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 51
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JACOB JAMES KINNICK.
Jacob James Kinnick in 1819 took up his abode cn his present farm in Gold township, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of land, and has here since engaged in general farming and stock-rais- ing, keeping everything about the place in first class condition, evidences of modern agricultural progress being seen in all departments of the farm.
He was born in Dover township, four miles north of Princeton, on what is known as the James Garvin farm, on January 4, 1846, and is therefore sixty years of age. He is a son of Walter and Susan Kinnick, who for some time lived upon the Garvin farm, where the death of the father oc- eurred when he was forty-three years of age. Three sons of the family are still living: Walter, who has retired from business life and resides in Buda; Joseph, who makes his home in Park City, Mon- tana ; and Jacob J., of this review.
Jacob J. Kinnick was reared to farm life, and in the schools of Princeton acquired his education. He served for one year in the Civil war, enlisting in October, 1864, in Company H, One Hundred and Forty-sixth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, and during his year at the front saw arduous sery- ice, being honorably discharged July S, 1865. He then returned to his home and has since followed farming in this county. At one time he owned forty aeres of land in Concord township, near Buda, and he came to his present farm in Gold
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township in 1894, at which time he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, which is now well tilled. The raising of cereals adapted to soil and climate constitutes one feature of his business, and he is also engaged in stock-raising, having some good cattle, horses and hogs upon his place. In- vestigation into the methods which he follows shows that he is not only thoroughly familiar with modern farm processes, but that he follows them and therefore derives from his work the best posible results.
Mr. Kinnick was married to Miss Fannie Fletcher, who was born in Virginia, whence she removed to Ohio and thence came to this county in 1814. Her father was a cooper by trade, but en- gaged in stock-raising after coming to the middle west. She was largely reared in this county, re- maining in her parents' home until she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Kinnick in 1872. They are both well known in the county, where they have lived through many decades, being properly classed with the early settlers, their memory com- passing the period of early pioneer development and improvement here as well as the later era of progress and prosperity. Mr. Kinnick is a men- her of the Grand Army post of Buda and his wife is a member of the Wesleyan church.
JOHN A. MURPHY.
John A. Murphy, deceased, who was a respected, worthy and successful farmer of Manlius township, was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, and was reared to farni life, early becoming familiar with the work of field and meadow. Ile became a resident of Princeton, Illinois, in 1855, and, having no eap- ital, he at once sought employment, which he se- cured upon a farm. Hle was thus employed at farm labor until 1859, when he purchased his first land, consisting of fifteen acres near Princeton.
As a companion and helpmate for life's journey Mr. Murphy chose Miss Catherine O'Toole, whom he married in Rome, New York, on the 8th of January, 1853. She is also a native of the green isle of Erin, and came to America when a young lady of seventeen years. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Murphy removed to Williams coun- ty, Ohio, where they remained for three years, and then settled in Bureau county, Illinois. Here Mr. Murphy spent his remaining days, his death oc- curring in Princeton on the 12th of November, 1860.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Murphy were born six chil- dren who are yet living: Katie, the wife of Albert B. Elliott, a farmer residing in Princeton town- ship; James A .. who follows farming in Manlius township: Michael F .. also a farmer of the same township: Mary A., the wife of Patrick Clinton, an agriculturist of Manlius township; and Anna E., the wife of Marion M. Griffin, who likewise
carries on agricultural pursuits in Manlius town- ship. One son, John L. Murphy, died January 20, 1905, at the age of forty-four years.
Mrs. Murphy is now the owner of a valuable farin property of two hundred acres, from which she derives a good income, for the place is kept under a high state of cultivation and the fields therefore return rich harvests. Her son James has a farm of eighty acres and Michael one hun- dred and twenty acres, so that the family posses- sions aggregate four hundred acres. In politics the sons are supporters of the democracy, while the family are all members of the Catholic church of Sheffield. They are widely and favorably known in the community where they reside and are prom- inent representatives of the farming interests of this part of the county.
MRS. ALICE MeCLEARY.
Mrs. Alice ( Kasbeer) McCleary, living in Ohio township, is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Bureau county, and now owns and oc- cupies the original Kasbeer homestead, vacated by her parents in 1868. She was born March 3, 1865, and is a daughter of John S. and Hannah ( Ross) Kasbeer. Her father was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, December 28, 1818, and the mother's birth occurred in the same county, February 12, 1826. There were twelve children in the family, of whom four are now deceased. Mrs. McCleary, who is the tenth in order of birth, attended the dis- triet schools and also spent four terms as a student in Princeton and one term in the State Normal University at Norinal, Illinois.
On the 18th of February, 1902, she gave her hand in marriage to Daniel C. MeCleary, who was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, September 10. 1856, a son of Henry and Edith (Darlene) MeCleary, who were likewise natives of that coun- ty, the former born January 8, 1821, and the lat- ter February 26, 1827. This worthy couple were the parents of seven well trained children, who were taught temperance habits, and of whom four have now passed away. Daniel C. MeCleary, the sixth of the family, was educated in the cominon schools of Pennsylvania and Virginia and is today an industrious farmer and stock-raiser, making a specialty of polled Angus and Galloway cattle. He makes a large quantity of butter for market and raises a large number of chickens. On the 17th of March, ISSO, in Cass county, Missouri, he mar- ried Elizabeth Marsh, a daughter of Jacob and Reberva ( Ross) Hunter. She was born in Bureau county, July 13. 1853. and died September 6, 1900. Of the two children born of that marriage Nellie Laurena was born November 19, 1881, and died May 30, 1891, and a little son died in infancy.
Mrs. Alice MeCleary remained long on the farm with her aged parents, attending to the household
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duties and assisting her father in business matters. Her farm adjoins the village of Kasbeer on the north, and the house was creeted by her father sixty years ago, but has since been greatly re- modeled and enlarged, making it a very attractive home. The framework, sleepers, joists and laths were hewed out of hard timber. The late country home of the parents went to their youngest son, John William Kasbeer, at their death. Mrs. MeCleary is the only lady notary public ever regis- tered at the courthouse in Princeton, and has served in that capacity for the past eight years to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. She is a writer of considerable ability, and has contributed many able articles to the press.
Mr. and Mrs. McCleary are members of the Methodist Protestant church and are most highly esteemed residents of Ohio township. Their friends are many, and entertain for them the highest re- spect. They are interested in church work and all that pertains to the moral progress of the com- munity, and Mrs. MeCleary was for twenty-one years teacher of a class in Sunday-school. She is also a member of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of her church and belongs to a temperance society which was organized in 1825 and is still in existence. The family have long been stalwart ad- voeates of the cause of temperance, and are prohi- bitionists in their political faith and atliliation.
JOHN J. COSTEHILO.
Upon a farm in La Moille township lives John J. Costehlo, who for ten years has had charge of the Stacy place of two hundred and ninety-three zeres. He was born in the neighboring county of La Salle on the 20th of September, 1868, and is of Irish lineage. His father, John Costello, born on the Emerald iste, came to the United States in 1861, and in Pennsylvania was united in marriage to Miss Katharine Brennen, whose birth occurred in Ireland and who came to this country in 1863. In a family of seven children who graced this mar- riage the subject of this review was the third, and, like the other members of the household, he was reared upon the home farm, acquiring his educa- tion in the schools of La Moille township, while in the summer months he assisted in the work of plowing, planting and harvesting. His labors proved a practical training school for the experi- ences of his later years when he started out in life on his own account.
Happy in his home surroundings, Mr. Costehlo was married on the 9th of October, 1896, to Miss Savilla Sterns, who was born in Ohio, October 9, 1860. She was the second in a family of eight children whose parents were William and Sarah (Criswell) Dority, natives of Ohio, whence they came to Illinois in 1866. Mrs. Costchlo was then a little maiden of six summers, and her education
was acquired in the Bureau county public schools. There are two children of this marriage: Joseph J., born October 8, 1897; and James W., born February 11, 1900.
Mr. Costehlo is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church, and affiliates with the Modern Woodmen of America, while his political views kad him to indorse the principles of the republican party. He has had charge of the Stacy farm, con- sisting of two hundred and ninety-three acres. for the past ten years, and is here engaged in raising both grain and stock. Ile is a self-made man who started out in life a poor boy to make his own way in the world. His life exemplifies the phrase, "through struggles to triumph," for by hard work he has accumulated a nice competence, which he keeps invested in stock. He is an excellent judge of stock, being seldom, if ever, at error in placing a valuation upon domestic animals, and this has been one element in his success. He is spoken of among those who know him as an excellent neigh- bor and a valuable friend, and, moreover, he has made a ereditable record in the business world.
GEORGE E. SEIBEL.
George E. Seibel is a representative of one of the old and prominent families of this county, and re- sides upon the Seibel homestead, in Manlius town- hsip, where he owns and operates one hundred and eighty acres of land. It was in this township that his birth occurred on the 5th of November, 1854, his parents being John J. and Priscilla P. ( Fol- let) Seibel, who are mentioned elsewhere in this work. At the usual age George E. Seibel bogan his education and studied in Manlius and Shef- field. When he put aside his text-books he took up farming with his father, and has always resided in Manlins township with the exception of a period of six years, which he spent in Gold township, where he now owns land. He at the present time resides upon the old Seibel homestead, where a valuable farm of one hundred and eighty acres pays tribute to his labor, care and management. The fields are rich soil and return good harvests, and everything about the place is kept in accord- ance with modern ideas of progressive agriculture.
On the 20th of July. 1825, Mr. Seibel was mar- ried to Miss Eva E. McNaughton, a daughter of John F. and Elizabeth ( Liddell) McNaughton, farming people of Fairfield ownship. They came to Illinois from Vermont in 1856 and took up their abode in this county in 1824, spending here their remaining days. The father died at the age of sixty-nine years, while the mother passed away at the more advanced age of seventy-four years. In the last ten years of Mr. MeNaughton's life he was engaged in the conduct of a hotel at Tampico. Into Mr. and Mrs. Seibel have been born five chil- dren, of whom two have passed away, while those
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living are: Grace L., born December 30, 1883; Vernon M., June 25, 1892; and Leonard M., January 29, 1898. All are still under the parental roof. One son, Frank J., died June 30, 1880, when a year old, and a daughter, Ethel C., who was born May 10, 1886, died December 12, 1903, at the age of sixteen years.
In politics Mr. Seibel is a republican, and has served as school director, and was also justice of the peace, but resigned the latter position, for his aspiration is not in the line of office holding, al- though he stands for good government and does everything in his power to promote loeal progress and national advancement. He and his family are members of the United Brethren church of Man- lius, of which he is one of the trustees, and he is now serving on the finance and building commit- tees, having in charge the construction of a new church. He is interested in all that pertains to educational and moral development here, and his record has ever been in harmony with that of the prominent pioneer family which he represents.
HERBERT LESLIE LITTLEFIELD.
Herbert Leslie Littlefield, now operating the old home farm of the family, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, February 15, 1861, and is a son of Joseph Emerson and Sarah Anne (Baker) Lit- tlefield, who were farming people and came to Sheffield in 1810. Near that town the father rented land for eight years and, living frugally and economically and carrying on his farm work with energy and determination, he at length se- cured a sum of money sufficient to enable him, in 1878, to purchase the home farm of eighty acres, whereon he lived and labored until his death, which occurred on the 16th of February, 1905. He had for two years survived his wife, who died on the 18th of February, 1903. Mr. Littlefield was a native of Kennebec, Maine, born October 31, 1828, and his wife was a native of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, born March 24, 1831. Both were of English descent and were people of genuine worth. whose many sterling qualities won for them the friendly regard of all with whom they came in contact.
Herbert 1. Littlefield was reared to farm life. early becoming familiar with the work of field and meadow. Ile acquired his education in the public schools, his time being divided between the work of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the duties incumbent upon him as a farmer's son. He is now residing on the old homestead place, which he had worked with his father through the period of his minority and early man- hood. This farm was left to him and his sister, Mary Louise, who resides with him. She was also born in Boston and was brought by her parents to Illinois, where she has since resided. She supple-
mented her carly educational privileges by study in the Sheffield high school and in Knox College at Galesburg, after which she spent four years in Boston, but she is now living with her brother upon the old homestead, which is owned jointly by them. He is a republican with firm faith in the principles of the party but without desire for office, his attention being concentrated upon his business affairs, and in their management he dis- plays keen discernment and exceutive force as well as unfaltering diligence.
HENRY POPP.
Henry Popp, who for a third of a century has been identified with the agricultural interests of Macon township, was born in Frederickshafen, Bavaria. Germany, April 24, 1858. His parents were Lawrence and Lena ( Fry) Popp, who were likewise natives of Frederickshafen, the former born in 1821 and the latter in 1830. The father was a farmer by occupation and was a man of considerable local prominence, serving for many Years as mayor of his town. Ile was also a soldier of the German army for several years and held membership in the Lutheran church, in the faith of which he died at the age of sixty-five. His widow is still living on the old homestead in the fatherland. In their family were six children, of whom three are now living: John and Mattie, being residents of Germany.
At the usual age Henry Popp began his eduea- tion in the public schools of his native country and when twenty years of age he entered the Ger- man army, serving for three years as a musician. He also followed farming in his native province for one year and in October, 1852, he bade adieu to friends and childhood's home and left his native soil for America, landing at Philadelphia. Ho afterward made his way to South Chicago, where he remained for about six months, and then came to Macon township, Bureau county, where he has since been a representative of its agricultural life, now farming one hundred and sixty aeres of land, whereon he also raises some stock. His is one of the typically fine farms of Illinois, and the prop- erty has been acquired entirely through his own unaided labors.
Mr. Popp was married, January 20, 1885, to Miss Mary Albrecht, who was born in Tiskilwa, this eounty. April 2. 1854, a daughter of Christian and Katherine ( Ruggy) Albrecht. natives of Ba- varia, the former born in 1830 and the latter in 1810. They are now residents of Tiskilwa and in their family are six children : John, who married Lizzie Reiser; Lenn. the wife of John Ringen- berg: Mrs. Popp; Katie, who married Saminel Simmion : Lizzie, and Emma, the wife of Peter Rinkenberger. Mr. and Mrs. Albrecht came to the United States and settled in Bureau county
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among its earliest residents, Mrs. Albrecht being but seven years of age when with her parents she crossed the Atlantic. In 1896, Mr. Albrecht, after having followed farming for many years, retired and has since lived in Tiskilwa without recourse to further labor, his competence being sufficient to supply him with all the comforts and some of the luxuries of life. Ile has also given to each of his children eighty acres of land. He and his wife hold membership in the Mennonite church and are most highly esteemed people.
Elisha Fassett, whose name introduces this rec- ord, was reared in the state of his nativity and is indebted to the schools of New Hampshire for the educational privileges he enjoyed. He was a young man of twenty-two years at the time of the removal of the family to Bureau county, and here at the age of twenty-nine years he was married, Mr. and Mrs. Popp also hold membership with the same religious demonination and in politics he is independent, voting for the best man. Their family numbers five children: Christian L., who was born February 9, 1886, and died June 10, 1882; Ida, born September 7, 1888; Henry, Jan- uary 10, 1891; Laura, December 30, 1892: and Harry, November 18, 1898. In a review of his lite during the last third of a century, in which time he has lived in this county, it will be found December 2, 1812, to Miss Parmelia W. B. Mor- ton, whose residence in Bureau county antedates that of the great majority of its old settlers. She was born in Hatfieldl, Hampshire county, Massa- chusetts, May 21, 1823, a daughter of Cotton and Nancy H. (Hlerriek) Morton, also natives of the Bay state. The Morton family is of Scotch ex- traetion, and for many generations have made their home at Hatfield, Massachusetts. Mrs. Fas- sett traces her ancestry back to Richard and Ruth that Mr. Popp has displayed sterling traits of . Morton, both of whom lived to a ripe old age, the character, business rectitude, loval citizenship and consideration for the rights of others, of which the regard in which he is uniformly held is the legitimate outcome.
ELISHA W. FASSETT.
The life of Elisha W. Fassett was so con-tant in its activity, so honorable in its purposes and so far-reaching and beneficial in its effects that it became an integral part of the history of La Moille and since he has passed from this life his name has been honored and his memory cherished by all who knew him. A native of New Hampshire, he was born in Cheshire county, June 23, 1823, and his life record compassed the period between that date and 1891. His parents were Elisha and Lovina (Angier) Fassett, natives of Fitzwill- iams, New Hampshire, which fact indicates that their respective families were established in America in colonial days. The Revolutionary war had been brought to a close only about a decade before the birth of the father. on the 20th of Oeto- ber. 1792. For many years he remained a resi- dent of the Oll Granite state, but in June, 1835, they sought a home in the then far west, coming to Bureau county, Illinois, which, however, at that time was a part of Putnam county. All of the conditions of frontier life were here in evidence and many were the hardships and privations which the family experienced, making their lot a very different one from what they had known in New England, where the older civilization enabled them to secure many of the comforts of life. Eli- sha Fasselt, of this review, was the youngest of their three children, the daughters being Nancy and Rosilla. The wife and mother was not long permitted to enjoy her new home, for her death
occurred in La Moille, August 1, 1837, Elisha Fassett. Sr., long survived her and departot this life in Canon City, Colorado, November 11, 1881, at the venerable age of ninety-two years.
former dying April 3, 1210, and the latter De- cember 31, 1:14. Soon after their marriage, in about 1668 or 1669, they removed to Hatfield, Massachusetts, where. for many generations, the family have resided, but the only one now living there is Silas Porter, a cousin of our subject, who is unmarried.
From Richard and Ruth Morton, tracing to- ward the present time and omitting several gen- erations, we find the honored names of Lieuten- ant Jonathan Morton, and his wife Sarah, the latter of whom died October 5, 1260, at the age of seventy-three years. In some of the carly wars, probably the French and Indian, the former gained his title. Jonathan Morton, the son of this worthy couple, married Eunice Smith, and their only child of whom we have any knowledge is William, who married Hannah Chambers June 23. 1183. Ile died November 12, 1832, and his wife passed away February 25, 1838.
Cotton Morton, the father of Mrs. Fassett, was one of their family of twelve children. His death occurred February 19, 1815, at the age of forty-nine years and ten months, and his wife de- parted this life in 1886, at the age of eighty-six years, her birth occurring November 30, 1800. Mrs. Fassett is the oldest in their family of seven children, the others being as follows: Plina F. married Eleanor Garmon, of New Jersey, who died in October, 1895, and he now resides in Cal- ifornia. Caroline M. was married in 1856 to George Brush, who died March 12. 1888. in the sixty-ninth year of his age, and she is now making her home in La Moille. Harriet N. is the wife of William Burnside, a resident of Riverside. a suburb of Chicago. Andrew J. weddled Mary Cook, and died while on a visit to Chicago. Ili- nois. Naney C. is the wife of Isine Harkiness, of Bloomington, Illinois. Martin V. B. married Mary Adamson, and is now living in Princeton.
8.Marsett
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All of the children were born in Hatfield, Massa- chusetts.
Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Fas- sett removed to La Moille and from that time until his death he was closely associated with its business interests and material development. For a long period he was a successful merchant, car- rying on a store in which he met with a good patronage, owing to his straightforward business methods, his reasonable price- and the earnest effort he made to please his customers. He won an unassailable reputation in business circles be- cause of his striet conformity to a high standard of commercial ethics. He was never known to take advantage of the necessities of another in a business transaction and his prosperity was there- fore well merited. In community affairs, too, he was active and helpful. Ile recognized the duties and obligations of citizenship and he stood for improvement and progress along all those lines which contribute to public stability and the general welfare. He did much toward securing the Allen school building, of which the citizens of La Moille are justly proud. He held member- ship in the Baptist church, of which Mrs. Fassett is also a member, and to its support he contrib- uted generously, while in its various activities he did his full share.
Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fas- sett, as follows: Hattie I. P. is the wife of J. R. Woods, a banker of La Moille, and they have three children -- Parmelia F., Riley F. and Lydia M. Fannie died at the age of fourteen years. Charles W. married Sarah B. Rambeau, now deceased. They had one son, Claude V. His second wife was Emma V. Boroff, by whom he has two chil- dren-Edith V. and Kittie H. Frauk married Amanda Long and has two daughters, Florence Vienna and Lillian. Florence Vienna, the fifth child of our subject, died at the age of twenty months. Elisha Pearl, a resident of Chicago, mar- ried Jennie Peufield of Quiney, Illinois, and they have three children-Leon Penfield, Elisha W. and Charles.
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