USA > Illinois > Marshall County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 32
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 32
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Robert Riddell, who for many years was a re- spected and prominent farmer of Marshall county, was born in the parish of Glassford, Lanark, Scot- land, in 1819. The days of his boyhood and youth
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were spent in his native country and, thinking to enjoy better business opportunities in the new world, he crossed the Atlantic to the United States in the fall of 1842 and located at Chillicothe, Il- linois. He afterward removed to St. Louis, Mis- souri, where he worked at his trade of shoemaking, which he had mastered in his native country, but ambitious to own property, when his financial re- sources permitted he made investment in land, be- coming owner of a farm on section 11, La Prairie township, Marshall county. He then turned his attention to farming and was thus engaged until 1849, when he went to California, attracted by the discovery of gold in the hope of rapidly ac- quiring wealth-that has been the doom of so many. There he lost both health and wealth and resolved to return to the farm. Fate was more kind to him in the middle west and soon he re- gained his health and was once more on the high- road to success. As the years passed he prospered in his undertakings, carefully conducting his farm- ing interests until he became the owner of a very valuable property of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he erected a beautiful residence and made other modern improvements. He was conservative in business affairs, thoroughly reliable and mani- fested as well the qualities of diligence and enter- prise. Thus he accumulated a goodly competence and was enabled to leave his family in comfortable circumstances.
Mr. Riddell was married in 1863 to Miss Eliza- beth Cameron and unto them were born four chil- dren: John, who is now with the Northwestern Railway Company; Harriet, Margaret and Flora A., all with their mother. Mr. Riddell held mem- bership in the United Presbyterian church, to which his family also belong. He was a school director and was interested in the educational prog- ress of the community. In fact he was the friend of all interests that promised to be of public bene- fit and his co-operation could be counted upon to further many progressive public movements. Fol- lowing his return from California he continuously engaged in farming up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 5th of August, 1893, when he was seventy-four years of age. All who knew him respected him and therefore his loss was the occasion of deep regret to many friends as well as his immediate family.
Following her husband's death Mrs. Riddell re- moved to Peoria, where she resided until about
five years ago. She now makes her home in Henry, where she is living with her daughters, and she has attained the age of seventy-three years.
JOHN BUCHANAN.
John Buchanan, a venerable citizen of eighty- three years, whose life record has won him the respect and admiration of his fellowmen, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, February 23, 1823. He was reared in his native country, and having ar- rived at years of maturity was married there to Miss Ann Gallagher, a native of Ireland, who is now eighty years of age. They have traveled life's journey together for about six decades, sharing with each other its joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity.
Mr. Buchanan came to America in 1849, and here began work at the baker's trade in Phila- delphia, where he remained until 1855, when he removed to Putnam county, where he has now made his home for over a half century. He first purchased twenty acres of land on section 31, Granville township, for which he paid fifteen dol- lars per acre. About four acres of this was cleared, while the remainder was covered with timber. He cut the trees and his wife assisted in sawing them with a cross-cut saw, after which he took the logs to the old Pennel sawmill, where he had theni converted into boards. With these he built a board shanty, the boards being placed up and down after the most primitive methods of building. In this home they lived for twelve years, at the end of which time, having prospered in his undertakings, Mr. Buchanan was enabled to erect a comfortable frame residence on a tract of twenty acres adjoin- ing his original purchase, and which he had added to his farm in the meantime. The sills in this house were hewed from trees cut on the farm and the lumber was hauled from Hennepin. This has been their home continuously since locating here in the woods, and they are among the few remaining pioneers of the township left to tell the story of the early days when Putnam county was a frontier district and the work of improvement and progress had scarcely been begun here. They have vivid recollections of the early times when deer were frequently seen and wild turkeys could be had in abundance. Not being accustomed to hunting, Mr. Buchanan never did any, but could have had ample opportunity to indulge in that sport had he so desired. He has seen many
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John Buchanan
Buchanan
Amin
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changes in the farms and the fields and has witnessed the passing of nearly all the old settlers who were here when he arrived. Squire Laughlin of Granville is the only one now living who was a resident of the village in 1855.
Since coming to the county Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan have remained continuously upon the farm where they first settled and which has there- fore been their home for fifty-one years. Without desire to become wealthy, they have lived a happy life, prosecuting their labors so as to add to their home the comforts of life, yet not bending every energy to the acquirement of wealth, which so often precludes the opportunity of enjoying the blessings of the passing day. They now own eighty acres of good land and have substantial improvements upon it. The farm is in good shape and brings to them a competence sufficient to supply them with all of the necessities and some of the luxuries of life.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan have been born ten children. The two eldest were natives of Phil- adelphia and the first born died in that city in infancy, while James passed away at the age of six years. They also lost their youngest child in infancy, and Mrs. Isabella Sutcliffe, who was the ninth in order of birth and lived in Lostant, La Salle county, has also passed away. The sur- viving members of the family, in order of birth, are as follows: William John, who was born in Putnam county and is now living in Hancock county, Iowa; Joseph A., who resides in Wright county, Iowa; George W., at home ; James T., who is also a resident of the Hawkeye state; Matilda J., the wife of Frank Olmstead, of La Salle, Illi- nois; and Margaret Ann, the wife of Richard Shepherd, who is living in Iowa.
The son, George W. Buchanan, has always made his home upon the old farm, of which he now has the management. He was educated in the com- mon schools and was trained to the work of the fields. He is now caring for his aged parents and manages the home property, thus repaying his father and mother by his filial devotion for their love and attention to him in his youth. He has certainly followed the commandment given to the world ages ago to "honor thy father and thy mother." Moreover, he is a man of good business ability and unfaltering industry and perseverance, who in the management of the home property is producing good crops, for which he finds a ready
sale upon the market. In community affairs he is interested and the cause of education has found in him a very warm friend. He is now serving as school director, and this term constitutes his twelfth year in that position, although his serv- ice has not been consecutive. The present contro- versy in the community and the attitude held by George W. Buchanan in regard to the building of a new schoolhouse speaks well for his devotion to the general good and certainly convinces one of the popularity and esteem in which he is held in his district. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is recognized as a leading representative in its local ranks. In all life's re- lations he commands the respect and confidence of those with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan are members of the Congregational church. In earlier years they joined the Presbyterian church, but have since transferred their allegiance. In politics Mr. Buchanan has always been a republican, but has never aspired to office. Both he and his wife en- joy good licalth for people of their age and theirs has been a most interesting record. Coming to the new world empty-handed but hopeful and courageous, they started out to establish a home here, and as the years have passed have been enabled to enjoy the comforts of life and have reared a family who are a credit and honor to their name. No history of this community would be complete without mention of this worthy couple who have so long traveled life's journey together.
LUTHER D. WILLIAMS.
Luther D. Williams, who for fifty-two years has been a resident of Steuben township and is familiar with its history from pioneer times to the present period of prosperity and progress, was born in Marietta, Ohio, on the 11th of January. 1836. Robert Williams, grandfather of Luther D. Williams, was a native of Wales, and emi- grated to America, settling in Pennsylvania in 1798. His son, Thomas Williams, was a native of Pennsylvania, born north of Philadelphia on the 17th of January, 1798. He was a farmer, and in the year 1854 came with his family to Illinois, being twenty-three days upon the road. His son Luther drove one of the wagons on that trip. They only passed one building between Urbana and Paris, Illinois, and it was a kind
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of a tavern. Prior to this time Mr. Williams of this review never saw a man with a cattle whip, and he also saw his first prairie chickens on this prairie. No regular roads had been laid out and they drove on over the prairie, crossing the sloughs and other depressions of the ground, which made travel by wagon very hard. At length the family home was established on section 29, Steuben township, where Luther D. Williams yet resides. The father was fifty-six years of age at the time of his arrival, and was in poor health. He purchased one hundred acres of land, but was not long permitted to enjoy his now home, for his death occurred in 1858, when he was sixty-one years of age. He was a Jacksonian democrat, and both he and his wife were members of the Baptist Theological Seminary of Chicago, which he called the Theological Baptist church-the only one of the kind at that time. Mrs. Williams bore the maiden name of Jane M. Guitto and was born in Fearing township. Washington county, Ohio, November 5, 1811, her father being Benjamin Guitto.
Luther D. Williams was an only child and was reared in the east to the age of eighteen years, during which time he acquired a fair public school education. He then accompanied his par- ents on their removal to Illinois, and, as before stated, drove a team across the country. He has now lived in Steuben township for more than a half century. He attended the Yankee street school, which was. the second schoolhouse built in the township, the lumber all being hauled from Chicago. He began farming on his own account in the spring of 1859 and being the only child he inherited the old homestead place from his father, comprising one hundred acres of land. To this he has since added, however, until he now has a valuable property of three hundred and thirty- seven acres which he has brought under a high state of cultivation and which has become thereby a valuable property. He has also added to it many modern improvements and now has one of the most desirable farms of the county. In 1862 he began running a threshing machine, pur- chasing the first machine of Dana Hull, of Henry. He has owned four different machines and he continued actively in threshing until 1887, since which time his son has carried on the busi- ness. He also owns three hundred and twenty acres in Crawford county, Michigan.
Mr. Williams was married December 29, 1860, to Miss Harriet Carver, who was born in New- port township, Washington county, Ohio. They played together when children, but never met again until the Carver family started for Iowa in 1854. Passing through Illinois, they stopped for a visit at the home of the Williams family and concluded to remain in this state. The early acquaintance of the young people was resumed and the friendship ripened into love, being consum- mated in marriage in 1860. The wedding was celebrated in Steuben township about two miles from Mr. Williams' present farm. The lady was a daughter of James F. and Sarah (Toothacher) Carver, the former a native of Newport township, Washington county, Ohio, and the latter of Vir- ginia. The father, who was a cooper by trade, died in McLean county, Illinois, in 1892. Mrs. Carver and the mother of our subject were school children together. Mr. and Mrs. Luther D. Williams traveled life's journey happily as man and wife for forty-three years and were then separated through the death of Mrs. Williams on the 29th of September. 1903. She had gained many friends in the community, so that her loss was deeply regretted throughout this part of the county as well as by her immediate family. Unto them had been born six children: Timothy J., who wedded Mary Thomas, of Chillicothe, Illi- nois, now follows farming on section 32, Steuben township. J. Thomas, living on section 29, Steu- ben township, married Amelia Hill, who died in February, 1892, leaving one son. Roscoe is operating a threshing machine. Mary A. W. is the wife of Joseph Hart, and they live with her father, her husband conducting the home farm. Charles D., born July 14, 1867, died in 1889. James Howel died very suddenly in 1892. He was planting corn on Wednesday, and on Friday he passed away.
Mr. Williams served as collector of Steuben township in 1865, and collected ten thousand dollars, which was the largest collection ever made in the township. He has also been road com- missioner. He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Chillicothe, of which he has been a member for a quarter of a century. His long residence in the county has made him widely known, while his many good qualities have gained for him the favorable regard of those with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact. He
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has worked diligently and perseveringly in the conduct and improvement of his farm, which is today a valuable property, making him one of the leading agriculturists of the community.
JASPER NEWTON YOUNG.
Jasper Newton Young, who is engaged in gen- eral farming on section 8, Whitefield township, was born in Birchwood, Tennessee, on the 25th of November, 1868, and is one of the eleven children of John Rufus and Katherine (Bare) Young, who were likewise natives of Tennessee. The father has devoted his entire life to farm- ing, and by following that occupation has pro- vided for his family. He and his wife now re- side at School, Missouri, and unto them have been born cleven children, of whom nine are now living: William Henry; Lodeamie, the wife of Robert Estes; Mary Alice, the wife of William Kemp; Charles Franklin ; John Arthur; Annie, the wife of Thomas Welch; Frederick; Lawrence; and Jasper Newton.
When Jasper N. Young, of this review, was only a year and a half old the parents started for Missouri, traveling with ox teams and spend- ing seven and a half weeks on the road between their old home in Tennessee and Billings, Mis- souri. On reaching their destination the father purchased land and began farming, the boys work- ing with him in the arduous task of developing and cultivating a new farm. In citizenship he has displayed many good qualities and he sup- ports the republican party by his ballot, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church.
It was in the district schools of Stone county, Missouri, that Jasper N. Young acquired his education and after leaving school he began earn- ing his own living by working as a farm hand for others. He was thus employed for two years, but ambitious to enjoy better educational privi- leges he then resumed study in Chattanooga, Ten- nessee. Subsequently he came to Illinois, set- tling in Whitefield township, Marshall county, in the spring of 1892. Here he has since made his home and he is now cultivating a small but good farm of thirty-one acres which he has brought under a high state of cultivation. He is also well known as a raiser of fine poultry and makes a specialty of barred Plymouth Rocks.
In 1894 Mr. Young was united in marriage to
Miss Fannie Fountain, a daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Fountain, of Whitefield. They now have four children : Lola Arletta and Harry Glen, who are in school; and Clyde W. and Florence, yet at home.
Mr. Young holds membership relations with the Modern Woodmen of America, being identified with Whitefield camp, No. 1653, of which he is now serving as clerk. He also belongs to Gem lodge, No. 572, I. O. O. F., and is a worthy ex- emplar of the beneficent principles upon which these organizations are based. He has served as school treasurer for twelve years and has proved a capable incumbent in the office of assessor for a number of years, the duties devolving upon him being promptly and faithfully performed. He gives his political support to the republican party. His life is characterized by high and honorable principles and his actions are manly and sincere, while in his business relations he has been found straightforward and reliable as well as indus- trious and enterprising.
WILLIAM W. DEWEY.
William W. Dewey, engaged in the grain trade, has been a resident of Henry since 1901 and operates at various points in this section of the state. A native of Vermont, he was born in Essex county on the 14th of July, 1851. His father, Harry H. Dewey, was a native of the Green Mountain state and died in the year 1900. Com- ing to Illinois in 1863, he settled at Sheffield, Bureau county, where he resided for a few years and then removed to Van Buren county, Iowa. There he engaged in farming until he had reached the evening of life, when he returned to Sheffield, where he passed away at the venerable age of ninety years. He filled the office of justice of the peace and his decisions were strictly fair and im- partial. His religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Congregational church and his long life of usefulness and activity was crowned with the honor and respect which should ever be accorded so venerable a man. He wedded Mary Louise Cummings, a native of Montpelier, Ver- mont, and she, too, has passed away. In their family were six children, of whom four sons and a daughter are yet living.
William W. Dewey, leaving the Green Mountain state, accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois when a youth of twelve years and after-
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ward went to Iowa. His early educational privi- leges, such as were afforded by the public schools of New England and of Bureau county, were sup- plemented by study in Iowa College and in the preparatory schools of that state. In early man- hood he became connected with the coal trade, be- ing employed on a salary by a coal company at Sheffield. The grain business, however, has been his principal life work and he has conducted opera- tions in this line at Sheffield, Mineral and Henry, removing to the last named city in 1901. Here he has built up an excellent trade, his business prov- ing a good market for the grain producers of the surrounding country. His purchases and ship- ments are now extensive and he is a leading repre- sentative of this line of business activity in Mar- shall county.
Mr. Dewey was married in 1876 to Miss May Williams, of Sheffield, Illinois, the wedding being celebrated in Sheffield. Unto them have been born four children : Margaret L., now the wife of R. R. Curtis, of Sheffield ; Charles B., who is assistant in his father's office; Homer H., who was gradu- ated from the University of Illinois in 1906; and William H., who is now a student in the high school of Henry. The parents and family attend and are members of the Unitarian church and in Henry they have a wide circle of acquaintance in those homes where true worth and intelligence are received as the passports into good society. Mr. Dewey gives his political allegiance to the repub- lican party and has served as trustee of the schools and as alderman of the Third ward. His inter- est in community affairs has been manifest in the tangible support which he has given to many bene- ficial public measures and his position in trade circles is indicated by the confidence reposed in him by those who have had business dealings with him.
MELCHI GROVE.
Melchi Grove, deceased, was for many years identified with farming interests in Marshall county. He was born in Lewisburg, Pennsylva- nia, in 1820 and when but six years of age ac- companied his parents on their removal from the Keystone state to Ohio, acquiring his education in the schools of Portage county. At the same time Amelia Clemmer was numbered among the pupils of that school and the friendship which they formed in early days afterward ripened into
love and was consummated in marriage in Ohio in 1843. She was born in 1821 in Upper Canada and was only six years of age when her parents removed to the Buckeye state, locating about four miles from Canton, where she was reared and edu- cated. Her ancestors were of Holland Dutch ex- traction and came to America with William Penn, settling in the colony of Pennsylvania. Her father, Joseph Clemmer, was a native of the Key- stone state and married Nina Swartz, who was also born in that state. They spent their last days in Ohio, the former passing away at the age of seventy-four years and the latter at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. In politics he was a republican.
Mr. and Mrs. Grove began their domestic life in Ohio, where they lived for six years after their marriage, and then came to Illinois in the fall of 1848, locating near Farmington .. In the year 1850 they took up their abode upon the farm in La Prairie township where Mrs. Grove has since resided, Mr. Grove there carrying on general ag- ricultural pursuits until his life's labors were ended in death in the spring of 1881. He started upon his business career empty handed, but pos- sessed a resolute spirit and unfaltering determina- tion and these qualities served him in place of cap- ital and enabled him to work his way upward until he was comfortably situated in life. He owned at the time of his demise one hundred and fifty-four acres of land. At the outbreak of the Civil war he joined the army, becoming a member of the Eighty-sixth Illinois Regiment, but was discharged on account of illness. He was always progressive and public spirited in citizenship and for six years he held the office of justice . of the peace, the duties of which he discharged with promptness and fidelity, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Grove were born the follow- ing named: John, who is engaged in the real- estate business in Dixon; Henry, a machinist, re- siding in Moline, Illinois; Reuben, who was born in 1847 and died in 1872; Montgomery, who was a twin brother of Reuben and passed away in 1855; Clara, who was born September 15, 1851, married David Lapsley and died in October, 1886; Belle, who was born in 1856 and married Jerome Willard, living in La Prairie township; Shirley, who was born in 1858 and died in 1886; and Sheridan, who married Elsie Stewart and is farm-
MR. AND MRS. MELCHI GROVE.
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ing in' La Prairie township. Three of the sons
water on a sailing vessel called the Acma Aglasgo were soldiers of the Civil war, belonging to the and were twenty-one days on the voyage. It, how- Forty-seventh Illinois Infantry. John served for three years and four months and participated in twenty-one battles. Both he and Reuben entered the service as drummer boys, the latter being then in his teens.
Mrs. Grove still survives her husband and has always remained true to his memory, having never married again. She has long been a devoted and faithful member of the Congregational church and is a most highly estecmed lady. She is now num- bered among the pioneer residents of Marshall county, where she has lived for more than half a century, having made her home upon her pres- ent farm since 1850. With the passing years she has witnessed many changes and has noted with interest the growth and development of the county.
WILLIAM MONIER.
It has been said that "biography is the only true history" and the truth of this assertion is verified in the life records of such men as William Monier-men who make the history of their re- spective communities by reason of the extent and prominence of their business interests and their activity in promoting the welfare and prosperity of the counties in which they live. William Monier is certainly deserving of mention on the pages of this volume, as he is one of the most prominent and prosperous agriculturists of Mar- shall county and one of its most extensive land owners, his possessions aggregating fourteen hun- dred acres. He is, moreover, entitled to praise by reason of the fact that all that he possesses has been acquired through his own labors and his life record demonstrates that success is ambition's answer.
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