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 104
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Mr. and Mrs. Good commenced life together in Lancaster County, where they remained seven years, and in 1858, gathering together their house- hold effects, came with their family to Illinois. They located first near Naperville, Du Page County, whence two years later they removed to Kankakee County, where Mr. Good rented a tract of land and carried on farming four years. In 1866 he came to Dwight Township, this county, where he farmed on rented land three years, and in the spring of 1869 removed to his present residence. This farm which contains 240 aeres had been but indif- ferently cultivated and improved, and Mr. Good has since expended much time and money in order to bring it to its present condition. He has availed himself of modern methods of agriculture and the most approved machinery, and the result is a coun- try homestead of which he may well be prond. His days of exhausting labor are now passed, and he is in such condition that he can take life easier and rest in the enjoyment of the fruits of his early in- dustry. He has around him a pleasant family, and the large circle of acquaintances whom he has gathered about him during his long residence in
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this section have given him an unstinted measure of their confidence and esteem. Since becoming a voter he has atliliated with the Republican party, and with his excellent wife, is a member in good standing of the Evangelical Church.
To Mr. and Mr -. Good there were born nine children. four in Pennsylvania and tive in Illinois. These were named respectively : Elizabeth, Aaron. Solomon. llenry, Emma. Barbara, Rebecca, Alice and Lettie M: Barbara died in infancy. 'Their eldest son. Aaron, was inclined to study, and they gave him the advantages of a good education. Af- ter completing his primary course he took a course in the Normal school at Valparaiso, Ind., and in the Northwestern College at Naperville. Ile is now a minister of the Evangelical Church. Alice and Aaron are unmarried and make their home with their parents; Rebecca died at the home of her par- ents when twenty-two years of age, and Lettie was called from the household circle at the age of four- teen.
S AMUEL D. WEBSTER, of Chatsworth. and whose portrait is given in connection with this -ketch, is conspienous among the well- known and highly respected citizens of Living-ton County. He is a native of the Empire State. and was born in the northeastern portion of Dutchess County, Sept. 8, 1811. Ilis ancestors were numbered among the earliest settlers of New England.
Daniel Webster, the father of our subject, was born in Litchfield. Litchfield Co., Conn., where he -pent his childhood and youth, and when a young man migrated to Dutchess County, N. Y., where, mn due time he was united in marriage with Miss le- rusha Goodrich. This lady was a native of Dutchess County. where she and her husband remained, locating upon a farm. and establishing a permanent homestead which they occupied the balance of their lives. The mother died soon after the birth of Samuel D .. our subject, in June, 1812, while the father preceded her a few hours only, both being victims of an epidemic fever which swept that part of the country, and selected for its victims some of the best citizens: they were buried upon the same day. The six children thus left orphans were : An-
janette, who married Hiram Martin, and died in Manchester, Mich. ; Benjamin, Edward and Daniel, who only lived to middle age, and spent their entire lives in their native county, where their remains were laid to rest; John M., who died in Monroe County, N. Y., and Samuel D. It will thus be seen that our subject is the only surviving mem- ber of the family.
Mr. Webster thus early in life deprived of his natural protectors, was taken in charge by his ma- ternal grandmother, who reared him with pions care and gave him as good an education as her means permitted. He attended the common school until sixteen years old, and afterward spent a short time in the academy at Sharon, Conn. Subsequently he commenced teaching, in the meantime employing his leisure hours with his books, and finally entered the High School at Rochester, N. Y., where the finishing touches were given to his literary and busi- ness education. Upon attaining his majority he received his portion of his father's estate, and com- menced dealing in land. In 1835 he migrated West, and became the owner of many thousand acres in the State of Michigan. The close times of 1837. which had their effect upon so many business mer., induced Mr. Webster to dispose of his Michigan land, and he then returned to his native State, About this time the New York & Erie Railroad was in process of construction, and he became a heavy contractor. The company failed, however, and our subject thereby lost heavily. His next venture was at milling in Monroe County, and in 1859, once more setting his face westward, he landed in this State. Stopping at a point near Chicago, he en- gaged extensively in the manufacture of pressed brick, which also proved a losing enterprise.
In 1861, with his fortune nearly gone, Mr. Web- ster repaired to Annawan, Henry County, where he set about repairing his losses, and locating upon a tract of land, engaged for a period of several years in stock-raising. Ilis efforts were now crowned with snecess, and a removal to Chatsworth appear- ing advisable in a business point of view, he ac- cordingly took up his abode within the town, where he has continued operating in stock, and subse- quently adding grain and real estate. He has also kept watch of the delinquent's tax-list, and by the
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purchase of titles has still further added to his re- sources. For the past three years, however, Mr. Webster has been quite an invalid, only being able to move abont in a rolling chair. Hisactive mind, however, remains unimpaired, and he ean still give his attention to the investment of his funds.
Mr. Webster has been twice married. His first wife was formerly Miss Louisa Clark, of Monroe County, N. Y., who died eighteen months after her wedding, leaving one child, D. Franklin, who fol- lowed the mother six years later. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married Feb. 3, 1848, was in her girlhood Miss Elizabeth Lewis, a native of Monroe County, N. Y., and born in 1827. This union resulted in the birth of one child, : daughter, who died at the interesting age of twelve years. Mrs. Webster, a lady held in the highest esteem by her neighbors and acquaintances, gives to her invalid husband all possible care and attention, and has proved his closest friend and counselor.
Mr. Webster cast his first Presidential vote for John Quincy Adams, and supported the old Whig party until it was succeeded by the Republicans, sinee which time he has been a stanch adherent of the latter party. While a resident of New York State, he frequently discharged the duties of the local offices to which he was from time to time elected, and has always kept himself thoroughly in- formed upon matters of general interest. He was in Western New York during the excitement con- nected with the reputed abduction of Morgan by the Masons, and became strongly prejudiced against secret societies, to which he has sturdily opposed himself since that time. His whole career has been illustrative of courage and perseverance, which seem to have largely constituted the inborn ele- ments of his character, and which have served him so well in time of need.
P. GOEMBEL, a well-to-do resident of Strawn Village, and numbered among its most highly esteemed citizens, was born on the other side of the Atlantic, in what was for- merly llesse-Cassel, Germany, Feb. 20, 1833, and there spent the early years of his life. He is the
son of Phillip and Caroline Eliza (Stober) Goem- ble, who were also natives of Germany. The father carried on a damask manufactory for a period of thirty years, and then immigrated to America in 1851. Ile at once sought the West, and located in Tazewell County, Ill., where he en- gaged in farming five years. He subsequently came to this county, locating in the extreme south- eastern portion, which was then familiarly known as Oliver's Grove but is now Germanville Town- ship.
The parents of our subject remained in the above-named township until the death of the father, which took place in 1875. He had secured a comfortable property and spent his declining years retired from active labor. There were but two children in the family; our subject was the elder, and his sister, Caroline, became the wife of Nieh- olas Froebe, who was then engaged in farming in Germanville Township, but is now retired from act- ive business and lives in Chatsworth. The mother had passed away previons to the death of her his- band, in 1872.
Mr. Goemble remained with his parents until about twenty-three years of age, and then began farming for himself in Tazewell County. He came to this county in the fall of 1856, and re- mained in Germanville Township until 1882, when he took up his residence at Strawn, where he has since been engaged as a dealer in lumber, eoal and grain, and is the only gentleman representing this business in the town. He still owns his farming in- terests in Germanville Township. He consequently has all that he can conveniently attend to, and con- ducts his trade in such a manner that he receives the patronage of the best people of his locality. He is quite prominently identified with local affairs and has been a member of the Village Board since 1881.
The lady who has presided over the household of our subject for nearly twenty-five years was formerly Miss Elizabeth Shroen, and became his wife Dec. 13, 1863. She is a native of the same Province as her husband, and was born in 1844 on the farm of her father, who carried on agriculture in a modest way and spent his entire life on his na- tive soil, his death taking place about 1852. The
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mother is still living, and resides in Chatsworth Township. Mr. and Mrs. G. are the parents of ten children. Their eldest daughter, Catherine Elizabeth. married Nelson Kiner, a prosperous farmer of Lasalle County. Mollie is the wife of Frank M. Curvea, who has a farm not far from the village limits. The younger children, at home with their parents, are Maggie, John, Charles, Mary. William, Paulina, Mena and Stella. Mr. Goembel is a member of Sibley Lodge, A. F. & A. M .. and is a member of the Commandery at Fairbury. Among the portrait- of leading men. of the county given in this volume may be found that of Mr. Goembel.
OSEPH K. OSTRANDER is the proprietor of the largest general merchandise establish- ment in MeDowell, Avoca Township. The room in which he conducts his business is the first floor of a building 60x24 feet, and he car- ries a general line of merchandise such as is usually found in a store kept by a man who seeks to supply all the want, of the community which surrounds him. Mr. Ostrander became the proprietor of this establishment in 1885. and has conducted the busi- ness ever since. There is continually invested in the stock about $2,500, and the sales annually amount to about $8,000. In 1876 he engaged in grain-dealing at MeDowell Station, and has pursued the business ever since, shipping annually 50,000 bu-hels and upward of the various grains produced in this part of the State.
Joseph K. Ostrander is a native of Pennsylvania, being born in the city of Philadelphia on the 13th of March. 18-47. Hle received a fair common -- chool education, which he has materially improved by study and constant reading since grown to man- hood. Mr. Ostrander was married, in December, 1×78. to Miss Ophelia Foster, daughter of R. B. Foster. of Avoca Township. To them have been born three children-Harry M .. Elbert R. and Roy. Mr. Ostrander has met with considerable success in his various business enterprises. in all of which he displays good judgment as well as proper conserva-
tisin. Aside from business affairs he is one of the leading citizens of Avoca Township, and takes an interest in all matters which concern the people. In the matter of office-holding he has served as Treasurer of Avoca Township school- four years, and as Township Clerk one term. while he is now serving his second term a> Justice of the Peace. In 1864 Mr. O-trander enlisted as a soldier in the Union army, serving in Company F, 138th Illinois Infantry, as private. The duties of this regiment lay mostly in Kansas and Missouri, and consisted of garrison and outpost duty. After serving from May until October, 1864, he received his honorable discharge.
In business circles people do not misunderstand Mr. Ostrander, for they know that whatever he en- gages to do he will perform. and as the saying goes " his word is as good as his bond." He enjoys the confidence of all the people with whom he has busi- ness relations, and in the offices of public trust which have been confided to him he has shown much ability and given great satisfaction to the people. He is a man of whom any community may justly be proud.
AMES A. HUNTER. the ex-Sheriff of Liv- ingston County, who has retired from active business life and is residing in Odell, was born in Mercer County, Pa., on the ist of November, 1831, and is the youngest of ten chil- dren born to John and Jane ( Mortimore ) Hunter. who were natives of Westmoreland County, Pa. The paternal grandparents were David and Jane (Galloway ) Hunter, who were natives of Westmore- land County, and originally of Protestant-Irish de- scent : the maternal grandparents were Jonathan and Mary (Gray ) Mortimore, the former of Scotch descent. Mary Gray, at the age of twelve years, was captured by the Delaware Indians, while her parents wore attending to the evening duties of the farm. The parents were both killed and the little girl carried into captivity, where she remained in the family of the chief for three years, and then es- caped and returned to her friends. She was treated
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with the utmost courtesy all the time, but con- stantly guarded as a prisoner. She afterward mar- ried Jonathan Moitimore, who was a miller by trade, and built the first gristmill in that part of the country.
The father of Mr. Hunter was a farmer by occu- pation, and spent his life in Pennsylvania. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was wounded at a drill exercise, from the effects of which he was afterward disabled and discharged from the service. Ilis death occurred at his home in Lawrence County, Pa., in 1854. Mr. Hunter attended the common schools when a boy, and at the age of eighteen began to learn the trade of a blacksmith. He followed this occupation in the neighborhood of his home for some time after completing his ap- prenticeship.
On the 2d of November, 1854, Mr. Hunter mar- ried Miss Jane Struthers, who was born in Mercer County, Pa., on the 11th of March, 1834, and was the daughter of John and Carrie (Duff) Struthers. She was the mother of four children: Edwin A., who was born Nov. 5, 1857; Alexander Lawrence, March 1, 1860, and two who died in infancy. Alex- ander L. died July 31, 1864, and the blow fell so heavily on the mother that she never recovered from the shock, and dying, left Mr. Hunter with only his little boy to cheer him.
In 1862, on the 2d of August, the subject of this biography enlisted in Company HI, 134th Pensyl- vania Infantry, beginning service as Second Ser- geant, but was soon promoted to Orderly Sergeant, and then commissioned Second Lieutenant by An- drew G. Curtin, War Governor of Pennsylvania. The muster into service occurred at Harrisburg on the 9th of August, 1862, and his rapid promotion placed him in the position of Second Lieutenant on the 1st of January, 1863. His first active service was at the second battle of Bull Run, and following in succession were the battles of Shepherdstown, under Col. Ed. O'Brien, 5th Army Corps: Fred- ericksburg; Antietam, under Hooker, where he was wounded while in command of his company by the bursting of a shell, a piece of which struck him in the left breast, from the effects of which he was disabled for active duty. Later he again took command of the company, and was soon afterward
discharged, on the 27th of May, 1863, when he re- turned to his home. Then he went into the oil fields of Pennsylvania, where he remained for a time, but not wishing to again settle among the scenes of his sorrows, he turned to Illinois and lo- cated first at Morris, where he engaged in the con- fectionery business.
On the 25th of October, 1866, Mr. Hunter mar- ried Mrs. Rhoda (Galloway) Shields, the seventh in a family of twelve children born to George and Angeline (MeFarland) Galloway, natives of Penn- sylvania. The father makes his home with his daughter, and is now in his eighty-ninth year, hav- ing been born on the 25th of October, 1798; he is hale and hearty. with a clear and active mind. Mr. Hunter moved to Odell, where he bought grounds upon which he built a residence, and engaged in blacksmithing and carriage manufacturing. This he followed until 1878, when his popularity as a citizen and his executive ability, shown in local offices and as a delegate to county conventions, led the Republican party to select him as a candi- date for Sheriff's office. He was elected by a good majority, and entered upon the duties of the office with the zeal and earnestness he always displayed in the discharge of any duty that might be assigned him. During this term occurred the celebrated Johannes Deboer case of Livingston County on a change of venue, and prosecuted by the Hon. S. S. Page, now .Judge of the Circuit Court at Peoria. The case terminated in the execution of Deboer in the jail at Pontiac during Mr. Hunter's term of office. In 1880 he was again a candidate for the office, and was re-elected. The Greenback and Democratic parties united on the opposition candi- date, and a strong fight was made on him and the Hon. L. E. Payson. They carried the county in spite of the combination against them, tying on all their majorities from districts to total results. This term was characterized by the energy he displayed in clearing up and completing all the work on his bands, so that when he passed out of office there was no business left unfinished except what court in- junctions had retarded. At the close of this term he retired to his home in Odell, where he had erected a fine residence during his inenmbency, and the only official position he has held since was the
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Postmastership of the Senate in 1883 at Springfield.
Mr. Hunter has purchased fifty acres of land in the village limits, which he cultivates at his leisure, and enjoy the fruits of hi- industry and frugality. One of his sister>. Mrs. Ruth Hamilton, the only one now living besides himself of a family of ten children. is now a widow, and makes her home with him. Mrs. Hunter is an active member of the Congregational Church, closely uniting with that in the absence of a Presbyterian Church, to which her membership belonged.
ACOB KING is one of the enterprising farmers and stock-raisers of Waldo Town- ship, and is located on section 14. He was born in Germany, Sept. 14, 1833. and is the son of Christian and Phoebe (Bernard) King. When he was about one and one-half years of age he was brought to America by his parents, who located in Butler County, Ohio, where the father followed farming on rented ground for six years, and then moved to MeLean County, 111., where he located on a farin between Bloomington and Danvers. llere our subject secured what education he was able to obtain, working a portion of the time for him-elf. and a part for his father, until he was about twenty-four years of age, when he rented ground and commenced farming for himself.
When about twenty-five years of age Mr. King was married, Dec. 8, 1858, to Miss Ann, daughter of John and Magdalena (Salzman) Newhanser. After his marriage he farmed rented ground for about six years and then moved to Waldo Town- ship, where he purchased eighty acres of land, which he has since increased to 160 acre-, all of which is finely located and well cultivated. He has erected good and comfortable buildings, and constructed a sufficient number of tile ditches to thoroughly drain the farm. In this ALBUM is shown a view of Mr. King's residence.
Mr. and Mr -. King have bad born to them ten children, whose names are as follows: Samuel, Phobe. Barbara, JJohn. Christian, Jacob, Emma, Anna. Simon and Amlia. Samuel was born Nov. 1, 1859. and died April 12. 1863; Phobe was born March 9, 1862. married Joseph Zehr, has two chil-
dren, and lives in Waldo Township: Barbara was born March 11, 1864, married Christian Augustine. and lives in Nebraska Township; John was born March 30, 1866, is unmarried and lives in Waldo Township; Christian was born April 4. 1868, and is unmarried ; Jacob was born Jan. 10, 1871, and died June 16, 1872; Emma was born Jan. 3, 1873, and died June 10, 1876: Anna was born Dec. 17, 1874, and died July 10, 1883: Simon was born Dec. 8, 1876, and Amnlia, Ang. 9. 1879.
Our subject was the third child in a family of ten, eight still living, who are married and have families, as follows : Christian has five children, and lives in Waldo Township; John has seven children, and lives in the same township; Jacob, our subject : Daniel has three children; Peter, six; James, four, and all live near Hudson, Ill .; Barbara married David Ropp, and has five children, and Samuel has two children; both also live near Undson, Ill.
Mrs. King was born in France on the 20th of April, 1841, and came to America with her father when she was fourteen years of age. She is the seventh child in a family of eight, who were named as follows: John, Joseph, Andrew, Christian, Peter, Valentine, Ann and Barbara. John is married, has one child, and is engaged in the business of milling in France: Joseph was married and died, leaving one child, who has since died : Andrew was married and died, leaving two children; Christian is married, has two children, and lives in Africa; Peter and Valentine are deceased ; Barbara married Peter Zehr, has four children, and lives in Nebraska Township. Mr. King is Democratie in politics, and has filled the office of School Director for seventeen years, a record which is not excelled by any other citizen of the district. He is a member of the Mennonite Church, and dovotes considerable atten- tion to church matters,
IMEON ARNETT. Virginia has the honor of having produced more occupants of the Presidential Chair than any other State in the Union, and is commonly called the Mother of Presidents. Virginia is also the birth- place of many of the most estimable citizens of the West, among whom is the subject of this sketch,
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an extensive farmer and large stock-raiser on sec- tion 14, Rook's Creek Township, who was born in Washington County, Va., on the 13th of August, 1814. llis maternal ancestors were of Irish-Swe- dish descent, and his paternal ancestors were pure Irish.
When a boy Simeon Arnett moved to Marshall County, Va., where he was apprenticed to the tailor's trade in the city of Wheeling, and served two years, but not liking the place he walked to Penn- sylvania where he remained about two years, and then returned to Randolph, Va., in 1831. From there he went to Scottsville, Albemarle County, seventy-five miles above Richmond, and then to Charlottesville. In 1832 he crossed over the Alle- ghany Mountains on foot. At that time the coun- try was infested with wild animals, particularly bears, which were very vicions at that season of the year. At Beverly, Clarksburg and Marietta, he worked at his trade as a journeyman for a time, and then returned to Moundsville, Marshall Co., Va., where he settled.
Mr. Arnett was married to Elizabeth Ward, daughter of William and Margaret (Konkle) Ward, on the 15th of October, 1836, near Moundsville, Va. After marriage he engaged at his trade and remained there until 1854. While he resided in Moundsville he was Treasurer of the Council, and took great interest in the affairs of the State Mili- tia, being Colonel of the 134th Virginia Militia Regiment, and during his residence here he also held the office of Justice of the Peace. In 1854 he moved west to Clayton County, Iowa, where he at one time owned 1,000 acres of land, but not liking the climate he sold out and came to Wood- ford County, HIL., where he purchased 190 acres of land in May, 1856, and afterward enough to make 501 acres in all. He resided in Woodford County until 1883, when he sold part of his land, retaining 340 acres, which he still owns. Ilis home farm on sections 14 and 15 contains 4to acres of land, which constitutes one of the best stock farms in the county. It is well tiled, the buildings are first- class, and every appointment of the farm is ar- ranged for comfort. Mr. Arnett's social standing is very high, and he is a favorite with all his neigh- bors. In 1876 he visited the great Centennial Ex-
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