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 59
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dleport and Sheldon. They have two children : Arthur W. and Harry T.
C. Secrest, Watseka, was born in Davidson county, North Carolina, May 3, 1829, and is the son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Fouts) Secrest. They came to Indiana and located in Morgan county about 1832. In 1852 Dr. Secrest came to Iroquois county and stopped at Bunkum until 1853, when he came to Middleport. He then went to Chicago and entered the Rush Medical College, from which he graduated in 1854. He returned to Middleport and began the practice of medicine. He continued there until 1859, when he moved to Watseka, where he has remained ever since. While a resident in Middleport he was engaged with the drug firm of Secrest, Tillinghast & Co. Since his residence here, Dr. Secrest has held the offices of justice of the peace, town clerk, supervisor and representative. He was elected to the office of representative in 1876. This office he now fills. He was married to Martha Cleaver, daughter of A. Cleaver. They have one child.
B. F. Shankland, deputy county clerk, Watseka, was born in War- ren county, Indiana, February 20, 1849, and is the son of Kendall and Amanda (Harris) Shankland, the former a native of Olio and the lat- ter of Indiana. In 1853 his parents came to Illinois and located in what is now Prairie Green township, Iroquois county, where they still reside. There the early life of Mr. Shankland was spent. After fit- ting himself to enter college he became a student in the law depart- ment of the Michigan University of Ann Arbor, from which he grad- uated in 1874. Returning to Iroquois county, he continued the study of law under Judge M. B. Wright, and in the fall of 1874 was granted a diploma to practice at the Illinois bar. In 1875 he was the teniper- ance candidate for city attorney of Watseka, to which office lie was elected for a year term. In 1875 lie also accepted the position of deputy county clerk, under Mr. Henry A. Butzow, where he is still engaged. Though Mr. Shankland is still a young man, he has already become well and favorably known among the best citizens of Iroquois county, among whom are to be found many gentlemen of both wealth and culture. His associates are of this class, which fact of itself estab- lishes his standing and ability.
George W. James, farmer and liveryman, Watseka, was born in Warren county, Ohio, January 9, 1844, and is the son of Aaron H. James, who was born November 17, 1801. Aaron James came to Ohio at an early day, where he was engaged in farming. He was married in Ohio to Miss Phœbe Dunham, who was born October 10, 1807. They, with a family of seven children, in 1853, came to Illinois and
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located in Iroquois county. There were about 80 acres of land im- proved and a log cabin standing on it, and they moved into the cabin and commenced farming. The present willow trees standing in front of the residence were planted by G. W. and W. D. James in 1862. Aaron H. James died April 2, 1878. Phobe Dunham James died July 11, 1874. Thus passed away two of the old and highly respected citi- zens of Iroquois county, leaving five children. They had two sons in the late war. James enlisted in the 51st Ill. Vol. Inf., and served four years, participating in some of the most severe battles. He was a brave soldier and did good duty. He died March 6, 1870. Geo. W. enlisted in Co. A, 76th Ill. Vol. Inf., in 1862, and remained until the close of the war, doing good duty. He was married to Miss Hattie McNeir, of Indiana, and they have one child.
Stephen G. Bovie, attorney-at-law, Watseka, is one of the old and leading attorneys of the Iroquois county bar. He was born November 21, 1827, in Livingston county, New York, and is the son of John E. and Amy (Gardner) Bovie. His father was born in New York, where he was engaged in farming. Mr. Bovie's grandmother and grandfather lived to be nearly a hundred years of age. The subject of this sketch was born and raised on his father's farm, where he was engaged in farm- ing, and in the winter months attended the district schools, where he received a common-school education. He began school-teaching, and taught school in Livingston and Monroe counties, New York. He was also reading law, and in the winter of 1851-2 he was admitted to prac- tice law at the bar in Monroe county, New York. In 1853 he came west to Illinois and located at Middleport, Iroquois county, where he was engaged about one year in teaching school. He then commenced the practice of law. His circuit then embraced the counties of Kan- kakee, Grundy, La Salle, Will, Iroquois, Champaign and Ford. He traveled with the judges in the days of Abraham Lincoln and David Davis. Mr. Bovie became well acquainted with these gentlemen. Mr. Bovie is to-day one of the oldest attorneys of the Iroquois county bar. He was master-in-chancery for some five or six years. In this office he gave entire satisfaction. He is a republican in politics, and was a delegate to the Bloomington convention in 1856, when the repub- lican party was organized, and he took an active part in the convention. Mr. Bovie was married in Monroe county, New York, in 1852, to Miss Julia A. Symson, of Monroe county, New York, daughter of Benjamin Syinson, one of the old settlers of Monroe county.
L. Steely, merchant in the old town of Middleport, Watseka, was a business man of the once busy town of Middleport when it was the county seat of Iroquois. All its merchants have moved away or passed
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beyond the shores of the unknown river with this one exception. L. Steely was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, December 4, 1819. His parents were David and M. (Carothers) Steely. When Mr. Steely was only six years old he moved to Pickaway county, and from there they moved to Tippecanoe county, Indiana. In La Fayette Mr. Steely was engaged in the mercantile business. In 1853 he came to Middleport and entered the mercantile business. He first hauled his goods by wagon from La Fayette. He carried on the mercantile business about four years, when he entered the saw-mill business, where he remained some sixteen years. From that he entered his present business. Mr. Steely is a strong greenbacker in politics. He was married, in Tippe- canoe county, to Miss Mariah Ermy, by whom he had four children. He had one son in the late war, James M., who enlisted in the one hundred days' service. He was honorably mustered out. Mr. Steely's mother and father both died in Warren county, Indiana.
Samuel West, farmer, Watseka, was born in Champaign county, Ohio, June 6, 1821, and is the son of John and Azuga (Wilson) West. He was raised on the farm, and helped liis father at the carpenter's trade. When young he moved with his parents to Warren county, Indiana. Mr. West learned the wheelwright trade under Z. and J. Parker. From Indiana he came to Illinois, and worked with his brother in erecting a mill at Bulvonia's Grove, in Kankakee county. He remained with his brother until 1852, erecting mills at different points. In 1852 Mr. West went to California, gold-seeking, and there he remained until 1854. He returned to Iroquois county, and has remained a resident here ever since. He was married in Iroquois county, No- vember 25, 1845, to Miss Susanna Rush, daughter of Samuel Rush. She was born in Pennsylvania, January 9, 1823, and came to Iroquois county about 1830. They have four children.
William Warren, merchant, Woodland, was born August 4, 1835, in Crawford county, Illinois, and is the son of Samuel S. Warren, who was one of the early settlers of Crawford county. When Mr. Warren was very young, he moved with his parents to Perrysville, Vermilion county, Indiana, where his father died. His mother married the second time. They came to Illinois, and located on a farm in Belmont town- ship, and here our subject was engaged in farming until 1877, when he entered his present business in Woodland. He occupies a building 20×50 feet, two stories high, and is doing a general merchandise and grain business. Mr. Warren has held several offices of public trust in Belmont township: collector, commissioner of highways, and town clerk. In these offices he has given entire satisfaction. He had three brothers in the late war, two died in service. In December, 1878, Mr.
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Warren was made postmaster of Woodland. This office he still holds. He is a republican in politics.
E. M. Amos, attorney-at-law, Watseka, was born May 1, 1851, in Warren county, Indiana. He removed with his parents from his native state in the winter of 1855, and settled in Iroquois county. He received the rudiments of his education seated on a rough oak board, in a still rougher school-house, erected by the joint efforts of some of the pioneers. At the age of twenty, resolving upon a more liberal education, he left the farm, where he had spent fifteen years of his life, and started to school. He spent some time at the Grand Prairie Seminary at Onarga, and afterward removed to the Northwestern University at Evanston, where he received his principal education. Returning home in 1874, he promptly commenced the study of law with A. J. Clark, of Sheldon, Illinois. He afterward removed to Watseka, and finished his law studies with T. B. Harris, state's attorney for Iroquois county, and was admitted to the bar January 4, 1878, by the supreme court at Spring- field. In February, 1878, he formed a law partnership with H. C. Stearns, under the firm name of Stearns & Amos, which still exists. He is a genial gentleman, quiet and unobtrusive, a close student, loves books and literary pursuits, and is fond of military display, being a member of the I. N. G., and one of the finest rifle shots in the com- pany. His father, Stephen S. Amos, is a native of West Virginia, and first visited this county before its organization. His uncle, Jesse Amos, was one of the first settlers of Iroquois county.
P. Johns, photograph artist, Watseka, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, July 9, 1839. With his parents he moved to Missouri, thence to Ohio, and thence to Indiana. From there, in 1855, he moved to Iroquois county, and located at Martinton. Here, in Iroquois county, he was engaged in teaching school, but learned the trade of a photo- graph artist under the superintendency of Mr. Weaver. In 1865 he went to Gilman, and commenced the photograph business, and from there to Bunkum, thence to Sheldon. In 1871 he returned to Watseka and built his present place of business.
Moses West, farmer, Watseka, is one of the prominent farmers of Iroquois county. He was born in Warren county, Indiana, May 4, 1834, and is the son of John and Azuga (Wilson) West. He remained a resident of Warren county until he was about twenty-two years of age, when, in 1856, he came to Iroquois county, and was engaged in the milling business with his brothers at Texas. Here he remained some five years, when he went west to Pike's Peak, seeking gold. He met with very poor success, and returned to Iroquois county, and has remained here ever since, engaged in farming. . He moved to his
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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.
present farm in 1871, and is engaged in farming 300 acres of land. He was married, in Middleport township, to Miss Elizabeth J. Pinnes, of Iroquois county. She died, and he was married to his present wife, Miss Louisa Launaker, of Iroquois county. He is the father of five children; three by his first wife, and two by his present wife. Mr. West enlisted at the first call in the late civil war in Co. I, 20th reg. Ill. Vol. Inf., but on account of being crippled in the left arm, was ex- empted.
William Brown, farmer, Watseka, is one of the leading and suc- cessful farmers of Iroquois county. He was born in Butler county, Ohio, December 27, 1827, and is the son of Joseph and Lucy (John- son) Brown. His father was a native of Virginia, and was engaged in farming. William Brown was raised on the farm, and remained a resi- dent of Butler county until he was three years of age, when, with his parents, he moved to Indiana. Here they remained a short time, when they returned to Ohio, where his mother died. His father remarried, and returned with his family to Indiana. Here onr subject remained until 1856, when he moved to Iroquois county and rented a farm just opposite his present place. Here he remained until he built a log cabin west of his present residence, where he remained until he built the the present place, which is perhaps one of the finest homes in Iroquois county. When he came here the country was wild, with but little improvements. On his farm he has made all the improvements. He married, in Laporte county, Indiana, Miss Adaline Morrison, daughter of John P. Morrison. They have five children. Mr. Brown is a mem- ber of the Prairie Dell M. E. church.
The firm of Bishop & Laroch, pioneer furniture dealers of Iroquois county, Watseka, has been established since the year 1862. It is one of the largest, most reputable, and successful in Iroquois county, and holds a position for integrity in business above an average character. John H. Bishop was born in Windom county, Vermont, March 5, 1818. In his native county Mr. Bishop learned the trade of a cabinet-maker. From Vermont he moved to Massachusetts, where he remained until 1856, when he started west with his wife (formerly Elizabeth McColby, whom he married at Grafton, Vermont) and one child. They came to Illinois, and located in Iroquois county. They remained a short time at Onarga, and in the fall of 1856 moved to Middleport, where Mr. Bishop was engaged in contracting and building. He built a great many buildings in Middleport, among which may be mentioned the Presbyterian church, which was one of the first churches built in this vicinity. He also built the school-house at Middleport. Mr. Bishop has held several offices of public trust : alderman and city treasurer, in
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which offices he has given entire satisfaction. Hypolite Laroch was born in Montreal, Canada, December 12, 1838. In Canada, with his father, he learned the trade of a cabinet and wagon-maker. In 1855 he came to Illinois, and located in Kankakee city, where he remained about nine months, and then came to Iroquois county in 1856, and located in Middleport. He commenced to work in a wagon-shop, and became owner of one of the leading shops in Middleport. He is now an alderman of Watseka. In 1862 the firm of Bishop & Laroch was formed. They remained in Middleport until 1863, and then moved their business to Watseka, into a building near Maj. Peter's book-store, where they remained until they erected their present shops, which are located on Main street, east of the First National Bank building, size 20×90 feet, two stories high. These gentlemen came to Iroquois county very poor, but with good health, knowing their trade, they went to work and succeeded. These gentlemen have had many years' experience in the furniture business, and by close application to the same in its various details, have been enabled to manufacture and buy at such figures as have enabled them to sell a fine quality of furniture at the most reasonable prices. They keep on hand a large stock of the different qualities and styles of all kinds of goods, from which a person in any station of life may select just what he wants. Besides furniture, these gentlemen are engaged in the undertaking business.
Peter C. Hoyt, justice of the peace, Watseka, was born in Greene county, New York, June 7, 1840, and is the son of Henry and Sallie (Conine) Hoyt, both natives of New York. His father was a black- smith by trade, and was engaged also in farming. Mr. Hoyt was brought up on the farm. In about 1848, with his parents, he moved to Wayne county, New York, where they remained until 1856. His mother died in New York, September, 1855. In 1856, with his father and five children, he came west to Illinois and located in Texas, Iro- quois county. In 1858 Mr. Hoyt commenced farming, working by the month in the summer time, and in the winter months attending school. In 1861 he enlisted in the late civil war, in Co. C, 51st Ill. Vol. Inf., as fifer. He did duty fourteen months, and on account of sickness was honorably discharged. He returned to Iroquois county and engaged in farming until 1875, when he came to Watseka and commenced the lumber business, in which he is still engaged. In 1877 Mr. Hoyt was elected to the office of justice of the peace. This office he now fills, and is giving entire satisfaction.
Alexander H. South, Watseka, was born in New Albany, Floyd county, Indiana, June 18, 1841, and is the son of Daniel and Rebecca (McCormack) South. His mother was a native of Kentucky, and his
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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.
father of Ohio. Mr. South remained in New Albany until 1856, when, with his parents, he moved to Illinois and located on a farm in Ash Grove, Iroquois county. Here his father died, in 1857, with conges- tive chills, leaving the family in poor circumstances. Mr. South remained on the farm until the breaking out of the late civil war, when he enlisted, August 4, 1861, as corporal in Co. F, 25th Ill. Vol. Inf., for three years. He participated in some of the most prominent bat- tles of the war : Pea Ridge, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, etc. In a skirmish on June 14, 1864, lie received a slight wound, and was sick but a short time. He commanded his company at Mission Ridge. From sergeant he was promoted to second sergeant, then orderly sergeant, and from this to second lieutenant of Co. F. He was trans- ferred to Cos. G and K. He was detailed at one time to take charge of a pioneer corps. He was mustered out September, 1864, and returned to Iroquois county and farined until 1868. In 1866 and 1867 he was tax collector of Ash Grove. In 1868 he was nominated and elected sheriff of Iroquois county by the republican party, and in 1870 and 1872 reelected to the same office. Here lie won a host of friends and gave entire satisfaction, having proven himself honest and atten- tive to business. During Mr. South's term of office the man Martin Mera was taken from the jail and hung by a mob which overpowered Mr. South. Mr. South was a candidate for circuit clerk before the republican convention. He was unanimously nominated for sheriff in 1878, but was defeated for office. He has been alderman of the city of Watseka three years. He is a republican in politics, and ranks among the prominent ones of the party. Mr. South was married, Octo- ber, 1866, at Wilmington, Ohio, to Miss Martha Orem, of Clinton county, Ohio. By this union they have had seven children, two deceased.
Thomas Vennum, banker, Watseka, was born on his father's farm in the Keystone state, Washington county, on December 25, 1833, and is the son of Christopher C. and Rosanna (Paul) Vennum, who were both natives of Pennsylvania. In 1835 the subject of this sketcli, with his father and mother and two children, came west by steamboat down the Ohio river, and located on a farm in what is now known as Mil- ford township, Iroquois county, Illinois. Here Mr. Vennum remained, farming in the summer, and in the winter months attending the district school of the period, which was the first step of his acquiring a com- plete education. In 1856 he was nominated and elected by the republican party to the office of circuit clerk of Iroquois county. He was nomina- ted as a compromise over two other very prominent inen of the republi- can party. He moved to Middleport, then the county seat, and entered
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upon his duties as circuit clerk. Here he gained many friends, and in 1860 and 1864 was reëlected to the same office. In 1870 he served the people one term with marked ability as representative. In 1864 he moved to Watseka, which has since been his home. In 1868, in company with John L. Donovan and George A. Woodford, he com- menced the banking business in Watseka, the firm being known as Donovan, Woodford & Co., doing a general banking business until October, 1874. In 1874 Mr. Vennum went to Tennessee, and was engaged at Tracy City in managing mining and shipping coal. Here he remained until 1876, when he returned to Watseka. In 1876, in company with Jolin L. Donovan, lie again commenced the general banking business in Milford, where they are now conducting one of the leading banks of Iroquois county. While Mr. Vennum was a res- ident of Middleport he formed the company of the well known drug firm of H. A. Tillinghast & Co. They moved to Watseka, and the firm changed to Secrest, Tillinghast & Co., Mr. Vennum still being a silent partner. He continued in the drug business for a number of years. Mr. Vennum is a republican in politics. He was married, February, 1862, in Detroit, Michigan, to Miss L. A. Tuller, daughter of Harry Tuller, and by this union they have had five children, one deceased. Mr. Vennum's father died at Onarga in 1868, being sixty-three years of age. His mother died in 1846, at the age of thirty-six. Mr. Vennum has one brother and one sister living: William, now a resi- dent of Texas; and Sarah, who lives in Iowa.
C. H. Palmer, deceased, was born in Moscow, New York, January 1, 1818, and there he resided eight years. His father, Dr. Asa R. Palmer, removed to Vermilion county, Indiana, and two years later to Danville, Illinois. At the age of twenty-five he graduated from the Wabaslı Col- lege, at Crawfordsville, Indiana, and that year began a theological course in Lane Theological Seminary, of Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1846. Rev. Lyman Beecher was at that time president of this college. He first preached in Coles county, Illinois, near Charles- ton, then a short time at Romney, Indiana, and in 1851 took charge of a church in Danville. He was married in 1852. Four years later he became a resident of Middleport and took charge of the Presbyterian church at that place, and remained its pastor until 1870. In 1872 he moved with his family to Deer Creek, Tazewell county, Illinois, preach- ing there until 1875. He then returned to Watseka, where he has since resided. He had, after his return, no church in charge, but preached occasionally in adjoining towns and neighboring counties. He died Monday, February 12, 1877, with heart disease. There never lived a more earnest christian or more generous, noble-hearted man
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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.
than Mr. Palmer, who commanded the admiration of all who knew him by his gentle disposition and exemplary conduct. His life was spent in ministering to the wants of those around him who needed assistance, and every year many a poor family received help and com- fort at his hands. Mrs. Palmer and four children were left to mourn the untimely loss of a kind husband and fatlier.
Steplien Cissna, farmer and stock-raiser, Watseka, was born in Chillicothe, Ross county, Ohio, February 9, 1815, and is the son of Stephen Cissna, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, under Gen. Hull, and received a wound in the right arm. He died when the sub- ject of this sketch was about thirteen years of age. Mr. Cissna's grand- father, Stephen Cissna, and his four sons, were soldiers in the revolu- tionary war. At sixteen years of age Mr. Cissna commenced to learn . the trade of a tanner in Chillicothe. From there he went to Clarks- burg and Columbus, where he engaged in working at his trade. In 1836 he went to La Fayette, Indiana, and worked at his trade a short time. In 1837 he commenced farming in Warren county, Indiana, and from that he embarked in the mercantile business in Williamsport, Indiana, where he remained some five years. In 1856 Mr. Cissna came to Iroquois county, Illinois, and located in Pigeon Grove, on a farm of some 680 acres of land. Here he remained until 1867, when he moved to his present home, having purchased it from his brother, William Cissna, who had located here in 1865. This farm was improved by Mr. George King. Since Mr. Cissna's residence in Middleport township he has held several offices of trust. He was supervisor of the town- ship for one term. He was married, April 13. 1848, in Williamsport, Indiana, to Miss Elizabeth Miller, daughter of E. W. Miller. She died August 2, 1858. Mr. Cissna was married to his present wife, Clara Hawk, daughter of Erastus Hawk, in 1864. He is the father of one child by his first wife.
Henry T. Skeels, Watseka, was born in Franklin county, Ohio, September 23, 1837, and is the son of Truman and Betsy B. (Wiswell) Skeels. His father was engaged in farming. When Mr. Skeels was about thirteen years of age, his father and mother both died, the same week, withi typhoid fever, leaving an estate to be divided among thie children. Mr. Skeels remained in his native county until he was nearly fifteen years old, when he went to Stark county, and from there to Illinois, and first stopped in Onarga, where he began the study of med- icine. From that he was engaged as clerk in a general store. In 1861 he went to the army, where he was for a while in the quartermaster's department, and then clerk in the suttler's store. He remained in the army about eleven months, when he returned to Iroquois county. In
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