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 74
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Erastus Broen and his wife, Amanda (Stafford) Brown, natives of Vermont, removed in 1843 to DeKalb county. IN .. where they re- mained only a short time, when they removed to Peoria county. There Mr. Brown purchased a farm and began its improvement ; there Mrs. Brown passed to her last sleep. About a year later Mr.
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Brown married Miss MeCumpsey; immediately after came to Stark county, and settled in Toulon township, but after a few years removed to Lafayette, where he died, October 18. 1870, being then in his seventy-fourth year. He was a soldier of the war of 1812.
Harlow Brown, son of Erastus Brown, was born in Vermont, in 1821, remained with his parents until he was twenty years of age, when he came to Peoria, where he was engaged in various occupations for seven years. On August 1, 1847, he married Harriet Stoffer, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Tyson) Stoffer, who was born October 6, 1826. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania, who settled in Ohio, and in 1844 settled in Peoria county, Il. Some years later they came to Stark county, where her mother died in 1885, being then eighty-nine years of age, thus surviving her husband some years. About a year after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Brown came to Penn township, where they purchased land and began its improvement, amid all the privations of pioneer life. Their union has been blessed by twelve children, seven of whom are still living: Effie JJ. (deceased) ; Amanda P .. now Mrs. William Cross, of Kansas; Nellie J., now Mrs. Edwin Snare, of Valley township; Eliza. now Mrs. N. Foster, of Os- ceola ; Sherman (deceased); Samuel (deceased ): Lemuel (deceased ); Emma C. (deceased): Dora E., now Mrs. E. Pettit. of Penn town- ship; HI. B., now engaged in the hardware trade in Castleton, Ill. ; Franklin W .. and Herbert D. Politically, Mr. Brown is a Republican, having voted that ticket since the Buchanan campaign. He now owns 640 acres of the choicest lands in Stark county, the greater part being in Pean township, on which is situated his large pleasant residence. Mrs. Brown has been an invalid for the last five years. In speaking of pioneer life. Mr. and Mrs. Brown relate many events, among others being kept awake by the howling of the wolves, which surrounded the cabin as soon as dark came on. Their cabin was 12x12, and on one occasion Mrs. Brown held a "quilting," and, on account of lack of room in the honse. they quilted out doors, with no cover but a small shed.
Benjamin B. Bumell, son of John Bunnell, was born in Pike county. Pa., 1811. His early life was spent with his parents, assist- ing in the duties of the farm, or attending school. On January 7. 1×33, he married Miss S. A. Little, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Armstrong) Little. Her parents were natives of New Jersey, where she was born in 18H1. The paternal grandparents of James A. and Robert E. were JJobn Bunnell, born August 13, 1790, who died Angust 11. 1872 and Mary Place, born September 7. 1793, who died November 3. 1851, Benjamin being one of a family of fourteen children, twelve of whom reached manhood and womanhood. After this marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bunnell began farming in Pennsylvania, which occupa- tion they followed twenty years. In 1854, he sold his farm, and with his family removed to Ilinois, purchased a section in Penn township, and there resided until 1864, when he went to Nashville, Tenn., to nurse bis son John, who was lying in the hospital, and who nover recovered. Returning, he sold his farm to his son Robert, and removed to Neponset, Ill., where he resided ten years: then returned to Pen
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BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
township, making their home with their son. Here Mrs. Bunnell died August 16. 1876. Mr. Bunnell is still living, and. at present writing, although now in his seventy-sixth year, is quite active. The first rec- ord of the ancestors comes from London, Eng., coming to America about the year 1600. Mr. Bunnell is an uncle of Senator F. C. Bun- nell, of Pennsylvania. He is the father of six children. four of whom are still living: James A .. now of Penn township: Inis M., now Mrs. J. S. Motlit, of Nebraska : John H., who died of his wounds at Nash- ville: Robert E .. of Penn township; Mary (deceased); and Amanda E .. now Mrs. G. M. Wright. of this township.
Jums . Bunnell, son of Benjamin and S. A. (Little) Bunnell, was born in Pennsylvania in 1834. He passed his youth at the home of his parents. In his fifteenth year he entered Wyoming Seminary. studying there about three years, when he returned to his home and began teaching in the public schools. This profession he followed several years. In his twenty-sixth year he married Miss N. Irene Chamberlin. a daughter of John F. and Susan (Terry) Chamberlin, who was born in Bradford county, Pa .. in 1838, where she was married September 25, 1860. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania. where her mother still resides, her father having died in 1881 in his sixty-sixth year. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bonnell returned to Illinois and settled on an unimproved quarter on section 17. Penn township, on which he had previously built a house which. on account of its height. was the wonder of the country. people coming from far and near to see the building, and all prophesied that it would surely blow away. It still remains and is today one of the finest farm residences in Stark county. Four children have blessed their union, three of whom are living: Ida M .. Snsie E .. Jennie A .. and Rena (. (deceased). Mrs. Bunuell is a member of the M. E. church and is interested in all works of benevolence. Mr. Bunnell has never voted any but the Re- publican ticket. and has held several of the township offices. Ile has been a hard worker, and as the result of labor, now ewns 500 acres of the choicest lands in Penn township. about one and one-fourth mile from Castleton. In connection with his large farm is his stock- growing establishment, which like the farm, is fully equipped and well managed.
Robert E. Bunnell, son of Benjamin and Sally Ann (Little) Bunnell. was born in Wyoming county. Pa., September 25, 1839, and is the fourth child of a family of six children. In his fifteenth year he en- tered the Wyoming Academy, remained there a short time, when he returned to his home. In his twenty-seventh year he purchased the farm of his father and assumed control at once. Four years later. September 15. 1870. he married Miss Matilda Il. Jackson, a daughter of George W. and Harriet (Jackson) Jackson, who was born Inne 15. 1847. Iler parents were natives of Pennsylvania. who removed to Illinois. Here her mother died in 1×49. Mr. Jackson having mar- ried again, the family settled at Clayton, Adams county, where her father engaged as superintendent of the foundry, and was also a preacher. He is the inventor and patentee of the " Jackson " scales. In Isol he organized Company 1. of the One-hundred-and-forty-first
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Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was elected Captain. In a short time, on account of failing health, he was compelled to return home. In 1870 the family removed to Burlington. lowa, where he en- graged in the manufacture of his scales. Two years later Mr. Jackson died, his widow being now a resident of Peoria. Mrs. Bunnell, until her marriage, had been engaged in teaching in the graded schools. Since marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bunnell have resided in Penn township, where five children have been born to them. namely : Nellie E., John (., Beulah C., Fred. J. and Bernice M. Mr. Bunnell now owns 1,240 acres of the choicest lands in Penn township, on which is situate one of the finest farm residences in Stark county. He also owns a large amount of real estate in Nebraska. Mr. Bunnell has always been a Republican. His wife is a member of the M. E. church.
Daniel Coghlan, born in Brown county. Ohio, in 1811, came to III- inois in pioneer times, and to the Snareville neighborhood about 1858. died there in October, 1829.
Samuel Crum, born in Huntingdon county, Pa. April 6, 1425, is the son of Frederic and Catherine (Snare) Crinn, both Pennsylvanians ; the former born in 1794. was the son of a German settler. the latter, daughter of a German settler also. To them nine children were born. eight of whom are still living, namely : Samuel. of Penn township; Daniel. of Huntingdon county. Pa. ; Naney, wife of Byron Haack, of that county; Ellen. Mrs. Joseph T. Fisher, of Johnson county, Mo .; Reuben H., a resident of Pennsylvania ; Margaret, Mrs. John Clark, of Huntingdon county, Pa .: George W., also residing there, and Ann, Mrs. John C. Lytle, residing in that county. The father died there in 1876, and the mother in 1877. Both were of the Pennsylvania agricultural class. Samuel Crum in early years was a woodchopper, schoolboy, miller and farmer - about all a pioneer boy could be. In 1848 he married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Henry and Margaret (Wise) Hess, and paternal granddaughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Zimmerman) Hess, Germans. Jacob being born in 1751. died in 1869, and Elizabeth, born in 1789. died in 1859. Her mother was born in 1768. died April 8. 1857, and her father. Henry. born in 1758, died January 27, 1837. After Mr. Crum's marriage he became a farmer, came to this township in 1859, engaged in grain and stock-growing. purchased eighty acres on section 20 in 1869, came to reside on it in 1873, added eighty aeres on section 17. erected a fine farm-house, and has resided here down to the present time. Their children are: Mar- garet, wife of R. S. Snare : Wintiekl B., married, residing in this town- ship, and lohn W .. a druggist at Castleton. Mr. Crum and his two sons control 263 acres here. Ile has served as supervisor one year, assessor three years, school director and in mmor offices. Both he and wife are members of the Snareville Methodist church. W. B. Crinn is the genial clerk of the township school board, and like his father, one of the most popular men in the township. The farms and homes which this family made here are the results of their own labors since 1859. Their reputation rests on industry and integrity.
Chunnay II. Durison, who married Eliza E. Wheeler, was born in Wyoming county, Pa .. December 12, 1819, son of James and Catherine
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BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
(Stark) Davison. He moved with his parents to Lorain county, Ohio, in 1834, where he married Miss Wheeler, in 1840. In 1851 they moved to Stark county, Ill., and thence in February, 1875, to Wayne county, lowa, where they now reside. Archibald Wheeler, born in England, in 1800. emigrated to St. Lawrence county, N. Y .. where he married Narcissus Gardner, a native of that county, of Scotch descent. She was living fifteen miles south of Ogdensburg when that settlement was burned by the British in 1812. Wheeler and family moved to Lorain county, Ohio, in 1834, cleared 100 acres, and lived in the log cabin he then built until 1850, when a dwelling house was erected in which they resided until their death a few years ago.
George D. Engelston, son of William and Emeline S. (Fargo) Eagelston, was born in Kickapoo township, Peoria county, April 26, 1849. Ilis father was a native of Albany, N. Y., and mother of Ash- tabula. O., as related in the history of the Eagelston family of Wyoming. In 1852 the family moved from Peoria county to Stark county, and here George D. received his early education, and completed a course of study at Cole's Business College. Peoria, in 1872-3. From this per od until the spring of 1574 he was engaged in the cattle trade in Texas. On returning he began farming and dealing in horses, making a shipment of horses to the eastern market during the season of 174. Since that time he has been engaged in stock-growing and agriculture here. On September 10, 1874. his marriage with Miss Phoebe A .. daughter of lames and Parmelia (Eustis) Woods, was celebrated. Her parents were natives of Ohio and Indiana, respectively, and her pater- nal grandparents, JJeremiah and Margaret ( Wooster) Woods, were natives of Ohio. To this marriage four children were born : James W., May 20, 1875 : Harry II., February S. 1877: Henry M., February 21, 1878, and George W., March 1, 1881. In 1874 Mr. Eagelston pur- chased eighty aeres on section 22, which he sold in 1878, and pur chased ninety-three acres on section 5. In polities he was Republican up to 1878. when the Goddess of Greenbackism won his affections. For four years he has served as school director, is at present clerk of the board and highway commissioner. In Masonic circles he belongs to the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council and Eastern Star. as related in the history of Wyoming. In religious thought he is Christian, but not a member of any particular sect.
Mary Farcell, born at Dublin, N. H., in 1795, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Gleason, near Castleton, March 9, 1586. Her hus- band died in New Hampshire in 1856.
James W. Fleming, son of Sammel C. and Rebecca (Bonsall) Fleming, both natives of Pennsylvania, was born in Clearfield county. there, Inly 21, 1842, received his education in that county and in Ohio. where he settled with his father in 1854, and subsequently in Elmira township, of this county, where the family settled in 1855. On Sep- tember 9, 1869, he married Miss Clara E., danghter of James and Nancy (Akerly) Griffin, both natives of New York, of which state their parents were also natives. James W. purchased 160 acres on section 13. in Tonlon township in 1572, removed the same year to Castleton and engaged in the grain trade, a business he has followed to the pres-
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ent time. He has also given attention to agriculture and stock-grow- ing during these years. In political and religions affairs he has always been liberal and tolerant, giving his support to what appears to him just rather than following party or seet lines. In society matters he is a member of the Blue Lodge at Toulon. The two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fleming: Everett J., born February 7. 1574. and Gor- trude M., January 22. 1877, are pupils in the Castleton schools.
Leri Fouts, born in Wayne county. Ind., June 2, 1\27. is the son of Jacob and Eleanor ( Dougan) Fouts, both natives of North Carolina and of German descent. In 1831 the family moved to Fulton county. Ill. near Canton, where Jacob died October 9. 1874, after forty-three years of agricultural life in that county. His wife died November 17. 1858. Of their eleven children seven are living : Jacob. a widower ; Salem, at the head of a family, both residing in Kansas, near Ottawa : Elizabeth, in Fulton county, near Canton ; Leviand Lewis in this county. near Bradford : Francis, near Sedan, Kan., and Malcom, near Canton, IN., on the old home place. Levi Fouts married, in 1851, Miss Nancy. daughter of Elijah and Barbara (MeKinney) Bocock, of Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively. To them six children were born, namely : Barbara Eleanor, wife of Simeon Bell: residing near Keota, Iowa ; Alice Jane, wife of John S. Roof, near Viola. IN .: Jacob C., married Mar- garet Ann Eagelston, residing near Camp Grove : Hannah Maria, wife of John Mahler, near Camp Grove; Elijah A. and Cyrus E. are at home. In 1854 Mr. Fouts soll lus eighty-acre farm in Fulton county and coming here purchased 160 acres on section 13, to which he has added 220 acres. For thirty-three years he has been engaged in agri- culture and stock-growing here with marked success. In political life he was a Republican, but has changed to an earnest Greenbacker. In church affairs he is undenominational but a supporter of all Christian societies.
Zura Fuller, son of Chaumes D. and Lydia (Avery) Fuller, was born in Toulon township, Stark county. December 21. 1551. as related in the history of the Fuller family of Toulon. He received a liberal education in the schools here, at the commercial college. Davenport. Iowa, and at Peoria, completing at the latter place, and returning, engaged in mercantile work at Modena. After some short time he moved to Texas, engaged in the cattle trade and became one of the most popular " cow-boys" m that state. With the honors of one season's Texan life he returned to his native county, and was engaged in mereantilo busi- ness at Modena until March. ISS6. when he purchased the business interests of Cyrus Bocock at Castleton. where he is now residing. Ilis marriage with Miss Fannie M. Clark was celebrated September 16, 1886. This lady is a daughter of William F. and Diana Clark, of Pennsylvania. She came to Modena in 1883. took a position in a mercantile house there until 1855, when she returned to her Pennsyl- vania home, but in 1886 returned and married Mr. Fuller. In religion Mr. Fuller is a member of the M. P. church, in society affairs belongs to the Masonic Lodge: was director of the Modena district schools for some time, and always a quiet but earnest supporter of whatever enter- prise promised public benefit. A letter from C. D. Fuller, El Dorado
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Springs, Mo., dated October 10, 1886, in reply to request for informa- tion regarding this family, gives the following particulars: " Father was born in West Stockbridge, Mass., in the year, 1787; his father moved to Pennsylvania when father was quite young. Mother was born in Genesee Valley, N. Y. I have not the year of her birth. I was born in Luzerne, now Wyoming county, Pa., May 5, 1817. The family came to Illinois in 1836, and settled in what is now Stark county. That is as far back as I can trace my ancestors. My father was a medical doctor, but unfortunately, we never had any preachers or lawyers among the old stock, that I know of."
Benjamin F. Gharrett, born in Huntingdon county, Pa. September 1. 1832, is the son of llenry and Nancy (Kurfman) Gharrett, who are referred to in other places. Mr. Gharrett came with his stepfather to this county in 1847, received a liberal education at Henry in this state, and in February, 1858, married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of James and Nancy (Akerly) Griffin. of New York State, and grand-daughter of Parant and Thena (Pelham) Griffin. and John and Elizabeth (Town- send) Ackerly. To Mr. B. F. Gbarrett and wife, two children were born-Olive H., wife of Charles E. Jordan, of Red Cloud, Neb .. and Jennie N., a school teacher of Modena, spoken of in the chapter on edu- cation. In 1882, Mr. Gharrett purchased eighty acres on section 17. and in 1865 added a second eighty, all of which herented in 1872, moved to Castleton, and engaged in the stock business. to which he subsequently added his interests in the elevator and gram business at Castleton. In 1878 he disposed of these interests, moved to Hastings. Neb., near which town he purchased 160 acres, had it improved, and meantime engaged in mercantile trade there. In 1880 he traded this store for 160 acres in Nebraska, and some property in this state, returned to Penn Township, purchased eighty acres on section 16, which he rents. while himself and family reside in Castleton, where he is also interested in real estate. Mr. Gharrett cast his first vote for Fillmore, was a member of the Union League, and has ever been a thorough-going Ro- publican. In township matters he has been Justice of the Peace for several terms, a director of the Castleton graded schools for years, and has filled almost every township office. In religion he is undenomina- tional.
William D. Grant sold to Judge Holgate land in Penn Township. in 1833. The land was resold in 1881 to Robert E. Bunnell for $75 per acre.
George Green, born in Limerick county, Ireland, March 14, 1834, is a son of John and Elizabeth Green, natives of England and Germany, respectively. The latter while en route to America was shipwrecked and drifted on the Irish coast. There she met and married Mr. Green, who died in Ireland in 1833. Of their seven children only two are living-Mrs. Sommerville of Ohio, and George of this township. The widow and children came to America in 1837, settled in Muskingum county. Ohio, where the mother engaged in school teaching. In 1841 she married George Smith, and to them three children were born -- William, deceased ; Henry T .. of Kansas, and Charles E., of Ohio. Mr. Smith died in 1849, and in 1853 she married Daniel Swiger, and resided with him in Ohio until her death in 1880.
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George Green's earlier years were passed at school. later he worked in the coal mines for seven years, when in '55 he moved to McLean county. Ill., and engaged in farming. On March 1, 58, he married Miss Neta A. Brown, born in that county. August 19, '41. whose par- ents were natives of Tennessee and Indiana, respectively. In '84 the family moved to this township, where Mr. Green purchased eighty acres in section 28. Their four children are among the dead : Bennett, born March 24, '59. died September 12. '64; Alfred. born September 12. '60, died November 5, '73 : William O., born April 28, '62, died July 22, '63; and Eney M., born December 6, 63, died February 25, '78. Mr. and Mrs. Green are members of the M. P. church of this town- ship. In earlier years he was a Republican, but changed his political faith in favor of the Democracy. In addition to his property here he is the owner of forty acres of land in McLean county, III.
Andrew Hurty, born November 27, '33, in Tipperary county, Ire- land. is the son of John and Sarah (O'Brien) Harty, and grandson of John and Mary (McCormick) Harty, whose ancestors for generations were known in Ireland. On the mother's and grandmother's side the descent is clearly Milesian, while on the paternal side it is Pietish or Scotch. The children of his grandparents were Dominic, who came to the United States and settled at New Orleans : Andrew, Patrick and Julia, died in Ireland. Mary emigrated to Chicago: John, father of Andrew, died in Ireland, December 18. '66. He was born in 1797, a year before the great rebellion, married in '23 to Miss Sarah O'Brien, who was born in 1798. Of their eight children, John came to the Uni- ted States in '50, died here in '79 : Edward came in '48, died June 30, '76; Patrick died in Australia in '83; Andrew settled in Penn town- ship ; Sarah, who married Patrick McGuire, came in '63, died here in '68: Dominic came in '67. married here, and is a resident of l'enn ; Michael came in '63, married here and resides here. James died in Ireland in '48. Andrew Harty received a liberal education in his na- tive parish, as the penal laws were relaxed a few years before his birth. In '52 he came to Baltimore, Md., two years later came to Illinois. en- gaged as a farm hand in this township, and in '60 purchased eighty acres here, improving it the same year. On August 15, '62. he enlisted in Company F. One-hundred-and-twelfth Ilinois Volunteer Infantry, promoted corporal and sergeant, and at Decatur. Ga .. was elected first lieutenant. Ile participated in all the battles credited to the regiment in the military chapter, until honorably discharged at Greensboro, N. C .. June 20. 65 While the regiment was at Raleigh, N. C., he visited Baltimore, there inet Miss Sarah Marie Ryan, daughter of William and Ann Ryan, of Tipperary County, Ireland, and this lady he married at Baltimore in September, '65. Returning, be resumed work on his farm. purchased 160 acres additional, to which he has since added 320 acres in this township, and 260 in Marshall County. or $20 acres devo- ted to grain. farming and stock-growing. In political life Mr. Harty is democratic : in township affairs he has been school director for seven- teen years ; is a charter member of Dickerson Post, G. A. R., and in religions life is a strict Catholic. Mrs. Harty, a lady distinguished for many excellent traits. died July 28. '56, in her forty-second year. Of
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BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
their twelve children five are living- Sarah A., Ada M., Mary E., Nora, Laura M .. all residing at home. Mr. Harty's whole life here, and the successattending it, is such a commentary on his native coun- try's government as any sane man can understand and appreciate. It is the victory of honest labor unchained by any species of tyrant.
James Holgate, deceased, was born at Philadelphia, Pa., July 26, 1804, where his parents. Jacob and Elizabeth (Sheets) Holgate, then resided. His grandfather came from England and carried on a fulling mill, which the son, Jacob, converted into a paper mill and finally into a cotton factory. Ilis mother, Elizabeth, was born in Pennsylvania, of German parents. In 1820 James Holgate moved to Luzerne county, Pa., learned milling there, but turned his attention to woolen mann- facture, and in 1829 established a store at Kingston. In April, 1827, he married Miss Sylvina Trux, of Troy. Luzerne county, Pa. In 1833 he sold his woolen mill and store, came to this county, and purchasing a claim of eighty acres, settled three miles northeast of Wyoming. in Penn township, and there resided until 1855, when he moved into the town. For eight years he was county judge : for sixteen years, assessor of Penn township : served as justice of the peace, member of the leg- islature, and in other offices of trust. He voted for Jackson, in 1828. and continued Democratic to his death. Of his twelve children, ten are living. Jacob and Erastus are in Oregon : Maria married John Snare, of Penn township: Elizabeth married William P. Buswell, of Neponset ; Charles is in Washington territory; Mary Ann married Calvin Hart, of Nebraska : Harriet is the wife of E. Gharrett, of Mon- tana: James is a physician at Castleton ; William resides at Wyoming. and Renben at Osceola. The mother of this family died in November, 1872, and the father has only just crossed the river which old time bridges.
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