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 89

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 89

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).

Mr. McDowell's family consists of seven chil- dren : Ann Eliza, living with her parents; Franklin C. married Laura Morgan ; Moses K. married Miss Morgan; Sarah F. married M. J. Zook; Mary B. married William Morgan; Martha E. married Scioto County, where he entered land and cleared . Thomas Brownlee, and Carrie E. married James

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

Handy. Since 1836 Mr. McDowell and his family have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. and during that long period he and his wife have been regular in their attendance and sin- cere in their profession. Mr. McDowell has al- ways been a straight out Republican, and his de- votion and loyalty to the party have never dimin- ished the least since the day he joined it in 1856.

C. GOODRICH. Among those who came to Illinois half a century ago and sue- veeded in life through their own energy and industry, is the above-named gentle- man, who is yet living to tell of the trials eneoun- tered during the early settlement of the country. He resides on section 21. Saunemin Township, where he owns eighty acres of well-improved land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation.

Mr. Goodrich was born on the 25th of March, 1839. in Smyrna, Chenango Co., N. Y., and is the son of Gardner C. and Nancy (Fravor) Goodrich, both of whom are natives of the East, but at pres- ent reside in Sannemin, this county. To them were born five children, whose record is as follows: Amanda, the wife of Rev. T. W. Royal, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Americus, Lyon Co., Kan .; William, of Kankakee, Ill .; Melissa, widow of the late Daniel S. Ross, of Normal, Ill .; IIubbard, of Albany, N. Y., and D. C.

Our subject when quite a small boy, with his par- ents and other members of the family, came from New York to Grundy County, Ill., where they made their home for about twenty years. In 1864 his parents removed from Grundy County to this county, where they settled on a farm of eighty acre- adjoining the land on which our subject now resides, and they remained there until 1883, when they retired from farm work and removed to the town of Saunemin. Here they are proposing to spend their declining years in as much case and comfort as possible, and enjoy the fruits of a long life spent in usefulness and well-doing. They are surrounded by a large circle of friends and rela- tives. all of whom are zealous in their efforts to inake their pathway down the decline of the hill as

smooth and pleasant as possible. They are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are earnest and sincere in their profession and prac- tice of Christianity, and have always been liberal supporters of the Gospel. The father is now in his eighty-eighth year, and the mother in her eighty- sixth. With the exception of losing his sight he is still in good health.

From his earliest boyhood our subjeet has lived upon the farm, and been engaged in farm work. He received a fair education in the district schools of Grundy County. On the 20th of February, 1879, Mr. Goodrich was married to Annie R. Routh, a native of Indiana, who was born on the 19th of November, 1854, and is the daughter of Will- iam and Eliza (Love) Routh. Two children have been born to them, viz. : Harvey H. G., on the 24th of February, 1880, and Sylvia M., on the 15th of May, 1886. The Doctor and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and take an active and influential part in the society movements of their neighbors. Mr. Goodrich is a stanch Repub- liean, having voted with that party ever since he attained his majority. lle has never held office, and has never desired to, being of that disposition which has induced him to give his undivided at- tention to his individual business. Hle is known by the citizens of the township as a man who is highly respected for his sterling worth and integrity.

OHN II. FELLOWS, an active, energetie and enterprising farmer and stock-raiser, re- sides on seetion 7, Charlotte Township. He was born Nov. 25. 1856, in Will County Ill., and is the son of John W. and Martha Marga- ret ( Lansing) Fellows. who were natives of the State of New York. Our subject is the fourth in a family of seven children. His father went to Mc- Lean County to live when our subject was but one year old, and after two years came to Pleasant Ridge Township, Livingston County, where he re- mained for two years, finally settling on section 11, in that township, where they both reside at present.

Our subject was reared to manhood in Living- ston County, early in life evincing an interest in

RES. OF THOS.CUNNINGTON, SEC. 29. CHARLOTTE TOWNSHIP

OLD SHOP. 1878.

GEORGE BOHLÄNDER

WAGONS,CARRIAGES BUGGIES,SLEIGHS AND GUTT TERS

WAGON & CARRIAGE WORKS OF GEO. BOHLANDER, PONTIAC.

RESIDENCE OF FRED. N. TRYON, SEC. 11. FAYETTE TOWNSHIP.

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agricultural pursuits, and has always been engaged in farming, with the exception of two years, during which time he owned and conducted a general store at the village of Wing, Livingston County. At the end of two years he sold his store to Lewis Holloway, who is yet condueting the business. During his mercantile career at Wing, Mr. Fellows gave evidence of much business ability, and be- came very popular with the people as a merchant. His education was obtained in the common schools, and was as complete as the facilities at that time would permit.

On the 27th of August, 1881, Mr. Fellows was married to Miss Laura Etta Madden, daughter of James and Susan ( Hush) Madden. She was the fifth child in a family of ten born to her parents, and was born in Pleasant Ridge Township, Aug. 25. 1863. The Madden family still reside in Char- lotte Township, while the children all live near. Mrs. Fellows' brothers and sisters are named as fol- lows: George W., Cassius M., James C., Stella R. and Carrie L. To Mr. and Mrs. Fellows have been born two children: George Woodford, Jan. 15, 1884, and Charles Melvin, March 9, 1886.

Mr. Fellows does not devote much time to polit- ieal matters, but votes and acts with the Repub- lican party. He is at present serving in the ea- pacity of School Director, and giving excellent satisfaction. Any movement inaugurated for the benefit of his township or county is enthusiastic- ally espoused by Mr. Fellows.

F6 REDERICK N. TRYON, son of one of the early settlers of LaSalle County, this State, and now pleasantly located on section 11, Fayette Township, this county, started out for him- self soon after reaching his majority, and for five years rented land near the homestead of his father. He met with success in his efforts, and sought for his permanent location the land which constitutes his present farm, of which he took possession in the spring of 1877. He has 120 acres of good land under a fine state of cultivation, with suitable and convenient farm buildings, of which a view is shown

on another page of this ALBUM. ITis domestic re- lations are of the pleasantest, his little family con- sisting of his wife and one child, a son, Frank, who was born Dec. 30, 1877. Ile is one of the most reliable members of the Republican party in Fay- ette Township, which welcomed him to its commu- nity as a valued accession to its business and social circles.

Our subject was born Feb. 2, 1850, at Sag Har- bor, Long Island, and is the son of Frederick and Mary (Comstock) Tryon, natives of New York State. His father learned the trade of a cooper, which he followed in the Empire State for a period of probably thirty years, and then eoming West he purchased a quarter section of land near the city of Ottawa, LaSalle County, of which he at once took possession with his family. The household included the following-named children : Maria, Charles, Fred N., Clark Smith, Clarence E. and L. C. Maria be- came the wife of James Ebersol, who is carrying on farming near Ottawa; the next, a son. Charles, is a prosperous farmer of Fayette Township; Clark Smith lives in LaSalle County, and is engaged in farming; Clarence E. is an insurance agent in Ot- tawa, Ill .; L. C. is a farmer and resides with his parents.

Upon coming to Fayette Township Mr. Tryon was accompanied by his brother, who joined with- him in his first purchase of land. They afterward made a division and the brother is now living on an adjoining farm. Mr. Tryon was married, Feb. 8, 1872, to Miss Katie Kiner, who was born in Perry County, Pa., April 19, 1853, and is the daughter of Jacob and Arabella ( Barrick) Kiner, prosperous farmers residing in LaSalle County, III. Mr. and Mrs. Kiner are natives of Pennsylvania, and came to this State and settled in LaSalle County in 1853, where they have since resided. They be- came the parents of ten children, all of whom at- tained to mature years. Their names are as follows : Maggie; Katie, the wife of our subject: Frank, Nelson, Mary, Ida, Melvina, Cora, William and Henry. Maggie and Frank are deceased.

Mrs. Tryon received a fair education in the dis- trict schools, and remained with her parents until her marriage with our subjeet. The wedding took place at the home of the bride and they commeneed

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

life together on a farm in Lasalle County, They may reasonably anticipate a future comparatively free from the cares which make so many lives a burden.

G EORGE BOHLANDER. Some of the best and most proficient mechanies of this coun- try, as well as some of the most accomplished scientists, were born abroad, and if one will take the trouble to examine into the matter, it will be found that very many of those who have become eminent bear names indicating German birth. The name of the subject of this sketch, who is a wagon and carriage manufacturer of Pontiac, is indicative of his nativity. He was born in Germany in 1849, and is the son of Fred and Barbara ( Kiehm) Boh- lander, who were natives of the same country. The father was overseer on a large traet of timber and attended to the sale of all timber taken. keeping a record of all -uch transactions. llis family eon- sisted of five children, three of whom are living- George, Ernest and Lizzie. Ernest is a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is now the pastor of a church at Evansville, Ind. He came to America in 1867.

George Bohlander came to this country in 1865, settling in Butler County. Ohio, where he worked on a farm for several years, and as a section hand on a railroad for six months, He remained there until the 4th of March. 1868, and then came to Ot- tawa, Ill .. where he served an apprenticeship of three years with a wagon-maker. After completing his trade he worked as a journeyman until June. 1877. and in that year came to Pontiac. commenc- ing in busines- for himself in 1878. A fine wagon- shop costing $1,600 was built on Howard street in 1885. In addition to manufacturing vehicles him- self. he has kept in stock ready-made carriages and buggies of St. Louis and Chicago manufacture. A lithographie view of Mr. Bohlander's carriage-works forms a valuable adjunct to this sketch, and we take pleasure in presenting it on an accompanying page

In 1873 Mr. Bohlander was married to Miss An- nie Beer. a native of Germany, and they have had one child, named Fritz. The father of Mr. Boh-

lander died in 1864, and the mother in 1885, in Germany. They were both members of the Luth- eran Church. Mr. Bohlander is eminently a self- made man having depended almost entirely upon his own resources both in boyhood and manhood. and all his surroundings indicate that he has fought the battle of life well. He is a highly esteemed citizen, progressive in his notions, affable in man- ner, and sympathetic in nature. He is a Repub- liean, and at all proper times devotes his energies for the success of that party.

NDREW J. EVANS is one of the active and enterprising young men who have ma- terially assisted in making an important lo- cal business center of Saunemin, and in his enterprises has met with a good measure of success. lle is a general dealer in all kinds of agricultural implements, as well as buggies. wagons, etc.

Mr. Evans is a native of Tennessee, where he was born on the 28th of December, 1856. He is the son of Jeremiah and Matilda Evans, both of whom died when our subject was about four and one-half years of age. The father died first, and the mother came to Marshall County, III., our sub- . ject accompanying her, and there resided a few years. After the death of his mother Andrew went to C'entralia, Ill., where he lived in the family of George A. Bliss for about six years. when at the age of fifteen he began the battle of life for him- self. He worked as a farm hand near Centralia about two years, and then returned to Marshall County, Ill., where he engaged at work upon the farm for three years. At the end of this time he rented a farm in the same neighborhood, which he cultivated successfully for the next two years.

On the 19th of January, 1881, Mr. Evans was married. in Livingston County, to Miss Rachel Nor- man, a daughter of William Norman, of Saunemin Township, this county. They have had three children, two of whom are living-Eva M. and Jessie H. Mr. Evans first came to Livingston County in the spring of 1878, and for nine years thereafter cultivated his 80-acre farm, one mile south of Eylar, living alone the first year, and at-

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

tending to the household as well as the farm duties. Mr. Evans still owns the farm, on which he has placed first-class improvements. He began his pres- ent business in January, 1887, and has already be- come convinced that in this line he will be a> suc- cessful as he heretofore has been as an agriculturist. llaving been reared upon a farm and followed that occupation until the present year, he is thoroughly conversant with the needs of the farmers, and can supply them with just such implements as are best adapted to that section of the country. Mr. Evans having been left an orphan at a tender age, neces- sarily encountered many drawbacks in his early career, but he went to work with the determination and will to solve the problem of life, and he has succeeded. In the fullest meaning of the words he is a self-made man, and deserves much credit for what he has accomplished.

Mr. and Mrs. Evans are both members of the Christian Church, and take part in all the society events of the neighborhood. Mr. Evans has satis- factorily served in the capacity of School Director, and warmly entered into the work with a will to elevate the standard of education and add to the efficiency of the public schools.

AFAYETTE TANNER. a prominent farmer of Dwight Township, located on section 15, has been a resident of Livingston County for twenty years, during which time he has not only been pecnniarily successful, but has made an en- viable place for himself in the history of the town- ship and the county. He is of French and English descent, on the maternal side coming from the fam- ily of Lamoreaux, of whom Judge Lamoreaux, of Saratoga, N. Y., is a descendant. This family is of French Huguenot stock, and still retains the tradi- tions of the flight from France, at which time they left so hastily that all their property was left be- hind. They fled from their homes and country in order to escape religious persecution, and to enjoy the rights of those who worship God after the dic- tates of their own conscience. The Pilgrim Fathers, Puritans, Quakers and Mennonites left their homes for the same reason, and from all these people have

descended many of the noblest men and women of this country.

Frederick Tanner, the father of our subject, was of an English family, who were pioneers in New York State. He lived in Schaghticoke, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., and was a blacksmith by trade. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Lamoreaux, of Dutchess County, N. Y., and to them were born seven chil- dren-Elmore, Elvira C., LaFayette, Maria A., George W., Joseph W., and William-all of whom are living, excepting Elmore and William. These children were all born on the old homestead, where two generations had lived before them. The father finally moved to Rock City, Saratoga Co., N. Y., where he followed his trade. In 1847 he moved to LaSalle County, 111., and purchased a farm in Eden Township, where he lived the remainder of his days, and where he accumulated considerable prop- erty, owning at the time of his death a valuable farm. He was a Demoerat in politics, and an ad- herent of the doctrines of the Methodist Church.

LaFayette Tauner, our subject, was born on the old homestead in New York, on the 26th of June, 1827. He learned of his father the trade of a black- smith, and came with him to Illinois. Ile returned to New York, and on the 23d of February, 1854, was married to Miss Clara A. Robbins, of Schuyl- ersville, Saratoga County. She was born on the 18th of December, 1832, and is the daughter of Rich- ard and Sarah Robbins, of Pittstown, N. Y. Her father was an Englishman, who came to this coun- try when a young man. His correct name was Rob- binson, but it was shortened after he came to this country by his friends and neighbors dropping the last two letters when addressing him. He was a miller by trade, and died in 1846, at the age of forty years. The mother was an English lady, whose family settled in Canada.

Directly after marriage Mr. Tanner took his young wife to LaSalle County, Ill., where he man- aged his father's farm for two years. lle then bought a farm in Putnam County, Ill., where he lived twelve years, and where his children, whose names are as follows, were born : Jennie, Fred, La- Fayette and Guy. Jennie married William Bunt- ing, a farmer of Dwight Township: Fred is a farmer at Beatrice, Neb., and LaFayette and Guy are at

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

home: LaFayette is managing his father's farm, and Guy operates a rented farm. In 1867 Mr. Tanner moved with his family to Livingston County, and purchased a farm of 160 acres, eligibly situated near Dwight. and here, in a beautiful section of the county. the children have been reared, and received a good education at the school in the village of Dwight. Mr. Tanner, like his father before him, is Democratic in politics, and during his residence in the State has held the various township offices. Both Mr. and Mrs. Tanner are persons who have lived correct lives, and have been faithful in the discharge of their duties to their family.

E. CARTER is the editor and proprietor of the Fairbury Blade. a weekly paper which is Republican in politics and devoted to the interests of Fairbury and vicinity. In size it is a seven-column quarto, and in appearance is typo- graphically neat. The publication of the paper was begun in 1871 by Dimmick Bros., under the title of the Fairbury Independent. The Fairbury Blade was established by C. B. Holmes in 1877. J. S. Seibird of Bloomington, bought both these papers, consolidat- ing them under the name of the Independent Blade. In 1884 Mr. C. E. Carter purchased the Independ- ent Blade from E. A. Scibird, who had [succeeded his father two years previously. Mr. Carter dropped the name of Independent and called the paper the Blade. In January, 1887, the Blade and the Vers were consolidated, and the name of the Blade was retained. The News was owned by A. I. and C. E. Baker, both of whom were for awhile con- nected with the Blade office.

C. E. Carter was born in the State of Wisconsin, son of lliram Carter, now deceased. He is a man of excellent newspaper ability and practically ex- perienced in the business. As a writer he is easy and graceful, and in the expression of opinions is fair and impartial. He has done much to popular- ize his paper with the people of Livingston County, and especially in that part of the county in which Fairbury is located.

The Blade ha- reached the second largest circu- lation of any Livingston County newspaper, and is

the largest paper publiished in the county ; it is pop- ular with all classes. Its corps of correspondents at the centers of population in the county are se- lected with reference to their good standing and reliability. Its growth has been phenomenal in news- paper history, and its list of sub-cribers has gradu- ally grown larger without any special effort in that direction. until the families into whose homes it goes number many hundreds. It has attained its position in the newspaper world by assiduously shutting out all objectionable advertising, or read- ing matter of a questionable character, and taking high moral grounds ou all public questions. While it is Republican in politics it treats all with fairness, and thus holds the esteem and respect of all political parties. Thus it is at all times fit to enter the fam- ily, and its patrons have no fear of anything being admitted to its columns that cannot be read aloud in the family eircle. The Blade has done and is still doing much to elevate the profession of jour- nalism, and will receive its reward by an unparal- leled patronage by the intelligent people of Liv- ington County.

AMES CHAPMAN. The name of this gen- tleman is familiar to the people of Odell from his long residence here and his worthy career as a citizen and member of society. He was for a period of nine years Station Agent of the Cayuga Railroad, and served a long term as Justice of the Peace. He distinguished himself as a worthy and useful member of the community. quiet and law-abiding, and interested in all those enterprises tending to the advancement and welfare of the people.

James Chapman was of English birth and par- entage, and passed his youthful days in the town of Ashton-under-Lyne. where his birth occurred Nov. 3, 1830. His parents, Walter W. and Han- nah (Buckley) Chapman. came to America in the fall of 1818, when their son James was a youth of eighteen years, and coming directly to the West located at Morris, Ill. A few weeks later the par- ents fell victims to the cholera epidemic then rag- ing in that section, leaving two sons, our subject

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

and his brother Edwin Owen, who is now a resident of this county. The father was a gardener by oc- enpation and had immigrated to the United States in the hope of bettering his condition, both socially and financially. James had been liberally educated and had been employed as a book-keeper in a fac- tory some time before coming to this county. Failing to seeure a similar position here after the death of his parents, he engaged to learn the mu- penter trade, at which he served two years, and then began to work for himself. Ilis habits of in- dustry and sobriety secured him firm friends and he was prospered in his labors. Before reaching his twenty-fifth year he was united in marriage with Miss Agnes Allen, who was of Scotch birth and parentage, and the daughter of John and Isabel (Hood) Allen, who immigrated to America about the year 1832. They first located at Morris, this State, but later came to this county, where the father engaged in farming, and where both parents spent their declining years.

The marriage of our subject took place in Lis- bon, Kendall County, and a few months later Mr. Chapman purchased 120 acres of land in Odell Township, this county, where he began farming, and in the meantime carried on his trade as time and opportunity permitted. At the time of his purchase the station of Odell had been located but there were no indications of a town around it. He was appointed the first agent in 1863, and held the position until his death in 1872. The length of time during which he discharged his responsible duties is sufficient evidence of the estimation in which he was held by the railroad company and the people of Odell.

The children of James and Agnes (Allen) Chap- man, eight in number, are recorded as follows: Hannah is the wife of Ammi Godwin, who is en- gaged in farming in LaSalle County; Alice mar- ried Richard Stine, and lives in Minnesota; Isabel, Mrs. Daniel Godwin, resides with her husband on a farm in Odell Township; Margaret married James Stine, an enterprising farmer of Minnesota; Edwin, James and John employ their time in farm- ing, and are residents of Minnesota and Illinois; Walter W. we speak of below.

Walter W. Chapman, a young man of more

than ordinary ability, who has been finely educated in view of commercial pursuits, was born at his father's homestead in Esmen Township, July 21. 1858. He is now carrying on merchandising in the village of Cayuga, and is the owner of a good farm on scetion 32, in Odell Township. After completing his studies in the common schools he learned carpentering of his father, whose death oc- curred when he was a youth of but fifteen years. Ile continued on the farm until the death of his mother, which occurred in 1881, and was then ap- pointed guardian of the younger children, of whose interests be still has charge.

In the spring of 1886, Mr. Chapman went up into Minnesota upon business and pleasure combined, and while breathing the invigorating air of the north employed his leisure time at his trade. Upon returning home he purchased the business which he is now conducting at Odell, but preferring to reside in the rural districts he secured possession of an 80-acre traet of land on section 32, the cultivation of which he superintends and where he has a re- markably pleasant home. This home is presided over by the accomplished and amiable young lady who became his bride on the 28th of June, 1887. Mrs. Chapman was formerly Miss Ada E., daughter of Alvin and Susan ( Withrow) Clark, who were natives of Nova Scotia, and have been residents of this county for a period of twenty years. Her father is a farmer by occupation and the parents are now residents of Odell Township. Mrs. Chap- man was born in Esmen Township, this county, June 23, 1867, and was the second in a family of four children born to her parents. She was finely educated, and engaged in teaching at an early age, having been identified with the. public schools of this county four years, and still continues her pro- fession as a teacher in the Cayuga schools. Iler amiability and excellent judgment have won for her a wide circle of friends among both pupils and parents.

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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 89

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