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 18

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 18

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As illustrative of the prosperity of this section of country, and especially so of the gentleman whose life is here briefly sketched. we present on an adjoining page of this ALBUM a view of his resi- dence, with its environments.

G EORGE ORR, Postmaster at Round Grove, and an extensive grain dealer, is senior member of the firm of George Orr & Co., which was established in 1882, and is evidently taking the lead in this business in the northeastern part of Livingston County. They are young and enterprising men, keeping pace with the progress of the times, and to whom the community look for assistance in those enterprises best calculated for its advancement, socially and financially.

Mr. Orr. a native of Pennsylvania, was born in Allegheny County, April 11, 1847, and is the young- est of seven sons and seven daughters, the offspring of John R. and Nancy ( Thompson) Orr, natives of Ireland. They came to America early in life. locating first in Pennsylvania, where the father died in Allegheny County, in 1852. The mother came with her children to the West when George was a lad nine years of age, and settled first in De Kalb County, Ill .. where they lived five years, then took up their residence for a like period in Kendall County. and in 1867 came to Livingston, of which our subject ha- since been a resident. The mother is still living and a resident of Round Grove Town- -hip.

Mr. Orr was bred to farm pursuits, in which he engaged until the spring of 1882. Besides his in- terest in the grain business, in which the firm

handles from 80,000 to 100,000 bushels annually. he owns a fine farm of over 400 aeres, upon which are first-class buildings and all other modern im- provements. There is the usual quantity of ma- chinery and farm stock which the agriculturist of to-day requires for his convenience and profit, and the estate in all its appointments forms a complete country home.

Mr. Orr, while a resident of Kendall County, was imited in marriage. in March, 1877, with Miss Jane flaverhill, who was a native of that county. and born in June, 1852. Mrs. Orr is the daughter of Oliver and Juliett Haverhill, natives of New York, and now of Kendall County, III. She received a fair education and was earefully trained to those household duties and accomplishments which aid so much in the happiness and contentment of a home. Of her union with our subject there are three chil- dren : Burton L., who was born Feb. 11, 1877; Amy E .. Jan. 9. 1880, and James, Jan. 1, 1886. Mr. O. was appointed Postmaster in 1882. and the fact that he holds his office under a Democratie administration. being himself a stanch Republican. is sufficient proof of the estimation in which he is hekdl by the people of his community. He takes a genuine in- terest in local affairs and has served as Constable and School Director.

USTIN HOWARD in the winter of 1880 came with his family to this county, and shortly afterward secured possession of 160 aeres of good land on section 29, in Broughton Township. This he has since occupied, bringing about many improvements, and proving himself to be a thorough and skillful agriculturist, a good business man, and a valued addition to the community. He makes a specialty of stock -raising. and has all the convenienees for carrying on the various pursuits of the farm after the most ap- proved methods.

Mr. Howard is comparatively a young man, hav- ing been born July 20, 1843, and is a native of Kane County, this State. His parents, Philo and Annie (Colvin) Howard, were born in New York State, and are the descendants of prominent fami-

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lies, well known throughont the East, where they are largely represented. They left New York State in 1841, and the father, after reaching Ilinois. pur- chased eighty acres of Government land soon after the organization of Kane County, of which he was one of the earliest pioneers. The mother died soon after the removal, and the father followed his de- voted wife in January, 1869. The latter, after the death of his first wife, was married the second time, and was the father of ten children, of whom the following survive, namely: Melvin, of DeKalb County, this State: Orin, of Broughton Township. this county ; Jane, the wife of Mahlon Snyder, of Cook County ; Emerson A., and Zada, of Kane County, and Austin, our subject.

Mr. Howard was the third son of his father's family, with whom he remained in Kane County until reaching manhood. Ile received a common- school education, and with the exception of four years spent in selling agricultural implements and four years dealing in horses has been engaged in farming. He was married after reaching his twenty- fifth birthday to Miss Ella Biddore, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride in Kendall County, Dec. 31, 1868. Mrs. Howard was born in Quebec, Canada. Nov. 18, 1849, and is the dangh- ter of Jeremiah and Nancy ( Brown) Biddore, the father a native of France, and the mother of Lower Canada. ller father died in Quebec about 1850, and the mother, when her daughter Ella was abont fifteen years of age, came to the United States, and located in LaSalle County, Ill. ; she died in 1869.

Mr. and Mrs. Howard continued in Kendall County until 1880, and became the parents of eight children-La June, Zenas H., Philo E., Auson L., John A., Edward J., Everet B. and Ray C. La June was born Nov. 26, 1869, and is attending the High School at Pontiac : Zenas II. was born Oct. 23, 1871, and with the younger children is at home with hls parents ; Philo E. was born Dec. 4, 1873; Anson L., April 11, 1876; John A., Sept. 8, 1879; Edward J., Ang. 23, 1881 ; Everet B., Nov. 4. 1884, and Ray C., Jan. 20, 1887. Mr. Howard has always been a Republican and is serving his third term as High- way Commissioner, the duties of which office he is discharging with great credit to himself and satis- faction to the people of his district. Both he and

his estimable lady belong to the church of the bat- ter-Day Saints. He is publie-spirited and liberal, and in all respects a vahied member of society.

The mother of Mrs. Howard was twice married. By her first union, with John Perrin, she had live children, namely : Mary, Mrs. Joseph Sear, of Ken- dall County. IN., William P. and Stephen, of Can- ada; Rachel, of De Kalb County, I., and Naney, wife of A. Bowers, of Kendall County. By her second union. with Jeremiah Beddore, two children, Ellen and Mrs. Howard of this notice, were born.

E DWIN DILLON. The little burnt clay tubes used in draining land have revolu- tionized farming during the last few decades, and the Illinois farmer who puts 600 rods of tile under 160 acres of land fully understand> their efficacy, and receives his reward in the in- creased production of corn and wheat. Mr. Dillon believes in the tile, and as an evidence of the practical application of that faith he has one of the finest and most productive farms in Livingston County, located on section 35, in Eppard's Point Township, where he is engaged in farming and stock-raising. This farm is located on the south line of the township, one mile from the town of Weston, in McLean County, and is under a most excellent state of cultivation.

Mr. Dillon was born on the 19th of October, 1839. in Tazewell County, Ill., and is the son of Daniel and Ruth (Hoskins) Dillon. The former was a native of North Carolina. where he was born in 1802, and was brought to Ohio by his parents when two years of age. In 1816 several families moved from Ohio to Illinois, and settled in Tazewell County, and in 1826 Mr. Dillon's father settled in the same county, where he lived until 1855, and then moved to Delavan Prairie in Mason County, where he lived until his death, which occurred in March, 1885. He was the father of eleven children -- Jane, Cyrus, Emily, Caroline, Catherine, Mary, Edwin, Daniel, Lorenzo, Annie L. and George. Jane died in childhood ; Cyrus is married, has three children. and is a farmer in Tazewell County : Emily is the wife of Z. B. Kidder, who is engaged

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in milling in Russell County, Kan .; Caroline and ( atherine are twin -: the former is the wife of Ed. Lyon -. lives in Mason County, and has three chil- dren. Catherine is the wife of R. B. Summers, and live- in Kansas. Mary married Abner Summers. and died in Sullivan County, Mo., in 1882, leaving four children: Daniel has a wife and four children, and follows the trade of a carpenter in Peoria; Lorenzo has a wife and four children, and ro- sides in San Jose. Mason Co., Ill .; Annie L. mar- ried William Kent. and lives in Florence, Kan. ; George died in 1857, when ten years old, in Mason County. Ill. Mr. Dillon's mother died in Mason County. Ill .. in 1857. Both the parents were mem- bers of the Society of Friends, in which the father wa- a preacher and leader.

Mr. Dillon wa- educated in the common schools and lived at home until twenty-one years of age. when he began farming for himself, and continued until the year 1862. lle then enlisted in the 108th Illinois Infantry, and was assigned to mem- bership in Company HT. in which command he re- mained until he was honorally discharged on the 7th of July. 1865, at Camp Butler, Springfield, Il. During the time he was in the service he partici- pated in the second attack on Vicksburg, which was unsuccessful; the battle of Arkansas Post, where 7,000 prisoners were captured; the siege of Vicks- burg: the Union defeat of Guntown, where 2,500 I'nion prisoner- were taken, and nearly all of their provisions. By thi- defeat this army was made almost destitute, and during the subsequent march of nearly 140 miles there was but one pound of provisions to issue to each man. During the time he wa- in the service Mr. Dillon contracted a disease which became chronic, and was also attlicted with inflammation of the eyes, which destroyed the sight of one of them. In 1861 he was sent to the hospital in the field, and after remaming there some time was sent to the hospital at Springfield, Ill .. where he remained until he was discharged. After his discharge he went to Mason County, III .. andI engaged in farming.

At the age of twenty-one Mr. Dillon married Elizabeth Wakefield. who is a native of Pennsyl- vania, and daughter of Robert and Martha Wake- field. She was reared to womanhood in her native

State, and then accompanied her parents to lilinoi .. where she had two brothers, who lived in Mason County for many years. To Mr. and Mrs. Dillon have been born five children-Clark, Edwin, Alida, Oscar and Edith. Clark and Edwin died in infancy; Alida was born July 11, 1865; Oscar, Oct. 27, 1867; and Edith, June 11, 1869. In addition to their own children they have an adopted child. whose name is Mabel J. Fultz, and was born March 3, 1884. Mr. Dillon first came to Livingston County in 1867, but had purchased a farm the year before. He has expended much labor and money upon this farm, but in return has the satisfaction of knowing that it is one of the most productive and valuable pieces of farm property in Livingston County. For his family he has provided a com- fortable and convenient residence, and for the pro- tection of his products and the shelter of stock has made ample provision. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Christian Church, and attend services at Fairbury.

RS. ELECTA JEFFERS is the widow of the late Nelson Jeffers, of Round Grove Township. Soon after the death of her husband she took up her residence with her daughter in Broughton Township, of which she has since been a resident, and where she is held in universal respect as a lady possessing many amiable qualities, and excellent business capacities.

Mrs. Jeffers was born in New London, Huron Co., Ohio, Sept. 13. 1823, where she was reared at the country home of her parents, receiving a good education in the common schools. She was also trained by her careful mother to those housewifely duties which have such a great influence in the happiness and comfort of the domestic circle. In those days learning to spin and weave was an essential element in the training of young girls, and Mrs. J. hecame expert in these arts before reaching the fifteenth year of her age. At this early age she commenced teaching school, which profession she followed until the time of her first marriage, July 1, 1841. to Mr. John B. Conway, a native of her own State, and one of the associates

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of her youthful days. Two years before her mar- riage she had created quite a sensation in her neigh- borhood by spinning 100 knots of yarn between sunrise and sunset, an amount of labor which was considered really wonderful, as it usually consumed two and one-half days.

The year following their marriage John B. Con- way and his young wife, accompanied by the family of his father, James B. Conway, left the Buckeye State and migrated to Green County, Wis. The young people upon their arrival had but fifty cents in money, besides two cows and a team of horses, but their stout hearts and willing hands comprised a capital which at that time and in that seetion of country proved, perhaps, fully as available as money. The following spring the younger Con- way purchased eighty acres of land of his father, upon which he operated about two years, when, on account of poor health, he decided to leave Wis- consin and try the climate of Illinois. His parents spent the remainder of their days in Wisconsin. Soon after his arrival in Kendall County Mr. Con- way purchased eighty acres of land, upon which he farmed about two years, and then soll out and pur- chased 160 acres in Grundy County. This also he sold two years later, and in 1854 came to Living- ston County, purchasing 160 acres in Broughton Township, which comprises the farm still occupied by Mrs. Jeffers. There was then but one family besides themselves within the limits of the town- ship, and their first winter was one of unusual hardship, even at that day, and at a time when who- ever ventured into that section of country expected little else. They located on prairie land, and were obliged to go a long distance for fuel, the labor of gathering a load of wood employing three days' time. The nearest mill was at Wilmington, a journey which involved the same length of time. The little household had been increased in numbers by the birth of one child, and Mrs. Conway dur- ing the foreed excursions of her husband from home was obliged to remain alone with her little ones and the house unfinished. Upon one occasion Mrs. Electa Conway, on the 25th of March, 1866, was united in marriage with Nelson Jeffers, of Round Grove Township. where they settled upon a farm which Mr. Jeffers operated successfully un- a fearful storm came on, and in the absence of a door and window sash the rain blew through the honse so that both mother and children almost per- ished from fright and cold. The experiences of . til compelled by his last illness to abandon his

those years of hardship would make a long and in- teresting tale, and fully prove the correctness of the adage that truth is stranger than fiction.

Mr. and Mrs. Conway continned at the place where they so bravely endeavored to establish a home until the winter of 1861-62; in the meantime they had surrounded themselves with many com- forts, and the settling up of the country had made life quite ondurable. The outbreak of the Re- bellion now interrupted their plans for the future. as Mr. Conway decided to enlist as a I'nion soldier, and assist in fighting the battles of his country. He joined Company D, 58th Illinois Infantry, and par- ticipated in many of the principal battle- of the first important campaign, being present at the sieges of Ft. Donelson and Vicksburg, and the battles of Corinth, Shiloh and Red River, besides many minor engagements and skirmishes. The sufferings and hardships incident to army life brought on an incurable disease, and Mr. Conway. after being confined in the hospital at Joe Holt, Ind., died on the 17th of January, 1865. His remains were laid to rest in the cemetery in Broughton Township.

Mr. and Mrs. Conway became the parents of four children, of whom but one survives. The eldest, Olive E., was born March 28, 1846, and died on the 8th of October, 1855, from the effects of a fall; James J. was born Sept. 18, 1849. and died Jan. 22. 1856; Ezra B., born June 7, 1855, died in infancy : Emily C. was born April 4, 1857, and first married, Sept. 8, 1874, to Charles HI. Glass. and became the mother of one child, Frederick E. Glass, born Aug. 8, 1875. She was divorced from Mr. G., and on the 1st of October, 1879, became the wife of Charles II. George, of this township. Of this marriage there were born four chiklren, two living, namely : John Newell, who was born July 8, 1880, and Frank Irvin, Feb. 5. 1883. Mrs. George is a lady of good education, and much in- telligence, and makes a pleasant home for the mother who is now passing down the hill of life, being in the sixty-fifth year of her age.

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labor- His death took place on the 6th of August. tofs. in the fifty-sixth year of his age. After the death of her husband Mr -. 1. took up her abode with her daughter in Broughton Township, where -he has since resided.

The father of Mrs. Jeffers was Isaiah Day, who was first married to Mrs. Annie (Durphy) Tripp. and they became the parents of three daughters and one son, Electa being the second child. The mother died at her home in Ohio about 1827. Mr. Day was a second time married to a widow, and rever-ing the order of children, became the father of three sons and one daughter by this marriage.

OSEPH R. KING. The subject of this sketch has recently become one of the land- owners of Waldo Township, but has nearly all his life been identified with the agrieult- ural interests of Livingston County. He has al- ways been a resident of the State, and is thoroughly enlisted in the work of making Illinois stand at the head of the great agricultural States of the Union, He is full of energy and enterprise, and the work he ba- in hand is prosecuted with that vigor char- neteristic of the man. He is engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 24. Waldo Township.

Mr. King was born in MeLean County, Ill., on the 25th of May. 1854, and is the son of Christian R. and Mary ( Beckler ) King. Ile is the second child in a family of twelve, and was about twelve years of age when his father moved to Livingston County, and bought 160 acres of land, to which he ha- added until he now owns 640 acres. Mr. King was reared on his father's farm, but the educational advantages during his boyhood days were so mea- ger that he reached manhood withont obtaining more than a partial education. At the age of twenty-one years he began farming operations for himself on his father's farm, and after harvesting one erop concluded that it would be better if there were two instead of one to occupy a farm.

On the 7th of November, 1875, Mr. King was married to Mi -- Mary, daughter of Christian and Salome (Summer> > Slagell. After Mr. King's mar- riage he continued to farm on land owned by his father until 1883, when he moved to the farm

which he at present occupies, which is well im- proved and under a high state of cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. King are the parents of the following- named children: Elias, who was born Sept. 25, 1876: Christian, April 23, 1878; Benjamin. June 4. 1881; Joseph, Oet. 30, 1883, and Ada. June 2. 1885.

Mrs. King was born on the 18th of June, 1856, near Pekin, Ill. Her girlhood was spent with her parents upon the farm, and she attended the com- mon schools, in which she received a good educa- tion. Her parents were natives of France, where the father was born in February, 1819, and the mother on the 17th of June of the same year. They were united in marriage in the city of Cin- einnati, and came to Livingston County when Mary was five years of age. The father died on the 26th of November, 1884, and the mother is still living in Waldo Township.

Mr. and Mrs. King have made an excellent start in life and their prospects for the future are bright. They both participate actively in all matters that concern the welfare of the community in which they reside. In the management of their own af- fairs they are prudent and economical, yet liberal when and where liberality will accomplish the most good. Mr. King is thoroughly interested in the growth and improvement of Livingston County, and particularly of Waldo Township, where his in- terests lie. The family enjoy the respect and es- teem of all those with whom they associate.

As indicative of the progress made in this sec- tion of country we present on another page of this ALBUM a view of Mr. King's residence.

G EORGE A. GARRELS is the proprietor of a comfortable homestead on section 16, Ne- braska Township, which invariably attraets the eye of the passer-by from its neat and well-kept appearance, the convenient and substantial build- ings, the goodly array of well-fed stock, and all the other appurtenanees of a modern farm. A view of this pleasant and valuable homestead is given in this volume. Our subject, a highly respected Ger- man citizen, crossed the Atlantic in his youth, and commenced at the foot of the ladder to work his

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way up in the world. He should be reasonably well satisfied with the position which he has attained as a citizen and a property owner. llis accumula- tions are the result of his own industry, and he has pursued that steady and straightforward course which forms the basis upon which men establish themselves in the esteem and confidence of those with whom they have to deal.

Our subject was born in the Province of Ilan- over, Germany, Dec. 22, 1841, and is the son of Abjet and Franke (Kaiser) Garrels, who were also of German birth and parentage. They immigrated to America when George A. was about fifteen years of age, landing in the city of New Orleans, Nov. 2. 1857. Thence they proceeded up the Mississippi River to Quincy and located in Adams County. this State, where the father purchased fifty acres of land, upon which they lived for the following seven years. Then selling out they came to this county and purchased the land which constitutes the pres- ent homestead of our subject.

There is one law of the German Empire which might well be imitated by countries all over the face of the earth, and that is compulsory education. In compliance with this law, our subject was placed in school at an early age, and pursued his studies, which he completed at fourteen years old. He re- mained with his parents until the breaking out of the Civil War, and then enlisted in the 100th Illi- nois Infantry. His first engagement was at Dyer's Station, where he and a number of his comrades were captured by Forrest's Cavalry. Upon being paroled they were sent to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, and there remained about nine months. After being exchanged, in October, 1863, they were sent to Memphis, Tenn., where they remained during the winter following, and then, after partici- pating in the siege and capture of Vicksburg, joined the army of Gen. Sherman and assisted in destroy- ing the railroad line from Vicksburg to Meridian, Miss. Subsequently they met the rebels in battle at Pleasant View on Black River, and after a skir- mish at Meridian returned to Vicksburg, and from there set out on the Red River expedition. Mr. Garrels while at Shreveport, La., was taken ill and put upon a boat bound for Vicksburg. It was at- tacked by the rebels but finally succeeded in mak-

ing the passage in safety. In the meantime the Red River was so low that vessels could not pass, and a dam was built in order that the boats might be taken over the rapids. Our subject after recoy- ering, was finally sent to Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, to defend the city against the rebel General, Price. When the danger was passed, they repaired to Nashville and engaged in a two days' fight. al- most completely annihilating Hood's army. there being of 45,000 troops only about 7,000 able- bodied men remaining after the battle. They pressed him on to Eastport, where they put up for the winter, and in the spring moved upon Mobile. and the capture of Ft. Blakesley followed soon after in April, 1865. The war had now practically closed, and Mr. Garrels, with his companions, was honorably discharged at Mobile on the 26th of August following.

Mr. Garrels upon retiring from army life, re- turned to his old hannts in Livingston County. where he operated on rented land a year, and then assumed the management of his father's homestead, where he continued until his marriage. This in- teresting event took place at the home of the bride, Miss Sophia Obert, on the 6th of August, 1870. Mrs. Garrels is the daughter of Vincent and The- resa (Schwenderman) Obert, and was born in Bos- ton, Mass .. March 1, 1852. She came to Illinois with her parents when a mere child, and has the most of her life been a resident of Livingston County. Mr. and Mrs. G. became the parents of eight children, namely : Elizabeth, who was born June 3, 1871; Ida M., Jan. 19. 1873: Martin J .. Nov. 23. 1875; llermann H .. Jan. 25. 1878; Henry W., Dec. 9, 1879; John J .. JJuly 14, 1883: Will- iam II. and Mary L. (twins) Sept. 28, 1887. Mr. G. is Republican in polities. but fias never been an office-seeker, and gives his attention wholly to his farm pursuits. Ile wa- reared in the Lutheran Church, of which he is now a Deacon and Trustec.

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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 18

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