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 16
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He remained beneath the parental roof until a short time before his marriage. The first land he owned was an eighty aere tract near Urbana, a part of which is now owned by J. H. Morris. He entered it and paid $1.25 per acre. He traded that for land on the Sangamon and in 1843 sold that and pur- chased the tract at Sidney, upon which he has lived ever since. The village of Sidney had been laid out the year previous, but there was no store, or in fact anything, except a few stakes to indicate where the future town of Sidney was to be. The first merehant was James Whiteomb and the first postmaster was Si. White.
The only house then between Sidney and Urbana was Penrose Stidham's. Mr. Busey recolleets well the first store that was open- ed in Urbana by T. R. Webber. It was on the day before the night on which the stars fell. Mr. B. states he was in town that day and went out home, east of Urbana, and in the night it absolutely rained stars, but he adds he was not "seared." His mother and he took their first grist of corn (about a half bushel) to a Mr. Smith's, who had a hand mill, and had it ground for the family use. The first band mill was owned by Mr. Field- er. It was located on the old Roe place. The first water mill was operated by a Mr. Hempenstall. It was in the Big Grove, and was subsequently known as the Morris mill. It ground corn and sawed lumber. A Mr. Russeff subsequently put up a mill near James Boyd's, that ground wheat, but the flour had to be bolted by hand.
Mr. B. also relates the incident of the grand hurrah and blow outafter the location of the county seat. It was agreed among the neighbors around Urbana and the Big Grove that when the county seat was located to have a big Fourth of July. Accordingly the brush was cut off and cleared away where now stands the house of Joseph Park. A large floor was laid, the fiddler was called and they daneed, sang and had a merry time, you may be sure.
At that time the land office was located at Palestine, on the Wabash river. Subse- quently it was removed to Danville.
Many other incidents of the first settle- ment are related by Mr. Busey, that want of space prevents mention.
Mr. B. has met with success in life and is the possessor of a competency. Hle has 560 acres of land all under fine cultivation, well fenced and stocked. In addition he has giv- en his children 300 aeres. He also owns a
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business house in Sidney.
Politically, Mr. Busey comes from good old democratie stock, and is in full com- munion with that party. He east his first vote for Martin VanBuren for president in 1840, and from that day to the last election he has steadily followed the varying for- tunes of that venerable political organization.
MELVILLE
CHI
HENRY WILLEY RENNER
Was born March 5, 1833, in Shenandoah Co., Va., about fifty miles south from Harper's Ferry. His father, Henry Renner, was a native of Virginia, and was born in Freder- ick county, May 6, 1796. His grandfather, Isaac Renner, was of Pennsylvania stock. H. W's mother was Mary M. (Willey) Renner, daughter of Parson Willey, of Woodstock, Va. She was born June 29, 1800. Her father was a German Reformed Presbyter- ian minister and was born in Switzerland, coming to the new world as a missionary when he reached man's estate. Miss Willey was frail in body, but strong in mind and christian faith and works, and her children "rise up to call her blessed." The grand- mothers of Henry W. were both of Huguenot blood and character. His parents were married April 18, 1826, and lived on a farm until 1840, when they moved to Woodstock, the county seat of Shenandoah county, where they resided twelve years, and re- moved to Licking county, Ohio. In 1863 they sold their farm and moved to Rantoul, in this county, the mother dying there Dec. 26, 1870. The father died there January 21, 1882, ahnost eighty-six years old.
Henry W. Renner, the subject of this sketch was married to Miss Phebe A. Will- iams, daughter of Hon. E. O. Williams, of
Licking Co., Ohio, April 2nd 1857. packed their effects in a wagon and after a two weeks' drive, settled May 25, 1857, on section four, in Newcomb township, now Condit, where they resided for eight years, and then removed to section four in Rantoul township, where Mr. Renner with his pres- ent family yet resides. Miss Williams was the eldest child, and having lost her mother at the tender age of thirteen years, all her single life was spent in filling a mother's place. She joined the Presbyterian church in Jersey, Ohio, in childhood and continued an active worker in church, choir, and Sabbath school. until her marriage and re- moval to Illinois. To this union were born five children, to-wit: Enos Henry, Anna Lueinda (wife of William A. Rusk) and Sylvester Willey, all living in Champaign : Mary C. and Libbie S., twin Misses of six- teen, living at home. His first wife died November 26, 1873. Mr. R. was again mar- ried September 28th, 1876, to Miss Julia Smith, eldest daughter of James D. Smith, Esq., of Wayne, Pa. Miss Smith was born Dec. 7, 1840, entered the High school at Waterford in 1856, studied and taught until 1863, entered Western Female Seminary at Oxford, O., and graduated in 1865. She taught three years in the Seminary, when admonished by failing health and the advice of her physicians, she returned to her native state, but continued to teach until her mar- riage, the last four years being spent in Titusville, Pa. Of this union was born Oct. 4, 1881, one son, Charles Ashley, who died April 5, 1882.
Mr. Renner seems cosmopolitan in his religion, being at home with all who hold the great central truths of the Orthodox faith. He seldom tells to which division of the Grand Army he belongs. He was con- verted in childhood and united with the Presbyterian church in Woodstock and at once took a class in the Sabbath school. At the age of seventeen he began going to out of the way places to teach, superintend or organize Sabbath schools, a work which he faithfully kept up until called to do similar work in connection with the Township and county Sabbath school association in this county. He was one of the original mem- bers of the Jersey Presbyterian church in Condit township, and held the position of trustee, secretary and ruling elder. In the First Congregational church of Rantout, he was trustee, secretary and senior deacon. At present he is a member of the official board, of committee on church extension and church records and the district steward in the M. E. church at Rantoul. He is also a life member of the County Bible society.
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The Champaign County S. S. association was organized July 24 and 25, 1866, and Mr. R. took part in the convention at Rantoul in the following September; he became presi- dent of the Rantoul S. S. A., July 4th, 1867, which position he still holts and is conse- quently the ablest vice president in the county association. He was elected a mem- ber of the Co. S. S. A. in 1522 and still holds that position; he was president of the as- sociation in 1878-9.
Mr. Renner acted with the democratic party until the farmers movement in 1823 and when the greenback party was organized he joined it and voted for Peter Cooper in 1876 and for Weaver, in 1550. In 1884, however, he voted for the prohibition candidate John P. St. John. He is now chairman of the pro- hibition elub in Rantoul. He has held the office of school trustee, commissioner of highways, supervisor from Condit, and has since served as assessor, collector and magis- trate. Mr. Renner learned the trade of blacksmith in his father's shop in Wood- stock, and the use of tools in the wagon shop; this has been of service to him on the farm.
Such is a brief sketch of one of the best farmers and most earnest Sabbath school workers of our county. We trust that he may continue to be prosperous in business and sow seed in the field he has chosen that shall "bring forth an hundred fold."
MELVILLE
HION. ABEL HARWOOD.
This distinguished New Englander and resident of Champaign was born in North Brookfield, Mass., November 23, 1814. Ile worked on his Father's farm till he was sey- enteen years of age and clerked in a store
for two years. He attended school from time to time and finally graduated from Am- herst college in 1841, intending at the time to make teaching his profession in life. He paid the expenses of his school life from his own earnings, except small sums con- tributed by his father from time to time, to the amount of about one thousand dollars. Soon after his graduation, he married Miss Mary D. Batcheller, daughter of Deacon Tyler Batcheller, of North Brookfield, Mass., having prior to this marriage engage- ed to take charge of an Academy at Ed- wardsville, Illinois, and was to receive the full income for his salary. The board or trustees, however, concluded to place an- other teacher with him and thus divide the income. He said nothing of this change to his people, however, and married with the expectation of accepting even half the income in order to gain a foothold in the west. After starting for the west he concluded that the times were better in Kentucky than in Illinois, and with his young bride went to Shelby county, Kentucky. Here he found an intelligent people, a good school and good pay, where his young wife could assist him. They were successful and were urged to stay by an offer of still better terms; but he thought it best to go where there was still more money and a larger population ; he therefore, went to Lexington, Ky., in the heart of the Blue Grass region. Soon he gained the recognition of some of the best families and got up a school for young la- dies in which calling he was eminently suc- cessful, but his health failed ; although urg- ed to continue by his wealthy patrons he concluded to change his occupation for one less injurious to his health. He then en- gaged in the shoe business, the first year his sales were $8,000, and the business in- creased regularly each year for nine years, when his annual sales amounted $46,000 and he had accumulated a neat little capital for business or investment.
In June, 1852, when the Illinois Central railroad had been surveyed and its construc- tion had been commenced he came to Dan- ville, Ill., for the purpose of buying a small farm, at the government sales, for a friend : he was struck with the prospects of the country and caught the land fever in its most malignant form. On his return to Lexington a buyer for his shoe business was found waiting and he sold it for $17,000, not without giving the matter however, careful thought and submitting it to his wife for final decision. It was going to a free state, and this doubtless had much to do with the decision.
In the months of August and September following he attended the land sales at Dan-
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ville, Ill., and bought nearly 3,000 acres of the rich prairie lands in MeLean, Cham- paign and Piatt counties, most of which, by using land warrants, he bought at about $1.00 per acre. After coming to Illinois to reside he bought of private parties nearly 2,000 aeres more, paying for these a higher price.
In February, 1853, he removed to Bloom- ington, Il., and after becoming settled, en- gaged again in the shoe business with Mr. O. Rugg as partner; he had clerked for Mr. Harwood in Kentucky, and had married his (Harwood's) sister. While Mr. Rugg was managing this business, which was very suc- cessful, Mr. Harwood was improving his over four thousand acres of lands. He built about forty miles of board fence, and placed upon each farm a house costing about $500.
December 8, 1856, his wife died leaving to Mr. Harwood's sole care hive young chil- dren. In June, 1858, he married Miss Isa- bella D. Boyd, whose family had the year before moved from Kentucky. She is still living affording companionship and cheer to her husband in the latter years of his life. Mr. Harwood is impressed with the belief that his happiness and success in life is due to the instinctive counsel of woman.
His first wife bore him six children: Mary N., who married George W. Harwood, then of North Brookfield, Mass., and resides in Champaign; Emma L., who married Wil- liam O. Cady, of Bloomington; Ella A., who married John C. Stevenson, also of Bloom- ington; Ida E., who, when an in- fant, was taken into the family of Dr. T. F. Worrell, of Blooming- ton, where as one of her two homes, she has resided ever since; Martha Frances, who died in infancy, and Lucretia, who died in 1882. His present wife is the mother of five children, as follows: Isabella Susan, who married Mr. Calvin C. Staley, of Champaign ; Willson Boyd, a promising boy, died at the age of ten years; Caroline Rebecca and Francis Abel died in infancy ; the other also died before receiving any name.
In the spring of 1866 the board fences on his lands in Champaign county, having been standing for ten years, he concluded to grow hedge fences to take their place. At the suggestion of his wife, who was desirous of having Mr. Harwood at home more, he mov- ed to one of his farms in Newcomb town- ship in this county, about four miles north- west of Mahomet. Ilere they remained four years, growing eleven miles of hedge and carrying on general farming and stock rais- ing extensively at the same time. During this four years he cleared from the five hun- dred acres he thus improved, over $8,000, al-
though but a novice in farming operations; this we mention to show the produetiveness of Champaign county lands.
In the spring of 1870, instead of returning from the farm to Bloomington, he removed to Champaign in order to be near his wife's people, who had removed to Arcola. Here he purchased a pleasant residence and here he still resides. Ile has sold all his lands and is not now engaged in any mercantile or agricultural pursuit. Having a comfortable competency, made by a life of labor and by good judgment in investments, he finds, as he joeosely says, plenty to do, even now, in "minding his own business," and is firmly of the opinion that it will pay any man to do so whether on the farm, in the workshop, the store or in retirement at home.
Mr. Harwood's mother was a member of a Baptist church, and his father, while not a member, was in sympathy with her views. His first wife's mother was a Baptist but her father was a prominent deacon in the Congregational church in North Brookfield, Mass., and afterwards in the old Park street church in Boston. The mother of his pres- ent wife was a Baptist while her father was an efficient elder of the Presbyterian church, most of his life. Mr. Harwood himself, both his wives and all his children that reached ten years of age became connected with some church, Presbyterian or Congregational, early in life. At present, all living are con- neeted with some Presbyterian church. He has never held any church office but has been a member of some Sabbath school nearly all his life, either as scholar, teacher or superintendent. Mr. Harwood is grandly orthodox in his belief in the Divine inspira- tion of the Bible and in Jesus Christ as the son of God, and as the only name under Heaven whereby we must be saved, if saved at all.
In politics he is a republican, and casts his vote and uses his influence for pure pri- maries and a higher standard of political morals in the contests for preferment. For two terms he was supervisor from Newcomb township; his second term he was chairman of the board. He was urged by both demo- erats and republicans to serve another terin, but private business prevented, though he has never forgotten the kindly compliment paid hun by their united confidence, and has a warm place yet in his heart for both the democrats and republicans of Newcomb.
Ile was a member of the constitutional convention of 1869 and 1870, that framed the present constitution of the state of Illinois, representing in that convention the counties of Champaign, Piatt, Moultrie and Macon. Mr. Ilarwood was an efficient member of that body of men, who made the chart which
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has guided this great commonwealth for nearly two decades, and bids fair to last for yet other decades of time without material change.
Mr. Harwood has, by his own efforts, by a life of industry and honorable conduet, carv- ed out a goodly fortune and has erected also a character as a highminded, christian gen- tleman, which should serve as a model for others to follow.
Dignified in demeanor, courteous to all, faithful in every trust and relation in life, Mr. Harwood is passing his latter years, be- loved by his family and friends, and respect- ed and honored by all.
DANIEL, RUGG.
This gentleman who conduets, to-day, the second oldest business house in Champaign, was born May 30, 1830, in the good old town of Heath, Franklin county, Massachusetts, which county is said to have as many steep hills to the square mile as any other in New England. The centennial celebration of the town was held last year, 1885, with imposing ceremonies. The Archives of this town will show that the Rugg family were among its early and substantial settlers. The parents of Mr. Rugg, both now deceased, were Reu- ben Rugg and Sarah (Nims) Rugg. Hlis father was recognized as the strongest man in his district, while his mother was one of the tallest women. They were, as may be seen, stalwart in stature and blessed with physical perfection, a heritage which cannot be too highly valued, for of such parents come long lived and perfect men and women. They were as stalwart and strong in their religious convictions as they were in physi-
eal strneture. They were of Puritan stoek and possessed those strict and orthodox at- tributes that have given the people of New England a reputation for rigid honesty and correet habits, that justifies the natural pride their prosterity feel in then. Their (leseendants have helped to people the great west with a race of broad-minded and enter- prising citizens that have made it the wonder of the world for thrift and sub- stantial progress. Mr. Rugg's parents, though living some five miles from their place of worship, were seldom absent and never late to church, either summer or winter.
Mr. Rugg spent the larger portion of his life on a farm, prior to his coming west. During the winters of his boyhood he attend- ed the country school until far enough ad- vanced to enter the Shelburn Falls Academy where he obtained a liberal English educa- tion. He afterwards taught the distriet school, boarding around as was the custom in those days; being needed at home, he for some years took the management of the old home farm, where he remained until he came west.
March 8, 1855, he was married to Miss Philena Dale Kallogg, in Shelburn, Mass. In the following summer, he and his young wife bid farewell to the scenes of their child- hood, emigrated to Bloomington, Ill., deter- mined to carve their fortune in the then far west. There he engaged in the boot and shoe business, which he has successfully followed ever since. In December 1858, he removed to Champaign, (then West Urbana) and purchased the very desirable lot at the head of main street upon which now stands his large three story briek block called "The Metropolitan." It was erected in the sum- mer of 1872 in connection with those of David Bailey and Frank Walker adjoining. Since residing in Champaign, Mr. Rugg has been a leading member of the Congregation- al church ; he was its treasurer many years and was a member of its board of trustees during the erection of two churches, one of which was destroyed by fire shortly after it was completed.
In politics, Mr. Rugg has always been a republican and though not a politician, he can always be relied upon to further the best interests of the party. He has held the office of alderman several terms. October 7, 1877, the happy home circle was broken by the death of his wife, who was beloved by all who knew her. Six children were born to them, three of whom are living; Fred D., the eldest, who since his graduation at the University of Illinois in 1882, has been en- gaged in the business with his father; Mary
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E., who married C. Fenton Hamilton, and Carrie A., attending school at home. He was happily married again February 22, 1882, to Maria Thatcher Fairbank, of North Brookfield, Massachusetts.
Mr. Rugg was among the first
business men of Champaign; he came
there when a young man with limited capital, but by universal fair dealing, by keeping the most reliable goods and hy the exercise of good business foresight, he has fairly earned the reputation of conduct- ing the largest, most reliable and snecessful hoot and shoe house in Central Illinois.
MELVILLE
REZIN BOLTIN
Was born in Dark county, Ohio, February 26th, 1826. Ile is the son of William and Dorcas (Johnson) Boltin, also natives of Ohio. In early life, while yet a resident of Ohio, Mr. Boltin learned the carpenter's trade, and later the photographie art. As a carpenter he assisted in building a large number of the buildings in the village of Mahomet. He came west in September, 1854. and settled at Middletown, now Ma- homet, and there he has made his home to the present. When Mr. Boltin first went to that town there were but two stores. One was kept by a man by the name of Hill and the other by a man by the name of Owens. He has lived there long enough to see the town grow up from a small, insignificant village to one of nearly 1,000 population. Mr. Boltin was first married to Polly Ann Brown, in Dark county, Ohio, October 27th, 1847. She died in Greenville, Ohio, in June 1853. While a resident of Greenville, he married Mary Smith. The date of the mar-
riage was October 5th, 1854. She died in Mahomet in the fall of 1881. He married his present wife, Rebecca Sicklider, in Dark county, Ohio, February 21st, 1882. She is still living. He is the father of the follow- ing children : William Henry, married Ma- ry Woodrow, and is a resident of Mahomet; James, married Hannah Swanson, also of Mahomet; Alice is the wife of William Tanner, of Mahomet; Elwain is single, War- ren also; Mary married Gehart B. Tanner, and resides in Mahomet, as does also Rezin, the youngest of the family. Mr. Boltin united with the Christian church about thir- ty-eight years ago and has always been an exemplary member. His political affilia- tions have always been with the republican party. He is now a justice of the peace. Mr. Boltin is numbered among the good moral citizens of Mahomet, and stands high in the estimation of the citizens of his com- munity.
MELVILLE CHI
ANDREW BARK.
Among the excellent citizens of our county hailing from that land of stalwart men, Scotland, is Andrew Barr. He was born October 1st, 1835, at Lesmahagow, Lanark- shire, Scotland, of good Scotch parents, An- drew and Marian (Brownlee) Barr. Mr. Barr left his native land in 1858 and came to Iroquois county this state. He farmed there until November, 1861, when he came to Ur- bana, and has since made this his home. He was married March 29th, 1865, at Whitehead, Wisconsin, to Miss Elizabeth MeBeath, a lady of fine education and thorough culture. She was born in 1841, and is still living.
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PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
They have seven children, named James, Andrew, Mungo, Belle, Marian, John and Susan. James is assisting his father in the brick and tile business, and the other chil- dren are attending school. After he had been here some time he built a planing and saw mill, and continued in that business un- til in May 1852, when, seeing the demand there was to be for brick, he opened an ex- tensive briek yard, with a capacity of 15,000 per day and removed his saw mill to a large building in the yard. After getting the brick business well under way, he erected large tile works, with three kilns, one of them having a capacity of three of ordinary size. At these works he turns out about 25,000 tile per week and of the very best quality. He has a reputation for making the best tile that can be made and for using only the best material. Consequently he has a ready sale for all he can make, and ships largely in carload lots to different points over the state. Ile is prospering finely and has a pleasant residence in this city, and owns the twenty-four acres upon which his yards are situated. He went back to Seotland in 1885, to visit the scenes of his boyhood. While there he purchased five splendid Clydesdale horses, since which time he keeps one or two at his stables. Mr. Barr is a staunch republican. He is an enterprising, solid and thrifty business man and possesses all those manly qualities that are characteristic of the hardy race from which he springs.
MELVILLE OH
DR. PHILIP C. MOSIER was born December 31, 1827, in Harrison county, Indiana. His parents were George
and Mariah (Criswell) Mosier, who were married in Floyd county, Indiana. Mrs. Mosier, the mother, died before his father came to this county ; he came to this county in 1854 and settled on a farm three miles south of Homer, which he improved from a wild prairie.
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