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 111
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On the 13th of October, 1886, Mrs. Pritchard died after a short illness. She was a woman who bad endeared her-elf by her many good qualities of head and heart. to all who knew her, and her loss, both to the family and the community, is sincerely
mourned. Mr. Pritchard is a member of the Bap- tist Church, in which he has served in the capacity of Deacon, and is also Superintendent of the Sun- day-school. He is a Republican in politics, although he does not take an active part in political matters. He has never been an office-seeker, but on the con- trary has declined political perferment when ten- dered by his friends.
OHN STUDLEY, the subject of this sketch, is engaged in farming on section 13, Round Grove Township, where he is the possessor of 240 acres of land eligibly located, and very productive. Mr. Studley's parents were Ben- jamin and Mary (Titt) Studley, who were natives of England, where they spent their entire lives. They were the parents of seven children, of whom our subject was the sixth.
John Studley was born in England on the 9th of December, 1841, and was reared on a farm till about nine years of age when he came to Canada where he lived about two years. At the end of that time he came to Illinois, and engaged in farm work in Kendall County until 1871, when he came to Liv- ingston County and settled in Round Grove Town- ship, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres on section 13. During his residence on this farm he has made many improvements, including the erec- tion of a fine set of buildings. He has added, by subsequent purchases, to this farm until it consists of 240 acres, and in addition to this he owns 160 aeres in Kankakee County, Ill., making him the owner of a total of 400 acres of Illinois lands, a possession of which any man may well be proud.
In Kankakee County, Ill., on the 7th of March, 1872, Mr. Studley was married to Lucy Patchett, daughter of Paddison and Martha (Duddles) Patchett, who are residents of that county. They have a family of seven children living, of whom Mrs. Studley is the chlest. She was born in En- gland, Feb. 13, 1852, and was about six years old when she accompanied her parents to America. Mr. and Mrs. Studley are the parents of seven chil- dren, whose names are as follows: Martha M., George W., Laura L., Alice E., Phoebe A., Bertha
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RESIDENCE OF JOHN STUDLEY , SEC . 13 , ROUND GROVE TP.
SCALES
RESIDENCE OF MARGARETT WYLLIE , SEC.11. UNION TP.
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L. and John II. Mr. Studley was formerly a member of the Republican party, but of late years has earnestly co-operated with the Prohibition party in its efforts to destroy the great curse of the nation, the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors. He has always manifested a lively interest in educational matters, and for a considerable tine was enabled to put into practice his theories re- garding the conduct of schools, while serving in the capacity of School Director.
Our subject and his excellent wife are members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church and take a lively interest in the affairs of that organization. They give hearty and substantial encourage- ment to all movements which have for their aim the dissemination of religious, moral and temper- ance truth> The family enjoy the esteem and re- spect of all the people of the community.
As representative of the building's of this section of country we present on an adjoining page a view of Mr. Studley's homestead.
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OHIN WYLLIE, who was a farmer and stock- raiser on section 11, Union Township, was born near Kilmarnock, Scotland, on the 11th of December, 1811, and died on the 29th of December, 1873, at the present residence of his widow. Ile was third in a family of five children born to William and Jane Wyllie, who were also natives of Scotland, where they spent their entire lives.
The subject of this sketch was reared to farm life and educated in the common schools. At the age of twenty-two he and a brother embarked for Amer- ica to find a home in the New World, and landing at New York he remained a short time, and then came to the West. Ile first settled at Galena, where he engaged in work at the lead mines, remaining for several years, and then came to Peru, LaSalle County, where he formed a partnership in the gen- eral merchandise business, which he followed for several years with indifferent success. Ile then sold out and bought a farm of eighty acres, which he set about improving. His partner in business robbed him and fled to Canada, leaving him to bear ;
the burden of the debt, and during the next few years his progress was slow and laborious.
In 1848 Mr. Wyllie joined a company of specu- lators to seek their fortunes in the gold fields of California. Crossing the plains with ox-teams, they spent more than three months in reaching the gold mines near Sacramento, where he engaged in min- ing and prospecting, and was reasonably prosper- ous. After remaining two years he concluded to return, but the mountains being infested with high- waymen, which made the trip overland very dan- gerous. he came by water, crossing the Isthmus, touching at Cuba, and then around the coast to New York. and across the country to his home in LaSalle, 11. Upon his arrival he bought 160 acres more land, and began to push his farming interests with renewed vigor, and prosperity began to smile upon him. In 1860 he began to invest in wild land in Livingston County, and bought and sold several times on speculation, but soon saw the indications of progress, and began to select the finest tracks he could secure for his own future use. Soon after his return from California he made a visit to his old home in Scotland.
On the 27th of January, 1857, Mr. Wyllie was married to Margaret Hamilton, who was born in Scotland on the Ist of January. 1837, and was the fifth in a family of eleven children born to William and Jane ( Morrison) Hamilton, whose history ap- pears in connection with the biography of their son James in this Aubry. Mr. and Mrs. Wyllie remained in LaSalle County until 1866, and then came to Livingston County, and settled on the farm the widow now occupies. lle sold his farm in Lasalle County, and improved his estate in Livingstou County until he owned 1.140 acres of as fine land as lies in the county. The palatial residence and commodious barns are indicative of his thrift, as well as of the progress made in the style of architect- ure in this section of country. On an adjoining page is shown a view of Mr. Wyllie's handsome homestead. All the land he purchased he at once put under cultivation, and built upon it, thus gain- ing all the advantages of progress as well as develop- ment. In 1873 he made another visit to his old home in Scotland, and returned to die in a short time afterward. lle had been a strong and hearty
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man all his life. but somewhat subject to attacks of pleurisy, one of which at last caused his death. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he served as Trustee, and was an active man in politics, giving his life-long support to the Repub- lican party. He frequently held the various town- ship offices, such as Director, Trustee, Commissioner. etc.
Mr. Wyllie was the father of six children, five of whom are living-William, John, James, Jane and David. Mary died at the age of three years and eight months: James married .Jessie MeCloud, and lives on section 1. Union Township; Jane married Peter Fotheringham, and lives in Union Township, while the others reside at home with their mother. who is educating them to the best of her ability. She is an active member of the Presbyterian Church, and is an energetic lady, devoting her time to her family and the admirable farm on which she lives. In 1886 she returned to her old home in Scotland on a visit. and remained three months among the scenery of the mountains. During his life Mr. Wyllie was specially noted for his thrift and enterprise, and good judgment in all business transactions, and his accumulations are sufficient to make his family comfortable during their days. Mrs. Wyllie is highly esteemed by all who have the honor of her acquaintance, and while giving her time and atten- tion to the care of her family. she gives with a will- ing hand and ready purse to all deserving people whose circumstances make it necessary to depend npon the charities of the world.
M RS. MARTHA R. FOX, widow of the late Abraham Fox, of Round Grove Township, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, Aug. 14. 1×15. She came to America with her parents. Joseph and Margaret (Arnold) MeCune. when a young girl, and is now one of the most highly respected ladies of her community. She oc- cupie- a good farm on section 20.
The parent- of Mrs. Fox were also of Irish birth and ancestry. and upon reaching America settled in Guernsey County, Ohio, but not long afterward removed to Belmont County, whence two years later they migrated to the West. Upon reaching
Illinois they located in Christian County. and three years later removed to Pike Township, this county. where they remained until becoming members of the household of their daughter, Mrs. Fox. Here the father died on the 23d of August. 1885, when about eighty-one years of age. The mother is still living and is also well stricken in years. being eighty- five years old April 21. Their household ineluded three children only, all of whom lived to maturity. Mary A. became the wife of Thaddeus Orr, and died in Christian County some years since ; Martha R .; Joseph A. during the late war enlistel in Company F. 30th Ohio Infantry, and was killed in the battle of South Mountain, Md. He was a bright and promising young man, and among the first of those who responded to the call for volun- teer troops.
Mrs. Fox came to this county with her parents in March, 1866. and remained under the home roof until her marriage. She had been well edu- cated and was engaged as a teacher some years. Her union with Abraham Fox took place at the home of her parents in Pike Township, Nov. 15, 1866. Mr. Fox was born in Dublin, Ireland. and immigrated to the United States when nineteen years of age. He first located in New Jersey, whence he came to Peoria, this State, and from there to this county, locating in Pike Township during its early settlement. After the outbreak of the late Rebellion he enlisted, in the fall of 1861, in Company 1. 47th Illinois Infantry, and'served as a I'nion soldier three years. Although escaping wounds and capture, the privations and hardships which he endured undermined his health, and he never regained his former strength and vitality. His marriage took place after the close of the war, and the young people commenced life together in Pike Township, where they remained until the spring of 1883, Mr. Fox being mostly engaged in farming. At the date mentioned he removed with his family to Round Grove Township, where his death took place on the 6th of August following. Ile is remembered as a good man of kindly im- pulses, and he lived the life of a quiet and unob- trusive citizen, devoted to his family and oblig- ing to his friends.
Mr. and Mrs. Fox became the parents of five
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children, namely : George, Joseph R., Margaret, Mary A. and Martha L. They are of great as- sistance to their mother in the management of the homestead, and are being educated in a manner be- coming their station in life. Mr. Fox was a mem- ber in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and to this Mrs. Fox also belongs, together with her three daughters.
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Le ORENZO B. DOMINY. No well-regulated town of any pretentions can get along very well without a banking institution. for sev- eral reasons, among which are, a place of safe de- posit for the surplus sums of money which, in the regular course of business, must accumulate in a community ; facilities for issuing bills of exchange on other points for the accommodation of business men, and above all, to loan money in times of com- mercial emergency with which business men may bridge over little chasms or enlarge their transac- tions commensurate with the demands upon them. Confidence and capital are the two great requisites demanded of a bank, and the firm of Beach & Dom- iny, of Fairbury, has an abundance of each. The subject of this sketch is the junior member of this firm of bankers. He was born in Madison County, Ohio, in 1844, and is the son of Ezra and Hester A. (Beach) Dominy, who were natives of Ohio. The father was a farmer by occupation, and died on the 3d of July, 1846, while the mother followed him a few days after. The subject of this sketch was their only child.
Mr. Dominy was married to Miss Phoebe A. Curl, in December, 1865. She was born in Greene County, Pa., in 1844, and is the daughter of James and Lavinia Curl. Her father is dead, but the mother is still living. Mr. Dominy came to Illi- nois in 1855, locating in Indian Grove Township; his education was received in the common schools and he followed the ocenpation of a farmer until he was twenty-six years of age. In 1870 he began his business career with Mr. Beach as a hardware mer- chant, which he continued for three and one-half years, when he disposed of his interests, and in
1874 entered the banking firm of Bartlett, Beach & Dominy, which continued for four years under that firm name, when Mr. Bartlett's health failed and he sold his interest to Beach & Dominy, who became the owners of the bank. At the time this sketch is written the firm is erecting an elegant banking house on the corner of Main and Third streets, in Fairbury. Mr. Dominy is the owner of 1.200 acres of most excellent land in Livingston County, and his residence is credited with being one of the fin- est buildings in Fairbury.
Mr. and Mrs. Dominy are the parents of four children : Jennie and .Jessie, twins ; Lizzie Fern, and one who is now deceased. Mr. Dominy is the Su- pervisor for Indian Grove Township, and was elected by the people regardless of political questions. lle has acted for ten years as a member of the City Council, and for three terms has been President of the Board. He is a very ardent Republican and makes Iris influence felt for that party in every political campaign. Ile is a shrewd and energetic business man, possessing a proper degree of con- servatism to make him a safe and reliable banker. His success in life is largely due to his individual efforts, and he is a fair illustration of what a man can accomplish through industry, prudence and economy.
R REDERIC FALTER, a prosperous farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 13. Broughton Township, is the son of Lewis, Sr., and Gertrude (Lukam ) Falter, and was born in HIesse-Darmstadt, March 26, 1841. When he was about four years old his parents emigrated to Amer- ica, locating in Franklin County, Ohio, where our subject received a common-school education, and served an apprenticeship of three years at the black- smith's trade.
Mr. Falter had barely reached his majority when the Civil War broke out, and he responded promptly to the call of duty in the service of his adopted country. In 1862 he enlisted in the 18th Obio Infantry, and upon reaching the front he was de- tailed to do blacksmithing. After serving in the army about eighteen months he was discharged on , account of sickness. Soon after his return he fol-
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lowed the tide of immigration westward, coming to Illinois and locating near Joliet, where he worked for various farmers about four years and then removed to Ford County, where he cultivated his father's land.
Our subject was married in Ford County, Oet. 13. 1868. to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel and Anna (Carber) Breneisa, of that county. For about three years after his marriage Mr. Falter farmed on rented ground in Ford County, he and his frugal wife. in the meantime. - aving their earnings for the purchase of a home. In 1871 he was enabled to buy the farm on which he now lives, consisting of 160 acres, which he has brought to a fine state of cultivation, and upon which he has erected good buildings, and has everything needful for the mod- ern agriculturist. In politics he is not a strict party men. but always tries to vote for the best candidate when no important principles are at stake. Ilis first Presidential vote was cast for the lamented Lincoln. In religion he is a member of the German Lutheran Church. Mr. and Mrs. Falter have five children, as follows: Anna Margaret, who was born Nov. 19, 1869; Charles Lewis, Jan. 7, 1874: Daniel Luther, Nov. 29, 1879; Margaret May, July 7, 1883, and Charles William, Nov. 15, 1886.
Our subjeet is the fourth in a family of eight children. as follows: Mary, Lewis, John, Frederic, George. Amelia, Caroline and Catherine. Mary died at the age of thirteen, in Ohio; Lewis was born in Germany. April 4, 1837. married Margaret Amel, lives in Ford County, HH., and has five children; John was killed at the battle of Murfreesboro: George married Mary Hoil, lives in Kankakee County, Ill., and has seven children ; Amelia married Matthew Fadling, and lives in Ford County ; Caro- line married John Heller, lives in Iroquois County, IH .. and has four children: Catherine first married Adam Wainbeck, by whom she had three children, and after his death became the wife of Charles schultz. who resides in Ford County, and has three children by her second marriage.
The father of our subject was born in Germany, Ang. 21. 1x10, and died in froquois County, Ill., Ang. 27. 1886. Hli- mother was born in Germany, Nov. 20, 1819, and i- still living, making her home with her daughter Caroline. Mrs. Falter is one in
a family of four children, of whom the record is as follows: Reuben was born Dec. 6, 1849, married Sarah McLean, lives in Ford County, and has three children: Catherine and Elizabeth, twins, were born Oct. 28, 1851, in Lancaster County, Pa .; Fannie was born Dec. 14, 1853, married John Buxton, lives in Gardner, Ill., and has no children.
The parents of Mrs. Falter were born in Pennsyl- vania, and the mother was of Scotch ancestry. The father was born May 18, 1827, and the mother March 14, 1832: their marriage occurred March 6, 1849, and both are still living in Cabery, Ill. The paternal grandfather, Conrad Breneisa, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., Feb. 27, 1796, and died Sept. 20, 1876. His wife Elizabeth was born near Hagers- town, Md., Feb. 22, 1797, and died in Lancaster County, Pa., March 29, 1853. The maternal grand- father, Gotlieb Carber, born April 5, 1800, died in Pennsylvania, Dec. 23, 1841. His wife, Catherine Carber, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., July 20, 1810, and died in the same county, Oct. 16, 1870.
6 HOMAS FALLIS. This aged and highly re- spected citizen of Livingston County car- ried on farming in Dwight Township for a long period of years, and in 1884 retired from act- ive labor, and took up his residence in the town, where he is now pleasantly located and in the en- joyment of a competency. Ile is the scion of an old Virginian family of English descent, and was born March 23, 1812, in Uniontown. Fayette Co., Pa.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, George Fallis by name, was a member of the Society of Friends, and immigrated to this country at a pe- riod antedating the Revolutionary War, about 1750. He was accompanied by his two brothers, and from them sprang the entire family in America. The mother of our subject was the descendant of a fam- ily who, during the perseention of the Quaker sect in England, immigrated to this country with Will- iam Penu, to enjoy freedom of thought and the right to worship God according to the dictates of conscience. The Friends, as is well known, were among the most valued and reliable citizens of the
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Colonial times, and from them have descended a long following of noble men and women.
The grandmother of our subject, formerly Mis- Mary Ridgeway, was the daughter of Richard Ridgeway, of England, and of her union with George Fallis there were born the following-named children : John, Rachel, Jane and Richard. Rachel married lohn Gordon, of Virginia: Jane became the wife of Mr. Nichols, also of the Old Dominion, and Richard, the father of our subject, was a na- tive of Culpeper County, Va .. and born in 1773. He followed farming and milling, and took for his wife Miss Phebe, daughter of John Dillon, who was a descendant of Lord John Dillon, of Ireland. and came with William Penn to Pennsylvania. The children of Richard and Phebe Fallis were ten in number, including Thomas; the others are re- corded as follows: Mary, the eldest daughter, mar- ried Joseph Antrim, of Virginia; Lydia married Cyrus Farquhar; Rachel became the wife of Amos Welsh: Eliza was the wife of William Tong; John married Miss Deborah Cadwallader; Nancy mar- ried Darius Lapham; Harriet became the second wife of Mr. Thomas M. Wales; Jane became the wife of A. D. Cadwallader, and Phebe married Thomas Cadwallader. All of these settled in Ohio.
Richard Fallis in 1809 located in Fayette County. Pa., and put up a mill on Redstone Creek, near Uniontown. which was the first structure of the kind in that section of the country. Five years later he removed to Clinton County, Ohio, where he built one of the first mills and accumulated a large property. Later he purchased a farm upon which he spent his last years, his death taking place in 1828, when he was fifty-five years old. Ile had received a good education in the Old Dominion, and after his removal to Ohio , became prominent in political affairs, representing Clinton County in the State Legislature three years. He was a man of great energy and enterprise, and was identified with the building of the Miami and Ohio Canals, in connection with which he lost his entire fortune. The old-time Friends were men of the sternest moral principle, distinguished for their simplicity and honesty, and among these llon, Richard Fallis shone as one of their brightest lights.
Considering the habits of life and character of the Quakers, it is not surprising that they were strong Abolitionists, and many a fugitive by their aid secured the liberty which was his inalienable right, often at the risk of their own lives. The slave-holder. under the laws of Virginia at that time, could not emancipato his slaves if he wished. and accordingly when desiring to give them their freedom, frequently willed them to the Quaker Church. Richard Fallis was often appointed a Trustee in these cases, removing the unfortunates to Ohio, and giving bonds to the county which re- ceived them, that they should never become a pub- lic charge. After the fugitives had thu- been
This branch of the Dillon family were also Friends, , given their freedom, they were supplied by the Friends with a sufficient sum of money to start them toward a comfortable living. The father of our subject was first and foremost in all these good works, and stood second to none in his church.
When a child two years of age, our subject was taken by his parents to Clinton County, Ohio, where he passed his early life amid the quiet scenes and pursuits of the Quaker community. He re- ceived a fair education, and learned the miller's trade of his father. The latter died when he was a youth of sixteen, and as there was no property, young Fallis was thrown upon his own resources. He was first employed as a miller, and continued in the work until he had earned enough to set up in business for himself, when in company with his brother he purchased a mill in Clinton County, and continued there until 1855. in the spring of that year he was united in marriage with Miss Clara. daughter of George W. and Olive (Birdsell ) Mory, of Clinton County, and leaving the Buckeye State the following year, he came to LaSalle County, ill .. and purchased a tract of land in Waltham Town- ship. In 1861 he sold out there and came to this county, locating at once in Dwight Township, of which he has since been a resident. Mr. and Mrs. F. became the parents of two children: George B .. who was born in 1856, and Charles W. in 1860; they are now in Vermilion County, III.
Mr. Fallis still elings to the religious principles of his ancestors, in which he was trained from hi- earliest youth. He identified himself with the Re- publican party at its organization, and it is hardly
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necessary to state, was an earnest advocate of the Abolition movement. He was familiar with the working> of the " underground railroad," and has seen in the barn of his brother-in-law. T. M. Wales, a dozen or more slaves at a time. This was one of the most important stations on the " underground." and the Friends, asking no questions, did what they could toward alleviating the condition of the op- pressed. They were carried secretly from one sta- tion to another until reaching Canada, the goal of freedom.
Besides rearing their own sons, Mr. and Mrs. Fallis adopted two children, namely : Ellen Bate- man. who is now the wife of T. H. Hamlin, a re- tired farmer of Odell, and Nannie Mory, who mar- ried A. R. lloke, a grain merchant of Rugby, Ill. The elder son of our subject, Dr. George B. Fallis, now a druggist of Danville, attended the School of Pharmacy at Chicago, and holds a certificate from the State Board of Pharmacy. Charles also took up medieine. and is a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago. He is now located at East Lynn. and is one of its most prosperous business men and esteemed citizens.
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