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 92

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 92

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County. This industry has grown to great magni- tude in the county, as the people came to under- stand the value and importance of using tile. They also manufacture brick, and did an extensive trade until 1876, in which year he established his present business, still owning a share in the tile factory, however. Mr. Francis' farm is located on section 10, within one mile of the village of Forest, and comprises 120 acres. The residence which he erected on this farm in 1882, is a two and one-half story and basement. and is the only brick farm residence in the township. It is of modern architecture, and contains all the modern conveniences. It occupies a commanding position on the farm, and is the ob- ject of admiration of all the passers-by.

On the 1 6th of August, 1881, Mr. Francis was mar- ried to Ella S. Williamson, daughter of William J. and Nancy Williamson, of Russellville, Ohio. She was born in Brown County, Ohio, Jan. 1, 1862, where she resided until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Francis have had four children, one of whom died in infancy ; those living are named as follows: Lulu W., Bertha J. and Walter S. Mr. and Mrs. Francis are leading and active members in the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. In politics our subject is an ardent Republican, and for four years was Treas- urer of the Board of Highway Commissioners, in which position he acquitted himself with credit. Mr. Francis has popularized himself in his various business capacities with the substantial men of Liv- ingston County, and has had considerable to do with the shaping of public affairs.

G EORGE SKINNER, one of the most gen- ial-natured men of Odell Township, is a farmer and stock-raiser, owning a good tract of land on section 30. He was born in Troy, Ohio, on the 5th of December, 1822, and was the second child in a family of seven born to Joseph M. and Lydia (Stillwell) Skinner, natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey respectively. The paternal grand- parents, George and Elizabeth Skinner, also natives of the Keystone State, migrated to the vicinity of Cincinnati, Ohio, at a time when there were only a few log huts where that great city now stands.

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The father of our subject, upon reaching man- hood, engaged in merchandising at Troy, Ohio, and continued there all his life. In the meantime he served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and the Black Hawk War. He reared a large family, and the sons also followed mercantile pursuits with the exception of the subject of this sketch, whose in- elinations were in the direction of farm life. lle was educated in the city schools, and learned the trade of a tanner, which he followed near his birth- place fifteen years. lle then moved to Louisville, Ky .. and engaged in the ice business for six years.

In the year 1849 Mr. Skinner was married to Elizabeth Shafer, who was born in Lancaster County, Pa .. and was the eldest child born to Echhard and Rachel (Smith) Shafer, natives of Pennsylvania, who moved to Ohio at an early day, and afterward to Illinois, where they died. Mr. Skinner moved from Louisville, Ky .. to Livingston County in 1856, and bought 280 aeres of wild land, and a year later he moved his family and located on the farm he now occupies. In the month of May, 1864, he enlisted in the service of the United States. Ile had returned to Ohio on a visit, and was one of the 40,000 troops that the Governor offered to the Government for the protection of the capital. 1Ie was a member of Company K., commanded by Capt. Counts, of the 56th Ohio Regiment, and was mustered in at Camp Dennison, near Cincinnati, and sent to Washington City, around which they were placed on guard duty under the command of Col. Ross. In the attacks by Gen. Buell, they saw active service at Fts. Lincoln and Strong. This was the last attempt of the Confederates to reach the city of Washington, and the war soon closing, his regiment returned to Ohio, and was mustered out at Camp Dennison. Mr. Skinner remained in Ohio until the following spring, and then returned to hi- home in Illinois, where he has ever since lived, and now owns 200 acres of finely improved land. In hor-e- he makes a specialty of Cleveland Bays and Normans, with a preference for Durham cattle and Cot-wold -beep. He is an active, enterprising fariner, one who has traveled much East, West and North, as well as having made a journey to Califor- nia, but he has never yet found a place that, in his judgment, surpasses Illinois, and especially the

county of Livingston. Mr. Skinner is not an office- seeker in any sense of the word, but is active in his allegiance to the Republican party. The only office he ever consented to hold was that of School Di- rector.

Mr. and Mrs. Skinner are the parents of ten chil- dren, nine of whom are living: Loretta L., Clara L., Elias Freeman, Rachel Lydia, Lucy L., Mattie L., Echhart, Joseph M., Luella L. and Emma L. Lucy L. died from an injury received in a runaway accident when a child; Loretta married John Fowl, and lives in Odell Township: Clara married Joseph French, and lives on a farm in the same township; Freeman is a railroad conductor in Nebraska: Rachel married James Jones, a tinner by trade. who lives in Illinois: Mattie married J. W. Adams, who is now General Passenger Agent in California; Eehhart, Joseph. Luella and Emma are living with their parents at home. The children are all well educated, and have had advantages which fit them for professional lives. The parents are members of the Presbyterian Church, to which nearly all the chil- dren belong, and in which the father is an Elder. They constitute a family which is deservedly popu- lar in the community where they reside.

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HILETUS A. LEONARD. After having spent an active life in agricultural pursuits the subject of this sketch has thrown off the cares of business and has retired to a life of rest in the city of Odell. Mr. Leonard was born in Washington County, N. Y., on the 24th of Angust, 1834, and was the youngest of a family of three children born to Jarvis and Lavisa (Gillett) Leonard.

Jarvis Leonard was born in Essex County, N. Y., on the 22d of February, 1807, and was the son of Elisha and Chloe ( Mason) Leonard, of Massa- chusetts and Connecticut respectively. This gen- tleman was drawn out for personal defense at the time of the Revolution when the British invaded the United States from the north, but was not a regular soldier. It is supposed that his maternal grandparents were natives of New York, but the record of their lives was never preserved. The father of Mr. Leonard was a farmer by occupation

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

in his latter years, but his early life was devoted to the passenger packet line service on the Erie Canal before the New York Central Railroad was built. He was a retired farmer at the time of his death, which occurred in December, 1886. The three children born to his first wife were named Eliza J., Mortimer E. and Philetus A. Their mother, Lavisa Gillett, died when Philetus was about six months old. The father afterward mar- ried Esther Pierce, a native of Erie County, N. Y., who bore him one child, Mason J., and died in 1844. He was a third time married, to Mrs. Anna Tenbroeck, whose parents were natives of Otsego County, N. Y. ; she was born in 1804 and now lives upon the home farm with a younger sister. By this union there were no children.

Philetus A. Leonard was reared to farm life by his grandparents in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y .. where he and his brother remained until the second marriage of his father occurred, when the brother went to live with his father. Philetus was educated in the common schools while living on the farm, and re- ceived a partial academic course. He was never associated with his brother and sisters from his in- fancy, and as a consequence the four children are almost strangers to each other. They were never to- gether but once in their lives, and then only at one meal.

After the death of Mr. Leonard's grandparents he went to his father's home, where he remained three years, then being in his nineteenth year. lle then left home, and entered the academy at Aurora, Erie Co., N. Y., where he remained one year and then taught school one year. Following this he entered Rushford Academy, Allegany County, and remained three years, and then taught school one winter, and spent the summer in a cheese factory. In 1859 he came west, and traveled through Mis- souri, but at that time the country was engaged in a guerrilla warfare, and he found nothing to encour- age settlement, so be returned to Illinois, and set- tled in Will County, where he engaged in farming and teaching. In the spring of 1861 he returned to New York, and on the 7th of March married Augusta Cherryman, the youngest of three daugh- ters of Reuben and Hannah M. (Hackett) Cherry- man. She was born on the 15th of May, 1839, and

her father was born in England on the 31st of Angust, 1814, and was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Jenner) Cherryman, of England. Han- nah M. Hacket was born in Plymouth, Chenango Co., N. Y., on the 6th of December, 1811, and was the daughter of Major and Eunice (Kinney) Hacket, also natives of New York. Reuben was a Baptist preacher, and served in the ministry for more than fifty years in Western New York, and is one of the charter members of the association. IIe and his excellent wife are still residing in the field of their labors, and considering their ages, are re- markable workers.

Mr. Leonard and his wife first settled in Will County when they came to Illinois, where they rented and managed a farm for six years, and then came to Livingston County. During his winters in Will County he taught school, but upon his re- moval to this county he at onee bought 160 aeres of improved land in Odell Township, near the town of Odell, where he settled and began life as a far- mer. For about twelve years he lived upon his farm and cultivated it, during which time he pur- chased eighty acres more. In 1878 he removed to the city of Odell and retired from active life, his health being completely broken, and further activ- ity on the farm entirely out of the question. In 1831 he purchased lots on which he erected a fine residence, in which he has since lived, and now de- votes his time to his home and the farm, which is rented. To him and his wife four children were born, all of whom died in infancy. They have adopted two children, Charles A. and Belle. Charles married Belle Timmins, of Lafayette, Ind., and lives in Goodland, that State, where he is engaged in farming. They have two children, Mary and a habe; Roy, the oldest child, is dead.

Mr. Leonard is deeply interested in the educa- tional and moral progress of the community in which he lives, and while on the farm was one of the representative members of the School Board. Ile and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, and are earnest supporters of that society. They were largely instrumental in bringing the Chantau- qua Reading Circle to its present state of develop- ment. Mrs. Leonard is a forcible and interesting writer, and has frequently entertained the society

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

with the productions of her pen. Mr. Leonard is the possessor of a fine library, and is also a prom- inent member of the circle, to which he gives the fruits of his careful researches. It may be truth- fully said that among the literary people of Odell they have no peers.

LEXANDER ALGEO. Prominent among the self-made men of Livingston County, who started with nothing but their own indomitable perseverance and energy, and who have made a financial success in life, is the gentleman named at the head of this biographical sketch, who is living on section 15. Owego Town- ship. He was born in Ireland on the 22d of sep- tember. 1831. and is the son of Robert and Martha A. Algeo. also natives of the Emerald Isle. They were the parents of ten children, of whom the fol- lowing-named survive : Eliza, John. William, Alex- ander. James, Robert. Joseph and Samuel.

Alexander Algeo was reared in his native coun- try until he reached the age of nineteen, when he emigrated to America. The education which was afforded him was rather limited, as might be ex- pected from the facilities for obtaining an educa- tion in the place of his nativity. In the year 1849 he took passage for America, in a sailing-vessel at Londonderry, and after a voyage of about six weeks landed at the port of Philadelphia, whenee he proceeded to Chester County, Pa., where for a period of about eighteen months he was employed in a rolling-mill at Phoenixville in that county. Ile then went to Safe Harbor, Lancaster Co., Pa., where he was employed for several years in a roll- ing-mill. A few years before the breaking out of the Civil War he migrated to Illinois, where he lived both in LaSalle and Marshall Counties until the year 1859, when he moved to Livingston County and settled on section 15, Owego Town- ship. where he has remained ever since.

David. The names of the deceased were: Alex- ander, Ralph and George. When Mr. Algeo ar- rived in America his eash capital amounted to lifty cents. a very small basis upon which to expect to build a fortune, but he lost no time in finding something for his willing hands to do, and during his residence in this country, by industry, perse- verance and good management, he has succeeded in accumulating 250 acres of valuable land, on which he has erected good buildings and provided with good stock.

Mr. Algeo votes the Democratic ticket. but has never been a seeker of office at the hands of that or any other party. For the good he is able to accomplish he has consented for several years to serve as Director of School District No. 5. and takes great pride in furthering the educational in- terests of that district. Ile is a man in whom his - neighbors repose the greatest confidence, and he has established a business reputation which makes his verbal obligations as good as his written bond.

HARLES L. ROMBERGER, the leading at- torney and counselor-at-law at Dwight, is of an old Pennsylvania family, of German an- eestry, who were pioneers of that State, and came to these shores shortly after the landing of William Penn, settling in one of the valleys of the Susque- hanna River. The great-great-grandfather of our subject, accompanied by a brother, was the first of the family who arrived in this country. Luther D. Romberger, the father of the subject of our sketel, was born in Dauphin County, Pa., and when a young man, in 1856, he came to Illinois and settled at Princeton. Here he became a clerk in a store, in which occupation he remained until 1859. From Princeton he went to Wyanet where he was engaged in the mercantile business for eight years. While living at Wyanet, on the Ist of March, 1860, he was married to Miss Francisco, daughter of Obe- diah and Louisa Weaver. To them have been boru two children, whose names are: Emma L., now Mrs. Frank 11. Hoffman, of Philadelphia, and Charles L.

Mr. Algeo was married, on the 10th of January, 1866, to Mrs. Jane Welch, of Pennsylvania, and they have had thirteen children, ten of whom are now living-Samuel J., Hamilton, Martha JJ., Rob- ert, William, Margaret. Mary, Joseph, Elsie and | Mr. Romberger returned to Princeton in 1868,

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where he continued in the mercantile business, un- til 1874, when he disposed of his store. He was a prosperous business man and accumulated consid- erable real and personal property. In political matters Mr. Romberger is a stanch Republican, and socially he is a Mason of the 32d degree. lle is still residing at Princeton, wholly retired from active business. He takes great interest in bee culture and has one of the largest and finest apia- ries in the State. In 1886 he shipped over 15,000 pounds of choice comb honey to New York City. Mr. Romberger possesses remarkable perseverance and energy, and by steady industry has worked himself up in the world. His father died when he was but an infant, and from the time he was eight years of age he was obliged to depend upon hini- self, and is truly the architect of his own fortune. Ile is a man of great force of character, and re- markable business ability, and by extensive reading has made himself one of the best informed men in that section of the State.

Charles L. Romberger, our subject, was born on the 12th of June, 1862, and his youth was passed in gaining an education. He was graduated in the classical course at the Princeton High School in 1880, and in the fall of the same year he entered the law department of the University of the State of Michigan, and was graduated in 1882, as a Bachelor of Law, at nineteen years of age. While attending the law school he spent his vacations at the law office of Henderson & Trimbell at Princeton, IlI. In the fall of 1882 he entered the law office of Mayo & Widmer, at Ottawa, and attended to their office business until 1884. He was admitted to practice at the bar of Illinois, by the Supreme Court, at Ottawa in 1883, and came to Dwight in January, 1884, where he has since resided.

On the 7th of October, 1884, Mr. Romberger was married to Miss Nellie Ensign, of Hartford, Conn., the daughter of Edward and Martha Ensign. Mr. and Mrs. Romberger have been blessed by the birth of one daughter, upon whom they have con- ferred the name of Louise; the date of her birth was Aug. 26, 1887. Mr. Romberger's political affili- ations are with the Republican party, and in a soci- ety way he has reached the seventh degree in the Masonic fraternity. Both he and his wife are mem-

bers of the Congregational Church. Mr. Romber- ger has the reputation of being an honest and able lawyer, a careful and conscientious business man, and already enjoys a large and lucrative practice.

S AMUEL (. BRECKENRIDGE came to the West twenty-one years ago, in 1866. He first crossed the Mississippi southwest into Missouri where he staid three months. intending to return to Indiana, but on his way stopped in Livingston County to visit an uncle, and wisely concluded to remain here. It proved a fortunate decision both for himself and the com- munity where he has since made his home. He has improved a good farm and contributed his full share toward the development of the resources of this section. lle has always taken a warm interest in the progress of his adopted county, and in hi- township has served as Assessor, Supervisor and School Director. He identified himself with the Presbyterian Church in 1858, and has since contin- ued one of its most useful members. Upon reach- ing his majority, he cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and since that time has been a cordial supporter of Republican principles.

Mr. Breckenridge was born in Clinton County, Ind., Nov. 29, 1842, and is the son of William and Martha (McCreight ) Breckenridge. natives of Ohio. The father's ancestors were of Scotch-Irish descent, and the mother's, it is supposed, for several gener- ations were residents of Pennsylvania. The Breck- enridge family was represented in this country at an early day, probably before the Revolutionary War. When our subject was a child three years of age, his parents removed to Brown County, Ohio, where he attended school during his child- hood and youth. Upon the outbreak of the late war he enlisted in Battery F, 1st Regiment, and was mustered into service Sept. 2, 1861. The regi- ment. was sent to Camp Dennison where it re- mained until February 11 following, and was then assigned to the Army of the Cumberland under command of Gen. Buell. It> first campaign was in Kentucky, and after the fall of Ft. Donelson, in which it took part, it went south and partici-

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

pated in the battle of Nashville, Tenn. Mr. B. was here taken ill and left in the hospital at Columbia, while his division went on to Shiloh. where he joined it thirty-four days later. It marched to Corinth, Miss., and was present at its evacua- tion, going thence to Decatur, Ala., where it crossed the Tennessee River and was constantly -kirmishing with the enemy all the way back to the Ohio River. After a three days' rest at Louisville. Ky .. it fought in the battle at Perryville, September 8. and afterward met the enemy at various other points until it reached Murfreesboro. After the memorable engagement at this point came the fight

at Stone River, which began December 31 and con- tinued five days. At this place Mr. Breckenridge received a slight wound, which would have been far worse if his canteen had not checked the force of the bullet. Upon its return to Murfreesboro, it rested for a period of 104 days, when it started for Chattanooga, where it met the enemy, and afterward at Chickamanga, where 17,000 Union soldiers were killed, wounded or captured. At this place also Mr. B. received another slight wound from the fragment of a shell. Ile was in the sub- sequent battle at Chattanooga, after which he went to Nashville, where he with his comrades closed up one term of enlistment, and immediately entered upon another. At this time he was given a thirty day'' furlough, and upon his return to his regiment participated in the battle at Decatur, Ala., which proved the winding up of his fighting. He re- ceived his honorable discharge at Camp Dennison, Ohio, in July, 1865, and the following year came west, a- we have stated.

Mr. Breckenridge was married, March 29, 1869, to Mrs. Martha J. (McMillan) Edgington. Mrs. B. is the daughter of William and Eliza McMillan, and was born in Rook's Creek Township, Nov. 27. 1838. She was the oldest of four children, and was first married, Oct. 20, 1857, to D. Edgington, by whom she became the mother of two children- William, born Sept. 19, 1858, and Robert, Oct. 13. 1860. Her brother, Robert B., is unmarried and a resident of the Indian Territory; JJame- C. died in 1××0, aged thirty-six years; William D. is a resi- dent of this county and has two children. Mr, and Mrs. B. are the parents of five children, namely :

Andrew, who was born June 26, 1870; James Por- ter, Aug. 20, 1871; Rosa, Dec. 19. 1873; Aaron Douglas, Nov. 15. 1877, and Jesse, Dec. 24, 1882.

Mr. Breckenridge was the youngest child in a family of seven, all of whom lived to mature years. His brother Robert is a resident of Frankfort, Ind .; Elmer is married, has several children, and lives in Johnson County, Kan .; William Porter is married, and with his family resides in Adams County, Ohio; Rebecca was the wife of W. O. McCreight, and died about 1867, leaving three children who are living in Adams County, Ohio; James Stewart married, and became the father of three children who are residents of LaFayette, Ind .; he is now deceased. Sarah Jane, the wife of Dr. Adamson, of Adams County, Ohio, died about 1866, leaving one child.

R EV. JOHN HOOBLER was born in Perry County, Pa., Aug. 2, 1801, and at the close of a busy and useful career departed this life at his son Fred's home in Newtown Township, April 16, 1886, aged eighty-four years, eight months and fourteen days. He organized the first society of the United Brethren in New- town Township. and besides his ministerial duties, officiated as an Elder, and was otherwise one of the pillars of the church during his lifetime. He was a man of great force of character and kindly im- pulses, and adorned his profession by his daily walk and conversation.

Mr. Hoobler remained in his native State until a young man twenty-two years of age, and then mi- grated to Montgomery County, Ohio. After a short residence in that locality he removed to Indi- ana, remaining in Fountain County a brief time, and in 1826 changed his residence to Vermillion County, where he resided a good many years. Wherever it was his lot to be, he invariably made his mark as a man of more than ordinary ability, and in 1836 was elected to represent Vermillion County in the Indiana Legislature, of which body he was a member several years. In 1847 he again started westward, locating first in Vermilion Coun- ty, this State, whence he came to Livingston in 1851. He had already been deeply interested in

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

church matters, and at this time had been chosen Presiding Elder, officiating thus six years in the Central Illinois Conference, In 1872 he returned to Perrysville, Ind., and engaged as a local preacher until returning to this county in 1874, where he spent the last twelve years of his life.

In 1851 Mr. Hoobler purchased eighty acres of land in Newtown Township, and soon afterward entered 1,400 acres, which was mostly devoted to pasture. He was foremost in all the enterprises calculated to encourage the moral and educational welfare of the people, and while for over fifty years he was a laborer in the Master's vineyard, he also in the meantime built up a good homestead and superintended the cultivation of a large tract of land. It is hardly necessary to say that he spent few idle moments, bis various interests requiring his attention continually, either at one point or an- other. While in Indiana he traveled a district em- bracing over 100 miles, and besides his legislative duties, attended the general conference and was always prominent in the councils of his church. In early life he had identified himself with the Demo- cratic party, but later adopted Republican prinei- ples, and was a strong Prohibitionist. During the agitation of the Fugitive Slave Law he was most radically on the side of the oppressed, and lifted up his voice at every opportunity in behalf of those in bondage. In 1854 he was nominated County Judge against Judge Babcock, but the county be- ing Democratic he was defeated with the balance of his ticket.

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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 92

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