Past and present of Iroquois County, Illinois, Part 14

Author: Kern, J. W
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 792

USA > Illinois > Iroquois County > Past and present of Iroquois County, Illinois > Part 14

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Abraham R. La Bounty was but a young lad when brought by his parents to Illinois and has since remained a resident of Iroquois county. He attended the public schools to some extent and through experience, observation and reading in later years has added largely to his knowledge. His training at farm work was not meager, for from an early age he assisted in the work of the fields from the time of early spring planting un- til crops were harvested in the late autumn. His entire life has been devoted to agricultural and horticultural pursuits and he remained with his mother until her second marriage and carried on the home farm. For a number of years he con- tinted to operate the old home property and sub- sequently he conducted the Lyman farm until February, 1896, when he purchased his present

home in Douglas township. Here he is engaged in general horticultural pursuits and annually gathers good crops of fruit.

On the 29th of August, 1888, Mr. La Bounty was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Lyman,. a daughter of Jacob Lyman, who died Septem- ber 28, 1899. He was for many years a repre -- sentative farmer of Martinton township and was- a native of Stark county, Ohio, born January 24 .. 1832. He was a representative of an old Penn- sylvania family of Dutch descent and his great- grandfather was a native of Holland, whence he- crossed the Atlantic, becoming one of the first residents of the Keystone state. John Lyman, the grandfather of Jacob Lyman, was born in Pennsylvania and Samuel Lyman, the father, was. born in Buffalo Valley. Union county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1810. In 1819 he accompanied his par- ents on their removal to Ohio and was married- in that state to Mary Schneider, a native of Ger- many, who had come to the United States when' sixteen years of age. After living for some years in Stark county, Ohio. Samuel Lyman removed with his family to Iroquois county, Illinois, in 1837 and there broke the prairie and developed a. farm. In 1850 he removed to Martinton town -. ship and developed an excellent farm whereon he- made his home until his death in October, 1877 .. while his wife died in February. 1868.

Jacob Lyman, the elder of their two sons and the father of Mrs. La Bounty, was only five- years old when in 1837 he accompanied his par- ents to Iroquois county. Almost his entire boy- hood and youth were spent on the home farm. For four months he worked elsewhere in the- neighborhood but returned home and in connec- tion with his brother took charge of the father's farm and cared for his parents until their death. He and his brother succeeded to the ownership of the farm, but Jacob afterward purchased his. brother's interest and resided thereon alnost con- tinnonsly from 1850 until his death almost a half century later. In 1867 he married Cather- ine A. Gibson, a native of Indiana and a dangh- ter of John Gibson, a pioneer resident of Iroquois county. Mr. and Mrs. Lyman had four children, of whom Mrs. La Bounty is the eldest. The- others are Martha May, Rachel and Jessie Belle Blanche. They also lost a daughter, Emma Ber- tha Snow, who died in infancy. Mr. Lyman was

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a stalwart democrat and he and his wife were members of the Christian church and were mest highly respected people.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. La Bounty has been blessed with four children : Lyman J., bern September 10, 1880 ; Bertie May Belle, born No- vember 17. 1803 : and Oscar Charles, November 11. 1845. They also lost one child, Bertha Ka- chel, who was born November 8, 1891, and died September 5. 1893.

Mr. La Bounty gives his political allegiance to the democracy and has served as school director for the past four years, but has never sought the honors nor emoluments of public office, content to do his duty as a private citizen. He has lived a life of activity and enterprise and both he and his wife are representatives of prominent pio- neer families, while in the community where they live their sterling personal traits of character have gained for them warm esteem and friendship.

ABRAHAM RUNDLE.

Abraham Rundle has reached the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten and is now enabled to live a retired life, owing to his well directed and unremitting business activity in former years, for during three decades he was classed with the active and prosperous farmers of Pigeon Grove township. For a long period he has been a witness of the changes that have oc- curred in northern Illinois. He saw Chicago in the days of its early development, having taken up his alodde there in 1843, and his memory com- passes the period when much of this portion of the state was an undeveloped wilderness or un- improved tract of wild prairie.

Born near Cornwall, England, August 15. 1835, he was brought to the United States when a lad of eight years by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Rundle. There were thirteen in the family. and continuing their journey across the country after reaching the eastern coast of America they became residents of Chicago in 1843, the father spending his remaining days there, his death oc curring about 1845. His wife survived hin un til 1872.

Nine of their children reached adon age but Abraham Rundle and Is brother Theras fre How the only survivors ci the faniv. The latter served for four years as a elhier in the Ch I war and sustained two severe injuries. He is now at the Soldier's Home at Danville. Hunlois, but for twenty five years was a farmer of Iro quois county.

Abraham Rundle was reared in Chicago and was married there in 1836 to Miss Caroline Townsend, a daughter of Richard Townsend, ore of the first settlers of the metropolis, having a homestead at Chicago in an early day. Follow ing his marriage Mr. Run lle engaged in farm- ing in Cook county for a number of years and in 1865 came to Iroquois county, purchasing land in what is now Pigen Girove township. He commenced with righty acres and began to farm and further improve this property, afterward adding to it a tract of eighty acres adjoining. The farm became the scene of much activity. Good buildings were erected thereon, ditches were dug in which many rods of tile were laid and fences were built to apportion the farm into fields that could be more easily worked. An or- chard was also set out and the farm work was energetically carried on by Mr. Rundle until 1800, when he rented his place and removed to Loda. purchasing a residence property there.

While living on the farm, Mr. Rundle lost his first wife, who died February 28, 1860, and was laid to rest in Loda cemetery. There were four children by that marriage: Jane, who died af the age of fourteen years : Carrie Laura, the wife of Louis Randolph, of Beatrice, Nebraska ; Nel- lie, the wife of Perry Divlebliss, of Zion City, Illinois ; and Frank C., a farmer of Aurora. Ne- braska. On the roth of January, 1870 in Pigeon Figure township, Mr. Rundle wedded Mary Wil- son, a native of New York, who was reared in Chicago, a daughter of John Wilson, who re- moved from the metropolis of the east to become one of the first settlers of the metropolis of the west. He and his wife were of English birth and Ineage. Unto the second marriage of Mr Kindle were born four children, three of whom survive : Mary. the wife of Ora C. Mitchell, of trval Lake, Jowa: Della, the wife of Frank Hogg, a farmer of near Aurora, Nebraska : and 1 Ga, who is a noted base ball player and is alex

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with the American Radiator Company. in Chi- cago. They lost one daughter, Alice, who died at the age of fourteen years.

Politically Mr. Rundle is a republican and his first vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. He and his brother Thomas were republicans. while the others of the family were supporters of the democracy. While on the farm Mr. Run- dle served on the school board for six years. He and his wife have been members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church for about a third of a cen- tury and for nearly thirty years he has been on the official board. It is within his memory when Chicago was a small village and he has been much interested in its growth and development. He has also witnessed the wonderful transforma- tion in the country and has borne his part in the work of public progress, especially along agri- cultural lines. His work has been a resultant factor in the acquirement of a desirable success and now he is enabled to enjoy a well earned rest. his competence gained in former years of toil be- ing sufficient to supply him with the comforts and some of the luxuries of life.

WILLIAM MILLER.

Through the improvement of his opportunities for advancement along agricultural lines William Miller has won for himself a place among the leading and prosperous farmers of Onarga town- ship. His home is on section 1, not far from Del- rey, and he has an excellent tract of land of one hundred and forty-eight acres, which has been brought under a high state of cultivation. No history of this part of the state would be complete without mention of him, for he is one of its oldest settlers, having made his home within the borders of Iroquois county since May, 1834. Great have been the changes which have occurred in the meantime, for pioneer conditions have been re- placed by those of modern civilization and the old log cabin has long since given way before the comfortable and commodious farm residence. the crude farm machinery has been replaced by modern agricultural implements and in all de- partments of industrial and commercial life simi- lar progress has been instituted and carried for-

ward. Mr. Miller has at all times borne his full share in the work of upbuilding and is therefore an honored and valued pioneer resident.

Born in Covington. Indiana, May 3. 1833. he is a son of John Miller, a native of Augusta county. Virginia, born in 1801. The paternal grandfather of our subject was born in Germany. John Miller was reared in the Old Dominion and was married there to Margaret Stewart, also a native of Virginia. Removing westward in the fall of 1829. he spent the winter at Mad River and in the spring of 1830 became a resident of Fountain county. Indiana. where he lived for about four years. Two children had been born unto him and his wife in Virginia and two were born in Indiana. In 1834 they came with their family to Illinois and were the second family to locate in Onarga township. Iroquois county. The father entered two hundred and forty acres of land from the government. whereon his son William now resides, securing a part of this for a dollar and a quarter per acre and the remainder for two dollars and a half per acre. He broke the raw prairie and opened up the farm. Later the Illinois Railroad divided the farm into almost equal parts. Before the building of the road Mr. Miller hauled his produce to Chicago and did his marketing there, making the trips to and from the city with ox teams. He would take a load of oats or corn, selling the latter for four- teen cents per bushel. Hardships and privations innumerable were to be endured because of the frontier conditions which existed, but the family resolutely continued the work of developing the farm property and the father spent his entire life thereon. His political support was given to the democracy from the time when he cast his first presidential ballot for Andrew Jackson. He was a wagonmaker by trade and after coming to Illi- nois he opened up a blacksmith and wagonmak- ing shop and followed his trade to a large extent, while his sons carried on the work of the farmn. This all were busy and the life which they led was a most useful one, results being soon seen in the well developed farm and in the prosperity which attended their labors. Mr. Miller passed away May 12. 1882. at the advanced age of eighty-one years and three months. His first wife died in 1840 and in 1853 he married Mrs. Liggett. By his first marriage there were seven

WILLIAM MILLER AND FAMILY

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children, three son and jahr laughter, why larth. now having i liliana. r. l . reached adult age. and of this number Willein Miller and three of Ins sisters are set living The oldest. Andrew, married and ched at this conflits Ford c myts. John S. Jag m . n the wit of link Below, a fenther i h 1 1859. while Robert passed away in cirl i all hood in 1852. The sisters are Mrs. Jam Reed, Here were two andruet the: who is a widow and is now hving in lord coun ty. Illinois, at the age of rights years, Matilda. the wife of Wilham Swaber, of Pueblo, Col rado : and Mrs. Catherine Quick, a widow who is living at Grand Crossing, a suburb of Chicago.

William Miller spent the days of his boshow ! and youth upen the home farm and worked with his father as his years and strength increased and as the father gave more and more attention to industrial pursuits William Miller and his brother carried on the farm work. In early days they hunted deer all over this part of the stat. and saw them in great numbers, bringing back many a dish of venison for the family board. He still has in his possession his old rifle, which is over fifty years old and was made in Middle- port by Mr. Tarry, who was one of the best gunsmiths in whole country. He killed deer, wild geese, cranes and prairie chickens and thus game was furnished for many a meal. Mr. Mil- ler bought out the interest of one of the sisters m the home farm and subsequently purchased forty acres adjoining. He built thereon a resi- dence and made the improvement- where he re- sides and the farm, owing to hi- careful super- vision and practical management, became a valu- able property.

In May, 1800, in Delrey, Mr. Miller was mar- ried to Miss Margaret Lefrance, who was of French ancestry and was born in Canada Sh died July 25. 1870, leaving four children. The Udest. Jane, is now the wife of Thomas Raine. of Crawford county. Kansas. Marill is the wife of James Woodard. of Onarga: Winfield S. i. married and is engaged in derking in Delrey : and Mrs. Matikla Kniver, a widow, is row a trained nurse in Chicago. There were also the children by the first marriage, now deceased

franchise Mr. Meler has never faltered in his presidential balet for Jones Buchanan in 1850. It has rever s might or desired office for himself. but has always manifested those traits which characterize the public spirited citizen. One Di the earliest residents of the county, he has for events-two years resided upon the same farm and has seen this part of the state changed from a wilderness and swamp into offe of the most highly developed and richest agricultural dis- tricts of the Union He has helped to improve and make the county what it is toplay. When a lad of ten years he herded cattle over the broad prairies, there being no fences to prevent this be- ing used as an open range. He has seen the railroad built through ard towns spring up and develop and has been thoroughly in sympathy with the growth and progress, doing all in his power to promote the advancement of this . c. tion of the stat . Although he had comparative- A little opportunity for the acquirement of an education, attending private and subscription schools, he has throughout his entire life studied and read broadly and is a well posted man. 1 !. is also active and well preserved. His hig has been over honorable and upright and wherever known he conomands the respect and confidence of those with whom he comes in contact From early days when he helped to subdue the wilder- news he has continuously been a resident of the county and his record is most crutable

LEMUEL DANFORTH SNOW.

On the 18th of March, 1875. Mr. Miller was again married, his second union being with Fliza- Len nel Danforth Snow, cashier and the pre- On Washington, Mindis. April 20 1873. and a som of the Hot. Herman Walter Show, who is mentioned on another page of this y line It beth Woodard, who was born in Indiana bine eift manager i the Bank of Sheldon, was born was reared largely in Mclean county, Minois. Of this marriage there are five living children : Ries, the wife of John Toin, an Englishman by

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1875 his parents removed to Sheldon, Illinois. The strong traits of his character are largely in- herited from his maternal grandfather and he is known as a cool, cautious, deliberate and far- sighted man. He acquired a common and high school education, and in 1800 he removed to Washington, D. C., where he acted as private secretary to his father, who was then a member of congress. In 1894 he returned to Illinois and. the family home being established in Kankakee, he there opened an insurance and real-estate of- fice, continuing in that business until after his appointment in September, 1895, by Governor Altgeld to the office of state grain inspector. He acted in that capacity until 1807, when he re- signed and entered the Bank of Sheldon, owned by his father and established by him in 1875. This bank has now had a continuous existence of thirty-two years and has made consecutive and substantial progress, being regarded as one of the safest and most conservative moneyed insti- tutions of Iroquois county and this part of the state. In 1899 the firm name of the bank was changed to H. W. Snow & Son by the admission of L. D. Snow as a partner, and the Bank of Sheldon is now under his management, while his official capacity is that of cashier.

In 1898 occurred the marriage of Mr. Snow and Miss Virgil M. Bishopp, the daughter of Barton Bishopp, of Sheldon. The young couple are prominent socially and have many friends in Sheldon, while Mr. Snow's position in business circles is among the foremost.

CHARLES N. WAITY.

Charles N. Waity is one of the most prominent and enterprising farmers of Sheldon township. ITe owns a very fine farm in the midst of which stands a large and attractive residence, being equalled by few country homes in the entire county. He was born in Sheldon township, (c- tober 3, 1875, and was reared to agricultural pur- suits but is now leaving the active work of the farm to others, while he is assisting in the furni- ture store of P. W. Miner, in Sheldon.

Mr. Waity is a son of Nelson H. Waity, who was born in Norway, and came to the United

States in 1837. His people were among the first settlers of Sheldon township. Nelson H. Waity was a farmer by occupation and after coming to the United States spent his subsequent years in this county. He worked persistently and ener- getically to obtain a start and to promote his business interests and successes, and as the years passed by he accumulated an estate of four hun- dred and ten acres. He took raw land which he converted into rich and productive fields and as the years passed by his work was crowned with a measure of success most gratifying. He died upon the old homestead farm April 16, 1897. when seventy-one years of age. His wife. who in her maidenhood was Rosanna Coughe- nour, was born in Pennsylvania, and died on the 3d of September, 1880. In the family of this worthy couple were six children, of whom three are now living, namely: Mrs. Frank Zumwalt, of . Sheldon; Charles N., of this review ; and Frank, who is engaged in general farming in Sheldon township.

In taking up the personal history of Charles N. Waity we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in this part of Iroquois county. He was edu- cated in the Sheldon school and his time was di- vided between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields upon the farm. After putting aside his text-books he remained upon the farm until 1902, when he went west to Colorado for one year. He also spent a year in St. Louis, Mis- souri, and since that time has been in Sheldon. He secured one hundred acres from his father and has purchased one hundred and nineteen acres adjoining. He likewise has good build- ings upon the farm and his home is a most com- modious and beautiful residence, containing four- teen rooms. He has recently erected a large barn and everything about his place presents a well kept appearance and indicates his careful su- pervison. In addition to his other business affairs he has mining interests in Colorado.

Mr. Waity exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the repub- lican party. In Masonry he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish rite and he is also a member of the Mystic Shrine of Chi- cago. He affiliates with the Knights of Pythias.

OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

1 pular with hu brethires ot the whiterent lat termites, for He is a young man of con spring. progressive spirit, genial m disposition, kinds in manner, winning friends wherever he goes

FRANK WMITY.

Frank Waity, an enterprising young farmer, owning and operating one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 3. Sheldon township, was born on the farm which is now his home, July 12, 1878. The family was founded in America by Holson Waity, who emigrated from Norway to this country in 1837, and located in Beaver township, Iroquois county. He lived but two years after coming to the new workl. His son. Nelson Waity, the father of our subject, located the tract of land which has since been the fam- ily homestead, and he made all of the improve- ments which are here seen. The first home was a log house, which was later replaced by a more modern and substantial frame residence, and he also erected many outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock, and placed his land under a high state of cultivation. He was married to Miss Rosanna Coughenour, a native of Ohio, and the father followed farming until 1897, when he gave the property to his son Frank, who has con- tinned the work of improvement and cultivation which was begun by his father, up to the present time, and today it constitutes one of the valua- ble tracts of Sheldon township.

Frank Waity acquired his early education in the district schools near his father's home and later completed the high-school course at Shel- don. He was early trained to the duties of the farm and gave his father the benefit of his ser- vices until he had reached the age of nineteen years, when, as stated, he inherited the home place and is now engaged in its operation on his own account. He is very successful in all that he undertakes and follows only the most modern and practical methods in carrying on his labors and is today accounted one of the leading and progressive young farmers of this part of Iro- quois county.

ropa lan party in bos fraternal restemes lic 1 Identihed with the knights of Psthias and the Monlern Was difen of America, and in In the organizations is popular with the brethren of the uratt.

FRED W. RANZ.

Fred W. Ranz, who for seven years has been engaged in the grain trade in Claytonville, own ing and operating the elevator, also deals in coal, and the extent of his operations in both lines have won him a place among the representative young business men of this part of the county. lle was born in Muscatine, lowa, November 24. 1800, a son of Joseph Ranz, who with his family came to Iroquois county in 1868 and settled upon a farm in Ash Grove township, where he set resides.

Upon the old homestead farm Fred W. Ranz spem the days of his youth and in the district schools acquired his preliminary education, which was supplemented by study in Grand Prairie Seminary in Onarga. Thinking to find commer- cial pursuits more congenial than agricultural, Mr. Ranz engaged in clerking in Crescent City. where he remained for a few years and then went to Goodwine, where he took charge of the Farmers Elevator, continuing there for four years. On the expiration of that period he purchased an interest in the elevator at Clayton- ville and in May, 1800, took charge of the grain and elevator business at this point. He also handles coal and in both lines has built up a good trade. This being one of the rich agri- cultural districts of the state, there is excellent opportunity offered the grain merchant, and in the conduct of the business Mr. Ranz annually handles thousands of bushels of grain, thus fur nishing a market to producers and also con ducting a profitable business for himself.

On the Ist of March. 180)3, at Crescent City. Mr. Ranz was united in marriage to Miss Ida May kern, who was born and reared in that place. They now have five daughters: Hazel. Freda, Beatrice, Ruth and Beulah. The parents are well known socially in Claytonville and other

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parts of the county and have a large circle of warm friends. Politically Mr. Ranz has fol- lowed in his father's footsteps and is a stanch republican, but has always been without aspiration for office. preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business interests and in con- nection with the grain and coal trade he is also interested in the breeding of Arabian horses. while formerly he was engaged in the breeding of heavy draft horses. He is a great lover of fine horses and is well known as a breeder and dealer. He is connected with the Knights of Pythias lodge, the Modern Woodmen camp and the Fraternal Insurance Association, and his wife is a member of the Christian church. He belongs to that class who are the real upbuilders and promoters of a community by reason of the business activity upon which the growth of every town and city depends and Claytonville therefore finds in him a leading citizen.

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Past and present of Iroquois County, Illinois, Part 14

Author: Kern, J. W Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Number of Pages: 792

Author: Kern, J. W
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 792