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 70
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Benjamin F. Johnson, deceased, was one of the most distinguished residents of Hancock county, not alone on account of the splendid success he achieved and which made him owner of twenty-three hundred acres of land, but also on account of his spirit of benevolence and philan- thropy which prompted his bequest to found and maintain a school in La Harpe. In this he builded to his memory a monument more enduring than any of bronze or stone, for as long as the institu- tion endures, its founder will be honored by those who have benefited by his bene- faction.
Tracing back the ancestry of the fam- ily, it is found that early representatives of the name lived in New England in colonial days. His father, Joseph John- son, who was born in Maine, in 1791, died January 12, 1880, at a very venerable age. Hle was married to Miss Betsey Mussic. who was born in Maine, and died April 16. 1876. In 1836 they came west, jour- neying in the slow stages of water travel. and after reaching St. Louis, proceeded up the river to Warsaw, and thence across the country to La Harpe, where they con ducted a hotel for a number of years.
Mr. Johnson was a thrifty, hard-working man and accumulated considerable prop- erty, being considered a wealthy man at the time of his death. Unto him and his wife were born six children : Edwin R .. born March 22, 1814. died August 29, 1835. A son died in infancy. Mrs. Har- riet O. Hughes, born December 25, 1816. died January 17. 1901. Augusta, wife of Daniel Garner, was born March 24, 1819. and died August 8, 1842. Mrs. Mary W. Wood, born March 18, 1821. died in Denver, Colorado, December 23. 1899. Joseph, born March 15, 1823. left home for the southwest to buy land, when a young man and is supposed to have been murdered.
Benjamin F. Johnson, whose name be- gins this article was born in Maine. Jan- uary 18. 1825, and came to Illinois with his parents when ten years of age. He was a student in the La Harpe schools. for four years, after which he put aside his text-books and gave his entire atten- tion to work on his father's farm. At the age of sixteen he became an apprentice in his brother-in-law's blacksmith shop and worked there until about 1846, when he went to California, where for several years he was engaged in sheep-raising. He returned to La Harpe a wealthy man and invested his money in farm land and stock. His first farm consisted of three hundred and twenty acres adjoining the village of Colusa, to which place he gave the name. He continued adding to his original purchase until at his death he was the owner of over twenty-three hun- dred acres in various parts of Hancock county. He also raised large herds of Jersey cattle and many miles, but would
HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
never have hog's upon his place. He made his second trip to California in 1852. again going overland, and in later your- he made another trip with his wife, this time traveling by rail. He remained for a year in the Golden state and then re- turned to La Harpe. About 1800 he retired from active business and built a home in La Harpe, where he remained until his death.
Although he left school when quite young Mr. Johnson was always a great reader and thus became one of the best educated men in his township. possessing a wonderfully retentive memory. He was never an office seeker but was re- peatedly elected supervisor of his town- ship and during his long term of service never missed a meeting of the board. Ile lived and loved a strenuous life and his spacious farm, with its orchards, gardens, lawns and fine buildings, was a model of comfort and utility. When thus sur- rounded by all that goes to make life worth living he met with an accident which rendered him a cripple. While driving home with a load of lumber, the wagon overturned and he was crushed beneath the load, his hip being badly injured.
Having secured a legal separation from his wife Mr. Johnson, after several years. married Mrs. Phoebe Green, who still survives him. That marriage was cele- brated October 19. 1874. She was born in La Harpe township. April 20, 1839. and was educated in the public schools. Her parents were John and Flora 1 .. (Otman) Sperry, natives of Ohio, where they were married. and then, in company with their parents they came to this
conny, casting m their las sentinthe ell Settlers of La Harpe toppJap. After of erating at rented farm in der they removed to La Harpe where Vi Sperry resumed work at the aim -nul trade, conducting a shop for a number of year's. Mr Johnson. after a gradual de cline, lasting about a you, passed a February 18, 1900, leaving a wplow at. ne daughter by his former marriage Mrs. Clara ( Johnson ) Laswell, for wh m he liberally provided through the terms of his will during their hetime. If- philanthropic spirit was manifest m his generous gift of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the maintenance of a school in La Harpe, the mition of which mist be free. What more fitting monu- ment to the life of ương who was hin dli deprived of liberal educational advan- tages and yet always had the mmost interest in the schools and a high apprecia- tion of their value as one of the bulwarks of the nation.
M. E. RANDAL.I.
M. E. Randall, who is engaged is tensively in buying, feeding and shipping stock, resides in Augusta township, and it was in this township that he was with in 1864. his parents being John anl Sarah I (Graba) Randall, 14 th of whom were natives of this, the frame born in 1828, and the latter 1 18.36 Choosing agricultural pursuit- as a le work John Randall was thus en gagel 0
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Ohio until 1850, when he came to Illinois and made permanent location in Hancock county. In 1852 he settled in Augusta township, living first in a log cabin and it was in such a pioneer home that the birth of M. E. Randall occurred. The father usually voted for the republican candidates but was rather independent in his political views and affiliation and fre- quently cast his ballot for the men whom he regarded as best qualified for office at local elections. He belonged to the Methodist church, was active in the ex- tension of its influence and served as one of its trustees. He died in 1900 and was buried in Augusta cemetery, while his widow still lives, a resident of Bowen. Illinois. In their family were five chil- dren: James, deceased; Hannah, who died in infancy: Laura B., the wife of Benjamin Garwood. of California: M. E. : and Mary F., the wife of R. J. Wil- son, who lives near Augusta.
In the district schools M. E. Randall began his education and subsequently be- came a high school student in Augusta, leaving that institution only two weeks before graduation. He remained under the parental roof until twenty-six years of age and gave active assistance to his father in the work of the home farm. Following his marriage he purchased the old homestead, locating on sections 7 and 18, Augusta township, and comprising one hundred and eighty acres of land. He also owns eighty acres on section 8. and forty acres on section 16, thus culti- vating altogether three hundred acres. He raises considerable stock, and also buys and feeds, shipping from seven to nine carloads of stock ammally, his mar-
ket being Chicago. On one of his farms is a fine substantial brick residence, to- gether with other modern improvements.
In 1890 was celebrated the marriage of M. E. Randall and Miss Katie Kin- near, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1871, and is a daughter of J. W. and Susan Kinnear, both of whom were na- tives of the Keystone state. The father came to Hancock county with his family in 1885. settling in Augusta township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Randall was born one child, who died at the age of twenty: months, and the mother also died about a year after her marriage, and was laid to rest in Augusta cemetery. In 1896 Mr. Randall wedded Miss Cora Hale, who was born in Schuyler county. Illi- nois, in 1868, a daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth (Bartlow) Hale. both of whom were natives of Schuyler county. They were married in 1847, and Mrs. Hale who was born October 27, 1826. died Au- gust 24. 1887, while Mr. Hale, whose birth occurred in 1825. died in 1897. Both were buried in Schuyler county. His political support was given to the democracy. In their family were eight children. of whom four are living: Letha, the widow of George Ross, of Augusta township: Jesse. of Schuyler county : Sarah. the wife of John Deweese. of Hamilton, Illinois; Cora, now Mrs. Randall. By the second marriage of our subject there are two sons : Claude, born June 5. 1897 : and Chellis. November 18. 1900.
Mr. Randall votes for the best men rather than for party. He has served as school director and is interested in many progressive measures. He was elected to
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ILINCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
the school board the day after he attained his majority and has served in that capac- ity to the present time. He is also sec- retary of the Hancock County Telephone Company and secretary and treasurer of the Illinois State Alliance, of which he served as president for two years. His acquaintance in this county is wide and favorable, for he has spent almost his entire life here and both he and his wife are esteemed by a wide circle of friends. He represents one of the old families of the county, his father having lived here during the period of the Mormon war. in which he was much interested. Many changes in the county have occurred dur- ing the years of the son's connection therewith and he has not only been a wit- ness of its growth and progress but has co-operated in many movements which have had direct bearing upon its welfare.
ROBERT NETHERY.
Robert Nethery, deceased, was a man of such genuine worth of character as to make his death the occasion for deepest regret wherever he was known. For many years he resided in Hancock county and is classed among the men of the past and present who have contributed to gen- eral progress and improvement here by upholding the legal and political status of the community and advancing its mna- terial, intellectual and moral progress. His parents were James and Mary ( Wil- son) Nethery, natives of Ireland, in
which country the father ched. The su was there born in June, 1855. und when thirteen years of age came with his mother to the United States, the family home being established on a farm m lu- diana. The mother died about fifteen years ago, passing away in Nebraska. In the family were ten children, of whom six are living : Eliza, married William Wilson and resides in Indiana : Mrs. Maria Stewart, of Ireland: Margaret, the widow of James Nethery, of Ireland; William, of Wyoming: Thomas, of Ne- braska; and Matilda, the wife of James Holpa, also of Nebraska.
Robert Nethery began his education in the district schools of Ireland and con- tinued his studies in Indiana. In his youth his time was also devoted largely to farm labor, as he assisted in the culti- vation and improvement of the home property in Indiana, remaining with his mother until his marriage, which im- portant event in his life was celebrated on the ist of January, 1883, when he won the hand of Miss Rebecca Singleton, who was born in Hancock county, Illinois, a daughter of George and Rebecca ( Wil son) Singleton. Mrs. Nethery was born in March, 1856. Her parents were both natives of Ireland, and in early life came to America, being married in Philadel phia. Pennsylvania, about 1850. The fa- ther was a farmer by occupation, and in the spring of 1853 came to Har cock county, where he purchased a farm ne ir Adrian. There he carried on business as a general farmer and stock raiser, remain ing a respected and prominent resident of that locality until his death, which oc- curred in November. 1800 llis wife
37
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survived him for ten years, departing this life in November. 1900, and both were buried in Moss Ridge cemetery. Mr. Singleton was a republican in his polit- ical views and served on the school board, being a warm friend of the cause of edu- cation but he did not care for office. Both parents were devoted members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Single- ton filled several official positions therein. In the family were seven children, and with the exception of the eldest all were born in Hancock county and all are yet living. as follows: AAnna, who was born in Philadelphia, and is the wife of John Bailey, a resident of Colusa, Illinois: Margaret, who is living at the old home near Adrain: Thomas, also living at Adrian : Elmira, the wife of Perry Hub- bard. of Colusa. Illinois: George, living at Adrian: and William, who lives at Nauvoo and is in the State Bank there.
Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Nethery located on a farm in Indiana, where they remained for three years, and in 1886 they came to Hancock county. Illinois, settling on a farm east of Colusa. where they lived for ten years, and which Mr. Nethery improved according to modern methods of agriculture. He af- terward removed to Carthage township. where he made his home upon the farm for three years, and in 1899 he took up his abode in the city of Carthage, where he erected a beautiful residence on Main street. He and his wife planned their town residence and it is a very convenient and attractive home. Mr. Nethery con- tinued to reside in the county seat until his demise, which occurred January 19. 1903. his remains being interred in Moss
Ridge cemetery. He voted with the Re- publican party, and as every true Amer- ican citizen should do, kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day but he did not desire office as a reward for party fealty. He held membership in the Presbyterian church, to which his wife also belongs and was deeply inter- ested in church work and its various ac- tivities. In a review of his life it will be seen that he was a man of untiring industry and enterprise and that his own energy, ambition and honesty constituted the foundation upon which he builded the superstructure of his success. In addi- tion to the home place in Carthage he left to his family one hundred and sixty acres of good farm land well improved. in Car- thage township, and Mrs. Nethery also owns a quarter section and another tract of eighty acres in Prairie township. to- gether with two hundred acres of land in Dallas township. Three of the eighty- acre tracts were inherited by her from her father. She also owns a lot and two houses, which she rents, in the south part of Carthage.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Nethery were born two sons, twins, James W. and George W., both in the high school. Mrs. Neth- ery is a lady of quiet, courteous demeanor. greatly beloved by her old neighbors in the country and also in Carthage. She is held in high esteem by all with whom she has come in contact and she is a rep- resentative of one of the prominent and honored pioneer families of the county. Her landed possessions are now extensive and valuable and bring to her a handsome income, enabling her to enjoy all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
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HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
LEWIS F. MILLER.
Lewis F. Miller, who follows the oc- cupation of farming near Bowen, his home being in Chili township, was born in Schuyler county, Illinois, in 1864. a son of AAugust and Dora ( Yaap ) Miller. The parents were both natives of Prussia. The father born in 1828, and the mother's birth occurred in 1837. He devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits and on coming to the United States in 1861. settled in Littleton, Schuyler county, Illi- nois. His political support was given to the Republican party and he remained one of its stanch champions until his death, which occurred in 1901, his re- mains being interred at Littleton. His widow still survives. In their family were nine children, of whom five are yet living : Paulina. the wife of Andrew Hughes, a resident of Schuyler county. Illinois: August. living at Table Grove, this state: Lewis, of this review : Frank. of Littleton, Illinois : and Laura, at home.
The public school system of Schuyler county afforded to Mr. Miller of this re- view his educational privileges and he remained upon the old homestead until he had attained his majority, carly be- coming familiar with the duties and labors of the home farm. He was married January 1, 1880. to Miss Mary Burrows. whose birth occurred in Vermont, Illinois. in 1867. her parents being Benjamin and Rachel Ann ( Dawson ) Burrows, native- of Illinois. Her father, however, repre- sented an old Pennsylvania family and by trade was a carpenter, which pursuit he followed in order to provide for his family that numbered two children. the
eller being Malinda, the wife of James Sloan, who resides at Long Beach. California.
For ten years after their marriage Mr and Mrs. Miller lived upon a farm in Schuyler county, and in 18go removed to Chili township. Hancock county, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acre- lying on section 21. This was a well improved property and he has carried on the work of further development, being numbered among the able and prosperous general farmers and stock-raisers. His live stock interests are an important branch of his business and contribute largely to his annual revenue. He de- serves considerable credit for what he has acquired and the success to which he has attained in a business world, for he was in limited financial circumstances at the time of his marriage and is now comfort- ably situated in life.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been born two children but they last one Their surviving son is Giny, who was born on the 15th of November, 1800. and is now a student in the high school of Bowen. Mr. Miller is a Mason in his fraternal relations and he and his wife are faithful and consistent members of the Christian church. His political support is given to the Republican party and be has served as road commissioner, while since attaining his majority he has been a member of the school board Both ie and his wife are people of genuine per somal worth with a wide and inordie acquaintance in Chili township Both be long to the Order of the Eastern Stu and while they have many friends within that organization they are also great
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esteemed by those who know them outside of the lodge.
JAMES EATON JOHNSTON, M. D.
Dr. James Eaton Johnston, who in the practice of medicine and osteopathy has become recognized as one whose labors have been of the utmost value to the peo- ple of his locality. was born in Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, July 28, 1845, a son of James E. and Cynthia (Belfield) John- ston. The father's birth occurred in Glasglow, Scotland, in September, 1812, while the mother was born in Notting- ham. England, in 1814. Mr. Johnson was a millwright by trade and operated a planing mill. He also operated the first machine that ever made tongued and grooved flooring. He was a leading wit- ness in the famous Woodworth-Planer patent right infringement case, in which Rufus Choate was the most prominent attorney and in his plea brought tears to the eyes of all who heard him. Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnston came to Amer- ica in childhood, the former locating in Philadelphia, and the latter in Baltimore. Removing to the west they resided in Springfield, Illinois, from 1855 until 1860, when they went to St. Louis, Missouri. where Mr. Johnston was connected with humber interests being foreman of va- rious large planing mills. His wife died in Keokuk, Jowa, in 1876, while his death occurred in St. Louis, in 1878. He was a man of intense patriotism and did great good as a home-guard in St. Louis
at the time of the Civil war. He was out- spoken in defense of the Union and did everything in his power to support the cause. His wife held membership with the Presbyterian church and was a most earnest christian woman. In their family were five children: James E .; Wilfred Hall, who died at the age of two years ; Jane and Anna M. E. who are living in Chicago, the latter being bookkeeper for a large barrel and stave business in that city ; and Walter Lincoln, who resides in Portland, Oregon, and is credit man and bookkeeper of John Deere Plow Com- pany, of Moline, Illinois, who have a branch at Portland.
Dr. Johnston attended the public schools of Springfield, Illinois, and when but à youth of sixteen years he enlisted at St. Louis, Missouri, in the hospital corps, for a period of one year, serving as nurse and surgeon's assistant and being the youngest of one hundred employes in the City General Hospital, at the corner of Fifth and Chestnut streets in St. Louis, where he remained for sixteen months. During that time he was detailed as nurse on the steamer, D. A. January, which was fitted up by patriotic citizens of St. Louis and sent with supplies to Grant's army at Vicksburg. He returned with some twelve hundred sick and wounded on the boat. He afterward remained in the hos- pital much of the time until the expira- tion of his term. He had always had a desire to take up the study of medicine and his hospital experience strengthened this. While in the government service he had to dress wounds under a physi- cian's instruction, having a regular num- ber of patients. At one time the hospital
ILINCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
was in great danger of fire but he and three or four others quickly extinguished the flames without creating any excite- ment among the patients -an incident which displayed his ability as one well fitted to deal with emergencies. He. however, was severely burned on his hands. Before the war closed he enlisted in the Missouri Militia for home guard duty and was thus engaged for two years. In the second year the troops were sent out after Price. Subsequently he re- mained in St. Louis and assisted his fa- ther in business and also attended a com- mercial college there.
On the 17th of December, 1807. Dr. Johnson went to Keokuk, lowa, where for a year and a half he was employed as time keeper and assistant bookkeeper on the government canal. Leaving there he im- mediately accepted a position as shipping clerk and later bill clerk, of the Des Moines Valley Railroad, at Keokuk, and during sixteen years was in the employ of railroads there, holling responsible pu- sitions, most of the time as local cashier. handling large amounts of money. In 1880 he was enabled to carry out his long cherished desire of preparing for the practice of medicine, and he was grad- uated from the Chicago Homeopathic College, in March, 1801. He located for practice at Hammond, Indiana, where he remained for one and a half years, at the end of which time he took up the study of osteopathy at Kirksville, Missouri, since which time he has practiced along that line. He spent a brief period in St. Louis, and in July. 1895. located in War- saw, being the only osteopathic practi tioner in Warsaw. As the year- have
come and gone he has dene much for lu manity as a practitioner, en ploying 1 to homeopathy and osteopathy m hi effort to alleviate human suffering. He is very successful and his cures in the latter department of the healing art seem al most miraculous, and during tooo he ph sted a post-graduate course in Chicago On the 20th of April, 1005, he received the Ad Eundem degree from the Hahe mam Medical College, of that city. He is a member of the Homeopathic Medical Societies of Chicago, State of Indi 1. and State of Illinois, and is constants broadening his knowledge and promoting his efficiency through reading and Investi- gation.
On the 7th of November, 1882. Dr. Johnston was married to Miss Mary 1. Williams, a native of Warsaw, and a daughter of Captain John R. and Ange- line A. Williams. They have no children of their own but are rearing a nephew. who is now eight years of age Dr. and Mrs. Johnston are members of the Pies byterian church and in politics he has il ways been a stalwart republican. Fra ternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias, and for eight years has been clerk of the Woodman camp. No. 319. holding a certificate of efficiency from le head camp clerk of Woodmen lle is 4 man of kindly disposition, de ents most to a fault and has the reput 1 1 th his community of living bor thers He possesses a cheery malle an die tion that enables him to sFol Stood 1am much of the sunshine of life And le lus always been most helpful to those -0) whom he has come in count } \ de the railroad service le de nime
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in starting more than a half dozen youths upon the upward road and they are now occupying honorable positions in connec- tion with railroad work. He also edu- cated and reared his younger brother, who is now occupying a good position in Port- land. Oregon. He has also worked for the general improvement of his town and community and is secretary of the War- saw Improvement Association. He has been correspondent to various newspa- pers and in this connection has become well known. He was for a number of years medical examiner of Warsaw camp. No. 340. Modern Woodmen of America, and is at the present time medical exami- ner of the Prudential Insurance Company of America. of Newark, New Jersey. A man of liberal views, of advanced ideas. and of broad humanitarian principles. he is always preaching in his life work the gospel of good cheer, of advancement and progress, and no man is more honored or more deserving the respect of his fellow citizens than Dr. James E. Johnston.
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