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 129

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 129

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nal grandparents were James and Elizabeth ( Welch) Fleming, also natives of Virginia, and farmers by occupation. The father of our subject was a farmer and lived and died in Virginia, where he was born. Ile was a patriotic citizen and always regretted that he was too young to engage in the

Patrick F. MeDonald was reared a farmer boy and obtained his education in the common schools which were located near his home. When he had leisure from his home work he was accustomed to working on the neighboring farms, but did not face the vicissitudes of life independently until twenty- three years of age. On the 13th of April. 1848. he married Elizabeth Hustead, the oldest child of Moses and Mary (Goodwin) Hustead, of Virginia, where their daughter Elizabeth was born on the 16th of February, 1827. Her father was a farmer by occupation and a cooper by trade. The family lived on a farm until the father's death, and the widow still resides there.

Our subject and his wife began the battle of life on a Virginia farm, where they remained sixteen years. They experienced some of the horrors of the Civil War but he was not in active service. After the close of the war he sold his farm in Vir- ginia and came to Illinois and Livingston County, purchasing 160 acres on section 21, Esmen Town- ship, on which a little house had been erected, which he occupied for about nine years. He then bought the adjoining quarter section of land, and erected the commodious residence which he now occupies. He has been engaged in farming and stock-raising ever since he came to Illinois, and takes great pride in the improvements on his farm as well as in his stock. Ilis cattle are graded Dur- hams, his horses are Norman and Cleveland bays, his hogs Poland-China, and his sheep Cotswold and Southdown. The crops he produces are largely corn and small grain.

Mr. and Mrs. McDonald have become the parent- of seven children, six living-Thaddeus S .. Clan- dius (., Ai Gordon, Loretta, Ella May and Nevada. Sabra H. is deecased. Thaddeus married Ella Bradley, and is a farmer in Round Grove Town- ship, where he deals in stock and conduct- a grain commission business in the village of Campus;

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Claudius married Martha Corbin, and lives in Streator, but is not in active business at present ; Gordon married Anna Whalen, and lives at home with his parents: Loretta is the wife of Walter B. Cornell, and lives at Great Bend. Kan .: Ella mar- ried Charles Cook, and lives in Pontine, where her bu-band has been engaged in the meat business.

Mr. McDonald has served as School Director and Trustee many terms, and has assessed the town-hip tive times. He is not active in politics, and votes entirely independent of political party. lle wa- formerly an old-lme Whig. He is one among the most enterprising citizens of Esmen Township, and is favorably known throughout Livingston County. Mrs. MeDonald is an active member of the Baptist Church.

HOMAS L. II. HOLMAN. Central Illinois was settled by a most excellent class of peo- ple. as its present position indicates. They came from all parts of the East and South, and formed the happy combination most needed for the development of the soil and the other natural re- sources of this section. Particularly has Ohio con- tributed to the honor- of her sister State, and parted from many of her good men who were anxious to try an experiment on prairie land. Among these was the subject of this history, who more than thirty-one year- ago bid adien to the Buckeye State to -rek his fortunes farther West.

Mr. Holman is now one of the most prominent farmer- and stock-raisers of Saunemin Township, where he own- 205 acres of highly cultivated land with a beautiful residence, surrounded with natural and ornamental trees, and in the rear the barns and other bnibling- required by the intelligent and pro- gre -- ive farmer. Ilis stock is of first-class deserip- tion and the farm machinery of the most improved pattern. This home he ha- built up by his own unaided efforts, and may be pardoned if he views it with honest pride. Not alone has he accumulated a competency. but has also secured the warmest regard of hi- neighbor- as a valued factor in their midst and one who has stimulated them to emulate

his example. A view of the residence, with its surroundings, is presented ou an accompanying page.

When the parents of our subject were gladdened by the birth of this son, on the 10th of October, 1831, they resolved to bestow upon him a name which perhaps wonkl be the means of inciting him to worthy endeavor and ambitions, when he should come to years of responsibility. He was therefore given the name of Thomas L. Hlamer, in honor of that great Ohio Statesman who distinguished him- self during the decade from 1835 to 1845. The boy was reared to manhood in his native county, and remained under the parental roof until reach- ing his majority. His father, Frank Holman, was a native of New Jersey, and the mother, Mrs. Cassie (Leonard) Holman, was born in Brown County, Ohio. ller paternal uncle, John Leonard, figured as one of the early patriots and served in the War of 1812. The family is of German and French ancestry, but of American birth for several genera- tion-, steady, reliable and industrious people. who had nothing to do with police courts or lawyers, but pursued the even tenor of their way, mostly engaged in agriculture.

Our subject was the fourth son of his parents, and in common with his brothers, attended the district school mostly during the winter seasons, and in summer made himself useful on the farm. After reaching his twenty-eighth year he was united in marriage, Feb. 26, 1863, to Miss Matilda B. Belt, who was born in Goshen, Clermont Co., Ohio, Oct. 4, 1841, and is the daughter of Richard and Susan (MeNeal) Beh, who were natives of Maryland and Ohio respectively. The mother died in Clermont County, Ohio, in 1844; the father lives in Batavia, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Hohan after their marriage eame directly to linois, and took up their residence on a farm in LaSalle County. In 1871 they disposed of their property in that section, and coming to Sannemin Township, Mr. H. purchased 205 acres of land en section 1, where he has since operated with the results already mentioned. Ilis homestead forms one of the most attractive spots in the land- scape of Saunemin Township, and is a striking illustration of the cultivated tastes and the industry

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of its proprietor. He commenced at the foot of the ladder in life, and his present condition indicates what good use he has made of his time and oppor- tunities. This land when it came into his posses- sion bore little resemblance to its present condition, as there stood upon it only a small worthless build- ing and it was practically in its primitive condition,. having been but slightly cultivated. Our subject and his wife have not been blessed with children, but their home is often brightened by the presence of friends and neighbors, who find it one of the most attractive resort- in the neighborhood in which to spend a social hour.

Mr. Holman has represented Sannemin Township in the County Board of Supervisors, and served as Road Commissioner for a period of fourteen years: the latter position he occupies at the present time. He has kept his eye upon the schools in his vicinity and has served as Director in his district, seeming to increase his popularity each year, as in the spring of 1887 he received every vote cast in the district for Director. Mr. Holman is a Democrat in politics but has been a strong advocate of the Greenback party.

ILLIAM EDWARD MORRIS, one of the prominent and best-known farmers of Dwight Township, comes of an old family of English farmers, springing from near Manches- ter, Lancashire, England. The grandfather of our subject, James Morris, lived on a large farm be- longing to Lord Derby, over thirty-five years, and became the father of a family of six children, named as follows: John, Mary, Thomas, Ann, Will- iam and Alice.

James Morris was a typical English farmer of the better class, and was a man of much force of char- acter and intelligence. but with no education, not being able either to read or write, and said that when he was a boy the only attempt made to teach him to write was with the finger in the sand. He lived the quiet, easy-going life of his class, and was a raiser and breeder of fine cattle and horses. The crops then raised on English farms were principally wheat, potatoes and dairy products. He accumu- lated a handsome property, and at his death be-

queathed $5,000 to each of his children. He has always been held in the greatest respect by his de- scendants. William Morris, his son, and the father of our subject, was born on his father's farm, where he remained until he immigrated to this country. lle married and had one son, William Edward, of whom we write. The wife died soon after mar- riage, and Mr. Morris, emigrating to America, worked on a farm near Philadelphia for Daniel Wolmer, where he was again married. and by this wife had ten children. He finally came to Grundy County, Ill., where he rented Jand, and afterward purchased a farm of 200 acres in Dwight Township, this county, where he resided until his death, which occurred Oct. 6, 1878.

William E. Morris, our subject, was born in En- gland on the farm where his grandfather lived for many years. His mother died before he was old enough to take cognizance of persons or events, and his father coming to America, young William grew up under the care of his grandfather, and learned farming in the thorough manner of the En- glish. He received but little education when young, as England at that day did little for the edu- cation of the masses, but he has added to what he then obtained by reading, observation and experi- ence. Young William passed his early life amid the rural scenes of his native country, and at the age of twenty, in March. 1866, came to this eoun- try with his father, who had returned to England on a visit. Upon his arrival he went to work upon his father's farm, where he continued until he was twenty-three years of age.

On the 7th of January, 1869, Mr. Morris was married to Miss Jemima Keck, of Kane County, Ill., where she was born on the 28th of July, 1840. She is the daughter of Adam and Catherine Ann (Coleman) Keck, of New York State, who settled in the valley of the Mohawk many generations ago. Her ancestors were a sturdy and thrifty class of people, who transmitted those characteristics to their descendants. The household of Mr. and Mrs. Mor- ris has been blessed with three children-Catherine D., Rosa May and Calvin P.

The first year after marriage Mr. Morris rented a farm in his present neighborhood, and in the fol- lowing year bought a tract of ninety acres near

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Dwight, upon which he resided seven years, and then purchased his present homestead, consisting of 120 aere- near this town. In his farming opera- tions he has adopted the most approved modern methods, and employed the best agricultural im- plements and machinery. Mr. Morris early at- tached himself to the Republican party, and has con- -istently worked and voted with that political or- ganization. Both himself and wife are members of the Methodist Church. It is the determination of Mr. and Mrs. Morris to afford every possible facil- ity to their children in procuring a good education. and at the time this sketeh is written they are all making splendid progress in their studies at the Dwight High School. The parents are thoroughly wrapt up in their affection for their children, and will leave no effort unexerted to place them in their proper position in life.

A- representative of the buildings in this section of country, we have pleasure in presenting on an. other page of this ALBUM a view of Mr. Morris' residence and its surroundings.

OSEPH PIPER. a well-known farmer ano stock-raiser, whose farm is located on sec- tion 23, Rook's Creek Township, is an adopted citizen of this country, having been born in Englurl on the Ist of February, 1848, and brought to the I'nited States by his parents when about cleven months okl.

Mr. Piper is the son of Richard and Hannah ( Vaz- son) Piper, who upon coming to this country lo- cated on Fox River, Kendall County. where they repmined until the subject of this sketch was about thuteen years of age. They then came to Living- stou County, and rented land in Nevada Town- -bip. which they cultivated about four years, and then purchased a farm. At the end of two years they disposed of this property, and bought land in Book - Creek Township, upon which they located. Mr. Piper remained with his father, assisting in the work on the farm until he wa- twenty-one years of age, when he entered into partnership with him and contioned about five year. On the 7th of January, 1×72, Mr. Piper was married to Miss Elizabeth In-

gram. The partnership arrangement with his father existed during the first two years of his married life, and in the spring of 1876 he moved to his present home, which originally formed a part of his father's farm.

Mr. and Mrs. Piper have had born to them six children : Charles, Sept. 15, 1872; Nellie, Jan. 3, 1875: Albert, Dec. 23, 1876; Chester, July 28, 1880; Olive. Feb. 26, 1885; and Ingant Norah. Aug. 20, 1887. Mr. Piper was the eldest of a family of live children, the others being Mary, John, George and Harriet. Mary married Aaron A. Pem- berton, and lives in Rook's Creek Township, where they have three children; John married Emma Mc- Manus, has three children, and lives in the State of Nebraska: Ilarriet married George G. Breese, and lives in Pontiac Township.

Mr. Piper's father is about sixty-six years of age, having been born in England on the 28th of January, 1822. The grandfather's name was John, who remained in England and lived to be about eighty-five years of age. The father of Mrs. Piper was John Ingram, who was born in Virginia, and moved to Illinois when she was about four years old; he died at about thirty-five years of age. Mr. Piper's education was received in the common schools. lle has been Supervisor one year, Town- ship Collector four years, and School Director for several years, lle cast his first Presidential vote for U. S. Grant on his second election, and has voted the Republican ticket constantly since.

HILIP SHRIMPTON, who is a farmer and one of the pioneers of Dwight Township, was born in 1812, and the family of which he is a member is of English origin. Joseph Shrimpton, his father, was born in Buckingham- shire, England, where he was a needle-maker by trade. While yet a resident of that country he married Mary Bampton, and they were the parents of three children-Heber, Sarah and Philip.

While their children were yet young the parents of our subject immigrated to this country, settling in Livingston County, where they engaged in farm- ing; but not being satisfied with the outlook for

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Illinois at that time and yearning for the scenes of their nativity, they returned to England in 1856. The next year, however, yielding to the persuasions of the sons, who felt convinced that Ilinois was to be a great State and would furnish a pleasant and profitable place of residence, the father returned with his family in 1857. In 1860 he moved from Livingston County to Grundy County, where he remained until 1865, when he again came to this county and purchased a quarter section of land, a portion of which is yet owned by the sons. The father was a devoted member of the Baptist Church, and in politics was a faithful adherent of the Republican party. Through industry and economy and that good management for which the English people are noted, he succeeded in accumulating con- siderable property.

When his parents first came to the United States Mr. Shrimpton was but thirteen years of age, and yet before leaving England he had become skilled in the making of needles and particularly in making crochet needles, which was the speical branch of the work in which his father engaged. The business of making sewing needles before the introduction of machinery and before large factories had been established, had been followed by father and son in this family for generations. It is said that the father of our subject could take a hair from his head, make an eye in it and thread it. In this par- ticular vocation the Shrimpton family became much noted in that part of England in which they lived.

In 1873 Mr. Shrimpton was married to Mary A .. daughter of II. R. and Mary ( McGraw) Hamilton, of Blackstone, Livingston Co., Ill., and this union has been blessed with two children-Adelbert and Grace Pearl. The children are both living, and in good qualities and intelligence are counterparts of their parents. For several years before the death of Mr. Shrimpton's father they managed the farm of the latter jointly, and in these efforts were suc- cessful. Mr. Shrimpton owned forty acres of land at the time of his father's death, and inherited forty acres of the estate, which gives him a farm that is ample for all his necessities and just large enough to keep in good condition constantly. Ile arts with the Democratic party in political matters, but has never sought political preferment of any kind. He

is modest and unas-uming in his demeanor, both in politics and business affairs, but belongs to that class of undemonstrative men who can always be relied upon when emergencies arrive. Ile and his wife enjoy the respect and esteem of the people of all the surrounding country.

We present with pleasure a view of Mr. Shrimp- ton's homestead on another page of this work.

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ILLIAM BROUGHTON, who was widely known in Livingston County, and in honor of whom the township of Broughton was named, was born in Monroe County, N. Y., Dec. 26, 1823, and departed this life at his home in Broughton Township, Sept. 29, 1884. Ile was one of the earliest pioneers of Central Illinois, to which he came from the State of Ohio, where he had lived several years after leaving the place of his birth. llis residence in this county dated from the 1st of May, 1852.

Mr. Broughton was distinguished as an active and enterprising member of the community, strong in his ideas of right and fearless in the expresssion of his sentiments. He became an extensive land- holder, owning 1,026 acres. the most of which he brought to a good state of cultivation. Ile fol- lowed the life of a sailor on the Lakes for a time in his early manhood, but after settling down upon terra firma succeeded remarkably well in his farm- ing operations and carried with him all through life the elements of mind and character which made him admired by a large circle of friends and ac- quaintanees, and valued as a representative man of a highly intelligent community.

Mr. Broughton spent his childhood and youth in his native State, and after going to Ohio located in Medina County, where he was married on the 6th of December, 1849, to Miss S. E. Smart, a lady of excellent family and American parentage. She passed away at her home in this county, Oct. 26, 1868. Of this union there were born three chil- dren : Alvira, now Mrs. J. Lewis; Arvilla, deceased, and Eher, who is unmarried and largely identified with the farming and stock-raising interests of Broughton Township.

William Broughton was the first man who repre-

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-ented his town-hip in the County Board of Super- visors, which office he held for a number of years. and was also Assesor for a long period. He took an active interest in politics, and in early life iden- tified himself with the Republican party, of which he remained a tirm adherent until the day of his death. His first purchase of land was a tract of raw prairie, over which a plowshare had never passed. and for some years there was searcely the cabin of another -ettler in sight. He labored early and late to cultivate the soil and establish the homestead, and wa- richly rewarded for his industry and per- severance. In his death the county lost one of its most honored men and the community one of its most valned members.

Elmer Broughton was born Nov. 12. 1858. and ha- inherited largely the talents and energy of his father, while he bids fair to perpetuate the charat- teristic- for which the family have been noted for generations, He has managed with excellent judg- ment the property which has fallen to him, and, al- though not laboring with the difficulties attendant upon the efforts of his father before him. is a man who would probably be equal to any ordinary emergency which might arise.

Le OT IS FRANCIS LEDUC. It often happens that genius seeks for itself some quiet spot where it can commune with nature and take pleasure in reviewing the glories of the past. The subject of this biography. a French gentleman of fine education and much intellect. has sought a spot In Central Illinois where he gives scope to his in- clinations, and where for the last eight year- espec- ially he has been living comparatively retired from active labor. and enjoying in a large measure the pleasures of rural life, while engaging in the liter- my work of which he has always been fond and to which he is admirably adapted. His pen is now Thirty employed in writing a series of sketches, en- titled "Incident- during the Siege and Occupation of Rome by the French Army in 1819." which are being published in the Chenoa Gazette, and read by a large number of people with pleasure and profit. Our subject, who comes from an old and prom-

inent family, was born in lluningue, Alsace, then a possession of France, in 1821. His father, F. II. LeDue, was born in Liel, Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, in 1780, became a French citizen in 1808, and married in 1815. He was enrolled as master bootmaker of the 6th Regiment of Artillery, and was in the Russian campaign. He was sta- tioned with the depot company of the regiment at the fortress of Huningue, which in June, 1815, was surrounded by 30,000 Austrians under the com- mand of the Austrian Archduke John, only fifty cannoniers of the line being in the fortress at the time. They organized, nevertheless, for the de- fense, into a company of 100, by filling up with citizen volunteers, of which company LeDuc was second in command, and with some women volun- teers, who took charge of the guard posts, they succeeded in repelling for over two months every charge or assault of the enemy. Day after day the Austrians were repulsed, and could not get a foot- hold anywhere within range of the fortress guns, and the place was surrendered only after Paris had capitulated to the English, Prussian and Russian armies. He died in 1853. Magdalen Bashong, the mother of Louis, was born in Maseveaux, De- partment Ilant Rhin, France, in 1788, and died in 1826.

Our subject, after leaving school, had followed mercantile business until a youth of eighteen, when he volunteered in the French army, and two weeks later was promoted a non-commissioned officer. He was soon afterward called to more important sta- tions, and when nineteen years old was appointed private secretary to the Duke of Reggio. Here the Duke of Orleans, the oldest son of Louis Philippe, and Crown Prince of France, took notice of him, and appointed him private secretary to his wife, the Crown Princess. While en route to Paris he met a courier with the news that an accident had befallen the Prince, whose team took fright, and who, in leaping from his carriage, had broken his neck. The courier insisted that Louis shonkl re- turn to his regiment, but Louis answered, "I am summoned to the Royal court and to the court I shall go." He accordingly rode on, and in dne. time presented himself to the Princess. Thence he was referred to the King who received him cordially,

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but the secretaryship seemed to have been aban- doned, and the young man returned to his regiment with the promise of the first vacant place at court. This, however, was never realized, but the promo- tion of young LeDue in the army was so rapid that before twenty years of age he was First Lieu- tenant of Artillery and Secretary of the Minister of War.

In 1849, when the war in Italy broke out, our subject, who was master of the Italian language, was called to important positions, decorated with the Cross of the Legion of Honor for bravery, and was eventually sent with a flag of truce to the tri- umvirate of Rome. After being conducted into the Senate Chamber the Minister of War asked Louis, "What would you do if we should continue the defense?" The young man answered, "Signor, such a proceeding would be wanton bloodshed; we will take the city of Rome, and we shall have everyone of you here shot within twenty-four hours." Next day the French army entered the holy city without a shot being fired. Upon the breaking out of the French Revolution and the deposition of King Louis Philippe, young LeDuc lost two powerful friends and protectors, but held his office in Rome five years, during which time he often came into contract with Pope Pius the Ninth and his famous Secretary of State, Antonelli. When ill Pius received him in his bedroom several times, and subsequently recommended him for promotion to the French commander. He served as secretary and aide-de-camp to Marshal Bugeaud at Algiers, but owing to the constant change of atmosphere. which had its effects upon his health, he returned to Europe, whence, in December, 1851, he sailed to America. After his arrival he remained in New York City one year. and then coming to Ilinois he located upon his present farm, three and one-half miles northwest of Chenoa, and has since been en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. Ile has done much for the improvement of his township, and effected the emigration of many excellent French families to this country.

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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 129

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