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 88

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 88

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

He has lived on this farm ever since, and has put it under a high state of cultivation, erected good buildings. substantial fences, and planted shade, fruit and ornamental trees. To Mr. and Mrs. Don- ohoe have been born eight children, seven of whom are living-Samuel, Margaret, Mary, Emma, Arthur, Virginia and Lillie: one died in infancy. Mary married George Camp and lives in Esmen Township.

Mr. Donohoe has never sought office nor taken a very active part in politics, but votes with the Democratic party. The only office he has ever held was that of School Director. He is exten- sively engaged in raising fine Norman horses and good graded cattle. He is a man who enjoys the highest respect of all the citizens of his township, and is a modest and unobtrusive old gentleman of whom no one can say an unkind word, and it is with pleasure that we present his portrait in this ALBUM.

OHN REILLY, an extensive grain buyer, with headquarters at Blackstone, is a resi- dent of Cayuga Village, where he located in 1873. He established his present business in the spring of 1886, and takes the train to Black- stone every Monday morning, returning to his home Saturday night. He bears the reputation of an en- ergetic, active man and one of the valued factors in the business community. He was thrown upon his own resources early in life and has accumulated a handsome property, solely by the exercise of his own industry.

Our subject was born in County Cavan, Ireland. Aug. 15. 1845. Ilis father Michael, his grandfather Bernard, and himself, were born on the same farm, which remained in possession of the family for sev- eral generations. There the grandfather died about 1840, and there the father was reared to agricultural pursuits, in which he was occupied his entire life, and folded his hands for his final rest in the spring of 1855, under the same roof where his father be- fore him had passed from life. His wife. the mother of our subject, is still living on the old homestead,

being now ninety-four years of age. She was for- merly Miss Margaret Lynch, a native of the same county as her husband. and is the daughter of Patrick Lynch, also of Irish birth and parentage, and a native of the same locality.

John Reilly was the seventh of nine children born to his parents, who were people of more than ordinary intelligence and gave to their children the best educational advantages in their power. John, in common with his brother and sisters, was sent to school at an early age, but the plans which his mother had laid for him were sadly broken in upon by the death of the father, which occurred when he was a lad of but nine years old. He remained with his mother until sixteen, and then desirous of some- thing better than the prospect held out to him upon his native soil, boarded a sailing-vessel bound for the United States. He stopped first in Providence, R. I., where he found employment at Sprague's Point, R. I. Eighteen months later he migrated to Uxbridge, Mass., and for six months thereafter occupied himself in a woolen factory. Ilis intelli- gence and industry gained him the approval of his employer, and he was promoted to assistant fore- man in the finishing room. He remained in New England until the spring of 1868.

Mr. Reilly now determined upon a change of lo- cation and occupation, and starting for the West, came to this county and located in Odell Township, where for the year succeeding he was engaged as a farm laborer. Ile then became interested in grain dealing, and for eight years was in the employ of C. N. Coe. Subsequently he became associated with L. E. Kent until the fall of 1886, when he es- tablished in business for himself in connection with his former employer, Mr. C. N. Coc.

While a resident of Cayuga Mr. Reilly was mar- ried, May 15, 1873, to Miss Mary Flanigan, who was born in County Louth, Ireland, and is the daughter of Patrick and Bridget Flanigan, also na- tives of that county, who crossed the Atlantic when their daughter Mary was a child three years of age. They located in New York State, and were resi- dents of Warren County until the spring of 1871, when they came to this county and located in Pon- tine, where they now reside. Of this union there are six children, viz. : Emmet, who was born March

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1, 1874: Rose, June 11, 1875; Bernard, May 2, 1877; Maggie, June 11, 1880; Ella, Ang. 6, 1883. and Sadie. May 15, 1885.

Our subject and his family occupy a neat resi- dence on lToward street in Cayuga, and enjoy the friendship and society of its most worthy and cul- tivated people. Among the portraits given in this volume of representative citizens of the county, may be found that of Mr. Reilly, on an accom- panying page.

G USTAVUS KOEHLER. This gentleman owns a quarter section of land in the divis- ion numbered 35, Chatsworth Township, where for the past twenty-one years he has been industriously tilling the soil and illustrating the persistence of the German nationality. which has contributed so largely toward developing the re- sources of Central Illinois. His residence in this county dates from 1867, when he purchased the land which constitutes his present homestead and which was then in an uncultivated state. He had then a cash capital of $30, and a team of horses. His possessions now include 280 acres of valuable land, supplied with suitable farm buildings, a fine assortment of live stock, and a snug sum of money stored away for a rainy day. The most that he has asked of his fellowmen was, employment by which he could obtain a sustenance, and now he de- serves and enjoys the universal respect of his neighbors.

Mr. Koehler was born in the Kingdom of Saxony, Oct. 20. 1841, and is the son of Frederick and Louisa (Koehler) Koehler, the former of whom died in the Fatherland while middle-aged, while the lat- ter immigrated with her four children to the United States. Of these children, two are now deceased, namely, a daughter named Hannah who died in 1850, and a son, Charles, who died in 1871. Adol. phus is a resident of this township.

The Koehler family after landing in New York City straightway proceeded westward and took up their abode near Mendota in LaSalle County. There the boys rented a tract of land and looked

after the mother until she no more required their filial care, as she was again married, to Charles Faust. Our subject was reared to farm pursuits, which he abandoned, however, for a time after reaching his majority, and entered the employ of the United States Government in the construction of bridges during the late war. His duties lay along the Ten- nessee River, and he had only been out forty days when he was taken ill and compelled to return home. Upon his recovery he resumed farming operations in LaSalle County until 1867, when he came to Livingston County, and made his first pur- chase as we have stated.

Mr. Koehler was first married in the spring of 1867, while a resident of Mendota, to Miss Eliza- beth Wendel, a native of Bureau County, this State. They became the parents of three children, Ed- ward, Amanda and Kate, and then the mother closed her eyes upon earthly scenes, on the 26th of May, 1876. In February following Mr. Koehler was the second time married, his present wife hav- ing been Miss Anna. daughter of George W. and Sophia Koestner. Mrs. Anna Koehler was born in Marshall County, Ill., and of her union with our subject there are five children, namely : Rose, George, Albert, Phillip and John.

Mr. K. was well educated in his native country, and since coming to America has improved his op- portunities for acquiring useful information, and taken a genuine interest in the welfare of the peo- ple around him. He believes in the establishment and maintenance of schools, having been reared in the land of compulsory education, and has served as District Director for many years. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party, and socially is a member of Chatsworth Lodge No. 539, A. F. & A. M.

John G. Koehler, the paternal grandfather of our subject, who was of pure German ancestry, was a soldier under the first Napoleon for a period of ten years. He was one of the few survivors of the memorable siege of Moscow, and suffered in com- mon with his fellows the terrors and hardships of that fearful campaign, while he afterward partici- pated in the re-capture of Paris under the command of Marshal Ney. Ile immigrated to the United States in 1840, and true to the military instincts

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which seem to have been born in him, entered the field at the first opportunity on American soil and served in the Mexican War under Gen. Taylor. He spent his last days in LaSalle County, this State, and died at the advanced age of ninety years.

LBERT CORDING, a prominent hardware merchant of Saunemin. is a native of Som- ersetshire, England, where he was born on the 24th of June, 1843. Hle is the son of Edward and Mellony Cording, both of whom were natives of England. Ile is the sixth and youngest son and was reared to manhood in his native coun- try, where he was engaged in work upon the farm. in the meantime securing a good English education. llis immigration to America occurred in the fall of 1872, coming from Liverpool to New York City on a steamship, only nine days being re- quired to make the voyage. Immediately upon his arrivat he came West and located in Chicago. where he secured the position of book-keeper and traveling salesman with Roe Brothers, wholesale grocery dealers of that city, with whom he remained for one and one-half years. Afterward he was employed for six months as book-keeper with George Ross & Co .. also wholesale grocery dealers. of Chicago.

In January. 1876, Mr. Cording came to Living- ston County, and settled at a hamlet formerly known as Norman, eight miles southeast of Fair- bury, where he conducted a general merchandise business and also bought and sold grain. llere be was thus engaged until 1880, when he came to Saunemin, and at first engaged in the hardware and grocery trade with N. G. Bennett, under the firm name of Cording & Bennett. This copartner- -hip existed until he engaged m his present busi- ne-s. Ilis annual sales now amount to between $10,000 and $12,000. He carries a general stock of stoves, hardware, tinware, and all the lines kindred to the hardware business. His business house is 22x80 feet. substantially built of brick and one story high.

On the 28th of May, 1875, Mr. Cording was mar- ried to Ida J. Seaton, daughter of George and

Florinda Seaton, of Strawn, Ill., who were pioneers in that section of Livingston County. Two chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cording, their names being George E., who was born Dec. 7, 1876, and William A., July 28, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Cording are members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, of which Sunday-school Mr. Cording is now serving as Superintendent. He is a Repub- lican in politics, and for several years before the in- coming of the Cleveland administration, served in the capacity of Postmaster at Saunemin. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, his membership being in the Sullivan Centre Lodge No. 738, at Saunemin, of which lodge he is at present the S. W. Mr. Cording takes a lively interest in public affairs, particularly in relation to such matters as will benefit the town and township of his residence.

OIIN FARR, located since the spring of 1887 on the southwestern quarter of section 16, in Saunemin Township, is the son of one of the honored pioneers of this county, who came and took up an undeveloped tract of land, where he built up a comfortable homestead and established himself as a permanent resident. Ilis parents, Joseph and Eliza (Bescoby ) Farr, were na- tives of England and immigrated to America about 1849. They first took up their abode in Madison County, N. Y., where our subject was born Jan. 26, 1852, and twelve years later came to this county, locating in Nebraska Township, where they spent the remainder of their lives, the mother pass- ing away on the 2d of March, 1869, and the father on the 25th of the same month, ten years later.

The parental family of our subject included seven children, of whom four are living, namely: Jacob, a farmer of Nebraska Township; Mary A., the wife of Thomas Richardson, of Long Point Township; .John, of our sketch, and flattie, the wife of Alfred Moulds, of Long Point Township. The father upon reaching Nebraska Township purchased eighty acres of railroad land, upon which probably not a furrow had been turned. He and his excellent wife labored industriously to build up a homestead, and endured the hardships and privations incident

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to a new settlement. The people of this section were not long in discovering that Joseph Farr was a valued accession to their numbers, and he became widely and favorably known as a liberal-minded and public-spirited citizen, willing to contribute as far as possible of his time and means to build up the community and aid in the progress of its peo- ple. He was finally visited with a severe affliction in the loss of his eyesight, and for two years before his death could scarcely recognize his friends. Both parents were members of the Congregational Church, being among the first to identify them- selves with the society in Nebraska Township. There the father served as Deacon and was one of the most cheerful and liberal supporters of the society. In his death Nebraska Township lost one of its most worthy men and upright citizens.

John Farr developed into manhood in Nebraska Township and received the advantages of the com- mnon schools. Under the instruction of his father he became well versed in agricultural pursuits, and has been pleased to give his continued attention to the various employments of farm life, rightly es- teeming it a worthy ambition to excel in this most important of the industries. Ile remained muider the parental roof until his twenty-fourth birthday, on which day he was married, Jan. 26, 1876, to Miss Mary N., daughter of Isaac and Louisiana (Mc- Quaid) Moulds, natives of England and Kentucky respectively. and now residents of Nebraska Town- ship, this county. Mrs. Farr was born in Marshall County, April 9, 1858, and remained at home with her parents until her marriage. Her parents came to Livingston County about 1866 from Marshall County, which had been their home since a short time after their marriage. Their family included six children. five of whom are living, namely : Mary N., Ilarvey, John, Ann and Leroy.

Mr. and Mrs. Farr after their marriage settled in Nebraska Township, where they remained until taking possession of their present farm. Mr. Farr received at the start $500 from his father's estate, and from this moderate capital has succeeded in ac- cumulating a comfortable property, having been wise in his investments and never backward about putting his shoulder to the wheel and laboring in- dustriously in the cultivation of his land. The

farm buildings are neat and substantial and all the surroundings in keeping with the taste and means of the proprietor. Mr. Farr, politically, votes the straight Republican ticket, and with his amiable and excellent wife is a member of the Christian Church, in which he has served as Deacon for sev- eral years.

Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Farr the record is as follows: Joseph E. was born Nov. 30, 1876, and died April 17, 1877; Elsie was born Jan. 7, 1879; Anna E., Feb. 16, 1881 ; Alvin 1., Oct. 21, 1882; Charles E., Jan. 5, 1885, and Will- ard, June 5, 1886. They form a bright and inter- esting group, the older ones just taking their first lesson in the district school, and the younger still remaining under the watchful eye of their mother.

E MANUEL D. FAUBER is one of the ster- ling young farmers of Saunemin Township, where he has 156 acres of land, located on section 33, which he purchased and paid for with money secured through his own efforts and good management. He began his career in life without capital other than willing hands, and has succeeded much beyond the usual measure with men at his age. He is a native of Augusta County, Va., and was born on the 7th of March, 1852.

Mr. Fauber is the son of David T. and Ann (Kindig) Fauber, both of whom were natives of Virginia, and migrated to Illinois in the year 1855, settling in Woodford County, where they were among the first settlers, and where they have continuously resided to the present time. They are the parents of ten children, of whom the follow- ing named are still living, and are recorded as fol- lows: Samuel H. was born May 30, 1850; Emanuel D. is the subject of this sketch: Barbara E. married E. M. Cox, of Woodford County ; Mary C. married S. M. Bullington, of this township; Virginia M. i> the wife of John Hippard : Eliza A., Minnie L. and James W. reside at home. The father has served as Supervisor of Roanoke Township, Woodford County, for a number of years, and has also served as Township Road Commissioner, and Township

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Treasurer for many years. He is at the present time serving as Justice of the Peace, which office he has held for many years. He is widely and favorably known in Woodford County, where he is a representative pioneer citizen. He is a leading member in the Christian Church, to which he con- tributes liberally of his time and means. Ile began life in the West without capital, and his holdings of to-day are ample evidence of his being a successful. self-made man.

Emanuel D. Fauber, our subjeet, was reared to manhood in Woodford County, where he learned the rudiments of farming, and received a fair com- mon-school education. On the 2d of August, 1877, he was married to Margaret Smith, a native of New York State, who was born in 1850, and is the daughter of Stephen and Catherine (Slater) Smith. To Mr. and Mrs. Fauber has been born one child. named Annie L., whose birth occurred on the 8th of March. 1881. About two years after marriage our subject came to Livingston County, and settled in Saunemin Township, where he has since resided in his pleasant home.

During his residence in Woodford County, Mr. Fauber served one year as Deputy Sheriff, in which capacity he acquitted himself creditably. In poli- tics he is a Democrat. and since becoming a voter has given that party a cordial support. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church, in which they take an active part. They both participate in the society events of their neighborhood, and are always found among the most active workers in there enterprises which furnish entertainment and recreation for themselves and neighbors.

OIIN R. KNOX, an intelligent and progres- sive farmer, lives in Emington, but his wife's farm of 160 acres, given to her by her father. lies on section 24, Union Township. Mr. Knox is the son of Thomas and Isabella (Prin- gle) Knox, and was born in Australia, March 2, 1854. ITis father's birthplace was on a farm called Brotherstone, on the banks of the River Tweed, in

view of Dryburgh Abbey, the resting-place of Sir Walter Scott, and in sight of Melrose Abbey, Scot- land. He was born Feb. 6, 1819, and while still a young man immigrated to Canada in 1842, where he was for a time engaged in farming and working at the trade of cabinet-maker. On the 2d of May, 1851, he was united in marriage with Miss Isabella Pringle, who was born Dec. 25, 1830, and is the daughter of Alexander Pringle. Her parents lived formerly in the same part of Scotland as Mr. Knox.

In 1853 the parents of our subject moved to Australia, where the father engaged for some years in gold mining, at which he prospered. Not being satisfied with that country, however, as a permanent home, he went back to Canada, in 1857, and em- ployed his capital in the business of merchandising, in which undertaking he was less fortunate, losing heavily. Hle then purchased about 130 acres of land and turned his attention to agriculture. In the meantime, having heard of the excellent oppor- tunities for husbandry afforded by the fertile prairies of the West, he, in 1865, removed with his family to Livingston County, II., where he bought land four miles south of Dwight, and two or three years afterward he sold his land in Canada. About 1880 he moved to Streator, Ill., and resumed his trade of cabinet-making. while three years later he began dealing in furniture, in which business he is still engaged. On the 2d of May, 1875, he and his estimable wife celebrated the twenty-fifth aniversary of their marriage. The occasion was one of rare pleasure to themselves and the many friends and relatives who filled the house to overflowing.

Our subject remained in his father's family until he was about twenty-one years of age, re- ceiving a common-school education, and then set out to make his own way in the world. He began farming for himself on rented ground, and suc- ceeded so well that a couple of years later he felt able to support a wife, and take upon himself the responsibilities of married life. Accordingly, on the 22d of January, 1877, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Eva Belle Edgcomb, daughter of William and Eunice (Spalding) Edgeomb, of La- Salle County, Ill., where she was born Aug. 22, 1855, and was the second child in a family of three. One year after this important event in his life Mr.

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Knox moved upon his wife's farm, where he resided until 1884, when he removed to his town residence.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Knox has resulted in the birth of five children, three of whom are still living, namely: Guy W., who was born Oct. 26. 1877; Earle C., Aug. 13. 1879, and John I., March 21, 1882. Mrs. Knox's father was born in Pennsylvania, in August, 1833, and the mother in New York, in September, 1836; they were married in Ottawa, Ill., in 1852, The mother died in 1861, and the father was married the second time, to Margaret Emery, by whom he has seven boys.

Our subject and wife are still young people, but are among the most active and enterprising mem- bers of the community in which they live, taking an earnest part in every movement that tends to the elevation of society and the improvement of their fellows. They are endeavoring to give their children a good substantial education. and to fit them in every way for the manifold duties of life.

HOMAS G. McDOWELL, one of the oldest and most highly esteemed citizens of Liv- ingston County, is the subject of this sketch, and is now a citizen of the town of Fairbury. He was born on the 1st of February, 1806, in Scioto County, Ohio, and was reared on his father's farm, obtaining his education in log school-houses, the only kind of educational edifices the country ať- forded in those days. His parents were James and Sarah (Gorrel) McDowell. James was a native of Scotland, and came to America with his parents when a child. The father was a farmer by oecu- pation, and his parents located in Pennsylvania, where James was married to Sarah Gorrel in the year 1789, after five or six years' service in the Revolutionary War. About 1795 the father went to Kentucky with the veritable Simon Kenton, which was the first visit that famous frontiersman made to Kentucky. He and Kenton pre-empted a large tract of land, which was called Mason, and afterward Woodford County. The father moved from Kentucky to Ohio in 1804, and located in

a large farm, and remained until his death. The father was born in 1742 and died in 1809. They had a family of nine children, the subject of this sketch being the youngest and now the only sur- vivor. The names of the children were as follows: Mary married Thomas Phillips; William married Sarah Dever; Betsey was unmarried; John mar. ried Elizabeth Price; James married Sophia Hall; Woodford G, married Catherine Bennett; Martha married llenry Crull; Hiram married Elizabeth Sawders.

Thomas McDowell was married, on the Ist of January, 1835, to Elizabeth C. Keeney, who was born in Virginia in 1807. and is the daughter of Moses and Franees ( Harris) Keeney, both na- tives of Virginia, and life-long members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. At the age of eight- cen years Mr. MeDowell concluded to depend upon his own resources for a living, and he made a visit to the Kanawha Salt Works in West Virginia, where he secured employment at making salt and worked from 1824 to 1836 at that place. On the 1st of Oc- tober, 1836, he loaded all his worldly goods into a three-horse wagon, and with his wife started for the West. They stopped in Montgomery County, Ind., where he had purchased land some years previous to that time, and moved into a hewed log house 16x18 feet in dimensions, which he had erected the winter before. His land proved to be of excellent quality and very productive, and he remained on this farm of 120 acres until 1848, and then sold out and started farther west. Ar- riving in Livingston County he purchased 120 acres of school and State lands, on which he built a house and then began farming. This farm was one mile from timber, and was thought to be al- most out of the world. In 1867 he soll his lands and moved into Fairbury, where he has since re- sided, living in one of the pleasant residences of the town, which he has surrounded with many com- forts.

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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 88

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