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 118

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 118

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farming in Eppard's Point Township; Louisa is the wife of George Florer, and has three children; Matilda, Mrs. Charles Fultz, has four children and lives in Kansas; Lyda, Mrs. John Shubkagle, also lives in Kansas; Mazy is at home with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Stafford are highly respected in the community where they have lived so long, and young and old find their home a pleasant resort. Mrs. Stafford is a member of the Evangelical Church. In polities Mr. Stafford affiliates with the Democratic party. .

The portrait of Mr. Stafford may be found in this ALBUM, he being one of the representative citizens of this county.

B RONSON SMITH, who was widely and fav- orably known throughout Forest Township as one of its most highly esteemed citizens, and whose portrait is given in connection with this sketch, located upon the land which com- prises his present homestead in February, 1865. It then bore little resemblance to its present appear- ance, being not far removed from its primitive con- dition, and, looking upon it now, it is hardly neces- sary to say that years of labor and hundreds of dollars have been employed in transforming the almost wild waste into the present valuable farm. Mr. Smith has not only distinguished himself as a thorough and skillful agriculturist, but has been in all respects a capable and useful citizen, generously interesting himself in the welfare of his neighbors, and always willing to contribute of his time and means to that which should build up his township and insure its settlement by an intelligent and enter- prising class of people. In his life labors he has enjoyed the society and encouragement of one of the best of women, who has brightened his home, strengthened his best purposes, and in all respects been his wise counselor and disinterested friend. His children have grown up around him under the best home training, and are fitted to take their stations in life as valued members of the community.

Mr. Smith is of excellent New England ancestry, and was born in Washington, Litchfield Co., Conn., March 15, 1826. His forefathers were of English descent, and the first representatives of the family in

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this country settled at Milford with the New Haven Colony, and with their descendants were mostly en- gaged in agricultural puisnits. The parents of our subject. William and Julia (Stone) Smith, spent the greater part of their lives in Washington, Conn., although the mother was a native of Middlebury, Conn. She lived to be eighty years of age. pass- ing away abont 1878. William Smith departed this life some years previous to the decease of his wife. when seventy-seven years old. Their three chil- dren were: Bronson of our sketch ; Ell. S .. a mant- facturer of silver-plated ware at Birmingham, Conn., and Burke, who resides on the old homestead at Washington.

Mr. Smith spent his childhood and youth amid the quiet seenes of farm life, attending the district school and making himself useful around the home when not employed with his studies. Upon reach- ing his majority. he entered a woolen-mill at Win- sted. Com., where he remained two years, and then made his way to Augusta County, Va. On his way there he witnessed the inauguration of Gen. Zachary Taylor as President of the United States. He taught school in Augusta County three years, and then engaged in farming, in the meantime mak- ing the acquaintance of Miss Mary E. Coyner, who became hi- wife in 1851. Mrs. Smith was born in Bridgewater. Rockingham Co., Va., April 13, 1834. and is the daughter of Addison II. and Elizabeth ( Brown) Coyner, also natives of the Old Dominion.

The young people continued in Virginia until september. 1855, then started out with teams for the West. After a journey of seven weeks they arrived in McLean County, this State, and Mr. Smith purchased a tract of land in Dry Grove Township. where he followed farming until Febru- ary, 1×65. when he sold out and secured possession of the land which he now occupies. Upon this not a furrow had been turned, but he worked persist- ently year after year, and in due time began to reap the reward of his industry. He has now 180 acres in a fine state of cultivation, and is largely engaged in dairying, keeping eighteen cows and disposing of the milk at Forest. a very convenient point, as his farm adjoin- the city limits. lle at one time owned 200 acres. but has laid off a portion of this into town lots.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith became the parents of twelve children, eleven of whom are living and named as follows: Julia, William A., Luey May, Fannie Bell, Howard P., Ethel Bronson, Coyner C., Frank E. B., Gertrude L., Mabel L. and Burke. Julia is the wife of Charles Shirrell, a wealthy farmer, owning prop- erty near Morris, Ill. : William A. is living at Forest; Fannie Bell married William Dixon, and is residing in Pleasant Ridge Township; Howard P. is married and resides in Forest. The deceased was a daugh- ter, Mary Ella, who died at the interesting age of fourteen years.

Our subject and his wife were two of the original six who organized the Congregational Church at Forest, the other four members being W. W. Payne, his wife and son, and Jerusha Chapman. Of this Mr. Smith has been a Trustee for twenty-two years. He has supported Republican principles since the organization of the party, and has represented his township in the County Board of Supervisors seven years. He has also officiated as Treasurer and oc. cupied the various other local offices. While a res- ident of Dry Grove Township he was Assessor six terms and also Supervisor one term.

Socially, Mr. Smith belongs to the I. O. O. F., with which he has been connected since twenty-one years of age. He has always been a strict advocate of temperance, and has the proud satisfaction of see- ing his sons grow up around him with steady habits, and every prospect of bearing worthily the mantle of their honored father when he shall have departed hence.

N. BARR. who is located on section 17, Esmen Township, is one of the most active and progressive farmers and stock-raisers in Livingston County. Ile comes of Pennsyl- vania parentage, and was born in Lancaster County, July 6, 1833. He was the fourth in a family of eleven children born to Jacob and Susannah ( Barr) Barr, who were also natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer by occupation and moved to Ohio in 1836, settling in Clarke County, where he farmed until his death, which occurred in 1848; his excellent wife died two years earlier. They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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The maternal grandparents were Jacob and Fannie Barr, of whom nothing further is definitely known.

Mr. Barr, the subject of this sketeh, was educated in the common schools, with the additional advan- tage of the High School in the city. When his parents moved to Ohio he was only three years old, and his father died when he was fifteen years of age, leaving him dependent entirely upon his own resources. At that age he engaged at farm work, and continued it until 1855, although his ambition was to obtain an education and seeure for himself a comfortable home. Not liking the op- portunities which were afforded in Ohio he con- eluded to come to the West, and stopped first in Kane County, Ill., where he engaged in farm work one season. He then returned to Ohio, and spent the winter, after which he came to Livingston County, landing here on the 3d of April, 1856. At this time he purchased 160 acres of wild land upon which his home is now located, and immediately set about improving it, working energetically until 1862. In the winter of 1858-59 he had taught the district school near his farm.

In 1862, on the 7th of August, Mr. Barr enlisted for the war in Company M, 1st Light Artillery, or- ganized by Capt. James B. Miller, who was shortly after succeeded by George W. Spencer. The com- pany was mustered in at Camp Douglas, and was soon afterward sent to the Army of the Cumber- land, which was then under the command of Gen. Rosecrans. After leaving Illinois the company went first to Louisville, Ky .. where it engaged in opposition to Gen. Bragg. The first winter was spent there in watching the maneuvers of Morgan. In the spring the company was attached to the gun- boat fleet, and went by water to Nashville. Tenn., whence they proceeded to the extreme right of the army, which rested at Franklin. The whole army then moved forward across Lookout Mountain, taking part in the battle of Chickamauga from the 18th to the 20th of September, and thence to Look- ont Mountain and Mission Ridge, where they par- tieipated in part of those engagements. Then Sher- man took them to Knoxville to relieve Gen. Burn- side, and they spent the winter at Strawberry Plains and Drawbridge. They returned to Charleston in March, and entered the Atlanta campaign on the 2d

of May, and went all through this campaign with the Army of the Cumberland. The engagements in which Mr. Barr participated were Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, Buzzard's Roost, and other minor engagements. They were under continnous fire for ninety-six days, when the campaign wound up at Atlanta, about the 1st of October, 1884, and they passed the winter at Chat- tanooga. In the spring of 1865 they went to Cleve- land, Tenn., where they remained until July, when they were sent home to Camp Douglas, and mus- tered out on the 27th of July, 1865, he having served within nine days of three years without injury, ex- cepting a slight wound received at Chickamanga. When Mr. Barr was discharged from the army he at once returned to his farm and began to pick up the threads of the old life. He farmed and raised stock, living by himself until the days of bachelor- hood were beginning to gain on him.

On the 25th of December, 1872, Mr. Barr was married to Mrs. Laura (Chalmers) Barr, who was born in London, England, on the 10th of February, 1852, and was the only child born to her parents, both of whom died and left her an orphan at a very early age. She was adopted at the age of six months by William A. and Sophia Esterbrook, na- tives of this country, wealthy people who were ie- siding in England for the benefit of their health at that time, and brought by them when they returned to America, when she was eighteen months old. For the first five years she was with them they re- sided at Chelsea, Vt., after which they moved to Fremont, Dodge Co., Neb., where they remained for five years, and then returned to New York and lived in the city for three years. They then re- turned to the same place in Nebraska, where they remained until the adopted daugliter was married in 1869, to Elias A. Barr, a brother of our subject. The newly married couple settled in Omaha and lived there for nearly two years, where the husband was engaged as telegraph operator at Gilmore. While in the discharge of his duty as an employe of the railroad company he was accidentally killed by the ears on the 5th of November, 1870.

Immediately after the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Barr they occupied the farm where they have since resided. They became the parents of four children,

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two of whom are living. Lutie A. and Lorenzo N .; the other two died in infancy. When Esmen Town- ship was first organized Mr. Barr was made Col- lector and served two years. He has been Trustee for three terms, and Constable for several years. He is not particularly active in political matters, but supports the measures and candidates of the Re- publican party. Ile and his wife take a prominent part in all the social affairs of the neighborhood, and with the people among whom they live stand deservedly high. Their home is one of the most pleasant in the township, and is well provided with all things necessary to make it comfortable.

As indicative of the prosperity enjoyed in this section of the country we present on an adjoining page a view of Mr. Barr's residence with its sur- roundings. --

RNOLD THORNTON, who after a long life of active business. which included farming. merchandising and discharging official duties, has retired to private life at Pontiac, where he proposes to spend the remainder of his days in rest and quiet, was born on the 4th of November. 1819, and is the son of Anthony and Aun L. (Barrett) Thornton, who were natives of Virginia. The grandfather was Dr. Henry, and the grandmother. Mrs. (Buckner) Thornton, who were of English ancestry, and were among the early settlers of Virginia. The mother's father was Fran- ci- Barrett. a native of Virginia, who was for seven years a soldier in the Revolutionary War. An- thony Thornton. after marriage, was engaged in hotel-keeping for a time, and the last twenty-five years of his life was Sheriff of Green Connty, Ky. Their family consisted of eight children, only three of whom are now living-Arnold, John F. and Jame- T. Anthony Thornton died in 1828 or 1829 in Oldham County, fifteen miles above Louisville, while on the way to visit his father, who resided in Virginia.

Arnold Thornton was reared in the village of Green-burg. Green Co., Ky., where he attended -chool until 1×33. With his mother's family, then comprising four -on- and two daughters, he came

to Illinois and settled on Mauviston Creek, Mor- gan County, where they engaged in farming for two years. They then went to Sangamon County, where they bought a farm and remained about eight- een years. The part where they settled was after- ward formed into Menard County. The subject of this sketch then went to Putnam County with his brother. James T .. where they engaged in merehan- dising at Magnolia for ten years, when Arnold moved to Henry, Marshall County, where he en- gaged in merchandising and grain-buying and con- dueting a private bank for a short time. In the fall of 1871 Mr. Thornton removed to Pontiac, and for two years engaged in buying grain. Previous to his coming to Livingston County, he had pur- chased 160 acres of land in Pike Township, and about 1872 purchased 170 acres in Eppard's Point Township, and in 1875 moved onto this farm where he resided for four years. In 1879 he was elected Treasurer of Livingston County, and again moved into Pontiac. He held this position until 1883. Ilis previous office-holding was that of Justice of the Peace in Menard and Putnam Counties. At the expiration of his term as Treasurer, he pur- chased a stock of hardware, to which he added groceries, and conducted the mercantile business for three years, when he sold his store and retired from active business life.

Mr. Thornton was married to Miss Mary J. Fyffe, March 18, 1856. She is a native of Putnam County, Ill., where she was born Nov. 14, 1836, and daughter of Dr. E. P. and Sarah ( Robinson) Fyffe, who were natives of Ohio. Dr. Fyffe was born in 1810, and moved to Urbana, Ohio, in 1837. He was a cadet at West Point, studied medicine, and was admitted to practice at Oxford, Ohio, at the age of twenty-one. He took a very prominent part in the late war, serving in a high official posi- tion under Gen. Rosecrans. He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, and for a consider- able time was in command at the barrack> at Wash- ington City. He was the father of six children, one son and three daughters of whom are now liv- ing: Joseph, who is a commander at the navy yard at Boston, and was in the expedition sent in search of Dr. Kane, the Arctic explorer; Queen Victoria presented each officer of this expedition with a sil-

A. Thornton

Formas Spaforce

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ver medal. Ile was in the Mexican War when he was but fifteen years old. Maximilla, now the wife of F. J. Crawford. a well-known attorney of Chi- cago; Mary J., Mrs. A. Thornton; Sarah, Mrs. M. H. Weaver, of Urbana, Ohio. Gen. E. P. Fyffe's father was William H1. Fyffe, a native of Virginia, who removed to Kentucky and then to Champaign County, Ohio, where the General was born, at Ur- bana, being the first white child born in that place. Gen. Fyffe died in his native town in 1866, and his wife died at the same place in 1872.

Mr. and Mrs. Thornton have had a family of ten children, of whom eight are living, namely : Ed- ward M., who married Ella Hudson, and they have three children, named Wilbur, Harry and Edna; the other children are, Joseph, Nell, Sarah F .. Max F .. James R .. Robert A. and Alice L. Mr. Thorn- ton is an enthusiastic member of the Republican party, is a Mason of long standing, and in all re- spects is one of the solid men of the county, and has been prominent in all her affairs since his resi- dence here. During this time he has built three good houses in Marshall County. Ilis present dwelling is a handsome one. Mrs. Thornton is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

The portrait accompanying this sketch of its well-known subject will be greatly appreciated by Mr. Thornton's many friends.

2 HOMAS SPAFFORD, who is a representa- tive and reputable farmer and stock-raiser of Sannemin Township, is a native of Lin- colnshire, England, and was born Jan. 28, 1827. He is the son of lohn and Sarah (Sibsey ) Spafford, both natives of England. Of a family of ten chil- dren born to his parents the following survive: Robert, of Sannemin Township; Thomas, our sub- ject; Betsy, wife of David Johnson, who resides near London. Ontario; Sarah, wife of William Beed- ham, and William, the latter two in England. Our subject was reared to man's estate in his native country. and received a good common-school edu- cation. He has been a constant reader all his life, and is well versed in general business matters and informed upon all public questions.

In the fall of 1850, Mr. Spafford emigrated to America, taking passage at Liverpool, and after an ocean voyage of five weeks in the sailing-vessel " New World," landed in New York City, and pro- ceeded immediately to Buffalo, N. Y. He remained in that city nearly one year, during which time he ran a meat-market stand. He then left New York and went to Fountain County, Ind., where he began farming on rented land. He remained in that county until the spring of 1856, in which year he came to Livingston County, and settled on section 21, in Saunemin Township, in 1858. The quarter section of land on which he resides he originally entered from the Government in 1853, having been on a prospecting tour in this county during that year. There bad not been a furrow turned on this land when he came here, and there were not more than half a dozen settlers in Saunemin Towship. Hle has seen the land of his township developed from its primitive condition and converted into smiling fields and splendid farms. Mr. Spafford has become an extensive land-owner, and his 900 acres located in Livingston and Kankakee Counties, are evidences of his business accomplishments. When he first landed in Buffalo, N. Y., he had about $100 in money with which to begin the struggle of life in the New World. Ile has succeeded beyond his most sanguine expectations.

On the 20th of May, 1853, Mr. Spafford was married in Fountain County, Ind., to Mary A. Jor- don, a native of Wales, who was born Oct. 15, 1831. She was the daughter of David Edwards, a Welsh- man by birth. At the time of her marriage to Mr. Spafford she was the widow of John Jordon, of Fountain County, Ind. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Spafford was blest with six children, four of whom are living: Sarah. born July 3, 1854, is the wife of Zadoe Hudgin, of Kankakee, III .; Betsy, born June 11. 1860: Minnie, born Oct. 19, 1863, is the wife of John Watts, of Saunemin Township; Anna was born Aug. 19, 1866. Two sons, both named John. died in infancy. The wife who was his helpmate and companion for more than twenty- eight years, departed this life on the 9th of No- vember, 1881, leaving many friends to mourn her Remise.

Mr. Spafford is a Republican in politics and has

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served as Township School Trustee and Assessor for a number of years. For fifteen years he served as Justice of the Peace, and was first elected as Supervisor of his township in 1868, and with the exception of one year has officiated in that capacity continuously since. He is now serving hls seventh year as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. in which capacity he has proved himself of much value to the county. He takes an active interest in every- thing that will develop the resources of and improve the county. Hle is a member of the Congregational Church. and contributes to its support and also assists other churches as well. In early life he was an Episcopalian. He is public spirited and liberal minded, and commands the esteem and confidence of all who know him. and now in his declining years is enjoying the fruits of a life spent in usefulness and well doing. As a man of this high character we place in this connection the portrait of Mr. Spafford.

ORNELIUS W. STICKNEY, editor and pro- prietor of the Forest Rambler, was the first male child born in what was then the village of East Bradford. Mass,, but is now Groveland. He first opened his eyes to the light March 9, 1850, and is a direct descendant through six generations of Samuel Stickney, who emigrated from England, and located in Massachusetts in the Colonial days.

The father of our subject. Leonard W. Stickney, was also born in East Bradford, Mass .. in 1821. He learned the trade of shoemaking in early man- hood. and was married to Miss Susan J. Streeter, a native of Portland. Me. Five years after the birth of their son. Cornelius W .. they migrated to Illinois and located in Freeport. where the father engaged in the shoe business, carrying on both wholesale and retail trade. In 1860 he transported his merchan- disc to Denver. Col., and continued the same busi- nes- there abont four years. Then selling out, he went to Virginia City. thence to Helena. Mont .. and purchasing a stock of books and stationery, carried on a very Inerative trade, and accumulated a fine property. He was quite prominent as a citi- zon. and identified with many important enterprises

of the young and rapidly growing town. As is often the case, however, misfortune finally sought him out, and his stock of goods, together with the building, were one night totally destroyed by fire. All of his assets were employed to pay the 100 cents on the dollar, which he persisted in doing, and set- tled satisfactorily with every creditor. He had been carrying an insurance of $26,000, but the great Chicago fire occurred eight days later, and before he could prove his loss to the companies of that city, in which he held policies, they were broken up and he only received $1,600. Upon the complete settlement of his business a year later, he returned with his family to Ilinois, and located near Normal. Soon afterward he was stricken with paralysis, which. however. only disabled him for a short time, and bad no effect whatever upon his bright and vigorous mind. Thereafter he kept himself em- ployed some of the time in keeping hotel, and in speculating in a small way. He finally died of apoplexy at Bloomington on the 1st of December, 1874.

The father of our subject is remembered as a well-educated and well-bred gentleman, one who was strictly honest and upright in his dealings with his fellowmen, and who looked with contempt upon a mean action. Ile was but fifty-three years of age at the time of his death, which was hastened by inental labor. Ile possessed those genial qualities of heart and mind which drew around him a large circle of friends, by whom his name is held in kindly remembrance. Mrs. Stickney is still living and a resident of Forest, where she carries on a millinery business, and is in good health. Of the three chil- dren comprising the parental family, Elias V. died when an interesting young man of twenty-one years of age; Susie C. resides with her mother.

Mr. Stickney was fairly educated in his youth, and when sixteen years old joined his father in Montana, and assisted in carrying on the business there. Ile had always been fond of books, and was an extensive reader, and early in life gave evidence of literary talent. His first editorial experience was as a member of the local staff of the Helena Daily Herald, in which he acquitted himself creditably, and evinced his adaptation to newspaper work. In 1871 he returned to Illinois and employed himself

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at whatever he could find to do to assist the family and himself also. He was connected with the hotel which his father carried on in Bloomington, and there made the acquaintance of Miss AJuliet F. Win- sor, who became his wife Oct. 28, 1875.

Mrs. Stickney was born near Atlanta, this State, June 9, 1853, and is the daughter of Daniel and Anna R. (Brown) Winsor. They were natives of Rhode Island respectively, and the maternal grand- father of our subject was at one time a custom house officer at Providence, R. I. The young people made their home first in Bloomington, III., where they continued a year, then removed to Olney, Ill., where Mr. S. was employed in the office of the Olney Daily Ledger. The year following he returned to Bloomington and assisted his mother in the manage- ment of the St. Nicholas Hotel, which she conducted several years after her husband's death.

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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 118

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