USA > Illinois > LaSalle County > Biographical and genealogical record of La Salle County, Illinois. Volume I > Part 1
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LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
977.327
B52 v.1
Ill. Hist. survey
11
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL
RECORD
OF
LA SALLE COUNTY
ILLINOIS
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME I.
CHICAGO THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1900
7: 1-3
97 B52 U.I
PREFACE.
OUT of the depths of his mature wisdom Carlyle wrote, "History is the essence of innumerable biographies." Believing this to be the fact, there is no necessity of advancing any further reason for the compilation of such a work as this, if reliable history is to be the ultimate object.
The prominent section of the great Prairie state comprised within the limits of these volumes has sustained within her confines men who have been prominent in the history of the state and the nation from the earliest part of this century. The annals teem with the records of strong and noble man- hood; and, as Sumner has said, "the true grandeur of nations is in those qualities which constitute the greatness of the individual." The final causes which shape the fortunes of individuals and the destinies of states are often the same. They are usually remote and obscure, and their influence scarcely perceived until manifestly declared by results. That nation is the greatest which produces the greatest and most manly men and faithful women; and the intrinsic safety depends not so much upon methods as upon that true and normal development from the deep resources of which proceed all that is precious and permanent in life. But such a result may not consciously be contemplated by the actors in the great social drama. Pursuing each his personal good by exalted means, they work out this as a logical result.
The elements of success in life consist in both innate capacity and determination to excel. Where either is wanting, failure is almost sure to result. The study of a successful life, therefore, serves both as a source of information and as a stimulus and encouragement to those who have the capacity. As an important lesson in this connection we may appropriately quote Longfellow, who said, "We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while we judge others by what they have already done." A faithful personal history is an illustration of the truth of this observation.
In this Biographical and Genealogical Record the editorial staff, as well as the publishers, have fully realized the magnitude of the task. In the collection of the material there has been a constant aim to discriminate
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1
ii
PREFACE.
carefully in regard to the selection of subjects. Those who have been promi- nent factors in the public, social and industrial development of the county have been given due recognition as far as it has been possible to secure the requisite data. Names worthy of perpetuation here, it is true, have in sev- eral instances been omitted, either on account of the apathy of those con- cerned or the inability of the compilers to secure the information necessary for a symmetrical sketch; and even more pains have been taken to secure accuracy than were promised in the prospectus. Works of this nature, therefore, are more reliable and complete than are the "standard" histories of a country.
INDEX.
A
Ackermann, William, 57. Adams, John Q., 268. Ames, John C., 304.
Anderson, Andrew N., 589.
Anderson, John H., 178.
Angevine, Peter C., 211.
Annin, William V. S., 340. Arentsen, Daniel, 792. Arentsen, David, 655. Arentsen, Helia, 621.
Armstrong, Joseph L., 121.
Arntzen, Fridthgof G., 371.
Austin, George L., 725. Austin, Seneca S., 735.
-
C
Cahill, Cornelius J., 294.
Cahill, James, 293.
Cahill, John D., 295.
Callagan, William, 586.
Camenisch, George, 470.
Campbell, George A., 639.
Carter, Charles, 463.
Carter, J. J., 392. Cary, Charles .A., 354.
Cary, Norman J., 510.
Cassiday. John J., 553.
Catlin, Thomas D., 14.
Chapman, Clarence B., 75.
Chapman, Frank O .. 39.
Chapman, Hosmer C .. 486.
Chapman, Otis L., 488.
Chapman, William B., 438.
Chase, Hudson V., 467.
Cherry. William S .. 85. Clapsaddle, Alman A., 588.
Clark, James, 548.
Clark, John L., 194.
Clark, Simpson, 428.
Clay. Levi. 150.
Clayton. John S .. 377.
Cleary, Charles. 444.
Clement. A .. 345.
Cole. Samuel D .. 139.
Collings, John, 267. Collins, Jeremiah, 446.
Conard, Grant, 174.
Conard, William H., 228.
Conard. Wilson. 291.
Conerton. P., 785.
Conkey. Oscar D. F .. 448.
Conover. Ira. 756. Cooper. Frederick G .. 404. Cooper, John, 319.
iii
Bronson, M. A .. 35. Brotherton, James, 471.
Brown, Charles R., 360.
Brown, G. W., 645.
Brown, James C., 720.
Brown, William C., 722.
Browne, Edgar S., 209.
Bruce, James, 534. Brunner, Charles, 520.
Brunner, Herman, 231.
Burgess, Sidney W., 757.
Burgess, Spencer S., 754.
Burke, Daniel R., 69.
Butters, Albert E., 173.
Butters, C. W., 643.
B
Bach, Edward W., 97. Bailey, Ezra H., 90.
Bailey, J. B., 190.
Baisch, Jacob H., 192. Baker. Hiram E., 595. Baldwin, Amos C., 352. Banc, James, 685. Barackman, Milam J., 222. Barratt, Berkley G., 86.
Bassett, Daniel, 704.
Baughman, Robert N., 55.
Bedard, Frank W., 458. Bedford. William T., 252. Becm, I. N., 274. Bell, Alfred H., 666. Bennett, George A., 492. Bennett, Isaac H., 344. Bennett. William R .. 399. Birkenbeuel, Anton, 528. Birtwell, Robert, 646. Blanchard, Milton E., 584. Bliss, Frank J., 390. Boggs, William F., 765.
Bonar, Barnet L., 32. Bond, Joseph E., 343. Bovard, Millard F .. 71. Bowen. Dan W., 419. Bowen, Henry. 375.
Bowen. John, 370.
Bowers. George W., 322.
Boyle, Edward H., 708. Brandenburg. Christian F., 118. Braun, Charles A., 422. Braun. John. 421. Breese. Andrew B .. 436. Brewster, Benjamin D .. 402. Brewster. Theron D., 401.
L
iv
INDEX.
Cooper, William, 636. Cope, Israel C., 142.
Corbus, J. C., 671. Corbus, J. C., Jr., 653. Corbus, William F., 232.
Corley, Francis, 516.
Cornish, Wallace B., 498.
Costello, John M., 133.
Cotterman, David F., 74.
Cottew, Abram, 546.
Coulter, Charles A., 590. Cram, George J., 94.
Crane, Frank M., 433.
Crawford, Robert N., 202.
Crider, Martin H., 788.
Cullen, Thomas, 560.
Cummings, Nicholas C., 434. Cummins, W. B., 120.
D
Dale, Arthur H., 592.
Dale, Frank. 591.
Danielson, Osman M., 597.
Daugherty, A. J., 277.
Daugherty, Francis M., 240.
Davis, David, 670.
Davis, Emanuel, 315.
Davis, Henry J., 615.
Davison, George L., 44.
Davison, William B., 389.
Disier, Claude, 497.
Dolder, Jacob, 225.
Dolder, John, 221.
Dougherty, M. E., 612.
Downing. Morton E., 116.
Gerding, August, 569.
Gibson, George W., 281.
Girolt, John. 441.
Gleim, Ernst, 346.
Gmelich, Gottlob, 530.
Gochanour, Mathias, 220.
Gochanour, William H., 324.
Godfrey, Abram C., 82.
Goedtner, John, 580.
Goodell, Ira W., 544.
Gordon. James, 130.
Graf, Robert, 660.
Grant, David, 732.
Greiner, George W., 663.
Griffith, Martin L., 521.
Griggs, Clarence, 21.
Grogan. J. J., 128.
Grove, Jesse, 311.
Grove, L. J., 253.
Gruber, William D., 379.
Gum, Allen S .. 182.
Gunn, Aaron, 690.
Ertel. Joseph, 405.
Esmond, Thomas W .. 362.
Ethridge, Albert. 25.
Etzler, Benjamin M., 555.
F
Farley, Willis C., 559. Farnham, C. E., 146.
Farnham, Perry, 395.
Farnsworth, Richard, 158.
Ferrell, J. M., IIO.
Fetzer, Henry, 18.
Finkler, Alexander C., 437. Fishburn, Francis M., 299. Flaherty, Michael J., 638.
Fleming, Nathan, 160.
Fletcher, Ruffin D., 263. Fletcher, William F., 169.
Flick, George M., 88.
Foote, Hosea, 506.
Foote, James S., 696.
Ford, George W., 699.
Foreman, George T., 593.
Fowler, Albert J., 357.
Frank, Charles A., 466.
Fraser, William H., 460.
Fread, William, 349.
Frost, Francis A., 185.
Fullerton, Thomas C., 72.
Funk, John, 170.
Futterer, Joseph, 635.
G
Gage, B. Frank, 339.
Gage, Isaac, 336.
Gallagher, Hamilton M., 232.
Gallup, Rinaldo M., 272.
Gatchell, James M., 367.
Gatiss, Henry, 598.
Gay, Joshua G., 680.
Gentleman, Frank, 186.
George, Horace B. 570.
Downs, W. E., 637.
Doyle, Thomas F., 234.
Drackley, Thomas, 762.
Drake, James H., 43.
Drake, Jesse R., 43.
Dudgeon, Samuel G., 537.
Duffy, Michael, 626.
Dupee, Ralph O., 474.
Dupee. Walter R., 476.
Dwyer, Cornelius C., 523.
E
Eastegord, Ole T .. 767.
Eaton, Levi M., 632.
Edwards, James, 412.
Elliott, George A., 536.
Ellis. Joel W., 327.
Ellsworth, Urbin S., 656.
Elwell, Stephen D., 576.
Erickson, Ole, 306.
Gunn, Henry, 672.
Gunn, Moses W., 285.
H
Hackett, Vinal H., 414. Hackshaw, George, 196. Haeberle. Christian, 112 Haffele, George, 522.
V
INDEX.
I
Imus, Thomas, 417. Isermann, William D., 68.
J
Jacobson, Jacob C., 571. Jameson, Gabriel M., 565. Janz, Leopold C., 519. Jeffery, William A., 148.
Johnson, Ammon S., 154.
Johnson, Oscar H., 335.
Jones, Chauncey, 737. Jones, Samuel E., 504. Just, George, 464.
K
Kangley, John, 610.
Keating, Bernard T., 79.
Keating, Edward, 781.
Keating, Thomas S., 114.
Keim, Gustave J., 203.
Kellenbach, Anton, 475.
Kellenbach, William E., 476.
Kelley. Oliver M., 718.
Kelly, Henry M., 787.
Kelso, Alexander, 752.
Kember, Charles. 583.
Kember, Ralph E., 573.
Kennedy, John, 678.
Kieselbach, Otto. 524.
Kilduff. Joseph F .. 791.
Kingery, E. H., 278. Kings, John A., 432.
Kirkhus, Ole J .. 606.
Kleiber. Aaron. 152.
Klove. Andrew A., 776.
Knickerbocker. Charles H., 168.
Knott. Richard F .. 323.
Koch, Joseph. Sr., 206. Koehler, Fred A .. 469.
Koons, Jerome C., 547.
Kreider, Wilson E., 750.
Krouse. David. 149.
Kruse. H. G., 126.
Kuney, Jacob. 478.
Kurscheid, Mathias, 662.
1
Ladd, George D .. 300.
Lambert, Edward F., 773. Lambert. John R., 710, Lane, M. C., 620. Larabee, James W., 513.
Larkin, John J .. 535.
Lawrence, Dwight, 321.
Lawry, Samuel U., 654. Lee. George W .. 539. Lee. John N., 574. Lehr. John J., 430.
Leininger. Jefferson W., 697. Leix, Julius L., 341. Leland, Kimball W .. 355.
Haight, William R., 100. Hall, Henry G., 303. Hall, Samuel P., 166. Halverson, Charles K., 543. Hamilton, Andrew, 113. Hampson, John E., 415. Hanley, Patrick, 526. Hanna, John A., 316. Hapeman, Douglas, 41. Harber, John D., 489. Hartenbower, Henry F., 724. Hartenbower, John E., 730. Harth, William, 409. Hartshorn, Alfred I., 700.
Hartshorn, Frederick P., 353. Hartshorn, George A., 779. Haskins, Thomas N., 243. Hastings, Samuel, 472. Hatheway, Joseph C., 31. Hatton, Albert H., 385. Hawley, Ezra, 789. Hayer, Elias, 109. Hayer, G. L., 328. Hayer, Lars, 104. Hayer, Lorenzo, 338.
Hayward, George, 331. Hebel, Andrew. 563.
Heidler, Samuel H., 20. Herbert, Theodore G., 426.
Herrcke, Arthur J., 51I. Herzig, Adolph F., 518.
Hetherington, Benjamin M., 403.
Hibbs. Jonah, 295. Hickok, Horace D., 782. Hill, George D., 631. Hill. James L., 250. Hilliard, John, 561. Hiltabrand. George D., 618. Hiltabrand, Simeon C., 746. Hiltabrand, William W., 742. Hitter, Joseph C., 256. Hoag, Charles H., 376. Hoberg, Frederick E., 454.
Hochstatter. William, 667. Hodgson. Martin C., 129. Hoffman, Urias J .. 50. Holland, B. B., 66. Holland, George, 423. Holly, William, 198. Holmes, George W., III. Holmes, Henry, 125. Horn, William J .. 180. Horton, Manley H., 507. Hoss, Adolph, 533. Hoss, Charles, 459. Hougas, Thomas, 187. Howe, Frank L., 251. Howe, George W .. 758. Howland, Henry F., 144. Huff, Owen W .. 273. Hull, William H .. 52. Hum. George. 356. Humbert, Felix J .. 774. Hunt, James R .. 181. Hupp, George C., 558. Hupp, Harley G .. 557.
vi
INDEX.
Leland, Lorenzo. 325. Lenzen, Aegidius J., 517.
Lewis, Samuel R., 296.
Lewis, William R .. 40. Libbey. Jane S .. 378.
Mosey. Thomas T .. 568.
Moulton, Frank D., 255.
Linfor, John 227.
Linfor. Robert. 224. Lock, Isaac, 739.
N
Locke. August, 648. Lockrem, N. J., 365.
Neff, Frank T., 92.
Loekle, Edward G., 264.
Neff, Henry B., 630.
Loekle. Otto J .. 266.
Nichol, A. F., 204.
Long, Charles W., 184.
Nicholson, Donald A., 96.
Long, Eugene C., 676.
Long, Lewis, 108.
Nicholson, William, 760.
Loos, Michael E., 414.
Nitschelm, E. P., 95.
Loring, David. 47.
Nitter, David, 115.
Loring, Hulbert L., 47.
Noon, Thomas F., 276.
Lovejoy, Elijah B., 238.
Noonan, John F., 796.
Lovejoy. Walter C., 644.
Norton, William H., 501.
Luther, Milo J., 216.
0
MI
Maass. Ludwig H., 183.
O'Donnell. John. 609.
Madden, John C., 508.
Madden. Stephen J., 505.
Olmstead, Hiram D., 132.
Marshall. John L .. 797.
Olmstead, Smith H., 605.
Marshall, Theophilus. 772.
Olsen, Peter A .. 208.
Osgood. Simon T .. 249.
Martin. Willis A., 614.
Osman, William, 683.
Mason, Ernest G., 453.
Mason, Isaac F .. 381.
Mason, William T .. 793.
Massatte. Frank. 763.
Matern, Joseph J., 669. Matthiessen. Frederick W., 712.
Mc Arthur, Peter M .. 766.
Page. Thomas M .. 427.
Palmer, Ransom D .. 582.
Palmer. Walter B., 80.
Panneck. Walter A., 780.
McFeely, Samuel R., 56.
Park, John B .. 503.
McFerson. George A., 677. McKey, Milroy A., 450.
Parr. Henry K .. 373.
Mckinney, William T., 515.
Parrish. James W .. 495.
McLauchlan. John. 372.
Patterson. Frank J .. 400.
McMullan. Frank E .. 58.
Patterson, Samuel, 728.
McNamara, William F., 242.
Patterson, William. 744.
Peck. Henry, 123.
Peddicord. Edward S., 197.
Peddicord. Milton B., 302.
Mengle. Samuel G., 798.
Peltier, Victor J .. 62.
Penney. G. E., 163.
Peterson. Danicl. 682.
Piergue. J. L .. 46.
Pinnell. George M .. 440.
Pitzer. George W .. 483.
Plumb, Levancia, 27. Plumb, Ralph, 9.
Plumb. Samuel. 26.
Pool. Carlisle M .. 628.
Miller, John E .. 496. Milling. John T .. 424. Mills, Daniel C .. 348.
Mitchell. Charles J .. 431.
Mitchell. Marshall B., 89.
Montgomery, Samuel H., 350.
Ostrander. John B., 247. Over. John, 482.
P
McCombs. George W .. 396.
McCormick, John L., 270.
Mc Elhenie, William, 447.
Parr, Francis M .. 453.
Means. Archibald. 540. Means. William E., 554. Meier. Dominic. 30.
Meisenbach, Franz, 527.
Pederson, Enoch H., 140.
Mers, Andrew W., 611.
Mercer. Angus R., 106.
Merritt, Amos W .. 748.
Merritt. Elisha M .. 658.
Metzger. F., 647.
Miller, Bruce C .. 715.
Miller, Dyson. 36.
Moon. Ammon B., 200. Morey, Woodruff A., 63. Mosey, Henry T .. 554.
Nattinger, Edward A., 594.
Oakland. Oliver G., 602.
O'Kelly. Henry A .. 17.
Marshall. Thomas, 687.
Ostrander, Albert N., 248.
Pool. Isaac H .. 777. Pope. Milton, 600. Porter. J. E., 740. Potter. Seymour. 623.
Nicholson, John, 713.
vii
INDEX.
Powell, James A., 397. Prichard, William E., 84. Proelss, Otto T., 41I.
Q
Quam, John A., 633. R
Rathbun, Charles H., 288.
Raymond, Isaac, 716.
Read, Edwin T., 329.
Reddick, William S., 193. Redmen, Andrew J., 143.
Rees, William P., 337.
Reeves, Walter, 38. Reinhardt, Joseph, 418.
Richards, Frederick, 188.
Richardson, Justin W., 719.
Richey, David, 664.
Rinker, John, 309. Roath, Byron A., 191.
Roberts, George W., 332.
Robertson, Amos, 28.
Robinson, Delos, 217.
Robinson, Eugene D., 219.
Rocheleau, William F., 761.
Rockenfeller, Theodore, 318.
Rockwood, Harry E., 235.
Taylor. Charles P., 286.
Taylor. W. W., 764. Teal. Nathan, 320.
Teissedre, Paul, 784.
Thomas. Henry, 769.
Thomas, John, 745.
Thomas. William, 103. Thompson, Barto, 617.
Thompson, John M., 334. Thompson, Lewis T., 575. Thompson, Sylvanus S., 165.
Thompson, Thomas F., 564.
Safeblade, J. F., 775. Salladay, Charles P., 258.
Sanderson, Austin, 572.
Sauer, Christian G., 722. Schaefer, Albert, 351.
Scherer, Frederick T., 642.
Schmid, George A., 260.
Schmitt, Adam, 525. Schoch, Albert F., 60.
Truman, William, 213. Trumbo. B. Frank, 127.
Tucker, Adney N., 211.
U
Schweickert, Charles A., 394.
Schweickert, Henry E., 410.
Schweickert, Jacob F., 462. Schweickert, Vincent, 393. Severson. Z., 51. Sexton, James, 83. Sherman, Henry, 755. Sherman, Joseph, 587. Siegler, Bart, 486. Siegler, William J., 466.
Simmons, Terry, 484. Simon, A. D., 138. Simonson, Omun, 778. Slagle, David H., 312. Smeeton, Henry, 153.
Smith, A. H., 382. Smith, Cyrus H., 726. Smith, Frederick W., 768.
Smith, James E., 660. Smith, Uriah T., 308. Snelling. David, 599.
Snow, Clyde M., 406. Solberg. Charles O., 259. Soule, Charles E., 795.
Spaulding. Judson, 347.
Spencer, Thomas H .. 54.
Springsteed, Benjamin, 567.
Stanford, Russell E., 703.
States, Frank E., 485. States, Gaylord J., 261.
Stebbins, Burr, 157. Stebbins, Grant C., 155.
Steinmayer, Christian, 383. Sterrett, William S., 608. Stevenson, James W., 70.
Stiles, E. B., 16.
Stilson, Samuel T., 98.
Strong, Charles C., 342.
Strnever, Charles, 490.
Sullivan, Thomas, 172.
T
Roe, William, 384. Rohrer, Charles, 455. Rosebery, W. Guy, 257.
Ross, Walter L., 156. Rowe, Thomas, 135. Rude, David, 246. Rude, Thaddeus, 480.
:
S
1
Thornton, U. N., 607. Tisler. Frederick P., 167. Todd, Harry W., 407. Townsend. George W .. 627.
Transeau, James W .. 786 Trowbridge, Irving H., 124.
Schoenneshoefer, William, 771.
Schott, Joseph, 649. Schweickert, Bertram, 435.
Ulrich, John B., 245.
V
Van Skiver. A. R., 262. Vette, John D., 363. Vigness, Lauritz A., 33. Vohs, John T., 492. Vosburgh, David M., 283.
W
Wafer, J. J., 145. Wakey, Jerry W., 137.
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INDEX.
Walbridge, Alonzo F., 280. Waldorf, Louis, 442. Walsh, James T., 107. Walter, John, 215. Ward, Ebin J., 64.
Warren, Charlotte L., 613. Warren, William P., 578.
Waszkowiak, Paul, 499.
Watts, Charles B., 603.
Winans, Alva, 694.
Watts, Philip C., 117.
Watts, Thomas W., 531.
Waugh, Samuel, 76.
Weberling, Theodore, 196. Welsh, M. J., 244.
Z
Werner, Charles G., 361. Wheeler, Julius H., 369.
White, John, 733. Whitney, Emerson L., 533.
Wickwire, D. H., 307.
Wiley, Samuel C., 205.
Wilhelm, C. D., 625.
Wilkinson, Aaron S., 147.
Williams, Silas W., 500.
Williamson, Albert, 255.
Williamson, William E., 179.
Wills, George E., 640.
Wilson, Thomas, 494.
Wilson, William G., 689.
Winter, John J., 673.
Witte, John J., 287.
Woodward, C. W., 134.
Ziesing, Richard, 648. Zimmerman, Christian, 650. Zimmerman, Christian, Jr., 652. Zolper, Henry, 456. Zwick, Frank B., 556.
Ralph Plumb
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD.
RALPH PLUMB.
A THIRD of a century has passed since this gentleman arrived in Streator, and he is justly numbered among her leading citizens, his labors having contributed largely to her upbuilding and prosperity. His is an honorable record of a conscientious man, who by his upright life has won the confi- dence of all with whom he has come in contact. He has reached the age of more than four-score years, but though a long and busy life has whitened his hair he has the vigor of a much younger man, and in spirit and interests seems yet in his prime. Old age is not necessarily a synonym of weakness or inactivity. It need not suggest, as a matter of course, want of occupation or helplessness. There is an old age that is a benediction to all that comes in contact with it, that gives out of its rich stores of learning and experience, and grows stronger intellectually and spiritually as the years pass. Such is the life of Colonel Ralph Plumb, an encouragement to his associates and an example well worthy of emulation to the young.
It is always interesting in biographical research to note something of the ancestry from which one springs and to take cognizance of the charac- teristics of the family, watching the continuous display of certain traits of character through many generations. A most complete history of the Plumb ancestry is obtainable, the line being traced back in England to the year 1500, and in this country to 1635. Back of these records Plumbs are found- mostly through their wills-through all the centuries to 1180, A. D., in the great rolls of Normandy, thus showing Norman ancestry in the time of Henry II., the great-grandson of William the Conqueror. The first repre- sentative of the family in America was John Plumb, who crossed the Atlantic from England in 1635, locating in Wethersfield, Connecticut. He served in Captain Mason's command during the Pequod war, and received a grant of land for his services. Only one of his children was born in America, and no record of any exists except that his son Samuel lived with him in Branford when he died, in 1648. It was from this John Plumb and another who came in 1660 and left descendants that the American branch of the Plumb family
9
IO
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD.
sprang, and they have been prominent in the civil and military life of the country ever since. They have been a race of warriors and statesmen, and have been notable and forceful in all the emergencies of their several gener- ations. There were forty representatives of the name in naval and military service during the war of the Revolution. This family was also worthily repre- sented in the war of the Rebellion, and in times of peace has served its country in a most creditable manner. Ebenezer Plumb, the grandfather of the Colonel, was a native of Massachusetts, and fought for the liberty of the colonies. Taking a very prominent part in church work, he was familiarly known as Deacon Plumb, on account of holding the office of deacon for many years in the old church at Stockbridge, Berkshire county, Massachu- setts. Theron Plumb, the father of our subject, was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, August 17, 1783, and having arrived at years of maturity he married Miss Harriet, daughter of Samuel Merry, of Herkimer county, New York.
Colonel Plumb of this review is a native of the Empire state, his birth having occurred in Busti, Chautauqua county, March 29, 1816. In 1820 he was taken by his parents to Hartford, Ohio, where he spent his boyhood days, attending the common schools until fourteen years of age, when neces- sity demanded that he earn his own livelihood, and he put aside his text- books. He entered upon his business career, being employed as a gardener, receiving the small sum of eighteen and three-fourths cents per day in com- pensation for his services. However, he applied himself diligently to his work and won the good will and confidence of his employer, Seth Hayes, who gave him a position in his store, conducted under the firm name of Richard Hayes & Company. Mr. Plumb remained there until he had attained his majority, and in the meantime he improved his education as opportunity offered, devoting much of his leisure time to study.
When he had reached man's estate Mr. Plumb entered into partnership with his employer, under the firm name of Hayes & Plumb, and an extensive trade was enjoyed by them. They extended their business by establishing branch stores, and Mr. Plumb gave evidence of his superior business ability by personally superintending three stores in a successful manner. Thus with the passing years he grew in influence and in affluence, and his fellow towns- men, appreciating his worth, called him to public office. In 1854 he was elected to the Ohio legislature, where he served for three sessions. About that time he disposed of his business interests in Hartford and removed to Oberlin, in order to provide his children with better educational privileges.
In 1858 he was an active factor in an episode that has become historical and that clearly proved his position in regard to the slavery question. A fugitive slave, Jolin Price by name, had gone to Oberlin and secured work.
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD.
His master, learning of his whereabouts, sent a slave-catcher to capture him and take him back to Wellington, a place nine miles away, where an officer with papers for his arrest awaited him. Fearing that Price might recognize the slave-catcher, two strange men were sent and told him that a gentleman wished to hire him. With the trusting disposition of the negro, fearing no treachery, Price accompanied the men. Oberlin then became the scene of wild excitement, the anti-slavery people being greatly roused by the injustice of the methods that had been pursued. Five hundred strong, they rescued the slave and sent him off to Canada. Mr. Plumb, with thirty-six others of the party, was arrested and thrown into jail. For eighty-four days they were incarcerated, during which time Mr. Plumb, with the assistance of two of his fellow prisoners, established and edited The Rescuer, an anti- slavery paper, even printing the same in the jail, where one of the party, owning a press and being a printer, did the work. This paper had a wide circulation and the arrest and imprisonment of those thirty-seven men caused the wildest excitement in the county and state. They were anxious for and demanded a trial. The town, county, state and even the federal government did not know what to do with them; they were a veritable white elephant on the hands of the authorities. During the legislative career of Mr. Plumb he helped to secure the passage of a bill defining the crime of kidnaping, and of this the citizens of Oberlin took advantage at this time and had the two men who inveigled the slave into the hands of the officers arrested for kidnaping him. This was like a thunder-clap out of a clear sky to the author- ities and brought them to time; and they opened negotiations with the prisoners for their release, being secretly glad to get rid of them. They were released in consideration of the kidnapers' not being prosecuted. During these eighty-four days of incarceration the thirty-seven prisoners were the heroes of the hour. Their imprisonment was a continuous recep- tion, people coming from all parts of the country by the thousands to visit them and encourage them in the stand they had taken against oppression and injustice. At last the prison doors were opened with eclat and the prisoners welcomed with a band of music and the salute of one hundred guns.
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