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 47

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 47

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David Rice remained a member of his father's household until reaching his majority, and then de- termined to seek his fortunes in the farther West. Coming directly to Illinois he took up his residence in this county, and for the first three or four months

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was employed on a farm in Reading Township. He was subsequently engaged at Boyd's until his mar- riage, which occurred in Reading Township, Feb. 24, 1860, the maiden of his choice being Mis- Louisa Ammons, who was born Sept. 16, 1842. The parents of Mrs. Rice were natives of Pennsylvania and are now in Reading. Of her mion with our subject there were born seven children: The eldest, a daughter, Shebby A., died on the 7th of March, 1864, when less than a year old; Nancy A., born Dec. 20, 1864, is the wife of Albert Tellis, and the mother of two children; they reside on a farm in Reading Township. John II. A. was born Oct. 19, 1866, and lives at home; Elizabeth A., born Dec. 25, 1869, is the wife of William Devine, an express- man, and the mother of one child; they reside in Joliet, Ill. Mary A. was born Sept. 11, 1871, and died May 8, 1877 : Sarah Bell, born Dec. 29, 1876, lives at home with her father, as does also David S. A., who was born April 3, 1879. Mrs. Lonisa Rice departed this life at her home in Reading Township, on the 16th of August, 1885. She was a lady greatly respected in her community and a consis- tent member of the Church of God, with which Mr. Rice also became identified many years ago.

The farm of our subject comprises 160 acres of choice land, with suitable buildings, a goodly as- sortment of live stock, and all the other appliances which constitute the model country homestead. Mr. Rice, although taking a genuine interest in the wel- fare of the people around him and always willing to contribute to public enterprises, meddles with polit- ical affairs very little otherwise than to cast his vote with the Democratic party.

ACOB S. TUCKER. While the late Civil War was very disastrous in the matter of loss of property and the sacrifice of human life, it had redeeming features in many re- spects, one of which was that it offered the boys of the North an opportunity to become acquainted with the customs and manners of a large section of country which could not have been presented theni in any other way. It also made the men who were

participants self-dependent, for in the army it was pretty generally every man for himself. To the man who went through safely, the experience has been and is worth much, in that it begat a spirit of independence which is valuable under all circum- stances and in all the relations of life. The subject of this sketch had large experience as a soldier, and in that capacity traversed an extensive section of the country. He is now a prominent farmer of Avoca Township, located on section 18.

Mr. Tucker is a native of Tippecanoe County, Ind., and was born on the 26th of January, 1837. Ile is the son of Joel and Sallie A. Tucker, natives respectively of Ohio and Pennsylvania. His ma- ternal uncle, Perrin Stull, was a soldier in the Mexican War, and was wounded three times during that service. In the fall of 1851 Mr. Tucker's par- ents emigrated to Livingston County, settling on section 16, in Avoca Township, where the father died on the 10th of April, 1885. During his thirty- four years' residence in Avoca Township, the people became much attached to him on account of his many excellent qualities, and his death was sin- cerely mourned by all who knew him. He was an enterprising and representative citizen, and during his life engaged in many enterprises for the wel- fare of the people, which largely redounded to his credit.

The subject of this sketch has been a resident of Livingston County since 1851, with the exception of four years when he lived in Ford County, Ill., and during his service in the army. On the 19th of August, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, 3d Illinois Cavalry, in which regiment he served for over three years, during which time he was engaged in the following battles: Trot Hill, Pea Ridge, Ark., Cotton Plant, Ark., in all the battles preced- ing and during the siege of Vicksburg; Jackson, Port Iludson, a cavalry charge on Bayou Teche, and was present at the surprise of Gen. Forest at Memphis, Tenn. While on picket duty at Helena, Ark., he was captured by the enemy, and was con- fined as a prisoner of war four weeks at Little Rock, Ark., at the end of which time he was pa- roled. Besides those named above, which are well known as engagements in which large bodies of troops participated, he was in many other engage-

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ments and skirmishes. He was honorably discharged from the service at the expiration of his term of enlistment, Sept. 5. 186-1, and immediately returned to Livingston County.

On the 16th of February, 1865, Mr. Tucker was married to Louisa M. Langworthy, of Chautauqua County. N. Y., and they have had four children. three of whom are now living-Alta, Florence E. and Ira J. Mr. Tucker settled on his present farm, which consists of eighty acres of good and product- ive land, in 1880. He has made a success in his undertakings as a farmer, and is now very com- fortably situated. He is one of that large number of men who hold that the Greenback should be the only circulating medium among the people, and on account of his views upon financial questions he has long been attached to the Greenback party. He has served the people as a member of the Board of Supervisors for Avoca Township, and has held other minor official positions. lle affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal Church in religious mat- ters. and socially is an ardent Comrade of Post No. 75, G. A. R .. of Fairbury, Ill.

L. WESTERVELT, of the firm of Easton & We-tervelt, proprietors of the leading livery. feed and sale table at Fairbury, is one of the young and energetie business men of that place. What he pos-e -- es of this world's goods he ha- - eeured through inees-ant and well-directed work, and ha- been the recipient of no legacy what- ever. Onr subjeet is the son of James L. and Mary A. (Conley) Westervelt, and was born in Franklin County, Ohio, Ang. 19, 1860.

Jame- L. Westervelt, Sr., was born June 1, 1819, in Ohio, where he was reared to the calling of a farmer, and followed that vocation through life. sept. 22, 1840, he was united in marriage with Mi -- Mary A. Conley, and continued to reside in that State until all their children were born. Ilop- ing to better their financial condition, he emigrated to Illinois in 1×60, and settled in the castern part of McLean County, about four miles from Fairbury. The country was new at that time, but the father, with his good wife and a family of boys, set to work

with a will to improve the land, and ere many years had passed away. had a well-improved farm. He lived and labored on this farm for eighteen years, and then in 1877 disposed of it, and purchased a residence in Fairbury. Moving into the latter place, he retired from the active labors of life, and there lived until the Master called him to a better home, "a home not made with hands, eternal in the heav- en>," his demise taking place in 1880. He was known far and wide as a man whose word was as good as his bond, and one who never turned a deaf ear to the eall of charity. Ile was a consistent Christian man, holding fellowship in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and respected by all who knew him.

Mary A. Westervelt, the mother of our subject, survives her husband. She was born in Pennsyl- vania Dee. 10, 1820, and lived with her parents un- til her marriage. By her union with Mr. Wester- velt nine children were born, six of whom are yet living, and all are residents of this county, with one exception. Mrs. Westervelt with her husband passed through all the trials of an early settlement in a new country. Nobly she did her part, and the respeet in which her children are held to-day, attests the gentleness and kindness with which she treated them, and the Christian teachings re- eeived from her. She is one of those good old Chris- tian women who have a heart as big as a mountain, and it is full of love for all humanity. She is living in Fairbury, near to her children, and none are more highly respected than Grandma Westervelt.

Mr. Westervelt of this sketch was an infant when his parents came to Illinois, and was reared until his eighteenth year on the old homestead in Me- Lean County, where he attended the common schools, and assisted in the labors on the farm. When the father moved to Fairbury, our subject engaged in elerking in a grocery store, in which his brother Oscar was interested. Ile was married to Miss Ella, youngest child of Hon. Amos M. and Melissa II. (Kinney) Johnson, Feb. 19, 1882. Miss Johnson was born in Fulton County, Ill., in 1862, and by her marriage with Mr. Westervelt has become the mother of one child, Roy D., born April 2, 1883.

In 1886 Mr. Westervelt severed his connection

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with the firm of Westervelt & Co., and removed to Chicago, where he engaged in the grocery business at No. 507 Western avenue, and for five months con- dueted the same with considerable success. Then disposing of his stock, Mr. Westervelt returned to Fairbury, and associated himself with Alexander Easton in the livery, sale and feed business. Politi- cally he is a red-hot Republican, and trusts the time will speedily come when that party will incorporate Prohibition views in its platform.

S QUIRE LINSCOTT, a native of the Buck- eye State, and scion of an excellent family, who, on the father's side were Vermonters, and on the mother's Virginians, being of an enterprising disposition, and desirous of seeing something of the farther West. removed from his native State, first to Indiana and then to Illinois, and is now one of the most prosperous and promi- nent citizens of Avoca Township. Ilis early years had been spent in the agricultural districts, and he has shown himself peculiarly adapted to the em- ployments of home life. Ile commenced poor in pocket and at the foot of the ladder, and is now the owner of 680 acres on sections 18 and 19, which comprises one of the finest farms in Central Illinois, and yields in abundance the richest crops of the Prairie State. He is thoroughly acquainted with the difficulties and hardships of pioneer life, and knows all about the disadvantages which the early settlers were obliged to contend with. lle possessed, however, in a marked degree a large share of the resolution and perseverance common to the men of those days, and entered upon the cultivation of the soil with all the determination with which he was so largely supplied, and the re- sults of which he has reason to be proud. The main points in a career more than ordinarily inter- esting, are as follows :

Our subject, a native of Greene County, Ohio, was born Feb. 12, 1821, and is the son of Benja- min and Polly (Jarrett) Linscott, whose ancestors emigrated from Wales to the United States in the Colonial days. His parents each removed from their native State early in life. They were mar-

ried near Cincinnati, where the father engaged in shoemaking for a time, and afterward located upon a farm in Greene County. They spent the remain- -der of their lives in Ohio. The home circle in- eluded twelve children, of whom only the follow- ing now survive, namely : Jeremiah, of Greene County, Ohio; Mary, the wife of William Loath, of Emporia County, Kan., and Squire, of our sketch.

Mr. Linscott passed his boyhood and youth in his native county, and early in life was made ac- quainted with its cares and responsibilities. Ilis father possessed but a limited income, and our sub- jeet could only pass a few months each winter in school, and but a few winters enjoyed the privileges of study. At an early age he went out to work by . the month, the proceeds of his labor going to as- sist in the maintenance of the family. He began for himself when eighteen years of age, and, with the exception of three years of general merchan- (ising in Attica, Ind., has spent his entire life upon a farm. Soon after reaching his majority he, in the spring of 1843, migrated to Fountain County, Ind., where he remained several years and became the head of a family. IIe was nnited in marriage with Miss Candace Hackston on the 28th of Decem- ber, 1843, and they settled down in a modest home in Attica, where they became the parents of one child, a daughter, whom they named Sarah C. The young wife only lived a few years after her marriage, her death taking place in Perryville, Vermillion County, Nov. 21, 1848. She was a native of Fountain County, Ind., and about twenty-four years of age at the time of hier deatlı.

The present wife of our subject was formerly Miss Minerva E. Kingore, and they were married on the Ist of January, 1860. Mrs. L., like her husband, is a native of Ohio, and the daughter of .John and Margaret Kingore, who are now dead. She was born June 24, 1825, and by her union with our subject became the mother of one child, a daughter, Fannie E., who was born July 24, 1865, and is now at home.

Mr. Linscott removed from Indiana to this county in 1859, and in the spring of 1861 lo- cated on his present farm, where he has since re- sided. The low land of his farm has been under. laid with tile, and all his farm operations have

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been characterized by that sound sense and good judgment which cannot fail to result in success. He is a man who is never idle, and when not em- ployed with his hands, his brain is active in re- volving those projects which shall result in good to some one. either his family or his neighbors. He has served as School Director in his district, and politically. is a Republican of the first water. To the solicitations of his townsmen to become an office-hohler of more prominence he has turned a deaf ear, believing that in the quiet seclusion of his home, and in aiding by his influence those proj- ects set on foot for the welfare of his commu- nity, he could be of more real service. He has, however, for many years been a great admirer of the principles of the Masonic fraternity, with which he became identified at Fairbury, and has passed all the degrees of the Blue Lodge. Although not connected with any religious organization he believes there is good in all, and contributes to all. His estimable lady is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. In their declining years they are enjoying the fruit of a well-spent life. and doing good as they have opportunity.

OSHUA G. CHIESEBRO came to this county in 1856, and pre-empted a half of section 18. in Sullivan Township. IIe operated there until the spring of 1857. then became a resident of Saunemin, where he owns and occu- pies one of the most valuable farms in this section of the country. His property includes 480 acres of choice land, highly improved, and furnished with the most valuable natural water power of any tract in the township, including several good wells which are fed from never-failing springs.

There was but slight difference in the condition of the men who came to Central Illinois twenty- five or thirty years ago, most of them arriving poor in pocket, provided only with their native energy and resolution of character. Our subject ranks essentially among the self-made men of Livingston County, although it is true he had some means upon his arrival here. This he was enabled to take good

care of, and was fortunate in his investments, while his farm operations were uniformly successful. He was never afraid or ashamed of hard work, and kept his shoulder to the wheel for many years until the necessity therefor no longer existed.

Our subject was born in Otsego County, N. Y., July 23, 1829, and is the son of Beriah and Sarah (Young) Chesebro, natives respectively of Conneet- ient and New York. The Chesebro family is of English ancestry, who crossed the water during the Colonial days, and whose descendants were widely and favorably known throughout the Empire State for many generations. Joshua G., when about seven years of age, removed with his parents from his birthplace to the city of Albany, where his fa- ther engaged in tanning and shoemaking, and where the youth remained until sixteen years of age. The family then removed to Ohio, locating in Wyandot County, the mother having died in New York State, in 1829.

Young Chesebro remained in Wyandot County, Ohio, until 1856, when he migrated West, and com- ing to this county located on section 4, in Sullivan Township, and from thence he came to this town- ship, where he has since resided. He has seen much of pioneer life, and contributed his full quota toward the building up of this section and the en- lightenment of its people. On the 8th of January, 1858, he was united in marriage with Miss Clara E. Cleland, who was born in Pennsylvania, and is the daughter of Thomas and Mary A. (Duncan) Cle- land, who came to this county during its early set- tlement. They were natives of New York and Pennsylvania respectively, the father being now deceased, but the mother is living in Pontiac, III.

Mr. and Mrs. Chesebro began life in fair circum- stances on the new farm, and in due time became the parents of seven children, of whom one is de- ceased. The eldest daughter, Nettie, is the wife of Alexander W. Ross, of Saunemin Township. The others, who continue at home with their parents, are as follows: Walter B., Anna, Clara B. and Lib- bie F. Hiram M. married Miss Charlotte Watts. The parents are prominently connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Chese- bro has served as Class-Leader, Sabbath-school Superintendent and Trustee for many years. Our

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subject has also been prominent in township affairs, serving as Clerk and School Director, and there are few worthy projects in connection with the public welfare in which he has not taken a leading part. Although lending his influenee usually to support the Democratic party, he still reserves the right to vote independently, aiming to give his influence to the men best calculated to serve the interests of the public. His name is widely and favorably known throughout Saunemin Township, as that of one of its most valued and useful citizens.

ENRY LARSON, a prosperous farmer on section 27, Esmen Township, was born in Norway, near Stavanger, on the 7th of March, 1835. He was the third child in a family of nine, born to Large Hanson and Annie Hendrickson, natives of Norway, in which country they always resided. The mother was a daughter of Henry Hendrickson, and the father was a son of Hans Larson.

The subject of this sketch was reared npon a farm, and such education as he received was in the com- mon schools of that day. At the age of nineteen years and forty days he left Norway on board the ship "Ward," and sailed for Quebec, where he ar- rived after a pleasant voyage of six weeks, on the 7th of June, 1854. From Quebee he began a jour- ney to the West, having Ottawa, Ill., as his object- ive point. Afterarriving at Ottawa he secured em- ployment on a farm twelve miles north, where he worked for two years, and then went up Fox River. Here he was married to Betsey Knutson, daughter of Kent and Bergali Knutson, natives of Norway, where their children were all born. Mr. Larson and his wife lived on Fox River for two years, and then went to Nettle Creek, seven miles west of Mor- ris, where they lived four years. They then eame to Livingston County, and lived four years in Sun- bury Township, raising cattle on the prairie, and cultivating a small tract of land, when they removed to Esmen Township, and purchased eighty acres of land, where he has since continued to live, and in- creased his farm to 160 acres, all of which is highly

cultivated. He takes great pride in raising fine horses, cattle, hogs and sheep.

Mr. and Mrs. Larson are the parents of eight chil- dren-Annie, Knute, Hans, Helen, Betsy, Laura, Lars and Bertie. They are all married and live on farms, excepting two sons at home. Mr. Larson eame to Livingston County in 1862, and has been a witness of all the changes which have taken place during the past quarter of a century. When he first eame to the county, a large proportion of the land was wild and uncultivated. He has lived to see this land transformed into magnificent farms, and where the country was traversed by mere bridle paths, good broad highways have been constructed. Mr. and Mrs. Larson are both members of the Lutheran Church. He is a consistent Republican, always voting that ticket, but does not take an act- ive part in political affairs.

ARCUS LAMP, one of the most thrifty and successful agriculturists of Long Point Township, owns 1583 aeres of fertile land under a good state of eultivation, where he has instituted all the improvements adopted by the modern and progressive farmer. He has a neat and substantial dwelling, with a good barn and various sheds and other structures required for the storing of gram and the shelter of stock, and the general appearance of the premises attracts the admiring eye of the traveler through that section.

Our subject las illustrated, during a career which has been uniformly successful, the results of energy and perseverance, and is one of the finest repre- sentatives of the thrifty German element of this section. His early home was in the Prussian Prov- inee of Holstein, which was formerly a Duchy of Denmark, but is now one of the most important 14 States of the German Confederation, and more popularly known as a part of Sleswick-Holstein. Ilis birth took place July 25, 1839, and his parents were Henry and Selk (Wies) Lamp, who were also of German birth and parentage. The father of our

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subject was born in 1803, and learned the trade of cabinet-maker and chair manufacturer, which he followed all his life. and died in his native Province on the 2d of March, 1887. The mother is still liv- ing, but for the past five years has been a great suf- ferer from rheumatism. She is also quite aged.

The German youth are particularly fortunate in regard to education, and our subject, in common with the children of his native Empire, was placed in school at an early age, where he acquired a good knowledge of the common branches. He continued under the home roof until a youth of seventeen, and then, with the hope of something better than what was held out to him on his native soil, crossed the Atlantic in the spring of 1857, and shortly after landing in New York City, started for the West. After a brief time spent in Chicago, he migrated to Wenona, and thence to Groveland Township, La- Salle County, where he was employed three years as a farm laborer. lle subsequently removed to Marshall County, of which he was a resident for fifteen years following. Ile had in the meantime labored diligently and accumulated a snug little sum of money, which he determined to invest in land in this county, and accordingly in 1870, purchased eighty acres in Long Point Township. Four years later he doubled this amount of real estate, and has since given his attention to the building up of a model homestead, in which he has succeeded ad- mirably.

Mr. Lamp was married, Jan. 26, 1865, while a resident of Marshall County, to Miss Olive Benning- ton, daughter of Robert S. and Olive (Sampson) Ben- nington, of Marshall County, Ill. Mrs. L. was born in 1811, and by her union with our subject became the mother of nine children: Mary Eliza was born on the 3d of February, 1867, and died June 2, 1873, and the little grave of their first-born was made in the cemetery at Antioch; Millie Caroline was born JJuly 1. 1868, and employs her time in teach- ing : Jessie Florence was born Aug. 23, 1870; Rob- ort Henry, March 20, 1872; Margaret E., March 30. 1871; Minnie Myrtle, Feb. 17, 1877; William Marcus. Oct. 15, 1879; JJoseph Floyd, Jan. 15, 1882, and Albert Darling, May 26, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. L .. with their two eldest children, are members in good standing of the Christian Church. Our sub-

ject gives very little attention to politics, but upon occasions of important elections casts his vote with the Republican party.

R OBERT ELMORE, a citizen of Illinois since 1856, who has 240 acres of land on section 33, Pleasant Ridge Township, and sixty- two acres on section 5, Forest Township, is one of the largest stock-raisers of the county. He was born in Madison County, Ky., on the 7th of May, 1834, and is the son of James and Sarah (Bangh) Elmore, natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively. The father was born in 1797, and died in the State of Kentucky in April, 1858. He was by trade a blacksmith, but the latter years of his life were spent in farming. The mother was born on the 3d of November. 1805, and died in 1879. Both parents were members of the Chris- tian Church.

In personal appearance James Elmore was a re- markable man, weighing 360 pounds, and was fair skinned, with dark hair and blue eyes. In early life he belonged to the Whig party, but during the last years of his life he supported the Democrats. To them were born twelve children: William died at the age of fifty-three years; John is a farmer by occupation ; Mary, Asenith and Jane T. are dead ; Robert, the subject of this sketch : Sarah F. ; Martha J., Mrs. Shearer; Rebecca J., Mrs. W. G. Watts; James S., and Thomas J., who died in Chicago.

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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 47

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