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 79

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 79

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Nathaniel Burnham, the grandfather of our sub- jeet, was born in Maine, where he was one of the first settlers of Harrison Township, Cumberland County. Ile was married to a Miss Scribner, who

was from an old Maine family. The great-grand- father was killed while felling a tree in what was then a wilderness, Bridgton Centre, Me,, but which is now quite a large town. A Baptist Church stands upon the spot where he fell and where he was buried. Nathaniel Burnham, the father of our subject, was born on the old homestead at Harrison, Me. The old house was built of the best " pumpkin " pine and kept well painted, and stand- to- day in a good state of preservation, with a prospect that it will last for centuries to come, although it is now over eighty years old. Maine in those days was covered with the primitive forests, and pine and other trees grew luxuriantly and were immense in size. The early settlers were men of iron frame and great mental vigor, and from such descends the Burnham family. They were men who went fearlessly into the wilderness, and cut out homes from the forests, fearing nothing and no one but God.

Nathaniel Burnham was a farmer, and married Miss Mary Mustard. whose mother was a Thomp- son, and was a niece of Samuel Thompson, of Top- sham, Me., who was a man of great wealth, but known as an eccentric character, and generally called " old Sam Thompson." Mr. Burnham by his first wife bad but one son, our subject, who was born on the 21st of April, 1840. His first wife died. and he married Miss Olive Sawyer, of Madison, Me. Mr. Burnham drove the stage from An-on to Augusta, and sometimes to Portland, in the days when staging was the only means of transportation. In 1865 he came to Dwight, Ill., where he died at the home of his son, Joseph M. He was a Baptist in his religion, and a Republican in politics.

Joseph M. Burnham, our subject, was born on the old homestead built by his father, and was af- forded a common-school education. He learned the details of practical farming, and at the age of twenty-four, in March, 1864, came to Odell, Ill., where he engaged in herding cattle and farming until 1857.

On the 28th of February, 1867, Mr. Burnham was married to Jane W. Gray, daughter of John and Mary (Urquehart) Gray, who were early set- tlers in Grundy County, Ill., and came to this conn- try from Scotland in 1836, at which time Mrs. Burnham was an infant in her mother's arms. In

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

1865 Mr. Burnham inherited from Samuel Thomp- son, of Topsham. Me., $14.000 as his share of the estate. Mr. Thompson did not intend that Mr. Burnham should ever receive a dollar of his money, but he died without a will. and but for the cireum- stance that Mrs. Thompson outlived her husband a few hours, thu- coming into possession of the greater part of the entire estate. which she willed away, Mr. Burnham would have fallen heir to a large fort- une. In 1869 Mr. Burnham bought his present farm of 240 aere-, which he has improved by the erection of good buildings, the sinking of an arte- sian well, etc.

To Mr. and Mr-, Burnham five children have been born-Nathaniel F., John S., Mabel M., Car- rie J. and Clarence E. Nathaniel F. died in in- faney. In the year 1870 Mr. and Mrs. Burnham went on a pleasure trip through the Eastern States, visiting Pittsburgh. Philadelphia, New York, Bos- ton, Portland, Me,, and the familiar seenes in the old Pine Tree State. These seenes he had held vividly in his memory, and upon revisiting them the old song reeurred to his mind, "How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood, when fond recollection recalls them to view."

For many years Mr. Burnham has taken consid- erable interest in political matters, affiliating with the Republican party, and in official capacities has served as Road Commissioner, and filled several other township offices. Both he and his excellent wife are held in high esteem by all who have the pleasure of their acquaintance.

Z ACHARIAII WALTER, who has attained considerable prominence as an enterprising farmer. and a progressive stock-raiser, is loca- ted on section 13. Reading Township. He was born on the 14th of December, 1831, in the State of Pennsylvania, and is the son of Henry and Eliza- beth ( Werner) Walter, native- of Pennsylvania. To the parent- were born the following-named chil- dren : Elizabeth Henry, Sarah. Mary. Zachariah, Al- len, Susan, Leah. Lydia, and one who died in in- fancy. They afterward removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio, in 1831, where the father followed the oc-

cupation of a farmer, although he had followed the trade of a tailor in Pennsylvania. The mother was of a family of nine children, all of whom are now deceased excepting one brother who resides in Ohio, and a sister who resides in Pennsylvania.

Zachariah Walter, our subject, was but three years of age when his parents moved to Ohio, where he resided until 1850. In the winter of that year he came to Marshall County, Ill., and remained un- til the spring of 1851, when he moved into Read- ing Township, where he has since resided. On the 11th of August, 1853, Mr. Walter was married to Miss Malinda Deffenbaugh, a native of Ohio, who was born on the 2d of August, 1835. To them were born a large family of children, four of whom are deceased. The record of the children is as follows: Oliver, born Jan. 18, 1855, married to Mis> Belle Ryan, who died leaving two children ; he married a second time, and is a bridge carpen- ter by occupation, living in California. Nelson, born May 18, 1856, and died about 1868; Melissa, born Nov. 20, 1857, died in infancy ; Andrew, born Jan. 7, 1860, married Margaret Buzzard, and they have one boy; William, born March 25, 1862, and died June 23, 1886: he married Lizzie Mont- gomery, by whom he had two children, one of whom is deceased. Lewis, born March 8, 1864, is unmar- ried and resides at home; Charles, born Dee. 19, 1866, and died when quite young; Jones, born Sept. 30, 1868: Cora, born July 22, 1871 ; Louisa, born Sept. 28, 1873; an infant born Feb. 28, 1876, deceased; Morris, born March 29, 1877; Jessie, born Oct. 27, 1879. Melinda Walter, the mother of these children, died on the 2d of October, 1880. She was one of a family of nine children, the names of the others being Lewis, Oliver, Louisa, Eliza- beth, Caroline, Rachel. Catharine and Marion. Lewis died in the army, leaving a wife and one chill. Oliver, deceased, was married, and had two children, one of whom died; Louisa had a family of five children, two by her first husband and three by her second husband; Elizabeth died leaving a family of three children, one of whom is deceased; Caroline died leaving one child, who has since died; Rachel died leaving three children; Catherine has four children, and resides in Kansas; Marion has one child and lives on a farm in Kansas.

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

Our subject owns a farm of 200 acres, which he cultivates after the most approved method, and has adorned by the erection of substantial buildings. Besides the homestead there is another house occu- pied by a tenant. In politics Mr. Walter goes with the Democratie party. He has been School Direetor for twelve years, and was chosen as Road Commis- sioner. but after serving for a time he resigned. Since his residence in Reading Township Mr. Wal- ter has thoroughly identified himself with whatever might promote the interests of the people of the township. IIe is a citizen who has attained an on- viable reputation for promptness and reliability. and enjoys the confidence of all his neighbors.

ENRY B. SHEPHERD. A farm of 160 acres of land located almost anywhere in Livingston County is considered of great value, but a tract of that size on seetion 31, Chatsworth Township, is considered partien- larly valuable, because of the peculiar fertility of the soil and other advantages. The subject of this sketch may therefore consider himself fortunate that when he settled there in the spring of 1869 he became the possessor of this identical farm.

Mr. Shepherd is a native of Adams County, Ohio, where he was born on the 21st of March, 1841. His parents were Johnson and Mary (Henry ) Shepherd, who were natives of Brown County, Ohio. Johnson Shepherd grew to manhood in his native county, where he married Malinda Living- ston, and in 1833 came to Illinois and settled near Hennepin, Putnam County, where he engaged in farming. While living there his wife died, leaving to his care two children-William W. and Ellisson L. William W. resides in Putnam County, and Ellisson L. in Macon County, Mo. After the death of his wife Mr. Shepherd returned to Ohio, where he married Mary Henry, the mother of the subject of this sketch. In 1861 he again came to Illinois, settling in Putnam County, and in 1869 removed to Chatsworth Township, where he died on the 5th of August, 1874. His widow died on the 10th of January, 1883. They had four ehil- dren-Sarah Ann, Mary E., Agnes and Henry B.

Sarah is the wife of R. L. Patton: Mary E. was married three times, her husbands being William Thompson, K. Gibson and W. Meyers; she died on the 11th of September, 1878. Agnes, now Mrs. Jame> Moore, resides in Pawnee County, Neb.

The subject of this sketch is the only son, and was reared on the farm, obtaining what education he has in the common schools. He accompanied his parents to Illinois in 1861, and on the 16th of May of that year enlisted in the army, but was assigned to duty with the State Militia of Ohio until the following October, when he was discharged. When Mr. Shepherd came to Illinois he followed the occupation of a farmer until 1869, when he came to Livingston County, where he settled. Hle now owns 160 acres of land, which is well improved and is among the best farms in the county.

Mr. Shepherd was married, on the 20th of March, 1866, to HIannah M. Husted, a native of Franklin County, Ind., and the daughter of William and Rachel Husted. Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd are the parents of eight children, as follows: Mauriel K., Mary A., Ethelwyn O., Millie T., Sigmund C., Jacob Il., Lyle J. and Bernice. Mr. Shepherd is an active member of the Republican party, and re- gardless of political matters has been chosen to fill several local offices. He is held in high esteem by the people of the surrounding neighborhood, with all of whom he is on good terms. Socially he is a member of the I. O. M. A.

As illustrative of the homestead, which attract the attention of the traveler in this section of country we present on another page of this ALBUM a view of Mr. Shepherd's residence and environ- ments.

OIIN WADE. The subject of thi- sketch has been a resident of Eppard's Point Township for only six years, but during that time he has demonstrated the fact that he understands how to make a success of farming, and performs the many details of a farmer's life in- telligently and practically. ' He is a man of excel- lent education and considerable experience in affairs. When a boy he was blessed with educa-

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

tional advantages that few of the sons of pioneers enjoyed, and hi- army experience broadened hi- ideas of the responsibilities of life. He comes of an excellent family. the reputation of which he is maintaining admirably.

Mr. Wade's farm, on which he has been located but six years. is situated in Eppard's Point Town- ship, where he removed from MeLean County, where he had been engaged in farming in Yates Township since 1866. Mr. Wade was born on the 25th of September, 1840, in Oberlin, Ohio, and re- mained at the home of his father, assisting on the farm and attending school at Oberlin College until the 25th of August, 1861, when he enlisted in the 16th Ohio Light Artillery, which was commadned by Capt. James A. Mitchell. who was killed dur- ing the siege of Vicksburg. This battery soon left Ohio and camped for the first time in St. Louis, and was for a considerable time engaged in cam- paigning in Missouri and Arkansas. It was in all the battles and marches under the command of Gen. Curtis, including the battle of Pea Ridge. Soon after the siege of Vicksburg Mr. Wade took sick and was sent to the United States Hospital at Keokuk. Iowa, from which he was discharged by order of the United States Inspecting Officer, in 1863. Mr. Wade had a brother named Ira, a member of Company E, 124th Ohio Infantry, who was killed at the battle of Chickamauga, and buried by the rebels, but as his grave was unmarked it has never been identified. He was a senior in the Ohio ( lass at Oberlin College, and held the rank of Corporal in the company to which he belonged.

After Mr. Wade was discharged from the army le returned to his home in Ohio. In 1866 he came to MeLean County, Ill., where he occupied lands which he had purchased the year before, five miles southeast of Chenoa, upon which he lived until Isst, when ne sold his land there and purchased 920 acres on section 30, Eppard's Point Township, Livingston County. upon which he now resides. This is one of the best farms in the county, and contain- an excellent stone quarry.

Oliver Wade, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Deerfield. N. I., in 1811. and the grandfather was Caleb M. Wade, who was a native of the same State. while the family dates

back to its early settlement. He died in 1870 at St. John's, Mich., and was over one hundred year- of age. For many years of his life he was a Baptist minister. Oliver, the father of the subject of this sketch, had a family of five children, four of whom are living, as follows: Laura E. C .; George, who was a member of the 1st Ohio Light Artillery ; Franklin, and the subject of this sketch.

John Wade was married to Susan Squire, a native of Ohio, and they had four children: Lydia, Mrs. C. A. Little, of Yates Township, McLean County ; Edward, Emma and Ira. Mr. Wade was a second time married, to Martha St. John, daughter of John St. John, of Eppard's Point Township. To them have been born four children-Olive, Eva, Oliver and Erwin. Mr. Wade is a member of the G. A. R. Post at Chenoa, of which order he is an enthusi- astic comrade.

C HARLES SHOLL, the subject of this sketch, is a farmer and stock-raiser on section 20. Long Point Township. He is a native of New York, and was born in 1858. All the knowl- edge that he has of his parents is that his father's name was David Sholl, and that his mother died in the State of Michigan. He has never known the tender care and affection of a mother, and has never had the advantages of the counsel and en- couragement of a father. Had the system of pre- serving the records of the lives of parents and children in biographical albums been in vogue during their lives, as it is now, Mr. Sholl would have had preserved to him a knowledge of his parents and their ancestors. As it is, the source from which he springs is not known, and the his- tory of the family before him is a closed book. Whatever of success, therefore, which he has at- tained in life is wholly through his own efforts, unaided by kith or kin, and his record up to this time in the battle for a place among mankind is one of which he has reason to be proud. Through industry, economy and good management he has already put himself in a position in which he ean live comfortably during his life.

During his younger days Charles Sholl was eared

RES. OF MATILDA MS. VAY, SEC. 8. AMITY TOWNSHIP.

RES. OF JONAS I. HOWELL, SEC. 20. LONG POINT TOWNSHIP.

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for by a sister until old enough to go out into the world for himself. As soon as he was old enough to work he came to Illinois and secured employ- ment on a railroad which was being constructed through Bureau County. His work consisted of getting out timber and preparing it for use on the road. By dint of industry and economy he saved sufficient money to pay for 120 acres of land, located as indicated above. IIe. has worked in- dustriously and continuously to place this land under a good state of cultivation and has succeeded admirably. Mr. Sholl is unmarried and prefers, as he expresses it, to remain so. He is a Repub- lican in politics, but does not take an active part in political matters, being content simply to vote at all the elections for the nominees of his party.

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OHN T. PHILLIPS, one of the most promi- nent men of Pike Township, has a fine prop- erty on section 10, where he took up his abode in the fall of 1885. Mr. Phillips is a native of Tazewell County, where he was reared and farmed nine years. He then purchased 120 acres of wild land, from which he built up a good farm, which he sold at a handsome sum in 1874. With a part of the proceeds he purchased his pres- ent homestead, and has now fully identified himself with the interests of the people of this section. He has been Assessor for the last ten years, and has officiated as census taker, Town Clerk and School Director. He cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and has been a Republican since becoming a voting citizen.

Mr. Phillips was born in Tazewell County, this State, Sept. 14, 1837. His grandfather, Cornelius Phillips, was a native of North Carolina, who was born Oct. 29, 1767, and was united in marriage in his native State to Miss Rhoda Moore. Grand- mother Phillips was a native of the same State as her husband, and born in 1771. After marriage they removed to Wayne County, Ky., where the grandfather purchased a tract of land, and there they spent the remainder of their lives, his death taking place Sept. 20, 1834, and that of his wife Feb. 17.

1847. Their fourteen children were named Mary, Alfred, Macajah. James, Sarah, Elizabeth, Abner, Ephraim, Hiram, Nancy, Pleasant B., John W., Minerva and Lucinda. The eldest was born Nov. 9, 1793, and the youngest, Aug. 4, 1814.

Alfred Phillips, the father of our subject, was born in North Carolina, Dec. 31, 1794, and com- menced his education in the schools of his native county. Ile was a lad of ten years when his parents removed to Kentucky, and he staid with them until his marriage in 1824, with Miss Susan Cullom, who was born Jan. 15, 1804. Six years afterward they emigrated to this State, and Mr. Phillips entered 300 acres of land in Tazewell County in the fall of 1830. He proceeded at once with the cultivation of his land, and continued making improvements until his death, on the 6th of May, 1857. The wife and mother survived until May 28, 1875. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which Mrs. Phillips had been connected for over fifty years. Their remains rest side by side in Buckeye Cemetery, Morton Township, Tazewell County. Alfred Phillips had been prominent in the local affairs of Tazewell County, serving as Sheriff, and occupying other offices. The parental household included nine children, namely : Eliza- beth, the wife of Jacob Banta, of Eureka, Woodford County ; Hiram L., deceased; Micajah S. died in August, 1887; William C., Alfred C .; John T., our subject; James M., Edward M. and Isaac N., the latter an attorney-at-law in Bloomington.

John T. Phillips was born Sept. 14, 1837, and fairly educated in the schools of his native county. He lived at home until after reaching his majority, and was married, Feb. 28, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth S. Monroe, a native of Arbroath, Forfarshire, Scot- land, her birth taking place Jan. 22, 1839. She is the daughter of William and Margaret (Nicols) Monroe, and came to the United States with her parents when a young girl fourteen years of age. Mr. Phillips after his marriage rented land in Taze- well County, as we have said, and his career since that time has been uniformly fortunate. His family includes eleven children, of whom the record is as follows: Lilly was born March 6, 1862, and is the wife of J. H. Sandmeyer, of McLean County; Isa- belle was born June 10, 1863, and is teaching school

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in Pike Township; William A. was born April 9. 1865: Edward A .. Jan. 5. 1867; Lucius C., Jan. 7, 1869: Susan ML .. July 3. 1871 : Manrice MI., Feb. 24. 1873: Nora was born Dec. 6. 1874. and died Nov. s. 1877: Maude was born May 28. 1877; Jane P. was born Oct. 25. 1878, and died November & following: Ralph W. E. was born Dee. 8, 1881. Mrs. Phillips is a lady held in high esteem, and a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church.

EVY SNYDER, who has been a farmer and stock-raiser at his present location. on section 15. Newtown Township. for the last six years. was born in Butler County. Pa., on the 7th of April, 1 ×43, and was about five years of age when his par- ents came to Illinois and settled in what is now known as Newtown Township. They located on see- tion 17. where they resided until their death.

John Snyder, the father of our subject, was born in Butler County. Pa., May 15, 1807, and was the son of Phillip Snyder, whose parents were natives of Germany. who came to Pennsylvania at a very carly day. He was married twice, and the chil- dren by the first wife were John, Phillip, Betsy and lane. By the second wife there were five-lliram, Jonathan. Eleanor, Rebecca and Deborah -who are all living in the same county in Pennsyl- vania where they were born. JJohn Snyder was lir-t married to Mahala Hill. and by her two chil- dren were born. Thomas and Sarah : the mother died when Sarah was a babe. Thomas died when but ten or eleven years of age, and Sarah grew to womanhood and married Merrit Williams, who died about one year afterward, leaving one child. Abont three year- afterward Sarah was married to Will- iam Lawton, a native of England, who came to this country and settled in Livingston County when about twenty years of age. To them were born three children, who-e names were Merrit E., Lucy and Julia : they are all married. and live in Carroll County, lowa.

The father was a second time married, to Mary Mortland. a native of Pennsylvania, and to them ,

were born three children: Clinton D. is married, and engaged in farming in Newtown Township: he has three children-Phillip. Nancy Margaret and Nora May. John Calvin, deceased. and Levy. John Calvin was born June 11, 1838, in Pennsyl- vania ; he came to Livingston County with his par- ents. and married Phobe Jane Thomas, daughter of .Joel and Rachel (Leonard) Thomas. Her father was born in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1811, and now lives in Hardin County of the same State; the mother was born in Washington County, Pa., May 26, 1815. They were the parents of nine children, live of whom are now living: Phoebe Jane and George W., in Ohio; William L., in Michigan : John and Angelina, in Ohio. Phobe lane, the wife of J. C. Snyder. came to Illinois with her uncle, Sam- nel Pope, and settled in this township. John and Phoebe dane Snyder were married on the 29th of August, 1861, by Rev. Joseph Robertson, pastor of the United Brethren Church. They lived in Read- ing Township, and came to this locality in 1868. To them were born the following-named children : John McClelland, Joel Thomas, George Erastus, Rachel Ellen and Lillie Victoria. John Calvin Snyder died on the 18th of August, 1874, and is buried in the cemetery at Phillips. The widow is now living on a snug farm near Manville. Levy, our subject, was the third child, and the mother died in Indiana about eight months after he was born. Three or four years after this the father was again married in Indiana.

The father moved from Indiana just after the death of his second wife, and engaged in farming. Through a disease called milk-sickness he lost his wife, one child, and all his live stock, in the year 1843. The father's third wife was Nancy Kilgore, a native of Ohio, and of this union was born one chikdl, Elizabeth, who died when about two and one- half years of age. The father was married in the evening. and on the next morning started for Illi- nois, by the pioneer conveyance. He bought lands here, which he improved, and devoted his time to farming. His last wife died in 1879, at the age of abont seventy-three years, and is buried in Phillips Cemetery ; she was a member of the Presbyterian Church, to which she was much devoted. The fa- ther died in May, 1880. He was reared a Seceder,

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and during the later years of his life was a religious enthusiast, but did not hold active connection with any church denomination.

Levy Snyder, the subject of this sketch, remained at home with his parents until his marriage, which event occurred in Newtown Township, Dec. 18, 1867, the lady of his choice being Mary M. Phillips, daughter of Jacob and Amy J. Phillips, of Newtown Township. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Joseph Robinson, a local minister of the United Brethren Church. The result of this marriage has been 'five children: Orville Perry, born Sept. 4, 1868: William Amos, Sept. 9; 1871; John Frank- lin, Feb. 19, 1874; Jacob Marion, Jan. 19, 1879; George Henderson, born Dec, 24, 1881, and died June 25, 1887. In 1881 Mr. Snyder purchased his present farm of 147 acres, upon which he located in 1882, and since that time has been extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising, and has made many material improvements about the place, in- cluding ditches, fences, and the erection of necessary buildings. Mr. Snyder isa man of strong political convictions, and may be written down as a radical Republican. IIe takes great pride in the achieve- ments of that party since its organization, and con- gratulates himself on the fact that he has contrib- uted in every way possible to its success. By the people of his neighborhood he is considered a thor- oughly good citizen, and enjoys the esteem, respect and confidence of all.

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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 79

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