USA > Illinois > Stark County > History of Stark County, Illinois, and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 26
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On the 23d day of May, 1894, at Wyoming, occurred the marriage of Mr. Finly and Miss Nora Alderman, a daughter of Michael and Louise (Joiey) Alderman of that town. Mr. and Mrs. Finly took a trip to the Pacific coast in 1915 visiting the exposition at San Fran- cisco and remained for some time with his parents in San Diego, being present at the celebration of their sixty-fifth wedding anniversary on October 6th. 1915. Our subject was the only one of the children present on that occasion. He is in excellent circumstances financially. and it is generally recognized that his success has been founded upon his industry and his wise management of his affairs. Although he has given practically his undivided attention to his farm work he has never been remiss in any of his duties as a citizen and supports those move- ments seeking the advancement of his community. In politics he is a republican. His friends are many and his genuine worth is attested by the fact that those who know him most intimately hold him in the highest esteem.
MRS. SARAH J. BOYD.
Among the well known residents of West Jersey township is Mrs. Sarah J. Boyd, who makes her home on section 10 of that township and who came to this state with her father, Jacob Kissel, in 1860. The latter was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and after arriv-
340
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
ing at years of maturity he was there married to Miss Hester Clouser. also a native of the Keystone state. He followed farming in Pennsyl- vania for a number of years, but the opportunities of the middle west attracted him and he left Pennsylvania for Indiana, spending two years in Henry county, that state. Subsequently he became a resi- dent of Wiseonsin and after residing in Lancaster for two years he removed to Dodge county. Nebraska, making investment in three hundred acres of land near Fremont. He spent six years there in trying to improve and develop his farm, but the droughts and the grasshoppers rendered it impossible for him to raise erops and he therefore retraeed his steps to a point east of the Mississippi. settling in West Jersey township, Stark county. Illinois. in 1860. At first he rented land which he cultivated for a few years and here his labors were rewarded with good harvests. the sale of which brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase an eighty acre tract of land. Immediately he began farming thereon and continued to make that place his abode until called to his final rest. His wife survived him for six years and during that period resided with her daughter. Mrs. Boyd.
Mrs. Boyd was born in Stark county and on the 2d of February. 1870, gave her hand in marriage to Robert A. Boyd, who was born in Warren county. New Jersey. When a young man he removed west- ward and took up his abode in Stark county on land which his father had previously purchased. It was at that time unimproved. but Mr. Boyd broke the sod. planted the fields and carried on the work of development. It was upon the farm where she now resides that Mr. and Mrs. Boyd began their domestie life. To his original tract of eighty aeres he added by the purchase of another eighty. thus making his farm an entire quarter seetion. He also wrought a marked trans- formation in its appearance by the erection of a good residence and by the building of commodious barns. Industrious, alert and per- severing, he won a substantial measure of prosperity and gained rec- ognition as one of the foremost representatives of farming interests in his loeality. He continued to reside upon the farm until his life's labors were ended in death in 1891. at which time he was laid to rest in the West Jersey cemetery. Fraternally he was connected with the Odd Fellows lodge at West Jersey and his life was guided by his religi- ous faith, which was manifest in his membership in the Methodist Epis- copal church.
After the death of her husband Mrs. Boyd employed help and continued to carry on the work of the farm for seven years. proving very successful in the management of her business interests. Later.
341
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
however, she rented this farm. She has one son, Clyde H. Boyd, a resident of Toulon, who is married and has two children. She has also reared a niece, Miss Grace Hamilton, who became a member of her household when six years of age and is now a junior in the Toulon high school. Mrs. Boyd is a member of the West Jersey Methodist Episcopal church and was formerly very active in church and Sunday school work. She is widely known in this part of the state and her kindly spirit, her generous disposition and ready sympathy have gained for her the high esteem and warm regard of all who know her.
HARRY BARTON.
Harry Barton, reared to the occupation of farming, has always followed that pursuit and is now engaged in the cultivation of one hundred and twenty acres of land, eighty acres of which he owns. The place is situated on section 7, Penn township, and in its neat and attractive appearance indicates his careful supervision and wise eon- trol. He was born February 24, 1873, a son of Joseph and Frances (Roper) Barton, both of whom were natives of England, where they were reared and married. In 1872 they came to the United States, settling in Kewanee, Illinois, and there Mr. Barton remained until after the birth of his son Harry. Subsequent to that event the family became residents of Toulon Township, where the father is still living, but the mother passed away November 19, 1912.
Harry Barton obtained a district school education, supplemented by study in the schools of Castleton. At an early age he became familiar with the work of tilling the soil and cultivating the crops and continued to assist his father in farm work until he attained his major- ity, when he began the cultivation of a part of the old homestead on his own account. After living there for four years he and his brother rented land in Penn township, upon which Harry Barton resided for eleven years. Ile next purchased his present place of residence, his home farm now comprising eighty acres of land on section 7, Penn township. To this he has added some improvements and now has a clean, well kept farm presenting a most attractive and pleasing ap- pearance. He cultivates altogether one hundred and twenty acres of land, devoting his attention to general agricultural pursuits.
On the 5th of February. 1914, Mr. Barton was joined in wedloek to Miss Mary Sterling. Politically a democrat, Mr. Barton has always loyally adhered to the principles of the party and upon its ticket has
342
HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
been elected to several local offices. For the past five years he has served as supervisor, for two years was assessor and for one year was eollector. In each of these positions he proved his eapability and fidelity and his course was highly commended. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows lodge at Castleton, the encampment at Wyoming and the Modern Woodmen eamp at Castleton. He has become well known through fraternal, business and social relations and high regard is entertained for him by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
GEORGE W. PIERSON.
George W. Pierson is a praetieal mechanie who in early life learned the blacksmith's trade and since 1902 has carried on business along that line at La Fayette. He dates his residence in Stark county from 1867. arriving here when a youth of eleven years. He was born in Warren County, New Jersey, August 4, 1856, and is a son of Willis Pierson. who was also a native of New Jersey, where he was reared and mar- ried, the lady of his ehoiee being Miss Mary Bryan, who was born and reared in New Jersey. The father followed farming in that state for a number of years and at the time of the Civil war joined the Thirty-first Regiment of Volunteer infantry in New Jersey, serving with that command for three years and nine months, after which he was honorably discharged and mustered out following the elose of the war. He then returned to his native state, where he again engaged in farming until 1867, when he came to Illinois, making his way direct to Stark county. He took up his abode in West Jersey township. set- tling on a farm, where he continued to reside until his death. Ilis wife was a resident of this county for more than three deeades. pass- ing away in May. 1898.
George W. Pierson was reared in Stark county from the age of eleven years and the public schools afforded him his educational op- portunities. Starting out in life he entered a shop in West Jersey and learned the blacksmith's trade, after which he engaged in busi- ness on his own account there for thirteen years. In 1902 he disposed of his interests at West Jersey and went to La Fayette, where he purchased a lot and built a large shop, in which he is now engaged in blacksmithing and repair work. He does wood work as well as black- smithing and repairs wagons, buggies, ete. His business has been developed to large proportions and brings him a substantial annual
343
IIISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
income. He is industrious and energetic and whatever he undertakes is carried forward to successful completion.
Mr. Pierson was married at West Jersey. December 19, 1875, to Miss Laura Scantlin, a native of this county. They have become parents of five children: Frank, who is engaged in blacksmithing at Castleton; Jesse, who is married and is engaged in business at Wil- liamsfield: Mary, the wife of Clyde Schnedaker, a farmer of South Dakota: Belle, the wife of Archie Wapple, of Oneida, Illinois; and George. who completes the family.
The parents are members of the La Fayette Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Pierson takes a very active and helpful interest in church and Sunday school work and has acted as superintendent of the Sunday school. Mr. Pierson belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge and he and his wife are connected with the Rebekah degree. Ile has served as noble grand and has been representative of the local organization of the grand lodge. Politically he has always been iden- tified with the republican party and he has served for three years as a member of the village board of La Fayette. Ile was one of the pro- moters of the La Fayette Fair Association, of which he is a stock- holder. He stands at all times as an advocate of those progressive movements which feature in the welfare and upbuilding of the dis- triet in which he lives. He has ever worked hard, is a self-made man and his record indicates what may be accomplished by persistent energy and honorable dealing.
W. W. WRIGHT, JR.
The history of W. W. Wright, Sr., appears elsewhere in this vol- ume and W. W. Wright, Jr., is certainly "a chip off the old block." He was born in Toulon and his entire life has been spent here except the few years when he attended the University of Illinois and the Law School of Boston. He will be thirty-eight years of age on the 12th of August, 1916. His wife was Miss Phoebe Robbins of Emmettsburg, lowa. This happy union has been blessed with two bright-eyed boys, William Wilburforce, who will be six years of age in July, 1916, and John, who is three years of age. William Wilbur- force is the fourth in a direct line to be honored by this name.
W. W. Wright is an attorney at law and also a farmer. While caring for his full share of legal business he also cultivates many acres of the best farm land in the state and his fine stock is never Vol. II-17
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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
neglected. He resides in a beautiful home in the suburbs of our little city and is one of Toulon's best boosters. His public spirit knows no bounds and his pocketbook always opens when anything is needed that will benefit his town.
The historian regrets that he is unable to get a better biography of Mr. Wright, but the history is published just at the time when farm work and professional duties are both crowding him and the above items were collected from his friends and without his knowledge. But a history of Stark county without mention of the Wright family would be unworthy of the name of a history. Mr. Wright's great- uncle. Samuel G. Wright, was the pioneer minister to locate here, and his father and grandfather were men whose moral influence is still at work. He springs from a family remarkable for unswerving faith in Christianity. Captain William Wright, grandfather of W. W. Wright, gave his life for his country and received his death wound upon the battlefield of Resaca.
INDEX
Adams, A. I
14
Fowler, C. D 289
Adams, I. F.
86
Fox, J. T.
286
Adams, R. A
310
Fulks, Levi
179
Addis, F V
318
Fulk, W. D. 218
Allen, John
279
Fuller, F. A
294
Arganbright, Elting 155
Armstrong, George
148
Gelvin, F. T 99
84
Gingrich, S. B.
244
Baker, G. C.
163
Ballentine, W. B.
102
Good. C. N.
75
Barton, A. L.
241
Gorman, W. M.
324
Barton, Harry
341
Bass, E. B.
160
Graves, B. F.
51
Black. J. R. 18
186
Graves, Q. I.
251
Bocock, Cyrus
20
Bocock, W. C.
41
Bowes, C. A
317
Boyd, Sarah J
339
Breen, R. L.
18
Hall, J. K.
6
Hall, Samuel
212
Hall, Thomas 146
Ilallock, F. B 296
Halsted, E. L 282
Hanks, S. L. 135
210
Hartley, James
27
Chase, Joseph 76
Hatch, O. L
28
Church, T. D. 234
Hay, M. L.
58
Claybaugh. C. B
93
Colgan, Frank
121
Iloadley, Thomas 46
llodges, Frank W 325
Hodges, Fred W 325
Hodges, Otis 285
132
Holgate, I. R.
61
Holgate, William
105
Holmes, Edwin
224
Hopkins, H. P.
177
House, J. W
211
Hulsizer, W. L. 206
Hunter, R. J 45
Devo, Albert 168
333
Jackson, A. H. 334
Jackson, C. R
309
Jackson, M. J. 192
Jackson, R. C. 201
Jackson, Rhoda M.
Janes, A. M 242
Fell, D. K. 175
Ferris, F. E
85
Kelly, T. T 291
Kidd, .I. A. 276
Finnogan, J. F
59
Kidd, T. J 180
Fleming, F. H
313
King, A. W. 272
Fleming, JJ. C. 144
King, R. M. 71
Fling, J. W., Jr
170 Kopp, J. H.
159
Grieve, A. R.
240
Grieve. W. E. 169
195
Brown, Fred
238
Brown, G. W 248
Buffum, E. S. 219
Carstairs, David 249
Caverly, E. C. .
264
Champion, W. N. 254
Colwell, Henry 183
Colwell, P. B. 165
200
Corrington, Nathan 284
Crum, B. W. 252
Deisher, C. ..
9
Dewey, C. P.
17
De Wolf, Hymen 142
Dexter, Grant 275
Dexter, W. C. 281
Ditmon. W. T.
Down, John 315
Down, Samuel 315
Downend, M. B. 331
Duckworth, Ilenry
233
Grant, Nelson 116
Graves, E. V
308
Bocock, C. W.
Gleason, J. S.
295
Gerard. J. L.
Bacmeister, Theodore 154
Griswold, C. H.
Hartley, Edwin
llewitt, W. H 189
Cooper, A. C ..
Holgate, James
Finly, W. B. 338
345
346
INDEX
190
Lackie, R Y.
127
Platt, G. C.
Price, W. F .. 15%
Leet, William
68
Liggett, J. M.
37
Redfield, Mary R. 128
52
Reed, I. C ..
328
Rewerts, R. J
133
MeBocock, Robert 60
118
Mcclellan, R. L. .
94
Sandham, W. R 138
Scott, R. M. 83
Sickles, W. U. 101
Smith, Byron 104
269
Mahler, J. W.
Spencer, I. MI.
114
Mallett, Hugh
253
Marsh, G. A.
123
Marshall, D. M.
283
Martin, H. D. D
166
Teruns, Peter
5
Thompson, Robert
50
Myers, Charles
124
Thurston, C. G 16
Turnbull. A. D. 42
Nelson, W. N.
31
Nixon, W. E.
259
Nowlan. J. A
15
Turnbull, G. M.
Walker, G. S.
~1
Oliver, G. T 304
Walker, H. W
~3
O Neill, J. E.
Walters. J. W
262
Owens, D. J
Wasson, G. A
302
Webster, David
326
Wheeler, R. E
202
Parish, Pethnel
106
Whisker, D. H.
145
Parish, W. H. 271
Phenix, Abram 230
205
Wright, W. W.
300
Phenix, D. B.
96
Wright, W. W., Jr
343
Phenix, Harmon
32
Pierson, G. W
342
Young, W. F.
188
Rist. J. W.
266
Rogers, J. T
MeC'lenahan, F. C.
155
McKee, C. S.
197
MeKenzie, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander MeManus, P. W.
40
Mahany, J. J
Sorenson, Christie
10
Mallett, G. S
Springer, G. W
270
Steward, I. F.
173
Sturm, C. D.
136
Sturm, J. H
113
Merna, G. W
263
Thomas, Frank
Miner, C. R ..
80
147
Turnbull, A. O.
Turnbull, Edwin 239
223
293
Packer, E. 62
Williams, W. C .. 250
Winans, Harriet E. 203
Phenix, B. D
90
Liggett, W. R.
38
Lloyd, E H.
316
292
237
Malone, Samuel
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 977.351H14H C001 V002 HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, AND I
3 0112 025392348
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