Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 167

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1388


USA > Illinois > Knox County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 167
USA > Illinois > Lake County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 167
USA > Illinois > Mercer County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 167
USA > Illinois > Kane County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 167
USA > Illinois > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 167
USA > Illinois > Coles County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 167
USA > Illinois > Clark County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 167
USA > Illinois > McDonough County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 167
USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 167


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198


Mr. Smith is a Prohibitionist and Democrat, and has held local offices.


HEMAN P. SMITH.


Heman P. Smith was born in Marathon, Cort- land County, New York, November 14, 1833. His parents were William Smith, born in Schenec- tady, New York, August 21, 1787, and Lorinda (Badger) Smith, born near Coventry, New York, and the daughter of Edmund Badger of Becket, Massachusetts. His grandfather, Robert Smith, came with his bride to America from Manches- ter, England, in 1776, landing at New York, when Washington was organizing his army at White Plains. He immediately enlisted and served in the Revolutionary War seven years and eight months, during part of which time he was a commissioned officer on detailed duty. During the war, his wife lived on the Mohawk Flats, at Fort Stanwix. At the close of the war he located at Schenectady, New York, where he resided until 1794. He was a man of strong character, and felt the military services he ren- dered was a duty be owed his adopted country, and they were cheerfully performed. He led essentially a farmer's life. He removed from Schenectady to Cincinnatus, Cortland County, and settled on the six hundred and forty acres allowed him by the government for his services in the war. That section of New York State was at that time almost a wilderness, and his nearest neighbor was sixteen miles distant. After a residence here of fourteen years, he removed to Marathon, where he spent the remainder of his life. He had a liberal English education, and while residing in Schenectady, was honored by being elected to several munici- pal offices. He had five sons and three daugh- ters. The sons were: John, Isaac, Robert, William, and Abraham.


Heman P. Smith came to Knox County with his father, June 19, 1844, and settled in Lynn Township, on the farm which he now occupies and where his parents died, the father at the age


of ninety-two, and his mother at the remarkable age of one hundred years and three months. Mr. Smith was educated in the common schools of Knox County, and at Beloit College, Wis- consin, from which he was recalled to take charge of the home farm. He enlisted in the Civil War in 1862, Company G of the Eighty- ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and served until February, 1865, when he was discharged for disability, three months before the disband- ing of his entire regiment. He was in all the engagements of the regiment, which had some of the most severe encounters of the war, and took part in fifteen pitched battles. He was in the front rank during the charge up Missionary Ridge, and spent nine months in the hospital.


May 25, 1865, Mr. Smith was married to Har- riet E. Thompson, in Lynn Township. They have seven children: LaMont, born December 6, 1866; Letha, born April 7, 1870; Fred, born July 8, 1873; Abbie and Addie, born September 5, 1880; Urban, born June 5, 1882; and Bertha, born October 31, 1885.


In politics, Mr. Smith is an independent dem- ocrat, and has held most of the township offices, including that of Assessor, and School Director. He is a very successful farmer, and owns three hundred and fifty acres of land, including the old Smith homestead.


A. A. SNIDER.


A. A. Snider was born in Stark County, Illi- nois, November 29, 1849, and received his edu- cation in the common schools. His father, John Snider, was born in Ohio, and his mother, Susan S. (Wright), was a native of New York State. His paternal grandparents were William and Mary Snider.


Mr. A. A. Snider is the oldest of a family of six children. His brothers are: L. W., William E., and Elmer B. His sisters are both married: Mary M., married Call Salisbury; Emma, mar- ried John Cunningham. January 13, 1872, Mr. Snider married Martha J. Mahaffey, in Henry County, Illinois. Mrs. Snider was born in Peoria County, October 22, 1849. They have two children: Minnie M., born in 1876; Perry O., born in 1882. Mrs. Snider's parents were Nain and Deborah (Wright) Mahaffey; her father was born in Ohio; her mother, in New York State. It was early in the history of Peoria County that her father, a stone mason by trade, settled there. They had four children. Mr. and Mrs. Mahaffey are now deceased.


Mr. Snider lived with his parents until he was of age. For about six years after his marriage, he made his home in Stark County, on a farm East of La Fayette. He then purchased land in Section 1, Lynn Township, Knox County, Illinois, where he now has a fine farm of two hundred and seventy-two acres.


Mr. Snider is a member of the Masonic Order. He and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. In religion, Mr. and Mrs. Snider are Methodists. He is School Director, and has been Road Commissioner several terms. In politics, he is a republican.


HPSmith


Austin Smith


825


KNOX COUNTY .


WARFIELD B. TODD.


Warfield B. Todd was born in Frederick County, Maryland, February 23, 1837, and was educated in the common schools of his native State. He came to Illinois with his parents, Vachel H. and Snsan (Brown) Todd, in 1851, and he is the eldest of their three children now liv- ing. They settled first in Stark County, but in 1855, located in Lynn Township, Knox County.


In the City of Chicago in March, 1862, Mr. Todd was married to Euphemia Lafferty, who was born in Lynn Township, Knox County, October 23, 1838, and is a daughter of John and Sallie (Slocum) Lafferty. Mr. and Mrs. Todd have had twelve children: John; Susan; Anar; Jennie; Charles; Nellie; Benjamin J .; Upton B .; Emma, who died January 23, 1895; and three who died in infancy. John married Emma Reed. Susan is now Mrs. F. L. Hilliard; and Anna was the wife of John Dryden, a farmer in Stark County, who died February 22, 1899. Mr. Lafferty was a native of Pennsylvania, and eight years after his marriage came from Ohio and settled in Lynn Township, where he was a farmer until his death in July, 1867. Mrs. Lafferty was a native of the State of New York, and still resides upon the old homestead.


In September, 1861, Mr. Todd enlisted in Com- pany B, Thirty-seventh Illinois Infantry, and was Orderly Sergeant for seven months, when he was discharged for physical disability. In June of 1862, he enlisted again, this time in Company D, Sixty-ninth Illinois Volunteers, and was elected First Lieutenant, in which capacity he served four months, when he was discharged and returned home. In 1864, he was drafted and was assigned to Company A, Thirty-sixth Illinois, went to the front, and was in the battles of Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville. He served until 1865, when he was discharged and returned to Lynn Township, where he has since been engaged in his calling as a farmer. His farm consists of three hundred and twenty acres of good land, under excellent cultivation.


Mr. Todd is a democrat, and has always taken an active interest in politics. In 1857, he was elected Constable, and in 1879, Supervisor, which office he held for six years. In 1898, he was again elected to the same office, which he now holds. He has been Assessor and Collector, and was a School Director for eighteen years. Mr. Todd is a member of the Masonic order, Kewanee Chapter, No. 47, and of Lafayette Blue Lodge, No. 501.


ALBRO, ALEXANDER W .; Merchant and Farmer; Galva, Henry County, and Lynn Town- ship, Knox County; born November 23, 1824, in Warren County, New York. His parents were Samuel and Polly (Green) Albro. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and secured 160 acres of land in Lynn Township on a sol- dier's warrant, which he settled upon and im- proved, coming to Knox County in 1835, the first settler south of Fraker's Grove on Wal- nut Creek. Mr. Albro was married to Emily Spaulding February 19, 1846. They have two children living: Esther Ann, wife of Job Bab-


bett; and Hattie H., wife of Chauncy Beadle; both reside in the State of Nebraska. It was in June, 1855, that he became a resident of Galva. He kept hotel, store, and livery barn. was prosperous in his business, and became one of Galva's prominent citizens. He is also one of the directors and principal stock holders of the Galva Gas Works. In Douglas County, Nebraska, he has 440 acres of land and another farm in Saunders Connty of the same state. In 1862, Mr. Albro enlisted in Company G One Hundred and Twelfth Regiment Illi- nois Volunters, and was captain of the Company, Colonel Thomas J. Henderson, now General, commanding the regiment. After serving nearly two years, he resigned on account of the death of two of his children. Mr. Albro is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In politics, he is a republican. He was Revenue Assessor for two years after the war, during the time of "income taxation."


APPELL, CHARLES LAWRENCE; Stock- man and Farmer; Lynn Township; born in Sweden, June 7, 1836; educated in his native land. His parents, Peter M. and Anna (Hen- drickson) Appell, were natives of Sweden. Mr. Appell came to America with his parents and six brothers and sisters in 1852, landing in New York City. They were nine weeks in a sailing vessel. The father and two children died of cholera in Chicago, where they had been only one week. Two other children died after the family had reached Victoria, Knox County, Illi- nois. The family lived three miles East of Vic- toria and depended much upon Charles L., as the oldest, for support. Later the mother made her home at his house where she died in 1889, honored and respected, nearly eighty years of age. For nearly ten years, Mr. Appell worked for others, though part of this time he worked with his brothers, Alfred and Andrew, upon eighty acres of land which his mother bought with money she brought from the old conntry. In 1862, the family moved to Indiana, where Mr. Appell teamed for more than three years, and where he met the one who became his wife. November 11, 1863, he was married, in Attica, Indiana, to Johanna Sophia, daugh- ter of Lars and Anna (Johnson) Anderson, who came to the United States from Sweden in 1852, settled in Indiana, and died in Paxton Illinois, where they had moved to educate their children. Mr. and Mrs. Appell have had eleven children: Lydia, wife of Rev. G. A. Brandelle, Denver, Colorado: Alfred, a Lutheran minister in Peoria, Illinois; Hanna Charlotte; Carl John, an attorney; Amanda Sophia; Augnst Louis; Edward Joseph; Alfrida Henrietta; Ferdinand Laurence; Martin Philip; and Edith Wilhel- mina. After the war, Mr. Appell returned to Lynn Township, where he has been a successful farmer; he is one of the largest land-owners in the county. In religion, he is a Lutheran. He is a republican.


ATHERTON, FRED; Farmer; Lynn, Town- ship; born July 11, 1873, in Stark County, Illi- nois; educated in Lafayette. His father, Frank


826


KNOX COUNTY.


P. Atherton, was born June 5, 1851, in Stark


County, Illinois; his mother, Alice (Hoxton)


born December Atherton, was 5, 1850, in Pennsylvania; his grandparents, Joseph and Eliza (Simmons) Atherton, were


born in Ohio. He was married to Phebe


White, in Toulon, Illinois, October 19, 1892. They have one child, Ralph V., born November, 1894. Mr. Atherton has a farm of 160 acres. He is a member of Walnut Grange, No. 1653; he is also a member of the Lafayette Band. In religious belief, he is a Methodist. He is a democrat.


CHELMAN, JOHN ALBERT; Merchant; Galva, Henry County, Illinois; born in Victoria Township, Knox County, January 22, 1855; edu- cated in Knox College. His parents, John P. and Martha (Hayden) Chelman, were natives of Sweden. They came to the United States in 1846. They were married in Galesburg. The father lived two years in Chicago, then a short time in Canton, Illinois, and in 1850, came to Knox County when he became a prosperous farmer in Victoria Township; he died in 1877. His wife survived him ten years. There were three children: John Albert; Lottie, de- ceased; and Mrs. Mary A. Ericson. Mr. Chel- man remained on the home farm until 1882, when he learned the jeweler's business in Galva, and conducted a jewelry store till 1885. In 1886, he bought a grocery store in Galva, which he has since conducted. He married Anna Laurie, a daughter of James and Anna M. (Knight) Soles, prominent citizens of Knox County; James Soles died March 16, 1889, at the age of seventy. Mr. and Mrs. Chel- man is a director in the Copper Creek Mining and Milling Company, located in Gunnison County, Colorado; Secretary and Treasurer of the Belleview Mountain and Milling Company, and Vice-President of the Rustler Milling Com- pany of Colorado. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics, he is a republican. He was elected Mayor of Galva in 1898. In 1896, he was delegate to the republican state con- vention. He has been a member of the school board for nine years.


GIBBS, RICHARD F .; Farmer; Lynn Town- ship, where he was born August 14, 1850. His grandparents, Martin and Hannah (Beck) Gibbs, and his maternal grandparents, Joseph and Martha Norcross, came from New Jersey; his father, Jonathan Gibbs, was born December 22, 1808, in New Jersey, and came to Lynn Township in 1838; his mother, Tamar (Nor- cross) Gibbs, was born May 11, 1812, in New Jer- sey. Mr. R. F. Gibbs was educated in the public schools. He was married to Mary J. Reed in Galesburg, November 25, 1875. Their children are: Grace E., born May 4, 1877, died Decem- ber 14, 1885; Stella A., born November 19, 1878; Laura E., born December 13, 1880; and Harry A., born February 13, 1883. Mrs. Gibbs was a school teacher before her marriage. In poli- tics, he is a republican.


HAMERSTRAND, JOHN W .; Farmer; Lynn Township; born May 29, 1840, in Sweden, where


he was educated; his grandparents were Nels and Mary Hamerstrand of Sweden; his father, Erick J. Hamerstrand, was born in Sweden in 1808, and died May 29, 1892. Mr. John W. Hamerstrand was married to Anna Carlson in Altona, May 21, 1877. Their children are: Albert W., born February 5, 1878; Elma C., born December 3, 1879; Fannie E., born August 11, 1885. Mr. Hamerstrand came to America in 1868, and worked on different farms at Altona. In 1886, he bought a farm of 140 acres in Lynn Township, upon which he is now erecting a commodious residence. Mr. Hamer- strand is a member of the Lutheran church. In politics, be is a republican.


HATHAWAY, J. B .; Farmer; Lynn Town- ship; born March 23, 1860, in Galva, Illinois; his grandfather was Jeptha Hathaway of North Adams County, Massachusetts; his maternal grandparents were William and Jane Mowatt of Scotland; bis parents were A. F. Hathaway, born in 1820, in North Adams, and Jane (Mowatt) Hathaway, who was born in 1819, in Edinburgh, Scotland. Mr. Hathaway was edu- cated in the Galva High School. He was mar- ried in Lynn Township March 2, 1886, to M. Edith Jones, who was born June 15, 1862. They have two children: Alta Adaline, born July 1, 1894; and Howard Raymond, born August 27. 1899. Mr. Hathaway has a farm of one hundred sixty acres a mile south of Galva. He is a mem- ber of the Modern Woodmen of America, Num- ber 241, Galva. He is a model farmer. In poli- tics, he is a republican.


HAYES, THOMAS A .; Lynn Township; born June 9, 1838, in Saratoga County, New York. His parents were Isaac and Agnes E. (Alexan- der) Hayes of Galway, Saratoga County, New York, where his father was born December 14, 1799. Mr. 1. A. Hayes was married in Altona, Illinois, November 22, 1884, to Jennie C. Swan, who was born February 22, 1862. Their chil- dren are: George Ferris, born March 29, 1886; E. Alexander, born June 14, 1888; Agnes E., born January 14, 1890; and Mabel May, horn December 12, 1891. Mr. Hayes has a farm of one hundred and ten acres, twenty acres of which are used for the cultivation of hops. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. In politics, he is a republican.


JACKSON, EDWARD L .; Farmer; Lynn Township; born March 19, 1838, in Goshen, Ohio; his grandparents were Jothan H. Jack- son of Ireland, and Mary Jackson of England; his father, P. M. Jackson, was born May 15, 1807, in New York; his mother, Jane (Meek) Jack- son, was born June 7, 1812, in Ohio. He was married in Abingdon, Illinois, November 2, 1859, to Rhoda M. Morey, who was born Feb- ruary 22, 1843. Their children are: C. P., born November 30, 1861; A. M., born July 26, 1863; C. A., born May 26, 1872. Their children are all married. C. P. Jackson is a manufacturer of shoes in De Kalb County, and A. M. is a farmer. Mrs. E. L. Jackson was a school teacher. Her father was Amos Morey, a Methodist preacher, who began his ministry in 1853, and died at


Hh.B. Judd


Alphens. A. Snider


827


KNOX COUNTY.


LaFayette, in 1892. Mr. Jackson is a Methodist. In politics, he is a democrat.


JONES, CHARLES H .; Farmer and Machin- ist; Lynn Township; born August 8, 1864, at Wooster Ohio; his grandfather, Charles H. Jones, and his maternal grandparents, J. C. and Amelia Jaynes, came from England. His par- ents were Walter N. and Adaline (Jaynes) of Ohio. He was married in Galva, November 7, 1888, to Jennie Todd, who was born June 1, 1871. Their children are: Milo Todd, born December 4, 1890; Vachel Hamilton Todd, born June 27, 1893; Jennie May, born March 6, 1898. Mrs. Jones is a member of the Eastern Star, Lafayette. Mr. Jones owns a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres on Section 11, Lynn Town- ship. In addition, he runs a threshing machine, a corn sheller, a feed mill, a saw mill, and a blacksmith shop. Mr. Jones is a Methodist. In politics, he is a republican.


KERMEEN, R. P .; Farmer; Lynn Township; where he was born June 20, 1865; grandparents were James and Mary Kermeen; parents. James and Julia (Carlett) Kermeen, came from the Isle of Man (1849), locating at Brimfield, Peoria County; removed (1858) to Lynn Town- ship. R. P. Kermeen was born June 20, 1865; educated in common schools: married June 21. 1894, to Anna M. Wade of Henry County; one child, Frederick Wade, born October 1, 1897. Mrs. Kermeen was born in the Isle of Man (1871) and came to America (1890); Methodist. Mr. Kermeen is a democrat, and holds the office of Road Commissioner.


KEWLEY, EDWARD 1 .: Farmer; Lynn Township; born January 11, 1863, in Henry County, Illinois. His parents were Edward and Ann (Craine) Kewley, who came from the Isle of Man; educated in the common schools. He was married in Henry County, Illinois, Janu- ary 16, 1889, to Edith H. Clucas, who was born December 4, 1870, in Henry County. Their chil- dren are: Myrtle A., born February 12, 1890, and Margie L., born September 9, 1892. Mr. Kewley is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 408. Galva, and of Maple Grove Grange, No. 1680. Mr. Kewley is a Methodist. In politics, he is a republican, and has been a School Di- rector.


NANCE, BURTON F .; Farmer: Lynn Town- ship; born February 11, 1864, in Wethersfield, Illinois; educated in Kewanee and Quincy. His father was Hiram Nance. M. D., of New Albany, Indiana: his mother was Sarah R. (Smith) Nance of Batavia, Ohio. Mr. Nance's paternal grandparents were William and Nancy Nance of Virginia; his maternal grandparents, George and Martha Smith of Ohio. Mr. Nance was married to Eva M. Cowden, in Burns Township, Henry County, Illinois, October 15, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Nance have one child, Daisy A., born January 13, 1891. Mr. Nance is liberal in his religious belief. In politics, he is a republican. He holds the office of School Director.


POTTER, GEORGE W .; Farmer; Lynn Township; born in May, 1843, in Washington County, Ohio. His father, Joseph Potter, was born May 19, 1797, in Providence, Rhode Island;


his mother, Sarah Potter, was born June 9, 1798, near Parkersburg, West Virginia. George W. Potter was educated J. in Ohio. He was married to Luna Jackson, in Toulon, Illinois, October 28, 1869. Their chil- dren are: Edgar S., born November 10, 1870; Fred A., born April 22, 1874; Eva Jane, born August 6, 1876; Ada May, born November 22, 1879; Inez L., born February 5, 1884; Sarah E., born February 7, 1886; George O., born Decem- ber 14, 1888; Glen A., born May 21, 1892. Edgar S., and Eva J., are married and live near Galva, Illinois, Mrs. Potter is President of the W. R. C. Corps, No. 19, Galva, Ilhnois. Mr. Potter was a resident of Stark County, during which time he served on the School Board. During the Civil War he enlisted in Company G, One Hun- dred and Thirty-second Regiment Illinois Vol- unteers. He has been Commander of the G. A. R., Post No. 33, for a number of years. Mr. Potter is a republican.


SELLON, WILLIAM I .; Farmer; Lynn Town- ship. where he was born September 1, 1853. his father, Edward Sellon, was born near Lon- don, England; his mother, Elizabeth (Charles) Sellon, came from Wales; his grandmother, Elizabeth Brown, came from Columbus, Ohio; he was educated in the public schools. Mr. Sellon was married to Augusta B. Johnson, in Stark County, Illinois, February 28, 1877. Their children are: Claude, born December 19, 1878; Iona Belle, born July 5, 1881; Jane, born March 9, 1883. Mrs. Sellon was born April 28, 1854, and is a member of the Relief Corps. Mr. Sel- lon has a farm of 320 acres of choice land, and deals largely in fine stock. In religion, he is a Methodist. In politics, he is a republican, and has been a School Director.


SHEAHAN, DANIEL W .; Farmer; born Aug- ust 15, 1843. He came with his parents, Jolin and Margaret (Goodman) Sheahan, from Sara- toga County, New York, to Knox County in 1855, settling in Copley Township. He was married to Sarah J. Brown of Copley Township in 1856. Their children are: John P., William W., Albert G., James F., Francis A., Daniel E .. Adelaide M., and Mary E. In 1862, he enlisted in Company I One Hundred and Second Illinois Volunteers Infantry. He was First Sergeant. First Lieutenant, and acting Adjutant at the muster out of his Regiment. In the Spring of 1873, he went to Nebraska and returned to Lynn Township in 1881. He is a member of Walnut Grange, P. of H., No. 1653, and P. G. Tait Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Vic- toria. Since returning to Illinois he has served seven years as School Director, and in 1890. was elected Town Clerk, a position he still holds, having been elected to the office each year. In religion, Mr. Sheahan is a Catholic; in politics, he is independent, though generally voting the democratic ticket.


SHEAHAN, JAMES G .; Farmer; Lynn Township; born June 8, 1863, in Copley Town- ship; educated In Galesburg and Galva, Illinois, and Davenport, Iowa; his parents were John and Margaret (Goodman) Sheahan; they were born in Ireland. Mr. Sheahan was


828


KNOX COUNTY.


married in Galva, Illinois, October 20, 1886, to


Mary Sullivan, who was born October 25, 1865; she was the daugh- ter of Cornelius and Julia (Handley) Sullivan. Their children are: Julia M., born January 16, 1888; Mary, born November 6, 1890; John C., born May 6, 1892: Leo, born September 10, 1893; Cornelius A., born April 12, 1896. Mr. Sheahan is a School Director. In politics, he is a democrat. He is a Catholic.


SWAN, TAYLOR C .; Farmer; Lynn Town- ship, where he was born, February 20, 1865. His grandfathers were Taylor C. Swan and David Johnson; his parents were George M. and Eliz- aheth M. (Johnson) Swan of Indiana, born February 25, 1835, and October 16, 1840, respect- ively. He was educated in the common schools. Mr. Swan was married in Galesburg August 28, 1894, to Sadie A., daughter of Daniel Stivers of Roseville, Warren County, Illinois. She was born March 15, 1872. Their children are, Glenn J., born February 28, 1895, and Stella A., born May 20, 1897. In religion Mr. Swan is a Meth- odist. In politics, he is a republican.


VICTORIA TOWNSHIP.


By J. W. Temple.


The surface of Victoria Township is some- what broken, in some parts running down into timber land toward the south. It is well wa- tered and drained by branches of Walnut Creek and tributaries of Spoon River. Some of its prairie land, however, is equal to the best in the county, and this comprises about two-thirds of its entire area. The larger portion of its timbered land is underlaid with a fine vein of coal. Stock farming has also been extensively and successfully conducted.


The early settlers chose to locate farms in or near the timber in preference to the prairie, because of the shelter, fuel and .building ma- terial afforded.


The pioneers in Victoria Township began to arrive in 1835. Among them were John Essex, Edward Brown, Moody and Moses Robinson, Passons Aldredge and one or two others, who located farms in the "timber." Others followed the next year, among them being Deacon George H. Reynolds, who built the first house on the prairie. He was also the first post- master in Victoria and the first tavern keeper, if we except a small hostlery kept for a few years at the old site of Victoria village. The first child born in this township was Sarah, daugh- ter of Moody Robinson, who first opened her eyes on November 16, 1836. The first marriage was that of Peter Sornborger and Phebe Wil- bur, in 1836, on Section 39. The first sermons preached were by Revs. Z. Hall and Charles Bostwick. Passons Aldredge was the first Jus-


tice of the Peace and Henry Shurtleff the first Constable. Both were elected in 1837. Mr. Shurtleff was also the first school teacher in the township teaching, in 1838, in a log school house in a grove of timber on Section 21. Most of the school houses in this early day were built of roughly hewn logs. There are now nine substantial frame school buildings in the township. One of the schools is graded, and the enrollment is two hundred and eighty- eight. These houses cost nearly six thousand dollars.




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.