History of McDonough County, Illinois, together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens, Part 128

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Illinois > McDonough County > History of McDonough County, Illinois, together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens > Part 128

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Corydon Carlos Chapman was born near Amherst Corners, Lorain county, Ohio, April 2, 1834. He is the son of

Jacob K. and Juliza (Griffith) Chap- man. The great-grandfather of Jacob K. was Benjamin Chapman, who lived and died in England. The latter had three sons, Benjamin, James and John, who, on arriving at years of maturity, left their home in England, and went to different countries-Benjamin to France, James to Ireland, and John to Scotland. Their father subsequently died at an ad- vanced age, leaving a large fortune to his sons. Benjamin returned from France, but found the entire estate con- fiscated by the government. ' He then came to America, and landed in South Carolina. James and John came, some years later, to the United States, and settled near Salem, Massachusetts, and were living there during the period of witchcraft and persecution. John had a family. of 13 children, of whom the youngest two, Isaac and Adam, are the only ones now remembered. Adam, when last heard from, in 1882, was living in Ohio, at the advanced age of 95 years. Isaac reared five sons and three daugh- ters-Uriah, Elenius, Daniel, Isaac and Jacob (twins), Roxy, Olive and Rebecca. Jacob K. was born in the state of New York, in 1803, and when a young man, went to Ohio, where he was married to Juliza Griffith, in the year 1825 or 1826. He was engaged in farming in that state until the spring of 1832. He then started, with his carpet-sack on his back, on foot and alone, for the far west. He traveled through the thick forests of Ohio and Indiana to Fort Dearborn (now Chicago), where he tarried two days to rest, then proceeded to Jackson county, Missouri. After stopping there six weeks, he started to return, on the

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same road he had come, and reached his home, in Ohio, in the fall, having trav- eled 1,400 miles. In 1838, he started, with his family, for Illinois, but stopped in Indiana till 1839, when he resumed his journey, arriving in Hancock county, where he resided until 1846. During his residence in that county, his wife died, in 1845. The following-year, he removed to Walworth county, Wiscon- sin, and one year later, to Geauga county, Ohio, where he was again married, to Harriet Allen. In 1854 he removed to Macomb, where he remained one year. He then went to Crawford county, Wis- consin, and there lived until 1868. In that year he returned to Geauga county, Ohio, where he died, on January 15, 1871. His children were-Sidney S., Hiram F., Albert B., Barbara A., Cory- don C., Emma C., Willard D., Orson O., and Sarah. Of these, one son, Willard D., lost his life at thè siege of Vicksburg, May 22, 1863. The subject of this sketch, Corydon C. Chapman, was four months old when his parents removed to Illinois. He remained with them until the death of his mother, in 1845, he being then ten years old. He then began earning his own livelihood, working upon a farm. At the age of 21, he was married to Margaret M. Clarke, whose parents were from Kentucky, having settled near Ma- comb in 1829, She was born here in 1837. Their marriage took place, April 19, 1855. They have had nine children, six of whom are living-Louis M., Annie, John, Lizzie, Fred and Harry. Those deceased are-Millard Fillmore, Eva and Willie. Mr. Chapman is by trade a car- riage woodworker, and is a skilled work- man. His wife, Margaret M. Chapman,

is a member of the Christian church, and has held that connection for 35 years. Mr. Chapman is, politically, a republican.

VINEGAR FACTORIES.

Alexander Holmes was the originator of this branch of business in Macomb, and in September, 1874, erected a press on the corner of Washington and Mc- Arthur streets, having a capacity of 80 gallons per hour, or 800 gallons per day of 10 working hours. That year the apple crop was very heavy, and conse- quently work was plenty, and the press was run nearly to its full capacity for some two or three months. In 1875, apples were very scarce, but notwith- standing a good run was made. A ready sale was found at fair prices for all the vinegar manufactured, and the demand was in excess of the supply. In 1876, another and still larger press was added with a capacity of 120 gallons an hour, making 200 gallons per day, of ten hours, as the amount that could be produced. During the year 1884, Alexander Hohnes, became the owner, by purchase of the building on the corner of Jefferson and Lafayette streets, formerly the property of J. W. McIntosh, and fitted it up for the manufacture of cider and cider vine- gar. He soon afterward added to it a mill for grinding feed and has since operated both branches of the business.

In 1876, Pillsbury Bros. embarked in the manufacture of vinegar. They do an immense business, in the single year of 1880, shipping some 30,000 gallons. The vinegar is all made from cider, the pure juice of the apple. In the fall of 1884, they added four tanks, each holding

HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY. 1103

about 150 barrels, and now they have storage capacity of 24,000. They have an engine to furnish the motive power, and every facility to carry on a large bu- siness, in good shape.

THE MACOMB BOTTLING WORKS.

is located on the corner of east Jackson and Monroe streets. It was opened in July, 1883, by W. A. George and D. N. Bryan, in the basement of another build- ing. Here they continued until the fol- lowing October, when they built a small building for storage, near the Pittsburg cider press, which they used until the spring of 1884, when they rented the building next to Ervin's drug store known as the Board of Trade building. . In August, 1884, W. A. George disposed of his interest to G. A. Bryan, and for 30 days the firm name was Bryan and Bro. At the expiration of that time, D. W. Bryan purchased the interest of his brother, and removed to his present location, which he built at a cost of $300. The machinery he uses in his busi- ness is worth about $2,700 more. He manufactures lemon, sarsaparilla, and strawberry soda water, birch beer, Buffalo mead, Belfast ginger ale, Little Daisy, cream soda, champaign cider, etc. It has been a successful business here, and they have a large line of trade in all the surrounding towns.

D. W. Bryan is a native of La Salle county, Illinois, born near the city of La Salle, March 31, 1855. He remained in his native county till 1871, then went to ElPaso and engaged in the bottling business, working there for his brother, John Bryan. He went from thence to Chicago where he worked at the same

business for nearly a year, after which he followed the same occupation at Galesburg for a time. From Galesburg he removed to Kansas and engaged in farming until the spring of 1882, at which time he returned to his native state and engaged in the business of manufacturing soda water at Canton, where he remained until the date of his coming to Macomb. He was married April 16,1877,to Hannalı Ingor,of Beloit, Wisconsin. In the spring of 1882, be- fore his removal from Kansas to Illinois, Mr. Bryan met with a terrible calamity, a cyclone passing over his place, killed his wife and two children and destroyed nearly all of his property, Mr. Bryan himself, barely escaped with his life. The children killed by the storm were Stella and a babe not named. One son, Willie A., is also deceased. Mr. Bryan was again married July 23, 1883, to Eva M. George, daughter of his former part- ner, W. A. George.

MACOMB MARBLE WORKS.

This institution was established by R. T. Quinn in 1873, and shortly afterward the firm changed to Quinn and Wilson. The latter after a time retiring, Mr. Quinn conducted the business, until No- vember 10, 1884, when it passed into the hands of S. B. Davis & Co., the present proprietors. It is located on the corner of Washington and Randolph streets. The building is 20x35 feet in size. They are doing an extensive business, and handle all kinds of foreign and domes- tic marbles.

Emmet T. Dunn is a son of O. B. Dunn, of Erie county, Pennsylvania, where Emmet was born, December 27,

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

1857. He removed with his parents to Monmouth, Illinois, and there resided for 20 years. His parents then moved to northwestern Nebraska, where they now live. Emmet T. Dunn was mar- ried May 10, 1881, to Margaret Davis, daughter of S. B. Davis, of Hire town- ship, McDonough county. He lived in Monmouth two years after marriage, then went to Nebraska, where he re- mained until November, 1884. At that. date he returned to Illinois and engaged in the marble business at Macomb, where he is at present located. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn have had one child-Bessie, who was born February 22, 1882, and died October 10, 1884. Mr. Dunn is a · member of the Masonic fraternity, Trin- ity lodge, No. 561, at Monmoutlı.

MACOMB CALENDAR CLOCK COMPANY.

The corporation with the above title was organized on the 22d of February, 1882, at the city of Macomb, with the following officers: C. W. Slade, presi- dent; C. V. Chandler, treasurer; W. L. Kenner, secretary. Mr. Kenner after- wards resigned his office, and April 13, 1882, David Knapp was elected secre- · tary, an office which he now holds. The company was formed with a capital stock of $20,000, and acquiring the pat- ent of the inventor, they purchased new and improved machinery for the manu- facture of a first-class calendar clock, of a new design. They commenced opera- tions, and for a time gave employment to from 12 to 15 men, but in July, 1883, they suspended operations, having made about 1,000 clocks, but not having pro- vided for the sale of their ware, they had them on hand, and so shut down. The

clock they manufacture is really a first- class article, and the manufacture is bound to be one of the leading industries of Macomb.

C. W. Slade, president of the Macomb . Calendar Clock company, came to this county in April, 1874, from Havana, Ma- son county. He is a native of Ohio, born September 17, 1825. He received a fair education in the common schools of his native state, and remained at home on a farm until 26 years old, engaging with his father in the various occupa- tions incident to agricultural life. He was there, on Christmas day, 1851, mar- ried to Elizabeth E. LeSourd, a native of Ohio, and continued to remain on the old homestead for six years, when he bought a farm in Warren county, Ohio, and made that his home until coming to this state. He first , settled in Illinois, on a splendid farm in Mason county, and there remained four years, when, on account of failing health, and consequent inability to perform farm work, he removed to Havana, and en- gaged in the dry goods business, and was thus employed for five years, then came to Macomb. In 1876, he here en- gaged in the grocery business, and re- mained in that trade on the southeast corner of the public square until July, 1882. Since that time he has been vari- ously employed in different lines of business, and in closing up accounts. In partnership with a son-in-law, he is interested in a grocery store in Clinton, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Slade have had eight children, five of whom are now living -- Mary A., now the wife of Dr. J. L. Walker, and living in Emmetsburg, Palo Alto county, Iowa; Eva C., married

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to William H. Wilson, and living in Clinton, Iowa; Viola B., wife of Frank- lin P. Benage, they are residents of Springfield, Missouri; Anna L., living at home, and Clarence W., living at home. Politically, Mr. Slade is a member of the democratic party.

NOVELTY WORKS.

This was established in 1873, by R. E. Harris, who is still proprietor. It is located on the west side of Randolph street, north of the Union National bank. All kinds of novelties are here manufac- tured, including models for inventors' machine work. Mr. Harris, also deals in pumps and windmills, and does all kinds of plumbing and fitting, and has a good line of business.

R. E. Harris, the popular machinist of Macomb, is a son of Dr. R. Harris. He is a native of the state of Kentucky, being born there on the 4th day of July, 1846. With his parents he came to McDonough county, and received his education in the public schools of the city of Macomb. His natural inclina- tions running to the mechanic arts, he served an apprenticeship of three years each to the trades of machinist, moulder and patternmaker, and thus is eminently fitted for the business in which he is now engaged. After he had served his different apprenticeships, he went to Missouri, where he was engaged for some six years. At the expiration of that time, he returned to Macomb, and established his present business, in which he is meeting with well-deserved success. While a resident of Missouri, in 1871, Mr. Harris and Mattie Jackson, a native of Kentucky, were united in

marriage. They have been blessed with five children-Lisle, Florence, Ralph, Mary, and Lelia. Mr. Harris is a mem- ber of the Golden Rule society, of Ma- comb.

George Snyder runs a novelty shop upon the south side of the square, where he repairs anything brought to him, be it wood, iron, brass, ivory and or ma- terial. He isa machinist, having served 20 years at the business. He came to Macomb, October 31, 1883, and com- menced his present business.

FOUNDRY.

The foundry of A. Fisher & Bro., was erected by that firm in the year 1873. It is located on the west side of Randolph street, just north of the C., B. & Q. rail- road. The main building or foundry, is of brick, and is 40x136 feet in ground area. The machine shop is 60x80 ·feet. They make a specialty of casting and finishing school furniture, and do a gen- eral jobbing business in their line. This business was established by Thomas Wiley, in about 1856. In 1868, A. Fisher came to McDonough county, and be- came associated with Mr. Wiley in the business. Later, Mr. Wiley sold out, and the firm became Fisher & Price, which lasted for a few years. Then the present · firm was organized, and the foundry buildings erected.

PLANING .MILL.

This was built upon what is now the public park, by Fred Burt, in 1868, and the following year was burned to the ground. Mr. Burt immediately rebuilt it, and operated it until 1874, when it was purchased by W. O. Thomas. Up

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

to this time the machinery was of a very inferior quality, and he immediately put in new and improved kinds. The building was 32x80 feet on the ground. Mr. Thomas continued to run this until March, 1885, when, to make room for the improvements in the park, he removed to its present location, near the gas- works. The building was in two parts: one 32x48 feet in size, built of wood, and one 32x32 feet, of brick. The latter is used as the engine room, and is 16 feet high. This is said to be the only mill of the kind in the county, and the only one between Galesburg and Quincy.

William O. Thomas, proprietor of the planing mill, at Macomb, was born in Urbana, Champaign county, Ohio, Octo- ber 26, 1828, and is a son of Ross and Elizabeth (Gray) Thomas, the former of Welsh, and the latter of English origin. Both died in Ohio, where Wil- liam lived until 1855. He was brought up on a farm, and at.the age of 16 years, began learning the carpenter's trade, which he followed in that state until the above date, when he came to McDon- ough county. After coming here he continued to follow his trade, building many of the principal buildings in the city of Macomb. In 1875 he went to Knoxville, and there built the Swedish college and a public school building. He is still engaged in contracting and building. He is a first-class workman, and a thorougly honest and reliable contractor. Mr. Thomas was married in Ohio, August 10, 1851, to Elizabeth Doak, a native of Ohio, They have six children-John A., who is now living in Chicago, Illinois; Arabella, wife of B. F. Frank, of Chicago; William B., living

in Kansas; Eva, who is engaged in teach- ing music in Chicago; Beryl and Char- les, at home with their parents.

Among the largest buyers and shippers of stock in Macomb is Emery Runkle, who has been engaged in that line of trade at this place for over 20 years. He buys cattle, hogs, sheep, etc., and ships large quantities to Chicago, St. Louis, and the eastern market, and is one of the solid men of the community.

CITY GAS WORKS.

This was built in October, 1874, and mains laid that fall and the following spring throughout the principal streets. In March, 1880, it was destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt in March, 1881. It is one of the institutions of the city worthy of notice as a credit to Macomb.

OPERA HOUSE. .

The opera house in Macomb was erec- ted by C. V. Chandler, on north Lafay- ette street, during the year 1872, opera- tions commencing in March. A fine row of store rooms occupy the first floor of the block, while the opera house pro- per is located in the second story. The entire building is 60x80 feet in dimen- sions, and well and substantially built of brick, in the best manner known to ma- sons. The auditorium is 60x56 feet in size, with a fine gallery extending around three sides of the room. The stage is 22×24 feet in size, and well-equipped with elegant drop curtain and scenery, and furnished in good theatrical fashion. The auditorium is well seated, and has a capacity of holding 800 people. To the public spirit and enterprise of Mr. Chandler, the people of Macomb

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owe this really fine place for holding all kinds of entertainment, *which cost about $31,000. It was opened in April, 1873, for the first time, by Edwin Wight's theatrical troupe, to a good house.

DEPOT.

In 1855, when the railroad came to Macomb, the depot was located out in the western part of town, just north of Loven Garrett's addition. Here a man by the name of Cameron was the first station agent. In 1860, a petition of the citizens of Macomb was circulated, prin- cipally through the efforts of N. P. Tins- ley, and obtained many signatures, ask- ing the railroad company to remove the depot to a more convenient location, which was accordingly done, the city giving the company the use of the grounds then appropriated for a park. The new depot was soon built, and the old one torn down, removed to anotlier lot, put up and used for a planing mill. The new depot was burned down, but was at once rebuilt. The present agent at this point is C. E. Crissey.

Charles E. Crissey is a son of C. D. and Samira C. (Toms) Crissey, Samira a native of New York City, C. D., of Stamford, Connecticut, where they were married. . Soon after marriage they removed to McDonough county, Illinois, where Mr. Crissey engaged in dealing in grain, continuing that busi- ness about 15 years. He still lives in the city of Macomb, and is engaged in the freight and baggage department of the C., B. & Q. R. R. Charles E. was born in Macomb November 15, 1856. At the age of 16 years, he began learn- ing telegraphy, being meantime baggage

and switch man. He continued thus employed four years, after which he was night operator two and a half years. In 1880, he was given full charge of the station of Macomb, as agent of the C., B. & Q. R. R. Co., in which position he has, by strict attention to business, and his genial and accommodating manners, won many friends. He is the owner of some real estate in the city of Macomb. He is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, also of the A. O. U. W., and of the Good Templars. Mr. Crissey is a popular and worthy gentleman, and well fitted for the position which he oc- cupies.

Daniel Galvin was born in Kilrush town, county of Clare, Ireland, August 15, 1833. In 1850, he came to America, landed at Quebec, and for two seasons engaged in towing timber with sail boat, to sail ships bound for Europe. He went to Virginia and worked there one season on public works, and went to Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and worked there on track repairs about one year, and came to Illinois in the year 1855, and worked on the Ohio & Mississippi railroad one year as track foreman, and then came to Galesburg in the year 1856, and worked on section there as track foreman, on the C. B. & Q. The com- pany changed him to Quincy, on section there, and from Quincy to Camp Point, and all along between Quincy and Gales- burg, as extra foreman, until and up to 1863. He left the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy company in spring of 1864, and was hired by the Wabash & West- ern railroad company one year as track foreman. He left that company in the spring of 1865, and went to work again

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

for the C. B. & Q. Co. He came to Ma- comb in April, 1865, and has been in the employ of the C. B. & Q. Co., up to this time. He purchased his, present resi- dence, which is located in the western part of the city of Macomb, and is a pleasant and desirable home. Mr. Gal- vin was married in the city of Quincy, Illinois, November 4, 1863, to Esther E. Flynn, born in Swinford town, county of Mayo, Ireland. They have had four children, three of whom are now living -Eliza, Esther, who is now attending school at Quincy, and Willie. Joanna is deceased.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Dr. E. F. King, dentist, was born in Buffalo, New York, March 8, 1855, and is a son of N. H. King, who is practi- cing dentistry in Baltimore, Maryland, where he has resided since 1864. In 1870, E. F., entered his father's office in Baltimore, and studied dentistry with him until 1876, when he attended the Baltimore and Maryland college, and graduated in 1877, and entered the office of Drs. Coy & Mills, in Brooklyn, New York, where he remained for about eight months, when he again entered the office of his father, and remained with him until he came to Macomb. He was as- sociated with Dr. Downing for one year, after which he removed to his present office in Bailey's block, east side square, where he has four rooms nicely fitted up. He uses the latest known way of extracting teeth, using aesthetics. Dr. King has been successful in business, and has a large and lucrative practice, extending through this and adjoining counties. Charles McLean is in his of- fice as an assistant.

Thomas J. Price, dealer in, and manu- facturer of · sorghum evaporators, and machinery for producing sugar from sorghum cane, was born in Meigs county, Tennessee, February 23, 1828. His par- ents were Samuel Price and Barsheba (Atchley) Price, who were natives of Tennessee. Thomas J., when two years old, in 1830, came to this state with his parents and settled in Schuyler county. They then remained two years, when they went to Washington county, Ar- kansas, and lived two years, and where, in 1834, the mother died. The family then came back to Schuyler county, and in 1850, settled in this county, and in Industry township; subsequently the father moved to Macomb, and later died at Rushville, at the advanced age of 91 years and six months, leaving a family of four grown children, three sons and one daughter. The subject of this sketch was married July 6, 1848, to Eleanor Wilson, a native of Ohio. They have had eight children, four of whom are now living-William, who is married and resides in Macomb; George W., teaching school in Chapin, Morgan county, who is a graduate of Illinois col- lege; John M., traveling salesman for a St. Louis firm, and Edward E., living at home. Mrs. Price died in 1869, and he was again married May 18, 1876, to Mag- gie Miller, formerly Van Hoesen, who has living,one child by her first husband. Mr. Price has been for 25 years a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, and be- longs to the Christian church, at In- dustry.

S. R. Beardsley, dealer in grain at Macomb, is a native of New York state, born May 7, 1823, near the city of

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

Rochester. He was brought up on a farın and educated in the common schools. His parents both died in New York. He came to Macomb in the spring of 1858, and contracted, with three others, for the building of 14 miles of the Rock Island and Alton railroad. After they had done considerable work, the railroad company became bankrupt and they were obliged to abandon their work and received only pay for that which they had already done. Mr. Beardsley then engaged in the grocery business which he continued about three years, then be- gan buying grain and stock. He now buys grain exclusively, shipping, on an average, about 75,000 bushels annually. He was married in 1851, to Caroline A. Goetschius, a native of New York state, but of German descent. They have had five children, three of whom are now living-LeRoy, aged 31 years, married to Alice Hammer; Lida, aged 22, and Louie, aged 15. The eldest, LeRoy, is a broker on the board of trade in Chi- cago. One son, Frank, died in Macomb when four years old. Mr. Beardsley, is politically, a supporter of the republi- can party.

Captain G. C. Gumbart is a native of Germany, having been born in that di- vision of Europe on the 14th day of May, 1826. He was educated for the profession of civil engineer, attending the military school of Hesse Darm- stadt. He, like all the residents of that military empire, served in the German army from 1847 to 1853, two years being in service in the field. In 1853, he de- cided to leave the Fatherland, and emi- grated to the United States, landing at New York, November 29, where he re-

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History of McDonough County, Illinois, together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens, Part 128

Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1150

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1150