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 81
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W ILLIAM YOUNGER, of Belle Prairie Township, has one of the finest stock farms in Livingston County, which includes 365 acres of land, a living spring of water, and all the buildings required for the successful prosecution of his chosen calling. He has for several years en- joyed an enviable reputation as a breeder of Devon- shire cattle, fine horses, mostly draft animals, and Poland-China hogs. This breed of cattle came originally from a county of England which forms a part of its southwest peninsula, with a surface greatly broken and diversified, but remarkable for its fertility, and particularly adapted to the devel- opment of the cattle which for a century have been highly valued, both in this country and Great Britain. Mr. Younger began the breeding of these cattle in 1876, and now has a herd of twenty-five full-bloods. He has been accustomed for the last six years to carrying off the blue ribbons at the various county fairs, and at the State Fair. At the
Fat Stock Show held in Chicago in 1887, his cattle took the sweepstakes premium.
Mr. Younger was born in Woodford County, Ill., Aug. 11, 1836, and is the son of Benjamin and Sarah (Turner) Younger. natives of Ohio, the lat- ter of whom died when William was but eighteen months old. The father afterward married Mis- Lodema White, of Scioto County. Ohio, who died at her home in Peoria County, Aug. 12, 1887. The father still survives, and is now retired from active labor, making his home in Livingston County where he has a moderate property. Ile was born in Ohio in 1810, and is consequently seventy-seven years of age.
Our subject was reared on his father's farm, and received such an education as the district schools afforded until he was sixteen years old, when he started ont in life for himself, and his present con- dition and surroundings indicate the large measure of success he has achieved in his efforts to obtain a home and a competency. After reaching his twen- ty-ninth year Mr. Younger was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Hatton, Oct. 18, 1865. Mrs. Younger is a native of Brown County, Ohio. where she was born on the 22d of April, 1844. The re- sult of this union is three children, a son and two daughters, namely : William H., Emma and Ida M.
The family residence located on section 2, in Belle Prairie Township, is a structure in keeping with its environments, combining comfort and beauty, and displaying in all its appointments the most cultivated tastes and ample means. As illus- trative of the advance made in the style of archi- tecture in this section of country we present on an adjoining page a view of Mr. Younger's resi- dence with its surroundings. Mr. Younger has labored industriously. lived economically, and his possessions are but the just reward of his toil and frugality.
OHN MI. KRACK, a native of Montgomery County, Ind., was born Sept. 29, 1844, and came with his parents to this county in the spring of 1857. He has the greater part of his life been engaged in the peaceful vocation of a farmer, with the exception of two years in which ho conducted a grocery trade at Forest. He has
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been the privileged witness of the many great changes which have occurred in Central Illinois during a period of thirty years. and although not the hero. perhaps, of any very thrilling event, he has always signalized himself as a law-abiding citi- zen. and kept himself well posted upon matters of general interest.
Our subject is the son of I. J. and Mary ( Worrel) Krack. the latter long deceased, but the former still living and a resident of Forest. His early studies were conducted in the district school. and upon becoming a voter he identified himself with the Republican party, whose principles he has supported faithfully for over thirty years. He has hekl the various township offices and was Postmaster at For- est during the administration of President Lincoln. Upon retiring from the grocery business he carried on a shoe store for his father two years, and was for a brief time thereafter connected with the ware- house in Forest. He now has charge of 180 acres of land belonging to his father-in-law, which i- lo- cated on section 11.
Mr. Krack. Dec. 28, 1869, was united in marriage with Miss Mary, daughter of John and Margaret ( Daney ) Wallace, natives of Ireland, and now resi- dents of Forest. Mrs. K. was born in New Jersey, Jan. 2. 1849. and came to the West with her par- ents in about 1861. They located in Forest Town- ship. and she remained with them until her mar- riage. This union resulted in the birth of four children. namely : Jennie. Maggie, Libbie and Wal- lace. Mr. K. is not connected with any religious organization. but endeavors to follow the precepts of the Golden Rule. Ilis estimable wife is a mem- her of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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G EORGE C. TAYLOR, a representative far- mer and stock-raiser of Pontiac Township, and a gentleman who has been eminently successful in life, is a native of the island of St. Bartholomew. West Indies, where his birth took place Jan. 30, 1817. Ile is the son of George W. and Harriet L. Taylor, the former a native of Bos- ton. Mas ... and the latter of the West Indies. This branch of the Taylor family is of Scotch ancestry,
but the mother of our subject is of French and En- glish descent. The paternal grandfather of George C., whose name was John Taylor, emigrated from Scotland to America about 1788, and for a time engaged in mercantile business in Boston. He owned and was master of a vessel lost at sea, upon which occasion he went down with his crew to a watery grave. George W., the father of our sub- ject, was also a sea captain in his early manhood, but later abandoned the ocean and settled down on terra firma. When our subject was seven months ok his parents removed to Saratoga Springs, N. Y., where he was reared to manhood, receiving careful home training and completing his education at Milton Ilill Academy, He possessed considera- ble musical talent, and for many years was em- ployed as a teacher of this art.
Mr. Taylor was first married, Sept. 15, 1837, to Miss Uretta Bentley, a native of Saratoga County, N. Y., and they became the parents of four chil- dren. of whom only one survives, John C., who is now a resident of Pontiac Township. The de- ceased were named respectively, James, Ottis B. and George W. The mother of these children died on the 8th of March, 1877. Mr. Taylor was again married, Ang. 16, 1877, to Miss Minerva E. North, daughter of Oliver and Mary North, and a native of Michigan. Her mother's maiden name was Mary Warner, and her parent- were natives Of New York State. They came to Illinois in 1868, locating in Effingham County, where the father died the same year. A few months later the mother with her family came to this county and lo- cated in Owego Township, where she resided a number of years. Thence she removed to Ne- braska, where she now lives. She has for many years been a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The parental household in- cluded five children, namely, Charles, Clara, Mi- nerva E., Mary and Carrie.
Mr. Taylor came to this county in 1858, and located on section 36, in Pontiac Township, where for some years he was engaged in farming pursuits. He owns fifty acres of valuable land, besides prop- orty in the village, and is looked upon by his fel- low. townsmen as a self-made man, who has im- proved his opportunities and justly deserves the
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comforts of which he is now in possession. He has been quite prominent in local affairs, serving as School Director, Commissioner of Highways and Vice President of the County Agricultural Society. He was also Highway Commissioner six years, and officiated as President of the County Bible Society two years, besides being Sunday-school Superin- tendent and otherwise interested in the progress and welfare of his community. Religionsly, he is connected with the Baptist Church, In politics, he affiliates with the Republican party.
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S AMUEL CRUMPTON. This gentleman, residing in Chatsworth Township, is num- bered among the progressive citizens of Livingston County, to the southeastern portion of which he came in 1867. He first en- gaged in the grain trade, at which he continued for sixteen years following. his transactions extending to different points around Chatsworth, and yielding very satisfactory returns. Being always fond of country life, he purchased a tract of land in 1877, and since that time has given much of his attention to farming pursuits. He is now the proprietor of 400 broad acres, besides village property and real estate on the other side of the Mississippi. When entering upon man's estate, he was absolutely with- out means, his condition in life being in striking contrast with that of the present, as he is now wealthy, and surrounded by the comforts and luxu- ries of life. His residence, erected in 1883, is one of the most handsome and commodious dwellings in the county, and the farm stock and implements are fully in keeping with the means of the proprietor, being well cared for and of first-class description.
Mr. Crumpton was born near the Atlantic Coast in Franklin County, Me., Feb. 17, 1841, and is the son of William and Nancy II. (Ford) Crumpton, also natives of that State, where the father engaged in farming, which he followed through life. The family, in 1851, migrated westward and settled on a farm near Freedom, LaSalle County, where the father spent the remainder of his days, his death oc- curring Sept. 27, 1875, at the age of seventy-nine years, four months and twenty-six days. The
mother subsequently came to Chatsworth, and passed away on the 15th of June, 1879, aged seventy-six years, seven months and twenty-four days. The parental household included two sons and four daughters, as follows: William W., the eldest, died in LaSalle County in 1883, and Emeline in 1851; Sarah J., the wife of Henry J. Davis, and Charlotte, Mrs. Thomas J. Davis, reside in LaSalle County ; Samuel is the subject of this biography; and Ann M. is the wife of Edward A. Bangs, of Chatsworth.
Our subject was ten years of age when the family came west and located in LaSalle County, this State, where he completed a practical education, winding up with a course at the seminary at Aurora. Ile then began farming for himself, continuing in La- Salle County until 1867, when he had accumulated capital sufficient to embark in the grain trade. Ile now established himself in Chatsworth Township, where he has since resided and been uniformly suc- cessful in his business transactions.
The marriage of Samuel Crumpton and Miss Alice S. Lawrence was celebrated in LaSalle Coun- ty, Jan. 10, 1877. Mrs. Crumpton is the daughter of Jairus and Alice (Farham) Lawrence, and was born in LaSalle County, Ill., Feb. 28, 1852. Her parents removed from Orleans County, N. Y., in the fall of 1849, to Illinois, loeating in LaSalle County, where the mother is still living. The father passed away on the 29th of July, 1881, aged seventy-one years, six months and five days. Mr. and Mrs. Crumpton became the parents of four children, of whom one son, Ray L., died when an infant of five months. Those surviving are William J., May A. and Ora J. Politically Mr. Crumpton is a solid Re- publican, and socially is a member of Blue Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Freedom Lodge No. 194, Freedom, Ill., and St. Paul Commandery, Fairbury, III.
Le ELAND M. RHODES. Livingston County can possibly boast of having a greater num- ber of fine stock-farms than any other coun- ty in Illinois. The grass- producing soil and the great quantity of living water afford unusual facil- ities for engaging in that useful and profitable oc- cupation. Of the thousands of stock-farms within
LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
her borders. none. perhaps. is better than the one section 16. Esmen Township, comprising 320 heres, and owned and operated by the subject of this sketch. who is a native of the State of New York.
Mr. Rhodes was born in the town of Berlin. Rensselaer County. that State. on the 12th of May. 1416. and was the fifth in a family of eight chil- dren born to John and Patience ( Bentley ) Rhodes, uatives of New York and Rhode Island respect- ively. The paternal grandparents were Walter and Mary ( Hill Rhodes, who were of English descent. Ile was first mate on an English merchant vessel, and served under his father who was the Captain. The maternal grandparents were Benjamin and Lydia (Rathbone) Bentley, who were born in the State of New York: he was a farmer by occupa- tion. and of Welsh-English descent.
Mr. Rhodes' father was a carpenter by trade, and also followed farming. Of a family of eleven brothers. he was next to the youngest. They were all soldiers in the War of 1812, where he enlisted as Orderly Sergeant, and was promoted to Briga- dier Quartermaster. After the war he followed hi- trade until the death of his wife. and then spent hi- time among his children, dying in Wisconsin at the end of a Christian life.
Mr. Rhodes was reared to farm life, and worked with his father at carpentering, receiving such edu- cation as could be obtained in the common schools, until he wa- twenty-one years of age. He then left home, and soon after engaged in burning char- coal. accumulating in one year sufficient means to enable him to set out for a trip to the far West. There being no railroad facilities for travel at that time. he was compelled to make the journey on foot. first traveling to Bradford County. Pa., thence to Buffalo. N. Y., and by water to Detroit, whence he walked across the State of Michigan to the southwest corner, and then went up the Lakes to what is now Chicago, and thence by the way of Dorr Prairie. Ind., where he lay sick for a time, ail finally reached Illinois. The canal was being built at that time. and he staid for awhile at Joliet, when he went to Plainfield Prairie, where he struck the Chicago & Rock Island Indian trail. which he followed to Rock River, and thence to the lead
mines of Galena. A few days later he took the Mississippi trail which he followed to St. Louis. and spent some time in looking at the country around. He returned to St. Louis and took pas- sage on the boat to Cairo, whence he went to Louis- ville, Ky., crossing the State on a trail which was marked by blazed trees. From there he went by water up to Cincinnati and took to the country again, traveling northeast until he reached the Na- tional Turnpike, which he followed to Wheeling, Va., thence to Pittsburgh, Pa., and east through the mountains, with nothing but the sun to guide him, to Bradford County, from which he had started. After resting here a short time he returned to his home. This journey was made wholly for the pur- pose of seeing the country and learning of the peo- ple, and for the same reason he also made a trip into Massachusetts. The next spring he attempted to start in business in Bradford County. Pa., but sickness compelled him to return to his home where he engaged at carpentering. At this he worked only one season, when. while mowing, he was acci- dentally struck with a seythe and disabled for a year, the right leg being almost -evered at the knce. When able to sit up he began to study medicine, thinking he would never again be able to follow his trade, but he did not have much taste for that profession, and discontinued the study. About this time his mind turned to the study of the Scriptures, and he began to prepare himself for the ministry. Although he never engaged as a regu- lar preacher he has preached locally ever since in the Baptist Church. to which he belongs. As soon a- his health was restored, he resumed his trade in and around home, and followed it until 1849.
On the 10th of June. 1849, our subject was mar- ried to Caroline Clarke, a daughter of Isaac and Amanda (Gleason) Clarke, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of New York. Caroline was born in Schoharie County, N. Y., on the 20th of April, 1830, where her father was engaged in sawmilling and farming most of his life. Soon after their marriage, Mr. Rhodes and his wife set out for Wisconsin, making the trip by water, and settled in Geneva, Walworth County, that State, where he purchased forty acres of land on section 15. They lived here for many years engaged in
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farming and stock-raising, his father living with him until his death. Mr. Rhodes worked assidu- ously until he accumulated 120 acres of finely im- proved land, and also 160 acres in LaSalle County, Ill., the latter of which he had fenced and put un- der cultivation before his removal to Illinois. In 1875 he sold his farm in LaSalle County, and came into this county, where he bought 320 acres on which he now resides, of Bennet Humiston.
Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes' family consisted of eleven children, six of whom are yet living: William, born July 20, 1850, and Eliza, Sept. 4, 1851, both died in infancy ; Emma, born Sept. 4, 1852; Le- land M., born Jan. 25, 1855, died Jan. 1, 1861 ; Arvilla C., born May 6, 1857, died Jan. 12, 1861; Mary, born June 25. 1859, died July 30, 1869; Milford, born July 30, 1860; Flora Cecilia, April 1, 1863; Isaac W., Sept. 1, 1865: Harlow A., March 30, 1868, and Olive, Nov. 16, 1870. Emma married George Whitham, and lives in Esmen Township; Flora married W. C. Corbin. Mr. Rhodes is a stanch Prohibitionist, and is a man who is never inclined to office-seeking. He is a Deacon in the Baptist Church.
ENRY HORNICKLE is a resident of Ger- manville Township, where he owns and operates a farm of 150 acres of good land which has been brought to its present con- dition from the raw prairie. He took possession of this in 1870, and has a good set of farm build- ings, a choice assortment of live stock and every- thing pertaining to the progressive agriculturist.
The birthplace of Mr. Hornickle was in the Grand Duchy of Hesse, a beautiful Province of Germany, situated in the basins of the Rhine and Weser. More than half the territory is arable and the soil very fertile. The vine is cultivated ex- tensively, and the other products are flax, hemp, hops, tobacco and fruit. The face of the country is beautifully diversified with forests and hills, and there are rich mines of copper, iron, coal and salt. The manufacture of silk, linen and paper is also carried on extensively. The educational institu-
tions form one of the important features of the Province, where the young, as throughout all Ger- many, are placed in school at an early age and compelled to attend a sufficient time to obtain a good practical education.
Our subject left this delightful region in 1857, when a youth of eighteen years, his birth having taken place June 15, 1839. His parents, John and Margaret (Schuch) Hornickle, were of pure Ger- man ancestry, and were also reared and married in the Grand Duchy of Hesse. After becoming the parents of eight children, they concluded for the sake of these to emigrate to America, hoping to better their condition, socially and financially. The West seemed to be the most desirable field of operation and accordingly, upon setting foot on American soil they proceeded directly to the Prairie State, locating first near Washington, Taze- well County. A year later they came to the south- eastern part of Livingston, where they engaged in farming. The mother rested from her earthly labors in 1880; the father is still living and is quite aged. having been born in 1809. With one excep- tion their children are all living. Henry, of our sketch, was the eldest son ; Margaret is a resident of Iowa; Nicholas is written of elsewhere in this vol- ume; Martha became the wife of Henry Lee, who is farming in Nebraska; Catherine, Mrs. Frederick Toub, is a resident of Peoria; Conrad is carrying on farming in this township, and Lizzie married lIenry Hest, and lives in Ford County, this State.
Mr. Hornickle after completing a very good education learned the shoemaker's trade before coming to this country, but has followed it little since that time, preferring the more active and in- teresting pursuits of farm life. He was married, in 1869, to Miss Fredricka Lehmann, a native of his own country and born about 1845. She came to the United States with her parents when quite young, and has since been a resident of Wisconsin and later of Illinois. They have a bright and interest- ing family of ten children, whom they named re- spectively as follows: John H., Frederick William, Conrad H., Catherine M., Amelia M., Christina M., Annie E., Christian F., Jacob C. and Peter Robert. Another, Elizabeth C., died in infancy. They are being trained in the way which will insure their
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usefulness as business citizens and their value as intelligent members of the community.
Mr. Ilornickle is regarded by his neighbors as a good citizen, and has served in his township as School Director and Road Commissioner. Politi- cally he votes the Democratic ticket, and relig- iously belongs. with his estimable wife, to the Evangelical Church.
HRISTOPHIER DENNEWITZ. This is an inviting country to the people of the old world, who desire to better their condition, and to adopt and live under the broad and liberal laws of government which were obtained here many years ago, and prevail to-day. Not only our laws and our institutions are inducements to the man who is proscribed by unjust and dictatorial powers. to come to this country, but our vast and_unoeenpied domain is ample enough to furnish homes for al- most the entire population of the world. Of the people of all parts of the earth, who have availed themselves of the great opportunities of this coun- try, none have filled a more important place than the sturdy sons of the various portions of Ger- many. They occupy prominent places in all parts of our business fabrics. and wherever they have chosen to adopt agriculture as their calling, are to be found the best farms of the country. The Ger- mans practically made Pennsylvania what it is. and their work is going on surely and gradually in many of the newer States of the Union. and espe- cially in Illinois, where they have secured so great a foothold.
Among the German citizens of Livingston Coun- ty is the subject of this sketch, who is a native of Prussia. Germany, and was born in that country, in Howtroder, on the 8th of May, 1842. Ile is the son of Charles and Rosa Dennewitz, who became the parents of seven children, whose names are as follows: Charles. Christopher, William, Razey. Rickey. Frederick and Ernestine. Of these, Charles. Christopher and William were born in Germany, and the rest in Ross County, Ohio. When the par- ents cinigrated to America the subject of this sketch
was five years of age. Upon landing at New York, they went directly to Ross County. Ohio. where our subject was reared to manhood. Early in his youth he learned the trade of cooper, and after ar- riving at manhood followed that occupation for several years. In the year 1870 he came to Liv- ingston County, of which he has been an honored resident since. His father was gathered to his fathers in April, 1875; the mother is residing in this county.
On the 2d of December, 1873, Mr. Dennewitz was married to Miss Emma Kessling, who was born in Pennsylvania on the 30th of October, 1854. She is the daughter of William and Angeline Kessling, now residents of Putnam County, Ill. They have two children, whose names are, Katie, who was born April 22, 1875. and Frederick, May 30, 1880. During the first years of Mr. Dennewitz' life he had many hard struggles. He began without capi- tal and under most unfavorable circumstances, but he persevered with much courage until he now is in comparatively easy circumstances. His farm con- sists of forty acres of good land, which yields him a fair revenue each year, and by good management and economy he is enabled from time to time to add such improvements as materially enhance the value of the farm. In the selection of a wife he was very fortunate in securing a woman who has proved an excellent helpmate.
Mr. Dennewitz votes and acts with the Demo- cratie party, but is not active enough in politics to consume time which could be devoted to business. He and his wife are honored members of society, and enjoy the respect and esteem of the people among whom they live.
ILLIAM Z. WALDEN, of Pontiac Town- ship, is the proprietor of 180 acres of good land on section 12, and is a worthy illus- tration of the self-made man, who, by his enter- prise and industry, has attained to a good position socially and financially. Hle came to this section when a young man in the twenty-second year of his age, and has since been a resident here, identi- fying himself fully with the interests of the people
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around him, and contributing his full share toward the cultivation of the soil and the development of the resources of Livingston County. Of late years his land has been largely devoted to the raising of hay and grain, which he has utilized in the feeding of a large amount of stock, including cattle and hogs.
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