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 64

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 64

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William Bigham, Jr., inherited a portion of his father's farm in Butler County, where he remained, cultivating the soil, until he rested from his earthly labors, Jan. 27, 1853. The mother has survived her husband for a period of thirty-four years, and is now living with her son, our subject. The par- ental family included eight children, five of whom lived to reach their majority: Lydia became the wife of Rev. James H. Burns, and is now deceased ; John R., our subject, was the second in order of birth; Caroline died in Ohio, aged about eighteen years; William Ross is a lumber dealer at White City, Kan. ; Darwin L. is engaged in handling ag-

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ricultural implements at Redwood Falls, Minn .. and three children died in early life while the par- ents resided in Ohio. William Bigham was a true Christian man, and a member in good standing of the Presbyterian Church for a period of thirty-five years, and in 1847 was chosen Elder, to succeed his brother who had died. He was a man of few words, of quiet and nnobtrusive manner, but one in whom his family and the community had abso- lute confidence. He is remembered as a kind hus- band, indulgent parent and good citizen.

The boyhood and youth of John R. Bigham were spent in the rural districts, where he entered upon his primary studies, and afterward completed his education in the academy at Hamilton, Ohio. Ile remained a citizen of his native State until 1856, and then concluded to seek the farther West. Af- ter his arrival in this State he purchased a quarter section of unimproved land near El Paso, in Wood- ford County, to which he gave his undivided at- tention until the spring of 1867. Then selling out, he removed within the town limits of Chatsworth and took possession of his town residence, where he has gathered around him all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. In connection with his residence property he owns eighty acres of val- uable land within the town limits, where he gives full scope to his tastes for horticulture, and also raises corn and vegetables. Upon this he has erected a neat dwelling, with a good barn and the various out-buildings required by the modern farmer, the whole combined making one of the most attractive places in Chatsworth Township. The marriage of Mr. Bigham took place at Sparta, Livingston Co., N. Y., Oct. 11, 1859, the maiden of his choice being Miss Rose B. Traxler, who was a native of that county and born May 20, 1833. Her parents were Peter and Elizabeth (Kuhn) Traxler, natives of Pennsylvania and New York respectively, and now deceased. Of this union there were born seven children, of whom Rose died in 1872, when eighteen months old. Those sur- viving are Carrie. Elizabeth, Kate, William, Mary and John. Mr. Bigham has discharged the duties of the various local offices, and politically, uni- formly votes the Republican ticket. He became connected with the Presbyterian Church many

years ago, in which he has been an Elder since 1860. He was a member of the Coroner's jury which held the inquest upon the remains of seventy-four vic- tims, whose death was occasioned by the terrible railroad disaster at Chatsworth, and which calamity will be remembered by the people of this section for many years to come. It was an occasion call- ing forth the sympathies of the whole community, and our subject was equal to the emergency and, in common with many others, assisted as far as possible in mitigating the terrors of the scene.

LEXANDER MCKAY, Treasurer of Liv- ingston County, was elected to his respon- sible office in November. 1886, for a term of four years. Ile is a gentleman in the prime of life, and has been a resident of this county for over twenty years. His native city was Mon- treal. Canada, where he began life on the 3d of January, 1842.

The parents of our subject, James and Mary (Me Allister) Mckay, were of substantial Scotch ancestry, and natives of Scotland, as were also the grandparents, John and Margaret (Campbell) Mc- Kay, who spent their lives in the agricultural dis- tricts, where their remains now lie at rest. Their family included six children, of whom five are now living, but only two in America-Estee and James. The other children are named Mary, Margaret and John. The maternal grandparents of our sub- ject were Godfrey and Jane ( Wilson) McAllister, natives respectively of Scotland and Ireland. They emigrated to Canada in 1836, where the father en- gaged in farming on an extensive scale. The wife and mother departed this life in 1862, and Mr. Mc- Allister died two years later. Their family in- cluded ten children, seven now living, namely, John, Duncan; Mary, the mother of our subject; Ann, Mrs. Campbell; Jeanette, Mrs. MeDermott; Margaret, Mrs. Montgomery, and Rachel, Mrs. McEwen.

James Mckay, the father of our subject, was reared to farming pursuits, and went to Canada in

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

1836, when a young man twenty-one years of age, accompanied by his bride. He secured possession of a large body of land, upon which he operated until the spring of 1886, when he removed across the Mississippi to Washington County, Kan., where he now lives, engaged as before in carrying on a large farm. He belonged to the militia of the Do- minion of Canada, and was given the rank of Major. The parental household included twelve children, eight now living, namely : John; Alexander, our subject; Godfrey, Robert, Peter, Charles; Jeanette, Mrs. Galloway, of Dakota, and Mary, Mrs. Campbell. Robert and Peter are large stock-dealers in Wash- ington County, Kan., and operate together under the firm name of Mckay Bros .; John is connected with a stage route in British Columbia, and God- frey is in the canning business in that portion of the Northwest; Charles is a teacher in Simcoe County. Canada.

Our subject continued his studies in his native Province until fifteen years of age, and the follow- ing two years farmed with his father. He then served a four years' apprenticeship at harness-mak- ing, and in 1864 migrated to Chicago, where he followed his trade a year, and afterward continued it in Dwight, this county, until 1884. He was elected Justice of the Peace, and engaged in the real- estate and insurance business. He served three terms as Supervisor of Dwight Township, and was also a member of the School Board, besides being Village Trustee and Town Treasurer. His harness business at this place in due time assumed consider- able importance, and he gave employment to five bands. In the meantime he put up a substantial dwelling and a business house, besides other build- ings, from the rent of which he received a hand- some income. The family residence which he pur- chased in 1887 is pleasantly located on Howard street, and is one of the most tasteful and comfort- able of its kind.

The marriage of Alexander McKay and Miss Lou- isa Lytle took place at the home of the bride in Dwight, Nov. 23. 1865. Mrs. McKay was born in Pennsylvania, and is the daughter of James Lytle. a native of the same State. Of her union with our subject there are two sons: James L., born in 1869, and Harry A., in 1872. Mr. Mckay is a decided

Republican, politically, and a member in good standing of the I. O. O. F. He also, with his es- timable lady, is connected with the Presbyterian Church.

ELIX HOUCK has resided in Pontiac and vicinity for the last eight years, and is now comfortably located on a good farm of eighty-one aeres on section 3, in Eppard's Point Township. He has all his life been familiar with farm pursuits, and at this vocation has met with fair success. His land is well cultivated and pro- dnetive, and the buildings upon it neat and sub- stantial.

Our subjeet was born near Troy, Miami Co., Ohio, in November, 1836, and is the son of John and Catherine (Rhodocker) Houck, the former a native of North Carolina, and born Oet. 4, 1788. The father of our subject left his native State when a youth sixteen years of age, and in 1804 located near Cincinnati, where he engaged in milling, and whence he removed, some years later, to Mi- ami County, and engaged in farming. There his death took place May 27, 1865. When a young man he had served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and although not the hero of any particularly thrilling event, performed his duties in life in a worthy manner, and did honor to his excellent German ancestry. His wife, Catherine, was born in Pennsylvania, April 28, 1800, and was married about 1818-19. Their twelve children were born as follows : William, born Jan. 31, 1820, died February 11 following; Elizabeth, born May 14, 1821, died Aug. 14, 1822; Rebecca, born May 26, 1823, died November 26 following ; Susanna, born Oct. 7, 1824, died Dee. 14, 1848; she was the wife of J. L. Dye, and the mother of two children. They were living in Indiana at the time of her death. Mary, born Jan. 25, 1827, is the wife of Jacob DeHaven, with whom she lives on the old Houck homestead, in Miami County, Ohio, and has four daughters; the eldest, Alice, is married and lives with her mother. John Houck, Jr., was born Oct. 8, 1829, and died April 9, 1844; Jacob was born Feb. 1, 1832, and died July 5, 1863, in the hospital at Memphis, Tenn: he was taken ill at Vicksburg, and his brother Felix went to the South and took care of

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him until his death. Ilis remains fill a soldier's grave in the Chapel Cemetery on Spring Creek, two and one-half miles northeast of Troy, Ohio. He left a wife and three children who are still liv- ing. George W. Houck was born April 7, 1834, and is engaged in the furniture business at Prince- ton, this State ; he has a wife and one son. James M. was born Oct. 20, 1840, and was burned to death in Winnebago County, Ill .; he left a wife and two children. Sylvester, born Aug. 24, 1842, is a commercial traveler, and makes his home near Dayton, Ohio, where he has a wife. Mrs. Cather- ine Houck departed this life July 14, 1862.

Our subject continued with his parents until about twenty-five years of age, and assisted in ear- rying on the farm. When prepared to establish a home for himself, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Ralston, who was born Oct. 13, 1840, and is the only daughter of David and Amanda (Sims) Ralston. She is a native of the same county as her husband, and became the wife of the latter on the 5th of March, 1868, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride in Piqua, Ohio, Rev. Mr. Shepherdson officiating. The father of Mrs. Honek died when she was but a child, and her mother not many years later, in about 1867. Of her union with our subjeet there have been born four children, namely, Mamie, born Dec. 9, 1871; Amie, Jan. 20, 1873; Edward Chase, Aug. 1, 1874. The youngest, George Sims, was born in Pontiac, Aug. 26, 1876. Mrs. Ilouck is a member in good standing of the Baptist Church, and our subjeet, politically, is independent. They enjoy the eom- forts of a nicely located and tasteful home. and in addition to general farming, Mr. Houck carries on stock-raising with good success.

ILLIAM B. IIEWITT, a very well-edu- ucated and intelligent gentleman, fond of country life, is one of the most extensive and successful farmers and stock-raisers of Eppard's Point Township, and finely located on section 31. Ilis land has been brought to a high state of culti- vation, and the value of the property is enhanced

by the existence of a fine stone quarry which lies along the banks of Rook's Creek. Mr. H. illus- trates in the highest type the modern and progres- sive farmer, who, in addition to the cultivation of the soil, has given due attention to the improve- ment of his mind. He also possesses considerable literary talent, and is at present compiling a sta- tistical work, which will be quite voluminous, 300 pages being now ready for the press and more to follow. IIe has been largely identified with the best interests of Livingston County, and both as a busi- ness man and a member of society, is extremely popular.

Mr. Hewitt was born in Fayette County, Pa., Feb. 4, 1836, and is the son of Jonathan and Eliza- beth Hewitt, the former born in 1807, and a native of the same county as his son, where he spent his entire life, oceupied mostly as a millwright. Ilis death took place near Collinsville. Pa., at the house of his friend, James Collins, and was the result of an accident, he having strained himself by over- lifting around the machinery of a sawmill. A frac- ture of one of his limbs some years before had di- minished his muscular strength, and was indirectly

a cause of the accident. Ile was a skilled me- chanie and a good man in the broadest sense of the word. Ile set the first 120-horse-power engine that was utilized in Fayette County, and was identified with many of its other enterprises. He was married at the age of twenty-one years to Miss Elizabeth Brownneller, who was born and reared in the same county, and was the daughter of Frederick Brown- neller, of German birth and parentage. The lat- ter was married in his native Empire, whenee he emigrated to Ameriea in the pioneer days.

The mother of our subject was formerly Miss Elizabeth Brownneller. The parental household included eight children, who are recorded as fol- lows: Joab, the eldest, died in infancy; Rebecca married Thomas Warender, of Pontiac, and died in 1872, leaving eight children; John H. is a resi- dent of Chicago; Susan B. married Oran Wither- all, and resides in Normal, Ill .; William B. of our sketch is the fourth child; Mary, Mrs. H. Stillham- mer, resides in Kansas; Elmira, Mrs. Elliott Mil- ler, lives at Jamestown, Dak., and David H. is car- rying on the real-estate business in San Diego, Cal. 1

KING SOLOMON.

POLAND CHINAS ..

SHORT HORN BULL

RESIDENCE OF JACOB KUNS, SEC 13. NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP.

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

The mother of these children died at Bloomington in 1878. She was born in 1804, and was conse- quently seventy-four years of age.

The youth and boyhood of William B. Hewitt were spent on the farm in his native county, where he resided until sixteen years of age, and then started out by himself to seek a location in the West. He made his home with his uncle at Ton- ica, LaSalle County, two years, and after a visit of three months in his native State, crossed the Mis- sissippi and traveled over the States of lowa, Ne- braska and Dakota. Upon returning to Illinois he settled down in Chenoa, where he purchased a tract of land and proceeded to build up a comfortable homestead. In the fall of 1874 he erected a handsome residence on his farm and moved there, occupying this house until the 27th of June, 1877, when it was destroyed by fire, together with most of its contents. It was one of the most finely ar- ranged dwellings in McLean County, and its de- struction was the cause of universal regret. Not long afterward Mr. Hewitt came to this county and took possession of his present farm, where he has a comfortable dwelling and a particularly fine barn.

The wife of our subjeet, who became the sharer of his fortunes Feb. 13, 1860, was formerly Miss Rebecca Ellen Vanarsdale, their wedding taking place at the home of the bride in the city of Bloom- ington. Mrs. Hewitt was born in Owen County, Ky., Feb. 24, 1839, and is the daughter of Abram and Rebecca Vanarsdale. This union resulted in the birth of eight children, who are recorded as follows: Ellsworth, named after the well-known young hero of the late Civil War, died in in- fancy ; Charles H. is serving an apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade at Chenoa; Mary for the last two years has been teaching, and at the present writing (October, 1887) is visiting in Grand Rapids, Mich .; Arthur is connected with a wholesale ear- pet store in Grand Rapids; Eleanor, Albert, Ilow- ard and Edward H. are at home with their parents, the two latter attending school. Mr. Hewitt be- lieves most decidedly in giving to the young those advantages which will enable them to become intel- ligent and worthy eitizens. His children form a bright family group. inheriting largely the talents of their father, and the love of study, which is one

of his chief characteristics. The latter wields the pen of a ready writer, and exerts his influence in favor of everything which shall conduce to the welfare and enlightenment of the people. He is a stanch Republican, politically, and was a great admirer of the martyred President, Abraham Lin- coln. He meddles little, however, with political mat- ters, and has steadily declined becoming an office- holder, although at one time he served as School Director.

OHN W. EAGLE, dealer in hard and soft coal at Pontiac, is transacting a profitable business, and has a convenient office and yard near the tracks of the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad. He is one of the early settlers of the town, having come in when there were but eleven houses, and purchased the entire stoek of lumber in the place with which to build a shanty, and then did not have enough shingles to cover it. As may be supposed, he has watched with interest and satisfaction the growth of his adopted town, and has contributed in no small degree to its present importanee.

Mr. Eagle, a native of Gallia County, Ohio, was born Dec. 20, 1819, and is the son of George and Susannah ( Williams) Eagle, the former a native of Ilarrisburg, Pa., and the latter of Greenbrier County, Va. George Eagle was reared to farming pursuits, and left his native State when a young man, going into Greenbrier County, Va., where he married the mother of our subject. They removed to Gallia County, Ohio, in 1812, at an early period in the history of that State, and purchased Govern- ment land at $1.25 per acre. It was all timber and George Eagle secured possession of 1,700 acres. He was a man of great foree of character, and strong physically, and cleared 500 aeres of land, building up a fine homestead and becoming one of the most extensive farmers of that region. He and his wife occupied this place during the remainder of their lives, and both died on the 4th of July, the mother in 1865, when seventy-five years old, and the father five years later, in 1870, after having reached fourscore years. He was Justice of the l'eace eight years and County Commissioner twelve

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

years. Both were members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. The parental household included nine children, four now living, namely, Matilda, Mrs. J. Hughes, of Gallia County, Ohio; Sabrina, Mrs. A. M. Barlow, of Pomeroy, Ohio; John W., our subject. and Frances A., Mrs. J. Rhodes, a resi- dent of Missouri.

The paternal grandfather of our subject. also George Eagle by name. was born on the River Rhine in Germany, and learned the trades of cooper and carpenter. lle emigrated to America before the Revolutionary War and entered the army as a wagonmaster. in which capacity he served until the struggle was ended. He then moved with his family to Gallia County. Ohio, in 1812, where he followed bis trade and lived to be seventy-five years of age. Ili- death occurred in 1836. Ilis wife survived him several years, her death taking place when she was ninety -- even years old. The maternal grand- parents of our subject were William and Polly 1

( Watts) Williams, natives of Greenbrier County, Va, Grandfather Williams was a farmer by ocen- pation and spent the greater part of his life near Lewisburg. Va., where his death took place after he had reached the advanced age of one hundred and eight years ; he was the father of nine children. The mother had preceded him to the silent land when about sixty-eight years old.

The subject of this biography passed his boy- hood and youth after the manner of most farmers' sons, and received a limited education. His early studies were conducted in a log cabin two miles from his home, and which was finished and fur- uished after the manner of those days, with slabs for seats and desks and greased paper for window- panes. The floor was of puncheon and the roof covered with clapboards. The teacher, as was customary at that time, ruled with the rod and made liberal use of it. The children were taught to make obeisance to people whom they met. and if they failed in this were promptly punished. Young Eagle attended school during the winter season until twenty years of age, and remained under the home roof four years later. He was then united in marriage with Jeannetta Woneldorff, a native of his own county. and the daughter of Michael and Jane ( Waddle) Woneldorff, natives of Ohio and of

German descent. They spent their entire lives in the Buckeye State, and were the parents of eleven children. seven now living, and located as follows: Mary A., Mrs. G. W. Holmes, is a resident of In- diana; John, of Missouri; George, David, Francis and James are residents of Ohio. Jeannetta, Mrs. Eagle, was the youngest of the family.

Our subject and his wife after their marriage continued on a farm in their native county, where Mr. Eagle cultivated 240 acres of land for a period of eight years. lle then sold out and repaired to Middleport, Meigs County, where he engaged in general merchandising four years. Ile then sold out, and in 1856 came to Livingston County, this State, and purchased 240 acres near Pontiac besides 640 acres on Rook's Creek. The following year he lost 300 acres of wheat by wet and freezing weather, and the next year he lost 600 acres, be- sides 85,000 in Ohio by a bad debt. These mis- fortunes ruined him financially for the time, and in the spring of 1859 he went to Pike's Peak, where he took up some fine claims and was cheated out of these by border ruffians who swore that they had a prior claim. His feelings as he returned home in the fall of 1861 can be better imagined than de- scribed. Resolving, however, to make the best of circumstances, he went to work at $1 per day, and by the exercise of the most rigid economy, sup- ported his family, and at the end of six months had $50 ahead. Ile continued working by the day for two years longer, and in due time his fortunes be- gan to mend. Ile had assisted in organizing Liv- ingston County and the city of Pontiac, and in 1865 was elected City Marshal, in which position he served four years. Afterward he was made Deputy Sheriff. In 1867 he leased a quarter sec- tion of land in Pontiac Township, upon which he operated successfully four years, then returned to the town, where he has since resided. Ile estab- lished his coal business at that time, and in the winter of 1864-65 put up his present tasteful and substantial residence, which is located at the corner of Main and North streets.

Mr. and Mrs. Eagle became the parents of three children, a son and two daughters, namely, George W., deceased; Mary E., the wife of C. L. Bige- low, engaged in a restaurant and bakery at Pontiac;

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Frances L. is the wife of B. W. White, engaged in the trade and manufacture of cigars. Mr. Eagle, politically, was in early manhood a member of the Whig party, but upon its abandonment identified himself with the Republicans. Of late years he has voted independently.

The celebrated "Blue Jeans" Williams, ex-Gov- ernor of Indiana, was own cousin of our subject. He was an extensive farmer and stock-raiser of La- fayette County. The sobriquet was applied to him from the fact that he wore a blue jeans suit while "stumping" the State during his candidacy for Governor.

II. McDOWELL, who is one of the leading members of the bar of Pontiac and Master in Chancery for Livingston County, is a na- tive of Montgomery County, Ind., and was born on the 6th of March, 1840. He is the son of John and Elizabeth (Priee) McDowell, respectively natives of Kentucky and Ohio; his father being a farmer by occupation. The latter died in Indiana, and after his death the mother, with her family, moved to Illinois in 1850 and settled in Livingston County. Of a family of nine children there are now only four living: Isaac P., President of the First National Bank of Fairbury, Livingston Coun- ty : Oliver P., of Fairbury, now retired; Mary E., now Mrs. Ladd, of Pontiac, and I1. H.

The subject of this sketch divided his time be- tween working on a farm and attending school un- til he was'seventeen years of age, when he returned to Indiana and entered the Thorntown Seminary, located in Boone County, about thirty-five miles north of Indianapolis, and remained there about three years. In May, 1861, almost at the begin- ning of hostilities between the North and the South, Mr. McDowell enlisted in Company B, 17th Indiana Infantry, and remained in that regiment for nearly one year, when he returned home and assisted in organizing the 129th Illinois Infantry, of which regiment he was made Sergeant Major, and subse- quently was commissioned a Lieutenant of Company E. He participated in all the battles in which this regiment was engaged, and with a few picked men

he captured the noted guerrilla chief, Capt. Bur- ton, near Gallatin, Tenn. On account of his pe- culiar fitness for the position, he was detailed as an aid-de-camp to Brig. Gen. Ilarrison-who has since represented Indiana in the United States Sen- ate-from Atlanta to Washington, and was mus- tered out in June, 1865. After his return from the war Mr. McDowell engaged in mercantile busi- ness at Fairbury, making hardware a specialty. At this time he began to read law, and after three years of study was admitted to the bar in 1872: then he located in Pontiac, where he has since re- sided, and devoted his time to the practice of his profession. Mr. McDowell has been a member of the Board of Education for ten years, and by ap- pointment of President Hayes was the Superintend- ent of the census of thirteen counties in 1880. Ile is the attorney for the First National Bank of Fair- bury, and in his practice is generally on one side or the other of all the important causes tried in the Livingston County Courts.

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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 64

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