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 63

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 63

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

with good management he worked through, and to-day is a successful business man.

Henry Sanders, Watseka, was born in England in 1815. He learned the shoemaker's trade at the age of fifteen, and served as an apprentice until twenty-one. In 1865 he came to America, and then came west to Illinois, and was a resident of Chicago a short time ; he then came to Iroquois county and engaged in farming; he went to Sheldon, and was working at his trade some four years. From there he moved to his present place, and he now occupies the house that was erected by the Courtrights; it is, perhaps, one of the first built in this neighborhood. Mr. Sanders was married, in London, England, to Miss Elizabeth Gellard; they have six children.

S. C. Munhall, postmaster, Watseka, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, January 26, 1843, and is the son of Rev. William and Dorathy (Familton) Munhall. His mother was from England, and his father from Pennsylvania. At Urbana, Champaign county, Illinois, he learned the trade of a printer. He afterward went to Chicago, where he remained for a while, and then returned to Urbana and commenced the publication of a newspaper. He enlisted in Co. B, 76th Ill. Inf., and participated in the late civil war for three years, doing good service. In 1864 he was promoted to sergeant-major; in 1865 he was mustered out. He returned to Illinois in 1866, and came to Watseka, where he was deputy county clerk for eight years. In 1874 he was appointed postmaster of Watseka by Gen. Grant; in 1878, by President Hayes ; this office he now holds. He was married, in October, 1867, to Miss Nancy Reese, of Pennsylvania; they have one child.

H. Dodge, retired, Watseka, was born in Montgomery county, New York, October 15, 1804, and is the son of Noah and Elizabeth (Venning) Dodge. His mother was a native of London, England, and his father of Massachusetts. Noah Dodge was a soldier of the revolutionary war. Mr. Dodge remained in New York state until 1832, engaged during the last seven years in clerking and carrying on mercantile business. In 1832 he went to Michigan, and located in Clinton. Here he entered the mercantile business, and was also engaged in the manufacture of fanning-mills,-the first made in that state. While a resident of Michigan, he was elected to tlie first legislature, and took an active part in organizing that state. He was very successful in his business, and at one time owned a large lot of land; but the panic of 1837 so crippled him, that in 1843 he was completely broken up. He then moved to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, and remained there until 1866, when he moved to Iroquois

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county and located in Watseka, where he has been an honored mem- ber of its society. He was married, in Clinton, Michigan, December 19, 1833, to Miss Lydia O. Hooper, of Seneca county, New York. They have one child, a daughter, wife of Wm. S. Lingle, of La Fayette, Indiana. Joseph B. Lingle is now engaged in the study of law in Indianapolis under Gen. Ben Harrison, and will be admitted to the · bar in 1880.

D. L. Jewett, physician, Watseka, was born in East Haddam, Con- necticut, December 22, 1841, and is the son of Nathan and Lucretia (Stark) Jewett, natives of Connecticut. His father was a farmer. Dr. Jewett remained on the farm until he was about fourteen years of age. He received his principal education in his native state. In 1862 he graduated from the New York Medical College of Physicians and Sur- geons. The same year he enlisted as surgeon of the 20th Conn. Vol. Inf., and served with that regiment during three years of the late civil war. This regiment was in some of the most severe battles with the army of the Potomac. In 1863 it came west with Gen. Joe Hooker, and participated in the battle of Lookout Mountain, known as the " battle above the clouds." The 20th Connecticut afterward was in a number of prominent battles in the western campaign. Dr. Jewett re- mained with his regiment until 1865, when he returned home east. In 1866 he came west, to Watseka, where he began the practice of medi- cine. Here he has remained ever since, and ranks among the leading physicians of Iroquois county. In 1870 he was appointed United States' inspecting surgeon, which place he fills at present. Dr. Jewett was married to Miss L. Brown, of Vermont. They have one child, a son.

Samuel R. Hawks, Watseka, was born in Franklin county, Massa- chusetts, May 2, 1811, and is the son of W. Hawks, of Massachusetts, At the age of twenty-four he com- who was engaged in farming. menced to learn the trade of a stone and brick-mason. In 1835 he went to Genesee county, New York, where he remained until 1854. While a resident of that county he was married, in 1841, to Miss Betsey Dow. In 1854 they moved to Hillsdale, Michigan, where Mr. Hawks was engaged in business as a contractor and builder. He there erected the Hillsdale College, and one of the finest churches of that city. In 1866 he moved to Iroquois county, Illinois, and located at the pres- ent homestead, where he has been an honored resident ever since. He has represented in council the second district, of Watseka, since 1872, with the exception of one year. Mr. Hawks was a strong republican in politics, but he is now a greenbacker, and is recognized as one of its leaders in Iroquois county. Mr. Hawks' daughter, Dr. Viola E. Archibald, is engaged in the practice of medicine, and is meeting with

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very flattering success, receiving calls from all parts of Iroquois county. She was born in Livingston county, New York, and received her prin- cipal education at the Hillsdale College, of Hillsdale, Michigan. She attended a full course of lectures at the Eclectic Medical College, of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1877. She began the practice of medicine the same year, and to-day is perhaps the only lady practicing medicine in Iroquois county. Dr. Archibald is vice-president of the eighth con- gressional district branch of the Illinois Society of Social Science. She was nominated, by the independent ticket, for county school superin- tendent, but was defeated.

Henry H. Alter, city clerk, Watseka, was born in Beaver, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, December 20, 1840, and is the son of Henry R. and Elizabeth (Weirich) Alter, who were born in Washington county, Pennsylvania. His father was engaged in farming, and his mother died when he was a young lad. He was then placed in the hands of his grandmother Weirich, who lived in Washington, Pennsylvania. Here Mr. Alter received his principal education. He began the study of medicine, in which profession he was engaged at the breaking out of the late civil war. In 1861 he enlisted at the first call for one hundred days, in Co. E, 12th reg. Penn. Vol. Inf., as private. He served full time, and was honorably mnstered out in 1862. In 1863 and 1864 he was studying medicine, and was a student in the Medical School of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1864 he was appointed assistant-sur- geon of the 52d reg. Vol. Inf., and served with this regiment for one year. This regiment participated in a number of skirmishes, and was at the battle of Nashville, Tennessee. In 1865 Mr. Alter returned to Pennsylvania, and the same year he came west. He was visiting in Iowa, and in 1866 he came to Watseka, where he has been a resident ever since. In 1870 he entered the book business. Mr. Alter has held several offices of public trust since he has been a resident of Wat- seka,-township clerk of Middleport, and city clerk of Watseka,-and has in each given entire satisfaction. Mr. Alter was married to Miss M. Roff, daughter of A. B. Roff, who was among the early settlers of Watseka. By this nnion they have one child, a daughter.

John M. Burton, county surveyor, Watseka, was born in Monroe county, March 16, 1838, and is the son of Henry W. and Martha (McDaniel) Burton ; mother of North Carolina and father of Ken- tucky. When Mr. Burton was about eleven years of age, with his parents, he moved to Illinois, and located in Crete, Will county, where Mr. B. remained about seven years, and then moved to Kankakee city. In 1867 he moved to Iroquois connty, on a farm in Papineau township, where he has been engaged in farming ever since. In 1871

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Mr. Burton received the nomination and was elected to the office of county surveyor by the republican party. In 1875, becoming so pop- ular and giving such satisfaction to all, he received the nomination from both parties, and was reëlected to the office without any opposi- tion. Mr. Burton participated in the late civil war. He enlisted, in 1865, in Co. A, 156th reg. Ill. Vol. Inf., which regiment did duty in Tennessee. He was discharged at the close of the war. Mr. Burton is a republican in politics.

Elmore Brimhall, Watseka, was born in McHenry county, Illinois, September 25, 1846, and is the son of the Rev. Samuel Brimhall, a Baptist preacher who was born in New York, and, when he became of age, learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for a number of years. He was married, in Indiana, to Miss Caroline A. Mills, of Ohio. They moved to Henderson county, Illinois, where he was licensed to preach. They then went to New Boston, where he was regularly ordained as a preacher, and followed this for a number of years, preaching in different parts of Illinois. Mr. Brimhall remained with his father until the death of his mother, which occurred when he was almost thirteen years old. Afterwards he lived with his uncle, where he could school himself. This he did for a number of years. In 1865 he was engaged at work in a nursery, and in the same year went to Knoxville, Knox county, and entered a printing office, and began to learn the trade. At the end of the year he was the leading printer in the office of the "Knox Republican." From here he went to Peoria, where he worked at his trade in the "Peoria Democrat " office. He subsequently went west, and remained a short time. He returned to the office of the "Peoria Democrat," where he worked some six months more, when he received a letter offering him work in the office of the "Iroquois County Republican." So in 1867 he came to Watseka, and worked in that office for two years, when he went to St. Paul, and was engaged on state work some six months. From there he removed to Buffalo, and afterward entered the employ of the Lakeside Printing Company, of Chicago, where he remained some two years. He then commenced the job printing business, the firin being Brimhall & Smith, and doing business at No. 45 South Canal Street, wliere he remained about one year. In 1873, in com- pany with Alex. L. Whitehall, he purchased the "Iroquois County Republican," and began the publication of that paper. In August, 1876, lie purchased Mr. Whitehall's interest, and in August, 1877, lie sold out his business in the newspaper, and at present is engaged in buying and selling real estate. Mr. Brimhall was married, in 1876, to Miss Dora Fenton.

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Judge John Chamberlain, of Watseka, deceased, was born in Charleston, New Hampshire, October 24, 1803, and was the son of John C. Chamberlain, a leading practitioner at the New Hampshire bar. The subject of this memoir graduated from Dartmouth College in the class of 1823. On July 16, 1830, he was admitted to the bar in New York, and commenced practice at Albion, Orleans county. He rapidly rose to distinction, and from that time held high rank among the legal talent of the state. In the anti-Mason excitement of that period he went with his party friends- the democrats - spared their feelings, and was at a time their chief adviser, and gave efficient and distinguished aid in opposing the anti-Masons as a political party. Following this he served several terms in the New York general assembly. Through the failure of friends to whom he had loaned his credit for a large sum, he was induced to come west. In 1844 or 1845 he located at Bunkum, in this county, where he engaged largely in the stock and real estate business. In 1847 he was an unsuccessful candi- date, against Judge Jesse O. Norton, of Joliet, for delegate to the con- stitutional convention from the counties of Iroquois and Will. In 1849 he was elected the first county judge of Iroquois county, for four years, which office he filled three consecutive terms. In 1853 he moved to the town of Middleport, then the county seat of Iroquois county. He was married, in 1856, to Mrs. O. L. Hood, who was born in Byron, Genesee county, New York, June 2, 1822. Three children, two daughters and a son, were the issue of this union, but only one, Orra N., the oldest child, survives him; the other two died .in infancy. Judge Chamberlain died in Watseka, December 16, 1866, universally regretted.

Dr. W. S. Browne, physician, Woodland, was born in Madison county, Indiana, March 2, 1844, and is the son of L. D. and Nancy (Harland) Browne. His father, a farmer, was a native of Virginia, and moved to Indiana at an early day. Here, on the farm, our subject worked during the summer, and in the winter months attended the district schools, receiving a good common-school education, and fitting himself for the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, Michigan. Here he attended a medical course, and also at Cincinnati and at the Rush Medical College, of , Chicago. Dr. Browne received two diplomas. In 1868 he went to Watseka and began the practice of medicine, where he remained but a short time; when he went to Anderson, Indiana, and there was engaged in the drug business in connection with his practice. In 1872 he came to Woodland, where he has been meeting with good success in his chosen profession.

Robert Zemple, grain and hardware merchant, is the junior member

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in the firm of Messrs. Rosenburg & Zemple, prominent business men of Woodland, who do a general hardware and grain business. They are both also connected with the grain firm of S. Williams & Co., of Woodland, who are extensive grain dealers. Mr. Zemple was born in Prussia, Germany, and moving to America, in 1868, first located in Iroquois county, where he remained about one year; he then went to Chicago, where he remained some seven years, and again returned to Iroquois county and located in Papineau, where he was engaged in clerking and in the commission business. In 1876 he came to Woodland and has since remained here.

Ben R. South, restaurateur and confectioner, Watseka, was born in New Albany, Indiana, October 8, 1843, where he remained until 1856, when he came with his parents and located in Iroquois county on a farm. Here he was engaged in farming until 1862, when he enlisted in the late civil war, in Co. K, 76th Ill. Vol. Inf., as private for three years or during the war. He remained with the 76th until 1863, when he was taken sick and sent to the hospital at Memphis, Tennessee, and thence to St. Louis, Missouri, where he was taken sick with the small-pox; in 1863 he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve corps, and then sent to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he served as orderly until July, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. He returned to the old homestead in Iroquois county, where he remained until 1868, engaged in farming. He then came to Watseka, and was made deputy sheriff under his brother, A. H. South. In 1869 Mr. South went to Missouri, where he was engaged in farming until 1872, when he returned to Watseka, which has been his home ever since. In April, 1878, he began the restaurant and confectionery business, in which business he is at present engaged. At his establish- ment everything is in neat order; he is located south of the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw depot. Mr. South was assistant marshal of Watseka for several years. He is a republican in politics.

John T. Pierson, sheriff of Iroquois county, Watseka, was born in Marion county, Ohio, September 25, 1850, and is the son of Thomas and Margaret Ann (Fickle) Pierson, both natives of the Buckeye state. His father, Thomas Pierson, was a farmer and stock raiser in Ohio. In 1868, with family, he came to Iroquois county, and located on a farm in Artesia township. Here he followed farming. In 1874 he was elected sheriff of Iroquois county, and he appointed as deputy his son, John T., the subject of this sketch. Mr. Pierson served two years as sheriff of Iroquois county. He is now engaged in the stock business at the Union Stock Yards, Chicago. In 1876 Jacob Shear was elected sheriff of the county, with Mr. John T. Pierson as deputy

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sheriff. In filling the office of deputy sheriff for four years Mr. Pier- son gave entire satisfaction, having proven himself a man of acknowl- edged ability. He won a host of friends, and in 1878 was nominated and elected to the office of sheriff of Iroquois county by the green- back party. This office he now fills. Mr. Pierson's first vote was cast for U. S. Grant for president. Since then he has been liberal in his politics. In 1877 Mr. Pierson was constable of Watseka.

Charles G. Culver, merchant, Watseka, is one of the best known and most highly respected business men of Watseka. He was born in Washington county, New York, October 8, 1840. His parents are Nathan and Eliza (Gilmore) Culver, both natives of New York. His father was a farmer. On the farm Mr. Culver remained until he was about sixteen years of age. In 1857 he took Horace Greeley's advice and came west. He located first in Sandwich, DeKalb county, Illinois, and there entered one of the leading dry-goods houses as clerk. At the breaking out of the late civil war, when Fort Sumter was fired upon, he enlisted in Co. H, 7th Ill. Vol. Inf. This company was the first company that reported for duty at Chicago, in Illinois. The 7th was commanded by Col. Dick Oglesby. This regiment was ordered to Cairo, Illinois, where it did duty for three months. Being a three- months regiment, it was then mustered out. Mr. Culver then reën- listed for three years in Co. H, 105th Ill. Vol. Inf., as orderly-sergeant. He participated in some of the most severe battles of the war: Resaca, Atlanta (known as the one-liundred-day figlit), Peach Tree Creek, with Sherman's march to the sea, through the swamps of the Carolinas, on to Washington, where he participated in the grand parade at Washington, D. C. Mr. Culver entered Co. H as orderly-sergeant ; from that he was appointed to second lieutenant, then first lientenant, and when he was transferred from Co. H to Co. C, he was made cap- tain, which office he filled some eighteen months. He was a brave soldier. He never lost a day from duty, served full time, and was honorably mustered out at Washington in 1865 at the close of the war. He returned to Sandwich, Illinois, and entered the general merchan- dising business. In 1869 he came to Watseka and commenced his present business. In 1878 Mr. Culver was elected supervisor of Mid- dleport township, which office he filled with marked ability. He is a republican in politics, being a member of the republican state cen- tral committee. Mr. Culver was married in Sandwich, DeKalb county, Illinois, to Miss Maria Barnes, of New York. They have one child, a son.

L. W. Roberts, dentist, Watseka, was born in Kentucky, near Lexington, January 14, 1843, and is the son of the Rev. Richard B.

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Roberts. Mr. Roberts moved with his parents to Indiana when he was very young; and moved with his father and family on the circuit through Indiana, his father being a preacher. In 1862, during the late civil war, he enlisted from Kokomo, Indiana, in Co. I, 21st Ind. Vol. Inf., which was transferred to Co. L, 1st Ind. Artil- lery; he enlisted for three years. This artillery did service at New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana ; he was honorably discharged on account of sickness. Dr. Roberts commenced the study of dentistry in 1858 ; he practiced at Valparaiso, Indiana, and Fairmount, Illinois. In 1869 he came to Watseka and began the practice of his profession. He is meeting with very good success ; his office is located over C. G. Culver's store.

J. J. Carlock, merchant, Watseka, was born in McLean county, Illinois, November 24, 1829, and is the son of Reuben and Amy (Jones) Carlock, who immigrated to Illinois, and located in Dry Grove, McLean county, in 1827.

His father, who was born in 1795, died in 1856; he was a .soldier of two wars,-the war of 1812, and the Black Hawk war of 1832. His wife, Amy (Jones) Carlock, is still living, in Woodford county, at the good old age of eighty-two years ; she is a pensioner of the war of 1812. Mr. Carlock remained on the farm in McLean and Woodford counties, engaged in farming and stock dealing, until 1869, when he moved to Iroquois county and located in Belmont township; here he remained until 1876, when he moved to Watseka. He has been engaged in the lumber business. He was married, in Woodford county, to Miss Susan Allen, of Bloom- ing Grove, daughter of Isaac Allen, who was an early settler of Mc- Lean county ; they have four children.

Judge Manliff B. Wright, county judge, Watseka, whose portrait appears in this work, is one of the leading and prominent men of Iroquois county ; and, while speaking of some of the old settlers and prominent men of Iroquois county, a short sketch of his life is most appropriate as one of the latter. He is a native of the province of Ontario, Canada - Kemptville, Greenville county, being his native town, where he was born April 6, 1839 ; and is the son of Frederick and Sarah (Parkinson) Wright, both natives of Canada. The early part of the judge's life was spent at his native place. In 1856 he came west and located in the town of Henry, Marshall county, Illinois. At Sparland in that county, from 1862 to 1866, he was engaged in the mercantile trade. Turning his attention, however, to the study of law he, in 1868, was admitted to practice at the Illinois bar; and in 1869 he removed to Iroquois county and located at Watseka, where he has since resided. At the Iroquois county bar his natural talent

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and ability soon won for him respect and distinction. In 1873 he was nominated and elected by the independents to the office of county judge, receiving a majority of 1,250 votes; in 1877 he was reëlected to the same office by the greenback party, with a majority of 906 votes; in 1879 he was the nominee of the democrat and greenback party for the circuit judgeship, but was defeated by the republican nominee, Franklin Blades. In the discharge of his duties as a public officer Judge Wright has been and is both honorable and con- scientious, allowing neither political nor personal prejudice to warp his judgment or sway his decision when the liberty or property of another is at stake: but being governed by a high sense of honor, his decisions have been just; by this course he has only increased his already enviable reputation. In 1874 he was was married, in Chats- worth, Livingston county, Illinois, to Miss Helen E. Hoyt, formerly of Henry, Illinois. They have three children, two daughters and one son.

Burlew & Smith, wagon and carriage makers, Watseka, compose one of the leading firms engaged in the manufacture of wagons and carriages. Mr. J. E. Burlew was born in Pennsylvania, where he learned the trade of a blacksmith. He came west and was engaged at his trade at Plainfield, Will county. Some ten years ago he came to Mid- dleport and engaged in the blacksmith business with Mr. C. W. Smith. He then came to Watseka and was engaged in business in the shop in the rear of Wade's hardware store. In 1876 he came to his present shop. Mr. L. N. Smith is a native of New Jersey. He learned the trade of a wagon-maker in Rockaway, New Jersey. In 1872 he came west, and was for a short time working in Danville and Indianapolis, and finally came to Watseka. These gentlemen occupy a building, size 20×30 feet, two stories high. They are doing a good business and employ three hands.

Henry Upsall, jeweler, Watseka, is the oldest watchmaker and jew- eler of Watseka. He first came here in 1870. Ever since that date he has held a leading though unostentatious position as a business man of the city, and done a gradually increasing business, until to-day there is hardly a man, woman or child within many miles but knows Henry Upsall. He is a practical and thoroughly educated watchmaker and jeweler, and no doubt this has contributed largely to the success he has attained. He has had practical experience in his business for over thirty years, learning his trade in England, and makes a specialty of repairing fine time pieces, large numbers of which the public have con- fidence in entrusting in his hands. Henry Upsall was born in Lincoln- shire, England, December 25, 1830, and is the son of Henry Upsall, who was a fisherman. At fifteen years of age he commenced to learn

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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 63

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