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 44

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 44

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Our subject passed his boyhood days on a farm, and during that time attended the common schools, where he obtained a fair education. When he was ten or twelve years of age his father, who lived upon a rented farm in MeLean County, moved to Livingston County, where he purchased 160 acres of land, on which he still resides. When our sub- ject was twenty-one years of age he began farming on his father's land. He continued farming in that way until 1885, at which time he moved to his present home on section 2.

When about the age of twenty-two years, on March 14, 1880, Mr. King was married to Miss Lena B. Meyer, daughter of Joseph B. and Annie (Fisher) Meyer. She was born in Butler County, Ohio, Aug. 31, 1863, and was about fourteen years

of age when her parents moved to Livingston and afterward to Tazewell County. Her father was a blacksmith by trade, which occupation he followed until his eyesight became impaired, and then he began farming. Ile was born in Mexico May 6, 1833, and her mother was born in Germany July 6, 1834. She is the oldest of three children, who are still living, her sisters being Katie, born Dec. 20, 1866, and Louisa, June 6, 1870.

To Mr. and Mrs. King have been born two chil- dren, as follows: Minnie Alice, born May 29, 1881, and Austin Irvin, Oct. 21, 1885. Considering the time they have been in business for themselves, Mr. and Mrs. King have made excellent progress. They have provided themselves with a comfortable home, surrounded with many of the substantial comforts of life, and have made a place for them- selves in the esteem; of their neighbors.

S AMUEL G. WILCOX is a gentleman who operates a good farm on section 29, Ne- braska Township, and bears the reputation of being one of the most reliable citizens and skillful agrrculturists of this part of the coun- try. His carly home was in the Empire State at Truxton, Cortland County, where his birth took place April 13, 1823. Ilis parents, Jesse and Orilda (Harrington) Wilcox, came to Illinois in 1838, lo- cating in Bureau County during its early settle- ment, where they resided for a period of twenty years.

Our subject received a common-school education and was particularly interested in the study of his- tory. He was the only son in a family of five chil- dren, and on reaching manhood took care of his parents as long as they lived. He was married in Bureau County on the 27th of May, 1854, to Miss Lonisa M., daughter of Garland and Peachy Shiff- let, and they became the parents of eight children : Their eldest son, William G., was born May 15, 1855 ; he married Miss Lucy Murray, and is farming in Nebraska Township: they are the parents of two children. Charles L. was born Feb. 3, 1857, mar- ried Miss Rebecca Andrews, and is carrying on farming in Waldo Township; Emma was born Dec.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

11. 185s. and is the wife of Russell J. Bales, of Kingman County, Kan: they have four children : Walter A. was born March 6, 1862, married Miss Emma B. Mett, and has two children ; he is carpen- tering in Flanagan. John S. was born March 17, 1867. and died Sept. 23. 1868: Samuel C. was born April 17. 1870. George R., May 6. 1876. and Geneva M .. April 17, 1878.

Mr. Wilcox sold the home farm in Bureau County [and came to Livingston in May, 1858, where he purchased 160 acres of wild land on sec- tion 29, and since then has given his attention to the building up of the homestead. In this he has succeeded admirably, erecting good buildings, di- viding the fields with neat and substantial fences, and bringing about all the improvements required by the modern and progressive farmer.

Jesse Wilcox, the father of our subject. was born in Columbia County. N. Y., June 27, 1794, and at- tended school with Martin Van Buren at Kinder- hook. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812. and participated in the battle of Plattsburg, on Lake Champlain. Much of the time he was doing {Inty along the Canadian frontier. He was the son of Jesse Wilcox, Sr., who was born in 1759. and was of English stock. The grandfather spent his last years at the home of Samuel G., where his death took place in April. 1855. The mother of our subject was born in Washington County, N. Y .. April 26, 1799, and became the wife of Jesse Wil- cox about 1816. She departed this life at the home of her son. March 17, 1868, and her husband fol- lowed four days afterward. The had lived har- moniously together for a period of fifty-two years.

The maternal grandfather of our subjeet was of Scotch birth and parentage, and came to this coun- try in time to serve as a soldier in the Revolution- ary War. Ile was one of the ninety picked men who storined Stony Point, and was present at the sur- render of Burgoyne and Cornwallis. Although in the thickest of the fight he was never wounded, and upon returning to civil life located in Cortland County, N. Y., where his death took place when he was seventy-six years old.

Mrs. Wilcox was born in Culpeper County, Va .. May 3. 1838, and was about two years old when her parent- removed to Ohio. Five years later

they emigrated to Bureau County, this State, where she remained with them until her marriage. They were natives of Virginia : the father born Sept. 21, 1796, and died Ang. 10, 1859. The mother was born in April, 1811, and died in May, 1880. They were the parents of the following children, namely : Mitchell, now in Atchison, Kan .; Martha is married, and now a resident of Iowa: Nelson and Charles, residents of Bureau County, Ill. : Asher, of Brookyn, lowa; Polly Ann, Mrs. William Headley. of Keokuk, and Silas, who lives in Malcom, Iowa; Garland and: Amanda are deceased.

When Mr. Wilcox first came to this State, prairie chickens, wild deer and turkey were plentiful, and he became an expert hunter. Ile has watched with great satisfaction the development of the country, and has contributed his full share toward its pres- ent condition. He is a Republican politically, and has served as Assessor in Nebraska Township for a period of ten years, which fact speaks well for him in a section strongly Democratic. Ile has been Road Commissioner two terms, and School Di- rector for a period of sixteen years. During the "log cabin" and "hard cider" campaigns he drove sixteen yoke of oxen, and owned the pair which headed the train.

ILLIAM CROW is a gentleman who has been largely identified with the farm, stock and grain interests of Rook's Creek Township especially, and Livingston County in gen- eral. Hle is the son of John and Maria (Cline) Crow, and was born in Lycoming County. Pa., on the 24th of May. 1838, whence he came to Illinois with his parents in the fall of 1856, when eighteen years of age, and located in Bureau County.

On the 1st of December, 1859, Mr. Crow was married to Miss Mary J. Plummer, daughter of Benjamin and Elvira ( Evans) Plummer. lle con- tinned to reside in Burean County: where he carried on farming on rented land until the spring of 1865, when he moved to Rook's Creek Township, where he had bought eighty acres of land on section 28, to which he has added from time to time until he now has a farm of 280 acres. During two years of

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the time 'he has been a resident of Rook's Creek Township he was engaged in buying and shipping grain. Mr. and Mrs. Crow have four children. namely: Elvira M., born Dec. 27, 1861, married Leland Alson, Dee. 27, 1883, and has two chil- dren, as follows: Adelbert C .. born July 28, 1884. and Charles, Nov. 3, 1886. Nettie L., born July 4, 1863, married Stephen Ewing, July 3. 1884, and has one child, Lester C., born June 2, 1885; William S., born Feb. 2, 1865, and Charles B., May 31. 1870.

Mr. Crow received what education he has in the common schools. He is a member of the Re- publican party and gave his first vote to Abraham Lincoln in 1860. He has never sought any office, but for the past twelve years his neighbors have compelled him to serve as Director of their public schools. He is the second child in a family of six children, five of whom are living: James, born March 8, 1834, married Susan M. Welty, in Sep- tember, 1866; they have three children and live in Shelby County, Iowa. William, our subject; George W. married Elizabeth Hodkins, in September, 1853, has two children, and lives in Adair County, Iowa; Phoebe Ann, born in July, 1842, married John HI. Neff, in September, 1867, has four children, and lives in Shelby County, Iowa; Mary Jane, born Oct. 31, 1850, married James D. Sidles, in August. 1872, and has four children.

The father of our subject was born in Bethel Township, Berks Co., Pa., on the 12th of May, 1809, and the mother in Lycoming County, Pa., Oct. 21, 1807; they were married on the 27th of December, 1832, and are still living. The paternal grandparents, John Crow and Catherine Stout, were born in Berks County, Pa., and both died in that State, the latter at the age of fifty-five years. The maternal grandparents, George Kline and Elizabeth Bowers, were born in New Jersey. The paternal great-grandfather was a native of Virginia, and the great-grandmother, Maria Spotts, was a native of Pennsylvania: they both lived to a very great age.

Mrs. Crow is the eldest in a family of fourteen children, thirteen of whom lived to years of ma- turity, while eleven are still living: William; Asbury lives in Montana; Chester M. was wounded

at the battle of Pittsburg Landing and died at the hospital in Evansville, Ind .; Sylvester E. re- ceived sunstroke while in the army, from which he never recovered, and died in Kewanee, Ill., on the 29th of January, 1866; Martha E. married William Landers, has three children, and lives in Montana; Samuel W. lives in Montana; Sanford P. is mar- ried, has three children, and lives in Rook's Creek Township; Benjamin A. is married, has one child, and lives in Page County, Iowa; Eliza M., Mrs. Joseph Brown, has three children, and lives in Princeton, Bureau Co., Ill .; Amy is unmarried and lives in Montana; John E. also lives in Montana; Frank is married, has twin children, and lives in Kewanee; Albert D. lives in Kansas.

ARSHALL DEFOREST WILDER. Among the tillers of the soil of Livingston County who enjoyed educational advantages in their youth much beyond the average, is the subject of this sketch, who is now engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 19, Waldo Township. lle was born in Washingtonville, Os- wego Co., N. Y., on the 17th of May, 1836, and his parents were Edson and Susan (Titus) Wilder.

Mr. Wilder had opportunities of attending school almost uninterruptedly until he was sixteen years of age. At that time he engaged to work by the month at Mexicoville for Levi Matthews, and con- tinned with him for about four months. He then returned home and took a clerk's place in the store of E. V. Robbins. After December 1st of that year he entered the seminary at Ft. Plain in Montgomery County, N. Y., where he studied until spring. He then returned to the store, where he remained until it was sold to Pruyn & Alton, with whom he remained until January, and then went to school until spring. At the close of the school term he procured employment as a clerk for I. C. & A. N. Harding, and remained with them for two years. In 1855, when twenty years of age, he removed to Peoria County, Ill., where his father rented land, and our subject, in connection with his two brothers, carried on farming. In about two years they bought 120 acres of land in partner-

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ship, which they sold in 1864, and removed to Livingston County in 1865, where they jointly purchased a farm of 256 aeres. This partnership between the brothers continued until 1880, when it was dissolved by mutual consent. Mr. Wilder owns at the present time eighty acres of land. the greater portion of which is drained by tiled ditehes.

Mr. Wilder was married, on the 25th of May, 1873, to Miss Frances Adelaide Dingman, daughter of Henry and Lavinia (Ferguson) Dingman, of Oswego County, N. Y. To them have been born four children. as follows: Netta D., born Jan. 24, 1874: Mary J .. Sept. 6. 1875; Henry II., Dee. 6, 1876; Cleo Pearl. Sept. 8. 1885. Mrs. Wilder is the tenth child in a family of eleven, and was born in Orwell. Oswego Co., N. Y., on the 14th of April. 1840. The names of her brothers and sis- ters are as follows: Johanna married Thomas Tripp, and is deceased; Margaret married Jona- than Salisbury, and died leaving six children, who live in Iowa; James married Olive Sheldon, has one daughter. and lives in Oswego County, N. Y .; Hannah married John Cain, of whom she was the second wife. the first being her younger sister, Mary Jane; Hannah had three children. Henry married Mary Smith, has three children, and lives in Jefferson County, N. Y .; Lavinia married Mar- tin H. Thomas, has three children, and lives in Oswego County, N. Y .; Samantha married James Kelley, and died leaving three children, who live at Reading. Mieh. ; Elvira married Newton Ames, who died in the army; by him she had two chil. dren. Her second husband is John Raymond; they have two boys, and live in Canada. Annetta married Delos Watkins, and lives in Oswego County, N. Y. The father of Mrs. Wilder was of German deseent and her mother of Scotch origin. The father was born in 1797, and died July 12. 1876. The mother was born in 1800 and died July 12, 1864.

In February, 1865, Mr. Wilder enlisted in the Union army and was assigned to Sherman's com- mand. He went from Springfick, Ill., to New York, and thence down the coast to Morchead City, N. C. From there they marched to Raleigh, where they joined the regiment and remained with

it until the surrender of Johnson. They afterward returned to Washington and took part in the grand review. While in Washington they re- ceived orders to proceed to Texas, but this order being countermanded they were sent to Louisville, Ky., where they were mustered out of the service. Mr. Wilder was Second Lieutenant of Company B, 7th Illinois Infantry, and has in his possession the sword which was presented him by his company at Springfield, Ill. lle was honorably discharged from the service on the 9th of July, 1865.

Mr. Wilder is a Democrat and cast his first Presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas. In April, 1877, he was elected Township Clerk, which office he held continuously until 1882. In De- cember. 1878, he was appointed Township Col- lector to fill a vacancy. In 1882 he was elected Supervisor, and re-elected in 1883, after which he refused to accept that office again, but con- sented to become Township Clerk, and to that po- sition he has been elected and re-elected eontin- uously until the present time. This long continua- tion in office at the hands of his fellow-citizens of Waldo Township, is indicative of the esteem in which he is held. In his intercourse with others, either in social or business matters, he is pleasant and affable, and as a citizen, in all respects, ranks with the best.

MIOMAS G. LYONS is one of the largest land-owners of Nevada Township, and also one of the most intelligent and enterprising farmers in that section of the county. He was born in County Longford, Ireland, Dee. 26, 1820, and is the eldest son of Daniel and Aun Lyons, na- tives of the same county. The paternal grand- father was also a native of that county, where he was a farmer, and lived and died. The father of our subject was reared in that county, and re- mained there, dying at the age of eighty-four years. The maiden name of his wife, the mother of our subject, was Ann Gilligan, a native of County Longford, and a daughter of Bryan Gilligan, She lived to be eighty-four years of age, and was the mother of fifteen children, eight of whom came to

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America. Their names and places of residence are as follows: Thomas G. lives in Nevada Township; Bernard in Nevada Township; John in Odell Township; Patrick in Brown County, Dak .; Ste- phen in Saunemin Township; Maria McCormick in Saunemin Township; Kate Dougherty in La- Salle County, near Ottawa. Francis came to Amer- ica and remained here about five years, a part of which time he devoted to school teaching, and then returned to the old homestead, in County Longford.

Thomas G. Lyons remained in his native county until he reached manhood. and there enjoyed very good advantages for an education. While not as- sisting his father on the farm, he devoted his whole time to study, whether in the school or out. He remained with his parents until 1848, and on the 5th of May of that year, left on his journey to Ameriea, landing at New York on the 10th of June. He stopped in that city, and was engaged in vari- ous kinds of work until 1851, and in that year he came to Illinois and located in Kendall County. There were no railroads west of Chicago at that time, and he went by way of the Illinois Canal from Chicago to Joliet, and then on foot to Ken- dall County. He purchased eighty acres of wild prairie land at $4 per acre, in that county. He set to work improving this land and erecting buildings, and it was not long until he purchased another 80- acre tract at 810 per acre, and upon this farm he lived until 1867. He then rented this land and came to Livingston County, where he bought 160 acres of wild prairie in Nevada Township, upon which he has since resided. His farm is now one of the best improved in the county, and he has provided it with first-class farm buildings. From time to time Mr. Lyons has added to his acreage, until he has accumulated upward of 600 acres in one body in Nevada Township, and also retains the ownership of the splendid farm in Kendall County.

May 10, 1854, Mr. Lyons was married to Ellen Murphy, who was born in County Longford, Ire- land, in 1833. To them have been born five chil- dren, all of whom are living-Joseph, Stephen, Mary Ann, Allen and Teresa. These children are all bright and intelligent, and are of great assist- ance to the parents in prosecuting the work of the farm and household. Mr. Lyons has always taken

a warm interest in educational matters, and on ac- count of his enthusiasm, has been chosen School Director for several years, and his administration of that office has been marked by efficiency. Hc vote, and acts with the Democratic party, although he is not what could be called an active or offen- sive politician. In the full meaning of the phrase, he is a self-made man, as when he came to this country, he found himself among strangers and without capital with which to begin the struggle of life. His success is such as surely to be very grati- fying to him. The wife of Mr. Lyons died Nov. 20, 1882, and is buried in St. Paul's Cemetery in Nevada Township.

C. BLACKWELL. Among the popular young citizens of Pontiac is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, and who is in the employ of the Chicago & Alton Rail- road, in the capacity of Ticket Agent. Mr. Black- well is a native of England, and was born in the metropolis of the world, on the 26th of November, 1863. He is the son of James J. and Elizabeth (Cooper) Blackwell, who were also natives of Lon- don. James J. Blackwell was a contractor in En- gland, and his father, William, was engaged in farming during his life. The father of Elizabeth Cooper was James Cooper, an Englishman, who fol- lowed through life the occupation of a stone con- tractor.

James J. Blackwell. the father of the subject of this sketch, came to this country in 1870, and three years later sent for his family to join him. On their arrival in America, the family settled in Louisiana, Mo., where he was engaged in the serv- ice of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, as Roadmas- ter, which position he held until 1880. The fam- ily then returned to England, where they remained five months. at the expiration of which time they again came to America, and engaged in the hotel business at Bowling Green, Mo., where they re- miained a short time. They afterward conducted the same business in Kansas City, Slater and Moberly, Mo., until 1886, when they removed to Grand Island, Neb., where they engaged in the same business and

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have since remained, He has a family of three children-Mollie. Mrs. William Conrad, of Mis- sonri. J. C. and Julia. In politics, he affiliates with the Republican party, and is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity and an Odd Fellow. His church membership is with the Methodist. and his wife be- longs to the Episcopal Church.

James C. Blackwell spent his boyhood days in the schools of England. until ten years of age, when he came to the United States with his parents, Ile attended school in Louisiana, Mo .. until he was seventeen years old, and was graduated from the High School of that city. After leaving school he learned telegraphy. and occupied his first responsi- ble position at Bowling Green, Mo., where he re- mained until 1880, since when he has been with the Chicago & Alton Railroad. in the capacity of Telegraph Operator. Train Dispatcher and Sta- tion Agent. He came to Pontiac in 1885, and has since had charge of this company's ticket office at that place.

On the 15th of June. 1885, our subject was mar- ried to Miss Minnie Naylor, of Mason City, III .. and they have one child, named Mary L. Their residence in Pontiac is on the corner of Howard and Walnut streets, and he is the owner of an ex- cellent 80-acre farm in Nebraska. He is an en- thusiastic young Republican, and a member in good standing of the Masonic fraternity.

ENRY DAVIS, of Germanville Township, has been a resident of Livingston County since the spring of 1871. Ile owns a finely cultivated tract of land on section 1, where he has carried on farming successfully for a num- ber of years. He served a thorough apprenticeship in this pursnit. beginning a mere boy, when his services began to be utilized around his father's homestead. He is a native of Switzerland County, Ind .. and was 'born Nov. 9, 1846, but came to Illinois with his parents when a lad eight years of age. Mr. Davis is a fine illustration of the self- made man, who. beginning life dependent upon his own resources, has attained to a good position, so- cially and financially

The father of our subject, David Davis, was a native of the same county as his son, and was the offspring of Thomas Davis, who was of German birth and parentage, and emigrated to America in time to serve as a soldier in the War of 1812. The mother was also born in Switzerland County, Ind., and was the daughter of Norman and Maria Sloan, natives of the North of Ireland.

The parents of our subject, in the spring of 1854, removed from Indiana to Bureau County, Ill., and located in the town of Lamoille, where the father followed blacksmithing and carpentering. IIe is still living there, having arrived at an advanced age. The mother departed this life in 1865. Of the nine children comprising the parental household seven are now living. They are named respectively Melissa Amanda, Ilenry and Mary (twins), William N., Sarah Elizabeth, Melita and Lyman. Those deceased are Anna Belle and Grace.

Ilenry Davis started out in life for himself at an early age, and first engaged as a farm laborer. He was thus employed until after the outbreak of the Rebellion, and then, although but a youth of eight- een, was accepted as a recruit of Company B, 52d Illinois Infantry. He served until the close of the war, and was present at many important battles, namely, Chattanooga; Bentonville, N. C .; Atlanta. and joined the army of Gen. Sherman on its march to the sea. He, with several of his comrades, was captured by the rebels at Cameron, N. C., bnt es- caped three days later during the excitement of a heavy thunderstorm. He attended the grand re- view at Washington; received his honorable dis- charge, and was mustered out at Louisville. Ky., in 1865. Few of the soldiers escaped hardship, dan- ger and privation, and our subject shared uncom- plainingly with his comrades the vicissitudes of war.

After leaving the army Mr. Davis returned to his old home in Bureau County, where he followed farming until the spring of 1871. He had in the meantime acquired sufficient means to invest in real estate, and first purchased land in Ford County. where he is now the owner of 188 acres. That which he at present cultivates comprises a tract of 320 acres, upon which he has operated for the last twelve years. In the meantime he has leased his

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own land to other parties. He is largely engaged in grain-raising, and realizes from his transactions each year a handsome income.

Mr. Davis, on the 12th of December, 1869, took unto himself a wife and helpmeet in the person of Miss Elizabeth IIenderson, a native of Westmore- land County, Pa., but at the time of their marriage a resident of Chatsworth, this county. Her parents, William and Martha Henderson, were natives of Pennsylvania, and are now residents of Brown County, Neb. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have become the parents of six children, three of whom were taken from the home circle, and their remains now repose in the quiet country burying-ground. Dora was born in November, 1879, and died at the age of fifteen months; Hattie passed away when an in- teresting child of eleven months. On the 2d of November, 1887, the parents were called upon to mourn the loss of little Maude, of whom they were suddenly bereft when she was only six years old. Those surviving are William, Zora and Eugene. Mr. Davis uniformly votes the straight Republican ticket, and as an old soldier is a member in good standing of the G. A. R.

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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 44

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