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 119

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 119

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Our subject, however, felt at home in no place so much as in a newspaper office. He accordingly, in 1878, purchased the Chenoa Gazette, the publica- tion of which he conducted until the fall of 1883. then coming to this county, established the Forest Rambler, which has now become one of the indis- pensable institutions of the town and vicinity. The Rambler is a six-column, eight-page quarto, Re- publican in politics. and eminently successful. As a news journal little more eould be required, and its editorial columns are presided over in a wise and sensible manner. Mr. Stickney expresses his opin- ions fearlessly, and is one of the most loyal adher- ents of the Republican party. He became identified with the Masonie fraternity in 1871, in which he has made considerable advance, being in the Royal Arch degree.

Mr. and Mrs. Stiekney's family now includes but two little ones, May C. and Lillie E., their only son, Merl, having died at the age of eleven months.

AMES LOVELOCK, who owns 200 acres of land on section 31, Saunemin Township, where he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, has been a resident of Illinois for twenty-five years. Ile is a native of Hanning- ton, Hampshire, England, where he was born on

the 15th of May, 1829. At the age of fifty-nine years he finds himself comfortably situated and surrounded, the possessor of a competency to secure ease and comfort during the balance of his life. The parents of our subject were George and Mary (Palmer) Lovelock, both natives of England.

Mr. Lovelock remained in England until he reached the years of manhood, and received but a meager education, the advantages offered in that country in those days being very much limited. In 1851 he emigrated to America, taking passage on the 9th of May, at London, on the sailing-vessel "Vic- toria," which brought him safely across the At- lantic, and he landed at New York on the 10th of June. Immediately upon arriving on our shores he went directly to Michigan, where he seeured em- ployment on a farm for about two years, and then went to LaPorte County, Ind., where he remained until 1863, when he came to Livingston County, and has here since continuously resided.

On the 18th of June, 1855, Mr. Lovelock was married, in Indiana, to Mena Thomas, who was born in Germany, June 8, 1830, and is the daugh- ter of Lewis and Carrie (Brownberger) Thomas. In 1854 she accompanied her parents when they immigrated to America, and settled in Michigan City, Ind., where they both died. To Mr. and Mrs. Lovelock have been born eleven children, who are recorded as follows: Amelia was born in 1855: Scott, June 23. 1857; Charles, Dec. 10, 1859; Frank, Ang. 17, 1861: James T., Sept. 14, 1863: Nancy. Sept. 9, 1865; Julia, Aug. 27, 1867; George. April 6, 1869; Albert P., Jan. 12, 1874, and two who are dead. Lorenzo D. and one who died in infaney.

Although Mr. Lovelock's first residence in Liv- ingston County was begun under discouraging cir- cumstances he has, through hard work, economy and good management, succeeded in securing a good farm of 200 acres, which has been for many years under excellent cultivation. He has also erected a good class of farm buildings and made other suita- able improvements. Mr. Lovelock is a Democrat in politics, but has never allowed his political en- thusiasmn to carry him in the direction of office- seeking. For a number of years he has served as | School Director, and in that capacity has given sat-

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isfaction to the people. He is a representative citi- zen of the township and county, and he and his family are reputable members of society.

As representative of the buildings in this section of country we present on another page a view of Mr. Lovelock's residence,

n ICHOLAS ZEPH. The name of this gen- tleman is held in kindly remembrance by the people of Owego Township as having been one of its most worthy citizens. Ile was born in the Kingdom of Wurtemberg. Germany. Sept. 6, 1807. and was the son of John and Monita Zeph, also of German birth and parentage. He was reared to manhood in his native Province, where he re- mained until over forty years of age, and then, in the spring of 1848. set sail for America, landing first in the city of New York. whence he afterward went to Kentucky, where he spent two years, then migrated to Warren County. Ohio. After a resi- dence of three years in the Buckeye State he started for the farther West, locating first in Tazewell County, this State, and coming thence to Living- ston County in 1858. He took up a tract of un- cultivated prairie land on section 18, in Owego Township. and at onee commeneed its improve- ment and cultivation. establishing a permanent homestead. upon which he remained until his death, which occurred Sept. 22. 1871.

Mr. Zeph was married, in his native Province, Dec. 31. 1832, to Miss Franciska Zimmerer, and they became the parent- of twelve children, seven now living and located as follows: Mathias is en- gaged as a car inspector at Indianapolis, Ind. ; The- resa is the wife of John Schneider, of Pontiac; Elizabeth is the widow of F. X. Schneider, of Jay County. Ind. : Gertrude married Theodore Shaffer, and is a resident of Iowa: Emma is the wife of An- ton Zimmerer, a resident of Nebraska City, Neb. : Eva. Mrs. Frederick Fienhold, resides in Crawford County. Iowa: Randolph occupies the home farm in Owego Township.

received his reward in a home and a competency, together with the highest respect and esteem of his neighbors. The first dwelling was a log cabin of rude construction, which the family occupied un- til enabled to put up a more convenient, and com- modious structure. Each year added something to the appearance and value of the farm, until it was finally enclosed with good fences, and besides the dwelling a good barn and other suitable out-build- ings had been erected. Mr. Zeph was noted for his piety, and sought at every opportunity, by word and deed, to exert a good influence upon those around him, and let fall those little seeds of truth and goodness which should in the course of time bear their fruit. He was decidedly in favor of every enterprise tending to improve and elevate the condition of the people. After becoming a naturalized citizen he identified himself with the Republican party, and was bitterly opposed to the " peculiar institution " which involved human slavery and the setting aside of those rights which are now becoming recognized by every nation upon the face of the earth. In his demise, not only Owego Township, but Livingston County, lost one of its best citizens, and his family their truest friend and counselor.

Mrs. Franciska Zeph, now a lady seventy-nine . years of age, still resides on the homestead estab- lished by her husband when they were in the prime of life and watching with interest their children growing up around them. She proved in every re- spect a suitable helpmect of her husband, and en- joys the respect and esteem of all who know her. Her husband, at his death, left her an estate includ- ing 160 acres of land in Owego Township, the ac- cumulation of a life of toil and self-denial, and which proves a fine illustration of that which may be accomplished by persevering industry. He had commenced in life a poor man, and pursued his straightforward course unaided by other means than his strong hands and resolute will.

Randolph Zeph was born in Germany, April 14, 1848, and came to America with his mother and other members of the family and joined his father in 1851. He was reared to farm life, pursued his studies in the district school and became proficient

Mr. Zeph and his family were in nowise exempt from the difficulties and hardships of pioneer life. The father struggled bravely with the hardships of "i new country and a strange land, but in due time . as a teacher, being thus employed several terms

RESIDENCE OF RANDOLPH ZEPH, SEC. 18, OWEGO TOWNSHIP.

-MARTIN(3604

- POLEY.

STOCK FARM OF JHON MINARD, SEC 10. LONG POINT TOWNSHIP.

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after completing his studies. He was married on the 4th of October, 1877, to Miss Alpha, the daughter of David G. and Clara E. Watts, who were residents of MeLean County but are now de- ceased. Iler father served as a soldier in the late war, and was killed at Kennesaw Mountain. The mother survived until 1884. Of this union there

were born two children-Walter P., Aug. 31, 1879, 1 Susie Hodge, and died in Kansas in 1885; John, and Olive, Sept. 12, 1883. Mr. Z. and his wife are 1 members of the Baptist Church, and the former has filled various important positions in that society. Upon becoming a voter he identified himself with the Republican party, and has been quite promi- ment in local affairs, serving as Township Clerk, with the exception of one year. continuously since 1878. Like his father before him. he takes a warm interest in the progress of the people around him, supporting and encouraging those enterprises cal- culated to advance the interests of the community morally and educationally.

Pleasant Zeph, an elder son, served as a Union soldier during the late war, suffering all the hard- ships and privations incident to army life, and thereby contracted an incurable disease which re- sulted in his death after his return home on fur- lough, his decease occurring March 4, 1862.

A view of the old home is given in this ALBUM.

OHN MINARD, who is largely engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 10, Long Point Township, was born near Lon- don, Upper Canada. Nov. 20, 1828. He is the son of George and Elizabeth ( Dingham ) Minard, who were natives of New York and Vermont re- spectively. The father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and during that time the necessities of life cost so much as to be almost beyond the reach of people of ordinary means, his wife paying as high as $3 a pound for tea. On returning from the war he eradled wheat when the ice would fly from the heads of the grain, and the excessive cold weather of that year destroyed the potato crop. To the parents of Mr. Minard were born eleven children, whose names are as follows: Mary, Polly, Solomon, William, David, John, Julia, Wealthy,

George, Rosit and Abigail. Mary married Daniel Boogner, and died in 1886; Polly married David Dingman, had eight children, and is deceased; her husband died in Canada in 1884. Solomon mar- ried Betsy Burr, and is a retired farmer living in Anwan; William died in La Porte County, Ind., at the age of eighteen years: David married Miss the subject of this sketch; Julia married David Dingman, who was the husband of her deceased sister Polly : Wealthy was married to Archie Mc- Fedron; they are both dead, leaving one child liv- ing. George, now a resident of Nebraska, was mar- ried to Miss Dingman, who died leaving six chil- dren; Abigail married John Smyth; they are both deceased, leaving two children. Rosit died in La- Salle County, Ill.

John Minard, our subject, came to Illinois in 1835, and received his education in the log-cabin school-houses of that day. At that time the com- pensation of a teacher was $3 per scholar for a term of four months, which was paid by the parents. Mr. Minard's first arrival in Livingston County was on the 17th of September, 1856.

February 14, 1849, Mr. Minard was married to Elizabeth Ann (Dingman) Hall, widow of Joel Hall. At the time of her marriage with Mr. Min- ard, she had four children. To Mr. and Mrs. Min- ard were born five children, as follows: Sophronia, who married Herman Warner, and has a family of five girls and three boys; George, who died in 1853, at eighteen months old; fra, who married Ida Bush : they have a family of four children, and re- side in this county. Charlie, who married Alice Tullis ; they have two boys and reside in this county. Elizabeth, who married Charlie Walston ; they have a family of four children, and reside on a farm in Dawson County, Neb.

Mr. Minard, or as he is more familiarly known, " Uncle Tommy," was employed on a canal from Chicago to Michigan in 1836, and was engaged in carrying liquor, which was issued to the men to the amount of sixteen " jiggers " a day, and when one would become so intoxicated that he could not walk the plank, he was discharged, After this he went to Beloit, and staid there about three years, and returned home in 1842. In 1852 he crossed

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the plains, and returned on the 11th of March, 1>54, having been gone two years and nineteen days. On the journey out, the train consisted of twenty-seven wagons, and when they had reached the south fork of the Loup River, they were at- tacked by the Indians. The men composing the expedition soon formed in line of battle. which caused the Indians to retreat. In crossing the mountains. Mr. Minard on August 4 passed over snow which was seventeen feet deep. Upon arriv- ing at San Francisco, he conelnded to make the re- turn trip by water, which he did in twenty-one days to New York.

Mr. Minard now owns 540 aeres of well-im- proved land, fifty of which are well timbered. There are four dwelling-houses on the land, which are occupied by those engaged in cultivating it. There are on this farm 5,000 rods of tile ditch. Mr. Minard also owns forty acres of land in Cal- houn County, Iowa. In the way of stock he raises and deals in some of the finest in the county; one French Norman horse now on his farm weighs 1.>00 pounds. He engages largely in raising Short-horn and Polled-Angus cattle of the purest strains, and also hogs and sheep of the best blood.

Mr. Minard is a member of the Christian Church, in which he is an active worker, as also was his wife who is now deceased. In politics, he is a Repub- lican of strong Prohibition proclivities. In all re- spects he is a highly influential and respected citi- zen. broad-minded and liberal in his views. and an advocate of all matter relating to the betterment of the people.

A view of Mr. Minard's homestead is given in thi- volume.

OHN W. RUDD. a native of Peoria. this State, came to Livingston County in 1879, and is now numbered among the leading farmer- and stock-raisers of Forest Town- ship. where he i- finely located on section 8. He deah, mostly in Short-horn cattle, having some full- blood- and keeping a herd of about forty-five head. His horses are mostly Normans, and the farm where he carries on thi- department of agriculture is one

of the most desirable in Central Illinois. Although not particularly extensive, embracing but 120 acres, the whole is in a fine state of cultivation and sup- plied with modern and substantial buildings.

Our subject was born Nov. 29, 1855, and when a child removed with his parents to Woodford County, where he was reared and remained until twenty-three years of age. His parents, John and Mary (Ilandford) Rudd, were natives of England. and came to the United States about 1847. They at once sought the Prairie State and located in Peoria County, where the father carried on farm- ing several years and then took up his residence in Woodford County, where he now lives. lle also is largely engaged in stock-raising, and is quite prominent in local politics. voting the straight Republican ticket. and earnestly supporting the principles of the party with which he identified himself soon after becoming a citizen of the United States. The parental family included four chil- dren: James married Miss Mary Ililsebeck, and is farming in Forest Township : they have six children. three boys and three girls. William II. married Miss Hannah Townsend, and they have two chil- dren, a son and daughter; Mary E. is the wife of William Channing, who is farming in Belle Prairie Township.

Mr. Rudd remained with his parents until twen- ty-one years old, in the meantime becoming fa- miliar with farm pursuits and acquiring a fair education. He then, with money given him by his father, purchased forty aeres of land in Green Township. Woodford County, which he sold two years later to purchase his present farm. He was married, Nov. 3, 1874, to Miss Mattie Smilie. of Fulton County, and the daughter of Weddon and Hannah (Bocock) Smilie, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and engaged in farming there until 1874. Upon coming to Illinois Mr. S. purchased hotel property in Benson, where he still lives, en- gaged as "mine host." The mother died in 1882. Their family included five daughters and three sons, who are now mostly residents of Woodford County. One daughter resides in Kansas, one in Nebraska. and Mrs. Rudd is the wife of our subject.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Rudd, three boys and two girls, were named respectively : Lilly Dell,

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Ilattie May, Jesse LaMoine, John Oscar and Claude Howard, all at home with their parents. Mr. Rudd is Republican in polities, and has served as Director in his school distriet seven years, and is still holding the office.

OHN McGEE is the owner of 400 acres of land in Sunbury and Nevada Townships, the most of which is under a splendid state of cultivation. Mr. McGee was born in County Armagh, Ireland, on the 17th of August, 1811, and is the son of John McGee, who was born in the town of Corcullentramere, where the grand- father of our subject, also Joim McGee, was born and spent his entire life engaged in farming.

The father of our subject was reared upon a farm, and learning the trade of weaver and draper, he divided his time between farming and following his trade, and spent his entire life in his native town. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Mulholland, who was born in County Armagh, and there spent her life. They were the parents of nine children, seven of whom grew to maturity, while the subject of our sketch was the only one who came to Amer- ica. He was reared to manhood in his native town, where he was engaged principally in farming until 1841, when he went to Scotland and engaged at work on a railroad. He had been there but a few days when a call from his brother required his re- turn home, where he remained six months, and re- turning to Scotland, he was variously engaged for one year. After a short visit to England he re- turned to his home in Ireland, where he lived one year, and then returning to Scotland, he remained until 1849, when, after visiting England, Ireland and the Isle of Man, he embarked for America in 1850.

Mr. McGee landed at Quebec, Canada, and went from there direct to Montreal, and thence to La- ebine, where he engaged in railroad work, and re- ceived a compensation of four shillings per day. After a short time, however, he went to Ogdens- burg, N. Y., where he secured work on the railroad at ninety cents per day, and saving $13 of his , acquainted himself with the ways and manners of

wages. he returned to Canada and engaged work on at steamer on Lake Ontario at 816 per month. Af- ter making three trips he joined an uncle in Os- wego, N. Y., with whom he staid a few months, when he went to Pittsburgh and engaged at rail- road work at eighty-seven and one-half cents per day. After a few weeks he went on a coal boat to Memphis. Tenn, receiving $65 for the trip, and found employment in that city at wheeling coal. for which he received $1.50 per day. After work- ing one and one-half days he contracted with another man at $2, and was in his employ for over three years. After this he went to Kentucky, and engaged in mining for a short time at Milford's mine, after which, until 1863, he was engaged in coal mines at various places.

In 1863 Mr. McGee bought a house and a half block of ground in the city of LaSalle, and lived there until 1869, when he bought eighty acres of land on section 14, in Sunbury Township, this county, to which his family moved during the year. although Mr. McGee still continued in LaSalle, where he had charge of three shafts. In 1870 he purchased a farm of 160 aeres, where he now re- sides, and owns altogether 400 acres of land. Ile | has devoted very little of his own time to farming. for, after quitting active work in the mines, his services as an overseer were constantly sought for by mine owners in times of emergency. and he has thus been employed at various places.

In 1863 Mr. McGee was married to Mrs. Teresa Clancy, who is a native of Kings County, Ire- land, and the daughter of Michael and Teresa (Ea- gan) Kelley, and widow of William Clancy. Her parents were both natives of Kings County, where they passed their entire lives. By her first mar- riage Mrs. McGee was the mother of two children, Michael and Charles. Mr. and Mrs. McGee both belong to the Catholic Church, in which they take a leading part. Mr. McGee takes an independent stand in political matters, putting his ballot where it will do the most good, regardless of the political party to which the man for whom he votes belongs. As the reader will observe, he has been an extensive traveler and is a man of varied experience. Wher- ever he has gone he has been a close observer, and

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the people among whom he lived. IIe is an ex- tensive reader. and from that cause and personal experience, is a man of very wide information.

On another page of this volume may be found a view of Mr. Metiee's residence with its surround- ings.

AMES TREDENICK brought with him from the other side of the Atlantic those sub- stantial and reliable qualities which have constituted him one of the most highly re- spected citizens of Sullivan Township, the owner of a good property, and closely identified with its business and agricultural interests. llis valuable and highly cultivated farm of 110 acres is pleas- antly located on section 9, and forms one of the most attractive spots in the landscape of that sec- tion. llere. for the last sixteen years, he has la- bored as a successful tiller of the soil, and has in all respects distinguished himself as an honest man and a good citizen.

Mr. Tredenick is a native of Devonshire, En- gland. where his birth took place in March, 1831. The household of his parents, Thomas and Susan (James) Tredenick, included ten children, of whom Jame- was the fifth in order of birth. The family i- of English ancestry for generations back, and the father of our subject, like those before him. lived in his native county. engaged in agricultural pur- snit- until his death, which occurred in 1861. The faithful wife and devoted mother had passed away some years before.

James Tredenick was reared to farm life in his native county, and received a fair education in the common schools. He continued in that locality until twenty-six years of age, when, dissatisfied with his condition and prospects, on the 22d of April. 1×57. he set sail at Plymouth on the vessel " Per-ella.' and after a fair voyage of six weeks, landed in the city of Quebec, Canada. He had ac- quaintances at Hamilton. Ontario, among whom he spent two weeks pleasantly. and then came into the I'nited States, migrating west into Grundy County, 10. Here he secured employment as a farm la-

borer, and after four years thus employed, em- barked in agriculture on his own account in the same county.

Before leaving his native land our subject was united in marriage with a maiden of Devonshire, Miss Jane Stadden, who was born in Cornwall in 1837, and became his wife in the spring of 1856. She cheerfully followed her husband in his various wanderings, and proved to him at all times a faith- ful friend and counselor. Ile was deprived of the companionship of this excellent woman, her death taking place in Mona Township, Ford County, Dec. 16, 1879. Of this union there were born four chil- dren, namely: John James, who is married and living in Iowa; Mary, now Mrs. Kewly, of Ford County, and residing with her husband on the farm of her father, consisting of 160 acres; Charles Henry and Willie, at home. Our subject, previous to the death of his wife, had purchased 160 aeres of raw prairie in Mona Township, Ford County, of which he had taken possession with his family in 1870, and whence he removed to his present pur- chase in 1873.

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married Dec. 12, 1883, was formerly Mrs. Susan (Ridd) Kingdon, widow of W. II. Kingdon and the eldest child of George and Susannah (Thorn) Ridd, natives of Devonshire, England, where their danghter Susan was also born. She remained there with her parents until reaching womanhood and was married to Mr. Kingdon, after which they came to Illinois and located on a farm in Sullivan Township, which Mr. Kingdon had purchased in company with his brother. He afterward sold his interest in this property, and in 1872 purchased ninety-one acres of improved land, where he began building up a homestead. ITe was cut down in his prime, his death occurring July 16, 1882, in Cow- ley County, Kan., whither he had gone hoping to benefit his health. Mr. Kingdon was a native of Devonshire, England, and was born in 1838. Dur- ing the late war he enlisted as a Union soldier in Company M, Ilth Ilinois Cavalry, serving three years, and receiving his honorable discharge on the 9th of June, 1865. He acquitted himself credit- ably, both as a soldier and citizen, and while in the army was one of the aides of Gen. Grant. Before

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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 119

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