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 146

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 146

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Mr. Tombaugh landed in Illinois on the 1st of March, 1865, and shortly afterward purchased 320 acres of partly improved land in Reading Town- ship. Later he was joined by his family, but sold this farin abont three years afterward. Ile then traveled through several of the Western States, but finally returned to this county and purchased a farm in Sunbury Township, where he farmed and tanght school, and in the fall of 1873, after serving two or three terms as Supervisor, was elected County Superintendent of Schools, in which capacity he served nine years. In 1876 he exchanged his farm in Sunbury Township for 240 acres near the village,

where he took up his residence. He was afterward elected Supervisor for Odell Township, in which capacity he served until his death.

Mr. Tombaugh left a fine farm of 358 acres in a high state of cultivation and with first-class build- ings. lle was a prominent member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and together with his excel- lent wife, labored for the advancement of Christi- anity, both in the Sunday-school and elsewhere, as opportunity offered. Ilis career was cut short while he was in the prime of life. He was very fond of fishing, and on the 13th of May, 1887, this time rather reluctantly. set out as usual to the river accompanied by his son and two hired men. They had gone early, and about 8 o'clock one of the men slipped over the dam, and being likely to drown, Mr. Tombaugh, hastening to his assistance, stepped too near the treacherous surface and was also precipitated into the water below. His son sprang in to save him, but Mr. T. seemed to have been stunned by the fall and could not help him- self. He dragged his son to the bottom twice with him, when the latter also began to fail, and was obliged to release his hold. The son succeeded in getting to shore, but the father had sunk to rise no more. This affliction to the family was pecul- iarly distressing, as his son, Raymond R., had about a year previously met his death after bathing in the river.

Mr. and Mrs. Tombaugh were the parents of seven children, of whom five are living. They have in- herited those admirable traits of character which will make of them honest men and good citizens.

OHN THOMAS MCCLINTOCK, of Eppard's Point Township, operates forty-eight acres of improved land, and stands well among his fellow-citizens. lle was born in Kentucky. Sept. 19, 1819, and removed with his parents when live years of age to Ohio. After a residence there of twenty years, during which time he engaged ex- tensively in teaching, he removed to Indiana, and from there three years later to this State, becoming a resident of this county in 1868. He is a natural farmer and horticulturist, and takes pride in beau-

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tifying his surroundings, which attract much atten- tion from the passers-by.

The father of our subject was William, and his grandfather Joseph Mcclintock, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter settling in the Blue Grass regions about the time that Daniel Boone was be- coming famous. The family is of Scotch and Irish descent. William McClintock and his wife became the parents of twelve children, six of whom were born in Kentucky and six in Shelby County, Ohio. In the latter place the parents spent their last years, the father dying in 1851, when sixty-five years old, and the mother in 1855 or 1856, when about sixty- three. But three of their children are now living: Daniel, of St. Louis, Mo .; Henry, of Springfield, Ohio; and John T. of our sketch.

The wife of our subject was formerly Miss An- geline G., daughter of Col. Samuel Eccles, one of the military men of Kentucky, full of patriotism, and an expert in drilling soldiers. Mr. and Mrs. MeClintock became the parents of two children, who died young, Sarah Jennie, at the age of nine years, and Mary Gertrude, at sixteen months. The former was a very bright child, and even at that early age had developed a great talent for composition. Iler parents preserve with religious care a little book in which the child had noted down many of her thoughts and fancies.

Our subject and his wife were reared Presby- terians, but are now members of the Congregational Church, with which Mr. McC. has been connected since he was twenty-one years old, and in which he otficiated as an Elder from the fall of 1851 to 1880. He has also been a Deacon, and is considered one of the chief pillars. Politically he is a Democrat, and a warm admirer of President Cleveland.

HOMAS N. YOUNG is now occupying the re- sponsible position of Postmaster of Cornell, Amity Township, which position he deserves, both because of his fitness and as a recognition of the services he has rendered to the party in power in the National Government. Mr. Young was born on the 9th of June, 1843, in Brown County, Ohio, and is the son of Simon K. and Barbara B. ( Reyn-

olds) Young, both of whom are natives of Ohio. The father was born on the 11th of November, 1815, and died on the 29th of July, 1872, aged fifty-six years, and the mother was born on the 20th of April, 1808. She was the daughter of Stephen Reynolds, Sr., and Barbara ( Northrup) Reynolds, natives of Rhode Island. Her father was born July 28, 1774, and died Aug. 2, 1842; her mother was born Nov. 4, 1769, and died Jan. 28, 1843. Ste- phen Reynolds and Barbara Northrup were married in Rensselaer County, N. Y., Dec. 23, 1791, and came to Ohio in 1802, before that State was ad- mitted into the Union.

The brothers and sisters of the mother of our subject are as follows: George Tiffany was born March 27, 1792; Lavinia, born June 2, 1793, and died Aug. 12, 1838, in Livingston County, Ill .; Oliver, born Aug. 20, 1794; Thomas Northrup, born Sept. 25, 1795, died April 29, 1868, aged seventy-two years: Susannah, born Sept. 12, 1797; Olive, born May 28, 1799, died Jan. 20, 1817; Joseph, born Sept. 21, 1801, died Feb. 9, 1857, aged fifty-six years ; John Wilson, born Dec. 2, 1803, in Ohio; Stephen, born March 4, 1806, died Feb. 22, 1865, aged fifty-eight years; Barbara B., the mother of our subject, born in April, 1808; Cor- nelius W., born Jan. 2, 1811, died Jan. 31, 1887; he was the first Clerk of the Court of Livingston County. Samuel K., born April 24, 1814, was one of the pioneer settlers of Livingston County, and is now a resident of the State of Missouri. The par- ents of our subject had two children, Susan Ann being the name of the other; she was born on the 15th of September, 1844, and died in Livingston County May 14, 1861, aged sixteen years.

Thomas N. Young, our subject, was married to Martha Ann McKee, on the 29th of December, 1865. She was the daughter of James and Nancy McKee, born on the 28th of June, 1848, and died on the 14th of August, 1871, aged twenty-three years. Mr. Young again married, the lady of his choice being Mrs. Mary E. Werner, who was born on the 22d of December, 1839. The marriage took place on the 20th of February, 1872. The result of this union has been two children: Augustine H., born July 5, 1874, and Barbara O., Aug. 22, 1879. Both these children are at home and the 1

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former is making good progress at school. Mr. Young enlisted in Company F. 33d Illinois Veteran Infantry, in April, 1864, and served in that regi- ment until December. 1865. During his service he was in the engagement at Mobile, and at Ft. Blakesley, receiving a broken ankle while on duty at Bayou Bloneff, La., Dec. 25, 1864.

Mr. Young owns some valuable property in the town of Cornell, which includes a house and lot, also one store building, and a vacant lot. He is a Demoerat in politics, and besides the Government appointment which he now holds. he has filled the official positions of Township School Treasurer and Assessor. He is a member of Beacon Lodge No. 618, 1. O. O. F., at Cornell, is a comrade of Cornell Post No. 223, G. A. R., is a member of the Good Templars, and is also a member of the Christian Church, as was his late wife, who died on the 14th of August, 1871, at Jacksonville, Ill. Mrs. Young came to Livingston County in the spring of 1851.

C HIRIST GMELICHI is one of the extensive farmers and stock-raisers on section 7, Amity Township. He was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Sept. 6, 1833, and is the son of Philip and Magdalene (Walter) Ginelich, farmers in Ger- many, where the father died in 1852 at the age of sixty years, and the mother in 1853, at the age of fifty-six years. To them were born the following- namned children: Sophia, Christina, Delina and Christ. Sophia was born in 1826, and came to America in 1854; she married William Everet, who died in 1876, leaving her with five children living in Pittsburgh. Christina was born in 1829, and died in 1881 in Germany; she married Mr. Keebler and had a family of four children. Delina was born in 1839, and died in 1877; her death was caused by being thrown from a bridge by a train of cars near Pittsburgh, l'a.

In 1853 our subject came to the United States, and on the 21st of February, 1858, he married Miss Johanna Winkler, of Brunswick, North Germany. She was the daughter of Henry and Anna Winkler, who were the parents of the following-named chil- dren: Anna, Henry, Johanna, Dorothy and Christ.

Anna married Henry Iloover, by whom she had three children, and died in Germany: Henry is married and lives in Germany : Johanna is the wife of our subject; Dorothy died in 1864; she came to America in 1855, and was married to Justice Wag- ner, by whom she had three children, and died in Illinois. Christ resides in Germany. To Mr. and Mrs. Gmelich have been born six children, as fol- lows: William, on the 31st of May, 1859; Lew Al- bert, April 5, 1862; Matilda C., Oct. 29, 1863; Sophia, May 5, 1867; Robert Christ, Feb. 3, 1870, and Daniel Edwin, May 1, 1879. These children all reside at home, engaged in assisting their parents upon the farm and attending the common schools.

Mr. Gmelich's excellent farm consists of 279 acres, under a good state of cultivation, and on which are erected good and commodious farm buildings, a view of which is shown elsewhere in this work ; the farm is watered and well drained by Mole Creek. Besides farming Mr. Gmelich gives considerable attention to a high grade of Norman horses, and graded hogs and cattle. He is a Re- publiean in politics and wields considerable influ- ence with his party. Because of his interest in educational matters he has been selected for several terms to fill the responsible position of School Di- reetor. He is an active and progressive citizen and participates in all matters calculated to benefit the community. He and his wife and two children, Tilda and Robert, are members of the Evangelical Church, in the affairs of which they take an active part.

ENRY C. LIST, who is the " Village Black- smith" of Fayette, is a native of Tazewell County, this State, and was born Jan. 5, 1842. llis parents, Lewis and Kate (Ga- ble) List, natives of Germany, formed their ac- quaintance on board the vessel coming to America, about 1830. Each was alone and comparatively frendless, and they concluded the most sensible thing would be to unite their fortunes and assist each other in the further journey of life. They set- tled in Pennsylvania, where the wedding occurred six months later. They remained in the Keystone State about three years, then came to Tazewell

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County, Ill., where the husband followed farming, varied by a little shoemaking for the neighbors, he having served an apprenticeship at this trade.

The parents of our subject had a family of nine children, of whom eight are living. They were named respectively : Jacob, Adam, John, Lewis, George, Frederick. Christopher, Mary and Henry ; Mary died in infancy. Henry C. remained with his parents on the farm in Tazewell County, work- ing during summer and attending school in winter, until 1860, when he started out for himself and for four years worked as a farm laborer. He then served an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade under the instruction of Benjamin Tobias, at Wash- ington, Ill., and after leaving the shop was em- ployed by the day at his trade for a period of six years.

Mr. List, in 1875, established himself at Strawn, in this county, setting up a shop of his own, where he commands the entire patronage of the place, as his is the only establishment of the kind. He chose for his wife a maiden of this region, Miss Maggie Schmaltz, to whom he was married Oct. 17, 1878. Mrs. List is a native of Germany, and the danghter yof highly respected citizens. This marriage re- sulted in the birth of two children-Clara M., who was born Nov. 14, 1879, and Gertrude Frances, Nov. 23, 1884. They occupy a neat and comfort- able home, and enjoy the confidence and esteem of inany friends.

Mr. List, politically, is an uncompromising Dem- verat, a man of decided views and opinions, and has been School Director of District No. 2 since 1885.

ANS LARSON TUESBURG, deceased, was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, and reared to a seafaring life. After receiving a liberal education, he learned the carpenter's trade, after which he entered the Danish Navy and was soon made a Lieutenant. During the bombardment of Copenhagen he distinguished himself, and shortly afterward left the naval service and entered the merchant marine. For fifteen years he was en- gaged in the trade between Hamburg and Rio Janeiro, and afterward between Copenhagen and

Valparaiso. Rounding Cape Horn twice a year for more than fifteen years, without a single accident, is a testimony to his seamanship. In 1835 he re- solved to leave the sea, and become a citizen of the United States. Accordingly he landed at New York to look for an opportunity to engage in some line of business. The year previous, three land agents, Josiah James, John Ilarris and William Sampson, had organized a scheme of colonization for their land in Central Illinois. Mr. Tuesburg joined a company bound for that region, among whom were the following parties: David Roberts, Charles Jones, John Harris, Dr. Shaw, A. Haywood, A. Richmond, G. Richmond, II. Richmond, and others to the number of twenty. They left New York on the 1st of October and traveled by way of the Erie Canal to Buffalo, and thence across the country to the Ohio River. The balance of the trip followed the course of the Ohio River to its mouth, thence up the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers to the mouth of Apple Creek. From there they crossed the country to Jacksonville, where they remained all winter, and in the spring removed to Tazewell County where they settled. Each one of the col- onists was allowed to purchase but one-quarter of a section to start with. The land-owners had laid out a town to which they gave the name of Tre- mont, and each purchaser of 160 acres of land was to be given three lots in the new town gratis. The colonists soon built up a prosperous and happy so- ciety, and laid the foundation of the present thriv- ing county of Tazewell.

In 1835 the subject of this sketch entered into a contract to bring a stoek of merchandise to Tre- mont for a merchant named Flager who was going into the business at that place. On his arrival with the goods, he found such a contented and happy community that he resolved to remain there, and again engaged in earpentering, the trade he had learned in his youth. In October, 1839, he married Mrs. Estelle Spaulding, the daughter of Charles Jones and widow of Adam Spaulding, who was a native of Chambersford. Mass. They were the parents of five children, Adtr, who died in infancy ; Laust Hanson, deceased; Lawrence, deceased : Charles HI. and Lawrenec. Laust Hanson enlisted in Company G, 4th Illinois Cavalry, under Col.

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Cook, and was killed at Holly Springs, Miss. The younger Lawrence is engaged in the machinery trade at Ottawa, Ill. Mr. Tuesburg died in April, 1859. His widow still survives him, and resides on the farm with her son Charles H., with whom she has always made her home. She is a hale and hearty matron of eighty years, with a bright and clear intellect and a memory replete with incidents of their early colonial settlement. She and her husband were both members of the Baptist Church.

1 R. DANN BREWER, of Fairbury, a prac- titioner of the Ecleetie School, has been remarkably successful in his pursuance of the practice of medicine, and although comparatively a young man, has clearly distanced many who have had more experience and count a greater number of years. He is a native of Ohio, where he was born in the town of Warren, Trum- bull County, Jan. 22, 1843.

The parents of our subject, Sylvester and Sarah (Hake) Brewer, were natives respectively of Ver- mont and Pennsylvania. The father was born in 1805, and emigrated from his native State to Wis- consin in 1853. He departed this life in Jefferson, Wis., in 1874, after reaching the advanced age of seventy-five years. The mother is of Pennsylvania stock and is still living in Jefferson County ; she belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. The parental household included eleven children, of. whom one died in infancy. The eldest son, Frank, is a practicing physician of Evanston, Ill .; Horatio is deceased; Elizabeth became the wife of William Thatcher and is now living in Ohio; Leah died when twenty-seven years old; Dann of our sketch was the lifth child; Marietta, Mrs. Webber; Peter, Sylvester H., Jay, Sarah and Cynthia comprise the remainder of the family.

The education of our subject commenced after the removal of his father to Wisconsin, and making good use of his time during his school days, he commeneed teaching at an early age, and in 1870 became Principal of the Waukesha Reform School, where he acquitted himself with great credit. In

the meantime he had given his leisure hours to the perusal of medical works, and shortly after coming to this county, in March, 1873, entered Bennett Medical College at Chicago, from which he was graduated with first honors in the spring of 1876, and began practice at Fairbury. Two years later he took a course at Hahnemann College, Chicago, and afterward attended a clinical course of lectures in the Cook County Hospital; he has become one of the leading physicians in Livingston County.

Dr. Brewer was married in Fairbury, May 10, 1882, to Miss Lottie Rogers, a native of Ohio, and who was born in Angust, 1855. Mrs. Brewer is a lady of fine literary attainments, and a disciple of the Western Female University at Oxford, Ohio, and is also a graduate of the Chautauqua Literary So- ciety. They occupy one of the most attractive little dwellings in the city, which, within and with- out, furnishes ample evidence of the refinement of its inmates. The Doctor and his wife are in sym- pathy with the Christian Church, of which he has been a cheerful and liberal supporter, contributing materially to the erection of their church edifice. Socially he belongs to the Masonie fraternity and has taken the Kuight Templar's degree, being for two years Eminent Commander, besides holding the various offices in his lodge.

6 HOMAS C. SPENCER, one of the solid men of Forest Township, is a native of the Prai- rie State, and was born in the pioneer days, in November, 1826. Ilis early home was in Sehuy- ler County, and his parents were William M. and Rachel (Brooks) Spencer, natives respectively of Ireland and Massachusetts.

William M. Spencer emigrated from his native country while a yonth, and settled first in Law- rence County, this State, in 1801, while it was still a Territory. He occupied himself in tilling the primitive soil, and established a gristmill on what was then the Little Embarras River. This he oper- ated a good many years, but on account of the troubles connected with the War of 1812, was obliged to abandon it for a time. On his premises a family of eight were killed by the Indians, and

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he, with the other inhabitants of that section, was obliged to keep a constant watch to preserve his life. The savages murdered the settlers indiscrim- inately, sparing neither women nor children. Mr. Spencer finally crossed the Mississippi and made his home near Waterloo, Iowa, in 1854, where his death took place at the advanced age of eighty-six years, when he was making his home with a daugh- ter; the mother had passed away some years before, at the age of seventy.

The father of our subject was twice married, hav- ing six children by his first wife. This lady was in ber girlhood Miss Lorana Snow, who died when middle aged. He was subsequently married to Miss Rachel Brooks, and they became the parents of twelve children, two now living, namely : Ritcheson and Thomas C. Thomas C. remained at home un- til twenty-five years of age and then started ont for himself. One of his first steps toward the establish- ment of a home was his marriage, Sept. 28, 1851, to Miss Sarah A. Bocock, a native of Ohio, and born in Highland County. in 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer began life together on a farm near the town of Canton, Ill., and in due time the little household was enlarged by the birth of seven chil- dren, four living, namely : James A., William G .. Samuel W. and Jesse O. One son and two daugh- ters are deceased, namely : Theodocia E., Maggie E. and John U. The latter died when an infant; Maggie passed away when an interesting child twelve years of age, Feb. 27, 1873; Theodocia died at the homestead in Belle Plaine Township, Oct. 16, 1865; James and Samuel are married, the former being occupied as engineer in an oilmill at Gilman, and the latter is engaged in farming. Samuel is carrying on stock-raising in Lake View, Ore .; William is working at the trade of carpenter, at Lake View, Ore., and is interested in the farm with Samnel.

Our subject acquired a good common-school ed- ucation, and in early life was trained to habits of industry. While in Marshall County he held the offices of School Trustee and Justice of the Peace nine years, and was Township Clerk four years. Politically, he is Republican, and with his estima- ble lady is a member in good standing of the Mis- sionary Baptist Church at Fairbury, in which he

officiates as Clerk, and is otherwise prominently identified with its interests. The farm of Mr. Spencer lies on section 6, and comprises forty-eight acres, where he carries on agriculture, and also a dairy. His farm has a great variety of fruit trees of all kinds, and is about equi-distant from Forest and Fairbury.

OHN C. GEORGE, the Postmaster of Dwight, is a native of Barnesville, Belmont Co., Ohio, and was born Oct. 19, 1833. The family is of Irish extraction, John George, the father of our subject, having come from the North of Ire- land, near Belfast, when some nineteen years of age. He settled in Maryland, and there married Ann Cross, who was the mother of the following children : Sarah A., Edward, James C., Priscilla A., Margaret, John C., Leathey, Louisa, Benjamin C., Elizabeth N. and Rebecca J.

The father of our subject removed with his little family to Belmont County, Ohio, among the pio- neers of that region, and engaged in farming. In 1865 he removed to Illinois, where he purchased a farm in Nevada Township in this county, where he made his home until 1876, when he departed "to the pale realms of death." Ile was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Our subject passed his early life upon his father's place. and received his education in the common schools of the period. At the age of twenty-one he left home and came to Nevada Township, arriv- ing here on the 8th of October, 1854. The town of Dwight had been laid out during the summer, but the site was so low and wet that James C. George, a brother of John, refused an offer of eighty acres of land adjoining the corporation as a gift, considering it worthless. John C. George purchased land in the vicinity. It was at that time covered with heavy grass, which was some twelve feet high in low places. He commenced immediately to improve his farm, and make a home. Having now the cage prepared, in 1856 he married Miss Mary E. Clarkson, a daughter of Egbert and Maria (Joycox) Clarkson. On the 5th of August, 1862, Mr. George, imbued with intense patriotism, en- listed in Company C, 129th Illinois Infantry, and

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served throughout the war. With his regiment he was employed in guard duty, ete., until the spring of 1864, when they joined Gen. W. T. Sherman, and with that matchless leader began the famous mareli to the sea. Mr. George participated in the battle of Resaen and the other contests around At- lanta, at Peachtree Creek, Burnt Hickory, and others of that great campaign. After participating in the grand review in Washington he was mustered out on the sth of June, 1865, and honorably dis- charged. He at once returned home and began farming. Three years later he moved to Dwight Village and began contracting in railroad work, which he continued for many years, until appointed Postmaster in 1886. His wife died in 1887.

In political opinions Mr. G. is a stanch Demo- crat. Ile is a member of Dwight Post No. 626, G. A. R .. of the I. O. O. F. and the Pioneer Society of Dwight, and is a popular and esteemed citizen.

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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 146

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