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 62
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Our subject. when twenty-two years of age, was united in marriage with Mrs. Martha (Carmichael) Holder, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride, in Greene County. Ind., Dec. 9, 1841. Mrs. H. is a native of the same State as her husband, and was born June 7, 1810. She went with her parents to Indiana about 1833, and there met her husband. Their children, seven in number, were named respectively. James C., Solomon E., John R., Jennie : Sarah, now deceased : Mary E. and Mar- tha A. Those surviving are all married and set- tled comfortably in life. Mr. Hilsback served as School Treasurer four years in Woodford County, and has held the office of Justice of the Peace since 1883. IIis decisions have been marked by excel- lent judgment. none of them having been reversed by a higher court. Mr. and Mrs. H. united with the Methodist Church in 1842, and our subject. be- sides his ministerial duties. has served as Class- Leader, and in other ways manifested his zeal for the cause of religion. He has been zealous at re- vivals, and in 1864 conducted a protracted meet- ing in Penolia Township, Woodford County, upon which occasion large numbers were added to the church. Politically he is a stanch Republican.
ETER METZ, retired farmer, and now a resident of Odell, is familiarly known as being one of its most wealthy and promi- nent citizens. Commencing life with mod- erate means, but possessing more than an ordinary amount of persistence and enterprise, he has ac- cumulated a large property, and now surrounded by the comforts and luxuries of life, is spending his later days in the enjoyment of his prosperity.
Mr. Metz is a Pennsylvanian by birth, and first opened his eyes to the light of day in Blair County, on the 25th of May, 1815. His parents were also native- of the Keystone State, where they were reared and married, and spent their entire lives. Their family included six children, of whom
our subject was the second in order of birth. His early advantages were exceedingly limited, and he began at an early age to practice those habits of industry which were the secret of his later suc- cess. "After an apprenticeship of four years at the plasterer's trade, he began contracting for himself throughout the State. lle remained in his na- tive State until his marriage, in 1845, the lady se- lected to share his future being Miss Angeline Johnson, the second child of Thomas .Johnson, of Ironville, Pa. Mrs. Metz was born in February, 1824, and during her early years remained in Penn- sylvania, where the death of her father occurred. Her mother afterward removed to Iowa and spent her last years with her children on the other side of the Mississippi.
Mr. Metz and his young wife began life together in Blair County. Pa., where they remained until the spring of 1859. Our subject then desiring something better than the prospect afforded in that section of country, resolved to seek the Western country. After reaching this State he purchased 215 acres of wild land in Union Township, where he put up a house and prepared for the reception of his family, who joined him in the following year. lle remained a resident of the farm which he had built up from the uncultivated prairie for a period of eighteen years, during the latter portion of which time he became largely interested in real estate. Ile finally became agent of Eastern land speculators, and carried on extensive transactions, while at the same time he superintended the culti- vation of his farm and added to his own real estate until he was the possessor of 800 acres. In 1878 he left the farm and removed to Bloomington for the purpose of educating the children who had grown up around him. This being accomplished he returned to Odell, where he felt most at home, and put up one of the handsomest and most commodious dwellings in the place. Ilere he has since resided, and there are few permanent residents of the town who are not familiar with the form of Mr. Metz, and with the fact of his being one of its most sub- stantial and reliable citizens.
Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Metz, Seward, a plasterer by trade, is a resident of Chi- cago; Callie is at home with her parents; Thomas
ree
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E. and Ernest carry on the farm in Union Town- ship; William is a practicing attorney of Wyo- ming Territory; Edmund is in the insurance and real-estate business at Odell; Calvin, Louisa P'. and Florence L. are deceased.
W ILLIAM CHAMBERS, one of the public- spirited men of Sammemin Township, has contributed his full quota toward its busi- ness and agricultural interests. In glancing at the results of a community of enterprising men it may perhaps be difficult to single out one who has achieved more than another, but were he taken from his place the vaeaney would at once be apparent. This gentleman, although perhaps not the hero of any very thrilling event, has pursued the even tenor of his way in a most creditable manner, and has proved himself an important factor in establishing the reputation of his locality as a desirable place of resi- dence and as one which has been settled up by a class of wide-awake and reliable men.
The property of Mr. Chambers lies on section 4, and includes a tract of choice land under good cultivation, with suitable buildings and all the con- venienees required by the modern farmer. Ilis early home was on the other side of the Atlantie, in Lineolnshire, England, where he first opened his eyes to the light March 14, 1844. Ilis parents, George and Jane Chambers, were also natives of England. and the mother died there when her son William was a lad five years of age. The father then decided to emigrate, and accompanied by his family, took passage on a sailing-vessel at Liverpool on the 12th of April. 1853. arriving in New York City on the 3d of June following. Thence they removed directly to Fountain County. Ind., where the father employed himself at whatever he could find to do in order to support his family. In 1856 he came with his family to this county, of which our subject has since been a resident, together with the father. who now makes his home at Sannemin, where he has lived for the last twenty-three years.
Young Chambers commenced early in life to do for himself, and being of an enterprising turn of
mind, resolved upon having a farm of his own as soon as hard work would accomplish it. When but a youth he commenced breaking prairie with an ox- team on the present site of Sannemin Village. Ilis plans. however, like those of many others, were broken in upon by the Rebellion. and in August, 1862, he enlisted in Company C; 129th Ilinois In- fantry, and with his comrades was assigned to guard anty along the Louisville & Nashville Railroad until in February. 1864. He was then transferred to the army of Gen. Sherman. and fought at Resaca and the siege of Atlanta, besides being in the entire campaign in the southeast, including the march to the sea. Subsequently he was detailed from his company on a foraging expedition which extended the entire distance from Atlanta to the sea. Some days they marched as many as fifty miles, carrying a knapsack and often leaving the lines to obtain provisions. Mr. Chambers, however, was blessed with a good constitution, and although many times in the midst of danger and death, he escaped withont serious injury. with the exception of being struck by the bark of a tree while on picket anty in front of Atlanta, the tree being riddled by shots from the enemy. At Resaca the companions of Mr. C. on both sides of him fell, one dead and the other wounded, and he expected each moment would be his last. He was spared, however, and after going up through the Carolinas, participated in the grand review at Washington, and received his honorable discharge in June, 1865.
Upon returning from the army Mr. Chambers located in Saunemin Township, entering the employ of Spafford Bros. Ile hauled probably the first rails laid in fence upon their farm, and first broke the sod upon the land now owned by Thomas Spafford and at this time occupied by an orchard of choice apple trees. Mr. Chamber- remained in single bles- sedness several years afterward, but in the meantime made the acquaintance of Miss Susan P. Potter, of Will County, Ill., to whom he was married on the 24 of March, 1873. Mrs. Chambers was born in Will County, June 18, 1850. and is the daughter of William and Mary Potter, natives of Ohio, and now residing in this township. Of this union there have been born three children. namely, Myrtle J., born July 22, 1876; Ettie M., born Dee. 3. 1878, and
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died Nov. 11. 1885. and Guy Il., boru May 15.
The Republican principles in which Mr. Chambers had been reared were strengthened by his experience in the army, and he is a member in good standing of the G. A. R. Post at Saunemin. He and his estim- able wife are popular among their neighbors, re- -pected in their community, and numbered among it- most worthy people.
HRISTOPHER C. ALLEN. One of the neatest farms in Pontiac Township is lo- cated on section 29, adjoining Pontiac, and contains fifty-one acres. This farm is owned by the subject of this sketch, who is just now in the prime of manhood, and is the head of an interest- ing family of four members. His farm is not so large as those which belong to some of his neigh- bors, but it is just as productive, and to till it ac- cording to his ideas keeps Mr. Allen busy, while he makes every rod of it available in some way. He takes great pride in doing well whatever he finds to do. and as a result, his crops are always abundant and his domestic animals are kept in ex- cellent condition.
Mr. Allen is a native of Illinois, where he was born on the 18th of December, 1845, in the county of Jefferson. He is a son of Abel and Prudence Allen, his father a native of Kentucky, and his mother of Tennessee. His ancestors, on both sides, were of English descent. The subject of this sketch was the youngest child of his father's family, which consisted of eleven children, of whom five are now hving: Dr. Joel Allen, of Livingston County ; Jackson, of Hancock County; Lewis V., of Lincoln County, Wash. Ter .; Henry C., of Lo- gan County, Col., and the subject of this sketch, who was reared to manhood in Jefferson County, and received an excellent common-school educa- tion. His boyhood days were spent exclusively upon the farm, and he was assiduous in his assistance to Ins parents.
Lawrence County, Ohio, and came to Hamilton County, Ill., with her parents when but two years of age. where she resided until her marriage. They have been blessed with three children: Ethel S., who was born on the 19th of June, 1873; Nora J., Ang. 22, 1875, and Ida M., May 1, 1883.
Our subject is a Republican in politics, and takes a deep interest in all matters which enhance the popularity and promote the prospects of that grand old party. While a citizen of Jefferson County be served acceptably as Clerk of Moore's Prairie Township. He is not a seeker after office, and whatever he may do in a political way is purely through patriotism. Mr. Allen's success in life is very largely due to his own efforts, and since mar- riage, to the cordial support given him in all his affairs by his excellent wife.
of LEXANDER MCINTOSH. One of the most enterprising and successful farmers and stock-raisers of Rook's Creek Town- ship is the subject of this sketch, whose farm is located on section 7. Mr. McIntosh was born in Scotland on the 19th of June, 1821, and came to the United States on the 1st of June, 1851, and almost immediately upon his arrival located in Marshall County, Ill., where he purchased land and carried on farming for about five years. at the end of which time he sold his lands and moved to Put- nam County. In that county he had mail con- tracts and engaged in various occupations for about fifteen years, in the meantime indulging in a little land speculation. On the 1st of March, 1870, he located on the farm where he now resides.
Mr. McIntosh was married, on the 19th of June, 1851, to Emma Gillespie, in Marshall County. They have had six children: John C., who was married, Oct. 10, 1883. to Miss Nellie L. MeIntire, and has one child, Alfred A .; Thomas M., Alex- ander G., Alfred A .. Frank E. and William G. Thomas married Beatrice Fyffe, Dee. 25, 1882, and has one child, Emma L .; Alexander G. and Alfred A. are dead; William G. lost his hearing when about nine months old, and has been educated
On the Ith of June, 1871, Mr. Allen was mar- ried to Mi-, Anna M. Judd, daughter of John C. and Sarah Judd, natives of Ohio. She was born in | at the school for mutes, at Jacksonville, from which
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institution he was graduated in 1886, and is now at- tending National College, in Washington City, D. C. The subject of this sketch was the fourth child in a family of five; his parents' names were Daniel and Isabel (Grant) McIntosh; the former was born in 1755 and died in 1844, the latter was born in 1786 and died in 1838. His brothers and sisters all died in Scotland and England. The father of Mrs. Mc- Intosh was John Gillespie. a native of Montrose. Scotland, who was born in 1794 and died in 1838. Her mother's name was Charlotte A. Merall, and she was born the 23d of November, 1794, in England. She was married in 1829, in London. Her husband died in 1838, and in 1842 she was married a second time, and removed to Illinois in the year 1850. Mrs. McIntosh finished a course of study at West- brook House Seminary, which included French, and she was graduated at the age of sixteen. Mr. Me- Intosh was educated in Scotland, and completed a course of study at the High School of Scranton, Scotland.
Mr. McIntosh is a member of the Republican party, and has been from the date of its organiza- tion, having cast his first vote for John C. Free- mont, in 1856. He has occupied several minor offices, and is now serving as Road Commissioner. He is a member of the Congregational Church, and has been a Trustee of that body ever since it was organized, and took an active part in the erection of the building, and gives liberally for the support of the church.
h ENRY HORNBECK. Some of the most in- telligent and progressive farmers of Illinois came from Fayette County, Pa., a county which is located in the southwestern part of that State, bordering on West Virginia, which is drained by the Monongahela and Youghiogheny, and Redstone Creek. The surface is finely diver- sified with valleys, hills, and two long ridges called Laurel Hill and Chestnut Ridge. A large part of the county is covered with forests in which the sugar maple abound. The soil is fertile, and pro- duces corn, oats, wheat and hay, so the Fayette
County man locating in Illinois does not leave his native home because of bareness of soil and predom- inance of rocky hills. but comes West where he can find a broader scope for action than he could have had in the more densely settled State of Pennsylvania; and this was the motive which brought Mr. Hornbeck, who is a farmer and stock- raiser on section 21, Indian Grove Township, to Livingston County. Ile was born in Fayette County, Pa., on the 4th of October. 1831, and is the son of Abraham D. and Esther (Dobbs) Horn- beck, who were natives of New York and Pennsyl- vania respectively. The father was of German ancestry and was born in 1808, dying in Livingston County on the 10th of October, 1878. Ile was a merchant and hotel-keeper, and at times during his life a farmer by occupation. In about 1870 he came to Illinois, having lost his wife in 1865, and died in this place. He was a man of sterling worth and more than ordinary ability, which in all politi- cal matters was devoted to the Democratic party.
Henry Hornbeck lived in a village until he was twenty-six years old, when he came West, and settled in Livingston County in 1857, where he carried on the business of quarrying stone for a period of about twenty years. His first purchase of land occurred in 1861, and consisted of forty acres, to which he has from time added until his farm now consists of 190 acres which he has taken great care to cultivate after the best methods and improve by the erection of commodious and well- equipped buildings.
Mr. Hornbeck was married, on the 3d of January, 1878, to Mrs. Sarah J. Harrison, who was born in Livingston County on the 4th of March, 1842, and is the daughter of Isam and Polly A. (Spence) Moore, natives of Tennessee and Kentucky re- spectively. The father was born on the 18th of June, 1818, and is still living ; the mother was born on the 3d of December, 1826; and they are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he being a ('lass-Leader and exhorter for many years. The names of their four children are: James 1. Sarah J., Susannah K. and John H. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hornbeck have had five children-Hank B. : Davis B., deceased; Harvey, Bessie and Daisy. Mrs. Hornbeck was twice married, the first union
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being with Preston Harrison, in 1860, by whom she had six children-Annie E .. Richard I., Rosina, Benjamin A., James N .. deceased, and Lillie. The father of Mrs. Hornbeek came to Illinois in 1833, and located in Livingston County, where he mar- ried Miss Polly A. Spence, who was a native of Kentucky, and vame to Illinois in 1832. Mr. Moore. the father of Mrs. Hornbeck, is the owner of fifty-three and one-half acres of land, is a Green- backer in politics, and for fifty-three years has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Henry Hornbeek is one of the leading men of In- dian Grove Township, a representative of her prog- ress, and a firm believer in her material prosperity in the future. He is a man of the largest liberality in his political views, and never permits himself to he bound by the dictates of political caucuses.
ARREN II. DANFORTH, one of the sub- -tantial and reliable farmers of Owego Township, is pleasantly located on seetion 10, where he owns eighty acres of land, upon which he is operating after the most improved modern methods. Ile commenced in life with little or no means, but by the exercise of his inherent industry and good judgment, has attained to a good position among his fellow-men, both socially and financially.
Mr. Danforth is of New England birth and par- entage, his earliest recollections being of a spot in Worcester County. Mass., where he first opened his eyes to the light May 27, 1844. Ilis parents, George P. and Fidelia (Royers) Danforth, were also native- of the Bay State, and the descendants of excellent English ancestry, whose first representa- tives in this country came over in the Mayflower with the Pilgrim Father>. George and Fidelia Dan- forth became the parents of two children only- Ella M. and Warren H., our subject. The mother passed away when the latter was a little lad five years of age, and he was then taken in charge by relative -. Seven years later he came with his father and other members of the family to Woodford County, this State, at an early period in its history. Ile was there reared to manhood. and received a
limited education in the pioneer schools. In com- mon with the other settlers of that time, they en- dured hardship and privation, but were made of the stern stuff which characterized the people of that day, in whose vocabulary there was no such word as "fail." They had come to establish a home in the waste places, and set themselves resolutely about the task before them. The comfortable sur- rounding's which were built up gradually from the primitive soil, attested in due time how successful they had been in their undertaking, and constituted a rich reward for that which they had endured.
Our subjeet has been a farmer his entire life, commencing at an early age to mark out his future career. One of his most important undertakings was his marriage, which occurred before he had reached his twenty-fourth year, on the 23d of March, 1868, his chosen bride being Miss Mary A. Greene, and the wedding taking place in Minonk. Mrs. Danforth was born in Rensselaer County, N. Y., Aug. 8, 1846, and is the daughter of Nathan and Sarah (Main) Greene, who were of New En- gland birth and parentage. They emigrated West during the fifties, and located in Woodford County, this State, among the pioneer settlers. They have since passed to their long home, the death of the mother occurring in 1857, and that of the father in 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Danforth became the parents of five children, namely : George N., born Feb. 26, 1869; Frank L., July 16, 1870; Minnie E., April 9, 1878; Perry W., Sept. 12, 1885, and Charles E., Feb. 26, 1875. The last named died when less than ten years old, Nov. 2, 1884. Our subject, in 1874, came with his family to this county, locating first in Eppard's Point Township, where he resided five years, and then purchased his present farm. This comprises eighty acres of fertile land which yields in abundance the choicest erops of the Prairie State. The residence with its adjacent buildings is neat and substantial in appearance, the farm stock well fed and well cared for, and the machinery all that is required for the successful operation of the farm. Mr. Danforth has pursued the even tenor of his way in a quiet and unobtrusive manner, is held in high respect as a member of society, and for several years has been a Deacon and Trustee in the Baptist Church. He meddles little with politics, but uni-
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formly casts a straight Republican vote at the gen- eral elections. His snug little property is the ac- cumulation of his own industry.
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NTON HUBER is comfortably located on a 160-acre farm on section 23, in Waldo Township, where he is engaged in stock- raising, in addition to general farming. He was born in the Grand Dukedom of Baden, Germany, on the 15th of May, 1822, and is the son of Fidele and Theresa (Stetter) Huber. Our sub- ject is the fifth child in a family of six, only one of whom besides himself ever came to America. This brother. Joseph, was married, and died in Peoria. Ill., Jan. 22, 1885, leaving five children.
Mr. Huber was reared in the town of Stockach, where he was educated in his native language in the common schools. His father was a carpenter by trade, and with him he served an apprenticeship, and followed that occupation during his residence in Germany. Ang. 4, 1847, Mr. Huber was mar- ried to Mary Kleiner, daughter of George and Ida (Waltz) Kleiner, of Stockach, Germany. He continued to live in Germany for six years after his marriage, and during this time four children were born. In October, 1853, he sailed for Amer- ica, and landed at New York on the 4th of Decem- ber. He did not tarry there but proceeded to Peoria County, Ill., where a brother resided. IIe remained in that county and followed his trade for five years. In 1858 he removed to El Paso, Wood- ford County, where he engaged in the brewery business, and in which he continued for nine years. He disposed of this business in the fall of 1866, and in the spring of 1867 moved to his present home in Livingston County, where he purchased eighty acres of land. In 1881 he bought eighty acres more, and now has a good and valuable farm, which is well drained by tile ditches, and on which are located good and convenient buildings. Pre- vious to his marriage, above recorded, Mr. IIuber was married on the 16th of May, 1846, to Caroline Klotz, who died on the 14th of February, 1847. The result of this marriage was one child, Caroline,
born Feb. 9, 1847. She became the wife of Joseph Stuckel, a farmer who lives in Montgomery County, Kan., and they have six children. By Mr. Huber's second marriage there were born nine children, whose record is as follows: John died in infancy ; John (2d), born April 12, 1850, married, has three children, and lives on the home farm ; Josephine, born Dec. 27, 1851, and died in infancy ; Polly, born June 7, 1853, and died in London when her parents were en route to America; Polly (2d), born Oct. 9, 1854, in Peoria, Ill., married John Pfeffinger, has four children, and lives in Waldo Township; Joseph, born Feb. 8, 1857, and died in infancy; Mary Ida, born Oct. 13, 1858, married Adam Jacob Schreck, has three children, and lives in Waldo Township; Wilhelmina, born Jan. 3, 1862, and lives at home; Rosina, born Feb. 24, 1864, married Hugo Hendricks, and lives in McLean County. Mrs. Huber was born Jan. 16, 1822; she is now sixty-six years of age but is as spry and active as a woman of forty. Mr. Huber votes the Democratic ticket and has held the offices of Road Commissioner three years, Township Clerk nine years, Assessor five years, and School Director for six years. He was reared a member of the Catho- lic Church, but is very liberal and tolerant in his religious views. Since his residence in Livingston County, by his many sterling qualities he has pop- ularized himself with the people of the county.
ARRY IIILL, deceased, late of Pontiac Township, was born in Miami County, Ohio, Jan. 21, 1835. His parents, Henry and Sarah A. Hill, were also natives of the Buck- eye State. They came to Livingston County when their son was a young man during the early settle- ment of Central Illinois, and built up a home from the uncultivated soil, experiencing in common with hundreds of other- the hardships and difficulties of that time.
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