USA > Illinois > Stark County > History of Stark County, Illinois, and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 23
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
J. S. GLEASON.
J. S. Gleason, of Penn township, who now holds title to four hundred and forty acres of finely improved land, is a self-made man for he began his independent career without capital or without the aid of influential friends and has at all times been dependent upon his own resources for success. He was born in Dublin township, Cheshire county, New Hampshire, on the 10th of April. 1835, the son of Phineas Gleason, Jr., and a grandson of Phineas Gleason, Sr. The last named served throughout the Revolutionary war and was pro- moted to the rank of captain. The greater part of the fighting in which he took part occurred in the vicinity of Lake Champlain. IIe reached an advanced age, dying when he was eighty-three years of age, and our subject remembers having seen him. The family is of English descent, the ancestors of the American branch having resided at Manchester, Lancashire. Phineas Gleason, Jr., spent the greater part of his life in the east but during his last days lived with our subject in Stark county, Illinois. His wife was in her maidenhood Miss Sarah Smith and she was born in Dublin, New Hampshire. They had nine children, of whom two came to Illinois, our subject and his brother Charles.
J. S. Gleason was reared upon the home farm, in New Hampshire and received a high school education in that state. He remained there
296
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
until he was about twenty years of age, when in 1855 he came to Stark county, Illinois, and located upon his present home farm on section 15. Penn township. There was a small log house upon the place and he kept bachelor's hall there for about sixteen years. He placed his land under cultivation in a comparatively short time and as the years passed his resources increased although there were many difficulties to be encountered in those days which the modern farmer knows noth- ing of. Among other things it was difficult to market his crops and stock as the nearest railroad point was Henry, Illinois, eighteen miles distant. He believes in the desirability of real estate as an investment and has purchased more land from time to time until he now owns four hundred and forty acres, which is improved with four sets of buildings. He supervises the operation of all his land and derives therefrom a handsome income.
Mr. Gleason was married in 1870 to Miss Abbie S. Nims, by whom he has the following children: Albert M., who is operating one of his farms; Clora M., the wife of Harry Adams, a farmer of Penn township: Della, who married Ben Leadley, a resident of Penn town- ship; Charles Sumner, who is operating land belonging to his father: Laura Pearl, the wife of Rev. Edward Diffenbough, a Methodist preacher stationed at Altona, Illinois; Lottie Alice, the wife of Samuel Stuffacher, of Monroe, Wisconsin: John Harrison, who is station agent at El Paso; and Jessie Mabel, a school teacher at Oneida, Illinois.
Mr. Gleason is a stanch republican in his political belief and for about twenty years has served as a member of the school board and has also held the office of road commissioner. Both he and his wife are affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church and take a keen interest in its work. He has never had occasion to regret his choice of an occupation for he has gained financial independence and has also found farming congenial work. His home is modern and well kept up, and its attractiveness is enhanced by shade and orchard trees which he himself planted.
F. B. HALLOCK.
F. B. Hallock, pleasantly located on section 11, Elmira town- ship, occupies an attractive residence, thoroughly modern, which stands in the midst of an excellent tract of land of two hundred and fifty acres, which returns to the owner a golden tribute for the care and labor bestowed upon it. Mr. Hallock was born in Pawpaw town-
F. B. HALLOCK AND FAMILY
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
299
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
ship, De Kalb county, Illinois, March 4, 1845. During his infancy his mother died and he was reared by a family of the name of Hallock, by which name he has always been known. His own father went west in 1849 and was never heard from again.
F. B. Halloek spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Lee county, Illinois, there remaining until after the outbreak of hostili- ties between the north and the south, when his patriotic spirit was aroused by the attempt to overthrow the Union, and on the 11th of January, 1862, he enlisted as a member of Company D. Fifty- third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for three years, or during the war. After serving for thirteen and a half months, however, he was hon- orably discharged beeanse of physical disability. Later he came to Stark county and here remained until he could no longer content himself to remain at home when the nation was battling for existenee. He therefore enlisted again, joining Company D, First Illinois Artillery, with which he served for eighteen months, rendering valu- able aid to his country. During his first enlistment he participated in the battles of Shiloh and Little Hatchet, and during the period of his second enlistment he took part in the engagements at Big Shanty, Vicksburg, Kenesaw Mountain, the siege of Atlanta and the battle of Nashville, returning home in 1865 with a most creditable military record.
Mr. Halloek once more took up his abode in Lee county, Illinois, where he began farming, residing there until 1875, when he estab- lished his home on a farm near Elmira. He then condueted a dairy and became the pioneer cheese maker of Stark county. After con- tinning at his original place for five years he bought a farm about two miles south of Oseeola, where he continued in the manufacture of cheese for four years. He then began feeding eattle and devoted his energies to that business for five years. On the expiration of that period he eame to his present place of residence, ereeting a fine home, supplied with all modern equipments and conveniences and affording him all of the comforts of life now that he is approaching the evening of his days. His farming property comprises two hun- dred and fifty acres of rich and productive land, which returns to him a gratifying annual income.
In North Adams, Massachusetts, Mr. Hallock was united in marriage to Miss Anna E. Clarke, and they have beeome the parents of four children: Mabel, the wife of George W. Norris, living in Neponset. Illinois; Minnie, at home; Frank W., who is engaged in feeding cattle on his father's farm; and William O., who is attend- ing school at Pella, Iowa. Vol. II-15
300
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
Mr. Hallock has always given his influence on the side of moral teachings and is one of the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church and is serving on its building committee. In politics he has been a lifelong republican, supporting the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has filled some local offices, act- ing as collector for five years and as assessor for one term. In 1863 he became a member of the Odd Fellow's lodge at East Pawpaw, Illinois, passed through all of the chairs and became a member of the encampment and also of the Rebekah lodge. IIe is a vahied representative of the Grand Army of the Republic, passed through all of the chairs in James Jackson Post, No. 37, and has been adju- tant for about twelve years. He enjoys this association with his former comrades, recounting the incidents when they went on the long, hard campaigns, fought in hotly contested battles or rested in winter quarters. The same spirit of loyalty in citizenship has char- acterized him throughout his entire life, and he is as greatly interested in the welfare of his country today as when he followed the stars and stripes upon southern battlefields.
JUDGE WILLIAM WILBERFORCE WRIGHT.
Modern philosophieal reasoning has evolved the thought that "Not the good that comes to us, but the good that comes to the world through us is the measure of our success." Judged by this standard the life of Judge William Wilberforce Wright was a most successful one. He did much to uphold the legal and political status of his com- munity and to advance its intellectual and moral growth. Never was his position upon any vital question an equivocal one and the high regard entertained for his opinions resulted in a large following for any cause which he advocated. The second son of Captain William Wilberforce and Anne Matilda (Creighton) Wright, he was born in Canton, Illinois, September 10, 1842. His father was a native of Hanover, New Hampshire, and belonged to a family which settled in New England in 1665, and some of whose members participated in the struggle for independence. The mother of our subject was of Scotch-Irish descent and came to this country from the county of Cavan, Ireland.
William Wilberforce Wright finished his education in the Galva high school and then farmed with his father near Toulon until of age. In 1862 he began the study of law in the office of Hon. Miles A.
301
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
Fuller, in Toulon. In 1864 he enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry, a one hundred day regiment, in which he served as sergeant nearly six months, voluntarily remaining until the end of the war was assured.
On his return to Illinois Mr. Wright finished his legal studies and was admitted to the bar at a term of the supreme court, held at Mount Vernon in November, 1866, and was in practice in Toulon from that date until his death, September 30, 1912. He was consid- ered to be one of the most honest, upright and just attorneys that ever practiced law in this county. He was not only faithful to his clients, but also just to his opponents. It was his custom, whenever possible, to effect a settlement of differences outside rather than to bring his clients into court. In politics he was a republican, an ardent admirer of Lincoln and a contemporary of Robert G. Ingersoll.
Mr. Wright served Stark county, Illinois, six years as master in chancery and twenty-five years as county judge, while continuing practice in the higher courts. He was a delegate from the Peoria district to the national republican convention at Chicago in 1884; at the district convention in 1886 he was within but one vote of the non- ination for representative to congress, and lacked that only because of his well known temperance sentiments. He was a man who was much interested in the welfare of the community, taking a great inter- est in educational matters. He was a member of the Toulon Debating Society, an organization which brought many noted men to this town, such as Wendell Phillips and Theodore Tilden. He served as presi- dent of the high school board of education and also as a member of the board of trustees of Toulon Academy.
He united with the Toulon Congregational church on November 13. 1853, seven years after the church was organized. A brother of his father, Samuel G. Wright, was pastor of the church at the time. On November 29, 1896, the fiftieth anniversary of the church was held and Judge Wright delivered the historical address. He held sue- cessively the offices of trustce, elerk, treasurer, was elected deacon December 1, 1883, and continued in that office up to the time of his death. During his relationship with the church he became very much interested in the Sabbath school work and served as superintendent for a considerable time. His interest in the Sabbath school work was not confined to the church alone but to the town and surrounding country. While he was superintendent Dwight L. Moody was brought here and delivered some inspiring addresses.
Judge Wright was married May 19, 1875, to Mary Harrison
302
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
Hopkins, a daughter of Hon. Joel W. Hopkins, of Granville, Put- nam county, Illinois, and to them were born the following named: Eleanor Matilda. William Wilberforce and Helen Gertrude, who survive him; and Mary, who died in infancy.
No man was more modest in his behavior, unassuming in his aspirations; always a thorough gentleman, sincere and courageous, yielding to no temptation of temporary expediences in defense of his conduct, he was ever keenly alive to the best and highest interests of his fellowmen. In his church relations he was faithful to the service of the church and the doctrines of the Bible, and had a religious experience that shed over his life a halo of hope whose effulgence made light the gloom in the lives of others. He lived a life that may well become the aim of every man; it was one of strong and abiding faith in the eternal verities of religion, and he could say with Paul. the old soldier of the cross. "I have fought a good fight: I have finished my course: henceforth there is left for me a crown of righteousness."
GEORGE A. WASSON.
George A. Wasson owns the Sylvan View Farm on section 25, West Jersey township, which consists of two hundred and forty acres and is there successfully engaged in raising both grain and stock. He was born in Peoria county, Illinois, on the 20th of November, 1856. and is a son of John Wasson and a grandson of George Wasson, both natives of the state of New York. The last named met death by an accident. John Wasson grew to manhood in Cayuga county. New York, but in 1850 located in Peoria, Illinois, then a small village. After devoting some time to getting out ties for the railroad and to working as a farm hand he rented land for three years and also did some teaming. Subsequently he purchased forty acres of land for twelve hundred dollars. buying the property on time as he had no capi- tal. The first year was so rainy that crops were poor and he was unable to make any payment upon the farm and wished to give up the place. However, the people from whom he had purchased it told him to continue to cultivate it and to pay when he could. He eventually dis- charged all his indebtedness upon the farm, which he operated for a number of years. At length he disposed of it and bought a one hun- dred and sixty acre tract of land which he broke and fenced and improved with a good house and a substantial barn. He also set out
303
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
an orehard and in time the place became one of the most highly developed farm properties of the locality. He also purchased an adjoining eighty aeres and an additional sixty aere tract and likewise owned property in the eity of Peoria. His last years were spent in that eity, where he lived retired. He suffered a stroke of paralysis on Thanksgiving Day and died on Sunday, and his wife died on Sun- day of the following week from the same eause, she being strieken on the day of his funeral. They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he served on the official board. They were the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters.
George A. Wasson was reared upon the home farm in Peoria county and is indebted for his education to the district sehools. IIe remained with his father until he reached mature years and through assisting with the work gained valuable training in agricultural pur- suits. Subsequently he purchased eighty aeres of land in Prineeville township, Peoria county, and for five years engaged in farming that place, his sister Ella keeping house for him. At the end of that time he sold the farm at a good profit and bought his present place, the Sylvan View Farm, which comprises two hundred and forty acres on seetion 25, West Jersey township, Stark county. In order to pur- chase it he went into debt seven thousand dollars. He took up his residenee upon the place in 1903 and has since engaged in its operation. IIe raises good erops annually and also derives a gratifying profit from the sale of his high grade stoek. He has paid off the indebted- ness upon the farm and ranks among the substantial residents of West Jersey township. He has erected a large and modern residence pro- vided with acetylene light, furnace heat, hot and cold water and the barns and other farm buildings are all substantial and well designed. The value of the farm is also inereased by a fine orchard which Mr. Wasson set out. In addition to the Sylvan View Farm he owns three hundred and twenty acres in Traverse county, Minnesota, which is improved and is rented.
Mr. Wasson was married on the 6th of April, 1903, to Miss Emma . White, a daughter of James E. White, a resident of Toulon and a veteran of the Civil war. Mrs. Wasson was born and reared in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Wasson have one son, Orville J. who is his father's partner in the operation of the home farm. He received a high school education in Toulon and his wife, who hore the maiden name of Ruth Lyon, also attended high school there. They have one daughter, Flora Emily. He has a great deal of mechanical ability and is an expert blacksmith and machinist although he never served an apprenticeship. He has a well equipped shop and works in both
304
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
steel and wood. He understands thoroughly the construction of an automobile and is able to make needed repairs upon his car.
Mr. Wasson, of this review, was formerly a member of the Patrons of Husbandry or the Grange and took an active part in that organization, serving for several years in the office of lecturer. In politics he is independent, but although he manifests a commendable interest in publie affairs he has never sought office. He has gained a wide cirele of friends in Stark county and is recognized as one of its most up-to-date and suceessful farmers and stock raisers.
GEORGE T. OLIVER.
That Stark county offers to her people many opportunities and advantages is indicated in the fact that a large proportion of her native-born eitizens have remained within her borders, content with conditions here found. To this elass belongs George T. Oliver, who was born in 1859, on the farm on section 30, Elmira township. upon which he still resides. He is deseended from Seoteh aneestry, being a grandson of Thomas Oliver, who was born in Roxburghshire, Scot- land, and eame to the United States about 1836. He made his way into the interior of the country and cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of Illinois. Only four years before had the Black Hawk war occurred, and there were great sections of the state that were unclaimed and undeveloped. Thomas Oliver established his home in the midst of a native timber traet in Elmira township and there in the midst of the forest began to hew out the farm upon which George T. Oliver was born many years later. He had made purchase of this farm in 1838, paying the usual government priee of a dollar and a quarter per aere. He hanled the first building material brought into this county from Chieago, and he also took his wheat to market in Chieago. He had been a shepherd in Scotland and after coming to the new world engaged quite extensively in handling sheep, while his sons performed the work of eultivating the fields and raising grain. After the marriage of his son Adam the grandfather. Thomas Oliver, removed aeross the road to the farm now oeenpied by Oliver Turnbull and there he passed away about 1866, when George T. Oliver was a little lad of six years.
Adam Oliver. his son, was born in Seotland and was about twenty years of age at the time the family made the long voyage across the Atlantie to the new world. As previously indieated, he became an
-
ADAM OLIVER
*
JOHN OLIVER ANDREW OLIVER
WILLIAM OLIVER
HENRY OLIVER THOMAS OLIVER
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
307
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
active assistant of his father in the development and cultivation of the home farm, upon which he continued to reside until called to his final rest. He came into possession of the property and was the owner of three hundred and sixty aeres of rich, valable and productive land, devoting his entire life thereon to farming and stoek raising. He passed away in 1885, and is yet remembered by many of the older settlers, who knew him as a man of sterling worth. He had married Agnes Davidson, who was a native of the same shire in Scotland as her husband and who had come with her parents to the United States a short time after the arrival of the Oliver family, the Davidsons settling in Marshall county, Illinois. Mrs. Oliver survived her hus- band for about four years, dying in 1889. He had been previously married. his first wife having been Polly Anne Parks, by whom he had one daughter, Polly Anne, who is now living in Elmira township. The children of the second marriage were six in number: George, now deeeased: Margaret, the wife of M. M. Braee, of Kewanee, Illinois; Thomas, who has passed away: Jessie, the wife of Edward Tunni- cliff, of Burwell, Nebraska: George T. ; and Helen, the wife of M. T. Tuttle, of Lenox, Iowa.
After attending the distriet schools George T. Oliver spent one vear as a student in Monmouth College and at the death of his father took over the business of further developing and improving the home farm. He has one of the three best places in Elmira township and he has put upon the farm many of its present modern improvements, all of which are of excellent character. He has four hundred and seventy acres in the home place, together with one hundred and sixty acres elsewhere in Elmira township, and he makes a specialty of raising polled Hereford cattle and has also fed cattle very extensively. His place is known as the Pioneer Stoek Farm, and the property has been under one name for a longer period than any other farm in that seetion of the county.
On the Ist of January, 1883, Mr. Oliver was united in marriage to Miss Luella M. Fuller, by whom he had three children. as follows: Luella F. and Edith, both at home; and Margaret, who gave her hand in marriage to Robert Weeks, of Elmira township. The wife and mother passed away in 1895, and four years later Mr. Oliver was again married, his second union being with Miss Belle F. Jackson, by whom he has two children. Ruth and Adam, both at home.
Mr. Oliver has been a lifelong republican and is of the progressive type. He has served for twelve years as supervisor and in other local offices and has also been school director. He and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian ehureh, in the work of which they are
308
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
actively and helpfully interested, Mr. Oliver serving as one of the trustees and as elder. His entire life has been an expression of high and honorable principles and in his business career he has ever been thoroughly reliable, never taking advantage of the necessities of his fellow-men in any transaction but building up his business along con- structive lines and winning his prosperity through honorable effort.
ELBA V. GRAVES.
Elba V. Graves is a member of the firm of Miller & Graves, grain dealers of Duncan and is also manager of the local branch of the business of Scott, Walters & Rakestraw, bankers of Wyoming. His birth occurred in Vinton county. Ohio, on the 20th of January, 1862, and his parents were Jacob and Sidna A. ( Barnett) Graves. The father was born in Vinton county. Ohio, on the 19th of September, 1834. while the mother was a native of Guernsey county, Ohio. They were married on the 13th of November, 1856, and remained in the Buckeye state until 1864, when with their family they came to Stark county, Illinois. The father purchased eighty acres of land in Essex township, on which he lived until his demise on the 3d of September, 1913. He had long survived his wife, who passed away on the 14th of July, 1887. He was a republican and served as assessor of Essex township for a number of years and as supervisor for some time. He had eleven children, of whom ten are still living. Emory R. died in 1894, when seventeen years of age. Those who survive are: Mary A .. the widow of Charles E. Fouts, of Ottawa, Kansas: Arilla. the wife of William Schiebel, of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin; Elba V .; Smiley R., who resides in Duncan, Illinois; Stanley S., a farmer of Essex township: Lyman S., who is in the employ of Brown & Upper- man at Wyoming: Julia E., the wife of Peter Shurts, of Hector, Minnesota: Clinton E., a resident of Weston, Illinois; Elton O .. who is farming in Essex township; and Jennie, the wife of C. F. Addis, of West Jersey township.
Elba V. Graves was but two years of age when brought by his parents to this county and was reared upon the home farm in Essex township. He is indebted for his education to the district schools and when twenty-two years of age he went to work for A. J. Scott, a grain dealer of Duncan, and three years later bought a half interest in the business, the firm becoming Scott & Graves. In 1900 Mr. Scott's son-in-law bought his interest in the business, which has since been
309
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
conducted under the style of Miller & Graves. They not only deal in grain but also handle lumber and various kinds of building material, ineluding lime and cement. During all the years that the business has been in existence it has been conducted along lines of strictest honesty and its well earned reputation for fair dealing is one of its most valuable assets. It has gained a large patronage and the men who are conducting it are numbered among the leaders in commercial cireles of Dunean. Mr. Graves devotes the greater part of his time and attention to the management of this business but also has charge of the interests at Duncan of Seot, Walters & Rakestraw, bankers of Wyoming. His sound judgment and business aeumen are mani- fest in his enterprises, and he has succeeded in all that he has undertaken.
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.