USA > Illinois > McLean County > History of McLean County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 47
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Joseph W. Stubblefield, retired, is a member of a well-known pioneer family of McLean County. He was born on a farm in Mount Hope Town- ship, McLean County, Nov. 13, 1856, the son of George M. and Eliza Jane (Murphy) Stubblefield.
George M. Stubblefield was a native of Ohio and came to McLean County in 1824 with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stubblefield. His father entered land from the government and was one of the large land owners of the county. George M. Stubblefield followed farming during his entire life and met with success. He died in 1920 and is buried in Funks Grove Cemetery. His widow now lives at Bloomington. They were the parents of seven children, as follows: Charles, died in 1915; Mary, married Albert Longworth, who is deceased; Samuel, deceased; Joseph W., the subject of this sketch; George, died in infancy; Isaac F., married Martha Rogers, lives at Bloomington, and Thaddeus, married Leota Houghman, lives at Bloomington.
Joseph W. Stubblefield was reared on the farm and received his edu- cation in the district schools of McLean County and attended Baker Business College at Bloomington. He then engaged in general farming
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and stock raising in Mount Hope Township until 1920, when he retired and moved to McLean. Mr. Stubblefield lives in a fine brick dwelling there and still owns 470 acres of land with his wife.
In 1882 Mr. Stubblefield was married to Miss Louie M. McCormick, a native of McLean County, born Nov. 27, 1862, and the daughter of Marion and Belinda McCormick. The McCormicks came to McLean County from Ohio in 1835, and settled on a farm in Mount Hope Township. They were married in Mount Hope Township in 1861. Mr. McCormick died Jan. 9, 1916, and his wife died Aug. 6, 1921. To Joseph W. and Louie M. (McCormick) Stubblefield four children have been born, as follows: Marion, born in 1886, married Florence Horn, lives at McLean, and they have two children, Francis and Rachael; Eunice, born in 1888, now de- ceased, was the wife of Oscar Dodgson; Myrtie, born in 1890, unmarried, lives at home, and Ansel, born in 1893, married Pearl Nafzinger, lives on the home place and they have two children, Josephine and Barbara Lou.
Ansel Stubblefield is a veteran of the World War. He enlisted at Mc- Lean and was stationed at Camp Grant and later at Washington, D. C. While at Camp Grant he was commissioned second lieutenant and he was then stationed in the officers' training camp at Washington, D. C.
Joseph W. Stubblefield is a Republican and a director of the McLean State Bank. He is a member of the Methodist Church, of which he has been a trustee for 25 years, and he belongs to the Masonic lodge and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Stubblefield is a representative and dependable citizen of McLean County and has many friends.
Timothy Benjamin, now living retired in Bloomington, is a member of a prominent pioneer family of McLean County. He was born in Co- lumbia County, N. Y., April 9, 1853, and is a son of John R. and Sarah M. (Beaver) Benjamin.
John R. Benjamin was born in New York in 1824, the son of Darius and Martha (Rogers) Benjamin, natives of Chatham, N. Y. Darius Ben- jamin, who was a farmer by occupation, served in the War of 1812, and Ebenezer Benjamin, his father, was a captain in the Revolutionary War. The original paternal ancestor in America was John Benjamin, who came over from England on the ship "Lion," arriving in Boston harbor, Sept.
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16, 1632. He was one of the proprietors of New Town, Mass., now Cambridge.
John R. Benjamin was married in Pennsylvania to Sarah M. Beaver, who was born in Chester County, Pa., in 1819. After a number of years they moved to Illinois, arriving in McLean County in 1854. They located in Old Town Township and the following year removed to Dawson Town- ship, where Mr. Benjamin became the owner of 400 acres of land. He died Oct. 17, 1889. In religious faith he was a Quaker and together with others organized the first Friends Church in McLean County. Politically he was identified with the Republican party. The town of Benjamin- ville was named after Mr. Benjamin. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John R. Benjamin, as follows: Deborah, married T. J. Moore, lives at 1117 East Monroe Street, Bloomington; Timothy, the subject of this sketch; Martha E., the widow of W. B. Mills; George O., married Dora Wampler, lives in Bloomington; John; and Charles.
Judge Reuben Moore Benjamin, an uncle of Timothy Benjamin, was one of the most distinguished lawyers, educators, authors, and jurists of Illinois. He was born at Chatham Center, Columbia County, N. Y., June 29, 1833, and died in August, 1916.
Timothy Benjamin was educated in the schools of Benjaminville and attended Brown's Business College. He then engaged in farming in Old Town Township, and after renting land for 10 years, purchased a quarter of a section. After farming until 1881 he went west for a short time, and upon his return farmed until 1894 when he moved to Bloomington. After two and one-half years Mr. Benjamin removed to a farm near Holder, Ill., where he lived for four years. He sold out and bought a farm near Colfax; sold out and returned to Bloomington and resided on East Washington Street for seven and one-half years. In 1909 he again returned to his old homestead, remaining there until 1919. Mr. Ben- jamin now lives at 1106 East Grove Street, Bloomington.
In 1875, Timothy Benjamin was married to Miss Anna Coale, a na- tive of Huntington, Ind., and the daughter of Joshua Coale. She died in April, 1877, leaving one son, Arthur L., who lives in Old Town Town- ship, McLean County. He married Grace Price and they have four chil- dren, as follows: Anna, married Roy Percy; Roland, married Miss Ott; Louis; and William.
In 1883, Mr. Benjamin was married the second time to Miss Agnes McBarnes, a native of Harrison County, Ohio, and the daughter of Den-
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nis and Mary Jane (Dickey) McBarnes. Agnes McBarnes is a sister of John McBarnes, the donor of McBarnes' Memorial Building which is men- tioned more extensively elsewhere in this work. Miss McBarnes was educated at the State Normal University at Normal, Ill., and Wesleyan University and taught school for 15 years in McLean County. Her par- ents were very early settlers in McLean County, coming here in 1853. They settled in Old Town Township; they are both deceased and are buried in Evergreen Cemetery at Bloomington.
To Timothy and Agnes (McBarnes) Benjamin three children were born, as follows: Sadie M., who is a graduate of Wesleyan University, and the Illinois College and is a teacher; John M., married Mary Fitz- Henry, and they have two children, Dorothy and Kenneth; and Russel J., married Anna Layden, and they have three children, Eugene, Martha Ann, and Timothy.
Mr. Benjamin is a Republican and served as school director for 21 years and as road commissioner. He is a Quaker. The Benjamin family has been well and favorably known in the community for many years, and Mr. Benjamin is highly esteemed as an excellent citizen.
John Mikel, now living retired at Bloomington, for many years was one of the leading farmers and stockmen of McLean County. He was born in Darke County, Ohio, Sept. 5, 1841, the son of William and Cath- erine (Warner) Mikel.
William Mikel was born March 25, 1813, and was among the earliest settlers of Illinois, having settled on a farm in McLean County in 1845. He became a prosperous farmer and at the time of his death owned 640 acres of good farm land. He died Oct. 11, 1879, and his wife, a native of Pennsylvania, is also deceased. They were the parents of the follow- ing children: Elizabeth Leach, lives at Bloomington; Sylvanus, de- ceased; Margaret, deceased; John, the subject of this sketch; Nancy Davis, deceased; Catherine Martin; Susan, deceased; Andrew, lives in Kansas; Mary, deceased; Sarah, deceased; Jacob, deceased; William, lives in Illinois; Joseph, deceased.
John Mikel was reared on his father's farm and attended the dis- trict schools. He has always followed farming and has been among the prominent stockmen of Mclean County. Mr. Mikel now owns 450 acres
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of land in Downs and Old Town townships, which he rents, and he has lived in Bloomington for 20 years.
On June 16, 1871, Mr. Mikel was united in marriage with Miss Mary Jane Bunn, a native of Illinois, born Feb. 6, 1854, and the daughter of David and Hannah Bunn. Mr. Bunn's first wife died when Mrs. Mikel was but four months old and he later married Ellen Ritter. To that union one child was born, John, deceased. Mr. Bunn was married a third time to Elizabeth Horr, and six children were born to that union: Elmer, Martha, Katie, Temperance, Josiah, and Sallie, all deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. John Mikel the following children were born: Sallie, born March 17, 1872, lives in Bloomington; Louis, born June 5, 1873, lives at home; Will- iam, born Sept. 11, 1879, died Dec. 29, 1886; David Keith, born April 4, 1888, Downs Township; and two children died in infancy. Mrs. Sallie Craig had one child, John, born Sept. 17, 1903, died July 14, 1909. She is now rearing a girl, Catherine.
Mr. Mikel is identified with the Democratic party in politics and is a member of the Christian Church. He is one of the substantial citizens of his community.
F. S. Foulk, the well known mayor of Normal, was born three and one-half miles southwest of Decatur, Ill., June 22, 1865, the son of John and Mary Ann (Pearson) Foulk.
John Foulk was a native of Perry County, Ill., as also was his wife: They were married in Pennsylvania and came to Illinois in 1856 and set- tled on a farm near Decatur. Mr. Foulk was a cabinet maker by trade in Pennsylvania, and after coming to Illinois engaged in general farming and stock raising. In 1878 the family moved to a farm three miles west of Saybrook and remained there until 1887 when they moved to the town of Saybrook, where Mr. Foulk died in 1900. His wife died Jan. 1, 1922, at the age of 97 years. She retained all her faculties up to a week before her death. Mr. and Mrs. John Foulk had 10 children, nine of whom grew to maturity, as follows: Maria A. Russell, lives at Decatur ; Seville Cor- nelius, lives at Whitewater, Kan .; Rev. S. W., deceased, was pastor of the United Brethren Church, at Holton, Kan .; David J., died in Garden City, Kan .; Elizabeth, married J. P. Smith, lives at Arrowsmith, Ill .;
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J. C., died at Rockyford, Colo .; F. S., the subject of this sketch; and Mrs. E. E. Merritt, deceased.
F. S. Foulk was born in a log cabin and slept in an old time trundle bed and was reared amidst pioneer surroundings. At the age of 12 years he came to McLean County with his parents and lived on the farm. He received his education in the district schools and began farming for him- self at the age of 21 years. Mr. Foulk followed general farming and stock raising in Arrowsmith Township until February, 1915, when he came to Normal. In July of the same year he went to California to attend the exposition and in the spring of 1917 was elected to the city council of Normal. Mr. Foulk is serving his third term as mayor and as an official he has been very progressive and efficient. During his first year of office improvements amounting to $90,000.00 were made in the streets of Normal.
Mr. Foulk was married Dec. 15, 1886, to Miss Elizabeth R. Kepner, a native of McLean County and the daughter of James Kepner. James Kepner was a Civil War veteran, having served with Pennsylvania troops, and he came to Illinois shortly after the war. Mr. and Mrs. F. S. Foulk have two children, as follows: Chesleigh, farmer and stockman, lives near Arrowsmith, Ill .; and Frank Earl, farmer and stockman, lives near Fletcher, Ill.
Mr. Foulk has always been a Republican and has taken an active in- terest in local affairs. He has held the office of school director for 20 years and belongs to the Masonic Lodge No. 673 of Normal and the Knights of Pythias, Hope Lodge No. 140, of Saybrook. Mr. Foulk is a member of the Methodist Church, and he is a highly respected citizen of McLean County.
Frank Albert Walker, now living retired at Normal, has been a prom- inent farmer and stockman of McLean County for many years. He was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, March 8, 1856.
When Mr. Walker was six months old his parents moved to Illinois and settled on a farm one mile north of the present town of Normal. He received his education in the district schools and then engaged in gen- eral farming and stock raising. Mr. Walker was very successful in his
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work and was known as a dairyman. For the past three years he has lived retired.
Mr. Walker was identified with the Republican party and later the Prohibition party in politics. He is unmarried and his sister, Anna Walker, keeps house for him. Mr. Walker is a substantial citizen and stands high in the community and county.
Jacob N. Hilton, now living retired at Bloomington, has been a prom- inent farmer and stockman of McLean County for many years. He was born in Harrison County, Ohio, Feb. 15, 1851, and is a son of John W. and Mary (Vasbinder) Hilton.
John W. Hilton was born in Virginia and when he was a young man removed to Ohio, where he engaged in general farming and also followed his trade as a blacksmith. In 1872 the Hilton family came to McLean County and settled on land eight miles northwest of Bloomington, which was purchased for $42.50 per acre. This land is still in possession of the Hilton family. After coming to Illinois, Mr. Hilton built a blacksmith shop on his farm and did work for the neighbors. He died in 1885 and his wife died in 1881. Mr. Hilton was a Democrat and while living in Ohio served as justice of the peace. As the result of an accident he ever after had a stiff arm, and thus was unable to serve during the Civil War. However, he hired a substitute to take his place. When Morgan's raid occurred in Ohio, the troops passed within three miles of Mr. Hilton's home and Shackelford's men attacked Morgan's men at that spot. Mr. Hilton got out his horse and taking his rifle joined Shackelford's forces. Morgan was captured that day.
Mr. and Mrs. John W. Hilton were the parents of the following chil- dren: Margaret Jane, married William Kirkpatrick, both deceased; Thomas H. married Elizabeth Hastings and had four children, Belle, Oliver John L., Bertha, moved to Utica, Nebr., in 1884 or '85 where he died about 1886; Mary Agnes, married John V. Dickerson, both deceased; and Jacob N., the subject of this sketch.
Jacob N. Hilton grew up on his father's farm and received his educa- tion in the district schools of Ohio and Illinois. At the age of 24 years he was married to Miss Louisa Bohrer, a daughter of Frederick C. and Maria (Zigler) Bohrer. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Hilton went to
MR. AND MRS. JACOB N. HILTON.
, 3BARY OF THE
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
Kansas, where he purchased a section of land five miles north of Pea- body, Kan. In 1882, however, they returned to Illinois and rented land until the time of Mr. Hilton's father's death, when they purchased the old home place. Mr. Hilton became a successful farmer and at one time owned 700 acres of well-improved land in McLean County. He has lived retired since 1909 and owns a fine home in Bloomington, which is located at 401 West Chestnut Street.
To Jacob N. and Louisa (Bohrer) Hilton the following children were born : Alfred Willis, a farmer, lives near Bloomington, and has one daughter, Margaret L .; Mary Edna, married Elmer Gerber, and they have five children, Loda, Helen, Ruth, Joseph N., and Charles ; Charles W., has one child, Nelson V., and lives in Wheaton, Ill .; Nellie, married Frederick Stappenbeck, and they have four children, Guy, Gale, Grace, and Glenna ; Guy is a dairyman and farmer residing eight miles northwest of Bloom- ington and has two children, Hazel and Guy, Jr .; Rolph, has one child, Marie; and Gladys, married Leslie Ernst. Mrs. Jacob N. Hilton died in September, 1922.
Mr. Hilton is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a sub- stantial and highly respected citizen of McLean County.
Henry A. Welch, retired, has been a leading farmer of McLean County for many years. He was born in Downs Township, Sept. 3, 1872, the son of James A. and Myrtle Jane (Bishop) Welch.
James A. Welch was a native of Downs Township, McLean County, born Jan. 6, 1849, and the son of Henry and Minerva (Caldwell) Welch, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. Henry Welch came to Illinois when he was a young man and located on 160 acres of land in McLean County. He became a prosperous farmer and at the time of his death owned 1,400 acres of land. Mr. Welch died at the age of 65 years and his wife died at the age of 81 years. James A. Welch fol- lowed farming during his entire life and was well known as a stockman. He was married on Nov. 23, 1871, to Myrtle Jane Bishop, a daughter of James Bishop, a native of Ohio. Mr. Welch died Nov. 14, 1922, shortly after having celebrated his golden wedding anniversary. Mr. and Mrs. James A. Welch had four children, as follows: Florence, married J. O. Killion, lives at Bloomington; Mary is the wife of Frank Stubblefield, (35)
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lives at Bloomington; Nellie is the wife of Frank Cavender; and Henry A., the subject of this sketch.
Henry A. Welch was educated in the early day schools of McLean County and began life farming on the home place. He owns 232 acres of well improved land in Downs Township, which he now rents. Mr. Welch has lived retired at Bloomington since 1904.
On Feb. 20, 1895, Mr. Welch was married to Miss Jeanette Craig, a native of Illinois, born Sept. 23, 1875, and the daughter of Alexander and Sallie B. (Campbell) Craig. Mr. Craig served throughout the Civil War and died Feb. 12, 1892, and his wife died May 21, 1887. They were the parents of four children, as follows: Elizabeth; Mrs. Welch; John A., deceased ; and Ray M., lives at Bloomington. To Henry A. and Jeannette (Craig) Welch one child was born, Lorin J., born Dec. 1, 1895, married Rue Tyler, a native of Springfield, Ill. He lives at Bloomington and is a bookkeper in the McLean County Bank. To Lorin J. Welch and wife two children were born: James Tyler and John Lorin.
Henry A. Welch is a Republican, a member of the Methodist Church, and belongs to the Masonic Lodge. He is one of the dependable and highly respected citizens of his community.
Arthur J. Graves, the well-known superintendent of the Bloomington Cemetery and florist of Bloomington, was born in McLean County in 1863, and is a son of Linus and Virginia F. (Hayden) Graves. His father was a native of Brookfield, Vt., where his birth occurred in 1815, and his mother in Hopkinsville, Ky., in 1829.
The Graves family is of English descent, and traces its genealogy in America back to Thomas Graves, who landed on the shores of the new world in 1645. Linus Graves came from Vermont to McLean County in 1840, his future wife having arrived with her parents in 1836. Their marriage took place in McLean County in 1847. Linus Graves was the organizer of the Bloomington Cemetery Association, of which he was the superintendent for many years. He was a public spirited man and a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln. In politics, he was an earnest and active Republican, although not an aspirant for public office. He departed this life Jan. 18, 1897.
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In boyhood Arthur J. Graves attended public school and later at- tended Illinois Wesleyan University. After finishing his studies he went to Colorado, taking up a claim on which he remained two years. He then went to New York City, where he was engaged with the Charles Frohman Stock Company for six years. In 1896 he returned to Bloomington and was elected to his present position as superintendent of the Bloomington Cemetery, and also of the Maplewood Greenhouse. Mr. Graves now owns five large greenhouses in McLean County.
On March 20, 1899, Arthur J. Graves was married to Miss Katherine Jacoby, a native of Bloomington and the daughter of Peter and Susan Jacoby, natives, respectively, of Germany and Terre Haute, Ind. They were early settlers of Bloomington where Mr. Jacoby and his brother, Jacob, were engaged in the grocery business; the latter served on the board of education of Bloomington for 20 years. To Mr. and Mrs. Graves the following children were born; Esther Virginia, now the wife of Ed- ward S. Brown, residing in Benjaminville, and Ruth, now a school teacher in Lexington High School, Lexington, Ill.
In politics Mr. Graves is a Republican and he belongs to the Elks Lodge and is a 33d degree Mason. He has a wide acquaintance in Mc- Lean County and is recognized as one of the representative and substan- tial citizens of the community.
Moses Blair, deceased, was a prominent pioneer farmer and stock- man of McLean County. He was born in Ireland and came to the United States when he was a young man, locating at Jacksonville, Ill., where he remained five years. Mr. Blair then came to Bloomington and purchased 160 acres of land in Blue Mound Township, which he improved. He was extensively engaged in stock raising and specialized in the breeding of Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. Mr. Blair took an active part in the progress of the community and the development of the county. He died in 1885.
On Sept. 30, 1857, Mr. Blair was united in marriage with Miss Bridget Murphy, a native of Ireland, born Jan. 16, 1839, and the daughter of James and Sarah (Tobin) Murphy. At an early date Mr. Murphy came to this country, making the trip in a sailing vessel which required six weeks. He became a successful farmer and stockman of McLean County,
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and owned 160 acres of land. Mr. Murphy died in 1866, and his wife died in 1840. They were the parents of five children, as follows: Philip, ad- dress unknown; Mary, married John Evans, both deceased; Mrs. Blair; Sarah, married Michael Cleary, both deceased; and Michael, who died while the family were making the voyage from Ireland to America.
To Moses and Bridget (Murphy) Blair, fourteen children were born, as follows: John, deceased; Sarah Jane, married Edward Sacry, lives at Holden, Ill .; Mary Ann, the widow of Stephen Spencer, who died Nov. 15, 1895, and she lives with her mother at Bloomington; William, a grain buyer, lives at Cropsey, Ill .; Elizabeth, died at the age of ten years; Thomas, a farmer, lives in Dawson Township, McLean County; Ella, the widow of Peter Hopt, who died in 1917, and she resides in Bloomington; Frank, a farmer, lives with his brother Thomas, in Dawson Township, McLean County; Annabel, and Rosabel, twins, died in infancy; George a farmer, lives in Ohio; Joseph, a farmer, lives in Blue Mound Township, McLean County ; and Alice, died in infancy, and Benjamin, deceased. Mrs. Blair has 36 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren. She lives with her daughters at 213 Seminary Avenue, Bloomington.
In politics Moses Blair was a Republican and he was a member of the Christian Church. The Blair family is one of the prominent families of McLean County, and Mrs. Blair is well known and highly respected in the community.
Sidney B. Bean, a locomotive engineer on the Chicago & Alton Rail- road since September, 1887, has lived in Bloomington since that time. He was born at Marshall, Mich., July 7, 1863, and is the son of Sidney and Sarah (Morris) Bean.
Sidney Bean, a native of Michigan, lost his life during the Civil War while serving with a Michigan company. His wife, who was born in Syra- cuse, N. Y., died in Bloomington in 1886. There were two children in the Bean family: Mary, the widow of William Hall, formerly an engineer on the Chicago & Alton Railroad; and Sidney B., the subject of this sketch.
Sidney B. Bean spent his boyhood at Marshall, Mich., and began rail- roading at the age of 17 years with the Chicago & Alton Railroad, in whose employ he has remained continuously. Mr. Bean has had the run
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known as No. 7 and 2 for the past 21 years. This is one of the road's limited passenger trains.
Mr. Bean was married first to Miss Kate Mollenbrock, and to this union two children were born: Clarence, born in 1896, lives in Los An- geles, Cal., is a veteran of the World War; and Theodore, born in 1898, connected with the valuation department of the New York Central Rail- road at Cleveland, Ohio, also a veteran of the World War. Mrs. Bean died in 1903, and on July 2, 1908, Mr. Bean was married to Miss Effie Detree, a native of Tunkhannock, Pa., born July 2, 1874, and the daughter of Moses W. and Lucy (Billings) Detree, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Detree, who served throughout the Civil War with Company F, Second Pennsylvania Cavalry, died at Pittston, Pa., Feb. 25, 1904. His wife resides with Mr. and Mrs. Bean in Bloomington. She is 80 years old and is a remarkably smart woman of her age. Mrs. Bean has one brother, Edgar Billings Detree, also an engineer on the Chicago & Alton Railroad. A sister, Jennie May, is deceased.
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