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 83

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 83

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

John W. Hart, the subject of this sketch, en- listed in the army on the 13th of August, 1862, in Grundy County, Ill., and was assigned to Company D, 127th Illinois Infantry. After remaining in Chicago about two months, he went with his regi- ment to Memphis, Tenn. Ile participated in the siege of Vicksburg, and the engagement of Arkan- sas Post, where the Union forces captured nearly all the rebels engaged in the fight. Ile was at Mis- sion Ridge and in the Atlanta campaign, but when within sight of Atlanta he was taken prisoner and removed to Andersonville Prison, where he re- mained one month and twenty-two days, when he was exchanged. While at Andersonville the suffer-

683

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

ing on account of insufficient food and water was intense. A part of the time a half pint of unbolted meal per day, and the balance of the time a small amount of corn bread, with once a week about a tablespoonful of molasses, was all they had to sub- sist on, and the water which they drank was that which ran from the camps and the cook houses, and was wholly unfit for even beasts to drink. When he was exchanged he rejoined his company and regiment, and went with Sherman to the sea, and at the close of this campaign his regiment proceeded to Washington, where he was mustered out of the service.

Upon his return from the army Mr. H. engaged in the work of farming, and has followed that occu- pation ever since. He owns forty acres of land on section 27, and his wife owns eighty acres on sec- tion 17, upon which they reside. Both pieces of land are well improved and in a good state of cul- tivation, well fenced and bountifully supplied with wholesome water. Mr. Hart is a member of Rut- land Post No. 292, G. A. R., and is highly es- teemed as a comrade. He and his wife are active members in good standing of the Methodist 'Epis- copal Church. On account of his very decided views on the temperance question, Mr. Ilart has attached his political fortunes to the Prohibition party, and of the doctrines of that party he is a strong and earnest advocate. Mr. Ilart's educa- tional advantages were very meagre, but by study at odd times he succeeded in obtaining a fair edu- cation. Ile has had to depend largely on his own resources for success in life, and has been rewarded with measurably good success. He is a Christian gentleman, a good neighbor :d a stable citizen.

G ILES D. SAXTON. The jewel of a com- munity is the good neighbor who can al- ways be depended upon in times of adver- sity or pressing emergency, and the acts of the sub- ject of this sketch. some of which are named further on, show that he has never failed to respond cheer- fully to such demands, and without hope of reward, further than an approving conscience. Mr. Saxton's farm home is located on section 8, Rook's Creek

Township, where he has eighty acres of fine farm- ing land, with a residence which is so nearly perfect in all its appointments that further improvements would be out of the question.

Our subject is the son of Frederick Saxton, and was born on the 20th of August, 1834, in the State of New York. He left there at the age of three years, and with his parents located in Piqna County, Ohio, whence they removed to Illinois in the year 1852. locating in Peoria County. Mr. Saxton was married, on the 8th of May, 1864, to Jane M. Young, of Chillicothe. Ill .. at which time he was thirty years of age. When a boy of eight years, he commenced working in a brickyard, and followed that occupation and masonry until about 1871, seven years after his marriage, when he came to his present home. Mr. and Mrs. Saxton have had six children : Frederick, born Feb. 21, 1867, died in infancy : Minnie, born May 17, 1869, has quali- fied herself for a teacher, and has been quite success- ful in that profession ; Della .J., born Sept. 25, 1872, and died Dec. 19, 1877; Leona Y., born April 20, 1877; Charles L., Sept. 1, 1881 ; M. Berenice, June 9, 1884.

Mr. Saxton's father was Frederick Saxton, who was born in New York, Sept. 1. 1806. The mother was Eliza Clark, who was born April 8, 1810, and they were married on the 13th of January, 1831. To them were born seven children, as follows: Nancy E., born Nov. 18, 1832, in New York, was married to George Hurlburt, by whom she had six children ; she died about 1876, in Nebraska. Giles D .; F. L. was born on the 2d of March, 1837, mar- ried Mary J. Ramsey, has five children, and lives in Long Point Township, Livingston County; Julia S., born Nov. 17, 1839, married Joseph Hamlin, has two children, and lives in Nebraska; Emily H., born .Jan. 15. 1842, married Bradley Martin, is a widow. and lives in Butler County, Kan .; Andrew A., born June 23, 1844, and died July 20, 1857; Eliza S., born June 29, 1847, and lives in Butler, Kan.

Mrs. Saxton's father, Matthias Young, was born March 30, 1812, in Pennsylvania, and lived for some time in Ohio and Illinois. He now resides in Iowa. Iler mother, Elizabeth (Butler) Young, was born in Ohio in 1815. They were married abont

684

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

1830. and were the parents of ten children, as fol- lows: William H., born in 1837; Sarah M., in 1839: Charles M., in 1842; Jane M., in 1844; George Q., in 1846; Della, born in 1849, and died in infancy ; Ella E .. born in 1852; Amanda, in 1858; Etta died in infancy: Ida B., born in 1861.

Mr. Saxton became a member of the Republican party at its organization, and voted for Gen. Fre- mont in 1856, and attiliated with that party until the candidacy of Peter Cooper for President in 1876, when he became an advocate of the principles of the Greenback party. He is a very pronounced temperance man, and heartily approves the propo- -ition to confer the right of suffrage upon women. Ile has never been a member of any religious de- nomination, and his creed is based upon the Script- ural precept which he never forgets, "Love thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbor as thyself." Ile is liberal in the support of all worthy charities, and no needy neighbor has ever applied to him in vain.

HILO B. ZEILMAN, one of the substan- tial citizens of Long Point Township, is a farmer and stock-raiser located on section 12. His farm consists of eighty acres of fine land, on which he has erected good dwellings and farm buildings. His home is located within three-quarters of a mile of a school-house, and within a mile and a half of three different churches, while his post-office, Long Point, is not far distant.

Mr. Zeilman is a native of New York, where he was born on the 24th of November, 1829, and is the son of Cornelius and Betsy (Ilall) Zeihmnan, na- tives of New York, and farmers by occupation. They immigrated to Illinois in 1837. locating first in Bureau County, where they remained for about six years. In 1844 they came to Livingston County. where the father died Nov. 5, 1867, and was interred in the Long Point Cemetery; the mother died July 21. 1861. They had a family consisting of the following children: Darthy Ann, Rachel. Philo. Henry, Aaron, Olive; William Henry and George W., twins; Sarah, Lucinda; Mary and Jane, twins. and Betsy. Darthy Ann, who died about 1815, was married to Jonas Johnson, who

died in the army, leaving one child; Rachel died in New York State in 1837; Philo is the subject of this sketch: Henry died when about two years of age; Aaron, now living in Livingston County, mar- ried Mary Mills, and they have a family of seven children; Olive married Benjamin Custus, and has one child living; William Henry and George W. died quite young and were buried in Bureau County ; Sarah died unmarried. Of the other twins, Mary married Harman Girard, and has a family of seven children, while Jane married George Steiner, and has four children : Lucinda married James McColly, has seven children, and lives in LaSalle County; Betsy married Hiram Robertson, and died at Long Point, leaving one child; she was married twice; her second husband was Richard Cuddaback, by whom she had two children, both deceased.

Mr. Zeilman chose for a wife Harriet Augusta Evans, who was born on the 23d of May, 1836, in Janesville, N. Y. She is the daughter of William and Harriet (Lindsley) Evans, natives of New York, and her father was a Presbyterian minister, who, after serving twenty-seven years in the minis- try, was compelled to abandon it on account of fail- ing health, and died in 1867 at the age of seventy- six years. He was buried at Pontiac but his re- mains were afterward removed to Streator. The mother died on the 15th of March, 1882, at the age of eighty-five years, and her remains were also interred at Streator. They were the parents of six children, of whom three are living: Edwin, a physi- cian in active practice for many years but now re- tired. He was married to Jessie Capron, and they have had six children. only one of whom is living, a daughter named Helen, the wife of Manley Has- kell. Edwin now own, several business buildings in Streator, several lots, and the building in which the po-t-office is situated, besides an interest in the glas works. lle was selected to go to England to inspect the glass works of that country, and he there employed and brought with him men who un- derstand the manufacture of cathedral plate and window glass. He is one of the principal owners of the glass works, and is a man of activity in all matters of public as well as private interest. John Newton was a soldier in the Mexican War and died in Mexico; Henry Martin died when about

685

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

two years of age; Alonzo, a farmer. living within three miles of Streator, was married to Thankful Gardner, who died in 1872, and they had three children, all of whom died before the death of the mother: William Henry was drowned in the Platte River. at the age of nineteen years, while going to California by the Northern Nebraska overland route.

To Mr. and Mrs. Zeilman were born five chil- dren : Edwin C. was born July 10, 1861, resides at home and is engaged in stock-raising: Clara A., born April 30, 1863, and died when nineteen days old; Charles M., born Oct. 10, 1866, and died when two and one-half years old; John F., born June 29, 1868, and resides with bis parents, and one child, born Jan, 29, 1875, who died in infancy.

Mr. Z.'s political affiliations are with the Repub- lican party. He is a man of excellent reputation and of good standing -in the community, and is considered one of the substantial citizens of Long Point Township, being highly esteemed and re- spected by all who know him.

AMES L. BLACKMORE. The subject of this sketeh, one of the vigorous young men of Waldo Township, as soon as old enough to take the preliminary steps in the battle of life, did so with great earnestness. From the be- ginning of his career on his own account, economy has been one of his characteristics, and when he felt that he could properly assume the responsibilities of proprietorship, he had accumulated almost money enough to pay cash for an 80-acre farm. Now, at the age of thirty-three, he is comfortably situated on one of the best farms in the township, where he engages in stock-raising in connection with farming.

Our subject is the son of John and Elizabeth Blackmore, and was born in Peoria County, Ill., on the 6th of July, 1854. The parental family con- sisted of ten children, the record being as follows: John, the oldest, was born in Peoria County, March 18, 1852, and died July 25, 1858; William, born March 3, 1856. married Mary Lee in February, 1879, has four children, and lives in Ford County ; Sarah, born Nov. 8, 1857, married Frank Guard,

Feb. 2, 1883, has one child, and lives in Panola Township, Woodford County; Eli, boru May 9, 1860, married Sarah Agnew, Dec. 29, 1886, and lives in Waldo Township; Albert, born Dec. 26, 1861, lives in Woodford County; Emma, born Nov. 25. 1863, died December 15 following: Lin- coln, born Jan. 28, 1865, lives in Ford County ; Lilia, born Oct. 28, 1866, makes her home with our subjeet; Charles was born Oct. 30, 1869: llattie, June 12, 1876, and Grant, Oct. 9, 1877.

The parents of our subject were born in Devon- shire, England, the father Feb. 2, 1827, and the mother Jan. 20, 1832. The former came to Amer- ica in the spring of 1851, and soon afterward the mother, with whom he had been acquainted in En- gland, joined him here, and, as had been previously arranged, their marriage occurred soon after in Stafford, Genesee Co., N. Y., where the father was engaged at work as a carpenter. For one and one- half years after his marriage, he remained at that point, and then moved to Peoria County, Ill .. where he engaged in both farming and carpentering. His death, which was occasioned by the explosion of varnishes which he was mixing, occurred on the 16th of June, 1884, and he was buried at El Paso. The death of the mother occurred on the 28th of June, 1885, the immediate cause being her inordin- ate grief over the tragic death of her husband.

The subject of this sketch was reared to man- hood on a farm, and early in life became interested in the details of his occupation. He also availed himself of all the facilities that were presented for obtaining a common-school education. Before he was twenty years of age he began working by the month, and was permitted by his parents to receive the benefit of his wages. He continued in this way for five years, at which time he had accumu- lated $1,000 in cash. On the 25th of December. 1878, he was married to Miss Mary E. Stuffing. daughter of John and An P. (Landers) Stuffing. of Deer Creek Township, Tazewell Co., Ill. Mrs. Blackmore was born on the 28th of June, 1856, in Flint, Genesee Co., Mich. She is the oldest in a family of nine children : William, born March 15. 1858, married Josephine Goodnough, Dec. 25, 1880, has four children, and lives in Mackinaw, Tazewell Co., Ill .; Robert, born Oct. 28. 1859, mar-

686

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

ried Olivester Goodnough, Feb. 28, 1883, has three children. and lives at Belle Flower, MeLean Co., Ill .; Elizabeth, born May 2, 1862, married Henry Crose Feb. 10, 1882. and lives in Panola Township, Woodford County ; Francis E., born Sept. 14, 1864, lives in MeLean County : John, born May 5, 1868, and James, born Dec. 30, 1869, live in Tazewell County : George was born April 15, 1872; Cora, Sept. 19, 1876. The parents of Mrs. Blackmore are natives of England, where the father was born on the 18th of January, 1829, and the mother June 28. 1836. The father and brother came to Amer- ica in 1850, and about two years after arriving sent for their parents. The mother of Mrs. Blackmore came to America with her father, her mother hav- ing died in England.

Soon after Mr. Blackmore's marriage, he rented land and began farming in Woodford County, where he remained for two years, then with what money he had saved and to which his father added some, he bought eighty acres on section 25, Waldo Township, where his home is now located, and he and his family are pleasantly situated. To Mr. and Mrs. Blackmore have been born two children- Anna E., Nov. 21, 1883. and Elvira Clarissa, June 2. 1887. Mr. Blackmore's farm is already under a high state of cultivation, and he has it well stocked. Since occupying it his success has been gradual but sure, and the outlook for the future could scarcely be better. He and his wife, who are now in the prime of life, are hopeful and cheerful, and thoroughly determined to make the most of the circumstances with which they may be sur- rounded. They occupy a good position among the intelligent and progressive people of the com- munity.

C APT. AARON W. WALDEN. Kentucky is a State celebrated in early days for it, hardy pioneers and great hunters, of whom Daniel Boone lives in memory as a correct type. In later years the State has become cele- brated for its beautiful women, gallant men and fine hor-es. The beautiful and exceedingly fertile Blue Grass region is a soil based upon blue lime-

stone, and is world-famed for its immense stock- breeding and grazing interests, where some of the finest blooded horses that are produced in this country are born and raised. At the city of Frank- fort. the capital of Kentucky, and beautifully situ- ated on the right bank of the Kentucky River sev- enty miles southwest of Cincinnati, the subject of this sketch was born on the 6th of September, 1821. His parents were William and Sarah Walden. the father a native of Virginia and the mother of Ken- tucky. The father, with his parents, removed to Woodford County, Ky., at an early day, and when he arrived at manhood married and became a pioneer settler of that country. The maternal grandfather, John Mitchell, was a native of Holland, who came to this country and settled in Woodford County, Ky. To the parents of Capt. Walden were born a numerous family of children. of whom four survive: Paulina, Mrs. William Hutton, of Coles County, Ill .; Elizabeth, of Kentucky ; Sarah, of Kansas City, Mo., and Aaron W. When about six years of age Aaron accompanied his parents when they moved to Clark County, Ind., where they located and remained two years, at the end of which time they removed to Sangamon County, Ill., and remained there two years. From that county the family removed to Terre Haute, Ind., where the father died. Some years later the mother died in McLean County, Ill.

Capt. Walden was reared upon a farm and his life has been principally spent in agricultural por- suits. For five years he operated a brickyard at Bloomington, Ill .; and during two years he was similarly engaged in Towanda, Towanda Township, McLean County. He has been married three times : first in Indiana, in 1841, to Eveline Sparks, of Terre Haute, Ind .; his second wife was Mrs. Mar- garet M. Black, a native of Delaware, to whom he was married in the year 1847; they had two chil- dren, William Z., and Evaline, deceased. He was married to Rachel Springer, his present wife, on the 3d of May, 1853. She is the daughter of William and Sarah Springer, both of whom were natives of Ohio, and was born in McLean County, Ill., where her parents were pioneer settlers. By this union eight children were born, five of whom are living-Aaron, Evelean, Mary, Charles and

...

A A

RESIDENCE OF R.S. SPAFFORD, SEC. 24. SAUNEMIN TOWNSHIP.

689

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

Rosella. The three deceased were Sarah E., Mar- garet, and one who died in infancy.

In August, 1862, Mr. Walden organized a com- pany of eighty-six men for service in the volunteer army of the United States. 'This company was as- signed to the 94th Volunteer Infantry as Company F, and he was elected to the Captaincy, which po- sition, during his entire service, he filled efficiently, and satisfactorily to his men and his superiors. He was in active service for nine months, but his health breaking down he was compelled to leave the army, and resigning his position he returned home. In the discharge of his duties he participated in the hattles of Prairie Grove, Ark., where he and his company were quite conspicuously engaged and performed many deeds of gallantry. On the 4th of March, 1863, he received an honorable discharge from the army on account of disability incurred in the line of duty. He then returned to McLean County, Ill., and in 1869 removed to Livingston County, and lived in Rook's Creek Township. In the spring of 1876 he removed to Pontiac Town- ship, where he owns a splendid farm of 200 acres, on section 17, which is one of the model farms of Livingston County. Capt. Walden is a man of broad views upon all the questions of the day, and in his political affiliations he acts with the Repub- lican party. During the war he was a member of the Union League, an organization intended to off- set and counteract the operations of the secret treasonable organization known as the Knights of the Golden Circle. This latter organization was composed of Northern men of Southern proclivities, who banded together for the purpose of harrassing and annoying the rear and embarrassing the Gov- ernment in any and every way possible. One of the things they hoped to accomplish was the re- lease of rebel prisoners held at several points in the North. In some localities they were particu- larly strong, and committed many overt acts in Illinois and Indiana: in the latter State they went so far as to perfect plans for the assassination of Gov. Morton, and the release of 20,000 rebel prisoners being held at Indianapolis. Through the vigilance and alertness of the Union League, the organization to which Capt. Walden belonged. the plans were frustrated and the leaders were arrested

and tried for treason, convicted and sentenced to be hung, which sentence would have been car- ried out had not the great-hearted war Governor interposed for them with pleadings for mercy. Capt. Walden can now look back with considerable satisfaction at the part he played during the war, both in a military and civil capacity.

R OBERT S. SPAFFORD, of Saunemin Town- ship. belongs to that class of men who, as the architect> of their own fortunes, have bnilded well, and illustrated in their lives and characters how good a school is that which com- pels a man in his early youth to depend upon his own resources. From a humble beginning in life the subject of this history has advanced slowly at first, perhaps. but surely, and now oceupies a posi- tion, socially and financially, near the top of the ladder. His worldly goods have been accumulated by the sweat of his brow, and the esteem of his fellowmen secured by his established worth as a cit- izen and a business mau. His attention for many years past has been given entirely to farming and stock-raising. and he is the owner of one of the finest homesteads in-the county.

Mr. Spafford was born in Lincolnshire, England, March 10, 1823, and is the son of John and Sarah (Sibey ) Spafford, and the brother of Thomas Spaf- ford, of whom a sketch will be found elsewhere in this ALBUM. Young Spafford early in life became acquainted with its cares and responsibilities, and at the age of sixteen years commenced his appren- ticeship at the miller and baker's trade, which in England are learned together, the milling being prosecuted during the day and the baking in the night and morning. Young Spafford served two and one-half years as an apprentice and a like time as a journeyman in his native town, often working eighteen hours per day for the small sum of four shillings per week. He had received but few educa- tional advantages but was always fond of reading and anxious to improve his mind, and availed him-

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

self of all the opportunities which came in his way to gain useful information.

After spending twenty-six years in his native country and realizing -cant results from his arduous labors. Mr. Spafford decided to change his location. and accordingly repairing to Liverpool. he took passage April 9. 1849. on the sailing-vessel "Yeo- man." and after a voyage of twenty-two days and a quarantine of a few more, on account of cholera on board. landed in New York City. During the voyage twenty-four persons had fallen victims to the terrible scourge and been committed to ocean graves. Mr. Spafford at once proceeded westward to LaFayette. Ind .. where he labored a few months for $12.50 and his board. Ile was then taken ill with fever and ague. and as soon as he recovered changed hi- location to Montgomery County, where he remained probably two years, still engaged as a farm laborer. Thence he went into Fountain County. and rented a tract of land upon which he operated five years. In the meantime, May 24, 1852, he took unto himself a wife and helpmeet, in the person of Miss Lucy Hill. also a native of En- gland. and born in the same parish as himself. She had crossed the ocean when a young lady. and their reunion on this side of the Atlantic proved a happy event for both.

The household of Mr. and Mrs. Spafford was made glad by the birth of six children, of whom but four are now living . Sarah A., Mary, Thomas L. and John C. Sarah A. is now the wife of Joseph Rich, of Saunemin Township, and Mary married Jeffrey Rich. of Saunemin Village. The two sons are single and live at home. The family continued in Fountain County, Ind .. until the spring of 1853, when Mr. Spafford took possession of a farm in what is now known as Ten-Mile Grove, Ford County, this State, whence a year later he came to Livingston. After his arrival in this county he first located four miles northeast of Fair- bury, but a year later secured his present farm. It then bore little resemblance to its present condition, being -till Government property, upon which a fur- row had never been turned. He entered 160 acres and experienced the same vicissitudes through which his brother pioneer- passed in developing their homesteads from the uncultivated soil. Their

first dwelling was a rude structure which in time was replaced by a substantial frame residence, and there has gradually grown up about the latter all the modern improvements required by the progres- sive agriculturist, while the farm stock and ma- chinery are high'y creditable to the proprietor. Mr. Spafford, as time passed on, wisely invested his surplus capital in additional land, so that he is now the owner of 800 acres in Livingston County, be- sides 507 acres in Kankakee County. We present on an accompanying page a view of the residence and surroundings.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 83

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