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 110

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 110

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ACOB WAKEY, a native of the Kingdom of Prussia, sought the New World and a home in the West when a youth of sixteen years, which was nearly fifty years ago. He is now one of the most highly respected residents of Odell, to which he retired after a period of forty-nine years spent in agricultural pursuits, in which he built up a good home and secured a competency. He is a substantial and reliable citizen, who has pursued his course in life without ostentation, and whose word is considered as good as his bond.

Mr. Wakey was born in the Kingdom of Prussia, May 2, 1820, and was the fourth child of Frederick and Sophia (Peters) Wakey, who were natives of the same country as their son, and followed him to the United States about two years after his ar- rival here. They landed at New Orleans, where the mother was seized with a fatal illness of which she died a short time afterward. Frederick Wakey

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subsequently joined his son iu this State and spent his declining years in LaSalle County, where his death took place about 1839. The paternal grand- father of our subject, also Frederick Wakey, spent his entire life in his native Prussia. where he and a long line of his ancestors had been uniformly en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Jacob Peters, as well as all the other male members of both families, had given several years of his youth to the service of the German Government in the army. Frederick Wakey participated in the revolution during which his native Kingdom was subjugated by the First Napoleon, and received a sabre cut across the head which nearly cost him his life.

Mr. Wakey, our subject, in common with the youth of his native country, was thoroughly edu- cated in the common schools, and in addition to the employments of the farm, became familiar with the art of spinning. He remained with his parents dur- ing his residence in his native country, but at an early age began laying his plans for the future, and was strongly desirons of something better than the prospect held out to him there. Accordingly, one morning in April, 1836, he bade adieu to the friends of his childhood, and boarding a sailing- vessel at Bremen, moved out on the broad ocean to enter upon a new life in a strange country. After a stormy voyage of forty-six days he landed in New York City, where he was joined seven days later by his brother, of Washington, Litchfield Co .. Conn., who had come to meet him and welcome him to his home. He took up his residence in that State, and carried on farming three years and two months. In the meantime, his brother had mi- grated to the West, and Jacob followed him in 1841, locating first upon a 40-acre tract of land near Ot- tawa, LaSalle County, which he had purchased, and where he had cultivated the soil until having an op- portunity to sell at a good advance. His next purchase was eighty acres in Bruce Township, where he determined to establish a permanent home. The next important step toward the consummation of his hopes was his marriage, which occurred on the 20th of June, 1848, his chosen bride being Miss Eliza Jane McQuaid, who was then a resident of LaSalle County.

Mrs. Wakey was born in Clearfield County, Pa., April 25, 1828, and was the fifth child of James and Jane (Ross) McQuaid, also natives of the Key- stone State, and the parents of five children. The father died in Clearfield County about 1828, and the mother subsequently married again, and came to LaSalle County, this State, with her second fam- ily of four children. Here with her husband, Isaac Corle, she resided on a farm, where our subject made the acquaintance of his future wife, and where they were married. Mr. Wakey and his young wife continued residents of LaSalle County until the spring of 1856, when selling out, they removed across the Mississippi to a point near Etna, Scot- land Co., Mo., where Mr. Wakey purchased a quar- ter section of wild land. They began housekeep- ing in a small frame structure and remained resi- dents there for a period of eight years, during which time our subject had brought about many improve- ments, and supplied the place with good buildings.

At the breaking out of the late Rebellion, our subject formed one of the Home Guards, and in July following was mustered into a cavalry regi- ment of the regular service, whose duty was to watch the bushwhackers. Mr. Wakey's company was in active duty in that State most of the time during the war. and participated in the battle of Athens, where the Union troops were attacked by the rebel General, Greene. Later it fought at the battle of Kirksville, where 600 of the enemy were laid low. Its next encounter was with the rebel General, Marmaduke, at Cape Girardeau, who was defeated and driven out of that part of the State: this occurred in April, 1863. Mr. Wakey then, on account of accumulated years, and the exposure and hardship to which he had been subjected, was given his honorable discharge and returned home. The following spring he resumed his farming oper- ations, but found that the labor was beyond his strength, and accordingly sold out at the end of the season. He then took up his residence in La- Salle County, Meriden Township, where he resided until the spring of 1865. Farm life, however, had a charm for him which he could not resist, and he accordingly purchased eighty acres of land near the town of Meriden, LaSalle County, upon which he commenced farming again and continued two years.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

Ile found. however. that this comparatively small area of land would not justify him in attempting to carry on agriculture in that section, and by the urgent advice of his children and friends, who en- deavored to convince him that he had labored long enough. he sold out once more and came to this county. Here the ruling spirit still predominated. and he purchased eighty acres of unimproved land on section 18. in Odell Township. His health now being quite recovered, he seemed to take a new lease of life and purchased the remaining quarter section which he improved and occupied for a pe- riod of twenty years. Ilere he erected a tine set of frame buildings and brought the land to a high state of cultivation. He now felt satisfied with what he had accomplished in life, and purchased a home in Odell, of which he has but just taken pos- session (October, 1887), and where he proposes to pass the balance of his days.

To Mr. and Mrs. Wakey there were born four children : Lucy Ann, April 28, 1849; Mary Jane, Aug. 6. 1852: Lorenzo Dow, Oct. 9, 1856, and John Wesley. Oct. 9. 1859. The three ekle-t were laid away in the quiet country burying-ground in their childhood. John. the only survivor, married Miss Teresa Dunham, and manages the home farm. They have one child. JJacob A., who was born June 17. 1887, and took the prize at the late baby show in the city of Odell. Mr. Wakey and his son are members of the Congregational Church, and our subject has served as Road Commissioner and School Director. Ile takes a lively interest in pol- itie- and votes the straight Republican ticket.

A- a representative citizen, Mr. Wakey's por- trait is entitled to a place in this Atury, and it may therefore be found on an adjoining page.

AMES HAMILTON, one of the most -1tb- -tantial farmers and reliable residents of I'nion Township, came to this section of contry bringing with him all the substan- tial elements of his excellent Scotch ancestry. His life has been somewhat varied, and in this neces- sarily brief manner we give it- principal incidents. Mr. Hamilton was born on the other side of the

Atlantic, on New Year's morning. 1833, in Lennox- shire, Scotland, which had been the home of his parents. William and Jane ( Morrison) Hamilton, since they began life together. and which was the birthplace of the father. The parental household included nine children, of whom our subject was the fifth. Ilis paternal grandfather had also been born on this farm, which had been the property of the family for several generations, while the male members had, almost without exception, been en- gaged in agricultural pur-uits. William Hamilton. when about twenty-three years of age, parted with his possessions in Scotland and emigrated to Amer- ica, spending six years in the Southern States, after which he returned to Scotland. He made a second trip to this country. lle finally returned to his native Isle, where he was married to one of his childhood associates, and remained in Scotland until 1848, when he once more set sail for America. de- termined to establish a permanent home for him- self and his family. He embarked from Glasgow on the Jath of April, on board the sailing-vessel "Merlin," which was lost with all on board, as no tid- ings of it were ever after obtained. One year later the bereaved wife died of a broken heart, and within a fortnight two of the children followed their mother to the silent land. Six children were thus left orphaned, and of these five are still living in America. The other four are recorded as fol- lows: Margaret became the wife of John Wyllie, who was formerly a resident of Union Township, but is now deceased: she still resides near her brother, our subject. Jeanette is the wife of Hugh Allen, a prosperous farmer of Peabody, Kan. ; Mary is the widow of the late JJames Burnette, and is also living in Kansas; Lillie married John Stewart, who is carrying on farming near Fowler in Southern Indiana.

After the loss of his father our subject continued in his native shire employed at farm labor until he reached his majority. His early advantages for education were quite limited, being confined to the country school, in which he spent only a short time. Upon becoming old enough to begin to lay his plans for the future, he determined to carry out his father's idea in regard to a home in the New World. and accordingly, in the spring of 1855, set

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RESIDENCE OF JAMES HAMILTON. SEC. 12. UNION TOWNSHIP.

RESIDENCE OF J. S. THOMAS, SEC. I. EPARDS POINT TOWNSHIP.

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sail from Glasgow on board the "Mary Marross." When near the banks of Newfoundland the vessel during a thick fog collided with an iceberg, which at once destroyed masts and rigging, and left them almost helpless upon the face of the deep, and they were obliged to take to the boats and row away from the dismasted vessel. The entire voyage consumed two and one-half months, and upon reaching New York Harbor they were nearly ex- hausted. Fortunately no lives were lost, although they experienced fearful hardships and privations.

Mr. Hamilton now set out for friends in Canada, but not being favorably impressed with that sec- tion of country, started a week later for Illinois. Hle first took up his residence with an uncle near Plainfield, and afterward commenced learning the carpenter's trade at Plano, Ill. Hlis employer, to whom he had apprenticed himself two years, now concluded to abandon carpentering and take up farming, and our subject agreed to go with him farther west, to Kansas. The John Brown troubles, however, interfered with their plans, and they wisely concluded that it would be safer to remain this side of the Mississippi. Mr. Hamilton then repaired to Chicago where he proposed to follow his trade, but the free circulation of will-cat money induced him to abandon this project also, and going down to Tiskilwa, Bureau County, he engaged one season in chopping wood. At the expiration of this contract he engaged in farming in LaSalle County, and for three or four years thereafter made his home with his brother-in-law, JJohn Wyllie.

Mr. Hamilton, notwithstanding the adage that "a rolling stone gathers no moss," had managed to save a little sum of money, which he now decided to in- vest in land. Accordingly in the fall of 1860 he came to this county and purchased eighty acres from Alexander Campbell, who was a resident of LaSalle County. He now began in earnest the cul- tivation and improvement of his purchase, and laid the foundations of a home before taking upon him- self the responsibilities of a family. Nine years later, on the 29th of December, 1869, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann, youngest dangh- ter of John and Mary ( Walka) Edgecomb. Mr. and Mrs. Edgecomb were of English birth and par- entage and immigrated to America during their

youth, settling first in Pennsylvania and afterward becoming residents of Peru, LaSalle County, where Mrs. Hamilton was born Dec. 22, 1840. Her father had followed farming all his life and spent his last years at the homestead which he had built up in Peru, his death taking place in 1819, and that of the mother in 1876.

Mr. Hamilton after his marriage at once brought his bride to the home which he had prepared for her, and where they have since lived harmoniously together. He added by degrees to his real estate until he was at one time the owner of 526 acres. Later he commenced selling from this with the in- tention of removing to another part of the country, but subsequently abandoned the idea. He has now 420 aeres under a fine state of cultivation and em- bellished with handsome and substantial farm build- ings, of which a view is shown in this connection. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton became the parents of an interesting family of six children, four of whom are living, namely : Willis, who was born Oct. 13, 1870; John, Feb. 15, 1875; Benjamin, Nov. 3, 1880, and Elizabeth, May 29, 1883. In 1881 all the children they then had were stricken down with diphtheria, and little James and Mary fell victims to the dread disease, dying within nine days of each other. James was a bright lad of nine years and Mary bad just passed her fourth birthday; the others were saved only by superhuman efforts. The sorrowing parents in their dread attliction received the sym- pathy of the entire community. They were more than ordinarily attached to their little ones, and the loss of two of these at once was to them a most terrible blow. Those surviving remain at home with their parents and form a. remarkably bright and intelligent family group. They are being care- fully trained and well educated and fitted for the station in life which they will occupy as the offspring of citizens held in universal respect.

Mr. Hamilton has been quite prominent in mat- ters concerning the best interests of his community, serving as School Trustee and Road Commissioner several years, and has represented Union Township in the County Board of Supervisors two terms. In his district he has officiated a- Director for a long period. As the years advance he finds he is losing his active interest in politics. He forsook the Re-

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publican party several years ago, and since then has given his support to the Greenback element. Although Mr. and Mrs. Ilamilton are not identified with any religious organization, they realize the important influences of Christianity upon a com- munity. and give their support to that element as well as to all others tending to the welfare of the people.

OSEPH S. THOMAS. This gentleman comes of a family celebrated for the longevity and stature attained by its members. The ages of some of the ancestors have averaged one hundred and three years, and several of them were veritable giants. Great longevity and innnense stature indicate a race of men of nearly physical perfection. The ancestors of Mr. Thomas were men and women who were leaders in their day and generation, and attained to prominence in whatever field in the vineyard of life they elected to work.

Mr. Thomas, who is a farmer and stock-raiser and owns over 200 acres of land, lying in Eppard's Point. Avoca and Owego Townships, is a native of Madison County, Ohio, where he was born on the 14th of August. 1831. Ile is the son of Rev. Jo- seph and Sarah Ann (Price) Thomas, the former of whom. the son of Griffith and Mary ( Williams) Thomas, was born in Grayson County, Va., and claims the relationship of first cousin of Jefferson Davis. Mary Williams was the daughter of Col. John Williams, of Revolutionary War celebrity, and a man who lived to be one hundred and nine years. nine months and seventeen days old, and re- tained his reason until the last moment. He was six feet two inches in height, and weighed 225 pounds. During his life he was a leader among mon, always standing at the front of any enterprise in which he might be engaged, He was born of Welsh descent. and died in Madison County, Ohio. He was the father of a large family of children, the age- of whom averaged one hundred and three year- at their death. They were members of the Quaker Society, and the father of our subject was reared in that faith, but afterward became a mem. ber of the Christian Church.

To the parents of Mr. Thomas were born twelve

children, whose record is as follows: James W. is married, has a family of eight children, and is engaged in farming at Cherry Vale. Kan .; Joseph S., the subject of this sketch; Cicero F. is married, has a small family, and is a successful farmer in Indi- ana, worth about $25,000; Yensi was the wife of Warren Chamberlain, and died, leaving five chil- dren; Griffith was killed by guerrillas in Kentucky while serving in the Union army, and left a wife and one child; Ann M. is the wife of John A. Thomas, a dealer in farm implements and hardware in Jasper County, Ind .: Sarah C. is the wife of Harvey Hillis, who died in Indiana; Mary was burned to death at the age of fourteen; John P. was born in Indiana, is married and has two chil- dren : Charles was in an Indiana cavalry regiment during the war for four years: soon after his return from the war he was married. and his death was caused by an accident with a threshing-machine. Lydia J. is the wife of Milo Gilkerson, of Kanka- kee, and has three children; Emma was the wife of Austin Cotton, whose death was caused by ex- posure.

Mr. Thomas' father died in 1873 in Livingston County, on what is now known as the Ively Pills- bury farm. He was a minister in the Christian Church forty-nine years, beginning when he was twenty years of age. He had lived in various States, moving from Ohio to Indiana in 1851, and thence to Illinois in 1863, having buried his wife in Indiana in 1862; their remains are buried side by side.

Mr. Thomas was married, on the 4th of July, 1865. to Martha M. Houder, who was born Sept. 16, 1833, in Montgomery County, Ohio, and is the daughter of JJacob and Barbara ( Kertz) Hou- der, who were the parents of ten children, four of whom are living: Ephraim, in Eppard's Point Township; David, in Pontiac; Nancy, in Ohio, and Mrs. Thomas. Mrs. Thomas had four brothers in the late war, two of whom were killed in battle and one died in prison; Ephraim alone returned. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas five children have been born : Jennie Almeda, May 20, 1866; Ulysses S., Nov. 19, 1867; Mollie A., Nov. 18, 1870; Cicero L., Oct. 17, 1873, and Manette, April 25, 1876. Their eldest son was in the Chatsworth disaster, but fort-

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unately came ont unharmed. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are members of the Christian Church, in which he holds the position of Clerk. They are both respected members of society, and the family enjoys the esteem of all their neighbors.

We are pleased to present on an adjoining page a view of Mr. Thomas' residence and its sur- roundings.

W ILLIAM NORMAN, an esteemed and re- spected resident of Saunemin Township, is a native of Cambridgeshire, England, where he was born on the 2d of February, 1816. He is the son of James and Mary A. Norman, both of whom were also natives of England.

Mr. Norman was married in England on the 30th of December, 1840, the lady whom he chose for a wife being Miss Mary A. Sharp, who was born on the 1st of May, 1820. She is a daughter of Jere- miah and Sarah Sharp, both of whom were natives of England. Mr. and Mrs. Norman have had born to them twelve children, of whom eight survive- George W., Sarah E., Mary J .. Thomas P., Robert .J., Rachel N .. John J. and Henry G. George W. was born Nov. 19, 1845, and now reside in Colorado; Sarah E. was born Oct. 4. 1847, and is the wife of Charles E. Smith, of Saunemin Township; Mary J. was born Nov. 12, 1850, and is the wife of A. J. Gordon, of Dwight Township; Thomas P. was born Nov. 29, 1853, and resides in Saunemin Township; Robert J. was born June 28. 1856. and resides in Dakota; Rachel N. was born Oct. 16, 1858, and is the wife of A. J. Evans, of Sannemin: John JJ. was born March 15, 1861, and lives in Saunemin, and Henry G., born Dee. 30, 1863. The names of the deceased were James L., Jeremiah J. and Caroline A .; one died in infancy unnamed.

In 1852, with his wife and three children, Mr. Norman immigrated to America, taking passage at Liverpool, and after a voyage of ten weeks landed in New Orleans. From that city he came direct to Marshall County, Ill .. where he engaged for many years in manufacturing brick and cultivating a farm. In the spring of 1878 he came to Livingston County, and settled on section 29, Saunemin Town-

ship, on the 80-acre farm upon which he now re- sides. When he arrived in Marshall County he not only had no eash but was indebted in the sum of $11. He immediately went to work, and in a short time liquidated this indebtedness and began to gather a nucleus for his after prosperity. Mrs. Nor- man is a member of the Christian Church, and they are both respected members of society. Mr. Nor- man is a Republican in polities, and has been fre- quently solicited to discharge the duties of various township offices, but has invariably declined. He is modest and unassuming in his nature, and has never had any taste whatever for office-getting. He and his wife are now in their declining years. and have provided themselves so that their remain- ing days may be spent in comparative ease and comfort.

Thomas P. Norman. a farmer of Saunemin Township, is a son of William and Mary A. Nor- man, and was born and reared in Marshall County, where he received a fair common-school education, and has always resided; he has always been engaged in farming and manufacturing brick. On the 2d of January, 1876, he was married to Miss Abbie Seott, who was born on the 7th of March, 1850, in Grundy County, Ill., and is the daughter of Sam- uel and Mary A. Scott, natives of Pennsylvania and Indiana respectively. Two children have been the result of this marriage, namely : Laura I., who was born Sept. 23, 1882, and Genova, who was born July 22. 1879, and died Sept. 23. 1883. Thomas Norman owns eighty aeres of good land. and in the cultivation of it has been quite successful. He is a Republican in polities, and supports his party with enthusiasm upon all occasions where he can assist in attaining success. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church and are regular in their attendance and liberal in support.

OHN PRITCHARD, now a resident of San- nemin Township, is a native of Wales, in which country he resided until twenty-eight years of age. He was born on the 7th of October. 1832, and is the son of David and Guine Pritchard. the former a native of Wales, but of

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Scotch ancestry, as was also the mother. To the parents were born six children. named: Margaret. William, Eleanor. David, John and Thomas. The Pritchard family are all long-lived people, the father having reached eighty-five years and the mother ninety years.

Our subjeet was reared to manhood in his native country, where he was given but a meager educa- tion in the school of that day. In 1860 he con- cluded to transfer his place of residence from the country of his birth to the United States, and taking passage on the steamship "City of Washington," at Liverpool, he landed at Castle Garden, N. Y., after a stormy voyage of two weeks across the ocean. From New York he proceeded directly to Delaware County, Ohio, and there remained for seven years, being employed as a farm hand and performing such other kinds of work as he was able to secure. Thence he came to Illinois, where he remained a resident of LaSalle County for a short time and then came to Livingston County. His stay in this county was but temporary, and in 1868 he moved to the State of Missouri.

On the 3d of October, 1872, while living in Mis- souri, Mr. Pritchard was married to Mary M. Mil- ler, a native of Pennsylvania, who was born on the 21-t of November, 1851. To them were born seven children, whose record is as follows: John B. was born Sept. 23, 1873: Margaret E., Jan. 9, 1×76: David J., April 12. 1878; William C., Feb. 11, 1880; Franklin T., Feb. 26, 1882: Mary J., Oct. 17, 1884, and Lavinia M .. Sept. 25. 1886. Shortly after marriage, Mr. Pritchard came to Liv- ing-ton County and settled on the farm on which he now re-ides, on the Vermilion River. His first purchase of lind consisted of eighty acres, to which he subsequently added until he now has a farm of 100 acres, which i- a model in all its appointments and equipment -. When he became possessed of this land there had practically never been any im- provement- made upou it, nor any cultivation at- tempted.

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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 110

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