USA > Illinois > Bureau County > Past and present of Bureau County, Illinois : together with biographical sketches of many of its prominent and leading citizens and illustrious dead > Part 43
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Captain Duncan was married in New York city to Miss Kate Belcher, a native of Brooklyn, New York. Her parents were Samuel E. and Elizabeth (Foshay) Belcher, the former for thirty-four years president of the Jefferson Fire Insurance Company of New York city, the oldest corporation of that character in the eastern metropolis. He made his home there until recent years, and now lives with his daughter in Bridgeport, Connecti- cut, at the age of eighty-two years. His wife passed passed away in New York city in 1002. Unto Cap- tain and Mrs. Duncan have been born five chil- dren: Alice, at home; Otis Belcher, who is con- nected with the Western Eleetrie Company in Chi- cago; Kate, at home: Fred Beleher, a student in Knox College, and Charles Clifford, at home.
Captain Duncan is a republican, but has never been active in party work. He served as deputy United States shipping commissioner in New York city. Both he and his wife took letters to Central Congregational church at Galesburg, Illinois, from
Plymouth church of Brooklyn, New York, of which Henry Ward Beecher was so long pastor, and in which both of their fathers were deacons. Tie family now reside on South Pleasant street in Princeton, and are nicely located there. Captain Duncan, through considerable experience, has ho- come well informed upon the line of business which claims his attention at the present time, and is a valuable addition to industrial cireles in this city.
WILLIAM CAREY ALLEN.
When the toesin of war sounded men from all walks of life flocked to the standard of the nation. They came from the offices and the shops, the counting houses and the fields, all imbued with the same purpose of defending the Union cause. Among this number was William Carey Allen, who proved a loyal soldier, and the same spirit of faith- ful citizenship has characterized his life in days of peace. He is now living quietly upon a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Manlius town- ship, where in connection with the tilling of the soil he devotes considerable attention to the raising of Hereford cattle and other stock.
A native son of Bureau county, he was born September 21, 1838, and is a son of William and Nancy (MeCarter) Allen, who came from Brown county, Ohio, to Illinois in 1831. The father was one of the early settlers who took up government land at a dollar and a quarter per acre and aided in transforming the wild prairie into cultivable fields. He devoted his entire life to farming in this county, where he remained a resident until called to his final rest at the age of sixty-three years. His wife, surviving him for some time, died at the age of eighty years.
William Carey Allen, born and reared upon the old home farm, began his education in the district schools and continued his studies in the public schools of Princeton. On completing his edura- tion he took up the business of farming, but at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war he put aside all business and personal considerations and of- fered his services to the government, enlisting as a private of Company K, Fifty-seventh Illinois In- fantry, in the fall of 1861. The regiment was sent to Cairo, Illinois, and thenee by steamer to Fort Henry and on to Fort Donelson, Tennessee, where Mr. Allen participated in the engagement. He also took part in the battles of Corinth, Missis- sippi, and the siege and capture of that place, re- maining there for nearly a year. He was also in the second battle of Corinth and afterward, with his regiment, was ordered to Tennessee. He took part in the Atlanta campaign and the battles of Dalton. Resaca, New Hope Church, Altoona Pass, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie, and. in fact, all of the military movements of the Atlanta cam- paign. Later the Fifty-seventh Illinois was or- dered to Rome, Georgia, and was there when Gen-
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eral Sherman started on his march to the sea. They joined his command and remained with Sher- man during the entire march from Savannah through South Carolina and on to Goldsboro, to Raleigh, North Carolina, and to Washington, D. C., where they participated in the grand review on the 22d of March, 1865, when the victorions army, numbering thousands of loyal troops, marched down Pennsylvania avenue and passed the reviewing stand upon which the president greeted the retmin of his victorious soldiers. In the meantime Mr. Allen, his first term of service having expired, had re-enlisted as a veteran and was discharged at. Louisville, Kentucky, on the 7th of July, 1865. He had been promoted to the rank of first lieutenant of his company, and at the battle of Shiloh he was slightly wounded in the left arm, but otherwise he escaped personal in- jury, although experiencing the usual hardships and privations meted out to the soldier.
Returning to Bureau county when his military life was ended, Mr. Allen once more took up the occupation of farming, and as a companion and helpmate for life's journey chose Miss Jennie Shenkle, of Clermont county, Ohio, whom he wedded on the 11th of March, 1875. They now have five living children and lost two in infancy. Those who still survive are: Nancy, the wife of Robert Fox, a farmer of Manlius township; Ralph M., who married Ida Hurt, and is a farmer of Manlius; Iva A., the wife of William Ohda, of Greenville; Edwin R., who is farming with his father, and Edna P., at home.
Mr. Allen today owns and operates an excellent place of one hundred and sixty aeres in Manlius township. His farm is well improved, the fields being richly cultivated, and he also raises regis- tered Hereford cattle and good horses and hogs. He operated a thresher for a number of years, hav- ing the first traction engine and thresher in the community. Politically he is a democrat and so- cially he is connected with the Grand Army post at Sheffield, thus maintaining pleasant relations with his old army comrades.
JOHN RICHARD BOYLAND.
John Richard Boyland, deceased, was one of Bureau county's native sons, born on the 5th of February, 1869. His parents were Thomas and Mary Boyland, both natives of Ireland. He came to Bureau county with the early settlers and reared his family here, so that John Richard Boyland spent the days of his boyhood and youth in this locality, acquiring his early education in the pub- lic schools and afterward attending the Dixon (Illinois) schools. He was reared to farm labor, and early became familiar with the work of plow- ing. planting and harvesting. As the years passed by he took up farming as a life pursuit, and al- ways engaged in that business until called to his
final rest. He was an energetic man, who care- fully directed his labors, and his success was the direct result of his diligence and perseverance.
On the 28th of January, 1896, Mr. Boyland was married to Miss Catherine Marie Lucas, who was born February 23, 1876, a danghter of John and Catherine (Broderick) Lucas, both of whom were natives of Ireland. They came to Bureau county, Illinois, thirty-nine years ago, and here reared their family, numbering nine sons and six daugh- ters. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lucas are still living, and the mother is a remarkably well preserved woman, who appears almost as young as her daughters. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Boyland was born one son, James John, who was nine years of age on the 21st of June, 1906.
Mr. Boyland was a communicant of the Cath- olie church, of which his widow is also a member. He was a straightforward business man, always reliable in his dealings, as well as energetic and diligent, and his labors resulted in the acquire- ment of a good farm property. His widow now owns eighty acres of land and is managing the farm, in the midst of which stands an attractive modern residence, elegantly furnished and taste- fully kept. She presides with gracious and warm- hearted hospitality over her home, and it is a favorite resort with her many friends.
JAMES H. HAINES.
James H. Haines, at one time the owner of a good farm of eighty acres situated on section 4, Ohio township, which he still operates, is a worthy representative of the agricultural interests of this section of Bureau county. He was born in Ohio, Bureau county, Illinois, October 26, 1860, a son of Andrew J. and Julia A. (William) Haines, the former born in Bangor, Maine, October 28, 1828, and the latter born near Bristol, in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in 1835. Her death occurred in 1874. Of this union five children were born, of whom our subject is the eldest. The father after- ward married again, his second union being with Landena H. Warner, and the only child of this marriage is now deceased.
James H. Haines was educated in the public schools of Ohio, Illinois, and after mastering the branches therein taught started out to make his own way in the world. He inherited some property, and by the careful supervision of this and through his energy and determination was in due course of time enabled to add to his original holdings until he at one time was the owner of eighty acres of fine farming land situated on the southwest quar- ter of section 4, Ohio township, but he has since disposed of this property, receiving one hundred and fifty dollars per acre for the same. He still rents the land and is here engaged in raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate. using practical methods in cultivating the fields and
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planting his erops so that he annually harvests a large amount of grain in return for the care and labor bestowed upon the place. At the present time he has no real-estate holdings, but has a goodly bank account and personal property, so that he is numbered among the well-to-do and progressive agriculturists of Bureau county.
On the 28th of October, 1890, Mr. Haines was united in marriage to Miss Minnie B. Staples, who was born Mareh 30, 1876, a daughter of William and Elisabeth Staples. The father was born in the state of New York, September 3, 1853, while the mother's birth occurred in Indiana, February 29, 1857. Mrs. Haines was educated in the Green- ville district schools and was trained by her mother in the duties of the household, so that she is now capably managing the interests of her own home. Two children grace this marriage: Eva B., born October 31, 1893, and Winnie E., born April ?, 1899. They have also lost two children. Mr. Haines is a republican in his political views, and le and his family are identified with the Methodist Protestant church.
Although Mr. Haines had some assistance when he started eut in life for himself, he has by his ovn well directed efforts ard careful management of his business interests added to his possessions, and while he has now disposed of his realty hold- ings he has a goodly competence as a reward for his earnest toil. He is a genial gentleman, one whom it is a pleasure to meet, and he and his estimable wife are received with cor liality in the homes of their inany friends throughout Bureau county.
CHARLES WILLIAMS.
Charles Williams, of Princeton township, whose farm lies on seetions 2 and 3, is a native of La Moille township, born November 6, 1882. His parents were William and Sarah (Crossman) Wil- liams. The father was born in Burean county, Illinois, July :. 1854, and was a son of James HI. Williams, whose birth occurred in Culpeper county, Virginia, August 24, 1821, and who was a son of Jackson and Margaret Williams, natives of Virginia. The grandparents spent their last years in Coshocton county, Ohio. Their children were Cordelia, Mary, Charlie, Addison, James H., Washington, Eliza, Amanda and Jackson Wil- liams.
James II. Williams, grandfather of our sub- ject, became a resident of Coshocton county, Ohio, when a youth of fifteen years. In May, 1847, he enlisted for service in the Mexican war as a mem- ber of Company B of the Third Ohio Regiment of Infantry Volunteers and served for one year. He came to Bureau county, Illinois, in the sum- mer of 1848 and, with the land warrant received for service in the Mexican war, he entered one hundred and sixty aeres of land in La Moille town-
ship, on which he took up his abody in March, 1850. He placed it under cultivation, continued the work of improvement and added to the prop- erty from time to time until he was the owner of six hundred and twenty acres of very choice land. He was both a self-educated and self-made man, who made good use of his opportunities, and as the years advanced became one of the prosperous residents of his adopted county. He was married in Ohio to Miss Elizabeth Shirk, and they became the parents of six children: Henry, Eliza, Wil- liam, James, Charles and Washington.
William Williams, whose birth occurred in this county, July 7, 1851, was here reared, and is in- debted to the public-school system for the educa- tional privileges he enjoyed. He has been a sue- cessful farmer and stockman, especially in buying and shipping stock, and is today one of the ex- tensive landowners of the county, having eleven hundred acres of fine land within its borders. He was married November 7, 1876, to Miss Sarah Crossman, who was born July 5, 1851, and is a daughter of John C. Crossman, who was born January 29, 1830, in Draycott. Somersetshire, England, his parents being George and Sarah (Rhude) Crossman, both of whom died in Eng- land. J. C. Crossman came to America about 1850, and was for two years employed in Onon- daga county, New York, where he was married. In March, 1852, he went to La Moille, Illinois. and after living there for a year rented land and engaged in farming. In 1855 he bought one hun- dred and sixty acres of land, which he soon sold, and after renting for another year he bought a quarter seetion from William Hart. This he afterward disposed of, and in 155; returned to the state of New York and afterward to England, where he visited his relatives, again taking up his abode in La Moille the following year. He first rented the place which he afterward bought, and eventually he became the owner of six hun- dred and seventeen acres of land, on which he carried on general farming, but made more of a specialty of stock-raising. He was married, July 24, 1851, to Elizabeth Weeks, who was born De- cember 23, 1828. in England, and was a daughter of William and Aun (Dicks) Weeks, also natives of that country. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Crossman was blessed with eight children who reached adult age, namely: Mary A., Sarah, Eliza, Fannie, John F., Ollie, Alice and Nellic. Mr. Crossman was a republican in politics and always took an active interest in the work of the party as well as in all matters relating to the agricultural development of the county. He died in the year 1898.
Following their marriage William Williams and Sarah Crossman located upon a farm, and for many years he was closely associated with the general agricultural development of the county, in the work of which he prosper 1. so that he is now enabled to live a retired life. Umo him and
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CHARLES WILLIAMS.
MRS. CHARLES WILLIAMS.
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his wife were born four children: Harry, who was born October 9, 1828, and is now living in Missouri; Charles, of this review; Mark and Glenn, both at home.
Charles Williams, whose name introduces this record, was educated in La Moille and at Prince- ton Business College. He married Miss Ada B. Morton, who was born in Bureau township and is a daughter of Charles and Nancy (Beatty) Morton, now residents of South Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have one child, Gail. They own one hundred and forty-eight acres of land on sections 2 and 3, Princeton township, three miles from the city of Princeton, which he purchased in 1903. He carries on general farming and stock- raising, buys and feeds stock and raises horses. He has sixteen head of fine draft horses, also driving horses and colts, and, in fact, owns some of the best horses to be found in the county. He is a stockman of excellent judgment, and his business interests have been well managed, his farm indicating in its excellent appearance his thrift and capable control. In his political views he is an independent, but without aspiration for office, and in his religious belief he is a Presby- terian. A young man, he has made a creditable success for one of his years, and is widely and favorably known in the county where his entire life has been passed and where the family has been known from pioneer times to the present.
ALBERT W. WADE.
Albert W. Wade, who as the architect of his own fortunes has builded wisely and well and today has valuable property interests, owning and oe- cupying three hundred and seventy-five acres of valuable land on section 22, La Moille township, where he follows farming, was born in this town- ship, December 29, 1866. His parents were Rich- ard HI. and Mary (Shoup) Wade, natives of Ohio, and his brother, John Wade, is a resident of the village of La Moille. In the family were eleven children, of whom Albert W. was the tenth in order of birth. At the usual age he entered the public schools and therein mastered the branches of English learning which equip one for life's practical and responsible duties. He has always followed the occupation to which he was reared, and a place is accorded him among the foremost and representative farmers of the county, for he has made steady and consecutive progress in his business life, manifesting the spirit of enterprise that has enabled him to overcome all difficulties and obstacles in his path. That he has prospered is indicated by the fact that he is today the owner of three hundred and seventy-five acres of very valuable and productive land, pleasantly and con- veniently situated about two miles from the vil- lage of La Moille.
On the 6th of December, 1888, Mr. Wade was
united in marriage to Miss Eva Haney, who was born in La Moille township, May 11, 1868. Unto them have been born two children: Wilbert L., born September 30, 1889, and Ora R., September 30, 1893. His political endorsement is given to the republican party, and his religious support to the United Brethren church, of which he is a inem- ber. Ile withholds his co-operation from no move- ment for the general good, and is accounted one of the valued and representative citizens of this part of the state.
At the same time he is carefully conducting business interests of importance, which are con- stantly growing. He handles stock ou an exten- sive scale, buying and feeding, and thus utilizing all of the products raised upon his farm. He han- dles from thirty to forty carloads of stock annual- ly, and is thus one of the leading business men of Bureau county. His present prosperous condition is in marked contrast to his financial resources when he started out in life. Ile then rented land and thus cultivated the fields until his labors had brought him sufficient capital to make investment, when he purchased two hundred and thirty-nine acres, constituting the old homestead. Ile has since extended the boundaries of his farm until it now comprises three hundred and seventy-five acres of as fine land as can be found in Bureau county, valned at from one hundred and seventy- five to two hundred dollars per acre. All this he has accomplished within a comparatively few years, for lie is yet a young man. His farm is one of the attractive features of the landscape, being equipped with beautiful buildings surrounded by fine trees and ornamental shrubs. The scene is well worthy a place on a painter's canvas, for the substantial home, the broad prairie, the richly tilled fields, the gravel roads and the cars running within sight of his home make this an ideal country place. Mr. Wade belongs to one of the leading families of Bureau county, and with the years usually allotted to man he will rank among the wealthiest resi- dents of this part of the state, for each year adds to his success. The most envious cannot grudge him his prosperity, so honorably has it been won and so worthily used. He and his wife deserve all the happiness that comes to them, and all who know them are glad of their friendship.
SOREN KNUDSON.
In a history of the men of foreign birth who have come to America and in Bureau county have advanced from humble stations in life to positions of affluence, becoming also valued citizens of the community by reason of their devotion to the land of their adoption and the institutions of repub- lican government, mention should be made of Soren Knudson, who, starting out in life empty- handed. is now the owner of four hundred and
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fifty acres of land in Gold township, his place, moreover, being improved with all modern equip- ments and accessories.
Mr. Knudson was born in Denmark in 1838 and spent the days of his boyhood and youth in that country. On attaining his majority, however, and carefully considering the opportunities afforded by his native land, he decided that he might en- joy better business advantages in the new world, where labor is not hampered by caste or elass, and accordingly came to the United States in 1859. He made his way at once to Sheffield, Bureau county, and began earning his living as a farm hand, for his limited financial resources made im- mediate employment a necessity. He worked dili- gently and perseveringly, so that he was always able-to secure a job, and when he had saved a con- siderable sum from his earnings he purchased one hundred and twenty aeres of land, which consti- tuted the nucleus of his present fine farm. He at onee began its development, and his labors consti- tute the secret of his splendid success. Ile has made additional purchases from time to time, until he is now the owner of an extensive tract of four hundred and forty aeres, which would command the highest price if placed upon the market. He also has a half section in South Dakota.
Mr. Knudson was married after coming to this country, the lady of his choice being Miss Carric Sophia Hanson, who came to the United States from Denmark, and is now sixty-nine years of age. She arrived in 1866, having been induced to come to the new world by a brother who was living here at that time. The family numbers three children : Andrew, John and Anna, the last two being twins. These are thirty-six and thirty-two years of age, respectively, and the sons aid their father in the operation of the home farm.
The parents are members of the Danish Luther- an church, and Mr. Knudson is independent polit- ically, supporting the candidates whom he thinks best qualified for office without regard to party affiliation. Ilis present prosperity is in marked contrast to his financial condition when he arrived in this country forty-seven years ago to scek his fortune-a poor boy without friends or influence to aid him and without capital to assist in gaining him a start. He possessed. however, a stout heart and willing hands, and farm labor soon gained him a start. He has never taken a backward step, but has made continuous progress in his business life, and is now a substantial agriculturist of Gold township.
MAURY B. REMSBURG.
Maury B. Remsburg, engaged in the livery business in Ohio, is a native of Ohio township, Bureau county, Illinois, born August 25, 1873. He is the eldest of two children born unto George W. and Margaret R. (Ross) Remsburg, the former
a native of the state of Ohio, and the latter of Bureau county, Illinois.
Maury B. Remsburg received a good education in the distriet and public schools of his native town, and after mastering the branches therein taught started out in life on his own responsibility, following farming pursuits for a time. He was later engaged in teaching for a time in different schools in Bureau county, and after abandoning that profession engaged in the poultry business for three years. On the expiration of that period he disposed of that interest and embarked in the hardware trade, which he conducted for a time, but is now engaged in the livery business in Ohio. He is meeting with success in his undertaking, keeping a fine line of vehicles and horses, which he rents to the publie, and his livery is considered the best in his section of the county.
Mr. Remsburg was united in marriage to Miss Nellie E. Brewer, who was born in Walnut town- ship, Bureau county, Illinois, February 20, 1872. She is a daughter of Lemuel and Clara (Van Ar- nam) Brewer, natives of Walnut, Illinois. Mrs. Reinsburg is the eldest of five children, of whom one is deceased. She was educated in the schools of Walnut township, and is an excellent lady, pos- sessing many sterling characteristics. She is the first reader of the Christian Scientist church, to which her husband also belongs.
Mr. Reinsburg is a republican in his political views. Fraternally he is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Schamo lodge, No. 627, and he is also a member of the Rebekahs and of the Knights of the Globe. He is a musician of more than lecal reputation, belonging to the Ohio band, which is considered the best organization of this character in Bureau county. Mr. and Mrs. Remsburg are excellent peo- ple, occupying a leading place in the social circles of Ohio, where they have a host of warm personal friends.
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