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 59

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 59

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Mr. and Mrs. Caine are the parents of eight chil- dren, seven of whom are living : William N., John S., Robert T., James E., Walter D. ; Alfred C. died in infancy ; Lyda E .. Mary A .: William Nelson is a telegraph operator at J. B. Farwell's, and the other children are at home. None of the boys use liquor or tobaceo, and in this respect follow elosely the example of their father. Taken all in all it is one of the best conditioned families in Livingston County, a family in which all the members live to- gether in the most perfect harmony, each seeming to thoroughly understand the other.

B ENJAMIN TURNER, a praiseworthy and useful citizen of this county, is engaged in general farming and stock-raising on a farm of 160 acres of choice land, on section 25 in Fayette Township. lle has been accustomed to country life since his boyhood, and is entirely fa- miliar with farm pursuits. IIe is the possessor of a comfortable income, and has no one with whom to share it, for he is still unmarried.

Our subject was born near the city of Philadel- phia, Pa., Nov. 19, 1822, and is the son of Robert and Nancy (Felkenner) Turner, natives respect- ively of England and Pennsylvania, who went to Ohio when Benjamin was a child, whence they re- moved several years later to Virginia. In 1842 he came to Illinois and settled in LaSalle County, whence he removed to his present home in the spring of 1867. Robert Turner was a member of the old Whig party until its abandonment, and he then cordially endorsed the Republican principles. He was a woolen manufacturer in this country, and passed his last years in Fayette Township, depart- ing this life about 1885, when ninety-one years of

RESIDENCE OF BENJAMIN TURNER, SEC . 5. FAYETTE TOWNSHIP.

-- ..

RESIDENCE OF S. L. CONINE, SEC. 31. INDIAN GROVE TOWNSHIP.

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age; Mrs. Turner died in 1881, aged eighty-three years.

The parental household included six children- Benjamin, Sarah, Mary, Robert, Anna and James. Mary became the wife of William Lloyd, of Penn- sylvania, who was also engaged as a woolen manu- facturer, but finally crossed the Mississippi and lo- cated in Elk City, Kan., where he now lives with their family of six children, three sons and three daughters -- Edgar, Minnie, Mollie, William, Annie and Cornelius. Mrs. L. died in 1884, and Mr. L. was subsequently married to her sister Anna. The others are living in this county.

Our subject began life for himself when about twenty-two years of age, in the woolen factory at Steubenville, Ohio, where he was employed until the spring of 1867, at which time he determined to seek his fortune farther west. Although perhaps not the hero of any very thrilling event, he has ac- quitted himself as an honest man and a good citi- zen, attending strictly to his own concerns, and by his straightforward business methods he has en- joyed the esteem and confidence of the people wherever he has lived. He is bringing about va- rious improvements upon his farm, which bears fair comparison with those of his neighbors.

We present on an adjoining page a view of Mr. Turner's residence, as representative of the build- ings of this section of country.

S L. CONINE, one of the wealthy and sub- stantial farmers of Livingston County, finely illustrates what can be accomplished by industry, good management, and close attention to business. He began his career in life without capital or other resources than his own hands and a determined will to succeed. In trac- ing his career in this sketch it will be seen how completely his anticipations have been realized. Ile now owns a magnificent farm on section 31, Indian Grove Township, which is one of the most eligibly situated in the county, and under the in- telligent manipulation of Mr. Conine has become remarkably productive. The improvements in the way of buildings and fences are first-class. It is a model farm in every respect, and its owner looks

upon it with pardonable pride. Among the illus- trations in this ALBUM we present a view of Mr. Conine's residence.

The subject of our notice was born on the 30th of November, 1835, in Licking County, Ohio, and is the son of John S. and Nancy (Monnet) Co- nine, who were natives of New Jersey and Virginia respectively. The father was a resident of Ohio, and a house carpenter by trade, which business he followed all his life with such energy and persever- ance that he became quite wealthy. lle was not a man of any pronounced religious views, nor did he ever attach himself to any church organization, but was a very sincere member of the Masonic frater- nity, and had great faith in the teachings of that order, believing that if its mandates were strictly lived up to a man would be about as good a Chris- tian as possible. During the existence of the Whig party he was a member of that organization, and when it was merged into the Republican party he transferred his political allegiance to the latter, to which he adhered during the remainder of his life. lle died at bis home in Ohio, in 1875. llis wife, who died some years previously, was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Of their nine children, three died in infancy, and the following-named are still alive: Nancy, Norman, Salvenas L., Gifford, Wellington and Marinda.

Mr. Conine remained under the protecting care of the paternal roof until he was twenty-one years of age, during which time he assisted in the work which fell to the family, and devoted a part of the time to attending the schools of the neighborhood. He then went to Chicago, where he remained but a few days, when he went to Bloomington, and then to Mackinaw in the same county, where he en- gaged in work for William Hainline during the fol- lowing three and one-half years. From Mackinaw he came to Livingston County, and for the next three years engaged in breaking prairie, employing two teams of four yoke of cattle each. In 1865, having accumulated sufficient money, he purchased eighty acres of land, and from time to time has added to the original purchase until he now has 209 acres in Livingston County, and eighty acres in Newton County, Mo.

On the Ist of March, 1866, our subject was

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married to Miss Martha Moore, who was born in Illinois in 1845, and is the daughter of Richard and Paulina (Phillips) Moore. The father came from Tennessee to Illinois about 1829, making the journey in an ox-cart. and their first year of res- idence in Illinois was in a rudely constructed rail pen. But prosperity smiled upon them. and they now own 200 acres of land on section 28, In- dian Grove Township. Mr. and Mrs. Conine have been blessed with a family of six children. whose names are. John R .. Charlie A .. Iva N., Nina, Vena A. and Gleuis V .. the youngest yet an infant. To demonstrate the measure of Mr. Conine's success it is only necessary to refer to the tax duplicates of Livingston County, which show that during the first two years of his farm life he paid into the treasury for taxes assessed against him the sum of fifteen cents each year. By turning over the leaves of the book nutil coming to the record of last year it will be found that the amount assessed against him, and for the payment of which he holds a receipt. was $112.50. It does not require much of a mathematician. taking these figures for a basis of calculation, to determine the per cent of Mr. Conine's increase in property during his residence a> a free-holder in Illinois. lle takes great interest in live-stoek matters, and at the time of the writing of this sketch he has upon his farm twenty-eight borses and mules. seventy-four cattle and forty hogs. and they are all of fine strains of blood.

Mr. Conine has always affiliated with the Demo- cratie party, although he does not neglect his busi- ness to devote much time to politics. He has served as Road Commissioner and School Director. in the latter office for thirteen years. Ile takes a special interest in school matters, and has been in- strumental in largely improving the school under his jurisdiction.

OIN BODLEY. Avoca Township. In every new settlement that has attained to promi- Dence and success in the building up of its industrial and educational institutions and adso it- agricultural interest-, there have always been a few leading -pirit- to plant the standard of prog- ress and serve as a watcher, as it were, on the walls,

so that thing> should keep on moving and not be allowed to stagnate or turn back. The gentleman whose name head> this biography has largely repre- sented one of the moving spirits of his community, of which he became a member in the fall of 1854, more than thirty years ago. In him were at once recognized the intelligence and resolution so essential in the settling np of a new country. and his whole course through life has been that of a helper and a leader. He has been identified with the educational and religious interests of the southern part of Liv- ingston County ever since he was numbered among its citizens, and is accordingly held in due respect.

Our subject. a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, was born in a modest homestead near Dayton, Feb. 9, 1829. His parent-, Thomas and Anna .J. (Duncan) Bodley, were natives respectively of Ken- tucky and Ohio. His paternal ancestors are of pure English descent, while his mother's side represented some of the best blood of the Scotch-Irish. His great-grandfather Bodley came to this country in time to assist the Colonists in their struggle for liberty, and his grandfather Duncan later served in the War of 1812. Having sprung from such a race of people, it is not to be wondered at that John Bodley stands where he does to-day.

The parents of Mr. Bodley soon after his birth removed from Ohio to Fountain County, Ind., dur- ing the early settlement of that region. Ile took up a tract of Goverment land and succeeded in buikdling up a comfortable homestead. where he cultivated the soil, and with his estimable wife spent the remainder of his days. His death took place in 1850, and that of the mother in 1868. The parental household included eight children. six now living, and resident- of Illinois, Indiana and Kansas. The boys are engaged in farming, and the girls mostly married " sons of the soil."

Our subject was reared to manhood in Fountain County. Ind .. with limited advantages, his educa- tion being conducted in the subscription schools, mainly during the winter season. In summer, as soon as old enough to be of service, he was made useful on the farm and became familiar with its various employments. lle began to lay his plans early in life. and soon after reaching his majority , took unto himself a wife and helpmeet in the person

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

of Miss Mary A., danghter of William and Margaret ( Whitehall) Boliva, of Fountain County. The wedding was celebrated at the home of the bride on the 5th of June, 1850, and they began life together in a modest dwelling in Shawnee Township, Foun- tain Co., Ind. There they became the parents of three children, and later five more were added to the household circle. Of these but four are living. namely, Thomas, John, William, and Dora, the wife of George Bentley, who lives near Pontiac. Those deecased died at an early age. They were Mary E., Elizabeth, Della and Eddie.

Mr. and Mrs. Bodley continued to reside in Fountain County until the fall of 1854, then com- ing to Central Illinois, located at Avoca, where Mr. B. had entered 360 acres of land from the Govern- ment. Not a furrow of this had been broken and there were no buildings upon the entire tract. He secured a small tenement for the shelter of his family and in addition to beginning the cultivation of the soil, superintended the cutting of timber with the design of building a frame house. The trees were felled in June, 1855, the lumber dressed in a sawmill and kiln-dried, and the following August the house was completed, the whole busi- ness being done inside of two months. It was put np in the substantial manner which was characteris- tie of all the operations of our subject, and was the wonder and admiration of the country around. In due time a barn and other necessary out-buildings followed, together with the fencing of the fields and the gathering together of convenient machinery and all the other appliances required by the pro- gressive and enterprising agriculturist. The prop- erty now presents one of the most attractive spots in the southern part of Livingston County, the land being under a high state of cultivation, the farm stock of the best description, and everything about the premises kept in the best of order. . Mr. Bodley has parted with a few acres, having now but 352.

Our subject was one of the first Supervisors of Avoca Township, has served as Road Commis- sioner, and uniformly votes the Republican ticket. He has been deeply interested in church matters since coming here, and was one of the prime movers in the establishment of the Centennial Methodist Epis-

copal Church at Lodemia Station, the edifice being built during the year 1876. To the support of this society he contributed liberally, and has represented the Onarga and the Kankakee Districts as delegate to the General Conference four sessions. Hle and his wife are at present connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church at Lodemia, in which Mr. B. is Steward and has been Sunday-school Superintendent for a number of years. Ile is also Steward of Kan- kakee District.

Mr. Bodley is little past the prime of life and is in the midst of his usefulness. In a world where there is so much room for action on the part of the benevolent-minded, he is destined to continue an important part, and receives ample reward in the esteem and confidence of the people of his com- munity.

G EORGE G. BREESE, who is a farmer of broad ideas, and owns eighty acres of land on section 31, Pontiac Township, is a native of Jennings County, Ind., and was born on the 12th of April, 1858. He is the son of John and Mary Breese, who are at present residing in the State of Oregon. The father was a native of England, and the mother was born in Scotland. The father emi- grated to the United States about the year 1850, and proceeded to Ohio, where he married Mary Rook, and they were the parents of three children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the young- est. In the fall of 1868 they moved to Livingston County from Indiana, and settled in Waldo Town- ship. They lived there one year, and then moved to Rook's Creek Township, where they remained until the spring of 1882, when they moved to Ore- gon, where they now reside. They are both mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and much devoted to that religions organization. IIe is a Re- publican in politics, and has always taken a great interest in the affairs of that party.

Mr. Breese has been engaged in agricultural pur- suits all his life, and when a youth received a good education in the common schools of Indiana. On the 23d of March, 1882, he was married to Hattie A. Piper, a daughter of Richard and Hannah (Vaz- son) Piper, of Rook's Creek Township. The mother

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

of Mrs. Breese is deceased, and the father is a resi- dent of Rook's Creek Township. Mr. Breese set- tled on his pre-ent farm in 1885, and during the short time ot hi- residence there has met with ex- cellent succe-s. He is practically a self-made man, having been left dependent upon his own resources by the removal of his parents to the far West when comparatively young. He and his wife are well known throughout their section of country, and en- joy the esteem and respect of a very large circle of acquaintances. They are broad and liberal in their views, and are valuable members of society. Mr. Breese has renounced his connection with the old political parties, and has put on the armor of the Prohibitionist, and conscientiously devotes as much time a- he can possibly spare to that cause.

ERMAN KLINGELHOFER. The snug farm property of this gentleman comprises eighty acres of good land on section 35, in Owego Township. where he has been located twelve or thirteen years. He has been largely en- gaged during this period in attending strictly to his own concerns, tilling the soil and adding improve- ments as time passed on and his means justified. He ha- served as School Director in his district, and is in all respects regarded as a reliable and substan- tial citizen. whose advent to this part of the county was a fortunate occurrence both for himself and the neighborhood around him.

Our subject was born in the Province of Kur-Hes- sen, Germany, April 6, 1833, and is the son of John and Catherine (Maurer) Klingelhofer, who were also of German birth and parentage, and spent their entire lives on their native soil. Herman was reared to manhood under the parental roof, and in common with the youth of his native country, was placed in school at an early age and continued hi- -tudie- until fourteen years old. After reaching hi- majority he was first married to Mi-> Catherine Reitz. also a native of Germany, who became the mother of cight children, four living, namely, Valentine, Christian, Annie and Julia. The wife and mother died abont 1879. Mr. K. was the sec- ond time married, about 1880, to Miss Kreszentia

Kellar, and they became the parents of one child, a daughter, Rosa. This lady died in 1882.

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married in Strawn in 1883, was formerly Miss Julia Faust. Mrs. K. is also a native of Germany, and was born May 15, 1835. Mr. K. emigrated to America in 1861, taking passage on a sailing-vessel at Bremen, and after an ocean voyage of nearly ten weeks, landed in New York City, whence he pro- ceeded directly to this State. He located first in LaSalle County, where he was employed as a day laborer until 1865, and then took up his abode in this county. Ile operated on rented land until about 1875, in the meantime living economically and saving what he could of a limited income. He purchased his present farm not long afterward, and has gained each year a little capital, adding gradu- ally the improvements most needed, so that he is now comparatively independent, and can take time to enjoy the fruits of his early industry. Upon be- coming a naturalized citizen, he first identified him- self with the Republican party, but of late years has voted independently, aiming to support the men whom he considers are best qualified to serve the people.

C HARLES W. BARBER, who is successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 8, Odell Township, was born in Sar- atoga County, N. Y., on the 7th of July, 1834, the second child in a family of three born to Zina and Sarah A. (Potter) Barber. The grandparents were all early setlers in the Mohawk Valley, where they spent the best part of their lives. Grandfather Potter was noted for physical strength and power- ful manhood, and served as Constable, Justice of the Peace, ete., during the greater part of his life. The father of Mr. Barber was a mechanic, and fol- lowed lumbering and sawmilling in the State of New York. Ile was born in Old Saratoga Town- ship on the 9th of November, 1809, and lived there until 1851, when he sold all his interests there and came West where he bought a quarter section of land in LaSalle County, Ill., and after establishing his family upon it, he engaged in carpentering and

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

his boys conducted the farm. In the summer of 1855 he attempted to help in the harvest field, and died from the effects of sunstroke, on the 25th of July. He was a strong Abolitionist, and was an ardent supporter of the Constitution, and an enthu- siastic Unionist. While he took an active part in political matters, he never sought office. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was one of the earliest Seceders from that denomina- tion on account of his anti-slavery views. He was twice married, and was the father of ten children, two of whom were killed in one week near the close of the Civil War, as they were advancing toward Richmond.

Mr. Barber was reared to lumbering, learned the trade of a carpenter, and was educated in the com- mon schools. At the age of eighteen he went to the city of Chicago, where he followed his trade for three years, and then returned to LaSalle County, where he spent two years at his trade, and then on the 11th of October, 1857, he was married to Adeline Harris, who was born in Livingston, Ill .. on the 26th of September, 1835. She was the sixth child in a family of seven born to Harvey and Elizabeth Harris. Soon after they were married Mr. and Mrs. Barber settled on a farm, and he di- vided his attention between farming and carpenter- ing. After continuing thus with varied success for several years, they came to Livingston County. During his residence in LaSalle County he at one time concluded to try cabinet-making and contract- ing, and formed a partnership with another party and began business in Centreville, St. Joseph Co., Mich. One year's experience in this line was suf- ficient, and he returned to the farm. In 1866 he located on a farm which he purchased near Odell, and built a house upon it. The following year he moved to town and opened a carriage and wagon shop, and'about a year later purchased eighty acres, upon which he immediately moved and now re- sides, having recently added another eighty acres.

Mr. and Mrs. Barber are the parents of nine chil- dren, eight of whom are living-Mary E., Rozelle A., Emma J., Harvey C., Fanny B., Mabel A., Nel- lie L. and Edith A. A twin sister to Nellie died in infancy. Mary married Robert Flack, who was accidentally killed by a street car in Chicago, in

which city he was engaged as a foreman of a car- penter-shop. He had wisely provided himself with a life insurance policy of $3,000, which was paid soon after his death, and the widow invested it in a farm of eighty acres near the home of her parents. in Livingston County. Rosa married Fred G. Church, and lives on a farm in Odell Township; Emma married Charles Burke, a farmer, and lives in Greene County, Iowa. The other children are at home with their parents. Rosa is the mother of two children-Susie and Robbie; Emma has two children-Mabel and George. Mr. Barber has served as Road Commissioner and School Director for many years, is conservative in his politics, but casts his vote with the Republican party, having voted for the first time for the first Republican candidate for President, Gen. John C. Fremont. Mrs. Barber is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and both have always hcen active in their support of religions and moral enterprises. Mr. Barber is now a stock-raiser, making a specialty of Holstein cattle, Norman horses and Poland hogs. With all of his farming enterprises he has been sig- nally successful.

C HARLES R. BAMBER resides on a beauti- fully located farm ou section 6, Waldo Township, where he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. His farm consists of eighty-eight acres eligibly situated, and contains good buildings of all kinds, besides a never-failing supply of water.

Mr. Bamber was born in Washington, Taze- well Co., Ill., Ang. 6, 1846, and is the son of John B. and Angeline (Emmitt) Bamber. The father was a tailor by trade, in Washington, but owned a farm about three miles from the town, where the family resided a portion of the time. The father was born in Lancashire, England. in 1810, and was an only child. He came to America with his par- ents, locating on a farm in Illinois. The paternal grandfather, Robert Bamber, was a weaver by trade, which occupation he followed for some time in this State, but finally embarked in the drug busi- ness, in which he was engaged at the time of his death, which occurred while on a trip to St. Louis

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

to purchase goods. Our subject's mother was born in Winchester. Va., Jan. 17, 1815, and came of German parentage; she is still living in Washing- ton. Ill. She became the wife of the father of our subject in December, 1839, and bore him four chil- dren, of whom our subject is the youngest. Their names are as follows: John B., born Aug. 27, 1840, was a private in the 47th Illinois Infantry, in which he served during the entire war; he married Susan Beauchamp, deceased, and resides in Tazewell Conn- ty, and has one child, named Charles William. Jane, born Nov. 19, 1842, married John Hugill, has five children, and lives in Washington, III. : Robert, born May 24, 1844, was a private in the 146th Illinois Infantry, and served about eleven months ; he mar- ried Thankful Trowbridge, has two children, and lives in Washington, Ill. ; Charles R.

Our subject did not enjoy very good opportuni- tie- for obtaining an education, but succeeded in familiarizing himself with most of the elementary branches. At twenty-one years of age he contracted to farm his father's estate, and on the 24th of No- vember. 1867, which was Thanksgiving Day, he was married to Miss Pauline Noel, daughter of Jacob and Pauline (Tyria) Noel. of Tazewell County, Ill. She was born near Paris, France, June 12, 1848. and was three years of age when her par- ent- came to this country and located in Tazewell County, where they still reside. She is the third child in a family of fourteen, of whom three died young, and eleven are still living, as follows: Mary married James Brown, has six children, and lives in Iowa: Harriet married Solomon Betz, has four children, and lives in Washington, Ill. ; Pauline is our subject's wife; Rosella married John Beatty, has six children, and lives in Washington, III, ; John also lives in Washington; Julius lives in Iowa; Sophia married George Par-ons, has three children, and lives in Waldo Township; Elizabeth married John Taylor, has one child, and lives in Peoria; Sa- rah, Ella and Joseph are unmarried, and live in Peo- ria. Mrs. Bamber's parents are living in Wash- ington, Tazewell County, at an advanced age. They were born in France, the father in 1808, the mother in 1823; they were married Feb. 23, 1844.

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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 59

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