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 82

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 82

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Mr. Walden was born near Terre Haute, Ind., Nov. 7, 1848, and is the son of Aaron W. and Mar- garet (Black) Walden. His father was a native of Kentucky ; his mother died when he was a child of seven years. Ile remained with his father, and re- ceived his education principally in MeLean County, this State, to which the father had removed. Sub- sequently the elder Walden came to Livingston County, and is now a resident of Pontiac Township.

Mr. Walden was married, in the spring of 1870, to Miss Alice Pettibone, a native of Illinois, and at the time of her marriage a resident of this county. Mr. Walden was subsequently married, Oct. 20, 1876, to Miss Enstena Olke. Of this union there were born five children, four now living, namely : Mary, Frances, Rachel and May. One daughter, Laura, died in infancy. Mr. Walden, politically, is a decided Republican, and is numbered among the representative men of his township. Ile has been successful in the management of his farm and the investment of his capital, effecting great im- provements on the land since it came into his pos- session, and each year adding something to its at- tractions as a place of residence, and its value as real estate.

R OBERT WALKER, a retired farmer resid- ing in the village of Emington, has been a citizen of Broughton Township since the

G spring of 1883. He is a Scotchman by birth and parentage, and an admirable specimen mentally and physically of that nationality than which there is considered none superior in the whole world. His birth took place near Dumfries- shire, May 2, 1826, in the parish of Urr, at the home of his parents, John and Mary ( Nish) Walker, na- tives of the same locality. Young Walker contin- ued near the scenes of his early childhood until

reaching the twenty-fourth year of his age, when he crossed the Atlantic and located near the city of Albany, N. Y. He had been reared to farm pur- suits, and followed this in the Empire State for some time. He finally became a resident of Great Valley, Cattaraugus County, and there made the acquaintance of Miss Lydia Atilda Matthewson, to whom he was married on the 10th of December, 1853.

Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Walker came to LaSalle County, this State, where our subject engaged as a farm laborer for a period of live years. Ile then purchased a team and rented a tract of land in Ophir Township, where he farmed four years on his own account, and then re- moved, in 1865, to Union Township, this county. Here he rented land another four years, and in the meantime had purchased eighty acres, applying his surplus cash to its payment. He was prospered in his labors, and in 1872 added another eighty acres to his first purchase, and now has a quarter section of as good land as there is in this part of Livingston County. It is thoroughly drained with tile, and the fences are of hedge, combining both beauty and utility ; the farm buildings are neat and substan- tial. Here Mr. Walker continued with his estim- able lady until retiring from active labor in the spring of 1883. He then purchased the town resi- dence which he now owns, and surrounded by the comforts of life, is enjoying his declining years in a manner befitting his station.

Mr. and Mrs. Walker became the parents of three children, of whom the record is as follows: Mary P. was born May 25, 1855, in Great Valley, Catta- raugus Co., N. Y., and became the wife of Walter W. Wright, of Union Township, this county ; they are living upon a farm and are the parents of two children. Lydia E. Walker was born Sept. 3, 1856, in Waltham, LaSalle County, and married Alfred E. Wright, of Union Township, where they now re- side; Robert John was born March 12, 1861, in Ophir Township, LaSalle County, and married Miss Phehe Cook : they occupy the old homestead, and have two children.

The wife of our subject is the daughter of IIale and Prudence (Williams) Matthewson, who were married Feb. 14, 1817, in Springville, Cattaraugus

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Co .. N. Y. Her father was a native of Massachu- setts and a descendant of excellent Scotch ancestry. He was born Jan. 9, 1793, and departed this life at his home in Erie County, N. Y., June 19, 1871. He served as a drummer in the War of 1812, and at the time of the burning of Buffalo was stationed there. He was finally taken ill and sent home on a furlough. and the war closed before he was enabled to return to his regiment. His wife Prudence was born in the State of Vermont, JJuly 2, 1798, and was a direct descendant of a brother of Roger Will- iams, of Rhode Island. She also died at the home- stead in Erie County, N. Y., passing away many years before her husband, on the 18th of January, 1844. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Walker died in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., where her ma- ternal grandfather, Stephen Williams, also spent his last years, in Concord. The male members of the family for many generations were engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr. and Mrs. Matthewson had a family of ten children, eight of whom lived to reach their majority, and six are still living: Mary Helen was born June 6, 1820, and married Alfred Devendorf: she died in September, 1864, leaving three children, who are still residents of New York State. Lydia Atilda, Mrs. Walker, was born Feb. 1, 1824: Jenks HI. was born Sept. 5, 1826, is married and the father of two children; he is farming in Erie County, N. Y. Eliza Jane was born Feb. 5, 1831, and is the wife of William Hnftell, a machinist of Buffalo, N. Y .; they have one child living. Stephen W. was born Nov. 1, 1833, is un- married, and a resident of the Empire State: Chris- topher C. was born Nov. 10, 1835, is unmarried, and a resident of Pennsylvania; Valencia was born Dec. 6, 1837, married John Iluftell, of Buffalo, and they have one child; Chaney B. was born Nov. 17, 1840, served as a soldier in the late war under Gen. McClelland, and in one of the hard fought battles lost a hand; he received a pension from the Government and died at the Soldiers' Home at Dayton, Ohio, in about 1868.

Mr. Walker is a born gentleman, whole-souled and generous, and a great favorite among his neigh- bors and acquaintances. He came to this part of Illinois in the midst of his youth and strength, and proved just such a man as was needed in his town-

ship to assist in developing the soil and encouraging it> settlement by a thrifty and intelligent class of people. As has been already indicated he commenced life without means, and accumulated his present desirable property solely by the exercise of his own industry and good judgment.

Our subjeet was the second son in a family of six children. Ilis eldest brother, John, who re- mains in his native Scotland, owns a portion of the land that was deeded to one of his ancestors by Robert Bruce, under the following circumstances: After Sir William Wallace and Robert Bruce had finished fighting a certain battle they went to a house and called for food. When the good lady had supplied it Bruce told her to go out and walk around all the land she could while they were eat- ing and he would deed it to her. Whereupon she gave the two but one spoon, and the porridge being hot, she thus secured 160 acres, which has been in- herited from father to son since that day.

Robert Walker votes the straight Republican ticket and is a strict temperance man, his sympathies leaning strongly toward prohibition. Both he and his estimable lady are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Emington, and for years have been numbered among its most cheerful and liberal supporters.

OIIN MASTERS is truly one of the repre- sentative farmers and stock-raisers of Pleas- ant Ridge Township. His farm consists of 309 aeres of choice land. and the buildings which afford shelter for his family and the domestic animals of the farm are ample in dimensions and convenient in their construction. There is no bet- ter conducted or better regulated farm on section 30 than the one owned by our subject. Mr. Mas- ters is a native of the Buckeye State, and was born in Butler County on the 9th of September, 1830. lle is the son of William and Mary (Johnson) Mas- ters, of Ohio. The father was a farmer by occupa- tion, and during his life was a prominent citizen of the section where he resided. He died in the year 1830, and the mother survived until the Ist of January, 1868. They were the parents of seven

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RESIDENCE OF W. G. DAVIS , SEC . 22. DWIGHT TOWNSHIP.

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RESIDENCE OF HENRY SIEDENTOP, SEC. 1. SUNBURY TOWNSHIP.

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children: Mary, who died in childhood; Annie, Mrs. William Virgin; Sarah, who married William Sense, and died some years after; James, Samuel, William and John.

Our subject was the youngest member of his father's family. At the age of five years his mother moved to Tippecanoe County, Ind., and he was reared on the farm where he remained twenty years. During this time he attended the common schools as opportunities would permit, and assisted to the best of his abilities in the work upon the farm. At the age of twenty-two years, on the 15th of Novem- ber, 1853, he was married to Miss Jane Connor, a native of Indiana, who was born on the 15th of April, 1833. She is the daughter of John and Eliz- abeth (Franklin) Connor, and her mother died when Mrs. Masters was twelve months old. To Mr. and Mrs. Masters have been born three children : Jasper C., who married Dorcas J. Oppey ; William A., who married Rosa Bryant, and one who died in infancy; both of the sons are farmers, and are meeting with success in their undertakings.

Mr. Masters came to Illinois from Tippecanoe County, Ind., in 1856, and located in Pleasant Ridge Township, where he has ever since resided. Ile is one of the most extensive farmers and stock- raisers of the township. All of his large tract of land is highly cultivated, and the improvements of all classes are good. Mr. Masters belongs to the Republican party, and keeps pace with the pro- gressiveness of that organization. During his resi- denee in Pleasant Ridge Township, he has been en- trusted with some of the township offices, and in the discharge of his duties has given excellent satisfac- tion.

G EORGE WORRICK, a retired farmer and now a resident of Fairbury, came to Liv- ingston County in 1854, making the long journey from the State of Ohio by teams, and af- terward settling upon an uncultivated tract of land. which he in due time transformed into a valuable homestead. His first purchase was 125 acres, to which he subsequently added until he is now the possessor of a half section, supplied with handsome and substantial buildings and all the appliances of a

first-class country estate. He retired from active labor in 1883, when he turned over the farm to the hands of his sons and removed to town, where he occupies one of the finest dwellings in the village. Ile was long ago recognized as a valued addition to the community of Indian Grove Township, and both in country and town is widely and favorably known as a representative citizen.

The early years of Mr. Worrick's life were passed in Maryland, where he was born Jan. 26, 1810. In 1819 his parents removed to Greene County, Pa., where he remained until twenty-three years of age, employed in farming, and during the winter season pursuing the common branches at the district schools. While a resident of the Keystone State he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Compston, a na- tive of Greene County, and born July 31, 1813. Mrs. Worrick is the daughter of Jacob and Mary (Evans) Compston, the former a native of Pennsyl- vania, and the latter.of Culpeper County, Va. They were married in Greene County, Pa. Mr. Wor- rick's parents emigrated to Illinois in 1857, locat- ing in Belle Prairie Township, this county, where the father followed farming until called from his earthly labors in February, 1882. The mother had departed this life ten years earlier. They were very pious people and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Worrick removed from Pennsylva- nia to Ohio in 1842, locating in Licking County, where our subject occupied himself in keeping a. hotel and dealing in stock for a period of twenty- one years. He came to Illinois in 1854, and his subsequent course we have already indicated. The household eirele was completed by the birth of five sons and three daughters: Mary J., the eldest, is the wife of William Johnson, of Strawn ; John mar- ried Miss Sarah E. Ayers, and both are now de- ceased, the former being killed by a runaway team : Maria is Mrs. Alex. MeNabb, of Chicago; Henry married Miss Maria Lyons; Luther R. married Ma- rion Carpenter, who died of consumption in 1881 ; Harriet became the wife of John Skane, and is liv- ing in Fairbury ; Charles married Miss Jane Harp, and Jacob married Miss Maria Barnes.

Mr. Worriek has been prominent in local affairs since becoming a resident of Livingston County,

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

holding the various township offices, and being one of the pillar- of the Christian Church, in which he has officiated as Elder for thirty years. He east his first Presidential vote for Gen. Jackson. and con- tinued a Democrat up to the administration of Jame- Buchanan. The war agitation and its results had the effect of changing his political views. and he has sinee voted the Republican ticket.

OLLIS P. SWAN. Among the well-to-do farmers of Livingston County, who have snceceded through individual effort and economy in acquiring a handsome property both real and personal, Mr. Swan deserves promi- nent mention. He is living upon his large and pro- ductive farm on section 16, Sannemin Township, and in addition to the cultivation of grain is ex- tensively engaged in stock-raising.

Mr. Swan is a native of Michigan, and was born on the 12th of September, 1836. He is the son of Jarvis W. and Esther ( Wallace) Swan, natives of Vermont and New York respectively. His pater- nal ancestors were of English origin, and the grand- father, Ebenezer Swan, was a soldier in the Revo- lutionary army, being one of the minute men, and was wounded at the battle of Plattsburg. The ma- ternal ancestors were of Scotch origin, the family name being Wallace. In the fall of 1836, when our subject was a babe. his parents removed to Illinois and settled in Kane County. where they were among the carliest pioneers and remained until their death, that of the father occurring on the 7th of December. 1883, and the mother's on the 18th of April, 1886. The parents had six children. of whom five survive, viz .: Hollis P., our subject ; Cordelia. the widow of Edward Delano, of Kane County : Edwin, of Harvey County, Kan. ; Charles II., of Living-ton County, and Albert W., of Paw- nee County, Kan. The father of our subject was one of the representative pioneers of Kane County, Ill .. and became widely and favorably known dur- ing his residence there. In that county the subject of our sketch was reared to manhood and received a limited education. Since becoming a man he has been a constant reader and an extensive traveler,

thus making his knowledge of affairs broad and comprehensive.

On the 7th of March. 1859. Mr. Swan was mar- ried, in Kane County. Ill .. to Miss Mary Wilding, a native of that county. She was born on the 15th of February, 1840, and is the daughter of Richard and Louisa ( Benjamin) Wilding, the former a na- tive of Wales, and the latter of New York, and both became early settlers of Kane County, Ill. The father died on the 3d of May, 1885, and the death of the mother occurred on the 6th of Janu- ary, 1875. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Swan : Perry L., deceased ; and Sylvia V., wife of A. M. Irwin, of Marshall County, Ill., but at present residing with Mr. Swan.

On the 5th of September, 1861, Mr. Swan en- listed in Company B, 7th Kansas Cavalry, being a resident of that State at the breaking out of the war. For a time he operated in the western border counties of Missouri, and at the battle of Little Blue he was severely wounded, having received in this fight six bullets, and was left in the woods for dead when the regiment marched away. He was subsequently in various hospitals several months, and upon his recovery rejoined his regiment, which was then sent into the South and conducted its fu- ture operations principally in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. He was with his regiment in the battles of Corinth, Holly Springs. and the Red River campaign, after which they were transferred to the Iron Mountain Railroad in Missouri for the purpose of driving out Gen. Price and his army, and participated in the battles of Iron Mountain, Pilot Knob, and numerous others of minor importance. His enlistment in the army was as a private, but he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, and in that position was discharged and mustered out in November, 1863. He then returned to Illinois and to Livingston County, in 1865. arriving but a few days before the assassina- tion of President Lincoln. Ile settled on his pres- ent farm on section 16 in that year, where he has since resided.

Mr. Swan owns 320 acres of land in Saunemin Township, and also has landed interests in Kansas. Politically. he votes and acts independently. Ile has served as Township Road Commissioner, in

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which capacity he rendered good service, and is a member of the G. A. R. Post at Saunemin, and also of the Masonic fraternity, No. 738, Saunemin, Ill. He is a liberal-minded man and warmly endorses all enterprises projected for the advancement of the people of his neighborhood.

R. NATHAN S. PARSONS, druggist and practicing physician at Fairbury, is a grad- uate of the old school, and completed his studies at Burlington, Vt., in 1874. He had taken a thorough course, and was for three years under the tutorship of the eminent Dr. Will- iam S. Honsinger, of West Chazy, N. Y., where he also attended a course of lectures at Bellevue Hos- pital. He has been a faithful student, and keeps himself well posted upon the views of the latest authors of medical works, and assisted by a fine library, has distinguished himself by his success, and long ago became universally popular.

Dr. Parsons was born in Clinton County, N. Y., May 13, 1851, and was reared on the farm of his father, Nathan M. Parsons, until a youth of eight- een years. Then, having graduated from the com- mon schools, he entered upon the higher branches, and after a thorough course in these, took up the study of medicine. The mother of our subject was formerly Miss Sarah Moore, a natives of Canada, and both parents were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which the father was connected for forty years. He was born in 1800, and spent his entire life in his native county, his death taking place in 1871. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, both intellectually and in a business capacity, and besides filling the minor offices in his township, served three years as County Clerk. The mother passed away in 1862, when fifty-one years of age. The ten children of the parental family were named Henry, Washington, Almira, Tempy, Gilson T., Cornelius H., Dora, Henry C., Alfred A. and Nathan S. Of these, seven only are living.

Dr. Parsons while a resident of West Chazy, was united in marriage with Miss Emma F. Reynolds, at the home of the bride in the city of Burling-

ton, Vt. Mrs. P. was born in that city in 1861. This union has resulted in the birth of three chil- dren, all living, Mabel M., Jessie M. and George S. The Doctor commenced practice at Altona, N. Y., in 1874, and although still a young man, en- joys an extensive patronage. He is especially pro- ficient as a surgeon, and at the time of the terrible Chatsworth disaster, was one of the first called upon to assist in alleviating the sufferings of the wounded. His cool judgment and steady nerves were just what was needed at that time, and he proved him- self equal to the emergeney, acting with prompt- ness and excellent judgment, amputating limbs, set- ting joints and reducing fractures, besides stitching up gaping wounds. He carries a fine stock of drugs, and is held in high esteem as a citizen and business man, as well as a physician and surgeon. He was reared by pious parents in the doctrines of the Methodist Church, although not at present con- nected with any religious denomination. Politi- cally be upholds Republican principles. and socially is a member of the Order of Modern Woodman of America, being Examining Surgeon of the lodge at Fairbury. He was elected a member of the City Council in August, 1887. His handsome and at- tractive residence is located on Fourth street, where he and his excellent lady dispense generous hospi- tality to scores of friends.

LVIN WAIT, County Clerk of Livingston County, is now completing his third term as the incumbent of this office, the duties of which he has discharged in a highly creditable manner. Ile has been connected with local affairs for many years, serving as Township Collector and Deputy Postmaster before being elected to his present position.

Mr. Wait was born in Dresden, Ohio, Oct. 30, 1843, and passed his boyhood and youth after the manner of most farmers' sons, attending school during the winter season and assisting on the farm in the summer. He was a youth of eighteen years at the breaking out of the late Rebellion, and a year later enlisted in Company D, 127th Illinois In- fantry, and served two years and seven months. Ile

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

participated in many of the important battles of the war, namely, the siege and capture of Vicks- burg and the battles of Arkansas Post, Resaca, Ga., Dallas Woods, Kennesaw Mountain, and the siege of Atlanta. Buring the fierce conflict at the . last-named place, which lasted from July 20 to the 28th. his left leg was so badly shattered by a minie ball that it became necessary to amputate it. This naturally ended his fighting days, and he re- ceived his honorable discharge on the 25th of March, 1865.

After being mustered out Mr. Wait returned home and attended a district school, and also the Soldier's College at Fulton, Whiteside County. Dec. 31, 1868. he was united in marriage with Miss Alice A. Maxwell, who was born in Taunton. Mass .. April 4, 1849, and is the daughter of Rev. J. S. Maxwell, a minister of the Christian Church, and now a resident of Crawfordsville, Ind. The young people after their marriage located in Dwight, this county, and Mr. Wait was elected to his present position in November. 1877, moving to Pontiac on the 28th of November of that year. Ile is a decided Republican politically. and so- cially belongs to the I. O. O. F. and G. A. R. To Mr. and Mrs. Wait there were born five children. four of whom are now living, namely : Burton C .. Hattie E .. Gracie M. and an infant not named.

OHN W. HART. One of the enterprising citizens of Long Point Township is the sub- ject of this sketch, who is located on a farm on section 19. He was born on the 28th of July, 1840, and is the son of Samuel and Rachel (Thomas) Hart, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania respectively. The father of Mr. Hart came to Grundy County, IN., in 1854, and during his life was engaged in farming, and was a minister in the Methodist Church for about forty years. He was born June 17, 1817, and died Jan. 26, 1882, at the age of sixty-five years. The mother is still living, and resides in Odell Township, in this county. She bas been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church nearly all her life, and has been devoted to religious and benevolent work. Samuel and Ra-

chel Hart became the parents of the following- named children : Ilannah, who died at the age of eighteen years; William resided in Nebraska, was twice married, first to a Miss Martin, deceased, and afterward to Sarah Martin, who is also dead; there was one child born by each marriage. Aquilla was a soldier in the Union army, and after being in the service two and one-half years, was struck by a piece of shell at the battle of the Wilderness, re- ceiving an injury which resulted in his death; Sa- rab married E. Anderson, has seven children, and lives in Livingston County : Robert married Sarah White, and died on the 7th of September, 1887, leaving two children; Lydia Ann married Charles Martin, and they had 'five children, one of whom is deceased; Mr. Martin is a tile and briek manu- facturer, and lives at Watseka, Ill. Mary married Leonidas Martin, of Dwight, Ill., and has had four children, one of whom is deceased; Rachel married L. M. Bundy, a physician and druggist at Cissna Park, Iroquois Co., Ill., and has two children; John W. married Anna Amanda Whiteley. Mr. Hart and Miss Whiteley were married on the 24th of December, 1868, and became the parents of three children : Elmira, born Nov. 25, 1870; Samuel F., born July 26, 1874, and now attending the High School at Streator, Ill., and Annie, born April 11, 1886. The parents of Mrs. Hart were F. A. and Elmira (Russell) Whiteley, natives of New York, the former born Oct. 3, 1812, in Tioga County, and the latter, Nov. 21, 1812, in Putnam County. Their marriage took place Jan. 17. 1839, and of the children of this union Mrs. Hart alone survives.

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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 82

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