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 93

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 93

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Mr. Hoobler was married when about twenty years of age, and while a resident of Pennsylvania, to Miss Rebecca Fetterhoof, the wedding taking place in the spring of 1821. This lady was born in Franklin County, Pa., June 5, 1796. and de- parted this life at her home in Newtown Township Aug. 6, 1871. During their life together of more than fifty years, Mrs. Hoobler had been the faithful and sympathizing companion of her husband, stand- ing by his side in all his difficulties, and encourag- ing him in all his just purposes. IIer remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at New Michigan, and she is kindly remembered by a large circle of friends.

Mr. Hoobler was again married, Feb. 17, 1872,

to Miss Lydia A. Hulick, who was also born in Pennsylvania, Feb. 21, 1816. She is still living and a resident of Vermilion County, III. Mr. Hoobler was the father of eleven children, namely : Jeremiah, a resident of Livingston County ; Jemi- ma, the wife of Jacob Kuns; David, John F., Frederick ; Mary, the wife of J. W. Fleshman; An- drew J., William O., Julia, Daniel, and Catherine, the wife of D. Gonty.

M RS. ELIZABETH BLUE, located on sec- tion 10, Rook's Creek Township, is the daughter of John Johnson, and was born in McLean County, this State, Dec. 19, 1831. When she was about eighteen months old her par- ents came to Rook's Creek Township, where she has since resided. She received a limited educa- tion in the district schools, and when about twenty years of age was united in marriage with Benjamin Ilinton Blue, July 3, 1851. The young people be- gan life together ou a farm on Wolf Creek, Liv- ingston County.

Mr. Blue was born in Ohio about 1824, and was the son of Garrett and Jane (Somers) Blue, who it is supposed were natives of Virginia. They emi- grated to Illinois in the pioneer days, about 1830, and endured in common with the people of that time the hardships and privations incident to life in a new country. The parents of Mr. Blue, with two brothers, the wife of another and the child of another, died of cholera in Pontiac Township, in 1849. The parental household included eight chil- dren, who were named as follows: Daniel, Mary Ann, Benjamin 11., Matikdla, Polly J., Keziah, Gar- rett and Rebecca. Daniel died Sept. 3. 1849, and left a wife and two children; Mary Ann was mar. ried three times, and became the mother of eleven children; Matilda, Mrs. Ross, is deceased; Polly J. was twice married, and became the mother of two children ; she is now a resident of Missouri. Keziah, the wife of Howard Gentry, had one child, and is now deceased; Garrett died unmarried, when twenty-three years old; Rebecca died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Blue became the parents of six

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children-Frances 11., Sarah Ann, Daniel Harvey, Oliver H., Clara E. and Mary Olive. Frances Il. is the wife of Andrew S. McMillan, and a resident of Rook's Creek Township: Sarah Ann married lohn Neifing. a farmer of Pontiac, and has five children : Daniel Harvey is married, and the father of two children; he lives at Odell, Ill. Oliver II. and Mary Olive remain at home: Clara E. is the wife of Robert Algeo, has one child, and is living near Swygert, this county. Mr. Bine politically, is Democratic, and religiously holds to the Baptist doctrine. The farm comprises forty acres, with comfortable buildings, and is principally covered with timber.

R UFUS W. BABCOCK, agent of the C. & A. R. R. Co. at Pontiac, is one of the prominent business men of the township, where he has been a resident for over thirty years. Upon first coming to this county he purchased a farm on section 36, which he disposed of three year- afterward to engage in merchandising, and conducted a general store for a period of twelve years. He finally disposed of this to enter the em- ploy of the great corporation with which he has since been connected.

Mr. Babcock is a man of much force of character, and upon coming to Central Illinois identified him- self with the interests of his adopted county. He was the first Mayor of Pontiae, and afterward officiated a- Alderman. besides serving as Town Clerk and School Tru-tee a number of years. The community which ha- known him so long and so well holds him in general respect. and he has contributed materi- ally to the welfare of the people.

Our subject i- a native of Austerlitz, Columbia Co., N. Y., where he was born July 29, 1822. Ile is the son of Eli-ha and Sophia ( Mather) Babcock, native- respectively of Hampshire and Franklin Counties, Mass. His father was for a number of 1 year- engaged in the manufacture of carriages and wagons, and was numbered among the substantial business men of Columbia County. He was a prom- inent man in his county, and represented his town- ship in the Board of Supervisors. He was an ar-

dent admirer of the brotherhood of Masonry, and a man distinguished for his patriotism. Ile joined the State Militia during the troubles of 1812, and marched with his regiment to Boston, but was not ealled into active fighting. He died in Austerlitz about 1854, and the mother followed her husband to the silent land three years later. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Elisha Babcock, Sr., served in the Revolutionary War, and was after- ward a pensioner. He married a Miss Burt, of Northampton. His native town was Easthampton, where he followed the chair and pump business, and lied about 1837. Ilis father was a native of Ston- ington, Conn., and a seafaring man, who com- manded a privateer during the Revolutionary War. The Babcock family was of English descent, and this last-mentioned gentleman was probably its first representative in America. The maternal grand- father of our subject was William Mather, who married Mis- Tirzah Morton. He was a native of Boston, and his wife of Franklin, Mass. Grand- father Mather was a Captain in the War of 1812, and afterward carried on an extensive business as a contractor and bridge-builder, which he followed from the time he was a young man until he labored no longer. He was the son of William Mather, Sr., also a native of Boston and captain of a merchant ship, and who followed the sea until retiring from active business. lle also was of English descent, and claimed kinship with Rev. Cotton Mather, whose name was synonymous with the religion and morality of those days.

Rufus W. Babcock spent his younger day- In- der the parental roof, and attended the village school until a youth of seventeen years. He was ambitious and fond of his books, and now com- meneed teaching, which he followed six winter, in succession and employed his leisure time in the study of law. lle was admitted to the bar when twenty-three years of age, and for ten years follow- ing practiced successfully as attorney and solicitor. He had always been interested in the cause of ed- ucation, keeping himself well posted in the best methods of modern instruction, and on account of this was appointed Superintendent of City Schools in his native town, where he also officiated as Town Clerk. Ile wa- appointed Postmaster in 1849, Ill-

David Hoobler

Sarah Hoobler

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der the administration of James K. Polk. In 1856 he left the Empire State, and soon afterward began his creditable career in the West.

Mr. Babcock was married, Feb. 24, 1847, to Miss Elizabeth Reed, a native of Franklin County, Mass., and the daughter of Simeon and Miranda (Morton) Reed. She was born in 1818, and is the grand- daughter of Justin Morton, who was well and fa- vorably known throughout Franklin County. Mr. and Mrs. Babcock have one child, a son, Benn C., who was born in November, 1863, and married Miss Ella IIarrington, of LaCrosse, Wis., where he is now a telegraph operator. Our subject is Dem- ocratie in politics, and although not meddling much with the factions of the day, keeps himself well posted upon matters of local interest. He is a stockholder in the Livingston County National Bank, and owns a good residence on IToward street.

AVID ITOOBLER, one of the honored pio- neers of Livingston County, and whose portrait, with that of his estimable wife, is presented in this connection, first purchased land in Newtown Township in the spring of 1854, of which he took possession three years later. This was before the time of railroads through this sec- tion, and when farm produce was transported to market twenty-four miles away by horse and ox teams. Mr. H. knows all about the difficulties of life in a new country, and as soon as he became a youth he put his shoulder to the wheel, and in common with both old and young of that time, made himself as useful as was possible. Livingston County dur- ing that period of its existence had no place for idlers, and the person who declined to engage in some useful occupation was soon constrained to "move on."

of Pontiac. He makes his purchases in Chicago, and keeps a large and well-selected stock of every- thing required in the village and country household as well as the lighter farm implements. He is widely and favorably known throughout the northern part of Livingston County, and has accumulated a fine property through his own industry and good man- agement, as well as the assistance of his own and his wife's parents.

Mr. Iloobler was born in Vermillion County, Ind., May 7, 1828, of which locality he remained a resi- dent until a young man twenty-three years old, with the exception of one year spent in Vermilion, Ill. Ile was married in his native county, where he con- tinned to reside until 1857, and then took up his abode permanently with his family in Newtown Township. They first settled near what was then ealled New Michigan, and which was one of the largest towns in the county at that time. He farmed in that locality two years, and subsequently oper- ated a farm adjacent, which he had purchased a short time before the building of the Wabash Rail- road in 1871. In Newtown Township he purchased land on section 21, where he followed farming suc- cessfully antil 1869, and the year following invested a part of his surplus cash in a stock of general mer- chandise. Since that time he has been engaged in trade and numbers his patrons among the best peo- ple of Newtown Township and vicinity.

The parents of our subject, John and Rebecca (Fetterhoff) Hoobler, were natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in 1801, and the latter in 1795. Mrs. Iloobler was a remarkably active old lady, and at the time of her death in 1870, although seventy- five years old, had scarcely a gray hair on her head, while her teeth were all perfect. Her husband sur- vived her several years, although he had been ill for a long time, having received an injury from a Our subject, who commenced business life in a modest manner, with little capital save his strong hands and resolute will, many years ago became one of the leading spirits in the community and agri- cultural interests of Newtown Township. He is the owner of a fine farm of 443 aeres, which is operated by tenants. Mr. Iloobler carries on general mer- chandising at Manville, which is located on the fall which partially disabled him. He died in April, 1886, when eighty-four years old. John Hoobler was elected a member of the Legislature in Ver- million County, Ind., from 1836 to 1840, and or- ganized the first United Brethren Church in Ver- million County, Ind. They became the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are still living. Of the deceased two died when quite young. William Wabash & Pacific Railroad about fifteen miles north | O. married and reared a large family, and accumu-

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lated a handsome property : he died when forty- five years old. Those living are Jeremiah, who was born in 1822, a third time married, and is a resident of Newtown Township: Jemima is the wife of Jacob Kuns, a farmer of Newtown Township; Catherine married David Gouty, and lives in In- diana: David, onr subject. was the fifth child : John F. is married and lives in Missouri ; Mary M. is the wife of John W. Fleshman, of Streator, Ill .: Fred- erick is married and resides on the old homestead; Andrew J. is carrying on general merchandising in Manville.

Our subject, after reaching manhood and laying his plans for the establishment of a future home, chose for bi- companion Miss Sarah Fleshman, of Indiana, to whom he was married at the home of the bride in Perrysville, Ind., March 15, 1853. Mrs. Hoobler is the daughter of William and Sarah (Charley) Fleshman, and was born in Vermillion, Ind .. April 3, 1831. Her parents were natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively, the former born Nov. 18. 1795, and the latter Ang. 3, 1798. They were married Dec. 25, 1815. William Flesh- man was a very industrious and capable man, a nat- ural mechanic, and built the first boat that was run on the Wabash & Erie Canal, in Vermillion County, Ind., in the year 1846, making bis headquarters at Perrysville, at the lower end of the locks. He was a zealous Christian and with his wife a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The household included twelve children, namely: Will- iam, who was born in Indiana, and Harding, both deceased ; Christina, who married George Weir and lives in Logansport, Ind. : Amos, a resident of Ver- million. Ind. : Elizabeth and Susan, deceased; John W., a resident of this State; Sarah, Mrs. Hoobler, and Martha and Mary, twins, now living in Livingston County, Ill. Mr. Fleshman identified himself with the Republican party after its organization, but af- terward cast his influence in support of Prohibition. being the first man in his township to prevent the use of liquor by his men in the harvest field. He and his excellent wife both died at the old home- -tead in Vermillion County, Ind.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hoobter are re- corded as follows: Sarah R. was born Oct. 19, 1854, and died Nov. 2, 1866; Lilly Belle was born July

28, 1861, was married to William G. Hohenshell. Oct. 28, 1884, and is living with her husband on the farm of her father; Zna, born Jan. 5, 1867, and Norton, Jan. 15, 1869, are at home with their parents ._ Mrs. H., who has inherited largely the piety and force of character of her lamented father, is a de- voted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject, politically, is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, and has served two years as Su- pervisor. He has filled most of the township offices in his township, notwithstanding it is very strongly Republican, which shows what honesty and integrity will accomplish. Such noble traits will generally be recognized by any community.

C EPHAS COE. Among the well-to-do far- mers of Livingston County. who have suc- ceeded through individual effort, economy and judicious management, in acquiring a handsome property, both real and personal, our subject de- serves prominent mention. He is living upon his large and productive farm on section 9, Reading Township, and in addition to the cultivation of eereals is extensively engaged in raising high-grade stoek.

Mr. Coe is a native of Pennsylvania, where he was born on the 14th of November, 1853. He is the son of Silas and Ruth (Church) Coe (see sketeh of Girard Fordyce). The parental family of our subject ineluded the following-named children : William, who was born Jan. 28, 1837, died Oct. 4, 1864; Joanna, born March 26, 1839; John, June 12, 1842; llenry, born Feb. 14, 1845, died on the 7th of February, 1865; Joseph, born Dec. 25, 1847 ; Sarah, Nov. 2, 1850; Cephas, Nov. 14, 1858; Lile Ann, Feb. 28, 1857, and Robert G., Feb. 4, 1860.

Our subject was married, on the 24th of Septem- ber, 1879, to Miss Caroline, a daughter of Benja- min and Mary (Latham) Barackman. The father was born Dee. 11, 1824, and the mother Sept. 1, 1830. The latter was the daughter of Lyman S. and Mary A. (Gallop) Latham. Mrs. Coe's parents were married on the 13th of April, 1847, and he- eame the parents of the following-named children : Daniel, Prudence E., Mary A., Franklin, John, Car-

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oline M., Charles, Willis H. and Benjamin. Dan- iel, born Jan. 9, 1850, married Ida Fleshman, and they have three children; Prudence E., born Feb. - 11, 1852, married Joseph Coe, and they now reside in California; Mary A., born Jan. 13, 1854, died Dec. 27, 1856: Franklin, born Dec. 17, 1855, died Dec. 24, 1860; John, born May 6, 1858, died Oct. 3, 1859; Caroline M., born Dec. 24, 1860; Charles M .. born Dec. 28, 1862, was educated in the com- mon schools, and was graduated from the Western University at Bloomington, Ill .; Willis H., born May 11, 1865, is now attending school at Dixon, Ill. ; Benjamin, Jr., born July 18, 1867, died Nov. 29, 1867.

To Cephas Coe and wife five children were born : Robert and Roland, twins, were born July 2, 1880, and died in infancy; Ivy Bell, born April 18, 1882; Prudy E., Nov. 15, 1884, and Charles J., Jan. 15, 1887.

Mr. Coe's farm consists of 240 acres of good land, all of which is under cultivation, except eighty aeres, which is located on section 10. He has placed 2,400 rods of tiling on this farm, and has therefore much improved its prodnetiveness. Mr. Coe is an active member of the Republican party, and evinces considerable interest in political mat- ters, especially of a local nature. IIe has filled the office of Township Assessor, and is now Treasurer of the township school funds. Mr. Coe belongs to the Christian Church, and Mrs. Coe to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and they warmly espouse all movements for the betterment of the society of which they form a part.

0 LIVER P. McDOWELL. In the towns and villages of Illinois are many venerable men who desire to pass the remaining days of their lives where there is more bustle and activity than on a farm. These are men who have devoted many long years to opening and improving the country, and having attained the ends they sought in the occupation of farming, prefer to engage in other business where returns are quicker if not surer. They are the sterling men of the villages and towns, and their counsel and advice are often

sought and always valuable. The subject of this sketch is both a retired farmer and business man, and resides in Fairbury. He was born in Scioto County, Ohio, on the 7th of February, 1827, and is the son of John and Elizabeth (Price) McDowell, with whom he remained on the farm doing his share of the work and attending the common schools until he reached his majority. In 1850 he came to Illinois and located in Avoca Township, Living- ston County, on the Vermilion River, where he purchased lands in the spring of 1850, which he oc- cupied in the fall of the same year.

On the 2d of June, 1858, Mr. McDowell was mar- ried to Miss Emily Myers, who was born on the 25th of March, 1832, in the State of Maryland. She is the daughter of Eli and Catherine (Umphen- our) Myers, natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania respectively. The father was a farmer by occupa- tion, and came to Illinois in 1850, and was a Dea- con of the Baptist Church for many years. He was born in 1796, and died in 1869 near Chenoa. The mother was also a member of the Baptist Church, and lived a true Christian life. She was born in 1809 and died in Illinois in 1875. They were the parents of eight children, of whom Mrs. McDowell was the oldest, and the others were: William A. married Eliza St. John; Joseph E. married Ruth St. John; Matilda married James McDowell, who was killed at Vieksburg, June 15, 1863, while a member of the 3d Illinois Cavalry, in which he en- listed in 1862; he left a wife, and one child, named Lillian, since deceased. Benjamin F. married Miss Sophia Macy; Samnel D. married Miss Ada St. John; Charles F. married Miss Lizzie Waggoner, and Nelson J. married Miss McElhany. Mr. and Mrs. MeDowell have had seven children-Osmer M., Laura C., Emma, Joseph E. L .. Addie E., Charles P. and Luella.

In 1865 Mr. McDowell relinquished his occupa- tion as a farmer and moved to Fairbury, where he engaged in wagon-making, in which business he re- mained one year and then engaged in the hardware business, which he conducted successfully for twenty years. In 1887 he disposed of this busi- ness and retired from active life. Ile owns some farm land in Livingston County, and has recently made some land purchases in Sherman County,

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Kan. Mrs. McDowell is an active member of the Baptist Church, in the affairs of which she takes much interest. Mr. MeDowell is a stanch Repub- liean, and continues, as he has in the past, to give the men and measures of that party his hearty support. They have accumulated sufficient of means and property to make them comfortable dur- ing the remaining days of their lives.

- AMES E. BLAKE, a prosperous and promis- ing young farmer, located on section 27, Amity Township, was born on the 12th of September, 1854, and is the son of Joseph Blake, who was a native of Maine, where he was born on the 27th of March, 1812; he died on the 9th of July, 1875. At one time he was the owner of 440 acres of land valued at $25 per acre, and owned at the time of his death, after giving to his children and selling some, 130 acres valued at $40 per acre. He came to Ohio in early childhood with his parents, and on the 15th of January, 1835, he was married to Drusilla Carpenter, a native of Ohio, where she was born on the 22d of November, 1815, and was the daughter of Robert and Mary ( Ball) Carpenter.

Joseph Blake was of a family of twelve children, whose names were as follows: Daniel, Lucy, Samuel, Sarah, Mary, Cresia, Jane. James, Jason. Nancy, John and Joseph. Daniel was by occupation a far- mer, and died at the age of about eighty-six ; Lucy married Lemuel Ruker, and was the mother of eight children, four of whom were living at the time of her death; Samuel Blake married Sarah Aim Reese, and they had a family of six children, three of whom are now deceased ; he was a farmer by occu- pation, and died at Pontiac. Sarah married Gar- land Rnker, and they had nine children, six of whom are now living; Mary married Peter Bryon, and they are both dead; Cresia married Allen Ruker, and they had a family of seven children, two of whom are dead; JJane married William Far- ley, and died leaving six children; James and Ja- son were twins; James married Rosanna Archer, and is now dead; Jason married T. Ruker; Nancy married William Rnker, has a family of seven chil-

dren, and resides in Monroe County, Iowa; John married Jane Bowersock, is a Methodist preacher residing in Kansas, and has a family of seven chil- dren.

On the 13th of November, 1880, James E. Blake was married to Ann Eliza, daughter of Jacob and Eunice (Ruker) Allen. By this union there have been four children, three of whom are living: Car- rie Drusilla, born Sept. 13, 1882; Iienry Edward, Jan. 10, 1884, and Flossie Maud, July 15. 1886. Mr. Blake is by occupation a farmer and stock- raiser, and manages the 130-acre farm which be- longs to his mother, for her use for life. IIe is one of a family of thirteen children, who were born in the following order: Robert, Aaron, Daniel, Reason Henry, Joseph W., Mary Jane, Margaret A., Win- field Scott, Alexander. Elizabeth, James Edwards, John Columbus and Caroline Josephine. Robert was born Oct. 8, 1835, in Ohio, and was married on the 24th of August, 1860, to Lucinda Stephens; to them have been born five children, three of whom are living; he is a carpenter by trade, and now lives in the city of Lawrence, Kan. Aaron, born on the 6th of March, 1837, in Ohio, and died in Illinois on the 28th of April, 1869; Daniel was born in Ohio, Dec. 16, 1838, and married in Illinois on the 28th of May, 1861, to Desoline Erp, and had a family of thirteen children, eight of whom are now living; they now reside in Rook's Creek Township, this county. Reason Henry was born in Ohio, Dec. 25, 1841, and died in that State May 8, 1842; Joseph W. was born in Ohio, Aug. 31, 1842, and died May 4, 1843, in Ohio; Mary Jane was born in Ohio, June 28, 1844, and was married in Illinois, June 25, 1851, to Ilomer Erp, a farmer by occupa- tion, and they have had seven children, two of whom are living; Margaret A. was born in Ohio, Oct. 1, 1846, and was married on the lith of No- vember, 1868, in Illinois, to D. C. McClelland ; they have one child and live in Kansas. Winfield Scott was born in Ohio, Dee. 20, 1848, and was married in Illinois, July 30, 1870, to Miss Mary Stephens; they have had a family of seven children, six of whom are living. Alexander was born in Ohio, Dec. 18, 1850, and died in that State June 25, 1857; Elizabeth was born in Ohio, July 6, 1852, and married Samuel Wert, March 31, 1870; they

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have a family of six children, five of whom are liv- ing, and now reside in Amity Township. John Co- lumbus was born July 20, 1857, in Illinois, and married Jeanetta Lucas; they have bad four chil- (Iren, three of whom are living in Amity Township. Caroline Josephine was born in Illinois, Oct. 30, 1859; she was the wife of Samuel K. Reynolds, and died May 1, 1887, leaving two children.

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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 93

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