USA > Illinois > Hancock County > Biographical review of Hancock County, Illinois : containing biographical and genealogical sketches of many of the prominent citizens of to-day and also of the past > Part 52
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Mr. Salisbury has been an elder of the Mormon church for the past thirty five years. With a number of other- he or- ganized what is known as the reorganized church and has aided in the establishment of various congregations of this faith in Hancock county. In polities he is a dem ocrat and has held some township office -. serving as supervisor, collector and ju- tice of the peace. He has also practiced . before the justice courts but has never been admitted to the bar. During the long years of his residence in Hancock county he has seen many improvemer's made here and has borne his shue ir'e work of development along agricu fur 0 lines and also as a citizen has bered 10 reath for the benefit of the im not and is held in the highest esteem be with whom he comes in contact affer social or business rel. tien
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BIOGRAPHICAL RET'IEI'
SETH M. BAKER.
Seth M. Baker, farmer and stock-rais- er, was born in Maryland in 1846, his parents being Seth W. and Martha ( Mur- ray) Baker, who were likewise natives of that state. The father was born in 1804, and died in 1871, at the age of sixty-seven years, while the mother, born in 1815. passed away in February, 1899. He was a farmer by occupation and came to Han- cock county in 1852, settling upon the farm which is now owned and occupied by his son. Seth. His political support was given to the democracy. In the fam- ily were nine children, of whom seven are now living: James L. T., who is living in the state of Washington; Nancy H .. the wife of Joel Clark, of Washington ; Seth M .; Jane M., the wife of James Gardner, of Walker township: Angeline, the wife of Ira Bowens, of Adams county. Illinois : Ollie, the wife of Alvin Carr. of Stillwell, Illinois : and Severn, also of Ad- ams county.
Seth M. Baker was a youth of but six years when brought by his parents to Illi- nois and in the district schools of Walker township he was educated. He remained at home with his parents until after he had attained his majority, and at times was engaged in the operation of the home farm and at other times devoted his ener- gies to stock-raising. He still continues to reside upon the old homestead prop- erty. comprising one hundred and five acres on section 23. Walker township, and upon this place in 1904 he erected a pretty residence. He also has a good barn twen- ty-eight by thirty-six feet and other sub stantial improvements. He is a general
farmer and stock-raiser and his success is attributable to his own labors, for with the exception of twelve acres of land which he inherited in 1899 all that he now possesses has been acquired through his persistency of purpose and unfaltering diligence.
In 1892 Mr. Baker was married to Miss Belle Mitchell, who was born in Wheel- ing. West Virginia, in 1854. Hler grand- father in the maternal line was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. Her parents were David and Rebecca Mitchell, the former born in county Tyrone, Ireland. in 1826. and the latter in Ohio in 1830. Mr. Mitchell was a farmer and spent many years in Adams county, Illinois, where his death occurred. He served throughout the Civil war as a stalwart champion of the Union cause and thus proved his loy- alty to his adopted country. Both he and his wife now rest in the cemetery in Lima township, Adams county. They became residents of Illinois in 1864. and Mrs. Mitchell died in 1871. while the death of Mr. Mitchell occurred in 1901. In their family were four children, of whom three are living : Belle, now Mrs. Baker; John D. and J. W .. both of Adams county. Mr. and Mrs. Baker reared a niece of Mrs Baker's. a Miss Lillian MeCumne, who re- ceived a good education and became a teacher in the schools of Hancock county. Illinois. She married Archie Woodworth and now lives in Fernita. Colorado. Mrs. Baker is the owner of a good farm prop- erty in Adams county. Both our subject and his wife hold membership in the Methodist church and are highly esteemed people, whose circle of friends is almost co-extensive with their acquaintance.
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HANCOCK COUNTY. ILINOIS
JAMES MCCARTY.
James Mccarty, manager of the grain and elevator business owned by F. M. Cut- ter and also carrying on a store of his own for the sale of canned fruits, confection- ery, tobacco and staple and fancy gro- ceries, was born in Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, May 29. 1862, his parents being James and Mary ( O'Donell) Me- Carty. The parents were natives of county Leitrem, Ireland, and the former came to America when fifteen years of age and the latter when eight years of age. In 1859. James McCarty, Sr., took up his abode in Pilot Grove township. Hancock county, where he engaged in farming for a year or more and in 1801 returned to Ohio, where he remained until 1800. when he again came to Hancock county and continued one of its residents up to the time of his death, which occurred June 6, 1903. His wife passed away May 23. 1898, and he was laid to rest by her side in the cemetery of this county. In 186t he had enlisted for service in the Civil war with the Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and defended the U'nion cause until after the surrender at Appomattox. He was wounded at the battle of Atlanta and participated in the engagements of Mission Ridge. Vicks- burg and the celebrated march to the sea under Sherman and also the Grand Re- view in Washington, where the president and other noted officials of the nation watched the parade of the victorious troops, whose long and arduous service had upheld the Union. Mr. MeCarty was a democrat in his political affiliation. but neither held nor sought public office.
Both he and his wife her ther mor ate Cathohe church In the funding en children, of whom five are the John : James: Thomas. When coint a restaurant at Grand Junction. Com do: Charles, in the railroad crc 0 Grand Junction ; and George, also . in road employe living at that place
James Mccarty of this review was young lad when brought In his parents to this county and was educated in the public schools of Carthage. He entered business life as a brakesman on the rul road, being thus employed for about a year. He was afterward section fore- man for ten or twelve years at Peters- burg, Illinois, at Hannibal. Missouri, and in the state of Colorado. In the& he is- sumed the duties of a responsible position as manager for the grain and elevator business of F. M. Cutler at Carthage and in this connection he conducts a store of his own, dealing in staple and faincy groceries, canned fruits, confectionery. tobacco and other supplies. His business career has been marked In a steady ad- vance and each step has been carefully and thoughtfully made.
On the 10th of February. 1887. Mr Mccarty wedded Miss Winifred B Kel ly. a native of Menard county. Plines. and a daughter of Patrick and Mary Kelly. Her father was born in Ire .hdd bin her mother was born in Metaal comty. He has for many vous heel engaged in ming and he and hus nfc are now living in the county of the me tivity. Both are devoted members of the Catholic church. They have tor ms children : Winfred B. & Mrs Me Carty. Thomas, of Chicago Later c.
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the wife of Edward Guahn, of Peters- burg. Illinois; Edward, of Chicago: Pat- rick. of Roodhouse, this state; Andrew, of Petersburg. Illinois: Daniel of Rood- house: Nellie, who is with her parents : Robert, of Petersburg; and Frank and George, both at home.
U'nto Mr. and Mrs. McCarty have been born six children, all of whom are living. the two eldest being in Petersburg, while four are in Hancock county. These are : James D. and Thomas Leo, both in school: Mary Catherine and John, who are also attending school: W. J. Bryan. known as Bryan McCarty ; and Elizabeth Alice. who completes the family. The parents are members of the Catholic church. Mr. McCarty is a democrat and has served as township collector. He belongs to the Odd Fellows society and to the Modern Woodmen camp of Car- thage. He is a self-made man in the truest and best sense of the term. He started out in life empty-handed and through his energy. ambition and honest (lealing has accumulated a competence that enables him to provide his family with many comforts. He is a pleasant spoken. kind-hearted and home-loving man, of much natural wit and is a pleas- ant and genial companion, while in busi- ness circles he is known for his upright principles and steady business habits.
FLOYD N. CASBURN.
Floyd N. Casburn is cashier of the Farmers State Bank at Ferris. His life
has been one of continuous activity, in which has been accorded due recognition of labor, and today he is numbered among the substantial citizens of the county. He was born March 22. 1876, and his par- ents are A. J. and Victoria ( Bailey) Cas- burn. The father's birth occurred in Cambridgeshire. England, April 30, 1848, and when a lad of but three years he came to America with his parents, the family home being established in Monroe county, New York. They afterward removed to Ohio, where he remained until 1869, when he came to Ferris, where he still resides, his home being on almost the same site of his first residence here. He carries on gen- eral farming and stock-raising, and has one hundred and sixty acres of good land in Rock Creek township, where he has made many substantial and modern im- provements. He still lives upon the farm but has rented his land and is now prac- tically retired from business cares. His wife is also of English birth and was a daughter of Wright Bailey. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Casburn have been born six chil- dren, and the family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death. These are: May, now the wife of C. D. Tay- lor, a farmer living near Ferris : Floyd N. : Frank E., who married Mabel Hyndman. and is a successful practicing physician near Kansas City, Missouri: A L., who wedded Ada Richardson, and is an able member of the medical fraternity at Bent- ley, Illinois : and Nellie and Edith, who are attending school in Ferris. The father is an honored Mason and Odd Fellow and has passed all of the chairs in both lodges. Hle and his wife hold membership in the Methodist church at Ferris, of which the
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HANCOCK COUNTY. ILLINOIS
family are also members, regularly at- tending its services and contributing gen- croust to its support.
Floyd N. Casburn supplemented his carly educational privileges by a feur year's course in Carthage College, after which he engaged in teaching school in Rock Creek and Pontoosne townships for three years. On the expiration of that period he invested his savings in eighty acres of land on section 35, Rock Creek township, which he still owns and there he carried on general agricultural pur- suits for four years, or until 1003, when he was elected assistant cashier of the Farmers State Bank at Ferris. Ile be- came one of the largest stockholders and in February of the same year he was ap- pointed cashier, which position he is still successfully filling and is a popular bank official, whose courtesy to the patrons of the institution and whose obliging manner have gained for him high regard, while his devotion to the interests of the bank have won for him the entire confidence of the stockholders.
On the toth of July. 1890. Mr. Cas- burn was married to Miss Rachel Wilson, a daughter of Alexander and Isabella ( Griffin ) Wilson. Mrs. Casburn was born at Niota, Illinois, September 22. 1877. and her father was a native of Ire- land, while her mother's birth occurred in Ohio. They became early and representa- tive farming people of Appanoose town- ship but passed away some years ago. In their family were eleven children, all of whom survive, namely: Albert. a resi dent of Weber. Kansas : James, of Beaver. Texas : John, of Denver, Colorado: Sarah. the wife of I. T. Lewis, of Powellton, Illi-
nous : Robert H., of Mota, this state, Dil lie, the wife of John Shank, ot Feiro; Daniel, of Montrose, lowa; Gange Frankhn, of Ferris; Rachel, now Mrs. Casburn: Jesse, of York. Nebraska, and Laura, who attends the Western Conege for Ladies, at Oxford, Olio.
Mr. and Mrs. Casburn have an inter- esting little daughter. Iola Fern, who was born November 2, 1905, in their pleasant home in Ferris, which stands in the west ern part of the town, and is the property of Mr. Casbarn. They are devoted mem- bers of the Methodist church and Mr. Cas burn is now noble grand in the Odd Fel low's lodge at Ferris. He is the possessor of a fine automobile which he has recently purchased and which is the only one in the town. In spirit and interests he is most progressive, as is manifest in his business relations and social life, and both he and his wife occupy an enviable posi tion in society circles in Ferris.
GEORGE COULSON.
George Coulson, for thirty eight years connected with commercial and mannfac- turing interests in La Harpe, his native city. and still financially interested in .. important business enterprise under the firm style of Coulson, Brundage & Com pany, hardware dealers, was born Fel ruary 17. 1843. His parents. Dr George and Nancy A. (Cessitty Coulson, Will natives of Pennsylvania and Connecticut respectively. They were married me the
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BIOGRAPHICAL RETIEN'
Keystone state and in 1833 made their way westward to Illinois, settling on the present site of La Harpe. They built one of the first houses here and lived in it until 1846.
George Coulson when a child was taken to Council Bluffs, where he re- mained until 1852. when he was taken to Salt Lake Valley, Utah. He acquired his education in the common schools of Ogden, Utah, and remained in Utah until 1857. when he recrossed the plains and returned to La Harpe, where he spent two years. He then went to Texas with an older brother and a year later made his way to California, crossing the plains with mules. On the Pacific coast he was employed in and about the mines for four years and then again made the long and arduous journey across the plains. At length he safely reached La Harpe and here he embarked in the grocery business in 1869. He was thus connected with trade interests until 1875. when, on ac- count of poor health, he sold out and went to Colorado, where he spent six months. Again returning he once more embarked in the grocery business, in which he continued until 1878, when he sold his grocery stock but continued in commercial circles as a representative of the hardware business. In the new en- terprise he prospered and in 1881 he sold a third interest to Israel Brundage, con- tinuing the business under the name of Coulson & Brundage until 1896, when other partners were admitted. The busi- ness was incorporated in May. 1905. tmn- der the name of Coulson. Brundage & Company, of which George Coulson is president : J. 1 .. Bradfield, vice president :
W. F. Bradfield. secretary; and R. I .. Widney, manager. The business was capitalized at fifty thousand dollars, and continued the manufacture of a chicken watering fountain patented by R. L. Wid- ney, and the buying and selling of hard- ware. This manufacturing department of the business has become quite exten- sive and the output is shipped all over the western states and to various points in the east, being sent as far west as Cali- fornia and as far east as Massachusetts. Since 1896 Mr. Coulson has engaged in the fire insurance business and the buying and shipping of grain.
In November. 1868, Mr. Coulson was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Bain- ter, who was born in Fountain Green township. Hancock county, and is a daughter of Daniel M. Bainter. Three children were born of this union : George, who died in 1889, at the age of nineteen years; Mary L., the wife of R. L. Wid- ney, of La Harpe : and Charles, who died in 1875 when three years old. The wife and mother passed away in 1876 and Mr. Coulson was again married in July, 1877. his second union being with Rebecca Mayor, who was born in La Harpe and is a daughter of John and Eliza A. Mayor, who came from England to America in 1842 and settled in La Harpe, Illinois. Mrs. Rebecca Coulson passed away in December. 1891. and in April. 1897. Mr. Coulson wedded Martha May- or, a sister of his second wife. They have a pleasant home in La Harpe and are highly esteemed by all who know them, while the hospitality of the best homes of the town is accorded them.
In his political views Mr. Coulson has
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HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
long been a democrat where national is- enables him to carry forward to success sues are involved but at local elections casts an independent ballot. He has served as county supervisor for three years, as collector for one year. township assessor for four years, justice of the peace one term, mayor one term and al- derman of La Harpe, and in these va- rious offices has discharged his duties with promptness, capability and fidelity. He co-operates in many measures for the general good and is a progressive, public- spirited citizen. Fraternally he is a Ma- son and also connected with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and has been treasurer of their lodge at La Harpe for the past twenty-five years, and the Modern Woodmen of America. . \1- though he has several times left La Harpe he has always returned here, finding a pleasant home in the city and good busi- ness opportunities. He has been an im- portant factor in its business life, and while promoting his individual success has also contributed to public prosperity and improvement.
JOHN E. DE GROOT.
John E. De Groot, who at one time was engaged in the practice of dentistry but is now giving his supervision to agricultural interests, makes his home in Augusta and is widely recognized throughout the com- munity as a man of keen business discern - ment and enterprise, who possesses the strong principles and determination that
ful completion whatever he undertakes. He was born in Northeast township. Ad ams county, April 6. 1842, his parents be- ing John and Margaret ( Harvey ) De Groot. The father was born in New York city and came to Illinois by the way of the overland route in 1830, settling at Quincy Adams county, where he re- mained for one year. He then purchased a farm in Northeast township, that county. comprising one hundred and sixty acres of new and unimproved land and with characteristic energy he undertook the task of developing and cultivating this tract. He was successful in his under- takings and continued to make his home upon that place until his death, which oc- curred in 1880, when he had reached the age of eighty-one years, for he was born in 1868. As the years had passed he had made extensive investments in property. his landed interests aggregating almout eighteen hundred acres, all of which was in Adams county and in addition he had se me city property. Starting out in life on his own account he displayed excellent business ability, keen discernment and a readiness to solve intricate business prob- lems that brought him a very gratifying measure of prosperity. He voted with the democracy and held member up in the Christian church of Augusta Ihis wife was also la ru in New York city and died about three years prior to her husband's death. She, too, held mendier-top in the Christian church and ler hie was hi ha- nem with her professions In the family Were seven children, five of sfumate vet living. although John F De Gran as the
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BIOGRAPHICAL RETIEI'
The family record is as follows: William H. De Groot, residing in Quincy, Illinois, is a surveyor of Adams county. Mary W. lied. Phoebe E. is the wife of Rev. J. C. Stark, a minister of the Christian church at Hamilton, Illinois. Edward H., of Downer's Grove, Illinois, is one of the oldest conductors in service of the Chi- cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. hav- ing represented the company for over forty years. Clarissa is the wife of W. R. Gordon, a retired farmer living in Red Oak. Iowa. John E. is the next of the family. Jacob died at the age of thirteen years.
In the schools of his native county Dr. De Groot was educated, being reared upon the home farm, where he remained until 1859. He was at that time a youth of seventeen years and thinking that he would find other pursuits more congenial than farm work he went to Quincy. where he took up the study of dentistry and after the completion of this course he entered upon the active practice of his chosen pro- fession. continuing there until 1875. In that year lie removed to Augusta, Han- cock county, where he opened an office and was engaged in practice until 1877, when he retired from the active work of his pro- fession and took up the management of his father's farms, located in Adams coun- ty. He has continued to make his home in Augusta. however, and still manages the farming interests, being now an ex- tensive feeder of cattle and hogs. After the death of his father and the estate was divided Dr. De Groot continued the man- agement of his inheritance, also having charge of the farms belonging to his brother and sister. He has now about
five hundred acres of very valuable land in Adams county and in Augusta he owns some village property.
Dr. De Groot was married October 7, 1874, to Miss Josephine Davis, of Abing- don, Illinois, a daughter of Asenath and Elizabeth ( Price) Davis, who came from the east to Illinois at an early day, prob- ably in 1836, at which time they located in Warren county. The father was a blacksmith by trade and subsequently took up his abode in Abingdon, where his chil- dren were educated. Ile died in that town in 1872 and was survived by his wife until 1900. her death occurring at the home of her daughter. Mrs. DeGroot. in Augusta, when she was eighty-four years of age. In the family of this worthy couple were six children, but only two are now living. The two oldest died in in- fancy. John W., who became a member of Company E. Thirty-third Illinois In- fantry, was wounded at Vicksburg and lied ten days later on the 6th of June, 1863. his remains being interred at Mem- phis. James H. was killed at the siege of Vicksburg and was buried on the battle- field on the 22d of May, 1863. Eugene A. is a farmer, residing at Garden City. Kansas.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. De Groot have been born four children and the family circle vet remains unbroken by the hand of death. Maud, the eldest. is the wife of . \. J. Laughlin, a confectioner of Macomb, Illinois, by whom she has two children. Josephine and Raymond. Bertha is the wife of Dr. R. B. Roberts, of Augusta. and they have two children, Brockway D. and Elise. Clarence E. is a physician re- siding in Muskogee, Indian Territory.
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ILINCOCK COLATY ILLINOIS
Mabel is the wife of Frank Deiley, an op- erator in the Western Union Telegraph office in Chicago. AH of the children were born in Illinois, where Mr. De Groot still resides. He and his wife are promi- nent and influential residents of the city. occupying an enviable position in social circles and giving of their aid and influ- chce to the various measures which tend to uplift humanity and advance the moral welfare. They hohl membership in the Methodist church of Augusta and Mr. De Groot is a prohibitionist in his political af- filiation, being a warm advocate of the cause of temperance. While connected with his profession he was an able practi- tioner, but the demands made upon his time and attention by his property inter- ests led him to concentrate his energies upon the management of his farm and stock and he is today a leading representa- tive of agricultural life in this section of the state. He does not take charge of the active work of the farm but gives to it his personal supervision and his excellent business qualifications are manifest in the desirable results which are attending his efforts.
JOHN SHUTWELL.
Among the citizens of Hancock county who were born across the water and who through many long years have aided in the development of the rich agricultural resources of this section of the state, is numbered John Shutwell, whose birth occurred in Yorkshire. England. August 5. 1828. Tlis parents. Frances and Eliz-
abeth & Norwood Shotwel are like wie native of the father the a son of John Shutweb, and 1 c Mye a daughter of Robert Norwood I. Shutwell was a carpenter and jeme in trade, and, having heard in stable repe. . concerning the new world. he will 0 family crossed the Atlantic Ba sate vessel in the winter of INDEX. They le sided for a short time at Toronto, Canada. and Buffalo, New York, and Dresden, and Cincinnati, Ohio, and Louisville, Ken- tucky, later traveling on the Ohio. Missa- sippi and llinois rivers until they reached Jacksonville, this state, where lived a brother-in-law of Francis Shutwell, who bore the name of Adam Allison, who had located here some years previous and was engaged in the conduct of a grist mill. Ile purchased forty acres of land situated about six miles west of where the city of Jacksonville now stands. He there worked at his trade, and was an active factor in the erection of many substantial buildings of this portion of the state. In connec- tion with others he executed many large contracts. In 1852, having decided to engage in agricultural pursuits, he came with his family to Hancock county, the journey being made with team and wagons, where the father purchased two hundred and seventy-six acres of land by ing on section 6. La Ularpe township The land had been cleared but there were few improvements upon the place, it being wild prairie, and deer and miny . der wild animals were to be found roaming over the prairie and through the forest The father at once undertook the work of transforming his land into a cultivable tract, broke the land, plowed the Bells.
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