USA > Illinois > Marshall County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 53
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 53
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Mr. Shaw now has a valuable farm of two hundred and eighty acres, but has rented his land for the past sixteen years. He still lives upon the old home place, which belonged to his father, the property having never been divided among the heirs, and derives therefrom an excellent income. In his political affiliation he is an independent republican without aspiration for office, and in religious faith is a Universalist. He has a wide acquaintance in the community where his entire life has been passed and where he has so directed his labors and controlled his interests that he may be said with single consistency to be one of the foremost representatives of the community.
J. W. WATKINS.
J. W. Watkins, who owns and operates a good farm in Steuben township, where he has spent his entire life, first opened his eyes to the light of day on the old family homestead in this county. He is a son of David Watkins, who was born in Athens county, Ohio, February 18, 1817. His parents were Isaiah and Mary (Douglas) Wat- kins, both of whom were natives of Virginia, the former being of Welsh descent and the latter of Scotch lineage. Isaiah Watkins was born in Williamsburg, Virginia, and his grandfather came from Wales, establishing his home in Amer- ica in early colonial days. He served during the Revolutionary war under General Washing- ton for seven years. His mother bore the maiden
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name of Douglas and her father was a descend- ant of the famous Douglas family that owned and occupied the Douglas castle of Scotland. He too was a Revolutionary soldier under Washing- ton and served at the same time as Isaiah Wat- kins, with whom he became acquainted during the days of their military experience. The ma- ternal grandmother of Mr. Watkins was Mary Jane Addington, who was of English descent. It was after the war that Isaiah Watkins married the daughter of Mr. Douglas. They were mar- ried in Ohio, where they resided until the death of the husband and father, when, in 1834, the widow with three children, emigrated to Illinois, locating in Marshall county. One son, Jehiel, preceded the family and had made a home here, and through his advice the remainder of the fam- ily came out. Jehiel, after remaining here twenty-five years, removed to Taylor county, Iowa. The family located within one mile of where Da- vid Watkins lived, taking up a claim and im- proving a farm. Here the widow lived until called to her reward at the age of about eighty years. The three children coming with their mother were David, father of our subject; Mary J., who wedded Isaac Tanquary, and removed with him to Livingston county, where both died; and Lucinda, who married James Tanquary, of Steuben township, and both are now deceased.
On coming to this country the Watkins' were in very limited circumstances, and on the death of the mother David kept the family together un- til the marriage of his sisters. He commenced life for himself, working for ten dollars per month, using the wages obtained in payment of the home farm. He was twenty-eight years old before he felt that he could safely wed. He was then united in marriage with Eliza Jane Hoskins, a daughter of Josiah Hoskins, a pioneer of Steu- ben township. Immediately after the wed- ding ceremony he removed with his young bride to a farm adjoining that of J. W. Watkins, and which was the first one opened on the prairie. An industrious, hard working man, he settled right down to business, and from time to time added to his original purchase until he became the possessor of about eight hundred acres of as fine land as lies within the borders of Marshall county. While carrying on general farming, if it can be said that he made a specialty of any one line, it was that of a cattle grower, having at all times
upon his place from one hundred to one hundred and fifty head of fine cattle. He was not what is usually termed a feeder of cattle, but raised a high grade of animals. Attending strictly to his business he made a success in life.
In 1856 Mr. Watkins was bereft of his wife, she dying leaving two children-Lucinda, who died at the age of sixteen; and J. Wesley. Mr. Watkins subsequently married Eliza Jane Brewster, of Mc- Donough county, Illinois, who also died leaving two children-Albert W .; and Eliza Jane, who was educated in music and elocution at Eureka College, and is a lady of rare attainments, a mem- ber of the order of the Eastern Star, well known and universally esteemed.
David Watkins was in all respects a self-made man. His education, obtained in the old pioneer log school houses, was necessarily limited, but he was a silent though a close observer of men and events, and therefore became a well-posted man. He was an attendant but not a member of any church. In his younger days he was quite a sportsman with gun and rod. He was always an admirer and lover of a good horse, and even at the age of eighty years loved to be astride of that noble animal. He enjoyed fair health almost to the very last and lived at peace with all mankind. In politics he was a democrat, but never an office seeker. His death occurred in 1900 and thus passed away one of the honored pioneer settlers of the county.
Albert Watkins, a brother of J. W. Watkins, married Mary Eva Van Antwerp, by whom he has four children : Mary Ethel, Albert Leslie, David Timothy and Eliza Mabel. Albert Watkins is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of good farming land across the road from his brother's home and is one of the enterprising agriculturists of Steuben township. He belongs to the Metho- dist Episcopal church and votes with the de- mocracy.
J. Wesley Watkins is one of the oldest settlers of Steuben township, having spent his entire life within its borders. He was reared to the occupa- tion of farining and has always followed that pur- suit. As the years have passed, he has prospered, owing to his earnest labor and capability in man- aging his affairs, so that today he is the owner of six hundred and forty acres of valuable land in Steuben township, together with land in Iowa. Here he carries on general farming in connection
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with the raising of stock and both branches of his business are proving profitable.
Like his father, Mr. Watkins has given his po- litical support to the democracy, having been reared in the faith of that party and seeing no occasion to change his views since attaining his majority. He has been called to several local of- fices. He was first appointed supervisor to fill out the unexpired term of John Hayden, deceased, and has several times been re-elected to that office. For thirty-six consecutive years he has acted as school director and he has frequently been a dele- gate to county conventions of his party and has served as a member of the democratic central committee. His fraternal relations are with the Masonic fraternity and he belongs to Sparland lodge, No. 441, A. F. & A. M., and to Sparland chapter of the order of the Eastern Star. He represents a family that has long been prominent in connection with the agricultural interests of the county and his own record entitles him to mention with the prominent representatives of agricultural life in Marshall county.
WILLIAM B. SILL.
William B. Sill is now living retired in Gran- ville, but for many years was connected with farm- ing interests in Putnam county and the strong purpose and resolute will which he displayed in carrying on his business pursuits brought him a measure of success that now supplies him with the comforts that go to make life worth living. He was born in Senecaville, Guernsey county, Ohio, July 10, 1838, and is a son of John and Mary Ann (Dilley) Sill, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. They were married in Ohio, where they resided until 1851, when they came to Illinois, settling south of Mag- nolia in Marshall county. The father was a car- penter and wheelwright by trade and was thus engaged during the period of his residence in the Buckeye state. He also worked in the same way for some time after coming to Illinois. When he had spent a few years in Marshall county he removed to Hennepin, where he was engaged in wagonmaking for several years. After the death of his wife, which occurred in 1867, he continued to make his home in Hennepin and in old age resided with his son William B., at whose home he passed away in April, 1900, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years.
William B. Sill was the eighth in order of birth in a family of nine children, five of whom are yet living, but he is the only one in Putnam county. He was a youth of thirteen years when he came with his parents to Illinois. They were very poor and as a result William B. Sill had to begin work at the age of thirteen years in order to provide for his own support. He had but limited educa- tional privileges but was early trained to habits of industry and economy and these proved of value to him in his later life. He had been trained to but one kind of work and therefore when he began to earn his living it was as a farm hand. He first worked for eight dollars per month and was thus employed until about twenty-three years of age. He then rented land in Hennepin town- ship and engaged in farming on his own account. In 1863 he had the misfortue to break one of his legs and this, combined with his poor health, almost completely discouraged him. He thought that perhaps he might be benefited by going to the west and therefore made his way to Montana, where he purchased a two-thousand foot claim and engaged in mining. The venture proved profitable at first, but later he lost much that he had made through another investment and suc- cess in that enterprise was so uncertain that he decided to try farming. He therefore homesteaded three eighty-acre tracts of land, upon which he carried on general agricultural pursuits and stock- raising. He lived in Montana during the pioneer epoch in the history of that state, his home being a little cabin with a dirt floor and dirt roof. He experienced all the hardships and trials incident to frontier life, but continued in his farm work there until 1877, when he sold out and returned to Putnam county. Here he invested his capital in one hundred and forty acres of land, which was already improved to some extent. He had to incur some indebtedness in order to make the pur- chase, but has since been quite successful in his farming operations and is now the owner of four hundred acres of very valuable and productive land, constituting one of the good farms of the county, the rental from which is sufficient to sup- ply him with all the necessities and many of the comforts and luxuries of life. Five years ago he retired from active business cares and built a commodious residence in Granville, where he has since made his home.
On the 4th of May, 1874, Mr. Sill was married
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W. B. SILL.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
to Miss Martha A. Harper, who was born in Put- nam county, a daughter of James Harper, one of the early settlers of this part of Illinois. Mrs. Sill died upon the home farm in Granville town- ship in 1879, leaving a daughter, Minnie, who is now living with her mother's sister on the Harper homestead. She went to live with her grandpar- ents at the time of her mother's death and has since been with that family. Nine years after the death of his first wife Mr. Sill was again married, his second union being with Ann E. Drennen, a native of this county and a daughter of James and Nancy (Wyatt) Drennen. She is still living and by this marriage there are four children, three of whom survive, the youngest having died in in- fancy. The others are Ethel, Roy D. and Jessie.
When upon the farm Mr. Sill engaged in gen- eral agricultural pursuits. All that he possesses has been acquired through hard and unremitting labor and careful management. At times fate has seemed to him very unkind, owing to his ill health and to disastrous consequences which have at- tended his business interests through no fault of his own, yet he has never given up and as the result of his resolute spirit and strong determina- tion he has worked his way upward. Each diffi- culty and obstacle in his path has seemed to serve as an impetus for renewed effort and he has learned the lesson from each mistake, and pressed forward to the goal of prosperity, being now one of the substantial residents of Granville. In poli- tics he has always been a democrat and at this writing, in 1906, is serving as commissioner of highways, which position he has filled for twelve years. He is also serving for the second term as a member of the village board of aldermen and exercises his official prerogatives in support of every movement for the general good. He has been an Odd Fellow since 1863 and is most loyal to the teachings of that organization, which is based upon the brotherhood relations of mankind.
JEREMIAH FEAZEL.
Jeremiah Feazel, deceased, who in former years was a respected and worthy farmer of Marshall county, and who spent his last years in honorable retirement from business cares in Lacon, was born in Brown county, Ohio, July 4, 1832, a son of Jeremiah and Hannah (Murphy) Feazel. The father engaged in school teaching and in farming
and thus provided for his family, which numbered six sons and six daughters.
Jeremiah Feazel was reared in the county of his nativity to the age of fourteen years, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Illi- nois. His early education, acquired in the public schools of his native state, was continued in the old Broaddus schoolhouse in Lacon township, three miles east of Lacon, and when his education was completed he became the active assistant of his father in the work of the home farm and was there engaged in tilling the soil and in rais- ing stock. He resided upon the old homestead until 1855, when he was married and began farm- ing on his own account, settling on a tract of land of one hundred and twenty acres in Hopewell township, Marshall county. There he lived for fourteen years, when he sold that property and bought the John Harris farm, in Hopewell town- ship, which remained his home throughout the re- mainder of his active business life. He was en- gaged in general farming and stock-raising and both branches of his business proved profitable, owing to his careful direction and able manage- ment, so that in 1884, with a comfortable compe- tence, acquired through years of earnest toil, he retired from agricultural pursuits and took up his abode in Lacon, where he spent his remaining days in the enjoyment of a rest which he had truly earned and richly deserved.
On the 1st of November, 1855, at the home of the bride in Roberts township, Marshall county, Mr. Feazel was married to Miss Anna Eliza Wright, a daughter of James and Lockey Meade (Bell) Wright, both of whom were natives of Ohio. Her father was a farmer by occupation and died in the year 1849, his remains being in- terred in the Salem cemetery. His wife had passed away in 1847 and was laid to rest in a cemetery in Roberts township. They were devoted and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their daughter, Mrs. Feazel, was born in Madison county, Ohio, July 16, 1838, and was brought to this county in 1844. As stated, at the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Feazel began housekeeping upon a farm and so lived until 1884, when they became residents of Lacon. Mr. Fea- zel died in that city June 8, 1899, and was laid to rest in Lacon cemetery. He had attained the age of sixty-seven years and had lived a life worthy of the esteem and confidence of his fellow-
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men. He attended the Methodist Episcopal church, served as one of its trustees, and contrib- uted liberally to the same, although he was not a member, and in politics was a Bryan democrat, advocating the principles supported by the Ne- braska statesman. In his business affairs he had been straightforward and reliable, in citizenship was progressive and public spirited, and in rela- tions of home and of friendship he was ever loyal and true. Mrs. Feazel still survives her hus- band and yet resides in Lacon, where she is well known. She has many friends there and is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ISAAC ALLEN GLENN.
Years of activity and enterprise have brought to Isaac Allen Glenn a measure of success that classes him with the substantial farmers of Mag- nolia township, where he owns and operates a valuable farm of four hundred and eighty acres. This has been in possession of the family for many years, having once been the property of the grandfather of our subject, who came from Taze- well county to Putnam county when Indians were. still inhabitants of this part of the state. He entered the land from the government and in the midst of a frontier district began the develop- ment of a farm. .
His son Isaac D. Glenn, was born and reared in Kentucky and there married Sarah Allen, who was also a native of that state and was a daughter of Archibald Allen, who also became a pioneer settler of Magnolia township, Putnam county, where he died at the venerable age of ninety-four years. On leaving Kentucky Isaac Glenn, Sr., and his wife removed to Indiana and in 1832 be- came residents of Illinois, but it was not until three years later that they took up their abode on section 31, Magnolia township, the father secur- ing the land from the government. The year of their arrival in this state was the one in which the Black Hawk war occurred and the family shared in the hardships and trials of pioneer life, when an unsettled district, with its lack of ad- vantages and opportunities, brings many discom- forts and trials. The father, however, resolutely undertook the task of developing a new farm, con- tinuing its improvement until his death, which occurred July 7, 1850. He was long survived by his wife, who passed away August 17, 1876.
Both were members of the old school Baptist church, in which he served as deacon for many years. They were the parents of six children who reached adult age : Mrs. Nancy H. Young, of Iowa; Samuel, of Varna, Illinois; Mrs. Elizabeth Lar- kins and Mrs. Margaret Haley, now deceased ; Young A., living in Magnolia township; and Isaac A.
The youngest of the family, Isaac Allen Glenn, was born on the old family homestead on section 31, Magnolia township, August 24, 1837, and was given his father's Christian name and his mother's surname. No event of special importance oc- curred to vary the routine of farm life for him in his boyhood days. As his years and strength increased he aided more and more largely in the work of the farm and when winter came and brought a respite from the arduous labor of the fields he spent about three months in attendance at the district school, which was about a mile and a half from his home. He was married in De- cember 20, 1855, when not yet nineteen years of age, to Miss Mary Jane Stewart, sister of Mrs. W. M. German, of Hopewell township, Marshall county. She was born in Hennepin December 30, 1838, and was the eldest member of the Stewart family. Her father, who was born January 7, 1817, died January 30, 1896.
The first home of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn was a log cabin on the farm which is still their place of residence, but the pioneer dwelling has long since been replaced by a more modern and commodious dwelling. As the years passed he brought his land under a high state of cultivation, annually harvesting good crops, produced through the care he has bestowed upon the seed and the soil, the latter being naturally very rich and productive -for there is no finer farming land in all this great country than can be found in central Illi- nois. For some years Mr. Glenn has also engaged quite extensively and successfully in the breeding and raising of fine horses and cattle, as well as other stock, and has worked diligently and per- sistently in bringing his farm up to a high state of improvement. From 1861 to 1873 he and his brother, Young A. Glenn, were engaged ex- tensively in buying and shipping stock.
As the years passed Mr. and Mrs. Glenn became the parents of eight children: John E., who was born October 23, 1856, died October 13, 1857; Samuel M., born August 29, 1858, died February
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15, 1862 ; Sarah Sophia, born August 30, 1860, is the wife of W. H. Burr; Eliza Hall, born August 31, 1862, is the wife of Randolph Disosway of Iroquois county, Illinois ; Nancy J., born Septem- ber 18, 1864, died February 23, 1889; Isaac A., born May 9, 1867, died August 15, 1871; Jessie Elizabeth, born February 19, 1873, is the wife of D. W. Dunlap, of Evans township, Marshall county ; and Robert Edwin, born November 4, 1875, died June 11, 1894.
Mr. Glenn votes with the democracy and has been honored with some local offices, the duties of which he has discharged with promptness and fidelity. Fraternally he is connected with Mag- nolia lodge, A. F. & A. M., and. he also belongs to the Magnolia Grange. Both Mr. and Mrs. Glenn are members of the O. E. S. lodge, No. 189, of Magnolia, of which Mrs. Glenn is a char- ter member. His entire life has been spent in Putnam county and one of the first farms claimed and developed is his property. The work of im- provement instituted by his grandfather and car- ried on by his father is now being continued by him, and thus the name of Glenn has ever stood as a synonym for progress here.
JOHN DAUB.
John Daub is the owner of a beautiful and ex- cellent farm which lies in a basin of bottom land surrounded on all sides by high bluffs. Its unique situation adds to its beauty and attractiveness and the land is rich and arable, producing good crops. It is situated on section 32, Richland township. The owner was born in New Orleans, March 24, 1850, and is of German lineage. His father, John Daub, was born in Bavaria, Germany, and after coming to America espoused the cause of his adopted country, enlisting for service in the Civil war. He gave up his life in defense of the Union, being killed in battle in 1865. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Castler, was twice married, her first husband being John Daub, and to them were born three children: John; Alec; and one who died in infancy. By her mar- riage to Hubert Adami she had four children : Hubert; Victor; August; and one who died in infancy.
Mr. Daub, whose name introduces this review, became a resident of Marshall county in 1856. He acquired his education partly in the schools of this county and also attended school to some
extent in St. Louis, Missouri. He was reared to farm life and remained at home until his mar- riage, after which he took up his abode upon a farm in Woodford county, Illinois, where he re- sided until the 13th of February, 1896. He started out in life with very little assistance and that he has always been busy and energetic and capably controlled his business interests is indi- cated by the fact that he is now owner of a val- uable property of two hundred and sixty-eight acres of land on sections 29, 32, and 33, Rich- land township. The soil is very productive and in addition to raising the cereals best adapted to the climate he also raises good stock of all kinds, including some high bred Percheron horses.
As a companion and helpmate on life's journey Mr. Daub chose Miss Anna M. Sneider, who was born in Tazewell county, Illinois, March 16, 1856, and there remained until eight years of age, when she accompanied her parents, Lawrence and Catharine (Simon) Sneider, on their removal to Woodford county, Illinois, where her girlhood days were passed and her education was acquired. Her parents were born and reared in Bavaria, Ger- many, and were schoolmates during their youth. The mother was but seventeen years of age when she came to the United States with her parents and was married on landing in this country. Mr. Sneider was then about twenty-five years old. For about five years he made his home in Cincinnati, Ohio, and then removed to Tazewell county, Illi- nois, where he followed farming and gardening for twelve years. He next purchased a farm in Woodford county, this state, and to its cultiva- tion and improvement he devoted his energies until called to his final rest. He was fairly suc- cessful in his business affairs and was a truly self-made man. After his death his wife operated the farm for about fifteen years, but now makes her home with her son Frank in Woodford county at the age of seventy-two years. In the family were eleven children, namely: John, a farmer of Woodford county; Anna M., wife of our sub- ject; Catharine, wife of Alec Daub, a farmer of Fairfield, Iowa; Lena, wife of Hubert Adami, a farmer of Marshall county, Illinois; Adam C., a farmer of Woodford county; Joseph H., also a farmer of that county ; Louisa, wife of John Greb- ner, of Woodford county; Frank and Peter, who are both engaged in agricultural pursuits in Woodford county ; Angeline, the wife of Frank
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