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 50

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 50

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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

Miranda, born November 19, 1843, wife of Elkanah Doolittle. Mr. Pangborn was one of the party who settled on Middle Spring Creek October 2, 1837, from Franklin county, Ohio, a further account of which may be found in the sketch of S. H. Harper. He entered 240 acres on Sec. 30, T. 26, R. 14. In 1853 he was elected associate judge of Iroquois county, and held that office till 1857. From the adoption of the free-school system he was trustee nineteen years in succession. He has been a member of the M. E. church forty-one years, and Mrs. Pangborn forty-three years. He was a class-leader in the church from 1843 to 1879. Mr. Pangborn was one of the prominent early settlers of this county. The good name and reputation which he enjoys, as a man and a citizen, is due more to his exemplary life and perfect Chris- tian character than to any other influence. Judge Pangborn has a portrait in this work.

Rev. James P. Forsythe, preacher, Onarga, was the youngest child of John and Rutlı (McKnight) Forsythe, and was born in Shippens- burg, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1830. His father was a Scotchman. His mother died when he was twelve years old. While a youth he worked on his father's farm and attended the com- mon schools. He next went to the academy at Worthington, where he obtained a good English education. At the age of nineteen he was converted, and united with the M. E. church at Cumberland City, Maryland. Since that time lie has sustained almost constant official relation to the church. On February 9, 1854, he and Rosanna Mech- ling were united in marriage at Worthington, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania. They immediately settled in Vinton county, Ohio, and, after a residence of two years there, moved to Illinois City, Rock Island county, in this state. Here he engaged some in farming and school-teaching ; and in 1857 was licensed to preachı. In 1863 he entered the traveling connection in the Central Illinois Conference. Beginning with that year he filled the following appointments suc- cessively : Round Grove, two years; Chatsworth, two years; Wat- seka, one year; Loda, two years; Watseka, one year; and in the fall of 1871 was appointed by the conference financial agent of Grand Prairie Seminary. He has lived in Onarga since the last date. In 1878 he became pastor of the Methodist church at Clif- ton, and fills that pulpit at the present time. Mr. Forsythe's min- istry has been successful in the building up of the church and the increasing of the membership of each charge where he has labored. When he undertook the control of the financial interests of the semi- nary the endowment was coming due, and he has managed its collection with practical success. He properly ranks with men of strong convic-

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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

tions and stable belief. He preaches the truth as he understands it ; assails and exposes sin with the sword of the spirit ; and to the bruised heart he brings the glad tidings and soothing influences of the Saviour's love. He is especially direct and practical in his enforcement of the truth and in his invitations to the erring. He is held in high esteem by his brethren, and his standing with the conference, as a man and minister, is in the highest degree favorable to his reputation. They have had two children : Emma Jane, born February 13, 1856 ; died August 26, 1857; and Dora A., born February 6, 1860. Miss For- sythe is a member of the senior class of Grand Prairie Seminary, which graduates the present year. She belongs to the Methodist church, and is active and efficient in Sunday-school work.

Luther T. Clark, Onarga, was born in Manchester, Dearborn county, Indiana, June 18, 1830. His father was a merchant, and he was reared behind the counter. He enjoyed such advantages for education as were common in that day. At the age of eighteen he settled in Marshall county, Illinois, where he entered 208 acres of government land, on section 3, in Saratoga township. He afterward sold this land to Thomas Jemieson, and then bought a quarter-section on the other side of the county line, -S.W. }, Sec. 34, Milo township, in Bureau county. While living in this county he was married, at Versailles, Indiana, to Miss Mary E. King. She was born in Kingfield, Maine, and was a descendant of the first governor of that state, Rufus King. She died December 18, 1854, and was buried in the cemetery at Henry, Illinois. They had one daughter, Alice E., born July 24, 1854, and died December 29, 1873. She is buried in the cemetery at Onarga. In the fall of 1853 Mr. Clark settled in Henry, and engaged in the grain business one year. In the spring of 1855 he removed to Ash Grove, Iroquois county, and settled on the old Nunamaker farm, now owned and occupied by Squire Wesley Harvey. That fall his father's family came from Indiana to this county, and the next spring his father came with a stock of goods. They went into partnership, which continued about one year. He then moved out on the prai- rie on a new farm, now the John Bond estate. He speculated largely in land, and farmed during his residence in Ash Grove township. He was supervisor two years, beginning with 1858. In the fall of 1860 he was elected sheriff of Iroquois county, on the repub- lican ticket, and held that office two years. The court-house was

destroyed by fire, and the prisoner, Davis, burned to death, during his term. He hung the second man executed in the county - McDonald, alias Mclaughlin. His crime was the killing of his brother-in-law at Ashkum. In 1862 he settled on his farm at Onarga. He was mar-

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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

ried to Miss Melvina Hall, May 1, 1856. She was born in Mason county, Virginia, December 10, 1833. Their children are : Charles A., born August 23, 1857; William A., September 15, 1858; Emma E., March 16, 1860; Albert F., April 10, 1868. Charles A. is an ener- getic and industrious farmer, and resides on the old homestead, which he has recently purchased. He was married in the fall of 1878 to Miss Mattie Wheeler, of Onarga. William A. is now in Colorado. Emma E. graduates in the Latin scientific course of Grand Prairie Seminary June 10 of this year, and has also taken the German course. She is a young lady whose beautiful life and personal accomplishments impart sunshine and gladness to her home and friends. Mr. Clark was assessor of Onarga township for a number of years. From the time he settled on his farm south of Onarga, until recently, he was princi- pally engaged in raising fine stock and in fruit growing. In the spring of 1875, in company with Lee C. Brown, he went to France for the Onarga Importing Company and brought over nine Percheron stallions. In the fall he purchased town property and removed to the village. He has belonged to the order of Freemasonry about fifteen years. He was formerly a whig, and when the republican party was organized joined it, and has ever been a consistent adherent to its principles. Mr. Clark is a respected and valuable citizen.

Moses Haynes Messer, surveyor and civil engineer, Onarga, was born January 29, 1829, in Methuen, Massachusetts. He is the fourth child of Matthew and Ruth (Haynes) Messer, who reared ten children, nine of whom are living. His father was born January 1, 1800, and his mother March 14, 1798. They were married in May, 1822. The Messers and Hayneses are an ancient stock. In about 1665 an old man and eight sons settled in Haverhill, Massachusetts, and tradition says the father returned to Germany on business, and was never heard from after that time. In a few years the sons moved up the Merrimac to the east part of Methuen, and bought land and made homes near each other. The house, built of wood, in which the subject of this sketch was born, was erected in 1725, and was one hundred and twenty-three years old when replaced by another in 1848; the deed of the farm from Abial Messer to his son Richard bears date 1725. Joseph and John Haynes, from England, arrived at Salem, Massachu- setts, in 1633. The latter was governor of the colony in 1635; in 1636 he settled in Connecticut, and was the first governor there. From the date of his arrival till 1654, when he died, he was governor of that colony alternate years. He was one of the six commissioners who drew np the first written constitution of any colony in America, which embodies the main points of all the state constitutions. Joseph settled

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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

in Newburyport, and a few years later in Haverhill. Matthew Messer was a hat manufacturer over forty years. Moses worked in his father's shop till he was twenty-one, attending the district school each winter up to the age of sixteen ; then walked three miles to a private school tauglit by Moses and Nancy Burbank. This was attended three suc- cessive winters with a neighbor boy, S. G. Sargent. Neither was once late or absent during the whole time. Afterward he went to Pembroke Academy, New Hampshire, one terin, and after he was twenty-one spent nearly two years at New Hampton Institute in the same state. In 1852 he was admitted to a private civil engineering class at Provi- dence, Rhode Island, under the tuition of William A. Norton, and went with him to New Haven, Connecticut, the next fall, when the civil engineering school was commenced at Yale College. He remained there two terms. In 1853 he was engaged in the city engineer's office in Boston, then in western Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, and in 1854 again in Massachusetts. He arrived in Chicago June 1, 1855, and was employed first by the Illinois Central Railroad Company, and afterward by Thomas and Henry Perry, of Kankakee city, to do surveying. In October, 1855, lie settled in Onarga on government land. He held the office of county surveyor from 1859 to 1865; was justice of the peace from 1856 to 1868 ; United States internal revenue assessor for three years from 1862, and school director from 1862 to 1871. Mr. Messer was united in marriage with Lucinda Lehigh, daughter of Experience Lehigh, whose portrait appears in this work, January 29, 1858. The issue of this union has been three living chil- dren : Clarence Edgar, Augusta and Angie, and a son and daughter dead. He entertains progressive views on all political questions ; was once a republican, but more recently lias been a prohibitionist, and is liberal in his religious opinions. His inclinations have always been for philosophy and the natural sciences. He walked five miles to spend, for a Comstock's Natural Philosophy, about the first half-dollar that he ever owned. He read that through twice by himself, and then pursued the study several terms in school. He is fond of controversy, but debates for information ; he has decided convictions, and is frank and fearless in the expression of them.

Samuel Mason Ayres, retired, Beech Hill, Mason county, West Virginia, son of Samuel and Lydia T. (Carey) Ayres, was born Janu- ary 25, 1808. When he was two years old his parents moved to Cha- tauqua county, New York. He was living beside Lake Chatauqua at the time of Perry's victory on Lake Erie, and remembers the cannonading and the excitement on shore. A Capt. Bird and some of the other neighbors were killed in the engagement. In the spring of 1822 his

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father removed his family to Mason county, West Virginia. Young Ayres was trained in a knowledge of farm life, and attended the com- mon schools of the day. When he was twenty-one his father died, leaving to his care liis widowed mother and four younger sisters. In 1834 he came to Iroquois county to view the country, and in 1836 per- manently settled here. An episode in Mr. Ayres' life shows that the course of true love never runs smooth. When children at school, he and Melinda Long betrothed themselves, and seven or eight years were beguiled away under the happy influence of those young and tender affections which® make life a dreamland, and give everything renewed beauty, and a single presence magic power. Ayres was poor, but her people were rich, and of course opposed the union. In the spring of 1832 an elopement to the west was planned. Though love may laugh at locksmiths, and display admirable skill and resources on extraordi- nary occasions, it cannot be expected every time to overcome war, pesti- lence and high water. The consummation of their plans was first prevented by the great freshets of that year; then came the Black- hawk war, and later in the season the cholera. Having been foiled in the first great enterprise of their lives, when Ayres was thinking of coming west, they mutually agreed to annul the sacred contract. Jan- uary 22, 1835, he and Elizabeth Grice were married. His first love afterward became the wife of Joseph Holden. The latter died not long after, and she went home to her father's to lead a widowhood of fifteen years. In course of time seven children had come to Ayres. His wife died April 15, 1854, and her dying request was that he should marry her whiom lie had first loved. He obeyed this injunction, probably without regret, March 22, 1855. She died October 23, 1873, and he celebrated his third marriage with her sister, Maria L. Long, October 27, 1874. His children all died young, except a daughter, who grew up and married. She is now dead; three children survive her. In 1851 Mr. Ayres sold his farm on Spring Creek to Seely Hetfield, and went to Middleport and engaged in merchandising. In 1853 he was elected an associate justice of Iroquois county. In 1856 he returned to West Virginia to live; but in 1863, having been three times over- run by each the federal and rebel armies, and suffered much, lie sold his farm and moved back to this county, where lie owned much land. In 1868 he again returned to his old neighborhood in Virginia. He makes yearly visits to Iroquois county, to meet his numerous friends and look after his large landed interest here. He owns about 2,200 acres, valued at $45,000.

Edward Stanton Gilbert, editor, Onarga, was born February 5, 1862, in Ash Grove township, Iroquois county, Illinois. He lived

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upon the farm until the spring of 1875, when he moved with his parents to Onarga. The latter returned in the fall, and January 1, 1876, he was apprenticed to J. B. Lowe, of the " Onarga Review," to learn the printing trade. He was an employe of the "Review " office until April 1, 1880, when he became its editor and proprietor. Mr. Gilbert is a young man of steady and industrious habits. He has been a faithful worker in the "Review " office, and has labored hard to merit the position which he now holds. He begins his career as editor with the confidence and good wishes of the whole community.

George Franklin Page, the director of the Conservatory of Music at Onarga, whose portrait will be found in this work, was born August 21, 1854, in Peabody, Massachusetts, being the third of four brothers. His father, Andrew J. Page, was a native of Deerfield, New Hamp- shire. He is a man of great integrity and industry, but has suffered financially from two sweeping conflagrations, from which, however, he is now recovering by plying his habits of industry in his later home in Philadelphia. His mother's name before marriage was Elizabeth N. Stevens. She was born in Augusta, Maine. She was a lady of much culture and intelligence, which were utilized first in the school- room, and more especially later in the family circle. She was a devoted mother; and, after assisting her family to maturity, she died, 1870, aged fifty-three. Professor Page's paternal ancestry was English and his maternal, French. Both of these families, in their European homes, possessed large fortunes, reaching the figures of the millionaire ; but, owing to the difficulty of transferring titles to persons in the colonies of the new world, the American heirs never realized upon those for- tunes. Ecclesiastically his father's ancestors, far back, were Baptists ; his mother's as uniformly Methodists. Prof. Page, when but one year old, was seriously afflicted with a fever, the effect of which made him an intense sufferer for fourteen years. At about one and one-half years tlie disease began to make such inroads that life was despaired of, and for days, weeks and years death was inevitable. Indeed the pitying world unanimously resolved that death would be a mercy to the suf- ferer. In these hopeless circumstances his parents maintained hopes, and especially his mother clung to him as only a mother will and can, through the darkest days. Several surgical operations were performed with but little success. Thus time passed to young Page, debarred from the cheerful prospects of a life which others of the same age entering were about to enjoy. His fourteenth year found no relief, but the boy himself had ambition as well as determination. He vis- ited a distinguished surgeon in Lowell, Massachusetts, for advice. The reply, after examination, imported that but one chance in a hundred

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promised his survival in the dangerous operation which might relieve. Young Page calmly resolved that the risk was better than a life of oblivion, and accepted that hundredth chance. The result of the oper- ation was a fair and almost unexpected restoration of health, and as a consequence the boy was restored to the same channels of hope as others. In these days of seclusion lie studied music for a recreation, but developed great aptitude for and enthusiasm in it. While he made some proficiency in literary studies, yet music was the inspira- tion. Occasionally, at seventeen, he appeared in public concerts. He had so far progressed at eighteen that he gave a concert in his own city, Woonsocket. From sixteen to nineteen he liad musical instruc- tion from the most eminent teachers of the eastern cities. At nine- teen he went to Leipsic, Germany, where still greater musical advan- tages were acquired. This city is the well-known book market of the world, the depositories of libraries and of literature. Its music is cor- respondingly matured. Here it becomes one of the great centers for foreigners as well as Germans to obtain the best educational facilities. Its conservatory is one of the oldest in Europe, founded in the first part of the present century by the renowned masters, Schumann, Men- delssohn, Becker, etc. Here, with the best inasters, he qualified him- self for the profession. He made great proficiency as a primo virtuoso, having, among others, as instructor, the renowned piano teacher, Prof. · Theodore Coecious. Upon Prof. Page's return from Europe he located at Woonsocket, Rhode Island, appearing in many concerts; in the meantime lie was elected as supervisor of music in the public schools of the city. At the end of the first year he gave a concert, in which five hundred of the public-school pupils participated. In this experi- ence he was particularly successful in the rare skill of training younger pupils rapidly on the true basis of the art and science of music. This position he successfully filled for two years, until called west, July 1, 1878. Prof. Page was married at Albion, Rhode Island, to Miss Hattie J. Marble, a native of that state, and a graduate of the State Normal School. On the same day he received notice of liis election as director of the Onarga Conservatory. Prof. J. B. Robinson, D.D., president of Grand Prairie Seminary and Commercial College, had seen what a broad field was in this part of the state for a musical enterprise, and knew well that everything depended upon the director. While over forty candidates were presented for the position, Prof. Page was finally selected. The conservatory, in nucleus, had hitherto been a mere musical department of the seminary, but the new plan was to develop, extend and enlarge it, in its own edifice as a coordinate school with the seminary and commercial college, which had before success-

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ively taken prominence. Accordingly a new departure was taken, the building prepared, and announcements made to the public. Prof. Page brought in a supply of new pianos, music, etc., and the necessary outfit for the enterprise. The first year's result was a happy sur- prise to friends and strangers. The enrollment and progress were such as to convince all that the conservatory was safely founded and widely patronized. At the beginning of the second year it was evident that additional accommodations must be had for the increasing growth of the conservatory. A large edifice was secured and new instruments added. Thus it may be noted that Prof. Page has taken hold of this conserva- tory with enthusiasm, and advanced it to a high degree of excellence. He is still pursuing his duties in a long engagement with the conserva- tory at Onarga.

The following is contributed by J. W. Mac Loud :

Eli S. Ricker, student, Onarga, is the son of Bradford W. and Catherine (Harmon) Ricker, and was born at Brownfield, Oxford county, Maine, September 29, 1843. His father was born September 17, 1803, and died April 25, 1864. His mother was born August 30, 1802, and died March 9, 1875. There is a tradition that her ancestors came over in the Mayflower ; but whether this be true or not, it is true that they settled in America in very early times. At an early date in our country's history two brothers by the name of Ricker came fromn England, separated, and the one from whom the subject of this sketch has descended settled in Massachusetts, and afterward removed to the province of Maine. His father was twice married. By his first wife was born one son, William Ricker, now living in Nebraska. His mother was also twice married. The name of her first husband was Dennis Marr, a member of the Marr family of Scotland. He died in 1831. By this marriage were born two daughters : Narcissa and Sarah Abigail; the former died young, the latter is the wife of John G. Thorn, and lives at Galesburg, Illinois. Her second marriage was to Bradford W. Ricker in the summer of 1842. Their children were Eli Seavey and Mary Ann. The latter is the wife of Clinton Boyd, and lives in Ohio. In March, 1855, the Ricker family came west and set- tled near Oneida, Knox county, Illinois. Mr. Ricker's father was a man of good business talent, extensive information, a lover of educa- tion, and in politics a Jackson democrat. Mr. Ricker was reared a farmer, and followed that calling until 1875. He early took a deep interest in politics, and at the age of sixteen began writing occasional articles for the country press, a practice which he has ever since con- tinued. For education he had the advantages of the district school, which he attended in winter, helping his father on the farm in sum-

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mer. The absorbing desire of his life was to become a scholar. In the summer of 1862 he was preparing to enter Lombard University at Galesburg, when the call came for 300,000 men. He immediately de- cided to leave all and go to the defense of his country. He enlisted, August 4, 1862, in Co. I, 102d Ill. Vol., for three years. He was mus- tered into United States service at camp of organization, Knoxville, Knox county, Illinois, September 2, 1862. Soon after this his regiment proceeded to the seat of war at Louisville, Kentucky. He served on the Atlanta campaign in the 20th corps, commanded by Gen. Hooker. He fought at Resaca, and was one of the storming force, consisting of the first brigade, third division, twentieth army corps, that in the face of its deadly fire captured a four-gun battery of twelve-pounders, close to the enemy's intrenchments, and fought desperately from noon till ten o'clock at night, in a successful effort to hold their position and re- tain their prize. He fought at Peach Tree creek, which was an open battle, and a disastrous repulse to the rebels. This was the first of the three great battles around Atlanta. The city fell September 2, when was ended the campaign of a hundred days, during which the soldiers were seldom from under fire, or out of the sound of musketry or can- non. He then went on the march to the sea. He did duty as one of Sherman's "bummers" upon the campaign of the Carolinas, and in this service, as a forager, was engaged in numerous small fights. He terminated his active military life on the grand review of Sherman's army in the capital of the nation, May 24, 1865. He was mustered out at Washington, June 6, and disbanded at Camp Fry, Chicago, June 15. After the war he worked a year and a half for C. C. Hougton, of Henry county, Illinois, without understanding as to pay, and upon set- tlement was allowed $5 per month more than he charged. In the spring of 1867, by the aid of liis friend and patron, C. C. Hongton, he began broomcorn-raising. July 3, 1867, he was married to Mary M. Smith, daughter of William H. and Mary L. (Chaffee) Smith. They have five children, two sons and three daughters: Albion H., born April 11, 1868; Mary C., November 29, 1869; Saralı E., November 19, 1871 ; Leslie D., July 30, 1873, and Jessie I., September 4, 1879. In Febru- ary, 1869, Mr. Ricker settled on the N. W. ¿ of Sec. 9, T. 24, R. 14, then Loda, now Pigeon Grove township, Iroquois county, where he continued the raising of broomcorn. Over-production of broomcorn in 1870 broke down the market. Heavy rains during the harvest so damaged his brush that he suffered reverses, which after five years of determined effort he was not able to overcome. During this time he was kindly assisted by Goodell and Warren, of Loda. He was commis- sioned justice of the peace in 1872, and again in 1873. He was early

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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 50

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

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