History of Bureau County, Illinois, Part 70

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 70

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).

California, which he did, and for eighteen months was engaged in mining; but soon af- ter reaching California he learned of his fa- ther's death, so did not remain as long as he intended. After returning to Illinois he remained some time at LaSalle, and was there married, March, 5, 1854, to Mrs. Hannah Watson, the widow of Michael Watson, who had come with his wife to Bureau County in 1834, but in 1849 he had gone to California and died there. His father, Amariah Watson, settled at Tiskilwa in 1833. Mrs. Drake died October 20, 1873. September 9, 1874, Mr. Drake was united in marriage to Mrs. Adelia Langworthy, widow of Dr. A. Lang- worthy. Mrs. Drake was born March 28, 1819. She is the daughter of Oliver and Elizabeth (Jeremiah) Perkins, natives of Ver- mont, but who had lived at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., for a number of years before coming to this county in 1836. Mr. Perkins died November 10, 1839, but his widow survived him till December 16, 1864. They were the parents of the following named children: Sid- ney Perkins, of Red Cloud, Neb .; Mrs. Adelia Drake, Mrs. Alice Fellows, deceased; Mrs. Nancy Sisler, deceased; Mrs. Caroline Thorp, of Kansas, widow of Eli Thorp, and Mrs. Susan Courser, deceased. By her first hus- band Mrs. Drake is the mother of seven chil- dren, viz. : Oliver (deceased), was born July 3, 1839; Lewis, born February 4, 1841, was killed at the charge on Vicksburg, May 22, 1863; Charles, born February 27, 1843, is a resident of Princeton; Mrs. Adelia McDowell, born March 16, 1846, died Sep- tember 24, 1883; Clara (deceased), born February 16, 1848; Edward, born June 13, 1854, is now living in Chicago; and Ag- nes Langworthy, born April 9, 1858. In 1837 Mrs. Drake opened the first school in Tiskilwa, aud with the prospect of excellent success; she taught the school but three weeks. when she gave it up, and the follow- ing week, May 18, 1837, was married to Dr. Langworthy. Dr. A. Langworthy was born November 29, 1788, in Vermont. He studied medicine, and in 1816 came to Alton, III., where he began the practice of his profession. He remained at Alton till 1825, and during his residence there had been Postmaster, and held various offices. In 1825 he removed to

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HISTORY OF BUREAU COUNTY.

Ft. Clark, or as it is now, Peoria, and contin- med in the practice of medicine. For one year previous to the Black Hawk war he was in the lead mining regions, but returned to Peoria on account of Indian troubles. Dur- ing the Black Hawk war he was Surgeon in the army. In 1834 he moved to Tiskilwa, Bureau County. In 1818 he was married in Alton to Ada Mecham, who died July 20, 1836. She was the mother of the following children: Cyrene G., born June 7, 1820, who is the wife of Constant Searl, of Iowa; Char- lotte E., Laura A., Augustus J., Nancy A., Washington L., Martha L. and Edward W., deceased; and Frances A., born January 20, 1834. She is now living in Missouri and is the wife of Robert Bell. In the latter years of his life Dr. Langworthy practiced medi- cine but little, as his health and age would not permit the exposure to which he would be subjected; however, in 1844 and 1845 he was almost compelled to practice on account of so much sickness. He was often called in as consulting physician after his retirement from practice. He died on his farm between Tiskilwa and Hennepin, March 20, 1866.

J. A. DRAPER, Clarion, was born April 22, 1822. in Shaftsbury, Bennington Co., Vt., where his father, George R. Draper, was also born, March 17, 1796; he died there Febru- ary 1, 1882. He was a farmer and teacher by occupation, and married Theny Ashton, who was born March 10, 1776, in White Creek, Washington Co., N. Y. She died Sep- tember 29, 1847, in Shaftsbury, Vt. She was the mother of the following children: James A. Draper, our subject; Mrs. Elizabeth Culver, deceased; George B. and Frances A. Draper, deceased. Mrs. Theny (Ashton) Draper was a daughter of Thomas Ashton, an old Revolutionary soldier, who married a Miss Persey, whose father was a proud Span- iard. She reared a family of eight children. Nathan Draper, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was the first white child born in Shafts- bury. Vt., where his parents were pioneers. The old Draper family is of English extrac- tion. and were known as "Salt Water " Quakers. Our subject was reared in his na- tive State. At the age of nineteen he went to sea as a fisherman, and after two years went aboard a merchantman, on which he was

Steward two and one-half years, and after that farmed in Vermont. In April, 1856, he came to this county, and bought a farm in Clarion Township, where he yet resides, and leads an exemplary life. Politically he is identified with the Republican party. Mr. Draper was married in Chicago October 6, 1857, to Mrs. Betsey Mattison, the widow of John A. Mattison, deceased, who was the father of Mrs. Jennie A. Hosley, deceased; Herbert J. Mattison, of Rooks County, Kan. ; Warner E. and Emma E .; the last two died in infancy. Mrs. Betsey Draper was born October 1. 1822, in Shaftsbury, Vt. Her father, Elijah Mattison, was born Octo- ber 18, 1798, in Shaftsbury, Vt .; he died October 21. 1828; he was of Danish extrac- tion and a son of Henry Mattison, Esq. Mrs. Draper's mother, Orpha Buel, was of Welsh descent. She was born June 22, 1800, and died February 21, 1835. She was the mother of five children, viz .: Anson J. (de- ceased), Betsey, Clarissa, Edwin and Elijah Mattison, who died in infancy.

JAMES M. DRAPER, Greenville, was born in Bennington, Vt., December 5, 1817. He is the grandson of James Draper, a native of Norway, but who came to America at an early date in its history, and one of his sons, Nathan Draper, was the first white child born in Vermont. James Draper lived to be one hundred and four years old. His son, John, our subject's father, married Electa Elwell, a daughter of Jabish Elwell, a Revolutionary soldier. She was one of a family of ten sons and seven daughters, all of whom lived to have families of their own, and when James M. Draper's grandmother, Elwell, died, she was ninety-nine years, nine months and nine days old, and had 150 grandchildren, and 300 great-grandchildren. While her hus- band, Jabish Elwell, was in the Revolution- ary Army, not one of the children had a shoe to wear. James M. Draper is one of a fam- ily of six children. He lived in his native State till coming to Illinois, in 1842. For two years he lived in Whiteside County, and in 1844 came to his present farm in Green- ville Township. He came to this county without any property, but bought forty acres of land, and for four years all that he had to wear on his back was a cotton shirt and a

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cotton roundabout, costing 25 cents per yard, which he cut and made himself. He was of a robust and rugged constitution, and so he set himself at work to make a competency, and now he is reaping his reward. He now owns 5763 acres in one body in this township, and has retired from active life. He was married, July 1, 1837, in Vermont, to Cathe- rine Upham, who was born in Bennington, Vt., July 19, 1820. She is the mother of six children, viz .: Mary E., wife of Benja- min Odell, of Sacramento, Cal .; James H .. married to Mary J. Hugboou; Franklin F., married to Mary Fairfax; Dennis D., mar- ried to Viola Wilson; Henrietta, wife of Jasper Stauffer, and Minnie May, at home. All except the eldest reside in this county. In politics Mr. Draper is Republican. He is a member of the Protestant Methodist Church. When first settling in this county he experi- enced the hard times of the pioneer. His tea was made from the Redroot leaves, his coffee, burnt corn, and for sweetening, molas- ses made from watermelons served the pur- pose. But as he now looks back over a well spent life he can say :

" But whilst I am a stranger away from my home, I'll toil in the vineyard and pray.

I'll carry the cross, while I think of the crown, And I'll watch for the break of the day."

WILLIAM DREMANN, Bureau, was born in Melle, Hanover, Germany, December 30, 1839. His father, Fred Dremann, lived and died in Hanover, and his mother died when our subject was one year old. William Dre- mann was reared on a farm and educated in the schools of his native town. In 1856 he came to America, making the passage in a sailing vessel, which was ten weeks and four days reaching New Orleans. He then came up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, and from there to Bureau County, where he has since resided. In 1863 he began farming, and now owns the Abram Stratton farm, which was settled in 1829. His farm con- tains 383 acres in Bureau Township. When he came to this country he was in debt for his passage money, but through his industry and perseverance has gained a competency. He was married, in Princeton, to Mary Welhoe- ner, who was born in Goeltenbeck, Prussia,

April 21, 1842. When about ten years of age she came to America with her parents, F. W. and Elizabeth Welhoener, and in 1856 to Princeton. Her mother still survives, and lives with our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Dre- mann are the parents of nine children, viz. : Fred W., born August 14. 1862; Henry L., born August 14, 1864; August W., born Sep- tember 19, 1866; Frank G., born December 30, 1868; Emma, horn August 19, 1871; Her- man H., born April 26, 1874; Louis, born June 10, 1877; John, born September 10, 1879: Kate M., born February 18, 1881. Mr. Dremann and family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. In politics he is identified with the Democratic party.

DENIS DRISCOLL, Lamoille, was born May 27, 1835. in Ireland; is a son of Michael and Helena (Fitzgerald) Driscoll, natives of Baltimore, County Cork, Ireland. They left the Emerald Isle about the year 1836, to make a home in the new world. They landed in Boston, Mass., and made that city their home for a period of twelve years. In 1848, on the Sth day of October, they came to La- moille Township in Bureau County, Ill., and the following spring settled on a place which their brother-in-law had entered the year be- fore. The Driscoll family, when they came here, consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Driscoll, and four boys: Michael, Denis, James and Daniel Driscoll. Of these Michael died in Louis- iana, and James in Sterling, Ill. Michael Driscoll, Sr., was born 1793; he died here in August, 1849. Mrs. Helena Driscoll was born in 1800, and when her husband died, managed the home farm, and added to it from time to time. Although she has been one of the hardest working women in this part of the country, she is yet able to get about and read and sew without spec- tacles. Her two sons, Denis, born May 27, 1835, in the old country, and Daniel, born May 20, 1842, in Boston, are living with her at home. Denis Driscoll went to Boston in August, 1863, in search of one of his brothers; from there he went to New York, and then to San Francisco, Cal., via Panama. In California he mined, returning the same way in December, 1864. Since then he has farmed successfully, especially of later years. They now own a farm of

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240 acres. Politically, both boys are identi- fied with the Democratic party.

AARON DUNBAR, Dover, was born in Cumberland County, near Newville, Penn., November 25, 1842. He is the son of John and Maria (Oiler) Dunbar. The Dunbar family is of German origin, and for several generations resided in Pennsylvania. The mother of our subject died when he was six years of age. In the spring of 1857 his father removed to this county, and settled in Dover Township, where he died in the spring of 1862. They were the parents of two children-our subject, and Mrs. J. H. Brig- ham, of this township. Mr. Dunbar is the only son, and is the fourth generation in which there has been but one son. He re- ceived his education in the district schools of Pennsylvania, and also attended two and a half years at the academy at Dover, but left school to enter the army. He enlisted An- gust 11, 1862, as a private in Company B, Ninety third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Col. Putnam, and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, serving for two years in that capacity, until his discharge, July 9, 1865. During the charge on Vicksburg, May 22, 1863, he received a flesh wound which disa- bled him for a few weeks, but participated in every battle in which his regiment was en- gaged. While on the march from Raleigh to Richmond he received a sunstroke, which injured his health. After his return from the war he attended the academy one year, afterward working on the farm in the sum- mer and teaching school in the winter for five years. His occupation has been chiefly that of farming. He now owns 180 acres, besides one-half interest in 130 acres, and also has charge of another farm of 180 acres. Mr. Dunbar was married May 28, 1868, to Miss Emily Thompson. She was born May 15, 1843, the only daughter of Dwight Thomp- son, who came from Massachusetts in 1844, and settled in this county, where he still re- sides. His wife, Maria (Buss) Thompson, died in 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Dunbar have

three daughters: Mary E., born March 4, !

1869; Carrie M., September 16, 1871; Pearl A., February 28, 1877. Mr. Dunbar is a Republican in politics, and for several years has been Township Assessor. He and his

family are members of the Congregational Church of Dover, of which he has been Dea- con for a number of years.

JAMES DUNBAR, SR., deceased, was born October 4, 1814, in Huntingdon County, Penn., where he was a wood-chopper and charcoal-maker by occupation. He came to this county in 1849 and settled in Lamoille Township, where he bought some Mexican war claims in Section 3, consisting of about 240 acres. His family came in 1851; it consisted of his wife and three children. James Dunbar, Sr., was a hard-working man, wide-awake and self-reliant. He kept on buying land, till at the time of his death he owned 1,600 acres of land. He devoted much of his time to raising stock, principally cattle. Politically he was a radical Repub- lican. He died September 24, 1879. His memory is cherished by all who knew him and he is spoken of only in terms of the highest regard. He was married in the East, March 7, 1839, to Rebecca Markley, who was born December 25, 1821. She is yet living, and is the mother of the following children: George W., who died in Memphis, Tenn., while on his way home from the army; Nancy, deceased ; Mrs. Amanda Brown; James, Jr .; Mrs. Elizabeth Shaddock, and Albert C., who died in Santa Fe, N. M .. where he had gone for his health. Of the above children James Dunbar, Jr., was born here January 25, 1855. He was reared on the homestead and has inherited many of his father's manly qualities. In 1872 he went to Los Angeles, Cal., where he worked for the Express Company of Wells, Fargo & Co. In 1877 he returned to Bureau County and in 1879 again went to California, but returned before the death of his father, after which he took charge of the farm. He has turned his attention more to the raising of horses and on his farm of about 1,000 acres keeps on an average about 120 head of horses, besides colts, also raising cattle and hogs. He has about twenty head of full blooded Clydesdales, and among them are " Imperial Crown" and "Capt. Clyde." He has also an imported Norman and several thoroughbred running horses. To-day Mr. Dunbar is recognized as one of our most wide awake horsemen in Bureau County.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Politically Mr. Dunbar is a Republican. He was married here to Miss Fannie E. Crossman, a native of New York State and a daughter of John C. Crossman. This union was blessed with one child, an infant son.

WILLIAM F. DUNN, Tiskilwa, was born October 21, 1828, in Brown County, Ohio. His parents, Ferrell and Lydia (Flemming) Dunn, were natives of Virginia. The former was born May 4, 1796, and died October 29, 1869, in Tiskilwa. He was a farmer by oc- cupation, and first came to Danville, III., about 1832. He then fought in the Black Hawk war and came through Bureau County. After a residence of nearly four years. he re- moved to Putnam County, and the following vear settled in Tiskilwa. His wife was born August 25, 1800; she died November 3, 1880. Her parents, William and Nancy Flemming, were natives of Scotland. Mrs. Lydia Dunn was the mother of five chil- dren, viz .: Mrs. Elizabeth Fritchey, Flem- ming and Ellis are deceased, William F. and Lewis D., now a physician in Moline, Ill. William F. Dunn, the subject of this biogra- phy, received a common school education in Tiskilwa. He was a tiller of the soil till the fall of 1862, when he obeyed the call of his country and enlisted in Company E, of the Ninety-third Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry, From a private he was promoted First Sergeant. In November, 1862, he went with his company into active service, and from that time till October 5, 1864, was con- stantly in the field. He participated in the battles of Jackson, Champion Hill, siege of Vicksburg, Mission Ridge and Allatoona, at which latter battle he was wounded and lost his left leg in the service of his country. After he became convalescent he returned home, only to find that his wife and child had been laid to rest by kind friends. Such is the fate of soldiers. How can we repay or compensate them for their suffering! Mr. Dunn was married May 29, 1855, to Harriett W. Baker, who was born August 24, 1833. She died February 27, 1863. She was the mother of four children, viz. : Mrs. Julia A. Swain, a native of Denver, Col .; Mrs. Hattie B. Betz, a resident of Nebraska; David E., deceased, and Mattie L. Our subject was married a second time, June 28, 1883, to

Julia E. Houghton, a native of Michigan and a member of the Congregational Church. She was formerly an active and efficient teacher in the Tiskilwa schools. Since the war Mr. Dunn has been in the postoffice at Tiskilwa, serving four years as Deputy, and in 1868 received his appointment as Post- master under Grant, filling the office with tact and ability.

HENRY DUNTEMAN, Selby, was born in Hanover, Germany, March 18, 1829. He is the son of Henry Dunteman, who com- manded a British regiment in the war of 1812, and was also under Wellington at the battle of Waterloo. After returning from service he was a pensioner of the British Government until his death; he was also Mayor of his village. Our subject attended school until he was fourteen years old, and was then apprenticed to the carpenter's trade, it being a principle of his father that each of his sons should learn a trade, as it might sometime be necessary for them to labor for their bread. Our subject served but two vears, and then came to America in 1846. He had a brother George, in Canajoharie, N. Y., aud stayed there one year, working at the cooper's trade. In 1847 he came to Chicago, afterwards to Wilmington, Will Co., Ill., and then to Morris, Grundy County, where he remained until the fall of 1849, when he came to Burean County, and has since made this his home. Until March, 1850, he worked at the cooper's trade in Princeton, afterward hired out to Benjamin Newall for two years. In 1853 he began farming for himself, buy- ing an eighty at $8 per acre, in Section 15. He has since added to his farm till it now contains 385 acres. He was married June 29, 1851, to Almeda Long, born in Green County, Ohio, November 15, 1829. She is a daugh- ter of Henry H. Long, deceased (see sketch of Mrs. E. Dunteman). Mr. and Mrs. Dun- teman have three children: John H., born October 21, 1852, married to Elizabeth Far- ney; Benjamin N., born May 29, 1857, mar- ried to Melissa Hosier; Charity, born Janu- ary 11, 1855. All live in Selby Township. In politics Mr. Dunteman is a stanch Repub- lican, and is Chairman of the Township Cen- tral Committee, and has been a member for many years. He is serving his fourth term

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HISTORY OF BUREAU COUNTY.

as Justice of the Peace. Mr. Dunteman was reared in the Lutheran Church; his wife is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. He is a member of Bureau Lodge, No. 112, A. F. & A. M. of Princeton.

ERNEST DUNTEMAN, Selby, was born in Hanover, Germany, May 21, 1831. He is son of Henry Dunteman deceased (see sketch of Henry Dunteman). Our subject was educated in the schools of his native land, and served in the German Army, and lost his right hand while in the service. September 2, 1855, he landed in New York City, and the 17th of the same month came to Bureau County, Ill., and has since resided in Selby Township, where he has made farm- ing his occupation. June 22, 1876 he was married to Mrs. Amanda Hall, widow of Ransom Hall. Her father, Henry J. Long, was born in Rockingham County, Va., in 1800. When about ten years of age he removed to Green County. Ohio, and was there mar- ried to Mary Walden, who was born in the same county as her husband, in 1801. By trade Mr. Long was a cabinet-maker and joiner, but most of his life he was engaged in farming. In 1842 he removed to Bureau County, Ill., and settled in Selby Township, where he died in 1880. His wife had died June 4, 1877. They were the parents of nine children, seven of whom yet survive, four in Selby Township and three in Iowa. Mr. Dunteman is a member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics is Democratic. Mrs. Dunteman has managed the property left her by her father and first husband, so success- fully that she now owns in Selby Township over 600 acres of land.

J. R. EARNEST, Princeton, was born July 8, 1842, in Bedford, Penn. He is the son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Sill) Earnest, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania. They came to Bureau County, Ill., in 1854. By occupation the father was a mechanic; he died in this county. Mr. J. R. Earnest's life has mostly been spent in the school- room, either as a scholar or an instructor. He first attended the Northwestern College at Plainfield, Ill., after which he taught five terms of school in Bureau County; he then took a complete business course in the Bryant & Stratton Business College, of

Chicago. After graduating at the business college he kept books for B. R. Moss in the City Mills, of Princeton. He then again engaged in teaching, and continued till 1870, when he removed to Oskaloosa. Kan., at which place be was Principal of the city schools for two years, and then was elected County Superintendent of Public Instruction. Mr. Earnest served one term in this office, after which he removed to Springdale, Kan., and was again engaged in teaching for two years. He then returned to Princeton, Ill .. and for two years was Principal of the schools of DePne; he then engaged in farm- ing, which occupation he followed till 1883. when he was appointed agent for the Ameri- can Express Company at Princeton. which position he now fills. He was married in Princeton, Ill., to Miss Annie E. Charlton, who was born in Philadelphia, Penn., November 27, 1846. She is the daughter of Henry and Sarah (Clee) Charlton, both na- tives of England. To Mr. and Mrs. Earnest one child-Alpha F .- was born June 16, 1874. Both Mr. and Mrs. Earnest are mem- bers of the Congregational Church. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in politics is Republican.

O. M. EASTMAN, Lamoille, another of our old settlers, came here in October, 1836, from Granby, Mass., where he was born July 18, 1814. He is a son of Joseph and Persis (Read) Eastman, natives of Massachusetts, he of Granby, Hampshire County, and she of Warren, Worcester County. Both died in Seneca County, N. Y. They were the parents of the following children: Waldo R., Ogden M., Lyman F., Dr. Joseph Eastman, Charles E., Reuben, Mrs. Eliza Goodrich and Mrs. Persis A. Aldrich. In early life Mr. East. man was a mechanic, following his occupa- tion after he came to this county. He first settled in Leepertown, but the following year, in 1837, he came to Lamoille Township, and since 1862 has resided mainly in La- moille. He spent two years very pleasantly visiting friends in Massachusetts. In South Hadley, Mass., he was married before he came West, July I1, 1836, to Miss Lucretia A. Church, who was born December 6, 1814, in the above place. She is a daughter of Cenas Church, and is the mother of four children

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

now living, viz. : Norris B., of Dakota; Mrs. Lucy E. Nugent, of Taylor County, Iowa; Mrs. Persis A. Hawley, and Mrs. Rachel A. Phillips. Mr. and Mrs. Eastman are active members of the Congregational Church. Politically he is a Republican. He is a Master Mason of the A. F. & A. M. frater- nity, and is ever willing to encourage all things pertaining to the good of the com- munity in which he resides.

MRS. LOVEY EATON, Princeton, was born June 12. 1814, in Eaton, Strafford Co., N. H. Her maiden name was Lovey Bick- ford; her parents were Enoch and Nancy (Eastman) Bickford, natives of New Hamp- shire, where they died. They had seven chil- dren; of these only our subject is now living. She was married, March 12, 1837, to John L. Eaton. He was born July 27, 1792, and died September 5, 1870, in this county, to which he came in 1845. To Mr. and Mrs. Eaton five children were born, viz .: Andrew J. Eaton, born December 6, 1838; Mrs. Sarah E. Warren was born July 27, 1840. Her husband, D. K. Warren, is a native of Steuben County, N. Y. He is now a resident of Astoria, Oregon, and quite wealthy. They have four children, viz. : Lulu, Minnie, George T. and Freddie L. Truman W. Eaton was born February 2, 1843, and died September 5, 1883, in Oregon. He was a very bright young man, and formerly in a Government office in New Orleans. Lewis M. Eaton was born December 20, 1845. He is now a resident of Astoria, Oreg. The young- est child -- Lucy Eaton-died at the age of three years. Mrs. Eaton is yet living on the old homestead, and is a well read and ener- getic lady, although she has passed the allotted " three score and ten."

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History of Bureau County, Illinois, Part 70

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