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 58

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 58

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OHIN BYERS, a leading farmer and stock- grower of Owego Township, owns eighty acres of well-developed land, and is being prospered in his farming operations, while at the same time he enjoys the respect and confi- dence of the community. His farm is supplied with a neat residence, a good barn, and the other buildings required by the modern agriculturist, while the whole premises wears the air of thrift and prosperity. lle is serving as School Director in his township, and is one of the most worthy mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church.

The carly home of our subject was on the other side of the Atlantic, in County Donegal, Ireland, where he was born in February, 1849. His parents, Robert and Mary A. (Hutchison) Byers, were also of Irish birth and parentage, and are still residents of their native isle. John remained under the home roof until he was twenty-two years of age,

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and then decided to seek his fortune across the water. He had received an ordinary education, but possessed very little capital, depending mainly upon his resolute character and willing hands to carve out his fortune. He boarded the " London - derry " at Liverpool, and after a voyage of eleven days, landed in New York City. His stay in the metropolis was very brief, and proceeding west- ward he came direct to this county, where he took up his abode and has since remained. He was first employed as a farm hand for a number of years, and saved something each year from his somewhat limited earnings. When possessed of what he eon- sidered sufficient means, he took unto himself a wife and helpmeet in the person of Miss Susan Wilson, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride in Harrisburg. P'a., Feb. 9, 1876.

Mrs. Byers is the daughter of David and Elmer (Ervin) Wilson, natives of Ireland, and was her- self also born there in County Donegal in 1849, but emigrated with her brother to this country in 1870. Of her union with our subject there have been born six children, namely, Robert, David, Mary A., William J., Ellen and Isabella. They form an interesting little family, the elder ones just commencing their studies in the district schools. Mr. Byers possesses all the elements of a good citizen, and nothing pleases him better than to note the progress and prosperity of his adopted country.

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B ENJAMIN F. BARNES. In Livingston County are many extensive land-owners, and often these gentlemen have amassed their property by their own energy and business taet. Prominent among this number is Benjamin F. Barnes, who is the owner of 450 acres on sections 33 and 31, Indian Grove Township. This farm is finely improved and cultivated, pro- vided with a handsome and commodious residence, from which may be obtained a fine view of the surrounding country. Our subject is one of the enterprising and progressive farmers of Livingston County, who has made the most of his opportunities,

and taken advantage of modern progress. Ilis barns and out-buildings are of first-class description and finely arranged for the shelter of stock and the storing of grain. He has a fine lot of high-grade cattle, hogs, and blooded horses, and everything about the premises indicates the supervision and enterprise of an intelligent man. In addition to his farm and stock operations, Mr. Barnes, associated with Mr. George King, is largely engaged in the manufacture of drain tile. The factory buildings are fitted up with the most approved machinery, and they give employment to quite a number of men.

Benjamin F. Barnes was born on the 31st of October, 1834, in Jefferson County, Ind., and is the son of John and Telitha (Wilkerson) Barnes, natives of Indiana and Virginia respectively. The father died about 1852 and the mother about 1862 ; they were the parents of the following children : Sarah A., Elizabeth, Benjamin F., Willis, Mary, Jane, Rebecca, Henry, Lemuel and John. On the 12th of March, 1862, Mr. Barnes was married to Miss Apphia Spence, who was born Jan. 19, 1843, in Livingston County. She is the daughter of Carrie and Abigail (Cunningham) Spence, na- tives of Kentucky and Indiana respectively. They were early settlers of Livingston County, where they located in 1830. They are both deceased. There were born to them six children, as follows: Apphia married Benjamin F. Barnes; Malachi mar- ried Emeline Phillips; Robert married Hannah Moore; Josiah married Miss Mary Combs : Isabelle married James Roan, and Absalom is deceased.

In the year 1835 Mr. Barnes accompanied his parents to Illinois and located near Metamora, Woodford County, where the father entered land and went to farming and stock-raising. In 1860 our subject located in Indian Grove Township where he has sinee remained, and owns 450 acres of most excellent land, all of which is under cultivation and well stocked with graded horses and fine cattle and hogs. For the past fifteen years he has made a specialty of high-grade horses and hogs, and in this business has been signally successful.

The interesting family of Mr. and Mrs. Barnes consists of Isabella, married to William Mundle; Frank, married to Miss Anna Cooper, and lives in

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Indian Grove Township; Martin, Mary E., Rachel, William B., Elgin E. and Cora G. In his political affiliations Mr. Barnes has a decided preference for the Democratic party.

B. CUMMINS, a model farmer of section 5, Esmen Township, was born in Rook's Creek, Livingston County, on the 11th of Novem- ber, 1844, and was the eldest child born to Hugh and Hannah (Chew) Cummins. Our subject was brought up to farm life, and for a time served in the Streator Glass Works. During his boyhood days he attended the common schools, in which he obtained a fain education. At the age of eighteen years, on the 11th of November, 1862, at Ottawa. he enlisted and was mustered into the 6th Independent Light Artillery. under Capt. E. C. Henshaw, and was soon after sent to Louisville for duty. He remained there a short time and then went to Glasgow, where the battery was attached to a brigade and sent after the raider Morgan, un- der Gen. Judy. They remained in Kentucky until Morgan was finally captured, after which they went to Lebanon, Ky., and Loudon, Tenn., at the latter place participating in an engagement. During the rainy season they were under Burnside, who was opposing Longstreet for the purpose of drawing troops away from and weakening Bragg. They fell back from Huff's Ferry to Leonora Station, where they had an engagement. After this they were almost constantly engaged in skirmishing until the siege of Knoxville, in which they took part. They were then ordered to Loudon, Tenn., where they remained until they were called to Camp Butler, and discharged on the 18th of July, 1865, receiving their pay on the 21st and arriving at home on the 22d.

Mr. Cummins remained on the farm for three and one-half years, and then went into Southern Illinois and engaged in the stock business for two years with E. G. Rice, after which he returned, and has remained on the home farm ever since. On the 4th of September, 1871, he was married to Ellen E. Garretson, daughter of William and Mary E. (Golay) Garretson. She was born near Bridge-

port, W. Va., on the 27th of April, 1848, and was the second in a family of eight children. Her father was killed in the battle of Piedmont, in June, 1864, being the fourth man to die in an at- tempt to place the Union flag upon the rebel fort. Ilis widow came to Illinois in 1864, and bere her daughter was married to Mr. Cummins. Immedi- ately after their marriage they came to this farm, where they have resided ever since, except about 'eighteen months while Mr. Cummins was working in Streator.

To Mr. and Mrs. Cummins have been born eight children whose names are as follows: Hannah E., Hugh L., Susan R., Sarah A., Mary E., Fannie B., Tessie V. and Emily M., all of whom reside at home with their parents. Mr. Cummins does not take an active part in political matters, and he casts his vote independently. He has served as School Director and Road Commissioner, in both of which positions he has served the people well, and takes an active interest in all matters that are calculated to promote the best interests of the township. He is a comrade in the G. A. R., Post No. 68, at Streator.

G EORGE C. NETTLETON is a successful farmer and stock-raiser of Odell Township, and is comfortably located on section 16, where he pursues his vocation with satisfactory re- sults. He was born in Litchfield County, Conn., Dec. 29, 1833, and was the fifth in a family of eight children born to Elijah and Rhoda A (Ful- ler) Nettleton, both of whom were natives of Con- nectient. The maternal grandparents were Isaac and Mary (Holley) Fuller, natives of Connecti- cut, and he was an Eller of a Baptist congre- gation and a local preacher for many years. Of the brothers and sisters of our subject only two are living : Mrs. Caroline M. Blinn, residing in New Milford, Conn., whose oklest son was Col. Blinn, of the late war; and Mrs. Jane E. Lawton, wife of Benjamin Lawton, a merchant of Bridgeport, Conn. Isaac F. was a First Lieutenant in the late war, and died in a hospital at New Orleans: Alfred II., a teacher by profession, died in Goshen, Conn. ;

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Sarah A., the second child, married E. N. Jencks, a Baptist minister and missionary to China: Lydia M. died in Goshen, Conn., at the time of Alfred's death, and Ellen Louisa in the fall of the same year. The father of our subject was a earpenter by trade, and carried on a small farm besides.

Mr. Nettleton worked upon a farm when a boy and attended the common schools with considera- ble regularity. His education was completed at Farm Ridge Seminary, LaSalle County, where his sister settled with her husband, who was a Princi- pal of the school at that time. He left his home for Illinois on the 13th of September, 1852, being then nineteen years of age. The year following his term at the seminary he began teaching at Deer Park, and eontinued teaching in the winter and do- ing work upon the farm in the summer for seven years, and then, Nov. 3, 1861, he enlisted in Com- pany A, 53d Illinois Infantry, for three years, un- der Capt. J. B. Wright, and was mustered in at Ottawa, by C. B. Watson. The company was first sent to Chicago, and guarded prisoners until the following spring and then went to Savanna, Tenn., where it remained until the 7th of April, and was then in the battle of Pittsburg Landing. It then went by way of Corinth to Memphis, Tenn., cau- tiously fortifying on the way until the evacuation of Corinth. During this time it was under the com- mand of Gen. Halleck. The company then went to Bolivar, Tenn., where it remained until the sec- ond battle of Corinth, and after that participated in the engagement of Hatchie River. After this engagement our subject was placed in charge of a wagon of the wounded on its way from Hatchie to Bolivar, and he drew rations for the post hospital. At the end of this time the sick were sent to La- Grange hospital, and Mr. Nettleton was assigned to the 59th Regiment, Colored Volunteers, of which he was made Ilospital Steward, and served in that eapacity until the close of the war. He was in the battle of Tupelo while connected with the colored regiment. He was stationed at Memphis until the expiration of his term of enlistment and was dis- charged on the 29th of March, 1864, and re-en- listed at once. His final discharge was on Aug. 4, 1865, at Memphis, Tenn.

While in the army Mr. Nettleton procured a

furlough and eame North, and on the 14th of No- vember, 1864, was married to Sarah A. Putnam, daughter of Carlos and Lavinia Putnam. Imme- diately upon his discharge from the army he came home and began farming where he now resides. Ile purchased after coming from the army, in the spring of 1861, eighty acres of wild land on see- tion 16, upon which he built a house. His wife died July 15, 1877, having borne him no children. She died in the full Christian faith and had always been an earnest Christian woman. Mr. Nettleton remained on his farm until April, 1884, and on the 24th of that month was married to Mary J. Jencks, who was born in Erie County, Pa., on the 28th of March, 1850, and was the youngest in a family of six children born to Obed and Hannah (Muzzey) Jeneks, who were natives of New York. Her father died in Pennsylvania and her mother eame to Illinois and settled in Will County. She lived with Mr. and Mrs. Nettleton until her death in June, 1886. She was an earnest Christian woman, and her life was very largely devoted to the per- formance of good acts. Mr. and Mrs. Nettleton are both members of the Baptist Church, in which they have been active for many years. In politi- cal matters he has always aeted with the Repub- lican party. As a farmer and stock-raiser he dis- plays mueh enterprise and is looked upon as one of the most progressive of Odell Township.

G EORGE SEATON, one of the principal farmers of Fayette Township, where he is pleasantly located on section 6, was born on the 18th of February. 1817, in Henderson Town- ship. Jefferson Co., N. Y. He is the son of Willard and Polly (Adams) Seaton, who were natives of Connecticut. Our subjeet's great-great-grandfather was a native of Ireland, who came to the United States and first located in Connecticut. He had ten sons, some of whom served in the Revolutionary War, and the regiment of which they were mem- bers went on an expedition to Buffalo, N. Y., and was to form a junction with a fleet which was to supply the army with provisions. The fleet failed to make its connections, and on returning they

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were surprised by Indians, who captured two of the sons and burned them at the stake. The re- mainder of the party managed to escape. Our sub- jeut's grandfather was a sailor for seven years, after which he went into the army. At the conclusion of the war he went to farming in New York State, in which occupation he continned for several years. From there he removed to Canada, where he lived with our subject's father until his death. Mr. Sea- ton's father was reared a farmer, and remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age. At that age he was married, and then engaged in farming and school-teaching, at which he continued until his death, which occurred in Ohio in 1848. His family consisted of ten boys and four girls, thirteen of whom lived and grew to manhood and womanhood.

Our subject remained at home with his parents in Stark County, Ohio, until he was twenty-five years of age, during which time he gave a helping hand on the farm during the cropping season, and attended school in the winter. Being of a studious disposition he applied himself assiduously to his books. and thus obtained more than an average ed- ncation. After leaving home he worked ont by the month for one and one-half years, and then managed a rented farm for one year.

March 11, 1844, Mr. Seaton was married to Miss Florinda Wilson, who was born in Niagara County, N. Y., July 14, 1826. She is the daughter of William and Mary (Wood) Wilson, who were natives of Vermont and Pennsylvania respectively. They came to Kendall County, Ill., in 1843, and engaged in farming. Her father died in 1848, and the mother in 1866. There were five children in their family : Florinda, Achsah, Andrew J., Charles W. and Elizabeth Jane. The latter married George D. Weeks; they have tive children, whose names are Wilson R., Mary F., Charles M .. Corella B. and Rebecca S. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks are located in Crawford County, Kan., where he is engaged in the business of a drayman.

Mr. and Mrs. Seaton have four children, whose names are Mary, Charles W., Ida J. and Hattie E. Mary married W. T. Kerr, a minister of the Gos- pel, and resides at Milan, Rock Island Co., Ill. ; Ida married Albert Cording, a hardware merchant at

Saunemin, Ill .; Charles W. and Hattie are unmar- ried and live at home. Mr. Seaton is a Republican in politics, and has been selected by his fellow-citi- zens to hold several official positions. He has been School Director of District No. I for three terms, and was elected Assessor of Fayette Township for one year in 1877. Ile and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which they take an active interest and occupy a leading posi- tion.

12 ENRY BLOOM, late of Avoca Township, and one of its most highly respected citi- zens, was born in the city of Emden, Ger- many, Nov. 20, 1817. His parents, Fol- kert and Lumka Bloom, were also of German birth and parentage, and spent their lives on their native soil.

Mr. Bloom was reared to manhood in his native Province, and was placed in school at an early age, where he continued until fourteen years old. Some years after reaching manhood he was united in marriage with a maiden of his own Province, Miss Ida Groter, their wedding taking place in the spring of 1852. Mrs. Bloom was born Oct. 26, 1817, and by her marriage with our subject became the mother of four children, two now living, namely, Fannie and Folkert, and two deceased-Lumka, who died in infancy, and one who died unnamed.

Our subject continned in his native Province un- til 1854, when, accompanied by his wife and one child, he embarked on a sailing-vessel at Bremen, and after a voyage of over nine weeks landed in the city of New Orleans. Thence they came di- rectly to this State, locating at first near Peoria, where they resided three and one-half years, and then removed to Tazewell County. Mr. Bloom engaged in labor there two and one-half years, but not being quite satisfied with the result he came to Avoca Township, this county, where he subse- quently became possessor of 300 acres of land from which he built up a fine homestead, and where his death occurred July 4, 1884.

Mr. Bloom was one of the finest representatives of the German element in this State that has con- tributed so largely to the development of its re-

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sources. Ile was industrious and enterprising, and possessed that resolute and determined spirit which admitted no such word as fail. lle had practically nothing when he came to Illinois, while at his death he left to his family one of the most valuable farms in Central Illinois. He was greatly respected by his entire community, and in his family was kind and indulgent, while outside he was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need, or to what- ever project would result in the general good. Hle was one of the pillars of the German Reformed Church, which in his death lost one of its most cheerful and liberal supporters. His widow and danghter still occupy the homestead, while his son Folkert is part proprietor of a lucrative mercantile business at Evansville, Ind. Mr. Bloom after be- coming a naturalized American citizen, informed himself thoroughly upon the polities of this coun- try, and identified himself with the Democratie party as representing his sentiments and beliefs. He never sought offiee, but was content in a quiet way to encourage those enterprises set on foot for the building up of educational and religious insti- tutions, and which would most surely effect the happiness of the people.

W ILLIAM CAINE is a native of the Isle of Man, which is an island in the Irish Sea west of England, east of Ireland, south of Scotland and north of Wales. the extreme length of which is about thirty miles, with an irregular breadth varying from six to twelve miles. The principal streams of the island are the Neb, at Peel; the Colby, near Ramsey, and the Black and Gray Waters, near Douglas. It was latterly held as a feudal sovereignty by the Earls of Derby, and more recently by the Dukes of Athol, from whom it was purchased by the British Crown in 1806. Its legis- lative and judicial authorities are principally vested in the House of Keys, a self-perpetuating body. The Governor is named by the Crown. The Manx language, derived from the ancient Celts, is still in common use, although part of the inhabitants speak English. The principal towns are Castletown, Peel, Douglas and Ramsey. It was upon this island

that Mr. Caine was born and reared to manhood, and his life there furnishes some interesting details, which are set forth in the following sketch :

Mr. Caine, who is now engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 4, Esmen Township, was born on the Isle of Man about Jan. 1, 1833, and the seventh child in a family of eight born to John and Isabella (Boyde) Caine, who were natives of the Isle of Man. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Caine, was a farmer. The father of our subject was a farmer and butcher, and died on the island of his birth. His widow survives him there, and is nearly ninety-seven years of age. He followed butchering in the country, and took the meat to a town thirteen miles distant in baskets suspended by straps across a horse's back.

Our subject was reared on a farm. and at fif- teen he went to serve his time at milling with a brother; at eighteen he had completed his trade, and remained at home until about twenty years of age, at which time he began the life of a herring fisher- man. At first he was cook, and for three years received fifty cents per week as compensation for his work. After working at these wages for three years he bought a seine at an expense of $4.75, for which his father went security, and with his uncle. Thomas Caine, embarked in the fishing business on board the smack Beagle. He continued in this for five years, and then with £5 went into partnershp with his cousin in building the "Persia." He sailed on her as quarter owner under Capt. Gerret, for a considerable time. His accumulations enabled him to buy a quarter interest in another vessel called the "Express," of which he was made Captain. He retained this position for eight years, most of the time working eight seines successfully. He was onee wrecked on the coast of Ireland, and onee thrown overboard. At the time of the wreck he swam ashore with a line, and by that means saved the whole erew.

When he quit the ocean on the 1st of December, 1866, Mr. Caine was married to Mary Ann Coole, the ninth in a family of eleven children born to William and Elizabeth (Cowin) Coole, natives of Kirkbraden, where their daughter Mary was born May 1. 1838. Her paternal grandparents were William and Elizabeth Coole, and the maternal

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grandfather was Thomas Cowin, and they all re- mained there until their death, Mr. and Mrs. Caine sailed from Liverpool on the "City of Baltimore" in the spring of 1867. and after a stormy voyage of two weeks, during which time Mr. Caine was se- verely injured while helping to save the vessel, they landed at New York. They immediately pro- eeeded to Ohio, where they remained a few weeks in Cayuga County, sojourning with a cousin named James Boyd. Mrs. Caine remained there for a while, and Mr. Caine went to Ottawa, Ill., where she joined him later. He worked in Ottawa until the next spring, and then came to Livingston County in 1868, and purchased eighty acres of partly im- proved land in Esmen Township. After a fruitless attempt for two years to pay for this land he had to give it up, and disposed of it to a man named Beckwith, realizing but 8500 for the improvements made. After this he purchased eighty acres where he now resides, and settled upon it, and within tive years met with such success that he was enabled to pay for it. Since that time he repurchased the first 80-acre tract and now has an excellent farm of 160 acres, five acres of which are well covered with timber. He has a good house and commodious farm buildings, all of his own construction. His farm is stocked with 100 head of Leicestershire sheep, and many fine horses, cattle and hogs. He takes great pride in the quality of stock he produces, for all of which he finds a ready market. Mr. Caine has never held office in this country excepting those of Pathmaster and School Director, and only two years ago took out his full naturalization papers. Mr. Caine has been so careful in his business and so correct in his contraets that he has never been sued, although transacting an extensive business for many years. He has never had a case of his own in a court of record. and so conscientiously has he obeyed the laws that he has never been called upon by an officer of the law. He is a strict temperance man, both in practice and precept, and has never been addicted to the use of tobacco or intoxicat- ing liquors, Hle and Mrs. Caine are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was instru- mental in building the first church constructed in the neighborhood. In their early beginning they encountered much adversity, but in their later life

they have been sueeessful. Honesty and integrity have characterized Mr. Caine's everyday life, and he is emphatically a self-made man, who has by his own unaided efforts succeeded admirably in busi- ness, the pathway of which was at first strewn with adversity. In political matters he acts with the Republican party because the principles of that party more nearly coincide with his views than any other of the existing parties.

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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 58

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