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 53

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 53

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Mr. Spangler came to Illinois in 1861, reaching Bloomington penniless, and pawned his watch for the small sum of $2.50, to enable him to get to Pontiac; from there he proceeded to a farm adjoin- ing the one he now owns, where he entered the serv- ice of Benjamin Walton as a farm hand. He was married, on the 31st of January, 1866, to Ellen A, Wareham, a native of Ohio, where she was born on the 18th of March, 1849, and reared to womanhood. They had five children : Della; John, who died at the age of eight months; George S .; Francis died in childhood; Isaac J. was killed instantly in Ohio by the falling of a pile of lumber. Mr. Spangler was married a second time, on the 29th of Septem- ber, 1881, to Miss Emma A. G. Brant, a lady of high culture and refinement. She is the daughter of Leonard and Susan Brant, natives of Pennsyl- vania and Virginia respectively, who were residents of Livingston County, where the father died in 1883. By this marriage two children have been born -- James B. and Ira J.

Mr. Spangler is the owner of 168 acres of land, which is cultivated after the most approved meth- ods. Ilis farm house is a model of its kind, and the barns and other out-buildings are as complete in all their details as they could possibly be made. He

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purchased this farm in 1868, and has been assidu- ous in making improvements. He is a great ad- mirer of fine stock, and makes a specialty of breed- ing Norman, Belgian and English draft horses, and high-grade Short-horn cattle. Ile has held the of- fice of School Director, and acquitted himself to the perfect satisfaction of the people. During the struggle of the nation for an existence from 1861 to 1865. he served three years in Company K of the 3d Illinois Cavalry, enlisting in August, 1861. His service was principally in the southwest, and the first chanee that he had to smell gunpowder was at Pea Ridge, Ark., at which engagement he was taken prisoner, and conveyed to Ft. Smith, where he was confined for thirty days until exchanged. He was in the siege of Vicksburg, and in the en. gagements in front and rear which preceded it; and at the battle- of Germantown, Guntown, and Mem- phis. Tenn .: he was mustered out in September, 1.864.

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Mr. and Mrs. Spangler are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and take great inter- est in their church affairs. In political matters Mr. Spangler approves of the doctrines taught and practiced by the Republican party.

ILLIAM M. KILGORE, of Saunemin Town- ship, and a gentleman in the prime of life, is eminently worthy of a place among the records published in this work, as that of an enter- prising and useful citizen who located in Sannemin Township about 1870, and is now the proprietor of a good farm on section 23, where he mostly em- ploys his time in general farming and stock-raising. HIe is a native of this State, and was born in Mar- shall County, Oct. 4, 1841. He is consequently in the midst of his usefulness, and has fully established himself in the esteem and confidence of the people around him.

The paternal ancestors of our subject were of scotch-Irish descent, and his parents were Jesse and Mary (Quigley ) Kilgore, natives of Pennsylvania. William Kilgore was orphaned early in life, his mother dying when he was about two years of age, and his father two years later. He was then taken

into the home of his grandparents, Joseph and Mary Quigley, residents of Cumberland County, Pa .. and with them remained until a youth of seventeen years. Then, ambitious to commence life for himself, he started for the West, and after reaching this State located in Marshall County, of which he remained a resident until his removal to Livingston, in the spring of 1870. Here he has since been a resident. He had received a common-school education, and his entire life has been employed in farming.

The wife of our subject, to whom he was married in Marshall County, Nov. 7, 1872, was formerly Miss Loisa B. Barnes, who was born in Marshall County, Sept. 28, 1843. Mrs. K. is the daughter of Henry B. and Jane M. (Kilgore) Barnes, natives of Delaware and Ohio, and her father now resides in Saunemin Township. Our subject and his wife commenced life together on the farm at this place, and there were born to them two children-Ilarry B., Feb. 4, 1877, and a boy, who died in infancy, unnamed. Mr. and Mrs. K. are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. at Saunemin, in which our subject officiates as Trustee and is one of the chief pillars. Politically he is Re- publican, like his father before him, and has in all respects proved the friend of education and prog- ress. The property of himself and his wife in- eludes 160 acres of valuable land, each being the owner of eighty. acres. Mr. K. when starting out for himself, received the munificent salary of $5 per month, and in looking upon his surroundings to- day, it is hardly necessary to say that he has made good use of his time and opportunities.

G W. FERRIS, Superintendent of Livingston County schools, has made the cause of edu- cation principally his life work, having commenced his career as a teacher before he was sixteen years of age. He has been a resident of Pontiac and vicinity since 1859, and has been a prominent figure in the educational interests of Livingston County. He was born May 23, 1840, in Addison County, Vt., and is the son of Melanc- thon and Elizabeth (Shepherd) Ferris, also natives of the Green Mountain State. Ilis paternal grand-

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father, Darius Ferris, was a native of England, who emigrated to the United States and settled in Ad- dison County, assisting largely in building op the village which afterward bore his name. He had followed the sea many years, and died at Ferrisburg about 1840. The mother of our subject was the daughter of William Shepherd, a native of Panton, Vt.

Melancthon Ferris, the father of our subject, sailed on the lakes with his father when a boy, and afterward served in the War of 1812. He was born in 1795, and died in Panton, Vt., in 1870. The mother rested from her labors in middle life, in 1844. The parental household included nine children, eight of whom grew to mature years and seven are now living, namely : Charles; Angusta, Mrs. Bailey ; Mary, Mrs. Vancor; Samantha, who also married a Mr. Vancor; Elizabeth, Mrs. Mat- thews; George W., our subjeet; Martha, Mrs. Farr, and Carlisle. The last-named brother was the eld- est of the family, and during the late war served in the 1st New York Infantry and was killed at the battle of Fair Oaks, Va. The father of our sub- jeet was an old-line Whig in early manhood, but afterward affiliated with the Republicans, and both parents were members of the Baptist Church. For twenty-five years Melancthon Ferris commanded a lake schooner of which he was the owner, and which ran on Lake Champlain and to Canada. He finally retired from a seafaring life, and his last years were spent on a little farm in Panton, Vt.

Mr. Ferris during his boyhood attended the common school in his native county, and afterward a select school under the instruction of James Ten Brocke. Subsequently he attended the academy of Lunenburg, Mass., one year, then taught for a time in his own county, and subsequently attended Barre Academy near Montpelier, Vt. He came to Illinois in the fall of 1859, loeating first in Owego Township, this county, where he was employed two winters as a teacher, and in 1861 settled on a farm. The same year he was united in marriage with Miss Martha Stinson, who was born in Indiana, April 13, 1842, and is the daughter of James L. and Mary (Herschburger) Stinson, natives of Indi- ana, where James L. was engaged as a civil en- gineer. Mr. Ferris remained on the farm until

1884, during which time he had been somewhat employed in teaching, and was also engaged in the nursery business. He put up a handsome resi- dence in 1873, and beautified his home by planting evergreens and fruit trees and surrounding the dwelling with choice flowers. The homestead is the admiration of the passer-by, and indicates the refined and cultivated taste of its proprietor.

Mr. Ferris was elected County Superintendent of Sehools in 1882, and re-elected in 1886. Ile moved to Pontiac in 1884, and purchased a home on Liv- ingston street, where he now lives. Of his mar- riage there were born six children, namely : Aldace M., Jessie E., Carl I., Milly M., Claude and Claire. The eldest son, Aldace M., married Miss Electa O. Ilull, of Marshall County, and was formerly en- gaged in the drug business at Pontiac; he is now a resident of San Diego, Cal. Jessie E. is the wife of Samuel Morrison, and has one child, a son, Claude ; Carl is oceupied as a drug clerk in Pontiac. Mr. Ferris is an extensive reader and keeps him- self well posted upon matters of general interest. He votes the straight Republican ticket, and socially, belongs to the I. O. O. F.

L ANSING HUTCHINSON. This enterpris- ing young farmer not many years ago launched ont for himself in a field of labor to which he is most admirably adapted, both by training and natural qualifications. He enters with genuine interest into the cultivation of the soil, and nothing appears pleasanter to his eye than the spec- tacle of growing grain, the well-kept and thriving live stock, and all the other appurtenances of a well conducted farm. Possessing this true spirit with which to operate, there is no conjecture in predict- ing for him that complete success of which he is so eminently deserving. Ilis land lies on section 20, Avoca Township, and includes 154 acres, under a good state of cultivation with a comfortable resi- dence and good out-buildings.

Our subject was born in New Jersey, Feb. 17, 1857, and is the son of Gideon and Susannah (Shan- gle) Hutchinson. Tradition has it that the family came from England to the United States with the

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

Pilgrim Father-, and landed at Plymouth Rock. They became prominent among the Colonists as people possessing in a marked degree those traits of character which fostered the early spirit of liberty, and assisted in throwing off the yoke of the op- pressor. They married and reared families, and their descendants have, almost without exception, reflected the virtues of their ancestors. The father of our subjeet, a native of New Jersey, came to the West when his son Lansing was a little lad four years of age. They located first in Me Lean County, this State, where they re-ided until the spring of 1867. and then took up their abode in this county. Gideon Hutchinson soon after his arrival purchased a tract of land, only a part of which had been cul- tivated, and which now constitutes the home of our subject. Ile cultivated the soil, and added year after year the improvements which made the place attractive and valuable. Ile occupied it until the spring of 1881, when he removed across the Missis- sippi into Carroll County, Iowa, where he now re- sides. Gideon Hutchinson was Supervisor of Avoca Township a number of terms, and served as School Director many years. Both parents were members in good standing of the Presbyterian Church, in which the father served as an Elder, and did good service in building up the society and encouraging its growth. Politically, during his later years, he has atliliated with the Republican party. Although, perhaps, not the hero of any thrilling event, he has employed his time and tal- ents worthily, and is esteemed as an honest man and a good citizen.

Of a large family of children born to the parents of our subject, six now survive, namely, Philip, Lansing: Catherine, Mrs. George Cook, of Eppard's Point Town-hip; Howard, Frederick and Mary. Lansing Hutchinson passed his boyhood and youth after the manner of most farmers' sons, spending his winters at the district school and his simmers ' on the farm, where his services were utilized in as- sisting to plant and garner the crops. He was a bright and ambitious boy, fond of good books, and supplemented his school advantages by a course of sensible reading at home during his leisure hours. Ile remained a member of his father's household until ready to launch out in life for himself, and

was married, Feb. 27, 1879, to Miss Lillian J. Taylor. Mrs. Hutchinson was born in Jefferson, Mo., Oct. 23, 1858, and is the daughter of Hiram J. and Sybil (Gibbs) Taylor. The father was a native of Scotland and the mother of Missouri. The former departed this life at his home in Mis- souri in 1860; the mother survived her husband twelve years.

Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson have a blooming family of four children : Lottie E. was born Dec. 28, 1879; Arthur L., Sept. 2, 1881; Albert E., July 14, 1883, and Bessie M., Feb. 8, 1886. Mr. H., following the example of his honored father, votes the straight Republican ticket and is now serving his second term as Clerk of Avoca Township. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church, while Mrs. H. is a Meth- odist in religious belief.

G EORGE STUCKEY, farmer and stock-raiser on section 7, Forest Township, first became a citizen of the State of Illinois in 1856, when he settled at Hudson, McLean County, and engaged in farming on a rented place. In 1867 he came to Livingston County, and bought eighty acres of land, to which he has added until, at the present time, his farm consists of 160 acres, which is well stocked with Holstein cattle, Norman mixed horses, and Poland-China hogs. There are six acres planted in choice varieties of apples and other fruit trees. He was one of the very earliest settlers in Livingston County, Ill., among whom but few are left, including Messrs. Marberly, Weeks, Thomas and Riley.

Our subject was born in Somersetshire, England, on the 14th of February, 1828. He is the son of Edward and Margaret (Gillett) Stuckey, who were farmers in the old country, and came to the United States in 1862, locating in MeLean County, where they remained a few years with their people. The father died in 1867, and the mother soon afterward. Our subject was first married, in 1854, to Eliza Doble. By this marriage there were born seven children-William Edward, Walter, Frank, Mary, Ilattie E., Elizabeth and Lettie. Edward married, and located in Livingston County, where he is en-

RESIDENCE OF JAMES H. ODELL , SEC. 9. INDIAN GROVE TOWNSHIP.

RESIDENCE OF H. B. SHEPHERD, (BREEDER OF ROADSTER AND TROTTING BRED HORSES,). SEC.31. CHATSWORTH TOWNSHIP.

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gaged in farming; Mary married Job Manning, a farmer, and the others are unmarried. This wife died in July. 1877. In March, 1881, Mr. Stuckey was married to Mrs. Elmira Conn, a native of Ni- agara County, N. Y., where she was born on the 4th of August, 1844. Her parents, Patrick and Hannah (Smith) Mahoney, came West about 1837, first settling in McLean County, Ill., where they lived about ten years, and then came to Fairbury, this county, where they now reside, retired from active work. They are the parents of eight chuil- dren, whose names are Cordelia, Edward, Susan, Elmira; Amanda Jane, who died at the age of four years, and the same name was conferred upon the sixth child; Josephine and Effie, all of whom are now married. By Mrs. Elmira Conn's first mar- riage were born four children-James, Leslie, Will- iam and Freddie. Her husband died in 1876. Ile was a farmer and a native of Pennsylvania. The son, James, is married, and is now located in Ne- braska. Mr. Stuckey is a Republican in politics. In religion, Mr. and Mrs. Stuckey are members of the Baptist Church at Fairbury, III.

HOMAS H. EDWARDS. Whatever of his- tory that has been made in that part of Illi- nois comprised in Peoria and Livingston Counties, ought to be very familiar to the subject of this sketch, who is a farmer on section 30, Owego Township, for he is a native of Peoria County, and was born Jan. 1, 1845. He is the son of Edward D. and Susan E. Edwards, who were natives of Vir- ginia and Maryland, respectively. His paternal ancesters were Scotch-Irish, and the maternal ances- tors of German descent. The grandfather, Thomas Edwards, was a soldier in the War of 1812. The parents of Mr. Edwards left Virginia in 1833, and emigrated to Peoria County, where they were among the very first settlers, and indeed at that time not a house had been built where the city of Peoria now stands. The father for several years operated a sawmill on the banks of the Illinois River, on the spot now decided to be near the foot of Fayette street in the city of Peoria. The father died in October, 1857, and the mother still resides in l'eo-

ria County. There were born to them eight chil- dren, five of whom are living: Nellie, wife of D. S. Gigley, of McLean County, Ill. ; Francis A., of Peoria County ; Edward D., of Peoria County ; Susan E., wife of Francis Van Arsdall, of Peoria County ; and Thomas H. The latter grew to manhood in Peoria County, where he attended the common schools, in which he received a good education.

Mr. Edwards was married in Peoria County on the 14th of March, 1869, to Virginia A. Woolford, a native of Virginia, who was born on the 24th of April, 1845. She is the daughter of George Wool- ford, of Peoria County. To Mr. and Mrs. Ed- wards there have been born eight children, seven of whom are living, as follows: Edward D., George II., Thomas J .; Leslie, deceased; James II., Benja- min F. and Quincy Adam.

Mr. Edwards came to Livingston County in 1882, and settled on his farm in Owego Township in the spring of 1883, the farm consisting of 120 acres in Owego, and forty acres in Pontiac Town- ship. He also owns eighty acres on section 35, in Owego Township. On the 14th of February, 1865, Mr. Edwards enlisted in Company A, 151st Illinois Infantry, and served one year, the greater por- tion of the time performing patrol duty at Colum- bus, Ga. In February, 1866, he was honorably dis- charged and returned home.

The parents of Mrs. Edwards were natives of Virginia, but resided about twenty years in Peoria County, where the mother died in December, 1881. They had a family of seven children, and six of them are living: Mary, the wife of D. W. Hodson, of Peoria County; Sarah E., of Peoria County; Benjamin F., of Peoria County; Adam L., of Liv- ingston County; Christiana, wife of James Helsey, of Peoria County; the one deceased was Phoebe J. The father is still alive, and resides in Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards are both much attached to the Methodist Church, of which they are members. Mr. Edwards is a Republican in politics, and has been constant in his affiliations with that party. For nine years he served as School Director in Peo- ria County, and for three years in Owego Town- ship. In the spring of 1885 he was elected one of the three School Trustees of Owego Township for a term of three years. In Mr. Edwards is illustrated

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what can be accomplished by industry, frugality, and good management. when one is thrown upon his own resources. In whatever has been accomplished since his marriage. his efforts have been seconded by his excellent wife.

J. BENNETT, located on seetion 24, Char- lotte Township, and identified with the business and agricultural interests of that region. is considered one of the important factors in a community highly prosperous and in- telligent. and operate- 200 aeres of some of the fin- est farming land in Livingston County. The hand- some property of which he is now the possessor is the result of his own persevering industry, as he re- ceived no legacy to begin with and has fought his way single handed amidst many difficulties.

The people born upon the soil of New York State are tacitly given credit for excellent business ca- pacities, which were usually supplemented with a practical education. Our subject was born there in the town of Erie. Cayuga County, Jan. 25, 1838, and passed his childhood and youth on the old homestead belonging to his parents, Otis and Clar- inda (Savery ) Bennett. They were natives of Mas- sachusetts. in which State the parents of both had -ettled at an early day. Otis Bennett, like his father before him, understood all about farming, in which he engaged considerably, while in the meantime working as a shoemaker, which trade he had learned in his youth. He also followed this after his re- moval to New York State. The family came to the West in the fall of 1856, locating on a rented farm in Peoria County. this State, where the mother died the following year. She was a lady of most excellent qualities of heart and mind, and was greatly mourned by her family and friends. The father continued to reside on the farm in Peoria County, where his death took place in 1877.

The early education of our subject was conducted in the district school, and he was a youth of eighteen years when his father and the family came to this State. Ile soon afterward started out for himself, working by the mouth, and the year following had saved a sufficient sum of money with which to buy

a team and commence operations for himself on a tract of rented land. This he occupied three years, and, still climbing up little by little, purchased, in 1860, forty acres of improved land in Peoria County, of which he remained in possession seven years, and with excellent results. In the fall of 1867 he pur- chased eighty acres of wild prairie on section 12, in Charlotte Township, and the year following came to Livingston County. In the summer of 1868 he broke a part of his first purchase, and a few months later sold the forty acres in Peoria County and purchased eighty acres on section 24, and sold the eighty on section 12.

The affairs of Mr. Bennett had now assumed such shape that he considered he was in good con- dition to establish a home of his own and take upon himself the responsibility of a family. Accord- ingly, in the spring of 1869, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Margaret Ridgeway, a native of Franklin County, N. Y., and born March 24, 1850. She was the third child in the family of John H. and Lydia (Wheeler) Ridgeway, natives respect- ively of Ireland and Canada, and the parents of seven children. The young people at once re- paired to their farm, where there had been erected a modest dwelling, and where they are still located. Mr. Bennett has added considerably to his original purchase, and in 1873 erected a more substantial residence which, together with the barn and adja- cent out-buildings, completes a handsome and com- fortable home. The farm stock includes graded Durham and Holstein cattle, Morgan and Clyde horses and Poland-China swine.

Mr. Bennett brought with him to this section that high regard for the establishment of educa- tional institutions which is an essential feature of the men of the Empire State. He greatly aided in the organization of the school districts and the put- ting up of the various buildings required, and has served as Director in his district for a period of twelve years, besides occupying other important oflices. Ile takes very little part in politics, but votes with the Republican party. He is liberal in church matters, and one of the first men called upon to contribute toward the furtherance of those enter- prises which will benefit the people, both morally and financially. Mrs. B. is a member in good stand-

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ing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They have an interesting family of four children, namely, George Francis, Nellie Maud, Roy Earnest and Stella Fern, comprising an unbroken circle, and all at home. The children have all been well educated, and in taking their proper stations in life will do honor to their estimable parents.

Le EONIDAS T. STOUTEMYER. One of the best qualities a business man ean possess is conservatism, a quality which prompts him to take no important step until he is sure he is right, and then, as was said by David Crockett, go ahead. Men frequently accumulate fortunes by taking steps on the spur of the moment, regardless of conse- quences, but that kind of a fortune seldom stays by a man. Those who reach ultimate success, and wind up their long lives having accomplished all which they set out to, are the men who are cautious and conservative in all their transactions. These are qualities which are largely possessed by the subject of this sketch, who is a prominent farmer, located on seetion 13, Chatsworth Township, and whose residence in the county dates from 1865. He is a native of Miami County, Ohio, and was born on the 8th of December, 1841. His father, William B. Stoutemyer, was a native of Virginia, but when twelve years of age he accompanied his parents' when they removed to Miami County, Ohio, where the family were pioneer settlers. The father grew to manhood in Miami County, where he was united in marriage to Nancy Ross, who was born in Pennsylvania, and her parents were early pioneers of Clarke County, Ohio. They followed farming in Miami County until 1864, when they emigrated to Illinois, and settled on a farm near Bloomington, where the mother died in February, [879. The father then came to Livingston County, and died in April of the same year. They were the parents of three sons and one daughter, the lat- ter dying in childhood. The sons are still living, and are: William E., who resides in Livingston County : John B., who resides in Bloomington ; and the subject of this sketch, who is the oldest of the three, He was about nine years old when the

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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 53

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