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 135

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 135

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

also been a member of the School Board many years, during which time he has been active in pro- moting educational matters. As the result of a tem- perate and industrious life, Mr. Taylor at the age of eighty-five is yet a hale and hearty man, and is a fine example of the sturdy race from which he sprang. By his own efforts he has accumulated con- siderable property, both personal and real, and his declining years are comforted by his wife, a lady of superior intelligence and undimmed faenlities at the age of eighty-three years.

George 1. Taylor, the subject of our sketch, was born at Newport, R. I., Sept. ff, 1848, and was brought to Illinois by his parents when but four years of age, passing his early life amid the scenes and hardships incident to pioneer life in a new State. As best he could he obtained a common- school education, and devoted the summer months to acquiring a practical knowledge of farming. In 1872 Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Emma J., daughter of James J. and Catherine ( Numer) Good- win, of Huntingdon County, Pa. To them have been born four daughters-Nora A., Nellie C., Linnie L. and Constance D.

Mr. Taylor has remained with his father and con- ducted the home farm for many years. The extent of his membership in social orders is in being an Odd Fellow, of which order he is a bright and act- ive member. Like his father he is an ardent Re- publican, and allows no opportunity to pass whereby he can promote the interests of that party. Ile is a prominent farmer of the new and progressive school, and merits the reputation which he has of being an upright, energetic and enterprising man. Ilis children are bright and interesting, and his good wife shares with him the esteem and respect of all their neighbors.

As illustrative of the homesteads that have su- perseded the "hut in some vast wilderness" of this county, we take pleasure in presenting on another page of this ALBUM a view of Mr. Taylor's resi- dence with its environments.

6 HOMAS N. LANGAN, who has a reputa- tion throughout Illinois as an importer and breeder of thoroughbred Clydesdale and Shire horses, and is a well-known citizen of Sun-

RESIDENCE OF WM FLANIGAN, SEC. 13, SUNBURY TOWNSHIP.

GROVE SPARKS. 5092

BOYTON BOY 1963.

RES. OF T.N. LANGAN, BREEDER OF SHIRE & CLYDESDALE HORSES SEC 12, SUNBURY TOWNSHIP.

1091

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

bury Township, was born in Eagle Township, La- Salle County, on the 31st of August, 1855, and is the oldest son of James and Catherine (Coffey) Langan, of whom see sketch in another part of this ALBUM.

'Thomas Langan was ten years of age when he came to this county with his parents, and received his early education in the district schools, afterward attending the Christian Brothers' College at La- Salle. Hle also attended three terms at the Normal School at Normal, Ill., and took a scientific course at the Morris Normal School. During this time, - when not at school, he was engaged at farming. At the time of his marriage he settled on the farm he now owns and occupies, on sections 12 and I, in Sunbury Township, consisting of 240 acres, all en- closed by a good hedge fence, excepting that part which lies along the railroad, which has a wire fence.

On April 17. 1884, Mr. Langan was married to Miss Mary Mullaney, who was born in Vienna Township, Grundy Co., Ill., on the 13th of Octo- 1 ber, 1863. ller father, John Mullaney. was born in County Sligo, Ireland, and his father, also John, was born in the same county, where he remained during his life. The father of Mrs. Langan grew to manhood in his native country, and then coming to the United States, went at once to Ottawa, La- Salle County, where he was employed on the public i works. He purchased a tract of wild prairie land in Grundy County, which he paid for with money carned on the public works. He improved this farm, which consisted of over 400 acres, and died there on the 7th of February, 1881. The maiden name of Mrs. Langan's mother was Mary Burke, who was born in Tipperary, Ireland, and her father was Patrick Burke, while his father, the great- grandfather of Mrs. Langan, was born in America, + of Irish parentage; was married in this country, and then went to Ireland, where he died. The name of the grandmother of Mrs. Langan was Mar- garet Ilall, who was born in Tipperary, and resides there now, at the age of ninety years.

Mr. and Mrs. Langan have one child living, named John Joseph, while two children died in in- fancy. The business in which our subject is en- gaged-that of raising Clydesdale and Shire horses -is one that requires considerable care and atten-

tion, and involves the investment of large sums of money. Mr. Langan's success indicates that he is amply possessed of all the requirements. Ilis stock has a reputation second to none in the State, and meets a ready market for the full product.

We have pleasure in presenting on another page of this volume a view of Mr. Langan's homestead.

€

R EASON SPRINGER, a resident of Long Point Township, on the western line of Liv- ingston County, owns and occupies a snug homestead including eighty acres of land under a good state of cultivation, and supplied with convenient and comfortable farm buildings. A view of the place is shown in this work. He is lo- cated on section 25, and took possession of his pres- ent property in 1863.

Mr. Springer is a native of Vermilion County, this State, and was born Dec. 18, 1837. His par- ents, Nathan and Lydia (Lucas) Springer, were na- tives of Ohio. The former was born Feb. 11. 1803, and was the son of Uriah and Mary ( Long) Springer, who were married July 30, 1799. Their son Na- than, the father of our subject, was married about 1820, to Miss Lydia Lucas, and came to Illinois in 1831, being one of the earliest pioneers of Vermil- ion County. After a residence there of twenty years, he removed to this county, settling first in Amity Township, whence a year later he removed to Long Point, and locating on section 25, engaged in farming and stock-raising. The parental house- hold was completed by the birth of ten children, namely : Lavina, Amanda, Presley, Mahala, Zadok, Reason, Margaret Ann, Nathan, Lydia Ellen and Luretta.

Our subject was the sixth child of his parents. Ile had been reared to habits of industry and econ- omy, and when twenty years of age commenced life for himself. His marriage to Agnes Ardell Ilalbert took place at the home of the bride in Pon- tiac Township June 11, 1880. She is the daughter of William and Sophia ( Plow) Halbert, natives of Illinois. The wife of our subject was also born in this State, Dec. 7, 1860. This union resulted in the birth of four children, namely : Levina Ardell, born

1092

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

July 1. 1822: Reason ERsworth, Feb. 20, 1884: Nellie Josephine. Oct. 11. 1885: Mabel Mary, March 31. tas7.

The wife of our subject was reared in the family of Michael Kenney until eight years of age, and re- reived her education in the district school. fler father's family consisted of four children, namely : Sarah Alice, now of Peoria; Alonzo W .. of Texas: Agne -. Mrs. Springer, and Addie, a resident of Ottawa. Upon the breaking out of the late war Mr. Springer enlisted in Company (, 39th Ilinois Infantry, and served over cleven months; then. on account of a severe attack of measles which disa- bled him for further duty as a sollier, he was given an honorable discharge, and returned North. In the meantime he had met the enemy in several skir- mishes. but. with his company, was detailed princi- pally to guard duty.

Mr. and Mrs. Springer. after their marriage, ko- cated on the parental homestead, where they have -ince remained. and to the farm operations of which he has given his entire attention for the last twenty Fears. He has become one of the familiar figures in Long Point Township, where he enjoys the con- lidlence and esteem of the entire community. Mr. Springer's father i- deceased; the mother still sur- vives, and is living in Amity Township.

ARON WINTHROP KELLOGG, the fourth of eleven children born to Rev. Hiram HI. and Mary (Chandler) Kellogg, was born in Clinton, Oneida Co., N. Y., Nov. 7. 1×35. He came to Illinois with his father's family in I811, and this State has been his bombe most of the time since that date.

The parents of Res. Hiram H. Kellogg migrated from Connecticut to Oneida County, N. Y., 100 years ago. and assisted in forming the colony from. which sprang the Indian school of Rev. Samuel Kirkland. which grew into Hamilton College, the descendant- of whom held their Centennial celebra- tion at ( linton the past summer, which President Cleveland. a former resident of that village, at- tended. and at which he made the speech which was we justly praised for it- manuer and matter. Rev.

Mr. Kellogg established at Clinton one of the first female seminaries in the country. The founders of the now famous Mount Holyoke Seminary visited his school for the purpose of learning what they could of the pioneer institution before starting their enterprise. Ile very early also beeame interested in the temperance and anti-slavery movements, and -tood with Gerritt Smith. Beriah Green, Alvin Stewart and the little band of Abolitionists who made their power felt in Central New York along in the thirties. He was a warm personal friend of Albert Barnes, and stood by him in his position which resulted, finally, in the division of the Presbyterian Church into the so-called Old and New School branches. He joined the Rev. George W. Gale in his plan of founding a colony and a Christian and anti-slavery school in the (then) West, and was elected the first President of Knox College at Galesburg, Ill. He held this position six years, during which time Galesburg was known all over this portion of the State as a "nigger hole," and the men and women who lived there were known everywhere as Abolitionists. It was one of the principal stations of the "under-ground rail- road," and no fugitive was ever turned back to slavery after reaching that burg.

During these years Rev. Hiram Kellogg was the associate of Owen Lovejoy, lehabod Codding, William T. Allen, Dr. Charles Dyer, Philo Carpen- ter and others who lived to see the odious name of " Abolitionist" respected. While at Galesburg he served as pastor of the first church there and after- ward carried on schools or preached at various places, including Clinton, Rome and Marshall, N. Y .; Washington, Ill .; Marshalltown, DesMoines, Guthrie and Newton, Jowa; and Baraboo, Wis .; and died at Mt. Forest, Ill., Jan. 1. 1881, when nearly eighty years of age.

Aaron W. Kellogg passed his youthful days at Galesburg, attending the common school, with its little wooden benches, the only one at that time in the village. When eleven years of age he returned to his native county and remained in school there until the fall of 1851, then came back to Galesburg and prepared for college. In 1855 he once more returned to Clinton, and was graduated from Hamil- ton College in 1857. He subsequently studied law

1093

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

with Prof. T. W. Dwight, now of the Columbia Law School in New York City, but on account of failing health he engaged in outdoor business abont eight years, mining iron ore and lumbering. In the spring of 1866 he came to Pontiac and settled on the place which has since been his home, on section 22, Pontiac Township, just outside the city limits, where he engaged in raising fruit. He soon became connected with the Pontiac Sentinel, and for seven years he was it- editor, until the paper was purchased by Mr. Alles. He afterward edited the Streator Monitor for a short time, following which he taught in the public schools of Pontiac three years. IIe then engaged in writing for firms who were engaged in publishing county histories, and in this connection assisted in writing the histories of Livingston, McLean, Vermilion and Iroquois Counties.

Mr. Kellogg, in the winter of 1873, while con- nected with the Sentinel, was elected Assistant Postmaster of the State Senate, and served in that capacity two years. During five winters in addi- tion, 1880 to 1885. he was engaged at Springfield clerking for the Legislature and in the Auditor's office, and was at the same time correspondent for several newspapers. During several years he acted as the local correspondent of the Inter-Ocean at Pontiac. In January, 1884, at the request of Senator Cullom, he was appointed Assistant Post- master of the United States Senate, which position he still holds. For many years he has been the correspondent, first at Springfield and afterward at Washington, of the Peoria Journal, and his letters over the name of "Winthrop" have attracted a good deal of attention.

From his early education Mr. Kellogg could not well have been other than a Republican in politics. He cast his first vote for Fremont, and has voted at every election since except twice, when by change of residence he was not a voter. He has uever held political office except as mentioned above. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

In December, 1861, Mr. Kellogg was married at Vienna, Oneida Co., N. Y., to Miss Sarah Emeline Allen. Nine children have been born to them, all of whom are living-Othniel Williams, May Emeline, Gertrude Winnifred, Winthrop

Chandler, William Seward, Hiram Harlow and Har- rict Ilelen (twins), Ilomer Gleason and Carrie Emily. Mr. Kellogg has a pleasant home, and when not absent officially at Washington, enjoys farm life, caring for his growing crops and stock and looking out for the care and education of his children.

LEXANDER MONTGOMERY, a model farmer located on section 7, Reading Town- ship, but whose post-office is Munster, LaSalle Co., Ill., is a native of Pennsyl- vania, where he was born in Fayette County, on the 23d of December, 1828. He is the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Cammett) Montgomery, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Ireland respectively. The father, who was a Pennsylvania farmer, died in 1858. The mother was born in 1799 and died in 1878. During her entire life she was an active worker in the United Presbyterian Church. Their other children were born as follows: Isaae, April 11, 1813; Mary, Aug. 8, 1816; Rebecca, April 18, 1819; Thomas, July 1, 1822: James, Aug. 10, 1824; Margaret, Aug. 22, 1826; John, March 2, 1831; Elizabeth, March 12, 1833, and Sarah, Jan. 20, 1835. Mary died Nov. 25, 1881; Isaac, Feb. 8, 1822; John, July 20, 1838, and Sarah, Oct. 28, 1842.

Alexander Montgomery was married to Sarah Stofer, March 23, 1856. She was born March 15, 1829, and is the daughter of John and Mary (Stim- mel) Stofer. who were the parents of the following- named children: Elizabeth, who was born in 1831, and resides in Pensylvania, and Sarah, the wife of our subject. The mother of these children died in 1833, and the father died in Pennsylvania in 1877. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, in which they were active workers for many years preceding their death. The father was a Repub- lican in politics, and during his life manifested much interest in politics. He was a farmer by occupation, and achieved reasonable success.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery has resulted in the birth of ten children, eight of whom are living. They are recorded as follows: James was born Jan. 16. 1858; Elizabeth was born June 30, 1859, and married William Walters, who died June

1094

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

3. tas5, leaving two children : John was born April 10. 1863: Frank was born Dec. 21, 1865, and died Aug. 1, 1886: Dora was born March 16. 1867; seymour. Jan. 5. 1868: Mary, July 19, 1871 ; Al- exander. Nov. Is, 1874: Margaret Ann was born April 31, 1870. and died in October, 1872: Eva was born Aug. 24, 1877.

Mr. Montgomery removed from the State of Pennsylvania to Illinois in 1867, and selected his present farm, consisting of 160 acres of good land. which is fairly improved. In politie- Mr. Mont- gomery acts with the Democratic party, and has held the office of Road Supervisor, and also that of School Director, eight years. His wife is an earn- e-t member of the Presbyterian Church, which she regularly attends.

2 EWTON MITCHELL. Among the most substantial natives of foreign countries to choose the United States for their home, are those of Norway, a country lying largely in the frozen zone. but the temperature of which is much menlilied by the great extent of sea coast, the Gulf Stream, and the large area occupied by water, es- pecially by the fjords, which are in immediate com- munication with the sea. Thus the native of Nor- way is made hardy by the frigid temperature of the climate. mellowed by the counteracting influence of the winds which pass over the Gulf Stream.

During the last half century no remarkable change- have occurred in that country, and the subject of this sketch, who was born there on the 224 of January. 1821, can still revisit in his imag- ination. the scenes amidst which he was reared to manhood. with the knowledge that they have not been impaired by the ravages of time. Mr. Mitch- ell received an excellent education in his native Infruage, and in 1854. at the age of thirty, emi- grated to America, where after an ocean voyage that wa- full of delays. accidents and perils, lasting fourteen weeks, he landed in the city of Quebec, ( anada. Remaining in that city but a short time, Ire came direct to Livingston County. III., where he has ever -ince resided. In 1861 he settled on a farm in Book's Creek Township, and there lived

until he moved to his present farm in Pontiac Township in 1880.

Mr. Mitchell was married, on the 8th of March, 1861. to Miss Lena Norton, also a native of Nor- way, and they have had seven children : Isabelle May, the wife of 7. Henson ; Gunder, Sophia, Moses A., Mabelle Lillie, Amelia and Cora. His farm is lo- cated on section 7, Pontiac Township, and section 12, Rook's Creek Township. and consists of 340 acres of fine land. Mr. Mitchell has accomplished much since coming to this country, for when he ar- rived in Livingston County he was $50 in debt, while now his farm and buildings are as valuable as any in the county. He is eminently a self-made man, his success both in this and the old country being the result of his own unaided efforts. In his younger years he engaged in the business of car- pentering, and in that occupation earned sufficient money to bring him to this country. He is a men- ber of the Lutheran Church, and has served that denomination in the capacity of Deacon. After becoming an American citizen, and studying the political status of the country, he concluded that the Republican party was that of freedom and lib- erty, and so cast his political fortunes with it. He has acted with that party ever since 1856, the date of its organization, two years after his arrival in this country.

S AMUEL MCCORMACK, who was one of the widest known and most highly esteemed citizens of Livingston County, was a native of Virginia, where he was born on the 29th of March, 1818. His parents were Thomas and Catherine MeCormack, and his paternal ancestors were of Scotch origin.

Our subject was reared in Virginia, and in the year 1835 with his parents removed to Vermilion County, Ill., where he married for his first wife Miss Elizabeth Laycock, and they were blessed with live children: Rachel; Catherine, now deceased ; Ruth, the wife of Charles Best, of Linn County, Kan .; Frank and Henry. His second marriage was with Miss Mary Louderback, a native of Brown County, Ohio, the marriage taking place in Living- Ston County, III. She is the daughter of Thomas

RESIDENCE OF WM. BRUNSKILL, SEC. 14. ESMEN TOWNSHIP.

FATHER'S RESIDENCE. SEC. 23

CASH.

RESIDENCE.SEC. 22.

RES.AND FARM PROPERTY OF JOSEPH RICH , SEC'S. 22.& 23. SAUNEMIN TOWNSHIP.

1097

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

and Sarah Louderback, both natives of Ohio, who came with their family in 1831 or 1832 to Ver- milion County, Ill., where they were early settlers. By this marriage five children were born, three of whom are living-Nellie. Mary and Grant; the two deceased were Charles and Belle.

The present Mrs. McCormack with her parents, settled in Livingston County in the year 1836, over half a century ago, and were among the first settlers in Amity Township. Mr. MeCormack came to Livingston County in 1854, and settled on section 25, Pontiac Township. What is now known as the homestead was in a comparatively raw or primitive condition. Like all pioneers, he endured great hardships and privations, which affected his health in after life, and he died on the 30th of January, 1881.

In his youth Mr. McCormack received but an ordinary district-school education, but he was a man of considerable natural ability, and read a great deal in after life. Ilis political affiliations were with the Democratic party, and he was a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., at Pontiac, where he was highly esteemed by his fellow-members. He was a widely and favorably known citizen of the county, a kind and loving husband and father, and was highly res- pected by all the citizens. Mrs. McCormack still resides on the old homestead, containing 170 aeres, and can look back over a well-spent life with cause for considerable satisfaction.

S AMUEL M. BARNES, M. D., Fairbury. The art of medicine is one of the most an- eient and most beneficent of professions. In the early ages, among the Egyptians and Greeks, physicians were supposed to be in some mysterious way descended from the gods; and cer- tainly of no man is required a higher character and purer life than of the family physician. It may be properly said of Dr. Barnes that he sustains in a high degree these characteristics, lle is a native Illinoisan. having been born in Whiteside County, Dec. 4, 1846.

former now living in the enjoyment of a ripe old age in Saunemin Township, this county. He was born in Sussex County, Del., while the mother, who died in 1882, was born Jan. 1, 1819, in Ohio. (See sketch elsewhere in this ALBUM.) Their chil- dren, seven in number, were: Mary E., now the wife of William P. Carrithers, and the mother of the present State's Attorney ; Belle K .; Louisa, the wife of William M. Kilgore, a well-known farmer of Saunemin ; Olive S., the wife of John Q. Brown, of Macksburg, Iowa; 11. E. W., a prominent physician, also of Macksburg, Iowa; Derastus T., who died . in childhood, and Samuel M. Whilst a youth Dr. Barnes secured a fair education in the common schools, which was supplemented by a year's attend- ance at the Wesleyan University, Bloomington. We next find him engaged in teaching-that >tep- ping stone to other professional life-in which call- ing he continued during four terms. Thinking it more congenial to his tastes he next entered the drug-store of Thomas & Tweddale, of Lacon, Ill., as clerk. Here he remained several months, when he went to Sterling, Whiteside County, where he found like occupation and remained until the spring of 1867. During that year he returned to Lacon, purchased the interest of Dr. Thomas, and con- tinued in partnership with Dr. Tweddale until 1869, when, after a brief return to teaching, he came to Saunemin Township, this county, where he in- proved a traet of land, and also gave the people of that section the benefit of his knowledge of medi- cine. In 1871 he went to Chicago to perfect him- self in medicine at Rush Medical College, but the fates decreed otherwise. The great Chicago fire destroyed much of that beautiful city, and his chosen alma mater was laid low by the flames. This necessitated a change in his programme, and the Medical Department of the University of Iowa, at Iowa City, became his place of study, and gradu- ated him in March, 1872. Another illustration is here afforded of the change necessitated by force of circumstances. After graduation he commenced the practice of medicine in Monmouth, Jackson Co., Iowa, whence in 1873 he came to Fairbury, and be- came associated with Dr. N. T. P. Robertson, now of Ilutehinson, Kan., and his brother, Dr. H. E.

The parents of the subject of this biography were llenry B. and Jane M. ( Kilgore) Barnes, the | W. Barnes, This partnership continued three years,

109%

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

when it was dissolved. Dr. Robertson going to Kan- as, and our subject and his brother continuing here. In 187% he too went to Kansas, resuming his old-time association with Dr. Robertson. Whilst in the enjoyment of this relationship, his wife was removed by death. compelling him, in behalf of his children, to return to this State, which he did in 1×79. For a single year he and his brother prac- tieed together, when Dr. II. E. W. Barnes moved away. since which time our subject has continuously resided and practiced here, securing a profitable practice and acquiring an enviable reputation, es- pecially as a surgeon. Where great skill and exper- ience are required. his services are in demand, and at the Chatsworth disaster he bore a leading part in caring for the wounded. He was for some years Examining Surgeon for the Government, and is at present Examiner for the _Etna. Washington, Northwestern. New York Life, Home. National Life, Travelers, and a number of other insurance com- panies. for which services he receives a handsome income annually.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 135

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