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 60

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 60

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MIDDLEPORT AND BELMONT TOWNSHIPS.

1862 he went to Middleport, where he served as deputy circuit clerk under Hon. Thos. Vennum, who was circuit clerk for a number of years. Here he came in contact with a great many men, and won a host of friends. In 1868 he was nominated and elected to the office of circuit clerk, by the republican party, by one of the largest majorities ever given to a candidate for office. During his term of office he gave entire satisfaction. In November, 1874, he entered the banking busi- ness, in company withi J. Malsenbau, forming the firm of J. Malsenbau & Co. The Watseka bank did a general banking business, which con- tinued until 1879, when it closed its business. Mr. Skeels was married in Middlebury, Vermont, to Helen M. Matthews, of Vermont, daughter of Darius Matthews. By this marriage they have two children: a son and a daughter.

L. N. Pittwood, physician, Watseka, is one of the pioneer physicians of Iroquois county. He was born in London, England, March 20, 1830. His parents are William and S. (Sanders) Pittwood, both natives of England. His father was a brewer in England. In 1838 Dr. Pitt- wood, with his parents, emigrated to America, and landed in New York city. They remained in New York state for about two and one- half years, when, in 1841, they came west to Illinois, and stopped in Chicago about two weeks. From there they went to St. Charles, Kane county. Here Dr. Pittwood received his education, and at nineteen years of age he began tlie study of medicine under Dr. George W. Richards, one of the leading physicians of St. Charles. In 1856 Dr. Pittwood commenced the study of medicine. In 1857 he came to Iro- quois county and located at Gilman, where he began the practice of medicine, and remained in Gilman until 1859, when he came to Middle- port, then the county seat of Iroquois county. From there he came to Watseka, which has been his home ever since. He is now the oldest practicing physician of Watseka, and perhaps of Iroquois county. Dr. Pittwood is a member of the Illinois Medical Society and the Iroquois Medical Association, of which latter he was vice-president. The Doctor has held several offices of public trust, that of school-director and alder- man of Watseka. He has been married twice. His first wife was Miss Mariah Hookaway, of New York, now deceased ; and his present wife was Rachel A. Foreman, of Michigan. He is the father of four children : three by his first wife and one by the second.

Seymoure Cobb, farmer, Watseka, was born in Warren county, Indiana, Jannary 15, 1834, and is the son of Ira Cobb, who was a farmer. Mr. Cobb was engaged in farming, in Warren county, until 1857, when he came to Iroquois county and located in Middleport township, where he has been a resident ever since. In 1870 he moved

HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

to his present farm. He owns 300 acres of land. He married Rebecca Little, of Warren county, Indiana. They have five children living. Mr. Cobb's father died when he was thirteen years of age, leaving the care of the family on his mother.

Henry A. Butzow, county clerk, Watseka, was born in Mecklenburg- Schwerin, Germany, July 9, 1834, and is the son of Ludwig and Sophia (Wille) Butzow, both natives of Germany. His father was a school- teacher by profession. Mr. Butzow received his principal education in Germany, where he was engaged for three years in teaching school. In 1854 he started alone for America, and after landing in New York city, went to Oneida county, New York, where he worked on a farm for about sixteen months, when he came west to Illinois, and located on a farm near Chebanse. In 1855 he rented a farm in Kankakee county, Illinois, where he remained until 1858, when lie came to Iro- quois county, and located in Chebanse township, and farmed until 1862. He enlisted as a private, March, 1862, in Co. G, 25th Ill. Vol. Inf., for three years. He participated in the battles of Perryville, Siege of Atlanta, etc. He was wounded at the battle of Peach Tree creek, in the left breast; the bullet struck his watch and glanced around the rib, making a painful but not serious wound. He was disabled and sent to the hospital, but was afterward placed on extra duty at Louisville, where he remained until the close of the war in 1865. He then went to St. Clair county, where he had a brother, and remained with him about six months, when he made a trip to Germany in 1866, where he married his present wife, Sophia Pfudle. He returned to America in 1866, and located on a farm in Iroquois township, Iroquois county. In 1873 he was nominated and elected to the office of county clerk by the farmers' party, receiving a majority of 300 votes. In 1877 he was reëlected to the same office, on the independent ticket, by a majority of . 749 votes. Mr. Butzow held the office of township clerk of Iroquois township, from 1867 to 1873, and at the close of his service in that capacity he removed to Watseka, where he has since resided. In the discharge of his duties as a public officer he has been prompt and hon- orable. His reputation is such as the people bestow upon a citizen and officer who has betrayed no trust, but has assisted, in all honorable ways, to further every movement resulting in the welfare of the citizen and for the public good.

Joseph C. Popper, attorney-at-law, Watseka, was born in Bohemia, October 22, 1820. He received his education at Prague, the capital of Bohemia. In 1840 he came to America. He commenced the study of law in New York city, and in 1841 lie was admitted to the bar in the state of New Jersey. He commenced the practice of law in Frank-

MIDDLEPORT AND BELMONT TOWNSHIPS. -

linville, and from there he camne west, and was a resident of St. Louis, Missouri, for a short time. He came to Illinois in 1845, where he has remained ever since. In 1858 Mr. Popper came to Iroquois county. In 1862 he enlisted in the late civil war, as a private, in Co. F, 76th Ill. Vol. Inf. He did good service, and was in a number of the most prominent battles-fourteen in all. He was wounded in the left leg at Champion Hill. On account of this wound he is receiving a pen- sion. Mr. Popper participated in the last battle during the war,-the capture of the Blakelies and the surrender of Mobile. From private he gradually rose to the position of chief clerk of the commissary department. After the war, Mr. Popper returned to Iroquois county, where he lias been a resident since.

Arnold Brothers, druggists, Watseka, are the proprietors of the pioneer drug store of Watseka. T. S. Arnold, the senior member, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, March 6, 1846, and is the son of George W. and Martha (Mills) Arnold. His mother was born in Clinton county, Ohio, and his father in Virginia, and was a wagon-maker by trade. They were married in Ohio, where they raised a family of four children, three living. In 1851 they came to Illinois, and located in Livingston county, on a farm. He died in 1854. In 1856 the family moved to Grundy county. In 1858 they came to Iroquois county, and located at Middleport. Here Mr. T. S. Arnold learned the printer's trade, and followed his profession about two years. In 1862 he enlisted as corporal in Co. I, 113th Ill. Vol. Inf., for three years or during the war. He participated in several battles, and was detailed as clerk in Memphis, Tennessee. He served until the close of the war in 1865, at which time he returned to Middleport, and entered the drug firm of Secrest, Tillinghast & Co., as clerk. . Here he served until 1866, when the firm moved to Watseka, and he became a partner. In 1869 Mr. Tillinghast died, and then the firm was changed to Secrest, Arnold & Co. In 1876 it changed to Arnold Bros. D.W. Arnold, the junior mem- ber, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, September 11, 1848. He was also a soldier in the late war, enlisting, in 1864, in Co. B, 134tli reg., one-hundred-days service. This regiment did garrison duty, princi- pally in Kentucky. In 1866 he entered as a clerk in a drug store in Eureka, Illinois, withi Jas. W. Finley. He was also clerking for a short time at Milford. He then came to Watseka, and in 1869 was made a partner of the above-named firm.

Hon. George C. Harrington. It is one of the designs of this work to give brief sketches of the more prominent characters whose lives and conduct have been of such a nature as to make an impress upon the historical pages of the county in which they reside. When the

HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

subject is of such a character as to present an example of honesty, industry and integrity to the younger and rising generation, point- ing out to these the possibilities of the most humble among them, our sketch will serve the dual purpose of history and example. In our present subject we have such a character, as will be noted in this sketch. George C. Harrington was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, June 30, 1833, the son of Benjamin O. and Harriet E. (Langdon) Harring- ton, both natives of Vermont. When three years of age he came with his parents to Joliet, Illinois, where the family made their permanent home. At the age of thirteen he entered the office of the "True Democrat " (now the Joliet " Republican ") to learn " the art preserva- tive of all arts." Here he applied himself industrionsly and faithfully to liis chosen vocation, and acquired a thorough knowledge of the printer's trade. Having served out his apprenticeship in the compos- ing rooms of the "True Democrat," he went to Skowhegan Falls, Maine, and there, by a proper course of study, prepared himself for col- lege. He afterward entered Union College, Schenectady, New York, then under the presidency of the distinguished Dr. Eliphalet Nott. His career in this celebrated institution of learning was a series of marked triumphs, standing at the head of his class in the classics, and in point of literary ability ranking first among the many able students then in attendance. From Schenectady he returned to the Great West and rested at Davenport, Iowa, which presented an inviting field to the young student, all aglow with enthusiasm and ambitions to carve out for himself a useful and worthy career. In connection withı Franc B. Wilkie (Poliuto), now of the Chicago "Times," he estab- lished the Davenport "Daily News," which soon took rank as one of the leading democratic journals of Iowa. In 1859 Mr. Harrington came to Iroquois county, and associated himself with the Iroquois " Press," a democratic newspaper. . In the following year the democ- racy of Iroquois county placed him in nomination as their candidate for circuit clerk, and although defeated at the ensuing election, he ran largely ahead of his ticket. He still continued his connection with the "Press " until 1862. The country was then writhing in the agonies of civil war, and as a patriotic son he felt that his services were required in the field. He consequently abandoned his editorial duties and began recruiting for the service, and after taking the first company into camp at Kankakee for the 76th Illinois regiment, assisted in filling up two other companies for the 113th. He enlisted as a private soldier, but his superior ability being recognized, the members of his company (A) elected him captain. In January, 1863, he was promoted to major. He was, however, not permitted to serve long after this. On July 4, 1863,

Thomas Vernum

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

MIDDLEPORT AND BELMONT TOWNSHIPS.

near Vicksburg, Mississippi, he was reluctantly obliged to resign on ac- count of dysentery contracted in the army, the effects of which still linger with him, and from which he will probably never recover. On his return from the army he engaged in the hardware business at Watseka, in the firm of Woodford & Co. He was soon after appointed collector of internal revenue for Iroquois, Ford and Champaign counties, in which capacity he discharged his duties conscientiously, so that at the close of his official term not one cent of the large amounts of money handled by him was missing, and he turned over the books to his suc- cessors with a clean record. In 1869 Maj. Harrington was elected mayor of Watseka, and reelected the following year, declining the office after having served two terms, though urgently pressed to accept a third term. This evinces the high esteem in which he is held by the people of Watseka. In the year 1870, in connection with several other enterprising citizens, Maj. Harrington organized the First National Bank of Watseka, of which corporation he was promptly chosen as cashier, which office he still holds. This institution is one of the stanchiest and most flourishing in the county, having, from its organization, won the confidence of the people. Maj. Harrington was married to Miss Mary L. Hutchinson, at Crawfordsville, Indiana, in 1864, and has two children living. Very domestic in his habits, his home is a model of comfort and good taste. He has taken considerable inter- est in politics, though not an active politician in the usual sense of that term. He is recognized throughout the state as a prominent democrat, prominent more for his ability than his activity. At present he is a member of the democratic state central committee. Though never an office-seeker, he was, in 1876, without his consent, mentioned by sev- eral papers and prominently spoken of by eminent democrats as a can- date for secretary of state ; but he induced his friends to withdraw his name from the state convention. He presided over the democratic congressional convention hield at Fairbury in 1878, and on invitation of that body addressed them, making a masterly speech, which was published and scattered broadcast as a campaign document. The same convention would have nominated him as their candidate for congress, but he emphatically declined the proffered honor. His name is at this time conspicuous in several democratic journals as an available candi- date for lieutenant-governor of Illinois. Maj. Harrington is an active member of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows, and much esteemed by his brethren of the fraternity. Hon. George C. Harrington is a self-made man, having risen by his own unaided efforts to his present enviable position in life. His parents were poor, but by his indefat- igable energy he acquired an education in spite of all the obstacles 6

HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

that darkened the path of his early years. His future promises most auspiciously, and should his life be spared the ordinary years allotted to man, we predict that his name will yet become distinguished in the annals of our state as it is in that of Iroquois county. A gentleman of culture, a fine scholar, and still a student from habit; a man towering high among his fellows, all recognizing his superior ability and worth of character, and ever ready to pay deference to his excellent quali- ties, he is yet as modest and retiring as a child ; vanity is not one of his characteristics. A democrat in principle and practice, he believes, with a faith born of conviction, in the equality and brotherhood of man. He is public-spirited, liberal and charitable, ever ready to assist, with his purse or his pen, in any cause that promises good to his fellow man or the public. A man of broad and comprehensive views, he looks upon the world as he finds it, and is therefore conservative rather than radical. The people of Watseka look upon him as an exemplary man, and are proud to call him their own.

Among the first and most successful business men of Watseka, may be mentioned the late Henry A. Tillinghast, who was born near Nor- wich, Connecticut, in 1836. But very little could be learned of Mr. Tillinghast's early life. At ten years of age he entered the drug busi- ness as a clerk in a leading store in Norwich, Connecticut. From there he came west to Illinois, and accepted a similar position in Chicago, where he remained in the business until about 1859, when he came to Iroquois county and took a position as clerk. From here he engaged as a partner in the drug firm of Secrest, Tillinghast & Co., at Middle- port. This firm at that time was one of the leading business houses of Iroquois county. They moved their stock of goods from Middleport to Watseka, and occupied the stand now owned by the Arnold Broth- ers. Here he remained in business until his death, which occurred in March, 1869. Thus passed away one of the most highly respected and honored business men of Watseka. Mr. Tillinglast, in 1860, married Miss Mary E. Arnold, who was born in Clinton county, Ohio, in 1842. By this marriage they have one child living. Mrs. Tillinghast married the second time to George E. King, a prominent attorney. By this union they have two children living.

Lovett & James, livery men, Watseka, are the proprietors of one of the leading livery stables of Watseka. Mr. H. C. Lovett was born in Rhode Island, and came west and located in Iroquois county in 1860. Here he has been engaged in farming and dealing in stock. In Feb- ruary, 1879, he entered partnership with Mr. Geo. W. James, in the livery business. These gentlemen occupy the building that was once used as a school and court-house in Middleport. The building is

MIDDLEPORT AND BELMONT TOWNSHIPS.

40×40 feet, witli an addition 30×40 feet. They keep on hand four- teen liead of good horses, and some nice carriages.

Lyman M. Johnson, maker of abstracts of titles, Watseka, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, June 2, 1848, and is the son of Isaac D. and Eliza A. (Sawtelle) Johnson. His father was born in Ludlow, Vermont, having moved to Ohio, and located in Cincinnati, about 1830 or 1832, being among the early settlers of that place. He engaged in the livery, in connection with the undertaking, business with J. P. Epply & Co., the largest undertakers of Cincinnati. They owned the first hearse with glass sides in the west. After Henry Clay's death, his remains were brought through Cincinnati, on their way to Kentucky, and Mr. Johnson was detailed by the committee to transfer the body through the city. He went to the extra expense of fixing and trim- ming up his hearse, and of selecting a number of white horses. After- ward the committee asked Mr. Johnson what his bill was, and he told them-nothing. He said he would never make any charge for serving such a true man to his country as Henry Clay. For this act of kind- ness, the family of Henry Clay presented Mr. Johnson with a seal- ring with a lock of Henry Clay's hair in it, which to-day is in the pos- session of the Johnson family. At the breaking out of the war Mr. Johnson was appointed, by the government, inspector of horses, mules, harness and wagons, in Cincinnati. He also filled a similar position during the Mexican war. He served the government through the war, and in 1866 died with cholera. Mr. Johnson, the subject of this sketch, remained in Cincinnati until 1861, when he moved with his parents to Iroquois county, and located on a farm near Loda, where he engaged in farming for a short time, and returned to Cincinnati and completed his college preparatory course. In 1866 he entered the Beloit College, of Beloit, Wisconsin, and graduated from this college in 1870. He returned to Iroquois county, and in 1872 came to Wat- seka, and entered the abstract office of Judge C. F. McNeill, where he remained about one and a half years. In 1875 he purchased the abstract business from Kay & Langlier, in which business he has been engaged ever since. Mr. Johnson has in his possession a sword-blade which was the dress-sword of President Harrison.

George A. Woodford, son of William E. and Margaret Woodford, was born in Orleans county, New York, September 28, 1834, educated in the common schools and academy of that county, and spent his youth there. He came west in the winter of 1853-4, located at Ottawa, Illinois, taught a school there that winter, and in the spring came to Middleport; engaged in farming in the county that summer, and in the fall returned to New York, remained there one year, and then came

HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

back to Middleport in September, 1855. He taught school in Middle- port and neighborhood until September, 1858, when he took the posi- tion of deputy clerk, under Daniel Fry, who was then county clerk. On November 4, 1861, he was elected county clerk for Iroquois county, for the term of four years. Before his term of office expired he engaged in the hardware and grocery business, his store being located at Wat- seka. Soon after his term of office expired lie sold his stock in trade, and became a partner with John L. Donovan and Thomas Vennum in the Watseka bank, and remained in that institution until it was sold by the firm to Matzenbaugh & Skeels. He removed to Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1875, where he now resides. He was married, May 24, 1865, to Miss Anna Hutchinson, daughter of Jonathan Hutchinson, Mont- gomery county, Indiana. They have no children. In politics lie has been a war democrat, is a bright Mason and Odd-Fellow, and a genial,. social good fellow.

Hon. Cornelius F. McNeill, attorney-at-law and abstractor, of the city of Watseka, son of John and Hannah (Mayne) McNeill, was born in Middletown valley, Frederick county, Maryland, March 20, 1822. His father was of Scotch descent, and his mother of German descent, the former born in Tuscarora valley, Pennsylvania, and the latter in Frederick county, Maryland. His father was a prominent and highly respected citizen of Frederick county, Maryland, and while residing in that county held several offices of honor and profit. Born upon a farm where his help was needed, the subject of this sketch had only such opportunities for an early education as were offered in the country schools, taught principally during the winter season, and the use of a well selected general library, owned by his father, through which means he acquired a fair education, and formed a taste for general reading and special investigation, which has followed him through life, and enabled him to become well posted in almost every branclı of science and literature, and ranks him among thie prominent self-made men of the country. In the fall of 1836 he, with his father's family, emigrated to the then Far West, and located at Perrysville, on the Wabash river, in Vermilion county, Indiana, where his father died in 1843, and his mother died in 1856, and where his only living brothers, John R. and George H. McNeill, now reside. At Perrys- ville he commenced the study of the law, and part of the time being also engaged in teaching school ; but before having completed the study of that profession, his health failing presented to him a strong induce- ment to pursue the study of medicine, for his own benefit as to his health ; and after having completed the usual course of study in this profession, in the spring of 1845, he located at Concord, Tippecanoe

MIDDLEPORT AND BELMONT TOWNSHIPS.

county, Indiana, and pursued the practice of his profession at that place until the fall of 1854, having a very extensive practice. In 1852 he was nominated, by the whig convention of that county, as a candi- date for the legislature of Indiana, but the whig ticket being defeated that year in that county, he was not elected. In May, 1846, he was married, at Perrysville, Indiana, to Miss Belinda Lacey, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Lacey, of that place. She died in August, 1847, after bearing him a son, which died a few days after its mother. On July 16, 1852, he was again married to Mrs. Mary Tatman, widow of Joseph Tatman, who had been an attorney-at-law, of Lafayette, Indiana, and for some time the editor and proprietor of the " Lafayette Journal." The result of this last marriage is two children, a son and a daughter : Mary E. McNeill and John L. McNeill. His health failing, and for that reason desiring to abandon the practice of medicine, in November, 1854, he removed to Middleport, Iroquois county, Illinois, resided there the following winter, and the next spring located on a tract of 300 acres of land, which he had purchased, near the mouth of Spring creek, and which he improved. In the spring of 1857 he sold his farm and returned to Middleport, having been elected a justice of the peace of the town of Middleport. In 1858 he was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of Illinois. At the republican convention this year he came within one vote of being nominated as a candidate for the general assembly. In November, 1859, he became the editor and proprietor of the " Iroquois Republican," and conducted that paper in the inter- ests of the republican party and the union cause, through the exciting campaign of 1860 and the dark days of 1861. In the spring of this year he was elected police magistrate of Middleport, and in the same year was nominated by the union convention of the county a candidate for the constitutional convention. The district was composed of Iro- quois, Kankakee, Will and DuPage counties, and entitled to only three delegates; each had nominated a candidate, and in order to promote harmony in the union elements of the district, he magnanimously with- drew in favor of John W. Paddock, a war democrat, who had been nominated by Kankakee county. In 1862 he was appointed master- in-chancery of Iroquois county, and served in that office for three years. In 1864, 1865 and 1866 he was elected supervisor of the town of Middleport, and also appointed to fill vacancies in that office in 1872 and 1877. 'In 1866 he was chairman of the building committee appointed by the board to build the present court-house of the county. In 1862 he was appointed by Gov. Yates, surgeon of the 109th reg. Ill. Vol., but his health being such as not to warrant his acceptance of active service in the field, he declined the appointment, but afterward

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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 60

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