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 80

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 80

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Elmer Hull, farmer and stock-raiser, Buckley, came to Iroquois county, Illinois, with his parents in 1853. He was born in Delaware county, Ohio, September 15, 1844. October 28, 1866, he married Miss Lizzie White, of Clinton county, Ohio. His father, Japheth Hull, now deceased, was born in Delaware county, Ohio, March 3, 1821. He married Miss Betsy Lusk, March 3, 1842. She was born in Gen- esee county, New York. Mr. Hull lived in Delaware county until 1850, when he went to California, via the overland route, and re- mained there three years and three months. In 1853 he returned to Delaware county, Ohio, and in the same year came to Iroquois county, Illinois. He settled near Onarga, and in 1855 came to Artesia and resided there until his death, October 25, 1876. He served as assessor and supervisor a number of years in the township, and held the offices connected with the school and road.

Elwin Hull, farmer and stock-raiser, Buckley, was born in Dela- ware county, Ohio, March 27, 1843, and lived there until 1853, when, with his parents, he came to Illinois and settled near Onarga, and in 1855 came to his present place and has lived here since. He has held the office of constable, school treasurer and director. November 12, 1873, he married Miss Sadie R. Kerns, who was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania. They had three children, two living : George and Frank. Mr. Hull owns 200 acres in this county, one and a half miles northeast of Buckley. In 1873 he and his father went into partnership in the business of stock-raising, and continued until the death of his father, in 1876. Mr. Elwin settled up the affairs of the partnership, and he and his mother became the administrators of the estate.

W. F. Horner, physician, Buckley, was born in Cambria county,

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Pennsylvania, December 28, 1826. The family moved to Montgomery county, Ohio, when he was but six years of age, and lived there five years, when they moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1846 he began reading medicine with his father, Dr. Elias Horner. After reading three years with his father he read one year with Prof. Bobbs, of Indi- anapolis, and in the winter of 1849-50 graduated from the Indiana Central Medical College of Indianapolis. He then practiced with his father, in Indianapolis, for five years. In 1853 he came to Illinois, and settled in Ash Grove, this county, and lived there nineteen years. In 1872 he came to Buckley, and has practiced here since. February 15, 1860, he married Miss .Eliza J. Smith, who was born in Wabash, Indi- ana. Of their six children two are living: Alice A. and William F. With the exception of serving as assessor of Ash Grove, in 1855 and 1856, the doctor has taken no part in public affairs.

J. M. Carter, grocer and hardware merchant, Buckley, was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, September 2, 1852, and lived there two years, when, with his parents, he moved to Benton county, Indiana, and lived there one and a half years, then came to Iroquois county, Illinois, and settled on a farm about five miles east of Buckley, and lived there until 1872, and the following year he became interested in his present business, the firm being Bonnell & Carter, which continued until the death of Mr. Bonnell in 1878, since which time Mr. Carter has con- ducted the business, and has added hardware to the same, it formerly being groceries only. His father, James Carter, was born in Pennsyl- vania, April 18, 1811, and was raised in Ohio. He married Miss Nancy Heskett, who was born in Pennsylvania and raised in Ohio. Of their four children two are living : James M. and Andrew L. Mr. Carter settled in Iroquois county, near Ash Grove, in 1855. He learned the blacksmith's trade when young, and has always followed it and farm- ing. He came to Buckley in 1874, and has since assisted his sons, who have been engaged in business in Buckley.

Joseph Shaw, farmer and stock-raiser, Thawville, hails from the old Keystone State. He was born on his father's farm, in Cumberland county, October 6, 1818, and made his home there until 1853. At the age of eighteen he began working for himself, and later farmed the home farm in partnership with his brother. In 1853 he moved to Illi- nois, and engaged in farming near Peru, and in 1857 came to his pres- ent place and has lived here since. He was one of the early settlers of this prairie, and has witnessed it being transformed from comparatively a wild wilderness, in 1857, to its present state. He owns 320. acres located three miles southeast of Thawville. It is well supplied with living water, which adapts it to stock-raising, in which he is largely interested.

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William McClave, farmer and stock-raiser, Buckley, was raised on the farm in Clermont county, Ohio, where he was born July 24, 1834. In 1858 he came west, and settled on his present place in Iroquois connty, Illinois, which his father had bought in the fall of 1854 from the government, through the land-office at Danville, for $2.50 per acre. October 6, 1856, he was married to Miss Sarah E. Muchmore, of Hamil- ton county, Ohio. They had seven children, six of whom are living : Ida May, Amer T., Martha, Robert, Sybil and Zoe. Mr. McClave was one of the first to settle on the prairie in this section. He owns a farm of 162 acres about one and a half miles northwest of Buckley. His parents, Stevenson and Sarah (Banghart) McClave, were natives of New Hampshire and Ohio. They were married in Ohio, where she died. He is living on the old homestead in Clermont county, where lie settled in 1830.

Charles W. Sprague, farmer, Thawville, was born in Boston, Massa- chusetts, July 12, 1833, and lived there abont twenty years, spending five years of the time in a drug and book store as clerk. He then came west to Illinois and engaged in farming in Stark county, where he lived four years. He then visited Kansas and Nebraska, and in 1858 came to Iroquois county, Illinois, and engaged in farming near Loda. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the 8th Ill. Cav., and was in the service three years and ten months. He entered the army as a private and retired as second lieutenant. He was in the battles of Antietam, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, and all the battles of the regi- inent. After the war he came to Iroquois county and settled on his present płace. October 24, 1865, he was married in Boston, Massa- chusetts, to Miss Caroline Burrill of that city. They had three chil- dren, two living: Arthur and Emily. In addition to the offices con- nected with the school and road he has served one year as supervisor of this township, and is secretary of the Farmers Pioneer Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Buckley, Illinois.

John A. Koplin, banker and dealer in real estate, Buckley, was born on his father's farm in Chester county, Pennsylvania, Novem- ber 7, 1828. After the death of liis father, in 1835, he was bound out to work on the farm until lie was sixteen, receiving in all about one and a half years' schooling at the district school. He then learned the carpenter's trade, and after serving three years, he worked four years as journeyman, and taught school a few terms, after which he went to Philadelphia and engaged as a salesman in the wholesale dry- goods house of James Kent, Santee & Co., with whom he remained for four years. He then engaged in the grain commission business in the firm of Koplin, Hemsinger & Co., the firm continuing for five

yours. Respectfully д.7 корет,

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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years, when Mr. Koplin moved west to Illinois. In July, 1862, he had the town of Buckley surveyed on some land that he had pre- viously purchased, and in partnership with Wm. G. Riggs, he opened the first store at the new town. At the end of two years he sold his interest in the store. He engaged in the lumber business and loaned flax seed. In 1869 he sold out and engaged in the banking business, and has continued in the same since, in connection with superintending his farming interests, which have grown to about 3,000 acres of improved land. He has served as supervisor of Artesia town- ship for seven years, and in 1876 was elected on the republican ticket a member of the thirtieth general assembly, representing the sixteenth senatorial district, and though in ill health the greater part of the term, he served on several committees, and was chairman on that of banks and banking. He married Miss Fannie E. Riggs, who was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania. They have one child, Mark R.

Nelson Soper, dealer in confectionery and notions, Buckley, is a Canadian by birth, and was born near Niagara Falls, March 22, 1831, and lived there about twenty-four years, during which time he was apprenticed to a last-maker, and subsequently worked at his trade at Cleveland, Rochester, Detroit and Buffalo. At Wattsburg, Pennsyl- vania, he conducted a last machine, and in 1862 came to Iroquois county, Illinois, and settled at Loda, working at carpenter work. In 1864 lie came to Buckley, and engaged in the grocery business. In this he remained two years, when he sold out and went to Detroit, , and after two years' residence there returned to Buckley, and has lived here since. August 3, 1857, he was married to Miss Margaret E. Haley, who was born in Ireland, and came to the United States when about five years of age, and lived in Rochester until her mar- riage.

Joel G. McClave, of the firm of McClave & Riggs, dealers in gen- eral merchandise, Buckley, was born in Warren county, Ohio, Jannary 18, 1835. He was born on the farm and lived there until the spring of 1864, when he came to Illinois and settled in Artesia township, and engaged in farming. In 1865 he formed a partnership with W. G. Riggs, the firm being Riggs & McClave. They conducted the general merchandise business until 1870, when Mr. Riggs withdrew. In 1871 J. W. and J. D. Riggs became partners with Mr. McClave, the firm being McClave and Riggs, and continued until 1874, when the busi- ness was sold, and Mr. McClave turned his attention to his farm until 1877, when, with J. D. Riggs, the firm of McClave & Riggs began again in the general merchandise business. Mr. McClave has held tlie office of school trustee for nine years, and is now serving his second

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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

terin as supervisor. May 16, 1860, he married Miss Caroline Tribbey, who was born in Morrow, Warren county, Ohio. They have five chil- dren : Edwin, L., Mary L., Charlie C., Arthur W. and Annie E.

M. M. Meacham, druggist and justice of the peace, Buckley, was born in Franklin county, Ohio, February 11, 1827, and lived there until 1864. He was born on the farm and lived there twenty-one years. When he was seventeen years old he began teaching at home, and later in an adjoining county. He also worked part of the time until 1864, when he came to Illinois and settled in Buckley, where he . superintended a sorghum mill and taught school. In 1865 he bought some land and improved the same. He then moved to a farm in Ash Grove and farmed it for three years, when lie again came to Buckley and engaged in his present business, and has continued here since. September 6, 1853, he married Miss Emma A. Benton, of Massachu- setts. Of their four children three are living : Frank B., Angeline A. and Edwin M. He lias served as assessor of this township for two years, as justice of the peace for seven years, and is at present town clerk.

Henry Ruehe, shoemaker, Buckley, was born in the province of Hanover, Germany, May 21, 1835. At the age of eighteen he learned the trade of a shoemaker. He afterward worked "jour" work for about four years. In 1860 he came to the United States and settled in Chicago, where he worked one year. He then went to Wisconsin, and after remaining there two years he moved to Kankakee, Illinois, and in 1864 came to Buckley and engaged in business as a shoemaker on his own account, and has continued here since. September 21, 1865, he married Miss Nettie Cornell, who was born in Holstein, Germany. They have four children : William, Henry, Minnie and Annie. Mr. Ruehe has served as village trustee for one year, and has been promi- nently identified with the Odd-Fellow and Masonic societies to which he belongs.

Horace Lincoln, dealer in general merchandise, Buckley, is a native of Madison county, New York. He was born on his father's farm, February 28, 1820, and lived there twenty-five years. He then moved to Lake county, Illinois, and engaged in farming until 1855. He then · went to Antioch, and engaged in the general merchandise for two years, the firm being Ring & Lincoln, the first year. Mr. Lincoln then sold out, and one year later moved to Waukegan and loaned money for two years. He was then elected county treasurer, and served two years. In 1865 he came to Buckley and engaged in his present business, and in 1869 his son became a partner in the same. December 24, 1842, he married Miss Lavantia Campbell, who was

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born in New York, and died in December, 1855. They had three children, two living. September 2, 1857, he married Miss Ange A. Blakeslee, of New York. They were married in Lake county, Illi- nois. They have one child, Julia E. His son and partner, Melvin D., was born in Lake county, Illinois, June 24, 1848. He lived with his parents until 1875. June 10, of that year, he married Miss Clara, daughter of David Strawn, of Ottawa, Illinois. They have one child, Lela.

James Outtrim, farmer and stock-raiser, Buckley, was born in Sur- rey, England, June 18, 1830, and lived there nine years. With his parents he came to the United States and settled in New York, near Rome, where they lived for fourteen years. January 26, 1853, he was married to Miss Jane Carroll, of Otsego county, New York, and the following fall came west and settled in La Salle county, Illinois, and farmed there until 1866, when he came to Iroquois county. He settled on his present place, which he bought of the railroad company for $10 per acre. By his marriage there were two children, one of whom is living, George E. They have an adopted daughter, Katie. Mr. Out- trim has held the office of township trustee and school director. He is also president of the Farmers Pioneer Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany of Buckley. He owns 160 acres in this county, the result of his labor.

E. D. Hartshorn, undertaker and dealer in hardware, Buckley, is a native of Madison county, New York, where he was born June 4, 1821, and lived there about sixteen years, when with his parents he came to Illinois and settled in La Salle county, engaging in farming. At the age of eighteen years he began working by the month on a farm on his own account. At the age of nineteen he went into tlie saw and grist-mill business with Cornelius Harris. They continued one . year. He then worked by the month for two years, and later bought an " eighty " and farmed it until 1868, when he came to Buckley and engaged in his present business. He also purchased a farm of 160 acres, which he has since increased to 1,340 acres. In 1870 he formed a partnership with W. H. Meserve. They continued until 1875, when Mr. Hartshorn sold his interest to his son, William H. In 1877 Mr. Meserve withdrew, and Mr. E. D. Hartshorn again became a member of the firm, which has since continued as E. D. Hartshorn & Son. March 31, 1852, he married Miss Marietta Meserve, of New Hamp- shire. They have five children : William H., Mary, Horace H., Charles D. and Alice B. Beyond the school and village Mr. Hartshorn has taken no part in the public affairs of the township. While in La Salle county he served as school treasurer for fourteen years, two terms as

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justice of the peace, and was supervisor of Waltham township the first two years after its organization.

Calvert Hortshorn, farmer and stock-raiser, Buckley, was born in Madison county, New York, July 29, 1827, and lived there nine years, when with his family he came west to La Salle county, Illinois, where his father had gone the year previous. They lived in La Salle county until 1868. He then came to Iroquois county and settled on liis present place, and has lived here since. At the age of twenty-three he began for himself, working by the month for five years, when he farmed on his own account, renting at first. He now owns 390 acres, located four miles northeast of Buckley, all the result of his own labor. January 17, 1860, he married Miss Emma Miles, who was born in Madison county, New York. They were married in Madison, Iowa. Of their five children two are living: Carrie and Bessie.

J. H. Martin, dealer in drugs, books and stationery, Buckley, was born in Fayette county, Indiana, October 15, 1844, and lived there twenty years, when in company with his parents he moved to Paxton, Illinois, and clerked in his father's drug store until 1868, when he came to Buckley, Illinois, and engaged in his present business, and has continued here since. November 2, 1869, he married Miss Sarah E. Pierson, of Pennsylvania. They have one child, John F. During the war Mr. Martin enlisted in the 139th Ind. Inf., and was in the service about six months, serving as corporal of Co. D. The present business of Mr. Martin was bought of Mr. Fletcher, who established it in this town at the early settlement of the same.

S. O. Roberts, farmer and stock-raiser, Thawville, came from the old Green Mountain State. He was born in Rutland county, April 20, 1842, and lived there until he was ten years of age. He then came to Illinois with his parents and settled in Will county, where they lived until 1868. In 1861 he enlisted in the 9tlı Ill. reg. Cav., and was in the service until the close of the war, entering as a private and retiring as first lieutenant. He was in the battles of Tupelo, Franklin, Nasliville and the other engagements of the regiment. After the war he remained south buying and shipping cotton for two years. He then came to Illinois and settled on his present place. In June, 1872, he was married, at Paxton, Illinois, to Miss Martha J. Ramsey, of Illinois, then residing at Piper city. They have two children, Jay and Kay. Mr. Roberts has a farm of 320 acres in this county, located about two miles south of Thawville, and has earned the same by his own labor and management.

John Mitchell, farmer and stock-raiser, Thawville, came from Lin- colnshire, England, where he was born January 30, 1832. He

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remained in England twenty-two years, and then moved to the United States and settled in Will county, Illinois, where he worked at carpen- tering, having learned the trade in England. In 1857 he began farm- ing, and continued the same until 1868, when he came to Iroquois county and settled on his present place, and has lived here since. July 3, 1862, he married Miss Susan S. Roberts, who was born in Ver- mont. They have six children : Fannie, Gilbert, Charles, Julius, Sidney and Robert. The last three were born in Iroquois county, and the first three in Will county, Illinois. Mr. Mitchell owns 329 acres in this county. His wife's parents, who have lived with him, Calvin G. and Elizabeth M. (Dyer) Roberts, were natives of Vermont. They were married May 6, 1830, and had eight children, six of whom are living. Mrs. Roberts died September 8, 1873.

Gen. E. W. Warren, editor "Buckley Inquirer," Buckley, hails from the old Keystone State. He was born in Delaware county March 8, 1841, and lived there until 1850, when with his parents he moved to Philadelphia, where he lived until 1861. He then enlisted in the 3d Penn. Cav. and served during the war. He was appointed lieu- tenant, and was several times promoted, retiring from the service as brevet brigadier-general. He was in all the battles of the Army of the Potomac, except the first at Fredericksburg. He was taken pris- oner at Hartwood Church by Hampton's brigade, and was held six months in Libby prison. After the war he returned to Philadelphia and engaged in photographing at 1628 Market street, and lived there until 1867, when he came west to Illinois and settled in Warren county, and in 1868 came to Buckley and engaged in farming. In 1877 he took charge of the "Inquirer" and has conducted the same since. January 3, 1863, he married Miss S. S. Stewart, who was born in New York. They have had five children, four living : May, Nel- lie, Alice and Frederick.

W. H. Stover, blacksmith, Buckley, was born in Augusta county, Virginia, May 4, 1843, and lived there on the farm for thirteen years. He then learned blacksmithing with Mr. Page, of Staunton, Virginia, and served until 1859, when he came to Illinois and settled in LaSalle county, with his uncle, at Conyea's Mills, where with the assistance of his uncle he opened a small shop and followed his trade for four years. April 20, 1863, he married Miss Mary N. Bennett, who was born in England, and came to the United States when a child. After his mar- riage he moved to the town of Freedom, where he opened a more extensive shop, and later formed a partnership with Mr. George Wolverton ; after six years he sold out his business and came to Buckley, where he purchased the business of Donaldson & Sleigh,

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which he conducted until 1874, when owing to ill health he took a trip to Europe, visiting England and France, returning home the latter part of the same year. He bought a farm and moved on the same. He also worked at his trade in Roberts for two years, during which time his shop here in Buckley was rented. He then came to Buckley, and has occupied his shop here since. By liis marriage there are three children : Luther J., Nellie V. and Cecil M. Mr. Stover's early experience was very discouraging, his youth making it difficult for him to get work when he first came west. But by energy and perseverence he has succeeded in gaining a reputation second to none, and his skill and ability in his chosen specialty of shoeing and plow work are known far and near. He also received a diploma from the LaSalle County Agricultural Society for the best top buggy. In addition to his busi- ness he is interested in farming, having about 200 acres of land near this village. His success throughout only goes to show that no disad- vantages are so great but what energy and perseverance may overcome.

Elisha Luther, lumber dealer, Buckley, was born on his father's farm in Yates county, New York, May 28, 1824, and lived on the same twenty-six years. In September, 1849, lie married Miss Lucretia C. Alvord, who was born in New York. In 1855 he came to Free- port, Illinois, and engaged in the butchering and stock business, and in 1863 he moved to Chicago and engaged as foreman of tlie lumber- yard of Loomis & Davis. He remained there until 1869, when he came to Buckley, Illinois, and engaged in his present business, buying the business of M. M. Hamlin, and has conducted the same since. Of his three children two are living : Carrie L. and Mary E. In addi- tion to his lumber business he is interested in farming, having a farm near the village which he rents out. He has served as village trustee, school trustee and highway commissioner.

Eli Strawn, farmer and grain buyer, Buckley, is a native of Perry county, Ohio. He was born March 27, 1817, and lived there thirteen years, when, with his parents, lie moved to Illinois, and settled in Tazewell (now Putnam) county, where he lived until 1838. January . 1 of that year he was married to Miss Eleanor Broaddus, who was born in Virginia, and came to Illinois with her parents in 1835 and settled near Lacon. After his marriage he removed to La Salle county, and lived there for thirty-one years, during which time (January 24, 1861) his wife died. They had seven children, six living. Marclı 10, 1864, he married Mrs. Mary H. Dean, formerly Miss Hartshorn, who was born in Madison county, New York. They have one child, Myra. In 1869 lie came to Buckley and built his present place, moving to the same in February following. While in La Salle county he served as

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supervisor of Ottawa township from 1859 till 1864, and though a democrat he belonged to the Douglas school, and used his influence to prosecute vigorously all war measures. He has served here as village trustee for three terms, during each of which he was president of the same.

C. M. Chase, of the firm of Chase & Hurlbutt, grain buyers and shippers, Buckley, was born in Lyme, New Hampshire, September 1, 1845, and lived there twenty-two years. He then came to Illinois and settled in Iroquois county, and in 1869 came to Buckley, and in 1874 the present firm was formed, and has continued since. His father, Caleb C. Chase, now deceased, was a native of Lyme, New Hampshire. He married Miss Lora G. Goodell, also a native of Lyme. He died in 1853, and in 1856 Mrs. Chase married Mr. David Hurlbutt, a native of Hanover, New Hampshire. He died in 1867. In January, 1869, Mrs. Hurlbutt came to Buckley, Illinois, and has lived here since. Clinton Hurlbutt, junior partner of the firm, was born in Hanover, New Hampshire, January 9, 1851, and lived there until 1870, when he came to Illinois, and settled in Iroquois county, and later engaged in his present business. October 14, 1879, he married Miss Ellen Luther, of Buckley.

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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 80

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