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 69

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 69

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

Livingston County in 1865, and resided here until they moved to Nebraska in 1879, where they still live. To Mr. and Mrs. Cottrell have been born nine children: Harry B., born May 21, 1873; Charles A., May 8, 1876; Addie J .. Jan. 25, 1877; May J., March 31, 1879; Luey B., Jan. 17, 1881 ; William T .. Dec. 17, 1883; Henry, July 11, 1885; Alvah, Dec. 3, 1887, and one who died in infancy. Mr. Cottrell settled on his present farm in the spring of 1872, where he has spent the time inter- vening in cultivating and making material improve- ments upon it. This farm consists of 160 acres of good land, which annually produces most excellent crops. Mr. Cottrell's success as a farmer is such as necessarily comes to a man of great energy and good management.

In politics, Mr. Cottrell votes with the Demo- cratic party, and in the campaigns gives that party his best efforts. He served as School Director of the Sixth District, and during his administration the schools were kept in admirable condition. Mr. and Mrs. Cottrell are both respected members of society, and enter heartily into all movements for its betterment.

S AMUEL MORRISON, deceased, was a na- tive of the State of New York, and emi- grated to Illinois, being among the very earliest settlers of Avoca Township, when the land was composed entirely of raw prairie, and was compelled to undergo all the hardships and pri- vations which befall the first settlers of a new coun- try. During his life he was twice married, the first time to Mary A. Rockwood, by whom he had five children, four of whom are living. John O., George D. ; Susan A., now Mrs. Herring, of Indiana; James II. and Samuel D. He married for his second wife Maria Phillips, who bore him seven children : Nellie. wife of J. E. Barker; Joseph C., William R., Harry L., Leonora, Mattie and Charles. Mr. Morrison died on the 1st of May, 1884. During his residence in Avoca Township he endeared himself to the peo- ple of that township, and had a large measure of their esteem and respect when he died. In his death the county lost an excellent citizen, one who had al-

ways taken a pride in the advancement and develop- ment of the county. Ile was a Republican in poli- ties, and had served the people in the capacity of Road Commissioner and other minor positions. During his life he accumulated 240 acres of land, which at the time of his death was under a perfect state of cultivation, and had been finely equipped with all the most improved appliances used in farm- ing.

Samuel D. Morrison, his son, who has charge of the father's estate, is a native of Livingston County, and was born on the 20th of October, 1857. He has always been a resident of Livingston County, with whose material interests he has closely identi- fied himself. Ile is devoting his attention entirely to farming, and resides on section 16, on the home farm left by the subject of this sketch.

G EORGE C. KRACK, one of the well-to-do residents of Forest Township, is located just outside the village limits, where he has a fine residence, and in all other respects a valuable modern homestead. He owns 210 acres of land on sections 3 and 10, which is mostly devoted to stock-farming, and upon which he has effected fine improvements, which indicate him as a man of industry and enterprise, one who has availed him- self of modern methods and machinery, and kept himself thoroughly posted upon all matters of in- terest pertaining to his chosen calling.

Mr. Krack was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., Aug. 30, 1854, and is the son of I. J. and Mary ( Worrol) Krack, natives of Maryland and Indi- ana. They were married in Montgomery County, Ind., and in 1857 came with their family to this county, making a permanent settlement in Forest, where the father carried on farming and is still liv- ing, retired from active labor. George C. spent his childhood and youth under the home roof, re- ceiving a good education in the common schools, and assisting his father until starting out in life for himself. After reaching his thirtieth birthday he was married, Oct. 22, 1884, to Miss Ollie, daughter of John and Charlotte (Hins-

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

dale) Ross, and who was born in MeLean County, June 26. 1855. The parents of Mrs. K. were na- tives of North Carolina and Connecticut respect- ively. The mother, who is now deceased. reared a family of five children. Mr. Ross now resides in McLean County. 111.

Mr. Krack, in the midst of such extensive inter- ests as are his at present, finds little time to devote to the political questions of the day, but maintains a gennine interest in the success of Republican prin- ciples, and to this end gives his voice and vote as opportunity occurs. He is well-read and intelli- gent, and with his estimable lady, in a pleasant home. enjoys the esteem and the society of hosts of friends. Mrs. Krack is a member of the Chris- tian Church.

h ENRY ULBRIGHT, engaged in general farming and stock-raising, owns and occu- pies a very desirable farm located in Forest Township. Mr. Ulbright was born in Sax- ony, Germany, Oct. 4. 1833, and is the son of Fred- erick and Christian (Eckert) Ulbright, who were farmers in the old country, and both of whom are dead. They were the parents of eleven children, four boys and seven girls, seven of whom grew to the age of maturity. Our subject remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, during which time he was engaged at work upon the farm, and attended the district schools. Upon his arrival in the United States he went to Tazewell County, Ill., where he engaged at work upon a farm for eight months, and attended school for a time. He then learned the trade of a carpenter, and worked in Galesburg for one year, after which he spent one year in Iowa and Nebraska, and then went to Chi- cago, where he engaged at his trade at intervals for about nine years. He then settled permanently in Livingston County, and bought eighty acres on section 9, and three acres on section 10, in Forest Township. He has since added to this tract ninety- eight acres on section 9, making 181 acres in all. one-half mile from Forest.

Mr. Ulbright was married, Oct. 1, 1863, to Miss Mary Jane Krack, a native of Indiana. ller par- ent- were farmers, but the father worked at car- 1

pentering at intervals, at which trade he had worked when a boy. ller mother is dead and the father is still living at the age of seventy years, retired from active work. There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ulbright three children : Jennie E., born .July 25, 1864, died March 28, 1870; George E., born March 4, 1867, and Frank H., Feb. 13, 1870, both of whom are living at home. Mr. - Ulbright is a Republican, and has held several township offices. In 1875 he was elected Road Commissioner, and held the office about nine years, and for nine years has been School Director of District No. 2, village of Forest. Ile and his family belong to the Meth- odist Church, of which they are active members. Mr. Ulbright is a representative man among the enterprising farmers of Forest Township, while he and his family occupy a high place in the esteem of the people among whom they live. As representa- tive of the buildings of this section of country we present on another page a view of Mr. Ulbright's residence.

ILLIAM T. BRYDIA, son of one of the pioneer settlers of Saunemin Township, and its first Supervisor and Justice of the Peace, has for many years been closely identified with its various interests, and is numbered among its most valued and popular citizens. He is a na- tive of Greene County, this State, and was born Nov. 2, 1837, at the home of his parents, Truman W. and Laura A. (Day ) Brydia, near the town of Bluffdale. They were natives of Vermont, and the family was represented at an early period in the history of New England. The paternal grand- father, William Brydia, Sr., served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and was of Scotch-Irish descent, pos- sessing all the courage and substantial traits of his ancestry. He spent his last years in Illinois, and died abont 1865. Hle married a lady of Vermont, and they reared a fine family of sons and daugh- ters, whom, it is believed, are now all deceased.

Truman W. Brydia grew to manhood in the Green Mountain State, where he was married and where he remained until 1832. Then, accompa- nied by his family, he came to this State, and took

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up a tract of land in Greene County shortly before the township organization was effected. Ile pos- sessed the elements mostly needed in the settle- ment of a new country, and contributed his full quota toward the development of its resources, and at the end of a long and useful life closed his eyes to earthly scenes on the 15th of February, 1887. The mother had preceded her husband to the better land, her death taking place at their home in Sau- nemin July 9, 1873. The parental family of our subject included four children, namely : William T .; Mary C., the wife of Rodney C. Crook, of White- side County : Charles S., a resident of Saunemin, and Lucy M., the wife of Charles F. Carrithers, the present State's Attorney of Livingston County.

In 1856 the Brydia family removed from Greene County to Saunemin Township, this county, where the father had purchased a tract of land on section 33, and where he resided a number of years. In this locality he partially repeated the experience through which he had passed in Greene County, and opened up a good farm from land which bad been but indifferently cultivated. Here, as before, he distinguished himself as a progressive citizen, and was identified with all the enterprises tending to the building up of its business and agricultural interests. He was a man of kindly and generous impulses, and if ever he refused to lend a helping hand to the enterprises set on foot for the general welfare of the people, it was because he had some weighty and excellent reason. In his demise the county lost one of its best and most reliable citi- zens, and his descendants have reason to be proud of his record.

Our subject was reared to manhood in Saunemin Township, and early in life became familiar with farm pursuits. He naturally continued the life to which he had been trained, and like his father be- fore him, followed farming succes fully until he had sufficient to retire from active labor. In 1883 he disposed of his landed interests and removed to Saunemin, where he has a comfortable home and is spending his later years in the enjoyment of a com- petency.

One of the most important events in the life of our subject was his marriage, which occurred over twenty years ago, on the 8th of December, 186.1.

The maiden of his choice, Miss Maggie Lilly, was born in Madison County, Ohio, Nov. 7, 1839, and is the daughter of John and Mary (Smith ) Lilly, who were also natives of the Buckeye State. Mrs. Brydia has been in all respects the suitable help- meet of an intelligent man, and the four children who in due time came to their household formed a family group of which the parents were justly proud. Of these but two are now living, namely, Laura F., the wife of Truman A. Harris, of Will- iamsburg, Kan., and Mary L., who is assistant cashier and book-keeper in the bank of Messrs. Dow & Co., at Saunemin. Henry S, and Fannie died in infancy.

Mr. Brydia, politically, casts his vote with the Democratic party, and has been quite prominent in public affairs, serving as Assessor and Collector of the township for a number of years. He and his excellent wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have their warmest friends among those who know them best.

R ICHARD RUSH PUFFER, who is engaged in the nursery and insurance business in Odeil Township, was born in Sunderland, Franklin Co .. Mass., on the 23d of Decem- ber, 1833. His father, Samuel L. Puffer, was born in Sudbury, Mass., and the grandfather, Samuel Puffer, was born in the same place, and was a farmer who moved to Sunderland about 1805. and was among the early settlers. He bought timber land and improved the farm on which he lived the re- mainder of his life. The father of our subject was but a mere boy when his father moved to Sunder- land. He learned the trade of a shoemaker in Greenfield, and resided at that place until 1857, when he moved to Putnam County, Ill., and located at Mt. Palatine, where he followed his trade, and also engaged in farming until his death, which oc- curred in 1886, in his eighty-eighth year. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Emily Graves. She was born in Sunderland, Mass., and died at Mt. Palatine in 1885, at the age of eighty years. To them were born eight children, six of whom grew to maturity: Samuel, who lives

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

in Chemung, Ill .: Richard R., in Odell Township; Josiah G .. in Union Township, this eounty ; Annie E .. in Juniata, Neb. ; Idelia Gallaher, and George M .. near Mt. Palatine.

Mr. Puffer was reared in his native town, and when twenty years of age went to Greenfield and learned the trade of edge-tool maker, at which he worked until 1857, when he came to Illinois and located at Mt. Palatine. Putnam County, where he worked at the carpenter's trade, except in the harvesting sea- son, when he worked on the farm. In 1859, in common with many others, he contracted the gold fever, as a result of the reports of the rich discov- eries of Pike's Peak, and started with a yoke of oxen for that place. lle proceeded as far as the territory of Kansas, when he met many disappointed gold-seekers returning, and he turned his cattle around and retraced his footsteps to Mt. Palatine. Immediately upon his return he entered the Nor- mal School. at Normal, Ill., which he attended un- til the breaking out of the war, when he left his books to enlist in Company H, 20th Ilinois State Troops, for one month. Upon the expiration of this term of service he re-enlisted. in Company E, 8th Illinois Infantry, and went to the front, where he served in the Western Army. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, the first engagement at Vicksburg, the battles of Port Gibson, Raymond, Champion Hills, and the siege and capture of Vicks- burg. The regiment Mr. Puffer was in, was one of the best sent out by the State of Illinois, and its record shows that he made a good soldier. The engage- ments in which he participated, particularly in the rear of Vicksburg, were among the bloodiest of the war. At the expiration of his term of service he received an honorable discharge, and returned to Mt. Palatine. In 1865 he came to this county, and in company with his brother-in-law, Mr. Wood- bury, engaged in farming in Union Township, and planted about ten acres of osage orange. In 1869 he came to Odell Township, and engaged in the enitivation of hedge fence, working also at the trade of a carpenter. In these occupations he continued until 1885, since which time he has been engaged in the sale of nursery stock and in the insurance business. In both of these lines of business he represents some of the best firms and most reliable

companies in the United States, and is meeting with remarkable success.

On the 11th of March, 1869, Mr. Puffer was mar- ried to Paulina J. Calwell, who was born in West- moreland County, Pa. Her father, David Calwell. was a native of Pennsylvania, who moved to Ohio, and spent the last days of his life in Crawford County of that State. Her mother was Jane An- derson, also a native of Pennsylvania. She died when Mrs. Puffer was three years of age, and the latter was reared by an older sister in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Puffer have had four children-Emily Pearl, Rollie R., George Irving and Willie. The sec- ond child born died at the age of twenty months. Mr. and Mrs. Puffer enjoy the confidence and es- teem of a large cirele of acquaintances and friends.

AUL HEISNER. The loyalty of German- born people to the United States stands unquestioned, and the rolls of those who participated in the war in the Union army show that a large percentage of our soldiers either descended from German ancestry, or are native born of Germany. The subject of this sketch com- plied with the laws of his country, which require military service by becoming a soldier for three years. Upon his arrival in the United States, he found this Government struggling with a gigantic Rebellion, and as he had determined to become a citizen, it was important to him that the Govern- ment be preserved intact: and almost immediately upon his arrival he tendered his services to the Government, as set forth further on in this sketch. Ile is now a prominent farmer and stock-raiser on section 20, Pontiac Township. Ile was born in Germany on the 27th of June, 1837, and is the son of John and Elizabeth Heisner, who were the par- ents of nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second son. He spent a portion of his life in Germany, and received a fair education for the opportunities presented. Under the com- pulsory military law he was required to do service in the German army, and in compliance with its provisions served for three years, and for four years following his discharge from the army was

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

employed in a brickyard. In the spring of 1864 he sailed from Bremen in a sailing-vessel, and after a voyage of more than seven weeks landed in New York City, and from there proceeded to Cook County. Ill., where he engaged at work upon a farm. but soon learning of the questions at issue be- tween the North and the South, which were being settled by the arbitrament of arms, he concluded that his duty lay in supporting the Government un- der which he expected to live, and in October, 1864, he became a member of Company B, 30th Illinois Infantry, and went to the front. Ile reached the regiment to which he was assigned in time to participate in Sherman's grand march to the sea, and took part in the siege of Savannah, and the battle of Goldsboro, N. C. He continued in the service until the close of the war, and received an honorable discharge in the summer of 1865. In the fall of that year he came to Livingston County and located three miles south of Pontiac City, where he cultivated forty acres of land for three years, and then for six years lived in Rook's Creek Township. In 1875 he moved to his present farm in Pontiac Township, which consists of 400 acres of very excellent land, which represents the indus- try and perseverance of Mr. Heisner since coming to this country.

Mr. Heisner was married, in February, 1864, to Catherine Drender, and they bave five children- Philip, Frederick, William, Frank and Paul. Mr. Heisner is identified with the German Evangelical Association, and is a liberal worker in all enter- prises that are calculated to upbuild the commu- nity in which he lives. During his residence in this country he has affiliated with the Democratic party.

R OYAL R. GOULD, one of the wealthy far- mers and stock-raisers of Long Point Town- ship, owning 200 acres located on section 2, was born in Pennsylvania on the 23d of February, 1848, and is the son of Philander and Patience M. (Benson) Gould, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Connecticut respectively. The father was born Oct. 21, 1801, and the mother Feb. 21, 1815. The former died in 1881, and the latter Oct. 12. 1880. To them were born eleven

children: Fientte, on the 1st of June, 1836, mar- ried William Lane, and had one child named Grant, still living; she died on the 20th of December, 1883; George, born in January, 1838, enlisted in the army at Rutland in 1862, and served twenty-three months; on the 27th of August, 1864, in a skirmish near Ream's Station, Va., he was shot over the right eye, and the ball came out over the left ear; dur- ing his term of service he was in forty-one battles besides skirmishes. Harriet was born March 20, 1845, and died June 17, 1882; Reddington was born in April, 1846, and died in Pennsylvania Sept. 1, 1875 ; Royal, our subject, was born Feb. 23, 1848; Philander Erwin, born Dec. 4, 1849, married Minnie Marsh; they have one child, and live on the old homestead in Pennsylvania. LaFayette was born Sept. 24, 1851, and married Alta Marsh; they have three children, and reside in Bradford County, Pa. ; Frank M. was born Sept. 30, 1853, and was married to Mabel Ridenhour, of Bradford County, Pa .; she is the daughter of Daniel and Esther Rightmire; they have one child, and reside in Ingham County, Mich. Mary C., born June 10, 1855, married Jake Williams, who died July 6, 1881, leaving one child; Floyd was born March 2, 1857, is unmarried, and lives in Bradford County, Pa .; Hannah A. was born May 31, 1861, was married to Albert Serles, and has one child.

On the 11th of May, 1876, Royal R. Gould was married to Mary L. Carlton, a daughter of Benja- min and Laura Carlton, whose biographies will be found in another part of this work. Mrs. Carlton was the wife of Lanson Miller, deceased, and her maiden name was Eaton. By her first husband were born three children: John L. was married to Mag- gie Stephenson, and resides in Colorado; Deloss is mining in Idaho; Laura J. was born Jan. 23, 1842, and died Jan. 29, 1865; she was the wife of Gus Payne, and resided at Long Point. To Mr. and Mrs. Gould there have been born four children: Benjamin R., July 11, 1878; Lorne W., Dec. 30. 1879; Ina Ethel, Dec. 25, 1881; George Leland, Aug. 27, 1885. Mr. Goukl's farm is well improved and finely cultivated. Its productiveness has been much added to by the construction of considerable tile ditches.

In politics Mr. Gould acts with the Republican

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

party, but wholly through motives of patriotism, as he has no desire to hold office, nor inclination to be- come an office-seeker. He is largely interested in the material welfare of his county and township, which he manifests upon all occasions. Mrs. Gould is an active member of the Christian Church, and devotes her best energies to good works.

h OLLAND CATTON, a prosperous and indus- trious farmer and representative citizen of Fayette Township, was born in Lincolnshire, England, in September, 1822. His parents were Thomas and Mary (Clark ) Catton, who were also born in England, and who spent their entire lives in Lincolnshire, the father following the oc- cupation of farming. They were quiet and law-abid- ing citizens, of modest means, faithful as parents, and useful as members of a well-ordered com- munity.

The parental household of our subject included five sons and three daughters, of whom Holland, our subject, was the eldest; Joseph was burned to death when four years of age. The others are liv- ing, and are named respectively: William, John, Thomas, Joseph (2d), Alice, Mary and Ann. Hol- land, like his brothers and sisters, was trained to habits of industry and economy early in life, and be- gan to make himself useful when but a lad. At fourteen he had started out for himself, but con- tinued to reside in his native county, employing himself at whatever he could find to do, until he was over thirty years of age. lle then determined to -vek his fortunes on this side of the Atlantic. I'pon landing in Michigan, which he did in the spring of 1855, he remained there during the sheep- shearing season. Thence he migrated to Brim- field, Peoria County, this State, where he was em- ployed as a farm laborer one summer, when he rented a coal bank, and was engaged in mining for about twelve years. He then purchased the bank, which he operated on his own account for four years, and then, about the year 1869, sold out and came to this county.

Mr. Catton, after coming into Livingston County, took up hi- residence in that part of Belle Prairie

Township which was afterward included in Fayette, and still holds possession of the land on section 4, which he purchased at that time. Here he carries on general farming and stock-raising, and is num- bered among the prosperous and well-to-do citizens of the township, and among the views of farm resi- dences shown in this ALBUM may very appropriately be found that of Mr. Catton.

Mr. Catton, in 1845, while a resident of his na- tive county in England, was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Eyre, who was born about 1825, not far from the boyhood home of her husband. They became the parents of eight children, of whom six are living, namely: Mary, Martha, Benjamin, William, Sallie and Nellie. A little daughter, Martha (1st), died when about eight months old, and another, Nettie, passed away at the interesting age of seventeen years. The parents are connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. C. is one of the most reliable member- of the Republican party in Fayette Township. He has been School Director in his distriet for some time, and is always interested in the projects inaugurated for the advancement and welfare of the people.

AMES H. LINN located in Charlotte Town- ship in the spring of 1866, where, on sec- tion 25, a few months previously, he had purchased an 80-aere traet of wild prairie land. He was not quite ready at that time, how- ever, to begin its improvement, and cultivation, and the following spring rented another traet, which had been slightly improved, and he put up for his dwelling a shanty, partly slab and partly sod. in which he and his young wife made their home for quite a number of years. This house, however, stood on his own land, and in 1869 he put up the main part of the dwelling which he now occupies. lle industriously set about building up a home- stend, and was prospered in his labors. Ile in- vested his surplus capital as he accumulated it in additional land, and is now the proprietor of 240 acres, which he has brought to a high state of cul- tivation and provided with suitable buildings. Be- sides this property, our subject and his children

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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 69

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