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 21
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On the 10th of February, 1875, Mr. Johnston was married, by Rev. J. H. Polandor, to Miss Laura Frances Stretch, danghter of William and Eliza- beth (Lupton) Stretch, of Lewis County, Mo .. formerly of Clinton County, Ohio. After his mar- riage Mr. Johnston remained one year in Missouri, and then moved to Livingston County by wagon, where he arrived in January, 1876, and rented a farm south of Pontiac. On account of the exees- sive rains of that year his erop was an entire fail- ure, but he tried farming one year more and was reasonably successful. In the month of Septem- ber, that year, he began school teaching, in which profession he has been more or less engaged ever since. In 1882 he was appointed Treasurer of the School Fund, a position which he has held ever since. In 1879 he was appointed Town Clerk, to fill a vacancy. and was afterward elected five times in succession. In 1885 and 1887 he was elected Assessor. Mr. Johnston is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Gen. U. S. Grant. When eleven years of age he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but his actual con- version did not occur until his sixteenth year. He lived a consistent Christian life for several years, but finally became indifferent and lukewarm, and was not re-awakened to his condition until 1885, at a meeting held by the Free Holiness Evangelists, since which time he has been a believer in the doctrines taught by that church.
Mr. Johnston's parents were born in Ohio. His father is of Irish descent, and his mother is of Scotch origin. They were married in 1848, and now reside in Wilson County. Kan. They had a family of seven children, as follows: Sarah Ann married William Emerson; they have three children, and live in Red Willow County, Neb.
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Isaac R .. the subject of this sketch; Frances E .. un- married; John Mitchell. unmarried; Mary Agnes married Charles Newton, and has one child; George Wilbur. unmarried, and Wiley II., all live in Wil- son County, Kan. There is an adopted sister named Mand. who lives with his parents.
Mrs. Johnston is the second child in a family of nine, one of whom died in infancy, and seven are still living: Mary Ann married Zacharias Clifton, and died in 1877: Laura Frances, Lewis Albert; Mary ha- three children, and lives in Shelby County, Mo .: Marion Alonzo, married, is an evangelist and sings at the Holiness meetings: Alice Catherine married Brice Hobart, has three children, and lives in Lewis County. Mo .; John William. unmar- ried, and lives in Kansas; Cora May, ummarried, and lives in Lewis County, Mo. ; Mary Emma. un- married, and lives in Lewis County, Mo. Mrs. Johnston's father was of German descent, and the ancestors of her mother were Irish. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have had four children, as follows: Mary Emily, born Dec. 6, 1876; Rainy, born March 8, 1881. and died in infancy; Marion Reno, born June 30, 1884; Clarence Wilbur, May 27, 1886.
In educational matters Mr. Johnston is an en- thusiast, and he and his wife both take a very ardent interest in everything pertaining to the profession. As a teacher he is popular, both with pupils and parents. and his school is a model for its discipline and perfect system of conduct.
C IIRISTOPH SALZMAN, a thrifty German farmer of Rook's Creek Township, owns eighty acres of good land which he has cul- tivated successfully for the last eighteen years, and upon which he has erected a substantial and com- fortable residence, a good barn and all the build- ing- required by the intelligent agriculturist. Ile is held in respect as a useful member of the com- munity, and for the last ten years has served as school Director, although he would prefer to attend strictly to his farming affairs without being the in- cumbent of any office. He is a native of the Fatherland, and after becoming a naturalized citi- zen cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham
Lincoln, whom he saw and heard speak at Havana at the time he was candidate for Senator.
Our subject was born in the Province of Saxe Weimar, Germany, Jan. 23, 1835, and is the son of Christopher and Dorothea (Schwinger) Salzman, also of German birth and parentage, who spent their entire lives in their native land. The mother died while a young woman, when our subject was but three or four weeks old. Ile was then taken by his maternal grandparents, Johannes and Anna Elizabeth (Tuchscha) Schwinger, and when a young man accompanied them to the United States. His grandfather died at Cape Girardeau while en route for St. Louis. while the steamer was blockaded by ice. Grandmother Schwinger survived her hus- band several years, and came to Mason County, Ill., where her death took place in the spring of 1856. The father of our subject married a second time and reared quite a large family, all of whom remained in Germany.
Mr. Salzman, upon coming to this country in 1853, landed in the city of New Orleans, whence he at once proceeded to Ilavana, Ill., where he worked on a farm about three years, and was after- ward employed in the store of Walker & Hancock four years. Ile was married, March 13. 1862, to Miss Mary Schmale, and soon afterward rented a tract of land in Mason County, where he carried on farming four years. Then going to Havana he took a clerkship under J. W. Jones, which he held two years, when he decided to return to rural pur- suits, and in 1869 located upon his present farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Salzman there have been born nine children, as follows: The eldest son, William Ilenry, born Dec. 28, 1862, remains at home with his parents; Dorothea, born Dec. 18, 1864, is the wife of John Attig, a farmer of Rook's Creek Town- ship, and the mother of one child; Frederick, born Oct. 19, 1866, remains at home with his [parents; George Louis, born April 30, 1869; Maria Louisa, Jan. 9, 1872; Sophia E., Oct. 20, 1874; Albert, April 2. 1877 ; Anna C., Jan. 15, 1880, and Emma L., March 20, 1882.
Mrs. Salzman is the daughter of William and Sophia (Bulks) Schmale. Her father was born about 1807 and died Ang. 28, 1855. The mother was born May 4, 1805, and died Aug. 28, 1877.
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They were married about 1835-36. Mrs. S, was the second child of four children who all lived to years of maturity. Her sister Catherine died when twenty-one years old. Ilenry married Mrs. Nancy (Schwartz) Bohlander, has two children, and is farming in Rook's Creek Township. Louisa, Mrs. Louis Zelle, is the mother of eight children. and lives in Havana, where her husband is engaged in the grocery trade. Mrs. S. has a faint reeollection of her paternal grandmother, who lived to be quite aged.
Mr. Salzman is a member in good standing of the German Lutheran Church, and has inherited the praiseworthy qualities of a long line of substan- tial German ancestry.
NTON G. JACOBS, a prosperous German farmer of Rook's Creek Township, owns nearly 300 acres of valuable land on sec- tion 34, which is thoroughly drained with tile and provided with a substantial residence, a good barn, ample corn cribs, and a fine assortment of live-stock, including cattle, horses and swine. Mr. J. has been largely dependent upon his own resources since starting out in life, and his posses- sions are mainly the result of his own industry. His time has been principally employed in attend- ing to his own concerns, and the result has been very satisfactory. He is independent in politics, has never been an office-seeker, and is a member in good standing of the Lutheran Church.
Mr. Jacobs was born in the Province of Hanover, Germany, Jan. 10, 1845, and is the son of Anton G. and Mary (Rebelf) Jacobs, natives of the same country. They emigrated to America in 1855, and proceeding directly westward, took up their residence first in Peoria, on the 28th of June, whence they removed the following month to Woodford County, where the father purchased the farm on which he still resides. He is a gentleman who appreciates the advantages of education, and left his native land for the sake of his children, who he considered would have better advantages, both socially and financially, in the New World.
He had himself been fairly educated in his native tongue, and pursued his studies after coming to this country.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, Jacob Harmon Jacobs, died in the Fatherland about 1851. The grandmother, who was born about 1783, sur- vived her husband several years, and died in her native Province when about ninety-four years old. Iler family is of German ancestry, as far back as our subject has any record. Mr. Jacobs was the fifth child in a family of seven, who lived to mature years : Henrietta was married, and died childless; Lamert, married and the father of three girls, lives in Woodford County ; Mary, Mrs. Fritz Zachgo, is the mother of nine or ten children, and a resident of McLean County ; Margaret married John Will- iams, of Woodford County, and has five children ; Catherine, the wife of Christian Reiner. has four children and lives in Ohio.
Mr. Jacobs remained on his father's homestead until twenty-three years of age, when he was mar- ried, Jan. 7, 1868, to Miss Mary, daughter of Al- bert E. and Mary W. (Eadler) Sathoff, natives of Germany, who emigrated to the United States in 1857, when their daughter Mary was seven years of age. Mrs. Jacobs was horn Jan. 4, 1850, and was the seventh in a family of eight children. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs settled down on a farm in Woodruff County, where they remained seven years, when they removed to Ben- son, and in 1881 took possession of a part of their present homestead. Mr. J. first purchased 160 acres, to which he afterward added 126 more. Upon this he has effected fine improvements, build- ing up a country home which is the admiration of all who pass by it. The household circle includes nine children, all at home with their parents. The eldest son, Jacob Harmon, named after his pater- nal great-grandfather, was born Nov. 7, 1868; Mary, Oct. 31. 1870; Albert E .. Aug. 16, 1872; Anton E., May 12, 1874; Henrietta C., Ang. 18. 1876; Gesena, Dec. 1. 1878; John M., Nov. 10. 1880; Hajo E., June 8, 1882; Bennett L .. July 13. 1886.
The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Jacobs are re- corded as follows: Bena was married in early man- hood, and followed the sea, being Captain of a sail-
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ing-vessel: their home was in Germany, where his wife died in fas5. leaving four children. John is married, has three children, and lives in Kansas; Jesina. Mrs. Eddie Woltzen. has four children and lives in Woodford County; Bernardina. Mrs. Al- bert Woltzen. has thirteen children, and is also a resident of Woodford County; Hajo married Miss Phebe Franks. bas seven children, and lives in Mc- Lean County ; Albert E., married, and the father of six children, lives in Woodford County.
R UDOLPH EISELE. Lying on section 17, Rook's Creek Township, is one of the most valuable farms of that locality, the cultiva- , tion of which has been in the skillful hands of the subject of our sketch. He comes of excel- lent German stock. and is a typical representative of that reliable element to which the West is so largely indebted for its development and progress. The fair prairies of Illinois are dotted allover with the substantial homesteads of the men who left their native land to seek their fortunes in the New World, the great advantages of which they had heard in their homes across the water.
The subject of our sketch was born in Germany on the 17th of April, 1828, his parents being Jasper Eisele and Catherine (Rosebaum) Eisele, who came to this country in 1852, landing in New York. where they remained three years, and then removed to Virginia, residing there for three years. He at- tended school for eight years in Germany, as is re- quired by the compulsory education law of that country. Being of a studions nature, he made rapid progress in his studies, in which he became quite proficient. From Virginia Mr. Eisele came West, locating at Peoria, where he spent a portion of his time on a farm, after which he came to Livingston County, where he purchased 160 acres of land. Mr. Eisele wa- married in New York, in 1856, to Elizabeth Keck, and to them have been born seven chiklren : Elizabeth died in infancy ; Minnie, Mrs. Joseph Webber, lives in Livingston County; John married Mi -- 11. S. Fugar, and lives in Rook's Creek Township; Elizabeth resides with her parents; Ru-
dolph and David are twins, born in 1868, and live at home; Mary Ann, the youngest, lives at home also. During the war of the Rebellion he served for six months in the Union army. On account of disability incurred in the service, he has asked the Government to grant him a pension, but his applica- tion has not yet been finally passed upon.
Mr. Eisele is an enterprising and energetie far- mer, and takes considerable pride in the amount and quality of live stock that he raises. His farm is under a high state of cultivation, and he has erected suitable buildings for the care of his crops, and the shelter of his domestic animals. He has a comfort- able home, with pleasant and agreeable surround- ings, and enjoys the esteem and respect of all his neighbors.
G EORGE K. HOKE, one of the youngest men engaged in business upon his own account in Union Township, is successfully farming and raising stock on section 17. He is a native of Livingston County, and Union Township, and was born in the house he now lives in on the 17th of December, 1862, and was the fifth in a family of seven children born to Samuel and Laura (Kenney) HIoke, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and a history of whom appears in another place in this ALBUM.
The subject of this sketch was reared wholly to farm life, for which he developed considerable apt- ness early in youth. The winters of his boyhood were devoted to attending the common schools, and he received a very fair education. At the age of twenty-two years he concluded to try his fort- unes in the West, and proceeded to Lincoln, Neb., where he engaged on a ranch with the famous Buf- falo Bill. He was not well pleased with that coun- try, however, and soon returned to Illinois, where he concluded to remain permanently. He began farming for himself on the home place, where he has continued until the present time.
February 10, 1887, Mr. Hoke was married to Emma J. Tangnarry, second child in a family of seven born to Levi and Sarah R. (Mead) Tanquarry, natives of Ohio and Illinois respectively. Mrs.
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Hoke's grandparents were William and Elizabeth (Shackleford) Tanquarry, natives of Ohio, and her maternal grandparents were George W. and Lydia (Perkins) Mead, natives of Ohio. The parents of Mrs. Hoke came to Livingston County in 1867, and settled on a farm about ten miles west of Pon- tiac, where they resided until the death of the father, which occurred June 12, 1874. The mother still survives, and lives at Pontiac. Levi Tan- quarry, the father of Mrs. Hoke, served in the Union army for a time, but his health became so badly impaired that he was compelled to accept a discharge and return home. lle was a member of the Methodist Church during his whole life, and was a Christian in every sense of the word. He was largely identified with all the progressive strides made by Livingston County. For very many years he was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and religiously carried out its principles.
Mr. and Mrs. Iloke have settled on the farm lo- cated on section 17, where they expect to make their permanent home, and will expend their best energies in surrounding themselves with all the comforts and conveniences obtainable. Mr. Hoke is not much interested in political matters, and pro- poses to leave politics to the care of politicians, while he will devote his entire time to the affairs of his farm. Mrs. Hoke is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which she takes an active part, and they are both earnest workers in the cause of temperance.
HOMAS C. KIDDER. This gentleman's farm, pleasantly located on section 25 in Rook's Creek Township, comprises a valua- ble tract of eighty acres of land, provided with a good residence and all suitable buildings. This to him is all the more valuable because it was the homestead of his father, who settled here upon his arrival in this county about 1856. Mr. K., in ad- dition to general farming has given much attention of late years to stock-raising, in which he has met with success.
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Mr. Kidder is a native of the Prairie State, hav- ing been born in La Salle County, Feb. 9, 1850.
His parents, Abel C. and Nancy (Chamberlain) Kidder, were natives respectively of Vermont and Massachusetts, the father born in 1800 and the mother in 1814. They subsequently became resi- dents of Ohio, whence they removed to this State at an early day and shared with the pioneers of that time the hardships and dangers incident to life in a new settlement. Abel Kidder departed this life at his home in Rook's Creek Township, in 1868, and the mother Jan. 27, 1882.
Our subject after the death of his father took charge of the homestead, upon which he has since remained, effecting many improvements as the years have passed by. To this home he brought a bride in 1871, namely Miss Alice B. Cook, whom he married November 30 of that year. They have no children. Mrs. Kidder is the daughter of Micajah and Elizabeth (Lewis) Cook, and the twelfth in a family of thirteen children, eight of whom are liv- ing. She was born March 4, 1850. Micajah Cook was born in Virginia, Feb. 27, 1808, and his wife, Elizabeth, in Kentucky, Feb. 16, 1809. They were married Nov. 3, 1829, and made their home in Fayette County, Ky., until their removal to Illi- nois. They located upon a farm in Livingston, Pike Township, where the mother departed this life April 22, 1871.
Mr. Cook is still living, and makes his home with his daughter Alice. Francis N. Cook, a brother of Mrs. Kidder, served as a soldier in the Union army, belonging to the 77th Illinois Infantry. Ile took part in two or three important battles, and after- ward contracted a disease from which he died the day after his arrival home, in 1862.
The parental family of our subject included five children. His sister is now the wife of Wilson Breckenridge, of Kansas, and the mother of four children. William P. Kidder. the eldest son, was born in La Salle County about 1842. Upon the outbreak of the Rebellion he enlisted in the 20th Illinois Infantry, and after participating in the bat- tle at Ft. Donelson was killed in the engagement at Shiloh while fighting in the front ranks. Mr. Kid- der cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. Grant in 1872, and since that time has been a stanch sup- porter of the Republican party. Although never an office-seeker he has maintained a warm interest
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in the general welfare of his fellow-citizens, and has served as School Director six years. Hle is ranked among the representative men of his eom- munity. where he is held in universal esteem.
ENRY REMINGTON, retired merchant and grain dealer, is the owner of a pleasant home in Fairbury, where he is spending his declining years in the ease and quiet justly earned by the labors of his earlier manhood. He is a native of Suffield, Hartford Co., Conn., where he began life Dec. 14, 1820. Ilis early education was conducted in the common schools, and when fifteen years of age he pursued the higher branches in an academy five years. The most of his time he lived upon his father's farm, and early in life, after completing his studies, embarked in business as a grain dealer. locating first at Camden, N. C. Hle was a resident of that town two years, and be- sides his grain operations engaged in general mer- chandising. The two years following he spent in Mississippi and Louisiana, and migrated from the latter State to Illinois in 1847.
While a resident of East Granby, Conn., Mr. Remington was married, in 1846, to Miss Chloe H. Alderman, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride on the 31st of May. Mrs. R. was born in Chester, Mass .. April 13, 1822, and is the daugh- ter of Harvey and Sarah (Iloleomb) Alderman. She came to Illinois with her husband, and they first located at Kaneville, Kane County, where they resided four years. Mr. Remington engaged in farming, and afterward purchased a stock of gen- eral merchandise, and continued in trade about seven years. He sold out in the fall of 1859, and coming to Fairbury established his present business, which has been marked with success from the be- winning. Mr. and Mrs. R. have one child only, a son, Albert II., who was born Feb. 5, 1850, and after reaching manhood married Miss Elizabeth Noyce. He is now engaged in real estate and as a grain dealer at Fairbury.
Besides his village property, which consists of a fine dwelling with ample grounds, Mr. Remington OWh- ten acres of valuable land adjacent, upon
which he keeps ten fine Jersey cows. He has al- ways taken a warm interest in the welfare of his adopted town, and is the encourager of those en- terprises tending to its advancement. He cast his first Presidential vote for Henry Clay, and has always been a stanch Republican. Socially he is a Knight Templar in the Masonic fraternity; he became identified with Masonry in 1854, while a resident of Kane County. He was reared in the doctrines of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Remington is a Presbyterian.
The parents of our subject, Isaac and Abigail (Gillette) Remington, were natives of Connecticut, and of English ancestry. Their family included three children-Chauney. Daniel, and Henry, our subject; the latter is the only immediate represent- ative living, his brothers and his parents being deceased.
H. GUPPY is one of the successful farmers of Pontiac Township, who at the age of forty years was the owner of an excellent farm of 160 acres, which he has been able to purchase as the result of hard work. Mr. Guppy is a native of Toronto, Canada, where he was born on the 21st of July, 1846, his father being Emanuel Guppy, a native of England, who emigrated to Canada in 1840. The subject of this sketch spent his first eight years in Canada, when he removed with his father to Waukegan, Lake Co., Ill., where he remained until the breaking out of the late Civil War. He was deprived of the care and affectionate training of a mother, she having died when he was but seven years of age. Being left almost entirely upon his own resources, and having to shift for himself, he did not have much oppor- tunity for securing an education.
In April, 1862, Mr. Guppy enlisted in Company E, 134th Illinois Infantry, which was one of the 100 days' regiments, and served with the regiment until the expiration of his term of enlistment. In the following spring he re-enlisted in Company C, 155th Illinois Infantry. thus participating in army service, principally guard duty, for about seven months, and was honorably discharged in 1863. He came to Livingston County in the spring of
John Dr. Menles
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1864. Since his return from the army he has re- sided in this county.
On the 31st of December, 1874, our subject was married to Elizabeth Luke, born Aug. 31, 1851, on Staten Island, N. Y., and a daughter of John and Esther Luke. Her parents came to Livingston about 1862. Mr. Guppy lived in Odell Township until 1883, when he purchased a farm of 160 acres on section 14, Pontiac Township, where he now resides. As was said at the opening of this sketch, he is a self-made man, and has obtained the owner- ship of a good farm under the most adverse cir- cumstances and greatest discouragements.
Mr. and Mrs. Guppy are the parents of three children : William J., born Jan. 28, 1876; Mary E., Sept. 27, 1879, and Harvey J., Dec. 9, 1884. Hav- ing overcome all the difficulties which surrounded them at the beginning of their married life, Mr. and Mrs. Guppy are now living in contentment, and are very hopeful for the future. While not taking a very active part in political matters Mr. Guppy patriotically prides himself on being a mem- ber of the Republican party, and freely does what he can for the success of that political organization.
OHN W. MILLS, Supervisor of Reading Township, has a fine farm of 320 acres on sectious 16 and 21, and is largely engaged in the breeding of Short-horn cattle. Ile has been a resident of the Prairie State since 1854, and is numbered among the most enterprising and wide-awake men of Livingston County. The farm is finely located and embellished with a handsome set of frame buildings, including a tasteful dwelling, a good barn, and the other structures required by the modern agriculturist for the successful prosecu- tion of his calling. A view of the place is shown on another page of this work. Mr. Mills has built up one of the finest homesteads in this section of country, and deserves great credit for the manner in which he has contributed to the wealth and pros- perity of Reading Township.
Our subject was born near the town of Sabina,
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