USA > Illinois > Piatt County > Past and present of Piatt County, Illinois : together with biographical sketches of many prominent and influential citizens > Part 35
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Mr. Gillespie was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in September, 1825, a son of Christian and Dorothy Gillespie, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. In 1845 the parents removed to the west, settling in McLean county, Illinois, where they spent their remaining days. The subject of this review was the oldest of the family and in his early life he was em- ployed in the iron works of the east. He ac- quired a good common-school education in Pennsylvania and when still quite a lad he learned the trade of wagon-making. Ere Mr. Gillespie had been married for but a brief period when with his wife he came to the west, arriving in Illinois in 1847. He settled at Bloomington, and after a residence his removal to the west he was married on the 20th of September, 1845, to Miss Nancy Moore, a native of Bedford county, Pennsyl- vania, born on the 14th day of April, 1823, there of about five years he removed to Piatt
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county, where he entered government land, becoming the owner of a tract of one hundred and sixty acres. All of this was wild and un- improved, and with characteristic energy lie began its development. In course of time it yielded to him good harvests, and as his financial resources increased he added to this property until he owned some four hundred acres of land. There he carried on agricul- tural pursuits until 1891, when he removed to Farmer City, and in the latter place lie died, June 25, 1901, his remains being in- terred in Maple Grove cemetery, south of Farmer City. He was a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and a valued member of the Masonic Lodge of Farmer City, also of the local chapter, R. A. M., and Urbana Commandery, K. T. He was always trite and faithful to the teachings of the craft, and was buried with Masonic honors. In politics he was a Republican and for many years served as supervisor, while for a long period he also acted as justice of the peace. His faithfulness in public office was most marked, and in the discharge of his duties as justice he was impartial and was strictly fair to all. He was largely instrumental in securing the building of the Big Four Railroad from Ur- bana to Peoria, thus obtaining railroad fa- Heath, Illinois. He is a native of Kentucky, his birth having occurred in Somerset, that state, on the 15th of December, 1871. His father, William M. Barker, was also born in Somerset, December 1, 1836, and was a son of James Irby and Canzada (Simpson) Barker. The grandfather was born in Lee county, Virginia, in 1795, and on leaving his native state removed to Somerset, Ken- tucky. His parents. were .John and Lucy (Irby) Barker. John Barker was one of the heroes of the Revolutionary war, and by profession was a minister of the gospel. In his family were six children, namely: As- bury Edmond, who married Keziah Gover; Sarah, who became the wife of Thomas Floyd; James Irby, the grandfather of our subject; Elizabeth, who died unmarried; Thomas, who served throughout the war of 1812 and was so nearly starved while in the army that on his way home from New Or- leans he purchased a side of meat and died from eating too much of it, the report of his deatlı being made by his comrade, Fred- erick Tarter, on his return home; and John F., who married Katherine Weaver. The Doctor's grandmother, Mrs. Canzada Bar- ker, was a daughter of James and Sarah (Carson) Simpson. The former died in cilities in Piatt county, and he was always a . 1832 and his wife in September, 1840. The very active factor in the development and im- provement of this section of the state. He served as superinendent of construction on the road when it was called the Illinois, Bloomington & Western Railroad. Along many lines his helpfulness was shown and he co-operated in many measures for the public good.
BRENT L. BARKER, M. D.
The subject of this biography is a well- known physician and surgeon .of White
latter was of Irish descent on both the pa- ternal and maternal sides, and her parents were quite old at the time of their marriage. Unto James and Sarah Simpson were born twelve children, as follows: William L., who married Susan Buster; Canzada, "wife of James Irby Barker ; Samuel; Eliza, wife of John Gover; Thomas, who married a Miss Stringer; Greenup; David, who mar- ried Nancy Gover; Mary, wife of John Pierce ; John R., who married Susan Yager ; Sarah Jane, wife of Wesley Gover; Frank- lin, who married Emeline Richardson; and Qualls. The children of James Irby and
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Canzada (Simpson) Barker were John W., who married Polly Molen; James 'S., who married Dostia Ann Molen; William Mason, the father of our subject ; and Sarah G., the wife of Michael Pennington.
William Mason Barker was educated in the common schools of Somerset, Kentucky, and after reaching manhood engaged in farming there throughout life. In 1856 he was united in marriage to Miss Malinda Sie- vers, who was born in Germany and came to this country when a child of thirteen years. She died in Somerset, in May, 1875, leaving eight children, namely: Walter O., the eldest, died, and his wife has since mar- ried James Roberts, a resident of Dunnville, Kentucky. John C. is now a physician of Hustonville, Kentucky, having graduated from the medical department of the Univer- sity of Louisville in 1893, and also taken a course in medicine and surgery at Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania in 1896 and 1897. He was married in 1895 to Annetta Hamon, and they have two children, Anna L. and William Hamon. Sarah J. was married at Somerset, Kentucky, to Rufus Barker, and removed to Texas, where she died in 1901, leaving a husband and six children. James F. was married in Texas to Lula Jones, and is now engaged in farming in Texas. Rosa E. is the wife of Stanton Pierce, who was formerly a resident of Somerset, but is now carrying on farming near Greenville, Texas. Brent L., of this review, is the next in order of birth. Alonzo L. is a merchant of Som- erset, Kentucky. Malinda is the wife of Sievers Barker, who follows farming near that place.
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Dr. Barker acquired his elementary education in the public schools of Somerset, and later engaged in teaching school for two years. He was next a student at the Na-
tional Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, where he pursued a general course, and on leaving that institution he resumed teach- ing, again following that profession for three years. While thus employed at Som- erset, he took up the study of medicine, and in 1893 entered the Louisville Medical School, where he was graduated on the 25th of March, 1897, with the degree of M. D. He was also presented with a gold medal by the same institution, which he won in a com- petitive examination, and was also honored in the same way by the Pulaski County Ora- torical Association, being given the first gold medal ever presented by that society.
For one year after leaving medical col- lege Dr. Barker was engaged in the prac- tice of his profession in Kentucky, but in 1898 came to White Heath, Illinois, where he has since made his home. On the 19th of July, 1902, he purchased property here, consisting of two lots on which is a nice house and barn in good repair. Here he has his office. He has many patients through- out the surrounding country, covering a ra- dius of fifteen miles, and in his treatment of cases of all kinds he has been remarkably successful. Although still a young man he is regarded as one of the leading practition- ers of his adopted county, and well does he deserve the confidence reposed in him.
Dr. Barker was married on the 17th June, 1903, to Miss Nellie Rankin, of White Heath, who was born near Cisco, September I, 1882, and is the third in order of birth in a family of six children. Her parents are now living on the road between White Heath and Monticello. Her father was born August 1, 1849, and her mother's birth oc- curred on the 22d of November, 1854.
Politically Dr. Barker is identified with the Democratic party, but has never
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cared for the honors or emoluments of office, preferring to devote his entire time and atten- tion to his business affairs. Fraternally, he is an honored member of White Heath Camp. No. 2119, M. W. A., in which he has served as clerk for over two years; and also belongs to Mount Royal Lodge, No. 120, Court of Honor ; Fern Leaf Camp, No. 145, Royal Neighbors; and White Heath Coun- cil, No. 319, Mutual Protective League, all of White Heath. He is quite popular in so- cial as well as professional and business cir- cles and is well liked by all who know him.
MARION BOSSERMAN.
Marion Bosserman, a well-to-do agricul- turist living on section 28, Goose Creek township, is a typical self-made man, and in the following record of his career there is much to arouse respect and esteem. His suc- cess in life is largely due to his industry and perseverance, and by making the most of circumstances, however discouraging, he has acquired a comfortable competence.
A native of Ohio, he was born in Frank- lin county, September 25, 1847, and is a son of Daniel and Rachel (Young) Bosser- man, natives of Pennsylvania and New Jer- sey, respectively. The father was reared and educated in the Keystone state, and in 1860 came to Illinois, settling in DeWitt county, where he was engaged in farming until his death in 1889. He died very sud- denly, being seemingly well at noon, but passed away at one o'clock from the effects of an epileptic stroke. His widow is still living at the age of eighty years, but is now in very poor health. In their family were
ten children, six of whom are still living, namely: William and Michael, who oper- ate the home farm: Catherine, the wife of Robert Marsh, a farmer living three and a half miles southwest of Weldon, Illinois; Charles, a farm hand; Lucy, at home with her mother; and Marion, of this sketch. Those deceased are John, who died at the · age of four years; David, who died at the age of three; and Lincoln, who died in in- fancy.
From the time he attained a sufficient age until the removal of the family to Illi- nois, Marion Bosserman attended school in Ohio, and was later a student in the public schools of DeWitt county, where his par- ents settled. When about twenty years of age he began working as a farm hand in that county, and being careful and econom- ical he was able to save most of his wages, in which way he gained a start in life. He began farming on his own account in De Witt county, two and a half miles north of Weldon, where he purchased eighty acres of low land in a very poor condition, but he improved the same, transforming it into a good farm, which he successfully cultivated for some years, adding greatly to its valua- tion during that time. In 1888 Mr. Bos- serman sold that property and removed to Piatt county, purchasing the John Van Sycle farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Goose Creek township. In its operation he steadily prospered and was able to add to his property until he now owns two hun- dred and sixty acres of as good land as Piatt county affords. Upon the place is a pleas- ant residence, good outbuildings, an orchard and various kinds of small fruits, and its neat and thrifty appearance plainly indicates the supervision of a progressive and pains- . taking owner. He raises the cereals best
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adapted to the soil and climate and also feeds for the market cattle and hogs of a fine breed. He also keeps good horses for his own use and raises some nice colts.
Mr. Bosserman was married in 1873, the lady of his choice being Miss Anna Eliza ·Marsh, a daughter of John and Anna Eliza (Forceman) Marsh, who were well-known and highly respected farming people of De ' Witt county, Illinois. The children born to this union were Iva, who died in early child- hood; Laura, the wife of Frank Marvin, a farmer of Piatt county; John, Robert and Charles, who assist their father in carrying on the home farm ; and Frederick, who died · at the age of three years. The sons are honest, industrious and reliable young men, who are of great assistance to their father, and who have the respect and esteem of all who know them. Mr. Bosserman owes not a little of his success in life to his estimable wife, who by her help and encouragement has aided him in every possible way. She is a kind mother and loving wife, who takes pride in making her home a cheerful one and in doing everything for the comfort and welfare of her family. By his ballot Mr. Bosserman supports the men and measures of the Republican party, and he is now capa- bly filling the office of school trustee for a second term. He also served as school di- rector while living in DéWitt county, and is a public-spirited and enterprising citizen.
WILLIAM M. DE GROFFT.
William M. DeGrofft is now living a re- tired life. Nature was bountiful in her gifts to the agriculturist who was wise enough to locate in Piatt county as a place of residence.
The rich land of this portion of the state yields abundant harvests and furnishes excel- lent pasturage for stock, and he who devotes his energies to farming and stock-raising, carefully directing his labors by sound judg- ment, finds that within a number of years he has acquired capital sufficient to supply him with the necessities and many of the com- forts of life without further labor. Such has been the case with Mr. Groffts, who resides on section 34, Blue Ridge township, and who was long actively engaged in farm- ing in Piatt county.
A native of Fayette county; Indiana, he was born in 1842 and is a son of Aaron and Elizabeth DeGrofft, both of whom were na- tives of Indiana. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, is now deceased, but the mother is still living. It was in the year 1857 that this worthy couple came to Illi- nois, locating in Champaign county. The subject of this review was at that time fif- teen years of age. The three came overland, making the journey with a team and wagon, and were thirteen days in completing the trip. The father secured a tract of land and the son assisted him in its cultivation and improvement. When twenty-one years of age William M. DeGrofft, however, left home and entered upon an independent busi- ness career. He rented three hundred and twenty acres of land in Sangamon town- ship. Piatt county, not far from Galesville, and he made his first purchase of land in 1882, becoming the owner of one hundred and seventy-two and a half acres, which con- stitutes the farm that he now owns and oc- cupies. He has added all of the improve- ments upon the place and has made it a valuable tract of land substantially equipped with good buildings and modern accessories. He gave his attention to general farming,
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carrying on both grain and stock-raising un- til about five years ago, when he rented his land to his son, Lyman, and is now living retired. His wife owns fifty acres of land near Mansfield, and Mr. DeGrofft has prop- erty in the town of Mansfield. He is also one of the directors of the First National Bank, which was founded in 1902. Year after year through a long period he labored in the fields, plowing, planting and harvest- ing, and as the result of his careful atten- tion and capability he acquired a handsome competence, becoming one of the substantial residents of the community.
On the 16th of March, 1866, Mr. De Grofft was united in marriage to Miss Cath- erine Macke, a daughter of John Macke, of Warren, New Jersey, who had emigrated to Ohio in early life, and unto them have been born nine children: Almer, who is living in Whiteside county, Illinois; Rachel A., who is the wife of Edmund Quayle, a resident of Champaign county; John W., who makes his home in McLean"county, Il- linois : Lyman, who resides in Piatt county ; Franklin, who died at the age of one year and five months ; Delilah, who is the wife of Edmund Van Sycle, a resident of Piatt county ; Alice, who is the wife of William Patterson, of South Bend, Indiana; a son that died in infancy : and Ida, who is living at home.
Mr. DeGrofft is both self-educated and a self-made man. In his early life he pur- sued his studies in an old-fashioned log schoolhouse in Indiana, seated with slab benches, while in one end of the room was an immense fireplace. His attendance there, however, was quite limited, and yet through reading and observation he has gained broad practical knowledge. . He possesses an ob- serving eye and retentive memory, and is
now well informed concerning the leading questions of the day. His business career has been creditable and by close attention to his work he has advanced steadily on the road to success. Both he and his wife be- long to the Methodist church and in politics he is a Republican. For six years he served as road commissioner, but with this excep- tion he has never consented to hold office, preferring to give his time and energies to his agricultural interest, whereby he has won signal success. When he first came to Illinois this county was very wild, being still a frontier region. Wolves were nu- merous and deer were also to be seen in great numbers. Much of the land was under water and some unfit for cultivation, but til- ing has made it very productive and the rich soil annually returns splendid harvests. Mr. DeGrofft has seen the growth of the coun- ty, has witnessed its development and has aided in its progress, especially along agri- cultural lines. As one of the pioneer set- tlers, therefore, as well as a successful citi- zen, he deserves mention in this volume.
HENRY GESSFORD.
Among the leading and representative citizens of DeLand probably none have done more for the upbuilding and advancement of the place than the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. For over thirty years he has been prominently identified . with its material development and prosper- ity, and has done all within his power to ad- vance its interests.
Mr. Gessford is proud to claim Illinois as his native state, his birth having occurred in DeWitt, DeWitt county, on the 16th of
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December, 1842. His father, Elihu Gess- ford, was born in North Carolina, in 1802, but as a small boy went to West Virginia, and in his early manhood followed farming there. In 1834 he came to Illinois and en- tered one hundred and sixty acres of land near DeWitt, in DeWitt county, which he broke and improved, his first home here be- ing a log cabin in which our subject was born. He experienced all the hardships and trials of pioneer life and in those early days he hauled his grain to Chicago by team-a distance of one hundred and forty miles. After selling his wheat at from twelve to fifteen cents per bushel he would return home with a load of salt for the cattle. In 1824 he was united in marriage to Miss Frances Webb, a daughter of Henry and Catherine Webb, of Wythe county, Vir- ginia. Mrs. Gessford was born in that county in 1810 and died at Farmer City, Il- linois, in 1871, while her husband passed away on the old homestead farm in 1847. To them were born eleven children, namely : Sarah and Catherine, twins, both now de- ceased ; Malinda and Rebecca, also deceased; Stephen, a farmer residing near Creston, Iowa ; Frances, wife of George Walters of Kansas City, Missouri; Columbus, de- ceased; Henry, of this review; William, who was a member of Company I, Thirty- ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war, and died after his return home from wounds received in service; James, who was a member of Company I, One Hundred and Seventh Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, and was killed in the siege of Atlanta ; and Annie, also deceased.
Henry Gessford was educated in the common schools of DeWitt county near Farmer City, but at the early age of twelve years he started out in life for himself by
working as a farm hand at ten dollars per month, being thus employed until the coun- try became involved in civil war. Like his- brothers he offered his services to the gov- ernment to help put down the Rebellion, en- listing in 1861 in Company F, Forty-first Il- linois Volunteer Infantry, which was as- signed to the Seventeenth Army Corps. He participated in a number of hard-fought bat- tles, including the engagements at Fort Hen- ry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, the siege of Co- rinth and Vicksburg. He was also in the bat- tle of Hatchie's Run and Jackson, Mississip- pi. He was wounded at both Fort Donelson and Vicksburg, and after over three years of faithful service he was mustered out and honorably discharged at Springfield, Illinois, August 20, 1864.
On his return from the army Mr. Gess- ford commenced farming on his own ac- count, operating land near Farmer City un- til 1873, when he removed to DeLand and embarked in merchandizing under the name of the Henry Gessford Mercantile Com- pany, conducting the store successfully for five years. He then sold out and turned his. attention to painting and paper hanging. He has since given more or less attention to. the real estate business, buying and selling town property, and he now owns five houses. and lots besides his own home and some va- cant lots. These houses he keeps in good' repair and rents. Soon after coming to De- Land he purchased two lots and in 1884 erected thereon the small house which he· now occupies, but in the summer of 1903 it is his intention to erect a fine large residence- with eleven rooms and all modern conveni- ences and improvements. His property is well located and is surrounded by beautiful shade trees which add greatly to the at- tractive appearance of the place. On his.
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return from the army Mr. Gessford found DeLand unplatted, in fact a large cornfield, and it is largely due to his efforts that the village to-day enjoys its present prosperity. He has bought and sold a number of lots and erected several buildings, including private residences and stores.
Mr. Gessford was married December 22, 1864, to Miss Mary Jackson, of Farmer City, Illinois, who was born in Stockport, England, in 1846, and came to this country in 1850 with her parents, Joseph and Han- nah (Higginbotham) Jackson, also natives of that country. On their arrival in Amer- ica they first settled in Rochester, New York, but six years later removed to Le Roy, Illinois, and in 1863 took up their res- idence in Farmer City. Mrs. Jackson is still living at the age of eighty-three years, but has suffered a third stroke of paralysis and is now totally blind. She makes her home with our subject and his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Gessford have four children: James W., a harnessmaker and dealer in harness and saddlery at DeLand; Charles G., who lives with his father and owns and operates a thresher and cornsheller ; Maude DeLand, who was the first white child born in the village for which she is named, and now the wife of Edward Johnson, of Monticello ; and Bertram E., who is with his brother James in the harness business.
Mr. and Mrs. Gessford are earnest and consistent members of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and he is also connected with Lemon Post, G. A. R., of Farmer City. For thirty-three years he was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but was obliged to withdraw from that so- ciety on account of failing health. In poli- tics he is a stanch Republican and he is as true to his duties of citizenship to-day as he
was when following the old flag to victory on the battlefields of the south during the dark days of the Rebellion. Upright and honorable in all the relations of life, he merits and receives the confidence and esteem of those with whom he is brought in contact, and his friends are many in the community where he has so long made his home.
JAMES VAN GORDER.
Section 19, Blue Ridge township, is the home of this "horny handed son of toil." Here he was born and bred, and in this com- munity none stand higher in the public es- teem. James is the son of Benjamin and Charlotte Van Gorder, who were early set- tlers in the county, and highly regarded for their honesty and integrity. He is a native of the county, born in 1866 in Blue Ridge township, where he still cultivates the home- stead farm. One brother, William Judson, and a sister, Mrs. Mary Martin, who also reside in the county, are the remaining mem- bers of the family.
Mr. Van Gorder passed the period of boyhood and youth in the invigorating out- door life of the farm, securing a good pri- mary education at Langley, the district school of the community. For a year after attaining his majority he remained beneath the parental roof, working for his father, then took up the duties of life on his own account, cultivating a portion of the home farm. In 1895 he purchased forty and five .years later purchased forty acres more of the three hundred and twenty acres he 110w cul- tivates, the remaining portion still belonging to his father. The farm is one of the most
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, productive in the county, the combined ef- forts of the father and son having brought it to a high state of cultivation. They de- vote its products largely to the fattening of cattle and hogs for the market, using grain as a crop in rotation.
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