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 50

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 50

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Mr. Ammons was born in Greene, the extreme southwestern county of Pennsylvania, in 1831, at the homestead of his parents, George and Sarah (Wright) Ammons, who were also natives of the Key-tone State. The father followed farming his entire life, spending his early years in Pennsylva- nia, and later emigrating to Illinois. After his arrival upon prairie soil, he purchased a traet of land in Bureau County, and entered upon its culti- vation and improvement, but his hopes and those of his family were cut short by his death, which occurred about a year later, in December, 1857. The mother continued a resident of that county, where her death took place in April, 1883, after she had reached the advanced age of ninety-three years. The parents early in life identified them- selves with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in

whose doctrines they conseientiously reared their children, and in the faith of which they were sus- tained through the trials of life and in the hour when they were called hence.

The parental household of our subject included fourteen children, of whom eleven are living. Solomon, the eldest son, is farming in Reading Township, this county, and is the father of ten children, five deceased: Joshua is carrying on farming in Bureau County; Mary is the wife of Richard Anderson, a resident of Bureau County ; they had twelve children, of whom all are living but two; llannie was married in Pennsylvania, and died there some years ago; David is farming in Greene County, Pa .; Susan is living in Iowa, and is the wife of August Adrian, and the mother of one child, a son; Sarah was married to Jeremiah Wright, and died in Pennsylvania; Amy, when a child eight years of age, came to her death by be- ing burned, her clothing having caught fire from an open fireplace; George is farming in Allen County, Kan .; Jeremiah, our subject, was the tenth child; Daniel died in Bureau. in December, 1869, when about thirty-six years of age; Elizabeth is the wife of Isaac Demaranville, of Kansas, and the mother of a large family ; Alfred is unmarried and farming in Bureau County; Emeline is the wife of Oliver Wright, a carpenter of Bureau County.

Upon leaving home our subject entered the employ of a farmer in Pennsylvania, where he staid five years, receiving the meager compensation of seventy-five cents per month. After reaching his thirty-fifth birthday. and while a resident of Bureau, he was united in marriage, Aug. 19. 1862, with Miss Elizabeth Rinehart, who was born Oet. 5. 1845. Mrs. A. is the daughter of Simon and Caroline (Pettitt) Rinehart, natives of Pennsylva- nia. Her father was born in Greene County, Jan. 9, 1820, and departed this life in Bureau on the 10th of May, 1866. llis wife Caroline was born Sept. 24, 1824, and they were married Nov. 11, 1841.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Rinehart are men- tioned as follows: Nathaniel died when a boy nine years of age; Elizabeth, the wife of our subject. was born Oct. 5, 1845; Elijah is married, has five children, and resides in Bureau ; Thomas died when not quite five years of age; Charles Greely, who

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is farming in Allen County, Kan., lost his wife in February, 1887; he has three sons. Mrs. Rinc- hart, after the death of her first husband, was mar- ricd in February, 1887, to George Ammons, the brother of our subject.

Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Ammons, after their marriage, settled in Bureau County, and number in their household circle four children: Winslow S. was born Nov. 17, 1863, and lives at home; Rena M. was born June 23, 1867; Willis, born Sept. 3, 1869, died March 18, 1871, in Bureau County ; Wilbur was born Feb. 22, 1874, and died August 12 following. Rena, who is an intelligent and accomplished young lady, twenty years of age. was united in marriage, Nov. 16, 1887, with C. D. Hart, of Livingston County.

Mr. Ammons during the late war, enlisted from Bureau County, in Company E. 93d Illinois In- fantry, serving eighteen months. He participated in many important engagements, including the fight at Jacksonville, Miss., Champion Hills, and the siege and capture of Vicksburg. In the latter confliet he received a wound in the right side from a musket, from which he suffered greatly, and which was the occasion finally of his discharge, at which time he was also afflicted with malaria. lle now receives a pension from the Government. He knows all about the hardships of life in the army, and endured bravely with his comrades the vicissi- tudes of war.

OHN F. STANFORD, dealer in coal and ag- ricultural implements, and occupying a prominent position among the business men of Chatsworth, is comparatively young in years. but possesses good business capacities, and for a long period has been established on a firm basis, both socially and financially. His entire life has been spent on prairie soil, as he is a native of this State, and was born near Tonica, LaSalle County, Feb. 10, 1850.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, who it is supposed was a native of Massachusetts, located in Oneida County, N. Y .. about 1801. He was there married and reared a family, among his sons

being Emery, who was born in 1812, and in due time became the father of our subject. Emery Stanford was reared to farm pursuits, but subse- quently learned the trade of mason and builder, which he followed until 1850, when he took up farming pursuits. He was first married to Miss Emily Cantine, who became the mother of one daughter, and departed this life about 1837. This daughter, Susan M. by name, is now the wife of llenry Loomis, and resides in Homer, Neb.

The father of our subject, in 1838, migrated to Ilinois which was then the far West, and settled in the village of Lowell, where he followed his chosen vocation, and four years later, in 1842, was united in marriage with Miss Mary Elliott, a native of Waterloo, N. Y. Of this union there were born five children, and the mother departed this life at her home in LaSalle County, in 1856. The family record is as follows: Russell E. is engaged in farming at Tonica; Lucian yielded up his life as a sacrifice on the altar of his country during the late war, having enlisted in Company B. 104th Illinois Infantry, and at the battle of Hartsville, Tenn., was taken prisoner, and died at Murfreesboro, Tenn., in 1863; Sarah M., the wife of J. S. Hall, is a resident of Vermilion County ; John F., of our sketch, was the fourth in order of birth; Jacob E. died in 1873, at home, when about twenty-three years of age. The elder Stanford in 1850 removed to a farm near Tonica, where, amid the quiet sur- roundings of a country life. be passed his declining years peacefully, and rested from his labors in 1885. The estate which he left to his children was valued at $40,000. Besides his fine capacities as a busi- ness man, he had been a valued member of society and was an active Christian, and for many years connected with the Congregational Church. He identified himself with the Republican party upon its organization, and subsequently became a strong Abolitionist.

John F. Stanford spent his childhood and youth amid the scenes of country life, and pursned his early studies in the district schools. He was only six years of age when he was deprived of the affec- tionate care of his mother, by death, but remained with his father until attaining his majority. Upon starting out for himself, he located upon a traet of

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land near Chatsworth, where he eultivated the soil three years with partial sueeess, then returned to LaSalle County and followed farming four years. In 1878 he returned to Livingston County, and again took up farming near Chatsworth, in which venture he met with sueeess. and three years later purchased eighty aeres on seetion 20 in Chatsworth Township, which he cultivated until 1886. He then removed to the village, and established him- self at his present business, He still retains owner- ship of his farm, and his family reside in Chats- worth.

Mr. Stanford, on the 10th of June, 1875, was united in marriage with Miss Carrie A. Hine, who was born in Summit County, Ohio, and is the daughter of William E. and Mary C. (Robinson) Hine, who removed from Ohio in 1864, and settled in Livingston County. Of this union there is one child, a -on, William E., born May 10, 1882.

b AMILTON DEMOSS, deceased, journeyed from his native State of Ohio to the West more than thirty-five years ago, locating first with his parents in Indiana and coming thence a few years later to this county, during its early settlement. Ile contributed his full quota toward the development of its resources, and is kindly remembered by the citizens of Owego Town- ship a- one of its most worthy and valued residents. Ile was born in Highland County, Ohio. Ang. 11, 1828. and departed this life at his home in Owego Township, Jan. 4, 1874.

The parent- of our subject were James and Mar- garet DeMoss, natives of Ohio, and long since dead Ile was reared to manhood under the parental roof, receiving a fair education at the district school, and was first married. May 18. 1851. to Mis- Rebecca Carson. Of this union there were born several chil- dren. all now decerved, and the mother died ten years after her marriage. in 1861. Mr. DeMo-, was a second time married Nov. 15, 1863. to Mrs. Mary E. ( Reynolds) Coulter, daughter of John and Cathe- rine Reynolds, and widow of John Coulter, a native of Ohio, and later a resident of this county. Mr. !

Coulter served as a soldier in the Union army, where he contracted a fatal illness and died in camp at Corinth, JJune 14. 1861. Mr. and Mrs. C. became the parents of one child only, a son, Emmet A., who i- now living at home with his mother. To Hamil- ton and Mary E. DeMoss there were born five chil- dren : Pinkie, the wife of J. E. Troy, of Nebraska; Rose married Engene Brace, of Pontiac: Leander, Ilarry B. and Hamilton are at home with their mother. The parents of Mrs. De Moss were Jomm and Catherine (Shreves) Reynolds, who were natives of Ohio, and came to the West during the early set- tlement of Livingston County, locating in Amity Township, where the decease of both occurred not many years afterward.

Mr. DeMoss enjoyed in a marked degree the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens, and oe- enpied the various offices of Owego Township. the duties of which he discharged with conscientious care. lle settled here about 1854, taking up a traet of raw prairie land on section 34, where in common with the people of that day, he labored early and late, tilling the soil and bringing the land to a good state of cultivation. The comfortable homestead now occupied by his widow gives ample evidence of the persistence with which he labored, and remains a silent but foreible witness of the manner in which he performed his duties as a husband and father. He was publie-spirited and liberal, and a substantial supporter of those measures caleulated to build up the community and benefit it morally and eduea- tionally. Mrs. DeMoss was always the cheerful as- sistant of her husband in his worthy efforts in life, and is a devoted member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church.

℮ E. LEGG. One of the self-made young men, who have successfully reached that point in life where they can feel that they are safe for the future, so far as the material affairs of this world are concerned, is the subject of this sketch. Ile is the agent and manager of the State Reform School shoe factory, which manufactures women's and misses' shoes.

Mr. Legg is a native of Monroe County, W. Va .. and was born on the 8th of November, 1856. lle is

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the son of Jesse and Catherine (Johnson) Legg, of Virginia, The father of Jesse was James, of Vir- ginia, where he spent his life engaged in farming. The father of Catherine Johnson was Jacob, a na- tive of Virginia, who left that State in 1856 and came to Illinois, where he settled, and engaged in farming near Bloomington, MeLean County, until his death in 1875. Jesse Legg eame to Illinois in 1857 and lived one year in MeLean County, when he came to Livingston County and settled in Rook's Creek Township, where he engaged in farming until 1869, when he sold out and moved to Southwestern Missouri, where he is now living, engaged in farm- ing. The mother died in Rook's Creek Township in 1867. They had a family of eight children, seven of whom are living: William, of Kansas; Edna, Mrs. John Sellman, of Kansas; Allen T., of Chicago; Ellen, Mrs. J. E. Husted, of Missouri ; C. E .; Achalis, of Marshalltown, lowa, and Martha, of McLean County.

Mr. C. E. Legg spent his boyhood days on a farm, where he remained until the age of sixteen years, obtaining a practical education. His first employment in a business capacity was as a clerk in a boot and shoe store at Pontiac, where he re- mained four years, and then engaged in the same business on his own account at Pontiac for two years. He then became a traveler on the road as a salesman for R. P. Smith & Son, of Bloomington, and served in this capacity for two years, when he purchased the Reform School shoe factory in part- nership with D. M. Lyon, and conducted it for one year; at the end of that time R. P. Smith & Son and Mr. Legg took a five years' contract to man- age the Reform School boot and shoe factory, and on the 1st of July, 1887, when this contract expired sold their plant to the State. Mr. Legg was then employed by the State to assume the management of the institution and dispose of its product, which he is doing to the satisfaction of the powers that be.

Mr. Legg is connected in a proprietary way with a retail boot and shoe store at Marshalltown, Iowa, and one at El Paso, Ill., while he is a Di- rector in the Loan and Building Association of Pontiac. and has interested himself considerably in Kansas lands.

Our subject was married in 1883 to Miss Nellie

Gray, daughter of G. B. and Martha (Boynton) Gray, natives of New York. They have one child, a daughter, named Martha II. Mr. Legg's -political affiliations are with the Republican party. Ile and his estimable wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is Superintendent of the Sabbath-school. They occupy a very comfortable and handsome residence on the south side of the Vermilion River. Mr. Legg is peculiarly of a social disposition, and this trait of his character has won for him many warm friends.

OSEPH KUNTZ. Among the sturdy and well-to-do farmers of Fayette Township is the subject of this sketch, who is engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 18. He is a native of Germany, and was born in Ba- varia July 16. 1825, and is the son of Michael and Barbara (Roch) Kuntz, who were farmers in the old country, and both of whom are deceased. The family of which our subject was a member consisted of three boys and two girls, whose names were : Jacob, Fred, Joseph, Magdalena and Bar- bara. Our subject began life for himself, in this country, in 1865, by first engaging in farming in Tazewell County, Ill., where he remained until he located in Livingston County, which was in 1867. In that year he came to Fayette Township and purchased 160 acres of land on section 18, to which he has added from time to time until he now owns 560 acres. On this farm Mr. Kuntz has placed excellent improvements, including houses, barns, fenees and ditches. His farming and stock opera- tions are carried on extensively and so managed as to prove very remunerative.

Mr. Kuntz was married, April 7, 1856, to Miss Barbara Meister. a native of Germany, who was born Sept. 17, 1837. Nine children have blessed this union, whose names are as follows: Peter, Joseph, fleury, Albert, John, Mary, Susan, Kittie and Rosa. Five of these are married, namely : Pe- ter, who married Elizabeth Garboge, a lady who was born in Germany, but reared and educated in the

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

city of Chicago: they have four children, named Joseph, William, Ilermann and Clara Catherine. Joseph, who married Elizabeth Kanauer, and is located in Ford County. III. ; he has one boy named Frankie. Henry, who married Emma Friday, a native of Chicago, and they live in MeLean County, where he is engaged in farming. Mary, who mar- ried Joseph Benway, and they have two children, named Albert and Charlie; they are located in Ford County. Ill .. and engaged in farming. Susan, who married Henry Witzburger, and they have one child named Stella; they reside in Fayette Township, and are engaged in farming. The other children of the family are yet unmarried, and are living at home with their parents. Mr. Kuntz and his family are members of the Catholic Church, to which they are very much devoted. Ilis political affiliations are with the Democratic party, and his interest in that organization is evidenced by his regularly voting the ticket. Ile has been Road Commissioner for two terms and School Director for District No. 2 for two terms.

Mr. Kuntz' farm is one of the largest in the county. and his operations are about as extensive as those of any citizen of Fayette Township. His business methods are correct and in his transactions he is prompt and reliable. It is with pleasure that we present a view of his place in connection with this sketch.

C HARLES F. WOODBURN, one of the most prosperous and prominent farmers of Forest Township, is the owner of 257 acres on sec- tions 1 and 2, under a high state of cultivation, and provided with a substantial residence and other convenient farin buildings. Ile is a descendant of excellent Pennsylvania stock, and was himself born in Cumberland County, that State, Sept. 26, 1837. Ilis early home was located near the small village of Stough-town, and his parents were William S. and Sarah (Maxwell) Woodburn, also natives of the Keystone State.

Our subject when a child three years of age was taken by his parents to Morrow County, which had

formerly been a part of Richland County, in North- ern Ohio. where they opened up a small farm in the woods and resided for a period of twenty years. In 1857, deciding upon a removal to the farther West, they set out with teams, and after reaching this State, located first in Marshall County. Not being quite satisfied with his prospects in that sec- tion, the elder Woodburn only remained there a year, going the following spring into Woodford County, where he farmed on rented land for four years, and then located on a tract which the father had previously purchased, on section 24, in Linn Township. This had formerly belonged to the Illi- nois Central Railroad Company, and comprised the west half of the section. Young Woodburn assisted his father in cultivating the soil, and making im- provements, and they remained there until the spring of 1871. They then sold out and took np their residence in the town of Weston, McLean County, where the death of the father occurred in June, 1872.

The mother of our subject, after becoming a widow, returned to Pennsylvania on a visit, and then coming back to Woodford County, this State, spent the remainder of her life at the old home- stead there, her death taking place on the 1st of July, 1873. The parental household included eight children, four sons and four daughters. The youngest daughter died at the age of five years in Morrow County, Ohio. The others attained their majority. Sarah Agnes became the wife of Rev. llenry D. Ledgerwood, of McLean County ; Charles F., who is our subject; Mary C. became the wife of Marion Akers, of Woodford County, and died in 1876; George M. is living in Ford County, Ill. ; James S. died when twenty-seven years old; Jane E., also deceased, was the wife of Henry Wilson, of Woodford County; Matthew Cumberland, the youngest of the family, is now living near Newton, Ilarvey Co., Kan. Our subject pursued his pri- mary studies in the district school, and during his childhood and youth remained under the parental roof, receiving careful home training, and becom- ing thoroughly familiar with farm pursuits. Upon the breaking out of the Rebellion, he enlisted in Company 1, 47th Illinois Infantry, and served mutil December, 1864, three years. With the exception

RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH KUNTZ, SEC. 18. FAYETTE TOWNSHIP

-BOB MESSENGER

RESIDENCE OF C. F. WOODBURN, SEC. 1. FOREST TOWNSHIP.

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

of a thirty days' furlough, he continued in service during the entire time, and participated in many of the important battles of the war. He was present at the sieges of Corinth and Vicksburg, and with his comrades met the enemy in many minor engage- ments and skirmishes. flis health and strength were preserved to a remarkable degree, and he was neither wounded nor captured by the enemy. Ile was a witness of all the terrors of war, and suffered an experience which he would not willingly repeat. Upon his return to Woodford County, in 1865, he continued at the old homestead until the spring of 1867, when he took possession of his present farm, which he had previously purchased. It originally comprised 142 aeres, but he has added by degrees until he is now the owner of 257 acres, all under a good state of cultivation, and supplied with good buildings. The family residence is a substantial frame structure, and the baru and out-buildings commodious. To stock-raising he has given con- siderable attention, and has attained quite a reputa-, tion, operating principally in roadsters and draft horses. He has also a herd of pure-bred Jersey cattle.

Mr. Woodburn was first married in the fall of 1872, to Miss Frances Catherine McCoy, who was born in Brown County, Ohio, and came to Illinois when quite young. After the birth of one son, she departed this life, dying Aug. 7, 1874. The child, J. Smith Woodburn, is still at home. The present wife of our subject was formerly Miss Lucy Philbrook, and they were married in the spring of 1878. Mrs. Woodburn's parents, Samuel and Emily (Twitchell) Philbrook, were natives of New Hamp- shire and Maine, respectively, and resided in the latter State a few years, and then went to New York, where they resided fifteen years; from there they moved to Wisconsin. The father died Sept. 25. 1878. The mother then made her home with her son Oren G., in this township, until her death, July 5, 1886. The present wife of our subject has borne him three children-Onie Edna, Jennie Emily and Lucy Allie. The three little girls comprise an interesting family, of which the parents may justly be proud.

Mr. Woodburn, although having extensive opera- tions to look after, has always taken a great interest

in the progress of the people around him, and has served as School Director in his district for a num- ber of years. He has also been Road Commissioner several terms, and in polities is one of the most re- liable members of the Republican party. Socially he belongs to Forest Lodge No. 614, A. F. & A. M. A lithographie view is shown of Mr. Woodburn's residence, and it will be at once recognized as a most delightful country homestead.

E LIZABETHI HI. LEONARD, a resident of the village of Manville, was born in Cambridge, Washington Co., N. Y., Jan. 24, 1808. She i, the daughter of Seneca and Mary (Sergeant) Remington, the former born in the town of Suffiekl, Conn., Feb. 13, 1771, and died in 1866. He was married in West Springfield. Mass .. on the 20th of November, 1794, to Mary Sergeant, who was born in Massachusetts, opposite the city of Boston, Sept. 30, 1772, and died Sept. 11, 1856. He was a cooper by trade and followed that occupation the greater part of his life. They were both members of the Baptist Church, and in polities he was an old-line Whig.

Mrs. Leonard's parental family included the fol- lowing children: Silas S., born Aug. 16, 1795, and died April 7. 1796; Mary, born Feb. 5, 1797, and died Jan. 24, 1803: Seneca, born Dec. 10, 1798, and died Dec. 5, 1885, in the State of Kansas; Oliver, born Oct. 16, 1801. and died May 21. 1802: Mary, born May 9, 1803, and died Feb. 17, 1887; Hulda, born June 21, 1805, and died Nov. 22, 1886 ; Eliza- beth is the subject of this sketch : Zeno IL., born Feb. 26, 1810. and died Oct. 2. 1852: Philetus, born Nov. 18, 1812, a farmer now living in Clay County, Kan., but in frail health, has reared a family of eight children, all of whom are living except one; Naomi, bor Ang. 2, 1815. and died Aug. 19, 1847 : Jane, born April 14, 1820, and died Jan, 28, 1873.

Philetus and Elizabeth, our subject, are the only surviving members of this large family. Mrs. Leonard lives in a home by herself, in which she per- forms all the household work. With the exception of failing eyesight, she is in good health and does not appear to be over fifty years of age. On the

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

12th of November, 1829, she was married to Ed- mond D. Leonard. of Middlefield, Mass,, and to them were born nine children. whose names are as follows: Franklin. Roscoe. Myra. Christopher C. Mary. Sarah. Emily. Labella and Hattie N., beside- one who died in infancy ; her husband died Nov. 13, 1860. After their marriage in Hin-dale. Ma --. , they went to Pennsylvania in the fall of 1832, and thence to Illinois in July. 1846, locating in Living- ston County in 1852. where Mrs. Leonard has since resided. She belong- to the United Brethren Church, while her brother- and -isters were Baptist. and her children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The family throughout is composed of Christian people, and all belong to some religious de- nomination.

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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 50

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