History of Bureau County, Illinois, Part 69

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 69

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).

and now resides in Chicago attending school. Mrs. C. A. Davis died at Sheffield, March 25, 1875. After marriage in 1850 Mr. Davis remained on a farm for some months, but in the spring of 1851 began clerking for A. V. Horr at Shalersville. Ohio, and continued till the spring of 1853, when he was in the book business in the Western Reserve for one season. He then taught school during the winter of 1853-54 at Warrensville, Ohio, and in the spring of 1854 came to Bureau County, Ill., and was engaged in teaching and farming until 1858, when he began in the mercantile business at New Bedford. In the spring of 1863 Mr. Davis removed to Sheffield, and in the fall of 186S engaged in the boot and shoe business, which he has conducted since. In 1869 he was ap- pointed Postmaster at Sheffield, and since that time has held that office. Mr. Davis is an active Republican in politics, and is also a stanch temperance man.

MARSELL DAVIS, Indiantown, who is the subject of the following biography, was born September 20, 1858, in Steuben Coun- ty, N. Y. His parents, Samuel D. and Eliza B. (Powers) Davis, were natives of New York State. The former was a son of John Davis, of English descent, who married a Miss Van- derveer, and the latter was a daughter of John and Lavina (Stone) Powers. Samuel D. Davis came to Bureau County in July, 1866, and settled in Macon Township. At present he makes his home in Indiantown Township, where he owns a farm, on which his son, Marsell Davis, resides. He was a painter and miller by occupation in early life, and followed it till he came to Illinois. He is the father of the following children: Vanderveer, John J. and George N. Davis, who are prosperous farmers in Nebraska, Marsell Davis, our subject, and Mrs. Fannie H. Newcomb. Samuel D. Davis and wife. when not traveling, make Bureau County their home. Our subject, Marsell Davis, was educated iu this county, where he is a wide- awake farmer. He was married December 23, 1880, in Dearborn County, Ind., to Miss Honnie G. Smith, who was born November 7, 1855, in the above place. She is a daugh- ter of David and Martha (Grubs) Smith. This union was blessed by one son, but who

500

HISTORY OF BUREAU COUNTY.

only brightened their home a short time, dy- ing in infancy. Mrs. Davis is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Political- ly Mr. Davis is identified with the Repub- lican party.

CHAUNCEY L. DAYTON, Lamoille. This pioneer of Bureau County was born January 18, 1810, in Delaware County, N. Y. His parents, Charles and Polly (Smith) Dayton, were natives respectively of Watertown, Litchfield County, Conn., and of Haddam, Conn. They moved to Delaware County, N. Y., when that country was new, and passed the remainder of their lives ou a farm. They were the parents of twelve children, only two of whom now survive, the subject of this sketch and a daughter, now Mrs. Polly A. Shailor. The father died Jauuary 5, 1823, aged forty-six, and the mother August 19, 1850, aged sixty-four. C. L. Dayton was reared to the life of a farmer in his native county, meantime obtaining a good education. In 1837 he decided to seek a home aud fortune in the West and started from his native county with a "pack on his back " containing his worldly goods; thus he walked about 1,100 miles, and January 1, 1838, arrived in Bureau County, Ill. Here he entered land where he now resides in Clarion Township, and commenced improv- ing the same. Two years after his arrival he returned to his native county where he was married to Lydia Brainard, born in the same county, and a daughter of Obadiah and Lydia (Fuller) Brainard. Soon after his marriage, in company with his wife, he returned to Bureau County, their means of conveyance being a team of horses and wagon, which lie drove the entire distance. Since his first entry of land, Mr. Dayton has been a continuous resident of the county, and taken no small part in its advancement, materially and socially. Politically he is a Republican, and has served his township in all of its local offices, and is now acting as Township Commissioner, Justice of the Peace and Supervisor. To the 300 acres of land first entered by him, he has since added, so that the home farm now consists of 600 acres finely improved; also owns another farm in Bureau County of 120 acres; 160 acres in Lee County, Ill., and several hundred acres

in Iowa and the West. Coming to this then new country with comparatively nothing ex- cept his hands and brains with which to work out a fortune and a home, he has succeeded equal to his desire, and ascribes it to a firm determination at the start, to make industry, perseverance and business integrity, his watchword. There are few men that have marked out a path in life in which to follow that have succeeded better in their aims Much of his success he also attributes to his true and faithful companion and wife, who still lives; to enjoy the fruits of their well earned competence, and with him to continue down through the vista of years a mutual support, one to the other, until time shall have reaped, and reunited them forever. Mr. and Mrs. Dayton have had born to them ten children, as follows: James L., now of Mar- shall County, Iowa; Mrs. Emily C. Richard- son, of Springfield, Ill .; Mrs. Lucy Ansteth of this county; Orren L., of Linn County, Mo .; Mrs. Sarah M. Fleming, of Pottawat- tomie County, Iowa; Porter C. and Frank E. of this county, and Ira A., Ida E. and Clarisa E. (deceased). As that of a pioneer and an honored and substantial citizen, Mr. Dayton's portrait is given elsewhere.

WILLIAM DECKER, Iudjantown, was born July 21, 1818, in Seneca County, N. Y. His father, Jeremiah Decker, was born in Vermont. He was a farmer, also a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in New York, aged eighty-four years. Our subject's grand- father, John Decker, was a native of Hol- land. The mother of our subject was Nancy Bishop, a native of New York, where she died. She was the mother of the following children (the first six are children by her first husband, whose name was Southwell), viz .: Asa and Edward Southwell, Mrs. Laura Graves, Mrs. Betsey Kritchet, Mrs. Lucinda McKee and Mrs. Olive Lockwood (nee South- well). The other children are: Jeremiah Decker (deceased). William (our subject). George Trueman, Eliza and Sarah A. Deck- er, the last two deceased. Our subject was educated in his native State, where he farmed till 1852, when he removed to Fairfax Court- house, Va., and remained there till the breaking-out of the war, when he removed to Fayette County, Ill., where he lived four

501

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

years, and then came to this county and bought eighty acres of land. At present he owns 160 acres. He has been a successful farmer. He was married in New York, March 15, 1843, to Margaret Magee, born December 4, 1823, in Argyle, N. Y. She is a daughter of John and Polly (McNiel) Magee, natives of New York, the former of Irish and the lat- ter of Scotch descent. Mrs. Decker is the mother of six children, viz .: William Clar- ence, Charles, George H. (deceased, aged twenty years), John A., James E., and Mrs. Ella A. Maynard. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Decker are active members of the Congrega- tional Church and Sunday-school.

THOMAS W. DELANEY, Hall, was born September 4, 1858, in Hall Township, Bu- reau County, Ill., on the old homestead. His father, Michael Delaney, was born in Sep- tember, 1818, in County Dublin, Ireland. He came to Bureau County in 1837 and bought a farm of eighty acres in Section 16, Hall Township, which he afterward increased to 200 acres. He lived for some time in Wis- consin, where he had two sisters-Mrs. Allen Gahan and Mrs. Mary Boland. His brothers, James, William and Thomas, died in this county. Michael Delaney died September, 1880, at the age of sixty-two years. He was a good citizen and highly respected by all. He had filled various school and township offices. He married Mrs. Ann O'Brian (nee Cleary), born in County Galway, Ireland, August, 1829. She came to Peru, Ill., May 25, 1849, and is still living. She is the mother of three children: Michael, son of her first husband, Michael O'Brian, who died of cholera in Pern; Thomas W. and Margaret Delaney. Thomas Delaney is a Democrat in political views, as was also his father.

J. H. DELANO, Princeton, was born in Pittsfield, Mass., June 21, 1827. His father, J. R. Delano, was also a native of Pittsfield. where he spent his life. His wife, Lucy (May) Delano, was a native of Wethersfield, Conn., and of Puritan descent. She survived her husband several years, and in later life resided in Princeton, where she died in 1880. She was the mother of three children, viz. : J. H., of Princeton: Silas, who went to Cali- fornia in 1852 and has never returned. being now a resident of San Francisco; Lucy M.,

wife of Charles N. Burr, of Princeton. Mr. J. H. Delano was married in December. 1850, to Miss Martha M. Bell, a daughter of John Bell, of Pittsfield. Mrs. Delano died July 3. 1871, leaving one son-Clarence H., born May 26, 1852. Mr. Delano was united in marriage June 11, 1874, to Miss Sarah Fowler. a native of Stark County, Ill. Her father, Elias Fowler, was born in Greenfield, Mass., in 1797 or 1798. His wife, Mary Risdon, was born in about 1807 in Vermont. After marriage they resided in Highgate, Vt., but eventually came to Stark County, Ill., where they resided until death in 1857. Mrs. Delano is the mother of one daughter-Kate A., born July 21, 1877. Politically Mr. Delano is a life-long Democrat. His boy- hood days were spent in his native town. In 1852 he went to California, and in that romantic land took his first practical lessons in the world's great struggle of work, trade and commerce. He remained in California three years, and then returned to his na- tive State. After a short stay at his old home he again turned his face westward and came to Princeton, Ill., where he at once en- tered the busy marts of trade, and for a few months was a clerk. In the spring of 1856 he purchased a stock of groceries and com- menced business for himself, and this was the foundation for the business which he has successfully conducted without interruption from that day to this. The beginning was moderate and unpretentious, but with a name for public spirit, liberality and integrity as the leading characteristics. during all these years the business has grown and widened until it may be truly said that no man in the county has builded his house or fame better or more wisely. He has conducted his long business life upon the fundamental idea, the strictest justice to all; and the people who know him best will ever be the first to accord him the fullest success in the line of his laudable ambition.

G. DEUTERMIAN, Selby, was born Jauu- ary 1, 1842, in Borgholtz, Westphalia, Ger. many. His parents, Henry and Maria (Doh- man) Deuterman, were also natives of Ger- many, where the father died. Our subject learned the miller's trade in the old country and followed it until he came to America. In

502

HISTORY OF BUREAU COUNTY.

1867 he landed at New York and was engaged in milling at Atlanta, Ill., and also in Mis- souri. In 1879 he came to Peru, Ill., and ran the Pern City Mills about thirteen months, when he bought Hook's vineyard, near De Pue. in partnership with Jacob Link, to whom he sold out after a year and a half. Mr. Denterman was married February 22, 1882. to Mrs. Catharine Hassler, widow of Dr. Jacob Hassler. They reside on a farm of 200 acres. Politically, he is a Democrat.

BENJAMIN FENNO DEWEY, Sheffield, was born in Washington County, Vt., Novem- ber 25, 1845. His parents, Harry H. and Mary L. (Comings) Dewey, were also born in Washington County, Vt. They removed to Sheffield in 1863, where they now reside. They have four sons and one daughter now living, viz .: Lucia L., of Sheffield; Henry H. and John C., of Centerville, Iowa; Benjamin F. (above), and William W., of Mineral, Ill., who are descendants (ninth generation) of Thomas Dewey, who emigrated from En- gland, and settled in Dorchester, Mass, about 1633. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. Since coming West with his parents in 1863 he has resided continuously in this county, excepting the years 1869 and 1870. when he was in Kansas, being one of the pioneers of the now thriving city of Wichita, in that State. For about three years he was in the employ of Porter & Boyden, at Shef- field. In the fall of 1875 Mr. Porter (the senior member of the firm) died, and the 1st of January following Mr. Dewey succeeded to the business as junior member of the firm of Boyden & Dewey. This firm does a gen- eral mercantile and banking business, carry- ing an average stock of $15,000 to $18,000, with annual sales aggregating $75,000. Mr. Dewey was married December 3, 1874, to Miss Eva Coyle, who was born in Conneaut, Ohio, November 17, 1855, being the only child of Joseph E. and Sarah A. Coyle, now of Washington Territory. Mr. Dewey is a stanch Republican, and both he and his wife are members of the Congregational Church. They have had two children: Grace, born September 4, 1877, who died in infancy, and Lucia, born April 7. 1881.

HON. MARTIN R. DEWEY, Ohio, was

born October 17, 1833, at Chaumont, Jefferson Co., N. Y., and is the son of Enoch and Mary Dewey. £ The father was formerly from Massachusetts, and died in New York in December, 1872. The mother was born in New York, and died in Jefferson County, N. Y., February 3, 1869. The subject of this sketch was raised and resided on a farm in New York till 1856, during which time he taught in the public schools of his native State for a period of three years. In April, 1856, Mr. Dewey came to this county, and settled upon the farm which he now owns, being the southwest quarter of Section 10 of Ohio Township. January 12,1860, Mr. Dewey married Angusta Pomeroy, daughter of Hiram S. and Esther Pomeroy. (See sketch of L. T. Pomeroy.) Mrs. Dewey was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., February 5, 1839, and died at her home, near Ohio Village, March 10, 1883. During the first eight years of Mr. Dewey's residence in this coun- ty, he was engaged as teacher of the school in his own school district for five winter terms. Mr. and Mrs. Dewey are the parents of six children, five of whom are now living, viz. : Gertrude, born October 29, 1860; Seth, July 30, 1862; Mark P., November 26, 1868; Wirt S., March 16, 1875; Roy M., April 30, 1879; Ralph died in 1864, aged three months. The surviving members of the family are now residing temporarily with the father at Watertown, D. T. In the past Mr. Dewey espoused the doctrines of the Democratic party, and in 1872 was elect- ed on the minority principle as a Representa- tivo to the State Legislature from this coun- tv. Mr. Dewey owns 160 acres in Ohio Township under a fine state of cultivation, and upon which is one of the finest and largest barns in the county. He also owns 320 acres in Dakota, with a fine residence property in Watertown, D. T., which he erected during the present year at a cost of $4,000. He also owns several valuable busi- ness and residence lots in the same town.

W. W. DEWEY, Mineral, was born July 14, 1851, in Lunenburg, Vt. He is a son of Henry H. Dewey. Our subject was educated principally in Grinnell, Iowa. His early life was spent on a farm. Eventually he located in Sheffield, Ill.,

503

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

where he clerked seven years, commencing in 1873, for the Sheffield Mining & Trans- portation Company. From 1880 till 1882 he clerked for Mahony & Williams, grain merchants of Sheffield. He then formed a partnership with A. W. Boyden, of Sheffield, which exists to the present day. The firm is known as W. W. Dewey & Co. In 1882 they bought the grain business of S. D. Abbott, of Mineral, and the following year bought out W. W. Cradell's general store. Mr. Dewey is a wide-awake business man, and does a thriving business, keeping on hand a full supply of choice goods. He was joined in marriage November 22, 1876, in Sheffield, to Miss Mary Williams, a daughter of Benja- min F. and Margaret (Palmer) Williams. She was born February 6, 1855, in Indiana, and is the mother of two children, viz .: Maggie B., born November 2, 1880, and Charles B., born April 5, 1883. Mr. Dewey takes an active part in the affairs of the vil- lage and school. He is now School Treas- urer, and politically is connected with the Republican party.

JAMES M. DEXTER, Tiskilwa. This gentleman is one of the few survivors of the old "Rhode Island Colony" which settled Providence in Indiantown Township. He was born February 11, 1805, in Cumber- land, R. I. His father, Timothy Dexter, was also a native of the above place, where he died. The mother of our subject, Sally (Messenger) Dexter, was a native of Wren- tham, Mass. She died in Cumberland, R. I. She was the mother of four children, viz .: James M., Benjamin, Esek and Sally A. The progenitor of the Dexter family in America was Gregory Dexter, a native of England, said to have been the first printer who landed in Boston. Our subject was ed- ucated in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. In early life he met with an accident and had his leg broken, after which he learned the shoe-maker trade, but being abused by his master he resented the insult and left for home. He worked near there in a machine shop some time and then went to Dover, N. H., where he also worked in the machine shops and was married, after which he re- turned to his native home, where he managed the old homestead till the spring of 1837.

He then joined the "Rhode Island Colony," and with them came to Bureau County, where he settled on a farm of eighty acres in Indi- antown Township, but added to this in course of time. Mr. Dexter was married in 1829 to Phebe Sanborn, who was born in New Hampshire. She is the mother of nine chil- dren. Of these five are yet living, viz. : James C., Benjamin G., Thomas S., George E. and Mrs. Ann Brainard. Mrs. Dexter is a mem- ber of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Dexter is identified with the Republican party. He has filled the office of Assessor and was one of the delegates that nominated Owen Love- joy for Congress.

HENRY DODGE, Arlington, was born Au- gust 11, 1823, in North Brookfield, Mass. At the age of sixteen he learned the tinner's trade in his native State, which he fol- lowed till 1855, when he came to Chicago. The next year he came to Kewanee, Ill., where he followed his trade till 1868, when he opened a hardware business in Arlington, which he conducted alone till it burned down. In 1874 he opened another hardware store, which he conducted till 1882, when it again burned down with quite a loss to his partner, J. M. Wilson, one of Arlington's best citi- zens. Mr. Dodge was married twice. His first wife, Elvira M. Pratt, died in Massachu- setts. She was the mother of Edward H. Dodge, a resident of Worcester, Mass. He was married a second time in Kewanee, Ill., to Jane Chambers, a native of Ohio. She is the mother of Emma P. Dodge. The geneal- ogy of the Dodge family is as follows: Three brothers emigrated from Cheshire County, England, and landed at Salem, Mass., in June, 1629. One of their descendants, Josiah Dodge, was the great-great-grandfather of our subject. He was a pious, peace-loving Puritan minister, and led his flock to Brook- field, Mass., where he died. He left a war- like posterity, as there have been soldiers in every generation of his descendants. His son Joshua was a noted Indian fighter, and head- ed several expeditions into Canada. He was also a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and when too old to endure the 'hardships of war was relieved by his son, Nathaniel Dodge, who reared a large family. Of the latter, Pliny Dodge was a soldier in the war of 1812. He

504

HISTORY OF BUREAU COUNTY.

married Cynthia Converse, a daughter of Charles and Parmelia (Stevens) Converse, whose parents were natives of England. The latter's brother, Lieut. Stevens, was a noted man in "Shay's Rebellion." Pliny and Cynthia Dodge died in Warren, Mass. They . were aged respectively seventy-eight and eighty-four years. They had eleven children, viz .: Luke C., Henry, Edwin L., Charles (deceased), Warren F., John L., Parmelia C. (deceased), Thomas W., George F., Eliza- beth A. and Theodore (deceased). Of these Edwin L., Charles, Warren F. and Theodore Dodge were in the army in our late war, and George F. Dodge served in the navy. Polit- ically, Mr. Dodge is a Republican. He is an A. F. & A. M .- Bethany Commandery K. T., No. 28, Mendota, Ill.

JOHN DORN, Hall, was born April 19, 1821, in Reuth, Bavaria, Germany, a son of George and Barbara (Kuechlen) Dorn. John Dorn came to America in 1847, and lived in New Orlean, La., for four years. In 1851 he came to Bureau Connty and worked in Westfield and Hall Townships until he was able to buy a team, and then farmed on rented land. In 1857 he bought eighty acres of land, which he has since improved. He was married in 1849 in St. Louis, Mo., to Carrie Snyder, a native of Bavaria. She died April 1, 1874, at the age of fifty-two years. She was the mother of nine children, three of whom are living, viz. : Mrs. Mary Klein, of .

Nebraska, John and Nicholas. Mr. Dorn is a member of the Lutheran Church. He votes with the Democratic party.

E. M. DOUGLASS, Princeton, was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., September 5, 1823. He is the son of John H. and Sarepta (Bond) Douglass. The father was born in Hampton, Washington Co., N. Y., December 10, 1794, and was married in Clinton County, N. Y., in 1818. His main occupation during life was that of farming. He died in Prince- ton, Ill., March 23, 1883. His father, Thomas Douglass, was a native of Dutchess County, N. Y., but near the close of the eighteenth century settled in Clinton County, N. Y., and resided there till his death, which occurred about 1854. Sarepta Bond was born in Bristol, Vt., in 1796, and died in Logan County, Ill., in December, 1858. She was

the daughter of Seth Bond, a native of Ver- mont. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was at the battle of Fort Benning- ton, under command of Gen. Stark. He died in Ontario County, N. Y., in 1844, at an advanced age. The four grandparents of Mr. E. M. Douglass lived in the same neigh- borhood for many years, and are all buried in the same country graveyard. Their aver- age age was eighty-four years. The subject of this sketch is one of a family of seven children-four sons and three daughters. Of the family four now survive, viz. : E. M., Mrs. Caroline Furgeson (of Hudson, Ill.), Thomas H. (of Macon County, Mo.), and Mrs. Saretta Dominy (of Franklin County, Ohio). Mr. E. M. Douglass' early life was spent at home on the farm and in attending the common schools to a limited extent, but he had the desire to investigate and learn for himself; so he has continued his reading and study through life, till he has gained a large store of practical knowledge. In 1834 he removed to Franklin County, Ohio, with his parents. He remained with them till October, 1841, when he removed to Logan County, Ill., landing there withont any cap- ital, and still almost a boy; but his prompt- ness in all business matters soon made him many friends, so for some years he was en- gaged in farming, school teaching, etc., but from 1854 till 1856 he was Treasurer of Logan County. From Logan County he re- moved to Williamsville, Sangamon County, where he engaged in the mercantile business till coming to Princeton in 1866. He then purchased his farm of 208 acres near Prince- ton, and has since given most of his attention to farming, but is serving his second term as Assessor of Princeton Township, having been elected on the Republican ticket. September 25, 1856, he was married in Erie County, N. Y., to Mariette Ranney. She was born in that immediate neighborhood in 1834. She died in March, 1859, leaving one son, Frank- lin, who followed her about a year later. June 3, 1860, he was united in marriage, in Niagara County, to Miss Hannah Fisk, a native of that county, born January, 1834. She is the daughter of Levi and Susannah (Bixby) Fisk. He was born in Madison County, N. Y., but in early life removed to

505

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Niagara County. He now resides in Genesee County, N. Y. His wife was born in the British Provinces of America. She died in Genesee County in about 1874. Mrs. Doug- lass is the mother of four children, viz .: Emma, wife of Charles A. Scurr; John O., who is a book-keeper in Rochester, N. Y .; Charles G., and Wilbur L. Mr. and Mrs. Douglass are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

THE DRAKE FAMILY. William Y. Drake (deceased) was a native of New Jersey. In early life lie learned the blacksmith's trade, and followed that occupation for some years in his native State. In 1808 he removed with his family to Ohio, where he engaged in farming, but through a defective title he lost his farm in Ohio, and in November, 1835, came to Bureau County, Ill., coming across the country with ox teams. He settled on a farm in Dover Township, and for some years engaged in blacksmithing. He died April 29, 1852, at the age of eighty-one years. He was married January, 1792, in his native State to Miss Jane Cary, also a native of that State. She died December 24, 1849, at the age of seventy-five years. They reared a family of nine children to maturity, viz .: Mrs. Charlotte Langworthy, who lived to reach her eighty-second year, and died in Bureau County. Her husband, Cyrus Lang- worthy, was the first Sheriff of this county. David Drake died in 1849, in Bureau County. Lewis Drake and Mrs. Sarah Patterson both died in Ohio. Mrs. Ann Murphy now resides in Princeton and is in her eightieth year. She is the widow of Robert Murphy, who came to the county in 1836. Morgan Drake died here in 1842. Mrs. Catherine Gregg, wife of Asa Gregg, resides in Iowa. Mrs. Rachel L. Stocker resides in LaSalle, Ill. Mrs. Mary J. Clark died in this county. William Cary Drake was born in Knox County, Ohio, November 26. 1821. He is the youngest of the family, and remained at home till a short time before his father's death. He has made this county his home most of his life, and farming has received his attention. His education was such as could be obtained in the schools of that day. He had remained at home all his life till 1852, when his father advised him to take a trip to

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.

History of Bureau County, Illinois, Part 69

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