Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 5

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1058

USA > Illinois > Crawford County > Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical > Part 5

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).

ated with him in the ownership of the land on which the town was laid out. His death oc- curred in Clark County, August 9, 1870, at the age of 78 years.

ARCOLA, an incorporated city in Douglas County, 158 miles south of Chicago, at the inter- section of the Illinois Central and the Paris & Decatur Railways. Its principal manufacturing plants are a broom factory and brick and tile works. It also has manufactures of flour, car- riages, and agricultural implements. Arcola is lighted by electricity, and contains a handsome city hall, nine churches, a high-school and two newspapers. Population (1890), 1,733; (1900), 1,995.

ARENZ, Francis A., pioneer, was born at Blankenberg, in the Province of the Rhein, Prussia, Oct. 31, 1800; obtained a good education and, while a young man, engaged in mercantile business in his native country. In 1827 he came to the United States and, after spending two years in Kentucky, in 1829 went to Galena, where he was engaged for a short time in the lead trade. He took an early opportunity to become naturalized, and coming to Beardstown a few months later, went into merchandising and real estate; also became a contractor for furnishing supplies to the State troops during the Black Hawk War, Beardstown being at the time a rendezvous and shipping point. In 1834 he began the publi- cation of "The Beardstown Chronicle and Illinois Bounty Land Register," and was the projector of the Beardstown & Sangamon Canal, extending from the Illinois River at Beardstown to Miller's Ferry on the Sangamon, for which he secured a special charter from the Legislature in 1836. He had a survey of the line made, but the hard times prevented the beginning of the work and it was finally abandoned. Retiring from the mercantile business in 1835, he located on a farm six miles southeast of Beardstown, but in 1839 removed to a tract of land near the Morgan County line which he had bought in 1833, and on which the present village of Arenzville now stands. This became the center of a thrifty agricultural com- munity composed largely of Germans, among whom he exercised a large influence. Resuming the mercantile business here, he continued it until about 1853, when he sold out a considerable part of his possessions. An ardent Whig, he was elected as such to the lower branch of the Four- teenth General Assembly (1844) from Morgan County, and during the following session suc- ceeded in securing the passage of an act by which a strip of territory three miles wide in the north- ern part of Morgan County, including the village

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

of Arenzville, and which had been in dispute, was transferred by vote of the citizens to Cass County. In 1852 Mr. Arenz visited his native land, by appointment of President Fillmore, as bearer of dispatches to the American legations at Berlin and Vienna. He was one of the founders of the Illinois State Agricultural Society of 1853, and served as the Vice-President for his district until his death, and was also the founder and President of the Cass County Agricultural Soci- ety. Died, April 2, 1856.

ARLINGTON, a village of Bureau County, on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 92 miles west of Chicago. Population (1880), 447; (1890), 436; (1900), 400.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS (formerly Dunton), a village of Cook County, on the Chicago & North- western Railway, 22 miles northwest of Chicago; is in a dairying district and has several cheese factories, besides a sewing machine factory, hotels and churches, a graded school, a bank and one newspaper. Population (1880), 995; (1890), 1,424; (1900), 1,380.

ARMOUR, Philip Danforth, packer, Board of Trade operator and capitalist, was born at Stock- bridge, Madison County, N. Y., May 16, 1832. After receiving the benefits of such education as the village academy afforded, in 1852 he set out across the Plains to California, where he re- inained four years, achieving only moderate suc- cess as a miner. Returning east in 1856, he soon after embarked in the commission business in Milwaukee, continuing until 1863, when he formed a partnership with Mr. John Plankinton in the meat-packing business. Later, in conjunc- tion with his brothers-H. O. Armour having already built up an extensive grain commission trade in Chicago-he organized the extensive packing and commission firm of Armour & Co., with branches in New York, Kansas City and Chicago, their headquarters being removed to the latter place from Milwaukee in 1875. Mr. Armour is a most industrious and me- thodical business man, giving as many hours to the superintendence of business details as the most industrious day-laborer, the result being seen in the creation of one of the most extensive and prosperous firms in the country. Mr Armour's practical benevolence has been demon- strated in a munificent manner by his establish- inent and endowment of the Armour Institute (a manual training school) in Chicago, at a cost of over $2,250,000, as an offshoot of the Armour Mission founded on the bequest of his deceased brother, Joseph F. Armour. Died Jan. 6, 1901.

ARMSTRONG, John Strawn, pioneer, born in Somerset County, Pa., May 29, 1810, the oldest of a family of nine sons; was taken by his parents in 1811 to Licking County, Ohio, where he spent his childhood and early youth. His father was a native of Ireland and his mother a sister of Jacob Strawn, afterwards a wealthy stock-grower and dealer in Morgan County. In 1829, John S. came to Tazewell County, Ill., but two years later joined the rest of his family in Putnam (now Marshall) County, all finally removing to La Salle County, where they were among the earli- est settlers. Here he settled on a farm in 1834, where he continued to reside over fifty years, when he located in the village of Sheridan, but early in 1897 went to reside with a daughter in Ottawa. He was a soldier.in the Black Hawk War, has been a prominent and influential farm- er, and, in the later years of his life, has been a leader in "Granger" politics, being Master of his local "Grange," and also serving as Treasurer of the State Grange .- George Washington (Arm- strong), brother of the preceding, was born upon the farm of his parents, Joseph and Elsie (Strawn) Armstrong, in Licking County, Ohio, Dec. 9, 1812; learned the trade of a weaver with his father (who was a woolen manufacturer), and at the age of 18 was in charge of the factory. Early in 1831 he came with his mother's family to ·Illinois, locating a few months later in La Salle County. In 1832 he served with his older brother as a soldier in the Black Hawk War, was identified with the early steps for the construc- tion of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, finally be- coming a contractor upon the section at Utica, where he resided several years. He then returned to the farm near the present village of Seneca, where he had located in 1833, and where (with the exception of his residence at Utica) he has resided continuously over sixty-five years. In 1844 Mr. Armstrong was elected to the lower branch of the Fourteenth General Assembly, also served in the Constitutional Convention of 1847 and, in 1858, was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Congress in opposition to Owen Lovejoy. Re-entering the Legislature in 1860 as Representative from La Salle County, he served in that body by successive re-elections until 1868, proving one of its ablest and most influential members, as well as an accomplished parliamen- tarian. Mr. Armstrong was one of the original promoters of the Kankakee & Seneca Railroad .- William E. (Armstrong), third brother of this family, was born in Licking County, Ohio, Oct. 25, 1814; came to Illinois with the rest of the

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

family in 1831, and resided in La Salle County until 1841, meanwhile serving two or three terms as Sheriff of the county. The latter year he was appointed one of the Commissioners to locate the county-seat of the newly-organized county of Grundy, finally becoming one of the founders and the first permanent settler of the town of Grundy -- later called Morris, in honor of Hon. I. N. Mor- ris, of Quincy, Ill, at that time one of the Com- missioners of the Illinois & Michigan Canal. Here Mr. Armstrong was again elected to the office of Sheriff, serving several terms. So ex- tensive was his influence in Grundy County, that he was popularly known as "The Emperor of Grundy." Died, Nov. 1, 1850 .- Joel W. (Arm- strong), a fourth brother, was born in Licking County, Ohio, Jan. 6, 1817; emigrated in boyhood to La Salle County, Ill .; served one term as County Recorder, was member of the Board of Supervisors for a number of years and the first Postmaster of his town. Died, Dec. 3, 1871 .- Perry A. (Armstrong), the seventh brother of this historic family, was born near Newark, Lick- ing County, Ohio, April 15, 1823, and came to La Salle County, Ill., in 1831. His opportunities for acquiring an education in a new country were limited, but between work on the farm and serv- ice as a clerk of his brother George, aided by a short term in an academy and as a teacher in Kendall County, he managed to prepare himself for college, entering Illinois College at Jackson- ville in 1843. Owing to failure of health, he was compelled to abandon his plan of obtaining a col- legiate education and returned home at the end of his Freshman year, but continued his studies, meanwhile teaching district schools in the winter and working on his mother's farm during the crop season, until 1845, when he located in Mor- ris, Grundy County, opened a general store and was appointed Postmaster. He has been in pub- lic position of some sort ever since he reached his majority, including the offices of School Trustee, Postmaster, Justice of the Peace, Supervisor, County Clerk (two terms), Delegate to the Con- stitutional Convention of 1862, and two terms as Representative in the General Assembly (1862-64 and 1872-74). During his last session in the Gen- eral Assembly he took a conspicuous part in the revision of the statutes under the Constitution of 1870, framing some of the most important laws on the statute book, while participating in the preparation of others. At an earlier date it fell to his lot to draw up the original charters of the Chicago & Rock Island, the Illinois Central, and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroads. He

has also been prominent in Odd Fellow and Masonic circles, having been Grand Master of the first named order in the State and being the old- est 32d degree Mason in Illinois; was admitted to the State bar in 1864 and to that of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1868, and has been Master in Chancery for over twenty consecutive years. Mr. Armstrong has also found time to do some literary work, as shown by his history of "The Sauks and Black Hawk War," and a num- ber of poems. He takes much pleasure in relat- ing reminiscences of pioneer life in Illinois, one of which is the story of his first trip from Ottawa to Chicago, in December, 1831, when he accompanied his oldest brother (William E. Armstrong) to Chicago with a sled and ox- team for salt to cure their mast-fed pork, the trip requiring ten days. His recollection is, that there were but three white families in Chicago at that time, but a large number of Indians mixed with half-breeds of French and Indian origin.

ARNOLD, Isaac N., lawyer and Congressman, was born near Cooperstown, N. Y., Nov. 30, 1813, being descended from one of the companions of Roger Williams. Thrown upon his own resources at an early age, he was largely "self-made." He read law at Cooperstown, and was admitted to the bar in 1835. The next year he removed to Chicago, was elected the first City Clerk in 1837, but resigned before the close of the year and was admitted to the bar of Illinois in 1841. He soon established a reputation as a lawyer, and served for three terms (the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Twentieth) in the lower house of the Legisla- ture. In 1844 he was a Presidential Elector on the Polk ticket, but the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, with the legislation regarding Kan- sas and Nebraska, logically forced him, as a free- soiler, into the ranks of the Republican party, by which he was sent to Congress from 1861 to 1865. While in Congress he prepared and delivered an exhaustive argument in support of the right of confiscation by the General Government. After the expiration of his last Congressional term, Mr. Arnold returned to Chicago, where he resided until his death, April 24, 1884. He was of schol- arly instincts, fond of literature and an author of repute. Among his best known works are his "Life of Abraham Lincoln" and his "Life of Benedict Arnold."

ARRINGTON, Alfred W., clergyman, lawyer and author, was born in Iredell County, N. C., September, 1810, being the son of a Whig mem- ber of Congress from that State. In 1829 he was

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

received on trial as a Methodist preacher and became a circuit-rider in Indiana; during 1832-33 served as an itinerant in Missouri, gaining much celebrity by his eloquence. In 1834 he began the study of law, and having been admitted to the bar, practiced for several years in Arkansas, where he was sent to the Legislature, and, in 1844, was the Whig candidate for Presidential Elec- tor. Later he removed to Texas, where he served as Judge for six years. In 1856 he removed to Madison, Wis., but a year later came to Chicago, where he attained distinction as a lawyer, dying in that city Dec. 31, 1867. He was an accom- plished scholar and gifted writer, having written much for "The Democratic Review" and "The Southern Literary Messenger," over the signature of "Charles Summerfield," and was author of an "Apostrophe to Water," which he put in the mouth of an itinerant Methodist preacher, and which John B. Gough was accustomed to quote with great effect. A volume of his poems with a memoir was published in Chicago in 1869.

ARROWSMITH, a village of McLean County, on the Lake Erie & Western Railway, 20 miles east of Bloomington; is in an agricultural and stock region; las one newspaper. Population (1890), 420; (1900), 317.

ARTHUR, a village of Moultrie County, at the junction of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois and the St. Louis, Vandalia & Terre Haute Railroad, 9 miles west of Arcola. The region is agricul- tural. It has a bank and a weekly newspaper. Population (1890), 536; (1900), 858.

ASAY, Edward G., lawyer, was born in Phila- delphia, Sept. 17, 1825; was educated in private schools and entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church; later spent some time in the South, but in 1853 retired from the ministry and began the study of law, meantime devoting a part of his time to mercantile business in New York City. He was admitted to the bar in 1856, remov- ing the same year to Chicago, where he built up a lucrative practice. He was a brilliant speaker and became eminent, especially as a criminal lawyer. Politically he was a zealous Democrat and was the chief attorney of Buckner S. Morris and others during their trial for conspiracy in connection with the Camp Douglas affair of No- vember, 1864. During 1871-72 he made an ex- tended trip to Europe, occupying some eighteen months, making a second visit in 1882. His later years were spent chiefly on a farm in Ogle County. Died in Chicago, Nov. 24, 1898.

ASBURY, Henry, lawyer, was born in Harri- son (now Robertson) County, Ky., August 10,

1810; came to Illinois in 1834, making the jour- ney on horseback and finally locating in Quincy, where he soon after began the study of law with the Hon. O. H. Browning; was admitted to the bar in 1837, being for a time the partner of Col. Edward D. Baker, afterwards United States Senator from Oregon and finally killed at Ball's Bluff in 1862. In 1849 Mr. Asbury was appointed by President Taylor Register of the Quincy Land Office, and, in 1864-65, served by appointment of President Lincoln (who was his close personal friend) as Provost-Marshal of the Quincy dis- trict, thereby obtaining the title of "Captain," by which he was widely known among his friends. Later he served for several years as Registrar in Bankruptcy at Quincy, which was his last official position. Originally a Kentucky Whig, Captain Asbury was one of the founders of the Republican party in Illinois, acting in co- operation with Abram Jonas, Archibald Williams, Nehemiah Bushnell, O. H. Browning and others of his immediate neighbors, and with Abraham Lincoln, with whom he was a frequent corre- spondent at that period. Messrs. Nicolay and Hay, in their Life of Lincoln, award him the credit of having suggested one of the famous questions propounded by Lincoln to Douglas which gave the latter so much trouble during the memorable debates of 1858. In 1886 Captain Asbury removed to Chicago, where he continued to reside until his death, Nov. 19, 1896.

ASHLAND, a town in Cass County, at the intersection of the Chicago & Alton and the Baltimore & Ohio South-Western Railroad, 21 miles west-northwest of Springfield and 200 miles southwest of Chicago. It is in the midst of a rich agricultural region, and is an important shipping point for grain and stock. It has a bank, three churches and a weekly newspaper. Coal is mined in the vicinity. Population (1880), 609; (1890), 1,045; (1900), 1,201.

ASHLEY, a large and growing village in Wash- ington County, at the intersection of the Illinois Central and the Louisville & Nashville Railways, 62 miles from St. Louis. The surrounding region is agricultural, there being also many orchards. Its manufactures include flour and agricultural implements. Population (1890), 1,035; (1900), 953.

ASHMORE, a town of Coles County, on the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Rail- way, 8 miles northeast of Charleston; has a news- paper and considerable local trade. Population (1880), 403; (1890), 476; (1900), 446.

ASHTON, a village of Lee County, on the Chi- cago & North-Western Railroad, 84 miles west of

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

Chicago; has one newspaper. Population (1880), 646; (1890), 680; (1900), 756.

ASPINWALL, Homer F., farmer and legisla- tor, was born in Stephenson County, Ill., Nov. 15, 1846, educated in the Freeport high school, and, in early life, spent two years in a wholesale notion store, later resuming the occupation of a farmer. After holding various local offices, in- cluding that of member of the Board of Supervis- ors of Stephenson County, in 1892 Mr. Aspinwall was elected to the State Senate and re-elected in 1896. Soon after the beginning of the Spanish- American War in 1898, he was appointed by President Mckinley Captain and Assistant Quartermaster in the Volunteer Army, but before being assigned to duty accepted the Lieu- tenant-Colonelcy of the Twelfth Illinois Pro- visional Regiment. When it became evident that the regiment would not be called into the service, he was assigned to the command of the "Mani- toba," a large transport steamer, which carried some 12,000 soldiers to Cuba and Porto Rico with- out a single accident. In view of the approach- ing session of the Forty-first General Assembly, it being apparent that the war was over, Mr. Aspinwall applied for a discharge, which was refused, a 20-days' leave of absence being granted instead. A discharge was finally granted about the middle of February, when he resumed his seat in the Senate. Mr. Aspinwall owns and operates a large farm near Freeport.

ASSUMPTION, a town in Christian County, on the Illinois Central Railroad, 23 miles south by west from Decatur and 9 miles north of Pana. It is situated in a rich agricultural and coal min- ing district, and has a bank, four churches, a public school, two weekly papers and coal mines. Population (1880), 706; (1890), 1,076; (1900), 1,702.

ASTORIA, a town in the southern part of Ful- ton County, on the Rock Island & St. Louis Divi- sion of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 106 miles north of Alton and 50 miles northwest of Springfield. It has six churches, good schools, two banks, some manufactures, and a weekly newspaper. It is in a coal region. Population (1880), 1,280; (1890), 1,357; (1900), 1,684.

ATCHISON, TOPEKA & SANTA FE RAIL- WAY COMPANY. This Company operates three subsidiary lines in Illinois-the Chicago, Santa Fé & California, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé in Chicago, and the Mississippi River Rail- road & Toll Bridge, which are operated as a through line between Chicago and Kansas City, with a branch from Ancona to Pekin, Ill., hav- ing an aggregate operated mileage of 515 miles, of

which 295 are in Illinois. The total earnings and income for the year ending June 30, 1895, were $1,298,600, while the operating expenses and fixed charges amounted to $2,360,706. The accumu- lated deficit on the whole line amounted, June 30, 1894, to more than $4,500,000. The total capitali- zation of the whole line in 1895 was $52, 775,251. The parent road was chartered in 1859 under the name of the Atchison & Topeka Railroad; but in 1863 was changed to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fé Railroad. The construction of the main line was begun in 1859 and completed in 1873. The largest number of miles operated was in 1893, being 7,481.65. January 1, 1896, the road was reorganized under the name of The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fé Railway Company (its present name), which succeeded by purchase under fore- closure (Dec. 10, 1895) to the property and fran- chises of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé Railroad Company. Its mileage, in 1895, was 6,481.65 miles. The executive and general officers of the system (1898) are:

Aldace F. Walker, Chairman of the Board, New York; E. P. Ripley, President, Chicago; C. M. Higginson, Ass't to the President, Chicago; E. D. Kenna, 1st Vice-President and General Solicitor, Chicago; Paul Morton, 2d Vice-Presi- dent, Chicago; E. Wilder, Secretary and Treas- urer, Topeka; L. C. Deming, Assistant Secretary, New York; H. W. Gardner, Assistant Treasurer, New York; Victor Morawetz, General Counsel, New York; Jno. P. Whitehead, Comptroller, New York; H. C. Whitehead, General Auditor, Chicago; W. B. Biddle, Freight Traffic Manager, Chicago; J. J. Frey, General Manager, Topeka; H. W. Mudge, General Superintendent, Topeka; W. A. Bissell, Assistant Freight Traffic Manager, Chicago; W. F. White, Passenger Traffic Manager, Chicago; Geo. T. Nicholson, Assistant Passenger Traffic Manager, Chicago; W. E. Hodges, General Purchasing Agent, Chicago; James A. Davis, Industrial Commissioner, Chi- cago; James Dun, Chief Engineer, Topeka, Kan .; John Player, Superintendent of Machinery, Topeka, Kan .; C. W. Kouns, Superintendent Car Service, Topeka, Kan .; J. S. Hobson, Signal Engineer, Topeka; C. G. Sholes, Superintendent of Telegraph, Topeka, Kan .; C. W. Ryus, General Claim Agent, Topeka; F. C. Gay, General Freight Agent, Topeka; C. R. Hudson, Assistant General Freight Agent, Topeka; W. J. Black, General Passenger Agent, Chicago; P. Walsh, General Baggage Agent, Chicago.

ATHENS, a town in Menard County. north- northwest of Springfield, on the Chicago, Peoria

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.

& St. Louis Railroad. A valuable building stone is extensively quarried here, which is susceptible of a high polish and is commonly designated Athens Marble. The town has three churches, a bank, several mills, a newspaper office, and three coal mines. Agriculture, stone-quarrying and coal-mining are the principal industries of the surrounding region. Population (1880), 410; (1890), 944; (1900), 1,535.

ATKINS, Smith D., soldier and journalist, was born near Elmira, N. Y., June 9, 1836; came with his father to Illinois in 1846, and · lived on a farm till 1850; was educated at Rock River Seminary, Mount Morris, meanwhile learning the printer's trade, and afterwards established "The Savanna Register" in Carroll County. In 1854 he began the study of law, and in 1860, while practicing at Freeport, was elected Prosecuting Attorney, but resigned in 1861, being the first man to enlist as a private soldier in Stephenson County. He served as a Captain of the Eleventh Illinois Volunteers (three-months' men), re-enlisted with the same rank for three years and took part in the capture of Fort Donelson and the battle of Shiloh, serv- ing at the latter on the staff of General Hurlbut. Forced to retire temporarily on account of his health, he next engaged in raising volunteers in Northern Illinois, was finally commissioned Col- onel of the Ninety-second Illinois, and, in June, 1863, was assigned to command of a brigade in the Army of Kentucky, later serving in the Army of the Cumberland. On the organization of Sher- man's great "March to the Sea," he efficiently cooperated in it, was brevetted Brigadier-General for gallantry at Savannah, and at the close of the war, by special order of President Lincoln, was brevetted Major-General. Since the war, Gen- eral Atkins' chief occupation has been that of editor of "The Freeport Journal," though, for nearly twenty-four years, he served as Post- master of that city. He took a prominent part in the erection of the Stephenson County Sol- diers' Monument at Freeport, has been President of the Freeport Public Library since its organiza- tion, member of the Board of Education, and since 1895, by appointment of the Governor of Illinois, one of the Illinois Commissioners of the Chicka- mauga and Chattanooga Military Park.

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.

Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 5

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1058

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1058