USA > Illinois > McLean County > History of McLean County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 31
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R. W. Barton was reared and educated in Fayette County and has de- voted his life thus far to railroading. He has been employed by the Chi- cago & Alton Railroad Co., at Bloomington since 1909, being promoted to conductor in 1918. The Barton home is located at 1212 North Morris Ave.
On Sept. 18, 1912, Mr. Barton was married to Miss Minnie Eleanor Olson, a native of Marshall County, Ill., born April 1, 1890, the daughter of Henry and Hulda (Johnson) Olson, natives of Sweden. Mr. Olson died January 11, 1923. Mrs. Olson, who now lives at Sparland, Ill., has three children : Elmer, lives at Sparland; Mrs. Barton ; and Ruby, married Charles E. Collins, a conductor on the Chicago & Alton Railroad. To Mr. and Mrs. Barton two children have been born: Virginia, born March 9, 1914; and Donald, born Nov. 11, 1918.
Mr. and Mrs. Barton are capable people and well merit the respect in which they are held in their community.
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
F. C. Sweet, now living retired on his farm in Chenoa Township, is a veteran of the Civil War and a highly respected pioneer citizen of McLean County. He was born in Morgan County, Ill., Sept. 15, 1836, the son of Francis and Anna (Candle) Sweet.
Francis Sweet was born in New York and came to Illinois when he was 14 years old. He lived in Sangamon County for a number of years and moved to Woodford County in 1846, and to Chenoa in 1861. Mr. Sweet died near Sedalia, Mo., where he had moved in 1870. He was among the first settlers of Illinois and lived in a log cabin. Mr. Sweet was a Repub- lican and a member of the Baptist Church. He died in 1870 and his wife died in 1898. They were the parents of the following children: F. C., the subject of this sketch; Demaris, married Joseph Green, both deceased ; Lemandus, a Civil War veteran, died in 1919; Parley, also a Civil War veteran, died in 1908; Elizabeth, the widow of John Trimmer, lives in Kansas; Malicia, married John Trimmer, both deceased; Robert, a retired farmer, lives at Sedalia, Mo .; Philip, a farmer, lives at Kent, Wash.
F. C. Sweet grew up on the farm and attended school in a log school- house. He worked by the month on a farm for $12.00 per month and later rented land for several years. Mr. Sweet settled on a farm in Chenoa Township, McLean County, in 1861, and for many years has been a suc- cessful farmer and stockman. He now lives retired on his farm. Mr. Sweet served with Company G, 69th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War and was in service 114 days.
In 1865 Mr. Sweet was married to Miss Mary M. Pate, a native of Pennsylvania and the daughter of John Pate. John Pate was born in Eng- land and was an early settler of Pennsylvania. He had the following chil- dren: John, a retired farmer, lives in Kansas; Thomas, deceased; Iza, a retired farmer, lives in Nebraska; Andrew, deceased; Lewis, druggist, Shelbyville, Ill .; William, deceased; Harvey, lives retired in California ; Sarah, deceased; Mrs. Sweet; Ella, the widow of J. P. Morris, lives at Pon- tiac, Ill. ; and Clara, married Frank Corkerell, a farmer, lives in Ohio. To F. C. and Mary M. (Pate) Sweet the following children were born: Henry, a farmer, lives in Canada ; Maude, married M. T. Graves, a farmer, lives in Illinois; Fred, hardware dealer, lives at Fairbury, Ill .; and John, de- ceased. Mr. Sweet's wife died in 1882 and he later was married to Miss Alice Howard. To this union one child was born, Jesse Edward Sweet. Mr. Sweet's second wife died Oct. 16, 1919. Mr. Sweet has 19 grandchil- dren and seven great-grandchildren.
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Jesse Edward Sweet was born in Ford County, Ill., July 16, 1885, and on Feb. 20, 1922, was married to Miss Burdella Simpson, a native of Illi- nois, born March 31, 1893. Mr. Sweet is engaged in business at Joliet, Ill., where he now lives.
F. C. Sweet is a Republican and has served as constable of Chenoa Township and assessor of Wayne County. He is a member of the Baptist Church and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has al- ways been a progressive, enterprising and substantial citizen.
W. H. Bruce, a progressive and enterprising business man at Chenoa, is one of the well known and substantial citizens of McLean County. He was born at Cornell, Ill., Feb. 9, 1878, and is a son of John H. and Mary (Horrie) Bruce.
John H. Bruce was a native of Scotland and his wife was born in this country. They were among the early settlers of Pontiac, Ill., where they now live retired. Mr. Bruce followed farming for many years and owned 280 acres of land. He is a Democrat, a member of the Baptist church and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. and Mrs. Bruce are the parents of four children: Jeanette, the widow of L. R. Ryerson, lives at Pontiac, Ill .; Mary, married Andy Wiggins, lives at Redwick, Ia .; Elizabeth, married J. J. Phillips, lives at Excelsior Springs, Mo .; and W. H., the subject of this sketch.
W. H. Bruce grew up on his father's farm and received his education in the district schools. In early life he engaged in farming and stock raising and later entered the hardware business at Flanagan, Ill., where he remained two years. On Jan. 1, 1916, Mr. Bruce came to Chenoa and pur- chased the business of J. E. Weightman, who was a pioneer in the hard- ware business in McLean County. This business was established 52 years ago.
On Nov. 27, 1891, Mr. Bruce was married to Miss Catherine Ogden, who was born at Flanagan, Ill., June 9, 1878, the daughter of H. L. and Anna (Trowbridge) Ogden. Mr. Ogden came to Illinois from New York in the early days and was a successful farmer. There were three children in the Ogden family: Chauncey, deceased; Edwin, a farmer, lives near Graymont, Ill .; and Mrs. Bruce. Mr. Ogden served throughout the Civil
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War and is now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Bruce four children have been born, as follows: Robert, Dorothy, and Richard, all at home; and John, born Jan. 20, 1899, died April 11, 1907.
Mr. Bruce is a Republican and belongs to the Masonic lodge and the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his family are members of the Baptist church.
John C. Killian, a progressive and enterprising farmer and stockman of Old Town Township, is a native of Bloomington. He was born Sept. 10, 1867, and is the son of James and Julia (Kelly) Killian.
James Killian was a native of Ireland and came to this country in 1865, locating at Bloomington. When he arrived he had but 25 cents in his pocket, but was able to secure employment from William Taylor of Normal. Later he rented land in Normal Township, and after living there for some time purchased a farm in Towanda Township, upon which he lived for seven years. He died in 1899 and his wife died in 1887. They were the parents of six children, as follows: Michael, married Nellie Dwyer, a retired farmer, lives in Bloomington; William, married Mary McCarty ; Mary, married Michael Dee; John C., the subject of this sketch; James, married Mary Kelley, lives on the home place; and George, unmarried.
John C. Killian received his education in the schools of Normal and Towanda townships and farmed on the home place until the time of his marriage. He now farms 200 acres of well improved land in Old Township and specializes in the breeding of Shorthorn cattle. Mr. Killian's place is well improved with a good residence and barns. He has a fine corn crib with an up-to-date arrangement so that the wagon is tilted in unloading the corn in such a manner as to arrange the corn uniformly in the crib.
On Jan. 8, 1896, Mr. Killian was married to Miss Katie Stack, a native of Bloomington, and the daughter of Patrick and Ellen (Kinsella) Stack. Mr. Stack died in 1903 and his wife died in 1900. They were the parents of four children, as follows: John, married Nora Tobin, lives in Blooming- ton; Lizzie, married Harry Barnett; Mary, married P. J. Fitzgerald; and Mrs. Killian. To John C. and Katie (Stack) Killian five children have been born, as follows: Helen, unmarried, lives at home; Harry, married Helen Quaid; Charles; John; and Bernadine. Mrs. Killian died Aug. 2, 1917.
Mr. Killian is a substantial and well known citizen of McLean County.
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W. D. Schad, a well known public accountant of Bloomington, is a native of McLean County. He was born in Hudson Township, Feb. 19, 1884, and is a son of Dan and Emma (Stump) Schad.
Dan Schad, a retired farmer, was born in Fulton County, Ohio, and his wife is a native of Peoria, Ill. In 1868 Mr. Schad came to McLean County with his parents. He has lived on his present farm since 1889, which is located four miles north of Normal. Mr. and Mrs. Schad have three children, as follows: Stuart A., lives near Normal; Mrs. J. G. Blum, lives at 408 South Main Street, Normal; and W. D., the subject of this sketch.
W. D. Schad spent his boyhood on his father's farm in Normal Town- ship and attended the public schools of Normal. He began life as a book- keeper and since 1916 has been in the accounting business for himself, previous to which he had ten years' experience in this work. In 1922 he organized the W. D. Schad Audit Company, with offices at 4091/2 North Main Street, Bloomington.
On Aug. 11, 1906, Mr. Schad was married in Peoria, to Miss Bessie Oringdulph, a native of Normal Township, McLean County, and the daugh- ter of James and Susan (Arenz) Oringdulph. Mr. and Mrs. Oringdulph, now deceased, were natives of Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Schad two chil- dren have been born, Marie L., and William D., students in high school.
Mr. Schad is a Republican, a member of the Second Christian Church and belongs to the Elks Lodge. He is a progressive and capable man who has achieved marked success in his business undertaking.
Lynn E. Hersey, professor of violin at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, is among the leading and widely known musicians of McLean County. He was born at Brighton, Ohio, July 29, 1863, the son of William and Elmira (Patrick) Hersey.
William Hersey and his wife were natives of Massachusetts, where they spent a great part of their lives. They later moved to Ohio, where Mr. Hersey engaged in the contracting and building business. He died in 1889 and his wife died in 1915, and they are buried in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Hersey were the parents of five children, as follows: George, married and 'lives in Battle Creek, Mich .; Mina, married George Potter, both deceased; Lynn E., the subject of this sketch; Lee G., lives in Cleve- land, Ohio; and one child died in infancy.
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
Lynn E. Hersey received his education in the public schools of Brigh- ton and New London, Ohio, and then studied music under Professor Ed- ward Blitz at Mansfield, Ohio, later entering the Cincinnati College of Music, where he remained for three years and' studied under Professor Henri Schradieck and Professor Carl Hauser. After completing his study at Cincinnati, Professor Hersey came to Bloomington and entered Illinois Wesleyan University, where he instructed music for two years. He was then granted a leave of absence and went to Germany, where he entered the Liepzig Conservatory of Music. Professor Hersey studied violin under the most noted masters of the day, such as Hans Sitt, now deceased, Fred- erick Hermann and Adolph Brodsky. While in Germany Professor Hersey was a member of the Conservatory Orchestra and won considerable praise for his work. He remained abroad for three years and after receiving a certificate from the conservatory there returned to Bloomington, Ill., and resumed his former position in Illinois Wesleyan University. In 1915 he founded the Bloomington School of Music, a school of high standing, which has done credit to Bloomington, and in 1922 the Wesleyan Music College was invited to join with the Bloomington School of Music, and the two organizations now combined, form one of the finest schools of music in Illinois. Professor Hersey has devoted 30 years of his life to the upbuild- ing of music in Bloomington and his pupils number many of the prominent musicians of the state, such as Cecil Burleigh, Frederick MacMurray, and Herbert Merry. He has served as director of the Young People's Sym- phony Orchestra at Bloomington for more than 25 years and he is the author of many violin selections and has published "Violin Methods," which is now being used in every city in the United States as well as in foreign countries. Professor Hersey has received many tempting offers from musical centers throughout the country, but during his many years in Bloomington he has made many friends and maintains that he expects to spend the remainder of his life here.
In 1893 Professor Hersey married Miss Grace Fell, a native of Illinois and the daughter of Robert and Theresa Fell. She died in 1898 and in 1909 he married Miss Amy Irene Ferrias, a native of Charlotte, Ill., and the daughter of John and Isabelle (Piver) Ferrias. Mr. Ferrias now lives re- tired in Illinois and his wife died in 1893. They were the parents of the following children: August, died in 1921; Frank, lives at Peoria, Ill .; Marie, married Edward Megguer, lives at Gary, Ind .; T. B., married Mar- tha Benson; Mrs. Hersey; Amos, lives in Chicago; John; E. B., lives in
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
South Bend, Ind .; Joseph; Isabelle, married Dr. R. O. Hawthorne, lives in Illinois; and Esther, deceased. To Lynn E. and Amie Irene (Ferrias) Hersey one child has been born, Max Ferrias, born June 12, 1915.
The Hersey's residence in Bloomington was formerly the S. R. White home and was purchased by Professor Hersey in 1920. Mrs. Hersey was educated in the Grand Prairie Seminary in Illinois and engaged in school work before her marriage, being principal and teacher of the East School of Pontiac, Ill. She also taught physical training in Springfield, Ill., for three years. Mrs. Hersey is prominent in the affairs of her city and is secretary of the Amateur Musical Club of Bloomington.
Professor Hersey is a Republican, a member of the First Methodist Church, and belongs to the Masonic Lodge. He has an extensive ac- quaintance in McLean County and is held in the highest regard by all who know him.
On June 1st, 1924, Prof. Hersey will resign from the Wesleyan Col- lege of Music to establish a violin school, known as the Hersey Violin School, located in the Eddy Building.
William Schramm, an enterprising farmer and stockman of Old Town Township, and the owner of a well improved farm, was born in Germany in 1859, the son of William and Lena (Matias) Schramm. Mr. Schramm came to this country with his parents when he was nine years of age. They settled on land two miles west of Bloomington and Mr. Schramm's father entered the employ of the Chicago & Alton Railroad and remained with that company for 30 years. Later he rented a farm of 120 acres in Dale Township, McLean County, which he operated until the time of his death. His wife is also deceased. There were seven children in the Schramm family, as follows: Lena, the widow of Albert Gerling; Rickey, deceased; Anna, married John Schwartz; Bertha, married Charles Miller; Mary, married William Penick, deceased; August, married Emma Loven- guth; and William, the subject of this sketch.
William Schramm attended the district school and has always followed farming and stock raising. After his marriage Mr. Schramm rented a farm of 80 acres in Downs Township and three years later farmed a half section of land north of Downs. Before purchasing his present farm in Old Town Township, Mr. Schramm operated land in Hudson and White
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Oak townships. He has lived on his present farm since 1908, and ex- tensive improvements have been made on the place. He also owns prop- erty in Bloomington.
In 1884, Mr. Schramm was married to Miss Lucinda Runge, a native of McLean County and the daughter of Christian Runge. Mrs. Schramm's parents, now deceased, were natives of Germany and early settlers of Mc- Lean County. To Mr. and Mrs. Schramm seven children have been born, as follows: Louis, married Anna Arndt, lives in White Oak Township, and they have four children, Lorine, Melvin, Verna, and Wayne; Ida, married John Westfall, and they have one child, Clarence; Martha, married Charles Meyers, and they have three children, Laverne, Earl, and Eugene; Henry, unmarried, lives at home; Anna, at home, and one child died in infancy.
Mr. Schramm is a Republican and he and his family are members of the Lutheran church. He is well and favorably known throughout McLean County and is a substantial citizen.
G. B. Larrison, retired, is a veteran of the Civil War, and a member of one of McLean County's most honored pioneer families. He was born in Bloomington, Dec. 5, 1847, and is the son of Green B. and Arline (White- head) Larrison.
Green B. Larrison was born in 1810 in Morgan County, Ohio, and his wife was a native of Virginia, born in 1811. She went to Ohio with her mother when she was a young girl, locating 18 miles south of Zanesville. Her father had died before her birth and her mother later became the wife of Lewis Blake. Green B. Larrison came to McLean County with his wife in 1829 and they settled at Big Grove, near Waynesville, but later removed to Bloomington, where Mr. Larrison was engaged in the sur- veying of streets. He later operated a grocery store on what is now Front Street. He also homesteaded a farm in Allin Township. Mr. Larrison died in 1883 and his wife died in 1904. They were the parents of nine children: Catherine, died in infancy; Mary Jane, married W. R. Rouse, both deceased; James M., married Celina Bronson, both deceased; Lee, married Edith Pennick; Sarah Davis, married S. Tompkins, lives in Illi- nois; Frances M., married Henry C. Fell; George W., deceased; G. B., the subject of this sketch; and John, died in 1879.
G. B. Larrison was educated in the district schools of McLean County and at the age of 15 years enlisted for service in the Civil War. He served
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with Company B. 2nd Illinois Cavalry, until disabled. He was wounded in a skirmish and discharged from service in January, 1865. Mr. Larrison then returned to Allin Township, McLean County, and engaged in farm- ing. He has lived in his present home at Stanford since 1889, and rents his farm of 247 acres, having retired from active farm life in 1889.
In 1869 Mr. Larrison was married to Miss Sarah Jane Stilwell, a native of Danvers, Ill., born in 1852, and the daughter of Green and Polly A. (Parker) Stilwell, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Ohio. The Stilwells were among the earliest settlers of McLean County. To Mr. and Mrs. Larrison two children were born, Fred S. and Stella.
Fred S. Larrison was born Aug. 30, 1874, near Stanford, Ill., and is a graduate of Stanford High School, Illinois State Normal University, and the University of Pennsylvania. He also took a business course at Pough- keepsie, N. Y. During his 17 years of schooling Mr. Larrison was absent but three days. He is now engaged in the insurance business in Bloom- ington. He married Miss Helen Tuthill, a native of LeRoy, Ill., and the daughter of Dr. Tuthill, a retired physician. Mr. and Mrs. Larrison have two children, Dorothea and Beverly.
Stella Larrison was born in 1877 and died in 1905 while a student at Illinois State Normal University. Mrs. Larrison, her mother, died in 1913.
Mr. Larrison is a Republican and has attended many Republican con- ventions. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Ma- sonic lodge and Consistory of Bloomington, the Shrine of Peoria, and has belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for the past 48 years. Mr. Larrison is highly esteemed.
John A. Kitch, well known lumber dealer of Ellsworth, was born on a farm near Carlisle, Pa., Aug. 25, 1857, and is a son of John and Catherine (Mickey) Kitch.
John Kitch was born in Pennsylvania in 1811, and his wife was also a native of the same state, born in 1813. He was a successful farmer and well known auctioneer for many years and died in Pennsylvania in 1883. His wife died two years later. Mr. and Mrs. Kitch were the parents of eleven children, as follows: Mary, married William Smith, both deceased; Agnes, married William Kell; Jacob, married Hattie Kell, both deceased ;
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
Susan, deceased; George, deceased, was the husband of Lizzie Garr; Louis, deceased; John A., the subject of this sketch ; Emma J., married S. Snyder, deceased ; David, deceased; and two children died in infancy.
John A. Kitch was reared and educated in Pennsylvania and came to Illinois in 1882, locating in McLean County. He followed his trade as a carpenter at Oakley for one year, afterward coming to Ellsworth. Mr. Kitch has been engaged in the lumber business there since 1902. He carries a complete line of building materials and does a large volume of business in McLean County.
In 1882, Mr. Kitch was united in marriage with Miss Ida Darr, a na- tive of Pennsylvania, born in 1860, and a daughter of John Darr. Mr. and Mrs. Kitch have eight children: Gertrude, deceased, was the wife of Homer Miller; Florence, married Louis Bane, lives near Ellsworth, Ill .; Maud; Clarence, deceased; Ida, married Merle Whitenack, lives at Spring- field, Ill .; Mildred, lives in Bloomington; Mabel, at home; and one child died in infancy.
Mr. Kitch is a Republican, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is an enterprising and progressive citizen and is well and favorably known in McLean County.
Matthew Richardson, a well known retired farmer of Dawson Town- ship, who now resides on his farm near Ellsworth, is the owner of 827 acres of good farm land. He was born at Shirley, Ill., Dec. 27, 1861, and is the son of Matthew and Christina (Nicols) Richardson.
Matthew Richardson was born in Scotland in 1822, and his wife, also a native of Scotland, was born in 1827. After their marriage they came to this country and settled in McLean County at Shirley. Later Mr. Rich- ardson was able to purchase 160 acres of land in Dawson Township and at the time of his death he was the owner of 320 acres. He died in 1911 and his wife died in 1903. They were the parents of 12 children, as follows: Margaret, married Richard William, both deceased; Jane, died in 1914; Mary, died in 1914, was the wife of John Frankelberger; John, deceased; Jeanette, married Ira Lander, lives in Bloomington; William, married Belle Ross, lives at Ellsworth, Ill .; Matthew, the subject of this sketch; Arch, lives in Omaha, Nebr .; Thomas, married Lena Carlisle; George, lives in Bloomington ; and two children died in infancy.
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
Matthew Richardson came to Dawson Township with his parents when he was four years old, when they moved to the farm near Ellsworth. He received his education in the district schools of Dawson Township and has lived on his present farm since 1884. A new home was built by him in 1904 and the place is well improved. For many years Mr. Richardson was a successful and widely known breeder of stock. He now rents a large part of his land.
In 1883 Mr. Richardson was married to Miss Mollie Dell Dunning, a native of Dawson Township, McLean County, and the daughter of Austin S. and Eliza (Shaw) Dunning. Mr. and Mrs. Dunning were natives of Indiana, and came to McLean County in 1850. He died in 1914 and his wife died in California in 1923. To Mr. and Mrs. Richardson three children have been born, as follows: Letta Leota, married Raymond Webber, lives at Arrowsmith, Ill., and they have three children, Dorothy, Robert, and Warren; Pearl, married Clayton Mortimer, and they have one child, Mary Irene; and Charles, married Mary Sutton.
In politics Mr. Richardson is a Republican and he served as road com- missioner for six years. He has been president of the Dawson Telephone Company for the past 20 years and school director for 20 years. Mr. Rich- ardson is a member of the Methodist church and is known throughout his community as an upright and reliable citizen.
M. H. Marius, principal of Brown's Business College at Bloomington, is among the prominent and influential citizens of McLean County. .
The first Brown Business College was founded in 1866 by George W. Brown, who was born in Fulton County, Ill. He established or purchased 32 business colleges throughout the Mississippi Valley, mainly in Illinois, but also in Iowa, Missouri, and Indiana. Before his death, July 26, 1918, Mr. Brown disposed of these schools either singly or in groups to his asso- ciates. Seven schools were purchased in 1911 by H. E. Reed, who was at that time auditor and assistant general manager of the company. Speak- ing generally, the schools forming this group are the oldest of the Brown Schools and are located in the heart of the Mississippi Valley. They are located at: Bloomington, Danville, Jacksonville, Peoria, Springfield, Terre Haute, Ind., and Brown's Home Study School at Peoria, Ill. Mr. Brown established for himself a national reputation as a pioneer in business
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