USA > Illinois > Champaign County > Early history and pioneers of Champaign County : illustrated by one hundred and fifteen superb engravings by Melville : containing biographical sketches of the early settlers, the early history of the county obtained from the most reliable sources and many graphic scenes and incidents from the bright and shady sides of pioneer life > Part 15
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BARNARD KELLEY.
Mr. Kelley was born in 1818, at Moneynena county. Derry, Ireland. His parents were Patrick and Anne (Donalme) Kelley. At the age of 24 years in 1842, Barnard bid fare-
well to the green shores of his native land and crossed the Ocean to the new world. He had received very little educa- tion, but he possessed natural talents of a high order and Had self reliance and courage which made him successful in his new home in the west. Upon his arrival in the United States he sought the waiting hospitality of his cousin, Patrick Kelley at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This cousin soon learned to place implicit contidence in the young Frishman that had sought his home for his abode in this far off land, and learned ere long to prize the ability of Barnard to assist him in his extensive business. He employed Barnard to go to the west, buy and drive large droves of cattle to the eastern market, at that time confining his buying to the state of Ohio. This Barnard did for his cousin for about a year when he manifested such aptness in trading, such energy and push as a dealer and drover that Patrick took him in partnership with himself and another cousin named James McKenna. During the partnership Barnard made a number of trips to Illinois and was struck with the splendid outlook in Champaign county, for farming and stock raising. I 1850, he located permanently in this county and entered among other lands the farm three miles northwest of Champaign, on the Bloomington road, known in later years as the Clevenger farm. For several years he leased this and other farms, but tinally settled upon this one and placed it in a high state of enttivation ; he sold it in 1868 to the Clevengers and moved to the section, two and a half miles south of Champaign, upon which he resided the remainder of his days. Mr. Kelley entered large tracts of land in this county, and also large bodies in Iowa. It is believed that he has owned more land here and in lowa, than any man that ever lived in the county. At the time of his death he had disposed of all his lands, but about 1,000 acres. John Campbell (brother of Archa Campoell) and he were in partner- ship in their land transactions and cattle business in 1851, and for a few years there- after. He continued pretty much all his life to deal extensively in cattle. During the war he bought a great many inutes for the government, and dealt largely in them for several years.
In his later years he saw the necessity for pure breeds of fine horses and was the first man in the county to go to Kentneky and buy the finest strains of trotting stock, paying for the very best horses obtainable the highest price. At our county fairs, He was always an extensive exhibitor and thus cultivated among the people a desire for
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good stock. Mr. Kelley accumulated a large fortune by investing in lands, dealing in stock, farming and stock raising and did as much as any man towards placing this county in its present advanced position, with reference to fine stock of all classes.
In politics, he was an ardent democrat, and his strong common sense made him a wise conselor among the leaders. He was never married, but no man had a higher regard for good wonen than he. Having no family of his own he took great pleasure in helping all his relatives, both here and back in Ireland. He frequently sent back large sums of money to Ireland to his sisters. He died June 21, 1884, at his home south of Champaign.
Mr. Kelley had many admirable traits of character, prominent among which was his innate honesty. He set up a high standard of honesty for himself, and guaged the actions of mankind by it. If they fell be- low it, he had no use for them. No fine spun theories or specious reasoning could drive him away from what he deemed and instinctively knew to be right. He despised special pleas for a wrong and had no patience with men who by artifice, chicanery, or devious ways accomplished their ends. Right, he believed, needed no defender as it wronged no one. His friendships were not lightly formed, but when once made there were no lengths that he would not go to aid in strengthening the bonds. If they were broken it was never a fault of his. Few men have ever lived in the county who gave away so much in charity. He was always giving, though so quietly and unostenta- tiously, that his intimate friends even did not know it. Many a poor man has cause to bless Mr. Kelley for gifts that came to him at an opportune moment. After they were made he did not like to be reminded of them. He despised that kind of charity that pro- claimed itself from the housetops calling mankind to witness its good deeds. He gave often, perhaps unworthily at times, but he could not help it. His generous nature and kind, warm heart responded to every kind of charity. To give did him good. He was never happier than when he was assisting some one poorer than himself. Beneath a rough exterior, a face bronzed by long exposure in an out door life, a some- what harsh voice and abrupt manner, there was a nature so kindly gentle, so honest and trusting, that a child could lead, and yet so strong that no antagonism could drive. When he trusted and gave his confidence he did it implicitly fully and unconditionally.
Charity sat too safely enthroned to be driven out by the ingratitude of man. To
the church he was liberal and gave largely of his means. In fact he was for many years the chief supporter of the Catholic church in this county.
MELVILLE CHI
ARTIIUR W. MONICHOLS
Was born May 9, 1849, at Newton, Miami county, Ohio. He was engaged in his native state much as other boys of his age, until he came to this city in 1862. From the time of his arrival here until 1865 he labored hard to get a good education, going to school in the winter and working upon a farm in the sum- mer. He succeeded in getting a fair English education. February 18, 1865, although only past fifteen years of age, he enlisted in com- pany A, 154th regiment Illinois volunteer in- fantry, and served one year. It is believed he was the youngest of the soldiers that went from this county to the war. Soon after his return from the army, the war be- ing over, he started again in the paths of peace.
In the spring of 1866 he took a position as elerk in William Sim's drug store in Urbana and remained there two and a half years. Here he learned thoroughly the drug and prescription business, and afterwards clerk- ed for one year at H. Swannell's, in Chan- paign. He then took charge of a drug store in same city for'Neil. Sim & Bro. for a short time; then he bought grain for J. Bacon for two years, at the elose of which engagement he went with R. A. Harvey to Tolono, where he has been ever since engaged in the drug and grocery business. He is one of our most careful and competent business men.
Ile was married February 24th, 1870, to
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Miss Sarah Littler, daughter of the late Samuel Littler, of Urbana. To them have been born six bright, beautiful children, viz: Ernest, Nellie, Mabel, Ira, Mae and Mand. She is a member of the M. E. church and has been for years a member of the choir. Though in delicate health for some years, yet she has that ambition and rare domestic traits that enables her to maintain a neat and tasty home.
Politically Mr. Me Nichols is a republican. having grown up in that faith. Ilis service in the army strengthened it and his mature judgment, formed by close observation of men and the course of political parties. has given a still more stalwart character to his political belieť. He does not, of course, carry his polities into his business, nor on the other hand does he allow his business to influence his politics. He is a prominent member of the Knights of Honor of this state and is now holding the office of Die- tator for the second term.
MELVILLE CHI
RUFUS A. HARVEY
Was born August 30, 1545, at Urbana. Illi- nois. Ilis father and mother were Moses D. Harvey and Olive (Towner) Ilarvey, early pioneers of the county, and settled at Urbana in 1839, coming from Ohio. Rufus received a good education in the schools of Urbana, which were then as they are now, equal to any in the state.
Although but nineteen years old and rath- er small for one of his age, he succeeded in being accepted in the army of the union, having made two efforts to get in the army prior thereto. March 15, 1864, he enlisted in
company A, 10th Illinois cavalry, and served until the close of the war.
He was in the grocery business in Urbana after his return under firm name of Tier- nan & Harvey, and later he clerked for F. Schweizer in the clothing business. He read law one year with Somers & Black, and one year with Sheldon & JJaques, but did not enter the practice. In 1572 he engaged with A. W. MeNichols in drug and grocery busi- ness in Tolono, in which he is still engaged. Soon after he started in business at Tolono a young lady named Miss Lucia M. Vaughn, came there to teach in the pub- lie schools of that thriving village. ller vi- vacity, culture and refined manner naturally attracted the young bachelor's attention, al- though he had almost become proof against woman's charms. Soon there sprang up a mutual regard which grew to genuine love, and the result was that they were married in 1874. They have had born to them three children, Guy, Ada and Lola. Mr: Harvey is not a member of any church, but his hab- its are steady and he has always kept those injunetions which a strict morality imposes on all good citizens. Although he was brought up in the strietest democratie faith the agitation of the slavery question and his experience in the army made of him an un- flinching republican. He has been a mem- ber of the school board four years and is now the president of the board of trustees of Tolono. He was a charter member of the Tolono. Post, G. A. R., was its first com- mander and served two terms. In Isso he started a branch store at Pesotum under the management of S. M. Harvey, his brother. where they did an extensive business for several years in the way of general mer- chandise and in buying grain for Bucking- ham, of Chicago. He is one of the most successful business men in the county.
McNICHOLS & HARVEY.
As before stated this firm commenced business in Tolono in 1972. At that time P. Richards, now cashier of the First National Bank, of Urbana, was engaged there in a similar business, that of drugs and grocer- ies. lle was well established and popular. and the young men found in him a competi- tor that was not to be ignored. They gave their personal attention to the details of the business and it was not long until they had won their share of it. They were sharp, shrewd, and were of the stuff of which sue- cessful business men are made and the re- sult has been that their establishment has long been the leading one in the town of Tolono, and is a very bee-hive of business from morning until night every business day in the year. They have made a grand sue-
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cess and are making money as fast as it can be made in a legitimate way. They are public-spirited and take a front seat in all matters where the public interest is at stake.
MELVILLE CHI
HON. M. L. DUNLAP.
Mathias L. Dunlap was born September 21, 1814, at Canajoharie, N. Y. His parents were William I. and Margaret Dunlap, who were farmers in moderate circumstances. At the age of sixteen he chose to make a living for himself. He accepted a clerkship in a store at five dollars per month, which position he held until November, 1836, at which time he concluded to go west and join his father's family, who had removed to Troy Grove, Illinois, near Ottawa. He arrived at Chieago in December and taught school at Troy Grove during the winter. The next summer he clerked in the dry goods store of O. H. Thompson, Chicago, and during his spare time he completed the study of surveying. He became bookkeeper for Hugnin & Brown, contractors on the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and in Angust, 1839, located on the prairie sixteen miles west of Chicago, at that time a wilderness. During the next ten years he spent a part of his time in surveying; he surveyed the west half of Cook county and the greater part of DuPage.
Ile was married to Emeline Pierce, Janu- ary 7, 1839. The surviving children of this marriage are: HI. J. Dunlap, editor of the Gazette, Champaign; Capt. Oscar Dunlap, of Grand View, Dakota; Merton, the county clerk of Ford county, Illinois; Albert, grain dealer at Savoy; Ernest, a farmer near Sa- voy; Henry, proprietor of Rural Home fruit 18
farm; Mrs. C. H. Risser, of Davenport, Iowa, and Mrs. R. G. Risser, of Kankakee, Illinois. Mr. Dunlap took an active part in politics all his life. Formerly he was a dem- ocrat and later a "Free Soiler," and when the republican party was organized he united with it and never deserted its ranks. His children are all republicans and do good work for the party at every election. He was postmaster and justice of the peace at his home in Cook county for many years; he was elected to the legislature in 1854 and was one of the leaders in getting the free school bill passed that winter. He was a member of the first board of supervisors of Cook county after township organization was adopted. He removed to this county in 1856, and located on the farm south of Cham- paign, and continued in the nursery bnsi- ness, which he had begun in 1845. He planted a large orchard and disproved the idea that fruit could not be grown upon the prairie. In September, 1853, he began writ- ing for the press under the name of Rural, and for twenty-two years was the agricultur- al editor of the Chicago Tribune. His writ- ings became familiar to all reading farmers, both east and west, and had a beneficial effect on agriculture. He was editor of the Illinois Farmer from 1860 to 1865 and at one time had a controlling interest in the Cham- paign Union. He was tendered the position of Commissioner of Agriculture by Presi- dent Lincoln, soon after the latter's election in 1860, but was obliged to decline it on ac- count of private business.
The location of the Illinois Industrial University (now the University of Illinois) at this place was due as much to his influence and labor as to any other man, and he always insisted that the school should re- main a purely agricultural college. He was a member of the first board of trustees of the University.
Commencing life in the backwoods of New York with only six months schooling, he mastered the higher mathematics, became a leader in every com- munity in which he resided, raised a large family, gave all his children a practical busi- ness education and at the time of his death had acquired a competency for his children. He died February 14, 1875, at his home near Savoy.
His widow, Mrs. Emeline Dunlap, is now sixty-eight years old and still resides at the old home. She is a woman of great ability and was of much assistance to her husband during his eventful and useful life. She is yet well preserved and will doubtless live to a good old age, beloved by her children, honored and admired by all who know her.
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MHL VII.LE
JOHN ROUGHTON.
John Roughton was born in Derbyshire, England, on the 5th of April, 1819. At the age of thirteen and a half was placed as an apprentice to his unele, Samuel Roughton, a blacksmith, who resided nine miles from the city of Leicester, and served withont wages, seven years and a half, or imtil twen- ty-one years of age, having to suffer a de- privation of all school facilities after his thirteenth year. Whatever education he has acquired has been the sole result of reading and study during and after his ap- prenticeship, after the expiration of which, followed his trade in Enderby, Thurlaston and Bosworth, in Leicestershire, Stavely in Derbyshire and Tinsley Park, near Sheffield in Yorkshire, from which place he emi- grated to America. After a voyage of thirty days he landed at the city of New York, early in the month of May, 1550. First set- tled at Cuyahoga Falls, in Summit county, Ohio, where he followed his trade; next, at Old Forge, near Akron, in the same county; then at Piketon, in Pike county, where he remained until the time of his removal to Illinois.
His parents were Gervase and An Roughton, whose maiden name was Pimm. Ile was a millwright and engineer by oecu- pation. In the year 1851 he was killed by accidentally falling between the arms of the fly wheel of a stationary engine while in motion, at the Staveley iron works, in Der- byshire. Soon after, Ann Roughton, with the rest of her family, followed her son Jolm to the United States and made her home with him, first in Ohio, and afterward in
Urbana and Rantoul, Il. During the war she returned to Ohio and died at the home of her daughter, Lydia, in the city of Jaek- son, Jackson county.
He first settled at Urbana, carly in the spring of 1854. At first followed his trade, in partnership with Pembroke B. Palmer ; after- ward, in connection with John G. Griffith. engaged in the grocery business until in November, 1555, he tiled his declaration for pre-emption on the N. E. gr. of Sce. 27. T. 22, R. 9, in this county. In 1861, removed to the Big Grove. In 1862, enlisted in Co. G. 76th Ill. Vol. Infty, under Captain Joseph Park. Having served three years, at the end of the war again returned to Urbana; was engaged here two years, and in 1867 went back to, and commenced improvement anew, of the old pre-emption in Ludlow township. Was married on the 8th of No- vember, 1842, at Market Bosworth, in Lei- cestershire, to Miss Eliza Gilbert, youngest daughter of Mr. John Gilbert, a tanner, who resided at Thurlaston in the above county. Throughout her married life, Mrs. Rough- ton has been distinguished as possessing, in a large degree, all those qualities of head and heart so essential in a good wife, mother and friend. To her habits of frugality and industry may be attributed, to some extent, the building up and the perpetuation of an elaborate and pleasant home. Mr. and Mrs. Roughton have been the parents of nine children, four sons and five daughters, of whom only one, Reuben, is now living. Reuben, the third-born of the family, eou- tented and happy, ever remains beneath the paternal root. Equals he may have, but. none ever excelled him as a filial and dutiful son. His indomitable energy as well as his cultivated taste are abundantly manifested by the arrangement of home surroundings. Hle married Ella, oldest daughter of Elisha N. and Julia A. Genung, who were among the earliest settlers of north Champaign county. They have three children.
The religious element, ever in the ascend- ancy, he became in early life a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church. At the age of eighteen became an accredited local preacher and in that denomination contin- ved in that capacity for twelve years. Be- ing unable, however, to reconeile the high and exalted views he entertained of God with (as he then believed) the scriptural doctrine of eternal life in torment, was driven to infidelity, but was soon redeemed from so cheerless a condition of mind by being brought in contact with the benign influence of Universalism. In the year 1859 he became a member of that church, and ex- peets to remain there until his latest hour.
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PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
He has been a stalwart republican since 1860 and has never left his first love to follow after that trinity of false gods, viz: Green- backism, mugwumpism and St. Johnism. He served as justice of the peace ten years, in Ludlow township, and commissioner of highways six years; was elected and serv- ed on the first board of school directors in the village of Rantoul, and ten years as school director in Ludlow school district No. 2; he was, quite a number of years, overseer of highways and census enumerator for the township in 1880. In the same year visited his native country. lle has, through life, cast his influence on the side of morality and virtue, has for more than forty years been an advocate of temperance, and has, both in Urbana and Rantoul, been identi- tied with Good Templars, Sons of Temper- ance, open temperance associations, Odd Fellowship and Free Masonry. He was a charter member of the Champaign Creamery association, the Rantoul Maplewood Ceme- tery association and the Illinois Reserve Fund Life Insurance association; also one of the originators and president of the North Champaign County Permanent Road Im- provement association and Farmers' Club, North Champaign County Auxiliary Histori- cal association, and has always been a high- minded and enterprising citizen of our county.
VILLE CHI
M
JAMES S. GEHE.
This carly settler of Urbana was born in April, 1817, in Genesee county, New York. Ilis parents were John and Polly (Clark) Gere.
James S., the subject of this sketch, came to this county in the fall of 1836, from Gen- asee county, New York, and settled at Ur- bana. He came here in debt and was pay- ing twelve and a half per cent. interest. He kept, for a number of years, the Champaign house and the stage stopped there for many years when that was the only means of trav- el through this section of country. During that time he formed a partnership with his brother, John Gere, and kept a general store for about ten years. Ilc and his brother John bought 300 acres of timber in the grove near Urbana and about the same amount near Bourbon, Douglas county, Illinois, and they filled a contract for 200,000 ties and 15,000 cords of wood for the Illinois Central railroad. After the dissolution of the firm James S. furnished 60,000 ties for the Great Western (now Wabash) railroad. In Feb- ruary, 1857, he went to New Orleans and bought eleven tons of sugar, which was sold out by the firm of J. and J. S. Gere. He had succeeded well in the mercantile busi- ness and he made about eleven thousand dollars out of his railroad contracts. This was a large sum of money in those days and he was what might be termed a rich man in the pioneer times of this county. He had a well-balanced mind and gave some attention to the law. For many years there were few cases tried here that he was not on either one side or the other. He held the office of justice of the peace for a long time and he was regarded as one of the ablest and fair- est men who filled that position.
He was married in the fall of 1839, in Clin- ton, Vermilion county, Indiana, to Miss Elizabeth Lee, who died in the winter of 1855. Six children were born to them, as follows: Emma, who married Burdette Wright, residing now at Arthur, illinois; Mary, who married Newton I. Cooper; War- ren B., who married Miss Jennie Thompson and resides at Areola, Illinois; Addie M., who married George Lochrie and resides at Murray, Iowa; Olive L., who married S. B. Radebaugh, now postmaster at Urbana, and Nettie, who is now deceased.
Mr. Gere did not subscribe to the orthodox beliefs in reference to the future, but be- lieved in the doctrines of the Universalists. lle was a democrat in politics and had the ability to defend with force and effect both his political and religious faith.
Mr. S. P. Percival, of Champaign, relates an incident of interest as to Mr. Gere. He says that he (Percival), then a young man, was driving an ox team through Urbana and stopped on the street to listen to an auction- eer who was extolling the excellence of his goods. Mr. Gere approached him (Percival)
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and said, "Young man. are you going to stop in this country?" Upon answering that he was, Mr. Gere remarked, "Then you had better not be stopping around here, but go about your business, and you will make money." Mr. Pereival obeyed the injune- tion and made the money; he says he has thought of it all through life and believes it was the best advice he ever received.
Mr. Gere died April 10th, 1858.
Mr. Gere was a man of good judgment and seldom missed it in business caleulations. It can safely be said that his social qualities and integrity were such that he had a friend in every citizen of the county.
MEL VILLE CHI
FOUNTAIN J. BUSEY.
Among the few pioneers left of Cham- paign eounty is "Fount" Busey, of Sidney township. Ile was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, February 17th, 1817. He was the son of Matthew and Sallie (Fible) Busey. His father died in 1864 at the advanced age of eighty-five years; his mother still sur- vives and has reached the great age of nine- ty-five years.
The Busey family came to the county in the fall of 1829. They settled on the tract of land now owned by Sol. Knox. Later they moved to a place since owned by Paris Shepherd, in Urbana township. There the subject of this sketch married Miss Maria Shepherd in 1841. That union has resulted in the following named children: Matthew. who married Miss Jane Bowman; Jerusha, wife of Lon Wilson; James II., unmarried; Ann, wife of James Thompson; Simeon F., married
Miss Fannie Wilson ; Mary and Luella. All of the children are residents of the county. Mr. Busey was a boy of twelve years of age when his parents eame to this eounty.
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