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 27

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 27

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Carrithers was born in Marshall County, Ill., Dec. 6, 1854, and is the son of William P. and Mary E. (Barnes) Carrithers, natives respectively of Indiana and Ohio. The father of our subject was born June 6, 1829, and during a period of twenty years, has officiated as a minister of the Christian Church. His labors have been eminently successful, and he has particularly distinguished himself in the organization of churches, and by his zeal in upholding the cause of Christ. He now preaches at Anchor, MeLean County, and Kemp- ton, Ford County, this State, and resides with his family at Saunemin, Ill. The mother was born in January, 1832. Her parents were Henry B. and Esther (Dickinson) Barnes. They went to Mar- shall County at an early day, and the father served as a Captain in the Black Hawk War. On his jour- ney to Illinois he was accompanied by his brothers and sisters, Robert, William, Nancy and Mary, who

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are all married and living in this State, having ar- rived at a good old age.

Our subject was the eldest of ten children born to his parents, namely. Charles; Jennie died in childhood; Fred, in the insurance business at Fair- bury; William died when a youth of eighteen years; Belle, Mrs. John Watkins; Edmund, a far- mer of Saunemin Township; Barnes, Lizzie, Nellie and Eugene. Charles F. was reared on the farm with his brothers and sisters, and attended the com- mon school until seventeen years old. Ile then entered upon a higher course of study at Eureka College. Eureka, Ill., and three years later com- menced teaching, which he followed in this and Marshall Counties for a period of nine years, and in the meantime employed his leisure hours in reading law. He prepared himself for the univer- sity course. and upon the completion of this, lo- cated at Fairbury and formed a partnership with G. W. Patton, now of Pontiac. Ile was afterward re-examined and admitted to the bar of this State, in June, 1884. The following August he was elected to the office of State's Attorney on the Re- publican ticket, and is discharging his responsible duties in a praiseworthy manner. While in school he distinguished himself by his close application to his studies, and for a long period he was President of his class. He has a good practice outside of his office, in the conrts of this and other counties of the State. Socially, he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, has attained to the Commandery degree, and served as Master of his lodge two years.

Mr. Carrithers, while a resident of Saunemin, Ill., was united in marriage with Miss Lucy M. Brydia, on the Ist of October, 1879. Mrs. C. was born in Kane, Ill., Aug. 23, 1855, and is the daughter of Truman W. and Laura (Day) Brydia, natives of Vermont, who came to the West in 1854, settling in Saunemin Township, where with his estimable wife, he spent the remainder of his days. The mother departed this life in 1871, and the father surviving her sixteen years, passed away on the 15th of February, 1887. Mr. Brydia followed farming all his life, and was a prominent and use- ful member of his community, where he held the various township offices, and represented the peo- ple in the County Board of Supervisors for many

years. He uniformly voted the straight Demo- cratie tieket, and by his industry and good judg- ment, accumulated a fair competency.

Mr. and Mrs. Carrithers have three children : Truman, born July 28, 1882; Mary, Oct. 9, 1884, and Fred, May 30, 1887. They occupy one of the best homes on Oak street, and enjoy the friendship of the cultivated and refined people around them.

J. HANDLEY is a retired farmer of Pon- tiae. If there is any man who is entitled to ease, quiet and comfort in the twilight of life, it is he who sought a home in a new country and became a pioneer in its develop- ment and in the opening up of its resources. To this class of men belongs the subject of this sketch. who was born on the 7th of February, 1826, in Loudoun County, Va. He is the son of John and Ilannah (Cravin) Handley, natives of Virginia. The father was engaged in farming for a short time in Virginia, and about 1831 removed to Ohio, and settled in Licking County, where he purchased a farm of 270 acres, and subsequently another 270 acres, which latter tract he afterward sold and di- vided the money among his children. He held several of the local offices of the township in which he lived, and with his wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, most of which time he was a Trustee. He belonged to the Democratic party until during the administra- tion of Martin Van Buren, when he joined the Know-Nothing party, which was but a step of tran- sition to the Republican party later. He had a family of ten children, eight of whom are now liv- ing: 1). J., Lydia A., James W., Amos C., John S., Sarah E., George W. and Esther J. John Handley died in 1870, and his wife in 1882.

D. 1. Handley was brought up on a farm, avail- ing himself of such facilities for education as were presented by the common schools of those days, and lived at home with his parents until he was twenty-five years of age. For three years he en- gaged in sheep-raising in his native county, and then went to Adams County, Ohio, where he con- tinued the same business, having at one time a fold

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of sheep numbering as high as 300. In 1855 he removed to Macon County, Ill., where he re- mained one year, and in the fall of 1856 came to Livingston County, and settled in Eppard's Point Township, on Rook's Creek, where he purchased 110 acres of land. He lived on this farm until 1884, when he moved to Pontiac. When he pur- chased this land not a foot of it was under cultiva- tion. Ile has transformed it into a model farm, and has erected thereon an excellent house, as well as barns and stables, while the greater portion of it is enclosed by a hedge fence. When he first settled here there was an abundance of wild game, including deer, wolves and prairie chickens. IIe found a market for his products at Pontiac.

Mr. H. married, Sept. 11, 1851, Miss Rebecca M. Griffith, a native of Licking County, Ohio, and the daughter of George and Margaret (Woodard) Grif- fith, also natives of Licking County. They have a family of five children-Charles B., Arabelle R., Mattie E., George C. and Elma. Charles B. mar- ried Sarah E. Leedon; they have two children, named Albert W. and Joanna, and are engaged in farming in Nebraska. Arabelle R. married John Leedon, a farmer, and resides in Nebraska; they have one child named Nettie. George C. married Ella Brown, and they reside at Pontiac; they have one child named Lulu M.

Mr. Handley is a Republican, and takes consider- able interest in the welfare of that organization. He has held the offices of Assessor, School Director, Collector, and for four years the office of Town- ship Clerk. He takes great pride in fine stock, and at the present time is the owner of two imported Cleveland Bays, magnificent horses of the English coach breed, and adapted for all purposes.

G EORGE W. APPLEGATE, an intelligent and enterprising farmer and stock-raiser, located on section 24 in Newtown Town- ship, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, on the 11th of January, 1832, but grew to manhood in Miami County. He is the son of George M. and Margaret (La Rue) Applegate. The father was born in Warren County, Ky., and the grandfather,

whose name was George Miller Applegate, was born and reared in the same State, where he lived until he was a very old man. He moved to Ohio, and died in that State at the age of one hundred years. He had been married twice, his first wife dying in Kentucky, and by his second marriage there were no children. Ile was the owner of a plantation, a steamboat and about 200 slaves.

George M. Applegate, the father of our subject, was born in Kentucky Feb. 16, 1797, where he lived until he grew to manhood, and then moved to Ohio. On the 28th of February, 1820, he was married, and resided in Ohio until 1851, in which year he came to Illinois and settled on section 14, Newtown Township. He lived on this homestead for twenty years, and then removed to Blackstone, remaining there until his death, which occurred May 21, 1876. lle was a farmer and blacksmith by occupation, following blacksmithing in the ear- lier days of his life, and farming until his removal to Blackstone, when he retired from active labor. During his life he was a very active man, and of good business habits. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he was al- ways a leader. Margaret A. La Rue, his wife and the mother of our subject, was born in Clay County, N. J., Sept. 15, 1800, and died Sept. 8, 1881. She was a daughter of Amos La Rue, a native of New Jersey, who, with some of his sons, participated in the earlier wars. In his later life he came to Ohio and followed farming in Hamilton County, al- though he was a weaver by trade. He was the father of five children, whose names were Moses, Samuel, Frank. Margaret and Lydia. Moses was wounded in the French and Indian War, and died soon after he came home; the others settled in Ohio, where they reared families and died.

To George M. and Margaret Applegate were born the following children: Eliza Jane, born Feb. 17, 1822, was the wife of Henry Morter, and died Dec. 16, 1844: she was the mother of one child, named Mary J. James, born Nov. 28, 1823, is now a retired farmer living in Blackstone; he has been married twice, and by his first wife had one child, Albert A., and by his second the following : Theodore, Mary, John, Amos, Jane, Anna, Susie and Carrie. William, born Dec. 24, 1825, is a re-

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tired farmer, and lives in Streator; he became the father of six children, named Flora A., George T., Lewis (deceased). Milton. Lizzie and William. Mary A .. born Dec. 27. 1827. has been married three times, and is now the widow of William Pence: by her tirst marriage she had five children -Lewis, Hannah. Jane, George. and Ellie (de- ceased )-and by her last husband one child, Emma; she now resides in Indianapolis, Ind. Lydia, born Jan. 11, 1830, is the wife of James Swartz. and lives in Streator; she has three children living, pamed Jane, Ettie and Nora. Margaret, born May 10, 1836. married James Swartz, became the mother of one child, and died May 7, 1855. Amos, born May 28. 1840, is married, and lives in Esmen Township, and has four boys, named Irving, El- mer. Frank and Earnest. Amanda, born June 17, 1843. died in February. 1869.

George W. Applegate. our subject, lived at home until he was twenty-five years of age. and then be- gan work for himself. On the 27th of October 1857. he was married to Nancy C. Yale, who was born at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., on the 5th of Jan- nary. 18-41. She is the daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth (Gleen) Yale, who were natives of En- gland and France respectively. The grandfather was Reuben Yale, who was born in England, and came to America at an early day. To the parents of Mrs. Applegate were born the following-named children: Nancy A., the wife of our subjeet; Amos died in childhood; Sarah, born in 1844, now lives in Washington Territory, and is the widow of Samuel Olmstead, to whom she was married near Ottawa, this State; she has three children living, named Sheridan, Clara and Jackson. Eliza, born in 1846. died in 1866 in Streator; Laura, born in 1×51, i- the wife of Alonzo Applegate, and lives in Blackstone; they have two children living, Charles and Ira, and three dead, May and two who died in nfancy Mrs. Applegate's father died March 31, 1×57. and her mother April 14, 1887; the latter was a member of the Baptist Church in early life, but her later years were -pent as a member of the Methodist Church.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Applegate has been blessed with four children: Addie, born Aug. 13, 1×60, is the wife of Merrit R. Swarner, and lives in

Newtown Township; they were married on the 21st of January, 1880, by Rev. O. M. Dunlevey, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have one child, named Elma, born April 11, 1883. Minnie, born Dec. 26, 1867, Iola, Aug. 29, 1872, and Deamie, Sept. 4, 1883, live at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Applegate are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Blackstone, with which they have been connected for more than thirty years. He is one of the Stewards and Trustees of the church. In polities, he acts with the Democratic party, to which he has always been loyal. Mr. Applegate is an excellent citizen, and one who takes an active interest in everything that is calcu- lated to advance his township and benefit the people.

b ENRY G. GREENEBAUM, deceased, was a prominent merchant and banker of Pontiac, who died on the 24th of April, 1887. He was a native of Gelnhausen, Germany, born on the 6th of May, 1837, and was the son of Moses Greenebaum, also a native of Germany. Henry G. Greenebaum came to America when fifteen years of age, and first settled in Lexington, McLean Co., Ill., where he engaged in the clothing business. Ile removed to Pontiac in 1856, and with his brother, J. M. Greenebain, engaged in the same business under the firm style of Greenebaum Broth- ers, which they continued until 1874. In 1871 they established the Livingston County National Bank, of which J. M. Greenebain was President. Henry G. was Cashier, in which capacity he continued un- til his death. In 1882 he built a magnificent resi- dence east of the court-house, where his widow and children now reside.

On the 14th of August, 1864, Mr. G. was married to Miss Carrie Hart, of Chicago. She was the dangh- ter of Jacob and Minnie (Straus) Hart, who were natives of Germany, and came from near the River Rhine. Jacob Ilart came to America in 1858, and with his family settled in Chicago, where he and his sons engaged in the clothing business and continued until his death in 1881. His wife died in 1887. They were the parents of the following-named chil- dren: Mary, Mrs. Schoenberg, who died in New

Martha Rollins

Phillip Rolling

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Orleans, in 1876; she was the matron of the Jew- ish orphan asylum. Henrietta, Mrs. Abt, of Chi- cago: Carrie, widow of our subject; Rose, Mrs. Frank, of Chicago: Ilarry, of Chicago; Janie, Mrs. Marx, of Chicago; Max, Lehart and Jacob, of Chicago: Sarah, Mrs. Meyer, of New York City.

Ilenry Greenebaum left a wife and six children : Moses HI., who is clerking in the bank; Harry, Rosa, Mary, Jacob and Willie. Mr. Greenebaum was a stockholder in the Metropolitan, and the American Exchange Bank, of Chicago, also in the Pontiac Coal Company. He was a self-made man, the archi- teet of his own fortune, which was quite considera- ble at the time of his death. lle had the reputation of being one of the best business men of Living- ston County.

HILIP ROLLINS, the oldest living pio- neer in or about Pontiac Township, was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, Sept. 24, 1813, and has consequently, passed more than the allotted threeseore years and ten. Ilis life has been marked by honesty and uprightness, and he consequently enjoys the friendship and respect of a large circle of acquaintances, some of whom, like himself, came to this section at an early day, and shared in the hardships and vicissitudes common to life in a new settlement.

Our subjeet is the son of William K. and Susan Rollins, natives of Virginia, and of French and Ger- man ancestry respectively. Mr. Rollins served in the War of 1812. In their youth they removed from their native State to Coshocton County, Ohio, and became the parents of six children, of whom only three survive, namely : Naney, Mrs. John Stur- man, of Woodford County, Ill .; Hannah, wife of William Neal, a prominent attorney of Hamilton County, Ind., and Philip, of our sketch. Philip was reared to manhood in his native State, receiv- ing a rudimentary education in the log-cabin school- house, and spent most of his youth in farming pur- suits, employing his leisure time at carpenter work. In the latter he became especially skillful. and dur- ing the present year (1887) he has superintended the erection of the residence of his son, William Il.,

located on the okl homestead. In addition to farmi- ing and carpentering, he also developed talent as a natural machinist, and without effort became fully acquainted with the duties of a millwright, in which he became an expert. Ilis energy and industry met with ample reward, and he was at one time the owner of nearly 500 acres of land, which he divided among his children. Ile has always taken a lively interest in the welfare of his community, being an active supporter of those measures that tend to ben- efit society at large. Ile has served as Justice of the Peace eight years, represented Pontiac Town- ship in the County Board of Supervisors several terms, and was School Director in his district a num- ber of years. Politically, he votes the straight Democratic ticket.

Mr. Rollins was married in Indiana, March 8, 1839, the lady of his choice being Miss Martha De- Moss, a native of his own State, and born in Ilamil- ton County Jan. 23, 1812. Iler parents, James and Nancy DeMoss, were natives respectively of Vir- ginia and Kentucky. In 1841 they removed from Indiana to Livingston County, and settled in Avoca Township, where they spent their last years. The father had served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and upon coming to Illinois they endured, in com- mon with the settlers of that period, the hardships and privations which were the distinctive features of pioneer life.

Mr. and Mrs. Rollins became the parents of eight children, six of whom are now living, namely: Pe- ter, Charles, William H .; Nancy, widow of the late George Hamstreet, who was killed in the late Civil War; Matilda, Mrs. Reuben Liddel, and Emeline, widow of Harry Hill, late of this county. In mak- ing the journey from Indiana to this county Mr. R., with his family, spent one week upon the road, sometimes sleeping at night in the open air. Upon arriving here he had the sum of $1.25 in his pocket, besides his team and household goods. He took up a traet of 160 acres in Pontiac Township, for which he contracted to pay $3 per aere, and after liquidat- ing this indebtedness he pre-empted forty addi- tional acres. The first dwelling of the family was a rude log cabin, which they occupied a few years until it could be replaced by a more convenient and commodious dwelling. Deer and wolves were plen-

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tiful. and Mr. Rollin- has killed as many as seven deer in one day. le prided himself upon his marksmanship. and sellom failed to bring down his game. The change from that time to the present has been remarkable. and Mr. Rollins has watched the growth and development of his adopted State with more than ordinary interest. lle has also con- tributed his full share toward its prosperity. having characterized himself as a valuable citizen, liberal- minded and generous, and the encourager of those enterprises that tend to the best welfare of the com- munity. Ile and his good wife are regarded with that reverence and respect accorded those who braved the dangers and difficulties of the early time», and the publishers have much pleasure in be- ing enabled to place their portraits on another page of this ALBUM.

OHN II. COLEIIOWER, favorably known throughout Long Point Township, owns forty acres of land on section 27, and the same amount on section 34, the whole of which has been carefully cultivated, and yields each year to the hand of industry an abundance of the best products of Central Illinois. Aside from his importance as a skillful farmer, Mr. C. has been School Director in his district, Commissioner of Highways, and has occupied other positions of trust among his fellow-townsmen. Ile is a stanch Dem- ocrat, and a member in good standing of the I. O. O. F.

Like many of the early settlers in Livingston Connty Mr. Colehower was born in Pennsylvania, June 22, 1830, and is of German descent. His parents were Conrad and Rachel (Garner) Cole- hower, the former of whom was born in Germany and emigrated to this country while a young man. Ilis death was the result of an accident, which oc- curred at the corner of Third and Chestnut streets in the city of Philadelphia, where in alighting from a street-car upon the jey ground, he slipped and fell under the car, which ran over him, producing instant death. The mother continued with her young family in Pennsylvania. where she died in the city of Harrisburg, Oct. 23. 1887, at eighty

years of age. The parents joined the Presbyterian Church in their youth, and the father, politically, was decidedly Democratic. He possessed more than ordinary ability, and had he lived would have become prominent in the affairs of his township, where he had already held the position of Super- visor and was held in universal esteem.

Our subject remained with his mother in Penn- sylvania until twenty-two years of age and then started for the West, which at that time was at- tracting so many young and enterprising men within its borders. He located first in Peoria County, where he resided for a period of thirteen years, and then took up his abode in Livingston. Ile was married, Dec. 1, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth A. Ramsey, who was born Oct. 15, 1831, and who by her union with our subject became the mother of six children, of whom the record is as follows: Benjamin F., born Sept. 23, 1854, developed into a promising young business man, and is now carry- ing on merchandising in Long Point; his biography appears elsewhere in this volume. Martha R., born Aug. 4, 1858, became the wife of J. II. Reed, whose biography will be found elsewhere; Thomas C., born Feb. 5, 1863, officiates as clerk for his brother in a store at Long Point; Henry R. was born Feb. 28, 1865, and died Feb. 16, 1870, when a bright little lad less than five years old ; Lydia F. was born May 9, 1867, and died Feb. 8, 1870; Emma was born Nov. 26, 1869, and lives at home, pursuing her studies in the district school.

The parental family of our subject included twelve children, namely, Henry, Mary Ann, John H. (our subject), Washington, Harris, Conrad, Martha, Rebecca, Samuel, Hannah, besides two who died unnamed in infancy. Henry was killed by being run over by a railroad train, and left a wife and four children; Mary Ann is the wife of Joseph Free, of Philadelphia, and is the mother of three children; Washington died in l'hiladelphia, leaving a wife but no children ; Harris, also a resi- dent of the Quaker City, is married and has three children ; Conrad, who resides in Marshall County, this State, is married and has four children ; Martha died when about four years of age; Rebecca is married, a resident of Harrisburg, Pa., and the mother of four children; William died of consump-

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tion abont 1877, leaving a wife and one child; Samuel was married, but his wife died leaving one child; Hannah is married and has four children. These three last were residents of Philadelphia, where the two living now reside.

The parents of Mrs. Colehower, Thomas B. and Rebecca (Carnog) Ramsey, were natives of Penn- sylvania, and their household included nine chil- dren. The mother died in June, 1884. The father is living and is a resident of Long Point Township. Her brothers and sisters were John, Walter S., Sa- rah B., all deceased; Isaac T., who has a family and lives in this county, is one of its prosperous farmers and stock-raisers; William B., deceased ; Charles A., who is farming in Missouri, and has a wife and six children; Mary J., the wife of F. L. Saxton and the mother of five children, and Walter S., Post- master of Long Point, where he is also carrying on a hardware store; he has a wife and three children.

S TEPHEN JOHNSON. There is something about the place of one's birth which acts like a magnet during life, and it is as nat- ural to be drawn back to the old home- stead after years of absence as it is for the needle to seek the pole. The bard sang, "Be it ever so humble there is no place like home," and around the parental hearth cling a multitude of pleasant associations.

The subject of this sketch is a native of Living- ston County, a man to the manor born, who after years of residence in other localities made up his mind that there was no place like Livingston Connty, and no other township that possessed so many endearing memories as Rook's Creek. Mr. Johnson is a farmer and stock-raiser on section 10, Rook's Creek Township, the son of John and Nancy (Bloyd) Johnson, and was born on the home farm on the 14th of September, 1843. Ilis father was born in New York on the 14th of February, 1804, and died on the 9th of April, 1887. The mother was a native of Maryland. The paternal grandparents came from Ireland shortly after the great Irish Patriots' war, in which the great-great-grandfather

lost his life. The grandfather, who was the only representative of the family, settled in New York, and about 1821 moved to Sangamon Connty, Ill., where he purchased a farin on which he lived and died. He was born Sept. 16, 1774, and his wife, Miss Betsy Sacket, was born May 19, 1777. They were married on the 17th of June, 1796, and to them were born nine children, as follows: Eliza- beth, born April 28, 1797; Maria, Feb. 24, 1799; Lydia, Oct. 13, 1801; John, Feb. 14, 1804; Na- thaniel P., July 30, 1806; Royal S., Oct. 28, 1808; Oliver P., Oct. 21, 1813; Lucretia, Oct. 11, 1816 ; Melvine A., April 30, 1820. Oliver Johnson, the grandfather, died on the 6th of August, 1835.

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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 27

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