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 80

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 80

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S ILAS D. DUELL, of Fairbury, is an ex- tensive dealer in horses, and is a man of much knowledge of that business. He is a native of New York State, and was born on the 29th of June, 1837, in New London. He is the son of Wilbur and Betsy (Andrews) Duell, natives of England and Massachusetts re- spectively. The father was an owner of a steam- boat, and was also captain of a steamer. He lost his life by a blast from a stone quarry in New York in 1847, and his wife died in that State in 1885. They were the parents of five children :

Laura A., Mrs. Phillips; James, who married Miss Mary A. Linate; Silas D .: George, who married Mary Nerber, and Jane, now Mrs. Cook.

Silas D. Duell was married to Miss Cordelia Ma- honey on the 25th of April, 1855. She was born in Lewiston, Niagara Co., N. Y., in 1836, and is the daughter of Patrick and Hannah (Smith) Ma- honey, the former a native of Canada, and the lat- ter of New York; both her parents are now living, the father being seventy-four and the mother sev- enty-two years of age. They are the parents of seven children : Hannah, now Mrs. Duell; Edwin, who married Casey Cumston; Susan, now Mrs. John Morris; Almira, Mrs. Stuckey; Josephine, Mrs. Moore; Jennie, now the widow of Mr. King. who was killed in a coal shaft in 1886; and Effa, Mrs. T. Sterling.

Mr. and Mrs. Duell have three children-Charles D., Lydia L. and Frank. Charles D. married Miss Ida Cook; he has two children by a former wife. Lydia L. married George Enslow, and has one child living in Alexandria, Neb. ' Mr. Duell had very meagre advantages in the way of early edu- cation. From infancy he was kept on board of the vessel of which his father was captain, on the Erie Canal, and as soon as he was old enough was put to steering the boat, in which work he was en- gaged until twenty years of age, when he came West and settled in Indian Grove Township, where he has since lived. The first land he bought after arriving in the West was eighty acres in McLean County, and then he bought forty acres in Living- ston County and engaged in farming on the latter tract for two years, making a specialty of raising horses, cattle and hogs. At the end of two years he rented his land and moved to Fairbury, where he purchased a house, and soon engaged in the liv- ery business and buying army horses. He was the first man in this region to ship horses to the army and the New York market. He is also the pioneer in shipping horses from the Territories to this re- gion of country for sale. Ile is a speculator by nature, and among his transactions he mentions having bought town lots here for $100 and dispos- ing of them for $2,000. He has been successful in his speculations, and has accumulated about $30,000 worth of property, being the owner of

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

three good farms. all under cultivation, and a large amount of town property.

Mr. Duell is a member of Fairbury Lodge No. 290, 1. O. O. F., and he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, of which he is one of the Trustees. In politics, he is a Republican, first, last and all the time. Ile i- a valuable man to a com- munity. because he takes an interest in everything that tends to the welfare of the people. He is en- terprising, liberal and sociable, and Fairbury can consider herself fortunate in having such a citizen within her limits.

ICHOLAS HORNICKLE, of Germanville Township, bas been for the last thirty years pursuing the even tenor of his way as a quiet and law-abiding citizen of this county, to which he came in the spring of 1858. He has a good farm of 160 acres on sections 8 and 9, which he has brought to a state of thorough cultivation, despite the fact that he ha- labored under considerable disadvant- age in not having the full use of one of his limbs. His energy and perseverance, however, have served him in good stead, and have enabled him to accom- plish more than many able-bodied men.

Our subject was born in the Province of IIesse- Cassel, Germany, Aug. 14, 1843, and is the son of .John and Margaret (Schuck) Hornickle, who were also of German birth and parentage, and emigrated to the United States with their family in 1857, when Nicholas was a youth fourteen years of age. They located first in Peoria, and the following spring came to this county. Our subject developed into manhood, imbued with the industrions habits of his ancestry, and determined to establish in his adopted country a good home and position among honest men. He was first married in the fall of 1873, to Mi -- Hannah Clime, a native of LaSalle County. After becoming the mother of three chil- dren, she departed this life at her home April 26, 1x80. The off-pring of this union, two sons and a daughter, were named Edward, Louisa and John.

In the spring of 1882 Mr. Hornickle was the second time married, to Miss Mary Wurmnest, a native of his own Province in Germany, who came |

to this country in her girlhood. She is the mother of four children, namely : Martha, Jacob, Lizzie and Anna. The fine farm of Mr. H. is supplied with neat and substantial buildings, surrounded by a gen- eral air of comfort and prosperity. Ile takes very little interest in politics, preferring to give his time and attention to his farming interests. He was reared in the doctrines of the Lutheran Church, of which he still remains a devout member.

C HARLES WORDEN. The time will come, if it is not at hand now, when the man who was born in Illinois when it was one of the young States of the Union, will be exceedingly proud of the fact, as it is destined to take its place at the top of the list, from the reason that its natu- ral resources are vaster and more varied than those of any other State, and its strides in the race for supremacy in the sisterhood have been more rapid and successful than any other commonwealth. It will soon have the largest American city which will control the markets of the world, the largest area of tilled land, and the most abundant production of domestic animals. The native of Illinois ean prob- ably point to the position the State now occupies, but the future has in store for her things that will make her heart swell with greater pride and joy.

One of the men who will enjoy this privilege is the subject of our sketch, who was born in Hender- son County, Ill., on the 10th of October, 1847, and is one of the wealthy and substantial farmers of Belle Prairie Township, residing on section 6. IIe is the son of Jolm and Mary A. (Salter) Worden, who were natives of New Jersey, and born respect- ively in 1821 and 1830. They were married in Ohio in the year 1843, and came to Illinois in 1846, locating in Henderson County, where he bought 640 acres, and became a large stock-grower. There were born to them twelve children, all of whom are living, and it is a strange coincidence that at no time during their lives have they all sat around the same table at the same time, the older children, many of them, having grown up and married before the youngest were born. A family reunion at the

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residence of the parents at their home in Sumner County, Kan., is contemplated, at which all the children and grandchildren shall assemble. The names of the members of this large family are as fol- lows: Ilannah E., Charles, Sarah E .. John S., Mary Jane, Samuel, Fannie G., Lovina, David, James C., Paul S. and William E.

Charles Worden was married on the 7th of Sep- tember. 1869, to Miss Armina Vantuyl, a native of Butler County. Ohio, where she was born on the 25th of August, 1848. She is of Holland parent- age, the ancestors coming from Amsterdam, llol- land. The mother of Mrs. Worden prepared the first dinner for the men who put up the first resi- dence in Middletown, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Worden are the parents of seven children-Sophia, Annie, Fannie, Edwin, Ruby, Mary A. and Ernest. Mrs. Worden is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church, and the parents of Mr. Worden were prom- inent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Ohio, the father being a member of great influ- ence.

Mr. Worden became a citizen of Livingston County in the spring of 1871, purchasing 200 acres of partly improved land. His farm now consists of 250 acres, which is well tile-drained and hedge- fenced, and on which there is a fine dwelling-house and good out-buildings. Mr. Worden engages ex- tensively in raising high-graded stock. Ile has been honored by election to the offices of School Di- rector, Township Clerk and Commissioner of High- ways. In all political matters the Republican party reaps the benefit of his influence and vote.

E DWARD MeDONALD. The name of this gentleman is held in the most kindly re- membrance by the people of Saunemin Township, where he lived worthily and labored in- dustriously for many years. As a citizen he was one of the most valued members of the community, being kindly, hospitable and liberal-minded, and as a husband and father performed all his duties in the most conscientious and praiseworthy manner. He left a competency to his widow, including a good farm of 120 acres, supplied with suitable buildings

and all the machinery for carrying on its operations in a successful and profitable manner. The history of this excellent man is substantially as follows :

Mr. McDonald was born in Dublin, Ireland, May 19, 1822, and emigrated to America when a young man. Soon after landing upon American soil he made his way to the West, and for a number of years was a resident of LaSalle and Marshall Conn- ties, where he was employed as a farm laborer, and thus laid the foundation for his future home. IIe was married rather late in life, Dec. 22, 1862, to Mrs. Frances Heylin, a native of Kings County, N. Y., and born Aug. 4, 1834. Mrs. McDonakl is the daughter of James and Jane Polloek, and was de- prived of her mother when an infant of six weeks old. Upon reaching womanhood she was first mar- ried, Dec. 20, 1857, to James Heylin. They located in Marshall County, and became the parents of two children : Isaac N., who died at the age of twenty- four years, and Willis J., now with his mother.

Mr. and Mrs. McDonald began life together in Marshall County, whence they removed in 1866 to the present homestead of Mrs. McDonald, and here the death of her husband occurred April 16, 1887. His last illness was marked by the same fortitude and patience which had distinguished him all through life, and by that kind consideration for the welfare of his family which had attached them to him so greatly. lle had always been a hard worker, strictly honest and temperate, and although his earthly remains are covered by the "clous of the valley" his name is tenderly cherished by the mourn- ing widow and children, to whose comfort he was always attentive. Outside of the home cirele he was held in the highest regard as a man who .cheer- fully assisted, according to his means, in the further- ance of worthy projects, and in lending his influence to whatever tended toward the moral and financial welfare of the people around him.

Mr. and Mrs. McDonald became the parents of seven children, five living. namely : Addie B., the wife of .Joseph J. Norman, of Saunemin ; Albert H., Adrian A., Bertie E. and Stella R. One daughter, Katie M., died when two years of age, and another when an infant of a few months. Mrs. McDonald was in all respects the suitable helpmeet of her hus- band, and proved a stimulus to his kindly Christian

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character. She has been a faithful wife and mother, and i- greatly esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. With the aid of her sons she is carrying on the farm in a ereditable manner. and endeavoring to preserve the reputation of the home- stead which her husband built up by his thrift and industry, and which he left to her as a legacy of his respect and affection.

ORACE M. GILLETTE, grain dealer of Fairbury, came to this vicinity in the fall of 1860, and established his present business. together with that of general merchandising. He became associated with Mr. H. Remington, and they operated together about eight years. since which time Mr. G. ha- conducted his business alone. He commenced in life without means, dependent upon his own resources, and has made a good record.

Mr. Gillette is a native of Connecticut, where he was born in Sutfield, Hartford County, Ang. 13, 1834. His parents, James and Martha Gillette, were natives of the same State, and both died there early in life, the father when his son Horace was a year oldl, and the mother two years later. There were three children thus orphaned, namely : Aurelia MI .. who died at Cold Springs, N. Y., in 1852; James F ... a member of the Chicago Board of Trade, and our subject.

Mr. Gillette, after the death of his parents, was cared for by Horace Sheldon, and when eight years old was bound out to a farmer with whom he re- mained eight years. He in the meantime attended the common school, and spent six months in the High school, where his studies were completed in the winter of 1855. Soon afterward he started for the West, and after reaching Chicago was employed by the firm of S. 1. Kent & Co. two years. He then came to Pontiac, where he commenced operat- ing as a grain dealer. and continued until the fall of 1860. when he took up his residence in Fair- bury.

Mr. Gillette was married, in 1860, to Miss An- nette Harmon, who died seven years later, leaving

two sons, Ilenry R. and Julius H. In 1871 Mr. Gillette was again united in marriage, with Miss M. E. Bryant, of Indiana. and they became the parents of four children, namely : Aurelia. Louisa. Nellie and Jennie. These remain with their parents, who are pleasantly located on Elm street. Mr. Gillette, politically, is a liberal Democrat. and in religious matters is in sympathy with the Presbyterian Church. Socially he is a member in good standing of the Masonic fraternity, and has reached the Knight Templar degree.

OHN MCCLOUD, one of the pioneers of 1835, came from New York to this State and located in Kendall County, of which he was a resident until 1860. In the spring of that year he came to Livingston County. and settled in Union Township, and three years later upon what is now known as the MeCloud homestead in Saune- min Township. It was at that time but a tract of uncultivated land, but under the hand of industry was developed into one of the most desirable and comfortable homesteads in this section. Mr. Mc- Cloud possessed the true pioneer spirit and was always ready to extend a kindly hand to those around him. He possessed that genial and cheer- ful disposition which attracted to him a large circle of friends and acquaintances. IIe was honest and conscientious in his dealings with his fellowmen, and his long and useful career was closed on the 25th of July, 1885. Ilis death took place at his home when he was seventy-nine years of age, his birth having taken place April 6, 1806.

Mr. MeCloud was a native of Vermont, and the son of John and Margaret ( Wilson) McCloud, who were also of New England birth and parentage. Ile was reared to manhood in his native State, and when twenty-two years of age migrated to Clinton County, N. Y., where he met the lady who after- ward became his wife. Their marriage took place at the home of the bride in Clinton County, Feb. 18, 1832. llis wife, Miss Pauline Ricketson, was a native of that county, and born March 4, 1813. ller parents were Jonathan and Esther (Slyter) Ricketson, probably natives of New England, who

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settled in Clinton County, N. Y., in the pioneer days. The young people began the journey of life together at a modest home in Clinton County, N. Y., and three years later migrated to the West. In due time the household cirele was enlarged by the birth of nine children, of whom the record is as follows: Jonathan is farming in Grundy County, Ill. ; Julia is the wife of D. C. Tabler, and with her brother Platt is also a resident of Grundy County ; John is carrying on farming in Clay County; James went to California several years ago, where he still re- mains; Jemima is the wife of J. R. Righter, of this township; and Simon, of Sullivan Township; Mor- ton B. is farming in Saunemin Township, and Eliza, the youngest, died in infancy.

Mr. McCloud in early life identified himself with the Whig party, but upon its abandonment cordially endorsed Republican principles. He be- gan in life without means, but by the exercise of perseverance and industry secured a good farm of 120 aeres, and was enabled to leave his widow eom- fortably provided for. Mrs. McCloud makes her home with her son Morton on the home farm, and is the center of a large eirele of friends and ae- quaintanees whom she has gathered around her in the course of a long life, marked by all the womanly virtues.

Morton MeCloud was born in Kendall County, Dec. 16, 1851, and continued to be the mainstay of his parents from his youth to their later years. Like his father before him his course has been marked by industry and good judgment, and he is aequitting himself as a useful member of the com- munity. Ile votes the Republican ticket, and has accumulated a snug property including 160 acres which he cultivates in connection with the home- stead.

involuntarily regards its capable young men with pride, and this sentiment extends in more than an ordinary degree to the subject of the following sketch :

lle of whom we write is the son of Stephen and Mary A. (Killmer) Potter, whose biography appears elsewhere in this volume. lle was born in Round Grove Township, March 9, 1857, reared on his father's farm and educated at the common schools. Ile was a bright and industrions youth, and under the tuition of his excellent father be- came perfectly familiar with the various employ- ments of farm life and entirely fitted to enter upon a useful and worthy career. He has kept himself well posted upon matters of general interest out- side of agriculture, and was elected Supervisor in the spring of 1887. the duties of which office he is discharging in a creditable and satisfactory manner. He has also been Township Collector and School Director in his distriet. He has decided ideas upon political matters and uniformly votes the straight Democratie tieket.

Upon laying his plans for the establishment of a permanent home, one of the most important steps which Mr. Pottter took toward the accomplishment of this object was his marriage with Miss Mary E. Glover, which was celebrated at the home of the bridegroom in Round Grove Township, April 22, 1886. Mrs. Potter was one of the most popular young ladies of the neighborhood, and is the daugh- ter of Samuel L. and Martha J. (Dunn) Glover, na- tives respectively of New York and Pennsylvania. Her parents settled in Pennsylvania after their mar- riage, and in about 1856 came to this State, locat- ing first in LaSalle County, and removing about 1861 to Livingston County, where they took up their residence on a farm in Broughton Township. From there, in 1886, they removed to Custer County, Neb., where they now reside. Mrs. Pot- ter was the second of their six children, and was born in LaSalle County, Ill., Aug. 4, 1858, where she received a good education, and was engaged as a teacher some time before her marriage. She is a highly intelligent lady and well fitted to be the com- panion and helpmeet of a rising young eitizen.

E LVIE T. POTTER. While the history of the old pioneers is intensely interesting, it is also important to keep in mind those on whom the future must depend for its prosperity. Industry and good judgment are just as essential in keeping the car of progress in motion as they Mr. and Mrs. Potter after their marriage located were to start it on its onward march. A community . at their present home on section 15. Here our

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subject has eighty aeres of land, the eultivation of which he is carrying on successfully. and availing himself of the most modern methods and approved machinery. The dwelling is neat and substantial, the farm stock well eared for, and everything about the premises indicates the hand of taste and indus- trv.

SAAC SHERMAN, one of the very oldest set- tlers of Illinois, who has been engaged for many years in farming in Sunbury Township, was born in Morgan County. Ohio, April 1, 1825. His father, William Sherman, was born in Marlboro, Middlesex Co., Mass .. and the grandfather, Isaac sherman, was born somewhere in New England, the exact location not being known. Tradition has it that Roger Sherman. the signer of the Deelaration of Independence. was the great-great-grandfather of our subject, and the Sherman family dates back to Roger Sherman, who landed in the Mayflower at Plymouth Rock. The grandfather was a lawyer by profession, but was for many years engaged in mercantile business, and spent the latter years of his life in the eity of Boston. He served eight years in the Revolutionary War assisting at Bun- ker Hill, where he helped to roll stones upon the British. Ile also erossed the Delaware with Wash- ington to attack the HIessians. Dee. 24. 1776. The father of our subject was a ship carpenter and honse joiner by trade. At twenty years of age he removed to Ohio and worked in the shipyards at Cincinnati, while his family lived on a farm in Morgan County. In 1833, accompanied by his wife and eleven children, he came to Illinois. the entire journey being made overland with four horses and one wagon. He located on the Illinois River in Putnam County, where he entered Gov- ernment land, built a log house, and followed farm- ing and stock-raising. He conducted this farm for many years, and there died. The maiden name of his wife, the mother of our subjeet, was Rebecca DeLong, who was born at Ft. Necessity, near Har- per's Ferry. Her grandparents were natives of Holland, who came to America in Colonial times.

Our subject was eight years of age when he came to Illinois with his parents, with whom he lived

until twenty years of age, when he began to work for himself at $12 per month, and was engaged with one man for five seasons at that compensation. During the winter he chopped wood and split rails until he was thirty-two years of age, and then pur- chased 120 aeres of land in Putnam County, giv- ing in payment his note which he paid by working at $12 per month. At the time of his marriage he settled upon this farm on which there was a log eabin, which was afterward replaced by a eomfort- able frame house. Here he lived until 1868, by which time he had the farm under a high state of cultivation, and then sold it and came to Living- ston County, where he bought the 160-acre farm on which he now lives. He has erected a comfortable residence and commodious farm buildings, and planted many fruit and shade trees. To the orig. inal tract he has added eighty aeres which gives him a farm of 240 acres, all enelosed by good fences and drained by ample tile ditehes.

On the 12th of July, 1857, Mr. Sherman was married to Susan McKee, who was born in the State of Ohio, and died in 1869. By this marriage one child only of those born is living. His name is Henry, and he resides with his father. Marion died aged twenty-one years and six months; John aged one year and nine months; Rebecca aged fifteen years, and Isaae aged sixteen years. Mr. Sherman's second wife was Jane Bailes, a native of Kentucky. By this marriage two children were born : Burton, March 25, 1875, and Jasper, June 28, 1877. The second wife died on the 29th of September, 1887. Mr. Sherman is a member of Methodist Episcopal Church, and has always been a believer in Christianity, and a praying man, but did not become a member of the church until twelve years ago. Hle is quite regular in his at- tendance, and thoroughly interested in all the af- fairs of the church. In polities, he casts his vote and influence with the Republican party. His first Presidential vote was cast for Gen. Taylor, and he was a Whig until the organization of the Repub- lican party in 1856.

Mr. Sherman is one of the oldest settlers now re- siding in Livingston County. When he first came to the State, and for many years after, wolves, deer and other kinds of wild game were plentiful, and

HERD OF NORTH DEVON CATTLE

RESIDENCE OF WH YOUNGER, (BREEDER OF NORTH DEVON CATTLE.) SEC. 2. BELLE PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP, LIVINGSTON CO.

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roamed at will over the prairies. He began to hunt .as soon as he was large enough to shoulder a musket, and killed his first deer at the age of thir- teen. Ile was hunting quail at the time, and espy- ing some deer in the thicket of hazel bushes, he drew the shot from the gun, and replacing them with a ball, shot and killed the nearest deer though 200 paces away. During his boyhood he partici- pated in a wolf hunt, which has since been made the subject of an illustration. The Sherman fam- ily have been noted through several generations as pioneers. They emigrated from the East to the Northwest Territory previous to 1800, and settled in that part which now constitutes the State of Ohio. The long and tedious journey they made overland with teams, stopping at convenient inter- vals to hunt, and in that way procured their pro- visions. Gen. Tecumseh Sherman's grandfather was a second cousin of the father of our subject. Although Mr. Sherman is now in his sixty-second year, he is remarkably well preserved, and bids fair to live many years to come. He is one of the best-known citizens of Livingston County, and en- joys the confidence and respect of all his fellow- citizens.

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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 80

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