USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 68
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The father of Mr. Tindall was of New England parentage, a farmer by occupation, and resided in New Jersey until 1841, when he came to this county, as stated. He died at his home in South Grove Township, July 8, 1880. Mr. Tindall's mother, Mary (Berber) Tindall, was born in "York State; " is of Yankee extraction and is living at present with her daughter, Mrs. J. B. Millner, of Lawrence, Kan.
Mr. Tindall was united in marriage Feb. 27, 1868, to Miss Mary E., daughter of William T. and Louisa (Riddle) Kirk. See sketch of William T. Kirk. Mrs 4
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Tindall was the oldest of family of nine children, all of whom are yet living, and was born in Franklin Township, this county, March 24, 1843. Her years, prior to maturity, were spent at home assisting the mother, attending the common schools and the col- leges at Rockford and Wheaton. She acquired a good education and at the age of 20 years engaged in teaching, which profession she followed with success until her marriage.
Two children are the issue of their union, namely : Edith, born Aug. 15, 1869, and Willie, born Feb. 18, 1873. After marriage the husband and wife located on the farm on which they are at present living, and which was owned by Mr. Tindall prior to that event, The farm comprises 320 acres of good tillable land, and the entire tract is well improved. He has a good residence and substantial farm buildings on the place, and to the passer by everything indicates en- ergy and progress.
Politically, Mr. Tindall is a Republican, and has held a number of the minor offices of his township. He and his wife are members of the Congregational Church.
ames Henderson, farmer on section 26, Victor Township, is also engaged in the dairy business. He was born Aug. 12, 1834, in Perry Co., Pa. His parents were Hodgen and Nancy (White) Henderson. His father was born in Ireland and came to Amer- ica with his parents when he was 13 years old, grew to manhood and married a Pennsylvania lady.
Mr. Henderson received only the limited educa- tion of the common schools, and remained at home until the years of his minority were passed. After arriving at the period of inan's estate he worked out two years, and at the end of that time he married Eliza Hipple, and they had eight children, seven of whom are still living,-Sarah L., Ida N., John A., Matilda C., James F., Alvin C. and Martha A. John married Mary J. Cooper, of La Salle Co., Ill., Dec. 10, 1884. He is a farmer on section 27, Victor Township. Sarah married G. N. Price, Nov. 16, 1880. They went to Nebraska, where Mr. Price died, Dec. 22, 1884.
The first purchase of land made by Mr. Hender-
son was the 80 acres on which he has since resided, now increased by an additional 80. His land was all in its primeval condition, and there were but few settlers in his vicinity. He has made important im- provements and built a fine residence, barn and other farm structures.
A lbert Ashcraft, farmer, section 25, Malta Tp., was born Dec. 19, 1820, in Machias, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y. His father, Elijah T. Ashcraft, was a native of Brooklyn, Conn., and was the son of Nathan Ashcraft, a man of pure Yankee extraction. Betsey Curtis Ash- craft, wife of the latter, was of the same origin and ancestry, and died at the advanced age of 91 years. Betsey Ashcraft, the mother of Albert and wife of Elijah T., came of a long line of New England an- cestors. Her husband died when he was 82 years old. They had 12 children, and 10 reached ma- ture years.
Mr. Ashcraft was the seventh child, and he passed the years of his minority in the manner usual to far- mers' sons, alternating farın labor with attendance at the common schools. On becoming of age he took the molding of his own career under his own management, operating for a few months as a gen- eral laborer.
He was married on the first day of the week, month and year of 1843, to Helen M., daughter of David and Polly (Dow) Russell. The parents were natives of Vermont and the mother belonged to the same race with the eccentric preacher, Lorenzo Dow. Her father was a farmer and mechanic, and after re- siding at various places in the East, the family came to De Kalb County. The mother died in the town- ship of Cortland, in 1852. The father died at Chase, Lake Co., Mich., at the home of his son, and was 80 years of age at the time of his decease. Mrs. Ashcraft is the fourth of 13 children, and was reared and educated principally in the State of New York. Of her marriage 13 children have been born, of whom five are deceased. Solon married Elizabeth Smith, is a resident at De Kalb village, and is a me- chanic. Alva married Antoinette Ellithorpe, a far- mer in Marshall Co., Kan. Burton married Mary Melvin and resides in Osage Co., Kan .; Luella mar-
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ried Richard S. Hooper and they live at Ness City, Ness Co., Kan., where the latter is holding the office of County Register. Laona is at Jacksonville, Ill., and is the wife of Peter S. Newell. She was married Feb. 5, 1885. Charles, Edna and Marion H. are unmarried and inmates of the parental home. Hiram C., Wallace W., Amanda, Malvina and Al- bert, Jr., are deceased.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ashcraft lived in the State of New York until 1848, the year of their removal to Sycamore, De Kalb County, where they lived one year. Removing thence to Cortland Township, they spent two years there, and in 1852 secured a claim of 160 acres of land by pre-emption in Malta Township, where the permanent home was established. The whole property was unbroken prairie and times were hard ; circumstances existed which tried the stuff of which a man was made; but the tide was stemmed by persistent energy and well di- rected effort. The place was remote from other settlers, and deer were so unaccustomed to humanity that they roamed in close proximity without manifest fear. Mr. Ashcraft owns 80 acres, all in the most advanced cultivation. He assimilates with the Re- publican party element in politics, and was one of the first Justices of the Peace after the township was organized. He has also officiated as Township Treasurer of Schools. Mr. Ashcraft is one of the oldest resident settlers of the township, having lived here 33 years.
A Iford Arnold, farmer and stockman, resi- dent on section 27, Victor Township, was born Dec. 10, 1826, and is the son of John and Alice (Alford) Arnold, who were natives of Lincolnshire, England. The family came to America in 1851, and located during the first ten months in Tompkins Co., N. Y. Their next re- moval was to Batavia, on the Fox River, in Illinois, where they worked a farm on shares two years, remov- ing thence to Victor Township. There they operated a farm on section 28 for a year, when a farm was purchased on section 26, where the parents died, respectively in 1862 and in 1869.
Alford remained at home until he was 11 years of age, and received a common school-education. Af-
ter that age he became a farm laborer and spent four years in that occupation, when he obtained a situa- tion as a shepherd and herder, in which two-fold ca- pacity he was occupied until he was 23 years of age. He came to the United States in 1850, landing at the port of New York, whence he went to Trumans- burg, Tompkins County. After spending 17 months there on a farm he pushed on West and worked a year on a farm near Batavia, Kane Co., Ill., and was occupied during a second year in a machine-shop.
He was married Feb. 25, 1854, to Lucy Hales. She was born in England and came two years before her marriage to America. Of the 12 children of whom Mr. and Mrs. Arnold became the parents, eight are still living,-Mary A., John H., Alfred A., Benjamin F., Edgar, Alice C., Emma E. and Lucy S. The three oldest children are married.
After his marriage, Mr. Arnold worked a farm two years on shares, and subsequently came to Victor Township, where he purchased 80 acres of land on section 27, which has since been his homestead. To this he has added 80 acres by subsequent purchase, two tracts adjoining each other. Mr. Arnold is a successful and prosperous farmer. Heis a Repub- lican, and his wife is a member of the Baptist Church.
A riel S. Morey, farmer, section 20, Malta Township, was born May 24, 1840, in the township of South Columbia, Herkimer Co., N. Y., whence he came with his parents to De Kalb County in 1853. He was then about 13 years of age, and he continued a member of the home circle and acted as his father's assistant until the date of his marriage. That event took place May 24, 1864, when Miss Elizabeth Van Vlack became his wife. Her parents, John and Anna M. (Oliver) Van Vlack, were born in the State of New York, and were of German ancestry. They were descendants of families who were among the earliest settlers of the Empire State. Mrs. Morey was born Aug. 4, 1842, in East Glenville, Schenectady Co., N. Y. Her father died when she was about nine years of age, and six years later (1857), she ac- companied her mother to De Kalb County, locating at Shabbona village. She is the youngest of three children and received a good education. The death
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of her father occurred March 9, 1851, when he was 40 years of age. Her mother died at Shabbona Grove, Feb. 6, 1863, at the age of 51 years. Mr. and Mrs. Morey have become the parents of five children, born as follows: Floyd, Aug. 31, 1865 ; Nettie, Oct. 31, 1869; Jessie, Sept. 18, 1875 ; Myra, Oct. 24, 1878 ; Lilla, twin sister of Myra, died when nine months old.
Mr. and Mrs. Morey established their independent home life immediately after marriage and settled on a farm in Shabbona Township. On this place Mr. Morey conducted agricultural operations 16 years, when the family removed to Malta Township, where the father, in company with his brother, Wm. H., lo- cated on 264 acres of land on section 20. They have continued their joint labors, and have operated ex- tensively in agriculture and as stock-growers, ranking among the best and most progressive farmers of the township. They are Republicans 'in political faith and connections.
Smith Morey, the father of Mr. Morey of this sketch, was born Sept. 9, 1812, in Onondaga Co., N. Y. Jesse Morey, father of the former, was of French lineage and married 'Faith Wilcox. She was born in Connecticut, and was of purely Yankee ori- gin. Smith Morey married Jeannette Smith Jan. I, 1839. She was born in Suffield, Conn., and died at the home of her son' Dec. 17, 1877, aged 64 years. Her three sons, Hiram D., of Shabbona, Ariel and W. H. survive her. The family were among the first set- tlers .in Shabbona Township in 1853. He. labored there as a farmer until 1869, when another transfer was made of the joint family interests of the father, eldest and youngest sons, to Malta Township, where they located on 264 acres of land and have since managed their farming interests together.
apt. Martin V. Allen, druggist, residing at Shabbona, was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Nov., 6, 1832, and is a son of Reuben and Nancy (Andrews) Allen. In 1845 his father's family left Sackett's Harbor, Jefferson Co., N. Y., in a sail vessel, cruised around the lakes, debarked at Chicago and came thence by steam to this county, arriving at Shabbona Grove June 2, 1845. His father was consequently
one of the pioneers of this county, and soon after he arrived here entered 320 acres of Government land on sections 19, Clinton Township, and 24, Shabbona Township, and entered vigorously on the laborious task of cultivating and improving it.
Capt. Allen was brought up on his father's farm. He assisted in the farm labors and attended the common schools, and developed into manhood while under the parental roof-tree. Aug. 12, 1862, he en- tered the military service of the United States in the late Civil War with the commission of First Lieu- tenant of Co. E, 105th Ill. Inf., and was promoted as Captain March 9, 1863. He was wounded at Atlanta, Aug. 16, 1864, receiving a gunshot wound in the right arm near the shoulder, which resulted in resection and causing the loss of about three inches of the bone. 'He was then, Jan. 22, 1865, discharged for physical disability.
Capt. Allen suffered a far more serious misfortune as a result of being wounded than the loss of a portion of his' arm. His wife, on hearing of the casualty, proceeded to, his side to nurse him. She found him at Chattanooga, Tenn., in an atmosphere infected with pestilence, and fell a victim to typhoid fever. She lived to reach home, in a delirious con- dition, and died in a few days. Their second child, a daughter, contracted the disease, and in a short time followed her mother to the land of everlasting peace.
Captain Allen was married at Little Rock, Ill., Oct. 7, 1856, to Miss Jane A. Hunter. She was a daughter of William and Janet Hunter, and was a native of Scotland. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Allen : Cora A., Lida E. and Jennie M. The eldest, Cora A., is the wife of George C. . Sanborn, a commission merchant at Chicago. The youngest daughter was adopted by H. E. Allen, of De Kalb, a brother of Capt. Allen. She grew to womanhood in his household, and is the wife of William Ellwood, of that place.
Mrs. Allen died Sept. 20, 1864, and Capt. Allen was again married Nov. 6, 1867, at Shabbona, to Miss Lizzie, daughter of Giles M. and Eve (Clapsad- dle) Alexander. She was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., and is the mother of one child, a son, Bertie, aged 14 years.
Soon after his return from the army Capt. Allen was elected Superintendent of Schools of De Kalb
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County, which position he held for a term of four years, from 1865 to 1869. In 1873 he engaged in the drug business at Shabbona, and has since con- tinued in the same. He carries a stock averaging $2,000 and including everything pertaining to that business. In March, 1877, he was burned out, sus- taining a loss of about $1,500, with no insurance. He is a prominent Freemason, and was the first Master
of Shabbona Lodge, No. 374, A. F. & A. M., and is holding that position at the present time (1885). He is also a member of De Kalb Chapter, No. 52, R. A. M., and of Aurora Commandery, No. 22, K. T. He is likewise Sen. V. C. of T. S. Terry Post, G. A. R., of Shabbona.
Politically, Capt. Allen is a Republican. Relig- iously, he is a member of the Congregational Church. He is one of Shabbona's most liberal-minded and enterprising citizens, and is held in high esteem. Of no other citizen in the county could a portrait be more appropriately given in this work, and accord- ingly a fine lithographic likeness of Capt. Allen is given on a page just preceding.
ohn Mutton, farmer, section 20, Malta, was born about the year 1824 in the county of Cornwall, in the south of England. Richard Mutton, his father, was also of English birth, and his wife, Elizabeth Mutton, was a native of the same country, where they were married and passed all the years of their lives.
Mr. Mutton has been an independent self-sustainer since he was r5 years of age, at which time he began to operate as a laborer on a farm. He was married Aug. 15, 1847, in the county where he was born, to Elizabeth Bray. She was born in the same county, May 25, 1820. Her mother, Elizabeth (Herd) Bray, died when she was nine years of age, after which she had to earn her own living, Richard, her father, being left with a large family and unable to support them all from his meager savings. To her and her husband have been born the following children : John, Elizabeth J., Mary A., Rebecca, Emma, William and Silena.
Mr. and Mrs. Mutton set out for America after their marriage and located at first in Ontario, Can. They were residents in Northumberland County 18
years, engaged in farming. In 1865 they removed to Creston, Ogle Co., Ill., where they maintained a resi- dence three years, coming in the spring of 1868 to Malta Township, where Mr. Mutton became by pur- chase the proprietor of 105 acres of land. The place gives every evidence of skillful and judicious farming and the farm buildings are of excellent character. Politically, Mr. Mutton is a Republican. He has been for years active in the local offices of his town- ship.
enry Challand, farmer, section 6, Clinton Township, is a son of Charles and Ann (Freeman) Challand, both natives of Eng- land, and residents in that country until their death. They were the parents of a family of I I children, namely : Ann, Eliza, Charles, Wil- liam, Mary E., Reuben, Henry, Sarah, Maria, George and Joseph.
Henry Challand, the subject of this biographical notice, was born in England, Feb. 3, 1822. His edu- cation was received in the common schools of that country, and was limited on account of the financial condition of his parents. At the age of 12 years he set forth to carve a name and accumulate a compe- tency for himself, first working on a farm, and then as a drayman. In 1847 he emigrated to Canada, where he lived seven years, and in the spring of 1854 came to De Kalb County and settled in Shabbona Township, where he purchased 89 acres of land. The land was situated partly in De Kalb and partly in Lee County, and after holding it for a year as owner he sold it. He "worked out" during that year, and purchased 80 acres in Afton Township, on which he located and lived for seven years, and then sold.
In 1861, Mr. Challand purchased 190 acres in Clinton Township. He moved on this land and cul- tivated it until 1874, and then moved to the village of Waterman, still retaining possession of his land. He lived in the latter place some seven years and then moved back upon his farm. Residing there a year, he again returned to Waterman, and two years later moved upon the farm again. He has resided in Waterman and on his farm since 1861. He is the owner of 365 acres of land in Clinton and Shabbona Townships, most of which is in a good state of culti-
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vation. That he is a man of great energy and per- severance, his accomplishment of a purpose formed when 12 years old, namely, to procure a competency, is certain and positive proof. He has certainly ac- complished that purpose, and to his own indomitable energy and pluck he may attribute its success.
Mr. Challand was first married in England, to Miss Elizabeth Green, a native of that country. She emigrated with him to Canada, and there died, of " emigrant fever." She bore him two children, namely, Fredrick and Elizabeth. The second mar- riage of Mr. Challand occurred Oct. 31, 1849, and the lady of his choice was Miss Julia Bilney, of En- glish parentage, and born in Canada. She was the mother of 10 children by Mr. Challand, namely : Elizabeth A., Freeman, Mary, Jemima, Julia, Sarah, Margaret A., Walter, Esther R., Rosa and Eliza. Mrs. Challand died in Clinton Township, in July, 1872.
Mr. Challand was a third time married, at Sand- wich, this county, Jan. 12, 1873, to Mrs. Emily Fas- sett, widow of Henry R. Fassett. He was born Nov. 7, 1836, and died May 4, 1871. Mrs. C. is the daughter of Elijah and Mary A. (Bilney) Hardiman. She was born in Canada, Sept. 19, 1842. By her first marriage she had two children: John H. and Antoinette, the latter of whom is deceased. The issue of her second marriage is three children : Frank W., Gracie A. and Charles H., all living.
Mr. and Mrs. Challand are both members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Politically, Mr. Chal- land is a Democrat. He has held the office of Over- seer of Highways and School Director.
eorge Stimpson, deceased, was born in Carolton-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, Eng- land, in November, 181 1, and was a son of John and Susan Stimpson, natives of that country.
Mr. Stimpson grew to manhood in his native country and engaged in the vocation of a maltster, which occupation he followed for many years. He was married at Norwell, Eng., Nov. 10, 1835, to Miss Sarah Weightman, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Selby) Weightman, natives of that country. Her father was born in North Muskham, and her mother
in Balderton, Eng. She was born at North Musk- ham, Eng., April 26, 1817. They emigrated to the United States in 1850, arriving at New York city in October of that year, after a tedious voyage of six weeks. From the latter place they went to Albany, N. Y., where they remained for about six months, and then removed to Genesee, Livingston County, that State, where they remained until 1853. During the latter year they came to this State and located at Aurora, where they remained for about two years, a greater portion of which time Mr. Stimpson was an invalid. From Aurora they moved upon a farm in that vicinity, and Mr. Stimpson was engaged in that vocation for about five years. At the expiration of that time, in 1862, he moved his family to Minne- sota, but the Indian massacres at New Ulm and other places which were prevailing at that time in the vicinity in which he settled, and various unpleasant features of the country, induced him, after a sojourn of about two years, to return to this State. He re- turned to Aurora, and from thence, in 1864, came to Shabbona Township, this county. He located in what is called the "English Settlement,"in the western part of the township, and purchased a fine farm of 160 acres. He continued to cultivate this farm, meeting with success in his endeavors, until the date of his death, Nov. 17, 1872. Politically, he was a Republican, and socially was a member of the Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. and Mrs. Stimpson were the parents of 14 children, eight of whom were born in England, name- ly : Edward, who married Mary Cox, " an English girl," and is at present living on Grand Prairie, Iro- quois County, this State. Thomas, who was a soldier in the late Civil War, enlisting in the 72d Ill. Inf., was wounded at Vicksburg May 22, 1864, and died at Memphis, Tenn., six days later, from the effects of his wound. Rebecca, who is the wife of Theodore Porter and lives in Chicago. George married an En- glish lady and lives at Elgin. William was a black- smith in Shabbona Township, and was killed in his shop in July, 1870, by a man named Grover. Jane died in childhood. T. Weightman married Sarah A. Challand and resides in Shabbona. John died at home when 30 years of age.
Of the six children born in this country, Mary J. and Sarah A. died in infancy; Elizabeth is the wife of John Houghtby, a resident of Shabbona Township. Henry B. married Hannah Nau, and lives in Shab-
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bona; Linnetta is the wife of Emory A. Post, also a resident of Shabbona Township; Frederick is living at home.
Mrs. Stimpson survives her husband and resides in Shabbona. The old farm of 160 acres is hers during life. She has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for upwards of 42 years. Looking back upon the history of her past life, she reads of trials and pleasures, of sorrows and happiness ; and as her days are drawing to a close she has the consola- tion of having spent a Christian life, a life of useful- ness. She is living in comfort at Shabbona, where she expects to pass her remaining years, and where her body may be placed by the side of her companion.
lexander Southern, farmer, section 32, Malta Township, was born in Ashford, Kent Co., England, Feb. 28, 1836. He is a prominent agriculturist of De Kalb County and affords· a good example of what a man, born under another flag, may accomplish when transferred to a land whose standard floats over no classes of born distinction and inherited privileges. Alexander Southern, Sr., came of a good family which originated and had been perpetuated in Kent County, and belonged to the agricultural class. His wife was Mary Thompson before marriage. The par- ents died when the son was in childhood, the death of the mother occurring soon after that of the father in 1846. Alexander, Jr., was left homeless and depend- ent on his own resources. He was not of a race that was easily disheartened or overwhelmed by circum- . stances, and as early as practicable he devoted his time and abilities to an acquisition of a knowledge of the trade of a stone and brick mason. He was thus employed three years. In 1856 he took a final leave of his native soil and kindred, and came alone to the United States. He landed at the port of New York and pressed on thence to Milwaukee. He passed three years in that city at work as a mason, and in 1859 went to Chicago. He obtained employment at his accustomed business, and three years later went to Belvidere, Boone Co., Ill. The character of his work and his industry served to win for him a good reputation as a craftsman, and he had no difficulty in finding work in his various wanderings. Not long
after coming to Illinois, he came to Malta Township. He was employed sometime after as a mason, and was sent to various places, among others to Terre Haute, Ind., where he was the principal workman in the construction of the Normal buildings.
He was married in March, 1861, at De Kalb, to Mary J., daughter of John and Jane (Hancock) Rowe. She was born in Brownton, Devonshire, England, April 19, 1834. Her parents were natives of the same town and shire, and her father made a prelimi- nary visit to the United States, which resulted in his returning to England to bring his family, the follow- ing year. They remained a short time near Buffalo, N. Y., and in the spring of 1851 came to the town- ship of Malta. They are now quite aged and reside with a daughter at Creston, Ogle Co., Ill. The chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Southern are all living: Lillie J. married John Norton and resides in Chicago. They have two children : Reuben A. was born Oct. 16, 1866. The youngest is William J. After the marriage of the parents they took the farm of the Misses Todd, which they conducted on shares four years. At the end of that time they located on 320 acres of land, which the father had purchased in 1868, and which has since been the homestead. It is all in a finely cultivated condition. In the spring of 1884, the wife and mother was seized with a ner- vous disease, from which she died three months later. She was a member of the Congregational Church, as is her bereaved husband. The latter is a Republi- can, and has held various township offices. He is a man of reliable integrity and much respected as a man and a citizen.
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