USA > Illinois > Piatt County > Past and present of Piatt County, Illinois : together with biographical sketches of many prominent and influential citizens > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
268
PAST AND PRESENT
wrested from the soil. That kind of over- coming is full of hardships, yet his victory in the realm of the moral and spiritual is more significant.
"First, I desire to direct attention to our brother's relation to secular life. He enjoyed the confidence of men. His agreements were kept to the letter. One thing that came to the surface in conversa- tion with Brother Garver was his keen discrimination between right and wrong. In business transactions, any injury he may have done his neighbor was a mistake of the head and not of the heart. He was conscientious. This alone is a record of which men may well be proud, but with him there was no suspicion that he had done anything unusual in doing right. It was a life acting in harmony with a high purpose.
"In social life he sustains the position he gained in secular affairs. It is a grief to lose the example of a good man. Con- sciously or unconsciously he becomes a center of moral power, restraining the bad and encouraging the good. Such was his example. He was universally kind. While he was not able to mingle in society toward the close of his life, he was in touch with all that was going, and contact with him revealed his interest in men. A trait worthy of emulation was the invariable disposition to hang the mantle of charity over the faults of others. This was not due to a desire to palliate wrong doing, but rather a knowledge of the weaknesses of humanity. The influence of such a life cannot be measured this side of eternity. It is educational. It is the good of this world which preserves society from cor- ruption, and the Savior's language 'the salt of the earth' applies to him.
"As an overcomer in spiritual matters he reaches the highest place in our confi- dence and esteem. Mr. Garver was a be- liever in eternal verities. Christ was at once his Leader, Master, Friend. It is with pleasure I emphasize his belief in God. You bear me out in this statement who knew him best. He sought out the footsteps of Christ and followed Him. With a child-like faith he placed his hand in that of his Savior and was led through life's changing scenes, ending with the 'val- ley and the shadow of death.' He bowed in humble submission to divine mandates, believing that God does all things well.
"If loyalty to the church is a test of spiritual life, the deceased does not dis- appoint. In early life he was a regular attendant upon the services of God's house. Few men have a higher regard for the mission of Christianity than did our brother, and when he was too feeble to leave his home he prayed for the suc- cess of Zion, and gave wings to his prayers by paying promptly of his money to the extent of his ability. A test of this loyal- ty was his attitude toward his pastor. As a minister I am competent to speak here. I visited him often, and in each instance he fixed himself more securely in my af- fections. He was a friend, a brother, an adviser and a confidant. He was not ex- pecting absolute perfection, and yet en- couraged me to do my best. I revere his memory. He was sympathetic and true. There are some in glory to-day and others on the way, whose lives had an impetus toward heaven through contact with this man of blessed memory.
"Finally I will speak of his domestic life. How true a heart has ceased to beat no one knows' as well as his family. As
269
PIATT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
a husband he was all that the term im- plies. He was a lover of home and did his share to make it a refuge from the storms of life. He walked by the side of her who is widowed to-day for fifty years and in that period of a half century fulfilled the vows taken at the marriage altar. The home cannot be again" what it has been because he is not. As a father he tried to do his duty. He was very tender toward his loved ones, and their joys and sorrows were his joys and sorrows. He repeatedly expressed the hope that God would save them an unbroken family.
"It is not my intention to assume that Mr. Garver was without fault. Doubtless he had the weaknesses to which flesh is heir. But the trend of his life was right. His motives were pure, his positions clear- ly defined. He favored no compromises with evil and believed in the ultimate tri- umph of the right. We reluctantly give him up, but we confidently believe that the influence of his life in the business and social world, and in his home, is a per- manent blessing. May God, who was the inspiration and joy of this life, lead us as he was led, that when it is ours to depart it can be said of us 'he has fought a good fight, finished his course and kept the faith.' "
AMOS STOLLARD.
One of the beautiful country seats of Piatt county is the property of Amos Stol- lard, a commodious and attractive resi- dence standing in the midst of a well-kept lawn shaded by magnificent trees and in the rear are all the outbuildings needed for the shelter of grain and stock. These in
turn are surrounded by richly cultivated fields and the farm is complete in all of its appointments. It is situated in section 16, Monticello township, and Mr. Stollard carefully superintends the cultivation of this place with the result that it returns to him a good annuál income.
A native of Ohio, he was born in Picka- way county, upon a farm near Circleville, February 2, 1847, his parents being Wil- liam and Margaret (Vinson) Stollard. His father was born in Maryland, April 6, 1814, and was educated there in the common schools, after which he assisted his father at the blacksmith's trade until they re- moved to Ohio. In the latter state they turned their attention to farming in Picka- way county and William Stollard remained upon the home place with his father until he was twenty-one years of age, when he began farming on his own account upon rented land. Soon afterward he was mar- ried to Miss Margaret Vinson and he con- tinued to engage in the operation of a rented farm in Pickaway county until 1867, when he came to Piatt county, Illinois, settling in Monticello township. He here rented the Marquiss farm, upon which he lived for two years, after which he leased the McReynolds farm for seven years. At the end of that time he retired from active business life, his son, Amos, taking charge of the farm and the father living with him until his death. Unto the parents of our subject were born six children: Martin L., who married Malinda Kuiser and is now living in Tarlton, Ohio; Louis P., a retired farmer of Bement who married Jane Russell and after her death, which occurred in less than a year following their marriage, he wedded Tamson Sullivan; Malinda, who is the widow of Philip
270
PAST AND PRESENT
Baum, who died about 1869; Amos, who is the fourth in the family ; Mary Janes, de- ceased; and Minerva, who is the wife of Benjamin F. Hood, now living on a farm on section 18, Monticello township.
At the usual age Amos Stollard be- gan mastering the branches of learning taught in the common schools of Picka- way county, Ohio. He continued his stud- ies through the winter months, while in the summer seasons he worked in the fields and meadows, early becoming familiar with agricultural life in all of its depart- ments. With his father he removed to Piatt county, Illinois, and he continued to
his marriage, which important event in his life occurred in September, 1877. He wedded Miss Sarah C. Jones and then be- gan farming on his own account. After renting land for two years he purchased the farm upon which he is now located on section 16, Monticello township, and has developed this into one of the finest properties in this section of the state. He erected a beautiful residence containing eight rooms, has built two barns and two double granaries, together with other out- buildings needed for the shelter of grain and stock and for the protection of his farm implements from the inclement weather. A driveway winds up to the house. around which is a well-kept lawn shaded by beautiful trees. So numerous are the trees that at a distance the place appears to be a small grove. Everything about the farm is kept in first-class condi- tion. Mr. Stollard has laid a large amount of tiling and has. enclosed his land by a new wire fence and has also thus divided it into fields of convenient size. He has set out two new orchards, has a deep well
upon the place and, in fact, there is no equipment of the model farm that is lack- ing. His landed possessions comprise one hundred and twenty acres, of which eighty acres is situated on section 17 and forty acres on section 16, Monticello town- ship. Annually he produces large crops of corn and oats, also raises considerable clover and has rich pasture lands. He yearly sells many head of cattle and hogs and in all of these departments his farm work is bringing to' him a good profit.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stollard have been born seven children: Amos Elmer, who is attending school in Dixon, Illinois; Wil- assist his father in farm work until after . bur Earl, who is at home with his father; Maggie May, who is also attending school in Dixon; Hattie, deceased; Minnie Ethel, who is at home; one who died unnamed in infancy ; and Irene, deceased.
Mr. Stollard votes with the Republi- can party, believing firmly in its principles and its platform. For more than ten years he has served as school director and the cause of education finds in him a warm friend. At the present time he is filling the position of road commissioner. His wife is a member of the First Methodist Episco- pal church and both Mr. and Mrs. Stollard are well. known in Piatt county. His life record should serve as a source of inspi- ration and encouragement to others, for he started out on his own account without capital or the aid of influential friends. With him success has been ambition's an- swer. He has labored perseveringly, us- ing discrimination in the conduct of his business affairs and as the years have passed his financial resources have in- increased until he is to-day classed among the substantial residents of his adopted county.
27I
PIATT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
NELS B. LARSON.
Nels B. Larson, one of the most en- terprising and practical farmers of Unity township, was born in Sweden, February 18, 1861, and is the oldest of the nine chil- dren of Bonde and Bessie Larson. His parents are still living in that county, where the father is engaged in farming. He visited his sons in America in the sum- mer of 1902. Six of his children are now living in the United States, these being Nels B., of this review; S. B., who lives on his Uncle Nels Larson's place on sec- tion 7, Unity township; John, also a resi- dent of that township; Hannah Hanson, a resident of Macon county, Illinois; Se- grie Pierson, who makes her home in the same county ; and Emma Pierson, of Ar- genta, Macon county. Those living in Sweden are Annie, Larson and Sophie.
Nels B. Larson spent his boyhood and youth upon a farm in his native land and is indebted to the public schools of that country for the educational privileges he enjoyed." Deciding to try his fortune on this side of the Atlantic, he emigrated to America in' 1881 and has since been identi- fied with the interests of central Illinois. He was entirely unfamiliar with the Eng- lish language on his arrival in this coun- try, but could speak it quite fluently be- fore two years had passed. His first work here was tiling, and he afterward worked by the month as a farm hand for three years.
At the end of that time Mr. Larson rented the Ruby farm in Unity township, which he operated for nine years, and next had charge of the Daniel Dawson place in Bement township three years. The fol- lowing two years were passed on the Ed-
mund Davis farm in Bement township, and from there he removed to Moultrie county, Illinois, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land, for which he paid sixty dollars per acre, and he at once began to drain, break and cultivate the land, which to-day is worth one hundred and fifteen dollars per acre owing to the improvements he has made thereon. It is well tilled and a sub- stantial house, barn and other outbuildings stand as monuments to his labor. After residing here for four years Mr. Larson rented the place, which is now occupied by a tenant, and removed to the E. P. Thomp- son farm on section 6, Unity township. On this place he has made his home since 1901, operating the land on the shares, and in con- nection with general farming he carries on stock-raising to a considerable extent, making a specialty of a high grade of horses. He has sold some fine stallions at good prices and also has some good roadsters.
An important event in the life of Mr. Larson was his marriage on the 30th of April, 1883, to Miss Emma Ericks, the ceremony being performed at Marinette, Wisconsin. She is a daughter of Erick Swanson, who is now living in Michigan, and is a most hospitable woman, well liked by all who know her. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Larson have been born eight children, namely: Bessie, who is now the wife of Oscar Swanson and a resident of Michi- gan ; Mamie; Lillie; Albert ; Annie ; John ; Russell and Stella. Our subject is giv- ing his children the best educational ad- vantages possible, desiring that their train- ing shall fit them for any position in life that they may be called upon to fill. 'His eldest daughter has studied music.
On coming to Illinois Mr. Larson
272
PAST AND PRESENT
found much of Piatt county covered with sloughs and ponds, and he has done his share in the work of improvement, for he is a public spirited and progressive citizen who takes a deep interest in the welfare of his adopted country. While living in Moultrie county he acceptably served as a member of the school board and as path master. Socially, he is an honored mem- ber of the Odd Fellows Lodge of Bement, and he and his family hold membership in the Presbyterian church at that place.
WV. D. FAIRBANKS.
Business conditions in America have rev- olutionized the commercial history of the world. No other country has made as rapid advance or as splendid progress as our own republic, where every man is equal before the law and finds his opportunity if he will but diligently seek it. Every community has its leaders-men capable of controlling import- ant and extensive business interests and whose carefully earned success awakens the admiration and respect of the public. Such a one is W. D. Fairbanks, who has risen to a prominent position among the most exten- sive land-owners of central Illinois, and his business record is such as any man might be proud to possess, not alone because of his brilliant prosperity, but also because of the honorable manner in which it has been achieved. Judicious investment, careful management and strict conformity to com- mercial ethics stand as salient features in his career and make his name an honored as well as a powerful one in financial circles.
Mr. Fairbanks, whose landed holdings exceed those of the majority of citizens in
this locality, and who is the president of the First National Bank of Mansfield, Illinois. was born in Union county, Ohio, on the 16th of June, 1857, and traces his ancestry back through many generations to England. The first of the name of whom we have record was Jonathan Fairebanke, who was born in England before the year 1600, and came with his family to the new world, landing in Bos- ton in 1633. After a residence there of three years he went to Dedham, Massachus- etts, becoming one of its founders, and there he built the celebrated "Old Fairbanks House" in 1836. It is still standing in a good state of preservation, and has never been out of the possession of those who bear the family name. Jonas Fairbank, the sec- ond in line of direct descent to our subject, was born in England and accompanied his parents to the new world in 1833, becoming a resident of Dedham, Massachusetts, after three years. He was killed in an Indian massacre, February 10, 1676. Captain Jabez Fairbank, his son, was born August 11, 1670, in Lancaster, Massachusetts, was a valiant officer in the Indian wars, became famous as a scout and stood very high in the confidence of Governor Drummer. Deacon Joshua Fair- bank, a son of Captain Jabez Fairbank, was born in Lancaster, Massachusetts, March 28, 1714, and was asoldier of the French and Indiana war. The next in the line of direct decent was Captain Luther Fairbank, the great-grandfather of our subject, who was born in Lancaster, Massachusetts, August 15, 1755, and was a brave and well-known officer of the Continental army. He was one of those who were taken prisoner while in the act of scaling the walls of the fortifications of Quebec, under General Montgomery, in December, 1775. Luther Fairbank, his son, and the grandfather of our subject, was born
275
PIATT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
in Swanzey, New Hampshire, September 10, 1780, became a farmer of Vermont and aft- erward removed to Ohio, where his remain- ing days were passed.
Loriston Monroe Fairbanks, the father of our subject, was born in Barnard, Ver- mont, May 4, 1824, and was the first of the name to add the final "s." When a young man he removed to Ohio, locating in Union county, upon a farm near Unionville. He was among the pioneer settlers of the local- ity and took an active interest in the early development of that part of the state. He there met and married Mary Elizabeth Smith, a native of New York, who went with her parents to Union county, Ohio. In early life Loriston M. Fairbanks was a mechanic and engaged in the manufacture of wagons and buggies at Homer, Union county, being in partnership with his father-in-law, Wil- liam DeForrest Smith. He resided at Homer for many years, and ultimately began farm- ing on account of his health. He followed that pursuit throughout his remaining days with the exception of a brief period of three or four years, which were spent in Delaware, Ohio, to which place he removed, that his children might attend the Ohio Wesleyan University there. The last eight years of his life were passed in retirement at his home in Springfield, Ohio, though he and his wife spent their winters at Pasadena, California, where he died January 30, 1900, when sev- enty-four years of age. His remains were brought back and interred in the beautiful cemetery at Springfield, Ohio. His widow now resides in Springfield, with her daugh- ter, Mrs. Milligan. They were the parents of ten children, of whom five are still living : Charles W., who is United States senator from Indiana and one of the distinguished statesmen of the country ; Luther M., who re-
sides in Chicago and in Mansfield, and is en- gaged in the grain trade in the former city; W. D., of this review ; Newton H., an attor- ney-at-law of Springfield, Ohio; and Jennie, the wife of Melvin Milligan, of Springfield, Ohio, of which city he was formerly mayor. Those that have passed away are Mary, the eldest child, who died at the age of two and a half years; the second one who bore the name of her deceased sister, Mary, and died at about the same age; Adolphus, who died at the age of four years; Nellie, at the age of twenty; and Harry, who died at the age of twenty-two years.
In the county of his nativity W. D. Fair- banks pursued his preliminary education, which was supplemented by study in the Ohio Wesleyan University, in which he pur- sued the scientific course. He then took up the study of law, but his health prevented his continuance in that task, and hoping that he might be benefited by the outdoor life. which is required in the supervision of farm- ing interests, he came to Illinois, settling in Mansfield. Here he engaged in the grain business and also became identified with farming. His first purchase of land con- sisted of eighty acres, two miles west of Mansfield, which he bought in connection with his brother, L. M., with whom he was also associated in the grain trade. As the years have advanced the brothers have made extensive investments in real estate and have carried on their farming and grain business on a mammoth scale. All of this, however, represents much hard labor, keen discrimi- nation, careful watchfulness of the markets and of everything bearing upon their busi- ness, and unfaltering perseverance in their undertakings. Mr. Fairbanks of this re- view is now the owner of seven hundred acres of valuable land in Piatt county and has
13
276
PAST AND PRESENT
one thousand seven hundred acres of valu- able land in other parts of the state. He has nine hundred and sixty acres in South Da- kota and jointly with his brother owns ten thousand acres in Greene county, Illinois, and seventeen hundred acres in Dickey county, North Dakota. He likewise has full control of five thousand acres in Piatt and McLean counties, owned by his brother, Sen- ator Fairbanks, of Indiana. He conducts an extensive grain business at Blue Ridge, Illi- nois, and in 1902 .he founded the First Na- tional Bank of Mansfield, of which he is the president.
On the 23d of December, 1880, Mr. Fair- banks married Miss Flora A. Kroell, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of L. H. Kroell, who removed from the Buckeye state to Pi- att county and is now deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fairbanks have been born four children-Lulu May, Jennie, William De- Forrest · and Bernice. Mrs. Fairbanks be- longs to the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Fairbanks holds membership in Mans- field Lodge, No. 589, I. O. O. F., of which he is a past grand. He also belongs to Monticello Encampment and to the Modern Woodman Camp. In politics he is a firm be- liever in Republican principles and has served continuously as justice of the peace for fifteen years. . The locality in which he has long made his home has found in him a benefactor by reason of the generous and prompt assistance he has given to many measures for the public good. He has never sought to figure prominently before the public in any relation save that of a business man and yet his co-operation is never sought in vain in behalf of measures for the general welfare. In his business life, however, he has achieved a brilliant success along legiti- · mate lines, which are open to all. It is his consisted of three children: Edward, who
adaptability his quick recognition of oppor- tunity, his persistency of purpose and his dis- criminating judgment which have been the basis of his wealth, and no business man of Piatt county occupies a higher position in the esteem of his fellow men.
JOHN H. FRENCH.
John H. French, a well-known citizen of DeLand and proprietor of a meat mar- ket at that place, was born on the 18th of October, 1861, in Farmington, Fulton county, Illinois, a son of Edward and Anna Jane (Jamison) French. The father was born near Manchester, England, in 1803, and was reared and educated in that coun- try, where he was employed as a shepherd for some time prior to his emigration to America. It was in 1823 that he crossed the broad Atlantic and took up his resi- dence in New York, where he had a milk route for a few years, and then came to Illinois, settled near Farmington. He made his home there until his death, which occurred in August, 1900, and he was laid to rest there. His wife survived him only three months, passing away in November of the same year. In early life he success- fully engaged in agricultural pursuits and became the owner of a good eighty-acre farm, but during the last fifteen years of his life he lived retired from active labor. He purchased a lot in Farmington and erected thereon a good modern residence, where he and his wife passed their remain- ing days in ease and quiet. He was a man of good business ability and met with fair success in his undertakings. His family
PIATT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
277
died in infancy; James Edward, who died in California in December, 1897; and John H.
The subject of this review was educat- ed in the Farmington high school and re- mained at home with his parents until twenty-two years of age, when he went to California and was with his brother on a fruit ranch for two years. He was then called home by the illness of his father and continued under the parental roof un- til his marriage in 1887, the lady of his choice being Miss Essie Maud Blakeslee, a daughter of S. S. and Addie (Egan) Blakeslee, who lived about eight miles from Farmington. Three children grace this union, namely: Boyd Edward, born in 1891; Bert Carlton, born in 1893; and Oneita Mae, born in 1898.
Mr. French spent the years 1888 and 1889 in learning the butcher's business and in the latter year opened a market of his own at Waverly, Nebraska, where he spent four years. He met with success at that place and was much pleased with the location, but on account of his father's fail- ing health he returned to Farmington at the end of that time and accepted a posi- tion with E. Clark & Brother, butchers of that place. Four years later he removed to DeLand, where he has since conducted a meat market and engaged in the butch- ering business with good success, having the only establishment of the kind in the town. He enjoys a good trade and has made many friends since coming to this place by his fair dealing and strict atten- tion to his business affairs.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.