USA > Illinois > Mason County > Centennial history of Mason County, including a sketch of the early history of Illinois, its physical peculiarities, soils, climate, production, etc. > Part 14
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It is true that three of your children dear, have fallen out of the ranks, grown weary in the march of life, but you have still five remaining, who are to you all that sons and daughters could be.
Around you cluster children and grandchildren, and even four great-grandchildren have already risen up to call you blessed. To very few of Earth's children is granted such a rich inheritance. May your hearts be thankful to the Great Giver of all, that the evening of your lives is made radient with so much domestic hap- piness, filial affection, social respect and esteem. We honor and congratulate you on this fiftieth anniversary of your wedding, and as a token of our esteem for you as a man of integrity, our respect for you as an honorable citizen, our affection for you as a brother, a long-tried, true, trusty and faithful Odd Fellow, allow me, in be- half of many members of our order here, to present you this cane.
Let its golden head symbolize the fifty golden years that crown your golden life, so full of honor and joy. It is a staff which you may lean upon, not as a broken reed, but a staff as strong as the love of your friends, which will ever bear you up as you walk through your declining years.
And to you, Mrs. Kemp, in congratulation of this event, and as a little token of their esteem, the daughters of Rebecca, through me, present this silver cup, gold lined, and other friends present this gold watch.
And now, dear friends, may this only be a joyful surprise to you. May you still live long to enjoy the life that began fifty years ago, and the society of your many friends, many of whom are here met to-night to rejoice with you, and when at last the summons is heard-"Come up higher"-may you hear it calmly, trustingly, and obey it as cheerfully as
"One who wraps the drapery of his couch about him,
And lies down to pleasant dreams."
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
The following extract from the Bellevue Local News, published at Bellevue, Ohio, refers to the family of the writer's father, and as the paper is published at the old home of the family, is intended only as local information, but is equally appropriate in the Bio- graphical department of this work:
CHAT ABOUT THE OLD FOLKS.
THE COCHRANE FAMILY.
Joseph Cochrane, Sr., was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, April 11, 1871. His father, Alexander Cochrane, emigrated from Ireland when quite young, and settled on a farm in Mifflin county, where he lived and died, raising a family of 12 children. Joseph, the subject of this sketch, was the next to the youngest, and by an arbitrary and eccentric will of his father, he became the owner of the old homestead, and in the same house raised a family of ten chilren.
About 1827, he sold the old homestead and moved to Dryvalley, in the same county. After a residence there of seven years, the last three of which were spent in western travel in the pursuit of health, he sold out and removed to Seneca county, Ohio. Bought a farm of Job Wright, on the Kilbourne road, four miles from Bellevue, and moved his family there about 1834.
Elizabeth Hooven, his wife, was born in central Pennsylvania, near Carlisle, April 8th, 1785, and at the age of sixteen was mar- ried to James Campbell. By him she had two children, one of whom died in infancy, and Mary Jane, born December 6, 1806, of whom we shall speak hereafter. Mr. Campbell died in 1806 or 1807, and in 1808 she married Mr. Cochrane.
They lived together twenty-eight years, and had ten children- six sons and four daughters. Mr. Cochrane died of pulmonary consumption, August 4, 1836, on the old farm, and was buried in the cemetery of the old German Reformed church in Thompson.
He was a man of good business ability and great mental vigor, and he held many important and responsible official positions be- fore his removal to the west. These he always filled with fidelity and credit to himself and friends. An army commission from old Governor Simon Snyder, dated August 1, 1814, and a post-master's commission from Amos Kendall, dated September 1, 1835, are now in the possession of the writer, neatly framed and standing on a
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hall table-cherished relics. He was self-educated, never attended school three months in his life. This he always spoke of as his misfortune and not his boast. He was set and determined in his opinions, which were only liable to be changed when his judgment was convinced.
A kind and accommodating neighbor, generous to a fault, impul- sive and sometimes hasty, watchful as to the wants of the poor, whom it seemed his delight to favor. This description we believe has the merit of candor.
Elizabeth, his wife, was a model woman, as wife, mother, friend and neighbor. The ruling element of her nature was kindness. In her prime of life, she possessed a vigorous, robust organization, and almost always enjoyed excellent health. She was a model of good, cheerful, healthful country life. "Her children shall rise up and call her blessed." She never knew. what an enemy was. It might be asked if she had no faults. She had: they were exces- sive kindness and charity for all God's creatures. "All her failings leaned on virtue's side." A deep, religious' feeling pervaded her entire life.
She died March 7, 1846, at Fremont, Ohio, and was buried in Thompson beside her husband. She died as she lived, as calmly, sweetly and peacefully as an infant goes to sleep. No pain, no disease; but that vigorous frame was worn out, and gradually gave way, and her spirit returned to God who gave it. Mary Jane, her daughter by her first husband, resides in Jefferson county, Pa., the wife of Robert Witherow; is 70 years of age, and resembles her mother, not only in kindness and amiability of disposition, but also in personal appearance. She has seven children, two sons and five daughters, also several grand children. Her husband is eight years her senior. Both have lived to a good old age, models of rectitude, and "all of the days of their appointed time will they wait till their change come." All their descendants reside in their immediate vicinity.
Nancy, the oldest of the family by the second marriage, married Rudolph Sherek, an old-time farmer in Thompson township. She had several sons and one daughter. They removed to Michigan, many years ago, and a singular fatality has attended the family. She died in 1864, and all the family are now dead, I believe, but two sons, who reside in Michigan.
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
Thomas, the oldest son, married Nancy, daughter of Samuel Clark, a Thompson farmer, and removed to Monroe county, Mich- igan, had three sons and two daughters. He went to Oregon in 1850, and a few years later sent back for his family, who made the journey to him by water in 1853. The now reside at Amity, Yam- hill county, Oregon. He is now 65 years old, hale and hearty. He and his wife returned for a visit for the first time in 1875, after an absence of twenty-five years, and spent the summer among his friends East, returning in the fall. Their youngest son resides in San Jose, California.
Rosanna married Samuel P. Clark, a brother of Thomas's wife, and has a family of fine daughters. They enjoy this world's ways of wagging along on a farm in Monroe county, Michigan, raising fine horses, cattle and sheep, and big apples. Her age is 63.
Elizabeth married Philip, son of John Miller, an old resident on a farm south of Bellevue. She now resides with her son James B. Miller, Esq., in Bellevue. Philip Miller died at Flat Rock, Ohio, January 15, 1874. The old farm in Thompson is occupied by Mary, her only daughter, who is married to Henry Zeiber.
Catharine married George Gear, of Fostoria, Ohio, but during recent years has resided in Findlay, Ohio. The war made sad havoc with her family as with that of Mrs. Sherck. Our inform- ation in regard to them is not complete, but a son and two or three daughters comprise the family.
William A. is an old settler in Fremont, Ohio. After the death of his father, in 1836, he learned the carpenter trade with Benja- min Moore, in Bellevue, and then went to Fremont, where he has since resided. He married Mrs. P. Smith, in 1846, and has three children-Henry, Frank and Rosa. He is now 56 years old, but time's hand has touched him very gently. He is so very fortu- nately balanced that he will neither wear out nor rust out, but bids fair to see many more years.
Samuel, the next son, died in infancy, before the family left Pennsylvania.
Joseph, named after his father, was sometime in the employ of Harkness and McKee, in Bellevue, but went to Fremont, where, in 1846, he married Rebecca, daughter of Rev. Frederick Rahouser, pastor of the German Reformed church, in Thompson, adjoining the old farm, and where the parents are buried. From there he moved to Tiffin, Ohio. In the spring of 1856 he removed to Ha-
-
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
vana, Illinois, where he has since resided. They had a daughter and two sons, and have six grandchildren. The daughter married O. C. Town, an extensive jeweler in that city. The oldest son is also married, and both reside adjoining their parents' home. The youngest son has been for nearly four years in Pittsburg, Pa., and during three years was cashier of the Franklin Bank, of that city, and is now in the employ of Jones & Laughlin, the most extensive iron workers in the United States. Joseph is now fifty-one years old. The productions of his pen are extensively circulated by the Illinois State Board of Agriculture, and the Illinois Horticultural Society. For six years he has been in the employ of the Signal Service, and was assigned the work, by Prof. Henry, of the Smith- sonian Institute, of ascertaining the height above sea of the princi- pal points in Central Illinois. His tastes have ever inclined him to scientific pursuits. He was educated in and graduated at the old log school house near Decker's, in Thompson, at the age of eleven years.
John R. is aged forty-eight years, and resides at Laporte, Indiana. He married Miss Francis Young, a daughter of Rev. Mr. Young, a missionary to Iceland, where Francis was born. They have five children living. He learned the carpenter trade with David Moore in Bellevue. His wife possesses remarkable musical talents, as do also the daughters. As is the case of William and Joseph, so with John R., he refuses to grow old as the years roll by.
Henry H., the youngest son, died in Thompson, December 12, 1846, aged fifteen years. His remains sleep by his parents in the old church yard. Plain slabs of Italian marble mark the resting place of those three as they 'await the final summons.
This family have long been separated. Mrs. Witherow and Joseph did not meet for forty years. Thomas and Joseph have not met for thirty-two years. In two other cases almost equal time has elapsed since members of the family have met.
SPECTATOR.
ISAAC NEWTON MITCHELL.
Mr. Mitchell was born in Morgan county, Illinois, February 13, 1829. His parents removed to that county from Kentucky in 1828, at which time Central Illinois was almost in a state of nature.
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
Here he resided until the age of seventeen, when the family re- moved to Field's prairie in this county, where he continued at work on the farm for four years more, or until twenty-one years of age. He then went to Bath, and in the employ of Mr. Beesley until 1850, and with Messrs. Beesley & Gatton until 1861. He served one year as constable, and two years were spent steamboating on the Illinois river.
In 1867 he was elected treasurer of Mason county, and in 1869 was elected county clerk, in which position he served four years. He was elected Mayor of the city of Havana in 1875, and is the present incumbent during this centennial year.
He is also school director, and with his associates on that impor- tant board, Messrs. J. Wheeler and J. R. Foster, have erected our splendid new school edifice in this city, and advanced our schools to their present high state of perfection, of which we shall speak under another heading.
In 1856 he married Miss A. L. Campbell, daughter of P. W. Campbell, and consequently sister of Hon. G. H. Campbell, of Ma- son City, of whom we treat on another page. On the business abilities of Mr. Mitchell it is useless to comment. The people of Mason county and of the city of Havana have put on record a most weighty and tangible proof of the estimation in which his qualifications in this respect are held, by the positions they have given him. Nor was these offices given him, a stranger and un- known, but because he was known, and from his boyhood's days had been with us.
Faithful and reliable in all the relations of life, of healthful, ro- bust constitution, he bids fair for more extended usefulness in the county and in the city where he resides.
JAMES F. KELSEY.
The subject of this brief biography was born in Yates county, New York, in the year 1830; came west to "grow up with the country" in 1855, and how well he has succeeded in that enterprise the facts of his history will best present to the reader. On his arri- val in this county, a young man with limited means, aside from his own energies and business abilities, he went into the service of George N. Walker, then the largest grain dealer and heaviest -21
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
dealer in general merchandise on the Illinois river between Peo- ria and St. Louis. Here he remained for some years, discharging his duties faithfully and well, as has ever been his invariable rule of business. By judicious investments, made with rare judgment, a fine property was accumulated. In 1862 he became identified with the Peoria, Pekin and Jacksonville Railroad, and for the past fourteen years, with a brief furlough required by his private inter- ests, has that important corporate body been indebted to his rare judgment, promptness and business tact for successful superintend- ence. The superintendent of the machinery department of this road, who is a most experienced and competent engineer, some years ago made to the writer the remark "that Mr. Kelsey was the best general railroad superintendent he had ever seen; that his orders were promptly given, always right, and never countermand- ed." As before stated, it was some years ago that this remark was made. A few weeks since in a conversation with the same engineer, we referred him to his former remark, and asked his per- mission to use it here. He gave us the privilege of doing so, with his re-affirmation of it.
Mr. Kelsey has for several terms been a member of the county board of supervisors, a body whose deliberations have been bene- fitted by his presence.
THOMAS MCCARTY.
Mr. McCarty, the subject of these notes, is a native of Cham- paign county, Ohio, being born there in I823. He came to Mason county in 1837, and has since been a resident thereof, engaged in farming, which with him has been a great financial success. He began with one horse and a barshire plow, and from this small be- ginning, with economy and industry, he has risen to his present af- fluent circumstances.
In 1844, he married Miss Malinda Wilcox, and together for all these years they have made the journey of life. They reside in Mason City, retired from the anxieties and the cares of business on the fruits of their industry of former years.
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
1
J. R. STONE,
Born in Green county, Penn., Sept. 12, 1822. His parents moved to Ohio, in 1830, and from there to Illinois, in 1845, and set- tled at Quincy. From there to Mason county, in 1875. Mr. Stone is a blacksmith by occupation, and has recently applied for a patent on a very simple but useful invention, viz: an improved steel plow-point. In 1869, he married Mrs. N. C. Crafton, of Mt. Sterling, Illinois.
Mr. Stone is doing a lucrative business in his line, at Topeka, in this county, and is one of the substantial citizens of that town.
JOHN H. NETLER.
Mr. Netler was born in 1801, in Hanover, Germany, came to America, in August, 1832, and first landed at Baltimore, Maryland, but finally settled in New Orleans. He became a resident of Mason county, in 1835, and returned to New Orleans, in 1836, and married Miss M. Speckman. They had six children; among them we best know Henry, the proprietor of the old homestead, south of Havana. Mr. Netler was one of Mr. Lincoln's assistants in his early surveys of Mason county; his education was of a high order, being a professional teacher, in Europe, before his emigration to this country. During his residence in New Orleans, he was en- gaged in blacksmithing, and in Mason county, in farming. All his undertakings and investments were financial successes, and he died quite wealthy. He died Dec. 4, 1863; his wife died some years previous. Mr. Netler's wealth and judgment gave him an ex- tended influence in the community, which was always on the side of good.
-
EDWARD MCCARTY.
Edward McCarty was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, July 17, IS13, where his parents were residents at an early day, and where his father died, in 1829, his wife surviving him, and coming to Illi- nois, in 1844, with Edward, and died at their home, near Forest
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
City, in June, 1846. When he settled in Mason county, as above stated, he engaged in the business of farming, his lifelong occupa- tion.
He was married, in 1862, to Miss Jemima Norman, and had four children. The life of Mr. McCarty has not been all sunshine, or all shade, but varied with the vicissitudes incident to this world's changes.
"A life of labor was his lot; He always tried to do his best."
Industrious, honest, and upright, enjoying the confidence of his fellow-men, he is now looking back on a life of duties done. He has for some years past been a resident of Pekin, Illinois.
ROBERT PEARSON.
Mr. Pearson was born in England, April 20, 1834, and emigrated to America, in 1838, and at that time made the southern part of Mason county his home, and there he has ever since resided, a sub- stantial member of society and of the community in which he re- sides. In 1863 he married Mary Fletcher, daughter of Joseph Fletcher, now of Champaign, Illinois. Three interesting children, the result of this union, enliven their pleasant home. Although Mr. Pearson's tastes and his inclinations would ineline him strictly and exclusively to the eares of his farm, his neighbors' appreciation of his business ability and his judgment, have called him at vari- ous times to serve them as road commissioner, school trustee, and member of the board of supervisors, which latter position he has been elected to three terms, and is the present incumbent.
His position in the community needs no further commentary than a reference to these official positions, so frequently and so unani- mously given him, unasked for-the spontaneous expression of his neighbors' confidence in his abilities and worth.
JOSEPH ADKINS.
The subject of this brief sketch was born in east Tennessee, in IS12, and removed to Illinois, in 1833, and settled in Morgan county, where he resided four years, and then removed to his pres-
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
ent place of residence in 1837, which makes him one of the very early settlers of this region, and four years before the organization of Mason county. He engaged in farming and merchandizing, and after the construction of the Peoria, Pekin & Jacksonville rail- road, he laid out the town of Saidora, and built a commodious warehouse, and in addition to his other occupations, has added quite an extensive grain trade. Mr. Adkins was first married in 1831, two years before his removal to the west, and again, in 1845, and a third marriage, in' 1865, to his present companion.
Like all substantial citizens, Mr. Adkins has served his share as township and school official, and now, as the hand of time begins to bear slightly on his once vigorous organism, he has, in a great measure, relinquished business affairs to the management of his sons, who are entirely competent for the trust imposed.
BENJAMIN H. GATTON.
Mr. Gatton was born in Kentucky in 1808, and with his parents removed to Morgan county, (now Cass), Illinois, in 1824. For an idea of the homes and surroundings of the settlers of Central Illi- nois, fifty-two years ago, we refer the reader to the "Sketch of the Early History of Illinois," in another part of this book. From Morgan he removed to Mason county, May 1, 1841. His business has been, dealer in grain and general merchandise, at the village of Bath, and so prominently has Mr. Gatton been identified with that town that his biography is substantially a history of the same.
Mr. Gatton was the first post-master there on the establishment of that office in 1842. He has been succeeded by the following gentlemen, though not perhaps in the precise order named, to-wit: John S. Wilbourn, J. M. Beesley, - Patterson, Joseph A. Phelps, - Moseley, John E. Nelms, W. J. Odle, and Isaac N. Weir, the present incumbent.
Mr. G. erected the second house in Bath, and has since been closely identified with the place; was at Beardstown in 1831, when that city had scarcely an embryo existence, and during his brief sojourn there, served as a justice of the peace. He was at Bath when the first survey of block fifteen was made by ex-President Lincoln. A cabin stood on the shore of the river, and was occu-
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
pied by a Mr. Carey. The old house still is in existence, sided up over the log walls, and is still occupied as a residence.
A Mr. Smith, a brother of the well-known Marcus A. Smith, of Sny Carte, was the first county commissioner from this locality.
In 1849 Mr. G. went to California, and again in 1853, making these journeys overland.
He was first married in 1827, and the second marriage in 1835, and again, ten years later, or IS45, and in 1853 to his present com- panion.
The official positions of the subject of this sketch have been as various as might be expected from a man of his abilities, his ex- tended and somewhat varied experience, and the numerous vicisi- tudes of a long and active life. In addition to his position as first postmaster of the town where he still resides, he served in the State militia as Major-the date of the appointment was in 1843- an appellation which has ever adhered to him, and by which he is still most familiarly known. He has served in all those minor offices of school, township, corporation and county, and as grand juror in the United States Courts. In politics, Major Gatton was at an early date identified with the Whig party, and when "requies- cat in pace" was inscribed on the mausoleum of that once invinci- ble organization, he took a position in the ranks of the Democratic party.
In all the varied experiences of the above hastily sketched life, its possessor has been peculiarly fortunate. He has been fortunate in the possession of a well-balanced mind of great vigor; fortunate in the possession of a fine physical organization and excellent health; also, in the habit of befriending all, and having all for his friends. Though now his years are nearly three score and ten, he retains the appearance and activity of those twenty years his junior. The hand of time has touched him lightly.
JOSEPH DONOVAN.
The Donovan brothers are natives of Champaign county, Ohio, and it was there the parents lived and died. An acquaintance with these five brothers gives to the stranger who reads human nature a more exalted idea of the attributes of our common humanity. Joseph, who is more especially the subject of this sketch, was
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
born at the place above named, in 1825, came west in 1848, and located on the east side of Mason county, and engaged in farming, and the five brothers have, to the present time, operated quite largely in that most important industry, and with great financial success. , Three of the brothers are married and two remain single. All have operated together in unison for these thirty years. When these brothers transferred their large interests from Champaign county, Ohio, to the more favored agricultural region of Mason county, an aged mother resided at the old home. One or more of the sons remained in the east during her lifetime, and at her death all became permanent residents of the new western home.
To record here what partial friends and neighbors have said to us of these gentlemen, would partake too much of flattery for these pages, on which we propose to record only facts in the lives of the subjects of whom we write, but when the acts of men's lives flatter them, then it is history, and their own lives, and not pen pictures given by the writer; hence, by their affability and honorable, upright lives, they have placed encomiums on them- selves.
LEONARD SCHWENK.
When a frail bark crossed the restless billows of the Atlantic ocean, in 1854, bearing to the shores of free America, another de- tachment of emigrants from the fatherland, then, as in thousands of other instances, they bore among their numbers those destined under the free institutions of our country to become not only our most substantial citizens, but most competent officials. Such an instance occurred in the case of him whose name heads this article. Born in Wurtembergh, Germany, July 23, 1832, he emigrated to America in 1854, and located in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where he resided until 1864, in April, when he came to Illinois and made Mason county his home, and engaged in tilling its remuner- ative soil. In 1855, as millions have done in every clime and in every age, he wisely concluded it "was not good for man to be alone," and brought to his help Miss Rebecca Singley, and right pleasantly have they made life's journey together. Mr. and Mrs. Schwenk are both models of mental and physical health, and bid
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