USA > Illinois > McLean County > History of McLean County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 57
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57
Mr. Jontry is identified with the Democratic party in politics.
William H. Hawthorne, editor and owner of The Chenoa Clipper Times, is one of McLean County's prominent citizens. He was born in Granville, Putnam County, Ill., Dec. 20, 1890, the son of W. E. and Emma Amelia (Opper) Hawthorne.
W. E. Hawthorne was born near Granville, Ill., where he has resided for many years. Mr. Hawthorne is editor of The Granville Echo and president of the State Bank at Granville. He has devoted considerable time to school work and was a professor in Indiana for a number of years. Mr. Hawthorne is a Republican and a member of the Congregational Church. He and his wife live at Granville. They have six children, as follows: William H., the subject of this sketch; Orin L., associated with the American Writing Paper Company in Omaha, Neb .; Helen, married William H. Benson, ranch owner of Montana; Marie, at home; Charles F., engaged in the newspaper business with his father; and Edward E., also in business with his father.
William H. Hawthorne received his education in the public and high schools at Granville and attended Wheaton College. He then was em- ployed by the Blakley Printing Company at Chicago for five years and also spent several years in the newspaper offices with his father before coming to Chenoa. On Dec. 1, 1915, Mr. Hawthorne combined two news- papers and called it The Chenoa Clipper-Times.
679
HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
In politics Mr. Hawthorne is a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Church and belongs to the Masonic Lodge. The Hawthorne family have always been progressive, public spirited, and citizens of real worth.
Noah H. Pike, now living retired at Chenoa, is a veteran of the Civil War and a prominent pioneer business man of McLean County. He was born at Casco, Maine, Aug. 27, 1840, the son of Harrison Wallace and Susan A. (Mobberly) Pike.
Harrison Wallace Pike was a native of Cornish, Maine, and one of the earliest settlers of Bloomington, coming here with his family in 1854. He was a trader during his life and established the Pike House during the early days, which was the first hotel west of Chicago. Mr. Pike was a Democrat and was a great church worker. He died in June, 1875, and his wife died in 1876. They were the parents of the following children: Edward M., retired lumber man and sheriff of McLean County, lives at Chenoa; Noah H., the subject of this sketch; Susan, married James San- ders, insurance business at Bloomington; I. H., attorney, retired, Oak Park, Ill .; A. H., now deceased; Anna M., deceased; Mary Alice, married Dr. Ely Gale, both deceased.
Noah H. Pike received his education in the public schools and attended the first high school at Bloomington, Demit School. He then entered the lumber business with his brothers, Edward M. and A. H. Pike. They are among the oldest lumber men of McLean County, having engaged in the business since 1868. Mr. Pike and his brothers had but eleven dollars as capital when they started, but by hard work and good management they became prosperous and widely known business men. Mr. Pike later purchased his brothers' shares and conducted the business alone until the time of his retirement, Jan. 1, 1892. He lives at Chenoa.
During the Civil War, Mr. Pike enlisted for service in Company I, 145th Infantry, from Illinois and served for five months. He now receives a pension of $72.00 each month. His brother, Edward M. Pike, also service during the Civil War and was wounded. He received a medal from Congress. Another brother, A. H., served in the army at the age of 15 years and was taken prisoner for eight months during the war. I. H. Pike, also a brother of Mr. Pike, served during the Civil War and was taken prisoner.
680
HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
On May 2, 1869, Mr. Pike married Miss Lucy Helen Shelton, a native of Ohio, born Sept. 20, 1845, and the daughter of James and Lucinda (Jolly) Shelton, parents of the following children: George, deceased; Sarah, married John Varble, both deceased; Mrs. Pike; Hattie, deceased, was the wife of Lawrence Brady; and Edward, lives at Bloomington, Ind. Mr. Shelton died in 1906 and his wife died in 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Pike had one son, Delmer Elton, who died in infancy.
Noah H. Pike is the oldest Mason at Chenoa and has been a member since 1868, and has held almost every chair in the local lodge. He has served as alderman, school commissioner, and president of the National Association of Lumber Dealers. He and his wife are members of the Christian Scientist Church. They are interesting pioneers of the county and are highly respected citizens.
O. F. Dawson, now living retired at Lexington, is the owner of 360 acres of land in Lexington and Chenoa townships, and a member of one of one of McLean County's prominent pioneer families. He was born on a farm one and one-half miles southwest of Lexington and were among and Arminta (Adams) Dawson.
The Dawson family is of Welsh extraction and came to America during the first settlement of Virginia. James R. Dawson, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Bourbon County, Ky., in 1794 and went to Madison County, Ohio, in 1817, where he and his family remained until 1831, when they moved to McLean County. They settled on a farm in Lexington Township, May 19, 1857, and is the son of John the earliest settlers of the county. James R. Dawson was a successful farmer and owned 240 acres of land. His wife died three years after coming to Illinois.
John Dawson, father of the subject of this sketch, and son of James R. Dawson, was born in Madison County, Ohio, Dec. 4, 1820, and died in 1900. He followed farming during his life and became the owner of 700 acres of land in McLean County. Mr. Dawson went to California in 1875 and remained there four years. He then lived retired at Lexing- ton until the time of his death. He was a member of the Christian Church and a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. John Dawson were the parents of
O. F. DAWSON AND FAMILY.
681
HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
eight children, two of whom are now living: Thomas A., extensive farmer, who lives at Lexington, Ill .; and O. F., the subject of this sketch.
O. F. Dawson was educated in the schools of Lexington and has always lived in McLean County. When he was 21 years of age, Mr. Dawson started farming on his father's land in Chenoa Township, which he later became heir to. He made extensive improvements on the place and until 1915 Mr. Dawson was among the leading stockmen of the county. He lived retired at Bloomington for one year and now lives at Lexington.
On Aug. 21, 1898, Mr. Dawson was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Farr, a native of Yates Township, McLean County, and the daughter of William R. and Martha Ellen (Gallehugh) Farr. The Farr family came to McLean County from Virginia and were prominent farmers of Yates and Gridley Townships. To O. F. and Catherine (Farr) Dawson two children have been born, as follows: Grace, married Benjamin Schifer, lives at Chicago and they have two daughters, Grace and Glee Frances; and John W., a farmer in Lexington Township, married Miss Helen Crumbecker, and they have one daughter, Roslyn Lynet.
Mr. Dawson is a Democrat and a member of the Christian Church. He is one of the substantial citizens of the community, where the Dawson name has always stood for community development and improvement.
Dr. Charles Roy Kerr, a prominent physician of Chenoa, is a vet- eran of the World War. He was born at North Star, Mich., Jan. 10, 1885, the son of Alpheus and Addie (Doty) Kerr.
Alpheus Kerr was a native of Ohio and an early settler of Michigan. He later moved to Brockport, N. Y., where he died in March, 1917. Mr. Kerr was a successful farmer and fruit grower and his wife owned 150 acres of land in New York. He was a Republican, and belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mrs. Kerr now resides at Brockport, N. Y. She is a member of the Methodist church. They were the parents of three children, as follows: Anson, farmer, lives at Adams Basin, N. Y .; Dr. Charles Roy, the subject of this sketch; and Luther B., lives in Rochester, N. Y.
Dr. Charles Roy Kerr was educated in the public and high schools of Brookport, N. Y., and then was graduated from medical college in Chicago in May, 1913. He was then connected with the staff of a Chi-
682
HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
cago hospital for twelve months and later practiced at Anchor, Ill. At the outbreak of the World War Dr. Kerr enlisted for service and received the commission of first lieutenant at Camp Beauregard in Louisiana. He still holds the rank of first lieutenant in the medical reserve corps. In October 22, 1923, he received his commission as captain. Dr. Kerr took up his practice of medicine at Chenoa on October 1, 1919, and since that time has built up a large practice and is widely known as an able physician and a high class citizen.
On March 15, 1915, Dr. Kerr was married to Miss Jessie Helen Cor- bett, a native of Illinois, and the daughter of John W. and Catherine (Dacy) Corbett, the former a native of New York and the latter of Mil- waukee, Wis. Mr. Corbett now resides in Chicago. His wife died April 27, 1899. They had three children, as follows: Mary Ethel, married to A. J. Malboeuf, lives in Ohio; Mrs. Kerr; and Edward T., lives in Wis- consin.
Dr. Kerr is a member of the Masonic Lodge and was commander of the American Legion at Chenoa No. 234, in 1922 and Vice-commander in 1923.
Hugh Vaughan, deceased, was a prominent farmer and stockman of McLean County for many years. He was born in Montgomeryshire, Wales, the son of Edward and Elizabeth (Edwards) Vaughan.
Both Edward Vaughan and his wife spent their entire lives in Wales. They had six children, as follows: Jane, deceased; Hugh, the subject of this sketch; Robert, deceased, was for many years a prosperous gold mine owner in Montana; Edward, deceased; John, lives in Wales; and Mary, lives in Wales.
Hugh Vaughan came to the United States when he was 21 years of age, making the trip in a sailing vessel. He lived in New York for four years and then came to Illinois and purchased a farm in Lexington Town- ship, McLean County. Later, Mr. Vaughan located in Chenoa Township on a farm of 240 acres. He became a prosperous farmer and was among the leading stockmen of the county. Mr. Vaughan helped survey the northern part of McLean County when the roads were being laid out and he was a strong advocate of better schools during the early days. He died Jan. 7, 1907, and is buried in the Chenoa Cemetery.
.
683
HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
On April 8, 1865, Mr. Vaughan married Miss Ellen Jones, also a native of Wales, born Nov. 19, 1838, and the daughter of Hugh and Jane (Evans) Jones, both deceased. Mrs. Vaughan had the following broth- ersers and sisters: Rolland, deceased; Grace, married Thomas Jones, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased; Hugh, deceased; Jane, lives in Wales; Margaret, lives in Chicago; John, retired farmer, lives in Spokane, Wash .; Catherine, lives in Wales; David, banker, Spokane, Wash .; and Ivan, merchant, lives in Wales. To Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Vaughan eight children were born, as follows: Edward, born Sept. 24, 1866, died July 24, 1892; Viola, married Kenneth McIver, ranchman, lives in Great Falls, Mont .; Hugh, deceased; Mary, lives with her mother; Grace, married Earl Starkey, lives at Mount Pleasant, Iowa; Robert, farmer, Chenoa Township; Margaret, married Frank Thayer, farmer, lives at Chenoa ; and John, farmer and stockman, Chenoa Township. Mrs. Vaughan has 13 grandchildren. One grandchild, Angus Vaughan McIver, is a veteran of the World War. He enlisted at Great Falls, Mont., and was instructor in training civil engineers. He was in service in France for 15 months and also with the reconstruction army in Germany. Mr. McIver is a graduate of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Mich.
Mrs. Vaughan now owns 80 acres of land in Chenoa Township. Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan made a visit to Wales after being in this country for 42 years and remained there for four months. They were accompanied by their daughter, Mrs. Starkey.
Hugh Vaughan was a Republican and a member of the Presbyterian Church. He was an excellent citizen and merited the high esteem in which he was held by the community.
Lloyd Sarver, a veteran of the World War, is one of Chenoa's enter- prising and successful young business men. He was born in Shelby County, Ill., Aug. 5, 1894, the son of Alonzo and Ella Poteet Sarver.
Alonzo Sarver, a native of Tennessee, came to Illinois many years ago and settled in Shelby County. He followed farming and stock rais- ing for a number of years and is now interested in the produce business at Chenoa with his son, Lloyd, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Sarver is a Republican and a member of the Methodist Church. He and his wife reside at Chenoa, and have but one child, Lloyd Sarver.
684
HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
Lloyd Sarver was educated in the public and high schools of Chenoa and has been engaged in the produce business since 1914 with his father. He enlisted for service during the World War and was sent to Camp Brad- ley and later to South Carolina, and served for 10 months with Battery B, 4th Battalion. Mr. Sarver was the first commander of Ben Roth Post at Chenoa, American Legion Post No. 234, and he is prominent in all activities of the Legion. Mr. Sarver and his father deal in farmers' produce and also have a place of business at Lexington, Ill.
On March 10, 1920, Mr. Sarver was married to Miss Erletta Haus- halter, a native of Livingston County, Ill., and the daughter of E. H. and Ella A. (Curry) Haushalter, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Illinois. Mr. Haushalter is engaged in the shipping of stock from Chenoa, and does an extensive and profitable business. Mr. and Mrs. Haushalter have the following children: Harvey L., telegraph operator, Chicago and Alton Railroad, lives in Chicago; Paul, deceased; Lena, de- ceased; Arletta, born Oct. 26, 1898, the wife of Lloyd Sarver. Mr. Haus- halter is a prominent citizen and has always taken an active interest in the affairs of Chenoa. To Lloyd and Arletta (Haushalter) Sarver one child has been born, Wayne Lloyd, born Feb. 20, 1921.
Mr. Sarver is a Republican, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and belongs to the Masonic Lodge. He is well known in McLean County and has many friends.
Rudolph Pershina is a progressive young business man of Chenoa and a veteran of the World War. He was born in Toplice, Austria, April 17, 1895, the son of John and Mary Pershina.
John Pershina was a native of Toplice, Austria, born January, 1858. He was a farmer in the old country and in 1890 came to the United States and first settled at Birmingham, Ala., lived there nine years and worked in the coal mines there. He made a trip back to the old country in about 1893 for his wife. They then returned to the United States and settled near Birmingham, Ala., where they lived about five years, when they came to Springfield, Ill., where they are both now living.
' Mr. and Mrs. Pershina have four children, as follows: John, deceased; Mary, married Bert Mlaker, lives in Springfield, Ill .; Rudolph, the subject of this sketch; and Albina, lives in Springfield, Ill.
685
HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
Rudolph Pershina spent his boyhood in Springfield, having come to this country in 1904. After attending the public schools, he was employed as a machinist for 11 years, and spent part of that time in the employ of the Firestone Tire Company, Akron, Ohio, and also with the Ford Motor Car Company. Mr. Pershina was inducted into service during the World War and served with the 64th Company, Battery D, Heavy Field Artillery, and was in service 16 months, eight months of which was spent in France with the 7th Division. He was on the firing line for three months and discharged April 3, 1919. Mr. Pershina has con- ducted a tailoring and dry cleaning establishment at Chenoa since Feb. 1, 1922, and during that time built up a successful business.
On Aug. 25, 1921, Mr. Pershina married Miss Fannie Beyer, a native of Illinois, born in 1893, and the daughter of Frank Beyer. Frank Beyer was born in New York and came to Missouri where he engaged in farm- ing, and later came to Morton, Ill., where he and his brothers engaged in the electrical business. In 1901 there was an explosion in the plant, killing two children of Mr. Moses Beyer. He then, after the explosion, engaged in general farming and stock raising and purchased 160 acres of land in Tazewell County, Ill., which he improved, which he later sold and bought 160 acres in Indiana, and now owns, having a tenant on same. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Beyer now live at Morton, Ill., where he is engaged in the feed milling business. To Rudolph and Fannie (Beyer) Pershina one child has been born, John Edwin, born May 18, 1922.
Mr. Pershina is a Republican.
Cornelius Healy, who has been in the employ of the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad for 45 years, is a substantial citizen of McLean County. He was born at Galena, Ill., April 25, 1857, the son of James and Margaret (Ryan) Healy.
James Healy was a native of Ireland, as also was his wife. He came to the United States when he was a young man and settled in New York for a short time, and later came to Illinois and lived at Galena. Mr. Healy later moved his family to Gilman, Ill., where he died. He was employed as a section laborer on Illinois Central and the Toledo, Peoria and Western railroads during the many years he lived in this country. Mrs. Healy died Jan. 1, 1913, and they are buried at Gilman, Ill. They were the parents
686
HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
of the following children: James, deceased; Cornelius, the subject of this sketch; William, section foreman, Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad, lives at Gilman, Ill .; Patrick, a passenger conductor on the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad and has the run known as Daylight Special between Chicago and St. Louis, lives in Chicago; and Mary, married William Devlin, con- ductor on the Illinois Central Railroad, lives at Gilman, Ill.
Cornelius Healy was educated in the schools at Gilman and started life railroading. He came to Chenoa on March 15, 1886, and has been in the employ of the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad for the past 45 years. Mr. Healy is one of the pioneer railroad men of this section of the state and is now section foreman. He is known as a reliable and de- pendable citizen and his record with the railroad during his many years of service proves that he is efficient and capable.
On Feb. 9, 1887, Mr. Healy was married to Miss Margaret Kelley, a native of Weston, Ill., born Sept. 29, 1866, and the daughter of John and Ann (Flanigan) Kelley. Mr. Kelley was born in Ireland and was em- ployed on the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad as section foreman for a number of years at Chenoa, Ill., where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley were the parents of the following children: James, deceased; John, de- ceased; Mrs. Healy; Thomas, deceased; William, lives at Forrest, Ill .; Frank, deceased; and two children died in infancy. Mr. Kelley died Sept. 1, 1886, and his wife died Aug. 3, 1906. To Cornelius and Margaret (Kel- ley) Healy nine children were born, as follows: James, born March 3, 1888, lives at Fairbury, Ill .; Rev. John, further mention of whom is made below; Mary, further mention of whom is made below; Francis, born March 17, 1891, deceased; Vincent, mention of whom is also made below; one child died in infancy ; Margaret, born July 18, 1901, has taught school for one year and lives at home; Bernice, born April 15, 1906, at home; and Cornelius, Jr., born April 3, 1910, at home.
Rev. John Healy was born at Chenoa, July 28, 1889, and was or- dained to the priesthood on June 24, 1916, being the first priest ever or- dained from Chenoa. Rev. Healy is located in the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, Chicago.
Mary Healy was born Sept. 27, 1890, and was educated in the grade and high schools of Chenoa and at Illinois State Normal School. She taught in the rural schools for three years and for the past 11 years has taught in the Chenoa High School. Miss Healy is one of the pioneer teachers of Chenoa, and is well known throughout the county.
687
HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
Vincent Healy was born Oct. 6, 1896, and now lives in Chicago. He is a veteran of the World War, having enlisted in the first part of the war, and he was the first boy to enlist from Chenoa. Mr. Healy was sta- tioned at Springfield, Ill., and later sent to Texas. He served in Company G, 108th Ammunition Train, and was in France for 13 months, taking part in several important battles, including the Toule Drive, the Argonne Drive, and the battle of Saint Mihiel. He was also with the army of occu- pation in Germany.
Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Healy have three grandchildren, as follows: Rose Kathleen Healy, lives at Fairbury, Ill., born July 12, 1914; Francis Healy, born Jan. 20, 1916, lives at Fairbury, Ill .; and John Healy, born Sept. 26, 1921, lives at Fairbury, Ill.
Cornelius Healy, Sr., is a Democrat and a member of the Catholic Church. He and his family are highly respected citizens of McLean County and have many friends.
Elmo Elson, a successful young farmer of Chenoa Township, was born in the township where he now lives, Aug. 4, 1898, the son of Lorenzo and Mary E. (Bauman) Elson.
Lorenzo Elson, now living retired at Chenoa, has been a prominent farmer and stockman of McLean County for a number of years. He was born in Peoria County, Ill., and engaged in general farming in Pike Town- ship, Livingston County, for a number of years. When he was 25 years old Mr. Elson moved to Chenoa Township, where he now owns 474 acres of land. Mr. Elson is a Democrat and a member of the Presbyterian Church. There are six children in the Elson family, as follows: Leta I., married Peter Claudon, farmer, Chenoa Township; Gilbert, farmer, Che- noa Township; Lester I., further mention of whom is made below; Elmo, the subject of this sketch; Ira, farmer, lives in Gridley Township; and Raymond, lives at Chenoa.
Elmo Elson grew up on his father's farm and received his education in the public schools. He now operates 234 acres of land, which belongs to his father. Mr. Elson has lived on this farm in Chenoa Township since 1919 and has Shorthorn cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs. His wife raises Rhode Island Red chickens extensively and now has about 300 on hand.
688
HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
On Dec. 22, 1921, Elmo Elson was married to Miss Vera Wessels, a native of Yates Township, McLean County, born March 30, 1901, and the daughter of Jons and Katherine (Myers) Wessels. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wessels are natives of Germany and now live retired at Fairbury, Ill. They are the parents of the following children: Anna, married David Munz, farmer, lives near Fairbury, Ill .; Martin, farmer, lives in Yates Township; Jennie, married Paul Munz, a farmer, Indian Grove Township, Livingston County ; John, farmer, lives in Yates Township; Fred, farmer, lives near Fairbury, is a World War veteran, having served in the army for 13 months, 10 of which were spent in France and in the Army of Occupation; Frank, also a veteran of the World War, having served with the 33d Division overseas for six months, when he contracted rheumatism and scarlet fever; Minnie, married Donald Ortman, a farmer, lives in Livingston County ; and Mrs. Elson. To Mr. and Mrs. Elmo Elson has been born one child, Marshall Wayne, born Aug. 13, 1923.
Lester I. Elson, a brother of Elmo Elson has been unable to do any- thing since the World War. He was inducted into service from Bloom- ington and was in service for 10 months, seven of which were spent over- seas with the 135th Machine Gun Battalion, 35th Division. He contracted rheumatism and was in a government hospital for about four months and now lives at Chenoa. Mr. Elson married Miss Gladys Paden, a native of Kentucky.
Elmo Elson is a Democrat and a member of the Masonic Lodge. He and his wife are well known throughout McLean County and have many friends.
BOUND BY
6-90
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 977.359H27H C001 V001 HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS TOPEK
3 0112 025394310
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.