History of Iroquois County, together with Historic notes on the Northwest, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and other authentic, though, for the most part, out-of-the-way sources, Part 114

Author: Beckwith, H. W. (Hiram Williams), 1833-1903
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co.
Number of Pages: 1180


USA > Illinois > Iroquois County > History of Iroquois County, together with Historic notes on the Northwest, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and other authentic, though, for the most part, out-of-the-way sources > Part 114


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alone ; you will come out all right.' That little house and the careful management of my good wife were what saved mne from bankruptcy. Without the confidence inspired by these means I should certainly have failed, although I was at the time worth very much more than I owed. A blessing on the shanties that are paid for, and on the good wives who know how to make in them cheerful and happy homes, until something better can be honestly provided for." When business finally revived, in 1860, Mr. Pierson found himself in good shape, both as regards credit and capital, to largely extend his trade. His business, almost unsought, branched out in so many directions that it was impossible for one person to look after it all, especially during the war. He consequently divided his business, and became a silent part- ner in two or three firms in his own town. He also, at different times, had branch houses at Watseka, Ludlow and Chatsworth. These differ- ent branches were in the main successful in the accomplishment of their object, i.e. in working off surplus and unavailable stock, and were generally paying institutions, contrary to ordinary experience in such cases. In 1868 and 1869 Mr. Pierson shared his business lots on the west side with other parties, and the building known as the Pierson Block was erected. His health rapidly failing, Mr. Pierson, during the fall and winter of 1870-71, traveled in Europe, visiting England, Scotland, Gibraltar, Italy, the beautiful cities of Sicily, encountered without serious detriment the terrors of old Scylla and Charybdis, and returned to Onarga the following spring. Soon after his return he retired from all business connections. Considering that the most suit- able place to pass a contented old age is among the people where the active and vigorous years of his life have been spent, Mr. Pierson pro- ceeded to erect for himself and wife a home in a forest of evergreens that he had planted many years before, and christened it "Evergreen Home." Here Mr. and Mrs. Pierson are passing the later years of their active and useful lives. It is to be presumed that Mr. Pierson had an eye to the interior as well as the exterior home when he chris- tened it " Evergreen Home." Regarded in either light, the name is exceedingly appropriate.


John C. Ramsey, farmer and breeder of thoroughbred short-horns, Onarga, is a native of Preble county, Ohio, and was born September 23, 1824. At the early age of twelve years he was left an orphan, and at the age of seventeen began to learn the blacksmith trade, and fol- lowed that business till 1853, at which date he came to Iroquois county, Illinois, and bought a farm in Sec. 15, T. 26, R. 14, in Onarga town- ship. August 7, 1862, he enlisted as first sergeant in Co. D, 113th Ill. Vol. Inf. He was captured by the rebels on board the Blue Wing, on


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the Mississippi river, near the mouth of the Arkansas, but was soon after paroled and exchanged. He immediately rejoined his regiment, but was again taken prisoner near Ripley, Mississippi, in May, 1864, and suffered for three months the horrors of prison life in Anderson- ville, from which he made his escape; but was recaptured by rebel hounds, placed in jail for some time, and finally taken to Lawton Prison, Georgia, where he remained till paroled and mustered out of the United States service as a prisoner of war. He then returned to his home, which, during his three years' absence, had been managed and carried on by his wife and hired hand,-the latter receiving more money per month on his farm than he received from Uncle Sam for soldiering. In 1866 he turned his attention to breeding graded short- horns, but in 1869 he engaged in breeding thoroughbred short-horns, and is now the owner of a very fine herd, comprising forty-one head of thoroughbreds, and is also buying and feeding yearly a number of grades and common stock. December 9, 1847, he married Miss Keturah Majors, who died August 5, 1854. He again married, this time, Miss Eliza A. Ramsey, August 13, 1856. She was born February 3, 1828, in Preble county, Ohio. He has two children living: Lucy A. and Gracie M. He now owns, besides his stock, 400 acres of land, a large part of which is the result of his own industry and close attention to business. He is truly one of our self-made men.


Milton Doolittle, hardware and furniture dealer, Onarga, was the second son of Elkanah and Triphenia (Pangborn) Doolittle, and was born December 26, 1855, in Onarga township. He received his edu- cation at the Episcopal Academy of Cheshire, Connecticut, and at Grand Prairie Seminary, Onarga. On October 18, 1877, he was united in marriage to Miss Harriet F. Marston, the acconplished daughter of Sanford K. Marston. Their child (Mary Triphenia) was born July 27, 1878. Mr. Doolittle is an independent voter.


Edward L. Marquis, lumber dealer, Onarga, was born in Mount Vernon, Knox county, Ohio, August 20, 1826. His father's christian name was Edward, and his mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Newell. He finished his schooling at the Mount Vernon Academy, and on attaining his majority commenced for himself by traveling for a marble establishment. He has led an active business life; and his employments have been various, and generally profitable. Railroad- ing, photographing, real-estate and patent-right transactions have been some of his occupations. He has traveled extensively in the United States, especially in the west, and has made his home at different times in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. He has been twice married, and has two sons and two daughters. His maternal progenitors were


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Pilgrims. On his father's side liis ancestry is traceable to a titled lady of Welsh parentage.


John B. Clark, fruit-grower, Onarga, was born in Newport, Rhode Island, July 8, 1806, and is the oldest son of George and Desire (Blevin) Clark. In 1817 his father settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, and two years later John went to Lawrenceburg, Dearborn county, Indiana, where lie worked as a shop-boy three years. At the end of this time he apprenticed himself for four years to learn the tobacco manufacturer's trade. Leaving Lawrenceburg he went to Cincinnati and lived there three years ; he then moved to Manchester and engaged in merchandising, and was in business in that place most of the time for twenty-five years. He was justice of the peace five years, and postmaster altogether twenty years. In 1840, and again in 1850, he was chosen by the whigs to represent Dearborn county in the legislature. In the suminer of 1855 his family removed to a farm in Ash Grove, in this county, and some months afterward Mr. Clark, having closed up his business in Man- chester, brought a stock of goods to " Pitch-in," the first that were ever sold there. This was before that place was dignified with the eupho- nious name which it bears. He continued in trade eight years. He was postmaster, town clerk and also justice of the peace several years. In 1864 he left Ash Grove and settled in Onarga, and since that time has given his attention to raising fruit. His first marriage took place with Sophia Albright, April 24, 1827. Four sons and eight daughters were the product of this union. These grew to manhood and womanhood, and all but three are still living. Two of the sons were in the army in the late war. James M. was a member of Co. F, 25th Ill. Vol,, and died at Corinth, Mississippi, of typhoid pneumonia, June 23, 1862. Calvin R. served the term of three years in the 76th Ill. Vol. He was engaged at Jackson, Mississippi, May 13, 1863; he bore a part in the sieges of Vicksburg and Mobile, terminating his active service in the last battle of the war-the brilliant charge on Fort Blakeley. He was promoted for gallant conduct in the last engagement. Mr. Clark's wife having died, December 11, 1866, he was married again, October 6, 1870, to Mrs. Frances M. Torrey, widow of Levi F. Torrey. He has been a member of the M. E. church fifty-seven years, and has held official connection therein much of the time. He was an ardent whig, and is now a firin supporter of the republican party.


David Bullington, farmer and stock-raiser, Onarga, came to this county in 1855, from Warren county, Indiana, where he was born, September 8, 1833. January 31, 1858, he married Miss Margaret A., daughter of Henry Skeels. She was born in this county, in Onarga township, April 9, 1840, and is one of those who know what pioneer


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life is, being one of the early pupils tanght in log cabins. Mr. Bull- ington, after his marriage, engaged in farming in this county till 1867, when he went to Green connty, Missonri, and settled near Springfield, where he lived about ten years, engaged in farming, but, longing for the society of old friends and surroundings, he returned to Onarga, where he now lives, engaged in farming and stock-raising. He has eight children : Sarah A., Ida L., Mary E., Emma J., Margaret A., Elmyra, Susanah E. and Minnie E. He, his wife and the three oldest children are members of the M. E. church, and politically he is a republican. His parents, Mr. James and Sarah M. (Garrish) Bulling- ton, were married May 5, 1829; the former was born in Virginia, February 26, 1808, and the latter in New Jersey, December 22, 1808, and came to Iroquois county in 1856. The old gentleman is still liv- ing and has been a member of the M. E. church for the last fifty-four years. During his youth he learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he followed many years. His wife, with whom he lived many years, died, Jnne 13, 1875, from a cancer in her face. He is now spending his declining years with one of his sons on his old home.


James Owen, fruit-grower, Onarga, was born in Birmingham, Eng- land, November 13, 1815. His father, George Owen, was a blacksmith, and he learned the trade under him. In 1849 he emigrated to America, and stopping first in Brooklyn, New York, he worked there nine months at his trade. He then removed to Mason county, Illinois, and engaged in farming five years. In 1855 he settled in this county on a farm of 120 acres east of Onarga. At the same time, in company with his brother John, he put up a blacksmith shop in Onarga, the first in the place. A little later the younger brothers, Abram and William, came and took an interest in the business, which embraced, in addition, the sale of hardware and the manufacture of the celebrated Owen stove. At the end of two years he withdrew from the firm, since which time he has been employed either in farming or in horticulture. In 1867 he removed to Onarga, where he now resides. He was married, July 28, 1839, to Ann Elliman. They have reared four sons and two dangliters. Two of the former, William F. and James, were soldiers in the late war. The first of these was in the 9th Ill. Cav., and died February 18, 1866, from injuries received by being crowded with his horse from a higlı bridge.


George H. Owen, grocer, Onarga, was born in Birmingham, England, April 26, 1846. His parents, James and Ann (Elliman) Owen, emi- grated to this country in 1849. After a. residence in Mason county, Illinois, they moved to this county and settled on a farm near Onarga. Here the subject of this sketch remained till 1866. He has been em-


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ployed in farming, brick-making, butchering, and is at present, and has been the past three years, keeping a grocery store in Onarga, in com- pany with his brother James. Owen Brothers is the style of the firm. April 23, 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Peter, who was born January 5, 1845, in Tippecanoe county, Indiana. They have one child, Flora Annie, born October 2, 1876. Mr. Owen is an Odd- Fellow and republican, and his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church.


Horatio Talbert, farmer, Onarga, was born in Onarga township, February 29, 1856, on the same farm where he now lives. January 7, 1879, he married Miss Anna, daughter of William B. Lyman, an old settler of this county, and she was born in Beaver township, in this county, September 17, 1857. They have one child, Lyman Leo. The father of the subject of this sketch, Mr. George W. Talbert, was born at Fort Littleton, Bedford county, Pennsylvania. He was married, February 25, 1852, to Miss Catharine Deyo, of Pickaway county, Ohio, and came to this county in 1853. She died June 18, 1860, and Mr. Talbert died in the service of his country in March, 1862, on Black river. He left to his two children, the subject of this sketch and Albert, his farm, which contains 280 acres in Onarga, all earned by his own hard labor, industry and good management.


Enoch C. Hall, police magistrate and insurance and collection agent, Onarga, was born September 19, 1815, at Middletown, Connecticut. He was the youngest son of Jonathan and Catherine (Savage) Hall. His father was a farmer, and his youth was passed in the honorable pursuits of husbandry. He first attended the common schools, and then ended his studies in a private high school. From sixteen to eighteen he was learning the silversmith's trade, but his employer failed before his apprenticeship expired and he returned to the farm, working on that summers, and teaching school winters, till he was twenty-five. In 1836 he was appointed school examining committee, and held that responsible position twelve years. In 1840 he was ap- pointed justice of the peace ; at the same time he set up in the grocery and provision trade. In 1851 he removed his business to Springfield, Massachusetts ; in 1856 he came west and settled near Onarga on an eighty-acre farm of wild land. In 1863 he began merchandising in the village in company with G. G. Webb. He continued in trade thirteen years, changing, in the meantime, his connections and the character of his business more than once. The past three years he has done a general real-estate, loaning, insurance and collection business, and until recently in company with Hon. A. S. Palmer. He has held numerous township, corporation, school and other offices; has been


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justice of the peace sixteen years ; in 1866 was supervisor, and a mein- ber of the building committee who superintended the erection of the court-house at Watseka; was secretary of the sanitary society for the relief of soldiers and their families during the war, and has been an officer of the Iroquois Agricultural Society since its formation fourteen years ago. He was married, October 20, 1839, to Louisa Plum. Four sons were the fruit of this marriage: Wallace, Edward, Dwight and Robert. All these were in the military service in the late rebellion. Wallace died in the blockading squadron off Mobile; Edward was in Co. D, 113th Ill. Vols., and died in front of Vicksburg; Dwight was in the saine company three years, and Robert served in the 150th Ill. the last year of the war. Mr. Hall's wife died October 5, 1859. His second matrimonial alliance was consummated with Kate Flagg, September 19, 1860. They have two sons and a daughter.


Orrin S. Haight, farmer and stock-raiser, Onarga, was born in Albany county, New York, January 31, 1829. At the age of sixteen years he left the parental roof, and began for himself by boating on tlie Hudson river, which occupation he followed two years. He then fol- lowed farming three years, and then went to Gloversville, Fulton county, New York, and engaged in the manufacture of gloves, a busi- ness for which that place was noted. December 31, 1850, he married Miss Jane Anderson, who was born in Fulton county, New York, May 11, 1835. Soon after he came west and engaged in Perrysville, Indiana, in a grain warehouse and grist mill about four years. He then removed to Vermilion county, Illinois, and farmed a short time, and finally came to Iroquois county, Illinois, where he rented a farm *and engaged in farming and stock-raising, but soon bought a farm in Sec. 4, T. 25, R. 14, Onarga, where he permanently located and is following the business he began in this county. He has seven chil- dren living : Charles, Isabel, Elena, Edna, Martha A., Ida M. and Orie. He is using all liis means for the education of his family, three of whom are now teaching, having been prepared for that business at the Grand Prairie Seminary and Commercial College.


If there is one mnan more than another possessed of a fine practical brain and a clear mechanical head, that man is George H. Van Neste, who was born May 10, 1826, in the historical Mohawk valley, Mont- gomery county, New York, on a farm. He is now just in the prime of life, and morally a most exemplary character. Young George worked with his parents until his twenty-first year, then following the natural bent of his mind, a love of tools prompted him to accept a position in a manufacturing establishment at Amsterdam, where his principal work was building fanning mills until September 1, 1850,


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when thinking to educate that faculty which was destined to assist him so much in the future on a broader scope, commenced work as a common hand, carpentering and joining ; but by dint of an earnest application and an indomitable will Mr. Van Neste rose to the posi- tion of a contractor in the spring of 1853, which position was retained until in the fall of 1854, when thinking to better himself came west to Ogle county, Illinois, near Oregon, in September of that year; and after a year and a half's labor there at his trade, moved to Iroquois county, building on Sec. 3, T. 25, R. 10 E., where he was one of the first settlers on the prairie. He has now a splendid farm of two hun- dred and forty acres, three miles southeast of Del Rey and seven from Onarga. A large saw-mill was then in operation at Del Rey, and no sooner did they learn of Van's ability than they called for help in re- pairing, who, always ready and agreeable, soon would get things in working order again ; and when thoroughly aroused to the fact that a mechanical genius was among them, Van was given complete charge of the mill, made boss and manager in the fall of 1858, and continued in that capacity for two years. Mr. Van Neste then engaged himself in cultivating his farm until the spring of 1872 (moving his family to Onarga the year previous owing to his wife's sickness). When G. H. Van Neste & Co. erected a large flouring mill in the eastern part of Onarga, which, to all appearance was destined to be synonymous with prosperity,-lo! in August, 1873, the boiler burst, and with it blew away a thousand bright hopes and many hard earned dollars. He next purchased the old stand of McElroy's grocery, in October, 1873, and until August, 1878, selling to F. Felker, prosecuted a splendid trade, making many friends and a host of acquaintances. His place of business was and still is known as " Van's corner." He is now engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was married, October 2, 1851, to Miss Emily J. Shottinkirk, in Perth, Fulton county, New York, and prior to her death, which occurred June 8, 1871, six children were born. He was married tlie second time, April 6, 1873, to Mary E., the widow of Capt. William M. Raymond, a brave and gallant soldier of Co. D, 52d Ind. Vol., who sacrified his life for his country's liberty at the battle of Nashville. Mr. Van Neste joined the M. E. church in April, 1851, was elected a member of the quarterly con- ference, July 31, 1861, and recording steward, September, 1872. His wife is also a member. Mr. Van Neste has held the offices of assessor, commissioner, school trustee, school director, and justice of the peace, and is a stalwart member of the republican party.


Howard Lyon, farmer and stock-raiser, Del Rey, is a native of Windsor, Vermont, and was born March 1, 1831. At the age of


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twenty-five he left his native state, where he had been raised at farm- ing and attending school. April 22, 1856, lie married Miss Betsey Brown, a native of Vermont, and the same year came to Iroquois county, Illinois, and engaged in farming; but not liking the country on account of his health failing, he returned to his native state. While making his return trip the saddest event of his life took place. After crossing the river from Detroit to Windsor, he with his wife walked from the boat to the wharf, where he left her a few minutes, with a request to remain there till he returned from the boat, where he was going to look after some baggage. On his return to the dock he was unable to find her, and immediately began an anxious search, which was prosecuted with almost unendurable anxiety of mind till next morning, when her body was found floating in the river a short distance below the place of landing. It is supposed that she became uneasy while waiting his return and started in search of him, missed the gangplank and fell into the river. In 1859 he again returned to this county and engaged as a hired hand and began to buy a few cattle, and in that way soon got a start which has proved to him very success- ful, which is evidenced by the fact that he now owns 370 acres of good land where he now.lives, actively engaged in farming and stock-rais- ing. February 14, 1864, he married Mrs. Caroline (Merrill) Sanders, of Cincinnati, Ohio, born May 18, 1834. She died May 12, 1879. On Marclı 3, 1880, he married his' last wife, Mrs. Eveline Libhart, a native of New York, born near Bainbridge. She came to this county in 1853. He has five children : James A., Edward M., William H., Perry and Robert. His present wife has five children, two boys and three girls.


John W., son of John Grubbs, farmer and stock-raiser, Onarga, is a native of Montgomery, Ohio, and was born on October 18, 1827. His parents' means being very limited, living as they were in the back- woods of a new country, he at a very early age began to work out, beginning at six cents per day. His wages were soon after raised to eight cents per day, which he received all through the next season. After growing up to near manhood he received by the month from $7 to $11. At the age of eighteen years he became an apprentice as wagon and carriage-maker, and completed his trade at the age of twenty-one years. 'He then followed journey work, till on August 15, 1851, he married Miss Lorinda Allen. She was born in Butler county, Ohio, on November 9, 1834. At that time he borrowed $100 with which to begin housekeeping, and through the kindness of an old friend he began the business of his trade in a full furnished shop, mak- ing everything from a wheelbarrow to a wagon, or anything needed on


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a farm. He followed the business eight or nine years, but by working constantly and till late liours at niglit liis healtlı became broken down, and he sold out his stock in trade, bought a farm, and engaged in farming; but having previously visited Illinois, felt an irresistible desire to own a home on the prairie, and in 1857 removed to Peoria county, Illinois, where he lost $1,000 in renting a large farm that wet season (by loss of crops and sickness), and the fall of the same year came to Iroquois county, Illinois, bought a farm, permanently located, and actively engaged in farming and stock-raising. He is the first man who introduced the hedge-fence raising in this county, raising an immense lot of plants for wholesale over this and adjoining counties. He now owns 414 acres of land, three miles east of Onarga village, well ditched withi tile, and on which are very fine buildings. He has five children : Keziah, Phineas W., Lervy, Harvey J. and Melissa J.


Judge Charles H. Wood, attorney-at-law, Chicago, is one of the many old settlers of Iroquois who, though having removed from the county, are yet kindly remembered by many and warm friends. It will no doubt be a pleasant surprise to many of his friends, not only of Onarga and Iroquois county, but of central eastern Illinois, to find his portrait gracing the pages of this work. Judge Wood was born in Lyme, Con- necticut, October 7, 1832, and is the son of John Wood, also a native of that state, born August 17, 1786. The subject of this brief sketch was educated at Brown University, Rhode Island. In 1857 he graduated from the Albany Law School, and was that same year a member of the Connecticut legislature. In 1857 he camne west and commenced the practice of law in Onarga. While a resident here he was elected, in 1860, prosecuting attorney of the twentieth judicial district, which em- braced the counties of Iroquois, Kankakee and Livingston, holding the office until 1864. In 1865 he was elected by lis district to the general assembly of the state. In March, 1867, he was appointed by the gov- ernor of the state to fill an nnexpired term of circuit judge of the dis- trict in which he had formerly served as prosecuting attorney, and so well and acceptably did he discharge his duties that, upon the expiration of this partial term, he was elected for a term of six years. In all of the many and important trusts which Judge Wood has been called upon to execute he has had the satisfaction of the unanimous approval of liis constituents and fellow-citizens. In 1874 he removed to Chicago, where he entered into partnership in the practice of law with Judge Loomis, of that city, and now ranks as one of the leading lawyers of Chicago. Perhaps there are few busier men than Judge Wood. His thorough preparation for his profession, and his quick appreciation of his special work, together with a sound judgment, enables him to arrive at




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