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 48
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Derter Wall. son of William Wall, of Rhode Island, and great. grandson of one of the Irish pioneers of the little state, was born in Luzerne county, Pa .. Angust. 6, 1809. In later years the western fever took possession of the young Pennsylvanian, and at the age of 26 years we find him in the Spoon River country of Illinois. He married Miss Sarah Stark, who with him shared all the joys and sor- rows of pioneer days here, and lived to see the country which they found a wilderness, transformed into one of the the fairest portions of the State. For years he has been identified with the agricultural, mercantile. milling and grain interests of this section of the county. Of his children, Jernsha, who married Harvey B. Ilarris, is dead ; Rebecca is the widow of James Harwood ; Thomas B. is United States guager at Peoria, and William C. is the druggist of Wyoming and Toulon. A reference to pioneer history will not fail to disclose many interesting items relative to the Walls, to " Wall's School House " and their settlement in Stark county. W. C. Wall, born March 13, 1854, is a native of Stark county and today stands prominently forward among her business men. lle received a practical education in the
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OF TOULON TOWNSHIP'.
home schools, then entered on mercantile work. and in 1-82 estab- lished his drug house at Wyoming. As a pharmacist he was duly registered. In 1885 he opened the extensive drug store at Tonlon. in the Opera House block, and this with his Wyoming house, confirms the truth of his motto: "Spend no time on that which is not worth doing well." This marriage with Miss Emma. Cooper was celebrated at Princeton. Bureau county, March 25. 1855, to whom was born one son. William Earl. October 12. 1586.
Rer. William Walters, first pastor of the Congregational church, Wyoming, Hl .. was born at Mayfield, Staffordshire, England, May 26. 1828. The Walters family had lived in the county of Derby, England. for many generations, and were a hardy, long-lived, temperate race. whose members filled the ordinary avocations of life meritoriously. Ilis father, William Walters, was one of the early Methodists. and was mentioned in a lecture of the late Spencer Hall. as one who combined plain living with high thinking, and adorned an humble position with true mental ability and moral worth. His mother, Anne Pogge, was an enthusiastic worker in the church of England. Her brother. Rob- ert Pogge, fell in the ranks of the First Regiment of Foot Guards at Waterloo. On September 14, 1852. William Walters was married to Sarah, danghter of John and Mary Neal. at St. Peter's church, Derby. lohn Neal. a tall. clever man, was a sergeant of the Derby militia, on garrison duty at Dover Castle, during the anticipated invasion of Eng- land by Napoleon. Two of his brothers were killed in the English campaigns in Spain. On his marriage Mr. Walters engaged in busi- ness as watchmaker, clockmaker and jeweler, at the town of Ash- bonne. Derbyshire, where he had for many years resided. He fol- lowed this business successfully until his departure for America. In 1840. at the age of thirteen years, he became a member of the Wes- levan church, and at the age of seventeen was licensed as a local preacher. From the first he was well received, and preached with increasing acceptance, both in the Wesleyan and the Congregational churches, with which latter church he had become identified. During these years there were but few Sundays in which he was not em- ploved. preaching sometimes as many as three or four times on a Sun- day. and walking often to his appointments ten to fifteen miles. The following letter, dated Gerard street. Derby. England. hudy 15. 1870. is one of a few testimonials issued to Mr. Walters, in view of bis emi- gration : " The bearer. Mr William Walters, of Ashbourne, eight miles from Derby, is about to emigrate to America. * Ile was originally a member of the Wesleyan societies. In the disruption which took place in 1849. he became one of the Wesleyan reformers. # # # but subsequent circumstances led the Reform church at Ash- bourne to connect itself with the Congregational Union. Mr. Walters is highly esteemed for many miles around, in consequence of having held for many years the office of Lay Preacher. When I have occasion to leave home and obtain a supply for my pulpit in Derby. for the last fifteen years I have felt satisfied that the pulpit would be well filled whenever I was able to secure his services. His labors on these occasions have been very acceptable to the church and congre-
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gation under my pastoral care." This letter was signed by Rev. William Grillith, and addressed to his brethren in religion. On Octo- ber 5, 1870, the family sailed by steamer Italy for America, landing at New York October 17, and arriving at Wyoming October 22. where his new house, erected under supervision of his friend, Dr. Cope- stake, was ready to receive him. Here he engaged in business. No- vember 17, 1872. Mrs. Walters, after a long illness, died, and was buried by Rev. L. N. Benediet in the Wyoming cemetery. Ile was one of the original thirteen members of the Wyoming First Congrega- tional church, and was its first pastor, assuming that office in 1873. and remaining until his resignation (vide history). During his pastorate the church was erected, and placed free from debt, and the membership increased from thirteen to 110, 150 names having, during his ministry, been placed upon the rolls. Preaching services were by him maintained for considerable time at Duncan. and at the Pauli school house. Toulon township. In 1882 he revisited his old home in England. In August, 1883, he became pastor of the Union church. Lacon, Ill. In November, 1882. he was married to Miss Susan Hood. of Ashbourne. England. On January 1. 1886, he removed to the pas- torate of the First Congregational church, Hastings, Nebraska, which position he now holds. He is an earnest worker. and effective speaker. a close student, social in manner, and of broad and liberal views. Ilis children, all born at Ashbourne, England, are John William, of the firm of Hammond & Walters, Wyoming, III .; Mary, now of Hastings. Neb .: Alfred Neal, married to Miss Lillian Hawkes; now residing at Kearney. Neb .; Lydia Fanny, now Mrs. Albert Snare, of Kearney. Neb .; Sarah Annie, died in England, aged seven years : Rose Rebecca. now Mrs. Lewis Castle, of Wyoming, and Mabel, who died in infancy,
John II. Walters was born at Ashbourne, England, July 26, 1854. Received his education at St. John's Commercial School there, and came to the United States October 5. 1870. In November, 1871. he entered the old Boston store of Otman & King as clerk. On the 13th of June, 1877, he was married to Miss Allie B., daughter of Samnel Wrigley and adopted daughter of John Wrigley, of the firm of Seott & Wrigley. In May. 1878, he became the junior partner of the firm of Hammond & Walters, in the store he had entered as clerk seven years before. Hle has been identified with the Congregational church of Wyoming since its formation, and has esteemed it always a pleasure to do what he could in its work. Mr. and Mrs. Walters have five chil- dren, Arthur John, born March 28. 1878; Sarah Annie, born October 15. 1879; Florence Louise, born October 27, 1881 ; William Alfred, born February 25, 1883; and Edith Alice, born May 30. 1885.
Joseph Walther, born at Wissembourg, Alsace, France, March 19. 1823. is the son of John Adam and Catherine (Snmpman) Walther. Joseph learned cabinet-making there, and at the age of twenty-five vears came to the United States, remained in New York City for a short time, and then located in the western part of the state, where he learned the habits and customs of Americans and gained a farther knowledge of the cabinet-maker's business. In 1852-3 he moved to Ohio, and in 1854 came to Toulon, where he embarked in business for
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OF TOULON TOWNSHIP.
himself. He married here Miss Ella Johnson, daughter of P. P. Johnson. They are the parents of two sons, Ernest and Joseph Wal- ther. Mr. Walther supports the Christian Church, of which his wife is a member. Since coming here he has applied himself strictly to his own business, and has by strict economy, accumlated a competence. and by industry and integrity built up a good trade.
Oliver Whitaker. president of the Old Settlers Association. was born near Owego. Tioga county, N Y., April 12. 1807. He is des- cended from Philip, born in Connecticut in 1722, who died in 1775. This Philip was the son of Eliphalet and nephew of Jonathan, whose original settlement dates to 1690. The seventh son of Philip was Gideon, born April 27. 1761. Referring to this matter, Ephriam S. Whitaker, the geneologist of the family. of Cincinnati, writing in March. 1SS1, says: "In Schoolcraft's history of the Indian tribes. vol. 1, pp. 670-2, is given a statement by Mrs. Whitaker, who was a daughter of Sebastian Strope, and I have been tracing until I find that she is identical with your mother." Then he gives the statement and asks Mr. Whitaker is it correct. On March 12. the latter replied : ". My mother was a daughter of Sebastian Strope of Wysox as you have it. She first married Jeremiah White of Connecticut, and settled near Owego. Of her daughters, Hannah married Hull and Lydia married Olney. Her son was Hewes White. Jeremiah White was killed in a gristmill where he first settled. A few years later. in 1505 or 1806, his widow married Gideon Whitaker. A daughter, Eliza Ann was born, who married one Randall and died in 1849. Gideon died near Owego in 1822 or 1523, while his son, subject of this sketch. was residing in Pennsylvania, with his half brother, Hewes White. Mrs. Oliver Whitaker's father, Samuel A. Broadhead, a native of Delaware, and Hannah S. Shoemaker his wife, born near Strods- burg. Pa., were descended from the British and German settlers of New York. The Broadheads, two brothers, came with the British as officers, but cast off that uniform and were neutral afterwards. Sam- nel A. was a son of Daniel. Samuel AA. settled m Tioga county, N. Y., long before its organization, and married Miss Hannah S. Shoe- maker near Stroudsburg just before moving. Mrs. O. Whitaker is the twelfth child of this marriage, and the second survivor, her sister, Ilannah Foreman of Tioga county, being the other. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker are Hannah J., born at Manstiekl, Pa .. in 1536, married Dr. S. S. Kaysbier, the pioneer druggist of Toulon. now re- siding at Nebemah, Kan .. Charles Il. Whitaker, born in 1838 at Osceola grove, died in 1542: Isaac S. born in 1840, at the grove, re- sides in Kansas: Mary W., born in 1542 there, is now Mrs. E. H. Phelps of Kansas city ; Frederick HI .. born in 1843. is a partner with Mr. Phelps: Andrew J. was born in 1845: Delphine died at San Antonio. Tex., in 1875; Kate is Mrs. Henry F. Blood of Kansas city. and Stella is Mrs. Frank Matthews of Los Angeles. C'al. As the his- tory of every member of this family in their relation to Elmira, Toulon of the county is very fully given in the township and general history, we will omit it here, content with giving the following account of Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker's golden wedding, celebrated September 3. 1885.
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The account is based on a contemporary newspaper description of the festival .-- The county, from Osceola Grove to Niggers Point and from historie Spoon river to Lafayette sent venerable representatives of pioneer days : while of the fifty-three persons comprising the Whita- ker family, thirty-four were present, seven children all married except Fred : twenty grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. General Thomas J. Henderson wrote a letter, which contained this passage : " I remember when a boy to have shared your generous hospitality in your log cabin in Osceola Grove. When I was a young man I Found for some years a pleasant home in your family at Toulon; later I was associated with you in business for a number of years and from early manhood my associations with you and your family have been inti- mate and pleasant." M. A. Fuller addressing the pioneer couple said: " You gave sixteen years of service in the most important county offices. The records which you there made, stand as mon- ments of your lidelity.
There are few here to-day who have not on many occasions been partakers of your hospitality and admirers of that easy politeness with which your guests were made to feel they were always welcome. In every public enterprise you were each in your proper place among the most active workers. You never acquired great wealth, because you always found ample time to aid the poor and nurse the sick. In the hour of mourning you were always seen, and none could conduct the funeral rites and none else were so frequently called to do so. The large mumber hore bear witness to the esteem in which you are held, and trust that after many more years of useful life you will 'wrap the drapery of your couch about you and lie down to pleasant dreams." John F. Rhodes deliv- ered a memorable speech, so thoroughly original that it made his hearers langh when they should weep and weep when they should laugh. On his signal a fine phaeton, furnished with whip and lap robe was drawn up, presented to Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker. He also handed them a roll of money, which he said was left over and no one know what to do with it. They were then escorted to the carriage. took their seats, and were drawn round and round by a number of gray-haired pioneers, and afterwards by their grandchildren. Dur- ing the festival visitors and members of the family who flocked hither l'ound a genial welcome at any home where they wished to stay. Mr. Whitaker has in his possession the old German Strope family bible, which was cast into the fire by Indians during the Wysox Mas- sacre, and rescued by Mr. Whitaker's mother's uncle as he ran past in his fight. The book was printed at Amsterdam in 1716. The cover is oak-board bound in leather, with heavy brass clasps.
John Whitaker was born in Queens county, Ireland, April 10, 1846. He is the son of John and Susan (Carter) Whitaker, also natives of Ireland, who came to the United States in 147, with a family of live sons and one daughter, of whom four sons and one daughter are living. John grew to manhood in Millbrook township, Peoria county. where the father died in December, 1885. Te tosk up farming and worked at it until 1882, when he purchased his present property. "Greenlawn Farm." Mr. Whitaker was married in Peoria county to Miss Emma
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OF TOULON TOWNSHIP'
Levitt. daughter of Robert Levitt. She departed this life August 24. 1870. leaving two sons, Andrew G. and Harry. He remarried Miss Sarah Hughes, daughter of Price Hughes a native of London. Eng., who came to this country in 1:53, and settled in Peoria county. They are the parents of two sons and three daughters, Emma, Ida May, Mor- row, Garfield and Sarah. Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker are both members of the Methodist church. He has held a membership with it since nineteen years of age, and she since the age of fifteen years.
Britain Whitten, born at Kimbolton, Eng., in 1805, came to the United States in 1848. and to Wyoming in 1850. where he was one of the first members of Lodge 244, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. lle died here December 5. 1879.
John Whitcher, a member of Company 1. Sixty-fifth Ilinois Volun- teer Infantry, died at Wyoming, May 15, 1590.
William Williams, born in 1794, came to America in 1899, to Knox county. Ill., in 1840, to Toulon in 1855, died at Hastings, Neb., Jam- ary 6, 1885. Mrs. Davis Lowman is his daughter. Capt. Benjamin Williams, who died while in the union service. January 1, 1864. was his son.
Warren Williams. ( Vide General and Township history.)
Marshall Jim, son of Thomas and Mary A. cJohnson) Wmn. was born in Toulon township. April 18. 1-42. His father was born in Ken- tueky, and grandfather in Ireland. The latter came to America prior to the revolution, and served as fifer and fighter throughout, under " Mad Anthony Wayne " (a son of a fellow-countryman) until the sur- render of Cornwallis and all his army at Yorktown in 1782. The Winns were among the pioneers of Stark county, as noted in other pages, and here the men of the present time were raised and educated. In Angust. 1862. Marshall Winn enlisted in Company H. First New York Marine Artillery, and was sent to Staten Island, N. Y., to enter on coast service, making first trip to North Carolina, but spent greater part of time on the United States gunboat " Vidette": again was tem- porarily attached to Seventeenth Massachusetts Infantry : was present at the battles of Southwest Creek or Kingston, Whitehall. Dudley Sta- tion and Goldsboro, all in North Carolina. On the close of this cam- paign, he resumed service on the "Vidette." and. in February. 1863. participated in the expedition against Charleston. S. C. under Dupont. On abandoning the attack. the men were returned to Hilton Head. and mustered out in April. 1863. Returning home, he remained here until March. 1864, when he enlisted in Battery AA. Second Illinois Artillery, or Peoria Artillery, joining the command at New Orleans in April, and serving there until July. 1564. when he joined in the expe- dition against Mobile: was at the capture of Fort Gaines and Morgan. Ala .; returned to New Orleans, where the battery was dismounted. converted into heavy artillery, and ordered to Fort Brashier. January. 1865. In July of that year, he received honorable discharge. and. returning to Toulon. engaged in his trade. In December. 1866. he moved to Wyoming. where he established his harness and saddle shop. now in operation about twenty years. He was married at Lafayette. Stark county, to Miss Cedelia L. Shore, daughter of John and Mary
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BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
1. ( Brandenburg) Shore, old settlers of that village. John Shore came from England, his wife from Maryland. Mrs. and Mr. Winn are the parents of one son. Edgar A., now in high school. Mr. Winn is an official of the Baptist society here. an old member of De Wolf Post. Grand Army of the Republic, and present commander, and has always been a staunch republican, and a zealous worker in the cause of tem- perance. He does not seek public office, but devotes the time which candidatential duties might require to painting and drawing. arts which have claimed some attention from him since 1876.
James Woods, born in Brown county. Ohio, in 1805, married Par- memia Estis in 1831, moved to Stark county in 1857 and became a most active temperance worker. He died here December 3, 1878.
Stephen G. Worley, now upwards of 80 years of age, moved from Wyoming to Henry county in 1852. In 1850 he was a candidate for sheriff.
Rer. S. G. Wright. (Vide history of Congregational Church of Toulon.
William Wilberforce Wright, son of William W. and Annie M. (Creighton) Wright, old settlers of Fulton county, Ill .. was born near Canton. Ill .. September 10. 1842. His father was a native of llanover. N. IL .. where his ancestry dates back to 1665: and mother. a daughter of JJohn Creighton, of Cavan county, Ireland, who with her husband moved to Fulton county in 1835, and to Stark county in 1851. Mr. Wright, Sr., was killed at Resaca, Ga., as stated in the military chapter, his remains taken to Toulon, and the G. A. R. Post at Toulon is named in his honor. His motto was: " The fittest place for man to die is where he dies for man." Judge Wright passed his earlier years on the farm in Goshen township, and attended school, completing his educa- tion at the Galva High School. During the war he served in the 139th Ill. InF .; studied law, and on November 13, 1866. was admitted an at- torney-at-law at Mt. Vernon, Il. Since that time he has served as Master in Chancery for a term. In 1873 he was elected county judge on the Republican ticket over Davis Lowman, on the A. M. R. ticket by 90 majority ; and has held that office down to the present time. In 1854 he was delegate from the 10th district to the Republican National Convention, and may be said to be one of the staunchest and most up- right supporters of the great political party. of which he has been a member since his youth. He was married at Graceville, Putnam county. to Miss Mary, daughter of J. W. Hopkins, president of the National Bank. Peru. Their children are Eleanor M .. William W .. and Helen G. A little one named Mary lies in the family lot in the Graceville cemetery. Mrs. Wright is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of music. In the social and religious circles of Toulon and indeed of the county, Judge and Mrs. Wright have been very active, earnest work- PPS. No matter where we search in the sketches of Toulon township. or in some of the chapters of the general history, their names are found always among the builders up and supporters and workers in one or other of the institutions that exalt by precedent and example.
Susan D. Wright, daughter of Orrin Maxfield, died September 28. 1856. Mrs. Minerva, wife of Rev. Samuel G. Wright, died at Brook-
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OF TOULON TOWNSHIP.
ville, Kansas, September 14. 1879, aged 63 years. C. W. Wright. a. druggist, of Tonton, died March 9. 1884. Miss Wright, his daughter. resides at Wyoming.
John Wrigley, of the banking house of Scott & Wrigley, was born in Lancashire, Eng., March 18, 1829. 1lis paternal grandfather, Jolm Wrigley, was a manufacturer of cotton goods at the village of Gigg. Eng., and reared a family of seven children : three boys and foor girls. The eldest of his sons, following the natural inclination of the family, engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods at Glossup, and other branches of the family now carry on the largest paper mill in England at Heepbridge near Berry. Mr. Wrigley was a man widely known, and his brother was one of the prominent Methodist ministers in that vicinity. Edmund Wrigley, the youngest chikl of the family. learned the trade of a weaver when but a boy. His chances for obtaining an education were but limited ; but by industri- ous application he obtained a practical one. that was considered good for those days. At the age of twenty-two years he married Miss Alice Howarth. the daughter of Samuel and Alice (Collins) Howarth. Her father's people were farmers, and her mother's, manufacturers. She was born upon the farm on which later was built the village of Hooleybridge. She was a good tailoress, which occupation she fol- lowed in connection with the home duties until 1816, when in her twenty-third year she was married to Edmund Wrigley. They at once removed to Bamford, where Mr. W. became salesman and finan- cial agent of the Dearden Collieries. Here for twenty years they remained. and then her husband became a gardener near the same place, in which business he continued until 1854, when, leaving his wife in England, he proceeded on a prospecting trip to America. Ile came at once to Stark county, where he remained until, hearing of his wife's serious illness he hastened to return to his native land ; but before reaching it, his faithful wife had passed from earth, in her sixtieth year. The following spring he returned to America, bringing with him the younger members of his family. and his second wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Wrigley, to whom he was married just prior to starting. The remainder of his life was spent in general work in Valley town- ship, where he purchased a farm. In 1872. while three of his children were on a visit to the old home and friends in England. he passed from earth's cares in his seventy-fifth year. The first wife bore hin nine children, Mary, deceased : Annie, Mrs. Thomas Heywood, of Wyom- ing: Charlotte and Samuel : both died in infancy. Betsy, Mrs. J. T. Eagleston, of Penn township; John, our subject : Samnel, of Valley township; Sarah died in girlhood ; Jane, who married Mr. H. Ingram, of Essex township, deceased : Alice, Mrs. George Kerns, of Toulon township. The children of his second marriage are, James and Edmund, in Nebraska, and Robert, in Peoria county. Illinois. Mr. Wrigley had been a member of the Odd Fellows in England. John Wrigley resided at Bamford on the river Roach, until 1850, when in his twenty-first year he formed an attachment for and became betrothed to Miss Ann Buckley, the daughter of John and Ellen Buckley, who was born in 1827, and had spent her earlier life as a mill operative in her
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BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
native town. Realizing that the chance for advancement in his native land was poor, he turned his thoughts toward a foreign shore. but was undecided between Australia, Cape Colony, and America. He finally decided in favor of the latter. Ilis finances were so limited that he was compelled to accept assistance from various friends to pay his ex- penses to the new world. Landing at New Orleans he proceeded at once to Peoria, where for a while he engaged in his trade of black- smithing and steel-working, which he learned in England. A few weeks later he removed to Wyoming, and there remained working at the forge for twelve years. In 1852, after largely repaying the bor rowed amounts, he sent to Europe for his betrothed wife, who, coming to Wyoming, they were married hore May 2, 1852. In 1863 Mr. Wrig- ley formed a partnership with G. W. Scott for the purpose of engaging in the general mercantile business, and this partnership continned until 1869, when they sold ont their business, and in January, 1870, estab- lished their banking house and real-estate business. In this latter, as in all his other undertakings, Mr. Wrigley has been very successful, and the firm has prospered, probably doing a larger business and handling more real estate than any other in the county. Mr. Wrigley is a mem- ber of the Congregational church, and for years was one of the leaders of the choir. He is a Master Mason of Lodge No. 479, a Royal Arch Mason of Lodge No. 133, and a Sir Knight of the Peoria Commandery No. 3. Politically he is a republican. In short, he is one of the brightest examples of a self-made man that the county can furnish. and his example may well be followed. Ile has done much for the advancement not only of himself, but also for his township and his connty. Mrs. Wrigley is a woman highly esteemed by all, a member of the Congregational church and also of the Eastern Star chapter. No children have ever been born to them, but several have been raised and educated by them. ( Vide history of County and Toulon and Valley.)
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