History of Grundy County, Illinois, Part 62

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

USA > Illinois > Grundy County > History of Grundy County, Illinois > Part 62

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in Louisiana, Wisconsin and Michigan. In 1849, he settled in Grundy County, Ill., and has been a resident of the county ever since. He now owns a farm of 173 acres of improved land in Section 22 of Vienna Township, and resides two and three-quarter miles northwest from Verona. His land is valued at $50 per acre. He was married, in Grundy County, July 4, 1855, to Miss Caroline · Nance, daughter of Eaton and Mary Nance, formerly of Kentucky. She was born in Sangamon County, Ill., Janu- ary 24, 1838. They have a family of seven children, all born in Grundy County-Charles E., born August 2, 1857 ; De Alton, born Jan- uary 24, 1859, died February 14, 1859 ; J. Irwin, born October 5, 1861 ; Lulu, born Feb- rnary 29, 1864 ; Ulysses G., born July 20, 1865 ; Mary C., born December 14, 1867 ; and Sarah M., born September 6, 1876. Mr. Stoner is engaged in general husbandry.

ALLEN S. TILDEN, farmer, P. O. Vero- na, is a native of Addison County, Vt., born December 25, 1822 ; son of Isaac and Minerva Tilden. When about thirteen years old his parents removed to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where they remained until 1852, then came to Grundy County, Ill. When subject became of age, he went to North Leverett, Franklin Co., Mass., where he engaged at his trade (that of a blacksmith) ; worked there four years, and afterward three in the northern part of New Hampshire, and came to Illinois in 1852 and settled in Vienna Township, where he now owus a farm of 560 acres of land, 400 in Sec- tions 9 and 16 of Vienna Township. His resi- dence with extensive improvements being located five miles northwest from Verona. He was married, in May, 1852, to Miss Elvira Willis, daughter of Ezra Willis, born in Frank- lin County, Mass., in 1831. They have three children-Eva E., born in Grundy County, September 24, 1853 ; Lucy C., born in Grundy County October 17, 1860, married to E. Will- son December 3, 1879 ; and Frank C., born

December 20, 1872. Mr. Tilden's mother is now living with him. She is now eighty-two years of age. His father, Isaac Tilden, died at subject's residence in August, 1866.

I. C. TILDEN, farmer, P. O. Verona, is a na- tive of Addison County, Vt., born June 15, 1830; son of Isaac and Minerva (Sherwood) Tilden, who removed to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where our subject was principally raised and educated. In 1852, they came to Illinois and settled in Vienna Township, Grundy County, where the sons purchased land. Our subject is the fifth of a family of eight children. He was married, February 10, 1859. to Miss Roxana Porter, daughter of Arza and Jane Porter, of Vienna Township. Mrs. Tilden was born in Livingston County, N. Y., April 2, 1836. They have a family of three children, all born in this county-Mary E., born June 4, 1864 ; Frances M., March 10, 1868; and Katie L., November 6, 1872, died when within one hour of being one year old, November 6, 1873. Mr. Tilden has a farm of 320 acres of improved land in Section 21 of Vienna Town- ship. His residence, with all valuable improve- ments, lies two and one-half miles west from Verona. The land is valued at $62.50 per acre. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Verona. He is engaged in stock- raising as a specialty. Mrs. Tilden's father, Arza Porter, for some years a resident of Vien- na Township, died in January, 1858; her mother is still living in Vienna Township.

L. H. TILDEN, farmer, P. O. Waupon- see, is a native of Stockholm, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., born April 23, 1841, son of Isaac and Minerva Tilden, subjeet being the youngest of a family of eight children. He came to Illinois with his parents, and settled in Grundy County, where he has since lived, and where he was educated principally. He enlisted, September 6, 1862, in Company D, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Illinois

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Volunteer Infantry, in which he served two yoars, afterward detailed to Battery A, First Illinois, and mustered ont at Chattanooga, Tenn., June 19, 1865. He participated in the following engagements: Chickasaw Swamp, Arkansas Post, Black Bayou, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Chat- tahootchie River, Atlanta and Jonesboro. He married, April 10, 1866, Miss Incy E. Willis, danghter of Ezra and Electa Willis. She was born in Leverett, Franklin Co., Mass., January 20, 1842. They have a famn- ily of four children, all born in Grundy County, named as follows: Lillian E., born September 27, 1870; Guy W., born October 9, 1873; Mary E., born Angust 14, 1877; and Roy E., born July 2, 1879. Mr. Tilden owns 120 acres of improved farm land in Section 3 of Vienna Township, Grundy County. His residence is one mile west from Hill's Park Station. Valne of farm land, $50 por acre. In politics, he is a Republican.

JONATHAN WILSON, farmer, P. O. Ver- ona, is a native of Union County, Ky., born December 3, 1810. When about fourteen years old, his parents, Thornton and Eliza- beth Wilson, moved to Illinois and settled in Sangamon County for one year, after which they lived near Tremont, in Tazewell County, for two years. In the fall of 1827, they moved into Putnam County, where they pur- chased a farm; there the father died, March 9, 1835; the mother had previously died in Tazewell County, in February, 1826. Sub- ject remained in Putnam County till 1850, and while there was married, January 24, 1839, to Miss Elma Hoyle, daughter of Will- iam and Edith Hoyle; her father was a na- tive of England, and her mother a native of l'ennsylvania; her mother died in Putnam County August 5, 1840, and her father died in the same county January 9, 1876. Mrs. Wilson was born in Jefferson County, Ohio,

August 27, 1824. Since 1850, Mr. Wilson has resided in Vienna Township, of Grundy County, Ill. They now own the " Old Jonah Newport " farin, consisting of 326 acres, in Sections 4 and 9 of Vienna, their residence being situated twelve miles southwest from Morris. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are parents of ten children-William A., born March 3, 1840, died February 28, 1871; Edith E., born Oc- tober 4, 1843; Mary E., born March IS, 1845, married to Albert Hollenbeck on Feb- ruary 18, 1875, and died Angust 22, 1875; Joseph A., born February 20, 1849, married Hattie E. Collins March 5, 1879; Oliver T., born January 1, 1852, died Jannary 31, 1852; Sabina M., born April 6, 1854; Edward F., born April 6, 1856. married December 3, 1879. to Miss Lucy M. Tilden: Marshall B., born March 11, 1859; Charley E., born March 20, 1864, and Orville T., born June 15, 1868. Mr. Wilson is engaged in general husbandry.

EDWARD WILSON, farmer, P. O. Wan- ponsee, is a native of Grundy County, Ill., born April 6, 1856, the seventh of a family of ten children born to Jonathan and Elenor Wilson. He was educated in the schools of his native county, and took a commercial course at Grand Prairie Seminary. He was married, December 3, 1879, to Miss Lucy Tilden, born October 17, 1860, daughter of A. S. and Alvira Tilden, of Vienna Town- ship; they have one daughter-Eva May, born in Grundy County May 8, 1881. Mr. Wilson owns a farm of 160 acres of improved land, in Sections 9 and 10 of Vienna Town- ship, and resides;two and a half miles west from Wnuponsee Station; his laud is valued at $50 an acro. He is a Republican.

JOHN WELDON, farmer, P. O. Verona. The subject of this sketch is a son of John and Bridget (Mede) Weldon, formerly of Ire. land, who emigrated to the United States in

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1832 and settled in New York, where subject was born November 18, 1837. When he was six years old (in 1843), his parents moved to Illinois and settled in Will County, where they remained, engaged in farming, until 1849. They then moved to Grundy County and bought land in Vienna Township. Sub- ject enlisted, August 4, 1861, in Company I, Fifty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in which he served three years, and was dis- charged at Nashville, Tenn., November 1, 1864. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, siege of Vicksburg, Chattanooga, Tenn., battle of Nashville, and others; was taken prisoner at or near Memphis by Richardson's guerrillas, from whom he escaped three days after, and returned to his regiment. His brother, Lient. James Weldon, of Company H, Fifty- fifth Regiment, was killed in the battle of Shiloh. Thomas Weldon, another brother, was a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Illinois Regiment. in which he served three years; wounded. After re- turning, Mr. Weldon was married, October 11, 1865, to Miss Ellen Slattery, daughter of William Slattery, of Ireland. She was born in County Tipperary, in December, 1841, and came to the United States in 1853. Their family consists of seven children, three of whom are dead-Dora E., born September 26, 1868; William J., born January 30, 1872; Eveleen M., born February 23, 1876; and Clara A., born April 26, 1879. They own a farm of 268 acres of improved land in Sections 33 and 27 of Vienna Township, val- ned at $50 per acre, their residence being two miles southwest of Verona. They are members of the Catholic Church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and, in politics, is a National Greenbacker.

PHILIP WAIT. Verona, was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., June 5, 1819, son of Walter and Margaret Wait, of New

York State. He remained till ten years old in New York, when his parents moved to Genesee County, N. Y., where they lived about nine years. They then went to Ohio and settled in Hancock County for a few years, and afterward moved to Muskingum County, Ohio, where subject was married, November 10, 1844, to Miss Nancy Bryant, born in Muskingum County, Ohio, May 4, 1827, daughter of Joseph and Nancy Bryant, of Virginia. By this union they have a fam- ily of six children -- Alwilda M., born in Ohio March 10, 1847, married, March 12, 1866, to Henry Jones, of Grundy County; Romando W., born January 20, 1848, married, in the spring of 1868, to Miss Martha A. Allison, of Grundy County; Alice M., born March 26, 1851, married to Rhonelle Thompson in 1871; Edgar B., born January 11, 1856, married, in September, 1877, to Miss Zelma Paxton, of Grundy County; Emma T., born Septem- ber 11, 1853; and Newton, born November 11, 1858. Mr. Wait removed from Ohio to Kane County, Ill .. in 1848, and, the year fol- lowing, moved to Grundy County, and set- tled in Mazon, where he lived one year, then moved on a farm, which he had previously bought, in Highland Township, upon which they lived until 1876, when they removed to the village of Verona. Mr. Wait now owns two farms in Highland Township-111 acres in Section 14, and eighty acres in Section 2, including two dwelling houses, the land be- ing valued at $50 per acre. He also owns a desirable property in the village of Verona. While living in Mazon, Mr. Wait sustained the loss of his only team by a violent storm, which occurred on May 28, 1851. After this, he lost, on an average, one horse each year for twenty-seven years.

THOMAS WALSH, farmer, P. O. Verona, was born in the Province of Quebec, Canada, in December, 1835; was educated in Canada,

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and came to the United States in 1860, set- tling in Kendall County, where he remained one year. He came to this county in 1861, and farmod on rented land until 1864. He then bought 340 acres of land in Vienna Township, Section 22, and has since bought eighty-oight and one-half acres in Section 19, of Mazon Township, valued at $60 per acre. He is engaged in raising stock. He married, March 31. 1868, Miss Priscilla Ward, daugh- ter of Samuel Ward, late of Mazon Township.

She was born in New York Stato, January 11, 1845; they have six children, one of whom is dead-Elizabeth, born September 19, 1869; William C. C., born February 5, 1871; Margaret M., born December 20, 1873; Mary E., born August 12, 1876, died February 14, 1878; Jessie, born September 1, 1878, and Hugh, born February 25, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Walsh are members of the Presbyterian Church.

HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP.

JOHN CURTIN. farmer. P. O. Verona, the northern mines. During these years, Mr. Dondanville was through most of the Western country. He was married. Septem- ber 22, 1865, to Miss Mary E. Beal, a native of Ohio, but who came to Kendall County at an early date. They have five children, three boys and two girls. His farm consists of 205 arres, all of which he has made since coming here. He was brought up in the Catholic Church, and is Democratic in politics. Nei- thor of his parents are living.

was born in Ireland in 1828. He came alone to America in 1840. Having a brother and two sisters living in Ottawa, Ill .. he came to that place. Ho remained in La Salle County for abont thirteen years, seven years of which he was with Mr. Joel Armstrong. From La Salle County, he came to Grundy County, settling on his present farm, which consisted of 240 acres. He was married in La Sallo County, in 1855. to Miss Catharine Maloney, who was also a native of Ireland. They have six children, three boys and three girls. Mr. Curtin is a member of the Catholic Church, and is Democratic in politics. All his school- ing he received in Ireland. His occupation has always been that of farming.

JOSEPH DONDANVILLE. farmer, P. O. Verona, settled in this county in February, 1867; he moved on to the place formerly set- tled by Simon Wait, who sold it to T. Hibbard, who in turn sold to Mr. Dondan- ville. He was born December 29, 1540, in Alsace, France. Emigrated to America in the fall of 1951, and settled with his parents in La Salle County, Ill. In 1859, he went to Pike's Peak, and in 1861-65 he went to

MRS. JOHN T. EMPIE, farming. P. O. Verona, camo to Grundy County in March, 1831, and has lived on the same place since. She was born and raised in Columbia County, .N. Y .; her parents moved to Kane County. Ill., in the spring of 1815, where they lived for three years, afterward going to Cook County, where they remained for two years. It was then that Mrs. Empie was married to John T. Empie, and they both settled on the farm where Mrs. Empie now lives. Her father, Samuel O. London, is still living. and is eighty-three years old. Ho is a nn. tive of New York State. Mrs. Empio's mother also came from New York, and is ser- enty-eight years old. Both the parents were

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born near Lebanon Springs, in Columbia County. Mr. Empie was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., and came from Watertown to Chicago. He died in March, 1867. Mrs. Empie has four children living-two sons and two daughters. Thesons still remain in the county, but the two daughters are living in Kansas. John D. and William A. are the names of her two sons. These four children are all that remain of a family of ten. Mr. Empie bought a Mexican land-warrant, and laid it here, the quarter-section costing $72, including the expenses connected with the purchase. He then put up a shanty, which cost $32. By trade, Mr. Empie was a cloth- ier, but his health failing him, he went to farming. Mrs. Empie's father, Mr. London moved from Columbia County to Buffalo, N. Y., when Mrs. Empie was about five years old; from there they went to Broomne County, where they remained for three years, after. ward going to Cattaraugus County, where they lived for seven years, when they came to Illinois. Mrs. Empie saw 'some pretty hard times when first settling, owing to failure of crops, etc. There was not a schoolhouse in the township at that time, and Morris was the nearest trading point.

FATHER JOHN A. HEMLOCK, Kins- man, was born in Cedarburg, Wis., in 1851; he is the second youngest child of William. Heinlock, a native of Ireland, who follows the occupation of a farmer at Cedarburg, Wis., and who has a family of four sons and two daughters. The subject of this sketch re- ccived his elementary education at St. Jo- seph's College, Bardstown, Ky., afterward finishing his studies at St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee, Wis. His first charge was St. Bridget's Church, Chicago, from which he was transferred to St. Columbkill's, and thence came to his present charge, in October, 1880; he has been in the ministry since June, 1878.

Since he has come here, he has established a new mission in Norman Township, which al- ready consists of at least thirty families, and a church will be built there in a short time. Father Hemlock has also built their parson- age since he came here, and has done much to advance the welfare of the people.

JOHN W. HINCH, farmer, P. O. Verona, was born in Huntingtonshire, England, in 1831. He came to America in 1841, and settled with his parents in Oneida County, N. Y. He lived there until twenty-one years of age, when he came to Illinois and settled in Lis- bon, Kendall County, remaining there for four years, when he moved to Saratoga, Grundy County. Here he lived until 1863, after which he resided in Livingston County one year, then came back to this county. In 1865, he moved on to his present farm of 160 acres, and has remained on it ever since. A good dwelling is among the attractive feat- ures of the place. Mr. Hinch was married, in Kendall County, in 1858, to Agnes Ful- ton; she was born in Scotland, and came to this country when she was twenty years of age. They have had eleven children, nine of whom-five boys and four girls-are still liv- ing. Mr. Hinch's occupation has always been that of farming. His father, William Hinch, who is dead, was also a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Hinch are members of the Presby- terian Church. Mr. Hinch is a Republican.

WILLIAM PIERCE, farmer, P. O. Ve- rona, is a native of New York, born in Monroe County, that State, in 1815; his father moved into Genesee County, N. Y., when subject was but seven years old. In 1838, Mr. Pierce came to Kane County, Ill., and remained there till the spring of 1851, when he moved to his present farm, taking his family with him. This farm consists of 320 acres of well-improved land. Mr. Pierce was raised on a farm, and has made farming his occu-

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pation ever since coming to the State. 1Io is

the oldest settler in the township, and has always taken an activo part in its affairs. He received his education in the schools of his native State. He was married in New York in 1838. Mrs. Pierce was born in Genesee County, N. Y., to which place her parents had emigrated from Vermont. Her maidon namo was Julia Burr; she is the daughter of Salmon and Azuba (Thomas) Burr; her grandfather Thomas served seven years as musician in the Revolutionary war. Gen. Thomas, of rebellion fame, is Mrs. Pierce's cousin. Seth Thomas, of world-wide reputa- tion as a clock manufacturer, was her great- uncle. Mr. and Mrs. Pierco havo had twelve children, five of whom are still living. The eldest son was killed in the army. Of the children now living, there are three in Mc- Pherson County, Kan., one is living in Jol- ict, Ill., and one is at home. When Mr. Pierce came to this county, it was in its wild state, deer, wolves and other wild animals being plentiful. In politics, Mr. Pierce is a Republican.

SYPREON P. SMALL, farmer, P. O. Verona, was born in Somerset County, Me .. in 1841; ho came to Illinois in 1861, and has lived in this county most of the time since. He is a son of Harrison Small, who is now living in Kansas. Mr. Small received his education mostly in Maine. In 1962, he on- listed in Company A, Twelfth Illinois Caval- ry, Col. Voss, in which he served three years and never got a scratch. This company was an escort to Gen. Slocum for some time, and then were sent back to their regiment, after which they did duty as provost guards. In 1867, ho returned to Maine, and was there married shortly afterward to Miss Mary Cor- son; he returned to Illinois, staying three years, when he went back to Maine on a visit, and while there his wife died, July, 1876.

He was married a second time, in Maine, this time to Miss Lizzie Whitman, whereupon he returned to Illinois, and has since resided in this State. He has had five children, three by his first wife, one of whom, a boy, is living, and two boys by his second wife, who are living. Mr. Small's farm consists of eighty acres. He votes the Republican ticket.

D. S. SMALL, farmer, P. O. Verona, came to Grundy County when only nine years old, and has remained here ever since. He was born in Somerset County, Me., in 1846. Ho is the son of Harrison Small, who now lives in county, they lived in Vienna Township, but Verona. The first year after coming to the

have ever since lived in this township. The first place they settled on, an unimproved farm, is now owned by John Young. Mr. Small is one of a family of six children, three

boys and three girls. Ono girl is dead and the other two live in Streator. Two of the boys are in Mazon Township, and the re. maining one, our subject, still remains in Highland Township. His present farm con. sists of eighty acres. Mr. Small received his education in this county. In 1572, he was married to Miss May Hamilton; she was born in Canada. Her father, Robert Hamil- ton, died when she was small, and her mother moved to this State in IS63 or 1864. MEr. and Mrs. Small have two children-one boy Burton, and a girl, Myrtle. Mr. Small's oe. eupatiou has always been that of farming. Hle votes the Republican ticket.

FREMONT VICKERY, farmer and stock- raiser, Dwight, was born in Vienna Township, this county, in 1856. His father, John Vickery, moved to the subject's present farm when Fremont was two years old. Hero they lived for about thirteen years, and then moved to Livingston County, where the father still lives. Mr. Vickery was married, in January. 1877, in Lee County, to Miss Nettie Johnson,

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a daughter of Rev. William Johnson, a Pres- byterian minister, who was born in Edin- burgh, Scotland. Mrs. Vickery was born in Lee County. Mr. and Mrs. Vickery have one child-Paul. Mr. Vickery received his education in the common schools of this county, attended the Dwight schools, and afterward was, for fifteen months, a student at the Wesleyan University at Bloomington.

After he was married, he moved to the old homestead, in Highland Township. His farm consists of 355 acres. Raising stock and feeding sheep, hogs and cattle is his main business. He is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, and also, with his wife, a member of the M. E. Church. In politics, Mr. Vickery is a Republican.

GOODFARM TOWNSHIP.

WILLIAM CONSTANTINE, farmer, P. O. Dwight, was born in Wurtemberg, Ger- many, in 1841. He came to America in 1857, and lived for two years near Aurora, Ill., afterward coming to Grundy County. In 1861, he enlisted iu Company I, Fifty-fifth Illinois Infantry, serving three years. In 1864, he re enlisted, and served till the close of the war. In March, 1865, he was taken prisoner in North Carolina, near Goldsboro. Being paroled in July, 1865, he returned home. He was with Sherman's army, and helped open the Mississippi River, and in the memorable march through Georgia. During all the time that he served, he re- ceived not even a wound. After the war, he returned to Grundy County, where he has since remained. He bought his present farm, which consists of eighty acres of well-im- proved land, in 1869. In 1866, he was mar- ried to Miss Mary Klughart, who was born in Kendall County, this State. They have five children, two boys and three girls-Emma, Edward J., Clara, Martha and William. Mr. Constantine received his education mostly in Germany, but he attended English schools in Illinois for some time. Mr. Constantine has held several township offices, and is a mem- ber of the Evangelical Association. He votes the Republican ticket.

L. NATHAN LEWIS, deceased, was a native of Vermont, but, when a young man, moved to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where his children were born. In 1845, he came to Illinois, and lived in Kane aud Mc- Henry Counties for about four years, when he came to this county and settled on a place on Mazon Creek. Mr. Lewis died in De- cember, 1853, at his old homestead. He or- ganized the first church in the township, at the residence of David Gleason, and was their first minister. This was a Free-Will Baptist Church, and there were six members at the organization. Mrs. Nathan Lewis is still living in this township, with her daugy ter, Mrs. E. B. Stevens. Mrs. Lewis was born December 25, 1800. In 1858, Miss Fannie Lewis (now Mrs. Stevens) was mar- ried to Dr. John F. Trowe, of New Hamp- shire. They lived in Dundee, Ill., till 1860, when Mr. Trowe died. They had one son, Frank.

GEORGE PRESTON, farmer, P. O. Ma- zon, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in September, 1822. He moved to Grundy County in 1851, and settled on his present farm. His father, Elijah Preston, came at the same time, but died soon afterward. At that time, there were but few settlers between Mazon Creek and Johnny Creek, both north

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and south, and the grass was so high that two persons on horseback conld scarcely dis- cern each other, if only separated but by a short distance. The subject's brother, Will- iam Preston, had already come and settled about two years previous. Mr. Elijah Pres- ton entered an eighty-acre tract of Govern- ment land, which was the only Government land near him at that time. Mr. Preston's farm now consists of 400 acres, besides prop- erty in Mazon. He was married, in Vir- ginia. in 1840, to Elizabeth Carnes, who was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. She died abont 1554. He has three children living by this wife, two sons and one daughter-Will- iam C., George W. and Mary E. Mr. Pres- ton was married a second time, in this coun- ty, a short time before the war, to Jane Johnson, born in Ashland County, Ohio, but raised in Guernsey County, Ohio. When Mr. Preston first came here, he came together with several other families, all of whom moved in wagons. At that time, it was about three miles to any school. There were no bridges, roads, or anything to make hauling easy, so that twenty bushels of corn were all that could be hauled most of the year. There was a small boat at the river, which could carry two teams across at a time. Mr. P'res- ton is now building a new residence in Ma- zon, to which he will shortly move, having sold his old homestead. He is a Republican.

DANIEL ROEDER. farmer, P. O. Dwight, was born in Prussia, Germany, and came to America in 1857, and lived in La Salle Conn- ty, Ill., for nearly four years, when he re- turned to Germany, coming back to America in 1861, bringing his family with him. He rented land and farmed in La Salle County until 1869, when he moved onto his present farm, which he had bonght the year before. He now has 240 acres of well improved land. which represents the result of his industry

and frngality since coming to America. Ho was educated in the German schools, and is Republican in politics. He is a member of the Lutheran Church. His father, Henry Roeder, was a farmer in Langenstein, R. G. B. Z., Cassel, Germany. Mr. Roeder has nine children-seven boys and two girls. Those by his first wife, whom he married in Germany, are Stephen, born in 1843; and Henry, born in 1851. The remaining seven are by the present wife, viz., John, born in 1855; Balcer, in IS57; Elizabeth, in 1861; Lena, in 1864; William, in 1866; Leonard, in 1870; and George, in 1873.

E. B. STEVENS, farmer, P. O. Dwight, moved to Goodfarm Township April 22, 1850, having been there and purchased land the year previous. The place which Mr. Stevens had bought had a log cabin on it, 12x16 feet, into which seven people moved. Mr. John Henry and family had moved there at the same time. Mr. Stevens had bonght a Mexican land warrant, for which he paid $120, which was at the rate of $1 per acre, as he received 120 neres. He also bonght forty acres of a settler who had entered it. Mr. Stevens came to this county from Kala- mazoo County, Mich., and his was the ninth family to settle in this township. The first school in the township was in session when he moved in. It was in a log house, with . puncheon floors, etc., and was situated on Mazon Creek. The first crop of wheat and oats which Mr. Stevens raised could not be threshed until a machine came from Wil- mington, a distance of eighteen miles, and what bread they had in the meantime was made from grated corn. His farm now con- sists of 270 acres. He is the son of Levi Stevens. A native of Vermont, who moved from Vermont to New York, afterward to Pennsylvania, and finally to Michigan, where he died. Mr. E. B. Stevens, our subject. is

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a native of Vermont, and was married, in February, 1850, to Miss Betsy A. Cullen, a native of Canada, but whose parents were from the old country-her father from Ire- land and her mother from London, England. Mrs. Stevens died December 26, 1866. Her mother, Mrs. Cullen, lived to be ninety-one years old. Mr. Stevens has three children by his first wife, living-Charlie, Darwin and Eddie. Mr. Steveus married the second time, to Mrs. Fannie (Lewis) Trowe, in the fall of 1867. They have one little girl liv- ing, named Fannie Luella. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church.

ADISON WOOD, farmer, P. O. Dwight, came to Grundy County in 1849, and has lived in Goodfarm Township all the time since. In the township now there are but two older settlers living -- Mrs. Holtz and Mrs. L. V. Wood. Mrs. Wood is a native of Otsego County, N. Y., and his wife is from Schohar- ie County, N. Y. When they first moved into the township, there were but eleven houses in it, and they could cross the prairie, going southeast, to the State of Indiana, and not come across a house. Wolves and deer abounded in plentiful numbers. In 1843, Mr. Wood came to Lake County, Ill., from New York, and was there about six years, when he sold out and went to Cook County, staying there one season before coming to this county. Mr. Wood is the son of New- comb Wood, and was born iu 1822. He was married, in Dundee, Kane Co., Ill., Decem- ber 16, 1847, to Miss Catharine Bute. When he first came to this county, Mr. Wood bought 160 acres of Government land, for which he paid but $112, having bought a land warrant. His present farm consists of eighty acres. When the township was first organ- ized, which was the year following Mr. Wood's arrival, he was elected the first Jus-

tice of the Peace, in which capacity he served three years. He has been a Republican since the party was organized, before which he was a Whig. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Dwight. Their children are eight in num- ber-four boys and four girls. Their names are as follows: Levi, Mary J., Charles M., Lucretia, Erma A., Barney A., Sarah L. and Henry A. Mrs. Wood is the daughter of Lewis B. Bute, who came to Lake County in 1846.

L. V. WOOD, farmer, P. O. Dwight, was born in Oneida County, N. Y., in 1829. His father was Russell Wood, a native of New York, but who had moved to Michigan in 1845, and was accidentally killed while fell- ing trees. In the spring of 1846, his mother moved to Illinois, on the Fox River, in Kane County. Mr. Wood lived in Kane and Ken- dall Counties until 1851, when he came to this county, where he has remained ever since, and his present farm is the same one on which he first settled. In June, 1852, he was married, in this county, to Miss Pluma A. Gleason, daughter of David Gleason, who had settled in this township in 1849, and lived here till his death. He was one of the earliest settlers in the township. Mrs. Wood is at present, with a single exception, the oldest resident in this township. Mrs. Wood is a native of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have four children-two sons and two daugh- ters-all of whom are married-Russell O., Allie L., Henry O. and Alma. Mr. Wood received his early education in the State of New York. When he first came here, he lo- cated on the open prairie, by laying a Mexi- can land warrant. In politics, Mr. Wood is a Republican, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Dwight. His farm consists of eighty acres of land.

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History of Grundy County, Illinois, Part 62

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