Portrait and bigraphical album of Livingston County, Ill. : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and biographies , Part 100

Author: Chapman Brothers (Chicago) publisher
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman brothers
Number of Pages: 1208

USA > Illinois > Livingston County > Portrait and bigraphical album of Livingston County, Ill. : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and biographies > Part 100

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810

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

New York. They were married in Ohio, whence they immigrated to this county while the country was thinly settled. Philip Nigh took up a traet of land on section 28. in Amity Township, where he labored industriously to build up a homestead, and was greatly prospered in his efforts at securing a good position socially and financially. He pos- sessed those qualities of mind and heart which at once secured the confidence and esteem of his fel- low-citizens, and besides holding the various town- ship offiees he officiated as Postmaster at Rook's Creek. His devoted wife proved a most worthy helpmeet, and both were prominently connected with the Methodist Protestant Church. The par- ental household included four children, three now living, namely : Nancy, Mrs. McClelland; Lydia, the wife of William Martinson, and William, the subject of our sketch. The two sisters are resi- dents of Amity Township. The father departed this life at his home in Dundee, Mich .. on the 14th of March, 1887. In his death that section lost one of its most valued citizens. He meddled little with politics, but uniformly voted the Republican ticket: was a stanch Union man during the war, and a firm believer in the principles of universal free- dom. He built up a record which his children may view with pride and satisfaction.

William Nigh was educated in the common schools. and remained under the parental roof un- til his marriage. which occurred after he had passed his twenty-second birthday. The maiden of his choice was Miss Maria McClelland, and the wed- ding took place at the home of the bride, in Amity Township, Jan. 2, 1870. Mrs. Nigh is the dangh- ter of Thomas and Esther W. McClelland, who are natives of Pennsylvania, and are now residents of this county. She was born Ang. 8, 1846, and by her union with our subject became the mother of four children. three living, viz. : Robert, born Sept. 12, 1878; Stella, Aug. 13, 1882, and Ray, Sept. 19, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Nigh spent the first few years of their married life in Amity Township. Our subject purchased his present farm of eighty acres in 1886. The land has been highly culti- vated. and the farm buildings are neat and substan- tial. In his stock operations Mr. Nigh deals mostly in cattle. Hi- premi-e- attract attention on ac-

count of the general neatness observable every- where and the care exercised in the treatment of the stock, and the economy with which the farm operations are carried on. Mr. Nigh, like his father before him, votes the straight Republican ticket, and is bearing worthily the mantle which has de- scended upon him as the only son.

The parents of Mrs. Nigh eame to Illinois from Indiana in the fall of 1855, settling in Rook's Creek Township in the pioneer days, where they spent the remainder of their lives, the mother dying in 1878 and the father in 1872. Their family included ten children, seven now living: Thomas S. is practicing law at Chicago; Milo A. is a successful physician of Knox County ; De Witt C. is an extensive far- mer and stock-raiser of Labette County, Kan. : Sarah A. is the wife of William Paine, a prosper- ous farmer of Rook's Creek Township; Carrie M., Mrs. Wesley Aspey, lives with her husband on a farm in Esmen Township; Maria L .; Joseph W., ex-County Clerk of Nance County, Neb. The parents were most excellent people, and worthy members of the Presbyterian Church.

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B PETERSON. Among the hardiest people who come to this country from foreign shores are those who were born and reared to early manhood in Denmark. They make most excellent citizens, and as they are lovers of liberty and freedom, readily adjust themselves to the existing state of affairs under a Republican form of government. Their business habits are generally correct, and they are above the average in intelligence, as the laws of Denmark require that all children shall become pupils in the schools at a certain age. Wherever we find a native of Denmark engaged in agricultural pursuits, we find a prosperous and contented farmer.

The subject of this sketch, who is a farmer and stock-raiser on section 7. in Nebraska Township, is the son of Barthol and Mary ( Westergar) Peterson, and was born in Denmark on the 24th of June, 1838. He was reared on a farm, and in accord- ance with the laws of his country, attended the schools during the required time. He was twenty

TENANT HOUSE

OLD HOME .

FARM RESIDENCE AND PROPERTY OF BENJAMIN CA!

TENANT HOUSE.

TON , SEC. 16. LONG POINT TOWNSHIP, LIVINGSTON CO.

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

years of age when he came to this country, being on the ocean twenty-one days. He landed in New York in 1858, and remained in that State during the winter, and in the spring went to Staten Island, where he engaged in work for a farmer for about two years. Soon after the commencement of the war, he enlisted as a soldier in the 29th New York Infantry, and served with that command until he was honorably discharged in June, 1863. During the time he was in the service he participated in the first battle of Bull Run, battle of Winchester. second battle of Bull Run, where he was twice wounded, first in the left thigh, by which the bone was fractured, and was hit by a piece of shell on the lower part of the right leg. He was taken pris- oner and for lack of transportation was left to lie in the hot sun on the battle-field for eight days. Afterward he was paroled and sent to the hospital at Washington, where he remained for two months, and was then sent to the hospital at Annapolis, Md., and remained there about three months, at which time he was exchanged and rejoined his regiment. After this he was in the battle of Chancellorsville. where the famous Confederate General, Stonewall Jackson, was killed. His entire service was in the Army of the Potomac, and he endured all the hard- ships which befel that army, and participated in many skirmishes and reconnoissances which have no place in history, but in which many men lost their lives or became maimed and crippled for life. After his discharge from the army in 1863, he re- turned to New York, where he remained about one year and then went to Rhode Island.

On the 29th of Jannary, 1865, Mr. Peterson was married to Christina Yost, daughter of Charles and Margaret (Welt) Yost. Mrs. Peterson was the old- est child in a family of six : Edward, her brother, who went through the army without injury, is mar- ried, and lives in Rhode Island near Narragansett Bay, and has six children; Margaret, who married lohn Morgan, lives in Rhode Island, and has four children; Caroline married George Priday, lives in Rhode Island, and has two children; Charles is married, lives in Rhode Island, and has three chil- dren; Albert lives in Rhode Island; Louisa, born July 27, 1868, lives with Mrs. Peterson. In the March following his marriage, Mr. Peterson again

enlisted in the army, this time joining the 29th United States Veteran (Ilancock's) Corps. After remaining in Camp Stoneman until July, his com- mand went to Rhode Island, where they did pro- vost duty until lan. 21, 1866, when they went to Staten Island, where they did various kinds of duty in connection with companies of the regular army. They remained on Staten Island until the 7th of March, 1866. when they were honorably discharged.

Within two days after his discharge from the army, Mr. Peterson and his wife started for Liv- ingston County, IN., where he purchased forty acres of land on section 30, Nebraska Township. On this land they lived for three years, and then dis- posed of it and purchased eighty acres of land in Woodford County. On this he lived one year, when he leased it to other parties and moved to Minonk. At the end of a year he sokl his land and bought property in that town. In 1872 he again went upon a farm, which he rented, and re- mained for two years; he then bought eighty acres of land in Wakto Township, and lived there one year, when he sold that land and bought eighty acres in Woodford County, on which he remained nine years. He then disposed of that land and bought eighty acres on section 7, Nebraska Town- ship, and forty acres on section 18. On the home place he has as fine a building site as there is in Nebraska Township, and his various buiklings are first-class in all respects. The farm is well drained with tile ditches, and the fences are constantly kept in good repair. In stock-raising his specialties are fine Norman horses and Poland-China hogs. Al- though Mr. Peterson is Democratic in politics, he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln.

Mr. Peterson's parents never came to this coun- try, and his father's death occurred before our sub- ject was born, and the mother died in her native country in April. 1866. Our subject was the youngest child in a family of four, whose names are as follows: Peter B. was married, and at his death left a family of four children, one of whom, Chris, came to this country, and is now in the em- ploy of our subject: John came to America and served as a soldier for three years during the war, and escaped without injury; he is married, and lives in the State of Nebraska. Mary married H.

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

Christenson, and died in Denmark, leaving four children, one of whom. Peter, was reared by our subject. and now lives in Minnesota. The subject of our sketch is of a genial and generous nature. and make- friends readily, and when a friendship is once formed with him it is retained. HIe is de- servedly popular with all the people of the sur- rounding country. and enjoys their confidence to the fullest extent.

B ENJAMIN CARLTON is spoken of as "a thorough gentleman, and one of Long Point's most substantial men." He is finely located on section 16, where he has a good farm, and where for the last ten years he has made a specialty of stock-raising. He is one of the pio- neers of Livingston County, coming here before wild game was exterminated, and has seen as many as 100 deer in a single herd bounding over the prairie or through the forest, and has often killed several in a day. He took up his residence in Long Point Township in 1840, and no man has watched with more satisfaction the development of Central Illinois, and the settling up of this section by an industrious and intelligent people. He selected for his future home a spot many leagues from his birth- place, he having been born in County Kent, En- gland, Aug. 21, 1815. Ilis parents were Edward and Judith ( Preble ) Carlton, also natives of County Kent. and of pure English ancestry. His father was a carpenter by occupation, and spent his entire life in England. Both his father and mother were high-minded Christian people and members of the Episcopal Church, in the doctrines of which their children were carefully reared, and to which our subject still adheres.

Mr. Carlton continued to reside in his native county until the summer of 1835, employing his time after becoming of suitable age mainly in farm- ing. Then. deciding to immigrate to America, he embarked on a sailing-vessel, and after a tedious voyage of sixty-one days landed in New York City. Thence he proceeded to Cleveland, Ohio, where he served an apprenticeship at the mnason's trade, which he followed at Columbus. in Southern Ohio, and st. Louis, Mo. Since a resident of Long Point he

was united in marriage with Miss Laura Miller, their wedding taking place in 1854. Mrs. Carlton was a native of Pennsylvania, and of this union there was born one child, a daughter, Mary L., who is now the wife of Royal R. Gould, and resides in Long Point. The mother passed from earth, dying at her home.

Mr. Carleton was subsequently married, in the year 1859, to Miss Jane Silleck. a native of Canada. This marriage resulted in the birth of one child only, a daughter, who is now the wife of Franklin Bosserman, also of Long Point, and the mother of one child. Mrs. Jane (Silleck) Carlton departed this life Oct. 18, 1881, and her remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at Long Point. The homestead has since been presided over by Mrs. Bosserman, the daughter.

The property of Mr. Carlton includes 400 acres of some of the finest farming land in Central Illi- nois, all under a good state of cultivation, and sup- plied with a handsome residence, good barns, and three tenement houses for the use of those who work the land. The homestead invariably attracts the eye of the traveler as being complete in all its appointments, and under the supervision of an in- telligent and industrious man. It is with pleasure that we present a fine double-page view of the es- tate in connection with this brief outline of its en- terprising owner. Mr. Carlton keeps himself well posted upon matters of general interest, and has contributed his full quota toward the development of the western part of Livingston County, which when he came here presented a wild and desolate appearance, the homes of the settlers being few and far between, and the present flourishing towns of the county then but mere hamlets. He has been promi- nent among those resolute men of forethought and good judgment through whose foresight and energy this county now ranks among the best in the Prai- rie State.

F6 M. MCINTOSH, a general merchant at Blackstone, Sunbury Township, was born in Connersville. Fayette Co., Ind., on the 26th of October. 1846. His father, David Meln- tosh, was born on the 27th of September, 1824.

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

The grandfather, Joshua MeIntosh, lived for many years in Connersville, where he followed the trade of a shoemaker, and also engaged in mercantile business. He moved to Illinois about 1853, and was a pioneer at New Michigan, Livingston County, where he remained until his death. He was a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and many of the older inhabitants will remember the enthusiasm with which he engaged in Gospel work. During that time he was Postmaster and a Justice of the Peace.

The father of Mr. McIntosh came to Illinois in 1847, and located at Ottawa. where he was engaged in clerking in a general store for four or five years. He then came to Livingston County, and entered Government land in Newtown Township, going for that purpose to Danville, where the land-office was then located. He improved a good farm and re- sided there until 1882, when he removed to Kansas and settled in the town of Marion, where he now resides. He has been three times married, his first wife being Mary E. Wherrett, the mother of the subject of this sketch, who was her only child. She was a native of Indiana, and died in 1846. The second wife was Lucinda Lambert, and his third wife is Rebecca N. Holland. There were two chil- dren by the second marriage and five by the third.

Mr. MeIntosh was but a few weeks old when his mother died, and he was then cared for by his aunt, with whom he came to Illinois to join his father in 1847. He received his early education in the common schools of this county, and advanced by attendance at Grand Prairie Seminary, located at Onarga. He resided on the homestead and en- gaged in farming until 1869, when he engaged in the mercantile business at New Michigan, where he was also Deputy Postmaster. In 1870 he came to Blackstone, and bought a stock of goods and the good-will of the store where he has since conducted a successful business. On the 29th of December, 1867, Mr. McIntosh was married to Miss Sarah J. Fleshman, who was born in Vermilion County, III., on the 3d of October 1850. She is the daughter of John and Margaret (Lockett) Fleshman, who were pioneers of Vermilion County ; her father is a far- mer, and resides at Watson, Effingham Co., III. Mr. and Mrs. MeIntosh have four children : Lizzie

M., who was born Dec. 1, 1868; Elmie, Oct. 3, 1871 ; Jessie L., Nov. 25, 1875, and Jay. March 23, 1877.

Mr. Melntosh is a member of Streator Lodge No. 607, A. F. & A. M. Ilis political affiliations are with the Republican party, in which he evinces considerable interest. Mr. McIntosh has become thoroughly established in his business at Blackstone, and enjoys the trade of a very considerable pro- portion of the population of that section of country.

G EORGE WEBER. One of the incentives which prompts men to great endeavors in life is to do something that will meet with the hearty approval and commendation of the father and mother who tenderly cared for him in infancy, taught him to walk in straight and nar- row paths in boyhood, and started him on the rug- ged journey of life at manhood. One of the great- est afflictions that can be placed upon a boy whose ideas of life are not yet crystallized, is to be de- prived of the counsel and kindness of parents, and he who begins life as an orphan is entitled to much sympathy, for he must fight his battles singly and alone, without any parental influences. In this condi- tion the subject of this sketch found himself at the age of fifteen. Mr. Weber, who is a farmer on section 31, Pontiae Township, is a native of Ger- many, and was born on the 12th of February, 1823. lle is the son of Michael and Barbara Weber, both Germans, who had six children, two of whom sur- vive-George and Michael. The father died when George was fifteen years of age, and he was left an orphan, his mother having died when he was in his seventh year. lle remained in Germany until he was twenty-four years of age, during which time he was engaged in work upon a farm, and as occa- sion permitted attended school, and succeeded in obtaining a fair education in the German language. In 1847 he concluded to immigrate to America, and after a voyage of fifty-two days in a sailing-vessel, landed in New York City, and for a short time re- mained in that vicinity ; then he went to the neigh- borhood of Utica, N. Y., where he worked by the I day and farmed for about eight years. In 1855 he

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

came to Woodford County, Ill .. where he resided for several years. In 1860 he came to Livingston County, for two years made his home here, and then moved back to Woodford County, and after a six years' residence there he again returned to Livingston County, in the spring of 1877, and settled on his present farm in Pontiac Township, which consists of 200 acres of very valuable land. His present condition is far different from what it was on the day he first landed in New York, for when he stepped a-hore from the vessel which car- ried him over he possessed but $1 in money. Ilis pleasant home, and its adjuncts of stock, machinery, etc., are the result of his own industry and per- severance.

In 1847 Mr. W. married Sophia Hoerner, and they have had nine children, six of whom are liv- ing: Leonard: Lucy, wife of John Chicadunce; John. George, William and Frank. He and his wife are members of the German Evangelical As- sociation, and in politics he affiliates with the Democratic party, and has been elected to the of- fice of Over-eer of Highways.

HARLES WHEATON CARPENTER, a gentleman in the prime of life, forms one of the important factors in the business interests of Odell. where he is carrying on a protit- able trade in live stock and coal. He was thrown upon his own resources early in life, and spent his youth mostly in the agricultural districts of his native State of Pennsylvania. He was born in what was once Luzerne, but is now Lackawanna County, Dec. 11, 1837, and was the oldest in a family of eight children, the offspring of Squire F. and Matilda ( Champlin ) Carpenter.

Our subject pursued his early studies in the com- mon school and later attended the academy near his home for a brief time, where his education was completed. He then commenced life as a farm laborer and assisted in the maintenance of his father's family until after passing his twenty-fourth year. Then, desirous of something better he de-

termined to seek his fortune in the West, and al- though withont means, made his way to LaSalle County, to the home of his uncle, and soon after- ward secured employment on a farm. There he remained a year, and the following winter was pur- -naded to take charge of a school in the country near by. He gave such good satisfaction that at the close of his first term his wages were increased and he was invited to teach the winter following, which he did. He remained in that region until the fall of 1866, and then, accompanied by a brother. came to Livingston County and purchased 236 acres of wild land. This they afterward sold at an advance, and Mr. Carpenter was variously employed for five years following. though mostly engaged in farming upon rented land. He had now some means and felt justified in taking upon himself the responsibility of family ties.

Mr. Carpenter was united in marriage with Mrs. Clara A. (Parker) Stone, on the 5th of January, 1871. Mrs. C. was the widow of Hannibal Stone, and the daughter of Alvah and Polly (Chambers) Parker, natives of New York State. Their daugh- ter Clara was born in Luzerne County, Pa., Sept. 11. 1837, and was the youngest in a family of five children. Of her union with Mr. Stone there were born five children, namely : Columbus, Mary A., Hattie E., Frederick A. and Ella. The latter died in infancy ; Columbus is farming and stock-raising in Gunnison County, Col .; Mary A. is the wife of Obey Aspy, and the mother of two children- Pearl and Clara; her husband is a carpenter by trade and they reside in Kansas City, Mo. Hattie, Mrs. William Truxal, is the mother of two chil- dren, and resides in Mt. Pleasant, Pa., where her husband is engaged in farming; Frederick A. is a stock dealer of Ouray County, Col., and runs a transfer train to and from the mines in the mount- ains.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter resulted in the birth of one child, a daughter, Mabel E., who was born Dec. 5, 1872, and is now a bright young girl of fifteen summers. The family resi- dence is pleasantly located on Prairie avenue, and its inmates enjoy the society of many friends. Mrs. Carpenter is a member in good standing of the Baptist Church. Mr. Carpenter is one of the

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

Town Trustees, and politically, is a strong Prohi- bitionist. His pronounced opposition to the liquor tratlie in all its forms has made him a leader of his party in this section.

TEPHEN WOODING. One of the finest homes in Pike Township is located on see- tion 12, on the road leading from Chenoa to Pontiac, and is the property of the gen- tleman whose name heads this sketch. It com- prises 126 acres of finely cultivated land. an elegant frame residence flanked by shapely and substantial out-buildings, including two new barns and all the necessary structures required by the enterprising and progressive modern farmer. The dwelling is situated in the midst of beautiful grounds, about fifty-five yards back of the public road, with a fine driveway and surrounded by choice shade trees and shrubbery. The hand of taste is everywhere apparent, and the outlay of means has been elearly most wise and judicious. Mr. Wooding took possession of his property in the fall of 1867, which, however, he had purchased two years previously, and since that time has given his attention principally to increasing its attractive- ness and value. The result is one in which he may reasonably take pride.

Our subject was born in Northamptonshire, En- gland, Feb. 11, 1830, and is the son of Jesse and Anna (Rainbow) Wooding, natives of the same country. Jesse Wooding was born about 1805, in Northamptonshire, and received a common-school education. Ilis father died when he was but a youth, and he remained with his mother until she, too, passed away. He was married to Miss Ann Rainbow in 1828, and for several years thereafter followed farming and brewing. The condition of his finanees not being quite satisfactory, neither the prospects for the welfare of his children, he decided to emigrate to the New World, and accord- ingly, accompanied by a part of his family, sailed from Liverpool and landed in New York City about June, 1854, with his wife, his sons, James, George and Isaac, and his daughters, Ann and Elizabeth. They first located in Salem, N. J., where the father

was taken fatally ill and died ten days afterward. Ilis remains were buried in the cemetery at Pennville. The widow and her family remained in New Jersey about two years, then came west to Fulton County, this State, where she resided four years. Subse- quently she removed to Piatt County, where her death took place in February, 1871. The parents of our subject were members and regular attend- ants of the Church of England and reared their children in the faith to which they had adhered for many years. These, eleven in number, are re- corded as follows: Jesse died in infancy ; Stephen, our subject, was the second born : William, David, Joseph, James, Isaac, George, Ann, Elizabeth and Mary, comprise the remainder. They were all born in Northamptonshire, and with the exception of Jesse, Mary and David, all came to the United States.

Mr. Wooding was educated in the common schools of his native town, and remained there, variously employed, until reaching his majority. He and his brother William then decided to seck their fortunes on the other side of the Atlantic, and bidding farewell to their childhood associates, sailed from Liverpool on the 1st of April, 1851. After a pleasant voyage of thirty days they landed in Philadelphia, May 1, and proceeded to Salem, N. J., where they went to work by the month, and were afterward joined by the balance of the family. The brothers when they landed had one pound sterling between them. This, however, did not dis- may them so long as they were in possession of their health and strength, and they were busily em- ployed usually until the time of their starting West. Upon this trip our subject visited the States of Illinois, Missouri and Louisiana. but finally re- turned to New Jersey and remained at Salem a year longer. lle now determined to locate perma- nently in the West, and coming to Fulton County, this State, rented a tract of land, upon which he farmed four years and then removed to Piatt County. A year later he returned to Fulton County, farmed there another four years, and in the fall of 1867. having invested his capital in Pike Township, this county, came in and took possession of his property, with the results we have already stated.

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Portrait and bigraphical album of Livingston County, Ill. : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and biographies , Part 100

Author: Chapman Brothers (Chicago) publisher Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Chicago : Chapman brothers Number of Pages: 1208

Author: Chapman Brothers (Chicago) publisher
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman brothers
Number of Pages: 1208