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 96

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 96

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).

The children who were born to Mr. Crouch by the third wife were named: Charley, Sinah, Otis E., Benjamin F., Hattie B., Jessie I]. and Lottie I. Charley was born in 1858; Sinah was born in 1860, and married E. Darnell; Otis E. married Miss Cora Kent, of Cheyenne County, Kan.

Mr. Crouch came to Illinois in 1843, locating in Marion County, where he remained eighteen months, and then went to Woodford County, where he operated a sawmill for two years, after which he followed blacksmithing until 1851. In that year he came to Livingston County and purchased 105 acres of land, to which he has added until he now owns 230 acres, on which a frame dwelling and commodious ont-buildings have been erected. Mr. Crouch is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is an ardent Republican in politics. There is no half-way ground either in his religious or political beliefs, and he espouses warmly the doctrines of both his church and party.

OIIN CAMPBELL, whose excellent farm is located on section 8, Esmen Township, where he owns 160 acres of land besides forty acres in Amity Township, was born in Wayne County, Ind., on the 13th of May, 1822, and was taken by his parents to New Paris, Preble Co., Ohio, when but an infant. He is the eldest of a family of four children, three boys and one girl, born to Joseph and Sarah ( Walker) Campbell.

The Walker family were natives of Kentucky, and resided in Green County, where the mother of

FRANK CLARK'S RESIDENCE .

" LARCH LAWN STOCK FARM", PROPERTY OF E.S.

W. T. CLARK'S RESIDENCE.

ARK, SEC:32.&33, READING TOWNSHIP, LIVINGSTON CO.

783

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

Mr. Campbell was born. She was the daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Walker, who were among the early settlers of Indiana. Samuel Walker was in the service of the Government during the War of 1812, and had charge of the commissary depart- ment. The maternal grandparents were John and Mary (McCoy) Campbell, of Scotch ancestry, but natives of Virginia, who migrated to Kentucky be- fore the War of 1812, and thence to Indiana before the Government had located the boundary line be- tween Ohio and Indiana. They resided in Preble County, Ohio, after the boundary line was estab- lished. The father of the subject of this sketch was a carpenter by trade but operated and owned a farm while following that occupation. In 1837 he came to Illinois and settled in Vermilion County, but afterward removed to Fountain County, Ind. In 1852 he returned to Illinois and bought a farm in Livingston County, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1855.

John Campbell was reared to farm life, and educated in the common schools. At the age of twenty-one he removed to Vermilion County, Ill., where an uncle resided, and began life for himself as a farmer. On the 4th of February, 1844, he was married to Emma J., the third child born to Thomas W. and Delilah (Payne) Douglas, the former of Maine and the latter of New York. The father of Mrs. Campbell went to Indiana where he married, and then went to Cincinnati, remaining one winter, during which time his daughter Emma was born, on the 1st of February, 1826. Ile then returned to Indiana and from there migrated to Illinois, settling in Vermilion County, where he bought a farm on which he and his wife resided until their death.

Immediately after marriage, Mr. Campbell bought 160 acres of wild land in Vermilion County, III., and settled on it. Two years later he sold this, and in 1856 bought 120 acres of wild land in Living- ston County, upon which he at once settled and began the work of improving it. He has lived upon this farm ever since, and has brought it under a splendid state of cultivation, erecting also upon it comfortable and commodious buildings. He takes great pride in producing superior grades of stock.

Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have had seven children, five of whom are living-Edward Clinton, Sarah

D., Fred S., Thomas A. and Emily A. All live in Iowa; the others died in infancy. Edward married Mary Swaner, and lives on a farm in Harrison County ; Sarah married James T. Hadley, and lives on a farm in Shelby County ; Fred married Ann E. Payne, and lives on a farm in Harrison County ; Emily married George Longnecker, and lives on a farm in Harrison County ; Thomas is unmarried, and manages a farm in Harrison County. Mr. Campbell has served as Assessor, School Trustee, and as long as he had a child to educate, as School Director. He was the first Assessor after the town- ship was organized. He has always taken great in- terest in his township affairs and has heartily ex- tended aid in building up and improving the com- munity. He is very active in political matters, and supports the Democratic ticket.

OHN H. CORBIN. Among the younger farmers and stock-raisers of Sunbury Town- ship none are more entitled to a place in this ALBUM than the subject of this sketch, who has within his short career demonstrated that he knows how to conduct a farm successfully and to get on in the world. His 80-acre farm on sec- tion 29 is well improved, and under an excellent state of cultivation.

Mr. Corbin was born on the 6th of January, 1845, in Taylor County, W. Va. In the order of their birth he was the second in a family of seven children born to Oliver II. P. and Mary E. (Flow- ers) Corbin, of Virginia. Our subject was reared to manhood on the farm of his father, and received his education at the common schools. He came West with his parents, of whose household he re- mained a member until he was thirty years of age, devoting his best energies to the prosecution of the work upon the farm.

On the 12th of April, 1875, Mr. Corbin was married to Miss Julia Sanger, who was born in Es- sex County, N. Y., on the 3d of February, 1856. She was the sixth child born to Cornelius and Sarah ( Arving) Sanger, who were natives of New York. Her paternal grandparents, Coleman and Anna (Comstock) Sanger, were also natives of New

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

York. and the maternal grandparents, William and Mary (Craig) Arving, were natives of New York State. The parents of Mrs. Corbin first settled in Livingston County. after which she accompanied them into Missouri. After remaining in Missouri for a time they all returned, and the subject of our sketch and his wife settled on a farm of eighty acres where they now reside. This farm is com- posed of excellent land, a greater portion of which is under cultivation. It contains good buildings. both for dwelling purposes and the necessities of the farm.

To MIr. and Mrs. Corbin have been born two children: Raymond on the 21st of March, 1876, and Charlie on the 6th of June. 1880. They are both bright little fellows and add much to the cheerfulne -- and pleasure of the Corbin household.

Mr. Corbin does not give much attention to polit- ical matter- but contents himself with voting for his party's nominees, providing they are always good men. llis political faith is in harmony with the Democratic party. He has been entrusted with important township offices upon several occasions, and for the past fifteen years has served as School Director. He has also been Overseer of Highways and Township Collector, and in all these positions has satisfied the people by intelligently and fairly discharging the trusts imposed upon him. He is a member in good standing of the I. O. O. F., in which fraternity he takes a lively interest.

soil, has secured by his own efforts an excellent fund of general information, making him a man remarkably intelligent to converse with. His has been an interesting experience in life: he has seen the representatives of many lands, and has made the most of his opportunities.

Our subjeet was born in County Down, Ireland, Sept. 8. 1839. Ilis father. James Cupples, was a native of the same county, where he was reared to manhood, engaged in farming, and married Miss Agnes Henry, with whom he had been acquainted since childhood, and whose birthplace was not far from his own. The father visited America after- ward, spending, however, but a few weeks, and with this exception passed his entire life in his native county, as also did the mother. Their household included ten children, of whom but four are now living, while Alexander is the only one who settled in America. He attended school quite steadily during his childhood and youth, remaining under the parental roof until seventeen years of age, and then determined to cross the water. Embarking on a sailing-vessel at Liverpool in the month of March, he landed in the city of Boston thirteen days later, and went directly to New York City, where he engaged in the dry-goods house of A. T. Stewart one year. He then returned to Boston and clerked until the following year, when he crossed the Atlantic to England, where he he- came connected with the dry-goods house of A. & S. Henry & Co., and was sent by them to New York, where he represented their interests until 1876. From the Empire State he migrated to New England, residing in Connecticut two years, and then setting out for the West located upon the land which he now owns and occupies.

LEXANDER CUPPLES, The northern part of Livingston County is liberally set- tled with an intelligent and industrions The property of Mr. Cupples includes 240 acres of highly cultivated land, with an excellent set of frame buildings, good farm machinery, and a choice assortment of live stock. His accumulations have been the result of his own industry and persever- anee, as he commenced in life poor in purse and with little to encourage him. He now occupies an enviable position, socially and financially, and has filled various offices of trust in his township, being now Justice of the Peace, which office he has held population, composed largely of Irish- American citizens. They are tacitly acknowledged to be among the most enterprising and industrious of the bu-ine -- men and farmers of Central Illinois, and are uniformly liberal-minded, public-spirited. and, almost without exception, take a hvely inter- est in the growth and well-being of their adopted State. The subject of this biography occupies a position in the front ranks of these men, and be- sides being a skillful and prosperous tiller of the | since 1884. He has served as Township Clerk and

785

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

been School Director for several terms. He is among the first men whom his fellow-citizens con- sult in regard to the various enterprises set on foot for the general welfare of the community.

In 1876 Mr. Cupples visited Ireland, and spent a few weeks pleasantly with his boyhood friends and relatives. He has a brother whom he never saw, as he was born after Alexander came to America, and was in Australia for the benefit of his health at the time our subject visited his native country. Mr. Cupples, while a resident of New York, was united in marriage with Miss Alice A. Kennedy, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride, Nov. 18, 1862. Mrs. Cupples was born in Charles- town, Mass., July 30, 1836, and is the daughter of J. F. and J. C. Kennedy, natives of Massachusetts, but now residing in New York. Of this union there have been born eight children-Agnes Il., Franklin II .. Jennie, Alexander, James, William, Alice and Samuel. Most of them are at home with their parents. Our subject and his wife are mem- bers in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Nevada, and no family in the community is more highly esteemed.

SAAC W. GATCHELL. In noting the people of a county as generously populated and wealthy as Livingston, we become cognizant of the fact that in that section is represented almost all nationalities, and nearly all the New England and Middle States. The subject of this sketch was born near the Atlantic coast in Lincoln County, Me., on the 11th of June, 1837, and has consequently now passed his fiftieth year. He is the son of Aaron and Ada Gatchell, who were also natives of the Pine Tree State, and the maternal ancestors were of Welsh descent. The father of our subject died in 1879, and the mother is now living in Maine.

The parental family of our subject included eight children, of whom the following are known to be liv- ing: Martha, the wife of Charles Flagg, of Maine; Betsey, Mrs. William Bragg, of Iowa; James, of Brookfield, Ill .: Sewell, of Ottawa; Charles, who

remains in his native State, and Isaac W., of our sketch. Isaac wa- reared to manhood in his native State, receiving a good English education, and when ready to start out in life for himself, at the age of twenty-two years, set his face westward and located in LaSalle County, this State. llere he re- sided until the outbreak of the late war and then, laying aside for the time his cherished plans, enlisted in Company F, 104th Illinois Infantry, being as- signed with his regiment to the Army of the Cum - berland. Later they were transferred to the Ten- nessee Division, and afterward going farther south, participated in the battles of Hartsville, Resaca, Peachtree Creek and Chickamauga, besides meet- ing the enemy in many other important engage- ments. His regiment first unfurled the stars and stripes of the 14th Corps at Mission Ridge, and af- terward joined the command of Gen. Sherman in his march from Atlanta to the sea. The last en- gagement in which our subject participated was at Bentonville, S. C., which was soon followed by the surrender of the Confederate General, Lee, when the troops were ordered to Washington for the grand review. Mr. Gatchell had been peculiarly fortunate, escaping wounds and other disasters, and receiving his honorable discharge at Washing- ton, D. C., was mustered out and returned home in June, 1865.

Mr. Gatchell once more took up his abode on prairie soil, and in the spring of 1873 purchased his present farm of 240 acres on section 4, in Owego Township. The larger portion of it is now under a good state of cultivation, and it is enclosed with substantial fencing and supplied with all needful buildings. This property is the accumulation of years of toil and self-sacrifice, but Mr. Gatchell feels that he is amply rewarded by the result.

The marriage of our subject took place on the 24th of August, 1867. His wife, in her girlhood, was Miss Martha, daughter of Henry and Abigail Mason, natives of Ohio, who became residents of LaSalle County about forty-three years ago. Their family ineluded eight children, namely : Vesta, Lu- ther, Wilbur, John, Ida, Norah, Ellen and Arthur. Mr. Gatchell has spent his time principally in at- tending to his own concerns, but has never been backward in giving his assistance to those enter-

786

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

prises calculated for the good of the community. He is decidedly Republican in politics, is an oblig- ing neighbor and friend, and distinguished by all the qualities of an honest man and a good citizen.

OSIIUA T. COX is known as the proprietor of the beautiful farm on section 10, which comprises 160 acres and is finely adapted to stock-raising. to which it is largely devoted. Mr. Cox deals largely in high-grade cattle and first- class general purpose horses, including several brood mares of fine blood. lle located in Belle Prairie Township eleven years ago and was at once recognized as a valued addition to the community. He is what may be properly termed a self-made man, as he started out in life when a lad but fifteen years of age and has since "paddled his own canoe." His first venture was as a soldier in the Union army, enlisting in the 161st Ohio Infantry, and was accepted, notwithstanding his youth. He served over a year and met the enemy in several important battles. He fortunately escaped wounds and sick- ness, and received his honorable discharge in 1864.

Mr. Cox was born in Harrison County, Ohio, Ang. 25, 1845, and is the son of Joshua and Editha (Bell) Cox, natives of Maryland. The father died in Harrison County, when our subject was a young child. He had never been of robust constitution, and although remaining upon the farm and super- intending its operations, was able to do but little manual labor, consumption having fastened upon him, which claimed him for a victim when about forty-eight years of age. The mother continued a resident of the Buckeye State, and died there in May. 1885, at an advanced age; both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their children, nine in number, were named respectively : William F., Elizabeth, Rebecca, James. John, Ebenczer, George. Joshua T. and Sarah.

After leaving the army Mr. Cox returned to his old home in Ohio, where he was variously employed, and finally appointed cashier of the Tuscarawas Valley Bank at New Comerstown, which position he occupied about five years. He came to Illinois in

1876, locating first on a farm near Fairbury, where he carried on agriculture until accumulating means with which to purchase his present homestead. He was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. Thomp- son, Jan. 25, 1883. Mrs. Cox is of English birth and parentage, beginning life in Huntingdonshire, April 19, 1863. Her parents, Charles and Emma (Hillson) Thompson, immigrated to the United States in 1873, and located in Minonk, Ill., where the mother died nine years later, in December, 1882. Mr. Thompson is still living and a resident of Washburn, Woodford County, where he carries on butchering. The parental family included twelve children, namely : Sarah A., Alberta, James, George W., Sarah, Charles E., Polly, John, Emma, Lizzie, Florence and Ella. Sarah A., Alberta and Polly are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Cox have two sons-Charles D. and Amos F.

In addition to his farming and stock operations Mr. Cox in the year 1887 interested himself in a steam thresher of the J. I. Case pattern, which he has operated to good advantage, in thirty days turning out 60,000 bushels of oats. It may readily be surmised from the foregoing that he is unusually wide-awake and enterprising, and is never so con- tented as when busily employed. Ile takes a lively interest in what is going on around him, and polit- ically is a true-blue Republican.

C HARLES II. HOKE, the leading and popular liveryman of Odell, although but twenty- seven years of age, has already established himself in a good business and secured the patron- age of the best people in his township. He is a native of Livingston County, and was born in Un- ion Township, June 28, 1860. His parents, Samuel and Elizabeth (Kenney) Hoke, were natives of Pennsylvania, and among the most highly re- spected residents of the northeastern part of Liv- ingston County.

Mr. Hoke, as the son of a farmer, passed his childhood amid the quiet scenes of country life, and like Whittier's "barefoot boy," attended the com- mon school. He continued under the home roof until twenty-one years old and then, having already

787

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

formed his plans for the future, married one of the nicest girls of the neighborhood, Miss Alice S. Funk, the wedding occurring at the home of the bride, Nov. 22, 1881. Mrs. Hoke was the eighth in a family of nine children born to her parents, Abram and Margaret (Hutchison) Funk, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this ALBUM.

The young people first settled on a farm in Un- ion Township, not far from the parental homestead, but Mr. H. believing he could do better elsewhere, repaired to Odell and purchased the livery outfit of Mr. Vosburg. The following May 14, the estab- lishment was destroyed by a eyelone, which carried away mdiscriminately animals and vehicles. The harness and other equipments were many of them scattered to the four winds. Mr. Hoke, however, made the best of circumstances and immediately re-established himself in the same business, in which he has prospered and built up a fine patronage both in the city and suburbs. He is one of the most prominent members of the Horse Fair Association, which meets monthly and furnishes a market for this necessary animal within a radius of thirty-five miles.

Considering the important interests over which Mr. Hoke has control, it is not to be wondered at that he finds little time to meddle with the concerns of his neighbors or enter into the strife for public office. He recognizes, however, the influence of each citizen upon the affairs of the country, and performs his duty in times of general election by casting his vote with the Republican party.

LSOM P. CHAMPLIN. By a law of na- ture the traits of the parents are often trans- mitted to the children, and if the sins of the father are visited upon the sons in some instances, there are undeniable and unmistakable evidences that the virtues of the parents are in- herited by sons and daughters, and in this way the equilibrium between the good and the bad is main- tained. In the sketch we have in hand are traced the lives of the father and mother, who were honest members of society while living, and were sincerely

mourned when dead, and it is to one of their off- spring this page is dedicated. In him will be found those traits that characterize honorable and hon- ored parents, and fully illustrate the axiom, "Like father, like son."

Mr. Champlin is a representative farmer of Avoca Township, where he is located on section 28. He is a native of Jefferson County, N. Y., where he was born on the 10th of June, 1842, and is the son of Moses and Tirzah Champlin, both of whom were natives of New York. His paternal ancestors are of German, and maternal ancestors, of English de- scent; both his maternal and paternal grandfathers, it is said, were soldiers in the War of 1812. To his parents were born eight children, of whom the fol- lowing survive: Lewis C .. Alsom P., IIenry C., Nancy M., and Ella J., the wife of Elias Virgin.

When about twelve years of age the subject of this sketch accompanied his parents when they re- moved to Illinois, where they settled in Woodford County, whence, after a short time they removed to Marshall County, where they resided until 1857. In the spring of that year they came to Livingston County, settling in Avoca Township, where the father died on the 11th of January, 1887, and the mother on the 10th of August of the same year. Moses Champlin came to this county a poor man, and through hard work, good management and economy, acquired a comfortable home for his fam- ily. He was one of the representative pioneers of the county, and was esteemed by all for his many virtues and serupulous honesty in all his business transactions. It can very truly be said that in his death the county lost one of its best citizens and most public-spirited men-a man who was always engaged in some good work. In political affilia- tions he was always loyal to the Republican party, of which he was a member for many years.

Alsom P. Champlin has been a farmer all his life, and in connection with that occupation, has at times engaged in the work of a plasterer and mason. On the 10th of August, 1876, he was married to Jennie Virgin, of Livingston County, and they have had one child, upon whom they conferred the names of Clara Myrtle. Mr. Champlin owns a good farm, in the management of which he has been eminently successful. In many traits of his character he re-

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

sembles his father, and is esteemed for many of the virtnes which were possessed by his son. He also is a Republican in politics. and gives his best ener- gies to that party. On account of his warm inter- est in all educational matters he has been for several successive terms chosen as Director of Schools, and has also served as Assessor of Avoca Township. He and his wife occupy an enviable position in the esteem and respect of their neighbors, and what- ever they find to do for the good of the community they do with a right good will.

NDREW J. CORBIN. One of the snug- gest 80-acre farms in Esmen Township is located on section 4, and has been owned and occupied by the subject of this sketch for thirty-three years. Mr. Corbin was born in Har- rison County, W. Va .. on the 11th of August, 1818, and was the youngest in a family of twelve chil- dren. of whom Anderson and Elizabeth (Haines) Corbin. native, of the eastern part of Virginia, were the parents. The father was a farmer by occupa- tion. and lived and died in Harrison County. He was a Revolutionary soldier, entering the Conti- mental army at the age of sixteen, and serving un- til the close of the war. Ile experienced all the hardships and horrors of that period in the history of our country, and at one time lived seven days on a few grains of corn and an old leather belt which he burned to a crisp and ate. He died at the age of eighty-six. on the Ist of March, 1845.

Mr. Corbin was reared to farm life, and had no opportunities for education except short term at country schools in the winter season. From the time he was sixteen years old he worked in a black- smith-shop on his father's place, and became quite proficient in that trade, which he followed exclu- -ively for eight years. On the 18th of January, 1×13, he was married to Sarah J., -econd child in a family of eight, born to Dr. Jesse and Mary ( Lueas) Flowers, who were of Irish ancestry. Before mar- riage Mr. Corbin went to work in a distillery, where he remained for four years, and followed the same occupation for five years after marriage. Ile then bought eleven acres of land and farmed until 1854,

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 96

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