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 60
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64
938
PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
pointed offices on Main street. As representative of fire insurance he is associated with If. A. Clark, but he handles the other departments of his business independently. He has secured a good clientage, is thoroughly acquainted with real- estate valnes, and is thus enabled to make judi- cious investments and profitable sales for his clients.
Mr. Anderson was married in Princeton to Miss Winnie Mae Spake, also born and reared in this city, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Spake, now deceased. Her father was born in Djursdala, Kalmar Lau, Sweden, March 20, 1839, and when ten years of age came with his parents to Amer- ica, the family home being established in Chi- cago, whence two years later they came to Prince- ton. Mr. Spake was engaged in the drug business in this city for many years, the leading represent- ative of commercial circles here. Ile married Mi-s Mary Stern, who was born in Sweden, December 8, 1840, at Asby Loken, Linkoping Lau, and came to the United States in 1852, accompanied by four sisters and a brother. They settled in Princeton and on the 10th of November, 1870. she gave her hand in marriage to John L. Spake. Two children were born of this union : Darlena Louisa, the wife of George E. Case; and Winnie Mae, the wife of Palmer E. Anderson.
Mr. Anderson exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the re- publican party and in 1903 was elected town elerk, since which time he was twice been re-elected, so that he is now serving for the third term. Ile is a member of the board of education of the Union school of Princeton, to which he was elected in 1906, and he manifests a publie spirited interest in all that is of value to the community in the pro- motion of those measures and movements which have direct bearing upon the welfare and pros- perity of town and county. In his public service and business life he is alike alert and energetic and is justly accounted one of the best known and enterprising young business men of Princeton.
EGBERT CURTIS.
Egbert Curtis, engaged in the live stock busi- ness at Princeton, where for the past thirty years or more he has devoted his time and energies to buying and shipping stock, was born in Stock- bridge, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, August 15, 1827, and though now nearly four score years of age he is still an active factor in business life and his reeord should put to shame many a man of much younger years, who, growing weary of the struggles and trials of a business career, would relegate to others the burdens that he should bear in supporting himself and family. Mr. Curtis has always been most active and enterprising. indo- lence and idleness being utterly foreign to his na-
ture, and his success has capto ve the direct re- ward of his perseverance . in a .
His parents, Homy an! Phb (Churchill) Curtis, cant to Buread county in 1859, and re- mained residents of Princeton until they passed away, the father dying twenty-two years ago, at the age of eighty-six years, while the mother's death occurred twenty-three years ago, when she was eighty years of age. Both were natives of Stockbridge, Ma -- achusett-, and the father fol- lowed the occupation of farming there. The Cur- tis family was founded in America in 1613 by three brothers, who came from Stratford-on-Avon, England, locating first at Weathersfield, Connecti- cut.
The great-grandfather of our subject re- moved to Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and his son, Elnathan Curtis, resided there, as did Henry Curtis, father of our subject. In the family of Henry Curtis were five children, all of whom are still living, and a reunion was celebrated in the latter part of August, 1906, at the home of the eldest brother, S. C. Curtis, at Lafayette, Indiana, the youngest being Henry Curtis, now sixty-three years of age. In order of birth the members of the family are: S. C., of Lafayette: Egbert : Mrs. Worthington, of Albion, Michigan ; Phoebe J., of' Princeton ; and IT. S., also of Lafayette, Indiana.
Egbert Curtis spent the first thirteen years of his life in the state of his nativity and then ac- companied his parents on their removal to New York. He came to Bureau county in 1851, when twenty-seven years of age. and has since made his home in Princeton with the exception of a brief period of a year and a half. For sometime he was connected with merchandising, conducting a hard- ware store, but his attention has been mainly de- voted to the live stock business and he is one of the oldest and most prominent representatives of this line of business activity in Bureau county. For thirty years or more he has operated in live stock, making extensive purchases and shipments. and in the conduet of his busing -- he has showed himself to be an excellent judge of stock so that he has made judicious purchases and profitable sales.
Mr. Curtis was married in Princeton on the 19th of March, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth Walter, who died in February, 1906, at the age of more than seventy years. She was born in the state of Ohio and during her infancy was brought to Bureau county by her parents, John and Eliza ( Smith) Walter, wh- were among the earliest res- idents of this part of Illinois. Her father was well known as a pioneer settler, who aided in laving broad and deep the foundation for the present development and progress of the county. From Chicago he hauled the lun ber used in building his house at Princeton. He was a tailor by trade and conducted a shop in this eity for many years, but later engaged in other lines of business. He and his wife were members and were also mimbere I among the founders of the
9.30
PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
Congregational church in Princeton, and they were most highly respected citizens there, occupy- ing a foremost place in social circles and in the regard of those who knew them. Mr. Walter died in 1899, while his wife passed again in 1901, when more than eighty years of age. I'nto Mr. and Mrs. Curtis was born one son, William W. Curtis, D. D. S., who is now about forty-seven years of age and resides in Chicago. He was born in Princeton, is a graduate of the high school of this city, and also of the Dental College at An Arbor, Michigan. He married Miss Nannie J. French of Newport, Rhode Island, and for sov- eral years has been successfully practicing his pro- fession in the western metropolis.
Mr. Curtis is a stalwart republican, having sup ported the party since its organization. He has served in various offices, as trustee and alderman and as highway commissioner of the city of Prince- ton. In this capacity he began the first graveling of roads and to him and his fellow members on the board at that time much credit is due for the fine roads of Princeton and vicinity. He has al- ways stood for progress and improvement and his efforts have been effective in promoting general good along many lives. The family favor the Congregational church and have contributed gen erously to its support. For more than a half century Mr. Curtis has resided in Princeton and is one of its best known and most honored citi- zens. Ile has ever stood for all that is progres- sive and commendable in business life and his ac- tions have ever measured up to the standard of honorable manhood.
GEORGE A. ROBINSON.
George A. Robinsor, whose name is inseparably interwoven with the commercial history of Prince- ton, having for many years been engaged in the retail shoe business in this city, was born in Ches- terfield, Hampshire county, Massaelnisetts, on the 27th day of March, 1811, his parents being Elen- zer and Caroline ( Benton) Robinson, who were natives of Massachusetts. The father engaged in farming and spent the greater part of his life in Hampshire county, where both he and his wife passed away.
George A. Robinson was educated in the com- mon schools of his native county and when not busy with his text-books assisted his father on the home farm until, thinking to find other occupa- tion more congenial, he secured a position in the express office in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He was thus employed for a few years, after which he accepted a clerkship in different dry-goods stores in Pitt-field, his time being thus given to commercial interests until after the outbreak of the Civil war. A spirit of patriotie ardor ho'ng aroused in him by the attempt of the south to overthrow the Union, he offered his services to
the country during the first year of the war and enlisted as a member of the Thirty-fourth Ma --.- chusetts Infantry under Captain Cooley. The regiment participated with the military move- ments in the Shenandoah Valles and in many battles of importance which were a factor in the final result that crowned the Union arms. Mr. Robinson was never wounded or taken prisoner but became ill with pneumonia and was in the hospital for several weeks. He afterward rejoined his company and in December, 1861, be was made sergeant, filling that position until honorably dis- charged at the close of the war in 1865.
In the meantime a Mr. Bates, a friend of Mr. Robinson, in Hampshire county, Massachusetts, had come to the middle west, locating in Prince- ton, where he was engaged in business. He in- duced Mr. Robinson to join him here, although the latter remained a resident of Pittsfield, Mas- sachusetts, until 1867, when he came to Bureau county and accepted a clerkship in the store of his former friend, Mr. Bates. He acted as a salesman for a few years and then removed to Sidney, Champaign county, Ilinois, where he formed a partnership with his cousin in the es- tablishment of a general store, which Mr. Robin- son managed. He continued its conduct for two years, when he returned to Princeton and en- tered into partnership with his friend, Mr. Bates. under the firm style of Robinson & Bates. They established a retail shoe bus ness, their store being located on Main street near South street. For a few years they were in business together, after which Mr. Bates sold his interest to a MIr. Mur- phy and the firm then becan Robinson & Mur- phy, under which style the business was success- fully conducted until the death of the senior part- ner.
George A. Robinson was married in Princeton to Miss Charity Bryant, a native of this county and a representative of one of the oldest an I most prominent fandilies of this part of the state. Her father was Cyrus Bryant, of whon mention is made on another page of this work. Unto Mr. and Mr -. Robin-on were born four children, of whom one died unnamed in infancy. Agnes M., Marcus B., and Abee J., all residing at home.
Mr. Robinson never fully recovered from the illness which he sustained luring the Civil war, but he remained actively in the shoe business in Princeton until his demise, which occurred on the 20th of April. 18-9. He was a member of the Grand Areny Post of Princeton and of the Ma- sonic lodge here and of both organizations was accounted a valued and popular representative. Ho voted with the republican party an i hell them- bership in the Congregational church. in the work of which he took an active and helpful interest. serving as trustee and also as devon for many wars. His life was actuated by honorable prin- ciples and char: eter'zed by manly conhr and in all relations ho maintained an unasesileblo repu-
940
PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
tation. In citizenship he was as loyal to his coun- try as when he followed the stars and stripes on southern battlefields and in business he was thor- oughly honorable and straightforward. Ilis best traits of character, however, were reserved for his family, to whom he was very devoted, considering no personal sacrifice on his part too great if it would promote the welfare or enhance the happi- ness of his wife and children. The family are also members of the Congregational church and they reside at No. 203 West Peru street.
WILLIAM G. JOHNSON.
The agricultural interests of Fairfield township are- well controlled and managed when in the hands of such men as William G. Johnson, who is alert, enterprising and progressive and moreover possesses that laudable ambition without which success is never achieved. He lives on section 26, Fairfield township, where he has a good farming property. One of Illinois' na- tive sons, he was born October 19, 1841, his parents being Loyal T. and Mary C. (Good- hart) Johnson, the former a native of Wayne county, New York, born May 13, 1808, and the latter of Columbus, Ohio. The paternal grandfather of our subject served as a colonel in
the New York militia, while William R. Good- hart, the maternal grandfather, was a native of Scotland and for seven years served in the French navy, taking the place of an Englishnnan, who hanged himself rather than fight against his na- tive land. He was with Napoleon in the Russian campaign and saw the destruction of Moscow. On leaving the French service he joined the English army against the United States in the war of 1812, and was taken prisoner in the conflict on Lake Erie, when Commodore Perry won his great victory. Three Indians were placed under his charge, and while he was called below to get orders that part of the ship in which they were stationed was shot away. After the battle was over he was surprised to see the Indians emerge from the coal hole. Many years afterward while living at Bloomington Grove. now Bloomington, Illinois, he came across some Indians, one of whom stepped forward and called him captain, telling him that he was one of the three. Mr. Goodhart made his escape and later joined the American forces, serv- ing under General Harrison until the close of the war.
In Franklin, Ohio, August 2, 1814, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Goodhart and Miss Sarah A. Clouse, and at that place he secured a claim. During his residence there he made a trip to New Orleans on a flatboat which required six months. In 1810 he had his leg broken by a falling tree and during his illness meditated on religion. Soon afterward he was converted under the preaching of Elder Wright, who was holding
a camp meeting, and subsequently brudtog an ex- horter of the Methodist Episcopal Conch, holding a license issued by Peter Cartwright. At an early date he prepared to come welt but his wife refused for several years. Finally in the fall of 1821, with wife aud six children he emigrated to Mackinaw township, Fayette county, Illinois, where the set- tlers gave him a hearty welcome and built his cabin. Indians were still very numerous, and dur- ing his absence on a visit to Bloomington Grove they caused his family much uneasiness. Later when removing to that place the red men came upon them yelling, so that their horses were frightened and upset the wagon. They were drunk, but under the control of two sober Indians, and finally ceased their disturbance when Mr. Goodhart spoke to them in French. The family located in Bloomington where the Illinois Central depot now stands, and some apple trees are still there which were planted by Mr. Goodhart over seventy years ago, on what is known as the Judge MeCline place. Upon his farm was manufac- tured the first brick in MeLean county. From 1830 until his death in 1842 he continued a resi- dent of Bloomington, where he was numbered among the honored and highly respected citizens. In his family were ten children, as follows: Jacob, who died in June, 1845: Elizabeth C., wife of William H. Rankin, of Kansas; Mary C., who was the mother of our subject; George W., deceased; William R., who died of cholera in 1850; Anna C., who maried Joseph Douglass; Mrs. Sarah M. Livingston, deceased ; John II., who was a member of the Union service, and was killed at Merri- weather's Ferry, Tennessee, in July, 1862; James G., of Bloomington; and Mrs. Julia A. P. Dong- las, deceased.
Loyal T. Johnson, father of our subject, was reared in his native county and on removing rest- ward in 1836 settled in Canton, Illinois. He was married in Peoria, this state, January 3, 1810, and soon afterward removed to Bloomington, where he conductedl a tannery and engaged in the shor business. He was one of the early settlers of Fulton county, Illinois, establishing the first boot and shoe store in Canton. In 1845 he be- came a resident of La Salle county and the year 185% witnessel his arrival in Bureau county, at which time he took up his abode in Wyanet town- ship when it was largely an unclaimed and uncul- tivated wilderness. While erecting a house upon his claim the men that worked there saw a herd of fifty-two deer, which fact plainly indicates the unsettled condition of the country. Our subject was only a little boy at that time.
Mr. Johnson was offer } the land where the village of Wyanet now stand- for three dollars and a half per acre. He was an enterprising. in his- trions man, fond of travel, and he was killed by the cars at Newman, Kansas, February 26, 19:S. llis widow survived until 1896, passing away at the home of her daughter. Mrs. Mary Elizabeth
MRS. W. G. JOHNSON
W. G. JOHNSON.
945
PAST AND PRESENT OL BUREAU COUNTY.
Lampher. In the family of this worthy couple were nine children, eight of whom are still living : Ellen D., wife of Harrison Webb, of Montana; Mrs. Esora M. Murphy, of Seattle, Washington; Mrs. Mary E. Lampher, of Princeton, Ilinois; Mrs. Elura C. Self, near Glidden, Iowa; Oren S. and Loyal L., of Gold township, Bureau county; and Wilbur L., of MeLean county, Illinois.
William G. Johnson was a little lad of only about six years when brought by his parents to Bureau county and amid the wild seenes and en- vironments of pioneer life he was reared. The public schools afforded him his educational privi- leges and when not busy with his text-bool's his attention was largely given to farm work. At the time of the Civil war, however, he put aside all business and personal considerations, offering his services to the government as a supporter of the Union eanse. He became a member of Company B, Sixty-fourth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, known as Yates sharpshooters, and remained in the service for three years, during which time he participated in the engagements at New Madrid, Island No. 10, the siege of Corinth, Chambers Creek, Tuscumbia Creek, Resaca, Snake Creek Gap, Kingston, Vanvort, Dallas, Farmington, Inka, Mississippi, both battles of Corinth, New Hope Church, Ackworth, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain and Decatur. lle was wounded at Kenesaw Mountain on the ?7th of June, 1863, and he was often in the thickest of the fight. When his term had expired he was honorably dis- charged and returned home with a most credilable military record.
While a soldier of the war Mr. Johnson was married on the 11th of September, 1864, to Miss Malvina Galer, who was one of three children, her brothers being Joseph and George. Her father. Adam T. Galer, came to Illinois from Highland county, Ohio, in 1834 with his parents, Peter and Elizabeth (Allen) Galer, natives of Virginia, who here entered three hundred and twenty acres of land, on which they continued to reside until called to their final rest. Mrs. Johnson's parents died while living with her. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were born seven children, of whom Thompson G., Ollie A. and Engone H. all died of . diphtheria on the old Galer homestead. Those still living are: Adam T., of Gold township, who married Anna Gudgel and has three children, Loval T., Virgil and Harvey ; William C., of Fair- field township, who married Margaret Rollo and had five children, four living, Clark, Thompson, Cecil and Annie; Mary MI., the wife of Charles Gudgel, of Gold township, by whom she has six children, John, William, Homer, Mary, Hazel and Melvin; and Nellie .J., who married Lemuel F. Kolp and after his death wedded John Decker, their home bring in Gold township. They have three children, William, Mary and Edith.
It was on the 3d of February, 18:0, that Mr. Johnson took up his abode on his pre-ent fine
farm. He fist lived in a little log calen, which was later replaced by a frans. dwelling and in 1892 he erected his fine two story icidence, which is neatly and tastefully furnished. The farm con- prises four hundred and twenty-five acres of rich and productive land lying in Fairfield and Gold townships and is a splendidly improved property, the fields having been brought under a high state of cultivation. Everything about the farm is indi- eative of his thrift, enterprise and careful manage- ment and indicates him to be a man of progressive spirit and practical ideas. From the age of eigh- teen years he has provided for h's own support and has made steady progress toward the goal of prosperity. He is a man worthy of the trust and good will of all and that he has the confidence of his fellow men is indicated by the fact that he has been called upon to settle six estates. lle main- tains pleasant relations with his old army com- rades through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic and he is also vice-president of the Bureau County Soldiers Association from Fair- field town-hip, there being a vice-president from each township of the counts. He also holds mem- bership with the Masonie lodge at Princeton and is vice-president of the Fairfield Saevery of Old Seitlers. All who know him-and his acquaint- ance is a wide one-respect and honor him, for throughout his entire life he has manifestedl those traits of character which in every land and clime command respect and regard.
CHARLES GARVIN.
Charles Garvin, one of the venerable citizens of Neponset township, where he is now living a re- tired life, was born in County Down, Ireland, May 25, 1819. His parents were Alexander and Elizabeth (Wilson) Garvin, also natives of County Down. The former died on the Emerall is at the age of forty-six years and the mother's death there occurred when she was fifty years of age. He was a weaver by trade and always followed that occupation in order to provide for his fami- ily, which numbered three children: Charles, Bessie and John, but Chart's is the only one now living. Reared in his native country, Charles Garvin acquired a limited education in that land and then started ont in life on his own account. He was married in County Down to Miss Sarah Ann Gunning, who died in the old country at the age of forty-five years. Seven children, four sons and three daughters, have been born of their mar- riage, namely: Bessie G., who become the wife of Timothy Driscoll and died at the age of thirty years: Charles; Jane, the wife of James McGef- fett : Thomas; Sarah, the wife of George Con.les; John; and Alexander. Following the death of his wife, the father came to America with his soren children. He bade adice to friends and native enuntry in 1870 and the vessel on which he sailed
916
PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
reached New York harbor on Sunday morning, July 14, 1870. On Monday morning they left the steamer and on Tuesday morning left New York city, arriving in Neponset on the following Saturday evening. Since that time Mr. Garvin has made his home in Bureau county. He first purchased eighty acres of land in Stark county, where he lived for six years, and later he bought one hundred and sixty aeres additional of prairie land and thirty acres of timber land. For many years he carried on general agricultural pursuits, meeting with success in this undertaking, but he is now living a retired life, spending his time with his children. He has made his home in Bureau county for about ten years and is one of its venerable citizens, having now passed the eiglity-seventh milestone on life's journey. He was always a man of marked industry and en- terprise, who labored earnestly to win a compe- tence and thus provide a comfortable home for his family. Both in his native land and in this country he made good use of his opportunities and the success which he enjoyed was attributable en- tirely to his own efforts. On taking up his abode in America he became a naturalized citizen and has continuously supported the republican party. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church and his Christian belief has been manifest in his daily conduct, in his relations with his fel- low men and in his honorable business life. He is truly worthy the high respect which is uniform- ly accorded him and with pleasure we present to our readers his life record.
THOMAS GARVIN.
Thomas Garvin, one of the leading and ener- getic agriculturists of Neponset township, was born in County Down, Ireland, August 14, 1858, his parents being Charles and Sarah Ann (Gun- ning) Garvin, who are mentioned above. The mother died in Ireland, and in 1870 the father brought his family to the new world, so that Thomas Garvin continued his education in the public schools of Stark county, Illinois, where the family home was established. He was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with the work of field and meadow, as he assisted in the task of plowing, planting and harvesting. At the age of twenty-one years he started out in life on his own account, and is now farming three hundred and twenty aeres of rich and productive land, the fields annually returning to him abundant harvests as the reward of his care and labor. He also has twenty-two head of horses on his place, and raises about one hundred head of hogs annually, together with forty head of cattle. He ships most of his stock to the Chicago market, and is well known as a progressive farmer and stockman, whose close application and unremitting diligence constitute the salient features of his success.
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.