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 142

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 142

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Dr. Maurice Houston was born on his father's farm in Essex County. N. Y., on the 27th of October. 1847, and passed his early life at the homestead. He gained a good common-school education, and by dint of industry earned means whereby he procured hi- professional education. He spent eight years in office work under Dr. F. J. D. Avignon, of Essex County, N. Y., and with Dr. C. A. Movers, of Law- rence, Mass. He then graduated at the Hahnemann Medical College, Chicago, and after some practice m that city came to Dwight, where he has estab- lished an extremely lucrative practice.

On the 15th of May, 1874, Dr. Houston was married to Miss Addie A., daughter of Asa and Matilda (Jennings) Barker, residents of Methuen. Mass, Asa Barker, the father of Mrs. Houston, was a soldier in the Civil War and was killed at Spott-

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sylvania. To Dr. and Mrs. Houston has been born one son, Fred M., whose birth occurred on the 26th of October, 1875.

Dr. Houston is eminently a self-made man, and had an extremely hard struggle to gain the means for obtaining a medical education. Hle was fore- man in the Great Atlantic Cotton-Mills, at Law- rence, Mass., and during that time devoted all his leisure to study. On account of the constant strain both in his work in daytime, and his study at night. his eyesight became so seriously impaired that he was prevented from reading for three years, and the treatment which he was compelled to take ab- sorbed the accumulations of eight years' earnings. Ilis devoted wife came to his aid by reading aloud to him, and cheered him with words of kindly sym- pathy and encouragement. The physicians under whom he studied advised him to abandon the study of medicine, but he still clung to his aim in life with the firmness and tenacity characteristic of the hardy Scotch stock from which he sprang. The Doctor, by hard study, became one of the first in his class at Hahnemann Medical College and was elected to the honorable position of President of the class. In his case it is proved that persistent effort is almost always sure of success. Dr. Hous- ton has secured the confidence of the people of Dwight by his skill and ability in his profession, in which he stands deservedly high.

Among the portraits of representative men and women of Livingston County we have pleasure in presenting that of Dr. Houston.

IIRISTOPHER S. CHRITTEN, IR., a prom- inent representative of the farming interests of Newtown Township, is the son of one of the early settlers of Livingston County, who came to this section from Crawfordsville, Ind., about 1853. Our subject was born in that city, July 13. 1813, and was the fifth in a family of seventeen children. the offspring of Christopher and Eura (Drake) Chritten, natives respectively of Virginia and New Jersey.

The father of our subject was born in 1793 and departed this life at his home in Montgomery

County, Ind., in 1819. The paternal grandfather was of German birth and parentage, and died when his son Christopher was two years of age. The latter continued with his mother in Kentucky un- til approaching manhood, and learned the trade of stone and brick mason, at which he became a skill- ful and reliable workman. He put up the first brick chimney in Montgomery County, Ind., and burned the first brick that was made in that county, being the first workman of the kind to settle there. He assisted in the erection of many important build- ings of Montgomery County, including its court- house and some of its churches. He accumulated a good property, and was a man greatly respected for his excellent personal character. Politically he was a Democrat, and was one of the most useful mem - bers of the Baptist Church at Crawfordsville.

The mother of our subject was born in 1798, and died at her home in Livingston County in 1865. She was the daughter of Enoch and Eura (Drake) Drake, natives respectively of Germany and Wales, whence they immigrated to America early in life, and were married in New Jersey. Mrs. Chritten was a lady of great business ability, and after the death of her husband increased her possessions to the amount of $6,000. She also was a devoted Chris- tian and a member of the Baptist Church. Besides rearing a family of fifteen children she performed the part of a faithful and conscientious mother to three of her grandchildren, who were bereft by death of their natural protectors. She spent her last years at the home of her son William in Read- ing Township, passing away at the age of sixty- seven years. She had been a resident of the county since September, 1852.

The householdl of the grandparents of our sub. ject included twelve children, all with one excep- tion now deceased. The remaining one, their >on Noah, is supposed to be living in Ohio. To Chris- topher, Ir., and his wife there were born seventeen children, namely : Isaac, who died when about sixty years of age; Enoch, a resident of Nebraska; Jo- soph, of Iowa ; Alexander, deceased; Lucinda, who died in Indiana, leaving a family of three children ; Catherine, living in lowa; William, of Reading Township, this county; Rachael, the wife of Sam- nel Bower, Supervisor of Reading Township; Rob-

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ert. of Kansas : Rebecca, the wife of JJacob Spencer. of lowa: Charles, a resident of Kansas; Mary. the wife of David Runion. of Missouri ; Christopher S .. our subject ; James, who died in the army at Chat- tanooga, July 1. 1863; America. the wife of R. Fenner, of Reading Township, and two who died in infancy unnamed.

The subject of our sketch continued under the home roof until seventeen years old. In the mean- time, after the death of his father, his mother with her family had removed to this county. Christo- pher, at the age mentioned. started out for himself a- a farm laborer by the month, and two years Inter rented a tract of land and commenced farm- ing on his own hook. He worked singly fora num- ber of year-, and after his thirty-first birthday was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Masters, Feb. 25, 1875. The wedding took place at the home of the bride in Newtown Township. L. 11. Mallory. J. P., olliciating.

Mrs. Chritten was born in Wyandot County. Ohio. Jan. 10. 1855. and is the daughter of Byron and Lucinda ( Crouse ) Masters, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Dutch and Irish descent. Their family in- eluded eleven children, of whom but seven are now living. The father still survives, and is a resident of Newtown Township. He owns 160 acres of good land. upon which he located in 1867. His wife. Lucinda. died March IG, 1885, when sixty- two years old.

To our subject and his wife there have been born the following children : William Emmett, March 8, 1×76: Fany Leah. May 26. 1878; Dap Burnett. Jan. 25, 18%1: Owen Elbert, Sept. 27, 1883, and Mary Jessie, Sept. 80, 1886. Mr. Chritten for a period of fifteen years operated a coal bank near Coalville. Since 1876 he has been engaged in farining and trading. He i- a wide-awake, energetic former and business man. and a fair representatve of the enterprise and industry of the community. He is the only adherent of the Republican party in hi- father'- family, and to those principles he clings with all the tenacity of his natural force of character. Byron Master-, the father of Mr-, Chritten, is now -sty . four years of age. Sarah A .. her older sister. was born Aug. 9. 1×51, died July 3, 1882 ; Samuel, born Sept. 10. 1817 : Melissa, Sept. 26, 1819; Emma, Dec.

9, 1853; Mary E .. the wife of our subject ; Fremont. born in September, 1857: Amanda, JJan. 14, 1860 ;. Ehneret. Sept. 30, 1862, and three brothers died young.

ILLIAM McVAY was born in Washington County, Pa., on the 15th of July, 1820, and died on the Ist of June, 1874. Hle was married to Miss Matilda Mills, who was born on the 18th of January, 1836, and was the daughter of Abel Mills, of Greene County, Pa. In pol- ities William McVay acted with the Democratic party, and in religious matters was an adherent of the doctrines of the Christian Church, in which he was for many years a Deacon, living an exemplary life, while in his death the church lost one of its strongest supporters, the community a generous hearted man and a kind neighbor, and the family an indulgent and affectionate parent.

The brothers and sisters of Mr. McVay were named as follows: James, John, Hannah, Jacob, George, Mary, Rebecca, Caroline, Samuel and Wal- lace. James was born March 23, 1822, married Miss Susan Niel has four children and resides in Greene County, Pa. ; John was born July 25, 1825. has a family and resides in Greene County, Pa. ; Hannah was born July 5, 1827, is the wife of Judge John T. Elbin, of Greene County, Pa., and they have a family of five children: Jacob was born June 7, 1828, and married Miss Vina Courtwright, who died soon after marriage: he then married Mar- garet Thorp, and they had two children, one of whom, a daughter, is married. George was born Aug. 11, 1832, and first married Miss Maria Smith, who died leaving five children; his second wife was Miss Elizabeth Long, a native of Pennsylvania, and by this wife were born one girl and one boy. Mary was born July 11, 1834, is married and has a family of five children; Rebecca was born Dec. 28. 1836, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this ALBUM: Caroline was born May 14, 1840, and was married to George Hughes, of Greene County, Pa .: she died Feb. 15, 1885, leaving eight children. Samuel was born June 4, 1842, and died July 30, 1815. aged three years, one month and twenty-one days; Wallace was born July 13, 1844, and died Sept.

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27, 1855, aged eleven years, two months and nine days.

The record of the parental family of Mrs. McVay is as follows: Catharine was married to Abel Wool- sey and died Sept. 16, 1867; she was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Emeline was married to Robert Morris Dec. 28, 1839, and died May 8, 1854: she was also a member of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church. Martha was born Sept. 19, 1821, and died aged twenty-five years and ten months: Simon U. was born May 11, 1828, and died many years ago; Stephen U. was born March 26, 1831, and is long since dead: David H. was born Dec. 1, 1833, and is also dead: Eli was born June 18, 1838, and died Aug. 7, 1861 ; Joseph was born April 11. 1841, was married and lives in Amity Township.

John MeVay, father of the subject of this sketch. was born Oct. 28, 1794. in Washington County. Pa., and died April 15, 1851 ; his wife, Hannah, was born July 12, 1806, and was a native of Greene County, Pa. To William and Matilda McVay were born eight children-Almina, Isabella, Albert, Franeis, Ida, Ira, Willie P. and Willis. Albert, Ida and Willie P. are deceased ; Ira and Willis have not yet reached their majority, and reside with their mother, devoting their time to the management of the farm and stock-raising. The farm consists of 280 acres of most excellent land, all of which is very productive.

Mrs. MeVay is a thoroughly practical woman and understands precisely how to manage all the affairs connected with her farm, and with her two sons at- tends to every detail. She is a lady who stands foremost in the advancement of all good works, and enjoys the esteem and respect of her neighbors. We take pleasure in presenting on another page a view of the homestead of Mrs. McVay.

RESLEY SPRINGER, pleasantly located in Amity Township, section 20, has passed nearly all his life in farm pursuits, and is the owner of a comfortable homestead com- prising 150 acres of fertile land, convenient to schools, church and market. Of this, thirty acres

is in timber and pasture, and the balance is under a fine state of cultivation. It is stocked with good grades of domestic animals, while the residence and other farm buildings reflect credit upon the proprie- tor.

Mr. Springer is a native of Ohio, where he was born in Brown County, April 19, 1831. His par- ents, Nathan and Lydia ( Lucas) Springer, were na- tives of the same county, the former born Feb. 11, 1804, and the latter, Dee. 5, 1807. They were married Feb. 22, 1827, and soon afterward removed to Vermilion County, 1H., where they resided about twenty-two years. They then removed to Living- ston County and settled in Long Point Township. where the death of the father occurred, JJan. 29, 1871. The mother is still living, and is a member in good standing of the Christian Church. They became the parents of fourteen children, three sons and five daughters of whom still survive.

When a child Presley Springer was brought by his parents to Vermilion County, where he remained a resident for a period of twenty years, when he took up his abode in this county, locating first two and one-half miles southwest of his present home- stead. While a resident of Amity Township, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Clara Curtis, Nov. 2, 1866. Mrs. Springer is the widow of Levi Custis, and daughter of Lewis and Prudence John- son. By her first marriage she became the mother of three children : Frank Elmer, now a resident of Iowa; Ena E., the wife of Gustave Girard, now re- siding in Denison, Iowa, and Harry Willard, who married Miss Lillie Maud Partridge, of Clinton County, Iowa, and resides in Kansas, Mrs. Springer was born in Smithfield Center, Bradford Co., Pa., in 1840, and came to Illinois in 1857.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Springer are re- corded as follows: Milton Eugene was born Ang. 24. 1867 ; EHla Jane, Aug. 6, 1869; Lewis Presley, March 15, 1871 ; Clara Alida, April 24, 1874; Henry Preston, April 19, 1876; Guy Manley. Feb. 25. 1878; Martha Maria. Dec. 28, 1881, and Charley Sherman, Aug. 27. 1883. Lewis P. died Dec. 12, 1872, and Martha M., Aug. 3, 1882.

The mother of Mrs. Springer, Prudence Johnson. was born in Catskill, N. Y., Oct. 4. 1805, and was a most estimable Christian lady. and a member of

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the Methodist Episcopal Church. the departed this life at her home in Ancona. April 19, 1869. The father of Mrs. Springer was born at Oxford, Che- ningo to. N. Y., March 27, 1508, and at the present. time is the oldest man in Amity Township, where he resides at Cornell. He has suffered a great affliction in the loss of his eyesight. which occurred six years ago.

Mr. Springer ranks among the well-to-do farmers of his community, and although meddling very lit- tle in political matters, casts a straight Democratic vote at the general cletions, and keeps himself well posted upon matters concerning the welfare of his county and township. Mrs. Springer became a member of the Christian Church in 1858.

L OUISK. REDFERN, a farmer by occupation, and a gentleman who has followed that call- ing during the greater part of his life, but who at present is engaged in working for Walton Bros., of Fairbury. Il .. is a son of John and Eliza- beth ( Shields) Redfern. The father of our subject was born in England. whence he immigrated to this country. landing. after a pleasant voyage, at Troy, N. Y. There he was variously occupied, and it was there he became acquainted with and married Miss, Shields, John Redfern, hoping to better bis financial condition in the rapidly growing West. migrated to Fulton, Whiteside County, whence, after a residence there until 1861, he moved to Denver. Col .. and made that his home until his demi-c. in 1861.

The subject of this notice was born in Fulton, Whiteside Co .. lil .. in 1852. Ile accompanied his parent- to Denver. Col. in 1861. and after the death of his father in that city in 1861. he and his mother returned to Fulton. Ill. After a residence there of four years. the mother was called to the supposed death bed of her youngest daughter. While en route n accident occurred, which resulted in the throw- ing of the stage in which Mrs. Redfern was riding down an embankment of forty fort. and into the Platte River. She was bally burt but was resened. and Vanderbilt being on his way to California and hearing of the accident, had Mrs. Redfern taken to

a ranch, and all was done that possibly could be to alleviate her suffering. When she was able to be moved. she was sent to her home in Fulton, but died from the result of injuries received in the accident.

Louis Redfern was left an orphan at the age of fifteen. and Dr. Leander Smith, of Fulton, became his guardian. Louis was sent to Jennings Semin- ary, Aurora, Ill., where he received a good educa- tion, and then, obtaining possession of the money left him by his mother, he went to Chicago. Ile was there during the terrible fire of 1871, and it was in that city that he lost the principal part of the money that was left him. From Chicago he came to Livingston County, where he engaged in farm- ing, meeting with signalsnecess, and which vocation he continued to follow until within the last two years, when he met with financial failure : since then he has been working for Walton Bros. March 7, 1877, Mr. Redfern was united in marriage with Miss Minnie May Johnson, the ceremony taking place in Vermont, Fulton Co., Ill. Their union has been blessed by the birth of the following children : Mertie May, born June 23, 1878; Corrie Luella, March 23, 1881, and Fred Eugene, Oct. 22, 1884.

OSEPH STEVENSON. In the subject of this sketch we find an excellent example for young men just embarking in the field of active life, of what may be accomplished by a man beginning poor, but honest, prudent and in- dustrious. In early life he enjoyed but few ad- vantages, and his school days were limited. He has relied solely upon his own efforts and his own conduet to win for him success, and he has not. been disappointed. Ile has not been a success wholly in the sense of accumulating wealth, but in doing good to others, in serving them well, and winning their respect and esteem. He has ever oh- served that important factor in a successful life, honesty. lle is a careful, conscientious business man, over obeying the dictates of that higher law in matters both of a public and private nature.

Mr. Stevenson is engaged quite extensively in farming and stock-raising on section 17. Saunemin Township. He is a native of the North of Ireland,

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where he was born on the 224 of May, 1849, and is the son of John (deceased) and Elizabeth Steven- son, and the eldest of their family of children. He was reared to manhood in his native Ireland, and received a fair education in the schools of that country. He emigrated to America in 1872, taking passage on a steamer at Londonderry, on the 23d of May, and landing in Philadelphia on the 6th of June. Soon after his arrival he secured employ- ment as a farm hand in Pennsylvania, at which he continued until the spring of 1874, when he came to Illinois and located in Livingston County. Here he worked by the month on a farm for fourteen months, at which time he rented land which he enl- tivated until the spring of 1883, and saved sufficient means to enable him to purchase eighty acres of excellent land. Among the improvements which he has placed upon this farm there are 300 rods of tiling, which serve to drain the land completely. Upon his arrival in this county, Mr. Stevenson had but $5 in money, and when he came to Illinois his capital consisted of $125; from that small begin- ning has grown his present prosperity.

On the Sth of July, 1875, Mr. Stevenson was married to Miss Martha Byers, a native of Ireland, where she was born in April, 1852, and the daugh- ter of Robert and Mary Ann (Hutchinson ) Byers. To them two children have been born, viz .: Rob- ert J., on the 14th of April, 1876, and William G., on the 23d of August, 1878. Mr. Stevenson is a believer in the Presbyterian doctrines, but not a member of the church, and his political affiliations are with the Democratic party. He is in favor of any measure that will improve the condition of the county, and elevate the standard of society.

ETER W. SETZER, a progressive farmer and stock-raiser on sections 17 and 18, Es- men Township, is a native of Pennsylvania, where he was born in Luzerne County, on the 23d of July, 1838, and was the tenth child in a family of eleven born to Peter and Catharine (VanCamp) Setzer, a sketch of whom appears in another place in this work.

Mr. Setzer spent his early life upon a farm and

his dependence for an education was wholly upon the country schools. At sixteen years of age he left home and worked for a neighbor for six months, after which until almost of age he worked upon the farm in summer and during the winter attended school. His father dying about the time our sub- ject reached his majority, he returned home, and taking active management of the farm, he soon saved sufficient money to buy ox-teams, and he then contracted for breaking prairie lands throughout the surrounding country; many of the farms in sight of his home were first brought under cultiva- tion by his hard labor. Being energetic and enter- prising he accumulated a good beginning before he concluded to marry.

On the 7th of April, 1862, Mr. Setzer took as a helpmeet Miss Sophia, daughter of Daniel and So- phia (Whittier) Knight, natives of the State of Maine, where she also was born in the year 1840. Her parents came to Illinois and first settled in La- Salle County, whence at the end of one year they came to Livingston County, but being of a roving disposition soon sold out and afterward made many changes, buying and selling land all the time until the death of the father, which occurred in Fillmore County, Minn. His wife still survives him, and resides in Chippewa County, Minn.

Mr. and Mrs. Setzer settled first on the farm they now occupy and have remained there ever since, excepting a year spent in the North, which was necessary for the benefit of her health. They are the parents of ten children, six of whom-Nettie, George, Charles, Fred, Effie and Cora-are now liv- ing and reside at home. The names of the deceased were John, Hattie, Bertie and Warren.

In the summer of 1862 Mr. Setzer enlisted in Company M, Light Artillery, under Capt. Miller. The organization of this company was begun at Ottawa, and those who enlisted went to Chicago. where the complement of a full company was se- sured, and where Mr. Setzer was sworn into the service, acting independently as long as he served with it. About three months after the company went South he was injured at Louisville, Ky., by a horse, and on the 24th of October. 1862. he was discharged. Ile does not take a very lively interest in political matters but votes with the Republican

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purty. Mr. Setzer has a most excellent farm of 280 arres, in the cultivation of which he devotes much energy. In his -toek operations he keeps abreast of the times, and has the reputation in his neighbor- hood of putting first-class animals upon the market. A- representative of the buildings in this section of country, we present on another page of this work a view of the homestead of Mr. Setzer.

M ORRIS FOLEY. a prominent and wealthy farmer of AAmity Township, is the owner of a tract of 537 broad acres. 240 of which is under a fine state of cultivation, while the balance includes twenty-five acres of timber and a wide stretch of some of the best pasture in Living- -ton County. His possessions are the result of his own industry and perseverance, as he began life poor in pocket and under the most adverse eirenmstances. Ile has illustrated. in a remarkable manner, what may be accomplished by energy and resolution, and stand- to- day among the most highly respected citizen- of Central Illinois.

The carly home of our subject was on the other side of the Atlantic, in County Wexford, Ireland, where he was born in November. 1830, and remained until a young man twenty-two years of age. lis parents. Dennis and Honor ( Kelly ) Foley, were also of Irish hirth and parentage, the father being the son of Morris and Mary ( Rhine) Foley. To the latter were born the following children: Morris, Patrick. John. Mary Ann, Bridget and Philip. The mother of our subject wa- the daughter of Pat- rick and Ann ( Doran ) Kelly.

Mr. Foley received a limited education during It- boy hood, and assisted his parents in their efforts at maintaining a family. hi- father being a farmer by occupation. He began carly in life to think about the future, and after considering the matter in all it- bearings, became convinced that there was little chance for his advancement during the then present state of things in Erin's Green Isle. His parent- did not accompany him but joined him a year later, in the spring of 1852. Young Morris embarked first on a small vessel at Waterford, by which means he reached Liverpool, and then

boarded a sailing craft bound for New Orleans. The voyage occupied seven weeks and three days, and with the exception of a few squalls, was reason- ably fair and pleasant. From the Crescent City our subject made his way north into Ottawa, this State, where he found friends, and made his home there two or three years, in the meantime employing himself at whatever he could find to do. Subsequently he went up the Fox River into Asbury and became the employe of Paul Kennedy, with whom he remained two years. From there he migrated to the town of Serena, LaSalle County, where he farmed on shares for three seasons, and from there made his way to this county, becoming a permanent resident in the spring of 1856.

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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 142

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