USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. > Part 54
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the family settled down in their own home. In the course of time there were born into the family two daughters, one of whom is still living. In 1843 the winter set in with such severity in the second week in November that the family were driven out of their shanty to a neighboring log house. But noble enterprises are sure to win. This family did not struggle in vain. In spite of frequent losses of hard earned personal property, in spite of many dangers and much malarial disease, they gained ground and soon began to add to the original claim till a farm of 287 acres they could call their own. Other farms were added, till at the time of Mr. Leake's death, he could number his acres at 670. In 1867 the desire of several years was put in practice. In May he crossed the Atlantic to visit his native land. Not long after arriving in England he was prostrated by sickness so severe that his friends had little hope that he would see home again, but his strong will prevailed. He arrived at home November 1, but remained an invalid till September 11, 1869, when he died. He was buried in Temperance Hill graveyard, beside his daughter, who had died in 1862. Thus he saw his three sons and one daughter grown and able to take up the work which he had laid down. To Mrs. Leake belongs a large share of credit for the success of the family. After her husband's death she lived with her children till January 19, 1868, when she too was numbered with the dead and laid beside her husband.
THOMAS LEAKE, farmer and stock raiser, Amboy, is the son of John and Mary (Jarvis) Leake, of Leicestershire, England, and was born at that place January 12, 1839, and came to this country with the rest of the family in the summer of 1841. Though he is not a native, he is yet one of the pioneers of Lee county. He was reared on the farm and in his youth was engaged in rural pursuits and attending the pioneer schools of the period. In 1858, having mastered all of the branches of learning available in the schools of the county, he entered Rock River Seminary, at Mount Morris, for the purpose of completing his education. In 1862 he began a theological course of training in the Garrett Biblical Institute, at Evanston, Illinois, which he completed in 1864. In the meantime he was engaged during vacations in teaching. On the completion of his course he joined the Rock River Conference and began his ministerial labors in the Big Rock Circuit. This station he filled for two years, at the end of which time, finding his health so impaired as to make him unable to continue the work, he returned home, and after a year of recuperation took charge of his farm. On February 20, 1872, he was married to Miss Martha S., daughter of Stephen T. Scoville, who was born in Oneida county, New York, March 29, 1838. Mr. Leake has a beautiful farm and nice home, much taste and refinement being displayed in their cultivation and care.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
JOHN C. LEAKE, farmer and stock raiser, Amboy, son of John and Mary A. (Jarvis) Leake, was born in Leicestershire, England, December 7, 1836, and came to America with his mother and others of their family in 1841. His father preceded them here to prepare a home for them on their arrival. This he did by entering government land in the south part of Nachusa township. Thus Jolin C. became one of the pioneer children of this county and is well acquainted with all the disadvantages of pioneer life, having hauled grain to Chicago with a team, railroads then being a convenience almost unheard of in this part of the country. September 21, 1863, he was married to Miss Mariette, daughter of Leonard W. and Sarah A. (Crawford) Hale. She was born in Ohio, January 6, 1838. They have one child living, Thomas W., and three deceased : Charles W. died July 2, 1877, aged twelve years ; Jennie F., February 6, 1879, aged six years, and Grace M., March 3, 1879, aged nearly three years. Mr. Leake owns the old homestead, consisting of 380 acres, and is actively engaged in stock raising and farming.
HENRY WINGERT, retired farmer, Nachusa, is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Binkley) Wingert, and was born in Lancaster county, Penn- sylvania, February 23, 1804. His father was born in the same state, and his grandfather was born in Germany. Mr. Wingert was reared and educated a farmer. August 10, 1826, he married Miss Anna M. Bentz, a native of Franklin county, Pennsylvania. In 1833 he re- moved to Preble county, Ohio, and there engaged in farming till 1852, when he came to Illinois, and settled in Lee county, on Sec. 4, T. 21, R. 10. This was his last and permanent settlement, as he is now (1881) contentedly enjoying the comfortable home his industry and honest toil have provided. Mrs. Wingert died December 25, 1877, leaving her husband nine children living (six being deceased), viz : Elizabeth M., Louisa C., John W., Hannah, Walter J., Miriam, David, Harriett A., Leona V. Mr. Wingert began life for himself without means, but by good management he now owns, besides his home farm of 160 acres, 80 acres of good land in Iowa. He is one of those whole- souled men whose influence is always felt for good in the community where they live.
JOHN W. WINGERT, farmer and stock raiser, Nachusa, is a son of Henry and Anna M. (Bentz) Wingert, and was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, July 19, 1831, and with his parents removed to Preble county, Ohio, when a small boy. Here he grew to manhood, en- gaged in farming, and to a limited extent attending school. In 1852 he came with his parents to Lee county, Illinois, and settled in the prosperous town of Nachusa, and followed the business of farining. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the 75th Ill. Vol. Inf., followed the for-
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tunes of war through the battles of Perrysville and Stone River, after which, on account of his health breaking down, he was transferred to the 12th Veteran Reserve Corps, and was finally discharged with that regiment in June 1865, broken down in health, from which he yet ex- periences much suffering. January 28, 1869, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Hannah M., daughter of Jacob and Nancy Hittle. She was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, October 15, 1837, and came to this county with her parents far back in its early history. They have five children : Willie B., Frederick A., Adelbert, and Bertha and Berton (twins). In November, 1877, he bought his present farm of 160 acres in Sec. 29, T. 22, R. 10, where he now lives engaged in farming.
JOSHUA WINGERT, farmer and stock raiser, Franklin Grove, is a son of John and Mary (Newcommer) Wingert, and was born in the State of Maryland, July 4, 1829. In 1832 his parents removed to Ohio. Here young Joshna remained with his parents, engaged in farming and attending school, till about the age of seventeen. At that time (1846), in company with an elder brother, he emigrated to Illinois, and settled in Lee county, and engaged in farming in connection with his brother. December 20, 1855, he married Miss Susan, daughter of Mr. Jacob and Mary Emmert. She is a native of Maryland, and was born May 4, 1836, and came to Lee county, Illinois, with her parents in an early day. After his marriage Mr. Wingert actively engaged in farming and stock raising for himself, which business he has ever since successfully followed, and by careful management and industry has ac- cumulated a fine property. He has three sons living: Ralph W., a fine scholar, who is now giving much attention to the fine arts; Ira W. and Lee E., who are also giving much attention to education.
JOSEPH HECKMAN (deceased) was the son of Jacob and Sarah (Bnshkirk) Heckman. He was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, April 11, 1813, and died June 19, 1881, after a life of patient labor and industry. He was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Mock) Rawlings, December 25, 1838. She was born July 5, 1814, and died May 23, 1879. They left a family of six children : James M., Mary E. (who is now faithfully discharging the duties of housekeeper for her brothers), Josiah S., Jacob C., John R. and Adison L. Mr. Heckman with his family came to Lee county, Illinois, in December 1863, and bought a farm of J. S. McNeel in Sec. 36, T. 22, R. 10, one of the most pleasant homes in this township.
DAVID N. STRATTON, farmer and stock raiser, Dixon, was born in Massachusetts, August 1, 1844. He is a son of Milo and Calista P. (Rice) Stratton. His early youth was spent on a farm, where he had and improved the advantages of the common schools. At the age of
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seventeen years he entered the mercantile business in Lee, Massachu- setts. This he followed till the age of twenty-two, when he came to Macoupin county, Illinois, where he remained two years as clerk in a store. He then came to Whitesides county, Illinois, where he re- mained till the fall of 1868, when he removed to his present home farm in Lee county, Illinois. He is permanently engaged in farming and stock raising, of which business he is now making a decided suc- cess. August 15, 1877, he was united in marriage to Miss Hester, daughter of Nathan and Judah Hill. She was born in Pennsylvania. They are the parents of two children : Jennie P. and Milo. Mr. Stratton's parents are still living in Massachusetts, his father at the advanced age of eighty-two years.
SAMUEL MILLER, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, March 2, 1810. His father was killed when he (Samuel) was three years old. His early youth was spent farming and attending school till seventeen years of age, when he began teaching. He became a successful instructor both in the English and the German languages. In 1832 he was married to Miss Mary Laymon, a native Pennsylvania. By this union he had three children : Mary G., Jacob L., John W. About 1840 Mrs. Miller died. Mr. Miller was next married to Mary Maune, and by this marriage had seven children : Benjamin F., Abram C., Samuel W., Martha W., Lusetta, Charlotte A., Laura F. In June, 1865, Mr. Miller bought and occupied the old George Baugh farm of 300 acres. He has always exhibited a marked degree of industry and perseverance, the result of which is a fine farm with all the improvements that add value to any farm property.
JONAS B. EICHOLTZ, farmer and stock raiser, Nachusa, is a son of John F. and Anna (Boyer) Eicholtz, both natives of Pennsylvania and now residents of Nachusa. Jonas B. was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, March 26, 1840, and like his father received a limited education and was raised to hard work'on the farm. In the spring of 1861, with his parents, he settled in Lee county, Illinois, near Nachusa, where he engaged in tilling the soil. November 19, 1863, Mr. Eicholtz was married to Miss Elnora E., daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Dettro) Peters. She was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, August 23, 1840. The issue of this marriage is one child, Oscar R., born in Penn- sylvania, March 26, 1866, while Mr. and Mrs E. were visiting in that state. In 1875 Mr. Eicholtz purchased his present farm of 145 acres in Sec. 18, T. 21, R. 10, which he has improved but did not occupy as a home till March 1880. He is one of Lee's industrious and prosper- ous farmers. Mr. and Mrs. Eicholtz are connected with the Lutheran church, holding their membership in the St. James' church, South Dixon.
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SAMUEL A. BENDER, farmer and stock raiser, Dixon, is a son of John and Margaret (Miller) Bender, and was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, June 5, 1843. He remained at home with his parents, where he gained a fair common school education, till the summer of 1860, when he started west, intending to make a home for himself on the celebrated prairie of Illinois. He stopped in Lee county and began working out by the month on a farm, but at the outbreak of the rebellion he shouldered the musket in defense of his country, and on August 12, 1862, as an enlisted member of Co. G, 75th Ill. Vol. Inf., started for the field of action. He met the enemy at Perryville and Stone River, and was with his regiment throughout the war, and was honorably discharged June 12, 1865, having been appointed sergeant (for meritorious conduct) in August 1864. After his return home Mr. Bender engaged in farming in Lee county. November 18, 1869, he mar- ried Miss Millie, daughter of Erastus and Ruth (Wilcox) Hart. She was born in Pennsylvania, July 18, 1851. They are the parents of three children living : John F., Bessie A. and Dora Mabel, and two de- ceased. In the spring of 1870 Mr. Bender bought his present home ' farm in Nachusa township, where he permanently located and engaged in farming. His father was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, where he made his home through life. He died August 25, 1881. The father, the grandfather of our sketch, was a native of Germany, and followed the occupation of farmer. He came to America early in life and settled in Pennsylvania.
JOHN ATKINSON, farming, Nachusa, is a son of John and Margaret (Todhunter) Atkinson, and was born in Cumberland county, England, August 30, 1847. In June, 1869, he left the land of his birth, parents and friends, and set sail for America in the steamship England, of the National line, in search of home for himself on the fertile prairies of Illinois, and landed in New York July 4, 1869. He at once came on to Dixon, Lee county, Illinois, and hired out by the month on a farm. This he followed two years, when he rented land and engaged in farm- ing for himself. March 1, 1879, he married Miss Susanah, daughter of Mr. John and Hannah (Skermer) Leake. She was born in Lee county, Illinois, November 28, 1847. Mr. Atkinson is now successfully en- gaged in farming.
SAMUEL BOYER, farmer, Dixon, son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Bowman) Boyer, was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 28, 1840. He remained at home with his parents, engaged in farming and attending school, till about the age of fifteen years, when he came to Illinois and engaged at farm labor till the outbreak of the war of the rebellion, when he enlisted in Co. A, 13th Ill. Vol. Inf. He at once started for the front and came in contact with the
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
enemy for the first time near Lynn Creek, Missouri. He served at the siege of Vicksburg and many other hard-fought battles, and was finally discharged with his regiment at Springfield, Illinois, and returned to Lee county so completely broken down in health that he has been unable to perform a day's work since. As a recompense for injuries received in the service "Uncle Sam" is now paying him a liberal pension. March 15, 1866, he married Miss Rebecca Emerick. She was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1848. They are the parents of six children : James H., Barbara E., Alonzo, Maud, Goldie, and William L. In 1877 he moved on his present home, in Sec. 14, T. 22, R. 9, where he is now engaged in farming.
CALVIN BURKETT (deceased) was born in Blair county, Pennsyl- vania, December 8, 1829. His parents were Jacob and Nancy (Wil- cox) Burkett. During early youth he was engaged in attending school and working on the farm. At about the age of twenty-one he came to Lee county, Illinois, by the rivers Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois. Hav- ing gained some knowledge of the business of stone and briek masonry, he engaged in and followed it for a number of years, teaching school winters. In December, 1858, he bought a farm of 160 acres from Jer- don Crawford, in Sec. 8, T. 21, R. 10, Nachusa township, and engaged in farming and stock raising. This, however, he only followed a short time, for at the outbreak of the war he enlisted in Cheney's Battery. While in the army his health failed, and after lying in hospital three or four months he was discharged on account of disability. January 2, 1868, he married Miss Mary A., daughter of James K. and Eliza (Bruce) Henry. She was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, January 8, 1840, and came to Lee county, Illinois, in 1865. Mr. Bur- kett, by industry, hard work and good management, made for himself and family a good home. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, as is also his surviving wife. They had no children of their own, but have one adopted child, Charles M. Burkett. Mr. Burkett died February 27, 1881, and was buried in the Dixon cemetery.
ERASTUS HART (deceased) was born near Albany, New York, De- cember 14, 1809. He was reared a farmer, and followed that business through life. At Rochester, New York, March 15, 1831, he was united in marriage with Miss Ruth, daughter of Mr. Daniel and Hulda (Webb) Wilcox. She was born in Black River county, New York, December 15, 1812. Soon after his marriage Mr. Hart removed to the State of Pennsylvania, and there engaged in farming. In the summer of 1865 he left the state where he so long lived, and came to Lee county, Illi- nois, and settled in Dixon. He only remained there one year, when he moved out on his farm he had previously bought in Secs. 25 and 26, T. 22, R. 9. Here he actively engaged in stock raising as well as farm-
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ing. He died October 4, 1868, leaving, besides his life-long companion, six children, as follows : Alvisa, wife of S. Lupher ; Mariett, wife of T. L. Slocum; Lury, wife of J. Williams; Levi E., Diantha, wife of S. Smith, and Millie, wife of Samuel A. Bender. Levi E. Hart, son of E. and R. Hart, farmer and stock raiser, was born in the State of Pennsyl- vania, August 30, 1846, and came with his parents to Lee county, Illinois. December 18, 1868, he married Miss Emeline B., daughter of Abanoan and Caroline (Fowler) Hinds. She was born in Susque- hanna county, Pennsylvania, June 21, 1846. They are the parents of two children : Sybil L. and Leon. Mr. Hart is proprietor of the old home of his father, and with him his venerable old mother is spending her declining years in peace and comfort.
FRANCIS MILLER, farmer, Nachusa. The yeoman who leaves his native land, dares the ocean's turbulent billows, makes his way to Illinois and here, by incessant toil and constant saving, secures to himself and fam- ily an ample and pleasant home of 182 acres of land, second to none in the state, and improves it well, is certainly a success. Such a man is Francis Miller, the subject of these notes. Mr. Miller was born in County Derry, Ireland, in 1833, and like his father was reared to hard work on the farm and had but few educational advantages. In March, 1852, he was married to Miss Jane Burnside, daughter of Josiah Burn- side. She was also born in County Derry, Ireland. Immediately after their marriage the twain set sail in the sailing vessel Isaac Wright for America, and after nine weeks' sailing reached New York. He remained at labor in New York a few months, then came to Lee coun- ty via Chicago and Rockford. Arriving, he engaged at farm labor by the month or day. He soon purchased a small farm, but in 1872, in partnership with his brother-in-law, James Burnside, bought the farm which he in 1880 secured to himself and now owns, situate in Sec. 19, T. 21, R. 10. He deals somewhat in stock, etc. Mr. Miller's family numbers seven children : Margaret (now Mrs. R. A. Hewet), James, Samuel F., Eliza, William I., Mary, and Josiah.
JOHN M. ALLWOOD, farmer and stock raiser, Nachusa, was born in Lincolnshire, England, March 26, 1830. His parents were John and Ann (Madison) Allwood. He was reared on a farm. His parents being poor, his education was very much neglected. After growing up he labored as a day hand six and a half years. October 18, 1853, he left his native country and friends and set sail for America in the sailing vessel North American, and after a voyage of six weeks and two days landed in New York. He at once left there for Wisconsin and from there started on foot to a point, 200 miles distant, in Iowa, from where he soon after returned to Wisconsin, where he hired out to work on a farm at $8 per month. Here he continued a little over six years, when
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
he came to Lee county, Illinois, and hired out to work for Mr. Abijah Powers in Palmyra. Here he remained two years and then went back to Wisconsin, sold a farm he had previously bought, and then went to Iowa, where he bought a farm of 240 acres, on which he lived about three years. Mr. Allwood at this time having a longing desire for Illinois, sold his farm and again returned to Lee county and bought a farm in the south end of Nachusa township, where he is now engaged in farming and stock raising. October 18, 1863, he married Miss Isa- bella Mostoller, a native of Pennsylvania, born there in 1835 and came to Lee county, Illinois, in 1851. They are the parents of seven chil- dren, five of whom are now living: William, Austin, Edgar, George W., Mary E .; John, born August 20, 1864, was drowned in Coon River, at Booneville, Iowa, July 3, 1881; Charles died in infancy.
JOHN M. CRAWFORD (deceased) was born in Blair county, Penn- sylvania, March 15, 1825. Early in life he learned the trade of car- penter and cabinet-maker; this he followed until several years after coming to Illinois, having worked on some of the first mills and bridges built in Lee county. April 12, 1849, he married Miss Mary A. Dysart. She was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, March 8, 1824. They at once came to Illinois, and settled in Lee county on land he had bought previously, having been to Lee county about three years be- fore. He died May 21, 1881, having at the time of his death become one of the largest land owners in Lee county. He was well and favor- ably known throughout the county, having filled the offices of super- visor and assessor for several terms. He left at his death a wife and six children : the eldest of the children, James A., died June 9, 1881 ; Milton A., Albert W., Joseph D., Frances J. and Ettie O.
JOHN H. ABBOTT, farmer and stock raiser, Nachusa. In the early part of the seventeenth century the Abbots came from Somersetshire, England, and settled on Staten Island, New Jersey ; from them sprang a numerous family, now scattered throughout the United States. They were prominently connected with the Methodist Episcopal church in its early history in America, and are among the first mentioned by Bishop Simpson in his " Cyclopedia of Methodism." John H. Abbott, now of Lee county, Illinois, is one of the descendants of this historic family. He was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, November 12, 1818. He was reared on a farm by his parents till the age of four- teen. When at that age his mother died, and little John was thrown on his resources and obliged to take care of himself. After a short time he engaged his services to a Mr. L. B. Rupert, then engaged in boating and transportation, with whom he afterward became a partner and fol- lowed the business a number of years. December 14, 1848, he mar- ried Miss Ellen Shoemaker, who was born in Columbia county, Penn-
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sylvania, November 17, 1827. They are the parents of seven children : Elizabeth J., Amzi S., Robert M., William, Charles B., Martha A. and Mary E. In the spring of 1864 Mr. Abbott came to Lee county, Illi- nois, bought land in Sec. 29, T. 22, R. 10, where he permanently lo- cated and engaged in farming. For the last eleven years he has been commissioner of highways. He is prominently connected with the Methodist Episcopal church.
ISAIAH BRINK, farmer and stock raiser, Nachusa, came to Lee county, Illinois, October 10, 1851. He is the son of Joshua and Rebecca (Cole) Brink, and was born October 17, 1817, in the old State of Pennsylvania. Like his father he was reared a farmer and to a limited extent attended the old subscription schools of his native state. In June, 1842, he was married to Miss Eliza Stiles, and has become the father of six children, three of whom are living: Sarah C. (wife of Perry Cromley), John L. and Charles S. In March, 1852, Mr. Brink rented a cabin near Dixon, into which he moved his family, bade them good-by, and started for California, in company with some other parties who were going to the Golden State with ox teams. He arrived there in September of the same year, and at once engaged in mining, but soon after turned his attention to the carpenter business, which he followed in connection with trading and speculating for about four years. In September, 1856, he returned home, and found his wife engaged in farming on land she had bought with money sent home by her husband during his absence. Mr. Brink made his trip to California a success, inasmuch as he there made the money which gave him a good start in life. His home farm comprises 278 acres of good land. He is also the owner of considerable other property.
JOHN R. MERRILL (deceased), Nachusa, was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire, in 1804, and was reared on a farm. In April, 1829, he married Miss Lydia C., daughter of Benjamin March. She was born in Londonderry in 1805. In 1839 they emigrated to Illinois, where from its cheap lands he might secure for himself and family a home and enjoy the advantages of a growing country. He first settled in Ogle county, near the line of Lee. Here he entered land, to which he kept adding until he became the owner of a large amount of land in Lee and Ogle counties. He experienced much of the hardships and privations of pioneer life, making many trips to Chicago with a team, hauling produce there and merchandise back, sleeping on the ground and in his wagon nights, getting stalled in sloughs and carrying out his loads on his back to land. He died March 4, 1861. Mrs. Merrill (a former school-mate of the venerable Horace Greeley) is still living, at the advanced age of seventy-six years, and is now (1881) enjoying excellent health and a remarkable memory. They became the parents of two
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