USA > Illinois > Marshall County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 23
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 23
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tions in this part of Illinois, and he justly merits the position of prominence that he has won in educational circles. His own broad intellectual culture and natural ability, combined with his un- faltering diligence, have made him recognized as one of the able educators of the state. He is a most entertaining conversationalist and a fluent writer, and is continually broadening his knowl- edge through reading and investigation. At the last election he was re-elected to the office of county superintendent without opposition.
Fraternally he is connected with the Woodmen and with the Odd Fellows, and his religious faith is indicated in his membership in the Congrega- tional church.
WILLIAM SALISBURY.
William Salisbury, an esteemed resident of Henry, who since 1900 has lived retired from active farm work, which he made his life occu- pation, was born in the county of Shropshire, England, July 9, 1826, his parents being William and Ann (Butler) Salisbury, who were also na- tives of that place. The father was a game- keeper for Sir Andrew Vincent Corbett. They had twelve children.
William Salisbury, the sixth in order of birth, came to the United States in 1856, when thirty years of age, and settled in Lacon, Illinois, where he spent the winter. He was afterward employed at farm labor in Prairie township for several years and when his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital he purchased a farm in Saratoga township, Marshall county, whereon he remained for thirty-seven years. He was an en- ergetic, wideawake, progressive and successful agriculturist and he remained upon the farm until 1900, when he put aside the active work of the fields and is now living in Henry. He owns one hundred acres of valuable land in Saratoga town- ship and this returns to him a gratifying income.
Mr. Salisbury was married in 1864 to Miss Margaret J. Jacobs, who was born in Pennsyl- vania, August 1, 1845, and is a daughter of George Jacobs, who came to Illinois in 1856, lo- cating on a farm in Peoria county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Salisbury have been born nine children : Martha, now the wife of Charles Durling, a resi- dent of Saratoga township; Ann, the wife of George McAtee, who is living in Pocahontas
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county, Iowa; Jane, the wife of Henry Seelye, a resident of Minnesota; William, of Bureau coun- ty; Sarah, the wife of Albert Newman, of White- field township; Thomas, who is on the homestead farm in Saratoga township; Charles, also of Whitefield township; Maude, the wife of Thomas Cain, of Saratoga township; and Clara, who com- pletes the family. There are also twenty-two grandchildren.
Mr. and Mrs. Salisbury are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church and have lived lives in consistent harmony with their profession. His political views accord with the principles of the republican party and he has served as school director for twenty-one years and as road com- missioner for eleven years. His long continuance in office was an indication of his capability and fidelity and of the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. He has made an enviable record in business circles, for when he came to America at the age of thirty years he had no capital, but was dependent entirely upon his own resources for a livelihood. Working as a farm laborer he made a start, and later invested judi- ciously in property. Then in his farm work he displayed untiring industry and enterprise and as the years passed he added to his possessions and became one of the properous citizens of his community, his competence being now sufficient to enable him to enjoy the necessities and com- forts of life without recourse to further labor. Moreover his actions have been so honorable that no word of blame has ever been uttered against his business career. On July 9, 1906, he celc- brated his eightieth birthday and nearly all his children and grandchildren were present on this occasion.
J. W. HOLTON.
and Sarah (Butler) Cockerell, who removed with their family to Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1824. Upon a farm in that county Francis H. Holton and his wife began their domestic life and resided until 1856. That year witnessed their removal to Iowa but in the following year they came to Marshall county, Illinois, where for six years Mr. Holton operated a rented farm. The money which he had saved from his earnings was then invested in a farm, now owned by the heirs of John Kane. The land at that time was wild and unimproved but he placed it under cultivation and continued its development until his removal to Vermilion county, this state. He then lived a comparatively retired life upon his farm there until he was called to his final rest on the 4th of April, 1888, while his wife passed away at the age of eighty- five years. Both were earnest and consistent mem- bers of the Methodist church and Mr. Holton took a very active part in the work of the Sunday- school, believing with the psalmist that "train a child up in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart therefrom." In the family were five children, of whom three reached years of maturity: Edith, now the deceased wife of Jacob M. Brenn; J. W., of this review; and George H., who is living in Omaha, Nebraska, and who' married Lizzie Ogle.
When a youth of twelve years J. W. Holton accompanied his parents on their removal to Mar- shall county, Illinois. His early education, ac- quired in the district schools, was supplemented by study in the old seminary in Wenona and after putting aside his text-books he continued to aid in the work of the home farm until he attained his majority. He then made arrangements for having a home of his own by his marriage, on the 1st of April, 1869, to Miss Edith Olive, who was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1846 and died in 1872, leaving two children, of whom Wal- ter O. is now following farming in Vermilion county, Illinois. The other son, Jesse M., is de- ceased. On the 31st of January, 1876, Mr. Hol- ton was joined in wedlock to Mrs. Susan Gage, a daughter of Ira F. Washburn, who was born at Sacketts Harbor, New York, in 1813 and be- came one of the early settlers of Rock county, Wisconsin. In the place of his nativity Mr. Wash- burn wedded Jane E. Pratt, who was born in the same county in 1824. Emigrating to Wisconsin,
J. W. Holton is the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and forty acres on section 21, Evans township, and in the control of his busi- ness interests is displaying excellent executive ability and keen sagacity. His life record began in Muskingum county, Ohio, on the 23d of April, 1845, his parents being Francis H. and Hannah (Cockerell) Holton. The father was of Scotch descent and was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1818. It was there that he wedded Miss Cockerell, whose birth occurred in Loudoun coun- ty, Virginia, in 1814, her parents being Elias . he there opened up a new farm. His death oc-
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curred October 31, 1889, and his wife passed away April 29, 1878. They held membership with the Baptist church, taking an active part in its work, while Mr. Washburn served as one of its deacons. The family numbered four chil- dren, namely: Louisa, now the wife of James A. Millett, a resident of Nebraska, by whom she has five children; George W., who was one of the soldiers of the Civil war in the Union army and is also living in Nebraska; Mrs. Holton; and Frank F., of Arkansas, who is married and has two children.
Mrs. Holton was born in Rock county, Wiscon- sin, in 1846 and is indebted to the district-school system of that locality for the early educational privileges she enjoyed. She afterward became a student in the seminary at Fulton, Wisconsin, and in early womanhood she gave her hand in marriage to a Mr. Gage, by whom she had one daughter, Georgia Leone, now the wife of Eugene Cusac, of Bennington township, Marshall county. and the mother of one child, Beulah. Six chil- dren have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Holton : . Frank A., Edward W. and Edith M., all at home; Edna S., who is working in the Bloomington Pantagraph office; Grace E., who is a graduate of the Wenona high school; and Winifred M., who is also a graduate of the high school of Wenona.
For thirty-six years Mr. Holton has resided upon his present farm, which was a tract of raw land when it came into his possession. He now owns one hundred and forty acres here and has brought the' farm under a high state of culti- vation, adding to it all modern equipments and accessories. He votes with the republican party and has recently been elected to the office of as- sessor. He has also served as road commissioner and school director and he is a member of the Grangers Association. In his business life and public relations he is alike trustworthy and de- serves the regard of all with whom he has come in contact. Wherever known he is held in high esteem and he well deserves mention in this vol- ume among the representative citizens of Marshall county, which has been his place of residence for almost a half century.
TIMOTHY E. GAPEN.
good qualities and of his prominence and respon- sibility in commercial circles. A native of Illi- nois, he was born in Stephenson county in 1840, and is a son of Charles C. and Sarah (Fort) Gapen, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. The father was born July 17, 1808, and, removing to Illinois at an early day in the history of this state, he followed black- smithing at Lacon after living for a time in Stephenson county. Subsequently he was appoint- ed postmaster at Lacon and filled that office for twelve years, after which he retired to private life. In politics he was an inflexible advocate of the republican party and a stalwart champion of its principles. He held membership in the Meth- odist Episcopal church and was a man true to his principles and his convictions. His death occurred in 1898. In the family were three sons and a daughter: William T., who married Elizabeth Bailey, and is now engaged in the harness business in Lacon; Washington F., who married Fannie Nelson, and lived in the city of Washington at the time of his death; Mary A., the wife of Theodore Blackman, who has been with the Avery Manu- facturing Company of Peoria, Illinois, for years ; and T. E., of this review.
Mr. Gapen, whose name introduces this record, spent the days of his childhood in Lacon and there passed through successive grades in the public schools until he was graduated from the high school. He was one of the first pupils of the free schools of that city, and following his gradua- tion he entered business life as a clerk in the drug store of Dr. Boal, with whom he remained for four years. Subsequently he engaged in clerking for Dr. Thompson for a year and then became a partner in the store. In 1886, leaving the store in charge of a clerk, he purchased the City drug store in Ottawa, where he conducted business for nine years. He still owns the Ottawa store, which is conducted under the firm style of T. Gapen & Son. In 1895, however, he returned to Sparland, and is now conducting the store here under the firm name of Gapen & Company, having a well appointed establishment which is one of the old landmarks of the business district of the city. He also owns sixty acres of land adjoining the town of Sparland on the north and has six hun- dred and forty acres iu Rush county, Kansas.
One of the most prominent business men of Sparland and Marshall county is Timothy E. Mr. Gapen was married in 1884 to Miss Mary Fisher, who was born in Summit county, Ohio, in Gapen, who is well liked wherever known and best liked where best known-a fact indicative of many 1843. They have one son, Charles L., who is his
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father's partner and is conducting the drug store in Ottawa. He married Grace Bower, and they have two children : Helen and Marian.
Mr. Gapen is a citizen whose aid can always be counted upon to further any progressive public measure, and Sparland has benefited by his ef- forts in her behalf. He has held several offices, including those of supervisor and town trustee, and for twelve years he was postmaster of Spar- land. His political allegiance is given the repub- lican party, and he is a stalwart champion of its principles. His name in Sparland and Marshall county is a synonym for business integrity and for loyal citizenship, and wherever known he is re- spected by reason of his many excellent traits of character.
JOHN SWANEY.
John Swaney, a farmer living on section 15, Magnolia township, where he owns a valuable and well improved tract of land, was born at Harris- burg, Pennsylvania, October 8, 1824, and in the paternal line comes of Irish descent. His parents were James and Nancy. (Raley) Swaney, the former born on the Emerald isle, while the latter was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania. Her father, Eli Raley, belonged to an old Virginia family, and was a member of the Society of Friends, or Quakers. The parents were married in the Keystone state and made their home in Harrisburg until the father's death, which oc- curred in 1829. Four years later the mother re- moved with her family to Washington county, that state, and there became the wife of James Moffitt. In 1842 the family made their way westward to Illinois, where they settled on a farm in Mag- nolia township, Putnam county, and here the mother passed away in 1872. By her first mar- riage she was the mother of three sons: John, of this review ; David, of Nebraska; and Barnett, a resident of La Salle county, Illinois. By her mar- riage to Mr. Moffitt she had one son, Eli Moffitt, who is a resident of Adrian, Michigan. Three of the sons were loyal defenders of the Union cause during the Civil war, while the fourth furnished a substitute.
John Swaney, whose name introduces this re- view, accompanied his maternal grandfather, Eli Raley, to Putnam county in 1840, being then a youth of sixteen years. His education, begun in his native state, was continued in a log school- house near the home of his grandfather in Put-
nam county, his teacher being the late Judge Burnes of Marshall county, this state. Mr. Swaney was reared to agricultural life, early be- coming familiar with the various duties which fall to the lot of the farmer, and in early life he learned the wagonmaker's trade, serving a three- years' apprenticeship, after which he followed the trade for two years. In 1847 he began steamboat- ing on the Illinois river, serving as second clerk on the Anglo-Saxon, running from St. Louis to La Salle. He was later promoted to the position of first clerk and served in that capacity until the breaking out of the rebellion, being employed on various boats which plied the Illinois, Ohio and upper and lower Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
In October, 1861, his patriotic spirit being aroused by the continued attempt of the south to overthrow the Union, Mr. Swaney made applica- tion to enter the navy at St. Louis with Commo- dore Rogers, and was commissioned as acting master and ordered to the receiving ship, Maria Denning, where he began his naval drill. Later the Maria Denning was sent to Cairo, Illinois, carrying the ordinance to equip iron clad gunboats, built at St. Louis. After the battle of Fort Don- elson he was transferred to the gunboat Cairo, which was ordered to Nashville, accompanying General Nelson. His company were at Pittsburg Landing, later at the bombardment of Fort Pil- low above Memphis, in which they took part. After the naval battle at Memphis, where the rebel gun- boats were destroyed or captured, they were or- dered back to Cairo. Acting Master Swaney was then transferred to the Conestoga, under command of Lieutenant Commander, later Admiral, Self- ridge, now a retired rear admiral of Boston, and his vessel was one of the number engaged in cruis- ing from the mouth of White river down the Mis- sissippi river to Columbia, Arkansas, a distance of sixty miles, the river being divided into naval divisions by Admiral Porter. He was subse- quently transferred to the United States steamer, Kenwood, which he commanded with the rank of acting volunteer lieutenant until August, 1865, operating on the Mississippi river from the mouth of Red river to Baton Rouge and Donnellsonville. He dismantled his steamer at Cairo in August, 1865, but was not discharged until the following October, when he returned home after four years of faithful and arduous service.
After his return from the navy Mr. Swaney re- sumed his farming operations, taking up his abode
yours
John Sweeney
1
Barro Truly Sarah & Swaney
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
on the farm which has since continued to be his home. Through a long period he was actively en- gaged in farm labor and has been an active and helpful factor in the development and upbuilding of this portion of the state. As the years passed he prospered in his undertakings so that he added from time to time to his landed possessions and today is in possession of a valuable and well-im- proved farm, on which he still makes his home, although he rents the land, and from this he de- rives an income sufficient to supply himself and wife with all the comforts and many of the luxu- ries of life, so that now in their declining years they may live in well earned ease.
On the 17th of May, 1846, Mr. Swaney chose as a companion and helpmate on life's journey Miss Sarah Griffith, a native of Cadiz, Ohio, born on the 12th of October, 1830. Her parents, George and Sarah (Kirk) Griffith, were both na- tives of York county, Pennsylvania, where they were reared and married, and on leaving the Key- stone state removed to Cadiz, Ohio, where they made their home for a few years, but in 1836 made their way to Putnam county, Illinois, set- tling on a farm on section 15, Magnolia township, known as the Whitaker farm. Their first resi- dence was a log house, which was later replaced by a more substantial and commodious brick resi- dence, the brick and lime for its construction be- ing burned by Mr. Griffith. Mrs. Griffith passed away May 24, 1838, and was the first adult buried in the Friends cemetery. She had become the mother of ten children, but with the exception of two all are now deceased: Isaac, William and Julia Ann, all deceased ; Martha Jane, residing in Marshall county, Iowa; Oliver G., George and John, all of whom are deceased; Sarah, now Mrs. Swaney; and Eliza and Ruth, deceased. After the mother's death the father was married again, his second union being with Lydia Comly, and he is still living and was ninety years old November 24, 1906. To this union four childdren were born : Hiram, of Montana; one who died in infancy; Frank, also residing in Montana; and Mrs. Isa- bel Beck of Magnolia township, Putnam county.
Mr. Swaney first gave his support to the aboli- tion party and afterward to the republican party, but is now a prohibitionist, thus indicating his views on the temperance question. He has al- ways taken a very deep and helpful interest in the advancement of this party and has frequently attended its district, state and national conven-
tions. In 1885 his name was placed before the public on both the republican and prohibition tickets as a candidate for state senator, but as his party was in the minority at that time he was de- feated in election. In former years he frequently . contributed to agricultural journals, thus taking a deep interest in the agricultural development of his part of the state. He was instrumental in securing the postoffice at Clear Creek, which was first called Whitaker, and for twenty-one years served as postmaster.
In 1866 he was assistant United States revenue assessor, and in educational affairs has taken a helpful interest. For many years he served as school trustee of Magnolia township, and in 1905 he donated twenty-four acres of land for the es- tablishment of a new consolidated district school, three districts uniting. A large and commodious brick building is now under construction and when completed will be one of the finest in Putnam county. Mr. Swaney employed a landscape artist from Chicago to lay out the grounds so that they are most beautifully and tastefully arranged. The children are taken to school in covered wagons, which have been built expressly for that purpose. Thus it will be seen that Mr. Swaney is a warm friend to the cause of education and his efforts in the cause of educational system are proving of great benefit to the youth of this community. Mrs. Swaney, like her parents, is a devoted member of the Society of Friends and both she and her hus- band are charter members of the Magnolia Grange, in which she has held office, while he has filled all of the chairs in the organization. He has also served as a member of the State Grange executive committee and was also identified with the first organization of the Grand Army post at Magnolia. Mr. Swaney has now passed the eighty-second milestone on life's journey and has lived in Put- nam county for sixty-six years, so that he is thor- oughly familiar with the pioneer conditions which existed in this community at that early day. He and his wife are venerable and highly respected people of this portion of the state and number their friends by the score.
JOHN I. THOMPSON.
John I. Thompson, president of the First Na- tional Bank of Lacon, is a representative of a family that has long figured prominently in con- nection with financial interests in Marshall coun- ty, and the record is one of unassailable integrity,
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eight years las served as a member of the city council and has also been mayor of Lacon. His official career has been distinguished by unswerv- ing fidelity to the public good and by a stalwart championship of every movement that he deems will prove of direct benefit to the city. His alle- giance is given to the democracy, but in local in- terests where no issue is involved he does not re- gard partisanship and at all times places the public welfare before personal aggrandizement.
In 1890 Mr. Thompson was united in marriage to Miss Maud A. Goodrich, a representative of one of the old families of this county, and unto them were born two children, John S. and Mildred. The wife and mother died about five years ago, and her death was deeply regretted by reason of her social prominence and her many good quali- ties of heart and mind, which had endeared her to a large circle of friends. Mr. Thompson has attained prominence in Masonry, belonging to Lacon lodge, No. 61, A. F. & A. M., Lacon chap- ter, No. 123, R. A. M., Peoria commandery, No. 3, K. T., and also to the Mystic Shrine at Peoria. While he entered upon a business already estah- lished, many a man of less resolute and cour- ageous spirit would have faltered in carrying it forward and in enlarging its scope. His life rec- ord is another indication of the truth that success is not a matter of genius but is the outcome of clear judgment, experience and indefatigable in- dustry.
J. C. BACON.
A valuable and well improved farm of three hundred and twenty acres on section 28, Senach- wine township, Putnam county, is the property of J. C. Bacon and in the midst of the well tilled fields stands his fine country residence and sub- stantial farm buildings, the entire place having a neat and well kept appearance which indicates the supervision and practical methods of the owner, whose knowledge and experience in farming mat- ters have gained him a foremost place among the agriculturists of the county. This farm was his birthplace, his natal day being April 12, 1860. His father, Emory C. Bacon, was born in Huron county, Ohio, December 9, 1830, and came to Put- nam county, Illinois, with his father, Samuel C. Bacon, at an early day. The grandfather pur- chased land in Senachwine township-a part of the farm now owned by our subject-and was thus
identified with farming interests in pioneer times. On the 21st of January, 1854, Emory Bacon was married to Susan L. Ash, who was born in Henne- pin township, Putnam county, July 28, 1833, a daughter of Joseph Ash, who had settled in that township the year previous, becoming one of the earliest residents of this part of the state. Emory C. Bacon was engaged in general agricultural pur- suits and thus provided for his family until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when, feeling that his country needed his aid, he enlisted in defense of the Union and died in the hospital when his son, J. C. Bacon, was only two years old. His widow afterward married Ambrose Bacon, a dis- tant relative of her first husband, but both are now deceased. Mrs. Bacon died in 1871 upon the farm where her son J. C. Bacon now resides. Of the six children of the family, four died in in- fancy. A brother, Clifford Bacon, lives in Tis- kilwa, while a half sister, now Mrs. M. B. Drake, is living in Helena, Montana.
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