eureka, Mr. Sumner served as 
constable and deputy sheriff under Frank 
Roman and Garman <iish for eight years. 
IK- attended to all the sheriff's business in 
his part of the county ami served all the pa- 
pers in thi' Workman murder case. I le also 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



163 



carried on the largest and most important 
livery business in the town, lie Finally sold 
out and moved to Livingston county, in 
the spring of [881. For two sears he was 
engaged in fanning in Ppntiac township, 
and then moved to the city of Pontiac that 
he might provide his children with better 
educational advantages, but was mostly en- 
gaged in farming and teaming until ap- 
pointed deputy by Sheriff Reed. He was re- 
appointed by Sheriff Talbot and most cred- 
itably and satisfactorily filled that position 
fi ir se\ en years. He did a good deal of work 
in connection with the hank robbery case 
of Cornell and the Rightsel murder case of 
Fairbury, besides a large amount of civil 
business and collecting. In November, 
[896, he was elected constable, and is still 
tiding that office in a most capable manner. 
He also has considerable property in his 
hands to rent, and does a good life insurance 
business! He owns a lovely home situated 
on a large lot at the corner of Plum and 
Cleary streets, surrounded by beautiful trees 
and shrubs and is one of the best kept 
place-- of the city. Since attaining his ma- 
jority Mr. Sumner has affiliated with the 
Republican party, and both he and his wife 
are members of the Presbyterian church. 



WILLIAM 11 KETCHAM. 

One of the busiest, most energetic ami 
most enterprising men of Dwight, Illinois. 
P the subject of this sketch, who is success- 
fully engaged in the real estate and loan busi- 
ness. ;l s well as the practice of law. 1 le was 
born in that place. February 9, 1861, and 
there the greater part of his life has been 



spent — an important factor in business and 
public affairs. 

William H. Ketcham, Si\. father of our 
subject, was born in Fishkill, Dutchess coun- 
ty, New York. November 28, [821. He re- 
ceived a good English education and re- 
mained at home until 185.'. when he set sail 
lor California, leasing Xew York, February 
4. and arriving in San Francisco April 1. 
He was shipwrecked off the coast of Mexico 
and delayed five weeks. He was success 
fully engaged in mining about three years 
and a half near Marysville. and then returned 
to his native state by way of the Isthmus of 
Panama. In Dutchess county, he was mar- 
ried. November 30. 1S40, to Miss Mary P. 
Losee, who was born there May 23, [822, 
and was a daughter of John Losee, whose 
ancestry can be traced back to Wilbur Weber, 
King of Holland and a son of the Prince of 
Orange. His daughter, Anna ECanjanse 
Weber, married Everetus Bogardus, the first 
preacher who came to Xew York Pity. Mrs. 
Ketcham was the seventh generation from 
this king, who left an immense fortune, now 
amounting to about five million dollars, and. 
which is in litigation at present. In the fall 
of [855, shortly after his return to New 
York from California, Mr. Ketcham mi- 
grated to Dwight, Illinois, which place then 
contained only eight families. Here he at 
first worked at anything he could find to do, 
and for a time engaged in farming and op- 
erated a com sheller .1 number of years. I le 
was a public-spirited man and did much to 
advance the interests of his adopted town, 
taking quite an active part in public affairs. 
and serving as justice of the peace fourteen 
years, school director a number of years, 
and also village trustee some time, ami dep 
Uty sheriff of the county in early days. In 
1X74 he joined Dwight Lodge, No, 51.3, 



164 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



I. O. O. !■".. ami later became a member pf 
Pacific Encampment, No. 126. He died, 
April 10. [882. 

The subject of this sketch is the young- 
est m a family of seven children, the others 
being as follows: Berwin L., the eldest, died 
in infancy. John L., a member of the One 
Hundred and Twenty-ninth Infantry, was 
wounded in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, 
and died in the hospital at Chattanooga, June 
25, 18(14. Jane E. married J. J. Smith and 
both are now deceased. Frank is the wife 
of Hugh Thompson, of Pontiac. Mar}- IT is 
the wife of George Hoover, of Chicago. 
Emma V. is the widow of W. A. Chamberl- 
lain and resides with her children. .Marietta 
and Frank William, who live in Chicago. 

William II. Ketcham, Jr.. was reared and 
educated in Dwigbt, and began his business 
career as bookkeeper in the grain elevator 
of Hugh Thompson, of that place, remain- 
ng with him one year. He then became in- 
terested in the stock business, which he car- 
ried on alone for one year, buying cattle in 
Livingston and Grundy counties. At the 
end of that time he funned a partnership 
with John Thompson in the same business, 
shipping stock to the Chicago market. This 
connection lasted two years, and Mr. Ketch- 
am next purchased the real estate business 
t'i Alexander McKay, which he conducted 
from December, 1886, until April. 1887, 
when he sold out to Hetzel & Romberger. 

After disposing of his real estate busi 
ness, Mr. Ketcham moved to Marion county, 
Kansas, where he was interested in the same 
pursuit until the fall of [887, when he en- 
tered the law office of Kellar & Dean, study- 
ing under their instruction and at the same 
time doing office work. Before his admis- 
sion tn the liar he drew up the papers for 
twenty-one forclosures in one week. lie 



was admitted to practice by examination be- 
fore Judge Doster, the present chief justice 
of the state of Kansas. August 20, 1888, 
and before the supreme court at Topeka, 
June _', iX()i. He was associated in prac- 
tice with \V. H. Carpenter, of Marion, Kan- 
sas, from [889 to July, 1891, when lie re- 
turned to Dwight and resumed business as 
a real estate dealer, in partnership with Frank 
I. Smith, under the firm name of Ketcham 
& Smith. On the 23d of March, iN(>_>. he 
was admitted to practice in Illinois, and later 
in the state of Indiana. By mutual agree- 
ment the partnership between Mr. Ketcham 
and Mr. Smith was dissolved in October, 
1895, since which time our subject has been 
ak me m business. 1 le gives the greater part 
of his attention to real estate, but is also en- 
gaged in the practice of law in the courts of 
tins state and Indiana. He carried the 
Clauson case through the supreme court of 
Illinois. 

( )n the 19th of April, [893, Mr. Ketcham 
was united in marriage with Miss Nora A. 
Taylor, a native of Grundy county, Illinois, 
and (Hie of a family of four daughters, all 
living. Her father. I i. 1.. Taylor, was one 
1 if the first settlers of Grundy county, hut 
is nnw a resident of Dwight township, Liv- 
ingston county. Mr. and Mrs. Ketcham 
have three children, namely: Mary Emma, 
Gertrude Nora and Nellie Maurine. 

Fraternally, Mr. Ketcham is a member 
of Dwight Lodge, No. 513, and Pacific En- 
campment, No. 313, I. < ), O. ]•'., and Liv- 
ingston Lodge, N'l. 371, I''. & A. M. Since 
reaching his majority he has always affil- 
iated with the Democratic party and taken 
an active interest in politics. He is now an 
advocate of the free coinage of silver, and in 
1896 took the stump, speaking in Chicago 
and other parts of the state. While engaged 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



165 



in the practice of law in Kansas he assisted 
the county attorney and during his residence 
in Dwight lias taken an active part in public 
affairs, lie was elected mayor in [896 and 
efficiently filled the office one term, during 
which time the park ordinance was passed 
and notable improvements made. lie was 
once a candidate before the Democratic con- 
vention, for judge on the Democratic ticket, 
but was defeated. In 1886 he was elected 
village treasurer and was filling that office 
when he moved to Kansas, and in April, 
1900, was elected village trustee, in which 
capacity he is now serving in a most credit- 
able ami satisfactory manner. A man of 
keen perception, of unbounded enterprise, his 
success iu life is due to his own efforts, and 
he deserves prominent mention among the 
leading representative business men of the 
county. His genial, pleasing manner makes 
him quite popular in both business and s' icial 
circles, and as a public-spirited, enterpris- 
ing man lie is recognized as a valued citizen 
of the community. 



JOHX R. OUGHTON. 

To the present mayor of Dwight. lion. 
John R. Oughton, the city owes a deep 
debt of gratitude, for through many years 
be has been an important factor in its prog- 
ress and advancement along social, educa- 
tional, material and moral lines. J lis active 
co-operation has been given to every move- 
ment for the public good, and his support has 
been withheld from no movement calculated 
to advance the general welfare. His aid, 
too, lias been of a practical nature and the 
substantial growth of the city is the out- 
come of his well-directed and discriminat- 
ing effort. 



It is not an easy task to describe ade- 
quately a man who has lead an eminently . 
ive and busy life ami who has attained to a 
position of high relative distinction in the 
im ire important and exacting fields of human 
endeavor. But biography finds its most 
perfect justification, nevertheless, in the 
tracing and recording of such a life history. 
It is. then, with a full appreciation of all 
that is demanded, and of the painstaking 
scrutiny that must be accorded each state- 
ment, and yet with a feeling of significant 
satisfaction, that the writer essays the task 
of touchinbg briefly upon the details of such 
a record as has ben the voice of the char- 
acter of the honored subject whose life now 
comes under review. 

John R. Oughton was horn in County 
Tipperary, Ireland, in 1857, and resided in 
his native land until sixteen years of age, 
when he crossed the Atlantic to America, lo- 
cating in Chicago, Illinois. He acquired his 
preliminary education in the schools of Ire- 
land and there took up the stud) of chemis- 
try. After reaching Chicago he resumed 
his studies along that line in the Chicago 
College of Pharmacy ami later in the Rush 
Medical College. Previous to entering • 
lege, however, he engaged a- a clerk in the 
drug store of his cousin. .Mr. Lee, who was 
doing business on the west side of the city. 
After completing his collegiate course he 
came to Dwight and soon afterward formed 
an association with Dr. Keeley in the work 
which has since made them and the city of 
their residence famous throughout the land. 
For man_\- years .Mr. Oughton was vice- 
president and chemist of the Leslie 
Keeley Company, but after the death of Dr. 
Keeley he was elected president ami has since 
served in that capacity. The history of the 
institution is too well known to need further 



1 66 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



comment here. Its splendid work is shown 
l>\ thousands of reformed men to whom 

manhood has been restored and who now oc- 
cupy honored positions in society and in 
business life. The volume of their business 
lias constantly increased and has assumed gi- 
gantic proportions. Their extensive insti- 
tution is fitted up with one of the most com- 
plete laboratories of the country, and the 
work is progressing with undiminished 
strength, its beneficent purpose resulting in 
g I immeasurable. 

Mr. Oughton has two children, sons. 
James H. and John R. Socially he is a Ma- 
Si >n and has taken the degrees of the blue 
lodge, chapter commanderv. consistory and 
the Mystic shrine. He belongs to the Epis- 
copal church, and in his political affiliations 
is a Republican, ardent and earnest in his ad- 
vocacy of the principles of the party. He 
has served as a member of the school board, 
has held a number other city offices, and in 
the spring of 1896 was elected mayor of 
Dwight, to which position he has been re- 
elected each succeeding spring. In 1898 
Mr. Oughton, Major Judd and Dr. Leslie E. 
Keeley erected and gave to the city of 
Dwight the present standpipe and water- 
works, built at a cost of twenty thousand 
dollars and unequalled by any system in the 
state in a town approaching the size of 
Dwight. The cement sidewalks of the city 
have been constructed during the mayoralty 
of Mr. Oughton and the town now has bet 
ter sidewalks in proportion to its size than 
any other in the state. Many other im- 
provements have received his co-operation 
ami Dwight owes much to his progressive 
spirit. 

In [895 Mr. Oughton erected his pala- 
tial residence at a cost of about one hundred 
thousand dollars — one of the finest homes in 



Illinois and the best in this section of the 
state. He is the owner of a very fine ken- 
nel, having some very fine dogs, including 
the famous prize winner. '"Heather Lad." 
valued at six thousand dollars. This fine an- 
imal has taken prizes at all of the bench 
shows, and in [893 and 1894 carried off first 
prize at everv bench show in the United 
States. Mr. Oughton also has a deer park 
upon his place, containing some fifteen or 
twenty head of fine deer. His saddle horses 
are noted throughout this section of the state 
and for a number of years Mr. Oughton 
was extensively engaged in breeding fine 
Kentucky stock. He owns over four thou- 
sand acres of land in Livingston and Grundy 
counties, and with the exception of eight hun- 
dred acres, all is in Dwight township and is 
under a high state of cultivation. While 
intensely devoted to business and a man of 
very decided views and strong convictions. 
he is. by nature, of a very gentle and affec- 
tionate disposition. His moral standing is 
high and he lives up to it. His genial com- 
panionship, his tenacious regard for the sim- 
ple truth, his unostentatious generosity and 
his large-hearted Christian benevolence are 
among the qualities which have greatly en- 
deared him to his fellow men. His wealth 
has made no difference in his friendships and 
the humblest can obtain from him an 
audience. 



FRANCIS FREMONT FRAKES 

Francis Fremonl Frakes, a well-known 
carpenter of I'ontiac, Illinois, was born in 
Avoca township, September 12, 1856, a son 
of Labin and Mary A. (Tracy) Frakes. 
The mother was born at Sandy Creek. New 
York, not far from Syracuse, a daughter of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



.67 



A. I".. Tracy, and came here about the same 
time as her sister, Mrs. Maria Owens, a 
pioneer of Pontiac, whose sketch appears mi 
another page of this volume. 

Labin Frakes, father of our subject, was 
burn in the southern part of this state, near 
the Missouri line, and as a young man came 
to Pontiac, where he purchased property. lie 
was a tailor by trade, but here he engaged 
ii\ the real estate business and also con- 
ducted a livery stable and stage and transfer 
line between Pontiac and Blopmington. lie 
was married here and later moved to Ne- 
vada City, Missouri, where he owned proper- 
ty. He also built a large livery stable at that 
place and ran a stage between Sadlia to Fort 
Scott. After the railroad was built he re- 
moved to Sullivan county, Indiana, and 
while there the Civil wr broke out and he 
enlisted. He participated in the first and 
second battles of Bull Run, and was wounded 
in the latter engagement, being taken to 
Beverly, West Virginia, where he died from 
the effects of his wounds. His wife then 
returned to Pontiac, where she spent the re- 
mainder of her life. 

After the death of his father Francis F. 
Frakes lived with his aunt. Mrs. Maria 
Owens, in Pontiac, for seven years, and at- 
tended school. The only school house then 
in the place stood on the banks of the river 
near the jail. He served a two years' ap- 
prenticeship to the carpenter's trade with 
Andrew Pierce, and later was with William 
Holmes, during which time he helped erect 
many of the early buildings of Pontiac. As 
a journeman he worked in most of the build- 
ings erected at that time, and also those built 
in later years, including the Sterry block. 
He is now one of the oldest carpenters of the 
city in years of continuous service, and is 
an expert and skillful workman. 



( >n the _>4th of March. 1S7K, Mr. Frakes 
was united in marriage with Miss Orilla 
England, a native of Pontiac and a daugh 
ter of Rue England, who came here from 
Ohio in pioneer days. By this union were 
born six children, namely: Orville Leon 
and Rudy Rue, who are both employed in 
the shoe factory in Pontiac; Coral, who was 
graduated from the public schools in igoo; 
1 .1 >rene. Fremont and Emma Susan, who are 
all attending school. Mrs. Frakes and the 
children are members of the Episcopal 
church, while our subject leans toward the 
Methodist Episcopal church in religious be- 
lief. The family is quite well known and 
highly respected. Mr. Frakes purchased 
over a half-acre of ground at 1003 West 
Madison street, and has erected thereon a 
nice residence which has now been his home 
for seven years, though he is one of the 
oldest property holders of the city. 



J FAX P. A. VINCENT. 

Jean P. A. Vincent, deceased, for many 
years one of the honored and highly-re- 
spected citizens of Pontiac. was born in De- 
troit, Michigan, January <>. 1827, a son of 
Xarcisse and Clotilda ( Prevolsel ) Vincent, 
both of French descent. lie died the same 
year at Detroit when our subject was about 
eleven years of age. and he was then ap- 
prenticed to Charles Buhl, a hat manufac- 
turer of that city, with whom he remained 
until attaining his majority. There he re- 
ceived his education in the public schools. 

At the age of twent) one, Mr. Vincent 
was sent by the firm of Buhl Brothers 1. 1 their 
Chicago store, where he clerked for one year, 
and then was employed 011 a railroad survey 



1 68 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



through Bureau county, Illinois. In 1859 
lie entered the service of the government 
to go to the northwest with a party to take 
meteorological observations, receiving his ap- 
pointment to this position through the influ- 
ence of General Lewis Cass, of Michigan, 
who always took a warm personal interest in 
our subject and befriended him in many 
ways. Remaining with this expedition 
1 iver a year and a half, Mr. Vincent returned 
to Illinois in the fall of i860, and went to 
Cairo and also to Vicksburg, where he was 
in government employ. While at the lat- 
ter place he was drafted, and served in Com- 
pany C, Fifty-ninth Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry, until the close of the Civil war, when 
he returned to Illinois and passed the winter 
in Wenona. In the following spring he 
moved to Pontiac, where he was engaged in 
the sale of pumps, etc., for about five years, 
when, on account of failing health, he re- 
tired from active business. 

In Lacon, Illinois, August 17, 1861, Mr. 
Vincent was united in marriage with Miss 
Emma Stevens, a daughter of Nathaniel W. 
and Mary (Mix) Stevens. In early life her 
lather was a resident of Lowell, Massa- 
chusetts, but shortly after his marriage re- 
moved to Lacon, Illinois, where his death oc- 
curred. His wife died at Spring Valley, 
this state, in 1888, at the age of seventy- 
four years. 

Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Vincent. Lewis Cass, the elder, died in 
i [enry, Illinois, at the age of fifteen months. 
He was named fi >r ( leneral Lewis Cass, of 
I Htioit, previously mentioned as a friend of 
Mr. Vincent. Nathaniel N., born in Stark 
county, Illinois, April 8, 1864, is now a resi- 
dent of Spring Valley, where he is engaged 
in the manufacture of cigars. He mar- 
ried Lucy O'Keef, by whom he had two chil- 



dren. Pauline and Gwendoline, who, since 
the death of their mother, have made their 
home with Mr. Vincent in Pontiac. For his 
second wife Nathaniel married Agnes Weir. 
The only child born of this union died in 
infancy. 

Mr. Vincent died at his home in Pontiac 
from a stroke of paralysis January 16, 1898. 
at the age of seventy-one years. He had 
drawn a pension since the close of the war. 
He was always a stanch supporter of the 
Republican party and its principles, and was 
an honored member of the Grand Army of 
the Republic and the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, belonging to the latter fra- 
ternity in Chicago. An honest, upright man, 
he was highly respected by all who knew 
him, and was a faithful and consistent mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Vin- 
cent, who is a most estimable lady, resides 
in a pleasant home on North Hazel street, 
Pontiac. 



JOEL D. FOSDICK. 

Toel D. Fosdick, familiarly known as 
Squire Fosdick, owns and operates a valu- 
able farm of four hundred acres on sec- 
tion jo. I 'ike township, whose neat and 
thrifty appearance well indicates his care- 
ful supervision. Substantial improvements 
arc surrounded by well tilled fields and all 
the accessories and conveniences of a model 
farm are there found. 

Mr. Fosdick was born in Allegany coun- 
ty, New York, October 4. [832, a son of 
Aaron C. and Olive (Moon) Fosdick, also 
natives of that state. The father, who was 
born in 1S0S. was a carpenter by trade and 
was also engaged in the manufacture of lum- 
ber for a quarter of a century. In 1844 he 




J. D. FOSDICK. 







ttt 


p ^1 




f 






r^ 




^, 










| 





MRS. J. D. FOSDICK. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



•73 



came to Illinois, making the trip with a team 
in twenty-two days, ami locating in Mar- 
shall county, where he bought one hundred 
and sixty acres of land and opened up a 
farm. I te subsequently purchased two hun- 
dred acres, and was engaged in the manu- 
facture of lumber in Peoria county for aboul 
six years, after which he returned to his 
farm in Marshall county, hut spent his last 
years with a daughter in Weston, where he 
died April 5. [885. 

( hir subject was a lad of twelve years 
when he came with the family to Illinois, 
and in Marshall county he -few to manhood, 
his education being obtained in the common 
schools. He remained at home assisting in 
the operation of the farm until twenty-five 
years of age, anil was then married, in 
Boyd's Grove church. Bureau county. May 
_>4, 1857, to Miss Caroline C. Griswold, a 
native of that county and a daughter of 
Henry Griswold, one of its early settlers. 
( If the five children horn of this union three 
are living, namely: Olive, wife of John 
Scanlan ; and Charles and Albert, who are 
both married and live on the home farm. 
Delphi E. died at the age of eighteen years, 
and Joel ( '. died at the age of eleven. 

After his marriage Mr. Fosdick pur- 
chased a farm of eighty acres in Saratoga 
township, Marshall county, but operated one 
hundred and sixty acres, and on disposing 
of that place bought eighty acres adjoining 
his father's place and thirty acres along the 
creek. This he broke, fenced and improved, 
and continued its cultivation until 1875, 
when lie traded it for three hundred and 
twenty acres of his present farm in Pike 
township, Livingston county, to which he 
has since added an eighty acre tract, making 
a valuble place of four hundred acres. He 

also owns eight v acres in Odell township. 
10 



lie commenced life for himself in limited 
circumstances, hut being industrious, enter- 
prising and of good business ability and 
sound judgment he has steadily prospered, 

and is to-day one 1 if the most substantial and 
prosperous men of his community, as well 
as .me of its highly honored and respected 
citizens. In connection with farming he 
operated a threshing machine during season 
for forty years, and in that undertaking was 
alsi 1 successful. 

Since casting his first presidential ballot 
for Abraham Lincoln in t8(>o Mr. Fosdick 
has been a stanch Republican, hut has never 
sought nor desired public office. He has, 
however, taken an active interest in educa- 
tional affairs and has been an efficient mem- 
ber of the school board for twenty five 
years. Without his knowledge he was 
eiected justice of the peace and filled that 
office to the satisfaction of all. 



EPHRAIM HOUDER. 

Ephraim Houder, an industrious and 
skillful farmer who is now practically liv- 
ing a retired life on section 13, Eppards 
1 'oint township, Livingston county, was born 
in Lancaster county. Pennsylvania, Decem- 
ber 24, io_>_>, and is a son of Jacob and Bar- 
bara (Kurtz ) 1 Louder, the former also a na- 
tive of that county, the latter of Germany. 
Our subject',, paternal grandfather, David 
Homier, was of German descent. In 1831 
the father, with his family, moved to Mont- 
gomery count)-, Ohio, where he cleared and 
improved a farm, making it his home until 
his emigration to llinois in 1856, when he lo- 
ed in Livingston county, buying a farm 
three mi east of Pontiac, Upon which 



174 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



he spent the remainder of his life. He died 
in iNo_>, his wife the year following. In 
their family were six children, three sons and 
three daughters, of whom Ephrann is the 
oldest; David i- a resilient of Pontiac; Eliz- 
abeth and Mary both died unmarried; Henry 
was killed in the Civil war; Martha is the 
wife of Joseph Thomas, of Pontiac; and 
Nancy is the wife of Daniel Shafer, of Mont- 
gomery county, Ohio. 

Our subject received a fair common- 
school education in Montgomery county, 
Ohio, and there grew to manhood. He 
c.'.me with the family to this state in 1856, 
and in October, 1861, enlisted in Company 
C, Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
which was assigned to the Army of the Po- 
tomac and was first under the command of 
General Butler. They participated in the 
battles of Hancock, Virginia, Winchester, 
Chapins farm and Weirbottom Church, 
where Mr. Houder received a gun shot 
wound through the ankle and was disabled 
for a time. His next engagement was at 
Fort Wagner, followed by the battle of 
Drury Bluff, and many ethers. He entered 
the service as a private, but was promoted 
to corporal; and as such was honorably dis- 
charged December 6, 1865. After his re- 
turn home he helped carry on the farm for a 
few years. 

In Juliet, Illinois, May 15, 1867, Mr. 
Houder was united in marriage with Miss 
Hannah F. Harder, who was born near Port 
Byron, Wayne county, New York, where 
bhe was reared and educated, and when a 
young lady came to Ilinois. Her father, 
John 1. 1 larder, was a native of Hudson, 
New York, and from that place to Wayne 
county, where he espent the remainder of his 
life. Mr. and Mrs. Houder began their do- 
mestic life upon his father's farm near Pon- 



tiac, where they remained several years, and 
then moved to a farm in Eppards Point 
township, which was their home three years. 
The following year was spent in McLean 
county, and at the end of that time our sub- 
ject purchased his present farm of eighty 
acres on section 13, Eppards Point township, 
Livingston county, which at that time was 
only partially improved. He has tiled the 
place, built a barn and made other substan- 
tial improvements, but is now living retired, 
while his only son, Leroy G. Houder, oper- 
ates the farm. Besides this property he 
owns another farm of eighty acres in Owego 
township. 

In 1852 Mr. Houder suppported Frank- 
lin Pierce for the presidency, but since the 
organization of the Republican party four 
years later he has been one of its stalwart 
supporters and earnest advocates of its prin- 
ciples. He was formerly a member of the 
school board, but has never sought nor de- 
sired public office. At one time he and his 
family were members of the Christian church 
at Pontiac, but since it broke up they attend 
the Baptist church. They are well and 
favorably known throughout the community 
in which they reside and justly deserve the 
high regard in which they are held. 



ORLIX CONVERSE. 

Orlin Converse, a worthy representative 
of the agricultural interests of Livingston 
county, owns and occupies a fine farm of two 
hundred acres of well-improved and valuable 
land on section 33, Owego township, and 
also has an eighty-acre tract two miles from 
his home. A native of Addison county, 
Vermont, he was born on Lake Champlain, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



«75 



under the shadows of the Green mountains, 
Noember i, 1834, and is a son of Heman 
Converse, who was horn in the same state in 
1799, his ancestors heing among the pioneers 
of Vermont. There his grandfather, Pain 
t onverse, spent his entire life. He was a 
soldier of the war of 1812. The father grew 
to manhood in his native county, and married 
Hannah Crampton, who was born in the 
same house where our subject's birth occur- 
red, and where both parents died, the father 
in 1870, at the age of seventy one years, the 
mother in 1888. 

Orlin Converse passed his boyhood and 
youth on the home farm, aiding in its opera- 
tion and attending the common schools of the 
neighborhood. He came west in 1855, join- 
ing his sister Emily, wife of Robert Smith, 
who had Incited in Livingston county, Illi- 
nois, a year or two previously. He en- 
gaged in farming in partnership with his 
brother-in-law until August, 1862, when he 
enlisted for three years or during the war in 
Company G, ( )ne Hundred and Twenty- 
ninth Volunteer Infantry, which was as- 
signed to the Army of the Cumberland. He 
participated in the battles of Resaca and 
Kenesaw, and all the engagements of the 
Atlanta campaign, being under lire every 
day for a month. After the capture of the 
city the regiment went with Sherman on the 
inarch to the sea, and was in the Carolina 
campaign, taking part in the last battle of the 
war — that of Bentonville, North Carolina. 
Marching through Richmond, they proceed- 
ed to Washington, D. C, and participated in 
the grand review in that city. Hostilities 
having ceased, Mr. Converse was honorably 
discharged and returned to his home in Illi- 
nois. He had lost no time from illness or 
other causes, with exception of the twenty 
days' furlough he was given in [864. 



Before entering the service Mr. Con- 
verse was married, in this county, January 
7, 1862, to Miss Rebecca Rockwood, who 
was born here. Her father, Daniel Rock- 
Wi 'od. was a native of Massachusetts and one 
of the pioneers of Livingston county, hav- 
ing located here in 1834. lie helped to lay 
1 >ut the county seat and organize Owego 
township, where he took up a claim and en- 
tered land, making it his home until his 
death. Two children were born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Converse, but Rollin 1'. enlisted in the 
Third United States Infantry during the 
Spanish American war, and was taken ill 
and died at Atlanta, Georgia. September _•,}. 
[898. His remains were brought back and 
interred in Patty cemetery. Jessie, the only 
daughter, died in 1870, at the age of nearly 
three years. 

Mr. Converse's first purchase of land 
consisted of forty acres in Owego township 
where he now resides, and as his financial 
resources increased he added to it from time 
to time until he now has over two hundred 
and eighty acres of fine farming land, which 
he has placed under a high state of cultiva- 
tion and improved with good and substantial 
buildings. He commenced life here in lim- 
ited circumstances, and the success that he 
has achieved is due entirely to his own well- 
directed and energetic efforts. After resid- 
ing here for live years he returned east in 
[861 to visit his mother, friends and scenes 
of his youth. By this time be bad accu- 
mulated three hundred and fifty dollars in 
the old George Smith money of Atlanta, 
Georgia, but one week after his return home 
it was worth only fifty cents on the dollar, 
and at the end of another the entire amount 
was iK .I w 1 >rth a dollar. 1 1 e was thus forced 
to walk back and was six weeks in reaching 
this county. 



176 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Since casting his first presidential vote 
for John C. Fremont in 1856, Mr. Converse 
has been a standi supporter of the Republi- 
can party, and he most acceptably served as 
supervisor of his township two terms, during 
which time he was a member of some import- 
ant committees. He has ever taken an 
active and commendable interest in educa- 
tional affairs, has been a member of the 
school board twenty years, and clerk of the 
district during that entire time. He has 
watched with interest the wonderful devel- 
opment of this region during his residence 
here and lias always borne his part in its up- 
building and advancement. 



JUDGE NATHANIEL J. PILLSBURY. 

During the last half century the lawyer 
has been a pre-eminent factor in all affairs of 
private concern and national importance. He 
has been depended upon to conserve the best 
and permanent interests of the whole peo- 
ple and is a recognized power in all the ave- 
nues of life. He stands as the protector of 
the rights and liberties of his fellow men, 
and is the representative of a profession 
whose followers, if they would gain honor, 
fame and success, must be men of merit and 
ability. Such a one is Judge Pillsbury, 
who served three terms as circuit judge and 
is to-day a prominent citizen of Pontiac. 

He was born in Sliapleigh, York county. 
Maine, October 21, 1834, a son of Stephen 
N. and Susan (Averill) Pillsbury, also na- 
tives of that county and representatives of 
good old New England families. He is of 
the ninth generation in direct descent from 
William Pillsbury, who came to the new- 
world in 1640 and settled in Dorchester, 



Massachusetts, where he lived until 1851, 
and then moved to Newburyport, the same 
state, where he purchased land that is still in 
possession of his lineal descendants. From 
him all the Pillsburys in this country are 
descended. The father of our subject, who 
was a farmer and machinist by occupation, 
continued his residence in York county, 
Maine, until after the birth of all of his six 
children, and held different local offices 
there, including those of selectman and 
school agent. In the fall of 1855 he re- 
moved to Bureau county, Illinois, where our 
subject had located the previous spring, and 
engaged in farming near Princeton for three 
years. In 1857 both father and son pur- 
chased raw land in Nebraska township, Liv- 
ingston county, where the former made a 
good home, living there until 1884, when he 
moved to Pontiac and built a residence. This 
continued to be his home throughout the re- 
mainder of his life, though he died in Iowa. 
In politics he was first a Whig and later a 
Republican, and he held dofferent township 
offices here. He was born July 12, 1812, 
and died in November, 1890, while his wife 
was born in August, 1812, and also died in 
Iowa, in the fall of 1885. She was a daugh- 
ter of Joseph Averill. 

Judge Pillsbury received a good common 
school education and also attended an acad- 
emy in his native county for one term. He 
remained on the home farm with his parents 
until 1851, after which he engaged in teach- 
ing school for two years. He accompanied 
the family on their removal to Saco, Maine, 
where he was in the employ of the York 
Manufacturing Company for a time and also 
taught school until 1855. On the 1st of Jan- 
uary, that year, he married Miss Eliza J. 
( 1 ile, and the same spring, being threatened 
with consumption, he came to Illinois. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



^77 



Though the journey was made by rail it 
proved a long and tedious one, taking six 
days to reach Chicago. 

A.S previouslj stated the Judge first lo- 
cated in Bureau county, and in [857 bought 
a farm in Nebraska township, this county, 
which he operated until the spring of [863. 
Moving to Pontiac he entered the office of 
Samuel Fleming, and after studying law for 
some time was admitted to the bar by exami- 
nation, lie then formed a partnership with 
Mr. Fleming and in a short time had ac- 
quired a lucrative practice and excellent rep- 
utation as a sound and honest lawyer. In 
[869 he was elected a member of the consti- 
tutional convention which met the following 
year, and in 1873 was elected judge of the 
thirteenth judicial circuit, then composed of 
Livingston, Kankakee and [roquois counties. 
Four years later the circuit was enlarged by 
adding McLean and Ford counties and he- 
came the eleventh. lie was re-elected in 
187U and again in 1885, serving in all eight- 
een years to the entire satisfaction of all con- 
cerned. He was also one of the first judges 
of the appellate court, being on that bench 
ten and a half years from 1S77, and an un- 
deniable proof of his popularity is found in 
his re-elections lie wrote many opinions 
that are to he found in the first sixteen vol- 
umes of the appellate court reports of the 
state of Illinois 

In [89] Judge Pillsbury was urged to 
become a candidate for a fourth term by the 
hc.r and people generally, hut on account of 
injuries received during his second term he 
did not feel physically able to undertake the 
work. On the 1st of June. [882, while re- 
turning to his home from Chicago the train 
on which he was a passenger was besieged 
by a mob of union strikers who desired to 
capture and beat certain non-union laborers 



who were being carried to their homes by 
the railroad company. The rioters began 
tiring in and about the cars and the Judge 
received a painful wound from which he has 
never recovered. lie held the railroad com- 
pany liable and brought suit to recover dam- 
ages. After a long and tedious litigation 
he carried it to a successful conclusion, al- 
though the great majority of the bar of the 
state, who knew of the circumstances, were 
against his views. The case is reported in 
volume [23, reports of the supreme court, 
being written by Judge John M. Scott, of 
Mloi uningti in. 

For some time after his retirement from 
the bench Judge Pillsbury attended to some 
selected cases, but was not able to do a 
heavy general practice. lie owns consider- 
heavy general practice. He owns consider- 
able real estate in Pontiac and built the first 
two-story double flat building ever erected 
ii the city, it being planned by himself. At 
one time he had a valuable farm of four 
bundled and fifty acres south of the city, 
and at different times has owned consider- 
able real estate in Nebraska, Kansas and 
C alifornia. He still has a fine ranch in south- 
ern California, devoted to oranges and 
lemons, and has spent a number of winters 
on the Pacific coast on account of his health. 
I le has traveled quite extensively and 
crossed the continent a dozen tunes. 

The Judge and his wife have a family 
of three children, namely: Clara A. is the 
wife of S. E. Sims, of Pontiac. and they 
have one child. Gladys; C. Avis is the wife 
of K. J. Walker, of Sheridan. Indiana, and 
the}- have one son, Ernest 1'.; and Dale V... 
ai home, is engaged in the real estate and 
loan business. Mrs. Pillsbury is a member 
of the Presbyterian church. 

In his political affiliations Judge Pills- 



i 7 8 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



bury is a Republican and has been a delegate 
to different state, county and judicial con- 
ventions. Socially he is a Knight Templar 
Mason, a member of Pontiac Lodge, No. 
344, F. & A. M. ; Fairbury Chapter. R. A. 
M ; and St. Paul Commandery, No. 34, K. 
T. He is also a member of the Odd Fel- 
lows lodge and encampment, in which he 
has held all the offices and has been a mem- 
ber of the grand lodge and grand encamp- 
ment since 1868. He was chairman of the 
building committee and of the trustees that 
erected the Odd Fellows block, but gave up 
bis official position when elected to the bench. 
He is a man of high intellectuality, broad 
human sympathies and tolerance, and is im- 
bued with fine sensibilities and clearly de- 
fined principles. Honor and integrity are 
synonymous with his name and he enjoys 
the respect, confidence and high regard of 
the people of this section of the state. 



NELSON I). LAWRENCE. 

Nelson D. Lawrence, one of Livingston 
county's thrifty and prosperous farmers re- 
siding on section 26, Pontiac township, with- 
in a mile of the city of Pontiac, was born in 
Warren county. Indiana. June 26, 1850, and 
is a son of Richard Lawrence, whose birth 
occurred in ( )hio March 8, 1826. His grand- 
father, William Lawrence, a native of Del- 
aware, was one of the early settlers of Ohio 
and also of Warren county. Indiana. In 
the latter stale Richard Lawrence grew to 
manhood and in Vermillion county, Indiana, 
he married Amanda Deyo, a native of that 
county. In [854 they came to Livingston 
county, Illinois, and settled on a tract of one 
hundred and sixty acres of wild land near 



Pontiac, which Mr. Lawrence transformed 
into a good farm. While a resident of Indi- 
ana he conducted a wagon shop, but he soon 
became a thorough farmer and acquired a 
comfortable competence. He was a man of 
fair education and sound judgment and 
was well and favorably known. He spent 
his last years in this county, but died while 
at Kirksville, Missouri, March 16, 1894. His 
first wife had passed away many years be- 
fore, dying October 24, 1858. She was 
born Februarv 6, 1830. 

On the home farm Nelson D. Lawrence 
grew to manhood, assisting in the operation 
of the same and attending the local schools. 
He remained with his father until grown 
and then worked by the month as a farm 
hand for seven or eight years, after which 
he rented land and engaged in farming on 
his own account. In 1880 he purchased his 
present farm and since his marriage, in 
1885. he has resided thereon, having im- 
proved the place with a good residence and 
substantial outbuildings. He has broken 
thirty acres of virgin soil, has laid many rods 
of tiling and converted the farm into one 
of the most valuable of its size in this sec- 
tion of the count}'. 

Mr. Lawrence was married, April 9, 
1885, to Miss Caroline M. McKee, a daugh- 
ter of James and Nancy (Sterrett) McKee, 
natives of Ohio. Her father was horn in 
Brown county, that state. June 19, 1813. 
and brought his family to Illinois in [856, 
locating in Livingston county, where he n; 
chased land and successfully engaged in 
farming for some years, but for the past 
five years has lived retired with Mr. and 
Mrs. Lawrence. His first wife, who was 
the mother of Mrs. Lawrence, died Sep- 
tember 5, 1868. She was born July 14, 
1822, and married Mr. McKee March 17, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



179 



[842. Ten children were horn of that union, 
five sons and five daughters, of whom nine 
readied mature years, and five sons and two 
daugnters are still living. Mr. McKee was 
postmaster of Rook's (.'reek postoffice for 
many years. Mrs. Lawrence was reared and 
educated in this county and by her marriage 
to our subject has become the mother of 
lour children, one of whom died in infancy. 
Octa I), and James are students in the home 
school. Alethea M. died June 29, [900. 

In jxilitics Mr. Lawrence is independent, 
voting tor the men he believes best qualified 
to till the offices, regardless of party lines. 
He takes an active interest in educational 
affairs and tor fifteen years has been a most 
efficient member of the school hoard, serving 
as clerk of the hoard five or six years. His 
estimable wife is a member of the l'resby- 
terian church and both are held in bjgh re- 
gard h vail who have the pleasure of their 
acquaintance. 



CHARLES R. TRUITT. I. 

Charles R. Truitt, the well-known and 
popular editor and proprietor of the Sentinel 
of Pontiac, was horn near llillshoro, Mont- 
gomery county, Illinois. July _'_', 1S5S. a 
son of Samuel and Cynthia Ann (Carr) 
Truitt. The father was horn about iXi.X. 
not far from Louisville, Kentucky, where 
he grew t< 1 manh >< id and married. < >n >m 
in^ to Illinois he first located in < ireene coun - 
ty. where he spent a feyv years, and then 
made an overland trip to California during 
the early days pf the gold excitement, re- 
maining there three years and meeting with 
fair success, lie thus obtained a good >tan 
in life, and on his return to this state pur- 
chased land in Montgomery count}-, becom- 



ing one of its early settlers and extensive 
farmers, owning and operating some five 
hundred .acres of land. There lie spent the 
remainder of his life, dying in February, 
1863. He took unite an active interest in 
educational affairs, hut was never an as- 
pirant for political honors. His wife sur- 
vived him for many years, dying in the sum- 
mer of 1 S' >4. Se was a faithful member of 
the Christian church and a most estimable 
woman. 

In the county of his nativity Charles R. 
Truitt was reared, acquiring his early edu- 
cation in its common schools. I le is a grad- 
uate of the Williston Seminary, a prepar- 
atory school of East Hampton. Massachu- 
setts. and for three years attended La Fayette 
College at Easton, Pennsylvania. Later lie 
successfully engaged in teaching for some 
years, being assistant principal of the public 
schools at llillshoro. He next became in- 
terested in newspaper work in the office of 
the llillshoro Journal and later purchased 
the paper, which he conducted about four- 
teen years with g 1 success. While there 

he took an active part in Republican politics, 
was a member of the county and township 
central committees and served as a delegate 
to the state convention of lis party. Under 
1 resident Harrison he served as deputy col 
lector of internal revenue in the eight of 
Springfield district for two years. 

After selling the llillshoro Journal, in 
[895, Mr. Truitt was out of husiness one 
year and then went to llelvidere. Illinois, 
and purchased a half interest in the I'.elvi- 
dere Northwestern, which he sold in the 
spring of 1897. In July of that year became 
to Pontiac and bought the Sentinel, which is 
the oldest paper in the county, being estab- 
lished in 1857, and which has always been 
the official Republican paper of the county. 



i8o 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



It is an eight-page weekly journal with a 
large circulation, which extends all over the 
county, and is in a nourishing - condition 
under the able management of our subject, 
who has entire charge of its publication. 
Socially he is a member of the Modern 
Woodmen of America and the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, and is past grand in 
the latter lodge at both Hillsboro and Belvi- 
dere. He attends and supports the Presby- 
terian church, of which his wife is a mem- 
ber. 

On the ist of October. 1882. Mr. Truitt 
n arried Miss Libbie E. Webber, who was 
born near Collinsville. Madison county. Illi- 
nois, a daughter of Nicholas "Webber, and 
they have become the parents of three chil- 
dren : Ora, Albert and Reulah. 



JEREMTAH COLLINS. 

Jeremiah Collins is one of the representa- 
tive agriculturists of Esmen township, his 
fine farm of two hundred and forty acres be- 
h.'g conveniently located on sections 23 and 
2^, within two miles and a half of Cayuga. 
He was born in Miami county. Ohio. Jan- 
uary 22, 1831, and is a son of Daniel Col- 
hns. a native of Darke county, the same 
state. His grandfather. Captain Jeremiah 
Collins, was born and reared in France and 
came to the United States with La Fayette 
to fight for .American independence. He 
held a captain's commission in the Revolu- 
tionary war. His last days were spent in 
Darke county. Ohio, where he opened a 
farm. There Daniel Collins grew to man- 
hood and married Nancy Penney, a native 
of Kentucky and a daughter of James Pen- 
nev, who was born in Virginia and was later 



one of the pioneers of Kentucky. In early 

life the father of our subject followed black- 
smithing in his native state until 1835. when 
he moved to Michigan and settled at St. 
Joseph, but three years later he crossed the 
lake and came to La Salle county. Illinois, 
becoming one of the first blacksmiths of Ot- 
tawa, where he arrived July id. [838, and 
where he made his home for some years. In 
1844 he located on a farm in Rutland town- 
ship and resided there until crossing the 
plains to California in 1850. After two 
years spent in the mines he returned east 
by way of the Panama route and New York. 
He continued to live on his farm for many 
years, but died at the home of a daughter 
ii Seneca about 1890. His wife had passed 
away some years previously. Of their thir- 
teen children, six reached years of maturity, 
but only Jeremiah and Maria, wife of 
George Pope, of Seneca. Illinois, are now 
living. 

Our subject grew to manhood in La 
Salle county and obtained a rather limited 
education in the district schools. In 1852 
lie, too, crossed the plains to the Pacific slope, 
being six months upon the road, and arriv- 
ing in Volcano, California. September m>. 
that year. He spent three years in that state, 
but only engaged in mining for a short time. 
He raised a crop of fall wheat, worked in 
the lumber woods over two years and in the 
fall of 1S5; operated a threshing machine. 
Bv way of the Panama route he returned 
home and saw the first railroad train he ever 
saw on the isthmus. From New York he 
proceeded to Chicago and arrived home in 
October, 1S55. He purchased a farm in 
La Salle county, which he operated until 
1872 and then sold, coming to Livingston 
county. He bought one hundred and sixty 
acres of land where he now resides; not a 



I 







JEREMIAH COLLINS. 




MRS. JEREMIAH COLLINS. 



i-w« 






THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



185 



tree or shrub adorned the place, with the 
exception of a wild ruse, and the house was 
small, lint to its improvement and cultiva- 
tion he has since devoted his energies and 
now has c.ne of the most desirable farms of 
its size in the township. lie has erected 
thereon a pleasanl residence, two good barns 
and other outbuildings, has tiled the land 
and placed it under a high state of cultiva- 
tion and has set out both fruit and shade 
trees, which add not a little to the attractive 
appearance of the place, lie has also added 
an eighty-acre tract to his first purchase. 

In La Salle county. November [9, [865, 
Mr. Collins married Miss Eliza J. Turner. 
a native of England and a daughter of 
George Turner, who came to the United 
States in 1844 and started as operator in 
the first woolen mills at Dayton, Illinois. 
Mrs. Collins died in La Salle county Febru- 
ary 6, 1872, leaving five children: George; 
William; Martha J., wife of Simon Slyder, 
of Owego township. Livingston comity; 
Charles; and Warren. .Mrs. Slyder is the 
owner of a can of cherries put up by her 
mother in July. 1859. and they are still in 
a perfect state of preservation and which 
are claimed to be the oldest in the state. All 
of the sons are married and live in Esmen 
township with exception of Warren, who 
makes his home in Pontiac township. Mr. 
Collins was again married, in Livingston 
county. October 20, [872, his second union 
being with Miss Rachel Wilkerson, who was 
horn and reared in Boonesboro, Kentucky. 
and came to McLean county, Illinois, with 
her parents, John and Mary Wilkerson. By 
this marriage four children were horn, 
namely: Mary, wife of Samuel Spears, a 
farmer of Pontiac township: Grace, wife of 
Arthur Donahue, a farmer of Minnesota; 
John E. and Sadie, both at home. 



Politically Mr. Collins and all his s< us 
are stanch supporters erf the Republican 
party, lie was originally a Democrat and 
cast his first presidential vote for Franklin 
Pierce in 1852. Onthesthof August, 1862, 
he enlisted in Company C, Lights- eighth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and participated 
in the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, but 
was soon discharged for disability, after 
being confined in the hospital at Nashville 
for some time. He is now a member of the 
T. Lyle Dickey Lost. No. 105. G. A. K.. at 
Pontiac. Always a friend of education and 
our public schools, he was for some years 
an active member of the school hoard both 
ir La Salle and Livingston counties, lie 
luis been a resident of this state for si\tv- 
two years and has therefore witnessed al- 
most its entire development, at the same time 
aiding in its advancement and progress. 



ALBERT L. YATES. 

Albert L. Yates, a successful veterinary 
surgeon of Dwight, Illinois, was horn in 
this county November 21, [868, a sun of | )r. 
Christopher and Almira ( Leal I Yates, both 
natives of New York, the former horn in 
Montgomery county December j^. 1837, the 
latter in Yates county December 23, 184J. 
The father, who was also a prominent 
veterinary surgeon, enlisted in the govern- 
ment service in that capacity during the 
Civil war anil served over three years. 
After the vvalr he located in Livingston 
county, Illinois, and engaged in farming on 
the Smith farm in Dwighl township for 
some time, then removed to Kankakee coun- 
tv ami from there to Iroquois count}-, hut 
in 1880 he returned to this county and again 



1 86 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



took up his residence on a farm in Dwight 
township. His sons then being old enough 
to carry on the farm work, lie devoted his 
time to the practice of veterinary surgery. 

In 1885 he moved to the village of Dwight 
and from that time until his death he gave 
his entire attention to practice. Politically 
he was an active worker for the Republican 
party and held a number of local offices in 
Livingston county. He was a man of fine 
physique, being over six feet in height, was 
well informed, intelligent and generous to 
a fault, and possessed a kindly disposition. 
Fraternally he was a meml>er of the Masonic 
order and Grand Army of the Republic. His 
wife died in Dwight township October 27, 
1881, and his death occurred in the village 
November 17. 1892. 

After the death of the mother the eldest 
daughter took her place as far as possible, 
and the family remained together on the 
farm, which the boys operated. There were 
eight children, namely : George C. and 
William H.. who are now farmers of South 
Dakota: Albert L.. our subject; Nellie M., 
wife of John Perkins, of Montgomery, Kane 
county, Illinois; Pert, a farmer and school 
teacher of South Dakota: Harry, who was 
born July 2. 1877. and died December 21, 
1880; Alice, wife of William Xeel. of Kane 
county; and Lefa M., wife of Fred Xeel, a 
brother of William. 

The boyhood and youth of our subject 
were passed upon the home farm and as he 
grew Up he received excellent practical train- 
ing and experience in veterinary work from 
association with his father. He assisted 
him in his work and also pursued a course 
of study under his direction, lie then passed 
a creditable examination and was granted 
a license by the state hoard. After his 1.1 
ther's death he succeeded to his practice and 



was alone until 1895, when he formed a 
partnership with M. L. Livingston, a grad- 
uate of the Ontario Veterinary College, but 
after being associated with him in practice 
for two vears he purchased his interest and 
has since been alone. Possessed of excellent 
ability and skill in his chosen profession he 
has built up a large practice, and by his 
straightforward course has won the esteem 
of the community in which he lives. Po- 
litically the Doctor is a stanch Republican, 
and fraternally is a member of the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Sons 
of Veterans. 

Mr. Yates was married. May 29, 1900, 
to Miss Agnes Chalmers, of Dwight, which 
was her home from childhood. She is a 
member of the Congregational church of 
Dwight. 



SAMUEL H. NICHOLS. 

Samuel II. Nichols, a dealer in paints, 
wall paper, etc.. at No. 113-115 West Water 
street. Pontiac, and one of its leading busi- 
ness men. was born in that city January 1. 
1863. a son of Samuel I!. and Lucretia 
il-'nN) Nichols. The father was a native 
of Norwich. England, where he was reared 
and educated. At the age of twenty years 
he crossed the broad Atlantic and settled 
in Hamilton. Canada, where he was engaged 
as a sailor on the great lakes and followed 
that life for some years, lie came to Pon- 
tiac. Illinois, on the 4th of July, 1853. ar- 
riving in this city on the First train that came 
over the Chicago & Alton Railroad. lie 
had been previously married, at Cincinnati, 
Ohio, to Miss Lucretia Fox, a native of 
Keene. New Hampshire, and a daughter of 
Samuel and Dorothy Fox, and l>v this union 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



187 



were born two children: Mrs. L. G. 
Schwartz, of Chicago, and Samuel 11.. our 
subject. After coming to Pontiac the fa- 
ther engaged in the restaurant business, 
which he continued until his death, which oc- 
curred September 30, 1865, He was a sol- 
dier of the Mexican war and a man highly 
respected and esteemed by all who knew 
him. His wife survived him many years, 
dying at Pontiac, in 1887, at the age of six- 
ty-three years. 

The subject of this sketch is indebted 
to the public schools of Pontiac for his edu- 
cational advantages. During his youth he 
learned the painter's and paper hanger's 
trade and worked as a journeyman until 
J 884, when he embarked in the same busi- 
ness on his own account, and has succeeded 
in building up a large and lucrative trade. 
lie has the only exclusive wall paper and 
paint store in the city or in fact in the coun- 
ty, and occupies two large sales rooms. No. 
i [3 and 1 15 Wot Water street, keeping on 
hand a large stock of paints, oils, brushes, 
wall paper, room moulding, etc. Mr. Nich- 
ols devotes his entire time to the store, tak- 
ing contracts for large jobs of painting and 
paper hanging, and furnishes employment 
to a large force of skilled workmen. 

On the 8th of September. 1888, in Pon- 
tiac, Mr. Nichols married Miss Mollie Har- 
rison, of Carthage. Missouri, a daughter of 
John W. and Mary Ann Harrison, of that 
city, where her father is engaged in business 
as a dealer in staple and fancy groceries at 
731 West Chestnut street. At present Mr. 
Nichols is living at 705 West Howard 
street. Pontiac, in a modern two-story frame 
dwelling erected by him in [898. 

He is an active and prominent member 
of Pontiac Camp. No. 5, M. W. A., of which 
he is at present banker, and a member of 



the Pioneer Reserve Association, in which 
order lie is serving as local deputy. Re- 
ligiously he is a member of the Presbyterian 
church. By his ballot he supports the men 
and measures of the Republican party, and 
in the spring of 1900 was its candidate for 
alderman from the second ward, where he 
is so well and favorably known, it having 
always been his home. As a business man 
Ik ranks among the ablest in the city, being 
enterprising, energetic and industrious, and 
the success that he has achieved in life is due 
to his own well-directed efforts, for in stain- 
ing out in life for himself he was without 
capital or influential friends to aid him. but 
to-day is a prosperous and successful busi- 
ness man. 



JOHN MUNSON. 

John Munson, one of the honored vet- 
erans of the Civil war and a well known 
tanner residing on section _>o, Owego town- 
ship, four miles from Pontiac. was bom 
November 28, [842, in Denmark, where he 
was reared and educated. He worked on a 
farm and learned the carpenter's trade ' 
fore his emigration to America in [860. 
On landing in this country he proceeded t<> 
La Salle county, llliii"is. where lie found 
employment as a farm hand for one year. 
In [862 he enlisted in Company B, One 
Hundred and Fourth Illinois Volunteer In- 
fantry, which formed a part of the \rm\ 
the Tennessee. 1 , and lie participated 111 the 

battle of Hartsville, ["ennessee, where he 

was taken prisoner with his regiment. He 
was held a captive at Murfreesljoro until 
paroled and sent to Camp I base. ( Hlio, and 
later to Camp Douglas, Chicago, where he 
was exchanged at the <:\i<l of sj\ weeks. In 



i88 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the meantime lie contracted inflammatory 
rheumatism and was sent to the hospital. 
When he had sufficiently recovered his 
health to be about he was placed on hospital 
dutv and served in that capacity until hon- 
orably discharged at the close of the war. in 
1865. He has never yet fully recovered 
from the effects of his army service. 

On receiving his discharge Mr. Munson 
joined a brother in Livingston county, but 
later returned to La Salle county, where he 
spent one year. At the end of that time he 
located permanently in this county, where he 
and his brother operated a rented farm for 
two or three years, and for three years he 
clerked in a store in Pontiac. Subsequently 
he engaged in the clothing" and gents fur- 
nishing business in that city for five years, 
and at the end of that time traded his stock 
of goods for a farm west of Pontiac, but 
sold that place at the end of a year and 
Ijought the farm in Owego township where 
he now resides. At that time it was but 
slightly improved, but he has planted an 
orchard, erected a neat and substantial resi- 
dence and a good barn, and to-day has a 
well-improved and valuahle farm of eighty 
acres. Me also has another eighty acres on 
section iS. the same township. This prop- 
erty has all been acquired by industry, per- 
severance and good management, for he 
came to this county empty-handed and has 
had to make his own way in the world un- 
aided. 

On the 30th of December, 1874, Mr. 
Munson was united in marriage with Miss 
Elizabeth Duff, a native of Hunting-don 
county, Pennsylvania, who came to Illinois 
with her father. Charles Duff, in 1866. at 
the age of about fifteen years, locating on a 
farm in Pontiac township, this county. By 
this union were l>orn two children. Eva, the 



elder, is now the wife of Benjamin Miller, 
a farmer of Owego township, and they have 
two children. Wilbur John and Frances Eliz- 
abeth. Louis D.. the only son of our sub- 
ject, assists in the operation of the home 
farm. Mr. and Mrs. Munson have given 
a home to a little girl. Toleto Hansen, whom 
they are now rearing. 

Politically Mr. Munson is a stanch sup- 
porter of the Republican party, having cast 
his first presidential vote for I". S. Grant in 
1868, and for every nominee of the party 
since that time. Socially he is a Master 
Mason, and religiously both he and his wife 
are memhers of the Methodist Episcopal 
church of Pontiac. They are widely and 
favorably known and have a host of warm 
friends in the community where they re- 
side. 



HORATIO X. VAUGHAN. 

Horatio X. Yaughan. whose home 
is at Xo. 5_'_» Xorth Chicago street. Pontiac, 
Illinois, is one of the prominent citizens of 
that place, a leader in musical circles. He 
is a native of Springfield. Sullivan county, 
Xew Hampshire, and a son of John 
and Mary (Moran) Yaughan. Her paternal 
grandparents were Samuel and Elizabeth 
1 Rider) Yaughan, natives of Halifax, Nova 
Scotia, who moved from there to St. Mar- 
tin's. Xew Brunswick, where the grandfa- 
ther died at an advanced age. He followed 
the ship carpenter's trade throughout life, 
hut also devoted a great deal of time to the 
study of music and was a proficient player 
on several instruments, his favorite being 
the violin. He was a member of an orches- 
tra and band in St. Johns. Xew Bruns- 
wick, 



Till-: IUOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



189 



John Vaughan, the father of our subject, 
was also horn In Halifax, Nova Scotia, and 
was married at St. Martin's, New Bruns- 
wick, but sunn afterward he left Canada and 
removed to Sullivan county, New Hamp- 
shire, where all of his ten children were 
born, our subject being the youngest. There 
he engaged in farming on quite an extensive 
scale, though, during his early life in Nova 
Scotia, he had followed the ship carpenter's 
trade. In [837 he came to Illinois and was 
one of the first settlers of Princeton, where 
lie conducted a hotel for ten years and then 
lived retired until his death, which occurred 
in 1877, when he was eighty-seven years 
of age. Only two of his family are now- 
living, our subject and his brother, John, a 
retired merchant of Seattle, Washington. 

Until he attained his majority, Horatio 
N. Vaughan remained under the parental roof 
and was educated in Illinois by private 
tutors. At the age of twelve years be com- 
menced the study of music and received in- 
struction on the violin from some of the 
best local teachers of that day. He contin- 
ued his studies for a number of years and 
be has since given his time and attention to 
that art as a profession. About 1862 he 
became connected with the hand and orches- 
tra of a theatrical company, and, as leader 
oi the orchestra, traveled with some of the 
leading theatrical and show companies as 
the Van Amherg, and others, at that time. 
Leaving the road in 1872, he taught music 
as a band instructor in various cities of Illi- 
nois and Wisconsin until locating in Ponti- 
ac in December, 1877. Here he formed a 
class on the violin, and with the exception 
of a few- years spent in Seattle, Washington, 
he has since taught music at this place. 
About nine years ago he organized and be- 
came leader of the Vaughan orchestra of 



Pontiac, consisting of fourteen pieces, which 
still exists and is the leading musical organi- 
zation of the city, its services being in great 
demand. Most of the players were former 
pupils of Mr. Vaughan. 

In .May, 1880, at Pontiac, Mr. Vaughan 
married Miss Margaret A. Stites, a daugh- 
ter of Dr. J. J. Stites, one of the prominent 
physicians of this city. She is a highly ed- 
ucated lady and also an accomplished mu- 
sician, receiving her musical education at the 
College of Music in Cincinnati, under the 
management of Theodore Thomas, one of 
the most noted musicians this country has 
produced. She plays first violin in her hus- 
band's orchestra, and as teacher of the piano 
forte has a large private class. She is also 
supervisor of music in the public schools of 
Pontiac, a position she has most creditably 
filled fur a number of years, and which re- 
quires much of her time and attention every 
day. As will be seen Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan 
are among the most prominent musicians of 
the city and are entirely devoted to their 
art. 



OWEN EEEHAX. 

Owen Eeehan, one of the most popular 
and influential citizens of Nevada township, 
Livingston county, whose home is on sec- 
tion 20, was born in Grundy county, Illi- 
nois, June 15, 1 SO 1, and is a son of Owen 
and Maria (Killian) Feeban, natives of 
Lings county, Ireland, where the father 
followed the occupation of farming. Soon 
after their marriage they emigrated to the 
United State- and took up their residence 
in Grundy county, Illinois, where he pur- 
chased land, making their home there until 
1869, when they removed to Nevada town- 



190 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ship. Livingston county. Here he had pre- 
viously purchased the south half of section 
_'0, which at that time was unimproved land, 
but was soon transformed bv him into one 
of the most desirable farms in the locality. 
He continued to reside there until the spring 
■ if 1892, when he moved to Odell and has 
since lived in retirement from active labor, 
enjoying a well-earned rest. He and his 
wife are members of the Catholic church of 
that place, and are highly respected and es- 
teemed by all who know them. To this 
worthy couple were born ten children, eight 
of whom reached man and womanhood, 
namely : Patrick, a resident of Nevada town- 
ship ; John, of Seward county, Nebraska; 
Lawrence, of Nevada township, this county; 
Ellen, wife of J. C. Lennan, a merchant 
of Odell; Charles, a molder by trade and a 
resident of Morris, Illinois; Lizzie, wife of 
John Care}-, a farmer living near Kinsman, 
Grundy county ; Owen, our subject, and Ed- 
ward, who was accidentally killed by the 
train at a crossing at Kinsman. 

The subject of this review began his ed- 
ucation in the schools of Grundy county, 
and after coming to this county, at the age 
of eight vears, continued his studies in the 
schools of Nevada township. When he first 
located here the nearest school was three 
miles from his home. He continued to at- 
tend school at intervals until he attained his 
majority, and acquired a good, practical ed- 
ucation. 

< Mi the 1st of June, 1887, Mr. Feehan 
married Miss Julia A. Feehan, who was born 
in Grundy county, June 18, 1861, and suc- 
cessfully engaged in teaching for seven years 
prior to her marriage, having charge of the 
school in district No. 4, where she now re- 
sides, besides six years in other counties. 
She was educated in L'tica, La Salle county, 



Illinois. Her father. John Feehan, was a 
native of Ireland and came to the new world 
in early youth, lie resided in La Salle 
county for many years, but his last days 
were spent in Grundy county, where he died 
in 1891. He had a family of seven chil- 
dren, six of whom grew to maturity, and in 
order of birth these are as follows: Sarah, 
wife of M. J. Dempsey, who is engaged in 
the shoe business in Chicago; Kate, widow 
of J. M. Dempsey, who was engaged in the 
grocery and meat business in that city, where 
she still resides; John, a detective and ser- 
geant on the Chicago police force; Thomas 
P., who conducts a grocery and meat mar- 
ket in the same city; Julia A., wife of our 
subject, and Vincent, who is in the employ of 
the Cuhadv Meat Company, pi Chicago. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Feehan were born five chil- 
dren, namely : Edith Balbina, who died at 
the age of eleven months; Mary Alice, Grace 
Agnes and Julia K., all in school, and Eliza- 
beth Veronica, a bright baby of two and a 
half years. 

After his marriage, Mr. Feehan moved 
to Chicago, where he was engaged in busi- 
ness for two years, but at the end of that 
time he returned to Livingston county. He 
operated rented land for a time, and then lo- 
cated on the old homestead, where he is op- 
erating one hundred and sixty acres of well 
improved and highly cultivated land, and is 
meeting with good success. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Feehan are members 
of the Catholic church of Odell, of which 
Father Griffey is pastor, and he also belongs 
to St. Paul's Court, No. 618, Catholic Order 
of Foresters, of the same place, of which he 
is one of the trustees, and is a member of 
Nevada Cam]). No. 4070, Modern Woodmen 
of America, of which he is advisor. As a 
I lemocrat he has always taken an active part 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



191 



in politics; lias been a delegate to county 
conventions a number of times, and is new a 
member of the township central committee 
of liis party. On attaining his majority, he 

was elected school director, which office he 
held for six years, and for one year he 
served as collector, lie was road commis- 
sioner the same length of time, and assessor 
six years. In the spring of iyoo he was 
elected supervisor of his township and re- 
signed the office of assessor. 

His public service has been most exem- 
plary and his private life has been marked 
by the utmost fidelity to duty. He has 
given his support to all measures for the pub- 
he good, and is justly numbered among the 
valued and useful citizens of his community. 



\\ ILLIAM F. C. LEHMAXX. 

Germany has furnished to the new world 
many of its most enterprising and progres- 
sive citizens — men who have taken an active 
part in the development of the locality in 
which they make their home, and have ex- 
erted a great influence for good in the com- 
munity. Air. Lehmann is a worthy repre- 
sentative of this class, lie has met with 
well deserved success in his adopted country, 
and is now the owner of a valuable farm of 
four hundred acres on section 29, Owego 
township, Living-ton county, Illinois, four 
miles and a half east of Pontiac. 

Mr. Lehmann was born in -Mecklenburg, 
German}-, May 1, 1853, and attended the 
schools of his native land, but is wholly 
self-educated in English. In 1871, at the 
age of eighteen years he emigrated to the 
United States and first located in Peoria 
county, Illinois, where some friends from 



the fatherland were living. He obtained 
work on the farm of William Spicer, a sub- 
stantial fanner of that county, who proved 
a good friend to the German lad. and he re- 
mained in his employ four years. ]n 1876 
be came to near Chenoa, in Livingston coun- 
ty, where he commenced life for himself 
upon a rented farm of one hundred and sixty 
acres, which he successfully operated for 
seven years. At length, in i88_>, he was 
able to purchase one hundred and twenty 
acres of land in Owego township, where he 
HOW resides. At that time it was only par- 
tially improved, and the house standing 
thereon was quite small, but it has since been 
replaced by a more commodious and sub- 
stantial residence, the land has been tiled, 
lences built, also a good barn, and water 
works and stock scales added, making it one 
of the best equipped farms in the locality. 
He has also extended the boundaries of his 
farm until they now include four hundred 
acres of rich and fertile land. This prop- 
erty has all been acquired through his own 
well-directed efforts, and he is to-day one 
of the substantial men of Owego township. 
• In this county, Mr. Lehmann was mar- 
ried, January _>_>, 1877, to Miss Augusta, 
I .ouise Leduc, who was born in New York 
City. Her father, General Louis Leduc, 
was a native of Prance and a highly edu- 
cated gentleman, speaking eight different 
languages. He was an officer in the French 
army and took part in several wars. Later 
he came to America and was married in Xew 
N ork city, where he made his home for some 
time, but subsequently came to Livingston 
county, Illinois. 1 1 ere Mis. Lehmann was 
reared and educated by her father. Of the 
ten children 1" >m t' 1 1 >ur subject and his wife, 
two died in infancy. Those living are: Lena, 
now the wife of George Rights, a farmer of 



ig: 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Owego township, by whom she had a son, 
William; Albert, who assists his father in 
the operation of the farm; Emma, William, 
Mattie, Julius, Rudolph and Willis Ellis, all 
at home. 

By his ballot Mr. Lehmann supports the 
men and measures of the Republican party, 
but has never cared for official honors. He 
is now serving as Canada thistle commis- 
sioner and as school director, having been 
president of the district board for fourteen 
years. He and his wife are prominent and 
influential members of the German Baptist 
church.and he takes a very active part in Sun- 
day school work, serving as president of the 
township Sunday school society seven years. 
For some years he was superintendent of the 
Methodist Episcopal Sunday school, and 
now holds the same position in the Swigart 
Sunday school. For a few years he was su- 
perintendent of both Sunday schools at 
the same time. In all the relations of life 
he has been found true to every trust reposed 
in him, whether public or private, and justly 
deserves in the high regard in which he is 
uniformly held. 



JOHN KLEIX. 

John Klein, one of Pike township's most 
progressive and public-spirited citizens, 
owns and operates a well-improved and val- 
uable farm of two hundred and forty acres 
on section _>_•. He is a native of Germany, 
horn in Rheinpfalz, Bavaria, August 24, 
1833, and is a son of Jacob and Margaret 
(Weiser) Klein, also natives of that coun- 
try, where the father followed the weaver's 
trade. In 1855. accompanied by his family, 
he emigrated to America and located in 



Tazewell county, where some of his friends 
from Germany had previously settled and 
w here he rented a little house. At that time 
he had four sons and one daughter, all of 
whom worked and it took their wages for 
one vear to pay their passage across the At- 
lantic and the expenses of their trip to this 
state. The second year the father rented a 
farm in Deer Creek township, Tazewell 
county, for one-half the crop raised, and in 
1864 purchased a farm in Pike township, 
Livingston county, upon which lie spent the 
remainder of his life, dying there in Decem- 
her. 1878, his wife in 1874. In their family 
were seven children, of whom four sons and 
one daughter are still living. 

Our suhject acquired a good practical 
education in the common schools of his na- 
tive land, which he attended for eight years, 
but his knowledge of the English language 
has been self-acquired. At the age of four- 
teen he commenced earning his own liveli- 
hood, working ,,ut while in Germany, and 
for four years after coming to this country 
he worked for and assisted his father in get- 
ting a start. He then began life for him- 
self as a farmer upon rented land. 

In Tazewell county Mr. Klein was mar- 
ried, January 25, 1864, to Miss Margaret 
Moschel, also a native of Bavaria and a 
daughter of Christian and Margaret 
Moschel. Her father, who was a cabinet- 
maker by trade, died in Germany, and sub- 
sequently she and her mother and seven 
children came to the new world in 1862, lo- 
cating in Tazewell county, Illinois, where 
she lived for several years and then came to 
Pike township, Livingston county, where 
she purchased a farm and there died Octo- 
ber 4, 1 SS< 1. Mr. and Mrs. Klein are the 
parents of seven children, namely : Katie, 
wife 1 if Theodore Lommatsch, of Pike town- 




JOHN KLEIN. 




MRS. JOHN KLEIN. 








id Tildany 




THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



'97 



ship, has two children, Clara and Ralph; 
Lena, wife of Louis Lommatsch, of the 
same township, has one son. Elmer; 
\mia. at home; John married Miss Katie 
Schoenbeck, and they have one daughter, 
Mabel, and he operates a pari of his father's 
farm; Matilda, August and Emelia, at 
home; one, the oldest of the family, died in 
infancy, 

For four years after his marriage Mr. 
Klein continued to rent land in Tazewell 
county, and in [869 came ti> Livingston 
county, locating upon a partially improved 
farm of forty acres in Pike township, which 
he had purchased a year or two before. As 
lii s financial resources have increased he has 
added to his landed possessions from time 
to time until he now has two hundred and 
forty acres of rich and arable land, which 
lie has placed under excellent cultivation and 
improved with a good set of farm buildings. 
His success in life is due to his industry, 
enterprise and good management, lie is 

a man of g 1 business ability and sound 

judgment, and carries forward t<> successful 
completion whatever he undertakes. 

Originally Mr. Klein was identified with 
the Democratic party and cast his first pies 
idential vote fur Samuel J. Tilden in 1876, 
hut of recent years has been independent in 
politics, supporting the best men. regardless 
of party affiliations, lie has taken a very 
active and influential part in public affairs, 
has been a delegate to many county, sena- 
torial, congressional and state conventions, 
and has been honored with a number of im- 
portant official positions, having served as 
township clerk fourteen years, supervisor 
two year-, assess. ,r two years, justice of the 
peace eight years, a member of the school 
board, and president and clerk of the dis- 
trict manv years. I lis official duties have 



always been most faithfully and satisfac- 
torily performed, winning the commenda- 
tion "I all concerned. In (885 Mr. Klein 
and X. J. Myer ami others established the 
Eppards Point Fire Insurance Company, 
and the former was made president, the 
latter secretary of the same. Our subject 
is .me of the most public spirited and enter- 
prising men of his community and has done 
much to aid in tin- development and further 
the interests of Pike township. Religiously 
he and his wife are members of the Lu- 
theran church. 



CHARLES EDWARD WATSl IN. 

Charles Edward Watson, now deceased, 
was honi in Indiana, in which state he was 
reared and educated. In his youth he learned 
the trade of wagonmaker and when a young 
man he came to I'mitiac, first, in [857, and 
for a time engaged in his chosen occupation, 
lie later returned to his native state, hut in 
[862 again came to Pontiac, which continued 
his In mie until his death. 

( >n the K)th of April, 1864, Mr. Watson 
was united in marriage with Miss Cordelia 
Buck, by whom he had three children. Clara 
W. is now the wife of Alexander Algeo, a 
farmer of Rooks (reek township, and the) 
have two children. Anna Louise and Walter 
Samuel. Jesse X.. born January [3, [870, 
married April 14. [897, Miss Mary Lorena 
t loss, of Peoria, and they reside in Chicago, 
where he is engaged as a draughtsman. 
W'illim A., horn September 4. 1872, is a 
contractor and builder in Larkin, Kansas. 
While still residing in Pontiac, he did a 
good deal of architectural work, 

Mr. Watson was called to his reward 

May 4. [887. Fraternally he was a member 



i 9 S 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 
Politically he was a Republican, and for a 
time held the office of street commissioner 
of Pontiac. 

Mrs. Watson still makes her home in 
Pontiac, where she is well known and great- 
ly esteemed. She inherited the musical 
talent of her father and has sung in the 
choirs of the Methodist Episcopal, Baptist 
and Presbyterian churches of Pontiac, thus 
aiding bv her voice the worship in song in 
the various churches. 



JOHX H. OLESOX. 

Among the prosperous and successful 
farmers of Esmen township, Livingston 
county, who have made their own way in the 
world unaided and have succeeded in ac- 
cumulating a handsome competence, is John 
H. Oleson, whose home is on section 30. 
lie was horn in Norway, in 1850, and when 
seven years of age was brought to the United 
States by his father, Ole H. Oleson, who 
first settled in La Salle county, Illinois, and 
came to Livingston county five years later, 
locating in Esmen township, where he is 
now living a retired life with his youngest 
son, at the age of seventy-eight years. lie, 
too, was an agriculturist and met with ex- 
cellent success in his labors. 

Since the age of twelve years John II. 
Oleson has been a resident of Livingston 
county and is indebted to her public schools 
for his educational advantages. The old 
homestead adjoins the farm where he now 
lives, and he aided in its operation until 
twent) four years of age. lie was then 
married, in this county, June 10. 1S74. to 
Miss Isabel Highland, who was also horn 



in Norway, and came to this country at the 
age of six years with her father, Ole High- 
land. They settled in Livingston count}', 
where she grew to womanhood. The chil- 
dren horn to our subject and his wife are: 
Elsie, wife of Benjamin Peterson, of Liv- 
ingston county; Cordelia, wife of Oscar 
Hetland ; Ida, wife of George Thompson; 
Clara and Ohed. both at home. 

For two years after his marriage Mr. 
( Meson engaged in farming upon rented land 
and then purchased eighty acres of raw 
prairie land, on which he now resides, and to 
the improvement and cultivation of which 
lie has since devoted his energies with most 
gratifying results. As he has prospered he- 
has added to his farm two eighty-acre tracts, 
and now has a tine place of two hundred and 
forty acres, which he has tiled, fenced and 
placed under a high state of cultivation, 
in addition to this he has an eighty-acre 
tract, given him by his father, making a total 
ot three hundred and twenty acres. He 
possesses many of the admirable character- 
istics of the Norwegian people, being in- 
dustrious, economical and persevering, and 
to these may he attributed his wonderful suc- 
cess. Bv his ballot he supports the men and 
measures of the Republican party, and has 
served as school director in his district. He 
and his wife are members of the Lutheran 
charqh and are widely and favorably known 
throughout their section of the countv. 



CHRISTIAN VERCLER. 

For over a quarter oi a century this gen- 
tleman has been prominently identified with 
the agricultural interests of Livingston coun- 
ty, and now owns and successfully operates 
a valuable farm of three hundred and twenty 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



199 



acres on sections 27, 31 and 33, Pike town- 
Ship, He was born July 14. [852, in the 
province of Lorraine, France, now a part of 
Germany, and is a son id Christian Vercler, 
Sr., one "t the most prosperous and pro- 
gressive farmers in that part of the county. 
He was educated in both the French and 
German languages, but has acquired lii> 
kn< iw ledge 1 >t English since o iming n 1 Amer- 
ica. He mailed from Havre and landed in 
New York, September -'7. [872, and came 
direct to Livingston county, Illinois. Two 
years later he was joined by his father, who 
bought two hundred and forty acres of land 
in Pike t( >\\ nship, hut w as not long permitted 
to enjoy his new home, as he died the same 
year. 

On his arrival here our subject com- 
menced working by the month at farm labor, 
and was thus employed for a year and a 
half. He then assisted his father in the im- 
provement and cultivation of the place, and 
after the latter's death, he and his brothers, 
Andrew. Joseph, Jacob ami Peter, continued 
its operation for three years. In 18X1 our 
subject purchased eight) acres of his present 
farm, and to it he has since added until lie 
now owns an excellent farm of three hun- 
dred and twenty acres, which he has placed 
under a high state of cultivation and im 
proved with good anil substantia] buildings. 
He has made for himself an In inorable reo »rd 
in business and by his well-directed efforts 
has acquired a handsome competence. 

On the 1st of January, [881, in Pike 
township, Mr. Vercler was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Emma B. Le Due, a native 
of that township and a daughter of one of its 
most prominent old settlers. Louis Le hue. 
Five children hlcsscd this union, hut Bertha 
died m childhood. Those living are. Will- 
iam. Alice, Rudolph and Nettie. 



By his ballot Mr. Vercler usually sup- 
ports the men and measures of the Demo- 
cratic party, hut at local elections votes in- 
dependent of party lines, supporting the men 
whom he believes besl qualified to till the 
offices. lie served some years as township 
clerk, collector of taxes one year, highway 
commissioner six years, and a member of the 
school hoard and district clerk nineteen 
years. He is a worthy representative of 
that class of citizens who lead quiet, in- 
dustrious, honest and useful lives, and con 
stitute the best portion of the community. 
Religions! \ he is a member of the Mennonite 
church. Mrs. Vercler is a member of the 
German Baptist church. 



JOHN W. BRUNER. 

John W. Bruner, a prominent and repre- 
sentative business man of Pontiac, residing 
on East Water street, was horn in (ireene 
comity, Ohio, July 8, (837, a son of Peter 
and Elizabeth (Tytus) Bruner. The father 
and mother were both horn in Loudoun 
county, Virginia, and about 1835 removed 
to ( Muo, locating near Xenia. where he en- 
gaged in milling and mercantile business. 
Later he carried on the dry-goods business 
in Butler county and at < iermantown, Mont- 
gomery county, Ohio, and from that state 
he moved to Wabash county, Indiana, where 
he purchased a large tract of land and en 
gaged in fanning throughout the remainder 
of his life, dying there in [852. His widow 
continued to reside on the farm until 1855, 
when she went to live with her brother, F. 
J. Tytus a prominent merchant and pork 
packer of Middletown, Butler county, Ohio, 
and a very wealthy and benevolent man, who 



200 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



was born February 5. 180O. and died at the 
age of sixty years. After living with him 
two years. Mrs. Bruner made her home with 
her son-in-law. Dr. Samuel Stewart, in Ham- 
ilton, Ohio, where she died at the age of 
about sixty years. The Bruner "family is of 
German descent, the grandfather of our sub- 
ject having come to this country from (ler- 
many with three brothers and settled ill the 
west. Peter Brunei", who was born Decem- 
ber 2, 1791, was a son of George Peter 
Bruner. His wife, Elizabeth, born Febru- 
ary -'3. 1801, was a daughter of Tunis and 
Jane '1 ytus. 

To Peter and Elizabeth (Tytus) Bruner 
were born five children, four of whom 
reached years of maturity, namely: (1) 
Francis J., who owned a large sugar plan- 
tation in Louisiana, was a Confederate sol- 
dier in the Civil war, and died in that state 
in 1899. Three of his children are still liv- 
ing on the plantation. ( 2 I Jennie E. is the 
widow of Dr. Samuel Stewart and is now- 
living in Pontiac, Illinois. She has three 
children: Frank, a finisher in the shoe fac- 
tory of that place; Lizzie, wife of S. W. 
Strong, assistant superintendent of the Illi- 
nois slate reformatory, and John P., who 
is employed in the shoe factory. ( 3 ) Will- 
iam 11. married Elizabeth Cook, of Pontiac, 
and is engaged in the grocery business in 
that city. (4) John \\\, our subject, is the 
youngest of the family. 

During his boyhood John \Y. Bruner at- 
tended the common schools of Butler county, 
Ohio, and completed his education at Den- 
nison University, Granville, that state. He 
remained at home until 1852, and after leav- 
ing college entered the dry goods business 
at Cincinnati and later at Middletown, in 
1 86 1, where he remained until the fall of 
1864, when he sold out and came to Pon- 



tiac, Illinois. For nine years he carried on 
farming in Pontiac township, Livingston 
count)', where he owned two hundred and 
sixty acres, and also three hundred and 
twenty acres in Eppards Point township, and 
also raised, bought and sold stock. At the 
end of that period he removed to the city of 
Pontiac, where he has since engaged in the 
real estate and stock business, meeting with 
marked success. He has also three thousand 
acres of land near Stuttgart, Arkansas, 
which is devoted to stock raising at the pres- 
ent time. He is an enterprising and pro- 
gressive business man. energetic and reliable, 
and easily wins the confidence and good will 
of all with whom he conies in contact. Po- 
litically, he is a stanch Republican, but has 
never cared for official honors, while re- 
ligiously he is a member of the Baptist 
church, and socially affiliates with the 
Knights of Pythias, being one of the older 
members. 

On the 15th of August. 1N01. Mr. 
Bruner married Miss Eliza J. Crane, a 
daughter of Stephen C. and Elizabeth 
(Simpson) Crane. Her father, a native of 
New York, moved to Butler county. Ohio, 
at an earlv day and there engaged in farm- 
ing with most gratifying success, becoming 
the owner of a large amour* of both farm 
and city property. About [865 he brought 
his family to Pontiac, where he engaged in 
the real estate business quite extensively. 
lie was a large stockholder in the first coal 
shaft sunk at this place, and was also con- 
nected with the first woolen mill established 
here. lie seemed to prosper in all his un- 
dertakings and accumulated considerable 
wealth. Me died in Pontiac, in 1880, leav- 
ing over two thousand acres of improved 
farming land in Livingston county, besides 
a large am. unit of city property and a thou- 



Till-'. LlnCKAl'HICAL RKCOkD. 



20I 



sand aero of land in Other parts of the 
west. Mrs. Bruner was born in Butler coun 
ty. Ohio, January 25, 1843. Of the four 
children born to our subject and his wife 
only one is living. Hal ('.. residing at 208 
East Water street, is engaged in the tile 
business in Pontiac, and is also interested 
in a manufacturing business in Chicago. 
He married Carrie S. Sims, of Pontiac, and 
the) have three children, namely: Eva, 
I ,ei m< ira and Crane. 



JOHN BALMER, Sr. 

A brilliant example of a self-made \mer- 
ican citizen ami a grand examplification ol 
the progress that an ambitious foreigner can 
make in this country of unbounded oppor- 
tunities, is shown in the ease of John Balmer, 
"lie (if the most successful and prosperous 
fanners and stock raisers <<i Livingston 
county, lie resides mi section _'<>. Pontiac 
township, within 1 me mile of the city of Pon- 
tiac. 

Mr. Balmer was born in Switzerland. Oc- 
tober 31, [829, and came to America with 
his father, Christian Balmer, in [840, lo- 
cating first in Hancock county, Ohio, near 
the present city of Findlay, where the father 
bought land. With the assistance of his 
sons he cleared and improved his place, trans- 
forming it into a good farm. There he died 
about 1853. 

Our subject attended the public schools 
of his native land, hut his knowledge of Eng 
lish has been acquired through Ins own ef- 
forts since coming to the new world, at the 
age of eleven years. lie aided his father in 
the arduous task of clearing the home farm, 
and remained with him until grown. It was 



in 1852 that he came to Livingston county, 
Illinois, and the following year he purchased 
the farm where he now resides, consisting of 
one hundred and thirty-seven acres, which he 
bought in partnership with his brother-in- 
law, hut since 1N01 he has been sole owner 
of the place. As an agriculturist he has 
steadily prospered, and has added to his 
landed possessions from time to time until 
lie is now the owner of eleven hundred acres 
of valuable land in this county, besides his 
investments in Nebraska and Kansas. In 
connection with general fanning he has en- 
gaged extensively in the raising and feeding 
1 if cattle for market. 

In the fall of [854, Mr. Balmer drove 
hack to Ohio, and was there married to Miss 
Nancy Adkins, a native of Pickaway county, 
that state, and a daughter of David Adkins. 
By this union four children have been born, 
namely: Melissa is now the wife of Allen 
Scott, of Joplin, Missouri, and they have 
two children, John and Pearl; J. I'., who 
assists in the operation of the home farm, 
married Anna Belle Blair, and they have 
two children living, Everet and Angie. two 
having died: Leonard S. is at home, and 
Anna is the wife of Madison Phipps, a 
farmer of this county, and they have one 
child, Jesse K. 

In his political views Mr. Balmer is a 
stanch Republican, bul at local elections he 
endeavors to support the best man, regard- 
less of part affiliations. He has never cared 
for public office, preferring to devote his 
entire time and attention to his extensive 
business interests. Socially he is a mem- 
ber of the Odd Fellows society at Pontiac, 
and has tilled all the chairs, being at present 
past grand of his lodge. For almost a half- 
centurv he has made his home in Livingston 
county, and has bore his part in its develop- 



202 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ment during that period. He lias seen the 
swamps drained, and a large tract of what 
at first appeared to be waste land trans- 
formed into rich and fertile fields. The 
career of Mr. Balmer seems almost phe- 
nomenal, yet his success is by no means the 
result of fortunate circumstances. It has 
come to him through energy, labor and per- 
severance, directed by an evenly balanced 
mind and honorable business principles. He 
lias always made the most of his opportuni- 
ties,and his successful life excites the admira- 
tion of all. 



WILLIAM ARMITAGE. 

William Armitage, deceased, was born in 
Tipperary. Ireland, on the 13th of Decem- 
btr. 1826, and when twenty-two years of age 
came to the United States with his father, 
Richard Armitage, who settled in Wayne 
county. Xew York, where he died at an ad- 
vanced age. Our subject located in Roch- 
ester, Xew York, where he engaged in the 
manufacture of brick for a short time, and 
in 1865 came to Illinois, settling near Odell. 
Livingston county, where he engaged in 
farming for a few years and then established 
himself in the brick and tile business in 
Odell, in which line be was engaged for 
over twenty years. ] le commenced life as a 
poor boy, hut by his industry, perseverance 
and upright dealing with all with whom he 
came in business contact, he soon became a 
thrifty business man, and one who had the 
respect of all his fellow citizens. 

When Mr. Armitage first settled in Odell 
there was no church or cemetery in the place, 
and he helped build the first church and was 
always a large contributor to it- support. 
Ili-, business constantly increased under his 



able management until it became one of the 
leading industries of that part of the coun- 
try, furnishing employment to a large num- 
ber of men and turning out a product all 
knew as excellent. Later he sold the tile 
and brick business to Trecker Brothers and 
moved to Iowa, but after spending two years 
in that state he returned to Odell, where he 
made his home until the fall of 1899 arR l 
then came to Pontiac to live quietly after 
the labors of a well-spent life, during which 
he had prospered. He had surrounded him- 
self by all the comforts of life and was en- 
joying the rest which comes to the faith- 
ful worker, when he was called to that long 
and peaceful rest, February 25, 1900, after 
an illness of only a few days, leaving a 
widow and four children to mourn the de- 
parture of a devoted husband and a kind and 
indulgent father. 

Mr. Armitage was married, in Tvre. 
New York, in 1854, to Miss Ann M. Thorp. 
a daughter of Munson and Ann Eliza ( Ar- 
mitage) Thorp. Her father was a native 
of New Hampshire, but at an early age 
moved to New York and located in Onon- 
daga county, where as a mechanic he spent 
over sixty years of his life, dying there at 
the age of eighty-seven. His wife died in 
Wayne county, the same state, when Mrs. 
Armitage was only four years of age. Mrs. 
Armitage has only a brother living, Rev. 
Wallace W. Thorp, a Presbyterian minister 
of Poughkeepsie, Xew York. 

To our subject and his wife were born 
eight children, three of whom died in New 
York state and one in Odell, this county. 
The living are as follows: ( 1 ) Clara Belle 
is the wife of Alfred Burns, a farmer of this 
county, and they have two daughters: Ruth 
A. and Charlotte. ( _- ) Wesley L., of Odell, 
married Edith Bockman, and thev have three 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



203 



children, William S., Lucile and Floyd B. 
i 3 ) Elton C, an attorney of Chicago, mar- 
ried Alice McConnell, and they have one 

child. Edna. 14 I Lillian F. i> the wife of 
S. X. Donahue, who has a large restaurant 
and bakery in Pontiac'. 

Mi - . Armitage was converted and united 
with the Methodist Episcopal church at the 
age of twenty-three yeafs. lie was soon 
elected superintendent of the Sunday school, 
and was also a class leader. A devoted 
Christian, an upright citizen and business 
man, he was always found on the right side 
of every moral issue, and was strictly tem- 
perate and a faithful worker in the temper- 
ance movement, and was a constant reader 
cf the best literature, having a well-stocked 
library. While devoted to his business and 
t lie accumulation of property, he found time 
to gratify his fondness for held sports with 
rod and gun. In politics he was a Republi- 
can, hut took no active part in political mat- 
ters, yet was always interested in all public 
affairs that tended to advance the wlfare of 
the community in which he lived. Mrs. Ar- 
mitage laid the remains of her heloed hus- 
band to rest in the cemetery at Odell, where 
so many years of their happy life had been 
passed, near the church he had helped to 
build, and of which he had been such a de- 
voted member and constant attendant. Mrs. 
Armitage has bought a large, pleasant home 
on East North street. Pontiac, where she 
expect- to spend her remaining years be 
loved and respected by all who know her. 



JOHN FRANCIS SULLIVAN. 

John Francis Sullivan, a well known 
and prominent druggist, of Chatsworth, was 
born in Peoria, Illinois, March 10. [868, a 



-i'ii of lohn and Ellen Sullivan. The fa- 
ther, who was born in county Cork, Ireland, 
came to America in 1862, and after spend- 
ing live vears in New York City, became 
a resident of Peoria, Illinois, where for two 
years he was employed as section foreman 
on the Toledo, Peoria & Wabash Railroad. 
His wife died in [873, leaving three chil- 
dren: Mary Ellen, who died in Sciota, Illi- 
nois, in [893; Julia, a resident of New 
York Citv, and John !•"., our subject. Shortly 
before the death of his wife Mr. Sullivan 
moved to Sciota, McDonough county. Illi- 
nois, where he made his home for twenty- 
five years, being in the employ of the rail- 
road as section foreman nearly all of that 
time. 1 le owned a farm, which he improved 
and operated for about two years. He is 
now a resident of Chatsworth and is still 
i-i the employ of the railroad, bavins; been 
connected with section work for thirty-one 
vears. For his second wife he wedded 
Mary Laverv. by whom he has four chidren : 
Cornelius, who is married and lives in Ma- 
comb, Illinois; Sarah, Annie and Elizabeth, 
all at home with their parents. 

Our subject received his education in the 
public schools of Sciota and at the Macomb 
Normal School. He remained at home 
with his father until sixteen years of age, 
and then entered the Chicago College oi 
Pharmacy, where he took a two year- course 
and was graduated in [884. He found em- 
ployment a- prescription clerk in different 
drug store- of Chicago for nine years, and 
in [893 came to Chatsworth, where there 

appeared t< 1 be a g 1 1 ipening and purchased 

the old established business of 11 M. Bangs. 

Since the -tore came into hi- possession be 
has increased the stock to double the amount, 
and the volume of business is several times 
what it wa-. He carries a complete lit 



204 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



drugs,druggists' sundries, wall paper, paints. 
oils, etc., and is meeting' with well deserved 
success. 

Mr. Sullivan was married. Tune 28, 1895. 
to Miss Mary Eva Smith, a native of Chats- 
worth, and the oldest daughter of Tames 
A. Smith. They have one son, Richard 
Francis, burn Tune 19. 1896. In his po- 
litical affiliations Mr. Sullivan is a Repub- 
lican, but has never accepted office, though 
lie has been tendered public position, pre- 
ferring- to give his entire time and attention 
to his business interests. He is a communi- 
cant of the Catholic church, and a member 
of the Modern Woodmen Camp. No. 1829, 
1 if Chatsworth. 



NELSON BUCK. 

Nelson Buck, deceased, was a well 
known citizen of Pontiac from 1850 to [869. 
He was born in Chemung county. New 
York, April 10. 1808. and was a son of 
Aholiab and Annis (Drake) Buck, natives 
of Chemung county. New York, but who 
ai a very early day came west and located in 
Peoria county. Illinois. On his removal to 
Illinois, on the present site of the city of 
Peoria there was only a block house and the 
place was known as Fori Clark. Aholiab 
Buck took up a tract of land from the gen- 
eral government about eleven miles fr< m the 
present city, which he improved and on 
which he resided until his death. His wife. 
who was a member of the Presbyterian 
church, survived him for some years, dying 
in [860, at the age of nearly eighty-three 
years. She was a daughter of Benjamin 
Drake, a native of one of the eastern state- 

Nelson Buck grew to manhood in his 
native county and there received a good 



literary and musical education, being for 
-.me year- a teacher of vocal music. He 
first married Miss Fidelia W'ithey. of Port 
Byron, New York, and they made their 
home in that place until her death. With 
his father's family he then came west to 
Peoria county, and later married Miss Annis 
knapp. daughter of James and Margaret 
(Drake) Knapp, also eastern people from 
near Homer. Xew York. She was born in 
1812. 

After hi- arrival in Peoria county Mr. 
Buck learned surveying and followed the 
occupation of a surveyor during the re- 
mainder of his residence in that county, do- 
ing much of the early survey work, and 
being a careful and methodical man the cor- 
rectness of his lines was seldom questioned. 
He continued to reside in Peoria county 
until about 1840. when he moved with his 
family to Bloomington, McLean county, 
where he continued to follow his chosen 
occupation. He also established one of the 
first nurseries in that vicinity, in which line 
of business he was quite successful. While 
residing in Bloomington, in 1844. his wife 
died, leaving five children. Clarissa died, a 
young, lady, in 1854. in Pontiac. VVillard 
P. was a member of the Forty-seventh Illi- 
nois Volunteer Infantry during the Civil 
war. and faithfully served his country in 
that terrible struggle for the preservation of 
the Union. He is now a resident of Grand 
Rapids. Michigan. Cordelia is now the 
widow of Charles Watson and reside- in 
Pontiac. Alice and Edwin died young 

Mr. Buck lived in Bloomington and con- 
tinued his business there until his marriage, 
in 1850, with Mrs. Maria Fellows, of Pon- 
tiac. when he removed to the latter city and 
took charge of her estate, which consisted 
of a farm, hotel and many town lots and 







M 


■^% ^K 


_^^f^H 






t^^ ' ^ 



NELSON BUCK. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



207 



undivided real estate in that place. By his 
sound business judgment he put the estate 
into good shape and which later realized a 
handsome return. He never would permit 
a bar to he run in connection with the hotel, 
but run it on strict temperance principles. 
ti burned >1< iwn July 9, 1856. 

Mr. Buck's skill as a surveyor secured 
him the appointment as government sur- 
veyor in [869, and he was sent to resurvey 
the line between Kansas and Nebraska, lie 
left Plattsmouth, Nebraska, July 5. [869, 
and was last heard from at Fort Kearney, 
from which place he started fur Fori Mc- 
pherson, bnt never reached the latter place, 
being killed by the Indians while en route. 

In the various places where he made his 
home, Mr. Buck became somewhat promi- 
nent in business, social and musical circles, 
lie was one of the early trustees of the vil- 
lage of Pontiac, before the present thriving 
place put on city airs, lie took an active 
part in the prosecution of every movement 
for the improvement of the village, and 
much credit is <hw him for its substantial 
growth just prior to and alter the close of 
the Civil war. 

Mr. Buck never lost his interest in mu- 
sical affairs and while residing' in Bloom- 
ington he was one of the most prominent 
musicians of the place, lie was a member 
of tin- Presbyterian church, connected with 
its choir and early introduced a violin as a 
help to the musical exercises of its services, 
much to the horror of some of the good, 
staid old members of the church, a few of 
whom arose and walked out of the church. 
( )n his removal to Pontiac he became prom- 
inent in nuv>ical circles here, as well as lead- 
er of the choir in the Methodist Episcopal 
church. Fraternally he was a member of 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 



Few men in Livingston county were bel 
ter known or held in higher esteem than 
Nelson Buck, and his untimely death was 
mourned not alone by his immediate family 
but the entire community as well. 



WILLIAM ROOK. 

William Rook, a thrifty and prosperous 
farmer residing 011 section 26, Forrest town 
ship. Livingston county. Illinois, was born 
October 20, 1821, in Lincolnshire. England; 
where his parents; Thomas and Mary (Sut- 
ton) Rook, spent their entire lives. The 
father was a prosperous farmer, was a hard 
working, industrious man. and highly re- 
spected by all who knew him. Both he and 
his wife held membership in the church of 
England. He died at the age of seventy- 
five years, and his wife, who passed away 
several years previous, died at the age oi 
sixty. Our subject was the oldest of their 
eight children, four of whom came to this 
country. 

William Rook obtained his early educa- 
tion in the common schools of his birth- 
place, and remained at home assisting his 
lather on the farm until 1N51. when he 
emigrated to America, landing in Phila- 
delphia July [6. lie first went to Delaware, 
where he worked 011 a farm two summers, 
and then removed to Xew York state, but 
remained there only a few months, not being 
pleased with the outlook in that state, and 
hearing of the cheap lands in Illinois, he 
decided to locate here, and on the 8th of 
October, 1853, he arrived in Peoria county, 
where he rented land and engaged in farm- 
ing for twelve years. For two years he 
worked by the month and in (868 came to 



20S 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Livingston county, where he purchased 
eighty acres of raw land on section i~. For- 
rest township. This lie broke, tiled and im- 
proved, by the erection of a good residence 
and large barn, and he still owns the prop- 
erty. It was his home until 1882, when he 
purchased one hundred and sixty acres on 
section 26, the same township, and erected 
another set of farm buildings. He has added 
other improvements from time to time and 
now has one of the best farms in his local- 
ity. He has a pleasant home, which is pre- 
sided over by his daughter, Mrs. Spray. 

On the 5th of May. 1N51. Mr. Rook was 
united in marriage with Miss Mary Bickett, 
also a native of England and the only child 
of very highly respected parents. She died 
September _>. 1S75, at the age of forty-seven 
years, and was laid to rest in Forrest cem- 
etery. She was a consistent member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, a woman of 
many excellent qualities, a devoted wife and 
loving mother. Hers was a well-spent life 
ainl Mr. Rook gives her credit for a large 
share of his success. She was industrious 
and ambitious and was ever a cheerful help- 
meet. 

To Mr. and Mr--. Rook were born five 
children, namely: 1 1 ) Marry, born in Del 
aware, in August, 1852, is now the wile of 
George Swartz, a prosperous farmer of Ne- 
braska, and they have five children. Emma, 
William, Hairy. Clara and Ollie, all born in 
1 ivingston county. Illinois, except < Hlie, 
who was born in Nebraska. (2) J. Will- 
iam, born in Peoria county. Illinois, in 
March. 1854, wedded Mar) Gouldsbury, and 
lived on the original homestead of the fam- 
ily on section 27, Forrest township, but is 
now working by the mouth on a farm in 
McDonough county, this state. His wife is 
now deceased, leaving one son. Frederick, 



win 1 was born in Forrest township, and is 
now sixteen years of age. He is working on 
his uncle's farm on section 27, that town- 
ship. 13) Eliza, born in Peoria county, 
March 6, 1856, was educated in the common 
schools of Livingston county, and was mar- 
ried. February 4. 1875, to Ephraim R. 
Spray, who was born in Fountain countv, 
Indiana. February [8, [850, a son of J. T. 
and Mary Spray, and died October tS. 1881. 
I le was conscious up to the time of his death 
and expressed a willingness to die. He was 
aware of the approach of the end. saying, 
"Oh, mother, the great transaction is done. 
it is all well with me." His remains were 
interred in Forrest cemetery. He was a de- 
voted husband and father, and left a wife 
ami three children to mourn his loss. Of 
the children Mary, born in Livingston coun- 
tv April i-'. 1S70. was married. January u. 
[898, to Robert McKinley. who is engaged 
in farming on a quarter-section of land in 
Charlotte township, Livingston county, and 
thev have one child. Clarence, born Decem- 
ber 26, [899. John, born June 3, [878, and 
Charles, born August iS. [880, were edu- 
cated in the district schools of Forrest town- 
ship, and arc now working upon our sub- 
ject's farm. 14) Thomas, horn in Peoria 
countv in October, [858, married Katie 
Faragher, of Forrest township, and lives 
011 his father's farm of eighty acres on sec 
tion _>-. although he owns a farm of bis 
own. 151 Sarah, born in Peoria county, 
died at the age of three years and was buried 
there. 

Since casting his first presidential \"t<- 
for Stephen A. Douglas Mr. Rook has af- 
filiated with the Democratic party, and as a 

public spirited citizen he takes an active in- 
terest in all that tends to the improvement 
and advancement of the community in which 



THE llKHikAl'IIKWI. RECORD. 



209 



lie lives, lie has always been a hard work 
11 fj and persevering man. whose s] >i rit was 
not cast down by the hardships of his early 
pioneer life, and his determination to suc- 
ceed soon enabled him to accumulate prop- 
erty, so that he is to-day mie of the nros 
perous as well as one of the highly respected 
citizens of the township. lie has many 
friends and no enemies, and now. at a ripe 
old age, is enjoying the fruits of his early 
industry. 



JACOB 1-:. BROWN. 

Jacob E. Brown, who is engaged in the 
general hanking business, together with the 
ii surance and loan business, has been a resi- 
dent of Livingston county since 1857, dur- 
ing which time he has been an important 
factor in its material growth and prosperity. 
He was horn near Watertown, Jefferson 
county. New York, September 29, [838, 
and is the son of Thomas Y. and Mary A. 
(Everett) Brown, both of whom were na- 
tives of New York, horn in the same local- 
ity, near Brownsville. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, 
Henry county, was horn in Bucks county, 
Pennsylvania, near the city of Philadelphia, 
hut in an early day moved to Jefferson coun- 
ts', Xew York, where he cleared the land of 
timber and made a farm of eight hundred 
aires. The city of Brownsville was named 
in his honor. There he lived and died. Dur- 
ing the boyhood of our subject there were in 
the neighborhood of Brownsville about eight 
hundred people, over three-fifths of whom 
bore the name of Brown, and all related. 

Thomas Yarley Brown, the father of 
our subject, was engaged in farming in his 
native state, a portion of the time in partner- 



ship with his father. For some years he 
was a brigade commander in the Yew York 
militia, serving with credit to himself and 
the state. In 1 S 5 5 he came west and pur 
chased a large tract of laud in what is now 
Germanville township, Livingston county, 
and in 1856 he came out with the intention 
of making it his permanent abode. In [857 
his wife and family joined him and they took 
up their residence in a story and a half 
frame cottage which he had erected for the 
purpose. It was 1(1x24 feet and served ;i< 
the home for the family a few years, when 
ii was added to, making a larger residence. 
( )n that farm he continued to reside until 
1870. when he moved into the village of 
Chatsworth, where he lived a quiet, retired 
life until his death. February 4. [899. H'S 
wife is yet living and makes her home with 
our subject. They were the parents of three 
children, of whom our subject is the oldest. 
Sarah A. is the wife of J. C. Shear, of 
Onarga, Illinois, where he is living a re 
tired life. Mary Frances is the wife of Joel 
R. Straw n, who for many years was en- 
gaged in farming in Forrest township, but 
is now living retired in the village of For- 
rest. Mrs. Mary A. Brown is now eighty- 
three years of age and is a well preserved 
woman. She was a member of the Episco- 
pal church. Her husband was past eighty- 
eight years old at the time of his death, his 
father. Henry Brown, also dying at the 
same age. In politics he was originally a 
Whig, hut later a Republican. In the early 
days be served as assess, , r for some years, 
and was also a member of the school board 
for many years, and served for a time as a 
member of the hoard of trustees of the vil- 
lage of Chatsworth. Ik' was a member of 
the hoard in Chatsworth when the present 
schi 11 'I In nisi' w as erected. 



2 IO 



I 1 1 ]•. BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Jacob E. Brown, our subject, was named 
fi ir < leneral Bn »"w n, vvh( i \\ as c< immander in 
chief of the United States army for a time, 
a man of mere than ordinary ability. His 
boyhood and youth were spent in his native 
county and state, and in the public schools of 
Brownsville he took his primary course, 
after which he entered Brownsville Acad- 
emy, and after pursuing the regular course 
he graduated therefrom. After coming 
west he took a commercial course at Easl 
man's Business College, Chicago. 

Coming west with the family Mr. Brown 
remained with his parents, assisting in the 
management of the farm until in August, 
[862, when he enlisted in Company M. Ninth 
Illinois Cavalry, and was mustered into the 
service at Springfield, Illinois. The regi- 
ment was sent t" Chicago, and in November, 
[862, was sent south, having- its first brush 
with the enemy at Pilot Knob, Missouri. 
From that time until the close of the war 
it was in active service. Crossing the Mis 
vi-sippi river at Helena. Arkansas, it took 
part in many shirmishes from Cairo to 
Vicksburg, and also around Little Rock, 
Arkansas, and up the White river, the na- 
ture of tin- service partaking of a guerrilla 
warfare. This was the case until the spring 
of [864. It was then with the main army 
through Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, 
and all through that section until the close 
of the war. During its term of service it 
enlisted over eight thousand men. hut only 
about -ix hundred returned home at the close 
of the war. It was in some very severe en 
uunts. At l.a Grange, Arkansas, the 
division with which it was connected lost 
over two thousand men in an hour and a 

half. 

Mr. Brown entered the service as a 
private, hut in a short time was appointed 



corporal and later sergeant in his company. 
( In the [9th of November, [864, with forty- 
two other men. he was taken prisoner at 
Shoal Creek. Tennessee, while reconnoiter- 
ing in front of Hood's army, which was 
making its advance on Nashville, Tennes- 
see. He was held a prisoner until March. 
[865, when he was paroled and sent to the 
parole camp at Vicksburg. He was impris- 
oned at Cahaba, Alabama, where ten thou- 
sand Union prisoners were held. While 
vet a prisoner he was commissioned second 
lieutenant and was later assigned to the 
staff of Genera] Hatch. He was honorably 
discharged from the service in May. [865, 
with the rank of second lieutenant. 

After receiving his discharge Lieutenant 
Brown returned home and shortly after- 
ward took the course in Eastman's Ihisine-s 
College, as already stated. Completing the 
course he returned to the farm and continued 
to he actively engaged in farm labor until 
[875, having the management 61 the home 
farm of over twelve hundred acres. Hie 
hard work necessary to the management of 
such an estate told upon his health, so much 
so that he was compelled to abandon it. and 
in January. 1S75. he moved to the village of 
Chatsworth and for a time engaged in 110 
active business. 

On the [6th of January. [868, Mr. 
Brown was united in marriage with Miss 
Elizabeth 11. Pope, a native of Kentucky and 
fourth in order of birth in a family of seven 
children. Her father. Thomas W. Pope, 
moved from Kentucky to Illinois in [856, 
locating in a grove in Ford county, now 
known as Pope's grove, and which was 
named for him. There he engaged in farm- 
ing for main years and then moved to Piper 
City. Ford county. Illinois, where he lived 
retired and where his death occurred. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



21 I 



To Mr. ami Mrs. Brown were born three 
children. R. Finley, who is engaged with 
his father in the banking business, and who 
is vice-president of the bank, was a mem 
ber of Troop K, First Illinois Cavalry, dur- 
ing the Spanish-American war. With his 
regiment he was sent to Chickamauga I 'ark. 
where he was taken ill and returned home. 
Later he was sent to Fort Sheridan, where 
he was honorably discharged and mustered 
out of the service. He is a graduate oi 
Peeksville, New York, Military Academy. 
and also of the New York Military Academy 
at Cornwall, New York. Elizabeth McKee, 
at home, is a graduate of a female seminary 
mar Peekskill, New York. Madge Everett 
is attending Oxford (.'"liege at Oxford, 
( >hio. 

On his restoration to health, about one 
year after his removal to Chatsworth, Mr. 
Brown went into the hank of C. A. Wilson 
8 Comp'an) as cashier, and held that posi 
tiori until 1885, when he purchased the 
business, and under the firm name of J. E. 
Brown & Company it was continued until 
lanuarv. 1900. when it was re organized as 
the Bank of Chatsworth; with Mr. Brown 
a- president, R. Finley Brown, vice-presi- 
dent, and Ed M. Reesillg, cashier. The 
hank is doing a very satisfactory business 
and lias the confidence of the entire com- 
munity. In addition to his regular banking 
business Mr. Brown is agent of some "f the 
leading lire insurance companies of the 
United States, in which he has placed many 
policies, lie is als,, interested in farm lands 
in Illinois. Indiana and North Dakota, and 
in the latter state has two thousand, five 
hundred and sixty acres in the c unities ol 
Steele and Cass. He was formerly largeiy 
interested in the Ogallala Land & Cattle 
Company, importers of Hereford cattle, hut 



oi late years he has confined himself to his 
private business. 

Mr. Brown is a worker in the Presby 
terian church of Chatsworth. in which for 
many years he has been one of the trustees. 
Fraternally he is a member of Chatsworth 
Lodge, No. 538, A. I-". & A. M.; Fairbury 
Chapter, No. 99, R. A. M.. and St. Paul's 
Commandery, No. 34. K. T., of Fairbury. 
lie is also a member of E. G. Trask Post, 
No. 388, G. A. R., and was its first com- 
mander, and has since almost continuously 
served in that office. In politics he is a 
Republican and east his first presidential 
vote for the great Abraham Lincoln. He 
has served as a member of the village hoard 
of trustees and has been president of the 
same. He also served on the school hoard 
while residing on the farm. He has. how 
ever, never been a seeker after office. 

\s a citizn Mr. Brown has always been 
enterprising, ready to do his duty when that 
duty is presented to him. He shipped the 
first car-load of com fnun Chatsworth, go- 
ing to ( iilnian to order the car. At that time 
corn was shelled with a hand sheller, there 
being no others in use. In the forty-three 
years in which he has been a citizen of Liv- 
ingston county tepid changes have been 
made, the county now ranking with the 
best in the entire state, with improvements 
second to none. In all that has been done 
he lias borne well his part. 



JOSEPH FARNEY. 

Joseph barney, who is successfully en 

i in agricultural pursuits on section 

28, Forrest township. Livingston county, 

Illinois, was bom in Lewis county. New 

York, March [6, [842, a son of John ami 



2 12 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Annie i Zehr ) Farney. The father, a native 
of Germany, came to the United States al 
the age of sixteen years and located in Lewis 

unty, New York, becoming one of its well- 
ti do and prosperous farmers. lie died 
there at about the age of sixty-three years. 
Mi- wife is still living near the old home- 
Stead at the age of eighty years. Our sub- 
ject is the oldest of their nine children, six 
of whom survive. 

Joseph Farney remained at home with 
his parents, assisting in the work of the farm 
until 1868, when he came to Livingston 
county, Illinois, and purchased a farm of 
eighty acres in Forrest township, which he 

1 perated for ten years. He then bought one 
hundred and forty acres of h's present farm, 
which at that time was only partially im 
proved, and to its further development and 
cultivation he has since devoted his energies 
with most gratifying success, lie ha- ex- 
tended its boundaries until he now has two 
hundred and forty acres, upon which he has 
built a substantial residence, a commodious 
barn and other outbuildings, ami now has 
one of the best improved farms in the local- 
ity. His success is well deserved, as he is 
an industrious, enterprising man — one who 
has helped to make the comity what it is 
i' < .' one of the richest farming districts 
in the state. Besides the valuable farm al- 
ly mentioned he now owns forty acres 

■i-ii j 1 and eighty acres on section 
16, Forrest township. For several year- he 
ha- held the office of school trustee and has 
done much to improve the schi »•!- of district 
Xo. S. 

On the [2th of April. 1N71. Mr. Far 
ney married Miss Lena Yoder, one of a 
family of six children, whose parents were 
Joseph and Annie 1 Kempf) Yoder. The fa 
ther was horn in Alsace, France, in [822, 



and when a hoy came to America, residing 
in the New England states until he reached 
manhood. Subsequently he made his home 
in .\'evv York state for a number of years, 
and in the spring of 1N07 came to Livings- 
ton county. Illinois, and purchased a farm 
in Forrest township, which he improved and 
cultivated for some time, hut the last three 
years of his life were spent in retirement 
from active labor in Fairburv. He became 
quite a prominent and prosperous man of his 
community. He died May 23, [888, leaving 
a widow, who is still livingr, three sons, three 
daughters and twenty-seven grandchildren. 
Mr. and Mrs. Farney are the parents of 
seventeen children, all living with the ex- 
ception of Lydia. who died at the age of 
eight weeks. John, the eldest, now twenty- 
seven years of age. is a farmer in the em- 
ploy of Mr. Watson, of Forrest township; 
Samuel works on his father's farm; Edward 
operates eighty acres belonging to his fa- 
ther; Joseph is engaged in farming near the 
homestead; Andrew is also an agriculturist; 
Rachel, now residing with her father, is the 
widow of Andrew Weisser, a carpenter, 
who died May 24, iNgc). leaving one child. 
Aldine. born March 3, [899; Mina is the 
wife of Conrad Wenger, a farmer of Fair- 
bury, and they have one child. Roy: Annie. 
Emma and Elmer, twins. Fred, Malinda, 
Orville, Walter. Jess and Arthur arc all 
at home. All wen- horn in Livingston conn 
tv. educated in the local schools and live on 
the In •me farm < ir near it. 



ABRAM LOWER. 

Abram Lower, a prominent and influen- 
tial citizen of Broughton township, residing 

on section IO. lias been a resident of l.iv- 



Till'. BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



213 



inpston county since tin' spring "t [860, 
and lias been actively ident : fied with its ag- 
ricultural and polit'cal interests. He was 
born in Blair county, Pennsylvania, Octo 
her 10. 1835, a si m of David and Susan 
1 Rhodes) Lower. Though in early life the 
father learned the trades of weaver, carpen- 
ter and ji Hiier. he followed farming prin- 
cipally. (Mi coming to Illinois in 1861 he 
settled in Livingston county, but two years 
later moved to Carroll county, and died at 
his In une in Lanark, in iKX_\ at the age of 
eighty years. His wife survived him for 
Mine time, dying iii December, [898, at the 
age of eighty-eight years. To them were 
born ten children, of whom one died in in- 
fancy. The others were Levi, a veteran of 
the civil war. who now lives in Kansas and 
whose sons are prominent in hanking cir- 
cles; Samuel, a resident of Dwight, Illinois; 
Abram, our subject; Catherine, wife of 
Samuel McCoy, of Lanark: Rebecca, who 
died in [864; Martin, who died from disease 
contracted in the army during the civil war; 
Anna, wife of John Chestnut, of Adair. 
Iowa; Leah, wife of George Weed, of La 
nark; and Eli L., who was also pne of the 
boyS in blue during the civil war and is now 
a resi<lent of Lanark. 

\hrain Lower received his education in 
the common schools of his native state and 

was reared upon his father's farm. In 1858 
he came to Illinois and settled on the pres 
cut site of Lanark, the li cality at that time 
being unbroken prairie. In 1 860 he came n 1 
Livingsti m O mnty, where his father had pur- 
chased land, and he undertook the arduous 
task Hi' opening up the farm, mi which not 
a furrow had been turned nor an improve 
meiit made. For some time he operated a 
half section of land and still owns one hun- 



dred and sixty acres in the home place on 
section 10. Broughton township, and eighty 
acres on section 14. all of which has been 
under cultivation for many years and is 
well improved. In connection with general 
farming he carries on stock raising and has 
made a decided success of his life work. 

Octoher 1'). [860, Mr. Lower married 
Miss Catherine Miller, a daughter of < leorge 
and Margaret (Davis) Miller, natives of 
Germany and Pennsylvania, respectively. 
The Miller family made their home in Penn- 
sylvania until 1X54, when they came to Illi- 
nois and settled in Carroll county, where the 
parents spent the remainder of their lives, 
the father dying in June. 1X77. the mother in 
December, [891. They had thirteen chil- 
dren, of whom two died in infancy. The 
others are still living, namely: Mary A., 
wife of C. E. Cross, a veteran of the civil 
war and a railroad engineer residing in 
Marion. [owa; Catherine, wife of our suh- 
ject, who was horn August 7. 1S4J; Samuel 
E.. a resident of Chenoa. Illinois; Emma 
R.. wife of Philip Galwicks, of Butler coun- 
tv. Nebraska; William A., a hotelman of 
Streator; John I... of Beatrice, Nebraska; 
Martin L.. twin brother of John L. and a 
resident of Mt. Carroll: Upton, a magnetic 
healer; Gertrude, wife of Edward Sullivan, 
of Aurora: A. I... a physician of Dixon; 
and Margaret, a resident of Rockford. The 
three youngest were horn in Illinois, the 
1 ithers in Pennsylvania. 

(If the twelve children horn to Mr. and 
Mrs. Lower three died in infancy. The 
others were as follows: 1 1 1 Maggie is the 
wife of Waller Morrison, a railroad man of 
( Imaha. Nebraska, and they have four chil- 
dren: Clarence, Lillie, Eethel ami Clara. 
( j 1 Augusta is the wife of I'. I >. Glover, 



214 



THE BIOGRAITIICAL RECORD. 



a farmer of Custer county, Nebraska, and 
they have seven children: Earl, Fay, Guy, 
Ruth, Lloyd, Glenn and Rex. (3) Albert, 
wild lives "ii Ins father's farm, is extensively 
engaged in general farming on a half-section 
of land and also carries on stock raising. 
He married Mary 1'".. Lorigan, ami has five 
children: Abram, Salisbury, Bernice, Al- 
lien and Madeline. (4) Le Roy, a pins 
penuis farmer and stuck raiser, operating a 
farm of one hundred and sixty acres in 
Broughton township, married Hannah !•'.. 
Morris and has two children. Arthur and an 
infant. (5) Frank D., also a farmer and 
stock raiser of Broughton township, married 
Mary E. Weller and has one daughter, 
Eulalia. 1 6 ) Marriette is the wife of Cyrus 
Hiddleson, of Broughton township, and they 
have two children, Vera and George. (7) 
Lillian is a dressmaker residing at home. 
(8) Grace is the wife of Benjamin Morns, 
of Round Grove township, and they have 
one daughter, l.ila. (9) Gertrude is at 
Ik ime. 

In politics Mr. Lower is a stanch Dem- 
ocrat, and his fellow citizens, recognizing his 
worth and ability, have often called him to 
office. lie has served as supervisor five 
years, road commissioner seventeen years, 
and after assisting in organizing the school 
district in [860 was made one of the first 
directors, which office he held for fifteen 
years, lie assisted in layin"' out all of the 
roads of Broughton township, and did not 
irsi^n his position as commissioner until 
the last mile had been opened up. lie is one 
of the best known men of his community, 
and that he has the entire confidence and 
respect of his fellow citizens is manifest by 
his being called upon to act as guardian for 
al children and as administrator of sev- 



eral estates, which were settled up most sat- 
isfactorily. Since 1894 he has lived a 
retired life upon his farm, surrounded lw all 
the comforts which earnest toil in former 
years have brought him. 



ROBERT RUMBOLD. 

Robert Rumbold, who is engaged in the 
insurance business in Chatsworth, dates his 
residence in Livingston county from [856, 
almost half a century. He was horn in 
Hampshire. England. July 23. 1831, and 
is a son of Joseph and Martha (Sherman) 
Rumbold, both of whom were also natives 
of England, the latter dying there about 
1845. They were the parents of seven chil- 
dren, three of whom died in infancy, while 
the family were yet residing in England, 
and three died after coming to the United 
States, so that our subject is the sole living 
representative of the family. Joseph Rum- 
bold became a veterinary surgeon in Eng 
land, and followed that profession, m con- 
nection with farming, after coming to this 
country. Shortly after the death of his 
wife Joseph Rumbold, St., came with his 
family to the United States, and first lo- 
cated at Lockport, Will county, Illinois, hut 
shortly afterward moved to Livingston 
county and commenced fanning near Fair- 
bury, an occupation in which he sir 
fully continued until his death, in [868, 

Robert Rumbold, the subject of this 
sketch, received his education in the hoard- 
ing schools of his native country, and was 
twenty-one years old when he accompanied 
his father to the United States. On his ar- 
rival he engaged in fanning, in conne 
with his father, and they were extensively 




ROBERT RUMBOLD. 






■■'' 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



21 7 



engaged in farming "ii rented land in Ken 
dall county, until (856, when they came t" 
Livingston county. Our subject here pur- 
chased an interest in a quarter section of 
land near Fairbury and was successfully en- 
gaged in farming there until 1869, when he 
disposed of his interest in that farm and pur- 
chased eight) acres <>f his present farm in 
Chatsworth township, which was then un- 
improved prairie land. This he began to 

improve and s 1 had it all under culm a 

tion, and on that farm he has since contin- 
ued to reside. For some years he continued 
to superintend the work oi the farm, but has 
now given its management into the hands 
ol his son, who is a thorough and practical 
farmer. 

in 1859, after he had made a start in 
uutry, Mr. Rumbold visited his 
native land, and while there was united in 
marriage with Miss Sarah Osmond, who 
was born, in 1830, in Hampshire, England. 
With his bride, lie returned to his new 
home, since when he has been identified with 
the county in many way-. Seven children 
came t" bless their union, two of whom 
died in infancy. Of the five living chil- 
dren, Edward II. resides in West Pullman, 
where he is engaged in the real estate and 

urance business, in which he is making 
ess. I le I- married and h 
daughter, Esther. Alice M. is the wife 
Samuel M. Wilson, ami they have 
daughter, Edna. Their home is als>> in West 
Pullman, where he is assisting his brother- 
in-law in the real estate and insurance busi- 
ness. Ann Elizabeth is cashier for her 
brother in his office at West Pullman. Cecil 
Roberl ting his father in the insiir 

ance business in Chatsworth. Joseph !'• . 
win', after leaving school, engaged in teach- 

.. for "lie year, is now managing the farm 



of his father, and is doing a successful busi- 
ness. 

.Mr. Rumbold commenced the insurance 
business in [869 and is now one of the old- 
est in poinl of service in this inn- of busi- 
ness ,if -my in Livingston county, lie has 
the agenc) of I mrteen of tin- best fire and hie 
insurance o impanies in the a iuntry, including 
the Aetna, of Hartford, Connecticut; Home, 

\ew York; Continental, of New York; 
Insurance Company of North America, of 
I 'hiladelphia ; Underw liters. 1 >f I 'hiladelphia ; 
American, of Philadelphia, and the Wash- 
ington Life Insurance Company. For the 
last twent) five years, Mr. Rumbold has 
given his entire time to the insurance busi- 
ness and has built up an excellent trade, 
having man) patrons, not only in Livings- 
ton, but in adjoining counties. lie has 

made a success of the business and deserves 
all that he has made. 

.Mr. Rumbold came (■ 1 this country at 
a tune when the slavery question was the 
all-absorbing topic of interest and he be- 
came a voter just about the lime of the or- 
ganization of the Republican party. With 
that party he became identified and has since 
been an earnest advocate of n - principles. 
While he has always manifested a com- 
mendable interest in the questions of the 
day, be has never been a politician as the 
term is generally underst friends, 

he has been elected and served as 
of his township, collector, justi the 

peace, and is now serving as trustee of 
sclu «ils. JJe lias been a delegate to many 
county conventions, and also t" the con- 
gressional convention of his party. He is 
a man ever ready to take his -hare of re- 

sponsibilit) and t<> advocate an) g 1 cause 

beneficial I" the community in which he 



2 IS 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Fraternally, Mr. Rumbold is a Mason, 
first becoming identified with the order 
while living in Grundy county, lie is now 
a membei t l hatsworth Lodge, NT. 539, 
A. F. it A. M. ; of Fairbury Chapter, No. 
99, R. A. M., and of Fairbury Command- 
ery, No. 34. K. T. He is the only living 
charter member of the blue lodge in Fair- 
bury. In the principles of the order he has 
ever had an abiding faith, believing them 
to be beneficial to mankind. On the occa- 
sion of Mr. Rumbold's' re-election for the 
twenty-first time as treasurer of the Cha 
worth Lodge, he was presented with a beau- 
tiful gold headed cane bearing the inscrip- 
tii in : 

"Presented December [6, [898, to 
Robert Rumbold at his twenty-first election 
as treasurer of Chatsworth Lodge, No. 539, 
A. F. & A. M." 

It is needless to say Mr. Rumbold values 
the gift very highly, not for its intrinsic 
value, but from the associations surround- 
ing the gift. Mr. Rumbold has passed 
through all the chairs of the lodge and is 
now holding the office of worshipful master. 
Reared in the Episcopalian faith, he has al- 
ways adhered t<> the teachings of that de- 
nomination. As a citizen, no man in Liv- 
ingston county is held in higher esteem. 
Of; nature, it is easy for him t" make 

and retain friends. 



MICHAE 



REISING. 



Mi • sing, engaged in the general 

iness, < Ihatsworth, Illinois, 1- 

:i nat Hanover, Bremen, Germany. 

and was ly>rn July 17. 1838. He is a s..n of 

' ■ ■ tret 1 Reising ) Re 



who. although of the same name, were n< >t 
related. Both were natives of Bavaria, Ger- 
many, where they were married. By occu- 
pation George V Re'sing was a farmer in 
his native land, a vocation which he foil wed 
throughout life. With a v'ew of bettering 
his condition he left the old world, with his 
family, when our subject was but a few 
week> old, coming to the United States and 
direct \>> Woodford county, Illinois < *n his 
arrival in the latter county he purchased 
one hundred and sixty acres of land, only 
cue acre of which had been plowed. Clear- 
ing the land of its timber he commenced the 
improvement of the farm and later added to 
its area by the purchase of eighty acres from 
the government and forty acres fr m an- 
other man. With the exception of two years 
spent in Peoria, Illinois, he spent the re- 
mainder 1 »f his life 1 >n that farm, dying when 
sixty-one years old. His wife died when 
she was forty seven years old. They were 
the parents of six children that grew to ma- 
turity and two that died in early childhood. 
Those who grew t>> man and woman 
were Peter. Adam P., Mary, Michael, Eliz- 
abeth and Annie. All are yet living save 
Elizabeth. 

The subject of thi-* sketch grew t" man- 
hood on his father's farm in Woodford a iun- 
tv. Illinois, and a^ the opportunity was .\.i- 
forded bim attended the common subscrip 
don school, having to walk a distance of 
two miles to the school house. He could 
1 Mily attend a few weeks in the winter, as 
his services were needed on the farm at other 
I le remained at In ime until he at- 
tained his majority, when hi land 
ged in farming for himself. After 
tl,: death of hi^ father he went to Tazewell 
county, where he rented a farm and eng 

nlti\ atii 'ii fi ir twi 1 \ ears. Fn m 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



2 HJ 



Tazewell he returned to \\ Iford county 

and bought eighty acres of land near El 
Paso, which he fanned for about three years. 
Selling this place he moved to Claremont 
county, Ohio, where he remained for four 
years. He then returned to W< lodford coun 
t\. Illinois, and engaged in farming fir 
two years, lie next came to Chatsworth, 
Illinois, and purchased the general store of 
Mrs. Barbara Scherer, and here' lie has since 
continued to reside. In [883 Mr. Reising 
met with a serious misfortune that left him 
thirty five hundred dollars worse than penni- 
less, but with that sturdy determination that 
characterizes the German race he would not 
own that he was beaten, but pushed forward 
ir the face of obstacles that would have dis 
mayed almost an) other man. and by dint of 
hard work and perseverance succeeded in 
again establishing himself in business. After 
a few years, however, seeing that he was 
paying out his profits For rent, he assumed 
fresh indebtedness and built the fine store 
building that he now owns, hew men could 
have accomplished what Mr, Reising has, 
being forced a- he was to start over the hat 
tie nf life at almost fifty years of age. For 
the past twenty years Mrs. Reising has been 
engaged in the millinery business in connec- 
tion. She has a good trade and gives sat 
isfactii 'ii to her patn ms. 

( >n the _■ 4 1 1 1 uf January. (86o, Mr. Reis 
ing was united in marriage with Miss Mar- 
garet I 'fair, a native of Claremont county, 
< Hii.i. and daughter uf George Pfarr, a na 
tive uf Germany, who came t" this country 
when a young man. locating in Clarem ml 
a unty, and later mo\ ing t 1 \\'i »odf >rd coun 
ty, llhm^s. Mrs. Reising is one of a family 
.if si\ children, the others being Barbara, 
Mar) . Peter, Kate and John. 1 >f these B 
liara ami Peter are now deceased. Mr. and 



Mrs. Reising have no children of their own, 
bul have an adopted son, Joseph, who hears 
their name. 

Mr. and Mrs. Reising are members of the 
1 atholic church, and in politics he is a 1 )em- 
ocrat, having voted the party ticket since at 
taining his majority, lie has served sev 
eral terms as a member of the village board 
of trustees uf Chatsworth, hut has m 1 in- 
clination fur office holding, lie prefers t'> 
give his time and attention t" his business 
and work fur the interests of the people in 
selling them goods at living prices. lie 
aims at all times to carry as complete a 
stock ''I gi '"Is as the wants <>i the commun- 
ity will warrant. I lis residence of twenty 
seven years in Chatsworth has made him 
main- friends. 



REV. SAMUEL ELBRIDGE VANCE. 

Rev. Samuel Elbridge Vance, who is now 
living a retired life in Pontiac, enjoying a 
well-earned rest, was fur many years actively 
engaged in religious work as a Presbyterian 
minister. He was born in Paris. Edgar 
county, Illinois. July 29, 1835, a son uf An- 
drew .Milton and Esther (Shelledy) Vance, 
who were married in that city, of which city 
his paternal grandfather, Samuel Vance, 
was a prominent pioneer, lie was a native 
of Abingdon, Virginia, and on leaving that 
state removed t" east Tennessee, hut as 
early as 1822 he came to Illinois and took 
up his residence in Paris, erecting the sec 
ond house in that place. There he engaged 
in farming throughout the remainder of his 
life, dying about [857, at the age of eighty- 
five years. He was an elder in the Presby- 
terian church of Paris for a great many 
years, and donated all the brick for the first 



220 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



church of that denomination erected there. 
]lo was a life-long Democrat, and in the 
south had been a slave owner, but freed all 
lus slaves on coming to this state. The fa- 
ther of our subject was born in Virginia, 
in [809. In 1826 he came to Illinois and 
followed merchandising in Paris through- 
out lii^ active business life. 1 le died there in 
1 874, at the age 1 if sixty Ei iur ) ears. He held 
seine minor offices, but never soughl political 
honors, and in politics was a Democrat until 
the organization of the Republican party, 
when lie joined its ranks, becoming a stanch 
supporter of its principles. He. to, ,. was an 
elder in the Presbyterian church for many 
years, and was a man honored and respected 
liv all who knew him. The mother of our 
subject died when he was only twelve years 
old, leaving three children, of whom he 
was the oldest. Julia married J. < , Collom, 
a merchant of Paris, and died leaving a 
family. James A., a resident of Pierce City, 
Miss, , un, was a soldier of the civil war 
and is an attorney by profession, lie is 
married and has a family. 

< Iur subject remained at home until 
twenty years of age, and was prepared for 
college at Edgar Academy, in Paris. Later 
he spent one year in Hanover College, In- 
diana, and then entered Jefferson College 
(now known as Washington and Jefferson 
I |, Pennsylvania, where he pursued 

a literal and was graduated in [8 

Jle was next a student at the Northwestern 
Thi Seminary, Chicago, and was 

graduated at that institution in the spring 
863. I le v and 1 >rdained by 

the Presbytery of Palestine, now known as 
the Presbytery of Mattoon, and his first 
charj John Knox church, in Knox 

mty, Illinois. At the same time he al 
preached in the villa 'neida, the same 



county, remaining there six years. Subse 
quently he was at Lexington, Illinois, for 
five and a half years, and from there went to 
Wisconsin, where he spent sixteen years in 
the work of the ministry. His health fail- 
ing him. he went t" Kansas, where he re- 
mained some years, and in 1895 came to 
Pontiac, Illinois, where she has since lead a 
retired life, having never recovered his usual 
health. 

On the jjd ,,f December, [863, at Mor- 
ris, Grundy county. Illinois, Mr. Vance was 
united in marriage with Mis- Catherine 
Frame, a daughter of Rev. Reuben and Mar- 

et Stewart (Selby) Frame, and grand- 
daughter of Captain Selby, who followed 
the sea throughout life. For many years 
her father was in charge of tin.- Pres 
terian church in Morris, hut died in Chi- 
cago, in [891, at tlie age of eight) seven 
years. Ills widow is still living in that 
city at the advanced age of ninety-two years, 
lr.aking' her home with a daughter. 

Mr. and Mis. Vance have a family of 
live children, three sons and two daughters. 
(1) Selby Frame, horn in Knox county, 
November 17. 1864, was ordained a Pres 
byterian minister and preached for some 
years, but is now professor of Greek at 
Wooster Un . Ohio, lie is married 

and has one child. < J ) Harriet Shi 
a native 1 if Km >x a lunty, is a graduate 1 if the 
classical department of Pake Forest Uni- 

sity, and Id a pi isitii m in a yi >ung 

ladies' seminary, hut for the past five y< 
has lii-en one of lust phol 

raphers, having won special praise for her 
artistic work, especially of babies and chil- 
dren. She was tin- first to introduce the 
platinum finish in the city. 1 .} 1 Edward 
Elbridge, a native of Illinois. ,- a Presby- 
terian minister of Cooksville, McLean conn- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



221 



ty. Illinois, and is now traveling in the west 
on account of ill health. (4) James Milton, 
born in Lexington, Illinois, 1- also a gradu- 
ate of Lake Forest Qniversivty, and for 
three years taught Latin and < .reek in the 
township high school of Pontiac, but is now 
attending the Theological Seminary at 
Princeton, New Jersey, studying for the 
ministry. (5) Catherine Stewart, born in 
ortage county, Wisconsin, is now fourteen 
years of age and is attending the hij 
of Pontiac. 



GE< >RGE FRY. 

< 1© irge Fr) . the >>\\ ner of a g iod farm i >f 
eighty acres on section _■<). Forrest town- 
ship, Livingston county, is a native of Eng- 
land, born in Devonshire, in [834, and is 
a son of John Fry. lie lost his mother 
when quite young, but his father, who was 
also a fanner by occupation, lived to the ad- 
vanced age of ninety-two years, and was 
still very active at the time of his death, 
having a short time before walked a dis- 
tance of nine miles and sheared forty sheep. 
Our subject i- the youngest of a familj of 
ten children, and he and his brother, Rich 
ard, were the only ones t<> come t<> this coun- 
try. 

George Fry remained in his native land 
until seventeen year- 1 if age, vv hen he crossed 
tin- ocean and settled in Lisbon, Kendall 
county, Illinois, where he worked "ti a 
farm and then uprated rented land for seevral 
years. In [866 he became a resident of 
Livingston county, and after farming for six 
years in Belle Prairie township, he came to 
Fprrest township and bought the eighty- 
acre farm which ha- been his In .me ever 
since. He Started out in life as a poor boy, 



Inn by industry and good management has 
secured a comfortable competence. 

Mr. Frve married Mrs. Susan Evans, 
also a native of England, who died nine 
months later, leaving one child, bj her 
former marriage — William Evans — now a 
resident of Kansas. .Mr. Fry was again 
married at the end of four years, In- second 
union being with .Mr-. Susan Gas, of Penn- 
sylvaia, whose first husband was killed in 
the civil war. She is now seventj seven 
year of age and although nearly blind and 
quite deaf, -he bears up patiently under her 
afflictions. She and her husband have many 
warm friend- and are highly respected and 
esteemed by all who know them. 



HXRV RINGLER. 

Henry Ringler, a prominent husiness 
man of Straw n. Livingston county, Illinois, 
was born in the province of Eiersfeld, < Ger- 
many, June [6, 1844, a son of Peter and 
Gertrude (More) Ringler, who were of 
pure German ancestry. The mother died 
in that country at the age of thirty-eight 
years. She was the third wife of Peter 
Ringler and the mother of eight si ms : 1 Vtcr; 
George; one who died in infancy unnamed; 
Henry and John, twins; William; Fritz and 
August. With the exceptii »n of the one who 
died in infancy, all came to this country 
and five are still living. It being the custom 
from time immemorial for the Kurfusten- 
thum I lessen to iiive the father of -even suc- 
cessive -on- fort) two dollars, Mr. Ringler 
. ed that amount from Emperor Will- 
iam, the grandfather of the present ruler of 
Germany. < >f this family Fritz and August 
are residents of Xevv York City, and com 



THE BI< (GRAPHICAL REC< >RI>. 



posed the firm of F. A. Ringler & Company, 
■\\ 1 1< > have the largest electrotype foundry 
in the world, employing over one hundred 
and fifty hands, and are prominent business 
men of that city. Two years ago they cele- 
brated the twenty-fifth anniversary of the es- 
tablishment of their business, and at the 
World's Fair, in 1893, received the first 
prize for an engraving of Columbus dis- 
covering America. They came to the L'nited 
States in 1 867. George Ringler, another 
brother of our subject, emigrated to Amer- 
ica in [858, and also located in Xew York- 
City, where he was foreman of a brewery 
for some years, and then, in partnership 
with another gentleman, engaged in that 
business on his own account. The business 
established by him is still carried on under 
the firm name of George Ringler & Com- 
pany, its present officers being his son, Will- 
iam G Ringler, president; George J. letter. 
vice-president; J. Edward letter, secretary 
and manager, and Henry Hacherheister, 
treasurer — one of the largest in Xew York 
City — ami have a large and elegant office 
at the corner of Ninety-second and Third 
avenue, while their brewery is fitted Up with 
the latest improved machinery and was one 
the first to put in operation an ice plant. 
George Ringler died about ten years ago, 
leaving an estate valued at over one million 
dollars. He had two children: William <, . 
mentioned above, and Rose, wife of George 
J. Jetter. 

In 1X0,, Peter Ringler. the father of our 
subject, came to the l'nited States, and after 
residing for a time in Xew York state, came 
to Livingston county, Illinois, locating in 
Belle Prairie township, where he engaged in 
farming, and also contracting and building 
loi .1 time. He had previously done ex- 
tensive business as a contractor and builder 



of roads and railroads and accumulated a 

large fortune, which he lost through the 
schemes of a railroad company. He died 
in Belle Prairie township, in 1875, at tne 
age of seventy-two years, and was laid to 
rest in the cemetery at Fairbury. He was 
four times married, his last wife being Cath- 
erine Shirteruff, by whom he had four chil- 
dren: Peter, now a prosperous farmer of 
Iowa: Catherine, wife of Conrad Heppe. a 
farmer of Chatsworth, Illinois: Anton, a 
farmer of Cullom, and Lizzie, wife of A. 
M. Marks, of Xew York City. 

Henry Ringler was educated in the 

scl Is .if his native land, and later spent 

about five years in traveling. He worked 
for a year and a half at the blacksmith's 
trade in Germany, and after coming h 1 this 
countr) followed the same occupation for 
several years. He- crossed the broad \i 
lantic at the age of eighteen years, and in 
1S00 became a rest. lent of Livingston coun- 
ty Illinois, locating first in Indian Grove 
township, where he leased a farm of one 
hundred and twenty acres for six years 
Later lie rented a farm in Forrest township 
for four years, and at the end of that time 
came to Straw n. where he purchased prop 
erty, embarking in the grocery business at 
that place in 1X77. and carrying it on seven 
years, lie then purchased a ball section of 
land on section 3, Fayette township, which 
he operated eleven years, and then sold, re- 
turning to Straw 11 to resume the grocery 
business, which he has since successfully car- 
ried on. He is i.ne of the prosperous men 
nf his community, whose success in life is 
due to his own unaided efforts, good man- 
agement and sound judgment. 

( >n the 1st of March. [868, in Belle 
Prairie township. Mr. Ringler was united 
in marriage with Miss Catherine Fox, also 



NIK BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



22 



a native of Germany, and a daughter of 
Jacob ami Elizabeth i Fry) Fox, who tini- 
grated to America about [866, and lived in 
Chicago until [870, Their lasl years were 
spent with our subjeel in Livingston coun- 
ty, where the mother died in 1S72. the la- 
ther in [878, leaving a large family of chil- 
dren. To Mr. and Mrs. Ringler were born 
eight children, all of whom are -till living, 
namely: 1 1 ) Fritz, who is now foreman of 
his uncle's electrotype foundry, in Xew 
York, and commanding a high salary, mar- 
ried Lizzie Shutt, and had one child that 
died in infancy. (2) Lizzie is the wife of 
Thomas Dolan, secretary nf the Western 
Union Newspaper Company, of Denver, ' 
orado, and they have two children, Virgil 
and Gertrude. (3) August, a successful 
contractor and builder of Straw n. married 
Rosa Knnt/. and they have four children, 
Raymond, Dora, Ellen and August. 1 l) 
Mary i- the wife of I >. F. Keller, a printer, 
of Chicago, and they have one child. Ven 
ica. 151 i 1 1 ■ 1 1 1 \ married Hermine Bousand 
and is engaged in the saloon business in 
1 '1 mtiac 1 1 George 1- engaged in the 
brewer) business mi Brookyln, Xew York. 
( 7 1 Katie it at hi >me. and 1 8 1 William, alsi 1 
at home, is clerking in his father's store. 
All Dt the children were born in Livingston 
COUllty, and educated in the township 
schi «'ls. 

A- 1 me 1 if the leading business men ami 
influential citizens of Strawn, Mr. Ringler 
has been called upon t" fill several important 
official positions, the duties .if which he has 
always faithfully and satisfactorily per- 
formed. lie was supervisor of Fayette 
township four years; school director, ten 
years; a member of the town hoard a num- 
ber of years, and is at present pi 'lice magis- 
trate of the village, heini^ elected in the 



spring of [900. In politics he i- inde- 
pendent, voting for the man ami 1 1< >l the 
party, and in his religious connections he 
and his family are members of the Reformed 
Lutheran church. For thirteen years he 
was a member of the Independent < (rder of 
< )(U\ Fellows, hut recently withdrew from the 
order, though he still holds membership in 
Sibley Lodge, X... 71.1 . F. & A. M. Pro- 
gressive ami public spirited, he takes a deep 
interest in public affairs, ami is justly num- 
bered among the valued citizen- of hi- town 
and county. 



REV. JAMES J. QLTXX. 

Rev. James J. Quinn, resident pastor of 
St. John's Catholic church, of Chatsworth, 
was born in Tolono, Champaign county, Illi- 
nois, May 10. [857, and is the second child 
of Patrick J. and Margai Doheney) 
Quinn, both of whom were nal count- 

ry Tipperary, Ireland, ami came to the 
United States when young. For si 
years the father was successfull) engaged in 
the mercantile business in Xew York, and 
while a resident of that city was married, 
at St. Peter's Catholic church, ami Barclay 
street, June 11. [854. Shortly afterward he 
came to Illinois and located in T ilono, 
he opened a general store, being one of the 
lii-t merchant- of that village. While liv- 
ing there he assisted in buildii atho- 
lic church and in securing twenty two acres 
of land adjoining for church use. Since 
[885 he has lived a retired life, ami has 
made his home in Danville the la-t few- 
Near-. In hi- family were six children, four 
sons ami two daughters, but the daughters 
are both deceased, and Frank, a successful 
physician and surgeon, of Peoria, died in 



124 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



I >f those living, James J. is the old- 
esl John P. is now pastor of St. John's 
t atholic church of Peoria, where he has be- 
come prominent as a successful organizer 
and builder of churches. Joseph \V. is 
station agenl for the Chicago, Milwaukee 
& St. Paul Railroad at .Milwaukee. The 
sen- were all graduated at Notre Dame. 
College, Indiana. 

Father Quinn, of this review, remained 
a; home until fifteen years of age attending 
the public schools and worked with his fa- 
ther in the mercantile business, lie also 
-pent two years with a large wholesale linn 
in Chicago. At the age of seventeen he en- 
tered Notre Dame College, where he was 

duated in law in [878, and in the clas- 
sical course in [879. For one year he en- 
gaged in the practice of law. and then en- 
tered the Theological Semilary, where he 
was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal 
Gibbons, in iNN_>. The following year he 
served as secretary to Bishop Spalding of 
Peoria, and in [884 as assistant to Rev. T. 
S. Ketling of Champaign. From 1SS4 to 
1SS7 he was assistant to Rev. Weldon, of 
Holy Trinity church. Bloomington, and dur- 
ing this time aided in building several 
churches, being especially qualified for that 
work by the business training he had re- 
ceived. From 1SS7 to [889 he was pastor 
of the churches at Chebanse and Clifton, 
rroquois countv, and the churches at both 
places were built under his pastorate. In 
[889 he was given his present charge in 
Chatsworth, and there again his business 
ability has been called into play. lie pur- 
chased property and erected a modern brick 
edifice, also a parsonage and academy, which 
are now valued at over sixty thousand dol- 
lars. The church is a model affair, being 
the most substantial and beautiful, as well 



as valuable property, in the Peoria diocese. 
The furnishings were all imported and the 
very best 1 ibtainable. 

The school organized by Father Quinn 
1 01 the best m the county, is supported 
by money collected from the parishioners, 
and is open to tin.- children of the town and 
county, while the teachers are among the 
besl ni this country, all talented ladies of the 
Order of Sisters of the 1 toly ( ross of Notre 
] tame. Father Quinn began work on the 
church in [889, and in [894 the debt was 
lifted through his skillful management, lie- 
also erected the church at Forrest, which 
property is valued at twenty-five hundred 
dollars, and in eight months it was dedi 
cated ami free from indebtedness. lie 1- 
revered by all his people and is their chosen 
leader. Through his early experiences and 
business education he has acquired a knowl- 
edge which is invaluable t" him as a pastor, 
bringing him in touch with his congrega- 
tion. ,,f whom he has the entire confidence. 
1 le is als. 1 , uie t' 1 w In >m the t* >u n 0\\ es much 
of us advancement, both in luismcss and 
social life, and his advice is sought by all 
who know him, hoth Protestants and Catho- 
lics. Mis familiarity with the law and busi- 
ness affairs gives him a decided advantage, 
and he interests himself in any enterprise 
which he believes will benefit the people of 
his ii iwn 1 'l" a mnty. 



|( )IL\ A. PETTETT. 

John A Pettett, a well-known postal 
clerk in charpe of the sixth division on the 
Chicago & Alton Railroad, from Chicago to 
St. Louis, and a prominent citizen of 

Dwight, Illinois, who has always been es 
pecially active and prominent in fraternal 




J. A. PETTETT. 




MISS MATILDA F. PETTETT. 



THE BIOGR \.PHICAL RECORD. 



!29 



societies, was horn in Hastings, Sussex, 
England, I (ecember 20, [846, and is a son of 
Henry and .Mary Ann (Standin) Pettett, 
representatives of old English families. On 
crossing the Atlantic, the parents first 
cated in Canada, but after a short time 
spenl there, the) went to Tonica, Ellino 
and from there came to Dwight, where the 
father followed his trade of mason until 
called to his final rest, February 2, [892. 
Jn politics he was a Republican and in re 
ligious belief a Methodist. His wife died 
Januarj 26, [892. To this worthy couple 
were born seven children, three of whom 
died in England during childhood. The 
other- are ( ieor.^e 'I'., a resident of Dwight: 
fohn A., our subject; Henry S.. who is 
living a retired life in Lacon, Illinois, and 
Howard C, Republican nominee for states 
attornev of Peoria county, Illinois, in 1900, 
and a resident of Chillicothe. 

The boyhood and youth of <>nr subject 
were passed under the parental roof, and 
his education was obtained in the common 
schools. At the age of thirteen he worked 
in a tailor's shop in his native town of 
Hastings, and followed that occupation until 
coming t" America, in [868. Before leav- 
ing England he was married, in October, 
1865. to Miss Fannie Freeman, a native of 
Biddenden, England, and a daughter ol 
James Freeman. By this union were born 
four children, namely: .Matilda F., her fa- 
ther's faithful and efficient housekeeper; 
Henry J., who married Nellie Lutz, and is 
now an employee of the Santa Fe Rail- 
road, residing in Streator, Illinois; George 
T.. who is engaged in the butcher and mar- 
ket business in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, and 
Alice E., who died at the age of two and a 
half years. 

Coming to the United States in i.ShS. 



Mr I 'ettett located in Tonica, Illinois. 1 le 
concluded to try some employment which 
would give him more outdoor exercise than 
histrade.and being w tiling t< 1 accept and h< >n- 
1 -t and honorable work, he took that which 
was most available, and for some years was 
engaged in farm labor, which he found, 
when pursued on the hustling, hurrying 
plan of the I Hint us farmer, to present quite 
a contrast to his previous sedentary 0CCt1 
lion. ( In the 20th of March. [87O, he came 
to Dwight ami entered the service of the 

( llicagO & UtOll Railroad, being employed 
for about ten years in various capacities 
in the round house and as fireman on the 
road. In [880 he entered the general bag- 

gage office of the same road at Chicago, 
where he spent two years, and in iNN_> was 
appointed railway postal clerk from Chicago 
to Peoria, but after a few weeks was trans- 
ferred to the Chicago and St. Louis run 
in the sixth division, which position he has 
faithfully and efficiently filled for eighteen 
years. for several wears past he has served 
as clerk in charge of the force on this di- 
vision, which is composed of three men he 
sides himself. This division is one ol the 
most important in the state, being between 
the two principal cities of the Mississippi 

valley. 

'fhe greatest misfortune that has he- 
fallen Mr. Pettett was the death of his wife. 
who was to him a faithful companion and 
helpmeet and was beloved by all who knew 
her. She passed away September i<). 1 ' x 74- 
ami his parents then made their home with 
him until they, too, were called to their final 
rest. for three years he has now been a 
resident of Dwight and is numbered among 
its honored and highly respected citizens. 
llis present responsible position indicates 
the character of his service and its apprecia- 



230 



NIL BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tion by those over him. His exacting du- 
ties have always prevented him from taking 
any active part in political affairs, and al 
though he is an uncompromising supporter 
of Republican principles and a worker in the 
ranks of his party, he has never aspired 
to political honors. The only public office 
he has ever accepted has been in connection 
with educational work as a member of the 
school board, and he resigned that position 
after serving five years, lie is a member 
bf the Hamilton Republican Club, of Chi- 
cago, and is an active and official member 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, of 
I (wight. 

It is in social and fraternal matters that 
Mr. Pettett is best known to the public, hav- 
ing always taken an active part in such work. 
He is a thirty-second-degree Mason, a mem 
ber of Livingston Lodge, No. 371, F. & 
A. M. of Dwight; Wilmington Chapter, 
No. 14-'. R. A. Ai.: St. Bernard Commai 
ery, No. 35, 1\. T., in which he has served 
as commissary and quartermaster; Chicago 
Council, No. 4. R. & S. M. ; Oriental Con- 

tory, of Chicago, and Medinah 
of the Mystic Shrine, lie is also a member 
of the St. Bernard Drill Corps, which is 
conceded to be the best in the United States 
and has w<m man) honors in competitive 
exemplification of the work, and in 189] 
he organized Dwight Chapter, No. [66, O. 
E. S., of which both lie and his daughter 
are charter members, and take an active 
part in its work. He first joined Blooming- 
ton Chapter, X". 50, hut on account of dis 
tance and inconveniences, he set on foot 
measures which resulted in the organiza- 
tion of Dwight Chapter, with himself as 
worthy patron. In this, as in Other fra- 
ternity work, Mr. Pettett has taken much 
pains and is given high praise by the 



founder of the floral work of the order, 
for his inimitable manner of exemplifying 
the work. I lis daughter is at present hold- 
ing the office of worthy matron, and like her 
lather takes a deep interest in the order, 
as well as in other society and church work. 
Both are charter members of Prairie Queen 
Chapter, No. 370, Daughters of Rebecca, 
and she has twice served as presiding officer 
and as representative to the grand lodge. 
Mr. Pettett is a prominent member of 
Dwight Lodge. No. 513. L O. < >. !•".. of 
which he is past noble grand, and is also 
past chief patriarch of Pacific Encampment, 
No. 126. IU' is a charter member of 
Hebron Lodge, No. 175. K. I'., of Dwight. 
and for twenty years has been a member of 
the Independent Order of Mutual Aid. He 
is the organizer of Pettett Lodge. No. 347, 
A. ( ). I'. \\\. of Dwight. which was named 
i:i his hoiio]-. He was elected the first 
master workman at its organization, in 
March. 1888, ami since then has served con- 
tinuously as deputy grand master and ren- 
resentative to the grand lot In the work 

of all these orders he has taken an active 
and prominent part ami stands deservedly 
high in tin- esteem of his fraternal brethren. 
Probabh no man in the state is better or 

ire favorably known in fraternal cin 
than he. and he is also numbered among 
tin- representative citizens of Dwight — one 
whose genial, cordial nature has made him 
In ists 1 if friends. 



|( >SEPH S. FRANCIS. 

One of the most straightforward, ener- 
getic and successful business men oi Liv- 
ingston count\ is Joseph S. Francis, who is 



I III BK (GRAPHICAL RECORD. 



231 



iii>w prominently and actively connected 
with the commercial interests of Forrest. 
In the field of business opportunity is un- 
limited. Military and political life have 
high honors for but few, bul in the field of 
trade the possibilities are many, and the am- 
bitious, energetic and determined man may 
work his way steadily upwaid, attaining- a 
position of affluance and prominence that 
cammands the respect and admiration of all. 
This Mr. Francis has won, ami the salient 
features in his success are indefatigable 
energy, untiring labor and sound business 
judgment. 

lie was born in Jackson township, 
Brown county, OhiOj August 16, 1845, a 
son of John and Margaret 1 Ross) Francis 
The lather was horn in county (avail, Ire- 
land, in February, [812, and when five years 
"i age came t" the United States in com- 
]ian\ with his father. Edward Francis, who 
brought hs family to this country. The 
grandfather of our subject was horn in Scot- 
land and on account of the feudal wars wenl 
to England, where he married. IK- after- 
ward removed to the Emerald Isle, where 
he carried oil farming. On crossing the 
Atlantic he located in Brown COUllty, ( >hio, 
where he purchased a farm at a place called 
Ash Ridge. There he built a good home and 
became one of the leading residents of the 
community, lie belonged to the Presbj 
terian church and died in that faith in [852. 

John Francis was one of a famil) of four 
sons and three daughters. lie was reared 
in Brown county. Ohio, there learned the 
cooper's trade, and after his marriage also 
engaged in farming, making his home in 
Ohio until t86o. In early life he joined the 
Methodist Episcopal church and became one 
of the leading members of his congrega- 
tion—the Mounl Olivet church. The house 



of worship was located on his farm. He 
served as class leader and steward and his 
home was always the place of entertainme 

for the ministers who visited 111 that local. ty. 
All of his seven children were also mem- 
bers of that church. In his farming opera- 
tions he was also ver\ successful. lie was 
also recognized as 1 me of the public spirited 
men of the community, held a number of 
offices, including those 1,1 school director 
and supervisor, and faithful} discharged 
every trust reposed in him. On the 10th 
of August, 1837, he married Miss Margaret 
Ross, a native of Ohio and a daughter of 
Lazarus U. .ss, who was horn in Virginia 
and at one time was engaged in packing 
salt across the mountains t' < Cincinnati, 
where he traded it to the settlers. I lc finally 
located in Claremont count), Ohio, win 
his daughter Margaret was horn. Sub 
quently he moved to Brown county, Ohio, 
and lived with Ins children for some time, 
hut his death occurred 111 Grant county. In 
diana. 

All of the children of John and Mar- 
garet Francis were horn in Brown com 
( Ihio, and in [860 the family removed the 
to Illinois, the father purchasing two hun- 
dred and forty acres of land adjoining the 
town of Forrest on the south. Mis pioneer 
home was onl) u\ 1 feet, hut as time 
pased he made many substantial impro 
ments on his place, erected a more conn 
dious residence, and, by additional pur- 
chase, extended the boundaries of his farm. 
When he came to the county there were but 

live or six members of the Methodist Epis- 
copaJ church in the locality, lie at once 
identified himself with the earnest little band 
of Christians, was one of the most liberal 
contributors toward the building of the new- 
house of worship ami was oi.e oi the tour 



2 32 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



who guaranteed the payment for the build 
kirch. I lis contnbutii ms '. > the 
work amounted to three thousand dollars. 
He served as class leader and steward and 
<li<l all in his power to promote the gn wth 
of the church. For several years prior to 
his death he lived in town and devoted n 
of his time to church work. He was one 
of t lie first justices of the peace of his neij 
borhood, elected in 1861, and in that office 
lie served through the exciting period of the 
war. lie was also school treasurer for sev- 
eral years, and held that office at the time 
1 1" the erection of the new building. Ik- 
died September 5, [893, respected by all who 
knew him. His widow, who was hern 
January 14. [814, still survives. They had 
sons and two daughters, all of whom 
are living, namely: James (!.. now of Fair- 
-hurv : Edward R., of Forrest; William VV., 
of Monticello, Indiana: J. S., of this re- 
view: Albert, who is living on the old home- 
stead; Emma J., now the wife of 11. B. 
Watson, of Forrest; and Lydia F., wife of 
Nathan Hurt, of Oakland, California. 

Mr. Francis, whose name introduces this 
review, began his education in Ohio. He 
worked on the home farm through the sum- 
mer months and in the winter attended the 
district schools. With his parents he came 
to Livingston county in i860, and in [864, 
at the age of nineteen, he enlisted in Com- 
pany E, ' 'in- Hundred and Twenty-ninth 
Illinois Infantry. He was sent to Chatta- 
noga and joined his regiment at Atlanta, 
just before Sherman started on the march to 
the sea. lie took part in that celebrated 
movement, participated in all the engage- 
ments of that campaign and was in the 
1 .r.md Review at Washington. He wasdis 
charged from Company E and assigned to 
the Forty-fifth Illinois Regiment, sent to 



Springfield, and was there paid off and dis- 
charged, in June. 1865. 

For two years thereafter Mr. Fran 
remained on the home farm. In I&69 he 
came to Forrest and was employed as a clerk 
in a general stove until 1S71. when he began 
dealing in general merchandise- on his own 
ace tinuing in the business until 

[876, when he returned to the farm. He 
then engaged in agricultural pursuits, and 
in connection with his In-other Allien he es- 
tablished the first tile factory in this part of 
the state, continuing its operation with 
marked success until the fall of [885, when 
he sold his interest to his brother and came 
to Forrest. Here he began dealing in coal 
and feed at his present location. lie SOOll 
secured a large trade, and in [892 he ex- 
tended the field of his operations by pur- 
chasing a half interest in a grain warehouse 
and elevator. lie began buying and ship- 
ping grain, carrying on a verv extensive 
business, with Chicago as his market. He 
afterward became sole proprietor of the en- 
terprise, which he carried on very prosper- 
ously until April. 19OO, when he sold out. ' 
lie still deals in coal, feed and stone and 
takes contracts for stone work and building. 
His business interests are always carefully 
directed, and his sound judgment and un- 
faltering energy have enabled him to work 
his way continuously upward. For seven 
or eighl years he has been a director in the 
Building X Loan Association of Forrest 

( >n the [6th of August, [881, Mr. Fran- 
cis was united in marriage to Miss Ella S. 
Williamson, a daughter of William J. and 
Xancv 1 Snedeker 1 Williamson. Her father 
was from Russellville, Brown county. Ohio, 
where he spent his entire life, engaged in 
farming. Both he and his wife were very 
earnest and ardent members of the 1'reshv- 



III! BI< »GR M'llh'AI. RECORD. 



i$5 



terian church of Russellville. Unto Mr. and 
Mrs. Francis have been born nine children, 
seven oi whom are living: Lulu \\ ., Bertha 
J.. Nancy M.. Mary E., Josie, Lawrence D. 
and Morris L. i lie two deceased were 
Walter, who died at the age of four years; 
and I h imer. who died when two months old. 
They have a beautiful three-stor) brick resi 
dence in Forrest the first brick house in 
the city, and the household is noted for its 
charming hospitality. 

I lis fellow townsmen, recognizing his 
worth and ability, have frequently called 
upon Mr. Francis to serve in positions of 
public trust, lie served as highway com 
missioner from [884 until [898, during 
which time all of the iron and steel bridges 
of the township were built. He was a mem- 
ber of the board "i education three terms 
and was "ii the building committee when the 
school-house was enlarged, lie and his 
wife are members of the Congregational 
church, and he also served 011 its building 
committee at the time of the erection of its 
house of worship. He has twice served as 
superintendent of the Sunday-school and 
has always taken an active part in the work 
of the church, contributing most liberally 
to its support. He belongs to Forrest Post, 
No. 1 14. < 1. A. R., has several times been its 
commander and has been its rep itive 

to encampments. He is a charter member 
of the Modern Woodmen Camp at Forrest, 
has six tinier been its principal officer and 
has twice Keen delegate to the grand lodge. 
As has been indicated in this sketch, Mr. 
Francis is a prominent factor in busim 
social and political life in Forrest. He 
withholds his support from no movement 
or incisure calculated to prove of public 
good, and is indeed a public spirited and 
valued citizen: in business his word is as 



1 1 as any bond that was ever solemnized 

by signature or seal; and in private lite he 
has an unassailable reputation, which com 
mauds the respect and has won him the con- 
fidence of all. 



WILLIAM LARGE. 

William Large, a representative farmer 
of Pleasant township, Livingston count), 
who owns a good farm of one hundred and 
twenty acres on section 14, was born in 
England, March 15. 1856, ami when a year 
and a half old was brought to America by 
his parents. Leonard and Sarah (Mitchell) 
Large. The family first located 111 Wood- 
ford county, Illinois, where the father pur- 
chased land and engaged in farming for a 
time, hut about 1 073 sold that property and 
bought eighty acres of laud in Pleasant 
Ridge township, Livingston county, south 
of our subject's present farm. He im- 
proved that place and made his home there 
until death. There the mother is still li, 
at the age of seventy. 

'I he greater pari of the education oi 
subject was acquired in the public schools 

of \\ Iford county, though after coming 

to Livingston county he atended school 
for four or i'wc winters, his advantages 
along that line being beter than the aver- 
age bo\ of that time. When not in school 
he assisted in the work of the farm, and at 
the age 1 ■<' twentj 1 me immenced 1 iperating 
a farm on Ids own account, meeting with 
success from the start. Prior to his mar- 
riage he purchased his present place, which 
at that time was only partially improvi 
lie ha- since built a good house and ham, 
set out trees and placed the land under a 
high state of cultivation. In connecti 



2 54 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



with general tanning- he is engaged in stuck 
raising, making a specialty of hogs. Besides 
Ins property here, lie owns land in \\ hite and 
Jasper counties, Indiana, which he has im- 
proved, ami he is acknowledged as one of 
the most successful fanners of the county. 
On the 20th of September, iNNi. Mr. 
Large married Miss Clara Sutton, a daugh- 
ter "f J. B. Sutton, whose sketch appears on 
another page of this volume. She died 
July .}. 1893, leaving four children: Maude, 
Dwiglit, Marion and Ethel, who have been 
given good school advantages and are still at 
home. Mr. Large is an active member and 
liberal supporter of the .Methodist Episco 
pal church, of which his wife was also a 
member. He is also connected with the 
Court of Honor and affiliates with the Re- 
publican party. Wherever known he is held 
in high regard and his friends are man) 
through" ait the county. 



GEORGE VV. McCABE. 

George W. McCabe, the leading banker 
of (hat-worth and one of the representa- 
tive business men of Livingston county, is 
a native of Illinois, horn in Brimueld, l'e iria 
county, March 1. 1863. His father. Pal 
rick McCabe, was a native of Ireland, and 
in [845 came to the United States, landing 
in Xew Orleans. During this time he en- 
listed and served about eighteen months in 
the Mexican war. lie settled in Peoria 
county. Illinois. three years later, hut in Xew 
Orli was married, in 1850, t 1 Cath- 

erine Fox, who was also horn in Ireland 
and came to America about the same timi 
her husband. Since his marriage he has 
made I ie permanenty in this si 



and until [894 carried on farming very suc- 
cessfully, though devoting most of his time 
to the stock business. He came to this 
country with the hope .if securing a home, 
and with the characteristic energy of his 
race he succeeded far beyond his expecta- 
tions, and was the owner of a well- 
improved farm of two hundred and forty 
acres in Peoria county. In 1894 he re- 
tired from active labor and moved to the 
city of Peoria, where he purchased a com- 
fortable home and resided there until his 
death, August 14. 1000, at the age of sev- 
enty-eight years. His widow survives him. 
being seventy-one years of age. To this 
worthy couple were horn eight children, of 
whom live are St.ll living, namely: Alice 
is now the widow of J. McClary, of Chicago. 
Edward D., a graduate of the Michigan 
University at Ann Arbor, and now a promi- 
nent attorney, of Peoria, has been success 
fully engaged 111 practice for several years 
and is one of the best probate and chancery 
attorneys in the city. He served four years 
under President Cleveland as government 
storekeeper at Peoria. Elisha B. follows 
fanning on the old home place in Peoria 
county. George \\ .. our subject, is next 
in order of birth. Kate E. is at home with 
her parents in Pei >ria. 

The early education of George VV. Mc- 
Cabe was acquired in the common schoi 
of Brimfield, and he later took a commer- 
cial course at St. Yiatur's College at Kan- 
kakee, and a husjicss course at Bryant & 
Stratton's College, in Chicago. During the 
year of [892 he read law with his brother 
in Peoria, hut the following year came to 
Chatsworth and purchased a lot. upon which 
he erected a modern lire proof hank building, 
beginning work in April and opening for 
business in 1 ' I >bei of thai year. Almost 



THE Iil( KiK \1M1ICAL RECORD. 



!35 



immediately he secured a liberal patronage, 
and is now doing the leading general bank- 
ing business of the community, ha\ ing as his 
assistant II. S. C >wling, a prominent young 
man of Chatsworth. He is enterprising, 
energetic and progressive and has conducted 
the business for seven years without the loss 
of a dollar. He is also quite extensivelj 
interested in real estate and loans, and is 
president of the Peoria & Eastern Telephone 
Company, a growing concern, having sev- 
eral exchanges in the system. In [897 Mr. 
McCabe purchased a lot at the corner of 
Fourth and Hickory streets and erected a 
modern residence, fitted with all improve- 
ments, and one of the handsomest and most 
convenient houses in Chatsworth. < >n the 
2d of August, 1900, was incorporated the 
1 ommercial National Bank of Chatsworth. 
with capital stock amounting to twenty-five 
thousand dollars, of which amount Mr. Mc- 
Cabe took nineteen thousand dollars. To the 
neu institution he turned over the entire as- 
sets of his private hank, and it was mainly 
through his efforts that the hank was organ- 
ized. Believing that a National bankafforded 
more security to the deposit rs of the hank, 
! would the better secure the confidence oi 
the ci immunity, he underto* ik the work ol 01 
ganization and incorporation. This new in- 
stitution will afford to the citizens of Chats 
worthand vicinity every facility for safe 
banking, and under the general management 
of Mr. McCabe it will secure the confidence 
of the community, as he occupies the po- 
sition of cashier and general manager. The 
other officers of the hank are Stephen Herr, 
president; John F. Ryan, vice-president; 
ami II. S. Co\yling, assistant rash' 

On the 29th of September, 1897, Mr. 
Cabe married Miss Thresa M. Kehoe, a na- 
tive of Chicago, of which city her fathei 



been a progressive merchant for -e\eral 
wars. By this union have been horn two 
children: katherine <i. and George K. In 
politics Mr. McCabe is a Democrat on na- 
tional issues, hut in local affairs always sup- 
ports the men best qualified to fill the offices 
regardless of party lines, lie is a member 
of the State Bankers' Association of Illinois, 
and for over six years has been a member 
of the Knights of Pythias Lodge of Chats- 
worth. in which he has held the office of 
chancellor commander for some time. Re- 
ligiously he is a member of Sts. Peter's and 
Paul's Catholic church. In manner he is 
pleasant and genial, and is quite popular both 
in social and business circles. 



JOHN' \V. FELLOWS. 

fohn W. fellows, one of the oldest resi- 
dents of Pleasant Ridge township. Livings 
ton county. Illinois, was horn in Otisco, 
Onondaga county, New York, September 
13. [820, a son of Daniel and Jerusha 1 Pul- 
ler) Fellows. The father was a native of 
Germany and a farmer by occupation, tn 
the county of his nativity our subject was 
reared and educated in much the usual man 
tier of farmer hoys of his day. 

There Mr. Fellows was married. Oc- 
toher _>o, 1846, to Miss Margaret M. Len- 
son, who was horn September 5. [828 I ler 
father. Nicholas Lenson, was also a native 
of Germany, and on his emigration to the 
United States settled in Tully township, 
< Inondaga county. New York. Mr. and Mrs. 
fellows have four children living, namely: 
lames II.. a wholesale dealer ami manu- 
facturer of candv in Kankakee. Illin 

Stephen, resident of Watseka; Daniel D., of 



>■& 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



"Win^. and Alfred \\\. who wedded Mary 
Tobenski and lives at home with his parents. 
Nicholas A. went south as a foreman in 
[869 and is supposed to have died of yellow 
fever, and J. Henry died in Wing, Illinois, 
at the age of fort) two year.-, leaving live 
children. 

\fter their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Fel- 
lows continued their residence in New York 
until 1852, when they started west. They 
made the journey by boat from Buffalo to 
Chicago, where they arrived on the 2d of 
November, that year, when that city was 
quite small, and then drove across the coun- 
try with a team t^ Plainfield, Will county, 
J!lim>is. where Mr. Fellows engaged in farm- 
ing upon rented land for seven years. The 
following two years were spent in .McLean 
county. Determined to have a home. Mrs. 
Fellows worked hard until she had earned 

igh to purchase eighty acres <>t" land in 

asant Ridge township, Livingston coun- 
ty, to which she still holds the deed. The 
family li cated here in iSi.j, and the logs for 
their first home were hauled from AvOi 
In 1781 a good frame residence was built 
and is still the home of the family. .Mr. 

■ iw S pin 1 ty acres of land ad- 

joining his wife's property, has tiled the en- 
tire amount and placed it under a high state 
cultivation. They have planted shade 
tre< nverted the place into a pleasant 

home. He has alwa : in general 

farming and has been quite successful. Al- 
he has never taken a very active 
part in public affairs, he has served as school 
111 active interest in all 
enterprises for the public good. 

Since the age of twelve vears Mis. Fel- 
low s has Keen an earnest and o insistent mem- 
ber of the M pal church, and 

been a subscriber to the Christian Ad. 



cate since the first number of that paper 
was issued. She is quite fond of reading 
and is a most estimable lady. She and Iter 
husband have watched with interest the won- 
derful changes that have taken place in this 
region since locating here, have seen the 
wolves, deer and wild turkeys disappear, 
the railroad, telegraphs and telephones 
troduced, and towns and villages spring up. 



OWEN MURTAUGH. 

Owen Murtaugh, an honored and highly 
respected citizen of Chatsworth, is the p 

>or of a handsome property which now 
enables him to spend his declining years in 
the pleasura iyment of his accumula- 

tions. The record of ins life, previous to 
90, is that of an active, energetic, meth- 
odical and sagacious business man, who bent 
his energies t.. the honorable acquirement 
a comfortable competence for himself and 
family. 

Mr. Murtaugh w. unty 

I .. >iith, Ireland. June S. 1 826, and bel >n^s 1, , 
a race of people who have been renowned 
for their energy and willingness to brave 
any danger that they may better themselves. 
He received his education in the common 
schools of his native land and remained in 
Ireland until twenty-six years of age, when 
he resolved to try his fortunes on this side 
of the Atlantic. Coming to what was then 
red the far west, he located in j'.ing- 
haml v Amboy, Lee county, Illino 

before the Illinois Central Railroad had been 
surveyed. He purchased eighty acres ,,f 
raw prairie land near Sublette, that county, 
which he partly improved and then disposed 
of at a profit, lie had previously worked as 




OWEN MURTAUGH. 




REV. WILLIAM M. MURTAUGH. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



241 



a farm hand for some time, and with the 
money thus obtained he purchased thai prop- 
erty. Later he purchased a tract of nuim- 
proved land in Marshall county, where he 
made his home for some time. 

While residing there. Mr. Murtaugh was 
married, in 1S55. to Miss Bridget Lawless, 
also a native of Ireland, and an only daugh- 
ter, whi' came to America with her parents 
in [849, and died in [864. By this union 
were born two s< >ns : William Matthew. 
born in [860, took a business course at St. 
Viateur's College, in Kankakee, and began 
stndymg for the priesthood at VVatertown, 
Wisconsin, where he remained three years. 
Later he attended school in Montreal, Can- 
ada, for a year, and was graduated from St. 
Mary's in Baltimore, Maryland, hem- or 
dained t.> the priesthood at Peoria, Illinois, 
in [888, b) Bishop Spalding, lie served 
stant to Father Hedges, "i' Pontiac, 
lllhi"!-. for "lie year, ami for nine years was 
stationed at Keithsburg, Illinois, where 1>\ 
his business abilit) 1 -1 management' 

lie built a line church and parsonage. In 
1898 he was transferred to Sheffield, and is 

now doing a g 1 work in improving that 

parish. Francis, the younger son ami 

operates a valuable farm of one hundred and 
sixty acres in Charlotte township, Liv- 
ingstoo county, lie married Sarah Har- 
rington, and they have four children: 
Agnes M.. Hazel G., Owen W. and James 
J. I-'., all attending the district schools. 

S ion after his marriage, upon seeing the 
men who were returning from the gold 
fields "t' California, and hearing the reports 
they made. Mr. Murtaugh decided he could 
make money there, being young and strong, 
a- well as willing to brave any dangers that 
he might add to the comfort of himself and 
his young wife. After making prcpara- 

18 



tions for the journey he went to New < 'i 

leans by way of the Mississippi river, and 
then crossed the Isthmus, and by steamer 
proceeded to Sail Francisco, where he landed 
after an interesting voyage of four weeks. 
For eighteen mouths he followed mining and 
prospecting, meeting with hardships and 
encountering many Indians and wild beasts 
in the mountains. Feeling abundantly re- 
paid for his labors, his thoughts turned to- 
ward home and the bride he had left in Illi- 
nois, in 1857, by way of the Panama 
route, he returned to Marshall county, Illi- 
nois In March of the following year, with 
his family, he came to Livingston county 
and purchased a quarter-section of land in 
Charlotte township, which at that time was 
all swamp ami prairie laud. The nature 
the countrj is shown by the following ad- 
venture which one da) befell him. lie 
started from Pontiac with about eight hun- 
dred feel of lumber, hut owing to the poor 
condition of the raods was obliged to throw 
about half of the load off when half way 
home, and nearly all of the remainder when 
within five miles of home, where he arrived 
on horseback with only a few hoards, find- 
ing that an empty wagon was a load of 
itself through the swamps. The family 
camped out for a few weeks until he could 
erect a cabin. After el< rs of hard 

labor he succeeded in getting his land well 
improved. Not having enough land. Mr. 
Murtaugh sold his farm in Livingston 
county, in [869, and by moving about a mile 
away purchased four hundred and forty 
acres m Ford county, which was then hut 
poorly improved, hut he soon transformed it 
into a most desirable farm, and successfully 
engaged in fanning there until [890. He 
made a specialty of stock raising, and also 
bough! and fattened stock for the Chicago .; 



242 



Till-: r.IOGRAPIIICAL RECORD. 



markets, shipping on an average of two car- 
loads of cattle and the same amount of hogs 
per year, lie met with success in all his 
undertakings and became one of the well- 
to do men of his community, lie sold one 
hundred and twenty acres of his farm and 
gave the proceeds to his son Francis to give 
him a start in life, but still retains three 
hundred and twenty acres, which he rents, 
it bringing him a snug income. In [890 he 
purchased a pleasant home in Chatsworth, 
for which he paid one thousand dollars, and 
which he has since greatly improved, and 
there he is now living a quiet, retired hie. 
free from all care and responsibility. 

In 1865, Mr. Murtaugh was again mar- 
ried, his second union being with Miss Alice 
Cleary, who was born in Ireland in [828, 
and came to America in 1852. After living 
in the east for a time, she came to Will 
county. Illinois, in [859, and was living 
there at the time of her marriage. Three 
children were born to them, namely: Mary, 
who died in iSS(>; Kugene P., who was 
killed by the kick of a horse. June 8, 189] : 
and Alice E., an accomplished young lady, 
at In line w ith her parents. 

In politics Mr. Murtaugh is a Democrat. 
though he cast his first vote for Abraham 
Lincoln, and at local elections supports the 
men whom he considers best qualified to 
fill the offices regardless of party lines. lb- 
has never been radical in his views. Dur- 
ing his early residence in this county he 
served as school trustee, and tilled the same 
office iii Ford county for twenty one years, 
also road commissioner for several years. 
lie is a member of the Catholic church of 
Chatsworth. and is highly respected and 
esteemed by all who know him, his pleasant, 
genial manner winning him many friends. 
In iNj.} Mr. Murtaugh returned to Ireland 



to visit the scenes of his boyhood, and on his 
arrival there found that his father. Matthew 
Murtaugh, had been dead about three 
months. He spent three months in renew- 
ing early acquaintances and traveling over 
Ireland and Wales, and also visiting Si 
places of interest in Scotland. As he ex- 
presses u. he "went for a good time and had 
1 me." 



HARVEY BUTT< >.V 

There is n<> rule for achieving success. 
\et certain elements are always found in the 
acquirement of prosperity and these are 
close application, indefatigable energy and 
sound judgment — qualities which have 
proven salient features in the success which 
has attended the efforts of Mr. Button ami 
made him one of the .substantial citizens oi 
Forrest. From a humble apprenticeship, he 
has advanced steadily step by step, until he 
has long since left the ranks of the many 
to stand among the prosperous few. and at 
all times his career has been such as to 
command the public admiration and the re- 
spect and confidence of those with whom 
he has been associated. I le is now engaged 
in looking after his real estate investments, 
including both city and country property, 
but for many years he was a well known 
figure in railroad circles. 

Mr. Button was born at Palatine Bridge, 
Montgomery county. New York. November 
1 i. [838, a son of Jesse and Nancy 1 Van 
Slyke) Button. His father was horn in 
Syracuse, New York, in March. 1820, and 
the grandfather was Jesse Button, who was 
probably a native of Syracuse, but was born 
of English parentage. He became a promi- 
nent farmer near Syracuse and died in that 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



243 



city at the advanced age of eighty years. 
The father of our subject was reared at 
Syracuse and in early manhood went to Pala- 
tine Bridge, where he engaged in contract- 
ing and building. There he married Miss 
Van Slyke, a daughter of William Van 
Slyke, who was born at Palatine Bridge or 
in that locality, lie was a fanner and a 
member of the Lutheran church. 1 lis father 
was a native of Holland, but came to Amer- 
ica in colonial days and served in the Revo- 
lutionary war with the colonial army. 

The lather of our subject removed to 
Little Falls, New York, about [849, and 
there continued contracting and building 
until he was killed while raising a building, 
in 1861. He left seven children, of whom 
our subject was the eldest son and second 
child. The mother, who lived in Illinois 
for some years, died at 1'alatine Bridge, in 
January. 1898, at the age of eighty, her 
birth having- occurred on the t >t of March. 
[818. The parents were worthy members 
of the Universalist church. 

Mr. Mutton, of this review, was edu- 
cated in his native town and at Little Falls, 
spending two years in an academy. He 
then learned the trade of a machinist, serv- 
ing regular apprenticeship of three years. 
In 1X5(1, soon after its completion, he went 
to Detroit, Michigan, and there began rail- 
road work, being employed near Windsor, 
on the construction of the old Great Western 
Railroad. He was then working on the 
Michigan Central from Detroit, tilling the 
position of fireman until [860, when he was 
made an engineer, and ran from Detroit to 
Marshall. He served in that capacity for 
two years, after which he spent six months 
on the construction engine of the Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincy, running from Men- 
dota, Illinois. After the expiration of that 



period he ran from Aurora to Galesburg 
and Quincy, being thus engaged until the 
fall of [865. He hauled many of the sol- 
diers proceeding to the south. He carried 
eighteen cars of soldiers out of Quincy one 
day and another train of eighteen cars fol- 
lowed. They stopped at Keokuk Junction 
lor water and the second train oertook them. 
The soldiers had been fooling with the hand- 
brakes, and Mr. Button told the officers if 
they did not keep the men away from tlie 
brakes they would he stopped and the other 
train would run into them. This did little 
good and after six or seven more miles had 
been passed, as they were going around a 
curve near Augusta, the soldiers again 
stopped the train. Mr. Button then jumped 
oft and told the conductor to start the train 
as soon as he could get the brakes off. ami 
lie ( Mr. Button ) would crawl over the train 
and into his engine, his object being to get 
the brakes oft* as soon as possible and get 
out of the way of the other train. He jtisr 
succeeded in this when the other train came 
around the curve, and he signalled to the 
fireman to go ahead and get out of the way, 
thus saving the lives of many soldiers. Mr. 
Button then again saw the officers in charge 
and told them he would not pull out until a 
guard was put at the brakes. This was 
done, after which all went well. 

In the fall of 1865 Mr. Button went to 
Springfield. Illinois, and ran an engine on 
the Wabash road until the fall of 1 NNo. when 
he was sent to Forrest to take charge of the 
shops as general foreman, holding that p 
tion until January. [893. This is an im- 
portant sho]), in which many men are em- 
ployed. It was not then finished and he 
put in the machinery, placing everything in 
working operation. He had charge of about 
sixty men and continued as superintendent 



244 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of the shops and his retirement from active 
business labor, other than the supervision of 
his property interests. Working his way 
steadily upward, he was familiar with ever} 
branch of the work and was therefore very 
competent to direct the labors of others. 
He was one of the most trusted representa- 
tives of the road, enjoying the confidence 
of t lie corporation and the respect oi all 
whom he superintended. 

In the meantime Mr. Button had be- 
Ci niie the owner of both farm and town pri ip 
erty, and in addition to his realty in Liv- 
ingston county, he owns farms in .McLean 
county, Illinois, and also in Indiana, lie 
erected the business block at the corner o< 
cupied by the drug store and by the Masonic 
lodge — one of the best blocks in the town. 
He has also built a large two-story brick 
building i in the next corner — one of the mi ist 
modern and improved in the city. Since 
[893 his attention has been given to the 
management of his investments and to real 
estate dealing. 

While in Mendota Mr. Button was mar- 
ried on the 24th of I >ecember, [863, I 1 
Miss Jennie Jewitt. daughter of Charles 
Jewitt, who removed to Mendota from De 
Kalli county, where he had engaged in farm- 
ing until [849, when he went to California, 
where he remained until [852. lie then 
engaged in the grain business in Mendota. 
He had come to Illinois from Yorkshire, 
England. After his first residence in Cali- 
fornia, he again spent two years there, and 
then mice more lived in Mendota for a time, 
but ultimately removed to Remington, In- 
diana, where lie purchased a farm. The 
marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Button has be 
Messed with one child. Clara, now the wife 
of David T. Torrence., of Chicago. Mr. 
Button is a Republican in his political views 



and votss for the men and measures of the 
party, but has never been an aspirant for 
office, lie belongs to Forresl Lodge, No. 
'114. F. & A. M., and attends and supports 
the Congregational church. In politics he 
is recognized as an important factor in local 
party ranks and has frequently been a dele- 
gate to comity and state conventions. lie- 
aided in nominating Governor Fifer, was 
again a member of the state convention in 
[892, and supported Governor Tanner's 
candidacy in [896. His life has been one 
of marked industry and usefulness, and in 
every relation of life he. has commanded the 
respect, confidence and esteem of his fellow 
men. Always just and upright, ofttimes 
generous and liberal, ever an advocate of the 
right, his life stands in exemplification of 
our highest type of American manh I. 



WILLIAM A. WILLIAMSON. 

William A. Williams. .11. one of the high- 
ly respected and honored citizens of Saune- 
miii township, Livingston county, Illinois, 
was horn near Russellville, Brown county, 
( /hi. 1. March iN. [858. His father. William 
Williams, m. was a native of Fleming coun- 
ty, Kentucky, and a son of John William- 
son, a Revolutionar) soldier, who removed 
to southern < >hio when his son was only ten 
wars. .Id and there fi illowed fanning through- 
out the remainder of his life. lie died at 
the advanced age of eighty nine years. The 

father grew to manh 1 in Ohio and also 

followed the occupation of farming in that 
Mate until his death, w Inch 1 iccurred < >Ct< iber 
20, [889. He was quite an extensive farmer 
and served as justice of the pi ai 1 In early 
life he married Nancy Snedaker, a native of 



THE BIOGRAITIICAL RECORD. 



?45 



southern Ohio and a daughter of Garret! 
Snedaker, who moved from Pennsylvania 
to that state and was also an agriculturist. 
Mrs. Williamson now makes her home with 
our subject. She is a consistent member oi 
the Presbyterian church, of which her hus- 
band was an elder Eor twenty years and a 
Sunday school teacher many years, always 
having taken an active part in church affairs. 

During his boyhood and youth William 
A. Williamson obtained a good education 
in the common schools near his home and 
;•: Russellville, < )hio. At the age of twenty 
years he left home and commenced life for 
himself as a farmer. In [884 he came to 
Livingston county, Illinois, and rented a 
farm in honest township for eight years. 
In the fall of 1891 he purchased his present 
farm of one hundred and sixty acres in 
Saunemin township, hut did not locate there- 
on until the spring of [893. It had pre- 
viously keen Used as a pasture and there was 
not a single improvement upon it. but he 
erected a pleasant residence, a good barn 
and windmill, set out trees, and made many 
other improvements which add greatly to the 
value and beauty of the place. 

On the 4th of September, 1884, Mr. 

Williamson was united in marriage with 
Miss Ella I leekert of Forrest, a daughter 
of Joseph and Margaret 1 Miller) Heckert. 
She was reared by E. R. Francis, as her 
in. it her died when she was quite voting. By 
this union have keen horn five children: Ed- 
ward, Susie and Harry, living, and Morris 
and Ada. deceased. The parents are both 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
and the family is one of high standing in the 
community where they reside. Socially. 
Mr. Williamson affiliates with the Modern 
W oilmen of America, and politically, is 
identified with the Republican party. For 



six years he has served as school director, 
and in [900 was elected mad commissioner, 
in which capacity he has assisted in making 
many improvements in his township, includ- 
ing the construction of a new bridge over 
the Vermilion river at a cost oi three thou- 
sand dollars. 



Wild. I AM 1'. GOEMBEL. 

When after years of long and earnest 
labor in some honorable held >d' business, a 

man puts aside all cares to spend his re- 
maining years in the enjoyment oi the 
fruits of his former toil, it is certainly a 
well deserved reward of his earl) industry. 

"How blest is lie who crowns in shades like these 
A youth of labor Willi .111 age ol cms.',' 

wrote the poet, and the world everywhere 
recognizes the justice of a season of rest 
following an acti\e period of business life. 
Mr. Goembel is now living retired at his 
home on section 4. Fayette township, Liv- 
ingston county, and his history is one that 
shows the accomplishment of well-directed 
labor. 

Mr. Goembel was born in Hesse-Cassel, 
< .crmany. February 20, [833, a son of Philip 
and Caroline Eliza (Stoeber) Goembel, also 
natives of that country, where the father 
carried on a damask manufactory lor a pe- 
riod of thirty years. He then came to the 
United Stales in 1851, and firsl settled in 
Tazewell county. Illinois, where he followed 
farming live year-. At the end of that time 
he came to Livingston county, and made 
his home in the extreme southeastern part 
of what was then know 11 as (liner's drove, 
hut is now Germanville township, until his 
death in 1X75. In early life he was an in- 



J46 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



dustrious, energetic man. but spent his last 
years in retirement from active labor. His 
wife also died in Germanville township in 
iN-_>, and they now sleep side by side. In 
their family were only two children: Will- 
iam P., our subject; and Caroline, also a 
native of Germany, and now the wife oi 
Nicholas Froebe, a well-to-do tanner of 
( alifornia, who still owns over two hundred 
acres of laud in Germanville township, Liv- 
ingston county. Illinois, which lie leases. 
They had six children, namely: William 
P., a tanner of that township, who died at 
the age of thirty-eight years, leaving a 
widow and live children, the former now de- 
ceased : Caroline, wife of Henry Hendricks, 
a prosperous fanner of Germanville town- 
ship, by whom she has six children; .Ma- 
tilda, who married Henry Hummel, a well- 
to do farmer of the same township, and 
died in [896, leaving four children: Eliza- 
beth, wife of John Hummel, of Germanville 
township, by whom she has several children: 
Emma, who is with her parents in Califor- 
nia; and Charles, a farmer of that stale, who 
is married and has • me child. 

William 1'. Goembel was educated in 
private schools of his native land, and ac- 
companied the family on their emigration 
to America, remaining with his parents un- 
til twenty-three years of age, when he com- 
menced fanning for himself in Tazewell 
county. In the fall of 1856 he came to Liv- 
ingston county and purchased one hundred 
and four acres of raw prairie land in Ger- 
manville township, which he tiled, broke 
and improved, making it one of the besl 
farms in that locality. He resided there 
twenty- four years, during which time he 
bought a large amount of land, including 
two hundred and forty acres in Charlotte 
township; one hundred and sixty acres ad- 



joining his home farm in Germanville town- 
ship, and also properly in ChatSWOrth and 
Fayette townships, Livingston county. In 
connection with general farming he devoted 
considerable attention to the raisin;; of st< ick. 
In November, 1880, he moved to the village 
of Strawn, where he successfully engaged 
in business as a dealer in grain, lumber, coal 
and farming implements until 1891, when 
he located upon his present farm on section 
4. Fayette township, making it his home 
ever since. It consists of three hundred 
and twenty acres of rich and arable land, and 
i>. successfully operated by his sons. After 
his removal to the farm. Mr. Goembel con- 
tinued to carry on his business in the vil- 
lage for a few years, but for the past six or 
seven years has lived a retired life. 

( )n the 13th of l >ecember, [863, Mr. 
Goembel married Miss Elizabeth Shroen, 
also a native of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, 
horn in 1S44. on the farm of her father, 
who spent his entire life on his native soil. 
dying there in 1N5J. Her mother came to 
this country and died in Fayette township. 
Livingston county. to Mr. and Mrs. 
Goembel were bom the following children: 
Catherine is the wife of Nelson Kiner, a 
prosperous fanner of Marseilles. Illinois. 
and they have two children. Earl ami Eva; 
Mollie is the wife of F. M. Curyea, a farmer 
of Fayette township; Maggie is the wife of 
J. M. Mahon, station agent for the Big Four 
Railroad Company at Mansfield, Illinois; 
John, a farmer of Fayette township, married 
I aura Welling, and they have two children. 
Marguerite and William I'.: Charles X- is 
living on the home farm: Mary is the wife 
of < . I- Bartlett, station agent on the Wa- 
bash Railroad at Mansfield, and the) have 
two children, Clinton and Elizabeth; Will- 
iam, a fanner of Belle Prairie township. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



247 



Livingston county, married [da Younger, 
and they have one child: Paulina and Min- 
nie .uc both at home; and Delia died in Fav- 
ette township, September 17. [889. 

The family are members of the German 
Lutheran church, and Mr. Goembel is also 
a member of Sibley Lodge, F. & A. M., and 
the Chapter and Commandery at Fairbury. 
hi his political affiliations he is a Democrat, 
and has taken quite an active and influential 
part in local politics. During his entire 
residence in Straw n he was a member of the 
village board; was the first supervisor of 
Germanville township, which office he held 
for a number of years in that township, and 
for some time in Fayette township, lie has 
also served as township treasurer several 
years and as justice of the peace, ami takes 
a deep and commendable interest in public 
affairs, doing all in his power to promote 
the general welfare. 



JOHN 



io.MAS LOVELL. 



John Thomas Lovell, one of the mosl 
successful agriculturists of Broughton town- 
ship, Livingston county, and one of its rep- 
resentative citizens. wa> born in Barnwell, 
Northamptonshire, England, April 3, [837, 
and i- a son of Moses and .Mary 1 Bowen) 
Lovell. Throughout life the father was em- 
ployed as a shepherd in that country, and 
also as a stacker during harvest. After a 
long and useful life he died, in [888, and 
his wife passed away in [885. In their fam- 
ily were five children, namely: William, 
who died at the age of nineteen years; 
John T.. our subject; James, a farmer of 
l\ii"\ county. Nebraska; Samuel, a resident 
of England; and Elizabeth, wife of Henry 



Golden, a cabinetmaker of that country. 
(July our subject and James came to the 
I nited States. 

John T. Lovell was reared on a farm and 
attended the public schools of his native 
land. At the age of eighteen years he came 
to America, landing in New York, and first 
settled in Castleton, Rutland county. Ver- 
mont, where he was in the employ of Dr. 
Joseph Perkins, a professor in the Burling- 
ton Medical Callege for eight years, work- 
ins;" at first for twelve dollars per month. I le 
remained with him until after the civil war, 
and in [866 came to Illinois, spending a year 
and a half in Grundy county, where he 
herded cattle or worked at anything he could 
hud to do. Subsequently he rented a farm 
and began life for himself. 

In [867 Mr. Lovell married Miss Caro- 
line Coskey, a daughter of |ohn and Eliza- 
beth 1 Nooks) Coskey. The mother is now 
deceased, hut the father is still living at the 
age of seventy-eight years and makes his 
home in Braceville, Grundy county. Mrs. 
Lovell was born in Lockport, Illinois, in 
May. 1850, hut was living in Grundy county 
at the time of her marriage. She is the 
oldest ot a family of eight children, the 
others being Alice, Emma, Martin. Louisa. 
Mary, Frederick and Charles, a farmer of 
Sullivan township. Livingston county. Our 
subject and his wife had four children, of 
whom Alvin died at the age "i six- 
teen years. William, a fanner of Broughton 
township, married Lena Trccker and they 
have two children, John and Frederick. 
Bertram operates the home farm for his fa- 
ther. Ollie Mae is the wife of George Ker- 
sey, a farmer of ( .u'dnt'f. Illinois. 

On coming to Livingston county in [867 
Mr. Lovell purchased forty acres ,,f wild 
prairie laud in Broughton township and has 



248 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



made every improvement upon the place, in- 
cluding the erection of a barn and re i 
dence, the planting of an orchard and the 
tiling of the land. So successful has he been 
that lie- has added to his landed possessions 
from time to time until he now nuns six 
forty-acre tracts, all under a high state of 
cultivation. In June. 1887, lie had the mis- 
fortune t'> lose his barn, which was struck 
by lightning, killing his horses and destroy- 
ing his hay. I lis loss, which amounted to 
about "in- thousand dollars, was only partly 
covered by insurance. With characteristic 
energy, however, he at once erected a larger 
and better barn. IK' carries <>n both farming 
and stock raising, and has prospered through 
his own unaided efforts. He is a man of 

g 1 business ability and sound judgment 

and well deserves the success that he has 
achieved. Since 1898 he has practically 
lived a retired life, and has recently pur- 
chased a comfortable residence in Cabery, 
where he expects to make his home and 
enji iy a well-earned rest. 

In his political views Mr. Lovell i- a Re- 
publican and during almost his entire resi 
dence in this county has Idled the office of 
school director in a most acceptable man- 
ner, having always taken an active interest 
ii: maintaining gi k id sch< n >ls. 1 le alsi > served 
instable f< nir years. 



GEORGE II. CHAPMAN. 

George II. Chapman, a progressive, en- 
ergetic and successful agriculturist, whose 
home is "ii section u. Odell township, Liv- 
ingston county, Illinois, b a native of New 
York, his birth occurring in Ontafio coun 
1 . January 4. 1N51. Hi- parents, Hiram 



W. and Ann E. (Davis) Chapman, were 
born in the same county of good old New 
England stuck, and were farming people, 
who continued to reside in New York until 
[855, in which year they moved to La Salle 
county, Illinois, the father purchasing a 
quarter-section of land near Marseilles, to 
which he subsequently added another quar- 
ter section. He speculated in land qi 
tensively, and was very successful in his 
operations, owning at the time of his death 
about five hundred acres. Jn political senti- 
ment he was a Republican, but at local elec 
tions voted for the man and not the party. 
Although he was not a member of any 
church, he gave to their support, and Ins 
wife was a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church. She died on the old home 
farm in [882, at the age of fifty nine years. 
'I hree years later he retired from active 
labor, and died March 2, 1*1)7. at the age of 
seventy-seven. In their family were si\ 
si ms and < me daughter, 1 if w hi im twi < died in 
infancy. The others are George II.. our 
subject; Osnier, who was born in New 
Vork, and is new engaged in farming near 
the did homestead in La Salle count} : Frank 
( ).. whi 1 i- engaged in farming and the rai 
ing of full blooded Poland China hogs and 
Short-horn cattle near the homestead; Lu- 
cina, whi 1 died in 1S7S. sunn after grad- 
uating at a school iii Battle Creek. Michigan; 
and ()tis. who also lives mi the old home 
farm. Those living are married and have 
families of their ov\ n. 

During his boyh 1 and youth George 

II. Chapman aided in the work of the farm 
through the snmmer season and attended 
school in winter. He remained tinder the 
parental roof until he was married. January 
_'4. 1877, t" Mi-- Roselle Olmstead, who 
was born in Grundy countv. Illinois, May 




G. H. CHAPMAN. 




MRS. G. H. CHAPMAN. 



THE liluiikAI'IIM \l. RECORD. 



253 



1. [855, a daughter of Andrus and Ann 
E. (Archibald) Olmstead, residents of La 
Salle and Grundy counties for over fifty 
years. The mother, who was of Scotch 
descent, died in [884, but the father is still 
living at the age of sixt) eighl years and 
finds a pleasant home with our subject, lie 
had four daughters besides Mrs. Chapman. 
namely: .Mrs. J. K. Fingston, whose hus 
bend is a butcher of Odell; Mrs. Eliza Lay- 
man, a resident of Scandia, Kansas; Mrs. 
Helen Duttenhavor, who lives near Kent- 
land, Indiana; and Mis. Esther Pope, who 
died in Odell, in [883. Of the seven chil- 
dren, four sons and three daughters, born 
t<> Mr. and Mrs. Chapman, one died in in- 
fancy, and Marry at the age id" nineteen 
years. Those living are Fred ; \nnie; Hat- 
tie, twin sister of Harry; Ernest and Grade. 
They were educated in the < >dell high School 
and the sons are now assisting their father 
"ii the farm. 

For die year after his marriage Mr. 
< hapman was employed as a traveling 
salesman, having previously followed that 
occupation during the winter fur eight years 
with good success. Me lived upon a part 
of his father's land in I.a Salle county until 
the 1st of January. [883, when he came to 
Livingston county and purchased one hun- 
dred and sixty acres of land in Odell town- 
ship, which he improved and transformed 

into a g 1 farm. Later he bought one 

hundred and sixty acres of land near 
Dwight, which he fully improved and after- 
ward sold, and at one time owned a similar 
ami unit in Iowa, which he -.. d'l at a good 
profit. I 'p. m his tine farm in Odell town- 
ship he has now (in the summer of [900) 
erected a commodious and beautiful resi- 
dence at a cost of thirty-live hundred dol- 
lars, luted with all modern improvements 



and finished in natural woods, mostly 
cypress. It is beautifully located and will 

he mie of the finest homes ill the township. 

In connection with general farming Mr. 
Chapman has carried on dairying and has 

also dealt in short-horn cattle, for which he 
finds a ready sale in the local markets. For 
the past three years he has lived retired from 
active labor, hut still superintends the opi 
tion of his farm. 

At notional elections Mr. t hapman sup 
ports the Republican party, hut in local 
affairs he votes independent of party line-. 
supporting the men whom he believes best 
qualified for office. Me has served as 
pathmaster and school director, hut has 
never cared for political preferment. So- 
cially he is a member of the Independent 
Order of I ><\<\ fellows and the Modern 

\\ linen of America, being chief consul 

of his camp three years and a charter mem- 
ber of the same. Me is a man i\ high 
Standing in the community where he resides, 
and has many friends both in I.a Salic and 
Livingston counties. 



ELVIE T. POTTER. 

F.I vie T. I '''iter, a prosperous farmer 
and one of the most popular and in 
tlucntial citizens of Round Grove township. 
Livingston county. Illinois, his home being 
"ii section 15. was horn March <;. 1N57. in 
the house where he still resides, a sun of 
Stephen and Mary A. 1 Killmcr) Potter, na- 
tives of Washington county, New York, 
the former horn April 1. [806, the latter 
February 23, 1N14. In the county of his 
nativity the father was reared on a farm 
and educated in the common schools until 



^54 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



fourteen year- of age, when lie went to Es- 
sex county, New York, and was there mar- 
ried August 25, 1834. Immediately after 
his marriage he removed to Cuyahi 
county. ( >hii>. where he bought one hun- 
dred acres of heavily timbered land, to 
the improvement and cultivation of which 
be devoted his energies until 1844, when 
he sold the place and moved to Joliet, 
Illinois, becoming one of its early pio- 
neers. Leaving his family in that city he 
went to California in [849, and engaged in 

mining for five years with g 1 success. 

lie returned to Joliet in [854, and in the 
spring of [855 came to Livingston county, 
where he purchased a claim, consisting of 
the south half of section 15. Round drove 
township, which at that time was all raw 
prairie. He erected thereon a story and a 
half frame house, eighteen by eighteen feet, 
it being the fifth house in the township and 
the first frame house, the rest being built 
of logs along the east branch of the Mazon. 
lie made his home there until his death, 
which occurred August 31. [889, and his 
remains were interred in Round Grove cem- 
etery, lli- took an active part in public 
affairs and always supported the Democratic 
party, lie was one of the leaders in organ- 
izing his town, and held most of the town- 
ship offices. lie was especially active 
in school matters, having assisted in 
organizing the school districts and build- 
ing the first frame house. 1 luring the 
most of his life he was a member of the 
school board, serving as either director or 
trustee. His wife is still living and now re- 
sides with a daughter in Dwight. His 
parents, Thomas and Wealthy (Weller) 
Potter, were also natives of New York, 
while the former was ,,f English and the 
latter of German extraction. 



The subject of this sketch is the young- 
est in a family of eight children, the others 
being as follows: Charlotte 1!.. born < >cto- 
ber 17. [835, married Jesse Hldred. of 
Round Grove township, and died leaving 
four children; Cora, wife of Anthony Kern, 
of Streator, Illinois; L. J., a resident of 
Stockton. California; Stephen, of San Fran- 
cisco; and Minnie, wife of William Farrar, 
of Peru, Indiana. (2) .Mary died in child- 

li 1. (3) George W., horn October 27, 

1839, is connected with the Enterprise Man- 
ufacturing Company, of Joliet. He married 
Emma Godfrey, of Du Page county. Illi- 
nois, and they have three children: Edna, 
wife of Roy Hess, of Joliet : Pearl ami ( 'laire. 
141 Margaret S. is living with her mother 
in Dwight. (5) Reuben K., horn September 
26, 1044. was telegraph operator and sta- 
tion agent at 1 'wight and Joliet for many 
years, and died July 7. 1SS5. unmarried. 

■ Albert, horn December ,}. 1*47. was 
engaged in detective work for some years, 
and is now serving as deputy sheriff 
Miami county. Indiana, his home being in 
Peru. He-married Louisa Hubbard, of 
Round Grove township, this county, and 
has one son, Guy F. 17) Alanson, horn Oc- 
tober J7. [855, died January 28, [858. 

101 vie T. Potter grew to manhood on the 
"Id homestead and was educated in the dis- 
trict schools of the neighborhood. His 
brothers had all left home by the time he 
was fifteen years old, and he was therefore 
his father's onlj assistant in his extensive 
farming and stock raising operations. For 
ten years prior to his father's death our suh- 
ject had entire charge of the place, and 
since then has purchased the interests of 
the Other heirs in the farm, consisting of 
two hundred and forty acres of rich and 
arable land. He has engaged extensively 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



255 



in feeding cattle and raising Hambletonian 
horses, and was actively engaged in agricult- 
ural pursuits up to within the last two years, 
when he leased his land, though he still re- 
sides thereon. 

At the In 'me of his father. April _>_', 
[886, Mr. Potterwedded Miss Mary Glover, 
a popular and successful teacher, who taught 
school in this and Grundy counties for ten 
years prior to her marriage, Her parents 
were Samuel L. and Martha J. (Dunn) 
Glover, also early settlers of this county, 
their home being in Broughton township. 
Her father was a native of New York, Iter 
mother of Pennsylvania, where their mar- 
riage was celebrated. They are now resi- 
dents of Nebraska, and both here and in 
that state, Mr. Glover has taken an active 
part in public affair-, serving as supervisor 
and school trustee. He is a Republican in 
politics, and in early life was a member of 
the Independent < (rder of < >d 1 Fellows, and 
was active in organizing the Grange. In 
his family were the following children: 
Deett. wife of Warren McKae, a tanner of 

Custer county, Nebraska; Mary, wife of 
our subject; ('.race, wife of E. V. Spark-. 
a ranchman and teacher of Trapahoe county, 
Colorado; Henry 1'... who is at home with 
hi- parents in Custer county, Nebraska; 
Percy D., who married Augusta Lower, ol 
Broughton township, this county, and is 
now living in Custer county, Nebraska; and 
Sidney I... a carpenter, who ;- living with 
our subject. 

Mr. Potter has always taken an active part 
in political affairs and is a stanch supporter 
of the Democratic party. The first office lie 
was called upon to till was that of township 
collector, in which capacity he served his 
fellow citizens from 1SS7 to [894, inclusive. 
He was also elected supervisor of his town- 



ship in 1887 and held that office for eighl 
consecutive years, at the end of which time 
he declined a re-nomination. For several 
years there had been no opposing candidate, 
and when there was he was always elected 
by a large majority. 1 le served on the equali- 
zation committee his entire term: was chair- 
man of the judiciary committee two years, 
and was also a member of the committees 
on education, fees and salaries, auditing, 
jail and jail acouins. During his admin- 
istration the new county house was erected. 
For sixteen years he has served as school 
director in district No. 5. In [892 he re- 
ceived the Democratic nomination for the 
legislature, and, notwithstanding the large 
Republican majority in other oortions oi the 
district, he received a vote sufficient to make 
his campaign a worthy one as an index to 
his popularity and ab'lity. In all the rela- 
tions of life he has been found true to every 
trust reposed in him. and commands the 
respect and confidence of all with whom he 
comes in contact, either in public or private 
life. Socially he is a charter member of 
Campus Camp, No. 2619, .Modern Woodmen 
1 if America. 



ALBERT J. SNEYD. 

Alhcrt J. Sneyd, one of Chatsworth's 
representative luisiness men and mosl pro- 
gressive citizens, was horn in Lockport, Illi- 
nois. July [9, 1867, a son of Joseph and 
Mary ( Kobliska ) Sneyd. natives of Austria, 
who came to America with their respective 
parents when about fourteen years of age. 
The families settled near Lockport, Illinois, 
where the grandparents of our subject died 
soon afterward. There the father worked 
a- a farm hand for eleven years, and after 
his marriage moved to Ashkum, [Hi 



2 5 6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



where he purchased and improved a half- 
section of land. lie was successfully en- 
gaged in general farming and stock raising 
until his death, which occurred in [890. 

I lis wife died at the home of our subject in 
Cliatswi Tth in [896. Bi >th were members of 
1 In- Catholic church and he was a Democrat, 
hut never took any active part in politics 

de fn im voting. 
Albert J. Sneyd grew to manhood on the 
In .me farm, aiding his father in its opera- 
tion and attended the public schools of Ash- 
kum. On leaving the farm in [893 he came 
to Chatsworth, where, in partnership with 
Charles Burns, he embarked in the hardware 
hnsMU's,, purchasing the stock of K. \. Jack- 
si n. Under the firm name of Sneyd & Burns 
I successfully carried on business for s : \ 
years, during which time they enlarged their 
ck, as well as increased the volume ul 
trade. In the spring of [899 -Mr. Sneyd 

Id his interest to Mr. Burns, who still 
continues the business, and for a year lived 
retired, hut in the spring of [900 he pur- 
chased a lot. upon which he erected a com- 
modious warehouse and stocked it with a 
full line of buggies, wagons, planters, ami in 

cl all kinds of heavy and light farm ma- 
chinery and implements. lie has mad< 
decided success for the first season's venture 
in the new enterprise, for. being among 
the well known and reliable business men ol 
the town, he has secured a liberal share of the 
public patronage. He not onl) owns his 
present place of business, hut has a half 
iest in the building where he was for- 
merly engaged in the hardware trade, his 
home property in Chatsworth and a tine 
farm of one hundred and ten acres on sec- 
- :'■ ami 17. Ashkum township, [ro- 
lls county, which was part of the old 
homestead. 



On the 23d of May. [894, Mr. Sneyd 
was united in marriage with Miss Annie I-'.. 
Phillips, who was horn in Chchanse. Illinois, 
( (eti 'her 1 . [869, a daughter of Thomas and 
Kate (McGlone) Phillips. Her father is 
now deceased, hut her mother is still living 
and resides on the old home farm near Vsh- 
kmu. To Mr. and Mrs. Sneyd have been 
horn two children: Francis and Leo W- 
bert, brighl children, who are the joy of the 
home. The parents are both members of 
the Catholic church and Mr. Sneyd i- also 
a member of the Modern Woodmen Camp. 
Mo. [829, of Chatsworth. Politically he 
affiliates with the Democratic party. He 
is widely and favorably known and in social 
as well as business circles stands deservedly 
hierh. 



william i>. McMillan. 

William I). McMillan, the well known 
Forrest, Illinois, and a member of the vil- 
lage board of trustees, is a native of Liv- 
ingston county, horn in Rooks Creek town 
ship ( Ictober 5, 1X4(1. and is a son of Will- 
iam and grandson of Andrew McMillan. 
The father was horn in Jonesville, Pec coun- 
ty, Virginia, September j~. 1802, and there 
grew to manhood upon lis father's farm. 
He came to Livingston county, Illinois, as 
early as [834, and located in Rooks Creek 
township, when the Indians were still liv- 
ing m this region. Here he took up a larye 
tract of government land, about four hun- 
dred acres, which he improved, retaining 
most ..f it until his death. He became one 
of the most prominent and influential citi- 
zens of his community, in politics was first 
a Whig and later a Democrat, and held the 
■ iffke of justice of the peace fn im the earliest 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



-3/ 



recollection of our subject. In [838 he mar- 
tied Eliza Breckenridge, a daughter of Rob 

ert Ureckenridgc. who was also < me of the 
pioneers and land holders of Rooks Creek 
township, having come here from near Sar- 
dinia, Brown county, Ohio, about the same 
time as Mr. McMillan. By this marriage 
were In >rn four children, three of whom 
are still living, one of these being our sub- 
ject. The mother, who was a member of 
the Methodisl church, died in 1849, aiK ' t^ 10 
father subsequently married her sister. Mrs. 
Anna Anderson, lie died in June. [864, 
honored and respected by all who knew him. 
The early education "t William I). Mc- 
Millan was acquired in the common schools 
0/ Rooks Creek township, and he remained 
at home until his father's death. Desiring 
a better education he sold forty acres of the 
home farm, and after giving his mother 
her dowry used the remainder in paying 

his expenses at Eureka College. Having 

thus secured a good practical education he 
returned home and engaged in Farming until 

(870, when he went t< i Pontiac. The fol 

|i wing year he commenced learning photog- 
raphy and devoted his attention to that an 
until [874, when he entered the service of 
the United States Express Company at Pon 
tiac. A year later he was transferred to 
Springfield, and in [880 was made expn 
messenger on the Forrest and Streator train 
of the Wabash Railroad. On the [st of 
June. 1893, he was appointed agent at For 
rest, where the company does a large busi 
ness, as the town has two lines of railroad. 
The position is therefore one of much re- 
sponsibility, and he discharges his duties 
in a must creditable and satisfactory man- 
ner. 

( >n the 8th of April. [876, Mr. McMillan 
married Miss I. aura Harper, of Livings- 



ten county, who was horn in Waynestown, 

Indiana, a daughter of John Harper, an old 
resident here, who settled in this county 
when Mrs. McMillan was only six years old. 
By this union have been horn five children : 
Ira Douglas (deceased), Frederick \\\. 
Artie Ray (deceased). Leslie ('. and Edna 
E. The parents are both members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. 
McMillan is now serving as steward. He- 
cast his first vote for the Democratic party, 
hut since then has been a stanch Republican, 
though he has taken no active part in politi- 
cal affairs. While a resident of Rooks 
Creek township he filled the office ol 
lector, and without his knowledge he was 
nominated as a member of the city council 
on tlie no-license hoard in 1899 anil e 
by a good majority, though he made no ef- 
fort to secure the office. During his term 
the hoard has dime considerable toward 
street improvements, which have greatly 
pleased the people of tin- town. Fraternally 
Mr. McMillan is a member of the Modern 

\\ linen of America and the Independent 

1 Irder 1 if < >dd Fell< >v 



Jl >H\ ELLINGER. 

John Ellinger, a prominent farmer of 
section 35, Pontiac township, Livingston 
county, comes from the fatherland, and 
the strongest and mostcreditable character- 
istics of the eutonic race have been marked 
elements in his life and have enabled him 
to win success in the face of opposing cir- 
cumstances. He possesses the energy and. 
determination which mark the people of 1 icr 
many, and by the exercise of his powers 
has steadily progressed, and has not only 
won a handsome competence but lias com- 



358 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



manded universal respect by his straight- 
forward business methods. 

Mr. Ellinger was born in Wurtemburg, 
( rermany, < )ctober r6, [849, a son of George 
and Carrie 1). (Keibler) Ellinger, life-long 
residents of that place and active members 
of the Lutheran church. The father was a 
farmer and land owner and was one of the 
highly respected men of his community. 
He died in [893, the mother about eight 
years before. 

( )ur subject obtained a good practical ed- 
ucation in the public schools of his native 
land, and at the age of fifteen went into 
the village of < Ippenweiler, which was near 
his father'^ home, devoting a year and nine 
months to learning the 1 taker's trade. Xot 
liking the business, he decided to try his 
fortune on this side of the Atlantic, and 
celebrated the seventeenth anniver ary of his 
birth 0:1 board a vessel hound for America. 
His ticket took him to Washington. Illinois. 
where he borrowed three dollars with which 
tii proceed to Peoria, from a fellow passen- 
r, his own means being exhausted by this 
time. 1 le secured work on a farm near that 
city, where he remained for some time, and 
with his employer went to Peoria, work- 
ing for him two years, hut his wages were 
never paid for the last si\ months. Sccur- 
ii g an old horse he again started for the 
country and after spending a few weeks in 
El Paso, he lured out to a farmer north- 
west of that place for one year. Later. 
being refused the privilege of attending 
church, he entered the employ of a neighbor, 
for whom he worked until fall. lie was 
employed in that neighborhood for five 
years during which time he managed to 
save enough money to start in life for him- 
self, renting eighty acres of land in Ford 
© itititv for twi 1 years. 



In the meantime Mr. Ellinger was mar- 
rried, July 27, 1N70. to Miss Sophia Muel- 
ler, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daugh- 
ter of George Mueller, who with his family 
moved from that state to Indiana and later 
to Illinois. To our subject and wife have 
heen born twelve children, namely: Carrie, 
now the wife of John Schaffer of Eppards 
Point township. Livingston county; Lizzie, 
wife of William Schaffer, of the same town- 
ship; George, who married Maggie Young, 
and also lives in Lppards Point township: 
John, who married Aha Porter and resides 
i,i Pontiac; Emma, wife of Edward Greid- 
ner of that city: Katie. William. Christian, 
Arthur. Albert, frank and Robert, all at 
home. 

in 1872 Mr. Ellinger came to Living- 
ston county and successfully engaged in 
farming upon rented land in Saunemin 
township two years, at the cm\ of which 
time he purchased eighty acres of land in 
that township, hut hard times coming on, 
he l"st it. and again rented a number of sears, 
one year being spent in Sullivan township, 
and ten on one farm in Owego township. 
Subsequently he bought eighty acres in Char- 
lotte township, which he soon sold to ad- 
vantage, and then came to Pontiac town- 
ship, where he rented a half-section of land 
one year. It being sold at that time he had 
to move, and in [893 he purchased his pres- 
ent tine farm of two hundred and forty 
acres, one and a half miles from I'ontiac. 
for which he paid ninety-two dollars and a 
half per acre. It is one of the finest and 
most productive farms in the county, and 
is well improved with good buildings. In 
connection with general farming, Mr. Ell- 
inger ,ui\es considerable attention to the 
raising of cattle and hogs. While a resi- 
dent of Owego township he bought a half- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



259 



section of land in Minnesota, for which he 
paid cash, and which lie held until [899. 

In [899 Mr. Ellinger returned to his old 
home in Germany to visit his father. Since 
the age of nineteen years he has been a mem- 
ber of the Evangelical church, and he and 
his family are now connected with the church 
at Eppards Point. He is a Republican in 
politics but has never been an aspirant for 
office, though he served as school director 
three vears. 



CHARLES T. BURNS. 

Charles T. 1 turns, who is engaged in 
the hardware business in ChatSWOrth, 
Livingston county, has been one of the 
leading business men of the city since 
[893. lie commenced business as a junior 
member of the firm of Sneyd & Burns, No- 
vember 29, [893, and that relation was con- 
tinued until [899, when his brother, Thom- 
as, purchased the interest of Mr. Sneyd, and 
the business has since been conducted under 
the firm name of Burns Brothers. 

Charles T. Burns was horn in Chicago, 
Illinois, June II, 1 8O3, and is the son of 

Thomas and Eliza (Gallagher) Burns, both 
of whom were horn in Ireland, and both 
coming to this country in childhood; the 
former locating in Boston, Massachusetts. 
and the latter in Chicago, Illinois. In his 
youth Thomas Burns learned the ship car- 
penter's trade, which he followed for some 
years, and until coming west and locating 
in Chicago, where his marriage with Miss 
Gallagher was celebrated, lie is now en- 
gaged in farming in Iroquois county, Illi- 
nois, which has been Ins home for some 
years, and where he owns a farm of two 
hundred acres of well improved land. In 



his family were nine children : Charles T., 
the subject of this sketch: James, living on 
a farm in Iroquois county; Anna, living at 
home: Mary, who resides in Chicago; 
'I homas. now in partnership with our sub- 
ject; Kate, wife of ( ). Ergang, who is in 
the postal service in Chicago, which is their 
home; Walter, in a grain office in Ashkum, 
Illinois ; Terrence and William, at home with 
their father. The mother of these children 
died in 1886. She was a devoul member of 
the Catholic church, in which faith she died. 

The subject of this sketch grew to man- 
hood on the farm in Iroquois county, and in 
its public schools received his education, 
which was supplemented by one term in the 
commercial department of the Northern In- 
diana Normal School at Valparaiso, Indi- 
ana. He remained at home until he came 
to ChatSWOrth in [893 and embarked in his 
present business. Success has crowned his 
efforts, and in addition to his stuck of hard- 
ware, paints, oils, etc., he owns residence 
property in the city and an interest in the 
st. ire building occupied by himself and 
brother. The firm carry a line stock of goods 
and have an excellent trade, which extends 
many miles into the surrounding country. 

In politics Mr. Burns is a Democrat in 
national affairs, but in local matters he votes 
lor the best man for the office regardless of 
party ties. By his fellow citizens he has 
been honored with local office, having served 
as alderman for fine successive years. As a 
member of the board he has shown himself 
a progressive citizen, advocating every meas- 
ure proposed that seemed beneficial to the 
best interests 1 if the place. I le was interested 
in the putting 111 of brick walks, the building 
of the bell tower, the improvement of the 
water works, and the erection of the new- 
brick city hall, lie is chairman of the lire 



26o 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and water committees and a member of the 
finance committee and other committees. I [e 
is also a member of the volunteer fife com- 
pany. 

Fraternally Mr. Burns is a member of 
I amp No. 1829, Modern Woodmen of 
America, and religiously he is a member of 
the Catholic church. As a citizen he is en- 
terprising and loyal t'> his adopted cit) and 
county. 



CAPTAIN HENRY FOX. 

Captain Henry Fox, a gallant and i 
less of the civil war, and now a prom- 

inent citizen of Dwight, Illinois, was born 
in Wurtemburg, Germany, October 4. 1K33. 
lie was educated in a college near Stutt- 

; . taking a literary course, and mi leav- 
ing sch' »>1 entered a general mercantile 
establishment, where he served a tin 
year>' apprenticeship and was then granted 
a diploma. lie remained with that firm 
two years longer and then entered the em- 
ploy "[' a commission house, where he con- 
tinued t" work until his emigration to the 
United States in 1854, landing in New 
York cite en the day lie attained his ma- 
jority. 

Business being dull there, Mr. Fox | 
reeded t>> Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where lie 
clerked in a wholesale dry-good for 

two years, and while there served as second 
lieutenant in the Wisconsin Militia. His 
company was sent t" Madison "n the in- 
stallation of a new governor, in January, 
1856, they having much the same trouble 
as has recentl) been experienced in Ken- 
tucky. The incumbent <>t the office denied 
the validity of the claimant and who had 
the certificate of the canvassing board and 



refused to give up the office. This was the 
Bashjford and Barstow contest which cre- 
ated great excitement throughout the coun- 
try at the tune. In September, 1856, Mr. 
Fox went tn St. Louis, where he engaged 
in clerking fur a short time, and then re- 
moved t" Mt. Pulaski, Logan county, llli- 
ii"is. where Ik- was employed in the general 
store of John Mayer, who was engaged in 
business there for many years, and was one 
of the first settlers of Logan county. While 
there Mr. Fox married his employer's 
daughter, Miss Magdalene Mayer. Septem- 
ber 10. [857. After his marriage he was 
engaged in husiness for himself at Mt. Pu- 
laski a short time, hut in the spring of 1 So 1 
removed to Lincoln. Illinois, where he was 
living at the outbreak of the civil war. 

In August, 1862., Mr. Fox enlisted as 
sergeant in Company II. One Hundred and 
Sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was 
mustered in at Lincoln, being ordered to 

.son, Tennessee, in September. In refer- 
to his service we quote the following 
from the Chicago Inter-Ocean: "A Sol- 
dier's Brave Meed. In the later part of 
December, [862, when a small detachment 
of soldiers was scattered along the line of 
the railroad from Columbus, Kentucky, to 
I lolly Springs, Mississippi, guarding the 
bridges and trestle work, the following in- 
cident took place, which fof cool courage 
excelled anything that came to my attention 
during my three years' service. After the 
capture of Holl) Springs, Mississippi, Gen- 
eral Forrest's cavalry made a raid north- 
ward upon this line of railroad and captured 
every station between Jackson. Tenness 
and Columbus, Kentucky, exceut a small 
detachment of about seventy five men who 
were guarding the bridge and the long tres- 
tle work across the Obion river about ten 




HENRY FOX. 



THE BK ii; RAI'HICAL RECORD. 



263 



miles north of Jackson; This detachment 
wa> composed of parts of Companies II and 
J, One Hundred and Sixth I llin< •:> Infantry, 
and commanded by Captain P. \V. Harts, 
now of Springfield, Illinois, and Captain 
John Shockey, now of Pappinsville, Mis- 
souri. Alter the attack on Jackson and the 
capture of Colonel Ingersoll and a pan oi 
the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, a detachment 
of some five hundred of Forrest's cavalry, 
with two pieces of artillery, was sent by 
General Forrest against this handful of men 
guarding the Obion bridge. The Federal 
guard had hastily made rude breastworks 
directly under the bridge, determined to 
make the best possible defense. Promptly 
at 1 o'clock on December 23, before the 
breastworks were completed, this station 
north of the river were surrounded by these 
five hundred rebel cavalry, who, after mak- 
ing a great display on horseback, riding 
round in a circle three or four times, thus 
making believe that the whole oi Forresl s 
cavalry was present, dismounted and made 
a desperate effort t<> capture the guard and 
destn 1} the bridge and trestle-w 1 »rks in 1 irder 
t" break the railroad communication with 
kson, Tennessee. Here the unequal bat 
tie raged until the middle of the afternoon, 
the shrieking shells and the swishing bul- 
lets crashed through the heavy bridge tim- 
bers with which the breastworks were made. 
Capture seemed inevitable. Reinforcements 
could only he Imped fur from Jackson. Ii 
was decided that some one should venture 
to leave the fort, climb the open trestle some 
fifteen feet high and run over this, about 
one hundred and twenty rods, then through 
the timber toward Jackson, t>> secure rein- 
forcements. This task was solicited by 
Sergeant Henry Fox, of Company II. Hand 
over hand he gained the top of the bridge, 

14 



and then with a regular double-quick step, 
he ran from tie to tie across this dreadful 
hue. the enemy from both sides of the road 
shooting at him, hut while his clothes hore 
ample evidence of the danger he had run, 
he was untouched. Fortunately, the tire 
fii 'in the breastworks was too dangerous to 
permit the enemy to bring their artillery 
through the woods within close range of the 
fort ainl from the distance the heavy tim- 
ber obstructed the effectiveness of the 
shot and shell, ddie Station was not cap- 
tured, the bridge was saved, reinforcements 
arrived after dark, and after the enemy had 
withdrawn and left their dead in the farm- 
house on the hill. Sergeant Fox, after call- 
ing for reinforcements, returned alone, mak- 
ing the run of nine miles in one hour and 
forty minutes." This article was written and 
signed by David Harts, captain of Company 
( . One Hundred and Sixth Illinois Volun- 
teer Infantry. For this gallant service our 
subject received a medal in 'in congress with 
the following inscription: "The congress 
''i the United States to Serg't Henry Fux, 
Companj II, One Hundred and Sixth Illi- 
nois Infantry, for gallantry near Jackson, 
Tennessee, December 23, [862." In Janu- 
ary, 1863, he was detailed as recorder of 
militar} commission at Memphis, and in 
May was appointed bj General Hurlbul as 
captain of the Fifty-ninth Regiment United 
States Colored I r- •< >i >>, being mustered in 
as such June 1. 1863. lie participated in 
the battles of Parker's t V"s- Road, Hun- 
town and Tupolo, and went on to the ex- 
pedition of < >xford. In April, 1865, he was 
detailed as acting assistant inspector gen- 
eral of post and defenses at Memphis, Ten- 
nessee, and was on the staff of Brevet Major- 
General A. I.. Chetlain. In July, [865, he- 
was detailed on the staff of Ma jor < reueral 



264 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



John E. Smith. United State- Army, in the 
same capacity, for the district of Tennessee, 
and was finally mustered out on the last day 
of January. [866. 

Returning to his home in Lincoln, Elli— 
nois, Captain Fox worked in the lumber 
office of Buffham & Company for a year and 
a halt, then for Elliott & Company in the 
same business until New Year's Day, [869. 
B) hi- doctor's advice, he then removed to 
a farm in Logan county, which he had pur- 
chased about a year previous, hut as his 
health did not improve, in May. 0S74. he 
moved to Dwight, Illinois, where he has 
since had charge of William Ccully's lands, 
consisting of several thousand acres, which 
he has managed in a mosl creditable and 
satisfactory manner. 

To the Captain and his wife were horn 
eight children, namely: Frederick W., 
who died in February, 1897, at the age of 
forty years, leaving a widow and two chil- 
dren: Henry, w In 1 has charge of a large 
tract of land for Mr. Scully in Nelson, Ne- 
braska; Anna E., wife of Benjamin Show- 
waiter, 1 enport, Nebraska; Lydia I... 
who is teaching in the public schools of 
Dwight; Louis IA a resident of Kansas 
City, Missouri; Susan M.. who is an artist 
of superior ability and 1- now giving paint- 
ing lessons in Dwight and neighboring 

cities: Pauline E., 1 kkeeper ami cashier 

for .Miller Brothers, at Dwight; and Daniel 
S. Fox, who was horn in Dwight, Illinois, 
Januarj 27. [876, and was educated in the 
city and high school. lie was then with 
his father until the time of his enlistment, 
April jo. [898, in Company A. Third Illi- 
nois Cavalry, for a term of two years. The 
regiment was organized at Springfield, llli- 

. fri 'in w hich place it was senl t ■ ' hi 
amauga, where, on the 6th of July. [898, he 



was appointed corporal, from Chicka- 
mauga the regiment was sent to Porto Rico 
with Major-General Brooks, it being his 
guard. With his regiment Daniel S. re- 
mained until after the close of hostilities, 
when it returned, and he was honorably dis- 
charged at Streator, Illinois, January 20, 
1 Sow. and returned to hi- home, and is as 
sisting his father in the business. The 
mother of these children died October 7. 
1879, and was buried in Dwight. Captain 
Fox was again married. October 28, [880, 
his second union being with .Miss 1 lattie A. 
Chamberlain, who was horn near Syracuse, 
New York, and came to Illinois in 1873. 
Her father. William Chamberlain, never 
came west. She has proved a true helpmeet 
to her husband and a devoted mother to his 
children, who were young when she married 
him. 

Captain fox is a prominent member of 
several civic societies, including Livingston 
Lodge, No. 371, F. & A. M.; Wilmington 
1 hapter, No. 142. R. A. M.; Streator 
Council, R. & S. M. ; Blaney Command- 
ery, No. 5, K. T.. of Morn-. Illinois; 
Dwight Lodge, No. 513, and Dwight En- 
campment. No. 12(1. I. ( ). (). F., of which 
fraternity he has been a member for forty- 
two years. In the subordinate lodge he has 
served as noble grand, and 1- now past chief 
patriarch of the Encampment, lie is also 
an honored member and past commander of 
Dwight Post, No. 626, (.. A. R., and a 
member of the Military Order of the Loyal 
Legion. Politically he is a stanch Repub- 
lican, Inn at local elections, when no issue is 
involved, he votes independent of party 
lines, lie has ever taken an active ami 
prominent part in local politic-, and ha- been 
a membei of tin- town hoard four time- and 
served as mayor of Dwight two terms, lie 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



265 



has ever manifested the same loyalty in 'lays 

of peace as in time of war. and by all who 
know him is held in high regard. 



SAMUEL A. LEISEROWITZ. 

Samuel A. Leiserowitz, a prominent 
citizen of Cullom, and a member of the well- 
known firm of Leiserowitz Brothers, general 
merchants of Cullom, Herscher and Cabery, 
Illinois, was hnrn in Sarle. State of Kerne, 
Ku>sia. June 21, [861. His father, .Mendel 
Leiserowitz, a rabbi and school teacher of 
that country, has been active in church work 
since seventeen years of age and for the 
past fifty-three years has engaged in preach- 
ing and school teaching. lie is very well 
educated and is a well known expounder of 
tiie Hebrew faith. He has preached in 
Sarle. Moscow, and many smaller places in 
Russia, and while visiting in this country 
preached and taught school in South Chi- 
cago for four years. His father. Musis 
Leiserowitz, was also a rabbi and school 
teacher, and died while reading the Bible 
at his home in Vurgenborg, Russia, at the 
age of eighty three years. To the parents 
1 if our subject were born eleven children, 
six of whom are living, and one ot the 
number is still living in Russia taking care 
of the parents. Those in America are: 
'bane 1... who is engaged in general mer- 
cantile business in ECempton, Illinois; 1.. I... 
win 1 is engaged in the painting business in 
Chicago; Samuel A., our subject: Wolf, 
partner of our subject and a resident 1 f 
1 [erscher, Illinois^ ami Simon, who conducts 
the store for his brothers at Cabery. 

Samuel A. Leiserowitz attended school 
in his native laud, but his earlv education 



has been greatly supplemented by reading 
and observation in later years. At the age 
of twelve years he began his business career, 
being employed in the office of a dealer in 
grain and all kinds of produce until he at- 
tained his majority. He then entered the 
Russian army, December 1, 1881, and served 
until August 1. 1886. He was first a mem- 
ber of the Twentieth Fool hi visum, but on 
the 1st of August. [882, was transferred to 
the brass band, his instrument being a 
French horn. As a common soldier he re- 
cieved ninety cents pay every four months 
or two dollars and seventy cents per year, 
but being promoted to what corresponds 
to our corporal his salary was raised tc 
four dollars per year. In giving a des- 
cription of the Russian army Mr. Leisero- 
witz says: "Besides their high salary the 
soldiers were given their clothes, consisting 
(if one overcoat made of material resembling 
horse blankets, an under coal of a finer 
grade of goods, a cap and trousers made of 
the same material. These were supposed 
to last two years with exception of the trous- 
ers which were worn a year. Vests were 
not worn in the service. Each soldier re- 
ceived a pair and a half of leather boots 
each year, the leggings of the first pair do- 
ing service for the second. lor under and 
over wear linen similar to course towling 
was furnished. For hosiery the same kind 

of g L was used, and instead of being 

drawn on the feet was wrapped around. Mit- 
tens ami neckties were of black blanket 

g Is. and the ties were worn as Catholic 

priests wear them. < hit of their salaries 
the .soldiers have to pay for making their 
hoots and underwear . buying blackening for 
shoes and belts and oil for guns. Each are 
given seventy cents extra for incidentals, but 
this with their salary docs not half covet 



266 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



their expenses. They are given three pounds 
of rye bread a day and six cents in money 
tii pay for other food, but when a company 
is stationed at one place the money goes 
into the general fund for cooking purposes, 
amounting to six dollars for one hundred 
men per day. Each soldier gets about a 
halt pound of beef and soup, which is made 
of barley broken up and boiled with the 
meat. This they have tor dinner ami sup- 
per, while for breakfast they have only- 
bread, salt and water — plenty of water but 
not always salt. A mess of ten or fifteen 
men are given a wooden pail in which the 
soup is served. They carry a red wooden 

Spoon in then 1 1 leg and with these each 

dip into the bucket as they have no other 
dishes, knives or forks. After the meal 
however, they are generally as happy as 
lark-, singing and dancing. The higher 
officers are treated a-- ours are. 

When his term of service expired, Mr. 
Liserowitz received a recommndation from 
bis general testifying to hi- conduct, temper- 
ate habits, and general behavior and that 
should he again desire to enter the army he 
was to be taken back at one hundred and 
twenty dollars per year. Returning t<> his 
home, be remained there until January I. 
[887, when he sailed from Hamburg by way 
of Liver] I for \'ew York. He proceeded 

at 'nice I- Chicago and "li the train me! .1 
conductor, who was a relative of his father 
and who took charge of him. seeing that 
he gi >t to his brother all right. He remained 
it twenty-four hour- in Chicago. Ili- 
money by tin- time was exhausted but he 
finally found a relative who let him have 
enough t" go to Dan forth. Illinois, Wi- 
lli's brother- Wolf and Tane were then liv- 
ing. A week later the brother Wolf ordered 
for him a stock of good- amounting to little 



over forty-nine dollar-, and with this he 
started out as a peddler with his pack upon his 
back. His brother drove a team and went 
a couple of miles ahead toward Cullom their 
destination. Our subject met with most 
excellent success from the start and at the 
end of three weeks was able to buy a horse 
from Frank Drendel, living east of Cullom. 
for which he paid eighteen dollars, to be- 
taken out in trade. He then went to Dan- 
forth where his brother fane wa- living 
and bought a wagon. With horse and 
wagon he traveled for one year, and at the 
end of that time he and hi- brother Tane 
bought property in Cullom, where they suc- 
cessfully conducted a pool and billard hall 
one year. On selling out. in 1889, he and 
his brother Wolf started a -tore with a small 
stock of goods costing about two thousand 
dollars, and later took in another partner 
B. Brode, who was a member of the firm 
for about a year, but this venture did not 
prove a success, a- three families could not 
ff the profit- of the -mall -tore. The 
brother then went to Herscher, where he has 

prospered, but our subject remained 
in Cullom. where he rented a building of 
I. W. White for two years, and then of 
Walter Rider of Saunemin for five years, 
but at the end of five month- he purchased 
the latter, which he subsquently enlarged. 

he bought a house and lot adjoining, 
solil the house and moved the oldest store, 
and erected a double -tore building, 40x1 _>o 
and half of which i- two stories in 
height, the other one story. lie has 5l 
ily prospered and has never yet had occasion 
i" regret his emigration to the new world. 
In March, 1899, he and his brother Wolf 
formed a partnership, and under the firm 
name of Leiserowitz Brothers have the larg- 
e-t -tore- at Cullom and Herscher. and also 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



267 



have a good store in Caberry, the building 
also being owned by them. To-day they are 
numbered among the most successful and 
progressive business men of this section. 
Tlie Cullom store is in use as a department 
store, having added hardware, paints, wall 
paper and undertaking in addition to the 
general line handled before. There is a 
special department of silverware, jewelry, 
clucks and watches. A watchmaker of thirty 
years experience, Mr. Lawrence Holland, 
is in charge of this department. Me for 
the past twelve years lias been a resident of 
Cullom. 

In August, (886, Mr. Leiserowitz mar- 
ried Miss Golda S. Gohn, and to them were 
bom seven children, but the three oldest 
died in infancy. The others, Joseph, Jane. 
[sadore and Esther, are all attending school. 
In politics Mr. Leiserowitz is a Republican, 
and in his social relations is a member of 
Saunemin Lodge, No. 728, I. O. O. F., and 
is a charter member of Star Camp. No. 1886, 
M. W. A. of Cullom. 



SHERMAN' II. JOHNSON. 

Sherman H. Johnson, who is prominently 

identified with the agricultural interests of 
German ville township. Livingston comity, 
owns and operates a tine farm of one hun- 
dred and twenty acres on section 15. The 
neat and thrifty appearance of the place 
testifies to his careful supervision, and sh< >w s 
him to lie not only a thorough and skillful 
farmer, hut also a man of good business 
abitity. 

Mr. Johnson was horn in the town of 
Peru. Clinton county. New York. September 
13. 1N47, a son of Jeremiah and Harriet 



(Bridges) Johnson. The father was horn 
in Hartford. Connecticut, and resided there 
for some years. He enlisted in the war of 
181 2, and served for five years under Gen- 
eral Scott, coming out of the service as first 
lieutenant. After receiving his discharge 
at Plattsburg, New York, he remained at 
that place and engaged in the lumber busi 
ness. which he carried on until sixty-eighl 
years of age, when meeting with loss from 
fire, he retired from active business. He 
died in 1872, at the age of ninety-two years, 
his wife in the same year at the age of 
eighty-two. In their family were twelve 
children, eight of whom are still living. < >tir 
subject is the youngest son, hut has two 
younger sisters. 

In the common schools of his birthplace 
Sherman II. Johnson acquired his educa- 
tion, and remained at home until eighteen 
years of age. when, in (865, he came toLiv- 
ingston county, Illinois. After spending a 
few months in Belle Prairie township, how- 
ever, he went to Minnesota, where he worked 
by the month two years, and then returned 
to this county, being engaged in farming 
upon rented land in Belle Prairie township 
for a number of years. Subsequently he 
leased a farm in McLean county, which he 
afterward bought, and on selling that prop 
erty in 1N70 went to I'.atcs county, Missouri, 
where he followed fanning one year. Re 
turning to Belle Prairie to wnship.Livingston 
countw he rented a farm for three years, 
and then moved to Forrest township, where 
he leased a half section of land for the same 
length of time. During the following three 
years we again find him in Belle I'rairie 
township, and in iSSS he located upon his 
present farm in (iermanville township, lie 
purchased two hundred and eight)' acres, 
and two years later sold one hundred and 






I III- BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



si xty acres to 1 [enry Nettleton, but still owns 
the remainder, which was only partially im- 
proved when it came into his possession, but 
he has since erected a large and substantial 
barn, improved the house, and tiled the land, 
placing it under excellent cultivation. In 
connection with general farming he raises 
considerable stock, including short-horn 
cattle and Poland China hogs. 

( )n the 7th 1 if < Ictober, [869, in Belle 
Prairie township, Mr. Johnson led to the 
marriage altar Miss Emeline Alford, a 
daughter of Wesly J. and Emiline C. 
(Randall) Alford. The father was born 
in Vermont, but when a small child moved 
with his parents to New York state, where 
he continued to make his home until Mrs 
Johnson was two years 1 fid, and then brought 
his family to Illinois, locating in Kendall 
county, where he engaged in farming ful- 
some time, but i-- now living a retired life in 
i<< ise I .awn. Indiana. 1 Ie was a very pr< isper- 
OUS man and highly respected. His wife died 
six years ago, leaving a family of seven 
children, of whom Mrs. Johnson is the fifth 
in order of birth. Ten children have been 
horn to our subject and his wife, namely: 
William II.. a well-driller of Strawn. who 
married Clara Johnson and has four chil- 
dren. Myrtle. Pearl, Elmer and Clarence 
Sherman; Cornelia, wife of William Day. a 
fanner of Ford county. Illinois, by whom 
she has five children. Myron William. Sarah. 
Annie and Ilershal A; Lorenzo, Hannah 
and Bertha, all at home: Myron, who died 
at the age of sixteen years; Myra, who died 
in Missouri, at the age of three years; and 

three, w ho died in infancy. 

Mr. Johnson is a supporter of the Repub- 
lican party, and as a public spirited and pro 
gressive citizen is an advocate of those en- 
terprises that tend toward public develop- 



ment, lie filled the office of school director 
during the firsl seven years of his residence 
in Germanville township, and has efficiently 
served in the same capacity for the last three 
years, during which time he has done much 
toward bettering the schools in his locality, 
lie is an active member of the Methodist 
church, in which he served as deacon four 
\ ears. 



J \MI-.S J. BROADHEAD. 

James J. Broadhead, a prominent repre- 
sentative of the business interests of Forrest 
native of Illinois, his birth having oc- 
curred near Mackinaw. September 22, I S 5 7 . 
I Ms father, Edward Broadhead, was born 
July 2, [827, in Manchester, England, where 
he grew to manhood and learned the trade 
of a machinist. There he was married, 
March o. 1N47. to Miss Nancy McDonald, 
also a native of Manchester, and in 1 S 5 5 
the} came to the United States, locating first 
in Tazewell county. Illinois, where he found 
employment on a farm. In 1859 he settled 
near Darners. McLean county, and com- 
menced farming on his own account. In 
[867 he purchased a farm of one hundred 
and sixty acres of wild prairie land in For- 
rest township, Livingston county, for which 
he paid fifteen dollars per acre, and for 
which he was later offered one hundred dol- 
lars per acre. lie made all of the improve- 

ns upon the place, erecting a good set of 
farm buildings, tiling the land and placing 
it under excellent cultivation, ami dividing 
it into fields of sufficient size by good hedge 
fences. I le also planted trees and ornament- 
al shrulis. and made his farm one of the best 
in the locality. He continued to actively en- 
gage in agricultural pursuits until six or 



I'll!-: BIOGRAPHICAL REl I >RD. 



269 



Seven years before his death, when he moved 
Forrest and lived retired, dying there 

March 8, [896. He purchased a g 1 n 

dence in that town, which is now the home 
of his widow. On coming to this country 
he was in very limited circumstances and his 
success that he achieved in life was due en 
tirely to his well-directed labors. Politically 
he was always identified with the Republican 
party, and religiously was a member of the 
Methndi>t Episcopal church, to .which his 
wife al>o belongs. I them were born eight 
children, seven of whom are now liv- 
ing, namely: William, a resident of 
Normal, Illinois ; John, of Chatsworth ; Mary 
J. resides \\ ith her mi >ther ; James J., 1 >ur sub- 
ject; George 11.. of Indiana; Cornelia, wife 
of \V. B. Moyer, of Galva, [llinois; and 
Lovina, wife of J. L. Moyer, of Forrest. 
I he subject of this review was a lad of 
ten years when the family came to Liv- 
ingston county, and lie attended both the 
country schools and those of Forrest. 
( in the home farm he acquired an ex- 
cellent knowledge of agriculture, and on 
starting out in life for himself at the 
age of twenty-one years commenced 
farming, which occupation he followed 
with good success until his removal to 
Forrest, in [897. lie had previously spent 
two winters in town, those of 1893 and 
|N')4. He now conducts the only real estate 
office in the place, a. d handles a large am milt 
of cit) and farm property. He is also en- 
ged in merchandising and the tire and life 
insurance business, and is a director of the 
Peoria I astern Telephone Company, of 
which he was one of the original incorpora- 
tors and was an active member of the com- 
pany when the lines were put in operation. 
As a business man he is reliable, energetic 
and progressive, and generally carries for- 



ward to successful completion whatever he 
undertakes. 

( )n the 20th of March. [884, Mr. Broad- 
head was united in marriage with Miss Ella 
. of Fairbury, a daughter of I. \ . Rose, 
a farmer of Indian Grove township. Living- 
11 county, and to them have been horn 
two children; Ralph R. and Ray V. The 
family have a pleasant home in Forrest and 
attend the Methodist Episcopal church, of 
which Mrs. Broadhead is a member. So- 
cially Mr. Broadhead is connected with the 
Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen 
ot Amreica, and the Court of Honor, and is 
now keeper of records and seals in the first 
named order. Since attaining his majority 
he has affiliated with the Republican party, 
and although he has never aspired to office 
he was elected trustee of the village, taking 
his seat May 1. [900. He is public-spirited 
and progressive and as a citizen ever stands 
ready to discharge any duty devolving upon 
him. 



THRONE & HATFIELD. 

Throne & Hatfield is the name of a well- 
known firm of Cullom, Illinois, composed of 
Charles II. Throne and George H. Hatfield, 
two of the most enterprising and progress- 
ive business men of that town. They are 
successfully engaged in the liver) business 
and also have control of the dray line. 

Mr. Throne is a native of Livingston 
county, horn in Sullivan township, Septem- 
ber 23, [876, and is a son of \Y. II. and 
Laura E. (Edwards) Throne, who were 
also horn in this state. The father, who is 
a farmer by occupation, lived in Sullivan 
township many years, but for the past 
eighteen years lias made his home in < 11 



2/0 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1 1 i > children arc: Maggie, wife of B. A. 

Park, of Fisher. Illinois ; Calvin, a general 
merchant of McCook, Nebraska; Bertha, 
wife of S. M. Boeman, of Cullom, Illinois; 
Nellie, wife of Frank Copp, of Fisher; 
Charles II.. our subject; and Reta, at home. 

Mr. Tim me was educated in the schools 
of Cullom, and at the aye of thirteen years 
began his business career as clerk in the 
general store of Enos Flessner, of that place, 
remaining with him six years, and with the 
firm oi Flessner & Amachee four years. In 
1896, in connection with John Tyrrell, he 
purchased the livery stable and dray line 
of John Fritzon, and at the end of four 
months George 11. Hatfield purchased Mr. 
Tyrrell's interest in the business, which has 
sime been successfully conducted under the 
firm name of Throne & Hatfield. In [898 
Mr. Throne and B. A. Park purchased a 
livery and sale stable in Fisher, Illinois, 
which they carried on together until the 
spring of [900, when our subject sold out 
to In-, partner. During all this time Mr. 
Throne was still employed in the mercantile 
establishment of Flessner & Amachee. but 
in March. [900, concluded to give his whole 
time anil attention to the livery and dray 
business, which he has since done. 

On the 6th of September, [899, Mr. 
Throne married Miss Jennie Ixevv lev, a na- 
tive of Ford county. Illinois, and daughter 
of Thomas Kevvley. one of its old settlers. 
She is second in order of birth in a family of 
five children. Politically Mr. Throne is a 
Republican, and socially is a member of 
< ullom Camp, No. [886, M. W. A. 

Mr. Hatfield, the junior member of the 
firm, was born in Mona township, ford 
county. Illinois, September I _\ [876, a son 
of Jesse S. and Sarah (Cart) Hatfield, na- 
tives of Indiana. The father carried on 



blacksmithing in Ford county until [880, 
when he removed with his family to Cul- 
lom. where he opened a shop and has since 
conducted a successful business. He is a 
veteran of the Civil war. In his political 
views be is a Democrat. He lias two chil- 
dren: George H.. our subject; and Edward, 
at home with his parents. 

George II. Hatfield received his educa 
tion in the public schools of Cullom. When 
about twenty-one years of aye he embarked 
in the livery business with Mr. Throne and 
has since devoted his energies to that en- 
terprise. They are wide-awake business 
men ni known reliability, and are meeting 
with well-deserved success. Mr. Hatfield is 
a Republican 111 politics, and is an active 
member of Star Camp, No. [886, M. W. 
A., ot Cullom. and Livingston County 
Lodge. No. Jd-j, K. 1'.. of Chatsworth. 



ALPHA BAKER. 

Alpha Baker, an honored and highly 
respected citizen of Dwight, Illinois, who 
is now living a retired life, was born in 
Oneida county. New York, September [9, 
1831, and is a son of Samuel A. and Sophia 
( Porter) I laker, who spent their entire lives 
in that county, where the father cleared and 
improved a good farm of one hundred and 
sixty acres. I le was a most progressive and 
enterprising man and an excellent judge of 
good stock, to the raising of which he de- 
voted considerable attention. He died at 
about the age of sixty years, his wife at the 
i seventy-seven. His father was Henry 
Baker, a ship carpenter in early life. Our 
subject is the second in order of birth in a 
family of three children. Ellis, the oldest. 




A. BAKER. 







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fjr^r^gi^sk^ 


m^^Sl ^T k fc ^H 




■"^/'I'ia * % / 


1 

1 i 



MRS. A. BAKER. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



275 



now seventy-two years of age, followed 
farming, and is now living on his old home 
farm in New York state. 1 1 < >i >».-. the young- 
est, died in girlhood. 

In the county of his nativity, Alpha 
Baker was reared and educated, and re- 
mianed under the parental roof until twen- 
ty three years of age, when lie went to Con- 
necticut, working three years in Hartford 
and New Haven counties. At the end of 
that time he moved to Warren, Ohio, where 
he worked about a year at anything he 
could find to do, and then came to Illinois, 
stopping m Grundy county from [856 until 
1890. The winter of 1856-7 was spent in 
the lumber woods un the Eau Claire river, 
Wisconsin. ]>nt the following spring he re- 
turned to Grundy county, Illinois, where he 
worked b) the month one year. He next 
rented a farm in Mazon township, which 
he operated three years, and then purchased 
a wild tract of one hundred and sixty acres, 
which he commenced immediately to im- 
prove and cultivate, erecting first a house. 
2JXJ-! feet in dimensions anil containing 
three room-. 

Mr. Baker was married, September 25, 
[861, to Miss Sarah J. Collar, a native o.f 
St. Lawrence comity. New York, and a 
daughter of Lyman and Eliza Jane (Crabb) 
Collar, also natives of that state. The 
father engaged in farming and also followed 
the wagon-maker's trade in St. Lawrence 
comity until Mrs. Baker was eight years of 
age. when he came to Illinois witli his fam- 
ily, locating in Grundy county, when it con- 
tained only a few houses and these widely 
scattered. He took up a tract of govern- 
ment land, to which he later added by pur- 
chase. He lived to the advenced age of 
ninety year-. In his family were ten chil- 
dren, of whom live died young, namely: 



Addison. Jessie. Reuben, Frank ami Har- 
riet. Those living are Norman, a resident 
of [owa; George, of Juliet. Illinois; Alfred, 
of [owa; Malinda, of Ma/on township. 
Grundy county, Illinois; and Sarah J., wife 
of our subject. Eight children were horn 
to Mr. and Mr-. Baker, hut four died in in- 
fancy. The others are Frank, who is now 
engaged in fanning in Storm Lake, Iowa; 
Emery, a stock raiser of Lincoln county, 
Nebraska; Stella and Ada Sigourney, at 
home. 

After his marriage Mr. Baker took up 
his resilience upon the farm which he had 
previously purchased, and five years later 
added to it a tract of eighty acres and after- 
ward one hundred and twent) -i\ acre- 
more. His landed possessions in Grundy 
county now aggregate six hundred and 
sixty-two acres, consisting of two hundred 
and forty acres on section 1 _' and oik- hun- 
dred and sixt) acre- on section _»4. High- 
land township; and one hundred and twen- 
ty-six on section 7. and one hundred and 
thirty-six acres on section 10. Goodform 
township. He also own- one hundred and 
ninety acres of improved land in York coun- 
ty. Nebraska, and ten lots in Dwight. In 
connection with general farming he always 
engaged in stock raising, hut since Febru- 
ary, 1890, he has made his home in Dwighl 
and lived retired, laying aside all business 
cares. 

Fraternally Mr. Baker i- a member of 
Verona Lodge. No. 7^7. V. & A. M., of 
Verona, in which he has held office. He 
is idependent in politics, voting for the man 
whom he helieves best qualified for office re- 
gardless of party lines. He efficiently 
served as commissioner of highways for 
two terms of three year- each and put up 
the first iron bridges and stone abutments 



-/"'' 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



in Highland township during his term. For 
a number of years he and his wife h; 
traveled in the west quite extensively, and 
can n >vv take life eaS) after their early years 
of toil and privations. As a business man 
Mr. Baker has been remarkably successful, 
and his career affords an excellent example 
tn the young in that he commenced life 
without capital, but having a determination 
to succeed he industriously applied himself 
until he has acquired a ne property, 

and has also won the confidence and respect 
of his fell«'\v men in a marked degree. 



JAMES BROWN. 

The career of him whose name heads 
this review illustrates most forcibly the pos 
sibilities that are open to young men who 
l„ ,s >C ss sterling business qualifications. It 
proves that neither wealth or the assistance 
of influential friends at the outset of his 
career are necessary to place him on the road 
to success, h also proves that ambition, 
perseverance, steadfast purpose and inde- 
fatigable industry, combined with sound 
business principles will lie rewarded, and that 
true success follows individual effort only. 
For many years Mr. Brown was actively 
identified with the agricultural and stock 
raising interests ,,f Livingston county, but 
is now living a retired life in Dwight, hav- 
ing accumulated a handsome competence 
through In- own well directed efforts. 

lie was born in Oneida comity. New 
York. September 14. [828, a son of David 
and Sophia (Mumford) Brown, the former 
a native of Scotland, the latter of Connecti- 
cut. When David Brown was ten years of 
age he was brought to America by hi- 



ther. David Brown, Sr., a stocking weaver 
by trade, who settled in Herkimer county, 
New York, and in the midst of the fori 
cleared and developed a farm of one hundred 
acres, upon which he set out one of the finest 
orchards in the country. In those early 
days it often happened that he sold his best 
apples for six cents a bushel and farmers 
would come from miles around to get them, 
lie also owned and Operated a cider mill, 
manufacturing from two to three hundred 
barrels of cider in one season. lie died at 
the age of sixty-six years, his wife at the age 
of eighty. In their family were twelve chil- 
dren. Our subject's maternal grandfather, 
Captain William Mumford. of the Revo- 
lutionary war. died at the age of about -ev- 
enly, while his wife lived to the advanced 
age of ninctv live years. To them were also 
horn twelve children. After reaching man- 
hood, David Urown, Jr., also followed 
farming and became quite well to-do, being 
able to give his children good educational 
advantages, lie died at the age of ninety 

years, while the mother of our subject de- 
parted this bfe at the age of forty-four. For 
his second wife he married Cornelia Marvin, 
but had no children by that marriage. By 
the first union nine children were born, 
seven of whom reached years of maturity, 
namely: Charlotte, Jeanette, Mary. David, 
James. John and Elizabeth, All are living 
with the exception of Jeanette. and all are 
residents of New York state except our sub- 
ject. 

During his b"_vh 1 James Brown at- 
tended the public schools of bis native coun- 
ty until fifteen years of age, when he went to 
live with his uncle. James Brown, a lawyer 
of Oswego, New York, who sent him to 
school and also assisted him in bis algebra, 
mietry, trigonometry, philosophy and as 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



277 



tronomj al home during the evenings, in 
this way acquiring .1 good education. He 
was a student at the Whitesboro Academy, 
Utica, New York, for a time, and after 
leaving that institution taught school for six 
winters, while through the summer months 
he engage 1 in farming. 

At the end of that time. Mr. Brown had 
saved one thousand dollars, which he invest- 
in cattle, and for five wars was success 
full) engaged in the butcher business. I le 
then went to Wayne county, Xe\\ York, 
where he bought some dairy stock, which 
he shipped to Herkimer county, and from 
that time on was extensively interested in 
the stock business, traveling all over western 
New York and Canada buying dairj stock 
most of the time and shipping the same to 
everj station from Buffalo and Erie. 

Coming to Livingston county, Illinois, 
in 1867, Mr. Brown purchased an imprpved 
farm of one hundred and eighty acres in 
Nevada township but did not locate thereon 
until 1869, and the first year raised nothing 
as the season was N , wet. He had married 
July 27 ■. 1866, Miss Eudora Wood, a native 
of < )swego county, New York, and a daugh- 
ter of Moses Wood, one of the early settlers 
of that county and a successful farmer and 
cattle dealer. She was the second in order 
or birth in a family of twelve children, nine 
of whom grew to maturity. Mr. and Mrs. 
Brown had one son on coming to this coun- 
ty, and here the family circles was increased 
by the birth of seven other children. They 
were as follows: James, vvho died at the age 
of eighteen months; Eva, who married Wil 
bur Reed, a business man of Chicago, and 
has two children, James and George; Ade- 
laide, at In Hue: George, wlm is eni^i^cd in 
the stuck business and resides at home; Ma- 
bel, who died at the age of three years; 1 (a 



vid. who died at the age 6f five years; 

Blanche, who is attending scln 10I in 1 »w ight; 

and 1 .ne w ho died ill infancy. 

When he located here Mr. Brown had 
ah. an one hundred steers, and being unable 
[11 buy corn to teed them he went to Mason 
county, where he purchased five thousand 
bushels and shipped to his home. He con- 
tinued to \\\'t\ from one hundred and fifty 
to two hundred head of cattle each year un- 
til [888, when he turned his attention to the 

raisiug of blooded stock, making a specialty 
of Norman draft horses, starting in this 
business with a capital of seven thousand 
dollars. I le was interested in thai enterprise 
until 1897, when he retired from business, 
having at that time ninety-five head of 
horses, lie had previously given considera 
hie attention to the raising of Poland China 
hogs, shipping aboul two hundred each year. 
IK- never sold any of the grain that he 
raised upon his land, lint fed it all to his 
stock, lie still nuns eight hundred acres 
mi sections 1 _>. [3 and -'4. Nevada Jtownship, 
and also has fourteen hundred acres of land 
in LaPorte comity, Indiana, which he pur- 
chased in 1 897, and which is partly impn wed 
and cultivated. lie formerly owned lands 
in Kansas and Nebraska, hut has since dis- 
posed of them, lie has building property in 
Dwight, where he removed in November, 
[899. and has since made his home. Start- 
ing out in life for himself with no capital 
his success seems almost phenomenal, but it 
is ilne to his own industry, enterprise, per 
severance and good management. 

Mr. and Mrs. Brown hold membership 
in the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is 
identified with the Republican party, but 
has never taken an active part in politics 
aside from voting, preferring to give his 
entire time and attention to his business in- 



278 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tere-t-. He and his wife have returned to 
New York on visits several times. After 
a useful and honorable career he can well 
afford tn lay aside all business cares and 
live in ease and retirement, enjoying a well 
earned rest. 



SAMUEL IK IKE. 



Samuel Hoke, deceased, was for many 
years prominently identified with the agri- 
cultural and business interests of Livingston 
county, and also took quite an active and in- 
fluential part in public affairs, especially 
along educational lines. He became a 
resident of the county in 1859, coming here 
from Williamsburg, Blair county, Pennsyl- 
vania, then a part of Bedford county, and 
spent his last days in < )dell. 

Mr. Hoke was burn in Bedford county, 
Pennsylvania, April 24, 1827, a son of 
Jacob and Margaret Rebecca Hoke, natives 
of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, whose parents 
came from Germany to America sometime 
during the eighteenth century. The father 
of our subject was a soldier of the war of 
1812, and was a potter by trade, following 
that occupation in Gettysburg and McCon- 
nellsburg, Pennsylvania. Samuel was the 
youngest in his family of ten children, six 
sons and tour daughters, of whom Mrs. 
Julia Phenice, of Tacoma, Washington, is 
in iw the ' inly survivi ir. 

In the common schools of his native 
count} Samuel Hoke acquired his education 
and remained with his father until reach- 
ing man's estate. In early life he learned 
the trade of paper hanger and cabinet-maker 
in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and for 
eleven years worked at the same in that 
state. Taking an active part in political 



affairs, he sered as deputy sheriff of his na- 
tive county, school director and trustee. 

On the 18th of April. 1850. Mr. Hoke 
was united in marriage with Miss Laura 
M. Kenney, who was also born in Bedford 
county, November 22, 1831. a daughter of 
Alexander W. and Hannah E. (Harvcv 1 
Kenney. Her ancestry were residents of 
Pennsylvania for many generation-, and 
were among the first settlers of Philadel- 
phia. She is only one of a family of -even 
children now living.. Having received a 
good common school education, she success- 
fully engaged in teaching for several years, 
and also served as assistant in the postoffice 
at Williamsburg, of which her father was 
postmaster for twenty-five consecutive year-. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Hoke were born six 
sons and one daughter, namely: ( 1 ) Alex- 
ander R. took a course at the Weslevan Nor- 
mal School, of Bloomington, Illinois, and 
followed teaching for some time, but is now 
employed at the State Reformatory in Pon- 
tiac. He is married and has two children. 
Frank F. and Samuel L. (2) Hannah M. 
is the wife of J. W. Houchins, who was 
graduated at a college in Chicago and en- 
gaged in teaching during his active business 
career, but is now living retired in Odell. 
lie owns a large amount of land in Illinois 
and Nebraska. (3) William I", is repre- 
sented on another page of this volume. ( 4 ) 
Charles H., who is now living in Pontiac 
and serving a- deputy sheriff of the county, 
was formerly engaged in the undertaking 
business in Odell for some time, and has filled 
the offices of constable and collector. He 
1- married and has one daughter. Georgetta 
I '. (5) ( ieorge K.. a farmer and liveryman, 
died at In- home in Odell from the effects 
of injuries received in the collapse of a 
brick building during a cyclone in 1886. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



2/9 



I le was married and had one daughter, 
Laura R. (6) Samuel L.. deceased, was 
graduated at the Odell high school in 1885, 
and the Northern [llinois Normal School at 
Dixon in 1886, and followed teaching for 
several years, but was preparing to enter the 
ministry at the time of his death in 1887. 
17) Frank Lincoln, who lives at home with 
his mother, has a good education and is a 
harness maker by trade, lie took the gov- 
ernment census in ( 'dell in 1900. 

After his marriage Mr. Hoke continued 
to reside in Pennsylvania until [859, when 
he sold his property there and came to 
Dwight, [llinois, where he was engaged in 
the furniture and undertaking business for 
six months, lie then located on the farm 
in Odell township, which he had previously 
purchased, it being a tract of eighty acres 
of wild prairie land, which now forms a 
part of Union township, lie erected build- 
ings thereon, made many other improve- 
ments, and added to his property until at 
one time he had live hundred acres of val- 
uable land, nearly all improved by himself. 
I )uring the civil war he was drafted hut hired 
a substitute, and met with excellent success 
in his Inisuii's- affairs during that period. 
Although his early training fitted him for 
tar different work, he prospered in his farm- 
ing operations, being a man of sound judg- 
ment, observant and energetic, lie made a 
specialty of the raising of horses and cattle, 
and was wonderfully successful. 

.Mr. Hoke was 1 me of the men who laid 
"in the school districts of Union township, 
and his wife was mic of the first teachers, 
conducting a school in their own home, in 
addition to taking care of her three chil- 
dren. She taught six months for twenty 
dollars per month and with the money 
thus earned purchased their first horse. 



Theirs was the third school house of the 
township, and was built on land donated by 
Mr. Hoke for that purpose. He served as 
school director and school trustee for many 
years, and was one of the influential Repub- 
licans of his community, with which party 
his sons also affiliate. For over twenty 
years he successfully engaged in farming, 
and in [880 moved to Odell, purchasing the 
house now occupied by his widow. He 
sold cue hundred and sixty acres of his 
land and engaged in the loan and real es- 
tate business, still retaining two hundred 
and forty acres of the original farm, which 
is all under a high state of cultivation. \t 
the age of eighteen years Mr. Hoke joined 
the Sons of Temperance, and was also a 
member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows and the Presbyterian church, though 
he later in life attended the Congregational 
church. He died at his home in ( Klell. May 
23, 1898, honored and respected by all who 
knew him. His estimable wife still carries 
on the business left by him, and lias met 
with excellent success in all her business 
ventures, being a woman of more than or 
dinary business ability and sound judgment. 



JAY (,. BARNHIZER, M. I). 

Jay (i. Barnhizer, M. If. a prominent 
and successful homeopathic physician of 
Forrest, Illinois, was born in Thornburg, 
h>wa. January 11. [875, and is a son of 

ph and Samantha (Stout) Barnhizer. 
His paternal grandfather was Joseph Barn- 
hizer, a native of Holland and a soldier of 
the Revolutionary war, who lived to the ex- 
treme old age of one hundred and six years, 
'fhe father was born, reared ami educated 



280 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



in Pennsylvania, and in early life went to 
Ohio, where he married Samantha Stout, 
a native of Leipsic, that state, of which place 
her father. Hlisha Stunt, was one of the 
pioneers and a wealthy farmer and miller, 
lie was also one of the early members and 
a minister of the Christian church. In [874 
the Doctor's parents moved to Coal Creek, 
Iowa. His father had been successfully 
engaged in milling in Ohio, and traded his 
milling property there for a half section of 
land near Thornburg, Iowa, which place he 
improved and operated with marked success 
until [888, when he sold out and moved to 
California. After a short time spent in 
Pasadena, he returned to Iowa and pur- 
chased a farm adjoining Sigourney, in which 
town he lived until his death, which occurred 
April ij. 1898. He was quite wealthy, his 
capital being largely invested in stuck. Re- 
ligiously both he and his wife were promi- 
nent members and active workers in the 
Christian church, and practically building 
the church at Sigourney. She died Decern 
ber 9, [893. 

Dr. Barnhizer obtained a good common 

i education, graduating at the high 
school of Sigourney in the class of [8qi, 
and he then read medicine with Dr. F. A. 
Strawbridge, of that place in 1893 and 1 >'■>).<. 
He took his first course of lectures in the 
medical department of the [owa State I ni 

j at towa City, in the latter year, and 
was graduated at the Chicago Homeopathic 
Medical I College in [898, the same year tak- 
ing a post graduate course at that institu- 
tion. For a \ear he was engaged in practice 
at Gilman, Illinois, and in April. [899, came 
to Forrest and opened an office. Although 
he has been here only a short time, he has 
already built up a large and constantly in- 

ing practice, and the liberal patronage 



he enjoys attests his -kill and ability in his 
chosen calling. He is examiner for the 
(curt of Honor. On the _'4th of October, 
[899, Dr. Barnhizer married Miss Eliza- 
beth 1). Bond, of Sigourney, Iowa, a daugh- 
ter of Lorenzo D. Bond, and the young 
couple have already made many warm 
friends in their adopted city. 



WILLIAM T. GARDNER. 

William T. Gardner, dealer in hard- 
ware, stoves, tinware, staple and fancy gro- 
ceries, Chatsworth, Illinois, was hern near 
Lawrence. Kansas. June 6, [862, and is a 
sun of John J. and Mary (Lambourne) 
( iardner, the former a native 1 if Sci aland and 
the latter of England. She i- a sister of 
.Mr-. D. 1'.. Puffer, of Chatsworth. John 
I'. Gardner emigrated from Scotland to 
Canada, where he resided fur a time. lie 
was a coal miner in the old country, and was 
engaged in that occupation fur some years. 
From 1 l;e removed to Kansas where 

lie engaged in farming, but later came to 
Illinois and located near Streator, where he 
remained a short time and then removed t" 
I >eer Park township, La Salle county; James. 
engaged in farming. lie yet makes his 
home in that township, where lie owns a 
farm of two hundred and fifty acre-. llis 
died iii [898. They were the parents 
cf fourteen children, eight sons and 
daughters, of whom two died in childhood, 
and Emma, in [898, at the age of nineten 
years. The living are Matthew T.. a farmer 
of Pleasant Ridge township, Livingston 
county; William T.. the subject of this 
sketch; Mary, wife <>i Emers >n Calkins, of 
La Salle. ceunty; fohn, living in Iowa Falls, 



i in moc.R \phic.\l record; 



281 



Iowa; lennie. wife of Thomas Nicholson, 
living in towa Falls, [owa; Fred, also of 
Iowa Falls; Nellie, wife of L. Calkins, of 
Der Park township, La Salle county; James, 
of Vermillonville, La Salle county; Char- 
lotte, wife of Roy Logan, of La Salle county ; 
Sadie and George, residing at home with 
their father, lu politics John P. Gardner 
is a Democrat, but has never soughl or would 
serve in any official capacity. Religiously 
he is an Adventist. For several years he 
has been living a retired life in Vermillion- 
ville. 

The subject of this sketch was but a 
small child when his parents removed to 
La Salle county, Illinois, and on his father's 
farm in that county he grew to manhood, 
and in the district schools he received his 
education. lie remained at home until he 
was twenty one years of age, when he came 
to Charlotte township, Livingston county, 
where he engaged in farming for himself. 
After remaining on that farm for two years 
he went hack to I .a Salle county, and, in [885, 
was married to Miss Anna Hampson, who 
was born near Washington. Pennsylvania, 
and a daughter of Lindse) and Martha 
(Earl) Hampson, both of whom were also 
natives of Pennsylvania, where their mar- 
riage occurred. The) later moved to La 

Salle COUllty, Illinois, but are now deceased. 
They had a family of three -m his and three 
daughters, all of whom are living, as [o] 
lows: Mary, wife of William Eaton, oi 
I )eer Park township, La Salle county; Anna, 
wife of our subject; William. Clara, James 
and Minor, all of whom are living in La 
Salle county. 

\fter his marriage, Mr. ' iardner engaged 
in farming on a fort) acre tract, lie re 
mained there for three years, left it, but re- 
turned and remained there five years longer, 



when he was compelled to give up farming 
lie then moved to Chatsworth, purchased 
a lot, elected a building and opened up in 
the restaurant and hotel business on the 
15th of August, [893. lie continued in 
that business very successfully until Novem- 
ber, [898, when he closed out and put in 
a stock of hardware and groceries. He 
now carries a full line of shelf and heavy 
hardware, stoves and tinware, staple and 
Fancy gn iceries, and is doing a good business. 
Owning the building in which his store is 
located, his expenses are light, and he can 
and does compete with stores in the larger 
towns. 

To Mr. and Mrs. (iardner have been 
horn five children, as follows: Gertrude, 
Edith, Edna, Ola and Leslie J., all of 
whom are pupils in the public schools, with 
the exception of the last named. 

In politics Mr. (iardner is a Democrat, 
ami while he has invariably refused to ac- 
cept public office, was elected a member >l 
the board of education in [900. Fraternally 
he is a member of (amp No. [829, M. W. 
A. I le is on the working team in his camp, 
ami takes great interest in its proceedings. 
As a citizen he is enterprising and progress 
ive, ever willing ti > di 1 his share in advancing 
the welfare of his adopted city and county. 



WILLIAM S. SKINNER, M. D. 

William S. Skinner. M. D., a prominent 
and successful physician and surgeon of For- 
rest, Illinois, was born in London, Ontario, 
Canada, January jo. [872, and is a son of 
George R. and Dina 1 Reeves) Skinner, na- 
tives of the same place. I lis paternal grand- 
father, Rev. James Skinner, a Presbyterian 
minister, removed from Scotland t" Canada 



282 



TIIK BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



in 1837, and for twenty-six years was pas- 
tor of a church in the township of London, 
Ontario. He also served as superintend- 
ent of schools for Middlesex county a num- 
ber of years, and died there about 1866. 
The Doctor's maternal grandfather, Will- 
iam Reeves, was a native of England, an 
early settler of London, Canada, where he 
followed the occupation of farming through- 
out life. The father of OUr subject engaged 
in the same pursuit, and became quite an 
extensive dealer in real estate in Dakota. 
He is now a resident of Manitoba, where he 
conducts a large stock and grain farm. In 
his family of seven children the Doctor is 
the second in order of birth. 

Dr. Skinner began his education in the 
public schools of London. < >ntario, and spent 
three years at the Collegiate Institute. He 
next attended the Western Medical College, 
of London, one year and then entered the 
medical department of the Northwestern 
University, at Chicago, where he took a full 
three-year-' course, during which time he 
was assistant to Professor McDiarmiel, who 
occupied the chair of gynecology and ob- 
stetrics in the Post-Graduate School. He 
was graduated in 1899 and took a competi- 
tive examii. sition in the I 
hig-in Hospital, and standing third highest 
was residenl physician there for a time. He 
then came to Forrest and opened an ofri 
buying I tice of an old physician. Ik- 
had a remarkably successful career for 
ig a man and his practice i- steadily 

reasing. His practice now isofageneral 

character, tending toward a specialty in sur- 

The Doctor is now- a member of the 

hoard of health of Forrest and assistant 

physician for the Wabash and Toledo. lv 

a and Warsaw Railroads, in which ca- 
pacity he doe- much work. 



( >n the 4th of November, 1899, Dr. 

Skinner was united in marriage with Miss 
Mabel Cracraft, of Forrest, formerly at 
Wilmington, Illinois. She is a well-edu- 
cated lady and has successfully engaged in 
teaching school. Both the Doctor and his 
wife are active members of the Congrega 
tional church, and she is now serving as sec- 
retary of the Ladies' Aid Society and holds 
the same office in the Eastern Star. Fra- 
ternally the Doctor is a member of the Mod- 
ern Woodmen of America. He is the med- 
ical examiner for the Union Central Life In- 
surance Company, of Cincinnati. 



WILLIAM LOUIS RABE, M. D. 

William Louis Rabe, M. D., is a skilled 
physician and surgeon of Dwight. whose 
knowledge of the science of medicine is 
broad and comprehensive, and whose ability 
m applying its principles to the needs of suf- 
fering humanity has gained him an enviable 
prestige in professional circles. 

The family to which the Doctor belongs 
was founded in America by his paternal 
grandfather, Jacob Rabe, a native of Ger- 
many, who came to this country when a 
young man prior to the war of iNij. His 
ancestors had for many generations been 
widely known throughout Prussia, and two 
of his brothers were publishers at Berlin. 
On his arrival in America he located on a 
tract of land near what was then the unim- 
portant little town of Monongahela, Penn- 
sylvania, where he spent the remainder of 
his life as a farmer. There he married 
and reared a family of three children, and 
was a soldier of the war of iSSu. Being 
a temperate man and of g 1 habits, he 




WILLIAM LOUIS RABE, M. D. 



\ 



fHE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



285 



lived to the extreme old age of one hundred 
years and three months, and preserved his 
mental and physical strength to a remark- 
able degree, lie was noted for his indus- 
try and integrity, and whether at home or 
among his neighbors Dreserved that equa- 
nimity <>t' temper and well-bred manner 
which at once singled him out a-- a gentleman 
by birth and breeding. The celebrated 
opera singers, the Rabe sister-, belonged 
to the same family, and were widely known 
throughoul Europe, where they made a For 
tune by their talent, w In 1 in the early '30s and 
_jo> twice crossed the Atlantic to please anil 
delight the Gothamites with the songs and 
melodies of Fatherland. 

John Rabe, the Doctor's father, was 
born on the old homestead near Mononga- 
hela. Pennsylvania, and in the schools of 
that locality lilted himself for the teacher's 
profession, which he followed for some 
tune, also tanned during summer. < Mi 
reaching manhood he married .Miss Eliza 
beth I. uce. also a native of Pennsylvania, 
ami to them were horn the following- chil- 
dren: Melesendra, wife of Dr. Henry Mor- 
rison, of I 'rttsbure : Amanda, wife of Samuel 
A. Frederick, of Ohio; Maria, who died at 
the age of sixteen years; I liram. a capitalist 
of Clyde, Ohio; fohn, a physician of Mo- 
nongahela, Pennsylvania; and William 1... 
our subject. In 1820 the father moved with 
his family to Jefferson county. Ohio, and 
purchased a farm, which continued to he his 
honie until called to his final rest in [872. 
I le was a man of more than 1 irdinary ability, 
and was at once recognized as a valuable 
addition to the community. Religiously 
he was a prominent member of the Presby 
terian church, and politically was first a 
Whig and later a Republican. As one of 

the leading citizens of his township he was 
16 



called upon to fill various local offices, lie 
sought to wield a healthy influence over his 

children, to whom he gave a liberal educa- 
tion and encouraged them 111 the exercise 
1 1] those virtues by which they became valued 
and reputable citizens. 

William Louis Rabe was horn near 
Steubenville, Ohio, May 8, [839. His ele- 
mentary education was conducted chiefly by 
Ins father, an intelligent farmer and teacher. 
Subsequently he was thoroughly trained in 
the higher branches, first taking a course in 
Richmond College and then matriculating in 
the Cleveland Medical University. He l>c- 
gan the practice of his profession at W'ells- 
\ille. Ohio, the larger portion of which was 
on the Virginia side of the Ohio river. Dur- 
ing the civil war he served as assistant Mir- 
geon with the Union forces, and was 
wounded upon the occasion of General Mor- 
gan's capture in Columbiana county. As 
hostilities drew to a close, in common with 
other industrious citizens he prepared to re- 
sume the occupations of peace. For a lime 
his decision wavered between the adoption 
oi the clerical and the medical professions. 
In [862 he was chosen president of the Rich- 
mond (Ohio) College, which position he 
resigned after tilling it two terms. In 1805 
he entered both the McCormick Theological 

Seminary and Rush Medical College, of 
Chicago, two years thereafter receiving a 
diploma from each of the institute 'lis named. 
After his graduation he was honored with 
calls fnun the first Presbyterian church, of 
lomington, Illinois. Mattoon, Illinois, and 
LaPorte, Indiana. In [867 he located at 
the place first named and remained there 
nine years, when he removed to Dwight to 
engage in the practice of medicine. Here 
for more than twenty years he lias given 
faithful and effective attention to his pro- 






THE P.I0GRAPH1CAL RECORD. 



fessional duties, and has established one of 
the largest and most lucrative practices to 
be found in the interior of the state. ll< 
a constant reader of the best medical litera- 
ture of the day. to which lie is also a valued 

tributor. lie is a member of the state, 
inter-state and national societies, and cor- 
respondent of the World's Medical Con- 
gress. He has repeatedly delivered ad- 
dresses before medical associations. I lie 
following is an extract from an address 
made before the Inter-State Association: 
"Gentlemen or Brothers — Wise and learned 
as we are supposed or ought to be — walking 
or moving thesaurus of medical knowledge, 
can anyone answer satisfactorily why or of 
what a pain is? Why are so many so se- 
riously sick? Or most of all, why do so 
many die?" 

iservative in medical practices as he 

in theory he is always respecting and try- 
ing a new remedy. He never discharges an 
-,ld to -peak) in old attire for a 

recruit in costlier dress, until he knows the 
latter can more quickly wound or kill one 
or ni' .re of the twenty-live hundred disea 
that not only afflict hut by which mankind 
ultimately dies. He has a bitter hatred of 
artful or underhanded dealing of any kind; 
is in fact an uncompromising hut honest 
fighter when he believes he is in the right or 
has been unjustly assailed. A case in point 
was the protracted contest which was wa. 

tinst him by the Keeley Company. A 
of the Keeley Institute, and 
.a; the same time an attorney for the same. 
had him .ailed before the United States 
court for a technical violation of the r< 
nue laws. Thi to plead 

for himself and in ten minutes his case was 
dismissed, the United States district at- 
emphasizing the fact by the remark: 



" Tins i- a vindication of a noble man." The 
closing period of Dr. Rabe's address was as 
follows: "If there is any secret oath re- 
corded as 1 know ,,n earth, and I trust in 

heaven, it is that I am a g 1 Templar. And 

more: 1 have on my bod) the mark of a 
wound out of which blood flowed, more 
than several drops of blood, over thirty 
years ago, in defense of a country the hesi 
ol which history gives any record. Now 
please do not even intimate when 1 am get- 
ting old and gray and feel I am verging to- 
wards the close of active life, that I should 
for any cause he forgetful of the past, recre- 
ant to sacred duty: in a word, he a semi- 
traitor to the strong, lasting, benefiicent 
government that not only protects my prop- 
erty. Inn graciously shields and preserves 
my person." The sequence of the case was 
the dismissal of the attorney by the com- 
pany, and they in turn were summoned by 
the people to appear before the bar of one 
of the lower and higher courts of the com- 
monwealth of Illinois for actual violation of 
law and good order. 

In (867 Dr. Rabe was married to Miss 
luiima clay Temple, of Bloomington, Illi- 
nois, whose parents were natives of Vir- 
ginia, and lineal descendants of the Parke 
Curtis 1 Martha Washington) family. Mrs. 
Rabe died in August. [888, leaving four 
children: Mildred T., horn July 17. [868, 
is the widow of Leonard Howlett, of S\ 
cuse, New York, and a resident of that 
place; William I... horn October 8, [869, is 
connected with the Chicag on Railroad 

and is a resident of Washington, lllin 
Clarence Parke, horn January 10. [872, is 
connected with the firm of Nicolas ( ramer 

ompany, dealers in real estate, insura 
and loans, of Chicago: Lucy 1'... horn Jan- 
uary 21, 1S74. is at home. All have been 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



287 



provided with good educational advantages, 
and .Mrs. Howlett studied music for two 
years under Professor Phelps, of Chicago. 
Both she and her sisters are singers of unu- 
sual ability. The former is and has been 
for several years a salaried soloist in the 
First Presbyterian church, of Syracuse. New 
Vi irk, devi iting herself b \ o mcert and church 
service, or engagements. 



james Mccormick. 

James McCormick, one of the early set 
i and highly resp icted citizens of Living 
ston eount\'. who is now living a retired life 
in the village of Straw n. Fayette township, 
is a native of this state, hum in La Salle 
county, October _m . [837, and is a son of 
Alfred and Amanda (Downerd) McCor 
mick. His paternal grandfather was Charles 
McCormick, a native of County Tyrone, 
Ireland, who. on coming to this country at 
an early day. settled in Fayette c unity. Penn- 
sylvania, where his three sons and tWO 
daughters were horn and reared. He went 
to La Salle county. Illinois, with the father 
1 t our subject, and engaged in farming in 
Farm Ridge township for many years. 1 nit 
^'\K-'l in Bruce township at the age of 
ity-three years. His wife, who 
survived him several years, died in 
the same place and was laid to rest by his 
side. Alfred McCormick was horn in ha\ 
ette county, Pennsylvania, about [808, and 
remained there until twent) five years of 
age, assisting his father in the work of the 
farm. In [833 he moved to La Salle coun- 
ty, Illinois, and purchased one hundred and 
sixty acres of government land in Farm 
Ridge township, which property he improved 



and made his home for about eight wars. 
( )n selling out he bought another farm in 
the same township, and lived there for a 
number of years, when he disp sed of that 
place and moved to Streator, where he spent 
the last ten years of his life in retirement 
from active labor, dying there in [886. 1 te 
was a consistent member of the Methodist 
church, which his family attended, and was 
a life-long Democrat, but never sought nor 
held public office. He was a public-spirited 
man. an advocate' of all that would tend to 
advance or improve the community in which 
he lived. His wife survived him about three 
years, and also died in Streator. Of then- 
eleven children, eight are still living, our 
subject being the second in order of birth. 

Until he attained his majority James Mc- 
Cormick lived with his parents, assisting in 
the farm work and attending the common 
schools ,,f |.a Salle county. He then en- 
gaged in farming for himself upon rented 
land in that county until after the Civil war 
broke out, when he enlisted at Ottawa, in 
August, [862, m Company !•'.. < hie Hundred 
and Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. 
\t Hartsville, Tennessee, he was taken 
prisoner, and held for about six months 
before being exchanged. Returning home 
sick, he was finally discharged at < >ttawa, in 
the winter of 1863. 

After recovering his health Mr. Mc< 
mick came to Livingston county, where for 
a year he worked by the month for Mr. 
Morgan, one of the earliest settlers of the 
county, and foi I ngth of time 

herded cattle where the tOWH of Strawil HOW 

stands. He next engaged in farming for 

himself in Fayette township, and followed 

that occupation continuously for twenty 

For four years lie was then engaged 

in the liquor business in Straw n. and at 



288 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Kangley, La Salle county, ten years, after 

which lie returned to Strawn. where he con- 
ducted a saloon one year, hut since that time 
has lived a retired life, enjoying the fruits 
i former toil. Since attaining his major- 
ity Mr. McCormick lias always affiliated 
with the Democratic party, and is a member 
of the Roman Catholic church of Strawn, to 
which his family also belong. lie is widely 
and favorably known and has many friends 
throughout Livingston and La Salle coun- 
ties. 

In Farm Ridge township, La Salle coun- 
ty, Mr. McCormick was married, February 
4, 1858. tn Miss Jane Conelly, a native of 
Qswego, New York, and the third in order 
of birth in a family of ten children, seven of 
\\h>> are -till living. Her parent- were 
Michael and Margaret (Coregan) Conelly. 
Her father, who was a miller by trade, died 
in Oswego, at the age of thirty years, but 
her mother lived to the advanced age of 
ninety and died in Fayette township, Living- 
ston county, September J4. [899. 

To Mr. and Mrs. McCormick were bom 
the following children: 1 1 1 Thomas P. 
died at the age of two month-. (2) I 
ward, an eng 1 the Union Pacific Rail- 

road and a resident of Pittsburg, Kansas, has 
been married three times, hi- first wife being 
Mary Saughnessey, by whom he had four 
children: James: Thomas, who died at the 
■car-: William and Edna 
Jane, w hi 1 b >th died in infancy. I lis seo >nd 
wife was Fli I ng and to them were 

lorn two children. Ruth and Edith. J lis 
present wife was Delia Otterman. (3) 
Maggie 1- the widow of Thomas Smoot, a 
telegraph operator of Strawn. where .-he is 
now keeping a b< larding hi mse. She had three 
children: Robert, Maude and Thomas, all 
living : and ( latherine, deceased. ( 4 ) Min- 



nie is the wife of William A. Somer-. of 
Strawn. and they had nine children, namely : 
Frank, Elizabeth J., Geneva, W illiam, Peter, 
Katie. Cora. Marie and William. 2nd. (5) 
Rose, the first white child horn in Fayette 
township. Livingston county, is the wife of 
James Keeley. a farmer of Forrest township, 
and they have seven children: Edward, 
Maggie. Thomas, May. Agnes. Teresa and 
James. (6) Cora died at the age of nine 
months. 17) Agnes is the wife of W'. A. 
Myers, of Chicago, superintendent of the 
Harlem race track. (8) Lizzie 1- at home. 
(9) Teresa is now teaching in the public 
schools of Sibley, and also taught in Kangley 
five years. 1 10) Katie died at the age of 
two years and four month-. 1 1 1 1 Martha 
is the wife of Elmer 1 >a\ is, a farmer of For- 
rest township, and they have two children. 
I'hine an<l Jane Frances. 



AUGUSTUS R< >BINS< >\. 

Augustus Robinson, who for a third of a 
century ha- been prominently identified with 
the agricultural interests of Broughton town- 
ship. Livingston county, his home he;: 
section 30, is a native of Illinois, horn in l.a 
Salle county, October -'4. [840, and is . 
son of lame- and Sophia (Richey) Robin- 
son, who were horn 111 Ohio, in 1N15 and 
[818, respectively, and when young came to 
tlii- state with their parents, settling in l.a 
Salle county during the Indian troubles. 
1 the families engaged in farming un- 
der great difficulties, hauling their wheat 
to Chicago market-. The grandparents of 

our subject all died in l.a Salle county upon 
land which they had taken up from the gov- 
ernment. His grandfather. Nathaniel Richey, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



289 



served as a private in the war of [812. Our 
subject's parents were married in La Salle 
county and settled on government land 
where they made their home throughout life, 

the father dying June 2, [899, the mother 
in [864. He was a radical Republican in 
politics, hut never took an active part in po- 
litical affairs, however, and both were earn- 
est and consistent members of t lie Congre- 
gational church. Augustus was their old- 
est child, the others being Priscilla, wife of 
Ellison Shepherd, a farmer of I. a 1 Matte, 
Missouri; Alexander, a farmer of High- 
more. South Dakota: Andrew ).. a resident 
of Granville, Illinois: Eva S., wife of R. X. 
West, of Mexico, Missouri; John 11.. who 
is living near that place; James Y., who lives 
near Geneva, Nebraska; and Sophia, wife 
of William E. Hoke, of Odell. 

Augustus Robinson is indebted to the 
public schools of La Salle county for his 
early educational advantages. He remained 
upon the home farm until he attained his 
majority, and then enlisted in [862 in Com- 
pany B, One Hundred and Fourth Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry. He followed his regi- 
ment to the Cumberland mountains, where 
he was taken ill and assigned to other duty. 
He participated in the battle of Nashville, 
and was honorably discharged in July, [865. 
After his return home he rented land and 
lived near his parents until his marriage. In 
i860 he purchased one hundred and sixty 
acres of unimproved land in Broughton 
township, Livingston county, hut did not [0 
cate thereon until two years later. It was 
canal land, which by hard work and skill- 
ful management he has transformed into one 
of the most productive and best improved 
farms of the locality. As he succeeded he 
added another one hundred and eighteen 
acres to his farm, and now has two hundred 



and seventy-eight acres on section 30 under 
a high state of cultivation. He has made 
a specialty of stock raising, devoting his at 
tention principally to hogs. 

Mr. Robinson was united in marriage 
January i). [868, with Miss Alice Hayward. 
who was horn in county Kent. England, 
August 25, 1842, and about [850 emigrated 
to Toronto, Canada, with her parents, John 
and Mary 1 Waghorne ) Hayward. In [866 
she came to La Salle county. Illinois. Her 
parents made their home in Saugatuck, 
Michigan, hut her father died while on a 
visit at the home of our subject. Mr. and 
Mrs. Robinson have live children: 1 1) 
William A., who lives near Kirksville, Mis- 
souri, married Edith Gilbert, daughter of 
C. H. Gilbert, of Emington, Illinois, and 
they have four children, Elsie <>.. Lael F., 
Clyde A. and Mary A. (2) Mattie I., who 
was educated at Oberlin College, is the wife 
of Dr. C. 1'. Wikoff, a prominent physician 
of Emington, and they have one daughter, 
Alice F. (3) Gertrude took a course of 
music at Wheaton College, and is now at 
home. (4) Horace E., who operates a 
part of his father's farm, married Alice 
1 )revv , daughter of Thomas 1 )rew . of Lining 
ton, and they have two children, Harland 
Drew and Irving Clare. (5) Charles A. 
is at home. 

Politically Mr. Robinson is a stanch Re 
publican, ami has held nearlv every office 
ill the t< iw nship. serv ing as e< illecti >r. assessor 
and supervisor one term each, and school 
treasurer since 1*75. He takes quite an 
active and prominent part in local politics, 
ami has been a delegate to state and county 
conventions of his party. Fraternally he is 
a member 1 if the < irand Army Lost of Saune- 
min; and religiously is a member oi the 
Congregational church, of which he is treas 



?9Q 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



urer and trustee. lit- is a worthy Christian 
gentleman, well liked by all who know 
him. 



ELIAS HARTMAN. 

Elias Hartman, a prosperous ami sub- 
stantial farmer residing on section 23, Sulli- 
van t"\\ nship, Livingston county, [llinois, 
was born in Tazewell county, this state. July 
j". [842, a son Mt' Peter and Agnes 1 Hart- 
man) Hartman. who, though of the same 
name, were not related prim- to their mar- 
riage. They were natives of Germany, and 
shortly after their marriage emigrated t" 
the new world, locating first in Lancaster 
county. Pennsylvania. Not long afterward 
they went to Ohio, and after a short time 
spent in that state came to Tazewell county, 
Illinois, where they were numbered among 
the early settlers. There the father pur- 
chased land and engaged in farming until 
his death. In the family were six children : 
Ann. who died young; Henry, a resident of 
Tazewell county; Elias. our subject; Ben- 
jamin, deceased, who -pent his entire life 111 
Tazewell county: Sarah and Emanuel, still 
residents of that county. 

The subject of this review began his edu- 
cation in an old log school-house in Tazewell 

county, one mile from his boyh 1 home. 

where he pursued his studies for two months 
(hiring the winter, and later walked two 
miles to school through timber, over hills 
and hollows. At intervals he attended 
school through the winter as he had oppor- 
tunity until about twenty years of age, and 

thus acquired a g « id prai tical educal 

His father had died when the family was 
young, and he remained at home with his 
mother until he attained his majority, and 



then commenced farming on a small tract 
md for himself, at the same time assist- 
ing in the management of the home place. 
In iNod he came to Livingston and boug 
a forty-acre tract of land adjoining the 
eighty acres of raw prairie land purchased 
by his mother, and that year broke both 
places. \s he was unmarried he returned 
to the old home in Tazewell county each 
winter for four years, and in the spring 
\ OUld resume Ins farming operations here. 
( )n the 24th of lanuary. [871, Mr. Hart- 
man was united in marriage w ah Miss Sarah 
Shelly, a native of Butler county, Pennsyl- 
vania, and a daughter of Henry and Mai [ 
ret 1 Drushel) Sh&lly who was also horn in 
that county, and spent his last days in Kan- 
kakee county, Illinois. She is the second in 
order of birth in a family of five children, 
the others hem- Elizabeth, wife of Emanuel 
Hartman, of Tazewell: Reinhard, a resident 
ci Round Grove township, Livingston coun- 
ty; Matilda, wife of Albert Wild, of Ogle 
county. Illinois: and Mary, who died at 
111 the age of ten year-. < If the twelve 
children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hartman 
one died m infancy. The others are M 

tha. wife of Elias Christophel, residing on 

section i_>. Sullivan township. Livingston 
county; Henry, who married Ida Engle and 
lives in Tazewell county; Peter, a resident of 
Livingston county; Margaret, wife of John 
Michel, living on section 22, Sullivan town- 
ship; and John. Emanuel, Levi, Amanda. 
Harvey, Reuben and Lewis, all at home. 

After his marriage Mr. Hartman moved 
into a house on hi- mother's eighty acre 
farm in Livingston county, and three years 
later built his present residence on his own 
land. \ year or two after making the first 
purchase he boughl another forty acres, and 
in course of ten years bought the eighty 



THE BIOGR M'llliWL RECORD. 



291 



acres belonging to his mother, so that he 
owned all of the northeasl quarter of sec 
tion 23, Sullivan township. He has since 
bought eight) acres on section 14. and the 
southwest quarter of section _'_'. making 
four hundred acres, lacking one acre, on 

which the scl 1 house is located, and the 

track of the Illinois Central Railroad, which 
runs through oue quarter-section. He is a 

thorough and skillful farmer, a man of g 1 

business ability and sound judgment, and 
has met with well-merited success in his 
farming operations. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
llartman arc members of the Mennonite 
church, of Cullom, and he is independent 
in politics, voting for the men best qualified 
tor the ]>■ i-itii ms regardless of party hues. 



J< >SLI'II KUNTZ. 

Joseph Kuntz, a highly esteemed and 
honored citizen of Straw n, Livingston coun- 
ty, Illinois, was born in Alsace, France, 
July Hi. [825, and is a son of Michael and 
Barbara (Boch) Kuntz, who spent almost 
their entire lives as farming people in Ba- 
varia, Germany, going there in [829. 
In their family were five children, namelv : 
Jacob, Frederick, Joseph, Magdalena and 
Barbara. 

The early life of our subject was spent 
in his native land, but in [865 he crossed 
the broad Atlantic and took up his residence 
in Tazewell county, llilnois, where he en 
gaged in farming until coming to Livingston 
count}, in (868. lie then purchased one 
hundred ami sixty acres on section [8, Fay- 
ette township, to which he added from time 
to time until lie became the owner of seven 
hundred and twentv acres of rich and arable 



land, having one of the largest and best 
' 1 1 1 n '\ ed farms in the c uintv . hi 1 1 mnection 
with general farming he engaged in stock 
raising quite extensively, and in all his un- 
dertakings met with most gratifying suc- 
cess, lie has ever been found uprighl ami 
honorable in all his dealings, and the pros- 
perity that has come to him is certainly 
weh deserved. 

On the 7th of April. [856, Mr. Kuntz 
married Miss Barbara Meister, who was 
also horn in Germany, September 17. 1^37, 
and to them were horn the following chil- 
dren : 1 1 ) Peter, a resident of Fayette town- 
ship, married Elizabeth Garboge, and the) 
have six children. Joseph, William, Her- 
mann, Clara, Catherine, Hallie and an in- 
fant daughter, ui Joseph, a resident of 
Ford count v, Illinois, married Elizabeth 
Kanauer, and has one son, Frank. 131 Hen- 
ry, a farmer of McLean county, married 
Emma Friday. (4) Mary is now the wife of 
Eric X. Gullberg, mentioned below. 1 5) 
Susan is the wife of Henry Witzburger, a 
fanner of Fayette township, Livingston 
county, and they have one daughter, Stella, 
id) Allien married Sarah Schrine and re- 
sides in Ford count}. 171 John married 
Lena Schrine and resides on the home farm 
of Mr. Kuntz. (8) Kittie married Andrew 
Roth and they live in Ford county. (9) Rosa 
married Gustolph Ringle, and resides in 
Straw n. 

Mr. Kuntz and his famil) arc devout 
members of the Catholic church, and are 
people of prominence in the communities 

where they reside. I'ohlicaly he is identi- 
fied with the Democratic party, and has ever 
taken a deep ami commendable interest in 
public affairs. Me tilled the office of road 
commissioner two terms and school director 
for the same length of time. 



292 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Eric \. Gullberg, one of the leading 
business men of Strawn. was born in the 
southern part of Sweden, January iN, iN;X. 
a son of Nels and Anna (Olson) Erickson. 
For about eighteen years the father was en- 
gaged in the manufacture - of shoes, conduct- 
ing a large shop and employng seven or 
eight hand-. ( >n retiring from that business 
he turned his attention to farming, which he 
followed for many years. lie died at his 
home in Sweden, in 1881, at the age of 
sixty-five years, and the mother departed 
this life in [895, at the age of eighty-one. 
In their family were six children, three of 
whom are still living, namely: Peter X. 
Erickson, who is now engaged in the shoe 
business in St. Paul. Minnesota: Nellie 
Erickson, who is unmarried and still resides 
in Sweden: and Eric X. Gullberg, our sub- 
ject. 

Mr. Gullberg was reared and educated in 
Sweden, attending the high school of his 
birth-place. He worked on his father's 
farm until seventeen years of age. and then 
entered the Swedish army, serving five years 
as a corporal in a cavalry regiment, and 
during his vacations was employed in a 
wholesale house in Sullvesbufg. On enter- 
ing the army he changed his name from 
Erickson to Gullberg, which was the name of 
une of his cousins, and has since retained 
the latter. In [883 he embarked in the gro- 
cery business in Pukawic, but his store was 
destroyed by tire in August, [885, and he lost 
all he had. He then w Miked in a grocery 
store until coming to the United States 
April 15. [890, lie made his home in Chi- 
cago until March. [891, and then went to 

■ Hand. Indiana, where he worked on a 
farm for nearly a year. On the 3d of Febru- 
ary, [892, he came to Strawn, and after 
being employed a- a farm hand for ah 



four years, he embarked in the liquor l>u-i- 
ness in that village, which he -till carries or 

with g 1 success. 

1 In the 23d of August, [898, in Strawn. 
Mr. Gullberg was united in marriage with 
Mr-. Mary L. Benway. daughter of Joseph 
Kuntz, and widow of Joseph Benway, by 
whom -he had three children, all still liv- 
ing, namely: Albert J.. < '-car W. and Will- 
iam J. In his political views Mr. Gullberg 
is a Republican, and in his social relation- i- 
a member of Payson Lodge, No. j<>?. I. ( '. 
( ). I-'., and Fayette Lodge, No. 458, K. P., 
of Strawn. He has passed all the chairs in 
both orders, and i- now secretary and repre- 
sentative in the former and master of ex- 
chequer in the latter, having held the la-t 
named office for the past three year-. He is 
also a prominent member of the Living- 
ston County Liquor Dealers' Association, 
and has been treasurer of the same -nice its 
organization. 



CHARLES II. HOKE. 

Charles II. Hoke, chief deputy sheriff 
of Livingston county, and one of the lead- 
ing citizen- of Pontiac, was horn in Union 
township, this county. June 28, t86l, a son 
of Samuel and Laura X. (Kenney) Hoke. 
The father was horn in Bedford county. 
Pennsylvania, and there grew to manhood 
and learned the cabinet-maker's trade. The 
mother was a native of Williamsburg, the 
same -tate. and a dughter of a Mr. Kenney. 
:, well-known attorney of that place. Three 
of their children were horn m Pennsylvania 
before the family came to Illinois. There 
the father conducted a large furnture and 
undertaking establishment, hut on account of 
failing health he was obliged to discontinue 



THE BI< »GR M'HU'AL RECORD. 



293 



the business. Selling his store, he came to 
Livingston county, Illinois, in [859, and 
purchased eighty acres of land in Union 
township for eight dollars per acre. In the 
house he erected thereon his wife taughl the 
first school in the township, having pre- 
viously engaged in teaching in her native 
state, lie turned his attention to the im- 
provement and cultivation of his land, and 
so successful was he in his farming opera- 
tions that he added to his place until he had 
four hundred acres, two hundred and forty 
acres of which is still in possession of the 
family. He tiled the land and converted it 
into one of the best farms of the o unity. 1 le 
took a prominent and active part in public 
affairs, especially along educational lines, 
serving as a school director and member of 
the hoard for many years. He also tilled 
the office ><\ assessor for a number c*f. years, 
and was a stanch Republican in politics. In 
18 — he left the farm and moved to < Mell, 
where he lived retired until his death, in 
1898. He was a faithful member of the 
Congregational church. t<> which his wife 
also belonged. She is still a resident of 
Odell. In their family were five children, 
namely: Alexander K.. a teacher who lives 
in the Illinois State Reformatory; Mrs. 
Margaret Houchin; William E., a real es- 
tate dealer of Odell; Charles II.. our sub- 
ject: and Frank L., a harness-maker of 
Odell. 

Our subject commenced his education in 
the district schools of Union township, and 
later attended the < Mell high school. < >n 
leaving the home farm at the age of twenty- 
tWO years, he went to Odell, where he suc- 
cessfully conducted a livery, sale, feed and 
exchange stable, building up a large and 
profitable business and shipping in car- 
load lots to New York. Chicago and other 



markets. He was a tine judge of horses 
and was thoroughly conversant with every 
department of the business. 

While engaged in business at ' 'dell Mr. 
Hoke became interested 111 Republican poli- 
tics, and was elected constable, which posi- 
tion he acceptably tilled for twelve years. 
I le was a delegate to most of the county and 
state conventions of his party, and served 
as depntv sheriff for Odell tinder Sheriff 
Wilson for two years: four years under T. 
W. Coe, and four years under E. 0. Reed, 
the present county treasurer. He was also 
prominently mentioned as candidate for 
sheriff in 1897, and received the second 
highest number of votes, \\ . L. Talbott 
being the successful candidate of the seven 
in the field. Mr. Hoke made a thorough 
canvass and after the election was at once 
appointed chief deputy by Sheriff Talbott. 
Since then he has been a resident of 
Pontiac, and now owns a beautiful home 
at No. 6l0 Easl Madison street. In his 
present position he has had charge of a 
number of noted criminals, including Sam 
uel Rightsel, convicted of murder at Fair- 
bury; and the six bank robbers who looted 
the Cornell Bank. He has proved a most 
efficient and satisfactory officer, be 
prompt and faithful in the discharge of his 
duties and true to every trust reposed in 
him. whether public or private. 

On the _»jd of April. (893, Mr. Hoke 
was united in marriage with Miss Minnie 
( i. Wbrthley, of Harvey, Illinois, a dan. 
ter of Daniel VVorthley, a veteran of the 
Civil war and an early settler of this state 
from Ohio, who is now living retired in 
Pontiac. By this union has been born one 
child, Georgetta I). They attend and sup- 
port the Presbyterian church, of which Mrs. 
Hoke is a member. Fraternally Mr. Hoke 



294 



THE BIOGK APHICAL RECORD. 



i- an honored member of the Odd Fellows 
Lodge, X". 404. of Odell, of which lie is 
past -rand; also a member of the encamp- 
nt; the Court of Honor at Pontiac, and 
one of the charter members of the Toilers' 
Fraternity . 



ALBER 1' GRANT TUTTLE. 

Alhert Grant Tuttle, one of the most en- 
terprising agriculturists of Livingston coun- 
ty, now owns and operates the northwest 
quarter of section i. Saunemin township, 
which he has converted into one of the b 
improved farms of that locality. He was 
born in Verona township. Oneida county, 
New York. June 28, 1845, and is the only 
child 'if Solomon and Emeline (^PageJ Tut- 
tle. The lather was born near Camden, 
New York, August 15, 181 5. and is a .-mi 
of Zopher Tuttle, a soldier of the war of 
iNi_>, who was born in England and on first 
coming to this country located in Connecti- 
cut, where he married, but later mi wed t< 1 
Oneida county. New York. He followed 
farming and reared a large family of chil- 
dren, one of whom, Zopher Tuttle, became 
a prominent pioneer id' Illinois and a large 
land owner, who recently died in Wichita, 
Kansas. 

The father of our subject grew to man- 
hood in Oneida county, New York, and in 

ly life was a successful In .at builder on 
the Erie canal. He invested his capital 
largely in real estate and the dairy busim 
and made quite a fortune. He was one 
the early land owners in La Salle county. 
Illinois, ami lor years was a director and 
large stockholder of the first National 
Bank, of Rome. New York. He was one 

the most mtluential men in his commu- 



nity in raising money and soldiers for the 
1 i\ il war. and has always been a stanch sup- 
porter of the Republican party. He served 
as supervisi ir 1 >f his township f >r si ime years, 
and 1- one of it- most highly esteemed citi- 
zens. Religiously he is an active member of 
the Methodist Episcopal church, to which 
the mother of our subject also belonged, 
has ever taken an active part in its work, 
and is one of its most liberal supporters. 
The mother died when our subject was only 
a lew days old. She was a native of ( (neida 
county, Xe\\ York, and a daughter of Xa- 
thaniel Pajre, who at one time was a prom- 
inent boat builder and real estate owner of 
that count}. Me was born in England, and 
before his removal to Oneida county lived 
in Herkimer, New York, lor a time. When 
our subject was two years old his father 
married Sarah Bailey, by whom he had 
three son-. 

During his boyhood Grant Tuttle at- 
tended the common schools of Xew London, 
New York, and remained at home until he 
attained his majority, when he started out 
I" make his own way in the world, working 
a- a driver on canal boats for six months. 
The following year he steered, and then ran 
a boat for 'me man tW" seasons, at the end 
of which time he bought a boat and SUCCeSS- 
full) engaged in the same business for him- 
self, making seven trips each season between 
Buffalo and Xew York. lie became well 
acquainted with the boatmen along the canal, 
and, when business began t" drop off and 
he sold his boat, be was offered a position 
with a commission bouse in Buffalo, at good 
wages, the firm trying hard to get him. In 
."September. iSSj. Mr. Tuttle came to Liv- 
ingston county, Illinois, and purchased his 
present farm in Saunemin township, which 
at that time was entirely unimproved. A f- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



295 



ter building a small house he was joined by 
his family. December 12, 1882. He has 
thoroughly tiled his land, which was at first 
swampy, has built Fences, a good sel of farm 
buildings, and a beautiful country home in 
[895 one of the finest in the- township. He 
has been quite extensively engaged in horse 
raising, but now devotes most of his atten 
tion to general farming, in which he has 
met with well-merited success. 

Mr. Tuttle was married, October 1. 1872, 
to Miss Henrietta Belcher, a native of Ve- 
rona, \'ew York, and a daughter of Alex- 
ander Belcher, a well-known farmer and 
mill owner of that place. Of the seven 
children hunt to them two are deceased. 
Those living are Mama. Well-. Morris, 
Julia and Ellis, all at home. Although f< rm- 
erly Methodists, Mr. and .Mrs. Tuttle now 
attend and support the Emington Congre- 
gational church. He is a stanch supporter 
of the Republican party, but has never been 
an aspirant for office, preferring to devote 
liis undivided attention to his business in 
terests. He is, h iwever, public-spirited an 1 
progressive, and gives his influence toward 
advancing any enterprise which he belii 1 
w ill prove 1 >t public benefit. 



GEORGE J. WALTER. 

George J. Walter, who has success 
fully engaged in the manufacture of 
brick and tile for the past twenty years, is 
numbered among the leading and most suc- 
cessful of the business men of Chatsworth, 
"l which city he has been a resident since 
September, [866 He was born in New 
York city. December 5, 1852, and is the >' 'it 
of John and Elizabeth 1 Reille) Walter, the 



farmer a native of Baden, Germany, and the 
latter of Wurtemburg, Germany, hut who 
1 ; me to this country 111 earl) man and wom- 
anhood and were married in Xew York city, 
where they lived for some years. 

In his youth John Walter learned the 
shoemaker's trade which lie followed for 
twenty five years, after which he engaged 
in the mercantile trade. 111 which lu- con- 
tinued until about io<V>. since which time he 
has lived a retired life. After leaving New 
York he remained for a time in Indiana, 
and then came with his family to Cha 
worth, in 1866, and here has since con- 
tinued to reside. For many years hi' was 
one of the leading business men of the city, 
and carried a general stock of goods. For a 
number of years he served on the sell 
hoard of that city, and was also for -c\ 
end years a member of the village hoard of 
trustees. John and Elizabeth Walter were 
the parents of six children, two of whom died 
in infancy, while Elizabeth died at the age of 
twent) one years. < lei irgej. is the subject 1 if 
this sketch. Louis A . is in the lumber busi 
ness in Chatsworth. while Albert F. is in 

the dry g Is business in the same city. 

1 ieorge J. Walter was fourteen years old 
when he came to Chatsworth. His educa- 
t,< n, begun in the public schools of his native 
city, was continued in the public schools 
of Indiana, where, as stated, the family re- 
sided for a time. ( >n coming to Chatsworth 
Ik entered the public schi ioIs of the place and 
for about three years attended the high 
school. The education received in the 
"•Is was a practical one. and on leavi 
ool he entered the store of his father, 
I later, iii company with his brother 
Louis, took charge of the business for ah .nt 
tw 1 1 years. 

In September, 1877, Mr. Walter was 



296 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



united in marriage with .Miss Lena Heil- 
liiann. who was born in Baden, Germany, in 
[857, and who came to this country with her 
parents when but two years of age. By this 
union there have been born six children, 
one of whom died in infancy. Edna E. is at- 
tending Northwestern College. Naperville, 
Illinois, where she is taking a commercial 
course, and also the music and art course. 
Lydia is at home attending the high school 
of Chatsworth. Clara. Arthur and Esther 
are all at home. 

After his marriage. Mr. Walter embarked 
in the bakery business in which he remained 
about two years with a fair degree of suc- 
cess. He was then one year in the furniture 
business, and in 1880 sold out and broke 
ground for his present plant for the manu- 
facture of brick and tile, and at once engaged 
in the business. 1 E'e has four kilns for burn- 
ing brick and tile, and has erected large 
buildings and sheds for drying, with a floor 
space of nine thousand square feet. In 1881 
he put in an engine of eighty-five horse 
power, and also two boilers of one hundred 
and ten horse power. The plant has a ca- 
pacity for thirty thousand brick and Mr. 
Walter does the largest business of any firm 
in the county, shipping his product by rail 
to many points in and out of the county. 

In politics Mr. Walter is a Republican, 
and has taken an active interest in the politi- 
cal affairs of his country, though never an 
active politician. He has been a member of 
the school hoard in Chatsworth for seven 
years, and has taken great interest in main- 
taining good schools. Religiously he and 
hi> wife are members of the Evangelical 
Assi iciation. 

In his business life Mr. Walter has been 
\er\ successful. For a short time he had 

artner, and for about five years his fa- 



ther was associated with him in business, 
but for the greater part of the time he has 
managed it alone, and as stated does the larg- 
est business of any firm in the count v in 
like business, and he has the largest plant in 
the county. In addition to the plant which 
covers two and a half acres of ground, he 
owns eighty acres adjoining the city on the 
east. As a citizen no one is willing to do 
more to advance the interests of his adopted 
city and county, and as friend he is kind 
and obliging, ever willing to do a good turn. 
W such as he is entitled to a place in the 
historical annals of his county. 



WALTER LEGGATE. 

Walter Leggate, one of the leading agri 
culturists of Germanville township, whose 
fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres is 
pleasantly situated on section 14. was born 
in the city of Xew York, December 7. [853, a 
sou of John and Elizabeth 1 Fleming) Leg- 
gate. The father was bom on the 25th of 
August, [816, in Lanarkshire. Scotland, 
through which county (lows the far-famed 
and beautiful river Clyde, and is a son of 
James and Margaret (Dalgleish) Le- 
gate, who had three children: Robert, who 
served for twentj years in the British army, 
and died at his home in Scotland in 1NN5. 
John, father of our subject: and James, who 
came to America when a young man and is 
now living in Xew Jersey. In early life 
John Leggate learned the weaver's trade, 
and in [837 married Elizabeth Fleming, also 
a native 1 if Lanarkshire. In [848, with their 
family of four children, they took passage 
on a sailing vessel at Glasgow, and after ten 
weeks spent upon the water landed in Xew 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



297 



\<irk city, where the father worked at his 
trade three years, and in a glass factory the 
same length of time. Later he moved to 
Canada, and made his home near London, 
until [857, being employed in a brickyard 
most lit" the time. Having saved a little 
money by close economy and untiring in- 
dustry, he resolved to invest it in western 
land and came to Livingston county, Illi- 
nois, where he purchased eighty acres in 
Germanville township. He prospered in his 
new home, and at length became the owner 
of two hundred and Forty acres of valuable 
land on section 10. where he is now living 
a retired life enjoying the fruits of former 
toil. lie is a man of many noble traits of 
character, and is highly respected and es- 
teemed by all who know him. Religiously 
he is a faithful member of the Presbyterian 
church, and has always taken an active part 
in church and Sunday school work. In 
his political views he is a Republican, and 
filled the office of justice of the peace in his 
township for many years. His wife died in 
May, [893, at about the age of seventy- 
eight years, and was laid to resl in German- 
ville cemetery. She, to '.was a devout member 
oi the Presbyterian church and a most es- 
timable lady. 

To (hi- worthy couple were born nine 
children, of whom four are now livine 
James, a brick manufacturer of Chicago, 
who first married Matilda I. inn. and second 
Anna Smith, of Chicago; John, an engineer 
of Chicago, who married Nancy McKay; 
Walter, our subject; and Sarah, wife of 
Owen McMahon, who operates his father- 
in-law's farm in Germanville township. 
< )f those deceased Marion died when a small 
child in Scotland; Margaret married John 
Beckman of Germanville township, and died 
in Iowa, where her husband is now engaged 



in farming; Robert served three years in 
Company E, Eighty-ninth Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry, and died in Iowa, leaving a wife 
and two children; George, horn in Scotland, 
married Dora Lutsou, of Germanville town- 
ship, where he followed farming for some 
tune, lnit about fourteen years ago moved 
to Iowa, where he died in March, [898, leav- 
ing a widow and four children; and Archie 
died in Germanville, at the age of four 
years. 

Walter Leggate was only a year old 
w hen the family moved to Canada, and came 
with them to Illinois, in the spring of [857. 
At the age of nine years he entered the pub- 
he schools of Germanville township, where 
lie was educated. He continued to assist in 
the operation of the home farm until four 
teen yearge ago, when he located upon his 
present place, and has since devoted his en- 
ergies to its further improvement and culti- 
vation. Politically he is identified with the 
Republican party, and he has been called 
upon to serve his fellow citizens as town- 
ship collector several terms and also as con- 
stable, lie is widely and favorably known 
in his adopted comity, and those who know 
hmi best are numbered among his warmest 
friends. 

< )n the 25th of December, [876, in 1 
manville township, Mr. Leggate was united 
in marriage with Miss Ruth Ellen Mahood, 
a daughter of Alexander and Mary (Sum- 
ney) Mahood. The father, who was a 
prominent and prosperous farmer of that 
township, died in [874, and was buried there, 
hut the mother is still living at the age of 
seventy-one years, and makes her home with 
our subject. Mr. Leggate has been called 
upon to mourn the loss of his estimable wife, 
who died June 1, [897, leaving four chil- 
dren, namely: John Alexander, horn March 



298 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



30. 1878; I. aura. August -><>. 1SS0: Walter 
F., July 12, 1884; and Eva May. January 
26, [889. All were born in Livingston 
county, and the family is one of prominence 
in the community where they reside. 



HON. CHARLES M. BARICKMAN. 

Hon. Charles M. Barickman, judge of 
the o »unty and probate courts of Livingston 

inty. is a native of the county, and was 
born in Newtown township, December 28, 
l86_\ His father, Benjamin Barickman. is 
one of the oldest living settlers of the county, 
having located here in 1832, when a lad of 
eight years. 1 See . ketch on another page 
of this work.) 

()n the home farm Charles M. grew to 

mauli 1. and in the common schools of 

the neighborhood he received his primary 
education, while during his vacations he as- 
sisted in the operation of the farm. With 
the desire to obtain a mure liberal education 
than tli. ded b) the public schools, he 

entered the Illinois Wesleyan University, 
■], [llinois, from which institu- 
tion he was graduated with the class oi 
1 887. 

Leaving the university for the next two 
years. Mr. Barickman was engaged in teach- 
ing, first at Ancona and later at Cornell. 
spending one year in each place. During 
that time, in his leisure hours and during his 
vacations, he read law and made Mich prog- 
ress in his studies that in 1889 he was ad- 
mitted to ]. ractice in all the courts of the 
te bv the supreme court in session at Mt. 
Vernon, Illinois. 

( »n his admission to the bar, Mr. Barick- 
man located in Pontiac and at once entered 



upon the practice of his profession. He 

very soon took rank with the leading prac- 
titioners of the place, and became well 
known throughout the county. His ability 
as an attorney was recognized, and in 1894 
he was nominated for the office of county 
judge, and at the election in November of 
that year he was elected by a majority 1 i 
about eight hundred over his Democratic 
opponent. So well did he transact the 
business of th e office that in [898 he was re- 
nominated and elected by a largely increased 
majority, receiving the largest number of 
votes of any candidate upon the ticket, his 
majority being twelve hundred and twenty- 
six votes. He is now serving his second 
term, and to say that his management of the 
office is satisfactory to the people goes with- 
out question. 

On the 10th of April, 1890. Judge Ba- 
rickman was united in marriage with Miss 
Rena M. Ten Eick ami daughter of Matthew 
and Mary 1 Means) Ten back, of Blooming- 
ton, Illinois. The judge and his wife attend 
and support the Methodist Episcopal church, 
1 f Pontiac, and socially they are held in the 
highest esteem. They occupy a fine resi- 
dence on Maplewood avenue, erected by the 
Judge, and their home is ever open to then- 
many friends. 

Judge Barickman was born during the 
time of the civil war. and grew up a loyal 
citizen and an anient Republii His 

first presidential vote was east for James 
G. Blaine in [884, and since that time he 
has ever taken an active interest in polil 
and his influence has been felt in the councils 
of his partv and 111 the county of which he 
has been a life long resident. Fraternally 
he is a member of Pontiac Lodge, No. _'■)-}. 
A. F. & V M.; and of Crescent Lodge, No. 
Il8, K. I'. In the latter lodge he has held 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



299 



all the chairs, arid has been a representative 
to the Grand Lodge of the state. He is 
also a member of the Uniformed Rank. K. 
P., and has served as captain two terms. 
As a citizen he is alive to all that lias a tend- 
ency to make the city of his adoption and 
the county of his birth take rank with the 
besl ni our fair state. 



LEONARD LARGE. 

Leonard Large, deceased, was fur many 
years identified with the agricultural inter- 
ests of Pleasant Ridge township, Livingston 
county, Illinois, and was numbered among 
its highly respected citizens, lie was bora 
Ma} 3, [818, in Farrington, five miles from 
Lynn, England, and there grew to manhood 
on a farm, his father being employed as a 
farmer on an estate there. In [853 he mar- 
ried Miss Sarah F. Mitchell, who was horn 
near the .same place, May 4, iSj.j. Her 
father was Freeman Mitchell, a native of 
\\ ispich, England, and a blacksmith by 
trade, who died when she was eight years 
old. leaving a widow and four children. 

For one year after their marriage Mr. 
and Mrs. Large made their home in Ro 
berry. Topham, Yorkshire, England, and 
then came t" the United Stale-, settling first 
in Stony Rocks, New York, nut far from 
Auburn, where they spent four year-. At 
the end of that time they came to Illinois 
and bought a small tract of ten acres of land 
live miles from Eureka, on winch a log house 
was built. As his financial resources in- 
creased Mr. Large added t" his propi 
little by little until he had forty acres, which 
he subsequently sojd for eleven hundred 
dollars. In 1870 he,. came to Pleasant Ridge 



township, Livingston county, and purchased 
eighty acres of land on which the family 
still reside. At that time not a fence had 
been built or an improvement made, but he 
erected a good house and barn, planted fruit 
and shade trees, tiled the land and placed it 
under a high state of cultivation, so that it 
is now a valuable farm. 

Mr. Large died September 11. [880, 
honored ami respected by all who knew him. 
Both he and his estimable wife held mem- 
bership in the Episcopal church. In then- 
family were the following children: Will- 
iam; Sarah A., deceased; Leonard. Isaac, 
Thomas, Mrs. Rebecca Minear, Mrs. Martha 
Bruner and John, all living near Lexington, 
Nebraska; Rachel and Robert, both at home. 



MILES DESIR] 

Miles Desire, a farmer and stock raiser, 
residing on section 28, ( lhatsworth township, 

while not numbered among the earl) settlers 
is a well known citizen of the county, which 
has been his In. me since [876. lie is a na- 
tive of France, born March 1. [853, and is 
a sun of Casimer \V. and Mary (Savorvin) 
Meillian, both of whom were also natives of 

France, where their entire lives were spent, 

and where the) died about [896. The) were 

the parents of eight children, of whom one 

died in infancy. The living are Desire, the 

subject oi tin- sketch; Marrius, Dennis, 

inand, Julius, Mar) and Susan. < >f the 

children none came to this country bill 

subject and Dennis. Trie latter is livii 

Colorado, where he is engaged in mining. 

The subject of this sketch grew to inan- 

inil was educated in the public schools 

of his native land, lie was reared to farm 



300 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



life and assisted his father on the home farm 

until [873, when he came to the United 
States, with a view of bettering his condition 
in life, ('n his arrirval he took up his resi 
deuce in Marshall county, Illinois, where 
worked as a farm hand for three years. He 
then came t<> Livingston county, rented land 
in Germanville township, and commenced 
farming for himself. Two years later. Sep- 
tember 21, 1878, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Martlia Bevins, who was born in 
Bureau county. Illinois, in [860. After his 
marriage he continued to farm rented land 
m ( lermanville township until [88] . when he 
moved to Chatsworth township, where he 
also rented and continued to farm until [889, 
when he purchased one hundred and sixty 
acres on section 30. a partly improved farm. 
To that farm he moved and put it under an 
excellent state of cultivation, tiling and other- 
wise improving the place, lie remained 011 
that farm for six years and then purchased 
three hundred and sixty acres of swamp 
and timber land on section 28. This land 
was entirly unimproved, havin;; neither 
building 1 >r fence 1 in the place. I le has since 
ed aboul two hundred acres of timber, 
drained the swamp, and now has a good 
farm. The firs! year lie raised ninety bushels 
id >■; im !■ ' the aci e. 

Mr. and Mrs. Desire are the parents of 
three children: Mary Ann. wli 1 e igaged 
in dressmaking in Chatsworth; and Lizzie 
and Joseph, at home. Mrs. Desire wa 
of a family of four daughters and one son, 
as foil iws: Annie, wife of Carl Drake, liv- 
ing in Chicago; Martha !■'... wife of our sub- 
ject; Sarah I'... wife of George Pyles, now 
living in Missouri; Mary A., wife of M. 
Krebb, of Chicago; and Caleb E., living in 
Whiting, Indiana. 

When Mr. Desire came to the United 



States he could nol speak a word of the Eng 
lish language, and he was seventeen dollars 
in debt when he landed in Chicago. lie 
came here, however, with the intention of 
overcoming all obstacles, and that he has 
overcome them this record of his lite will 
attest. By his industry and enterprise In has 
become the owner of a tine farm, will 
stocked, and the future is bright before 
him. In addition to general farming he has 
usually engaged in the stock business, not 
only raising hut buying and shipping as 
well, and in this he has met with a reasonable 
degree of success. 

Mr. Desire cast his first presidential vote 
for Samuel J. Tilden, hut now votes the 
Republican ticket straight. He has served 
as commissioner of highways for ten years, 
urer of the commissioner of highways for 
school director nine years, and has been uas- 
t lie last three years. Fraternally he is a 
member of the Knights 1 if Pythias oft hats- 
worth, and has been trustee of the same. 

He is also a member of the Modern \\ 1 

men of America of t lhatswi rth. Religii iusly 
he is a member of the Catholic church of 
Chatsworth. lie has been a successful man. 
is well esteemed in the community which 
hi s been his home for nearly a quarter ol a 
century and has main warm friends. 



DAVID Sll W'TX. 

David Shantz, who owns and operates 

a valuable farm of three hundred and twenty 
acres on section i~ . Sullivan township. Liv- 
ingston county. Illinois, j s a native of ('an 
ada. horn in Berlin, Waterloo county. Jan- 
uary 30, [846, and is a son of Isaac P. and 
Elizabeth 1 Snyder 1 Shantz, both natives of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



301 



Pennsylvania. The Shantz family came 
originally Erdm Switzerland, and were 
among the first settlers of Bucks county, 
Pennsylvania. The great-grandfather of 
our subject was Isaac Shantz, who was born 
in Montgomery county, that slate. January 
14. [748, and was married, in 1774. to Bar- 
bara Reiff, who was born in September, 
1753. When our subject's father was only 
three years old, the grandfather, Christian 
Shantz, took his family to Waterloo county, 
Canada, locating there when the Indians 
were far more numerous than the white set- 
tlers. There he and his wife spent their re- 
maining days. The father grew to manhood 
in Canada and in early life learned the cab- 
inetmaker's trade. For many years he ran 
a sawmill and furniture Factory at Man- 
heim. manufacturing all kinds of furniture, 
hut misfortune overtook him and he sold 
out. Iii [858 he removed to Gardner, Grun- 
dy county, Illinois, where he engaged in 
farming unon rented land for two wars, 
and for the same length of time rented land 
in Round Grove and Dwight townships, Liv- 
ingston county. Coming to Sullivan town- 
ship in [864 he purchased one hundred ami 
sixty acres .if land, fur which he paid twenty 
dollars per acre, it being the farm on which 
our subject now lives. At the time of his 
death he owned two hundred acres, a part of 
which was wild prairie when he purchased 
it. His first home here was a small struc- 
ture. 14MI1 feet, the lumber for which he 
hauled from Pontiac, a distance of twenty 
miles. While a resident of Dwight town- 
ship he s, ,id one horse for war purposes for 
two hundred dollars. On first coming to 
this county our subject herded cattle on the 
prairies, bringing them from Ottawa each 
spring and taking them hack in the fall. For 

this he received one d 'liar ami a half per head 
. 6 



tor the season, and has cared for as many 
as seven hundred at one time. The father 
died September jo, [885, at the age of 
eighty-two years, and was laid to rest in 
Sullivan Center cemetery, while the mother 
died in I lecember, [892, at the age of eighty- 
five years. In their family were the follow- 
ing children: Daniel, who died 111 Round 
Grove township, at the age of twenty eighl 
years, leaving two sons, who are still living; 
Lena, widow of Jacob Amacher and a resi 
dent of Cullom, Illinois; Christian S.. who is 
now living' retired in the same place; Eliza- 
beth, who died at the age of two years; 
David, our subject; and Isaac, a farmer of 
Sullivan township. 

During his boyhood ami youth David 
Shantz attended school for two or three 
months during the winter seasons, and re- 
mained at home until he was married, Feb- 
ruary -'5. [893, to Miss Elizabeth Wenger, 
who was horn in the Shenandoah valley, Ef- 
fingham county, Virginia. Her parents, 
Daniel and Sarah (Coffman) Wenger. were 
natives of the same state, and her grandfa- 
ther, Benjamin Wenger. was also a Virgin- 
ian b) birth and a planter, who in the midst 
ot the timber cleared and improved a farm. 
The father, who also followed the occupa- 
tion of farming, died in [889, the mother 
in [896. They had twelve children, namely: 
Gideon, Benjamin, Samuel. Daniel, \niue, 
David. Elizabeth, Sarah. Solomon. Mary, 
Moses and John. With one exception all 
reached years of maturity. < >ne is now liv- 
ing in Kansas, another in Michigan, Mrs. 
Shantz in Illinois, and the others in Vir- 
ginia. |ohn and two sister- live on the old 
homestead. Mr. and Mrs Shantz have five 
children: John and Sarah, who .are now 
attending school; Alvin and Earl, twins; 
and Mary. 



3o: 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



In 1SS5 Mr Shantz purchased the inter- 
est of the other heirs in his father's farm. 
and in [899 bought an adjoining tract of one 
hundred and sixty acres, so that he now has 
a fine farm of three hundred and twenty 
aero, which is under a high state of culti- 
vation and well improved. He makes a 
specialty of raising thoroughbred brown 
Swis> cattle, and also keeps a thoroughbred 
shire stallion, "Barnie," for breeding pur- 
poses. Smce casting his first presidential 
vote for L. S. Grant Mr. Shantz has always 
supported the Republican party, hut would 
never accept office, preferring to devote his 
undivided attention to his business interests, 
lie and his wife are members of the Men- 
nonite church, and are hiphly respected and 
esteemed by all who know them. 



WILLIAM M. MILLER. 

William M. Miller, the well-known en- 
gineer of the city water works of Dwigllt, 
was born m Aurora. Illinois, October 25, 
1855, ami is a son of John S. and L'elia J. 
I Kennedy ) Miller, natives of Fulton county. 
New York, where they were reared and mar- 
ried. In [854 they came west and located in 
Aurora, Illinois, where the father followed 
his trade of stone mason until t866, when he- 
ed to Dwight. Here he engaged in 
contracting and did a great deal of the st,,ne 
work in Dwight and vicinity for many years, 
hut is now living a retired life, in his eighty- 
eighth year. Mis wife died January 14. 

jed eighty years. Our subj 
paternal grandfather Miller came of ; t titled 
Holland family. Me was pressed into the 
British army during the Revolutionary war 
and brought t- 1 America. 



Idle subject of this sketch is the eighth 
in order of birth in a family of eleven chil- 
dren, ten sons and one daughter, of whom 
the eldest, a son. died in infancy; James A. 
enlisted, at Aurora, in the Forty-third llli 
nois Volunteer Infantry during the civil war. 
and after two years re-enlisted as captain 
in the One Hundred and Sixty sixth regi 
ment, was captured at Fort Donelson and 
died in Andersonville prison; Charles is a 
contractor and builder of Chicago; Andrew- 
has been an engineer on the VVabast Rail- 
road for thirteen years, and is now a resident 
of Decatur, Illinois: Amos is a prominent 
farmer of Ford county, [llinois; Robert was 
for several years yard master for the Wis- 
consin Central Railroad at the Roby street 
yards, Chicago, in which city he i\.c\ in Sep 
tember, [895; Alfred was for eleven years 
a conductor on the Indiana, Illinois & Iowa 
Railroad, and was killed near Walkerton. 
Indiana. April jo. i Now. leaving a widow 
and three children, who reside in Chicago; 
Jennie is the wife of Zerum Johnson, a resi- 
dent of Dwight; Joseph and Hewitt both 
died of diphtheria, aged, respectively, seven 
and fi iur years. 

\\ illiam B. Miller was but a lad >-\ eleven 
years when the family removed to Dwight, 
which has been bis home ever since. He 
assisted his father 111 stone work until six- 
teen years of age, when he entered the cm 

ploy of the Chicago & Uton Railroad as 

ion hand, and in less than a year was 

made foreman. Two wars were spent in 

the round house at Dwight, ami he was then 

promoted to engineer, running a local 

freighl from Dwigllt t" Washington, llli- 

for three years and a half. During 

the big strike >'i [892 he left the railroad 

and for one year was engaged in running 

ii nary engine. In [893 he aa epted his 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



303 



present position as engineer of the city water 
works at Dwight, and has since given his 
entire attention to that work. The construc- 
tion of the plant was commenced in [892 
and finished the following year, and at that 
time was run by steam, but in [897 the 
Leslie E. Keelev Company donated to the 
city a modern Fairbank & Morse gas engine 
1 if twenty five horse pi >wer, two Gould seven 
inch pumps with a lift capacity of seven 
thousand gallons per hour, and a stand pipe 
one hundred and twenty feet high, the upper 
part of which is a still tank, fifty-two feet, 
wdh a capacity of fifty thousand gallons. 
This furnishes an ample lire protection as 
well a-> supply for general use. 

On the iSth of February, [881, Mr. 
Miller was united in marriage with Miss 
Jennie lletTner. daughter of Andrew and 
Jane (Yocum) I leffner. Her father was a 
prominent citizen and miller of Huntingdon 
county. Pennsylvania, and was rn t d for his 
benevolent and charitable disposition. .Mrs. 
Miller was horn in that count) October 27, 
1 Son. and there our subject met her. while 
on a visit to Pennsylvania. She is the fourth 
in orilcr of birth in a family of six children, 

others being Mary, wife of Stewart 
Africa, of Huntingdon county. Pennsyl- 
vania; Rachel, who is at home with her 
mother: John, who succeeded his father in 
business; Rebecca, at home; and Thomas, 
who is living on the old homestead. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Miller were horn eight chil- 
dren, namely: Lawrence A., who died at 
the age of twelve years; Celia J.. Francis 
J.. Ralphus A.. Milton J.. Mary R.. Rachel 
and Rebecca. 

Fraternally Mr. Miller is a charter mem- 
ber of tin- Independent Order of Mutual 
Aid: of Hebron Lodge. No. 175. K. I'., in 

which he has tilled most of the offices, and a 



charter member of the Knights ,,(' Macca- 
bees of Dwight, and finance keeper of the 
same. He takes an active interest in the 
progress and growth of his town, and by 
his ballot supports the men and measures 
of the Republican party. 



|< )ll\ LEGGATE. 

|ohn Leggate, one of the highly honored 
and respected citizens of ( iermanville town- 
ship, Livingston county, owns and occupies 
a well-improved and highly cultivated farm 
of one hundred and sixty acres on section 
10, and has most efficientl) served as justice 
of the peace for many years, lie was horn 
in Lanarkshire, near Glasgow, Scotland, Au- 
gust 25, 1816, and is a son of James and 
Margaret (Dalgleish) Leggate. who spent 
their entire lives in that country. The 
mother died when our subject was only tour 
years old. and the father afterward married 
Esther Cooper, also a native of Scotland. 
He followed the occupation of weaving 
throughout life and died at the age of forty- 
seven years. By his first marriage he had 
three childrlen. of whom our subject is the 
oldest. James, who is now living retired 
in Patteron, New Jersey, also followed 
weaving during his active life and has ac- 
cumulated considerable property. He mar- 
ried Elizabeth Watson, of Scotland, and to 
them have been horn six children. Robert, 
the other brother of our subject, served 
twenty years in the British army, and died 
at his home 111 Scotland at the age of fifty 
years, leaving a family of children, none of 
w hi mi e\ er came to this o nintry. By his sec- 
ond marriage the father had four children: 
Esther, George, William and William, all 
of whom died when quite young. 



304 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



John Leggate was educated in the pub- 
lic schools of his birthplace, and in early lift- 
learned the weaver's trade with his father. 
following that occupation continuously un- 
til coming to the United States at the age 
of thirty-two years. In his native land he 
was married, December 29. [837, to Miss 
Elizabeth Fleming, a daughter of John and 
.Marian (Stuart) Fleming, life-long resi- 
dents of Scotland. Her father was als 
weaver. 

In [848, with his wife and children. Mr. 
Leggate sailed for America, and spent the 
first six years of his residence here in New 
York City, where he followed his trade three 
years, and also worked in a stained glass 
factory the jam length of time. Subse- 
quently he spent two years near London, 
Canada, where he was engaged in the manu- 
facture of brick, and in 1S57 came to Liv- 
ingston county, Illinois. He had previously 
acquired some capital, being economical and 
industrious, and this he invested in land on 
section to, Germanville township, where he 
now resides. As his financial resources have 
increased he has added to his landed pos 
sions, and now owns two hundred and forty 
acres of land, eighty acres of which an 
section 14, the same township. When it 
came into his possession it was wild prairie 
land, hut acre after acre were soon placed 
under the plow, a comfortable residence was 
erected, good barns and outbuildings were 
also built and many other improvements 
made, so that it is now one ,,f the most de- 
sirable farm of that section of the county. 

Of the nine children born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Leggate only four are now living, 
namely: James, born in Scotland, is now 
a brick manufacturer oi ll< mar- 

ried Matilda Linn, by whom he had four 
children, two still living. I.illie and Mancel. 



His second wife was Anna Smith, of Chi- 
cago. (_') John, horn in Scotland, is an 
engineer of Chicago. During the civil war 
he enlisted in Company 1). Eighty-ninth Illi- 
nois Volunteer Infantry, hut was wounded 
shortly after entering the service and hon- 
orably discharged. He married Nancy Mc- 
Kay and has three children. Rebecca. Liz- 
zie and Maggie. ( ,} ) Walter, a farmer 
of Germanville township, is represented on 
another page of this work. 141 Sarah is 
the wife of Owen McMahon, who operates 
our subject's farm. Of those deceased, 
Marion died in Scotland when quite young. 
Margaret married John Beckman, of Ger- 
manville township, and died in Iowa, at the 
age of twenty-seven years. Robert, born in 
Scotland, was a member of the same com- 
pany as his brother John, and served until 
the end of the war. He married Mary Sher- 
man and died at the age 1 if thirty-eight years, 
leaving two children. Viola and Ftta. 
( leorge, born in Scotland, married 1 >ora Lut- 
son and lived in Germanville township for 
some time, but spent his last days in Iowa, 
where he died. lea\ ing four children. Nancv 
James. Viola and Martha. Archie died in 
l iermanvillc at the age of four years. 

Since becoming an American citizen Mr. 
Leggate has affiliated with the Republican 
party, and has taken quite an active interest 
in public affairs. Since 1809 he has most 
creditably and acceptably filled the office of 
justice of the peace, and at different times 
has held all of the township offices, being 
school treasurer twelve years. Upright and 
honorable in all things, he has been found 
true to every trust reposed in him. whether 
public or private, and is accounted one of 
the most valued and useful citizens of his 
community. In religious faith he and his 
family are Presbyterians. Mis estimable 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



305 



wife died in May, 189J3, at the age of sev- 
enty-eight years, and was laid to rest in the 
Germanville cemetery. He is now practi- 
cally living retired, surrounded by a large 
circle of friends and acquaintances, who es- 
teem him highly for his sterling worth. 



ADAM SHAFER. 

Adam Shafer, who resides on section 27, 
Chatsworth township, has been a resident of 
Livingston county since 1H63. He was horn 
in Koor, I lessen, Germany, September 26, 
1S47. His father dying when he was but an 
infant and his mother marrying again, he 
was reared by an aunt until twelve years of 
age, when he went to live with his mother 
and step-father, Jacob Gabriel. In 1857 
the family came to the United States and li >- 
cated in Tazewell county, [llinois, where 
they remained for five years, and in 1863 
moved to what was then the southern part 
of Chatsworth township, but is now Ger- 
man ville township. On the farm of his step 

father our subject grew to manh 1. in the 

meantime receiving a limited education in 
the public schools. From the time he was 
old enough to follow a plow he had t<> do 
his share of the farm work, and therefore 
he became a thorough, practical farmer. 
When twenty-one years old he left home 
ami for the next three vears worked as a 
farm hand, during which time he saved up 
the greater part of his earnings and was 
enabled to commence farming for himself. 

In December, 1870, Mr. Shafer was 
united in marriage with Miss Kathrina 
Neiding, who was horn in Germany in 1845. 
She came to this country when twenty-three 
years of age, after the death of her parents. 



She had one brother and three sisters in this 
country, but of the five her brother John 
and her sister Martha are the only ones now- 
living. The latter is the wife of Henry 
Brents, of Brule, Nebraska. The former is 
engaged in farming in Chatsworth town- 
ship. To Mr. and Mrs. Shafer were born 
nine children, two of whom died in early 
childhood. Those living are Christ, a pros- 
perous young farmer in Chatsworth town- 
ship, who is married and has three children. 
He is living on his father's farm in that 
township. Lizzie is the wife of Henry 
Klehm, and they base two children. They 
reside on a farm in Ford county. Katie is 
the wife of Philip Keosner, and they live 
near Chenoa. McLean county. They have 
"lie --on. Edward. Charles. Bertie and Lena 
yet remain at home with their fath t. the 
sons assisting in the farm work, while the 
daughter attends to the housekeeping. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Shafer continued to reside on rentd land in 
Germanville township for five years, during 
which time he succeeded in accumulating 
sufficient means to purchase eighty acres of 
partially improved land in Chatsworth town- 
ship, south of the city. To that farm they 
removed, and here he has continued to reside 
until the present time. From time to time 
he addeil to his possessions tint 1 he now 
owns two hundred acres on section 2j. one 
hundred and twenty acres on section 23 ami 
one hundred and sixty acres on section id, 
Chatsworth township, all of which is under 
a high state of cultivation. When twenty- 
one years old he had to face the world, a 
young man without means and the owner 
of ii"i an acre of (it id's green earth, but by 
industry and the help of his wife, and also 
that of hi- children in later year-, he is now 
possessed of a competency and can have no 



3o6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



fear of the future. During the greater part 
of the time in which he has been accumulat- 
ing his wife was in ill health, and for much 
of the time under the care of a physician. 
He never went into the field without fear in 
his heart for the good wife at the house. 
Notwithstanding her illness she was to him 
a true helpmeet and an inspiration, and no 
sacrifice but was cheerfully made to secure 
her happiness. By her cheerful disposition 
and loving counsel she assisted him in the 
toils of the day. The improvements on his 
farm, including the residence, and the barns, 
the fences, the tiling and the orchard, is 
the result of his own labors, and he has rea- 
son to be proud of what lias been accom- 
plished. For a number of years he owned 
and operated a corn shelter and a thresher, 
which added materially to his income. 

( >n the 24th of April. [899, Mrs. Shafer 
passed fn >m her earthly cares to the haven of 
rest. In the old country she was a member 
of the Lutheran church, but after her ma 
riage she united with the Evangelical Asso 
ciation, with which body she remained a 
faithful and consistent member until her 
death. She was a Living wife, a kind 

ther and a deserving Christian woman, 
beloved by all who knew her. With the 
hope of a restoration to health she was taken 
to a hospital in Chicago, and there under- 
went a severe surgical operation, but it was 
without avail. Death claimed her. but 
was ready to go. During her long illness 
bore it all uncomplainingly, and when 
the dread summons came she was ready, hav- 
ing an abiding hope in her blessed Savior, 
and with the full assurance that in the home 
beyond -he would meet her loved one-, for 
they are all followers of the meek and lowly 
one. In her life -he was an earnest and 
willing supporter of the church, and when 



able a worker in the Sunday school. Her 
life was a life of good works, and it can well 
he -aid of her, "Blessed are the dead who 
die in the Lord, for they shall re-t Er< 'in their 
labor- and their works do follow them." 

Like his wife. Mr. Shafer is a member of 
the Evangelical Association and a firm be 
hever in the Christian religion. Politically 
lie i- a Republican, hut he is not an office 
Time and again ha- he refused local 
office that would he forced on h'm by well 
meaning friend-. His taste, however, did 
1 ot run in that direction. He preferred to 
attend to his duties as a husband and father 
and to his firm work. However, he served 
as a school director for several year-, hut 
only for the reason that he was interested 
in the public schools and the cause of educa- 
tion. He is a citizen deservedly held in high 
esteem. 



REV. GEORGE HERTLE1N. 

Rev. George Hertlein, who is now liv- 
ing a retired life in the village of Cullom, 
Living-ton county, Illinois, was horn in 
Bavaria, Germany, November 30, 1849, a '"' 
i- a son of Lawrence and Mary Hertlein, 
both of whom were natives of the same 
country and there spent their entire lives. 
They were the parents of three children, one 
of whom. Christ, died in [897, at the a 
of forty-live years. Elizabeth live- in Ba- 
varia, and George 1- the subject of this 
-ketch. 

Tge Hertlein grew to manhood in 
his native country and was educated in the 
parochial schools, supplemented by a four- 
year-' course in a theological seminary, pre- 
paring for the ministry. He wa- graduated 
from the seminary and ordained to the min- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



307 



istry in his native country. In [877 he 
came to the United States and located in 
[owa City, Iowa, where lie served as assisl 
ant pastor of a church for six months and 
was then called to the church at Sharon 
(enter, [owa, and for two years served as 
its pastor, filling the duties of the sacred 
office to the entire satisfaction of his pa- 
rishioners, while enjoying the confidence of 
the community at large, I le was then taken 
siek with inflammation of the lungs and was 
compelled for a time to abandon the minis- 
try. While yet residing in his native land 
he served three years and a half in the Ger- 
man army, and his disability dates hack t 1 
that time. A half-brother, Rev. Lorenz 
Schorr, preceded him to the United States. 
coming in [861. lie died in 1S71. and our 
subject took up the work where his brother 
left off. 

In 1N7N. about '>ne year after his ar- 
rival in this country, Mr. Ilertlein was 
united in marriage with Miss Mary Laub- 
pender, a native of Ohio, born in [856, hut 
who was then living in Sharon ( lenter, [owa, 
where the wedding ceremony was solemn- 
ized. By this union ten children have heen 
born, two of whom died in infancy. Of 
those living, Sophia is now the wife of Pro- 
fessor I.. Sheldahl, professor of history and 
languages in the [owa Synod College, at 
Waverly, [owa. They have one child. 
Guide. Emma, at the age of eighteen, 
graduated from [owa ("liege, having taken 
the cla^ical course. Matilda. Mary. Ame- 
lia, Ruth and George are attending school 
in Cullom. Mans is the youngest of the 
children. 

When compelled to relinquish his charge 
at Shan >n. [owa, Mr. Ilertlein embarked in 
the mercantile business at that place, in 
which he remained seme years. He was 



also commissioned as postmaster and served 
as such until 1883. Regaining his health, 
he notified the Evangelical Lutheran Synod 
of Iowa, with which he was connected, that 
he was again prepared to take up his life 
work, and receiving a call from the church 
at Cullom. he moved to the place and for 
six months engaged in his chosen calling. 
He soon found that it would he impossible 
to continue in that work. and. resigning, 
again entered into the mercantile business, 
carrying a general stock. Purchasing a 
lot. he erected a building and commenced 
what proved a successful mercantile career. 
In [896 he sold out his stock, having in the 
meantime, by good management and the 

exercise of g 1 business ability and 

sound judgment, acquired enough of 
this world's goods to enable him to 
live in comfort. He has now one hun- 
dred and twenty acres of land in Indiana 
and one hundred and sixty acres in Sulli- 
van township. Livingston county, together 
with some village property. In 1897 ne 
erected 011 his business block a good two- 
story brick building, well suited to the 
wants of the place, and which adds mate- 
rially to the business sectii >n 1 if the b >wn. 

When Mr. Ilertlein came to Cullom it 
had only about one hundred inhabitants, and 
to him much of the credit is. due for the 
advancement it has made in population and 
wealth. Ik- assisted in securing the tile 
factory for the place, and went into part- 
nership with F. A. Ortman in the business, 
and they together operated it for seven years 
with good success. In [898 he sold his in- 
terest to Mr. Ortman, since which time he 
has lived a quiet, retired life, giving his at- 
tention only to his farm and his vill 
property. 

In politics Mr. Ilertlein was a Democrat 



3o8 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



until [896, since which time lie has voted 
independently of party lines. For two 
terms he served as treasurer of the village, 

and \\a> elected village trustee, but after 
serving six months lie resigned, lie also 
served as a member of the school board for 
several terms, and while no the board lie 
succeeded in having consolidated districts 
X". '1 and 7. and also secured the erection 
of a tine school building, which is an honor 
to the place. The first class to he grad- 
uated from the school was in June, 1900, 
and his daughter Mary was one of the grad- 
uates. 

Mr. Hertlein was reared in the Evan- 
gelical Lutheran church and has ever heen 
an earnest advocate of its doctrines and its 
polity. Since (883 he has served as an 
elder in the church, and until recently he 
\\a> treasurer of the chinch in Collum. 
When he came t< 1 the church as its pastor 
there was a debt of thirteen hundred dol- 
lars on the building and he made it his first 
duty to clear that, which he did in a short 
time by securing subscriptions from its 
members and friends. He later 

ted in the erection of the parson- 
and since the death of its last 
minister he has had the financial man- 
agement "f it, and has placed it in good 
financial condition. Ih- has always taken 
an active interest in the Sunday-school 
work, and i~ at present superintendent of 
the school and also serves as teacher. 
Active in whatever lie undertakes, he has 
met with uniform success in all things, and 
t<' such as he the general welfare of a com- 
munity depends. All esteem him as a true 
Christian, a sful business man and a 

good citizen, one having at heart the best 
welfare of the community in which he 
lives. 



J. E. BANCS. 

Joseph Edward Bangs, a well known 
educator of this state, and the subject of 

this sketch, was horn in Bureau county, 
Illinois, and is the seventh in a family of 
eight children, live of whom are now living. 
His parents were Samuel L. Hangs and 
Margaret (I low anil Bangs. 

The father was a native of Massachu- 
setts, where his ancestor- had resided since 
[624. They were originally from England. 
Our subject's paternal grandfather served in 
the Revolutionary war and Professor Hangs 
is therefore a veritable "Son of the Revolu- 
tion." In the '50s Samuel L. Bangs came 
to Illinois and settled in Bureau county, 
hut later moved to La Salle county, which 
was his home for nearly forty years. He 
died in 1898 at the ripe age of ninety years, 
having seen Illinois transformed from a wil- 
derness to a garden. His wife, who is still 
living, was horn in England. She belongs 
to the well-known Howard family and is a 
direct descendant from the Duke of \,,r 
folk. Sin- possesses an unusually bright in- 
tellect and now. at the age of eighty-one, 
is an interesting and lovable character. 

Mr. Bangs i> essentially a self-made man. 
His boyhood was spent on the farm in La 
Salle county, where he early learned self 
sacrifice and endurance through the disci 
pline of hard work. At seven years of age 
he wa> nut to driving a team, at nine he 
drove a four-horse reaper, at fourteen he 
\va> making a "hand." regularly, binding he- 
hind a McCormick harvester. From earli- 
est boyh 1 he was a great reader and ever 

anxious to secure an education, hut. fi ir many 
years, necessity compelled him to he content 
with the schooling which the three months 
winter school afforded. By studying at 




PROF. J. E. BANGS. 




MRS. J. E. BANGS. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



3" 



night and by improving odd moments, how 
ever, he was able to keep up with his more 
fortunate companions, who could attend 
school the year around. From the age of 
sixteen he earned his own spending money, 
paid for his clothes and books, and later 
made his own way through school. 

I in leaving college, he immediatelj began 
to teach, and after several years of successful 
experience, he took the rigid four days' ex- 
amination for a state license. This he suc- 
cessfully passed and received the state's seal 
upon his ahility as an instructor in the form 
oi a state certificate, good for life. 

In the same year he tuck charge of the 
schools of Washburn, Illinois, where he es 
tablished a course of study, doubled the en- 
rollment of the high school, drawing in pu- 
pils from outside the district until one-half 
i>t the high school was composed of tuition 
pupils, who brought into the district enough 
money to pay a good teacher's salary, tie 
was especially successful in holding the boys 
i;i sch' nil and in sending Ins graduates i" 
college. Here he graduated a class com- 
posed entirely of boys, nearly all of whom 
later entered college, Hi- school became 
the inspiration of the schools of the county, 
while the results of the influences for higher 
education which he set at work aim mil; the 
people, can scarcely he estimated. 

After four year.- at Washburn, Mr. 
Bangs was called to a wider field of actum 
at Fairbury, where he remained eight years, 
a- superintendent and principal of the city 
schools, and a similar result is found. Dur- 
ing his administration, while the city in- 
creased hut a few per cent, in population, the 
average daily attendance of the high school 
increased over one hundred and fifty per 
cent. A large increase was als< ■ found 
in the amount of tuition received. At the 



close of his work his patrons declared, "lie 

left the schools "ii a practical and firm basis, 

second tn none in the state." 

In iN<;4 Fairbury reluctantly yielded Mr. 
Bangs t" Pontiac, where the building of a 
township high school had opened a larger 
field fur the exercise of his executive ahility. 
Here his practical methods, his capacity for 
iietails and his organizing talent brought the 
school verj mii m into a creditable and con- 
spicuous place among the educational insti 
tutions of Illinois. Every year has shown 
a marked increase in the power and popu- 
larity of the sch'inl.in the aim unit of the tui- 
tion received from foreign students and in the 
enrollment of boys. In 1900 there were en 
rolled une hundred and fourteen hoys and 
one hundred and four girls, and a class com 
posed of thirteen boys and six girls was grad 
uated, while over twelve hundred and fift) 
dollars tuition was collected outside of the 
thirty-six mile- of free territory. During 
the six years of Mr. Bangs' administration 
he has collected and paid into the township 
treasury between five and six thousand 
dollar- of tuition money. If the same 
average increase continues, it can be 
expected that the high school building 
will he paid for by outside tuition in a little 
over a score of years. The best test "i any 
school is found in what it- pro, hut accom- 
plishes after leaving school. Judged by this 
test, the township high school stands in the 
front rank. It- graduates are making a 
-mid record. In six years fifty graduates 
have become teacher- and a- many more 
of it- undergraduate-. A large number 
have gone to college and an unusuallv large 
number are succeeding in business 

By conscientious effort, the grade of the 
school ha- been steadily raised until the in- 
stitution i- now recognized by our leading 



3«- 



T11K I'.IOGRAPIIICAL RECORD. 



colleges ami universities and lias a place 
upi in their lists of accredited schools. It is 
doubtful it' any township high school in the 
state has made a better record in the first 
six years of its existence than the Pontiac 
high school under the direction of Mr. Bangs. 
lie has ever been found faithfully discharg- 
ing his duties in the least pretentious posi 
tions as in the mosl important ones and his 
efforts have invariably benefited the school 
permanently. It has been well said that 
"few men naturally possess the executive 
ability and talent for organization that we 
find in Mr. Bangs." This is amply proven 
by the fact that he has built up every school 
with which he has been connected. 

In addition to his work as principal and 
superintendent, during the past sixteen 
years. Mr. Hangs has spent from three to 
twelve weeks of his summer vacations, each 
year, as an institute instructor or conductor. 
so that his name is a familiar one in many 
counties of the state, and he has justly 
achieved the reputation of being a strong in- 
stitute worker. In one county he has been 
engaged twelve consecutive years. 

Few men count more friends among 
their fellow workers than docs Mr. Bangs, 
for teachers recognize in him an earnest, 
sincere, loyal, helpful co laborer — one who is 
working for the besl in education every- 
where. This was markedly shown by the 

olution o -ement for state superin- 

tendency given him by the Teachers' \ 
ciation of Livingston county, in 1898. This 
resolution was seo mded by teachers of every 
p< >htieal party and unaninn iusly adi ipted w ith 
cordial enthusiasm. Mr. Bangs is an ardent 
Republican, and ever has been, hut he never 
lets party come before principle and whi 
he is known he commands the respecl of all 
par) 



I le was for several years president of the 
Livingston County Teachers' Association; 

has served in an active manner on various 
committees in the state associations: was 
vice-president of the Northern Illinois 
Teachers' Association in 1896, and is now — 
1900 — cue of the vice presidents of the Illi- 
nois State Teachers' Association. 

In 1898 Mr. Hangs was urged by his 
friends to become a candidate for nomina- 
tion for state superintendent of public in- 
struction. Being engaged in teaching, he 
made no canvass, but the race he made was 
declared by old politicians to have been most 
creditable. Starting with but twenty-seven 
pledged votes, by the time the first ballot was 
taken he had three hundred and sixty-live 
recorded for him. A prominent paper in 
speaking of the convention, said: "No can- 
didate ever overcame odds more rapidly or 
made friends faster than did Mr. Bangs. 
His headquarters were always crowded. 
Had he started on equal terms with the SUC- 
cessful candidate there is little doubt hut that 
he would have been nominated." 

Mr. Bangs is deeplv interested in all the 
great moral, social and economic questii 
of tlie day and is ever ready to help 111 any 
good cause. He has been a teacher in Sab- 
bath school nearly all his mature life, was 
for some seven years superintendent of one. 
and is a regular attendant on divine service. 
I le is a stockholder and director in the Pon- 
tiac Summer Chautauqua and has interests 
in other public enterprises. 

The principal fraternal societies claim him 
as an active member, lie belongs I ■ the 
Woodmen, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, 
the various orders of Masonry and has 
passed through the "chairs" and been pre- 
siding 1 (fficer in the maj< irity of them. 1 le is 
pasl commander of St. Paul commandery, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



3i3 



Knights Templar. ,1 member of the grand 
commandery of Illinois and of the Past 
commanders' Association of Chicago. lie 
was active in working Up the uniform rank, 
K. P., in the county and was successively 
elected first lieutenant, then captain of divis- 
ion No. 63, and later, in t893, ne was unani- 
mously elected lieutenant colonel of the 
Third Regiment, Uniform Rank. K. P., 
which is composed of companies located at 
Joliet, Seneca. Lemont, Ottawa, Kankakee. 
Mazon, Streator, Pontiac, Peoria, Fairbury. 
In [897 he was re-elected to this office and 
has been For nearly eighl years a field officer 
of the Illinois brigade. In each of these po 
sitions he has served h s 1 rethren well and 
faithfully, and they, in turn, have shown 
their appreciation on various occasions, b) 
testimonials of esteem and confidence. 

Mr. Bangs is a member of the Marquette 
Club and also of the Hamilton Club, both 
of Chicago, and takes an active part in ad- 
vancing their interests. Without exception. 
those who know Mr. Bangs best have always 
said. "1 Ie is the right man in the right place," 
and if his friends were to name his leading 
characteristics they would say. "Executive 
ability, industry, kindness, honesty and strict 
integrity." Some one has said of him. 
"Having successfully fought his own way 
through the difficulties which beset the poor 
boy's path, he is eminently tilted to sympa 
thize with others similarly situated and to 
guide them to a like profitable course of 
action." As Mr. Bangs is yet in the prime 
of life we may expect still greater Sen 
the years to come. 

Mr. Bangs was married August 1. [894, 
to Margaret R. Maloney, daughter of Dr. 
X. Y. ami Anna iKrater) Maloney, of 
Washburn, Woodford county. Illinois, of 
which her father was one of the pioneers 



ami prominent physicians. Moth parents are 
now dead, the father dying in [892 and the 
mother in [898. Mrs. Bangs is a graduate 
of Monticello Seminary and was valedic- 
t nan of her class. She was a remarkably 
successful teacher, her work being in the 
grammar school at Washburn, as superin- 
tendent 1 if schools at Rutland, La Salle coun- 
ty, for seven years, as principal of the Fair 
bury high school, with Mr. Bangs as superin 
tendent, and also in the Pontiac township 
high school. 

Mrs. Bangs was also a successful insti- 
tute instructor, and was at one time the Re- 
publican candidate for county superintendent 
of schools in Woodford county. Her popu 
larity as a teacher was great and man) 
a boy and girl marks a mile stone in true 
progress from the time the) came under her 
influence. Some one has said. "She thinks 
of every one else first, herself last, or not 
at all." She is a member of the Presby- 
terian church, a teacher in the Sabbath 
school, an officer in the county Sunday 
school organization, secretary of the Ass,, 
ated Charities and an active sympathizer 
with the unfortunate everywhere. She is a 
woman of excellent literary attainments, is 
a ready writer, an able critic, has occasio 
ally contributed to leading periodicals and 
has assisted in the preparation oi several 
text In 11 iks. 



JOSEPH BROWN. 

Joseph Brown, a prominent farmer, who 
owns and operates one hundred and sixty 
acres of valuable land on section 10. Pleas- 
ant Ridge township. Livingston county, II 
linois, was born in Camillus, Onom 



314 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



county, New York, September 7. 1840. 
His lather. John Brown, was born in Edin- 
burg, Scotland, January 2, 1810. and when 
twenty years of age crossed the broad At- 
lantic and settled in ( )nondago county. New 
York, where he worked on a farm for a 
time. There he married Rebecca Conklin, 
a native of Fulton county. Xew York, 
and they continued to make their home 
in Onondago count) until 1856, when 
they came to Peoria. Illinois, where 
the father engaged in farming until 
the spring of 1868. On our sub- 
ject purchasing a tract of wild prairie 
land in Eppards Point township, Liv- 
ingston count}-, he came with him and 
made his home there with our subject 
in Pleasant Ridge township until his death, 
which occurred November 27. 1897. The 
mother, who was a consistent member of 
the .Methodist Episcopal church, died in 
[852. 

The greater part of the early education 
of our subject was obtained in the schools 
of New York, though for a short time he 
attended school in Peoria. In early life he 
worked by the month as a farm hand for 
mx years. On the 2d of August. iS'>_>, he 
joined the boys in blue as a member of 
Company II. One Hundred and Twenty- 
second Xew York Volunteer Infantry, and 
went first to Washington. D. C. He par- 
ticipated in tile battles of Antietam. the 
Wilderness, Spottsylvania, (old Harbor. 
Gettysburg, Mine Run, and the engage- 
ments in the Shenandoah valley, being with 
Sheridan at Winchester. Strasburg and 
Fisher's Hill. They then joined Grant's 
army at Deep Bottom, and from that time 
until the close of the war were near the 
Potomac. Mr. Brown was in the front line 
of battle when Lee surrendered and par- 



ticipated in the grand review at Washing- 
ton, being mustered out July 2, 1805. 

Returning to Peoria, he worked in the 
coal mines there for two years, and then 
purchased a farm of eighty acres in Ep- 
pards Point township. Livingston county, 
upon which he made all of the improve- 
ments, but in [883 he traded that property 
for his present farm of one hundred and 
sixty acres in Pleasant Ridge township, 
which at that time was only partially im- 
proved. He has since thoroughly tiled the 
place, using from twenty-five to thirty thou- 
sand tiles, has planted an orchard and erected 
a good residence and barn, so that he now 
has one of the most desirable farms of its 
size in the township. Every foot of space 
is now available for cultivation. Besides 
this valuable farm Mr. Brown owns another 
one hundred and sixty-acre tract in Ford 
county, all of which has been acquired 
through his own well-directed and ener- 
getic efforts since 1865. 

On the 24th of October. [865, Mr. 
Brown married Miss Emily L. Archdale. 
of Peoria. Her parents, William and Sarah 
(Lacey) Archdale. who were born, reared 
and married in Yorkshire, England, came 
to the United Slates m [837, being among 
the pioneers of Peoria. The father died 
there August 15. 1N70. the mother Novem- 
ber 1. [872. To Mr. and Mrs. lb-own were 
born eight children, namely: William I... 
born December 6, [866, is a resident of 
Ford county, and has tilled the office of 
school director. Alice M.. born October 
29, [869, is ow the wife of Edison Howe, 
of Windom, Minnesota, and they have three 
children: Joseph, born February [6, [894; 
Francis, born June jj. [898; and Harry, 
born December 7. iKgg. Charles R.. born 
November 24. 1X72, lives in Ford county. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



3i5 



Ik- married Nellie Day and has two chil- 
dren: Emily P., born November 5, 1897; 
and ora, born September 20, 1899. Jo- 
seph, born March 26, 1S7N. is living at home 
and serving as school director. Edwin, 
born February <>. [881, and Florence, born 
Ma\ i<). 1883, are both at home. 

Mr. Brown is a member of Fairbury 
Post, No. 75. ( i. A. R., and attends and 
supports the Methodist Episcopal church. 
In his political views he- is a Republican, and 
has filled the offices of road commissioner 
and school director, serving in the latter 
position ten or fifteen years and always tak- 
ing a deep and commendable interest in edu- 
cational affairs. In all the relations of life- 
he has been f( mnd true t< 1 e\ erv trust rep ised 
in him. and has manifested his loyalty and 
patriotism in days of peace as well a- in 

time of war. 



C< INRAD TRECKER. 

Among the representative business men 
of Livingston county none are more de- 
serving of representation in this volume 
than Conrad Trecker, the well-known tile 
manufacturer of Udell, who. through his 
own well directed efforts, has gained a 
comfortable competence that numbers him 
among the substantial men of his commu- 
nity. He was h"rn in Prussia, Germany, 
October 2, [850, a son of Theodore and 
Elizabeth 1 Franken) Trecker. natives of the 
same place where the father followed the 
carpenter's trade, which he had learned when 
a young man. In 1852 he brought ?iis 
family to America and first located in I'.-ru, 
Illinois, where he lived four years, later 
making his home in Mendota, and following 



his trade in each place. In [868 he pur- 
chased one hundred ami sixty acre- of land 
in Union township, Livingston county, 
which he developed from raw land into a 

g I farm and which he successfullj oper 

ated until his death, dying in [886, at the age 
of sixty-three years, lie was a self-made 
man. having no capital when he came to this 
country. In politics he was a Democrat, and 
in religious views both he and his wife were 
Catholics. She died in [897, at the age 
of sixty-nine years, and the property in 
Union township was then divided among 
the children. The family consisted of the 
following named: William, a shoemaker of 
Cabrey, Illinois, died in [884; Conrad is next 
in order of birth; Peter, a farmer, died in 
Union township in 1NN1 ; Joseph is engaged 
in farming in that township, and owns a 
half interest in the tile works of which our 
subject has charge; Katrina i> the wife of 
Charles Sieberg, of .Milwaukee. Wisconsin: 
Elizabeth is the wife of John Cheslie, of the 
same city: Ellen died at the home of her 
sister in Kankakee, in 1NN7; Christina is 
the wife of Peter kcttwich. of Peru, Illi- 
nois; and Theodore is the owner of a ma- 
chine shop in Milwaukee, having learned 
the trade when young. 

Conrad Trecker received only a limited 
common-school education, anil during his 
boyhood he worked at farming and at the 
carpenter's trade with his father. After the 
latter purchased a farm our Subject devoted 
his entire time and attention to its cultiva- 
tion until twenty-two years of age, and then 
commenced operating rented land on bl- 
own account. lie was married, in 1875, to 
Miss Nettie Meyer, who was born ni 
Sandwich. Illinois. September jo. 1855. 
Her parents, Henry and Elizabeth Meyer, 
natives of Germany, moved to Livingston 



3>6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



•county when she was but a small child. She 
was the eldest of their eight children, the 
others being' William and Herman, both 
farmers of Union township. Livingston 
county; Albert, of Odell township; Adeline, 
wife of (ieorge Miley, of Odell; Martha, 
wife of William Bowers, of Odell; Norman, 
who died at the home of his father in Iowa, 
in 1898; and Frank, a resident of Sunbury 
township. Livingston county. The mother 
is deceased, but the father is still living and 
makes his home in Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Trecker have been born the following chil- 
dren : Theodore, who assists his father in 
his business; Elizabeth, who died in infancy ; 
Katie and Nettie, both at home ; Joseph, 
who died April 30, 1900; Addie, at home; 
Henry, who died in infancy; Annie, Mary 
and Conrad William, all at home. The 
children have had the advantages of a high- 
sch< 10] education. 

After his marriage Mr. Trecker con- 
tinued farming and also managed and owned 
a corn sheller and threshing outfit. He 
commenced handling machinery at the age 
0J eighteen years, and met with excellent 
success in that branch of his business, doing 
more work along that line than any other 
man in the community. He still owns an 
interest in an outfit, but does not personally 
attend to the business. In 1881 he pur- 
chased eight}' acres of land in Union town- 
ship, which he sold two years later on his 
removal to Odell, and bought a half interesl 
in the old brick and tile yard, then operal :d 
by horse power. New buildings were 
erected, -team power put in, as well as pat- 
ent kilns, and the manufacture of tile was 
carried on on an extensive scale for five 
years. During the following two \, 
Mr. Trecker engaged in the hardware and 
implement business, and at the end of four 



years he and his brother Joseph purchased 
the tile factor}', which he now conducts in 
a most profitable and satisfactory manner, 
doing' a business which has amounted to as 
much as twenty thousand dollars per year. 
In the meantime he added to his land posses- 
sions until he now owns two hundred and 
eighty acres of land, all under cultivation, 
and now divides his attention between tile 
manufacturing and farming. When he 
started out in life for himself he 
had no capital, but being a good man- 
ager, he has met with excellent suc- 
cess in his labors, and he is today 
one of the substantial citizens of his com- 
munity. For the past three years he has 
given considerable attention to the raising 
of brown Swiss cattle for dairy and beef 
purposes, owning some of the first brought 
to this part of the country. They were pur- 
chased by him at Roberts, Illinois, being 
imported stock from Switzerland. Mr. 
Trecker is a Democrat in politics, but has 
never found time to accept or hold any 
office. He and his family are members of 
the Catholic church of ( >dell. and he is also 
connected with the Mutual Aid Insurance 
c !ompany. 



HERMAN E, SIEGERT. 

No better illustration of the character- 
istic energy and enterprise of the 1 
German-American citizen can he found than 
that afforded by the career of this gentle- 
man, the well known proprietor of the eke 
trie light plant of Dwight, Illinois. Com- 
ing to this country with little capital except 
his abilities, he has made his wav to success 
through wisely-directed effort and he can 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



3i7 



now look hack with satisfaction upon past 
struggles. 

Mr. Siegert was bom Maj 26, 1830, in 
Neudam, Badenburg, Germany, in which 
country his parent.-. Gotlieb and Sophia 
(Siegert) Siegert, spent their entire lives. 
Ill- Father was a paper manufacturer oi 
Neudam b) Custrin, where lie was born, and 
he inherited the factory from the grand- 
father of our subject. J le did quite an im- 
portant business, which lie continued up to 
the tune of his death. lie died in [836, 
at the aye of forty-five years, and his wile 
departed this life in 1861, at the age of 
about sixty-one. There were two other 
children in their family, namely: Amelia, 
who married and died 111 Germany; and 
Hannah, who is the wife of Frederick Mil 
ler. a printer of that country, near the old 
hi line. 

Herman E. Siegert, the only son, re- 
mained with his mother until twenty-two 
years of aye. At the aye of sixteen he com- 
menced learning the miller'.- trade at Quart- 
shan, where he -pent four year.-, and then 
worked a- a journeyman miller and mill- 
wright in various place- for seven years. 
Jn June, 1857, he sailed from Bremen on 
the Asia, a sailing vessel, which, after a 
voyage of seven week-, landed him in New 
¥ork. lie proceeded at once to Cllii 
and fnun there to Somonauk, Illinois, where 
he was engaged in erecting a -team gristmill 
for a Air. Bliss, and remained in that town 
for two years, working at the carpenter's 
trade. From there he went to .Morns, llli- 
where he engaged in building a mill 
and operating it for five years. 

While there Mr. Siegert was married, 
in October, [863, to Mi-- Magdalene Born 
man. a native of Hohenvard, Saxon W'imer, 
Eisenher, the place where Martin Luther 



was imprisoned. She came to America 
with her cousin ami lived with relatives 111 
Morris. Illinois, until her marriage. By 
tin- union were horn seven children, of 
whom live live. nanicK : Sophia, who was 
horn in [864, and r- now the wife of Leon- 
ard (i. llahn. a grain dealer of Dwight; 
George, who was horn in 1805, and is now 
a residenl of Los Angeles, California: John 
C, horn in [868, and Henry E., horn in 
[870, who now have charge of their father's 
business; and Herman C, horn in 1872, a 
minister of the Lutheran church at Pipe 
Stone, Minnesota; Anna ami Mary, twin.-, 
horn in July, 1869, died at the age of about 
six months. 

()n leaving Morris, Mr. Siegert moved 
i' ( hannahon, Will county, Illinois, where 
he leased a gristmill and successfull) oper- 
ated it for two years and a half. ( )n the 1st 
of April, [867, he came to Dwight, and in 
company with Michael llahn bought the 
old stone mill at that place, where he ear- 
ned i'ii business 111 partnership for ten years, 
at the end of which tune Mr. Siegert pur- 
chased his partner's interest and operated 
it alone until 1891, when he put in an elec- 
tric light plant, the first in Dwight. As the 
latter business increased in importance and 
the demand for more light, he gave up mill- 
ing at the end of three years and converted 
the old stone mill into his present electric 
light plant. Iln- i- supplied with a I or- 
liss engine of one hundred and seventy-five 
horse-power, three dynamos, one for arc 
and two for incandescent light 1 -, there being 
thirty are lights used in the town and 
twelve hundred incandescent light-. His 
-on-. John C. and Henry E., now attend to 
the active business. 

Mr. Sieger! ha- a comfortable home in 
Dwight, erected by him in 1N71. In poli- 



3i8 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tics lie is independent, and in his social re- 
lations is connected with the Independent 
Order of Mutual Aid. He and his family 
hold membership in the Lutheran church, 
and lie has ever taken an active part in its 
work, serving as an officer of the church 
for many years. For the success that he 
has achieved he deserves great credit, it 
being due entirely to his own industry, per- 
severance and g 1 management, and he has 

not only won a comfortable competence, but 
has secured the high regard of all with whom 
he has come in contact by his upright, hon- 
orable life. He spent the spring of 1900 
in visiting old friends and the familiar 
scenes of his boyhood home in Germany. 



ENNO FLESSNER. 

Enno Flessner, who is engaged in the 
general mercantile business in the village of 
Cullom, Livingston county, has been a resi- 
dent of the county .since 1888. He was born 
in Ostfriesland, province of Hanover, Ger- 
many. February 15, 1850. and is a son of 
Joannes and Alniuth Flessner. both of whom 
were horn in the same province and there 
spent their entire lives. They were the par- 
ents of five children, of whom one died in 
childhood. Helena is the wife of Jerre 
Gulmers, and they live in Charlotte town- 
ship. Livingston county, where he is en- 
gaged in fanning. Gretchen died in the old 
country. Enno is the subject of this sketch. 
Herman died in Germany. The father was 
reared to the mercantile business, which he 
followed during life and in which he met 
with gratifying success. He was also the 
owner of a farm, which was operated by 
hired help, he devoting his time to his mer- 
cantile business. 



The subject of this sketch was reared in 
his native country and received a good high- 
school education. At a very early age he 
entered his father's store, and when not in 
school was generally assisting in the store. 
\t tlie age of twenty he went into the 
army and served three years with his regi- 
ment in Berlin. Returning home at the 
expiration of his term of service, he there 
remained until 1883. when he resolved 011 
emigrating to the new world. 

Leaving his native land. Mr. Flessner 
crossed the ocean and came direct to Liv- 
igston county. Illinois, to first \isit a sister. 
He remained here for two years, and then 
went to Iroquois county. Illinois, where he 
engaged in farming for two years. While 
residing in that county, in [886, he was 
united in marriage to Miss Sarah Kicken. 
a native of Illinois, horn in [865, of Ger- 
man parents. Six children have come to 
hless their union: — John. George, Alma. 
Fred, Charles and Marie. '1 he four first 
named are attending the public schools of 
Cullom. 

After his marriage. Mr. Flessner con- 
tinued on the farm in Iroquois county 
until [887, when he returned to Livingston 
county and located in the village of C'har- 
lotte, where he formed a partnership with 
Mr. Bruns erected a store building and put 
in a general stuck of merchandise. The 
business was conducted one year by the linn 
with good success, when Mr. Flessner sM 
out to his partner, and in [888 moved to 
Cullom. where he rented a building and put 
in a small stock of goods. As the volume 
of his trade increased he enlarged his stock, 
and now carries a very complete line of 
dry-goods, groceries, ladies' and gents' fur- 
nishing g Is. queensware, and in fact 

everything contained in a general store 



THE BIOGRAHIICAL RECORD. 



3'9 



suited to the wants of the community, lie 
has met with gratifying success and has a 
trade of winch the more pretentious mer- 
chants of a larger town might well l>e 
proud. He owns a neat, modern residence, 
which he has lately erected, and is ackn 
edged as one of the leading and successful 
business men of the place, one worthy of 
the confidence and respect in which he is 
held. 

In politics Mr. Flessner is a Republican. 
] le has been a member of the n >w n In iard fi ir 
several terms, and as a member of Lhe bo trd 
has taken advanced views in everything 
where the best interests of the people were 
at stake, lie was on the committee on per- 
manent sidewalks and advocated the policy 
of having the best suitable for the place. 
In the spring of [900 he was elected. ;. mem- 
ber of the school hoard, lie is a member 
of the Evangelical Lutheran church of Cul- 
lom, and has been one of its trustees, and 
13 now serving as treasurer of the church. 
Interested in the work of the church, he has 
always contributed generously of his means 
for its support. 



JOEl. WALLACE WHITMIRE, M. D. 

Joel Wallace Whitmire, M. D.. of Forrest, 
Illinois, is one of the leading physicians of 
Livingston county and surgeon for both the 
Wabash and Toledo, Peoria and Warsaw- 
Railroads, lie was horn in Metamora, 
Woodford count}-. October -'5, 1851, and 
is a son of Dr. James S. and Sidney (Rob- 
ins, ,111 Whitmire. The father was horn in 
Virginia, in [821, and in childhood removed 
to Ohio with his parents. The grandfa- 
ther Whitmire was a tanner and currier by 

17 



trade, and on his removal from Sidney, 
< Hii, 1. to Virginia, ( ass county, Illinois, took 
with him a stock of leather, which he con- 
verted into hoots and shoes for the early 
settlers. As a minister of the New Light 
church, he also preached at that place for 
some time. Later he became identified 
with the Christian church, and always took 
an active part in church work. I lis last 
days were spent in Johnson count}-. Texas. 
( >ur subject's father. Dr. James S. Whit- 
mire. began the study of medicine with Dr. 
Kyle, of Macomb, Illinois, and later was 
graduated at the old Illinois Medical Col- 
lege, in Jacksonville. In 1X4(1 he settled at 
Metamora. Illinois, where he engaged in 
practice until 1851, when he took his degree 
at Rush Medical College, Chicago. lie 
returned to practice in Metamora, anil later 
took a third course at Jefferson Medical ( !ol 
lege, Philadelphia. During the C i\il war 
he served as assistant surgeon with the Sixth 
Illinois Regiment of cavalry one year, and 
was then transferred to the Fifty-sixth Illi- 
nois Infantry as surgei mof ( rreene B. Raum's 
regiment, with which he remained until after 
the battle of Vicksburg, when he took charge 
of his brother's private practice, allowing 
the latter to go to Springfield and serve as 
examining surgeon. He was one of the 
most prominent physicians and surgeons of 
his section of the state, and was also a prom- 
inent charter member of the Woodford 
County Medical Society and the North Cen- 
tral Medical Society. The State Medical 
Society had only been organized a short 
time when he joined it. and he has served as 
its vice president a number of times, and 
was president for the first two, and an ex- 
tensive writer for medical journals through- 
out life. Socially he was a member of the 
Grand Army of the- Republic and the Ma- 



* 



320 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



sonic order. He died in Jul}. [897. 
()n the 41I1 of July, 1846, he married Miss 
Sidney Robinson, a native of Morgan coun- 
ty, Illinois, and a daughter of Joel Robin- 
son, an earl) settler of that comity, for 
merl) of < >hio, where the families had been 
intimate. Hie Robinsons were also from 
\ irginia. At his death the father of our 
subjeel had three living children. 

Dr. Joel VV. Whitmire acquired his early 
education in the schools of Metamora and 
later attended the Soldiers' College at Ful- 
ton, Illinois and then Eureka College for 
two years, finishing the junior year. He 
commenced the Study of medicine with his 
father, .and took his first course of lectures 
at Rush Medical College, Chicago, in the 
winter of [874-5, graduating from that 
noted institution in the spring of 1S77. It 
is a peculiar fact that the father had two 
brothers who read with him and graduated 
from the same school, and also three sons 
and one nephew. 'Die other sons were Dr. 
Clarence I... wl engaged in practice 

at Sublette, Illinois, and later at VVaverly, 
Iowa, where he died; and Dr. Zach- 
ariah Lincoln, of L'rbana, Illinois, who died 
in 1899. After his graduation our subject 
was engaged in practice with his father for 
eight years, and then came to Forrest, where 
he ha- wed his chosen pro- 

fession for fifteen years, being acknowl- 
edged one of the best and most skillful phy- 

ni- and surgeons in the eastern part of 
the county. For some years he has been 
surgeon for the Wabash ami Toledo, 
Peoria and Warsaw Railroads, and his duties 
were quite arduous when their shops were 
located in Forrest. He is also a member of 
the examining hoard for pensions, of which 
he is treasurer; has been a member of the 
board of health some year-, and was the 



lir-t to inaugurate the strict quarantine of 
certain contagious diseases. He 1- exam- 
iner for all the old-line life insurance com- 
panies doing business in Forrest, and for 
a time was engaged in the drug business at 
that place. Fraternally he is an honored 
member of the Woodford County, the 
Xorth Central and the State .Medical So 
cieties. 

In September, 1877, Dr. Whitmire mar- 
ried Mi-- I. aura Northcott, of Christian 
county, a relative of Lieutenant-Governor 
Northcott, and to them have been horn two 
children. Mary Maude June and Sidney. 
The family have a beautiful home in the 
we-t part of town, and attend the Christian 
church, of which Mrs. Whitmire is a mem- 
ber. The Doctor affiliates with the Ma- 
lic fraternity, the Knight- of Pythias and 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, lie 
joined the last named fraternity at Mata- 
mora and was past grand there. In politics 
he is an ardent Republican, and has fre- 
quently been a delegate to different con- 
ventions of his party, including the state 
conventions, and has served as a member 
of the township board. 



HON. MICHAEL CLEARY. 

Hon. Michael Cleary, who is represent- 
in the twentieth district as a member of the 
General Assembly of Illinois, and who for 
than a quarter of a century has repre- 
sented his township as a member of the coun- 
ty hoard of supervisors of Livingston coun- 
ty, was horn in Clonmell, count) Tipperary, 
Ireland. February 9, [840, and is a son of 
Philip and Mary 1 llcffcrman i Cleary. the 
mother being a cousin of Colonel llet'ter- 
imii. of Bloomington, who served on the 
staff of ( Jovernor Altgeld. 



THE r.hx.RAPHICAL RECORD. 



321 



Philip Cleary was a farmer in county 
Tipperary, Ireland; on a plaGe which had 
been the home of the family for many gen- 
erations. Hearing so much of the great 
United States, and with that laudable desire 
ti 1 better pn >\ ide for his family, he emigrated 
with them t< 1 this c< luntry in 1 8 \> >, landing at 
Philadelphia on the 25th of .May. our sub- 
ject being then but a few months old. From 
Philadelphia he went direct to Youngstown, 
Ohio, where he found employment, with 
others, in digging the Hocking Valley canal. 
He remained at Youngstown one year and 
then came to Illinois, locating at Spring 
Creek, now Spring Valley, Bureau county, 
where he engaged in farming. In 1845 ne 
moved to Grundy county, Illinois, and was 
working on the Illinois canal when it was 
opened up the second time. He continued 
to work on the canal until its completion, 
in 1N4N. when he located m-ar Ottawa, La 
Salle county, and again resumed farming. 

While residing in Bureau county Philip 
Clareyhauled his grain to Chicago with oxen. 
There were there no bridges and all the 
streams had to be forded. The grain was 
development of the home farm and in due 
the wagon the more easily and carried across 
the sloughs when the oxen stuck in the mud. 

'thing for tin- famil) was all home-made, 
and all were thankful for what they could 
get. The family were among thi ith- 

olics t" locate in Bureau county, and they 
had to go i' 1 1 'eru to attend religii ius services. 
While residing in Ottawa, in iNOr. | 
mother died, and in 1868 the father came 
i" Livingston county and made his home 
with our subject until his death, in 1884. 
1 le was a firm believer in the Catholic relig- 
ion and gave liberally for the support of the 
Catholic church. 

When the family moved to Ottawa our 



subject was about eight years old. From 
that nine on he was of assistance in the 
time was thoroughly conversant with the 
details of farm work. He was educated in 
the schools of Ottawa, but the broad gen- 
eral information which he now possesses was 
principally obtained in the school of ex- 
perience. Like a dutiful son, he remained 
at home and assisted his parents until he 
was twenty-one years old, when he began 
life for himself, and that his life has been 
successful one is fully attested by the 
reci ird here given. 

1 In the 14th of August, [865, Mr. Cleary 
was united in marriage with Miss Ellen 
Burke, of Sandwich, [llinois, but a native 
of county Tipperary, Ireland, and daughter 
of Jeffrey Burke, who was also bom in coun- 
ty Tipperary. By this union ten children 
were horn, all of whom are yet living. Will- 
iam P. i- now a druggisl in Odell, Illinois, 
lion. John M. graduated from the law 1 
partment of the Wesleyan University, of 
Bloomington, with the degree of LI.. B. 
lie is now one of the leading attorneys of 
Kansas City. Missouri, and 1- a member of 
the legislature of that state. Katherine, 
Alice. Ellen and Lillie are each graduates of 
the best convent schools of the country. 
Irani.:. Allien. Joseph and Leo are engag 
in farming. All of them have had g 1 ed- 
ucational and other advantages. 

Immediately after his marriage Mr. 
Cleary rented a farm near Ottawa, Illinois, 
and engaged in general farming and stock 
raising. With limited capital, hut with un- 
bounded courage and steadfast determina- 
tion, he began farming, and in three years 
he accumulated means sufficient to purchase 
a farm for himself. In [868 he came to 
Livingston county and purchased the south 
half of section 1. Odell township, and at 



322 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



once began its improvement. The Ian;! was 
in its virgin state and the first thing neces- 
sary was the erection of a house for his fam- 
ily. This done, he set out a hedge fence, 
broke the ground and cammenced tilling the 
soil. That first three hundred and twenty 
acres he yet owns, hut he has added to his' 
possessions until he has thirteen hundred 
acres in the vicinity, all of which it under 
the highest state of cultivation. Being a 
broad guaged man he has ever heen willing 
to learn and t<> adopt any theory or sugges- 
tion that seemed best, ami which would in- 
crease the value of his farm and possessions. 
He constructed the first ditches for drain- 
ing in his vicinity, and also laid the first 
tile, hauling the same a distance of fifteen 
miles. In [879 he moved "out of the old 
house into the new." At that time he built 
and now occupies one of the hnest houses in 
Livingston county, and which, when erected, 
was far superior to any. The large elegant 
parlors, with their furnishings, would grace 
a modern city home. 

Mr. Cleary has also one of the finest 
barns in the state, which was erected about 
the same time that his house was built. It 
is occupied by grain bins and by his horses. 
being used for cattle, while the second story 
is occupied 1>\ grain bins and by his horses, 
and the third floor for agricultural imple- 
ments and hay. lie has bins for six thou- 
sand bushels of oats, and from the bins. 
by means of sp, ,uts. the grain is carried 
to the basement. He has also large cribs for 
corn, of which a great quantity is always 
kept on hand for feeding purposes. 

While carrying on general farming Mr. 

ry has heen especially interested in the 
importation and breeding of the besl grades 
of cattle and hogs. 1 le had the first Poland 
China hogs in the county, and did much to 



secure the general introduction of this breed, 
to the great benefit of all farmers. He al- 
ways has upon his place a large number of 
short-horned cattle, which he feeds and pre- 
pares for the market. He has been one of 
the most successful farmers in the county, 
being thoroughly progressive in all things. 
While others complained of the times and 
of Providence, he worked, and the result 
is plainly to he seen. In addition to his Liv- 
ingston county property he owns a half- 
section of well improved land in Iowa, and 
a full section in South Dakota. 

In politics Mr. Cleary has always been 
a Democrat and since he attained his ma- 
jority he has always taken an active interest 
in political affairs. He has never been able 
to see the necessity of leaving political af- 
fairs to the professional men and to the ward 
politician, hut believes that every man should 
take such interest in public matters as will 
elevate politics and make better citizens. 
Since coming to Livingston county he has 
had large influence in moulding public opin- 
ion and in the dissemination of Democratic 
principles. He has served on the county cen- 
tral committee of his party and has repeat- 
edly been a delegate to its state conventions. 
In [892 he was one of the Cleveland electors 
and had the honor of being a member of the 
electoral college that elected a president, an 
In 'in r that D Hues fi 1 but few. 

Although in a Republican township Mr. 
Cleary. in 1S74. was elected to represent it 
as a member of the board of supervisors, 
and front that time to the present has been 

continuously re-elected, and is now the old- 
est member of the board in point of service. 
His influence on the board has always heen 
felt and for many years he served as its 

president. When not chairman of the gen- 
eral board he has usually served as chairman 



Till; Pl< HiRAPHICAP RECORD. 



323 



of some of its most important committees. 
During his first year the erection of the pres- 
ent court house of the county was com- 
menced, the old building having been de- 
stroyed by tire July 4, 1874. He lias been 
chairman of the county farm committee, and 
of the public property committee, and in 
every position he has acted for the best good 
of the public. Under the sew revenue law 
iting a 1m. aid of public review, he was 
chairman of that board in [899. 

In [882 Mr. Cleary was elected a mem- 
ber of the legislature and was re-elected in 
1884 and in [886. During- his first term 
he introduced into the house the present 
farm drainage law, which was supported in 
the senate by Hon. George Torrance. In 
1SS5 he secured the passage in the house of 
a bill to regulate charges in the stock yards, 
which was known as the stock yards bill, 
but it was defeated in the senate, for the 
reason that that body seemed more friendly 
to corporations. In 1SN7 | lc secured the pas 
sage of the game bill for the protection of 
wild fowl, which bill passed the senate and 
became a law. After an interval of ten 
years Mr. ( leary was again nominated by his 
party and was elected to the legislature. In 
the session of [898-99 he introduced a bill 
into the house limiting the rate of interest 
in the state to the per cent. The monied in- 
terests were ton strong for him and the bill 
failed of passage. It will be seen, however, 
that when a member of the General Assem- 
bly Mr. Cleary Was an active one. and all 
hi- acts were in the interest of the people. 
1 li- principal work has been in the committee 
room, but whether in committee or on the 
floor of the hou-e he has always exerted 
a commanding influence. 

Realizing the benefits of a good educa- 
t 11 Mr. Cleary has alwavs been a friend 



of the public schools, and for many years 
served as a member of the school board, 
and it is safe to say that his influence was 
alwavs for the general good and tor im- 
proved methods. While Catholic in re- 
ligion, he is liberal in his views, and is will- 
ing to grant to others the same liberty he 
asks fur himself in religious affairs, and he 
numbers among his strongest friends those 
of the Protestant religion. For the erection 
of churches he has ever been a liberal con- 
tributor, it mattered not what the denomina- 
tion represented. He is a member of St. 
Paul's Catholic church of Odell, and was 
the treasurer of the committee of live who 
built ami paid for the church before even a 
priest had located there. lie was one of 
the first members of the Catholic church in 
his vicinity. His wife and family are also 
members of the same church. 

For nearly a third of a centurv Mr. 
Cleary has been a citizen of Livingston 
county, and no man within its borders is 
better known, or who has more earnest, 
steadfast friends. With few advantages in 
his youth, and starting in life for himself 
with very limited means, he has labored 
early and late, in sunshine and in shade, 
until tO-day he is numbered among the most 
prosperous residents of the county, sur- 
rounded by all the comforts and many of the 
luxuries of life, and more than all. by a 
contented and happy family, a loving wife, 
who has been a helpmeet indeed to him. and 
children helpful to him as age creeps 011. 
In the years that have pasesd he has not 
selfishly given his entire time and best ener- 
gies to the material welfare of himself and 
family, but has given much time and his 
best thoughts to the general good of the 
community in which he has lived. As a 
member of the county board of supervis 



3-M 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and legislative halls, he has made his mark, 
and the confidence and respect in which he 
is held by those who know him best is at- 
tested by Ins continual re-election to office. 
A thorough, progressive and energetic 
farmer, a wise legislator, a good, substan- 
tial citizen and a faithful friend, such, in- 
deed, i- Hon. Michael Cleary, of Living- 
ston o ninty. 



\ \k< IN JAMES BENNETT. 

Aaron James Bennett, a representative 
farmer of Avoca township, Livingston coun- 
ty, was born in the house now occupied by 
him, February 28, [865, and is a son of 
John and Rachel (Shaw) Bennett, both of 
whom were born in (ape .May. New Jersey, 
and in early life moved with their respective 
parents to Ohio, but after spending one 
winter in that state the families went to 
Indiana, settling near Rossville. It was 
there that the parents of our subject were 
united in marriage, and there the father be- 
gan a successful career as a farmer and also 
did teaming from Chicago to Lafayette. In- 
diana. In [852 he came to Livingston 
county, Illinois, and rented land in Avoca 
township Eor three years. lie then pur- 
chased one hundred and twenty acres oi 
gi 1' ernmenl land, w hich is ni >u a part of the 
old homestead farm. By hard work and 
untiring perseverance he converted this wild 
tract into a tine farm, adding to its value 
lie erecting modern buildings, fencing, til- 
ing and otherwise improving the same. He 
also purchased other land until he now owns 
a half-section, which has nearly all been 
improved by himself or under his direction. 
In 1.S88 he purchased a comfortable home 



in Fairbury, where he now resides, and 
where his wife died in 1890. In politics 
he is a stanch Republican, and being a well- 

cated and popular man. has been elected 
t 1 numerous offices in his township, serving 
as collector some time, supervisor six years, 
and trustee of the school district a number 1 if 
years. 

The subject of this sketch is the seventh 
in order of birth in a family of eight chil- 
dren, the others being as follows: Sarah, 
who lues with her father in Fairbury; -Ma- 
rian, wife of Joshua Mills, of Springfield, 

us; W. Scott, also at home; John E., 
a resident of Thawvillc. Illinois; George 
li., a resident of Bell Prairie township; 
Emma, wife of John Mitten, an employe of 
Walton Brothers, of Fairbury; and Mary 
1)., at home. 

Aaron J. Bennett attended the district 
schools near his boyhood home, also took 

a course in the public schools oi Fairbury, 

and later was a student at ( Inarga for a few- 
months. He grew to manhood upon his 
father's farm, assisting in its operation until 
he attained man's estate, and he now n 
the place, being successfully engaged in the 
cultivation of two hundred acres. lie is 
also interested in stock raising, which he 
finds quite pn fitable. 

In [888 Mr. Bennetl was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Clara Davis, who was born 
in ( »hii 1 in [868. I ter parents. Eben and 
Dorothy (Maurice) Davis, still reside in 
that state. Clara is the oldest of their four 
children: Rose is the wife of Fred Liedolf, 
of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Edward is a resi- 
dent of Lima. Ohio; and Harry is a mem- 
ber of the Fourth United States Infantry, 
and is now with the army in the Philippines. 
Mr. and Mis. Bennett have two children: 
Walter R., horn June Jo. [889; and Rachel 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



325 



D., born July _>_>, 1890. are both attending 
the district school. 

By his ballot .Mr. Bennett supports the 
men and measures of the Republican party 
ami is an active worker at the polls, looking 
alter the voters "t his districe. For nine 
years he served as school director, as school 
trustee two years, and was then appointed 
school treasurer, which position he now 
In ilds. I le has ne\ er si night 1 tffice, hut when 
elected has served the people faithfully and 
well, lie is upright and honorable in all 
his dealings and supports church work, being 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal church 
of Fairbury, as is his wife. Fraternally he 
is a member of the Mutual Aid Society of 
Fairbury. 



T1H IMAS J. < >'C< ).\.\( IR. 

Thomas J. O'Connor, a well-to-do and 
successful farmer residing on section 6, 
Germanville township, Livingston county, 

is a native of Illinois, born in I. a Salle coun- 
ty, March [9, [861, and is a son of Timoth) 
and Margarel 1 Murphy) O'Connor. The 
father, a native of Ireland, came to the 
United States at the age of nineteen, and 
lived for some years in New York state 
before coming to Illinois. He engaged in 
farming near Ottawa, I .a Salle county, un- 
til the fall of [868, when he moved to Liv- 
ingston county, taking up his residence in 
Charlotte township, where he purchased a 
farm of eighty acres. Later he added to it 
until he had one hundred and sixty acres, 
and successfully engaged in its operation for 
some years, hut is now living a retired life 
in Chatsworth, where he located in the spring 
of [892. He made all of the improvemei 
l" on his place and transformed the wild 



land into a highly productive farm. His 
wife is still living, as are also live of their 
six children, our subject being the oldest. 

During his boyhood and youth Thomas 
J. O'Conner attended the public schools, and 
remained at home with his parent-, assist- 
ing in the work of the farm, until they re- 
moved to Chatsworth. He served as clerk 
1 1 Charlotte township seven years, and al- 
ways took a dee]) and commendable interest 
in -public affairs, in the spring of [892 he 
removed to Germanville township and 
bought the farm of one hundred and sixty 
acres which is now his home. He has since 
made many improvements on the place, and 
has one of the most desirable farms of its 
size in the township. I le is now sen 
as town clerk of Germanville, and has al- 
ready become prominently identified with 
the interests of that section of tin- county. 

< In the 26th of ( let. .her. [887, in Chats- 
worth, Mr. O'Connor was muted in mar- 
riage with Miss Julia Murphy, a daughter 
of Patrick Murphy, of La Salle county, who 
is now engaged in farming in Chatsworth 
township. Four children hless this union, 
whose names and dates of birth are as fol- 
lows: Emmet, April 17. [889; Vera. De- 
cember 2~. [890; l.ucile. April _'. [892; 
and Julia, September 8, [898. The first 
two were horn in Charlotte township, the 
others in Germanville township. 



THOMAS ANDREWS. 

Thomas Andrews, of Pontiac, Illinois, 
w living a retired life in the enjoy- 
ment of a rest which he has truly earned 
and richly deserves by reason of his indus- 
trious efforts of former years. Accom- 



326 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



plishment and progress ever imply labor, 
energy and diligence, and it was these quali- 
ties which enabled our subject to rise from 
the ranks of the many and stand among the 
successful few. He is one of the highly 
respected citizens of Pontiac, and his long 
residence in Livingston county and the 
active part he has taken in its development 
well entitle him to representation in its his- 
ti iry. 

Mr. Andrews was born in Stamford, 
Lincolnshire. England, October 16, 1844. a 
of James and Elizabeth (Plowright) 
Andrew-, natives of the same place. In 
1855 the family emigrated to the United 
States and located near Tunica, La Salle 
county. Illinois, where the father worked 
and rented property for some time until he 
accumulated enough to purchase land, ex- 
periencing all the hardships and trials of 
pioneer life. On landing in this state he 
had but five dollars remaining and a wife 
and six children to support. They received 
twent) five dollar- at Cleveland, sent them 
by Mrs. Andrews' sister, but, having lost the 
address of the man who was to identify him, 
Mr. Andrew- found considerable trouble in 
securing the money. It was during the panic 
tha the 1 icated here, which made it much 
mor< lit for him to secure a -tart, but 

after a few years of hard work he was able 
to purchase three hundred and twenty acres 
of wild land from the Illinois Central Rail- 
road Company by having enough money to 
paj the interesl on the amount, but going 
in debt for the principal. He would shell 
corn with a small -heller, and after hauling 
it to Gridley over very had roads would 
only receive ten cent- per bushel for the 
crop Steadily and persistently he worked 
his way upward to success, paying for his 
place and transforming it into a fine farm. 



with good and substantia] buildings sur- 
rounded by trees, while the land was placed 
under a high state of cultivation, lie en- 
gaged in stock raising in connection with 
farming and became quite well to-do, though 
he at first thought he would feel independ- 
ent if he ever got a good team of his own. 
He was recognized a- one of the leading 
men of his community, and was called upon 
to serve as highway commissioner, school 
director and till other local offices of honor 
and trust. Religiously he was a Congre- 
gationalist. lie died upon his farm Au- 
gu-t o. [883, leaving a family of nine chil- 
dren, of whom our subject is the oldest. 
He gave each of his sons forty acre- of 
land, which they have since traded so that 
it might all belong to a few of them. The 
mother died I Ictober 30. [899. She would 
have been seventy-four years of age hail she 
lived until the following February. 

Thomas Andrews received his educa- 
tion in the schools of hi- native land, his 
school days being over when he came to this 
country, for. being the oldest in the family. 
he wa- obliged li help in their support. 
On account of his youth he was discouraged 
from entering the army during the civil 
war. lie remained with his parents until 
past the age of nineteen years and then went 
to Eureka, Illinois, where he worked Four 
months. Returning to Tonica, La Salle 
county, he rented land, and while there was 
married. May 1, 1866, to Mi— Mar) E. 
Brady, a daughter of lame- and Elizabeth 
1 Moore) Brady, natives of Brown county. 
Ohio, of which her paternal grandfather 
was one of the pioneer-. Her grandfather, 
Moses Moore, spent his entire life there as 
a farmer, and there her parents also died, 
the mother when Mr-. Andrew- wa- only 
two month- old, and the father a few years 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



327 



later. He was a blacksmith by trade. She 
was raised by an aunt, with whom she came 
to Tonica, Illinois. 

Of the seven children born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Andrews, three died in infancy. Those 
living are James 1 1.. a business man 1 if < irid 
ley, Illinois, who married Minnie Settle and 
has four children, Thomas, Amy E., Henry 
and an infant; Sarah Ann, who married II. 
U. Grant, of Ellettsville, Indiana, and has 
one child, Delos Andrews; Susan Elizabeth, 
who married Joseph Solon, of Graymont, 
this county, and has four children, Florence, 
Helen, Duane and Evaline; and Mary Eva- 
line, who is teaching in the public schools 
of Pontiac. The children all received good 
educations, the father having left the farm 
and moved to town for that purpose. 

In the fall of 1868 Mr. Andrews bought 
uglily acre- of land in Rock Creek town- 
ship, which he improved and paid for in six 
years, and then sold, buying one hundred 
and sixty acres of land east of Pontiac in 
1875. I his land was entirely unimproved 
and very wet, on which account it was con- 
sidered very undesirable property, but he 
tiled it and to-day has one of the best farms 
in Pontiac township. He creeled thereon 

a g I residence, substantia] outbuildings, 

set out -hade trees, and made many Other 
improvements which add greatlv to its 
\alue and attractive appearance. Leaving 
the farm, which he still owns, he moved to 
Cayuga, where he was successfully en- 
gaged in merchandising for some years 
and a resident for eleven years, but since 
1893 has lived in Pontiac, having built a 
pleasant residence on North .Main street, 
lie has owned property in Cayuga, but sold 
it. and now has two hundred acre- of im- 
proved rich land near Hamlet, Indiana, not 
far from South Rend. In improving two 



farms for himself and aiding in the develop 
meat of his father's place he has materiallv 
advanced the interests of his adopted coun- 
ty and promoted 11- prosperity. lie and 
his wife are active members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and are honored and 
highly respected by their fellow citizens who 
appreciate their sterling worth and many 
excellencies of character. 



WILLIAM E. HOKE. 

William E. Hoke, a well-known real- 
estate dealer of Odell, Illinois, was lorn in 
Williamsburg, Pennsylvania, Octoher J, 
1X56, a son of Samuel and Laura X. 1 Ixcn- 
ney) Hoke, and a grandson of Jacob Hoke, 
who was of old Pennsylvania stock and a 
soldier of the Revolutionary war. The 
father was bom in McConnellsburg, Penn- 
sylvania, April 12, [824, and when a young 
man learned the trades of cabinet-maker and 
painter at Gettysburg. In [859 he brought 
his family to Livingston county. Illinois, 
and purchased a farm four and a half miles 
southeast oft (dell. 

On that place our subject grew to man- 
hood and atended the o immon schoi 'Is of the 
neighborhood. Being injured at the age 
of fourteen years and unable to engage in 
active labor, he entered the Odell high 
school two years later, and later engaged 
in teaching school. At the age of tvventv- 
l" years he became a student at Lincoln 
University, Lincoln, Illinois, hut his health 
failed before he had completed the course 
and he wa- obliged to give up study. lie 
then taught school until twenty-four, when 
he was appointed postmaster at Emington, 
during President Have-' administration, at 



328 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



which time the town was started, and he 
completed the second building in the place, 
opening a hardware store there. He 
also named the town in honor of the wife 
of the owner of the land on which it was 
located, her name being Emma. As the 
first postmaster he installed the office and 
gol 11 in good running order, but at the end 
of two years his health again failed and lie 
was compelled to resign his -hire and sell 

his business. He had built up a g 1 trade 

and was doing a successful business, lie 
then went to 1'ella. Iowa, for Herbert 
Spencer & Company, to open a hardware 
store for Van Houten Brothers. 

While there .Mr. Hoke was married, 
.March 23, [882, to Miss Sophia Robinson, 
who was born in La Salle county, Illinois, 
March 25, [860, and was there reared and 
educated. Her father. James Robinson, 
of Peru, Illinois, was also a native of La 
Salle county, a representative of one of its 
oldest families, and -pent his last days on the 
homestead taken up from the government. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hoke had three children: 

ira M., who was born April [3, [882, 
and died at the age of two years; Harry 
Harvey, born January [3, 1884; and Albert 
E., born October 4. [885. 'I he sons are 
still in school, The name of Harvey is an 
"Id muc- in the family, it being the maiden 
name of Mrs. Hoke's maternal great-grand- 

ther, who traced her ancestry hack to 
Lord Harvey. 

After eight months spent in Iowa, Mr. 
Hoke returned to Livingston county, Illi- 

5, and rented his father's farm near Odell 
for three years. He met witli success in 
his farming operations, hut was crippled by 
barbed wire, which resulted in hi 1 poison- 
ing, and he l^st all he had in his efforts 1" 
life. In 1888 he located in Odell, 



where he has since engaged in the real- 
estate business, and has been remarkably 
successful in that undertaking. He has 
handled a large amount of western property 
in [owa and .Minnesota, and his patrons, w hi 1 
are mostly his friends, have been well satis- 
lied with their investments. He has sold 
many thousand acres of land, in one year 
disposing of twenty one thousand acres, and 
has secured good homes for hundreds of 
people, whom he has sent to those states. 
Since buying a home for himself in Odell 
he has invested every dollar he could get 
in western lands, and m >w has over one thou- 
sand acres in two different tracts in Wright 
and Hancock counties. Iowa. He is a wide- 
awake, energetic Ihmih-^ man, of progres 
sive ideas and indomitable enterpr.se. and 
his success is certainly well deserved, for he 
has had many difficulties to overcome. In 
politics he is a strong and active Republican, 
and has served as a member of the school 
hoard, though he cares nothing for political 
honors. Religiously he supports the Con- 
gregational church. 



WILLIAM II. TAYL( >R. 

William II. Taylor, the present well- 
known and efficient highwaycommissionerof 
I >w ighl tow nship, and a resident 1 if the t< rwn 
of Dwight, has through his own exertions 
attained an honorable position and marked 
prestige anion- the representative men of 
his community, and with signal consistency 
it may he said that he is the architect of his 
own fortunes, for he started out in life for 
himself at the age of nine years and I 
since made his way in the world unaided. 

Mr. Taylor was born in Lancastershire, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



329 



England, March 9, 1843, a son of James and 

Betty 1 Mills) Taylor, also natives of Lan- 
castershire, when- the father followed the 
blacksmith's trade for many years. In early 
days during the gold excitement in Califor 
nia. he came to America and crossed the 
plains to the Pacific slope, where he spenl 
two years, meeting with fair success in his 
mining operations. His brother-in-law, 
Robert Mills, who went with him to Cali- 
fornia, died a millionaire in that state a 
couple of years ago. After returning to 
England from California Mr. Taylor brought 
his family to the United State- and located 
in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he 
worked at his trade for the Pennsylvania 
railroad many years. There he spent the re- 
mainder of hi- life, dung at the age of sev- 
enty-six years. I lis wife survived him about 

two years. Thee were the parents of eight 
children: Elizabeth, William, John. Rachel. 
Ellen, James. Charles and I >ella, all of whom 
reached mature years and all are still living 
with the exception of James. Our subject 
is the only one living in the west, the others 
being still residents of Allegheny county, 
Pennsylvania. 

William II. Taylor was a mere lad on 
the emigration of the family to America. 
He attended school at Pittsburg, hut at the 
age of nine years he commenced earning his 

ow n livelih 1. and ever afterward supported 

himself. In early manho.nl he went to In- 
diana, and worked on a farm in De Kalb 
county for a few years. From there he w 
to Chicago, where he found employment in 
the stork yards about two years, after which 
he returned to his old home in Pennsylvania 
anil remained there about a year, when he 
again went to Chicago and worked in the 
Stock yards a year. In 1866 he came to 
Livingston county. Illinois, in the employ of 



a Mr. McPherson, for whom he had worked 
in Chicago, it being his intention to remain 
only thirty days, hut he has now heen here 
over thirty-three years. He continued to 
work for Mr. McPherson four years. 

( )n the 10th of December, [868, Mr. Tay- 
lor married Miss Lydia H. Grub, a native of 
Blair count}-, Pennsylvania, and a daughter 
of David Grub, who newer came west. lo 
our subject and his wife were born tour chil- 
dren, namely: William J., the eldest, who h 
engaged in farming in Dwight township, 
married, first, Maggie Jenkins, who died leav- 
ing one child. Rebecca, and for his second 
wife he married Catherine Debby Morris. 
Charles and Annie are both at home. The 
youngest, a daughter, died in infancy. 

After his marriage Mr. Taylor rented his 
present farm in Dwight township for several 
years, and in 1873 purchased twenty acres, 
to which he later added until he now owns 
eighty acres, all now within the corporate 
limits of the town of Dwight. Formerly 
he gave considerable attention to the raising 
of stock-, making a specialty of thoroughbred 
animals, and for a number of years he dealt 
in stock, selling principally to the local ship- 
pers. 

Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
and politically he is identified with the Re 
publican party. He was a member of the 
village hoard during the Dwight boom, and 
for the past sixteen years has most efficienth 
and satisfactorily served as road commis 
sioner of Dwighl township. With one 1 
ception he has built all the bridges in the 
township, and has made many other impn ' 1 
ments along that line. He is public spirited 
and progressive, and take- an active part in 
all enterprises calculated to prove of public 
benefit. 



33Q 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



THOMAS HL'GHES. 

Thomas Hughes, now living a retired life 
in Dwight, Illinois, is a man whose success- 
ful struggle with adverse circumstances 
shows what can be done by industry and 
economy, especially if a sensible wife sec- 
onds his efforts to secure a home and compe- 
tence. Born of poor parents, he w as i ibliged 
to make his way in life without any of the 
aids which are usually considered essential 
t< i success. 

Mr. Hughes was born in county Mayo, 
Ireland, in [841, a son of Thomas and Mary 
(Dowd) Hughes, who spent their entire 
lives in that county, the father being em- 
ployed as a herder on a large estate. ' >ur 
subject left home at the age of thirteen years 
and came to the United States with his uncle, 
James Ha) s, w In 1 was mate on a sailing ves- 
sel. He landed in New York and from there 
went to Long Island, where he found em- 
ployment with a farmer and market gardener 
near Flushing. His employer was a Mr. 
Bayton, a Pennsylvanian by birth, and with 
him Mr. Hughes remained until lie attained 
his majority, receiving little more than his 
board and clothes for his seven years' labor. 
At the age of twenty-one he went to New 
York City, where he worked as a laborer 
for two years, and 111 [864 he came to t'hi- 
:■<. where the following two years were 
passed, during which time he assisted in lay- 
ing the pipes for the city water works. He 
next found employment at the docks unload- 
ing and followed that occupation for 
the years. 

On the 25th of December, [868, in Chi- 
cago. Mr. Hughes married Miss Margaret 
Higgins, a daughter of Francis and Mary 
1 Brady 1 Higgins. To them have been horn 
seve 1 children, namely : Francis, now an elec- 



trician of Seattle. Washington ; John II.. who 
married Julia Dunn and lives on the home 
farm in this county; Nellie M.. a successful 
and popular teacher of Livingston and 
Grundy counties; Emma, who is clerking in 
the store of Gordon Brothers of Dwight; 
Julia, a graduate of the Dwight high school, 
and now a successful teacher: and two who 
died in infancy. 

In the fall of [869, Mr. and Mrs. Hughes 
came to Dwight. where her father had lo- 
cated some four years previous. Here, in 
partnership with his brother-in-law. our sub- 
ject engaged in farming for two years, and 
then rented one hundred and sixty acres of 
land from F. O. Caldwell in Round Gn 
township, operating that place nine years. 
In 1N71 he made his first purchase of land, 
consisting of one hundred anil sixty acres 
on the northeast quarter of section 23, Round 
Grove township, which was all raw land, en- 
tirely unimproved. Here he erectod an 
humble home, sixteen by twenty four feet. 
with a kitchen twenty by fourteen feet. 1 le 
planted fifty acres of tlax and broke all hut 
six acres of his land the first year. During 
the ten years he resided thereon ho placed 
the land under a high state of cultivation, 
and in connection with general farming en- 
gaged in stock raising, feeding usually from 
one to two hundred head of hogs. In Feb- 
ruary, [889, he bought a tract of thirty-six 
acres of land just east of 1 )wight. and located 
there in order that his children mierht have 
better educational advantages. He lived there- 
two years, cultivating his little farm, and in 
[889 bought one acre of land in the village, 
upon which he erected his present beautiful 
home at a cost of live thousand dollars. It 
is one of the most elegant residences in the 
city. He has added to his landed possessions 
from time to time and now has three linn- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



33' 



dred and sixty acres of valued and well-im- 
proved land. He is one of the successful 
citizens of the county and deserves much 
credit for what he lias accomplished. Look- 
ing hack through the vista of the past we see 
a friendless boy who came to the New World 
in search of home and fortune, at present we 
see Ins ambitious dream realized, and could 
the veil of the future be lifted we would 
doubtless see an honored old age crowned 
with respect and veneration which is ac- 
corded a well spent life. In politics he is 
independent, and in religious belief is a 
Cathi 'lie. 



WILLI \M L. QUINN. 

William L. Quinn is one of the prosper- 
ous citizens of Straw n. who has laid aside 
all business cares and is now living a retired 
life. Success ha- attended his well-directed 
effiorts and he is ot-day in possession of a 
comfortable competence which enables him 
'to spend his declining years in case and re- 
tirement from active labor. 

Mr. Quinn was born in Ireland in 1842, 
and is a son of Charles and Unity (Lynch) 
Quinn, also natives of that country, born in 
county Tyrone. The father, who was a 
farmer by occupation, died there at the ad- 
vanced age of ninety-four years. The 
mother had died at the age of twenty-four 
year-, and fur his second wife he married 
Jane Campbell, who is still living in Ireland 
at the ajje < >f seventy-five. By the first union 
there were three children, of whom our sub- 
ject is the secnd in order of birth and the 
only survivor. James died at the age of 
twenty- four year-, and one unnamed died in 
infancy. Of the twelve children born of the 
second marriage, seven came to the United 



States, three locating m Livingston county, 
Illinois, the others 111 Los Angeles, < alifor- 
nia. Michael crossed the Atlantic in [869, 
and after six years -pent in Ottawa, [llinois, 
took up his residence in Livingston county, 
where he at first 1 iperated 1 me of 1 >ur subject's 
farms and then purchased three hundred and 
twenty acres 1 >f land on sections 5 ami 6, Ger- 
manville township. He is an industrious and 
prosperous farmer, and the father of six chil- 
dren. Alexander came to America in [874, 
and also settled in Ottawa, Illinois, where 
he worked for E. Y. Griggs one year. He 
then settled on a farm on sections 7 and 8, 
Germanville township, owned by our sub- 
ject, and there he continues to make his 
home. He owns eighty acre- of land on sec- 
tion 8. lie is married and has six children, 
four sons and two daughters. 

The subject of this review was reared 
and educated in bis native laud, and in i860, 
at the age of eighteen years, came to Amer- 
ica. For twenty-three years he was in the 
employ of Andrew Lynch, a general merchant 
oi Ottawa, Illinois, and at the end of that 
time, in 1883, came to Strawn. 1 le worked 
on the farm with his brother Michael for one 
year, but since that time has lived a retired 
life in the village. In 1N7 4, while still a res- 
ident of * (ttawa, he purchased three hundred 
and twenty acres of land on section- 5 and 6, 
Germanville town-hip, which at that time 
was all raw land and which was operated by 
his brothers. He made all of the improve- 
ments upon the place, including the erection 
of a commodious and plea-ant residence in 
1879, which at that time was one of the best 
in the county, and he also built a large barn 
and laid over fifty thousand tiles. In due 
time the land was all placed under a high 
state of cultivation. In 1880 Mr. (Juinn 
bought one hundred and sixty acres of land 



332 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



on sections 7 and 8. the same township, and 
also improved that place with the assistance 

of his brothers. Besides this property he 
has sixty-three, acre- on section 7, German- 
ville township, purchased by him in 1893, 
and now leased to a tenant, and one hundred 
and sixty acres of fine pasture land at Em- 
poria, Lyon count}',, Kansas, purchased in 
1881. The same year he bought a house in 
Strawn, which he has re-modeled and made 
one of the best in the village. It is a beau- 
tiful place, surrounded by a large lawn, and 
neat and tastefully furnished. For about 
nine months Mr. Quinn clerked in the hard- 
ware and grocery store of Joseph Kuntz, in 
Strawn, but with that exception has lived 
retired during his residence here. 

In Chicago, Illinois, February 20, 1884, 
Mr. Quinn married Miss Bridget Conlin, a 
native of Ireland, who came to this country 
in 1805. Her mother died in Ireland, after 
which her father emigrated to America and 
spent his last daw in retirement from active 
labor in La Salle, Illinois, where he died at 
the age of eighty years in 1879. He had 
iwed farming in his native land. 

Although Mr. Quinn has been a resident 
of Livingston county only seventeen years, 
he has by the improvements of his property 
bore been identified with its development for 
man} years. As a Democrat he takes an 
active interest in political affair.-, and gi 
his support i" those enterprises which tend 
t<> advance the interest of his adopted coun- 
try. 1 te has served as trustee of the villi 
of Strawn for fourteen years, and village 
treasurer nine years, and his official duties 
were always most faithfully and conscien- 
tiously discharged. Religiously both he and 
his wife are devoul members of the Roman 
tholic church, and are highly respected 
and esteemed by all who know them. 



WALSH UROTHERS. 

Walsh Brothers, consisting of 1.. F. and 
T. M. Walsh, are the leading merchants of 

Campus, Illinois, carrying a large ami well 
selected stock of general merchandise, furni- 
ture, hardware, agricultural implements, car- 
riages, wagons, coal, lumber, lime, cement, 
and all kinds of building materials. They 
also do a large undertaking business, keep- 
in- a hearse and full equipments for the 
same. In size and quality of stock and char- 
acter of the building, their department store 
would grace a much larger town, it being 
something not often found in a place the size 
of Campus, though Campus cannot be 
judged by the average Illinois village of 
three hundred population, possessing as it 
does a standpipe and good water work-; a 
church and Sisters' school, both tine brick 
structure-; ami numerous elegant residences. 
The people are enterprising and progressive 
and give to the place an air of thrift. 
Walsh Brothers have an elegant ami com- 
idious two-story brick beuilding, fifty by 
eighty feet, with a basement, which was 
erected b) them in [897 to take the place of 
the old frame building recently destroyed by 
lire. Forming a partnership, they pur- 
chased the business of J. J. I olt & Son, in 
[891, ami o mtinued business at the old stand 
until it wa> reduced to ashes. Besides their 
store building the) have another large build- 
ing in which seasoned lumber is kept. They 
do an extensive business a- contractors ami 
builders, and have erected many of the 
buildings in Campus and vicinity, including 
nearly all those in the new mining town of 
1 . rdiff, where in the spring of 1900 they put 
up a large store, which will be conducted as 
a branch store of the one at Campus, and be 
in charge of J. 11. Walsh, another brother. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



333 



Thomas M. Walsh, the junior member 
of the firm of Walsh Brothers, is a native of 

this county, born in Broughton township, 
February 15, 1866, and is a son of Patrick 

and Ann (Smith) Walsh, both natives of 
Ireland. The father emigrated to America 
in 1849, and six years later took up his res- 
idence in Livingston county, Illinois, being 
one of its early settlers and successful farm- 
ers. 1 le is now living a retired life in Cam- 
pus. In his family are nine children, name- 
ly: John P., a resident of Chicago; L. !■'., 
the senior member of the firm of Walsh 
Brothers; Kale E., at home; Thomas M., 
the junior member of the firm ; Mathew, who 
is in the employ of his brothers; James H, 
who has charge of the branch store in Car- 
diff; Mary A., wife of William Mortison of 
Chicago; George C, who is with his broth- 
ers, and Blandina, bookkeeper for her 
brothers. 

On the home farm Thomas M. Walsh 

grew to manh 1, his early education being 

1 btained in the comiw m schools and the high 

scl 1 of Dwight. Subsequently he took a 

literary course at St. Viaturc's {'< liege, and 
a commercial cour.se at Dixon College, from 
which he was graduated in [890. The fol- 
lowing year he formed a partnership with 
his brother L. !•".. as previously stated, and 
has since successfully engaged in active busi- 
ness at Campus. Fraternally he affiliates 
with Campus Camp, No. 2619, M. W. A., 
politically is identified with the Repub- 
lican party. 1 le has served as p> istmaster of 
Campus since 180.7; has filled the office of 
justice of the peace since [892, and has been 
a member of the board of education for the 
past six years. As a business man he is 
wide awake, progressive and energetic, and 
carries forward to successful completion 
whatever he undertakes, while as a citizen he 



has promptly and faithfully discharged every 
duty that has devolved upon him. On the 
9th of February, [892, he married Miss Mag- 
gie Steger, who was bom and reared in 
Round ( imvc township, tins count) . a daugh- 
ter of Christian and Louise Steger. By this 
union were born three children, namely: 
Francis Herbert, Clyde A., and Philomean, 
who died at the age of seven years. 

L. F. Walsh, the senior member of the 
firm of Walsh Brothers, is also an enterpris- 
ing business man of known reliability. lie 
was born March 18, [860, was reared on the 
home farm and attended in the local schools, 
completing bis education, however, by a 
general course at the Northern Indiana Nor- 
mal School at Valparaiso, Indiana. He was 
married, November 27, 1896, to Miss Lena 
Flynn, a daughter of Patrick Flynn, and to 
them have been born three children. Viola, 
Leo and Iiernice. 



JAMES P. GOURLEY. 

James I'. Gburley, a representative 
farmer and highly esteemed citizen of Ksinen 
township, residing on section 17, was born 
in Harrison count). West Virginia, < (ctober 
8, [860. I lis father, \lfrcd Gourley, was 
born and reared in the Old Dominion, and 
when a young man went to West Virginia, 
locating in Harrison county, where he mar- 
ried Rebecca Jane Farris, a native of that 
state. There the father continued to carry 
on farming for sonic years, but in [865 
moved to Livingston count}', Illinois, where 
two of Ins brothers had previousl) located. 
I le first came to the county in [855, bill SO0 
returned to West Virginia and did not locate 
permanently here until ten years later, when 



334 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



he purchased land in Amity township. He 
prospered in his new home, being a thorough 
fanner and good business man. and became 
the pi >ssess< >r of a valuable farm of fi mr hun- 
dred and forty acres. Upon that place he 
continued to make his home throughout life, 
dying there May 30, 1898. His wife sur- 
vives him, and continues to reside on the old 
homestead with her son Charley. 

In Amity township James P. Gourley 
grew to manhood, and was educated in the 
country schools near his home. He as- 
sisted his father in the operations of the farm 
until nineteen years of age, and then worked 
on the farm 1 >f a cousin for two years. On 
the 24th of December, 1882, in Livingston 
county, he was united in marriage with Miss 
Ida Buren, who was born and reared in 
Grundy county. Illinois, and they have be- 
come the parents of seven children, namely : 
Ray. Fay, Clarence, Earl, Flavius, Florence 
and Edith. All are living with the excep- 
tion of Fay, who died at the age of eight 
years, and the sons aid their father in carry- 
in;; on the farm. 

After his marriage Mr. Gourley located 
on the farm where he now resides, but after 
operating it for four years he moved to the 
Buren farm in Grundy county, in 1886, and 
lived there for the same length of time. In 
[89] he returned to the- farm in Esmen town- 
ship. I.n ingston county, on which he now re- 
sides. Here he owns sixty acres, and also 
operates an adjoining one hundred and sixty 
acre tract belonging to the Gourley heirs, 
and eighty acres more near by. He also 
rents one hundred and sixty acres of pasture 
land. He owns a valuable farm of one hun- 
dred and sixty acres in St. Joseph county, 
Indiana, and in connection with his brother 
( iharles has a piece of three hundred acres in 
LaPorte county, that state. In connection 



with tanning he is engaged in stock raising, 
his specialty being hogs, but he also keeps a 
good grade of cattle, including some full- 
blooded registered Durhams. lie is ac- 
counted one of the most successful farmers 
and stock meat in his part of the county, and 
is numbered among its most reliable and pro- 
gressive business men. 

In politics Mr. Gourley is independent 
and cast his first presidential vote for Grover 
Cleveland, the Democratic nominee, his last 
for William McKinley, the Republican can- 
didate. Fraternally he is a member of the 
Cornell Camp of Modern Woodmen, and he 
is held in high regard by all with whom he 
comes in contact either in business or social 
life. 



ARTHUR MARSHALL. 

Arthur Marshall, a prominent and rep- 
resentative farmer of Livingston county, was 
born near Sandy Hill, Washington county, 
Xew York, March 16, 1834, ami died in 
Dwight, May 30, 1899. As his parents died 
when he was quite small, he remembered 
nothing of his mother and but little of his 
father. His early life was spent in western 
New York and Pennsylvania, and in 1857 
he came to Illinois, locating first in Bureau 
county, but in March of the following year 
he drove across the country to Livingston 
d tunty, where he o mtinued to make his home 
until hi 1 - death. He purchased one hundred 
and sixty acres of land in Union township, 
to the cultivation and improvement of which 
he devoted his energies until 1898, and in 
his farming operations was quite successful. 

He was a lover of g 1 stock, especially 

horses, and he fed cattle and hogs exten- 
sively. In politics he was a strong Repub- 
lican, very radical in his views, but would 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



335 



never accept any public office whatever, say- 
ing that lie would not be president if he was 
capable and the position was offered him. 
Until late in life he was a member of the 
Presbyterian church, but in 1895, with his 
wife, he united with the Congregational 
church of Dwight. As in other affairs he 
never would accept office, though he took an 
active interest in church and Supnday school 
work an.l was an efficient and and able leader 
in the Sunday school. He was noted for his 
kind and obliging disposition and was always 
willing i" assist those in need even at an in- 
convenience to himself. Surely the life rec- 
ord of such a man is worthy of perpetuation 
and will be read with interest by Ins many 
friends and acquaintances throughout the 
d iunty. 

Mr. Marshall was three times married, 
first on the -'4th of January. 1861, to Miss 
Mary Thompson, a native of Guernsey 
county, < )hio, and a daughter of Mitchell and 
lane IThompson. At an early age she and 
her three brothers were left motherless. 
She came t'> Li\ ingsti »n o unity to keep house 
for two of them. William and Hugh, and 
the other. Jefferson, located here later. The 
first two were soldiers of the civil war, and 
alter their return from the war lived in 
I nion township, this county, but Hugh is 
now a resident of Pontiac, while Jeffet 
resides ill Miles City, .Montana. Mr. .Mar- 
shall made the acquaintance of Ins w ife \\ hile 
she was keeping house for her brothers, but 
she removed to her father's home to he mar- 
ried, and came as a bride to this county the 
ond time. She died June 12, [869, leav- 
ing three children: 1 1 1 William E., horn 
( ictober 8, 1861, died June 5, [895. 
Mary J., horn Januarj 23, 1864, is a gradu- 
ate of the Dwight sil Is, and for some time 

was a teacher of Livingston county. 

18 



had charge of an [ndian agenc) cl 1 in the 

west for a time, and was also connected with 
Ha- Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas, 
hut is now teaching in Glendive, Montana. 
1 3 1 Anna I... horn ( Icti >ber 1 |. 1866, is the 
wife of James W. McKinzie, of Glendi 
Mi mtana. 

Mr. Marshall was again married. March 
7, 1 87 1, his second union being with Margaret 
1 1. Ge< irge, who was horn in Belmont count) , 
( Ihii >. \pril 9, 1 83 1 . a daughter 1 if Ji >hn and 
Ann i< rossj George, the former a native 
of Ireland, the latter of Maryland. Be 
loft an orphan, her father came to America 
at the age of nine years and grew to man- 
hood in Ohio. lie owned and operated a 
farm of one hundred ami sixtj acres in 
Dwight township, this county, where he 
made his home until [864, and then moved 
to Dwight, where his death occurred in [872. 
1 le was a liberal supporter and active worker 
in the Presbyterian church, in which he 
served as elder for many years. In his fam- 
ily were twelve children, ten of whom grew 
to maturity, ami four are still living, namelj : 
Sarah A., widow of Benjamin Ogg, and a 
resident of Parker, Missouri; J. inn- 1 .. a 
retired farmer of Washington, Kansas; Liz- 
zie M., the third wife of our subject, and 
Rebecca, widow of Henry McDonald, of Al- 
gi ma, Iowa. I i' How s : 

W'm. C, horn October _'<). 1826, died No- 
vember J'). [826; Mary, horn .May 17, 1842, 
died the same da) : Leathy, horn < Ictober 5. 
1835, married Jesse Cowgill, and died May 
25, [862, leaving two children, John Mc- 
Daniel and Margaret A.; Priscilla, horn I 
tober i-', 1829, married John Cowgill, of 
Guernsey, Ohio, where she died in [868, 
leaving six children; John C, horn < (ctober 
1,,, [83 .ears m the I'm 

army during the civil war. and made, his 



336 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



home in Dwight township, this county, where 
he died September 17. 1899; Louisa, born 
June 15, [837, died unmarried at the age 
of twenty-nine years and thirteen days; and 
Benjamin Cross, born .May _»_>, 1839, married 
Ollie Burr, and died in Nevada, Illinois, in 
1866, leaving two children, John and Mary. 
The father of these children was horn De- 
cember 25, 1796, and died August 12. 1877, 
while the mother was born May 25. 1804, 
and died May 25, [885. Mrs. Margaret C. 
Marshall, the second wife of our subject, died 
January 10, [887, leaving one daughter, 
Minnie M.. now the wife of George Crandell, 
residing on the 1 'Id homestead in Union town- 
ship. I hey had three children, but Olive, 
born February 25, [895, died April 27, 1897. 
Those living are Mary M and John M. 

On the 29th of October, 1888. Mr. Mar- 
shall married Lizzie M. Brown, a sister of 
his second wife, who was an invalid for sev- 
eral years prior to her death, and Lizzie had 
made her home with them for two years. 
She was born October 23, 1844, and was 
fust married May 7. j808. to Edgar I ). 
Brown, by whom she had four children. 
namely: Edgar C, a resident of Schoolcraft, 
Michigan; Frank, a soldier in Porto Rico; 
and Eleanora M., who is attending school in 
Peoria, Illinois. By her second marriage, 
Mrs. Marshall has one child, George A., born 
December 14. [889. She has made her 
home in Dwight since 1898, and is highly 
respected and esteemed by all who know her. 



PETER G. X F.U.I S. 

Peter G. Nellis, who for many years was 

auditor of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, 
but is now practically living a retired life in 



Pontiac, Illinois, is a man whose worth and 
ability have gained him success, honor and 
public confidence. lie enjoys the well- 
earned distinction of being what the world 
calls a "self-made man." and an aualvzation 
of his character reveals the fact that enter- 
prise, well-directed effort and honorable 
dealing have been the essential features of 
his prosperity. 

Mr. Xellis was bom in Fort Plain. New 
York, April 11. 1825, a son of Gerritt and 
Madeline ( Ehle ) Xellis. both native- of 
Palatine Bridge. New York. His paternal 
great-grandfather was a bishop of the Lu- 
theran church, and a resident of Schenec- 
tady. Xew York. The maternal grand- 
father. Peter Ehle. was descended from 
German stock and was a farmer by occupa- 
tion. When a young man the father of our 
subject moved to Fort Plain, of which place 
he became a well-known and prominent 
fanner. In religious belief both he and his 
wife were Lutherans. lie died at Fort 
Plain, while his wife, who was born in t8oi 1, 
died December 22. [889. 

( if the three children born to this worthy 
couple our subject is the oldest, lie at- 
tended the common schools of his native 
town and completed his education by an 
academic course. I le remained on the home 
farm until he attained his majority and about 
1848 came west by boat from Buffalo to 
Detroit, b) rail to Kalamazoo, then the west- 
ern terminus of the Michigan Central Pail- 
road, and from there crossed the lake to 
Chicago. After spending a short time in 
that city, he made a pr< ispecting t' >ur thn >ugh 
northern Illinois and Wisconsin, and finally 
located in Lockport, Illinois, where he • 
gaged in merchandising, being one of the 
first merchants of that place, which at that 
time was a competitor of Joliet. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



337 



Mr. Nellis spent two years in Lockport, 
and tho i' he v\ as married, February _■ i . i 851 >. 
to Miss Louise Jennison, who was bom and 
reared in Dundee, Scotland, and is a daugh- 
ter of Captain Robert and Susan (Clarke) 
Jennison. the former a native- of Weymouth, 
England, the latter of Dundee, Scotland, 
here the family made their home until 
coming to the United States in [846, at 
which time the father was a retired officer 
of the Royal navy. They located in Chi- 
cago, Imt later removed to Lockport, where 
Captain Jennison owned a section of land. 
though he never actively engaged in its 
operation, lie spent his last days in Os- 
wego, Illinois, where his wife also died. 
Mr. and Mrs. Nellis have throa children: 
Gerritt John, a resident of Chicago; Rufus 
I... of Denver; and Mrs. Louise Slocum, of 
Pontiac. 

After his marriage Mr. Nellis disposed ol 
las business in Lockport and accepted the po- 
sition of paymaster for the Illinois Central 
Railroad, then being built at Cairo. The 
rails were brought from England, and from 
New Orleans were towed up the Mississippi 
river on flatboats. lie handled large sums 
of money for the road at a time when hanks 
and checks were few and robbers plenty. 
lie remained with the company during the 
entire construction of the road. General Mc- 
Clellan being chief engineer and later vice- 
president. After its completion Mr. Nellis 
served as the first agenl at Vandalia, and 
later was transferred to LaSalle, being three 
years at each place. I le was next appointed 
traveling auditor for the Chicago & Alton 
Railroad with home and headquarters at 
Chicago, receiving his appointment when 
Roswell I'.. Mason was president and general 
manager of the road, ami |. C. McMullen 
general superintendent. He remained with 



the company thirty-five years, traveling the 

whoR. extent of the road, which in extent of 
time is unparalleled by any case in railroad 
history, lie was also considered one of the 
finesl accountants in the United States, and 
most acceptably filled the position of auditor 
until the retirement of T. 1'.. Blackstone, the 
president, in 1900, though he is still with the 
r' *ad in a 1. ical way. For years he has made 
his home in Pontiac, where, in [890, he 
erected the present residence where he now 
lives, lie is widel) and favorably known 
throughout the state and ha- a host of warm 
friends in his ad. 'pied city. 



BENJAMIN BARICKMAN. 

Benjamin Ranchman, who resides on 
section 30, Newton township, is numbered 
among the pioneers of [832, the date of his 
arrival being at the tune of the celebrated 
Black I lawk war. He was a lad of eight 
years at the time, and has a vivid recollec- 
tion o] the stirring events of that day. lie 
is a native "f Adams comity. ( >hio, horn I >e- 
cember 11. 1NJ4, and is the son of Daniel 
and Mary ( Pitchenger) Barickman, both of 
whom were natives of Maryland, where they 
were united in marriage, and which was 
their home until their removal to Ohio in 
an early day. They made their homo in 
Adams county, that state, until [832, when 
they came to Illinois, making the journey 
in a large "prairie schooner" drawn by oxen. 
( >n their arrival tlioy located on what is now 

1011 311. Newton township, the farm yet 
bein^ in the possession of our subject. 

Securing his location. Daniel Barickman 
set about tin- erection of his house, tlK> typi- 
cal log cabin so well remembered by the 



338 



THE BIOGRArHICAL RECORD. 



older resi lonts of the county. \t that time 
there were but few persons residing in what 
is now Livingston county, but prairie wolves, 
deer and other wild game were in abundance. 
Our subject has counted as many as fifty 
deer in one drove in the early day. and it 
man} years before they were ail extinct in 
this section of the country. Prairie chick- 
ens were si • numerous they at tunes destn yed 
the gr< i\\ ing o irn. 

Daniel Barickman was a son of Daniel 
Barickman, a native of Germany, who came 
tn this country with his wife earl}' in their 
married life, locating in Maryland, which re- 
mained their home during the remainder of 
their lives. Daniel and Mary Barickman 
were the parents of nine children. Hartley. 
James, Prudence, Daniel. Harriot, Benja- 
min, Jacob, Mar} Ann and Upton. Of 
these, four are yet living. Prudence, the 
widow of Wesley Bishop, is living in Web- 
ster City, Iowa. Daniel is living a retired 
life in the city of Streator, LaSalle county. 
J larnet is the wife of Pre B In ip and 

they make their home in Towanda, Illinois. 
The death of the father occurred when he 
was seventy-four years old, and the mother 
when she was years ''Id. In 

politics, he was originally a Whig, hut later 
a Republican, and in political affairs he 
always manifested a commendable interest. 

The first purchase of laud b) Daniel 
Barickman was of two hundred and forty 
acres on which he erected I 
mice commenced to improve. X"t a fur- 
row had been turned, and there was 
of civilization. Indian wigwam- were to he 
seen in the timber, and there was nothing 
but the Indian trail and the path made bv 
the deer as they came out of the timber. 
( ommencing the improvement of the place. 
he soon had quite a large tract under culti- 



vation, and in due time he added tn his 

snal purchase ami became a well-to-do 
farmer. He continued to reside on his 
nal farm until his death. 

The primary education of our subject 
began in the common schools of his native 
-late, and soon after the arrival of the fam- 
ily in Livingston county his father employed 
a man named Button t" teach sch<">l in an 
out-house "it his place, and to that school 
he went, and later in a log school In >use 
erected about two miles from their home. 
There were yet ii" roads located and the 
children went through the timber to the 
school. In winter time it was very hard to 
make their way through the snow, which 
sometimes was very deep. An education, 
however, obtained under such circumstan- 
ces i- apl ti ' be appreciated. 

The early life <>f our subject was one of 
hard-hip. The farm must lie improved, 
and every member of the family must do 
his part. With hi- parents he remained, 

-ting in the development of the place 
until he was about twenty-two years of age, 
when he was united in marriage with Mi-s 
Mary A. Latham, a native of Connecticut. 
and daughter of Lyman S. Latham, one of 
the early settlers of the county, who came 
from the Nutmeg state about 1845, 1 " c:i1 ' 
in what 1- now Reading township. By this 
union eight children were born, of whom 
three— Augusta, Franklin and Benjamin — 
died in childhood. The living are: Daniel, 
a. tanner of Newtown township; Pruden 
wile of Joseph Coe, living in Chicago; Car- 
rie, wife of Cephas Coe, living in Reading 
town-hip; Charles M.. county judge of Liv- 
ing-ton county, residing in Pontiac; and 
Willis II.. who is married and living on and 
1 'perating the h( 'ine farm. 

After hi- marriage Mr. Barickman con- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 






tinued to reside on the home place, which he 
managed for his father for some years, and 
of which he later became the owner. To the 
original farm he added eighty acres, which 
he lias since deeded to one of his sons. As a 
fanner he ranked ami >ng the best in the o iun- 
ty. and was fairly successful. I le continued 
tn actively engage Hi the management of the 
farm until [898, since which time he lias 
been living a retired life. 

For many years Mr. Barickman has been 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
and for the greater part of the time he 
served his clmrcli as a member of the official 

rd. lie has always taken an active in- 
terest in church work, and is a strong be- 
liever in the teachings of the lowly Naza- 
rene. In politics he was originally a \\ hig, 
with which party he was identified until its 
dissolution, since which time he has he-en an 
ardent Republican. He was never an office- 
seeker, but believed in every man doing his 
duty, politically, in the advocacy of the prin- 
ciples and the proper supporl of his party. 

For sixty-eight years Mr. Barickman 
has been a citizen of Livingston county. As 
already stated, when he came here the 1 :i mn- 
trv was almost an unbroken wilderness. 
Wolves, deer and wild game of all kinds 
was in abundance. One could scarce!} 
look init from the door without seem- wolves 
or deer. His brother was a great hunter, 
and was considered thebesl shot on the river. 
Our subject was a hunter of ra 1 mean ability, 
and has in his time killed many deer in the 
vicinity of his home. He remembers on 
one occasion that a party of hunters were out 
w ith their h< muds 1 m a deer hunt, and one 1 ii 
the number shut a buck, which plunged into 
the river. The dogs were sent in after him. 
hui the deer, fighting for his life, almost 
drowned the dogs before an end was put to 



his existence. Main anecdotes and incidents 
of pioneer life are related by Mr. Barick- 
man, to the wonder and amusement of the 
younger generation. Bui in the almost 
three-score years and ten that he has lived in 
this county he has witnessed many changes 
indeed, lie has seen the old plow, with its 
w leu mold board, give place to the mod- 
ern implement of steel, the sickle and the 
Rail superseded h\ the rcapci and the 
thresher; the log cabin replaced by the 
stately farm house with all the comfoi 
the nineteenth century. He has seen the 
coming of the railroad, the telegraph and 
the telephone. He has seen town and cities 
spring up. and churches and school houses 
find a place on almost every hillside, and in 
every hamlet. Aladdin, with his lamp, 
could never unfold greater wonders than he 
has vv itnessed since becoming a citizi 
Livingston, one of the best and most pros- 
lis of the counties in Illinois. In the im- 
provements that have here been made he has 
home his part, and he has a right to the 
years of rest which it is hoped that he may 

be able to enjoy. 



Ji iSl'.l'll < >. \LBRE< II 1 

foseph < ». Mbrecht, one of the foremost 
men of Waldo township. Livingston county. 
is a native of Illinois, born in Princeton Bu- 
ii, . I lecember 19, 1859, and is a 
son of John and Annie (Gacho) Alhrccht. 
natives of Germany. In [838, at the age of 
four years, rohn Vlbrecht was brought to 
this country by his parents, who settled in 
Bureau county, Illinois. In the early days 
of Chicago, the grandfather, Jacob \lhrecht, 
hauled his wheat to that city from Bureau 



34© 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



county in a wagon which he hewed out of 
logs. Throughout life he followed farming, 
and al one time also owned and operated a 
brewery at Princeton. He died in 1877. 
In his family were eight children, five sons 
and three (laughters, of whom two, Christo- 
pher and John Albrecht, are prosperous 
farmers living at Tiskilwa, Bureau county. 

The father of our subject followed farm- 
ing in Bureau county until 1865. when he 
came to Livingston county and bought the 
west half of section 3, Waldo township, for 
which he paid ten dollars per acre. Here 
he prospered, and at the time of his death 
owned seventeen hundred and twenty acres 
of land besides several business blocks in 
Flanagan. He died February 12. 1900, at the 
the age of sixty-six years, two months 
and twenty-two days. He was well 
known and highly respected, and had 
many friends throughout this section 
of the -tate. On the 8th of March, 
[859, he married Anna Gacho, and 
to them were born the following children: 
Joseph ').. our subject: August, who was 
born June 16, [861, and died February 16, 
[892; John, who was born May 12, 1863, 
and died February 21, 1885; Christooher, 
who was born December 24, [865, and died 
October 10. [890; Jacob, who was born 
February 20, 1869, and died April [6, 
1889; and Benjamin, who was born Novem- 
ber 23, [871, and now resides in Waldo 
township, Livingston county. The mother 
of these children departed this life Decem- 
ber 25, 1873, •""' " n tne -'-''' "' November, 
1874, the father married Barbara Xafciger. 
also a native of Germany, by whom lie had 

ht children, whose names and dates of 
birth are as follows; Magdaline, Septem- 
ber (8, is-;: Peter, February 17. [877; 
Annie, March 5, [879; Samuel. August u, 



[883; Lydia, T uly 5. [886; William. Septem- 
ber 12, [888; and Daniel. February [6, 1894. 
The oldest daughter is now the wife of Peter 
< ! 1, of Waldo township. 

The early education of Joseph (). Al- 
brecht w as acquired in the public schi n >1s near 
his boyhood home, and under the able direc- 
tion of his father he soon acquired an ex- 
cellent knowledge of every department of 
farm work. He has made agriculture his 
life occupation, and now owns and operates 
a quarter-section of land on section <>. Waldo 
township, and also has eighty-two acres on 
section _'. besides one hundred and sixty 
acres in Iowa. He is a wide-awake, pro- 
gressive farmer, of good business ability and 
sound iudpment, and is meeting with re- 
markable success in life. 

On the mill of February, 1884, Mr. Al- 
brecht was united in marriage with Miss 
Lizzie, daughter of Christopher and Mary 
1 Ingoldi Rineenberg, of Tiskilwa. Bureau 
county, and they now have one child. John 
W., born December I. 1NN5. Mr. Albrecht 
has held several local offices and takes a keen 
interest in the welfare of his township and 
ci iunty. 



JAMES E. GRAHAM. 

James K. Graham, who is now living a 
retired life in the village of Long Point, and 
is efficiently serving as assessor of his town- 
ship, has made his home in Livingston 
county for over a third of a century, having 
come here from near VVenoria, La Salle 
county, in [865. He was born at Porl 
William. Clinton county, Ohio, in 1842. a 
son of Thomas B. and Elizabeth (Ellis) 
Graham, also natives of Ohio. The father 
was of Scotch ancestry, the mother of Ger- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



34i 



man and English descent. When a young 
man Thomas B. Graham learned the trade 
of a millwrighl and cabinet-maker, which he 
followed throughout life, dying in Ohio in 
[884. lie left four children who reached 
years of maturity, namely: Lydia, who 
married Thomas Greer and died in Ohio 
about [855; John \\\. an attorney and jus- 
tice of the peace of Harrisonville, Cass 
county, Missouri; Asa A., an attorney and 
real e-tate dealer of Topeka, Kansas; and 
James E., the subject of this sketch. After 
the death of the father, the mother married 
Absalom Kinsey, by whom she had five chil- 
dren, but only two are now living: Isaac 
\\\. a farmer of Long Point township, Liv- 
ingston county; and Malinda, wife of James 
.Merrill, in the employ of the Union Pea 
Company at Champaign. In 1854 the fam- 
ily moved to Marshall county, Illinois, and a 
year later to J. a Salle county, where Mr. 
Kinsey followed farming, but both he and 
his wife spent their last days in Long Point 
township, Livingston county. She was 
horn June 11, [813, and died July i<). [894. 
James E. Graham was educated in the 
schools of I .a Salic county, and remained 
with his mother until he entered the Union 
army during the civil war. at the age of 
eighteen years. Ik- enlisted as a pn it 
July 1. [861, in Company C, Forty-fourth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, ami remained 
with his regiment all through the war. tak- 
ing part in the battles of Pea Ridge. Perry- 
ville. Stone River, Chickamauga and Mis 
sionary Ridge, and in all the engagements 
of the Atlanta campaign. Although he had 
many narrow escape-, he was never wound- 
ed, and was never in the hospital hut for a 
single night. At the close of the war he 
was honorably discharged as commissary 
sergeant September 26, 1865. 



After being mustered out Mr. Graham 
located in Wenona, Illinois, and in 1866 
came to Long Point township, Livingston 
county, where he has since made his home 
with the exception of one year. On the 
29th of November, 1868, he was united 
in marriage with Mis-, Emma Long, who 
was horn near Danville, Vermilion county, 
Illinois, November ,}<>. 1843. a daughti 
Reuben and Phema (Lucas) Long, natives 
of Ohio. Mr. Long was born June [8, 1813, 
and died September _•<>. 1885. He v 
Irish and German and his wife of German 
and English extraction. She was horn July 
5 [816, and is still living on the home 
near Cornell. She became a resident of 
Vermilion county in [831, her husband in 
[839, and in [852 they removed to Living- 
ston county, being among the early settlers 
of Amity township. Loth held membership 
in the Christian church, and has always af- 
filiated with the Democratic party. In their 
family were eleven children, eight of whom 
are still living: Emma, wife of our sub- 
ject; Clarissa, who is the widow of Ellis 
Kinsey and lives near Flanagan, Illinois; 
Orlean, who lives near Cornell, in Amity 
township; Joseph, who lives near Long 
i'oint; |ohn (twin of Joseph), who is a 
carpenter and lues with his mother near 
Cornell: Charlotte, who is a widow ami also 
lives with her mother; Lucretia. wife oi Les- 
lie Lawrence. living near Flanagan; and 
Samantha, wife of Charles Talbott, of Amity 
township. To Mr. and Mrs. Graham were 
horn three children, of whom one 'lied in 
infancy. Leon, horn August 30, [872, was 
educated at Eureka College, and is eng 
in school teaching. He married Laura 
l'ilhv. and has one son, Wilbur. Arvilla 
Mae. horn October 7. [876, is the wil 
Louis Stilson, a prosperous farmer of Han- 



34^ 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ck county, Iowa, and they have two chil- 
dren, ( iladys and Milburn. 

After hi- marriage Mr. Graham took up 
his residence upon a farm in Long Point 
township, and successfully engaged in gen- 
eral farming until his removal to the vill 
of Long Point in March. [898, since which 
time he has practically lived a retired life. 
1!<- purchased a pleasant home, and also 
eighteen lots within the corporation limits. 
In politics he is a pronounced Republican, 
and has served the people faithfully and 
well as constable; school director for sev- 
eral years, and assessor for the past five 
years, lie is a prominent member of the 
Grand Army Post, No. 784, of which he 
is chaplain, and both he and his wife are 
active members of the Christian church of 
Long Point, of which he is an elder. 



GE< >RGE WHITHAM. 

George Whitham is a prominent busi- 
ness man of Cornell, where he is now suc- 
cessfully carrying <>n operations as a dealer 
in hardware, agricultural implements and 
grain. In all of his undertakings he has 
adily prospered, his excellent success be- 
ing but the logical result of his careful and 
correct business methods. 

Mr. Whitham is a native of Washington 
county. Pennsylvania, bom near Wheeling. 
Wesl Virginia, January 30, [854. His 
father. Alexander B. Whitham, was born in 
Brown county, Ohio, and when a young man 
vent to Washington county, Pennsylvania, 
where he married Martha J. Davis. In early 
life he folowed the shoemaker's trade, hut 
later devoted his attention t< 1 agricultural 
pursuits. ' >n first coming to Illinois, in I 



ruary, 1 s 5 7 . lie settled in Marshall county, 
and did not locate in Livingston county un- 
til [876. Here he span his last days on a 
farm ami died October _>_>. [886. 

Our subject grew to manh 1 in Mar- 
shall county and was educated in the Lacon 
high school. After the removal of the 

iil\- t'> Livingston county, he aided his 
father with the farm work, and continued to 
engage in agricultural pursuits in Esmen 
township, until coming to Cornell in [893, 
when he purchased an established hardware 
and implement business, which he has since 
rried on with marked success. Since 1 No- 
lle has also dealt in grain and now ships 
large quantities from Cornell. I U- is , me of 
the most active, enterprising and progressive 

iness men in his section of the county. 

()n the ist of October, [879, in Esmen 
townsh'p, Mr. Whitham married Miss Emma 
A. Rhi >dc-s. who was b M'n near Lake ( ieneva. 
in Walworth county. Wisconsin, her father, 
I. eland M. Rhodes, being one of the pio 
neers <i that county, and a native of New 
York. He brought his family to Livingston 
county, this state in [876. Mr. and Mrs. 
Whitham have five children, namely: Mil- 
ton A.. Charles E., Mina May. Grade and 
( arrie. Mrs. Whitham is a member of the 
Baptist church and takes an active part in 
the work of the church and Sabbath school. 
Fraternally Mr. Whitham is a member of 

the Modern \\ Inian Camp at the same 

place, and has served as clerk a number of 
years. In Ins political affiliations he has been 
a life-long Democrat, and has taken quite 
an .active and prominent part in local politics. 
1 le has filled 1 he 1 iffice of assess, ,r. ci illect >r, 
township clerk and president of the village 
hoard. In [895 he was elected supervisor 
ami has served as such for six consecutive 
years. Although he has not met with stn 




GEORGE WHITHAM. 



THE BIOGR M'lllt'AI. RECl »K1> 






opposition he was re elected by an increased 
majority at each election. He has most 
ably and satisfactorily represented his I 
ship < >n the bi iard, has been app linted a mem- 
ber of a number of important committees, 
and is now chairman of the one on rules. 
His public and private life are alike above 
reproach, and he well deserves the success 
that has come to him. 



EUGENE A. VAHEY. 

Eugene A. Vahey, a popular conductor 
on the Wabash Railroad and a prominent 
citizen of Forrest, Illinois, was bom in Mt. 
Carmel, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1851, and 
is a si 'it 1 if Eugene and Julia | ( '■ isgn i\ e ) Va- 
hey. The father was also a native of that 
state and a contractor "ii railroad work, 
doing an extensive business, lie helped in 
the construction of the Erie Railroad, Dela- 
ware. Lackawanna & Western, and Lehigh 
Valley Railroads, but during the last twenty 
years of his life lived retired from active 
business, lie made his home in Pittston, 
Pennsylvania, during the greater part "i his 
life, and died there January 10. [892, while 
his wife passed away September 15. [882. 
Both were members of St. Paul's Catholic 
church i'f that place, and in politics the fa- 
ther was a 1 )em< icrat. 

< Mir subject was educated in the common 
and high srh< >■ >1> of Pittston, and for two 
years was engaged in the grocery business 
at that place. Selling < >i 1 1 his interest, he 
became connected with railroad work, in 
[873, as brakeman on the Wyoming divis- 
ion "f the Lehigh Valley Railroad, with 
which he was connected three war-. lie 
then went to Jersey City, New Jersey, and 



entered the employ of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad Company, and remained with them 
until March 15, 1882, making n|> passi 
trains in the yards at that place. < '"ining 
west, Mr. Vahey entered I ice of the 

• hi the 27th of that month, 
as switchman at Forrest, Illinois, and -i\ 
months later was appointed yardmast< 
a time when all freight stopped here, lie 
served in that ity until September, 

[888, when he went upon the mad as 
ductor, running at first from Forrest to 
Chicago. Later he was assigned t" the 
Streator run. which i- one of the best <>n the 
mad. as he gets home every night. In point 
of service he and Mr. Stewart are the 
employes of the Wabash Railroad living in 
Forrest, and have the entire Confidence and 
respeel of the company. 

On the 25th nf November, 1875, Mr. 
Vahey was united in marriage with Miss 
Mary J. Garrison, of Paterson, New Jer- 
sey, a native of that place and a daughter 
of David and \lar\ \. (Garrettson) Garri- 
son. The father, who was a carpenter and 
a s. in.it' Henry Garrison, -pent hi- entire life 
in that city, and Mr-. Vahey'- maternal 
grandfather, Henry Garrettson, was also an 
old resident of Paterson. Our subject and 
his w ife ha\ e two children : Marguerite, and 
Charles E., a teacher at Reading, [Him 

Mr. Vahey owns a nice home and other 
property in Forrest, lie has been verj 
cessful in business affairs, and was 01 
the promoters, incorporators and member 
of the first hoard of director- of the Forrest 
Building & Loan Association. Originally 
he was a Democrat in politics, but in 1896 
for Mckinley, and -till affiliates with 
the Republican party. Hi d a- city 

clerk one term, and a- alderman ol 
two years. Fraternally he i- a prominent 



346 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and influential member of Wabash Division, 
No. 260, O. R. C, of which he has been sec- 
retary and treasurer, and was a representa- 
tive to the conventions held in Atlanta in 
[895 and Detroit in 1899. He has always 
taken a leading part in the affairs of his di- 
vision. Mr. Vahey is also connected with 
Forrest Lodge, No. 014. F. & A. M., the 
Chapter and Commandery at Fairbury; and 
Olive Branch Lodge, No. 154. K. P.. of 
which he has been chancellor commander 
and deputy grand chancellor of his district, 
instituting new lodges, including the one at 
Long Point, and installing the new officers 
at each election. In all the relations of life 
lie has been found true to every trust re- 
posed in him, and is justly regarded as one 
of the valued citizens of Forrest. Mr. and 
Mrs. Vahey are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church at Forrest. 



THOMAS K. I'.ARTOX. 

For a quarter of a century Thomas K. 
Barton has dwelt in Livingston county, and 
during this period has become well-to-do 
and prominent. His life has been exempla- 
ry and worthy of emulation, and unbounded 
confidence in his integrity and high stand- 
ard of honor is felt by the friends and neigh- 

• who have long enjoyed his acquaint- 
ance. 

A native of Juniata county. Pennsylva- 
nia, Mr. Barton is a descendant of sterling 

man pioneers of that state. His pater- 
nal grandfather. Ephraim Barton, was born 
in Germany, and at an early day in this 
country's history cast in his lot with our 
pie. lie participated in some of the In- 
dian wars, and ught in the war of 



[812. David P>.. one of his sons, and fa- 
ther of our subject, was born in Juniata 
county about [818, and departed this life in 
[863, at his old home in the Keystone state. 
His wife, Sarah, was a daughter of Thomas 
Knox, also of Pennsylvania, and of Irish 
extraction. 

The birth of Thomas K. Barton oc- 
curred December 15. 1844, and for twenty- 
two years he resided on his father's farm in 
Juniata county. In 1866 he determined to 
seek his fortune in the west, and, coming 
to Illinois, he found employment with farm- 
ers in La Salle county. At the end of a 
year he leased a farm, and soon afterwards 
returned to the old home, with the purpose 
of esci irting his m< tther and younger brothers 
and sisters to the new home he had loyally 
provided for them, as the father had passed 
to his reward. Mary, the eldest sister, be- 
came the wife of George Vanata, and died 
in 1897. Nancy, the next in order of birth, 
wedded Joshua Frazer and lives in Ne- 
braska. Samuel Barton is a citizen of Ver- 
milion county. Illinois, and Susan, the 
youngest of the family, is deceased. 

For five year- subsequent to his return to 
this state Thomas K. Barton and the other 
members of the family dwelt together, the 
circle being unbroken. Flis home was upon 
a farm in La Salle count}', and he continued 
to lease the place until 1875. when he re- 
moved to another homestead, this being lo- 
cated in Lon^ Point township. Livingston 
county. In 1883 he bought eighty acres in 
section 30, Amity township — his present 
home, and here he found a great task be- 
fore him. for the improvements were very 

1 r, a log cabin and a few acres of broken 

prairie constituting them. With character- 
istic energy he commenced the work of mak- 
ing this a model farm, draining low lands 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



347 



by means of tiling, building fences, a large, 
convenient house and good barns and other 
necessary buildings. He also expended 
some time and means in planting fruit and 
shade trees, and at length lie bought forty 
acres of adjoining property, thus increas- 
ing his possessions t<> one hundred and 
twenty acres. 

In all of his cares and joys, Mr. Barton 
has heen cheered and aided by his devoted 
wife, formerly Miss Sarah E. Smith. They 
were married in I. a Salle county, February 
14. [872, and have been numbered among 
the upright, worthy inhabitants of this state 
since they reached maturity. Mrs. Bar- 
ten was born in Juniata county, Pennsylva- 
nia, and was reared and educated there. Of 
the five children born to our subject and 
wife four are living, their little Jesse having 

died when young. The eldest. Frank IX. is 
married and resides in Cornell, where he is 
engaged in mercantile pursuits. Laura, 
who received an excellent education, com 
pleting her studies in the Dixon 1 Illinois) 
College, is one of the successful teachers of 
this county. Leroy, an enterprising young 
man. is at home, assisting in the manage- 
ment of the farm. Frederick Carl, the 
youngest. also is with his parents. 

The first presidential ballet of our sub 
ect was cast for Lincoln in 1864. In na- 
tional affairs, he supports Democratic nom- 
inees, while in local elections he is inde- 
pendent of party lines. For fifteen years 
be served as a member of the school board, 
thus evincing the genuine interest which he 
in the vital matter of educating the 
young, lie had the honor of being p 
dent of the hoard during the greater share 
of that period, and to his heartfelt o 1 
in the subject much of the prosperity of our 
school system may be attributed. With his 



estimable wife he holds membership in the 
Methodist Protestant church. Fraternally 
he is identified with the Cornell Lodge of the 

Modern Woodmen of America, and 1- a 
trustee of the lodge building. 



GIBS( >\ B. BR< >\V\'S< IN. 

Gibson B. Brownson, the present super- 
visor of Indian Grove township, ill which 
the city of Fairburg is located, was for 
many years one of the leading contractors 
and builders of that place, and many notable 
examples of his skill are to be seen in this 
section of the county, but he is now living 
a retired life. Thoroughly reliable in all 
things, the quality of his work is a convinc- 
ing test of his own personal worth and the 
same admirable trait is shown in his con- 
scientious discharge of the duties 1 if different 
positions of trust and responsibility to which 
he has been chosen in political life. 

Mr. Brownson was horn in Bradford 
county, Pennsylvania, July 30, [832, : 
of Elisha Brownson, whose birth occurred 
in Massachusetts, Ma) 27, 1791. The pa- 
ternal grandfather. Isaac Brownson, was also 
a native of the old Cay state and a soldier 
of the Revolutionary war. being with YVash- 
m when he crossed the Delaware at 
Trenton. When Elisha was eight years old 
imilj moved to Susquehanna county. 
Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood, 
and was married. < Ictober 20, [823, to Mary 
Titus, who was born December 23, [803. 
After bis marriage he moved to Bradford 
county. Pennsylvania, where he cleared a 
heavily timbered tract of land and trans- 
formed it in' od farm. There the 
grandfather lived retired until his death, 



348 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



which occurred when our subject was but 
twenty-' me years < >f age. In [856 the father 
brought his family to Illinois and took Up 
his residence in Livingston county, where 
lit spent the remainder of his Life, dying 
June jj. 1874. During the war of 1812. 
lie tried to enlist, but on aco »unt of his health 
was not accepted. In politics he was an 

dine Whig, a stanch Abolitionist, and 
later a Republican. His wife died Novem- 
ber 20. 1 81 " 1. 

Our subject had hut a limited opportun- 
ity to acquire an education, not being able 
to attend school more than one year during 
his boyhood, hut in later years he dev< 

tsiderable time to reading and study, and 
in this way obtained a g 1 practical edu- 

■ iii. ] hiring his youth he served a three 
years' apprentice-hip t<> the carpenter'.- trade 
in Xew \ ork, only a short distance from his 
home, and received one hundred and fifty 
dollars for hi- three years' work, out of 
which he had to clothe himself. In 1854 
he came west <>n a prospecting tour and 
passed through this county before the rail- 
road was built, and not a house marked the 
present site of Fairbury, while Pontiac was 
a mere hamlet. Being homesick he did not 
remain here long, hut spent two years trav- 
ing o\er the west. Being a good carpenter, 
he could always find employment, and -pent 
one summer working at his trade in Miss- 
issippi. In this way he saw much of the 
country. In December, 1850. he located in 
this county, which has since been his home. 
One year wa- spent in Avoca, which was 
then quite a thriving little village, while 
Fairbury was unknown, and he was one of 
the few to vote 1 in the t< >wnship organization. 
On leaving Avoca he took up hi- residence 
on a farm and in connection with it.- opera- 
tion worked at his trade in Fairbury, assist- 



ing in the erection of one of the first houses 
of that place. 

In September, 1861, Mr. Brownson 

joined the hoys in blue, becoming a member 
of Company K. Third Illinois Cavalry, 
which was sent to Springfield to organize 
and from there to Missouri, being with 
Fremont when he made his raid on Sprii 
field, that state. Our subject was with his 
company until they reached Helena. Arkan- 
sas, and was then sent to the hospital. On 
his recovery he joined the Mississippi Marine 
Brigade, which was located on the river, 
being in the cavalry department going up 
and down that stream with horse- on boats, 
and whenever thev discovered any scouts 
landed and chased them. Mr. Brownson 
was mustered out at Vicksburg, Augusl . 
1864. with the rank of sergeant. 

After his return north he worked for a 
time at his trade in St. Louis, and then re- 
turned to Fairbury, which had continued to 
he his home. In partnership with his brother, 
he did an extensive business as a contractor 
and builder and gave employment to four- 
teen or fifteen men at one time. He erected 
many of the residences, business blocks and 
other houses of Fairbury, also built the 
Catholic church — the first in the place: the 
Presbyterian church which is still standing; 
and other churches throughout the county. 
Not a man living here has had as much to 
do with the construction of buildings as 
has practically lived retired. His own 
our subject, but for the past year or two he 
pleasant residence was erected the year of 
hi- marriage. 

< )n the 1 1 tli of March. [868, Mr. Brown- 
son married Mi-- Su-an Ormsby, of Brad- 
ford county. Pennsylvania, a daughter of 
Levi Ormsby, and to them have been born 
two children, both of whom were provided 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



349 



with good educational advantages. Uice, 
the older, attended school in 1 >i x< m. and 
prior to her marriage engaged in teaching in 
Fairbury. She is now the wife of John 1). 
Watkins, of Cleveland, Ohio, and they have 
one son. John. Nellie 1. was educated al 
the VVesleyan University, at Bloomington, 
and is now a successful teacher in the public 
schools in Fairbury. The family attend the 
Presb) terian church. 

By his ballot Mr. Brownson has always 
supported the Republican party, and in [868 
served as assessor of Pleasant Ridge town- 
ship. For nine years he was an active .<.\\'l 
efficient member of the school hoard of Fair- 
bury, during which time the first brick 

school house was erected there, and was a 
member of the hoard of village trustee- when 
the water works was put in. In November, 
(895, he wa- appointed to fill a vacancy as 
supervisor, and at the next election was 
elected to that office. I le has since been re 
elected and is still filling that office in a 
mosl creditable and satisfactory mat 
He has taken an important part in the work 
> <i the 1" iard, and lias proved a most 
petent and trustworthy official, his duties 
having always been most faithfully dis- 
charged. Fraternally he is a member of 
Aaron Weider Post, G. V R.: Tarbolton 
<'. No. 351, F. & A. M., and the Inde- 
nt ' irder of Mutual Aid, in all of 
which he has held office. 



WILLIAM ROBERT MORRIS. 

William Robert Morris, a progres 
member of the agricultural class of Living- 
ston county, is one of the most sue 

young farmers ,,f Amity township. His 



entire life has been spent in this immediate 
li cality, and here, where he is so well known. 
lu hears a reputation for uprightness and 
justice and a conscientious regard for the 
rights of 1 ithers and his duty as a citizen and 
1 if a hi itisehi ild. 

William R, Morris, more familiar known 
as Robert Morris, comes from an old and 
honored Virginia family, and his grand- 
father, llenrv Morris, possessed that spirit 
which has rilled the hearts , if all of the sturdy 
brave pioneers who laid the foundations of 
future civilization and prosperity. Henry 
Mi irris first renr ived from the 1 >ld I >i uninion 
to the wilderness of Ohio, subsequently lo- 
cated in Indiana and as early as 1837, when 
this country was new and sparseh settled, 

came to Livingston county. CI sing a 

tract of land in Amity township, he spent the 
remainder of his fife here, his deatl 
curring in [841. I lis homestead, which he- 
had partially cleared and prepared for culti- 

;i. is the identical 1 ine IV >W in the 
sessii m 1 if our subject. 

C. F. Morris, father of William Robert 
Morris, was born in Tippecanoe county, In- 
diana. December 1 _•. [828, and from his 
tenth year until his death. February [O, 
dwelt in Amity township — one of 
her mi 'St esteemed cil izi ath i- 

felt to be a public loss in this community, 
where I faithfully he used his m- 

lluence for its permanent welfare. In early 
manln una. daughti 

! i Springer, who was an early settler in 
this locality, also. The young couple 
menced keeping house in this township, and 

if time came to live on tin 
Morris homestead, in iving 

t the interests ,,f the other heirs. L'u- 
der his management the place was wonder- 
fully improved, and a well-built house and 



35° 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



barns added much to the value and desir- 
ability of the farm. Mr. Morris was en- 
gaged in the actual work of the farm until 
about fifteen years ago, and in 1892 he re- 
moved tn Cornell, where he had purchased a 
pleasant residence. His long and useful life 
closed in peacefulness, and. surrounded by 
his loving relatives and numerous sincere 
friends he breathed his last and passed to his 
reward. His mortal remains were tenderly 
laid away in the old Morris cemetery, on 
the In imestead, with which the name has been 
associated for more than three-score years. 
His first wife, the mother of our subject, 
died in 1N74. ami he afterward married 
again. Joseph C. his eldest son is a resi- 
dent of Kansas City, and Geneva, the only 
daughter, is the wife of William Gregory, 
a farmer of this township. 

The birth of William Robert Morris oc- 
curred on the old homestead. May 20. 1868. 

and here his boyh 1 days were passed in 

the usual quiet pursuits of country lads. 
After completing the curriculum of the com- 
mon schoi Is, he further qualified himself for 
life's duties by attending college at Dixon. 
Illinois, where he was a student for two 
years. He then returned home and assidu- 
ously devoted himself to the cultivation of 
the farm, deciding to make agriculture his 
chief business in the future. Since 1890 
he has had entire charge of the old farm, 
and now manages about four hundred acres 
of well cultivated and highly desirable land. 
He is practical and in sympathy with the 
progressive spirit of the age, and it is safe 
to predict for him wealth and prominence, 
though these things are not his chief aspira- 
tions. 

On the 27th of May. 1887. Mr. Moms 
married Ella < '>. Blake, daughter of Daniel 
Blake, of Cornell, her native place. Seven 



children bless the union of this sterling 
couple, namely: Fred. Lena. Robert B., 
Gertrude. Chester Warner. Daniel B. and 
Mary Geneva. 

In his political faith Mr. Morris is a 
Democrat. For himself he has never as- 
pired to public office, as he finds his time 
fully occupied in attending to his manifold 
business affairs. Yielding to duty and the 
desires of his neighbors, he has officiated as 
district clerk and on the board of education, 
giving his influence to all measures calcu- 
lated to benefit the community permanently 
in his opinion. 



HEXRY J. SAXTELMAX. 

Henry J. Santelman, one of the leading 
agriculturists of Newton township, whose 
home is on section 14, has been a resident of 
Livingston county since 1884. He is a na- 
tive of Illinois, born in La Salle county, De- 
cember 21. 1862. and is a son of Henry and 
Sophia (Freeman) Santelman, natives of 
I lermany, who came to this country in early 
life and were married in La Salle count}-. 
By trade the father was a glazier, but here 
he devoted his attention to farming, and 
although he had no capital with which to be- 
gin life, he worked hard and at the time of 
his death, which occurred March 12. 1898, 
he owned two hundred and forty acres of 
valuable land, acquired through his own 
well-directed efforts. He was seventy-three 
years of age at the time of his death. In 
politics he was always a Republican, and 
both he and his wife. were< members of the 
( irnnan Evangelical church. She is still 
living at the age of sixty years, and makes 
her home in Sunbury township, Livingston 
county. In their family were nine chil- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



35' 



dren, namely: Charles, who nuns and op- 
erates a farm of one hundred and sixty acres 
in Sunbury township; Amelia, wife of Will- 
iam RusSOW, who lias a farm of two hundred 
and eighty acres in Newtown township; 
Henry J., our subject; Mary, wife of Chris- 
tian Cates, of La Salle count) ; Frederick, a 
resident of Sunbury township; William, who 
lives on the home place in La Salle county; 
Edward, who works for his brother Charles; 
Albert, who is with his mother; and Joseph, 
who is with his brother Charles. 

The subject of this review received his 
education in the common schools oi La 
Salle county, and remained at home until 
attaining his majority. On January i, [885, 
he married Miss Sophia l'.eckman. who was 
born in Germany, December 3, [863, and 
when seventeen years of age came to Amer- 
ica with her mother and the ether children 
of the family, the father having died pre- 
viously. She has one brother, John, who 
owns and operates a farm in Rock county, 
Minnesota, and a sister. Mary, wife of 
Charles Santelman. 'The mother is Mill liv- 
ing with her children at the age of seventy- 
three years. .Mr. and Mrs. Santelman have 
six children: Hilda, born September 27, 
[885; Ella, September 17. [889; Walter. 
December 7. [891; Laura, September 7. 
1894; Fred, January _>}. [897; and Roy, 
February u, 1900. 

On starting out in life for himself Mr. 
Santelman's father gave him five hundred 
dollars, a team and some farming imple- 
ments. For nine years he successfully en- 
gaged in farming in Sunbur) township, and 
on selling his propertj there bought his 
present farm of one hundred and ninety 
acres in Newtown township, for which he- 
paid fiftj eight dollars per acre. This he 
has tiled and further improved, and a- a 



thorough and practical farmer he i« meeting 
with well-deserved success, lie possesses 
many of the admirable characteristics of his 
German ancestors, being industrious, ener- 
getic and persevering, and i> highlj re- 
spected bj all who know him. As a Repub- 
lican he takes quite an active interest in po- 
litical affairs, hut has nevei eared for office, 
though he is serving a- school director in 
his district. Religiously he 1- a member of 
the Evangelical church, as i- also his wife. 



II \MM< ).\D A. PEARS< IX. 

Hammond A. Pearson, a prominent 
farmer of Nebraska township, and a worthy 
representative of one of the honored pi 
families of Livingston county, was horn 
here, October 5, [857, a -on of \hel and 
Mary A. (Bloodworth) Pearson, both na- 
tives of England, the former born al I y ■ 1 • 1 . 
St. Mary's, Lincolnshire. August 24, 1826, 
the latter at Tidd. St. Giles, January 15. 
[823. It was in [849 that the father en 
the broad Atlantic, and after spending one 
in m Rochester, New York, came to 
Illinois, settling at Walnut Grove, now Eu- 
reka, Woodford counts. In May. 1856, he 
located on the west half of the northeast 
quarter of section 21, Nebraska township. 
Livingston county, for winch he paid 
seventy-five cents per acre, and the grant for 
which he received from President Buchanan, 
April 15, 1857. On the uth of February, 

1X7,,. lie bought the east half of the north- 
west quarter from Joseph II. Stht. at thirty- 
five dollars pel id the west half of the 
northwest quarter from Thomas Ward. Jan- 
uary _'4. 1X711. There he successfully en- 
gaged in farming until [889, when he moved 



352 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ti> Flanagan and laid aside all business cares. 
living retired until his death, which occurred 
Decemher 3 1 . [893. 

On the 26th of October, 1851, Abel Pear- 
son married Alary A. Bloodworth, the cere- 
mony being performed by William .Martin, 
justice of the peace, at Metamora, Illinois. 
She came to this country in that year, and 
died April 9, 1896. Jn their family were the 
following children: Susan A., born Sep- 
tember 18, 1852, was married December .24, 
1S7J, to Thomas Bennett, of Nebraska town- 
ship. Livingston county; Abraham \\ .. burn 
January 1, 1854. died the following Octo- 
ber: Mahala, born March 4, 1855, was mar- 
ried February 16, [875, to F. II. Marti. 1. a 
native of Livingston county, but now of 
Goldfield, Iowa; Matilda J., born May 3. 
[856, was married September 16, 1885, to 
George Woodworth, of Nebraska township; 
Hammond A., our subject, is next in order 
of birth; Clark, horn November 7, 1859, died 
September 20, t88o; ami Abel, born May 3. 
1861, died October 6, [862. 

During his boyhood and youth Ham- 
mond A. Pearson attended the district 
schools, and on the home farm acquired an 
excellent knowledge of all the duties which 
fall to the lot i.if the. agriculturist. Since 
starting out in life for himself he has devoted 
his time and energies to farming, and has 
met with good success in his chosen occu- 
pation. I le was married, January 18, 1883. 
to Mi>s Fannie Wadsworth, a daughter of 
William Wadsworth, of El Paso, Woodford 
county, who wa> residing in McLean county 
at the time of their marriage. They have 
two children : Ernest I'... born May 6, 1886; 
and Myrta Maud l.ucile, horn August 10, 
1892. 

Mr. Pearsn is president of the Nebraska 
Mutual Insurance Company, and has effi- 



ciently served as school director in his dis- 
trict Cr ten years. He and his family are 
all members of the Christian church, and arc- 
held in high regard by all who know them. 



ELIJAH DEFEXBAUGH. 

Elijah Defenbaugh, deceased, was for 
many years a well-known and honored citi- 
zens of Reading township. Livingston coun- 
ty, Illinois. He was horn in Ross county, 
Ohio, March <;. [828, a son of Daniel and 
Nancy 1 Armstrong) Defenbaugh, natives of 
Perks county. Pennsylvania, the latter be- 
ing of Scotch-Irish descent. The Defen- 
baugh family is of Holland extraction, and 
was founded in the United States at a very 
early day. < >ur subject's grandfather. 
George Defenbaugh, moved from Pennsyl- 
vania to Ohio, when the latter state was al- 
most an unbroken wilderness, and in the 
midst of the forest he made for himself a 
home. There the father. Daniel Defenbaugh, 
spent his entire life as a millwright. He 
died and was buried in Ross county. In 
his family were ten children, namely: James. 
George, Elijah, Thomas and Caroline, all 
now deceased; tsaac, Allen. Martin. Mar- 
garet, and Angeline, now Jiving. 

In the county of his nativity, Elijah I )ef- 
enbaugh grew to manhood, receiving a com- 
mon-school educatii m. and in early life work- 
in- as a farm laborer for eight or ten dollars 
per month. On October 5, 1851, he married 
his cousin. Mi^s Catherine Defenbaugh, a 
daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Good- 
man) Defenbaugh, also natives ol Penn- 
sylvania. 'I'he father was the oldest son 
of George Defenbaugh previously referred 
to. lie was killed by a fall which broke his 




ELIJAH DEFENBAUGH. 




MRS. CATHERINE DEFENBAUGH. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 






back. By trade lie was a tanner. Neither 
he nor his wife ever came west to live. 
Their children were John. Daniel, Pi 
Elizabeth, Henry. Catherine, Adam, Duma, 
Esther, Joseph, Amos and Maria, six of 
whom are still living. < If the ten children 
born to our subject and his wife the oldesl 
died in infancy; Ammon and Alfred are 
both at home with their mother; Harvey is 
running an elevator in Reading, Illinois; 
Lucretia is the wife of Gideon Slaughter- 
back, of Indiana: Milton is a resident of 
Reading township, Livingston county. Illi 
nois; Ephraim died at the age of eighteen 
years; Dora died at the age of three years; 
George died al the age of one month; and 
l.oua did at the age of four years. 

Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Defenbaugh came to Livingston county. Illi- 
nois, and entered eighty acre- of land in 
Reading township, fur which he paid one 
dollar and a quarter per acre. At that time 
it was all wild prairie land, deer and wolves 
were -till to he seen in this region, and the 
early settler^ would get up parties to go oul 
and kill the latter to keep them fn im destri iy 
ing their stock. From time to time Mr. 
Defenbaugh added to his landed possessions 
until he had 1 1\ ei twelx e hundred acr 
laud, and through iut his active busines 

successfully engaged in general farm- 
ing and stock raising. ()n coming to this 
state lie had only three hundfi irs in 

money, a team and wagon; hut being indus- 
trious, energetic and well 

man of g l business and executive 

ability, he prospered in his undertakings 
acquired a handsome competence. He 
his wife experienced many of the hardships 
and privations incident to frontier life. It 
took them four weeks to drive ai 

country to their new home in Illinois, there 
is 



thai time, and from 
their doorway they c uld 1 

to he bi prairie with 

Lbitations. Mr. 1 lefenbaugh helped to 
haul ties for the first railroad built through 
i. and his w jfe spun wi k il and made 
clothes for her family, lie died December 
386, and was laid to rest in Defenbaugh 
cemetery. Reading township. In his polit- 
ical views he was a Democrat, but never 
cared for official honors, though he served 
as school director in his district. His 
was never withheld from any enterprise 
which he believed calculated to prove of 
public benefit, and in his death the com- 
munity realized that it had lost one of its 
valuable and useful citizens. 



SIMI ).\ JAMISt IN. 

Simon Jamison has been a resident 
Livingston county since the fall of 1868, 
and was for many years actively engaged in 
agricultural pursuits, but is now living a. 
1 life in the village of Cornell. Ik- 
was horn in I niitv. ( Ihio, May 31, 
1837, a son of William and Sarah C. (.Ad- 
ams) Jamison, the former a native of Wash- 
ington county, Pennsylvania, the lain 

county. Mis paternal grand- 

father was William Jamisi >u. Sr., who v, 
Irish parentagi lied in Ohio in 1821. 

i.ither was horn about 1813, and was. 
when the family ren 
to the Buckeye state, his early lil 
in Ross county, where he and hi thers 

cleared and improved a farm. Later he 
lived in 1 county. < >hi. .. an. I 

inn in M mty, 

e died in iSSj. I [is wife 



358 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



survived him a number of years, dying in 
December, [894. 

Simon Jamison grew to manhood upon 
a farm in Fayette county, Ohio, and at- 
tended the public scl Is I" si line extent. 

but at the age of fourteen commenced earn- 
ing his own livelihood by working by the 
month as a farm hand, and later was em- 
ployed as engineer in a grist-mill at Jasper 
for six yeai>. In Fayette county he mar- 
ried, January (>. 1859, to Miss Mary E. 
Cline, a native of that county and a daugh- 
ter of George Cline. who was born in Cul- 
peper county, Virginia, in 1809. but was 
reared in Clinton county, < >hio. In Fayette 
county, that Mate. Mr. Cline married Cather- 
ine logins, who was horn in that county 
March 7. 1813, and belonged to one of the 
early families of Ohio. He followed farm- 
ing in Fayette county until his death, which 
parted this life January 29, 1894, both being 
laid to rest in Bush cemetery, where a sub- 
stantial monument has been erected to their 
memory. Mrs. Jamison's paternal grand- 
father. Philip Cline, was also a native of Vir- 
ginia. Our subject and his wife are the 
parents of three children, namely: Edward 
A., a business man of Pontiac and Cornell, 
married and has one son, Clarence, who lives 
with his grandparents; Cary A., a fanner of 
Amity township, is married and has three 
children. Stella. Harold and Ross;and Cath- 
erine is the wife of Professor Clarence E. 
De Butts, superintendent of the Fairbury 

ools, and they have two children. Cary 
and Dean. 

Mr. Jamison engaged in farming on 
rented land in Fayette comity, Ohio, until 
[868, and then came to Livingston county, 
Illinois, locating on a rented farm in Amity 
township, which he purchased afterward, 
after living there for four years. It con- 



sists of one hundred and sixty acres of land. 
and to its further improvement and culti- 
vation he devoted his time and attention for 
many years. lie erected a good residence. 
barn, granary, cribs and sheds, set out an 
orchard, and otherwise improved the place 
until it is now- a valuable farm. In 1888 
he rented it and moved to Cornell, where he 
has built a large, neat residence, one of the 
nicest in the village. He was in the store 
i>\ his son for about six years after coming 
to this place, but is now practically living 
retired, though he oversees the management 
of his place. His success in life is clue en- 
tirely to his own well-directed efforts, for he 
came to this state empty-handed and has 
made what he has by industry, perseverance 
and good management. 

Mr. Jamison cast his first presidential 
vote for Stephen A. Douglas, the Little 
Giant, and has since been an ardent Demo- 
crat, and has been a delegate to the county 
conventions of his part. lie served fifteen 
years as highway commissioner and nine 
as township trustee with credit to himself 
and to the entire satisfaction of all con- 
cerned. His estimable wife is a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal church of Cornell, 
and both are held in high regard by all who 
hiii 'W them. 



IRA M. KNIGHT. 

M. Knight, a well-known farmer of 
section ij;, Germanville township. Living- 
n county, is a native of Illinois, his birth 
having occurred in Will county. August 
23, [861. His father. Marshall 1'.. Knight. 
rn in Susquehanna county, Pennsyl- 
vania. April 5. [831, and was a son of 
Amasa and Lovina Knight, natives of Yer- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



3 59 



who in [845 brought their family to 
Illinois. locating first near Ottawa, where 
they engaged in farming. \.masa Ki 
died 111 (850, when well advanced in life. 
and his wife, who survived him some years, 
if smallpox in Bureau county, this state, 
shall B. Knight grew to manhood upon 
his lather's farm, and after the latter'- 
operated the place for some years. In (851 
he married Miss Althere C. Tillotson and 
they made their home m La Salle county 
f r a time. Subsequently he was thus en- 
1 in fanning in Will county for about 
ten years, and then moved to the northern 
part of Ford county, where he full, .wed the 
same occupation five years. Selling his 
farm of one hundred and sixty acre 
1N74. lie came to Livingston county, ami 
purchased three hundred and twenty acres 
on section 13. Germanville township, to 
the improvement and cultivation of which 
he devoted his energies until hi- death. 
which occurred December 4. [895. He was 
a public-spirited and enterprising man. who 
advocated all measures tending to the ad 
vancement and improvement of the locality, 
and was a stanch supporter of the Repub 
lican party, lie served as school director two 
of three terms, hut never cared for political 
preferment. His widow, who still survives 
him. continues to reside on the old h 
stead nil section [3, Germanville township, 
hem were born nine children, namely: 
Mary, wife of Fred I >. I'ettis. ><\ Xehra-ka: 
Almecla, wife of Charles Rudd, a carpenter 
of Joliet, Illinois; George, twin broth 
Almeda. who died at the age 1 if one yea 
a half: Warren, who resides on the home 
: Ira M.. our subject; Elmer, who mar- 
Ella Nagle and lives on section 1.; 
manville township; Ellen, twin - 
Elmer and wife of William Marsh, a well 



driller of Buckingham, Illinois; Alice, win.. 
first married M. J. Davis, and second Hil- 
1 ampbell. veterinary surgeon and post- 
master of Roberts, Illinois; Eva, wife of 
Thadeus Hedger of the same place. 

Ira M. Knight was educated in the pub 
Is 1 if Ford and I.i\ ingston o unities, 
and remained under the parental roof until 
twenty eight years of age, when he located 
upon his present farm of eighty acn 
section 13, Germanville township, given him 
by h:- father. He has since made many 
improvements upon the place, and it is now 
one of the most highly cultivated tracts ,,f 
land in that locality. The Knight family 
have been prominently identified with the 
development of the comity, and have been 
instrumental in transfi inning the wild prairie 
into one of the richest agricultural districts 
of the state. 

'in the 13th of November, 1889, in 
Brenton township. Ford county. Mr. 
Knight was united in marriage with Miss 
Hannah Holmes, one of a family of nine 
children, all living, whose parents are Chris- 
tian and Maria (Hanson) Holmes, promi 
in nt agriculturists 1 if that ci ntnty. < hir sub- 
ject and his wife have two children: Al- 
there ( '. horn on the home place in Li> 
ton county April 4. [890, and Gladys M.. 
horn January u. iN< 

Christian Holmes was born in Denmark 
February u>. 1842. He was educated in his 
native land and at the age of twenty-five 
years emigrated to Vmerica. He w 

nter by trade, havii . his ap- 

prenticeship in the land of his birth. When 
he came to this country he first located in 
Nashville. Washington county. [Hit 
where he worked at his trade a few yi 

iie removed to Normal. Illinois, where 
■ . worked at his trade until he wa 



360 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ligecl to discontinvie it on account of failing- 
health, in 1875. At this time he concluded 
to engage in the more healthful pursuit of 
tilling the soil. He accordingly purchased 
eight v acres of land in Brenton township, 
Ford county, Illinois, where he immediately 
moved with his family and still reside- on 
thi> farm of his first purchase. He also 
has purchased one hundred and ninety-two 
acres more since that time, which is under 
a hue state of cultivation and which ranks 
Mr. Holmes among the extensive land own- 
ers of that prosperous community. He was 
married, at Chicago, Illinois, in April. 1869, 
to Miss Maria Hansen, who was also a na- 
tive of Denmark. She came to this country 
in 1869 and they were married upon her 
arrival here. They reared a family of nine 
children, seven of whom are living, viz.: 
Hannah C. : Mrs. I. M. Knight: Louis, who 
resides near Piper City. Illinois: George, 
same place: Minnie, at home: John, at home: 
Freddie, at home: Willie, at home. Mr. 
Holmes has never a-pired to political office, 
lint has served his township on several oc- 
casion-, as school director. He is a stanch 
Republican, and the family are adherents 
to the Presbyterian faith. 



HENRY M. CORNELL. 

Henry M. Cornell, one of the honored 
pioneers of Livii 1 >unty and a veteran 

of the Civil war, is now living- a retired life 
in the village of Cornell, quietly enjoying 
the income which he accumulated in former 
years. 1 le has made his home in this coun- 
ty since the spring of [840 and can relate 
many interesting incidents of the days when 
- all wild and unimpn>\ 



He has seen towns and villages spring up 
and all the comforts of civilized life intro- 
duced, and in the work of advancement and 
progress he has ever borne an important 
part. 

Mr. Cornell was horn in Newport, 
Rhode Island. September 4. 1836, and be- 
longs to a family of English origin founded 
in this country by three brothers, one of 
whom settled in Canada, the second in New 
York ami the third in Rhode Island. All 
were members of the Society of Friends, 
to which faith the ancestors of our subject 
have adhered for many generations. His 
grandfather, Walter Cornell, was a life-long 
resident of Rhode Island. The father, Wal- 
ter Cornell, Jr., was born in Newport, that 
state. April 3. 1811, -and there married 
Sarah C. Eldred, a native of Connecticut, 
anil a daughter of John Eldred. who be- 
longed to an old New England family. The 
original Eldred homestead is still in pus- 
session of the family and adjoins the birth- 
place of Commodore Perry. In early life 
the father of our subject was interested in 
the manufacture of cotton goods and was 
superintendent of factories. He came west 
in [838 and first located in Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin, but in the fall of the same year 
came to Illinois to take charge of a Stationary 

ne used in digging- the canal. In [837 
lie entered two hundred acres of government 
land in Amity township, Livingston, which 

o immenced b > impn >ve, and in [840 re- 
turned t ' Kb' ide Island and brought his fam- 
ily to the home he bad prepared for them, 
the journey being made by way of the gr< 
lakes. In connection with farming he en- 
gaged in raisin- stock, fattening cattle and 
hogs, which he drove to the Chicago mar- 
kets, lie was one of the best educated 
' well informed men of the county, as 



Till' 1'dOGRAl'IIICAL RECORD. 






well as one of its most prominent and in- 
fluential citizens, and was honored with im- 
portant official positions, serving as super- 
visor, superintendent of schools and county 
treasurer three years, lie died in [895, 
highly respected by all who know him. 
Of his family two sons are still living: 
Henry M.. our subject, and Walter B., a 
resident of < Teat Bend, Kan 

Henry M. Cornell was only four years 
old when the family settled in Living 
county, where he grew to manhood upon a 
farm, lfis educational advantages were 
rather limited, as the schools of this 1, 
at that day were much inferior to those of 
the present time. At the age of twenty he 
started cut in life for himself as a farmer, 
hut later rented his farm and traveled some. 
In [861, at the opening of the Civil war. he 
enlisted in Company II, Eleventh [llinois 
Cavalry, which was assigned to the Army 
df the Tennessee, and his first battle was thai 
hi" Shiloh, followed by the siege of Corinth. 
He was in five important battles and a num- 
ber of skirmishes, being under fire twenty- 
eight times, lie was taken prisoner h\ I 01 
est at Lexington, Tennessee, hut was soon 
paroled, when he came north and was pul 
in charge of paroled men until exchanged 
He was put mi detached dut\ as pro- 
vost marshal at Grand Junction, Missis 
sippi, for a lime, and was promoted from 
orderly sergeant to first lieutenant, lie 
lost no time except when granted a short 
furlough, hut was at length forced to resign 
and was mustered nut on account of disabil- 
ity, being taken home on a bed. When he 
had sufficiently recovered he resumed farm- 
ing, hut si 'Id his farm a few years later and 
moved t" the southern part of the state. 
In [871, however, he returned to Livini 
county, and purchased his old place in Amity 



ti 'W iishi]), which he has since greatly im- 
I le laid 1 mt that part of the 

I ornell north of Main street and which 
was named for the family, and has since <le- 

nsiderable attention to tl • 
tate business, but is now living n I 

On the 1st nf January. [861, in Livin 
ton county, Mr. Cornell married Miss Mary 
S. C01 of William Coe. She- 

was born in Covington, Indiana, but was 
principally reared in Illinois, and died in 
this county January 3, [890, leaving nine 
children, two suns and seven daug 
namely: Dick II.. who has successfully 

ged in teaching school and served as a 
soldier of the Spanish-American war. being 
with the army in Porto Rico; Walter, who 
is now among the Indians in northwestern 
Minnesota; S. Lillian, who is a graduate of 
Eureka College, and was formerly engaged 
in teaching school, but is nov\ a resident of 
( Teat I '.end. Kansas; Lora I... who 1 
school five years, and is now the wife of C. 
W. Iladley. of Cuba, Missouri: Matt i- 
who also taught live years, and is now the 
wife of Stephen Dunbar, of Cornell: Ber- 
tha E., who followed the same pi 
five years, and is now the wife of Irwin 
Finley, who was deputy sheriff of Livings- 
Olinty four years and is now a resident 
itherville, Iowa: roe 1 ».. a lead:, 
siding at home; l.ulu. also a teacher; and 
Ada. at home. 

Politically Mr. ('ornell has been a life- 
Republican, and has been a deli 
to a number of county conventions, hut has 
never sought though hi ' one 

term as supervisor. Fraternally he 
member of * Cornell I ' V K .. and is 

a Royal Arch Mason, who three 

master of the blue lodgi 
nell. As a liberal-minded and pi 



362 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



citizen lie has aided materially in the de- 
velopment of his adopted county, has given 
his support to all enterprises calculated to 
prove of public benefit, and is justly entitled 
to prominent mention among her most hon- 
ored and useful citizens. 



I HRISTOPHER C. LEONARD. 

Christopher C. Leonard, an honored vet- 
eran of the Civil war, and a successful agri- 
culturist of Newtown township, has heen 
identified with the interests of Livinsrston 
county for almost half a century, having lo- 
cated here in 1852. He was born in Brad- 
ford county. Pennsylvania, April 26, [836, 
and is a son of Edmnud D. and Elizabeth 
H. 1 Remington) Leonard, natives of Mas- 
sachusetts and New York, respectively. In 
earlv life the father followed different occu- 
pations, hut after coming to Illinois, in 1852, 
lie devoted his attention to farming exclu- 
sively, lie took up one hundred and sixty 
acre- of government land in New ton town- 
ship. Livingston county, which was wild 
prairie land, entirely unimproved, and he 
and our subject at once began to break it 
and continued to work together for some 
time. The family endured many hardships 
and privations incident to pioneer life, and 
at first had to haul all their produce to ( )t- 
tawa. which was the nearest market place. 
The two olde-sl sons worked out at twelve 
dollars per month and paid for the land. 
while the father and our subject devoted 
their energies towards its improvement. 
The father died in t86o, hut the mother. 
who was horn January 24, 1808, is still liv- 
ing. To them were born nine children, of 
whom one died in infancy; Franklin, the 



•i son, died in the service of hi- country 
during the civil war. heing a member of 
Company <■. One Hundred and Twenty- 
ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry; Mrs. 
Harriet Jacobs died in Lord county. Illinois; 
and Mrs. Mary Ide in Aconda, Livingston 
county. Those living are Myra, wife of 
Andrew Stewart, of Kempton, Ford coun- 
ty ; Ri pso >e, whi 1 ( iwns a part of the 1 ild hi me 
farm in Newton township; Christopher C, 
our subject; Sarah, wife of Andrew Hi ob- 
ler, of Streator; and Isabelle, wife of John 
L. Cusick, of Newton township. 

Christopher C. Leonard began his edu- 
cation in the schools of his native state, 
and after coming to Illinois, at the age of 
ten years, attended school in Livingston 
county for a time. He remained under the 
parental roof until he was married, in [858, 
to Miss Mary Mason, who was horn in 
Michigan, in August, (838, a daughter of 
Enoch and Elizabeth Mason. Her family 
came to Livingston county in 1852 and set- 
tled on the farm in Newton township now 
occupied by our subject, where her parents 
died. She has one brother, George, a 
farmer in h >w a. 

For a year and a half after his marriage 
Mr. Leonard engaged in farming in Amity 
township. Livingston county, and then re- 
turned to Newton township. After the 
civil war hroke out he laid aside all per- 
sonal interests, and enlisted, in August, 
(862, in Company A. One Hundred and 
Twenty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
with which he served until the close of the 
war. heing all through the Atlanta cam- 
paign and taking part in many battles. He 
entered the service as a private, and when 
discharged. June 17. 1865, held the rank of 
corporal. After his return home Mr. Leonard 
operated his mother's farm until the death 



THE BI< (GRAPHICAL RECORD. 






of his wife's parents, when he purchased 
the interest of the heirs in the farm which 
lie now occupies. It i ne hun- 

dred and forty-two acres of rich and arable 
land on section ,,4. Newtown township, upon 
which lie has made all of the improvemei 
and he alsi 1 1 iwns fi irt) ai ! ■ vn- 

ship. In [898 he purchased 
in Manville, which he now operates in part- 
nership with his son. This property has all 
been acquired through hi- own well-directed 
and energetic efforts, for Ik t in 

life i'< >r himself with ne cap 
of willing hands and a determination to 
succeed. 

Of the nine children bom to Mr. and 
Mrs. Leonard, one died in The 

others are as follows: 11) Edwin, a 
tanner of Newton township, married Effie 
Hoenshell, and they have three children. 
Lloyd, David C. and Lela. {2) < Hivia is 
with her parents. (3) Emily is the wife 
.'f John Weidman, a farmer of McHenry 
county, Illinois, and they have six children, 
Ervie, Arthur. Lawrence. Bertha, Mary and 
Roy. 14) Clora is the wife 1 f Alvin Gil- 
man, nf Newtown township, and they have 
three children. Mary. Alma and Lula B. 
151 Ira. a resident of Amity township, 
married Lizzie Gilman, and they have two 
children. Alma and Ralph. (6) Andrew. 

• of Amity township, married Ada 
Walker, and they have one daughter, Flor- 
ence. (7) Frank is at home with his par- 
ents. (8) Fred married Ine 1. Davis, and 
is now a partner of his father's store in 
Manville. 

Since casting his first presidential 
for John ('. Fremont, Mr. Le nard has 
been a stanch supporter of the Republican 
party, and ha> taken quite an and 

prominent part in local politics, holding 



fi >r se\eral years. I !< 
served a- road commissioner six ,■ 
school din three 

and assessor, two years, her e 
to the last named office for 1901. In 1890 
he was appointed census enumerator, and 
has been a delegate t" the county conven- 
tions of his party, lie is an 1 mem- 
ber of the Grand Army Post, X". 76 
ell, in which he lias held all the ol 
and is an active member of the Meht 
Episcopal church, to which his estimable 
wife also belongs. 11 is useful and well- 
spent life has gained for him not only a. 
comfortable competence, but also the re- 
spect and confidence of all with whom he 
ome in contact cither in busines 
al life. 



(.. E. Rl >HRER. 

<!. H. Rohrer, a popular and successful 
photographer of Flanagan, was born in 
Rutland, La Salle county, Illinois, Septem- 
ber 20, [866, and is a soil of Linannel and 
Harriet ( Koontz) Rohrer, natives of Mary- 
land, who came to this state in 1*44. 
and first located in Chicago, which at 
that time was a mere village. Six years 
later they moved t<> Champaign, where the 

died November _•_•. 1869 
then the family have made their home in 
Rutland. The children an- as follows: 
John, a harness-maker of Rutland; Henri- 
etta, wife of < 1. B. Horner, of Lincoln, E Hi— 
\aiMii. a machinist of Rutland; Will- 
iam, a grocer of that place: Elizabeth, wife 
of L. \V. Kelly, "f Rutland; Silas, f, , ; , 
of the Kansas City Transfer Company; 
Charles, a barber of Rutland; and <i L. 
our subject. 



3"4 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



In his native town G. E. Rohrer grew 
to manhood and is indebted to its public 
schools for his educational adventages. At 
the age of seventeen he commenced working 
at the barber's trade there, and on coming 
to Flanagan in 1885, opened a barber shop, 
which he successfully conducted until March, 
1899, when he sold out. In connection 
with the barber business he had been en- 
gaged in photography for ten years, and 
since disposing of the former lie has de- 
voted 1: time and attention to the 
latter, lie is well known for the excellency 
of his work and receives a very extensive 
patri mage. 

I in the 28th of May. r88q, Mr. Rohrer 
married Miss Carrie Willoughby, of Rut- 
land, who presides with gracious dignity 
over their home. As a public-spirited and 
progressive citizen, he takes considerable 
interest in the welfare and progress of his 
town, and has served several year- as a 
member of the board of trustees of Flana- 
gan. Politically he is identified with the 
Republican party. 



WILLIAM II. ROTH. 

William II. Ruth, owner and proprietor 
the leading machine and repair shop of 
Pontiac, was born in Lacon, Illinois, Sep- 
tember .}. [860. His father. Henry Roth, 
was burn in iNjj. near Cologite, Germany, 
where he was reared and educated, and for 
some time he was a soldier in the German 
army taking an active part in the war of 
1848. In 1852, "it the expiration of his 
term of enlistment, he 'came to the United 
States and located in La Salle county, Illi- 
nois, where he worked "ii a farm, having 



become thoroughly familiar with agricultural 
pursuits in his native land. While in La 
Salle lie was married t" Elizabeth Weber, 
win 1 was also born in Cologne, Germany, in 
1831. After hi> marriage he settled near 
Lacon, where he operated a rented farm two 
years, and then, having been able to save 
some money, lie purchased eighty acres of 
raw prairie land, which he at once com- 
menced to improve and cultivate. He has 
since added to his farm and now has a 
quarter-section of land in Bennington town- 
ship, .Marshall county, all tiled and under 
a high state of cultivation, it being one 1 if the 
best kept farms in the township. There 
the father still resides and continues to en- 
gage in active fanning. He came to this 
country with no capital and the first year 
worked lor twelve dollars per month, bur 
his ability and fixed purpose have brought 
him independence, and he is now one of the 
successful and highly respected men of his 
locality, lie and his wife are members of 
the Catholic church at Minonk, were among 
the first to unite with the same, have con- 
tributed liberally to its support and helped 
to build the church edifice. The father also 
helped build the first school house in his dis- 
trict. In his family are seven children who 
are still living. 

During his boyhood William 11. Roth 
received a good practical education in the 
common schools, and being an inveterate 
reader he has stored up a large fund of use- 
ful information and has acquired a line li- 
brary, lie ;i"i~ieil his father in the opera- 
tion of the farm until twenty-four years of 
age, and after working for others one yi 
he traveled through the west on a sorl 
inspect! hi tour. On his return to Marshall 
county, Illinois, he worked on a farm in 
Bennington township four years, and then 




WILLIAM H. ROTH. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 






came to Union township, Livingston county, 
where he was similarly employed. 

On Thanksgiving day, November 27, 
[881, Mr. Roth married Mi s< atherine Hor- 
bach, a daughter of John Horbach, who 
who was bom near Colo nany, and 

have bei 
dren, namely: M . William, Mary 

111 

For four years after his marriage, Mr. 
Roth engaged in farming near Emington, 
and then came to Ponl :re he was em 

ployed as engineer at the tile factory two 
years, having previously become familiar 
with the duties of that position. Liking the 
work he decided to follow the machinist's 
and opened a shop of his own, buying 
his present property at No. 417 West 
Howard street. He now has the principle 
machine shop in Pontiac and has met with 
marked success in this venture, being em- 
inently fitted for that line of work. Besides 
his business property Mr. Ruth now owns a 

g 1 house and two lots in the west pan 

of the town. 1 1 i- success in life is due en- 
tirely to hi> own well-directed efforts and 

g 1 business ability. 1 le and his family are 

members of St. Mary's Catholic church, and 

he also belongs to the Modern W Imen 

of America and the Toilers Fraternity". 



THi m \s g. in 1. km in. 

Thomas G. Ryerson has witnessed al- 
most the entire do el ipmenl 1 if 1 .i\ ini 
county, and has contributed his full share 
to this grand work. By concentrated effort 
and indefatigable energy he has wrought 
out success, and now, in his declining years. 
is reaping the just re\ years 



"i toil. Commencing life, a stranger in a 
strange land, without a dollar, and. in 
in debt for the cost of his 
the Atlantic, he certainly has displayed a 
fortitude and application to business ami nmt- 

-m. 

The career of Mr Ryerson p 
much that is worthy of emulation by his 
posterity, and his many will take 

pleasure- in tracii \ ecord. Bi irn in 

Stavanger, Norway, September 8, 1834, he 

grew to manh 1 there, and obtained a fair 

education in his mother tongue. In 
pany with an older bn ither, ' He R> 1 
he emigrated to America in [855, and. at 
the end of a voyage that consumed 
weeks .and six days, they arrived at their 
destinatii m— Quel ning to CI 

by way of the great lakes, our subject then 
proceeded to Ottawa, where he witm 
the celebrations attendant on the fourth of 
July. lie was stricken with the typhoid 
fever, and during that summer was in very 
poot health in consequence. As s, , >n as 
lie was able to work the brave youtl 
tained a position on a farm, and foi 
eral years thereafter worked for othi 

( in the 14th of August, 1862, Mr. Ryer- 
son enlisted in the defense of his adopted 
country, becoming a member of Company 
F, One Hundred and Fourth Illinois In- 
fantry, which was placed in the Army of 

ennessee. At the tirst severe en 
ment in which our subject was engaged he 
was wounded by a shell in the right hip, 
and b disabled, was sent to the hos- 

pital at < i.illatin. lently 

he was transferred t 1 the hospital in Nash- 
ville, and then ne in Chicago. When 
he was convalescent he was honorably dis- 
charged from the army and returned I 
Salle county in April. i> 



368 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



When he had recovered a measure of 
his usual health. Mr. Ryerson resumed agri- 
cultural labors, and in 1865 came to Living- 

1 county. Here he bought eighty acres 
in Amity township, only thirty acres of 
which property had been broken and placed 
under the plow. A small cabin served as 
a In une for a period, but in time this was 
planted by a large, pleasant house, which 
was built under the owner's supervision. 
He also built barns, sheds and fences, ami 
planted an orchard and tine shade tree-. 
As he could afford it. he invested his surplus 
funds in more land, and to-day is the owner 
<f four hundred and seventy acres. Most 
of this is productive and valuable, land, 
yielding a generous return for the labor ex- 
pended upon it. 

The marriage of Mr. Ryerson and Liz- 
zie Larson, a native of Norway, took place 
in La Salle county in 1863. 'I he wife was 
a child of. yerhaps, twelve years, when she 
came to the United States, and. with her 
husband, she has been a faithful member 
of the Lutheran church since youth. To 
her helpfulness and brave spirit during the 
year.- of their struggle for a home and com- 
petence, Mr. Ryerson attributes much of 
his success in life. Two of their children 
died in infancy, hut nine survive. Louis 
is married and is a prosperous farmer in this 
district. Anna Belle is the wife of Rasmus 
Aarvig, of Pontiac. Theodore is the agent 
and telegraph operator for the Illinois Cen- 
tral Railroad Company at Cullom, Illinois. 
The younger children who are at home are 
named as follows: Oliver, Adolph, Mil- 
dred. I )avid, Clara and Mabel. 

Mr. Ryerson is especially desirous of 
giving his children good educations, know 

that thereby they will be fitted for the 
battle of life. He is deeply interested in 



the maintenance of schools of a high stand- 
ard, and for three terms has officiated as a 
member of the school board, doing all within 
his power to increase the efficiency of our 
educational system. In political creed be 
is a true-blue Republican, and since casting 
his first presidential ballot for Lincoln, in 
1864. he has ardently supported the party 
of his chi 'ice. 



ADAM E. MORRISON. 

Lixingston county attributes its wonder- 
ful growth and flourishing state to the fine, 
enterprising citizens classed among its agri- 
culturist-, and in Amity township the sub- 
ject of this article is one of the foremost. 
He is a native of Illinois, his birth having 
taken place in La Salle county. May 27, 
1858. 

His father. Adam Morrison, one of the 
honored pioneers of the county mentioned, 
was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in [827, 
and when he was in his eighteenth year be 
sailed for America, bis future home. He 
accompanied bis father. James Morrison, 
who likewise was a native of the land of the 
thistle and heather, and their first location 
in this country was at Eall River. Massa- 
chusetts. In 1S44 they removed to the 
west, and thenceforth were identified with 
this prairie state.. Adam Morrison, who 
for the past four years has been living re- 
tired at his home in Streator, was actively 
engaged in farming in l.a Salle county tor 
main- years. He made a success oi the 
business and accumulated considerable ex- 
cellent land, about three hundred acres being 
comprised in two or thro.- farms situated 
near Streator. His wife. Fanny, a daugh- 
ter of William Dickenson, was born in Man- 



llli: BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



3 r »9 



[it. England, and with the parental 
family came to the now world fifty-nine 
years ago, and, like the Morrisons, first set- 
tled in the pretty town of Fall River, M 
sachusetts. 

Adam F. Morrison, whose entire 
has been spent in Illinois, became familiar 
with the varied duties of a farmer when h .■ 
was a mere child, and it was not until he 
had fully arrived at mature years that he 
left home and started upon his independent 
eer. The must important step in his 
life, perhaps, was his marriage, July 23, 
1880, to Miss .Mary Welch, whose birth 
had occurred in Marshall county, [llinois. 
The young couple commenced keeping house 
upon one of the farms belonging to the 
senior Morrison, but by industry and econ- 
omy they managed to make a g 1 start to- 
ward financial success within three or four 
years. 

In [884 Mr. Morrison purchased a 
homestead of some eighty acres, situated in 
Livingston county. From time t'> time, as 
his means afforded, he bought additional 
land, until his farm comprises two hundred 
and five acres. By judicious expenditure 
■ if money he has greatl) increased the value 
of his land, and by tiling, fencing and rota- 
tion of crops, he has proved his enterprise 
and wisdom. For a period the family used 
an 1 >ld In aise and barn, hut now all is differ- 
ent, and a commodious new house and Darns 
and granaries bespeak the thrift of the pro- 
prietor. An orchard, in which a great va- 
riety nf fruits may he found, and an abund- 
ance of well trimmed shade trees about the 
farm, add much to the beauty and des 
hility 1 if the place. 

In all of his efforts to gain a livelih 1 

and pleasant home, Mr. Morrison has found 
a true helpmeet in his wife. She is a dauj 



ter of Noah Welch, a native of Kentucky, 
and from his fourteenth year a resident of 
Pennsylvania, Missouri and [llinois, his 
rival in tin- state occurring in the earlv part 
nf the (.'nil war. His wife. Jane. « 
daughter of Tared . both were Penn- 

sylvanians by birth. They were ma 
mar St. Joseph. Missouri, where the Welch 
family were then living. The four chil- 
dren born t" our subject and wife are \\ ill- 
iam M.. I.ee X.. Frank and Helen, all of 
win mi are promising - in the local 

>1. Mr. Morrison is a Democrat, hut 
he never has been an aspirant 1. 1 public 
honors. He commands the respect of this 
community, and his friends are legion 
throughout the northern part of this county, 
and wherever he is known. The family at- 
tend the Methodist Episcopal church. 



DENNIS GLIXNEN. 

Dennis Glinnen, one of the "Id setl 
and much respected citizens of Avoca town- 
ship and a resilient of Livingston county 
for over half a century, was hum in county 
Westmeath, Ireland. May 9, 1833, a son 
■ if Lames and Mary (Dunn) Glinnen, who 
emigrated t" America in [838 t" make a 
In une fur themselves and children. In Ire- 
land the father worked as a laborer and 
farmer, and mi first coming t" this country 
found employment in an iron foundry 111 
Sussex county. Maryland, where he re- 
mained a number of years. In November, 
1S44. he came t" Illinois, and six years later 
purchased a claim and also some govern- 
ment land in Livingston count v. owning at 
the time of his death, in 1858. two hundred 
and forty acres of land in Avoca township. 



37o 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



He was a self-made man. who started out 
in life as a poor laborer, and by hard work 
and good management, as well as honest 
dealings, not only won a comfortable com- 
petence, but also commanded the respect of 
all with whom he came in contact. Of his 
seven children three died young, and four 
are still living, namely: Dennis, the sub- 
ject of this sketch; Mary, wife of John 
Monahan, who lives north of Chatsworth, 
in Charlotte township; Christopher, a resi- 
dent mi" Avoca township; and Matthew, who 
owns and occupies the old home farm. 

During his boyhood Dennis Glinnen 
received a very limited education, which 
was mostly acquired in the home schools, 
but schools were scarce in those days and 
boys had no such opportunities as are now 
offered. After the death of his father he 
assumed control of the farm work, being 
the oldest son. and for a number of year- 
carried it on very successfully. At length 
the property was divided among the heirs 
ami the homestead fell to the youngest son, 
with whom our subject lives. They have 
made extensive improvements upon the 
place, erecting barns and feeding sheds for 
the accommodation of their stock, and have 
fully tiled the land and placed it under a 
high state of cultivation. Thev make a 
specialty of the raising of cattle and hogs. 
( >ur subject is the owner of eleven hundred 
acres of land in the belt of the most fertile 
land in the township, upon which he super- 
intends the raising and leading of stock, 
which enterprise he has carried on mosl 
successfully for some years. Since 1885 
he has lived retired from active labor and 
now rents a part of his land, though he still 
ha- general supervision of the same and 
attends to all repairs. 

Religiously Mr. Glinnen is a devout 



member of the Catholic church and a liberal 
supporter of the same. On national issues 
he is a Democrat, but at local elections votes 
for the men whom he considers best quali- 
fied to fill the offices regardless of party 
lines. He has served as school director in 
his district for twenty years, and also filled 
the office of road commissioner in a most 
creditable and satisactory manner. Though 
quiet and unassuming, he makes many 
friends, and is held in high regard by all 
with whom he comes in contact. 



HEXRY GRIESER. 

Henry Grieser, one of the industrious, 

enterprising and successful citizens of Waldo 
township, who has done his part toward 
making Livingston county one of the fore- 
most agricultural counties of the state, was 
bom in Germany. May 12, 1848, a son of 
Christian and Catherine Grieser. He lost 
his mother when only two years old, and 
his father died two years later. He was 
thus left an orphan at the earlv a.ee of four 
years. He was reared and educated in his 
native land, and emigrated to America in 
1868. locating in Woodford county, Illinois, 
where he made his home for four years. 
In 1872 he came to Livingston county and 
located in Waldo townhsip, with whose 
farming interests lie has since been promi- 
nently identified. Throughout his active 
business life he has engaged 11 agricultural 
pursuits, and his labors have met with well- 
deserved success. 

In 1873 Mr. Grieser was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Elizabeth Smith, of Lowa, 
a daughter of John I'. Smith, who now re- 
sides in Waldo township, and is one of the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



57" 



prominent fanners of that section of Living- 
ston county ami to them have been born 
four children, namelv: John, Henry, Au- 
gustus ami Christian. In his political views 
Mr. Grieser is decidedl) a Democrat, and. 
take- a commendable interest in the success 
of his nan_\'. He is one ol Waldo t< >\\ n 
ship's most reliable citizens, and is a man 
repected and esteemed wherever 
kn< iwn. 



FRANK R. STEVi AR I". 

One of the oldest employees in yea: 
itinuous service on the lines with which 
he is connected is Frank R. Stewart, who 
is agent for the Wabash and the Toledo, 
Peoria & Warsaw Railroads at Forrest. 
Long connection with the extensive corpora- 
tions which control the lines of transporta- 
tion in our cuntry indicates marked faith- 
fulness, ability and fidelity on the part of 
employes, and therefore Mr. Stewart's ex- 

ded connection with railroad interests 
a high testiim mial of his ability. He has the 
trust and confidence of the company and is 
a most popular agent, owing to his uniform 
courtesy, obliging manner and his fidelity to 
duty. 

A native of Dixon. Illinois, he was horn 
the 16th of March. [856, a soil of Lewis 
Henry and Sarah E. (Appier) Stewart. 
His father was a native of Uniontown, Car- 
roll county, Maryland, horn August 28, 
[831. The grandfather was ni there 

rami father was the ownei 
large landed property in that locality. 
belonged to the old and promin 

families of the state and at the tinv 
Revolutionary war loyally aided the colonies 
in their struggle for independen 



The father of our subject was educ; 
in the place of his nativity and was r< 
nized as a man of considerable influence in 

that locality. lie married Miss Appier. 
who was bom in Carroll county, in May. 
[834, a daughter of [saac Appier, who lived 
to be ninety years of age, dying in 1895. 
Ills wife, who bore the maiden name of 
Judith Winters, is now living at the ad- 
1 age of ninety- four years. Both he 
and his wife were natives of England, lie 
lie wealth}- landln ilders of 
Carroll county, Maryland, where he res 
until his removal westward, in [859. He 
located in Hannibal, Missouri, and there re- 
sided until called to his final rest. The fa- 
ther of our subject left Maryland in Jan- 
uary. [856, en route for Hannibal, Mis- 
souri, and while on the way. during a tem- 
porary residence of the family at Dixon, 
Illinois, Frank R. Stewart was born. The 
family soon afterward proceeded t" Han- 
nibal, where the father remained until 1859, 
when he went with his family to (Juiney. 
Illinois, and there engaged in merchandis- 
ing. 

During the time when much of the traffic 
of the Mississippi valley was transported by 
means of the river, he was one of the leading 
representatives of commercial interests 
there, and he carried on business mud 
lien retired h • private life, and - 
later, in [882, was called to the home 
id. He was : , member Inde- 

nt ( irde kid Fellows, and 

teem 

survives and is a member of the Met' 

•pal church, taking an ai I in its 

In their family v. 
of whom I !<-• 

. who 



372 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



is a conductor on the Missouri Pacific Rail- 
road, running between Sedalia, Missouri, 

and Kansas City. 

Mr, Stewart, whose name introduces this 
review . obtained his education in the schoi 
of Ouincy. and received his business train- 
ing in his father's .store, where he spent the 
months of vacation. In [878, however, lie 
entered the employ of the Wabash Railroad 
as brakeman on a passenger train, running 
between Springfield and Quincy. In 1879, 
when the Chicago division of the Wabash 
road was opened, he came to Forrest as 
brakeman on a freight train, and in Feb- 
ruary, 18S0. was promoted to the position 
of conductor on a freight train, while in 
March. 1883, he was made a passenger a 
ductor. In November. 1884, he was injured 
at Cornwell. Illinois, losing one of his legs. 
In 1885, after his recovery, he was made 
clerk in the agent's office, at Forrest, in 
1880 was promoted to the position of super- 
intendent's clerk, and on the 30th of No- 
ember, 1888 he wa> appointed agent of both 
the Wabash and the Toledo, Peoria & War- 
saw roads. The junction of the roads is at 
this place and the station is a very important 
one. his duty embracing a general oversight 
of the business of both roads, passenger, 
freight and also includes the supervision of 
the trainmen, numbering thirty. The busi- 
ness f these roads at this point i< constant- 
ly increasing, due in no small measure to 
the efforts of the obliging agent at Forrest. 
Among all the officials and employees of 
the road there are but t\\ enior in 

years of continuous service. He negli 
no duty or detail, no matter how slight it 
may seem, is extremely accurate and care- 
ful, and is at all times courteous to the 
patrons of the road. Those qualities have 
won him favor with the company and with 



the public and he has gained the esteem of 
all with whom he has been brought in con- 
tact. 

Mr. Stewart is a member of Olive 
Branch Lodge. K. P.. in which he has passed 
all the chairs. He is one of the oldest rep- 
resentatives .if the fraternity in the state, 
his connection therewith covering a period 
of twenty-three years. He has six times 
represented his local lodge in the grand 
lodge, has man}' times been district deputy 
and thus has instituted new lodges and in- 
stalled many officials. He is also a member 
of the Order of Railway Conductors, which 
he joined in 1882 — one of the first to be- 
come identified with the society. As a 
member of the board of education he has 
di me efficient service in the interests of the 
schools, supporting many measures which 
have proven of value to the schi >ols. He has 
acted as treasurer of the board and was fill- 
ing that office at the time the school build- 
ing was remodeled, and also serving as chair- 
man of the building committee. He has 
likewise been treasurer of Forrest, and is 
a citizen whose earnest support and co-op- 
eration are given to all measures for the 

1 gOOd. 

Mr. Stewart was married on the 28th 
November, [883, to Miss Cordelia Wil- 
son, of Forrest, a daughter of Nicholas and 
Nancy Wilson. She was born in this city, 
in [860, and by her marriage has become 
mother of two daughters, lva Mildred 
and Greta Rodell. Mr. Wilson, her father, 
was born in Sweden and became one of the 
pioneer settlers of this part of the state, 
being well known at an early day as a ped- 
dler and later as a farmer. His wife was a 
native of Ohio, and with her parents. Mr. 
and Mrs. Thompson, came to Livingston 
county, in 1837. the family here entering 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 






land from the government. Mrs. Wilson 
knew Shabbona, the noted Indian chief and 
saw mail}- of the red men in this section of 
the state. Mr. Wilson passed away in [877, 
and his wife, long surviving him, was called 
to her final rest November 15. 1898. 

Both Mi', and Mrs. Stewart are members 
of the Congregational church and in the 
community where they reside the) are high 
ly esteemed fur their many excellencies of 
character. They have a pleasant home in 
Forrest, which was erected by Mr. Stewart, 
lie is also the owner of considerable farm- 

tnd in Texas. lie was one of the or- 
ganizers of the Building & Loan \.ssocia 
tion, of Forrest, whereby many of the com- 
fortable homes of the place have been 
erected. In his political affiliations Mr. 
Stewart is a Republican, and is recognized 

1 -1' the leading members of the party 
in Forrest. For twelve consecutive years, 
prior to [898, lie was a delegate to ever) 
county, state, judicial, congressional and 
senatorial convention and was an .alternate 
to the national convention at St. Louis, lie 
is a recognized factor in political circles and 
is a man of influence, active and prominent 
in the community, his labors resulting to the 
public benefit along social, material, intel- 
lectual and moral lines. 



PAUL HEISXER. 

Paul 1 feisner, 1 me 1 if the most prosperous 
agriculturists of Pontiac township, whose 
home is on section 20, has Keen identified 
with the upbuilding and developmei 
this county for over a third of a century. 
He comes from a a, being horn 

in Castle Dume, Prussia, Germany, June 27, 



1837, and in that country grew to man 
and served for three years as a soldier 111 
the German army. In the spring of [864 
lie emigrated to America, and came direct 
to Illinois, joining some German friends in 
Cook county, where he worked as a farm 
hand he the month for a short time. In 
October, [864, he enlisted in Company I'.. 
Thirtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and 
joined his regiment at Atlanta. Georgia, in 
time to take part in Sherman's celebrated 
march to the sea. He participated in the 
engagements at Savannah, and through to 
Raleigh, ami after the surrender of tin 
named city marched through Richmom 
his way to Washington, I >. C, where he 
took part in the grand review. Returning 
to Illinois, he was honorably discharged at 
Springfield, in July. [865. 

In the fall of the same year Mr. I leisner 
came to Livingston county, and purchased 
forty acres of raw prairie and swamp land 
three miles south of Pontiac, upon which 
he built a little shanty. For three years he 
devoted his energies to the improvement and 
cultivation of that place, and on selling it 
bought eight) acres in Rock ("reek town- 
ship, of which a few acres had been broken 
and a small house erected thereon. 
farm was his home for about four \ 
at the end of which time he purchased an- 
other eight) acre tract adj and lived 
there for sj\ yea; disposing of that 
place he bought one hundred and forty acres 
of partially improved land on the river 111 
Pontiac township, where he now resides, and 
1- its further improvement and cultivation 
ted his energies \\ ith most 
\s his financial re- 
sourci I lie has added to his 
:tv from time to tune until he now 
owns four hundred and eighty acn 



374 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



uable and productive land, which he lias 
tiled and placed under a high stale of culti- 
vation. Upon this land he has built four 
good residences, barns and other outbuild- 
ings, and was actitvely engaged in agricult- 
ural pursuits until 1900, when he rented his 
land and is now living retired, enjoying a 
well earned rest upon his farm, which is 
pleasantly located within two miles of Pon- 
tiac. He built a residence and lived in the 
city fur two years, but in 1898 he returned 
to the farm. He now owns two residences 
in the citv. 

Before leaving his native land, Air. 
Heisner was married, in February, 1864, to 
Miss Catherine Trender, also a native of 
Prussia, and to them have been born five 
sons, namely: Philip, a resident of Pontiac; 
Frederick, William and Frank, who are en- 
Paul, Jr., w ho travels. 
gaged in farming on the home place, and 

Since casting his first presidential vote 
for General C. S. Grant, Mr. Heisner has 
been unswerving in his allegiance to the Re- 
publican party, and in this regard his sons 
all follow in hU footsteps. He has never 
cared for political office, preferring to de- 
vote his undivided attention to his husiness 
interests, but for six years most acceptably 
served as school director. Fraternally he 
is an honored member of T. Lyle Dickey 
Post. G. A. R.. at l'ontiac. As a young 
man he came to America, and with no capi- 
tal started out in a strange land to overcome 

difficulties and obstacles in the path to 
prosperity. His youthful dreams have been 
realized and in their busy fulfillment he see- 
the fitting reward of earnest toil. He is not 
on! 1 the most successful men of his 

community, hut is also highly respected and 
esteemed by all who know him on account 
erling worth. 



LIBERTY LOUDERBACK. 

More than sixty-three years ago this gen- 
tleman came to Livingston county, and dur- 
ing this long period, which covers nearly 
the whole span of the county's development 
from a primitive state to its present flourish- 
ing condition, he has been identified with it- 
interests. For over half a century he car- 
ried on farming in Amity township, but is 
in iw living retired in the village of Cornell. 

Mr. Louderback was born in Brown 
count} - . Ohio, July 4, 1824, and was given 
the name of Libertv by his grandfather, 
Uriah Springer. Michael Louderback, the 
paternal grandfather, was a native of Ger- 
many, who came to this country with two 
brothers at the close of the Revolutionary 
war. He settled in Ohio, while one brother 
located in Virginia, the other in Pennsylva- 
nia. Our subject's father. Thomas Louder- 
back. was also horn and reared in Brown 
county, Ohio, and there married Sarah 
Springer, a daughter of Uriah Springer, 
who at an early day moved from Virginia to 
Ohio. There Mr. Louderback followed 
farming until 183 1, when he came to Illi- 
nois and settled m Vermilion county, near 
the present city of Danville, then a cross- 
mads village, lie bought land and resided 
there a few- years, but in 1837 moved to 
Amity township. Livingston county, where 
he entered a tract from the government and 
opened up a farm. 011 which he spent the re- 
mainder of his life, dying there March 6, 
1854. His wife had passed away October 
25, [842. In their family were live - 
and three daughter reached mature 

years, and four id one daughter are 

still living. 

Liberty Louderback. who is the oldest of 
this family, grew to manhood in Amity 




LIBERTY LOUDERBACK. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 






township, only attending school a few 
months during the winter, but early becom- 
ing familiar with every department of farm 
work. On attaining his majority he began 
life for himself by working as a farm hand 
or at any occupation which he could find. 
He took up a claim of about one hundred 
and twenty acres of land, broke fourteen 
acres, and commenced farming. < >n the 
26th of April, 1S41), in Livingston county, 
he married Miss Mary Jane Corbin, who was 
born in Virginia, in [827, but was reared 
in this county as her father, David Corbin, 
with his family, located here in [831. 

Mr. and Mrs. Louderback began their 

nestic life on his farm in a primitive log 
cabin with furniture 1 if his own manufacture. 
His first land he purchased from the Illinois 
Central Railroad Company, and to the origi- 
nal tract he added until he had two hundred 
and twenty-tun acres of valuable land on 
section 20, Amity township, which he placed 
under a high state of cultivation and im- 
proved with good buildings, lie continued 
to actively engage in farming until i^jj. 
when he moved to Cornell and purchased 
the property where he has since made 
home. He was interested in the real esl 
and insurance business for a time, bul 
111 iw living a retired life. 

.Mr. Louderback has been called upon to 
mourn the l"-s of ] nable wife, who 

died .May 11, [900, and was laid t" rest in 
Cornell cemetery. Six children were born 
tn them, namely: John II.. win. 1- married 
and now operates the old homestead farm; 

irge \V.. win 1 owns and operates a farm 
adjoining the homestead; Chester W., \ 
is married and lives in St. Louis; Julia, 
widow of rhomas J. < rregory, and a n 
of Cornell; Hersey J., wife of Harry L. 
Manley, of Streator, Illinois : 1 1 attic- C, w ife 

S20 



nt \\ . 1 1 . ( iraser, of Lu\ erne, Ri ck 
Minnesota. 

In [854 Mr. Louderback was elected 
justice of the peace, and ni"st creditably 
and acceptably filled that office for nearly 
thirty-five years. I le is familiarly known as 
Squire Louderback. He also served as su- 
pervisor five years, township treasurer, col- 
lector and school trustee, and always per- 
formed his duties in a faithful and satisfac- 
tory manner. He cast his first presiden- 
tial vote for James K. Polk, in 1844, ;m d 
became identified with the Republican party 
on its organization, voting for Fremont in 
[856, but since 1N7N he has been a Prohi- 
bitionist, having always been an earnest ad- 
temperance. I le is an active mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal churcl 

ell, and his upright course in 
mends him tn the respect and confidei 
all who know him. 1 1 i- labi irs 
the founders of the county justly entitle him 
ti 1 a pn iminent place in its ann 



CHRISTIAN V, 

an Welt* nd pro- 

gressive farmer n 11 3 1 . Ne- 

braska township, Livin •unty. Illinois, 

born in Wurtemburg, Germany, De- 
cember 20, 1842, and is a son of Vincent 
and Elfans (Strubb) Welte. When he 

the mother die 
a fam 11, namely : Man ■ 

iertha, 
of John I' Ansilem, 

Joseph, who was a membi 
Company F, Fifty-sixth New York Volun- 
teer Infantry, and duri war was 
killed at the battle of the Wilderness; Ma- 



378 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tilda. wife of Christian Reust. of Kansas; 
Christian., the subject of this biography; 
Sebastian, of Panola, Illinois, and Peter, of 
Wurtemburg, Germany. Under the guar- 
dianship of the father the family emigrated 
to America in 1855 and settled near the 
Catskill mountains, in New York, where 
they resided two years and then came to 
Illinois, finally locating in Woodford coun- 
ty. The father died in 1872. in Nebraska 
township. 

The same year Christian W'elte came to 
Livingston county and purchased the farm 
where lie now resides. Its neat and thrifty 
appearance shows conclusively that he is a 
man of good business ability and sound 
judgment, as well as a thorough and scien- 
tific farmer. On the 7th of November, 
1867. he married Miss Margaret Ingeler. of 
Woodford county, and to them have been 
born eight children, namely: Staffan, wife 
of William Kalwarf, of Flanagan : Tin imas, 
a resident of Woodford county; Joseph and 
Christian, both of Flanagan; Effie, wife of 
R. C. Evans, of Chalmers. Indiana; John, 
Margaret and Clara, all at home. 

When the war of secession threatened to 
destroy the Union, Mr. Welte turned from 
the quietude 1 if hi ime to join the awful scenes 
of death and carnage south of the Mason 
and Dixon line. He enlisted at Minonk, 
August 16, 1861, in Company I, Forty- 
seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and 
participated in the engagements of New 
Mardid, Island No. 10, Shiloh, Farmington, 
Corinth. Jackson, Black River, Pleasant Hill 
and the siege of Vicksburg. In the Red 
river expedition he took part in the engage- 
ments at Fort Berusha, Alexander. Grand 
de Core. Shreveport, Mansville, Lake Chi- 
li, Tupelo and several minor skirmishes. 
He was wounded in the second battle of 



Corinth. His term of enlistment having ex- 
pired. .Mr. W'elte was discharged at Spring- 
field, Illinois, October 11, 1864. and is now 
an honored member of the Grand Army 
Post at Minonk. Although born on the 
other side of the Atlantic he has become 
a thorough American citizen in thought and 
feeling, and is as true to his duties of citi- 
zenship in times of peace as when he fol- 
lowed the old flag to victory on southern 
battle field>. 



CYRUS S. ELLIS. 

Cyrus S. Ellis, a well-known farmer re- 
siding on section 22, Long Point township, 
has been a valued citizen of Livingsti >n 
count v. since December, 1879, Coming 
from near Magnolia, Marshall county, 
this state. He was born in Greene coun- 
ty, Ohio. February 11, 1829, and is a 
son of tsaac and Elizabeth (Venamon) 
Ellis, natives of Virginia, who spent the 
greater part of their lives in Greene county, 
Ohio, where the father followed farming 
during his active business career. He died 
on the home place at the age of fifty-seven 
subject several years. She died at the age 
years, having survived the mother of our 
of thirty-nine, after which be was again 
married, his second union being with Aman- 
da Aldridge, a widow, by w horn he had three 
children, namely: John, a member of an 
Ohio regiment during the Civil war and 
now a resident of that state; Jesse, who lives 
in southern Illinois, and James, who died at 
the age of thirty-five years. By the first 
marriage there were ten children, of whom 
1 nv died in infancy. Three sons and two 
daughters are still living: Cyrus S., our 
subject; Milton W., a retired farmer of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



379 



Nebraska; Henry R., who served three years 
as a member of Company II. < >ne Hundred 
ami Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
during the Civil war. and is now living in 
Iowa, but was formerly a resident of Cor- 
nell, Illinois; Hannah, the wife of John 
I Lay, who lives in m irthern < )hio : and Emily, 
wife of Thomas Brenn, of La Salic county, 
Illinois. 

Cyrus S. Ellis was but two years old 
when the family left \enia, Greene county, 
( Ihio, and moved to Clinton, the same coun- 
ty, where he attended the common schools, 
remaining with his father on the home farm 
until the latter's death. At the age ol seA 
enteen he started out in life for himself, and 
in [854 removed to Indiana, where he op 
erated a rented farm for two years. At the 
end of that time he came to Illinois and 
made his home in Marshall county for twen 
ty-two years, his time and attention being 
devoted to general farming. In the mean- 
time he purchased land in Nebraska, and on 
selling- it bought his present farm of one 
hundred and sixty acres on section 22, Long 
Poinl township, Livingston county, Illinois, 
but did not locate thereon until two years 
later, in 1879. At that time is was not im- 
proved to any extent, but he has since tiled 
11. erected a house and other buildings, 
planted an orchard and otherwise improved 
the place. 

On the 23d of January. 1N51. Mr. Ellis 
married Mi-- Martha J. Curtis, who was 
born in ( ilinton, < >hio, May 23, [834, a 
daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Lyon 
Curtis, whi 1 after her marriage moved I" 
Indiana, where they spent the remaindei 
their lives. She has two brothers -till liv- 
ing, namely: Edward, a resident of Marshall 
county, Illinois, and Jai ' Savant 

Ohio. Of the twelve children born to Mr. 



and Mrs. Ellis three died in early childhood, 
while Mary I'., wife of Amos Laki 
Toluca, Illinois, died April 28, [900, leav- 
ing one daughter, Blanche. Those living 
are l.uemnia. who is the wife of William 
Gill, a representative farmer of Long Point 
township, and ha- one son, Frank; Laura. 
at In line : Frank, a general farmei 
Point township, who married Lyda Cole- 
man and ha- three children, Bessie, < Ira and 
Vera; Albertine, who married Frank (lark. 
oi Reading fc iwnship, and hasoneson.Elmer; 
Cora, wife of Carl Stratton, of Long Point 
township; Edwin, a barber of Flanagan, who 
married Aha Ensign and has one daughter, 
Elita; Alva C. and Ray. both at home as- 
sisting in the farm work. The children 
were educated in the common schools and 
are well fitted for the positions they till. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ellis are active mem 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which 
he 1- now one of the trustees, and has held 
other offices. In his political affiliations he 
is a Republican, hut has never cared for 
public preferment, though he has efficiently 
served as school director for a number of 
years. 



REV. IK »l< VI I. TIFFANY. 

For tv he Rev. Ho 

Tiffany lias dwelt in Livingston county, and 
few citizens of tin- portion of Illinois 
better or more favorabl) esteemed bj the 
inhabitants. His devotion to the peopli 
his long year- of indefatigable labors 
their welfare, have met with a just reward 
in one respect, at least — that hi- name has 

been a household word for g hie-- and 

self-sacrifice, and t" his posterity he will 
leave a record of which they must he proud. 



3 8o 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



The Tiffany family is of English origin 
and early in the history of Connecticut they 
were numbered among her pioneers. 
Horace Tiffany, for whom our subject was 
named, was horn in Connecticut, whence he 
removed to Delaware county, New York, 
in its infancy, and there became influential 
and prosperous. His son. Walter, father of 
our subject, was born on the old homestead 
in Delaware county, and for three decades 
or more he was actively engaged in agri- 
culture there. In 1856 he came to Illinois 
and for twenty-one wars was successfully 
occupied in farming near Victoria, Knox 
county. In 1870 he removed to a home- 
stead in the vicinity of Cambridge, Illinois, 
and February 27, 1X72, he as summoned to 
his reward. His first wife, the mother of 
our subject, died when the son was young, 
and the father subsequently married again. 
The wife of his youth bore the maiden name 
(if lane Hammond, and her father, Jonathan 
Hammond, was an early settler in Dela- 
ware county, Xew York, in which state her 
birth took place. He was from the old 
Green Mountain state, and was prominently 
connected Willi the founding of Delaware 
county. 

The firth of the Rev. Horace Tiffany 
occurred upon the parental homestead in 
Delaware county. September 4, 1831. He 
received the benefits of the public schools 
of that period and later attended the .Yew 
York Conference Seminary at Charlottes- 
ville for two years. Thus thoroughly 
equipped for the arduous duties of life, the 
young man commenced his career as a 
teacher and for seven consecutive years de 
voted himself to educational work. 

In 1855 -^' r - Tiffany removed to Vic- 
toria, [llinois, and for three years sub 
quent to his arrival here lie taught scl I. 



In 1858 he began preaching the gospel 
as a local preacher and in September, 
i860, he joined the Central Illinois con- 
ference of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
and was licensed to preach the gospel. 
In 1862 he was ordained to the office 
of deacon and two years later was con- 
stituted an elder in the church. For forty 
years he has dwelt in Livingston and other 
counties and for a score of years he was 
one of the regular circuit riders, five con- 
gregations being under his charge during a 
part of this period. In many a humble home 
he conducted funeral services, officiated at 
weddings, participated in happy reunions 
and gatherings of the country people and 
old settlers, and wherever he went he found 
the genuine, hospitable welcome, character- 
istic of our pioneers. He is greatly loved 
in hundreds id' these homes and no one in 
this section of the state is more certainly en- 
shrined in the hearts of the young and old. 
He has dwelt in Cornell for several years 
and previously lived in Reading and Rooks 
Creek townships, this county. For some 
fi iur years he devoted his time as a unity 
missionary in Livingston county in Sunday 
school work ami was greatly blessed in the 
noble enterprise. In accordance with his 
convictions of duty, he has given his influ- 
ence to the Prohibition party for the past 
quarter of this century, but in his early 
manhood he was a Republican. 

In Otsego county. Xew York. Mr. 
Tiffany and Lucy J. Teel. a native of that 
county, were united in marriage. March -'7, 
[851. She was called to the better land. 
June 1 _'. 1897, and her place in this com 
munity can never be filled. Seven children 
mourn the loss of their revered mother, and 
her lovely life .and high example will al- 
ways prove an inspiration to them, as to all 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 






who knew her. O. M. and Arthur E. are 
engaged in newspaper work, the latter being 
the edit< 'i' i if the <. '< irnell Ji turnal. O. M. 
and L. II. Tiffany are residents of Tama 
county, Iowa; W. B. is enaged in the grain 
business at Oneida, Illinois; Orrin S. is a 
carpenter of Streator, Illinois, and William 
S., of Cornell, is one of the str& mis- 

ners. Rosa is the wife of I". G. Connett, 
who owns a jewelry establishment in Cor- 
nell. 



WILLIAM BIDDl 

William Biddle, a prominent and well- 
to-do farmer^ if Newtown township, Livings- 
ton county, is an Englishman by birth and 
training. He was horn in Staffordshire No- 
vember 7. [833, and is a son of Lionel and 
Elizabeth (Cumberbach) Biddle, who spent 
their entire lives in that canity, where the 
father followed the occupation of farming. 
In the family were ten children, but two 
died before attaining the age of twenty 
year-, and all are now deceased with the 
exception of Jane, wife of James Sjiffer- 
botham, of England, and William, the sub 
ject of this sketch. 

In the schools of his native land Mr. 
Biddle acquired his education, and when a 
young man commenced working in the 
mines, following that pursuit for forty year-. 
lie was married, in England, in [853, to 
Miss Harriet Harnett, and they have be- 
come the parents of three children, two born 
in that country and one in Illinois. 1 1 1 
William, the eldest, is now engaged in min- 
ing in Missouri. He is married and has 
three children: Albert, who lives with our 
subject; John and Herbert. The wife and 
mother makes her home in Streator. (2) 



John A., who i- living upon a part of his 
father's farm in Newtown township, i- mar 
ried and ha- twi 1 children, l.vle and 1 
(3) Walter, who i- engaged in farming 
near Walnut. Lee county. [Hi mar- 

has twi 1 children, Bertha and 
( my. 

It was in 1869 that Mr. Biddle came 
to the United State- and first located in 
Pennsylvania and later in Ohio, hut in the 
spring of [870 came to Streator, La Salle 
county. Illinois, where he d mining 

for twenty years, and then came to I.: 
ton county. In [889 he purchased his pres- 
ent farm of one hundred and twenty acres 
on section 28, Newtown town-hip. and has 
since devoted his tune and energies to agri- 
cultural pursuits. As he was a good miner, 

he 1- also a g 1 farmer, and is meeting 

with most excellent success m hi- opera- 
tions, carrying on general farming and 
Stock raising, lie ha- tiled, fenced and im- 
proved his land, making it a most desirable 
farm. Religiously Mr. Biddle and hi- fam- 
ily are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, and politically he is identified with 
the Democratic party, hut has never been 
prevailed upon to accept office, though he 
takes an active and commendable interest 
in public affair-, and does all in his po\> 
advance the interests of hi- town-hip and 
c< aintv. 



I W( >B GINGRICH. 

|ac ib < lingrich, who. durii 
Span of hi- life, nearly threescore year-, has 
been associated with the development and 
rapidly increasing prosperity of Living 

•v. i- honored and respected b) all who 
enjoy his acquaintance. He always has 



38: 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



given his earnest support to schools and 
public enterprises calculated to benefit this 
community and the state in general, nor has 
be been remiss in the wider duties of a 
patriotic sun of America. 

The subject of this review is of German 
ancestry, though his father. John Gingrich, 
was born within the borders of France. For 
a wife the latter chose Barbara Gather, a 
German lady, and together they came to the 
hospitable shores of the United States sixty 
years ago. They settled in Woodford comi- 
ty, Illinois, cleared and improved a farm 
and extended their possessions until eight 
hundred acres comprised their landed es- 
tates. The father departed this life in 1845, 
and to his widow was left the task of rear- 
ing their nine children. All lived to matur- 
ely and four of the number still survive. 

The birth of Jacob Gingrich took place 
in Woodford county, Illinois. July 28. 1842. 
and it was not until during the last year of 
the Civil war that he removed from his na- 
tive county. He aided his mother and 
brothers in the management of the home- 
stead, and when he was a mere youth he 
mastered the carpenter's trade and gave his 
attention to that calling exclusively for two 
or three years. When the president issued 
his first call to the lovers of the Union, he 
was one of the first in his county to respond. 
He enlisted in April, [861, ami served for 
three months, in the meantime assisting in 
taking Columbus, Kentucky, and participat- 
ing in various campaigns. He was seriously 
ill about the time that his three months' en- 
listment was completed, and he was honor- 
ably discharged from the service. Return- 
ing home he took up the duties of the old 
homestead when he had sufficiently re- 
covered and remained there about tin 
years. 



In 1864 Mr. Gingrich and Susan Far- 
rell were joined in wedlock. She was born 
ir Ohio and is of German parentage. Eleven 
children bless their union, namely : Gusta- 
vus, who is married and is engaged in farm- 
ing in Iowa; John; David, who is married 
and living in Flanagan, Illinois: Peter: 
Eunice, wife of Leonard Harris, of this 
county; Emma; Lizzie and Priscilla. who 
are successfully engaged in teaching in this 
county; Manuel; Jacob, Jr. and Susie. All 
have received excellent educational advan- 
tages and are well qualified for the battles 
of life. 

Ruring the first year of their married 
life our subject and wife lived upon a rented 
farm near Chenoa, McLean county. Illinois. 
Subsequently they removed to Waldo town- 
ship, Livingston county, and for fourteen 
years resided upon two farms in that local- 
ity. Then, coming to Amity township. Mr. 
Gingrich rented land for a period, and _ in 
1888 invested his carefully saved funds in 
the property where he now dwells. Here he 
owns two hundred and ninety acres, about 
two-thirds of which is under the plow and 
producing good crops each year. The land 
was timbered, save a tract of swamp and 
twenty-seven acres of cleared land, at the 
time that it came into his possession, and 
there was no improvements in the shape of 
buildings, lie built a small house and in- 
dustriously began the great task of clearing 
and developing the farm, and to-day the 

:e bears little resemblance to that of long 
ago. Substantia] fences and farm buildings 
Speak well for the enterprise of the owner, 
and the numerous fruit and shade trees add 
greatly to the beauty of the place. 

In political matters Mr. Gingrich is a 
Democrat, though he has no aspirations to 
occupy public positions. He believes in lo- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



383 



cal improvements and has materially aided 
in the maintenance of good government, 
well cared -fur bridges and proper educa- 
tional facilities for the young. He enjoys 
the confidence of his neighbors and all with 
whom lie lias had dealings, and to hi- chil 
dren he will leave the priceless heritage of 
an untarnished name. 



CHARLES ALBERT DIXON. 

Charles Albert Dixon, cue of the repre- 
sentative citizens of Newtown township, 
residing on section 5, is a native sun of Liv- 
ingston county, lmrn May iS, [852. His 
parents, Charles and Sarah ( Hodges) Dix- 
on, were born, reared and married in Eng 
land, and on their emigration to America 
first settled near Dixon, Lee county, Illinois. 
In early life the father followed the mason's 
trade, but after coming t<> tin- state engaged 
in farming and the manufacture of brick 
in connection with work at his trade. From 
Dixon he removed to Magnolia, Putnam 
county, and in [848 came t'> Livingston 
county, where he purchased one hundred 
and seventy-live acres of land at the govern- 
ment price of one dollar and a quarter per 
acre. Our subject now- holds the original 
deed for the same. \t that time it was all 
wild prairie, and the first home of the fam- 
ily in this county was a rude structure built 
of rail-, the crack- being Stopped up with 
mud. They endured many hard-hip- and 
privatii ms : all grain had v > be hauled b 1 1 "lii- 
;i with ox team, the trip consuming two 
week-, while the driver had to camp mil 
al night by the side of the road. 1 
that time wa- quite a -mall place. In 
new home the father met with well merited 



success and was able to spend his last days 

in retirement from active labor ai 
where he died in [879. Hi- wife dc] 
this life in [871. Hi- wa- an ardent worker 
in the United Brethren church, helped to 
erect many churches of that denomination 
ami contributed liberally to their support. In 
hi- political view- he wa- a Republican and 
did all in hi- power to advance the ii I 
of his party. 

Our subject grew to manhood upon his 
father's farm and wa- educated in the 
mon schools. When quite young he 
up auctii meering, ami ha- since devi b 
portion of his time to that calling, dealing 
in all kind- oi ml meeting with most 

excellent success. As a general farmer he 
has al-o prospered and is now the owner of 
one hundred and thirty live acre- of land 
of the old homestead. He ha- erected a 
new house and barn, plained an orchard, 
tiled the land and otherwise improvi 
transforming it into one of the most desir- 
able place- of its size in the town-hip. He 
devob derable attention t, , -• 

ing for market and breeding purposes, mak- 
ing a specialty