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 54
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Lochlin M. Buchanan was born in Elmira March 12, 1860. He is the son of Lochlin and Christina (McLennan) Buchanan. Ilis younger vears were passed on the farm and in attending the district schools, until he grew to manhood, when he engaged in farming. In 1881 he was married to Miss Clara E. JJackson, daughter of James and Eliza- beth (Stumm) Jackson, the former being a native of Pennsylvania, the latter a native of Ohio. After his marriage the subject of our sketch engaged in farming and stock-growing, and in connection with his farm interest, added a steam thresher and other machinery of advan- tage to his immediate locality. Ile has also of late years been buying and shipping stock, buying the greater amount of stock that he fed on his farm. In polities he has ever voted the Republican ticket. He is not a member of any church but lends his support to the American Presbyterian church of Elmira. His family consists of three children, namely: Harry Ross, Georgia Monroe and Maud Gertrude. Mr. Buchanan is a young man who has lived in Elmira township all his life, built around him a fine home and won the respect and confidence of all with whom he has had any dealing. His farm embraces 240 acres well improved.
Asa Abbott Bunton, deceased, born in Charlestown. Mass., June 14, 1834, came to this township in 1854, and here engaged in farming for a short time. Being a machinist by trade, he moved to Chicago and there took a position in the shops, subsequently worked in the shops at Rock Island, and in 1858 returned to this county, where he married Miss Mary L., daughter of Thomas and Mary Jane (Craig) Lyle. Her
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father was born in Scotland, in March, 1809. came to the United States in his youth, learned the stone-cutter's trade in Vermont, and there married Miss Mary J., daughter of James and Margaret Craig. natives of Vermont-in February, 1537. They came to Osceola Grove that year, and were engaged in agriculture on the old home- stead until their removal to Kewanee, in 1877. Of their ten children, Ilelen L. is married, residing in Page county, Ia. ; Mary L. married Mr. Bunton : Lucy C. married, residing at Kewanee, Ills. ; Carlos B. married a resident of this township: James B. and an infant. deceased ; Emily, unmarried, residing with her father at Kewanee: Horace E., married, residing on old homestead, and two younger children deceased. Thomas Lyle, while a supporter of all churches. is not a member of any religious society. In polities he is decidedly Republican.
Asa Bunton continued farming, after his marriage, until Angust 9, 1862. when he enlisted in Company A, One-hundred-and-twenty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which command he served honorably until August. 1865. Of his three children, George Bartlett, married, resides in this township: Mabel J. died June 7, 1886, and Fred. L. resides at home. In politics he was Republican, but not aggressive ; in religion a member of the Congregational church of Kewanee, and in social matters a sound, honest citizen. He held the office of school director for years.
James Bustcell, born at Peacham. Vt .. in 1799, came to Illinois in 1833, brought his family in 1834, and in 1835 came to Ehnira town- ship, with ten friends, known as the " Peoria Party," where each en- tered a quarter section. Early in 1837 he came here with his family, bought a second quarter section from Governor Duncan. where he built a house in 1845, drawing the lumber himself from Chicago. He served as Justice of the Peace for many years, as related in other pages, had seen the prairie turned into cultivated fields, and the inten- anted wigwams of the Indians give place to pleasant, well ordered vil- lages. One of his sons, Nicholas C. Buswell. of Princeton, was Lieu- tenant Colonel of the Ninety-third Illinois Infantry.
James Cinnamon, son of John and Sarah (MeGinnis) Cinnamon. was born in Down county, Ireland, in March, 1826. His ancestors are said to have settled there during the invasion of England by " William the Conqueror," and today several representatives of the family may be found there. James left Ireland in 1847, and coming to Canada, settled at Kingston. Eighteen months later we find him at Chicago, and January 1, 1849, at Laeon, Ill., engaged as house carpenter. On May 8, 1851, he married Miss Flora A., daughter of Robert and Phoebe (Newton) Sharer, the father a native of New York and the mother of Luzerne county, Pa. Robert Sharer. son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Taylor) Sharer, was born April 13, 1803. Samuel was a native of Ireland and his wife of England. Of their children, Robert, William and James were born in York state, and Joseph, David, Sam- nel. Thomas. Elias and Sarah A. after their removal into Luzerne county. Pa. Robert Sharer married Phoebe Newton July 5. 1830, to whom five children, Mrs. Flora A. Cinnamon being the only one now living. Hle and family moved to Wyoming, this county, in 1835; es-
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BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
tablished a shoemaker's shop here, but after a short time took up a claim of 160 acres in Elmira township, on Section 35: remained there for eleven years, when he purchased So acres on Section 34. where he resided until his death. February 3, 1873. His wife died August 4. 1878. Her father was a soldier of 1812. James Cinnamon, after his marriage. remained at Lacon a few years, moved in April, 1857, to El- mira township, purchased So aeres on Section 33. and farmed up to 1×61, when he, being a member of the " Elmira Ridles," was mustered into the United States service on June 17, with Company B. Nine- teenth Hlinois Volunteer Infantry, and served until mustered ont July 9. 1864. He resumed farming here that year, and now owns 463 acres of land in this township. Mr. C. is a Royal Arch Mason, supports the Presbyterian church, although not a member, has served several terms as school director, was Commander of James Jackson Post No. 37. G. A. R .. for one year. Ile is Republican in politics. Mr. and Mrs. ('innamon are the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are living, namely : George, married, and now living in Clay county. Ne- braska : William James, residing at home; Mary B., married, and is living in this county : Hugh. Flora E., Edwin and Thomas A .. all re- siding at home. Mr. Cinnamon was one of eight children, namely : William, married, and lives in Canada, East : John, deceased ; George and Joseph, deceased: James, herein named ; Robert, married, and lives in Marshall county, this state: Elizabeth and Jane, married, and living at London, England.
David Currier was born in Caledonia County, Vt., January 3, 1816. His father, Asa Currier, (son of David and Elizabeth (Peabody) Currier, natives of Massachusetts) was born in the same county April 1. 1790. Asa married Miss Sally Willy in Vermont, and resided there until 1838, when they came to Elmira Township, purchased a claim of 160 acres of land here, on which he resided a few years. Moving to Osceola Township, he purchased a second tract, and was engaged in farming there until his death. March 18, 1868. His wife died March. 1, 1873. Asa was the second son of David Currier, and one of a fam- ily of eight children, namely : JJonathan, Asa, David, Joseph, Betsy, Sarah. Abigail and Victoria. Prior to his migration to Illinois he supported his family, learned shoemaking, but during his life here he devoted all his attention to farming. David, the subject of this sketch. received a common school education in his native state, and worked on the farm for a number of years. He migrated westward in 1836, and arrived at Peoria, October 14, that year. On January 20. 1837. he came to this township (township 14. range 6. Putnam County, and took up a claim of 160 acres, the same on which he now resides. In 1839 he married Miss Rebecca J., daughter of William and Agnes Parks, natives of Virginia, Washington County, who settled here before this time. To this union seven children were born, of whom three are living-William P. and Martha B., residing here, and Oliver B. (Currier) married Rebecca Olive Barlow, who lives at Blandville. Mc Donough County. The mother of these chihren died Jannary 5, 1855, and in May. 1857. Mr. Currier married Miss Caroline K. Pattridge, danghter of Joseph and Catherine (Willard) Pattridge, na-
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tives of and married in New Hampshire, moved to Caledonia County. \'t., and thence to Osceola Township, in 1564, where Mrs. Pattridge (lied in February. 1865, and her husband in September. 1873. Mr. Cur- rier served on the first grand jury over called in this county, has filled several township offices, is a member of the American Presbyterian church, and in politics a Douglas Democrat. He is the owner of 385 acres of fertile land in this township, and for half a century one of the foremost farmers of the county.
Brady Fowler, son of Maurice and Sarah (Bell) Fowler, was born in Philadelphia, Pa .. of which city his parents were natives. September 24. 1808. With his wife. Rebecca Wiseman, and three children, he settled in Ehnira Township, on Seetion 4, in 1836, and resided there for forty-two years, when he moved to Toulon village. Of his chil- dren. Jane (married), John, Martin, Goshen ; John resides in Toulon Township: Kirk II. is in Colorado: Jonathan W. in lowa; Tillie is wife of J. Mosher, of Fairmont, Neb .; Sarah married Alex. MeKen- zie, of Toulon Township, and Mary is unmarried. Mrs. Fowler died in 1582. and was interred in Ehira cemetery. Mr. Fowler's name occurs in the general history. and is often mentioned in the township sketches. Mrs. Rebecca N. (Wiseman) Fowler died at Ehnira. Octo- ber 14, 1882, aged seventy-seven years. She was born in Cumberland County, Pa .. in 1806: married Brady Fowler in 1831. and in 1836 eame with her husband to Osceola Grove.
Luton Fuller, son of Ambrose and Hannah (Munson) Fuller, was born in Luzerne county. Pa., August 9, 1$18. His father was born in Conneetient, September 7. 1790 and his mother was born, March 15. 1797. the date of marriage being March 19. 1816. Of their eleven children, nine are living, namely : Ansell, born February 19. 1:17. died April 30, 1863 : Laton, referred to above : Clinton, born October 3. 1820, residing here: Walter. born April 20. 1822, residing here; Lncy M. born September 25, 1824, married. residing in Osceola town- ship. Iantha, born June 10, 1527, married, residing at Marshalltown. Ia .. Ambrose, jr .. born November 19. 1829. a widower, also residing in Iowa: Hannah, born January 28. 1832. married. residing here; Melinda, born August 30, 1834, unmarried : Emilene, born April 18. 1838, died October 8, 1847 : and Naney, born March 30, 1842, married. residing in lowa. The parents of this large family came to this state and county in 1839 and to this township in 1840. When the lands came into market he purchased the claim on which he built his cabin. and resided here until his death, May 30, 1545, his wife surviving until December 16, 1884. Laton Fuller passed his earlier years on a farm or working in a saw and grist mill. Some time after the family came here, he purchased eighty acres in Henry county, which he im- proved, sold and moved to this township, where he purchased a quarter section. Another few years, and he sold his second farm, moved into the village, and has led a retired life down to the present time. Ilis first vote was for Harrison, and every vote since has been for whig or republican. During the war he was a member of the Union League. has been school trustee of the township for several terms. He is not a member of any religions society.
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BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
Clinton Fuller, son of Ambrose and Hannah (Munson) Fuller, was born in Luzerne county. Pa., October 3, 1820. Ilis earlier years were those common to boys in the Wyoming Valley during the first part of the century. In 1839 he came here with his parents and assisted them in buikling up their home. In 1853 he purchased 160 acres on section 29, stocked and improved it and in 1855 added eighty acres to the original purchase. flere he was engaged up to 1865, when he estab- lished the Fuller store at Elmira, and this large business he has carried on in connection with his farm down to this time. In 1858 he married Miss Eliza, daughter of Isaac and Ann (Wieks) Harris, natives of Duchess county, N. Y. To them one child was born, who died in infancy. The mother died January 25, 1882. Mr: Fuller cast his first vote for Henry Clay, and when the Republican party was formed he was among its first adherents, and is today one of the great party's most faithful members. In 1852 he was elected sheriff of Stark county. In 1865 he was appointed postmaster at Elmira, holding the office down to the present time. In township and school matters he has been trusted with several official positions. During the troublous days of 1861-5 he was a member of the Union League, and other or- ganizations, but today only claims membership with the Odd Fellows. A reference to the history of the township points out the several parts he has taken here; so also does the general history contain references to his dealings with the county.
Walter Munson Fuller, son of Ambrose and Hannah (Munson) Fuller, was born in Pennsylvania. September 20. 1822. His father moved to Pennsylvania with parents in his youth, worked on the homestead farm, there learned the millwright's trade, married Miss Munson, and in 1839 came to this county, settling on lands which he purchased on section 20, Elmira township. Walter M. received a liberal and practical education. On January 1, 1849, he married Miss Chloe M., a daughter of James and Diana Rowe, natives of Maine. Her father died in 1827; her mother married again, and with her Mrs. Fuller came here in 1839. (In 1854 her mother and step- father moved to lowa, where she died in 1859.) They are the parents of four children : James A., deceased : William W., head of a family in this township; Augusta, unmarried, and Luella May, married and residing here. After Mr. Fuller's marriage he purchased the interests of his father's heirs in the homestead farm of 110 acres, to which he has since added 190 acres of farm land and 50 acres of timber lands, all in this township. Mr. Fuller has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for over thirty years, his wife and daughters being also members. Ile has been township school treasurer for thirty-four years, justice of the peace for ten years, and town clerk thirty years. To learn of the part he has taken in building up the social and indus- trial interests of Elmira, the reader is referred to the chapter on the history of that township.
William Winfield Fuller, son of Walter and Chloe (Rowe) Fuller, was born in Ehnira township, Stark county. Ill., July 16, 1852. His father was a Pennsylvanian, and mother a native of Maine, as related in other pages. William W. passed his earlier years on the farm or
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attending the district schools. At the age of sixteen he entered Hed- ding College, at Abingdon, Ill., and at the age of nineteen years took charge of a school in this township, over which he presided four terms. On February 9, 1874, he married Miss Sarah Frances, daughter of Elliott and Eleanor ( MeCoy) Boggs, and grand-daughter of Andrew and Hannah (Bowen) Boggs, natives of Virginia, who were married there in 1800: moved to Gallia county, O., where he died in 1840 and she in 1846. Elliott Boggs was born in Ohio. April 27. 1813, was mar- ried in 1839 to Eleanor MeCoy, to whom were born three sons and four daughters. Of these, Lavinia J., married, resides at Yates City ; Elizabeth, married, resides in Kansas: William, married, is a citizen of Nebraska ; Addison, married, of lowa, and Sarah F., wife of W. W. Fuller. The mother of those children is the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Gillan) McCoy, natives of Virginia, Mrs. McCoy being a daughter of James and Lydia ( Armstrong) Gillan. an old Virginia family. Elliott Boggs was a carpenter, who, in 1840, after his mar- riage, moved to Virginia and engaged in farming, in connection with his trade. In 1862 he returned to Obio, and in 1864 came to Knox county. Ill .. where he resided until 1875, when he moved to Iowa, where he died, September 28. 1883.
W. W. Fuller, after his marriage, engaged in farming, in partner- ship with his father, here: and is still interested in agriculture. In 1883 he accepted a position as elerk in a mercantile house at Elmira. In politics he is republican, in church membership independent, but a supporter of the Methodist Episcopal society here. As related in the history of Toulon, he is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge there. Mr. and Mrs. Fuller are the parents of two children, Frank R. and Lanra L. Fuller.
Charles L. Gerard, son of Nicholas and Frances (Lignon) Gerard, both natives of France, was born in Lewis county, N. Y., Jannary 24, 1834. The grandfather's family came to the United States in 1829, and settled in Lewis county, N. Y. In 1854 they removed to Calumet county, Wis .. and there grandfather was engaged in farming until his death in 1862, aged 110 years. In 1856 he walked three miles to cast his vote for Buchanan. In religion he belonged to the Catholic church, with his wife and eight children. One of his sons-Nicholas, father of Charles L., was married in France, settled in Lewis county, N. Y .. in 1826, resided some time at Albany and Cleveland, dying in the last named city in 1844. Ilis widow remarried and resides in Kansas. Like his father, he was the parent of eight children. Two died in infancy. Eugene and Joseph are among the dead. John resides in Minnesota, Charles L. in Elmira, Frank in Wisconsin, and George in Elmira. He served under Napoleon at Waterloo. Charles L. Gerard passed his early years in Ohio. Moving from Cuyahoga to Huron county, Ohio, at the age of fifteen years, and to Fond du Lac, Wis., two years later, where he learned the carpenter's trade. On August 23, 1855, he married Miss Henrietta M .. daughter of William and Ilan- nah (Blood) Leason. Her father was born in Lincoln county, Maine, October 9. 1803. and her mother in Merrimae county, N. H., August 20, 1804. They settled in Stark county in 1844, moved to Wisconsin
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in 1857 and after a few years returned to Stark. Mrs. William Leason died in 1880. To Mr Gerard and wife nine children were born- llannah E .. of Osceola; Mary M., deceased ; Martha F., of Elmira ; Caroline A., Sylvia E., Anna L., Charles N., James L. and Edith M. In 1857 he and family came to Stark county. In 1864 he purchased a small tract on section thirty-six. Elmira, and now owns 200 acres mostly improved. In 1861 he became a republican. At one time he was a member of the United Brethren Church, but now supports all Christian churches. Ile is an Odd Fellow, has served as school director, and since 1860, when he made the overland trip to Pike's Peak, has been steadily engaged in building up the agricultural and social interests of his township.
The Hill Family. - The immigration and settlement of this family in Elmira have been so ably dealt with by Mrs. Shallenberger, a daughter of one of the pioneers, the writer finds it only necessary to add to the original, a sketch of the late Mrs. Ann Hall, and one rewritten from Mr. Moflit's notes, of Robert Hall. Mrs. Shallenberger says: " The Ilalls, of whom I write, are directly descended from Thomas Hall and Sarah, his wife, née C'okayne, of Hulland, Derbyshire, England. There they once formed a large and vigorous family, brothers and sisters a dozen in number, living to pass the meridian of life an unbroken band. . Mansel Park,' the old English homestead, is still enshrined in the memory of the farthest wanderer of them all. At different times dur- ing the years 1836, 1837, and 1838, nine of these brothers and sisters crossed the sea, and settled in what is now Stark county, Ilinois. The first installment was Robert and his sister Mary. William and his wife Anne. Next came Langley, by the way of New Orleans, that he might at less expense bring with him a few fine sheep and dogs with which to begin life in the new world. Ile suffered shipwreck off the Florida coast, but after being reduced to great straits of hunger and fatigue was in common with his shipmates rescued, and he finally arrived at the Osceola settlement. Then in 1837, came Thomas, with his wife and four children, bringing also with him his aged father, Elizabeth (Mrs. Harvey), her husband and five children. Some months later, John, George and Fanny, accompanied by Miss Sarah Ligo, who shortly afterwards married Langley Hall. After about twenty years' residence here, John Langley and George, lured by promises of a more desirable climate, again took up the line of march westward, and settled upon the farther slope of the Rocky mountains, where they still reside. Mary became the wife of Mr. Orrin Hasard of Neponset, Bureau county. Ill .; and Fanny, the vonngest of the family, married Hon. Joseph Harris, of Boyd's Grove, in the same county. Mrs. Harvey and William rest beside their father in the family burial ground at Osceola, while their mother sleeps beneath the sea. At this writing, in 1876, Thomas and Robert and the widow of Willam, alone remain to Stark county of those who were adult at the date of the first emi- gration. Their father was a plain, sturdy Englishman, of tall stature and rugged features; in faith, a Methodist, and contemporary with John Wesley and Adam Clark ; in politics a radical ; making no pre- tension to aristocratic tastes or deseent, he was yet a man of strong
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common sense and strict integrity. But in their mother's veins ran gentler blood. Her progenitors had come from Normandy with the 'conqueror;' some old writers say were allied to him, but however that may be, they carried his banners on the bloody tiekl of Hastings, and were rewarded for their valor by princely gifts of land and honors. They seem to have been ever an eminently loyal race, always fighting For or with their king. A great grandson of the Cokayne knighted at the 'taking' of Edinburg was Sir Ashton Cokayne.
But in 1750, or thereabout, the male line of this old family became extinct. two sisters only being heirs to the traditions of the Cokaynes of Derby- shire." These sisters became in course of time, Mrs. Earp and Mrs. Hall. Thus the okl name was extinct, or preserved only as a pretix among their descendants, and it is curious to observe that few of them have failed to pay this sly tribute to pride of blood, even in the midst of a republicanism that professes to sneer at such distinc- tions. The marriage between Thomas Hall and Sarah Cokayne. occurred probably in 1797. In 1837 this aged couple set sail for America, in company with the family of Dr. Thomas Hall, and their eklest daughter, Mrs. Harvey ; but the weary sea voyage of over six weeks' duration was too much for the already failing health of Mrs. Hall, who sunk from exhaustion induced by excessive sea sickness. a few days before the vessel reached the harbor of New York. The ree- ollections of that sad funeral can never fade from the memories of those who witnessed it, even in their early childhood, or the aged husband's last tribute to the virtues of his wife, wrung from his breaking heart as she was carried past him on the ship deck, all shronded in sail-cloth and weighted, preparatory to her burial beneath the sea. These were his words : . Farewell, thon best of women.' The solemn rites of the English church were performed over one who had always loved them well. The body was then reverently lowered to the surface of the waves which silently closed over it and told no tales of sorrow. The remainder of this group of emigrants with smitten hearts pursued their journey toward a land of strangers. Passing up the lovely Hud- son. its banks clothed in all the freshness of early summer, they came to Albany, thence to Buffalo by the Erie canal, then by steam to Cleve- land, from Cleveland to Portsmouth by Ohio canal, again to Cairo and St. Louis by so-called steamboats, but which were hardly more than a caricature of the boats that have since plied our western waters. Our
# John Savage makes the only modern reference to the Cokayne family. On page 51, he says : " At length, in 1794, the arrest and trial of Rev. William Jackson (a Prot- extant clergyman) drew the suspicions of the English government upon Tone. Jackson. on the r presentations of an old Irishman named Madget, engaged in the department of foreign affairs at Paris, was sent by the French government to sound the people of Ire- Jand respecting their inclination for French aid. He was accompanied from England by one Cokayne, an English attorney, to whom he indiscreetly opened his mind, being seduced by the lawyer's apparent truth. With Wolfe Tone, as the chief mind of the rev olutionary parties, Jackson had many conferences; but Tone, disgusted with the rash confidence placed in Cokayne, never spoke in the presence of that person. This busi- ness,' said he to Jackson, 'is one thing for us Irishmen, but the Englishman who engages in it must be a traitor or a common informer.' s Tone foresaw, the Englishman was as he thought he was, Jackson was arrested on his information, and by his death proved his truth to that cause which he so foolishly jeopardized."-Ed.
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