History of Bureau County, Illinois, Part 66

Author: Bradsby, Henry C., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Chicago, World publishing company
Number of Pages: 776

USA > Illinois > Bureau County > History of Bureau County, Illinois > Part 66

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).

HORATIO CHURCHILL, Buda, was born in Somerset County, Me., April 1, 1843. He

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is the son of Asa and Mary (Holden) Church- ill, both natives of the same State as their son. The father died in Maine, but the mother in Michigan. They were the parents of thirteen children, all of whom, except three, are now living. Our subject was reared on a farm, but had also worked in saw-mills pre- vious to coming to this State. He came to Burean County, Ill., in 1867. He was mar- ried September 8, 1881, to Miss Mary A. Hod- getts. She was born in Dudley, England, August 13, 1861, and is the daughter of Ed- ward and Mary (Shelton) Hodgetts, who came to America in 1865, and who are now resi- dents of Kewanee, Henry Co., Ill. They are the parents of six sons and two daughters now living. Mrs. Churchill is the mother of one daughter -- Nellie May Churchill-born September 12, 1883. And by a previous mar- riage Mr. Churchill has two sons, viz .: Dan- iel Lewis, born February 3, 1876, and Oscar Warren, born May 20, 1877. He is a mem- ber of the Buda Lodge, A. F. & A. M. Iu politics he is Republican. When Mr. Church- ill came to Buda in 1867 he began the manufacture of brick in partnership with C. P. Mason. After one season he bought Mr. Mason's interest, and has continued in the business since with different partners at different times, but is now alone. In 1878 he began manufacturing tile also, and now has the capacity for manufacturing 1,000,000 brick and 500,000 tile per season. And in 1883 he manufactured to one-half the capac- ity of the machinery. As the quality of tile and brick manufactured is excellent, the de- mand steadily increases.

SETH C. CLAPP, deceased, was a native of Northampton, Mass., where he was born in 1812; he died May 1, 1871, in Bureau County, Ill., to which he came in 1835. Here he was a tiller of the soil and highly respected for his many good qualities of head and heart. Mr. Clapp was married twice. His first wife was Asenath Hitchcock, a native of Massachusetts; she died November, 1851, in Princeton, Ill. His second wife was Mrs. Amelia R. Steel, who survives him. She was the widow of the Rev. Calvin Steel, who was born in 1812, in Vermont; he died February 23, 1851, in Oberlin, Ohio, where he was educated and where his parents for-

merly resided. He preached the Gospel in the State of Michigan and in LaSalle Conn- ty, Ill. He was a friend to the poor and needy and ever ready to build up the church and further the interest of his fellow men. He was the father of John M. Steele, who is now a resident of Dakota. He was born November 4, 1849, and was married to Lydia A. Gray. They have three children, viz .: Edith C., Katie D. and Crete G. Seth C. Clapp left no posterity, but Mr. and Mrs. Clapp adopted one daughter-Stella E. Clapp-who brightened their home for many years. She died February 2, 1883, aged twenty three years. Mrs Clapp came to Bureau County in 1852. For a number of years she has resided in Princeton, where she is religiously connected with the Congrega- tional Church.

JOHN CLAPP, deceased. This old pio- neer was born October 1, 1814, in Northamp- ton, Mass. He came to Bureau County in 1834, accompanied by his brother-in-law, Caleb Cook, and settled near Princeton. In 1837 he was married to Lucy M. Smith, a daughter of James Smith, another old settler of Bureau County. In 1838 John Clapp removed to Lamoille Township, where he bought 160 acres of land at $1.25 per acre. This he improved and resided on it till his death, which occurred November 22, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Clapp were active members of the Congregational Church at Lamoille, of which he was a Deacon. Politically he was a Republican and took an active part in everything pertaining to the interest of his township, in which he has filled many offices. Mrs. Lucy M. Clapp may be classed among our pioneer teachers, and many men in this county received their instruction from this wide-awake lady, who is yet living on the homestead. She was born April 19, 1818, and is the mother of seven children, viz .: Charles S., who was killed at the battle of Champion Hills; Mrs. Harriet W. Richard- son, deceased; Cephas F., a Congregational minister of Yankton, Dak .; William A., a farmer in Walnut, Iowa; Dwight, deceased; Albert N., also of Walnut, Iowa, and Mrs. Alice M. Fauble, who was born October 6, 1860. She was married August 30, 1881, to John Fauble, who farms the homestead. He

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was born November 16, 1857, in Lee County, Ill., where his parents, John and Christine (Troutwein) Fauble, were among the earli- est German settlers.

ATHERTON CLARK, Princeton, was born near Dover, Ill., September 22, 1839. Sep- tember 11, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, and served with honor till the close of the war. He was in many severe engagements, among which were those of Nashville and Franklin, Tenn., and Tu- pelo, Miss. He was successively promoted from Sergeant of his company, until at the close of the war he was Major of his regi- ment. In 1868 he was elected Sheriff of Bureau County, and after the expiration of his term of office he engaged in farming. In 1882 he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of this county and filled that position until elected City Marshal of Princeton in the spring of 1884. Maj. Clark is a member of the A. F. & A. M. fraternity and also G. A. R. Post. In politics he is a stanch Repub- lican. December 13, 1865, Maj. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Jerusha B. Whit- marsh, who was born at Cold Springs, N. Y., July 3, 1840, and is the daughter of Alvah and Naomi (Clark) Whitmarsh, the latter of whom is yet living at the age of eighty-three years. Maj. and Mrs. Clark are the parents of four children, viz .: Hubert A., Lora H., Herma and Alice E.

JAMES T. CLARK was born in Harrison County, Ohio, in 1832. In the spring of 1834 his parents, Thomas and Eleanor (Barr) Clark, came to Bureau County, and about four years later the father died. He left two sons and two daughters: Sarah M., died in June, 1880 (she was the wife of D. Scott, of Knox Connty, Ill.); John B., died in youth in 1846; Jane, wife of J. Y. Spangler, and James, the youngest of the family. After the father's death, the widow and her children remained on the home farm and tried to make a living, but with little success. The mother survived until 1876, and died at Cheyenne, W. T. As a poor farmer boy, James T. Clark was not much of a success, and, as he told his mother, he was not cut out for a farmer. To her query as to what he was cut out for, he replied that he did not know; but when the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad was

being built through Bureau County, the question was answered. He began by driving a cart while they were on the grade east of the West Bureau. During the construction of the bridge over the main Bureau, an acci- dent caused a vacancy which he was called on to fill, and he began the selecting of bridge timbers. He did various kinds of work till the road was completed and then was given the position of section boss, at Buda. In 1855 he was married near that place to Miss Mary Fry. From Buda he went to Gales- burg as assistant roadmaster, and was after- ward promoted to roadmaster. He resigned that position and became Assistant Superin- tendent of the Union Pacific Railroad, and removed to Cheyenne, and was afterward made General Superintendent. In May, 1882, he became General Superintendent of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, which position he still holds. Mr. Clark has been connected with the railroad business in some capacity ever since he began working by the day during the construction of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad in Bureau County.

SAMUEL P. CLARK, Dover. George Clark, father of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, March, 1811. In 1835 he came to Berlin Township in this county, buying his farm of the Government. He was the first to settle on the prairie near Dover, and as he was told that the wind would blow him away, he anchored his house by setting the corner posts in the ground and mortising the sides to them. The siding and shingles he split and then dressed them by hand. He resided on his farm for forty years, when he removed to Dover and retired from active life. For a number of years before leaving the farm he dealt principally in lands, and was one of the most successful men of the county. Of late years he has put most of his money at interest, although he still owns 700 acres in Bureau County. He was married in Belmont County, Ohio, to Miss Nancy Matson, a daughter of Enos Matson and sister of N. Matson. (See sketch. ) Mr. and Mrs. Clark are both living at Dover. They are the parents of four children: Enos. of St. Louis, Mo., a prominent attornev and

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Judge for many years; Samuel P .; Josephus S., of Princeton, money loaner; Mary Ann, wife of Jacob Warfield, of Princeton. Sam- uel P. Clark was born April 20, 1837. He was reared on the farm and educated at Mt. Morris, Ill. He has given his attention chiefly to stock-raising in all its features, buying, shipping, growing, etc. For eight- een years he was one of the prominent breed- ers of short-horn cattle. In 1881 he made his first importation of thoroughbred Clydes- dale and English draft horses, and in 1883 he visited Europe and made other purchases. Since beginning in 1881 he has made seven importations and landed sixty-eight head. When Mr. Clark started in life his father gave him $10, and he has since depended on his own resources. He now owns 302 acres of land in Sections 24 and 13. January 1, 1860, he was married in this county to Miss Ann Poole, a sister of W. Poole, of Dover. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have three children: Grace, Enos and Hattie. Mr. Clark is Re- publican in politics, but does not take any active part.

ADAM CLEER, Westfield, was born July 31, 1830, in Merkenfritz, Hessen Darmstadt, Germany. His parents, Henry and Anna Mary (Lerch) Cleer, were also natives of Germany, where the father died in 1850. Mrs. Cleer came to America with her family in June, 1854, aud died in Peru, Ill., the following September. She was the mother of four children, viz .: Mrs. Margaret Straw, deceased; Adam, our subject; Mrs. Mary Weber, and Henry, who was killed on the plains, while on his way to California. Adam Cleer came to Bureau County in 1854, and bought 1514 acres in Hall Township, of George Mais. He also owns 333 acres in LaSalle County and ten acres of timber. He has always given his attention to farming, in which he has been very successful. He was married in Germany, December 25, 1853, to Mary C. Sittner, daughter of John and Catharine (Keutzer) Sittner, who came to this country in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Cleer have six children, viz .: John, Mrs. Mary Schwab, Dena, Henry, Charley and Anna. Mr. and Mrs. Cleer are members of the Lu- theran Church. In politics he is a Repub- Iican.

,GILBERT CLEMENT, Lamoille, who is the subject of this biography, was born June 17, 1815, in Danville, Caledonia Co., Vt. He is one of our few early settlers who came here when this county was a mere wilderness. He was here as early as 1836. His parents, Merrill and Hannah (Morrill) Clement, were natives of New Hampshire, where the former died. The latter died in Hardin County, Ohio. She was an aunt of Thaddeus Stevens, the statesman and anti-slaveryman. Our subject is the youngest of a family of eleven children, of whom he and his sister, Mrs. Lydia Hatch, are the only survivors. Mr. Clement was reared in Vermont. In 1835 he, accompanied by his mother and oldest brother and family, removed to Hardin County, Ohio, where he resided one year, and then came to Bureau County, III. He traveled by water, coming down the Ohio, then up the Missis- sippi and Illinois Rivers, landing in Prince- ton in December. 1836. Here he has made farming his principal occupation, but also followed the carpenter's trade ten years. He has resided in Lamoille Township with the exception of six years, which he spent in Livingston County. He was married here to Lucy A. Barton, who was born December 4. 1821, in South Hadley, Mass. She is a daughter of Ezekiel and Nancy (Cadwell) Barton, and came to this county with her aunt, Mis. Julia Church, in October, 1836. She is the mother of the following children: Mrs. Elizabeth B. Bullard, Mrs. Josephine Eastman, Mrs. Hannah Sturdevant, Mrs. Lu- cella McCombs, Mrs. Sophronia Newberry, Alice M. Clement. Mrs. Chastina McCulloch, Eliza J. (deceased), Gilbert M., Edith M. and Norman B. Clement, the latter deceased. Mrs. Clement is an active member of the Baptist Church. Eight of her daughters have been teachers; of these seven have taught in this county, and thus added ma- terially to the advancement of morality. and intelligence in this community. Politically Mr. Clement is identified with the Repub- lican party, and is greatly in favor of pro- hibition. He filled different offices in Clarion Township, where he resided seventeen years. When the evening twilight of life gathered about him he removed to the quiet village of Lamoille, where he now resides.

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J. HARVEY CODDINGTON, Dover. James Coddington, father of the above- named gentleman, was born January 25, 1798, in Alleghany County, Md. He was reared on a farm, but after starting in life for himself engaged in teaching and survey- ing. Much of his early life was spent in hunting, and in that way he gained an ac- quaintance with the mountains and passes, which was of great value to him when en- gaged in surveying for the National Turn- pike and the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. In the spring of 1831 he came to Bureau Coun- ty, but soon after returned to Maryland, where he remained till 1833, when he again came to this county, and settled on Section 17, Dover Township, where he lived until 1876. He was one of the most successful hunters of the county. Being of rugged and robust frame, and an average weight of 200 pounds, there were but few who could follow him in his hunting expeditions. He was married in this county to Catherine Fear, born in 1814. They were the parents of ten children, five of whom are still living (four died in childhood): Mary A., wife of D. W. Chase, of Dover Township; Caroline, wife of Calvin Shugart, died in 1873; J. Harvey, of Dover Township; Annor, wife of Milford Frazee, of Dover Township: Henry C., of Dover Township; Martha B., wife of Peter Ostram, of Lancaster County, Neb. In 1876 Mr. Coddington returned to his native State for a visit, but met with an accident, from the effects of which he died, June, 1876. His wife, who was with him, was also injured. but recovered, and is still living. J. Harvey Coddington was born January 25, 1847, in this county, where he has always resided, being engaged in farming. He was married January 25, 1872, to Miss Lizzie Keel. She is a native of Ohio, a daughter of John W. and Barbara (Bridenbaugh) Kcel, now resi- dents of Dover, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Codding- ton have six children, viz .: James K., born September 14, 1872; John, born June 24, 1875; Harry, born April 27, 1877; Frank, born April 21, 1879; Nellie, born April 19, 1881; Willie, born May 31, 1883. Two years after his marriage Mr. Coddington pur- chased his present farm, where he has since resided. He owns 280 acres, 200 of which

are in the home farm. In politics he is a stanch Republican. £ He and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church of Dover.

HENRY C. CODDINGTON, Dover, the son of James Coddington (see sketch of J. H.), was born in the old log-cabin on his present farm August 14, 1850, and has al- ways lived on the old homestead, which he now owns. He has always given his attention to farming, and now has 200 acres of land. He was married December 22, 1875, to Mary A. Pierce, born in East Pawpaw Grove, Lee Co., Ill., in 1850. She is the daughter of Charles and Catherine (Sine) Pierce, natives of Luzerne County, Pa., but now residing at Pawpaw Grove, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Coddington have five children, viz .: Charles James, born March 27, 1877; Emma Orelia, born November 13, 1879; Mabel Pearl, born August 29, 1881; twin girls, born July 29, 1884. In politics Mr. Coddington is identified with the Republican party.

N. P. COLBERG, Princeton, was born March 31, 1842, in the town of Cimbrits- hauen, County of Christianstod, and State of Skone, Sweden. He is the son of Olof and Cecelia Colberg. The father was a gardener by profession, and died in the old country; the mother is yet living there. She is the mother of seven children, of whom N. P. is the youngest. Our subject was educated in his native country. For five years he at- tended the garden schools and learned the profession of gardener, and for seven years followed his profession in his native State, and then went to Germany, where for one year he was gardening at Schleswig-Holstein. He then went to Denmark, and was garden- er for the King, Frank VII, for one year. After the death of the King Mr. Colberg re turned to his native country, and continued in his profession for three years, and then came to America in 1868, and has since re- sided in Princeton. When he first came he had no capital whatever, and worked for others until he was able to engage in busi- ness for himself. At first he bought but two acres of land and began gardening. After- ward he sold out, and in 1875 bought his present garden lot of ten acres, which was

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but a swamp at that time, but he has since put it in a high state of cultivation, having had $1,400 worth of tile laid. He is engaged in growing the small fruits, vegetables and flowers. He has three greenhouses and 200

hot-beds. Mr. Colberg has been very suc- cessful, but it has been through close atten- tion to business and a thorough understand- ing of his profession. In 1883 he purchased an additional plat of ground containing thir- teen acres. He was married in Sweden in June, 1862, to Christina Olson. She is the mother of five children, viz .: Nels, Auna, Albert, Ellen and Ida.

F. COLBY, Indiantown. The genealogy of the Colby family is as follows: Its pro- genitor in America, as far as known, was Isaac Colby, who lived in old Amesbury, Mass. He was a farmer by occupation, and the father of the following children: John, Eliphalet, Isaac, Nehemiah, Richard and Elizabeth. Of these, Eliphalet Colby was the great-grandfather of our subject. He mar- ried Polly Rodgers, who is a direct descend- ant of Rev. John Rodgers, a Protestant min- ister, who was burned at the stake February 14, 1554, at Smithfield, England, at the in- stigation of Queen Mary, the Catholic Re gent. Rev. John Rodgers assisted Tyndale in the translation of the Bible into the En- glish language. His great-grandson came to Massachusetts in 1636. His son, John Rod- gers, was President of Harvard College from 1682 to 1684. Eliphalet and Polly (Rodgers) Colby were the parents of four children, viz. : Eliphalet, Nicholas, Levi and Polly Colby. Of the above, Nicholas Colby was born in 1755 and died in 1836. He married Lois Martin, who was the mother of the following children, viz .: Molly, Nicholas, Ruth, Jeru- sha, Oliver, Joshua, Levi and Joel. Of these Levi Colby was born January 30, 1800, in Henniker, N. H. His wife, Lydia B. Colby, was born July 13, 1804, in New Hampshire. Her great-grandfather, Joseph Bartlett, was captured by the Indians during colonial times and taken to Canada, but af- terward rescued. She is also a relative of Ashmead Bartlett, who married the Countess Burdett Coutts, the wealthy philanthropist. Levi Colby and wife have both passed four- score years, and, although the evening shad-

ows of life are gathering about them, are still in the possession of their mental facul- ties. They make their home with their only son, F. Colby. The latter was educated in his native town. He has followed various occupations, principally farming. He is a good mechanic, and has erected all the build- ings on his farm, among others a fine resi- dence. He came to Burcau County in 1868, and here owns 200 acres in Indiantown Township. He was born October 22, 1826, in Henniker, N. H., and was married in his native State September 4, 1848, to Julia A. Morgan, born in the above place March 10, 1827. She is of English descent, and is the mother of Morris A. and Elmer A. Colby, the latter deceased, aged ten years and ten months. Morris A. Colby was born February 7, 1850. He is farming with his father, is an I. O. O. F. He is married to Sarah An- thony, who was born September 3, 1849, in Morristown, N. J. They have three chil- dren, viz. : Anna F., Mary E. and Norah E. Colby. Mr. F. Colby and his whole family are religiously connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

REV. JOHN COLE, Greenville, was born in Cumberland County, Ky., January 9, 1812. He is the son of Samuel and Mary (Brown) Cole. Samuel Cole was born Jan- uary 23, 1778. He was married to Mary Brown December 6, 1798; she was born Jan- uary 5, 1779, and died November 11, 1851. They were the parents of ten children, of whom the following are now living: Benja- min, who was born June 17, 1809, and now resides in Kansas; John, of Bureau County; Nancy, born October 24, 1816, now in Texas, and David, born April 22, 1823, now of Clay County, Ill. Sampson Cole, the oldest son, was born July 8, 1801. He came to Bureau County in 1831, and lived here till about 1838, when he removed to Arkansas, then to Texas, and finally to Los Angelos, Cal., where he died in ISS1. In about 1822 John Cole removed to Memphis, Tenn., with his par- ents, and a short time after this to Arkansas, where the father died. In 1825 the family settled in Union County, Ill., where our sub- ject remained till the spring of 1830, when he settled in what is now Champaign Coun- ty, and in November 16, 1831, he came to

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this county, and has since resided here. During the Black Hawk war he enlisted at Hennepin, but most of his service was at Fort Wilbur, in LaSalle County. When first settling in this county it was in Hall Township, but about a year later he settled in Selby, where he resided till 1866, when he removed to Tiskilwa, and December 20, 1882, came to the farm one-half mile south of New Bedford, where the family owns 432 acres, one of the best stock-farms in the county. Mr. Cole's occupation has mostly been that of a farmer, but for some years he was engaged in the mercantile business in Tiskilwa. Mr. Cole's early life was spent on the frontier, and among the Indians, and so he was thoroughly fitted to fill the part of a pioneer in the settlement of this county. His was one of the early marriages of Bureau County, as he was married September 30, 1832, to Jane Tompkins, who was born in Carter County, east Tenn., September 19, 1817. She is the daughter of William and Elizabetlı (Owens) Tompkins. William Tompkins was born November 20, 1772. He settled in Champaign County, Ill., in 1829, and entered land where Urbana now stands. In 1831 he removed to Bureau County. In 1834, while returning to this county from Tennessee, he died in Champaign County. Of his family of thirteen children but four are now living, viz .: Martin, born July 3, 1809, now of Mineral, Ill. ; Elizabeth Holbrook, born February 19, 1814, now resides near Tiskilwa; Mrs. Cole, and Elijah Tompkins, of Clarke County, Iowa, born October 30, 1822. Mr. and Mrs. Cole are the parents of the fol- lowing named children: Elizabeth, born Jan- uary 20, 1834, wife of G. B. Wheeler, of Kansas; Maria J., born December 31, 1836, wife of William Chenoweth, of Arispetown; Mary L., born April 5, 1844, wife of Robert Patterson, of Arispetown; Samuel, born Jnne 6, 1848, and Charles W., born May 13, 1850. The two latter are farmers in Green- ville town. In politics Mr. Cole was Demo- cratic till 1856, since which time he has been Republican. For about forty-seven years he has been a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and most of the time a min- ister, and has probably preached more funerals than any one else in this county,

and has married a number of couples, chil- dren of those he had married in early life.

O. T. COLLINS, Westfield, was born Jan- uary 3, 1823, in Hartford, Conn. His great- grandfather came from Scotland. The latter's son, Simeon, was born in Connecticut, where he was a farmer and died. He was the father of six children: Silas, Jonathan, Isaac, Al- vin, Simeon and Mrs. Prudence Deer. Of these Isaac Collins was a blacksmith. He married Sophia Treat. They were natives of Connecticut, where they died. They were the parents of five children: Sophia, Orin T., Emily, Lovinia and Lydia A. Of these only Orin T. survives. He was reared and edu- cated in his native State, where he was mar- ried, November 24, 1846, to Charlotte O. Pitkin, born August 4, 1821, in Hartford, Conn., daughter of George Pitkin, who came here in 1855, and died here. She was the mother of five children: George P., Mrs. Charlotte E. Rose (of Kansas), Sophia T., Charles P. and Laura C. Collins. Mrs. Char- lotte O. Collins died May 7, 1878. Mr. Col- lins came to Bureau County in November, 1855. He lived two years in Lamoille Town- ship, and then bought 160 acres in Westfield Township, on Sections 25 and 26, where he now resides. Politically, he has been so far identified with the Republican party.

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History of Bureau County, Illinois, Part 66

Author: Bradsby, Henry C., [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Chicago, World publishing company Number of Pages: 776

Author: Bradsby, Henry C., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Chicago, World publishing company
Number of Pages: 776