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 141

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 141

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).

The mother of our subject was, in her girlhood, Miss Margaret, daughter of Benjamin F. and Hannah

1137

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

E. Goodwin, of Wheeling, W. Va. This lady died at her home in West Virginia when her only child, William G., our subject, was but two weeks old. The father subsequently married Miss Sarah M., daughter of Dr. Fetter, of Magnolia, and they be- came the parents of four children, viz: Helen V., who married Sumner Clark, of Peoria, and is now deceased; Maria E., Lora F., and Frederick, who died when a boy.

William G. Davis was born at Lacon, Marshall Co., Ill., Dec. 29, 1848, and received a common- school education, while at the same time being reared to farming pursuits. 1Ie was an ambitions boy, however, with decided views of his own, and when eleven years of age engaged as a cabin-boy and " texas tender" on a steamboat on the Ohio River, which occupation he followed four years, and experienced many hardships. He then decided, like the Prodigal Son, to return to his father's house, and like him was received with open arms. From this time on he labored at the homestead until 1870, when he was married to Miss Drusilla M., daughter of Edwin and Hattie Simpson, of Magnolia.

After marriage our subject and his young wife located on a farm near Henry, Ill., where, however, they only remained a short time, and lived in diť- ferent places until 1879, when they took possession of their present property. Mr. Davis in the mean- time took one more trip on the Ohio River, as a re- minder of the old times. Life, since that day, flowed on comparatively uneventfully until our sub- ject met with his first great affliction in the death of the faithful wife, which took place in the spring of 1887. Mrs. Davis was a lady greatly beloved by her family and friends, and possessed those womanly virtues by which she exerted a good influence upon all around her. She was kindly in all her ways, hospitable and charitable, and a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She died with full faith in the Christian redemption, and met the last enemy with that calm- ness and fortitude which had chacterized her through all the vicissitudes of life. The household of our subject is now presided over by his niece, Miss Nel- lie Matthiason, daughter of Peter B. and Florence S. Simpson, of Magnolia. This lady is highly in-

telligent and well educated, being a graduate of Jacksonville Female Seminary.

Mr. Davis, politically, is like his father before him, a stanch Republican, and in his management of the important interests which he now represents, and the large property which he owns and controls, lias evidently inherited a large proportion of the good judgment and energy which proved the secret of his father's success in life, and made of him one of the most important factors in the business and agricultural interests of Illinois.

LEXANDER SINCLAIR. It can truth- fully be said that Illinois is in advance of her sister States in the matter of agricult- ure and stock-raising, as the statistics from all sources will amply prove. Her soil is not ma- terially different from that of Indiana, lowa and Wisconsin, and the reason cannot be placed to that account. But there must be a reason some- where, and it seems to lie in the people themselves. Pennsylvania has planted her sons compactly in many sections of the State, and wherever they are the country has been made to blossom as the rose. It is largely due to the sturdy Pennsylvanians who settled in Illinois during the infancy of the State, and later, that her position as a grain-growing and a stock-raising State has been attained.

In this connection it is pertinent to state that the subject of this sketch, who is a farmer and stock- raiser on section 19, Esmen Township, was born in the Keystone State, Cambria County, on the 24th of August, 1839. He is the third child in a family of four born to Gordon and Barbara ( Hosea) Sin- clair, who were natives of Scotland, and emigrated to Pennsylvania, arriving there in the fall of 1831. They came from Aberdeen, near where they were both born, and where they were married. The pa- ternal grandfather was also named Gordon, and the maternal grandparents were John and Margaret (McGregor) Hosea, who were also natives of Scot- land. They emigrated to America in 1831, and the grandmother died during the ocean voyage; the grandfather spent his declining years in America.

The father of Mr. Sinclair followed his trade of a

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

harness-maker until he came to America, when he settled in Munster. Cambria Co., Pa., and followed the same beenpation about six years. He then bought eighty acres of land and began life as a farmer in 1838, which occupation he followed until his death. June 7. 1862. He was an earnest Chris- tian, and a zealous member of the Presbyterian Church all his life; his excellent wife died on the 11th of November, 1881. in Michigan, where she was residing with her children.

Mr. Sinclair was reared as a farmer boy, and re- ceived what education the common schools afforded until he was twenty-two years of age. when he en- tered an academy for the purpose of securing a higher education ; but the death of his father called him home, and he then took charge of the farm. Ilis younger brother. Gordon, had entered the I'nion army, and Alexander was the only one upon whom the home interests could devolve, and he managed affairs for two years.

On the 2d of July. 1864, Mr. Sinclair married Margaret Griffith, who was born in Wales on the 5th of November, 1835, and was the youngest child in a family of eight boys and seven girls born to Evan and Sarah ( Davis) Griffith, who were natives of Wales. They came to America abont 1839, and after living five years in Indiana County, Pa., they bought a farm in Cambria County, where the father died on the 9th of January. 1861. and the mother in september, 1862. Their parents were John and Catherine Griffith, and Daniel and Sarah Davis, all native- of Wales.

Alexander Sinclair settled on the home farm in Cambria County, where he remained live years, then removed to the town of Evansburg, in order to be wear good physicians who might treat his wife's "yes, which had begun to fail. They remained there one year and then moved to Van Buren County, Mich .. where he teamed at a sawmill six years, and then coming to Livingston County. in the fall of 1-76. be settled on land belonging to Mrs. Sinclair's brother. Four years later he bought 320 acres of imprese land on section 19, where he greeted im- provement- and has resided ever since. Mrs. Sin- clair never recovered ber -ight. and has been totally blind for the past sixteen years. She is the mother of five children. all of whom are living and unmar-

ried : Barbara E. was born July 19, 1865; Robert Gordon, Oct. 29, 1866; Evan B., May 14, 1869; Mary F., Feb. 11, 1871, and Erwin A., May 5, 1880.

Mr. Sinclair is now Road Commissioner, and has served as School Director ever since he settled in the county. He takes no very active part in politics, but votes with the Republican party, and is not in- different to its successes. lle is an enthusiastic stock-raiser, and has a decided partiality for Nor- man and Hambletonian horses. Durham cattle and Poland-China hogs.

On an adjoining page of this volume is shown a view of Mr. Sinclair's residence together with its surroundings.

ETER J. NEWHALFEN, a native of the Province of Cologne, Prussia, emigrated to America when a youth of nineteen years, and since that time has adapted himself to the institutions of his adopted country, while at the same time he has been industriously engaged in tilling her soil and endeavoring to become a useful and respected member of society. In his laudable efforts he has succeeded well, and by his industry has acquired a comfortable property consisting of eighty acres of land under a good state of cultiva- tion and supplied with excellent buildings. Hle has been favored with a good physical constitution, and has strictly observed that most important fac- tor to a man who would be successful and well thought of, namely, honesty, and a careful conscien- tiousness in the transaction of business. As the re- sult of these qualities, he enjoys the kindly regard of his neighbors, and is esteemed as a valued fac- for among the property owners of Saunemin Town- ship.

Our subject was born Oct. 17, 1835, and is the son of Peter W. and Regine (Schuste) Newhalfen, who were also of German birth and parentage. In common with the youth of his native land, he re- ceived a good education in the German tongue, and continued near the place of his birth until the sum- mer of 1851, when, accompanied by his parents, he took passage of a sailing-vessel at. Antwerp, and after an ocean voyage of six weeks, landed in New

RESIDENCE OF HENRY FRANCIS , ODELL, ILLS.

PROPERTY OF IRWIN GRIFFITH . SEC. 28.

RESIDENCE OF ALEXANDER SINCLAIR , SEC.19, ESMEN TP.

1141

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

York City and came directly to this State. They located in LaSalle County where they made their home, and where the mother died about 1874. Peter J. employed himself at whatever he coukl find to do, being mostly engaged in farming, and about 1864 came to this county, taking up his abode in Saunemin Township, of which he has since been a resident. Ile had been trained-to hab- its of industry and economy. and as soon as possi- ble began to save something from his rather limited earnings, which he in due time invested in the land which constitutes his present homestead. Here his course has been marked by the true German per- sistence of his ancestry, and he has added little by little to the value of his property, until it bears fair comparison with that of other intelligent farmers around him.

Some time after coming to this county Mr. Newhalfen made the acquaintance of Miss Eliza- beth Eisfield, one of his own countrywomen, and they were married on the 5th of February, 1873. at the home of the bride in LaSalle County. Mrs. N. was born in the Province of Hessen in 1841, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of four children: Henry W., who was born Oct. 22, 1873: Augustus E., Dee. 9, 1876; Freder- ick, Feb. 20, 1879, and Grover C., Aug. 9, 1883. The name of this last child quite satisfactorily in- dicates the politics of its father, although Mr. N. usually votes independently and for the men whom he considers best qualified for office.

R. WILLIAM L. RABE, a practicing phy- sican of thirty years' standing, traces the main points in an interesting career as fol- lows. The family originated in Germany, and was first represented in this country by the pater- nal grandfather of our subject, Jacob Rabe, who left the Fatherland previous to the War of 1812, when he was a young man. His ancestors had for many generations been widely known throughout Prussia, where two of his brothers were publishers at Berlin. Jacob Rabe upon coming to America settled on a tract of land near what was then the unimportant little town of Monongahela, Pa., where he engaged in farming, married, and became the father of three

sons. He subsequently arrayed himself on the side of the Colonists in their struggle for liberty, and also fought in the War of 1812. As the result of temperance and other good habits, he lived to the patriarchal age of one hundred and three years, and preserved his mental and physical strength to a re- markable degree. He was noted for his industry and integrity, and whether at home or among his neighbors preserved that equanimity of temper and well-bred manner which at once singled him out as a gentleman by birth and breeding. The celebrated opera singers, the Rabe sisters, were offshoots of this family, and were widely known throughout Europe, where they made a fortune by their talent. They were offered $20,000 to fill an engagement in this country, but declined to cross the water. Many other members of the family were distinguished for their musical talent.

John Rabe, the father of our subject, was born on the old homestead near Monongahela, Pa., where he pursued his early studies, and developed into a school-teacher. Upon reaching manhood he was married to Miss Elizabeth Luce, a native of his own State, and this union resulted in the birth of the children recorded as follows: Melesendra became the wife of Dr. Henry Morrison, of Pittsburgh; Amanda married Samuel A. Frederick, of Ohio; Maria died at the age of sixteen years; Hiram is a capitalist at Clyde, Ohio; John is a physician of Monongahela, Pa., and William L. is our subject. In 1820 John Rabe removed with his family to Jefferson County, Ohio, and purchased a farm, upon which he located and spent the remainder of his life. his death taking place about 1872. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, and was at once recognized as a valuable addition to the community. He was prominent in the membership of the Pres- byterian Church, and hekl the various township offices. Upon becoming a voter he had identified himself with the okl Whig party, but upon its abandonment cordially endorsed Republican princi- ples, and sought to wield a healthy influence over his children, to whom he gave a liberal education and encouraged them in the exercise of those vir- tues by which they became valued and reputable citizens.

Dr. William L. Rabe was born on the old home-

1112

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

stead of his parents in Ohio. May S. 1839, where he passed his early life and became familiar with farm pursuits. At the same time he was being carefully educated, and entered Richmond College at an early age. after the removal of the family to Ohio. Upon being graduated from this institution he attended Washington College, in his native State, and taking up the study of medicine. completed his course in Cleveland Medical College, Ohio, from which he received his diploma. He opened his first office at Wellsville, in that State, where he practiced four years, and subsequently became President of Richmond College. AAfter coming to the West he took up the study of theology in the McCormick Theological Seminary at Chicago. He did not by any means. however, abandon his first profession, but in order to still further progress in the science of med- ieine. in 1866 took a course at Rush Medical Col- letre, which conferred upon him a diploma and an honorary degree. In 1867 he became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Bloomington, where he continued for a period of eight years. He then removed to Dwight, where he otliciated as pastor of the Union Church seven years, after which he re- turned to, and has since followed his old profession. of phy-ician and surgeon. During the late war Di. Rabe, true to the patriotic instincts which had descended to him from a race of men distinguished In their love of freedom, raised two companies of infantry and prepared to defend the city of Steuben- ville. Ohio. from the threatened raid of the rebel General. Morgan. During the conflict there he acted a- Assistant Surgeon, was under fire, and experi- cneed a very narrow escape. He witnessed the capture of Morgan and attended professionally to twenty mes wounded by sabre cuts. He is con- servactive in politie-, and meddle- little with matter- .majde of his profession.

Di. Rabe, while a resident of Bloomington. was mited in marriage with Mi -- Emma Clay Temple, dougliter of William H. and Elizabeth ( Park ) Tem- ple. of Bloomington. Of this mion there are four bright ch bien. reundby : Mildred T .. who was born .My 17. 1×4x: William B ... Oct. 2. 1869; Clarence 1 .. Jan. 10. 1×72. and Lucy En. Jan. 21, 1871. all ruining at home with their parents, Mis- Mil- bed Rabe Fa- received a musical education and

evinee> decided talent in this direction. having sung in publie with great success, while her brother, Clarence, seem- strongly inclined to the ame. Mrs. Rabe, on her mother's side, is descended from the Park-Custis family, to whom the wife of Wash- ington was closely related.

The following extract is taken from the lecture, "A Doctor's Rambling Thoughts," delivered by Dr. Rabe before the Medical Association held at Ottawa. Ill .. Dec. 6, 1887.

" Gentlemen, our mission is to conserve the truth ; remember. " truth is mighty and will prevail." And when the great assemblage of the renowned medical men of the whole world-the greatest medical con- vention, as 1 conceive. ever convened or presided over by a citizen of Illinois or any citizen of any State. land or country-when they. in their wisdom. admitted none but regular rational physicians to their deliberations, they gave a stunning. fatal blow to deception. frand and quackery in our own and other lands. Let fashion be fashionable, but when you are called to the bedside of a sick man, think without reserve, what is the very best thing I can give or do for this, my patient; if very sick get the best counsel you can. But wise as we may be, walking vocabularies of medical knowlege. long experienced, why don't we eure more of the sick? Why do so many die? Or will any of you answer or tell satisfactorily why or what is a pain?

" Now, gentlemen of the Medical Association, in line a correct diagnosis is ne plus ultra: a prognosis is of far less vital character. Nature's wants in health are few and simple. We can consider as we please or wish, make them great. So likewise in disease. few remedies are absolutely needed, it is the best we want."

E BENEZER PERRY. who owns #20 acres of land located on section 7, Amity Township. was born in Pontiac Township on the 15th of March, 1813, and is the son of Sylvester and Jane (Campbell) Perry, who were natives of Ohio, and came to Illinois in 1833, locating in Pon- tin Township. The father was a strong Democrat ; the mother was an ardent member of the Christian

1143

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

Church. To them were born four children: The subject of this sketch and his sister Mary Jane, who were twins, the latter dying when she was about two years old; Thomas (., who grew to manhood and enlisted in Company F, 33d Illinois Infantry, and died of flux at Vicksburg, Miss., Sept. 27, 1865. after having served eighteen months in the army ; and Eleanor, who was born March 30, 1848, and married David Morris; they have seven children, and live in Nebraska.

Mr. Perry received a good common-school edu- cation and also attended a six-months term at the Jennings Seminary in Aurora, Ill. In 1862, at the age of nineteen, he enlisted in Company G, 129th Illinois Infantry, with which he served three years, being discharged on the 27th of July, 1865. Dur- ing the time he was in the army he participated in the battles of Resaca and Burnt Woods, Ga., and in the slaughter of Pine Mountains, a southern branch of the Kennesaw Mountains, in which he re- ceived a gunshot wound, the ball entering the small of the back, taking a downward course and coming out through the left hip. This wound was so severe that he had to be removed to the hospital at Nashville, Tenn., and from there to the Marine Hospital at Chicago, where he remained about one year, and was then discharged from the service on account of his wound. For this disability he now receives 84 per month from the Government.

On the 12th of May, 1867, Mr. Perry was married to Almina L., daughter of William and Matilda (Mills) MeVay, who were natives of Greene County, Pa., and devoted members of the Christian Church. (See sketch of William McVay elsewhere in this work.) Mr. Mills was a strong Democrat in his political convictions and used all his influence for the perpetuity of that party. He is now dead and his wife survives him. To them were born nine children-Almina L., Isabella U., Albert, Eli F., Ida T., Joseph, Ira. Perry D. and Willis D.

Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Perry, in 1867, moved upon the farm they now occupy, ou section 7, which comprises 320 acres of fine farm and pasture land, watered by Mole Creek, and on which there is ample provision to protect the stock from the heat of the summer, and the blasts of win- ter. They also have an orchard of three acres

comprising the finest varieties of fruit, while the general improvements of the farm denote good management at the hands of the owner. On another page is shown a view of this beautiful homestead.

To Mr. and Mrs. Perry have been born nine chil- dren, all of whom are living at home, as follows: Willie S, was born May 3, 1868; Elmer T., fan. 28, 1870; Nellie B., Nov. 30, 1871 ; Joseph A .. Oct. 21, 1873; Pearl M., Oct. 23, 1875; Edna M., Jan. 10, 1878; Walter V., Nov. 26, 1880; Alfonza L., Feb. 19, 1883, and Winifred A., June 3, 1885. All these children enjoy exceptionally good health, and theirs may be termed in the fullest sense of the word a happy family. Mr. Perry is a leading Comrade in the Grand Army Post in Cornell, and is regular in his attendance upon the meetings.

I 9

O-

ILLIAM RIDINGER, a highly respected citizen of Saunemin, owns and occupies a comfortable homestead on section 32, where he is successfully engaged in farming and stock- raising. Ile is a native of the State of Indiana, and was born in Warren County on the 29th of February, 1832. He is the son of John and Elizabeth Ridin- ger, both of whom were natives of Ohio. Ilis paternal ancestors were of German descent, and were early settlers in this country.

In about 1846 our subject accompanied his parents when they came from Indiana to this county. Upon their arrival they settled for a short time in Avoca Township, and thence removed to Saunemin Township, where they made a permanent residence. There the father died in November, 1880, and the mother now resides on section 33. There were born to them thirteen children, of whom the following survive : William of our sketch ; Mary J., the wife of George Yeagley; Eliza, the wife of A. Johnson, of Saunemin; Alfred, who lives near Saunemin, and married Eliza Lord; John, who married Ellen Lee, and now resides in the State of Nebraska; Martha, the wife of Russell Thornton, of Minnesota; Sarah E., the wife of James K. P. Yeagley, of Nebraska: Nicholas P., who is living south of Fairbury, and married Mary Rhodes, and

1114

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

( harles, who is single and at home. The mother of these children is in her seventy-litth year, and is physically hale and hearty and with mental facul- ties unimpaired. The parents were among the first pioneers of Livingston County, and the father was one of the first men to serve upon a jury in the county. Ile endured the usual hardships which fell to the pioneer ettler and became widely and favorably known throughout the county. He assisted in rais- ing the frame of the first fouring-mill erected below Pontiac, and he also assisted to build the first bridge at Pontiac. During the cholera epidemic the dis- vase prevailed to an alarming extent at Pontiac, and during this time he gave great assistance to the suf- ferers in the capacity of a nur-e. He was a man of generous di-position and philanthropie nature, and during his entire life made it a point to divide what he heud with the destitute and needy.

William Ridinger, our subject, in many respects processes the characteristics of his father, and has attained the reputation of an excellent citizen and benevolent gentleman. The greater portion of his life has been spent in Illinois, where he first began the life of a farmer, and in the common schools of the State received such education as the facilities of those days afforded.

On the Isth of September, 1856, Mr. Ridinger was married to Julia M. Hamlin, a native of New York. who was born on the 27th of December, 1838, and is the daughter of Alanson P. and Esther M. Roberts , Hunlin, natives of Vermont. Mrs. Ridin- ger before her marriage taught the first school in the first log school builling erected in this township. and the old structure still stands on Mr. Ridinger's farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Ridinger have been born six children, four of whom are living, whose names :re: Louis, who was born Nov. 11, 1857, and is the Life of David Morchart, of Sannemin; Alice. who we born July 51. 1859, and is the wife of Willem Philips, of Somemin: Emma, who was born Feb. 1.1. 1861, and is married to Charles Tan- Her. of sonnemin. and Heury. who was born Oct. 27. JEGx, and re-des with his parents. Nellie M. died at the interesting age of seventeen years : Mary Bell died aged one year and four months.

Mr. Richoger own 100 geres of land. on which hofer- erected comfortable and substantial build-

ings, and the home of the family is one of the most pleasant in the township. Our subject is a Demo- erat in politics, but the extent of his ollice-holling has been to serve as School Director, and in the dis- charge of the duties of that office he has given most excellent satisfaction.

R. MAURICE HOUSTON, a leading phy- sician of the town of Dwight, is of Scotch- Irish origin. His grandfather, John Gib- son, came from the North of Ireland, while his father, James Houston, was a farmer and land- hokler in Northern New York. The latter began life like most Americans, in a humble manner, but through energy and perseverance has accumulated a comfortable competency. During his entire life he has been a stanch Republican in political opin- ions, and has held the various township offices. Hle took for his wife Miss Margaret Gibson, daughter of John and Sarah (McKee) Gibson. of Canada, and they became the parents of eight children, namely : Sarah, Josephine, John, James, Lyons. Grant, Samuel and Maurice. The father had only a common-school education, but was a man who was a great reader and lover of historical works, and he was careful to give all his children a good education. He is now living at the age of sixty- five years.

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 141

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