Past and present of Iroquois County, Illinois, Part 25

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 25

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Por. thenthe . and the mis. 1 1/1 tient Volunteer hitaltri, on which 1 was

Fautsslug and this incapacitated 10 for 1ir ther duty, so that be gave up his position and re turned to the north He took part na in ber of the both contested engagements of the war. including the sangimars con fut at Gettysburg where charge after charge was mark has the Union troops and repulsed unt ] at last they were able to hold their ground and another 4th { Jal proclaimed a victory for the lion and the re pi bhe. the birth of which had been celebrated eighty seven years before.

In Ne Captain Doolittle again came to Inois. settling at Carga, where he engage ! in merchan diving. He became one of the prosperms busi- Hess met of the county and was widely kitown in commercial circles. He had been married ler mg his carlier residence in Onarga. M's. Try phenia Pangborn becoming his wife in 1852 She

courts, her father. Thomas M. Pangborn, In - ing leen one of the first settlers of the counts, In- cating here m 1837 He entered and from the government, broke the prairie and developed a fammi which & sul en possessionof the is. It was after the rendi Captur Dedette to Changes that he lost his first wife, when passed away n ists. There were four children Is that marriage, of when two are flying Milwww. wh. is married and resides In Nebraska, nel Thomas northern Nebraska The eller bir ther, Milton. has two children, Charles Marsten and Helen \. while Hamas | Dewitte has er children Mil- torck. Ward \ Thomas P. Adohne A .. Eno

Captain Dodatek was agan married, his secon ! min Ining with Miranda Pangborn, who was

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PAST AND PRESENT OF

where national issues were involved but at local elections cast an independent ballot, supporting the men whom he regarded as best qualified for office. After his marriage he located on the old home farm, where he resided for several years, when his residence was destroyed by fire about 1884. He then took up his abode in Onarga, where he purchased residence property that is now occupied by his widow, it being her father's old home. He was reared in the faith of the Epis- copal church, while his wife was reared in the Methodist church and is a member of the con- gregation of that denomination at Onarga. Cap- tain Doolittle belonged to the Masonic frater- nity and held membership in the lodge, chapter and commandery, becoming a Knight Templar at New Haven, Connecticut. Both he and his wife were members of the Order of the Eastern Star. From the time of his return in 1866 Captain Doo- little continuously made his home in Iroquois county, either upon his farm or in the county seat. He was well qualified for the profession of civil engineering and he was equally able in his farm- ing operations, which were carefully managed and brought to him a good financial return. In citizenship he was ever loyal and progressive, manifesting the same fidelity to the country that he displayed when on southern battle-fields he followed the stars and stripes. In every relation of life he was honorable and reliable and his death was therefore the occasion of widespread regret. Mrs. Doolittle, since the Captain's demise, has traveled to some extent in the west, visiting the Pacific coast on two different occasions and also Nebraska. At her husband's demise she took charge of the farm and business. She now has with her her husband's grandson, Milton E. Doo- little, whom she is educating, he being now a stu- dent in the Dakota Wesleyan University, at Mitchell, South Dakota.

W. O. CARRINGTON.

W. O. Carrington, a farmer of Loda town- ship, living on section 22, his land adjoining the village of Loda, has made his home in Iroquois county since 1864. He is a native of the neigh- boring state of Indiana, where his birth occurred

in Putnam county, on the 17th of March, 1847. His father. Milton Carrington, was a native of Kentucky and was there reared and married, set- tling afterward in Indiana, where he lost his wife. Subsequently he was married in Henry county, Indiana, to Nancy Sears, a native of Kentucky, and to provide for his family he followed agri- cultural pursuits. In 1864 he came to Iroquois county, settling in Ash Grove township, but he was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, for his death occurred the following year. His wife long survived him and died in Loda in 1899.

W. O. Carrington was a young man of seven- teen years at the time of the removal of the fam- ily to this county. He had attended school to some extent in Indiana but his educational priv- ileges were somewhat limited and he is largely indebted to the school of experience and reading in leisure hours for the knowledge that he has acquired and which makes him a well informed man. Reared to the occupation of farming he has made it his life work. For several years he operated rented land, and he completed his arrangements for having a home of his own by his marriage, on the Ist of April, 1871. in Loda to Miss Havannah Willis, who was born in Michigan but was reared in Iroquois county. For three years thereafter Mr. Carrington was employed by the year at farm labor, after which he rented land and was engaged in farming on his own account for a number of years. Care- fully saving his earnings, in 1903 he purchased a neat and well improved farm of forty acres on section 22, Loda township. In the midst of this stands a large residence and in the rear of the dwelling there is a good barn and other build- ings affording ample shelter to grain and stock. The farm adjoins the corporation limits of Loda and in its care he displays good management and practical methods.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Carrington have been born four children : Charles M. ; Frances A., the wife of C. L. Whittaker, of Buckley, by whom she has four children ; Edward Otis, who is married and is a telegraph operator and station agent at Birkbeck, Illinois; and John Wesley, at home. Fraternally a Mason, his membership being with the blue lodge at Loda, Mr. Carrington is also connected with the Tribe of Ben Hur and the Knights of Pythias. In the last named he has

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IROQUOIS COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

served through all of the chairs and Is a past chancellor. His wife is a member of the three- tian church. He votes with the republican party and although he is not a politician in the sense of office seeking he has served as highway com- missioner of Pigeon Grove township and has been on the school board for several years.

THOMAS F. WILSON.

Thema. F. Wilson, engaged in general farm- ing and stock-raising on section 33. Ashkum townolup, has in addition to this property, one hundred and sixty acres of land located along the Iroquois river and a fine home and other residence property in the village of Ashkum, all of which indicates that he is one of the sub- stantial residents of the county and his position has been gained by close application. earnest purpose and commendable business methods.

Born in Danville, Illinois, June 5. 1850, he was only two years of age when brought to Iro- quois county by his parents. John and Amy (Car- son ) Wilson, who located in Iroquois township. The father was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and when a young man came to linois, being mar- ried in Danville, where he engaged in teaching school. He was a surveyor by profession and followed that pursuit throughout his entire life although to some extent he also engaged in other vocations, and in this capacity he became well known throughout the state as well as locally. He did survey work for the Illinois Central Rail- road and also in the city of Chicago, and his business contracts called him into various sections of the country. He served for years as county surveyor of Iroquois county, proved a most ca- pable official as was indicated by his retention in the position through a long period. He was also postmaster at Plato, this county, for a great many years but had to give up the office just before his death, being at that time the oldest postmaster in the state. He died on his farm on the Iroquois river. July 1. 1891, at the age of seventy-seven years and ten months, while his wife survived him for but three months. She was a representative of an old New England family. In the Wilson family were eight

children, five sons and three daughters John And Alfred, who are living upon the hele inn; Bruce, who follows farming near Wat- achat: Joseph, who is connected with the live- Stock business in Chicago at the Union Suck Yards: Mrs. Pauline Greenwood, a resident of Washington ; Isal la. the wie of William Dann. of the county ; and a half sister. Mrs. Eliza Reynolds, who is a widow, now hving in the state of Washington.

Thomas F. Wilson was reared in Tronghis county. His educational privileges were rather limited but his training at farm labor was not meager. He has followed farming during much of his life and for the past thirty -eight years has resided in Ahkum township. where he now owns and controls good property on section 33. The soil is very rich and productive and brings forth good crops in reward for the care and labor which he bestows upon the fields.

Mr. Wilson has been twice married. He first wedded Miss Melissa Fulford. For his sede nel wife hechose Miss Carrie Hurley, of Chebanse. Illinois, who was born in Pennsylvania. in 1870. but in her girlhood days came to this state with wife he chose Miss Carrie Hurley, of Chebanse, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have five children, all of whom were born in Ashkum and all are at home, namely: Agnes, Fremont, Richard, Helen and Orville.

In his political views Mr. Wilson is a democrat but without aspiration for office. He belongs to the Congregational church of Ashkum and his interest centers in those lines of life and public activity which have for their object the welfare and substantial development of the community.

MILTON H. COX.

Milton H. Cox, who has retired from agricul- tural life and makes his home in the village of Chebanse, was born in Marshall county, Vir- ginia, October 17, 1850, and is a son of Samuei and Rhoda (Gray) Cox, who were natives of that county and in 1865 became residents of Belle Plain township. Marshall county, Illinois. The father departed this life in 1880, since which time

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the mother has lived with her son, Milton H. Cox, and is now eighty-three years of age.

In the state of his nativity Mr. Cox of this re- view spent the first fifteen years of his life and then accompanied his parents on their removal to the middle west. He was afforded a common- school education but he started out in life with very limited financial resources. He was reared to the occupation of farming and resorted to that department of activity as a means of livelihood. continuing to engage in general farming pursuits up to the time of his retirement from active life. He worked persistently and energetically. plac- ing his fields under a high state of cultivation and adding many modern improvements to his farm. As the years passed he harvested good crops and thus added to his income from the sales of both grain and stock. He is still the owner of five hundred and seventy-five acres of rich and productive land in Lincoln township. Calhoun county. Iowa.

Mr. Cox was married on the Ioth of Novem- ber, 1869. in Belle Plain township. Marshall county, Illinois, to Miss Cynthia Perry, a resident of that place, and they have become parents of eight children: Franklin P., who is operating one of his father's farms in Calhoun county. lowa : T. Willard, who is farming in North Da- kota : Gertie B., the wife of J. H. Nordhausen, who is operating a part of her father's land in lowa : Mary, who makes her home with her par- ents ; Cora, the wife of George Blaney, a farmer of Chebanse township: Lillian, the wife of Harvey Allen, who is farming a part of her fa- ther's land in Iowa: Arthur M .. a printer of Chebanse : and Oma, still at home.

Mr. Cox has always given his political sup- port to the democracy but in more recent years has had strong prohibition tendencies because of his attitude on the temperance question. He was police magistrate of Chebanse in 1903 and 1904 and served as school director for eight years. In early life he held membership with the Chris- tian church but, as there was no congregation of that denomination in this part of the county, after his removal to Illinois he placed his mem- bership with the Congregational church, of which he is now a trustee. He affiliated with the Knights of Pythias lodge, No. 570, of Chebanse. and passed through all of the chairs but the lodge

has since been disbanded. He belongs to Iro- quois camp. No. 994. M. W. A., in which he has also filled most of the offices. His life has been characterized by the performance of each day's chuity as it has come to him and. brooking no obstacle that honest effort can overcome, he has steadily worked his way upward until, having long since left the ranks of the many, he today stands among the successful few.

W. T. WARD.

W. T. Ward, who for the past nine years has lived retired in Onarga, but for nearly forty years was actively engaged in farming in Wood- ford and Iroquois counties, Illinois, is a native son of West Virginia. His birth occurred in Mar- shall county. November 15. 1839. His father, John Ward, was born in the Old Dominion and was a son of Joseph Ward, also a resident of Virginia. In the state of his nativity John Ward was reared and after arriving at years of ma- turity he was married there to Harriet Wheeler. a native of Maryland. Mr. Ward followed the occupation of farming in Virginia, reared his family there and made the place his home until about 1856. His wife survived him and came to Illinois in 1860, settling in Woodford county. In their family were two sons and five daughters who reached adult age : John S., who is living in Des Moines, lowa: W. T., of this review : Emma, the wife of Perry Beckelhymer. also of Des Moines, Iowa : Henrietta, the wife of W. S. Wayman ; Mary A. and Ellen W., who died in West Virginia: and Elizabeth, who died in Woodford county, Illinois.

In his native state W. T. Ward spent the days of his childhood and youth and when a young man came to Illinois. He was married in Wood- ford county, September 26, 1869, to Miss Mar- tha Ellen Burnham, who was born and reared in Tazewell county, this state. They began their domestic life upon a farm in Woodford county. where for many years he carried on general ag- ricultural pursuits and also engaged in the rais- ing and feeding of stock. In 1882, however. he sold his property there and in the spring of 1883 came to Iroquois county, purchasing an im-

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

W. T. WARD.

MRS. W. T. WARD.

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

IROQUOIS COUNTY, ILLINOIS

proved fans of three hundred and twenty acres m Artesia township Locating thereon the truth up the task of further developing and pros ma the property He tiled and temed the bull. brought his belds under a high state ut cultiva tion and in connection with the raising of cereals best adapted for the sol and climate conditions he also engaged in raising high grade horses and cattle He continued to live upon the farm unt I Ist when he removed to Onarga, where he purchased a residence that he has since occupied. For the past ten years he has lived retired in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former tol. having acquired a compétences sufficient to shop pas hin with all the comfort and many of the Invaries of life.

Mr and Mrs. Ward became the parents of tive children : Charles W .. who is now a teacher of English and clocution at the Jacob Tome In- stitute at Fort Deposit, Maryland; Isaac H., of Onarga, who is married and has one child. Mar- jorie Nice: Mary Ellen, the wife of C. M. Can- non, a farmer of this county, by whom she has five children, Grace A .. Urban W. Ward. Charles R. and Wendell: Willetta, the wife of Dr. J. C. De Fries, of Thaw ville, by when she has one son, Walter; and Walter T. Ward, who was a student in the high school and also in the seminary at Onarga, completing both courses and now taking a commercial course in the Grand Prairie Semmary.

The parents are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Ward is now serving on the official board, and formerly he was superintendent of the Sunday-school while on the farm. He has taken a most active and helpful part in matters relating to the general welfare as well as to the upbuilding of the church and his influence has been a potent ele- ment for public progress. A life long republican since casting his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. he has supported each presidential nominee of the party since that time. Ile has never sought or desired office for himself and while on the farm gave his undi- vided attention to its development and manage- ment. He is now serving. however, for the fourth year as justice of the peace and his de- cisions are strictly fair and impartial. Ile has been a delegate to county conventions and his in-

spirited citizen Ar Wallis sport the state

and proves that success I not a Matter of genius Hat is the outcome of char judgment, ferien and industry

FRANK DARLING.

Frank Darling, a resident farmer of Cone rd township, where he was born Jux 15. 1570. 19 now meeting with a gratifying measure di succes In his chosen hie work. He Is a son of lyman Darling, who is mentioned off another page i this work, and under the parental ralf he spent the days of his Innhold and youts, entering the public schools at the usual age and therein ac quiring a good English education When not busy with his text-books he worked for his in- ther and remained at home until 1&2, when at the age of twenty two years he started out in lie on his own account. He first rented rights act of land from his father and cultivated it for une year. He afterward med en the lall farm for five years and for one year on the farm owned by Mrs. Frv. On the expiration of that period be removed to his father's farm of one hundred and fifty five acres in Concord town- ship, on which he has since resided. here carrying on the work of tilling the soil and raising stock. He is practical and systematic in his methods. progressive in all that he undertakes and as the result of Ins carefully directed labor is meeting with desirable success.

Mr. Darling was married in Concord town- ship. m 18ot. to Miss Antie Maggs, who was born in this in 180). They have become the parents of six children : Welthy. Herschel. Wil- liam. Neta, Maynard and Royal. The parents hold membership in the Presbyterian church and are people of genuine worth, enjoying in large measure the friendship and regard of those with whom they have come in contact. Mr. Darlin ' is a member of the Modern Woodmen camp and

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his political support is given to the democracy. For two years he served as tax collector but he has never had ambition for office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs and thus provide a comfortable living for his family.

L. T. STOUTEMYER.

L. T. Stoutemyer, well known throughout the community as Deacon Stoutemyer, resides on sec- tion 30, Onarga township, and his time and at- tention are given to farm work, for he owns and cultivates a tract of land of eighty acres within a half mile of the city of Onarga. His residence in Iroquois county covers a period of only seven- teen years but he has lived in Illinois since 1865, coming to this state when a young man in his twenty-fourth year. He was born in Miami county, Ohio, near New Carlisle, December 8, 1841.

His father was W. B. Stoutemyer, whose birth occurred in Page county. Virginia, in 1815, and the grandfather was Bernard Stoutemyer, a na- tive of Germany and one of the early settlers of the Old Dominion. In 1827 he removed to Ohio, settling in Miami county, where in pioneer times he opened up a farm and there W. B. Stoutemyer was reared to manhood amid the environments of frontier life. Having reached adult age he wedded Nancy Ross, who was born in Pennsyl- vania but was reared in the Buckeye state. To provide for his family Mr. Stoutemyer followed farming in Miami county for some years and in that locality four children were born unto him and his wife, three sons and one daughter, but the latter died in infancy. In 1864 he came with his family to Illinois, settling first in McLean county upon a farm near Bloomington. He lost his wife there in February, 1879, and he after- ward spent his last days with his sons at Chats- worth, Illinois, passing away in April of the same year. In the family were three sons who reached years of maturity, the surviving members of the family being L. T. and John B. Stoutemyer. The latter, who is a resident of Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, married Virginia Craft, of Little Rock, that state, and they have one child, Glover.

Edwin Stoutemyer, the third son, who died at Carson City, Nevada, in 1905, married Imogene Brooks, of Chatsworth, Illinois, and they had five children still living. while their eldest, a daughter, is deceased.

L. T. Stoutemyer, whose name introduces this record, was largely reared upon a farm in Logan county, Ohio, and in July, 1862, his patriotic spirit being aroused by the attempt of the south to overthrow the Union, he joined Company E, of the Forty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Going to the south, the regiment was attached to the Twenty-third Army Corps under General Schofield. It did duty as mounted infantry for a year and served in the raid after Morgan in Indiana and Ohio. The troops then proceeded to Knoxville, where they were hemmed in for some time and in the engagement there Mr. Stoutemyer was wounded by a gun-shot wound in the head, a glancing shot which cut his skin and bruised the scalp. He participated in the battles of Franklin and Nashville against Hood and was with General Burnside through Ken- tucky and Tennessee, participating also in all of the battles of the Atlanta campaign, including the capture of the city. For some time he was ill with fever in the hospital at Lexington, Ken- tucky, but he remained with the army until the close of the war, being mustered out at Nashville and honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, on the Ist of July, 1865. HIe then returned home, joining his father's family at Bloomington, Illi- nois, on the 2d of July. He spent the remainder of the year under the parental roof and then went to Chatsworth, Illinois, where his father had purchased land. He began breaking the prairie on that tract of one hundred and sixty acres and opened up a farm there.

Mr. Stoutemyer was married first in Logan county, Ohio, in February, 1868, to Miss Sarah Kinnan, who was born and reared in that state but her death occurred in 1869, the year fol- lowing her marriage. Later Mr. Stoutemyer was married at Towanda, Illinois, to Miss Mary Esther Newman, by whom he had a daughter, Emma, now the wife of F. L. Clark, of Memphis, Tennessee. They have seven children: Earl, Raymond, llelen, Esther, Carl, Emma and Jes- sie. Following his second marriage Mr. Stoute- myer continued to engage in farming near Chats-

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IROQUOIS COUNTY, ILLINOIS

worth until (Mm) and I was there that he lost his second wife. On the Both of February, 1875. at Bloomington, Illinois, he welded Anna J Lit- the, a native of Logansport. Indiana, where she was reared and educated. After the death of her parents she joined an aunt in Bloomington, Illi- mais. By this marriage there are five children : Mac, who is a graduar of the Onarga Seminary and has successfully engaged in teaching for some years: Nanna E., who is engaged in teach- ing music: Edwin R., who is operating the old home farm at Chatsworth and is married to Nel- In Sterne, of Dwight, Inos, by whom he has one son, Vernon: Rev. John Howard Stoute- mver, who is a minister of the Baptist church and a well educated man ; and Margaret 1 ... who was graduated from the Northwestern University in the class of lox. All the children were pro- videal with excellent educational privileges and are graduates of academies or colleges.

Mr. Stoutember continued to reside upon his farm near Chatsworth until 18go, when he re- moved to his present place of residence in sec- tion 30. Onarga township. He has since added to and improved the dwelling, has built a barn and tiled and fenced the place. continuing in the work of cultivation, improvement and devel- opment until he now has a very valuable farm property here.

Mr. Stoutemyer has cast his ballot for every presidential nominee of the republican party since voting for the first time in 1804. when he sup- ported Abraham Lincoln. While at Chatsworth he served as township trustee for nine years, was also commissioner of highways for nine year- and did much to improve the roads in that part of the state. He hhewise served on the school board for twelve years and has been district clerk and president of the board. The cause di educa- tion has always found in him a stalwart champion and his efforts have been far-reaching and effective in its behalf. He has been a delegate to various conventions of his parts and is in- terested in its growth and success. He and his wife and their family are members of the Baptist church, in which he has served as deacon for a number of years, while at Chatsworth he was si perintendent of the Sunday-school for a num ber of years. He belongs to the Grand Arms post at Onarga and thus maintains pleasant re-

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Past and present of Iroquois County, Illinois, Part 25

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