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 74

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 74

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. MII'NRO has been a citizen of the State of Illinois for thirty years, and a resident of the county of Livingston for nearly twenty years, and during that time he has made a reputation for himself as a farmer and stock-raiser co-extensive with the county. Mr. Mauro is a Massachusetts man by birth. and first saw the light of day on the 11th of September. 1-36. Ile is the son of Joseph and Olive ( Brown) Muro, both New Englanders by birth. It is sup- postul that his paternal ancestors came over on the Mayflower and landed at Plymouth Rock. They were of scotch descent, and his maternal ances- tor- were English. His great-grandfather. Aaron

Brown. was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and served under the immediate command of Gen. Washington. His father, Joseph Munro, was a soldier in the War of 1812, in which he served from 1811 to 1814. The father remained in Mas- sachusetts after the close of the War of 1812 un- til his death, which occurred April 23, 1863. The mother died in Watseka, Ill., on the 8th of Octo- ber, 1878. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, seven of whom are living: Melvin, of Wis- consin; Cortland, of Wisconsin; Brown, of LaSalle County, Ill .; Joseph. of Washington Territory ; Seneca W., of Wisconsin; Warren C., of Sannemin Township, and our subject. The names of the two -

deceased were William and Mason C.

Our subject was reared to manhood in his native State, where he attended the common schools, and in which he received a very fair education. IIe began the work of a farmer, which has been his oc- cupation all his life. In 1856 he emigrated to Illi- nois and settled in LaSalle County, where he re- mained until 1869, in which year he came to Liv- ingston County, and settled in Saunemin Town- ship on the farm where he now resides.

On the 28th of January, 1868, Mr. Munro was married to Lydia F. Franks, who was born on the 8th of March, 1847, in Muskingum County, Ohio. She is the daughter of Isaac and Hannah Franks, who now reside in Muscatine County, lowa. They were both natives of Virginia, and for a short pe- riod were residents of Muskingum County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Munro are the parents of nine chil- dren, whose names are as follows: Ada F., born Jan. 16, 1870; Eva M., April 23, 1871 ; Bertha E., Feb. 5, 1873; Walter G., born Jan. 5, 1875, died Sept. 1, 1883; Harmon S., born Jan. 5, 1878; Ralph K., Jan. 5, 1880; Herbert, July 25, 1882; Everett L., March 26, 1881, and Elmer E., Feb. 20,1887.

When Mr. Munro settled on his present farm the land was in its primitive condition, but during his occupancy he has converted it into one of the finest farms in the county, comprising 120 acres, well supplied with a good class of farm buildings. Mr. Munro is a Republican in politics, and while not taking a very active part in political affairs, always votes that ticket at the elections. He and

Jacob Kuno

Sencima Bruno

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his wife are both members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, he having served that denomination in the capacity of Steward. Mr. and Mrs. Munro are both respected members of society, and their influence is always felt in the cause of religion and morality. They are generous and hospitable, and devote much of their time to all good works.

3 D HILIPPINA GIRARD, widow of the late Albert Girard, of Long Point Township, is the proprietor of a fine homestead on section 29, which includes 200 acres of highly cultivated land, the fields mostly laid off with handsome hedges, and the farm buildings of the best description. The passing traveler at once observes that the hand of taste and industry has been here employed to good advantage, and the farm with its appurtenances, besides its value in itself, has added largely to the attractions of the surrounding country.

The gentleman who was mainly instrumental in building up this beautiful home was born in the Kingdom of Prussia Oct. 22, 1838, and departed this life at his home in Long Point Township Ang. 7, 1887. He emigrated to this country when abont eighteen years of age, becoming a resident of Long Point Township, and commenced life mainly de- pendent upon his own resources. In his subsequent career he displayed in a marked degree the sub- stantial and industrious traits of his reliable Ger- man ancestry. He was recognized as a thorough and skillful farmer, a worthy citizen, and one who fulfilled his entire duty toward those dependent upon him.

Mrs. Girard, also a native of Prussia. was born Sept. 24, 1848, and is the daughter of John and Margretta (Betz) Binz, natives of the same country as their daughter, where the father spent his entire life, his death taking place in 1850. The mother was born in 1808, and is still living in her native Province. The parental family included four chil- dren : Frantz, the youngest, died in infancy ; John, the eldest, continues in his native land, where he is following farming and brick manufacturing; he is married, and the father of two children. Lenora is the wife of John Miller, and the mother of eight

children; she lives in Germany. Philippina came to this country alone in 1867, and was married Feb. 10, 1868.

The husband of Mrs. Girard was the son of Fritz and Theodora Girard, the former of whom died in Illinois in 1871, while the latter is still living, and was seventy-nine years old on the 9th of October, 1887. The children of Albert and Philippina Gi- rard are recorded as follows: Maggie was born Nov. 21, 1868, and died on the 2d of October, 1875; Frederick was born June 24, 1871, and is living at home with his mother; Henry was born Dec. 13, 1873; Alice, Sept. 30, 1876; and Ida, April 15, 1879. Mrs. G., since the death of her husband, has superintended the affairs of her large and valuable estate with rare good judgment, and is giving careful attention to the education of the children. She is a lady held in the highest respect in the community, and is a devoted member of the German Evangelical Church.

ACOB KUNS is not only one of the largest farmers and stock-raisers in Newtown Town- ship, but one of its most highly respected citizens. He lives on section 13, where he owns 640 acres of well-improved land, on which there are erected as comfortable and commodious buildings as can be found in Livingston County. He is the most extensive farmer in the township, owning altogether 818 acres. He has been a resi- dent of Newtown Township since 1852, in which year he entered 240 acres of Government land. To this he has added from time to time, on the section upon which it is located and on section 24, until he now owns the magnificent tract of land above mentioned. It must certainly be highly gratifying to him, as well as showing his substan- tial worth as a business man, to know that on this vast property there is no encumbrance, and no claim of any kind against its owner, save one of $400.

Mr. Kuns was born in Union County, Pa., on the 16th of May, 1823, and is the son of Dan- iel Kuns, who was born in the same State. The grandfather, John Kuns, was a soldier in the Rev-

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oIntionary War. and was also in the War of 1812, serving a- a substitute for another man. He died in Union County. Pa., at about eighty years of age. Hle was the father of five children, three of whom lived and died in Pennsylvania. Their names were Daniel, Samuel. John, George, and a girl, name not now remembered, who married and went to Ohio, and no tidings have been received from her ex- cepting once shortly after she located in that State. Daniel, the father of our subject, was born in the year 1790, in Pennsylvania. He was a weaver by trade. and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was married to Louisa Speace, who was, perhaps. born in Germany, and came to this country with her parents, who were early settler- in l'ennsylvania. Daniel lived in Pennsylvania until our subject was about sixteen years of age.

When Jacob was about nine years old his father purchased his first horse, at a public sale at the res- idence of hi- wife's parents. The horse was about fifteen years of age, was totally blind, and cost him the >um of $12. From this animal he raised a team which hauled him and his family to Ohio, where they settled in Pickaway County in 1838. They remained there for four years, during which time they were engaged in farming. From there the father removed to Vermilion County, Ill., making the journey in a wagon drawn by the same horses which took him and his family from Pennsyl- vania to Ohio. His first purchase of land consisted of eighty acres, which he improved and resided upon until his death, which occurred in 1861, at the age of fifty-three years. His wife died before he left Pennsylvania. at the age of forty years. To them were born nine children, three of whom are living, a- follows: Jacob, our subject; Samuel, who lives on the old home place in Vermilion County, and which he owns; the place consists of about 400 acres of most excellent land: he is married and has a family of three children. Elizabeth, wife of Henry Gillman, residing in Newtown Town- ship. The names of the deceased children are George. who died in youth: John, who died in Ohio at the age of twenty -two: Daniel, who mar- ried, moved to Wisconsin. and died, leaving a wife and three children; Susan. who died in Ohio, at the age of nineteen; Lear, who died in Vermilion

County, Ill., at the age of eighteen, and William, who died in the same county at the age of sixteen.

Jacob Kuns lived at home until he was about twenty-four years old, during which time he was engaged with his father in trading and farming. On the 20th of October, 1849, he was married to Jemima Iloobler, daughter of Rev. John Hoob- ler, of whom a sketch is given in another part of this ALBUM. She was born on the 10th of January, 1824, in Ohio. Her parents left that State and moved to Indiana, and from there to Vermilion County, Ill. On the way from Ohio Jemima met with an accident, which made her a cripple for life. She fell from the wagon in which the family was being transported, and one of the wheels ran over and severed one of her legs.

To Mr. and Mrs. Kuns have been born eight children : John D., who was born Aug. 22, 1850, is now living on a portion of the home place; he was married to Phobe Brooker, who was born in Livingston County, Sept. 2, 1871, and they have seven children. Marion Franklin, born Nov. 20, 1852, was killed by the kick of a horse on the head; Mary C., born July 6. 1865, was married to Benjamin Ziegler, who was born in Indiana; they have had five children, three of whom are living and two dead: they live on a part of the home place. Sarah R., born Jan. 7, 1858. is the wife of Frederick Ide; they have three children, two of whom are living, and reside on section 24, New- town Township. Margaret E., born Nov. 11, 1860, died Nov. 1, 1862: Elizabeth Ann, born June 12, 1862, died in September, 1867: Andrew J., born Dec. 14, 1865, died Sept. 23, 1867; Isabella, born June 25, 1869, is unmarried and resides at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Kuns were married in North Fork, Vermilion Co., Ill., Oct. 20, 1849, the Rev. A. Peterson of the United Brethren Church, offi- viating. Three years later they came to their pres- ent location, where they have the finest farm in Newtown Township, a view of which is presented in this volume. Politically, Mr. Kuns is an Inde- pendent, voting for the men whom he prefers on whatever ticket they may be. In 1884 he cast his vote for Grover Cleveland for President, believ- ing that he would make a better executive than either of the men who ran in opposition to him.

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Mr. Kuns is a man of correct business methods, and is prompt and reliable in all his transactions. His agricultural and stock operations are on a large scale, and they are invariably successful.

Among the numerous portraits presented in this volume, none are of more highly esteemed or re- spected people than those of Mr. and Mrs. Kuns, which are presented in this connection.

W ILLIAM H. CHAPMAN, who is now en- gaged in farming on section 6, Fayette Township, is a young man who has had ex- perience in varied lines of business, and is one of the most systematic and intelligent agriculturists in Livingston County. He is a native of Maryland. and was born in the city of Baltimore May 15, 1856. He is the son of Jonathan J. and Emma (Ackerley ) Chapman, who were natives of Ohio and New York respectively. The father was quite ex- tensively engaged in glass manufacturing in the city of Baltimore for a considerable time, and in that line of business achieved success. During the war he served as Provost Marshal, and took an active part in the war proceedings in that section of Mary- land. His first wife died in 1869, and was buried in Baltimore. The father was married to his second wife, who was Miss Elizabeth Sauer, in 1871. By the nrst marriage there were eight children, all of whom were boys, and four of them are now living, named Jonathan George, Alfred A., Charles B. and William 1I., the latter being the subject of our sketch. The names of the deceased children are Thomas C. and Theodore, and two died in infancy. By his second marriage Mr. Chapman has had three children-Robert Howard, Walter Johnson and Annie Elizabeth.

At eighteen years of age our subject engaged himself as a clerk in Baltimore, in the commission house of J. A. Hutchins & Co., where he remained for three years, and gave good satisfaction to his employers. For about a year after leaving this house he carried on the commission business on his own account. On the 10th of February, 1880, Mr. Chapman was married to Miss Sarah Elizabeth Bell, a native of Maryland, who was born Feb. 24,

1856. She is the daughter of Edward J. and Sarah (Dutton) Bell, who were farmers by occupa- tion. The father died in January, 1874, and the mother is still living in Maryland. They were the parents of ten children, of whom five were boys and five girls. By a former marriage Mr. Bell had four children. To Mr. and Mrs. Chapman have been born four children, whose names are Elizabeth Belle, Carrie Ackerley, Julia Maria, and a daugh- ter unnamed. Mr. Chapman's farm consists of 160 acres of choice land, which has been ex- cellently improved. He engages in general farm- ing, and raises all the various grains for which this section of Illinois is so well adapted. He also en- gages extensively in raising various kinds of stock. During his short residence in Fayette Township Mr. Chapman has endeared himself to the people by his uniform courtesy and upright demeanor. He has held the office of Tax Collector of Fayette Township since 1885, and is still the incumbent of the same, and also School Director of District No. 1. In these official capacities he displays unusual intelligence and good judgment, and his adminis- tration gives eminent satisfaction to the people whom he serves.

G EORGE W. CLINE, one of the important members of the farming community of Chatsworth Township, is widely and favor- ably known by the people of this section among whom he has lived eighteen years. Ilis birthplace and early home were in Tazewell County, where he first opened his eyes to the light Dec. 21, 1829.

John Cline, the father of our subject, a native of Maryland, was born May 3, 1784, and passed his boyhood and youth in his native State. Thence he migrated to Virginia, where he made the acquaint- ance of, and married Miss Elizabeth Hill, who was born in what is now West Virginia Ang. 4, 1789. Soon after uniting their hearts and fortunes, the young people removed to Ohio, where the husband purchased land in Licking County and there fol- lowed agricultural pursuits until 1823. He then resolved to join the caravan that was marching westward to the young and rapidly growing Prai-

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rie State, and upon his arrival chose for his location a spot in Ehm Grove Township, Tazewell County, where he was among its earliest pioneers. He en- tered 240 acres of land and at once began the cul- tivation of the primitive soil, remaining there the balance of his life and transforming the once wikdl waste into a comfortable and valuable homestead. There hi- death took place in 1844. The wife and mother survived him for a period of twenty-seven years. and spent her last days at the home of her son, our subject, at Chatsworth, passing away with the fall of the leaf in 1871.

Of the thirteen children born to John and Elizabeth Cline, nearly all attained their majority. married, and located in homes of their own; only three are now living. John is a resident of Taze- well County and his sister Elizabeth makes her home with him and with our subject. The latter with his brothers and sisters attended the district school, and as soon as large enough his services were utilized on the farm. Ile remained with his parents during his childhood and youth, and on the 1st of May, 1856, was united in marriage with Miss America, daughter of Jacob and Catherine Ann Fishbern. Mrs. Cline was born in Middletown, Pa., Feb, 12, 1836, and came with her parents to Illi- nois during its early settlement. They located in Lasalle County, where she continued with her par- ents until her marriage with our subject, after which the young couple spent eight years in La- Salle County. In 1864 they came to this county, and took possession of the land which Mr. Cline has since transformed into a comfortable home- stead. Ile hegan the struggle of life without other capital than his strong hands and stout heart, and the result is one which can afford only entire satis- faction. He has lived his life simply and unosten- tation-ly, and probably has derived more real sat- isfaction in the quiet seclusion of his country home than many who have perhaps attained to larger possessions with their added cares.

Ida, Kate, John, James and Eugenia. Mr. Cline when first exercising the right of suffrage voted with the Democratic party, but in 1874 identified himself with the Greenbackers. He has always been greatly interested in the success of the tem- perance movement and is a decided Prohibitionist. He represented Chatsworth Township in the County Board of Supervisors six years, and has been the incumbent of various other local offices. Socially he belongs to the Masonic fraternity.

On another page is shown a view of Mr. Cline's residence, as indicative of the taste of the agricult- urists of this section of country.

E MMETT R. SUTTON. This gentleman, who has a fine and true appreciation of the possibilities of farming as carried on in a scientific manner, has contributed in no small de- gree to the establishment of his leading ideas, which are those of the most intelligent men of the country, being interested in the invention of the self-governing spring motor, applicable to pumps on the farm or in mills, and to both upright and rotary motions, and which can be utilized equally well upon street cars or corn-shellers. There are evidences that this, in time, will be the nucleus of a snug fortune to its patentee, Obediah Smith. While Mr. Sutton gave the principal idea. he has only one-half interest.

Mr. Sutton is agreeably located on section 34, in Pleasant Ridge Township, where he owns 100 acres of land, supplied with good building, and all the other appurtenances of a modern country estate. On another page of this ALBUM we present a view of Mr. Sutton's residence. He was born in Seneca County, N. Y., April 17, 1838, and is the son of Benjamin B. and Aritta (Sherwood) Sutton, natives of Seneca County. N. Y. The father was born Jan. 5, 1800, and died at his home in Seneca The househokl circle of Mr. and Mrs. Cline has been completed by the birth of eleven children, of whom ten are living. The eldest daughter, a bright and interesting girl of fourteen years, was taken from the household by death in 1871. Those sur- County Feb. 26, 1867. The mother was born February ! of the same year as her husband, and. surviving him several years, departed this life Dec. 18, 1879. Benjamin B. Sutton. Sr., the pa- ternal grandfather of our subject, was. like his two viving are: Einma. Charles, George, Harry, Frank, , male descendants already mentioned, a man of

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more than ordinary ability, a farmer and a mill- wright, and spent the greater part of his life in the Empire State, where his death took place about 1840. The children of Benjamin, Jr., and Aritta Sutton, ten in number, were named respectively : Stephen S., Warren. M., Benjamin S., Wakeman S., Marinda, Mary, Emmett R., Rebecca A., Ed- win and Natt. These all lived to mature years, and five of them married and became parents; Mary and Wakeman are deceased.

Emmett R. Sutton came to Illinois in 1861, lo- cating in Bloomington, where he remained until July, 1862. The war now being in progress, he enlisted in the 94th Illinois Infantry, and marched with his regiment to the Southwest. where he met the enemy in battle, first at Springfield, Mo. Subsequently he was at the siege of Vicksburg, and assisted in the loading of the captured cotton upon steamers, and from there, with his comrades, was detailed to New Orleans, where he served in the convalescent camp until the April. following, when he was given charge of a department on the river hospital boat which ran between New Orleans and St, Louis, where he remained until Oct. 10, 1863. He was then permitted to return home on a fur- lough, when he had the pleasure of casting his Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He re- joined his regiment in time to march on Spanish Fort, and was at Mobile at the time of the blow- ing up of the magazine, which resulted in the-loss of hundreds of lives and hundreds of dollars' worth of ammunition. He spent the 4th of July, 1865, at Galveston, Tex., and was mustered out five days later, receiving his discharge on the 17th.

Mr. Sutton now went to the East, and engaged as a school teacher for the next two years; he had taught school before entering the army. In the meantime he had been married, Feb. 7, 1867, to Miss Minerva Kinne, who was born in Seneca County, N. Y., July 5, 1838, and is the daughter of David W. and Mary L. (Stone) Kinne, natives of New York, and for generations back of New England ancestry. The mother was a devoted Christian lady and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She departed this life March 1I, 1872, and the father is still living on the old home

place. Their children, eleven in number, were respectively : Minerva, Emma, Sarah, Ada, Lucy, Smith, Charles, Mary, Ella, Wisner, and one who died in infancy unnamed.

Mr. and Mrs. Sutton have three children-Ella, Frederick W. and Emi. Mr. S., politically, is one of the most reliable members of the Repub- lican party, and belongs to the G. A. R., Post No. 114, at Forest. lle has established one of the finest homesteads in Pleasant Ridge Township, and is a leader in the enterprises tending to the advance- ment of the people, both morally and intellectually. lle is quite an extensive reader, and is greatly interested in the success of the temperance move- ment. He has been connected with the manufact- ure and sale of windmills for a number of years. and expeets in the near future to begin the manu- facture of his invention, which is patented in England, Canada and the United States, and is called the Obediah Smith Motor.

2 ICHOLAS REISING is favorably known throughout Sannemin Township, as a suc- cessful German farmer of moderate means, and owning a comfortable homestead, which he has built up by the labor of his own hands. His early home was in the Kingdom of Bavaria, where his birth took place Sept. 17, 1824. His parents, Nicholas and Catherine (Helendall) Reising, were also of German birth and parentage, and Nicholas was their only son. lle was consequently carefully watched over during his childhood and youth, and received an excellent education, being placed in school at the early age of six years and continuing there until fourteen. He took kindly to learning and has since followed up the course of reading which he commenced soon after being able to mas- ter his native language. His parents lived upon a small farm in Bavaria, where he assisted them in plowing, sowing and reaping, and became familiar with agricultural pursuits as carried on in Germany, although as may be supposed, the methods were quite different from those in this country.

Mr. Reising continued a resident of his native Province until thirty-three years of age, and then

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not being satisfied with the result of his labors and the prospect held out to him in the future, resolved to join the large number of his countrymen in the New World. He accordingly repaired to Antwerp, where he embarked on the steamship . Constitu- tion." and after an ocean voyage of eleven days, landed in New York City. This was considered a very quick trip, and most assuredly was a wide contrast in point of comfort and rapidity to the journey made on a sailing-vessel by many of his countrymen.

From the metropolis of the East, Mr. Reising proceeded direct to this State, locating in Wood- ford County, where he remained until the spring of 1866. He then came to Livingston County and purchased eighty aeres of raw prairie land upon which searcely a furrow had been turned, and where there were no buildings. He was aware that it would take years of labor and require hundreds of dollars to effeet its transformation into a good farm. but this outlay he was willing to make, and entered at onee upon his labors. The results are eminently satisfactory, for he can now look around him upon a fine and fertile farm with good build- ings, a fair assortment of live stock and the other appurtenances of a comfortable homestead. Ile has labored hard, and ean now relax his efforts as he ha- laid the foundation for a competency in his old age.

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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 74

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