USA > Illinois > Stark County > Documents and biography pertaining to the settlement and progress of Stark County, Illinois : containing an authentic summary of records, documents, historical works and newspapers > Part 37
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.John R. Atherton, born in Kentucky, in 1802, moved with parents to Ohio in 1803, married Jane Armstrong in 1825, moved to a point near Nauvoo in 1885, and to Stark county in 1844, where he settled on what is now the James Biggs farm : died January 31, 1885.
Julius Barnes, son of Martin and Ruth (Dart) Barnes, was born at Florence, Oneida county, New York. August 27, 1826. His parents were natives of Connecticut, who, with their family, moved into York state. Their children numbered six sons and four daughters, all of whom, with the exception of two sons and one daughter, grew to man- hood and womanhood - one son and one danghtor dying in late years. In 1836 the entire family moved to Elmwood township, Peoria county, coming the whole distance by wagon, and occupying six weeks in making the trip. Julius received his education at Elmwood, and was there engaged in agriculture and stock-raising until 1853, when he set- tled in Valley township and improved a farm of 160 acres there. since extended to 400 acres. For thirty years he resided on this farm ; was school director of his district for fourteen years consecutively, and served in several township offices, always taking a pride in the progress of the community. In 1853 he married Miss Sarah, daughter of Arni and Susan (Bosworth) Kellogg, who came from Clinton county, N. Y., to Stark county in 1836. Mrs. Barnes, however, was born in Vermont. Their children are Martin J., a farmer of Davis county, Ia .; Mrs. Mary A. Tilton, of Bement, Neb .; Rufus A., of Davis county, la .; Franklin A., farmer on old homestead ; Alvin S., of Otoe county, Neb .: Edson S., who died in his fifth year ; Frederick H. and Emma L. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes, originally Methodists, but of oll Presbyterian families, are members of the Congregational church. He was a member of the Stark Connty Agricultural Society, but since the organization of the Central Agricultural Society has given it full support. He devoted
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much attention to fine stock growing up to 1883, when he moved into Wyoming, where he has a pleasant residence and a farm of 70 acres of well located and fertile land.
Jonas Ballentine, born in N. Carolina, April 3. 1815, married Miss M. R. Edwards in 1841, settled in Stark county in September of that year, died near Monica, Peoria county, in his 63d year.
Mrs. Eunice (Ferguson) Bass, born in Northampton. N. Y., in 1820. married E. B. Bass there in 1840, came with her husband to Ilinois in 1854, settled five miles northeast of Toulon, and resided there until 1878, when she moved into the village, where she died August 10, 1585.
Thomas 1. Beall, Sr., born in Dubois county, Ind., March 11, 1823, is the son of Asa and Mary (Coyle) Beall, natives of Kentucky. The former of Fayette county and the latter of Bullitt county. The father was a millwright and helped build the first grist mill at ('inein- nati, (. Hle died in Peoria county in June, 1873, aged eighty-four years, his wife preceded him in 1872, leaving three sons and two daughters. Asa Beall was a son of Thomas Beall. an old settler of Kentucky. Asa Beall removed with his family to Illinois in 1832 and located where is now Mossville, Peoria county, but removed to Kicka- poo, where he resided for many years. Ilis children are: Thomas, Harriet, wife of James Rogers; William, a farmer of Valley township : Francis, a resident of Peoria, and Josephine, wife of William Law- rence, of Pooria county.
Thomas Beall was educated in Peoria county and there married Miss Ophelia, daughter of David and Roxanna (Minter) Bush, of Pennsylvania and Kentucky, respectively, and pioneers of Peoria county. At thirty years of age he left there and purchased a property in Valley township, section 2, known since as the Beall farm Of his five sons and six daughters, Marion is a farmer in Harlan county, Neb .; Fred'k, an attorney-at-law, of Alma, Harlan county, Neb. ; Asa, a min- ister of the Methodist church (Peoria conference): Hattie, the wife of David McLeish, a minister of the Methodist church, at Roseville. Ill .; Thomas Allen, at Wedding College, pursuing a literary and classical course: Mary, at Squire Rogers; lohn is a clever musical genius: Susie, Effie, Minnie and Ada residing here. He is a supporter of the Methodist church, while Mrs. Beall and many of the children are members of that church.
John Berfield, son of Benjamin and Martha (Sloan) Berfiehl, was born in Summer Hill township, Crawford county, Pa., April 24, 1814. His father was born in Clearfield county, Pa., and his grandfather at London, Eng .. who came to our shores as a British soklier during the Franco-Indian War, settled in Mahoning county, and afterwards embraced the cause of the Revolution : lived to see the country rid of tyranny, and a family of live sons and two daughters growing up in a free state. His wife was a Miss Hall, who, hke the old soldier, ended ber days on the old farm beside the Susquehanna. Mr. JJohn Berfield's father served in the War of 1812; settled in Crawford county, Pa., where he raised a family of four sons and five daughters. In 1834 he moved to Peoria county, Ill., and in 1836 took up land in West Jersey township, where he and his wife died in 1840, and were buried in the
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OF TOULON TOWNSHIP.
MeClenaghan cemetery. His wife was a daughter of John Sloan, of Crawford county. Of his family. Elizabeth, wife of Nathan Stockton, of Peoria county, is dead ; Maria, wife of Jacob Kightlinger, of Yates city is dead. The former was the mother of two sons and three dangh- ters, and the latter of eleven children, seven of whom are living. Sarah, wife of Mr. Ball, of Dakota, is dead ; Carson and John, of Stark county ; George, who died in 1845 ; Martha, wife of Joseph N. Bene- diet, of Moline, deceased, leaving three children-Wheatley B .. a farmer, near Hokah, Minn., and Mary Anne, wife of Miner Hedges, of Den- ver, C'ol., deceased. John Berfieldl received a fair education in his native county, learned the carpenter's trade there, and on coming to Knox county, now a part of Stark, purchased and improved a farm in what is now West Jersey township, and ever since has been identified with the county's progress. Ile married here Emily, daughter of Squire Thomas Colwell and a native of Ross county. Ohio. They are the parents of two sons and two daughters, who are also the heads of families. Mr. Berfield has served as justice of the peace for West Jersey, supervisor of Toulon. whither he moved in 1852; has been township treasurer of schools and member of school board, as related in the histories of these townships. Mr. and Mrs. Berfield at one time were members of the Baptist church, and are numbered among the most useful citizens and honored pioneers of the county.
Patrick M. Blair, son of William Preston and Hannah ('raig) Blair, was born at Frankfort, Ky., April 10, 1829. His father was also born at Frankfort, son of James Blair, a native of Richmond, Va., -attorney general of Kentucky, and grandson of John Blair, also a native of Virginia-a name known in the judicial history of Virginia. James Blair served with distinction in the Revolution, and William P. Blair in the War of 1812 as captain in the U. S. army. After the war he was in command of the first regular garrison at Ft. Clark (now Peoria); subsequently in command at Rock Island, Council Bluffs and Ft. Smith. Ark., where he married Miss Craig, daughter of one of the first settlers of Arkansas. Patrick M. Blair was educated at St. Louis Uni- versity, studied law in the office of his cousin, Montgomery Blair, and was admitted to the Illinois Barat Ottawa in 1850. In 1846 he visited Toulon; returned to St. Louis in 1848, and took up his residence at Toulon in 1854. He was married November 5. 1551, to Miss Ilarriet M. daughter of Dr. Hall. born in Derbyshire, Eng .. July 26, 1832. In 1854 he and John Berfield established the first lumber yard at Toulon, where his present residence now stands. In 1858 he and G. A. Clifford opened a law office. Before the war this partnership was dissolved, and one with Judge James Hewitt formed. In 1860 he was elected circuit clerk, which position he held eight years, the vote being in 1868 for Mr. Blair 1128, a majority of 570, the largest majority given at this election. In 1867 he assisted in organizing the R. I. & P. R. R. Co .; was one of the incorporators, and in 1869 was elected first vice president, serving until succeeded by Captain S. F. Otman. In 1886 he was appointed master in chancery. as successor to Allen P. Miller. Of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Blair none are living. William P., born December 19, 1854, died December 25,
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that year; Frances L., born January 20, 1856, died April 23, 1873; Thomas Il., one of the founders of the Sentinel, born July 30, 1855. died August 28, 1881, and Walter II., born in 1862, died December 26, 1884.
Mrs. Elra M. (Wright) Black, born near Toulon in 1858, married Samuel G. Black in 1876, died October 30, 1885.
Herbert Blakely, born in Tennessee in 1807, moved to Knox county, Ill., in 1853, to Toulon in 1883, died here December 25, 1884.
Thomas W. Bloomer, born in Fayette county, Ohio, January 15, 1833, is the son of Jesse and Matilda (MacDonald) Bloomer, the for- mer a native of Ohio and son of Wmn. Bloomer, a farmer who settled in Fayette county on moving from Alabama. Jesse Bloomer was a farmer in Fayette county Ohio when he died. Thomas W. received a fair education there, and there learned the blacksmith's trade at Washington, Ohio. In 1855 he came to Stark county with his uncle Squire MacMillen. Ilere he established business for himself and has since been identified with Wyoming. He was married in Fayette county. Ohio to Miss Mary J. Kimble, daughter of Nathan Kimble, a merchant of Washington. They have one son and one daughter, Jesse C., a real estate dealer, and Ida A., the wife of George H. Lyous of Wyoming, a traveling salesman. A reference to the history of Wy- oming will point out Mr. Bloomer's connection with the city council, school board, masonic circles, while in the general history many refer- enees are made to him. He is one of the original members of the Central Agricultural Society.
Andrew F. Bloomer, formerly of Wyoming, moved to York, Neb.
I'm. Boggs, who settled at Wyoming years ago, died in January, 1886.
Major Bolanon, of Trivoli, Ill., father of Mrs. J. D. Pierson, of Toulon, died in September, 1884, in his 5th year. He came from Syracuse. N. Y .. to Peoria county in 1835.
William J. Bond, a native of Maine, was born in Lincoln county, township of Jefferson, January 25, 1827. His father was William Ful- lerton Bond, a farmer, and son of Henry Bond, a farmer, originally a brick-mason, a native of Winchester, Mass. William J. was one of three sons and three daughters of William F. and Hannah (Jackson) Bond, the latter daughter of JJoseph Jackson, who served in the Revo- Intion. Hle spent boyhood in his native county. At the age of seven- teen years he engaged as clerk in a mercantile house, and after a few years became a partner in a general store at Jefferson. In 1850 he went to Rockland, Me., and was engaged in mercantile work until coming west in 1868. During his stay at Rockland he served in the council of that city six years, was clerk of the city three years, and member of the board of assessors of Rockland for eight years. In 1868, sold out his interest, came west, and after spending four years in Missouri in traveling trade, he was sent here in 1872 to take charge of his coal mining company's interests. Those interests he subsequently pur- chased, and was prominently connected with business here until 1881. Upon the organization of the Central Agricultural Society he became a stockholder. He was married in Missouri to Miss Amelia Gregory.
yourstenly Sauce Burge
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OF TOULON TOWNSHIP.
A reference to the official history of the village of Wyoming, of the Protestant Episcopal church, of the Masonic circle and commercial in- terests will point out very definitely the part he has taken in the progress of this town.
Orlando Bruce, son of Myrtle G. and Phoebe (Munson) Brace, was born in Elmira township, this county. August S. 1838. His father, a native of New York state, was reared and educated in Luzerne county, Penn. His mother was also a native of that county. In 1836 Myrtle G. Brace, his wife and two children came to Osceola Grove, making the trip overland. Of their eleven children, three sons and six daugh- ters survive. The pioneers were laid to rest in Elmira cemetery, the father dying in 1866, the mother in 1873. Orlando Brace spent his boyhood on the farm, again farmed his own lands in Henry county, and was so engaged when the civil war broke out. In 1862 he en- tered Company A, One hundred and twenty-fourth Illinois infantry, and followed the fortunes of that command until April 1. 1865. when he received a wound in the right shoulder joint at Spanish Fort. Ala. Subsequently he spent three months in the hospital at New Orleans, and in October of that year was honorably discharged at Springfieldl, IN. In 1567 he resumed farming, but owing to the failure of his health had to discontinue agriculture. In 1873 he was elected treas- urer of Stark county, which position he held for five consecutive terms. and doubtless would be elected and reflected had not the legislature adopted a law fixing the tenure of that office. During all these years not one cent has been incorrectly entered or unaccounted for, pre- cision marking all his dealings with the office. In December, 1886, he was elected commander of the G. A. R. post at Toulon. He married Miss Lucy A. Hudson, of Elmira township, whose parents, Daniel and Mary Iludson, settled there about 1854, moving that year from Wash- ington county, Ohio. They are the parents of seven children, namely: Lottie, now Mrs. William Nixon, of Wyoming ; Luella, now Mrs. F. S. Rosseter, of Chicago; Frank, Florence. Harry, George and Edith. A reference to the military, political and pioneer chapters of the general history. to the chapters on Elmira township, and to that on the town of Toulon, will point out definitely the various positions held by Mr. Brace.
Mrs. Kizzie F. Bruce, daughter of Caleb P. and Diana Flint, born in Corning. N. Y., in 1839. came to Toulon in 1\40, died at Winona. H1 .. February 25. 187>.
Henry C. Bradley, son of George and Ann (Campbell) Bradley. was born in Goshen township, February 7, 1849. His parents were old residents of Stark county, coming here from New York City. Of their five sons and four daughters, Bessy died in infancy ; William G. is a farmer of Nicholls county, Neb .; Sarah J. is the wife of Jacob Goley, of Nicholls county, Neb .: Henry C. resides at Toulon ; Andrew C. and Mary, the wife of Robert Nicholson, reside in Goshen; Frank B. is a farmer of Nicholls county, Neb .; Annie is the wife of Cory Moore of Toulon township, and Ora A. is the wife of James Lamb, of Filhore county, Neb. Henry C. received a common school education in his native township, and learned the blacksmith's trade
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BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
at Toulon. At the age of 21 years entered farm life for himself, and continued agriculture until 1881, when he sold his farm, moved into Toulon, and commenced the blacksmith's trade. Ilis wife, Miss Alice A. Edwards, is a daughter of Lewis Edwards, formerly of Essex town- ship. now of Antelope county, Neb., residing near Neeley village. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley are the parents of four children, namely: Fan- nie, JJessie, Addie and Bertha. Both are members of the Christian (Irch, and he is a member of the County Agricultural Society. George Bradley, the pioneer of the family in this county, is now a res- ident of Thaver county, Neb. His wife died here July 9, 1881. Geo. Bradley was born in Tyrone county, Ireland, in 1820, came to New York in 1839. His wife, Ann Campbell, was born in same county in 1822, and came to New York in 1841, was married in 1844 and started for Toulon the same spring.
Samuel G. Breese, sou of Henry and Sarah (Johnson) Breese, was born December 25, 1836. His father was born in Luzerne county, Wyoming Valley, Pa., December 21, 1797, died October 21, 1875. lle was one of nine children of Samuel and Hannah (Pierson) Breese of Somerset county. New Jersey, and grandson of JJohn and Dorothy (Riggs) Breese of Basking Ridge, N. J., the same John who was a soldier of the Revolution. Henry Breese, father of Samuel G. came here from Luzerne county, Pa .. in 1835, with three sons and two daughters. namely: Stephen D., Milton. Johnston, Ellen and Amy, while here the subject of this sketch was born. He, with Stephen and Amny. now Mrs. A. Y. Fuller. are the only survivors here, of this large and prominent family. Milton resides at Neponset. Johnson, at Kewanee. and Ellen is the wife of Samuel Besett, residing near Chenoa, Ill. Samuel G. grew to manhood here, at 18 years he engaged in his father's business at Neponset, Ill .; visited Omaha, Neb., returned in 1864 to Prairie city, and was engaged in mercantile work until 1870. when he moved near Castleton, where he was engaged in farming up to 1882, when he took charge of his present business at Wyoming. still holding his farm in Penn township. He was married December 24, 1865, at Prairie city to Miss Elvira C., daughter of Moses and Martha A. (Yocum) Craig, of Virginia and Kentucky respectively. They are the parents of Maude, Henry C. and Mattie. Mr. Breese supports all religious denominations, but is not a member of any church. Throughout the township history and in many pages of the general history, this family is referred to. Mr. Breese was born in a small log cabin, and at time of birth, bad four teeth. two above and two below, a rather strange or unusual thing. but necessity is always the mother of invention, and the teeth must have been provided. so as he could become self-sustaining very young, and learn to live on nuts and acorns, etc., as at that time most pioneers had very little of the luxuries to eat. Ilis elder brothers used to heat elapboards by the fire place and carry them out to the wood pile to stand on barefooted while they chopped wood. Such are a few incidents peculiar to life here over half a century ago.
William Brown, a mason since 1812, died near Toulon in Decem- ber, 1874, aged 86 years.
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OF TOULON TOWNSHIP.
John B. Brown, born in Virginia in 1806, settled near Kickapoo, III., in 1837: came to Wyoming in 1853, was postmaster here from 1860, which position he filled until his death, May 23, 1880. ( Vide chapter on Pean Township.)
Captain John Marshall Brown, son of John Benton and Elizabeth Ann (Johnson) Brown, was born in Hampshire county, Va., August 10, 1×37. Ilis father settled in that state and followed the millwright's trade in his youth ; while his mother's people-the Johnsons -resided there for over a century. In the summer of 1837, the family (parents and three sons, moved west to a point near Kickapoo, Peoria county, IH. In 1853, the father settled in Wyoming, engaged in mercantile work and was one of the town's most energetic and public-spirited citizens up to his death in 1880. He was postmaster there for nearly twenty years. At the beginning of the Civil War, John M. Brown was engaged on the farm in Valley township. In August of that year he enlisted in Company K, Forty-seventh Ilinois Infantry, and was at once appointed orderly sergeant of the company. Early in 1862, he was premoted first lieutenant. Following the battle of Corinth he was commissioned captain and held that position until honorably dis- charged, October 10, 1864. In November. 1864, he was elected sheriff by 555 majority over the popular democratic nominee. James Nowlan. In 1868, he defeated William Lowman for circuit elerk by 534 majority, and reelected each term since that time. In 1859, he married Miss Margaret R., fourth daughter of John and Margaret ( Robinson) Hawks. Of their three children, Ella M. is now the wife of Herbert D. Nott, of Galva; Mand E. resides with parents, and Lew M. Brown is a very courteous and competent assistant in the circuit clerk's office. A refer- ence to the history of the G. A. R. post at Toulon, that of the 1. O. O. F. lodge, and of the Encampment will show the part he has taken in these important organizations. As an officer of the county his record is without reproach, as a soldier he won his laurels and wears them. while as a citizen he has shared in the labors of adding a pleasant home to Toulon, and has become interested in a farm in the county. (Vide history of Peun Township.)
" Grundpe" Buchanan, who died at Olympia, W. T., September 27, 1584, once resided on the land now known as the county Poor Farm. Ile was born in 1801, married in 1822, and crossed the plains in 1858, with his family.
Samuel, Burge, son of Rev. Benjamin and Lucretia ( Dewey) Burge, was born at Enfield, Grafton county, N. H., October 21, 1844. In 1856 Mr. Burge, his mother and sister, moved from Lewiston, Fulton county, to Stark county. The family having settled in Fulton county in 1833, four years after the death of Rev. Mr. Burge. This move was made on the suggestion of the late Sammel M. Dewey, a resident of Stark in 1849, who counseled his sister to bring her family among a people whom he esteemed, and among whom himself was one of the leading citizens. On arriving here Mr. Burge entered his unele's store and filled the position of clerk for ten years, until 1866, when he ac- quired a one-fourth interest in the house of Dewey, Lowman & Co. In the fall of that year Mr. Dewey died, but, by the terms of the will,
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the business was to be continued under the title of Dewey & Burge, and with the mercantile department the banking house, established in 1865, was included. Of all this Mr. Burge took the management Jan- mary 1, 1867. Early in 1869 he purchased the interests of the Dewey estate, and in the spring of 1870 disposed of the mercantile depart- ment, so that he could give exclusive attention to the banking business. In 1879 Charles P. Dewey, son of the late Samuel Dewey, was ad- mitted into partnership, and the firm name of Burge & Dewey adopted. On September 1, 1870, Mr. Burge was married to Miss Alice. daughter of William Lowman. To them four children were born, Annie M., Samuel D., Esther L. and Jessie, the latter now lying in the family lot in Toulon cemetery. Mrs. Burge is a graduate of the Rock- ford Female Seminary, and, as evidenced by references in this work to local literary and musical societies, holds a first place among the alumni of that seminary. In the history of the schools of Toulon township, of the Congregational church of Toulon, of the munici- pality, of the soldiers of the county and of the W. W. Wright Post, G. A. R., the part taken by Mr. Burge in affairs of public interest is elearly portrayed. To him is credited the introduction of modern residence building into Toulon, and above all a desire to share in build- ing up higher the industrial and social interests of the town, which he calls his home for over thirty years.
Rer. Benjamin Burge, named in the foregoing sketch, was born at Francistown, N. H. For years he was an esteemed pastor of the Con- gregational church, until his death in 1848. ITis widow, Mrs. Lucretia (Dewey) Burge, was a daughter of Andrew Dewey, a farmer of Han- over, N. Il., who died on the farm in Goshen township, in 1857. Shortly after the death of her husband, Mrs. Burge and family moved to Nashua, N. II., where she resided until coming to Lewiston, Ill., in 1853. The name and family are well known in the pioneer history of New Hampshire, partienlarly in the Hollis neighborhood, where the old residence of the Burges has a history antedating 1740.
D. S. Burroughs, son of Lorin and Meribab (Boardman) Burroughs. was born at Napoli, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., Feb. 7. 1543. His father was a son of Porter Burroughs, and mother a daughter of Richard Boardman, prominent agriculturalists of Onondaga Co., N. Y. In 1867 Lorin Burroughs and family migrated to Prophetstown, where the father died Sept. 5, 1867, leaving five sons and three daughters living. Geo. W. is supposed to have been killed at Chancellorsville, under Hooker; Orlando, the eldest, is a farmer; Lewis P., died at Napoli, N. Y .; Ira, like Orlando, resides in Sarpy county, Neb .; Daniel L. is a citizen of Whiteside county, Ill .; Wallace M. is in insurance business at Omaha. Neb .; Lavina is the widow of O. Fischer, Whiteside county ; Salina is the wife of John M. Richards, of Whiteside county ; and Marinda V. is unmarried. D. S. Burroughs is the sixth son of seven boys. Ile spent his boyhood at Napoli, and obtained his edneation in Cattaraugus county. After coming to Ilinois he traveled extensively through the west, was engaged in the creamery business in Whiteside county until 1884, but started in business in this place November 10, 1875, the date of his commission house at Wyoming. His wife, whom he married at
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