History of Bureau County, Illinois, Part 72

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 72

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).

*Since the writing of the above, he died in Canon City, Colo., November 17, 1884.

and which is now his home. There he has been very successful in various occupations connected with mining, and is a shrewd busi- ness man in spite of his years.

E. W. FASSETT, Lamoille, was born June 23, 1823, in Keen, Cheshire Co., N. H. He came to this county with his father, Elisha Fassett (see preceding sketch), and although his educational advantages were few, he has yet been enabled through his excellent nat- ural ability, to place himself at the head of the business men of Lamoille without special effort. About 1844 he clerked one year for the firm of Fox & Bryant, and after that clerked one year for Jonathan Holbrook and then took charge of the " Union Store," which he conducted one year, and then bought the store and has been engaged in business for himself ever since, and is now the oldest living merchant in Lamoille. At present, he, in partnership with I. H. Norris and J. R. Woods, is conducting a large general store, and also buys and sells exchange on all im- portant cities. He has 260 acres of land here, and about 1.200 acres in Nebraska. Mr. Fassett was married December 7, 1842, to Pamelia W. Morton, who was born May 21, 1823, in Hatfield, Mass. Her parents, Cotton and Nancy (Herrick) Morton, came here in 1838. She is the mother of six chil- dren, viz .: Mrs. Hattie L. P. Woods, Charles W., Frank M., and Elisha P. Fassett are yet living, and Fannie C. and Florence deceased. Mr. Fassett and his excellent wife are mem- bers of the Baptist Church. During the war he was one of the three men elected to fill the quota of Bureau County; and has satisfac- torily filled the office of Supervisor of La- moille Township.

FAY FAMILY, Bureau. Samuel L. Fay was born in Newton, Middlesex Co., Mass., August 1, 1813. His parents, Putnam and Elizabeth (Wilson) Fay were both natives of Massachusetts, and in 1814 removed to Con- way, Franklin Co., where they lived until their deaths. They were the parents of five boys and two girls, of whom only two are living-George W., of Wisconsin, and Sam- uel L. September 29, 1834, S. L. Fay left Massachusetts and reached Bureau County October 26, 1834. The following winter he laid claim to his present farm, and in 1835

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HISTORY OF BUREAU COUNTY.

entered 160 acres, and has resided on his farm ever since, with the exception of one year which he spent at Hennepin in 1836-37. His farm contains 280 acres, but he and his sons own 440 acres in Bureau Township. When he came to this county Mr. Fay had about $113, which he loaned at 12 per cent inter- est until he required it at the land sale. He was married in this county January 28, 1838, to Mary Mercer, who was born in Greene County, Penn., February 8, 1807. She is the daughter of Edward and Mary (Ellis) Mer- cer, who came to the county in 1836, and both died here. Of their family of eight children Mrs. Fay is the only one living. To Mr. and Mrs. Fay five children have been born, viz. : Edward Mercer, born December 12, 1838, is married to Ella Stearns, and lives on the old homestead; Elizabeth A., born October 30, 1840, wife of William Fike, of Bureau Town- ship; Darius Fisher, born October 5, 1842, married to Sylvia C. Smith; George W., born July 16, 1845, is married to Mary E. Hackett, and lives in Bureau Township; William A., born August 17, 1847, enlisted in Company I, Twelfth Regiment, and died in the hospital at Marietta, Ga., August 28, 1864. In poli- tics Mr. Fay is identified with the American party, but was an Abolitionist during the ex- istence of that party, and was its first nomi- nee in this district to the State Legislature. He and his wife are members of the Wesley- an Methodist Church. Fisher Fay, son of S. L. Fay, was married to Sylvia C. Smith September 25, 1866. She was born in Prince- ton, Ill., September 23, 1844, and is the daughter of Elijah and Sylvia (Childs) Smith; both were natives of Conway, Mass., where he was born November 7, 1806, and she May 6, 1806. They were married March 31, 1831, and the same year came to Princeton, Ill., where he died March 2, 1882, and his wife December 17, 1874. Their children were born in Princeton and are as follows: I. B. Smith, born August 27, 1834, lives in New Jersey; L. F. Smith, born July 27, 1837, of Kansas; Susan M., born May 11, 1840, wife of Frank Young, of Sandwich, Ill .; Sylvia C., born September 23, 1844; Sarah J., born March 24, 1847, wife of Johnson Foster, of Saline County, Neb. The children of D. F. and Sylvia C. Fay are: Jennie Inella, born

September 19, 1867; Clara Eliza, born De- cember 23, 1870; Sylvia C., born February 14, 1875, died November 11, 1875. In poli- tics Mr. Fay has always been Republican and has held Township offices. February, 1865, he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Fifty first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served till February, 1866. His regiment was organized at Camp Butler, Springfield, then went to Dalton, Ga., but most of the time was at Columbus, Ga., on garrison and reconstruction duty.

B. C. FEAR, Princeton, was born May 25, 1828, in Alleghany County, Md. He is the son of William and Hulda (Codding- ton) Fear, both natives of Maryland. The mother died when her son B. C. was small; the father, however, lived until 1881. He was proprietor of a hotel, also kept a stage station, farmed, etc. The subject of this sketch was reared among the mountains of his native State, away from churches and schools; and during his early life he drove stage, kept bar, etc. Ten days before he was twenty-one years of age he began in the mer- cantile business, opening a stock of goods in a log-cabin 12x16 feet in a place called Cove, Md. In Cove he remained for eight or ten years, and then went to Harnedsville, Somer- set Co., Penn., where he was in business till 1867, when he came to Princeton, Ill., and in partnership with T. J. Cooper bought the store of Mulvain Brothers. This store was in the Stoner Block, and five days later the building burned, but they saved part of the goods, which they put into the present store room, and so continued business. After about seven months' partnership Mr. Cooper retired and Mr. Fear has since continued the business, the firm now being B. C. Fear & Co. They carry a very complete stock of dry goods, carpets, etc., valued at from $10,- 000 to $12,000. For over thirty years Mr. Fear has been an active member in the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, having joined the church while at the Cove. He is also a strong temperance man, and in politics he is identified with the Republican party. He was married in Maryland, October 9, 1851, by Rev. B. Ison, to Miss Catherine Frantz, who died seven months later. He was mar- ried again in Preston County, Va., June 19,

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

1855, by Asby Stevens, to Miss Frances J. Forman. Six children have been the result of this union, four of whom yet survive, viz. : Cora, wife of C. G. Cushing; George R., Emma C. and Charles B.

H. H. FERRIS, Princeton, was born De- cember 24, 1832, in Ferrisburg, Vt. He was educated in Vergennes, Vt., and afterward lived on a farm. In 1854 he came to Prince- ton, where he farmed and speculated, and eventually opened a real estate office. In 1862 he and his brother Benjamin S. opened a private bank. In 1865 they organized the First National Bank, in which Benjamin S. was President and our subject Vice-President. The latter sold his interest in 1875. In 1872 he assisted in organizing the Farmers' National Bank, of which he was elected Presi- dent. In 1875, after he had sold his inter- est in both banks, he went to Russell County, Kan., where he was in the stock business two years and then returned to Princeton. where he became identified with the Citizens' National Bank, of which he is at present Vice-President. Mr. H. H. Ferris was mar- ried February 4, 1864, in Waterville, Me., to Miss Mary S. Dunbar, born September 23, 1841. in Maine. She is a daughter of Otis H. Dunbar, born May 24, 1807, in Massa- chusetts and yet living in Princeton. Mrs. Ferris is the mother of five children, viz. : Edward S., born December 18, 1864, at pres- ent Assistant Cashier in a bank in Shenan- doah, Iowa; Camilla B., born March 7, 1867; Charles O., August 12, 1870; Albert H., Au- gust 24, 1873, and Mary C., October 31, 1878. Mrs. Ferris is a member of the Congregational Church. Mr. Ferris is a Re- publican in politics. He was a soldier in our late war, serving in the Twelfth Regi- ment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company H, which was the first raised in Bureau County.

W. W. FERRIS, Princeton, was born Au- gust 10, 1842, in Ferrisburg, Addison Co .. Vt. His grandfather was Benjamin Ferris. Sr .; he was born in 1765 in Stamford, Conn., and was a soldier in the war of 1812; he died of camp-fever, contracted at the battle of Plattsburg, N. Y., aged forty-nine years. He was married about 1793 to Patience Barnes, who was born in May, 1760. She

was the mother of the following children: Richard, Peter W., Phebe, Martha and Ben- jamin. The latter was born November 26, 1801 in Ferrisburg, Vt .: he died October 11, 1881, in Princeton, Ill., to which place he came in 1873. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, and was married November 16, 1823, to Mary Sherman, who was born March 9, 1803, in Monkton, Vt. She died May 9, 1881, in Princeton. She was the mother of ten children, viz. : Emily R., Cornelia, Phimelia, Benjamin S., Harrison H., Martha S., George, Laura, Watson W. and Charles E. Of these, only Harrison H., at present Vice-President of the Citizens' National Bank of Princeton, and Watson W., our subject, are now living. The latter was educated in Vermont and at the Commercial College of Syracuse, N. Y., of which place he is a graduate. January 2, 1863, he came to Princeton, Ill., and here he has been engaged in the banking business ever since. At first he clerked in the private bank of B. S. Ferris & Co., but in 1865 he became a member of the Ferris Bros.' Bank, which was another private bank. In Janu- ary, 1871, he was elected Cashier of the First National Bank, remaining in that posi- tion till August 1, 1875, when he resigned his place. The following October he was elected Cashier of the Farmers' National Bank, which position he yet occupies. Mr. Ferris was married here November 30, 1869, to Miss Frances Barrie, who was born March 7, 1849, in Henderson, N. Y. Her father was Charles Barrie, a native of New York City, and of Scotch descent. Her mother was Clarinda Cook, a native of Henderson, N. Y. Five children were the result of this union, viz .: Mary A., born June 20, 1871; Helen M., deceased; Willard B., born October 3, 1876; Jean M., born August 20, 1879, and Florence A., born April 23, 1882. In polit- ical matters Mr. Ferris is connected with the Republican party.

HARRY C. FIELD, Princeton, was born September 27, 1819, in Egremont Township, Berkshire Co., Mass. He is a son of John V. W. Field, a native of New York State, where he was born August 9, 1776. He died June 4, 1848, in Blanford, Mass. The mother of our subject was Orra (Hart) Field; she was born November 3, 1775, in Connecticut;

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HISTORY OF BUREAU COUNTY.

she died February 3, 1846, in Egremont, Mass. She was the mother of the following children, viz .: Loretta, Mary, Milo, Gil- bert, Harry C., Joel H. and Sally C. Of the above, only Harry C. and Joel H. are now living, the latter in Sheffield, Mass. Our subject. Harry C. Field was educated in Massachusetts, and has made farming his occupation. In 1846 he came to this county, settling on Section 3 in Princeton Township, where he vet resides. He was married here to Louisa B. Harris, who died February 14, 1851. She was the mother of Alice L. Field. Mr. Field was married a second time October 6, 1851, to Miss Elizabeth P. Reasoner, who was born March 11, 1826. She is a daughter of Ebert and Eunice P. (Karner) Reasoner. Mrs. Field is the mother of four children, viz .: Sarah E., Florence A., Charles W. and Orra P. The oldest, Sarah E., was born December 30, 1853; she is the wife of Sam- uel R. Wilson. They have three children. viz. : Alice M., Eugene and Le Roy. Flor- ence A. was born September 24, 1856; she married J. P. Bartley; they have had one child, named Fred N. Charles W. was born November 19, 1858, and Orra P. was born July 24, 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Field are active members of the Presbyterian Church, and ever ready to further every good cause.

JOHN FIELD, Berlin, was born in Jeffer- son County, Va., near Harper's Ferry, May 22, 1818. His father, Isaiah Field, was of Irish descent and a native of Pennsylvania. He was married in Hagerstown, Md. to Esther Stonebraker, who was of German descent, and was born and reared near Hagerstown. While living in Virginia he was engaged in furnishing gun-stocks for the Government gun works at Harper's Ferry. When their son John was eight years old they removed to Harrison County, Ohio, where they resided until their deaths. They were the parents of ten children, six of whom are now living. Our subject was reared on the farm, and educated in the common snb. scription schools of his day. He resided in Ohio till 1849, when he came to Bureau County, though he had been in the county as early as 1841, while traveling through the West selling machinery. In 1852 he pur chased his present homestead, and has since

been engaged in farming. He owns 490 acres of land in Berlin Township. He owes his success in life to his own industry, as he started with nothing. Mr. Field was mar- ried in Peoria County, Ill., March 3, 1858, to Catherine Schnebley, who was born near Peoria. Her father, Henry Schnebley, was a native of Washington County, Md., and his wife, Elizabeth Wunderlich, of Franklin County, Penn. They came from Maryland to Peoria in 1836, where he died, but his wife still survives. Mr. and Mrs. Field have four children living, viz .: Charles, Hetty, Clement V. and J. Clinton, and two dead, Henry and Anna. In politics Mr. Field has always been an active Democrat. He is a member of Eureka Lodge, No. 270. A. F. & A. M., of Arlington.

CHARLES FIFIELD, Concord. The sub. ject of this paragraph was born in Andover, N. H., July 12, 1857. He is the son of Silas C. and Lucy A. (Jackman) Fifield. Silas Fifield was born in Andover, N. H., Jannary 7, 1821. His father, Peter Fifield, was a native of Salisbury, N. H., and had there married in 1804, but soon afterward settled at Andover, where some of his descendants still reside. Silas Fifield was married in his native State to Lucy A. Jack- man, who was born in Enfield, N. H., in August, 1826; both yet survive and are the parents of three sons, viz .: Silas, Charles and Irvin. The eldest and youngest are engaged in farming in their native State. Charles Fifield remained on the farm till about the age of seventeen years, when he began fitting himself for college; he then continued his studies till he graduated from Dartmouth College in the class of 1882, after which he began the study of medicine, and in 1883 began attending lectures at the Dartmouth Medical College, continuing in the same till coming to this county, April 1, 1884, on account of the death of his relatives, and his becoming heir to the property they left. Peter Fifield, the uncle of Charles, was born in Andover, N. H., and was there married to Miss Mercy Norton, and they were among the early settlers in Bureau County, settling in Concord Township, May, 1838. Mr. Fifield died here in July, 1880, and his widow in May, 1883. They left one son-Albert J .- who

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,

died unmarried in March, 1884, at the age of thirty-nine years, and through the will, Mr. Charles Fifield became the possessor of two farms containing 280 acres of land.

MRS. LURANA FIFIELD, Concord. Samuel Fitield, deceased, was born at An- dover, N. H., September 24, 1816. He was one of the early settlers of the western part of this county. August 2, 1843, he was united in marriage in this county to Miss Lnrana Stevens, who was born in New Hamp- shire, June 20, 1824, and is the daughter of Thomas J. Stevens, deceased. Immediately after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Fifield settled on the farm where she yet resides, and he died there March 23, 1869, leaving a family of eight children, all of whom reside in Bureau County. They are: Thomas J., Lu- cien, John, Lucy J., George, Mary E., Ches- ter and Frank. Lucy is the wife of David Law, and Mary is the wife of Charles Chi- chester. Thomas J. Stevens was born in New Hampshire, and came to Illinois in 1836 and settled a farm in Section 34, Concord Township, where he lived till his death in June, 1880. Mr. Stevens was twice married. His first wife, Eliza (Smith) Stevens, was a native of the same State as her husband; she died in this county. He was afterward united in marriage to Mrs. Eliza Grant Simp- son, who survives him and lives at Princeton, Ill. By his first wife Mr. Stevens was the father of nine children, six of whom were born before coming to Illinois. Of the fam- ily only the following now survive: Mrs. Lurana Fifield, Mrs. Mary Dow, wife of Trustam Dow, of Davenport, Iowa; Mrs. Emeline Wilkinson, wife of Lyman Wilkin- son, of Geneseo, Ill .; Joseph Stevens, of Annawan, Ill., and Francis Stevens, of Sheffield, Ill.

DAVID C. FISHER. Macon, was born in Huntingdon County, Penn., July 16, 1815. He is the son of Ludwick and Elizabeth (Crawford) Fisher. The father was born in Maryland, but his father, Christian Fisher, was a native of Germany, and had come to the United States during the Revolutionary war. Our subject's mother was of English descent, and was married in Pennsylvania, and it was in that State they lived and died, most of the time residing in Bedford County,

but died in Fulton. They were the parents of eleven children, five of whom yet survive, and probably the sixth, from whom nothing has been learned for several years. David C. Fisher was reared on a farm and has made farming his occupation during life. In 1857 he came to Bureau County and in 1862 to his present farm. September 20, 1838, he was married in Bedford County, Penn., to Charity Horton. She was born in Bedford County, July 29, 1817, and was the daughter of Thomas I., and Sarah Horton. Mrs. Fisher died March 31, 1875. She was the mother of ten children, viz : Susan, Ben- jamin (deceased), Sarah, Henry (deceased), Mary, Elizabeth, Miles (deceased), Andrew, Margaret (deceased), and Wilson. Snsan is the wife of Noah D. Hoskins, and resides at Plattville, Col .; Sarah is the wife of Albert Watts, of Bureau County; Mary, wife of Frederick Carper, resides in Macon Township; Elizabeth, of Buda is the wife of John W. Carper; Andrew lives in Macon Township, and Wilson in Clay County, Kan. Mr. Fisher is Republican in politics.

E. D. FISHER, Princeton, was born Jan- uary 4, 1854, in Bureau County, Ill. His father, Amos Fisher, was born August 19, 1820, in Belmont County, Ohio. He died September 27, 1884, in Princeton. His parents were Darius and Anna (Mercer) Fisher. The former, who was a native of Massachusetts, died in Ohio. The latter, who was born in Pennsylvania, came to Bu- reau County in the spring of 1841, as did also her seven children, viz .: Edward M .. Aaron, Amos, James M., Ellis, Mrs. Mary Wilcox and Darius Fisher. Of the above, only Aaron, of Ogalalla, Neb., and James M., of Princeton, are yet living. Amos Fisher visited Bureau County in the fall of 1835. He returned to Ohio the next spring, where he was married to Ann Parish, who died in Princeton. She was the mother of Mrs. Adello E. Eaton, of Chicago. Amos Fisher came to this county a second time a few months before his family. He settled on West Bureau, where he farmed, and for some time was in partnership with his brothers, James M. and Ellis Fisher. Amos Fisher has been quite a public man, holding many township offices from the lowest to the highest.

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HISTORY OF BUREAU COUNTY.

He has also been Deputy Sheriff. He was married a second time to Olive C. Green, who survives him. Her parents, Oliver and Rebecca (Wilcox) Green, came here in 1846. Mrs. Olive C. Green is a native of Oswego County, N. Y. She is the mother of five children, viz .: Ann E., Frances E., Edward D., Sarah V. M., and Estella, deceased. Amos Fisher was in the grain business in Wyanet, with Judge Knox for some time, and was after- ward in business in Princeton. He was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church and A. F. & A. M. fraternity. His son, Edward D. Fisher, may be counted among our rising young men, who will owe their success in the world to their business qualities. He was edu- cated in Bureau County. He worked one season at the carpenter's trade, and then read law with Kendall & Lovejoy nearly three years, and then worked as book-keeper and weigher for the firm of A. & J. M. Fisher, grain merchants in Princeton, Ill. In 1882 the firm changed to Fisher & Biles, and our subject continued to work for them until October, 1883, when he became a partner in the firm of Fisher & James, grain merchants.

MICHAEL FLAHERTY, Hall, was born in Hall Township, Bureau Co., Ill., Septem- ber 29, 1847. His parents, Michael and Julia (Cahill) Flaherty, were natives of County Kerry, Ireland, and came to this country about 1846, settling in Hall Town- ship, near where our subject now resides, and where they died. They were the parents of eight children, viz. : Mrs. Mary Cahill, Mrs. Bridget Lyons, Mrs. Ellen Hurley, Michael, John and Patrick (twins), Daniel and James, of Chicago. Michael Flaherty was reared in this county, and is engaged in farming. He owns 160 acres of land. He was married in this county April 25, 1870, to Mary Fitzger- ald, daughter of Gerald and Catharine (Gran- field) Fitzgerald, natives of County Kerry, Ireland, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Fla- herty have five children, viz. : James E., Mary L., Frank P. Julia J. and Catharine. Mr. and Mrs. Flaherty are members of the Cath- olic Church. Politically he is independent, but was formerly a Democrat.

PATRICK FLAHERTY, Hall, was born in Hall Township, Bureau Co., Ill., February 23, 1848, a son of Michael and Julia (Cahill)

Flaherty. (See sketch of Michael Flaherty.) Our subject was married in this county Feb- ruary 12, 1876, to Margaret Coughlan, born July 4, 1854, in Westfield Township, a daugh- ter of James and Nora (McDonald) Coughlan. Mr. and Mrs. Flaherty have five children, viz .: Julia H., Mary E., Michael, James G. and Theresia M. Mr. and Mrs. Flaherty are mem- bers of the Catholic Church. Politically he is identified with the Democratic party.

WILLIAM A. FLETCHER, Concord, was born in Fauquier County, Va., August 10, 1829. His parents, Townsend and Susan (Ready) Fletcher, were both natives of Vir- ginia. She is now living in this county, aged eighty-seven years, but he died in 1866. They were the parents of nine children, of whom three sons and two daughters are now living, all in this county except the oldest son, who is in Nebraska. In 1831 they moved from Virginia to Ohio, and in the spring of 1844 to Bureau County, Ill., and settled near Princeton. William Fletcher was reared in this county, and received a common school education. His principal occupation has been that of farming, though before marriage he was engaged in clerking and also in carpentering. In 1867 he settled on his present farm, which he bought of his father in 1865. He now owns 250 acres of land. Although he started with nothing he has been successful through steady work and no speculating. August 4, 1853, he was mar- ried in this county to Lovina Holbrook, who was born here February 21, 1835. Her par- ents, Alexander and Elizabeth (Tompkins) Holbrook, were natives of Tennessee, but were early settlers in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher are the parents of ten children, viz .: Elizabeth Ann, born June 12, 1854; Ida Lois, September 8, 1856, died December 9, 1859; W. Allen, April 27, 1859; Susan C., May 22, 1862; Mary A., March 9, 1865; Al- bert H., June 6, 1867; Gracie G., April 11, 1869; Jessie M., October 7, 1871; Don, Sep- tember 1, 1873; James A., March 6, 1876. In politics Mr. Fletcher has been a Repub- lican since the party was organized. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church of Tiskilwa.

M. C. FLOWERS, Lamoille, was born June 21, 1830, in Richmond, Berkshire Co.,

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Mass. Heis a son of James and Nancy (Crit- tenden) Flowers, both natives of Massachu- setts, where the latter died. The former died in New York. Mrs. Nancy Flowers was a daughter of Levi and Clarina Crittenden, and was the mother of three children, viz. : Alvin, Levi and Marshall C., our subject, who came to Bureau County in 1844. He lived in Princeton Township till 1861, when he rented a farm in Berlin Township. In the fall of the following year he removed to Lamoille Township, where he bought 160 acres of land on Section 28, which he im- proved, and on which he now resides. He has been married twice. His first wife, Martha J. Winship, died here in June, 1877. She was the mother of two children, viz. : Francis E. and Mrs. Emma E. Gruenbyke, who is the mother of two children-Francis and Calvin A. Gruenbyke. Mr. Flowers was married a second time to Caroline A. Win- ship, a daughter of Franklin Winship, the pioneer and County Surveyor. Mrs. Flowers is a member of the Congregational Church. Politically Mr. Flowers is identified with the Republican party.

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History of Bureau County, Illinois, Part 72

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