History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc., Part 70

Author: Hill, H.H. (Chicago) pbl
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, H.H. Hill
Number of Pages: 910

USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. > Part 70

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ABNER B. CLAPP, farmer, lives east of Four-Mile Grove. He was born at Northampton, Massachusetts, April 13, 1825. His father was a farmer, and his grandfather, Simeon Clapp, was a soldier in the revolutionary war. He was not fond of books, and regrets that he did not study more when a boy. But he was early inured to hard work and loved it. After he was twenty-one, having no capital, he labored five seasons in a brick-yard in the warm weather, and in winter worked in the timber; believes he earned a dollar with the axe easier than in any other way, for he was strong and tough. In 1850 he married Miss Alcimena Hastings, of Westhampton. They emigrated to Wyoming in the spring of 1854, and bought the eighty acres on which they now reside. If they had had the money then $800 would have paid for the farm; but obliged to run in debt and pay ten per cent interest, the original cost was increased by interest to $2,400 before they could call it their own. The hard work which these two persons did in the

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first years they were here would seem incredible, were it not that the facts cannot be doubted. Working for others in the day-time, and then in his own field till midnight, in harvest season, and assisted by his wife, who was a true helpmeet, if the country had not been more healthful than many other places they must have broken down. But when the crops were taken to market prices received only paid the cost of living while raising them and a few dollars over. Corn, shelled and hauled to Mendota, eleven miles distant, brought 12 and 14 cents a bushel. At length, discouraged, Mr. Clapp started for Pike's Peak, hoping to obtain money enough to repay the loans from friends, and his wife returned east to work awhile at her trade as a dress-maker. Mr. Clapp drove 1,100 miles with an ox team, and then met numbers returning who said there was no chance for a living westward. He would have persevered, but his companions induced him to return. He had thus traveled 2,200 miles. His wife met him at their Wyo- ming home, and the two took up the battle of life with new courage. He had seen so many worse off than they were that he would not complain. Pluck and industry won, and prosperous times came. They have one son, Lewis A.

HON. OBED W. BRYANT has a farm of nearly 600 acres at Four Mile Grove, near Paw Paw, in Wyoming township. Here he has re- sided for nearly forty years, famous, as a farmer, for his industry and successful management; tenderly beloved by an ever widening circle of friends ; esteemed by his neighbors far and near for strict integrity, straightforward dealing, warm-hearted kindness, courage, prompt ac- tion, and public spirit. He is of Scotch descent on his father's side, a third cousin of the late William Cullen Bryant, the distinguished poet and editor of New York, and inherits much of the good common-sense grit and blunt ways of his sturdy ancestors. With few early advan- tages from the common schools of sixty years ago, he is mainly a self- educated man, and has creditably filled many varied positions of honor and responsibility in the town and county, has been a frequent dele- gate to conventions and often called to preside, and has represented his district in the legislature. Obed Wilson Bryant was the son of Micah and Polly (Twichell) Bryant, and was born at New Vineyard, Maine, March 9, 1815. His great-grandfather, Moses Twichell, was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill ; his grandfather of the same name was also in that battle, and served through the revolutionary war, as did likewise his grandfather Bryant. His parents could not give Obed much time to go to school, and very little money to start in life, but we may be sure they taught him excellent habits; and when, in 1837, he emigrated from Maine to Princeton, Bureau county, Illinois, he at once found employment and kind friends. One family there, whose

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acquaintance he then made, befriended him in many ways, and encour- aged him to commence a course of study and reading which was faith- fully followed in after years, and qualified him for the many places he has been called to fill. It is worth while for boys to notice the reason which induced this Princeton family to take such a kindly interest in the young man who had come to them an entire stranger: it was because they found that they " never had any work they wished him to do but that he was ready to do it and did it as well as he knew how." In 1839 and 1840 depression of business caused Mr. Bryant to engage on the public works. It was the hardest kind of labor, but he had great strength and a tough constitution. Within a week he was placed in charge of a gang of men in a quarry in the Peru Bluffs, and soon after was promoted to a more responsible position. Here he was required to keep a record in his books in cubic yards, and knew nothing of the method ; but after the day's labor was over he set himself to learn, and before he slept worked out the problem, unaided. Mr. Bryant was married in 1840, to Lucy Lindsey, and in 1842 moved onto a farm he had purchased, on which George Yenerick now lives, at Four-Mile Grove. In 1843 his wife died, and to escape his sorrow he sold his farm, and with another party engaged in buying flat-boats with car- goes at points near the Red river, on the Mississippi, and selling them at New Orleans. Returning the next spring Mr. Bryant bought a farm near his present residence, but just over the line southward in La Salle county, where he lived for several years. In 1844 he mar- ried Sarah, sister of his former wife. At a later period he sold the land he had bought at government price for $15 an acre, and in 1854 purchased the farm where he now lives. Mr. Bryant has taken an active interest in public affairs. Besides serving in office in other places, he has been elected county supervisor here six terms, often a magistrate, and in 1865 was member of the legislature. Yet he pre- fers to be known simply as a farmer, never seeking any other position. " If you wish me to serve you and are satisfied with my efforts, I shall submit," he has often said when nominated for office, "but if you would please me, leave me on my farm." He has done a good deal of quiet christian work, preaching acceptably in churches and school- houses and outlying neighborhoods, and giving largely in proportion to his means to aid in building churches and endowing educational in- stitutions, and has helped young men to enjoy at college the advan- tages that were denied to him. Several of the students whom he has helped have become ministers, one is a physician. While he will protest against this brief tribute, which is made up chiefly from the public records and the statements of fellow-citizens, less could not be said in justice, and other facts of interest concerning him may be pre-

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sented in another connection in this work, as others had to do with them. Mr. Bryant has seven children : Wilson C., Mrs. D. L. West, Wm. Howard, Frank B., Emma M. (Blee), Eva C. (Lewis) and Chas. H.

DEACON DANIEL PINE, South Paw Paw (La Clair the post-office), in the ninety-fourth year of his age and the thirty-sixth of his resi- dence in the township of Wyoming, is a man of really remarkable his- tory. He was born in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, December 21, 1787. His grandfather was an Italian and died in Italy. Subse- quently due and legal notice was received by Daniel's father, Joseph Pine, that a very valuable island was represented to belong to the estate of the grandfather in Italy, with the request to prove up a claim inside of ten years, else it would revert to the government. Dr. Alvin Bristol, of Rochester, New York, the only heir with means sufficient and competent for the work, went to Massachusetts, found the records all straight and adequate, and was about to proceed when he siekened and died. This put an end to the whole matter. Daniel's father was a clothier. His generosity in becoming surety for others kept the family poor. Of thirteen children Daniel is supposed to be the only survivor. In 1803 the family moved to York state, and while passing through the town of Arlington, Bennington county, Vermont, Daniel, a sprightly and attractive boy six years old, attracted the attention of the landlord of the tavern, named Baker. Baker says to Daniel's parents, " I like the looks of this boy; would like to have you leave him with me." The parents being poor and having a number of children, could spare this one, and left Daniel with Baker on trial for a few months. His father returning and finding Daniel contented, he indentured him to Baker till majority. Unfortunately the clause relating to the boy's schooling was simply that he be taught "to read, write, and cipher," which proved altogether indefinite. Daniel's father fully intended the boy should have at least three months' schooling for years, and took Baker's word for it, and therefore did not submit it to writing. So in the tavern, always wanted, summer and winter, the boy grew up, devoid of even a rudimentary education, Baker promising well each year for the next, but "next year " never came. At Daniel's majority he came one hundred miles north ' to the town of Williston, where one Horace Allen was teaching school. Daniel went to school to him, saw his destitution ; his pride did not allow him to take the proper place to obtain the needed primary instruction. In 1813 Daniel married this Allen's sister, Lucy Allen, who, being an educated girl, became to Daniel his spelling-book. Being quick of observation, as she told him letters he memorized the orthography, until in a few years he was able to do business quite well. So we find him saying to his printer in 1878, " The dietion is correct, but the spelling, I know, is not, and

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I am unable to correct it ; please do this for me." In the war of 1812 the subject of this sketch did service at the battle of Plattsburg, and received a land warrant, the net avails of which was $300, and sixty- six years later, in 1878, he commenced drawing a pension of $96 a year by virtue of the recent act of congress. In 1815 he moved to St. Lawrence county, New York, where he resided till 1834, when he moved again to Ohio, county of Madison ; thence, in 1845, came to Illi- nois and settled at South Paw Paw on what is known as the "Bacon Farm." In 1866 he sold there and moved to his present residence at South Paw Paw. Mr. Pine has been a member of the Congregational church over sixty years, and thirty-six years of that time a deacon in that church, and in all this period his manner of life has been above reproach. He was a whig at first, and about 1846 identified himself strongly with the abolitionist party, then with the republican party, and for years has advocated strongly the legal prohibition ticket as the only remedy for drunkenness. He has everywhere been active in the cause of temperance, and his life has ever conformed to his teaching as an advocate of temperance and righteousness and true holiness of heart and life. Mr. Pine's natural constitution has been remarkable; his general health now is as good as ever. Last year he planted and tended a half acre of corn, hoeing it three times, and he says, " Oh, yes ; what a fine crop I had !" Samples of that corn and those potatoes have gone to numerous friends in other states. His strength has ever been beyond his weight. His height is about five feet eleven inches, and he never weighed over one hundred and sixty-five. He was an adept at wrestling. One incident may be worthy of record : When about eighteen he went into a ring of wrestlers on training day and floored thirteen, every one of whom were older and heavier than him- self, and was not thrown at all. When twenty-two, at Williston, at a similar game, he floored the champion wrestler of the state on each of the three holds. His faithful wife walked with him over sixty years. They had eleven children, eight still living, each and all of whom are active in different churches. They are Mrs. Perry Stowe, Mrs. Syl- vester Carter, Mrs. David R. Town, Mrs. E. K. Whitemore, Julia, Horace, Daniel, and Nathan A. At the ninetieth anniversary of Mr. Pine's birthday his five daughters all came and gladdened their father's heart by a munificent gift, which he fully appreciates. Deacon Pine is to this day a remarkably fine penman. His correspondence is very large. His diction is easy and expressive. In 1858, at the solicitation of friends, he wrote the history of his religious life, which was pub- lished in Utica, New York, and in 1878 he wrote and published a small pamphlet of a religious character.

JOHN EDWARDS resides at East Paw Paw. For six terms he was

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elected supervisor of Wyoming, and has served nineteen years as com- missioner of highways here. He was born in the parish of Locherly, county of Hampshire, England, November 21, 1821. His parents' names were William and Phebe. They were poor, and labored upon a farm. His school privileges were quite limited. In 1837 he sailed for the island of Barbadoes, in the West Indies, where he was two years in the service of the British government, in the navy yard, and taking care of naval stores. Thence he went to Canada, where he was still employed by the government, at Montreal and Quebec. A year and a half later he came to Syracuse, New York, worked in the county, and in the spring of 1846 enlisted in the United States army, 5th Inf. His regiment joined Gen. Worth's division, under Gen. Scott, at Vera Cruz, in the Mexican war, and was in all the engagements that followed to the capture of the city of Mexico. A ball from a sharpshooter took off his forefinger here. Each man wounded in entering the capital was presented by Gen. Scott with $10 from his own purse. Mr. Edwards received his discharge February 22, 1848, with a pension cer- tificate for $96 a year, and a land warrant. The latter he soon after located in Wyoming, on Sec 6. In September, 1848, he married Eliza Ann, daughter of Henry Merwine, of East Paw Paw. They have three children. Mr. Edwards is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a worker in the Sunday-school.

ALMERSON POTTER, farmer, Paw Paw Grove, was born October 5, 1847, in Wayne county, Pennsylvania. When he was nine years old he came with his parents, Lester and Miranda (Andrews) Potter, to Paw Paw Grove. At the age of twenty-three he began farming near Twin Groves, and on January 27, 1870, married Miss Mary E. Bisp- ham, daughter of William Bispham, of Wyoming township. In the autumn of 1872 he moved to his father's farm, in Sec. 8 of the same township, where he still remains. They have five children : William Lester, Henry Floyd, Jerusha, Clara, and Effie.

ELISHA A. STANTON (deceased) was born in Exeter, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, May 28, 1821, brought up a farmer's boy, given good advantages at Harford Academy, and became a successful teacher. February 21, 1845, he was married to Sarah Oliver, of the same place, and on "the following May-day set out on their wedding tour, it being no less than a thirty-day journey with their own conveyance to Illinois. Stopping a few days at Harding, they arrived at Paw Paw Grove June 16. Mr. Stanton entered land located about a mile west of Paw Paw, and in due time received the deed from the government. This land never changed ownership till 1875. Mr. Stanton died in 1855. Their only son, J. Oliver Stanton, was in the war of the rebellion, under the last call, graduated at Rush Medical College in the class of 1871,

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was with Dr. Fish some six months at East Paw Paw in the practice of medicine, and then located at Dennison, Crawford county, Iowa ; but his health giving way, he went to the mountains in July 1874, and died at Laramie City, Wyoming Territory, the following October. His two orphan children are with his mother, also his sister Hattie, the only surviving child of the subject of this sketch, their residence being in the village of Paw Paw.

JESSE BEEMER, farmer, Paw Paw Grove, son of Henry and Mary (Spandinberg) Beemer, was born in Sussex county, New York, in March 1814. In the spring of 1820, a date which Mr. Beemer re- members with great distinctness owing to the surprising number of rattlesnakes he saw, removed and settled in Luzerne county, Pennsyl- vania. In the backwoods schools of that period the privileges for education were of the slimmest character, but such as they were, Mr. Beemer improved them. He bought and improved a 100-acre farm. October 14, 1838, he was married to Hannah, daughter of John W. Vanauken. She was born in New Jersey, June 8, 1821. Mr. Beemer emigrated to Illinois in the fall of 1847, and the next spring purchased his present farm, on Sec. 6, in this township. The land he bought was raw prairie, and the whole country was very wild, and on his way from Peru by way of Four-Mile Grove, to his purchase, he was fol- lowed most of the time by wolves. Mr. Beemer is an earnest repub- lican, and during the late war had three sons in the Union army. George was a volunteer in Co. K, 75th Ill. reg., and was severely wounded in the battle of Perryville. The other sons entered the service in 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Beemer have been the parents of twelve children, nine of whom are living. Of these seven are married. Two live in Iowa, two in Nebraska, and all the others in Lee county.

FRANCIS M. CASE, farmer and stock raiser, Earlville, Illinois, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Wyoming county February 15, 1839. His father was Chauncy Case, and his mother's maiden name Mary E. Roberts. In 1845 they emigrated to Lee county, Illinois, and next year took up the claim now owned and occupied by the subject of this sketch. This is the S.E. ¿ Sec. 35. It will be observed by the reader that a prairie claim two miles away from any timber at that early day was a thing almost unheard of, and indicates quite clearly that the claimant was one who did his own thinking, regardless of the common opinion, and when we come to consider the value he placed upon an education, as seen in the advantages and attainments of his children, this view of him as an independent thinker will be confirmed. Francis attended school successively at South Paw Paw, East Paw Paw, Lee Centre, and Clark's Seminary at Aurora. He then taught several seasons, and was offered the position of principal of the Batavia Academy, which ill

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health compelled him to decline. A sister, Hattie, is one of the finest scholars in the state, having a state certificate ; a brother graduated at Normal, also at Ann Arbor, and is now a probate judge in Kansas. As patriotism and intelligence are closely allied, we are not surprised to find the subject of our sketch responding to his country's call. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. K, 75th reg. Ill. Inf .; was wounded in the ter- rible encounter at Perryville, and on account of this wound was discharged in 1863. In 1867 he bought the home farm, built his fine two-story house, and was married October 10 of that year to Cynthia J. Clark, daughter of John Clark, of Ogle county. Three children bless their union : Stella, Harry and Charlie. On his excellent farm are superior buildings, with orchards, hedges and shade-trees to corre- spond. Mr. Case has always voted for the successful candidate for president. He and his wife are both members of the Paw Paw Bap- tist church.

WILLIAM M. STRADER, a portrait of whom is given in this work, and a leading farmer of Wyoming township, was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, August 18, 1824. His parents, Henry and Rachel (Moore) Strader, were in good circumstances, and when he was five years old they removed to the present county of Wyoming, in Penn- sylvania, where they continued their occupation of tilling the soil. He made the most of the advantages for education afforded by the district schools near his home; and after, a residence of twenty years in that place he emigrated to this township in May 1848, and entered the N. W. } Sec. 6. He completed an unfinished log house, broke and fenced his land, and purchased 120 acres more on Sec. 31, in Willow Creek. His marriage to Miss Sarah A. Post, daughter of J. D. Post, of Lee Centre, and sister to Elder William H. Post, was celebrated February 22, 1852. Accompanied by his bride he immediately after started to cross the plains to California. The company, of whom Will- iam Hopkins, of Temperance Hill, was the captain, had seven wagons drawn by oxen, and a few saddle-horses. Seven women and about twenty-one men composed the party. After waiting three weeks at Iowa City for the grass to start they set out on their long and toilsome journey of six months. At this time there was a stretch of seventy-five miles between Iowa City and Council Bluffs unbroken by sign of human habitation. Shasta, California, was the terminus of the stage route, and that place was reached September 26. Mr. Strader located on Trinity river, in Trinity county, where he had a ranch on which he built a good house and barn, and at which point he operated a ferry, always known by his own name. His house was the polling-place for that section of country, which was named "Strader's Precinet." In the fall of 1853 he disposed of his property, and in the latter part of Jan-

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nary took the stage for Marysville, en route for " the States." At that place, on the 27th, he took passage for Sacramento on the steamer Pearl, carrying 122 persons, including the erew. At this time there was great rivalry for business and the fare had fallen from $5 to 50 cents. Between this and another boat which left at the same time there was a race the whole way. When nearing the wharf at Sacra- mento city, and not more than twenty rods from the landing, the Pearl exploded her boilers, injuring all on board except eight. Mr. Strader, wife and child happening to be at that moment in the wash-room, escaped scalding, and were resened before that end of the boat went down. The passage from San Francisco to Panama lasted fifteen days. This city, thongh having one of the finest roadsteads in the world, had no wharf, and the boats which came out three miles to the steamer at a signal from a gun, to land the passengers, could not, owing to the tide being out, reach the shore with their prows, and stranded. The passengers had paid $2 apiece to be put ashore, but were now required to " come down " with a dollar more to be carried out on men's backs. Mr. Strader was not a light weight, as he found when his transporter fell headlong with him in the water and left him to get out at his own pleasure. Crossing the isthmus, a distance of forty-eight miles, over the Panama railroad, a crooked, rickety concern, they reached Aspin- wall, after six hours' travel, but on arrival were detained on the cars the greater part of a day, waiting for the specie boat, which was de- layed outside the harbor by the ebbing tide. From New York they proceeded to Philadelphia, thence to Chicago, and reached Paw Paw Grove March 25. Mr. Strader bought his homestead from Russell Town the same season. Mrs. Strader had a second narrow escape from disaster at the fall of the Dixon bridge, May 4, 1873, having just erossed before the fatal accident. These parents have had six children : George C., born in California, died at the age of nineteen ; John, who died in his ninth year; Mary A., who died in her eighteenth year ; Willis, Edward J. and Harry G. Mr. and Mrs. Strader are both members of the Paw Paw Baptist church, to which they have belonged the last seventeen years. Their deceased daughter was a young lady of unusual personal beauty, bright intellectual promise, and great ex- cellence of soul. Of her the Rev. H. R. Hicks, her pastor, said : "She had added to her natural charms, that pearl of great price that most gracefully adorned her remaining life." Mr. Strader is a man of cheer- ful and charitable disposition, well known and thoroughly respected. Under his roof are found hospitality and goodly comfort, dne not more to his large-heartedness than to the smile, and skill, and tender care of his estimable wife. Mr. Strader recently lost a favorite nephew, who once lived with him, by a distressing accident on the Marietta &

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Northern Georgia railroad, on which he was an engineer. The Ma- rietta "Journal," in the course of an article extolling his character and heroic conduct, thus speaks of the manner in which he bravely met his death : " We say bravely, but we might say heroically, for we have been told that he said that he saw danger caused by a broken cross-tie, and could have jumped off and saved himself, but he knew the pas- sengers would be killed, so he stood to his post, reversed his engine, and went down the embankment and was immersed in scalding water. Walking up to the crowd, he asked ' Is any one killed ?' he was told ' No.' 'Thank God !' he exclaimed. Then with perfect coolness he said, 'I am scalded from head to foot!' although not a quiver of the lip was exhibited and not an expression of pain, yet strips of skin had peeled off of his hands, arms, legs and back. Such nerve is seldom met with. And thus he met death heroically, and lost his own life to save others. He was a young man of fine physique, splendid mental endowments, a skillful machinist, honorable and just in all his dealings, punctual in keeping his promises, and gentlemanly in his deportment. He was past grand of Cherokee Lodge, a Mason, and a worthy citizen. Although he came to our city a perfect stranger, he made many true, warm-hearted friends, and was esteemed by our entire people. His sudden and shocking death is deeply regretted."

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History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc., Part 70

Author: Hill, H.H. (Chicago) pbl Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, H.H. Hill Number of Pages: 910

Author: Hill, H.H. (Chicago) pbl
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, H.H. Hill
Number of Pages: 910