USA > Illinois > Ford County > History of Ford County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 7
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In 1860 Mr. Ryerson was married to Miss Inger Knutson, who was born in Norway and came alone to America in 1859 as a passenger on a sailing vessel to Quebec. She was attracted to this country from the fact that she had a sister and a brother living in La Salle, Illinois. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ryerson have been born ten children, of whom two died in early life. Anna married M. W. Peterson and has three children, Edith, Frances and Reuben. Josie is the wife of M. L. Yeager and has four children, Earl. Azalia, Frances and Raymond. Christina is the next of the family. Celia, now deceased, was the wife of David Cooper and had one child, Lela. Richard, now living in Urbana, is married and has one child, Catherine. Lena is the wife of J. C. Langley. Sarah and Carrie are at home.
In his political views Mr. Ryerson is a republican and has served as school trustee but otherwise has held no public office. IFis religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Norwegian Lutheran church. IIe has now passed the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey but is still supervising his farm work and displays business energy that is equal to that of many a man of much younger years.
J. B. CARSON.
The business interests of Perdue find a worthy representative in J. B. Carson, who is the owner of two grain elevators. He is also dealing in seeds and coal and his business under his capable management has developed to large and profitable proportions. He has placed his dependence not upon
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
any outside aid or influence, but has won success through close application and unfaltering diligence, guided by sound judgment.
A native of Ohio. Mr. Carson was born in Pickaway county, in May, 1863, his parents being Ebenezer and Jennie (Berry) Carson. The father, who was born near Chillicothe, Ohio, died in October, 1891, at the age of sixty-three years, in Ford county. His wife, who was born near Canonsburg, Washington county, Pennsylvania, died in 1896, and was also about sixty-three years of age at the time of her demise. They were the parents of five children : David M., who is engaged in the grain business at Clarence; Bessie, now the wife of Harvey Thompson, a resident of Paxton; J. B., of this review; Ulysses T., who follows farming near Paxton; and Mary B., also of Paxton.
J. B. Carson spent the first sixteen years of his life in the county of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their removal westward to Illinois. The family home was established on a farm a half mile south of Perdue in Ford county, and in this locality he has since remained, gaining for himself an enviable place in business eireles. Ile assisted his father in the work of the home farm, taking his place in the fields, where he labored from the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn. In 1889 he established the grain business in Perdne, beginning, however, in a primitive way. During the first ten years all grain was loaded in the ears with a scoop shovel, but he had visions of what he would do when his success was greater, and year by year he added to his earnings as the result of his industry and careful expenditure. At length his capital was sufficient to enable him to see the formation of his hopes in the building of an elevator in 1899. This had a capacity of thirty thousand bushels, and in 1904 it was increased to sixty thousand. In 1907 Mr. Carson purchased an elevator of fifty thousand bushels and now operates both, having built up an extensive grain trade which is not only a source of income to him but also of value to the community, furnishing a market to the grain producers in this part of the state. He also deals in coal and seeds and his business has become extensive and gratifying. Ile likewise .owns and cultivates one hundred and sixty acres of land, upon which his elevator stands, and his farm is likewise a desir- able asset to his business.
In December, 1892, Mr. Carson was united in marriage to Miss Edna A. Kemp, a native of Marshall county, Illinois, and a daughter of Nicholas M. and Katharine (Axline) Kemp, the former a native of Pennsylvania but now deceased. The mother resides in Paxton. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Carson have
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been born two children : Jessie, who was born March 4, 1900, and John Kemp, born May 13, 1903.
Mr. Carson is a republican, having given stalwart support to the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. Ile has served as school treasurer here since 1898 and was assistant supervisor for four years, from 1903 until 1907. While manifesting a public-spirited interest in all things pertaining to the general welfare, he prefers to concentrate his time and energies upon his business. He has reason to be proud of what he has accomplished, having been both the architect and builder of his own fortunes. Brooking no obstaele that could be overcome by determined and honorable effort, he has steadily advanced on the highway of success and day by day is drawing nearer to the goal of prosperity.
AUGUSTUS A. BARROW.
Augustus A. Barrow, who for several years has lived retired from active business life, enjoying well earned ease as the result of his energy and dili- genee in former years, makes his home in Gibson City. He is a native of Frederick county, Virginia, born July 8, 1848, of the marriage of Frederick and Mary (Smith) Barrow, the latter a daughter of Louis Smith, who was a soldier of the Prussian army. Frederick Barrow was born in Virginia, as was his father, and in that state reared his family. In his youthful days, Augustus A. Barrow attended a private school and when not occupied with the duties of the schoolroom assisted his father in the work of the home farm. With him he came to Illinois in 1867. the family home being established near where Gibson City now stands. The father purchased three hundred acres of land in Dix township, Ford county. His family numbered ten children.
Mr. Barrow of this review continued at home until he had attained his majority, when he went to Iowa, where he remained for a year. Following his return he was united in marriage to Miss Martha E. Barrow, a cousin, in 1870 and unto them were born four children-Hattie, who died at the age of twenty years; Weaver, who died at the age of seven ; one who died in infancy ; and Louis A. at home. The wife and mother departed this life in 1887 and Mr. Barrow afterward married Miss Belle Stephens, a daughter of James Stephens, of Melvin, Illinois.
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In his political views Mr. Barrow is a democrat, stalwart in support of the principles of the party. He has held the office of tax collector and assessor for one term and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, also called him to the office of justice of the peace and his decisions were character- ized by the utmost impartiality. He was one of the first drainage commis- sioners of the Big Four Drainage Company, which position he held for eight years.
For several years Mr. Barrow has now lived retired, deriving a good income from the rental of his farm of two hundred and fifty acres of rich and produc- tive land, which he brought under a high state of cultivation and which is now a valuable property. The energy and unfaltering diligenee which he displayed in former years make his present rest possible and he is now num- bered among the substantial men of Gibson City. He belongs to the Odd Fellows Society, with which he has been identified for twenty-seven years, and has held all of the chairs in Gibson City lodge. £ For almost a quarter of a century he has been connected with the Knights of Pythias.
WILLIAM H. GULLETT.
William H. Gullett is a retired farmer now living in Roberts, his activity in former years having gained for him the competence that now enables him to enjoy the comforts of life without further recourse to labor. He was born in Devonshire, England, May 25, 1844, and comes of one of the old families of that land. Tradition has it that the Gulletts crossed from Normandy to England at the time of the invasion of that country by William the Conqueror. The ancestral history is traced back in unbroken line through five hundred years and graves of members of the family through that period are now seen in the parish of Shaw in Devonshire. The parents of our subjeet were Robert and Elizabeth (Skelley) Gullett, also natives of Devonshire. The mother died there nine years before her son William came to America but the father afterward joined his son here and lived with him for twelve years prior to his demise. In the family were two sons and five daughters and the sons and two of the daughters became residents of America.
There were five generations of Robert and Elizabeth Gulletts who were laid to rest in one cemetery in Devonshire, and the subject of this review, being the eldest child, according to custom should have been named Robert, but his
MR. AND MRS. W. H. GULLETT
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second brother was given that name. His father's grandmother, who also hore the name of Elizabeth, was born in Philadelphia and married a Mr. Grant, who was an American officer in the Revolutionary war. Ile was killed in battle and she afterward married an English officer, Colonel Fox, and went to England to live. Thus Mr. Gullett claimed to be part American before he came to this country.
William H. Gullett spent the first thirty-nine years of his life in his native Iand. Ile followed farming there until 1868, when he went to London, where he did police duty for four years and then returned to the farm, carrying on general agricultural pursuits until his emigration to the new world. In 1883 he crossed the Atlantic, establishing his home in Woodford county, Illinois. He was accompanied by his wife and six children and for ten years they lived upon a farm which he rented in Woodford county. On the expiration of that period he took up his abode upon a farm a mile southwest of Roberts, renting land from his uncle, and, as his financial resources increased, buying land for him- self. Ile now owns two farms of eighty acres each, one in Wall and the other in Lyman townships. As the years passed he carried on the work of the fields and annually harvested rich crops as the reward for the labor which he bestowed upon the farm. Thus his financial resources annually increased and with a comfortable competence he retired from active farm work in March, 1904, and took up his abode in Roberts, since which time he has built the dwell- ing which he now owns and occupies.
In 1869 Mr. Gullett was married to Miss Marian Baskerville, who was born in Devonshire, England, in March, 1847, a daughter of John and Mary (Tozer) Baskerville, who spent their entire lives in England. The Basker- villes were an old family of that country, supposed to have gone from Normandy to England at the time of the conquest of the Anglo-Saxons by the Norman people. Mr. and Mrs. Gullett have eight children who are yet living: Wil- liam HI., a resident farmer of Wall township; Robert John, who is living on his unele's farm in Lyman township; Albert Edward, who is engaged in the grain business in Roberts as a member of the firm of Roberts & Gullett; Ernest James, of Omaha, Nebraska; Julia Mary, the wife of W. A. Kenwood, of Wall town- ship; Albert Thomas, who follows farming in Lyman township; Elias Frederick, of Lyman township; and Esther Mand, who is on the farm with her single brothers. They also lost two children-Francis George, who died in infaney, and Bessie Marian, who died at the age of four years.
Mr. Gullett has been active and influential in community affairs and has filled several township offices. He has served as township drainage eommis-
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IHISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
sioner for the past seven years, has been school director for ten years and a trustee for nine years. He is interested in all that pertains to the material, intellectual, social and moral progress of the community. His political alle- giance is given to the republican party and his religious faith is that of the Congregational church, in which he has served as a trustee for six years. Though born across the water and maintaining a love for his native land, he is yet thoroughly American in spirit and interests and loyal to the institutions of his adopted country. He and his wife have revisited their native land, making a trip to England in 1905. There they visited the scenes of childhood and renewed many of the acquaintances and friendships of their earlier years but willingly returned to Ford county, which they recognize as their permanent home.
NELSON SOUCIE.
Nelson Soucie, filling the offices of deputy sheriff in Ford county and con- nected in his business interests with farming, was born in Kankakee county, Illinois, December 4, 1857. His parents were Joseph and Arrilla (Manny) Soucie, both of whom were natives of Canada. They came to the United States in 1847 and settled in Kankakee county, Illinois, the father following the occupation of farming there when the entire district was an almost unimproved and unsettled county. He was numbered among the pioneers of the locality and it was he who hauled the timber to build the first courthouse of the county in 1848, the structure being built of logs. Later he removed from Kankakee to Iroquois county, where he remained for twelve years. It was in that county that he first purchased land and in the course of time he became a successful agriculturist and stock-raiser. In 1868 he returned to Kankakee county, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, for which he paid thirty-seven and a half dollars per acre. For some time he continued active in the further development and improvement of his place but is now living retired, making his home in St. Anne, Illinois. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted in response to the country's call and served for a brief time during the latter part of the war under Captain Chinuquie. He has been married twice. His first wife died JJune 3, 1895, and in 1897 he married Mrs. Fouchzier. There were eleven children by his first marriage, of whom nine reached adult age : George, a resident of Kansas City, Missouri; Nelson, of
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this review ; Flora, the wife of Nazzard Bantrant, of St. Anne, Illinois; Delia, the wife of Eulis Claument, of Clifton, Illinois; Deloina, at home; Clophase and Thomas, both of St. Anne, Illinois; Annie, the wife of Frank Danou, of Aurora, Illinois ; and Daniel, who is now deceased.
Nelson Soucie had but limited educational advantages in his boyhood days, owing to the fact that there was no school within a distance of five miles and he spent but three days there as a student. When he was twenty-four years of age he was familiar with the alphabet but could not read or write. Be- coming impressed with the value and necessity of an education, he entered upon the task of counteracting this lack of his earlier years through study and reading. He has since been an earnest student, constantly broadening his knowledge, and is today a much better informed man than many who had good school privileges in youth. He is recognized in the community as a practical man of business and there are indeed few topics of general interest which he cannot diseuss interestingly and intelligently. He has been in publie office for a number of years and the ability which he has displayed has been a matter of astonishment and admiration to those who have known of his lack of opportunities in his early life. Few men have had the ambition and strong purpose to make the advancement that he has done with as little assistance in early years.
Mr. Soncie made arrangements for having a home of his own when on the 2d of July, 1881, he was united in marriage to Miss Lena Greenwood, a daughter of August and Julia (Martin) Greenwood. After paying the minister the wedding fee he had remaining a cash capital of three silver dollars with which to commence housekeeping. He rented a portion of the Sibley estate and purchased horses, plows and other equipments for the farm on credit. He first undertook the cultivation of eighty aeres of land and today he farms on the same estate one hundred and three acres, which he has brought under a high state of cultivation and so ably conducted that he now derives a gratifying annual income from his farming operations. While he does not own his own farm, he has invested in other property and is one of the prosperous residents of the community. He is also interested in the real-estate and loan business.
In 1900 Mr. Soucie was elected constable of Sullivant township and served for four years, while during the past six years he has filled the office of deputy sheriff. Previously he was elected to the position of cemetery trustee of the township, and is now president and secretary of the cemetery association-one of the important offices of the township. He has lived continuously in Ford
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county since 1877 and since his marriage in 1881 has remained upon the Sibley estate. Unto him and his wife have been born three children: Edith, the wife of J. S. Stephens, of Melvin, this county; James A., deceased; and Lester H., at home.
Mr. Soucie is a member of Columbian Lodge, No. 733, I. O. O. F., and the Gibson Encampment. Both he and his wife are faithful and consistent members of the Presbyterian church, and he has acted as a trustee of the church for some time. They contribute generously to its support and take a helpful interest in its work. When a young man Mr. Soucie was a member of the church choir and others of his family were also thus actively connected with the church worship, the family possessing considerable musical talent. There is perhaps in this volume no biography which illustrates so clearly the possibilities for accomplishment when one has ambition, determination and perseverance. Mr. Soucie's record is certainly a most creditable one. There are many men who are self-made financially, but there are few who start out in life handicapped by a lack of even the common branches of English learning. He stands today as the result of his own efforts among the well informed, enterprising and successful citizens and capable publie officials, and has many friends who honor and esteem him for what he has accomplished.
LEWIS II. PHILLIPS.
Lewis II. Phillips, whose home is within the corporation limits of Melvin, has for many years been identified actively and successfully with the agricultural interests of Ford county. He was born in Hope township, LaSalle county, Illinois, July 17, 1853. His parents were Abraham and Sarah (Dixon) Phillips. The father was born in Manchester. England, April 6, 1829, and in 1842 came to the United States with his father and five brothers, settling in Magnolia, Putnam county, Illinois. . He had lost his mother when but two years of age. The grandfather bore the name of Philip Phillips and after reaching the new world he remained at Magnolia for a brief period and then located upon a farm, which he continued to cultivate and improve throughout his remaining days. Ilis children, all now deceased, were George, Edward. Thomas, William, John and Abraham, the last named being the father of our subject.
After coming to this country, Abraham Phillips spent one winter in Magnolia and then went with his father to Hope township, LaSalle county, about
L. H. PHILLIPS AND FAMILY
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three miles from Magnolia, where he lived throughout his remaining days. He became the owner of four hundred acres of land and developed an excellent farm, which enabled him to provide a good living for his family. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church from 1862 until his death, which occurred July 27, 1905. His wife was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 1, 1835, and came to Illinois with her parents, the family home being established in Putnam county. She is now a resident of Los Angeles, California, where she spends the winter, and also maintains her home upon the old farm in LaSalle county.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Phillips were born twelve children: Lewis II., of this review ; Mrs. Laura Moore, of California ; Elmer, of Tonica, Illinois; Mary and George, twins, the former now a resident of California, while the latter was drowned at the age of thirteen years; Mrs. Salina Coan, of Texas; John, living on the old homestead in LaSalle county; Frank, who also resides upon a part of the old homestead; Adelbert, a farmer of Lostant, Illinois ; Orville, of California ; and Lela and Elizabeth, twins. The former died at the age of eighteen years and the latter is now Mrs. Hildebrand, of Tonica, Illinois.
Lewis H. Phillips was reared npon the old homestead where his birth occurred, continuing there with his parents until he reached the age of twenty- seven years, when in the spring of 1880 he came to Ford county. Here he has since lived on the south half of section 2, Peach Orchard township. This farm was purchased by his father, a tract of raw prairie, for which he paid eight dollars and a half per acre and which was owned by him until his death. It is now a part of the estate. Ile and his brother John came and purchased the entire section at that time. Lewis HI. Phillips broke a part of this farm, set out the trees and erected all of the buildings. He has also made all of the modern improvements upon the place and has here carried on general agricultural pursuits for twenty-seven years, devoting his time and energies to both grain and stock-farming. The fields are rich and productive and annually produce good crops as a reward for the care and labor he bestows upon them. He also handles stock of good grades and both branches of his business are proving remunerative.
On the 25th of November, 1879, Mr. Phillips was united in marriage to Miss Ellen J. Burt, who was born in Cuba, Alleghany county, New York, July 1, 1854, a daughter of Charles Henry and Mary Margaret (Wood) Burt. The father's birth occurred in Monroe county, New York, June 5, 1822, while the mother was born in Smithfield, Jefferson county, Ohio, January 18, 1832. Their marriage was celebrated in Clarksville, Alleghany county, New York, August 23, 1853. About 1856 they removed to Harrisville, Wisconsin, and in 1863 made their way
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IHISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
to Magnolia, Illinois. Their family numbered six children : Mrs. Phillips; Mrs. Emily Broaddus, deceased; Lyman, who is living in Trego county, Kansas; Margaret, who died in childhood : Charles, a resident of Durango, Colorado; and William, who died in infancy. The father died in Trego county, Kansas, in 1901 and the mother spent her last days in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Phillips, passing away in 1902. Mrs. Philips accompanied her parents on their removal to Wisconsin and afterward to Illinois, living at home up to the time of her marriage. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have been born three children : Mary Jessamine, Laura Novella and Carroll Burt. The family are well known in their part of the county, the parents having a large circle of warm friends who esteem them for their genuine personal worth and good traits of heart and mind.
Mr. Phillips is a stalwart republican and has held several village offices, to which he has been called by the vote of his fellow townsmen. While his life work has been that of a farmer, his home is within the corporation limits of the village. IIe belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and to the Modern Woodmen camp and is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His entire life has been passed in this part of Ilinois and since the spring of 1880 he has lived on the farm which is yet his home, now covering a period of twenty- eight years. The evidence of his labor is seen in the well developed property, which is one of the attractive features of the landscape, being in many respects a model farm property.
W. O. M.KINNEY.
The name of MeKinney has been so closely and honorably associated with the business activity and enterprise of Piper City that the subject of this review needs no introduction to the readers of this volume. He was born here August 18. 1867, and is a son of John MeKinney. He has always lived in the village and after acquiring his preliminary education in the public schools he pursued a course in Bryant & Stratton Business College, Chicago. He started in busi- ness as his father's partner under the firm style of John McKinney & Son, dealers in lumber and proprietors of a furniture, undertaking and hardware establishment. In 1897 the business was incorporated under the name of the John MeKinney & Son Company, since which time the son has managed the business, the father being practically retired. They also have a branch house
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
at La Ilogue, where they engage in the sale of Inmber, hardware, furniture under the name of J. F. Moore & Company.
On the 25th of January, 1898, W. O. MeKinney was married to Miss Ethel Barrett, of Glendora, California, a native of Onarga, Illonois, and a daughter of Dr. W. M. Barrett, formerly of Onarga, but now of Lincoln, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. McKinney have one son, Donald, nine years of age.
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