USA > Illinois > McLean County > History of McLean County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 55
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The Franklin family originally came from England and at an early date emigrated to North Carolina, where John Franklin was born. In 1818 he and his wife removed to Indiana where they remained until 1850, then coming to McLean County, where they settled on land in Money Creek Township. Mr. Franklin was a colonel in the state militia of Indiana and died in 1860. He and his wife had 11 children, of whom all are deceased except Noah, the subject of this sketch.
Noah Franklin was reared on a farm and received his education in the district schools near Lexington, Ill. He has always followed farm- ing and stock raising and has met with marked success. In 1853 he purchased 320 acres of land warrants from Mexican war soldiers, through the government, at $1.00 per acre, which he improved from raw prairie. Mr. Franklin has added to his land holdings until he now owns 1,100 acres in McLean County. He has been widely known as a breeder of Aberdeen Angus cattle and as a shipper of stock. In 1877 he re- moved to Lexington, where he now lives retired.
Mr. Franklin is one of the organizers of The State Bank of Lexing- ton and has served as president for the past six years.
بومكلجمربى
NOAH FRANKLIN.
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
On June 29, 1854, Mr. Franklin was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Spawr, a native of McLean County, and the daughter of Jacob Spawr. To this union five children were born: Ida M., the widow of Charles Bush, lives with her parents; Elmo, a farmer, lives in Money Creek Township; Minnie, deceased; Bert A., an attorney of Blooming- ton, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; and Lola, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin have three grandchildren and two great grandchil- dren.
Mr. and Mrs. Franklin will celebrate their 70th wedding anniver- sary in June, 1924. At the time of their marriage the Chicago & Alton had just completed construction work between Bloomington and Lex- ington, and the superintendent of construction honored the young cou- ple by sending a coach from Bloomington to Lexington to take them back for their wedding, which took place in Bloomington. Thus Mr. and Mrs. Franklin and their wedding party of 40 guests were the first passengers on the new railroad. An amusing incident which occurred on the return trip, made on a flat car, was when one of the young ladies, Miss Barnes, raised her umbrella while the train was in motion. A gust of wind blew it from her hands into a nearby field. The train, however, was stopped and the engineer backed the cars to recover the lost um- brella.
Mr. and Mrs. Franklin began life with a capital of but $300.00. Mr. Franklin is a Republican and served as mayor of Lexington for one term. He is a member of the Christian Church and stands high in the community and McLean County.
William E. Platt is a prosperous farmer and stockman of Hudson Township and the owner of 328 acres of good farm land. He was born on the farm where he now lives, May 21, 1867, and is the son of Jesse and Jane (Hinthorn) Platt.
Jesse' Platt was a native of Champaign County, Ill., born Jan. 13, 1830, and his wife was born in Ohio. When he was a young man, Mr. Platt came to McLean County and settled on the present Platt farm in Hudson Township, where he lived until the time of his death, in 1907. His first wife died Sept. 16, 1875, at the age of 48 years and Mr. Platt was later married to Miss Sarah Hinthorn. No children were born to this (40)
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union. William E. Platt, the subject of this sketch, is the only one of five children now living that were born to Jesse and Jane (Hinthorn) Platt.
William E. Platt has always lived on the same farm in Hudson Town- ship, which he purchased in 1909. He received his education in the dis- trict schools and started life farming on the home place. Mr. Platt has made improvements on the place and is a successful farmer.
On Nov. 16, 1916, Mr. Platt was united in marriage with Miss Blanche Hinthorn, a native of Waldo Township, McLean County, and the daughter of Eli and Minnie (Brown) Hinthorn, natives of McLean County. Mr. and Mrs. Platt have two children, as follows: Edward Jesse and Dorothy Fern, both at home.
Mr. Platt is identified with the Democratic party in politics and has served as school director of District No. 202. He is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and is an enterprising and progressive citizen of McLean County.
Charles E. Ransom, a leading farmer and stockman of Lexington Township, and the owner of 168 acres of well improved land, was born in Cavalo, Coshocton County, Ohio, Feb. 8, 1847, the son of Thomas L. and Ann (Pierson) Ransom.
Thomas L. Ransom was a native of Ohio and a successful farmer. He served throughout the Civil War and died in 1898. Thomas L. and Ann (Pierson) Ransom had two children, as follows: Temperance, de- ceased, was the wife of Dr. E. L. Dooley; and Charles E., the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Ransom was married the second time to James Adams, a native of Kentucky and a pioneer settler of Illinois. No children were born to this union, and she died in February, 1884, at the age of 62 years. Thomas L. Ransom was married also a second time to Mrs. Max- field and had three children by his second marriage, as follows: Ella M. LeBrun, Louisiana ; May, now lives in Louisiana, and Clara, deceased.
Charles E. Ransom was reared by an uncle and aunt, James S. and Mary Jane (Morrison) Pierson. He received his education in the Pleasant Hill District School and rented land until 1878, when he purchased his present farm, which is located in Lexington Township. He carries on general farming and is among the efficient farmers of the township.
On March 14, 1888, Mr. Ransom was united in marriage with Miss Josephine Dinsmore, a native of Knox County, Ohio, born March 2, 1858,
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and the daughter of John M. and Martha J. (Guy) Dinsmore, natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers of Ohio. At the close of the Civil War the Dinsmore family went to Iowa and two years later moved to Jasper County, Mo. In 1897, Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore moved to Kansas City, where he died. Mrs. Dinsmore died at Carthage, Mo. In 1883 Mrs. Ran- som came to McLean County to visit relatives and while here met Mr. Ransom. Before her marriage she was employed by The Carthage Press for 13 years, as she had learned the printer's trade in 1875. She also taught school before her marriage. To Charles E. and Josephine (Dins- more) Ransom three children have been born, as follows: Guy D., mar- ried Fern Sprouse, and they have three children, Ruth Anne, Charles Robert and Louis Joseph; Truman, married May McMeekin, and they have one child, Betty Louise; and Mary Louise, lives at home.
In politics Mr. Ransom is a Republican and he has served as school director of Adams School. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and has been a ruling elder over 40 years. He is one of the substantial and highly respected citizens of McLean County. He is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Albert S. Ogden, deceased, was a prominent farmer of McLean County for many years. He was born on a farm in Money Creek Township, Mc- Lean County, Jan. 9, 1837, and died Jan. 7, 1909. Mr. Ogden was the son of Samuel and Nancy (VanDolah) Ogden.
The Ogden family are of English descent and the great-grandfather of Albert S. Ogden, the subject of this sketch, was Albert Ogden, who settled at Albany, N. Y., before the Revolutionary War. Samuel Ogden settled in McLean County, Ill., many years ago and was among the earliest settlers of the county. He came from Lincoln, Ohio, where he was born. Mr. Ogden became the owner of 900 acres of land, which he entered from the government, and he was a successful stockman. He died in 1892 at the age of 83 years and his wife died July 8, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Ogden had 10 children, one of whom is now living, Alexander.
Albert S. Ogden spent his boyhood on the home place and received his education in the district schools. He owned 260 acres of well-improved land in Money Creek Township and was a successful stock raiser. The
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Ogden farm is now operated by his son, Elmon O. Ogden, who is widely known as a breeder of pure-bred Shorthorn cattle.
On March 8, 1860, Mr. Ogden was married to Miss Sarah C. Pirtle, a native of Owen County, Ind., born July 21, 1843, and the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (McKnott) Pirtle, early settlers of McLean County. Mrs. Ogden died Feb. 14, 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Ogden were the parents of 13 children, 10 of whom are now living, as follows: Ora, the widow of Enos Trimmer, lives at Towanda, Ill .; Ella, married M. J. Trimmer, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Elmon O., farms the home place ; Stella, married Charles Yoder, lives east of Bloomington; Dorothy, the widow of Elsworth Van Buskirk, lives at 403 West Grove Street, Bloom- ington; Pearl, lives at Des Moines, Iowa; Nora, married James W. White, lives at Clear Lake, Iowa; Coral married Hary H. Fritz, lives on the home place; Ernest, lives in Texas; and Theresa, the widow of Elmer Anderson, lives at Bloomington.
Mr. Ogden had been a Democrat for 29 years and served as school director for 12 years and also as highway commissioner. He was a mem- ber of the Masonic Lodge No. 482. Mr. Ogden was highly respected and was one of the substantial citizens of McLean County.
S. P. Livingston, deceased, was a native of Licking County, Ohio. He was born Dec. 29, 1842, and died July 13, 1921. Mr. Livingston was the son of Isaac and Sarah (Wise) Livingston, natives of Pennsylvania, and the parents of 11 children, of whom S. P., the subject of this sketch, was the fourth in order of birth. Isaac Livingston moved his family to Mc- Lean County in 1855, where he followed farming until the time of his death. His wife died at Pontiac, Ill.
S. P. Livingston grew up on his father's farm and attended the Hud- son district schools. He rented land until 1875, at which time he pur- chased 60 acres in Hudson and Gridley townships. Mr. Livingston be- came a prominent farmer and at the time of his death owned 190 acres of land. In 1911 he retired and moved to Hudson, Ill., where he owned a considerable amount of town property.
On March 26, 1863, Mr. Livingston was married to Miss Arminta Moore, a native of Livingston County, Ill., born Feb. 12, 1844, and the daughter of John and Margaret (Popejoy) Moore. Mrs. Livingston's
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
parents died when she was six years old and she was reared by an uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Isam Moore. She was educated in the schools of Fairbury and taught school for several years before her marriage. At that time the school term lasted three months each year and she received $12.00 per month and board. To S. P. and Arminta (Moore) Livingston 10 children were born, only one of whom is now living, Araminta E., mar- ried Burt Stephens, lives on a farm near Normal, Ill., and they have the following children: Sterling R .; Dwight B .; and Avery L. Stephens.
Mr. Livingston was a Democrat and served as constable of Hudson for a time. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Livingston was a man of integrity and strong business acumen, a be- liever in progressive methods in his work, and always ready to support the best interests of his community.
William Thomas Carman Burtis, deceased, was a leading farmer of Hudson Township for many years, and a member of a prominent pioneer family of McLean County. He was born at Hudson, Ill., Nov. 16, 1844, the son of Edwin E. and Sarah Ann (Lewis) Burtis.
Edwin E. Burtis was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., and was the son of Jacob Hicks and Eliza (Carman) Burtis. Jacob Hicks Burtis was born in Queens County, N. Y., Nov. 18, 1796, and at the age of 18 years he set- tled in Brooklyn, N. Y., where he learned the carving business and the cabinet making trade. In the War of 1812 he enlisted for service from New York City and was made a captain, but was never called into active service. Mr. Burtis was married on Feb. 5, 1821, to Miss Eliza Carman, who died in 1832, leaving four children. In 1835 Jacob Hicks Burtis was married the second time to Miss Mary Weeks and five children were born to this union. During the year of 1835 Mr. Burtis started west with his family, stopping at Jackson and Alton, Ill., and they did not come to Hud- son, Ill., until Dec. 1, 1836. The Burtis family was one of the first fami- lies to settle in this community and during their first winter lived with James T. Gildersleeve and family. Mr. Burtis purchased 160 acres of land in the Hudson colony and began farming in 1837. He died June 16, 1873. Mr. Burtis was baptized in the Episcopal Church but was not a member of any church. He was, however, a Christian, and a highly re- spected pioneer of McLean County.
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Edwin E. Burtis, father of the subject of this sketch, came to Mc- Lean County with his father when he was a boy and became a successful farmer, operating the original homestead in Hudson Township.
William Thomas Carman Burtis lived on the same farm during his entire life and was a successful and widely known stockman. He special- ized in the breeding of pure-bred Poland China hogs and Shorthorn cattle and was also a shipper of stock. Mr. Burtis died Aug. 2, 1902.
On Nov. 5, 1878, Mr. Burtis was united in marriage with Miss Leah Jane Ambrose, a native of Hudson, Ill., born Nov. 18, 1856, and the daugh- ter of James and Amelia (Hedges) Ambrose, natives of England. The Ambrose family came to the United States in 1850 and settled in Brook- lyn, N. Y., and two years later moved to Hudson, Ill., where Mr. Ambrose was employed at the carpenter trade. He also followed general farming and owned 160 acres of land. To William Thomas Carman and Leah Jane (Ambrose) Burtis seven children were born, five of whom are now living, as follows: Altha, married Fred Musgrove, lives at Chicago; Ce- cel, married G. E. Myers, lives at Normal, Ill .; Ralph W., lives at Defiance, Ohio; Floss, lives in Defiance, Ohio, and is a trained nurse; and Parker lives on the home place with his mother. Mrs. Burtis has two grandchil- dren: Mary Ellen Myers and Joanna Lou Burtis.
Mr. Burtis was a Republican and attended the Methodist Church. He was a man of energy, strong purpose and industry. In his business af- fairs he was ever upright and fair, and in his work as a citizen he was the upholder of high standards.
Edward Curtis Mahan is an enterprising and successful farmer of Money Creek Township, where he operates 330 acres of good farm land. He was born at Lexington, Ill., Nov. 19, 1883, the son of William Robert and Emma Jane (Strausbaugh) Mahan.
William Robert Mahan was born at Lexington, Ill., and his wife is a native of Decatur, Ill. They now live at Lexington, where Mr. Mahan conducts a hardware and implement business. They have three children, as follows: Clara Irene, married C. P. Scroggin, lives at Chicago; Ed- ward Curtis, the subject of this sketch; and Douglass S., at home.
Edward Curtis Mahan received his education in the public schools of Lexington and in 1901 began farming the J. N. Franklin farm. Two
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
years later he farmed his father's land in Money Creek Township and in 1917 purchased 86 acres of land in the same township. Mr. Mahan raises a good grade of stock and during the World War was an extensive feeder of cattle.
On Feb. 20, 1908, Mr. Mahan was married to Miss Bertha Douglass, a native of McLean County and the daughter of James and Mary S. (Paul) Douglass, a sketch of whom also appears in this work. Before her mar- riage, Mrs. Mahan taught school for five years. To Mr. and Mrs. Edward Curtis Mahan one child has been born, Oma C., at home.
Mr. Mahan has served as township assessor of Money Creek Town- ship since 1918 and he is also a member of the Community School Board of Lexington. He is a Republican and is one of the progressive and sub- stantial citizens of McLean County.
William Humphries is a prominent farmer and stockman of Hudson Township and the owner of 400 acres of well improved land. He was born at Hudson, Ill., March 19, 1858, and is the son of Thomas and Jane (Am- brose) Humphries.
Thomas Humphries was a native of England, born March 6, 1826, and his wife was also born in England, March 3, 1826. In 1852 Mr. and Mrs. Humphries came to this country and lived in New York until 1856, when they moved to Hudson, Ill., where Mr. Humphries worked at the carpenter trade. Ten years later he purchased 160 acres of land in Hud- son Township, which he farmed until the time of his death, July 7, 1876. His wife died in January, 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Humphries had four chil- dren, two of whom are now living: W. J., lives at Des Moines, Iowa; and William, the subject of this sketch. Two daughters died in infancy.
William Humphries was reared on his father's farm and attended the Hudson Township district schools. He has always followed farming and has lived on his present farm in Hudson Township since 1877. The land was owned by his father, who was about to build a home on it at the time of his death. Mr. Humphries and his mother then built it. The Humphries farm has been owned by only three parties since the land was entered from the government. Mr. Humphries has good buildings and good equipment on his farm and he is known as a breeder of pure- bred stock.
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On Oct. 25, 1882, Mr. Humphries was married to Miss Charlotte Parker, a native of Castleton, Vt., born Feb. 5, 1861, and the daughter of Jehiel and Paulina (Pond) Parker, natives of Vermont. In 1865 the Parkers came to Illinois and settled at Gardner, where Mr. Parker died. His widow now resides at Calumet, Mich. Mrs. Humphries was educated in the public and high schools at Gardner, and attended Illinois State Normal University at Normal, Ill., where she met Mr. Humphries. Be- fore her marriage she taught school for several years. To William and Charlotte (Parker) Humphries seven children have been born, as follows: Bert P., at home; John W., a farmer, lives in Hudson Township; Edward, a farmer, lives in Hudson Township; Mary, married Loren Miller, lives at Marinette, Wis .; Dr. Paul A., a physician, Towanda, Ill .; Kate, deceased; and Fred, at home.
Mr. Humphries is a Republican and has always taken a keen interest in politics, although he has never aspired for any office. He is a member of the Baptist Church and belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Humphries is well and favorably known in McLean County and takes an active interest in the affairs of his community.
Joseph B. McNaught, deceased, was one of McLean County's success- ful farmers. He was born near Spencer, Ind., Dec. 27, 1822, and died Sept. 21, 1866.
Mr. McNaught came to McLean County when he was a young man and was among the first settlers of the county. He worked making fence rails for 25 cents per hundred. After several years Mr. McNaught re- turned to Indiana and was married to Miss Agnes Scott, a native of Indiana, born March 17, 1828. To this union 10 children were born, seven of whom are now living, and Mrs. Sarah E. McNemar is the only one living in McLean County. Mrs. Joseph B. McNaught died Feb. 24, 1907.
Sarah E. (McNaught) McNemar was. born in Gridley Township, Jan. 30, 1848, and she was the oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph B. McNaught. She was married in 1864 to Joseph B. Carter, a prominent farmer of McLean County. He died on June 29, 1879, at the age of 35 years. To this union four children were born as follows: Etta, married
SARAH E. MeNEMAR.
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
Henry Gonder, lives at Rippey, Iowa, and they have six daughters and one son: Joseph B., lives at St. Edwards, Nebr., and he has eight chil- dren; Lennie M., married Alma Wick, lives at Lexington, and they have one daughter; Mabel, married Sherman Foster, and they have two daugh- ters and one son. Mrs. Carter was later married to William Stewart, also deceased, and she was married the third time to C. J. W. McNemar, who died Feb. 10, 1920. Mrs. McNemar has nine grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. She lives at Lexington and owns 200 acres of well im- proved land in Money Creek Township, McLean County. She is a member of the Methodist Church and belongs to the Rebecca lodge. Mrs. McNemar is one of the interesting pioneer women of McLean County and grew to womanhood among the wild game of the prairies.
Joseph B. McNaught was a highly respected citizen of McLean County. He was industrious, earnest and sincere, and merited the high regard in which he was held by the community.
Edward Ambrose, deceased, was a prominent citizen, of McLean County for many years. He was born at Hudson, Ill., March 7, 1862, and was the son of James and Amelia (Hedges) Ambrose.
Mr. and Mrs. James Ambrose were natives of Chilton, England, and came to this country in 1850. In the spring of 1873 Mr. Ambrose pur- chased a farm in Hudson Township, which was later owned and operated by his son, Edward, the subject of this sketch. Mr. and Mrs. James Ambrose had six children, of whom Edward was the fourth in order of birth.
Edward Ambrose was reared on the farm and received his education in the district schools. He lived in Hudson Township during his entire life and became a leading farmer and stockman. He died July 17, 1911.
On March 25, 1890, Mr. Ambrose was married to Miss Rebecca Bishop, a native of Money Creek Township, McLean County, born Jan. 20, 1865, and the daughter of Pleasant W. and Amelia (Timmons) Bishop, natives of Indiana. In 1836 the Bishop family moved to McLean County. Pleas- ant W. Bishop was the son of William G. and Rebecca (Briggs) Bishop, na- tives of South Carolina. Pleasant W. Bishop followed farming during his life and was a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He served throughout the Civil War in the 94th Illinois Volunteer Infantry
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
and was a chaplain in the 37th Regiment. Mr. Bishop died at Gilbert, Iowa, Jan. 31, 1918, and his wife died July 19, 1886. She was a native of Ohio and the daughter of Henry B. and Celia (Briley) Timmons, the for- mer a native of Maryland and the latter of Ohio. John Briley, great- grandfather of Mrs. Ambrose, was a native of Ireland and after coming to the United States served throughout the Revolutionary War. Mr. and Mrs. Pleasant W. Bishop had seven children, two of whom now live in McLean County: Charles F., a policeman at Bloomington; and Mrs. Ambrose.
To Edward and Rebecca (Bishop) Ambrose six children were born, as follows: James B., a veteran of the World War, lives on part of the home place and is married to Miss Margaret Crichton, and they have one child, James; Ruth, attends Chicago University ; Ellen, married Leslie A. White, lives at Miami, Fla .; Bernard B., at home; Lois, teaches in the pub- lic schools at LeRoy, Ill .; and Stephen, at home.
Mrs. Edward Ambrose has made many improvements on the farm since the death of her husband and erected a fine modern brick residence, which is located two and one-half miles northeast of Hudson. She owns 240 acres of land.
Edward Ambrose was a Republican, a member of the Baptist Church, and belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. In all the phases of his life, Mr. Ambrose was industrious, earnest and sincere. He merited the high regard in which he was held by the community.
James Wilson, deceased, was a successful farmer and stockman of Hudson Township and a widely known citizen of McLean County. He was born in Ireland, Feb. 16, 1846, the son of John and Mary (Greer) Wilson.
Mr. and Mrs. John Wilson were natives of Ireland, where they spent their entire lives. They were the parents of seven children, one of whom is now living, Mary, who lives on the old homestead in Ireland.
James Wilson, the subject of this sketch, came to this country in 1875 and for a short time lived in Connecticut, after which he came to McLean County. He was employed on the farm of his uncle, James Greer, in Hudson Township for eight years and later rented land from his uncle for five years. Mr. Wilson purchased the farm he had been renting, which
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is located three and one-half miles northeast of Hudson, and now owned by his widow. Mr. Wilson was a breeder of good stock and specialized in the breeding of Poland China hogs and Norman horses. He died May 15, 1912.
On April 2, 1874, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Miss Mar- tha Workman, a native of Ireland, born Oct. 29, 1848, and the daughter of Ezekiel and Martha (Sands) Workman, the former a native of Scot- land and the latter of England. To James and Martha (Workman) Wil- son two children were born, as follows: Julia, married Ed Hamm, a farmer, lives in Hudson Township; and Ida, married William Humphries, a farmer, lives in Hudson Township.
Mrs. Wilson now lives at Hudson and still owns the homestead in Hudson Township, which contains 264 acres of good farm land. She is a member of the Methodist Church and has a wide circle of friends in Mc- Lean County.
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