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 147

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 147

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h ON. AMOS M. JOHNSON was born in New Lebanon, Columbia Co., N. Y., Aug. 3, 1819. Ile was reared a farmer's boy, and until sixteen years of age attended winter schools. On reaching his sixteenth year, he matric- ulated at Wilbraham College, Mass .. and following the curriculum of that institution. was graduated therefrom with honors. Hoping to better his finan- cial condition in the fast-growing West, he mi- grated to this State and located at Farmington, Fulton County. There he studied medicine in the office and under the instruction of Dr. Christie. Later. he attended Rush Medical College, Chicago, from which he was graduated and received his di- ploma. Returning to Fulton County, he hung out his shingle at Vermont, and entered upon what proved to be a very successful and remunerative practice.

Dr. Johnson was united in marriage with Miss Meli-sa II. Kinney, a charming and accomplished young lady of Farmington. Ill., in 1813. Contin- ning bis practice in Vermont until 1851, during which time he was also engaged in the drug busi- ness with his father. he moved to Ipava, Fulton

County. There he embarked in the mercantile business with his brother Deloss, and they success- fully conducted the same until 1854. During that year Dr. Johnson purchased 300 acres of land in McDonough County. Moving his family upon this land, he superintended its cultivation, at the same time practicing his profession, and was thus occu- pied for about two years. He was also engaged in the land business at Vermont, and traveled over many of the Southern States in the interest of his business. Returning to Fulton County, he sold his farm for 88,000 in gold, and moved to Vermont. There he engaged in the real-estate business with his two brothers, William K. and F. I. Johnson, which relationship existed until 1859.

During the latter year Dr. Johnson moved to Peoria, this State, and was the capitalist among the incorporators of the great American Pottery at that place. In this adventure he lost $50,000 in cash, and four years after going to Peoria he found him- self without a dollar, and a large family on his hands. He kissed his wife and children, told the boys to " keep the wolf from the door," and started South to act as surgeon in the 119th Illinois Infantry, Col. T. J. Kinney commanding. On reaching the regi- ment, the vacancy was filled, and Dr. Johnson went to buying cotton. In less than a year he returned to Peoria with $7,000, and walking into the room threw it into his wife's lap, remarking, "That's a pretty good year's work." The writer heard him say it, and was one of the " tickled " company.

In 1864 Dr. Jolinson moved his family to Osce- ola, Ark., where he was successfully engaged in raising cotton. Hle was elected to the State Legis- lature in 1868, and served with distinction, The feeling was strong against Northern men in that part of the State; rebels who had been whipped in honorable warfare were smarting from their defeat. Dr. Johnson, day after day and night after night, rode among them and administered to their wants, and never charged a dollar. How glad they were to see his face when languishing on beds of sickness, and yet they killed him-killed him because he loved his country, and dared to express his belief that " the North was right and the South was wrong." Aug. 24, 1869, they shot him, as the moon was hidden by the blackened clouds of night, and not a single

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twinkling star shone forth to testify to their ac- cursed deed. His remains were laid to rest at his old home of Vermont, Fulton Co., Ill.

Of the union of Dr. Jolinson with Miss Kinney, nine children were born, five boys and four girls. Two have gone to meet their father on the other shore, and seven yet remain. Of the latter, four are living in this county, viz .: Eugene; Minnie, Mrs. Redfern; Jennie, Mrs. Easton, and Ella, Mrs. Westervelt; the others are Dayton, Oscar and Lew. The mother is still living, and makes her home with her children in this county.

ESSE SLYDER, a retired farmer and auc- tioneer of Dwight, is of Scotch and Welsh ancestry on his father's side, while on his mother's he is German. A branch of the Slyder family crossed the Atlantic at an early day and located in Maryland, where William Slyder, the father of our subject, was born. He was fairly educated, and was employed both as school teacher and shoemaker in his native State until removing to Franklin County, Pa.

The mother of our subject was in her maidenhood Miss Elizabeth Shull, and was a native of Mary- land. Jesse Slyder first opened his eyes to the light in Adams County, Pa., where he received a common-school education and was reared to farm- ing pursuits. Early in life he was thrown upon his own resources, and at the age of fifteen years he en- gaged as a teamster from Chambersburg to Balti- more and Pittsburgh. This was before the days of railroads, when freight had to be transported by wagons-immense structures, capable of carrying five tons, and drawn by six horses. They were built very clumsily and were very heavy, the tire of the wheels being four inches in width, and the wagon alone being a load for one pair of horses; the harness corresponded with the carriage. The roads were turnpike and a great many men were employed in this freighting business. It required no little skill to manage the six horses, but young Slyder was equal to the emergency and soon became as proficient as the rest. The route from Chambers-

burg to Pittsburgh covered a distance of 115 miles, and our subject frequently crossed the Alleghany Mountains in the dead of winter and in the midst of blinding snowstorms. Little account was taken of these storms, however, and no stop made unless the road was utterly impassable. There were stations along the route called taverns, which were provided with spacious stable yards capable of ac- commodating a large number of horses and wagons. The animals were sheltered from the weather simply by a large woolen blanket and plenty of straw. They were well fed, and frequently came out in the spring in better condition than when they started.

Mr. Slyder, during the summer, followed farm- ing, and occupied himself with teaming in the winter seasons. The owners of the teams formed caravans of 126 horses and three men each, and employed an agent along the line to look after their interests. Mr. Slyder became one of these agents and traveled on in advance of the teams to arrange for accom- modations at the stopping places, and on the return trip settled for the provisions which the men and animals consumed. An idea of the magnitude of these transactions may be obtained from the fact that in the course of two years Mr. S. for this pur- pose paid ont $160,000.

Our subject continned in Pennsylvania, and in 1837 was united in marriage with Miss Hannah L. Minger, of Franklin County, that State. They be- gan life together in a little home in that county, and in due time became the parents of eight chil- dren, namely : William, Susan, Samuel, Jesse L., Hattie, David, Daniel and Emma. In the spring of 1853 Mr. Slyder determined to seek the western country, and while changing his location, changed his occupation also. On arriving in this State he located upon a tract of land near the town of Peru, whence three years later he came to this county and purchased 200 acres in the remote northeastern part of Round Grove Township. There were but few improvements in the township at that period, and his own land was essentially in its primitive condition. He located his family in a board house, and under great difficulties began the cultivation of the soil. Ilis perseverance and resolution soon bore their legitimate fruit, and in due time he began to realize the reward of his labors. As his family

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grew up around him there also grew up on the farm one improvement after another, until he be- came the possessor of a neat and substantial resi- dence. a commodious barn with convenient ont- buildings. a goodly assortment of live stock, and all the other accessories of the modern country estate. In 1868 he retired from the laborious duties of an agriculturist and took up his abode in Dwight, of which he has now been a resident twenty years. He has been remarkably successful as an auctioneer and has had an experience of thirty-seven years at this business.

Upon first becoming a voter Mr. Slyder identi- fied himself with the Democratic party and sup- ported its principles until the election of James Bu- chanan. In 1860 he considered that he had reason to change his opinions, or felt that his party was not living up to its avowed principles, and joined the Republican rank -. In religions matters he is a decided Methodist.

During his youth Mr. S. was extremely anxious to obtain a finished education. Ilis father, however, met with sore reverses, and the son yielding to his sense of duty laid aside his personal plans and wishes and bent his energies to assist in the support of the family. He has, however, improved his opportunities for reading, and has a good knowledge of general business, by which he is enabled to suc- cessfully cope with the various questions which ari-e in the routine of daily life.

Mr. Slyder has been quite prominent in township affairs, serving as Supervisor, and being identified with those enterprises inaugurated for the general good of the people. His duties as auctioneer have brought him in contact with most of the residents of Round Grove Township and vicinity, by whom he is generally esteemed as a useful citizen and a valued member of the business community.

AML'EL HIG BEE, a well-known and highly respected resident of Reading Township. has a fine farm of 2 10 acres on section 29, which is well improved "and largely de- voted to the raising of grain. He has been especially successful in his labor-, which have been carried on

with good judgment and system, as indicated in the neat appearance of his homestead, about which nothing is allowed to run to waste or any work ill done.

This gentleman first opened his eyes to the light near the Atlantic coast, N. J., April 6, 1827, and is the son of William and Hannah (Horn) Higbee, natives of the same State, the former born in 1785, and the latter in 1799. William Higbee departed this life at his home Aug. 8, 1878, and his wife, Hannah, surviving him nine years, died March 19, 1887. The father in early manhood was a sailor on the Atlantic Ocean, but subsequently took up his residence on terra firma and engaged in farming. In 1839, accompanied by his family he migrated from New Jersey to Ohio, where he was one of the earliest pioneers. After leaving the sea he had served in the War of 1812, doing guard duty along the coast. llis wife in the meantime, together with many others, fearing an attack from the enemy, took her bedding and her little family, and fled to the woods. The British, however, failed to effect a landing, and so their fears proved to be groundless. In those days, however, it was deemed wise to use every pre- caution for the preservation of life and property.

To William and Hannah Higbee there were born the following children: Phebe Ann, John, Sarah Ann, Mark, William, David, Hannahettie, Thomas, Mary, Elizabeth, Charles H., James and Phebe Ann. Samuel Higbee left his native county, and at the age of twenty-nine years was married,. Sept. 29, 1856, to Miss Sarah E. Girard. Her parents were John and Elizabeth ( Robinson) Girard. The father was a carpenter by trade, and spent his last days in the Old Dominion. His wife, Elizabeth, was born in March, 1795, and died in Ohio in April, 1877. Their family included eight children, namely : Lu- cinda, who was married, and died in Ohio, after reaching middle age, and becoming the mother of eight children ; Thomas R., a contractor and builder at St. Louis, Mo. ; John R., a farmer of Ohio; Ruth Eleanor, wife of Hamilton Hedges, of Ohio, and the mother of eight children; James W., who died in Virginia after reaching his twenty-first birthday ; Seman, a carpenter by trade, and Susan.

Mr. and Mrs. Higbee after their marriage located in Livingston County. The record of their chil-

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dren is as follows: The eldest daughter, Mary, died shortly after her birth; Charles Theodore was born July 18, 1858, is now married, has a family and is farming in this county ; Ettie Jane was born Jan. 29, 1861, and is the wife of Harry C. George, and the mother of two children; they are carrying on farming. Edwin S. was born Oct. 16, 1863, and is connected with the post-office at Ancona; Samuel Leone was born May 2, 1866; Jessie Mabel, Oct. 13, 1868; Sarah Luella. May 14, 1871 ; Anna Bell, April 25, 1876. The younger children. with the ex- ception of Sarah L., are home with their parents. She is attending school in Streator. Mr. and Mrs. Higbee are prominently connected with the Method- ist Episcopal Church. Our subject, politically, is a Republican and a Prohibitionist. He served on the Village Board of Trustees six years. and also as School Director and Pathmaster several terms.

OHN NEWTON CAMPBELL owns 133 acres of good land on section 25, Newtown Township, where he controls about 213 acres. As a tiller of the soil and a breeder of good cattle and horses he has distinguished him- self in a highly creditable manner. With the ex- ception of about sixteen years' residence in Indiana, he has lived in this locality, his birthplace being near his present residence, where he first opened bis eyes to the light May 5, 1856. For a man of his years he has a good start in life, and in addition to being regarded as a skillful agriculturist, is also one of Newtown Township's best citizens.

Our subject is the son of Samuel and Sarah (Spinning) Campbell, the former born in Preble County, Ohio, in 1822. His father, Joseph Camp- bell, was a native of Kentucky, and of pure Scotch ancestry. He married Miss Sarah Walker, a Ken- tucky lady, and not long afterward they left the Blue Grass regions for Ohio, whence they removed to Indiana, where the wife and mother died. The remaining members of the family subsequently came to Illinois, where the eldest son, John, is a resident of Esmen Township and is represented in another part of this work. Samuel, the father of our sub- ject, was the second child, and Melinda is the wife

of Edward Spinning, of Kansas; Andrew left home when about nineteen years okl and went to Cali- fornia with a company twenty-five years ago, since which time he has not been heard from and is sup- posed to have died; Joseph died in 1857, in this State.

Samuel Campbell was reared to manhood in Indiana, and married there in 1850. Six years later he came to Illinois, but returned to Indiana after eighteen months and remained until 1867. He then came to Livingston County, locating in New- town Township, where he continued four years. Thence he returned to Indiana, where he became the owner of 380 acres of land, on which he has since resided. He is a prominent and liberal-minded cit- izen, and the father of thirteen children, whose names are as follows: Jefferson, Sarah, Andrew, John N., Rosanna, Hettie, Ulysses Grant, Frank, Eve, James, Custer, Emma and one who died in infancy. Jefferson is connected with the State Re- form School at Pontiac; Sarah became the wife of William Miller, and died in Indiana in 1873; Andrew is married and lives near his father; Rosanna is the wife of John Board, of Stone Bluff, Ind .; Hettie was paralyzed in her lower limbs when three years old and has since been a cripple : Ulysses Grant, Frank, Eve, James, Custer and Emma are at home with their parents.

Our subject continned under the home roof until after reaching his majority, receiving a good edu- cation in the common schools, and was then ready to commence in life for himself. Ile was first mar- ried, Sept. 25, 1878, to Miss Marietta Reed, who was born in Fountain County, Ind., in 1858, and died of typhoid fever at her home in Newtown Township, Nov. 7, 1878. Mr. Campbell was sub- sequently married to Mrs. Mary (Hoobler) Cusick. The first husband of Mrs. Campbell, Clark Cusick by name, was suffocated by foul air in a well in Sep- tember, 1877. Mrs. Campbell is a daughter of Jeremiah and Frances Hoobler, natives of Pennsyl- vania; her father now lives in Newtown Township. Of this union there have been born two children- Irma, March 15, 1882, and Samuel J., June 27, 1885.

When Samuel Campbell first came to Illinois, in 1853, he entered a tract of land in Newtown Town- ship for his father, Joseph Campbell, a portion of

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which has remained in possession of the family for over thirty years. It is to be hoped that it will not be transferred for many generations to come, as there is nothing which confers more dignity upon a family or member of a family than to hold its pos- ses-ions and keep up the property as this farm has been kept up. The buildings are substantial and in good order. and the entire estate reflects credit upon those who have brought it to its present state of perfection.

E UGENE F. D. JOHNSON, a farmer by oc- cupation, but at present working for Walton Bros .. of Fairbury, isa son of Ilon. Amos M. and Melissa 11. Johnson. a short sketch of whom may be found in this work.

Eugene Johnson was born in Vermont, Fulton Co .. Ill .. Oct. 19. 1844. He lived there until 1859, during which time nothing eventful occurred in his life, except an occasional "licking" for running away from school. We next hear of him working in the American Pottery at Peoria, becoming very pro- ficient. and bossing the "boys" around with an air of authority. After nine years he went to Memphis, Tenn .. and assumed command of a steamboat his father owned, and ran the same up Red River. Af- ter several trips between Shreveport and Jefferson City, Capt. Johnson loaded his boat with cotton for New Orleans, receiving $25 a bale. Landing safely in New Orleans, he sold the boat for $1,000, and he and his brother Lew, who was cashier on the boat, went back to Peoria. Ill.

In 1861 our subject went to Osceola, Ark., to engage in the raising of cotton in partnership with his father. In 1868 the levees broke, and their crop was entirely destroyed, and our subject con- eluded he had had enough of Arkansas. His brother Lew had preceded him to Chariton County, Mo., and rented a 500-acre farm, and Eugene, with his inule- and wagons and a few faithful negroes, went and took possession of it. We cannot take time to tell of the glorious "licking" he got by the deck hands while on his trip North, for letting his dog run into their dinner pan -: suffice it to say, it was a good one, and he will never forget it. Ile ar-

rived in Chariton County badly bruised and used up, but alive, and before the crop was gathered, heard of his father's assassination (see biography in this ALBUM). His backing was gone, and all he could do was to labor on for the support of the family. A year later he went back to Vermont with his mother, brothers and sisters, and located on a farm which he and his brother Lew purchased. Later Eugene sold his interest to his brother.

In 1872 Eugene Johnson and Miss Mary, daugh- ter of James and Theodate Fowler, were united in marriage. Two children were born of this union. Mr. Johnson, after an experience of two years in the grocery business in Chicago, in the employ of Johnson & Stover, moved to Cimarron, Kan., and there his wife died, and was buried. Sending his children back to Vermont, he wandered around over Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nebraska and Iowa, and we next hear of him in Fulton County, Ill., again.

On coming to this county, Mr. Johnson was out of means, "dead broke," and having no rich rela- tives who were disposed to aid him, worked at whatever his hands could find to do. Later he went to Logan County, this State. There he ob- tained a position as custodian of a grain elevator, and held the position for four years. In the mean- time he was married again. The latter union has been productive of four children, two pair of twins. In 1887 Mr. Johnson came back to this county, and engaged working with Walton Bros., of Fairbury, with whom he is still interested. lIe is a hard- working man, and although adversity has checked his onward progress to prominence and wealth, he will live in the memory of those who know his real worth as long as life shall last.

R R. WALLACE, the Judge of the County Court, and a resident of Pontiac, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, March 13, 1835. Ile is a son of David and Frances Ross, who were natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania respect- ively. He was reared to a farmer's life until he was twenty years old, receiving at the same time a good education, At the age of twenty, he entered the

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Madison College of Ohio, where he remained two years, and then attended the Monmouth College in this State, from which he graduated in 1861. Later he received the degree of A. M. from the same col- lege. In 1861 he enlisted in the 74th Ohio Infantry, and remained in the service until 1866. IIe entered the army as a private and was mustered out as Captain. The regiment to which he belonged was a part of the 14th Army Corps, and he participated in nearly all the battles of that division, from the capture of Nashville to the close of the war.

After returning from the front, Mr. Wallace lo- cated at Ottawa, LaSalle County, where he resumed the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in April, 1867, at that place. Going to Chatsworth, Livingston County, be commenced the practice of his profession and continued there until April. 1874. He was elected Judge of the County Court in 1873, and took up his residence at Pontiac. IIe was re- elected to the same office in 1877, 1882 and 1886. He was married in 1867 to Miss Lonisa Strawn, a native of LaSalle County, Ill., and a daughter of Isaiah and Elizabeth (Champlain ) Strawn, natives of Ohio and Connecticut respectively. They are the parents of four children. Judge Wallace is the commander of G. A. R. Post No. 105.

W ILLIAM R. MARVIN, a member of the Board of Supervisors of Livingston County, and a representative citizen of Emington Township, is a native of Rensselaer County, N. Y. He was born Oct. 20, 1840, and is the son of Peter D. and Julia A. (Smith) Marvin, both of whom were natives of the Empire State.

The subject of our sketch was reared to man- hood in his native county, and received a good ed- neation in the common school. On the 21st of April, 1862, he was united in marriage with Miss Emma J. Mosher, a native of Columbia County, N. Y. They were the parents of four children. In 1864 he came West with his family, and located in Kane County, Ill., where he made his residence until 1868, at which time he came to this county and settled on section 19, in Broughton Township, where he at present lives. His wife died here Dec.

17. 1883, and realizing that it was not well for man to live alone, he again entered the marriage state . Oct. 14, 1886. His choice was Miss Sarah E. Stuff, a daughter of Adam and Wilhelmina Stuff.

Politically, Mr. Marvin is a Republican, and has held several important offices of trust in the town- ship and county. He has served as Clerk of Broughton Township and as Justice of the Peace, and is a member of the Village Board of Trustees of Emington. Ile was first elected Supervisor in April, 1871, and with the exception of one year, has continued in that office to the present time.

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JÁ BA

INEFIELD BROS. carry on a general black- smith and horse-shoeing business in the town of Odell. These enterprising young men took charge of this business some five years ago, as successors to their father, whose history ap- pears in this work.

Frank Finefield, the senior member of the firm, was born in Kendall County, Ill .. May 11, 1856, and was four years of age when his parents re- moved to Odell. He was educated in the common schools of this locality, and while a boy spent a large portion of his time when not in school in his father's shop, and at the age of seventeen he took up the business regularly, and followed it until he was twenty-three years of age. He then went West and settled in Salina County, Neb., at the town of Dorchester, where he formed a partnership with a man by the name of Barslow. He remained there two years and then returned to Odell, to take charge of the business he is now conducting. Nov. 16, 1883, he married Helen I. Woodbury, who was born near Palatine, Ill., and is the daughter of George and Anna (Puffer) Woodbury, both of whom were natives of Massachusetts. They are the parents of one child, George L., who was born Aug. 2, 1884.

Fred Finefield, the junior member of the firm, is a native of Odell, and made his appearance on the Stage of life Aug. 17, 1862. Ile was the sixth child of the family born to his father, Charles Fine- field. June 28, 1883, he entered into a matrimonia alliance with Caroline Erschen, who was born near

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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 147

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