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 54
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life and has never felt a desire to change hle bocu- pation, gaining pleasure and profit from the faith- tul discharge of huis daily duties. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres of land and the farm is well improved with good buildings, which stand in the midst of hing ofd shade trees that were planted fifty years ago by his parents and now make the place a most attractive one, suggesting coolness and relief from the hot sun upon a sum- mer's day. He has resideI almost continuously in this county, although at the age of twenty-two years he went west to Tacoma, Washington, where he remained for five years, later spending eight years in Spokane. He then returned to the old homestead, where he has resided continuously since, and his time and attention are now given to the farm, his labors being attended with a grati- fying measure of success.
Mr. Metcalf was married to Miss Josephine Lindley, who was born in Eureka, Humboldt Bay, in Humboldt county, California, August 25, 18:58, and became a resident of Bureau county, Illinois, in February, 1901. She was educated in Cali- fornia, a daughter of Elilm and Martha Jane (Darnell) Lindley, the former a native of Louis- ville, Kentucky, and the latter of Indianapolis, Indiana. In the year 1849 Mr. Lindley went to Eugene, Oregon, and afterward to California, where he died twenty-seven years ago, but the mother is still living in the Golden state.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Metcalf are members of the Congregational church and are deeply and help- fully interested in its work. In politics he is a republican and a strong Roosevelt man, while fra- ternally he is connected with the Modern Wood- men of America, holding membership in the lodge at La Moille. His business interests claim the greater part of his time and attention and he now feeds all that he raises to his stock, fattening stock for the market. This is a most important branch of his business and is bringing to him an excellent return, for his sales are extensive. Life is made up of varied experiences and Mr. Metcalf has had many opportunities to learn valuable lessons in this way through his sojourn in the west as well as in Bureau county. He is a self-made and broad-minded man and with his estimable wife is leading a happy life upon the old homestead farm of the family in La Moille township.
FRANK B. PECKHAM.
Frank B. Peckham, engaged in the real estate business in Princeton, was born in Tiskilwa, this county, in 1863, a son of James and Harriet (Head) Peckhamn, both of whom were of Eng- lish birth, natives of Brighton and London re- spectively. The father has now passed away but the mother resides in Tampico, Ilinois. On com- ing to the new world James Peckhame made his way to Chicago and about fifty years ago ar-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
rived in Bureau county. He established his home south of Tiskilwa, where he lived for a few years and then spent five years half way between Princeton and Tiskilwa. Subsequently he re- moved to a farm on Green river, where he re- sided until a year or two prior to his death, when he took up his abode in Tampico. He was a farmer by occupation and was the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of valuable land, from which he derived a handsome income. In polities he was a democrat, but was not partie- ularly active in political work. Ile and his wife held membership in the Episcopal church in Tiskilwa during their residence there. Men who knew him respected him and those who came within the closer cirele of his acquaintance gave him their warm friendship. In the family were nine children, five sons and four daughters, all of whom are living. The eldest daughter was born in England and the chlest son in Chicago. Three of the family are still residents of this county: William, who follows farming near New Bedford; Mrs. R. M. Heaton, of Wyanet; Frank B., of this review. The other members of the family are Thomas, Albert and David, who fol- low farming in Allen county, Kansas; Mrs. F. W. Smith, of Tampico; and Mrs. R. M. Kumler and Mrs. H. S. Palmer, of Minneapolis.
Frank B. Peckham was reared in this county to the occupation of farming, which he followed on the old homestead until eighteen years of age. He has since owned a farm and sometimes has owned two or more. For the past twenty years he has been engaged in the real estate bus- iness, mainly handling farm properties, and few men in this line are more thoroughly acquainted with realty valnes than he -a fact which enables him to make judicious investments and profita- ble sales. He has negotiated many important realty transfers and has an excellent clientage in his chosen field of business.
Mr. Peckham was married in Princeton to Miss Martha M. Moses. She was born in Petersburg, New York, in 1866, a daughter of Professor S. W. and Mary E. ( Hovey) Moses, who became resi- dents of Princeton twenty-nine years ago. Her father was a well-known professor of music, a violinist of rare ability and teacher of violin, piano and many other branches of music. In 1885 he opened a music store which he condneted for a number of years. He died in April, 1901, and his loss was deeply felt in musical circles. Mrs. Peckham is very prominent in musical eir- cles and has composed a number of vocal and instrumental pieces. She was reared in Prince- ton and studied music with her father a number of years, and later she continued her work in musical theory at the American Conservatory of Musje, under Mr. Adolf Weidig. Two children graec this union : Solon Moses, who was born in Chicago during a temporary residence in that city ; and Mary Hovey, who was born in Princeton.
The son and daughter are both now in school. The parents are members of the Christian Science church, and in political faith Mr. Peckham is a republican. Having resided almost their entire lives in this county, they have a wide acquaint- ance and are prominent socially, while in business cireles Mr. Peckham has made a creditable name.
MARCUS R. THACKABERRY.
The farming interests of Fairfield township are well represented by Marcus R. Thackaberry, who is living on section 20, where he owns and oper- ates seven hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, all in one body, and improved with three sets of farm buildings. Ilis holdings, however, are much more extensive, making him one of the leading landowners of this part of the county.
Ifis birth occurred in Fairfield township in 1860 upon the farm which is now his place of residence, his parents being Marcus and Mary (Gregg) Thackaberry, who were early residents of Princeton, coming from Pennsylvania to Bu- rean county in 1853. The father was born in Queens county, Ireland, April 25, 1817, while the grandfather was a native of Germany, whence he emigrated to the Emerald isle. Marcus Thacka- berry, Sr., leaving the latter country in 1846, sailed for the new world, attracted by the broader business opportunities here afforded. He was first employed in a foundry in New York, where he remained until 1850, when he went to Pennsyl- vania, where he resided until his removal to Bu- reau county, Illinois, in 1853. In this county he retired from industrial pursuits and turned his attention to agricultural interests. He first rented a farm four miles north of Princeton and in its cultivation he won a measure of success that en- abled him in 1857 to purchase eighty acres of land. He invested in property to that amount in Fairfield township and gradually he extended the boundaries of his property until at one time he was the owner of five hundred and twenty aeres of valuable land in Fairfield township. His life was indeed a busy, useful and active one, and his unremitting diligence was crowned with a grati- fying measure of success. Ilis death occurred December 18, 1889, when he had reached the age of seventy-two years. He was married in Dublin, Ireland, to Miss Mary Gregg, a native of that city. She still survives him and is now living in Fair- field township at a very advanced age, having passed the eighty-righth milestone on life's jour- ney on the 6th of May, 1906.
Marcus R. Thackaberry spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his parents' home, where he worked at farm labor when not busy with his text-books until twenty-one years of age. ITis father gave him eighteen dollars per month for his services, and with the money thus earned he paid his way through college. He left home to attend
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PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
school at Valparaiso, Indiana, where he was a student in the Northern Indiana Normal College in 1881 and 1882. He was preparing for the study of law and after leaving that institution he engaged in teaching for some time, proving a capa- ble educator, the schools under his charge making satisfactory progress. However, he determined to engage in farming as a life work and rented a farm of his father until the latter's death. He made his first purchase of land in 1881, becom- ing owner of a tract in Fairfield township. He afterward bought one hundred and twenty acres, adjoining the old homestead upon which his birth occurred, and subsequently he purchased the inter- est of the other heirs in the home property and thus acquired sole ownership. He has added to his holdings from time to time as opportunity has -offered until he now owns seven hundred and twenty aeres all in one body in Fairfield township, but this by no means represents his entire acreage, for he has four hundred and thirteen acres in Whiteside county and a half interest in two hun- dred and twenty aeres southeast of the city of Princeton in Princeton township. He also owns eighty aeres within eighteen miles of the Cook county courthouse and an extensive tract of nine hundred and sixty aeres in Beadle county, South Dakota, which ranch is stocked with horses and cattle, and all his different farms are well stocked with cattle, horses and hogs. He also has a sec- tion of land at Saskatchewan, Canada. He has been continuously engaged in agricultural pur- suits since he started for himself in 1883. He was somewhat in debt at that time but he soon cleared away all financial obligations and has accumu- lated property until he has reached his present extensive holdings. He likewise has a fine herd of shorthorn Durham cattle, having handled this grade of cattle for the past ten years. He also raises Poland China hogs and as a stockman as well as a land owner is well known, success attend- ing his ventures in that direction.
Mr. Thackaberry was married to Miss Clara Shugert, of Princeton, a daughter of Philip and Rebecca Shugert, both now deceased. They were early residents of this county, coming in 1850, and for a long period they resided in Princeton. The father died February 2, 1901, at the age of eighty-one years, while the mother, who was born in Ohio, May 25, 1825, passed away in June, 1885, at the age of sixty years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thackaberry have been born four children, three of whom still survive: Shugert, who was born November 9, 1890; Lucile, born December 21, 1895; and Margaret. born August 31, 1898. The children are all now in school. The eldest daugh- ter. Forn, who was the second in order of birth, died March 2. 1904, when almost ten years of age.
Politically Mr. Thackaberry is an carnost repub- liean and has served as township clerk, as col- lector, as justice of the peace and in other offices for a long period, but at the present time is filling
no position of political preferment. Il- fidelity in citizenship, however, is above question and it is a well known fact that his co-operation can be counted upon to further and support any move- ment for the publie good. He and his family are members of the Christian church, and in the work of which they are deeply interested. Mr. Thacka- berry has had a remarkable and most successful varver since he began dealing in real estate. He is a man of action rather than theory, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution. Among the most energetie, enterprising and suc- cessful business men of the county he is numbered and he is now controlling vast business interests, while in the world of trade his keen discernment and careful management are widely recognized as the basis of his prosperity. His methods are such as will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny and therefore the most envious cannot well grudge him his success. He is well known as a man of courteous manner, unflinching prin- eiple and unquestioned integrity and yet withal he possesses that practical common sense which never runs to extremes. He has contributed greatly toward assisting others in various ways.
CHARLES DECKER.
Charles Decker, deceased, who occupied a prom- inent position among the citizens of sterling worth in Princeton, was born in the village of Magee, Seneca county, New York, March 1, 1849. His father, William Decker, was a native of the town of Tyre, Seneca county, born July 21, 1818. The grandfather, Jeremiah Decker, was a native of Vermont, while the great-grandfather was born in Holland, and became the founder of the family in the new world. In the year 1843 William Decker was united in marriage to Margaret Magee, a daughter of John and Mary (McNeil) Magee, of Argyle, New York. Six children were born of this marriage: William Clarence, Charles. George, John, Edward and Ella. George died in early manhood, while the remaining four sons and one daughter lived to years of maturity. Edward re- sides on a farm near Providence. Ella is the wife of L. Maynard and lives on the old Maynard home- stead, a half mile east of Providence.
William Decker spent thirty-four years in his native town, after which he removed to Virginia. where he remained until the outbreak of the Civil War, in 1861. He then came to Illinois, and spent four years in Fayette county, subsequent to which time he located in Bureau county, about a mile south of Providence, there residing until a few years prior to his death, when he left the old honte- stead and removed to Tiskilwa, where he died De- comber 9. 185%, at the age of seventy-one years. Hle and his wife were members of the Providence Congregational church, and he was a man of gen- uine integrity and of unshaken honor. William
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CHARLES DECKER.
MRS. CHARLES DECKER.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
Clarence Decker, his eldest son, was born at Ma- gee, Seneca county, New York, and in 1865 came with his father to Bureau county, where he resided upon a farm until his removal to Bradford, Stark county, this state. He there engaged in the stock business and subsequently went to Chicago and accepted a position in the Columbia Live Stock Commission Company as its president, in the year 1892. Ile had a wide and favorable acquaintance among shippers and stockmen generally, and was highly estermed for his exceptionally honest and Christian character. He died in Englewood, Illi- nois, January 19, 1898, leaving a widow and two danghters.
Charles Decker, whose name introduces this rec- ord, resided jn Seneca county, New York, until his father's removal to Virginia, where he lived for about nine years, coming to Bureau county at the age of fourteen. He remained with his father upon the home farm near Providence until he be- gan farming on his own account, at the time of his marriage to Miss Janet Hillis Jardine, of Provi- dence, Illinois, a daughter of James and Mary (Murray) Jardine, the latter a daughter of Peter Murray, who was one of the earliest settlers in the Providence colony. coming from Ayrshire, Scot- land. His eldest child. Janet H. Jardine, was born in Muirkirk, Scotland, May 18, 1851, and in 1859 accompanied her parents to Tiskilwa, while a few years later they located at Providence, where she resided until her marriage to Charles Decker. There were four children born of this union : Jessie M., the wife of C. A. Dexter, of Providence; William J., Edna M. and Cora B.
Following his marriage Charles Decker engaged in stock-raising to some extent. living on what is known as the Dorr Hill farm of eight hundred acres for thirteen years, during which time he bought and shipped horses and cattle. lle was a natural horseman, took great pleasure in raising fine horses, and in his earlier years raised and trained a well-known pacer. Wood Shedd, with a record of ?: 0914. In the year 1892 he purchased the old homestead of one hundred and sixty aeres. a mile south of Providence, and took up his abode thereon, making it his home until 1900, when he removed to Princeton, where he died on the 5th of June, 1904.
Mr. Decker was a man who was never idle. He was of a very practical turn of mind and of a re- tiring and modest disposition. lle won and kept the regard of his many friends, to whom he was always loyal, and his word was as good as his bond. He was ever in sympathy with anything that was for the benefit of the community and county in which he lived, and his co-operation could be always depended upon. He acted as road commissioner in Indiantown for some years while living there, and was also school director at Dorr Hill and later at Providence. He was much in- teresied in the building of the new school house there while acting as director, and the cause of
education ever found in him a stalwart friend. In 1898 he united with the Providence church, and on coming to Princeton he and the other members of the family transferred their member- ship to the First Congregational church, where he was acting as one of the trustees at the time of his death. Mr. Decker left a widow and four chil- dron, the eldest being Mix. C. A. Dexter, who re- sides with her husband and two children. Erma and Esther, on the Thomas Dexter farn .. near Providence. William John, the second child and only son, is engaged in the jewelry business at Granville, Putnam county, Illinois, while the two daughters, Edna and Cora, are with their mother in Princeton.
JOIN RICHARD DALE.
John Richard Dale, who has devoted his en- tire life to farming and now has an excellent tract of land in Maulius township, under a high state of cultivation, was born in Bureau county, March 31, 1850, and is a son of Thomas Edward and Eliza (Spargo) Dale. who are mentioned on another page of this work in connection with the history of their son, Thomas Henry Dale. Reared under the parental roof. John R Dalo at the usual age began attending the common schools and thus pursued his education in Fair- field township. His training at farm labor was not meager, for from an early age he began to assist in the work of the fields and som be- came familiar with the tasks of plowing. plant- ing and harvesting. He has never desired to engage in other business as a life work, but on the contrary has been fully content with. farm- ing, which George Washington said, "is the most useful as well as the most honorable occupation of man." On starting out in business for him- self he routed eighty acres, which he cultivated and improved. Later. in connection with his brother. Thomas H. Dale, he rented two hun- dred and forty acres, which at the end of four years they purchased. In 1893 they bought two hundred and forty acres more adjoining their original purchase and which formerly belonged to their father. Subsequently they added to their property until their holdings embraced six hun- dred acres in all. They were thus close'y asso- ciated in business for a number of years. or until 1903, when they divided the property, John R. Dale retaining two hundred acres as his share. This constitutes his homestead farm and is a very valuable and desirable property. The fiohls are now well tilled and bring forth rich harvests and all of the modern equipments and accessories of a model farm are found upon his place. He has devoted his entire life to general agricul- tural pursuits and he is also a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator Company of Manlius.
Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. Dale was married February 23. 1903. to Miss Margaret
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PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
Jane Smith, of Gold township, a daughter of Robert Hamilton and Jane Rebecca (Murphy) Smith. Her father was born in Ireland, Feb- ruary 2, 1829, and came to America when eighteen years of age, spending his last days in Sheffield, where he died June 30, 1905, at the age of seventy-six years. When he first reached Ameriea he located in Phoenixville, Pennsyl- vania, where he resided for five years prior to his removal to Bureau county, where he spent his remaining days.
Mr. Dale is a democrat, but takes no active part in polities aside from exercising his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of his party. He has always lived in Bureau county and therefore has a wide acquaintance, while good qualities have made him favorably known and gained for him warm friendship.
WILLIAM MCCABE.
William MeCabe, owning and operating six hundred and eighty acres of land in Gold and Alba townships, is a native son of Bureau county, his parents being Michael and Hannah McCabe, both natives of Ireland. The parents emigrated to America in 1850, settling in Bureau county, where the father followed farming throughout his remaining days. Both the father and mother are now deceased.
William MeCabe, whose name introduces this review, was reared io farm life, assisting his father in the task of cultivating the home place and thus receiving practical experience which fitted him to later carry on business on his own account. He received his education in the schools of his home township and later attended a nor- mal school for three terms at Geneseo. He later started out in business on his own account, fol- lowing the occupation to which he had been reared. He has been very successful in his farming oper- ations and each year has added to his financial resources, until today he is the owner of exten- sive landed interests, having six hundred and eighty acres of valuable land situated in Gold and Alba townships. On his place are found good buildings for the shelter of grain and stock and he uses the latest improved farm machinery to facilitate his work.
In 1893 Mr. MeCabe was united in marriage to Miss Emma Burden, of Fairfield township, and unto them have been born three children. Mr. McCabe was appointed to act as supervisor of Gold township, filling out the unexpired term of F. W. Morrasy, in which capacity he served for eight months, and on the expiration of that period he was elected to the office, having served altogether for the past two years, and is the present incum- bent. In politics he is a democrat and in religious faith he and his wife are Catholics.
Mr. McCabe is an enterprising agriculturist of Bureau county, having accumulated large landed intersts from which he derives an excellent in- come. He is a man of good business ability and straightforward dealing and is highly respected by his many business and social friends.
EDWIN BASS.
Edwin Bass, who owns and occupies a good farm of two hundred and fifty aeres in Berlin, his native township, was born April 23, 1856, and is a representative of one of the pioncer families of Bureau county. His father, Edwin Bass, Sr., was born in Connecticut, January 28, 1816, and having arrived at years of maturity was married in 1842 to Emeline J. Stannard, who was born in the state of New York, May 3, 1821. In their family were the following named: Caro- line. deceased : Lucian ; Luther G .; Suney and Charlotte, both deceased ; Oscar S .; Edwin; Heber and Howard, twins, also deceased; Wallace, and Alonzo C.
Edwin Bass of this review spent the days of his boyhood and youth upon his father's farm, where he was early trained to the work of the fields. He was also afforded good educational privileges and after attending the public schools of Dover became a student in the academy there, completing bis course at the age of twenty-two years. Farming has been his life work from choiee and his labors have been attended with a measure of success that makes him one of the prosperous agrieulturists of the community. Since 1882 he has lived upon his present farm, having now two hundred and fifty acres of land, which is now valued at one hundred and fifty dollars per acre, owing to the natural rise in land values consequent upon the rapid settle mient of the county and also owing to the many substantial improvements which he has put upon his place. He raises Poland China pigs and Dur- ham cattle and his well tilled fields produce good erops of corn, oats and hay.
On the 23d of February, 1882, at Malden, Mr. Bass was married to Miss Lydia A. Steele, who was born in Berlin township, Bureau county, April 22, 1860, and zequired a public school edu- cation in Malden. Her parents were Robert and Mary (Black) Steele, both natives of Ireland, the former born July 12, 1826, and the latter in 1824. Mr. Steele came to Illinois in 1851 and his family numbers four sons and four daughters, namely: Margaret, Mary A., Bobert B., Lydia .A., Sanford F., Eliza J., Enos S. and Willam. The last named is now deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bass hive been born six children: Emma L., born Jannary 9, 1883: George S., April 6, 1881; Nellie May, who was born September 18, 1×55, and died September 5. 1900 . Pearl I., born
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