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 39
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On the 4th of October, 1870, Mr. Cavanaugh married Miss Kate O'Leary, the youngest daughter of a wealthy and respected farmer of Grundy County. With his bride he staid on the old home- stead until the fall of 1872, when he came to Ne- vada and engaged in the grain business, building a large and substantial elevator, and a handsome and
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commodious office. Two years later he purchased a general stock of merchandise. to which he has been adding until he has now an immense and well- selected stock, that would do credit to any town in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Cavanaugh are the par- ents of nine children. namely, Clarence Emmet. Ed- mund S., Clement J., Constance L., John A., Flor- ence Emily, Celesta A., Irene M. and Gertrude A. Clarence, though but sixteen years of age. is Prin- cipal of the town school. while the others. except the two youngest. are among his pupils.
That Mr. C. is a man of but ordinary calibre, must not be inferred from the fact that Nevada is bat a small village, on the contrary, he is possessed of superior abilities, such as befit a man for the front rank in any community. He is considered an authority in educational matters, having written many able articles on the subject of education.
OHN AUGUSTINE, Justice of the Peace, farmer and stock-raiser, located on section 17, Owego Township, is the owner of eighty acres of finely improved and cultivated land, provided with a substantial residence, from which may be obtained a fine view of the surrounding country. Our subject is one of the enterprising and progressive farmers of Livingston County, who has made the most of his opportunities, and taken advantage of modern progress. His barn and out- buildings are of good description, and finely ar- ranged for the shelter of stock and storing of grain. He has a fine lot of high-grade cattle and horses, and everything about the premises indicates the supervision of an enterprising and intelligent man.
Mr. Augustine is a native of Lancaster County, Pa., the date of his birth being Jan. 27, 1833, and he is a son of John A. and Ann ( Miller) Augustine, natives of Germany and Pennsylvania respectively. The father emigrated to America when he was fif- tren ¿years old, and settled in Pennsylvania. where he married and reared a family. He was the father of twelve children, nine of whom are living at the time this sketch is written : Martin, Andrew, Sam- nel, John, Henry, Susan: Mary, the wife of John Carson : Christie A., the wife of B. W. Benedict,
and Mattie. Those deceased are Elizabeth, Jacob and Michael, the two latter having lost their lives in the late Civil War, in which they were engaged as Union soldiers. Jacob enlisted in Fulton County, Ill., went out as a Captain, and was killed at Ken- nesaw Mountain while acting in the capacity of Colonel, not having at that time received a com- mission for that rank, which had been issued by the Governor. The other son, Michael, also enlisted in Fulton County, and was killed at Mission Ridge. Another son, Henry Augustine, of Normal, Ill., also enlisted in Fulton County as a private, rose to the rank of Captain, and served four years, contin- uing in the service until the close of the war.
The subject of this sketch was reared to man- hood in his native county, and was given a liberal education, reaping the benefit of the advantages afforded in the admirable schools of Lancaster County. When nineteen years of age he began the trade of a blacksmith, which occupation he followed about eleven years. On the 14th of August, 1856, in Pennsylvania, he was married to Susan Duke, who was born in Lancaster County, that State, on the 19th of October, 1837; she is a daughter of Adam and Catherine Duke. The former is de- ceased; he was a soldier in the War of 1812; her mother at present resides in Missouri. The pater- nal grandfather, John Duke, was an Englishman by birth, and settled in Pennsylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. Augustine six children have been born: Charles F., deceased ; Violetta, the wife of Albert Morrison ; Emma L .; Lewis E., deceased ; Alvaretta and John A.
In 1856 Mr. Augustine emigrated to Illinois, where he resided in Fulton County until he came to Livingston County in the spring of 1869, and located on section 18, Owego Township, where he remained until 1875, in which year he settled on section 17, where he now resides ; his farm consists of eighty acres of land, upon which he has intro- duced all modern conveniences. At present he is Assessor of Owego Township, in which capacity he has served for thirteen consecutive years. In 1880 he was the Census Enumerator for the township. For many years he has been serving as Justice of the Peace in that township. In political matters he acts with the Republican party, and is also a
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strong advocate of temperance, which he enthusi- astically advocates. In religious matters he knows no creed, nor does he belong to any church ; he is a Free-thinker in all that the title implies, but en- deavors to act up to the precepts of the Golden Rule. He and his family enjoy the respect and con- fidence of all by whom they are surrounded, and their friends number all who know them.
R USSELL BROS. "Beholdl how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in imity." It is both pleasant and beautiful to see broth- er's dwelling together in unity, not only in social but business matters. The Russell brothers. Frank T. and George W., finely illustrate the amicable way in which brothers should stand together in the affairs of life when they have opportunity.
George W. Russell, the younger brother, and a farmer of Pontiac Township. is a native of Greene County, Ohio, and was born on the 26th of Septem- ber. 1847. He is a son of William R. and Harriet Russell, both of whom are natives of Virginia. Adam Russell, a grandfather of George, was a sol- dier in the War of 1812. The Russell family is of Scotch descent; their grandfather settled in Greene County in 1810. George Russell came with his parents to Livingston County in 1869, and settled in Pontiac Township on section 30, on which the parents lived until the father's death, which took place in 1871, and the mother's in 1875. They had seven children: Jane is the wife of Harvey Strain. of Greene County, Ohio; Mary : Adam, of Shelby County, Ohio; Frank T., George W., William E., of Shelby County, Ohio, and Ada. The father was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church for forty years, always taking an active part in the affairs of that church. lle was Republican in polities, and a man who was universally respected.
George W. Russell, one of the firm of Russell Bros., who are now owners and managers of a farm of eighty acres in Pontiac Township. was reared to manhood in Greene County, Ohio, where he re- ceived a common-school education, and then came to Livingston County in 1868. On the 11th of October, 1877, he was married to Jennie Living-
ston, daughter of Isaac Livingston, of McLean County. They have had one child, William R., born July 8, 1878, and on the 17th of July, the same year, his wife died. Frank T. Russell, the older brother of the firm of Russell Bros., is also a native of Greene County, Ohio, and was born on the 7th of October, 1844. He has followed the oc- cupation of a farmer all his life, in which he has been engaged in Livingston County since 1868. Both of the brothers are Republican, and vie with each other in their devotion to that party. They are both public-spirited, and in favor of everything that will improve the county and elevate society.
E DWARD WIIALEN, successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 7, in Rook's Creek Township, has been a resident of this county since a child not two years of age. He is a native of Ireland, born in County Carlow, Oct. 12, 1847, and two years later his parents emi- grated to the United States, locating first in Ottawa, LaSalle County, where they remained until the boy was nine years okl. In 1854, during the Know- Nothing excitement, when he was about seven years of age, some of his schoolmates who had heard their parents talk about the "hateful foreigners" took a rope and hung him to a stake-and-rider fence, and but for the timely interference of an elder brother the result would have been fatal.
Young Whalen pursued his studies in the com- mon school, and after reaching his majority crossed the Mississippi to view the country. but staid only two months. In 1872 he went to Minnesota on ac- count of his health, remaining in the North six months and being greatly benefited. After his re- turn to Illinois he was married, April 11, 1875, to Miss Ellen, daughter of Felix and Ellen (Hughes) Sherry, the mother a distant relative of Bishop Hughes, of New York. The wedding took place at the home of the bride in Nebraska 'Township, the Rev. Mr. Handley officiating. Of this union there have been born three children, namely, Felix E., April 24, 1876; Edward J., Oct. 27, 1877, and Mary E., Jan. 30, 1879. Mr. Whalen has served as School Director six years, and usually votes the
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straight Democratic ticket, although he reserves the right of a free American citizen to vote otherwise if he considers it best. He is an active member of the Catholic Church, and in all respects a highly respected citizen.
Mrs. Whalen was the sixth in a family of nine children born to her parents. The latter are both dead : the mother died Nov. 2, 1867, the father Nov. 18, 1859. Her eklest si-ter, Mary, was first married to Peter Conly, and became the mother of one child, a son, James, now a resident of Flana- gan. After the death of Mr. Conly she married John Flanagan, and of this union there were born four children. The mother died in 1872, and is buried at El Paso. Arthur Sherry is married and has six children : James is single and a resident of Livingston County : John remains in his native Ire- land, and is the father of a family; Patrick is un- married and a resident of this county ; and Annie, also ummarried, is housekeeper for her brother James in Nebraska Township.
OHN J. TAYLOR, who is largely engaged in the real-estate, banking and milling busi- ness in Fairbury, was born on the 17th of July, 1818, in Melton, Saratoga Co., N. Y., and comes of Scotch stock, his grandfather being John Taylor, who emigrated from near Edinburgh. Scotland, to this country in 1785. His first loca- tion was at Boston. He was a ship captain and followed the sea for many years, eventually losing his life on the ocean. His widow settled near Sara- toga Springs, N. Y.
The name of the father of our subject was George W. Taylor, who was born in Boston, Mass., and was the third son of the family. He obtained an excellent education in his youth. and became so proficient in mathematics and nautical studies that he was able to command a vessel, and followed the ocean for fifteen years. but gave up that vocation at the earnest request of his wife, Harriet L. Du- persoy, and adopted farming as his occupation, which he made a success. He resided in the State of New York during his life, and died in 1881. Having been economical he succeeded in accumu-
lating about $20,000. His wife was of French- English descent, and was born in 1795, and died in 1837. She was the mother of three children : George C., who married Uretta Bentley : John .J., our subject, and Mary L., who married O. II. P. Nash.
After obtaining a liberal education in the com- mon schools of his native town Mr. Taylor came to Illinois in 1851. and entered Lennox Academy, where he remained two and one-half years. Ile is a pioneer in the real-estate business, and during his early residence in Illinois entered abont 11,000 acres of land, and ultimately disposed of it at a good profit. He has pursued this business to a greater or less extent ever since. In 1866 he en- gaged in the banking business by opening a private banking institution. In 1871-72 he assisted in establishing the First National Bank in Fairbury, and became one of its Directors. The capital of this bank is $50,000, and it has the entire confi- dence of the community. At the time this sketch is written Mr. Taylor is the possessor of 800 acres of the best land, which is divided into five differ- ent farms of 160 acres each, and every one is being placed under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Tay- lor has twelve acres of land in Fairbury, on which he has erected one of the nnest dwelling-houses in the town. lle is what might be called well-to-do, as his assets of real and personal property probably foot up to $200,000. He is very largely interested in the milling business at Quincy. His mills were destroyed by fire, but he has rebuilt them at a cost of about $100,000; they contain all the modern roller improvements, and have a capacity of 1,200 barrels per day.
John .1. Taylor was married, on the 15th of Feb- ruary, 1855, to Hannah E. Cary, a native of Bruns- wick, Me., who was born Jan. 19, 1828, and is the daughter of James and Mary (Oakman) Cary. HIes father was a manufacturer of clocks and was a very fine mechanic. A Mr. Dennison, an appren- tice of his, was the first man to make a watch by machinery, and during their lives they were fast friends. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are the parents of three children: Mary L. married Lester 11. Strong, and lives in Ottawa, Ill .; Alice E. and James C.
Our subject and wife attend the Presbyterian
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Church. He is a thorough-going Republican, and puts forth his best efforts in political matters for the success of that party, although he never neg- lects his business affairs for polities. Mr. Taylor is handling his affairs successfully and profitably. In his business relations he is always found to be a man of strict integrity, honorable and fair in all his dealings, doing unto others as he would they should do unto him, and thus merits and receives the approval of his friends and acquaintances.
2 ICHOLAS WEIHERMILLER. A large proportion of Avoca Township is under enltivation by the thrifty and industrious German farmer. This nationality has had much to do with the building up of the great West, and the subject of this sketch is performing his part as an enterprising citizen on a snug farm on section 25 of the township mentioned. The carly part of his life was spent in the Province of Bavaria, Germany, where he was born May 4. 1856, and from which he emigrated to the United States in the spring of 1872.
The parents of our subject, George and Maggie (Heinline) Weihermiller, were natives of the same Province as their son, and of German ancestry for generations back. Nicholas was the fourth of the family, and commenced his education when a little lad six years of age. At the age of fourteen he had completed his studies, and two years later with the enterprise for which he has always been dis- tingnished, started out by himself to seek his fort- unes on another continent. He embarked in a sailing-vessel at Bremen, and after a voyage of two weeks, set foot on American soil, procceding at once from New York City directly for the West. For several years thereafter he was a resident of LaSalle County, this State, whence he came to Livingston County in 1877.
property includes eighty acres of good land, and the improvements which the passing traveler be- holds are the result of the industry and enterprise of the proprietor. Besides his home farm he owns eighty acres in Iroquois County, which is operated by a tenant. This also has good buildings, and upon his homestead is a creditable assortment of live stock, and all the necessary machinery for lessening labor in producing and garnering the choicest crops of the Prairie State. Considering the fact that Mr. Weihermiller came to Illinois with a cash capital of sixty-three cents in his pocket, the progress which he made should be en- tirely satisfactory to himself and those interested.
The lady who presides over the domestic affairs of our subject, and takes the warmest interest in his success, was in her girlhood Miss Louisa Metz, and she became his wife on the 2d of January, 1878. Mrs. W. was born in Woodford County, Aug. 28, 1858, and is the daughter of Frederick Metz, one of the most thorough farmers and highly respected citizens of Pleasant Ridge Township. To our subject and his wife there were born five children, namely, Ida, born March 24, 1879; George F., Oct. 3, 1881 : Matilda, March 14, 1883; Bertha, Jan. 17, 1885, and Della, Oct. 30, 1886. The parents of Mrs. Weihermiller, Frederick and Barbara (Somer) Metz, are natives of Germany, whence they emigrated to the United States, and located in this county about twenty years ago. Of the large family of children born to them, the fol- lowing survive, namely, Frederick; Barbara, the wife of William Voelpel, of Tazewell County ; John, Mary, Louisa, Samuel, Lewis, Lena, William and Amos.
Mr. Weihermiller is an intelligent citizen who keeps himself informed upon matters of general in- terest, and politically, votes the straight Democratic ticket.
Mr. Weihermiller commenced life in this county E LHANAN MORRIS, a wealthy and influen- tial farmer of Belle Prairie Township, is finely located on section 3, where he has eighty acres of valuable land, upon which he has ef- fected some of the finest improvements in the as a farm laborer, working two years in Pleasant Ridge Township, after which he farmed there on rented land two years longer. He took up his resi- dence in Avoca Township about 1880, locating on his present farm where he has since resided. His | county. The residence is a model of beauty and
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convenience, and is flanked by a neat and substantial barn. with all other necessary out-buildings. The fields are mainly devoted to grain and pasture, and the land has been thoroughly drained with about $00 rods of tile. Everything is kept "shipshape," and Mr. Morris is held in the highest respect, both as a skillful farmer and desirable member of the community. He has never been afraid of industri- ou> toil and has honestly earned every dollar of his possessions. Of late years he has partially retired from active labor and is wisely spending his declin- ing days in the ease and comfort to which he is justly entitled.
Like many of the early settlers of Illinois, Mr. Morris is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Greene County, Nov. 1, 1824. Ilis parents, Abner and Rachel (Bowers) Morris, were born and reared in the same county. They spent their entire lives in the Keystone State, where Abner Morris became a man of wealth and prominence, and where his death took place in the spring of 1869, when he was sixty-nine years of age. The mother had passed away many years previous to the death of her hus- band. Both were devoted members of the Baptist Church and numbered among its most liberal and cheerful supporters. Their family included three sons and five daughters, of whom Elhanan, our sub- ject, wa- the ellest. The others were named re- spectively, Ira, Margaret, Rachel, Mary, Joseph, Rebecca and Caroline. Of these Mary is deceased, and the other- reside in Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Our subject remained under the home roof until after reaching his twenty-fourth year, and was then married in his native county to Miss Elizabeth Pat- ton, in December, 1848. The year following they came to Illinois, locating first in Bureau County, where Mr. Morris worked splitting rails, at $11 per month. He shortly, however, embarked in the same business on his own hook, continuing in Bureau County until the fall of the year, when he removed to Woodford and farmed upon rented land for ten years. He saved what he could of his income, and in 1860 came to Livingston County and purchased eighty acres of wild land, which he in due time transformed into his present beautiful and valuable farm. It is in all respects a forcible illustration of
what may be accomplished by industry and perse- verance, and the people around him who have known him long and well, all agree that he has no more than he deserves.
Mrs. Morris, like her husband, is a native of Pennsylvania and was born Oct. 16. 1830. Iler parents were Samuel and Jane (Haynes) Patton, also natives of the Keystone State, whence they removed to Illinois in 1851. The mother departed this life some years ago in Woodford County; the father is living and resides there upon the old home- stead. Our subject is a valned member of the New- School Baptist Church, and politically is a Jack- sonian Democrat.
LBERT HOFFMANN, who has traveled ex- tensively in this country and Europe, has chosen farming and stock-raising for his occupation, and is now located on a 160-acre farm on section 33, Pleasant Ridge Town- ship. He was born in Thuringia, Germany, May 26, 1834. When a boy he learned the trade of a weaver, at which he worked for a short time in the old country. lu 1853 he emigrated to America and found employment by the month on a farm in New Jersey. For three years he continued at this employment at $5 per month, and at the end of that time he came to Illinois and located in Bureau County, where he worked by the month for ten years. In 1867 Mr. Hoffmann came to Livingston County, and purchased eighty acres of land in Pleasant Ridge Township, for which he paid $15 per acre, and to which he has since added eighty acres more. When he purchased this land it was in an unbroken state, but by diligent work he has put it in a condition of excellent cultivation. His farm buildings are of first-class quality, the barn being 40x60 feet in dimensions. Like very many of the farmers of Livingston County, Mr. Hoffmann is largely engaged in raising stock, and at the time this sketch is written has twenty-two fine horses and a large herd of Durham cattle on his farm. Ile takes great pride in the stock department, and has earned a reputation co-extensive with the county as a model stock-raiser.
RESIDENCE OF WW F EIKLOR, SEC. 15. BELLE PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP.
RESIDENCE OF ALBERT HOFFMANN, SEC.33. PLEASANT RIDGE TOWNSHIP.
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On the 6th of March, 1864, Mr. Hoffmann was married to Miss llelen Stahly, who was a na- tive of Germany, born Oct. 22, 1844. She is the daughter of Peter and Kate (Gingerick) Stahly, natives of Germany, the former born in 1813, and died in 1889; the mother was born in the same year, and is still living. They were the parents of three children-Eliza, William and Helen. To Mr. and Mrs. Iloffmann have been born six children, whose names are as follows: Arthur, Johanna, Ernest. Bertha, Edgar and Katie.
Mr. Hoffmann is a member of the Republican party, which he joined upon his advent into this country. He is a man who takes great interest in all matters relating to education. and for that reason has been selected as School Director for his district. In 1878 he made a return visit to Europe, taking an extensive trip through the greater portion of that country. He traveled ex- tensively in Russia, being on the road from May till September, and visited all places of interest, in- cluding the spot where Alexander the Second was killed in St. Petersburg, Russia. He made a trip up and down the River Rhine, and in the month of September returned to his home in Illinois, feeling that he had been much profited by his visit abroad. He is a man of extensive reading, which, coupled with his wide experience as a traveler, makes him a very entertaining man in conversation. He and his family occupy a prominent position in the so- ciety of Pleasant Ridge Township, and a visit to their home is always agreeable.
We present on an accompanying page of this work a view of Mr. Hoffmann's residence.
W ILLIAM F. EIKLOR, who is accredited with the ownership of one of the finest farms in Belle Prairie Township, makes a specialty of dealing in cattle, purchasing and shipping to the Eastern markets. He also breeds considerably, and altogether handles large numbers annually. His property includes 150 acres of valuable land, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation, pro- viding it with handsome and substantial buildings and all the accessories required by the intelligent
farmer of the nineteenth century. As a citizen and member of his community he is considered one of the most reliable men of his township, prompt to meet his obligations, and possessing all the quali- ties which commend him to an appreciative and in- telligent class of people.
Our subject was born in Erie County, Ohio, Aug. 2, 1838, and is the son of William F. and Jeanette (Cane) Eiklor, natives of New York State, and the former of German ancestry. The father was born in 1815, and died in McLean County, this State, in January, 1866. He spent his childhood and youth in his native county, whence he emigrated to Ohio and there learned the trade of a blacksmith and ma- chinist, which he followed through life, preparing principally the iron work for vessels, including schooners and steamboats. He established in busi- ness for himself at Huron, and employed a goodly number of workmen during the busy seasons. lle was a skilled mechanic, and although receiving but a common-school education. became a man whose influence was sensibly felt in his community, of which he was a highly respected member. The mother was born in 1818, and was married in the spring of 1836; she is still living, and makes her home with her children. Although quite aged she is a healthy and vigorous lady, possessing the ad- mirable constitution of her Irish ancestors. Both parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years. They came to Illinois in 1847, and Mr. E. took up a tract of land in Cropsey Township, McLean County, which remained in his possession until his decease. The home circle in- cluded a large family of children, of whom Will- iam F., our subject, was the eldest. The others were named respectively, James, Alonzo, Joseph B., Rebecca J., Louisa, Frederick B., Cecelia, John, Edward II., Jay and Jeanette.
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