USA > Illinois > Ford County > History of Ford County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 27
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The marriage of J. P. Middlecoff and Miss Mary F. Fox was celebrated in Cincinnati, Ohio, in January, 1864. Mrs. Middlecoff was reared and edu- cated in that city and was a daughter of Richard Fox, the original starch manufacturer. They became the parents of three children but Alice, the eldest, died at the age of sixteen months, Sammel at the age of twenty-two months and Addie in early womanhood, March 9, 1891. Recently Mr. Middle- coff has erected in Paxton a colonial mansion, the finest residence of the city, and also maintains a home in St. Augustine, Florida, where he spends the winter months.
Not alone in business affairs but through other avenues of activity has Mr. Middlecoff contributed to public progress. He was for some years recog- nized as one of the republican leaders of central Illinois, and was a delegate to the national republican convention held in Philadelphia in 1900. He was first ealled to office in 1866 as supervisor of Patton township. He served also in the following year and was again elected in 1872, 1877 and 1878. During the last two years he was chairman of the county board and in the adminis- tration of public affairs brought to bear the same executive force and keen discrimination that have ever characterized him in his business life. That the public regarded him worthy of higher political honors was indicated by their election of him as their representative in the twenty-eighth general as- sembly. As a member of the house he served on the committees on public buildings and grounds, on corporations and on county and township organi- zations. He proved an active worker in the committee room and on all occasions gave earnest consideration to every question which came up for settlement. Four times he served as mayor of Paxton and as its chief exeeu- tive promoted reform, progress and improvement along various lines, holding high the standard of municipal honor and exercising his official pre- rogatives in support of those interests and movements which were a matter of eivie virtue and civie pride. During his second term as mayor the water- works were put in operation and during his fourth term the city hall was erected. This fine structure and ornament to Paxton owes its existence in no small degree to Mr. Middlecoff, who advocated a building that would be a credit to the city.
In Masonry Mr. Middlecoff has attained high rank. He belongs to Orien- tal Consistory, S. P. R. S., of Chicago, and to Morocco Temple of the Mystic Shrine in Jacksonville, Florida. Both he and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Paxton and he has been leader of the choir for thirty-five years. His life has been an open seroll inviting. the closest scrutiny. His achievements represent the result of honest endeavor along
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lines where mature judgment has pointed the way. He possesses a weight of character and native sagacity, a discriminating mind and the fidelity to princi- ples that command the respect of all. There is perhaps no other one citizen who has done for Paxton what Jonathan P. Middlecoff has accomplished for the city.
ROBERT A. MCCRACKEN.
During the entire period of his manhood Robert A. MeCracken has been connected prominently with business interests in Paxton and Ford county and his name has long been an honored one on commercial paper. While he pre pared for and was admitted to the bar, he has largely retired from active practice but his knowledge of the law proves of much value to him in the con- duct of his private business interests. He is president of the Kankakee City Electric Railway and has extensive investments, while at the same time he his the care of his father's estate, his mother, Mrs. E. C. MeCracken being execu- trix. The estate embraces forty-six hundred and fifty acres of Illinois land.
A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. MeCracken was born in Lawrence county, November 19, 1854, a son of the Rev. Robert MeCracken, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume. He was but seven years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Ford county and here the days of his boyhood were passed, his education being acquired in the public schools of Paxton. In 1871 he removed to Hoopeston with his father who was engaged in merchandising there until 1876, when the family returned to Paxton. He then became associated with his father in buying and selling real estate and from that time to the present has been more or less actively associated with the pur- chase and sale of farm and city property. Some time after his return to Paxton he took up the study of law in the office and under the direction of the law firm of Cook & Moffett. In 1888 he passed the examination which seeured his admission to the bar and entered upon the practice of his profession. Although he does not now engage in practice his knowledge of the law is of inestimable value to him in the control of his property interests. In August, 1905, in com- pany with three others, he purchased the Kankakee City Electric Railway and on the election of officers was chosen president. with E. E. Rollins as vice presi- dent and E. D. Risser as secretary and treasurer. These offices they still hold and are thus becoming actively associated with the great system of interurban railways, which have been so important a factor in the development of the state. He is widely known as a man of sound business judgment and of unfalt- ering enterprise, also notably prompt and reliable, having gained an unassail- able reputation for business integrity.
On the 8th of October, 1889, Mr. MeCracken was married to Miss Luella B. Kemp, a daughter of Nicholas and Catherine S. (Axline) Kemp, who came to Ford county, Illinois, with her parents from Wenona, Marshall county, this
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state, in 1875, the family home being established on a farm of three hundred and twenty acres three miles west of Paxton. Unto Mr. and Mrs. McCracken have been born three children: Howard Orr. Ruth A. and Wendell Kemp, the first two being high school students.
Mr. MeCracken and his family are active members of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Paxton and are interested in all that pertains to the pro- gress and development of the city. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and although not an aspirant for office he is in this regard. as in every other relation of life, a stalwart champion of the principles in which he believes. He is never neglectful of the duties of citizenship nor forgetful of his obligations to his fellowmen. His deep interest in children is indicated by his anthorship of a child's story book, which was published in 1901 under the title of "Hidalgo and Home Life at West Lawn." the preface being written by Miss Lida B. MeMurray, of the State Normal School of De Kalb. This volume was well received by the press and public, the first edition having already been ex- hausted. The family home at the corner of West Center and Elm streets is among the finest of Paxton's residenees and here Mr. MeCracken's many friends know him as a genial, hospitable host. He has a wide acquaintance in Ford county, where almost his entire life has been passed, is popular with all classes and without invidious distinction may be termed one of the county's most honored and representative citizens.
OSCAR HENRY DAMON.
Osear Henry Damon is a retired merchant of Gibson City, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil. He was born in Hanover, New Hamp- shire, May 24, 1835, his parents being Ebenezer and Chloe A. (Lawrence) Damon, the latter a daughter of Joseph Lawrence. The father was born November 1, 1812, and was a builder in Lawrence, Massachusetts, whence he removed to Rutland, La Salle county, Illinois. The family was founded in America by Deacon John Damon, who arrived in Reading. Massachusetts, in 1630 and was a selectman there. He made his home in that place until his death, which occurred in 1708. His descendants are now widely scattered but representatives of the family have always remained residents of New England. Ebenezer Damon, on removing westward, established his home in LaSalle county, where he continued his residence up to the time of his demise in 1870. His widow, long surviving him, died in 1890 at Gibson City.
Oscar H. Damon, one of a family of six children, acquired a common-school education in Lyndon, Vermont, and in Lawrence, Massachusetts. After putting aside his text-books he was employed in a store and factory until twenty years of age, when he started in business on his own account, removing westward to Rutland, La Salle county. He there opened a dry-goods store in connection with his brother and was thus engaged until 1861, when he put aside business
MR. AND MRS. O. H. DAMON
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and personal considerations to espouse the cause of the Union in the Civil war. He enlisted in Battery K, Second Illinois Light Artillery, and participated in many battles which led up to the final triumph of the Union army, remaining at the front until mustered ont in 1864 because of physical disability. He relates many interesting incidents of military life and is a worthy veteran, whose loyalty to his duty was never questioned on the field of battle.
After being mustered out, Mr. Damon served as clerk of the Freedman's bureau at Natehez, Mississippi, and following his return to the north was post- master of Rutland, La Salle county. He afterward opened a drug store at Coaticook, in the province of Quebec, Canada, where he remained in business for nine years. He afterward went to Olympia, Washington, where he eon- tinued for a year and a half and later went to California and to Chicago. On the 1st of May, 1878, he arrived in Gibson City. Soon afterward he purchased five hundred acres of land, for which he paid thirty dollars per acre and which is today worth one hundred and seventy-five dollars per aere owing to the splendid improvements he has placed upon it and the natural rise in value consequent to the settlement of the state. His property is divided into three farms, comprising five hundred seventeen and a half acres in Dix and Drummer townships, and he also owns a half section of land in Pike county, Illinois, and section and a half in North Dakota. From his property interests he derives an excellent income. which amply supplies him with all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life. He continued actively in his farming operations for a number of years and still gives personal supervision to his invested interests. He owns one of the finest residences in Gibson City, erected in 1906.
On the 19th of May, 1878, Mr. Damon was married to Mrs. Margaret A. Lott, the widow of J. B. Lott, who owned all the land where Gibson City is now located. Both Mr. and Mrs. Damon have an extensive acquaintance in the county and occupy a very prominent position in social circles, being people of many friends. He holds membership in the Presbyterian church, while his wife is a member of the Christian church. Mr. Damon is serving as one of the elders and treasurer of his church and also a teacher in the Sunday school. He was chairman of the building committee at the time of the erection of the new house of worship and has taken a most active and helpful interest in all depart- ments of the church work. I Ile was also secretary of the County Sunday School Association and does all in his power to promote moral training of the young. recognizing the fact that the early teachings are seldom forgotten, but leave an indelible impress upon the young lives. His political allegiance is given the republican party and he is recognized as one of its local leaders. He served as
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town clerk for three years, was president of the village board, and has twice served as mayor of the city. ITis official duties have ever been discharged with promptness and fidelity, winning him high encomiums and the unqualified trust of his fellowmen. IIe belongs to Lott Post, G. A. R., and manifests the same loyalty to his country in days of peace that he displayed when upon southern battlefields he followed the old flag to victory. Ilis influence is always given on the side of right, progress and improvement and his labors have been an element not only in the material development, but in the political and moral progress of the community.
THOMAS J. MCDERMOTT.
Thomas J. MeDermott, who owns and operates three hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land on section 16, Mona township, was born in Peoria county, Illinois, October 18, 1858, his parents being James and Mary (Slaven) MeDermott, who were both natives of Ireland. They emigrated to America in the early '40s, locating in Peoria county, Illinois, when the city of that name was only a very small river town, and there the father followed farm- ing for many years, being elosely connected with the pioneer development of that part of the state. Unto Mr. and Mrs. James McDermott were born eight children, as follows : Mary J., the wife of Peter Burns, of Peoria county; Henry who resides in Cullom, Livingston county, Illinois; James, who makes his home in Chicago; Thomas J., of this review; Carolina, who became the wife of Thomas Foulton and resides in Cullom; Susanna, who is the wife of James Carl, of Peoria county; and Stephen and Matthew, both of whom make their home in Peoria county.
Thomas J. MeDermott acquired his education in the common schools and remained with his father on the home farm until he had attained his majority, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. On leaving the parental roof he took up his abode on a rented farm near Piper City and operated the place for one year. On the expiration of that period he came to Mona township, where he again operated a rented farm for two years and then purchased eighty acres of land on section 16, where he now resides. As the years passed he brought the land under a high state of enltivation and added many modern improvements to the farm, having also extended the boundaries of his place until it now comprises three hundred and
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twenty acres of fine farming land. He is widely known as one of the representa- tive and enterprising agriculturists of the county and in addition to the work of general farming he makes a specialty of raising full blooded Hereford eattle, both branches of his business returning to him a gratifying annual income.
In 1881 Mr. MeDermott was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Mullaly, a daughter of James and Margaret Mullaly, both natives of Ireland, who crossed the Atlantic to America at an early day. They became the parents of ten children, as follows: John; James; William, deceased; Mary Jane, deceased; Frank ; Mrs. MeDermott; Anna, who makes her home in New Jersey; Charles ; Thomas; and Ella. Unto Mr. and Mrs. McDermott have also been born ten children : Thomas E, deceased; Margaret, the wife of Albert Hartquest, of Chatsworth, Illinois ; James E., at home; Mary E., deceased; Susanna, Charles E., Carrie M., Jane E., Thomas W., and Orville M.
Both Mr. and Mrs. McDermott are communicants of the Catholic church and in his political views our subject is a democrat. He has never sought or desired office, however, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs, in which he has met with a large measure of prosperity. He has been identified with the agricultural development of this state from his earliest youth, for he aided in the cultivation of his father's farm in Peoria county and for more than a quarter of a century has carried on farming on his own account in Ford county, having seen the district transformed from a wild, uncultivated region into one of the richest agricultural states of the Union. Moreover, the success which has come to him is due entirely to his own well directed labor and enter- prise, for he started out in life empty-handed and has steadily worked his way upward until he is now numbered among the substantial citizens of the county.
JOHN F. SCHUMACHER.
John F. Schumacher, well known in financial circles in Ford county as cashier of the Bank of Cabery, his native town, was born on the 4th of Jan- uary, 1879. His parents were John and Anna (Trush) Schumacher, both natives of Germany. Mrs. Schumacher arrived in America about thirty-five years ago, some years later than her future husband, and they were married in Chicago. Subsequently they took up their abode in Cabery on the Kanka- kee county side and there the death of Mr. Schumacher occurred on the 15th of August, 1899, when he was fifty-five years of age. The mother still resides
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here. In their family were seven children : Elizabeth, now a resident of Chicago; M. W., of Cabery; John F., of this review; P. J .; Mary; Anna; and Frank.
At the usual age John F. Schumacher became a pupil in the public schools, wherein he pursued his studies to the age of seventeen years, after which he attended the Northern Illinois Normal School at Dixon, Illinois, and further qualified for the practical and responsible duties of life as a student in the Gem City Business College, at Quiney, Illinois, from which he was grad- nated in the fall of 1898. On the 5th of April of the following year he entered the bank as bookkeeper and assistant cashier and made it his purpose to thoroughly acquaint himself with the business and to master every task assigned him. In March, 1907, he was given full charge of the Bank of Cabery and as cashier is managing its interests. His labors have contributed in substantial measure to its snecess and in its conduct he follows a safe, con- servative policy. He is also manager of a grain and implement business for the firm of Porch & Adams, and is regarded as a young man of excellent busi- ness ability and executive force, of keen discernment and unfaltering enterprise.
In his political views Mr. Schumacher is a stalwart republican and is prominent locally. He has served as township clerk, as commissioner of high- ways, as township treasurer and as village treasurer. and his duties have ever been discharged with promptness and fidelity. His religious faith is tlrat of the Catholic church, and fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Columbus at Kankakee, while in Cabery he is clerk of the Modern Woodmen camp. In this part of the county he is well known, having always resided here, and is a young man of many friends.
THOMAS KEWLEY.
Thomas Kewley, who is extensively and successfully identified with the agricultural interests of Ford county, being the owner of three hundred and eighty-two acres of fine farming land in Mona township, was born on the Isle of Man on the 12th of August, 1849, his parents being Thomas and Katherine (McQuade) Kewley. The father emigrated to America in 1854, locating in New York, and three years later his wife and family joined him there. They remained in the Empire state until 1861, which year witnessed their arrival
MR. AND MRS. THOMAS KEWLEY
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in Henry county, Illinois, where the father operated a tract of rented land for ten years. On the expiration of that period they came to Mona township, Ford county, purchasing land on section 16. Here the parents remained until called to their final rest, the mother passing away in 1890, while Mr. Kewley survived until the 23d of August, 1902. They were among the early pioneer settlers of this portion of the state, establishing a home on the frontier and aiding in the cultivation and development of hitherto wild land. They had but two children, our subjeet being now the only survivor of the family.
Thomas Kewley was but eight years of age when he accompanied his mother on her emigration to America, and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority, assisting his father in the labors of the home farm during the summer months and attending school in the winter seasons. On reaching man's estate he started out in business life on his own account by renting a tract of land, which he operated successfully and energetically for sixteen years. With the capital he had acquired during this period he then purchased eighty acres on section 18, Mona township, where he has since made his home. As the years have passed he has made many substantial improve- ments on the place and, owing to the prosperity which has attended his farm- ing interests, has been enabled to purchase more land from time to time until he now owns three hundred and eighty-two aeres in Mona township, while he also has three hundred and twenty aeres in South Dakota. His landed hold- ings are thus quite extensive and he is widely recognized as one of the pros- perons and influential agriculturists of the county.
In 1874 Mr. Kewley was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Tredeniek, who was born in Grundy county, Illinois, in 1857. Her parents, who were natives of England, went to Canada in 1854, later establishing their home in Grundy county, Illinois, where the father followed farming for a few years. They then came to Ford county, where both the father and mother passed away. They were the parents of four children, namely: John, deceased; Mrs. Kew- ley; Charles, who resides in Cullom, Illinois; and William, deceased. Unto our subject and his wife have been born six children, as follows : Minnie L., who has passed away; Charles E., at home; Jennie A., who became the wife of Charles Thorn and makes her home in Cullom; Katie M., the wife of A. D. Layman, a farmer of Livingston county; and Frank H. and Bernie N., both at home.
In his political views Mr. Kewley is a republican and is quite prominent in the local ranks of his party. He is now serving as school trustee and also as supervisor of Mona township, having held the latter office for six years.
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JIe has likewise acted as school director for fifteen years, the cause of educa- tion ever finding in him a warm and helpful friend. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 680, and Camp No. 1886, of the Wood- men, both of Cullom, while both he and his wife are members of Rebekah lodge, No. 656, at Cullom. Their religious faith is indicated by their member- ship in the Methodist Episcopal church and they are widely and favorably known for their many excellent traits of character and upright lives. For twenty-two years Mr. Kewley has been an important factor in the agricultural development of Ford county and his prosperity is well deserved, as in him are embraced the characteristics of an unbending integrity, unabating energy and industry that never flags. He is public-spirited, giving his eooperation to every movement which tends to promote the moral, intellectual and material welfare of the community.
JOHN IEIIL.
The spirit of self-help is the source of all genuine worth in the individual. It is the man who comes to recognize his own powers and his own limitations and who understands the possibilities that are open in the business world that makes orderly progression along the paths of success. Such a man is John Iehl, now successfully conducting a banking business in Melvin and also deriv- ing a gratifying income from valuable farming property.
Hle was born in Baldenheim in the province of Alsace, then a part of France but now of Germany. Ilis natal day was January 13, 1839, and he was the second in the family of three children whose parents were John and Barbara (Iehl) Ichl, who though of the same name were not relatives. They, too, were natives of Baldenheim, the father born in May, 1809, and the mother in April of the same year. They continued residents of Germany until 1850, when, hoping to enjoy better business opportunities in the new world, the father brought his family to America and established his home in Deerfield township, Lake county, Illinois, where for some years he carried on a farm, there residing until 1888, when he removed to Northfield township, Cook county, Illinois. The mother died in Deerfield township, Lake county, in April, 1852, at the age of forty-three years and the father long survived, passing away April 27, 1894. Of their children Barbara, the eldest, who was born March 17, 1836, is now the widow of Phillip Laesser and resides in North-
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field, Cook county. The younger daugliter, Salome, born July 28, 1842, is the widow of David Horenberger and a resident of Deerfield, Lake county.
John Iehl, the only son, remained a resident of his native province to the age of eleven years, when he accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world. They sailed from Havre to New York and reached Chicago twenty-one days after their embarkation. The voyage across the Atlantic was a short one for a sailing ship. As stated, the family home was established upon a farm in Lake county, Illinois, and there John Iehl remained with his parents until 1860, being trained to the work of the home farm, while as opportunity offered he also continued his education, begun in the schools of his native country, in the public schools near his father's home. When he had reached adult age he started out in life on his own account, working as a farm hand until his labor had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to engage in business for himself. He was employed at farm labor in Marshall county until 1868 and was in the employ of one man for seven years.
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