USA > Illinois > McLean County > History of McLean County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 20
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Russell A. Van Ness is a civil engineer for the Santa Fe Railroad Company and is a veteran of the World War, having enlisted at Chicago with the 604th Engineers. He was an instructor at Camp Sheridan, Ill., and later sent overseas as a captain. Mr. and Mrs. Van Ness have two children, Betty and Sidney B.
S. B. Van Ness served as president of the village board of McLean in 1912 and during his term of office the streets of the town were paved
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and electric lights installed. He has also served as township clerk and village clerk. Mr. Van Ness attends the Methodist Church and belongs to the Masonic Lodge and has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since July, 1886. He was a member Board of Supervisors of McLean County during the years 1922 and 1923. He also belongs to the Bloomington Consistory and the Shrine at Peoria. He is a repre- sentative citizen of McLean County and is widely and favorably known.
The McLean State Bank is one of the thriving banking institutions of McLean County. It was organized in 1906 with the following officers: C. C. Aldrich, president ; Harry Palmer, vice-president ; Frank W. Aldrich, cashier. The directors were: C. C. Aldrich, H. N. Palmer, Frank W. Ald- rich, Dean N. Funk, Joseph W. Stubblefield, B. A. Canfield, and I. G. Funk. It was originally a private bank owned by C. C. Aldrich, a pioneer settler of McLean County.
The present officers of The McLean State Bank are as follows: Frank W. Aldrich, president; H. M. Palmer, first vice-president ; S. B. Van Ness, second vice-president; and John W. Baker, assistant cashier. The direc- tors are: Frank W. Aldrich, H. M. Palmer, Dean N. Funk, Joseph W. Stubblefield, B. A. Canfield, I. G. Funk, and S. B. Van Ness.
The capital of the bank at present is $60,000.00 and the surplus is $20,000.00. In 1920 a 50 per cent dividend was declared and the increase in capital made. The McLean State Bank occupies its own modern brick building and it is among the dependable banking houses of the county.
George W. Woodmancy, a well known retired farmer of Mount Hope Township, is a member of one of McLean County's pioneer families. He was born on a farm in Mount Hope Township, Aug. 26, 1862, the son of Samuel and Caroline (Trott) Woodmancy.
Samuel Woodmancy was a native of Rhode Island and an early set- tler of Mount Hope Township having come here about 1853 or 1854. His wife was born in Bath, Me., and was the daughter of Capt. Isaac and Jane (Smith) Trott. Captain Trott was for many years a captain of a New England sailing vessel, but in 1852 he abandoned the sea and moved his family to McLean County. Later he went to Lincoln, Neb. He died in Bloomington, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Woodmancy were married in Mount Hope Township and were the parents of four children, as follows: Aphia,
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married R. Mullin, lives at Hoopeston, Ill .; George W., the subject of this sketch; and two children who died in infancy.
George W. Woodmancy received his education in the district schools of Mount Hope Township and for many years was a successful farmer of McLean County. He now lives retired at McLean, where he owns a fine home on the paved highway. He rents his farm.
In 1882, Mr. Woodmancy was married to Miss Mary Johnson, a na- tive of Ohio, and the daughter of William Johnson, one of the early set- tlers of Mount Hope Township. To Mr. and Mrs. Woodmancy six children have been born, as follows: Stella, married Charles Taylor, lives on the home place in Mount Hope Township; Edna, married Charles Knobelock, lives in Mount Hope Township; George, married Lulu Haning, lives at Pekin, Ill .; Clara, Belle; and Harold, married Lucille Bowers. He is a veteran of the World War and saw service in France.
Mr. Woodmancy is a Republican and served as a member of the school board. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Woodmancy is esteemed throughout the county as a capable and ener- getic man and the Woodmancy family is an asset to the community.
C. W. Kinsella, a prosperous farmer and stockman of Gridley Town- ship, and supervisor of McLean County, was born in Blue Mound Town- ship, McLean County, Oct. 4, 1870, the son of Edward and Mary (Urel) Kinsella.
Edward Kinsella came to this country from Ireland with his parents when he was six years of age, and lived in New York state for a short time before coming to McLean County. Mr. Kinsella was among the lead- ing farmers and stockmen of Gridley and Blue Mound townships for many years and owned 440 acres of land. He is a Democrat and a member of the Catholic Church. Mr. and Mrs. Kinsella, who now reside at Bloomington, have eight children, as follows: C. W., the subject of this sketch; John, lives at Colfax, Ill .; Thomas, a farmer, lives in Money Creek Township, McLean County; Edward, a farmer, lives in Gridley Township; Lizzie, died at the age of 12 years; Burt, a farmer, lives in Gridley Township; Grace, lives in Bloomington; and Clara, also at home.
C. W. Kinsella was educated in the public schools and started life farming on the home place with his father. He now owns 120 acres of
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well improved land in Gridley Township and is an extensive feeder and shipper of stock.
Mr. Kinsella was elected supervisor of McLean County in the spring of 1911, which office he still holds. He has also served as tax collector and road commissioner and is a Democrat. Mr. Kinsella is a member of the Catholic Church and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a good farmer and an ex- cellent citizen.
August Nafziger, well known harness maker of Stanford, Ill., was born on a farm in Allin Township, McLean County, Aug. 1, 1859, the son of Christian and Catherine Nafziger.
The Nafziger family came to this country from Germany, and Chris- tian Nafziger was among the earliest settlers of Allin Township. His wife also came from Germany and lived in Danvers Township, McLean County. The Nafziger farm was among the early farms of the com- munity and Mr. Nafziger followed farming for many years and was suc- cessful. He died at Stanford and is buried in Indiana Cemetery. His wife is also deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Christian Nafziger were the parents of eight children, as follows: Ferdinand, died at the age of 51 years; Minnie, married Arnold Unsinger, lives in Danvers Township, McLean County ; Eliza, deceased; August, the subject of this sketch ; Amelia, mar- ried Julius Unsinger, lives in South Dakota; Katie, deceased; Julia, mar- ried John Bowers, lives at Stanford ; and Bertie, married L. H. Wicks, lives in Michigan.
August Nafziger grew up on his father's farm and received his edu- cation in the district schools. He farmed on the home place in Allin Town- ship until 1913, when he came to Stanford and engaged in the harness making business with his brother-in-law, L. H. Wicks. In 1919 Mr. Naf- ziger purchased Mr. Wicks' interest in the business. The farm is oper- ated by his sons, Homer and Lee.
In 1887 Mr. Nafziger was married to Miss Lizzie Erisman, a native of Allin Township, and the daughter of Christian and Barbara (Dow- ney) Erisman, natives of Germany and early settlers of McLean County. Mr. and Mrs. Erisman, now deceased, were the parents of six children. To August and Lizzie (Erisman) Nafziger four children have been born, (55)
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as follows: Tillie, married Albert Gingerich, lives at Danvers; Homer, at home; Lee, at home; and Chester, married Elsie Sauers, lives in South Dakota.
Mr. Nafziger is a member of the Danvers Mennonite Church. He is a man of industry and ability who has made a success of his work.
Deane N. Funk is a member of one of the oldest and most prominent pioneer families of Illinois. He was born on the farm where he now re- sides, in Mount Hope Township, on June 20, 1867, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Waltman) Funk.
Jacob Funk was a native of Funk Grove Township, born in 1830. He was the son of Isaac and Cassandra (Sharp) Funk, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Maryland. Isaac Funk was one of the earliest settlers of McLean County, having come here in 1824. He settled in what is now known as Funk's Grove Township, and was the owner of 25,000 acres of land in that township and Mount Hope Township. He engaged in farming until the time of his death, Jan. 29, 1865. His wife died on the same day. Jacob Funk, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a prominent farmer during his life and died in 1919. Jacob and Mary (Waltman) Funk were the parents of three children, as follows: Charles, married Annie Stokes, lives in Bloomington, Ill .; Clara, married Howard D. Humphrey, lives at Bloomington; and Deane N., the subject of this sketch.
Deane N. Funk spent his boyhood on the farm, received his education in the district schools, later attending Yale University. He has always been engaged in general farming and stock raising and specializes in the breeding of pure-bred Angus cattle. He owns 800 acres of well-improved land and has a beautiful home on the old home place. Many improve- ments have been made on the Funk place and his home is among the fin- est in McLean County.
In 1894, Mr. Funk was married to Miss Fern Shores, a native of At- lanta, Ill., and the daughter of James and Louisa (Ewing) Shores. Mr. Shores was a native of Illinois and a well known merchant of Logan County. He died in 1908, and his wife died in 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Funk have two children, as follows: Donald S., born in 1905, and Jacob Deane,
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born in 1906, and married in October, 1923, to Elinor McClure of Youngs- town, Ohio.
Mr. Funk is a director of the McLean State Bank, and the First Na- tional Bank of Bloomington. He is president of the Funk's Grove Grain Company, and president of the high school board of McLean. Mr. Funk is a member of the Christian Science Church of Atlanta and belongs to the Masonic Lodge.
William H. Bode is a progressive farmer and stockman of Mount Hope Township and the owner of 245 acres of well improved land. He was born on a farm west of McLean, Ill., Oct. 28, 1877, the son of Herman and Anna (Wagner) Bode.
Herman Bode was born in Germany and came to this country when he was 17 years of age. He landed in Philadelphia, where he was em- ployed in a candy kitchen for a short time, after which he went to Chi- cago, where he worked in a saw mill. He then came to McLean County and was employed on the farm of Ezra Kenyon. Mr. Bode's brother William, was also on this farm and they later went to Nebraska, but re- turned shortly to McLean County. After his marriage in Atlanta, Ill., Mr. Bode moved to the John Pitts farm, which he rented. In 1885 he purchased his first farm west of McLean, which consisted of 80 acres. He added to his land holdings until he became one of the large landowners of the county. Mr. Bode now lives retired at Atlanta, Ill., where he moved in 1913. His wife was born in Wisconsin. They were the parents of seven children, as follows: William H., the subject of this sketch; Harry, married first to Lulu Wilmert, deceased ; and later married Ella Ziegler, and they live in Iowa; Louis, deceased; Winifred, married William A. Briggs; Anna, deceased; Frank, married Marie Wilmert; and Theodore, married Nita Van Ness.
William H. Bode grew up on his father's farm and attended the Mount Hope district schools. He began farming on the old Ezra Ken- yon homestead and in 1903 purchased his first farm. His first purchase cconsisted of 160 acres in Logan County, near Jolly Bridge, which he farmed until 1913. He built a modern home on his farm in Mount Hope Township in 1913 and the place is well improved with good farm buildings.
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Mr. Bode is successful as a breeder of Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs, and he also raises Plymouth Rock chickens.
In 1899 Mr. Bode was married to Miss Mary F. Waldron, a native of McLean County, and the daughter of John and Mahala (Clawson) Wald- ron, natives of Ohio and early settlers of McLean County. Mr. and Mrs. Waldron who now live in Atlanta, Ill., are the parents of three children, as follows: Minnie, married Benjamin Shipley, lives at Atlanta, Ill .; Mrs. Bode; and Cora, married John Meadows, lives north of Atlanta, Ill. To William H. and Mary F. (Waldron) Bode three children were born, as follows: Arthur D., born Nov. 2, 1900, was married to Miss Mabel Hil- pert on Nov. 28, 1923; John H., born May 27, 1902; and Fern, born Feb. 23, 1911.
Mr. Bode is a Republican and at one time served as road commissioner of Logan County. He is a member of the Catholic Church. He is an upright and industrious man and is held in high regard in his community.
Austin L. Hutson, a progressive and enterprising merchant at Col- fax, is one of the well known and substantial citizens of McLean County. He was born on a farm west of Colfax, Feb. 20, 1878, and is the son of Almarion and Hannah E. (Wiley) Hutson.
Almarion Hutson was a native of Jeffersonville, Ohio, and came to Illinois when he was a boy with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Austin S. Hutson, and they made the trip in a prairie schooner. Almarion Hutson became a successful and widely known farmer and owned 160 acres of land. He was a Republican and a member of the Methodist Church and his wife was an active church worker during her life. She died Sept. 23, 1878, and Mr. Hutson died May 11, 1893. They had one child, Austin L., the subject of this sketch.
Austin L. Hutson was reared on his father's farm and was educated in the district schools and attended Colfax High School and Illinois Wes- leyan University. He was employed in. the store of Johnson Brothers at Colfax, and remained there until Dec. 28, 1904, at which time he engaged in business for himself at Colfax. Mr. Hutson carries a complete line of men's clothing, furnishings and shoes, and he is among the successful merchants of the community. His store is located on Main Street and is one of the fine business establishments of the town.
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On May 24, 1905, Mr. Hutson was united in marriage with Miss Jen- nie D. Williams, a native of Colfax, born on the Bray farm, and the daugh- ter of James Mitchell and Nancy (Bray) Williams. Mr. Williams died May 18, 1912, and his wife died Dec. 27, 1914. They were the parents of four children, as follows: Vauna, married A. B. Means, lives in Bloom- ington, Ill .; Mrs. Hutson; James S., lives at Hunter, Okla .; and Scott R., deceased. To Austin L. and Jennie D. (Williams) Hutson four children have been born, as follows: Hannah Gwendolyn, born Feb. 23, 1906, will finish Colfax high school in 1924; Dorothy Nan, born March 9, 1912, now a freshman in high school; Vauna Elizabeth, born July 1, 1913, in the sev- enth grade of school; and LaVerna Virginia, born Aug. 5, 1914, in the fourth grade of school.
Mr. Hutson is a Republican, and for the past eight years has been a member of the Board of Supervisors from Martin Township. He is now the McLean County nominee on the Republican ticket to the general as- sembly of the 26th Senatorial district subject to the November election, 1924. He has been a member of the school board for 15 years and clerk of the board for 14 years. He is a member of the Methodist Church and has been superintendent of the Methodist Sunday School for 14 years and treasurer of the church for 10 years. Mr. Hutson is a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of Pythias, Damon No. 10 Bloomington, the Masonic lodge and the Consistory of Bloomington. He is held in high regard throughout the community and is an excellent citizen of McLean County.
John Funk, a leading farmer and stockman of Mount Hope Town- ship, is a member of an old, substantial family of McLean County. He was born near where he now resides, July 6, 1869, and is a son of Merritt C. and Hannah (Faris) Funk.
Merritt C. Funk was born in Funk's Grove Township in 1835, and is a son of John and Marguerite (Carr) Funk. John Funk settled in what is now known as Funk's Grove Township in about 1830. He was a native of Fayette County, Ohio, born in 1791. He died in 1834 just before the birth of his son, Merritt. Mr. and Mrs. John Funk were the parents of the following children: John, married Eliza Hougham; Nancy, married John Ross; James, married Sarah Ross; Isaac; Tabitha, married Tom
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Carlin; Elizabeth, married William Carson; Sarah; Absolm married Letta Beaver; Julia married James Beard; Robinson Crusoe, married Mary Owen; and Merritt C., the father of the subject of this sketch. To Mer- ritt C., and Hannah (Faris) Funk eight children have been born, as fol- lows: Kate, married Samuel Brown, and she died in 1901; John, the sub- ject of this sketch; William, married Mary Beard and they have one child, Gladys; Minnie, deceased, was the wife of George VanNess, and they have one child, Bessie; Eliza, married Harry Colebaugh; one child died in infancy; Nellie, married Albert Walters; George, married Minnie Yonas; and one child died in infancy.
John Funk has always lived in Mount Hope Township and is among the successful stockmen of the county. He received his education in the public and high schools at McLean. Mr. Funk moved to his present farm in 1901, where he owns a beautiful home.
In 1901 Mr. Funk was married to Miss Dorothy Stubblefield, a native of Mount Hope Township, and the daughter of Jesse and Mary C. (Shoudy) Stubblefield. Jesse Stubblefield was the first white child born in Funk's Grove Township, July 30, 1825, the son of Robert Stubblefield. The Stub- blefields came from Virginia to Ohio and then to McLean County, on Dec. 18, 1824, and settled in Funk's Grove Township. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stubblefield were the parents of 13 children, as follows: Absolom, mar- ried first to Eliza Pearson, second, to Alice Wilson, and third, to Mary N. Campbell; Anne, married first to Mr. French, and second, to Mr. Light- ner; Mary, married E. Groves; John, married Ellisannah Hauser ; George, married Eliza Jane Murphy; Jesse, father of Mrs. Funk; Frances, mar- ried William Murphy; Adam, married Hannah Faris; Eva; Edward, mar- ried Eliza Fawcett; Isaac, married Mary Jeffrey; William, married Mar- tha Jeffrey ; and Charles Wesley, married Harriet Land.
Jesse Stubblefield was married first to Rebecca Cuppy, and to this union the following children were born: Thomas, married Lilliam Very, lives in Mount Hope Township; Robert N., married Ida Reed; John C., married Eva Thomas, is deceased; Frances, died at the age of six years; and Rebecca, married Charles Ross. Mr. Stubblefield was married the second time to Miss Mary C. Shoudy, a daughter of George W. and Al- mira (Tuttle) Shoudy, natives of Ohio. To this union the following chil- dren were born: Rowland, deceased; Ida, married Charles Brown; James, married Nellie Yates; Mrs. John Funk; George, married Cora Crain; William, married Eva Hall; Daisy, married Ina Crain; Edna, married Ray
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Judy ; and Aaron, married Buelah Yates. Jesse Stubblefield farmed until the time of his death, April 30, 1897. His wife was born Oct. 26, 1843, and now resides at McLean, Ill. To John and Dorothy (Stubblefield) Funk one child has been born, Eldon, born June 7, 1904, is a graduate of the McLean High School, class of 1923, lives at home.
Mr. Funk is a Republican and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is accounted one of the reliable men of the township and is held in high esteem.
William P. Allin is a leading farmer of Mount Hope Township and a member of one of McLean County's oldest and most prominent pioneer families. He was born in Bloomington, Aug. 23, 1859, and is the son of John W. and Cordelia (Parsons) Allin.
James Allin, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native of North Carolina and one of the founders of the city of Bloomington. After coming to Illinois with his wife he farmed at Vandalia, and later moved to the present site of Bloomington, where he owned a farm on the site of the Chicago & Alton Railroad shops. The first Allin residence was located where the McBarnes Memorial now stands and was built of logs. When Mr. Allin settled here the city of Bloomington was nearly all in timber, and he changed the name of the settlement from Blooming Grove to Bloomington. He made it the county seat and the first court to be held was held in the Allin log cabin. Abraham Lincoln was among the lawyers that held court there and Mr. Allin was a personal friend to Lincoln, Grant and Logan, all of whom were often entertained in the Al- lin home.
John W. Allin, son of James Allin, was born in McLean County, and was a prosperous and widely known farmer of the county for many years. He purchased the present Allin farm in Mount Hope Township in 1858, which is now operated by his son. Mr. Allin died in 1865 and his wife died in 1900. Cordelia (Parsons) Allin was a native of West Virginia and the daughter of Col. Hazo Parsons, a veteran of the War of 1812. Colonel Parsons was one of the first postmasters of Bloomington and the organizer of the Masonic lodge there. To John W. and Cordelia (Parsons) Allin four children were born, as follows: George, Lucy, and Hattie, all de- ceased; and William P., the subject of this sketch.
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William P. Allin spent his boyhood on his father's farm and has al- ways lived on the same place. He received his education in the district schools and also attended high school. Mr. Allin now owns the home place of 180 acres and is a successful breeder of stock. The residence, which was built in 1900, is among the fine homes of the township.
Mr. Allin was married in 1921 to Miss Rosie Sutherland, a native of Kentucky, and the daughter of Clinton and Maggie Sutherland. Mrs. Allin died the same year of her marriage.
Mr. Allin was nominated for the Legislature twice and also twice for Congress. In 1906 he was nominated for State Treasurer and received 90,000 votes, which was the largest vote ever polled in Illinois by a mem- ber of the prohibition party. Mr. Allin is a member of the Methodist Church and is a highly respected member of his community.
Thomas Lee Buck, deceased, for many years a farmer of McLean County and one of the most prominent citizens of his community, of which he was an early settler, was born in Switzerland County, Ind., Oct., 23, 1831, the son of Hiram and Mercy (Karr) Buck. .
Hiram Buck was born at Trumansburg, N. Y., March 20, 1801, and William Sherman Buck, his father, was born at New Milford, Litchfield County, Conn., Feb. 17, 1764. The latter went first to New York, and fol- lowed the occupation of a farmer. He came to Ohio in 1818, arriving in Hamilton County, on Nov. 1st and after 11 years removed his family to Switzerland County, Ind., where he purchased a farm. There he remained until his death, Aug. 4, 1844, his wife, Berintha (York) Buck, a native of New York, having passed away in Hamilton County, Ohio, in October, 1827. In 1826 Hiram Buck began merchandising in Switzerland County, Ind., whither his father had removed. On April 5, 1827, he was married to Miss Mercy Karr, who was born in Warren County, N. J., Nov. 16, 1806, a daughter of Captain John and Mercy (Lee) Karr, both natives of Penn- sylvania. The ceremony was performed by "Squire" William McConnell, whose son, John McConnell, later married Martha E. Buck, a daughter of Hiram Buck. In 1833, having sold out his stock of goods, Hiram Buck came to Illinois by way of the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Ar- riving at Beardstown, he borrowed a horse from one man and a saddle from another and started across the country to find his brother-in-law,
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T. L. BUCK.
MRS. T. L. BUCK.
LIBRARY
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David Noble, who had settled at Randolph's Grove, McLean County, south of the city of Bloomington, about 1831. By the aid of Isaac Funk, the Noble home was reached, and there obtaining teams and wagons Mr. Buck returned to Beardstown for his family. Soon after his arrival in Mc- Lean County he bought a tract of 120 acres of government land near the present site of Heyworth, where he engaged in farming until 1836, when having been appointed deputy county surveyor of McLean County, he re- moved to LeRoy, where he built the first hotel in that place. Mr. Buck died May 12, 1888, and his wife died Aug. 6, 1886. They were the par- ents of six children: Mrs. Amanda Crumbaugh, now 95 years of age, lives in McLean County; Thomas Lee, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Martha Ellen McConnell; Mrs. Nancy Joanna Dawson; Charles Albert ; and Elizabeth. Mrs. Crumbaugh, the oldest member of this family, and Charles Albert, the youngest, are the only ones now living. Charles Al- bert is living in Texas.
Thomas Lee Buck was reared to the life of a farmer and in early youth utilized the opportunities offered by the common schools. Until he reached the age of 28 years he worked at home for his father. He then bought 160 acres of land in Empire Township, acquiring more at in- tervals, until he became the owner of more than 500 acres. He also owned land in Canada. In 1876 Mr. Buck abandoned active pursuits and lived retired at Leroy until the time of his death, Feb. 7, 1920.
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