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 114

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 114

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

Liggitt. is believed to have been a native of Mary- land and born not far from the roar of the Atlantic. He located in Washington County, Pa., at an early period in its history and opened up a farm in the wilderness, where he spent the last years of his life. llis grandson. Joshua. the father of our subject, was also probably a native of Maryland, whence he removed when a lad with his parents to Pennsyl- vania. He there married Miss Rebecca Dempster. and they became the parents of six children, and spent the remainder of their lives in Washington County. where the father died in 1835: the mother survived until about 1845.

Our subject pursued his studies in the district school of his native township, and early in life be- came familiar with the various employments of the farın. After the death of his parents he worked by the month until twenty-one. when he removed to Ohio, taking with him his sister and brother; he afterward made a journey to New Orleans. His father several years previously had purchased a tract of land in Belmont County, Ohio, and thither the family removed in 1845, where Thomas re- mained nntil 1853. Ile had in the meantime be- come po-sessor of a snug sum of money, and this he inve-ted in the patent right to a corn-planter, one of the first inventions of the kind in the United State>. He selected Illinois as his field of opera- tions but a- is too often the result of the san guine hopes of youth. the venture proved a failure; the people did not appreciate the advantage sought to be bestowed upon them, and he returned to Ohio. In the meantime he had not by any means lost sight of the picture which the rich prairie lands of Illinois had presented to his vision, and in 1854 be located on a farm which he rented near Bloom- ington. He operated upon this two years, and in the spring of 1856 came to this county, and in- vested his surplus capital in the land which consti- tute- his present farin. It then bore a wide con- tra-t to its present condition, being a wide stretch of unbroken prairie, over which the foot of man had -carsely traveled. He rented an improved tract adjacent to this for two years, and in the meantime employed his spare hours in breaking prairie on his own purchase. In 1858 he put upa dwelling into which he removed his family, and the

farm has since that time remained in his possession.

The marriage of Thomas Liggitt and Miss Mar- garet A. Thompson took place at the home of the bride in Ohio, Dec. 22. 1853. Mrs. Liggitt was born in Ohio, April 11. 1835, and is the daughter of Robert and Leathy Thompson. The ten children born of this union wore named respectively : Elsie. Thomas, Robert, Lillian, Martha, Frederick, Charles, Richard, Flemming and Mertie. Lillian is the wife of John L. Hall, of Fernwood, Ill .; Charles died Jan. 14, 188 4, when fifteen years of age, and Martha, April 22, 1875, at the age of eleven years.

Mr. Liggitt is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church and Mrs. L. with the Presbyterian. Our subject is Democratic in politics and has served as School Director and Trustee in his district, and as Trustee and Steward in his church. He is of that kindly, genial and hospitable disposition which has won for him friends wherever he has made his home, and in the township where he has lived so long and acquitted himself so creditably, no man is held in higher esteen.

ETER SOMERS, of Forest Township, is successfully operating on 400 acres of land, pleasantly located on section 32. Ile has passed his threescore and ten years, has seen much of life, and made the most of his opportuni- ties for observing men and things. He is a fine rep- resentative of the Celtic element which has assisted so materially in the development of this county, to which he came when a young man. in the spring of 1867. He is widely and favorably known, and held in the highest respect, not only for the reso- lute industry which he has displayed as a tiller of the soil, but for his excellent personal traits and straightforward manner of doing business. ITis property, which is very valuable, is the result of his own labors and good judgment.

Our subject was born in County Westmeath. Ireland, June 23, 1815, and is the son of Peter and Marcella ( Moore) Somers. The father was a far- mer of modest means, and dying before the birth of our subject, left his widow with a small property. They became the parents , of three children-

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

Michael, Ann and Peter. Michael died in Ireland when a youth of nineteen years, at the home of bis grandparents, where he had lived most of the time after the death of his father. After immigrating te America Ann became the wife of John Keating, to whom she was married in New York State. where they lived three or four years, and then removed to Pennsylvania, where the death of 3r. K. took place abont 1849; Mrs. Keating remains a widow, and is the mother of seven children. Mrs. Somers was a second time married, to John O'Condell, and spent her last years in Pennsylvania.

Young Peter in early childhood was taken to the home of his grandparents, who were living upon a farm in his native county, and attended school quite regularly during his younger days. He started out early in life for himself, first working upon a farm for the munificent salary of $15 per year. Hle struggled along in that manner nearly four years. dissatisfied with his condition, but seareely knowing how to better it with his limited means and comparatively little knowledge of the world. Finally, however, he came to a point which demanded a radical change, and one fine morning, making his way to Liverpool he stepped on board a ship bound for America. After a tedious voyage of eight weeks he found himself in New York City. where he staid only two nights and then proceeded to Philadelphia. IIe there secured employment for a few months, and then migrated to Cambria Coun- ty, Pa., where he remained three years engaged in farming. He lived economically and saved what he could of his earnings, and in 1867 started for the West as being a field more suitable to his ea- pacities and desires. Coming to Forest Township. this county, he purchased 320 acres of wild. uncul- tivated land, and rented a tract adjacent until he could effect sufficient improvements to give bis time to his own property. A year later he took possession of the latter, and subsequently added to it eighty acres, so that he is now the possessor of 400 acres, comprising some of the finest farming land in the county. Of late years he has largely devoted his.attention to the raising of grain, and keeps a fine assortment of live stock, making a specialty of Poland-China swine. He has good buildings and the most approved machinery, and is

in possession of one of the most desirable home- steads in Forest Township.

Mr. Somers in early manhood was married to Miss Mary Ann McAteer, the wedding taking place in Cambria County, Pa., in the spring of 1812. Of this union there were born seven children-Cather- ine, Michael, Hugh John, Peter, Marcella, Mary and Ann. The eldest daughter, Catherine, died when eight years of age; Michael is married, and farming in Forest Township; Ilugh John died in 1852, when three years of age; Peter is an agricult- urist of Forest Township : Marcella died when about seven years of age, in 1862; Mary is the wife of Jo- seph Mangan, a farmer of Forest Township: Ann died in 1862, within a few days of the death of Marcella. The mother of these children died at ber home in Pennsylvania, Aug. 7. 1859.

Mr. Somers was married to his present wife, Miss Elizabeth Kearns, a few years later. This lady was born in Cambria County, Pa., Nov. 9. 1820, and is the daughter of Jolm and Margaret (Skally ) Kearns, natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania respectively, and ocenpied in farming pursuits. The parental family included ten children. namely : Elizabeth, Philip, Catherine, William, Francis, Anastasia, Michael. Cecelia, Abraham and Isaac : the latter two are twins. The parents both died in 1848. Of this marriage of our subject were born two children : . William A., now married and farming not far from his father's homestead, and Francis Patrick, who re- mains at home. Mr. Somers, politically, is an uncom- promising Democrat, and a loyal adherent. relig- iously, to the Catholic faith of his forefathers. His wife and family are also members of the Catholic Church. He has long been among the leading men of his township, hokling its various offices and identified with its most worthy enterprises. In connection with this sketch we present on another page a view of Mr. Somers' residence.

M D. COURLL, an enterprising farmer of Dwight Township, located on section 35, is a man who is awarded great credit for the success he has attained in life under disadvantageous circumstances. He comes from an old American family famous for its industry and

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

energy. His father, Henry O. Courll, was born on a farm near Charleston, S. C. He learned farming in early life, and followed that occupation until he retired from active work. When quite a young man he moved to Wabash County. Ind .. where he engaged at work on a farm. While living in that county he married Diana Drollinger, of Wabash County, and they became the parents of the follow- ing children : M. D., our subject : Anna M., Marthy M., Emma J. and Henry John. In 1853 the father with his family moved to Marshall County, Iowa where he farmed until 1862, and then returned to Indiana. In 1868 he moved to Illinois and settled on a farm in Bureau County. In 1876 he moved to Dwight. where he has since resided. In politi- cal opinions he has been a life-long Democrat, but has never aspired to office seeking or holding. IIe is now sixty-nine years of age, and has always been an industrious and hard-working man.

M. D. Courll, our subject, was born in Fulton County. Ind .. on the 26th of September, 1848. He obtained a common-school education during his youth. and learned the details of farming. At ten years of age he began work, driving team, and when but fifteen years of age began to follow threshing, at which business he worked every fall for fifteen years. He remained with his father until twenty-five years of age, during which time he as- sisted in conducting his father's farm, and keeping up such other work as there was to do.

On the 4th of March, 1874, Mr. Courll was mar- ried to Mis, Eliza E. Munch, daughter of X. and Mary Ann ( Pflager) Munch, who were natives of France. Mr. Munch came with his father to Joliet, when he was but fifteen years of age, and was one of the first settlers of that place. He was a soklier in the Mexican War in 1846-47. The father bought a farm near Joliet, upon which the family lived for many years. Mr. Munch >till resides there at the age of sixty-four years. When a young man be assisted in the construction of the Illinois Canal. In religion he is a devont member of the Catholic Church, and is a citizen universally entremed and respected. After marriage, Mr. ( ourll and his young bride began farming in Will County, and there remained engaged in that occu- pation for three years. In February, 1876, Mr. , 1867 he came to Livingston County, where he was

Courll removed his family to Livingston County, and located on the farm in Dwight Township where they still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Courll are the par- ents of five children, named Edwin, Ement G., Ferdinand, William and Pearl; of these, Ement G. died in mfaney. Mr. Courll's political connections have always been with the Democratic party, al- though he does not assume an active place in polit- ical matters. He is an upright and industrious man, a peaceable and law-abiding citizen, and has attained his position in the business world through his own exertions.

HOMAS CAVANAGH is a man who has found prosperity in Livingston County, after many trials and tribulations elsewhere. He is a farmer and stock-raiser on section 25, in Rook's Creek Township, and is the son of Patrick and ilo- nora (Hannifin) Cavanaugh. He was born in St. Louis, Mo., on the Sth of July, 1853, and was the eldest of eight children, one of whom died in in- fancy. The father of our subject was born on the 25th of December, 1826, in the county of Kerry, Ireland, and came to this country in 1845, just be- fore the great famine. He worked on a steamer on the Mississippi River from St. Louis to St. Paul, and from St. Louis to New Orleans. He was mar- ried in 1852 to Miss Hannifin, with whom he had been acquainted in Ireland. At this time he was working in a quarry in St. Louis, but about a year after his marriage he quit work there and became a sub-boss on a railroad contract just north of La- Salle, where he remained about one year, and then bought a squatter's right of eighty acres of land, on which he remained about two years, when another man came and claimed it. Upon surrendering this claim, he bought eighty acres of a school section, which he owned until he came to Livingston County. About the time he lost his squatter's claim, a span of horses for which he had been offered $400 was stolen from him, and while he was looking for his horses, thirteen of his cattle became swamped, and several of them were lost, while the same year he lost several hundred dollars' worth of potatoes. In

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compelled to rent a farm on account of his misfort- unes in LaSalle County. Through careful manage- ment and prudent economy, he has been enabled to purchase a comfortable home, where he now lives.

Thomas Cavanagh was married, on the 23d of February, 1879, to Miss Elizabeth .I. O'Brien, by whom he has four children, as follows: Patrick W. born March 23, 1880; Mary, Aug. 9, 1882; Eliza E., Nov. 30, 1884, and Timothy, May 23, 1887. Mr. Cavanagh's grandfather, Daniel Cavanagh, was born in Ireland about 1766, and came to this country about 1840, where he lived to the good old age of ninety-eight, dying in the year 1864. At the age of ninety-four, he took great pride in walk- ing to the polls. a distance of two miles, and voting for Stephen A. Douglas. He was twice married, and the father of the subject of this sketch was the youngest of thirteen children, all of whom came to this country. except the eldest, Jeremiah, who in- herited the old homestead in Ireland. Our subject had two uncles in the war of the Rebellion, one the brother of his father. and the other the brother of his mother. The former never was heard of after the war, and it is supposed he died in Libby Prison ; the latter lives near Olathe, Kan.

Mr. Cavanagh received a fair common-school education, which he has supplemented by an exten- sive course of reading, and is a man of more than ordinary information. He was twiee elected Col- lector of Waldo Township, and has held the offices of School Director and Clerk of the School Board. He comes from Democratic antecedents, but is very independent in the exercise of his own political rights.

W ILLIAM J. ORR. Deputy Postmaster of Wilson. and one of the rising young busi- ness men of Round Grove Township, is perhaps best known as junior member of the firm of George Orr & Co., grain buyers, who have been established in their profitable business since the spring of 1882. He has been a resident of this township for over twenty years and is on the sunny side of forty.

Our subject, the only child of his parents, was

born in Allegheny County, Pa., Ang. 7. 1851, and reared to farm pursuits, in the meantime acquiring a common-school education. His father, William Orr. Sr., was a native of Pennsylvania, where he spent his entire life, and his remains were laid to rest not far from the place of his birth. The mother was also born in the Keystone State and still resides there near Pittsburgh.

Mr. Orr left his native county when a lad six years of age and came to DeKalb County, this State, to live with his uncle, James Orr, who died in Round Grove Township in June, 1886. The latter had removed here from DeKalb. in 1865. William J .. in 1882, formed the present partnership with an unele, Gorge Orr, and they have now built up a good business and handle most of the grain in the vicinity of Wilson. The fact that Mr. Orr, al- though Republican in politics, still holds the po- sition of Deputy Postmaster, speaks well for his standing in the community. He has been connected with the office since its establishment, and in all re- spects is considered a valuable member of the com- munity.

YMAN D. KNOX. one of the leading farmers and stock-raiser, of Broughton Township. residing on seetion 28, is a native of Ken- dall County, Ill., where he was born July 17, 1840. Ile is a son of Lyman S. and Lena (Stockslager) Knox. His father was a native of Vermont, and his mother of the State of New York. Ilis paternal ancestors were of English origin, and the maternal ancestors are supposed to have been Germans. His paternal grandfather, Lyman Knox, was a sol- dier in the War of 1812. llis parents emigrated from Vermont to Kendall County, Ill., about 1835, settling near Blackberry Creek, not far from the town of Bristol, where the father reared his family, being one of the earliest pioneers of Kendall County, and where he remained until his death, which occurred July 17, 1887, his wife having died many years previous. June 15, 1872. Dur- ing his life he filled several of the minor offices in his township. and was widely and favorably known as an honest man and a good citizen, possessing the sturdy qualities which were so essential to success

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

in the life of a pioneer. lle was the father of five children, of whom three survive, namely : Lyman D .: Julia E., wife of I. K. Young, of Kendall County. Ill .. and Mary L., wife of E. Holbrook, re- siding in the same county.

Our subject was reared to manhood in his native county. his only education being gained in the common schools, supplemented by the practical ex- periences of life and the knowledge gained from general reading. lle has from his early youth been constantly engaged in agricultural pursuits. On the 5th of February, 1868, he was united in marriage to Esther E. Brown. who was born Feb. 9. 1812. in Erie County, Pa., and is a daughter of Stephen W. and Adeline (Sloan) Brown. Her parents were both natives of Pennsylvania, the father being of English and the mother of Irish de- scent. ller parents were among the early settlers of Kendall County. Ill., having come here about 1845. Both are now deceased, the father dying in Octo- ber, 1876, and the mother Sept. 28, 1886. They had nine children. of whom eight are living: George W. resides in Texas: Nathan W. and Sloan W. live in Jowa: Jacob F., in Broughton Township, this county ; Eliza M., wife of William Ferris, of Ken- dall County. Ill. : Polly M., wife of L. F. Smith, re- sides in the same county ; Sarah I., wife of Charles Orr, of Sandwich, Ill.

To Mr. and Mrs. Knox have been born five chil- dren. as follows: Willis S., Feb. 21, 1869; Net- tie M .. Jan. 10. 1871; Florence E., June 30, 1873; Frank. April 10, 1875; Clara E., Oct. 26. 1877. In the spring of 1868 our subject brought his young wife to Livingston County, and settled on his present farm. where he has made his home ever since. He first purchased a tract consisting of 160 acres of raw prairie land, which he has brought to a fine state of cultivation. He has added forty acres to it. making 200 acres of fertile and valuable land which is well supplied with live stock and commo- dion- farm buildings. Mr. Knox has been em- phatically the architect of his own fortune, having begun with nothing but his own hands, and made all that he has by industry, economy and hard labor. His handsome residence, surrounded by beautiful ornamental trees, is one of the most ta-te- ful and fine appearing of any in that vicinity.

Mr. and Mrs. Knox are both members of the Congregational Church at Emington. to the sup- port of which Mr. Knox has been a cheerful and liberal contributor. He has served as Township Collector for two years, and is now filling the office of School Trustee, having served efficiently in that capacity for several years. He also filled the office of Road Commissioner for a considerable time. He is an intelligent and public-spirited citizen, and interests himself in every movement for the eleva- tion of society and the upbuilding of the commu- nity in which he lives. Mr. Knox is one of the leading agriculturists of Livingston County, and his present valuable possessions and pleasant sur- roundings are substantial evidences of the success which he has attained. In politics he is an out- spoken Republican.

ARTIN SEABERT has lived twenty-one years of his life in Livingston County, and during that time has kept pace with the prog- ress of the county and the township in which he resides. He is now located on section 18, Round Grove Township, where he is engaged in tilling the soil, on a farm of 155 acres, and has met with grati- fying success. In 1867 he removed from LaSalle County to Livingston, where he has continued to reside, with the exception of about three years.

Mr. Seabert was born in Germany, on the 9th of October, 1844. He accompanied his parents when they emigrated to America, when he was about five years of age. After living a few months in New York State, his parents migrated to the West, locat- ing in LaSalle County, III., where our subject lived until he became a citizen of Livingston County. With the patriotism that is inborn with the German people, he felt it his duty to assist his adopted Gov- ernment in the suppression of the Rebellion inau- gurated in 1861. He, therefore, enlisted on the 15th of Angust of that year, in Company HI, 11th Illinois Infantry, and immediately went to the front. At the memorable battle of Ft. Donelson, he was wounded in the left side and right hand by a minie ball, which disabled him from active service for six months. After he recovered sufficiently to re-

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join his regiment, he participated in several engage. ments and numerous skirmishes, in which he acted a gallant part. He was on many of the long and tedi- ous marches which his regiment made, and during the time he was in the service, suffered all the pri- vations and the hardships incident to army life, during the earlier stages of the war. After his dis- charge from the army he returned to LaSalle County, and remained there until the fall of 1867, when he came to Livingston County and purchased eighty acres of land on section 29, Round Grove Town- ship. Afterward be sold this land. and in 1881 bought 155 acres on section 18, where he now re- sides. Upon this farm he has made many and val- nable improvements, and has brought it under an excellent state of cultivation.

On the 15th of December, 1867, Mr. Seabert was married in Livingston County, to Susan E. Morris, who was born in Canada, May 14, 1845, and is a daughter of James and Charlotte Morris, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this ALBUM. The re- sult of this marriage has been five children, whose names are, Charlotte, James E., Eslie J., Lydia and Elmer. These children are all at home with their parents, who are giving them every advantage in their power to obtain a good education, in order that they may become good and nseful citizens.

When he grew to the age of maturity, Mr. Sea- bert cast his political lot with the Republican party, of which he has since continued to be a member. He has held the offices of Road Commissioner and School Director, and in the latter position has ma- terially improved the schools of his district. He is an enthusiastic member of Post No. 126, G. A. R .. at Dwight, Ill. He and his wife are active mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and take much interest in the affairs of the congregation to which they belong. Mr. Seabert is an unostenta- tious and valuable citizen.

W ILLIAM FLANIGAN, a veteran of the late Civil War, and one of the most highly es- teemed Irish-American citizens of this coun- ty, is one of the solid property owners of Sunbury Township, having 240 acres of valuable land on section 13. He is noted for his straightforward

methods and integrity, and for the manner in which he has contributed toward the embellishment of the northern part of Livingston County, by erecting within its precinets one of the finest homesteads among the many for which it has become so gener- ally noted, and a view of which is presented in this connection. He commenced in life with modest means, but nature bountifully supplied him with those most valuable resources which can be given to a man. viz: industry and perseverance. He has never been afraid of hard work, and always made it a point to live within his income, and his present position socially and financially is but the natural result of a career commenced and followed under such circumstances.

Our subject, the son of Edward and Margaret (McGee) Flanigan, is a native of the same locality as his parents, County Queens, in the southern part of Ireland. and was born in 1838. While he was still an infant, his parents crossed the Atlantic, de- termined to avail themselves of the inducements held out by the New World to the enterprising emigrant. They remained residents of Brooklyn, N. Y., until 1845, then started for Illinois, via the Hudson River, the Erie Canal and the Lakes to Chicago, and thence by canal to Ottawa in LaSalle County. Edward Flanigan rented a tract of land near the site of the present city, and subsequently removed to a point near the present site of Streator. In the latter locality he rented a large farm, upon which he operated until the close of his earthly labors. He was stricken down in his prime, his death occurring about 1859. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Flanigan, who was a lady of more than ordinary business capacity, purchased a farm, the cultivation of which she superintended many years, and which she now owns. It is located four miles west of Streator, and since 1882 has been conducted by a tenant. while Mrs. F. is a resi- dent of Chicago.

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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 114

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