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 140

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 140

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).

Mr. Morris came to this county at a time when it most needed resolute and enterprising men to cultivate the soil and introduce the improvements which were so necessary to its progress and enlight- enment. His early years were spent in Tippecanoe County, Ind., where his birth took place Dec. 12, 1828, at the modest home of his parents, Henry and Mary (Reynolds) Morris They were natives re- spectively of Virginia and Ohio, whence they re- moved in 1836 to Illinois. The father, however, was not long lived, his death occurring at the age of thirty-nine years, nine months and nine days, on the tith of September, 1843, when his son, Chester F., was a youth of fifteen years.

The father of our subject was a well-educated and intelligent man, a Whig politically, and a prom- inent member of the United Brethren Church, to which the mother also belonged. She remained a widow, surviving her husband over thirty years. and passed away at her home in Livingston County, at the age of sixty-three years, eleven months and twenty-eight days. They were the parents of eight children, of whom Chester F., our subject, was the eldest. Mary R. died Sept. 28, 1843, at the age of thirteen years, seven months and fourteen days ; Philip died Sept. 29, 1843, aged twelve years, seven months and twenty-eight days; Andrew en- listed in the Union army at Pontiac. in August, 1861, returned from the service unharmed, and died at his home in Livingston County, Oct. 12, 1872, at the age of thirty-nine years, ten months and nineteen days; he had been married and was the father of one child who is now deceased. Nancy died in 1843, when about eight years of age. Will-

iam Il. gave his life to the service of his country, having enlisted in Company F, 33d Ilinois Infantry, and died at Ironton, Mo., Nov. 27, 1862, aged twenty-two years, nine months and four days. Jo- seph died Sept. 9, 1843, aged ten years, and Ellen, Sept. 19, 1845, aged one year and four days.

Our subjeet came to Illinois in 1836, and was married in Amity Township, this county, June 11, 1857, to Miss Susan Springer, who was born in Ohio, Sept. 17, 1832, and died at her home in Amity Township, Feb. 13, 1874. Of this union there were born the children whose record is as follows: Henry was born May 8, 1858, and died Sept. 8, 1858; Perry J. was born Sept. 21, 1859, and died April 18, 1879: Scott B. was born Sept. 30, 1860, and died Ang. 18, 1861 : Mary was horn Oct. 25, 1861, and died Jan. 10, 1862; Rose was born April 4, 1864, and died Sept. 17, 1878; Joseph was born Nov. 26, 1865; William R., May 20, 1868, and Geneva, Jan. 3, 1870.

The present wife of our subject was formerly Mrs. Sarah (Smith) Goddard, and they were mar- ried Jan. 13, 1878. She is the daughter of David and Mary Smith, natives of Ohio, and was born Dec. 8, 1837. Of this union there have been born three children, all of whom are deceased : Chester was born July 19, 1878, and died July 30 follow- ing; May was born Aug. 30, 1881, and died when one year and sixteen days old. William Henry Morris died aged two years andtwelve days. Po- litically Mr. Morris is an uncompromising Demo- erat.

ANSON C. POPE, one of the most active and useful citizens of Livingston County, has been identified with its farming interests since his boyhood. He was born in Reading Town- ship, Nov. 14, 1844, and is the son of Joseph and Milla Pope, the former born in North Carolina, Nov. 14, 1807, or about that date. The elder Pope came to Illinois in 1841, bringing with him his wife and three children, and took up his residence in Reading, where he departed this life in 1847.

. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Nathan- iel Pope, was a native of Scotland, whence he emi- grated at an carly day, and settled in the South; his mother's people were of Irish descent. Grand-

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father Pope reared a large family of children, who in turn married and reared large families of their own. llis descendant- are now widely scattered, many of them in the South, and most of the re- mainder in the West. To Joseph and Milla (Brat- ton) Pope there were born tive children. of whom but two are living. John, the eldest son, died in Streator. Ill., when forty years of age: Walter D. was born Dec. 20, 1827. and is now in Streator; France- was born Jan. 14, 1830, and is deceased ; Rachel died in infancy; Lanson C. of our sketch was the youngest of the family.

Joseph Pope was stricken down by the hand of death when a young man, his decease occurring at the family residence in Reading Township, when Lauson C. was but three years old. He had been for some time Justice of the Peace of this town- -hip. The family not long afterward came to New- town Township, and thence to Ottawa, LaSalle County. Young Pope remained a member of his mother's household until a youth of eighteen years, when. in 1863, he joined the Union army, enlisting with his brother in the Cogswell Battery of the Inde- pendent Light Artillery, and marching to the scene of conflict, he participated in many of the important battles of the war. In the fight at Nashville, Ten., Dec. 15, 1861. our subject with his comrades faced the enemy two days in continuous battle, and dur- ing the first day and night they neither left their guns nor horses. The constant boom of artillery affected Mr. Pope to such an extent that he after- ward became deaf in the right ear. They next met the eneiny at Franklin, and kept up a skirmish for several days, giving chase to the rebels, and finally following them until most of the division waseither killed or captured. The remaining members of the regiment to which our subject belonged then boarded asteamer which took them to New Orleans, whenre they crossed the bay to Dolphin Island, and not long afterward moved upon and captured Span- i-b Fort. after an engagement of several days. While at Mobile they were greeted with the joyful news of the surrender of Gen. Lee and the balance of the Confederate army, and not long afterward re- ceived their honorable discharge, and were mustered ont at Springfield.

Mr. Pope upon returning from the army, located

first in Ottawa, and in 1870 purchased part of his present farm. He was prosperous as an agricult- urist, and built up from the uncultivated soil a good homestead with suitable buildings. He in- vested his surplus cash in additional land, and now has 190 acres which has been drained with 800 rods of tile, and upon which he operates largely as a stock-raiser. For this purpose he has ample stabling room and sheds, and the traveler passing by the place and noting the tasteful dwelling with its sur- roundings invariably turns to look a second time and to make a mental note of the thrift and indus- try of the proprietor; on another page of this work is shown a view of the homestead. Mr. Pope, after the war identified himself with the G. A. R., and in polities may be designated as an independent Demo- crat.

Onr subject while a resident of Newtown Town- ship, was married in February, 1869, at the home of the bride in Newtown Township, to Miss Diana Lundy, who was born in LaSalle County, Nov. 15, 1837. Her parents, Henry and Polly (Cops) Lundy, were natives of New Jersey and Virginia respect- ively, and are now in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Pope began life together in Newtown Township, and in due time became the parents of five children : Their eldest daughter, Mary Frances, was born Sept. 7, 1871 : she has received a fair education and still re- mains under the home roof ; John Marion was born Feb. 20, 1873; Erastus C., Nov. 14, 1875; Henry Porter, May 18, 1877; and Jessie Pearl, Aug. 18, 1879. Mrs. Diana Pope departed this life at her home in Newtown Township in February, 1880, mourned by a large circle of friends. ller remains were laid to rest in the Phillips Cemetery in New- town Township.

The present wife of our subject was formerly Mis> Rachel Dickey, and they were married at Pon- tiac in 1883. Mrs. Pope is the danghter of Isaac and Lucinda (Goff) Dickey, who were natives of Virginia and Ohio respectively, and are now de- ceased. Of her union with our subject there are the following two children: Cora Alice, who was born July 27, 1884, and Gracie Pearl, Jan. 1, 1886.

Isaac Dickey, the father of Mrs. Pope, was born at Harper's Ferry, Va., Oct. 2, 1812. He left his native State when a young man, and went to Ohio,

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where he was married to Miss Lucinda Goff. She was born in Cincinnati, Feb. 11, 1817, and died in Esmen Township, May 2, 1881 ; her husband had served some years as Justice of the Peace, and died in 1865, The record of their children is as fol- lows: Margaret Jane was born in Ohio, Ang, 18, 1849; James Harvey, Feb. 12, 1847 ; Reason Morse, Nov. 6. 1848; John Andrew, Feb. 19, 1852; Rachel, Mrs. Pope, Aug. 17, 1854; Mary Frances, March 31, 1856 ; Isaac William, June 3, 1861. Walter D. Con- nor, a son of our subject's sister Frances, was reared in the family, with whom he remained until his mar- riage, about eight years ago, and to whom they be- came much attached; he is now a resident of Amity Township.

C IIRISTOPHER L. AYGARN. Oftentimes those who come to the United States from foreign countries meet with reverses and sore discouragements for some years after their ar- rival here, but tenaciously following out the course of action adopted at the outset, almost invariably they are finally rewarded with success. Such was the case with our subject, who is a farmer and stock- raiser on section 9, Rook's Creek Township. He is the son of Lars and Martha C. (Helickson) Aygarn, and was born in Avaldnes Hangesund, Norway, on the 4th of September, 1850. He came to this coun- try with an older brother when he was sixteen years of age, landed in Quebec about the 1st of Novem- ber, and reached Chicago on the 21st of that month in the year 1866. He went at once to Ottawa, Ill., where he arrived on the 23d, and there remained about three years, working by the month during the summer in LaSalle County, and boarding in Liv- ingston. County during the winter. He spent the summer of 1870 in Minnesota, and remained there during the following winter, when he again returned to LaSalle County and worked by the month.

Mr. Aygarn was married, on the 11th of Feb- ruary, 1872, to Miss Isabelle C. Mitchell, daughter of John and Bertha C. (Oakland) Mitchell. After his marriage he rented land in Livingston County, which he farmed for three years, and having saved some money, purchased 160 aeres of land in

the fall of 1874, on which he now resides. In the three years following his purchase his crops were almost absolute failures, compelling him to allow the land to revert to the original owner, losing the amounts he had already paid. Still believing in the holdfast doctrine, he continued to farm the same land until the year 1886, when he repurchased it.

Mr. and Mrs. Aygarn have had six children : Lewis Oliver, born on the 18th of July. 1873; Ber- tha Josephine, on the 3d of August, 1875; John Tobias, born on the 13th of October, 1878, and died on the 25th of December. 1878; Martin Gustav Me- lancthon, born Dec. 3, 1879; Harriet Tabitha, Oct. 30, 1882; Christian Thomas Millard, Aug. 4, 1886. Christopher Aygarn is the youngest of a family of thirteen, all of whom grew to years of maturity ex- cepting one; eight of whom were married, and six are still living. The names of all of them are as follows: Lars, deceased, was married and lived in Norway, leaving several children in good circum- stances at his death; Anna Christina married in Norway, came to this country, lives in Min- nesota, and has several children; Ellieck came to Illinois and then removed to Minnesota, where he married and has a large family ; Oliver came to Illi- nois, married, and enlisted in the army about 1863; served through the war, receiving a slight wound in the neck, was honorably discharged, and died on the 1st of November, 1870, leaving one child, Lars Aygarn, who lives in Illinois; Katrine was married in Norway, has quite a large family, and is the only one of the children still remaining there: Martha Christina died in Norway; John, who was in the army three years, and received an honorable dis- charge, is unmarried, and lives in Hlinois ; Peter and Matthias were twins, and both grew up to manhood. Upon coming to America, Peter became a sailor and enlisted in the United States Navy, where he served about eleven years, when he was taken sick and sent to the hospital at Norfolk, Va., where he died of numb palsy ; Matthias remained on the farm in Norway until he beeame a man, and then upon emigrating to America, he also concluded to be- come a sailor, and followed the sea until 1868, when he went as a sailor on the Lakes. After two years' service he concluded to become an Illinois farmer, and finally in 1883 he went to Dakota, where he took

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a homestead and died. unmarried ; Lisa Margretta came to this country when she was thirteen years okl, married Thomas Ryerson. lives in Rook's Creek Township. and has several children; Lars Tobia- married and died in Norway. He was quite a genius and invented a fanning-mill and threshing- machine which ran by either wind or water power, and also a machine for separating oatmeal; Chri- tine died at the age of two. and Christopher is the subject of this sketch. lle took out naturalization papers, and cast his first vote for Gen. U. S. Grant upon his second election, but in political matters since. he has been an advocate of the doctrines of the Greenback party. He is a member of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Church, filling the office of Seere- tary of that organization. and this seems to be about the only office he desires to hold. for he has been «lected to various township offices, and invariably refused to serve.

BRAM DURFLINGER, one of the most substantial members of the rural commun- ity of Rook's Creek Township, owns a good farm on section 21. where he has fol- lowed agriculture successfully, and of late year- turned hi- attention largely to stock-raising. The land is chictly devoted to the raising of grain and hay. and the provision- necessary for family con- -umption. The premises in all respects are indica- tive of the Ohio man, which our subject i- literally, having been born in Madison County, that State, June 12. 1832. His parents, however, removed to Indiana when he was two years of age. locating in Hamilton County, where they were residents for a period of twenty -four years, and thence came to this Mate. locating first on a farm near Blooming- tom. where they resided until 1860, then came to 1bi- county . which has since been their home.

Our subject is the son of Henry and Elizabeth 1. Ily) Darfligger, and was the tenth in a family of thirteen children. live of whom are still living. Three brother- yielded up their lives as a sacrifice upon the alta of their country, having enlisted during the late war in an Indiana regiment, being

taken fatally ill in Kentucky, and died there in the hospital. James, another brother, enlisted in the 20th Illinois Infantry and succumbed to the ex- posure and hardships of army life; he came home and died soon afterward of typhoid fever; his re- mains were placed in the family burying-ground on section 22. Daniel enlisted in the 26th Illinois In- fantry, and escaped comparatively unharmed, liv- ing to return home, and is now a resident of Olatha, Kan. : Mary Jane became the wife of Francis Davis, of MeLean County, and they have one child : Elizabeth, the wife of Newton Edgington, of John- son County. Kan., is the mother of five children; Ellen married Davenport Welch, now deceased, and lives in Virginia; she has four children. The par- ents, were natives respectively of Virginia and Con- nectieut, and became residents of Ohio in their childhood. They were married in the Buckeye State.

Mr. Durfinger remained under the parental roof until after his parents became residents of this county. He was reared to farming pursuits, which he has followed all his life, and as opportunity af- forded has improved his limited education, keeping himself well posted in regard to publie matters and taking a genuine interest in the progress and pros- perity of his adopted county. He was married rather late in life, after passing his thirty-first birth- day, to Miss Louisa J. Pemberton, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride, March 3, 1864. This union has resulted in the birth of four children, namely: Ida Alice, born Feb. 14, 1866; Charles William, May 1, 1870: Abram 11., March 12, 1878, and Ina M., March 12, 1885.

Mrs. Durffinger is the daughter of Hiram and Catherine (Iibbs) Pemberton, and was the fifth child in a family of nine, four of whom are de- ceased. Her eldest sister, Anna, was twice married : first to Abram Gamble, by whom she became the mother of three children, and secondly to his brother, Harvey Gamble. James M. served as a soldier in the I'nion army and was killed in battle at Peachtree Creek; V. Darius is farming in Rook's Creek Township; Alson Parker, Martha Josephine; Stansbury Cannon died about 1869: Aaron Alvah is farming in Rook's Creek Township, and Hiram Caidon is a resident of St. Louis, Mo.

RESIDENCE OF -J. N. BARR , SEC. 17. ESMEN TOWNSHIP.

MATTIE

DUTCHY

BELLE.

DANDY CHIEF .- IG28.

FREJA:1252.

RESIDENCE OF GEO. W. BROOKS , SEC. 32. SULLIVAN TOWNSHIP.

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

G EORGE W. BROOKS is one of the best known stock-raisers in Livingston County, and has one of the bestarranged and highly cultivated farms in Sullivan Township. located on section 32. He was born in Brooklyn, N. Y .. Feb. 26, 1849, and was the youngest child in a family of three born to his parents. Richard and Mary (Daniels) Brooks, both of whom were native- of England. The paternal grandparents were George and Susan ( Blinco) Brooks, natives of En- gland, and the maternal grandparents were Benja- min and Mary ( Williams) Daniels, who were Welsh by birth.

The father of our subject was born in England on the 6th of November. 1824, and was married there in 1844. They came to this country in 1849, a short time before our subject was born, and set- tled in the city of Brooklyn, whence they removed to Poughkeepsie, where Mr. Brooks, the elder, had charge of an engine at the iron works, and hell that responsible position some seven years. 1856 he migrated to LaSalle County, Ill., where he lived until 1869. The father in the spring of that year came to this county and purchased 160 acres of wild prairie on section 32. Sullivan Township, where our subject now resides. The parent- died within nine weeks of each other; the (late of the father's death was April 7, 1884, and that. of the mother's Feb. 5, 1884. George W. remained at home and assisted in improving the farm, re- ceiving his education at the Christian Brothers' Academy in LaSalle County, Ill., from which he graduated with honors in the spring of 1866.

On the 27th of March, 1872, at Sannemin, Mr. Brooks was married to Annie A. Gray, who was born Feb. 22, 1852, in Deer Park Township. La- Salle Co., Ill. She is the daughter of Abner and Merey E. (Pratt) Gray, and was the second in a family of seven children, five of whom are living in Livingston County and one in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks are the parents of four children, whose names are Marietta, Fannie Maria: Katie Mabel, who died at the age of twenty months. and Rich- ard Abner.

The farm on which our subjeet resides. by the addition of a piece now and then, has increased tin- til it now comprises 360 acres of most excellent

land, the greater portion of which is under a high state of cultivation, 200 acres being set aside for pasture ground. The residence is a model build- ing, and on the home farm there are three good barns. The farm is stocked with high-grade Norman hor-es, to the number of forty-five, including two fine thoroughbred stallions. Ile has also fine herds of graded Short-born and Hereford cattle, and droves of Poland-China hog -. Mr. Brooks is art- ive in political matters, and i- a strong partisan of the Republican party. He has held a number of the township office-, including that of School Trustee for ten years, School Director for two years and Township Clerk for three years. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks have made themselves popular with the people who surround them, and delight to engage in such good works as will ameliorate the condition of their neighbors.

As representative of the progress made in the style of architecture of the buildings of this section of country, we present on another page of this ALBUM a view of Mr. Brooks' residence.

USTED BROS., gentlemen widely and favor- ably known throughout Amity Township, have been farming together for the last seven years, and are now principally en- gaged in stock-raising. They have a fine tract of land located on section 26. 255 acres in extent, which is provided with a good dwelling and suita- ble out-buildings for the carrying on of their chosen calling.

Samuel N. Husted, the elder of the above firm, was born in Franklin County, Ind., and is the son of William and Rachel Husted, natives of New Jer- -ey. The parental household included seven chil- dren. The father was a farmer by occupation, and a reputable and worthy citizen. He and his excel- lent wife are now residing in Cornell.

Ilusted Bros, were reared in Indiana, and Sam- uel N. after reaching hi- majority, was united in marriage with Martha Holten, daughter of Jame- Wilson, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride. Dec. 25, 1867. Their first home was in Esmen Township. They became the parents of

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seven children, six now living, namely : Charles S .. William J .. Raymond O., David Earl. Mabel R. and Edna C. Albert S. died in 1879, when ten years of age. The mother of these children, after being the faithful wife and helpmeet of our subject for a period of nearly twenty years, died very sud- denly with congestive chills on the 7th of May. Is>7. Her remain- were laid to rest in the ceme- tery at Cornell. and her name is held in kindly re- membrance by her mourning family and a large eirele of friends.

David M. Ilusted was born Sept. 27. 1854, in Putnam County. Ill .. and like his brother, assisted in the labors of the homestead as soon as old enough to make himself useful. He was educated in the district school, and in the spring of 1880 was united in marriage with Miss Clara A., daughter of William J. and Sarah ( Wilson) Reeves. The brother, are industrious and enterprising citizens, skillful and progressive farmers, and in all respeet> Valuable factors in a community noted for its pros. perons and intelligent people.

The children of William and Rachel Ilusted are recorded a- follows: Hannah M. became the wife ! of 11. B. Sheppard. of Chatsworth. and is the mother of seven children; Caroline is the wife of D. G. Campbell, of Streator, and the mother of »ven children, six now living; Mr. C. is a Station Agent for C. & A. R. R. Co. Sarah E. married B. R. Johnson, a merchant of Cornell, and they be- came the parents of six children, five now living; Lydia W. and Rachel M. are unmarried and at home with their parents.

ILLIAM G. DAVIS. The farm of this sub- stantial and well-to-do resident of Dwight Township is pleasantly located on seetion 22. and forms one of the most attractive features in the landscape of that region. A view of the homestead is shown elsewhere in this work. His property includes 6 10 acres of valuable land, located near the town Innits of Dwight, which he inherited from the estate of la- father. The latter, Robert. Davis by name, wa- a descendant of substantial

Welsh ancestry, and was born in the northern part of the principality where several generations had come and gone, and were chiefly distinguished for their quiet and unobtrusive lives, and their quali- ties as correct and law-abiding citizens.

Robert Davis crossed the Atlantic when a young man, and took up his residence in Pike County. Ohio, with his two brothers, Thomas L. and Richard, who accompanied him. Thomas L. finally drifted into Peoria. this State, where he engaged in rectify- ing whisky, and became wealthy. Richard occupied himself as a boatman on the Illinois River, and died young. Robert, who had learned the cooper's trade, finally came to Lacon, Marshall County, arriving here with only seventy-five cents in his pocket, but soon afterward secured employment, and after years of plodding industry invested the capital which he had accumulated in a stoek of groceries. He was engaged in trade a few years, then began speculating in land-, and soon found himself on the wave of prosperity, which finally led him on to fort- une. At the time of his death he was worth at least $300,000, and this remarkable accumulation, from such a humble beginning, was the result solely of his own industry and perseverance.

Robert Davis, besides distinguishing himself as a very sagacious business man, had great respect for his word, which the people around him soon found was as good as his bond. He had a thorough con- tempt for the irresponsible man, and required those who dealt with him to be prompt in meeting their obligations and engagements, or to furnish some good reason for their dereliction. He was one of the most zealous members of the Republican party. but was no office-seeker, preferring to give his time and attention to his own affairs. Ile had been reared piously, and in religious views adhered to the doetrines of the Episcopal Church. His death took place at his home in Texas, in the spring of 1879, after he had reached the age of sixty-four years. Ilis only sister, Margaret, is the wife of Edward Jones, of Henry, Marshall County, and the mother of four sons: Edwin. who died young ; Charles R .. a banker: Robert and Thomas, all resi- dents of Henry.

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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 140

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