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 77
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83
BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES.
The settlement of Valley was postponed beyond that of any other division of the county owing to the fact, that many of the soldiers of 1812 selected their land grants there as shown in the list of original entries. In taking up the personal history of the representative fam- ilies now in the township. several brief notices of men and women, who resided here, are given, each little sketch being based on news- paper reports or collected from other recorded matter, while the ma- terial for the complete family histories here given was collected by Messrs. Moffitt and Barringer, rewritten in the office here, revised by a member of each family, and then rewritten and printed. In the his-
648
BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
tory of Toulon township, which embraces the history of the town of Wyoming, very many pages are devoted to former residents and pio- neers of Valley township.
Joseph Anderson, son of John and Hannah (Davis) Anderson, was born in Butler county. O .. March 18. 1827, to which state his father removed from his native Pennsylvania. About 1821 John married Miss Davis, of Ohio, and for the ten following years made his home there. The family moved to Tazewell county, III., in 1831, and there were known among the leading farmers until 1851, when John Ander- son retired, selling the farm. Sixteen years later Mr. Anderson, Sr .. died in Indiana in his eighty-second year: his widow residing with the children until her death, in 1880, at her son's home in her eighty-third vear. Of their thirteen children seven are living. JJoseph Anderson, the fifth chill in order of seniority, resided with his parents on the farm until twenty-one vears of age. At this time be married Miss Susanna MeGinness, of Peoria county, remained two years in Tazewell county, then moved to the farm in Peoria county, where for twenty- five years they made their home, prior to their removal to Stark county. lIere he built a modern residence for his home and an elevator for the grain trade which he established, together with other buildings, accom- plishing as much to build up Stark village as any other one man. Politically he is Republican, in society matters, holds a high place in Odd Fellows circles. His wife is a member of the Congregational church and prominent wherever woman's work is called for. Of their eleven children, George W. is deceased : James W., conductor on C. I. R. R .; Mary J., in Kansas : Frank M .. in Stark ; Sarah E., deceased ; John H., engineer at Rock Island : Lewis W., Robert C., and Flyssus L., in Iowa : Nathan A., here ; and Edward E., deceased. U. L. Ander- son is yard-master of the Central lowa Railroad at Keithsburg, III. Mr. Anderson is now abont sixty years oldl. Ile was an infant pioneer of Ohio and came to the military tract of Illinois while it was a wilder- ness, so that in two states he has passed through the pioneer period, and appears today to be a man of forty rather than sixty summers. Idleness has not brought him this look of youth, for in every part he has taken, whether on the farm, in the grain warehouse, or lumber yard. he has always been a worker. With Mrs. Anderson his home at Stark is a model one.
Margaret (Cowley) Brain. ( Vide history of II. Chase.)
William Atkinson, son of William and Jane (Lambert) Atkinson, was born in England, March 14, 1835. Ilis father was born there, May 24, 1796. On February 4, 1826, he was mited in marriage with Miss Jane, daughter of James and Mary Lambert, the latter born July 23, 1804. Several years after their marriage they emigrated to America and settled at Philadelphia, Pa., where Mr. Atkinson was bookkeeper for a large wool purchasing firm. Several years were spent in various parts of the East and in 1853, he and two of his sons came to Illinois to prepare a home for the family, who followed them hither in 1854, making a home in Marshall county for three years. Having purchased eighty acres ou section three, Valley township, they caine while the place was wild, unbroken prairie. On February of
A. miller
651
OF VALLEY TOWNSHIP.
1866. Mr. Atkinson, after an illness of three weeks, slept his last sleep in his seventy-first year. His widow remained with her children nntil 1884. when the last summons came to her also, in her eightieth year. Of their ten children five are still living, four of whom are in Stark county and one in England.
William Atkinson and his sister Mariah J., with filial affection clung to their parents and their old home, and since the death of their parents they have together taken the management of the farm. The original farm has been considerably increased, as shown in the list of present landowners.
Perry C. Burdick, son of Clark and Permelia (Coon) Burdick. was born in Otsego county, N. Y., March 26, 1524. His father was born in Vermont, December 1, 1798, and his mother in New York, Decem- ber 31. 1800. The Burdicks were known here in the mercantile marine prior to the Revolution. Clark Burdick moved from Vermont to York state at an early date, dying there January 1. 1862. In May, 1853. Perry C. came direct from his New York home and purchased 160 acres on section 29. Valley, which he sold in a short time after and bought the southwest quarter of section 34. In 1863 he married Miss Mary Ann Hickson, to whom two children were born, Grant, residing here, and Sherman, deceased. His wife died in 1869. In 1871 he married Mrs. Sarah (Dwall) Stout, a native of Virginia, whose father died there, and whose mother died in Missouri in 1884: removing there on the death of her husband. Mr. Burdick holds to no church in par- ticular, but is a friend of all Christian denominations. In political affairs he is decidedly Republican, but as decidedly non-aggressive. Both in New York state as well as in Illinois he has given his undi- vided attention to farming - the common school alone, of all institu- tions, claiming such attention as he can give outside his business. Since his settlement here he has served as school director for twelve vears.
Hele Chase, a native of Jubilee, Peoria county. Ill., removed with his parents, Philander and Anna K. Chase, to Stark county at the age of four years, and for the six succeeding years resided with them on the homestead farm on section 31, Valley. Ile then attended a winter term of school at Jubilee, returned home and some time later took a course in the Normal University and in Jubilee College. Then resum- ing work on the farm. he resided there until 1571, when he was appointed postmaster at this place, of which his father was founder. and by whom the name Wady Petra (Stone Valley) was given. Very soon after he received the appointment of railroad and express agent. In the spring of 1578 he sustained a heavy loss in the death of his father, when the responsibility of head of the family. and indeed of the community, which his father had gathered around him, fell upon him. About this time he formed a partnership with his brother, William J. Chase, to carry on the mercantile house which his father established. In 1874 he married Miss Emma Isabelle, daughter of George and Margaret Brain, of Burlingame. Kan. Her father had been dead a number of years. but the lady and her mother were then visiting here and with Mrs. Chase's cousin at Galva, Thomas Milcrist.
652
BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
Mrs. Brain died at Wady Petra in July, 1886. She married Geo. Brain in 1854, six years after her emigration from the Isle of Man, and eight years preceding the death of her husband. To Mr. and Mrs. Chase four children were born, of whom Virginius HI. and Victor P .. are at home. In politics he is Republican, and in all local and county affairs liberal and enterprising.
Bernard Colgan, one of the most prominent farmers of Valley township, was born in Down county, Ireland, in 1836. He remained in his native land until twenty years of age, and then started to make a home in the new world, landing at New York. He came at once to Stark county, Ill., and began working as low as twelve dollars per month. After several years he rented land which he worked until 1865 when he purchased an eighty tract on section 16. In Jan., 1867, he married Miss Ann Slogan, who is also a native of Ireland. After their marriage they remained some seven years upon this place and then removed to a farm on section 2, which he had purchased. Ilere they have since resided, and built up their present beautiful home. Eight children have blessed their marriage, all of whom make their home with their parents. Mary. Francis, Edward, James, John. Bernard, Margaret, Rose. Thomas is numbered among the dead. Mr. Colgan is a member of the Catholic church, of which his family are all members. In politics he is decidedly Democratic. He has now 240 acres of choice farming land, and is well known as one of our best farmers.
John A. Colgan, born at Greencastle, Down county, Ireland, Feb- ruary 14, 1836, is the son of Edward and Sarah (Brennan) Colgan, and grandson of Patrick and Catherine (Fitzpatrick) Colgan, of Lisnacree, in that county, who were the children of Edward Colgan. of Anghiogn- hill, and Denis Fitzpatrick, of Ballymacdurphy, of Down county, the former a weaver, and the latter a farmer and blacksmith. The mater- nal grandparents of John A. were James and Rose (Lands) Brennan, of Ballamena, and on both sides the family history can be traced back to the Irish Brians and to the illustrious Colgan family. one of whom was the celebrated historian. To Patrick and his wife Catherine mine children were born, one of whom came to the United States. Edward Colgan was married in 1834: moved to Greencastle, where he died in 1848. Ilis widow came to America in 1865, and now resides with her son. John A. Her children are John A. Colgan, James, who was drowned at St. John's, Patrick, Mary. Kate, now Mrs. Wm. Gill. Peter, drowned near Liverpool, and Thomas, all survivors of the fam- ily residing in this township. John A. Colgan was taken by his pater- mal grandparents in 1837, and lived with them eighteen years. Ile then moved to Liverpool to learn the ship-carpenter's trade, but re- turned in a short time and remained at home until 1856, when he came to Illinois, residing near Brimfield for three years. Subsequently he freighted between Kansas City and Ft. Leavenworth and Ft. Union, N. M., but after seven months, returned to Peoria county. In the spring of 1863 he purchased eighty acres in Valley. In February, 1867, he married Miss Sarah Colgan, a very distant relative, who shared his fortunes until death took her away in June, 1882. On
653
OF VALLEY TOWNSHIP.
August 16, 1886. he married Miss Ennna Williams, of Valley. Of seven children born to the first marriage, Mary M., Sarah A., Patrick E .. John. Rosa and Peter V. reside here ; Katie died. Mr. Colgan has increased his acreage to 400, all excellent land, and well improved. Politically, he is independent. and as a citizen, ranks with the best in Stark county.
Thomas Henry Crone, son of Benjamin and Mary (McDonald) Crone, was born in Fayette county, Ohio, January 20, 1829. His grandfather, Henry Crone. went to Canada to learn the carpenter trade, from Pennsylvania, of which state he was a native like his wife, and during the year the family spent there, Benjamin was born. In 1812 Henry returned to the United States and was a soklier in the Union service, even as his father was a soldier of the Revolution Benjamin Crone married Nancy MeDonald in 1828. Iler parents were natives of New Jersey. They were the parents of seven children : Thomas H., Albert W., John. Henrietta. James F. (deceased), Wm. A. and Douglas W. Thomas II. learned the carpenter's trade at an early dav. and at the age of twenty years married Miss Eliza J., daughter of Ananias and Elizabeth Allen, a native of Madison county, Ohio. Six years later this lady died, leaving two children : William, now of Nodaway county. Mo., and Ammia E., now of Crawford county, Iowa. After the death of his wife he came to Stark county, Ill., worked at his trade until 1×54, when he settled on his present farm, and in 1856 revisited Ohio, where he married Miss Catherine, daughter of Dr. and Ann (McClean) Robinson. They are the parents of seven children : John B., married, May, married, both of Crawford county, Iowa; James F., of Valley township, married; Ilenry L., of Essex township. married : Rosella, married, residing here ; Thomas S. and Nancy A. with parents. Like both his grandfathers. Thomas II. also was in the Union service, having enlisted in the Seventh Hhinois Volunteer M. Infantry in February. 1865, and served until the close of the war. For thirty years he has filled the office of schoot director, is a member of the Central Agricultural Society, a supporter of the Meth- odist church, and in political life, a Republican.
William Dawson, born in Ross county, Ohio, in 1809. moved with his parents to Hawkins county. Ohio, where he passed his youth and received his education. About 1531 he married Miss Amelia Dorman. with whom he was a playmate from childhood. For nine years after this marriage they made their home in Hocking county, engaged on their farm, and there four children were born to them. In 1839-40 the family moved to fleury county, Ill., and two years later settled in Stark county, where Mr. Dawson had purchased lands. Here nine children were born to them, five of whom are living, and two, John L. and Minerva, residents of this county. The father of this large family. a pioneer of Henry, a pioneer of Valley and an old settler of Stark county, was called away by death September 10, 1885. Forty days prior to this event he fell. receiving such injuries as would cause the death of a munch younger man. Mrs. William Dawson was born in Ross county, Ohio, January 1, 1805, but in her youth accompanied her parents to Hocking county. Ohio, where she was also educated and
654
BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
where she met and married her late husband. She was among the very earliest settlers of Valley. coming here when Peoria had only one store, while vet it was a day's journey to a neighbor's house. She is considered one of the foremothers of the township. for. with her hus- band, she participated in the drama of settlement and progress, and has even distaneed old Time. Since her husband's death she has re- sided on the homestead with her daughter Minerva.
John L. Dawson, son of William and Amelia (Dorman) Dawson. was born in Essex, Stark county, September 9, 1842. Here he was educated and continued to reside until August. 62, when he enlisted in Company E, One-hundred-and-twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and for three years participated in the fortunes of that com- mand as related in the military chapter. He received honorable dis- charge June 20, '65, returned to his father's house and resided there until February 2. '71. when he married Miss Elizabeth. daughter of Jacob and Alice (Howart) Taylor, and took up their residence on sec- tion thirty. Valley, where he was owner of 124 acres. Of three children born to them, William A. and Jacob S. are living. Mrs. Dawson was born in Lancashire, England, January 5, '50. In her ninth year she accompanied her parents to America, and settled with them in Valley. was educated here and remained with them until her marriage in '71. Mr. Dawson is a republican in political life, in social matters a member of the 1. O. O. F., has served one year as collector, and since '62 has proven a most creditable citizen, whether in war or peace.
James L. Dawson, son of Andrew and Mary (Little) Dawson, was born in Ross county, O., in 1826. His father was born near Pittsburg. Pa., where he married Miss Little, of the same county. In the fall of '43 the family moved to Chillicothe, Ill., and thence to Stark county in '47-8. Here both of them died as recorded in the sketch of the cemeteries-Mr. Dawson dying in '64. Of their nine children, three are living. James L. resided with his parents -- working on the farm or attending school in his youth. In '47 he came to this county, and two years later purchased his farm here. Owing to the fact that the notes on his family history were returned without corrections and with complaint of inaccuracies, the greater part is omitted rather than knowingly publish what is alleged to be incorrect.
Mrs. Elizabeth Down, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Ilammot) Cutler, was born in Suffolkshire. England, in 1832, came to Buffalo, N. Y., ria Quebee. with her parents in '36. and after two years removed with them to Batavia. N. Y .. where they reared a family of eight children of whom five are living. In '57 Mrs. Down, accompanied by friends, came to Kickapoo Town, and here she married William Down. also a native of the same shire in England, whose parents, Thomas and Mary Down, never left England. This William Down left England at the age of sixteen years, came to Batavia, N. Y., there learned the shoe- maker's trade, and there met Miss Cutler, to whom he was married December 25, '56. They at once settled in Stark county, where Mr. Down died September 29, 178,-typhoid fever, from which he suffered only one week, being the direct cause. He was collector of this town- ship two terms, and filled the office of assessor several terms Mrs.
655
OF VALLEY TOWNSHIP.
Down resides upon the homestead, surrounded by her family of six children : John. Mary, Thomas, Samuel, Cora and Bertha. The eldest son. William, is deceased. He married Miss Lizzie Torrington in 'S2. who died the same year, he following her to the grave in September, '53. Both lie in the Fox cemetery.
Mrs. Mary . Dewhurst, born near Hey wood, England, died near Stark village April 2, 1880, aged fifty-eight years. She came to Peoria county in '50. and for years resided in or near Wyoming.
Liverence Duckworth, Sr., born in 1500, came to the United States in '49, resided in Peoria county for thirteen years, when he moved to Valley township, thence to his son's home at Shenandoah, Page county, lowa, died near Yates City. Il .. April 6, '80.
G. I. Duryea, son of Wesley and Elizabeth (Barnum) Duryea, was born at Mt. Sterling. Brown county, III., in 1835. Ilis parents were natives of Kentucky, who after marriage, removed to Brown county. Ill., abont the year '33, where he continued his profession of law, at which he labored so earnestly that he became totally blind, when our subjeet was but six years of age. A few months later he passed to the " better land." During his illness his property had been about consumed, and after his death Mrs. Duryea labored hard to keep her family of four children together. Since they have grown up she has made her home with her daughter near Cuba, Ill. G. W. Duryea, when but nine years of age, left home and went to live with a mer- chant of Mt. Sterling, working in the store there for five years, when he removed to Canton where he was a clerk until '61, when he married Miss Louisa M .. daughter of James and Sarah A. (Carver) Turner, who was born in December. '41. Her parents were both natives of Mercer county, Ky., who in '31 and '33 removed to Menard county, Ill .. '82 to Fulton county, where they were married April 25. '37. Of their thirteen children, nine are living, three of them in Stark county. ( Vide page 475, Fulton county history.) Mr. and Mrs. Duryea began farming in Woodford county. Il .. where they remained for eight years, when they removed to their farm in Valley township about the year '72. In '83 Mr. Duryea, after several months' illness, resolved to go to the Straits of Mackinaw for his health, and, being taken suddenly worse, died at Berrien Springs. June 4. 'S3. Ilis remains now rest in Pleasant Valley cemetery. Ile was an active member of the Methodist Protestant church, and in polities a republican, having held various offices of trust in his township. About two years prior to his death he rented the farm and removed to La Harpe to educate his children. but being restless for some occupation he returned to work as partner in a store at St. David. The year following her husband's death Mrs. Durvea returned to their beautiful home on the farm where she still resides. Of her seven children, two died in infancy. Charles E. resides at Washington, D. C., Minnie Blanche, James, Frank, Otto C., Atina, B. C. reside at home. In the history of Fulton county, brief notices of the Turner and Carver families appear.
Joseph Eby, who resided in Valley township for over thirty years. died at Stark in February, 1882, in his eighty-fourth year.
Andrew J. Faulkner, son of Thomas I. and Lucy (Arthington)
656
BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
Faulkner, was born in Peoria county, III., March 10, 1857. His father, a Virginian, moved to Ross county. Ohio, when but seventeen years of age, where he engaged in the mercantile trade and also tended the locks on the canal. At the age of twenty he married Miss Ellen Dit- mon, who died about fourteen years later. To his first marriage five children were born, only two of whom are now living. About three years after the death of his first wife, he married Miss Lucy Arthington. Immediately after their marriage they came to Illinois in 1852, and set- tling in Peoria county, began farming. Six years after they removed to Valley township, where they purchased a farm, and where, in 1863, Mrs. Faulkner died, leaving live children, all of whom are living. On March 19, 1885. Mr. Faulkner was called to his reward, in his seventy- third year. Andrew J. Faulkner is the third child of a family of five
children. His early life was spent at home with his parents, assisting in the duties of the farm. In 1880 he married Miss Minnie F., daughter of William and Elizabeth ( Killinger) Redding. She was born in Boone county. Ind., December 30, 1860. ller parents, natives of Ohio, removed to Indiana at an early day, where they engaged in farming. In 1864 they came to Illinois and settled in Penn township, Stark county. where, one year later, April 24, 1865. Mr. Redding's death occurred. in his fifty-sixth vear. He was the father of nine children, six of whom were living at his death. After her husband's death Mrs. Red- ding removed to Wyoming with her family. She was married, in 1868 to Mr. Charles Andress, with whom she lived until her death, April 13, 1876. By her second marriage she was the mother of one child. Minnie, after her eleventh year, made her home in the family of Mr. Thomas Timmons until her marriage, in 1880, with Mr. Faulk- ner. Mr. and Mrs. Faulkner have resided in Stark county, and at present live on their farm about three miles south of Wyoming. Their union has been blessed by two children, Hattie P. and Matie E. Pohtically Mr. Faulkner is, like his father was, a Democrat.
Ambrose Gehrt, born in Saxony. Germany, in 1837, came to the United States with his brother sixteen years later, landing at Balti- more, June 13. 1853 They pushed westward at once; remained in Jefferson county. Ohio, twenty-one months; early in 1855 he came to Peoria county, Ill .; worked by the month there for three years: then commenced farming as a tenant, and next established his own farm. which he improved until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company E. Eighty-sixth Illinois Infantry. He took part in all the battles and skirmishes of that command, as related in the military chapter, and came out at the close of the war without a wound. Returning to Peoria. he resumed farming, and in 1868 bought a farm in this county. The following year he married Miss Margarite G. Wessensee. daughter of George and Catherine (Zinck) Wessensee, of New York City. After this marriage he resided on the purchase of 1868 for nine years, and then moved to his farm of 165 acres on section 26, Valley, where they have since lived. Of seven children born to them there are living: Clara L., Albert G , Emma L. (deceased), Martin J., Joseph L .. Annie. Wilhelmina and Otelia A., all residing here. For almost twenty years this gentleman has labored here successfully. Ile has increased his
657
OF VALLEY TOWNSHIP.
65 acres to 325, all improved. In religious life he is a member of the Lutheran church ; in pohties, a Republican, and in society, a member of the Grand Army, and altogether a most useful citizen.
.1. W. Hendricks, son of Jonathan and Luranae (Morey) Ilen- dricks, was born in Rensselaer county, N. Y., in 1812, of which state his parents were also natives. In 1875 his father moved to Illinois, and in 1877 died in Livingston county in the eighty-seventh year of his age. His wife, the mother of A. W. Hendricks, died in New York State in 1827. Up to this time and for seven years after, the son re- sided at home. At the age of twenty-two years he married Miss Betsy Record, also a native of his county, and for ten years after this marriage he was engaged in a variety of work. but then adopted a farmer's life and resided on the same tract until 1864, when the family moved to section 28, Valley Township, this county, where for twenty- three years he has been an agriculturalist. Of their nine children five are living : Alexander in Michigan, George in Kansas, Lucy in New York: Mary, now Mrs. E. Hampson, of Valley; Lottie, now Mrs. M. Graves, of Essex. The deceased were: Joel, the third son : Francis, the fourth son, died in the war of the Rebellion : Sally S., died here, and also an infant. This family gave two sons to the Union, whose records are given in the military chapter. The father has always been a Unionist, and today while yielding hearty support to the Republican party, votes for men and measures according to his judgment of them. Mrs. Hendricks is a member of the Baptist church.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.