Past and present of Iroquois County, Illinois, Part 7

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

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nut street, but she also spend- mach Iene il travel and in visiting relatives in different parts of the country.

ARMS S. CHAPMAN.

Arms S. Chapman, editor and publisher of the Gilman Star, is a representative of one of the of families of Iroquois county, and in his pres- ent business capacity is giving to the public a journal which has had direct and important bear- ing upon the welfare and improvement of this portion of the state. The press has not only recorded the history of advancement but has also ever been the leader in the work of progress - the vanguard of civilization. The philosopher of some centuries ago proclaimed the truth that "The pen is mightier than the sword," and the statement is continually being verified in the af- fairs of life. In molding public opinion the power of the newspaper cannot be estimated but at all events its influence is of greater force than that of any other single element and the Star has been a potent force in the life of Gilman.

Mr. Chapman was a youth of twelve years when he became a resident of Iroquois county, his birth having occurred in Chicago in 1804. The family comes of Irish lineage and was es- tablished in America by the great-great-grand- father of our subject, who left the Emerald isle. crossed the Atlantic to the new world and estab- lished a home in New England. It was in that part of the country that the great-grandfather was born, while Henry D. Chapman, the grand- father, was a native of New Lebanon, New York. He became a contractor and builder after learn- ing the carpenter's trade and was thus identi- fied with industrial life in the east. His political allegiance was given to the whig party. He wedded Maria Arms, who was born in Conway, Massachusetts, while her father was also a native of New England and came of English ancestry. In 1830 Mr- Maria Arms Chapman started with her four sons for Michigan, driving through Canada and across the country with an ox team tu Washtenaw county. The family opened up two farms in Michigan, and Mrs. Chapman spent her last days there.

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Her son, Foster M. Chapman, the second in a family of five children numbering four sons and one daughter, was born in old Sodus, Wayne county, New York, September 19, 1819, and was therefore a youth of seventeen years at the time of the removal to Michigan. His educational privileges were very limited and he earned his first money by digging potatoes for a neighbor. but his father collected his wages. He shared with the family in the hardships and privations of early residence in Michigan and in the winter of 1839 engaged in teaching school in Living- ston county. Illinois. He was married March 20, 1845, to Miss Charlotte E. Spafard, a daugh- ter of Thomas L. Spafard, who became a resi- dent of Michigan in 1838. Mrs. Chapman was born in the Empire state and was a maiden of sixteen years at the time of the removal of the family to the middle west. For several years after his marriage Foster M. Chapman followed farming, and in 1851 began the sale of small farm implements, making his headquarters in Chicago. He handled the first John H. Manney reapers which were brought to that city and for a time he also conducted a branch house at De- troit, enjoying an extensive trade in farm imple- ments in Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin, con- tinuing in the business until 1866, when he ac- cepted the agency for the Manney reapers for the territory of southern Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. In 1867 he became a real-estate dealer of Chicago and carried on an extensive business there until 1876.

That year witnessed his arrival in Iroquois county, where he invested his capital in six hun- dred acres of land in Danforth township. The farm was in an unimproved condition but by judicious tiling and ditching and the erection of good buildings he converted it into one of the best kept and most fertile farms of the county. In fact he was a pioncer in drainage in this sec- tion of the state and to his efforts and the labors of a few other enterprising men is due the splen- did condition which is found in the agricultural districts in Iroquois county, owing to the tiling and ditching that has been carried on. At times the whole surface of the country seemed cov- ered with water. Prairie creek several times a stop to planting or cultivating. \n ineffective

ditch was dug prior to 1878, in which year Mr. Chapman, in company with W. J. and C. G. McDougall, George W. Decker and others, started the enterprise of cutting a ditch from Prairie to Spring creek, thus giving a short out- let for this entire flat country. That was the first extensive effort to furnish a system of drain- age and to this work Mr. Chapman gave time, money and effort. Contracts for ditches were let averaging from four to eight feet in depth and forty feet wide, surface measure. As soon as water would run they put a riding plow in the ditch and teams on each bank. Mr. Chapman managed the plow and often rode in water up to his armpits. Day after day he worked in that soaked condition until the completion of the ditch. Nothing has done more to add to the advantage of flat land in this section and the men who persevered to obtain the enterprise deserve much credit. Mr. Chapman also spent consider- able time and money in lobbying at Springfield for the law which finally passed, enabling the lands of non-residents to be taxed for the bene- fits they would receive. Today drainage has made this one of the richest agricultural dis- tricts of the entire country with farming lands offered at from one to two hundred dollars per acre.

In politics Mr. Chapman was a whig in early life and when the question of slavery became a dominant one joined the abolition party, while a further progressive step was made by him in allying his interests with the republican party when it was formed to prevent the further ex- tension of slavery. He has always stood for advancement and improvement in the various interests relating to the public welfare yet has never sought office for himself. After living for many years upon the farm he removed to Gilman in 1890, there to enjoy retirement from further labor.

Arms S. Chapman, the only son and child. was a youth of twelve years when he came with his parents to Iroquois county. A short time previously he had visited the farm with his father. There were still many evidences of pio- neer life to be seen here for the land was in- drained and therefore untilled, and often times the floods rendered further work of cultivation impossible. The lakes and rivers abounded in

fish and there was ample opportun's for a slan the Indians were a manner that the huntsman to indulge his love of sport when countless thousands of ducks, brants and Can geese were to be had. Prairie chickens were also to be found.

Arms S. Chapman attended the public schools and later the University of Illinois. In 1888 hc left college to begin newspaper work, practically his first experience being as city editor of a morn- ing paper at Little Rock, Arkansas. Later in the line of service he became telegraph editor of the St. Paul News. In 1805 he married Miss Minnie Cross, a daughter of one of the old resi- dents of Gilman. After his marriage he worked on Chicago daily papers until he returned to Gilman in 1898 to acquire an interest in the Star. Aside from his editorial work. Mr. Chapman has contributed to eastern magazines, such as the Century and the Outlook. He has three chil- dren, two sons and a daughter. He is a Mason. a Knight of Pythias and a member of the Press Club of Chicago.

JOHN SMITH.

John Smith, of Onarga, is one of the largest landowners and most active and enterprising business men of Iroquois county. He owns farms in the vicinity of the city, all well im- proved and valuable, aggregating fourteen hun- dred and forty acres. His residence in the county dates from 1865 and throughout this period he has maintained an unassailable reputation for business integrity and at the same time has be- come most widely known by reason of his un- flagging diligence, close application and enter- prise.

Mr. Smith is a native of Indiana, having been born in Hendricks county on the 20th of Decen- ber. 1830. His father. Abel Smith, was born in North Carolina, whence he removed to Kentucky in his childhood days in company with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Smith. He was reared in Owsley county, Kentucky, and when a young man removed to Indiana. He was mar- ried in Hendricks county to Miss Sarah Pales. a native of the Blue Grass state and a daughter of Alexander Bales, who removed to Kentucky

. ctp'ers and the wartare betwice the two para had cornel fer the stat the name of the dark biết bến dy ground John Satth 1N 110 of a family of two sons and six daughters why reached mature years and sven of the number are still living, namely : James Smith, who re- sich in Warren county, lowa; Mary, who is living upon the old hene place in Warren county, Susan, the wife of Thomas Met kellan. a resident of Washington ; Mr. Emeline Back- ford, a widow, of Warren county, lowa; Mrs. Louisa Jane Laws, of the same county ; Amanda. the widow of Taylor Judkins, and John.

John Smith, whose name introduces this rec- ord, was reared upon the home farm in Hen- dricks county, Indiana, to the age of nineteen Vers and then removed with his father to lowa. the family home being established in Warren commy. His school privileges were quite lim- ited, so that he is largely a self-educated as well as a self-made man, but in the school of experi- ence he has learned many valuable lessons and reading and observation have also added largely to his knowledge, making him a man of good business capacity and sound judgment. He re- mained with his father in lowa for one year and then returned to Warren county, Indiana. making the journey on foot. There he rented land and engaged in farming for six years, dur- ing which period he was married on the 18th of November, 1853. to Miss Hannah Starry, whose birth occurred in that county. In 1850 he re- turned to lowa, settling in Hamilton county. where he purchased a tract of raw land which he broke and converted into a good farm. He did his breaking with ox teams and in the course of years he improved an excellent farm prop- erty. on which he created good buildings and addel many modern equipments and accessories. He bought more land from time to time there until he essafed four hundred deres, residing upen his farm until 1865, when he sold the property and came to Irespois county, Illinois. His first investment in land here made him owner of two hundred acres which was partially improved. He at once took up the work of further develop- ment and cultivation and as his financial re sources increased he bought other tracts of land adjoining. He continued the work of farming

PAST AND PRESENT OF

and further improving the property until the old home place now comprises six hundred and forty acres, upon which he has a good residence. barns and corn cribs. lle likewise invested in three hundred and thirty-eight acres south of the home place on the same section and improved that. As opportunity has afforded he has con- tinued his purchase of land and has over seven hundred acres across the creek near Onarga, con. stituting a well improved farm. He continued to engage actively in farming until 1901, when he removed to Onarga and built the residence which he now occupies. It is a commodious, neat and substantial home and is one of the evi- dences of the thrift and industry which have ever been characteristic of Mr. Smith and which have enabled him to advance from a humble financial position to one of wealth and affluence. His success has come as the result of careful in- vestment, of keen discernment in business af- fairs and of unfaltering energy and thus he has accumulated a large fortune and is today one of the well known and prosperous men of the county. He is still very active and gives per- sonal supervision to his extensive farming in- terests.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born five children : James, who follows farming in Onarga township, is married and has three children, Mabel, Frank and John. Oscar resides upon a farm in Kansas. He has six chil- dren: l'earl, of Onarga; Ralph, who resides in Utah ; Millie, who is living in this county ; Har- lan, who is residing upon one of the farms be- longing to his grandfather: Hazel and Edith. Margaret Ann is the wife of John Nicholds, a retired business man of Onarga, and they have one son, William. Finley, who is operating one of his father's farms, is also married. Mr. and Mrs. Smith also fost one child, their first born, Sarah Elizabeth, who reached womanhood and became the wife of Alpheus Kennedy. She died in 1877, leaving a daughter, who also reached womanhood and passed away in the fall of 1904. She was reared by Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Mr. Smith gives his political allegiance to the repub- lican party but cast his first presidential ballot for a democratie candidate, Franklin Pierce, in 1852. He has, however, for a number of years been identified with the republican organization.

Ile has never sought or desired office, although he served as town clerk in Iowa and as a member of the school board. He was formerly identified with the Odd Fellows society and his wife is a member of the Christian church. He has been a resident of the county for forty-one years, wit- messing its wonderful growth and development and at the same time has kept pace in his busi- ness career with the progress of the county until he is now one of its largest landowners and most snecessful business men. There has been no esot- eric phase in his life record. On the contrary his history is as an open book which all may read. He was trained to habits of industry and economy and he early learned the value of unremitting la- bor, and it is through his close application and his watchfulness of opportunities for judicious investment that he has advanced by gradual yet progressive stages to his present position.

WILLIAM M. HICKEY.

William M. Hickey is a young man who has gained a creditable place in financial circles. serv- ing at the present time as cashier of the State Bank of Chebanse and also as a member of its board of directors. Both he and his father are largely interested in this institution and also in the Bank of Irwin at Irwin, Illinois, of which William M. Hickey is manager. Born in Che- banse on the 25th of September. 1882, he is a son of Thomas and Beeze ( Conley) Hickey, of Brad- ley, Illinois. He is the eldest of three sons. the others being John, a graduate of St. Viateurs College at Bourbonnais, Illinois ; and Richard. who is a student in the public schools of Brad- ley.

After obtaining his preliminary education. in the public schools of Chebanse William M. Hick- ey spent two years as a student in St. Viateurs College, of Bourbonnais Grove, Illinois, and three years in St. Ignatius College at Chicago, Follow- ing his graduation from the last named institu- tion he pursued a commercial course in the Ath- enaeum business college in Chicago, and was thus well qualified by liberal training for life's practical and responsible duties. When he had permanently put aside his text-books he connect-

WILLIAM M. HICKEY.

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

IROQUOIS COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

es himself with the National Bank at Chatsworth. vier him and vet lives in Paston me here's- Illinois, as assistant cashier and bookkeeper and first year. This worthy couple were the parents of seven children, and Herbert E and Walter still reside upon the old homestead. Walter oper- ating a rested farm near this place. thus served until September. 1900, when he en tered upon his present position as cashier of the State Bank of Chebanse upon its organization. He is a young man typical of the progresive spirit of the times and his diligence and labor constitute him a representative factor in the busi- ness life of the town.

Mr. Hickey is a member of St. Mary's and Joseph's Catholic church at Chebanse and since 1&4)2 he has affiliated with the Knights of Co- Iumbus at Kankakee, Illinois. His political views accord with the principles of the republican party and at the polls he always gives endorsement to its candidates. The place which he has already made for himself in business circles argues well for the future, for his qualities are such as will brook no obstacles if they can be overcome by per- sistent and straightforward effort.

HERBERT E. PACEY.

Herbert E. Pacey, residing on section 6, Pigeon Grove township, operates a good farm of one hundred and forty-two acres, belonging to his fa- ther's estate, upon which he was born February 7. 1870. He is a son of John and Eliza ( Harms- ton ) Pacey, both of whom were natives of Eng- land. The father was born, reared and married in Lincolnshire and carried on agricultural pur- suits there before his marriage, or until 1856. when he came to the new world. He made his first location in Peoria county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming rented land for twelve years and on the expiration of that period he removed to Iroquois county in 1868. With the money he had saved from his earnings he invested in fifty- eight acres of land, which he bought at twelve dollars per acre. Today this same property is worth about one hundred and fifty dollars per acre. He built a home and began to till the soil. which in due course of time brought forth rich and abundant harvests. He later bought eighty- four acres adoining and thus made a good farm. He lived here until 1848, when he removed to Paxton, Illinois, where he died January 23 1904. at the age of seventy-two years. His wife sur-

Herbert E. Pacey at the usual age became & student in the public schools and afterward pur- sued a commercial course in the college at Onar- ga. He has always lived on this place and has helped to carry on the home farm from his early youth to the present time. When but a boy he began plowing, planting and harvesting and on attaining his majority he rented the place from his mother and has since conducted it. its wel. kept appearance indicating his careful supervi- sion and practical methods.

On the 15th of April, 1897, Mr. Pacey was married to Miss Hattie Hall, a native of Iro- quois county and a daughter of John Hall, who was born in northern England and came to this county about 186. He served in defense of the Union in the Civil war and resided here until his death. U'nto Mr. and Mrs. Pacey have been born two children, but one died in infancy, the sur- viving son being Guy Harold.

The parents attend the Methodist Episcopal church at Buckley. Mr. Pacey is a stalwart re- publican, giving earnest allegiance to the party when are involved the questions that divide the two great political organizations but at local elec- tions he casts an independent ballot. He has served on the school board as trustee, but other- wise has never consented to hold office. His time and energies are fully occupied by his business af- fairs, which are bringing to him signal success. Ile raises good graded hogs, also some cattle and «Iraft horses and is now conducting a profitable business.

HON. JOHN L .. HAMILTON.

Hon. John I .. Hamilton, whose life record was one of signal usefulness and honor. his distin- quished service and personal characteristics gain- ing him a place in public regard that caused his death to come as a personal bereavement in the great majority of citizens in Iroquois county. passed away in soo. Few indeed have been the residents of the county that have occupied so

PAST AND PRESENT OF

prominent a position in public estecm and no his- tory of this section of the state would be com- plete without the record of his life. He was born of Scotch parents in County Armagh, Ireland. November 9. 1829, and was a young man of twen- ty-two years when he sought a home in America, attracted to this country by the favorable reports which he had heard concerning its business op- portunities and advantages. The year 1851 wit- nessed his arrival.

He landed at New Orleans and soon after- ward came to Illinois, settling in Jersey county. where he began work as a common laborer on a farm. Carefully saving his earnings he soon became enabled to make a payment on one hun- dred and sixty acres of land, arranging for the purchase in 1861. On selling out there he came to Iroquois county and settled on section II. Love- joy township, purchasing the entire section and also the north half of section 14, on which the village of Wellington was afterward built. He watched his opportunities for judicious invest- ment and owned other farms in Pigeon Grove, Prairie Green and Middleport townships, until at his death his realty holdings had reached the extensive figure of twenty-five hundred acres in this county, besides seventeen thousand acres in Texas. He was seldom at error in matters of business judgment and thus his investments were carefully placed and were to him an excellent source of income. He was also vice president of the First National Bank of Watseka, and presi- dent of the private banking institution of Hamil- ton & Cunningham at Hoopeston. In all that he did he displayed an aptitude for successful man- agement together with a fertility of resource and a native sagacity that constituted him a pre-em- inently a man of affairs.

Mr. Hamilton aside from the successful con- duct of extensive and important business inter- ests filled many local offices of honor and trust, being three times chairman of the board of county supervisors and four times treasurer of Iroquois county. His re-elections were indicative of his capability and fidelity in office and the unfaltering confidence reposed in him by his fellowmen. Still higher honors awaited him, for he was called to represent the people of the sixteenth district in the state legislature, where he served with fidel- ity and honesty up to the time of his death. He

gave to each question which came up for settle- ment his earnest consideration and was swerved by no personal prejudice or partisan feelings in his legislative service.

Mr. Hamilton was married February 24, 1857, to Miss Ann Eliza Leemon, a native of County Armagh, Ireland, and they became the par- ents of nine children, of whom seven are liv- ing, namely: John L., of Hoopeston, Illinois ; Mrs. Fannie Ayres, of St. Louis, Missouri ; Mrs. Nettie Morse, of Troy, Pennsylvania ; William A .: Edward C .; Edith ; and George H.

Mr. Hamilton was an exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity, It is a difficult task to offer a fitting memorial to the life and accom- plishments of a man of his character-remark- able in the breadth of his wisdom and in his in- domitable perseverance and his strong individu- ality, and yet one whose entire life had not one esoteric phase. being an open scroll, inviting the closest scrutiny. True his were "massive deeds and great" in one sense and yet his entire life ac- complishment but represented the result of the- fitting utilization of the innate talent which was his and the directing of his efforts in those lines where mature judgment and rare discrimination lead the way. He carved his name deeply on the record of the political, agricultural and finan- cial history of the county which owes much of its advancement to his efforts. .

EVLAN CLARK.

Evlan Clark has since 1848, or for a period of six decades, been a resident of Iroquois county, and for many years he carried on the work of tilling the soil and raising crops, which in course of time brought him an excellent annual income and enabled him to add yearly to his competence until it is now sufficient to permit of his living retired. He makes his home at the present writ- ing in Sheldon and is one of its worthy and representative citizens. He was born in St. Jo- seph county, Michigan, August 18. 1838, and is a son of Quartus and Nancy ( Nye) Clark. The father came with the family to Iroquois county in 1848, locating in Beaver township, which at that time had few inhabitants. Hardships and

Evlan Clark

CF TPE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

IROQUOIS COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

privations such as are always incident to frontier life were the lot of the family in those early days. The father was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, for he was called to his final rest in 1851, leaving his wife with four young chil- dren, three of whom still survive, namely : Evlan. of this review : Niles, who was named for the town of Niles, Michigan, and who is now living in Benton county, Arkansas; and Mrs. Sarah Nordyke, a resident of Oakland, California.

Evlan Clark acquired his education in the dis- triet schools of this county but his opportunities in that direction were very limited. He was ten years of age at the time of the removal to Illi- nois and was a little lad of only thirteen when his father died. He began to earn his own living when very young and always had to work hard. so that his youth was largely a period of unremit- ting toil. When he was twenty-four years of age, feeling that his first duty was to his coun- try, he enlisted in August, 1862, and joined the boys in blue of Company E, Seventy-sixth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Irving. serving for three years in Tennessee. Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Ile partici- pated in the siege of Vicksburg. the charge on Fort Blakely near Mobile. . Mabama. and many other engagements of minor importance, and for a few days he was ill in the camp hospital at Vicksburg. During his service he was appointed first sergeant and as such was honorably dis- charged on the 5th of August, 1865. after three years devoted to aiding his country in the sup- pression of the rebellion and the preservation of the U'nion.

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Past and present of Iroquois County, Illinois, Part 7

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