USA > Illinois > Ford County > Historical Atlas of Ford County Illinois > Part 27
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
The first marriage in Pella was between Henry Atwood and Miss Mary Wylie. They were married by W. P. Pearsons, of Onarga, November 16, 1859.
The first school taught in Pella was at the house of Henry Atwood in 1863, his wife being the first teacher. The first school- house built was the " Reed Schoolhouse," in District No. 1, But- ler Reed being the first teacher.
The first town meeting was held at the Center Schoolhouse. Pella used to be an immense bay-field during the war, thou- sands of tons being annually cut, pressed and shipped to market. There is no village, post office or church in this township, the trading point for most of the citizens being Piper City, which lies close to the south line of the township.
The Supervisors have been: Jacob 'S. Ruff, 1870; James Sheldon, 1872; Robert Wells, 1878; James Sheldon, 1874; C. M. Blowers, 1877; George Eastwood, 1882; Thomas McDer- mont, 1888 and still in office.
Some of the leading citizens of this township live in the southern part of the township among whom may be mentioned Joseph Mitchinson, & farmer, who was born in England in June, 1838. His parents were farmers, and Joseph worked on the farm for several years then left there and came to America. He settled in this township in 1858 on Section 22. He has 120 acres of rich farming land, and a comfortable home. . In 1865, he married Elizabeth Agnew, of England, and the fruit of this union is six children, four of whom are now living.
Among the leading farmers and stock-raisers of Pella may be mentioned William P. Moore, who was born in Perry County, Ohio, 1884. He left there in 1866, and settled in Warren County, Ill .; after living there two years, he moved on to his pres- ent farm in Section 82. In 1862, he enlisted in the One Hun- dred and Fourteenth Ohio Regiment and served in the war until its close. He was married to Eliza Hickman of Pennsylvania, in 1857. They have six children. Mr. Moore has been Road Commissioner for many years, and may be classed among the leading and successful farmers of the county.
Charles A. Cook was born in London, Ontario, November 8, 1845. He left Canada and settled in La Salle County in 1857, and came to Ford County, Pella Township, in 1870. He has a fine rich farm on Section 30, with pleasant and commodious buildings. Mr. Cook has been twice married, first to Angeline Dean in 1870; she died in 1877. In 1879, he married Miss Carrie Montelius; she died in 1888. He has two children. Mr. Cook is one of the leading and active men of the township.
MONA TOWNSHIP.
The township of Mons was set off from Rogers March 2, 1870, being the last township organized in the county. When first created, it was call Delhi, at the suggestion of Supervisor Bishop, of Brenton Township, but several months after was changed to Mona, at the request of the citizens of the township.
It was so named because many of the inhabitants of said township are natives of the Isle of Man. Through the kindness of Mr. David Keighin, we will give a brief sketch of that lonely island:
The Isle of Man is situated in the Irish Sea, nearly equi- distant from the three surrounding countries. Its area is about 220 square miles. Two-thirds consists of arable and meadow land, and the remainder of heath and moor. The climate is high- ly salubrious, being exempt from oppressive heats in summer and frosts in winter. The commerce is not great; the chief article of export is fish-herrings bringing in a clear revenue of £40,000 a year. The language of the island is one of the three dialects of Celtic, which still continues to be spoken there. It is similar to the Irish ; therefore, the natives of Ireland, the highlanders of Scotland and the Manksman have little difficulty in understand-
ing each other. The island is divided into six Manors, and these subdivided into seventeen Parishes. The Isle obtained its name from the original founder and legislator of the island. . Mannanan MacLer; the name being contracted to Mannin, and in later years to Mann. Mona, with which Mann is often con- founded, is rather a description of the island, than a name. Mona signifies isolated or lonely, and was doubtless applied to the isle by the inhabitants of surrounding countries.
Mona Township is bounded on the north by Rogers Town- ship, on the east by Iroquois County, south by the township of Pella and west by Livingston County. It is a Congressional township, being six miles square. The north half is a fine body of undulating prairie land, settled by an excellent class of intel- ligent farmers.
The southwest part of the township is low, level land with deep soil, and in dry seasons capable of raising large crops of corn, while the remainder of the township is covered over with a . large marsh, called the Vermilion Swamps, now in process of drainage.
The first settler in Mona was Matthew Faddling, who came here twenty-five years ago, and settled on Section 5 where he now resides. Among the early settlers may be mentioned Jacob Holderman, Louis Falter, Sr., Wright Kemp, M. C. Lewis, Daniel Morrical, Thomas Kelly, John Looney, Thomas Heavy- sides, Robert Lewin, Samuel Dowse, William Cowley, George Sherman, John and William Dancer, Henry Benson.
The first town meeting was held at the house of Thomas Kelly, at which time David Keighin was elected Supervisor.
The first schoolhouse was built on the northwest quarter of Section 32, Belle Hose boing the first teacher. Schools No. 3 and 5 were started about the same time.
In the spring of 1867, fourteen new dwelling houses were being built in the township at the same time.
The first post office was at the house of John F. Bute, named Sugar Loaf, the mail coming from Clifton.
The first religious services in the township were held in School No. 8. The Sunday school was started by George Sherman, who was the Superintendent for seven years.
The town hall on the southeast quarter of Section 8, was built for the purpose of holding religious, political, social and lit- erary meetings. In 1876, a literary society was organized with John A. Scott, President; David Koighin, Vice President ; A. Anderson, Secretary ; and M. A. Dinsmore, Treasurer, the cen- tral object being to cultivate a taste for literature among the resi- dents of the township. The exercises of the Mona Literary So- ciety were somewhat varied; the main object being the improve- ment of the social condition of the community. Their efforts were ably seconded by other districts of Ford and adjoining coun- ties and liberal donations were received from Paxton, Piper City, Clifton and other towns.
The society flourished until the village of Kempton was started in the northwest corner of the township, which drew away some of the citizens and much of the interest that centered at the ball.
There are eight district schoolhouses in this township, two of them, the "Keighin" and "Kelly" Schoolhouses, are the hand- somest buildings, outside the villages, in Ford County.
The first preaching in the township was at the Bute School- house, by Rev. M. C. Lewis, . Methodist preacher. The society then numbered fourteen members.
In 1881, the society erected a church in Kempton, under the supervision of Rev. Joe Bell, pastor, and A. Stuart, R. F. Bell and James Kemp, Trustees. The new church was dedicated the 28th of April, 1882, by Rev. B. F. Tallman. R. F. Bell was ap- pointed the first Superintendent of the Sunday school.
Kempton is the only village in the township, a station on the Kankakee & Southwestern Railroad. It was laid out in 1878, by Wright Kemp. The railroad company called their station Kempton, in honor of Mr. Kemp, who rendered them excellent service in securing the right of-way for the railroad across the township. The village contains two general stores, one hard- ware store, one drug store, one lumber yard, two elevators, and a hotel. The population is about 200. J. W. Brown built the first frame house in the village. J. E. Seyster was the first sta- tion agent.
Among the early settlers and leading men of Mona Township mention may be made of the following :
David Keighin is a native of the Isle of Man. He came to Tennessee in 1848, and to this township from Peoria in 1869. He has a fine farm of 480 acres, and a pleasant home on Sec- tion 11. In connection with his farm, he, with his son Charles, are engaged in the grain business in Kempton. Mr. Keighin was elected the first Supervisor of Mona, which office he ably filled for seven years. In the community and in all public en- terprises he takes a lively interest. His warm heart and genial ways have made him an abundance of friends, and by his indus- try, honesty and integrity, is justly entitled to the respect of all. Thomas Kelly came from the Isle of Man in the spring of 1849, in the same ship with David Keighin. He moved to this township in 1867, coming from Galva, Henry County, Ill. In reviewing the lives of successful men, how true do we find in nearly every instance, that hard work, economy and industry have laid the foundation of future prosperity. Mr. Kelly is no exception to this rule, and his large farm of 640 acres, suitable and substantial buildings, have been soquired only by a life's labor, and constant application.
Joseph Mckinney is a son of Archibald Mckinney, one of the early settlers of Brenton Township. Mr. Mckinney came to Kempton in 1880, and bought out the hardware store and lumber yard of John Mckinney, now in business in Piper City.
Digitized by
78
Joseph Mckinney is a good business man, and by fair dealings has established a large trade.
Samuel Dowse came to this township in 1868, settling on Section 8. He now owns 860 acres of fine land with good im- provements. He was Assessor for six years, and at present is Justice of the Peace. He is a native of England.
Louis Falter, Jr., was born in Ohio. He came to Mona Township in 1869. He now owns 820 acres in Section 4. Mr. Falter is one of the active, progressive farmers of Ford County. He has a beautiful home, and is in the prime of life.
John Looney is a native of the Isle of Man. Mr. Looney owns 240 acres of excellent land in this township. He is a shrewd man, well read on all principal topics.
John A. Scott is a native of Washington County, Penn. He came to this township in 1870. He now owns all of Section 9, where he has erected a comfortable home, large and convenient barns and other buildings. He is the present Supervisor of the township.
Henry Benson left England in 1854, and came to Kendall County, Ill., then to this township in 1867, settling on Section 1. He owns a fine farm of 240 acres, with handsome improve- ments.
The largest stock-dealers in the township are the Dancers- John and William. They came from Will County before the township was settled, with large droves of cattle to herd on the Vermilion Swamps during the summer. They have herded as many as a thousand head that were placed under their care, in s season. In 1873, they came here to live, and now own 480 seres of land. John is married, and has a fine house on Section 14. They keep about 200 head of cattle on hand all the time, buying as fast as they sell. John Dancer is one of the Drainage Commissioners of the special Vermilion Ditch that is being con- structed across the swamps.
Frank Drendel was born in Germany in 1838. He came to the United States in 1865, and to Section 21, Mona Township, in 1868. He owns the west half of Section. 21, and has always followed the occupation of farming.
Robert Lewin, farmer, is a native of the Isle of Man. He came here in 1868. He owns a well-regulated farm of 480 acres, with handsome buildings. He is a thorough, successful man, and has accumulated by hard labor and shrewd management a goodly share of this world's goods.
Daniel Morrical was born in Laurel Hill, Va., 1886. He moved to Ohio, then lived in Indiana twenty-two years, and finally settled in Ford County in 1869. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace since the township was organized, and has been School Director several years. He is & farmer, and owns 160 acres of land.
George Essington, farmer, is a native of England. He came to this township in 1871, settling on Section 1. He Owns a good, well-improved farm of eighty acres.
John Sutton was born in England in 1885. He left there in 1858, settling first in New York State, and then moved to Grundy County, Ill., where he remained some ten years .. He enlisted in the Ninety-first Illinois Regiment, and was in the service three years. He moved to Section 8, Mona Township, in 1869, where he has since resided on his farm of 160 acres.
John Thorndyke was born in England. He came to this township from Grundy County in 1882. He owns the north- west quarter of Section 81. Himself and wife are the parents of seventeen children, twelve of whom are now living.
James E. Farley is the present Assessor. He was born in Pennsylvania, and came here in 1875, and now owns 240 acres in Section 5. Mr. Farley is a carpenter by trade, but most of the time is actively engaged in farming.
James Kemp was born in Kendall County, Ill., 1858, and is the son of Wright Kemp, who now resides in Kankakee City. Mr. Kemp, the subject of this sketch takes a deep interest in all improvements, and is himself a natural mechanic. He has & beautiful home one-half mile west of Kempton.
PERSONAL SKETCHES.
CHRIS. ANDERSON, Roberts, was born April 28, 1842, at Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and came to Illi- nois in the fall of 1866. . In the winter of 1866-67, he bought the southeast quarter of Section 4, Township 25, Range 9, and farmed until 1872. In the fall of that year our subject asso- ciated with John A. Montelius and George Campbell, of Piper City, under the firm name of Montelius & Co., as general store- keepers and grain merchants. In 1875, Mr. Montelius sold out, when the business was carried on under the firm name of Ander- son & Campbell, until 1878, in which year Mr. Campbell sold out and went to Piper City to commence his banking business. Mr. Anderson continued the store keeping up to the fall of 1881, when he sold out to James Smith & Son, and took possession of the Roberts Exchange Bank in 1882. In the spring of 1888, he started the Roberts Brick and Tile Works.
SWEN ANDERSON, Justice of the Peace, Sibley, was born in Sweden, January 6, 1844, and is a son of O. and Cary Anderson. He came to this country with his parents, and settled in Knox County, III. In 1868, he settled in this county. Our subject was united in marriage with Latha Swenson, of Fairbury. Ill. They have four children-Carry C., Albert F., George Theodor and James L. In addition to his official position, Mr. Anderson is a Notary Public, insurance and land agent.
FORD COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
HON. HUGH P. BEACH, Piper City .. Judge Besch traces his paternal ancestry back to the Hon. Daniel D. Tomp- kins, one of the early Governors of New York State, and sabse- quently Vice President of the United States for two terms conse- catively under James Monroe as President ; his ancestry on his mother's side is traceable to certain high official positions in Con- necticut. The eyes of our subject first opened to the light of day, about forty years ago, in a humble log cabin in the then wilder- ness of Northern Ohio, near what is now the beautiful city of Cleveland. He received such education as the scant facilities of that early day offered to farmer boys, until about the age of fourteen, when, upon the death of his mother, he started out to confront the fortunes of life and carve out a career for himself, unaided and alone. His first venture was in a printing office, which he entered as " printer's devil," and in and from that position, through all the intermediate grades up to the writer of locals for a country journal, he served for several years, during which period he received his first substantial scholarship in the history of the political affairs of his country and the world. Time and an increase of knowledge awakened within him a desire to enter the legal profession, and a favorable opportunity presenting itself, he changed his occupation, and spent the next succeeding years in the offices of two prominent lawyers. Here he was found at the breaking-out of the late rebellion. At the firing on Fort Sum- ter, he at once volunteered for three years, or " during the war." The first company he joined (such was the patriotic rush to the ' defense of the country) failed to be accepted by the authorities ; he did not have to wait long, however, for the call for "300,000 more" gave him an opportunity of entering the service as a pri- vate; he remained for over four years and a half in constant serv- ice, and though but comparatively a boy, he served through all the various grades up to the command of a company, both in- fantry and artillery, holding his commissions about half the en- tire term of service. This took him through campaigns and en- gagements from the Ohio River to the Gulf, the Red River expe- dition, and the movement against Mobile and the attendant con- flicts, which resulted in its capture, in which latter operations in the field he was in command of his own company ; he also after- ward rendered service in the Gulf Coast defense at the mouth of the Mississippi. During his term of service, he was from time to time under Gens. Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Banks, Canby Smith and other distinguished commanders. Two slight wounds, only, attested to the many perils of this long and arduous service. After the assassination of President Lincoln, he raised a contri- bution in his company of over $700 for the National Lincoln Monument at Springfield, and received an autograph letter of thanks from Gov. Oglesby, President of the Monument Associa- tion. Toward the close of his term of service, he married the daughter of the late Capt. Henry Lyon Smith, of the Engineer Corps of the old regular army, who was a graduate of West Point, and subsequently . Professor at that post. Capt. Smith was of New England birth, and after he graduated at West Point he was sent by the United States Government to Louisiana, where he married the sister of a classmate, and thus became connected with one of the first families of Louisiana, among whom were a Governor of the State and several Generals and distinguished political leaders. One member (aunt to the wife of our subject) has, since the close of the war, filled. the position of Librarian, first at the patent office, and next at the agricultural department st Washington. On returning from the army, Judge Beach with his young wife came direct to Ford County, Ill., where he has since resided. Here he at once resumed the study of law in con- nection with other branches of professional business, and was ad- mitted to the bar about 1870, and during the three succeeding years was engaged in private practice. In the spring of 1878, his fellow-townsmen elected him to the County Board of Supervisors, where, by his vigilance and advocacy of economy, retrenchment and reform in the management of the affairs of the county, he immediately attracted general attention and, very unexpectedly to himself, was taken up by the people and by an overwhelming majority elected, the same fall, to the office of County Judge of Ford County, to which position he has been ro- elected for three successive terms. He is . Knight Templar, St. Paul's Commandery, No. 34, Fairbury, Ill .; he is also s member of the I. O. O. F., both Subordinate and Encamp- ment, and has been a Representative to the Grand Lodge of the State. He has also been President of the Board of Trustees of the village where he resides, and has held numerous other . subordinate offices. In politics, he is a Republican. In religion, he believes God reigns supreme. Judge Beach is counted one of the best orators of Eastern Illinois, and is pronounced by those who know him most intimately, to be a faithful, upright and just Judge.
HENRY BENSON, farmer, P. O. Kempton, was born May 2, 1889, and is a son of Henry and Ann Benson, natives of North Lancashire, England, who had a family of nine children, six girls and three boys, Henry being the youngest son. The family emigrated to America landing in Philadelphia January 6, 1855, and came at once to Kendall County, Ill., and settled on a farm near Lisbon where they remained three years when s farm was purchased near Yorkville, where the family lived nine years. In the spring of 1865, the mother died; the following year the farm was sold and the family separated, to find homes for themselves. Henry located in Mona Township, on his present place of residence, in the spring of 1867, when it was & wild prairie. On December 81, 1868, he was united in mar- riage with Hannah, daughter of Wright and Elizabeth Kemp, natives of Lancashire, England, who emigrated to the United States in 1849 .. "The issue of this union is a family of six chil- dren-Mary Alice, Horace Kemp, Henry Wright, Wilbur John,
Walter Elliott and Arthur Heap. The father of our subjeet died May 9, 1877. Our subject is a progressive man and keeps well up with the times, as is shown in the surroundings of his beautiful home and finely improved farm.
W. A. BICKET, Sibley, resident agent and general man. ager for Hiram Sibley's " Burr Oaks farm," was born in Can- ada in 1842. When but thirteen years old, he entered a store as clerk, and before he was fourteen became book-keeper of the establishment. In 1860, he came to Chicago, Ill., where he entered a commission store as clerk and afterward became book- keeper. In 1863, he went to Minnesota, and enlisted in Uncle Sam's service, remaining until the close of the war. He after- ward became head manager of a large manufacturing establish- ment which employed . quarter of a million dollars investment. In 1872, he came to the Burr Oaks farm, and has since been resident agent. . He has a vast amount of business to perform, looking after $1,000,000 worth of Mr. Sibley's property at Sib- ley, and over the farm. He is Supervisor of Sullivant Town- ship, a position he has held for six years, one year as chairman of that body. He has been a member of the village board three years, and has held all the township offices from Constable to Supervisor. He was married to Ellen Pratt, a native of Fari- bault, Minn., February 14, 1867. They had eight children, six of whom are now living. Mr. Bicket is one of Ford County's prominent and valued citizens, widely known and honored by all.
COL. CHARLES BOGARDUS, s man in the prime of life, is one of the most widely known and prominent business men
of the county. He has at the early age of forty-two, a his- tory as a military officer, a reputation as a business man, and a fortune of his own accumulation, surpassed by few who stand at the close of life's allotted span. Charles Bogardus was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., March 28, 1841. During an epi- demic in 1847, almost his entire family, including father and mother, were swept away by death. He was taken by an un- cle, W. H. Bogardus, who gave him the advantages of the com- mon school until the age of twelve years, when he secured a place in a grocery store at $1.50 per week, his uncle furnish- ing him with board and clothes. This place he held for four years, receiving advances in pay from time to time. All of his wages had been paid over to his uncle as received every Saturday night. On the expiration of his term of service, he borrowed money to take him to Ridgeway, in Western New York, and commenced clerking and earning his first money at $8 per month. He continued here until 1862, receiving an advance in salary each year. The benevolent uncle, although . poor man, had without the knowlndge of his nephew invested the small earnings of his first engagement, and without any charges for board or clothes, offered to turn over to him the whole amount, which was firmly and justly declined with thanks. In, 1862, he was married to Hannah W. Pells, and in August of the same year enlisted as and was sworn in a private in Company A, One Hundred and Fifty-first New York Volun- teers. Here began, for one so young, a most active and suc- cessful military career. At the organization of the company, he was elected First Lieutenant, and was promoted to the Cap- taincy of Company I December 12, 1862, to Lieutenant Colonel December 10, 1864, and brevetted Colonel by order of the Pres- ident of the United States for gallant and meritorious services in one of the charges in front of Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865. The Governor of New York forwarded the President's commission to him with the following autograph letter: "Colonel: I have the pleasure to transmit herewith a brevet commission con- ferred by the President, in recognition of your faithful and dis- tinguished services in the war. I feel a just pride in this ao- knowledgment of the gallantry and devotion of an officer of this State, which serves to heighten the reputation won by the valor and constancy of the soldiers of New York. Very truly yours, R. E. Fenton." He participated in all the marches, skirmishes and battles, many of the hardest fought of the war, in which his regiment was engaged, which belonged to the Sixth Army Corps. He was wounded at Monocacy, Md., July 9, 1864, captured and escaped Richmond and Libby Prisons; by the severity of his wound, not being able to endure the transfer by ambulance, he was carried three miles on a stretcher to the Confederate hospital at Frederick City, Md. In a few days the Union troops captured that place, and he was then sent to the officers' hospital at Annapolis, Md. From thence, on crutches, home to cast his first vote for Lincolr, and back again to his regiment, though not able to walk without his cane, and finished his military career with his old command, having been mustered out June 26, 1865. After the close of the war, he returned to Ridgeway, N. Y., and entered into partnership with his old em- ployer, with whom he remained a full partner until failing health from his wound received in 1864 compelled him to give up bus- iness. In March, 1872, he came to Paxton to make it his per- manent home, having found, by visiting, the climate favorable to his health, since which time he has been identified permanently with all worthy enterprises of the city and community. He and his estimable wife have a place in the hearts of our people, .ca- pecially in those of the poor and needy, whose wants are diligent. ly and unostentatiously searched out and alleviated.
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.