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 24

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 24

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Mr. Sidle was the youngest child in a family of nine children, all of whom grew to maturity : Eme- line first married Mr. Berkebill, by whom she had one son, and is now the wife of William Bon- acker, by whom she has six children; Sarah mar- ried first Solomon Lohr, by whom she had thirteen children, and is now the wife of Joseph Lilly ; they have three children. Julia Ann married Benjamin Snyder; they have four children and live in Ste- phenson County. Henry is married and lives in Arizona; F. A. is married, has three children, and lives in, Otoe County, Neb .; Charles married, has eight children, and also lives in Otoe County ; Mary married Jacob Andrew, has four children, and lives in Stephenson County ; James D. is the subject of this sketch, in which the details and events of his life are chronicled.

W ILLIAM JONES, who stands as one of the leading and representative farmers and stock-raisers of Owego Township, located on section 14, is a native of Worcestershire, En- gland, where he was born on the 21st of February, 1826. He is the son of Benjamin and Sarah (Bil- lingsley) Jones, both of whom were natives of En- gland. To his parents were born seven children, as follows : William ; Benjamin, of England; John, of Saunemin Township, Livingston County; Eliza- beth, Mrs. Robert Bolton, of Peoria; Sarah, Mrs. Thomas Murphy, of the Island of New Zealand ; Esther, Mrs. George Vincent, of San Francisco, Cal .; Frederick, of New Zealand. Mr. Jones re- ceived an English education in his native country,

where he remained until he grew to manhood, learning also the boot and shoe business, in which his father was then engaged.

Mr. Jones was married in England, on the 29th of July, 1851, to Miss Mary A. Cox, daughter of Samuel Cox, of Shropshire, an inland county of England. bounded on the north by Wales, and through which the Severn flows. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have seven children, six of whom are living : Nellie, Mrs. James Roberts, of New Zealand; Orin W., a farmer of Owego Township; Benjamin F., grain dealer and buyer of Eylar, Livingston County; Albert, a grain-buyer of Cullon, this county ; Edward G., a real-estate dealer in Kansas City, Mo .; Laura, at present attending Lincoln University, at Lincoln, IN.

Mr. Jones emigrated to America in 1852, taking passage at Liverpool, and landing in New York. Ile spent about three and one-half years in Leroy, N. Y., coming to Illinois in 1856. His first ten years' residence in this State was in Peoria County, when, in 1866, he came to Livingston County, and settled on a farm in Owego Township, where he now resides. When he acquired this land by pur- chase, it was composed of what is known as raw prairie, and not a foot of it had ever been culti- vated. But nothing daunted he went to work upon it with a will, enduring all the hardships incident to pioneer life, and in the course of a few years had transformed it into a finely cultivated farm. As the years went by his successes were most pro- nounced, and he has been able to afford all his chil- dren ample facilities for procuring a good educa- tion. One of his daughters, Nellie, now living in New Zealand, was a public school teacher for many years. Although he has frequently been solicited to become a candidate for public office, he has in- variably declined, excepting in the case of the of- fice of School Director, which he has filled for a number of years, and which he consented to accept simply because it would enable him to labor more effectively for the advancement of education, of which all his life he has been a friend and promoter. As a political thinker, he does not confine himself to the narrow rut in which machine politicians run, but takes a broad and liberal view upon all ques- tions of public policy, and votes for the men who

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suit him best regardless of their party affiliations. He is to all intents and purposes, a self-made man, so far as his career in this country is concerned. and is now enjoying the fruits of his labor, both in the substantial comforts of life, and the satisfaction of having contributed to society respected and honorable members in the persons of his children.

HARLES W. ROLLINS. One of the most substantial homesteads in Owego Township. lying on section 19, is ocenpied by the sub. ject of this sketch, who is a farmer and stock-raiser. The family residence, which is splendidly located, is one of the neatest and most tasteful in that lo- cality. and the barn and other necessary farm buildings are handsome and substantial structures calculated alike for beauty and utility. The fences and farm machinery are kept in good repair, and the stock and other accessories of the estate testify in a silent and forcible manner to the intelligence, industry and enterprise of the proprietor. Mr. Rollins is a native of Livingston County, and was born on the 23d of January, 1840. He is a son of Philip and Martha Rollins, who were among the very first settlers of Livingston County, and a sketch of whom appears in another portion of this work. Ilis early days were spent npon the farm assisting in the work, and during the school term attending school.

On the 15th of June, 1862, Mr. Rollins was mar- ried to Maria Stinson, also a native of Livingston County, born on the 21st of February, 1844. She is a daughter of James L. and Mary Stinson, na- tives of Ohio. The parents came to Livingston County about 1839, and settled upon the farm which is at present occupied by the subject of this sketch. James L. Stinson, in connection with a brother. pre-empted 200 acres of land. which was composed entirely of raw prairie, not a furrow hav- ing been turned in it at the time they became pos- sessed of it. He resided on this land until his de- cease in 1×45; his wife survived him, and died in 1×53. They were the parents of four children, three of whom are living: Letitia, widow of the late Willard Foster, of Livingston County; Mar-

tha. the wife of G. W. Ferris, of Pontiac, and Maria, now Mrs. Rollins. To Mr. and Mrs. Rol- lins but one child has been born, a son, Charles A., whose birth took place on the 2d of February, 1869.

Mr. and Mrs. Rollins are members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, in which he has served as Steward and Trustee. He is exceedingly inde- pendent in his political belief, and does not attach his faith to either of the old parties, but makes it a point to vote for the men whom he believes will best discharge the duties of the offices to which they are elected. For five years he has served as Supervisor of Owego Township, and for a term of one year as Road Commissioner. Mr. Rollins has been exceptionally successful in his business enter- prises, and now owns 250 acres of as good land as is contained within the borders of Livingston County.

M ARTIN M. SPENCE. Illinois is a State of largely diversified opportunities for the industrious and enterprising citizen. In an agricultural sense it is one of the best in the Union, and its vast prairies, which produce wonderful crops of corn and excel in the raising of hay, make the industry of stock-raising one of the most important and profitable in which the people engage. Very many of the farmers of Livingston County engage more or less in stock-raising, and instead of depending on uncertain markets for their grain. feed their entire crop to horses, cattle and hogs, which always find a ready market at any time of the year, and they thus have a sure thing in dis- posing of the products of the farm. One of the men who thus combines farming and stock-raising is the subject of this sketch, whose fine stock farm is on section 4, Belle Prairie Township. This gen- tleman is a native of Livingston County, where he was born on the 22d of August, 1844, his parents being William and Mary (Darnell) Spence, who were natives of Kentucky. When Mr. Spence was a boy, he worked on a farm in summer and attended the district school in the fall and winter, in which he made such progress in his studies, that without

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difficulty he was admitted to Eureka College, and afterward attended college at Monmouth, Warren Co., Ill. After passing through these educational institutions with great credit to himself, he returned home and engaged in work upon the farm.

September 19, 1881, Mr. Spence was married to Miss Jennie Darnell, who was born in Johnson County, Mo., on the 26th of July, 1857, and is the daughter of William and Eliza (Coffman) Darnell. Of this union there are two children, William and Hazel May, who are exceptionally bright for their age. Mr. Spence is the owner of 300 acres of as fine land as the sun shines on, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, and which yields crops ample to feed a large number of domestic animals. Mr. Spence's stock operations are princi- pally confined to horses, and he makes a specialty of breeding heavy and light draft, and saddle horses. This business he conducts in such an in- telligent manner that his profits are certain and satisfactory.

Mr. Spence is an ardent member of the Masonic fraternity, and a member in good standing of Tar- bolton Lodge No. 357, and also a member of the Chapter. In politics he is an advocate of the prin- ciples and measures of the Greenback party, and while that party is not numerically strong, he ad- heres to its doctrines regardless of the fact of its being in the minority. Mr. Spence has been very successful in his occupations, and has shown rare judgment and good management in his business, farm and stock operations. In the various rela- tions of life, he sustains the character of an estima- ble citizen, neighbor and friend, and enjoys the full confidence and regard of those who know him. His excellent wife is a member of the Christian Church, and takes great interest in the affairs of that organization.

LBERT J. MORRISON is one of the young men engaged in agricultural pursuits, who can claim Livingston County as the place of his birth, and who has been a witness of the wonderful improvements which have been made and developments that have taken place during the

past thirty years. Ile comes upon the stage of ac- tion at a time in the history of the county when the work of opening and bringing it to a state of culti- vation has all been performed, and the benefits of the work of the pioneers are to be gained. He is truly one of the representative farmers of Avoca Township, and is pleasantly situated on section 9.

Mr. Morrison was born in Livingston County on the 6th of August. 1854, and is the son of Joseph C. and Naomi Morrison. the latter of whom is de- ceased. His father is a native of the State of New York, and his mother was born in Ohio. Joseph C. Morrison, the father, is the gentleman who has gained such a large reputation as an importer and dealer in Norman horses at Pontiac, Ill. His im- portations of fine horses average about thirty animals every trip he makes to Europe, and his visits are made several times a year. Hle hails from the State of New York, and came to Illinois about the year 1840, settling in Avoca Township when the prairie was yet unbroken and no signs of cul- tivation were visible. He is one of the early pio- neers to whose energy and enterprise can be credited the work of developing the county. He had prac- tically no means when he arrived here, and his splendid stock farm, elegant residence and commo- dious farm buildings, are evidences of his industry, good management, and close attention to business all through an active life. Besides being one of the heaviest farmers and largest dealers in expen- sive stock, he is a leading citizen in all the affairs of the town and county. In political matters he acts with the Republican party, and his influence is a power in that section of the county. Mr. Morri- son is the father of nine children, eight of whom are living, as follows: Jasper N., Lotta, Samuel L .. Addie; Della, the wife of N. T. Green, of Pontiac Township; Alta I .; John W. and Albert J., the lat- ter the subject of this sketch.

Albert J. Morrison has been a citizen of Living- ston County all his life. and during his boyhood days was afforded all the advantages for obtaining a good education, of which he availed himself. On the 27th of November, 1879, our subject was mar- ried to Violetta Augustine, daughter of John An- gustine, of Owego Township, of whom a sketch appears in this ALBUM. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison have

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three children: Roy A., born Jan. 14. 1881 ; Stan- ley A .. Nov. 1. 1882. and Ferne 1 .. Aug. 12, 1887. The farm of Mr. Morrison consists of 120 acres of as good land as can be found in Livingston County. and it is all well drained and fenced. The residence he and his family occupy is one of the songgest and best appointed in the township. Like his father, Mr. Morrison is an enthusiastic Republican, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church ; he is one of the Trustees of the church at MeDowell.

At the time this sketch is written, Mr. and Mrs. Morrison are virtually in the first stages of their life's work, but their beginning is under the most favorable auspices, and the future undoubtedly has in store for them great and grand successes. Their little family is one of which they may well be proud. They take an active interest in all matters for the weal and welfare of the society in which they move, and to all good work- they are liberal contributors, both of time and money.

OSEPII HARRISON MORRIS, widely and favorably known as one of the most success- ful farmer, and stock-raisers of Rook's Creck Township, arrived in Illinois on his eighteenth birthday, having journeyed from Wash- ington County, Pa., where he was born March 16, 1×48. Ile consequently became a resident of the Prairie State in the spring of 1866, and since that time has dwelt within its borders. He had at that time no possessions except his resolute will and strong hand -. and with this excellent capital cour- agron-ly commenced life for himself, determined to secure a good home and a good position among hi- fellow-citizen -. Ile began first as a farm la- borer, and has gradually climbed up until now he is the owner of a good property, and is a man of no -mall importance in his community.

The parents of our subject. Samuel and Nancy Elizabeth ( >wagler) Morris, were natives respect- ively of New York and Ohio. Samuel Morris was born in 1800, and departed thi- lite in Washington County. Pa., Sept. 2, 1857. The mother who was

born in 1812. is still living upon the old homestead in Pennsylvania. Their family included eleven children, of whom our subject was the seventh in order of birth, and seven are still living, as follows : John M., a resident of Washington County, Pa., married, and the father of several children; Jona- than, Sarah M., Mary, Cyrus and Isaac N. Those deceased are James L., Samuel, Susan and Nancy E.

J. H. Morris received a fair education in the common schools of his native State, and after he found that his prospects would justify him in the undertaking, was married, in Pontiac Township, Feb. 21, 1878, to Miss Mary A., daughter of Reason and Mary (McMillan) Brown. The young people located on section 28, where Mr. Morris had pur- chased eighty acres of land, and commenced house- keeping in unpretending style, suitable to their means and station. Four and one-half years later Mr. M. sold this property and purchased eighty acres on section 12, where he now resides.

Mrs. Morris was born in Rook's Creek Township, March 16, 1860, and is the eldest of five children who comprised the parental household. Her brother, William Allen, and her sister, Nancy E., the wife of John E. Blake, are also residents of Rook's Creek Township; Sarah E., Mrs. Brown, lives on her father's homestead in Pontiac Town- ship, with her brother, Jesse S. Reason Brown, her father, was born in Scioto County, Ohio, Sept. 4, 1838, and the mother in Pontiac Township, this county. Dec. 25, 1841 ; they were married in June, 1859. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. M. was Andrew S. McMillan, who married Miss Maria Springer, of Illinois.

C. BALL. The law has always been con- sidered as one of the highest of the profes- sions. The honest and conscientious law- yer is one of the necessities of the age, and the best friend of the people in the matter of se- euring their rights under the law. A. C. Ball, one of the leading younger attorneys of the Livingston County bar, is a native of Burean County, where he was born on the 24th of June, 1858, and is a son of James M. and Hannah M. (Frink) Ball, who

Mr. Darmall

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were natives of New York. The father of James M. was John M., a native of New York, who was engaged in farming and went to Michigan in the early settlement of that State, where he settled at Parma, and where he is now living. His family consisted of nine children, seven of whom are liv- ing. Hannah M. Frink's parents were Hiram and Malinda (Ogden) Frink, who were natives of New York.

The father of A. C. Ball was reared on a farm until he was eighteen years of age, and during that time attended the common schools, and then learned the trade of a carpenter in Illinois, where he had come in 1855. He followed contracting and build- ing until he was about thirty years of age, and then for a number of years was a traveling man, and about the year 1855 engaged in mercantile busi- ness in Bureau County, Ill. In 1881 he moved to Normal, McLean County, where he engaged in the business of publishing. His family consisted of three children : A. C .; Ella M., Mrs. Burt, of Nor- mal, McLean County, and Minnie H., Mrs. Taylor, of McLean County.

Our subject attended and taught school until he was twenty-six years of age. He is a graduate of a Normal School, and also of the Bloomington Law School, class of 1885. After graduating from the law school he came to Pontiac, and began the prac- tice of law, in which business he has been success- ful, and his practice is continually increasing. He is independent in political matters, not having identified himself closely with either of the old parties, although heretofore acting with the Repub- licans. He is more of a lawyer than a politician, and will doubtless devote his life to the profession, allowing politicians to take care of the offices. He has one child, a son, named John D.

M AJOR MARTIN DARNALL, whose por- trait is shown on the opposite page, has the distinction of being the earliest settler of Livingston County, and a full and de- tailed history of his life could not be written with- ont writing that of the county, for one is almost

identical with the other. He now resides on sec- tion 4, in Belle Prairie Township. He was born in March, 1798, in Old Virginia, and is the son of James and Massey (Martin) Darnall, natives of the same State, and both of whom died some years ago. Major Darnall was reared on a farm, where he be- came accustomed to hard work, and was educated in the common schools of those days, which af- forded very limited facilities for obtaining an edu- cation. Ile arrived in Illinois on the 27th of Oc- tober, 1830, making the journey overland in a wagon with the old-fashioned scooped bed, which had a wonderful capacity for carrying household goods. This wagon was drawn by four horses, which were frequently almost inadequate to haul it through the deep mud caused by the rains at that season of the year. His first year's residence in Illinois was in a log cabin which he bnilt him- self, the only tool nsed being an ax, for he had no saw. This house was raised on the 1st of Novem- ber, 1830, and he occupied it that same winter. In 1832, on account of the breaking out of the Black Hawk War, he found it necessary to remove his family to Mackinaw, McLean County, for safety. After peace was declared, he returned to the house he had built, where he resumed his residence. A tract of 160 acres of Government land which he entered at that time, is still in his possession, and the title which was vested in him by the Govern- ment remains just as it was written at that time.

Major Darnall has been married twice, the first time in 1817, when he took Miss Rachel Steers for his wife. She was born in Indiana, in 1793. Her parents moved to Kentucky when she was but a child, and early in their residence in that State, the father was captured by the Indians, and was held in captivity for seven years, during which time he suffered almost untold hardships, and twice came very nearly being killed. Upon three separate oc- casions he was compelled to run the gauntlet, and upon one occasion was blackened and condemned to be burned, but while pinioned, a few moments before the fire should have been lighted, there stepped forward a man who offered a price for his life, and he was released from the stake. He died a natural death in Boone County, Ky., in 1848. By his first marriage, Major Darnall had six chil-

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dren-Jonathan, Mary. Alvira M .; Malvina F., de- ceased : Nancy Ann and Minerva A. Major Dar- nall's second marriage occurred in 1880, the name of his wife being Mrs. Francis Cummings, a native of Kentucky, who died at Hutchinson, Kan., while on a visit, on the 29th of May, 1883.

Alvira M., one of the children by the first mar- riage. married Benjamin Hieronymus, in 1839, who was born in 1818, and died in Illinois on the 31st of December. 1885, He was a native of Boone County, Ky., emigrated to Illinois in 1829, and settled in Tazewell County. Ile was a farmer by occupation, and a cooper by trade. He was a very hard-working man, and at the time of his death, which occurred in Livingston County, he owned 500 acres of land. He and his wife were the par- ents of eight children, three of whom, William, Jasper and Elizabeth, are living, and two, Martin and Emma, died after they grew to maturity ; three died in infancy.

Major Darnall was the first Township Supervisor, in which capacity he served two terms, and in early times was a juror for many years; on account of there being no jury room in which to meet, the jury were obliged to sit on logs in the open air. All the early settlers of Livingston County remem- ber the deep snow of 1830-31, when the snow fell continuously for three days, and became so deep that it was impossible to travel, even on horseback. The day before this snowfall commeneed, Major Darnall went to Mackinaw to procure a supply of meat for his family, going in a wagon, and although the town was but eight miles from his residence, on account of this extraordinary snowfall he was prevented from returning home for nearly a week, and then he did so on horseback. Although ninety years of age, Major Darnall is a fine specimen of manhood, being five feet ten inches in height, and weighing 180 pounds, with health much better than could be expected. His first Presidential vote was cast for Gen. Jackson, and he has remained a Hick- ory Democrat all through his life. Being a man of large intelligence, and a close observer of the events which have transpired since the first white man settled in Livingston County, it is well worth any man's time to listen to his reminiscences of the settlement and growth of the county.

R RANCIS D. JOHNSON, of Indian Grove Township, is one of the most energetic farmers of Livingston County. He has, without doubt, done as much, if not more, hard work than any other man of his age in the county, and being in the prime of manhood, has a bright future before him. Mr. Johnson is the son of Franklin I. and Mary A. (Wightman) Johnson, whose biographies may be found in another place in this work.

The subject of our sketch was born in Hastings, N. Y., May 2, 1854. When two years of age his parents moved to Vermont, Fulton Co., Ill., where they lived until 1861, when they moved to Peoria, and there young Frank received his first schooling, working also in his father's stoneware pottery in that city. When the family came to this county and located on their 160-acre farm, south of Fairbury, our subject was of sufficient age to take a full-hand share in the work. Ile took hold with his father and brother, and together they worked early and late to improve the place and to replenish the pa- ternal exchequer. During this time he improved what opportunities presented of attending the dis- triet school, and remained with his parents until after he had reached his majority, giving to their service his best energies.

On Dee. 24, 1874, Mr. Johnson was married to Lucena M. Odell, who was born in the State of New York on the 26th of August, 1853, and is the daughter of James H. and Mary (Straight) Odell. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born five chil- dren, whose names are as follows: Birdie R., born Feb. 15, 1876, died in infancy Oct. 4, 1876; Carrie M., born Aug. 2, 1877; Addie M., born Aug. 2, 1879; Lottie M., born Aug. 2, 1882, and Vinnie L., born March 17, 1884. In the year 1876 Mr. Johnson moved upon the farm on which he at present resides, consisting of 120 aeres, and began the work of improvement, which he has carried forward so energetically and systematically that he now has one of the best conditioned farms in the county. The soil is of a fine quality, and the drain- age is perfect, so that productiveness is much en- hanced. During most of the time he has resided upon this farm Mr. Johnson has made a specialty of raising fine horses, meeting with excellent suc-

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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 24

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