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 130
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Mr. LeDue is a finely educated gentleman, read- ing, writing and speaking several languages fluently. Although wealthy he is not ostentatious, but en- joy's life in his own quiet way, devoted to his books
and the society of his chosen friends. While a resi- dent of Salem County, N. Y., he was united in marriage, June 13. 1853, with Miss Eve B. Neidig, who is a native of the Kingdom of Saxony, where she was born April 25, 1834. When about ten years of age she came to the I'nited States with her parents, Nicholas and Eve ( Lavender) Neidig. Our subject and his wife became the parents of nine children, of whom the record is as follows: Rosina was born in York State, and died there when six months old; Jane is the wife of William Layman, near Pontiac: William married Miss Mary John- son, and is superintendent of a large farm near Denver, Col .; Lizzie, Mrs. Charles Nicholas, is a resident of Chenoa; Emma married Christian Ver- cler, of this county; Julia is teaching school at Council Bluffs, Iowa: Alexander and Alice are at home with their parents; Edna died in infancy.
Mr. LeDuc, in 1856, planted four or five acres of young forest trees, and has now a beautiful grove near his residence. llis farm includes a quarter of section 33, and in all respects bears comparison with the modern homesteads around it. Since be- coming an American citizen he has kept himself well posted upon national affairs, and uniformly casts his vote with the Republican party.
FG RANK CONRAD, who is located on section 13, Long Point Township, where he is suc- cessfully engaged in stock-raising and con- ducting a farm of 120 acres, is considered one of the model farmers of the township, and the title is well won. He is a native of Prussia, Germany, and was born on the 16th of August, 1830, and is the son of Albert and Mary ( Ferry) Conrad. They were devout members of the Catholic Church, in the faith of which they lived and died. The father died in 1874, and the mother in 1877. They were the parents of the following-named children : Mary was born in 1818, was married to Joseph Parsons, has three children, and lives in Germany : Marcus was born in 1821, and married Mary Schmidt ; Rosa was born in 1824, was married, became the mother of one child, and died in 1875; her husband died in 1872, Frank, the subject of this sketch, was the
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youngest of the family, and came to this country in 1855.
On the 19th of March, 1863, Mr. Conrad was married to Margaret Sabin, daughter of Alfred and ( atherine ( Galligher) Sabin. Her father was born in 1-0s. and the mother on the 18th of February, 1-09. They were the parents of the following- named children : James L .. born Jan. 17. 1831, died in infancy: Elizabeth Jane, born Sept. 23, 1832, married William Adair, had one child, and died in Ohio at the age of thirty-five years: Mary Ann. born Sept. 29. 1831. died in Ohio at the age of .entern Years: Leah. born May 7, 1836, mar- ried John Owens, and became the mother of seven children. five of whom are deceased ; she resides in Iowa. Nancy, born Jan. 24. 1838, married Isaac Jack. had six children, and died in 1872, while living in Ohio: William Porter, born Jan. 15, 1810, served as a soldier in the Union army for about three years, and died in the South in 1865; John Wilson. born Aug. 1. 1812. married Ellen Hanes in linhana, and had one child; he died in Indiana after he had served three years in the Union army. Lucinda Margaret, the wife of the subject of this sketch. was born March 5. 1815; Morgan L. was born Ang. 16. 1819, married Harriet Hussey, and has a family of four children: he is a farmer and school teacher in Clay County. Il1.
Mr. and Mrs. Conrad are the parents of the fol- low ing children : Louis A .. born Dec. 22, 1863; Will- iam Porter, born April 20, 1865. died in 1877 ; Frank was born Sept. 13, 1867 : Rosa. born .Jan. 11, 1 -69. died of diphtheria in 1877; Emma, born Out. 26. 1870; Exie. bor May 10, 1872, died in infancy; Milton. born in 1871: Ellie. Jan. 19, 1875 ; Harry, March 31. 1877: Harvey, born May 9. 1879, and died in 1x80: Myrta, born May 27, 1881 : Della, Ort. 12. 1882: Edith, Feb. 6, 1885, and Je -- ie A., Jan. 9. 1 xx7.
The 120-acre farm owned by Mr. Conrad, a view of which i- shown in this volume, is one of the best cultivated in Long Point Township. It is well formed, and completely drained with tile ditches. The building- which have been erected are much better than the average. and built with an eye to comfort and convenience. In political matters Mr. Conrad act- with the Democratic party, but has
never engaged in politics for the purpose of obtain- ing official rewards. Ile is a quiet, unassuming and substantial citizen, in whom the people of the neigh- borhood repose the most implicit confidence, and his family enjoy the esteem and good wishes of all with whom they come in contact.
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RS. LOTTIE E. BROUGHTON, widow of the late William Broughton, in honor of whom the township of that name was called, and where he made his home the latter years of his life, is now residing in a comfort- able home at Campus, enjoying the esteem and con- fidence of the friends who have known her during her residence in Livingston County, about eight years.
Mrs. Broughton is the daughter of John B. and Melissa (Colburn) Phillips, natives of New York State, where they continued after their marriage, and where the mother died, at Mineville, Essex County, about 1851. The father still survives, and is now a resident of Crown Point, Essex County. Lottie E. was the youngest of their three children, and was born at Crown Point. May 4, 1849. She continued there with her parents until twenty-one years old, when she went South and joined a mar- ried sister at New Orleans, where she remained two years. Thence they removed to St. Louis, and six or eight years later to lowa. Her marriage with William Broughton occurred in Keokuk in the spring of 1879. Her sister, Mrs. C. J. Lorigan, is now a resident of Campus, and the two take much satisfaction in visiting together.
William Broughton was born in Monroe County, N. Y., Dec. 6, 1826, whence he removed to Ohio, and from there to this county in the spring of 1852. He was first married in Medina County, Ohio, Dec. 6, 1849, to Miss S. E. Smart, by whom he became the father of three children-Alvira, Arvilla and Elmer. Of these Arvilla is dead, while Alvira and Elmer live in Broughton Township. The wife and mother departed this life Oct. 26, 1868, after the removal of Mr. Broughton to the West. Subse- quently he was engaged for a time as a sailor and
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commander of a lake vessel. Ile came to Living- ston County, previous to the organization of Brough- ton Township and entered at once into the plans of the settlers for the building up of this section of country.
Mr. Broughton was at once recognized as a use- ful and public-spirited citizen and first represented Broughton Township in the County Board of Super- visors, which office he held many years, besides that of Assessor. He at first purchased a small tract of land and was very successful in his under- takings, finally becoming possessor of about 1,000 acres. From the time of coming to Broughton Township, he was closely identified with its inter- ests. and it seemed to be his chief ambition to en- encourage the establishment of these enterprises which would insure its prosperity, and bring to it an intelligent and progressive class of people. Hle lived many years enjoying the confidence and es- term of his fellow-citizens, and passed to his final rest Sept. 29, 1884. In 1887 Mrs. Broughton left the farm in the hands of Frank Rogers, and took up her abode in a comfortable residence at Campus, where she is enjoying life surrounded by all of its comforts and many of its luxuries.
Mr. and Mrs. Broughton became the parents of two children-M. DeeEtte, who was born June I, 1881, and William B., Jan. 9, 1885.
h ENRY FRANCIS, a citizen of Odell, hay- ing retired from active farm life, was born in Lewis, Essex Co., N. Y., on the Ist of September, 1823, and is the third child of a family of eight born to Alvin and Betsy (Soper) Francis, who were natives of the State of New York. The paternal grandparents were Samuel and Dorcas Francis, who were also New Yorkers, and the former of whom was a soldier in the Rev- olutionary War. The father of Mr. Francis was reared to farm life and served for a short time in the War of 1812. He moved to Erie County, Pa., in 1832, and engaged in farming. During his life he was an old-line Republican, but not active in |
politics. He was accidentally killed by a fall from a scaffold in his barn in Erie County, Pa. The widow survived him nineteen years.
Our subject spent his early days on a farm, and his only educational facilities were afforded by the common schools. At the age of eighteen he en- tered a chair-making establishment as an appren- tice to that trade, where he remained for about three years, and became a proficient cabinet-maker. He then opened a shop at Girard, Eric Co., Pa .. where he continued nine or ten years. In 1844 he was married to Mary J. Pope, the daughter of Ichabod and Almira (Badger) Pope, of Cattarau- gus, N. Y. Mrs. Francis was born in New York, but her parents were early settlers of Pennsylvania, and were engaged in farming. Mr. Francis and his wife remained in Girard until 1855, and then went to Sac County, Wis .. where they farmed one year. They then moved to LaSalle County, Ill., where he operated a rented farm for nine years, and from there went to Braceville, Grundy Co., Ill., where he bought 160 acres of land, on which he lived for eighteen years following, engaged in farming and stock-raising.
In March, 1865, Mrs. Franeis died. She had be- come the mother of eight children, all of whom are living-Mary E., Julia, Arrace E., Florence V., Perry D., Franklin W., May E. and Nelson G. Arrace married Lake L. Francis, a farmer, and they live in Nebraska; Julia married David Layman, and is now a widow living near home; Florence married Lucius Coleman, and they live in Gardner; Perry married Emily Smith, and lives in Lane County, Kan., where he is engaged in farming: May married William II. Ward, and lives near Odell; Mary is at home with her father; Franklin married Miss Mary A. Clark, and resides in Coal City, Grundy County : besides carrying on a cloth- ing business, he is a land and insurance agent and Justice of the Peace. Nelson is farming near home.
In 1882 Mr. Francis sold his property in Grundy County and moved to Livingston County, where he bought 240 acres of improved land on section 14, Odell Township, and eighty aeres in U'nion Township. He also purchased seven acres in the suburbs of Odell. on which stands a fine residence occupied by himself and daughter, and a view of
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which is to be seen in this volume. He is now re- tired from active business. In Grundy County he served as Assessor. Collector, Road Commissioner and School Commissioner: in this county he has taken no active part in polities, but votes with the Republican party.
BRAHAM BRUBAKER. United States Expres- Agent at Dwight, is a descendant of one of the oldest Pennsylvania families, who came originally from Holland, and located in Lancaster County soon after the landing of William Penn. The paternal grandfather of our subject. also Abraham Brubaker. was born in that county, where he spent his entire life, and passed his last year- on the homestead which he had inherited from his father. Ile married and became the father of -ix children. namely ? JJacob, Benjamin, Susan, Mariah. Naney and Betsey.
The Brubaker family were members of the Men- nonite Church, which derived its name from Symons Menno, who was born in 1496, in Friesland, a Province of the Netherlands on the northeast side of the Zuyder Zee. Menno was a Roman Catholic priest, a man of studions habits and great learning. He left the Mother Church and devoted himself to the study of theology. He was also distinguished for hi- writing-, and published a book in 1539 which attracted much attention. The followers of his teaching- are sometimes called the latter school of Anabaptist -.
I'mon the invitation of William Penn in 1683. many Englishmen crossed the Atlantic and founded a settlement at Germantown. near Philadelphia. In 1735 there were about 500 families of Mennonites th Lancaster County alone. Altogether they now minber about 200,000, of whom 175,000 are in the I'nited States and Canada. They have three edu- rational institutions in this country, one in Hol- -load. Kan. one in Wadsworth. Ohio, and one in Elkhart. Ind .. where they have also a publishing home. They also have a missionary in the Julian Nation. No better citizens are to be found in any community than the devoted adherents of this religion. For fidelity to promises and obligations,
coupled with continuous industry and strict honesty. these quiet and unobtrusive characters are valued alike for their worth as citizens and business men. Abraham Brubaker, the elder, possessed in a marked degree the simple manners and high moral princi- ples peculiar to the sect, and rounded up a long and useful life at the age of eighty-six years.
Jacob Brubaker, the father of our subject, was born on the homestead of his father. in Lancaster County, Pa., in 1800. Here he spent his entire life, and the property still remains in the hands of the family. lle married Mis, Lydia, daughter of Ben- jamin Whitmore, of Lancaster County, and they became the parents of six children. namely : Fabin, David, Jacob, Anna, Margaret and Abraham. In 1833, Jacob Brubaker purchased a farm in Hunting- don County, Pa., where he lived until removing to the West. in 1848. He first took up his abode in Ogle County, this State, where he carried on farm- ing, and distinguished himself as an industrious and hard-working man of the highest moral character and the most devout Christian principles. He lived, like his father before him, to the advanced age of eighty-six years, passing away in the winter of 1886.
Our subject was born on the old homestead in Lancaster Connty, Pa .. Jan. 25, 1828. He was a bright and ambitious boy and made the most of his advantages at the common schools. He was fond of his books, which he by no means laid aside on the completion of his school days, but by a continuous course of reading and study in after life. kept him- self well posted upon current events and was more than ordinarily well informed. He lived with his parents after their removal to Huntingdon County, and eame with them to Ogle County, Ill .. in 1848, becoming familiar with farm employments and re- maining under the parental roof until his marriage. He chose for his bride Miss Lydia, daughter of John Goodman, of Huntingdon County, Pa., and they were married in that county Sept. 9, 1851. The two children born of this union are Frank and Jeanette, residents of Dwight. II]. After his mar- ringe. Mr. Brubaker carried on farming in Ogle County until 1865, when coming to Dwight. he assumed his present position, which he has held for a period of twenty-two years. He is Republican in
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politics, and a member in good standing of the Con- gregational Church. His son Frank is an Express Messenger of the Chicago & Alton Railroad. Our subject, socially, belongs to the 1. O. O. F., and has held various town offices. His career has been such as to reflect honor upon his ancestry, which he traces back in a direet line to a source fully as dis- tinguished as that of the French Huguenots.
Mrs. Lydia Brubaker continued the affectionate and faithful companion of her husband for a period of thirty-five years, and departed this life at her home in Dwight, in November, 1886. She is re- membered as a lady possessing all the Christian virtues, and was in all respects the suitable com- panion of her husband. Her death was mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances who had learned to respect her for those qualities which constituted her a model wife and mother, a kind neighbor and a faithful friend.
AMES H. BEEKS, of Pike Township, in the southwestern part of this county, owns and occupies a quarter of section 17, upon which he has made all the improvements which the traveler now observes with an admiring eye, and where is presented one of the handsomest home- steads in this part of the county. The residence is especially fine, and the main barn, with the other out-buildings, is fully in keeping with the means and enterprise of the proprietor. Among the prin- cipal features of attraction in connection with his home, is a beautiful grove surrounding the dwell- ing, and a fine orchard in the rear. The grounds are neatly laid out, and well kept, and the live stock and farm machinery are of the best descrip- tion.
Mr. Beeks was one of the early settlers of Pike Township, coming here when his neighbors were few and far between, and operating first upon the uncultivated soil. Like many of the pioneers of Livingston County, he passed his boyhood days in Pennsylvania, having been born at West Alexan- der, Washington County, Sept. 18, 1828. He is the son of Jacob and Margaret (Henry) Beeks, na-
tives of Maryland and Ireland respectively. The father died in Washington County, Pa., and the mother in Marshall County. IN. The winters of his boyhood were spent mostly in school, while his summers were occupied with the labors of the farm. lle remained a member of his father's household until twenty-three years of age, and was then united in marriage with one of his childhood associates, Miss Elizabeth Crow, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride in West Alexander, March 18, 1852. Mrs. B. is a native of the same town as her husband, and was born in 1825. Her parents were Philip and Maria ( MeKenon) Crow, who were also natives of the Keystone State. ller father in 1853, emigrated westward to Marshall County, Ill., where he purchased eighty acres of wild land, and farmed until 1859. The household circle was then broken in upon by the dread de- >troyer, and the mother taken away. Mr. Beeks subsequently sold out and removed to a point near the city of Bloomington. taking up a small tract of land and carrying on agriculture. in a moderate way, for two years following. Ile was a second time married, Feb. 16, 1865, to Miss Jane, daugh- ter of John and Jane ( McCarroll) Hastings. Soon afterward he removed to his present home.
Of the first marriage of our subject there were born five children : The eldest daughter, Maria P'., is the wife of George Womeldorff, a farmer of Pike Township. located near the Beeks homestead; Fra- zell, the eldest son, married Miss Ella Kirkpatrick, and is now a resident of Cowley County. Kan .; Maggie E. is at home with her parents; Franklin married Miss Della Kirkpatrick, and is also living in Cowley County, Kan. ; Fannie, the twin sister of Franklin, is the wife of Henry Witherow. of Mar- shall County, Kan. Of the second marriage of Mr. Beeks there has been born one child, a son, Henry ("., now twenty-one years of age.
Mr. Beeks has been the incumbent of the various township offices, and has officiated as Justice of the Peace for a period of eleven years. He was Town- ship Treasurer nine years, Supervisor four years. Assessor one term, and for several years has been School Director. Hle voted for Fremont in 1856, and has since been a firm supporter of Republican principles. Both he and his wife are prominently
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connected with the Presbyterian Church, and are widely and favorably known throughout their com- munity as representatives of its most solid and sub- -tantial element.
HARLES M. BAKER. the leading furniture dealer of Dwight, is of German ancestry, and the grandson of Nathan Baker, Esq., a na- tive and afterward a prominent and highly re- spreted resident of Lancaster County, Pa. Nathan finally removed to Bedford County, where he en- gaged extensively as a farmer and miller, and where he spent his last years. The Baker family were widely and favorably known throughout southern Pennsylvania.
Isaac II. Baker. the father of our subject. was born at the homestead of his father in Bedford County. Pa., Oct. 16. 1825. He was not particu- larly inclined either to farming or milling, but pos- -essing much natural geniu- as a mechanic. he took up the carpenter trade, and after his marriage, in 1×50, migrated to Jefferson County, Ind., where he was employed upon woodwork for a railroad com- pany. Five year- later he came to Dwight, and not long after entered the employ of the C. & A. R. R. Co .. whence he proceeded South and spent some time in the State of Louisiana. During the war he became possessor of the MePherson Hotel, which he operated until 1864, when he sold out and em- barked in the furniture business, which he prose- cuted until Ist, when he withdrew. and is now living in retirement in a comfortable home within the town limits of Dwight.
The mother of our subject was formerly Miss I-abella 11. Spear, and was born in Pennsylvania in 1-27. Her parents, Robert and Agnes (Cowan) Spear. were native- of Huntingdon County, Pa., and of scotch-Irish descent. Of thi- union there were born -ix children, viz. : Charles M., Agues, ; George. Ella. Maggie and Jolm. Of these three are living and residents of Dwight. The parents are both members of the Methodist Church, and Mr. Baker. politically, formerly belonged to the Democratic party, but now gives his entire support to the Prohibitionists. He officiated as Village
Trustee six years, and has been in all respects a valued member of the community. He has been greatly interested in the success of the temperance movement, and whenever opportunity occurs has vast the weight of his influence toward the suppres- sion of the liquor tratlic. Although a hard worker many years of his life, his correct and temperate habits have been the means of preserving his health to a remarkable degree, and he bids fair to live to a good old age. being even now stronger and more active in some respects than his sons.
The subject of this biography was born in Jeffer- -on County. Ind., March 23, 1849, and coming with his father to Dwight in the spring of 1855, when a lad six years of age, he soon afterward be- gan his education in the common schools. Later he assisted his father at carpentering. and in 1861 engaged as a clerk, which occupation he followed until assuming the management of the old Union House, a hotel which was owned by his father, who was occupied in other business, which prevented him giving his attention to this. This property was sold out in 1886, and Charles M. engaged with his father in the furniture business, which was then the nucleus of the present large and lucrative trade.
The marriage of Charles M. Baker and Miss Liz- zie S. Weagley was celebrated at the home of the bride on the 24th of December, 1873. Mrs. B. is the daughter of John T. and Eleanor ( Hilliard) Weagley, of Griggsville, Pike County, and of her union with our subject there have been born three children-Cora M., Roy M. and Ella V., all living and comprising a bright and interesting little fam- ily. The stock and building of Mr. Baker were de- stroyed by fire in 1880, and he was obliged to be- gin the world over again, having no insurance. This, however, was not so difficult, as he had un- limited credit, and had been doing business among friends who had known him for years. He was soon upon his feet again, and in the fall of 1887 found time to interest himself in the prohibition movement, and in connection with Frederick B. Hargreaves, of Dwight, organized the first society in Livingston County which moved effectively upon the evil of intemperance. Mr. Baker was selected to represent the county in the State Legis- lature, and notwithstanding the elements at work in
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opposition to the success of the cause, he received 2,195 votes, which was considered as remarkable, and expressed not only the sentiment of the com- munity in regard to the liquor trattic, but also its sentiments in regard to one of its best citizens.
During the late campaign, Mr. Baker published a temperance paper entitled Facts, the management of which he still continues, and which is issued reg- ularly, receiving the encouragement and patronage of the friends of the cause in the most flattering manner. He is also joint proprietor of the " Re- ligious Newspaper Company." which was incorpor- ated under the laws of the State of Illinois, and furnishes its literature principally to clergymen for distribution. This has proved a most successful enterprise, and a genuine power for good. So- cially, Mr. Baker belongs to the I. O. O. F., and is President of the Board of Trustees of the city of Dwight. He and his excellent lady are connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and by their well-conducted lives have won the respect and confidence of the people around them. Mr. Baker prosecutes with earnestness whatever he undertakes, and the enterprises which receive his endorsement are usually successful.
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