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 86

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 86

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B ERNARD GRENNAN was born in Kings County, Ireland, on the 20th of September, 1821. and hi- father, John Grennan, was born in the same county and spent his entire life there, engaged in farming. The maiden name of his wife, the mother of our subject, was Mary Minnick, who came to America with her children after her husband's death. She lived for a con- siderable time in Illinois, but spent the last years of her life in New York State. She was the mother of

seven sons and two daughters, named as follows: Mathew, James, Rosa, Bernard, Mike, Peter, John, Joseph and Mary. The eldest died in Ireland, and all the others came to America.

The subject of our sketch was reared in his na- tive country, and upon coming to America lived in New York State, and then in the city, engaged in building docks, in which he continued five or six years, and then came to Will County, Ill., and en- gaged at various kinds of work for six months, when he went to Morris, Grundy County. He first worked by the month for three years, en- gaged at the pumping station of the Rock Island Railroad. He then began his career as a farmer by buying twenty acres of wild land near Morris. lle still continued to work by the month, and de- voted what time he could to improving his land. He lived there thus engaged until 1864, when he came to Livingston County and for seven years farmed rented land in Nevada Township. He then bought eighty acres in Odell Township, upon which he resided for three years, and then selling this he bought 160 acres of land included in the present homestead, which he improved and erected good buildings thereon. llere he made his home un- til his death, which occurred on the 4th of Octo- ber, 1887.

In May, 185], Mr. Grennan was married to Catherine Conroy, who was born in Kings County, Ireland, in July, 1831. Her father, Stephen Con- roy, a farmer by occupation, was born in the same county, and there spent his entire life. The maiden name of his wife, the mother of Mrs. Grennan, was Ellen Fox, who was born in Kings County and remained there during her life. Mrs. Grennan was but a little girl when her parents died. and she came to America with an older sister, and settled in New York City, where she met and mar- ried Mr. Grennan. She is the mother of eight children-Joseph, John, Stephen, Ellen, Mary, Bernard, Daniel and Michael. Joseph lives in Odell Township, John in Sunbury, Stephen in Chicago, Ellen at home; Mary married Ber- nard Kelley, and lives in Union Township; Ber- nard in Sunbury, and Daniel and Michael live at home and manage the farm.

Although he encountered many difficulties, and

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was dependent wholly upon his own resources, Mr. Grennan's life was a success. At the time of his death he owned property sufficient to make his family comfortable. As a citizen he was esteemed by all who knew him, and as a husband and father he was exceptionally kind and affectionate. ITis loss to the county and township is severely felt, and in the family circle his place can never be filled.

L CURTIS. One of the citizens of Chats- worth, who has had a large business exper- ience, is the subject of this sketch, who is now engaged as a grain merchant. For fifteen years he was the superintendent and manager of the Buckingham farm, a tract of land containing 1,920 acres, and in that capacity familiarized himself with the details of large transactions, such as grain deal- er's are frequently called upon to make.

Mr. Curtis is a Maine man, where he was born in Penobscot County, on the 19th of February, 1836. Ilis parents were Lincoln and Mary ( Perry ) Curtis, who were also natives of the Pine Tree State. The family lived on a farm in that State. where the father followed the occupation of a farmer during his life, and died in 1873, at the age of eighty-three years; the mother is still living, and at the time this sketch is written is in her eighty-seventh year. These venerable people were the parents of eleven children, all of whom grew to maturity, and five are yet living: Levi L., George W., John W .; Mary, wife of George Ames; and the subject of this sketch, who is the next to the eldest of the family. Three of the sons did service for their country as soldiers in the Union army.

Mr. Curtis began life as a farmer boy. and secured a very fair education in the common school of his neighborhood. In 1858 he became enamored of the West, and migrated hither, locating at Onarga, Ill., where he worked as a farm hand for one year, and then in company with his brother he engaged in farming for two years. Ile then re-entered the service of his former employer, whom he served satisfactorily for two years, at the end of which time he engaged in farming on his own account in Iroquois County. In March, 1872, he removed to

Chatsworth and took charge of the celebrated Buckingham farm, which he managed until recently. This land is now being sold off in small tracts, and will doubtless soon be disposed of. Since relin- quishing his control of the Buckingham farm, Mr. Curtis has engaged in the grain trade, in which he is meeting with good success, being familiar with all the details of that business, and withal a close student of the market reports.

In 1870 Mr. Curtis was married to Elizabeth B. Bradner, a native of Michigan, and they have one son, named Charles B. In his business career Mr. Curtis has achieved more than an average measure of success, and besides having ample capital for the prosecution of his business, he owns seven houses and lots in Chatsworth, which produce a satisfac- tory revenue. In his political views he is in har- mony with the doctrines of the Republican party, and cheerfully supports the candidate of that or- ganization. His religious beliefs are of the Baptist persuasion, and in that church he occupies a promi- nent position. He is a gentleman of many social qualities, a shrewd business man, and is a highly respected member of the community.

HOMAS WILALEN, a prosperous and com- fortably situated farmer and stock-raiser on section 7, Rook's Creek Township, was born on the 8th of February, 1845, in the county of Wexford, Ireland. This county is in the southern portion of the Province of Leinster, and has a sur- face which is hilly or mountainous in the north- west and declines to a level plain along the coast. The River Slaney intersects the county in its center. Limestone is the chief mineral product and the fisheries are of importance. The principal towns of Wexford County are Wexford and Emmiscorthy, New Ross, Gorey, and Newtown-Barry. The town is represented in the House of Commons by two members.

Mr. Whalen is the son of Michael and Mary (Doran) Whalen, whom he accompanied to thi- country in 1849, when he was but four years of age. The voyage across the ocean was made in a sailing-vessel, which arrived at the Port of New

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Orleans. The trip from that city to Ottawa, Ill., was made by steamer on the Mississippi River, ar- riving at Ottawa on the 17th of March, 1849. It will be remembered that that year passed into his- tory as the time when the great cholera plague visited this country. Michael Whalen, the father, (lied in the year 1852, and was buried at Ottawa. In 1856 the family left LaSalle County, and came to Livingston, where they bought forty acres of land on section 2. Rook's Creek Township. Thomas was the youngest but one. and the older brothers being from home, he became the mainstay for his widowed mother and sickly brother. In 1866 he purchased 160 acres of land on section 7, for his mother, eighty acres of which he bought from her in 1871.

On the 224 of October, 1871, Mr. Whalen was married to Mary A. Wheeler, of Pontiac, the Rev. Father Hanley officiating in the ceremonies, which were those of the Catholic Church. To them have been born six children: Katie E .. born Oct. 9, 1872; Mary A., Oct. 26, 1874; JJohn W., March 16, 1877 : Teresa, Dec. 25, 1880, died April 3, 1881 : Josephine T., born April 7, 1882; Fannie M., Nov. 26, 1885: she is now making her home with her grandparents on the maternal side. Mrs. Whalen died on Sunday, Dec. 20, 1885.

Michael Whalen, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in 1788 in Wexford, Ireland, and in 1828 was married to Mary Doran. To them were born the following-named children: Patrick lives in Amity Township; Ellen married John Fitzgerald, and lives in Esmen Township; John was married and died in 1874, leaving seven children ; Margaret, Mr -. Michael Hines, lives near Spencer, Clay Co., lowa; Michael was born JJuly 4, 1837, and lives in Arkansas: Catherine, Mrs. John Foley, lives in Newtown: Bridget, Mrs. Maurice Foley, lives in Amity Township: Lawrence lives in Clay County. Jowa; Thomas, born in 1817, married and lives in Rook's Creek Township. The grandfather on the maternal side, Thomas Doran, was born in Ireland, and took an active part in the Patriot War. again-t England, in 1798. In 1802 he married Ellen Murphy, and they became the parents of five children. He was a miller by occupation and owned a large estate.

Thomas Whalen i- of a literary turn and has |

written considerably, several of his productions having been printed. Hle i- a forcible public speaker and on proper occasions makes bis sentiments known in that way. He is independent in politics and a strong advocate of the temperance cause. In re- ligion he is a faithful adherent of the Iloly Catholic Church.

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AMES II. CARTER, Supervisor of Pleas- ant Ridge Township, and comparatively a young man, has for years been prominent among his neighbors and fellow-citizens as being particularly adapted as a leader in the va- rious enterprises inaugurated for the general wel- fare of the people. Ile was born in LaSalle County, this State, April 20, 1841, and is the son of Syl- vester and Christiana ( Hart) Carter, natives re- spectively of New York and Scotland.

The parents of our subject came to Illinois about 1838 or 1839, and located near Ottawa, where the father died in the summer of 1849, when James HI. was a little lad eight years of age. This boy was the eldest of the family, of whom there were but two children, and spent his child- hood and youth after the manner of most country boys, attending the common schools and assisting in the lighter labors connected with agriculture. He was thrown upon his own resources early in life, and when of suitable years started out for himself, working by the month. lle was twenty years old at the outbreak of the late Rebellion, and enlisted in September, 1861, in the 4th Illinois Cavalry at Ottawa. Ile participated in many of the important battles of the war, being principally in the Southwest, and frequently saw Old Abe, the war eagle of a Wisconsin regiment, which bird was particularly noticeable at the battle of Shiloh, where he flew over the -moky battle-field from one point to another and seemed by his actions to be in- terested in the fortunes of the day.

Young Carter served in the army three years and two months, and experienced the various vicis- situdes, of which little is said by the principal actors but which bore so important a part in the final result. At the expiration of his term of en-

IMPORTED EARL.

CHURCH

TENANT HOUSE.

RESIDENCE OF FRED HOOBLER, NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP.

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listment he received his honorable discharge, Oct. 29, 1864, and soon afterward migrated to Living- ston County, with the view of establishing a perma- nent home. He purchased eighty acres of land in Pleasant Ridge Township, which he sold out two and one-half years later, trebling his purchase- price in the transaction. In 1868 he purchased the half section which he now owns and has brought under a high state of cultivation. The farm buildings will bear comparison with any in the county, while the farm is well stocked with high-grade cattle and horses. Mr. Carter has also been very successful in the raising of swine.

Our subject was married, May 30, 1867, to Miss Ruth A. Wilson, who was born in this county, Aug. 9, 1848. Her parents were Isaac and Harriet (Bishop) Wilson, the latter of whom died in the spring of 1881. Mr. Wilson is still living, and a resident of Moline, Elk Co., Kan. Mr. and Mrs. Carter are the parents of three children, all sons, namely : Isaac S., James A. and Alvah L.

Mr. Carter was elected Justice of the Peace in 1866, and served twelve years, during which time there was never a decision of his reversed by an upper court. He has also held the office of Town- ship Clerk, and at present is School Trustee. Ile was first elected Supervisor in 1875, and was the youngest member of the Board at that time. Ile was elected the second time to this position in the spring of 1887. Ile is a stanch Republican, polit- ically, and socially a member in good standing of the G. A. R., Fairbury Post No. 75. Mrs. Carter belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Wing.

LBERT H. HALL. During the past quar- ter of a century great strides have been taken in the arts and sciences. During this period of time we have been given electric light, the telephone, electric railways, cable cars, air brakes, and also very many other results of the inventive mind of man. In no branch of science has been made greater progress, and in none has there been more substantial results than in that of photography. The artist of twenty-five years

ago, who has taken no step forward, can be said to be equivalent to 100 years behind the times. But such are few and far between, and even the village artist of to-day is equal to the artist of metropolitan cities in point of appliances and knowl- edge of his art. As evidence of this, it is only nec- essary to refer to the subject of this sketch, who is the competent and popular photographer at Chats- worth, where he has been located since 1872, at which date he succeeded L. R. Thayer in business.

Mr. Hall is a native of Parkman, Me., where he was born on the 10th of April, 1849, and is the son of William C. Hall, who is a native of the Pine Tree State, as were his ancestors for several generations back. The grandfather, Rev. Zenas Ilall, was a Baptist clergyman in Maine, and a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The father was a farmer by occupation, and married Olive A. Stevens, who was also born in Maine, in which State they resided un- til 1849, when they joined the tide of emigration to the West, and settled near Tonica, LaSalle Co., III., where they pursued the occupation of farming un- til 1875, at which time they sold their possessions, and moved to Chatsworth, where the father died on the 6th of March, 1877, at the age of sixty-four years. The mother is still living, at the age of six- ty-seven years, and resides in Chatsworth. They were the parents of six children, one of whom, a danghter, died in childhood. The five living chil- dren are: William S., Zenas C., Albert II., Ervin S. and Carrie A. William S. is a book-keeper in Chicago; Zenas C. is a Baptist clergyman, and re- sides at Brooklyn, Minn. : Ervin S. resides at lloop- ston, Ill. : and Carrie A. at Chatsworth.

Albert H. Ilall was but an infant when the family settled in Illinois, and spent his boyhood days upon a farm, where he assisted in the work, and during the winter months attended the district school. At the age of twenty-two years he left the parental roof and went to Chicago, where he learned the art of photography. receiving instructions from the most eminent artists of that city. After he became pro- ficient in the art he came to Chatsworth. On the 30th of May, 1872, at Tonica, III., Mr. Hall was married to Dora Knapp, who was born in that place. and is the daughter of L. C. and Sarah Knapp. They have two children, named respectively Lewis

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and Sadie. Mr. Ilall is a Republican in politics, and has been a member of the Town Council. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, in which they hold a leading position, and he is Super- intendent of the Sunday-school. In his business affairs Mr. Hall has been prosperous, and commands the patronage of the people of his town and the surrounding country.

OHN HALLIHAN is comfortably situated on an 80-acre farm in the judicial sec- tion of Saunemin Township, which is desig- nated on the map as section 12, of Pleasant Ridge Township. He is a native of LaSalle County. Ill., where he was born on the 25th of December, 1837. He is the son of John and Mary Hallihan, both of whom were natives of Ireland, and when they emigrated to this country became early settlers of LaSalle County, Ill., where they resided during the remainder of their lives.

Our subject was reared to manhood in LaSalle County. where he received but a limited education. The death of his parents occurred when he was about eleven years of age, and he was thus early thrown upon his own resources. When old enough to perform manual labor he chose the occupation of a farmer, to which he has always devoted his time. In February, 1864, Mr. Hallihan enlisted in Company 1, 53d Illinois Infantry, which was attached to the army under the command of Gen. Sherman, and participated in the march from Atlanta to the sea, and in the grand review at Washington. Dur- ing his term of service he was in many of the hotly contested engagements which took place during the last year of the war, notably Bentonville and Savannah. The regiment to which he was attached inade a splendid record by its gallantry and stub- born endurance of hardships and privations on the march. and was mustered out of the service on the 22d of July, 1865. After his discharge from the army he immediately returned to Illinois.

On the 11th of September, 1867, Mr. Hallihan was married to Mary L. Hart, a native of Ohio, and to them were born three children-Lucy W., }

William C., and Charles H., who is deceased. The inother of these children died on the 7th of August, 1872. Mr. Hallihan was again married on the 3d of February, 1875, to Martha E. Vining, widow of the late William Vining, of Livingston County. She is the daughter of William A. and Phoebe (Spencer) Lebeau, who formerly resided in McLean County, Ill. ller mother is dead, and her father now resides in Bates County. Mo. As a result of this union two children have been born: Josie B., on the 27th of April, 1878, and Armor J., on the 5th of July, 1887. By her first husband Mrs. Ilallihan had two children, named Charles W. and Edward C., the latter of whom is deceased.

In 1871 our subject came to Livingston County, and purchased the land upon which he now resides. At the time of its purchase this land was unbroken prairie, but by energy and industry he has con- verted it into a highly cultivated farm, and erected upon it comfortable and substantial buildings. Mr. Ilallihan is an active member of the Republican party and during his residence in Livingston County has served as School Director several years. He takes an active interest in educational matters, and during the time he has been Director has en- thusiastically engaged in the work which devolved upon the incumbent of that office. He is an enthu- siastic member of the Grand Army Post at Saune- min, and engages with earnestness in the musters and camp fires of that post. Mrs. llallihan is a member of the United Brethren Church, to which she cheerfully gives much of her time. Mr. Halli- han and his family are respected members of society and enjoy the esteem of all who know them.

AMES A. HOOVER, Cirenit Clerk and Coun- ty Recorder, is located at Pontiac, and has been a resident of this county for the last twenty-two years. He comes of an excel- lent l'ennsylvania family, and is himself a native of Blair County, that State, where his birth took place June 4, 1840. His parents, Francis B. and Mary ( Matthews) Hoover, were natives respect- ively of Bucks County, Pa., and Drogheda, Meath Co., Ireland, and were married in Blair County, Pa.,

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in 1837, where they located, and the father engaged in the manufacture of charcoal.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Adam Hoover, was a native of Pennsylvania, and married a Miss Benton. The male members of the family mostly engaged in farming pursuits, and Grand- father Hoover followed this calling his entire life. He rested from his earthly labors in 1823, and his wife followed him to the silent land a few years later. The father of Adam Hoover was a soldier in the French army, under Gen. LaFayette, and immigrated to America in the Colonial days, set- tling in Eastern Pennsylvania, where he spent the balance of his life. The paternal grandmother of our subject was of English extraction, her fore- fathers having immigrated to America in the reign of George IV. They afterward united with the Colonists in their struggle for liberty, and in due time were represented by large numbers of de- seendants.

The mother of our subject was the daughter of James and Catherine Matthews, natives of Ireland, who immigrated to America after their marriage, settling in Blair County, Pa., in 1832. Grand- father Matthews became possessor of a large tract of land, and was one of the most successful farmers of that section of country. He became the father of three children, namely: Lawrence, Mary and Edward. The family of Adam Hoover consisted of eight children, three living-Matilda, Lovina and Amanda. Francis B., the father of our subject, was reared on a farm, and had but limited educa- tional advantages. lIe was naturally studious, however, and by the perusal of instructive books became well posted upon historical matters and kept pace with current events. He left his native State in 1848, when our subject was a lad eight years of age, and settled with his family at Lowell- ville, Ohio, whence they removed to Lawrence County, in that State. From there they immigrated to the West in 1865, taking up their abode near Odell in this county, where the father purchased a quarter section of land, on which he erected good buildings, and established a comfortable home. Ile enjoyed in a marked degree the confidence of his fellow-townsmen, and was the incumbent at differ- ent times of various local offices. His life rounded

up ripe in years, and he folded his hands for his final rest in October, 1884. The mother passed away Jan. 31, 1872. Both were members of the Catholic Church, in whose doctrines they carefully reared their children. The record of these, ten in number, is briefly as follows: Susan A., Mrs. Mur- rin, is a resident of Murrinsville, Pa., as is also her sister, Mary A., Mrs. Forquer: James A., our sub- ject, is the third child; Sarah J., Mrs. Trowbridge, resides in Joliet, Ill. : Matilda A., Mrs. Robbins, lives in Indiana; Frank A. is in Pennsylvania; and Thomas A. is near the Pacific slope, at Los Angeles, Cal .; Carrie A., Mrs. Gross, lives in In- ‹liana. The two deceased were named John M. and Lizzie M.

The subject of our sketch passed his boyhood and youth on the farm in his native county, and received a common-school education. When six- teen years old he started out in life for himself, first securing a position as clerk in a general store. He was thus employed until reaching his majority, and subsequently the outbreak of the late war furnished him employment for the next four years. lIe enlisted in the 2d West Virginia Cavalry in 1861, and eight months later was promoted Second Lieutenant, and commanded the company most of the time until 1864. He also acted as Quarter- master. He met the enemy in many of the impor- tant battles of the war, and was with Sheridan through the campaign in the Shenandoah Valley. HIe received a gunshot wound at Cove Gap on the 10th of May, 1864, but notwithstanding the pain which followed declined to leave the ranks, and rode on with his command 250 miles with a broken shoulder. He remained with his regiment, and after the surrender of Gen. Lee received his hon- orable discharge, and was mustered out with his comrades at Wheeling, W. Va., in 1865.

Lieut. Iloover after returning to civil life came west to Northern Illinois and took up his abode in Ford County, where he remained six years en- gaged in farming, and in the meantime accumu- lated a sum of money sufficient to enable him to se- eure possession of a quarter section of land in Union Township. He ocenpied this farm six years, and then on account of failing health decided to engage in some lighter occupation. Ile accord-

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ingly employed himself as clerk in a general store, and was thu- occupied five years, during which time he became interested in township and county affairs. While in Ford County he had officiated as Town Clerk and School Trustee, and had held the same offices in Union Township. He was elected to his present position in 1884, and bears the repu- tation of having been uniformly faithful and honest in the discharge of his duties. lle is a straight Republican politieally, and socially belongs to the G. A. R.

The wife of our subject was formerly Miss Ettie Tueker. a native of Tazewell County. Ill .. and the daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Cline) Tueker, natives of Kentucky. They came to Illinois at an early day. and located in Tazewell County, where the father engaged in farming, and the daughter, Ettie. wa- reared and educated. She remained under the parental roof until her marriage with Mr. Hoover, which took place May 7, 1867. This union has resulted in the birth of two children. namely : llarry II., who was born Sept. 14, 1878, and Frank B., Sept. 7. 1882.

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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 86

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