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 35
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Mrs. Elizabeth Frobisch came to this country with her parents in 1831, and settled in Belmont County, Ohio. She was married, at Steubenville, Ohio, to John M. Frobisch on the 1st of February, 1849, the Rev. Dr. Holmes officiating. There they farmed until 1863, when they moved to Marshall County, Ill., where they lived about five years and then moved to Livingston County, and bought a half section of land on which she now lives, with those of her children who are not married. Her father was born in 1776; her mother in 1786. Both died in 1861. John M. Frobisch, the husband of our subjeet, was born in November, 1823, and died Oct. 24, 1869. He was born in Saxony, and came to the United States when he was about twenty-one years of age. His father was John G. Frobisch, who made two visits to this country, but died in Saxony.
Mrs. Frobisch is the mother of a large family, as follows: Mary R., born Nov. 5, 1849, in Monroe County, Ohio, is unmarried and lives with her mother; James, born Jan. 16, 1851, in Monroe County, Ohio, was united in marriage with Caro- line Pampel, April 1, 1874, lives in Livingston County, and has six children living; George, born Aug. 8, 1853, in Monroe County, Ohio, is unmarried and lives in Colorado; Michael, born on the 5th of April, 1855, died on the 20th of Novem- ber, 1881, in Adair County, Iowa; Fannie, born Feb. 4, 1857, married George W. Anderson, Feb. 10, 1878, lives in Pike Township, Livingston County, and has three children ; Louis, born March 25, 1859, is single and lives at home; Charlotte, born April 2, 1860, married Lucas H. Brown on the 29th of September, 1882, lives in Rook's Creek
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Township, and has two children ; Jacob, born Feb. 10, 1862; John, born March 10, 1864, in Marshall County. Ill. ; Edward, born Oet. 24, 1866, in Mar- shall County, Ill. The last three mentioned are living at home.
The religious belief of the ancestors of Mrs. Frobisch was according to the doctrines of the Lutheran Church, but in later life her brother was a Presbyterian and her mother became a Methodist. The children differ in their religious belief, and all the political parties are represented among the boys.
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G EORGE B. KOONTZ, a most thorough and skillful young farmer of Reading Township, owns one of the best condueted farms in that loeality, consisting of eighty acres on section 7. This he has brought to a high state of cultivation, and has a beautiful residenee, flanked by a good barn and other convenient out-buildings. He keeps a choice assortment of live stock, and his farm machinery comprises implements of the latest im- proved pattern. In connection with his farming operations he runs a threshing-machine, and is a wide-awake business man, always willing to add to his income either by downright hard labor or any other honest means. He is uumarried.
Mr. Koontz is a native of Westmoreland County, Pa., and was born March 3, 1862 ; he is the son of J. C. and Martha (Weaver) Koontz, who were also na- tives of the Keystone State. The father was born in 1830, and came to the West in 1866. His death took place in La Salle County in 1881, in a most distressing manner, he being run over by a train of ears. The mother of our subject is the daugh- ter of David and Mary Jane (Dougherty) Weaver, and became the wife of J. C. Koontz June 23, 1857.
The parental household ineluded the following children : Margaret, now the wife of A. Cossel, is the mother of nine children, and now a resident of Reading Township; Susan, who has been twice married, is now the wife of William McGraw, of Pennsylvania, who is a machinist and foreman in a car manufactory ; Martha is the mother of our subjeet; Sarah married Jacob Chain, a stock dealer
of Collinsville, Pa., who is now deceased; Albert died in Ottawa, La Salle Co., Ill., Nov. 18, 1866, when a young man twenty-three years of age; Nicholas, a resident of Cloud County, Kan., is mar- ried and the father of five children: Rebeeea, the twin sister of Nicholas, lives in Pennsylvania. Mrs. Mary Jane Weaver died in 1852, and Mr. W. was married again and became the father of two more children. To J. C. and Martha Koontz there were born seven children : William, born July 24, 1859, died in this county Nov. 7, 1875 : George B. is our subject; A. Weaver, born Aug. 30, 1866, is farming in Buena Vista County, Iowa; Charles was born Nov. 10, 1868; Lnra, Sept. 6, 1871 ; Harry, Dec. 20, 1874, and Grace, June 23, 1880. These remain at home with their mother.
Our subject, although a publie-spirited citizen. takes very little part in polities, further than to at- tend the general elections and east his vote in sup- port of Democratie principles.
ERRITT R. SWARNER, an energetic and enterprising stock farmer, who operates eighty aeres of land on section 25, New- town Township, is a native of Indiana, and was born in Warren County on the 11th of December, 1855. Ile is the son of William and Rebecca (Spinning) Swarner, the former of whom was born in Perry County, Pa., Oct. 13, 1826, and went to Indiana in 1847. He is the son of Henry Swarner. who was born in the year 1793. The mother of our subject is the daughter of Isaae and Elizabeth Spinning, and was born in Fountain County, Ind., on the 7th of October, 1827. They were married in the latter-named State on the 6th of December, 1849. In 1851 the father took a trip to California, and was gone about one year. Ile went by the overland route across the plains. and returned on a vessel by the way of New York City.
To William and Rebecca Swarner were born nine children : Mary E., born Aug. 30, 1850, married E. C. Campbell, and lives in lowa; Charles H., born April 15, 1853, lives in tlolt County, Neb .; Haines, born Jan. 20, 1854, died in infaney ; Mer-
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ritt R. i- the subject of our sketch; Sarah A., born Sept. 1. 1857. is the wife of Virgil Waldron, and lives in Blackstone, this county; William E., born Sept. 18. 1859. resides in Colorado: Milton F .. born Oct. 20. 1861, lives in Livingston County : John L., born Nov. 29, 1863, lives in Nebraska; Frank. born May 18, 1866, died in infancy. The father and mother now reside on the home place with our subject: both belong to the Christian Church, and are sincere and earnest in their re- ligious professions. The father came to Illinois from Indiana in 1868, and located in this township, where the subject of this sketch has resided all his life and where he received his education.
On the 2d of January, 1881, Merritt R. Swarner was married to Miss Addie Applegate, the cere- mony being performed by Rev. R. Dunlevey. They have had one child, named Elma M., who was born April 11, 1883. Although Mr. Swarner is yet a young man he has made excellent progress in his business, and stands to- day as one of the most enterprising farmers and stock-raisers of Newtown Township. The farm is under a good state of cultivation, is well fenced and drained, and is above the average in productiveness.
E WITT C. STOCKHAM. "Peace hath its victories no less renowned than war," and the subject of this sketch has achieved victories both as a private citizen in peace and as the valiant soldier in war. One of the por- tions of this sketch of which our subject can justly feel proud, is that which records the part he took in the war for the preservation of the Union, and which resulted, not only in maintaining the Union intact, but in destroying the curse of human slav- ery in this Republic.
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The subject of this sketch, a model farmer and stock-raiser on section 30, Avoca Township, is a native of Lasalle County, Il., and was born on the 5th of lune, 1812, and is a son of Joseph Stock- ham, a native of Lake County, Ohio. His mother died when he was but eighteen months okl. Ilis great-grandfather was of Welsh descent, and lived to the extraordinary age of one hundred and six
years. The father of our subject settled in LaSalle County in 1826, being one of the early pioneers of that county, and there resided until 1861, when he removed to Nebraska, and soon after died.
De Witt C. Stockham spent the days of his boy- hood in LaSalle County, and in the common schools obtained what education he could. When about twenty years of age the war between the States of the Union was inaugurated by the secession of nearly all the Southern States. On the 29th of August, 1861, when the people began to realize that the war would be a long one, and the struggle between the North and the South a desperate one, young Stockham saw that his duty lay in the direction of the army. Ile enlisted in Company K, 8th Illinois Cavalry, and served faithfully and honorably until every soldier of the Confederate army was either killed or surrendered as a prisoner of war. During his term of service he was mostly in the Army of the Potomac, and participated in all those campaigns which have become as world famous as the campaigns of Napoleon. The list of engagements in which his regiment participated shows at once the proud position it occupies in the history of the grand Army of the Potomac. The list is as follows: Malvern Hill, Gettysburg (which battle was opened by his regiment, the subject of this sketch being one of the front line of skirmish- ers in the beginning of the battle), Antietam, Sharpsburg, the noted cavalry fight at Fredericks- burg, and many others of equal magnitude in the number of men engaged and lives lost. He was honorably discharged July 18, 1865, and imme- diately after returned to Illinois, when in the win- ter following he came to Livingston County, and settled in Avoca Township shortly after. He now owns a good farm of 120 acres of well-improved land.
Mr. Stockham was married in Fairbury, on the 12th of March, 1868, to Sarah J. Zook, a native of Montgomery County, Ind., born May 28, 1840. She is the daughter of Solomon and Clarissa Zook, natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey re- spectively, both of whom are dead. They have two children : Thomas E., born Dec. 31, 1872, and Edward, Dec. 21, 1877. Mr. Stockham is a Re- publican in politics, and through the respect of his
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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
fellow members of that party, and the citizens generally, he was elected for a term of two years as Road Supervisor of his district, and is now serving his second term as School Director, for which position he is peculiarly fitted, on account of his interest in the welfare of the schools. tle is a self-made man, and whatever he possesses of this world's goods has come to him as the result of industry, perseverance and good management. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and engages actively in church work, having served as Sunday-school Superintendent and Class- Leader for a considerable time. Whatever has a tendency to better the condition of the com- munity or forward the progress of the county and township, meets with his warmest approval and support.
B ERNHARD STROBEL. Among the many citizens of Livingston County who have been contributed by Germany, none stands fairer in reputation, nor has been more snc- cessful for the opportunities enjoyed than the sub- ject of this sketch, who is a farmer on section 19, in Avoca Township. lle is a native of Wurtem- berg, Germany, born on the 20th of August, 1820, and is the son of Jacob and Laura Strobel, who were also natives of Germany. Of the five chil- dren born to his parents the following named are now living: George, in Germany ; Clara and Bern- hard. The last was reared to manhood iu his na- tive country, and received, as do most of the chil- dren of that country, a good education in his na- tive language. In 1850, at the age of thirty, he concluded to emigrate to America, and after land- ing in New York, proceeded to the State of Penn- sylvania, where, for nearly eight years. he was em- ployed in the iron-ore mines, in which occupation he earned the money which gave him his start in this country.
On the 10th of April. 1855, our subject was married to Theresa Miller, who was born in Ger- many on the 25th of February, 1825. She was the daughter of Sebastian and Victoria Miller, both of whom were German by birth. Her parents had
seven children, six of whom are living: Anthony, in Baltimore, Md .; Theresa: Pauline, a teacher in the public schools of Livingston County; Min- nie, wife of W. W. Wagner, of Eppard's Point Township, also a teacher; Maggie, a public-school teacher; Emma, at present attending the Normal School at Valparaiso, Ind.
In the spring of 1857, with his family, Mr. Stro- bel came to Livingston County and settled on his present farm, which consists of ninety acres, eighty of which are under a high state of cultivation, and on which he has erected appropriate buildings for the comfort of his family, the protection of the products of the farm and shelter of domestic ani- mals. He is eminently a self-made man, as what- ever he has accumulated has been through his own industry, perseverance and economy. He is a Re- publiean in politics. and does what he can in a humble way to further the interests of his party. For the past fifteen years he has served in the ca- pacity of Director of Schools, and in that position has done much to elevate the educational standard of his district. IIe has always been a friend of educational interests, and believes in the most lib- eral management of the schools. He and his wife are both members of the Catholic Church, and are constant in their devotion. They are honored members of society, and enjoy the confidence and esteem of the entire community in which they re- side.
D ETER FOTHERINGHAM. This enter- terprising young farmer of Union Town- ship is starting out in life under the most favorable auspices. lle is the only son of a prosperous citizen, and the owner of a fine tract of land given him by his father. This is located on section 14, and is embellished with a neat residence, a good barn and other out-buikl- ings. Mr. F. was reared to habits of industry, and is looked upon as one of the future agricultur- ists of this section, who is bound to make his mark.
Our subject was born in LaSalle County, this State, Dec. 6, 1857, and is the eldest of two children, the offspring of David and Alice (Scott) Fotheringham, natives of Scotland. They emi-
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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
grated to America in 1851, settling at once on a traet of land in La Salle County, where the father opened up a good farm. and where they still re- side. The paternal grandparents of our subject were Peter and Marion (Anderson) Fotheringham, also of Scotch birth and parentage, who spent their entire lives upon their native soil. On the mother's side his grandparents were James and Mary ( Atchison) Scott, of the same country, where they lived and died, and the male members of which family were for generations back tillers of the soil. David Fotheringham is largely engaged in farming and stock-raising, and possesses all the substantial and reliable traits of his ancestors.
Our subject spent his boyhood and youth after the manner of most farmers' sons, becoming famil- iar with the various employments of rural life and receiving his education in the district school. He continued under the home roof until twenty-seven years of age, and then, as a first step toward the establishment of a home of his own, was united in marriage with Miss Jane Wyllie, the wedding tak- ing place at the home of the bride in Union Township. March 7, 1884.
Mrs. Fotheringham was born in La Salle County, Sept. 3, 1864, and is the fourth in a family of six children belonging to John and Margaret (Hamilton) Wyllie. Iler parents were also natives of Scotland, and are numbered among the well-to-do and reliable citizens of this county. Their names will be found as subjects of a biography pre- sented elsewhere in this ALn'y.
Our subject and wife began life together upon the farm where they now live, and in addition to the quarter section here. Mr. Fotheringham oper- ates eighty acres belonging to his wife. Their union has been blessed by the birth of one child, a sou, David H., who came to the household Sept. 18, 1887. Mr. F. votes with the Republican party although not particularly interested in political inatter>. He is willing, however, to give his at- tention to important matters respecting the welfare of his community. and has consented to serve as School Trustee in his district. Ile takes pride in hi- farin and stock. and his homestead forms one of the most attractive spots in the landscape of Union Township.
OIIN N. WOLF. Following is given a brief sketch of a representative of a class of foreign-born citizens who brought the thrift and energy, which were their only heritage in their native land, to this country of great possi- bilities, and have accomplished so much under the influence of the institutions of America. This gentleman, besides coming to a country where the language and customs were wholly different from those of his native land, was deprived of the ten- der attentions and care of parents in his youth. Thus early left dependent upon his own resources, he has made a gallant struggle, and it is a pleasure to record in this ALBUM, which contains the biog- raphies of so many of the good people of Living- ston County, the events which have led up to his success.
Mr. Wolf is a farmer and stock-raiser on section 16, Owego Township, and is a native of Germany, where he was born on the 28th of March, 1829. When eight years of age he became an orphan, and was early thrown upon his own resources. His ed- ucation was obtained in his native country, and in his native language, and included all the ordinary branches taught. In his younger days he followed the occupation of a cooper for a time. At the age of twenty-seven, in the year 1856, he emi- grated to America, taking passage at Bremen in a sailing-vessel, and after an exceedingly rough voy- age of forty-two days, landed in New York City. lle did not linger there, but proceeded at once to the West and located near Peru, La Salle Co., Ill., where he engaged in farming until 1864, in which year he settled in Livingston County, locat- ing on the farm he at present occupies on section 16, Owego Township. He first bought eighty acres of land, which he improved, and which is now one of the model farms of the township.
In October, 1856, Mr. Wolf was married to Mar- garet Apel, a native of Germany, who was born on the 20th of January, 1839, and is the daughter of Ilenry and Christina Apel, with whom she came to America in 1857. To them have been born eleven children, ten of whom are living: Henry; William ; Charlotte, Mrs. W. Ellis; Minnie, Mrs. Robert Al- geo; John; Gustena; Christopher; Mary; Eliza- beth and Clara. The name of the deceased child 1
Gron Patton
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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
was Michael. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf are both mem- bers of the Lutheran Church, in which he has served as an Elder. They both take an active interest in church matters, and are generous in their contri- butions to aid and encourage all moral and relig- ious ageneies. Mr. Wolf acts with the Democratic party, but is not an active politician. For several years he served as a School Director, and whether as an officer or a citizen, takes great interest in ed- ucational matters. He is a progressive man in his ideas, and a citizen of which any township may well be proud.
G EORGE W. PATTON. attorney at law, of the firm of Strawn & Patton, located at Pon- tiac, in 1883 moved from Fairbury to Pon- tiac, and at once became associated with his pres- ent partner. The partnership has proved a very sat- isfactory one, and almost immediately the firm took a front rank in the profession, as represented in this county. Mr. Patton possesses those qualities of mind which eminently fit him for the business he has so aptly chosen for a life calling. and within the comparatively short time since he was admitted to the bar has secured for clients some of the most prominent citizens of this county, and largest corpo- rations of the State. He is a close student. care- fully looks up his cases, and works conscientionsly and with all his ability in the interest of his client. Being an excellent judge of human nature he is sel- dom placed at a disadvantage in any legal contest in this essential particular. He is likewise an enter- prising and valued citizen of Pontiac, and has the interest of the public at heart. Such men are in- valuable to any community.
Our subject is a native of Greene County. Pa .. and is a son of Samuel R. and Jane Patton, nee Ilaines, also natives of the Keystone State. Samuel R. located in Green Township, Woodford Co .. Ill., in 1854, where he carried on farming success- fully for many years and then retired from active labor. The paternal grandfather of our subject. Rev. James Patton, was a native of Maryland and the son of Rev. John Patton of the same State, a direct descendant of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Mr.
Patton's great-grandparents on the maternal side were from the Emerald Isle. and settled in Pomisyl- vania in the Colonial days, the great-grandfather serving six years as a soldier under Gen. Washing- ton.
The subject of this sketch has five sisters living- Elizabeth Morris, Lucinda Carns, Margaret Edwards, Catharine Barnard and Martha E. Taylor-and one brother. John L., a successful farmer and stockman residing on the old homestead in Woodford County. Mr. Patton was reared on the farm until he attained to his majority, receiving a good common-school education. and subsequently attending the State Normal University at Bloomington for three years. Afterward he engaged in teaching school at Secor and El Paso. Ill. Ile read law with Hay. Greene & Littler. at Springfield. Ill .. and was there admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court.
Mr. Patton was married, Sept. 20, 1877, to Miss Flora E. Cook. a native of Wayne County. Ind., and a daughter of James and Lucinda Cook. They have one child, Marie Patton. born July 7. 1883. Mr. Patton is a strong Republican in politics, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he is a Knight Templar. He is attorney for the C. & A., the I. C .. and the C., S. F. & C. R. Rds., the Pontiac Union Coal Company, and also for the Board of Supervisors of Livingston County. Among his rel- atives now living and bearing his patronymie, there are three ministers, two physicians and three lawyers. one of the latter being now a Republican Member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
It is with pleasure we present the portrait of Mr. Patton in this work, knowing that it will be highly appreciated by his many friends.
n Q. TANQUARY, attorney-at-law, Pontiac. In Mr. Tanquary we find an excellent ex- ample for young men just embarking in the field of active life, of what may be accomplished by energy, prudence and industry. Ile relied almost entirely upon his own efforts for an education, and up to his seventeenth 'year had only such ad- vantages as were offered by the common schools of the neighborhood in which he lived. He com- menced teaching when eighteen years of age, teach-
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ing in the winter terins, and attending school and working on the farm the remainder of the year.
The subject of our sketch is a native of Mar- shall County, Ill .. and the only child of James and Lucinda C. (Watkins) Tanquary, natives of Ohio, who were married in Marshall County in 1853, where N. Q. was born in 1854. Ile has two half- brothers, William R., and David R., children of his mother by a former marriage. James' parents were William and Elizabeth (Shackeford) Tanquary, na- tives of Ohio. The Tanquarys are of French de- scent ; his great-grandfather came from France in the early settlement of Maryland and took a grant of land, partially surrounded by the Chesapeake Bay. This land is still known as Tanquary's Neck. The father of Lucinda C. Watkins was David, a native of Ohio, and of Scotch-Irish descent, who was engaged in farming. James came to Illinois in 1853, settling near Lacon, Marshall County, and is one of the extensive farmers and substantial men of the county. He and his wife are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and he has been a Class- Leader for many years. In politics Mr. Tanquary has always affiliated with the Republican party.
The subject of this sketch lived upon the farm with his parents until he was twenty-three years of age, attending the common schools in his early south when not engaged in working on the farm. He commenced teaching at a very early age, at the same time studying law, beginning when in his eighteenth year. In 1881 he took one year's course in the law school of Iowa City, and was graduated in the spring of 1882. In the fall of the following year he located at Pontiac, Livingston County, and ha- since been engaged in the practice of law. Like his father he is a Republican, and in 1885 he was elected City Attorney, and is now serving his sec- oud term, the last time being elected on the Tem- perance ticket.
Mr. Tanquary was married in 1878 to Miss Lil- lian Neal. daughter of Samuel and Asenith ( Math- ews) Neal, natives of New Hampshire. Her an- cestors were Scotch and came from the mother country early in the settlement of New Hampshire. bringing with them a grant to land, on which land they settled. Her great-grandfather was born on the ocean while his parents were en route for
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