History of Grundy County, Illinois, Part 44

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin
Number of Pages: 506

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GEORGE M. JONES, furniture and under- taking, Morris, born at Morris November 25, 1846, son of J. B. Jones (who was born in Pennsylvania about 1816) and Mary (Tyrrell)

BIOGRAPHICAL:

Jones, a native of Canada. J. B. Jones was one of the first settlers of this place. He raised two sons, of whom our subject is the older, and one daughter. Subject was prin- cipally educated at Morris, finishing, however, at Aurora Seminary. Graduated in the class of 1868. Subject spent his boyhood days in the store which he now occupies, with his father, who was then proprietor. After arriv- ing at the age of maturity, he, in connection with J. W. Lawrence, bought his father out in 1877, and from that time they have carried on the business under the firm name of Jones & Lawrence. Mr. Jones has been Town and City Collector two years, and Alderman four years. He was married in this city, October 29, 1872, to Sophia Hazleton. She was born in Milwaukee June 17, 1853, and is a daughter of C. P. Hazleton, now of Morris. Subject has two children, both girls, viz., Mamie and Bertie. mr. Jones is a member of the I. O. O. F. and a Democrat.

T. J. KELLY. liquors, grocery, etc., Morris, born in Morris May 8, 1856 ; son of Patrick Kelly, who was born in Ireland; emigrated to the United States and settled in this town, where he died. There were three children - one son (subject), and two daughters. Subject was educated at the public schools of Morris. Started for himself in 1873, as grocery elerk for N. K. Keller, and was with him seven years. In 1880, he engaged to N. Hanna, as clerk in the same store, in which he now sells goods ; was with him two years. On the 4th of April, 1881, he, in partnership with Thomas P. Rey- nolds, opened a grocery store on Liberty street, where they continued till October 5, 1881, at that date moving to the corner of Washington and Fulton streets, where they now have a flourishing trade. Mr. Kelly was married, at Eureka, Ill., Angust 14, 1880, to Annie O'llara, daughter of John O'Hara. She was born in August, 1863. They have one child-a dangh- ter-Mary Theresa. Mr. Kelly is non-partisan

in politics. He and wife are members of the Catholic Church.

LEWIS P. LOTT, retired merchant, Morris, was born in 1813, in Covert, Seneca Co., N. Y .; is a son of Zephaniah and Permilla (Phelps) Lott. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1775 ; pursued farming for sixty years on the same farm in Covert, N. Y., and died July 5, 1855. She was born in Connecticut in 1780 ; died at Covert, N. Y., April 13, 1863. The parents had thirteen children, eleven of whom grew to maturity. Our subject attended the common schools of New York until thirteen years of age, and then went to Canandaigua where he learned the printer's trade. He worked as a journeyman at Cleveland for about two years, and then, forming a partnership with a friend, commenced a general book business, which he continued at Cleveland for twelve or fifteen years, and then removed to Kirtland, Ohio, where he engaged in the manufacturing busi- ness for two and a half years ; then for two or three years in the general merchandising busi- ness at Warren, Ohio. He next went to Racine, Wis., where he again engaged in the mercantile business for several years ; and, in March, 1848, moved to this place, where he still resides. Mr. Lott was married, at Cleveland, Ohio, February 22, 1844. to Delia Lloyd Clark, born in Phila- delphia September 29, 1821, a daughter of Job and Sarah Humphrey (Chilcott) Clark. He was born in Connecticut in 1787, and died at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1839. She was born in Pennsylvania in 1787, and died in Ohio in 1849. This union resulted in four children, two of whom died in infancy ; one son, Frank Clark, died in his fourteenth year. The eldest son, Edward L., only survives. Mr. Lott owns 200 acres of improved land, besides good town pro- perty. Ile was Deputy Clerk for eight years, and has been Supervisor, Alderman, Superin- tendent of Public Schools, School Treasurer ; for a number of years Chairman of the Board of Supervisors and Justice of the Peace ; Mas-

MORRIS CITY AND TOWNSHIP.

ter of the Masonic Lodge, and H. P. of his Chapter. Is a member of the I. O. O. F., in which he has passed through the different offices. Mrs. Lott is a Baptist ; Mr. Lott is a Repub- lican.

GEORGE W. LANE, retired grain dealer, Morris, was born in Maine April 19, 1817, son of Joshua Lane, horn in New Hampshire, Feb- ruary 6, 1788, was a farmer by occupation, a good classical scholar. a zealous member of the Baptist Church, and died December 15, 1859, in Morris. Parents raised two children, one son, our subject, and one daughter. The sub- ject of this sketeh was educated in the State of Maine finishing at Kent's IIill Seminary, in Kennebec County. He was raised on the farm.

CHARLES C. MARTIN, molder, Morris, was born October 19, 1848, in Fayette County, Penn., and is a son of J. B. and Sarah (Hamil- ton) Martin, the latter of whom died in the spring of 1859, in Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1861, the father of our subject removed to Morris, Grundy County, and engaged in brick- making ; he now resides in Ottawa, III. Our subjeet received the greater part of his school- ing in Morris. In 1864, when less than sixteen years of age, he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Regular Illinois Volunteers, in which he served several months. He is now engaged with Messrs. Griggs and Steep in the manufacture of drain-tite and brick. the firm being known as Griggs, Martin & Steep. May 5, 1869, Mr. Martin married Miss Lydia A. Hart, a native of Belmont County, Ohio, born January 23, 1848. She is a daughter of Rev. Samuel and Rachel (Thomas) Hart ; he was born June 17, 1817. died Janu- ary 26, 1882 ; she was born August 28, 1813. and is now living in Odell, Livingston Co., III. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have five children-Leon- idas A., born December 19, 1870 ; Lillie May, August 2, 1872 ; Charles Wilford, April 11, 1875; Grace M., December 19, 1877 ; and James Garfield, born May 29, 1880. Mrs. Mar-

tin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; Mr. Martin belongs to the I. O. O. F.

T. R. MINKLER, agricultural implements, Morris, was born in New York January 12, 1832; son of Peter Minkler, born in New York in 1788. The latter moved to Illinois, in 1833, with his family, and settled in Specie Grove, Kendall County, where he took a claim of between two hundred and three hundred acres ; there he lived till just before the war. He then sold out and moved to Ogle County, where he again bought land, settled on it, and lived there till the time of his death, which ocenrred in 1881, in his ninety-third year. There were eight children, five boys, of whom our subjeet is the youngest, and three girls. The subject of this sketch was educated at the common schools of Kendall County, and spent his early life on the farm, which occupation lie continned till 1860, since that time he has been engaged in the agricultural implement busi- ness, in Morris. For twenty-one years he act- ed as salesman in this business, and in the fall of 1881 opened an implement warehouse for himself, where he does a satisfactory business. August the 9th, 1863, our subject, while out on a hunting expedition with some friends from Chicago, accidentally let his gun go off. fearfully fracturing his right arm between the elbow and shoulder, rendering it necessary to have the same amputated near the shoulder, which was very successfully done. Mr. Mink- ler was married first in Saratoga, Grundy Coun- ty, in 1853, to Sarah A. Conklin, daughter of C. G. Conklin ; she died in 1856. Ile was married the second time to Elizabeth Conklin, a sister of his first wife ; she died in 1874. Ile has one son by his first wife-Henry-and five children by the second wife, viz., one son Horace, and four daughters-Larissa, Carrie, Hattie and Louise. Mr. Minkler is a Democrat in politics.

N. McBRIDE, insurance and surveying, money loaner, etc., Morris, was born in Florence,

BIOGRAPHICAL:

Pennsylvania, June 13, 1824; son of James McBride, a native of Pennsylvania, born July 20, 1790 ; the latter was a farmer by occupa- tion, and died in 1857. His wife, Jane (Wick) MeBride, was born in New Jersey in June, 1800, and died in 1859. The parents raised six children, three sons, of whom our subject is the oldest, and three daughters, one of whom is now dead. The subject of this sketch was educated at Mercer, Penn., at Mercer College, and began life as a surveyor, also engaged in engineering and general speculating business. He came to Illinois in 1855, and settled in Mor- ris ; has been in the insurance business twenty- seven years, Police Magistrate twenty years, and was County Surveyor ten years. In Janu- ary, 1881, our subject purchased, in company with several prominent men of Chicago, Mor- ris and other places, what is known as the Keystone Mine, style of the firm being " Key- stone Consolidated Mining Co." This mine is located in Summit County, Colo., and promises to be very rich. Mr. McBride was first mar- ried in Ohio, to Lydia Davidson, April 29, 1846 ; she died in 1876, in Morris. His second marriage was May 2, 1877, to A. F. English, of Chicago, daughter of Jacob English, of Lyeom- ing County, Penn. Our subject had by his first wife five children, four of whom are now living, three sons -J. W., T. C. and N. E., the last two live in Chicago, and the first in Colorado, and one daughter, Maggie, wife of H. A. Cagwin. of Gardner, this county. Mr. McBride owns a residence in West Side Morris. He has been a pension and claim attorney, and has given to ex-soldiers $4,000 or $5,000, in reduction of of fees. He is a candidate for County Judge, and a Republican.

DAVID NICKEL, iron molder, Morris, was born in Mercer County, Penn., August 28 1851. His parents removed to Mt. Carroll, Carroll Co., Ill., when he was two years old. Here they remained one year, then moved to Sabula, Iowa, and engaged in milling for five

years. In 1859, the father went with his fam- ily to Stephen's Point, Wis., where lie worked at his trade (iron molder). Here our subject received his education. At the age of fifteen, he began the trade of iron molder, serving an apprenticeship of three years, from which time he followed this work as journeyman until 1880. He has been in the employ of the Sherwood School Furniture Company (now the Ohio Butt Company) since 1874. In August, 1880, he was promoted to the position of fore- man of the foundry department. In May, 1881, he was given the position of Assistant Superintendent, and in August, 1881, pro- moted to General Superintendent of the entire establishment, which position he now holds. December 27, 1876, he was married to Miss Julia McFarlane, daughter of William MeFar- lane, of Ohio. She was born in Ohio March 6, 1851, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Nickel is a Republican. His parents are still living, and are among the hon- ored members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Morris.

N. J. NELSON, grain merchant, Morris, was born in Skaanevig, Norway, on June 24, 1849. In the summer of 1858, his parents emigrated to Canada, and in the same year came to Grundy County, Ill., and settled on the farm on which they lived for seven years, during which time, our subject received a common- school education. In 1869, he came to Morris, where he worked at clerical work and book- keeping until 1872. when he and O. J. Nelson purchased the stock of Undum & Co., Liberty street, where they conducted business until the fall of 1875, when they closed out. Since 1875, he and his brother O. J. have engaged in the grain trade. They have an elevator on Canal street, and, in connection with Mr. M. N. Hull, have an elevator near the railroad depot. In October, 1879, Mr. Nelson was married to Miss Linda Osman, of Grundy County, Ill. She was born December 2, 1856, and died in

MORRIS CITY AND TOWNSHIP.

Morris January 9, 1881. Joseph Nelson, father of N. J. Nelson, was born in Norway in 1815, and died in Kendall County, III., July 22, 1879. Anne Nelson, the mother, was born in Norway in 1822, and is now living in Ken- dall County, on the old homestead. Besides N. J., there are six children, two older and four younger than himself.

JOSEPH H. PETTIT, Deputy Circuit Clerk, Morris, was born in Hunterdon County, N. J., February 6, 1842 ; son of Mahlon Pettit, also a native of that State, born in 1803; was a farmer by occupation, and died in 1849. His wife, Amanda (Higgins) Pettit, was born in the same State in 1812, and is now living, adjoin- ing her son, in Morris. The parents raised but one child, our subject, who was 'educated in the common schools of New Jersey; and came here April 19, 1856, with his mother. He began business as clerk in a general store, where he continued for about fourteen years. He was Cashier of the Grundy County Na- tional Bank nearly two years ; was in the hardware business here four years ; was ap- pointed Circuit Clerk to fill a vacancy for about one year, and since that has acted in the capacity of Deputy Clerk. He enlisted in the Federal army in 1861, and served three months. Was Quartermaster's clerk at Gen. Sherinan's headquarters for eight months. Mr. Pettit married in this town, January 30, 1873, to Myra S. Massey, born in La Salle County June 1. 1845, and is a daughter of Jonathan and Nancy B. (Dow) Massey. Mr. and Mrs. Pettit have two children-one daughter, Muriel, and one son, Raymond J. Mr. Pettit and wife attend the Congregational Church. Subject was City Clerk two years in Morris, and was one of the corporators of the Library Associa- tion of this place. He is a Mason and a Knight Templar ; also a member of the Re- publican party.

MARSHALL B. PIKE, retired farmer, P. O. Morris, was born in Maine March 25, 1834.

He was raised and educated in Maine, coming to Morris when twenty-three years old (1857). He owns a farm of 160 acres of cultivated land in Saratoga Township. He has retired from active labor, and is now living on the old home property of Mrs. Pike's parents, John and Hannah Porter; this property is situated on Main street, between Price and Pine. Our subject was married to Miss Anna Porter March 4, 1858. She was born in Chester County, Penn., March 15, 1829, and came to Grundy County in 1849. The family consists of four children-Lillie E., born March 13, 1859, died May 1, 1862; Edward W., born June 21, 1863; John P., born September 26, 1866; and Clifford L., born April 11, 1873. Joshua Pike, the father of our subject. was born near Portland, Me., February 1, 1800. and came to Grundy County in 1857. He is now living on his farm in Saratoga Township. Caroline (Barker) Pike, mother of M. B., was born in Portland, Me., in June, 1812; and died May 2, 1875, in Saratoga Township. John Porter, father of Mrs. Pike, was born June 2. 1794, in Morris, and died September 14, 1850. Her mother, Hannah Porter, was born January 18, 1793, died in Morris September 8, 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Pike are members of the M. E. Church. Mrs. Pike owns the lots upon which is situated the Gookd! Block. Mr. Pike has three residence houses on Washington street. cast of the court house, and owns the entire eastern frontaga of court house square, besides several lots in the southwestern part of the city.

J. H. PATTISON, County Treasurer, Mor- ris, was born in Ohio August 22, 1840; son of William Pattison, also a native of Ohio, born in 1805; was a farmer by occupation; came to this State in 1842, and died in this county March 14, 1882. His wife, Martha (Halsted) Pattison, was born in Ohio, about 1815, and died in this county about 1850. There were ten children, five sons and five daughters, the

BIOGRAPHICAL:

subject is the third son. He was educated at the common schools in the county. His ad- vantages in this direction were very limited. He began life as a farmer, and has followed that occupation the principal part of his time. In the fall of 1877, he was elected County Treasurer, and took possession of the office in December of that year; he was re-elected in 1879, and still holds the office. He was mar- ried in December, 1867, in this county, to Jen- nie Struble; she was born in New Jersey in 1840, and is a daughter of Elias Struble. Sub- jeet has three children, viz., Alice, Mary and Hettie. Mr. Pattison owns a small farm in Wauponsee Township; he is a Republican.

M. S. PRINDLE, book-keeper and City Clerk, born in La Fayette, Ind., January 15, 1846, son of William Prindle, who moved here in 1848, and built the first hotel in Morris, known as the Franklin House, which burned in 1854. Mr. Prindle then built what is now called the Rock Island & Pacific Hotel; ran that several years, and in 1863 retired from the business and never afterward engaged in active busi- ness. He died June 20, 1875. His wife, Abi- gail (Scranton) Prindle, was born in Connecticut June 20, 1812, and is now living with her son, our subject, in Morris. The parents had six children, three sons, of whom subject is the youngest, and three daughters. Subject was educated at the high school in Morris. He be- gan his business life as a book-keeper, which he has followed since. He worked for John Barr for about seven years, and about five years for MeEwen & Bros .; was appointed two consecutive terms as City Clerk, and was then elected a third term for some other office. Be- ing a Democrat in politics, and elected to this office in a city that has a Republican majority, speaks well for his popularity. Mr. Prindle was married in this city, July 10, 1870, to Electa A. Lindsay; she was born January 1, 1846, in Wilmington, Ind., and is a daughter of William D. Lindsay, of Wilmington. They

have two children, one son-George E., and one daughter, Gracie May. Subject is a mem- ber of both Masonic and I. O. O. F. orders and is now filling his second term as Noble Grand in latter order.

WILLIAM A. PARKER, book-keeper, Mor- ris, was born in the State of New York April 3, 1851. His parents came West when he was about one year old, and settled in La Salle County, Ill., where his father engaged in farm- ing for three years, at which time he engaged in mercantile business. In 1860, they removed to De Kalb County, where they remained until 1871. The subject of this sketch was educated at Sandwich, De Kalb Co., Ill. Leaving school at the age of seventeen, he taught school for three years, after which he occupied himself in various employments until 1874, at which time he was employed by the Sherwood School Fur- niture Company (now the Ohio Butt Company) of Morris. He occupies the position of fore- man of the warehouse department, which com- prehends the office work of the entire establish- ment. His father, Andrew Parker, was born August 10, 1822, in New York, and died in Kansas in 1879. The mother, Harriet M. Par- ker, was born in New York September 22, 1824, and is now living with her son, our sub- jeet. Besides William, there are two children - Helen L., born in New York November 3, 1844, married to S. C. Lincoln, of Sandwich, De Kalb County (he is distantly related to Abraham Lincoln) ; and Harriet E., born in Illinois No. vember 5, 1860, and is living with her mother and brother William. The entire family are members of the Regular Baptist Church. Mr. Parker is a Republican.

E. II. QUIGLEY, railroad agent, Mor- ris. E. II. Quigley was born in Crawford County, Penn. He received a common school education in his native State and in Morris, after which he took a course in the business college of Davenport, Iowa. Came to Grundy County at the age of thirteen. His father,

MORRIS CITY AND TOWNSHIP.

Henry Quigley, was born in Pennsylvania in December, 1814, and died in Pennsylvania June 3, 1866. Matilda Quigley, mother of subject, was born in January, 1826, and is now living with her son, E. H. Quigley. Mr. Quig- ley was married, May 21, 1879, to Miss Lizzie S. Cody, daughter of William R. Cody, whose biography appears in this work; she was born in Grundy County May 21, 1861. They have had two children-Freddy W., born March 10, 1880, died August 6, 1881, and Harry H., born September 19, 1881. Mr. Quigley has been in the employ of the Rock Island & Pacific Rail- road Company for ten years, as operator, ticket agent, and is now station agent. He is a Re- publican.

JAMES N. READING, lawyer, Morris, whose portrait appears in this work, was born at the homestead of his maternal grandfather, Dr. John F. Grandin, at Hamden, N. J., where his son, John Grandin, now resides. He was named after his grandmother Grandin's father, Dr. James Newell, whose wife was a Lawrence, and sister of the father of Commodore Law- rence. James N. Reading is the son and eldest child of Joseph Reading, who was the young- est child and only son of John (3), he being the eldest of John (2), who was the eldest son of Gov. John Reading. He commenced his academic course at Flemington, under Charles Bartles, Esq., who then had charge of the academy. He was prepared for college at the Princeton Academy, then entered Nassau Hall in 1827, and graduated in 1829, taking the fifth honor in a class of twenty-six ; studied law with Samuel L. Southard in Trenton ; was ad- mitted to the bar in 1832, and became a coun- selor at law in 1836. He married, February 10, 1835, Sarah C. A. Southard, a niece of the Governor. From 1832 to 1850, he practiced law in Flemington, fifteen of which years he was Proscenting Attorney for Ilunterdon County. During his residence in Hunterdon County, he took considerable interest and quite

an active part in the military affairs. His first appointment was to the office of Brigade In- spector ; resigning that after two years' serv- ice, he was appointed Colonel of the Third Regiment of the Hunterdon Brigade, which, with the office of State's Attorney, he held un- til he moved to the West. In 1850, he removed to Jefferson County, Mo., and for two years was President of a lead mining company. He re- turned to New Jersey, settled up his private business, and in the fall of 1858 moved to Morris, Grundy Co., Ill., which has since been his place of residence, with the exception of the years 1859-1861, when he resided in Chi- eago and practiced law, in copartnership with Mr. (afterward Judge) Wallace. He was elected a member of the State Legislature of Illinois in the fall of 1856, and filled the position until the fall of 1858, when he officiated as Clerk of the Circuit Court, filling a vacancy. In June. 1861, his partner having joined the Union army as a Major of the cavalry branch of the service, MIr. Reading closed his law office in Chicago, and returned to Morris. During the war, he was Deputy United States Marshal for Grundy County, and also United States Com- missioner, at the same time continuing his legal business. In 1865, he was elected County Judge, which position he held for three suc- cessive terms-twelve years-and then declined a re-election. He is an indefatigable worker. having, in addition to his legal practice and official duties, been largely engaged in the real estate business ever since his removal to Illi- nois. He is an able lawyer and jurist.

GEORGE RIDDLE, hardware merchant. Morris, was born in Blair County, Penn., March 7, 1833, son of John and Jane (MeKillip) Rid- dle, natives of Pennsylvania. He was a farmer by occupation, and died in his native State : she died in Pennsylvania, in 1856. They raised six children, four sons, of whom our subject is the second, and two daughters. Our subjeet was educated in the common schools of Penn-

BIOGRAPHICAL:

sylvania, and at the age of sixteen began clerk- ing in a dry goods store, in New Castle, where he remained three years. After spending three years more in Mercer County, Penn., he came to Illinois in 1855, and began the foundry bus- iness, building the first foundry of this place. Fle carried on this business two years, and then went into the coal business for three years, af- ter which he pursued farming until 1876, when he opened a hardware store in partnership with Mr. Trons; this firm still continues, and does a good business, Mr. Riddle was married in Morris, November 4, 1856, to Amelia Fer- guson, daughter of Daniel Ferguson, spoken of in another part of this work. Our subject has been School Treasurer for fourteen years, in Mazon Township ; is a member of the Masonic order, in which he has taken all the degrees from Entered Apprentice to Knight Templar, and is one of the oldest members of the order at Morris. He is President of the Forest City Mining Company, in Summit County, Colo., considered one of the richest mines in that State ; he is also Superintendent of the Grundy County Mining Company ; President of the Morris Cutlery Company, and a member of the Republican party.

DR. EMANUEL RIDGWAY, physician and druggist, Morris, is a native of Ohio, born October 22, 1831; son of Joshua Ridgway, also of Ohio, where he was occupied in farm- ing until he came to Illinois in 1834, and set- tled in Grundy County, about six miles north- cast of Morris; he died in Channahon, Will County, in 1839. His wife, Sarah (Cryder) Ridgway, was born in Ohio about 1811, and (lied in this county in 1835. They raised two children, both sons, of whom subject is the youngest. He attended the common schools in Grundy County, from 1835 to 1839, but after the death of his father, in 1839, he was taken back to Ohio in 1840, by his mother's people, and finished his education at South Salem Academy. He began reading medicine with

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History of Grundy County, Illinois, Part 44

Author: Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin Number of Pages: 506

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin
Number of Pages: 506