USA > Illinois > Ford County > Historical Atlas of Ford County Illinois > Part 30
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JAMES W. RAMSAY, Piper City, the efficient and popular Sheriff of Ford County, was born in Adams County, Ohio, in 1847. His father, William C. Ramsay, was a native of Adams County, born in 1826. He was a carpenter by trade. In 1852, he left Ohio, and settled ten miles northwest of Bloomington, Mc- Lean Co., Ill. ; he was married to Mary Jane Baldridge, a native of Adams County, Ohio. The result of this union was nine children, eight now living. James W., or " Will," as he is familiarly called, was educated in the public schools, and at the age of seventeen, enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-fifth, Company K, 100-day men, in 1864, from Pontiac, Livingston County. In 1866, he was married to Mary E. Henry, & native of Ashland County, Ohio. This union has been blessed with a family of five children, one of whom is dead. After his mar- riage, our subject lived two years in Livingston County, and then moved to Piper City, this county. In 1872, he was appointed Police Constable of Piper City, also was Deputy Sheriff under S. B. Lyman for eight years, and upon the latter retiring from office, he was elected to fill his place as Sheriff of Ford County ; his father died in 1867 in Chatsworth, Ill., and was buried in Piper City, where his widow now resides. Mr. Ramsay is a very popular man in this county, having won the confidence of all by his strict attention to business and duty. As an officer, he is efficient and thorough, discharging all duties promptly and fearlessly. He makes the Sheriff's office what it should be, the protector of right and punisher of wrong.
EDWIN RICE, deceased, was born in Worcester County, Mass., December 21, 1834, son of Silas and Almira (Corey) Rice, former a native of Massachusetts. They were married September 12, 1825, and afterward resided at Ashburnham, Mass., where Mrs. Rice died February 26, 1848. In this small New England Village, our subject grew up to manhood. He attended an academy at New Ipswich, and later in Oxford, Mass., drawn to the latter institution by his regard for the Principal, Dr. Homer Hitchcock, now of Kalamazoo, Mich. In the spring of 1855, he came to Chicago and secured a position with D. B. Fisk & Co., where he remained only a short time; he then lo- cated at Lisbon, Kendall Co., Ill., and obtained a position in a dry goods store with John Moore. After several years of con- stant attention and close application to business, he succeeded in forming a copartnership in the mercantile trade with Mr. Moore. This partnership lasted but about one year, when Mr. Rice was. compelled through failing health to retire from the dry goods bus- inees, and, during the remainder of his residence in Lisbon, de- voted his time to farming, trading and other out-door pursuits. Our subject was married, August 10, 1859, to Miss M. Almarine Moore, who was raised and educated in New York State, a daughter of Schuyler Moore, s native of Connecticut, and who when quite young came to New York, and located at Skaneateles, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1868. Mr. Rice spent one year in California, in 1861-65, looking after considerable property belonging to the estate of his deceased mother-in-law; and upon returning East was employed one year with a leading grain firm at Morris, Ill. In December, 1866, Mr. Rice located in Paxton, Ford Co., Ill., where he purchased the " Fredericks Elevator," and here engaged permanently in the grain trade, and from this time until his death managed his business in the careful, judicious and systematic manner that was certain to bring success. From time to time he extended his business and engaged in other enterprises, being one of the in- corporators of the first bank under national charter in Ford County, which bank surrendered its charter in 1876, and re or- ganized as the Ford County Bank, in which he was a partner at the time of his decease, and was quite extensively connected with the Linseed Oil Work of Toledo, Ohio. Personal super- vision, keen industry, simple and economical habits of life were bis wont, and he was fair and honorable in every transaction. Being
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without family, he and his genial wife have at all times extended the hospitality of their roof to the deserving and needy. For sev- eral years, Mr. Rice was an invalid, and had been a great suf- ferer at times. He died April 24, 1884, after two months' illness and intense suffering.
ALFRED SAMPLE, so well known to the citizens of Cen- tral Illinois as having attained to honorable distinction in the legal profession, was born in Butler County, Ohio, November 27, 1846. His parents were James Sample, a native of Ken- tucky, and Jane (Beard) Sample, who was a native of Virginia. His father, recently deceased, was a farmer and stock-dealer, and engaged in railroad business, and was well known in the Western country as an upright man and an excellent citizen. Our subject received his early training on the farm and at the country school, which he attended until about eleven years of age, when he gave to agricultural pursuits his entire attention. In the year 1857, he removed with his parents to Livingston County, Ill. Novem- ber, 1868, Mr. Sample. although but sixteen years of age, en- listed in Company G, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiment Illinois Infantry, and immediately went into active service. He was in Gen. Sherman's campaign and march to Atlanta. In, the battle of Resaca, he was severely and at that time supposed to be mortally wounded. He was shot in both arms and breast, on account of which, being unfitted for duty, he was honorably discharged December 6, 1864. On returning from the army, he entered Eureka College, where he remained three years, going thence to Monmouth, where he completed his education, having taken a special course in both colleges and having given special attention to the classics and mathematics. While at college, he
taught school at different intervals during vacations, and for one year after leaving college. Mr. Sample then began the study of law under the instruction of Col. R. G. Ingersoll, then of Peoria, but now of Washington, D. C., which he continued until 1871, when he was admitted to the bar. During the same year, he came to Paxton, where he has since practiced with marked suc- cess, building up an enviable reputation as a lawyer and an active and enterprising citizen. Mr. Sample is a Republican in sentiment, but has not allowed political matters to interfere with his profession ; and yet, although he has never sought polit- ical preferment, he was chosen a Presidential Elector in the Gar- field campaign, and has been State's Attorney for eight years, and City Attorney for four years-facts which testify to his pop- ularity. Mr. Sample was married, in September, 1875, to Miss Florence A. Cook, a daughter of Col. Cook, who is well known in State history, and who was brought prominently before the public in our late war. They have one daughter-Florence I. Sample. Mr. Sample has accumulated a handsome property, and, besides his home in Paxton, possesses other lands in his coun- ty. Mr. Sample has won distinction as an attorney in railroad matters. A brief sketch of some of the more important cases will not be out of place here. During the discussion by the people of the railroad law providing for a rate of 3 cents per mile for passenger travel on roads of the class of the Illinois Central, two citizens of Ludlow were ejected from the train because they declined to pay the 4 cents per mile demanded by the company. They secured the services of Mr. Sample, who was satisfied that the company was clearly in the wrong, and that there were con- tinual violations of this law-in fact, the companies paid no at- tention to it. Shortly after this, a public meeting was held by the citizens of Paxton, at which resolutions were adopted request- ing Mr. Sample to take steps for the enforcement of this law. After corresponding with the Railroad and Warehouse Commis- sioners, Mr. Sample, in his usual energetic way, began the pre- liminary work. A meeting was again held at Paxton, the Com- missioners being present. Becoming satisfied that a vigorous prosecution of all violations of this law would speedily follow, the railroad companies decided to reduce their charges to the legal requirement, which has since that time been followed. After this, the Commissioners were troubled by the east and west lines utterly disregarding the law as to unjust discriminations on freight rates. The companies claimed that such lines as extended out of the State were not bound by the law, and defied the Com- missioners. Bailey & Swannell, of Gilman, Ill., manufacturers, were discriminated against in shipping to New York City, a higher rate being charged from Gilman than from Peoria, a city eighty miles farther from New York.
The Commissioners decided to make this a test case, and suit was brought by the Attorney General in the Circuit Court of Iroquois County. This case was transferred to the United States Circuit Court at Chicago. The Commissioners, not feeling sat- isfied with the condition of the case, by the consent of the Attor- ney General, placed the whole matter in Mr. Sample's hands. Mr. Sample dismissed the case in the United States Court, as there was no probability of reaching it in that court for a long time, owing to the crowded condition of the docket.
A new case, with a new statement of the complaint, was be- gun in the Ford County Circuit Court. The court held that the statute did not apply to transportation from within, but without the State, and sustained a demurrer to the declaration, from which Mr. Sample appealed to the Supreme Court. This court prompt- ly decided against the railroad company, and sustained the law in its application to the above case of discrimination. The case was brought back, tried on its merits, the court deciding in favor of the people and fining the defendant. From this, the company took an appeal to the Supreme Court, when the decision of the lower court was affirmed, Judge Walker filing a most elaborate, able and exhaustive opinion in the case.
HIRAM SIBLEY. It is not proposed in this sketch to place before the reader a detailed history of the career of this public-spirited man. That would require a volume in itself.
FORD COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Hiram Sibley was born in North Adams, Berkshire Co., Mass., February 6, 1807. He remained there until sixteen years of age, and then came to Western New York and resided three years in Lima, Livingston County. He then removed to Mendon, where he established a manufacturing village now known as Sib- leyville. Ile successfully managed a foundry and machine shop in that village for a number of years, and in 1843 was elected Sheriff, at which time he removed to Rochester. It is a fact well known that the chief movers of the organization of the Western Union Telegraph resided in Rochester City, and it seems that Mr. Sibley conceived the project, and was the first President. He was the first to advocate the construction of the trans-conti- nental line of telegraph. Upon proposing this scheme, it met with disfavor from his associates in this city, whereupon he went to New York, and calling a meeting of telegraph men, laid before them his plan for connecting the Atlantic and Pacific by elec- tricity. A committee was appointed by the meeting to report upon the proposed plan, and they reported as follows : First, that it was next to impossible to construct such a line ; second, that if accomplished, the Indian, would destroy the line in the Territo- ries, and lastly, that it would not be a paying enterprise. That was the decision rendered by the assembled wisdom of all the prominent telegraph men in New York City, Cyrus W. Field and
Peter Cooper among the number. They, together, endeavored to persuade Mr. Sibley to drop the whole scheme as one utterly impracticable. He replied with his characteristic promptness that he should take the evening train for Washington and en- deavor to get an appropriation for the construction of the line, and that it should be built if he had to do it alone. He went to
Washington alone, and in spite of all obstacles obtained the nec- essary legislation. The line was constructed and the results show it was a grand conception. Mr. Sibley was President of the Western Union Telegraph Company sixteen years, and was suc- ceeded by William Orton. While engaged in promoting the Rus- sian extension of the Western Union, our subject visited Russia, where he made some necessary negotiations with the Czar, re- ceiving many distinguished honors at the hands of Alexander II. Since resigning the office of President of the Western Union, he has been largely engaged in the construction and man- agement of railroads in the Western and Southern States. At present he is regarded as the largest farmer in the world, being the owner of the great " Burr Oaks " farm, formerly known as the "Sullivant farm," which contained 40,000 acres lying in Ford and Livingston Counties, Ill. ; is also owner of much farm and city property in this State as well as in Michigan and New York. He has about 81,000,000 invested in his business in Chi- Mr. Sibley is a man who is greatly interested in educa- cago.
tion. He is one of the Trustees of Cornell University ; he founded and endowed the Sibley College of mechanical arts at Ithaca, at a cost of $100,600 ; also Sibley Hall, Library and Mu- seum, which he presented to the Rochester University, at Roch- ester, N. Y. Mrs. Sibley also manifests deep interest in all mat- ters of charity and benevolence, and has given largely to various charitable institutions throughout the country. She has ever cherished with tenderest recollection the place of her nativity, and a few years since erected in her native village, North Adams, Mass., St. John's Episcopal Church, at a cost of $25,000. This fine church edifice stands upon the spot where both Mr. and Mrs. Sibley were born. Although past threescore and ten, Mr. Sib- ley stlll retains the natural vigor of a hardy New England con- stitution, and the same active and untiring interest in his large and varied business affairs, which has characterized him through life.
NORMAN E. STEVENS. Paxton, was born in Portage County, Ohio, April 25, 1834. He lived at Franklin Mills (now Kent) in that county until fifteen years old, and then went to Oberlin, Ohio, attending a preparatory school for nearly two. years. At the end of that time he became a printer's apprentice in the office of the Elyris (Ohio) Courier. That office being destroyed by fire some months afterward, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and served in the same capacity in the office of the Daily Forest City, edited by Joseph Medill, now of the Chicago Tribune, for about a year, then changed to the Free Democrat. These two papers were afterward merged, making what is now the Cleveland Leader. In this office our subject completed his trade as printer, and in 1852 removed to Ashtabula County, where he purchased the Ashtabula County Democrat, which he sold in 1854, and went to Watertown, Wis., where he became a partner in the firm of Rose & Stevens, publishers of the Chronicle, supporting Fremont, the first Republican candidate for President. In August, 1857, Mr. Stevens removed to Minnesota, where he established the Wabasha Herald, and successfully conducted it for eight years. In January, 1865, he located at Paxton, and established the Record, which he has published since, with the loss of but two issues. In 1879, he was elected to serve in the Thirty-first General Assembly of Illinois, the only time in his life he was ever a candidate for office of any description other than some municipal position filled only as a matter of duty to the public. Mr. Stevens was married to Ada H. McMillen, in Watertown, Wis., March 19, 1857, and, during his residence in Minnesota, two sons-Edgar N. and'H. Arthur-his only children -were born, both now living. Edgar N., the oldest, being . partner with him in the publication of the Record.
DANIEL C. STONER (deceased) was born November 27, 1808, near Fredericktown, Md. His father having died, his mother moved the following spring to Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio. At the age of fourteen years, he was apprenticed to the tanner's trade, serving four years. During this time he received three months' schooling each year. At the age of eighteen, he began teaching school and "boarding round " in Montgomery
County, receiving $15 a month. This was the first money he ever carned. In 1828, he left Ohio and moved to Lauramie Township, Tippecanoe Co., Ind., and began improving a 200-acre farm. In the summer of 1850, he came through this section of the country on a prospecting tour, and being well pleased with the lands in this county, he took up the identical form of 747 acres in Sec- tions 3, 4, 9 and 10, Range 9, Patton. He moved his family onto this farm in the fall of 1851. Our subject was married, July 6, 1833, to Susan Abel, s native of Cincinnati, Ohio. Her father settled in La Fayette, Ind., in 1831, and worked at his trade of merchant tailor. This union was blessed with seven children, four now living-John F., who resides at the old home- stead ; Barbara Ann, wife of N. B. Day ; Minerva C., wife of William Perduc, of Paxton ; and Rebecca J., wife of Calvin C. Robinson, living in Kansas. Mr. Stoner was Captain of the State militia, and during an Indian scare at La Fayette in 1833, he, with his men, were ordered to La Fayette, and after remain- ing there several days, the scare having vanished, they returned home. For many years, our subject has figured but little in public life, but in the early days of the county, he played a con- spicuous part in the creation of the county, was appointed the first Assessor of Ford County, and was elected the first County Treasurer. Mr. Stoner departed this life September 21, 1882; his wife, Susan, died in March of the same year. Thus, one by one, the pioneer settlers of Ford County are passing away, and in a few years there will not be left one to tell the story of the early settlements. Mr. Stoner was an honorable and enterprising citizen, and the Stoner family justly ranks among the representative families of Ford County.
John F. Stoner, Patton Township, eldest son of Daniel C., was born December 23, 1834. He was educated at the Wes- leyan University in Bloomington. In November, 1868, he was married to Sarah Perdue, a native of Virginia. They have one child-s daughter. John F. Stoner was elected Surveyor of Ford County in 1868, and served three terms.
EDWARD VAN STEENBERGH, Lyman Township, was born at Saugerties, Ulster Co., N. Y., in 1814. He is a son of Cornelius and Alida Van Steenbergh, who also were natives of Saugerties. Our subject was brought up on a farm lying on the Hudson River, owned by his father. When of age, he engaged in the blue stone quarry business, and after a few years bought a farm, married and settled down, continuing the quarrying in con- nection with farming. In 1810, he was united in marriage with Maria F. Davis, in Ulster County, " Y. She bore him eight children, and died in March, 1870. Names of the children are : Isaac, William (deceased), Samuel, Wesley, Nathan Rice, Jen- nie, Thomas and Benson, all married except the two last named. In March, 1871, Mr. Van Steenbergh, for his second wife, married Emily M. Smith, born in Otsego County, N. Y., Octo- ber, 1829. This marriage took place in Ulster County, N. Y., and one month later they came to Ford County and settled on Section 28, Lyman Township, where all the improvements notice- able at this time have since been made, there having been but few acres broken prior to their coming. In addition to one-half section of land in Section 28, 320 acres, the adjoining north half of Section 29 is owned by Mr. Van Steenbergh, who annually presses and ships large quantities of hay to Chicago and other markets.
WILLIAM ALEXANDER WESTROPE, bookseller, Gib- son, was born in Morgan County, Ill., January 28, 1886, and is a son of John and Sarah Westrope. He was united in marriage with Lucy Ettie Smith at Scottville, Ill., in 1859. They have four children-Leora Bell, Mary Ettie, Louis Everest and Cora Addie. Mr. Westrope settled in this county January 28, 1878.
WEAVER WHITE, Paxton, one of the most popular of our county officials, was born March 28, 1849, in Adams County, Ohio. When three years of age, he with his parents removed to the western part of McLean County, Ill., where they remained until the fall of 1864, when the family came to Ford County. Mr. White was reared on a farm and became thoroughly versed in
this honorable calling. He graduated from the Paxton Graded Schools when sixteen years of age. He then attended the Illinois Industrial University at Champaign two years, obtaining the honorary scholarship of Ford County on a public competitive ex- amination. Mr. White taught school some two years with marked success at Drummer's Grove and vicinity, going to Gib- son on the construction of the railroad through that part of the county. He built the fifth house in that place. For about one year he was in the employ of Messrs. Hall & Snyder in the grain business. The political campaign of 1872 was notable in this county on account of a very exciting contest for the office of Circuit Clerk and Recorder, there being four candidates-two Republicans, one Independent and one Democrat. Mr. White, although unacquainted with the ways of politicians, was elected, and his record as an officer proves the selection to have been wise- ly made. He was again chosen in 1880 to fill the same position, his majority showing the strong confidence that his faithful services had given the people. . During the time he had been Circuit Clerk, in addition to raising the amount neces- sary to carry on the office, he has turned into the county treasury several thousand dollars. He was married to Arabella Davis, September 26, 1870, and their home is made happy by two un- usually bright children-Arthur W. and Mabel. Mr. White, al- though very quiet and unassuming in manner, has a very strong hold on the confidence of the citizens of the county, which he has earned by devoting his time to the conscientious discharge of his official duties. He is a great lover of home and family. A careful and extensive reader, his library is well chosen, none but the best of books being admitted. Nothing greater can be said of any man in public life than this-he is faithful to duty and
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thoroughly reliable. His father, Patterson White, who since 1864 has lived near Paxton until his death, which occurred in 1880, bore an excellent name. His mother, one sister and four brothers still reside in this county. The superior character of the parents is well maintained by every one of their children.
CHARLES HOWARD YEOMANS, Gibson, was born near Delhi, Delaware County, N. Y., December 2, 1846. His father, James Yeomans, was of Scotch descent, and his mother, Sarah (Redfield) Yeomans, was a daughter of Hon. J. G. Red- field, of Delhi, N. Y., and a lineal decendant of the family of Theophilus and Priscilla Redfield, who came over in the "May- flower," and landed with the other pilgrims on the memorable " Plymouth Rock." Mr. Yeomans may be considered as one of the old residents of Illinois, coming to this State with his parents when only four years old, and when there were but forty miles of railroad in the State. He was reared on the farm in De Kalb and Kane Counties until he was fourteen years old, . when he struck out in the first really independent move of his life, and from which, though but a boy, he gained that degree of self-de- pendence which sided and characterized all his undertakings. in after life. At this time the lands along the line of the Illinois Central Railroad were being opened up, and as his father was in very poor health, and financially worsted in the panic of 1857, Charles felt the importance of making a new start in the great Prairie State. He accordingly struck out with a team and break- ing plow, a distance of fifty miles from home, and spent the entire season breaking prairie near the town of Peotone, Will County, Ill .. which was then just starting up. He returned to this place
with his father's family the following spring, and remained on the farm until eighteen years of age. By this time his younger brothers were old enough to carry on the farm work, and our subject became impatient for an education. His first financial investment was when he was eleven years old. He took a soythe, went into the marsh, mowed and put up by hand two loads of marsh hay, which he hauled to market and with the proceeds purchased two calves, which he kept and broke for ozen, selling them when three years old for $100. This constituted his entire capital and wealth when he started for college in the fall of 1864. He steadily and faithfully adhered to his purpose of obtaining . collegiate education, meeting with varying successes and reverses on account of his lack of means and his father's inability to aid him. He entered the Freshman's class of 1867 at Ripon Col- lege, Wisconsin, where he maintained his standing in his class and supported himself by sawing wood, out of school hours through- out his college course, for 15 cents an hour. Two years before he graduated, being ahead of his class in some of the sciences, he undertook the study of law in addition to his other work and regular college studies, in the office of Hon. Jesse Dobba, of Ripon, Wis., and during vacation with Hon. Charles H. Wood, of Onarga, Ill. He was admitted to the Wisconsin bar upon ex- amination in open court October 10, 1870, and graduated from the college with the degree of A. B. in June, 1871. He received the degree of A. M. from the same college in June, 1879, on the occasion of his return to his Alma Mater to deliver the annual address before the Alumni Society. After graduating, he held the position of Principal of the Onargs Graded Schools for one
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