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 45

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 45

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OSCOE LEONARD, one of the pioneers of Livingston County, located on section 33, in Newtown Township, at least thirty-six years ago with his parents. They had made the journey partly overland from Pennsylvania, and upon coming into Illinois, first located in DuPage County, whence five years later they removed to Livingston. The country at that time presented a wide contrast to its appearance at the present. There were no farms or cities which now beautify the landscape so plentifully-only here and there to be seen the smoke from the cabin chimney of an adventurous emigrant. Deer and other wild game abounded. The Leonard family began life in a manner similar to that of their far-away neighbors, and our subject has reaped a rich experience from his observations of life in this section during its transformation from the wilderness.

The father of our subject, Edmund Dexter Leon- ard, a native of Massachusetts, was born Jan. 24,

1805; his ancestry for several generations had lived in New England. He grew to manhood under the parental roof in his native county, where he learned the tanner's trade, and acquired a fair education in the district schools. lle was the son of Simeon Leonard and one of three children which composed the family.

The father of our subject was married in early manhood to Miss Elizabeth H. Remington, who was born in Massachusetts, Jan. 23, 1808. They grew up in homes adjacent, and their wedding was cele- brated at the residence of the bride's parents, in 1829. Soon afterward they located on a farm and in due time became the parents of ten children. The family. in 1832, left New England and located in Bradford County, Pa. Fourteen years later they came to this State, and subsequently to Livingston County, where the father purchased land and built up a good homestead, upon which he spent the re- mainder of his days. His death took place in the fall of 1860. He was an excellent man in all re- spects, and a worthy citizen, and was held in high esteem by his neighbors and friends. Ilis wife, the mother of our subject, is still living, making her home in Manville, Livingston County, where she keeps house by herself, and does her own work, al- though seventy-nine years of age.

The children of Edmund D. and Elizabeth H. (Remington) Leonard are recorded as follows: Franklin, born in 1830, enlisted in the 129th Illi- nois Infantry, and died of erysipelas at Gallatin, Tenn., sometime in 1863, and was laid to rest in that State by his comrades; Roscoe was born July 5, 1832, in Massachusetts: Myra is the wife of An- drew Stewart, of Ford County, and the mother of four children; Christopher C. is farming in New- town Township; Mary, now deceased. was the wife of Sherman Ide, and the mother of five children; Sarah married A. J. Hoobler, and lives in Manville ; Emily died in childhood; Isabelle is the wife of John L. Cusick, a farmer of Newtown Township: the next child died in infancy; Hattie N. is the wife of Robert Jacobs, a prosperous farmer of Ford County, and the mother of one child, a daughter, Lyda.

Our subject remained under the home roof until twenty-seven years of age. IIe had obtained a

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good education, and had become familiar with the various employments of the farm, and now felt en- tirely competent to carry on a homestead of his own. One of the first important steps toward this end was his marriage with Miss Sarah, daughter of John and Betsey (Templin) Phillips, which took place Nov. 5, 1859, at Ottawa. The parents of Mrs. L. were natives respectively of Maryland and Ohio. The Phillips family were among the earliest pioneers of the Buckeye State. Edward Phillip-, the pater- nal grandfather, was born in Maryland, whence he emigrated with his family to Ohio. Ile was the father of William, James, John, Edward and Eliza- beth. Edward, when last heard from, was living in Iowa: John, who was born Feb. 23, 180, was mar- ried when twenty years of age, to Miss Betsey Templin, who was born in Ohio, July 13, 1811. They were wedded on Christmas Day in 1828, in Ohio. Five years later they started for the farther West, coming into Bureau County. Ill., with an ox- team, after having been six weeks on the road. They located on a tract of wild land, and for several year- thereafter endured the vicissitudes of pioneer life. The household was in due time enlarged by the birth of nine children. Their eldest son, James E., was born July 7, 1830, is married and living in Missouri: Elizabeth Jane, born Sept. 1, 1832, is the wife of William Lemmon, of Princeton, and the mother of three children: Esther is the wife of Eli R. Mathis, a merchant at Princeton, and they have four children; Sarah, Mrs. Leonard, was born Dec. 18, 1836; William T. died when seven years of age with scarlet fever; Martha, born July 30, 1840, was the wife of Uriah M. Weidman, who enlisted in Company C, 39th Illinois Infantry, and died Dec. 31. 1864, in Libby Pri-on; she died in September, 1860. The next child was named I-aiah; he was born in 1843, and died in infancy. Levi T. is work- ing in a tile factory at Cornell, and is the father of five children; Amanda died when three months old. The father of these children died at his home in Newtown Township, Jan. 7, 1886. The mother had passed away not quite three years before, her death taking place Oct. 26, 1877, at or near Streator.

Mr. Leonard and his bride commenced house- keeping in a modest dwelling in Newtown Town- ship, where our subject engaged in farming, and in

dne time the household circle included four chil- dren. Their eldest sou, Milo, was born Dec. 8, 1860, and was married in 1882, to Miss Eliza Ste- phenson. His wife was born in Newtown Town- ship, Dec. 17, 1859, and is the daughter of David and Maria ( Rosborough) Stephenson, the former born Feb. 3, 1818, in Scotland. Ilis wife, Maria, was born in Dublin, Ireland, Feb. 17, 1818. The second child of our subject, Myra, was born July 20. 1866, and died March 19, 1874; the third, Mag- gie. born Nov. 16, 1870, is attending school, and resides at home ; Maud was born May 1, 1873, and died April 1, 1874.

Mr. and Mrs. Leonard are prominently connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is one of the Trustees, and all the children have been care- fully trained in the same religious faith. Mr. L. votes the Republican tieket, and has always been greatly interested in the success of the temperance movement. llis farm includes seventy-seven acres of land under good improvement. Mrs. L. is in her own right the owner of forty acres.

The mother of Mrs. Leonard was the daughter of James and Jane (Critzer) Templin. The latter was born May 20, 1787, and died in this county Feb. 7, 1874. Mrs. L. has the Bible which belonged to Leonard Critzer, and which was printed in 1810. The father of James Templin was among the first settlers in Virginia, to which he and his family emi- grated when the country was principally infected with hostile savages, and they never dared venture out without a gun on their shoulders. Ile was killed by the Indians, and his body mutilated in a horrible manner. The son was taken prisoner, and lived among savages fourteen years, when he made his escape and returned.

P ATRICK LAWLESS is a native of Erin's green isle, but when a young man twenty- three years of age left his native soil and emigrated to the United States. He took advantage of the opportunities for advancement in the New World, and is now numbered among the most prominent and reliable farmers of Liv- ingston County. His property is located on sec-

RESIDENCE OF WM. WALKER , SEC. 5. FAYETTE TOWNSHIP.

RESIDENCE OF PATRICK LAWLESS , SEC. 12. CHATSWORTH TOWNSHIP.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

tion 12, in Chatsworth Township, and comprises a broad extent of land, amounting to nearly 900 acres. A large portion of this is devoted to stock farming, and so wise has been his management, and so judicions his investment of funds, that he has now become wealthy, and fully able to retire upon a competency.

Mr. Lawless was born in Louth County, Ireland, in March, 1830, and is the son of William and Bridget ( Melnnany ) Lawless, also of Irish birth and parentage, the former of whom spent his entire life upon his native soil, dying when middle aged. The mother subsequently emigrated to the United States, coming to Illinois with her son, our subject, and spending her last years in this county, where her death took place about 1860. There came with the mother three children-our subject, his brother William, who resides in Marshall County, Ill., and Bridget, who became the wife of Owen Murty, of Ford County, and is now deceased.

The early life of Mr. Lawless was passed at the modest home of his parents. in his native county, where the father was employed at farming. He attended school part of the time, and when of suit- ahle age was employed at farming. After reach- ing his majority, being still occupied in tilling the soil, he managed to save a little sum of money which he decided to invest on this side of the water. Upon landing with his mother and her children in New York City, they all came directly to Illinois, locating first in the city of Peoria, near which our subject rented a tract of land upon which he operated three years. His first purchase was a quarter section in Saratoga Township, Mar- shall County, which he afterward sold, and re- moved to Livingston County. Here he settled at once in Germanville Township, where he at once began to make good headway, and where he has wisely remained. He had a few hundred dollars when he came to this country, which he had earned in old Ireland, and his present ample pos- sessions are the result of his own industry. He possesses the generous traits of his ancestors and despises a mean and underhand act. He has been blessed with good health, the result of good habits, and presents the picture of a man physically strong, with unimpaired muscles and correct morals.

Mr. Lawless has been particularly distinguished for his prudence all through life, and did not take upon himself the responsibilities of a family until he found it probable that he would be able to sup- port them comfortably. After coming into Mar- shall County he was united in marriage with Miss Catherine O'Neil, who also came from the land of the shamrock, her native county being Fermanagh, Ireland, where she was born in 1832. Their eight children were named respectively, William, Mary Ann, Lizzie, Maggie, Katie, Bertha, James and Patrick. One son died when six years of age. Mr. Lawless is one of the most zealons adherents of the Democratic party, and in religious matters is Roman Catholic.

Among our list of illustrations may be found a lithographie view of Mr. Lawless' residence.

ILLIAM WALKER, of section 5, Fay- ette Township, is a native of England, and was born on the 21st of April, 1834. He is the son of James and Mary (Smith) Walker, who were also natives of England, and lived and died in that country. James Walker, the father, learned the trade of a wool-weaver when a boy, and was in the employ of his father until he was about twenty-six years of age. and then be- gan to work in an iron foundry, in which he was known as a polisher or grinder. He continued in this occupation until his death in 1847, at thirty- five years of age. He took a very active interest in political matters, and during all the campaign was a prominent man and leader in the precinct in which he lived. He left a wife and two children, Elizabeth and William. Elizabeth married Job Farley, a farmer in Livingston County, and has five children.

William Walker, our subject, at the age of thir- teen, began to care for himself, and for four years thereafter was engaged as a hostler by a prominent physician in England. In the year 1851 he came to the United States, landing in New York, jour- neying west to Knox County, lil., where he was engaged in farming for seven years, and for the next nine years rented different farms which

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he cultivated. In the spring of 1867 he came to Livingston County. and located on the farm of 345 acres on section 5, township 25, and range 7. which he at present owns and occupies, and where he has been quite extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising. making a specialty of cattle and sheep.

On the 21st of January, 1861. Mr. Walker was married to Miss Agnes Brownlee, who was born in scotland. April 14. 1838, and they have had eight children. as follows: James, who died when four years of age : Barbara. Mary, James, Maria, Phobe, John. and a babe who died in infancy. Since Mr. Walker became a citizen of Fayette Township he has identified himself with its best interests. Po- litically he is a Republican, and an active member of the party. Ile has held the following offices: Commissioner of Highways. Overseer of Highways, School Trustee. School Treasurer and School Di- rector. and has filled these varions places with credit to himself, and to the utmost satisfaction of the people. At the present time he is not holding any official positions, but devotes his time exclusively to the details of his business affairs.

We have pleasure in presenting on an adjoining page a view of Mr. Walker's residence, as repre- sentative of the buildings of this section of the country.

RTHUR L. KENT, of section 24, Waldo Township, is a young man who has displayed considerable business tart and enterprise. Although but twenty-six years of age when this sketch i- written, he has established himself on a basis seldom obtained by men at ten years later in life. He was born in Gridley, MeLean Co., Ill., in 1861. and is the son of George W. and Mary (Panl) Kent.

The father of our subject was born in Boston, Mass., June 2. 1820, and his mother in Dedham, Mass., March 21, 1824. They were married in Massachusetts in 1813. and removed to Illinois about 1850. locating at Pleasant Hill. McLean County. where the father followed farming for about two years. He then moved to Bloomington, III., where he worked in the real-estate business for

about three years, in the employ of Gen. Gridley. lle then moved to the town of Gridley, where he opened a store and engaged in merchandising and grain buying, until the beginning of the war of the Rebellion. He then enlisted as a private in the 88th Illinois Infantry, where he was promoted to a Lieutenantey, and before he was honorably dis- charged from the service he reached the rank of Captain, which was well earned by gallant and merit- orions conduct. Our subjeet is the seventh child in a family of nine. six of whom are still living, as follows: George B., born in 1844, and died in 1861 ; Theodore F., born May 2, 1846, was a private in the 88th Illinois Infantry, and received a wound, from the effects of which he was a cripple till his death, Ang. 5. 1887, and drew a pension from the Government. Ile was married twice, the first wife dying soon after marriage, leaving no children. Ilis second marriage occurred Sept. 1, 1870, to Nellie Jewett, and of this marriage two children were born. Abby died when quite young; Edgar F., born Jan. 26, 1852, has been married twiee; by the first marriage there is one child living, named Bessie Grace; the second marriage occurred on the 17th of May, 1887, with Mary Carson. Albert T., born July 10, 1854, married Belle Kerr, Jan. 25, 1883, and they live in Gridley ; Fred P., born April 23, 1859, married Carrie Eggart in September, 1886, and lives in the State of Nebraska; Arthur L., our subject: William S., born Dee. 3, 1866, and Margaret S., April 28, 1871.

Our subject received a good common-school edu- cation, and at times, when a boy, assisted his father in conducting a store. When old enough to have some knowledge of business affairs he took charge of a wagon which was fitted out with merchandise by his father, and for six years did a general ped- dling and huckster business, in which he was very successful. In the spring of 1883, when about twenty-two years of age, he began farming for himself on the farm where he now resides.

On the 5th of June, 1884, Mr. Kent was married to Miss Eva M. Freed, daughter of Henry and Amanda (Gilmore) Freed, of Gridley, McLean Co., Ill., the Rev. II. S. Pendleton, of Chenoa, officiating. Mrs. Kent was born July 6, 1863, in Gridley Town- ship, Mclean County, where her father was a farmer,

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and she received her schooling principally in the common schools. When about sixteen years old she attended school in Peoria for about four months, and then began teaching, which profession she followed seven terms in District No. 6, Wako Township, and two terms in Gridley Township. She is third in a family of eight children, as follows: James A., born Aug. 28, 1858, married Ida Barnes Sept. 20, 1882, and lives in Washburn, Ill .; Lulu B., born Sept. 5, 1860, is unmarried, and lives at home with her parents; Eva M. is our subject's wife; Jennie N., born Dec. 26, 1865; Orville G., Jan. 14, 1868; Sarah M., Sept. 14, 1871; Charles E., June 17, 1876, and Josephine C., Sept. 11, 1878. The father of Mrs. Kent was born at Mt. Pleasant, Pa .. March 3, 1827, and her mother was born in Grid- ley Township, McLean Co., Ill., Feb. 8, 1841. Her father was twice married, and by the last union there was one child, Elizabeth, who has also been twice married, and by the first marriage has one child, named Fannie Wenner; her second husband is William Bailey, who lives in Kansas.

Mr. and Mrs. Kent have two children, whose names are : Grace May, born May 7, 1885, and Al- bert Elmer, Oct. 5, 1886, both in Waldo Township, Livingston County. Mr. and Mrs. Kent have made a most propitious beginning in life, and there is no doubt but the future has in store for them great successes and grand achievements. They are both yet young and vigorous, and have the will to ac- complish great undertakings. They have already taken their place among the good people who com- pose the society of Waldo Township, and are be- coming general favorites.

M ARTIN DETWILER. Our subject comes from an old Pennsylvania family, which has been noted for its sturdiness as far- mers and citizens. He was born in Frank- lin County, Pa., May 20, 1844, and is now engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 17, Sullivan Township. lle was the ninth in a family of eleven children born to Samuel and Elizabeth (Lehman) Detwiler, both of whom were natives of Pennsyl- vania, The paternal grandfather was Joseph Det-

wiler. The great-grandfather Detwiler was a man who became noted in early days as a member of the Pennsylvania Militia. The father of our sub- ject was a farmer in Pennsylvania until 1852, when he went to Carroll County, Ind. There he remained until the fall of that year, when he moved to Ohio and remained a citizen of that State imtil his death, which occurred on the 1st of May, 1873. Our sub- ject's mother, who is reputed to have been a most excellent woman, of many Christian virtues, died in Ohio in January, 1854. Our subject was reared upon the farm and received a liberal education in the district schools of Pennsylvania and Ohio. He carly determined to try his fortunes further west, and went to Warren. Ill., in the spring of 1867, where he worked that season by the month and in the fall of the same year came to Livingston County. Here he purchased eighty acres of raw prairie land, south of where the village of Cullom now stands, bought a team and immediately began the work of opening and cultivating his farm. lle remained here engaged in this work for three years and then sold this 80-acre tract, and with the proceeds purchased 160 acres of prairie land on section 17, and immediately began the work of improvement. lle moved onto this farm in the spring of 1871, and since that time has kept adding from time to time until his home place consists of 240 acres of fine, arable land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, and well drained by tile ditches. It is stocked with high-grade Norman horses and graded Holstein and Durham cattle.

On the 5th of March, 1871, Mr. Detwiler was married in Sullivan Township to Susan Baer, who was born in Tazewell County, Ill., on the 26th of November, 1848. She was the third in a family of five children born to Henry and Catherine (Hart- man) Baer, both of whom were natives of Germany, but moved to this country at an early day and spent their last days in this township. Mr. and Mrs. Detwiler are the parents of two children, upon whom they have conferred the names of Henry and Samuel. The parents are giving these children all the advantages for obtaining an education that are afforded in the section of country in which they live. Mr. Detwiler is not very active in political matters, but he votes and acts with the Republican

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

party. lle is at present the efficient Road Com- missioner, which otlice he has held since 1873. Ile has served as Assessor one year, as School Trustee for three years, and has also served as School Diree- tor. In the discharge of his otlicial duties it has fallen to him to organize several school districts in Sullivan Township, which work he performed to the satisfaction of all.

G EORGE DAY, who is engaged as a farmer and stoek-breeder, owns a sung homestead, including eighty acres of finely cultivated land and a good set of farm buildings, on section 9. Pleasant Ridge Township. He is of English birth and ancestry, and emigrated to the Ini- ted States in 1858, when a youth of fourteen years. having been born in 1844. Ilis native county was Bedford-hire, and his parents were Thomas and Mary Day, natives of the same county, and of pure English blood.

Mr. Day spent his early life alternating between school and farm, and upon coming to this country proceeded directly westward. landing first in Ford County, which he made his home for some years. although he was working in MeLean County. Soon after the outbreak of the Rebellion he enlisted in the I'nion army. Ang. 15, 1861, becoming a mem- ber of Company G, 37th Illinois Infantry, starting from Cheney'. Grove, McLean Co., Ill. Not long afterward he was sent to the front with his com- rades, and participated in many of the important battles of the Southwest. including Pea Ridge, Per- ry's Grove. Boonville and Springfield. Mo., and was afterward engaged in the sieges of Vicksburg, Ft. Hudson. Island No. 10 and Ft. Brownsville, Tex. At New Orleans they boarded a vessel which was included in a fleet of twenty-seven on the Gulf of Mexico. A fearful storm not long after- ward ensned. which lasted forty-eight hours, in which seven vessel, with their crews, went to the bottom. The remainder safely landed, except two, which were wrecked on a sand-bar, but all the pas- sengers were saved. Our subject, afterward, was detailed to duty at Brownsville, Tex, where he was transferred to a battery, and remained until the ex-

piration of his term of enlistment. After serving three years and two months he received an honora- ble discharge, and was mustered out at Chicago.

Mr. Day, upon returning from the army, located in MeLean County, and in 1870 was married to Miss Sophia E. Ililton. This lady was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., Oct. 4, 1853, and is the daughter of Henry and Harriet Hilton. natives of England and New York respectively, and now residing in Fairbury. The four children born of this union were: Mary, now an interesting girl of fourteen years; Nellie, aged eleven; Ettie, seven, and Guy 11., five. During a period of eight years Mr. Day served as Constable in Pleasant Ridge Township, and with his estimable wife, is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he officiates as Class- Leader and Trustee. Ile is a solid Republican, politically, voting for the same side for which he fought.

SAAC VOORHEES, one of the most peaceable and law-abiding citizens of Chatsworth Town- ship, has for the last twenty-five years been pursuing the even tenor of his way, tilling the soil, providing comfortably for his family, and enjoying the esteem of his neighbors. In addition to his agricultural pursuits he officiates as Postmaster of Healey, at his residence, which oflice be has held since 1884. Ilis property ineludes eighty acres of land, which is fairly well improved and which he has redeemed from its primitive condition, having se- cured it while it was uncultivated prairie. His farm buildings are of medium size, but of good quality, and he has in all respeets deported himself as an honest man and a good citizen.

Our subjeet was born not far from the Atlantic coast in Somerset County, N. J., Dec. 25, 1846. His parents, Christopher and Mary (Baeon) Voor- hees, were also natives of New Jersey, where they were reared and married, and whenee after the birth of five children, they migrated westward to Illi- nois. They first located upon a traet of land in LaSalle County, where they followed farming, and remained until the death of the father. The mother subsequently removed to this county and her death

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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 45

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