History of Bureau County, Illinois, Part 73

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 73

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).

CAPT. RUFUS FORD, Buda, was born September 1, 1812, in Kennebec County, Me., to John and Ruth (Oldham) Ford. Capt. Ford remained on the farm in his native county until he was about twenty-one years of age, when he went to Massachusetts, and for about five years was engaged in cotton manufacturing. In the fall of 1838, on ac- count of ill health, he left the factories, and came West, and having received a good com- mon school education in boyhood, he now engaged in teaching school for some time. From 1839 till 1842 he remained in Ohio and Kentucky, but in the latter part of 1842 he went on the river, and from that date till 1869 he was connected with the traffic of the Mississippi River and its branches. For a short time he was clerk on a boat, but soon became Captain. From first starting till 1849, he was in the Cincinnati and New Orleans, and Cincinnati and Memphis trade. Then for eleven years he was engaged in the St. Louis & Keokuk Mail Packet Line; but in 1860 he became Superintendent of the Missouri River Packet Line, which was in connection with the Hannibal & St. Joseph

Railroad. Capt. Ford had his headquarters at St. Joseph, where he remained till the latter part of 1868, when the railroads had superseded the steamboat on the upper Mis- souri, when leaving St. Joseph he removed to St. Louis and took charge of the St. Louis & Quincy Packet Line. In 1869 he left the river and came to Bureau County, where he had invested in large tracts of land. Since coming here in 1869 this county has been his home, although his position as President of the Watson Coal & Mining Company has required his presence at the company's head- quarters at Des Moines, Iowa, much of the time for a number of years. Capt. Ford has always been an active participant in any home enterprise which he considered worthy. During the existence of the Buda Manufact- uring Company he was its President and a heavy stockholder, and to many other enter- prises he has given his assistance. He was united in marriage, in Bloomfield, Me., in 1846, to Martha Cressey Webb, who died in this county in 1861, leaving one son-Will- iam W .- who was born in November, 1858. In March, 1867, Capt. Ford was married, in Buda, to Mrs. Laura C. M. Childs, who is the mother of one son-Robert Floyd Ford, born October 7, 1871. In 1842, while in Kentucky, Mr. Ford became a member of the I. O. O. F., and continued an active member of the order for many years, but as age came on, and he became more retired, he allowed his card to run out. During his residence in Ken- tucky, and while on the river, he saw much of slavery and its evils, and became very much opposed to human bondage, and so took an active interest in freeing of the slaves. In politics he is identified with the Republican party.

WILLIAM FORDHAM, Walnut. Charles Fordham, the father of the above-named gen- tleman, was born in Cambridgeshire, England. In June, 1856, the family landed in Bureau County, Ill. They lived in Wyanet and vicinity for several years, and in December, 1864, settled in Walnut Township, where they have since resided, and where the fam- ily owns 560 acres of land. When first land- ing in the county their cash capital was but $15. Charles Fordham was married in his native country to Elizabeth Morgan, a native

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HISTORY OF BUREAU COUNTY.

of Cambridgeshire. She is the mother of five sons, viz : William, Isaac (married to Fan- nie Butler), Charles (married to Florence Ferris), John (married to Sylvia Major), Ar- thur (married to Emma Epperson). The two eldest sons were both born in England, but the others in this county, and all are farm- ers in this township. In politics Mr. Ford- ham and his sons are all Democratic. Will- iam and Charles are members of the A. F. & A. M., Walnut Lodge, No. 722. William Fordham was born February 7, 1851. He was married in this county August IS, 1872, to Miss Sarah Pinion. She was born in

Princeton, April 10, 1854. She is a daugh- ter of Peter and Elizabeth Pinion, both na- tives of Cambridgeshire, England; they settled in Princeton about 1850, and Burean County was their home till 1881, when they returned to Northamptonshire, England. They are the parents of four children now living, viz .: Josiahı, Alfred and Peter in Iowa, and Mrs. William Fordham. Mr. and Mrs. Fordham have three children living, viz .: Elizabeth, born November 12, 1873; Arthur, born Octo- ber 15, 1877; William, born May 13, 1880.

S. H. FOSTER, Macon, was born in Wash- ington County, R. I., in February, 1820. He is the son of Othniel and Eunice (Browning) Foster. The Foster family is of English de- scent, and came to America some time in the seventeenth century. Othniel Foster was born in Washington County, R. I., where he was a large land-owner, but his wife was born in Connecticut, and both died in Rhode Island. They were the parents of twelve children, eight of whom are yet living. Our subject was reared on a farm, and has made farming his occupation during life. In 1856 he removed from his native State to Illinois, and the year following settled in Bureau County in Macon Township. Mr. Foster's life has been an active one, and he has met with success. His farm in Macon Township now contains 400 acres of well-improved land. In politics he is Republican, and his father was a Whig before him. He is a mem- ber of the Union Church of Buda. October 1, 1846, he was married in his native county to Miss Sarah Browning, who was born Au gust 5, 1827, and is the daughter of Abial F. and Hannah (James) Browning. The Brown-

ing family for generations had resided in Rhode Island, and the farm adjoined that of the Foster farm on the sea shore. Mrs. Fos- ter is the only daughter in a family of six children. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have five children, viz .: Charles, Eunice, William, George and S. H., Jr. Charles and William are farmers in Ida County, Iowa; Eunice is the wife of N. J. Knipple, of Buda; George is a druggist in Buda; and S. H. is at home.

GEORGE S. FOSTER, Buda. Among the young men of Buda who have been suc- cessful in their business ventures, and have laid the foundation for future competency, is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was born in Cook County, Ill., January 27, 1857, and is the son of S. H. Foster, whose sketch appears in this work. Mr. Foster came to this county in infancy with his parents. He was reared on a farm, and his early education was in the schools of this county, but in early manhood attended a college of pharmacy in Chicago, and also took a commercial course in the Business College of Davenport, Iowa. In 1879 he engaged in the lumber business in Buda, the firm being S. H. Foster & Son. This is the only lumber yard in the village, and our subject has the management of the business. March 1, 1881, the firm of Toomey & Foster, druggists, of which he was a member, opened a new stock of drugs and groceries, and have met with good success since. They carry a stock of goods valued at about $3,500.

RODERICK B. FRARY, Lamoille, is one of the older residents of Bureau County who have been honorably and prominently identified for a period of forty years, with its business and public interests. Mr.

Frary was born at Whately, Mass., Jan- nary 28, 1821. He was the son of Seth, the son of Seth, the son of Eleazar, the son of Isaac, the son of Eleazar, the son of Jobn Frary. The last mentioned, according to old histories preserved in Massachusetts, was the first of the name who came to America, about the year 1600, and settled in Massachusetts -the exact locality not now known, but his grandson, Isaac Frary, lived at Hatfield, Hampshire Co., Mass., and reared a family. One of his children, Eleazar Frary, was born at this place December 19, 1716. The

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Frarys at this time were farmers by occu- pation, and in religion were members of the Congregational Church. It would appear that they were people of enterprise and took an active part in affairs of those days, as Seth, the grandfather of Roderick B., was a soldier in the war of independence and held a Captain's commission. He died at Hatfield, Mass., in 1845, aged upward of eighty years, and for many years had been the recipient of a Captain's pension from the United States Government. One of his epanlets, worn while in the service of his country, is now in the possession of R. B. Frary, and is prized highly, not only as a family relic, but as a Revolutionary one. He was married in 1779 at Whately, Mass., to Esther Scott, of that place, and a daughter of David Scott. The latter was the master builder in erecting the first church edifice ever built in that town. It was commenced in 1772, and, as old his- tories give it, one barrel of cider brandy was consumed at the "raising " of the frame. Seth Frary. last named, and his wife had born to them nine children. Their son Seth (the father of Roderick B.) was born at Whately, Mass. He married Dency Cooley, a daughter of Martin Cooley, all of Whately. Their children were: Giles C .; Martin C .; Daniel G., born March 4, 1817; Pamelia, February 28, 1819; Roderick B., in 1821; and Esther, born in 1823. The only ones now living are Roderick B. and Pamelia, the latter living in Altona, Knox Co., Ill. Mr. Roderick B. Frary, the subject of this sketch, was left an orphan, his father dying when he was but two and his mother when he was but six years old. After his parents' death he went to live with his uncle, Dennis Cooley, with whom he remained until he was sixteen. He then bound himself to Dr. Bardwell, of his native place, to remain until he was twenty-one years old. Attaining his major- ity in the spring of 1842, the following Au- gust he started for Illinois, arriving at La- moille in September, where he made a short visit with his sister. He then continued on his journey, his objective point being Wau- kesha County, Wis., where he intended build- ing a saw-mill. On his arrival there he com- menced this enterprise; it was, however, final- ly abandoned, and he turned his attention to

farming. He erected on his land a log-house 16x24 feet in size, and was married in this building the 26th of April, 1844, to Miss Ann Elliott, a native of Pease Marsh, Sussex Co., England, born March 19, 1824. She is a daugh- ter of George and Lucy Elliott, who came to the United States in 1828, settling at Sanger- field, N. Y., moving to Wisconsin in 1836, and to Bureau County, Ill., in 1851, where they lived until their deaths at Lamoille, which occurred, the mother's in 1862, and the father's in 1866. They had the following children: Ann, now Mrs. Frary; George, who lives on the old home farmn in Wisconsin; Samuel, who resides in Delta County, Mich. ; Stephen, of Waukesha County, Wis .; Mrs. Har- riet Bonham, of Andrew County, Mo .; Mrs. Mary Baird, of Laramie City, W. T., and James, of Sussex, Wankesha Co., Wis. About one year after Mr. Frary's marriage in Wis- consin, he with his wife and one child moved to Bureau Co., Ill., and in company with his brother-in-law, Mr. Mather, entered one quarter section of land on Section 2, La- moille Township. Here he lived until 1852, farming during the summers, and manufactur- ing brooms during the winters. March 10, 1852, lie commenced clerking at Lamoille for Tracy Reeves at $250 a vear. After one year Mr. Reeves sold out to the Union Store Com- pany aud Mr. Frary was appointed chief clerk, a position that he successfully occu- pied for four years and six months. He, in September. 1857, in company with Mr. How- ard, under the firm name of Frary & Howard, opened a general store at Lamoille. This business he continued some time alone and under different partnerships until 1876, when he sold out his interest to his son and son- in-law, who were then his partners. In 1876 Mr. Frary became interested in breeding and raising Jersey cattle. He has imported since that date five car-loads of thoroughbred Jer- seys. His herd consists at present of about fifty thoroughbreds. At present he devotes his time to the care of his stock, a boot and shoe store that he operates at Lamoille Vil- lage, and his official duties as Justice of the Peace and Notary Public, positions that he has held for several years. In politics Mr. Frary was an original Abolitionist, and later a Republican. He has served his township,

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county and nation in various official posi- tions. He was the first Supervisor elected in Lamoille Township and subsequently served several terms, also ten years as Township School Treasurer and various other local offi- ces. In 1857 he was elected Treasurer of Bureau County, and re-elected in 1859. At the expiration of his second term in 1861 he was appointed Assistant United States Inter- nal Revenue Collector under J. H. Bryant, serving one year. In the spring of 1864, when President Lincoln made a special call for 100-day men as volunteers, Mr. Frary volun- teered, and in company with Maj. Roth was 1 largely instrumental in raising Company Gi of the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. This company was raised, enlisted and ready for transportation free of expense to the United States Government. Mr. Frary was mustered in as First Lieuten- ant, and on the organization of the regiment. received his commission as Captain. The regiment immediately reported at Benton Barrack, St. Louis, and soon entered upon active service. It was stationed a short time at Cairo, where Mr. Frary was appointed and served as Provost Marshal. After a service of about six months the regiment was mus- tered out, and each officer and soldier re- ceived personal thanks from President Lin- coln for services rendered the Nation, in shape of a certificate signed by himself set- ting forth the facts. Mr. and Mrs. Frary have been members of the Congregational Church since 1846. For many years he has served the church as Deacon, and has always been an active worker in its support; and of the three church edifices of this denomina- tion erected at Lamoille at different times he was each time a member of the Building Committee. Mr. and Mrs. Frary have had a family of seven children: Esther C., born February 4, 1845, married Albert E. Porter May 16, 1867, and died January 29, 1878, leaving one son; Dwight H., born April 2, 1847, and married Ella Hunt September 12, 1877; Lucy C., born December 9, 1852, and married Clarkson Norris October 15, 1874, and died March 26, 1875; Emma D., born January 14, 1858; Roddie B., born October 25, 1861, and died January 26, 1870; Nellie P., born March 10, 1868; Hattie M., born

March 7, 1870. Mr. Roderick B. Frary's portrait will be found on another page.

MILFORD FRAZEE, Dover, was born in Alleghany County, Md., November 21. 1843. His parents, Elisha and Barbara (Stuck) Frazee, were both natives of Maryland, and spent their lives there. They were the par- ents of six children, all living, viz. : Caroline, wife of Dr. Switzer, of Markleysburg, Fayette Co., Penn .; Milford; Julia, wife of Hiram Griffith, of Markleysburg, Penn. ; Kimmel, of Garrett County, Md .; Ulysses S., also of Garrett County, both on the old homestead, and James. Elisha Frazee was born April 30, 1800, and died December, 1874. His wife survived him several years. Milford Frazee was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. and also attended an academy for one year in Smithfield, Penn. He taught school for one year in Maryland and also in West Virginia. In October, 1868, he came to Bureau County, and engaged in farming and also in teaching. In 1873 he settled on his present farm of 160 acres in Sections 34 and 27, Dover Township. He was married December 27, 1870, to Annor Coddington, born September 7, 1848. She is a daughter of James Coddington. (See sketch of J. H. Coddington.) She is the mother of seven children, viz .: Lillie May, born July 5, 1872; Fannie Belle, June 9, 1875; Carrie Winnifred, February 23, 1878; James Worrall, November 6, 1880; Kate Edna, August 20, 1882, and infant daughter. November 2, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Frazee are members of the Baptist Church of Princeton. In politics he is a Republican.

DAVID FRIBLEY, Dover, was born in New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, January 28, 1819. He is the son of Jacob Fribley, who was born in Pennsylvania, where he was married to Elizabeth Woods, and afterward removed to Ohio, where they died. Their son David spent his early life on the farm in his native county, and farm- ing has been his occupation during life. No- vember 23, 1867, he came to Bureau County. and then to his present farm of 190 acres, adjoining Dover. He was married in Tus- carawas County, Ohio, in 1840, to Margaret Lupher, a daughter of Henry Lupher. She was born in the same place as Mr. Fribley,

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but her parents were natives of Pennsyl- vania. Mr. and Mrs. Fribley are the par- ents of five children, viz .: Henry L., died of disease while in the army in 1862, of the Eightieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; Jacob, in Thirtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry (was killed at the battle of Antietam in 1862); Catherine is the, wife of Abel Hensel, of Missouri; Hannah, wife of Enoch Hensel, of this county; Sadie, wife of Charles Hogue, of this township. Mr. Fribley has been a Republican since the party was first organ- ized. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In his bus- iness life Mr. Fribley has been so prompt in all his transactions that he has never been en- gaged in a lawsuit.

PETER FUNFSINN, Westfield. was born November 8, 1849, in Luxemburg, Germany. His parents, Henry and Catharine (Rodesh) Funfsinn, natives of Germany, immigrated to LaSalle County, Ill., in 1850, where they bought eighty acres of land. They are yet living, and have been successful farmers, and now possess 500 acres in LaSalle and Bureau Counties. Their eight children are: August, Peter, Mrs. Mary New, Mrs. Catha- rine Snyder, Mrs. Anna Hostetter, John H., Rosa and Maggie Funfsinn. Peter Funf- sinn was married November 18, 1874, to Agnes Sondgeroth, born February 2, 1854, in LaSalle County, daughter of Conrad and Margaret (Schroeder) Sondgeroth. This union was blessed with three children, viz. : Conrad, Henry P. and an infant son. Mr. and Mrs. Funfsinn are members of the Cath- olic Church. He is a Republican, Township Commissioner, and has a farm of 200 acres.

THOMAS FUNSON, Wheatland, who is the subject of the following biogra- phy, was born October 1, 1812, in County Tyrone, Ireland. He is a son of Oliver and Elizabeth (Sproul) Funson, who were natives of the above place, where they also died. They were the parents of the following chil- dren: Mrs. Fannie Milligan, deceased; Thomas Funson, our subject; Mrs. Eliza- beth McCormic and Mrs. Margaret Young were twins, the latter is deceased; and Mrs. Letitia Milligan, who is yet living in Can- ada. Our subject received a common school education in his native country, where he

tilled the soil till he immigrated to the United States in 1846. He landed in Philadelphia, where he remained nearly six years, and then removed to Ohio, where he farmed two years. In 1853 he bought eighty acres of land in Milo Township, Bureau Co., Ill., which land he improved and farmed successfully, till at present, owing to his perseverance and in- dustry he owns 279 acres of land. Politio- ally Mr. Funson is identified with the Repub- lican party, and has filled many offices in this township; among others that of Collector, Clerk and Commissioner. Mr. Funson was united in marriage in his native country to Margaret McCoy, who is the mother of the following children: Mrs. Elizabeth Moffitt, Hugh M., Henry O., Thomas T. and Fannie Fnnson. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Funson are connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

A. T. GALER, Princeton, was born Sep- tember 22, 1817, in Highland County, Ohio. He is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Allen) Galer, natives of Virginia. They were the parents of eight children, who wero all mar- ried here, viz .: John, Daniel, Jacob, Adam T., Sarah, Catharine, Ruth and Nancy. Of these, only Jacob Galer, a resident of Wash- ington Territory, and Adam T. Galer are yet living. Our subject came to this county with his parents August 20, 1834. They settled on Section 19 in Princeton Township, where they afterward entered 320 acres of land. The par- ents both died here, and are buried in Oakland Cemetery. Our subject was married here to Matilda Allen, who was born June 18, 1811, in Brown County, Ohio. She is a daughter of Jackamiah and Jane (Anderson) Allen, now deceased. They came West by water down the Ohio, and then up the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, landing in Hennepin, 11]., March 21, 1834. They were the parents of ten children, viz .: William, Melinda, Ma- tilda, Jemima, Ervin, Anderson, Jane, Jacob, Sarah and Polly. They all reared families; five of them are yet living; of these, Matilda, Jane and Jacob Allen are in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Galer are the parents of three children now living, viz .: Joseph, George and Melvina. The latter is the wife of William G. Johnson. They have five chil- dren: Adam L., William C., Mary M., Nellie

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HISTORY OF BUREAU COUNTY.

J. and Thompson G. Johnson, Joseph and George Galer are residents of Nebraska. The former is now married to Mary Thompson; his first wife was Mary Huffman, deceased. He has three children, viz .: Cora, Blanche and Charlie. The latter married Rosa Sales- bury. They have four children, viz .: Fred, Ord, Mabel and Tedrow Galer. Our subject is now living on a part of the old homestead; the farm contains 190 acres; he has also 200 acres in Concord Township. He is a Master Mason, and in political matters is connected with the Republican party. He was formerly a strong Abolitionist.

JAMES GALLAHER, Indiantown, was born October S, 1820, in Liverpool, Perry County, Penn. His parents, Thomas and Isabella (Adams) Gallaher, were born and died in Pennsylvania. They reared six chil- dren. Of these, only John A., of Pennsyl- vania, and James Gallaher, our subject, are now living. The latter was educated in Pennsylvania, where he was a boatman on the Pennsylvania Canal, running from Phila- delphia to Pittsburgh. He followed boating about eight years, and then clerked for his uncle, R. C. Gallaher, in Mifflin, Juniatta Co., Penn. He clerked there till 1852, when he came to Bureau County, Ill., where he bought eighty acres of land on Section 3, in Indiantown Township, where he yet resides, and at present owns 365 acres of land, the result of perseverance and industry.

Mr. Gallaher was married, February 9, 1860, in Pennsylvania, to Sarah A. Fulton, who was born October 31, 1829, in Chester County, Penn. She is a daughter of Thomas Fulton. To Mr. and Mrs. Gallaher three children were born, viz .: Mrs. Margaret Gaskill, Thomas and Mary Gallaher. Mrs. Gallaher is religiously connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, Mr. Gallaher is identified with the Repub- lican party. He has been School Director, and filled ininor offices in his district, and financially has been a very successful man.

JAMES M. GARDNER, Arispe, was born May 1, 1849, iu Osceola, Stark Co., 111. His parents, Otis and Mary (Weaver) Gardner, were natives of New York. They came to Peoria County, Ill., in 1831; from there they removed to Stark County. where the

father died February 19, 1881. aged seventy- two years. The mother died in March, 1882. They were the parents of the following chil- dren: Mrs. A. L. Welsh, Charles A., James M., Judson I., Mary E., and Mrs. Edith M. Mann, who are yet living. Three others are deceased. George Gardner, a brave soldier, was killed at Vicksburg in our late war. Our subject was educated at Lombard College. He clerked about ten years and then was a merchant in Tiskilwa for five years. For the last five years he has made farming his occu- pation with good success. He was married, June 15, 1876, to Clara P. Benson, a daugh- ter of A. Benson. She was born September 11, 1853, and is the mother of two children, viz .: Alanson B., born October 20, 1877, and Marian C., born September 6, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner are members of the Baptist Church. He is an A. F. & A. M.

MICHAEL GENNETT, Wheatland, was born April, 1812, in County Louth, Ireland. His parents, Hugh and Nancy (Garlin) Gen- nett, were also natives of Ireland, where they died. They were the parents of the follow- ing children: Hugh, Matthew, James, Mary, Margaret, Catharine, Ann, Michael and Eliz- abeth. Of the above ouly Matthew, Mrs. Margaret Earley, Mrs. Elizabeth Mooney and Michael Gennett, are yet living. The latter came to the United States in 1829 and after a sojourn of two years in New York came to Peoria County, Ill., via the lakes and rivers. About 1834 he came to Bureau County, where he bought 160 acres of land at $7 per acre, but did not settle on the land till 1837 when he returned from Chicago, where he had lived since his marriage. He has a farm of 300 acres of land in Wheatland Township, where he enjoys the esteem of all who know him. Mr. Gennett was married in Peoria County, to Margaret Lawless, a native of County Louth, Ireland. Her parents, James and Margaret (Brannon) Lawless, were pion- eers of Peoria County. Mrs. Gennett is the mother of the following children: Hugh J., William P., Mrs. Mary A. McAleer, Frank J., Edward C., Lizzie J. are yet living; Thomas, James, and two infants are deceased. James Gennett was a brave soldier boy, who offered his life on the altar of his country. He died at home surrounded by those he

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History of Bureau County, Illinois, Part 73

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