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 44
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William L. Mooney, born in Athens County, Ohio, in 1845, settled
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BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
in Henry County. Ill .. in 1852 came to Wyoming in 1-70. died in Oeto- ber. 1552. from the result of wounds received from a saw.
J. W. Morrison, born in Winchester, Va., in 1530. came to Stark county in 1>53, and settled in Goslien. His parents, J. W. and Evaline (White) Morrison, natives of Virginia, were okl settlers of Favette county, Ohio, where they died. They moved to that county in 1×36. Mr. Morrison received a practical edneation in Ohio, and there married Miss Mary Ann, daughter of Thomas and Ann (Irvme) llart. natives of Ireland. This lady was born in Canada in 1834. The Morrison family must be considered early settlers of Goshen, for they resided there several years before their removal to Toulon. In Mareh. 1×77. Mr. Morrison received the appointment of superintendent of the county infirmary. His own executive ability and the genial. practical methods of the family have made his term of office thoroughly satis- factory and successful. In December. 1586, he was reappointed super- intendent for the year ending March. 1888. and allowed $100 rent for his house at Toulon until the proposed new infirmary is completed. In 1865 he enlisted in Company K. Forty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry. and served at Mobile. Ala .. until February. 1866. In society matters he is a member of the R. A. Chapter. of the Blue Lodge. and of the Odd Fellows's society at Toulon. He is also a member of Wright Post. G. A R. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison are the parents of seven children - Leroy F .. Martha (now Mrs. Andrew Bradley). Jennie (Mrs. Fred. Rhodes), Belle C .. John S., Mary L .. and Thomas W. - all natives of Stark county, and all residents here except Leroy, who is in Idaho. In the destruction of the infirmary building. December 5. 1886, Mr. Morrison lost heavily in personal property.
N. B. Morse. M. D. born in Knox county. Ill., October 16. 1838. is a son of Thomas A. and Harriet C. (Jones) Morse, natives of Western New York and pioneers of Illinois, and grandson of Samuel Morse. who came to Illinois in 1816 and settled in St. Clair county. being among the prominent lawyers of the state. He was a lineal descendant of the early Morses of America in history and a cousin of B. F. Morse. Samuel Morse was prominent in all the early affairs of the state, both public and industrial. Dr. Morse passed boyhood in Knox county on the farm, and obtained a good common school education. Ile com- menced medical studies under Dr. J. W. Sendder. of Prairie City. and continued to until 1562. when he enlisted in Company G. Eighty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry as private, and served in the ranks for ten months: was then promoted to orderly sergeant, which position he held when mnstered ont at the close of the war. He served in all the battles of the campaign in which the regiment was present. After the war he reëntered Cincinnati Medical College. from which he graduated in 1886-7. and in 1867 commeneed practice at Utiea, Ill. After two years he removed to this eounty, and locating at Duncan was in active practice for nine years. In 1879. on account of ill health. he removed to Colorado and embarked in mining operations successfully for one vear. when he resumed professional duties at Silon Cliff. In the fall of 1552 he sold his interests in Colorado and returned to Stark county. He was married in Knox county. Ill .. in 1864 to Miss Elizabetli,
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OF TOULON TOWNSHIP.
daughter of Joel W. Slaughter, of Knox county. They have two sons and one daughter-Willie, a student of music: Nettie and Ilally D. The doctor supports all churches, is a member of De Wolf Post, G. A. R. and of the I. O. O. F. lodge at Wyoming.
James Harvey Newton, son of Elizabeth (Newton) Newton, was born in Greenbrier county. W. Va .. November 3. 1820, where their people belonged to pioneer families. There Mr. Newton worked on his grandfather's farm until 1847. when coming west he purchased and improved eighty acres on section 26. Goshen township, to which he added 200 acres, all now managed by his sons. JJames Isaac and William A. Newton. He was married at Toulon to Miss Hester . MeCance, a native of Indiana. Their two children are James L. just mentioned. and William A., owner of the meat market at Tonlon. James 1. Newton married Miss Lucy Thomas, they are the parents of two children, and William A. married Miss Luey Shinn. parents of three children. James H. Newton. Sr., was a Presbyterian, but now belongs to the Congregational church. He served on the township school board for nine years. His wife is a member of the Christian church at Toulon. In polities he is republican, with strong sympathy for prohibition of the liquor traffic.
Benjamin A1. Newton. born in Susquehanna county. Pa., October 12, 1835, is the son of David and Sarah A. (Brundage) Newton. both natives of Pennsylvania. David was the son of Benjamin and Phoebe (Stearns) Newton, the American ancestors of whom were from Great Britain and France respectively. This Benjamin was born in 1776. married Sarah Carey in 1802. who died the following year. and to them Sarah Newton, (who came to Ilinois November 5, 1844, and died February 4. 1885), was born. In 1>04 he married Miss Stearns, and to this union ten children were born. Phoebe, wife of Robert Sharer, came to Illinois in 1835 : died August 4. 1879: Nelson died in Pennsylvania; Sarah wife of Peter Shaver, came in 1835, died in 1579 ; David came in 1844, died in Iowa in 1579: Joesph came in 1835. died in 1871: Benjamin came in 1835, died in 1569 : Newman came in 1835. moved to Kansas and died in 1883: Flora, who married Horace Gregory. died in 1848: Naoma, wife of Anderson Mounts, resides at Peoria. The grandfather of Benjamin A. settled in Penn township in 1835. and there was a farmer and stock-grower until his death in 185t. Ilis wife preceded him to the grave in 1>49. David married Miss Sarah Ann. daughter of John and Phoebe (Brundage) in 1534. Her father was a Pennsylvanian and her grandfather a soldier of the Rey- olution, although a native of Great Britain. On account of his ser- vices in the American army the British government confiscated his property in England. Her mother was a German. The children of this marriage were Benjamin A .. of this township, and Sarah Ann. re- siding at Peoria. In 1840 he married Miss Ada Delemater, to whom ten children were born. six of whom are living. James in lowa ; Anderson in Nebraska: Isaac, a widower. Stephen L .. Olive and Ida. all residents of Iowa. Benjamin A. Newton passed his early years at school and on the farm. In 1856 he married Miss Susannah, daughter of William and Barbara (Calerman) Dunn. natives of Kentucky, iwho
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BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
settled near Springfield. Ill., in 1830, and engaged in agriculture up to the period of his death.) Mrs. Newton was the youngest, except one, of six children. Her brothers Thomas and William are in Iowa : James and Daniel and her sister Margaret, who married John Harmon. are deceased. Mr. Newton was a farmer until 1865, when he became a mechanical engineer, a trade to which he has given attention for over twenty years. His children are Frank A., of Osceola ; Eliza M., residing at home ; Lora B., wife of Johnson Harris, of Toulon ; Mary S., wife of George Hanchett; Elbert P. and Fred B., at home. He cast his first vote for Fremont, and since that time has been a pro- nounced republican. He supports the M. P. church, while Mrs. Newton is a member of the M. E. church. In society matters he is a. Mason, and as related in the township history, always prominent in what concerns the schools, the township or the county.
Jason Montgomery Newton, son of Perry M. and Rebecca (Haller) Newton, was born February 25. 1855, at Canton, Fulton county, IN. Ilis parents, natives of Pennsylvania, moved to linois in early days and were among the pioneers of Canton. The father served in the Black Hawk war, and also in the Civil war, dying in the army some years later. In 1878 his widow married Thomas JJames, and in 1879 moved to Nebraska. Jason M. Newton received his education at Lew- istown, Ill., graduating in 1572. That year he came to Wyoming and took a position as printer in the office of the Post, under E. H. Phelps. In 1874 he worked at the case on the Union and Democrat, at Lewis- town. In 1876 he entered the Transcript office at Peoria, and subse- quently worked on the Journal and Democrat there. In 1880 he re- visited Wyoming, took charge of the Post printing office, holding the position until February, 1885, when he was appointed on the local staff of the Post-Herald. In March, 1886, he assumed editorial charge under Mr. Sandham, whose duties as superintendent of schools did not afford him time to give such attention to his journal as it required. Mr. Newton now holds that position with most satisfactory results. In society matters he was connected with the Good Templars from i880 to the time the lodge disbanded. In 1886 he became a charter member of the Modern Woodmen. His three uncles, George and William Agnew and Jason Boyle, served through the war of 1861-5.
George Nicholas and his son were killed by lightning near Wy- omning. May 17, 1862. The former was an industrious farmer aged fifty-two years.
Rer. Thomas J. Nesmith, a resident of Putnam county for twenty- one years, died September 22, 1886, aged ninety-one years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and afterwards a minister of the M. P. churel.
Mrs. Elizabeth Nixon, who died April 20, 1884, m Iowa, was a native of Virginia, where she was born in 1807. In 1831 she moved to Peoria, and subsequently resided at Toulon with her son-in-law, J. W. Hewett.
Will E. Nixon, one of the founders of the Stark county Sentinel. is the third child of Edward and Margaret (Kenney) Nixon, and was born in Toulon, Ill., November 14, 1559, and educated in the public
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OF TOULON TOWNSHIP.
schools of Toulon. Learned the printer's trade in the office of the New Era, in 1873, and has been connected at different times with every newspaper since published in the county. The publication of the Sentinel was begun by Blair & Nixon, October 8, 1880, Thomas H. Blair retiring the following spring on account of failing health. In May, 1582. W. E. Nixon also retired from the paper, and the business was continued by J. K. Hall. He was married November 30. 1882, to Miss Lottie R. Brace, eldest daughter of Orlando Brace, county treas- urer. Edward Nixon, a native of Virginia, came to Peoria county in 1834, was married there in 1851 or 1852, and moved to Toulon village in 1854. where he died May 8, 1883. Mrs. Nixon, Sr., is living at Peoria, where two of her sons reside. ller danghter, wife of M. A. Hall, resides at Emporia, Kansas.
James Nowlan, son of Michael and Frances (Kearney) Nowlan, natives respectively of Carlow and Wexford counties, Ireland, was born at Grafton, Mass., February 6. 1837. In 1840 the family - par- ents and four sons, moved west and settled on the homestead in Goshen township, where the father died in 1882. Of the sons who came here John died in 1869, aged 29 years. His brother Michael died in 1867. Patrick, James and William have for years held a foremost place in citizenship. Edward, David, Michael. Mary, Henry. George and Joseph were born here. Patrick resides at Hastings, Neb., is married, and is the parent of five children. William, Henry and Edward are men of families, residing in Goshen township. Dr. David Nowlan re- sides at Havelock, Iowa. Their sister is Reverend Superioress of St. Mary's school. Baltimore, Md. George is cashier of Burge & Dewey's Bank at Toulon, and Joseph, until recently, has served in the Stark county News office. James Nowlan was brought up on the farm, and was subsequently a farmer on his own account for abont eight years. In 1865 he entered mercantile life at Toulon, and in company with one or other of his brothers, carried on a large business until 1879, when he left the firm to engage in his present business. Ile married Miss Nellie A. Plummer, of Yates City, to whom were born James A .. and Mary Irene. The family are members of St. Mary's Catholic church, and claim in a very marked degree the confidence of the people of all creeds and classes. It is beyond the limits of this sketch to follow the members of this large family through official life. A reference, how- ever, to the chapters on county societies, pioneers, township and vil- lage organizations, churches and schools, will show very distinctly the various parts taken by them in the drama of settlement and progress. (Vide history of county and of Toulon and Goshen.)
Thomas A. Oakes, born in Orange county, Va., in 1811, married Mary Carter, of Mt. Vernon, O., in 1838, settled in Warren county, Il., in 1839, died at Toulon, at his daughter's, Mrs. C. L. Packer, March 15. 1866.
Sylvester Francis Otman, whose ancestors came from Germany prior to the Revolutionary War, was born at Stockbridge, Madison county. N. Y., November 5, 1828. His grandfather served in the Revolution, and was captured by that fierce ally of the English-Theyendanega - or, Joseph Brandt, who was returning fresh from his bloody harvest
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BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
in the Wyoming valley. At the age of seven young Otman moved with parents to New Hartford. N. Y., was educated there, and at the age of eighteen completed his course at the Sanquoit Academy. He taught two terms of school in this county, and arrived at Peoria, III .. on his twenty-first birthday, where he presided over the then Third Ward school until May, 1850, when he moved to Wyoming. In 1833 he was elected surveyor and served eight years. In 1857 he was elected justice, resigning to enlist in Company E., One-hundred-and- twelfth Regiment, in 1862. He recruited this company and was elected captain, which position he held until November 30, 1864, when he took command of the regiment, at the battle of Franklin, Tenn. He commanded until February, 1865, when he was detailed as Acting Assistant Inspector-General on General Henderson's staff, and this rank he held until the command was mustered ont, June 22, 1865. He par- ticipated in every battle of his regiment, was never wounded, and only " under the weather " for eleven days. In 1866 he was elected mem- ber of the legislature. In 1869, with A. W. King, he engaged in the general merchandise trade here, and for five years carried on a large trade. In 1874 he formed a partnership with A. G. Hammond, which continued for four years. In 1878 he was reflected a member of the legislature, reflected in 1880, thus serving three full sessions and three extra sessions, and having the honor and satisfaction of aiding in send- ing Lyman Trumbull and John A. Logan to the United States Senate. Captain Otman formed a partnership with John Jordan in 1881. and since that time has been extensively engaged in the lumber trade. Politically he was Democratic until 1856, when he voted for lohn C. Fremont. His services to the country and county tell plainly that he has been a Republican since that time. He married Miss Emma Dench- field in 1855, to whom one daughter was born - the mother and child dying the same week, in September, 1864. In 1867 he married Mrs. Sarah Smith Denchfield, who is the mother of the popular A. N. Otman, now seventeen years of age. In 1851 he joined the Masonic Lodge here, and is now also a member of the Chapter. He is one of the original members of De Wolf Post here. During the years 1850-3 he worked at the carpenter's trade, and this work, with his professional labors in school, his military career, and his commercial experiences, have contributed a share to give to Stark county one of her very best citizens. ( Vide general history).
Benjamin Packer, son of Benjamin and Polly (Johnson) Packer, was born in Plainfield township, Otsego county, N. Y., August 23, 1818 His father was a son of Jeremy Packer of Bennington, Vi .. who served through the Revolution against the British, and his mother, a daughter also of a revolutionary soldier, Ebenezer Johnson of New York. In 1824 the family moved to Windham county, Vt., in 1828 to Saratoga, N. Y., where Benjamin was raised and received a practical education. In 1851 he moved west and purchased 160 acres in Toulon township, which he sold, and then purchased 400 acres. Of this last. purchase he exchanged 320 acres for his present property of 240 acres. to which he has added 560 acres. making 800 acres, a part of which he has divided between his sons. He was married in Saratoga county.
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OF TOULON TOWNSHIP.
N. Y., in 1851 to Miss Ilannah, daughter of Ezra Lyon, who is buried in the cemetery near Northville. Of the ten children born to them. five sons and three daughters are living. Eli is a Baptist minister in Linn county. Ia., who studied five years at the I'niversity of Chicago, and two years at the Northwestern Theological Seminary, Morgan ark; Mortimer A. is a theological student ; Ezra Lionel and Charles Lee, both farmers of Toulon township; Camilla May. the wife of Millar Patterson, of Wyoming; Frances Hannah. Ehner Benjamin, and Maggio E., still at home. By his first marriage with Miss Rebecca Leggett there were four children, two sons and two daughters, three of whom are dead, and one of the daughters, Sylva Paulina, is wife of Henry Walton of Black Hawk county, residing near Jessup postoffice, lowa. Mr. Packer is one of the original members of the Stark county Agricultural Society, and one of its most active members and officials. He has been a member of the Baptist Church since the age of eighteen, and Mrs. Packer has held membership since the age of thirteen. Politically Mr. Packer is a Republican. In the history of the township as well as in the general history the parts taken by Mr. Packer in public and religious affairs is very fully shown.
Charles S. Payne, son of John and Asenath (Mattoon) Payne, was born at Hartford, Conn., October 25, 1818. Ihis father, a native of Long Island, N. Y., served with distinction in the Revolution, subse- gnently settled at Homer, N. Y., and erected one of the first buildings there ; thence moved to Hardford, Conn., near which city he died. Ilis mother was of French extraction, and descended from the pioneers of Connecticut. Their daughter, at whose home John Payne died. was the wife of a nephew of Ex-Governor Tompkins of New York. Charles S. Payne spent his boyhood in the east. In his youth he worked in a wooden-screw factory ; at the age of fourteen years he en- gaged in sash and blind making; at the age of twenty years went to New York City, and in partnership with Mr. Mckenzie established a business there, which they conducted until 1545, when Mr. Payne visited the South. In 1846 or 1847 he traveled to Chicago, via St. Louis, and there engaged in the lumber, sash. door and blind business. In 1848 he established the first sash and blind factory at Peoria, which be carried on jointly with his Chicago concern -it being related that there he made the first diamond sash manufactured in the West. In 1851 he sold out his western interests and returning to New York City purchased the interests of his former partner. Mckenzie. in a large manufacturing house. In 1553 he disposed of this interest. and returning to Ilinois, settled on lands in Valley township, which he had previously purchased. These lands he improved and cultivated until 1857. when he moved to Wyoming, built and opened a large store here, next erected a Hlouring mill at a cost of 840,000, laid out a park, established tile works, constructed an opera house, and altogether placed about $100,000 in building up his own industries at Wyoming. The part he has played in the several acts of the drama of citizenship is only partly related here. In the general history as well as in that of Wyoming more precise mention is made of him, even the fact of his
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BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
monument in the cemetery being erected, let us hope, a quarter of a century before he will seek its shelter, is not omitted. Mr. Payne was married in New York eity to Miss Elizabeth Angevine by Rev. Dr. Tuttle of the Protestant Episcopal Church. This lady is descended from Charles of Anjon and Beatrice, daughter of Raymond de Beren- ger, famous in French history of the thirteenth century. The Paynes also came of old French stock, surnamed Païen from the well-known skepticism of the family in religious matters. Mr. Payne is a demo- crat of the old school : but an earnest worker with that party. ( Vide general and township history.
Harrey Pettit, son of Joseph and Polly (Nichols) Pettit, was born at Galloway, Saratoga county, N. Y., October 4, 1819. At the age of fourteen years he went to Knowlesville, Orleans county, where he served an apprenticeship in a mercantile house. Subsequently, he moved to Westfield, Chautauqua county. N. Y., and there learned the woolen business. From 1840 to 1843 he resided at Napoleon, O. Re- turning in the latter year, he married Miss Phoebe E. Whitman, a native of New York state, born at Milton, September 11, 1824 Moved with his family to Napoleon, O .. in 1844; one year later (1845) to Peoria county, Il .; a few years after, they settled in Stark county. where their seven sons and three daughters were raised and edu- cated. Their children are named as follows: William H., of Texas. born in Henry county, Il., January 21, 1844; Susan A., wife of Abram Buffington, of Trego county. Kan .. born in Peoria county, Ill., February 22, 1846: Elijah B .. a farmer of Stark county. Ill., born in Peoria county, Il., October 14, 1849; Sylvester L., a merchant of Ster- ling. Col., born in Bureau county, Ill., October 8, 1851; Joseph, born in Marshall county. Il., October 23, 1853; George C., of Peoria, born in Marshall county, H .. May 18, 1857; Mary, Arthur and Alonzo, resid- ing at home: Clara B., who married Ezra King, is dead. She was born in Stark county, IN .. August 22. 1862; Mary A. was born May 29, 1885, in Jasper county. Ia. ; Arthur was born March 13, 1859. in Stark county, Ill .: Alonzo was born June 10, 1865, in Stark county,
Dr. Allen MeArthur Pierce, son of Samuel and Mary Louisa (Mc- Donald) Pierce, was born in Ross county. O., December 19. 1536. In 1847. his father and family of six children moved to Chillicothe, Ill .. and subsequently to Stark county, where he died September 13. 1879. His widow survives him, while his children, with the exception of Dr. Pierce and his sister, Mary L .. reside outside this state. Frank and John are engaged in mining operations in Colorado, and Charles E. is a mill-owner at Pawnee City, Neb., where he has a family. Dr. Pierce spent his earlier years in Ross county, O. On coming to Ilinois, he devoted himself to study, and- at the age of twenty-one entered the office of Dr. Thomas, at Wyoming; subsequently attended Rush Medical college, and graduated from that institution in 1861. The following twelve months were devoted to practice at Toulon, and then he entered the union service as army surgeon, under commission of Governor Yates. In the fall of 1862, he returned home on "sick- leave," and early in 1864 was commissioned first assistant surgeon,
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OF TOULON TOWNSHIP.
One-hundred-and-thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. in which service he remained until the close of the war. Locating at Peoria in 1865, he had his office with Dr. Robert Boal, was pension surgeon there, and continued in active practice until 1869, when he was induced to move to Galesburg. In 1870, he took up his residence at Wyoming, and has practiced there with marked success for over six- teen years. The doctor is an active member of De Wolf Post. Grand Army of the Republic. Mrs. Pierce belongs to the Methodist society here. He married Miss Mary W., daughter of Squire Isaac Thomas. Their children are Harry L., of the Peoria bar; Mary E. and Jerome T. Pierce, residing at home.
Henry Ranger Pierce, native of New York state, came to Stark county abont the vear 1849. He resided in southern Illinois for several vears prior to 1849 and was engaged in mercantile life in this state from his boyhood. After coming to this county the gold fever took him to California, where he passed about three years, with snecess. Returning, he located a farm just north of Toulon and subse- quently located in town, where he died in 1861; leaving a family of three sons and one daughter: Isabella A., Harlan W., Corrance and Harry M., an attorney of Chicago. His wife was Miss Martha A. Catterlin. daughter of Joseph C'atterlin, a pioneer merchant, who came from Virginia in 1849, as referred to in this chapter. Mr. Pierce was a strong supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church and an old member of the Masonic lodge here. Harlan Pierce spent his boyhood here, and here received a good common-school education, sup- plemented by a course of commercial study at Quincy. He began clerking at the age of eighteen years, in 1866. in the store of Hiram Willett ; was subsequently clerk in the store of George S. Lawrence, and again clerk and overseer of the lumber business of the Stark connty lumber headquarters, at Wyoming, for three years and a half. Returning to Toulon, in 1-85, he engaged with his brother, Corrance. in business hiere.
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