The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois, Part 1

Author: Clarke S. J. Publishing Company
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 624

USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 1
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 1
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 1

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THE

BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD

BUREAU, MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES,

ILLINOIS.

ILLUSTRATED.

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote generations."-MACAULEY.

Sc 911, 301 B 89 bi

CHICAGO: THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY.

1896.

"Biography is the only true history." -EMERSON.

BROWN-COOPER TYPESETTING COMPANY,

CHICAGO. ILL.

PREFACE.

1190747

T HE greatest of English historians, MACAULAY, 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 conformity with this idea, the BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD has been prepared. Instead of going to musty records, and taking therefrom dry statistical matter that can be appre- ciated by but few, our corps of writers have gone to the people, the men and women who have, by their enterprise and industry, brought these counties 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 this volume will be found a record of many whose lives are worthy the imitation of coming gen- erations. 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 and breadth of the land. It tells of men who have risen from the lower walks of life to eminence as statesmen, and whose names have become famous. It tells of those in every walk in life who have striven to succeed, and records how that success has usually crowned their efforts. It tells also of many, very many, who, not seeking the applause of the world, have pursued " the even tenor of their way," content to have it said of them, as Christ said of the woman performing a deed of mercy- " They have done what they could." It tells how that many in the pride and strength of young manhood left the plow and the anvil, the lawyer's office and the counting room, left every trade and profession, and at their country's call went forth valiantly " to do or die," and how through their efforts the Union was restored and peace once more reigned in the land. In the life of every man and of every woman is a lesson that should not be lost upon those who follow after.

Coming generations will appreciate this volume and preserve it as a sacred treasure, from the fact that it contains so much that would never find its way into public records, and which would otherwise be inaccessible. Great care has been taken in the compilation of the work, and every opportunity possible given to those represented to insure correctness in what has been written; and the publishers flatter themselves that they give to their readers a work with few errors of consequence. In addition to the biographical sketches, portraits of a number of repre- sentative citizens are given.

The faces of some, and biographical sketches of many, will be missed in this volume. For this the publishers are not to blame. Not 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 family 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 made at their residence or place of business.

December, 1896.

THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING CO.

HON. R. M. SKINNER.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

R ICHARD M. SKINNER. Among the most active and enterprising citizens of Prince- ton, one closely identified with almost every inter- est, business, social or financial, is the subject of this sketch. He is a native of New Jersey, born in Morris county, April 13, 1847, and is the son of John C. and Mary (Stevens) Skinner, both of whom are natives of New Jersey.

When Richard was but six years of age his father determined to emigrate west, and ac- cordingly, with his family, moved to Ohio, and one year later, in 1854, to Bureau county, Illi- nois, locating upon a farm near Princeton, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying there in 1877, at the age of sixty-three years-the result of an accident. His wife survived him some years, dying in 1893, at the age of seventy-eight years. They reared a family of five children, two sons and three daughters, namely: Sarah S., wife of Henry U. Bacon, of Ottawa, Kansas: Richard M., of this sketch: George S., an attor- ney of Princeton; Mary E., wife of Elijah P. Lovejoy, and Eliza J., librarian of the public library.

The boyhood and youth of our subject from the time he was seven years old were spent upon a farm, and his primary education was received in the country school. 'Entering the high school at Princeton, he took the regular course, grad- uating there with the class of 1870-the first class sent out from that institution. He then be- came a student in Cornell university, of Ithaca, New York, where he took a partial course. Hav- ing resolved upon the law as his life profession, he entered the Albany Law school, of Union college, from which he graduated in 1872, and

was later admitted to practice in all the courts of New York State.

For certain reasons, Mr. Skinner did not en- ter at once upon the active practice of his pro- fession, but for two terms was engaged as teach- er of the high school at Princeton, a position which he filled with eminent satisfaction to its patrons. In the fall of 1873, however, he hung out his shingle, and from that time to the present he has been a member of the Bureau county bar, and has won distinction in his chosen pro- fession. He has practiced in all the courts of the state, and is recognized by his associates as an able counsellor and strong advocate. From 1876, until 1880, he served his county as state's attorney, and again from 1888 until 1892. Dur- ing his incumbency several very important cases were tried by him and prosecuted to a successful isstie.

While never neglecting his duties as an attor- ney. Mr. Skinner has ever felt it incumbent on him to discharge any public duty that he might be called upon to perform. In politics he is a strong republican and has from very boyhood advocated the principles of that party, principles that might be said to be "bred in the bone." In various campaigns since attaining his majority. he has taken the stump and dealt some stalwart blows against the errors and heresies of the op- position. A thorough temperance man from principle, he has always opposed the licensing of the liquor traffic, and in 1895, was elected mayor of Princeton on a no-license ticket-the majority of the council, however, favoring li- cense-and is now serving in that capacity.

On the 12th of June, 1878, Mr. Skinner was

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

united in marriage with Miss Mary Ella Sharp, a daughter of John N. and Nancy (McCracken) Sharp, of Hackettstown, New Jersey, now of Brooklyn, New York. By this union five chil- dren have been born. The eldest, De Witt, died in 1892, at the age of twelve years. The living are Walter R., a student in the high school; Annie B .; John S., and Richard M., Jr., all of whom yet reside at home. The family are at- tendants of the Congregational church, with which body Mrs. Skinner is an active worker, being interested in every department of church work, especially in the women's societies.

Mr. Skinner is a lover of good and harmless sport, and is at present president of the Princeton Rifle club, an association of gentlemen for so- cial purposes and for target practice. In the public school system of the state he has always taken a lively interest and for twelve years has been a member of the board of education of the Princeton high school district, being one of the first graduates of the high school, and one of the first of its alumni to occupy the position of a teacher in it. The interest manifested as stu- dent and teacher has ever been maintained. The Princeton high school occupies a peculiar posi- tion, being the first high school in the state to be organized under a special charter from the state. Its standing as an advanced school has always been the highest and to Mr. Skinner much of the credit of its efficiency is due. For several years he was president of the board and is now its clerk, and he is familiar with every detail of its work. In his official capacity as mayor of the city he brings to bear good judgment and a pride in the place of his adoption, and a stead- fast determination to make it take a front rank among its sister municipalities of the state. After the death of Mrs. Matson, Mr. Skinner was made a member of the Matson Public Lib- rary board, a position which he filled with signal ability until his election as mayor, when he re- signed the position. His judgment of books is always considered good. As a business man he has served as director of the Farmers' Nation- al bank, and is now a director of and general

attorney for the Citizens' National bank, of Princeton. Conservative in all business mat- ters his judgment is relied upon by his associates, and the public has confidence in the stability of an institution conducted by such men as the subject of this biography.

G ENERAL THOMAS J. HENDERSON.

The roster of officers and men serving in the late war from the grand old prairie state furnishes a long list of those who distinguished themselves in camp and upon the battlefield, and among that number there is not one with a better record for faithful service, greater bravery and exalted patriotism than the man whose name heads this sketch. He is a native of Tennessee, born in Brownsville, Haywood county, No- vember 29, 1824, and is the son of Colonel Wil- liam H. Henderson and Sarah M. (Howard) Henderson.

William H. Henderson was born in Garrard county, Kentucky, November 16, 1793, and there spent his boyhood and youth. At the age of nineteen years he enlisted in Colonel Richard M. Johnson's regiment of mounted riflemen, and served during the war of 1812. Having studied surveying, for some years he followed that pro- fession in his native state, and in 1823 removed to Tennessee, locating in Stewart county. In that State he also engaged in surveying, and also filled a number of offices of honor and trust. He served as sheriff of his county, and later, when he removed to Haywood county, was elected to the state senate, which position he resigned in 1836, to remove to Illinois. He was the first register of deeds of Haywood coun- ty, in which Brownsville is located, and there recorded the first deed the same year our sub- ject was born.

On coming to this state William H. Hender- son located in Putnam, now Stark, county, on a farm, but his business tact and abilities were soon recognized by the people, and two years after his arrival he was elected a member of the legislature, in 1838, and in the winter of 1838-39 met with that body in its last session at Vandalia,

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and where he was associated with Lincoln, Ed- wards, and other notable men. He also served in the first session of the legislature meeting at Springfield, in the winter of 1840-41. While a member of that body he was instrumental in. the creation and organization of Stark county. In 1842 he was a candidate on the whig ticket for lieutenant-governor, but was defeated. In 1845 he removed to Johnson county, Iowa, where he purchased and operated a large farm. In politics he was a whig. His death occurred January 27, 1864, at the age of seventy-one years.

William H. Henderson was twice married, his first marriage being with Miss Lucinda Wim- berly, in Stewart county, Tennessee, January II, 1816. By this union there were three chil- dren: Mary, who married John T. Sevier, both now being deceased; John W., who twice served as a member of the senate from Linn county, Iowa, and who now resides at Cedar Rapids, that state; and William P., who resides at Jeffer- son City, Iowa. Mrs. Lucinda Henderson died in Haywood county, Tennessee, and later Mr. Henderson married Sarah M. Howard, who was born in Sampson county, North Carolina, Sep- tember 15, 1804, and died in Marshalltown, Iowa, in January, 1879. By this union were five chil- dren: (1) General Thomas J., our subject. (2) Henry C., who is now engaged in the practice of law at Boulder, Colorado; during the war he was a member of the state senate of Iowa, and for some years was district judge in that state. (3) Elizabeth H., the only daughter by the sec- ond marriage, died in infancy. (4) Reverend Stephen H., who was a member of the Iowa Methodist Episcopal conference for some years, and while there filled some of the best pulpits of the state, and who also served as presiding elder. He was later transferred to the Nebraska conference and filled the Methodist Episcopal pulpits in Lincoln and other cities. He mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Winterstein of Iowa, a lady of pleasing presence, of much culture, and most admirably adapted for the wife of a min- ister. They reside at Lincoln, Nebraska. (5)

Daniel W., who resides at Jefferson, Iowa. He was a member of the Thirty-second Iowa Infan- try, and served three years in the late war. (6) James A., who became an attorney of note in Iowa, but who was compelled to abandon the practice of law on account of ill health. Re- moving to Toulon, Illinois, he there published the Stark County News until his death. He was a member of the Forty-seventh Illinois In- fantry. -- 1

The boyhood of our subject was spent in his native state, and until eleven years of age he attended the common schools and the male academy at Brownsville, Tennessee, and during the last year commenced the study of Latin. With his father's family he came to Stark coun- ty, Illinois, where he attended the pioneer schools of that locality. Nine years later he again went with the family to Johnson county, Iowa, where he entered the State University at Iowa City and spent one term. Prior to this, however, he had taught country schools more than a year. On leaving the university he returned to Stark county, and taught the first term of school in a building just erected for that purpose at Toulon. He then clerked in a store for nearly a year, and in the fall of 1847 was elected clerk of the county commissioners' court of Stark county, and served as such until the office was changed to that of clerk of the county court, to which office he was elected and served until 1853. While dis- charging the duties of these offices, which were not very arduous at that time, he continued his law studies, and in 1852 passed an examination and was admitted to practice. On the expiration of his term as clerk, in 1853, he opened an office in Toulon and commenced the practice of his chosen profession.

Law and politics seemed to go hand in hand that day, and in 1854 Mr. Henderson was elected a member of the Illinois legislature and served in that capacity a term of two years. In 1856 he was elected to the state senate, and served with such men as N. B. Judd, Silas L. Bryan. B. C. Cook, and W. C. Goudy, and was at that time the youngest member of that body. Those

İ2

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

were exciting times. The whig party had ceased to exist, and the newly organized repub- lican party had sprung into existence. As an anti-Nebraska man he was elected to the house, but as a republican he was elected to the senate. The celebrated Kansas-Nebraska act had been passed. The southern states were attempting to force slavery upon the newly organized ter- ritories, and the north, much against its will, was forced to recognize the great power wielded by the south, and that that section was deter- mined to have its way regardless of conse- quences. In this political fight our subject en- tered heart and soul.

The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 fur- nished the pretext for the southern states to carry out their threats. Secession acts were passed, and the war for the preservation of the union was begun. It may well be surmised on which side our subject was to be found. In almost every school district in Stark county he addressed his fellow-citizens, urging enlistments, and pleading with all to stand by the adminis- tration and the union.

In the summer of 1862, when the call came for 300,000 more, Mr. Henderson determined to enlist, and at once took the field and soon suc- ceeded in raising a company, which became a part of the One Hundred and Twelfth regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Assembling in camp, by permission of Governor Yates the regi- ment was permitted to elect its colonel, and Mr. Henderson received the unanimous vote, both of officers and privates. On the 22d of September, 1862, the regiment was mustered into service and immediately ordered to the front. Its record for nearly three years follow- ing is a part of the history of that great struggle. In the campaigns through Georgia and Ten- nessee, the One Hundred and Twelfth was ever at the front, its colonel winning the good will of his superior officers for his conscientious dis- charge of every duty devolving upon him. "Al- ways hopeful, always prompt, always courage- ous, a most loyal subordinate, and a most able and devoted leader," was the record given him

by Major-General J. D. Cox, under whom he long served. At the battle of Resaca, Georgia, May 14, 1864, he was severely wounded and lay in a hospital for some time, after which he was granted a furlough and came home to recuperate. Returning to his regiment, the Third Brigade, Third Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, was organized for him, and he was assigned to its command. As commander of this brigade, he served until the close of the war, being brevetted a brigadier-general for gallant conduct during the campaign in Georgia and Tennessee, and espe- cially at the battle of Franklin, Tennessee, the commission dating November 30, 1864.

The war over, the regiment being mustered out of service, General Henderson returned to his home in Toulon, Stark county, and quietly resumed the practice of law. There he remained until March, 1867, when he moved to Princeton and formed a partnership with the late Joseph I. Taylor in the practice of his profession, which was continued until 1871. At this time the gen- eral was appointed by President Grant as United States collector of internal revenue for the fifth Illinois district, with headquarters at Peoria. During the two years he was connected with that office he collected and turned over to the general government more than nine million dol- lars. Returning home in 1873 he formed a part- nership with Judge H. M. Trimble, which still continues, the firm being an exceptionally strong one.

In 1868 General Henderson was one of the presidential electors for the state at large, and cast his vote for General Grant. In 1870, he unsuccessfully sought the nomination for con- gress, and in 1874 was nominated and elected a member of the Forty-fourth congress from the sixth district. During that term he served on the railways, canals and pension committees; in the Forty-fifth congress he served on claims; in the Forty-sixth on commerce; in the Forty-sev- enth he was chairman of the committee on mil- itary affairs; in the Forty-eighth, Forty-ninth and Fiftieth congresses he served on the com- mittee on rivers and harbors; in the Fifty-first

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

he was chairman of committee on rivers and harbors; and in the Fifty-second and Fifty-third he served on rivers and harbors, and also on banking and currency. For eight years he served as a member of the sixth district, and for twelve years from the seventh. After his first term he was always re-nominated by acclamation. In all, General Henderson served the people faith- fully and well for twenty years. His greatest service as a member of congress, as he regards it, was rendered as a member of the committees on commerce and on rivers and harbors, in the improvement of the waterways of the country, and his principal achievement was the securing of the construction of the Hennepin canal, and this is a movement of which he may well be proud. A man more honest and devoted to the best interests of his constituents never en- tered the halls of congress, and those that know him best do not hesitate to say that he is in every respect a noble type of American manhood. For twenty years he has been one of the most popular of the soldier statesmen in congress, and his name stands for honesty, integrity, and every- thing that is good in politics and public life. No man in Bureau county in the past twenty years has stood nearer the hearts of the people.

General Henderson was married May 29, 1849. to Miss Henrietta Butler, of Wyoming, Stark county. She was born in New York City, August 11, 1830, and is the daughter of Captain Henry and Rebecca (Green) Butler, of Wyo- ming, Illinois. By this union four children have been born. (I) Gertrude. R., wife of Charles J. Dunbar, of Princeton, and they have two living children, Harry B. and Fred T. (2) Sarah E., wife of Chester M. Durley, of Princeton, who also have two children, Leigh and Helen. (3) Mary L., wife of John Farnsworth of Washing- ton, D. C., who have four living children, Ger- trude, John, Eunice, and Thomas H. (4) Thom- as B., a boot and shoe dealer of Princeton, and insurance agent.

Fraternally, General Henderson is a Mason, holding membership, with blue lodge, chapter, commandery and consistory. As a citizen he

is ever ready to do all in his power to advance the interests of his adopted city, giving of his time and means for its material advancement. He and his estimable wife live in a beautiful home on Peru street.

The republicanism of General Henderson has never been doubted. He was a delegate at the last whig state convention in Springfield, and was a delegate to the republican national con- vention at St. Louis in 1896, and cast his vote for Major McKinley, protection and sound cur- rency.

J AMES TANQUARY, "Uncle Jimmy," as he

was familiarly called by almost every man, woman and child living in Steuben and adjoining townships, in Marshall county, was a man greatly loved and universally respected by all who knew him. For nearly half a century his was a familiar face in Marshall county, and now that he has gone it seems like the light had gone out of the home of not only his immediate fam- ily, but the entire neighborhood as well.

James Tanquary was born in Pickaway coun- ty, Ohio, June 17, 1831, and was the son of Wil- liam and Elizabeth (Shackford) Tanquary, both of whom were reared in that state. His boy- hood days were spent in his Ohio home, where he remained until sixteen years of age, when he accompanied his parents to Indiana, and there remained with them until reaching his majority, when he came to Marshall county, Illinois, where he had relatives living. Soon after his arrival he engaged in farming, and pursued that occupation during his entire life.

The life of a farmer is lonely enough, even when surrounded by family and friends, but without either it is doubly so. Mr. Tanquary was a man of domestic tastes, and we therefore find that on the 15th of September, 1853, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Lucinda C. Black- well, whose maiden name was Watkins. She is a daughter of Isaiah and Mary (Douglas) Wat- kins, and a sister of David Watkins of Steuben township. When but fifteen years of age she married Rev. David Blackwell, who died eight

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

years afterward. He was a minister of the Methi- odist Episcopal church, a member of the Illinois conference. When he formed the acquaintance of Miss Watkins he was pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Lacon, and she was a pupil in the public schools. After their marriage they resided at Whitehall, Carlinville, and Mt. Ver- non, Illinois, in each of which places he was pastor, and while residing at the last named point he was called to his final reward. Two children were born to them: Rev. William Robert Black- well, of the Methodist Episcopal church, now residing at Mt. Vernon, Iowa; and David Rich- ford Blackwell, who is a farmer of Steuben township. The widowed mother returned to the old neighborhood, met and married Mr. Tanquary. Whether it was "love at first sight" or not, it can truly be said that they were lovers during their entire married life, and Mr. Tan- quary became a real father to her fatherless chil- dren, and they loved him with a tender love even unto the end. One son came to bless their union, Nathan Quinn Tanquary, a leading attor- ney of Denver, Colorado, who was educated at Iowa City, Iowa. They also had a foster son, J. Keys, who was killed in a railroad accident.

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The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois, Part 1

Author: Clarke S. J. Publishing Company Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company Number of Pages: 624

Author: Clarke S. J. Publishing Company
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 624