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 127

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 127

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John G. Myers, when about twenty-five years of age, was married to the mother of our subject, Miss Mary Lindley, a lady of English and Irish descent, and who was one year his junior. She was of high moral character and possessed a keen business mind. The late ex-President of the Southern Confederacy was her first cousin, but Mrs. Myers was strongly Union. She proved in all respects the helpmate of her husband, holding up his hands during the time when they were struggling with the difficulties and hardships of pioneer life, and assisting, by her judgment and council. in keeping the domestie ship of finance afloat. She was in the habit of impart- ing serious family advice to her children, which they never forgot in after years, and remembered her name only to praise her, associating with her everything that was good. Mrs. Myers was of

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medium size. with black hair, fair complexion and blue eyes, neat hands and feet, and considered hand- -ome in her day. She departed thi- life at her home in MeLean County. in September. 1857.

The parents remained in Christian County some years after their marriage, and then came West and settled in Blooming Grove. MeLean County, where they purchased the land now occupied as the County Poor Farm. and were the first to redeem it from its original condition. While residents of Kentucky there were born to them, Catharine, now Mrs, Rust. of Jackson County, Mo. : Jacob W., of Colfax. Ill. : William HI .. of Lawndale Township. McLean County : Elizabeth. Mrs. Greenwood, who died in Missouri: Sarah J., Mrs. Weleh. of Bloom- ing Grove Township. and John F., of offr sketch. After becoming residents of MeLean County. Il., there were added to the family circle. George W .; David D .. who died when twenty-three years of age, and a daughter. now Mrs. M. A. Bills, who, with the first-mentioned brother. is a resident of Bloomington.

The father of our subject, after becoming a resi- dent of MeLean County, carried on a wagon-shop while his boys operated the farm. By frugality and industry they managed to obtain over 1.000 acres of land, which was afterward divided among the children. After the death of his wife and the marriage of nearly all his children. Jomm G. Myers sold his farm and removed to Bloomington, where he married a widow lady. Mrs. White, who still survive- him and is a resident of the latter city. The father of our subject departed this life about For- aged sixty-nine years and some months. lle left behind him a record of which hi- descendants may well be proud. He was honest and upright in all hi- transactions, kind and benevolent to those in distress, and presented both at home and abroad an example worthy of imitation.

Our subject remained under the parental roof mitil reaching manhood. and nine days after his twenty -third birthday was united in marriage with Mis- Sarah C. Bird-ell. Dec. 22, 1857. Mrs. Myers was born in MeLoan County. Ill., April 20, 1842, mul i- the daughter of William W. and Lovina Passwater- Bird-elf. She is possessed of fine tal- est which is exhibited in numerous paintings and

drawings gracing her home and which were her own handiwork. Of this union there were born five children : Birdsell F. married Miss Gladys Wiggins. and is a resident of this county; Cora B. is the wife of Marcus D. L. Spence, of Belle Prairie Township: Estella E. died in April. 1882. aged seventeen years ; George L. died in 1870. when eighteen months old; lohn R. died in early childhood.

Mr. Myers has been prominently connected with local affairs for the past twelve years, holding the various township offices and serving as Justice of the Peace and Highway Commissioner. Socially he belongs to the Masonic fraternity and has ad- vanced to the third degree. Religiously, with his estimable lady, he is connected with the Christian Church, of which he is Clerk and one of its most cheerful supporters. He has inherited in a large degree the musical and poetical talents of his father, and has given to the public some extremely fine poems. The residence is a shapely, modern >truct- ure, and indicates on all sides the refined and culti- vated tastes of its proprietor.

The portrait of Mr. Myers, which is given on an accompanying page. will be appreciated by his many friends, and forms a graceful adjunct to this Alma y. We also take pleasure in presenting the following poem, entitled "A Patriotic Ode," which was written by him :

Ye sons of Columbia, the fairest of earth.

Ye heirs of the land that gave Liberty birth ; Your vigils of freedom, O never resign, Let watch fires of Liberty constantly shine. Oh! kindle your bosoms with patriot fires. And cherish the deeds of our patriot sires. Think over how bravely they fought for our good, Our freedom and liberty bought with their blood.

CHORDS.

Then rise, and shout, hail to the patriotic band : Our glorious banner and free happy land. Sing anthems of praise to our Washington's name, Thrice hail to the hero of untarnished fame!

Yes. Washington. Father! thy praise we will sing. From proud, thankful heart- oft thy glory will ring; Thy name by all nations respected will be,

While tyrants will tremble 'neath liberty's tree ; And, forefathers, bright in our memories ve dwell,

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And thoughts of thy valor our bosoms doth swell : The legacy left us we'll ever retain,

Though tyrants and traitors should rally again.

CHORU'S .-

O heaven blest country: O free, happy land ! The loyal, the faithful, they by thee will stand ; The patriot's theme and the alien's home, A haven of safety for all who will come; Thy ships are now sailing in every port. Thy flag is respected by every court ;

The laurels that crown thy brave sons ever green, And thou among nations a recognized queen.

CHORI'S .-

Oh! glorious banner that heavens adorn, Forever thou'lt float on the breeze of the morn ; Thy triumph be glorious, thy destiny long,

The pride of our Nation, the theme of her song. When the voice of thy eagle is heard in the sky. Invaders and rebels in terror will Hy,

For she soars high and proudly with white, blue and red,

Since the palmetto flag with her serpent is dead.

CHORUS .-

Yes, bright, bonny banner that waves in the air. No foe whatsoever thy beauty shall mar,

For our motto shall be till our last vital breath, Our flag, our country, and victory or death.

We will drive all thy foes from freedom's bright land.

And ever Columbia a nation will stand :

Whilst thou, bonny flag, shalt continue to wave O'er a land that is free. and her sons ever brave.

OIIN CHALMERS LEWIS. the only repre- sentative of the jewelry business in Dwight, has good reason to be proud of his birth and parentage, being a descendant of German and Scotch ancestry, two of the best nationalities on the face of the earth. His paternal grandfather crossed the Atlantic at an early day and located in New York State. where he carried on farming and reared a fine family of sons and daughters. Among these was Sebastian, the father of our subject. who was born at the old homestead in the Empire State, and became familiar with the various departments of agriculture.

Not far from the home of Sebastian Lewis was

reared the lady whom he subsequently married, viz., Miss Maria Chalmers, whose ancestry distin- guished themselves both in the field of literature and that of theology. Of this union there were born eight children, viz. : Sarah, Mary F., William, Annie S., John C., Sebastian G., Joseph W. and Henrietta F. Sebastian Lewis was an industrious. hard-working man, of temperate habits, robust health and strictly religious principles, being prom- inently identitied with the Presbyterian Church. In addition to the cultivation of the soil he became a heavy dealer in live stock, and shipped large quan- tities of beef to Albany, Elmira and other im- portant eities. He gave careful attention to the training and education of his children, and set before them in his daily life an example worthy of their imitation. His last twenty years were clouded by a great affliction in the loss of his eyesight. which was occasioned by a severe cold, from the effects of which he was for a long time a sufferer. He spent thousands in the vain attempt to recover his sight, but finally abandoning hope, he bore his misfortune with unexampled patience, and resigned himself to the will of Providence. He departed this life at his home in Prattsburg, Steuben Co., N. Y., at the age of seventy-five years, deeply mourned by his family, and regretted by a host of friends. The mother is still living and in her seventy-fifth year.

John C. Lewis was born at the homestead of his parents, May 2, 1842, and spent his boyhood and youth amid the peaceful seenes of country life. lle pursued his studies at the district schools and completed them in the academy. When about nineteen years of age he left home to learn the jew- eler's trade, at which he afterward worked as a journeyman in the States of Ohio and Indiana. In 1862, soon after his twentieth birthday, and while a resident of New York State, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Pamelia J., daughter of William and Maria ( Berge) Chamberlain. of Syracuse, N. Y .. and born Sept. 28, 1840. The young couple began life together in a modest dwelling in New York, but their anticipations of a quiet home life were rudely broken in upon by the call for young men to volunteer in defense of the I'nion.

Mr. Lewis watched the struggle for a time, and

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then felt that it was his duty to assist his country, and accordingly, in 1864. eulisted as a private in Company C. 188th New York Infantry. He marched with his comrade- to the front, and met the rebels at Danville and Weldon, where in the brief engagement which ensued. his company lost, in killed alone, over fifty men. In the meantime the young wife remained at home for a time, tor- tured with anxiety and apprehension. and then resolved upon a bold and desperate step to effect the return of her husband to his family. After a hurried preparation she set out for Washington. and at length obtained an interview with President Lincoln, who gave to her a patient hearing and finally granted her request. This is probably the only ease of the kind on record, and illustrates the devotion and heroism of a timid woman in her hour of need. Mrs. Lewis returned home in triumph, and it is hardly necessary to state that in no hearts is the name of the martyred President held more sacred than those of our subject and his devoted wife.

Mr. Lewis, after his return, took up his residence in Seymour, Ind., where he engaged in business, and built up a fine trade, but owing to poor health he removed to Dwight and opened his present estab- lishment. He carries a choice and well-selected stock of all the articles in his line, and has met with unqualified success. enjoying the patronage of the best people of Dwight and vicinity. He and his estimable lady are members in good standing of the Congregational Church, and their pleasant home is the frequent resort of the cultivated people of the city. Mr. Lewis, politically, is a strong Republican, and socially belongs to the G. A. R., the I. O. O. F., and the Masonic fraternity.

Willian Chamberlain. the father of Mrs. Lewis, Was a non-commissioned officer in a New York Regiment during the late war. The only living child of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, Maria A., who was born July 2, 1866, became the wife of Richard F. Dougherty. Assistant Train Dispatcher on the C. & A. R. R. They make their home in Bloomington, Ill., and are the parents of two children. Lewis F. and Grace E. Sarah Lewis, a sister of our sub- ject, was the wife of Dr. P. K. Stoddard, an emi- bent surgeon of Prattsburg, Steuben Co., N. Y .;

she is now deceased. Another sister, Mary Frances. married Dr. J. R. Selover, also a member of the medical profession in Steuben County, where he enjoys a large and lucrative practice. Sarah E. Lewis died Oet. 17. 1880.

AMES W. MARKS. There is something comforting and gratifying to a man who is able to spend his life among the scenes and with the people of his childhood. There is a peculiar interest about one who was born a pion- eer, and grew up with the country. The life of such an one, and the events of his neighborhood, become so interwoven, that the history of one is al- most the narrative of the other. The subject of this sketch, who isa farmer and stock-raiser on see- tion 30, Pontiac Township, was born in Livingston County, that important event in his life occurring on the 2d of August, 1857. He is the son of John D. and Sarah A. Marks, of Rook's Creek Township, who are both natives of Ohio, and were pioneer settlers of that township. The children born to these good people were eight in number. of whom the subject of this sketch is the youngest. Their names are as follows: Archibald A .: Nancy, de- ceased; George; Lucetta, wife of A. P. Pemberton ; Estella, deceased; Lillie T., wife of 1. E. Thompson, of Republic County, Kan. ; John A. and James W. The mother is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, taking great interest in the cause of her Master. The father is a member of the Repub- lican party, and has been honored with an election to several township offices. lle is a public-spirited man, and takes great interest in all matters which have for their objeet the benefit of the community in which he lives. They are both widely known and respected throughout the neighborhood. The paternal ancestors are of Scotch_descent.

Mr. Marks had the advantage of the superior school system inaugurated in Illinois during the past quarter of a century, and received a most ex- cellent common-school education. On the 10th of January, 1883, he was married to Lillia Houder, daughter of Henry K. and Mary J. Houder, both of whom are deceased. Her father, accompanied

RESIDENCE OF J. W. MARKS , SEC . 36, PONTIAC TOWNSHIP.

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RESIDENCE AND TILE FACTORY OF CHARLES W. SHELDON, SEC .33, ROUND GROVE TP.

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by two brothers, came from Ohio at an early date, and located in Rook's Creek Township. where he remained until the breaking out of the late Civil War, soon after which he entered the army, and was killed at the battle of Dallas Woods, Ga., May 28. 1864. His wife subsequently married, and moved to Woodbury County, Iowa, where she died in February, 1875. To Mr. and Mrs. Marks have been born two children: Wilford, July 24, 1884, and Edith I., Dec. 31, 1886.

Mr. Marks settled on his present farm, which consists of 289 acres, in 1884, which he cultivates with great success. The soil is fertile, and the sys- tem of underdrainage he has inaugurated has en- hanced its productive qualities very materially. Mr. Marks is a Republican, and makes it a point to support the men selected by that party for office. He has served in an official capacity as School Director three years, and discharged the duties of that office with ability. Ile is a progressive man, and his ad- vanced ideas he puts into practice in his daily life. Mrs. Marks is an active member of the Baptist Church, and both are influential members of society. A view of the home place is given in this volume.

b ENRY T. McLANE, agent at Dwight, 111., for J. I. Case, manufacturer of threshers and engines, is numbered among the repre- sentative business men of Livingston Coun- ty, and although young in years. has already es- tablished himself on a firm basis. Like many of the residents of this section he is the son of a gentle- man who was born and reared in the Keystone State, his father, Simon McLane, having been born in Dauphin County, Pa., in 1819.

The McLane family is of Scotch-Irish origin, with a goodly intermixture of the German. The paternal grandfather of our subject was born in Scotland, and immigrated to this country early in life, locating in Pennsylvania. Ile there reared a family, among his sons being Simon, who was born and reared on the homestead which his father had occupied many years, and married Miss Rachel Long, of Venango County. They became the parents of nine children, namely : Mary J., Henry T., .

Samuel, Sarah M., John M., Levia, Amanda, Daniel and David, the last two twins.

The father of our subject, although a weaver by trade, was fond of country life, and became quite an extensive farmer and land-holder. fle had been early trained to Christian principles, and for many years labored as a minister of the Evangelical Church. In 1855 he parted with the old farm in Venango County, and coming to this State purchased a tract of land in Kane County, where he resided nine years. After a time oil was discovered on the farm which he had owned in Pennsylvania, and the prop- erty became very valuable. He finally sold the property in Kane County and purchased a quarter section in Kankakee County, where a part of his family now reside. Simon MeLane departed this life in 1882, aged sixty-four years, and is remem- bered by a large number of the people of Dwight, where he became well known through his pious ministrations. In this field lay his best efforts, and he built up a good record as a self-sacrificing and conscientious minister of the Gospel. The mother is still living on the homestead.

Henry T. MeLane was born in Venango County, Pa,, May 3, 1852, and passed his childhood and yonth among the quiet scenes of country life. When twenty-two years of age he left home and repaired to Janesville, Wis., where he spent four months and learned telegraphy. Circumstances, however, induced him to return to his native State. and he spent the five years thereafter on the home farm. Ilis next remove was to Gardner. Ill., where he was employed as telegraph operator one year. and thence removed to Lemont, Ill .. where he was similarly occupied. His first experience in his pres- ent business was in 1882. when he became agent for Mr. Eator, of Dwight, with whom he continued until 1883. Then, crossing the Mississippi he en- tered 160 acres of land in Edmunds County, Dak., to which he has now a clear title, and which will in time repay him well for the capital invested. We next find him in Norfolk, Neb., where his affections were captured by Miss Edith Westervelt, who be- came his wife March 18, 1884. This lady is the daughter of Ira G. and Amelia (Grinnell) Wester- velt, who are now residents of Norfolk, Neb.

Mr. McLane returned to Illinois in 1884, and re-

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suming hi- relations with Mr. Eaton, continued with him for two years, and then established in business for himself. Ile possesses the energy and per- severance necessary to success, and by his obliging manner has found many friends, both in social and business circles. He is Republican, politically, and with his amiable and accomplished lady belongs to the Methodist Church. Mr. McLane is also iden- tified with the I. O. O. F. Like most of mankind he has met with his reverses. In 1881 he invested largely in the sheep business, in Kansas, but on ae- count of disease in his stock the venture proved a total failure, and he lost the earnings of several years. The first shock over, however. he buckled on his armor anew, and is rapidly getting on his feet again. Ile was elected Constable in 1885, to serve a term of four years, and is discharging the duties of his office with credit to himself and satis- faction to the community.

B ENJAMIN A. BUCK, one of the prominent business men of Dwight. who is engaged in the hardware business, was born near Balti- more. Md .. on the 12th of November, 1844. He -prings from a long line of honorable ancestry, who were among the pioneers of Maryland, emi- grating from Holland in the seventeenth century. In those days the settlers selected the best land they could obtain, which remained in possession of their family for generations, the title passing from father to son without interruption. The ancestors of our subject possessed these characteristics, and the old homestead remained in the family from early pro- vincial times up to this generation, when it recently has been disposed of. The family were originally Episcopalian-, but early in the history of their resi- dener in thi- country, probably about the time of Wesley's visit. they embraced Methodism.

The tradition of the family is that three brothers came from Holland. and the first information on this point i- furnished by the old family Bible which bears date of 1726. and whose pages are brown with time, and soiled by the hands of several generation -. In a plain, firm hand in this book appears the name of John Buck, where birth is re-

corded as having occurred in the year 1693. He was the great-great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, and he was noted in his day as a large landed proprietor; he lived to be seventy-

1 seven years of age. Very little is known of Ben- jamin Buck, the son of John, who was born in Maryland. John Buck, the grandfather of our sub- jeet, was born in 1767, and died in 1849 at the age of eighty-two years. He was a very prosperous man in his business affairs, accumulating a large landed estate, which was divided among three sons and one daughter, and was sufficient to render them independent for life.

Benjamin M. Buck, the father of our subject, was horn in 1794, and died in 1877. He lived and died on the old homestead, passing his life until the com- mencement of the great Civil War much in the same manner as his fathers before him, surrounded by his family and servants, and prosperous in his undertakings. In 1826 he married Miss Sarah 1I. Hobby, and the result of this union was six chil- dren : Catherine, John S., W. II., Arabella, Benja- min A. and Sarah, of whom all are living except Catherine and William. When the Civil War broke out, Mr. Buck lost a considerable portion of his property, which was never recovered. In politi- cal opinions he was a Whig until the beginning of the war, after which he affiliated with the Demo- cratic party. In religious matters he was a devout Methodist.

The subject of this sketch remained on the farm with his father, who had been disabled by an acci- dent, until he was twenty-five years of age. IIe availed himself of all the advantages of the com- mon schools, and then obtained a course in the High Schools at Baltimore. In 1870 he came to the West with his brother-in-law, H. M. Kennedy, who owned a large iract of land in Mclean County, and remained with him four years. le clerked in a general store at Danvers for a time, and then in the sune town engaged in business for himself for two years.

In 1876 Mr. Buck was married to Miss Libby A. Estes, daughter of William and Amanda (Good- rich) Estes, of Dwight, Ill., and to them have been born two children-M. Estes and Agnes. Soon after marriage Mr. Buck moved to Dwight, and in

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1882 engaged in the hardware business in that place, in which he has continued to the present, and has been very successful. He is not only one of the prominent citizens of Dwight, but one of its most reputable business men, displaying great en- ergy and enterprise in the conduct of his affairs. He heartily participates in all plans projected for the improvement and advancement of the county, and to all causes is a liberal contributor. He and his wife are attendants upon the Congregational Church, of which she is an active member.

G W. MATIIIS, a well-known citizen of Read- ing 'Township, is engaged in general mer- chandising, and also in the publication of the Weekly Advocate, at Ancona, Ill. Ile was born on the 28th of March, 185t, in the township in which he resides. and is the son of Caleb and Sof- lena (Black) Mathis, natives of Ohio and Illinois respectively. The father was born Oct. 24, 1822, and was the son of Caleb Mathis. a native of New Jersey, who died March 26, 1775, at the age of eighty-four years. The latter was the son of John Mathis, a native of New Jersey. The mother was born in Schuyler County, Ill., March 12, 1827, and was the daughter of James P. and Mary ( Paddit) Black, natives of Kentucky.

The parents of our subject were married on the 11th of July, 1847, and had the following-named children : Darius, George W., James P., Elbert N .. Eugene, Soflena E., William G. and Holland Le- land. Darius was born Dec. 16. 1849, and died Sept. 11, 1850: James P. was born Dec. 2, 1852, married Annie Coe, and resides at Rutland. where he is engaged in the stock and grain business ; they have had four children, two of whom are dead. Elbert N. was born Oct. 5, 1856, married Miss Blanche Howard, and is a practicing physician at Leavenworth, Kan. ; Eugene was born June 2, 1858. and is a practicing physician in Kansas City, Mo .; he married Autie Spears, who died leaving one child. Soflena E. was born March 8, 1861, was educated at Eureka College, and is now a teacher of music, and resides with her parents: William G. was born Nov. 5, 1863, and is a photographer in Ancona:

Holland L. was born Sept. 19. 1867, and resides at home.

Our subject was educated in the common school of Livingston County. and afterward became a stu- dent of Eureka College, where he completed hi- education. lle occupied his time by working ou the farm until seventeen years of age, and at the age of nineteen he was employed in a store in Long Point, and afterward in Ancona. U'pon reaching his majority he began work for himself, and on the 24th of October. 1872, he was married to Miss Sarah Coe, of Reading Township. She was born in Greene County. Pa., Nov. . 2, 1850, and is the daughter of Silas and Ruth (Church) Coe. Her parents had the following-named children : Johanna, who was born March 26, 1839: John, June 12, 1842; Joseph. Dec. 25. 1847 : Sarah, Nov. 2, 1850; Cephas. Nov. 14. 1853; Annie L .. Feb. 28, 1856, and Robert G., Feb. 4, 1859.

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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 127

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