USA > Illinois > Champaign County > A Standard history of Champaign County Illinois : an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, civic and social development : a chronicle of the people, with family lineage and memoirs, Volume II > Part 60
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81
Martin K. Busey grew up in his home county, and after the public schools entered the State University and subsequently graduated from Brown's Business College. He entered an active business career at the age of eighteen. At that time, in 1902, he became cashier of his father's bank at Mahomet, and has steadily looked after the management of that institu- tion for fifteen years, his ability as a financier growing steadily with his experience. He is a thorough business man, but also possesses that cordial and genial manner which gives him the esteem of all patrons of the bank and influential associations with the leading men of the state.
On June 22, 1909, Mr. Busey married Miss Raye Grant Hanley. Mrs. Busey is a daughter of Thomas R. and Maggie G. (Dodson) Hanley, both now deceased. She was liberally educated, graduating from the School of Oratory in the Illinois Wesleyan University at Bloomington, and also in instrumental music in the conservatory of music of that college. For several years before her marriage she lived in Chicago, and still retains her membership in a Presbyterian Church of that city. She is active in the Domestic Science Club of Mahomet.
Mr. Busey served two years as tax collector of Mahomet Township, and for the past four years has been village treasurer. He is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge at Mahomet and with the Royal Arch Chapter and the Knights Templar Commandery No. 68 at Champaign, is also affiliated with Lodge No. 529 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Mahomet, and
924
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
with the local camp of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. and Mrs. Busey have one of the beautiful homes of Mahomet, and it is widely known for the cordial hospitality that prevails within its doors. Mr. and Mrs. Busey have traveled widely, and in 1909 made an extensive tour of Canada and the northeastern states, including Montreal, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Detroit and other principal cities.
JOHN W. BOCOCK, a retired business man at Sidney, has had an unusual range of experience varying from that of an old time telegraph operator to a cotton planter and farmer. Much of his active career has been passed in Champaign County but his business acquaintance is widely extended.
Mr. Bocock was born near Washington Courthouse in Fayette County, Ohio, December 20, 1849. His parents were Elijah and Louisa (Gregory) Bocock, both natives of Ohio. His father came to Sidney and Cham- paign County October 12, 1856, and identified himself with the pioncer element in this county as a farmer. He did not live long after coming, his death occurring July 4, 1864, in the village of Sidney. There were four children: Nancy Maria, who died June 3, 1862; Martha Jane, who died October 16, 1864; Belle, widow of J. S. Frantz and living at Dan- ville, Illinois; and John W.
John W. Bocock was fifteen years old when his father died. His mother and two sisters being left upon their own resources it was neces- sary for the only son to put forth his efforts in assisting to support the family. His sister Belle did likewise but Martha Jane was ill and able to do but little. In June, 1866, the mother married Paul Laybourn, of Sidney, and John W. Bocock and his sister went to the new home in that village, Belle remaining until she married a few months later, while John W. was part of the family circle until the spring of 1870.
Paul Laybourn by his marriage to Mrs. Louisa Bocock had one child; Roberta, now Mrs. R. L. Thomas, of Detroit, Michigan. Paul Laybourn died in March, 1872. Mr. Bocock's mother, left twice a widow, survived to the good old age of seventy-eight, passing away March 24, 1901.
Even before his father's death, as early as 1863, John W. Bocock contributed in a measure to his own support by clerking in a grocery store owned by John Upp of Sidney. Later he did similar service in the grocery store of T. J. Youngblood & Company, in which his parents had a small interest. On April 1, 1870, he entered the store of Henry Coffeen at Homer, Illinois, his position on the payroll being at ten dollars per month. Three months later he went to Lafayette, Indiana, and spent some time peddling goods from a wagon throughout the country district. Returning to Homer, he worked for M. D. Coffeen in a general store until May 1, 1871. His next experience was at Chicago, where in Porter's National Telegraph College he was a student three months. In those days of his early career his means were very limited, consequently with three other young men he did the janitor work of the office and college hall for his room rent. This gave him free access to the instruments out of school hours and this opportunity was utilized late and early.
After three months Mr. Bocock secured his certificate for capability in sending thirty words and receiving twenty-five words per minute. Returning to Champaign County he entered the office of John Shutts, agent and operator for the Toledo, Wabash & Western Railway at Philo, in the capacity of a cub, and remained there until February' 22, 1872, when he was assigned to the night office at Catlin, Illinois, and ten months later was transferred to the night office at Homer. He was finally advanced to day operator and continued handling the telegraph key there
1
925
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
until December 22, 1874, when he was given the joint position of agent and operator at Philo. On March 1, 1881, he resigned his position, thus closing his railroad and telegraph service. During these years of employ- ment as an operator Mr. Bocock taught nine young men the art of the Morse system, and all of them did good work for themselves and their employers. Two of these young men have since risen to places of . eminence in the railroad world. One is Mr. H. A. Boomer, now general manager of the Lake Erie and Western Railway, with headquarters at Indianapolis. Another is S. A. Hess, of Decatur, traveling passenger agent of the Wabash Railway.
On giving up railroad work Mr. Bocock came to Sidney and bought the old park elevator. He remained in the grain business there until the following winter, when he sold out, and on April 1, 1882, engaged in the general merchandising business at Sidney with his father-in-law, under the firm name of Fisher & Bocock. That firm continued for five years. The stock of merchandise was then traded for land in Coffey County, Kansas. It is only fair to say that Kansas land proved to be a poor investment and after a few years was disposed of at a discount. After the closing out of the general country store Mr. Bocock was associated with Winston's Bank for three years in the capacity of bookkeeper and cashier. Then with A. C. Woody he engaged in the wholesale confectionery and fruit business at Decatur, Illinois, for one year when they moved the business to Champaign. On February 7, 1893, the whole plant was destroyed by fire.
In 1896, when J. S. Mccullough was elected auditor of public accounts, Mr. Bocock was chairman of the County Board of Supervisors while Mr. Mccullough was county clerk. Hence they were closely associated in county affairs. Without any solicitations the newly elected auditor tendered an appointment to Mr. Bocock as state inspector of building and loan associations. This was. accepted and in January, 1897 he was assigned work in Chicago. Just at that time there was much trouble among the building and loan associations and Mr. Bocock, together with Inspector C. B. Phaler, did a valuable work in putting Chicago associa- tions in a more prosperous condition. For some of the associations he acted as custodian and otherwise entered vitally into the management and rehabilitation of the concerns. After a few years in building and loan association work Mr. Bocock was transferred to the banking depart- ment of the auditor in the capacity of bank examiner, serving the state altogether ten years in these two positions.
On July 1, 1900, Mr. Bocock was one of the four men who organized the Cotton Exchange Bank at Cleveland, Mississippi. Having acquired some interests in the south he gravitated naturally into real estate invest- ments and with Mr. G. D. Boonc bought a cotton plantation adjoining the town of Cleveland, consisting of 1,003 acres. They took title on March 1, 1904. For six years they continued as extensive cotton growers, Mr. Bocock spending much of his time on the plantation. Hc then bought out the interest of his partner and continued the operation of the planta- tion alone until 1912, when he sold out.
On September 1, 1912, Mr. Bocock bought the Nelson Sampson farm of 170 acres in Sidney Township and he still owns that property, and he and his wife jointly own the A. P. Coffeen farm. While he thus owns some of the best situated and most valuable farm lands of this part of Champaign County he has been practically retired from active business for several years.
Mr. Bocock married September 16, 1874, Mary Fisher, daughter of Martin and Jane (Hays) Fisher. Three children were born to their 2-26
-
926
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
marriage : Oral F., wife of E. J. Lehman, of Sidney; Jennie L., wife of W. C. Rice, of Fairmount, Illinois; and Mattie Fay, who dicd February 15, 1888.
In the spring of 1874, while he was working as a telegraph operator, Mr. Bocock bought a small residence property in Homer. This was the initial step toward making a home and he partly furnished it before his marriage. The newly wedded couple began housekeeping September 25th of the same year and on the 22nd of December following he took up his new work at Philo, as before stated. In 1877 he traded the Homer property in on 152 acres of land in Philo Township, getting a fair price for the town property and taking the land at a little less than $25 per acre. About 1883 he sold this land for $41.65 an acre on ten years time. Less than five years later he offered to buy it back at $75 an acre, but the owner refused to part with it.
In 1880 Martin Fisher settled upon each of his four children 160 acres of land, 'Mrs. Bocock receiving the northwest quarter of section 7, township 18, range 10 east, a tract which she still owns. At the death of her father by mutual consent of the heirs she received as her portion of her father's landed interest in Sidney Township the undivided one- half of the A. P. Coffeen farm, which had been acquired by the firm of Fisher & Bocock. In 1899 Mr. Bocock bought from A. M. Coffeen the west half of the northeast quarter of section 23, township 18, range 10 east for $75 per acre in cash. In 1904 he and his wife deeded this eighty acres to their two daughters. As already noted, on returning to Sidney in 1881 Mr. Bocock bought the residence property he now occupies and which has been the home of the family during all the passing years.
In matters of politics Mr. Bocock is a Republican. He has long been identified with public affairs in his home locality and county, has been president of the village board, a school director, member of the county board, and for several years acted as chairman of the county board.
HENRY M. BROWNFIELD is one of the old timers of Champaign County and has had his home in this region since early childhood and for a period of more than sixty years. The honor and respect due him are the result not only of long residence, painstaking work and management as a practical farmer, but also to his most creditable record as a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War.
Mr. Brownfield is a native of Missouri, having been born in Shelby County, October 15, 1842. His parents, John R. and Susan (Mullens) Brownfield, were both natives of Kentucky, and were pioneers in north- eastern Missouri, where they married. In 1851 the family came to Illinois and settled eight miles north of Urbana.
Henry M. Brownfield was one of seven children. He obtained his early education by attending an old log school house on the prairie, known as the Peters' school. He had barely finished his lessons when the war cloud arosc, and in the exciting times of 1861, when every youth responded to the call of patriotism, he enlisted at Homer, and was sent to Hannibal, Missouri, where on October 1, 1861, two weeks before his nineteenth birthday, he was sworn into the service of the United States. He remained performing camp duty at Hannibal from October to the following February. Mr. Brownfield was a member of Company F of the Twenty-sixth Illinois Infantry.
He was in active service almost continuously throughout the four years of the war. His first service was with Pope's expedition down the Missis- sippi River to Island No. 10. He and his comrades fought at New Madrid, Missouri, had a skirmish at Point Pleasant, and were in the Missouri cam- paign from March 6, to April 6, 1862. Crossing the Mississippi, they cap-
927
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
tured Rebel prisoners at Island No. 10, and then at New Madrid they took a boat and went to Corinth, landing above Shiloh. They fought at Farm- ington, near Corinth, and took part in the siege of that Mississippi city. They next followed General Price down to Ripley, returned to Camp Clear Creek, and then had a part in the great battle at Iuka, Mississippi, where the Union troops won the day. The Union forces there were under the command of General Rosecrans and 400 of the Union command were killed. They fought Price's command two days at Corinth, on October 3 and 4, 1862, and then followed the retreating Confederates for two days from Corinth. Price made a turn and came back and struck General Hulbert, soon again in retreat, and the Illinois troops captured all his camp equipment. The com- mand in which Mr. Brownfield was a member then returned to Corinth, and soon took up the Vicksburg campaign. Here under Sherman Mr. Brown- field was in some of the notable exploits of the campaign. He was on the transports convoyed down the Mississippi by Porter's fleet, running past the batteries at Vicksburg, down to the mouth of the Yazoo River and up that stream to Snyder's Bluff. Here they were in camp until Pemberton sur- rendered Vicksburg to Grant. They next took part in the sixteen days' siege of Jackson, returning to Vicksburg and taking boat for Memphis, and from there went east in the campaign involving the battles of Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga. He was in the battle of Missionary Ridge and was then part of the expedition sent to relieve the besieged Knoxville. After that the troops returned to Chattanooga and from there to Colliersville. On January 4, 1864, Mr. Brownfield re-enlisted for the three years or during the war. He had had a long and arduous experience, but was not yet satis- fied, and determined to see the war victoriously completed. At his re-enlist- ment he and his comrades were given a thirty days' furlough and he spent that time pleasantly visiting his Illinois home. He rejoined his command at Colliersville, and was then on the march to the sea with Sherman. Many times he sang the famous song which celebrated that march, and it is the testimony of Mr. Brownfield that it was much easier to sing it than make the march itself. He fought at Kingston, and at Dallas, Georgia, on May 28th was wounded in the shoulder and jaw and was sent to a hospital. He was given a furlough July 12th, and again went home for thirty days. In November, 1864, he tried to rejoin his command, but got only as far as Chattanooga, where he spent the winter. He was then sent to Nashville, and took boat up the Ohio River. The boat stuck in the ice and the troops were taken off and transported by railroad through Cincinnati to Pittsburgh, to Harrisburg, to Annapolis, Maryland, and there conveyed down the bay and around the sea past Cape Henry and Cape Hatteras, where the vessel en- countered a severe gale and he suffered the inclemencies of the rough sea for four days and four nights. The troops were finally landed at Morehead City, North Carolina, fought at Newbern and near Raleigh, and were clearing that district of the remnants of the Confederate Army when peace was declared and the glad tidings of Lee's surrender were hailed with joy by all the weary soldiers, particularly Mr. Brownfield, who had been out for nearly four years.
On July 2, 1865, the veteran soldier, still not yet twenty-three years of age, was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, and returned home.
During one of his furloughs he had married Miss Elizabeth McClughen. Mrs. Brownfield was born in St. Joseph Township of Champaign County, a daughter of Robertson and Jane (McCammon) McClughen. Her parents werc natives of Ohio, and had come to Illinois when quite young and were married in Champaign County. Elizabeth McClughen was one of nine children and she received her early advantages with her brothers and sisters in an old log cabin school house.
1
928
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Brownfield settled in Urbana. Ten children were born to them, named Oscar M., Clara Iona, Susan Orpha, Charles, George, Rosa, Freddie, Grace, Simeon and Jane. Mr. and Mrs. Brownfield gave their children all possible advantages and sent them to the Pleasant Grove school. Again and again have these worthy people experi- enced the sorrows of mortal life, and one by one they laid their children to rest, until only one now survives. This is the youngest daughter, Jane. She was liberally educated and was a successful school teacher in Champaign County, as was also her husband. She married Norton Mahorney. They have one child, Corrinne Elizabeth, born June 27, 1917, the only grand- child of Mr. and Mrs. Brownfield, and the delight of the entire family.
Mr. and Mrs. Brownfield enjoy a comfortable home in St. Joseph Town- ship, and while the years have brought them many sorrows they have also brought them the satisfaction of efforts extended and the results of fruitful toil. Both are active members of the Christian Church, and in politics Mr. Brownfield is a Republican. Hc served as constable four years and has always done his part in community affairs.
ISAAC DIVAN when a small boy fought for the preservation of the Union, some years later came to this part of Illinois, built a home and developed a farm, and for the past nine years has enjoyed the comforts of retirement in his pleasant and attractive home at Ogden.
Mr. Divan was born in Licking County, Ohio, September 26, 1848, son of Jacob and Ellen (Jones) Divan. His father was a native of Penn- sylvania. There were nine children, six daughters and three sons, in the family, all of whom received their education in the primitive district schools of Licking County. There were no such opportunities for an edu- cation open to the boys of that day as at present, and Mr. Divan recalls the scantily furnished log buildings in which he learned his early lessons. When he was seven years of age his father was killed by a falling tree and at an early age he had to assume responsibilities in advance of his years.
He was not yet thirteen when the war broke out between the North and the South, and as the war progressed he found himself unable to restrain his enthusiasm and passion for his country, and with about eighteen other boys. went to Newark, Ohio, and became members of Company L in the First Regiment of United States Engineers. This regiment was sent to relieve some of the veteran troops whose time had expired. They recruited and disciplined at Todd's Barracks in Columbus, were sent to Chattanooga, . did garrison duty and other work in Tennessee, and after five months of active service Mr. Divan was mustered out at Nashville, and received his honorable discharge.
In the meantime his mother and family had moved to Indiana, and he joined them at Logansport in Cass County. He was there two years, and in the fall of 1867 his family made another stage in the western migra- tion, moving from Cass County, Indiana, to Vermilion County, Illinois, and settling on a rented farin. Isaac had then to take active control of the farm, since his brothers and sisters had left home for themselves. His mother kept house for him from 1867 until his marriage in 1878.
At that date Mr. Divan laid the foundation of his own home by his marriage to Anna Rutledge. She was born near Danville, Illinois, daughter of William and Charlotte (McVicker) Rutledge, her father a native of Kentucky and her mother of Virginia. Both of them were brought to Illinois when children by their respective parents, and they grew up and married in Vermilion County.
Mr. and Mrs. Divan after their marriage located near Burr Oak Grove in Vermilion County, where he bought eighty acres of land at $9.70 per
MR. AND MRS. ISAAC DIVAN
929
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
acre. In that locality he kept his home for seven years, when he came to Champaign County and has since been a resident of Ogden Township. In the Vermilion County location he showed his best efforts as a farmer and. the passing years brought him success until he had a finely developed farm of 100 acres. He had eighty acres in Vermilion County and 100 acres in Champaign County. He improved his land with good buildings and in other ways, and it stands as a monument to his work as a practical farmer.
Three children, two daughters and one son, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Divan, named Nellie, Walter and Stella Ellen. These children were edu- cated in the Burr Oak School, while Walter studied in Urbana and in Brown's Business College. While in college he fell in love with one of his fellow students, Anna Arms, and they were married. His wife died in February, 1912. Walter is now connected with a clothing store at Champaign.
The daughter Stella E. married Fernie Clark, a farmer occupying the old Divan homestead. They have two children, Rexford Clark and Janice Virginia.
Nellie Divan married Warner Scott. Their one child, Goldie Leone, is now Mrs. Clyde Harry of Ogden. Goldie was a student of Olivet College near Danville. The daughter Nellie was a young woman of splendid intel- lect and many fine qualities of character. She suffered poor health, spent. some time with her family in the healthful climate of Arizona to no avail, and finally contracted pneumonia and died September 23, 1907. Her little daughter was taken into the home of her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Divan, and carefully reared and educated.
Mr. and Mrs. Divan have a very attractive and nicely located home just at the edge of the town of Ogden, where the advantages of the country are combined with the facilities and conveniences of town. This home was called the John Lee homestead. Since it came under the ownership of Mr. Divan he has made many improvements that add to its value and comfort. Mr. and Mrs. Divan are active members of the United Brethren Church and he served it as steward eight years. Politically he is a Repub- lican, having cast his first vote with that party for General Grant nearly fifty years ago, and has never had a valid reason to change his party affiliation.
PEARL M. HOLLINGSWORTH. A newspaper which has had a fine and vitalizing influence in its community is the Fisher News, of which Mr. Hollingsworth is editor and proprietor. This publisher and editor is a journalist from the ground up, had his first acquaintance with the print- ing trade when a boy and has done much to develop the power of the press in this section of Champaign County and has made his paper indispensable to business men, farmers and citizens generally.
Mr. Hollingsworth is a native of Vermilion County, Illinois, where he was born December 20, 1890. He is the youngest of three children, two sons and one daughter, born to Henry and Anna (Martin) Hollings- worth. The daughter, Della L., is the wife of Howard Barnes, a well . known evangelist living in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. The older son, Charles T., is a very successful evangelist and now ranks among the first. in that profession in America. During the great revival which moved the country of Wales from center to circumference he was an active worker in that field.
The father of these children was born in Illinois, had a common school education, and is now living at Arrowsmith in McLean County. He is a blacksmith by trade. His lineage goes back to England. He was born
930
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
about 1852, has always been an ardent Republican and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge at Metcalf, Illinois, and belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. His church is the Christian. His wife was born in Illinois, was educated in the common schools, and was a member of the Methodist Churchi.
Pearl Hollingsworth had his first experience in a printing shop as a printer's devil at the age of thirteen. Being without means to attend school, he took this as a resource in order to pay his way and gain expe- rience which would prove valuable to him in later life. Throughout his career he has stood on the platform of honesty and integrity. His first experience as a printer was with the religious magazine Metropolitan Church Association. He was there three years, and after that he put in practice the modern idea of continuing vocational education by attending school half a day and working half a day. He also did a great deal of study in his room and has always applied himself earnestly to the mastery of the many subjects which are essential to a practical newspaper man.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.