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 91

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 91

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Mrs. Ethan Angell, the mother of Mrs. South- wick, was of English birth and parentage, and her parents immigrated to America about the time of their marriage, settling first near Ithaca, N. Y. Mr. Angell, shortly after his marriage, removed to Gay- land. He was the son of a cotton manufacturer, carrying on business at Pleasant Valley, but who was afterward burned out and subsequently en- gaged in hotel-keeping.

ILLIAM BURRELL, a gentleman fond of country life and the owner of a good prop- erty in Newtown Township, is contractor for the No. 3 Shaft of the C. W. & V. Coal Com- pany, with which he has been identified since 1875. He came to Newtown Township about fifteen years ago, and has distinguished himself as a wide-awake and enterprising citizen, a good business man, and one thoroughly identified with those interests which tend to the progress and welfare of the people gen- erally. He supplies this company with all kinds of timber required in the working of the mine, and is one of the most trusted men connected with it. Ile also buys all the mules that are used in the mines.

Our subject was born in Putnam County, Ohio, in 1842, and lived there until sixteen years of age, and after the decease of his parents, David and Margaret (Ilenderson ) Burrell. They were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively, and the

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father was about forty years of age at the time of his death. Their family consisted of eight children : Joseph, the eldest, died in childhood; Anna became the wife of A. J. Bowman. of Piatt County, this State. and died leaving four children; Eli is en- gaged in farming in Champaign County ; Mary is the wife of David Gumley, a farmer of Kansas; Calvin i- a carpenter by trade, and lives in Dan- ville, Ill. ; Minerva, Mrs. Clayton Johnson. lives in Piatt County ; John is farming in Kansas, and Will- iam i- our subjeet.

Young Burrell upon coming to Illinois located in MeLean County, and upon the outbreak of the late war enlisted in the 33d Illinois Infantry, and served four years and four months. He was pres- ent at many of the important battles in the Sonth and Southwest, namely: Port Gibson, Jackson, Mis -.. Champion Hills and the siege of Vicksburg, and upon one occasion was slightly wounded, al- though not disabled. He went all over the South. from Georgia to Texas, and although the experi- enee wa- severe in some respects, in others it is one from which he would not willingly part. He was discharged at Springfield in the fall of 1865.

Mr. Burrell after the war located at Indian Grove, in the southern part of this county, where he carried on farming seven years, and thence removed to his present location. While a resident of Indian Grove he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Cooper, the wedding taking place at Chenoa. Mrs. Burrell was born in the State of Missouri. and is the daugh- ter of S. J. and A. Cooper, natives of Tennessee, whence they removed to Warren County, Mo., early in life. The household circle included Joseph, who died in Missouri when about fifty-one years of age: Elizabeth. who was married, and with her husband is now deceased: Mary, the wife of Robert Moore, and a resident of Iowa, and Anna, who is now dead. The wife and mother departed this life at the home- stead in Missouri. The father subsequently re- inoved to Indiana, where his death took place about 1851.

Mr. and Mrs. Burrell began the journey of life together at a snug home in 1868, and the household was completed by the birth of four children. Their eldest son. William D., is now an active young man. busy and industrious like his father, and is at

present switchman for the No. 3 Shaft; Arlie D. is clerk in a dry-goods store at Streator, Ill .; Luhu Grace and Myrtie, the youngest, are still in school. The family occupy a neat and comfortable resj- dence and are generally respected.

AMES WYLIE, of Broughton Township, came to Livingston County in the spring of 1877, and was for several years a resident of Round Grove Township. From there he removed to Broughton in the spring of 1882, and took possession of his present farm. This com- prises the southwest quarter of section 27, and un- dler the skillful management of its present propri- etor has become quite valuable. Mr. Wylie has been a life-long agriculturist, and in all respects a self-made man. He set out for himself early in life, depending upon his own resources, and the result indicates that he has made good use of his time and opportunities. In addition to general farming he has been quite successful as a stock- raiser, having given considerable attention to this business for several years past.

Mr. Wylie was born on the other side of the At. lantic, in County Antrim, Ireland, in May, 1822. His parents, James and Jane (Baylie) Wylie, were also of Irish birth and parentage, the former a weaver by trade, and both spent their entire lives upon their native soil. Their household included eight children, of whom but three survive, namely : William, of Ford County, this State; Elspie, the wife of William Eaton, of this county, and dames, of our sketch. The latter, in common with his brothers and sisters, received but very little educa- tion, and when young was taught to make himself useful about the home, and also learned weaving of his father. He followed this trade several years in his native county, and was there married, Oct. 1, 1841, to Miss Ellen W. Wylie, one of the play- mates of his childhood. They continued in Ire- land twenty-one years after their marriage, in the meantime becoming the parents of seven children : Mary was born Aug. 22, 1816, and is the wife of Thomas MeCune, of Ford County; Jane was born Nov. 19, 1849, and is the wife of Andrew Todd, of

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Gardner, Ill .; Margaret was born April 11, 1852, and is the widow of the late Hugh Essington, of Ford County; Catherine, born Feb. 28, 1855, is the wife of William Todd, of Livingston County ; Elspie was born Sept. 8, 1857, and married John Murray, of Kankakee County; John, born Aug. 26, 1860, married Miss Maggie Findley, of Liv- ingston, and lives in this county ; Nancy, born Sept. 6, 1864, is the wife of Hugh McCoughey, of Ford County.

Mr. Wylie, not satisfied with his conditions or his prospects in Ireland, started for America in the spring of 1862. He came directly to this State, locating first in Kendall County, of which he was a resident thirteen years, and afterward of Ford County two years. Ile came to Livingston County in 1877, locating first in Round Grove Township, whence he removed to his present farm in 1882. All the family are members of the Presbyterian Church. They were welcomed to the community as a valued accession in point of intelligence and true worth, and the parents in their later years are taking life easily, and enjoying the comfort to which they are so justly entitled. Mr. Wylie is a Republican.

AMES M. MORTLAND, largely identified with the stock-raising interests of Newtown Township, like many of the enterprising men around him, is an emanation of the old Keystone State, his birth taking place in Butler County, July 24, 1851. The family was well known in that section of Pennsylvania, and was represented by at least three generations.

Our subject is the son of John and Margaret (Griffin) Mortland, also natives of Pennsylvania, and began life under the same roof where his father was born. The mother was born near the central portion of the State, in Huntingdon County. They carried on farming like most of the people of that region and became the parents of nine children: Peninah E. is the wife of Daniel McCarty, who is engaged in mining in Colorado; they are the par- ents of six children, one of whom resides with our subject. Mary Ann married Joseph A. Nichols. a carpenter of Newtown Township, and they have four

children ; Susannah T., Mrs. Thomas Arnold. lives with her husband on a farm in Michigan; Nancy J., widow of John Jones, lives with her father-in-law, Z. R. Jones, at Smithdale, and has one child, a son, Thomas; Sarah E. died when an interesting young lady of eighteen years; Hannah E. lives at home with her mother; John S. remains on the homestead with his mother, together with his younger brother, Orville.

The parents of our subject, in the spring of 1855, gathered together their household effects and with their children left their old home in Pennsylvania to seek a home in the farther West. The journey was made overland by wagon, and upon coming in- to this county, they located in Newtown Township, where the father took up a tract of land and where they lived about eight years. Thence they crossed the Mississippi into Missouri, in October, 1865, making this journey also with horses and wagon. While on the road the father contracted a severe cold, from the effects of which he never recovered, although lingering until March, 1866, when he passed from earth. His remains were laid to rest in Davis County. He was in the prime of life, about forty-five years of age.

That same year the mother with her fatherless children returned to this county, where they have since lived. Mrs. M. kept house for her father, James Griffin, in Reading Township, three or four years, and while her children were small. James M. during his childhood was taught to make him- self useful. and being industriously inclined, worked at farming, carpentering and cabinet-making, or whatever else lie could find to do in order to provide a home for his mother and her family. The man- ner in which he performed his filial duties gained him the respect of all who knew him. The mother is still living near the home of her son and although quite advanced in years, is in the enjoyment of good health.

The maternal grandparents of our subject, James and Elizabeth (Kohlomyer) Griffin, were natives of Pennsylvania, and the grandmother of German descent. Her father, who was born in Germany. was a soldier under the first Napoleon, but ran away from the army and came to this country. Ile was followed to New Orleans but succeeded in

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eluding his would-be captors. Not long afterward he migrated to Pennsylvania, where he spent his last years. James Griffin and his wife came to this county about 1856, and the mother died in the fall of that year. They had a large family of chil- dren, of whom there are living Margaret, Sarah, Henry, Susan, James. Hannah. John, George, Alfred and Amanda.

The parents of our subject were devoted men- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which the father was an active worker, and was partien- larly instrumental in the training of the young, act- ing as teacher and Superintendent in the Sunday- school and raising his voiee in the Master's cause whenever opportunity permitted. James M. re- mained under the home roof until his marriage, which took place Dec. 23, 1877. Ilis chosen bride was Miss Ardilia Grimes, of Newtown Township, and the daughter of John and Eliza ( Brumfield) Grimes. Her mother's people were among the first settlers of Livingston County, coming here when there were but three families within its limits along the Ver- milion River. They took up their residence in Newtown Township, where their daughter, Ardilia, was born Oct. 10. 1859. Of this nnion there is one child, Stephen E., born Dec. 9, 1878. The young wife lived less than two years after her marriage, her death taking place Oct. 15, 1879.

Mr. Mortland was subsequently married. Jan. 21, 1887, to Miss Mollie Cooper, a cousin of his first wife, and who had made her home with the parents of the latter since the death of her father and mother when she was a young child. They enjoy the comforts of a pleasant and attractive home on section 10. Mr. M. employs himself in light labors and officiates a- Town Collector and School Di- rector.

Le EANDER HAMILTON, who is a dealer in these very essential articles of merchandise and commerce known as humber, coal and building material, in the town of Sannemin, Ill., is a native of Hartford County, Com., where he was born on the 12th of Augu-t, 1829. He is the son of Eli and Laura ( Buckland) Hamilton, both of whom were New Englander- by birth. He is of

Scotch ancestry on the paternal side and English on that of the mother. llis paternal great-grand- father was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, where he is said to have rendered valiant service to the young and struggling Government.

Our subject was reared to manhood in his native State, where he availed himself of all the facilities possible while obtaining a good English education. At the age of fifteen years he began to learn the trade of a carpenter and builder, and when twenty years old he also learned that of a machinist, and followed those two trades alternately for a number of years.

On the 3d of May, 1858, while yet a resident of Connecticut, Mr. Hamilton was married to Cor- delia D. Lawrence, of Washington County, N. Y., where she was born on the 18th of November, 1828. She is the daughter of Jacob and Olefa (Derby) Lawrence. To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton were born two children: Cor M., a lady of fine education and the present etlicient Assistant Super- intendent of Public Schools of Livingston County, and Olefa, formerly book-keeper and cashier in the Bank of Saunemin.

Mr. Hamilton first eame to Illinois in 1853, and for three years was engaged as a locomotive engin- cer on what is now known as the Chicago, Bin- lington & Quincy Road, and ran between Galesburg and Mendota. lle returned to his former home in the East in 1856, and came again to Illinois in the spring of 1868, since which time he has been a res- ident of Livingston County. He resided at Chats- worth, engaged in various business enterprises, until the spring of 1881, when he became a citizen of Sannemin, and has since been engaged in the lumber, coal and building material trade, in which he has met with very good success.

Mr. Hamilton is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, and is at present serving as Treasurer of Sullivan Centre Lodge No. 738, at Saunemin, of which he has in former years been Secretary. He is a member of Saunemin Lodge No. 728, 1. 0. O. F., of which he has filled all the chairs, and for the past fifteen years he has been a member of the Grand Lodge of the State. He served on the Village Board of Trustees at Chatsworth for two terms, and was a member of the first Village

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Board of Trustees, of which he was President for two terms in the village of Samemin, and is at present serving as Treasurer of the village corpor- ation. Ile is a man who enters heartily into any- thing he undertakes and generally carries his pro- jects through to successful accomplishent.

LVA ALLEN MAJOR, who owns 160 acres on section 35, Forest Township, where he does general farming and raises blooded stock, was born in Woodford County, Ill., July 28, 1850. He is the son of William and Elizabeth (Dickinson) Mayor, natives of Kentucky, who were born near Hopkinsville, Christian County, and whence they came to Eureka, Woodford County, where the father remained un- til his death, which occurred on the 13th of June, 1882. The mother is still living at the age of fifty- eight, on the home farm with two grandchildren. The father was a Republican in politics and took an active part in political and public affairs, filling most of the offices in the township in which he lived. He and his family were members of the Christian Church. Mr. Major's ancestors for three generations back on both sides were farmers. The great-grandfather came from France to this coun- try, landing at New Orleans.

To the parents of our subject there were born seven children, whose names are : Horace, Alva Al- len, Charles E., Benjamin, Mary C., Annie E., and one who died in infancy. Mary C. became the wife of A. M. Wright, of Broadwell, Logan Co., Ill., and died on the 3d of October, 1886, leaving two chil- dren, named William C. and Guy A., who are liv- ing with their grandmother; Charles E. married Miss Nellie, a daughter of Levi Mathews, of Taze- well County, and lives at Eureka; Horace married Lucy A., a danghter of George Boyd, of Eureka, Woodford County, has two children, and now lives at El Paso, Woodford County : Benjamin is mar- ried to Sarah A. Catton, and lives in Forest Town- ship

Alva Allen Major was nineteen years of age when he left home in the fall of 1869, and spent a year in Missouri and Kansas, where he prospected for a

location. He returned in the fall of 1870, and at- tended school during the following winter. In the spring of 1871 he went to Colorado, where he re- mained during the summer and returned to Eureka in the fall. In 1873 he came to Livingston County, and first located on section 35, where he bought eighty acres of land, while his father gave him an- other eighty, which made him a farm of 160 acres, which he has since occupied. This farm is well im- proved and is considered worth, at a reasonable valuation, $60 per acre.

Mr. Major was married, Feb. 9, 1876, to Virginia, daughter of James and Amanda ( Hampton ) Haynes, of Eureka. Virginia was the fifth child in a family of nine. Mr. and Mrs. Major have one child, a boy named Fred, who was born Nov. 25, 1877, and is now attending school. Mr. Major was a Democrat until 1876, in which year he concluded to change his politics, and cast his vote for Rutherford B. Hayes for President, and has since continued to vote the Republican ticket. He was elected School Director of District No. 7 in 1882, and served three years. He and his wife are earnest members of the Christian Church and belong to the congregation at Eureka.

In connection with this sketch of Mr. Major is shown on another page a view of his residence.

℮ ONRAD SEMANDEL, a prominent and in- fluential resident of Dwight Township, was born in the Kingdom of Bavaria in 1851. His father, George Semandel, immigrated to this country from Germany in 1852. Soon after com- ing to the United States, he made his way to Grundy County, Ill., where he purchased land directly from the Government. lle married Miss Margaret Con- rad. of Germany, and to them were born seven chil- dren-Mary, John, Conrad, George, Chris., Law- rence and Lizzie. These children are all living, and are honored citizens of various parts of the country. The father also is living, and seventy-two years of age. Through that industry and good management which is characteristic of the German people, he accumulated considerable property. He has been a member of the Lutheran Church all his life, and in

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principles of religious faith has brought up all his children. In politics he is a Democrat, and has al- ways taken an interest in political matters. In his old age he enjoys the respect and esteem of his fel- low-citizens, as the result of a correct life and good habits.

At the time his parents came to this country, the subject of this sketch was but one year old, and when a little lad began attending the common schools, and likewise took the first steps toward a practical knowledge of farming. When he was twenty-one years of age, he began operations for himself by renting land of his father, and continued business in this manner until 1878. In that year he bought the land on which is located his present residence. In 1878 he was married to Miss Chris- tina Hahn, daughter of Michael and Sophia Hahn, of Dwight Township. The wife died two years after her marriage.

In 1881 Mr. Semandel was married to Barbara Ilahn, a sister of his former wife. Two children have been the result of this marriage-William and Dorathe. Mr. Semandel's political affiliations are with the Democratic party, in which he is an active worker. Mr. and Mrs. S. are both members of the Lutheran Church, and are highly respected in the community for their upright and praiseworthy lives, and generous and kindly deeds. Prosperity has smiled upon the efforts of Mr. S. in tilling the soil, and he has one of the pleasantest homes in Dwight Township.

G EORGE E. GREENE, now located on sec- tion 24, in Rook's Creek Township, com- menced farming on a portion of his father's land when a young man twenty-one years of age, and since that time has bent his energies to the es- tablishment of a permanent home. The comfort- able aspect of his present abiding-place would in- dicate that he has succeeded admirably in his un- dertaking. lle is now the proprietor of fifty acres, with a good residence and all necessary out-build- mgs, and is classed among the pro-perous and rep- resentative farmers of Livingston County. lle give- his attention largely to stock-raising, in |

which department of agriculture he has uniformly met with success.

Mr. Greene, a native of this State, was born near Bloomington, Nov. 13, 1853. IIe is the son of Jesse and Esther (Hadden) Greene, natives of Northamptonshire, England, and who were about the same age. The father was born Nov. 14, 1829, and was married soon after reaching his majority. They immigrated to America shortly afterward, and coming directly to the West, located near Bloomington, where the mother died when her son, onr subject, was about three years old. Jesse Greene subsequently removed to Livingston County, locating in Eppard's Point Township, where he and his two brothers had purchased a farm. Hle afterward disposed of his interest in this property and purchased 115 acres in Rook's ('reek Township, and in 1865 was married the sec- ond time, to Mrs. Sarah J. Tanner.

Our subject received a limited education under very adverse circumstances, and remained work- ing for his father until reaching his majority. Afterward he started out for himself, invariably receiving as much as $20 per month, as he was of good constitution and more than ordinarily en- ergetic and industrious. Upon his twenty-first birthday his father had given him a colt, which, however, proved to be balky and he traded it off. By this trade he secured a good animal and pur- chased another, and thus had a full team, with which he commenced farming on a portion of the homestead where he has since continued.

Mr. Greene, after passing his twenty-fifth birth- day, was married, on Christmas Day, 1878, at 3 o'clock, P. M., to Miss Lillian L. Wood, at Jame- son, Davis Co., Mo., the Rev. A. J. Worley being the officiating clergyman. Mrs. Greene is the daughter of Lyman and Sarah (Heath) Wood, na- tives respectively of Massachusetts and New York. Her father was born Jan. 20, 1830, and the mother Sept. 3, 1828. They were married in Bureau County, Ill., in 1851. Their family included the following children : Darwin D., a resident of Ne- braska Township: Frederick Fremont, hving in LaSalle County, Kan. : Frank Leslie, a resident of Bates County, Mo., and Rosa M., who resides with her parents in Labette County, Kan. Joseph

RESIDENCE OF REASON SPRINGER, SEC 25. LONG POINT TOWNSHIP

F.N.SMITH MANAGER

PONTIAC LUMBER YARD.

OFFICE

RESIDENCE & LUMBER YARD OF F. N SMITH .. PONTIAC.

RESIDENCE OF JESSE LITTLE SECS5&6. BROUGHTON TOWNSHIP

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

Ileath, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Greene. was drowned in Lake Michigan while on the voy- age from New York to Chicago. The vessel, which was under the management of a drunken crew, caught fire, and Mr. Ileath taking a child in his arms jumped overboard, expecting to save their lives by means of a float, but sank to rise no more. His wife, Laurane, subsequently died near Green River, Ind.

Miss Martha J. Greene, the sister of our subjeet, became the wife of Jacob HI. Gillman, of Nebraska Township, and has two children. Of his father's second marriage there were three children : Ma- rietta, born March 10, 1866; John T., in Decem- ber, 1868, and William, in November, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. George E. Greene have no children.

OSEPHI S. FRANCIS, a dealer in coal and fuel, in the town of Forest, is a native of Brown County, Ohio, where he was born Aug. 16, 1845, and is the son of John and Margaret (Ross) Francis. In September, 1880, the parents of our subject came to Illinois and settled in Livingston County.

In 1864 Mr. Francis enlisted, and was mustered into the service as a recruit of Company E, 129th Illinois Infantry, which regiment accompanied Gen. Sherman in his famous march to the sea, and also to Washington City, where it participated in the grand review of the army at the close of the war, and was mustered out at Springfield, Ill., in June, 1865. Mr. Francis was neither wounded nor taken prisoner during his term of service, although many times in a position where he was liable to be visited by one or the other of these calamities. On his re- turn to Livingston County he resumed farming, which he continued until 1868, when he began clerking in a general store at Forest. In 1871, in connection with another man, he engaged in the restaurant and grocery business, and one year later became sole proprietor of the concern, which he conducted until 1875, when he returned to the farm.

In 1876, in company with his brother Albert, Mr. F. established the Pioneer Tile Factory of Livingston

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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 91

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